cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Was Aldo Leopold Right about the Kaibab Deer Herd

In ecology textbooks prior to the 1970s, Aldo Leopold’s classic story of predator control, overpopulation of deer, and habitat degradation on the Kaibab Plateau during the 1920s epitomized predator regulation of herbivore populations. However, the story disappeared from texts in the late 20th century after several papers noted uncertainties in estimations of the deer population and provided alternative explanations. We re-examined the case study by determining the age structure of aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) on the plateau. Aspen comprises the majority of deer browse in the summer, and the absence of a normal cohort of aspen from the 1920s would indicate deer overpopulation. The number of aspen (at 1.4 m) dating to the 1920s was an order of magnitude lower than the null expectation. Other periods of unusual numbers of aspen included high numbers of aspen dating to the 1880s and 1890s (when regular surface fires ceased), few aspen dating from 1953 to 1962 (after a second irruption of the deer population), and very high numbers from 1968 to 1992 (coincident with widespread logging). These convergent lines of evidence support the idea of extreme deer herbivory in the 1920s, consistent with food limitation of deer at high populations (bottom–up control) and predation limitation at low deer populations (top–down control). Some uncertainty remains within the overall story, and this level of ambiguity is common in case studies that involve population ecology, land management, and people at the scale of 1,000 km2 and 100 years. A complete version of the Kaibab deer story and its history would be a valuable, realistic case study for ecology texts.
A Review of Data on the Health Sector of the United States January 2002

This report presents data on the state of U.S. health care at the end of 2001. It provides information on access to health care, inequalities in incomes and medical care, the increasing costs of health care and health insurance, and the role of corporate money in the provision of health care and the development, marketing, and patenting of pharmaceuticals. The author also looks at the state of health maintenance organizations, the results of some recent surveys on physicians' and public opinion on managed care, and news about the nursing professions. Also provided is an update on Congressional activity on health care legislation, the role of health care industry money in politics, and some developments in health care systems elsewhere in the world.
Gordon Kaufman: An Attempt to Understand Him

Students of Karl Barth will recognize my title immediately: it is a paraphrase of Barth's own effort to understand Rudolf Bultmann. Like Barth, I seek really to understand, not to evade or repudiate; and really to seek, not to grasp insight as the better tool to punish the opponent. But like Barth again, I may find understanding an elusive goal. For I am one of those Christians Kaufman believes at odds with her own age.
Meta-analysis of the age-associated decline in maximal aerobic capacity in men: relation to training status.

Based on cross-sectional data, we recently reported that, in contrast to the prevailing view, the rate of decline in maximal oxygen consumption (V˙o 2 max) with age is greater in physically active ...
The opaH locus of Neisseria gonorrhoeae MS11A is involved in epithelial cell invasion.

Abstract In order to produce a successful infection, Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) must attach to and invade mucosal epithelial cells. To identify GC gene products involved in this early interaction with host cells we constructed a gene bank derived from a clinical isolate of GC, and isolated a clone which had the capacity to adhere to the human endometrial adenocarcinoma tissue-culture line HEC-1-B. The cloned sequence was identified as a member of the opa gene family whose protein products have been associated with virulence. The GC chromosome contains numerous variant opa genes which, in MS11, are designated opaA-K. Previous work showed that expression of opaC confers a highly invasive phenotype upon strain MS11. When our cloned opa gene was mutated and returned to the GC MS11A chromosome by transformation and homologous recombination, we isolated one transformant that was significantly reduced in its invasive capacity. The locus mutated in this transformant was identified as opaH. Our results indicate that invasiveness of GC for human epithelial cells can be determined by more than one opa gene in strain MS11A.
Distributed Affect as a Framework for Understanding Creative Collaboration

Historically, the study of affect has been intimately tied to theories of both cognition and creativity, and there are still unexplored connections between these related phenomena. This paper discusses research to expand and refine the formulation of distributed affect as a theoretical framework for analyzing and understanding creative collaboration. I elaborate on parallels between theories of cognition that extend beyond the individual as the unit of analysis and the text-based chat communication of affect between members of a distributed group who utilize creative problem solving to achieve their goals. Directions for future research are also discussed. A better understanding of the way in which distributed affect operates will have a significant impact on research into collaborative creativity as well as implications for the design of interfaces to support this type of distributed work.
An Economic Comparison of Gambling behavior in Atlantic City and Las Vegas

Using data from a recent survey that we commissioned, this article investigates (for the first time in the public domain) the demography and tax incidence implications of casino gambling in Atlanti...
Effective combination chemotherapy of adult malignant histiocytosis (histiocytic medullary reticulosis)

Adult malignant histiocytosis, also known as histiocytic medullary reticulosis, has been, in the past, considered a very aggressive disorder usually resistant to chemotherapy. Management in the past has included either single agent therapy or splenectomy. Recently, several cases have been reported that have responded favorably to combination chemotherapy. This paper reports on our experience with combination chemotherapy for this disorder. Of three patients treated, all three responded with a complete remission and two remain alive and free of disease at the present time. The outlook for patients with this diagnosis appears to be changing favorably with the advent of new treatment regimens.
A design for testability scheme with applications to data path synthesis

The recent progress of high level synthesis has illuminated an effective aid for system designers. To keep pace with the development of such an environment, there is a need to consider design for testability (DFT) during the synthesis process. This paper proposes a DFT scheme that can be coordinated with data path synthesis by an interactive trade-off process. The basis of this work is a system level testability model. To quantify the qualitative description of testability, a con- trollability measure and an observability measure is devel- oped. Based on these two measures, a procedure of trading- off between testing time and test hardware overhead is demonstrated. Featuring the ability to work on partial designs, this testing cost evaluation scheme is well suited to the demands of high level synthesis. Currently, simu- lation tools for obtaining testability measures have been completed and experiments have been conducted to vali- date this model.
Adaptations to Hypoxia in Birds: How to Fly High

Birds are generally more tolerant than mammals to hypoxia. For example, at an altitude of 6,100 m, house sparrows (Passer domesticus) are alert and active and exhibit normal behavior (74). In contrast, mice exposed to the same altitude are comatose (74). Bar-headed geese (Anser indicus) normally migrate over the Himalayan mountains and have been sighted flying over the summit of Mt. Everest (8848 m) (72, 73). These birds may begin their migration near sea level and reach altitudes near 9,000 m in less than one day, allowing essentially no time for acclimatization. Active flight in birds requires more energy than any other form of exercise in vertebrates of similar size (6). It is known from studies of freely flying birds in wind tunnels that oxygen consumption may increase is-fold during flapping flight (6). How do species such as bar-headed geese maintain adequate oxygen transport while performing such vigorous exercise during severe hypoxia? In recent years, a number of studies have provided insight into physiologic mechanisms that appear to contribute to the exceptional tolerance of birds to hypoxia. This review will address adaptations in oxygen transport in birds including (a) gas exchange efficiency of the lung, (b) oxygen-binding affinity of hemoglobin, (c) regulation of cardiac output and regional oxygen delivery, (d) unique aspects of cerebral vascular regulation, and (e) adaptations at the level of individual tissues.
Uncoupling of Protein and Ribonucleic Acid Synthesis by 5′,5′,5′-Trifluoroleucine in Salmonella typhimurium

The addition of 5′,5′,5′-trifluoroleucine (fluoroleucine) to leucine auxotrophs of Salmonella typhimurium permitted protein but not ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthesis to continue after leucine depletion. The uncoupling of the formation of these macromolecules by fluoroleucine was apparent if RNA and protein synthesis was measured either by the uptake of radioactive precursors or by direct chemical determinations. The analogue did not appear to be an inhibitor of RNA formation, since it was as effective as leucine in permitting RNA synthesis in a leucine auxotroph upon the addition of small amounts of chloramphenicol. In contrast to these data, fluoroleucine allowed continued protein and RNA formation in a leucine auxotroph of Escherichia coli strain W. In addition, contrary to the results obtained with S. typhimurium, the analogue replaced leucine for repression of the leucine bio-synthetic enzymes as well as the isoleucine-valine enzymes. We propose that these ambivalent effects of fluoroleucine on repression and RNA and protein synthesis in the two strains are due to differences in the ability of the analogue to attach to the various species of leucine transfer RNA.
Inherent bias in correlation averaged images

The correlation averaging algorithm frequently used to enhance micrographs of repeating structures contains an inherent bias that favours images with larger pixel values or positive noise levels. This bias not only skews the composite image toward higher pixel values, but also distorts the image by increasing the value of high-valued pixels more than that of low-valued pixels. These errors are especially important in scanning probe microscopy images where the pixel value reflects a distinct height. A similar algorithm that uses a structure function in place of the correlation function eliminates this bias.
A Trust Based Information Dissemination Model for Evaluating the Effect of Deceptive Data

This research studies the problem of evaluating the effect of deceptive data based on the information flow network and the Web of trust. We present an information dissemination model that illustrates the prerequisite for dissemination of information based on the subject and object trusts. To evaluate the effects of deceptive data accurately, we offer a quantitative model that is utilized to calculate to what extent the subjects in the information flow network are affected. The algorithm for evaluating the spread of deceptive data is provided and the time complexity of the algorithm is also analyzed
Structure and concepts for current-based analog scan

This paper presents the structure of a current-based analog scan cell for analog and mixed-signal design-for-test. The cell uses current to represent the analog signal to be scanned and functions identically to a digital scan latch, except of course the scanned signal retains analog information. The concepts of scanning are explained using this structure, and some limitations, under experimental study at this time, are addressed. Techniques to apply this structure to continuous-time and sampled-data analog designs are described.
High-speed CRC computation using state-space transformations

Parallelization of the linear-feedback shift register used to compute the CRC has long been recognized as a way to increase throughput. In all applications of this technique reported previously, the achievable increase in throughput is limited by an increase in the circuit complexity within the feedback loop; for a circuit that processes M bits of the input sequence in parallel, the throughput increase, or speed-up, appears to be asymptotically limited to M/2. In this paper, we develop a state-space transformation for the M-bits-at-a-time CRC system that reduces the complexity of its feedback loop to exactly that of the original bit-at-a-time system. This simplification comes at the cost of increased circuit complexity outside the feedback loop; however, these blocks can be pipelined. Thus the transformed system can achieve a full speed-up factor of M compared to the bit-at-a-time system. The transformation introduced in this paper is general in that it is valid in any field. It can thus be applied to encoders for cyclic codes over arbitrary finite fields that process M elements of an input sequence in parallel.
The Many Faces of Fear: Comparing the Pathways and Impacts of Nonconsumptive Predator Effects on Prey Populations

Background: Most ecological models assume that predator and prey populations interact solely through consumption: predators reduce prey densities by killing and consuming individual prey. However, predators can also reduce prey densities by forcing prey to adopt costly defensive strategies. Methodology/Principal Findings: We build on a simple Lotka-Volterra predator-prey model to provide a heuristic tool for distinguishing between the demographic effects of consumption (consumptive effects) and of anti-predator defenses (nonconsumptive effects), and for distinguishing among the multiple mechanisms by which anti-predator defenses might reduce prey population growth rates. We illustrate these alternative pathways for nonconsumptive effects with selected empirical examples, and use a meta-analysis of published literature to estimate the mean effect size of each pathway. Overall, predation risk tends to have a much larger impact on prey foraging behavior than measures of growth, survivorship, or fecundity. Conclusions/Significance: While our model provides a concise framework for understanding the many potential NCE pathways and their relationships to each other, our results confirm empirical research showing that prey are able to partially compensate for changes in energy income, mitigating the fitness effects of defensive changes in time budgets. Distinguishing the many facets of nonconsumptive effects raises some novel questions, and will help guide both empirical and theoretical studies of how predation risk affects prey dynamics.
A Nonlinear Model of Passive Muscle Viscosity

The material properties of passive skeletal muscle are critical to proper function and are frequently a target for therapeutic and interventional strategies. Investigations into the passive viscoelasticity of muscle have primarily focused on characterizing the elastic behavior, largely neglecting the viscous component. However, viscosity is a sizeable contributor to muscle stress and extensibility during passive stretch and thus there is a need for characterization of the viscous as well as the elastic components of muscle viscoelasticity. Single mouse muscle fibers were subjected to incremental stress relaxation tests to characterize the dependence of passive muscle stress on time, strain and strain rate. A model was then developed to describe fiber viscoelasticity incorporating the observed nonlinearities. The results of this model were compared with two commonly used linear viscoelastic models in their ability to represent fiber stress relaxation and strain rate sensitivity. The viscous component of mouse muscle fiber stress was not linear as is typically assumed, but rather a more complex function of time, strain and strain rate. The model developed here, which incorporates these nonlinearities, was better able to represent the stress relaxation behavior of fibers under the conditions tested than commonly used models with linear viscosity. It presents a new tool to investigate the changes in muscle viscous stresses with age, injury and disuse.
Fertilization and hatching rates and larval performance in captive common barbel (Barbus barbus L.) throughout the spawning season

Summary The aim of this study was to investigate changes in reproductive success including fertilization and hatching rates and larval performance as indicated by body weight and resistance to osmotic stress in captive common barbel (Barbus barbus L.) throughout the reproductive season. Spawning of B. barbus broodstock in captivity proceeded from February 01 to June 21 during 2006. Within the spawning period, fertilization and hatching rates and larval performance (body weight and resistance to osmotic stress) were studied at 7-day intervals. The average number of spawnings for each female was 2.8. Average fecundity was 1650 ± 460 eggs per spawning. A high proportion of females delivered poor egg quality (overripe eggs) during the spawning season from 57% on February 15 to 38% on May 31. The lowest fertilization and hatching rates were observed at the beginning (February 1, 18.5 ± 2.5% and 5 ± 2.5%, respectively) and the end (June 21, 25 ± 7% and 5.5 ± 2.5%, respectively) of the spawning period. While the highest values of both rates were found in period from March 22 (72.5 ± 5%) to May 10 (68 ± 4%) and from April 19 (53.8 ± 10%) to May 17 (50.5 ± 5%), respectively. The lowest larval body weight and resistance to osmotic stress were found at the beginning (8.0 ± 0.7 mg and 0 ± 0%, respectively) and the end of the spawning period (8.0 ± 0.7 mg and 25.2 ± 5%, respectively). The highest larval body weight and resistance to osmotic stress were recorded from March 15 (11.3 ± 0.9 mg) to May 31 (11.0 ± 0.7 mg) and from May 10 (93.5 ± 5%) to May 31 (90.7 ± 8%), respectively.
The relationship between emergency department crowding and patient outcomes: a systematic review.

Purpose Emergency department (ED) crowding is a significant patient safety concern associated with poor quality of care. The purpose of this systematic review is to assess the relationship between ED crowding and patient outcomes. Design We searched the Medline search engine and relevant emergency medicine and nursing journals for studies published in the past decade that pertained to ED crowding and the following patient outcome measures: mortality, morbidity, patient satisfaction, and leaving the ED without being seen. All articles were appraised for study quality. Findings A total of 196 abstracts were screened and 11 articles met inclusion criteria. Three of the eleven studies reported a significant positive relationship between ED crowding and mortality either among patients admitted to the hospital or discharged home. Five studies reported that ED crowding is associated with higher rates of patients leaving the ED without being seen. Measures of ED crowding varied across studies. Conclusions ED crowding is a major patient safety concern associated with poor patient outcomes. Interventions and policies are needed to address this significant problem. Clinical Relevance This review details the negative patient outcomes associated with ED crowding. Study results are relevant to medical professionals and those that seek care in the ED.
Anti-CD45RO Suppresses Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Replication in Microglia: Role of Hck Tyrosine Kinase and Implications for AIDS Dementia

Macrophages and microglia are productively infected by HIV-1 and play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of AIDS dementia. Although macrophages and microglia express CD45, a transmembrane protein tyrosine phosphatase, whether modulation of its activity affects human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication is unknown. Here, we report that of the five human CD45 isoforms, microglia express CD45RB and CD45RO (RB > RO) and treatment of microglia with a CD45 agonist antibody alphaCD45RO (UCHL-1) inhibits HIV-1 replication. alphaCD45RO prevented HIV-1 negative factor (Nef)-induced autophosphorylation of hematopoietic cell kinase (Hck), a myeloid lineage-specific Src kinase. Recombinant CD45 protein also inhibited HIV-1-induced Hck phosphorylation in microglia. Antennapedia-mediated delivery of Hck Src homology domain 3 (SH3), a domain that binds to the Nef PxxP motif with high affinity, reduced HIV-1-induced Hck phosphorylation and HIV-1 production in microglia. HIV-1-induced LTR transactivation was observed in U38 cells stably overexpressing wild-type Hck but not kinase-inactive Hck. In microglia, alphaCD45RO reduced activation of transcription factors (NF-kappaB and CCAAT enhancer binding protein) necessary for LTR transactivation in macrophages. These results establish that in myeloid lineage cells, Nef interacts with the Hck SH3 domain, resulting in autophosphorylation of Hck and an increase in HIV-1 transcription. alphaCD45RO-mediated inhibition of HIV-1 replication in microglia identifies the CD45 protein tyrosine phosphatase as a potential therapeutic target for HIV-1 infection/AIDS dementia.
Hunger effects on foraging responses to perceptual cues in immature and adult wolf spiders (Lycosidae)

Abstract The wolf spider, Schizocosa ocreata (Hentz), varies foraging patch residence time in the presence of different sensory cues from prey, even without food rewards. This study examines the influence and interaction of hunger state, age and sex on the use of different types of sensory information to determine foraging patch sampling duration. In a series of two-chambered artificial foraging patches, I tested 26 S. ocreata once as immatures, and again as adults, under two hunger states (satiated and 7 days without food). Patches varied in the type of sensory information provided by live prey (crickets) as follows: visual cues alone; vibratory cues alone; combined visual/vibratory cues; and control (no prey). Without feeding in patches, the type of sensory stimuli available from prey strongly affected patch residence time, with spiders using primarily visual rather than vibratory cues. Hunger level as a main effect had no influence on residence time, but hunger state did mediate the importance of visual or vibratory information. Significant age- and sex-related differences in patch residence time in the presence of different sensory cues were found.These data suggest that ontogenetic and sex-specific foraging strategies are influenced by use of prefeeding perceptual cues rather than hunger state in wolf spiders.
Why Did the Elephant Start to Trot? India?s Growth Acceleration Re-Examined

It is commonly believed that India's growth acceleration has been mainly due to a change in the state's attitudes towards business in the early 1980s and not so much because of changes in economic policies. This paper re-examines this argument and shows, first, that the turnaround in growth took place earlier in the late 1970s. It also shows that growth has been mostly driven by the rate of private equipment investment (which increased in the mid-1970s), and that this in turn has been driven by financial deepening, public fixed investment and the relative price of equipment investment. The paper concludes that the effect of the attitudinal shift of the
Outer surface lipoproteins of Borrelia burgdorferi activate vascular endothelium in vitro

Previously, we reported that activation of vascular endothelium by the Lyme disease pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi results in enhanced expression of endothelial cell adhesion molecules and promotion of the transendothelial migration of neutrophils in vitro. To investigate the role of spirochetal lipoproteins in this process, we assessed the ability of a synthetic lipohexapeptide corresponding to the N terminus of B. burgdorferi outer surface protein A (OspA) to activate human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Using a whole-cell enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we demonstrated that OspA lipopeptide activated endothelium in a dose-dependent fashion, as measured by upregulation of E-selectin. Near-maximal stimulation was achieved with 100 micromolar lipopeptide. In addition, the lipopeptide increased expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1). Similar results were obtained with 25 nM native OspA or lipidated recombinant OspA or OspB. Incubation of HUVEC with nonlipidated OspA peptide, nonlipidated recombinant OspA or OspB, or tripalmitoyl-S-glyceryl-cysteine had little or no effect on expression of these adhesion molecules. A mutant strain of B. burgdorferi that lacked OspA and OspB upregulated expression of E-selectin to the same degree as its wild-type counterpart, indicating that other spirochetal components also possess the ability to activate endothelium. Conditioned medium from HUVEC incubated with OspA lipopeptide or lipidated recombinant OspA induced chemotaxis of neutrophils in Boyden chamber assays, whereas the OspA preparations alone were devoid of chemotactic activity. When HUVEC grown on connective tissue substrates were treated with OspA lipopeptide, subsequently added neutrophils migrated across the endothelial monolayers. These results implicate the outer surface lipoproteins of B. burgdorferi as potential effector molecules in the promotion of a host inflammatory response.
Treatment outcomes of patients (pts) with primary mediastinal germ cell tumors (PMGCT): The M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) experience

14538 Background: PMGCT are uncommon germ cell malignancies. Mediastinal nonseminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCT) have a poor prognosis, whereas pure seminoma (Sem) has a good or intermediate progn...
Premature pubarche in a child with abnormal 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase function and Klinefelter syndrome: the intriguing relationship between androgen deficiency and excess

Key Clinical Message Disorders of androgen excess may coexist with disorders of androgen deficiency, such as Klinefelter syndrome, and can create diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.
Detection of Supercooled Fog Droplets

Supercooled fog droplets may be detected, in many instances, by means of a modified polariscope, used in conjunction with a source of sonic disturbances. Possible application of these findings to the problem of detecting incipient aircraft wing-icing is here suggested.
Maternal Antibiotic Treatment Impacts Development of the Neonatal Intestinal Microbiome and Antiviral Immunity

Microbial colonization of the infant gastrointestinal tract (GIT) begins at birth, is shaped by the maternal microbiota, and is profoundly altered by antibiotic treatment. Antibiotic treatment of mothers during pregnancy influences colonization of the GIT microbiota of their infants. The role of the GIT microbiota in regulating adaptive immune function against systemic viral infections during infancy remains undefined. We used a mouse model of perinatal antibiotic exposure to examine the effect of GIT microbial dysbiosis on infant CD8(+) T cell-mediated antiviral immunity. Maternal antibiotic treatment/treated (MAT) during pregnancy and lactation resulted in profound alterations in the composition of the GIT microbiota in mothers and infants. Streptococcus spp. dominated the GIT microbiota of MAT mothers, whereas Enterococcus faecalis predominated within the MAT infant GIT. MAT infant mice subsequently exhibited increased and accelerated mortality following vaccinia virus infection. Ag-specific IFN-γ-producing CD8(+) T cells were reduced in sublethally infected MAT infant mice. MAT CD8(+) T cells from uninfected infant mice also demonstrated a reduced capacity to sustain IFN-γ production following in vitro activation. We additionally determined that control infant mice became more susceptible to infection if they were born in an animal facility using stricter standards of hygiene. These data indicate that undisturbed colonization and progression of the GIT microbiota during infancy are necessary to promote robust adaptive antiviral immune responses.
4710 Primary chronic-active gastritis in children: what is the role of h pylori?

Background. H pylori infections are implicated as the cause of nearly all primary (no other known cause) gastritis (PG), especially primary chronicactive gastritis (PCAG). Recent data in adults and children suggest that the association of H pylori and primary gastric and duodenal ulcers may be less than previously reported. To determine whether the association of H pylori and PCAG in children is also lower than initially thought, we reviewed the biopsies of all children undergoing upper GI endoscopy (EGD) at UCSF. Methods. Gastric biopsies obtained from children at UCSF from 1/1/98-8/1/99 were reviewed in a blinded fashion by one GI pathologist. At least 3 specimens from the antrum, fundus, and/or cardia were obtained from each child and were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Histologic evidence of inflammation was evaluated using the modified Sydney criteria. Specimens demonstrating PCAG but no H. pylori were stained with Giemsa. Patients were excluded from the analysis if they had a known cause for PG. Results. Biopsies from 153 patients (56% male) were evaluated. The mean age was 8.7 (±5.5, std dev) years for all patients, 11.6 (±4.9) years for patients with PCAG and 12.7 (±4.1) years for those with H pylori . The Table shows the rates of PG, PCAG, and H. pylori: All children with H pylori had PCAG but nearly half of the children with PCAG (10/22) had no evidence of H pylori. Significantly more older children (10-20 yrs) had PCAG (p H pylori is a common cause of PCAG but nearly half of the cases of PCAG are idiopathic. These data indicate that the association of H pylori and PCAG is lower than suggested by published reports.
Association of Rheumatoid Factors With Subclinical and Clinical Atherosclerosis in African American Women: The Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Objective Although the association between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is established, the exact mechanism is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that RA-related autoantibodies are independent risk factors for subclinical atherosclerosis and subsequent clinical CVD events. Methods The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) is a community-based cohort study prospectively collecting CVD outcome and risk factor data in middle-aged to elderly multiethnic participants since 2000. Rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP2) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and coronary artery calcium (CAC) by computed tomography, were measured at MESA baseline in 6,532 participants who were followed for 10.3 years for coronary heart disease (CHD) end points (myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, CHD death) and CVD end points (included CHD end points, stroke, stroke death). Multivariable logistic regression and Cox regression assessed associations between RF/anti-CCP and CAC or CVD end points. Results IgM RF, IgA RF, anti-CCP, and either RF isotype predictors were positive in 15.8%, 8.7%, 2.0%, and 20.6%, respectively. A total of 12.2% had CAC ≥300, 7.1% had CHD end points, and 10.2% had CVD end points. IgA RF and anti-CCP were associated with CAC ≥300 in African American women (odds ratio [OR] 2.4 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.2-5.1] and OR 4.1 [95% CI 1.3-12.7], respectively). RA-related autoantibodies were also associated with clinical CVD events in African American women (anti-CCP: OR 5.3 [95% CI 2.4-12.0]; either RF isotype: OR 2.4 [95% CI 1.4-4.0]). There was a trend for association between autoantibodies and CAC in white women. No associations were found in men. Conclusion RA-related autoantibodies are associated with subclinical and clinical atherosclerosis in African American women from a community-based non-RA cohort, indicating autoimmune factors may play a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
Design and Implementation of Knowledge Search Engine Based on Lucene

Power companies have a lot of its own resources,and it is increasingly becoming an important support for enterprise business.In this paper,a knowledge search engine is designed and implemented,which is based on open source Lucene text search toolkit.It covers whole enterprise-wide digital resources,makes a feasible solution for enterprise knowledge management platform,and provides an effective way to use knowledge and resources in enterprise.
Gene polymorphism of Helicobacter pylori cytotoxin associated genes cluster

Objective Gene polymorphism is becoming a focus in the studies of Helicobacter pylori(Hp).The aim of this study was to observe the distribution of cagA,cagM,cagZ,cag Ⅰ-Ⅱ conjunction,and IS605,the genes localized in or related to the cag pathogenicity island(cag PAI) of Hp,and to investigate their association with gastroduodenal diseases.Methods The distribution of cagA,cagM,cagZ,cag Ⅰ-Ⅱ conjunction,and IS605 was detected by polymerase chain reaction(PCR) in 253 Hp strains from Chinese patients with gastroduodenal disease.The primers were designed based on the standard strain sequence NCTC11638.Results Of the 253 clinical isolates,the detection rates of cagA,cagM,cagZ were 92.5%(234/253),86.2%(218/253) and 66%(167/253),respectively.No loci of cagA,cagM,cagZ showed any relationship with chronic non-atrophic gastritis,peptic ulcer and gastric cancer(P0.05).The conjunction of cag Ⅰ-Ⅱ characteristic of Western strains was detected in only 5.1%(13/253) of the Chinese isolates,indicating a strain structure different from that of the Western strain.The detection rate of the Western type cag Ⅰ-Ⅱ conjunction was significantly higher in the strains from peptic ulcer(10/75) than in those from chronic non-atrophic gastritis(2/146)(P0.01),and so was the detection rate of IS605 in chronic non-atrophic gastritis than in peptic ulcer(75/146 vs 21/75,P0.01).Conclusion The cagPAI cluster sequence has an extensive gene polymorphism.None of cagA,cagM and cagZ can act alone as a virulence predictor of Hp.The presence of IS605 could affect the virulence of Hp.There may be a structure in the region of the cag Ⅰ-Ⅱ conjunction that is characteristic of Chinese or East Asian strains.
Pathogenesis and Molecular Biology of HSV Latency and Ocular Reactivation in the Rabbit

Research on herpesvirus infections has commanded the attention of a diverse group of scientists for over a century. Until the advent of the human immunodeficiency virus, the herpes simplex viruses (HSV) were the most intensively studied of all viruses. During the early part of the nineteenth century, long before the infectious agent responsible for cold sores (fever blisters) was identified, studies suggested that damage to the trigeminal nerve could induce peripheral herpetic vesicles (1). Gruter demonstrated that a particle of material from a herpetic blister inoculated into a rabbit eye could cause herpes and that, in this way, the disease could be transmitted in series from one rabbit to another (2). Following Gruter's basic discovery, research conducted in many parts of the world showed a variety of clinical forms of herpes to be similarly transmissible by inoculation (3). At roughly the same time, Goodpasture proposed that "the virus remains in the ganglia in a latent state after the local lesion has healed" and discussed in detail the pathology of herpetic infection in humans and animals (4,5).
The Naturalist’s Presence: Notes Toward a Relational Phenomenology of Attention and Meaning

Deepening our authentic human relationship with the rest of Nature requires learning about Nature in ways that avoid treating this vibrant, intimate Other as an inert, distant object. Natural history—defined for purposes of this chapter as the multidisciplinary, nondestructive study of the natural world in situ and over time —offers such an approach to nature study. A phenomenological examination of the naturalist’s integrative experience, which engages affective, cognitive, and transcendental dimensions, may shed light on constitutive aspects of being a human-in-relationship with Nature.
The impact of advertising, goodwill, and other intangibles in the retail foodservice industry: Do intangible investments bite into investor returns?

ABSTRACTUtilizing a sample of U.S. publicly traded foodservice retailers, this study examines the impact of advertising, goodwill, and intangible assets on investor holding period returns. The results show that neither advertising nor intangible assets have a positive and significant impact on holding period returns. Goodwill, however, does have a positive and significant impact on holding period returns. Foodservice retailers may therefore want to question the effectiveness of growth strategies based on a firm’s own investments in either advertising or intangible assets. Instead, building a foodservice retailing business through mergers and acquisitions may prove a better use of company resources.
Designer Histone Complexes: Controlling Protein–DNA Interactions with Protein Charge as an “All-or-None” Digital Switch

An artificial histone is synthesized that functions as a DNA–protein digital switch, where DNA binding is all or none, controlled by a sharp threshold of protein charge. A non-DNA-binding protein, glucose oxidase (GOx), was chemically modified by attaching an increasing number of triethylenetetramine (TETA) side chains to its glutamate/aspartate groups to obtain a small library of covalently modified GOx(n) derivatives. The parameter n denotes the net charge on the protein at pH 7, which was increased from −62 (pristine GOx) to +75 by attaching an increasing number of TETA residues to the protein. All GOx(n) derivatives retained their secondary structure to a good extent, as monitored by UV circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, and they also retained oxidase activities to a significant extent. The interaction of the GOx(n) with calf thymus DNA was examined by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Pristine GOx of −62 charge at pH 7 in 10 mM Tris–HCl and 50 mM NaCl buffer had no affinity for the negativel...
Synergistic effects of graphene quantum dot sensitization and nitrogen doping of ordered mesoporous TiO2 thin films for water splitting photocatalysis(Conference Presentation)

The optical and electronic properties of TiO2 thin films provide tremendous opportunities in several applications including photocatalysis, photovoltaics and photoconductors for energy production. Despite many attractive features of TiO2, critical challenges include the innate inability of TiO2 to absorb visible light and the fast recombination of photoexcited charge carriers. In this study, we prepared ordered mesoporous TiO2 films co-modified by graphene quantum dot sensitization and nitrogen doping (GQD-N-TiO2) for hydrogen production from photoelectrochemical water splitting under visible light irradiation. First, cubic ordered mesoporous TiO2 films were prepared by a surfactant templated sol-gel method. Then, TiO2 films were treated with N2/Ar plasma for the incorporation of substitutional N atoms into the lattice of TiO2. GQDs were prepared by chemically oxidizing carbon nano-onions. The immobilization of GQDs was accomplished by reacting carboxyl groups of GQDs with amine groups of N-TiO2 developed by the prior immobilization of (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES). Successful immobilization of GQDs onto N-TiO2 was probed by UV-Vis, FT-IR, and scanning electron microscopy. Further, zeta potential and contact angle measurements showed enhanced surface charge and hydrophilicity, confirming the successful immobilization of GQDs. The GQD-N-TiO2, N-TiO2 and GQD-TiO2 films showed 400 times, 130 times and 8 times photocurrent enhancement, respectively, compared to TiO2 films for water splitting with a halogen bulb light source. This outstanding enhancement is attributed to the high surface area of mesoporous films and synergistic effects of nitrogen doping and GQD sensitization resulting in enhanced visible light absorption, efficient charge separation and transport.
Summary Of Studies That Document The Effectiveness Of Cloud Seeding For Snowfall Augmentation

A brief summary of past research studies related to wintertime cloud seeding for snowfall augmentation has been compiled to illustrate what has been learned in those experiments that proved to be successful. The summary focuses primarily on physical studies, and on some randomized experiments that were accompanied by physical studies which verified aspects of the cloud seeding conceptual model. The important research areas covered include studies on: (1) the availability of supercooled liquid water, including its spatial and temporal distribution, (2) verifying the transport and dispersion of seeding material to clouds over target areas, (3) the microphysical changes caused by seeding with silver iodide and liquid propane, and (4) the precipitation increases that have been verified in physical studies and randomized experiments. The summary of results from past research details the specifics of the "strong suggestions of positive seeding effects" referred to in the 2003 report to the National Academies of Science entitled Critical Issues in Weather Modification Research. Although plentiful evidence regarding the effectiveness of cloud seeding is presented, it is also noted that further research on wintertime cloud seeding could provide answers to uncertainties that still exist, and also potentially benefit ongoing operational cloud seeding projects. Some recommendations for future research that take advantage of recent technological developments are presented.
A Hypomorphic Cbfb Allele Reveals a Critical Dosage-Sensitive Function of Core Binding Factors at the Earliest Stages of T Cell Development.

The family of core binding factors includes the DNA-binding subunits Runx1-3 and the common non-DNA binding partner CBFβ. Runx1 and CBFβ are essential for the emergence of hematopoietic stem cells during fetal development, but not for stem cell maintenance during later ontogeny. Runx1 is also required for megakaryocyte differentiation, B cell development, and for the DN2 to DN3 transition in thymocyte development. Runx2/CBFβ are critical for normal osteogenesis, and Runx3 for CD4 silencing in CD8+ T cells, but their contribution to other steps of hematopoietic development is unknown. To examine the collective role of core binding factors in hematopoiesis, we generated a hypomorphic Cbfb allele ( Cbfb rss). CBFβ protein levels were reduced by approximately 2–3 fold in fetuses homozygous for the Cbfb rss allele ( Cbfb rss/rss), and 3–4 fold in fetuses carrying one hypomorphic and one knockout allele ( Cbfb rss/−). Cbfb rss/rss and Cbfb rss/− fetuses had normal erythroid and B cell development, and relatively mild abnormalities in megakaryocyte and granulocyte differentiation. In contrast, T cell development was very sensitive to an incremental reduction of CBFβ levels: mature thymocytes were decreased in Cbfb rss/rss fetuses, and virtually absent in Cbfb rss/−fetuses. We next assessed the development of Cbfb rss/rss and Cbfb rss/− fetal liver progenitors after transplantation to irradiated adult recipients, in competition with wild-type ( wt ) bone marrow cells. Wt , Cbfb rss/rss and Cbfb rss/− fetal progenitors replenished the erythroid, myeloid and B cell compartments equally well. The overall development of Cbfb rss/rss T cells was preserved, although CD4 expression was derepressed in double negative thymocytes. In Cbfb rss/− chimeras, mature thymocytes were entirely derived from competitor cells. Furthermore, the developmental block in Cbfb rss/− progenitors was present at the earliest stages of T cell development within the DN1 (ETP) and DN2 subsets. Our data define a critical CBFβ threshold for normal T cell development, and they situate an essential role of core binding factors during the earliest stages of T cell development. In addition, early thymopoiesis appeared more severely affected by reduced CBFβ dosage than by the lack of Runx1 (Ichikawa et al. , Nat Med 2004; Growney et al. , Blood 2005), suggesting that Runx2/3 may contribute to core binding factor activity in the T cell lineage.
Glenoid and Scapula Fracture

Various common injuries in the shoulder, humerus, and elbow are investigated in this section. Significant attention is paid not only to proper diagnostic examination and imaging, but also to optimal non-operative and operative treatment options to manage these conditions.
Chapter 5 – Role of Devices, Computers and Networks

Chapter Summary Devices, computers, and networks are prime movers in the knowledge era as the internal combustion engines, petroleum products, and roadways were the prime movers of the automobile era. The knowledge worker would be deflated without machines and Internet as much as the human body would perish without food and water. More recently, the hand-held devices and microwave communications have become intrinsically interdependent in providing significant and timely data and information to knowledge workers. In this chapter, we investigate the social and global effects of the continuously expanding role of these tools of information technology on societies and cultures. Knowledge plays a central role. Devices, computers, and network have become a triadic central focus for the global activities of most human beings. The role of humans to process knowledge is gradually being undertaken by knowledge machines with very powerful knowledge-ware atop of traditional net-ware and AI software. Artificial intelligence is the catalyst in the machines as much as natural intelligence is the driver toward knowledge. The many directions of knowledge as classified in the Dewey Decimal System or the Library of Congress Classification demand many forms of natural intelligence of human beings. Human discretion elevates knowledge to the pinnacle of social justice or to depths of despair. Machines with trend analysis knowledge-ware can provide some initial directionality but uncorrupted human judgment still reigns supreme. In a very oblique sense, unbiased wisdom machines can even track the corruption in the human judgment! Knowledge with human refinement becomes savory and beneficial. The more lasting discoveries in the domain of knowledge are the pearls of wisdom found and preserved in the Vedas and Verses of Nalanda. Conversely, knowledge without the human values becomes abusive and detrimental. The more atrocious deeds of humans without ethics become the venom and poison that still leave disgrace and dishonor in the books of war and shame.
Secure Communication via a Recycling of Attenuated Classical Signals

Combining classical communication with quantum security, while maintaining practical bit rates, has been a goal for many years. The author proposes merging a classical signal with a proven, secure system for quantum key distribution (QKD). The QKD system is based on attenuated reflection of the classical signal, allowing it to securely communicate information while simultaneously building the shared random bits that provide provable security. This system has several advantages over other approaches, including not requiring on-demand single-photon or entangled-state sources.
Escaping the LRA: Examining the Decision to Disengage from Militarized Dissident Groups

ABSTRACTThis study seeks to understand the conditions that led individuals to accept the risks associated with leaving the Lord’s Resistance Army. To this end, a large participant survey of former rebels was conducted. Results from the survey suggest that the investment model offers a useful tool for capturing the factors that weigh into an individual’s decision-making process as he or she considers disengaging from a group. However, the data also suggest that lack of investment does not equate to disengagement. The perceived opportunity for escape and the costs associated with the risk of escape play critical roles. Consequently, counterinsurgency campaigns and postconflict reconciliation efforts in Africa ought to be jointly calibrated to maximize the likelihood of disengagement.