cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Production of Experimental Uremia by Sodium Tetrathionate.

Summary and ConclusionsUremia was produced in dogs by intravenous administration of varying doses of sodium tetrathionate. The findings of Gilman et al.(l) cited above were confirmed. In addition, it was shown tthat renal lesions resulting from tetrathionate administration, heretofore not described in detail, involve the distal convoluted and collecting, as well as the previously mentioned (1) proximal renal tubules. The resulting uremia may be rapidly fatal or continue 20 or more days, and is accompanied by non-hyperglycemic urinary reducing substances and lowered CO2CP and SpG of the urine.
An approach to couple mold design and on-line control to manufacture complex composite parts by resin transfer molding

During impregnation of the resin into a closed mold containing the preform in the resin transfer molding (RTM) process, increased yield of successful parts can be achieved if one could account for the inherent disturbances such as race-tracking and preform variability. One way to address this is to use sensors and actuators to control the resin flow dynamics during the impregnation process to counteract the disturbances. In this paper, we use a mold filling simulation tool to develop a design and control methodology that, with the help of sensors and actuators, identifies the flow disturbance and redirects the resin flow to successfully complete the mold filling process without any voids. The methodology is implemented and experimentally validated for a mold geometry that contains complex features such as tapered regions, rib structures, and thick regions. The flow modeling for features such as ribs and tapered sections are validated independently before integrating them into the mold geometry. The approach encompasses creation of software tools that find the position of the sensors in the mold to identify anticipated disturbances and suggest flow control actions for additional actuators at auxiliary locations to redirect the flow. Laboratory hardware is selected and integrated to automate the filling process. The effectiveness of the methodology is demonstrated by conducting experiments that, with feedback from the sensors, can automate and actively control the flow of the resin to consistently impregnate all the fibers completely despite disturbances in the process.
Underneath Kyoto: Emerging Subnational Government Initiatives and Incipient Issue-bundling Opportunities in China and the United States

At present, progress in mitigating global GHG emissions is impeded by political stalemate at the national level in the United States and the People's Republic of China. Through the conceptual lenses of multilevel governance and framing politics, the article analyzes emerging policy initiatives among subnational governments in both countries. Effective subnational emission-mitigating action requires framing climatic-stabilization policies in terms of local co-benefits associated with environmental protection, health promotion, and economic advantage. In an impressive group of US states and cities, and increasingly at the local level in China, public concerns about air pollution, consumption and waste management, traffic congestion, health threats, the ability to attract tourists, and/or diminishing resources are legitimizing policy developments that carry the co-benefit of controlling GHG emissions. A co-benefits framing strategy that links individual and community concerns for morbidity, mortality, stress...
Direct force measurement of the stability of poly(ethylene glycol)-polyethylenimine graft films.

Abstract The stability and passivity of poly(ethylene glycol)–polyethylenimine (PEG–PEI) graft films are important for their use as antifouling coatings in a variety of biotechnology applications. We have used AFM colloidal-probe force measurements combined with optical reflectometry to characterize the surface properties and stability of PEI and dense PEG–PEI graft films on silica. Initial contact between bare silica probes and PEI-modified surfaces yields force curves that exhibit a long-range electrostatic repulsion and short-range attraction between the surfaces, indicating spontaneous desorption of PEI in the aqueous medium. Further transfer of PEI molecules to the probe occurs with subsequent application of forces between FR=300 and 500 μN/m. The presence of PEG reduces the adhesive properties of the PEI surface and prevents transfer of PEI molecules to the probe with continuous contact, though an initial desorption of PEI still occurs. Glutaraldehyde crosslinking of the graft films prevents both the initial desorption and subsequent transfer of the PEI, resulting in sustained attractive interaction forces of electrostatic origin between the negatively charged probe and the positively charged copolymer graft films.
The rapid H2O2-mediated nonphotodynamic crosslinking of lens crystallins generated by the heme-undecapeptide from cytochrome C: Potential implications for cataractogenesis in man

Human cataract lens crystallins are crosslinked and demonstrate a non-tryptophan blue fluorescence. We report here that exposure of lens crystallin to H2O2 within the concentration range reported for human aqueous humor, produces crosslinking of crystallin polypeptides within 10 minutes in the presence of the heme-undecapeptide from cytochrome c. Concomitantly, a blue fluorescence develops. These findings suggest the possibility that under some conditions hydrogen peroxide activation may play a role in cataractogenesis in vivo.
Dual-mode acoustic wave biosensors microarrays

We have develop highly sensitive and selective acoustic wave biosensor arrays with signal analysis systems to provide a fingerprint for the real-time identification and quantification of a wide array of bacterial pathogens and environmental health hazards. We have developed an unique highly sensitive dual mode acoustic wave platform prototype that, when combined with phage based selective detection elements, form a durable bacteria sensor. Arrays of these new real-time biosensors are integrated to form a biosensor array on a chip. This research and development program optimizes advanced piezoelectric aluminum nitride wide bandgap semiconductors, novel micromachining processes, advanced device structures, selective phage displays development and immobilization techniques, and system integration and signal analysis technology to develop the biosensor arrays. The dual sensor platform can be programmed to sense in a gas, vapor or liquid environment by switching between acoustic wave resonate modes. Such a dual mode sensor has tremendous implications for applications involving monitoring of pathogenic microorganisms in the clinical setting due to their ability to detect airborne pathogens. This provides a number of applications including hospital settings such as intensive care or other in-patient wards for the reduction of nosocomial infections and maintenance of sterile environments in surgical suites. Monitoring for airborn pathogen transmission in public transportation areas such as airplanes may be useful for implementation of strategies for redution of airborn transmission routes. The ability to use the same sensor in the liquid sensing mode is important for tracing the source of airborn pathogens to local liquid sources. Sensing of pathogens in saliva will be useful for sensing oral pathogens and support of decision-making strategies regarding prevention of transmission and support of treatment strategies.
γ-Radiation Assisted Fabrication of Hydroxyapatite-Polyacrylamide Nanocomposites with Possible Application in Bone Implantology

Hydroxyapatite (HA) impregnated poly-(acrylamide) nanocomposites were synthesized using γ-radiations and the prepared composites were characterized by different instrumental techniques. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies revealed the presence of carbonated HA, while the X-ray diffraction analysis showed the mean particle size of HA to be nearly 6.53 nm and width 1.278 nm. The nanosize of the hydroxyapatite crystals were also confirmed by Transmission electron microscopy analysis. The crystallinity of material was found to be 76.10% with interchain separation between 0.1998 and 0.1933 nm for native HA and HA nanocomposites, respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis studies resulted in the thermogram that resembled with that of the natural bone. Scanning electron microscope results revealed the pore size of prepared composite ranging between 50 and 100 µm. The modulus and compressive strength of prepared materials were found to be 726.40 and 39.55 MPa, respectively. Water uptake capacity of the ...
Adenosine Attenuates Reperfusion-Induced Apoptotic Cell Death by Modulating Expression of Bcl-2 and Bax Proteins

This study tests the hypothesis that infarct reduction with adenosine (Ado) is associated with inhibition of apoptotic cell death by modulating expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and pro-apoptotic Bax proteins and reducing neutrophil accumulation. In three groups of dogs, the left anterior descending coronary artery was occluded for 60 min and reperfused for 6 h. Either saline (Control, n=8), Ado (140 microg/kg/min, n=8) or CGS21680, an adenosine A2A receptor analogue, (0.2 microg/kg/min, n=7) were infused during the first 2 h of reperfusion. Myocardial apoptosis was detected by histological TUNEL staining and DNA laddering. Expression of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins was analyzed using Western blot assay. Neutrophil localization was detected by immunohistochemistry with monoclonal anti-neutrophil CD18 antibody. There was no group difference in collateral blood flow (colored microspheres) during ischemia. Intra-left atrial administration of Ado and CGS21680 significantly decreased infarct size from 26+/-2% in Control to 13+/-1%* and 16+/-3%*, respectively. TUNEL positive cells in the peri-necrotic zone of the ischemic myocardium were also significantly reduced from 16+/-2% in Control group to 9+/-1%* and 10+/-2%*, respectively, consistent with the absence of DNA laddering in these two groups. Densitometrically, Ado and CGS21680 at reperfusion significantly increased the expression (% of normal myocardium) of downregulated Bcl-2 from 45+/-6% in Control group to 78+/-12%* and 69+/-10%*, respectively, and attenuated expression of upregulated Bax from 198+/-16% in Control group to 148+/-10%* and 158+/-12%*, respectively. Furthermore, the number of positive CD18 cells (mm(2) myocardium), which was significantly correlated with TUNEL positive cells in peri-necrotic zone, was significantly reduced from 403+/-42 in Control group to 142+/-18* in Ado group and 153+/-20%* in CGS21680 group, respectively. In conclusion, the present study suggests that inhibition of apoptosis by Ado at reperfusion involves alterations in anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and pro-apoptotic Bax proteins and neutrophil accumulation, primarily mediated by an adenosine A2A receptor. * P<0.05 v Control group.
Glial Cells Influence Polarity of the Blood-Brain Barrier

Polarity has been shown to exist at the blood-brain barrier (BBB) with respect to Na+-dependent neutral amino acid transport. A situation similar to the endothelial-astrocyte relationship existing at the BBB can be produced by growing cultured cerebral endothelium on one side of a filter and C6 glial cells on the other in an enclosed double chamber. In this setting 3H-alpha-methylaminoisobutyric acid transport can be demonstrated and is more rapid from the glial surface across the endothelium, as compared with transport in the opposite direction. The observation supports a glial influence on BBB polarity in this system.
GeoTrooper: a mobile location-aware system for team coordination

Navigation and assembly are critical tasks for Soldiers in battlefield situations. Soldiers must locate equipment, supplies and teammates quickly and quietly in order to ensure the success of their mission. This task can be extremely difficult and take a significant amount of time without guidance or extensive experience. To facilitate the re-assembly and coordination of airborne paratrooper teams, we have developed a location-aware system that uses an ad-hoc Wi-Fi network in order to broadcast and receive GPS coordinates of equipment and/or rendezvous points. The system consists of beacons, ruggedized computers placed at assembly points that broadcast their position over Wi-Fi, and receivers, handheld Android devices which orient the user towards the beacons and/or any predetermined coordinates.
Chloroquine- and primaquine-induced alterations of glucose metabolism in the uninfected red cell

Abstract The effects of chloroquine and primaquine on glucose metabolism in uninfected red cells were studied. The flux of glucose through the hexose monophosphate shunt was decreased by chloroquine and increased by primaquine; the flux through glycolysis was not altered significantly by either drug. Since the hexose monophosphate shunt was the metabolic pathway affected by chloroquine and primaquine, measurements were made of the intracellular concentration of NADPH, a major product of the hexose monophosphate shunt in red cells. After incubation with either drug in the absence of glucose, the concentration of NADPH was lower than in control red cells; in the presence of glucose, higher concentrations of NADPH were maintained. Primaquine was more potent than chloroquine in lowering the NADPH concentration. Neither chloroquine nor primaquine inhibited the capacity of the red cell to increase flux through the hexose monophosphate shunt in response to gradual infusion of hydrogen peroxide. No qualitative differences in the effects of chloroquine or primaquine on glucose metabolism were observed when experiments were carried out with red cells containing methemoglobin or carbonmonoxyhemoglobin. This observation leads to the reassessment of the role of oxyhemoglobin in the mechanism of action of primaquine. Since incubation with chloroquine significantly decreased glucose flux through the hexose monophosphate shunt but resulted in only slightly lower NADPH levels, and the turnover of NADPH in control red cells in 1 hr was about ten times the total NADPH content, it follows that chloroquine both decreases utilization of NADPH and inhibits flux through the hexose monophosphate shunt. The effects of primaquine, a significant increase in the flux through the hexose monophosphate shunt with significantly lower NADPH concentrations, can be explained by the capacity of primaquine to undergo oxidation-reduction reactions which result in increased NADPH utilization and, therefore, increased flux through the hexose monophosphate shunt. The observed alterations in metabolism of uninfected red cells may be relevant to understanding the mechanisms of prophylactic and therapeutic effects of antimalarial agents.
Characterization of adeno-associated virus rep proteins in human cells by antibodies raised against rep expressed in Escherichia coli

The rep gene of the defective human parvovirus, adeno-associated virus, (AAV) mediates several trans-acting functions important to virus replication, transcription, and gene expression. At least four overlapping polypeptides are expressed from the rep gene. We have constructed a prokaryotic vector which expressed in Escherichia coli a region of AAV comprising 93% of the largest AAV rep protein. The protein expressed in E. coli, rep 78.93, was used to raise specific antibodies in rabbits. These antibodies were capable of detecting all four AAV rep proteins in human cells transfected with AAV-containing plasmids as well as new species of 47 and 35 kDa in molecular weight. These new rep proteins originate from the transcription promoter at map unit 19 in the AAV genome and may indicate use of alternate AUG codons or protein modification. The antibodies also recognized novel forms of the rep proteins expressed from mutant AAV genomes. Immunofluorescence analysis of AAV-infected human cells revealed that the rep proteins are localized primarily in the nucleus of the infected cell and have a distribution different from that of AAV capsid protein. These results demonstrate that antisera raised against an AAV rep protein synthesized in E. coli are capable of detecting wild-type AAV rep proteins in virus-infected mammalian cells. These specific antibodies should facilitate further characterization of the functionally pleiotropic viral rep proteins.
A Powerful Initiative at Pitt

This article focuses on a new initiative currently being developed and underway to address in a real sense the issues faced by the power and energy industry in terms of future education and research needs - the power and energy initiative in the Swanson School of Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) has launched a comprehensive power and energy initiative in response to workforce and technology development opportunities in the area of electric power engineering, nuclear engineering and mining engineering.
Intrinsic Gating Energy of Fetal-Type Neuromuscular Acetylcholine Receptors

Fetal-type neuromuscular AChRs are composed of (α1)2βδγ subunits, whereas adult-type have the stoichiometry (α1)2βδe. γ-AChRs are indispensable for functional synapse formation, and mutations in this receptor subtype have been associated with congenital myasthenia, multiple pterygium syndrome and premature death. Cellular responses to transmitter molecules are influenced by a receptor's unliganded gating energy, G0. In mouse e-AChRs, G0=+8.4 kcal/mol (−100 mV). We estimated this intrinsic gating energy in γ-AChRs (single-channels, HEK cells), from measurements of the unliganded gating equilibrium constant E0 (G0=-0.59lnE0). E0 was extrapolated from observed E0 values in γ-AChRs having different combinations of background mutations that increased constitutive activity. First, 12 different background mutations were characterized separately (by measuring the diliganded gating equilibrium constant with choline) and were found to alter only G0 and not the energy from the agonist. The effects of the mutations in γ-AChRs were approximately the same as in e-AChRs. The extrapolation was based on two assumptions, that the change in the diliganded gating equilibrium constant (E2) is caused by only an equivalent change in G0, and that the G0 changes are independent. A log-log plot of E0obs vs. E2mut/E2wt resulted in straight line with slope 1.08±0.09, validating the two assumptions. From the extrapolation, E0wt,γ = 4.8×10−8, or G0wt,γ =+9.9 kcal/mol. This value is ∼+1.5 kcal/mol larger than e-AChR value. The inherent ‘slower' kinetics of γ- vs. e-AChRs may, in part, be attributed to the elevated intrinsic energy barrier of the gating transition state. The results are discussed in the light of a MWC thermodynamic cycle, to derive other equilibrium and kinetic parameters for γ-AChRs. This works lays the foundation for understanding the fetal-type AChR transmitter binding site.
Polymer Conversion Measurement of Diacetylene-Containing Thin Films and Monolayers Using Soft X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Polymer formation within ordered monolayer and thin-film assemblies is measured using fluorescence yield near-edge spectroscopy (FYNES). This spectroscopic method measures soft X-ray absorption in the 270−330-eV energy range, probing core-electron transitions to unfilled molecular orbitals by detecting the resultant fluorescence emission. By observing transitions in the carbon 1s−π* region (280−286 eV), the diminution of monomer and formation of polymer are measured directly and simultaneously. In contrast with spectroscopic methods measuring partial electron yield, film damage caused by neutralization of sample charging is eliminated with FYNES. Using FYNES, monomer-to-polymer conversion efficiencies for ultrathin films and monolayer assemblies are successfully measured for the first time. Measured conversion efficiencies for diacetylene-containing assemblies is near 80%, demonstrating remarkable agreement among ultrathin films, surface-attached configurations, and previous studies of thicker film struct...
[3H]acetylcholine synthesis in cultured ciliary ganglion neurons: Effects of myotube membranes

Avian ciliary ganglion neurons in cell culture were examined for the capacity to synthesize acetylcholine (ACh) from the exogenously supplied precursor, choline. Relevant kinetic parameters of the ACh synthetic system in cultured neurons were found to be virtually the same as those of the ganglionic terminals in the intact iris. Neurons were cultured in the presence of and allowed to innervate pectoral muscle; this results in an capacity for ACh synthesis. In particular, the ability to increase ACh synthesis upon demand after stimulation is affected by interaction with the target. This effect is shown to be an acceleration of the maturation of the cultured neurons. Lysed and washed membrane remnants of the muscle target were able to duplicate, in part, this effect of live target tissue on neuronal transmitter metabolism. Culture medium conditioned by muscle, and by the membrane remnants of muscle, was without significant effect. Thus, substances secreted into the medium do not play a major role in this interaction. Neurons cultured with either muscle or muscle membrane remnants formed large, elongate structures on the target membrane surface. These were not seen in the absence of the target at the times examined. This morphological difference in terminal-like structures may parallel the developmental increases in size and vesicular content of ciliary ganglion nerve terminals in the chick iris, and may relate to the increased ACh synthetic activity. The results suggest that direct contact with an appropriate target membrane has a profound, retrograde influence upon neuronal metabolic and morphological maturation.
Catalytic reaction characterization using micromachined nanocalorimeters

Abstract Nanocalorimeters based on a micromachined hotplate platform were characterized for potential applications in catalyst screening and reaction mechanism studies. The nanocalorimeters were designed to limit heat loss to the surroundings, resulting in a small heat capacity (50 nJ K−1) and thermal time constant (1 ms). This greatly increases the sensitivity of the device, allowing reaction heat flows on the order of
Plant metabolic diversity: a regulatory perspective

Plants accumulate an amazing diversity of phytochemicals that play important roles in the interaction of plants with the environment. Mechanisms have been proposed to describe the evolution of phytochemicals from the perspective of the biosynthetic enzymes. However, it is not known how the transcription factors that regulate these pathways have evolved to ensure the coordinate expression of all the genes in a pathway. A model is provided here to explain how duplication and divergence of regulatory genes result in the control of new pathways. In this model, the purported ability of recently duplicated regulatory genes to activate new metabolic pathways is a consequence of mutations that partially impair function, resulting in the loss of activation of one or several steps in a metabolic pathway. Consequently, pathway intermediates accumulate and are then converted into new compounds by broad-specificity enzymes. In contrast to the resilience of developmental regulatory circuits, this model provides an explanation for the rapid evolution of new metabolic pathways from existing ones.
Through-silicon-via management during 3D physical design: when to add and how many?

In 3D integrated circuits through silicon vias (TSVs) are used to connect different dies stacked on top of each other. These TSV occupy silicon area and have significantly larger area than regular gates. In this paper, we address two critical aspects of TSV management in 3D designs. First, we address the problem of how many TSVs to add in a design. Since TSVs occupy significant silicon area, a general tendency has been to use a minimum number of TSVs in 3D circuits. We show that such an approach does not give us the best possible result. Second, we address the problem of TSV insertion. Because TSVs occupy silicon area, their location is decided during the placement stage of 3D design. However, we show that this is not the best possible stage for TSV insertion. We propose a change in the physical design flow for 3D integrated circuits to address the limitations of existing TSV placement methodology. All our algorithms are integrated with commercial tools, and our results are validated based on actual GDSII layouts. Our experimental results show the effectiveness of our methods.
MITROSPERMUM VINCULUM SP. NOV., A CARDIOCARPALEAN OVULE FROM THE UPPER PENNSYLVANIAN OF OHIO'

Numerous anatomically preserved ovules assignable to the genus Mitrospermum have been discovered in Upper Pennsylvanian sediments of Eastern Ohio. Although basically similar to Mitrospermum compressum, the newly discovered specimens exhibit several consistent differences. Ovules are strongly platyspermic, up to 4.2 mm long, 4.0 mm wide, and 0.6 mm thick. In the minor plane, ovules are broadest at the base and taper toward the micropyle. The integument exhibits three topographic regions: endotesta, scierotesta, and sarcotesta. The sarcotesta is extremely broad in the major plane, where it forms two membranous wings. A single terete vascular bundle enters the base of the ovule, traverses the integument, and divides to form two integumentary bundles and a conspicuous nucellar platform. Integumentary bundles extend toward the tip of the ovule at the margin of the sarcotesta and sclerotesta. A pollen chamber with a prominent nucellar beak is delimited at the tip of the nucellus. Consistent differences in vascularization, size, nature of the seed base, features of the pollen chamber, and the Late Pennsylvanian age demonstrate that the specimens represent a distinct species. The discovery of these ovules extends the stratigraphic range of Mitrospermum to the Upper
The effect of fluctuations on diffusion-limited reactions

Abstract We discuss the effect of various sources of fluctuations on the kinetics of diffusion-limited reaction processes. The diffusion mechanism for the motion of the reactants plays the most essential role and its effect is apparent in all of the reaction processes presented. Spatial fluctuations in the concentrations of the reactants are another source of fluctuations that have a dramatic effect on the kinetics of the system. The example of two-species annihilation, A + B→Inert, is recalled and analysed to demonstrate this effect. Finally, we show that discrete fluctuations, i.e. fluctuations arising from the discrete nature of the particles, are also of great importance and influence the kinetics. We present a formalism for the study of discrete fluctuations. This formalism is based on the Van Kampen Ω-expansion of a master equation representing the process in question. Various reaction processes are analysed and their kinetics is predicted in view of the different sources of fluctuations. Our theore...
Methyl β-lactoside: 600-MHz 1H- and 75-MHz 13C-n.m.r. studies of 2H- and 13C-enriched compounds

Abstract Using UDP- d -galactose : 2-acetamido-2-deoxy- d -glucose 4-β- d -galactosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.22), several methyl β-lactosides have been prepared with 2H- and/or 13C-enrichment at specific sites to facilitate study by 13C (75 MHz) and 1H (600 MHz) n.m.r. spectroscopy. 13C-Chemical shift assignments were verified and the 1H-spectrum of β-lactoside was fully assigned. Sites of enrichment were selected to permit all of the potential three-bond C-C and C-H couplings through the glycosidic bond to be obtained. Replacement of H-3 of the d -glucose residue of methyl β-lactoside with 2H allowed resolution of C-1–H-4′ coupling in the 600-MHz 1H-spectrum. Single or multiple 13C-enrichment at C-1, C-2, C-3, C-1′, C-3′, and/or C-4′ in the disaccharide allowed observation of intra- and inter-residue couplings. 13C-Spin-lattice relaxation-times (T1) are interpreted in terms of molecular motion in solution. The data suggest that methyl β-lactoside has an extended conformation with little rotation about the glycosidic bond. Inter-residue couplings are best explained by tortion angles of φ ~ 40° and ψ ~ 15°, indicating that the conformations of β-lactoside in solution and in the crystal are similar.
Catecholamine storage vesicles: topography and function

Abstract The ability of a cell to carry out many specialized functions is achieved by compartmentation of reactions within the cell. Here we review studies of how the functions of the adrenal chromaffin granules relate to their structure and topography.
Bim mediates apoptosis of CD127lo effector T cells and limits T cell memory

Following an acute T cell response, most activated effector cells die, while some survive and become memory cells. The pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member, Bcl-2 interacting mediator of death (Bim) is critical for eliminating most effector T cells, while expression of CD127 (IL-7Ralpha) has been proposed to mark effector cells destined to become memory cells. Here, we examined the effects of Bim on the death of effector T cells in relationship to CD127 expression and on development of T cell memory following lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection. We found that large numbers of CD127(lo) LCMV-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells were lost in wild-type mice, but were spared in Bim(-/-) mice. Further, while the numbers of CD127(hi) T cells declined only slightly during contraction of the response in wild-type mice, they increased significantly in Bim(-/-) mice due to re-expression of CD127 on CD127(lo) T cells that had avoided apoptosis. Functional memory T cells were significantly increased in Bim(-/-) mice; however, they underwent a slow attrition due to decreased proliferative renewal. Taken together, these data suggest that the absence of Bim-mediated death of LCMV-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in vivo can increase T cell memory, but other homeostatic mechanisms control the long-term maintenance of memory cells.
Will the Military Rule Russia

Views and opinions expressed in this article are the author's solely, and are not meant to reflect the views and opinions of the Department of the Navy or any agency of the U.S. government. The author would like to express his appreciation to Roman Laba and Paul Stockton for their comments. Amy Corning directed the author's attention to several Russian public opinion polls. Elisa Moskowitz made useful stylistic suggestions.
Epistemic Engineering and the Lucha for Sexual Rights in Postrevolutionary Nicaragua

Resumen Desde 1992–2007, Nicaragua tuvo la problematica distincion de mantener la ley de sodomia mas represiva de todas las Americas. En base al trabajo de campo realizado durante varios anos con activistas por lo que ellos llaman ‘la lucha’ por los derechos sexuales, este articulo se enfoca en la ‘maquina epistemologica’ de la lucha por los derechos sexuales en Nicaragua. En el texto se analizan los dos pilares que han enmarcado dicho activismo: ‘Orgullo Lesbico-Gay’ y ‘Una Sexualidad Libre de Prejuicios’, cada cual con su propio origen ideologico y propositos epistemologicos. Como representantes de discursos politicos y estrategicos de cambios sociales, los activistas han llevado a cabo actuaciones politicas y han divulgado publicamente los discursos para elaborar artesanalmente la forma en que la lucha ‘sale’ hacia el exterior, se da a conocer y es entendida por el conjunto del cuerpo politico nicaraguense. A traves de este proceso, los activistas han desarrollado estructuras epistemologicas sobre derechos sexuales en discursos multiples, incluyendo los de ‘liberacion universal,’ ‘derechos minoritarios’ y una etica comunitaria, asi como el Sandinismo.
Magnetism in transition metal substituted ZnO

Structural and magnetic properties have been studied for polycrystalline Zn1−xTMxO, where TM (transition metal ions) = Mn, Fe and Co. Phase pure samples demonstrate Curie-Weiss behavior with antiferromagnetic interactions. Different synthesis conditions lead to formation of impurities that are responsible for spin-glass behavior (ZnMnO3 impurity in Zn1−xMnxO) or high-temperature ferromagnetic ordering (Co metal in Zn1−xCoxO or (Zn,Fe)3O4 in Zn1−xFexO). No bulk ferromagnetism was observed for singlephase materials, contrary to the existing theories. (© 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
CLADISTICS AND EVOLUTIONARY MODELS

Flowever successful, phylogenetic systematics or cladistics has not yet found a comfortable home within one or another of the currently espoused metatheories of biology. What relevant metatheories are there? Darwinism, neodarwinism, neutralism. panbiogeography, macromutationism, sociobiology, punctuationism, non-equilibrium thermodynamicalism, hierarchicalism, structuralism, and perhaps other candidates come to mind. All candidates offer models, sometimes competing sometimes complementary, of the evolutionary process. With all models cladistics is at odds to one degree or another. Some cladists renounce, or are accused ofrenouncing, evolutionary models in general. Yet cladistics is seen by one or another advocate of a metatheory as contributory to, consistent with, or deducible from the theory as if, within the embrace of the theory, cladistics has its roots and proper place of rest after all. Contributing to the plenitude of these possibilities and conflicts is the historical fact that cladistics, as a discovery procedure, has achieved an identity-one not always held in high esteem, and one about which there is still controversy. Contributing also is the historical fact that cladistics has been preoccupied not with species-level taxa but rather with higher taxa. In its preoccupation cladistics has developed relatively free from entangling controversies about evolutionary models, most of which impinge upon systematics at the species level or at sub-specific levels. Heretofore the species problem, and all that comes with it, has not been a major concern of cladistics. Impetus grows for consideration of the species problem (Ghiselin, l9B7; cracraft, l9B9; Mishler and Budd, l9B9). What has cladistics to offer to this eternal issue? An answer depends upon one's view of cladistics. My view stems from the perception that Hennig's original contributions to systematic theory are the notions of monophyly, polyphyly, and particularly paraphyly. If cladistics has something to offer to the species problem, then the initial question is whether these notions apply to species and, if so, in what way. Everyone could agree that, with further study, a taxon once recognized as a species might be found to be complex-to be in reality a monophyletic, polyphyletic, or paraphyletic assemblage of taxa previously unrecognized, for example Rana pipiens (Hillis, 1988). In this sense everyone could agree that the notions apply to speciis, b,_,t this application might seem trivial. If so, a non-trivial application ultimately would involve the definition of the species category-the species problem. An early review ofthe species problem concluded that "ofdefinitions ofspecies there are as many as there are naturalists'2 (Tremaux, I865; cf. Nelson, I 989); since then there have been more attempts to solve the problem by making more definitions. Recent arguments are that (l ) for science, definitions themselves are ultimately irrelevant, and (2) no universal definition is possible in view of the different sorts of species that are known, e.g. sexual, asexual, hybrid, etc.
Simulation of stochastic hybrid systems with switching and reflecting boundaries

Modeling and simulation of biochemical systems are important tasks because they can provide insights into complicated systems where traditional experimentation is expensive or impossible. Stochastic hybrid systems are an ideal modeling paradigm for biochemical systems because they combine continuous and discrete dynamics in a stochastic framework. Simulation of these systems is difficult because of the inherent error which is introduced near the boundaries. In this work we develop a method for stochastic hybrid system simulation that explicitly considers switching and reflective boundaries. We also present a case study of the water/electrolyte balance system in humans and provide simulation results to demonstrate the usefulness of the improved simulation techniques.
Obstacle accommodation motion planning

A new robot path planning methodology, called obstacle accommodation, has been introduced for robots in cluttered environments. This methodology does not attempt to avoid physical contact between the robot and obstacles. Instead, it controls the contact to prevent damage to the robot. Obstacle accommodation represents a new robotic paradigm in which obstacles can contact robots at unspecified positions, i.e., a contact point can be at any point on any link. Obstacle accommodation requires analysis in kinematics, motion planning, dynamics, and control. This paper deals with the development of the kinematic constraints and with motion planning under these constraints. We begin by providing a general formulation of the motion constraints due to contact with obstacles. Next, a new inverse kinematics is presented that provides joint motion for robots under contact constraints. Finally, the new motion planning algorithm for robot motion in a cluttered environment is provided. The motion planning algorithm is verified by two examples, one on a linkage robot and the other on a mobile robot. >
A virtual memory model for parallel supercomputers

A model for virtual memory in a distributed memory parallel computer is proposed. It uses a novel parallel computing operating system framework and leads to the definition of two strategies for implementing parallel virtual memory. Careful analysis and simulation results indicate that dynamic page allocation performs better for applications that exhibit some locality of reference of public data and for applications whose data space does not fit in the physical memory available. Static page allocation is more efficient in cases of poor locality and small data space (no virtual memory needed).
The IBD1 locus for susceptibility to Crohn’s disease has a greater impact in Ashkenazi Jews with early onset disease

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have suggested that a susceptibility gene located on chromosome 16 and designated IBD1 may contribute to the development of Crohn’s disease (CD). However, these findings were observed in predominantly non-Jewish populations; in the three studies where Ashkenazi Jews were included for analysis, the results have been widely divergent. Because Ashkenazi Jews are known to have a higher incidence of the disease than non-Jews, we sought to determine whether this previously reported linkage could be extended to the Ashkenazi population. In addition, we examined whether Ashkenazi Jewish patients with an early age of onset (#21 yr) showed greater evidence of linkage to this locus. METHODS: Linkage analysis for the IBD1 region was performed on 123 Ashkenazi Jewish CD patients distributed among 53 families. Only patients with four Jewish grandparents were considered to be Jewish. Of the 123 Ashkenazi Jewish patients, 75 (61%) had an age of onset #21 yr. RESULTS: Ashkenazi Jews showed only modest evidence of linkage (nonparametric linkage 1.63, p 5 0.05) to the IBD1 locus. However, when the Ashkenazi population was subdivided on the basis of age of onset, there was a striking increase in linkage in families where affected individuals had an age of onset #21 yr (nonparametric linkage 3.02, p 5 0.002). In contrast, there was no evidence of linkage in the Jewish families where all affected individuals had an age of onset .21 yr. CONCLUSIONS: The IBD1 gene plays a greater role in conferring susceptibility to CD in Jews with early onset disease than in Jews with late onset disease. (Am J Gastroenterol 2001; 96:1127‐1132. © 2001 by Am. Coll. of Gastroenterology)
Suppression of Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito, using a 'hot spot' approach.

BACKGROUND Recent changes in climate and human behavior have led to dramatic increases in the abundance and geographic expansion of invasive mosquito vectors such as Aedes albopictus. Although source reduction has been shown to be effective in reducing mosquito populations, thousands of backyards need to be inspected during door-to-door campaigns, which is labor intensive and expensive. We identified ‘hot spots’ as high (five or more female or male Ae. albopictus) adult mosquito populations at very focal locations. We tested whether hot spot source reduction efforts were effective in reducing mosquito populations in the early summer season (June to July). RESULTS Analysis of historical data from the study sites indicated the proportion of hot spots in the control site relative to the intervention site was much greater in 2011, when hot spot treatments were applied to the intervention site, than in 2012, 2013 and 2014 combined, when no sites were treated [OR (95% CI) = 3.9 (1.8, 8.5), Z = 3.39, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Hot spot treatments can be incorporated into existing integrated mosquito management programs to increase effectiveness while reducing the time, cost and effort spent on methods such as door-to-door source reduction. Published 2015. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Physical Register Inlining

Physical register access time increases the delaybetween scheduling and execution in modern out-of-orderprocessors. As the number of physical registers increases,this delay grows, forcing designers to employ register fileswith multicycle access. This paper advocates more efficientutilization of a fewer number of physical registers in orderto reduce the access time of the physical register file. Registervalues with few significant bits are stored in the renamemap using physical register inlining, a scheme analogous toinlining of operand fields in data structures. Specifically,whenever a register value can be expressed with fewer bitsthan the register map would need to specify a physical registernumber, the value is stored directly in the map, avoidingthe indirection, and saving space in the physical register file.Not surprisingly, we find that a significant portion of all registeroperands can be stored in the map in this fashion, anddescribe straightforward microarchitectural extensions thatcorrectly implement physical register inlining. We find thatphysical register inlining performs well, particularly in processorsthat are register-constrained.
Age-Dependent Spontaneous Coronary Arterial Thrombosis in Transgenic Mice That Express a Stable Form of Human Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1

Background— Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) regulates fibrinolysis and has been reported to be an independent risk factor for ischemic cardiovascular events. This study describes the age-dependent development of spontaneous coronary arterial thrombi that are associated with evidence of subendocardial myocardial infarction in mice transgenic for human PAI-1. Methods and Results— We generated two independent transgenic mice founder lines that express a stable variant of active human PAI-1 under control of the murine preproendothelin-1 (mPPET-1) promoter. Backcrossed homozygous transgenic animals from founder line I had plasma PAI-1 levels of 23±12 ng/mL. PAI-1 transgenic animals younger than 4 months do not exhibit any evidence of arterial or venous thrombosis. Ninety percent of transgenic animals (n=10) older than 6 months developed spontaneous occlusions of typically multiple, penetrating coronary arteries, with histological evidence of subendocardial infarction identified in 50% of animals. Con...
Mosaic trisomy 15 in a liveborn infant

With only a small number of cases in the medical literature, mosaic trisomy 15 in liveborn infants is very rare. Despite its rarity, similar features among individuals have been described, including intrauterine growth retardation, craniofacial abnormalities and facial dysmorphisms, cardiac disease, and other organ anomalies. Very few liveborns have survived the first year of life. We report here on a term infant with growth restriction and multiple congenital anomalies who was found to have mosaic trisomy 15. The proband presented with some frequently reported findings such as dysmorphic facies and overlapping fingers, and the uncommon finding of whorled hypopigmentation. Previously unreported findings include abnormal cerebral vasculature and dysplastic kidneys. We add this new phenotypic information to widen the spectrum previously reported and provide a review of the literature to date. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Railgun Space Launcher

A method and facilities for delivering payload and people into outer space are presented. This method uses, in general, engines located on a planetary surface. The installation consists of a space apparatus, power drive stations, which include a fly-wheel accumulator (for storage) of energy, a variable reducer, a powerful homopolar electric generator, and electric rails. The drive stations accelerate the apparatus up to hypersonic speed. The estimations and computations show the possibility of making this project a reality in a short period of time (for payloads that can tolerate high g forces). The launch will be very cheap at a projected cost of $3–$5/lb. The authors developed a theory of this type of the launcher.
A Simulation Model of Capital Budgeting Under Uncertainty

This paper describes a simulation model of capital budgeting under uncertainty. It analyzes the effects of two types of uncertainty which influence the cash flows of the potential investment projects. Techniques of simulation and stochastic linear programming using Weingartner's Basic Horizon model of capital budgeting are employed to compute the expected return with an associated measure of the risk involved of different portfolios of projects. The manager can then select the portfolio which is closest to his personal risk-return preference. The model provides a practical guide to management in the entire process of project search, portfolio generation, and portfolio evaluation which characterizes the capital budgeting decision.
Alteration in pulsatile release of LH in aging female rats.

SummaryAmplitude of pulsatile release of LH was examined in OVX rats of ages 3-4, 9-11, and 17-18, months, serially bled via chronic jugular catheters. At the time of ovariectomy, rats showed normally cycling (NC), irregularly cycling (IC), or constant estrus (CE) ovarian activity. Amplitude of pulsatile release of LH was significantly reduced in CE rats as compared to all other groups. Further, LH pulse amplitude appeared to be more closely associated with reproductive state at the time of ovariectomy than with the age of the animal. Thus, LH pulse amplitude was greatest in NC rats, intermediate in IC rats, and lowest in CE rats, regardless of age. These data suggest that a common, central mechanism may be responsible for both the changes in reproductive pattern and the changes in pulsatile release of LH which accompany aging in the rat.