cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The influence of thymectomy and sham operation on prostate gland responses of hooded rats to gonadotropins.

Abstract The zinc-65 uptake and organ weight responses of ventral, dorsal and lateral prostate glands to administration of FSH,LH,HCG and prolactin were studied in thymectomized, sham thymectomized and unoperated male hooded rats. The data presented demonstrate that the thymus gland influences the growth and the zinc-65 uptake of the accessory reproductive structures of these male rats. Both thymectomy and sham operation alter responses to administered gonadotropins. FSH is shown to increase prostate weights in thymectomized animals and to decrease zinc-65 uptake in all three surgical states. Differences are observed in the organ weight and zinc-65 uptake responses to LH as compared with HCG. The effects of prolactin on these parameters are modified by surgical stress. The ventral and lateral prostate glands differ in their responses to hormones and surgery.
Neck pain and stiffness in a toddler with history of button battery ingestion.

Abstract Background: Button batteries within the gastrointestinal system are dangerous and must be suspected after any foreign body ingestion. Common complications include esophageal perforation, fistula formation, and esophageal scarring. Objectives: Spondylodiscitis resulting from button battery ingestion is extremely rare and, to our knowledge, has been described in the literature only once to date. Case Report: We will describe a case in which a 14-month-old girl developed spondylodiscitis of T1/T2 after an uncomplicated clinical course involving the ingestion and removal of an esophageal button battery. Discussion will include mechanisms in which button batteries cause harm and notable differences between the previously reported case and ours. Conclusions: We present this case to increase awareness of spondylodiscitis in patients with neck pain or stiffness and a history of button battery ingestion.
Membrane polypeptides of some higher plant chloroplasts.

Abstract Sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of membrane polypeptides of the mesophyll cell chloroplasts of barley, pea, and maize show similar profiles, with the polypeptides falling into two major groups: those associated with a membrane fraction enriched in Photosystem I (called Group I polypeptides) and those associated with a membrane fraction enriched in Photosystem II (called Group II polypeptides a, b, and c). In contrast to these profiles, the polypeptides from the extensively unstacked membranes of chloroplasts from the chlorophyll-deficient mutant strains of barley and pea as well as those obtained from the agranal bundle sheath cell chloroplasts of maize are deficient in the Group II polypeptides b and c. It is proposed that these polypeptides are required for membrane stacking in higher plant chloroplasts. These Group II polypeptides b and c are not required for Photosystem II activity since both the barley and pea mutant chloroplasts and the maize bundle sheath chloroplasts possess Photosystem II activities.
ADP-ribosylation Factor Proteins Mediate Agonist-induced Activation of Phospholipase D

The role of small G proteins of the ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) and Rho families on the activation of phospholipase D (PLD) by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and phorbol esters (PMA) has been investigated. The activation of PLD by PDGF and PMA was blocked by brefeldin A (BFA), an inhibitor of ARF activation, but not by Clostridium botulinum C3 exotoxin, an inhibitor of the activity of Rho. PDGF and PMA, in the presence of GTPγS, promoted the association of ARF and RhoA with cell membranes. Cells depleted of ARF and Rho by digitonin permeabilization showed a significant reduction of the activity of phospholipase D. Recombinant ARF was sufficient to restore agonist-induced PLD activity to digitonin-permeabilized, cytoplasm-depleted cells. In contrast, isoprenylated recombinant RhoA had no effects in this reconstitution assay. HIRcB cells were transiently transfected with wild-type and dominant-negative mutants of ARF1 and ARF6. Neither wt-ARF1 nor wt-ARF6 had any effects on agonist-dependent PLD activity. However, dominant-negative ARF1 and ARF6 mutants blocked the stimulation of PLD by PDGF but only partially inhibited the effects of PMA. These results demonstrate that ARF rather than Rho proteins mediate the activation of PLD by PDGF and phorbol esters in HIRcB fibroblasts.
The integration of mitochondrial calcium transport and storage.

The extraordinary capacity of isolated mitochondria to accumulate Ca2+ has been established for more than 40 years. The distinct kinetics of the independent uptake and efflux pathways accounts for the dual functionality of the transport process to either modulate matrix free Ca2+ concentrations or to act as temporary stores of large amounts of Ca2+ in the presence of phosphate. One puzzle has been the nature of the matrix calcium phosphate complex, since matrix free Ca2+ seems to be buffered in the region of 1–5 μM in the presence of phosphate while millimolar Ca2+ remains soluble in in vitro media. The key seems to be the elevated matrix pH and the third-power relationship of the PO4 3− concentration with pH. Taking this into account we may now finally have a model that explains the major features of physiological mitochondrial Ca2+ transport.
Effects of the Nanoparticle-Based Vaccine, SEL-068, on Nicotine Discrimination in Squirrel Monkeys

A key feature of addiction to nicotine likely resides in its ability to produce subjective effects that, in turn, may be reflected in its discriminative-stimulus properties. Vaccination against such effects of nicotine offers an intriguing therapeutic approach for smoking cessation, but a reliably effective and immunologically safe vaccine remains to be identified. Here we report on the ability of SEL-068, a nanoparticle-based vaccine that targets nicotine, to modify the discriminative-stimulus effects of nicotine in a primate species. Results indicate that squirrel monkeys vaccinated with SEL-068 failed to acquire 0.1 mg/kg nicotine discrimination but readily learned to discriminate 0.001 mg/kg of the nicotinic full agonist (+)-epibatidine ((+)-EPI). After (+)-EPI training, doses of nicotine ⩾ 0.32 mg/kg, which produced behaviorally adverse actions, still failed to substitute for the (+)-EPI training stimulus in immunized monkeys, whereas (+)-EPI and the partial agonist varenicline engendered, respectively, complete and partial substitution in all monkeys with potency comparable to their potency in non-immunized subjects. In other subjects, nicotine was trained as a discriminative-stimulus and then replaced by (+)-EPI. Subsequent vaccination with SEL-068 led to a threefold and long-lasting (>30 weeks) decrease in the potency of nicotine but not (+)-EPI or varenicline. Collectively, our results show that SEL-068 can block the development of nicotine discrimination and attenuate nicotine's effects in nicotine-experienced monkeys without altering the discriminative-stimulus properties of other nicotinic drugs. The difference in the vaccine's effects in naive and nicotine-experienced subjects provides important insight into the conditions under which immunotherapy may be effective in combating nicotine addiction.
Shame, guilt, and personality judgment.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to shed further light on the intrapersonal and interpersonal correlates of shame- and guilt-proneness by examining their relations with self- and peer-ratings of the five-factor model (FFM) of personality. Shame- and guilt-proneness were assessed using a scenario-based and a checklist measure. Consistent with findings from previous research, the self-rating data yielded support for the view that shame-proneness may be associated with more maladaptive patterns than guilt-proneness. However, peer-ratings of personality failed to corroborate these findings. Both scenario-based and checklist measures of shame-proneness were associated with a tendency to underestimate one’s Agreeableness relative to peer-ratings. Several possible interpretations of these findings are discussed in light of the extant research on personality judgment.
Sonographic findings in Bartholin's gland hamartoma.

We report the case of a postmenopausal patient presenting with bilateral solid Bartholin's gland lesions. The clinical and sonographic features suggested a nonaggressive process, allowing the surgeon to choose excisional biopsy of 1 of the lesions rather than radical excision to establish the diagnosis of a Bartholin's gland hamartoma. To our knowledge, this is the first sonographic description of a benign solid Bartholin's gland lesion. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 26:465–469, 1998.
Atomic hydrogen-induced degradation of thin SiO2 gate oxides

Abstract The generation of interface states at the Si SiO 2 - interface caused by atomic hydrogen, H0, from a remote hydrogen plasma has been studied. It is found that H0 produces large numbers of interface-states, irrespective of the oxide thickness and the substrate orientation. The interface-state density is found to increase linearly with the H0-dose over a wide range. The rate at which the interface-states are created appears to be thermally activated with an activation energy of ⋍ 200 meV. The rate increases with decreasing oxide thickness, indicating that the generation may be limited in part by the H0 diffusion to the interface. The Si (1 1 1) interface is found to degrade faster than the Si (1 0 0) interface.
Torsional Instability of Moderately Thick Composite Cylindrical Shells by Various Shell Theories

The present work deals with the development of the kinematic relations, equilibrium equations, buckling equations, and related boundary conditions for laminated, cylindrical, moderately thick shells, including the effect of transverse shear. Results are generated for three theories(classical and first order and higher oder shear deformation) based on Donnell type and Sanders type kinematics relations
Delineations of forest fungi: Morphology and relationships of vararia

Vararia belongs in a group of hymenomycetes characterized by non-xanthochroic basidiocarps in which gloeocystidia are formed rather regularly. Basidia and gloeocystidia originate at a relatively deep level in a catahymenium or hyphidial hymenium; thus they are overgrown by continuing development of the hyphal elements. As a result, they may become deeply submerged in the structure of the basidiocarp, together with embedded basidiospores. Dichohyphidia are formed as dichotomously-branched structures of limited growth. Although commonly subulate, dichohyphidia may show a considerable range of form even within a single basidiocarp. In Melzer's iodine reagent they commonly exhibit a dextrinoid reaction by becoming reddish brown. Hyphae of basidiocarps and cultures of some species have clamp-connections; those of other species lack clamps. Spores of the various species may be fusoid-ellipsoid, ellipsoid, globose, or cylindric, and may have either prominent or obscure amyloid ornamentation or may be apparently non-amyloid. Together with cultural characteristics such as the presence or absence of oedocephaloid conidiophores and various hyphal modifications, the hyphal and spore characteristics of the basidiocarp seem to present a potential basis for division ofVararia into several subgenera or generic segregates. The preceding considerations form the basis for a discussion of the position and relationships ofVararia within the Aphyllophorales.
Technology investment agendas to expand human space futures

The paper develops four alternative core-technology advancement specifications, one for each of the four strategic goal options for government investment in human space flight. Already discussed in the literature, these are: Explore Mars; Settle the Moon; accelerate commercial development of Space Passenger Travel; and enable industrial scale-up of Space Solar Power for Earth. In the case of the Explore Mars goal, the paper starts with the contemporary NASA accounting of ?55 Mars-enabling technologies. The analysis decomposes that technology agenda into technologies applicable only to the Explore Mars goal, versus those applicable more broadly to the other three options. Salient technology needs of all four options are then elaborated to a comparable level of detail. The comparison differentiates how technologies or major developments that may seem the same at the level of budget lines or headlines (e.g., heavy-lift Earth launch) would in fact diverge widely if developed in the service of one or another of the HSF goals. The paper concludes that the explicit choice of human space flight goal matters greatly; an expensive portfolio of challenging technologies would not only enable a particular option, it would foreclose the others. Technologies essential to enable human exploration of Mars cannot prepare interchangeably for alternative futures; they would not allow us to choose later to Settle the Moon, unleash robust growth of Space Passenger Travel industries, or help the transition to a post-petroleum future with Space Solar Power for Earth. The paper concludes that a decades-long decision in the U.S.--whether made consciously or by default--to focus technology investment toward achieving human exploration of Mars someday would effectively preclude the alternative goals in our lifetime.
Measuring and analyzing the characteristics of Napster and Gnutella hosts

The popularity of peer-to-peer multimedia file sharing applications such as Gnutella and Napster has created a flurry of recent research activity into peer-to-peer architectures. We believe that the proper evaluation of a peer-to-peer system must take into account the characteristics of the peers that choose to participate in it. Surprisingly, however, few of the peer-to-peer architectures currently being developed are evaluated with respect to such considerations. In this paper, we remedy this situation by performing a detailed measurement study of the two popular peer-to-peer file sharing systems, namely Napster and Gnutella. In particular, our measurement study seeks to characterize the population of end-user hosts that participate in these two systems. This characterization includes the bottleneck bandwidths between these, hosts and the Internet at large, IP-level latencies to send packets to these hosts, how often hosts connect and disconnect from the system, how many files hosts share and download, the degree of cooperation between the hosts, and several correlations between these characteristics. Our measurements show that there is significant heterogeneity and lack of cooperation across peers participating in these systems.
Modification of the 5′ Terminus of Sindbis Virus Genomic RNA Allows nsP4 RNA Polymerases with Nonaromatic Amino Acids at the N Terminus To Function in RNA Replication

We have previously shown that Sindbis virus RNA polymerase requires an N-terminal aromatic amino acid or histidine for wild-type or pseudo-wild-type function; mutant viruses with a nonaromatic amino acid at the N terminus of the polymerase, but which are otherwise wild type, are unable to produce progeny viruses and will not form a plaque at any temperature tested. We now show that such mutant polymerases can function to produce progeny virus sufficient to form plaques at both 30 and 40°C upon addition of AU, AUA, or AUU to the 5' terminus of the genomic RNA or upon substitution of A for U as the third nucleotide of the genome. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that (i) 3'-UA-5' is required at the 3' terminus of the minus-strand RNA for initiation of plus-strand genomic RNA synthesis; (ii) in the wild-type virus this sequence is present in a secondary structure that can be opened by the wild-type polymerase but not by the mutant polymerase; (iii) the addition of AU, AUA, or AUU to the 5' end of the genomic RNA provides unpaired 3'-UA-5' at the 3' end of the minus strand that can be utilized by the mutant polymerase, and similarly, the effect of the U3A mutation is to destabilize the secondary structure, freeing 3'-terminal UA; and (iv) the N terminus of nsP4 may directly interact with the 3' terminus of the minus-strand RNA for the initiation of the plus-strand genomic RNA synthesis. This hypothesis is discussed in light of our present results as well as of previous studies of alphavirus RNAs, including defective interfering RNAs.
Failure to proliferate and mitotic arrest of CDK11(p110/p58)-null mutant mice at the blastocyst stage of embryonic cell development.

The CDK11p110 protein kinases are part of large-molecular-weight complexes that also contain RNA polymerase II, transcriptional elongation factors, and general pre-mRNA splicing factors. CDK11p110 isoforms may therefore couple transcription and pre-mRNA splicing by their effect(s) on certain proteins required for these processes. The CDK11p58 kinase isoform is generated from the CDK11p110 mRNA through the use of an internal ribosome entry site in a mitosis-specific manner, suggesting that this kinase may regulate the cell cycle during mitosis. The in vivo role and necessity of CDK11p110/p58 kinase function during mammalian development were examined by generating CDK11p110/p58-null mice through targeted disruption of the corresponding gene using homologous recombination. While heterozygous mice develop normally, disruption of both CDK11p110/p58 alleles results in early embryonic lethality due to apoptosis of the blastocyst cells between 3.5 and 4 days postcoitus. Cells within these embryos exhibit both proliferative defect(s) and a mitotic arrest. These results are consistent with the proposed cellular functions of the CDK11p110/p58 kinases and confirm that the CDK11p110/p58 kinases are essential for cellular viability as well as normal early embryonic development.
Titanium Silicides and their Technological Applications

Titanium silicides are used as source, gate and drain contacts and local interconnections in CMOS integrated circuits. In these applications, it is important that the titanium silicide phase have a low resistivity (< 20μΩ-cm) and not agglomerate during high temperature processing. The Ti/Si system has two silicide phases that are useful for electronic applications, high resistivity C49-TiSi2 (60-70 μΩ-cm) which forms at 600 - 700°C and low resistivity (15-20 μΩ-cm) C54-TiSi2 which forms from 700 to 850°C. This paper will review how the size of the thermal annealing process window for forming low resistivity C54-TiSi2 from high resistivity C49-TiSi2 without having the silicide agglomerate varies with annealing treatments, electronic dopants, and contact size. In addition, processing methods to improve the size of the process window will be discussed.
Analysis, decomposition and superposition of quadratic potential force fields for distributed manipulation

Distributed manipulation systems induce motions on objects through the application of many external forces. An actuator array performs distributed manipulation using a planar array of many stationary elements, which cooperate to manipulate larger objects through the generation of a programmable force field. This paper defines and studies a class of manipulation force fields called quadratic potential fields. Methodology is developed to decompose these fields into simpler components and superimpose them both vectorially and geometrically, simplifying the design of manipulation strategies. Application to trajectory following is also presented.
Toward Active Cannulas: Miniature Snake-Like Surgical Robots

We have developed a new class of continuously flexible snake-like robots, called active cannulas, that consist of several telescoping pre-curved superelastic tubes. The devices derive bending actuation not from tendon wires or other external mechanisms, but from elastic energy stored in the backbone itself. This allows active cannulas to have a small diameter and a high degree of dexterity, which should enable them to navigate through complex anatomy to sites inaccessible by current surgical robotic devices. Active cannulas may also enhance patient safety because their inherent compliance mitigates potential trauma from inadvertent tool-tissue collision. A consequence of our design is that dexterity improves with miniaturization. A kinematic description of active cannula shape requires a model of the elastic interaction of telescoping pre-curved flexible tubes, and we derive a two-"link" beam mechanics-based model. Experiments using curved nitinol tubes and wires validate the model.
Distinguishing Hope from Optimism and Related Affective States

Three studies examined the conceptual and psychological differences between hope and related mental states. In Study 1, participants provided definitions of hope as well as optimism, want, desire, wish, and the non-anticipatory state of joy; in Study 2, participants wrote about a time when they had experienced each of these states. These definitions and stories were coded for a number of psychological features that were then used to distinguish the different states. Study 3 mapped the differences among the six mental states into a multidimensional conceptual space. Overall, hope is most closely related to wishing but distinct from it. Most important, hope is distinct from optimism by being an emotion, representing more important but less likely outcomes, and by affording less personal control. The importance of combining a folk-conceptual perspective with a more traditional analysis of appraisal for understanding differences among psychological constructs is discussed.
The Taste Receptor(s)

The interaction of a tastant with the receptor has long been believed to occur at the surface of the taste cell membrane (Beidler, 1954, 1962; Kennedy & Halpern, 1980). Among the evidence cited by Beidler (1962) for that conclusion is: (1) the threshold concentration of sodium chloride is reached within a millisecond after 01 M sodium chloride has been applied to the tongue; (2) sucrose does not penetrate the membrane of any type of cell that has been investigated, and lead acetate and beryllium chloride, which also taste sweet, are very toxic when they reach the interior of a cell; (3) a taste receptor rapidly elicits a steady electrophysiological response, and the magnitude is proportionate to the stimulus concentration; and (4) the taste response declines rapidly following a water rinse. It also stands to reason (albeit, ideologically) that the taste response is a chemical property index to chemical activity before ingestion. Many investigators subscribe to the Beidler tenet. Others believe ions must pass through the cell membrane to elicit saltiness (cf. Teeter & Cagan, 1989; Lancet & Ben-Arie, 1991; Schiffman, 1990). On the whole, it seems to be generally agreed that the initial chemistry of all tastes occurs at a membrane surface and good account of the probable chemical events responsible for different tastes can be formulated, based on that premise alone.
Paradise Found: Nature in America at the Time of Discovery

Review of Paradise Found: Nature in America at the Time of Discovery . Steve Nicholls. 2009. University of Chicago Press, New York and London. Pp. 536. ISBN10: 0226583406 ISBN13: 978-0226583402.
Production of Alkaline Extracellular Protease by Yarrowia Lipolytica

(1988). Production of Alkaline Extracellular Protease by Yarrowia Lipolytica. Critical Reviews in Biotechnology: Vol. 8, No. 3, pp. 177-187.
A new concept for control of the estrous cycle of the ewe based on the temporal relationships between luteinizing hormone estradiol and progesterone in peripheral serum and evidence that progesterone inhibits tonic LH secretion.

The temporal relationships between LH, estradiol and progesterone in peripheral serum of the ewe were characterized throughout the estrous cycle. Between successive preovulatory LH surges, serum concentrations of LH fluctuated markedly in a manner indicative of pulsatile discharges. Mean serum LH and progesterone concentrations were inversely related, LH being highest during the early and late luteal phases of the estrous cycle and lowest in the mid-luteal phase. A progressive, 5-fold increase in serum LH concentrations occurred between the onset of the precipitous fall in circulating progesterone attendant to luteolysis and the initiation of the preovulatory LH surge. Two major increments in circulating estradiol were observed in each cycle, both occurring when serum LH concentrations were relatively high. One estradiol increment occurred during the early luteal phase, the other during the 2–3 days prior to onset of the preovulatory LH surge. The latter estradiol increment thus accompanied the progressiv...
Crossover behavior in crystal growth rate from n‐alkane to polyethylene

A crystal growth rate equation, parameterized from molecular dynamics simulations of n-alkanes, is compared to recent experiments on growth rates for polyethylene at high undercooling. The analysis reveals that the growth rate of alkanes and polyethylene can both be described by the same relationship. The appropriate relaxation time is used to describe the kinetic barrier to crystallization. For chains shorter than the entanglement length, this is the Rouse time. For chains longer than the entanglement molecular weight, kinetic limitations are modeled by the local relaxation of an entangled segment at the interface. This model supports a different mechanism for fast crystal growth at high undercooling than that usually inferred from slow growth data near the melting temperature. Use of the crystal growth rate model is illustrated for polyethylene crystallizing under conditions of slow cooling and fast cooling. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 2468–2473, 2005
A model to predict quality of a reduced ontology for Web service discovery on mobile devices

As Web Services and the Semantic Web become more important, enabling technologies such as Web service ontologies will grow larger. At the same time, use of mobile devices to access Web services has doubled in the last year. The ability of these resource-constrained devices to download and reason across ontologies to support service discovery are severely limited. Since concrete agents typically only needs a subset of what is described in a Web service ontology to complete their task, a reduced ontology can be created. Measuring the quality of a reduced ontology, in both knowledge content and performance, is a nontrivial task. Expert analysis of the ontologies is time-consuming and unreliable. We propose two measures of knowledge content and performance. Mean average recall (MAR) with respect to the original ontology compares the data returned from a series of queries related to a particular concept of interest. Mean average performance (MAP) compares the download and reasoning speedup of the reduced ontology with respect to the original ontology. Neither of these values can be computed easily, therefore we propose a set of ontology metrics to predict these values. In this paper, we develop two prediction models for MAR and MAP based on these metrics. These models are based on analysis of 23 ontologies from five domains. To compute MAR, a specific set of queries for each domain was applied to each candidate reduced ontology along with the original ontology. To compute MAP, a simulated mobile device will download and process of each ontology along with the original ontology. We believe this model allows a speedy selection of a reduced ontology that contains the knowledge content and performance speedup needed by a mobile device for service discovery.
Mid-Wisconsinan environments on the eastern Great Plains

Abstract Few sites on the eastern Great Plains contain paleobotanical records for the mid-Wisconsin. We report on four sites, two stream cutbanks and two quarry exposures, ranging in age from >50 to ∼23.4 ka. The oldest site at >50 ka contains a suite of macrofossils from prairie and disturbed ground habitats, with no representation of trees, indicating an open prairie. By ∼38 ka the assemblages include aquatic, wetland, mudflat, and prairie elements with rare specimens of Populus, Betula cf. papyrifera, Salix and at the most northerly site, Picea. This assemblage suggests a prairie/parkland with interspersed marshes, cooler temperatures and increased moisture. Populus and Salix continued to be represented from ∼36 to ∼29 ka, but the only other taxon was Carex. A hiatus may be present at some time during this interval. After ∼29 ka, Picea became dominant on the uplands and it was joined by sedges in local wetlands. At sites near riverine loess sources, loess accumulation began to fill in the wetlands and organic deposition ceased some time after 29 ka.
Mentoring of Women Faculty: The Role of Organizational Politics and Culture

This article reports on a key finding of a phenomenological study on the mentoring experiences of women faculty. The study revealed the political climate of the organization as an essential attribute of this experience. Women faculty identified organizational culture and gender issues that affected the mentoring they received. This study suggests the need for human resource and organization development initiatives to facilitate the provision of academic mentoring for women faculty—individually, departmentally, and culturally—as a means to foster transformation and change in academic institutions.
Mutational analysis of the rotavirus NSP4 enterotoxic domain that binds to caveolin-1

Rotavirus (RV) nonstructural protein 4 (NSP4) is the first described viral enterotoxin, which induces early secretory diarrhea in neonatal rodents. Our previous data show a direct interaction between RV NSP4 and the structural protein of caveolae, caveolin-1 (cav-1), in yeast and mammalian cells. The binding site of cav-1 mapped to the NSP4 amphipathic helix, and led us to examine which helical face was responsible for the interaction. A panel of NSP4 mutants were prepared and tested for binding to cav-1 by yeast two hybrid and direct binding assays. The charged residues of the NSP4 amphipathic helix were changed to alanine (NSP446-175-ala6); and three residues in the hydrophobic face were altered to charged amino acids (NSP446-175-HydroMut). In total, twelve mutants of NSP4 were generated to define the cav-1 binding site. Synthetic peptides corresponding to the hydrophobic and charged faces of NSP4 were examined for structural changes by circular dichroism (CD) and diarrhea induction by a neonatal mouse study. Mutations of the hydrophilic face (NSP446-175-Ala6) bound cav-1 akin to wild type NSP4. In contrast, disruption of the hydrophobic face (NSP446-175-HydroMut) failed to bind cav-1. These data suggest NSP4 and cav-1 associate via a hydrophobic interaction. Analyses of mutant synthetic peptides in which the hydrophobic residues in the enterotoxic domain of NSP4 were altered suggested a critical hydrophobic residue. Both NSP4HydroMut112-140, that contains three charged amino acids (aa113, 124, 131) changed from the original hydrophobic residues and NSP4AlaAcidic112-140 that contained three alanine residues substituted for negatively charged (aa114, 125, 132) amino acids failed to induce diarrhea. Whereas peptides NSP4wild type 112−140 and NSP4AlaBasic112-140 that contained three alanine substituted for positively charged (aa115, 119, 133) amino acids, induced diarrhea. These data show that the cav-1 binding domain is within the hydrophobic face of the NSP4 amphipathic helix. The integrity of the helical structure is important for both cav-1 binding and diarrhea induction implying a connection between NSP4 functional and binding activities.
Specific requirement for CD3ɛ in T cell development

T cell antigen receptor (TCR) and pre-TCR complexes are composed of clonotypic heterodimers in association with dimers of signal transducing invariant subunits (CD3γ, -δ, -ɛ, and ζ). The role of individual invariant subunits in T cell development has been investigated by generating gene-specific mutations in mice. Mutation of CD3γ, -δ, or ζ results in an incomplete block in development, characterized by reduced numbers of mature T cells that express low levels of TCR. In contrast, mature T cells are absent from CD3ɛ−/− mice, and thymocyte development is arrested at the early CD4−CD8− stage. Although these results suggest that CD3ɛ is essential for pre-TCR and TCR expression/function, their interpretation is complicated by the fact that expression of the CD3γ and CD3δ genes also is reduced in CD3ɛ−/− mice. Thus, it is unclear whether the phenotype of CD3ɛ−/− mice reflects the collective effects of CD3γ, -δ, and -ɛ deficiency. By removing the selectable marker (PGK-NEO) from the targeted CD3ɛ gene via Cre/loxP-mediated recombination, we generated mice that lack CD3ɛ yet retain normal expression of the closely linked CD3γ and CD3δ genes. These (CD3ɛΔ/Δ) mice exhibited an early arrest in T cell development, similar to that of CD3ɛ−/− mice. Moreover, the developmental defect could be rescued by expression of a CD3ɛ transgene. These results identify an essential role for CD3ɛ in T cell development not shared by the CD3γ, CD3δ, or ζ-family proteins and provide further evidence that PGK-NEO can influence the expression of genes in its proximity.
Electronic fluorescent ballast using a power factor correction technique for loads greater than 300 watts

The authors describe various power factor schemes used to correct the power factor in electronic ballast or other types of power supplies. This system provides an acceptable sine wave voltage and current to the laps. When the input DC voltage to the power inverter is varied the arc current is also varied, and thus a dimming system is possible. The power inverter used for the fluorescent lamp load is a current-fed sine wave inverter while the unique power factor correction and dimming is accomplished with a boost approach. Keeping the invertor the same, several historical passive techniques were designed, built, and tested. The results are given for a matrix of low, normal, and high line voltages of a 4 lamp load greater than 300 W. >
Sensitivity, spatial heterogeneity, and scaling of C-band microwave brightness temperatures for land hydrology studies

Soil moisture is one of the most important hydrological variables that characterizes the land surface water and energy balance. Measurements from space suffer from the problem of subpixel heterogeneity, i.e., soil moisture has spatial variability at all scales; therefore, it is important to realize the exact physical implication of the single value of the satellite measurements. In this paper, we study the sensitivity of C-band passive microwave brightness temperatures to various land surface variables. The issue of heterogeneity and its role in interpretation of single spatially averaged value of satellite brightness temperature is investigated. Finally, we use the brightness temperatures from the Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer to characterize spatial variability and to understand the variation of this variability with scale.
CFD Computation of Magnus Moment and Roll Damping Moment of a Spinning Projectile

Abstract : Computational fluid dynamic simulations (CFD) were used to predict the aerodynamic coefficients and flow field over a spinstabilized, 25-mm, sub-caliber training projectile. The primary objective of the investigation was to determine the CFD parameters necessary for the accurate prediction of the Magnus moment and roll damping of a spin-stabilized projectile. Archival experimental data was used to validate the numerical calculations. The Mach number range investigated was from 0.4 to 4.5. Steady state CFD calculations predicted the drag, normal force, pitching moment, and normal force center of pressure very well to within 10% of the experimental data. Time-accurate, detached-eddy simulations were found necessary to predict the Magnus moment in the subsonic and transonic flow regimes. Steady state CFD was found adequate to calculate the roll damping, which was predicted to within 15% of the experimental data in both steady state and time accurate calculations.
Hydroxyl-Induced Magnetism in Ti Oxides

The formation of magnetic moments in TiO clusters is investigated by hydroxylation experiments and model calculations. The clusters were produced by inert-gas condensation and in-situ oxidation and have an average size of 15 nm. Exposure to drastically alters the magnetism of titanium-oxide (TiO) clusters, especially for rock-salt TiO. The hydroxyl ions, created by moist-air treatment of Ti-oxide nanoparticles, enhance the magnetic moment of undoped TiO clusters by a factor of order 10, to about 13.5 emu/cm . A similar but much slower enhancement was observed in ambient air, whereas oxygen annealing reduced the moment. The phenomenon is explained by the creation and adsorption of hydroxyl groups at the particles' surfaces, a process closely related to the catalytic activity of TiO surfaces and to the creation of overlapping defect states in the band gap. Our theoretical analysis suggests that the hydroxyl groups effectively enhance the hopping integral and reduce the onsite energy on neighboring Ti atoms. Depending on the density of the hydroxyl defects, the defect states overlap and order magnetically, although not necessarily by a Stoner mechanism.
A Submersible Particle Image Velocimetry System for Turbulence Measurements in the Bottom Boundary Layer

Abstract This paper introduces an oceanic particle image velocimetry (PIV) system that has been under development at The Johns Hopkins University over the past three years. PIV maps two components of the instantaneous velocity distribution within a selected sample area by recording the motion of microscopic tracer particles illuminated by a pulsed laser sheet. The primary purpose of this instrument, in its current configuration, is to directly measure the Reynolds stresses, velocity profile, vorticity, and turbulent spectra in the bottom boundary layer of the coastal ocean. Due to the basic principles of PIV, the validity of these measurements is independent of any of the usual assumptions about the nature of the flow, such as the existence of a log layer in the velocity profile, a constant stress layer, or an inertial subrange in the turbulence spectra. In addition, at scales up to those of a single image, the analysis does not require the use of the Taylor hypothesis. The primary focus of this paper is ...
Tau oligomer antibodies as potential therapeutics for parkinson’s and other synucleinopathies

25 WFN15-1092 Dementia 2 Randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 1b study of anti-beta-amyloid antibody aducanumab (biib037) in prodromal ad/mild ad dementia: Interim results by patient subgroup J. Sevigny, P. Chiao, L. Williams, T. Chen, Y. Ling, J. O’Gorman, C. Hock, R. Nitsch, A. Sandrock. Clinical Development Neurodegeneration and Exp Med Clin Dev, Biogen, Cambridge, USA; Clinical Research MA Neurodegeneration and Exp Med Clin Dev, Biogen, Cambridge, USA; Drug Safety & Risk Management, Biogen, Cambridge, USA; Biostatistics Biometrics, Biogen, Cambridge, USA; Clinical Development MA MS Clin Dev Center, Biogen, Cambridge, USA; Biostatistics, Biogen, Cambridge, USA; Division of Psychiatry Research, Neurimmune Holding AG and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Biogen, Development Sciences, Cambridge, USA
Interactive machine learning for refinement and analysis of segmented ct/mri images

This dissertation concerns the development of an interactive machine learning method for refinement and analysis of segmented computed tomography (CT) images. This method uses higher-level domain-dependent knowledge to improve initial image segmentation results. A knowledge-based refinement and analysis system requires the formulation of domain knowledge. A serious problem faced by knowledge-based system designers is the knowledge acquisition bottleneck. Knowledge acquisition is very challenging and an active research topic in the field of machine learning and artificial intelligence. Commonly, a knowledge engineer needs to have a domain expert to formulate acquired knowledge for use in an expert system. That process is rather tedious and error-prone. The domain expert's verbal description can be inaccurate or incomplete, and the knowledge engineer may not correctly interpret the expert's intent. In many cases, the domain experts prefer to do actions instead of explaining their expertise. These problems motivate us to find another solution to make the knowledge acquisition process less challenging. Instead of trying to acquire expertise from a domain expert verbally, we can ask him/her to show expertise through actions that can be observed by the system. If the system can learn from those actions, this approach is called learning by demonstration. We have developed a system that can learn region refinement rules automatically. The system observes the steps taken as a human user interactively edits a processed image, and then infers rules from those actions. During the system's learn mode, the user views labeled images and makes refinements through the use of a keyboard and mouse. As the user manipulates the images, the system stores information related to those manual operations, and develops internal rules that can be used later for automatic postprocessing of other images. After one or more training sessions, the user places the system into its run mode. The system then accepts new images, and uses its rule set to apply postprocessing operations automatically in a manner that is modeled after those learned from the human user. At any time, the user can return to learn mode to introduce new training information, and this will be used by the system to updates its internal rule set. The system does not simply memorize a particular sequence of postprocessing steps during a training session, but instead generalizes from the image data and from the actions of the human user so that new CT images can be refined appropriately. Experimental results have shown that IntelliPost improves the segmentation accuracy of the overall system by applying postprocessing rules. In tests two different CT datasets of hardwood logs, the use of IntelliPost resulted in improvements of 1.92% and 9.45%, respectively. For two different medical datasets, the use of IntelliPost resulted in improvements of 4.22% and 0.33%, respectively.
Decipher the Molecular Response of Plant Single Cell Types to Environmental Stresses

The analysis of the molecular response of entire plants or organs to environmental stresses suffers from the cellular complexity of the samples used. Specifically, this cellular complexity masks cell-specific responses to environmental stresses and logically leads to the dilution of the molecular changes occurring in each cell type composing the tissue/organ/plant in response to the stress. Therefore, to generate a more accurate picture of these responses, scientists are focusing on plant single cell type approaches. Several cell types are now considered as models such as the pollen, the trichomes, the cotton fiber, various root cell types including the root hair cell, and the guard cell of stomata. Among them, several have been used to characterize plant response to abiotic and biotic stresses. In this review, we are describing the various -omic studies performed on these different plant single cell type models to better understand plant cell response to biotic and abiotic stresses.
Hydrogen-Nitrogen Tailors Semiconductor Optoelectronics: The Case of Dilute Nitride III-V Alloys

Hydrogen is an omnipresent impurity in semiconductors, often associated with other impurities and native defects, strongly affecting their electronic properties by passivating deep and shallow levels, or activating isoelectronic centers, and can be intentionally or unintentionally incorporated. On the other hand, nitrogen has profound effects on the electronic structure of conventional III-V compounds: just a few percent of N can drastically lower the band gap of GaAs making it suitable for long-wavelength optical devices; isovalent doping of GaP by N leads to a quasidirect band gap with enhanced optical functionality. The large difference in electronegativity between N and other group V elements is expected to couple with the high chemical activity of H, raising crucial questions about the behavior of H in dilute nitride alloys that theories of hydrogen in conventional semiconductors or in commom-anion nitrides are unable to answer. Here we show that N can qualitatively alter the electronic behavior of hydrogen: In GaAsN, an H atom bonds to N and can act as a donor in its own right, whereas in GaAs and GaN, H is amphoteric; Nitrogen also stabilizes the % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+- % feaagKart1ev2aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn % hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr % 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq-Jc9 % vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0-yqaqpepae9pg0FirpepeKkFr0xfr-x % fr-xb9adbaqaaeGaciGaaiaabeqaamaabaabaaGcbaGaaeisamaaDa % aaleaacaaIYaaabaGaaiOkaaaaaaa!3858! $${\text{H}}_2^*$$ complex, that is otherwise unstable against the formation of interstitial H2 molecules, reversing the effect of N on the band gap of GaAs, allowing us to interpret several recent experiments.
Images in clinical medicine. Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome.

Figure 1. A six-year-old boy was hospitalized with a rash and fever. He had been well until two days before admission, when general pruritus developed. That evening, small water blisters developed at the base of his nose and face. During the next two days, the lesions spread despite treatment with cephalexin, which had been initiated one day before admission. The child's temperature was 38.3°C on admission. He appeared extremely uncomfortable but not acutely ill. He had numerous flaccid bullae on his face, neck, axilla, perianal region, upper back, and thighs. Nikolsky's sign was present (ready separation of the outer layer . . .
Conceptual model study on social crowd behavior modeling

In any simulation systems,conceptual modeling is the first step on model process.It is one of the key points on system exploiture.Taking account of the complex character of crowd social populace,this paper combines the new complex network theory with the thought of agent based model method,proposes a new conceptual model which aims at social crowd behavior modeling.The new conceptual model is composed of Agent,Relation,and Environment,ARE for short.After giving out ARE's based thinking,this paper analyses its frame,some definitions and character.
The Drug Susceptibility Analysis and the Cultivation and Identification About the Infected Mycoplasmas of the Urogenital Canal in 450 Patients

OBJECTIVE To realize the drug fast complexion of the UU and MH in the local area so as to provide the basis of the rational antibiotics for the clinical therapy. METHODS We utilized the drug susceptibility kit that was cultivated and identified by mycoplasma to detect the mycoplasma that was detached and cultivated from the urogenital canal secretion of patients toward the condition of drug susceptibility of 9 species antibiotics. We analyzed the results. RESULTS 243 strains mycoplasma was cultivated . 174 strains is simply UU and 3 strains is simply MH and 66 strains are mixed. The sensitivity rate of Jos is maximal and the drug fast rate of Rox is maximal toward UU. CONCLUSIONS We should direct the clinic to use drugs rationally and canonically according to the drug fast test of the mycoplasma and the experimental case of the drug susceptibility.