cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Weight of the Moment: J. G. A. Pocock's Politics of History

Summary One of the great intellectual productions of the postwar period, J. G. A. Pocock's The Machiavellian Moment was also an intervention in the American polity of the 1970s. The book's content, its rhetorical style, its methodology, and even its physical printed form were all designed to effectuate a political gesture. The crises of 1968 to 1973 invalidated the optimistic liberalism of Pocock's academic circle. The history of political language offered a refuge and a programmatic foundation for Pocock's pragmatic conservatism. The Machiavellian Moment was designed to reinforce the weight of tradition in contemporary political debate.
Condorcet's paradox

Elections and Voting Paradoxes.- Condorcet's Paradox.- The Cases of Two and Three Candidates.- The Case of More than Three Candidates.- The Impact of Societal Factors.- The Impact of Coherent Preferences.- Individual Intransitivity.
Item bias in a test of reading comprehension

The possibility that certain features of items on a reading comprehension test may lead to biased esti mates of the reading achievement of particular sub groups of students was investigated. Eight nonover lapping subgroups of students were defined by the combinations of three factors: student grade level (fifth or sixth), income level of the neighborhood in which the school was located (low and middle or above), and race of the student (black or white). Es timates of student ability and item parameters were obtained separately for each of the eight subgroups using the three-parameter logistic model. Bias in dices were computed based on differences in item characteristic curves for pairs of subgroups. A cri terion for labeling an item as biased was developed using the distribution of bias indices for subgroups of the same race that differed only in income level or grade level. Using this criterion, three items were consistently identified as biased in four independent comparisons of subgroups of black and ...
Planning, acting, and sensor fusion

Abstract An intelligent agent must understand its sur-roundings by integrating sensory data from many sources over time. This integration typi-cally consists of processing raw data into ab- stract models that fuse the data from manysensors into a consistent interpretation. This process is often quite complex when attemptedwith raw data because noise, uncertainty, and missing information create ambiguities that cannot be resolved until after an interpretationis chosen. The very same problems exist in gen-erating a consistent interpretation of data overtime, in particular, identifying an object as hay- ing been "seen" before. This paper suggeststhat sensor interpretation and model building are active processes driven by an agent's goals, and that many sensor fusion issues are really issues in planning and acting. An object identi-fication system based on consciously gatheringappropriate new data is presented as an exam-pie of doing active task directed data fusion. 1 Introduction
Conflict Frames and the Use of Deception: Are Competitive Negotiators Less Ethical?

This article examines the relationship among conflict orientation, competitive bargaining, and unethical behavior. We report results from a negotiation study (N= 111 dyads) involving a 7-action prisoner's dilemma. We coded participants’ conflict frames and their use of both competitive ethical tactics and deception. Our results demonstrate that negotiators’ conflict frames influence the use of both types of behavior. While prior work has conceptualized competitive ethical tactics as distinct from unethical tactics (e.g., deception), our results suggest that in practice negotiators who adopt a competitive orientation use both types of tactics in tandem. We also examine the influence of deception on the bargaining process and outcomes. We find that the use of deception significantly distorts targets’ beliefs, influences targets’ decisions, increases deceivers’ profits, and harms targets’ profits. We discuss theoretical implications of these results and offer prescriptions for curtailing deception.
Temperature dependence of electric field effects on Na,K-ATPase

Abstract We have shown that the effect of alternating currents (a.c.) on Na,K-ATPase varies with temperature, and that the observations can be explained by assuming a simple theoretical model of changes in the ion binding to the activation sites due to an imposed alternating electric field. Previous observations showing that the effect of an electric field on the enzyme can lead to either an enhancement or a decrease in enzyme activity, depending upon the initial activity, also appears to be true when the enzyme activity is varied by changing the temperature. This suggests very strongly that the mechanism of action of a.c. is the result of changing in ion binding and not changes in lipid phase structure.
Russian and US Missile Defenses: Continuing Contention or Possible Progress?

Abstract The United States and Russia can, and should, get on with the business of reducing their numbers of deployed strategic nuclear weapons. Missile defenses planned for deployment by the United States in Eastern Europe have provoked energetic Russian skepticism. But Russian and American interests lie in cooperation on missile defense, as well as on nonproliferation and offensive arms limitations.
An algorithm for joint guidance and power control for electric vehicles in the smart grid

A massive amount of energy consumption currently stems from the transportation sector. Therefore, improvements in power usage by commuting vehicles are being studied and becoming an increasingly popular research topic. In particular, there is a growing need to model the envisioned smart infrastructure, including charging stations, some of which might include energy storage devices and swappable, pre-charged batteries. For such new stations, power management is indeed crucial for operation costs, driver convenience, and overall smart grid efficiency. Information technology, communications and vehicle intelligence need to play a crucial role in this process. In this paper, we describe a quantitative model and propose a guiding and control system for the charging of PHEVs in a future smart infrastructure. Specifically, we describe an algorithm that can be used for the joint guidance and power control of smarter electric vehicles in the smart grid. We envision it as part of a larger Smart Guide for the Smart Grid (SGSG) system. Its function is to guide PHEV drivers, directing them to the appropriate charging station, while attempting to achieve an optimization goal at the same time. Our algorithm aims at a joint guiding and power control, in order to heuristically maximize the weighted sum of the average of throughput and energy cost consumption from multiple vehicle charging stations, while satisfying a cost constraint at each station, as well as system stability.
Retinal pigment epithelium cell culture on thin biodegradable poly(DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid) films

Thin films of 50 : 50 and 75 : 25 poly(DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) were manufactured with a controlled thickness of less than 10 μm. The effect of PLGA copolymer ratio on in vitro cell attac...
Thermodynamics of the Ionization of Four Difluorobenzoic and Pentafluorobenzoic Acids in Water

Precision conductance measurements as a function of concentration and temperature between 0 and 100°C have been made for 2,3-, 2,5-, 3,4-, and 3,5-difluorobenzoic acids and pentafluorobenzoic acid in water. Standard state changes in enthalpy, entropy, and heat capacity as a function of temperature are reported for the ionization of these acids. Comparisons are made with other fluorobenzoic acids that have been reported earlier and with the corresponding methylbenzoic acids. The differences between the ionization of a fluorobenzoic acid and its counterpart methylbenzoic acid is almost entirely a difference in the entropies of ionization with only a small difference in the enthalpies of ionization. Each fluorine substituted in the meta or para position increases the entropy of ionization while substitution in the ortho position decreases the entropy. This is in contrast to the effect of methyl substitution where substitution in any position decreases the entropy of ionization. Walden products for the various anions follow the pattern found for the methylbenzoate anions with a sharp increase from 0 to about 30°C and with ortho substituted anions less mobile than those without ortho substitutents.
A chronically implantable, hybrid cannula-electrode device for assessing the effects of molecules on electrophysiological signals in freely behaving animals

We describe a device for assessing the effects of diffusible molecules on electrophysiological recordings from multiple neurons. This device allows for the infusion of reagents through a cannula located among an array of micro-electrodes. The device can easily be customized to target specific neural structures. It is designed to be chronically implanted so that isolated neural units and local field potentials are recorded over the course of several weeks or months. Multivariate statistical and spectral analysis of electrophysiological signals acquired using this system could quantitatively identify electrical “signatures” of therapeutically useful drugs.
The insulin/IGF-1 signaling in mammals and its relevance to human longevity

Hormones, like insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), are thought to be deeply involved with longevity. Lower species have been the source for most of our current knowledge on the role of the insulin/IGF-1 signaling in modulating lifespan. This hormonal system may have originated from a very early common ancestor and is involved in many functions that are necessary for metabolism, growth, and fertility in animal models like flies, nematodes and mammalians. Disruption of the insulin/IGF-1 receptor in nematodes and flies increases lifespan significantly. With evolution, mammals developed two well characterized hormonal systems: insulin and growth hormone (GH)/IGF-1, with different metabolic and developmental functions. Abnormalities in the insulin signaling pathway generate age-related diseases and increased mortality, whereas the GH/IGF-1 axis could potentially modulate longevity in many species. In this review we briefly describe the lifespan regulatory role of the insulin/IGF-1 signaling of nematodes, flies and rodent models and compare it with the human equivalent.
Structure of pericellular matrix around agarose-embedded chondrocytes.

Summary Objective Determine whether the structure of the type VI collagen component of the chondrocyte pericellular matrix (PCM) generated by agarose-embedded chondrocytes in culture is similar to that found in native articular cartilage. Methods Confocal microscopy, quick-freeze deep-etch electron microscopy, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to investigate temporal and spatial patterns of type VI collagen protein deposition and gene expression by bovine chondrocytes during 4 weeks of culture within a 2% agarose hydrogel. Similar analyses were performed on chondrocytes within samples of intact cartilage obtained from the same joint surfaces as those used for cell isolation for comparison. Results Type VI collagen accumulated uniformly around cells embedded in agarose, with the rate of deposition slowing after the second week. After 1 week, PCM fibrils were observed to be oriented perpendicular to the cell surface, in contrast with the primarily tangential fibrillar arrangement observed in native articular cartilage. Expression of col6 in agarose-embedded cells was initially much higher (∼400%) than that in chondrocytes within cartilage. Expression of col6 in the cultured chondrocytes declined by ∼60% after 1 week, and remained stable thereafter. Conclusions PCM structure and composition around cells in a hydrogel scaffold may be different than that in native cartilage, with potential implications for mass transport, mechanotransduction, and ultimately, the success of tissue engineering approaches.
Room-temperature Chemical Vapor Deposition of Aluminum and Aluminum Oxides on Alkanethiolate Self-Assembled Monolayers

We have investigated the reaction of trimethylaluminum (TMA) with −CH3, −OH, and −COOH terminated self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) adsorbed on Au, using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. TMA is a well-known atomic layer deposition precursor that is employed commercially to deposit compound semiconductors, alumina, and nitrides. We demonstrate that TMA can be employed to deposit both alumina and aluminum on SAMs at room temperature. TMA reacts with −OH and −COOH terminated SAMs to form a surface-bound dimethyl aluminum complex but does not react with −CH3 terminal groups. If deposition is performed in a nitrogen-purged glovebox, an alumina film is grown on −CH3, −OH and −COOH terminated SAMs. The alumina film can be removed from −CH3 terminated SAMs by rinsing with organic solvents. However if the base pressure of the deposition chamber is below 10-8 Torr, a metallic Al overlayer is selectively deposited on −OH and −COOH terminated SAMs, and no reaction is...
New agents for the inhibition of HIV replication.

Reprinted with permission from www.hivresistance.com (May 1, 2000). S everal groups are in the process of developing new drugs that inhibit the entry of HIV into cells as well as the integration of HIV into genomic DNA. Unfortunately for many of our most desperate patients, such agents are not yet ready for prime time. Perhaps the most promising of these compounds are two oral drugs, one from Schering-Plough and one from Merck. These candidates both inhibit the binding of HIV to CCR5 on monocytes and T-cells. According to Baroudy and colleagues at Schering, their lead candidate for an inhibitor blocks CCR5 dependent entry, is orally bioavailable, has a favorable pharmacokinetic profile in animals, and does not inhibit cytochrome p450.1 Early phase I trials are planned for later this year. It is important to point out that the development of both of these agents is unlikely to be affected by the wholesale licensing of life as we know it by Human Genome Sciences and other pathetic corporate denizens. Research also continues on antibody-based approaches to entry blocking (PRO 140) and fusion inhibitors (T-20 and bicyclams). Trkola and colleagues at the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center and researchers at Progenics reported that the monoclonal antibody PRO 140 was potent, durable, and widely effective against CCR5-dependent viruses.2 It must be pointed out, however, that for our patients, this may not be the approach we want. Studies of mixtures of viruses show that exposure to subtherapeutic concentrations of CCR5 inhibitors leads to rapid evolution of CCR5-independent viruses. Moreover, judging from human studies, these non-CCR5-dependent viruses tend to be more aggressive and somewhat more resistant to nucleoside drugs and other antiretrovirals. In this regard, inhibitors of CXCR4-dependent viruses may actually be more important. This is where protegrin, tachyplesin drugs, and bicyclams may have a role. As reported by De Clercq and coworkers, bicyclams inhibit the entry of viruses that utilize CXCR4 as well as viruses that use both CCR5 and CXCR4.3 As a result, AMD3100, their lead compound, might be a “safer” HIV therapeutic, as viruses that “escape” would be, it is presumed, predominantly CCR5 utilizing viruses. Only time will tell if this strategy works. Clinical trials are planned for fourth quarter of 2000. New Agents for the Inhibition of HIV Replication
An Entropy Loss Approach for a Meanline Bladerow Model With Coupling to Test Data and 3D CFD Results

A methodology which couples a computational fluid dynamics simulation and a ID meanline bladerow model employing entropy-based loss terms is presented. A 3D APNASA CFD flow solution of the GE90-94B was used to provide input to the 1D bladerow model, which computed entropy-generation terms from the flow state. These terms accounted for losses in mixing of leakage and cooling flow, and gross aerodynamics using bladerow entropy loss coefficients as defined by Denton. A description of the 1D model is presented. The 1D bladerow model was implemented in the NPSS system making it possible to easily construct N-stage component simulations. The 1D model was used to generate partial performance maps of the HPT and LPT for use in a coupled 0D-3D simulation of the full GE90 engine. To validate the approach, a data match of the GE EEE HPT at the design point has been made and presented. An extrapolation of the model to off-design points has compared favorably to the experimental data.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
40Ar-39Ar and Rb-Sr age determinations on Quaternary volcanic rocks

^(40)Ar-^(39)Ar and Rb-Sr ages have been measured on separated minerals from the potassic volcanics of the Roman Comagmatic Region to test the ability of these methods to accurately data Quaternary geological events. The very high K and Rb contents of the Roman magmas present particularly favorable situations in which the very high concentrations of the radioactive nuclides ^(40)K and ^(87)Rb result in well resolved in situ enrichments of the daughter isotopes despite the very young ages. Six leucite separates contained Ar with very high bulk 40/36 ratios (above 1000) and in which the ^(40)Ar and the ^(39)Ar were very well correlated, yielding well-defined ages averaging 3.38±0.08×10^5 years. Two leucites contained Ar with lower bulk 40/36 ratios (∼400), and in at least two release steps from these leucites the ^(40)Ar/^(36)Ar ratio was significantly lower than atmospheric. Despite the uncertainty in the composition of the trapped component, these two leucites have ages that do not differ significantly from the ages of the other leucites. For the biotites, it was not possible to obtain through stepwise degassing a good separation of in situ radiogenic ^(40)Ar from trapped ^(40)Ar and therefore the calculated ages are not as precise as those of the leucites. In three cases the biotite age agrees with the age of the cogenetic leucite, but in the remaining two cases discordant ages are obtained, suggesting caution when using biotites as Quaternary age indicators. Rb-Sr measurements on leucite, biotite, and pyroxene separates hand-picked from each of three tuff samples yielded a dispersion in ^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr as large as 16 parts in 10^4 and ^(87)Rb/^(86)Sr as high as 218 for leucites, and permitted the determination of internal isochron ages. The ages obtained range from 3.8 ± 0.2 × 10^5 to 3.3 ± 0.2 × 10^5 years and are in good agreement with the ^(40)Ar-^(39)Ar ages on the leucites. The data for each tuff sample yield a well-defined uniform initial ^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr. However, different tuffs show small differences in initial ^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr pointing to distinct sources or to assimilation of different materials during the extrusion of the tuffs. These measurements demonstrate the possibility of dating Quaternary materials by both the ^(40)Ar-^(39)Ar method and the Rb-Sr method. The observation of concordant ages with a precision of a few percent represents a powerful tool in Quaternary stratigraphy.
TSync: a new synchronization framework for multi-site 3D tele-immersion

Synchronization is a challenge in the multi-site 3D tele-immersion (3DTI) because it is complicated by the coexistence of highly correlated heterogenous streams from multiple sources, and the need for multi-stream resynchronization when user views change. To address the problems, we present TSync: a new multi-tier synchronization framework for 3DTI which can effectively reduce the multi-stream sync skews. Our contributions are focusing on (1) the use of timed synchronization points for multi-stream synchronization; (2) Internet bandwidth estimation based on machine learning; (3) the cooperative frame rate allocation for correlated multi-streams and (4) the resynchronization protocol used when user views change. Experimental results show that TSync can successfully achieve the synchronization of multi-source heterogeneous streams in 3DTI under Internet dynamics.
Measurement of Turbulent Plasma by the Time‐Domain Triple‐Probe Method

The time-domain triple-probe (TDTP) method has been developed for measurement of turbulent plasma. Rather than implementing the triple-probe states over a three probe array, the TDTP method cycles each of two Langmuir probes through all triple-probe states. Provided the turbulence is bandlimited, fast cycling and large probe impedance allow the establishment of probe-plasma equilibrium for each triple-probe state, and time resolved measurement of floating potential, ion saturation current, and “return potential” at each of the two probes. A total of six measurements are combined with a system of six equations to solve for six plasma variables; electron temperature, electron number density, and plasma potential at each of the two probes. Successful implementation of the TDTP method in the edge plasma and scrape-off layer of TEXT-U measures significant electron temperature fluctuations with poloidal correlation statistics similar to those of floating potential and ion saturation current fluctuations. Electron number density and electron temperature fluctuations are in phase indicating electron pressure fluctuations are important on both sides of the velocity-shear layer.
A group I intron in the nuclear small subunit ribosomal DNA of Gaeumannomyces graminis.

The length of the small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) differs among isolates of species and varieties of Gaeumannomyces. The sequence of the 3′ region of the SSU rDNA revealed 340-, 365-, and 520-bp insertions for G. graminis varieties avenae, tritici, and graminis, respectively. The intron sequences from varities tritici and avenae were similar, except there was an insert of 23 nucleotides at base 328 from the 5′ end of the G. g. var. tritici intron. The G. g. var. graminis intron sequences had 92.4% homology compared with the intron sequences of varieties tritici and avenae. In addition, the intron sequence of variety graminis is larger, having an insert of 155 nucleotides at base 365 of the 5′ end of the intron. Little variation in the DNA sequences flanking the introns has been detected among the isolates of Gaeumannomyces that either have or lack an intron. Reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) indicated the absence of the intron in the mature rRNA. The intron sequence had both a conserved sequence and secondary structural elements classifying it as a group I intron.
Winter as a nutritional bottleneck for North American porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum)

North American porcupines are distributed across a wide variety of habitats where they consume many different species of plants. Winter is a nutritional bottleneck for northern populations, because porcupines remain active when environmental demands are high and food quality is low. We used captive porcupines to examine physiological responses to low-quality diets at high energy demands during winter at ambient temperatures as low as −39°C. We did not observe an endogenous pattern of body mass gain or loss when porcupines were fed a low nitrogen diet (1.1% dry matter) ad libitum through winter. Dry matter intake declined from 43.6 to 14.6 g kg−0.75 d−1 even though ambient temperatures declined from −3 to −30°C, which indicates a seasonal decrease in metabolic rate. Porcupines consuming white spruce needles maintained digestive efficiency for energy (61%) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (50%). However, low requirements for energy (398 kJ kg−0.75 d−1) and nitrogen (209 mg kg−0.75 d−1) minimized the loss of body mass when intakes were low and plant toxins increased urinary losses of energy and nitrogen. Porcupines were also able to tolerate low intakes of sodium, even when dietary potassium loads were high. Porcupines use a flexible strategy to survive winter: low requirements are combined with a high tolerance for dietary imbalances that minimize the use of body stores when demands exceed supply. However, body stores are rapidly restored when conditions allow. Porcupines posses many physiological abilities similar to specialist herbivores, but retain the ability of a generalist to survive extreme conditions by using a variety of foods.
Feature detection using basis functions

A class of feature-detection operations using orthonormal basis functions is introduced. The basis functions are derived from the Karhunen-Loe`ve expansion of the local image data. This theory is applied to define a new edge detector which can be adjusted to have increased sensitivity in any desired orientation.
Non-regulated organic compounds in Florida sediments

Abstract Sediment sample extracts initially analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry during a state-wide study of organic priority pollutants, were re-evaluated using a broad spectrum approach. Mass spectra for most of the non-regulated organic compounds present in each sediment sample extract were screened. Mass spectral data for these non-regulated organic compounds were organized into a spreadsheet database. The non-regulated organic compounds in the database were prioritized and fifteeen of the most frequently occurring compounds or compound groups were chosen for further study and potential identification. Four compounds, calamenene, dehydroabietine, retene and benzo(b)naphtho(2,1-d)thiophene were positively identified. Tetrahydroretene was tentatively identified while three compounds remain unidentified. Seven compound groups, including alkylbenzenes, alkylphenols and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contained many isomers so complete identification of the individual isomers within each group was not attempted. Information on possible sources and environmental or toxicological impact of these chemicals was obtained from the literature.
Effects of growth media, fertiliser rate and hour and season of exposure on sensitivity of four soybean cultivars to ozone☆

Abstract The sensitivity of four cultivars of soybean Glycine max (L.) Merr. exposed when 21 days old for 1·5 to 0·60 ppm v/v (1,176 μg/m3) of ozone (O3), was affected by changes in growth media, fertiliser rate, hour and season of exposure. Addition of a soluble fertiliser (6-25-15, N-P-K) at a moderate rate increased plant sensitivity to O3. At a higher fertiliser rate, plants grew as well or better than at moderate rates, but foliar sensitivity to O3 decreased. The relative sensitivity (ranking) of cultivars was often different in different combinations of growth media and fertiliser rate. All cultivars were injured more when exposure started at 0900 and 1130 h than at 1400 h. Plants of all cultivars were larger and more sensitive when exposed on 17 June than on 6 January, 17 March or 31 March. Cultivar sensitivity ranking was affected by the hour and the season of exposure.
The effects of equivocation on perceived source credibility

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of rhetorical equivocation on a speaker s credibility ratings. Subjects were presented one of four messages which either equivocated the issues or spoke clearly to the issues. The results indicated that listeners conferred more credibility on those who agreed with them and less on those who disagreed with them.
Dietary Supplement Use and Smoking Are Important Correlates of Biomarkers of Water-Soluble Vitamin Status after Adjusting for Sociodemographic and Lifestyle Variables in a Representative Sample of U.S. Adults

Biochemical indicators of water-soluble vitamin (WSV) status were measured in a nationally representative sample of the U.S. population in NHANES 2003-2006. To examine whether demographic differentials in nutritional status were related to and confounded by certain variables, we assessed the association of sociodemographic (age, sex, race-ethnicity, education, income) and lifestyle (dietary supplement use, smoking, alcohol consumption, BMI, physical activity) variables with biomarkers of WSV status in adults (aged ≥ 20 y): serum and RBC folate, serum pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP), serum 4-pyridoxic acid, serum total cobalamin (vitamin B-12), plasma total homocysteine (tHcy), plasma methylmalonic acid (MMA), and serum ascorbic acid. Age (except for PLP) and smoking (except for MMA) were generally the strongest significant correlates of these biomarkers (|r| ≤ 0.43) and together with supplement use explained more of the variability compared with the other covariates in bivariate analysis. In multiple regression models, sociodemographic and lifestyle variables together explained from 7 (vitamin B-12) to 29% (tHcy) of the biomarker variability. We observed significant associations for most biomarkers (≥ 6 of 8) with age, sex, race-ethnicity, supplement use, smoking, and BMI and for some biomarkers with PIR (5 of 8), education (1 of 8), alcohol consumption (4 of 8), and physical activity (5 of 8). We noted large estimated percentage changes in biomarker concentrations between race-ethnic groups (from -24 to 20%), between supplement users and nonusers (from -12 to 104%), and between smokers and nonsmokers (from -28 to 8%). In summary, age, sex, and race-ethnic differentials in biomarker concentrations remained significant after adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle variables. Supplement use and smoking were important correlates of biomarkers of WSV status.
Membrane Fas Ligand Activates Innate Immunity and Terminates Ocular Immune Privilege

It has been proposed that the constitutive expression of Fas ligand (FasL) in the eye maintains immune privilege, in part through inducing apoptosis of infiltrating Fas+ T cells. However, the role of FasL in immune privilege remains controversial due to studies that indicate FasL is both pro- and anti-inflammatory. To elucidate the mechanism(s) by which FasL regulates immune privilege, we used an ocular tumor model and examined the individual roles of the membrane-bound and soluble form of FasL in regulating ocular inflammation. Following injection into the privileged eye, tumors expressing only soluble FasL failed to trigger inflammation and grew progressively. By contrast, tumors expressing only membrane FasL 1) initiated vigorous neutrophil-mediated inflammation, 2) terminated immune privilege, and 3) were completely rejected. Moreover, the rejection coincided with activation of both innate and adaptive immunity. Interestingly, a higher threshold level of membrane FasL on tumors is required to initiate inflammation within the immune privileged eye, as compared with nonprivileged sites. The higher threshold is due to the suppressive microenvironment found within aqueous humor that blocks membrane FasL activation of neutrophils. However, aqueous humor is unable to completely block the proinflammatory effects of tumor cells that express high levels of membrane FasL. In conclusion, our data indicate that the function of FasL on intraocular tumors is determined by the microenvironment in conjunction with the form and level of FasL expressed.
Spanish-English Bilingual Children with Psychopathology: Language Deficits and Academic Language Proficiency

Background: The aim was to study the language profiles of a well-characterised sample (n ¼ 50) of Spanish‐ English bilingual children consecutively referred to psychiatric services. Methods: Spanish and English language profiles were assessed with the Woodcock Language Proficiency Battery-Revised (WLPB). Profiles included language ability levels, deficits and dominance in five expressive and receptive/expressive domains, and academic (school-related) language proficiency levels. Results: General language ability was low for 69% in either language and for 51% in both. Language dominance data suggested that expressive skills were dominant in English. In 73% of the children, ability to function at school in the strongest language is ‘limited’, defined by the WLPB as incorrect responses to 50% of the items typically answered correctly by children of the same age. Classroom language demands, also according to the WLPB, would be ‘extremely difficult’ to ‘impossible’ for 40% of the children in at least one language, and for 19% in either language. Conclusions: Language deficits, present in many psychiatrically-referred bilingual children, ought to be suspected by the clinician. The typical language demands of schooling appear to be overwhelming for many of these children, with ensuing implications for psychosocial adaptation and educational attainment. Thorough language ability assessments of both languages are often necessary for the early detection of language deficits and for understanding how dual language abilities relate to psychiatric symptoms. Therefore, language assessment services need to be closely linked to programs serving psychiatrically-referred bilingual children. Other implications of this research for clinical practice are discussed.
Coupling of functional gene diversity and geochemical data from environmental samples.

Genomic techniques commonly used for assessing distributions of microorganisms in the environment often produce small sample sizes. We investigated artificial neural networks for analyzing the distributions of nitrite reductase genes (nirS and nirK) and two sets of dissimilatory sulfite reductase genes (dsrAB1 and dsrAB2 )i n small sample sets. Data reduction (to reduce the number of input parameters), cross-validation (to measure the generalization error), weight decay (to adjust model parameters to reduce generalization error), and importance analysis (to determine which variables had the most influence) were useful in developing and interpreting neural network models that could be used to infer relationships between geochemistry and gene distributions. A robust relationship was observed between geochemistry and the frequencies of genes that were not closely related to known dissimilatory sulfite reductase genes (dsrAB2). Uranium and sulfate appeared to be the most related to distribution of two groups of these unusual dsrAB-related genes. For the other three groups, the distributions appeared to be related to pH, nickel, nonpurgeable organic carbon, and total organic carbon. The models relating the geochemical parameters to the distributions of the nirS, nirK, and dsrAB1 genes did not generalize as well as the models for dsrAB2. The data also illustrate the danger (generating a model that has a high generalization error) of not using a validation approach in evaluating the meaningfulness of the fit of linear or nonlinear models to such small sample sizes.
An operational evaluation of the Eta-CMAQ air quality forecast model

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in partnership with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), are developing an operational, nationwide Air Quality Forecasting (AQF) system. An experimental phase of this program, which couples NOAA's Eta meteorological model with EPA's Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model, began operation in June of 2004 and has been providing forecasts of ozone (O3) concentrations over the northeastern United States. An important component of this AQF system has been the development and implementation of an evaluation protocol. Accordingly, a suite of statistical metrics that facilitates evaluation of both discrete- and categorical-type forecasts was developed and applied to the system in order to characterize its performance. The results reveal that the AQF system performed reasonably well in this inaugural season (mean domain wide correlation coefficient=0.59), despite anomalously cool and wet conditions that were not conducive to the formation of O3. Due in part to these conditions, the AQF system overpredicted concentrations, resulting in a mean bias of +10.2 ppb (normalized mean bias=+22.8%). In terms of error, the domain-wide root mean square error averaged 15.7 ppb (normalized mean error=28.1%) for the period. Examination of the discrete and categorical metrics on a daily basis revealed that the AQF system's level of performance was closely related to the synoptic-scale meteorology impacting the domain. The model performed very well during periods when anticyclones, characterized by clear skies, dominated. Conversely, periods characterized by extensive cloud associated with fronts and/or cyclones, resulted in poor model performance. Subsequent analysis revealed that factors associated with CMAQ's cloud cover scheme contributed to this overprediction. Accordingly, changes to the cloud schemes are currently underway that are expected to significantly improve the AQF system's performance in anticipation of its second year of operation.
Regenerative patterning in Swarm Robots: mutual benefits of research in robotics and stem cell biology

This paper presents a novel perspective of Robotic Stem Cells (RSCs), defined as the basic non-biological elements with stem cell like properties that can self-reorganize to repair damage to their swarming organization. "Self" here means that the elements can autonomously decide and execute their actions without requiring any preset triggers, commands, or help from external sources. We develop this concept for two purposes. One is to develop a new theory for self-organization and self-assembly of multi-robots systems that can detect and recover from unforeseen errors or attacks. This self-healing and self-regeneration is used to minimize the compromise of overall function for the robot team. The other is to decipher the basic algorithms of regenerative behaviors in multi-cellular animal models, so that we can understand the fundamental principles used in the regeneration of biological systems. RSCs are envisioned to be basic building elements for future systems that are capable of self-organization, self-assembly, self-healing and self-regeneration. We first discuss the essential features of biological stem cells for such a purpose, and then propose the functional requirements of robotic stem cells with properties equivalent to gene controller, program selector and executor. We show that RSCs are a novel robotic model for scalable self-organization and self-healing in computer simulations and physical implementation. As our understanding of stem cells advances, we expect that future robots will be more versatile, resilient and complex, and such new robotic systems may also demand and inspire new knowledge from stem cell biology and related fields, such as artificial intelligence and tissue engineering.
Boundaries, Continuity, and Contact

There are conflicting intuitions concerning the status of a boundary separating two adjacent entities (or two parts of the same entity). The boundary cannot belong to both things, for adjacency excludes overlap; and it cannot belong to neither, for nothing lies between two adjacent things. Yet how can the dilemma be avoided without assigning the boundary to one or the other thing at random? Some philosophers regard this as a re- ductio of the very notion of a boundary, which should accordingly be treated a mere facon de parler. In this paper I resist this temptation and examine some ways of taking the puz- zle at face value within a realist perspective—treating boundaries as ontologically on a par with (albeit parasitic upon) voluminous parts.
Class-Specific Antibody Response to Pneumococcal Capsular Polysaccharides in Men Infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1

We characterized the effect of infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) on levels of total immunoglobulins and pneumococcal vaccine-specific immunoglobulins in 28 heterosexual and 25 homosexual men seronegative for HIV; 27 asymptomatic, seropositive homosexual men; and 21 patients with AIDS. Total serum IgG levels were increased in both HIV-seropositive groups compared with the HIV-seronegative men (P< .001). Total IgM levels, however, were elevated only in the asymptomatic, HIV-seropositive men (fK .08); total IgA levels were elevated only in the patients with AIDS ^ .05). Vaccine-specific serum IgG, IgM, and IgA significantly increased over baseline three and six weeks after immunization in all groups (F^ .05). Responses to vaccine among the HIV-seronegative groups were similar but were greater for all antibody classes than were responses among the HIV-seropositive groups (F^ .05).
NAD kinase regulates the size of the NADPH pool and insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells

NADPH is an important component of the antioxidant defense system and a proposed mediator in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) from pancreatic β-cells. An increase in the NADPH/NADP+ rati...
Coarse to fine segmentation of Stargardt rings using an expert guided dual ellipse model

Computer aided diagnosis in the medical image domain requires adaptive knowledge-based models to handle uncertainty, ambiguity, and noise. We propose an expert guided coupled dual ellipse model in a coarse to fine energy minimization framework. In our approach we enforce subspace model constraints by fusing domain knowledge and model information to guide the segmentation process on the fly. We apply our method to the task of retinal Stargardt segmentation a disease that manifests itself in a ring like structure around the macula. Quantitative evaluations on synthetic and real data sets show the performance of our framework. Experimental results demonstrate that our framework performance well with an area under the ROC curve of 0.93.
Hydrocortisone normalizes oxygenation and cGMP regulation in lambs with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn

In the pulmonary vasculature, cGMP levels are regulated by soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) and phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5). We previously reported that lambs with persistent pulmonary hypertension o...
Kallichrome: A New Stain for Erythroblasts

Using the obscure dye kallichrome, erythroblasts at all stages of maturation demonstrated intense yellow to yellow-brown staining of both nucleus and cytoplasm. Staining of this type was not observed in other types of normal or pathological marrow cells. As such, kallichrome may be a valuable stain for identification of erythroblasts and their distinction from other types of blood cells.
An interaction between replication protein A and SV40 T antigen appears essential for primosome assembly during SV40 DNA replication

Replication protein A from human cells (hRPA) is a multisubunit single-stranded DNA-binding protein (ssb) and is essential for SV40 DNA replication in vitro. The related RPA from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (scRPA) is unable to substitute for hRPA in SV40 DNA replication. To understand this species specificity, we evaluated human and yeast RPA in enzymatic assays with SV40 T antigen (TAg) and human DNA polymerase alpha/primase, the factors essential for initiation of SV40 DNA replication. Both human and yeast RPA stimulated the polymerase and (at subsaturating levels of RPA) the primase activities of human DNA polymerase alpha/primase on homopolymer DNA templates. In contrast, both human and yeast RPA inhibited synthesis by DNA polymerase alpha/primase on natural single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) templates. T antigen reversed the inhibition of DNA polymerase alpha/primase activity on hRPA-coated natural ssDNA, as previously described, but was unable to reverse the inhibition on scRPA or Escherichia coli ssb-coated templates. Therefore, the ability of an ssb to reconstitute SV40 DNA replication correlated with its ability to allow the TAg stimulation of polymerase alpha/primase in this assay. Enzyme-linked immunoassays demonstrated that hRPA interacts with TAg, as previously described; however, scRPA does not bind to TAg in this assay. These and other recent results suggest that T antigen contains a function analogous to some prokaryotic DNA replication proteins that facilitate primosome assembly on ssb-coated template DNAs.
Left ventricular opacification at rest and during stress

Although echocardiography is the most widely used cardiac imaging modality in the world, it is often limited by poor endocardial border definition. The development of contrast agents that opacify the cardiac chambers after intravenous injection now makes it possible to acquire high-quality images, even in technically difficult cases. Several studies have now shown that contrast echocardiography improves assessment of global and regional wall motion, enhances observer agreement, and salvages technically difficult studies. In addition, contrast echocardiography is valuable in specific settings, such as the intensive care unit or emergency department, where high-quality images are often most difficult to acquire. Finally, obstacles to the penetration of contrast echocardiography into routine clinical practice (such as cost/reimbursement, logistics, and education) are discussed.
α1-Acid glycoprotein reduces local and remote injuries after intestinal ischemia in the rat

The aim of this study was to look at the role of α1-acid glycoprotein as a natural anti-inflammatory agent with particular respect to its antineutrophil and anticomplement activity. A recombinantly...
Near-Global Observations of Low Clouds

Abstract This paper analyzes several near-global datasets of low cloud cover, including the the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) satellite observations, C. J. Hahn et al. surface-derived observations, and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) and ECMWF reanalysis products (ERA). The magnitudes of annual-mean ISCCP and C. J. Hahn observations of low cloud fraction are found to differ by up to about 0.4 for a number of locations. These differences are largely attributable to the fact that ISCCP low clouds are only those low clouds that are not obstructed by higher cloud. Those of both the NCEP and ERA low clouds, which should be comparable to the Hahn low cloud dataset, have magnitudes up to about 0.3 less than the latter. The dominant EOFs of the seasonal variation of ISCCP and Hahn observations low cloud differ substantially over much of the Northern Hemisphere, where there is a sizable number of observations in Hahn. The pattern of the dominant seasonal EOF of ...
Characterization of immune cells in psoriatic adipose tissue.

Adipose tissue normally contains immune cells that regulate adipocyte function and contribute to metabolic disorders including obesity and diabetes mellitus. Psoriasis is associated with increased risk for metabolic disease, which may in part be due to adipose dysfunction, which has not been investigated in psoriasis. There is currently no standardized method for immunophenotyping human adipose tissue. In prior studies, characteristic phenotypic markers of immune cell populations identified in animal models or in other human tissues have been applied in a similar manner to human adipose tissue. Rarely have these populations been verified with confirmatory methodologies or functional studies. Thus, we performed a comprehensive phenotypic and functional analysis of immune cell populations in psoriatic adipose tissue. Conventional and imaging flow cytometry were used to define immune cell populations in biopsy specimens of psoriatic adipose tissue (n = 30) including T cells, B cells, NK cells, NKT cells, neutrophils, and macrophages. Relationships between adipose immune cell types and body mass index were determined using Spearman regression analysis, and multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to adjust for cardiometabolic disease risk factors. These analyses revealed a wide range of cell surface receptors on adipose tissue macrophages, which may serve a dual purpose in immunity and metabolism. Further, both CD16+CD56Lo and CD16-CD56Hi NK cells were found to correlate inversely with body mass index. The relationship between the predominant CD16+CD56Lo NK cell population and body mass index persisted after adjusting for age, sex, diabetes, and tobacco use. Together, these studies enhance our understanding of adipose immune cell phenotype and function, and demonstrate that examination of adipose tissue may provide greater insight into cardiometabolic pathophysiology in psoriasis.