cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A gated-beam electrospray ionization source with an external ion reservoir. A new tool for the characterization of biomolecules using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

In this work we describe a micro-electrospray ionization source equipped with an atmospheric pressure external ion shutter. The solenoid-activated shutter prevents the electrospray plume from entering the inlet capillary unless triggered to the ‘open’ position. When in the ‘closed’ position, a stable electrospray plume is maintained between the electrospray ionization (ESI) emitter and the electrically isolated face of the shutter. When the shutter is triggered, a ‘slice’ of ions is allowed to enter the inlet capillary and is subsequently accumulated in an external ion reservoir comprised of a radio frequency only (rf-only) hexapole and a pair of electrostatic elements. Following ion accumulation in the external ion reservoir, intact molecular ions of proteins, oligonucleotides, and noncovalent complexes can be stored for extended intervals (>30 minutes) prior to being transferred to the Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) trapped ion cell for mass analysis. By introducing reactive gases directly into the external ion reservoir during the storage interval, ion-molecule reactions, such as H/D exchange, can be performed at high effective pressures. This scheme obviates the need for the long reaction times and delays associated with restoring base pressure in the trapped ion cell and allows H/D exchange reactions to be conducted in a fraction of the time required using conventional in-cell exchange approaches. The back face of the shutter arm contains an elastomeric material which can be positioned to seal the inlet to the mass spectrometer resulting in lower base pressure in the ion reservoir and the FTICR cell. Additionally, it is noted that blocking the ESI plume during non-accumulation events results in reduced fouling of the source electrodes and longer times between required source cleaning. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Uncertainty and Precautionary Management of Marine Fisheries: Can the Old Methods Fit the New Mandates?

Abstract Continued stock declines in marine fisheries have resulted in a search for more risk-averse management approaches. In response, the Sustainable Fisheries Act of 1996 mandates habitat protection, bycatch reduction, and stock rebuilding. These changes emphasize precaution, and imply a shift in focus from maximizing yields to minimizing ecological impacts and maintaining long-term biological and economic sustainability. Unfortunately, there is little consensus on how a precautionary approach should be applied in managing overcapitalized marine fisheries, especially considering the substantial uncertainty in our understanding of ecosystem structure and function, and the effects of fishing. Speakers in a half-day symposium at the 1999 AFS Annual Meeting discussed a spectrum of topics relating to analytic and decision-making uncertainty, precautionary management approaches, the social and political context in which decisions must be reached, and the role of management decisions in creating incentives. ...
Potent inhibition of feline coronaviruses with peptidyl compounds targeting coronavirus 3C-like protease

Feline coronavirus infection is common among domestic and exotic felid species and usually associated with mild or asymptomatic enteritis; however, feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a fatal disease of cats that is caused by systemic infection with a feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV), a variant of feline enteric coronavirus (FECV). Currently, there is no specific treatment approved for FIP despite the importance of FIP as the leading infectious cause of death in young cats. During the replication process, coronavirus produces viral polyproteins that are processed into mature proteins by viral proteases, the main protease (3C-like [3CL] protease) and the papain-like protease. Since the cleavages of viral polyproteins are an essential step for virus replication, blockage of viral protease is an attractive target for therapeutic intervention. Previously, we reported the generation of broad-spectrum peptidyl inhibitors against viruses that possess a 3C or 3CL protease. In this study, we further evaluated the antiviral effects of the peptidyl inhibitors against feline coronaviruses, and investigated the interaction between our protease inhibitor and a cathepsin B inhibitor, an entry blocker, against a feline coronavirus in cell culture. Herein we report that our compounds behave as reversible, competitive inhibitors of 3CL protease, potently inhibited the replication of feline coronaviruses (EC(50) in a nanomolar range) and, furthermore, combination of cathepsin B and 3CL protease inhibitors led to a strong synergistic interaction against feline coronaviruses in a cell culture system.
Subcellular distribution and some properties of homocarnosine-carnosine synthetase from chick red blood cells.

Abstract 1. 1. Subcellular fractionation of homogenate of chick red blood cells was achieved by means of differential centrifugation. 2. 2. The results indicate that most of the activity of homocarnosine-carnosine synthetase can be recovered in the soluble fractions while the nuclear fraction contains most of the particle-bound enzyme activity. 3. 3. The enzymes from two of the soluble fractions containing highest activity were partially purified and their properties were compared. 4. 4. After centrifuging the homogenate of red blood cells at 100,000 g to yield a supernatant and a pellet fraction, repeated washing of the latter resulted in release of enzyme activity into soluble form.
Size dependence of the magnetic properties of electrochemically self-assembled Fe quantum dots

A quasi-periodic array of Fe quantum dots of cylindrical shape has been synthesized by electrodeposition of Fe in porous alumina. By controlling the fabrication parameters, we have controlled the length, diameter, and spacing of the dots. The magnetic properties are shown to depend on these parameters. It has been found that at room temperature, there exists a critical diameter of the dots for which the coercivity is a maximum. The largest value of coercivity obtained at room temperature is 2640 Oe which rises to 2900 Oe on annealing. At a low temperature of 5K, an increase in coercivity is observed for most of the samples. The largest value is 3800 Oe which rises to a value of 4100 Oe in the corresponding annealed counterpart. At 5K, no maximum is seen in the coercivity as a function of diameter. Instead, the coercivity is found to decrease with increasing diameter. This dependence of the coercivity on diameter is discussed in terms of localized reversal effects.
Integration of unicast and multicast scheduling in input-queued packet switches

Packet queuing and scheduling, two of the critical components in an input-queued packet switch, have been extensively studied in the context of either pure unicast traffic or pure multicast traffic. Unfortunately, the results from a study in one context are not applicable to the other context. The design of integrated scheduling for both types of traffic remains an open issue. This paper deals with the problem of integrating unicast and multicast scheduling in an NxN input-queued packet switch with first in first out buffers. Instead of using isolated switching fabrics for unicast and multicast traffic respectively, we efficiently utilize one switching fabric for both unicast and multicast traffic by a careful design. In our design, each input port maintains a set of unicast queues based on virtual output queuing technique and a set of multicast queues based on a load-balance policy. By employing the research advances that have already been gained for unicast and multicast scheduling, we propose two practical slot-coupled integration algorithms, lSCIA (a loosely slot-coupled integration algorithm) and fSCIA (a fully slot-coupled integration algorithm). In each time slot, unicast scheduling and multicast scheduling cooperate together and the scheduling priority is allocated to either unicast traffic or multicast traffic according to a certain service ratio. The working interval of service ratio is defined as a set such that the saturation throughput is not less than the output load if the service ratio falls into this set. The upper bound and lower bound for the working interval of service ratio are deduced. A 100% throughput can be achieved with strong theoretical guarantees as long as the service ratio lies in the upper bound of the working interval. Both theoretical analysis and simulation studies suggest that the proposed integrated scheduling algorithms exhibit a promising performance in terms of throughput, delay and packet loss ratio, at different traffic compositions under Bernoulli traffic and bursty traffic.
Acute myelogenous leukemia in an adult with thrombocytopenia with absent radii syndrome.

: Acute myelogenous leukemia with t(8;21)(q22;q22) developed in a 42-yr-old woman having thrombocytopenia with absent radii syndrome (TARS). Standard induction and postremission therapies were safely administered. With each successive chemotherapy, the onset of platelet recovery was not delayed, but peak platelet counts were persistently suppressed. Nine months after achieving complete hematologic and cytogenetic remission, she remains severely thrombocytopenic (platelet count 6–12 × 109/L). She is, however, asymptomatic and transfusion independent. Of interest is the transient normalization of platelet count (rebound relative thrombocytosis). Our report and review of the literature suggests that TARS, contrary to previous belief, may be associated with increased risk of acute leukemia.
Immediate and long-term effects of halothane anesthesia on equine platelet function

Kelly, A.B., Steffey, E.P., McNeal, D. & Willits, N. Immediate and long-term effects of halothane anesthesia on equine platelet function. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap. 8, 284–289. The acute and long-term quantitative and qualitative effects of halothane anesthesia on equine platelet performance were studied in fourteen horses. Horses were anesthetized with only halothane in O2 for about 8.0 MAC* hours. Platelet numbers declined during the anesthetic period but returned to normal within 24 h. Platelet aggregation was significantly diminished during the anesthetic period and for up to 4 days after anesthesia. A period of hyperaggregability occurred at the 7th day. Dr A. B. Kelly, Department of Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, U.S.A.
Temperature dependence of the hyperfine magnetic field in SrRuO 3 measured by the 99 Ru Mössbauer effect

The hyperfine magnetic field in the ferromagnetic metal, ${\mathrm{SrRuO}}_{3},$ has been measured from 4.2 to 166.3 K by the ${}^{99}\mathrm{Ru}$ Mossbauer effect. The hyperfine field at 4.2 K is determined to be 33.0(0.4) T with an isomer shift of -0.33(.02) mm/s. The Curie temperature is determined 162(2) K for a polycrystalline sample. This is consistent with the determination by Cao et al. [Phys. Rev. B 56, 321 (1997)] of ${T}_{C}=165\mathrm{K}$ for a single crystal. The Mossbauer effect full width at half maximum linewidth at 166.3(0.1) K, above the Curie temperature, is as narrow as the natural linewidth of Mossbauer effect state without broadening due to regions of short range ferromagnetic order. This indicates that the compound at this temperature is in a paramagnetic state.
Score Reliability of Adolescent Alcohol Screening Measures: A Meta-Analytic Inquiry.

ABSTRACT This study describes the reliability reporting practices in empirical studies using eight adolescent alcohol screening tools and characterizes and explores variability in internal consistency estimates across samples. Of 119 observed administrations of these instruments, 40 (34%) reported usable reliability information. The Personal Experience Screening Questionnaire—Problem Severity scale generated average reliability estimates exceeding 0.90 (95% CI = 0.90–0.96) and the Adolescent Alcohol Involvement Scale generated average score reliability estimates below 0.80 (95% CI = 0.67–0.85). Average reliability estimates of the remaining instruments were distributed between these extremes. Sample characteristics were identified as potentially important predictors of variability in the reliability estimates of all the instruments and all instruments under evaluation generated more reliable scores in clinical settings (M = 0.89) as opposed to nonclinical settings (M = 0.82; r effect size (38) = 0.29, p <...
Bounds for the t-tail area

The bounds of Birnbaum (1942) and Sampford (1953) for the upper tail area of the normal distribution are extended to the upper tail of the t-distribution. Numerical and theoretical comparisons are made with the bounds of Peizer and Pratt (1968), Wallace (1959) and Soms (1977).
1745 THE HYPERCARBIC VENTILATORY RESPONSE TEST: NEAR-MISS SIDS SIBLINGS OF SIDS, AND SUBSEQUENT APNEA

Hypercarbic ventilatory response (HVR) tests were administered to 65 near-miss SIDS victims, 78 siblings of SIDS victims, and 31 controls. HVR values were compared, then correlated with the incidence of subsequent apnea. HVR tests used a steady-state, breath-by-breath technique. HVR results were expressed as changes in exhaled minute volume per change in PACO2 (ml/min/kg/ mmHg PACO2). Twenty-three near-miss SIDS victims (35%) had subsequent apnea; one died of SIDS. Seven siblings of SIDS victims (9%) eventually developed apnea; two died of SIDS. HVR values were similar in the three patient groups. HVR values were not different from controls in either those infants with previous apnea or those who developed subsequent apnea. Surprisingly, resting PACO2 values were lower in the mear-tniss group (P <.05). When all infants who developed subsequent apnea (both near-miss and siblings) were compared to all those who did not, those with subsequent apnea also had lower PACO2 values (P <0.001) along with higher HVR values (P <.05). Conclusions: 1) HVR values were not depressed in near-miss SIDS or siblings of SIDS victims; 2) Resting PACO2 values were lower in near-miss SIDS victims; 3) Infants who developed subsequent apnea had higher HVR values and lower PACO2 values than those who did not.
The Cost-Price Squeeze in Agriculture: An Application of Cointegration

In the mid and late 1970's, the United States experienced severe inflation. During this period, it was hypothesized that agricultural input prices responded more readily to inflation than agricultural output prices (the cost-price squeeze). This study reexamines the evidence on the cost-price squeeze using recent advances in time series analysis. Preliminary results indicate that prices paid by farmers and prices received by farmers are not cointegrated, suggesting that the cost-price squeeze cannot be ruled out in the long run. The study then tests a multivariate form of the cointegration hypothesis. Results indicate that the divergence between prices paid and prices received is explained by forces outside of agriculture.
Thermo‐elasto‐plastic finite element analysis of quasi‐state processes in Eulerian reference frames

An Eulerian finite element formulation for quasi-state one way coupled thermo-elasto-plastic systems is presented. The formulation is suitable for modeling material processes such as welding and laser surfacing. In an Eulerian frame, the solution field of a quasi-state process becomes steady state for the heat transfer problem and static for the stress problem. A mixed small deformation displacement elasto-plastic formulation is proposed. The formulation accounts for temperature dependent material properties and exhibits a robust convergence. Streamline upwind Petrov–Galerkin (SUPG) is used to remove spurious oscillations. Smoothing functions are introduced to relax the non-differentiable evolution equations and allow for the use of gradient (stiffness) solution scheme via the Newton–Raphson method. A 3-dimensional simulation of a laser surfacing process is presented to exemplify the formulation. Results from the Eulerian formulation are in good agreement with results from the conventional Lagrangian formulation. However, the Eulerian formulation is approximately 15 times faster than the Lagrangian. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thermal stability of a plastic bonded explosive

Data on the thermal stability of a plastic bonded explosive containing an oxidizer cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine (HMX), binder and plasticizer was required in order to satisfy the requirement of NAVORD OD 44811 and to obtain safety information for handling and use. The thermal stability of the PBX was determined by dynamic differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in sealed/unsealed sample pans and by thermogravimetry (TG) in a nitrogen atmosphere using the variable heating rate method. Critical temperature for self-heating at various sample radii and the 500 day cookoff temperature were calculated. Thermal conductivity, specific heat and thermal diffusivity were determined at the critical temperatures in order to calculate the approximate time to explosion at these temperatures. A DSC self-heating half-life experiment was carried out to confirm that the overall decomposition of the PBX was first order. Published by Elsevier Science B.V.
Modeling Spool-Valve Flow Forces

This paper has been written to reconsider the important topic of transient flow forces that act on spool-type hydraulic control valves. Though this subject has been addressed and somewhat laid to rest many years ago, the high-speed applications of our present day require a fresh look at this topic for gaining deeper insight into the significant contributions that determine the stability and frequency response of the hydraulic control valve. Over thirty years ago, it became an accepted practice to neglect the pressure transient flow-forces acting on the spool valve as they were deemed to be minor compared to the velocity effects of the spool itself. In this paper, flow force models with and without the pressure transient term are compared and it is shown that the historic practice of neglecting pressure transients may no longer be valid. As a result, this paper provides justification for considering the pressure transients in the analysis and may provide an explanation for some of the discrepancies that have existed between theoretical expectations and laboratory results.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
A decrease in clonus amplitude by topical anesthesia.

Abstract Skin desensitization by topical anesthetic was studied for its effect on the frequency and amplitude of 3 overt involuntary oscillations of the ankle: pathological clonus, physiological clonus, and physiological action tremor. Pathological clonus was studied in two spinal cord patients, physiological clonus in 3 normal subjects following prolonged exercise, and physiological action tremor in 7 normal subjects performing voluntary movements. Topical anesthetic applied to the skin of the leg, ankle and proximal half of the foot resulted in a significant decrease in the amplitude of all 3 oscillations with no significant change in frequency. The effect of topical anesthetic on pathological clonus amplitude was so profound that neither patient could initiate3clonus for approximately 30 min, despite repeated attempts to do so. While the mechanism determining the frequencies of these oscillations is a matter of considerable debate, the consistency in their response to topical anesthetic suggests that a common mechanism may exist. A possible clinical application is suggested. Topical anesthetic may be a non-invasive means of attenuating undesirable large amplitude tremors and clonus.
The combined use of local irradiation and corynebacterium parvum in the treatment of the murine line 1 lung carcinoma.

The effectiveness of Corynebacterium parvum in combination with local irradiation has been examined in the treatment of the murine line 1 lung carcinoma, a highly radioresistant, weakly immunogenic tumor that kills the host by means of metastatic spread. Sixteen-week-old, specific-pathogen-free female BABL/c mice were given 10/sup 6/ tumor cells im into the right thigh. Tumors were irradiated on Day 7 after transplant. Those receiving C. parvum treatment were given 0.1 mg either by the intralesional (il), ip, or iv route on Day 4 after transplant or by the il or ip route on Day 8. An additional group received C. parvum ip once a week for 4 weeks beginning on Day 8. The influence of the various treatments on local control and metastasis was assessed. To evaluate further the time course and incidence of metastases, cleared lungs were examined at 21, 28, and 35 days in groups given irradiation combined with C. parvum on day 8. C. parvum was more effective in facilitating local control and inhibiting metastatic spread when given after radiation exposure rather than before.
Does privatization enhance or deter small enterprise formation

Abstract Small enterprises are a growth engine in post-socialist economies. We argue that privatization can either enhance or deter small enterprise formation via its impact on the local business environment. We then show that in Russia small-scale privatization deterred small enterprise formation, while large-scale privatization enhanced it.
Changes in the international classification of headache disorders.

The ICHD-II will not be the final word on headache diagnosis and classification. It will undoubtedly be significantly revised as more studies are done to delineate the science of headache. In this regard, the ICHD-II is not unlike the revisions of diagnostic and classification systems that have been developed in multiple areas of medicine such as psychiatry and epilepsy. What can be predicted is that the ICHD-II should be a vehicle for research in the headache field that should advance the scientific understanding and treatment of headache disorders. This will undoubtedly occur as the pathophysiology and genetic substrates of headache disorders become better understood. This should help lead to the goal of physicians who care for those with headache (ie, improved diagnosis and treatment).
System-level point-to-point communication synthesis using floorplanning information [SoC]

In this paper, we present a point-to-point (P2P) communication synthesis methodology for system-on-chip (SOC) design. We consider real-time systems where IP selection, mapping and task scheduling are already fixed. Our algorithm takes the communication task graph (CTG) and IP sizes as inputs and automatically synthesizes a P2P communication network, which satisfies the specified deadlines of the application. As the main contribution, we first formulate the problem of automatic bitwidth synthesis which minimizes total wirelength and then propose an efficient heuristic to solve it. A key element in our approach is a communication-driven floorplanner which considers the communication energy consumption in the objective function. Experimental results show that, compared to standard shared bus architecture, significant power savings can be achieved by using the P2P scheme and communication-driven floorplanning. For instance, for an H.263 encoder we estimate 21.6% savings in energy and 15.1% in terms of wiring resources with an area overhead of only 4%.
Vaccination with Bacille-Calmette Guérin Promotes Mycobacterial Control in Guinea Pig Macrophages Infected In Vivo

Tuberculosis pleurisy was induced by inoculation of virulent (H37Rv strain or Erdman strain) or attenuated (H37Ra strain) green-fluorescent protein-expressing Mycobacterium tuberculosis into guinea pigs that had or had not been vaccinated with Bacille-Calmette Guerin (BCG). Pleural fluid and cells were analyzed for phagosome-lysosome (P-L) fusion, on the basis of confocal microscopy, intracellular and extracellular bacterial survival, and production of cytokine mRNA. BCG vaccination increased fluid volume and cellular accumulation, significantly enhanced P-L fusion, and significantly decreased intracellular bacterial survival in pleural-effusion macrophages of the guinea pigs infected with the 2 virulent strains. Furthermore, significant increases in interferon-gamma, transforming growth factor-beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-12p40 cytokine mRNA were seen in the pleural cells of the BCG-vaccinated guinea pigs.
STEADY STATE, IMBALANCE, AND STABILITY OF TWO‐COUNTRY GROWTH*

SUMMARY Defining steady-state growth as stationary proportionate rates of growth, defining balanced growth as stationary mutual proportions between physical output of all goods, defining equilibrium as zero excess demand, and defining stability as a tendency for equilibrium to restore itself if disturbed, the paper tests a neoclassical two-country growth model for steady state, balance, and stability. The model uses prices and the exchange rate as equilibrating variables and admits consumer preferences, disparity of rates of technological progress, and disparity of rates of growth of labor forces. Growth is found to be steady-state, unbalanced, and stable.
A KINETIC MODEL FOR THE REMOVAL OF SULFUR FROM POLYCRYSTALLINE TITANIUM SURFACES EXPOSED TO OXYGEN

Recent studies using Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES) on polycrystalline titanium surfaces led to the discovery of a temperature-dependent phenomenon for the removal of sulfur using oxygen exposures. It was seen that at temperatures greater than 200°C and pressures lower than 10-7 Torr O2 the rate of sulfur removal from the surface was decreased significantly. The decrease in this rate of sulfur removal can be linked to several factors, including the temperature-enhanced diffusion of sulfur to the surface and the temperature-enhanced diffusion of oxygen into the bulk. By varying the pressure of oxygen and the temperature of the substrate and by monitoring the surface with AES we were able to identify the significant factors. A kinetic model for the two surface species is discussed and fit to the experimental results. This kinetic model includes physical parameters for such things as the activation energy for the sulfur diffusion to the surface as well as sticking coefficients for oxygen on the surface. Through this model the relevant factors for the decrease in the rate of sulfur removal are examined.
Predicting the Crystallization Propensity of Carboxylic Acid Buffers in Frozen Systems—Relevance to Freeze-Drying

Selective crystallization of buffer components in frozen solutions is known to cause pronounced pH shifts. Our objective was to study the crystallization behavior and the consequent pH shift in frozen aqueous carboxylic acid buffers. Aqueous carboxylic acid buffers were cooled to -25°C and the pH of the solution was measured as a function of temperature. The thermal behavior of solutions during freezing and thawing was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry. The crystallized phases in frozen solution were identified by X-ray diffractometry. The malate buffer system was robust with no evidence of buffer component crystallization and hence negligible pH shift. In the citrate and tartarate systems, at initial pH <pKa2 , only the most acidic buffer component (neutral form) crystallized on cooling, causing an increase in the freeze-concentrate pH. Carboxylic acid buffers were rank ordered based on their propensity to crystallize in frozen solutions. From the aqueous solubility values of these carboxylic acids, which have been reported over a range of temperatures, it was also possible to estimate the degree of supersaturation at the subambient temperature of interest. This enabled us to predict their crystallization propensity in frozen systems. The experimental and the predicted rank orderings were in excellent agreement.
Identification of a Semiparametric Item Response Model

We consider the identification of a semiparametric multidimensional fixed effects item response model. Item response models are typically estimated under parametric assumptions about the shape of the item characteristic curves (ICCs), and existing results suggest difficulties in recovering the distribution of individual characteristics under nonparametric assumptions. We show that if the shape of the ICCs are unrestricted, but the shape is common across individuals and items, the individual characteristics are identified. If the shape of the ICCs are allowed to differ over items, the individual characteristics are identified in the multidimensional linear compensatory case but only identified up to a monotonic transformation in the unidimensional case. Our results suggest the development of two new semiparametric estimators for the item response model.
The Benefit of Symbols: Monkeys Show Linear, Human-Like, Accuracy When Using Symbols to Represent Scalar Value

When humans and animals estimate numbers of items, their error rate is proportional to the number. To date, however, only humans show the capacity to represent large numbers symbolically, which endows them with increased precision, especially for large numbers, and with tools for manipulating numbers. This ability depends critically on our capacity to acquire and represent explicit symbols. Here we show that when rhesus monkeys are trained to use an explicit symbol system, they too show more precise, and linear, scaling than they do using a one-to-one corresponding numerosity representation. We also found that when taught two different types of representations for reward amount, the monkeys systematically undervalued the less precise representation. The results indicate that monkeys, like humans, can learn alternative mechanisms for representing a single value scale and that performance variability and relative value depend on the distinguishability of each representation.
Pathways to the All-Volunteer Military.

The present study investigates the role of a disadvantaged background, the lack of social connectedness, and behavioral problems in channeling young men to the opportunities of the all-volunteer military instead of to college or the labor market. Data from three waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health in the United States are employed. The analytic sample consists of 6,938 white, black, and other males. The greatest likelihood of military service versus college or the labor force occurs when young men of at least modest ability come from disadvantaged circumstances, experience minimal connectedness to others, and report a history of adolescent fighting. Findings highlight the value of access to post high school education and worklife opportunities as a military service incentive for less advantaged young men in the all-volunteer era.
Foxp3 and Treg cells in HIV-1 infection and immuno-pathogenesis

FoxP3+CD4+CD25+ regulatory T (Treg) cells are implicated in a number of pathologic processes including elevated levels in cancers and infectious diseases, and reduced levels in autoimmune diseases. Treg cells are activated to modulate immune responses to avoid over-reactive immunity. However, conflicting findings are reported regarding relative levels of Treg cells during HIV-1 infection and disease progression. The role of Treg cells in HIV-1 diseases (aberrant immune activation) is poorly understood due to lack of a robust model. We summarize here the regulation and function of Foxp3 in Treg cells and in modulating HIV-1 replication. Based on recent findings from SIV/monkey and HIV/humanized mouse models, a model of the dual role of Treg cells in HIV-1 infection and immuno-pathogenesis is discussed.
Regulation of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide Secretion by a Serotonergic Antimigraine Drug

We have investigated the regulation of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) release from trigeminal neurons by the serotonergic antimigraine drug sumatriptan. Serum levels of the neuropeptide CGRP are elevated during migraine. Treatment with the drug sumatriptan returns CGRP levels to normal coincident with the alleviation of headache. However, despite this clinical efficacy, the cellular target and mechanism of sumatriptan action are not well understood beyond the pharmacology of its recognition of the 5-HT1 class of serotonin receptors. We have used cultured trigeminal neurons to demonstrate that sumatriptan can directly repress CGRP secretion from sensory neurons. The stimulated secretion in response to depolarization or inflammatory agents was inhibited, but not the basal secretion rate. Unexpectedly, sumatriptan did not lower cAMP levels, in contrast to the classical role ascribed to the 5-HT1 receptors. Instead, activation of 5-HT1 receptors caused a slow and remarkably prolonged increase in intracellular calcium. The inhibition of CGRP secretion is attenuated by the phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid, suggesting that sumatriptan action is mediated by calcium-recruited phosphatases. These results suggest that 5-HT1 agonists may block a deleterious feedback loop in migraine at the trigeminal neurons and provide a general mechanism by which this class of drugs can attenuate stimulated neuropeptide release.
Family influences on self-management among functionally independent adults with diabetes or heart failure: do family members hinder as much as they help?:

Objectives: Among functionally independent patients with diabetes or heart failure, we examined family member support and family-related barriers to self-care. We then identified patient characteristics associated with family support and family barriers and how each was associated with self-management adherence.Methods: Cross-sectional survey of 439 patients with diabetes or heart failure (74% response rate).Results: 75% of respondents reported supportive family involvement in self-care; however, 25% reported frequent family-related barriers to self-care. Women reported family support less often (64% v. 77%) and family barriers to self-care more often (30% v. 21%) than men. 78% of respondents reported involved family members nagged or criticized them about illness care. In multivariate models, low health literacy, partnered status and higher family function were associated with higher family support levels, while female gender, older age, higher education, and more depression symptoms were associated with...
The Effect of Agency Scandal on Public Views Toward the Correctional System

Evidence of a corrections agency scandal involving corruption can be expected to diminish public perceptions of agency effectiveness, especially in an era in which government accountability has fea...
The level of cell surface beta1,4-galactosyltransferase I influences the invasive potential of murine melanoma cells

Beta1,4-Galactosyltransferase I (GalT I) is localized on the leading lamellipodia of migrating cells, where it associates with the cytoskeleton and facilitates cell spreading and migration on basal lamina matrices. It has previously been reported that a variety of highly metastatic murine and human cell lines are characterized by elevated levels of cell surface GalT I, although the intracellular biosynthetic pool is similar between cells of high and low metastatic potential. In this study, we examined whether the elevated expression of surface GalT I characteristic of metastatic cells is instructive or incidental to their metastatic behavior by altering the expression of surface GalT I and by the use of GalT I-specific perturbants. Surface GalT I levels were positively and negatively altered on murine melanoma cells by either overexpressing full-length GalT I or by homologous recombination, respectively. The consequences of altered surface GalT I expression on cell invasion in vitro and lung colonization in vivo were determined. Increasing surface GalT I expression on cells of low metastatic potential to levels characteristic of highly metastatic cells recapitulated the highly invasive phenotype in vitro. Alternatively, decreasing surface GalT I expression on highly metastatic cells to levels characteristic of low metastatic cells reduced their invasive behavior in vitro and metastatic activity in vivo. Within the physiological range of surface GalT I expression, the invasive potential of each clonal cell line correlated strongly with the level of surface GalT I expressed. As an independent means to assess the involvement of surface GalT I in metastatic behavior, cells were pretreated with two different classes of surface GalT I perturbants, a competitive oligosaccharide substrate and a substrate modifier protein. Both perturbants inhibited metastatic colonization of the lung, whereas control reagents did not. Finally, as reported by others, surface GalT I on metastatic cells selectively interacted with one glycoprotein substrate, or ligand, of approximately 100 kDa, the identity of which remains obscure. These results show that the elevated expression of surface GalT I characteristic of highly metastatic cells contributes to their invasive phenotype in vitro and to their metastatic phenotype in vivo.
Improved techniques for power system voltage stability assessment using energy methods

An improved method of assessing power system voltage stability using energy techniques is presented. The concept of an energy function providing a localized measure of voltage security in a particular portion of the system is developed. A crucial factor in the use of the energy function method is the ability to rapidly determine the appropriate low-voltage solution to use in the energy measure calculation. Also, an improved method of locating power alternative solutions with low associated energy measures is presented. Techniques are demonstrated on the IEEE 118 bus system and a 415-bus system. >
Simulating a Smokejumper Service Delivery System

A computer model that simulates a Smokejumper Service Delivery System has been developed. Based on the General Purpose Simulation System, the model simulates the complex nature of smokejumper activities in a spatially and temporally dynamic fire environment involving other initial attack resources. Among the features not found in other simulation models are the movement of smokejumpers and aircraft between bases, delivering jumpers to fires and returning aircraft to bases, responding to several fires with a single load of jumpers, and constraining daily aircraft usage base on flight hours. The model uses animation to observe and verify the accuracy of resource movement.
Chaos, Complexity, and a Revitalization of Four-Field Anthropology?

Four-field anthropology has always struggled with the problem of how to holistically study human cultural systems that are the products of environment, process, and history. Complexity science offers a set of tools calibrated to the analysis of complex systems like those of human societies, and has the potential to allow us to scientifically understand how history and process affect the physical, cultural, and linguistic components that are entangled in the whole of human societies. Application of complexity science to anthropological problems thus far has favored engagement on a conceptual level rather than one that harnesses the full power of the approach.
Coupling Nitrogen Removal and Anaerobic Digestion for Energy Recovery from Swine Waste: 2 Nitritation/Anammox

Abstract Swine waste from a full-scale anaerobic digester was treated for nitrogen removal through partial nitritation coupled to anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) in a 20-L sequencing batch reactor. Digested waste came from an 8,000-head farm in North Carolina and was characterized by high ammonium content (>2,000 mg N/L) and a relatively high C:N ratio compared with influent of other anammox systems reported in the literature. The reactor was operated with intermittent pulses of oxygen, with dissolved oxygen concentrations maintained continuously below 0.1 mg/L. Under the final operating conditions, the reactor consumed 96% of the influent ammonium and 90% of the total N, with low nitrate in the effluent; no external alkalinity was required to maintain near-neutral pH. The majority of nitrogen removal occurred through anammox activity, which was supported by several observations indicating that nitrification/denitrification (with either nitrite or nitrate) was not the primary means of N removal. Ox...
Dopamine is produced in the rat spinal cord and regulates micturition reflex after spinal cord injury

Dopamine (DA) neurons in the mammalian central nervous system are thought to be restricted to the brain. DA-mediated regulation of urinary activity is considered to occur through an interaction between midbrain DA neurons and the pontine micturition center. Here we show that DA is produced in the rat spinal cord and modulates the bladder reflex. We observed numerous tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)+ neurons in the autonomic nuclei and superficial dorsal horn in L6–S3 spinal segments. These neurons are dopamine-β-hydroxylase (DBH)− and some contain detectable dopamine decarboxylase (DDC), suggesting their capacity to produce DA. Interestingly, following a complete thoracic spinal cord injury (SCI) to interrupt supraspinal projections, more TH+ neurons emerged in the lumbosacral spinal cord, coincident with a sustained, low level of DA expression there and a partially recovered micturition reflex. Non-selective blockade of spinal DA receptors reduced bladder activity whereas activation of spinal D2-like receptors increased bladder activity and facilitated voiding. Additionally, depletion of lumbosacral TH+ neurons with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) decreased bladder non-voiding contractions and voiding efficiency. Furthermore, injecting the transsynaptic neuronal tracer pseudorabies virus (PRV) into the bladder detrusor labeled TH+ cells in the lumbosacral cord, confirming their involvement in spinal micturition reflex circuits. These results illustrate that DA is synthesized in the rat spinal cord; plasticity of lumbosacral TH+ neurons following SCI may contribute to DA expression and modulate the spinal bladder reflex. Thus, spinally-derived DA and receptors could be a novel therapeutic target to improve micturition recovery after SCI.
Seguimento tardio de pacientes com infarto do miocárdio tratados com stents farmacológicos no Registro DESIRE

he advent of drug-eluting stents (DES) heralded aquasi-revolution in the field of Interventional Car-diology. With a potential solution to the problemof in-stent restenosis, these devices permitted interven-tionalists to perform percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI) in an expanding number of patient and lesionsubsets, without fear that patients would experiencerecurrent luminal compromise at the site of the indexlesion, in most cases necessitating a repeat interven-tion. While DES have proven to be highly effective inreducing repeat revascularization procedures after theindex PCI, it is important to note that these devices dolittle to modify the overall atherothrombotic diseaseprocess that leads patients to present for the index PCI.In this regard, the analysis from the DESIRE Registry byCosta et al.
VARIABILITY IN THE ALARM CALL OF GOLDEN-MANTLED GROUND SQUIRRELS (SPERMOPHILUS LATERALIS AND S. SATURATUS)

Many animals have geographic variation or dialect differences in their vocalizations. These differences combined with social behavior and isolation can contribute to speciation. We compared the acoustic vocalizations of 3 subspecies of Spermophilus lateralis and those of S. saturatus using wild-caught animals in the presence of a predator, Canis lupus familiarus. Variation was examined using 9 sonogram variables. We found both local dialect differences and geographic variation in alarm calls. S. saturatus could be distinguished 100% of the time from S. lateralis using discriminant analysis. Widespread use of ultrasonic vocalizations was found in both S. lateralis and S. saturatus. Dialect differences showed a pattern of character displacement between adjacent subspecies. Vocalization parameters changed within local sites and between years, suggesting alarm calling is at least partially a learned behavior. Species share more uniquely defining vocalization variables than either subspecies or local populations.
Electronic Transport Properties of Hg 1-x Fe x Se

The electrical resistivity, electron concentration, and mobility of Hg1-xFexSe are reported for 4.2K < T < 300K and for 0.0001 < x < 0.12. The data are interpreted within an electronic band structure model that assumes the existence of resonant donors (due to the presence of Fe ions) whose ground state energy coincides with the conduction band continuum. The electron concentration data enable determination of the value of the donor energy as a function of the temperature and the crystal composition. The low temperature electron mobility for ∼ 0.0003 ≤ x ≤ 0.01 is considerably higher than expected and indicates a reduction of the charged impurity scattering effects at low temperatures.
Exploring the patterns and determinants of the global mobile divide

The global mobile divide has decreased during the past 23years.Average income level had a negative correlation with mobile phone adoption rate.Average income had a positive correlation with mobile phone penetration level. This study explores the patterns of the global mobile divide and the factors that influenced it. It proposes a comprehensive framework to explain mobile phone adoption by integrating technology acceptance model (TAM) and economic consumption analysis. The empirical analysis is conducted using the data from more than 150 countries. The results show that the gaps of mobile phone penetration among different groups of income level countries have decreased during the past 23years. Average income had a negative correlation with mobile phone adoption rate, represented by the slope of mobile phone diffusion curve. However, average income had a positive correlation with mobile phone penetration, suggesting that there are still gaps of mobile phone penetration between rich and poor countries. Besides average income, other factors, such as legacy phone system, population density, and education level, were also demonstrated to have influence on mobile phone penetration. The framework and findings of this study suggest the potentials for the integration among consumption analysis, diffusion of innovation theory (DIT), and TAM. Strategies for further bridging the global mobile divide are suggested based on the empirical findings.
Infantile Refsum Disease

Two patients with infantile Refsum (phytanic acid storage) disease were treated at 9 mos and 5½ years of age with a low phytanic acid diet and the effects studied over a 2-yr period or longer in the Depts of Chemical Pathology, Neurology and Histopathology, Adelaide Children's Hospital, and the Dept of Neurology, Prince of Wales Children's Hospital, New South Wales, Australia
Are You Capable of Providing High Quality Care

Quality improvement (QI) initiatives have intensified in the healthcare workplace with only a nascent understanding of the definition of quality in healthcare. As physicians, we adhere to the Hippocratic aphorism of “do no harm” and therefore, often delude ourselves into believing that we are functioning at the top of our clinical capacity and knowledge for the benefit of our patients. It is undeniable that nearly all physicians want to do what is best for their patients. However, maximizing the potential for improved outcomes can prove challenging.