cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immunosuppressive MDSCs induced by TLR signaling during infection and role in resolution of inflammation

Ligand-mediated activation of toll-like receptors (TLRs) not only induces inflammation but also immune suppression, which is an emerging area of investigation. Multiple negative feedback intracellular mechanisms have been described that are brought into play to prevent uncontrolled TLR activation. However, the identification of TLR-induced regulatory myeloid cells is a relatively recent development that has ramifications in pathogen-induced disease state as well as in cancer. Our efforts to understand how a high dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a ligand of TLR4, suppresses allergic airway inflammation led to the identification of myeloid cells that are CD11b+Griint(Ly6Gint)F4/80+ and are phenotypically and morphologically similar to myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) which are best studied in the context of cancer. MDSCs have been also detected during infection by various bacteria, parasites and viruses, which can engage different TLRs. These TLR-induced myeloid cells produce different types of mediators to influence immune response and inflammation that can be either beneficial or detrimental to the host. One beneficial function of TLR4/MyD88-triggered MDSCs in the lung is to efferocytose apoptotic neutrophils to help resolve inflammation elicited during bacterial pneumonia. A better understanding of the generation and function of these regulatory cells would be helpful to harness their potential or suppress their function for disease-specific immune regulation.
Transport at low temperature in amorphous magnetic metals (invited)

The scaling theory of conduction for a noninteracting electron gas in a disordered system at T = 0 is reviewed and the conductivity at various length scales obtained. The concepts of the mean free time between inelastic collisions and the corresponding inelastic length lin, are introduced. The conductivity for a dirty metal is obtained as a function of temperature at low temperatures in terms of lin(T). For the case of a disordered magnetic metal the effect of the temperature‐dependent magnetic disorder is introduced and several possible typical situations schematically analyzed. The effect of electron‐electron interactions is briefly discussed, as determining the effective inelastic length and a simple qualitative picture of conduction as a function of temperature suggested. Some cautionary remarks about the testing of these ideas by experiments are made.
Electrical Characteristics of BaxSr1-xTiO3(BST) Capacitors Implemented with Ti-Al Electrodes

Ti-Al was used as the electrode for RF magnetron sputtered BST film at a substrate temperature of 450°C for decoupling capacitor applications. X-ray diffraction analysis shows that the deposited film BST film is amorphous. Electrical characterizations of the devices performed by capacitance versus voltage measurements show a dielectric constant of about 55. With increase in annealing temperature above 450°C, the capacitance was found to decrease significantly.
Bioenergetic modelling of effects of fertilization, stocking density, and spawning on growth of the Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.)

A bioenergetic growth model was developed to examine the integrated effects of fertilization, stocking density, and spawning on the growth of tiiapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), in pond aquaculture. The analyses showed that growth rates increase with higher levels of organic ferlilization up to 5(HJkg/ha/week. Growth rates increased with added food rations in ponds, reaching a maximum growth of 2-07g/day at about 44-48 days after stocking. Fish growth rates decreased with increased levels of stocking density. The stocking density for optimal growth is 1 fish/m"; the optimal density for total harvesting weight and fish size is 2 fish/m". Model sensitivity analysis indicated that tiiapia growth is most sensitive to catabolism (metabolism) and anabolism (synthesis) coefficients, both of which are geometrically related to the fish body weight. Food assimilation efficiency (b) and the food consumption coefficient (h) have a modest effect on fish growth. Spawning in grow-out ponds can have a major effect on fish growth.
A family of fluoride-specific ion channels with dual-topology architecture

Fluoride ion, ubiquitous in soil, water, and marine environments, is a chronic threat to microorganisms. Many prokaryotes, archea, unicellular eukaryotes, and plants use a recently discovered family of F− exporter proteins to lower cytoplasmic F− levels to counteract the anion’s toxicity. We show here that these ‘Fluc’ proteins, purified and reconstituted in liposomes and planar phospholipid bilayers, form constitutively open anion channels with extreme selectivity for F− over Cl−. The active channel is a dimer of identical or homologous subunits arranged in antiparallel transmembrane orientation. This dual-topology assembly has not previously been seen in ion channels but is known in multidrug transporters of the SMR family, and is suggestive of an evolutionary antecedent of the inverted repeats found within the subunits of many membrane transport proteins. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.01084.001
THE NATURE OF THE AUXIN‐INDUCED WATER UPTAKE BY POTATO TISSUE

SINCE THE DEMONSTRATION by Reinders (1938, 1942) that indoleacetic acid promotes water uptake by discs of potato tissue, the view has gained ground that the growth-stimulating action of auxin is intimately related to its effect on cellular water relations. Indeed, this effect has been studied by various workers (Commoner and Mazia, 1942, 1944; Commoner et al., 1943; van Overbeek, 1944; Levitt, 1948; Brauner and Hasman, 1949; Hackett, 1952), with a view to elucidating the mechanism of auxin action. In addition to the studies on potato tissue, effects of auxin on water movement have been shown in the following:-the exudation from decapitated stems (Skoog et al., 1938) and from seedling roots (Lundegardh, 1949); the water content of whole bean plants (Brown, 1946); the water absorption by Avena coleoptiles (Kelly, 1947), pea stem sections (Christiansen and Thimann, 1950), and submerged leaves (Vardar, 1950); the water-retaining capacity of bean fruits (Mitchell and Marth, 1950), and water uptake by discs cut from the floral parts of orchids (Hsiang, 1951). Mainly through studies of the elongation of isolated plant parts it has been established that the action of auxin in promoting growth by cell enlargement is intimately related to the cellular metabolism (for literature see Thimann, 1952) ; however, some evidence has been presented (Levitt, 1948) that suggests this is not the case for potato tissue. A preliminary study of the water absorption process in this tissue (Hackett and Thimann, 1950) showed, however, that it is inhibited by a number of inhibitors of oxidative enzymes and is promoted by auxins. In the present paper the effect of auxin is subjected to more detailed study and analysis. This was made possible by the finding (see Hackett, 1952) that c-naphthaleneacetic acid induces a very large water uptake in potato tissue. The results should make it possible to clarify the relation between metabolism and water uptake, in the presence of auxin, and to compare the effects of auxin exerted on growth by cell elongation with those exerted on water uptake. For this analysis, we have studied the effects of various agents on water uptake; these included enzyme inhibitors and low oxygen pressures, which are known to block or retard cellular metabolic activities.
Library development for Texas A&M at Qatar: maximum access/minimum holdings

Purpose – To discuss the challenges of developing a branch library of Texas A&M University Libraries to serve the faculty and students in a new degree‐granting program as part of Education City in Qatar. The goal of the program is to provide students in Qatar an authentic “Aggie” education and experience.Design/methodology/approach – Discusses the development of this new branch library to support undergraduate degrees in electrical, mechanical, chemical and petroleum engineering.Findings – Library service in support of these degrees was developed so that duplication of resources and size of collections that had to be managed in Qatar were minimized. The TAMUQ library has successfully provided a full range of information services in support of this innovative collaboration between the university and the government of Qatar.Originality/value – This paper provides a model for the development of a branch library using the resources of the main campus as much as possible.
The effects of overtraining on flooding of jump-up and shuttlebox avoidance responses

Two experiments are reported which test the effects of overtraining (2, 4 or 6 days) on the efficacy of flooding (response-prevention) in hastening the extinction of jump-up and two-way shuttlebox avoidance responses. In the jump-up box, overtraining reduces the effectiveness of flooding in two ways: Rats trained for 6 days and given a flooding treatment are more resistant to extinction than rats trained for only 2 or 4 days and given a flooding treatment. By contrast, rats trained for 6 days and given a control treatment are less resistant to extinction than control rats trained for 2 or 4 days. In the shuttlebox, overtraining neither reduces the effectiveness of flooding in hastening avoidance response extinction, nor reduces the resistance to extinction of control animals. Implications of these different effects of overtraining on jump-up and two-way shuttlebox responses are discussed.
Biogeographical significance of Cambrian trilobites from the Carolina slate belt

Abundant middle Middle Cambrian trilobites of the Ptychagnostus atavus Interval-zone are described from the upper Asbill Pond formation (informal name) near Batesburg, South Carolina. The fauna, containing at least nine species, has strong affinities with cool-water faunas of both Armorica and Baltica, but little affinity with warm-water, shelf faunas of Laurentia. This is compatible with previous conclusions that the Carolina slate belt is an exotic terrane that was accreted to North America during the early or middle Paleozoic. Further evaluation, however, introduces an alternative possibility that the fauna could have lived in deep, cool-water environments along the periphery of Laurentia, and subsequent displacement need not necessarily have been great. Combined faunal and stratigraphic components of the Carolina slate belt do not precisely match those of any known region, but may be closest to those of Bohemia. Although a southpolar location in proximity to Armorica, Baltica, and Gondwana seems likely, a definitive placement in a reconstruction of the Cambrian world is not yet possible. Included in the trilobite fauna are the agnostoids Hypagnostus mammillatus , H. parvifrons , Peronopsis fallax , Ptychagnostus sp.,and Tomagnostus fissus . The polymeroids include Agraulos sp., Paradoxides cf. polonicus , Paradoxides sp., and Skreiaspis ? sp.
Pitfalls and paths to success in interdisciplinary scientific database research

The challenges of interdisciplinary research are often alluded to but seldom talked about directly. Focusing on interdisciplinary research conducted by biologists and computer scientists, my intent in this article is to present for your consideration thoughts emerging out of my experiences with the hope that you can avoid pitfalls and choose paths that lead to success. Ten real pitfalls in interdisciplinary research are described in the form of painful questions, and some possible paths around them suggested. The first seven are largely about data, while the remaining three are about people. Successfully managing a flood of data with a DBMS leads biologists to perform lots of analyses. But that leads to them being overwhelmed by too many results. Biologists and computer scientists could be mismatched in several ways, each of which causes frustration. However, I have found that we have much in common and really are not isolated islands, or two cultures. As I step back and extract what I have learned, my main conclusion is this: while researchers face formidable scientific and computational tasks, the truly hard part is communicating.
Deictic explicitness and event continuity in Swahili discourse

Abstract This paper addresses the question whether a sequence of two verb forms is to be analyzed as a discontinuous morphological unit (i.e. a compound tense) or a sequence of separate verbs. In the case of Swahili verb sequences consisting of an inflected form of kuwa ‘be’ followed by another inflected verb, syntactic arguments can be advanced for both analyses. Co-occurrence restrictions on permissible tense combinations support a compound tense analysis; the fact that kuwa and V 2 can each be independently negated and can have different subject prefixes supports a two-verb analysis. Discourse data are used to argue in favor of a two-verb analysis. By means of examples from texts and quantitative data it is argued that kuwa supplies deictic orientation for verbs whose orientation is not obvious from context. Such explicit orientation is needed in situations where there is a break in continuity between events, such as introduction of a new subject, that might cause difficulty in integrating a verb into its context. Restrictions on permissible tense combinations in kuwa + V sequences are given a semantic/pragmatic explanation. Implications of the analysis for other languages with relative tense are discussed.
The Effect of Nutrition Counseling on College Women Who are Restrained Eaters: Drive for Thinness, Body Dissatisfaction and Dietary Restraint

Abstract LEARNING OUTCOME: To examine the effects of nutrition counseling on college women who are restrained eaters. The effect of nutrition counseling on college women who are restrained eaters was examined, using a convenience sample, with a pretest, post-test design. An experimental group (n=20) and control group (n-11) were obtained using the Restraint Scale of the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ) as a screening tool. Selection criteria included: being female, being between the ages of 18 and 24, and being a restrained eater as determined by a score of 11 or greater on the Restraint Scale of the TFEQ. Instruments used for both pre- and post-testing included the TFEQ, the Contour Drawing Rating Scale, which measures the discrepancy between desired and perceived body size, and the Body Dissatisfaction (BD) and Drive for Thinness (DT) subscales of the Eating Disorders Inventory, Second Edition (EDI-2). The intervention for the experimental group was four (one hour) sessions of nutrition counseling by an RD, which included a nutrition assessment and education, and analysis of food records and hunger patterns, with a focus on cognitive-behavioral change. The control group received no counseling. Results were analyzed using a paired t-test, with SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences), version 6.1. A significant decrease was found in the experimental group for dietary restraint (p=.0001); discrepancy score (p=.005) and DT (p=.004). There was no significant change in BD (p=355). The control group showed no change. This study demonstrates that nutrition counseling does have a positive effect on eating behavior, drive for thinness, and perceived versus desired body size discrepancy in restrained eaters, but may not have an effect on body dissatisfaction. , Since dietary restraint and body dissatisfaction have been implicated as causal variables in the development of eating disorders, dietitians should focus on developing strategies that decrease dietary restraint and improve body image.
In vitro validation of a simple tomographic technique for estimation of percentage myocardium at risk using methoxyisobutyl isonitrile technetium 99m (sestamibi).

With the advent of technetium 99m-labeled myocardial blood flow agents, there is a need for a simple technique for quantitation of infarcted or jeopardized myocardium (IM). This study provides an in vitro validation of a simple technique based upon the analysis of three short-axis slices through the heart following emission computed tomography. All acquisitions were performed using a static cardiac phantom containing pertechnetate Tc 99 m. Activity in the phantom was adjusted so that the count density and myocardial-to-background ratio were comparable to those observed in patients. Plastic insets (range of sizes = 4%–72% of myocardium) were used to simulate transmural infarctions. Eighteen studies were acquired, each over 180° into a 64 × 64 matrix. Data were reconstructed using a Ramp Hanning filter with cut off at 0.7 times the Nyquist frequency. Short-axis slices of the myocardium were then generated, and representative apical (A), mid-ventricular (MV), and basal (B) slices were selected. For each slice, a circumferential profile was generated, and the average radius (R) was measured. The fraction (F) of the profile falling below a threshold value was considered to represent IM. Total IM was given by %IM =100 x (R B F B +R MV F MV + 0.67R A F A)/(R B +R MV + 0.67R A), where the subscripts to R and F refer to the relevant short-axis slices. For a threshold set at 60% of peak, measured IM agreed closely with true IM (R 2=0.98, measured IM =1.01 x true IM −1.35). Measurement of % IM was not distorted by variations in slice radius or in slice selection. Maximum error in % IM occurred with a change in location of the infarct (approximately 4% for opposing walls). This technique permits rapid and accurate assessment of % IM with99mTc-labeled myocardial blood flow agents.
SVM classifier applied to the MSTAR public data set

Support vector machines (SVM) are one of the most recent tools to be developed from research in statistical learning theory. The foundations of SVM were developed by Vapnik, and are gaining popularity within the learning theory community due to many attractive features and excellent demonstrated performance. However, SVM have not yet gained popularity within the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) automatic target recognition (ATR) community. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the concepts of SVM and to benchmark its performance on the Moving and Stationary Target Acquisition and Recognition (MSTAR) data set.
Changes of the cortex proteome and Apolipoprotein E in transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's Disease

Transgenic mice carrying human Amyloid Precursor Protein mutations present amyloid plaque deposition in the brain upon aging. In this study, we characterized the changes of cortex proteome and endogenous Apolipoprotein E in these mice. Differential analysis of two-dimensional electrophoresis images revealed spots altered upon aging, transgene addition and plaque deposition. Alpha-synuclein and cytochrome oxidase polypeptide Va were up-regulated in transgenic mice. Upon aging, expression of ATP synthase alpha, alpha enolase, UMP-CMP kinase, and dihydropyrimidinase like-2 protein was modified. These proteins and their modification probably play a role in the amyloid aggregate formation in these mice.
Assessment of Industrial Heat Stress

Abstract The problem of assessing the thermal impact of an industrial situation is complex because of the multiplicity of other stresses which may be present in the environment. To define the problem requires, as a minimum, data on the climatic environment of the work, the demands of the job, the daily work-rest regimen, the heat exposure history, the health and nutritional status, the state of body hydration, and the non-working physical environment and activities of the individuals. A study of industrial heat stress conducted by this Division incorporated a simple standard laboratory type heat-work test along with an exhaustive study of the men at the work site. The physiological responses of the men to the standard tests were significantly correlated with the responses on the job and reflected the magnitude of the on-the-job environmental stress.
Optical initiation spot size effects in low-density PETN

Los Alamos National Laboratory is currently designing a series of direct optically initiated (DOI) detonators. The primary purpose of this series of detonators is to achieve a level of safety in the face of unintentional initiation from an electrical source. The purpose of these experiments is to determine the minimum spotsize that will initiate the low density initial pressing in these laser detonators. With this information it is expected that a more robust optically initiated detonator can be designed and manufactured. Results from a series of experiments will be discussed. First a range of small core diameter fiber optics with varying energy injection levels will be tested to find the minimum energy level necessary to achieve reliable initiation. Second, a range of apertures will be employed to trim the spotsize down to a minimum size that will still maintain reliable initiation. This information will help to understand whether the initiation criteria for the DOI Laser Detonator are dominated by energy density, total energy or a combination of these criteria.
Courtesans, Concubines, and the Cult of Female Fidelity. By Beverly Bossler. (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Asia Center, 2013. Pp. ix, 480. $39.95.)

The intertwining ideologies of female martyrdom and widow fidelity formed one of the most notable features of late imperial Chinese society. This multifaceted cult was most prominent in the Ming an...
Clustered equilibria of point vortices

Point vortex equilibria in which the vortices are arranged in clusters are examined. The vortex velocities in these configurations are all equal. Necessary conditions for their existence are established that relate the circulations within the clusters to the cluster radius. A method for generating these configurations by singular continuation is proved to be valid for the generic case. Finally, a partial analysis of exceptional cases is given and their connection to the existence of parametrized families of equilibria is described.
A Problem with the Individual Approach in the WHO Health Inequality Measurement

Background: In the World Health Report 2000, the World Health Organization made the controversial choice to measure inequality across individuals rather than across groups, the standard in the field. This choice has been widely discussed and criticized. Discussion: We look at the three questions: (1) is the World Health Organization's health inequality measure value-free as it claims? (2) if it is not, what is the normative position implied by its approach when measuring health inequality? and (3) is the individual approach a logically consistent methodological choice for that normative position? Summary: We argue that the World Health Organization's health inequality measure is not valuefree. If it was, the health inequality information that the measurement collected could not reasonably be included in its ranking of how well national health systems performed. The World Health Organization's normative position can be interpreted as a quite expansive view of justice, in which health distributions that have causes amenable to human intervention are considered to be matters of justice. Our conclusion is that if the World Health Organization's health inequality measure is to be interpreted meaningfully in a policy context, its conceptual underpinning must be re-evaluated.
Predicting cognitive decline and conversion to Alzheimer's disease in older adults using the NAB List Learning test

To validate the Neuropsychological Assessment Battery (NAB) List Learning test as a predictor of future multi-domain cognitive decline and conversion to Alzheimer's disease (AD), participants from a longitudinal research registry at a national AD Center were, at baseline, assigned to one of three groups (control, mild cognitive impairment [MCI], or AD), based solely on a diagnostic algorithm for the NAB List Learning test (Gavett et al., 2009), and followed for 1-3 years. Rate of change on common neuropsychological tests and time to convert to a consensus diagnosis of AD were evaluated to test the hypothesis that these outcomes would differ between groups (AD>MCI>control). Hypotheses were tested using linear regression models (n = 251) and Cox proportional hazards models (n = 265). The AD group declined significantly more rapidly than controls on Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE), animal fluency, and Digit Symbol; and more rapidly than the MCI group on MMSE and Hooper Visual Organization Test. The MCI group declined more rapidly than controls on animal fluency and CERAD Trial 3. The MCI and AD groups had significantly shorter time to conversion to a consensus diagnosis of AD than controls. The predictive validity of the NAB List Learning algorithm makes it a clinically useful tool for the assessment of older adults.
Mapping the Murine Cardiac 26S Proteasome Complexes

The importance of proteasomes in governing the intracellular protein degradation process has been increasingly recognized. Recent investigations indicate that proteasome complexes may exist in a species- and cell-type–specific fashion. To date, despite evidence linking impaired protein degradation to cardiac disease phenotypes, virtually nothing is known regarding the molecular composition, function, or regulation of cardiac proteasomes. We have taken a functional proteomic approach to characterize 26S proteasomes in the murine heart. Multidimensional chromatography was used to obtain highly purified and functionally viable cardiac 20S and 19S proteasome complexes, which were subjected to electrophoresis and tandem mass spectrometry analyses. Our data revealed complex molecular organization of cardiac 26S proteasomes, some of which are similar to what were reported in yeast, whereas others exhibit contrasting features that have not been previously identified in other species or cell types. At least 36 dis...
Reduction in the surface tension of water due to physical water treatment for fouling control in heat exchangers

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether or not a physical water treatment (PWT) reduced the surface tension of hard water. Two different PWT devices were used: a permanent magnet—Drexel University (PMDU) and a solenoid coil electronic device (SCED). The effects of the treatment number of the PWT on the surface tension were studied. Two separate experiments were conducted: one was the measurement of surface tension, and the other was a flow-visualization of dye behavior in water samples. As the number of treatments of the PWT increased, the surface tension of the sample water decreased, a phenomenon that was consistent with the results in the dye flow-visualization experiment.
Effect of Delayed Maturity of White Leghorn Chickens on Subsequent Productivity

Abstract White Leghorn pullets were subjected to restricted dietary energy (⅔ of voluntary intake) or various daylength treatments during the growing period. Maturity was delayed 3–5 weeks in two experiments by restricting energy intake but only 1–2 weeks by subjecting the pullets to declining daylength compared with increasing or constant daylength. Contrary to previous findings with heavy breeds, there was very little effect of treatment on body weight or carcass fat at maturity. Pullets delayed by restricting energy intake had greater mortality during the growing period but there was no difference in mortality among treatments in the laying period. Pullets delayed in this manner laid more settable eggs, with fewer small and double yolked eggs, and more eggs in the “extra large” and “large” market egg classification than full-fed controls. Efficiency of feed utilization by the restricted pullets was significantly greater than that of the full fed controls during the laying period. Full-fed pullets subjected to declining daylength laid slightly, but not significantly, more settable, more large and extra large, and significantly fewer small eggs than those given increasing or constant daylength.
Pharmacodynamics of midodrine, an antihypotensive agent

Midodrine is an orally active adrenergic agonist useful in the treatment of hypotension. We have investigated the pharmacodynamics of its active metabolite after oral midodrine therapy in nine patients with severe orthostatic hypotension. Peak plasma levels of the metabolite were reached in 60 to 90 minutes and ranged from 25 to 56 ng/ml. The mean values for distribution volume, plasma clearance, and t1/2 were 4.0 L/kg, 23 ml/min/kg, and 2.1 hours, respectively. Heart rate increased after 5 to 10 mg doses and the increases were statistically significant (P less than 0.05) at 120 minutes. An apparent increase in blood pressure was not statistically significant. The patients said that they felt better.
Biological role of alpha-fetoprotein in cancer: prospects for anticancer therapy.

α-fetoprotein has long been considered the ‘gold-standard‘ in the field of tumor markers. During the several decades since the recognition of mammalian α-fetoprotein as a tumor-associated fetal protein, it has been purified, characterized, cloned and sequenced for use in the clinical diagnostic laboratory. However, the biological role of α-fetoprotein in the regulation of cancer growth has received comparatively little attention. Only during the last decade has the modulatory role of α-fetoprotein in neoplastic growth been realized and implemented in experimental models. This review examines the basis for the current consensus that α-fetoprotein does indeed regulate neoplastic growth through the presence of an α-fetoprotein cell surface receptor that undergoes internalization to the cell interior. Studies involving uptake of this fetal protein have since culminated in radioimaging reports as well as the use of α-fetoprotein as an anticancer drug conjugate. Finally, the therapeutic utilization of α-fetopro...
Flame holes and flame disks on the surface of a diffusion flame

Flame holes and flame disks in a laminar axisymmetric counterflow configuration are numerically investigated for unity Lewis number, with the strain rate as the control parameter. The temporal evolution of the topological structure of flame holes and flame disks is described in detail for different representative strain rates. It is found that corresponding to each given strain rate, there exists a critical hole (disk) radius , with the strain rate (or equivalently, Damkohler number) as a parameter. For the flame hole case, it is found that in the final stage of collapse of a hole, the edge-flame velocity is essentially proportional to the inverse of the hole radius, except when the strain rate is very close to the extinction limit. Flame interactions induced by overlapping of pre-heat zones are mainly responsible for the acceleration of the edge-flame velocity when the hole radius approaches zero, and it is further enhanced by the focusing effects of hole curvature in the plane of the stoichiometric surface. For the flame disk, the increasing heat loss rate plays a major role on the acceleration of the shrinking speed when the disk radius approaches zero.
Neural Mechanisms Underlying Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction

This article summarizes anatomical, neurophysiological, and pharmacological studies in humans and animals to provide insights into the neural circuitry and neurotransmitter mechanisms controlling the lower urinary tract and alterations in these mechanisms in lower urinary tract dysfunction. The functions of the lower urinary tract, to store and periodically release urine, are dependent on the activity of smooth and striated muscles in the bladder, urethra, and external urethral sphincter. During urine storage, the outlet is closed and the bladder smooth muscle is quiescent. When bladder volume reaches the micturition threshold, activation of a micturition center in the dorsolateral pons (the pontine micturition center) induces a bladder contraction and a reciprocal relaxation of the urethra, leading to bladder emptying. During voiding, sacral parasympathetic (pelvic) nerves provide an excitatory input (cholinergic and purinergic) to the bladder and inhibitory input (nitrergic) to the urethra. These peripheral systems are integrated by excitatory and inhibitory regulation at the levels of the spinal cord and the brain. Therefore, injury or diseases of the nervous system, as well as disorders of the peripheral organs, can produce lower urinary tract dysfunction, leading to lower urinary tract symptoms, including both storage and voiding symptoms, and pelvic pain. Neuroplasticity underlying pathological changes in lower urinary tract function is discussed.
A near-optimal algorithm for differentially-private principal components

The principal components analysis (PCA) algorithm is a standard tool for identifying good low-dimensional approximations to high-dimensional data. Many data sets of interest contain private or sensitive information about individuals. Algorithms which operate on such data should be sensitive to the privacy risks in publishing their outputs. Differential privacy is a framework for developing tradeoffs between privacy and the utility of these outputs. In this paper we investigate the theory and empirical performance of differentially private approximations to PCA and propose a new method which explicitly optimizes the utility of the output. We show that the sample complexity of the proposed method differs from the existing procedure in the scaling with the data dimension, and that our method is nearly optimal in terms of this scaling. We furthermore illustrate our results, showing that on real data there is a large performance gap between the existing method and our method.
In Situ Rates of Sulfate Reduction in Response to Geochemical Perturbations

Rates of in situ microbial sulfate reduction in response to geochemical perturbations were determined using Native Organism Geochemical Experimentation Enclosures (NOGEEs), a new in situ technique developed to facilitate evaluation of controls on microbial reaction rates. NOGEEs function by first trapping a native microbial community in situ and then subjecting it to geochemical perturbations through the introduction of various test solutions. On three occasions, NOGEEs were used at the Norman Landfill research site in Norman, Oklahoma, to evaluate sulfate-reduction rates in wetland sediments impacted by landfill leachate. The initial experiment, in May 2007, consisted of five introductions of a sulfate test solution over 11 d. Each test stimulated sulfate reduction with rates increasing until an apparent maximum was achieved. Two subsequent experiments, conducted in October 2007 and February 2008, evaluated the effects of concentration on sulfate-reduction rates. Results from these experiments showed that faster sulfate-reduction rates were associated with increased sulfate concentrations. Understanding variability in sulfate-reduction rates in response to perturbations may be an important factor in predicting rates of natural attenuation and bioremediation of contaminants in systems not at biogeochemical equilibrium.
Inverse heat transfer analysis of grinding, Part 1: Methods

Thermal analyses of the grinding process generally require assumptions concerning the distributions of the heat flux to the workpiece within the grinding zone and convective cooling outside the grinding zone. The present work is concerned with the use of inverse heat transfer methods to estimate the heat flux and convection heat transfer coefficient distributions on the workpiece surface during straight surface grinding from temperature measurements within the workpiece. In the present paper, three inverse heat transfer methods are developed : temperature matching, integral, and sequential methods. Each method is evaluated for accuracy and stability using simulated temperature data. The selection of the sampling frequency of the temperature measurements and location of the temperature sensor are found to be critical for both estimation accuracy and stability. In a second paper, these inverse heat transfer methods are applied to estimate the distributions of the heat flux and convection heat transfer coefficients on the workpiece surface for grinding of steels with aluminum oxide and CBN abrasive wheels.
Cytosolic phospholipase A2α deficiency is crucial for ‘on-time’ embryo implantation that directs subsequent development

Cytosolic phospholipase A 2 α (cPLA 2 α) is a major provider of arachidonic acid (AA) for the cyclooxygenase (COX) system for the biosynthesis of prostaglandins (PGs). Female mice with the null mutation for Pla2g4a (cPLA 2 α) produce small litters and often exhibit pregnancy failures, although the cause(s) of these defects remains elusive. We show that the initiation of implantation is temporarily deferred in Pla2g4a –/– mice, shifting the normal ‘window’ of implantation and leading to retarded feto-placental development without apparent defects in decidual growth. Furthermore, cPLA 2 α deficiency results in aberrant uterine spacing of embryos. The deferred implantation and deranged gestational development in Pla2g4a –/– mice were significantly improved by exogenous PG administration. The results provide evidence that cPLA 2 α-derived AA is important for PG synthesis required for on-time implantation. This study in Pla2g4a –/– mice, together with the results of differential blastocyst transfers in wild-type mice provides the first evidence for a novel concept that a short delay in the initial attachment reaction creates a ripple effect propagating developmental anomalies during the subsequent course of pregnancy.
Fast atom bombardment and secondary ion mass spectra of iodonium salts: Interpretation of spectra and implications for sputtering mechanisms

Positive ion fast atom bombardment and liquid secondary ion mass spectra of aryl iodonium salts usually contain the intact cation as the base peak in the spectrum, along with lower abundance fragment ions that result from cleavages, rearrangements, and in some cases, combinations of such losses with addition of hydrogen from the matrix. An interesting rearrangement that leads to loss of the central iodine as a neutral atom occurs in source fragmentations as well as in low collision energy collision-activated dissociation. Energy-resolved tandem mass spectrometry is used to establish the relative facilities of the rearrangement and cleavage reactions of the intact cation. Tandem mass spectrometry is also used to identify reduced forms of the intact cation and its fragments. The occurrence of these reactions implicates direct fragmentation in the condensed phase or in a solvent-salt cluster in the selvedge immediately above the sample surface.
The Shaping of American Social Psychology A Personal Perspective from the Periphery

This article examines the sources of American social psychology in terms of the author's induction to the field just before World War II at Reed, Stanford, and Harvard; war experience with Hovland, Stouffer, and Rose; and postwar developments. The author advocates a historically and socially contextualized social psychology.
Exploring Differences In Preference For On-Line Versus Traditional Classroom Delivery Of A Freshmen Introduction To Global Business Course

The present study investigates whether pre-business students, after having completed a traditional in class freshmen introduction to global business course, express a difference in preference for such a course to be delivered online versus classroom or no preference at all. The study further explores whether four variables: 1) number of units of college credit completed, 2) anticipated grade in the class, 3) gender, and 4) age are related to students’ preference for mode of instruction.
Isolation and Identification of Higher Plant Agents Active in Antimutagenic Assay Systems: Glycyrrhiza Glabra

The reproduction and maintenance of identity of species are biological imperatives, and it is not surprising that there exist mechanisms to minimize or repair the deleterious influence of noxious chemicals in the environment on DNA. Animals tend to defend themselves through the use of enzymes which intercept aggressive chemicals and convert them to less dangerous substances. Animal cells also contain a variety of preformed smaller molecular weight chemicals which can react with oxidized species and free radicals and convert them to less virulent electrophiles (1). It is now becoming clear that higher plants also contain a variety of preformed secondary metabolites which represent a structurally diverse array of antimutagenic and desmutagenic compounds (6). Many, but not all, would appear to be enzyme inhibitors or antioxidants. Since a number of plant constitu-ents are mutagenic (18), it seems reasonable that higher plants should also contain molecules capable of antimutagenicity so as to survive the effects of their own metabolism. Study of such substances has the potential of revealing much interesting molecular detail about the processes of mutagenesis and antimutagenesis. A rather more distant hope is that such substances might be safe enough to provide protection for individuals perceived to be at risk. This would appear to be the case with a number of minor anticarcinogenic constituents consumed as part of our diet (4, 20).
Congenital dislocation of the hip. Case report of an unusual complication and unusual treatment.

A case of congenital dislocation of the hip is reported in which initial closed reduction during infancy was apparently successful but atypical changes in the femoral head, coxa vara, and shortening of the femoral neck became apparent subsequently. Treatment by distal transplantation of the epiphysis of the greater trochanter and contralateral epiphyseodesis led to a very good result. The probable explanation of the complication is that there was partial vascular insufficiency in the unossified femoral head, due to injury to the epiphyseal vessels, particularly on the medial side, and that the metaphyseal changes were secondary to asymmetrical growth disturbances in the epiphyseal plate.
When Do Emerging Economies Need Domestic Equity Markets

This paper examines the conditions under which companies and investors in emerging economies will benefit from the development of domestic stock markets. It is shown how the development of both domestic and foreign stock markets reduces cross-border investment and information barriers, integrating markets, expanding the shareholder base and reducing the cost of capital for domestic companies. With perfect inter-market information transparency, expected trading costs for uninformed investors declines in both the domestic and foreign market, enhancing the ability of domestic investors to hedge liquidity risk. Current proposals for the development of regional stock exchanges in the Nordic countries, Africa and Central America provide benefits over existing domestic markets by expanding the shareholder base and attracting a critical mass of speculators. However, international cross-listings in the major financial centers, such as New York and London, and index funds such as WEBS can be more effective than regional exchanges, closed-end country funds and the liberalization of investment restrictions on domestic markets in reducing the cost of capital for domestic companies and improving market liquidity because of their ability to integrate markets with greater inter-market information transparency.
Experiments on the Control of Mites Infesting Raspberries

A description of damage, survey of distribution, and indication of loss sustained from mites, particularly Tetranychus mcdanieli McGregor, on raspberries in Michigan, together with control measures attempted and results attained. The distinguishing characteristics of T. mcdanieli are included and the observed habits of the mite detailed. Control studies with dormant and summer oils, glue, and contact poisons of plant origin alone and in combination are recounted. The effect of single applications and of series applications on different stages of T. mcdanieli are compared. A series of three sprays of summer oil at one per cent strength reduced the mite population to an extremely low figure in May 1931, while an identical series of sprays applied just after the leaves came out in 1932 protected raspberries from damage by mites. Raspberry foliage is apparently entirely tolerant to sprays of one per cent summer oils.
Abstract B5: Cultural factors in obesity in African American women at increased risk for hereditary breast cancer

Abstracts: Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research 2008 B5 Obesity is an important risk factor for breast cancer, which disproportionately affects African American women. For women who have a personal or family history of disease that is suggestive of hereditary cancer, obesity may be particularly problematic. However, empirical data are not available on rates and correlates of obesity in this population. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify factors having significant independent associations with obesity in African American women at increased risk for hereditary breast cancer. Subjects were 126 African American women who had a personal and/or family history of breast cancer that was suggestive of BRCA1/2 mutations. Obesity was determined by self-report during a structured telephone interview. Reproductive factors (e.g., age at menarche), cultural beliefs (e.g., temporal orientation), and cancer-specific distress were also evaluated during the telephone interview. Overall, 43% of women were obese. Women who had a younger age at menarche were about four times more likely to be obese compared to women who had their first menstrual period at an older age (OR=3.88, 95% CI=1.65, 9.15, p=0.002). Obesity was also associated with greater levels of present temporal orientation (OR=0.67, 95% CI=0.46, 0.99, p=0.05). Intrusive thoughts about cancer was marginally related to obesity (OR=1.46, 95% CI=0.99, 2.15, p=0.06). The results of this study suggest that attention to cultural factors should be given in programs designed to address obesity among African American women at increased risk for hereditary breast cancer. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2008;1(7 Suppl):B5.
Kaposi's Sarcoma Complicating Ulcerative Colitis: Report of a Case

A case showing association of ulcerative colitis and Kaposi's sarcoma in the same resected colon is presented. Kaposi's sarcoma had not been present in the first colectomy specimen resected six months previously. The rarity of the association of the two diseases is discussed.
Components of variation and the consistency of repeated measurements.

(1947). Components of Variation and the Consistency of Repeated Measurements. Research Quarterly. American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 18, No. 2, pp. 152-166.
Abdominal adipose tissue in MGUS and multiple myeloma.

To determine abdominal adipose tissue parameters on PET/CT in patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and multiple myeloma (MM) that may serve as predictors of progression of MGUS to MM. We hypothesized that patients with MM had higher abdominal adiposity and higher fat metabolic activity compared to patients with MGUS. Our retrospective study was IRB approved and HIPAA compliant. The study group comprised 40 patients (mean age 64 ± 13 years) with MGUS and 32 patients (mean age 62 ± 10 years) with recently diagnosed MM (mean time since diagnosis of MM 3.0 ± 3.9 months) who had not undergone MM treatment. All patients underwent whole body FDG-PET/CT. Total abdominal adipose tissue (TAT), abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) cross sectional areas (CSA) (cm2) and metabolic activity (SUV) were assessed. Groups were compared using ANOVA. ROC curve analysis was performed to determine cutoff values for abdominal adipose tissue parameters to detect MM. Patients with recently diagnosed MM had higher TAT and SAT CSA (p ≤ 0.03) and higher fat metabolic activity (p 0.34, sensitivity 90.6 %, specificity 92.5 %, p < 0.0001). Patients who were recently diagnosed with MM had higher abdominal fat CSA and higher fat metabolic activity compared to patients with MGUS. These parameters may serve as novel biomarkers of progression of MGUS to MM.
Late complications of vagotomy in relation to alterations in physiology

(1978). Late complications of vagotomy in relation to alterations in physiology. Postgraduate Medicine: Vol. 63, No. 4, pp. 135-141.