cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Oscillation in Excited State Lifetimes with Size of Sub-nanometer Neutral (TiO2)n Clusters Observed with Ultrafast Pump-Probe Spectroscopy.

Neutral titanium oxide clusters of up to 1 nm in diameter (TiO2)n, with n < 10, are produced in a laser vaporization source and subsequently ionized by a sequence of femtosecond laser pulses. Using a 400 nm pump and 800 nm probe lasers, the excited state lifetimes of neutral (TiO2)n clusters are measured. All clusters exhibit a rapid relaxation lifetime of ∼35 fs, followed by a sub-picosecond lifetime that we attribute to carrier recombination. The excited state lifetimes oscillate with size, with even-numbered clusters possessing longer lifetimes. Density functional theory calculations show the excited state lifetimes are correlated with charge carrier localization or polaron-like formation in the excited states of neutral clusters. Thus, structural rigidity is suggested as a feature for extending excited state lifetimes in titania materials.
Birth order and multiple sclerosis.

No significant difference in birth order and risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) was found in a large-scale investigation employing 2 different study methods: case-control and comparison of birth order with expected distribution. This finding is at variance with conflicting results of 2 recently published investigations. Our findings suggest that birth order cannot be used as a surrogate for age-of-infection, but must be measured directly in further studying the role of delayed childhood infection in the pathopoiesis of MS.
Feasibility of motor-assisted elliptical to improve walking, fitness and balance following pediatric acquired brain injury: A case series

PURPOSE Walking, fitness, and balance deficits are common following acquired brain injury (ABI). This study assessed feasibility, acceptability, and usefulness of a modified motor-assisted elliptical (ICARE) in addressing walking, fitness, and balance deficits in children with chronic ABIs. METHODS Three children (> 5 years post-ABI) completed 24 ICARE exercise sessions (exercise time, speed, and time overriding motor-assistance gradually increased) to promote mass repetition of gait-like movements and challenge cardiorespiratory fitness. Parents' and children's perceptions of ICARE's safety, comfort, workout, and usability were assessed. Cardiovascular response, gait and balance outcomes were assessed. RESULTS No adverse events occurred. Parent's Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores of perceived device safety (range 80-99), workout (range 99-100), and usability (range 75-100) were high, while comfort were 76-80 given commercial harness fit and arm support. Children's VAS scores all exceeded 89. Comfortable walking velocity, 2-Minute Walk Test, fitness, and Pediatric Balance Scale scores improved post-training, with many outcomes surpassing established minimal clinically important differences. CONCLUSION Following engagement in moderate- to vigorous-intensity exercise promoting repetitive step-like movements on a specially adapted motor-assisted elliptical, three children with chronic ABI demonstrated improvements in walking, fitness and balance. Future research in community-based environments with a larger cohort of children with ABI is needed.
Logistics cost structuring using both manufacturing and non-manufacturing costs

The objective of this research is to create a strategic framework for logistics cost in the manufacturing industry. The purpose of this document is threefold: a) to identify in detail the main components of the logistics cost; b) to create a general map of the logistics cost for the manufacturing industry; c) to explain the practical and analytical implications of the proposed model. The authors found several models that help the industry to select their suppliers when the main decision driver is cost. In the manufacturing industry, the number of suppliers and the selection criteria is broad and complicated. Flexibility, lead time, quality, and finally cost are common drivers that companies use to select their suppliers. Most commonly, cost represents an important element, but not a critical one. By gathering information about logistics cost, companies can increase efficiency and control their real manufacturing cost.
Intersegmental coordination of the central pattern generator via interleaved electrical and chemical synapses in zebrafish spinal cord

A significant component of the repetitive dynamics during locomotion in vertebrates is generated within the spinal cord. The legged locomotion of mammals is most likely controled by a hierarchical, multi-layer spinal network structure, while the axial circuitry generating the undulatory swimming motion of animals like lamprey is thought to have only a single layer in each segment. Recent experiments have suggested a hybrid network structure in zebrafish larvae in which two types of excitatory interneurons (V2a-I and V2a-II) both make first-order connections to the brain and last-order connections to the motor pool. These neurons are connected by electrical and chemical synapses across segments. Through computational modeling and an asymptotic perturbation approach we show that this interleaved interaction between the two neuron populations allows the spinal network to quickly establish the correct activation sequence of the segments when starting from random initial conditions and to reduce the dependence of the intersegmental phase difference (ISPD) of the oscillations on the swimming frequency. The latter reduces the frequency dependence of the waveform of the swimming motion. In the model the reduced frequency dependence is largely due to the different impact of chemical and electrical synapses on the ISPD and to the significant spike-frequency adaptation that has been observed experimentally in V2a-II neurons, but not in V2a-I neurons. Our model makes experimentally testable predictions and points to a benefit of the hybrid structure for undulatory locomotion that may not be relevant for legged locomotion.
Transcription factors specificity protein and nuclear receptor 4A1 in pancreatic cancer

Specificity protein (Sp) transcription factors (TFs) Sp1, Sp3 and Sp4, and the orphan nuclear receptor 4A1 (NR4A1) are highly expressed in pancreatic tumors and Sp1 is a negative prognostic factor for pancreatic cancer patient survival. Results of knockdown and overexpression of Sp1, Sp3 and Sp4 in pancreatic and other cancer lines show that these TFs are individually pro-oncogenic factors and loss of one Sp TF is not compensated by other members. NR4A1 is also a pro-oncogenic factor and both NR4A1 and Sp TFs exhibit similar functions in pancreatic cancer cells and regulate cell growth, survival, migration and invasion. There is also evidence that Sp TFs and NR4A1 regulate some of the same genes including survivin, epidermal growth factor receptor, PAX3-FOXO1, α5- and α6-integrins, β1-, β3- and β4-integrins; this is due to NR4A1 acting as a cofactor and mediating NR4A1/Sp1/4-regulated gene expression through GC-rich gene promoter sites. Several studies show that drugs targeting Sp downregulation or NR4A1 antagonists are highly effective inhibitors of Sp/NR4A1-regulated pathways and genes in pancreatic and other cancer cells, and the triterpenoid celastrol is a novel dual-acting agent that targets both Sp TFs and NR4A1.
MO-F-304-01: Applying PDSA to a Practical Clinical Problem: Variation in Procedural Doses Among Interventional Radiologists

With the current Maintenance of Certification (MOC) requirement for a practice quality improvement (PQI) project every 3 years, we all (well, most of us) find ourselves searching for projects that are both manageable and likely to have a positive impact on our clinical practice. In this session we will walk through the use of the Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) cycle to address a common finding in practices where fluoroscopically guided interventions (FGI) are performed: variation in procedural doses among physicians. We will also examine strategies to secure physician support using carrots, not sticks. Learning Objectives: 1.Review the PDSA cycle and its application to PQI. 2.Discuss strategies for action in the example presented. 3.Examine strategies for successful group PQI projects. A. Kyle Jones: Owner, FluoroSafety Joseph R. Steele: Consultant, FluoroSafety
Engineering of oleaginous organisms for lipid production

Phototrophs are attractive candidates for commercial lipid production. Lipid biosynthetic pathways in these organisms have been largely characterized but the mechanisms partitioning resources toward storage lipids are poorly understood. One promising strategy to study and enhance biomass lipid bioproduction in oleaginous microorganisms is to combine genome-scale metabolic modeling and genetic and metabolic engineering. Here we describe recent advances in in vitro, in vivo, and in silico manipulations of phototrophic metabolism that increase total lipid content or redirect lipid production toward more favorable products such as polyunsaturated fatty acids used as nutritional supplements or in biofuel production.
Children: As Witnesses

Child witness accuracy is of great concern to psychologists, legal and social service authorities, attorneys, judges, and society as a whole. In this article, we summarize scientific research on children's eyewitness testimony, including child factors, social circumstances, and interview characteristics that affect children's memory and suggestibility; interview techniques that encourage accurate eyewitness reports; courtroom accommodations to reduce stress and increase accuracy for child witnesses; jurors' reactions to children's testimony; and future directions in child witness research. Keywords: child witness; child eyewitness testimony; child eyewitness memory; child abuse; child victim; forensic interviews; child advocacy center; jurors; jury; disclosure
Design Creates Fortune: 2000 Tower Oaks Boulevard

A real estate developer assesses its ability to capture the benefits of investing in LEED Platinum, Vedic Design, and EnergyStar components in new buildings. 2000 Tower Oaks Boulevard in Rockville, Maryland is said to be the healthiest building in the National Capital Region. Why? Can the developer realize higher rents because of this? The developer also performs detailed cost benefit analysis of energy saving techniques which overlap and reduce their cumulative benefit; considers "green leases," advances the principles of Vedic design or Vastu; explores what makes good space lead to good results for its occupants; and evaluates indemnifying a mechanical design engineer with respect to specifying innovative components. The case is a deep look at many of the critical on the ground issues inhibiting innovative real estate development.
The effect of cold work on the precipitation and recrystallization kinetics in Al-Sc-Zr alloys

Scandium plus zirconium additions to aluminum offer potent alloy strengthening opportunities with enhanced kinetic stability at elevated temperatures, attributable to a favorable sequence of trialuminide precipitation events which occur. This work examines the additional variable of prior cold work on precipitate aging kinetics, and on the recrystallization of the underlying aluminum matrix. Al-0.07Sc-0.08Zr (at%) alloys have been cast, swaged, and isochronally aged over a range of temperatures to quantify hardening response and degree of recrystallization. Cold-worked specimens are compared to as-cast variants; the recrystallization response of the alloy is compared to pure aluminum. These data demonstrate the expanded and optimized properly space attainable via microstructural response to thermomechanical processing.
Fast-FMS: fast multimedia across 3g mobile networks

Fast-FMS is a new network protocol designed to support fast and effective multimedia delivery in 3G networks. In particular, Fast-FMS provides a reliable session between two mobile customers that want to transmit multimedia and data while on a voice conversation. The protocol leverages the multi-RAB feature of 2.5+ cellular networks to provide a new almost-real-time class of services that fill the gap between the costly circuit-switched video-call service and the basic services based on MMS. 1. Fast-FMS Description
The Rhetoric of Strict Products Liability Versus Negligence: An Empirical Analysis

In defective design and warning cases, courts and commentators increasingly are questioning the substantive distinction between negligence and strict liability causes of action. In 1998, the Restatement (Third) of Torts: Products Liability adopted a risk/utility analysis for defective design and warning claims that reflects a strong trend among jurisdictions in two ways. First, it advocated using the risk/utility test regardless of whether plaintiffs label their claims as negligence or strict liability (or, for that matter, implied warranty of merchantability). Second, the Restatement’s risk/utility analysis draws from principles of reasonableness, making strict liability essentially subject to a negligence analysis. In light of courts’ trend toward risk/utility and the Restatement’s position, commentators increasingly have wondered whether a plaintiff’s choice between negligence and strict liability in design and warning claims largely amounts to a rhetorical preference. In this Article, Professors Richard L. Cupp, Jr. and Danielle Polage present an empirical study of mock jurors that tests whether employing negligence versus strict liability language influences jury decisions when a substantively identical risk/utility standard is used. The authors found support for the perhaps counterintuitive argument that negligence language may favor plaintiffs by drawing on emotionally “hot” notions of fairness and fault, as opposed to the “cold” technical concepts of strict liability. The study found that jurors hearing the case under negligence language were more likely to find the defendant liable, and that they awarded, on average, almost twice the amount of damages compared to their strict liability counterparts. Indeed, although several findings showed advantages to using negligence language or disadvantages to using strict liability language, the study found no obvious rhetorical advantages to using strict liability language. The study thus presents a powerful challenge to the notion that strict liability is generally a pro-plaintiff doctrine under courts’ increasingly dominant approaches to design and warning cases.
Liberty's Forgotten Refugees? Engendering Assembly

This Essay explores what considerations of gender could add to Professor John Inazu’s efforts to revitalize the freedom of assembly. The Essay appears as part of a symposium celebrating the publication of his book, Liberty’s Refuge: The Forgotten Freedom of Assembly, which critiques the Supreme Court’s development of the freedom of association and argues for recognition of a robust “right to exclude” under the First Amendment’s Assembly Clause. Using a very rudimentary feminist lens, I examine three strands of Liberty’s Refuge: its treatment of the always-contested divide between public and private, its overly narrow reading of the Supreme Court’s intimate association doctrine, and its failure to distinguish exclusion from subordination. My analysis shows how, in overlooking several opportunities to take gender into account, the book risks leaving women as liberty’s forgotten refugees.
A remotely accessible networking laboratory

This paper describes Lander University's efforts to create a remotely accessible networking and telecommunications laboratory. By supplying remote access, the laboratory provides an authentic laboratory experience, gives greater access to equipment, and opens the laboratory to asynchronous and distance education uses. To create a viable laboratory, the issues of security, management, and authenticity had to be addressed. A tiered architecture was used to provide security--the inner experimental network is hidden behind an outer network that controls access. Both were positioned behind a router that provides filtering and network address translation. A number of techniques used to simplify management and provide greater authenticity were evaluated and are also described in this paper.
Iterative equalization of frequency selective channels

This paper addresses the channel equalization when multiple codes are under consideration. Multiple codes are designed by concatenating turbo codes in parallel fashion. Multiple turbo coded sequences are mapped to phase shift keying signals before passing throughout the severe intersymbol interface (ISI) channels. At the receiver, multistage decoding is utilized along with a group set partitioning technique to improve bit error rate (BER) performance. The noisy received signals are equalized by a combined DDFE and turbo decoding scheme called multilevel turbo equalization (MLTEQ). Simulation results depict that the proposed powerful MLTEQ scheme enables reliable digital communication with high bandwidth and power efficiency under intensive frequency dispersive channels
Learning Studios for Introductory Accounting

Although originally designed for science courses, learning studios have been introduced at over 100 college campuses in a variety of disciplines. Our study focuses on the differences between classrooms designed as lecture spaces versus classrooms designed as learning studios. The impetus is the growing number of learning studios and proponents’ claim of better collaboration and learning within them. Given the substantial cost of a learning studio and greater demand at the authors’ university than supply, we questioned whether the university administration should be encouraged to build more. Learning studios are classrooms in which the seating arrangement places the students in a face-to-face orientation with one another. Our study measures the differences between learning studios and traditional classrooms both quantitatively and qualitatively. The learning studio did not result in higher retention rates (the percentage of students completing the course during the semester) or significant differences in total points earned by students in a learning studio compared to a traditional classroom. When examined by gender, however, a significant difference in total points is apparent. For all students in the study, the ability to interact with other students as well as the instructor was greater in the learning studio.
PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS ON THE EFFICACY OF A RECOMBINANT MULTISTAGE PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM VACCINE IN AOTUS NANCYMAI MONKEYS

A vaccine trial was conducted to determine the efficacy of a multicomponent candidate vaccine, FALVAC-1, against Plasmodium falciparum in Aotus nancymai monkeys. After two immunizations, animals were challenged intravenously with parasites of the Vietnam Oak Knoll (FVO) strain of P. falciparum. The primary outcome was to determine the protective response of the monkeys to immunization with the FALVAC-1 antigen produced in baculovirus when combined with different adjuvants (alum, QS-21, ASO2a, CRL1005/oil, and CRL1005/saline) as compared with FALVAC-1 with FCA/FIA and antigen alone. When compared with the monkeys immunized with FALVAC-1 alone, FALVAC-1 with FCA/FIA reduced the mean parasite count (to Day 11), reduced the mean accumulated parasitemia (through Day 11), and extended the number of days to treatment. None of the other 5 antigen-adjuvant combinations were able to provide discernable levels of protection based on log(parasitemia) and log(cumulative parasitemia) to Day 11.
Constitutional supersaturation in Portland cement solidified by hydration

Abstract The hydration of Portland cement is briefly reviewed, and the importance of the calcium silicate hydrate is emphasized. The structure of this hydrate is discussed, and a two phase model is described that correlates with the observed morphology. Transmission electron micrographs of the calcium silicate hydrate are presented and the importance of dendritic growth of thin crystals is established. These micrographs of the calcium silicate hydrate show a prespherulitic morphology, and an analogy is made with crystalline organic polymers. Constitutional supersaturation is hypothesized to be responsible for the observed morphology of the calcium silicate hydrate in the same way constitutional undercooling is thought to be responsible for the spherulitic growth of polymers.
Recent advances of electrochemical mass spectrometry

This review article surveys some recent developments of electrochemistry (EC) in combination with mass spectrometry (MS) including instrumentation and bioanalytical applications.
Intrinsic kinase activity of the insulin receptor

Since the identification of the insulin receptor by insulin-binding activity almost two decades ago, our understanding of the structure and function of the insulin receptor has progressed tremendously. The importance of the intrinsic tyrosine protein kinase activity of the insulin receptor is implied by the fact that the insulin receptor belongs to a family of receptor tyrosine kinases which play a role in growth control, by experiments demonstrating the intimate association of normal kinase activity and insulin action, and by evidence that the intrinsic kinase activity can be regulated under certain conditions. There are still some major gaps in our knowledge concerning the structure/function of the insulin receptor such as how activation of the intrinsic kinase activity of the receptor leads to altered cellular physiology. The kinase may phosphorylate endogenous substrates or autophosphorylation may simply alter beta subunit conformation so it can then interact with an effector system (i.e. a serine kinase) directly, or indirectly through a G-protein. The truth may lie somewhere between these two pathways.
Clinical significance of disorders of impulse formation and conduction in the atrioventricular junction

D ISTURBANCES Of the tW0 properties Of A-\. junctional tissues, impulse formation and conduction, are important manifestations of cardiac pathophysiology and a guide to proper therapy. Because of their complexity, their presence is frequently overlooked and their clinical significance not fully appreciated. Relevant features of failure or delay of impulse conduction in the presence of accelerated spontaneous pacemaker activity in the A-t’ junction have been recently reviewed.‘-j The present study will elaborate on the clinical significance of this type of disorder of cardiac rhythm.
Multilevel algorithms for ill-posed problems

In this paper new multilevel algorithms are proposed for the numerical solution of first kind operator equations. Convergence estimates are established for multilevel algorithms applied to Tikhonov type regularization methods. Our theory relates the convergence rate of these algorithms to the minimal eigenvalue of the discrete version of the operator and the regularization parameter. The algorithms and analysis are presented in an abstract setting that can be applied to first kind integral equations.
Increased concentrations of angiotensin-converting enzyme in the intimal hyperplasia of experimental vein grafts

Local renin and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity were recently implicated in development of intimal hyperplasia after vascular injury, but little is known about the local responses of angiotensin I/II (AI/AII) and local ACE activity in vein graft physiology. The activity of the local ACE system of experimental vein grafts was examined in this study. The right carotid artery was divided and bypassed in 21 New Zealand White rabbits, using the right external jugular vein. The left external jugular vein was used as a control. Veins and vein grafts were harvested after 14 days. Rings from both vessels were studied in vitro under isometric tension, and dose-response curves to AI and AII were obtained. AI responses were also measured in the presence of captopril. The tissue concentrations of ACE in both vessels were estimated by spectrophotometry and were localized by immunohistochemistry. The responses of the veins to AI and AII were multiphasic, whereas the responses of vein grafts were sigmoid-shaped. Incubation of vein grafts with captopril significantly decreased the sensitivity to AI (p < 0.0001). Immunohistochemical localization identified ACE in the endothelial layer of the veins and vein grafts, but also at a greater density in the intimal hyperplasia of the vein graft. The concentration of ACE was 1.92 +/- 0.16 U/g (wet weight; mean +/- SEM, n = 9) in vein grafts and 1.39 +/- 0.05 U/g in the veins (38% increase, p < 0.05, n = 9).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Latent semantic rational kernels for topic spotting on spontaneous conversational speech

In this work, we propose latent semantic rational kernels (LSRK) for topic spotting on spontaneous conversational speech. Rather than mapping the input weighted finite-state transducers (WFSTs) onto a high dimensional n-gram feature space as in n-gram rational kernels, the proposed LSRK maps the WFSTs onto a latent semantic space. Moreover, with the LSRK framework, all available external knowledge can be flexibly incorporated to boost the topic spotting performance. The experiments we conducted on a spontaneous conversational task, Switchboard, show that our method can achieve significant performance gain over the baselines from 27.33% to 57.56% accuracy and almost double the classification accuracy over the n-gram rational kernels in all cases.
Dynamics of syndesmophyte growth in AS as measured by quantitative CT: heterogeneity within and among vertebral disc spaces

Objective. Syndesmophytes in AS typically grow slowly, but it is not known whether growth is uniform among syndesmophytes in the same intervertebral disc space (IDS) or among different IDSs in the same patient or if growth is heterogeneous. We examined the dynamics of syndesmophyte growth over 24 months using CT, with the main aim of determining if syndesmophytes in the same IDS or the same patient grow at similar rates. Methods. We performed lumbar spine CT scans on 33 patients and measured syndesmophytes in four IDSs using a validated computer algorithm. Scans were done at baseline and 12 and 24 months. We compared absolute and percentage changes in volume from baseline to 12 months and to 24 months among syndesmophytes in the same IDS and among four IDSs of each patient. We also examined whether growth among all IDSs differed between study years. Results. Among 60 IDSs with at least two syndesmophytes at baseline (range 2–6), there was substantial heterogeneity in both absolute (P 100 mm3. Similarly there was significant heterogeneity in syndesmophyte growth among IDSs of individual patients. Increases in total syndesmophyte volume for each patient also tended to differ between study years (P = 0.07). Conclusion. Syndesmophytes in AS do not all grow continuously. Rates of growth over 24 months commonly differ between syndesmophytes in the same IDS and between different IDSs in the same patient, suggesting that local factors regulate syndesmophyte growth.
Prevalence of Periodontal Disease in a Health Maintenance Organization and Comparisons to the National Survey of Oral Health

The purposes of this study were to 1) characterize the demographics, oral health behavior, and periodontal status of a health maintenance organization sample; 2) investigate the relationship between the location of posterior proximal measurement sites and prevalence estimates for periodontal disease; and 3) compare the prevalence of persons with pockets ≥ 4 mm in the present sample to the 1985 NIDR Survey of Oral Health. The sample consisted of 1,090 adults attending a large health maintenance organization. All proximal sites in one randomly selected posterior dental sextant were examined for probing depth using a constant force probe. Demographic, medical, and behavioral factors were determined by questionnaire. Results indicated that the sample consisted primarily of medically and periodontally-healthy middle-aged adults with good oral hygiene habits. Overall, the mean probing depth was 2.95 mm with 10.1% of sites/subject ≥ 4 mm. A larger percent of subjects had probing depths with pockets ≥ 4 mm at lin...
Leucine 42 in the fibronectin motif of streptokinase plays a critical role in fibrin-independent plasminogen activation.

The NH2 terminus (residues 1–59) of streptokinase (SK) is a molecular switch that permits fibrin-independent plasminogen activation. Targeted mutations were made in recombinant (r) SK1–59 to identify structural interactions required for this process. Mutagenesis established the functional roles of Phe-37and Glu-39, which were projected to interact with microplasmin in the activator complex. Mutation of Leu-42 (rSK1–59L42A), a conserved residue in the SK fibronectin motif that lacks interactions with microplasmin, strongly reduced plasminogen activation (k cat decreased 50-fold) but not amidolysis (k cat decreased 1.5-fold). Otherwise rSK1–59L42A and native rSK1–59 were indistinguishable in several parameters. Both displayed saturable and specific binding to Glu-plasminogen or the remaining SK fragment (rSKΔ59). Similarly rSK1–59 and rSK1–59L42A bound simultaneously to two different plasminogen molecules, indicating that both plasminogen binding sites were intact. However, when bound to SKΔ59, rSK1–59L42A was less effective than rSK1–59 in restructuring the native conformation of the SK A domain, as detected by conformation-dependent monoclonal antibodies. In the light of previous studies, these data provide evidence that SK1–59 contributes to fibrin-independent plasminogen activation through 1) intermolecular interactions with the plasmin in the activator complex, 2) binding interactions with the plasminogen substrate, and 3) intramolecular interactions that structure the A domain of SK for Pg substrate processing.
The antimicrobial agent C31G is effective for therapy for HSV-1 ocular keratitis in the rabbit eye model

The amphoteric C31G solution contains equimolar alkyl dimethlyglycine and alkyl dimethyl amine oxide buffered with citric acid. C31G acts as a broad spectrum antiviral and an antibacterial. No previous in vivo studies have been done to test C31G in an animal model of HSV-1 ocular keratitis. We assessed the anti-herpetic activity of C31G in the rabbit eye model using three treatment groups: (1) 1% trifluorothymidine (TFT); (2) 0.25% C31G plus 0.5% hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC); and (3) vehicle, 0.5% HPMC. Scarified rabbit corneas were inoculated with the HSV-1 strain McKrae. On post inoculation (PI) day 3, rabbits were placed in three balanced groups based on slit-lamp examination (SLE) scores. Treatment began on PI day 3, five times a day for five consecutive days. In addition to the daily, masked SLE scoring, the eyes were assessed daily for stromal opacity, scleral inflammation, neovascularization, eyelid inflammation, inflammatory discharge, and epiphora. C31G and TFT were very effective in reducing the lesions and pathogenesis associated with HSV-1 ocular keratitis. The vehicle control scores were significantly higher and did not effectively treat HSV-1 keratitis. C31G has the potential to be used to treat herpetic keratitis as well as other herpetic topical lesions in humans.
A comparison of four tests for attribute dependency in the LEM and LERS systems for learning from examples

The paper discusses two programs for learning from examples, LEM (Learning from Examples Module) and LERS (Learning from Examples based on Rough Sets). A few versions of both programs are implemented in Franz Lisp and are running on VAX 11/780. Both programs' main task is to automate knowledge acquisition for expert systems. Hence, they produce rules in the minimal discriminant form. The main problem addressed in the paper is the selection of the best mechanism for determining coverings, the minimal sets of relevant attributes. Four different methods, based on indiscernibility relation, partition, characteristic set and lower boundary are compared. Both theoretical analysis and experimental results of multiple running of many sets of examples, with variable number of examples and with variable number of attributes are taken into account. As a result the partition method is determined to be the most efficient way to compute coverings.
Allograft reactivity in chick embryos

Kinetic studies with the splenomegaly assay and the in vivo antibody assay of marker allogeneic immunocompetent cells were made to ascertain when in embryonic development the capacity to actively reject foreign cells is manifested by the chick embryo. It was found that (1) the splenomegaly response elicited with equivalent amounts of immunologically competent cells was high in 14-day embryo hosts but much less in embryo hosts 16-, and 18-day of age. Whereas the GVH reaction was effectively reduced in cyclophosphamide-pretreated 14-day hosts, no such effect was observed in older hosts; (2) the antibody production by allogeneic immunocytes, as measured with the in vivo assay, was high in 14- and 16-day embryo hosts, but significantly reduced in 18-day embryo and day-old chick hosts. In contrast the antibody output remained high in all cyclophosphamide-pretreated hosts; and (3) the marker immunocytes, cultured in embryo hosts for several days, maintained their antigen-responsive capacity unimpaired up to the seventeenth day of incubation but showed some loss by the eighteenth day. The experimental findings indicate that the host response during splenomegaly in young embryo hosts is not associated with graft rejection. However, coinciding with the reduction in splenomegaly in older hosts is rejection of donor cells. Alloimmune responsiveness exists as early as the seventeenth-eighteenth day of chick development.
DEVELOPMENT OF A MODEL OF THE DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION IN AUTONOMIE AND VALIDATION WITH DYNAMOMETER TEST DATA

Owing to ever more stringent regulations and customers’ expectations, auto manufacturers have been considering numerous technology options to improve vehicle fuel economy. One of these is transmission technology, which has been shown to be one of the most cost-effective technologies. Over the past few years, transmissions have significantly evolved and have impacted both performance and fuel efficiency. As one of the advanced tranmissions, the dual clutch transmission (DCT) is the first automatic transmission to provide better efficiency than manual transmissions. DCTs provide reduced shift shocks and better driver comfort in addition to higher top speeds and torques. In this paper, a model and shifting controller for the DCT are developed in the vehicle systems context using Autonomie, a model-based vehicle simulation tool. Finally, the Autonomie DCT model and control strategy are validated using vehicle test data from Argonne’s Advanced Powertrain Research Facility.
Parallel components for PDEs and optimization: some issues and experiences

High-performance simulations in computational science often involve the combined software contributions of multidisciplinary teams of scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and computer scientists. One goal of component-based software engineering in large-scale scientific simulations is to help manage such complexity by enabling better interoperability among codes developed by different groups. This paper discusses recent work on building component interfaces and implementations in parallel numerical toolkits for mesh manipulations, discretization, linear algebra, and optimization. We consider several motivating applications involving partial differential equations and unconstrained minimization to demonstrate this approach and evaluate performance.
Tumor susceptibility gene 101 protein represses androgen receptor transactivation and interacts with p300

BACKGROUND Functional inactivation of the tsg101 gene in mouse fibroblasts leads to cell transformation and the ability to form metastatic tumors in nude mice. Abnormal TSG101 transcripts with highly-specific deletions in the protein-coding region have been identified in human tumor samples and cancer cell lines, including prostate and breast carcinomas, and have been attributed to alternative splicing of TSG101 mRNA. The function of the TSG101 protein is not known, although its predicted sequence has suggested that it may function as a transcription factor. METHODS Human TSG101 N-terminal (encoding amino acids 10–240) and C-terminal (encoding amino acids 230–391) fragments were cloned and used in both transient transfection and protein binding experiments. The transient transfections were carried in CV-1 cells. Protein-protein interactions were determined by both glutathione-S-transferase fusion protein binding and co-immunoprecipitation. RESULTS The N-terminal region of TSG101, when fused to the GAL4 DNA binding domain, can activate transcription; whereas the C-terminal region mediates transcriptional repression. Full-length TSG101 or its separated regions repressed ligand-dependent transcriptional activation by nuclear receptors, including androgen receptor and estrogen receptor, which play central roles in prostate carcinoma and breast carcinoma, respectively. In addition, a direct association between TSG101 and the transcriptional co-factor p300 was demonstrated in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that TSG101 can function as a transcription modulator to affect nuclear receptor-mediated transcriptional activation, which raises the possibility that the tumor suppression by TSG101 observed previously may be mediated at least in part by its effects on nuclear receptor function. Cancer 1999;86:689–96. © 1999 American Cancer Society.
Functional Genomic Analysis of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Counteraction of the Host Innate Response

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) mutants lacking the ICP34.5 gene are severely attenuated in mouse models and have a significant growth defect in confluent mouse embryo fibroblasts. Previously, ICP34.5 was demonstrated to have a crucial role in evading the innate immune response to infection by mediating the dephosphorylation of eIF2alpha, a translation initiation factor phosphorylated by PKR during the antiviral response. To further understand the role of ICP34.5 in evasion of the antiviral response, we used transcriptional profiling to examine host cell gene expression in both wild-type and ICP34.5-null virus-infected mouse embryo fibroblasts over a time course of infection. Our study revealed that cells responded to infection within 3 h through PKR-dependent eIF2alpha phosphorylation and that the majority of up-regulated genes at 3 h postinfection were involved in the antiviral response. HSV-1 counters this response through early expression of ICP34.5 and dephosphorylation of eIF2alpha. By 12 h postinfection, the differences between the number and functional classification of genes differentially up- and down-regulated between wild-type and ICP34.5-null virus-infected cells were maximal. Specifically, in wild-type virus-infected cells, the majority of changed genes were involved in metabolic and biosynthetic processes, while in ICP34.5-null virus-infected cells, mostly antiviral genes were up-regulated. Further, ICP34.5-null virus-infected cells produced greater amounts of beta interferon than wild-type virus-infected cells. These results indicate that ICP34.5 expression and function at early times postinfection have a pivotal role in the ability of HSV-1 to gain control of the host cell and maintain an environment for successful viral replication.
Full-scale fatigue tests of CX-100 wind turbine blades. Part I: testing

This paper overviews the test setup and experimental methods for structural health monitoring (SHM) of two 9-meter CX-100 wind turbine blades that underwent fatigue loading at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL) National Wind Technology Center (NWTC). The first blade was a pristine blade, which was manufactured to standard specifications for the CX-100 design. The second blade was manufactured for the University of Massachusetts, Lowell with intentional simulated defects within the fabric layup. Each blade was instrumented with piezoelectric transducers, accelerometers, acoustic emission sensors, and foil strain gauges. The blades underwent harmonic excitation at their first natural frequency using the Universal Resonant Excitation (UREX) system at NREL. Blades were initially excited at 25% of their design load, and then with steadily increasing loads until each blade reached failure. Data from the sensors were collected between and during fatigue loading sessions. The data were measured over multi-scale frequency ranges using a variety of acquisition equipment, including off-the-shelf systems and specially designed hardware developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). The hardware systems were evaluated for their aptness in data collection for effective application of SHM methods to the blades. The results of this assessment will inform the selection of acquisition hardware and sensor types to be deployed on a CX-100 flight test to be conducted in collaboration with Sandia National Laboratory at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Conservation and Production Research Laboratory (CPRL) in Bushland, Texas.
Ligation of an anatomic variant of renal vasculature during laparoscopic periaortic lymph node dissection: a cause of postoperative renal infarction

Abstract Background Minimally invasive surgical techniques are becoming more sophisticated as complex procedures are being incorporated into gynecologic oncology in routine and investigative settings. Case We present a case of an aberrant supernumerary right renal artery ligation during periaortic laparoscopic lymph node dissection for endometrial cancer. This injury resulted in infarction of the lower pole of the right kidney, with no late sequela. Conclusion The gynecologic oncologist should be aware of the possibility of aberrant renal vasculature, and special care should be taken to avoid accidental ligation of supernumerary renal arteries during dissection of the periaortic lymph nodes.
Retinoyl β-Glucuronide: a Biologically Active Form of Vitamin a

Retinoyl β-glucuronide is a naturally occurring, biologically active metabolite of vitamin A. Although retinoyl β-glucuronide is regarded as a detoxification product of retinoic acid, it plays several roles in the functions of vitamin A. It can serve as a source of retinoic acid, and it may be a vehicle for transport of retinoic acid to target tissues. Topically applied retinoyl β-glucuronide is comparable in efficacy to retinoic acid in the treatment of acne in humans, without the same side effects. Retinoyl β-glucuronide may or may not be teratogenic, depending on the mode of administration and the species in which it is used. It may be a valuable therapeutic compound for the treatment of skin disorders and certain types of cancers.
Ecological speciation without host plant specialization; possible origins of a recently described cryptic Papilio species

North American Papilio canadensis and P. glaucus (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae, these Papilio = Pterourus) have previously been described as having allopatric distributions separated by a narrow hybrid zone running from Minnesota to southern New England, and southward in the Appalachian Mountains (possibly to northern Georgia). Recent patterns of hybridization and introgression suggest a more complex interaction between the two, possibly even resulting in the formation of a new species (Pterourus appalachiensis Pavulaan & Wright, 2002). Recently, extensive northward interspecific introgression of P. glaucus-diagnostic traits has been observed in the hybrid zone. These include wing bands and other color patterns, the ability to feed on tulip tree leaves, and Hk-100 allozymes; all are autosomally encoded. However, there has been little northward introgression of certain other P. glaucus traits (such as facultative diapause and bivoltinism, and Ldh-100 allozymes, both X-linked; and the Y-linked melanic mimicry gene in females). Interspecific recombination of the X-chromosome has evidently occurred, as shown by discordant patterns of X-linked markers. The P. glaucus X-linked Pgd-100 and Pgd-50 alleles have introgressed 200–400 km north of the historical hybrid zone, yet the P. glaucus X-linked Ldh-100 allele has not. The allele frequency shift for both genes is more closely related to the ‘thermal landscape’ (i.e., accumulated degree-days above a developmental base threshold of 50 °F (=10 °C)) than to latitude. Delayed post-diapause eclosion of cohorts within the hybrid zone, e.g., the New York/Vermont border area, has produced a natural ‘false-second generation’ flight (a hybrid swarm of synchronous males and females, where 2300–2700 °F degree-days have accumulated each year since 1998) that is reproductively isolated from flights of both parental species. Moreover, the newly described P. appalachiensis exhibits a unique combination of traits. These include obligate diapause, a univoltine habit, and the Ldh-80 or Ldh-40 alleles (as for P. canadensis), the Pgd-100 or Pgd-50 alleles (as for P. glaucus), and a delayed ‘false-second generation’ reproductive flight period (as observed in the hybrid zone). Since 2001, a rare allele or ‘hybrizyme’ (Ldh-20) has appeared in this false second generation at high frequencies (40–50%). We hypothesize that strong selection against the facultative diapause (od-)trait (and the linked Ldh-100 allele) in regions with 2800 °F degree-days or less, and divergent selection in favor of Pgd-100 (or a closely linked trait) combined with allochronic reproductive isolation, has resulted in recombinational, parapatric, hybrid speciation. There is no evidence at present that host-plant shifts or changes in sex pheromones have driven this process, in contrast to many other speciation events in the Lepidoptera.
PROPERTIES OF THE CAUSATIVE AGENT OF A CHICKEN TUMOR : IX. THE EFFECT OF AQUEOUS EXTRACTS OF CHICKEN TUMOR I ON YEAST NUCLEIC ACID.

1. Aqueous extracts of Chicken Tumor I cause a disintegration of yeast nucleic acid. 2. Two enzyme activities, a polynucleotidase and a phosphatase, are demonstrated. 3. These activities are distinguished by different reactions to an environment of hydrogen, different optima of hydrogen ion concentration, and different rates of activity. 4. Adsorption with aluminum hydroxide Type C removes substances inhibiting the polynucleotidase activity. 5. There is a rough proportionality between the polynucleotidase activity and the tumor-inducing power of different fractions of extracts of Chicken Tumor I. 6. There is a rough proportionality between the inhibition of polynucleotidase activity and the inhibition of the tumor agent. 7. The polynucleotidase activity of Chicken Tumor I is as great as that of spleen, slightly less than that of kidney and liver, but much greater than that of muscle. There are also qualitative differences.
Silicate entrapped columns — new columns designed for capillary electrochromatography

Designed especially for capillary electrochromatography (CEC), silicate-entrapped columns are made by trapping particles of chromatographic packing material in a network of silica. Once entrapped, the capillary no longer requires frits. This renders a more homogeneous and stable packed bed. Accidental breakage of the fragile frits is not an issue with these robust columns. Columns packed with reverse-phase material subjected to silicate entrapment demonstrated faster separations of retained analytes and increased efficiencies compared with nonentrapped columns. The method was also used to prepare chiral CEC columns by entrapping a molecular imprinted polymeric (MIP) packing having minimal surface charge density, thus being unable alone to support sufficient electroosmotic flow for CEC.