cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Autoimmunity: An Underlying Factor in the Pathogenesis of Hypertension

One in every three adults in the United States has hypertension, and the underlying cause of most of these cases is unknown. Therefore, it is imperative to continue the study of mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension. Decades ago, studies speculated that elements of an autoimmune response were associated with the development of hypertension based, in part, on the presence of circulating autoantibodies in hypertensive patients. In the past decade, a growing number of studies have been published supporting the concept that self-antigens and the subsequent activation of the adaptive immune system promote the development of hypertension. This manuscript will provide a brief review of the evidence supporting a role for the immune system in the development of hypertension, studies that implicate both cell-mediated and humoral immunity, and the relevance of understanding blood pressure control in an autoimmune disease model with hypertension.
Spectrally arbitrary ray patterns

Abstract An n × n ray pattern A is said to be spectrally arbitrary if for every monic nth degree polynomial f ( x ) with coefficients from C , there is a matrix in the pattern class of A such that its characteristic polynomial is f ( x ) . In this article the authors extend the nilpotent-Jacobi method for sign patterns to ray patterns, establishing a means to show that an irreducible ray pattern and all its superpatterns are spectrally arbitrary. They use this method to establish that a particular family of n × n irreducible ray patterns with exactly 3 n nonzeros is spectrally arbitrary. They then show that every n × n irreducible, spectrally arbitrary ray pattern has at least 3 n - 1 nonzeros.
Production and decay of the d * dibaryon

The production of the isoscalar ${J}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}{=3}^{+}$ didelta dibaryon ${d}^{*}$ by proton inelastic scattering from deuteron targets is described in a double-scattering Glauber approximation. Each scattering changes a target nucleon into a \ensuremath{\Delta} with the help of the isovector tensor force transmitted by \ensuremath{\pi} and \ensuremath{\rho} mesons. The differential cross section constructed from empirical Love-Franey nucleon-nucleon $t$ matrices and a simple model of ${d}^{*}$ shows a maximum of some 10 \ensuremath{\mu}b/sr at 70\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} (c.m.) for 500 MeV protons. The partial width of the decay ${d}^{*}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\mathrm{NN}$ caused by the exchanges of the same mesons is found for this simple model of ${d}^{*}$ to be about 9 MeV if the ${d}^{*}$ mass is 2100 MeV. The implications of these results are discussed.
Habitat associations of ten bird species in Washington, DC

Abstract To determine the influence of habitat on songbirds in suburban, urban, and park areas, bird distribution in two neighbourhoods of Washington, DC, and in the corridor of natural vegetation which separates them, was quantified and compared by using an analysis of variance, and a correlation analysis was used to relate ten individual species with ten habitat components, Eight of the ten species showed no strong affinity for any one particular neighborhood, one species was most abundant in the suburban area, and one species was more abundant in the neighborhood where pavement, building structures, and people were most prevalent.
Measurement of Hemoglobin Synthesis Rate in Vivo Using a Stable Isotope Method

We developed a method to measure hemoglobin synthesis rate (SynHb) in humans, assuming that free glycine in the red blood cell (RBC) represents free glycine in bone marrow for hemoglobin synthesis. The present rat study examines this assumption of the method and quantifies SynHb in rats. Sprague–Dawley rats (n = 9) were studied, [2-13C]glycine was intravenously infused over 24 h (2.5 mg kg−1 h−1), blood was drawn for glycine and heme isolation, and bone marrow was harvested for glycine isolation. Isotopic enrichments of glycine and heme were measured, fractional hemoglobin synthesis rate (fSynHb% day−1) was calculated, and from this a value for SynHb (mg g−1 day−1) was derived. Mean body weight was 446 ± 10 g (mean ± SE) and hemoglobin concentration was 14 ± 0.5 g dl−1. At 24 h, the mean isotopic enrichment, atom percentage excess (APE), of the RBC free glycine (1.56 ± 0.18 APE) was similar to the bone marrow (1.68 ± 0.15 APE). The rate of incorporation of 13C into heme increased over time from 0.0004 APE/h between 6 and 12 h, to 0.0014 APE/h between 12 and 18 h, and 0.0024 APE/h between 18 and 24 h. Consequently, fSynHb (1.19 ± 0.32, 2.92 ± 0.66, and 4.22 ± 0.56% day−1, respectively) and SynHb (0.11 ± 0.03, 0.28 ± 0.05, and 0.42 ± 0.05 mg g−1 day−1, respectively) showed similar patterns over the 24-h study period. We conclude that (1) enrichment of free glycine in the circulating RBC approximates enrichment of bone marrow free glycine for heme formation and (2) this pattern of hemoglobin synthesis rate is reflecting the characteristic release and gradual maturation of reticulocytes in the circulation.
Incorporation of transition and Group I metal ions into the channels of materials composed of metal-assembled cages

Abstract Two new porous materials have been formed by allowing cobalt-assembled cages to self-assemble in the presence of potassium and cobalt ions. In both materials, the cages act as structural units that are linked by barium ions. During the assembly process, voids are created between the cages. In the case of the potassium material, K4Ba2Co412 (1=octaiminodiacetate resorcinarene), potassium ions either bind to the cages or are disordered in the channels of the material. For the cobalt material, Co2Ba2Co412, the cobalt counter cations are coordinated to water and carboxylate oxygens of 1 and reside within the voids. These materials have different structures than previously reported materials formed with cages and Group II cations. The channels in the K4Ba2Co412 material are 14×12 A and run in two directions through the material. The channels in the Co2Ba2Co412 material are smaller (11×9 A) and run in only one direction. In both materials the channels are surrounded by waters and methyl groups. These materials show how a single building unit, in this case a metal-assembled cage, can be used to construct various materials, even materials with transition and alkali metal ions in their channels.
Preparation of two solid phase immunogens.

Abstract Dinitrophenyl (DNP) conjugates of Bio-Gel and dinitrophenyl-ornithine conjugates of Bio-Gel and Sepharose were prepared. Their efficacy as immunogens was assessed. It was found that the dinitrophenyl-ornithine gels ellicited generation of large numbers of splenic anti-DNP plaque-forming cells. DNP-Bio-Gel was not immunogenic.
Cognitive Dysfunction in Older Adults Hospitalized for Acute Heart Failure

Abstract Background Few studies have measured cognitive dysfunction in older adults during acute exacerbations of heart failure (HF), even though 25% of patients are readmitted within 30 days. The aims of this study were to examine cognitive dysfunction and acute HF symptoms in older adults hospitalized for HF and to evaluate the relationship between cognitive dysfunction and 30-day rehospitalization rates for acute HF. Methods and Results A cross-sectional descriptive design was used to characterize cognitive function in 53 older adults hospitalized for acute HF with the use of Cogstate computerized neuropsychologic tests. Demographic characteristics, HF symptoms (dyspnea, fatigue, pain, and depressed mood), comorbidity, and 30-day readmission HF rates were also measured. Dyspnea was measured with the use of the Parshall Brief Clinical Dyspnea Rating Questionnaire while fatigue was measured with the use of the Chalder et al Brief Fatigue Scale. We measured pain with the use of the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire and depressed mood with the use of the depression subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Comorbid conditions were measured with the use of the Charlson comorbidity index. With the use of linear regression, dyspnea (β = −.281; P = .030), pain (β = .323; P = .011), and depressed mood (β = .406, P = .003) were associated with reduced attention and working memory speed, and pain (β = −.372; P = .005) and fatigue (β = −.275; P = .033) were associated with reduced accuracy of attention and working memory. Ten patients were readmitted within 30 days for HF. According to Mann-Whitney U analysis, cognitive dysfunction measures ( P = .090–.803) failed to show differences in HF readmission. Conclusions Participants with more and worse symptoms had decreased speed and decreased accuracy in the cognitive domains tested. Cognitive dysfunction measures did not differentiate participants who were readmitted versus those who were not readmitted within 30 days for acute HF.
Diffuse Telangiectasias on the Lower Extremities

Awoman in her 40s presented with a 5-year history of spreading blanchable, purple, asymptomatic macules on her bilateral lower extremities. Her medical history was notable for an undifferentiated connective tissue disorder with associated joint pain, and she was receiving chloroquine phosphate and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. Physical examination revealed telangiectasias coalescing into purple-blue patches on bilateral dorsal feet and toes (Figure, A). The telangiectasias extended up to her knees bilaterally. She had palpable pulses bilaterally. The patient had normal arterial brachial indexes bilaterally and minimal reflux in the right common femoral vein on a venous duplex. The antinuclear antibody value was 1:320, but factor V Leiden, protein C, protein S, and partial thromboplastin time were normal. She also had negative cryoglobulins, cryofibrinogens, and cold agglutinins. A 4-mm punch biopsy was performed of a sample from her left forefoot (Figure, B and C). What is your diagnosis?
Ultrafast dynamics of polarons in conductive polyaniline: comparison of primary and secondary doped forms.

Time- and wavelength-resolved pump−probe measurements are performed on the conductive, primary and secondary doped, forms of polyaniline in solution to investigate the relaxation dynamics of photoexcited polarons. Contrasting dynamics observed in the two forms allow investigation of electronic (and structural) relaxation of this material. Pump pulse at 800 nm photoexcites an electron from the valence to polaron band, and subsequent relaxation dynamics are probed by a white light continuum pulse. Three distinct features are observed in the primary doped sample: (1) absorption near time zero in the 900−1025 nm probe wavelength region; (2) delayed absorption from 850 to 1025 nm; (3) pronounced oscillations with frequencies of 165 and 210 cm−1. The first two features are associated with intraband absorptions to higher-lying states in the polaron band from the initial excited and conformationally changed intermediate states. The oscillations reflect torsional motions associated with photoexcitation and relaxat...
Oxygen isotopes in eucrites, shergottites, nakhlites, and chassignites

Oxygen isotopic analyses (18O/16O and17O/16O) have been carried out on three shergottites, two nakhlites, two chassignites, nine eucrites, and seventeen terrestrial samples. The eucrites define a fractionation line displaced from the terrestrial line, with an16O excess of 0.4‰. The shergottites, nakhlites, and Chassigny define another fractionation line with an16O deficiency of 0.6‰ relative to the earth. Within each of these two groups, the meteorites have been derived from a common oxygen reservoir, and perhaps a common parent body. The difference between the two groups requires separate reservoirs. Surprisingly, Brachina, previously classified as a chassignite, has an oxygen isotopic composition that lies within the eucrite group.
Effects of Job Satisfaction and Conscientiousness on Extra-Role Behaviors

Objective of this study was to examine conscientiousness as a moderator of the relationship between job satisfaction and extra-role behaviors. The data were collected using a snowballing method from workers employed in a diverse set of occupations (N = 209). The analyses provide support for the hypothesis that conscientiousness moderates the relationship between job satisfaction and extra-role behavior. Specifically, the study found evidence that job satisfaction yielded stronger relationships with personal industry and with counterproductive work behaviors (CWBs) among low-conscientiousness employees than among high-conscientiousness employees. The current findings suggest several strategies that organizations could use to influence extra-role behavior. First, the main effects for conscientiousness suggest that organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) could be increased and that CWBs could be decreased by screening-out job applicants who are low in conscientiousness. The main effects for job satisfaction suggest that making the workplace more satisfying can also increase OCBs and decrease CWBs. Finally, the moderator analyses suggest that the favorable effects of job satisfaction are more likely to occur among low-conscientiousness employees than among high-conscientiousness employees. This latter finding suggests that organizational interventions aimed at impacting extra-role behavior by influencing job satisfaction are more likely to be effective among some employees than among others. This study is among the first to examine the interactive effects of job satisfaction and conscientiousness on extra-role behavior. Although previous research has examined the main effects of these variables, few extra-role behavior studies have examined interactions between personality and job attitudes.
Morphology and pore structure of silica xerogels made at low pH

Abstract The pore structure and morphology of sol–gel derived silica xerogels made with high concentrations of acid catalyst are reported. In particular, a range of acid concentrations between 0.01 M, corresponding to a pH near the point-of-zero-charge (PZC) of silica and 1.03 M were investigated. Consistent with previous studies, the gelation time of the sols decreased with increasing acidity in this range. Nitrogen physisorption measurements of the dried xerogels revealed that the pore volumes and surface areas increased dramatically with increasing acid concentration. The microstructure of the samples made under high acid conditions, analyzed by atomic force microscopy (AFM), showed globular structures of ∼20 nm diameter which pack in such a way as to create mesoporous regions between them. This morphology is quite similar to that observed for materials with similar gelation times, but made at pH values higher than the PZC. This supports the generally held view that the pore structure and morphology are dictated by the relative rates of condensation vs. hydrolysis.
Novel Cystic Fibrosis mutation L1093P: functional analysis and possible Native American origin.

A novel mutation was detected using single-strand conformation polymorphism and heteroduplex analysis in a cystic fibrosis subject of mixed ancestry. Mutation 3410T-->C in exon 17b caused the novel missense mutation L1093P; the other chromosome has mutation N1303K. The 31-year-old subject is pancreatic insufficient, had an FEV(1) score that was 33% of normal prior to a heart/lung transplant, and sweat chloride values of 116 and 95 mM when tested at ages 1 and 11. Functional analysis using forskolin-stimulated efflux of (125)I in HEK cells transfected with an ABCC7 construct harboring the L1093P mutation confirmed that cAMP-mediated anion efflux was abnormal, but some function was preserved. Analysis of parental DNA established that N1303K was of English origin, while L1093P was of Greek, Irish or Native American (Cherokee) origin. Given the intensive screening for CF mutations in European populations, we hypothesize that L1093P is of Native American origin. Hum Mutat 15:208, 2000.
A New Device and Technique for Thermal Conductivity Measurements of Glass-Forming Materials With Application to Cryopreservation

The current study is aimed at developing a device and technique to measure the thermal conductivity of materials relevant to cryopreservation — the preservation of biomaterials at very low temperatures. It is well established that ice formation is the cornerstone of low-temperature injury [1]. In an effort to improve the outcome of cryopreservation, ice crystallization can be controlled by the addition of cryoprotective agents (CPAs), such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). CPA solutions are characterized by exponentially increasing viscosity with the decreasing temperature. If cooled rapidly enough, the crystalline phase can be completely suppressed and the material is trapped in a solid-like state known as vitrification (vitreous in Latin means glassy). While correlating the quality of the cryopreserved product with the thermal history may be straightforward to obtain in small specimens, characterized by close-to-uniform temperature distribution, analysis of larger specimens requires integration of mathematical tools to estimate the spatial temperature distribution at any instant along the cryogenic protocol. The data developed in the current study is aimed at enabling the corresponding thermal analysis, while exploring the variation in thermal conductivity between the crystalline and glassy states.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Inherited White Matter Diseases

Recent advances in molecular genetics, together with further understanding of cerebral biochemical metabolism affecting the white matter, when taken together with the information provided by MRI and MRS, provide new insights into the inherited white matter diseases.
Preparation and characterization of crosslinked poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate hydrogels as fouling-resistant membrane coating materials

Abstract A family of crosslinked poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (XLPEGDA) materials was synthesized via free-radical photopolymerization of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) solutions in water. These materials are potential fouling-resistant coatings for ultrafiltration (UF) membranes. PEGDA chain length ( n = 10–45, where n is the average number of ethylene oxide units in the PEGDA molecule) and water content in the prepolymerization mixture (0–80 wt.%) were varied, resulting in XLPEGDA materials with water permeability values ranging from 0.5 to 150 L μm/(m 2 h bar). Generally, water permeability increased with increasing prepolymerization water content and with increasing PEGDA chain length. Moreover, water permeability exhibits a strong correlation with equilibrium water uptake. However, solute rejection, probed using poly(ethylene glycol)s of well defined molar mass, decreased with increasing prepolymerization water content and increasing PEGDA chain length. That is, there is a tradeoff between water permeability and separation properties. Finally, the fouling resistance of XLPEGDA materials was characterized via contact angle measurements and static protein adhesion experiments. From these results, XLPEGDA surfaces are more hydrophilic in samples prepared at higher prepolymerization water content or with longer PEGDA chains, and the more hydrophilic surfaces generally exhibit less BSA accumulation.
The ubiquity of an enzyme-like activity for promoting an arsenate-water oxygen exchange reaction in rat liver cell fractions.

Abstract The capacity of different rat liver cell fractions to catalyze an arsenate-water oxygen exchange reaction was tested. High rates of exchange (2 to 3 μgatoms per min per mg of protein, at 25°, pH 7.5) were found for all fractions (nuclear, mitochondrial, microsomal, and soluble). This activity was lost on boiling the fractions, and was absent from bovine serum albumin, thereby pointing to a ubiquitous enzyme activity as the cause of exchange. These results further point to a need for caution in invoking mitochondrial Asi=H2O exchange data to support proposed mechanisms for oxidative phosphorylation.
Plasma membrane aquaporin activity can affect the rate of apoptosis but is inhibited after apoptotic volume decrease.

Apoptosis is characterized by a conserved series of morphological events beginning with the apoptotic volume decrease (AVD). This study investigated a role for aquaporins (AQPs) during the AVD. Inh...
Laryngeal Adduction in Trillo

Summary Acoustic, glottographic, and videolaryngoscopic analyses were made of trillo , a vocal ornament described as the rapid repetition of a single note. This vocal gesture, performed by a trained singer, was studied for variations in laryngeal adduction, fundamental frequency, and acoustic amplitude characteristics. Results suggested that trillo was produced with alternating abduction/adduction of the vocal folds, and fundamental frequency tended to be lower during the relatively more abducted portions of the utterance.
ASSESSSING COHORT BIRTH EXPECTATIONS DATA FROM THE CURRENT POPULATION SURVEY, 1971-1981

Data from the fertility supplements to the Current Population Survey from 1971 to 1981 indicate that in the aggregate, the lifetime birth expectations of married women 18 to 39 years old in 1971 will closely approximate their completed cohort fertility. During this period, the youngest group of women, 18 to 24 years old, delayed their childbearing; their short-term expectations (1971–76) were not realized, but they made up enough births in the latter half of the decade to enable them to attain their lifetime birth expectations. In retrospect, the “failure” of birth expectations data to predict the “period” fertility downswing in the 1970s resulted not from poor predictions of married women, but rather from unanticipated marital and subsequent childbearing patterns of women who were single at the beginning of the decade. The authors conclude that birth expectations are useful predictors of completed cohort fertility, if adjustments are made to incorporate changes in the proportions married within the birth cohort.
TU-C-J-6B-09: Automatic Contour Delineation On Subsequent CT Images Using Deformable Registration

Purpose: To implement a deformable registration algorithm to automatically delineate regions of interest (ROIs) on daily CT images by transforming the corresponding ROIs from a reference CT image. Method and Materials: An intensity-based ‘Demons’ deformable registration algorithm was used to find the correspondence between planning CT image and daily CT image. After reference ROIs were delineated manually on the reference CT image, the reference ROIs can be mapped onto each daily CT image. We tested this method on one head-and-neck patient (tonsil tumor). The patient received 3 CT scans per week prior to treatment for a total of 16 CT scans. The deformed ROIs were visually evaluated by a radiation oncologist. The dose-volume histograms (DVHs) of the deformed left and right parotids were calculated and compared with the planned DVHs. In addition, a cumulative dose distribution was calculated by mapping the daily dose distribution from each of the daily CT images back to the planning CT using the deformable registration method. Thus, the DVHs from the cumulative dose distribution can be calculated to represent the final “delivered” dose distribution. The volumetric changes during the elapsed treatment days for targets and critical structures were also investigated. Results: The deformed contours reasonably matched with gross anatomy presented by the CT images. The daily DVHs showed a large variation during the course of treatment due to both setup errors and internal organ deformation. In spite of large variation in DVHs of the parotids in daily CT images, the DVHs of the cumulative dose agreed reasonably well with the planned DVHs for both parotids in this case. Conclusion: We demonstrated that an intensity-based deformable registration algorithm can be used effectively to map the planning ROIs to subsequent CT images acquired during treatment. This allows effortless replanning in an adaptive CT-guided radiotherapy strategy.
The ridge through colored glass

Abstract We briefly outline the role of gluon saturation, and the interplay between initial and final state effects, in generating the ridge observed in high multiplicity proton–proton and proton–nucleus collisions.
FINGERING INSTABILITY OF DISLOCATIONS AND RELATED LINE DEFECTS

We identify a fundamental morphological instability of mobile dislocations in crystals and related line defects. A positive gradient in the local driving force along the direction of defect motion destabilizes long-wavelength vibrational modes, producing a ``fingering'' pattern. The minimum unstable wavelength scales as the inverse square root of the force gradient. We demonstrate the instability's onset in simulations of a screw dislocation in Al (via molecular dynamics) and of a vortex in a 3D $\mathrm{XY}$ ``rotator'' model.
The economics of parasite control: obstacles to creating reliable models

Models of the population biology and transmission of helminth parasites of domestic ruminants do not generally include any explicit reference to production because that would require the identification of a systematic relationship between parasitism and production loss. This is difficult because (1) the relationship between parasitism and production loss (in so far as we can identify one) is non-linear, (2) it is by no means clear which index of parasitism we should use in defining the nature of the relationship and (3) time delays in the system and the multicausal nature of production losses make it difficult to tease out those components of the loss that are attributable to parasitism.
A Specific Inhibitor of p34cdc2/Cyclin B Suppresses Fertilization-Induced Calcium Oscillations in Mouse Eggs

Fertilization-induced Ca 21 oscillations in mouse eggs cease at the time of pronuclear formation when maturation-promoting factor (MPF) is inactivated, but the Ca21 oscillations are ceaseless if eggs are arrested at metaphase by colcemid, which maintains the activity of MPF. To determine the possible role of MPF in regulation of cytoplasmic Ca21 excitability, roscovitine, a specific inhibitor of p34cdc2 /cyclin B kinase, was used to inactivate MPF, and its effect on fertilization-induced Ca21 oscillations was investigated. Our results showed that roscovitine at $ 50 mM suppressed fertilization-induced Ca21 oscillations in normal and colcemid-treated metaphase II (MII) eggs after the first 1‐2 Ca21 spikes. Roscovitine inhibition of fertilization-induced Ca 21 oscillations could be reversed by extensive washing of the eggs. Histone H1 kinase activity in colcemid-treated MII eggs was similarly inhibited by roscovitine, which suggested that the cessation of fertilization-induced Ca21 oscillations is due to the inactivation of MPF. Thimerosal-induced Ca21 oscillations in Ca 21 -, Mg 21 -free medium was also suppressed by roscovitine, suggesting a general inhibitory effect of roscovitine on Ca21 oscillations. The inhibition may be achieved by disruption of Ca21 release and refilling of the calcium store. Thapsigargin, an inhibitor of the endoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase, induced significantly less Ca21 release in roscovitine-treated eggs than in the non-drug-treated eggs. Taken together, our results suggest that MPF plays an important role in regulation of the cytoplasmic Ca21 excitability in mouse eggs.
Using Dual Loop Speed Traps To Identify Detector Errors

Dual loop speed traps have a distinct advantage over single loop detectors because the speed trap detection system is redundant. Each vehicle is observed twice under normal operating conditions, once at each loop. The two observations are normally used to measure velocity, but as this paper demonstrates, the redundancy can also be used to assess the performance of the speed trap and identify detector errors. At free-flow velocities, the time each detector is occupied by a vehicle (i.e., the on-time) should be virtually identical, regardless of the vehicle length. Many hardware errors will cause the two on-times to differ. Exploiting this property, a formal methodology for testing speed traps off-line has been developed, and ways to extend the work to on-line testing are suggested. The work is used to evaluate several loop sensor units, revealing problems in two models. A second example shows how the work can be used to detect cross talk between sensor units.
Repeat protein mediated synthesis of gold nanoparticles: effect of protein shape on the morphological and optical properties

Repeat proteins have recently emerged as promising candidates for the modular design of biohybrid platforms with a high degree of tunability. Consensus sequence tetratricopetide repeat (CTPR) proteins with increasing number of repeats were designed to probe the effects of protein shape on the morphology and resulting physicochemical properties of plasmonic gold nanoparticles. In a synthetic procedure analogous to the biomineralization processes in nature, CTPRs with 3, 6, or 18 tandem repeats were used as both the stabilizing and shape-directing agent. The electronic microscopy and spectroscopic studies indicate that both the [HAuCl4]/[CTPR] ratio and the CTPR shape have dramatic implications on the morphology and plasmon absorbance of the as-synthesized Au NPs. Induced plasmon ellipticity and fluorescence quenching data provide further evidence for the molecular interaction between CTPR and Au NPs or HAuCl4 species. Overall, this work elucidated the effects of CTPR protein shape on the morphology and plasmonic properties of Au NPs, which will further guide the rational design of modular protein based bioconjugate frameworks for colorimetric and enantiomeric biosensors.
Programmable microshutter arrays for the JWST NIRSpec: optical performance

Two-dimensional microshutter arrays (MSAs) are being developed at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) for use as a programmable aperture mask for object selection for the Near Infrared Multiobject Spectrograph (NIRSpec). The MSAs are designed to provide high transmission efficiency for the selected objects and high on to off contrast ratio at the /spl sim/35 K operating temperature of JWST. The arrays of shutters are produced from silicon nitride membranes on a 100/spl times/200 /spl mu/m pitch. Individual shutters consist of a shutter blade of silicon nitride suspended from the shutter frame by a nitride torsion flexure. The shutters are normally closed. All shutters in the array are opened by the scanning magnetic field, and are held open by an electrostatic potential applied between the open shutters and the shutter support grid electrodes. To close the required shutters for a specific configuration, the potential between the shutter to be deselected and the support frame is set to zero, allowing the shutter to close. In this way, full random access addressing is achieved. We have produced such shutters and have demonstrated mechanical actuation and selection. Optical tests of open and closed shutters have demonstrated the required contrast for the JWST application. The MSA is a pioneering technology that provides the most capable possible multiobject spectrograph for JWST. It provides high contrast selection, high transmission efficiency, and can meet the environmental requirements for JWST.
Disenfranchised by design: voting systems and the election process

Two studies on voting systems and the ballot interface explore issues related to information design and usability as they impact access to the election process and the accuracy of election results. While considerable research has been conducted on voting behavior from a political, historical, and social perspective, few studies can be found on the effectiveness of the ballot for communicating information that governs decision-making, or system design and the correspondence between voters' intentions and recorded decisions. The use of voting equipment and voters' perceptions of the voting experience have been largely overlooked. Findings from recent research studies address these issues.
Fluoxetine treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder in children and adolescents: a placebo-controlled clinical trial.

ABSTRACT Objective This study assesses the efficacy and tolerability of fluoxetine in the acute treatment of child and adolescent obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) during a 13-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Method Eligible patients aged 7 to 17 (N = 103) were randomized at a ratio of 2:1 to receive either fluoxetine or placebo. Dosing was initiated at 10 mg daily for 2 weeks, then increased to 20 mg daily. After 4 weeks of treatment, and again after 7 weeks of treatment, nonresponders could have their dosage increased by 20 mg daily, for a maximum possible dosage of 60 mg daily. Primary measure of efficacy was improvement in OCD symptoms as measured by the Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS). All analyses were intent-to-treat. Results Fluoxetine was associated with significantly greater improvement in OCD as assessed by the CY-BOCS (p = .026) and other measures than was placebo. Fluoxetine was well tolerated and had a rate of discontinuation for adverse events similar to that of placebo (p = 1.00). Conclusions Fluoxetine 20 to 60 mg daily was effective and well tolerated for treatment of OCD in this pediatric population.
Impacts of Saharan dust as CCN on the evolution of an idealized tropical cyclone

[1] The impact of dust in the Saharan Air Layer (SAL) acting as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) on the evolution of a tropical cyclone (TC) was examined by conducting simulations initialized with an idealized pre-TC mesoscale convective vortex (MCV) using the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS). Increasing the background CCN concentration from 100 to 1000 and 2000 cm 3 in a layer between 1 and 5 km led to increases in averaged cloud droplet number concentration, and decreases in cloud droplet mean mass diameter through the entire simulation except during the initial spin-up. Dust in the SAL as CCN influenced the TC development by inducing changes in the hydrometeor properties, modifying the storm diabatic heating distribution and thermodynamic structure, and ultimately influencing the TC intensity through complex dynamical responses. The simulated storm intensities differed by up to 22 hPa depending on CCN concentration. The impact of CCN on storm intensity was sensitive to the background giant CCN (GCCN) vertical profile and presumably other environmental factors. The physical processes responsible for the impact of dust as nucleating aerosols on TC development need to be examined in the future under a wide range of environmental conditions. Citation: Zhang, H., G. M. McFarquhar, S. M. Saleeby, and W. R. Cotton (2007), Impacts of Saharan dust as CCN on the evolution of an idealized tropical cyclone, Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L14812,
The Means as Weighted Averages.

The quadratic mean, geometric mean and harmonic mean of two numbers a and b are obtained as weighted averages by using segments parallel to the bases a and b of a trapezoid.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis Lsr2 Is a Global Transcriptional Regulator Required for Adaptation to Changing Oxygen Levels and Virulence

ABSTRACT To survive a dynamic host environment, Mycobacterium tuberculosis must endure a series of challenges, from reactive oxygen and nitrogen stress to drastic shifts in oxygen availability. The mycobacterial Lsr2 protein has been implicated in reactive oxygen defense via direct protection of DNA. To examine the role of Lsr2 in pathogenesis and physiology of M. tuberculosis, we generated a strain deleted for lsr2 . Analysis of the M. tuberculosis Δ lsr2 strain demonstrated that Lsr2 is not required for DNA protection, as this strain was equally susceptible as the wild type to DNA-damaging agents. The lsr2 mutant did display severe growth defects under normoxic and hyperoxic conditions, but it was not required for growth under low-oxygen conditions. However, it was also required for adaptation to anaerobiosis. The defect in anaerobic adaptation led to a marked decrease in viability during anaerobiosis, as well as a lag in recovery from it. Gene expression profiling of the Δ lsr2 mutant under aerobic and anaerobic conditions in conjunction with published DNA binding-site data indicates that Lsr2 is a global transcriptional regulator controlling adaptation to changing oxygen levels. The Δ lsr2 strain was capable of establishing an early infection in the BALB/c mouse model; however, it was severely defective in persisting in the lungs and caused no discernible lung pathology. These findings demonstrate M. tuberculosis Lsr2 is a global transcriptional regulator required for control of genes involved in adaptation to extremes in oxygen availability and is required for persistent infection. IMPORTANCE M. tuberculosis causes nearly two million deaths per year and infects nearly one-third of the world population. The success of this aerobic pathogen is due in part to its ability to successfully adapt to constantly changing oxygen availability throughout the infectious cycle, from the high oxygen tension during aerosol transmission to anaerobiosis within necrotic lesions. An understanding of how M. tuberculosis copes with these changes in oxygen tension is critical for its eventual eradication. Using a mutation in lsr2 , we demonstrate that the Lsr2 protein present in all mycobacteria is a global transcriptional regulator in control of genes required for adaptation to changes in oxygen levels. M. tuberculosis lacking lsr2 was unable to adapt to both high and very low levels of oxygen and was defective in long-term anaerobic survival. Lsr2 was also required for disease pathology and for chronic infection in a mouse model of TB.
Mold Inhibitory Activity of an N-Oxime Ether,

Abstract A N-oxime ether (CG-97967), representative of a new class of mold inhibitors that have promising in vitro activity, was tested for activity in unaltered corn meal. Using inhibition of the production of respiratory CO2 as the criterion of antifungal activity, the N-oxime ether was equal or superior to propionic acid in three batches of corn meal. Further testing against pure cultures of fungi, yeast, and bacteria revealed that the experimental compound was unstable and was inactivated by heating, which caused an oxidative decarboxylation. These results suggest that use of the N-oxime ether would be inappropriate in pelleted poultry feed.
Photoelectron spectroscopic and computational study of hydrated pyrimidine anions.

The stabilization of the pyrimidine anion by the addition of water molecules is studied experimentally using photoelectron spectroscopy of mass-selected hydrated pyrimidine clusters and computationally using quantum-mechanical electronic structure theory. Although the pyrimidine molecular anion is not observed experimentally, the addition of a single water molecule is sufficient to impart a positive electron affinity. The sequential hydration data have been used to extrapolate to −0.22 eV for the electron affinity of neutral pyrimidine, which agrees very well with previous observations. These results for pyrimidine are consistent with previous studies of the hydrated cluster anions of uridine, cytidine, thymine, adenine, uracil, and naphthalene. This commonality suggests a universal effect of sequential hydration on the electron affinity of similar molecules.
Why Is Cognitive Diagnosis Necessary? A Reaction.

Language Assessment Quarterly, Volume 6, Issue 3, 2009, is a special issue titled “Cognitive Diagnosis and Q-Matrices in Language Assessment.” The editors (Young-Won Lee and Yasuyo Sawaki) state th...
Allogeneic transplantation for the elderly patient with acute myelogenous leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome

Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) are diseases of the elderly. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) offers the possibility of cure for these malignancies, but until recently its use was restricted to younger patients due to prohibitive treatment-related mortality. Improvements in supportive care and development of reduced-intensity preparative regimens have allowed patients in the sixth, seventh, and to a lesser extent, eighth decade of life to be treated with allogeneic transplantation. Major obstacles to extending this form of treatment to older patients are lack of promptly available donors, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), delayed immune recovery, and the high prevalence of refractory and relapsed disease intrinsic to the natural history of these myeloid malignancies. Here we review current results of allogeneic blood and marrow transplantation for AML and MDS in the elderly.
Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors Take a Disproportional Toll on Women

In this issue, Koupenova et al1 demonstrate that the transcripts of all 10 Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are expressed in platelets. Using the Framingham Heart Offspring cohort, the authors were able to identify a novel positive correlation between TLR transcript expression in platelets and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors, including obesity, sex, and inflammation (Figure). Figure. Sex-dependent risk factors associated with Toll-like receptor (TLR) transcript expression in platelets. Platelets express the transcripts of all 10 TLRs arranged above based on the receptor subcellular location. Generally, the function of TLRs in platelets is prothrombotic and proinflammatory. Platelet TLR transcript expression correlates with inflammation, platelet activation, and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors in a sex-dependent manner. Positive correlations between risk factor and TLR transcript expression for men (blue) and women (red) are depicted above each receptor. BMI indicates body mass index; CRP, C-reactive protein; ICAM1, intercellular adhesion molecule 1; …
Comparison of contraceptive method chosen by women with and without a recent history of induced abortion.

Background Women undergoing induced abortion may be more motivated to choose long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), including the intrauterine device (IUD) and implant, than women without a history of abortion. Our objective was to determine whether the contraceptive method chosen is influenced by a recent history of induced abortion and access to immediate postabortion contraception.
Deadbeat Dads: Evolutionary Perspectives on Providing Child Support

This chapter begins by highlighting the sociological, macrolevel focus of previous work on the determinants of child support payments. We then highlight the value of addressing these issues from a psychological perspective. We argue that research and policy will benefi t by embracing an explicitly evolutionary psychological perspective. We present several evolutionary hypotheses regarding the determinants of child support payments and discuss how previous research informs these hypotheses. Finally, we review proposed solutions for increasing men’s compliance with child support orders. We conclude that an evolutionary perspective can inform not only research on the determinants of child support payments, but also the social policies that might increase the reliability with which these payments are made.
Extracellular ATP activates calcium signaling, ion, and fluid transport in retinal pigment epithelium.

The presence of receptors for ATP has not been established in any native preparation of retinal neurons or glia. In the present study, we used conventional electrophysiological and [Ca 2+ ] in fluorescence imaging techniques to investigate the effects of ATP added to Ringer’s solution perfusing the retinal-facing (apical) membrane of freshly isolated monolayers of bovine retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). ATP (or UTP) produced large, biphasic voltage and resistance changes with a K d of ∼5 μm for ATP and ∼1 μm for UTP. Electrical and pharmacological evidence indicates that the first and second phases of the response are attributable to an increase in basolateral membrane Cl conductance and a decrease in apical membrane K conductance, respectively. The ATP-induced responses were not affected by adenosine, but were reduced by the P 2 -purinoceptor blocker suramin. ATP also produced a large, transient increase in [Ca 2+ ] in that was blocked by cyclopiazonic acid, an inhibitor of endoplasmic reticulum Ca 2+ -ATPases. The calcium buffer BAPTA attenuated the voltage effects of ATP. We also found that apical DIDS significantly inhibited the ATP-evoked [Ca 2+ ] in and electrical responses, suggesting that DIDS blocked the purinoceptor. Measurements of fluid movement across the RPE using the capacitance probe technique demonstrated a significant increase in fluid absorption by apical UTP. These data indicate the presence of metabotropic P 2Y /P 2U -purinoceptors at the RPE apical membrane and implicate extracellular ATP in vivo as a retinal signaling molecule that could help regulate the hydration and chemical composition of the subretinal space.
How Culture Affects the use of Information Technology

Multinational enterprises (MNEs) must be able to communicate and process data efficiently and effectively throughout the firm. The use of information technology is often affected by the various cultures in which MNEs operate. Technological advances have altered the methods by which MNEs conduct both their domestic and international operations. Advances such as e-business, information security, and electronic financial reporting are among the most significant technological changes facing accountants. As accountants confront and resolve these challenges, they will need to consider the effects of culture on implementation and use of technology. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in cultural and organizational environments of MNEs. Based on these cultural differences, we formed and tested hypotheses regarding the utilization of information technology by accountants. The findings indicate that impediments to international data flow are significantly related to culture.
Left ventricular remodeling in heart failure: current concepts in clinical significance and assessment.

Ventricular remodeling, first described in animal models of left ventricular (LV) stress and injury, occurs progressively in untreated patients after large myocardial infarction and in those with dilated forms of cardiomyopathy. The gross pathologic changes of increased LV volume and perturbation in the normal elliptical LV chamber configuration is driven, on a histologic level, by myocyte hypertrophy and apoptosis and by increased interstitial collagen. Each of the techniques used for tracking this process—echocardiography, radionuclide ventriculography, and cardiac magnetic resonance—carries advantages and disadvantages. Numerous investigations have demonstrated the value of LV volume measurement at a single time-point and over time in predicting clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure and in those after myocardial infarction. The structural pattern of LV remodeling and evidence of scarring on cardiac magnetic resonance have additional prognostic value. Beyond the impact of abnormal cardiac structure on cardiovascular events, the relationship between LV remodeling and clinical outcomes is likely linked through common local and systemic factors driving vascular as well as myocardial pathology. As demonstrated by a recent meta-analysis of heart failure trials, LV volume stands out among surrogate markers as strongly correlating with the impact of a particular drug or device therapy on patient survival. These findings substantiate the importance of ventricular remodeling as central in the pathophysiology of advancing heart failure and support the role of measures of LV remodeling in the clinical investigation of novel heart failure treatments.