cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
30.1: Invited Paper: Charge Balance in Blue Phosphorescent Organic Light Emitting Diodes

In this paper, we study effect of charge balance on performance of blue phosphorescent organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). Charge balance determines the location of recombination zone in the OLEDs. By tuning the charge balance in iridium (III) bis[(4,6-di-fluorophenyl)-pyridinate-N,C2′]picolinate (FIrpic) based blue phosphorescent organic light-emitting devices (PHOLEDs) with a high mobility and high triplet energy electron transporting material, we were able to achieve a high current efficiency of 60 cd/A which is a 3X improvement over previous devices with 3,5′-N,N′-dicarbazole-benzene (mCP) host.
Development of a railgun test-bench and methodology for muzzle voltage noise analysis

This work presents the design, development, and initial testing results of a small bore railgun and test-bench for the study of muzzle voltage traces. An analysis of the noise observed on voltage traces taken from the muzzle during operation is presented and discussed. Velocities for a 3.38 g projectile average 50 m/s over a series of 21 tests. The railgun is powered by a sequentially-fired pulse forming network consisting of six electrolytic capacitor banks. Typical V-I characteristics are approximately 20 kA peak current at 275 V for a 6 ms pulse length. Noise root-mean-square voltage and noise margins are extracted from the muzzle voltage waveforms and discussed. This investigation also develops a quantitative method to analyze muzzle voltage noise which can be applied to any electromagnetic launcher.
Biotin-Mediated Delivery of Exogenous Macromolecules into Soybean Cells

We have demonstrated that attachment of biotin to a variety of macromolecules allows the uptake of those macromolecules into cultured soybean cells (Glycine max Merr cv Kent). Macromolecules that were nondestructively delivered into intact cells in large numbers (>106/cell) by this technique include bovine insulin (Mr about 5,700), bovine ribonuclease (Mr about 14,000), human hemoglobin (Mr about 64,000), and bovine serum albumin (Mr about 68,000). It is hypothesized that this methodology may be useful for delivering antibodies, toxins, enzymes, and genetic material into living plant cells without requiring prior removal of the cell wall or infection with Agrobacterium.
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors are associated with reduced mortality in ESRD patients.

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors are associated with reduced mortality in ESRD patients. Background Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) suffer from markedly higher rates of cardiovascular disease than the general population. Although therapy with 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors ("statins") has been demonstrated to reduce the mortality from cardiovascular disease in patients without ESRD, only 10% of patients on dialysis are treated with these medications by day 60 of ESRD. We determined whether the use of statins is associated with a reduction in cardiovascular-specific death and total mortality in ESRD patients. Methods Data were analyzed from the U.S. Renal Data System Dialysis Morbidity and Mortality Wave-2 study, a cohort of randomly selected patients who were initiating dialysis in 1996. Information about the use of statins as well as other baseline characteristics was abstracted from the patients' dialysis records by dialysis personnel. Cox proportional hazards models were developed to determine the association between use of statins at baseline and subsequent risk of mortality, with adjustment for known mortality risk factors. Results Follow-up data were available for 3716 patients through July 1998. At baseline, 362 (9.7%) of patients were using statins. These patients had a mortality rate of 143/1000 person-years, compared with a rate of 202/1000 person-years for patients not using statins. Statin use was independently associated with a reduced risk of total mortality [relative risk (RR) = 0.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.54, 0.87] as well as cardiovascular-specific mortality (RR = 0.64, 95% CI=0.45, 0.91). In contrast, the use of fibrates was not associated with reduced mortality (RR = 1.29). Conclusions Statin use was associated with a reduction in cardiovascular-specific death and total mortality in patients on dialysis.
Formulation and initial application of a dynamic model for urban aerosols

Abstract A dynamic model for prediction of the spatial and temporal behavior of the size and chemical composition distributions of an urban air pollution aerosol is developed. Particular attention is given to the description of aerosol formation and growth in photochemical smog, in which the aerosol of interest lies primarily in the size range, 0.1–1 μm dia. The dynamic model developed is used to simulate aerosol number and mass concentrations and size distributions along several typical air trajectories on 20 September 1972 in the Los Angeles basin. Predictions of the model are compared with total aerosol mass concentrations computed from light-scattering measurements. The sensitivity of the predictions to assumptions concerning the nature of gas to particle conversion processes is explored.
Glass Mirrors For Space Telescopes

The Hubble Space Telescope uses a primary mirror having an area of 5 sq m. The mirrors needed for two possible future telescopes, 50 sq m and 500 sq m in area, are considered. The former would be an 8-m diameter monolithic mirror of 'zero-expansion' glass, and would be diffraction-limited at optical wavelengths (0.015 arcsecond images). The 500 sq m mirror, the area proposed for the Large Deployable Reflector, would be diffraction-limited down to 30-micron wavelength (0.3 arcsecond images). Both types of mirror could be of honeycomb sandwich construction made by a new 'air inflation' method. The larger reflector would consist of ultralightweight glass panels.
Confined-pyrolysis as an experimental method for hydrothermal organic synthesis

A closed pyrolysis system has been developed as a tool for studying the reactions of organic compounds under extreme hydrothermal conditions. Small high pressure stainless steel vessels in which the ratio of sediment or sample to water has been adjusted to eliminate the headspace at peak experimental conditions confines the organic components to the bulk solid matrix and eliminates the partitioning of the organic compounds away from the inorganic components during the experiment. Confined pyrolysis experiments were performed to simulate thermally driven catagenetic changes in sedimentary organic matter using a solids to water ratio of 3.4 to 1. The extent of alteration was measured by monitoring the steroid and triterpenoid biomarkers and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon distributions. These pyrolysis experiments duplicated the hydrothermal transformations observed in nature. Molecular probe experiments using alkadienes, alkenes and alkanes in H2O and D2O elucidated the isomerization and hydrogenation reactions of aliphatic compounds and the competing oxidative reactions occurring under hydrothermal conditions. This confined pyrolysis technique is being applied to test experiments on organic synthesis of relevance to chemical evolution for the origin of life.
Development and Implementation of an Adapted Evacuation Planning Methodology in the Framework of Emergency Management and Disaster Response: A Case Study Using TransCAD

The nature of natural disasters is often unpredictable, so it is extremely important that sufficient planning be done to evaluate the preparedness, the system response, and the ability of transportation infrastructures to handle evacuation traffic. This article presents an adapted evacuation planning methodology that essentially incorporates the traditional four-step planning model and dynamic traffic assignment. The authors utilize the transportation network in Western Massachusetts as an example to test the effectiveness of the proposed methodology using two with-notice hurricane evacuation scenarios. The analysis is performed by using the off-the-shelf computer-based planning software package TransCAD to assist the four-step transportation planning process. By altering inputs and using dynamic traffic assignment, TransCAD can be used to predict how the transportation system behaves during an evacuation. Two scenarios are used as the basis of the evacuation modeling. A production-attraction model is presented to replicate the behavior of evacuees. The production-attraction model results are compared with a series of reports, and the model falls within the recommendations of these reports. Several different evacuation speeds are examined for two different study areas. The Results section shows the outputs that can be garnered from the program such as the clearance time, critical locations, V/C ratios, and location-to-location travel times. Finally, recommendations are made on how these results can be used to aid planners. It is worth mentioning that the proposed evacuation modeling methodology can be extended and implemented in other places with minor modifications of network topology and localized travel behavior data.
BLACK LEGISLATIVE POLITICS IN MISSISSIPPI

In the words of the old Negro preacher, "We ain't where we ought to be, we ain't where we wanna be, but thank God we ain't where we used to be." The Voting Rights Act of 1965 dramatically increased the number of Black legislators in the state of Mississippi. Prior to the passage of the Voting Rights Act, African Americans had not served in the Mississippi state legislature since 1896. However, by 1988, 22 African Americans gained seats in the state legislature. In this descriptive analysis, the evolution, nature of the membership, and substantive impact of the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus are assessed. Minority voting research has been categorized as occurring in four generations (Davidson & Grofman, 1994). According to Davidson and Grofman (1994), first generation research questions evaluate minority enfranchisement. Second generation questions are concerned with vote dilution and the election of minority candidates. Furthermore, the authors introduced third and fourth generation questions that address the substantive gains made by African American elected officials.' The research at hand places focus on third and fourth generation research questions. The study proceeds with a historical overview of the election of Black legislators in the state of Mississippi. Secondly, a synopsis of the state's legislative process and the evolution of the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus are given. Thirdly, the social background
On the Entangled Problems of Selection and Conceptual Organization1

Naroll's Interval Sift method and D'Andrade's Matched Pair method are re-examined. It is suggested that these present solutions to the Tylor-Galton problem are better viewed as discussions. The intertwined problems of selection of data, data patterning, and conceptual organization are discussed.
The Best Thing About a Book is...

A wealth of research documents the reading preferences of young children. However, much less is known about children’s actual agendas or reasons for using and experiencing books. This article proposes the simple ENGAGE process to help adults better understand what children believe is best about the books in their lives. Twelve books are reviewed and recommended.
PEG determinations in urine, plasma, and various protein solutions

Abstract Polyethelene glycol is determined in a variety of biologic fluids. A stable, accurate, and sensitive method is described which is useful when PEG is used for protein purification, and in physiologic function and pharmacologic mechanism studies.
Sambucus nigra extracts inhibit infectious bronchitis virus at an early point during replication

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is a pathogenic chicken coronavirus. Currently, vaccination against IBV is only partially protective; therefore, better preventions and treatments are needed. Plants produce antimicrobial secondary compounds, which may be a source for novel anti-viral drugs. Non-cytotoxic, crude ethanol extracts of Rhodiola rosea roots, Nigella sativa seeds, and Sambucus nigra fruit were tested for anti-IBV activity, since these safe, widely used plant tissues contain polyphenol derivatives that inhibit other viruses. Dose–response cytotoxicity curves on Vero cells using trypan blue staining determined the highest non-cytotoxic concentrations of each plant extract. To screen for IBV inhibition, cells and virus were pretreated with extracts, followed by infection in the presence of extract. Viral cytopathic effect was assessed visually following an additional 24 h incubation with extract. Cells and supernatants were harvested separately and virus titers were quantified by plaque assay. Variations of this screening protocol determined the effects of a number of shortened S. nigra extract treatments. Finally, S. nigra extract-treated virions were visualized by transmission electron microscopy with negative staining. Virus titers from infected cells treated with R. rosea and N. sativa extracts were not substantially different from infected cells treated with solvent alone. However, treatment with S. nigra extracts reduced virus titers by four orders of magnitude at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 1 in a dose-responsive manner. Infection at a low MOI reduced viral titers by six orders of magnitude and pretreatment of virus was necessary, but not sufficient, for full virus inhibition. Electron microscopy of virions treated with S. nigra extract showed compromised envelopes and the presence of membrane vesicles, which suggested a mechanism of action. These results demonstrate that S. nigra extract can inhibit IBV at an early point in infection, probably by rendering the virus non-infectious. They also suggest that future studies using S. nigra extract to treat or prevent IBV or other coronaviruses are warranted.
Central alpha-1-adrenergic control of vasopressin secretion in newborn lambs.

The hypothesis that central alpha-1 adrenoceptors are inhibitory to the hypotension-induced secretion of vasopressin was tested by subjecting lambs that were instrumented for a long term to varying degrees of hypotension after intracerebroventricular injections of prazosin or placebo. Eight lambs in the 1st wk of life treated with intracerebroventricular injections of placebo had their mean arterial blood pressures decreased 14 and 21% by i.v. infusion of nitroprusside. Arginine vasopressin levels rose to 7.3 +/- 2.4 pmol/L only with the greater degree of hypotension. When the lambs were treated with intracerebroventricular injections of 1 micrograms/kg of prazosin, the blood pressures were decreased 13 and 23%, and the vasopressin levels were 15.4 +/- 16.6 and 27.5 +/- 20.3 pmol/L, respectively. A relationship was shown between the degree of hypotension and the plasma arginine vasopressin levels with both the placebo and prazosin, the slope being much steeper for the prazosin treatment (-1.11) than for the placebo treatment (-0.31). Plasma renin activity was increased a similar amount in both groups, and there was no change in plasma cortisol levels. We conclude that alpha-1 adrenoceptors in the brain are inhibitory to the secretion of arginine vasopressin. These results differ from observations in adult rats and dogs and may be accounted for by developmental or species differences.
Surface-enhanced Raman scattering on periodic metal nanotips with tunable sharpness

This paper reports on a scalable bottom-up technology for producing periodic gold nanotips with tunable sharpness as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates. Inverted silicon pyramidal pits, which are templated from non-close-packed colloidal crystals prepared by a spin-coating technology, are used as structural templates to replicate arrays of polymer nanopyramids with nanoscale sharp tips. The deposition of a thin layer of gold on the polymer nanopyramids leads to the formation of SERS-active substrates with a high enhancement factor (up to 10 8 ). The thickness of the deposited metal determines the sharpness of the nanotips and the resulting Raman enhancement factor. Finite-element electromagnetic modeling shows that the nanotips can significantly enhance the local electromagnetic field and the sharpness of nanotips greatly affects the SERS enhancement. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version)
Comparison of the minimal model and the hyperglycemic clamp for measuring insulin sensitivity and acute insulin response to glucose.

Glucose clamp techniques are established methods for assessment of insulin sensitivity and secretion. The minimal model technique (MMT) has been proposed as an alternative approach to the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp technique for determination of an insulin sensitivity index (ISI), but has not been directly compared with the hyperglycemic clamp for measurement of ISI or insulin secretion. To address this issue, the present study was undertaken to compare determinations of ISI and the acute insulin response to glucose (AIRg) obtained using the MMT with similar measures obtained from a hyperglycemic clamp. Measures for ISI and AIRg obtained from MMT analysis of a tolbutamide-modified frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (FSIGT) were compared with similar measures obtained from a 3-hour hyperglycemic clamp performed at a plasma glucose level of 10 mmol/L (180 mg/dL). Paired comparisons were performed in 14 women with normal glucose tolerance. Significant positive correlation coefficients were obtained for both ISI (r = .88, P < .001) and AIRg (r = .75, P < .005) between the MMT and clamp studies. We conclude that indices for ISI and AIRg obtained with the MMT are highly correlated with those obtained using the hyperglycemic clamp. The MMT is a valid alternative to the hyperglycemic clamp for assessing insulin sensitivity and AIRg.
Specificity in the Response of Female Tree Crickets (Orthoptera, Gryllidae, Oecanthinae) to Calling Songs of the Males

A great many insect species possess specialized sound producing and receiving organs. Among these species are many which produce sounds loud enough to be noticed by man and which produce them continuously for many hours each day during their adult lives. On late summer evenings in many habitats in the eastern United States, there are twenty or more species stridulating at the same time, and the resulting din is astonishing to those unaccustomed to it. In spite of the loudness of the chorus and the fact that many of the chorusers are of economic importance, little is known about the biological significance of sound production in insects.
Holmium laser use in the treatment of selected dry eye syndrome complications

The authors present initial results of treatment selected complications of dry eye syndrome with holmium laser. The lacrimal puncta obliteration and coagulation of the corneal ulcer surface were done.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
“Professional” and “Nonprofessional” Contractile Cells in the Lung

Every student of biology learns that there are several clearly defined categories of mesenchymal cells, such as fibroblasts, chondrocytes, Schwann cells, and, of course, smooth muscle cells. The latter cells are characterized by the presence of a contractile apparatus that corresponds to ultrastructurally identified myofibrils and the immunochemically defined presence of proteins such as desmin and smooth muscle actins. But, to paraphrase Goethe, it is only when we know little about a subject that we can afford to be dogmatic about the facts. Recently, cells with "partial" smooth muscle phenotypes have been described in a wide range oflocations, including atherosclerotic plaques (1), the stroma of breast carcinomas (2), the interstitium oflung (3), and proliferative disorders such as Dupuytren's disease (4). The appellation "myofibroblast" has been given to some of these cells, as a reflection of the "partial" phenotype many of them display. Myofibroblasts, originally described as morphologically distinctive cells seen in granulation tissue, are now known to have the capacity to express many muscle-associated proteins such as smooth muscle actins and desmin (5). In addition, more recent studies have documented that muscle gene expression can be ephemeral in vivo cells expressing a "partial" muscle phenotype (which we can alternatively . define as "nonprofessional" contractile cells) appear and then disappear in granulation tissue during the course of wound healing (6). Several studies have also documented an analogous plasticity and reversibility of muscle phenotype in cultured smooth muscle cells as a function of initial plating density, passage number, and so forth (7). Developmental systems have been studied in the hope that cell lineage could be established and light could therefore be shed on the nature of the spectrum of "nonprofessional" contractile cells seen in the adult. Unfortunately, mesenchymal cell development and differentiation is less well understood than that occurring in epithelial cells and tissues. Epithelial cells, once determined developmentally, form self-contained replicating pools, complete with stem cells (usually undifferentiated) which give rise to a limited repertoire of fully differentiated daughter cells. The situation is less clear with respect to mesenchymal cells. Striated muscle cells seem to follow the stem cell:daughter cell paradigm as satellite cells or myoblasts fuse and apparently irreversibly form myotubes
OSU-GP: attribute selection using genetic programming

This system's approach to the attribute selection task was to use a genetic programming algorithm to search for a solution to the task. The evolved programs for the furniture and people domain exhibit quite naive behavior, and the DICE and MASI scores on the training sets reflect the poor humanlikeness of the programs.
Size of trichinella spiralis (nematoda) muscle cysts in the rat, mouse and guinea-pig.

Bei Ratte, Maus und Meerschweinchen ist die Grosse der Muskelzysten vonTrichinella spiralis 60 Tage nach standardisierter experimenteller Infektion bestimmt worden. Die Grosse der Muskelzysten variierte bei jeder der 3 untersuchten Tierarten erheblich. Bei der Ratte wurden durchschnittlich grossere Muskelzysten vonT. spiralis gefunden als bei der Maus, bei der die Muskelzysten wiederum durchschschnittlich grosser waren als beim Meerschweinchen. Die Zystengrosse vonT. spiralis scheint demnach vom Stoffwechsel der jeweils als Wirt dienenden Tierart abhangig zu sein.
The equilateral nature of the hexagonal etch pit developed during carbon oxidation

Abstract In the oxidation of carbon, the most frequently observed etch pit is the hexagon, which can be equilateral and equiangular. This work provides quantitative justification for the equilateral nature of the hexagon by using a Monte Carlo program written for a personal computer. Analysis of the results predicts that etch pits with 3000-atom perimeters should appear equilateral about 70% of the time, and that etch pits with 9600-atom perimeters should appear equilateral about 99% percent of the time. Experiments show somewhat lower frequency than this, but not drastically so.
Modeling question-response patterns by scaling and visualization (poster session)

The evaluation of question difficulty is usually considered the domain of Latent Trait Theory. However, these methods require standardized question sets normalized by large populations, rendering them inefficient for use in the numerous areas where questions must be evaluated. A new technique is illustrated that models the question-response cycle well, but without the procedural difficulty of the traditional methods.
A detection model for anomalies in smart grid with sensor network

In this paper, we present a model to monitor the smart grid for any anomalous/malicious activity or attack. The model uses machine learning techniques to detect and classify anomalies from the sensory observations. It is helpful for ensuring the security and stability of the smart grid. The model relies on the real time data collected using wireless sensor networks as an overlay network on the power distribution grid. The overlay network of wireless sensors /devices uses a cluster topology at each tower to collect local information about the tower that is augmented by the linear chain topology to connect to the base station (usually at the substation). Preliminary results show that our classification mechanism is promising and is able to detect anomalous events that may cause a threat to the smart grid.
Laparoscopic repair of traumatic bowel injury in children.

Abstract Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the laparoscopic repair of isolated intestinal injuries in children who sustain focal abdominal trauma. Methods A retrospective review was conducted of all patients 16 years and younger who required surgery for traumatic bowel injuries during a 5-year period at 2 university children's hospitals. The study population was composed of hemodynamically stable patients who sustained focal energy transfer to the abdomen and were diagnosed preoperatively with intestinal injury. Children sustaining multisystem injuries and gunshot wounds or who were hemodynamically unstable were excluded. Results Fifty hemodynamically stable children were explored for preoperatively documented intestinal injury sustained after focal abdominal trauma. Laparoscopy was used to repair intracorporeally gastrointestinal injuries in 8 children. Mean operating time, time to diet, and time to discharge after laparoscopic bowel repair compared favorably with patients managed by laparotomy. An additional 6 patients had a laparoscopic-assisted bowel resection or repair after exteriorization only of the ruptured intestine through a short extension of the nearest port site. No early (missed injury, wound infection, bleeding) or late (obstruction) complications resulted after laparoscopic repair. Conclusions Laparoscopic primary or assisted repair of injured bowel is an appropriate surgical option in hemodynamically stable children who sustain focal abdominal trauma and may be associated with a more prompt return of intestinal function and shorter hospital stay.
On the difficulty in getting out of historical ruts: Waddington and an argument for behavioral epigenetics

Abstract In the early days of evolutionary theory, biologists studied development to discover phylogenetic connections among species through embryological similarities, and psychologists such as James Mark Baldwin and Sigmund Freud constructed theories that combined evolution with social, cognitive, and emotional development. But after the fall of Lamarckian and recapitulation theories, Mendelian population genetics focused on direct correlations between genes and adult characteristics to the exclusion of embryology and the ontogeny of phenotypes. Psychologists followed suit, and began to search for genes “for” psychological characteristics, a reductionist tendency that continues to this day. But C.H. Waddington's sophisticated theories of epigenesis provide a way to reintegrate development with genetics along with a more cohesive description of gene-environment linkages. This paper examines how history has canalized thought about genes in psychology, and provides examples of current research to show the way out of such conceptual ruts.
Facial expression of pain: A coming of age

C raig presents a convincing case for the systematic study of nonverbal behaviors as measures of pain. He notes the previous relative neglect of nonverbal behaviors in the pain literature and offers a thoughtful and comprehensive review of the small explosion of research in the area of facial expressions of pain that has taken place over the last 10 years. The emphasis on the growing body of literature on pain facial expressions in infants and young children (much of it emerging from Craig and colleagues’ own clinical studies) is particularly appropriate in light of the fact that nonverbal expression provides our only practical access to information about pain in infants. Craig does not neglect the potential difficulties in using facial expressions as measures of pain, although, like any true enthusiast, he discreetly sprinkles his caveats throughout the paper, rather than baldly listing them in one place. The limitations he identifies in this fashion include: (1) measurement of facial expressions of pain is methodologically inconvenient; (2) in infants the value of facial expressions as quantitative indices may be tempered by their relationship to developmental age; (3) in older children and adults facial expression are subject to social learning, “display rules,” and demand characteristics, resulting in significant individual differences; adults can, and do (e.g., Kleck et al.5), exert control over these expressions and are able to generate convincing “fake” pain expressions that can fool the untrained observer. Despite these rather daunting difficulties, Craig argues that facial expressions deserve research attention. Although his title pits facial expression against verbal report, he readily admits the value of self-re-
Clinical and chemical characterization of an adventitial popliteal cyst

Abstract We present further evidence that adventitial cysts of the popliteal artery are ganglions, based on studies of a lesion found in a 51-year-old man. The cyst was located entirely within the adventitia, lacked a cellular lining, and did not communicate with either the arterial lumen or the synovial space. The contents were gel-like and composed of 1.64 gm of hyaluronic acid and 0.20 gm of protein per dl. This material did not possess boundary-lubricating ability in a test system that slides natural latex rubber against glass. The histologic appearance, chemical composition, and absence of lubricating ability more closely resemble the characteristics of ganglions. These findings suggest that the cyst was not synovial but rather ganglionic in origin. (J Vasc Surg 1989;9:448–51.)
Regulatory Effects of Macrophage Inflammatory Protein 1α/CCL3 on the Development of Immunity to Cryptococcus neoformans Depend on Expression of Early Inflammatory Cytokines

Macrophage inflammatory protein 1 (MIP-1)/CCL3 prevents the development of eosinophilic pneumonia (EP) driven by a nonprotective T2-type immunity during infection with a highly virulent strain of Cryptococcus neoformans. The present study evaluated the interaction of MIP-1 with other innate immune system cytokines by comparing the immune responses that followed pulmonary infections with high- (C. neoformans 145A) and low (C. neoformans 52D)-virulence strains. In contrast to what was found for C. neoformans 145A infection, lack of MIP-1 in C. neoformans 52D infection did not cause the development of EP. C. neoformans 52D induced tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-), gamma interferon (IFN-), and MCP-1 in the lungs of infected wild-type (WT) and MIP-1 knockout (KO) mice by day 7 postinfection. Both WT and MIP-1 KO mice subsequently cleared this infection. Thus, the robust expression of early inflammatory cytokines in C. neoformans 52Dinfected mice promoted the development of protective immunity even in the absence of MIP-1. Alternatively, C. neoformans 145A-infected WT and MIP-1 KO mice had diminished TNF-, IFN-, and macrophage chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) responses, indicating that virulent C. neoformans 145A evaded early innate host defenses. However C. neoformans 145A-infected WT mice had an early induction of MIP-1 and subsequently did not develop EP. In contrast, C. neoformans 145A-infected MIP-1 KO mice developed EP and had increased C. neoformans dissemination into the brain by day 35. We conclude that, in the absence of other innate immune response effector molecules, MIP-1 is crucial to prevent the development of EP and to control C. neoformans dissemination to the brain.
Space-Division Relay: A High-Rate Cooperation Scheme for Fading Multiple-Access Channels

We propose a new cooperation protocol for the fading multiple-access channel called space-division relay (SDR). It is similar to the protocol of Laneman, Tse and Wornell (LTW), except that the relays use space- division instead of time-division multiplexing. The result is a nonorthogonal cooperation protocol with a higher rate that nevertheless achieves the full diversity of the two-user Rayleigh-fading cooperative multiple-access channel, a result that is proven in this paper. We examine the SDR protocol with two types of relays: the amplify-and- forward (AF) relay and the amplify/decode-and-forward (ADF) relay. We derive the outage probability of the proposed scheme with AF relays. We present numerical results for the two-user channel at 1 bps/Hz which show that SDR-ADF outperforms all previously reported cooperative schemes. In particular, in terms of the SNR required to achieve a 10-3 outage probability, the SDR-AF protocol outperforms the LTW-AF protocol by 1.9 dB, while the SDR-ADF protocol outperforms another non- orthogonal protocol called NAF [4] by 1 dB, falling only 2.3 dB short of the ideal cooperation bound.
What Makes You Click: An Empirical Analysis of Online Dating ⁄

This paper uses a novel data set obtained from a major online dating service to draw inferences on mate preferences and the match outcomes of the site users. The data set contains detailed information on user attributes such as income, education, physique, and attractiveness, as well as information on the users’ religion, political inclination, etc. The data set also contains a detailed record of all online activities of the users. In particular, we know whether a site member approaches a potential mate and receives a reply, and we have some limited information on the content of the exchanged e-mails. A drawback of the data set is that we do not observe any \o†ine" activities. We flrst compare the reported demographic characteristics of the site users to the characteristics of the population-at-large. We then discuss the conditions under which the user’s observed behavior reveals their mate preferences. We estimate these preferences and relate them to own and partner attributes. Finally, we predict the equilibrium structure of matches based on the preference estimates and a simple matching protocol, and compare the resulting sorting along attributes such as income and education to observed online matches and actual marriages in the U.S.
Adaptive sequential procedures for comparing new treatments with a standard

In this paper we propose and study two sequential elimination procedures for selecting all new treatments better than a standard or control treatment. These procedures differ from those previously proposed in that we assume variances are unequal and unknown. Expressions for asymptotic expected sample sizes are given. Confidence intervals associated with the procedures are also discussed.
Functional Hybrid Glass that Generates Huge Acoustic Wave; Novel Nanostructure Patterns

Alkylene-bridged hybrid glass doped with Cr/CrOx was developed by sol-gel polymerization. It shows unusual nanofringe patterns in TEM image. When laser beam goes through a solid media, density wave is linear since heat doesn’t decay through the media effectively in solid media. Interestingly, we observed a strong ‘acoustic response’ from alkylene-bridged hybrid glass doped with Cr/CrOx due to its high grating effect, high photo-acoustic diffraction efficiency. The acoustic response generated from the doped hybrid glass was as compressive as liquid and thus the acoustic refractive intensity generated from the hybrid glass was as strong as liquid. In our laser experiment, the diffraction efficiency (45 %) of the glass is higher than that of methanol (25 %). This novel hybrid glass can be used to develop diffraction beam modulators.
Grain Size Distributions and Grain Growth in MgO and MgO‐Fe2O3 Solid Solutions

The Cahn-Fullman method was used to determine three-dimensional grain size distributions from experimentally measured two-dimensional chord distributions in high-purity MgO and magnesiowustite (0.10 and 0.48 wt% Fe2O3). Using the standard deviation of the three-dimensional distributions, the constant which relates average three- and two-dimensional grain sizes was evaluated by the procedure of Mendelson. The characteristics of the grain size distributions were correlated with steady state, abnormal, and terminal grain growth in MgO and magnesiowustite from 1300° to 1500°C. The distribution parameters were particularly useful in characterizing anomalous (i.e. abnormal and terminal) grain growth behavior.
Short-term changes in biomass partitioning of two full-sib clones of Pinus taeda L. under differing fertilizer regimes over 4 months

Clonal forestry is a reality in the southeastern United States due to improvements in somatic embryogenesis of Pinus taeda L. Differences in below-ground carbon (C) allocation between individual genotypes could alter C sequestration and cycling in these clonal plantations. Biomass partitioning may vary between clones and in response to management practices, like fertilization. Our objective was to quantify differences in biomass partitioning due to fertilization in contrasting clones of P. taeda produced from the same full-sib cross. A two (clone)-by-two (fertilizer)-by-four (sequential harvest) factorial randomized complete block design was replicated eight times in a greenhouse for 4 months. Trees were destructively harvested monthly following fertilizer application, so changes in biomass partitioning could be determined. Both clones responded to fertilizer with a short-term reduction in root:shoot ratio and increase in foliar biomass. These changes were ephemeral, returning to control levels within 4 months. Fertilizer responses in below-ground partitioning were due to allometric differences in one clone, but were only attributable to altered rates of development in the other. Ephemeral changes in biomass partitioning in response to fertilizer application were consistent with a theory of short-term physiological response to increased nutrient availability fueling long-term fertilizer growth responses.
USE OF THE IDEAL PROTEIN CONCEPT FOR PRECISION FORMULATION OF AMINO ACID LEVELS IN BROILER DIETS

Abstract Ideal amino acid ratios for chicks during the early growth period (0 to 21 days) are well documented by empirical evidence, but suggested ratios for older birds are in need of confirmation. Based on best empirical estimates of lysine, SAA, and threonine requirements of broiler chicks during 0 to 21, 21 to 42, and 42 to 56 days of age, together with new knowledge of maintenance contributions to the total requirement for these amino acids, it appear that the ideal ratio of SAA and threonine to lysine may change very little as birds advance in age and weight toward a 56-day market weight. This paper presents regression equations that predict both digestible and total lysine, SAA, and threonine requirements at any age or weight between hatching and 56 days.
Cytotoxic treatment of aggressive prostate tumors with or without neuroendocrine elements.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is an association between the presence of neuroendocrine elements in relapsed prostate cancer and sensitivity to estramustine/etoposide and ca...
The nuclear component of a cytonuclear hybrid incompatibility in Mimulus maps to a cluster of pentatricopeptide repeat genes.

Characterizing the genetic and molecular basis of hybrid incompatibilities is a first step toward understanding their evolutionary origins. We fine mapped the nuclear restorer (Rf) of cytoplasm-dependent anther sterility in Mimulus hybrids by identifying and targeting regions of the Mimulus guttatus genome containing large numbers of candidate pentatricopeptide repeat genes (PPRs). The single Mendelian locus Rf was first isolated to a 1.3-cM region on linkage group 7 that spans the genome's largest cluster of PPRs, then split into two tightly linked loci (Rf1 and Rf2) by <10 recombination events in a large (N = 6153) fine-mapping population. Progeny testing of fertile recombinants demonstrated that a dominant M. guttatus allele at each Rf locus was sufficient to restore fertility. Each Rf locus spans a physical region containing numerous PPRs with high homology to each other, suggesting recent tandem duplication or transposition. Furthermore, these PPRs have higher homology to restorers in distantly related taxa (petunia and rice) than to PPRs elsewhere in the Mimulus genome. These results suggest that the cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS)–PPR interaction is highly conserved across flowering plants. In addition, given our theoretical understanding of cytonuclear coevolution, the finding that hybrid CMS results from interactions between a chimeric mitochondrial transcript that is modified by Rf loci identified as PPRs is consistent with a history of selfish mitochondrial evolution and compensatory nuclear coevolution within M. guttatus.
Reserve albumin and bilirubin toxicity index in infant serum.

ABSTRACT. Reserve albumin concentration (the concentration of albumin available for binding of unconjugated bilirubin) was determined in 95 sera from 76 subjects by dialysis with 14C-monoacetyl diamino diphenyl sulfone (MADDS). An index, I of bilirubin toxicity in the plasma was calculated for each subject, based on the bilirubin and reserve albumin concentrations, the affinity of bilirubin for serum albumin, and the pH-dependent solubility of bilirubin in the plasma. The values of reserve albumin and of I varied significantly with gestational age, clinical condition (whether sick or well), and serum bilirubin level. The value of reserve albumin was decreased and I was increased in association with clinical factors (e. g., hyperbilirubinemia, hypoxia, acidosis, or sepsis) recognized as increasing the risk for bilirubin encephalopathy. The lowest values of reserve albumin and the highest values of I were found in the least mature and sickest infants.
Systematic siRNA screen unmasks NSCLC growth dependence by palmitoyltransferase DHHC5

Protein S-palmitoylation is a widespread and dynamic posttranslational modification that regulates protein–membrane interactions, protein–protein interactions, and protein stability. A large family of palmitoyl acyl transferases, termed the DHHC family due to the presence of a common catalytic motif, catalyzes S-palmitoylation; the role of these enzymes in cancer is largely unexplored. In this study, an RNAi-based screen targeting all 23 members of the DHHC family was conducted to examine the effects on the growth in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Interestingly, siRNAs directed against DHHC5 broadly inhibited the growth of multiple NSCLC lines but not normal human bronchial epithelial cell (HBEC) lines. Silencing of DHHC5 by lentivirus-mediated expression of DHHC5 shRNAs dramatically reduced in vitro cell proliferation, colony formation, and cell invasion in a subset of cell lines that were examined in further detail. The phenotypes were restored by transfection of a wild-type DHHC5 plasmid but not by a plasmid expressing a catalytically inactive DHHC5. Tumor xenograft formation was severely inhibited by DHHC5 knockdown and rescued by DHHC5 expression, using both a conventional and tetracycline-inducible shRNA. These data indicate that DHHC5 has oncogenic capacity and contributes to tumor formation in NSCLC, thus representing a potential novel therapeutic target.
CFD-Based HPCMP Systems Assessment Using AERO, AVUS, and OVERFLOW-2

Each year the High Performance Computing Modernization Program (HPCMP) obtains new supercomputing hardware through a rigorous acquisition process known as technology insertion (TI). TI is based primarily on application benchmarks. Its suite of applications spans many disciplines and is carefully constructed to ensure that it accurately reflects the HPCMP workload. For the most recent TI, (TI-05), the application codes AERO, AVUS, and OVERFLOW 2 were used to represent the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) portion of the workload. This paper will compare the performance of the major HPCMP architectures in executing each of the following CFD application test cases found within the TI-05 benchmarking suite: AERO standard, AVUS standard/large, and OVERFLOW 2 standard/large.
Screening mammography use among current, former and never hormone therapy users may not explain recent declines in breast cancer incidence

Background: Screening mammography and invasive breast cancer and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) rates recently declined in the United States; screening mammography declines among former hormone therapy (HT) users may be an important contributor. We longitudinally examined women and compared mammography use and cancer rates by HT use [current, former, and never users of estrogen + progestin (EPT) and estrogen only (ET)]. Methods: We studied 163,490 unique women aged 50–79 years enrolled in Group Health (Washington State) between 1994–2009. Electronic data identified HT dispensing, mammography use and incident breast cancer diagnosis. We calculated age-adjusted screening compliance as a time-varying variable (screened-within-the-past-26 months, yes/no). Results: Before 2002, screening compliance differed significantly by HT with current EPT users having the highest rates (83%) followed by former EPT (77%), current ET (77%), former ET (72%), and never users (56%). After 2002, screening was high (∼81%) among current and former EPT and ET users and significantly increased among never users (∼62%). Invasive breast cancer rates significantly decreased over the whole study period ( P trend ≤ 0.05) for all HT users, except EPT current users ( P trend = 0.68); DCIS rates did not change in any group. Conclusions: Differential screening mammography rates by HT use do not explain invasive breast cancer incidence declines. Our data suggest discontinuing HT has an immediate effect on breast cancer rates, lending support to the mechanism that cessation leads to tumor regression. Impact: Studies examining the influence of a changing exposure in relation to outcomes should account for varying exposures, individuals' characteristics, as well as screening methods and frequency. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(5); 720–7. ©2012 AACR . See Editorial on [p. 705][1] This article is featured in Highlights of This Issue, [p. 699][2] [1]: /lookup/volpage/21/705?iss=5 [2]: /lookup/volpage/21/699?iss=5
Pandemic influenza triage in the clinical setting.

Introduction: There has been much federal and local health planning for an influenza pandemic in the United States, but little is known about the ability of the clinical community to deal quickly and effectively with a potentially overwhelming surge of pandemic influenza patients. Problem: The attitudes and expectations of emergency physicians, emergency nurses, hospital nursing supervisors, hospital administrators, and infection control personnel concerning clinical care in a pandemic were assessed. Methods: Key informant structured interviews of 46 respondents from 34 randomly selected emergency receiving hospitals in Los Angeles County were conducted using an Institutional Review Board-approved protocol. The inter view asked about supplies/resources, triage, quality of care, and decision-mak ing. At the conclusion of each interview, the informant was asked to provide the contact information for at least two others within their respective profes sional group. Interviews were transcribed and coded for key themes using qualitative analytical software. Results: There was little salience that an influx of variably ill patients with influenza would force stratified healthcare decision-making. There also was a general lack of preparation to address the ethics and practices of triaging patients in the clinical setting of a pandemic. Conclusions: Guidelines must be developed in concert with public health, medical society, and legislative authorities to help clinicians define, adopt, and communicate to the public those practice standards that will be followed in a mass population, infectious disease emergency.