cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Making the Impossible Dream: Latin, Print, and the Marriage of Frederick V and the Princess Elizabeth

AbstractThis article investigates the use of Latin within a northern European, militantly Protestant literary community at a crucial moment in its fortunes: the marriage in 1613 of the Princess Elizabeth, daughter of the English king James I, to Frederick V, the Palatine Elector and leader of the Protestant Union of princes in Germany. Using Europe's transnational language, Protestant Latin writers in Britain and continental northern Europe envisioned an international godly community and even the possibility of a common cultural bond that would unite England with German-speaking areas in the Holy Roman Empire. Latin's transnational reach could be powerfully combined with print, sometimes with disastrous results—as in the case of a commemorative anthology assembled by the University of Oxford to celebrate the marriage—but at other times effectively, as by Andrew Willet and Abraham Scultetus who tailored Latin and vernacular texts designed to unify Protestant readers in Britain and continental northern Euro...
On the number of congruent simplices in a point

We derive improved bounds on the number of k-dimensional simplices spa nned by a set of n points in $\reals^d$ that are congruent to a given $k$-simplex, for $k\le d-1$. Let $f_k^{(d)} (n)$ be the maximum number of $k$-simplices spanned by a set of $n$ points in $\reals^d$ that are congruent to a given $k$-simplex. We prove that $f_2^{(3)}(n) = O(n^{5/3}\cdot 2^{O(\alpha^2(n))})$, $f_2^{(4)} (n) = O(n^{2+\eps})$, $f_2^{(5)} (n) = \Theta(n^{7/3})$, and $f_3^{(4)} (n) = O(n^{9/4+\eps})$. We also derive a recurrence to bound $f_k^{(d)} (n)$ for arbitrary values of $k$ and $d$, and use it to derive the bound $f_k^{(d)} (n) = O(n^{d/2})$ for $d \le 7$ and $k \le d-2$. Following Erd{\H o}s and Purdy, we conjecture that this bound holds for larger values of $d$ as well, and for $k\le d-2$.
Two-dimensional ultrasonic tomography in nondestructive evaluation by using area functions

It is shown that the (normalized) area function based on the Born approximation offers a simple connection between the ultrasonic scattering response and the monochromatic ray sum in X-ray CT (computerized tomography). Because of this simple association, it is possible to apply the ultrasonic signals in the computationally direct and efficient parallel-beam X-ray CT algorithm to reproduce the vertical thickness function of an ultrasonic scatterer. The development of this imaging methodology is demonstrated for flaws of simple geometry; theoretical as well as experimental results for two model scatterers using this imaging technique are reported. Specifically, the area functions for a two-to-one spheroid and a circular cylinder are calculated and applied to a filtered backprojection algorithm of X-ray CT to obtain the vertical thickness function images. These images are then compared with the true vertical thickness functions of the targets based on their geometry. With theoretical data, this method was found to work very well. Even when experimental data containing creeping waves were used, the method produced satisfactory results for objects with continuously smooth surface. >
Structure of the β-Amyloid(10-35) Fibril

The primary component of the amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a highly ordered fibril composed of the 39−43 amino acid peptide, β-amyloid (Aβ). The presence of this fibril has been correlated with both the onset and severity of the disease. Using a combination of synthetic model peptides, solid-state NMR, electron microscopy, and small angle neutron scattering (SANS), methods that allowed fibrils to be studied directly both in solution and in the solid state, the three-dimensional structure of fibrils formed from Aβ(10-35) is assigned. The structure consists of six laminated β-sheets propagating and twisting along the fibril axis. Each peptide strand is oriented perpendicular to the helical axis in a parallel β-sheet, with each like amino acid residue in register along the sheet. The six sheets are laminated, probably also in parallel arrays, to give a fibril with dimensions of about 60 × 80 A. Both the methodology developed and the structural insight gained here lay the foundation for strat...
Relativistic Self-Consistent Meson Field Theory of Spherical Nuclei

A relativistic self-consistent theory is used in conjunction with meson field potentials having the form of the generalized one-boson-exchange potentials (GOBEP) to construct a relativistic self-consistent meson field theory of nuclear structure. A simple GOBEP model with qualitative features of successful $N\ensuremath{-}N$ models, e.g., approximate cancellation of static terms arising from generalized (or regularized) scalar- and vector-meson fields, is used to calculate ground-state properties of the doubly-magic spherical nuclei $^{16}\mathrm{O}$, $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}$, $^{90}\mathrm{Zr}$, and $^{208}\mathrm{Pb}$, and one superheavy nucleus $^{298}114$. Good agreement is obtained between theoretical and experimental total binding energies and radial charge distributions. The isotopic shift in charge distributions between the isotopes $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}$ and $^{48}\mathrm{Ca}$ and the single-particle eigenvalues agree quite well with the experimental numbers. The absence of explicit correlation corrections, the relationship of this model to earlier meson-theoretic descriptions, and physical interpretation in terms of nucleon form factors and relativistic interactions are discussed.
On the relationship between cognitive abilities and life-course-persistent offending among a sample of African Americans: A longitudinal test of Moffitt's hypothesis

Prior criminological research showed that cognitive abilities were related to delinquent and criminal activity, primarily within adolescent samples. Moffitt's developmental taxonomy anticipates that cognitive abilities will relate to criminal activity differently throughout the population of offenders, mattering more for life-course-persistent than adolescence-limited offenders. Unfortunately, prior research had not examined in great detail the long-term influence of cognitive abilities on criminal activity from birth to adulthood nor had research explored this issue within an African American sample. In this study, data from the Philadelphia portion of the National Collaborative Perinatal Project (NCPP) were used to examine the long-term effect of cognitive abilities on criminal activity from birth to adulthood.
The loss and maintenance of native crops in mountain agriculture

The fate of agricultural biodiversity varies among the native crops produced in a mountainous region. Four native crops (potatoes, maize, ulluco, quinoa) cultivated in the southern Peruvian sierra demonstrate different patterns of cultivar loss and cultivar maintenance. Contingent social, economic and environmental conditions in mountain agriculture shape the distinct fates befalling the cultivars in each crop. Three sets of specific conditions contribute to differences in the patterning of cultivar loss and maintenance: (1) proximate conditions in the local peasant economy, particularly access among agricultural households to land, labor, and capital, and changes in the availability and quality of the three endowments; (2) the social and cultural value of the crop in the local diet and cuisine; and (3) the biogeographic patterning of cultivars. Maintenance of cultivars currently marks the ulluco and quinoa crop as well as many potato and maize types. Cultivar loss besets the fast-maturing potato S. phureja and the slow-maturing maize types. To incorporate variable in situ crop-conservation programs into development planning for montane regions requires thoroughly assessing the contingent conditions for continued production.
Cholesterol efflux to apolipoprotein AI involves endocytosis and resecretion in a calcium-dependent pathway

We previously have described the cAMP-mediated induction of cholesterol and phospholipid efflux from the murine macrophage RAW264 cell line to lipid-free apolipoprotein acceptors. This induction of cholesterol efflux is associated with increased binding and association of apolipoprotein to the cells. In the present study, using primarily apolipoprotein AI (apoAI) as the acceptor, cAMP-dependent cholesterol efflux to apolipoprotein acceptors was associated with apoAI binding to coated pits, cellular uptake, and resecretion. After cell association and washing, 58% of the apoAI was resecreted during a 90-min chase period. In addition, after apoAI uptake and washing, cholesterol efflux was observed during a chase period without additional acceptors. Cholesterol efflux was partially blocked by chlorpromazine and hypertonic media, two inhibitors of coated pit endocytosis. Cholesterol efflux to apoAI was found to depend on extracellular calcium. By temporally separating the cAMP induction phase from the apoAI chase phase, calcium was found to be required during the apoAI chase phase rather than during the cAMP induction period. In the absence of calcium the 8-Br-cAMP-mediated induction of apoAI binding was maintained, but the specific apoAI cellular association was inhibited. The data are consistent with a model for cholesterol efflux to apolipoproteins that involves a calcium-dependent endocytic pathway, followed by recycling and the subsequent release of the nascent lipoprotein particle from the cell.
T cell receptor crossreactivity as a general property of T cell recognition.

TCR recognition of MHC/peptide complexes directs many aspects of T cell biology, including thymic selection, survival of naive T cells and differentiation into effector and memory T cells. It was widely thought that TCR recognition is highly specific, with an individual T cell being capable of only recognizing a particular peptide and closely related sequence variants. By considering the structural requirements for peptide binding to MHC molecules and TCR recognition of MHC/peptide complexes, we demonstrated that T cell clones could recognize a number of peptides from different organisms that are remarkably distinct in their primary sequence. These peptides are particularly diverse at those sequence positions buried in pockets of the MHC binding site, while a higher degree of similarity is present at a limited number of peptide residues that create the interface with the TCR. Many examples have now been documented for human and murine T cells, indicating that TCR crossreactivity represents a general feature of TCR recognition.
Maximum-entropy determination of self-association distribution functions; daunorubicin and ATP

Abstract In the present paper we show how one can use the perturbation of some molecular optical property (for example circular dichroism or chemical shift) as a function of concentration to construct cluster distribution functions describing the self-association of molecules in solution. The optical data are first converted into data giving the variation of the average extent of clustering as a function of the total concentration and then, using straightforward thermodynamics, a set of moments of the cluster distribution function can be obtained. Utilizing the maximum-entropy method, the moments are then used to calculate approximate distribution functions, where the more moments that are used the better the approximation obtained. Given the probability distribution for clusters of different sizes one can then calculate the equilibrium constant for each stage of association. Thus one converts average degree of association into equilibrium constants without having to use any specific model. By this method one can clearly tell whether the equilibrium constants remain constant, increase, or decrease with the number of molecules in a cluster. We apply the method to literature data for two systems, namely daunorubicin, which has a strong tendency to cluster in solution, and Mg(ATP) 2− which forms weaker clusters. We find that the successive equilibrium constants for adding a monomer to a cluster are approximately constant for daunorubicin but clearly decrease as a function of increasing cluster size for Mg(ATP) 2− .
Biomolecular motor-driven microtubule translocation in the presence of shear flow: modeling microtubule deflection due to shear

We have previously demonstrated that shear flow aligns microtubules moving on kinesin-coated microchannels with the flow direction, and statistically analyzed the rate of microtubule alignment under different concentrations of kinesin as well as strengths of shear flow. These data qualitatively support the hypothesis that the alignment results from the leading ends of translocating microtubules bending into the direction of the flow due to viscous drag force. Here, we present a cantilever-beam model that quantitatively shows agreement between this hypothesis and observation. Specifically, the model couples the exact nonlinear solution for cantilever-beam deflection with drag coefficients determined by numerical simulations of microtubules in the presence of shear flow near a wall. Coupled with flexural rigidity results of our previous study (which used electric fields), the established model successfully predicts new experimental data for microtubule bending in response to shear flow, further supporting our hypothesis for the mechanism of microtubule alignment. We expect that the newly-calculated drag coefficients and beam-bending model may be useful for biophysical studies as well as interpretation of in vivo data and the design of kinesin/microtubule-based devices.
Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry with a Graphite Rod Atomizer and Thermostated Electrodeless Discharge Lamps

Atomic fluorescence investigations with a graphite rod atomizer and thermostated multiple element electrodeless discharge lamps (EDL's) are reported for Ag, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, Sn, Tl, and Zn. Detection limits in the range 10−10 to 10−14 g have been obtained for these elements using a sample volume of 0.5 μl. The detection limits are better than, or close to, the lowest reported values obtained by other workers using atomic spectrometric methods. No spectral or chemical interferences have been observed when using multiple element EDL's or standard multielement solutions. The atomic fluorescence signal obtained using argon and argon-hydrogen atmospheres has been studied as a function of the gas flow rates and as a function of height above the graphite rod atomizer. Except for Hg, better fluorescence signals are obtained with argon-hydrogen.
Cyclic fatty esters: synthesis, characterization, and lipolysis of isomeric triglycerides of 9-(6-propyl-3-cyclohexenyl)-(Z)8-nonenoic acid.

Abstract Triglycerides of a model cyclic fatty acid (CFA) 9-(6-propyl-3-cyclohexenyl)-(Z)8-nonenoic acid (Ia) were synthesized for biological and toxicity evaluations. The monoacid triglyceride II (CyCyCy) was interesterified with triolein (OOO) to obtain mixtures of diacid triglycerides: III (OOCy), IV (OCyO), V (OCyCy), and VI (CyOCy). The interesterification mixtures were separated by preparative HPLC into two ‘critical pairs’ of isomeric triglycerides. Triglycerides III–VI were synthesized and a 13C-NMR method was developed to estimate ‘critical pairs’, CFA-triglycerides were characterized by IR, NMR, HPLC and capillary GLC, and their relative rates of hydrolysis by lipase were compared. Although tricyclin (II) was completely resistant to lipolysis, triglycerides III and VI hydrolyzed significantly slower than triolein, and the ‘critical pairs’ hydrolyzed as readily as triolein. Therefore, partial CFA-triglycerides formed in heat-abused fats can undergo lipolysis and likely be absorbed like normal dietary fats.
Optical Measurement of Presynaptic Calcium Currents

Measurements of presynaptic calcium currents are vital to understanding the control of transmitter release. However, most presynaptic boutons in the vertebrate central nervous system are too small to allow electrical recordings of presynaptic calcium currents (I(Ca)pre). We therefore tested the possibility of measuring I(Ca)pre optically in boutons loaded with calcium-sensitive fluorophores. From a theoretical treatment of a system containing an endogenous buffer and an indicator, we determined the conditions necessary for the derivative of the stimulus-evoked change in indicator fluorescence to report I(Ca)pre accurately. Matching the calcium dissociation rates of the endogenous buffer and indicator allows the most precise optical measurements of I(Ca)pre. We tested our ability to measure I(Ca)pre in granule cells in rat cerebellar slices. The derivatives of stimulus-evoked fluorescence transients from slices loaded with the low-affinity calcium indicators magnesium green and mag-fura-5 had the same time courses and were unaffected by changes in calcium influx or indicator concentration. Thus both of these indicators were well suited to measuring I(Ca)pre. In contrast, the high-affinity indicator fura-2 distorted I(Ca)pre. The optically determined I(Ca)pre was well approximated by a Gaussian with a half-width of 650 micros at 24 degrees C and 340 micros at 34 degrees C.
Surface temperature fluctuations during steady state boiling

Abstract Surface temperature fluctuations during steady state boiling from a tube have been measured with a fast response thermocouple and the results of these measurements are reported. In particular, the characteristics of extremely rapid temperature drops (up to 30°F/ms) which occurred for short periods of time (1–5 ms) are reported. These rapid temperature drops accounted for up to 33 per cent of the energy removed from the tube at the thermocouple position.
Phages for the gliding bacteriumCytophaga johnsonae that infect only motile cells

Twenty-eight phages active againstCytophaga johnsonae have been isolated and placed into 16 groups based on phage size and morphology and on host range studies using a variety of mutants derived fromC. johnsonae. Several lines of evidence support the idea that these phages infect only actively motile cells: (i) many mutants selected for resistance to one phage are nonmotile and are resistant to all phages, (ii) nonmotile mutants, selected for their inability to spread on plates, are resistant to all phages, (iii) when nonmotile mutants revert to the motile condition, they regain sensitivity to some or all phages, and (iv) carbony-cyanidem-chlorophenylhydrazone inhibits motility and prevents adsorption of a test phage.
Variation in Growth Rate and Colony Morphology of Phytophthora parasitica Induced by Metalaxyl

Growing isolates P991 and P731 of Phytophthora parasitica on medium containing 25μg/ml metalaxyl for 6 weeks, caused 66-74% of their single-zoospore cultures to increase the range of growth rates on metalaxyl-free medium. Metalaxyl treatment also caused each isolate to produce six colony types, including the parental type, on medium without metalaxyl. Growth rate and colony morphology of six single-zoospore cultures each representing a different colony type did not change after five successive subcultures. However, all the five colony-type variants produced single-zoospore cultures with greater variation in growth rate than did the parental type.
Medical Student Use of Online Lectures: Exam Performance, Learning Styles, Achievement Motivation and Gender

Content delivery in the basic science curriculum is increasingly accomplished by lectures delivered online. The factors which draw some students to use online resources more than others are beginning to be explored. This project examined the relationship between entering medical students’ online lecture use, exam performance, learning styles, achievement motive and gender. We assessed learning style preference, using the VARK measure, and achievement motive, using the Achievement Motive Scale, then analyzed their online lecture use in our gross anatomy course. Exam scores for males were significantly higher than those of females and a gender effect was apparent (ANOVA) with male use higher than female. Students with higher scores for visual learning viewed lectures more than students with other preferences. There was an effect of Achievement Motive on lecture usage. Students highly motivated to achieve success are also more likely to use lectures. There was no difference in use between students with high or low motivation to avoid failure. Overall, there was a distinct temporal pattern of lecture use by day of the week or by time of day and differences between genders in use by days of the week. We also found a significant effect of success motivation on the temporal pattern of use. Findings of our study suggest a relationship between students’ learning style, motivation and their online lecture use.
Real root isolation for exp-log-arctan functions

We present a real root isolation procedure for univariate functions obtained by composition and rational operations from exp,log,arctan and real constants. The procedure was first introduced for exp-log functions in Strzebonski (2008). Here we extend the procedure to exp-log-arctan functions, describe computation with elementary constants in detail and discuss the complexity of the root isolation procedure for the general exp-log-arctan case as well as for the special case of sparse polynomials. We discuss implementation of the procedure and present empirical results.
p62cdc23 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae: a nuclear tetratricopeptide repeat protein with two mutable domains.

Abstract CDC23 is required in Saccharomyces cerevisiae for cell cycle progression through the G2/M transition. The CDC23 gene product contains tandem, imperfect repeats, termed tetratricopeptide repeats, (TPR) units common to a protein family that includes several other nuclear division CDC genes. In this report we have used mutagenesis to probe the functional significance of the TPR units within CDC23. Analysis of truncated derivatives indicates that the TPR block of CDC23 is necessary for the function or stability of the polypeptide. In-frame deletion of a single TPR unit within the repeat block proved sufficient to inactivate CDC23 in vivo, though this allele could rescue the temperature-sensitive defect of a cdc23 point mutant by intragenic complementation. By both in vitro and in vivo mutagenesis techniques, 17 thermolabile cdc23 alleles were produced and examined. Fourteen alleles contained single amino acid changes that were found to cluster within two distinct mutable domains, one of which encompasses the most canonical TPR unit found in CDC23. In addition, we have characterized CDC23 as a 62-kDa protein (p62cdc23) that is localized to the yeast nucleus. Our mutagenesis results suggest that TPR blocks form an essential domain within members of the TPR family.
Organic ions at the air/water interface

Abstract Direct spectroscopic evidence of the presence of organic phenolate ions at the air/aqueous interface has been established using the nonlinear spectroscopic technique of vibrational sum frequency generation (SFG). By probing the phenol C–OH and the phenolate C–O − vibrational stretches, which occur in the range of 1200–1300 cm −1 and are distinguishable, we have succeeded in determining the identities of the chemical species present at the air/aqueous interface of phenol–phenolate solutions at bulk pH values ranging from 3.2 to 13.2. We have found that in addition to phenolate ions that phenol is present at the interface at high bulk pH values.
Poisson's Ratio for Honeycomb Sandwich Cores

0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.6 PsMs 0.8 1.0 2.0 constant specific heats, constant Prandtl Number, isothermal wall, and similar boundary-layer profiles. The latter assump­ tion—'that is, that the dimensionless velocity and thermal pro­ files are functions of a single variable—is physically correct at the stagnation line of the cylinder. Values of the heat-transfer parameter obtained from these solutions are plotted in Fig. 1 versus the ratio (psp:s/pw^w) where subscript s now denotes values in the external flow at the stagna­ tion line of the cylinder as well as the stagnation point of a body of revolution. The solutions for /3 = 0.5 and X = 1.0 are applied to a body of revolution by the use of Mangler's transformation relating two- dimensional and axisymmetric flows. Since the Sutherland viscosity formula and constant Prandtl Number are used in reference 1, as well as in the present solutions, the close agreement between the present results for (3 = 0.5 and Eq. (1) indicates that the heat-transfer parameter at a stagnation point is not sensitive to the effects of dissociation on density and specific heat within the boundary layer. For equilibrium disso­ ciation and Lewis Number 1, the heat-transfer rate at a three- dimensional stagnation point can then be calculated from the equation1 qw = VPwfjLw(dUe/dx)s ((hs - hw)/a) (Nu/VRe). (2) where the symbols are those of reference 1, and all quantities are evaluated in the real-gas flow except {Nu/\/Re) which may be obtained from either Eq. (1) or a solution of the boundary-layer equations for a perfect gas with Sutherland's viscosity formula provided that the value of psVs/pwVw applying to the solution is equal to the real-gas value. The heat transfer at the stagnation line of a yawed cylinder is also calculated from Eq. (2) except that hs should be replaced by the adiabatic wall enthalpy given by the equation2 A N INTERESTING mechanical property of honeycomb cores is •^ *• their Poisson's ratio: it is very sensitive to cell geometry and can assume values from zero to about three. Large values may be observed when flexing some slabs of honeycomb with flat cell walls, while rippled-wall honeycombs demonstrate zero Poisson's ratio. The ratio of anticlastic curvatures is indicative of the value of Poisson's ratio for axial loading in the plane of the slab.
A Simulation of Gas-Based, Endometrial-Ablation Therapy

The method of numerical simulation has been employed to evaluate the use of a gas as a heating medium for endometrial ablation for the treatment of menorrhagia and uterine fibroids. The simulations encompassed fluid flow and heat transfer within the gaseous medium which serves to heat the uterine lining and the coupled heat conduction in the uterine tissue. For the case study featured here, helium at a temperature of 140 °C was employed as the heating medium. A total therapy duration of 6 min was modeled. The outcome of the simulation has provided quantitative information about the detailed necrosis depths that can be attained by the application of the therapy. In particular, necrosis depths on the order of 5 mm were achieved. It was also shown that by making use of a tailored pattern of fluid flow within the uterine cavity, particular zones on the uterine lining such as fibroids can be selectively targeted. Furthermore, the duration of the therapy needed to achieve a desired degree of necrosis can be predicted in advance. The advantages of a gas-based therapy relative to a liquid-based therapy are identified. Significant among these is the capability of the gas-based therapy to target specific zones which require treatment, while sparing healthy tissue. Another significant advantage of gas-based therapy is that it enables the use of higher temperatures which, in turn, allows the therapeutic process to be performed in a shorter time duration.
The primitive in modern architecture and urbanism Introduction

Cities force growth and make men talkative and entertaining, but they make them artificial. Ralph Waldo Emerson, Farming (1870) Yes, indeed, the savages have taught many things to the man of an old...
Glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65) immunoreactivity in brains of aggressive, adolescent anabolic steroid-treated hamsters.

Chronic anabolic–androgenic steroid (AAS) treatment during adolescence facilitates offensive aggression in male Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). The current study assessed whether adolescent AAS exposure influenced the immunohistochemical localization of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65), the rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), in areas of hamster brain implicated in aggressive behavior. Hamsters were administered high dose AAS throughout adolescence, scored for offensive aggression, and then examined for differences in GAD65 puncta to regions of the hamster brain important for aggression. When compared with control animals, aggressive AAS-treated hamsters showed significant increases in the area covered by GAD65 immunoreactive puncta in several of these aggression regions, including the anterior hypothalamus, ventrolateral hypothalamus, and medial amygdala. Conversely, aggressive AAS-treated hamsters showed a significant decrease in GAD65-ir puncta in the lateral septum when compared with oil-treated controls. However, no differences in GAD65 puncta were found in other aggression areas, such as the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and central amygdala. Together, these results support a role for altered GAD65 synthesis and function in adolescent AAS-facilitated offensive aggression.
A greedy algorithm for gene selection based on SVM and correlation

Microarrays serve scientists as a powerful and efficient tool to observe thousands of genes and analyse their activeness in normal or cancerous tissues. In general, microarrays are used to measure the expression levels of thounsands of genes in a cell mixture. Gene expression data obtained from microarrays can be used for various applications. One such application is that of gene selection. Gene selection is very similar to the feature selection problem addressed in the machine-learning area. In a nutshell, gene selection is the problem of identifying a minimum set of genes that are responsible for certain events (for example the presence of cancer). Informative gene selection is an important problem arising in the analysis of microarray data. In this paper, we present a novel algorithm for gene selection that combines Support Vector Machines (SVMs) with gene correlations. Experiments show that the new algorithm, called GCI-SVM, obtains a higher classification accuracy using a smaller number of selected genes than the well-known algorithms in the literature.
Calcination and Sintering Study of Thoria

Data on the effect of calcination temperature on surface area, apparent crystallite size, compactibility, sintered density, and volume shrinkage are presented for thoria prepared from the oxy-carbonate, chloride, nitrate, and oxalate. Surface area and volume shrinkage decreased with rising calcination temperature. Thoria obtained from the oxycarbonate exhibited the greatest sinterability; material derived from the nitrate showed the least. Maximum bulk densities were achieved using material resulting from the calcination of the oxycarbonate between 600° and 100°C. Densities of 95 to 98% of the theoretical value of thoria were attained by compacting these powders at pressures above 20 tsi and firing at 1500°C for 24 hours. Urania-thoria solid solutions incorporating thoria obtained by calcination of the chloride exhibited the highest fired densities.
TLR3-Specific Double-Stranded RNA Oligonucleotide Adjuvants Induce Dendritic Cell Cross-Presentation, CTL Responses, and Antiviral Protection

Maturation of dendritic cells (DC) to competent APC is essential for the generation of acquired immunity and is a major function of adjuvants. dsRNA, a molecular signature of viral infection, drives DC maturation by activating TLR3, but the size of dsRNA required to activate DC and the expression patterns of TLR3 protein in DC subsets have not been established. In this article, we show that cross-priming CD8α(+) and CD103(+) DC subsets express much greater levels of TLR3 than other DC. In resting DC, TLR3 is located in early endosomes and other intracellular compartments but migrates to LAMP1(+) endosomes on stimulation with a TLR3 ligand. Using homogeneous dsRNA oligonucleotides (ONs) ranging in length from 25 to 540 bp, we observed that a minimum length of ∼90 bp was sufficient to induce CD86, IL-12p40, IFN-β, TNF-α, and IL-6 expression, and to mature DC into APC that cross-presented exogenous Ags to CD8(+) T cells. TLR3 was essential for activation of DC by dsRNA ONs, and the potency of activation increased with dsRNA length and varied between DC subsets. In vivo, dsRNA ONs, in a size-dependent manner, served as adjuvants for the generation of Ag-specific CTL and for inducing protection against lethal challenge with influenza virus when given with influenza nucleoprotein as an immunogen. These results provide the basis for the development of TLR3-specific adjuvants capable of inducing immune responses tailored for viral pathogens.
Myocardial infarction associated with antihypertensive drug therapy

In Reply. —Drs Cooper and Freeman mention the publicity following the March 1995 presentation. Perhaps the major cause of the controversy is the almost complete absence of evidence from large long-term clinical trials proving that
Prediction of leaf/stem ratio using. near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS): A technical note

Leaf/stem ratio of grass stands is an important factor affecting diet selection, quality, and forage intake. Determination of leaf/stem ratio involves a labor-intensive process of hand separating leaf and stem fractions. Our objectives in this study were to evaluate leaf/stem ratio prediction using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) in monocultures of big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman), switch-grass (Panicum virgatum L.), intermediate wheatgrass [Thinopyrum intermedian (Host) Barkw. & D.R. Dewey], and smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.). Samples of each species were hand-clipped from monocultures at four locations throughout Nebraska in the 1997 and 1998 growing seasons. Ground samples were scanned by a Perstorp model 6500 near-infrared scanning monochromator. Calibration equations were developed using CENTER and SELECT procedures. Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy estimated leaf/stem ratio in monocultures of big bluestem, switchgrass, intermediate wheatgrass, and smooth bromegrass with a coefficient of determination (r 2 ) of 0.73, 0.96, 0.75, and 0.84, respectively. Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy was a rapid means of estimating leaf/stem ratio in these grasses.
Modified STOP-Bang Tool for Stratifying Obstructive Sleep Apnea Risk in Adolescent Children.

Purpose Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is prevalent in children and diagnostic polysomnography is costly and not readily available in all areas. We developed a pediatric modification of a commonly used adult clinical prediction tool for stratifying the risk of OSA and the need for polysomnography. Methods A total of 312 children (age 9–17 years) from phase 2 of the Tucson Children’s Assessment of Sleep Apnea cohort study, with complete anthropomorphic data, parent questionnaires, and home polysomnograms were included. An adolescent modification of STOP-Bang (teen STOP-Bang) was developed and included snoring, tired, observed apnea, blood pressure ≥ 95th percentile, BMI > 95th percentile, academic problems, neck circumference >95th percentile for age, and male gender. An apnea-hypopnea index ≥ 1.5 events/hour was considered diagnostic of OSA. Results Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) curves for parent-reported STOP-Bang scores were generated for teenage and pre-teen children. A STOP-Bang score of < 3 in teenagers was associated with a negative predictive value of 0.96. ROC curves were also generated based upon child-reported sexual maturity rating (SMR; n = 291). The ability of teen STOP-Bang to discriminate the presence or absence of OSA as measured by the AUC for children with SMR ≥ 4 (0.83; 95%CI 0.71–0.95) was better than children with SMR < 4 (0.63; 95%CI 0.46–0.81; p = 0.048). Conclusions In community dwelling adolescents, teen STOP-Bang may be useful in stratifying the risk of OSA.
Intensive chemotherapy and bone marrow rescue for young children with newly diagnosed malignant brain tumors.

PURPOSETo evaluate a strategy that avoids radiotherapy in children less than 6 years of age with newly diagnosed malignant brain tumors, by administering myeloablative consolidation chemotherapy with autologous bone marrow reconstitution (ABMR) after maximal surgical resection and conventional induction chemotherapy.PATIENTS AND METHODSBetween March 1991 and April 1995, 62 children (median age, 30 months) with newly diagnosed malignant brain tumors were enrolled onto this trial. Children received conventional induction chemotherapy with vincristine, cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, and etoposide, repeated every 3 weeks for five cycles. Children without disease progression on induction chemotherapy were offered consolidation with myeloablative chemotherapy that incorporated carboplatin, thiotepa, and etoposide followed by ABMR. Irradiation was used only for residual tumor at consolidation or for progressive/recurrent disease.RESULTSInduction chemotherapy was well tolerated by most patients; however, progressio...
The ecology of methane in streams and rivers: patterns, controls, and global significance

"Support for this paper was provided by funding from the North Temperate Lakes LTER program, NSF DEB‐0822700."
External and Internal Environmental Determinants of Perceived Uncertainty

Research of uncertainty has traditionally focused on dimensions of the external environment as key sources of decision-making uncertainty. The research reported here seeks to supplement the traditional perspective by examining the roles of two important internal channel environment dimensions. Specifically, measures reflecting member performance and leader provision of information are included with measures of environmental capacity and dynamism to model decision-making uncertainty. Data were obtained from dealers in the fran-chised automobile industry, and results indicate that one of the internal environment constructs, dealer performance, is a consistently significant explanator of decision-making uncertainty. Environmental dynamism is also found to be positively related to uncertainty.
Imagining the Unimaginable: World War, Modern Art, and the Politics of Public Culture in Russia, 1914–1917. By Aaron J. Cohen

(2010). Imagining the Unimaginable: World War, Modern Art, and the Politics of Public Culture in Russia, 1914–1917. By Aaron J. Cohen. Cultural and Social History: Vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 133-135.
Sharing a SOFA with Iraq: Towards a Status of Forces Agreement

JURIST Guest Columnist Kevin Govern of Ave Maria School of Law,says that a viable Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) and Strategic Framework Agreement between the US and Iraq governing future US troop presence in the country requires a variety of institutional, legal and political obstacles to be overcome before the UN mandate for coalition forces in Iraq runs out.
Drawing liquid metal wires at room temperature

Abstract This paper describes an extremely facile method to fabricate metallic wires at room temperature. The wires form by stretching viscoelastic polymer substrates supporting a drop of gallium-based liquid metal. Stretching the polymer causes the metal to also elongate due to the adhesion between the two materials. The diameters of the resulting wires, which can be as small as 10 μm, decrease with increasing strain. This method is inspired by the process used for drawing optical fibers, which involves pulling a pre-form cylinder of molten glass until it thins to the size of a fiber. In contrast, the process here is done at room temperature and realized without the need for large forces. Moreover, geometries beyond simple wires are possible including parallel, core–shell, branched, and helix structures. The resulting wires can be elastic (stretchable), viscoelastic (soft), or plastic (stiff) depending on the chemistry and post-processing of the polymer. Wires can make electrical contacts by allowing the metal to sink through the viscoelastic polymer onto a substrate containing electrodes. In addition, removing the polymer substrate after elongation produces freestanding liquid metal wires stabilized by the surface oxide on the metal. Rheological studies show that polymers with a variety of properties can be utilized to form these wires including viscoelastic materials and gels. The ability to form metallic wires in a simple manner may find uses in soft and stretchable electronics, or enable new applications, such as ‘wires on demand’ for repairing electrical connections.
High-sensitivity laser-based ultrasonic C-scan system for materials inspection

A beam-steering C-scan system for laser generation and detection of ultrasound in opaque solids has been developed. For ultrasound detection, the system uses a confocal Fabry-Perot interferometer that is stabilized at its high-sensitivity point by implementing a novel procedure that does not require a reference beam. This stabilization procedure effectively compensates for slowly varying (up to 2 Hz) disturbances and, more important, for any change in the interferometer illumination conditions while probing different scanning points. For the latter reason, the proposed stabilization appears to be more effective than previous approaches for high-sensitivity ultrasound detection in beamsteering scans. Noise performance and sensitivity limit of the system are evaluated. Ultrasonic echoes are detected in aluminum samples having optically rough surfaces with single-pulse generation signal-to-noise ratios on the order of 20 dB. A C-scan inspection is performed where a known defect in the test piece is successfully detected by time-of-flight gating of the ultrasonic signals.
INVESTIGATION ON THE REASON OF ABNORMAL INCREASE ON DIARRHEA CASES IN PEDIATRIC CLINIC

Objective To study the reason of abnormal increase on other infectious diarrhea cases in some pediatric clinics in order to propose countermeasures timely.Methods The retrospective survey was used to investigate and to analyze the diarrhea cases possibly caused by nosocomial infection in the pediatric clinics.Results Frequency of diarrhea receptions in the pediatric clinics in November 2013 significantly increased compared to that in November 2012(χ2= 142.967,P =0.000).However,the difference of the occurrence of cases possibly caused by hospital infection between November 2013 and November 2012 had not been detected(χ2= 1.902,P = 0.168).Frequency of daily clinic visits of diarrhea cases possibly caused by nosocamial infection in November 2013 was higher than that in November 2012.The positive rate of the Rotavirus antigen in the external environment of the pediatric clinics was 14.29%(3 /21).After the implement of disinfection and isolation measures,Enterovirus was not detected in the laboratory test.Conclusion Nosocomial infection is not the major reason of the abnormal increase of other infectious diarrhea cases.
Resectoscopic management of müllerian fusion defects

Of the 103 patients taken to the operating room for hysteroscopic resection of a septum, 72 underwent successful resection of the septum. The initial hysterogram can identify those patients who may benefit from the procedure but cannot discriminate between bicornuate and septate uteri. Knowledge of the size and contour of the uterus is essential to the final decision to proceed transcervically, opposed to transabdominally. In the transcervical repair group, at the time this article was written, there were 58 term deliveries and 5 ongoing pregnancies greater than 30 weeks (1 had a spontaneous abortion after surgery and subsequently conceived a term pregnancy), for a successful pregnancy rate of 86%. This correlated well with the pregnancy rates observed after metroplasty. Therefore, hysteroscopic resection constitutes a valuable alternative to the classical transabdominal approach.
Digestible tryptophan requirements of starting, growing, and finishing pigs.

Seven hundred eight crossbred pigs were used in growth and digestion trials to determine the digestible tryptophan (Trp) requirement of starting (6 to 16 kg), growing (22 to 50 kg), and finishing (55 to 97 kg) pigs. Each growth trial evaluated a corn-fish meal-corn gluten meal basal diet, the basal diet with five incremental additions of L-Trp, and a control corn-soybean meal diet. The tryptophan content of the six incremental diets ranged from .13 to .255% for starting pigs, .08 to .18% for growing pigs, and .063 to .163% for finishing pigs. Lysine contents of basal diets were 1.38, .90, and .72% for starting, growing, and finishing diets, respectively. In all trials, ADG, ADFI, and gain/feed increased (P less than .001) linearly and quadratically as dietary Trp increased. Broken-line regression analyses determined the total dietary Trp requirements needed to optimize performance to be .19, .13, and .09% (as-fed basis) for starting, growing, and finishing pigs, respectively. These concentrations equated to Trp intakes of .96, 2.18, and 2.88 g/d. A digestion trial using growing pigs (29 kg initially) determined the apparent ileal digestibility of Trp in the basal starting and growing diets to be 72 and 70%, respectively; a similar trial with finishing pigs (55 kg initially) found 59% Trp digestibility for the basal finishing diet. Mean digestibility of L-Trp was 97%. Based on these values and the total Trp requirements given above, the digestible Trp requirements are .15, .10, and .06% for starting, growing, and finishing pigs, respectively.
Classification and clustering methods for multiple environmental factors in gene-environment interaction: Application to the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis

There has been an increased interest in identifying gene-environment interaction (G × E) in the context of multiple environmental exposures. Most G × E studies analyze one exposure at a time, but we are exposed to multiple exposures in reality. Efficient analysis strategies for complex G × E with multiple environmental factors in a single model are still lacking. Using the data from the Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, we illustrate a two-step approach for modeling G × E with multiple environmental factors. First, we utilize common clustering and classification strategies (e.g., k-means, latent class analysis, classification and regression trees, Bayesian clustering using Dirichlet Process) to define subgroups corresponding to distinct environmental exposure profiles. Second, we illustrate the use of an additive main effects and multiplicative interaction model, instead of the conventional saturated interaction model using product terms of factors, to study G × E with the data-driven exposure subgroups defined in the first step. We demonstrate useful analytical approaches to translate multiple environmental exposures into one summary class. These tools not only allow researchers to consider several environmental exposures in G × E analysis but also provide some insight into how genes modify the effect of a comprehensive exposure profile instead of examining effect modification for each exposure in isolation.
Performance of and Nutrient Utilization by Steers Consuming Kenaf, Pearl Millet, or Mixed Grass1

ABSTRACT Kenaf [Hibiscus cannabinus L.] is primarily used as an industrial fiber. However, during the vegetative phase, nutrients from kenaf may be utilized as cattle feed. To determine animal performance, grazing trials were conducted for 2 consecutive yr. During the first year, 72 steers (214 ± 65 kg) were assigned to one of three forages: kenaf, pearl millet, or a bermudagrass/dallisgrass mix and allowed to graze for 56 d. Average daily gains for steers grazing pearl millet was greater (P
Financing Transportation Projects

Funding for transportation projects has historically come from governments, including federal, state, and local levels. This remains the current approach as well. More than $200 billion per year is invested in transportation projects [3] across the U.S. The largest source of revenue is the tax on gasoline, both at the federal and state levels.