cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Association of microsatellite instability and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder in isocyanate-Exposed population of Bhopal.

Context: Survivors of the Bhopal gas disaster still suffer from various respiratory ailments. We examined the effects of exposures among a cross-section of current residents suffering from COPD by ISSR-PCR. Aims: Molecular screening of the gas-affected population of Bhopal with COPD for microsatellite instability due to exposure of MIC. Settings and Design: The isocyanate-exposed population of Bhopal city suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder. Materials and Methods: Inter-(SSR) analysis was used to characterize microsatellite instability in 52 MIC victims of Bhopal, suffering from COPD using (CA) 8 RG and (CA) 8 R[Y-Q] primer. Statistical Analysis Used: Association analyses were performed using regression analysis. Results: The study on the MIC-affected population in Bhopal showed weak association between microsatellite instability and age (r = + 0.37); exposure distance from site (r = −0.44); and smoking status(r = + 0.12); while regression analysis of the above parameters displayed supporting evidence. Conclusions: The high prevalence of smoking coupled with aging and poor living habits threatens, to further increase COPD incidences among this population, highlighting the need for enhanced screening efforts.
Activation of protein phosphatase‐2A1 by HIV‐1 Vpr Cell death causing peptide in intact CD4+ T cells and in vitro

HIV-1, the etiologic agent of human AIDS, causes cell death in host and non-host cells via HIV-1 Vpr, one of its auxiliary gene product. HIV-1 Vpr can also cause cell cycle arrest in several cell types. The cellular processes that link HIV-1 Vpr to the cell death machinery are not well characterized. Here, we show that the C terminal portion of HIV-1 Vpr which encompasses amino acid residues 71-96 (HIV-1 Vpr(71-96)), also termed HIV-1 Vpr cell death causing peptide, is an activator of protein phosphatase-2A(1) when applied extracellularly to CD(4+) T cells. HIV-1 Vpr(71-96) is a direct activator of protein phosphatase-2A(1) that has been purified from CD(4+) T cells. Full length HIV-1 Vpr by itself does not cause the activation of protein phosphatase-2A(1) in vitro. HIV-1 Vpr(71-96) also causes the activation of protein phosphatase-2A(0) and protein phosphatase-2A(1) from brain, liver, and adipose tissues. These results indicate that HIV-1 can cause cell death of infected cells and non-infected host and non-host cells via HIV-1 Vpr derived C terminal peptide(s) which act(s) by cell penetration and targeting of a key controller of the cell death machinery, namely, protein phosphatase-2A(1). The activation of other members of the protein phosphatase-2A subfamily of enzymes which are involved in the control of several metabolic pathways in brain, liver, and adipose tissues by HIV-1 Vpr derived C terminal peptide(s) may underlie various metabolic disturbances that are associated with HIV-1 infection.
Carbon-sulfur-iron systematics of the uppermost deep-water sediments of the Black Sea

Abstract Box cores recovered during Leg 4 of the 1988 R/V “Knorr” Black Sea Oceanographic Expedition from deep-water regions of the basin were dominated by coccolith-rich, microlaminated (Unit 1) sediment and muddy, gray turbidite layers. Both organic carbon (OC) and pyrite sulfur values for Unit 1 display narrow ranges, with mean concentrations of 5.3 ± 1.1 (1σ) wt% and 1.3 ± 0.3 wt%, respectively. Unit 1 is not enriched in pyrite-S relative to sediments deposited under oxygenated bottom waters (normal marine sediments) with comparable OC concentrations. Carbon-sulfur relationships (evaluated on a calcium carbonate-free basis to avoid spurious correlations resulting from dilution effects) demonstrate that OC and pyrite-S are essentially decoupled. These observations, combined with the persistence of elevated pore-water sulfide to depth and a strong correlation between pyrite-S and the detrital Fe component argue strongly for limitation of pyrite formation in Unit 1 by the availability of reactive Fe. Unit-1 Fe limitation is further indicated by degree-of-pyritization (DOP) studies (a measure of the extent to which the original potentially reactive Fe has been transformed to pyrite). These studies show sulfidation of reactive Fe ranging from 57% to 78%, with DOP values independent of OC concentration. Unit-1 DOP profiles suggest that the majority of the pyrite is formed in the sulfidic water column and/or very close to the sediment-water interface. Pyrite-S concentrations of Unit 1, when compared with the particulate reduced sulfur fluxes measured in time-series sediment traps, are compatible with predominantly water-column pyrite formation. Because of the limitations in the supply of reactive Fe associated with the comparatively high supply of OC, the microlaminated sediment is characterized by C/S ratios greater than those typical of Holocene oxically deposited sediments. The turbidite muds of the deep basin display high reduced S values (relative to Holocene normal marine sediments) in samples with low OC concentrations (low C/S ratios). This reflects pyrite formation under anoxic-sulfidic bottom-water conditions in a probable upper-slope source region, as well as during transport and final deposition. Intermediate DOP values for the turbidites, in part a product of their rapid rate of deposition, reveal that Fe limitation is ultimately not a factor and that further pyrite should form during burial. However, the very rapid rate at which Unit-1 pyrite forms suggests fundamental differences between the overall reactivities of the Fe phases associated with the microlaminated and turbiditic sediments. The signature of water-column anoxia with regard to sedimentary pyrite formation is clearly indicated by the high DOP values of Unit 1 and the comparatively high levels of S associated with the low concentrations of OC of the turbidite muds. This agrees with similar conclusions based on studies of ancient sedimentary rocks.
The heterogeneity of housing-tenure choice in urban China: A case study based in Guangzhou

This paper investigates the heterogeneity of housing-tenure choice in the city of Guangzhou based on a household survey. Using methods of finite mixture regression, we identified three groups with ...
Analytical electron microscope study of eight ataxites

Optical and electron optical (SEM, TEM, AEM) techniques were employed to investigate the fine structure of eight ataxite-iron meteorites. Structural studies indicated that the ataxites can be divided into two groups: a Widmanstaetten decomposition group and a martensite decomposition group. The Widmanstaetten decomposition group has a Type I plessite microstructure and the central taenite regions contain highly dislocated lath martensite. The steep M shaped Ni gradients in the taenite are consistent with the fast cooling rates, of not less than 500 C/my, observed for this group. The martensite decomposition group has a Type III plessite microstructure and contains all the chemical group IVB ataxites. The maximum taenite Ni contents vary from 47.5 to 52.7 wt % and are consistent with slow cooling to low temperatures of not greater than 350 C at cooling rates of not greater than 25 C/my.
Functional Asymmetry for Facial Affect Perception in High and Low Hostile Men and Women

The influence of cerebral asymmetry in the perception of affect on Type A behaviour was examined. Twenty-five men and 25 women classified as Type A or Type B, using the Framingham Type A Scale (FTAS) and the Cook-Medley Hostility Inventory (CMHO), participated. Subjects were required to identify the facial affect depicted in Ekman and Friesen's (1978) angry, happy, and neutral stimuli using a forced-choice reaction-time paradigm with only angry or happy alternatives signified by the respective response manipulanda. Stimuli were presented within the left or right visual fields tachistoscopically. The results showed faster affect perception by right hemisphere (LVF), hemispheric differences related to affective valence, and sex differences in affect asymmetry. Type A and Type B groups differed in the forced identification of neutral stimuli revealing affective bias but not processing speed differences on this perceptual task.
Polarization converting element for minimizing the losses in cylindrical hollow waveguides

Bending loss is the biggest drawback to hollow waveguides used for light delivery applications such as laser ablation. One way to overcome this limitation without changing the fiber design or fabrication is to engineer the input light to excite specific modes with better optical properties. Our first order calculations of the transmission and bending losses inside the cylindrical hollow waveguides showed that the TE 01 mode suffers the least amount of losses. To selectively excite this mode, it is desired to design an optical component that converts incident linearly polarized light into a rotating wave similar to the TE 01 mode. This work focuses on the design and fabrication of a subwavelength structure that converts the input polarization into that of the TE 01 mode.
Supporting personal media authoring

Authoring media is a difficult task which is confounded by a huge range of possibilities for expressing any given message. In order to mitigate the task we argue for a tighter coupling between computer and author with human agency maintained through the use of suggestive user interfaces. The general authoring task is described as choosing a message and editing the selection and arrangement of media elements. For personal media in particular, story-telling and experience sharing are highly important and influence the general task profile. We discuss the context of personal media authoring and the degree of automated support possible in light of complexity and annotation.
Suffering Free Markets: A "Classical" Buddhist Critique of Capitalist Conceptions of "Value"

This is a critique of capitalist conceptions of “value” that draws on Dinnāga’s and Dharmakīrti’s “exclusion of the other” semantics, Marxist philosophy, and poststructuralist feminist and queer theories. It diagnoses sufferings that are integral to the legal subject of capitalist economics, and raises questions about current interpretations of Buddhist appeals to “conventional truth.”
Impact of lithium abundance and cost on electric vehicle battery applications

This paper addresses the issues of realistic specific energy levels attainable with Li batteries, the maximum number of electric vehicles as limited by the identified Li world reserves and the anticipated battery price. The Li-ion battery, LiC6LixNiO2, is taken as the basis for the analysis presented here. It is shown that economically recoverable Li world reserves are sufficient to meet the demands of current new passenger car world production and its anticipated growth in the next 50 years. Currently identified world reserves can power 2 billion cars with Li-ion batteries, that is four times the number of cars presently registered in the world. World annual Li production of 10 000 metric tons would have to be increased l3-fold to power current new car world production with Li batteries. Such increase of the production capacity is seen as principally feasible. The ‘theoretical reactant cost’ — the absolute minimum reactant cost — for the Li-ion battery with Ni oxide cathode is US$ 19.20/kWh, compared to US$ 15.40 for the NiCd and US$ 29.40 for the Ni/metal-hydride (AB2) battery. By comparison with the large-volume price for NiCd vehicle batteries, a minimum price of US$ 330/kWh or US$ 8000 per 24 kWh battery is predicted for mass-produced Li-ion vehicle batteries, once the technology has matured. A battery life of 1000 cycles, already demonstrated in laboratory cells, results in a total vehicle mileage of approximately 126 000 miles when based on a 24 kWh battery. The cost of battery ownership and ‘electric fuel’ combined is 11 ¢/mile, that of car ownership and fuel combined 27 ¢/toile, if based on a vehicle price of US$ 23 000.
The Role of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in Pneumococcal Bacteremia in San Francisco Residents

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is an important risk factor for invasive pneumococcal disease, but information on clinical course and infecting serotypes is limited. To help develop strategies to reduce the morbidity due to invasive pneumococcal disease, episodes of pneumococcal bacteremia were identified by retrospective review of microbiology records (November 1983-November 1987) at 10 San Francisco hospitals and, for patients 20-55 years old living in San Francisco, HIV antibody status was determined by review of medical records. Pneumococcal isolates from one hospital were serotyped. Of 294 patients with pneumococcal bacteremia identified, 32 (11%) had AIDS at the time pneumococcal bacteremia was diagnosed and another 43 (15%) were HIV-infected but did not have AIDS; 12 HIV-infected patients developed AIDS after the episode of pneumococcal bacteremia. The rate of pneumococcal bacteremia in AIDS patients was estimated to be 9.4/1000 patient-years. Serotypes of 27 (82%) of 33 pneumococcal isolates from HIV-infected patients and 107 (90%) from 119 patients without known HIV infection were among the 23 serotypes included in the currently available polysaccharide vaccine. The rate of pneumococcal bacteremia is approximately 100-fold greater in AIDS patients in San Francisco than rates reported before the AIDS epidemic, but more than half the episodes of pneumococcal bacteremia in HIV-infected patients occurred in patients without AIDS. Data on pneumococcal serotypes causing invasive disease in HIV-infected patients suggest that the current pneumococcal vaccine, if effective in this population, could provide significant protection against pneumococcal disease.
Natural occurrence of the short-lived barium and strontium isotopes☆☆☆

Abstract The equilibrium ratio of 140 Ba to 238 U in non-irradiated uranium salts with both the natural isotopic ratio and a depletion in 235 U has been determined. The ratio, expressed in terms of 10 −4 disintegrations per sec per g of 238 U, is 6·2 ± 0·7. The results from natural and depleted uranium salts were found to agree within the experimental error. If Segre's value of the spontaneous fission half-life of 238 U, (8·04 ± 0·3) × 10 15 years, is taken to be correct, the spontaneous fission yield of 140 Ba from 238 U is found to be 9·6 ± 1·2 per cent.
A review of recently developed measures of adaptive behavior

Six recently developed adaptive behavior scales were reviewed for their technical adequacy and other issues that need to be considered when selecting a measure of adaptive behavior. Suggestions are made to aid examiners in selecting an appropriate measure of adaptive behavior for a particular student, accurately interpreting results, recognizing the strengths and limitations of various measures, and obtaining useful information for eligibility decisions and program planning.
Viral interleukin-6 encoded by rhesus macaque rhadinovirus is associated with lymphoproliferative disorder (LPD).

Background Rhesus macaques (RM) co-infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and rhesus macaque rhadinovirus (RRV) develop abnormal cellular proliferations characterized as extra-nodal lymphoma and retroperitoneal fibromatosis (RF). RRV encodes a viral interleukin-6 (vIL-6), much like Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, and involvement of the viral cytokine was examined in proliferative lesions. Methods Formalin fixed tissue from RM co-infected with SIV and RRV were analyzed for RRV genomes by in situ hybridization and RRV vIL-6 expression by immunofluorescence analysis. Results In situ hybridization analysis indicated that RRV is present in both types of lesions. Immunofluorescence analysis of different lymphomas and RF revealed positive staining for vIL-6. Similarly to KS, RF lesion is positive for vimentin, CD117 (c-kit), and smooth muscle actin (SMA) and contains T cell, B cell and monocytes/macrophage infiltrates. Conclusions Our data support the idea that vIL-6 may be critical to the development and progression of lymphoproliferative disorder in RRV/SIV-infected RM.
NONMEM population pharmacokinetic studies of cytosine arabinoside after high-dose and after loading bolus followed by continuous infusion of the drug in pediatric patients with leukemias.

We examined the population pharmacokinetics (PPK) of cytosine arabinoside (ara-C) after high-dose ara-C (HDara-C) (3 g/m2 every 12 h) and after a loading bolus (LB) plus continuous infusion (Cl) of ara-C for 72 h in 52 pediatric patients with leukemias, enrolled in four clinical trials. The PPK analyses of the drug were performed using the NONMEM program. The patients’ ages ranged from 2 months to 19 years. The ara-C data were analyzed using a two-compartment open model. Interindividual variability was described by the constant coefficient of variation (CCV) model, while the intraindividual variability was described by a combined additive and CCV error model. The covariates age (AGE) and surface area (SA) were tested to examine their influence on the estimation of the ara-C PPK parameters. In the absence of model covariates, the data fit was characterized by considerable bias, as indicated by the plot of measured vs predicted ara-C concentrations. The fit of the data was greatly improved when the parameters total body clearance (CL), intercompartmental clearance (Q), and volumes of distribution of central (Vd1) and peripheral (Vd2) compartments were expressed as linear functions of the covariate product, AGE×SA. The final parameter estimates were: CL=2.59× AGE×SA l/h, Q=2.01×AGE×SA l/h, Vd1=0.48× AGE×SA l, and Vd2=38.1×AGE×SA l. The coefficients of variation of CL, Q, Vd1 and Vd2 were 83.79%, 12.08%, 40.0%, and 52.54%, respectively, indicating substantial interindividual variability. In separate NONMEM analyses, the PK of ara-C and its metabolite uracil arabinoside (ara-U) were modeled simultaneously in order to investigate whether the dependence of ara-C on patient age was due to increased deamination of ara-C to ara-U. The PK of ara-C were described by the two-compartment open model while the PK of ara-U were simultaneously described by the one-compartment open model. The conversion of ara-C to ara-U was modeled as a first-order kinetic process due to the relatively low concentrations of ara-C in plasma. These PPK analyses indicated that elimination of ara-C from the central compartment occurs primarily by its metabolic conversion to ara-U and that the rate of conversion of ara-C to ara-U increases with increasing patient age, which explains the higher ratios of ara-U to ara-C and, hence, the increased ara-C clearance observed in older children as compared to infants. We conclude that the NONMEM PPK methodology allowed the simultaneous analyses of data from different doses and dose regimens and explained phenomena that prior standard two-stage analyses could not.
Uzbekistan among the great powers

Abstract Under the authoritarian regime of Islam Karimov, Uzbekistan has achieved independence and stability by exploiting its natural resources through a strategy of “staple globalism” and by balancing the great powers against each other. Since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, the new regime first distanced itself from Russia and tried regional alliances, then accepted help from NATO, and most recently turned cautiously to Russia (and China). Throughout, Uzbekistan has managed to receive considerable assistance from international agencies and military aid from several outside powers, albeit relatively little private foreign investment, owing to its poor business climate. The country has also handled potential conflicts with neighbors without significant violence.
The Power-Performance Tradeoffs of the Intel Xeon Phi on HPC Applications

Accelerators are used in about 13% of the current Top500 List. Supercomputers leveraging accelerators grew by a factor of 2.2x in 2012 and are expected to completely dominate the Top500 by 2015. Though most of these deployments use NVIDIA GPGPU accelerators, Intel's Xeon Phi architecture will likely grow in popularity in the coming years. Unfortunately, there are few studies analyzing the performance and energy efficiency of systems leveraging the Intel Xeon Phi. We extend our systemic measurement methodology to isolate system power by component including accelerators. We use this methodology to present a detailed study of the performance-energy tradeoffs of the Xeon Phi architecture. We demonstrate the portability of our approach by comparing our Xeon Phi results to the Intel multicore Sandy Bridge host processor and the NVIDIA Tesla GPU for a wide range of HPC applications. Our results help explain limitations in the power-performance scalability of HPC applications on the current Intel Xeon Phi architecture.
Evaluation of range-separated hybrid density functionals for the prediction of vibrational frequencies, infrared intensities, and Raman activities.

We present an assessment of different density functionals, with emphasis on range-separated hybrids, for the prediction of fundamental and harmonic vibrational frequencies, infrared intensities, and Raman activities. Additionally, we discuss the basis set convergence of vibrational properties of H2O with long-range corrected hybrids. Our results show that B3LYP is the best functional for predicting vibrational frequencies (both fundamental and harmonic); the screened-PBE hybrid (HSE) density functional works best for infrared intensities, and the long-range corrected PBE (LC-ωPBE), M06-HF, and M06-L density functionals are almost as good as MP2 for predicting Raman activities. We show the predicted Raman spectrum of adenine as an example of a medium-size molecule where a DFT/Sadlej pVTZ calculation is affordable and compare our results against the experimental spectrum.
Binding of FDDNP Biomarker to Alzheimer's Disease Aβ Peptide

Molecular biomarkers such as FDDNP can provide early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). These biomarker ligands are designed to interact with aggregation-prone Aβ peptides implicated in AD onset. While numerous experimental observations have demonstrated FDDNP binding to Aβ in vitro and in vivo, molecular details of binding mechanism are currently unavailable. In our study, we use explicit solvent replica exchange molecular dynamics to examine FDDNP binding to Aβ10-40 monomer in all-atom detail. We found that at both high and low concentrations, FDDNP binds with high affinity to Aβ sequence locations near the central hydrophobic cluster and the C-terminal. Analysis of ligand-Aβ interactions at both concentrations identifies hydrophobic effect as a main binding factor. However, with the increase in ligand concentration the interactions between FDDNP molecules also become important due to strong FDDNP self-aggregation propensity and few specific binding locations. As a result, FDDNP ligands partially penetrate the core of Aβ monomer forming large self-aggregated clusters. Ligand self-aggregation does not affect hydrophobic interactions as a main binding factor or the location of binding sites in Aβ. Lastly, using Aβ conformational ensemble in ligand-free water as a reference we show that FDDNP induces minor changes in Aβ secondary structure. However, FDDNP significantly alters the tertiary fold in a concentration dependent manner by redistributing long-range side chain interactions. Because FDDNP does not change Aβ secondary structure, we argue that it is likely to provide unbiased imaging of Aβ aggregates.
An Approach to Improved Credibility of CFD Simulations for Rocket Injector Design

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has the potential to improve the historical rocket injector design process by simulating the sensitivity of performance and injector-driven thermal environments to. the details of the injector geometry and key operational parameters. Methodical verification and validation efforts on a range of coaxial injector elements have shown the current production CFD capability must be improved in order to quantitatively impact the injector design process.. This paper documents the status of an effort to understand and compare the predictive capabilities and resource requirements of a range of CFD methodologies on a set of model problem injectors. Preliminary results from a steady Reynolds-Average Navier-Stokes (RANS), an unsteady Reynolds-Average Navier Stokes (URANS) and three different Large Eddy Simulation (LES) techniques used to model a single element coaxial injector using gaseous oxygen and gaseous hydrogen propellants are presented. Initial observations are made comparing instantaneous results, corresponding time-averaged and steady-state solutions in the near -injector flow field. Significant differences in the flow fields exist, as expected, and are discussed. An important preliminary result is the identification of a fundamental mixing mechanism, accounted for by URANS and LES, but missing in the steady BANS methodology. Since propellant mixing is the core injector function, this mixing process may prove to have a profound effect on the ability to more correctly simulate injector performance and resulting thermal environments. Issues important to unifying the basis for future comparison such as solution initialization, required run time and grid resolution are addressed.
Co-variation of nightglow emission from the O2(A3Σu+) and O2(c1Σu−) states and the oxygen green line, observed with the Keck I/II telescopes

Abstract Sky spectra from the Keck I and II telescopes on Mauna Kea, Hawai′i reveal the terrestrial nightglow in unprecedented detail. We have recently demonstrated that the O2(c1Σu−) state, the upper state of the O2(c–X) Herzberg II bands, also radiates in a new transition, the O2(c–b) system. The c–b bands, by their spectroscopic nature, present a more distinct atmospheric signature than the c–X bands. The question often arises as to whether the three O2 Herzberg states should be considered a single coupled system or if they react in an independent manner. Particularly relevant is the issue of the mechanism of mesosphere/lower thermosphere oxygen green line production, the current belief being that it is the result of electronic energy transfer from the O2(c) state to oxygen atoms. With the aid of Keck data from the HIRES and the ESI echelle spectrographs it is possible to address these questions. In the 410– 440 nm region there is relatively strong emission from the Herzberg I (A–X) system and the new c–b system. We present data from March and October, 2000, showing the co-variation of these emissions, and how they correlate with the green line intensity.
A Simple Model of Mutualism

A population of mutualists must eventually reach a maximum carrying capacity because of intraspecific competition for limited resources, even if another population of mutualists is present in excess. The model presented reflects this, so allowing a stable equilibrium to be reached. Either facultative or obligate use of one mutualist by another is seen to be independent of whether the former makes facultative or obligate use of the latter. Given that a mutualism may occur, facultative use by both populations will inevitably lead to a stable equilibrium no matter the initial densities of the populations; but if one population makes obligate use of the other, then thresholds may occur such that the mutualism will be sensitive to environmental perturbations.
Dynamic provisioning and allocation in Cloud Radio Access Networks (C-RANs)

The Radio Access Network (RAN) is the most important part of a cellular wireless network. However, current cellular architectures have several disadvantages: they are not compatible with today's users' data-rate requests and do not leverage recent wireless enhancement techniques to achieve those data rates. Cloud Radio Access Network (C-RAN) is a new paradigm for broadband wireless access that provides a higher degree of cooperation and communication among Base Stations (BSs), in which all the BS computational resources are pooled in a central location, e.g., a set of physical servers in a datacenter. C-RAN represents a clean-slate design and allows for dynamic reconfiguration of computing and spectrum resources.In this article, first explanations are provided on how this transformative paradigm can help overcome current cellular network limitations; then, its potential advantages to enable and support cooperative techniques like macro-diversity and collaborative spatial multiplexing are discussed. In addition, innovative C-RAN-based techniques to decrease the bandwidth-limiting Inter-Cell Interference (ICI) problem are proposed. Last, but not least, novel provisioning and allocation methods of Virtual Base Stations (VBSs) in the Base Band Unit (BBU) are proposed, and their pros and cons thoroughly discussed.
Epistasis between MicroRNAs 155 and 146a during T Cell-Mediated Antitumor Immunity

An increased understanding of antitumor immunity is necessary for improving cell-based immunotherapies against human cancers. Here, we investigated the roles of two immune system-expressed microRNAs (miRNAs), miR-155 and miR-146a, in the regulation of antitumor immune responses. Our results indicate that miR-155 promotes and miR-146a inhibits interferon γ (IFNγ) responses by T cells and reduces solid tumor growth in vivo. Using a double-knockout (DKO) mouse strain deficient in both miR-155 and miR-146a, we have also identified an epistatic relationship between these two miRNAs. DKO mice had defective T cell responses and tumor growth phenotypes similar to miR-155^(−/−) mice. Further analysis of the T cell compartment revealed that miR-155 modulates IFNγ expression through a mechanism involving repression of Ship1. Our work reveals critical roles for miRNAs in the reciprocal regulation of CD4^+ and CD8^+ T cell-mediated antitumor immunity and demonstrates the dominant nature of miR-155 during its promotion of immune responses.
Solid support surface effects on the chromatographic behavior of a liquid crystal stationary phase

Abstract The present paper investigates the behavior of p-(p-ethoxyphenylazo)phenyl undecylenate (EPAPU) liquid crystal as a stationary phase coated on glass beads in gas chromatography under a variety of conditions. The columns studied were 0.69% and 0.10% (w/w) mesophase coated on neutral glass beads and 0.11% (w/w) on acid-treated beads. Unlike previous studies no hysteresis was found in the capacity ratio, k′, and the plate height, H, as a function of the temperature. However, around the chromatographically observed melting point, k′ and H varied with time at a given temperature. The same behavior was found around the solidification point. Surface orientation effects and the “swarm” model were used in trying to explain the above phenomena. When comparing EPARU coated on acid-treated glass beads and on neutral beads different kinetics behavior (in terms of H) around the melting point was observed. The diffusion coefficients of p-xylene in EPARU and activation energies in the nematic range were obtained. The lightly loaded columns gave very similar results which differed from the heavily loaded columns.
The upper envelope of piecewise linear functions and the boundary of a region enclosed by convex plates: combinatorial analysis

Letf1, ...,fmbe (partially defined) piecewise linear functions ofd variables whose graphs consist ofn d-simplices altogether. We show that the maximal number ofd-faces comprising the upper envelope (i.e., the pointwise maximum) of these functions isO(nd?(n)), where?(n) denotes the inverse of the Ackermann function, and that this bound is tight in the worst case. If, instead of the upper envelope, we consider any single connected componentC enclosed byn d-simplices (or, more generally, (d ? 1)-dimensional compact convex sets) in ?d+1, then we show that the overall combinatorial complexity of the boundary ofC is at mostO(nd+1??(d+1)) for some fixed constant?(d+1)>0.
Wet brewers grains for lactating dairy cows during hot, humid weather.

Abstract Twenty lactating Jersey cows were offered diets containing 0, 15, or 30% wet brewers grains or 30% wet brewers grains plus liquid brewers' yeast during hot, humid weather. The DMI was not different, even though diets with 30% wet brewers grains contained only 35.5% DM and approximately 50 versus 36.8% NDF for the control diet. Yields of milk and FCM did not differ for cows offered the control diet versus wet brewers grains or diets with 15 versus 30% wet brewers grains, but milk yield for diets with 30% wet brewers grains was greater with added liquid brewers' yeast than without it. Milk fat percentage was not different, but milk protein percentage was lower, for diets with wet brewers grains than for controls and for 30% wet brewers grains than for 15% wet brewers grains. Serum urea N was lower for control cows than for cows receiving the diets with wet brewers grains. Feed cost per cow was lower for wet brewers grains versus the control diet, and income over feed cost was greater for diets with 30 versus 15% wet brewers grains. Large quantities of wet brewers grains can be added to the diet during hot weather without depressing DMI.
Reinforcement enhancing effect of nicotine and its attenuation by nicotinic antagonists in rats

Rationale Recent studies have demonstrated that nicotine can enhance operant responding for other nonpharmacological reinforcing stimuli. However, the nature of the reinforcement-enhancing effect of nicotine remains largely unknown.
Commit to Inclusion Confusion

This article analyzes the intent of the new Commit to Inclusion campaign and describes how the nine guidelines for disability inclusion can be applied in schools to make physical education more inclusive for students with disabilities.
Identification of the volatile components of E802 Mazoferm steepwater, a condensed fermented corn extractive highly attractive to the Mexican fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae).

A dynamic headspace analysis was performed on the volatile components of E802 Mazoferm steepwater, a condensed fermented corn extractive, that is highly attractive in laboratory and field tests to adult Mexican fruit flies, Anastrepha ludens (Loew). Chemical characterization was accomplished by capillary GC and GC/MS methods. A total of 19 compounds were identified, and these were comprised of 6 alcohols, 5 esters, 3 aldehydes, 2 lactones, an alkyl furan, an acid, and a trisulfide. When E802 Mazoferm steepwater was analyzed at pH 3.9, the five most abundant compounds in the volatiles (in descending order) were 3-methyl-1-butanol (43.9%), ethyl lactate (23.7%), ethanol (15.4%), 2-methyl-1-propanol (12.8%), and ethyl acetate (0.71%). At pH 8.0, the same five compounds were again the most abundant. Except for a reversal in order for the first two compounds, the order was the same: ethyl lactate (37.3%), 3-methyl-1-butanol (32.5%), ethanol (14.2%), 2-methyl-1-propanol (10.4%), and ethyl acetate (3.09%). Keyw...
Coronal electron density maps for 7 March, 1970, derived from Mgx λ625 spectroheliograms

We have analyzed daily Mgx λ 625 spectroheliograms acquired by the Harvard College Observatory experiment on OSO-6 for a 28-day period centered on 7 March, 1970, the date of a well-observed total solar eclipse. These data are used to construct maps of the variation across the solar disk of the electron density at the base of the corona. The correspondence of high and low density regions with regions of enhanced and reduced emission in white light and Mgx pictures made during or near the time of the eclipse are described.
Avoidance Costs and the Entry‐exit Condition on Polluting Firms

When marginal environmental damages increase with emissions, it is said to be a problem for entry and exit that the marginal firm pays more in Pigouvian taxes than the actual damages it causes. Accordingly it is sometimes assumed that over the range of an individual firm's emissions, marginal environmental damages are approximately constant. When avoidance costs are added to environmental damages, however, the inequality may be reversed so that the assumption of constant marginal damages may aggravate rather than eliminate the alleged problem.
Optimizing incubation conditions for the preservation of sperm motility in processed semen samples.

To determine the optimal conditions to maintain sperm motility and viability for prolonged periods, semen specimens were processed and cultured in different temperature and conditions. We conclude that processing of semen and incubation of sperm in protein-supplemented N -2-hydroxyethylpiperazine- N′ -2-ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) human tubal fluid medium at room temperature best preserved viability and motility of sperm.
Current event-free survival after sequential tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy for chronic myeloid leukemia†‡

BACKGROUND: Imatinib is an effective tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in chronic phase (CP). Although some patients may fail on therapy with imatinib, effective salvage therapy is available with second-generation TKIs. Current measurement of efficacy for each therapy is judged by its individual impact on overall survival and event-free survival (EFS). METHODS: In total, 586 patients with CML in CP who received imatinib were included in this analysis in 2 cohorts: imatinib as front-line therapy (n = 281) or after failure on interferon-α (IFN-α) (n = 305). By accounting for successful salvage treatment (ie, regain of complete cytogenetic response), the current EFS (CEFS) rate was calculated to obtain a more accurate impression of the outcome of patients with CML who received treatment with sequential TKIs. RESULTS: For patients who received imatinib after failing on IFN-α, the 7-year EFS rate was 61%, whereas the CEFS rate was 69%. The 7-year EFS rate for patients who received imatinib as initial therapy was 81% compared with a 7-year CEFS rate of 88%. CONCLUSIONS: CEFS provided a more accurate representation of the outcome of patients with CML in CP. These patients may frequently be treated successfully with subsequent TKIs after experiencing failure on the first TKI. Cancer 2011. © 2010 American Cancer Society
Polysemy: Multiple Meanings in Rhetorical Criticism.

Several rhetoricians have recently called for an increased interest in the “polysemy” of the text, but ironically, they are not all talking about the same thing. While they agree about how to delimit the term, there are conflicting assumptions about who initiates polysemy, the social action it supports, and the power dynamics it endorses. This paper argues that we should recognize resistive reading, strategic ambiguity, and hermeneutic depth as three types of polysemy that support different scholarly purposes. This paper also complicates assumptions about the critical judgment of polysemous texts and suggests that some types of polysemy are best identified through the adoption of a new critical approach.
Base analogue incorporation in the female germ plasm of Microbracon hebetor Say.

Abstract The biochemical fate of an ingested purine analogue was traced in adult female braconid wasps and their ova. Synchronous oogenesis facilitated day-to-day radiometric analysis of germinal cell lines treated in vivo . The data showed differential incorporation of 14 C-8-azaguanine into various cell types. Maximum isotopic incorporation occurred in the most differentiated oocytes. The same meiotic cells expressed maximum analogue susceptibility as measured by the proportion of aberrant embryos. Homogenates of embryonic wasps derived from treated cells were used for extraction of five metabolic fractions. Incorporation occurred in DNA and RNA, and analogue transmission was identified to the third generation. Biochemical, genetical, and cytological results suggest an alteration in the transcription of genetic information for cellular specialization and early braconid development.
Suppression of murine cerebral F2-isoprostanes and F4-neuroprostanes from excitotoxicity and innate immune response in vivo by α- or γ-tocopherol

Oxidative damage to brain is a featured shared by several destructive and degenerative diseases and is thought to contribute to disease pathogenesis. Two commonly proposed sources of the increased free radical stress that leads to oxidative damage in several of these diseases are excitotoxicity and activation of innate immunity, both of which are proposed pharmacologic targets. Here we used models of excitotoxicity, intracerebroventricular (ICV) kainate (KA), and innate immune activation, ICV lipopolysaccharide (LPS), to test the effectiveness of peripherally administered alpha-tocopherol (AT) and gamma-tocopherol (GT) as neuroprotectants. We quantified murine cerebral oxidative damage by measuring F(2)-isoprostanes (IsoPs) and F(4)-neuroprostanes (NeuroPs) using stable isotope dilution methods followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with selective ion monitoring. Our data showed that peripherally administered AT and GT were equally effective at suppressing acute oxidative damage from direct excitotoxicity caused by KA. In contrast, peripherally administered AT, but not GT, was effective at suppressing delayed neuronal oxidative damage from activated glial innate immune response. These data imply that AT may be more broadly protective of cerebrum from oxidative damage in different disease contexts.
Cryptanalysis of Boolean permutation-based key escrow scheme

Wu and Varadharajan [Computers and Electrical Engineering 25(4) 1999] proposed a fast public key escrow scheme. The security of this system is based on a special class of trapdoor Boolean permutations that can be constructed efficiently. In this paper, we show that this proposed class of Boolean permutations can be easily inverted without the knowledge of the secret key parameters. This allows the cryptanlyst to efficiently recover the session key using the known public key parameters.
Correlation of Subjective Questionnaires With Cardiac Function as Determined by Exercise Testing in a Pediatric Population

Background: Although exercise testing is an important objective method used to assess cardiopulmonary function, subjective assessment often is used as a proxy in the clinical setting. This study aimed to determine whether responses to a subjective functional capacity questionnaire administered to parents and patients in a pediatric exercise laboratory correlate with objective assessment of functional capacity, measured by peak oxygen consumption during maximal voluntary exercise testing. Methods: Subjective questionnaire responses and exercise test results collected over 10 years were retrospectively analyzed. Symptoms and physical capabilities were assessed using a 6-point Likert scale regarding the ability to attend school/work, walk, climb stairs, and run, as well as the frequency of fatigue, palpitations, and chest pain. Values of 0 to 3 were considered abnormal, whereas values of 4–5 were regarded as normal. Exercise testing was performed on a stationary cycle ergometer with a continuous ramping protocol. Heart rate and oxygen saturation were continuously monitored. Blood pressures and electrocardiograms (ECGs) were obtained at 2-min intervals. Metabolic gas analysis was performed using a breath-by-breath method. The results of the exercise testing were normalized for body size and expressed as a percentage of predicted peak oxygen consumption (%pVO2). Results: Very weak but statistically significant correlations (τ < 0.25; P < 0.05) between the scores of the school/work, walking, stair climbing, running, and fatigue items and %pVO2 were found using Kendall’s rank correlations. Conclusions: The subjective Likert scales used to assess basic physical capacity and cardiac-associated symptoms have limited ability to predict actual functional capacity as measured by %pVO2 achieved. The very weak rank-order correlation between %pVO2 achieved and the subjective reporting of the ability to attend school/work, walk, climb stairs, and run has low clinical significance and will not be useful in predicting functional capacity within the clinic setting.
Inhibition of mammary tumorigenesis in virgin rats by adoptive transfer of splenocytes from parous donors.

Splenocytes from parous rats have been previously found to have cytotoxic activity against mammary tumor cells in vitro. Experiments were carried out to determine if this pregnancy-induced cytotoxic nature of the splenocytes is inherent and transferable. Splenocytes from parous rats were adoptively transferred to a group of virgin rats. Another group of age-matched, virgin rats received splenocytes from virgin donors in a similar way. After a period of rest, at the age of 55 days, the rats belonging to both of the groups, received 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) intragastrically. A third group of untreated virgin rats were also given the chemical carcinogen the same way as above and were considered as intact controls. The rats were monitored for development and growth of mammary tumor from 60 days of DMBA administration. After 4 months of DMBA administration the rats were sacrificed and mammary glands were examined for tumors. Mammary glands with no visible tumors were taken for whole mount preparation, to be examined for microscopic lesions. The results showed that 33 of 41 intact control rats, developed tumor and 27 of the 34 rats that received spleen cells from virgin rats developed tumors. Of the rats that received spleen cells from parous rats, only 18 out of 37 rats developed tumors, indicating an inhibition of tumor induction in these rats. Growth rate of the tumors in this group was also slower than in the control groups.
Quantum mechanics and thermal noise in dissipative systems

Abstract We study the density matrix for systems with an arbitrary linear dissipative mechanism at finite temperature. We show how one may derive the tunneling Lagrangians using general methods in statistical mechanics. The derivation is phenomenological in nature and as such does not proceed from any particular microphysical description of a heat bath. Correspondingly, it is also a more general framework for studying other types of noise in quantum mechanical systems. For the special case of a linearly dissipative system we explicitly show how this method yields the formulae of Grabert et al . (Grabert, Weiss, and Hanggi. Phys. Rev. Lett. 52 (1984), 2193; Grabert, Olschowski, and Weiss, Phys. Rev. B 36 (1981), 1931). The appendix is a description of the phenomenological approach starting with a particular microphysical model of a linearly dissipative system.
Direct Medical Costs of Bronchiolitis Hospitalizations in the United States

OBJECTIVES. Although bronchiolitis is the leading cause of hospitalization for infants, there are limited data describing the epidemiology of bronchiolitis hospitalizations, and the associated cost is unknown. Our objective was to determine nationally representative estimates of the frequency of bronchiolitis hospitalizations and its associated costs. PATIENTS AND METHODS. We analyzed the 2002 Health Care Utilization Project-National Inpatient Sample, a federal, stratified random survey of hospital discharges. For admissions age RESULTS. In 2002, an estimated 149000 patients were hospitalized with bronchiolitis. Frequency of hospitalizations was higher among children age CONCLUSIONS. Bronchiolitis admissions cost more than $500 million annually. A codiagnosis of bronchiolitis and pneumonia almost doubles the cost of the hospitalization. Inpatient health care costs of bronchiolitis are higher than estimated previously and highlight the need for initiatives to safely reduce bronchiolitis hospitalizations and thereby decrease health care costs.
Comments on A. Suresh Canagarajah's “Critical Ethnography of a Sri Lankan Classroom”: A Reader Reacts …

First, I must commend Canagarajah for continuing his scholarly activities in Jaffna. The civil war in Sri Lanka receives little attention abroad; nevertheless, it has been devastating. Since 1983, about 30,000 Tamil nationalists, Sri Lankan government troops, and civilians have been killed. Jaffna, where Canagarajah conducted his research, has borne the brunt of the war's effects. Anyone aware of these conditions can only praise Canagarajah's efforts. In place of the dominant descriptive ethnography practiced in TESOL, Canagarajah advocates a critical ethnography, which he describes as