cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
HIV-1 Env and Nef Cooperatively Contribute to Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Activation via CD4-Dependent Mechanisms.

ABSTRACT Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are the major source of type I IFN (IFN-I) in response to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. pDCs are rapidly activated during HIV-1 infection and are implicated in reducing the early viral load, as well as contributing to HIV-1-induced pathogenesis. However, most cell-free HIV-1 isolates are inefficient in activating human pDCs, and the mechanisms of HIV-1 recognition by pDCs and pDC activation are not clearly defined. In this study, we report that two genetically similar HIV-1 variants (R3A and R3B) isolated from a rapid progressor differentially activated pDCs to produce alpha interferon (IFN-α). The highly pathogenic R3A efficiently activated pDCs to induce robust IFN-α production, while the less pathogenic R3B did not. The viral determinant for efficient pDC activation was mapped to the V1V2 region of R3A Env, which also correlated with enhanced CD4 binding activity. Furthermore, we showed that the Nef protein was also required for the activation of pDCs by R3A. Analysis of a panel of R3A Nef functional mutants demonstrated that Nef domains involved in CD4 downregulation were necessary for R3A to activate pDCs. Our data indicate that R3A-induced pDC activation depends on (i) the high affinity of R3A Env for binding the CD4 receptor and (ii) Nef activity, which is involved in CD4 downregulation. Our findings provide new insights into the mechanism by which HIV-1 induces IFN-α in pDCs, which contributes to pathogenesis. IMPORTANCE Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are the major type I interferon (IFN-I)-producing cells, and IFN-I actually contributes to pathogenesis during chronic viral infections. How HIV-1 activates pDCs and the roles of pDCs/IFN-I in HIV-1 pathogenesis remain unclear. We report here that the highly pathogenic HIV R3A efficiently activated pDCs to induce IFN-α production, while most HIV-1 isolates are inefficient in activating pDCs. We have discovered that R3A-induced pDC activation depends on (i) the high affinity of R3A Env for binding the CD4 receptor and (ii) Nef activity, which is involved in CD4 downregulation. Our findings thus provide new insights into the mechanism by which HIV-1 induces IFN-α in pDCs and contributes to HIV-1 pathogenesis. These novel findings will be of great interest to those working on the roles of IFN and pDCs in HIV-1 pathogenesis in general and on the interaction of HIV-1 with pDCs in particular.
A thermodynamic and kinetic model for paste–aggregate interactions and the alkali–silica reaction

A new conceptual model is developed for alkali-silica reaction (ASR) formation based on geochemical principles tied to aqueous speciation, silica solubility, kinetically controlled mineral dissolution, and diffusion. ASR development is driven largely by pH and silica gradients that establish geochemical microenvironments between paste and aggregate, with gradients the strongest within the aggregate adjacent to the paste boundary (i.e., where ASR initially forms). Super-saturation of magadiite and okenite (crystalline ASR surrogates) occurs in the zone defined by gradients in pH, dissolved silica, Na+, and Ca²+. This model provides a thermodynamic rather than kinetic explanation of why quartz generally behaves differently from amorphous silica: quartz solubility does not produce sufficiently high concentrations of H₄SiO₄ to super-saturate magadiite, whereas amorphous silica does. The model also explains why pozzolans do not generate ASR: their fine-grained character precludes formation of chemical gradients. Finally, these gradients have interesting implications beyond the development of ASR, creating unique biogeochemical environments.
An ab initio SCF study of conformational isomerism in HNO2

Abstract The structures and complete force fields of cis and trans nitrous acid have been calculated with a (7, 3) basis set. The differences between the two stable isomers are reproduced well. The dipole moments, centrifugal distortion constants, vibrational frequencies and isotope shifts also agree satisfactorily with observed values. The fully optimized structures of rotamers corresponding to intermediate values of internal rotation around the N-O bond have been calculated to investigate structural changes during internal rotation. The considerable changes show the strong influence of π electron delocalization in the planar forms. The barrier is calculated to be 8.7 kcal mol −1 in reasonable agreement with experimental values. Both the cis and trans barriers are calculated to be attractive dominant in contradiction to earlier work.
Standardizing the Formal Elements Art Therapy Scale (FEATS) rotation scale with computerized technology: A pilot study

Abstract The Formal Elements Art Therapy Scale (FEATS) Rating Manual includes a rotation scale to measure the angle or tilt of objects, such as a tree or a person, in drawings. Rotation has been shown to be an important criterion in distinguishing certain patient groups, such as schizophrenia and organic brain disorders. However, this FEATS scale has been traditionally difficult to score accurately by human raters. This difficulty is due in part to the lack of standardization of the rotation scale in the FEATS manual. The present study is an initial step toward standardizing rotation in the FEATS through the use of computer tools. Mental health workers using the computer (“human-computer”) (n = 2) and mental workers not using a computer (“human”) (n = 7) rated angles from Person Picking an Apple from a Tree (PPAT) drawings completed by individuals with schizophrenia (n = 2). Inter-rater Kappa was higher for human-computer raters (.67, p
Adam Smith and White-Collar Crime: Some Research Themes

The allegation often made in regard to studies of white-collar crime is that they tend to take the form of unrelated case materials devoid of hypotheses or theory. This article suggests that the radical criminologists fail to come to grips with this issue because of preconceived ideas about the relationship of economic structure and upper-world criminal activity. The works of Adam Smith offer a number of interesting propositions that can form a framework for empirical investigation in the area of white-collar crime. Smith's most fundamental hypothesis was that there would be an increase in violations by persons in power if there was interference with what he designated as pure capitalism.
Promoter-selective transcriptional defect in cell cycle mutant ts13 rescued by hTAFII250

The TAFII250 subunit of the human transcription factor IID (TFIID) rescues the temperature-sensitive hamster cell line ts13 and overcomes a G1 arrest. Investigation of the transcriptional properties of ts13 nuclear extracts in vitro showed that activation by the site-specific regulators Sp1 and Gal4VP16 is temperature sensitive in ts13 extracts, whereas basal transcription remains unaffected. This transcriptional defect can be rescued by purified human TFIID or by expression of wild-type TAFII250 in ts13 cells. Expression from the cyclin A but not c-fos promoter is temperature sensitive in these mutant cells. Thus, the mutation in TAFII250 appears to have gene-specific effects that may lead to the ts13 cell cycle phenotype.
Grain size dependence of the twin length fraction in nanocrystalline Cu thin films via transmission electron microscopy based orientation mapping

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) based orientation mapping has been used to measure the length fraction of coherent and incoherent Σ3 grain boundaries in a series of six nanocrystalline Cu thin films with thicknesses in the range of 26–111 nm and grain sizes from 51 to 315 nm. The films were annealed at the same temperature (600 °C) for the same length of time (30 min), have random texture, and vary only in grain size and film thickness. A strong grain size dependence of Σ3 (coherent and incoherent) and coherent Σ3 boundary fraction was observed. The experimental results are quantitatively compared with three physical models for the formation of annealing twins developed for microscale materials. The experimental results for the nanoscale Cu films are found to be in good agreement with the two microscale models that explain twin formation as a growth accident process.
Ice loss rates at the Northern Patagonian Icefield derived using a decade of satellite remote sensing

Abstract We use a satellite-based survey of glacier surface elevation changes, speeds and surface melt conditions between 2000 and 2011 to quantify mass loss from the Northern Patagonian Icefield (NPI), Chile. A history of ice elevation change is found by differencing ASTER Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) relative to a void-filled version of the DEM collected by the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) in February 2000. Thinning rates have accelerated at lower elevations, while above the Equilibrium Line Altitude (ELA) recent thinning rates are not significantly different from those observed in previous studies. A volumetric change of − 4.06 ± 0.11 km 3 /yr is found by summing surface elevation changes over all glaciers in the NPI. This is regarded as a lower bound because volume loss due to frontal retreat and sub-aqueous melting is not included. This volume change is converted to a mass loss of 3.40 ± 0.07 Gt/yr, taking into account density differences above and below the equilibrium line. We find that the NPI is providing at least 0.009 ± 0.0002 mm/yr to ongoing sea level change, in agreement with previous estimates. Sub-pixel offset tracking of ASTER image pairs is used to produce glacier displacements over intervals typically ranging from 6 days to 18 months. The first whole icefield composite velocity map is presented. The terminus of the San Rafael Glacier, on the western side of the NPI sustained a peak calving front speed of 19.7 ± 1.2 m/day for 7 days in the austral fall of 2007. Passive microwave observations indicate that the surface of the accumulation basin of the glacier was wet during this period of rapid motion, suggesting that the fast speed may be a consequence of a rise in sub-glacial water pressure, sourced from melt or rainwater making its way to the glacier bed and reducing basal friction. Several other outlet glaciers, including the Benito and HPN1 glaciers, on the isolated western side of the icefield accelerated while thinning between 2007 and 2011. Marked acceleration also occurred after 2007 at the front of the San Quintin Glacier, the largest outlet glacier of the NPI. The paucity of thickness measurements at the outlet glaciers means it is impossible to accurately gauge the mass flux of the icefield and thus give a full estimate of the mass balance.
Surface Equation of State for Insoluble Surfactant Monolayers at the Air/Water Interface

A surface equation of state is derived and used to interpret the liquid-expanded (LE)−liquid-condensed (LC) phase transition. The monolayer is treated as a two-dimensional mixture consisting of LC domains, disordered molecules in the LE state, and free sites. The free sites are assumed to have two-dimensional size only and to be located at the internal surface between the headgroups and the tails of the surfactant. They are introduced to account for the translational freedom of the domains and of the disordered molecules on the surface. The model can explain the nonhorizontal LE/LC phase transition and its dependence on temperature. In addition, the equilibrium radius and equilibrium area fraction of the domains are calculated as a function of the average molecular surface area (A). In the absence of domains, the surface equation of state reduces to a modified two-dimensional van der Waals equation. The dependence of the surface cohesion pressure on the molecular surface area A is calculated by including ...
The Effect of Phenergan on Tetanus Spore Infection

Although it had been reported that the antihistamine Phenergan increases the spread of bacterial and viral infections in the host, such an effect was not observed in tetanus infection after the administration of Phenergan. Antihistamines such as Phenergan appear not to produce any marked increase in tetanus fatalities or symptoms, even though they cause spreading of the microorganisms.
A PRELIMINARY FRAMEWORK FOR EXPLAINING THE "SUCCESS" OF THE INTERNATIONAL VENTURES OF SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED COMPANIES

Japanese small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have invested abroad increasingly in recent years. This research reports on their experiences based on interviews with senior managers of ten SMEs drawn from a range of industries. It demonstrates that the success of SMEs' international ventures is jeopardized by serious problems in their foreign operations owing to a number of strategic and environmental factors. These problems are described, categorized and analyzed. Recommendations are made for guiding SMEs in avoiding such problems. A preliminary framework is developed to bring together the factors that affect success of SMEs' international ventures to guide future research.
New Challenges and Opportunities for Institutional Researchers in Assessment and Accreditation

Increased focus on assessment of student learning in the accreditation of higher education institutions offers new, challenging opportunities for institutional researchers. This article explores how institutional researchers can maximize these opportunities by offering methodological guidance in the assessment process and by designing new studies to produce assessment results. The article discusses the importance of methodological expertise, highlights the relevance of lessons learned from assessment literature, and provides a model for designing studies relevant for assessment.
1-bit walker recognition with distributed binary pyroelectric sensors

This paper presents a wireless compressive pyroelectric sensor system for walker recognition. The research aims to make wireless distributed pyroelectric sensors a low-cost, low-data-throughput alternative to the expensive infrared video sensors in behavioral biometric applications. The compressive measurements are achieved by using both (1) non-uniform sensor sampling structures and (2) random projection based sensing protocols. As a result, the gait biometric feature can be represented by a 1-bit data stream. Both decentralized and centralized data fusion schemes are developed to improve the recognition speed and accuracy. A prototype of wireless pyroelectric sensor system has been developed to demonstrate the discrimination capability of the proposed 1-bit walker recognition system for a small group of subjects.
A randomized clinical trial of remission induction, consolidation, and chemo-immunotherapy maintenance in adult acute myeloblastic leukemia

The Southeastern Cancer Study Group conducted a randomized clinical trial in acute myeloblastic leukemia and the blastic phase of chronic myelocytic leukemia to compare: Two induction programs (Schedule A) cytosine arabinoside and 6-thioguanine or (Schedule B) cytosine arabinoside, 6-thioguanine and daunorubicin; two consolidation programs (Schedule C) continuation of induction programs at a reduced dose or (Schedule D) a combination of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and vincristine; and two maintenance programs — (Schedule E) 1 month of BCG, followed by methotrexate or (Schedule F) methotrexate. Over a 3 year period 372 patients were entered and 295 were judged evaluable. None of 11 patients with blastic phase of chronic myelocytic leukemia responded. There were no significant differences between the schedules in the number of patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia achieving complete remissions (37%, Schedule A vs. 41% Schedule B). The relapse rates on consolidation were similar (43%, Schedule C and 39%, Schedule D). BCG significantly prolonged the duration of first remission following consolidation (P<0.05) from 13.0–23.9 weeks. Survival was not significantly prolonged (92.7 weeks vs. 71.7 weeks). There were no serious complications from BCG therapy.
The Changing Structure of U.S. Agriculture: Dualism Out, Industrialism In

Between 1982 and 1992, trends in farm structural change resumed patterns that had existed from the Great Depression to the 1970s. That is, farms became fewer and larger. By 1992, the number of American farms declined below two million for the first time since the Civil War. Also, the trend toward dualism noted in the 1970s is over, as the number of small farms again declined rapidly during the 1980s. The trend toward large-scale agriculture is most prominent in the most important agricultural counties.
Goal-Striving Stress and Racial Differences in Mental Health

This study investigated the associations among goal-striving stress, racial related stressors, and mental health. Goal-striving stress was defined as the discrepancy between aspiration for and achievement of a better way of life, weighted by the subjective probability of success, and the level of disappointment experienced if those life goals were not realized. Data are from the National Survey of American Life’s African American (N = 3,570) and non-Hispanic white (N = 891) adult samples. Regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between goal-striving stress and five mental health outcomes: happiness, life satisfaction, self-esteem, psychological distress, and depressive symptoms. After controlling for socio-demographic factors, a personal problems checklist, and racial discrimination, goal-striving stress was significantly related to all mental health measures such that as goal-striving stress increased, mental health worsened. Additionally, the relationship of goal-striving stress to mental health was found to be conditional upon race. Specifically, goal-striving stress had a stronger effect among white Americans than African Americans. Goal-striving stress was associated differentially with lower levels of mental health for black and white Americans. Racial differences in the impact of goal-striving stress suggest a need for analyses exploring resilience and coping in relation to the impact of goal-striving stress on black–white differences in mental health.
Evaluating fifth- and sixth-grade students’ expository writing: task development, scoring, and psychometric issues

Drawing from multiple theoretical frameworks representing cognitive and educational psychology, we present a writing task and scoring system for measurement of students’ informative writing. Participants in this study were 72 fifth- and sixth-grade students who wrote compositions describing real-world problems and how mathematics, science, and social studies information could be used to solve those problems. Of the 72 students, 69 were able to craft a cohesive response that not only demonstrated planning in writing structure but also elaboration of relevant knowledge in one or more domains. Many-facet Rasch Modeling (MFRM) techniques were used to examine the reliability and validity of scores for the writing rating scale. Additionally, comparison of fifth- and sixth-grade responses supported the validity of scores, as did the results of a correlational analysis with scores from an overall interest measure. Recommendations for improving writing scoring systems based on the findings of this investigation are provided.
Inhibition of glucose transport by benzoquinone and the addition product of benzoquinone and dithiothreitol

Hydroxylated benzene derivatives inhibited transport of d-glucose into calf-thymocyte plasma-membrane vesicles. The relative effectiveness of these was pyrogallol >hydroquinone ≅ catechol ⪢ phloroglucinol. The most thoroughly studied of these agents, hydroquinone, produced weak, immediate inhibition when first added to membranes (Ki > 10 mM). This was followed by a gradual, time-dependent inhibition of the residual transport activity. The instantaneous inhibition could not be prevented by any agent tested, whereas the time-dependent phase was affected by reducing agents and superoxide dismutase. Several reducing agents (dithiothreitol, glutathione, NADH, ascorbate, bisulfite but not cysteine) prevented, while superoxide dismutase and cysteine potentiated time-dependent inhibition when added to the membrane suspension simultaneously with hydroquinone. NADH and ascorbate also prevented, whereas dithiothreitol potentiated, further time-dependent inhibition when added to membranes 2 h after hydroquinone. In contrast, all three reducing agents arrested time-dependent inhibition when added 2 h after pyrogallol. Numerous agents had no effect on time-dependent hydroquinone inhibition: oxidants (H2O2), metal chelators (EDTA, bathophenanthroline disulfonate, Desferral), radical scavengers (benzoate, ethanol), anti-oxidants (butylated hydroxytoluene) and catalase. Benzoquinone, an oxidation product of hydroquinone, was a much more potent inhibitor (Ki ≅ 1 mM) than hydroquinone. Several reducing agents (ascorbate, NADH, bisulfite) prevented this effect, while cysteine and dithiothreitol potentiated it. Below 300 μM, benzoquinone had little or no effect on sugar transport with or without glutathione or cysteine. Addition of dithiothreitol to benzoquinone (10–300 μM) resulted in potent inhibition of sugar transport (Ki ≅ 50 μM). Maximal inhibition occurred with a 1 : 1 mol ratio of these agents or with excess dithiothreitol. The inhibitory agent from benzoquinone and dithiothreitol lost potency in the presence of air and membranes, but was stable for hours in the presence of either of these alone. dl-threo-1,4-bis(2,5-dihydroxyphenylthio)-2,3-butanediol was obtained from the reaction of equimolar quantities of dithiothreitol and benzoquinone in ethanol. The structure of this adduct was established by spectroscopic and chemical methods. This compound exhibited all of the properties of the inhibitor which had been formed from benzoquinone and dithiothreitol in aqueous solution.
The Interaction of Childhood Height and Childhood BMI in the Prediction of Young Adult BMI

The purpose of this study was to examine the interaction of childhood height and childhood BMI in the prediction of young adult BMI. The 2,802 subjects in this study were from the Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health (CATCH). The subjects' heights and weights were measured in 3rd grade (mean age 8.7 years) and again in 12th grade (mean age 18.3 years). The associations and interactions between height (cm) and BMI (kg/m(2)) were assessed using mixed linear regression models with adult BMI as the dependent variable. We found a significant interaction between childhood height and childhood BMI in the prediction of adult BMI (P < 0.0001). Stratification by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reference quintiles revealed that a positive association between childhood height and adult BMI existed only for those subjects in the top quintile of childhood BMI, within whom predicted adult BMI ranged from 27.5 (95% confidence interval = 26.4-28.6) for those in the shortest height quintile to 30.2 (95% confidence interval = 29.7-30.6) for those in the highest height quintile. Among children with high BMI levels, those who were taller, as compared to those who were shorter, had significantly higher young adult BMI levels. This pattern seems primarily due to the positive association of childhood height and childhood BMI. Clinicians should recognize the risk of excess body weight in young adulthood for all children who have a high BMI, and pay special attention to those who are tall, because their childhood height will not protect them from subsequent weight gain and elevated BMI.
The penetration of local anesthetics into the red blood cell membrane as studied by fluorescence quenching.

Abstract The local anesthetics procaine and tetracaine were found to quench the fluorescence of the probes N -octadecyl naphthyl-2-amine 6-sulfonic acid and 12-(9-anthroyl)stearic acid in the presence of erythrocyte membranes. This quenching was shown to be due to the aromatic amine of the procaine and tetracaine molecules. Lidocaine, an active anesthetic that does not contain an aromatic amine in the same position as does procaine and tetracaine did not quench either of the fluorophores. The preferential quenching of the fluorescent probes by procaine and tetracaine indicated a greater accessibility of tetracaine than of procaine to the hydrocarbon region of the membrane and a greater accessibility of procaine than of tetracaine at the membrane's surface. The addition of calcium was found to reverse the quenching of 12-(9-anthroyl)stearic acid by tetracaine in the presence of red cell membranes.
Direct Sums of Self-Small Mixed Groups

Abstract The class G of self-small mixed abelian groups of finite rank has recently been the focus of a number of investigations. It is known that, up to quasi-isomorphism, G is dual to the category of locally free torsion-free abelian groups of finite rank. We utilize the reduced mixed groups in G as building blocks of a more extensive class ∑ G , the smallest class containing the reduced groups in G that is closed under taking infinite direct sums and direct summands. Our central result is the determination of a complete set of isomorphism invariants for the groups in ∑ G . We supplement this broad classification theorem with an investigation of the fine structure of completely decomposable groups in ∑ G .
Structural instabilities in superconducting cuprates

Abstract Investigations of the crystal chemistry of the family of superconducting cuprates has yielded a rich harvest of crystallographic structures. Further investigation has revealed that many of the structures undergo small distortions which are manifested in a variety of ways. For example, the tetragonal-to-orthorhombic transformations observed in the Y-Ba-Cu-O and La-Sr-Cu-O systems are due respectively to oxygen vacancy ordering and rotation of the CuO6 octahedra. The incommensurate periodicities observed in the Bi-Ca-Sr-Cu-O and Tl-Ba-Ca-Cu-O systems are due to displacements associated with the heavy cations. The commensurate periodicities observed in Gd2CuO4 and other lanthanide cuprates are also probably due to displacements of the rare earth ions. On the other hand, commensurate structures in reduced Y-Ba-Cu-O are due to oxygen vacancy ordering. These various structural instabilities are discussed in terms of structural nuances in the perovskite family.
Spindle-cell variant of squamous carcinoma. A light and electron microscopic study of 13 cases.

Thirteen spindle-cell tumors of the upper respiratory tract, oral cavity, and skin of face have been studied with light and electron microscopy. Five were primary neoplasms, and 8 had recurred following radiation therapy. The primary lesions were superficially located, and, in light microscopic sections, sites of apparent continuity between tumor and overlying epithelium were observed. The electron micrographs demonstrated the presence in many tumor cells of aggregates of keratohyaline and slender bundles of tonofilaments, and occasional premelanosomes were seen. Desmosomes were present, but were few in number and poorly developed. No evidence could be found to support the concept of malignant connective tissue component. Findings justify designation of this group of tumors as spindle-cell variants of squamous carcinomas.
Polymorphisms in the maternal sex steroid pathway are associated with behavior problems in male offspring.

Objective Slight perturbations in maternal sex steroid production and metabolism may interfere with normal fetal neurodevelopment. The balance of maternal estrogens and androgens may have direct fetal effects, may influence the fetal hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis, or may alter local hormonal activity within the fetal brain. We investigated maternal functional polymorphisms of CYP17, CYP19, and CYP1B1, which control three major enzymatic steps in sex steroid biosynthesis and metabolism, in relation to childhood behaviors. Methods The Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Study enrolled a multiethnic urban pregnancy cohort from 1998 to 2002 (n=404). DNA was obtained from maternal blood (n=149) and from neonatal cord blood (n=53). At each visit, mothers completed the Behavior Assessment System for Children, a parent-reported questionnaire used to evaluate children for behavior problems. We focused on problem behaviors more commonly associated with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (Hyperactivity, Attention Problems, Externalizing Behaviors, Conduct Disorder, Poor Adaptability) to determine whether maternal genetic variants in sex steroid production and metabolism influence sexually dimorphic behaviors in offspring. Results The more active gene variants were significantly associated with Attention Problems and poorer Adaptive Skills in male compared with female offspring. The CYP19 variant allele was also significantly associated with worse scores for boys on the Hyperactivity, Externalizing Problems Composite, and Adaptive Skills Composite scales (P Conclusion We observed maladaptive behaviors in the male offspring of mothers who carried functional polymorphisms in the sex steroid pathway. The strongest associations were in domains commonly affected in attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder.
Predation and associational refuge drive ontogenetic niche shifts in an arctiid caterpillar

Despite the ubiquity of ontogenetic niche shifts, their drivers and consequences are poorly understood. Different nutritional requirements and stage-specific physiological limitations have often been offered as explanations for these life history features, but emerging work has demonstrated that top-down factors may also be important. We studied the roles of predation and associational refuge in ontogenetic niche shifts for a holometabolous insect (Platyprepia virginalis), which shifts habitats and host plants to pupate. We examined the effect of pupation site selection across habitats and host plants by late-instar caterpillars on the rate of predation during the relatively vulnerable pupal stage. Studying the ontogenetic transition from mobile caterpillar to non-feeding, sessile pupa allows isolation of top-down effects from bottom-up, nutritional effects. An observational study supported previous findings that feeding caterpillars preferred marsh habitats, but pupating caterpillars preferred prairie habitats. Experiments demonstrated that caterpillars preferred to pupate within a physically defended plant species. Pupation within this defended plant species resulted in reduced predation (an associational refuge), and removal of the physical defense structures negated the reduced-predation effect. This experiment shows that ontogenetic niche shifts can be driven by predation and can involve facilitation by a host plant that provides a refuge to predation. The co-option of plant chemical defenses by animals is widely established. However, finding a clear example in which an animal exploits a plant's physical defense is rare, especially in the context of ontogenetic niche shifts. This work shows that facilitation mediated by refuge from predation provided by host plants and life-stage-dependent predation risk can interact to shape species' distributions.
Differential actions on voluntary alcohol intake of tetrahydroisoquinolines or a β-carboline infused chronically in the ventricle of the rat

Abstract The alcohol drinking pattern of rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain was determined initially in a free-choice situation where water was offered simultaneously with a solution of alcohol, which was increased in concentration from 3 to 30% over a 12-day interval. A special cannula for the chronic infusion of drugs was implanted subsequently in the lateral cerebral ventricle of each animal. Then, one of four tetrahydroisoquinolines (TIQ) or a β-carboline (tryptoline) was infused directly into the ventricle in a dose ranging from 0.0004–4.0 μg per 4.0 μl. Each amine-aldehyde metabolite, dissolved in a CSF vehicle, was delivered over a 58 sec interval avery 30 min around the clock throughout a second 12-day alcohol preference test. Control infusions of CSF failed to alter the typical aversion to alcohol exhibited by this strain. TIQ itself, infused similarly into the brain, was also without effect. The chronic intraventricular infusion of 1-methyl-3-carboxy-6,7-dihydroxy-TIQ (1M-3C-6,7DHTIQ) or 4,6,7-trihydroxy-TIQ (4,6,7 THTIQ) produced only a moderate increase in voluntary alcohol intake in terms of both the proportion measure and absolute grams of alcohol ingested. However, salsolinol, 6-methoxy-4,7-dihydroxy-TIQ (6M-4,7 DHTIQ) and tryptoline all evoked a significant enhancement in the rats' alcohol preference within 2 to 6 days of the start of the infusions. When a solution of alcohol was offered to the rats in the upper range of concentrations, (i.e., 11 to 30%) the amount of alcohol consumed often reached 10 g per kg per day and in some animals exceeded 15 g per kg per day. Symptoms of intoxication and withdrawal were noted in many of the animals during the course of the infusion of a TIQ or β-carboline. Upon retest for alcohol preference 30 days later, the rats' exagerated self-selection of alcohol persisted even though the chronic infusions of the amine metabolite had ceased. These findings provide further support for the theory that a family of specific alkaloid conjugates acting within the brain are involved in the etiology of the abnormal drinking of alcohol.
A label-free cell separation using surface acoustic waves

We present two-stage microfluidic platform for a continuous label-free cell separation using surface acoustic waves. In the proposed platform, cells are first lined up at the center of the channel by using standing surface acoustic waves without introducing any external sheath flow. After focused at the center of the channel, the cells are then entered to the actual cell separation stage where the larger cell are exposed to more lateral displacement in the channel towards the pressure node due to the acoustic force differences. Consequently, different size cells are separated into multiple collection outlets. The focusing and separation of the cells can be accomplished simultaneously in the present two-stage microfluidic device. The device doesn't require the use of the sheath flow for positioning or aligning of cells. In this study, we demonstrated the separation of two different size particle streams (3μm and 10μm) with this microfluidic platform without introducing any external sheath flow.
A MULTI-CLASS SUPPORT VECTOR MACHINE: THEORY AND MODEL

A multi-class support vector machine (M-SVM) is developed, its dual is derived, its dual is mapped to high dimensional feature spaces using inner product kernels, and its performance is tested. The M-SVM is formulated as a quadratic programming model. Its dual, also a quadratic programming model, is very elegant and is easier to solve than the primal. The discriminant functions can be directly constructed from the dual solution. By using inner product kernels, the M-SVM can be built and nonlinear discriminant functions can be constructed in high dimensional feature spaces without carrying out the mappings from the input space to the feature spaces. The size of the dual, measured by the number of variables and constraints, is independent of the dimension of the input space and stays the same whether the M-SVM is built in the input space or in a feature space. Compared to other models published in the literature, this M-SVM is equally or more effective. An example is presented to demonstrate the dual formulation and solution in feature spaces. Very good results were obtained on benchmark test problems from the literature.
Anisotropy of Scintillation Response of Anthracene to Neutron Generated Recoil Protons and Carbon Ions

The directional anisotropy in the scintillation response of an anthracene crystal to heavy charged particles was investigated. Energetic carbon and hydrogen ions were produced internally by scattering fast neutrons from the constituent nuclei. By use of a two detector coincidence system, the scintillations due to monoenergetic ions recoiling in a particular direction were selected and analyzed. The energies of the ions ranged from 2 to 3.5 MeV for the carbon recoils and from .9 to 7.3 MeV for the hydrogen recoils. Even though there was a wide variation in the average specific energy loss of the heavy charged particles considered, the magnitude of the anisotropy only varied between 39% for the carbon recoils and 20% for the 7.3 MeV hydrogen recoils. The measured hydrogen ion response in a particular direction as a function of energy was found to be approximately described by the formula suggested by Birks, dL/dE = (1 + kBdE/dx)-1, with kB being directionally dependent. The directional carbon ion response appeared to be a linear function of energy over the energy range investigated.
Can Paramedics Read ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction on Prehospital 12-Lead Electrocardiograms?

Introduction. Activation of the cardiac catheterization laboratory prior to patient arrival at the hospital, based on a prehospital 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), reduces door-to-balloon time by 10–55 minutes for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). In emergency medical services (EMS) systems where transmission of the ECG to the emergency department (ED) is not feasible, the ability of paramedics to accurately read 12-lead ECGs is crucial to the success of a prehospital catheterization laboratory activation program. Objective. To determine whether paramedics can accurately diagnose STEMI on a prehospital 12-lead ECG anddecide to activate the cardiac catheterization laboratory appropriately. Methods. Five chest pain scenarios were generated, with standardized prehospital ECGs accompanying each: three STEMI cases that should result in catheterization laboratory activation andtwo non-STEMI cases that should not. A convenience sample of paramedics in an urban/suburban EMS system...
When the Customer Bites: What Happens to Customer Service Employees?

The article discusses research pertaining to the impact of aggressive customer behavior on customer service employees. Researchers discovered that employees high in a personality disposition known as “negative affectivity” were more likely to report a higher number of hostile callers. People high in negative affectivity are known to experience more anger, fear, and nervousness across situations. The research also revealed that Hispanic employees reported a higher incidence of hostile callers than their non-Hispanic counterparts.
Surgical Closure of the Ductus Arteriosus in Premature Infants

During a 62-month period patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) was diagnosed in 88 premature infants with birth weights less than 1750 g. Twenty-one of these infants required operative closure of the PDA. Six infants had uncontrolled heart failure without associated pulmonary disease. Fifteen infants had severe idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS) and required operation for deteriorating pulmonary function when heart failure developed. Twelve of these 15 infants weighed less than 1250 g at birth. The ductus arteriosus was ligated in 19 patients and was divided in two patients. The six infants without IRDS survived, and four are completely normal. Of 15 infants with IRDS eight had steady improvement in pulmonary function after operation. Three of these eight patients eventually died. In three infants pulmonary function improved slowly and in two patients pulmonary function did not improve after operation; all of these patients eventually died. Two patients died of peritonitis secondary to bowel ischemi...
Nanoimprinting lithography of a two-layer phase mask for three-dimensional photonic structure holographic fabrications via single exposure

We report a combined holographic and nanoimprinting lithography technique to produce three-dimensional woodpile photonic crystal templates through only one single exposure. The interference lithography process uses an integratable diffractive optical element for large throughout 3D pattern manufacturing. The diffractive optical element consists of two layers of phase grating separated by an intermediate layer, fabricated by repeated nanoimprinting lithography, followed by an SU8 photoresist bonding technique. Grating periods, relative orientation, diffraction angle, and efficiency, as well as layer to layer phase delay, are well designed during manufacturing. By thermally optimizing the thickness of the intermediate layer, this paper demonstrates the fabrication of interconnected 3D photonic structures with arbitrary symmetry through a single laser exposure. The two-layer phase mask approach enables a CMOS-compatible monolithic integration of 3D photonic structures with other integrated optical elements and waveguides.
Advisory group reports on silent myocardial ischemia, acute intervention after myocardial infarction, and postinfarction management

Abstract Three advisory groups of the Council for Myocardial ischemia and infarction regularly review currant knowledge concerning the following clinical contexts: silent ischemia, acute intervention, and postmyocardial infarction. This article represents the most recent findings of each Advisory Group—the areas of agreement and those of disagreement. What is emphasized here is that ongoing research is critical to refining the therapeutic approach to ischemia and the postmyocardial infarction patient. What seems rational is the stratification of patients into risk groups—high and low—that dictate whether intervention should be aggressive or conservative.
Skin picking behaviors: An examination of the prevalence and severity in a community sample

Body-focused repetitive behaviors such as skin picking have gained recent attention in the psychiatric literature. Prevalence of skin picking has not been well researched and is difficult to estimate; however, consequences of such behaviors can include severe medical complications and impaired social and occupational functioning. Given this, this study examined: (1) the prevalence and severity of skin picking in a nonclinical community sample, and (2) associations between skin picking and other measures of psychological functioning. Three hundred and fifty-four participants completed measures of psychological functioning and skin picking frequency and severity. A total of 62.7% endorsed some form of skin picking and 5.4% reported clinical levels of skin picking and associated distress/impact. Direct associations were found between skin picking and depressive, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, which may support the emotional regulation model of pathological skin picking. To establish proper diagnostic classification of pathological skin picking and optimize treatment planning and outcome, further investigation of functional relationships between skin picking and affective distress is needed.
Mitral annular nonplanarity: correlation between annular height/commissural width ratio and the nonplanarity angle.

Objective To compare two methods of mitral annular nonplanarity: the mathematically calculated annular height-to-commissural width ratio (AHCWR) and the echocardiographically derived nonplanarity angle. Design Prospective. Setting Tertiary care university hospital. Interventions Three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography. Participants Patients undergoing mitral valve surgery. Measurements and Main Results Using 3-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography, volumetric datasets were acquired from 22 patients undergoing mitral valve surgery. The intraoperative nonplanarity angle was calculated with Mitral Valve Assessment software (Tomtec GmbH, Munich, Germany). Furthermore, the datasets acquired during 3-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography were exported to Matlab software (MathWorks, Natick, MA), which was used to calculate the AHCWR. The nonplanarity angle was seen to correlate favorably with the AHCWR ( r = 0.70). Conclusions A favorable correlation was found between the nonplanarity angle and the AHCWR. This suggests that the nonplanarity angle can be used to assess mitral annular nonplanarity in a clinically feasible fashion.
SNARES in opposing bilayers interact in a circular array to form conducting pores

The process of fusion at the nerve terminal is mediated via a specialized set of proteins in the synaptic vesicles and the presynaptic membrane. Three soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF)-attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) have been implicated in membrane fusion. The structure and arrangement of these SNAREs associated with lipid bilayers were examined using atomic force microscopy. A bilayer electrophysiological setup allowed for measurements of membrane conductance and capacitance. Here we demonstrate that the interaction of these proteins to form a fusion pore is dependent on the presence of t-SNAREs and v-SNARE in opposing bilayers. Addition of purified recombinant v-SNARE to a t-SNARE-reconstituted lipid membrane increased only the size of the globular t-SNARE oligomer without influencing the electrical properties of the membrane. However when t-SNARE vesicles were added to a v-SNARE membrane, SNAREs assembles in a ring pattern and a stepwise increase in capacitance, and increase in conductance were observed. Thus, t- and v-SNAREs are required to reside in opposing bilayers to allow appropriate t-/v-SNARE interactions leading to membrane fusion.
Peptide sequences that target proteins for lysosomal degradation

Abstract It may be possible to design novel drug targeting strategies based on pathways by which cells target proteins to particular intracellular organelles. Cells use information in the structure of a protein in order to target it to its proper intracellular location. There is growing evidence that structural features of proteins also target them for particular degradative pathways within cells. Our focus of attention is a lysosomal pathway of proteolysis that is selective for a particular group of cytosolic proteins. This pathway is activated when cells in culture are deprived of serum or when whole animals are starved, and proteins that enter lysosomes by this pathway contain peptide sequences related to Lys-Phe-Glu-Arg-Gln (KFERQ). Our recent evidence suggests that the pathway by which such proteins enter lysosomes for destruction involves the binding of a heat-shock 70 kDa-related protein to the KFERQ peptide region.
Microscopic studies of fluids in pores: Computer simulation and mean-field theory

The behavior of a simple model of a fluid confined to a single, infinitely long cylindrical pore is investigated by means of both a grand canonical Monte Carlo computer simulation and a mean-field theory. The theory is used to calculate the density profile of the fluid, as well as the grand potential of the system. The effect of the (size of the) pore radius as well as the temperature and pressure on the phase behavior of the fluid is studied in some detail, and the results are compared to those produced by related work in this field. The preliminary results from the simulation indicate that, in pores whose radii are a few molecular diameters in size, the fluid molecules tend to pack in cylindrically concentric shells about the axis of the pore.
Legume Forage Quality

Abstract Legume forage quality research is now concerned not only with nutritive value of forage for ruminant animals, but the impact of these nutrients on environmental quality. If we are to move to a more sustainable agriculture worldwide, more legumes must be incorporated into animal production systems. The goal of forage legume breeders is to tailor legume nutritive value to the needs of the consuming animals. A generalized priority list for legume nutritive value research includes high fiber digestibility, low anti-quality compounds, appropriate condensed tannins, reduced nonprotein nitrogen, and high sulfur amino acids. Although breeders have regularly found a wide range in forage quality within a given legume species, very few varieties with proven forage quality advantages have been released. Yield and persistence issues have dominated forage legume breeding. Improvement in forage quality often is linked to a reduction in yield and/or persistence, and also frequently results in complex genotype X ...