cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Suppression of Complement Regulatory Proteins (CRPs) Exacerbates Experimental Autoimmune Anterior Uveitis (EAAU)

This study was undertaken to explore the role of complement regulatory proteins (CRPs) in experimental autoimmune anterior uveitis (EAAU). We observed that the levels of CRPs, Crry and CD59, in the eyes of Lewis rats increased during EAAU and remained elevated when the disease resolved. The in vivo role of these CRPs in EAAU was explored using neutralizing mAbs, antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (AS-ODNs), and small interfering RNAs against rat Crry and CD59. Suppression of Crry in vivo at days 9, 14, or 19 by neutralizing mAb or AS-ODNs resulted in the early onset of disease, the exacerbation of intraocular inflammation, and delayed resolution. Suppression of CD59 was only effective when the Abs and ODNs were given before the onset of disease. The most profound effect on the disease was observed when a mixture of Crry and CD59 mAbs or AS-ODNs was administered. A similar effect was observed with a combination of Crry and CD59 small interfering RNA. There was no permanent histologic damage to ocular tissue after the inflammation cleared in these animals. Increased complement activation as determined by increased deposition of C3, C3 activation fragments, and membrane attack complex was observed in the eyes of Lewis rats when the function and/or expression of Crry and CD59 was suppressed. Thus, our results suggest that various ocular tissues up-regulate the expression of Crry and CD59 to avoid self-injury during autoimmune uveitis and that these CRPs play an active role in the resolution of EAAU by down-regulating complement activation in vivo.
Dietary supplementation with purified citrus limonin glucoside does not alter ex vivo functions of circulating T lymphocytes or monocytes in overweight/obese human adults

Overweight/obesity is associated with chronic inflammation and impairs both innate and adaptive immune responses. Limonoids found in citrus fruits decreased cell proliferation and inflammation in animal studies. We hypothesized that limonin glucoside (LG) supplementation in vivo will decrease the ex vivo proliferation of T cells and the production of inflammatory cytokines by monocytes and T cells. In a double-blind, randomized, cross-over study, 10 overweight/obese human subjects were served purified LG or placebo drinks for 56 days each to determine the effects of LG on immune cell functions. The percentage of CD14+CD36+ cells in whole blood was analyzed by flow cytometry. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated and activated with CD3 plus CD28 antibodies (T-lymphocyte activation) or lipopolysaccharide (monocyte activation). Interferon γ, tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin (IL) 2, IL-4, and IL-10 were measured in supernatants from activated T cells. Supernatants from activated monocytes were analyzed for the production of tumor necrosis factor α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were prestained with PKH dye and activated with CD3 plus CD28 antibodies to determine the proliferative responses of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes by flow cytometry. No differences were observed for CD14+CD36+ monocyte populations, T-cell proliferation, or the production of T cell and monocyte cytokines between the 2 treatments. Thus, LG supplementation in vivo did not affect ex vivo functions of T cells and monocytes, whereas it decreased several circulating markers of hepatic inflammation as we previously reported.
Goal-Based Holonic Multiagent System for Operation of Power Distribution Systems

Large-scale integration of rooftop solar power generation is transforming traditionally passive power distribution systems into active ones. High penetration of such devices creates new dynamics for which the current power distribution systems are inadequate. The changing paradigm of power distribution system requires it to be operated as cyber-physical system. A goal-based holonic multiagent system (HMAS) is presented in this paper to achieve this objective. This paper provides details on design of the HMAS for operation of power distribution systems. Various operating modes and associated goals are discussed. Finally, the role of HMAS is demonstrated for two applications in distribution systems. The first one is associated with control of reactive power at solar photovoltaic installations at individual homes for optimal operation of the system. The second deals with the state estimation of the system leveraging different measurements available from smart meters at homes.
Changing focus: women's perimenopausal journey.

In this article I revisit the results of research completed in the mid-1990s and recently reviewed with women's updated input. The basic social process named “changing focus” that women use as they negotiate the perimenopausal transition is discussed. This process consists of five parts: monitoring the voice of the woman within, listening to the voices of others, integrating the wisdom, nourishing the woman within, and becoming a wise woman. In view of continuing discoveries pertaining to the effects of symptom management treatments on perimenopausal women's health, this process continues to provide guidance for women and providers.
Ketamine anesthesia for rats

Abstract The present study provides data which demonstrate that ketamine hydrochloride (Ketalar) administered in conjunction with pentobarbital sodium (Nembutal) induces satisfactory surgical anesthesia in rats. Best results were obtained when the ketamine hydrochloride dose value was 60 mk/kg and the pentobarbital sodium was 21 mg/kg. The advantages of using this anesthesia technique are summarized.
Vertical niche differentiation of ectomycorrhizal hyphae in soil as shown by T-RFLP analysis

Summary • Niche differentiation for different soil substrates has been proposed as a mechanism contributing to ectomycorrhizal fungal diversity. This hypothesis has been largely untestable because of a lack of techniques to study the in situ distribution of ectomycorrhizal hyphae. • We developed a technique involving soil DNA extraction, PCR and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis for species identification to investigate the vertical distribution of fungal hyphae in four distinct layers of the forest floor (lower litter, F-layer, H-layer, and B-horizon) of a Pinus resinosa plantation. • Fungal communities differed markedly among the four layers. Cluster analysis suggested six different patterns of resource utilization: litter-layer specialists, litterlayer generalists, F-layer, H-layer, and B-horizon species, and multilayer generalists. Known ectomycorrhizal species were found in all six clusters. • This spatial partitioning observed among ectomycorrhizal fungi along a single, relatively simple substrate-resource gradient supports the niche differentiation hypothesis as an important mechanism contributing to ectomycorrhizal fungal diversity.
Social Skills Group Therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorders

More examples for clinicians are needed on the implementation of data-driven intervention approaches for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). The purpose of this case study is to present a feasible data-driven approach using a pre- and postdesign of an outpatient social skills group for children with ASD who were clinically referred rather than research recruited for services. Measurement tools with ecological validity are described, as are the treatment outcomes. Challenges included the generation of meaningful and obtainable outcomes with social validity and the development of feasible methods to evaluate clinical outcomes. Practical issues related to implementation are described that can increase researchers' understanding of the practitioner environment, and suggestions are made for data-driven methods for service delivery monitoring, accountability, and scalability.
Lower esophageal sphincter pressure and distal esophageal body function between Hispanic Americans and non-Hispanic whites are equivalent.

Objective Esophageal manometry (EM) is the gold standard examination for diagnosis of esophageal motor disorders. Normal values for EM among ethnic groups are not presently available in the literature. The aim of this study was to obtain normal values of EM in adult Hispanic American (HA) volunteers and compare these with those obtained in non-Hispanic white (nHw) volunteers. Methods Healthy HA and nHw were recruited from the Albuquerque metropolitan area. Ethnicity was self-reported. Exclusion criteria were symptoms suggestive of esophageal disease, medication use, or concurrent illness that could affect EM. All underwent EM using a solid-state system with wet swallows. Resting lower esophageal sphincter pressure, percent peristaltic contractions, esophageal body contraction velocity, distal esophageal body contraction amplitude, and distal esophageal body contraction duration were measured at end expiration. Results Forty HA and 24 nHw were enrolled. All subjects completed EM without difficulty. Esophageal body contraction velocity was significantly lower in HA (3.5 cm/s+0.1) than nHw (4+0.1, P=0.01). There were no differences in resting lower esophageal sphincter pressure, percent peristaltic contractions, distal esophageal body contraction amplitude, and distal esophageal body contraction duration. Conclusions Esophageal body contraction velocity is slower in normal HA compared with nHw; other EM measures are equivalent between groups. Presently accepted normal values of EM obtained from nHw may be used for HA.
l-Cysteine sulfoxide lyase competition between enzyme and substrate for added pyridoxal phosphate

Abstract The effect of substrate and added pyridoxal phosphate concentration on the rate of pyruvic acid production from S- propyl - l - cysteine sulfoxide by the l -cysteine sulfoxide lyase (alliin allylsulphenate-lyase, EC 4.4.1.4) was investigated. The interrelation between substrate and pyridoxalphosphate in their effect upon rate is consonant with a mechanism of action in which substrate and free enzyme compete for the added pyridoxal phosphate. Kinetic criteria for the existence of such competition are presented. The value of the dissociation constant of the substrate-pyridoxal phosphate Schiff's base calculated from these kinetic considerations agrees reasonably with that obtained independently from spectroscopic data. The proposed mechanism affords an explanation for enhanced enzyme activity in the presence of pyrophosphate buffer.
Factors controlling neural activity during delayed-response task performance: Testing a memory organization hypothesis of prefrontal function

Understanding the role of prefrontal cortex in delayed-response task performance has been a central focus of neuroimaging research. The first part of this review will emphasize consistent observations of memory-load-related effects on prefrontal cortex activity that have led me and my colleagues to propose a "memory-organization hypothesis" of prefrontal cortex function. The second part examines how predictions of this hypothesis have borne up to empirical testing. The final part of this review suggests that there is important information contained in between-study variance in the anatomical locus and temporal sequence of neural activity. I will examine how subtle variations in task-structure affect subjects' strategies, producing meaningful variability in neuroimaging data. Systematic manipulation of these variables in future research can assist in elucidating the role of prefrontal cortex in delayed response task performance.
Central Auditory Processing and Attention Deficit Disorders

Nineteen children who met criteria for attention deficit disorder (ADD) received neurodevelopmental attention testing and central auditory processing (CAP) tests. The CAP tests consisted of the Staggered Spondaic Word (SSW) test and the Willeford battery of tests. Teacher and parent questionnaires (originally devised at the Learning Disabilities Clinic, The Children's Hospital, Boston) were obtained. There was a very high concordance between the questionnaires and the CAP tests, but a low concordance between the neurodevelopmental measures and the questionnaires. After treatment with central nervous system stimulants, there was again a high concordance between teacher/parent reports and CAP measures, and less than 50% concordance between neurodevelopmental measures and teacher/parent observations. We conclude that the SSW and Willeford battery are sensitive performance indicators of attention disorder. Furthermore, these tests are more useful in titrating response to CNS stimulants than neurodevelopmental...
Investigation of the effect of a dc glow discharge on the performance of a particle beam liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry interface

A low voltage (180-V) dc glow discharge device was inserted just below the pneumatic nebulizer in a particle beam interface of a high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry system. The discharge in a helium atmosphere increased the signal produced by 12 test compounds by factors of about 2–6. The increases in signal were probably produced by an increase in the efficiency of solute transmission through the interface. The signal increases caused by the glow discharge were compared to somewhat larger increases caused by 0.01-M ammonium acetate in the mobile phase. The combination of glow discharge and ammonium acetate provided no meaningful advantage over the individual techniques. The mechanism of improved transport efficiency is not proven, but the neutralization of charged particles is a viable hypothesis.
Ultrafast electron diffraction: oriented molecular structures in space and time.

The technique of ultrafast electron diffraction allows direct measurement of changes which occur in the molecular structures of isolated molecules upon excitation by femtosecond laser pulses. The vectorial nature of the molecule–radiation interaction also ensures that the orientation of the transient populations created by the laser excitation is not isotropic. Here, we examine the influence on electron diffraction measurements—on the femtosecond and picosecond timescales—of this induced initial anisotropy and subsequent inertial (collision-free) molecular reorientation, accounting for the geometry and dynamics of a laser-induced reaction (dissociation). The orientations of both the residual ground-state population and the excited- or product-state populations evolve in time, with different characteristic rotational dephasing and recurrence times due to differing moments of inertia. This purely orientational evolution imposes a corresponding evolution on the electron scattering pattern, which we show may be similar to evolution due to intrinsic structural changes in the molecule, and thus potentially subject to misinterpretation. The contribution of each internuclear separation is shown to depend on its orientation in the molecular frame relative to the transition dipole for the photoexcitation; thus not only bond lengths, but also bond angles leave a characteristic imprint on the diffraction. Of particular note is the fact that the influence of anisotropy persists at all times, producing distinct differences between the asymptotic “static” diffraction image and the predictions of isotropic diffraction theory.
Gamma Knife Radiosurgery in the Treatment of Tumor-Related Facial Pain

Background: Intracranial neoplasms can cause pain similar to trigeminal neuralgia. Literature regarding radiosurgery for this is limited. We present a retrospective review of patien
ULTRASONOGRAPHIC APPEARANCE OF FELINE ALIMENTARY LYMPHOMA

Abdominal ultrasonography was performed in seven cats with intestinal lymphoma and four cats with gastric lymphoma. Ultrasonographic abnormalities included the presence of a hypoechoic mass associated with the gastrointestinal tract, focal or diffuse thickening of the gastric wall, symmetric thickening of the bowel wall, loss of the normal layered appearance of the gastrointestinal wall, and abdominal lymphadenopathy. The thickness of the stomach wall ranged from 8 to 22 mm in cats with gastric lymphoma, and the thickness of the bowel wall ranged from 5 to 20 mm in cats with intestinal lymphoma. Fine needle aspiration of a gastrointestinal lesion was performed without complication in six cats, and was diagnostic for lymphoma in five out of six. Results of this study indicate that ultrasonography is an effective noninvasive means of identifying lesions consistent with alimentary lymphoma in cats.
Sulfur mustards induce neurite extension and acetylcholinesterase synthesis in cultured neuroblastoma cells

Abstract When neuroblastoma cells (N18) in vitro were exposed to the bifunctional alkylating agent di-2-chloroethyl sulfide (HS), the specific activity of acetylcholinesterase began to rise rapidly after an initial lag period of 1 to 2 days. The five-fold increase in enzyme activity at 4 days after exposure to 0.5 μg/ml of HS was accompanied by a 25-fold rise in the rate of reappearance of acetylcholinesterase activity following essentially irreversible inhibition. Based on previous experience with acetylcholinesterase synthesis in serum deprived neuroblastoma cells, this behavior indicates induction of the enzyme. Vinblastine blocked the concomitant large increase in neurite extension which was stimulated by HS, but left acetylcholinesterase induction unaffected. Since enzyme activity was inversely related to the ability of the monolayer cells to form microcolonies, we conclude that acetylcholinesterase induction is dependent upon inhibition of cell division and independent of neurite extension. The monofunctional analogue of HS, 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES), produced similar effects, but much higher concentrations were required.
Evaluation of interpretive criteria of agar dilution and disk diffusion susceptibility tests for Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Using strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from Western New York, the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards' (NCCLS) interpretive criteria for disk diffusion susceptibility testing was evaluated on chocolate-Mueller-Hinton agar (CMH) and GC agar. The reference method for comparison was the NCCLS agar dilution minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method. Even though the zone sizes were significantly smaller on the CMH agar, the interpretations were not significantly different on either GC or CMH agars except for tetracycline. On the CMH agar, the number of tetracycline-resistant strains was greater than on GC agar: 3% of the strains failed to grow on CMH agar and 4% did not produce interpretable zone sizes for ceftriaxone. Therefore, the use of CMH is not recommended. There was a significant difference between the interpretative criteria of the MIC and the disk diffusion method only for tetracycline. Therefore, the NCCLS zone-diameter interpretation criteria for tetracycline does not seem applicable for N. gonorrhoeae isolates in the Buffalo, New York, area.
Unexpected Recovery of Ovarian Function Many Years after Bone Marrow Transplantation

Premature ovarian failure as a consequence of childhood cancer treatment is considered permanent when present long after the initial insult. We report spontaneous recovery of ovarian function occurring 8 years after bone marrow transplantation in a girl with history of leukemia and growth hormone deficiency. Clinical management challenges are discussed.
Feeling happy and sad, but only seeing the positive: Poignancy and the positivity effect in attention.

Poignancy is a mixed emotional experience that occurs in the face of meaningful endings (Ersner-Hershfield et al. J Pers Soc Psychol 94(1):158–167, 2008). Despite documentation of the phenomenological component of poignancy, no study to date has examined the relationship between such a state and information processing. We therefore examined the link between poignancy and attentional patterns using an eyetracking paradigm. To induce poignancy, experimental condition participants imagined being in a personally chosen meaningful location for a final time; control participants also imagined being in a meaningful location but with no ending. After, both groups were shown emotional images. Experimental condition participants looked more at positive images relative to negative images, whereas participants in the control condition did not display such a preference. Findings suggest that despite being a mixed emotional experience, poignancy may produce a subsequent positivity effect in information processing.
Blunted heart rate recovery is improved following exercise training in overweight adults with obstructive sleep apnea

Background Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) predisposes individuals to cardiovascular morbidity, and cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) markers prognostic for cardiovascular disease have been found to be abnormal in adults with OSA. Due to the persistence of OSA and its cardiovascular consequences, whether the cardiovascular adaptations normally conferred by exercise are blunted in adults not utilizing established OSA treatment is unknown. The aims of this study were to document whether OSA participants have abnormal CPET responses and determine whether exercise modifies these CPET markers in individuals with OSA.
Characterization of the advertisement call oscillator in the frog Eleutherodactylus coqui

1. Eleutherodactylus coqui treefrogs spontaneously produce advertisement calls. Intercall intervals are typically between 2 and 3 s. 2. When periodic tone burst stimuli were broadcast to individual frogs in the wild, their calling became entrained such that each vocalization occurred in the silent interval between stimulus tones. 3. For stimulus repetition periods similar to the nominal call repetition period (2.5 s), the mode of the distribution of intercall intervals (preferred interval) matched the interstimulus interval (1∶1 locking or entrainment). The preferred interval continued to match the interstimulus interval when the latter was varied over a range of approximately 1 s, or 40% of the nominal spontaneous intercall interval. Faster stimulus rates (shorter interstimulus intervals) resulted in 1∶2 locking, in which calls were produced for every second tone burst. 4. For each frog, the transition between 1∶1 and 1∶2 locking appeared to positively co-vary with the spontaneous preferred interval. 5. The frogs were able to track a pseudorandom sequence of long and short duration tones. Long duration tones tended to be spanned by long intercall intervals while short duration tones were spanned with shorter intervals. Cueing to tone offset is the most parsimonious explanation for such tracking ability. 6. These findings suggest that calling behavior inE. coqui is driven by an internal oscillator, the period of which may be adjusted over a considerable range in order to entrain to an external acoustic stimulus. Furthermore, the period of the oscillator may be changed within a single call cycle in response to a pseudorandom sequence of stimuli.
Use of social networking services for marketing art museums

The purpose of this study was to explore the use of social networking services (SNS) by art museums and the effectiveness of SNS as marketing tools. Staff members responsible for SNS from 12 art museums in the Midwestern United States were interviewed to gain an in-depth understanding of SNS usage and their perceptions of SNS effectiveness. We identified three distinct marketing applications for which SNS were being used: building awareness, engaging with the community, and networking. Based on analysis of the data, three marketing strategies using SNS were proposed for cultivating relationships with visitors. Other recommendations included incorporating SNS into formal strategic marketing plans aimed at improving museum–visitor relationships and establishing protocols to maximize the efficient use of available resources.
Real-Time Median-Window Filtering Of Video Signals

Abstract. Several hardware methods for selecting the median value of a set of input signals are described. Two of the systems are based on the use of an analog multiplexer to select the channel containing the median value. The input levels are pairwise compared with comparators, and the comparator outputs provide logic levels to drive the address lines of a multiplexer. A third method involves the use of saturable amplifiers and a summing junction. An interesting feature of this system is that it can act as a median filter, a linear averaging filter, or a combination of the two. A circuit whose output automatically hunts around the median value is described next, and the final circuit relies on diode switching networks in the feedback loop of operational amplifiers to select the median input. Schematic circuits are provided.© (1984) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Surface-Enhanced Infrared Absorption Using Individual Cross Antennas Tailored to Chemical Moieties

The development of antenna structures for surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (SEIRA) is a topic of intense and growing interest for extending IR spectroscopy to zeptomolar quantities and ultimately to the single-molecule level. Here we show that strong infrared spectroscopic enhancements can be obtained from individual gold nanoantennas using conventional IR spectrometric sources. The antenna structure dimensions can be tuned to enhance the IR modes of specific chemical moieties. Simulations of the electric field intensity in the antenna junction region reveal a maximum SEIRA enhancement factor of more than 12 000. These findings open new opportunities for analyzing IR vibrations of exceptionally small quantities of molecules using widely accessible light sources.
Evidence for the existence of enzymatic variants of β-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase from rat liver and brain mitochondria

Abstract A comparison of rat brain and liver β-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.30) has revealed that significant differences exist between the enzymes with regard to their kinetic and physical properties. In contrast to the liver enzyme, brain β-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase is rapidly inactivated at 46° and is unstable when stored at −20°. The brain dehydrogenase was found to have a larger K m (apparent) for the 3-acetylpyridine analog of NAD + , and a greater energy of activation in the direction of β-hydroxybutyrate oxidation than the liver enzyme. In the reverse direction, the brain and liver dehydrogenase exhibit substrate inhibition by NADH (0.22 mM and 0.36 mM, respectively). The brain and liver β-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase did not differ significantly with regard to the Michaelis-Menten constants measured for NAD + and β-hydroxybutyrate. The K m constants of brain β-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase for acetoacetate (0.39 mM) and NADH (0.05 mM) were lower than those determined for the liver enzyme, acetoacetate (0.73 mM) and NADH (0.35 mM) respectively. These results suggest that the β-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase from rat brain and liver are isozymic variants.
Sleep disturbances associated with cigarette smoking

Sleep disturbances resulting in insufficient sleep have been linked to negative physical, cognitive, and public health outcomes. Despite this, there has yet a study that examines the impact of smoking on sleep in a US based national sample. The current study sought to observe sleep disturbances associated with smoking status. Sleep disturbances in adults aged 20 years and above, from the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, were measured among current, former, and never smokers (NS). Current smokers (CS) reported significantly less total sleep time, longer sleep onset latency, increased difficulty falling asleep, maintaining sleep, and waking up earlier than desired when compared to NS. Former smokers reported disturbances similar to NS and CS experienced poorer sleep than nonsmokers. Our study is the first to observe sleep difficulty by smoking status in a large, population-based, nationally representative sample. Recommendations for smoking cessation programs are discussed.
Cardiac and hepatic effects of pre- and postnatal exposure to polybrominated biphenyls in rats.

Body weight gain and hepatic concentrations of vitamin A were reduced in Sprague‐Dawley rats by pre‐ and postnatal exposure to 100 ppm polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs). The ratio of liver weight to body weight, activity of hepatic δ‐aminolevulinic acid (ALA) synthetase, and urinary excretion of uro‐ and coproporphyrins were increased by PBBs. Treatment with PBBs also increased the left atrial inotropic response to calcium. However, PBBs had no effect on development of the adrenergic neuronal transport system in heart, left atrial baselike peak tension, or inotropic response to ouabain. Thus PBBs retarded body weight gain and produced a variety of alterations in liver, but had little effect on cardiac contractile function.
Dynamic simulation of a nonlinear model of a double effect evaporator

Abstract The nonlinear dynamic behavior of a double effect evaporator system is modeled. The governing equations were solved using Advanced Continuous Simulation Language (ACSL). Simulations were performed for a commercial double effect tomato paste evaporator using two possible control configurations. Experimental measurements were obtained for a commercial double effect evaporator. Simulation values for feed flow rate and product solids concentration are compared with experimental measurements in response to varying feed solids concentration.
WE-D-224C-07: A Comprehensive Patient-Specific IMRT Quality Assurance Procedure On Hi-Art Tomotherapy® Unit

Purpose: To present a comprehensive patient‐specific IMRT QA procedure on Tomotherapy® unit using ion chamber and radiographic film for those facilities with RIT® film dosimetry system. Method and Materials: A cylindrical Virtual Water® phantom was scanned in CT with an ion chamber in the hole 1.5 cm below the middle coronal plane. Three‐dimensional dose calculation in fine grid using treatment beam was performed to the phantom which is appropriately positioned so that the measuring point and plane are within the volume of interest. A sheet of Kokak® EDR‐2 Readypack was sandwiched between two halves of the phantom and pricked on green lasers. Film exposure and ion chamber measurement were made simultaneously. To verify planar absolute dose distribution, the film was calibrated in a separate sheet of the same batch on the same day IMRT QA was performed. To facilitate the film calibration and film dosimetryanalysis on Tomotherapy planning station, an in‐house software was developed to perform step‐valley film calibration and film image data conversion from RIT® format to DICOM format which is acceptable by the current version of Tomotherapy planning system. Results: 213 patient‐specific IMRT QA procedures have been performed on Tomotherapy unit since it was installed about two years ago. The average discrepancy between ion chamber measurement and dose calculation in phantom is 1.74%. Film dosimetry results agree with ion chamber measurements in an average discrepancy 1%. Three cases have failed the QA procedure based on 5% discrepancy criteria. Conclusion: Three‐dimensional dose calculation algorithm for helical IMRT works very well in homogeneous phantom. This QA procedure is clinically practical and necessary when independent dose calculation tools are not available. It is feasible to verify two‐dimensional absolute dose distribution using radiographic film if it is calibrated against ion chamber reading which is traceable to ADCL or NIST.
The blowfly's dance: Role in the regulation of food intake

Abstract Blowflies that have been deprived of sugar are known to execute a ‘dance’ that consists of walking in a roughly spiral path while repeatedly extending the proboscis, when their taste receptors encounter sugar. This dance can also be elicited by water or crude protein extracts, which along with sugars constitute the major feeding stimulants for the blowfly. The intensity of the dance, as measured by the distance walked in a spiral path, is a function of the fly's state of deprivation with respect to the eliciting stimulus, and of the concentration of the stimulating solution. A given feeding stimulant is capable of eliciting dancing only when the fly has been deprived of that substance. Dancing can function in the laboratory as an effective search pattern with several different patterns of food distribution. These characteristics of the dance are discussed in relation to the fly's feeding habits and the known physiological controls over its food intake, and a role for the dance in the regulation of food intake is suggested.
Connective tissue repair in circumferential periodontal defects in dogs following use of a biodegradable membrane.

Abstract A biodegradable polylactic acid membrane was evaluated for its ability to enhance periodontal regeneration. In 8 Labrador dogs, circumferential defects were created around the maxillary 1st premolars. The defects were combination “1-wall vertical and horizontal”. A membrane was adjusted to cover the defect on one side of the jaw, while the contralateral tooth served as control without membrane. After 3 months, healing was evaluated histologically. The results demonstrated that the amount of connective tissue repair with newly formed cementum approximated 50% of the defect height for both test and control groups. Thus, no advantage to the use of membrane was found, which is contradictory to the findings of our previous dog study using the same biodegradable membrane. The possible reasons for this difference in results are discussed relative to suggested mechanisms for membrane effects in periodontal regeneration.
Generation of 5-(2′-deoxycytidyl)methyl radical and the formation of intrastrand cross-link lesions in oligodeoxyribonucleotides

Hydroxyl radical is one of the major reactive oxygen species (ROS) formed from gamma-radiolysis of water or Fenton reaction, and it can abstract one hydrogen atom from the methyl carbon atom of thymine and 5-methylcytosine to give the 5-methyl radical of the pyrimidine bases. The latter radical can also be induced from Type-I photo-oxidation process. Here, we examined the reactivity of the independently generated 5-(2'-deoxycytidyl)methyl radical (I) in single- and double-stranded oligodeoxyribonucleotides (ODNs). It was found that an intrastrand cross-link lesion, in which the methyl carbon atom of 5-methylcytosine and the C8 carbon atom of guanine are covalently bonded, could be formed from the independently generated radical at both GmC and mCG sites, with the yield being much higher at the former site. We also showed by LC-MS/MS that the same cross-link lesions were formed in mC-containing duplex ODNs upon gamma irradiation under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions, and the yield was approximately 10-fold higher under the latter conditions. The independently generated radical allows for the availability of pure, sufficient and well-characterized intrastrand cross-link lesion-bearing ODN substrates for future biochemical and biophysical characterizations. This was also the first demonstration that the coupling of radical I with its 5' neighboring guanine can occur in the presence of molecular oxygen, suggesting that the formation of this and other types of intrastrand cross-link lesions might have important implications in the cytotoxic effects of ROS.
Capital, Inequality and Injustice in Latin Americ al

This article examines contemporary economic, political and social conditions in Latin America. A combination of three key analytical concepts are used to provide an integrated and global conceptualization of the predominant social structures, processes and relations in the societies located in this important region of the world. These three concepts are capital, inequality, and injustice. The application of these analytically powerful concepts to the analysis of the historical development and contemporary affairs of the Latin American societies reveals the fundamental social relations of contemporary capitalism that are primarily responsible for the pronounced extent of inequality and injustice that characterize the societies in this region.
Gloss discrimination and eye movements

Human observers are able to make fine discriminations of surface gloss. What cues are they using to perform this task? In previous studies, we identified two reflection-related cues-the contrast of the reflected image (c, contrast gloss) and the sharpness of reflected image (d, distinctness-of-image gloss)--but these were for objects rendered in standard dynamic range (SDR) images with compressed highlights. In ongoing work, we are studying the effects of image dynamic range on perceived gloss, comparing high dynamic range (HDR) images with accurate reflections and SDR images with compressed reflections. In this paper, we first present the basic findings of this gloss discrimination study then present an analysis of eye movement recordings that show where observers were looking during the gloss discrimination task. The results indicate that: 1) image dynamic range has significant influence on perceived gloss, with surfaces presented in HDR images being seen as glossier and more discriminable than their SDR counterparts; 2) observers look at both light source highlights and environmental interreflections when judging gloss; and 3) both of these results are modulated by surface geometry and scene illumination.
The Concept of Nature and Human Nature in Quintilian's Psychology and Theory of Instruction

Abstract: Abstract: Nature is a highly tendentious Word and was already so in the time of Quintilian. Since the Stoic ideal was "to live according to Nature," the concept can be invoked persuasively in every phase of education. But Nature had other regular functions in rhetoric: to demarcate innate talent from acquired skill ( Natura vs. Ars ); to distinguish reality, the outside world, from verbal imitation; and to privilege preferred patterns of argumentation. These competing uses lead to inconsistencies, especially in presenting the relationship between Nature and imitation. The purpose of this paper is to detect these contradictions and illustrate the assumptions that underlie them in Quintilian9s tieatment of invention, organization, and expression.
Psychological impact and the burden of caregiving for persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) living in the community in Fiji

Psychological impact and the burden of caregiving for persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) living in the community in Fiji
Brief latency click-evoked potentials during waking and sleep in man.

Very early auditory evoked potentials, commencing from 1 to 2 msec after stimulation, can be recorded from human scalp by averaging; they appear to be generated in the VIII nerve and brain stem structures. This study was conducted to obtain data concerning possible variations of these early auditory responses with sleep in man. Our results show little or no change in the amplitude and latency characteristics of these potentials from waking to sleep or between sleep stages. Prolonged stimulation, during waking or sleep, produced increases of latency and a tendency for decrease of amplitude. The findings were interpreted to indicate that changes in latency and amplitude of later components of auditory evoked responses during sleep occur at levels above the brain stem. They also support the view that the increased threshold for auditory arousal associated with sleep is mediated centrally rather than peripherally.
1H-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Studies on the Conformational Changes Related to the Foaming Properties of β-Lactoglobulin

Abstract β -Lactoglobulin ( β -LG) is a whey protein with foaming ability that can be used as a food ingredient. The structural changes that occur during foaming cannot be easily assessed. In combination with deuterium exchange, 1 H-NMR allows new insight into the structural features of β -LG during foaming. β -Lactoglobulin was dissolved in D 2 O and forced to foam. During foaming, the amide protons of exposed residues were exchanged for deuterium atoms, which do not appear in the 1 H-NMR spectrum. Protein in solutions that had produced unstable foams showed no exchange beyond that found in unfoamed controls, indicating that the structure had remained intact. Protein in solutions that had produced stable foams showed extensive exchange. Protons of both Trp 19 and Met 107 exchanged with deuterium, indicating that most of the interior had been exposed to solvent. Most of the β -LG structure was recovered after collapse of the foam. In the early steps of foaming, apparently only random coil or other exposed regions are involved in foam stabilization. More vigorous shear stress forces induce further unfolding of the β -strands. This unfolding is suggested to be a dynamic, reversible equilibrium between an open and closed conformation of β -strands that allows not only for interaction of the protein with the air phase but also for some secondary structure to be retained and the original structure to be recovered. Freeze-dry foaming is also discussed.
Analytical Solutions for Gas Flow Due to Gas Injection and Extraction from Horizontal Wells

Soil vapor extraction is a popular method for removing volatile organic contaminants from the unsaturated zone. A soil vapor extraction system consists of one or more pumping wells screened in the unsaturated zone. These wells may have either a vertical or a horizontal configuration, and additional wells may be used for gas injection. Contaminant removal is achieved as the induced gas flow sweeps the contaminated zone, flushing contaminant vapors from the soil. Analytical solutions are developed for modeling the transient and steady-state gas pressure and the steady-state streamfunction fields resulting from gas injection and extraction from a pair of parallel horizontal wells. These solutions apply to cases in which the ground surface is open to the atmosphere, and in which the porous media ia anisotropic but homogeneous. By neglecting end effects due to the finite length of the wells, the three-dimensional gas flow field is approximated as a two-dimensional cross section perpendicular to the wells. These solutions may be used to develop estimates of the horizontal well system behavior and to analyze horizontal well gas pump tests, and are useful for numerical model verification.
Pheromone strains of the Cosmopolitan pest, Nezara viridula (heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

Sexually mature males of the sourthern green stink bug, N. viridula, release a pheromone attractive in the field to conspecific females, males, and late-stage larvae and to the parasitoid Trichopoda pennipes (Diptera: Tachinidae). The pheromone blend typically includes (Z)-α-bisabolene (17%), trans- and cis-1,2-epoxides of (Z)-α-bisabolene (44 and 15%, respectively), (E)-nerolidol (1.4%), and n-nonadecane (7.4%). The existence of Nezara pheromone strains, first suggested by differential Trichopoda parasitization of geographically isolated N. viridula populations, has been chemically verified.
KLF2-dependent, shear stress-induced expression of CD59: a novel cytoprotective mechanism against complement-mediated injury in the vasculature.

Complement activation may predispose to vascular injury and atherogenesis. The atheroprotective actions of unidirectional laminar shear stress led us to explore its influence on endothelial cell expression of complement inhibitory proteins CD59 and decay-accelerating factor. Human umbilical vein and aortic endothelial cells were exposed to laminar shear stress (12 dynes/cm2) or disturbed flow (±5 dynes/cm2 at 1Hz) in a parallel plate flow chamber. Laminar shear induced a flow rate-dependent increase in steady-state CD59 mRNA, reaching 4-fold at 12 dynes/cm2. Following 24–48 h of laminar shear stress, cell surface expression of CD59 was up-regulated by 100%, whereas decay-accelerating factor expression was unchanged. The increase in CD59 following laminar shear was functionally significant, reducing C9 deposition and complement-mediated lysis of flow-conditioned endothelial cells by 50%. Although CD59 induction was independent of PI3-K, ERK1/2 and nitric oxide, an RNA interference approach demonstrated dependence upon an ERK5/KLF2 signaling pathway. In contrast to laminar shear stress, disturbed flow failed to induce endothelial cell CD59 protein expression. Likewise, CD59 expression on vascular endothelium was significantly higher in atheroresistant regions of the murine aorta exposed to unidirectional laminar shear stress, when compared with atheroprone areas exposed to disturbed flow. We propose that up-regulation of CD59 via ERK5/KLF2 activation leads to endothelial resistance to complement-mediated injury and protects from atherogenesis in regions of laminar shear stress.
The impact of bacterial strain on the products of dissimilatory iron reduction

Three bacterial strains from the genus Shewanella were used to examine the influence of specific bacteria on the products of dissimilatory iron reduction. Strains CN32, MR-4 and W3-18-1 were incubated with HFO (hydrous ferric oxide) as the terminal electron acceptor and lactate as the organic carbon and energy source. Mineral products of iron reduction were analyzed using X-ray powder diffraction, electron microscopy, coulometry and susceptometry. Under identical nutrient loadings, iron reduction rates for strains CN32 and W3-18-1 were similar, and about twice as fast as MR-4. Qualitative and quantitative assessment of mineralized end products (secondary minerals) indicated that different products were formed during experiments with similar reduction rates but different strains (CN32 and W3-18-1), and similar products were formed during experiments with different iron reduction rates and different strains (CN32 and MR-4). The major product of iron reduction by strains CN32 and MR-4 was magnetite, while for W3-18-1 it was a mixture of magnetite and iron carbonate hydroxide hydrate (green rust), a precursor to fougerite. Another notable difference was that strains CN32 and MR-4 converted all of the starting ferric iron material into magnetite, while W3-18-1 did not convert most of the Fe3+ into a recognizable crystalline material. Biofilm formation is more robust in W3-18-1 than in the other two strains used in this study. The differences in mineralization may be an indicator that EPS (or another cellular product from W3-18-1) may interfere with the crystallization of magnetite or facilitate formation of green rust. These results suggest that the relative abundance of mineral end products and the relative distribution of these products are strongly dependent on the bacterial species or strain catalyzing iron reduction.
Time-frequency analysis with best local cosine bases

We propose new best basis search algorithms for local cosine dictionaries. We provide several algorithms for dictionaries of various complexity. Our framework generalizes the classical best local cosine basis selection based on a dyadic tree.
A method for measuring tenderness of cooked Brussels sprouts

Abstract A cherry pitter of 7.9 mm diameter fitted to an Instron testing-machine was a satisfactory puncture probe for measuring tenderness of cooked Brussels sprouts.
Linear time-invariant milling models applicable to chatter suppression system design

Milling models, applicable to chatter suppression system design, are derived by transforming an established nonlinear milling model into linear constant coefficient discrete time models. The derivation initially utilizes either a modified Tustin or zero-order-hold approximation to create a discrete time approximation of the original model. The resulting periodically time varying system, which includes time delays, is then transformed into a system with constants coefficient and no time delays by adding delay states to the system and computing the system's monodromy matrix. The resulting linear models are then compared to the established nonlinear model. The linear models, while of high order, can be used directly to design chatter suppression systems with traditional linear control system design techniques. An example chatter control system is designed using an optimal regulator. The example controller reduces chatter in a milling system with a four tooth cutter in an up-milling configuration.