cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Control of hepatitis B through routine immunization of infants: the need for flexible schedules and new combination vaccine formulations.

Abstract Universal immunization of infants is essential to the control of hepatitis B in areas of high endemicity where infection commonly occurs in infants and children. It is also an attractive strategy for ultimately reducing hepatitis-B-associated acute and chronic liver disease in areas of lower endemicity where infections occur primarily in adolescents and adults. Integration of hepatitis B vaccine with other routine paediatric immunizations, using flexible scheduling, will enhance compliance while minimizing the need for additional resources. Clinical studies demonstrate that a very high proportion of healthy infants and adults develop a protective level of antibody when given hepatitis B vaccine using a wide range of schedules. Compliance with universal vaccination of infants against hepatitis B may be enhanced by the development of new combination vaccines (e.g. diphtheria tetanus-pertussis- Haemophilus influenzae b-hepatitis B) that allow complete immunization against several antigens with a minimal number of injections.
Evaluation of a Selective Flatfish Trawl and Diel Variation in Rockfish Catchability as Bycatch Reduction Tools in the Deepwater Complex Fishery off the U.S. West Coast

Abstract We tested the potential of a selective flatfish trawl to reduce bycatch of slope rockfish in the upper continental slope bottom-trawl fishery (250–500 m) on the U.S. West Coast. The trawl we tested differed from typical slope trawls in that it was a low-rise, two-seam trawl with a severely cut back headrope. We used an alternate haul, randomized block design to compare catches of the experimental trawl with those of a typical four-seam, high-rise trawl and to examine diel changes in catch rates for both trawls. The experimental trawl produced catches similar to the control trawl for all commercially valuable flatfish, except arrowtooth flounder Atheresthes stomias, which was reduced 24%. Catches of most rockfish and roundfish were significantly reduced in the experimental trawl (50–94% depending on species). However, the catches of darkblotched rockfish Sebastes crameri and redbanded rockfish S. babcocki were not reduced significantly in the experimental trawl. Nighttime catches were reduced 30–9...
The effect of specific amino acid modifications on the catalytic properties of rat liver dihydropteridine reductase

Abstract When rat liver dihydropteridine reductase (EC 1.6.99.7) is reacted with p-chloromercuri-benzoate and 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid), six of the eight half-cystine residues, shown to be present by amino acid analysis, can be titrated with the former, and four with the latter reagent. In each case the enzyme is inactivated. The presence of the enzyme cofactor, NADH, affords protection against inactivation by 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) and reduces to 4 the number of sulfhydryl residues which can be modified by p-chloromercuribenzoate. In contrast, the substrate, “quinonoid” dihydropteridine, and product, tetrahydropteridine, do not prevent enzyme inactivation with either compound. When the reductase is treated with N-bromosuccinimide, eight tryptophan residues react with complete loss of enzymatic activity, however, in the presence of 0.001 m 2-mercaptoethanol the degree of inactivation is reduced to 30%. The relationship of sulfhydryl group modification to reduced enzymatic activity suggests that these residues play a major role in maintaining a functional enzyme tertiary structure.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of intracameral cefuroxime use for prophylaxis of endophthalmitis after cataract surgery.

Objective To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of intracameral cefuroxime for postoperative endophthalmitis prophylaxis, and to determine the efficacy threshold necessary for alternative antibiotics to attain cost-effective equivalence with intracameral cefuroxime. Design Cost-effectiveness analysis. Participants We study a hypothetical cohort of 100000 patients undergoing cataract surgery as a part of the cost analysis. Methods A cost-effectiveness model was constructed to analyze different antibiotic prophylactic regimens for postoperative endophthalmitis with intracameral cefuroxime as our base case. Efficacy was defined as the absolute reduction in rate of infection from background rate of infection, which was sourced from the literature. Antibiotic cost data were derived from the Red Book 2007 edition, and salary data were taken from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Multivariate sensitivity analysis assessed the performance of antibiotic options under different scenarios. Main Outcome Measures Cost per case of endophthalmitis prevented; theoretical maximal cost-effectiveness; efficacy threshold necessary to achieve cost-effective equivalence with intracameral cefuroxime; ratio indicating how many times more effective or less expensive alternative antibiotics would have to be to achieve cost-effective equivalence with intracameral cefuroxime. Results The cost-effectiveness ratio for intracameral cefuroxime is $1403 per case of postoperative endophthalmitis prevented. By comparison, the least expensive topical fluoroquinolone in our study, ciprofloxacin, would have to be >8 times more effective than intracameral cefuroxime to achieve cost-effective equivalence. The most expensive topical fluoroquinolones studied, gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin, would have to be ≥19 times more effective than intracameral cefuroxime to achieve cost-effective equivalence. A sensitivity analysis reveals that even in the worst case scenario for intracameral cefuroxime efficacy and with a 50% reduction in the cost of 4th-generation fluoroquinolones, gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin would have to be ≥9 times more effective than intracameral cefuroxime to achieve cost-effective equivalence. Conclusions Administration of intracameral cefuroxime is relatively cost-effective in preventing endophthalmitis after cataract surgery. Owing to their high costs, many commonly used topical antibiotics are not cost-effective compared with intracameral cefuroxime, even under optimistic assumptions about their efficacy. Financial Disclosure(s) The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any of the materials discussed in this article.
Multiple-satellite studies of magnetospheric substorms - Distinction between polar magnetic substorms and convection-driven negative bays

Two types of prolonged auroral zone magnetic bay activity are studied. The first manifests frequent substorm expansions and the second (a convection bay) shows weak and infrequent substorm onset signatures during intense auroral zone bays. Data are obtained by multiple satellite recordings during a 5-hour interval of persistent auroral zone activity. The results are discussed in terms of: magnetic activity on the ground, solar wind and tail lobe conditions, onset and recovery of the 1122 UT substorm, plasma sheet variations during the convection bay, reappearance of substorm signatures in the tail of about 1613 UT, and magnetic field observations at synchronous orbit.
LANDAU QUANTIZED 2D NONLOCAL BERNSTEIN MODE MAGNETOPLASMON COUPLING WITH SURFACE AND BULK PHONONS

Abstract We have examined the collective modes of a two-dimensional (2D) Landau-quantized magnetoplasma in a planar quantum well, including nonlocal 2D Bernstein modes, in interaction with surface and bulk optical phonons. The system considered is a 2D sheet of nonlocal electron magnetoplasma embedded in a semi-infinite semiconductor medium with optical phonons. We analyze the longitudinal collective mode spectrum as a function of distance z 0 of the 2D sheet from the bounding surface of the semiconductor. In particular, the 2D magnetoplasma/Bernstein modes couple preferentially to the bulk LO phonon deep in the medium, whereas in the vicinity of the surface they couple preferentially to the surface phonon. The study is carried out by employing the spatially inhomogeneous inverse dielectric function of the combined system of planar quantum well plasma and semi-infinite semiconductor in position representation to obtain the coupled mode dispersion relation which we analyze to determine the dependence of the modes on wave number as well as on z 0 .
Comparison of primers for the detection of pathogenic Escherichia coli using real-time PCR.

J.D. BARAK, K. SANANIKONE AND M.J. DELWICHE. 2005. Aims: To evaluate PCR primers for the detection of pathogenic Escherichia coli in a real-time PCR assay and determine their utility in produce irrigation water testing. Methods and Results: Three previously published PCR primer sets and one set designed for this study were tested for their ability to produce amplification products for several pathogenic E. coli serotypes from whole cells as template. Two of the previously published primer sets were chosen for real-time PCR detection limit determination. The coneaeA and PEH detection limit of E. coli O157:H7 was 10 0 and 10 1 CFU rxn )1 in sterile water respectively. To detect E. coli O157:H7 in sprout irrigation water, the water required dilution due to PCR inhibitors. The detection limit of the coneaeA and PEH was 10 1 and between 10 2 and 10 3 CFU rxn )1 in diluted sprout irrigation water respectively. Conclusions: The primer set coneaeA was able to produce an amplification product from each E. coli serotype, except O128:H7 and most sensitive for real-time PCR detection of pathogenic E. coli in diluted sprout irrigation water. Significance and Impact of the Study: The necessity of a dissociation analysis to distinguish positive samples from those with fluorescence of random dsDNA generation for real-time PCR in a complex background was established.
Who's Right and Who Writes: People, Profiles, Contacts, and Replies in Online Dating

In this analysis of profiles and messaging behavior on a major online dating service, we find that, consistent with predictions of evolutionary psychology, women as compared to men state more restrictive preferences for their ideal date. Furthermore, women contact and reply to others more selectively than men. Additionally, we identify connections among messaging behavior, textual self-descriptions in dating profiles, and relationship-relevant traits such as neuroticism.
The Edible Plant Dichelostemma capitatum: Its Vegetative Reproduction Response to Different Indigenous Harvesting Regimes in California

To more thoroughly understand the ecological effects of harvesting geophytes for food by American Indians, an investigation of the ethnobotany and population dynamics of Dichelostemma capitatum (blue dicks), an attractive source of nutrition to many California Indian groups was undertaken. Some cultural groups harvest the corms and replant the cormlets, spare plants, and harvest after seeding to ensure replenishment of seed. Some Indian elders equate judicious harvesting with the maintenance and enhancement of field populations of this geophyte. A field experiment was conducted to determine the degree to which differences in intensity and timing of harvest, with and without replanting of cormlets, have any effect on corm and cormlet production. We found that harvesting at 100% intensity, through digging up all plants and corms, and without replanting cormlets at the seed stage, significantly reduces numbers of corms and cormlets compared to the controls (no harvest). However, harvesting at 50% intensity, through digging up half of all plants and corms at the flowering or seed stages, without replanting cormlets, was not significantly different from the controls (no harvest). The results suggest that harvesting blue dicks corms with a digging stick in the latter way could yield a sustainable level of harvest. Indigenous harvesting and management regimes may offer some of the best examples of long-term uses and management of the regional flora without detriment to its biodiversity. Restorationists are urged to study and experimentally mimic indigenous disturbance regimes and their ecological effects known to occur historically in various ecosystems. In some cases, areas will greatly benefit from the reintroduction of management and harvesting regimes that authentically simulate ancient indigenous interactions.
Inclusion Complexes of 2-Methylnaphthoate and γ-Cyclodextrin: Experimental Thermodynamics and Molecular Mechanics Calculations

Steady-state fluorescence and molecular mechanics calculation were used to study the inclusion complexes of 2-methylnaphthoate (MN) with γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD). The stoichiometry (1:1) and binding constants (213 ± 96 M-1 at 25 °C) were extracted from an analysis of the ratio of the intensity of two emission bands that were sensitive to the polarity of the medium. Extrapolation of this ratio to a high concentration of γ-CD permits the estimation of the polarity of the inner cavity, which seems to be only slightly hydrophobic, with a dielectric constant near 74. The ΔH and ΔS for formation of the complex were obtained and compared with previous results for similar complexes of MN with two smaller CDs. Molecular mechanics calculations were applied to study the complex in vacuo and in the presence of water as a solvent. Complexation is mainly due to nonbonded van der Waals interactions of MN with γ-CD. Calculations show that MN penetrates completely into the cavity of γ-CD.
Tiotropium bromide suppresses smoke inhalation and burn injury-induced ERK 1/2 and SMAD 2/3 signaling in sheep bronchial submucosal glands.

AbstractThe effects of tiotropium bromide on ERK 1/2, SMAD 2/3 and NFκB signaling in bronchial submucosal gland (SMG) cells of sheep after smoke inhalation and burn injury (S + B) were studied. We hypothesized that tiotropium would modify intracellular signaling processes within SMG cells after injury. Bronchial tissues were obtained from uninjured (sham, n = 6), S + B injured sheep 48 h after injury (n = 6), and injured sheep nebulized with tiotropium (n = 6). The percentage (mean ± SD) of cells showing nuclear localization of phosphorylated ERK 1/2, pSMAD 2/3, and NFκB (p65) was determined by immunohistochemistry. Nuclear pERK 1/2 staining was increased in injured animals as compared to sham, (66 ± 20 versus 14 ± 9), p = 0.0022, as was nuclear pSMAD, 84 ± 10 versus 20 ± 10, p = 0.0022. There was a significant decrease in pERK 1/2 labeling in the tiotropium group compared to the injured group (31 ± 20 versus 66 ± 20, p = 0.013), and also a decrease in pSMAD labeling, 62 ± 17 versus 84 ± 10, p = 0.04. A s...
Topological surface state transport and current saturation in topological insulator nanoribbons field effect transistors

Topological insulators (TIs) are a new class of quantum matter, with an insulating bulk, where electrons on the surface behave as massless Dirac fermions as in graphene [1,2]. However, in contrast with graphene, the surface state of TIs is topologically protected against non-magnetic disorder or lattice defects. This topological protection, unique to TIs, originates from the spin locked to the Fermi momentum (“spin-helical Dirac electrons”, where backscattering is forbidden). Consequently, TI nanowire (NW) devices may outperform conventional semiconductor NWs or graphene nanoribbon (NR) devices that may suffer from backscattering. However, one of the main limitations to explore device applications in TIs was its large bulk conductance, shunting the surface conduction and also impeding effective gate tuning. Recently, we demonstrated unambiguous transport signatures of the topological surface states Dirac fermions, such as linear energy dispersion (Fig. 1a) and Berry’s phase (Fig. 1b) of our gatetunable bulk-insulating Bi2Te3 TINR devices, when the Fermi energy is tuned into the bulk gap [3]. Here, we report the first observation of saturating transistor characteristics in such Bi2Te3 NR FET devices. We fabricated several FETs on SiO2 and high-k, SrTiO3 (STO) dielectric substrates (SEM image in inset of Fig. 1c). Ambipolar field effect is mainly found in TINRs devices on STO (Fig. 1c). We measured their IV curves, and we observed Ids saturates at considerably large electric fields (Fig 1d). Figure 1e depicts the extracted drift velocity ( drift = IdsL/en2DW) vs. Vds, where L is the channel length, W is the width of the TINR, e is the electron charge and n2D is the carrier density (n2D = Cg(Vg VCNP)). Velocity saturation ( sat) is extracted from drift = (( E) +( sat) ) (where is mobility, E is electric field and is a fitting parameter ~1) and plotted vs. 1/EF in Fig. 1f for the 2 different substrates. The sat depends on n2D and we attribute this to scattering by interfacial phonons in the substrate supporting the TINR channel. The energy of the interfacial phonons ( ) is extracted from the slope of sat vs. 1/EF, obtaining for TINR devices on SiO2 and on STO substrates ~60 meV (surface phonon energy of SiO2 = 55 meV) and 120 meV respectively. This result suggests that sat of TINRs on SiO2 is mainly limited by the interfacial phonons of the substrate. However, TINRs on STO show higher sat, therefore higher current saturation. The achieved saturation current in our TINRs can be comparable or even exceed that measured previously in graphene. Our results pave the way of using TINR devices for analogue and radio-frequency circuit applications and its potential applications in topologically protected 1-D electronic devices, low-power electronics and exotic devices for topological quantum computing.
A Parent-Based Description of Residential Treatment

Abstract Past research on adolescents in residential treatment has examined the treatment process from the perspective of the adolescent's and/or worker's point of view. This article describes the results from a qualitative study on how parents experience the residential treatment process. According to the parents interviewed: parents want to be more involved in making decisions and setting goals concerning their child, special care is needed when two families are involved with one child, family therapy is useful in dealing with family issues and family-staff conflicts, and regular communication is needed between the staff and the parents.
The Evolution of Dropsonde-Derived Kinematic and Thermodynamic Structures in Developing and Nondeveloping Atlantic Tropical Convective Systems

AbstractThe processes by which tropical cyclones evolve from loosely organized convective clusters are still poorly understood. Because of the data-sparse regions in which tropical cyclones form, observational studies of tropical cyclogenesis are often more difficult than studies of land-based convective phenomena. As a result, many studies of tropical cyclogenesis are limited to either a few case studies or rely on simulations. The 2010 PREDICT and GRIP field experiments have provided a new opportunity to gain insight into these processes using unusually dense observations in both time and space.The present study aims at using these recent datasets to perform a detailed analysis of the three-dimensional evolution of both kinematic and thermodynamic fields in both developing and nondeveloping tropical convective systems in the western Atlantic. Five tropical convective systems are analyzed in this study: two nondeveloping, two developing, and one dissipating system. Although the analysis necessarily inclu...
Sunlight-reflecting potential of aerosols overestimated

Research into the role of aerosols in the atmospheric energy budget has predominantly been carried out in locations with high total aerosol loads. Less well understood are the effects of aerosols in relatively aerosol-free regions. By measuring the concentrations of aerosols of various sizes in and near Sacramento, Calif., in June 2010, Kassianov et al. found that previous research had been overestimating the sunlight-reflecting potential of atmospheric aerosols in clear, sunny skies.
Clinical presentation of Kawasaki disease

Abstract In spite of the passage of nearly 30 years since the original description, the etiology of Kawasaki disease (KD) remains enigmatic. As a result the diagnosis of the illness continues to rely on the fulfillment of clinical criteria and the exclusion of other illnesses with similar symptoms and signs. The principal diagnostic criteria include fever of 5 days duration and presence of at least four of the five following findings: changes in extremities, polymorphous exanthem, bilateral conjunctival injection, changes in the lips and oral cavity, and cervical adenopathy. In the presence of fever and coronary artery changes fewer than four of the other clinical criteria are required to establish the diagnosis. The illnesses most often confused with KD include scarlet fever, measles, other viral exanthems, and allergic reactions to drugs or other antigens. Variations in the clinical presentation of KD are common and practitioners should maintain a high index of suspicion for KD, especially in persistently febrile infants less than 1 year of age.
Mechanism of thermal energy charge transfer reactions: + N2. Analysis of isotopic data

Abstract The + N 2 charge transfer reaction has been studied in an ICR spectrometer using both 14 N 2 and 15 N 2 . The N + /N 2 + branching ratio was measured from the zero collision limit (ca. 1 × 10 −5 torr total pressure) to collisional saturation (ca. 1 × 10 −3 torr total pressure) for He/N 2 ratios of 5, 10, 50 and 100. The data were analyzed by solving exactly the kinetic equations and the associated power absorption equations. A positive pressure dependence in the N + /N 2 + branching ratio was observed indicating some N + is formed from collisional dissociation of excited ions. Comparison is made with recently published data from other groups and previously published data from this laboratory.
Reproductive Biology of Male Eastern Garter Snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) from a Denning Population in Central Wisconsin

Abstract Reproductive behavior of the eastern garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) was evaluated in the field at the Mosquito Hill Nature Center, New London, Wisconsin. In addition, twenty-eight males (24 adult; 4 subadult) were collected during the active season to examine the reproductive physiology. Courtship behavior and mating in this population was similar to previous reports on Thamnophis with the exception of a relatively abbreviated courtship season lasting only 3–5 d. Our study population exhibited a dissociated reproductive pattern in which spermatogenisis was initiated after the breeding season had ended and sperm over wintered in the vas deferens. Upon emergence from low temperature dormancy, the testis mass and seminiferous tubules were regressed with spermatogonia the dominant cell type. Maximum tubule and epithelial development occured in late summer corresponding to peak spermatogenesis and elevated testosterone levels (T). While the tubule diameter and epithelial height of the ren...
On the frequencies of inhomogeneous soil strata: Dobry's paradox

Abstract This brief article elaborates on some clearly unlikely predictions made some four decades ago by R. Dobry within the context of his doctoral dissertation, which concerns the resonant frequencies of soil strata whose stiffness starts at zero at ground level and then increases continuously as some power of the depth. Although the problem was eventually traced to subtle changes in the boundary conditions which take place when the soil parameter exceeds a threshold value, and the discrepancy was ultimately fully resolved, Dobry initially countered to the technical objections of the writer by presenting an extremely elegant counter-proof based on dimensional analysis whose strength emanated from the fact that it was free from the issue of the boundary conditions, and thus forced the writer to seek alternative explanations for the contradictory results. It is this fruitful exchange of ideas which provides the motivation for this brief technical note expounding on an apparent paradox, which may prove useful to the soil dynamics community for its potential didactical value, not to mention as an outright tool.
Mechanisms of in situ macrocyclic ligand synthesis, 2. [1] Kinetics and mechanism of formation of a nickel(II) complex containing an N4 donor macrocyclic ligand [2]

Abstract The rate of reaction of [3,3′-[Ethylenebis(nitrilomethylidyne)] di- 2,4-pentanedionato(2-)] nickel(II) with ethylenediamine has been studied in tetrahydrofuran-ethanol solution. The rate is first order in nickel complex, second order in ethylenediamine and first order in added base (hydroxide or ethoxide ion) concentration. The enthalpy of activation, ΔH‡, is 41 ± 3 kJ mol−1 and the entropy of activation, ΔS‡, is − 180 ± 20 J mol−1 K−1. A multistep mechanism is proposed for the reaction in which intial coordination of two molecules of ethylenediamine is followed by nucleophilic attack of the deprotonated amine at a coordinated CO group of the ligand and rapid ring closure to produce a macrocyclic ligand with N4 donor atoms. The role of the metal ion in the in situ macrocyclic ligand synthesis is discussed.
Dzialoshinskii-Moriya interaction in the organic superconductor κ − ( BEDT − TTF ) 2 Cu [ N ( CN ) 2 ] Cl

The authors report 1 3 C NMR and magnetization measurements on the magnetic state of oriented single crystals of the organic superconductor κ-(BEDT-TTF) 2 Cu[N(CN) 2 ]Cl. To understand these data a spin Hamiltonian based onthe Pnma symmetry of the crystal is developed. When interpreted in the context of this Hamiltonian, the measurements provide a detailed picture of the spin ordering. It is found that the Dzialoshinskii-Moriya (DM) interaction is largely responsible for the details of the ordering above the spin-flop field. Of particular note, the interplane correlations are determined by the intraplane DM interactions and the direction of the applied field.
CYTOLOGICAL STUDIES ON THE PARASITIC RELATIONSHIP OF UROCYSTIS CEPULAE TO ALLIUM FISTULOSUM

IN A previous paper the parasitic relationship of the onion-smut fungus, Urocystis cepulae Frost, to the common onion, Allium cepa, was considered (Evans, 1933). Attention was centered particularly upon the behavior of the fungus in the seedling during the time resistance to the disease was being acquired. Anderson (1925) has observed that the " Winterbeck Zwiebel'" is highly resistant to onion smut. Felix (1933) also noted this fact and referred the "VWinterbeck " to Allium fistulosum, which Anderson had reported as being susceptible. The present work was started with the purpose of determining if possible whether or not fungus penetration of the resistant part of the cotyledon of A. fistulosum is effected, and in the event that entrance of the fungus does occur, what the host-parasite relationship might be. Ample reviews of the literature dealing with hostparasite relationships of the smuts have been presented by Kolk (1930), Reed (1924), Reed and Farns (1924a, 1924b), Sampson (1925, 1928, 1929, 1933), and Western (1936). A more general treatment of host-parasite relationships of the parasitic fungi has been given by Brown (1936). MATERIALS AND METHODS.-Soil from the Grabher farm in the Racine, Wisconsin, onion-growing region was used for growilng the seedlings. This soil was shown to be heavily infested with the smut by seeding it with Southport Red Globe (A. cepa). At soil temperatures of 680-70'F. high percentages (95+ per cent) of badly diseased seedlings occurred. Seedlings of A. fistulosum were grown in this soil for four purposes: (1) to obtain information on incidence of disease and on the location of lesions; (2) to determine the reaction of the first foliage leaf when it was exposed to the infested soil by the removal of the cotyledon; (3) for use in a series of Wisconsin temperature tank cultures; and (4) for a cytological study of the tissues of the cotyledons. Seedlings to be used for gross observation were killed in hot water and bleached in 95 per cent alcohol. Those to be used in the cytological study were killed in Allen's modification of Bouin's fluid heated to 85?C. The fixed material was embedded in paraffin, and sections were cut from 12 to 15 microns in thickness. A combination of safranin and fast green was used for staining. OBSERVATIONS AND DISCUSSION. -Incidence of disease.-The seedlings used for gross observation were allowed to remain in the infested soil for about a
Color blend retrievals: Compromise memories or deliberate compromise responses?

A total of 978 subjects, in two experiments and two pilot studies, were asked to recognize the color of objects to which they had been exposed in a slide presentation. Taken together, the studies demonstrate that an object’s typical coloration influences recognitions, resulting in retrievals that compromise or blend the actual color and the typical color. In addition, Experiment 2 suggests that color recognitions may be simultaneously influenced by typical knowledge, event information, and postevent information. The findings question the adequacy of both the deliberate compromise and the compromise memory hypotheses as accounts for color blend retrievals. The deliberate compromise hypothesis fails to account for evidence that blend retrievals result because an intact representation of an event is not available at the time of test. The compromise memory hypothesis fails to account for evidence that deliberative processes do occur, and is in need of further exposition given that blend retrievals may be the result of different processes when resulting from typical knowledge and from postevent information. In conclusion, neither hypothesis, in isolation, is able to account for the various possible processes that appear responsible for blend retrievals.
Effects of natural sequence variation on recognition by monoclonal antibodies neutralize simian immunodeficiency virus infectivity.

Abstract The determinants of immune recognition by five monoclonal antibodies (KK5, KK9, KK17, Senv7.1, and Senv101.1) that neutralize simian immunodeficiency virus infectivity were analyzed. These five neutralizing monoclonal antibodies were generated to native SIVmac251 envelope glycoprotein expressed by a vaccinia virus recombinant vector. All five recognize conformational or discontinuous epitopes and require native antigen for optimal recognition. These monoclonal antibodies also recognize SIVmac239 gp120, but they do not recognize gp120 of two natural variants of SIVmac239, 1-12 and 8-22, which evolved during the course of persistent infection in vivo (D.P.W. Burns and R.C. Desrosiers, J. Virol. 65:1843-1854, 1991). Recombinant viruses which were constructed by exchanging variable regions between SIVmac239 and variant 1-12 were used to define domains important for recognition. Radioimmunoprecipitation analysis demonstrated that sequence changes in variable regions 4 and 5 (V4/V5) were primarily responsible for the loss of recognition of the 1-12 variant. Site-specific mutants were used to define precise changes that eliminate recognition by these neutralizing antibodies. Changing N-409 to D, deletion of KPKE, and deletion of KEQH in V4 each resulted in loss of recognition by all five monoclonal antibodies. SIVs with these natural sequence changes are still replication competent and viable. Changing A-417 to T or A/N-417/418 to TK in V4 or Q-477 to K in V5 did not alter recognition detectably. These results define specific, naturally occurring sequence changes in V4 of SIVmac that result in loss of recognition by one class of SIVmac neutralizing antibodies.
Diagnosis and medical management of esophageal dysmotility

Abstract Esophageal motility disorders are often suspected in patients with dysphagia and noncardiac chest pain. Even though structural evaluation is important, the primary diagnostic tool is esophageal manometry. With the advent of high-resolution esophageal manometry, the Chicago classification has emerged as the primary scheme to categorize identified manometric abnormalities. However, although some manometric abnormalities associated with achalasia and distal esophageal spasm are well defined, the clinical significance of many identified manometric findings is less clear. Consequently, an understanding of the manometric findings defined by the Chicago classification is important. Furthermore, given the ambiguity associated with many of these findings, medical therapy is often challenging. This review attempts to provide a concise update on interpretation of high-resolution esophageal manometry specifically using the Chicago classification scheme. In addition, we highlight the current evidence for pharmacologic treatment for identified manometric abnormalities.
Employing locality in the evolutionary generation of fuzzy rule bases

Fuzzy rule bases have proven to be an effective tool for modeling complex systems and approximating functions. The generation of a fuzzy rule base has generally been accomplished by a heuristic analysis of the relationships of the underlying system or by algorithmic rule generation from training data. Automatic rule generation has utilized clustering algorithms, proximity analysis, and evolutionary techniques to identify approximate relationships between the input and the output. In this research, two general approaches for the evolutionary generation of fuzzy rules are identified and compared: global and local rule generation. Global rule production, which is the standard method of employing evolutionary techniques in fuzzy rule base generation, considers an entire rule base as an element of population. The fitness evaluation of a rule base aggregates the performance of the model over the entire space into a single value. The local approach utilizes the limited scope of a fuzzy rule to evaluate performance in regions of the input space. The local generation of rule bases employs an independent evolutionary search in each region and combines the local results to produce a global model. An experimental suite has been developed to compare the effectiveness of the two strategies for the evolutionary generation of fuzzy models.
Load-balanced routing and gateway selection in wireless mesh networks: Design, implementation and experimentation

Traffic routing and gateway selection for Internet flows play a crucial role in determining the performance of WMNs. Optimal routing strategies have been derived under the assumption that the traffic demands are static and known a priori, or that can be accurately predicted. However, the effectiveness of most of the existing optimization-based routing solutions is still to be demonstrated in real-world deployments. In this paper we present a practical and robust framework for load-balanced routing and gateway selection in WMNs under variable traffic loads, which relies only on real-time measurements of network statistics. Then, we design, implement and evaluate two simple adaptive strategies to automatically select network paths and gateways for flows that dynamically arrive and depart, with the goal of achieving a high network utilization and improved load balancing. We have developed a full-fledged implementation of the proposed mechanisms as an extension of the OLSR protocol, and conducted an experimental study in a trial outdoor mesh network using video streaming traffic. Collected measurements show that our scheme can significantly increase the number of video sessions that can be supported with acceptable quality compared to traditional shortest path routing.
Assessment of graft function in rodent models of heart transplantation

Heterotopic heart transplantation in rats and mice is the most commonly used model to study allograft immune response and to test immunosuppressive drugs and tolerance induction protocols. Standardization of both the surgical procedure and the evaluation of graft function is essential for data interpretation. The most popular way to monitor graft function has been the palpation method. However, there are some proposal for more objective assessment methods like electrocardiogram and echocardiogram. Although, complementary tests might add some relevant information when assessing minor effects of immunosuppressive therapy, palpation by an experienced investigator is very predictive and so far the simplest method to determine heart allograft function. Minor complications during the surgical procedure and unreliable assessment can have a major impact on the interpretation of experiment results. Here, the author reviews the literature and presents some suggestions that help eliminating biases on the assessment of heart allograft function.
A Stochastic Technique for the Removal of Artifacts in Compressed Images and Video

The perceived quality of images and video sequences reconstructed from low bit rate compressed bit streams is severely degraded by the appearance of coding artifacts. This chapter introduces a technique for the post-processing of compressed images based on a stochastic model for the image data. Quantization partitions the transform coefficient space and maps all points in a partition cell to a representative reconstruction point, usually taken as the centroid of the cell. The proposed technique selects the reconstruction point within the quantization partition cell which results in a reconstructed image that best fits a non-Gaussian Markov Random Field image model. This approach results in a convex constrained optimization problem that can be solved iteratively. Efficient computational algorithms can be used in the minimization. This technique is extended to the post-processing of video sequences. The proposed approach provides a reconstructed image with reduced visibility of transform coding artifacts and superior perceived quality.
Code canvas: zooming towards better development environments

The user interfaces of today's development environments have a "bento box" design that partitions information into separate areas. This design makes it difficult to stay oriented in the open documents and to synthesize information shown in different areas. Code Canvas takes a new approach by providing an infinite zoomable surface for software development. A canvas both houses editable forms of all of a project's documents and allows multiple layers of visualization over those documents. By uniting the content of a project and information about it onto a single surface, Code Canvas is designed to leverage spatial memory to keep developers oriented and to make it easy to synthesize information.
Significance of two distinct types of tryptophan synthase beta chain in Bacteria, Archaea and higher plants

Background: Tryptophan synthase consists of two subunits, and . Two distinct subgroups of chain exist. The major group (TrpEb_1) includes the well-studied chain of Salmonella typhimurium. The minor group of chain (TrpEb_2) is most frequently found in the Archaea. Most of the amino-acid residues important for catalysis are highly conserved between both TrpE subfamilies. Results: Conserved amino-acid residues of TrpEb_1 that make allosteric contact with the TrpEa subunit (the chain) are absent in TrpEb_2. Representatives of Archaea, Bacteria and higher plants all exist that possess both TrpEb_1 and TrpEb_2. In those prokaryotes where two trpEb genes coexist, one is usually trpEb_1 and is adjacent to trpEa, whereas the second is trpEb_2 and is usually unlinked with other tryptophan-pathway genes. Conclusions: TrpEb_1 is nearly always partnered with TrpEa in the tryptophan synthase reaction. However, by default at least six lineages of the Archaea are likely to use TrpEb_2 as the functional chain, as TrpEb_1 is absent. The six lineages show a distinctive divergence within the overall TrpEa phylogenetic tree, consistent with the lack of selection for amino-acid residues in TrpEa that are otherwise conserved for interfacing with TrpEb_1. We suggest that the standalone function of TrpEb_2 might be to catalyze the serine deaminase reaction, an established catalytic capability of tryptophan synthase chains. A coincident finding of interest is that the Archaea seem to use the citramalate pathway, rather than threonine deaminase (IlvA), to initiate the pathway of isoleucine biosynthesis.
The Biologic Role for Nuclear Factor-KappaB in Disease and its Potential Involvement in Mucosal Injury Associated with Anti-neoplastic Therapy

Oral mucosal barrier injury (mucositis) is a frequent, painful, serious, dose-limiting toxicity associated with many anti-neoplastic drugs and radiation to the head and neck. Results of recent studies suggest that mucositis is the result of a complex series of interactive biological events that take place in the submucosa and epithelium. The nuclear transcription factor NF-kappaB has been implicated in the control of a broad range of biological responses, the activation of a large number of specific cellular genes, and the determination of the fate of cells exposed to ionizing radiation and anti-neoplastic drugs. Of particular importance to mucositis is the fact that NF-kappaB regulates key elements in the apparent sequence that leads to normal tissue toxicity. Not the least of these is the effect that NF-kappaB activation has on apoptosis. In particular, a paradox exists between the potential pro-apoptotic effect NF-kappaB exerts on normal cells, and the anti-apoptotic and cytoprotective effect it causes in tumor cells. This paper provides a review of the structure and function of NF-kappaB and speculates how its apparent enigmatic effect on normal and tumor cells may occur.
Real-time digital signal processing in education

The authors describe the integration of a laboratory component in DSP education at each of the following institutions: Roger Williams University, Bradley University, and the California State University, Chico. The laboratory component reinforces and enhances the theoretical DSP topics. Hardware tools were incorporated based on the fixed- and floating-point TMS320 family of processors and the fixed-point DSP56001 processor. The different approaches taken for integrating the laboratory component are presented. >
Magnesium supplementation, metabolic and inflammatory markers, and global genomic and proteomic profiling: a randomized, double-blind, controlled, crossover trial in overweight individuals

Background: Dietary magnesium intake has been favorably associated with reduced risk of metabolic outcomes in observational studies; however, few randomized trials have introduced a systems-biology approach to explore molecular mechanisms of pleiotropic metabolic actions of magnesium supplementation. Objective: We examined the effects of oral magnesium supplementation on metabolic biomarkers and global genomic and proteomic profiling in overweight individuals. Design: We undertook this randomized, crossover, pilot trial in 14 healthy, overweight volunteers [body mass index (in kg/m2) ≥25] who were randomly assigned to receive magnesium citrate (500 mg elemental Mg/d) or a placebo for 4 wk with a 1-mo washout period. Fasting blood and urine specimens were collected according to standardized protocols. Biochemical assays were conducted on blood specimens. RNA was extracted and subsequently hybridized with the Human Gene ST 1.0 array (Affymetrix, Santa Clara, CA). Urine proteomic profiling was analyzed with the CM10 ProteinChip array (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, CA). Results: We observed that magnesium treatment significantly decreased fasting C-peptide concentrations (change: −0.4 ng/mL after magnesium treatment compared with +0.05 ng/mL after placebo treatment; P = 0.004) and appeared to decrease fasting insulin concentrations (change: −2.2 μU/mL after magnesium treatment compared with 0.0 μU/mL after placebo treatment; P = 0.25). No consistent patterns were observed across inflammatory biomarkers. Gene expression profiling revealed up-regulation of 24 genes and down-regulation of 36 genes including genes related to metabolic and inflammatory pathways such as C1q and tumor necrosis factor–related protein 9 (C1QTNF9) and pro-platelet basic protein (PPBP). Urine proteomic profiling showed significant differences in the expression amounts of several peptides and proteins after treatment. Conclusion: Magnesium supplementation for 4 wk in overweight individuals led to distinct changes in gene expression and proteomic profiling consistent with favorable effects on several metabolic pathways. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00737815.
Turbulence and planktonic nitrogen fixation: A mesocosm experiment

Heterocystic species of N-fixing cyanobacteria arc rare in the plankton of most estuaries and coastal seas, and rates of N fixation tend to bc concomitantly low in the water columns of these systems. High turbulence in estuaries and coastal seas is commonly cited as a factor excluding planktonic, heterocystic cyanobacteria. We investigated the effects of turbulence in a 7-week-long mesocosm experiment. Rcciprotating grids gencratcd turbulence in 3.0-m” tanks containing water and plankton from Oneida Lake. Four mesocosms received a high level of turbulence (mean values of 0.2 and 0.7 mW kg-’ as determined by two dilTcrent methods); such turbulence is much higher than has been observed in lakes and is at the upper end of that found in estuaries strongly influenced by tides. Four other tanks received levels of turbulence that were higher yet (mean estimates of 1.8 and 3.8 mW kg- I from the two methods); this higher level of turbulence probably cxcecds that found in coastal waters except in areas influenced by surf or in shallow estuaries with very significant tides. Heterocystic, planktonic cyanobacteria bloomed and fixed N in all eight mcsocosms, and turbulence had no significant effect on N fixation. Rates were quite high, indicating no major deleterious effect of even extremely high turbulence on this process. The turbulence in our mesocosms was great enough to have prevented the formation of anoxic microzones on the surface of cyanobacterial cells. Thus, our results indicate that such microzones are not essential for high rates of planktonic N fixation by hetcrocystic cyanobacteria and that the relative absence of N fixation by these organisms in coastal seas is not due to a lower probability of such microzoncs developing in marin; systems than in freshwaters.
3-D Interdisciplinary Visualization: Tools for Scientific Analysis and Communication

Within the scientific community, interdisciplinary analyses are increasingly emphasized to gain a more complete understanding of how entire Earth systems function. For National Science Foundation (NSF)-sponsored programs such as EarthScope (http://www.earthscope.org), Ridge 2000 (http://www.ridge2000.org), Margins (http://www.nsf-margins.org), and the Ocean Observatories Initiative (http://www.oceanleadership.org/ocean_observing), this includes trying to identify potentially complex linkages that exist between geological, biological, chemical, and/or physical processes occurring at predefined regions. For this interdisciplinary approach to succeed, numerous, and often disparate, datasets must be combined in a manner comprehensible and accessible to a wide range of scientists. To overcome this hurdle, NSF programs such as those listed above, as well as scientific journals and individual scientists, are turning to interactive, three-dimensional computer visualization as a primary tool for examining and communicating the results of scientific studies ( e.g. , Kent et al. 2000; Dzwinel et al. 2005; Nayak et al. 2005; Singh et al. 2006). This new ability to explore and interact with one-, two-, and three-dimensional geo-referenced datasets greatly enhances audiences' understanding of the research environment as well as how the Earth functions as an interconnected system. While visualization, by definition, is not new to the scientific community ( e.g. , maps, graphs, and drawings) (Koua et al. 2006), the ability to combine two- and three-dimensional data into a 3-D, interactive environment is a relatively recent and rapidly expanding technological and analytical advancement in the geosciences (Schwehr et al. 2005; Kilb and Nayak 2006). The increasing computer storage and processing resources, combined with software programs that are based on a modular methodology (where each dataset is treated as a building block that can be combined with other blocks to create a unified and exploratory environment), are making 3-D visualization more attractive to scientists. For multidisciplinary, multidimensional research, 3-D visualization has certain key advantages over the …