cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells Limit Viral Replication, Pulmonary Inflammation, and Airway Hyperresponsiveness in Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC), as major producers of IFN-α, are thought not only to be pivotal in antiviral immunity, but also to limit allergic inflammation. In this study, we delineate the role of pDC in a mouse model of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-induced airway inflammation. Bone marrow-derived pDC generated high levels of IFN-α upon RSV infection, and the percentage of pDC expressing MHC class II and maturation-associated costimulatory molecules was increased. However, their weak Ag-presenting capacity was not enhanced. Furthermore, pDC induced marked levels of IL-10 in T cell cultures irrespective of infection. In vivo, numbers of pDC in the lung increased early after RSV infection and remained elevated throughout the inflammatory phase and the resolution phase of infection. Depletion of pDC resulted in increases in peak RSV titers, pulmonary inflammation, and airway hyperresponsiveness. In contrast, adoptive transfer of activated pDC to the airways reduced RSV copy numbers. In conclusion, RSV infection induces activation of murine pDC with robust IFN-α production, limiting replication and accelerating elimination of RSV. In addition to this innate response, pDC also may play an immune regulatory role in reducing pulmonary inflammation and inhibiting the development of airway hyperresponsiveness.
Gene Transfer into Primates and Prospects for Gene Therapy in Humans

Publisher Summary The ability to transfer and express genetic material in mammalian cells presents a new approach to the treatment of many genetic diseases. Retroviral-mediated gene transfer has proven to be an efficient system of gene transfer in vitro. While in vivo expression has been obtained in the mouse, vectors expressing in murine systems do not necessarily express in primates. Retroviral vectors infect primate bone marrow cells and express the transferred genes in vivo . The SAX vector appears to express human adenosine deaminase (ADA) at normal levels, but the infection efficiency is low (
Narratives of Emotional Experience and Long‐Term Fieldwork among the Nahuat of Mexico

SUMMARY This article describes how the author learned through fieldwork, over a long period time and in different places, to recognize how the Nahuat organize their emotional experiences in narrative form according to a deeply inculcated social, psychological, and cultural pattern. It describes the path taken to understand what the Nahuat mean by love and envy, jealousy and desire and it affirms the value of the comparative method in anthropology.
Response to A. Carpinteri, B. Chiaia, P. Cornetti and S. Puzzi's Comments on "Is the cause of size effect on structural strength fractal or energetic-statistical?"

Abstract Carpinteri et al.’s discussion is very welcome for it gives an opportunity to clarify long-running disagreements on the problem of size effect, important to several engineering fields. However, the discussion misinterprets many points of Ba ant and Yavari’s paper and attempts to raise new issues. This response presents recent experimental results contradicting applicability of Carpinteri’s “multifractal scaling law” (MFSL), and refutes the discussers’ arguments on their proposed concepts of “fractal mechanics”, on the statistical size effect, on the validity of mathematical derivation of MFSL and its asymptotic slope, and on various other aspects of scaling of quasibrittle failure.
Center for Young Women's Health.

The Center for Young Women's Health Web site is an educational resource for teenage girls, young women, their parents, and health care providers. Through Health Guides, quizzes, online chats, and a blog, the Center for Young Women's Health Web site educates users on a wide variety of health and safety related topics. It is a site that young adult librarians should bookmark for up-to-date health information on topics relevant to young adults and teenagers.
MUTATIONS IN THE REDUCED FOLATE CARRIER GENE WHICH CONFER DOMINANT RESISTANCE TO 5,10-DIDEAZATETRAHYDROFOLATE

L1210/D3 mouse leukemia cells are resistant to 5, 10-dideazatetrahydrofolate due to expansion of cellular folate pools which block polyglutamation of the drug (Tse, A., and Moran, R. G. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 25944-25952). These cells were found to have two point mutations in the reduced folate carrier (RFC), resulting in a replacement of isoleucine 48 by phenylalanine and of tryptophan 105 by glycine. Each mutation contributes to the resistance phenotype. Genomic DNA from resistant cells contained both the wild-type and mutant alleles, but wild-type message was not detected. Folic acid was a much better substrate, and 5-formyltetrahydrofolate was a poorer substrate for transport in L1210/D3 cells relative to L1210 cells. Enhanced transport of folic acid was due to a marked, approximately 20-fold, decrease in the influx Km. Influx of methotrexate and 5,10-dideazatetrahydrofolate were minimally altered. Transfection of mutated rfc cDNA into RFC-null L1210/A cells produced the substrate specificity and 5, 10-dideazatetrahydrofolate resistance observed in the L1210/D3 line. Transfection of the mutant cDNA into wild-type cells also conferred resistance to 5,10-dideazatetrahydrofolate. We conclude that the I48F and W105G mutations in RFC caused resistance to 5, 10-dideazatetrahydrofolate, that the region of the RFC protein near these two positions defines the substrate-binding site, that the wild-type allele was silenced during the multistep development of resistance, and that this mutant phenotype represents a genetically dominant trait.
Low Cycle Fatigue Behavior in Air and in PWR Water of a Type 304L Austenitic Stainless Steel Manufactured by Hot Isostatic Pressing Process

Because “safety” is still the key point in the Nuclear industry, more than in any others, the use of new materials or new manufacturing methods is really challenging. Among many characterizations required for a new steel grade or a new manufacturing process to be accepted and then introduced in a Nuclear design code, the fatigue properties must be determined with great care.Nowadays, the consideration of the Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) primary water environment effect on the Low Cycle Fatigue (LCF) behavior of Austenitic Stainless Steels (ASS’s) is an important issue for both Nuclear Power Plants (NPP) lifetime extensions and new builds as described in the NUREG/CR-6909 [1], [2].This paper aims to present the LCF behaviors in air and in PWR water at 300°C of type 304L and 316L ASS’s manufactured by Powder Metallurgy coupled with Hot Isostatic Pressing process (PM/HIP) and to compare them with those observed on usual ASS nuclear grade products [3]-[6].As already introduced in our previous paper [7] dedicated only to the PM/HIP 304L steel fatigue behavior, it appears that the microstructures, mechanical properties and LCF behaviors in air and in PWR water of both type 304L and 316L steels manufactured by PM/HIP process are better or at least similar to those observed on wrought ASS’s.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Global Spatial Organization by Individuals with Williams Syndrome

Williams syndrome is a genetically determined disorder with a characteristic cognitive profile. Overall IQ tends to be lower than in the normally developing population, performance on measures of linguistic ability is somewhat higher than would be expected given the levels of IQ typical for this group, and there is a particular weakness in visuospatial construction (e.g., block design tasks). A wellknown hypothesis about the deficit in visuospatial construction is that people with Williams syndrome are strongly inclined to be local spatial processors. We report a test of this hypothesis that used a visual search task sensitive to spontaneous global spatial organization. A sample of adults with Williams syndrome produced a pattern of data demonstrating that they spontaneously organize spatial displays at a global level. Indeed, individuals with Williams syndrome found it more difficult to change from global to local processing than participants with normal intelligence. We suggest that the primary problem ...
A Multistep Topotactic Route to the New Mixed-Valence Titanate, Na(2)(-)(x)()(+)(y)()Ca(x)()(/2)La(2)Ti(3)O(10). Electron Localization Effects in a Triple-Layered Perovskite.

A series of low-temperature (≤360 °C) topotactic reactions can be used to introduce mixed valency into the triple-layered perovskite, K2La2Ti3O10. The combination of monovalent ion exchange, divale...
Pauling's s-Character Calculation

An exact solution to Pauling’s method of calculating s-character from bond energy and s-p promotional energy is presented.
Melanoma potentiates pro-tumor cytokine production by monocytes

Abstract Introduction: Cytokines such as IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 can facilitate melanoma growth. Furthermore, increased serum levels of these cytokines correlate with poor survival and advanced disease stage in melanoma patients. Because monocytes generate large amounts of these cytokines, and are found in the tumor microenvironment, we hypothesized that melanoma can induce IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 production by monocytes. Methods: Melanoma conditioned media (MCM) was generated by incubating 3 melanoma cell lines (WM783, Kearns, or A375) in control media for 24 hours. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (n = 5 individuals) were adhered for 12 hours, then exposed to control or MCM for 24 hours. Media was then replaced with fresh media +/− LPS (100 ng/ml). Cytokine levels were measured from 24 hour supernatants by cytometric bead array. Results: Monocytes exposed to MCM produced more IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 than control-treated cells in both stimulated and unstimulated groups (table). Exposure to WM783 significantly increased stimulated IL-6 and IL-8 production compared to controls (7761 pg/ml and 36.9 ng/ml vs. 3078 pg/ml and 21.4 ng/ml, p = .005 and .02). Exposure to Kearns significantly increased stimulated IL-8 and IL-10 production compared to controls (27.2 ng/ml and 455 pg/ml vs. 21.4 ng/ml and 361 pg/ml, p = .03 and .01). Exposure to A375 media increased stimulated IL-6 and IL-8 production, but this did not reach statistical significance. Table 1 . Melanoma induced and potentiated cytokine production by monocytes∗ indicates statistically significant difference relative to control (p IL-6 (pg/ml) IL-8 (ng/ml) IL-10 (pg/ml) Unstimu- lated Stimu- lated Unstimu- lated Stimu- lated Unstimu- lated Stimu- lated CTRL 12 3078 1 21 11 361 WM783 95 7761∗ 5 37∗ 19 494 Kearns 18 4218 2 27∗ 11 455∗ A375 8 4720 1 25 13 361 Conclusions: Melanoma potentiates pro-tumor cytokine production by monocytes.
Single chip spectrum sensing module in CMOS with digital frequency synthesizer and digital output

In a congested wireless environment, an increasing number of applications require the capability to measure frequency spectrum. This motivates the development of a spectrum-sensing module comprised of a minimal architecture spectrum analyzer with integrated frequency synthesized tuning. The module features a frequency synthesizer with digital frequency controlled inputs and an integrated analog-to-digital converter to digitize the output. This module can be incorporated as a basic component in more complex system that require spectral sensing such as spectrum monitoring systems and dynamic spectrum access systems. The proposed single-chip spectrum-sensing module with digital output was fabricated in a standard 0.5 micron CMOS process. Measured results of a prototype are presented for operating range of 20 to 180 MHz.
Predictive Model and Methodology for Heat Treatment Distortion

The purpose of this project was to develop a modeling methodology and software tool to simulate and predict the results of heat treatment, especially distortion. In order to develop a simulation tool, significant technical, analytical, and experimental resources were needed. This task was too large and complex for just one company or organization to address. To this end, 4 national laboratories (Los Alamos National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory/Y-12 Plant, and Sandia National Laboratories) and many partners working through NCMS tackled this effort. The participants through NCMS were Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation, The Torrington Company, Deformation Control Technologies, The MacNeal-Schwindler Corp. IIT Research Institute, the Gear Research Institute, U.S. Benet Laboratories (Army), and the Colorado School of Mines. For the purpose of this report only those items pertinent to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory/Y-12 Plant participation in this CRADA will be highlighted along with those related items directly related to these specific efforts that were accomplished by the partners.
Special Issue Editors' Statement: Helping Consumers Help Themselves

John G. Lynch Jr. is Roy J. Bostock Professor of Marketing, Fuqua School of Business (e-mail: john.lynch@duke.edu), and Wendy Wood is James B. Duke Professor of Psychology, Professor of Marketing, and Codirector of the Social Science Research Institute (e-mail: wendy.wood@duke.edu), Duke University. The authors thank the Fuqua School of Business, Duke University, and the Warrington College of Business, University of Florida, for financial support for a conference at Duke in May 2005, in which these articles were originally presented and discussed. They also thank the discussants at the conference who provided thoughtful commentary on the articles appearing in this special issue (including Kathryn Aikin, Pankaj Aggarwal, Tim Buthe, Noel Brewer, Bob Giloth, John Herrera, Loraine LauGesk, Alan Levy, Patrick Malone, Danny McGoldrick, Joseph Mulholland, Mike Munger, Jan Pappalardo, David Pizarro, Daniel Rodriguez, and Kevin Schulman) and Eldar Shafir who commented on a draft of this introduction. They especially appreciate JPP&M editor Joel Cohen, who offered them the opportunity to serve as guest editors of this special issue and provided many instructive comments on this editorial and other articles in the special issue that helped them and the contributing authors better understand the policy environment. This special issue of Journal of Public Policy & Marketing addresses the theme “Helping Consumers Help Themselves: Improving the Quality of Judgments and Choices,” and it is motivated by Editor Joel Cohen’s desire to bring psychological theory to bear on public policy and public policy research. His premise is that public policy in the United States and internationally is dominated by the disciplines of economics and law. In the corridors of power, however, there is little parallel discussion of useful complementary perspectives drawing on psychological theory and research. This special issue is intended to start conversations between policy makers and psychologists, behavioral economists, and consumer behavior scholars whose work challenges key assumptions in standard policy analyses. The articles in this issue center on three key interventions to public policy that are drawn from economics and that are intended to benefit consumers in the marketplace:
Photoinitiated Chemical Vapor Deposition of Polymeric Thin Films Using a Volatile Photoinitiator

Photoinitiated chemical vapor deposition (piCVD) is an evolutionary CVD technique for depositing polymeric thin films in one step without using any solvents. The technique requires no pre- or post-treatment and uses a volatile photoinitiator to initiate free-radical polymerization of gaseous monomers under UV irradiation. Glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) was used as a test monomer for its ability to undergo free-radical polymerization, and 2,2‘-azobis(2-methylpropane) (ABMP) was used as the photoinitiator, as it is known to produce radicals when excited by photons. GMA and ABMP vapors were fed into a vacuum chamber in which film growth was observed on a substrate exposed to UV irradiation. The resulting poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) thin films were comprised of linear chains and had high structural resemblance to conventionally polymerized PGMA, as shown by the high solubility in tetrahydrofuran and the infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements. The introduction of ABMP into the vacuum ch...
Image registration for automated inspection of 2-D electronic circuit patterns

An image registration approach for inspection of 2D electronic circuit patterns is described. The approach which coisists of an offline procedure and a runhime procedure has been validated on a prototype inspection system. The offline procedure selects and sorts registration features from CAD generated reference data according to a set of prespecified priority selection rules. Preference is given to features expected away from the center of the image since they represent potential distortions better. The size of windows searched during runtime to detect features is ohtamed from the maximum expected system errors and tolerances in part manufacture. To prevent spurious detection during runtime the ofiline procedure selects a feature if no other CAD feature intersects its window The runtime procedure detects edges and measures their image location to suhpixel accuracy within their respective search windows. Edges are detected by authenticating zero-crossings of a second-order differential operator applied to the profile of each search window. Registration is conducted on points composed by averaging the measured location of opposite polarity edges of the same object type and size. This reduces any bias introduced by the edge incasurement technique and prevents offsets that would otherwise be introduced by variations in circuit pattern dimensions. To minimize the likelihood of spurious edge detection (e. g. an edge detected on a defect) the dimension demarcated by the opposite polarity edge pair is monitored. After a significant number registration features have been detected the runtime procedure finds the parameters that transform pixels into CAD reference data coordinates and vice versa. Good results have been obtained in a prototype inspection system.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Decrease in Net Photosynthesis Caused by Respiration

CO(2) exchange between air and leaf is conceived as a current along a resistor with a respiratory current, unaffected by CO(2) concentration, entering the resistor. The conclusion follows that a plant placed in an atmosphere free of CO(2) will increase the CO(2) concentration to the compensation concentration along a curve determined by the resistor and the volume of the atmosphere. This was verified. Also a photosynthesis rate calculated from the parameters of the observed curve agreed with an independent observation of photosynthesis in CO(2)-free air. The decrease in net photosynthesis caused by respiration is, according to the model, the CO(2) compensation concentration divided by the concentration in the atmosphere.
A statistical comparison of the behaviour of five British isolates of Babesia divergens in splenectomized calves

Abstract Isolates of B. divergens were obtained from redwater cases in England, Eire, Scotland and Wales, and their pathogenicity for splenectomized Friesian calves compared with that of the Weybridge strain by statistical means. The reactions of the calves were measured by observing their parasitaemia, febrile response, and change in haematological values. A principal component analysis of this data indicated that the reactions could be described in two dimensions. The principal component representing one dimension consisted largely of four variables (maximum parasitaemia, maximum febrile response, highest MCV and lowest PCV) whilst the principal component representing the other dimension consisted largely of two variables (maximum febrile response and total febrile response above 39·4°C.). The analysis showed that the Weybridge strain of B. divergens was not similar in its pathogenicity to the four field isolates. Its closest similarity was to the Hampshire isolate, which was made in the area where the laboratory strain was originally isolated. There was some indication that similarities between the isolates revealed in the analysis could have some geographical significance.
Individualized Course‐Specific Strategy Instruction for College Students with Learning Disabilities and ADHD: Lessons Learned From a Model Demonstration Project

Abstract. This 3-year Model Demonstration Project involved the development and field testing of an individualized course-specific strategy instruction model with college students with learning disabilities and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The 46 participants received individualized semester-long strategy instruction by graduate students in special education. A variety of data sources were used to evaluate the implementation of the model as well as the academic success of students who received individualized strategy instruction. Quantitative analyses indicated that the group as a whole as well as the subset of students on probation and suspension significantly improved their grades and sustained this improvement over time. Qualitative analysis identified two factors related to improvement: independent use of strategies and the supportive nature of the strategy instructor–student relationship. Qualitative analysis also identified two factors related to nonimprovement: academic/cognitive skill deficits and emotional/medication-related issues. Implications of the model for postsecondary education and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Excerpt To the Editor:The article on hepatocellular carcinoma (1) provided an excellent update and review of the relevant epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis, and treatment. The discussion of screeni...
Ubuntu Worldview: A Traditional African View of Adult Learning in the Workplace

The problem and the solution. In traditional African society, adult learning was viewed as holistic learning for life and work and formed the foundation of many African societies. It was used as a process of breaking down barriers and of combating social exclusion. With the current transitions taking place in Africa, less emphasis is being placed on adult learning. The issue of how adults learn in different societies and the philosophy that guides the adult-learning process in the workplace is an important theme for adult education and human resource development scholars and practitioners. This article seeks to bridge the existing gap in terms of the contribution of the African ubuntuism paradigm to adult learning in the workplace.
Search for two-phonon gamma vibrational states in 164Dy.

Excited states in $^{164}\mathrm{Dy}$ were produced using Coulomb excitation. Rotational properties of the ground-state and gamma-vibrational band were studied. Angular distribution and band-mixing parameters were extracted from the data. No evidence was found for a two-phonon gamma vibration with anharmonicity in the range 1.7\ensuremath{\le}E(${4}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\gamma}}^{+}$)/E(${2}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}^{+}$)\ensuremath{\le}2.7.
Greatly improved sperm motility from vas deferens sperm retrieval: a case for accessory gland related subfertility in spinal cord injured man

When sperm motility from vibratory or electroejaculates of spinal cord injured men reveals consistently poor motility (< 10%), one should consider accessory gland factors as a potential cause. Herein, we report the case of a 22 year old paraplegic male who consistently had motility of 1-2% on electroejaculates. He was evaluated in the office with vas deferens sperm retrieval, which revealed a 0.4 ml volume, 9 million/ml density, and 67% motility. We suggest that this significant percent motility differential can only be explained by an accessory gland factor impacting negatively upon this individual's fertility. We propose vas deferens sperm retrieval as a potentially diagnostic and therapeutic procedure in similar cases.
Non-Q Wave Myocardial Infarction* Pathophysiology and Prognostic Implications

Non-Q wave myocardial infarctions, also known as non-transmural myocardial infarctions or subendocardial myocardial infarctions, have been managed as “mild” coronary events in the past. Substantial evidence now requires modification of this approach. Because of their tendency to be associated with modest cardiac enzyme level elevations, non-Q wave infarcts often result in a favorable early or inhospital prognosis. However, their late complications include recurrent angina, transmural myocardial infarction, and sudden death. Previous myocardial infarction with residual myocardium “at risk” from recurrent ischemia probably bears responsibility for these late complications. Earlier identification of patients at risk and appropriate interventions may improve the long-term prognosis after nontransmural infarcts.
Mode evolution in optical resonators with a radial gain profile.

A Fox and Li analysis [Bell Syst. Tech J. 40, 453 (1961); Proc. IEEE 51, 80 (1963); IEEE J. Quantum Electron QE-4, 460 (1968)] for a laser resonator with a radially varying gain yields a picture of the mode evolution dynamics and a steady-state mode distribution which are different from the constant-gain case. When an axially maximal gain is sharply peaked, the mode-settling time is markedly reduced and the final mode distribution is more tightly focused. When the gain distribution is sharply annular, an annular or ``doughnut''-shaped mode develops. In some intermediate cases, which may be relevant to some gas lasers, a stable transverse mode never definitively evolves. Misalignments of the gain with the cavity yield distortions to the mode shape and these are also explored.
The Environment as a National Security Issue

In 1994 a young journalist with a sharp eye for social anxieties and a flair for dramatic prose wrote an article that described environmental change as “the national security issue of the early 21st century.” Robert Kaplan's thesis in “The Coming Anarchy” is fetchingly simple: combine weak political systems, burgeoning urban populations, grinding poverty, and a flood of cheap weapons, and society becomes highly volatile. This lethal mixture, Kaplan suggests, already is generating high levels of violence in West Africa; soon it will affect the rest of the planet. This will happen because at the root of social collapse in West Africa is environmental degradation—a problem the entire world is experiencing. The pathways to chaos may differ from one place to the next, but all of humankind is being pushed along them. The state of the environment, Kaplan concludes, has become a matter of national security.
Aggregating opinions through logarithmic pooling.

Determination d'une formule raisonnable pour synthetiser et representer les opinions d'un groupe de n individus
Science, ethics and education:

An overarching epistemological goal of science is to develop a comprehensive, systematic, empirically grounded understanding of nature. Two obstacles stand in the way: (1) Nature is enormously comp...
Reduced antimicrobial peptide expression in human burn wounds

Severely burned skin ceases to perform its natural protective role and surrenders itself as a nidus and portal for bacterial invasion. Antimicrobial peptides are part of a non-specific chemical defence system, separate from cellular and humoral immunity. Two of these peptides, human beta-defensins 1 and 2 have been recently found in skin and are produced by keratinocytes. Beta defensins have potent bactericidal activity against a wide spectrum of bacterial and fungal organisms commonly responsible for burn wound infections. To date, expression of beta defensins has not been examined in the human burn wound. Our findings demonstrate that expression of hBD-2 is greatly decreased in the burn wound whereas hBD-1 appears to be preserved. These results may have important implications in the pathogenesis and treatment of invasive burn sepsis.
Correspondence as a documentary form, its persistent representation, and email management, preservation, and access

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to construct a systematic way of thinking about correspondence as a documentary form and discuss the role its persistent representation features play in management, preservation and access of email correspondence. Design/methodology/approach – Using the method of diplomatic analysis as a guiding theory, the paper conducts a historical review of correspondence recordkeeping and email systems in the American context, analyzes the evolution of its persistent representation features and discusses the implications on current email management and archival practices. Findings – Correspondence as a document form and its persistent representation features have played an important role in traditional correspondence recordkeeping and electronic mail management. The design of systems to manage, preserve and access email records should reflect the characteristics and functionality of email records, capable of retaining email correspondence as a documentary form supported by its persi...
Using neural networks to assess human-automation interaction

This paper presents the utility of using a neural network to model a human-automation interaction taxonomy. Automation, context, and operator features which are believed to influence human-automation interaction are identified, and the effect of changing these features on human-automation interaction are transformed from a conceptual model linkage to a computational model in the form of a neural network. The theoretical requirements of transforming the model into a computational neural network capable of analysis are discussed, and ongoing efforts to collect the required data are outlined. Additionally, the various analyses which the computational modeling enables are described. As a case study, the work uses pilots and their use of automation in the flight deck.
An extremal problem concerning graphs not containing Kt and Kt,t,t

Brualdi and Mellendorf raised the following problem as a modification of Turan's theorem. Let t and n be positive integers with n>=t>=2. Determine the maximum number of edges of a graph of order n that contains neither K"t nor K"t","t as a subgraph. They solved it for n=2t (see R.A. Brualdi, S. Mellendorf, Two extremal problems in graph theory, The Electron. J. Combin. 1 (1994) #R2). We consider the following similar modification of Turan's theorem. Let t and n be positive integers with n>=t>=2. Determine the maximum number of edges of a graph of order n that contains neither K"t nor K"t","t","t as a subgraph. We solve it for n=3t.
Single-channel source separation using simplified-training complex matrix factorization

Although the task seems trivial for human listeners, research in automating source separation still lags far behind human performance and is especially difficult for single-channel signals. One of the latest and most promising methods of single-channel source separation is non-negative matrix factorization, which works by synthesizing signals from a learned set of bases for each source. In this paper, we present a new method of creating these learned sets of bases used in the matrix factorization technique for single-channel source separation. This new method does not suffer the complication of choosing an optimal number of bases as in previous methods. In addition, this paper further explores the new method of complex matrix factorization and compares its performance to non-negative, real matrix factorization for automatic speech recognition of two-talker mixtures.
Achieving speed and flexibility by separating management from protection: embracing the Exokernel operating system

The modern operating system is currently caught in a tug-of-war between two forces. At one end, there is a force that is demanding that the operating system become more flexible to handle the needs of evolving hardware and evolving user applications. At the other end, there is a force that is demanding that the operating system become more efficient to meet the needs of faster hardware. If the modern operating system does not keep pace with these two forces, it could cause the progress in computer design to become stagnant.One possible solution to this problem is the Exokernel Operating System - an extensible (or easily modifiable) operating system developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Extensibility allows the operating system to be flexible to change and also open to optimization.Extensibility within an operating system has resulted in several new issues. For example, extensibility seems to make customer-support harder to provide. Furthermore, some multithreaded applications perform worse in an extensible environment. Lastly, some have argued that it is optimization, not extensibility, that should be credited for the enhanced operating system speeds.In this paper, we discuss the Exokernel Operating System with some detail. We explore some of the issues that have kept the Exokernel design from being the main-stream approach. We propose solutions to these issues and we conclude by trying to motivate the reader to embrace the Exokernel approach.
Noncontracepting Behavior in Women at Risk for Unintended Pregnancy: What's Religion Got to Do With It?

Purpose In the United States, 49% of all pregnancies are unintended. Part of this high rate has been attributed to the negative effects of higher levels of personal and community-level religiosity in this country. To explore the impacts of individual-level religiosity on unintended pregnancy, we used 2002 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) data to model the relationship between religion and noncontracepting behavior, a crucial precursor to unintended pregnancies. Methods We tested logistic models with current and childhood religious affiliation as primary exposures and recent noncontracepting behavior as the outcome, controlling for demographic covariates, religious service importance, and attendance frequency. Results An estimated 32.7 million women are at risk for unintended pregnancy, 14 % of whom use no contraception. Proportions of noncontraceptors were 15.5 % among Catholics, 10.3% among mainstream Protestants, and 15.0% among fundamentalist Protestants. In multivariate modeling, religion was significantly related to not contracepting in teens, but noncontributory for women from 20 to 44 years of age. Variables associated with contraceptive behavior included marital status, age, education, and income. Conclusions Among women, current and childhood religious affiliations modify odds ratio for noncontracepting behavior only among teenage girls. For adults, odds ratio vary widely by marital status, education, and income, but not by religious affiliation.
Morphological and behavioural sex reversal in mermithid-infected mayflies

This study reports the impact of infection by the mermithid nematode Gasteromermis sp. on the secondary sexual morphology and behaviour of its adult mayfly host Baetis bicaudatus . By applying the technique of flow cytometry I show that both male and female mayflies are infected by the parasite. The external secondary sexual characters of infected male hosts are feminized resulting in the formation of intersexes and it is possible that some infected males undergo complete sex reversal. The external morphology of infected female hosts is not altered. The behaviour of infected hosts is also affected. Infected mayflies join unparasitized females in upstream dispersal and ovipositing behaviour. I suggest that these alterations are induced by the parasite as an adaptive strategy that ensures: (i) upstream dispersal; (ii) return to water for completion of parasite life cycle; and (iii) maximum use of host nutrients.
Persistence: An Independent Factor of the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire

The Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire was developed by Cloninger to measure three primary dimensions of Novelty Seeking, Harm Avoidance, and Reward Dependence. However, Cloninger and his colleagues have more recently posited that Persistence, a subscale of the Reward Dependence dimension, be regarded as an independent dimension of temperament. The present purpose was to provide independent evidence of the status of Persistence, testing an ethnically diverse sample of 428 college students. The dimensional structure of the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire was examined with a series of principal components analyses on the subscales. Persistence clearly emerged as the major component of a fourth independent factor. Implications of the results are discussed.
Urinary markers of malignancy.

Abstract Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is the second most common malignancy in the genitourinary tract. The majority of urothelial tumors are superficial when the patient first presents, but despite adequate resection of the primary lesion the recurrence rate is particularly high. In a small but significant group of patients the tumor is primary invasive or subsequently can progress and leads to death. Voided urine can be easily obtained and therefore diagnostic urine tests would be ideal for screening or follow up of TCC. Although many urinary markers have been described, none of them is used routinely in clinical practice. Promising tumor markers still need to be evaluated in multi-center clinical studies. Larger prospective trials are necessary in order to identify prognostic indicators that would help to predict disease progression or response to different treatment modalities (BCG, chemo-, radiotherapy, etc.). Hopefully, new diagnostic urine tests will allow to identify patients who will most benefit from early cystectomy with or without adjuvant treatment, bladder sparing protocols or systemic treatment. In this paper we have reviewed the literature and discuss, from the clinician’s point of view, the current status of various diagnostic tests for urinary markers. [Lee SJ, Lee WE, Chang SG, Lee CH, Kim JI. A comparative study of telomerase, Lewis X, BTA, NMP22 and urinary cytology in bladder tumor. J Urol 1999;161(suppl):152.]
Influence of antidiuretic hormone on release of lysosomal hydrolase at mucosal surface of epithelial cells from urinary bladder

THE permeability change induced by antidiuretic hormone (ADH) in amphibian urinary bladder is limited to the apical membrane of epithelial cells rich in intracellular secretion granules1. These granules, which may correspond to lysosomes2, are observed to migrate to and fuse with the apical membrane of toad bladder epithelia treated with oxytocin or cyclic AMP3. We have extended these observations and found that ADH elicits a marked, time-dependent increment in the release of lysosomal hydrolases into the extracellular medium of epithelial cells isolated from amphibian bladder. This effect is abolished by specific antiserum to ADH and reduced by preincubation of cells with cortisol. Additional experiments with intact bladder verify that the hydrolases so released occur predominantly at the mucosal surface. Moreover, cortisol antagonises the enhancement of transepithelial water transport and membrane conductance attributable to ADH action.
Analysis of the flow in layered fluids at small, but finite, amplitude with application to mullion structures

Abstract An analysis of the flow in layered viscous fluids at small, but finite amplitude is illustrated in an application to the shortening of two different viscous fluids parallel to their interface. The analysis extends the familiar infinitesimal amplitude analysis, which retains terms to first-order in the surface slope, to second-order in this quantity. To second-order accuracy, the asymmetry in interface form characteristic of the finite-amplitude lobe-and-cusp structure emerges. Additional results for mullion structures are derived and used to interpret some natural structures.
Assessor or assessee: How student learning improves by giving and receiving peer feedback

This study investigated the relationship between the quality of peer assessment and the quality of student projects in a technology application course for teacher education students. Forty-three undergraduate student participants completed the assigned projects. During the peer assessment process, students first anonymously rated and commented on two randomly assigned peers' projects, and they were then asked to improve their projects based on the feedback they received. Two independent raters blindly evaluated student initial and final projects. Data analysis indicated that when controlling for the quality of the initial projects, there was a significant relationship between the quality of peer feedback students provided for others and the quality of the students' own final projects. However, no significant relationship was found between the quality of peer feedback students received and the quality of their own final projects. This finding supported a prior research claim that active engagement in reviewing peers' projects may facilitate student learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Naltrindole retards tolerance development to morphine-induced effects on EEG and EEG power spectra

Abstract In the present study, EEG and EEG power spectra were used to assess the effects of naltrindole, a selective δ opioid antagonist, on the development of tolerance to morphine. Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were implanted with cortical EEG electrodes and permanent indwelling i.c.v. and i.v. cannulas. Twice daily for 7 days, rats were pretreated with either i.c.v. naltrindole (20 nmol) or i.c.v. water, 20 min before i.v. morphine (10 mg/kg) injections. The treatments produced EEG slow-wave bursts and associated behavioral stupor. The amount and duration of these effects decreased less rapidly over the 7 days in the naltrindole-pretreated rats than in the water-pretreated rats. I.c.v. naltrindole pretreatment also prevented significant decreases in latency to onset of slow-wave sleep that were seen in the i.c.v. water-pretreated group. EEG data were further analyzed on a Pathfinder II computer. The development of tolerance was reflected by decreases in the total absolute EEG spectral power (1–50 Hz) over the 7-day period. Rats that were pretreated with i.c.v. naltrindole (20 nmol) did not display a significant decrease in total absolute EEG spectral power by the 7th day, as did the i.c.v. water-pretreated group. Furthermore, significant differences were seen for complexity, mobility, and edge frequency between the two pretreatment groups. A delayed qualitative change in the EEG power spectra was also observed in rats pretreated with i.c.v. naltrindole. On day 1, EEG slow-wave bursts were associated with increases in EEG spectral power over the 1–10 Hz range. However, by day 3, EEG slow-wave bursts were associated with a predominant EEG spectral peak in the 4–6 Hz band. These results further implicate the δ opioid binding site in the development of tolerance to morphine.
Possible superconductivity in hole-doped BC 3

In this work the superconducting transition temperature of hole-doped ${\mathrm{BC}}_{3}$ was studied. The total energy, phonon frequencies, and electron-phonon couplings were calculated for different hole doping levels using the ab initio pseudopotential method within the local density approximation. The harmonic and anharmonic phonon frequencies were calculated by using the frozen-phonon approximation. As in ${\mathrm{MgB}}_{2}$, the electron-phonon coupling between the electronic states in the $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ bands and phonon modes associated with bond stretching was found to be very strong. The calculation predicts that the superconducting temperature will increase as a function of doping level.
Technique for fabrication of individualized ceramometal pontics

A technique for fabrication of individualized ceramo-metal pontics for fixed partial prostheses has been described. Rotated or tilted teeth are much easier to fabricate with this technique than when using the more conventional one-piece framework casting. The interproximal spaces resulting from use of this technique are more natural in appearance than is possible otherwise, and the esthetics of the restoration are greatly enhanced. The disadvantage of the technique is the added time involved in the fabrication and soldering of multiple units.
Learnings from Three Years of Portfolio Use in Teacher Education

Les AA. definissent la notion de carnet d'appreciation en soulignant les avantages que ce mode d'evaluation scolaire peut apporter a l'enseignant et a l'etudiant. Ils presentent une experience d'une duree de trois annees dans une universite americaine. Le but de l'experience etait d'observer comment enseignants et etudiants collaborent a l'elaboration de ces carnets
Is the obesity epidemic reversing favorable trends in blood pressure? Evidence from cohorts born between 1890 and 1990 in the United States

Abstract Background Previous reports have described favorable changes in the relationship between systolic blood pressure and age in recent birth cohorts. The obesity epidemic might threaten that pattern. Objectives To update analyses of differences between birth cohorts in the relationship between systolic blood pressure and age and to determine whether increases in obesity have had adverse effects. Methods We examined the systolic blood pressure distributions across birth cohorts born between 1890 and 1990 in 68,070 participants, aged 18–74 years, in the National Health (and Nutrition) Examination Surveys between 1960 and 2008. We postulated that age-adjusted 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles of systolic blood pressure had decreased in more recent versus earlier cohorts, and that this pattern had slowed or reversed recently due, at least in part, to obesity. Results After adjusting for gender, race, age and age 2 , the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles of systolic blood pressure were 1.1, 1.4, 1.9, 2.5, and 3.4 mmHg lower for each decade more recently born (all P P P Conclusions More recent cohorts born in the United States between 1890 and 1990 have had smaller increases in systolic blood pressure with aging. At any age, their systolic blood pressure distributions are shifted lower relative to earlier cohorts. Decreases of 1.9 mmHg in the median systolic blood pressure per decade translates into 11.4–13.3 mmHg over 6–7 decades, a shift that would contribute importantly to lower rates of cardiovascular diseases. These favorable changes are slowing, perhaps owing, at least in part, to the obesity epidemic.
Effects on Laying Hens of Feeding Corn Invaded by Two Species of Fusarium and Pure T-2 Mycotoxin,

Abstract Balanced rations containing 2.5 and 5.0% of corn invaded by Fusarium tricinctum, (with 8 and 16 p.p.m. of T-2 toxin) were fed to White Leghorn laying hens. The ration containing 5% of the fungus-invaded corn resulted in reduced feed intake and reduction in weight gain and in egg production. Rations containing 2.5 and 5.0% of corn invaded by F. roseum ‘Gibbosum’ (with 25 and 50 p.p.m., respectively, of monoacetoxyscirpenol) resulted in an abrupt decrease in feed intake to 10–20% of normal, subsequent loss in weight, and cessation of egg production. Purified T-2 toxin consumed at the rate of 16 p.p.m. in the ration resulted in loss of body weight and decreased egg production; lesser amounts of T-2 toxin resulted in lessened but still detectable injurious effects. Mouth lesions developed in the birds fed these rations, their severity being proportional to the amount of toxin present.