cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Shell cracking strength in almond (Prunus dulcis [Mill.] D.A. Webb.) and its implication in uses as a value-added product.

Abstract Researchers are currently developing new value-added uses for almond shells, an abundant agricultural by-product. Almond varieties are distinguished by processors as being either hard or soft shelled, but these two broad classes of almond also exhibit varietal diversity in shell morphology and physical characters. By defining more precisely the physical and chemical characteristics of almond shells from different varieties, researchers will better understand which specific shell types are best suited for specific industrial processes. Eight diverse almond accessions were evaluated in two consecutive harvest seasons for nut and kernel weight, kernel percentage and shell cracking strength. Shell bulk density was evaluated in a separate year. Harvest year by almond accession interactions were highly significant ( p ⩽ 0.01) for each of the analyzed variables. Significant ( p ⩽ 0.01) correlations were noted for average nut weight with kernel weight, kernel percentage and shell cracking strength. A significant ( p ⩽ 0.01) negative correlation for shell cracking strength with kernel percentage was noted. In some cases shell cracking strength was independent of the kernel percentage which suggests that either variety compositional differences or shell morphology affect the shell cracking strength. The varietal characterization of almond shell materials will assist in determining the best value-added uses for this abundant agricultural by-product.
Assessment of potential gains in productivity due to proactive reticle management using discrete event simulation

Photolithography is often the constraining equipment in semiconductor wafer fabrication plants due to the number of times the product must process through it. Modern day photolithography is performed on a cluster tool that is a combination of a stepper and track. It is obvious that the combined availability of the cluster tool is critical to throughput, but what is not so obvious is the throughput restriction from a secondary constraint known as a reticle. Every layer of a product needs a unique reticle for processing. Setup issues arising from the requirement of reticles affects productivity of photolithography and the entire wafer fabrication line if photolithography is the bottleneck. Efficient management of reticles (with regard to setup and storage on a stepper) based on current system status provides a strategic and tactical advantage. A SLAM discrete event simulation model is to mimic the setup and storage of reticles. This enables the collection of information that can used to identify potential gains in tactical reticle management. The simulation model is explained in detail along with output results for the tactical issues. The relationship between the simulation and the network flow model for proactive reticle management is also discussed.
Interactive Effects of Nutrient Additions and Predation on Infaunal Communities

Nutrient additions represent an important anthropogenic stress on coastal ecosystems. At moderate levels, increased nutrients may lead to increased primary production and, possibly, to increased biomass of consumers although complex trophic interactions may modify or mask these effects. We examined the influence of nutrient additions and interactive effects of trophic interactions (predation) on benthic infaunal composition and abundances through small-scale field experiments in 2 estuaries that differed in ambient nutrient conditions. A blocked experimental design was used that allowed an assessment of direct nutrient effects in the presence and absence of predation by epibenthic predators as well as an assessment of the independent effects of predation. Benthic microalgal, production increased with experimental nutrient additions and was greater when infaunal abundances were lower, but there were no significant interactions between these factors. Increased abundances of one infaunal taxa,Laeonereis culveri, as well as the grazer feeding guild were observed with nutrient additions and a number of taxa exhibited higher abundances with predator exclusion. In contrast to results from freshwater systems there were no significant interactive effects between nutrient additions and predator exclusion as was predicted. The infaunal responses observed here emphasize the importance of both bottom-up (nutrient addition and primary producer driven) and top-down (predation) controls in structuring benthic communities. These processes may work at different spatial and temporal scales, and affect different taxa, making observation of potential interactive effects difficult.
Measles, minor neurological signs and intelligence.

SUMMARY Neurologic examinations and intelligence and achievement tests of 132 schoolchildren aged 9–13 years, selected only on the basis of the age at which they had had measles, did not reveal any significant relationship between early infection with measles and signs of minimal brain damage. The mean IQ score and level of reading achievement for the children who had minor neurologic signs was significantly lower than for the children who were neuro-logically normal. Mixed laterality, or incomplete cerebral dominance, was also found to be significantly more frequent among children with minor neurologic signs. RESUME L'examen neurologique, les tests d'intelligence et d'aptitude scolaire de 132 eleves âges de 9 a 13 ans et selectionnes sur la seule base de l'age auquel ils avaient contracte la rougeole n'ont revele aucune relation significative entre une infection precoce de rougeole et les signes de lesions cerebrales a minima. Le QI moyen et la qualitye de la lecture chez les enfants qui presentaient quelques signes neurologiques mineurs etaient significativement plus bas que ceux des enfants neuro-logiquement normaux. Des lateralites croisees ou une dominance cerebrale incomplete furent trouvees egalement avec une frequence significativement plus grande parmi les enfants presentant des signes neurologiques mineurs. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Maseru, leichte neurologiche Schaden und Intelligenz Neurologische Untersuchungen, Intelligenztests und praktische Tests bei 132 Schulkindern zwischen 9 und 13 Jahren, die nur auf Grund ihres Alters, in dem sie Masern hatten, ausgewahlt worden waren, erbrachten keine signiflkante Beziehung zwischen einer Fruhin-fektion mit Masern und Zeichen eines leichten Hirnschadens. Der mittlere Intelligenz-quotient und der Grad der Lesefertigkeit bei den Kindern., die leichte neurologische Schaden hatten, waren significant niedriger als bei den Kindern, die neurologisch normal waren. Eine wechselnde Seitenbetonung oder eine unvollstandige Hemispharendominanz wurde bei Kindern mit weniger ausgepragten neurologischen Zeichen significant haufiger gefunden. RESUMEN Sarampidn, signos neuroldgicos menores, e inteligencia Exploraciones neurologicas y tests de inteligencia y de habilidades en 132 escolares de nueve a trece anos, seleccionados solamente segun la edad que tenian cuando sufrieron el sarampi6n, no consiguieron revelar ninguna correlacion significativo entre una infection precoz de sarampidn y signos de dafio cerebral minimo. El cociente intelectual medio y el nivel de habilidad para la lectura en los ninos que tenian signos neuroldgicos eran signifi-cativamente mds bajos que en los ninos neuroldgicamente normales. Tambien se hallaba que una lateralidad mixta o un predominio cerebral incompleto era significativamente mds frecuente en ninos con signos neuroldgicos menores.
Abstract 3080: DBP-RB, a novel RNA-binding protein promotes microRNA processing in the DNA damage response.

Defects in the DNA damage response (DDR) and global dysregulation of microRNA (miRNAs) are considered hallmarks of many types of human cancer. Recent studies show that DNA damage such as irradiation, UV and genotoxic agents induce global changes in miRNA expression profile in a variety of cell types. DDR-regulated miRNAs are known to be involved in the initiation and progression of tumorigenesis and also modulate the sensitivity of cells to DNA damaging agents. However, mechanism about how miRNA expression is regulated in response to DNA damage stress is largely unknown. DBP-RB, one of RNA binding protein is known to be overexpressed or amplified in several types of human cancer including neuroblastoma, breast and colon cancer and the biological function of DBP-RB in the cancer is not determined yet. Here, we found that that DBP-RB is interacted with not only Drosha/DGCR8 but also Dicer microprocessors. We also found that DBP-RB is colocalized with DNA damage foci after DNA damage and associated with ATM (Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated), RAD50 and NBS1 in the DNA damage signaling. DBP-RB knockdown results in increased resistant to genotoxic drugs and inhibition of cell proliferation. We investigated the level of 742 human miRNAs in the DBP-RB knockdown cells and compared with DNA damage induced miRNAs using miRNA quantitative PCR. DBP-RB knockdown cell showed significant changes in the expression levels of a subset of miRNA and in particular, 75% of DBP-RB dependent miRNAs were also regulated in DNA damage-dependent manner. RNA-Immunoprecipitation (IP) reveals that DBP-RB is associated with that specific subset of microRNAs and depletion of DBP-RB inhibits the function of Drosha microprocessor. Taken together, our findings suggest that DBP-RB function as a mediator by transmitting DNA damage signal to the miRNA processors to modulate miRNAs processing through binding Drosha/DGCR8 and Dicer. Citation Format: Cecil Han, Xiongbin Lu. DBP-RB, a novel RNA-binding protein promotes microRNA processing in the DNA damage response. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3080. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-3080 Note: This abstract was not presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013 because the presenter was unable to attend.
Abstract 507: ERβ1 decreases breast cancer cell survival by regulating the unfolded protein response

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Estrogen receptors (ERs) regulate cellular processes that influence the development and response of breast cancer to hormonal therapy. Unfolded protein response (UPR) has been identified as a key mechanism that determines endocrine responsiveness and cellular survival in breast cancer. UPR assists the cells to cope with the stress caused by the accumulation of unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Although ERα is known to affect the cellular response to ER stress, the role of ERβ in regulating the UPR has not been investigated. Here we show that the wild-type ERβ (ERβ1) enhanced apoptosis in breast cancer cells in response to treatment with the ER stress inducers thapsigargin and bortezomib. Targeting the Bcl-2 in the ER of the ERβ1-expressing cells prevented the apoptosis induced by ER stress but not by non-ER stress apoptotic stimuli indicating that ERβ1 promotes ER stress-regulated apoptosis. ERβ1 promoted ER stress-induced apoptosis by suppressing the inositol-requiring enzyme-1 (IRE-1) pathway of the UPR. ERβ1 repressed the transcription of the IRE-1α gene and the subsequent splicing of the X-box binding protein-1 (XBP-1). These results suggest a potential role of ERβ1 in influencing stress and therapy response in breast cancer by regulating the UPR. Citation Format: Christoforos Thomas, Gayani Rajapaksa, Fotis Nikolos, Igor Bado, Jan-Ake Gustafsson. ERβ1 decreases breast cancer cell survival by regulating the unfolded protein response. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 507. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-507
Vibrations of the “beetle” scanning probe microscope: Identification of a new mode, generalized analysis, and characterization methodology

The prediction and understanding of structural resonances are required to optimize scanning probe microscope (SPM) design. Here, Euler beam theory is applied to the beetle-style SPM to derive analytic functions for the natural frequencies of three significant modes of vibration as a general function of the microscope shape, materials, and dimensions. In the first mode, the three piezoelectric legs vibrate transversely and the scanhead moves from side to side. In the second, the legs bend circumferentially and the scanhead rotates about its center. These modes have been identified previously, but here the mechanics analysis is presented in an improved form where the inertia of the piezo legs is considered, constraints on the shape of the central supporting disk are lifted, and appropriate boundary conditions are defined and enforced. In addition, we discuss a third mode that has not been previously identified. In this lowest frequency mode, two legs pivot about the stationary third leg. The predictions are...
Growth, Texture, and Surface Morphology of SiC Layers

Highly oriented layers were grown on (001) and (111) silicon substrates by the reduction of in an excess of hydrogen at a temperature of 1365°C. Layers up to ≈100µ thick were grown at a rate of 4.3 µ/min. The material was predominantly with a resistivity range of 0.5–34.5 ohm‐cm, n‐type. Laue x‐ray analysis indicated that the degree of preferred orientation varied with thickness and that multiple orientations exist on the (001) silicon substrates. A higher degree of preferred orientation was achieved on the (001) compared to the (111) substrates. At various thicknesses, faceted grains on the order of 1–2µ in diameter were visible using the scanning electron microscope. The fact that oriented growth was achieved at higher than typical CVD rates for epitaxy suggests that detrimental effects such as substrate evaporation or impurity deposition were overcome by the higher deposition rate.
Palaeontology: The last giant kangaroo

Humans who colonized Australia did not reach Tasmania until thousands of years later — granting the island's giant kangaroos a brief respite before they joined their Australian brethren in oblivion.
Guarded Microvitreoretinal Blade

During vitreoretinal surgery, the microvitreoretinal blade may be misdirected and injure operating room personnel. A sheated, retractable blade has been developed to reduce the likelihood of such injuries. In the blade's retracted position, a safety feature prevents inadvertent exposure of the sharp blade. This device may have its greatest utility in operating on patients with cytomegalovirus retinitis who require either retinal reattachment surgery or placement of a ganciclovir implant.
New, thermodynamically consistent, integral equation for simple fluids

A new integral equation in which the hypernetted-chain and Percus-Yevick approximations are "mixed" as a function of interparticle separation is described. An adjustable parameter $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ in the mixing function is used to enforce thermodynamic consistency. For simple $\frac{1}{{r}^{n}}$ potential fluids, $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ is constant for all densities, and the solutions of the integral equations are in very good agreement with Monte Carlo calculations. For the one-component plasma, $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ is a slowly varying function of density, but the agreement between calculated solutions and Monte Carlo is also good. This approach has definite advantages over previous thermodynamically consistent equations.
The relationship of growth and differentiation in the developing embryo

Summary It has been demonstrated in the embryonic system of the salamander ( Ambystoma opacum ) that anoxia and starvation retard growth without retarding differentiation and that anoxia is the more potent agent. Tissue and organ differentiation, on the other hand, stimulate growth. The precise nature of this inherent stimulus awaits further study.
Airfoil Heat Transfer Characteristics in Syngas and Hydrogen Turbines

Hydrogen or coal-derivative syngas turbines promise increased efficiency with exceptionally low NOx emissions compared to the natural gas based turbines. To reach this goal, turbine inlet temperature (TIT) will need to be elevated to a level exceeding 1700°C [1, 2]. The thermal load induced by such a temperature increase alone will lead to immense challenges in maintaining material integrity of turbine components. In addition, as working fluid in the gas path will primarily be steam, possibly mixed with carbon oxides, the aero-thermal characteristic in a hydrogen turbine is expected to be far different from that of air/nitrogen enriched gas stream in a gas turbine. For instance, steam has distinctly higher density and specific heat in comparison to a mixture of air and combustion gases as they are expanded in a conventional gas turbine. Even if the temperature limits remain about the same, the expansion in a hydrogen turbine will have to proceed with a greater enthalpy drop and therefore requires a larger number of stages. This also implies that the flow areas may need to be expanded and blade span to be enlarged. Meanwhile, a greater number of stages and hot surfaces need to be protected. This also suggests that current cooling technology available for modern day gas turbines has to be significantly improved. The ultimate goal of the present study is to systematically investigate critical issues concerning cooling technology as it is applicable to oxy-fuel and hydrogen turbine systems, and the main scope is to develop viable means to estimate the thermal load on the turbine “gas side”, that is eventually to be removed from the “coolant side”, and to comparatively quantify the implication of external heat load and potential thermal barrier coating (TBC) degradation on the component durability and lifing. The analysis is based on two well-tested commercial codes, FLUENT and ANSYS.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Desulfuration as a pathway of thiopental metabolism in large domestic animals

Urinary metabolites of thiopental in four species (cattle, sheep, goats and swine) were separated from chloroform extracts of acidified urine by counter current distribution, ion-exchange chromatography, and paper chromatography. The results indicated that small amounts of unchanged thiopental and its desulfurated product, pentobarbital, were excreted in each species. Although excreted as a small fraction of the dose administered, these were the only major compounds isolated from the urine. Hydroxyl and carboxylic derivatives of both thiopental and pentobarbital were identified by ion-exchange and paper chromatography.
Changing the Rules: A Speech Act Analysis of the End of the Cold War

Constructivists often refer to the end of the Cold War to illustrate their contention that social rules are not immutable. Agents can change the rules by performing actions that undermine them. In this article, we describe the Cold War as a set of social rules sustained by superpower speech acts. We show that, by altering their behavior, the superpowers undermined the felicity of these rules. In so doing, they progressively dismantled the rules of the Cold War. Our model captures the competing arguments in the ongoing debate about whether the rationalist buildup argument or the constructivist new thinking argument better explains the end of the Cold War. Within the model, we identify the rules that, when made infelicitous by the superpowers, resolves tensions in the Cold War rule system in ways consistent with each argument. We conclude by showing how these competing arguments are reflected in contemporary debates concerning the nature of the global security rules emerging in the post-cold-war world.
Endotoxin-induced uveitis in rats as a model for human disease.

Acute anterior uveitis is a relatively common disease of uncertain aetiology. Its association with a wide variety of systemic disorders including ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter's syndrome, Behcet's disease, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and sarcoidosis and the prevalence of the HLA antigen B27 (ref. 1) in cases without associated disease have been noted but not explained. In general, animal models for uveitis have not clarified the mechanism of human disease. Most require direct intravitreal injection2 or repeated immunizations with retinal or uveal antigens3. Uveitis does occur in adjuvant arthritis, a syndrome that can be produced in rats by the systemic injection of pepti-doglycan from the cell wall of a variety of Gram-positive bacteria4. The disease, which was initially described following the injection of mycobacteria in mineral oil, has many similarities to Reiter's syndrome5, including the development of eye pathology in as many as 40% of the animals6. As Reiter's syndrome is associated with enteric Gram-negative infections such as Shigella, Salmonella and Yersinia, we sought to produce an arthritis in rats by injecting killed Gram-negative bacteria. Although we have not observed clinical arthritis in these animals, careful histological study has shown the near-universal appearance of uveitis. The studies described below indicate that the eye disease is due to a portion of the bacterial cell wall known as endotoxin or lipopolysaccharide (LPS).
125I-Labeled Gold Nanorods for Targeted Imaging of Inflammation

For better examination of inflammation, we designed inflammation-targeted nuclear and optical dual-modality contrast agents prepared by I-125 radiolabeling of gold nanorods (GdNRs) conjugated with anti-intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) antibody. The bioactivity and specific binding of the PEGylated (125)I-ICAM-GdNR conjugates to the ICAM-1 was validated through ELISA testing. Inflammation-targeted imaging was then conducted on an adjuvant-induced arthritic rat model which demonstrated an elevation of ICAM-1 level in the affected ankle joints. Facilitated by the I-125 radioisotope and the whole-body imaging via the Gamma camera, the time-dependent distribution of the systemically injected agent as well as the uptake of the agent in the inflammatory articular tissues could be examined conveniently and quantitatively. The success in targeted delivery of gold nanoparticles to inflammatory tissue enables both nuclear and optical imaging of inflammation at molecular or cellular level. Other than diagnosis, radiolabeled gold nanoparticles also hold promise for targeted therapy of a variety of disorders.
The thymus and negative selection

Maintenance of tolerance to self antigens is presumed to reflect a combination of central and peripheral tolerance. For T cells, central tolerance occurs during early T cell development in the thymus and causes cells with strong reactivity to self antigens to be destroyed in situ (negative selection). Here, we summarize evidence that negative selection can occur in the thymic medulla and affects a population of semimature HSA+ T cells. The influence of costimulatory molecules, Fas and cytokines on negative selection is discussed.
An integrated study of morphological and isozyme patterns found within a worldwide collection of Phytophthora citrophthora and a redescription of the species

A worldwide collection of 77 isolates of Phytophthora citrophthora from 30 different host species was investigated for variation in morphology and isozyme patterns. All isolates produced non-caducous, papillate sporangia. Only those isolated from cacao ( Theobroma cacao ) in Brazil produced chlamydospores, whereas cacao isolates from Indonesia did not produce chlamydospores. Over 70% of the isolates were sterile; the remainder could be designated as the A2 mating type based on pairings with P. capsici , though P. citrophthora itself did not produce oospores. The species was separated into three distinct isozyme subgroups: CTR1 containing isolates from widely distributed geographical locations on a broad range of hosts, CTR2 composed exclusively of Brazilian isolates from cacao, and a new subgroup CTR3 consisting of Indonesian isolates also isolated from cacao. A total of 14 enzymes and 17 putative loci were used to compare the isolates and seven loci were polymorphic. Peptidase was diagnostic for CTR1, malate dehydrogenase (MDH1) for CTR2 while the migration patterns for both glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and hexokinase (HEX2) differentiated CTR3. A redescription of R. citrophthora is presented based on all 77 isolates including physiological, morphological and isozyme characters that can assist identification.
Seasonal history of seven species of armored scale insects of the Aspidiotini (Homoptera: Diaspididae)

Seasonal history charts are presented and discussed for Melanaspis smilacis (Comstock), M. tenebricosa (Comstock), Quadraspidiotus juglansregiae (Comstock), Q. perniciosus (Comstock). Biological notes are given for Aonidiella taxus Leonardi, Melanaspis obscura (Comstock), and Pseudaonidia paeoniae (Cockerell). Information on predators and parasites includes specific names parasite emergence times.
Botulinum toxin injection for adductor spastic dysphonia: Patient self‐ratings of voice and phonatory effort after three successive injections

Ten patients (aged 35 to 70 years) with neurologic adductor spastic dysphonia rated themselves on a 7-point scale of severity for degree of voice improvement and physical effort after a series of three injections of botulinum toxin. Symptoms were noticeably reduced 24 and 48 hours after injection; this improvement was followed by considerable fluctuations in voice quality and phonatory effort. With successive injections, patients differed in their post-injection experiences, the time required to reach optimal voice, and the total duration of benefit. The study shows that the course of voice change after botulinum toxin injection is not predictable, uniform, or equal among patients with spastic dysphonia.
Effects of maternal aerobic fitness on cardiorespiratory responses to exercise.

We hypothesized that aerobically fit women who continued to exercise throughout pregnancy would have enhanced cardiorespiratory responses to exercise. Physically active (N = 10) and sedentary (N = 6) subjects were compared during steady-state (15 min) semi-recumbent cycle exercise performed at a given heart rate (HR; 140 b.min-1) twice during pregnancy (25 wk, 36 wk) and 12 wk postpartum. Indirect calorimetry was used to measure volumes and fractional concentrations of expired gases. Cardiac output was estimated via CO2 rebreathing. Data were analyzed with repeated measures ANOVA. Caloric expenditure during exercise was significantly (P < 0.001) greater in the physically active (7.2 kcal.min-1) compared with sedentary (4.7 kcal.min-1) subjects. Alveolar ventilation and cardiac output responses to exercise were proportionally greater (P < 0.001) in the aerobically fit subjects. Ventilatory equivalents for O2 and physiological dead space/tidal volume ratios were significantly (P < 0.01) lower in the physically active subjects during exercise. In contrast, ratings of perceived exertion during exercise did not differ between subject groups. It appears that a physically active woman's enhanced cardiorespiratory responses to acute exercise are maintained during pregnancy if she continues her aerobic fitness program throughout gestation.
Cardiovascular disease: The diet–microbe morbid union

A common dietary component that some people even take as a supplement is converted by the gut microbiota to harmful metabolites linked to heart disease. This finding has cautionary implications. See Article p.57 Stanley Hazen and colleagues show that gut flora can influence cardiovascular disease by metabolizing a dietary phospholipid. A targeted metabolomics approach was used to identify plasma metabolites whose levels predict future risk for experiencing a non-fatal heart attack, stroke or death in subjects undergoing cardiac evaluation. Plasma levels of three metabolites of dietary phosphatidylcholine — choline, betaine and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) — are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The gut flora is known to have a role in TMAO formation from choline. In addition, experiments in atherosclerosis-prone mice show that dietary choline enhances macrophage foam-cell formation and lesion formation — but not if the gut flora is depleted with antibiotics. This work suggests new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for atherosclerotic heart disease.
Visuospatial cognition in electronic learning

Static, animated, and interactive visualizations are frequently used in electronic learning environments. In this article, we provide a brief review of research on visuospatial cognition relevant t...
Sensor fusion for wide-area surveillance

The Gabor transform (GT) is applied to the super-resolution of noisy dot image on the infrared focal plane array (FPA) for the remote surveillance of aircraft or missiles. A unique solution of this kind of ill-posed problem is possible because we have incorporated the measured or a priori known size information of the engine/nozzle. Yet noise makes the super-resolution ill- conditioned. We surmount this difficulty by incorporating the GT into a modified Papoulis- Gerchberg iteration algorithm. This is possible because the GT is a local Fourier transform (FT), it matches the localized object signal (object size one unit) but mismatches the global nature of noise. In a practical case of a photon-limited signal having a signal to noise ratio as low as 1.3, our approach recognizes a simulated missile plume. We also show additional resolution can be gained if the radar backscattering from the nozzle and other scatterers is fused with the spatially resolved single image pixel.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Induction of Bystander T Cell Proliferation by Viruses and Type I Interferon in Vivo

T cell proliferation in vivo is presumed to reflect a T cell receptor (TCR)-mediated polyclonal response directed to various environmental antigens. However, the massive proliferation of T cells seen in viral infections is suggestive of a bystander reaction driven by cytokines instead of the TCR. In mice, T cell proliferation in viral infections preferentially affected the CD44hi subset of CD8+ cells and was mimicked by injection of polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid [poly(I:C)], an inducer of type I interferon (IFN I), and also by purified IFN I; such proliferation was not associated with up-regulation of CD69 or CD25 expression, which implies that TCR signaling was not involved. IFN I [poly(I:C)]-stimulated CD8+ cells survived for prolonged periods in vivo and displayed the same phenotype as did long-lived antigen-specific CD8+ cells. IFN I also potentiated the clonal expansion and survival of CD8+ cells responding to specific antigen. Production of IFN I may thus play an important role in the generation and maintenance of specific memory.
The coherent scattering law for dilute polymer solutions: “Two‐component” description

Mori's projection operator technique using an extended two-component description is applied to the study of the coherent scattering law for a dilute polymer solution. Starting with Kirkwood's generalized diffusion equation, an exact 2 × 2 matrix Langevin equation is obtained for the normalized density–density correlation function. The scattering law is then calculated using the Rouse limit. The one-component and two-component results are compared.
Effect of optical tissue clearing on spatial resolution and sensitivity of bioluminescence imaging

In vivo bioluminescence imaging (BLI) is a powerful method of in vivo molecular imaging based on the use of optically active luciferase reporter genes. Although this method provides superior sensitivity relative to other in vivo imaging methods, spatial resolution is poor due to light scattering. The objective of this study was to use hyperosmotic agents to reduce the scattering coefficient and hence improve spatial resolution of the BLI method. A diffusing fiber tip was used to simulate an isotropic point source of bioluminescence emission (550 to 650 nm). Mouse skin was treated in vitro and in vivo with glycerol (50%, 30 min) and measurements of optical properties, and imaging photon counts were made before, during, and after application of glycerol to the skin sample. Glycerol application to mouse skin had little effect on the absorption coefficient but reduced the reduced scattering coefficient by more than one order of magnitude. This effect was reversible. Consequently, the spot size (i.e., spatial resolution) of the bioluminescence point source imaged through the skin decreased by a factor of 2 (550-nm light) to 3 (650-nm light) after 30 min. Simultaneously, an almost twofold decrease in the amount of light detected by the BLI system was observed, despite the fact that total transmission increased 1.7 times. We have shown here that multiply scattered light is responsible for both observations. We have shown that applying a hyperosmotic clearing agent to the skin of small rodents has the potential to improve spatial resolution of BLI owing to a reduction in the reduced scattering coefficient in the skin by one order of magnitude. However, reducing the scattering coefficient reduces the amount of light reaching the camera due to a reduction in the amount of multiply scattered light that reaches the camera aperture and thus reducing the sensitivity of the method.
Waiting is the hardest part: Anticipating medical test results affects processing and recall of important information

Waiting for medical test results that signal physical harm can be a stressful and potentially psychologically harmful experience. Despite this, interventionists and physicians often use this wait time to deliver behavior change messages and other important information about the test, possible results and its implications. This study examined how "bracing" for a medical test result impacts cognitive processing, as well as recall of information delivered during this period. Healthy U.S. university students (N = 150) were tested for a deficiency of a fictitious saliva biomarker that was said to be predictive of long-term health problems using a 2 (Test Result) x 2 (Expected immediacy of result: 10 min, 1 month) factorial design. Participants expecting to get the test result shortly should have been bracing for the result. While waiting for the test results participants completed measures of cognitive processing. After participants received the test result, recall of information about the biomarker was tested in addition to cognitive measures. One week later, participants who were originally told they did not have the deficiency had their recall assessed again. Results showed that anticipating an imminent test result increased cognitive distraction in the processing of information and lowered recall of information about the test and the biomarker. These results suggest that delivering critical information to patients after administering a test and immediately before giving the results may not be optimal.
Developing a model of colchicine neuropathy.

Colchicine may be a cause of neuropathy. An experimental model to study this is developed. © 2002 Wiley-Liss Inc. MICROSURGERY 22:46–48 2002
The Effect of Aerococcus viridans (var.) homari on the Oxygen Binding Capacity of Hemocyanin in the American Lobster (Homarus americanus)

Abstract The effect of gaffkemia (Aerococcus viridans) infection on the oxygen binding capacity of the hemocyanin component of the American lobster's hemolymph was examined both in vivo and in vitro. Spectrophotometric and electrophoretic examination of the hemocyanin indicated that accompanying gaffkemia infection was a 50% reduction in the oxygen binding capacity of the hemocyanin. Serum protein levels were unaffected by the infection. In vitro growth of A. viridans in lobster sera resulted in similar findings. Death from gaffkemia may be a result of hypoxia arising from bacterial impairment of the lobster's respiratory exchange system, rather than a result of nutrient depletion as has previously been reported.
Improving Efficiency With ILLiad 8.0

The Document Delivery department of Tisch Library at Tufts University recently upgraded from ILLiad 7.4 to 8.0. This upgrade incorporated a major design change in the staff interface, requiring staff to relearn various processing functions. This article discusses the ILLiad 8.0 interface changes that have helped streamline staff workflows. It exemplifies a successful implementation of ILLiad 8.0 that improved current functions and increased efficiency.
Type II DNA Topoisomerase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae Is a Stable Dimer

Type II DNA topoisomerases function as homodimeric enzymes in transiently cleaving double-stranded DNA to catalyze unlinking and unknotting reactions. The dimeric enzyme creates a DNA double-strand break by forming a covalent attachment between an active site tyrosine from each monomer and a 5'-phosphate from each strand of DNA. The dimer must be very stable to dissociation or subunit exchange when covalently attached to DNA to prevent directly or indirectly catalyzed rearrangements of the genome. Past studies have indicated conflicting results for the monomer-dimer stability of topoisomerase II in solution. Here, we report results from sedimentation equilibrium studies and two different subunit exchange assays indicating that purified Saccharomyces cerevisiae DNA topoisomerase II exists as a stable dimer in solution, with a Kd estimated to be < or = 10(-11) M. This high dimer stability is not detectably altered by a change of ionic strength or by the presence of ATP, ADP, or DNA.
Teacher educators as researchers: multiple perspectives

Abstract This article suggests that part of the task of the teacher educator is functioning simultaneously as both researcher and practitioner. However, there are sharply diverging viewpoints about the worth of this kind of research. On the one hand, there is now more research about teacher education being conducted by teacher educators themselves than at any previous time. On the other hand, in certain contexts, this research is discounted because it is judged not rigorous or because it does not generalize across contexts. The article considers the deliberations about practitioner research by the AERA Panel on Research and Teacher Education as an illustration of how these competing viewpoints can play out.
Two Occurrences of Shatter-Cone-Like Fractures

Fractured surfaces almost morphologically identical to shatter cones were found in museum specimens of Cambrian shales from two widely different localities: (1) in the Mojave Desert, California (34°35′ N., 115°30′ W.), and (2) in the Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland (47°32′ N., 52°57′ W.). The cones differ significantly from cone-in-cone, and their observed features do not suggest an organic origin. The cones are very rare in the California locality and no other features that could be interpreted as shock-induced were observed during a recent field visit. The Newfoundland locality has not been re-examined. Evidently shatter-cone-like fractures may be produced in shales by processes unrelated to shock waves.
Circulating monocytes and in- stent neointima after coronary stent implantation

The authors investigated the relationship between circulating white blood cells, especially monocytes, and restenosis after stent implantation. Coronary stents were placed in 107 patients. The white blood cell fraction count was analyzed from peripheral blood obtained from patients immediately before the procedures and repeated after the procedure for 7 days. Patients received angiographic and volumetric intravascular ultrasound analysis at 6-month follow-up. The counts of circulating monocytes increased and peaked 2 days after stent implantation. A multiregression analysis showed a significant positive correlation with in-stent neointimal volume with stent volume immediately after implantation and maximum monocyte count. Twenty-two patients with angiographic restenosis showed a significantly larger maximum monocyte count than the patients without restenosis. The authors concluded that circulating monocytes contribute to the process of in-stent neointimal hyperplasia.
Control techniques for impacting flexible systems

In this article, a comparative study of the control for the repetitive impacting elastic link with parametrically excited base in rotational motion is considered. First, a sliding mode control strategy based on linearized inverse model is designed and employed to suppress the vibrations of the elastic beam after the impact. The control concept involves the usage of an adaptive plant inverse model as controller in feedforward configurations. Next, a linear controller is designed via Lyapunov-Floquet transformation. In this approach, the time-periodic equations of motion are transformed into a time-invariant form, which is suitable for the application of standard time-invariant controller-design techniques. Finally, a fuzzy logic controller is applied for the nonlinear model of the impacting system. The momentum balance method and an empirical coefficient of restitution is used in the collision.
Skeletal muscle adaptation in response to voluntary running in Ca2+/ calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV-deficient mice

Mammalian skeletal muscles undergo adaptation in response to alteration in functional demands by means of a variety of cellular signaling events. Previous experiments in transgenic mice showed that...
Conversion factors as determined by relative macroinvertebrate sampling efficiencies of four common benthic grab samplers

Collection efficiencies of benthic grab samplers vary depending on the type of substrate sampled and the organism targeted. When benthic invertebrate samples obtained with two or more sampling devices are compared, it is necessary to understand the relative efficiency of each sampler and, if appropriate, apply conversion factors to the data obtained from one or more of the samplers. We used data from field trials to generate substrate- and taxon-specific conversion factors for four common benthic grabs (Shipek, petite Ponar, standard Ekman, and large Ekman). The Shipek grab collected fewer benthic invertebrates per square meters than the other samplers in silt and sand substrates. The large Ekman collected more benthic invertebrates per square meters than other samplers in silt substrate but performed poorly in sand substrate. The petite Ponar and standard Ekman showed similar performance in silt and sand substrates. The wide range of conversion factors generated from our field trials demonstrates the imp...
Transport of carbon monoxide from the tropics to the extratropics

Global observations of carbon monoxide (CO) from the Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere (MOPITT) instrument on the NASA Terra satellite and three-dimensional trajectories computed from analyzed winds are used independently to study the transport of air from the tropics to the extratropics. During southern hemisphere spring (September through November), biomass burning in the southern tropics produces large-scale plumes of CO. These plumes can be easily distinguished from the clean air of the southern hemisphere extratropics. Both total column CO maps and latitude-height cross-sections of CO show a strong gradient of CO between 30 and 40°S. Climatological trajectory calculations show that air originating in the lower troposphere near the tropical biomass-buming regions generally rises into the middle and upper troposphere, where it is entrained in the equatorward side of the subtropical jet. While the zonal dispersion of air parcels within the tropics and subtropics is relatively rapid, air disperses rather slowly across the jet. The MOPITT CO data thus confirm the results from the trajectory analysis that transport from the tropics to the extratropics is a comparatively slow process. This gives rise to the appearance of "transport barriers" in the subtropics.
Thermo-acousto-photonics for noncontact temperature measurement in silicon wafer processing

A non-contact thermometry technique has been developed to characterize the thermal state of silicon wafers during rapid thermal processing. Information on thermal variations is obtained from the dispersion relations of the propagating waveguide mode excited in wafers using a non-contact, broadband optical system referred to as Thermal Acousto- Photonics for Non-Destructive Evaluation. Variations of thermo-mechanical properties in silicon wafers are correlated to temperature changes by performing simultaneous time-frequency analyses on Lamb waveforms acquired with a fiber-tip interferometer sensor. Experimental Lamb wave data collected for cases ranging from room temperature to 400 degrees C is presented. The results show that the temporal progressions of all spectral elements found in the fundamental antisymmetric mode are strong functions of temperature. This particular attribute is exploited to achieve a thermal resolution superior to the +/- 5 degrees C attainable through current pyrometric techniques. By analyzing the temperature-dependent group velocity of a specific frequency component over the temperature range considered and then comparing the results to an analytical model developed for silicon wafers undergoing annealing, excellent agreement was obtained. Presented results demonstrate the feasibility of applying laser-induced stress waves as a temperature diagnostic during rapid thermal processing.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Studying Changes in Organizational Design and Effectiveness: Retrospective Event Histories and Periodic Assessments

This paper describes assumptions, rationale, and track-offs involved in designing the research methodology used in a longitudinal study of the relationships among changes in organizational contexts, designs, and effectiveness. The basic research question concerns when how, and why do different types of organizational change occur. Given this research question and a desire to develop and test generalizable theory about changes in organizational design and effectiveness, we conducted a longitudinal study of over 100 organizations. Data concerning the changes were obtained through four interviews spaced six months apart with the top manager in each organization. Each interview provided a short-term retrospective event history over the preceding 6-month interval in aggregate, the four interviews provided a 24-month event history for each organization. Additionally, periodic assessments of the state of the organization's context, design, and effectiveness were collected with two questionnaires spaced one year apart. Finally, in each organization, the top manager's personal characteristics were assessed after all other data were obtained. This paper examines the alternatives, advantages, and disadvantages of the research design decisions. With some hindsight, we also offer some suggestions for future researchers with similar goals of developing and testing generalizable explanations of change processes in organizations.
Two-Way Conversation with a Mass Spectrometer: Nondestructive Interactive Mass Spectrometry

Most mass spectrometers employ destructive detection, so that it is necessary to repeat an experiment in order to vary even one parameter. In contrast, Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry offers nondestructive detection, so that ions remain available for further manipulation and redetection. Here, we show for the first time how to perform mass spectrometry interactively. Following each elementary experimental stage, such as ion generation, isolation, dissociation, or detection, the operator is free to choose and tailor the next stage without creating a fresh supply of ions. For example, we can test the effect of varying one parameter over several values without having to repeat the entire experimental event sequence each time, much like varying one letter or word in a sentence without having to rewrite the whole sentence. Such interactive control promises to speed development of complex experimental event sequences, as for optimizing the sequencing and structural analysis of tiny amounts (e.g., femtomoles or less) of biomacromolecules (peptides, nucleic acids, oligosaccharides).