cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A priori study of the order-disorder phase transition in NaNO2

Abstract We present a direct molecular dynamics simulation of the order- disorder transition in NaNO 2 , using ab initio interionic potentials generated by a recent hybrid quantum chemistry-Gordon-Kim method. Our theoretical transition temperature agrees well with the experimental value and the simulation also describes the melting transition of NaNO 2 quite reasonably.
Electrostatic Switches That Mediate the pH-Dependent Conformational Change of “Short” Recombinant Human Pseudocathepsin D

Human Cathepsin D (hCatD) is an aspartic peptidase with a low pH optimum. X-ray crystal structures have been solved for an active, low pH (pH 5.1) form (CatDlo) [Baldwin ET, Bhat, T.N., Gulnik, S., Hosur, M.V., Sowder, R.C., Cachau, R.E., Collins, J., Silva, A.M. and Erickson J.W. (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 90:6796–6800] and an inactive, high pH (pH 7.5) form (CatDhi) [Lee AY, Gulnik SV, Erickson JW. (1998) Nat Struct Biol 5:866–871]. It has been suggested that ionizable switches involving the carboxylate side chains of E5, E180, and D187 may mediate the reversible interconversion between CatDhi and CatDlo and that Y10 stabilizes CatDhi [Lee AY, Gulnik SV, Erickson JW. (1998) Nat Struct Biol 5:866–871]. To test these hypotheses, we generated single point mutants in “short” recombinant human pseudocathepsin D (srCatD), a model kinetically similar to hCatD [Beyer BM and Dunn BM. (1996) J Biol Chem 271:15590–15596]. E180Q, Y10F, and D187N exhibit significantly higher kcat/Km values (2, 3, and 6-fold, respectively) at pH 3.7 and pH 4.75 compared to srCatD indicating that these residues are important in stabilizing the CatDhi. E5Q exhibits a 2-fold lower kcat/Km compared to srCatD at both pH values indicating the importance of E5 in stabilizing the CatDlo. Accordingly, full time-course “pH-jump” (pH 5.5 to 4.75) studies of substrate hydrolysis indicate that E180Q, D187N, and Y10F have shorter kinetic lag phases that represent the change from CatDhi to CatDlo compared to srCatD and E5Q. Intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence reveals that the variants have a native-like structure over the pH range of our assays. The results indicate that E180 and D187 participate as an electrostatic switch that initiates the conformational change of CatDlo to CatDhi and Y10 stabilizes CatDhi by hydrogen bonding to the catalytic Asp 33. E5 appears to play a less significant role as an ionic switch that stabilizes CatDlo.
Infliximab for pulmonary symptoms of perianal crohns disease

A 24 year-old man with a history of Crohn's disease of the ileum and colon and previous perianal fistula presented with a non-productive cough of 2 months duration. He had been on no maintenance therapy for his Crohn's disease, and simultaneous to the development of the cough, he developed active inflammatory symptoms of diarrhea, and perianal fistula drainage. Initial referral by his primary care physician to a pulmonary specialist resulted in a work-up including chest radiograph, pulmonary function testing, chest computed tomography, and empiric therapies including bronchodilators, cough expectorants and suppressants, and even proton pump inhibitors for possible extra-esophageal reflux disease. He did not have relief of symptoms despite these efforts. He was then referred to gastroenterology for evaluation of his active Crohn's disease. Upper endoscopy revealed no evidence of gastric or esophageal Crohn's disease, and colonoscopy confirmed the presence of active inflammatory bowel disease of the terminal ileum and perianal area. He was initiated with azathioprine 2 mg/kg and infliximab 5 mg/kg at weeks 0, 2 and 6. Several days after the first infusion of infliximab, his inflammatory bowel symptoms resolved, but surprisingly, his persistent cough disappeared as well. In the ensuing 2 years, he has required maintenance infusions of inflixmab approximately every 8 weeks, and occasionally has had breakthrough bowel symptoms accompanied by respiratory symptoms, both of which rapidly respond to repeat infusions. A variety of pulmonary manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease have been described, usually with pleural or bronchial abnormalities which can be demonstrated by CT scan. However, also described is an idiopathic phenomenon without obvious laboratory or imaging findings. In this case, the respiratory symptoms paralleled the activity of the Crohn's disease. Whether the infliximab was treating the bowel which in turn improved the lungs, or whether infliximab addressed a separate parallel TNF-mediated condition in the lungs remains unclear.
Populism vs. Elitism: Social Consensus and Social Status as Bases of Attitude Certainty

This study examined the effects of social consensus and social status on attitude certainty that is conceptualized multi-dimensionally as perceived clarity and correctness of one's attitude. In a mock opinion exchange about a social issue, participants were either supported (high consensus) or opposed (low consensus) by most of the confederates. They were informed that their opinion (high status) or their opponents' opinion (low status) had the alleged psychological significance indicative of future success. Post-experimental attitude clarity was significantly greater when attitudinal position was associated with high rather than low status. Attitude correctness was interactively affected by social status and social consensus. Supporting the compensatory effect hypothesis, attitude correctness was comparable across the levels of social consensus as long as they were associated with high status, and across the levels of social status as long as they were associated with high social consensus.
High-Precision, Simultaneous Analysis of Pt, Pd, and Rh in Catalytic Converter Samples by Carius Tube Dissolution and Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy with Charge-Injection Device Detection

A robust method of analysis that uses multichannel array detector technology is presented for high-precision, accurate measurement of Pt, Pd and Rh in catalytic converters. Catalytic converter samples, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) reference standards, and a fresh converter sample are dissolved and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Complete dissolution of sample sizes up to 2 g of NIST reference standards is achieved with the use of high-pressure, high-temperature carius tubes. Carius tube dissolution of a modern catalytic converter sample is found to be incomplete because of the presence of higher concentrations of Ce, Ni, and Zr. For this sample, the addition of FeCl3 increases the dissolving power of the carius tube for base metals and noble metals, particularly Rh. Although interference problems are encountered in samples bearing high concentrations of Fe, use of a high-resolution ICP-AES system alleviated these problems. Precise quantitation of Pt, Pd, and Rh is accomplished by using the method of standard additions, with high accuracy and a precision of 1–2% RSD (relative standard deviation). This analysis also confirmed the values determined by NIST by using isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for standard reference materials (SRMs) 2556 and 2557.
A Computer-Aided Instructional Environment

A computer-aided instructional environment which is based primarily upon the direct manipulation paradigm to promote learning by doing, or discovery learning is described. This environment has been implemented and used in an introductory computer science course to teach algorithmic problem-solving. It has been developed as a modular software system which is easily adapted for a wide range of instructional activities and student populations. It provides a simple, adaptable, and conceptually uniform approach to the development of a class of practical CAI systems. Several important characteristics of this computer-aided instructional environment include guiding students toward understanding a concept without being too obtrusive, introducing example tasks and subtasks so students can discover concepts on their own by generalizing from examples, providing meaningful graphical and/or verbal feedback to students, recognizing and gently correcting misconceptions, and knowing when to terminate a tutoring session.
Is race associated with morbidity and mortality after hospital discharge among neonates undergoing heart surgery

This study aimed to characterize the impact of race on morbidity and mortality after hospital discharge from neonatal congenital heart surgery. A retrospective chart review examined all the neonates who underwent neonatal heart surgery from January 2005 to June 2006 at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. After risk adjustment for the type of surgery using the Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery 1 (RACHS-1) method, the association of race with mortality after hospital discharge was assessed using Fisher’s exact test for statistical analysis. A cross-sectional telephone survey of surviving patients also was conducted to examine the association of race and social factors with adverse events (admissions or reinterventions). Mortality status was known for 201 of the 217 patients screened. The mortality rate after discharge was 8 %, with a higher mortality rate for nonwhite patients (14 %) than for white patients (4 %) (p = 0.01). After risk adjustment, this effect was limited to nonwhite patients with less complex heart disease (RACHS-1 categories 1–3; 17 vs 2 %, respectively; p = 0.01). The survey completion rate was 54 %. In this cohort, race also was independently associated with adverse events among patients with less complex heart disease (RACHS-1 categories 1–3; nonwhites 53 % vs whites 25 %; p = 0.046). Among the patients with less complex heart disease, the nonwhite patients had a significantly higher risk of morbidity and mortality after hospital discharge than the white patients.
A study of the Ge-GeO2 system by an inductively heated DTA apparatus

Abstract An inductively heated differential thermal analysis (DTA) apparatus has been developed which should allow use of the DTA method up to temperatures of 3000°C and above. The apparatus has been applied to a study of the Ge-GeO2 phase diagram. No evidence for GeO solid was found. The diagram is of the simple eutectic type with a miscibility gap for the liquids.
Divergent Selection for Body Density in Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

Abstract Japanese quail were selected divergently for body density over three generations for study of direct responses and correlated responses in body weight, volume, and shank length. Testing of differences occurred in the fourth generation by comparisons with a control population. Absolute standardized selection differentials were similar throughout generation-replicate subclasses. The line selected for high body density (H) and that selected for low body density (L) differed significantly (P
Caffeine Effects on Behavioral Thermoregulation

Caffeine has a wide range of behaviorally active properties. Varying doses of caffeine solutions were administered (ip) prior to fixed-interval 2-min. schedules of microwave reinforcement in rats tested in a cold environment. Four Sprague-Dawley rats were conditioned to regulate their thermal environment with 5-sec. exposures of microwave reinforcement. Graphic descriptions showed that small doses of caffeine produced higher response rates for microwave heat than high doses of caffeine and saline controls, yet Friedman's nonparametric test showed no significant differences between dose levels. Synergism between thermogenic and discriminative properties of caffeine is proposed.
Band to band hopping in one-dimensional maps

One-dimensional maps have chaotic bands which may merge at critical values of the control parameter, a. Just after the merger, one can define a band-to-band hopping time, which diverges as la - a,/-"Z for a map with a zth-order maximum. Numerical data are presented to support this conclusion.
The German University since world war II

(1987). The German University since world war II. History of European Ideas: Vol. 8, No. 2, pp. 147-154.
A jellyfish-eating sea anemone (Cnidaria, Actiniaria) from Palau: Entacmaea medusivora sp. nov.

Entacmaea medusivora sp. nov., a member of the family Actiniidae, inhabits Jellyfish Lake in Palau, western Caroline Islands, and eats the rhizostome jellyfish Mastigias papua. The anemone is azooxanthellate, despite its jellyfish prey containing symbiotic algae. Well fed anemones released ciliated planula-like larvae in the laboratory when maintained at more than 30 °C. It could not be determined whether the larvae, which usually settled around the parent within 24 h of release, were produced sexually or asexually.
Process of biosynthetic protein folding determines the rapid formation of native structure.

Biosynthetic folding, beginning with the growing nascent chain and leading to the biologically active structure within its proper cellular context, is one function shared by all proteins. We show that the bacterial luciferase beta subunit reaches its final native form in the alphabeta heterodimer much more rapidly during biosynthetic folding than during refolding from urea. The rate of formation of active enzyme is determined by a short-lived folding intermediate, which is able to associate with the alpha subunit very rapidly following release from the ribosome. This intermediate appears to involve a transient interaction of the C-terminal region of the beta subunit, a region distant from the subunit interface, but intimately involved in heterodimerization. Refolding of the beta subunit under similar conditions proceeds much more slowly. We have characterized both pathways and show that the basic difference between biosynthetic folding and refolding from urea is that the newly synthesized beta subunit enters the folding pathway at a point beyond the slow, rate-determining step that limits the rate of the renaturation process and constitutes a kinetic trap. This mechanism embodies a major strategy, the avoidance of slow-folding intermediates and kinetic traps, that may be employed by many proteins to achieve fast and efficient biosynthetic folding.
World energy demand and world security

Global oil production is expected to reach a peak before the year 1990. Abundant coal supplies in the United States appear to be something of a mixed blessing, due to the increasingly well-recognized social and environmental problems from mining and burning coal. Nuclear power turns out to be more expensive than it appeared a decade ago, in part because of the formidable safety and environmental hazards posed. Given that supplies of energy are very unevenly distributed across the globe, if energy prices continue to rise over the next decade the potential for violent international conflict is very real. It should therefore be useful to review what is known about world energy supply and demand, and to consider some implications for energy research and development in the United States and abroad. I shall suggest that for various reasons solar energy may look even more attractive in global perspective than it does from a more narrowly United States-centered view. Its successful exploitation on a world scale nevertheless requires careful attention to foreign countries' goals and constraints.
Marching to the beat of a different drummer: Examining the impact of pacing congruence

Abstract In this article, we develop theory predicting the impact of being in (and out) of sync with the general pace of the social environment at work. We examine how fit and misfit between individual and aggregate work group hurriedness impact satisfaction, psychological strain, and helping behavior. The hypotheses are tested in a manufacturing organization using a combination of polynomial regression and hierarchical linear modeling. Response surface graphs indicate that fit with the hurriedness of the work group generally maximizes satisfaction and helping behavior. A more complex relationship determines strain. In comparing misfit situations, individuals are less strained and less satisfied when they exceed the work group’s pace versus when work group pace exceeds theirs.
Acute and chronic actions of ethanol on CA1 hippocampal responses to serotonin

The effects of acute or chronic ethanol on serotonin (5-HT)-induced membrane hyperpolarization and inhibition of the slow Ca2+-dependent after hyperpolarization (sAHP) were recorded in rat CA1 pyramidal neurons in hippocampal slices using sharp intracellular electrodes. 5-HT (1–100 μM) caused concentration-dependent hyperpolarization of the membrane that was not altered by simultaneous 30 mM ethanol treatment, but blunted by 10 μM buspirone, a weak 5-HT1A agonist. 5-HT (1–30 μM) also partially inhibited (≈ 40%) the sAHP following a burst of five or more action potentials. Initially ethanol (30 mM) alone did not alter the sAHP, but over a period of 38 min, a slow increase in amplitude (≈ 40%) was observed. 5-HT-mediated inhibition of the sAHP was significantly greater with ethanol present, regardless of the length of exposure. Pyramidal neurons in hippocampal slices prepared from ethanol-dependent animals showed no obvious signs of withdrawal related hyperexcitability and neither concentration-dependent membrane hyperpolarization nor sAHP inhibition caused by 5-HT were significantly changed from responses in controls. These results suggest that hyperpolarizing responses to 5-HT in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons are functionally resistant to acute or chronic ethanol treatment. 5-HT-mediated inhibition of the sAHP is enhanced by ethanol acutely, but does not show an adaptive change as a result of ethanol dependence.
The transition to marriage and changes in alcohol involvement among black couples and white couples.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess whether the reduction in alcohol involvement typically associated with the transition to marriage differs for blacks, compared with whites. Method: Couples (n = 248, white; n = 100, black) in which both partners were entering into their first marriage were assessed at the time of marriage, their first anniversary and their second anniversary. At each wave, husbands and wives were each given an identical questionnaire packet to complete independently at home and a postage-paid envelope for packet return. A broad range of constructs was assessed, including personality characteristics, relationship functioning, drinking behaviors and social network characteristics. Alcohol involvement measures included average daily volume of consumption, frequency of heavy drinking, alcohol-related problems and alcohol dependence. Results: Whites decreased their frequency of heavy drinking and alcohol dependence over the early marital years, whereas blacks remained relative...
Electronic structure calculations by quantum Monte Carlo methods

Abstract Recent development of quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) methods and their applications will be presented. The methodology of construction of many-body correlated wave functions will be briefly described together with the variational and diffusion Monte Carlo methods. Several applications of QMC such as energy ordering for Si and C cluster isomers and cohesive energies and excitations in insulating solids will be mentioned. Overall, the QMC methods are currently applicable to a few hundred valence electron sp systems with statistical uncertainties of the order of 0.1 eV for energy differences and decrease errors of mean-field methods by a factor of 5–10 when compared with available experiments. Comparisons with other explicitly correlated methods indicate the QMC advantages in the efficient description of correlation effects and scaling in the number of electrons. The variety of treated systems demonstrates the usefulness and wide applicability of this approach. These advantages together with the obtained results show that QMC is becoming a powerful predictive tool and a new alternative for ab initio electronic structure calculations.
The Effects of Governance on the Accuracy of Charitable Expenses Reported by Nonprofit Organizations

Abstract: Various users rely on nonprofit financial information for investing, contracting, and regulating decisions. The ratio of reported charitable to total expenses is one of the most widely used metrics to measure nonprofit performance. Prior research shows that many nonprofit organizations inflate this ratio by overstating their charitable expenses, reducing the decision usefulness of the information. Using a large sample of data from 1998–2006, as well as a sample of data from the newly redesigned 2008 IRS form 990, we find that existing governance mechanisms improve the accuracy of reported charitable expenses across a broad sample of nonprofit organizations.
Therapies for scleroderma-related pulmonary arterial hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a common complication of systemic sclerosis, carries a very severe prognosis and is one of the leading causes of death in patients who suffer from it. Indeed, response to modern medical therapy has been disappointing in scleroderma-related PAH compared with other forms of PAH from the WHO group 1 classification of diseases, despite similar histological changes involving the pulmonary vasculature. This review discusses specific features of scleroderma-related PAH, currently available and US FDA-approved therapy for this syndrome, as well as potential future therapeutic developments based on newly acquired knowledge of this disorder.
Biliary Dysgenesis in the PCK Rat, an Orthologous Model of Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease

Hepatic polycystic disease occurs alone or in combination with polycystic kidney disease (PKD). In autosomal recessive PKD (ARPKD), liver lesions are the major cause of morbidity and mortality in older patients. ARPKD is caused by a mutation to PKHD1 and the PCK rat is an orthologous model of disease. Recently, we showed that fibrocystin, Pkhd1 protein, is localized to primary cilia in rat cholangiocytes and that disruption of its ciliary expression results in biliary cystogenesis. This study describes biliary phenotype in the PCK rat using micro-computed tomography scanning and three-dimensional reconstruction, and light, scanning, and transmission microscopy. Our results show that the biliary tree undergoes extensive remodeling resulting in bile duct dilatation, focal budding, and formation of cysts that are initially connected to bile ducts, but throughout time separate from them. Progressive liver enlargement results from massive cyst formation while liver parenchymal volume remains unchanged. Cilia in cystic cells are abnormal consistent with the notion that the primary defect in ARPKD resulting in cystogenesis may be linked to ciliary dysfunction. Our results suggest that the PCK rat is a useful model for studies of biliary cystogenesis and treatment options of inherited cystic liver disease.
The differential effects of parental divorce and marital conflict on young adult romantic relationships

The differential effects of parental divorce and marital conflict on young adult children's romantic relationships were examined in this short-term longitudinal study. Using a sample of 285 young adults, structural equation modeling supported the hypothesis that parental divorce and marital conflict were independently associated with young adult children's romantic relationships through different mechanisms: Parental divorce was associated with young adults' low level of relationship quality through a negative attitude toward marriage (positive attitude toward divorce) and lack of commitment to their own current relationships. However, marital conflict was associated with young adults' low level of relationship quality through their conflict behavior with their partner. These findings are discussed in terms of their implications for future research.
A practical and scalable congestion control scheme for high-performance multi-stage buffered switches

One of the challenging problems for multi-stage buffered switching is the performance degradation due to the saturation tree congestion inside the switch when traffic destined for some output ports exceeds their link capacity (i.e., hotspots) and blocks other traffic destined for non-overloaded output ports. In previous work [18], we have proposed HOPE, an effective congestion control scheme, in the 3-stage Clos Network on Chip (NOC). HOPE proactively regulates traffic destined for each output by estimating the number of their backlogged packets in the network and applying a simple stop-and-go mechanism to prevent hotspot traffic from jamming the internal links between the stages. The effectiveness of HOPE in NOC has motivated us to apply it in the multistage buffered switches. Different from an NOC, where Switch Modules (SMs) are all on the single chip, the SMs in a multi-stage buffered switch are separated from each other for a distance up to 100 m. This significantly increases the hardware complexity of HOPE. In this paper, we address the implementation challenges when applying HOPE in the 3-stage Clos network switch. In particular, we propose a scalable traffic measurement mechanism to approximate the backlogged traffic for each output port by taking advantage of the property of Clos network that traffic is evenly distributed among central SMs. We also design an efficient messaging system to notify input sources upon congestion status updates. Simulation results with different traffic patterns show that HOPE can isolate hotspot traffic from non-hotspot traffic, achieve max-min fairness among different traffic types, and provide low latency for non-hotspot traffic and high throughput for hotspot traffic.
Candida albicans: the estrogen target for vaginal colonization.

Background Estradiol (E 2 ) stimulates colonization of the vagina by Candida albicans. Although this yeast expresses an estrogen-binding protein (EBP), the cellular target for estrogenic modulation of this infection is unresolved. Findings support direct E 2 -induced C. albicans growth as well as indirect effects via E 2 -induced changes in the vaginal epithelium. Our primary goal was to pursue the issue of direct versus indirect estrogen action on vaginal candidiasis using diethylstilbestrol (DES), an efficacious mammalian estrogen receptor agonist, which exhibits no detectable affinity for the EBP of C. albicans. Methods We used both in vitro and in vivo experimentation with an EBP-positive strain of C. albicans isolated from the human vagina. Ligand-binding studies were performed with steroidal and nonsteroidal estrogens and anti-estrogens using the soluble EBP from both the yeast and the rat uterus. Mature ovariectomized rats were treated with either E 2 or DES for 7 days before and after C. albicans inoculation into the vaginas. Subsequent estrogen-sensitive colonization was quantified based on cultures of vaginal homogenates on Sabouraud dextrose (SD) agar pour plates. Results We confirmed that our isolate of C. albicans contained a high-affinity EBP, with no detectable affinity for DES. Vaginal colonization by C. albicans was 8.6-fold greater in response to in vivo treatment with E 2 than with the comparable dose regimen of DES. Conclusions The mechanism for estrogen-sensitive vaginal colonization by C. albicans includes a functional ligand–EBP interaction within the yeast.
Lack of Feminization of the Cremaster Nucleus by Prenatal Flutamide Administration in the Rat and Pig

ABSTRACTPurpose: The sexually dimorphic cremaster nucleus contains motoneurons that project via the genitofemoral nerve and theoretically direct androgen dependent testicular descent. The effects of flutamide on descent and masculinization of the cremaster nucleus were studied in the rat and pig.Materials and Methods: Flutamide was given to pregnant rats and pigs on days 16 to 22 and 65 to 113 of gestation, respectively. Tissues were perfused and examined at birth (pigs) or at age 30 days (rats). Spinal cords were removed, sectioned and immunohistochemically stained for serotonin (rats) or substance P (pigs) to demarcate the position of the cremaster nucleus and allow the determination of cremaster motoneuron number.Results: After exposure to flutamide testes were undescended in 6 of 9 rats and 7 of 10 pigs. Cremaster motoneuron number per nucleus were 288 plus/minus 22 in control versus 250 plus/minus 27 in flutamide treated rats, and 165 plus/minus 28 in control versus 148 plus/minus 24 in flutamide tre...
Bacillus anthracis Phospholipases C Facilitate Macrophage-Associated Growth and Contribute to Virulence in a Murine Model of Inhalation Anthrax

Several models of anthrax pathogenesis suggest that early in the infectious process Bacillus anthracis endospores germinate and outgrow into vegetative bacilli within phagocytes before being released into the blood. Here, we define the respective contributions of three phospholipases C (PLCs) to the pathogenesis of B. anthracis. Genetic deletions of the PLCs were made in the Sterne 7702 background, resulting in the respective loss of their activities. The PLCs were redundant both in tissue culture and in murine models of anthrax. Deletion of all three PLC genes was required for attenuation of virulence in mice after intratracheal inoculation. This attenuation may be attributed to the inability of the PLC-null strain to grow in association with the macrophage. Complementation of these defects in both models of anthrax was achieved by expression of the PLC genes in trans. The functional redundancy between PLCs in the virulence of B. anthracis implies that their activities are important for anthrax pathogenesis.
Distributed estimation in Gaussian noise for bandwidth-constrained wireless sensor networks

We study deterministic mean-location parameter estimation when only quantized versions of the original observations are available, due to bandwidth constraints. When the dynamic range of the parameter is small or comparable with the noise variance, we introduce a class of maximum likelihood estimators that require transmitting just one bit per sensor to achieve an estimation variance close to that of the (clairvoyant) sample mean estimator. When the dynamic range is comparable or large relative to the noise standard deviation, we show that an optimum quantization step exists to achieve the best possible variance for a given bandwidth constraint. We also establish that in certain cases the sample mean estimator formed by quantized observations is preferable for complexity reasons. We finally address implementation issues and guarantee that all the numerical maximizations required by the proposed estimators are concave.
Annexin A2 is a soluble mediator of macrophage activation

On the surface of the macrophage, annexin A2 tetramer (A2t) serves as a docking protein or recognition element for bacterial and viral pathogens. Plasma levels of free A2t have been reported to increase following infection, although the mechanistic significance of this observation is unclear. Although annexin A2 had generally been thought to play an anti-inflammatory role, soluble A2t stimulates MAP kinase activity in bone marrow stromal cells downstream of a recently cloned receptor. This raises the question of whether A2t activates human macrophages via MAP kinases and whether it might be capable of acting as an inflammatory mediator. To this end, human monocyte-derived macrophages were treated with soluble A2t and MAP kinase phosphorylation, p65 NF-kappaB activation, and inflammatory mRNA and protein levels were measured. It was found that A2t caused rapid phosphorylation of several MAP kinases, as well as translocation of p65 NF-kappaB to the nucleus. A2t stimulated the production of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6, as well as several members of the chemokine family within 24 h, which are capable of recruitment and/or activation of a broad range of leukocyte classes. Furthermore, A2t-activated macrophages demonstrated enhanced phagocytic ability for the ingestion of GFP-expressing Escherichia coli. These data are the first to suggest the participation of an annexin in microbial clearance, as well as the establishment of inflammation and the immune response, including the recruitment and activation of immune cells to the site of infection.
Stochastic robustness metric and its use for static resource allocations

This research investigates the problem of robust static resource allocation for distributed computing systems operating under imposed Quality of Service (QoS) constraints. Often, such systems are expected to function in a physical environment replete with uncertainty, which causes the amount of processing required to fluctuate substantially over time. Determining a resource allocation that accounts for this uncertainty in a way that can provide a probabilistic guarantee that a given level of QoS is achieved is an important research problem. The stochastic robustness metric proposed in this research is based on a mathematical model where the relationship between uncertainty in system parameters and its impact on system performance are described stochastically. The utility of the established metric is then exploited in the design of optimization techniques based on greedy and iterative approaches that address the problem of resource allocation in a large class of distributed systems operating on periodically updated data sets. The performance results are presented for a simulated environment that replicates a heterogeneous cluster-based radar data processing center. A mathematical performance lower bound is presented for comparison analysis of the heuristic results. The lower bound is derived based on a relaxation of the Integer Linear Programming formulation for a given resource allocation problem.
Diurnal patterns of salivary cortisol and DHEA using a novel collection device: Electronic monitoring confirms accurate recording of collection time using this device

The accurate indication of saliva collection time is important for defining the diurnal decline in salivary cortisol as well as characterizing the cortisol awakening response. We tested a convenient and novel collection device for collecting saliva on strips of filter paper in a specially constructed booklet for determination of both cortisol and DHEA. In the present study, 31 healthy adults (mean age 43.5 years) collected saliva samples four times a day on three consecutive days using filter paper collection devices (Saliva Procurement and Integrated Testing (SPIT) booklet) which were maintained during the collection period in a large plastic bottle with an electronic monitoring cap. Subjects were asked to collect saliva samples at awakening, 30 min after awakening, before lunch and 600 min after awakening. The time of awakening and the time of collection before lunch were allowed to vary by each subjects' schedule. A reliable relationship was observed between the time recorded by the subject directly on the booklet and the time recorded by electronic collection device (n=286 observations; r(2)=0.98). However, subjects did not consistently collect the saliva samples at the two specific times requested, 30 and 600 min after awakening. Both cortisol and DHEA revealed diurnal declines. In spite of variance in collection times at 30 min and 600 min after awakening, the slope of the diurnal decline in both salivary cortisol and DHEA was similar when we compared collection tolerances of ±7.5 and ±15 min for each steroid. These unique collection booklets proved to be a reliable method for recording collection times by subjects as well as for estimating diurnal salivary cortisol and DHEA patterns.
CREATINE PHOSPHOKINASE ACTIVITY IN SERUM OF NEWBORN INFANTS AS AN INDICATOR OF FETAL TRAUMA DURING BIRTH

Serial studies have demonstrated a frequent rise in the activity of the enzyme creatine kinase in the serum of newborn infants following delivery. The rise in activity is independent of the maternal enzyme level. Considerable elevations in serum creatine kinase activity, noted especially at 24 hours of age, have been found in a number of infants delivered as breech presentations, following secondary uterine inertia with oxytocin stimulation, and following emergency Cesarean section after a trial of labor. Muscle damage sustained by the infant during the birth process is suggested as a likely cause for the increase in neonatal serum enzyme activity.
Challenge of biofuel: filling the tank without emptying the stomach?

Biofuels have become a leading alternative to fossil fuel because they can be produced domestically by many countries, require only minimal changes to retail distribution and end-use technologies, are a partial response to global climate change, and because they have the potential to spur rural development. Production of biofuel has increased most rapidly for corn ethanol, in part because of government subsidies; yet, corn ethanol offers at most a modest contribution to society’s climate change goals and only a marginally positive net energy balance. Current biofuels pose long-run consequences for the provision of food and environmental amenities. In the short run, however, when gasoline supply and demand are inelastic, they serve as a buffer supply of energy, helping to reduce prices. Employing a conceptual model and with back-of-the-envelope estimates of wealth transfers resulting from biofuel production, we find that ethanol subsidies pay for themselves. Adoption of second-generation technologies may make biofuels more beneficial to society. The large-scale production of new types of crops dedicated to energy is likely to induce structural change in agriculture and change the sources, levels, and variability of farm incomes. The socio-economic impact of biofuel production will largely depend on how well the process of technology adoption by farmers and processors is understood and managed. The confluence of agricultural policy with environmental and energy policies is expected.
Fine-grained, scalable, and secure key management scheme for trusted military message systems

As the military message system grows, managing large numbers of users and messages with their different security levels becomes very complex and time-consuming. This problem is magnified when it comes to providing fine-grained security services, such as assigning multiple classification levels to different parts of the same message. The number of keys to he managed also increases enormously, especially when a set of session keys is required to protect each message. Obviously, those requirements introduce the problem of scalable key management into a trusted military message system. Conventional key management schemes cannot solve this problem. In this paper we introduce a fine-grained, scalable, and secure key management system for a trusted military message system. We also implemented a prototype message system based on our ideas to show their feasibility.
An Introduction to the Best Practices Section in the Journal of Counseling & Development

The authors present an introduction to the Best Practices section in the Journal of Counseling & Development. The section, announced in the fall of 2003, updates counselors on the latest research evidence to support their counseling practices. Four invited experts in the counseling profession (D. Bubenzer, J. G. Garci, T. Sexton, & J. West) discuss the role of best practices in counseling.
The Pseudomonas aeruginosa Periplasmic Protease CtpA Can Affect Systems That Impact Its Ability To Mount Both Acute and Chronic Infections

Proteases play important roles in the virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Some are exported to act on host targets and facilitate tissue destruction and bacterial dissemination. Others work within the bacterial cell to process virulence factors and regulate virulence gene expression. Relatively little is known about the role of one class of bacterial serine proteases known as the carboxyl-terminal processing proteases (CTPs). The P. aeruginosa genome encodes two CTPs annotated as PA3257/Prc and PA5134/CtpA in strain PAO1. Prc degrades mutant forms of the anti-sigma factor MucA to promote mucoidy in some cystic fibrosis lung isolates. However, nothing is known about the role or importance of CtpA. We have now found that endogenous CtpA is a soluble periplasmic protein and that a ctpA null mutant has specific phenotypes consistent with an altered cell envelope. Although a ctpA null mutation has no major effect on bacterial growth in the laboratory, CtpA is essential for the normal function of the type 3 secretion system (T3SS), for cytotoxicity toward host cells, and for virulence in a mouse model of acute pneumonia. Conversely, increasing the amount of CtpA above its endogenous level induces an uncharacterized extracytoplasmic function sigma factor regulon, an event that has been reported to attenuate P. aeruginosa in a rat model of chronic lung infection. Therefore, a normal level of CtpA activity is critical for T3SS function and acute virulence, whereas too much activity can trigger an apparent stress response that is detrimental to chronic virulence.
Practicing and Preaching Quakerism: Creating a Religion of Peace on a Slavery-Era Plantation

A meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (“Quakers”) formed in the British Virgin Islands in the 1740s offers a window onto broader practices of religion making. Equality, simplicity, and peace form a basis for Quaker thought, but in the BVI these ideals intersected with the realities of Caribbean life and the central fact that members also held enslaved Africans. What members did to create Quakerism varied for this group, yet it was nonetheless understood to be a part of the broader community of “Friends.” Practice perspectives are employed here to gain access to seemingly ephemeral religion through the concrete objects of archaeology but also as a means of reconciling variation in practice with the idea of a coherent religion. Here religious identity was negotiated through practices on multiple scales, creating unity via larger-scope practices of writing and reading while the most frequent identifications were local and variable. Written works are often seen to encode a static, “real” version of religion against which actions can be measured, but I will argue that religion is better seen in practice, and here Quakerism was created at least as much in the variable minutia of individual performance as in widely shared documents.
The role of lockups in takeover contests

This paper examines breakup fees and stock lockups as devices for prospective target firms to encourage bidder participation in takeover contest. We show that, unless bidding costs for the first bidder are too high, breakup fees provide for the socially desirable degree of competition and ensure the ecient allocation of the target to the highest valued buyer in a takeover auction. In contrast, stock lockups permit the target firm to subsidize entry of a new bidder at the expense of an incumbent bidder. Stock lockups induce too much competition when oered to a second bidder and too little competition when oered to a first bidder. Despite their socially wasteful properties, target management would favor stock lockups as they induce takeover competition at least cost to the target.
A curve-fitted circuits model for bipolar transistor f/SUB T/ roll-off at high injection levels

This paper introduces a simple empirical relationship for modelling the common-emitter short-circuit gain-bandwidth product (f/SUB T/) of bipolar transistors operated in high-injection regimes. The model simulates the dependence of f/SUB T/ on both collector current and collector voltage to within an error of no more than 20 percent.
Preschoolers' comprehension of goal structure in narratives

Preschool children's understanding and use of goals were studied in two experiments. Children heard stories in the presence of pictures or props. The stories were varied by goal success occurring early or late in the story, with late goal success resulting in more causal connections in the narrative. The results showed that children recalled goals spontaneously and that their recall benefited from goal structure of the stories. Pictures benefited the children when the stories were short. Enactment of the props versus static displays of the props did not enhance recall in the second experiment. Preschool children thus demonstrated ability to infer and use goal and causal information in stories for both picture and object support.
Concentration of lysozyme/single-walled carbon nanotube dispersions.

Abstract The dispersion of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) in aqueous solutions of biological materials enables the production of bulk films and fibers that combine natural biological activity with SWNT’s intrinsic mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties. In this work, we report the rheology and phase behavior of concentrated lysozyme (LSZ)/SWNT dispersions. Even at low concentration, the LSZ’s globular structure causes a deviation from the rheological behavior expected of rigid rods such as SWNT. With increasing concentration, stabilized SWNT typically form lyotropic liquid crystalline phases. However, in this case, the LSZ results in depletion attraction and the formation of large dense SWNT aggregates surrounded by a LSZ network. At intermediate concentrations, the microstructure and rheological properties are a complex function of the initial dispersion state, the absolute concentrations, and the LSZ to SWNT ratio. The rheological effects of concentrating mixtures comprised of aggregates, a range of bundle sizes, and individual SWNT were compared to the effects of concentrating supernatants comprised solely of individual SWNT and small bundles. In general, lysozyme concentration has the greatest impact on dispersion viscoelasticity. However, the inherent viscosity was a function of SWNT concentration; data from both initial mixtures and supernatants spanning two orders of magnitude in concentration could be collapsed onto a single master curve. This work provides a foundation for exploring the behavior of other globular protein–SWNT dispersions.
Quality of life and its influencing factors of people living with HIV or AIDS in Beijing

OBJECTIVE: To assess the quality of life of people living with HIV or AIDS (PLWHA) and to identify influencing factors. METHODS: During September to December 2010 by a convenience sampling a questionnaire survey was undertaken in 310 PLWHA living in Beijing which included the general questionnaires SF-36 for assessing quality of life and Berger-HIV stigma scale. T test and multivariable linear regression model were used to analyze the results. RESULTS: For the subjects investigated the age was (32.87+/-8.76) years old. Homosexual behavior was the main dissemination (84.52% 262/310). The results of SF-36 questionnaire were: the summary score 66.75+/-15.70; physical function 93.00+/-9.49 role physical 66.53+/-40.26 bodily pain 73.88+/-22.63 general health 50.06+/-22.75 vitality 61.11+/-19.67 social function 69.50+/-24.24 role emotional 59.68+/-42.38 mental health 60.63+/-19.81. Except physical functioning the scores of every scale were lower than general persons (P<0.05). Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that the stronger stigma the lower the summary score (standardized coefficients (beta)=-0.38) role physical (beta=-0.21) bodily pain (beta=-0.13) general health (beta=-0.33) vitality (beta=-0.31) social function (beta=-0.34) role emotional (beta=-0.31) mental health (beta=-0.47) (all P values<0.05). The higher expend on treating HIV the lower the summary score (beta=-0.17) physical function (beta=-0.28) role physical (beta=-0.15) bodily pain (beta=-0.19) general health (beta=-0.15) social function (beta=-0.11) role emotional (beta=-0.16) (all P values<0.05). Who having work got higher score in the summary score (beta=0.13) physical function (beta=0.13) role physical (beta=0.12) bodily pain (beta=0.12) vitality (beta=0.13) social function (beta=0.12) role emotional (beta=0.12) than others (all P values<0.05). CONCLUSION: The quality of PLWHAs life was low. High stigma feeling high expend on treating HIV having a job were the main influencing factors of quality of life in PLWHA.