cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Salt Taste Sensitivity and Stimulus Volume: Sips and Drops. Some Implications for the Henkin Taste Test:

Various presentation procedures and stimulus volumes were compared in their effect on salt taste sensitivity. For sodium chloride (NaCl) stimuli pipetted onto the tongue, subjects had comparable measured sensitivity to 10 ml and 1 ml volumes but a reduced sensitivity to 0.1 ml volumes. The greatest sensitivity was achieved with 10 ml sipped volumes. Modification of the Henkin dropwise triangular taste test, by increasing the stimulus volumes, increased subjects' sensitivity. Only the 1 ml pipette presentation increased the sensitivity of the Henkin procedure, albeit slightly, to the detection of changes in taste sensitivity, the purpose for which the procedure was actually designed. Such modification did not perturb salivary NaCl levels more than the regular Henkin procedure, so it would not be expected to introduce sensitivity drift.
The significance of metal hyperaccumulation for biotic interactions

Metal hyperaccumulating plants contain very high metal contents. Because of the general toxicity of metals, chemically-mediated biotic interactions involving hyperaccumulating plants may differ greatly from those of non-hyperaccumulators. Recent research has demonstrated a defensive function for hyperaccumulated metals against herbivores and pathogens. We predict that some herbivore/pathogen species have evolved metal tolerance, and suggest that resulting high metal levels in herbivores/pathogens may defend them against their own predators. Little is known regarding interference and commensal interactions involving hyperaccumulating plants. Decreased competition may occur through an interference interaction similar to allelopathy, in which enrichment of metal in the soil under a hyperaccumulator plant's canopy may inhibit another plant species, thus resulting in “elemental allelopathy”. Metal enrichment of soil under hyperaccumulators also may result in commensalism if another plant species (possibly another hyperaccumulator) derives a benefit from growing in the metal-enriched soil under the canopy of a hyperaccumulating overstory plant. It seems likely that high-metal plant litter will host a specialized microflora of decomposers and may affect nutrient cycling rates. Mutualist biotic interactions also may be affected by the elevated metal contents of hyperaccumulating species. Mycorrhizal fungi may form mutualisms with hyperaccumulators, but the phenomenon is poorly-explored. The few cases investigated to date have not detected mycorrhizae. Pollination and seed dispersal mechanisms may require biotic vectors that might be affected by plant metal content. Hyperaccumulating plants may have solved this dilemma in three ways. First, some may rely on abiotic vectors for pollen or seed dispersal. Second, biotic vectors used by these species may have varied diets and thus dilute metal intake to non-toxic levels. Finally, biotic vectors may have evolved tolerance of elevated dietary levels of metals, and perhaps have become specialists on hyperaccumulator species.
A multiphysics model for magneto-electro-elastic laminates

Abstract An efficient, geometrically nonlinear, multiphysics plate model for analyzing magneto-electro-elastic composite laminates is rigorously developed by applying the variational asymptotic method. By taking advantage of the inherent small parameter characterized by the ratio of the thickness to the in-plane deformation of the plate, we systematically reduced the original multiphysically coupled three-dimensional model to a series of two-dimensional plate models. A companion one-dimensional through-the-thickness analysis provides necessary constitutive models for the plate analysis. For practical uses, we also fit the asymptotically correct second-order electromagnetic enthalpy into a generalized Reissner–Mindlin model. Three-dimensional multiphysical components such as displacement/strain/stress fields as well as the electric/magnetic potentials and fluxes are obtained through a recovery process. Results for sample problems featuring electromagnetic and elastic coupling as well as characteristically different load/boundary conditions and material configurations are compared with exact solutions to systematically investigate the prediction capability of the present model.
Tumor Thromboembolism Masquerading as Bland Pulmonary Embolism

Catheter-based interventions provide an important alternative to medical surgical management of massive central pulmonary thromboembolism. Because this option is increasingly being used, it is important to recognize that not all pulmonary thromboemboli are bland. The authors describe two cases in which tumor masqueraded as bland thromboembolism. Identification of tumor thromboembolism may help to alter future work-ups, provide useful prognostic information for a patient, and affect future treatment options.
Nurses with disabilities working in hospital settings: attitudes, concerns, and experiences of nurse leaders

Nearly 50 million people in the United States live with a disability. People with disabilities are increasingly represented in professional nursing. It is important to understand attitudes and concerns of nurse leaders who hire and work with nurses with disabilities. Using an exploratory descriptive design, this study surveyed nurse managers from 600 hospitals, with responses from 219 participants. Using a modified version of two subscales of the Employer Attitude Questionnaire, nurse managers expressed attitudes toward work performance, reported concerns or perceived abilities of staff nurses with disabilities to work in administrative positions, rated job performance, and described accommodations extended to staff nurses with a broad range of disabilities. Results indicated that most nurse managers rated work performance as exceptional or above average. Concerns included abilities to perform necessary job tasks, patient safety, and acceptance by the public and by coworkers of the nurses with disabilities. There was a significant positive relationship between nurse managers' previous exposure to nurses with disabilities and their willingness to hire nurses with disabilities. Conclusions indicate a need for the discipline to move beyond advocacy and personal case sharing to research on promotion of effective means of recruitment and retention of professional nurses with disabilities.
Examining big-fish-little-pond-effects across 49 countries: a multilevel latent variable modelling approach

Using data from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2007, this study examined the big-fish-little-pond-effects (BFLPEs) in 49 countries. In this study, the effect of math ability on math self-concept was decomposed into a within- and a between-level components using implicit mean centring and the complex data structure was considered. Sampling error was thus reduced. In addition, measurement error was minimised by modelling math self-concept as a latent factor at both levels and multilevel measurement invariance was assessed in each country. The BFLPE in each country was a contextual effect modelled as the difference between the between-level and within-level effects. Results suggest that BFLPEs existed in most of those 49 countries but the phenomena were different in those countries. The findings also suggest that when perceived relative standing to classmates was added to the model, BFLPEs decreased. Compared with previous cross-national BFLPE studies, this study demonstrat...
TU‐E‐BRB‐04: Performance‐Based QA for Radiotherapy: TG‐147 — QA for Non‐Radiographic Localization Systems

History: Many devices for localizing and monitoring the patient have been developed over the past few years. These devices come as a result of better hardware and software to delivery highly conformal radiation. This task group was commissioned by the AAPM to make recommendations about the quality assurance and use of non‐radiographic localization and monitoring systems. These systems include camera based systems, RF guidance systems, and laser alignment systems. General Outline of Report: The report addresses systems that do not use radiographic localization and specifically describes several systems that are commercially available. Some commercially available systems that are described in this report are Calypso System, VisionRT AlignRT, LAP Galaxy, and C‐Rad Sentinel; however the report is written in such as a way as to be used for other systems as they may come available. The primary purpose of these devices is to align the patient to the correct location for treatment. QA recommendations of the report focus on installation recommendations as these systems are peripheral to the linear accelerator system, but must interface with all aspects of the radiotherapy workflow. Some specific issues in multi‐vendor installs are addressed. The major component of the report focuses on commissioning of these types of devices and on the routine QA of patient localization systems. Major Highlights: For non‐radiographic localization systems it is important that the system be installed properly relative to the machine isocenter. In order to do this, the linear accelerator mechanical QA should be performed and modifications performed as necessary. As part of the initial install of these peripheral types of localization equipment, a testing of the various communications between systems is important. The report also makes recommendations for testing the integrity of the radiation delivery system following the addition of equipment. The primary tool for QA of the localization system is the end to end test that can give the overall localization accuracy for the device in conjunction with traditional imaging and treatment planning. Recommendations about patient monitoring and tracking are also addressed. Report as it relates to TG‐100: This report makes recommendation on QA to insure that the localization system is working properly. These recommendations could be included in the institutions FEMA analysis in accordance with TG 100. Timeline for report Release: This report is to be submitted for review this summer and should be available for release sometime in 2010. Learning Objectives: 1. The audience should be able to identify the types of localization devices included in TG147 2. The audience should be able to describe the general practice of patient localization and how to implement a localization device 3. The audience should be able to describe how to setup and perform an end to end test with a localization device and record the devices overall localization accuracy.
Distinguishing Dual DNA Binding Modes of Actinomycin D using Optical Tweezers

Actinomycin D (ActD), the first antibiotic which exhibited anti-tumor activity, was initially believed to bind double stranded DNA (dsDNA) through intercalation. Later it was shown to bind single stranded DNA (ssDNA) with an order of magnitude higher affinity. ssDNA binding can be extremely important in inhibiting replication of viruses that replicate through ssDNA templates such as HIV. While these two binding modes can be separately quantified by studying binding to specific substrates, it is very difficult to determine the mode of binding to polymeric DNA. DNA stretching studies can precisely quantify intercalation by measuring the increase in DNA length upon intercalation. However, ssDNA binding also increases DNA length. Therefore, we have developed a method that combines the measured increase in DNA length with the overall DNA melting free energy change, allowing us to simultaneously determine ssDNA binding and intercalation as DNA is stretched. Using this method, we were able to distinguish between dual binding modes of ActD. We determined that the ssDNA binding of ActD (Kss ∼ 108 M−1) is much higher than its binding to dsDNA (Kds ∼ 106 M−1) for long polymeric DNA. We also determined the ssDNA and dsDNA binding site size, which are 3 bases and 6 base pairs, respectively.
Intramolecular dipolar addition of carbonyl ylides. Studies of substituted bicycloundecanones

Abstract A synthetic route toward the secodolastanes is reported. The key transformations are derived from the [3 + 2]-intramolecular cycloaddition of a 3-oxidopyrylium ylide. Reductive cleavage of the tricyclic ether 15 yields the bicycloundecanone nucleus 19 of these terpanes.
Opioid tolerance and hyperalgesia in chronic pain patients after one month of oral morphine therapy: a preliminary prospective study.

Abstract There is accumulating evidence that opioid therapy might not only be associated with the development of tolerance but also with an increased sensitivity to pain, a condition referred to as opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH). However, there are no prospective studies documenting the development of opioid tolerance or OIH in patients with chronic pain. This preliminary study in 6 patients with chronic low back pain prospectively evaluated the development of tolerance and OIH. Patients were assessed before and 1 month after initiating oral morphine therapy. The cold pressor test and experimental heat pain were used to measure pain sensitivity before and during a target-controlled infusion with the short-acting μ opioid agonist remifentanil. In the cold pressor test, all patients became hyperalgesic as well as tolerant after 1 month of oral morphine therapy. In a model of heat pain, patients exhibited no hyperalgesia, although tolerance could not be evaluated. These results provide the first prospective evidence for the development of analgesic tolerance and OIH by using experimental pain in patients with chronic back pain. This study also validated methodology for prospectively studying these phenomena in larger populations of pain patients. Perspective Experimental evidence suggests that opioid tolerance and opioid-induced hyperalgesia might limit the clinical utility of opioids in controlling chronic pain. This study validates a pharmacologic approach to study these phenomena prospectively in chronic pain patients and suggests that both conditions do occur within 1 month of initiating opioid therapy.
National science foundation advanced technological education projects and centers of excellence for information technology education: an overview

This paper gives an overview of initiatives for information technology (IT) education undertaken by projects and centers of excellence for Advanced Technological Education (ATE) with support from the National Science Foundation (NSF). While these centers have a common goal to advance IT education regionally and nationally, they differ in the means of doing so. Several aspects of these projects and centers are highlighted, including challenges and opportunities that are beneficial to other ATE projects and centers. Current issues pertinent to IT curriculum development, including curriculum guidelines and accreditation of IT programs, are presented and discussed. The paper concludes with recommendations and future steps that are of import to IT educators at large. This paper will be presented at SIGITE 2005 in conjunction with a panel discussion involving principal investigators of current NSF ATE projects and centers for IT education.
De-orphaning the structural proteome through reciprocal comparison of evolutionarily important structural features.

Function prediction frequently relies on comparing genes or gene products to search for relevant similarities. Because the number of protein structures with unknown function is mushrooming, however, we asked here whether such comparisons could be improved by focusing narrowly on the key functional features of protein structures, as defined by the Evolutionary Trace (ET). Therefore a series of algorithms was built to (a) extract local motifs (3D templates) from protein structures based on ET ranking of residue importance; (b) to assess their geometric and evolutionary similarity to other structures; and (c) to transfer enzyme annotation whenever a plurality was reached across matches. Whereas a prototype had only been 80% accurate and was not scalable, here a speedy new matching algorithm enabled large-scale searches for reciprocal matches and thus raised annotation specificity to 100% in both positive and negative controls of 49 enzymes and 50 non-enzymes, respectively—in one case even identifying an annotation error—while maintaining sensitivity (∼60%). Critically, this Evolutionary Trace Annotation (ETA) pipeline requires no prior knowledge of functional mechanisms. It could thus be applied in a large-scale retrospective study of 1218 structural genomics enzymes and reached 92% accuracy. Likewise, it was applied to all 2935 unannotated structural genomics proteins and predicted enzymatic functions in 320 cases: 258 on first pass and 62 more on second pass. Controls and initial analyses suggest that these predictions are reliable. Thus the large-scale evolutionary integration of sequence-structure-function data, here through reciprocal identification of local, functionally important structural features, may contribute significantly to de-orphaning the structural proteome.
A NEW DIRECT TEST OF BLADDER PERMEABILITY

Purpose: A proposed cause of interstitial cystitis is increased bladder permeability but to our knowledge this theory has not been proved by direct testing. We developed a safe, relatively painless, direct test of bladder permeability.Materials and Methods: The original permeability test involved placing 4% lactulose and 1% rhamnose intravesically, then drawing blood to assay for these sugars. Initial feasibility studies were performed in rabbits with bladder epithelium that was intact or disrupted by a 50% acetone rinse. In humans the initial goal was to distinguish intact bladders from those known to have increased permeability. Since distention is known to increase permeability temporarily, we studied patients with interstitial cystitis immediately after distention.Results: Neither sugar was absorbed from intact rabbit bladders, while each was absorbed from acetone rinsed bladders at 10, 20 and 30 minutes. We used 100 ml. of solution in the initial 8 humans, including 6 with interstitial cystitis and 2...
Assessing (Audience) Construction Hazards: Depiction of Audience as a Variable for Comparison of Health Interventions

Current literature regarding health promotion and strategic communication lacks sufficient inquiry regarding the communication assumptions underlying many efforts in that arena and the implications of those assumptions. In addressing that void, the nature of the intended audience could be useful as a variable. Depictions of intended audiences often are apparent in official talk about an intervention, such as in reports or other intervention materials. Examining the language that intervention developers use to characterize intended audience members affords insight regarding the relationships between health professionals and the individuals they seek to engage.
Gene teams with relaxed proximity constraint

Functionally related genes co-evolve, probably due to the strong selection pressure in evolution. Thus we expect that they are present in multiple genomes. Physical proximity among genes, known as gene team, is a very useful concept to discover functionally related genes in multiple genomes. However there are also many gene sets that do not preserve physical proximity. In this paper, we generalized the gene team model, that looks for gene clusters in a physically clustered form, to multiple genome cases with relaxed constraint. We propose a novel hybrid pattern model that combines the set and the sequential pattern models. Our model searches for gene clusters with and/or without physical proximity constraint. This model is implemented and tested with 97 genomes (120 replicons). The result was analyzed to show the usefulness of our model. Especially, analysis of gene clusters that belong to B. subtilis and E. coli demonstrated that our model predicted many experimentally verified operons and functionally related clusters. Our program is fast enough to provide a service on the web at http://platcom.informatics.Indiana.edu/platcom/. Users can select any combination of 97 genomes to predict gene teams.
Statistical multiplexed Optical Burst-Train Switching network

The Optical Burst-Train Switching (OBTS) network efficiently transports multi-granular sub-wavelength constant-bit-rate (CBR) and variable-bit-rate (VBR) traffic streams over an all-optical network with sparse wavelength convertibility while minimizing access blocking of traffic streams. Sub-wavelength traffic streams are shaped into periodic burst-trains at network edge with variable burst sizes. Proactive periodic reservation of burst-trains minimizes reservation signaling and scheduling overheads. OBTS combines variable-sized-slot time division multiplexing over network core and stream-based statistical multiplexing at network edge to provide guaranteed bandwidth for CBR traffic, while minimizing data loss of average-provisioned VBR traffic. Performance of OBTS is analyzed in terms of stream or burst-train blocking and data loss of average-rate provisioned VBR traffic. The tuning effects on OBTS performance are investigated with regards to wavelength convertibility factor, switching latency, periodic scheduling frame size, burst size and traffic burstiness.
Cobia (Rachycentron canadum) hatchery-to-market aquaculture technology: recent advances at the University of Miami Experimental Hatchery (UMEH)

Among warm-water marine fishes, cobia is one of the best aquaculture candidate species in the world. Currently there are commercial culture operations in several Asian countries and the industry has started developing elsewhere, including the Western Central Atlantic region. Significant research has been conducted at the University of Miami's Aquaculture Program / University of Miami Experimental Hatchery (UMEH) during the last eight years, involving research to develop and optimize advanced technology to demonstrate the viability of raising hatchery-reared cobia in collaboration with the private sector. This paper reviews some of this recent advances for the development of Hatchery-to-Market Aquaculture Technology for commercial production of cobia.
Complex and oriented ZnO nanostructures

Extended and oriented nanostructures are desirable for many applications, but direct fabrication of complex nanostructures with controlled crystalline morphology, orientation and surface architectures remains a significant challenge. Here we report a low-temperature, environmentally benign, solution-based approach for the preparation of complex and oriented ZnO nanostructures, and the systematic modification of their crystal morphology. Using controlled seeded growth and citrate anions that selectively adsorb on ZnO basal planes as the structure-directing agent, we prepared large arrays of oriented ZnO nanorods with controlled aspect ratios, complex film morphologies made of oriented nanocolumns and nanoplates (remarkably similar to biomineral structures in red abalone shells) and complex bilayers showing in situ column-to-rod morphological transitions. The advantages of some of these ZnO structures for photocatalytic decompositions of volatile organic compounds were demonstrated. The novel ZnO nanostructures are expected to have great potential for sensing, catalysis, optical emission, piezoelectric transduction, and actuations.
Microglia Are Essential to Masculinization of Brain and Behavior

Brain sexual differentiation in rodents results from the perinatal testicular androgen surge. In the preoptic area (POA), estradiol aromatized from testosterone upregulates the production of the proinflammatory molecule, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) to produce sex-specific brain development. PGE2 produces a two-fold greater density of dendritic spines in males than in females and masculinizes adult copulatory behavior. One neonatal dose of PGE2 masculinizes the POA and behavior, and simultaneous treatment with an inhibitor of additional prostaglandin synthesis prevents this masculinization, indicating a positive feedforward process that leads to sustained increases in PGE2. The mechanisms underlying this feedforward process were unknown. Microglia, the primary immunocompetent cells in the brain, are active neonatally, contribute to normal brain development, and both produce and respond to prostaglandins. We investigated whether there are sex differences in microglia in the POA and whether they influence developmental masculinization. Neonatal males had twice as many ameboid microglia as females and a more activated morphological profile, and both estradiol and PGE2 masculinized microglial number and morphology in females. Microglial inhibition during the critical period for sexual differentiation prevented sex differences in microglia, estradiol-induced masculinization of dendritic spine density, and adult copulatory behavior. Microglial inhibition also prevented the estradiol-induced upregulation of PGE2, indicating that microglia are essential to the feedforward process through which estradiol upregulates prostaglandin production. These studies demonstrate that immune cells in the brain interact with the nervous and endocrine systems during development, and are crucial for sexual differentiation of brain and behavior.
The fine structure of early tooth formation in an lguanid lizard, Anolis carolinensis.

Cytodifferentiation and hard tissue formation were studied in Anolis to collect information regarding the phylogenetic history of enamel and the functional significance of the events seen in the mammalian tooth during differentiation. The differentiation of the ameloblasts of Anolis, like that of mammals, shows two phases: In the early phase, the cells are short and rich in free ribosomes, in the late phase the cells elongate, develop an extensive rough endoplasmic reticulum, and the Golgi apparatus moves into that part of the cell next to the basal lamina (the cell apex). The early epithelial-mesenchymal interface resembles that of mammals, suggesting that early mechanisms of induction and epithelial-mesenchymal interaction are similar in Anolis and in mammals. Preameloblast processes and preameloblast-preodontoblast contacts in Anolis are rudimentary compared to those of mammals. While in mammals the preameloblast processes shape the future DEJ (dentin-enamel junction), their involvement in establishing the shape of the DEJ of Anolis is questionable. We suggest that the great development of preameloblast-preodontoblast contacts in mammals may simply increase the efficiency of inductive interactions between these cell types.
Larval Gizzard Shad Success, Juvenile Effects, and Reservoir Productivity: Toward a Framework for Multi-System Management

Abstract Recruitment success of larval fishes can determine subsequent effects of older life stages on ecosystem structure and function. Because size and abundance of juvenile gizzard shad Dorosoma cepedianum determines, in large part, their effects on zooplankton abundance and sportfish recruitment, we investigated recruitment of larval gizzard shad to the juvenile stage. We hypothesized that larval survival would correlate positively with availability of small (<0.40 mm) zooplankton and reservoir productivity and would dictate abundance of individuals reaching the juvenile stage. In downstream and upstream areas of four Ohio reservoirs ranging from mesotrophic to hypereutrophic, we evaluated larval gizzard shad success by comparing hatch, growth, and survival of weekly cohorts of larvae with availability of small zooplankton, and then we determined whether larval success could predict juvenile gizzard shad size and abundance. Total larval hatch abundance increased with reservoir productivity and was hig...
Inventory Management: Information, Coordination, and Rationality

1Throughout the chapter, we use the terms inventory/production,​ control,​ replenishment/production, and order/produce interchangeably.
Finding Chimeras: a Bioinformatics Strategy for Identification of Cross-linked Peptides

Chemical cross-linking, followed by identification of the cross-linked residues, is a powerful approach to probe the topologies and interacting surfaces of protein assemblies. In this work, we demonstrate a new bioinformatics approach using multiple program modules within the software package "Protein Prospector" that greatly facilitates the discovery of cross-linked peptides in chemical cross-linking studies. Examples are given for how this approach has been used for defining interfaces in heterodimeric and homodimeric protein complexes, both of which provide results in close agreement with crystal structures, verifying the reliability of the approach.
Factors Underlying Infertility in the Alcoholic

In an effort to identify the factor(s) contributing to loss in sexual competence in alcoholics, a pilot study was made of the interrelationships of hepatic disease, plasma hormone levels and importnce in 35 male patients in an alcohol unit. Contrary to previous reports, impotence was not a direct concomitant of hepatic disease, elevated sex hormone-binding globulin capacity or hyperestrinism. The most significant aberration found was a nearly 30% lower mean free testosterone concentration which appeared to be secondary to a mean total testosterone concentration 20% below that of the subjects with normal sexual function. We conclude from this that impotence results from testicular secretion impaired by the action of alcohol or its metabolite, acetaldehyde.
State Recommended Student-Teacher Ratios for Mildly Handicapped Children

Mildly handicapped students are provided special education services partly because of a presumed need for intensive instruction in a setting in which there is a relatively small student-teacher ratio. Yet, little is known about current policy on student-teacher ratios. Fifty state education agencies were asked for state guidelines on student-teacher ratios; 39 states provided guidelines that could be reviewed. Extreme variation was found in state recommended ratios, in how ratios are defined, and in how they are presented. Also found were significant discrepancies between ratios specified in states' guidelines and ratios reported by the U.S. Department of Education in its annual report to Congress. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Mitochondrial nucleoids undergo remodeling in response to metabolic cues

Mitochondrial DNA is organized as a nucleoprotein complex called the nucleoid. Its major protein components have been identified in different organisms, but it is yet unknown whether nucleoids undergo any form of remodeling. Using an in organello ChIP-on-chip assay, we demonstrate that the DNA-bending protein Abf2 binds to most of the mitochondrial genome with a preference for GC-rich gene sequences. Thus, Abf2 is a bona fide mitochondrial DNA-packaging protein in vivo. Nucleoids form a more open structure under respiring growth conditions in which the ratio of Abf2 to mitochondrial DNA is decreased. Bifunctional nucleoid proteins Hsp60 and Ilv5 are recruited to nucleoids during glucose repression and amino-acid starvation, respectively. Thus, mitochondrial nucleoids in yeast are dynamic structures that are remodeled in response to metabolic cues. A mutant form of Hsp60 that causes mtDNA instability has altered submitochondrial localization, which suggests that nucleoid remodeling is essential for the maintenance of mitochondrial genome.
DC-SIGN and L-SIGN Can Act as Attachment Receptors for Alphaviruses and Distinguish between Mosquito Cell- and Mammalian Cell-Derived Viruses

C-type lectins such as DC-SIGN and L-SIGN, which bind mannose-enriched carbohydrate modifications of host and pathogen proteins, have been shown to bind glycoproteins of several viruses and facilitate either cis or trans infection. DC-SIGN and L-SIGN are expressed in several early targets of arbovirus infection, including dendritic cells (DCs) and cells of the reticuloendothelial system. In the present study, we show that DC-SIGN and L-SIGN can function as attachment receptors for Sindbis (SB) virus, an arbovirus of the Alphavirus genus. Human monocytic THP-1 cells stably transfected with DC-SIGN or L-SIGN were permissive for SB virus replication, while untransfected controls were essentially nonpermissive. The majority of control THP-1 cells were permissive when attachment and entry steps were eliminated through electroporation of virus transcripts. Infectivity for the DC-SIGN/L-SIGN-expressing cells was largely blocked by yeast mannan, EDTA, or a DC-SIGN/L-SIGN-specific monoclonal antibody. Infection of primary human DCs by SB virus was also dependent upon SIGN expression by similar criteria. Furthermore, production of virus particles in either C6/36 mosquito cells or CHO mammalian cells under conditions that limited complex carbohydrate content greatly increased SB virus binding to and infection of THP-1 cells expressing these lectins. C6/36-derived virus also was much more infectious for primary human DCs than CHO-derived virus. These results suggest that (i) lectin molecules such as DC-SIGN and L-SIGN may represent common attachment receptor molecules for arthropod-borne viruses, (ii) arbovirus particles produced in and delivered by arthropod vectors may preferentially target vertebrate host cells bearing these or similar lectin molecules, and (iii) a cell line has been identified that can productively replicate alphaviruses but is deficient in attachment receptors.
Common-path Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography with a fiber optic probe integrated into a surgical needle

We have demonstrated three-dimensional imaging of a rat cornea and retina using a 0.8-µm common-path Fourier-domain OCT with an integrated surgical needle probe.
Efficient and adaptive Web replication using content clustering

Recently, there has been an increasing deployment of content distribution networks (CDNs) that offer hosting services to Web content providers. In this paper, we first compare the uncooperative pulling of Web contents used by commercial CDNs with the cooperative pushing. Our results show that the latter can achieve comparable users' perceived performance with only 4%-5% of replication and update traffic compared with the former scheme. Therefore, we explore how to efficiently push content to CDN nodes. Using trace-driven simulation, we show that replicating content in units of URLs can yield 60%-70% reduction in clients' latency, compared with replicating in units of Websites. However, it is very expensive to perform such a fine-grained replication. To address this issue, we propose to replicate content in units of clusters, each containing objects which are likely to be requested by clients that are topologically close. To this end, we describe three clustering techniques and use various topologies and several large Web server traces to evaluate their performance. Our results show that the cluster-based replication achieves performance close to that of the URL-based scheme, but only at 1%-2% of computation and management cost. In addition, by adjusting the number of clusters, we can smoothly trade off management and computation cost for better client performance. To adapt to changes in users' access patterns, we also explore incremental clustering that adaptively adds new documents to the existing content clusters. We examine both offline and online incremental clustering, where the former assumes access history is available while the latter predicts access pattern based on the hyperlink structure. Our results show that the offline clustering yields performance close to that of the complete re-clustering at much lower overhead. The online incremental clustering and replication cut down the retrieval cost by 4.6 times compared with random and by 8 times compared with no replication. Therefore it is especially useful to improve document availability during flash crowds.
An Exploration of Interpersonal Relationships in Two Taiwanese Computer Firms

This study provides a fuller description of some of the ways businesspeople relate to each other and their customers in Taiwan. Through ethnographies and extended interviews, relationship patterns in two Taipei computer companies are shown to be influenced by Chinese traditions which view human emotion and orders of relationship as the basis of society. Taiwanese employees, particularly salespeople, are shown as adept at fusing functional and emotional elements to flexibly manage interpersonal relationships in complex and dynamic Taiwanese social, political, and economic contexts. It is concluded that relationships, as social resources, manifest themselves in various levels of business conduct, influencing the functioning of Taiwan firms in the modern business environment.
Extended moment analysis for binomial parameters of transmitter release

Abstract The quantum hypothesis proposes that a binomial distribution should fit the amplitude distribution for synaptic potentials. Since importance is now being attached to significant changes in the n and p parameters of the binomial model during various treatments of synaptic preparations, this paper describes an important extension of the method of moments which can be used to extract binomial parameters in difficult experimental circumstances. Essentially, the skewness (third moment) of the observed amplitude distribution of synaptic responses is used to provide the additional information needed in cases where spontaneous miniature responses are absent. Computer simulations are used to assess the reliability of the proposed new estimators. The estimator bias due to non-uniform unit responses is also evaluated. Other applications of the extended method of moments, including a new test of the binomial hypothesis, are also described.
Crack paths in smooth and precracked specimens subjected to multiaxial cyclic stressing

The understanding of shear-mode crack growth mechanisms and crack branching phenomena is of great interest for a variety of practical engineering situations. Despite this fact, relatively little research is available regarding these topics. Of the studies that have been performed, few provide a means of quantifying such effects and most consider crack growth starting from a precrack. The current study is aimed at trying to fill some of the research voids in these areas by investigating the effects of microcrack coalescence, loading level, and superimposed normal stresses on the mode II crack behavior of naturally initiated fatigue cracks. Based on the experimental results and subsequent analyses, it was determined that microcrack networks and coalescence have little to no effect on the experimentally observed crack paths regardless of the applied loading level. Instead, the preferred crack growth mode is shown to have a dependence on the applied shear stress magnitude and stress normal to the crack plane, indicating a significant role of fiction and roughness induced crack closure effects in the crack growth process. A simple model is then proposed to quantify these effects based on the idea that crack face interaction reduces the effective mode II SIF by allowing a portion of the nominally applied loading to be transferred through a crack. The model agrees qualitatively with the experimentally observed trends for pure torsion loading and predicts crack branching lengths within a factor of 2 for all loadings considered.
Super Mario brothers and sisters: Associations between coplaying video games and sibling conflict and affection

Video games can be played in many different contexts. This study examined associations between coplaying video games between siblings and levels of affection and conflict in the relationship. Participants were 508 adolescents (M age = 16.31 years of age, SD = 1.08) who completed questionnaires on video game use and sibling relationships. Participants were recruited from a large Northwestern city and a moderate city in the Mountain West of the United States. Video games played between siblings were coded by an independent sample to assess levels of physical aggression and prosocial behavior in each game. Playing video games with a sibling was associated with higher levels of sibling affection for both boys and girls, but higher levels of conflict for boys only. Playing a violent video game with a brother was associated with lower levels of conflict in the sibling relationship, whereas playing a prosocial video game was not related to any sibling outcome. The value of video games in sibling relationships will be discussed, with a focus on the type of game and the sex of the adolescent.
Feasibility of self-administered sleep assessment in older women in the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI)

Laboratory-based polysomnography (PSG) is the gold standard assessment of sleep disordered breathing (SDB). In large cohort studies and clinical trials, however, these overnight procedures can be expensive and burdensome to participants, especially older adults. In preparation for a large observational study, we determined the feasibility of self-administering two devices mailed to participants’ homes that estimate indices of SDB. In two separate studies, older women enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) Memory Study extension aged mean (SD) 85.77 (2.98) years who were not using supplemental oxygen and consented to being in the feasibility study completed either an in-home, self-administered overnight sleep assessment using a multi-sensor device that measured oximetry, nasal pressure, chest effort, and snoring (ApneaLinkTM) (N = 58), or a wrist-worn oximeter (NoninWristOx2TM) (N = 33). A follow-up questionnaire assessed the devices’ acceptability and important sleep-related exposures. Although the multi-sensor device was assessed only in older women with no cognitive impairment, the proportion of completed interpretable sleep studies was low (54 %) and participants reported needing help to administer the device successfully. In contrast, the wrist-worn device was used in women with either no or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), completion rates were higher (100 %), and women reported being able to administer the device independently. These studies demonstrated that home-based self-administered assessments of SDB are feasible in older adults with and without cognitive impairment using wrist-worn oximetry. These data support the feasibility of using simple oximetry measurements to provide indices of overnight intermittent hypoxemia in large observational studies and clinical trials.
Counting compatible boundary conditions

The index theorem of M. Morse, which counts focal points weighted by multiplicity in positive regular problems, and the extension by the author, which counts focal points weighted by a signature in problems not required to be positive regular, are further extended to the counting of compatible sets of general self-adjoint boundary conditions. Circumstances under which the weight is the multiplicity are exhibited.
The Pristine Self: Psychodynamics of the Anti-Bullying Movement

The movement against bullying came upon us like a summer storm. Suddenly, everywhere was the idea that bullying was everywhere. But, in fact, there has been no evidence of an increase in bullying; the best available evidence is that there has been a diminution. What has changed has been a redefinition of the idea of the self. Our times have seen a shift from a culture in which both maternal and paternal psychologies were seen as valuable and important, to one with an exclusively maternal psychology, from which paternal psychology has been expelled. This exclusively maternal psychology has brought about the normalization, or establishment, of an idea of the self, I call it the pristine self, which is untouched by anything but love. Given this idea of self, normal interaction, including the working of the normative structure of the society, is experienced and seen as intolerable assault; hence, the ubiquity of bullying.
Theoretical Analysis of [5.7]nCyclacenes: Closed-Shell Cyclacene Isomers

The [5.7]ncyclacenes represent a novel class of all sp2-hybridized carbon structures. In contrast to the isomeric [n]cyclacenes, [5.7]ncyclacenes are predicted at the B3LYP/6-31G* level of theory to have stable, closed-shell singlet ground state configurations. Predicted geometries, electronic structures, band gaps, nucleus-independent chemical shift (NICS) values, and strain energies for this new family of cyclic conjugated molecules are presented.
The historical roots of the normative model of journalism

Journalism, understood as the discipline of news, has been defined in many ways. The hegemonic western model of journalism, which has dominated normative discussions for the past century, derives f...
Diuretic effect of angiotensin in the chicken.

SummaryOne group of chickens infused into the renal portal vein showed more water and sodium excreted from the experimental side, though bilateral diuresis occurred. In another group G.F.R.
Control of Thermoforming Process Parameters to Increase Quality of Surfaces Using Pin-Based Tooling

Tooling is a significant time and cost investment in manufacturing processes that include casting, injection molding, sheet metal forming, and plastic thermo-forming. These tooling investments are often justified for large production volumes. However, for small volume, prototyping, and custom manufacturing, the tooling investments are hard to justify. To meet the needs of smaller volume production, several adaptable tooling technologies has been developed. One solution, pin-based tooling enables adaptable surfaces for use in plastic thermoforming and composites. However, a key challenge in pin-based tooling is achieving accurate high quality surfaces. The objective in this research is to study the effects of process parameters on surface quality using pin-based tooling. Specifically, in this research polymer surfaces are manufactured without the use of an interpolating layer. A set of experiments was conducted by keeping the shape constant, with and without an interpolator, and varying the process parameters to check the feasibility of producing smooth surfaces. It was observed that smooth, shape-specific surfaces can be produced by optimizing the process parameters. The parameters thus optimized would be shape-specific and optimizing the process parameters for surfaces having complex shapes is a new research challenge that comes out of this work. Future work involves continuing the experiments, measuring the resulting parts and controlling process parameters to increase surface quality.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Mitochondrial maintenance via autophagy contributes to functional skeletal muscle regeneration and remodeling

The primary objective of this study was to determine whether alterations in mitochondria affect recovery of skeletal muscle strength and mitochondrial enzyme activity following myotoxic injury. 3-Methyladenine (3-MA) was administered daily (15 mg/kg) to blunt autophagy, and the creatine analog guanidionpropionic acid (β-GPA) was administered daily (1% in chow) to enhance oxidative capacity. Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to nontreatment (Con, n = 6), 3-MA-treated (n = 6), and β-GPA-treated (n = 8) groups for 10 wk. Mice were euthanized at 14 days after myotoxic injury for assessment of mitochondrial remodeling during regeneration and its association with the recovery of muscle strength. Expression of several autophagy-related proteins, e.g., phosphorylated Ulk1 (∼2- to 4-fold, P < 0.049) was greater in injured than uninjured muscles, indicating a relationship between muscle regeneration/remodeling and autophagy. By 14 days postinjury, recovery of muscle strength (18% less, P = 0.03) and mitochondrial enzyme (e.g., citrate synthase) activity (22% less, P = 0.049) were significantly lower in 3-MA-treated than Con mice, suggesting that the autophagy process plays an important role during muscle regeneration. In contrast, muscle regeneration was nearly complete in β-GPA-treated mice, i.e., muscle strength recovered to 93% of baseline vs. 78% for Con mice. Remarkably, 14 days allowed sufficient time for a near-complete recovery of mitochondrial function in β-GPA-treated mice (e.g., no difference in citrate synthase activity between injured and uninjured, P = 0.49), indicating a robust mitochondrial remodeling process during muscle regeneration. In conclusion, autophagy is likely activated following muscle injury and appears to play an important role in functional muscle regeneration.