cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Macrophages: important physiologic and pathologic sources of polypeptide growth factors.

The monocyte-macrophage, a bone marrow-derived cell recognized by Metchnikoff more than 100 years ago as important for host defense, has more recently been identified as a mediator of a variety of essential immunologic and nonimmunologic biologic activities (1). Macrophages also have been identified as a central component of the acute inflammatory phase of tissue repair, and have been found essential for normal wound healing (2). Thus, the critical role for macrophages in wound healing provides a useful paradigm for examining their possible roles in other physiologic and pathologic processes. Recently, polypeptide growth factors have been identified as soluble mediators of many biologic activities considered intrinsic for tissue repair, including cellular proliferation, chemotaxis, and differentiation (3). Because wound macrophages synthesize many polypeptide growth factors, they may provide an important endogenous source of factors to the wound. Macrophage-derived growth factors include platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-tJ), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) , and transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-a) (4). Locally applied PDGF enhances and accelerates recruitment of macrophages into experimental wounds, and subsequently activates them to synthesize increased amounts of endogenous growth factors, including TGF-tJ (2,5); PDGFtreated wounds have increased wound strength, increased extracellular matrix (granulation tissue) generation, and enhanced fibroblast recruitment and activation (5, 6). In experimental wounds rendered deficient in repair due to elimination of wound macrophages (i.e., glucocorticoid treatment or total body irradiation), PDGF is ineffective in reversing the deficit, indicating a requirement for wound macrophages to transduce the PDGF signal (2). In contrast, in wounds in which local fibroblast activity is abrogated (i.e., surface irradiation), PDGF enhances macrophage recruitment into the wound and reverses the wound-healing deficit.
Riot Grrrl, Race, and Revival

This essay ventures a critique of the existing historiography of riot grrrl and how the movement is narrated both “then” and “now” to contain and subsume the disruptions of race. The first counter-story commences with and departs from that scene of intimacy that is the semi-secret heart of riot grrrl's resonance, an aesthetics of access – to the means of production and creative labor, but also to more ephemeral properties of expertise and self-knowledge – through which the personal and the political are collapsed. The author argues that the resistive properties of intimacy might also replicate its intrusive ones, and conceive of change narrowly as the adjustment of the individual subject – recalibrating her capacity for love or shame, for instance – to the structural determinations that constitute the historical present. In doing so, the author shows how race confounded such intimacy in order to demarcate the boundaries of riot grrrl aesthetics as both form and critique. In a second counter-story, with ri...
Commitments to Threat Strategies in Nash Bargaining

Nash's two-person bargaining model consists of two stages: threat strategies and utility demands are chosen in the first and second stages respectively. Here players commit to play the threat strategies chosen in the first stage for the case where disagreement occurs in the second stage. Whether a player commits or not to play a threat strategy, however, is voluntary in principle. This leads to some possible extensions of Nash's model so that players' commitment choices are taken into account. In this paper, we consider three extensions. In the two person case, these three extensions give essentially the same result as that given by Nash. This is not the case for more than two players; the result depends upon an extension. In one extension, Nash's result always holds for more than two players. In the other two extensions, however, we give a three person example where not all players choose commitments in equilibrium.
Modeling of frequency doubling and tripling with converter refractive index spatial non-uniformities due to gravitational sag

Accurate predictions of the performance of frequency conversion requires knowledge of the spatial variation of departures from the phase-matching condition in the converter crystals. This variation is caused by processes such as crystal growth and crystal surface finishing. Gravitational sag and mounting configurations also lead to deformation and stresses which cause spatially varying departures from the phase-matching condition. We have modeled the effect of gravitational forces on conversion efficiency performance of horizontal converter crystals and have shown for the NIF mounting configurations that gravity has very little effect on conversion efficiency. Keywords: Frequency conversion, ICF, Nonlinear optics, KDP crystals
A note on convexity and submatrices of distance matrices

We prove that, if the index set of a distance matrix cannot be partitioned into two convex subsets, then, given a pair of indices, we can find another pair such that the principal submatrix of order four associated with the four indices is nontree-realizable.
Quality in point-of-care testing: taking POC to the next level

Point-of-care testing (POCT) is a complex system with many opportunities for error. Delivering quality POCT requires multidisciplinary coordination and an understanding of the preanalytic, analytic, and postanalytic processes that are necessary to deliver a test result and take clinical action. Most errors in laboratory testing occur in the pre and postanalytical phases and many mistakes that are referred to as lab error are actually due to poor communication, actions by others involved in the testing process, or poorly designed processes outside the laboratory's control. POCT requires significant operator interaction with analysis and documentation of calibration and quality control, unlike other medical devices. Clinicians often interpret POCT as equivalent to core laboratory testing, only faster, and mistakenly utilize the results interchangeably despite the differences in test methodologies. Taking quality of POCT to the next level involves looking beyond the analytical phase and integration of POCT into the entire pathway of patient care to understand how POCT relates to medical decision-making at specific points during the patient's care. A systematic review of the literature by the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry is currently being conducted to draft guidelines for best practice that link the use of POCT to improved patient outcomes.
Antifeedant tests with larvae of Pseudaletia unipuncta: variability of behavioral response

Feeding preference assays that lasted 6 hours were used to test a range of plant secondary compounds for deterrence to Pseudaletia unipuncta (Haworth) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a grass-feeding armyworm. Preference was determined by relative amounts of treated and control material consumed. In these assays, about half of the compounds were deterrent and half were not when applied to corn leaf discs at 1% of the dry weight of the leaf. Direct observation of the behavior of individual caterpillars revealed that nicotine, which appeared to be non-deterrent in the 6-h preference assay, was deterrent the first time it was encountered. Caffeine was deterrent in both types of assay, but the caterpillars habituated to it after prolonged exposure and its deterrency decreased with time. Long-term preference assays are adequate to screen chemicals for antifeedant properties for agricultural use, but short-term behavioral responses may be important in plant-insect interactions in more diverse natural ecosystems. Resume Polymorphisme des reactions des chenilles de Pseudaletia unipuncta aux substances secondaires des vegetaux La repulsion de Pseudaletia unipuncta (Lep., Noctuidae) pour des substances secondaires vegetales a ete examinee au cours d'experiences qui ont dure 6 heures. Environ 50% des substances appliquees sur des rondelles de feuilles de mais, a la dose de 1% du poids sec de la feuille, ont provoque une repulsion. L'observation directe de chaque chenille a permis d'examiner la prise de nourriture en presence de quelques substances. Aucune repulsion due a la nicotine n'a ete notee apres les 6 heures de l'experience, mais l'observation directe a permis de constater une repulsion des chenilles trouvant de la nicotine pour la premiere fois. Les feuilles de mais traitees avec de la nicotine ont ete rejetees plus souvent que cells traitees avec un solvant seul, et la duree du repas a ete plus breve. La cafeine a toujours ete repulsive, mais la reaction a diminue avec le temps. On a observe des chenilles qui avait eu la veille nr aliment traite a la cafeine. Apres 2 repas sans cafeine, ces chenilles ont consomme plus longtemps des aliments traites a la cafeine que cells qui n'avaient jamais ete mises precedemment en presence d'aliments traites a la cafeine, ce qui laisse penser que l'accoutumance est responsable de cette diminution progressive de la repulsion.
Total width of the lowest T = 2 state in 24Mg

Abstract By analyzing thick-target excitation functions of the E p = 3906 keV 23 Na ( p , γ) resonance we have determined Γc.m ≦ 530+40−70 eV for the width of the lowest T = 2 state of 24Mg. The beam energy resolution function was measured using a narrow 27Al(p, γ) resonance at Ep = 3671 keV, for which we obtain Γc.m. = 180 ±50 eV.
Micro Four-Point Probe With Metal Tip

A fabrication method for a metal micro four-point probe with metal tip and measurements made using this probe are presented. A novel conical metal tip etching method using silicon dioxide chamber is also introduced. Four-point-probe resolution is decided by the electrode spacing because the effective probing depth is proportional to the electrode spacing [1]. AFM (Atomic Force Microscope) cantilever type micro four-point probe can be installed in the commercial AFM to measure the sample resistivity with low contact force and high resolution [2]. The integration of a vertical tip extends the useful application of micro four-point-probe. A conductive tip can be fabricated by coating a dielectric cantilever with conductive material. However, solid electric contact between sample and cantilever tip cannot be ensured because of the possibility of tip coating material wear. The effect of conductivity loss due to wear can be reduced with a solid metal tip.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Ethanol emission from loose corn silage and exposed silage particles

Abstract Silage on dairy farms has been identified as a major source of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. However, rates of VOC emission from silage are not accurately known. In this work, we measured ethanol (a dominant silage VOC) emission from loose corn silage and exposed corn silage particles using wind tunnel systems. Flux of ethanol was highest immediately after exposing loose silage samples to moving air (as high as 220 g m−2 h−1) and declined by as much as 76-fold over 12 h as ethanol was depleted from samples. Emission rate and cumulative 12 h emission increased with temperature, silage permeability, exposed surface area, and air velocity over silage samples. These responses suggest that VOC emission from silage on farms is sensitive to climate and management practices. Ethanol emission rates from loose silage were generally higher than previous estimates of total VOC emission rates from silage and mixed feed. For 15 cm deep loose samples, mean cumulative emission was as high as 170 g m−2 (80% of initial ethanol mass) after 12 h of exposure to an air velocity of 5 m s−1. Emission rates measured with an emission isolation flux chamber were lower than rates measured in a wind tunnel and in an open setting. Results show that the US EPA emission isolation flux chamber method is not appropriate for estimating VOC emission rates from silage in the field.
Single-Incision Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (SILC) Using Non-articulating Instruments and Conventional Trocars—Single Surgeon Experience

Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) was first described in 1999. Many techniques using newer instruments have emerged but none has been standardized. We describe our technique and experience, using non-articulating instruments with conventional trocars. Patients who underwent SILC over 2 years (July 2009–July 2011) were included in the study group. All consecutive laparoscopic cholecystectomies done during the same period by the same surgeon were included in the control group. Demographic data, previous abdominal surgeries, bile spillage, conversion, and duration of surgery were analyzed. Seventy patients underwent SILC while 115 patients had laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Ninety-three percent of SILCs were done in women as compared to 68 % in the control group (p < 0.0001). More SILC patients were younger (65 % were 30–50 years old) as compared to control patients (40 % were 50–70 years old, p < 0.001). The mean duration of SILC was 68 ± 2.15 min as compared to 66 ± 6.27 min in controls (p < .0001). Of the initial 20 SILC, nine required insertion of additional instruments and one was converted to conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The subsequent 50 cases of SILC had only one conversion (p = 0.001). In the first 20 SILC, one patient (out of three) with BMI above 35 kg/m2 required conversion to laparoscopic cholecystectomy and one required insertion of an additional instrument. In the subsequent 50 cases, all the six patients with BMI above 35 (up to 40) were operated on successfully without any additional instrument insertion or conversion. SILC has a learning curve. Patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis, biliary dyskinesia, and cholecystitis, age less than 75 years, and BMI <40 can undergo SILC. With experience, SILC using conventional laparoscopy instruments has comparable outcomes to laparoscopic cholecystectomy in properly selected patients and is economical.
A comparison of costs associated with screening for gestational diabetes with two-tiered and one-tiered testing protocols

Abstract Objective: The Fourth International Workshop on Gestational Diabetes recently suggested that two techniques, a 2-tiered protocol and a 1-tiered protocol, to screen for gestational diabetes mellitus are acceptable alternatives. This study was undertaken to compare the direct costs and patient time expenditures associated with implementing both techniques. Study Design: A MEDLINE search was undertaken to determine the prevalence of positive and negative screening results. Direct costs of testing were estimated by determining the range of supply costs from manufacturers' catalogs and the labor costs by estimating the time required to perform each procedure and multiplying by the appropriate range of wages; these costs were then multiplied by the appropriate range of the number of procedures required to implement both protocols, and the totals were summed. Patient time expended was estimated by assigning test times of 1, 2, and 3 hours for the 50-g screening glucose challenge test, the 75-g oral glucose tolerance test, and the 100-g oral glucose tolerance test, respectively. If additional visits were required, 2 travel-time units were assigned each time a patient underwent a procedure. These units were multiplied by the range of patients undergoing various tests to implement the alternative protocols. Results: We identified low and high direct costs, test times, and travel units per patient screened by the 1- and 2-tiered testing protocols. Low and high direct costs were $3.46 and $7.88, respectively, for the 2-tiered protocol and $5.64 and $10.88, respectively, for the 1-tiered protocol (relative ratios, 1.63 for low direct costs in each protocol and 1.38 for high direct costs in each protocol). Low and high test times were 1.4 and 1.5 hours, respectively, for the 2-tiered protocol and 2.0 and 2.0 hours, respectively, for the 1-tiered protocol (relative ratios, 1.47 for low test times in each protocol and 1.32 for high test times in each protocol). Low and high travel units for the 2-tiered protocol were 0.2 and 0.3, respectively, when the glucose challenge test was given at the prenatal visit, and 2.2 and 2.3, respectively, when the test was not given at that time. Low and high travel units for the 1-tiered protocol were 8.3 and 5.8, respectively, when the glucose challenge test was given at the prenatal visit, and 0.89 and 0.85, respectively, when the test was not given at that time. Conclusions: The 2-tiered protocol appears to be associated with lower direct implementation costs and less patient time expenditure than the 1-tiered scheme. The 1-tiered protocol is associated with slightly less travel time, but this is unlikely to offset the test time advantage of the 2-tiered protocol. Until further data regarding the relative clinical utility of the 2 protocols become available, these factors may be important for clinicians in deciding which screening format to follow. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;184:363-7.)
On the temperature dependence of the interaction parameter Ω

Abstract For sub-regular solutions an inverse variation of the interaction parameter with temperature is proposed. Using this relationship, the liquidus curve in the Cu-Cr system is calculated; it is found to be in good agreement with the assessed liquidus curve.
Loss of expression of tropomyosin-1, a novel class II tumor suppressor that induces anoikis, in primary breast tumors

Suppression of tropomyosins (TMs), a family of actin-binding, microfilament-associated proteins, is a prominent feature of many transformed cells. Yet it is unclear whether downregulation of TMs occur in human tumors. We have investigated the expression of tropomyosin-1 (TM1) in human breast carcinoma tissues by in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence. TM1 mRNA and protein are readily detectable in normal mammary tissue. In contrast, TM1 expression is abolished in the primary human breast tumors. Expression of other TM isoforms, however, is variable among the tumors. The consistent and profound downregulation of TM1 suggests that TM1 may be a novel and useful biomarker of mammary neoplasms. These data also support the hypothesis that suppression of TM1 expression during the malignant conversion of mammary epithelium as a contributing factor of breast cancer. In support of this hypothesis, we show that the ability to suppress malignant growth properties of breast cancer cells is specific to TM1 isoform. Investigations into the mechanisms of TM1-induced tumor suppression reveal that TM1 induces anoikis (detachment induced apoptosis) in breast cancer cells. Downregulation of TM1 in breast tumors may destabilize microfilament architecture and confer resistance to anoikis, which facilitates survival of neoplastic cells outside the normal microenvironment and promote malignant growth.
TWO DIMENSIONAL ULTRAVIOLET SPECTROSCOPY OF PROTEINS AND AMYLOID FIBRILS

Two dimensional ultraviolet (2DUV) spectra of protein backbone and side chains are simulated. The signals provide new insights into the structure and dynamics of proteins and Amyloid Fibrils.
Patient-physician communication regarding electronic cigarettes.

Introduction Smokers are likely asking their physicians about the safety of e-cigarettes and their potential role as a cessation tool; however, the research literature on this communication is scant. A pilot study of physicians in the United States was conducted to investigate physician–patient communication regarding e-cigarettes.
Model for multispectral and panchromatic image fusion

The Intensity Hue Saturation (IHS) transform is a widely used method to enhance the spatial resolution of multispectral images by substituting the Intensity component by the high resolution of the panchromatic image. However, such a direct substitution introduces important modifications on spectral properties. A more rigorous approach should consist in enhancing the spatial resolution of the intensity component through an appropriate combination with the panchromatic image. Such a combination is performed in the redundant wavelet domain by using a fusion model. SPOT images are used to illustrate the superiority of our approach compared to the IHS method for preserving spectral properties.
Super-roughening: A new phase transition on the surfaces of crystals with quenched bulk disorder.

We present and study a model for surface fluctuations and equilibrium crystal shapes in solids with quenched bulk translational disorder but infinitely long-ranged orientational order. Strictly speaking, such surfaces have no sharp surface phase transition. However, for reasonable values of the bulk correlation length ${\ensuremath{\xi}}_{B}$ (${\ensuremath{\xi}}_{B}$\ensuremath{\gtrsim}30 A\r{} should be sufficient), an experimentally sharp ``super-roughening'' transition occurs at a temperature ${T}_{\mathrm{SR}}$. This transition separates a high-temperature ``rough'' phase of the surface from a low-temperature ``super-rough'' phase that, counterintuitively, is even rougher. Specifically, the root-mean-square equilibrium vertical fluctuation in the position of the interface 〈${h}^{2}$〉\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{} $^{1/2}$ diverge like \ensuremath{\surd}lnL as the length L of the surface \ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty} for Tg${T}_{\mathrm{SR}}$ (just as in ordered solids for T greater than the roughening temperature ${T}_{R}$), while 〈${h}^{2}$〉\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{} $^{1/2}\mathrm{ln}\mathit{L}$ for T${T}_{\mathrm{SR}}$.
The terrestrial silica pump.

Silicon (Si) cycling controls atmospheric CO2 concentrations and thus, the global climate, through three well-recognized means: chemical weathering of mineral silicates, occlusion of carbon (C) to soil phytoliths, and the oceanic biological Si pump. In the latter, oceanic diatoms directly sequester 25.8 Gton C yr−1, accounting for 43% of the total oceanic net primary production (NPP). However, another important link between C and Si cycling remains largely ignored, specifically the role of Si in terrestrial NPP. Here we show that 55% of terrestrial NPP (33 Gton C yr−1) is due to active Si-accumulating vegetation, on par with the amount of C sequestered annually via marine diatoms. Our results suggest that similar to oceanic diatoms, the biological Si cycle of land plants also controls atmospheric CO2 levels. In addition, we provide the first estimates of Si fixed in terrestrial vegetation by major global biome type, highlighting the ecosystems of most dynamic Si fixation. Projected global land use change will convert forests to agricultural lands, increasing the fixation of Si by land plants, and the magnitude of the terrestrial Si pump.
Variational models of life-histories: When do solutions exist?

Techniques are presented for analyzing Euler-Lotka models in which age-specific birth and death rates depend on a collection v = (v1,…, vn) of trait parameters. Sufficient conditions are established for the existence of a v such that the growth rate r(v) is locally optimal. We analyze a general age-at-maturity model, and give criteria for the existence of such variational solutions within each of several sub-models.
Effect of dietary cation-anion difference and dietary crude protein on performance of lactating dairy cows during hot weather.

Abstract Thirty-two lactating Holstein cows (225 ± 63 d in milk) were used in a 6-wk trial to determine the effect of dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) and dietary crude protein (CP) concentration on milk and component yield, acid-base status, and serum AA concentrations during hot weather. Treatments were arranged as a 2 × 2 factorial within a randomized complete block design to provide 15 or 17% CP and a DCAD of 25 or 50 mEq (Na + K - Cl)/100 g of dry matter (DM). A DCAD × CP interaction was detected for milk yield; milk yield was less for high DCAD than for low DCAD for the high-CP diets. No differences were noted at low dietary CP. Milk fat percentage was greater for high DCAD than for low DCAD, and high-CP diets supported greater milk fat percentage than low-CP diets. No differences were observed among treatments for dry matter intake or milk protein percentage. Serum total AA and essential AA concentrations and ratio of essential AA:total AA were greater for high DCAD. These results suggest that increasing DCAD improves AA availability for protein synthesis by taking the place of AA that would otherwise be used for maintenance of acid-base balance. A better understanding of the mechanisms behind this AA-sparing effect will improve management of protein nutrition in the lactating dairy cow.
The Sizes of Compact Subsets of Hilbert Space and Continuity of Gaussian Processes

The first two sections of this paper are introductory and correspond to the two halves of the title. As is well known, there is no complete analog of Lebesue or Haar measure in an infinite-dimensional Hilbert space H, but there is a need for some measure of the sizes of subsets of H. In this paper we shall study subsets C of H which are closed, bounded, convex and symmetric (— x e C if x e C). Such a set C will be called a Banach ball, since it is the unit ball of a complete Banach norm on its linear span. In most cases in this paper C will be compact.
Decentralized modular control of concurrent discrete event systems

The paper studies decentralized modular control of concurrent discrete event systems that are composed of multiple interacting modules. A modular supervisor consists of a set of local supervisor modules, one for each plant module and which determines its control actions based on the locally observed behaviors. No communication among local supervisor modules occurs in the setting of decentralized modular control. In this paper we introduce the notion of separable-controllability, a property strictly stronger than controllability and separability combined, as a condition for the existence of a decentralized modular control, and present a way to verify this property. We show that non-unique maximal separably- controllable sublanguages and the unique minimal closed and separably-controllable superlanguage of a specification language exist. These serve as an upper bound (resp., the lower bound) for a restrictive (resp., relaxive) decentralized modular control. We present modular computations for synthesizing a restrictive as well as a relaxive decentralized modular control. When appropriate we also compare our results with the existing ones.
The bestrophin mutation A243V, linked to adult-onset vitelliform macular dystrophy, impairs its chloride channel function.

Purpose It has been proposed that Best vitelliform macular dystrophy (BVMD) is caused by dysfunction in the Cl(-) channel function of human bestrophin-1 (hBest1), but some patients with BVMD who have the hBest1 A243V mutation have normal electro-oculograms, suggesting that this mutation may not affect Cl(-) channel function. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the A243V mutation affects the Cl(-) channel function of hBest1. Methods Wild-type alanine at position 243 was changed to valine by PCR-based mutagenesis. Wild-type (WT) and A243V hBest1 were transfected into HEK-293 cells, and Cl(-) currents were measured with the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. The trafficking of proteins to the plasma membrane was tested by cell-surface biotinylation. Results WT hBest1 induced Ca(2+)-activated Cl(-) currents in HEK cells that were >1 nA in amplitude. The currents produced by the A243V mutant, however, were only approximately 10% as large as WT. This was not due to the inability of the A243V mutant to reach the plasma membrane, as shown by cell-surface biotinylation. The A243V mutation changed channel anion selectivity. The WT current exhibited a relative permeability P(X)/P(Cl) order of SCN(-) > or = I(-) > or = NO(3)(-) > Br(-) > Cl(-) > HCO(3)(-) and a relative conductance G(X)/G(Cl) order of NO(3)(-) > SCN(-) > I(-) > or = Br(-) > or = Cl(-) > HCO(3)(-). However, the A243V current exhibited different sequences: P(X)/P(Cl) was SCN(-) > NO(3)(-) > I(-) > Br(-) > Cl(-) > HCO(3)(-) and G(X)/G(Cl) was SCN(-) > NO(3)(-) > or = I(-) > or = Br(-) > Cl(-) > HCO(3)(-). Unlike several other hBest1 mutations that have dominant-negative effects on wild-type channels, the A243V-mutation did not influence the wild-type current when A243V and WT hBest1 were transfected together. Conclusions The disease-causing A243V mutation is associated with altered hBest1 Cl(-) channel activity. The absence of a dominant negative effect of A243V is consistent with the more mild symptoms associated with this mutation. These results are interpreted in terms of the hypotheses that bestrophins are Cl(-) channels and regulators of Ca signaling.
Cortical and Subcortical Abnormalities in Youths With Conduct Disorder and Elevated Callous-Unemotional Traits

Objective Although there is growing evidence of brain abnormalities among individuals with conduct disorder (CD), the structural neuroimaging literature is mixed and frequently aggregates cortical volume rather than differentiating cortical thickness from surface area. The current study assesses CD-related differences in cortical thickness, surface area, and gyrification as well as volume differences in subcortical structures critical to neurodevelopmental models of CD (amygdala; striatum) in a carefully characterized sample. We also examined whether group structural differences were related to severity of callous-unemotional (CU) traits in the CD sample. Method Participants were 49 community adolescents aged 10 to 18 years, 22 with CD and 27 healthy comparison youth. Structural MRI was collected and the FreeSurfer image analysis suite was used to provide measures of cortical thickness, surface area, and local gyrification as well as subcortical (amygdala and striatum) volumes. Results Youths with CD showed reduced cortical thickness in the superior temporal cortex. There were also indications of reduced gyrification in the ventromedial frontal cortex, particularly for youths with CD without comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. There were no group differences in cortical surface area. However, youths with CD also showed reduced amygdala and striatum (putamen and pallidum) volumes. Right temporal cortical thickness was significantly inversely related to severity of CU traits. Conclusions Youths with CD show reduced cortical thickness within superior temporal regions, some indication of reduced gyrification within ventromedial frontal cortex and reduced amygdala and striatum (putamen and pallidum) volumes. These results are discussed with reference to neurobiological models of CD.
Neutrophil-specific granule deficiency results from a novel mutation with loss of function of the transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer binding protein ε

Neutrophil-specific granule deficiency (SGD) is a rare disorder characterized by recurrent pyogenic infections, defective neutrophil chemotaxis and bactericidal activity, and lack of neutrophil secondary granule proteins. CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP)e, a member of the leucine zipper family of transcription factors, is expressed primarily in myeloid cells, and its knockout mouse model possesses distinctive defects, including a lack of neutrophil secondary granule proteins. Sequence analysis of the genomic DNA of a patient with SGD revealed a five-basepair deletion in the second exon of the C/EBPe locus. The predicted frame shift results in a truncation of the 32-kD major C/EBPe isoform, with loss of the dimerization domain, DNA binding region, and transcriptional activity. The multiple functional defects observed in these early neutrophil progenitor cells, a consequence of C/EBPe deficiency, define SGD as a defect in myelopoiesis and establish the requirement for C/EBPe for the promyelocyte–myelocyte transition in myeloid differentiation.
Open metadata formats: efficient XML-based communication for high performance computing

High-performance computing faces considerable change as the Internet and the Grid mature. Applications that once were tightly-coupled and monolithic are now decentralized, with collaborating components spread across diverse computational elements. Such distributed systems most commonly communicate through the exchange of structured data. Definition and translation of metadata is incorporated in all systems that exchange structured data. We observe that the manipulation of this metadata can be decomposed into three separate steps: discovery, binding of program objects to the metadata, and marshaling of data to and from wire formats. We have designed a method of representing message formats in XML, using datatypes available in the XML Schema specification. We have implemented a tool, XMIT that uses such metadata and exploits this decomposition in order to provide flexible run-time metadata definition facilities for an efficient binary communication mechanism. We also demonstrate that the use of XMIT makes possible such flexibility at little performance cost.
Holocene history of Hubbard Glacier in Yakutat Bay and Russell Fiord, southern Alaska

Stratigraphic and geomorphic data defined by radiocarbon ages, tree-ring dates, and historical observations provide evidence of three major Holocene expansions of Hubbard Glacier. Early in each advance the Hubbard Glacier margin blocked Russell Fiord to create Russell lake, raising base level and causing stream beds and fan deltas throughout the Russell drainage basin to aggrade. Each Hubbard Glacier expansion continued with an ice lobe advancing through Disenchantment and Yakutat Bays in the west, and an eastern lobe advancing into Russell Fiord. The earlier two Holocene expansions were, respectively, under way at 7690 and 5600 calibrated yr B.P., and each advance culminated more than 1 k.y. later. The late Holocene advance was under way by 3100 yr ago and reached ∼13 km farther south in Russell Fiord than the preceding two expansions. Late Holocene deglaciation of Yakutat and Disenchantment Bays was complete before A.D. 1791; Nunatak Glacier flowing from neves east of Russell Fiord became the primary ice source to the Russell Fiord lobe at or before this date. Ice retreat from the southern end of Russell Fiord began in the late eighteenth century and the penultimate Russell lake drained ca. A.D. 1860. The relatively slow advances and more rapid retreats of Hubbard Glacier are consistent with the model of the iceberg-calving glacier cycle. Hubbard Glacier is currently advancing and will likely reestablish Russell lake in the near future, affecting local fisheries. However, glacier lobes are unlikely to reach the area of the town of Yakutat, built on late Holocene glacial deposits, in the next 1 k.y.
Photocatalytic reduction of methylene blue by TiO2 nanotube arrays: effects of TiO2 crystalline phase

TiO2 nanotube arrays were synthesized by anodization of Ti metal sheets followed by thermal annealing at elevated temperatures from 400 to 600 °C. Scanning electron microscopic measurements showed that dense arrays of nanotubes were produced with the inner diameter about 100 nm, wall thickness 35 nm, and length about 10 μm. X-ray diffraction measurements showed that the as-prepared nanotubes were largely amorphous, whereas thermal annealing led to the formation of well-defined anatase crystalline phase. More interestingly, at 470 °C, the brookite crystalline phase also started to emerge, which became better defined at 500 °C and disappeared eventually at higher temperatures, a phenomenon that has not been observed previously in TiO2 nanotube arrays prepared by anodization. The impacts of the TiO2 nanocrystalline structure on the photocatalytic activity were then examined by using the reduction of methylene blue in water as an illustrating example. Upon exposure to UV lights, the visible absorption profiles of methylene blue exhibited apparent diminishment. Based on these spectrophotometric measurements, the corresponding pseudo-first-order rate constant was estimated, and the sample thermally annealed at 500 °C was found to exhibit the highest activity. The strong correlation between the TiO2 crystalline characteristics and photocatalytic performance suggests that the synergistic coupling of the anatase and brookite crystalline domains led to effective charge separation upon photoirradiation and hence improved photocatalytic activity, most probably as a consequence of the vectorial displacement at the nanoscale junctions between these crystalline grains that impeded the dynamics of electron–hole recombination. These results demonstrate the significance of nanoscale engineering in the manipulation of oxide photocatalytic performance.
The Bordetella Bps Polysaccharide Is Critical for Biofilm Development in the Mouse Respiratory Tract

Bordetellae are respiratory pathogens that infect both humans and animals. Bordetella bronchiseptica establishes asymptomatic and long-term to life-long infections of animal nasopharynges. While the human pathogen Bordetella pertussis is the etiological agent of the acute disease whooping cough in infants and young children, it is now being increasingly isolated from the nasopharynges of vaccinated adolescents and adults who sometimes show milder symptoms, such as prolonged cough illness. Although it has been shown that Bordetella can form biofilms in vitro, nothing is known about its biofilm mode of existence in mammalian hosts. Using indirect immunofluorescence and scanning electron microscopy, we examined nasal tissues from mice infected with B. bronchiseptica. Our results demonstrate that a wild-type strain formed robust biofilms that were adherent to the nasal epithelium and displayed architectural attributes characteristic of a number of bacterial biofilms formed on inert surfaces. We have previously shown that the Bordetella Bps polysaccharide encoded by the bpsABCD locus is critical for the stability and maintenance of three-dimensional structures of biofilms. We show here that Bps is essential for the formation of efficient nasal biofilms and is required for the colonization of the nose. Our results document a biofilm lifestyle for Bordetella in mammalian respiratory tracts and highlight the essential role of the Bps polysaccharide in this process and in persistence of the nares.
Steps toward building a dynamic memory

Al researchers have come to precious few agreements about their field, but there is at least one area where we have reached consensus: AI programs require vast amounts of knowledge, organized in a manner that facilitates its use. Not only must such a memory be able to retrieve relevant information for a wide variety of tasks, but it must be able to add to and modify itself: no useful body of knowledge is ever complete and unchanging. An expanding system of knowledge, organized to facilitate retrieval for a variety of disparate tasks will be referred to here as a dynamic memory [319] The diversity of recall strategies is an important constraint on the organization of knowledge in the system. The categories that are used to identify similar memories may differ from task to task. New connections between categories or between primitives and categories may be required for different strategies. It is an important goal of the memory building system to prepare for different kinds of recall. A good design for one type of recall may interfere with the design for another. Designing for many types of recall tasks can place very strong demands on a storage system, thereby directing the evolution of the system.
She1-mediated inhibition of dynein motility along astral microtubules promotes polarized spindle movements.

Summary Background Cytoplasmic dynein motility along microtubules is critical for diverse cellular processes ranging from vesicular transport to nuclear envelope breakdown to mitotic spindle alignment. In yeast, we have proposed a regulated-offloading model to explain how dynein motility drives microtubule sliding along the cortex, powering transport of the nucleus into the mother-bud neck [1, 2]: the dynein regulator She1 limits dynein offloading by gating the recruitment of dynactin to the astral microtubule plus end, a prerequisite for offloading to the cortex. However, whether She1 subsequently affects cortically anchored dynein activity during microtubule sliding is unclear. Results Using single-molecule motility assays, we show that She1 strongly inhibits dynein movement along microtubules, acting directly on the motor domain in a manner independent of dynactin. She1 has no effect on the motility of either Kip2, a kinesin that utilizes the same microtubule track as dynein, or human kinesin-1, demonstrating the specificity of She1 for the dynein motor. At single-molecule resolution, She1 binds tightly to and exhibits diffusional behavior along microtubules. Diffusive She1 collides with and pauses motile dynein motors, prolonging their attachment to the microtubule. Furthermore, Aurora B/Ipl1 directly phosphorylates She1, and this modification appears to enhance the diffusive behavior of She1 along microtubules and its potency against dynein. In cells, She1 dampens productive microtubule-cortex interactions specifically in the mother compartment, polarizing spindle movements toward the bud cell. Conclusions Our data reveal how inhibitory microtubule-associated proteins selectively regulate motor activity to achieve unidirectional nuclear transport and demonstrate a direct link between cell-cycle machinery and dynein pathway activity.
Hot Interstellar Gas in the Galactic Disk and Halo

Our view of the physical nature and distribution of the interstellar gas has fundamentally changed in the past 15 years (see Table 1). From far ultraviolet absorption line studies and diffuse X-ray emission studes we now know of the existence of a hot ( T ≈ 0.3 to 2x106 K ) low density (n ≈ 10-3 cm-3) phase of the interstellar medium which may occupy much of the volume of interstellar space. This hot or “coronal” gas is probably heated by high velocity shocks produced by supernova explosions and the high speed winds of associations of hot young stars. The coronal gas may be the fundamental substrate in which the other phases of the interstellar medium are embedded. The various phases probably exist in rough pressure equilibrium and may have the approximate properties listed in Table 1, which is adapted from Spitzer’s (1986) review of interstellar clouds.
Microdrive operational and non-operational shock and vibration testing

Commercially available microdrives were tested using linear and rotary shock and vibration testing equipment. Several microdrives designed with different slider and disk configurations were tested to track hard and soft errors as well as head/disk failures. The shock amplitude for operational and non-operational shock was gradually increased to determine the maximum shock that a microdrive could withstand before failure. After failure, the microdrive was examined to determine whether a mechanical failure occurred or whether the failure was due to a magnetic hard/soft error. During a shock event, the displacement and frequency of the vibrations of the microdrive were examined at various locations on the arm and suspension. A scanning laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV) was also used to determine the amplitude and frequency of the vibrations of the front cover and to investigate whether these vibrations contribute to failure of the head/disk interface. A finite element model of the disk drive was also developed to simulate the shock response. The maximum amplitude for failure to occur was determined numerically for operational and non-operational conditions using a pulse width of 2 ms. A comparison of experimental and numerical results is given.
SICC: Source-Initiated Context Construction in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

Context-aware computing is characterized by the software's ability to continuously adapt its behavior to an environment over which it has little control. This style of interaction is imperative in ad hoc mobile networks that consist of numerous mobile hosts coordinating opportunistically via transient wireless connections. In this paper, we provide a formal abstract characterization of an application's context that extends to encompass a neighborhood within the ad hoc network. We provide a context specification mechanism that allows individual applications to tailor their operating contexts to their personalized needs. We describe a context maintenance protocol that provides this context abstraction in ad hoc networks through continuous evaluation of the context. This relieves the application developer of the obligation of explicitly managing mobility and its implications on behavior. We also characterize the performance of this protocol in ad hoc networks through simulation experiments. Finally, we examine real-world application examples demonstrating its use.
Toledo Bend reservoir and geomorphic response in the lower Sabine River

Downstream geomorphic responses of stream channels to dams are complex, variable, and difficult to predict, apparently because the effects of local geological, hydrological, and operational details confound and complicate efforts to apply models and generalizations to individual streams. This sort of complex geomorphic response characterizes the Sabine River, along the Texas and Louisiana border, downstream of the Toledo Bend dam and reservoir. Toledo Bend controls the flow of water and essentially prevents the flux of sediment from three-quarters of the drainage basin to the lower Sabine River. Although the channel is scoured immediately downstream of the dam, further downstream there is little evidence of major changes in sediment transport or deposition, sand supply, or channel morphology attributable to the impoundment. Channels are actively shifting, banks are eroding, and sandbars are migrating, but not in any discernibly different way than before the dam was constructed. The Sabine River continues to transport sand downstream, and alluvial floodplains continue to accrete. The relatively small geomorphic response can be attributed to several factors. While dam releases are unnaturally flashy and abrupt on a day-to-day basis, the long-term pattern of releases combined with some downstream smoothing creates a flow regime in the lower basin which mimics the pre-dam regime, at least at monthly and annual time scales. Sediment production within the lower Sabine basin is sufficient to satisfy the river's sediment transport capacity and maintain pre-dam alluvial sedimentation regimes. Toledo Bend reservoir has a capacity: annual inflow ratio of 1.2 and impounds 74% of the Sabine drainage basin, yet there has been minimal geomorphic response in the lower river, which may seem counterintuitive. However, the complex linked geomorphic processes of discharge, sediment transport and loads, tributary inputs, and channel erosion include interactions which might increase as well as decrease sediment loads. Furthermore, if a stream is transport-limited before impoundment, the reduced sediment supply after damming may have limited impact. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An innovative IDEA: a review of the International Dialects of English Archive

The IDEA (International Dialects of English Archive) site has been on-line since 1997 and began as a resource developed to teach actors how to pronounce various accents and dialects of English. Created by theater scholar and dialect coach Paul Meier, the new site has expanded its already fantastic variety of information. The site's new navigation features include a searchable database and a global map that make it very accessible to specialists and non–specialists of English. Performers around the world (the site has over one million hits a year) use the site to research accents and dialects for English-speaking performances. IDEA's audience has expanded beyond theater professionals to users in academe in the social sciences and humanities as well as international business. The site is also relevant for anyone who has an interest in the ways that location and culture influence the spoken English language.