cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of peat moss substitution with arboretum and greenhouse waste compost for use in container media.

Plugs of impatiens (Impatiens walleriana Hook.f.), salvia (Salvia splendens Sellow ex Roem. & Schult.), and vinca (Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don) were transplanted into containers filled with commercial Sphagnum peat moss plus perlite medium (Sunshine Mix #1) or arboretum and greenhouse waste compost (CT), Sphagnum peat moss (PS), and perlite (PE) medium at percentages of (by vol.) 50:50 PS:PE and 75:25 PS:PE (controls). CT media included 25:50:25, 25:25:50, and 50:25:25 CT:PS:PE, or 50:50 and 75:25 CT:PE. Shoot dry weight of vinca and impatiens and stem diameter of vinca were greater for 25:50:25 CT:PS:PE than controls. Shoot dry weight and stem diameter of salvia were similar for CT media and controls. CT additions increased bulk density but decreased particle sizes, total porosity, and container capacity. It was concluded that CT-growing methodology could be implemented without loss of plant quality, although physical media characteristics limit the amount of compost and component ranges within conta...
A synthetic eicosanoid LX-mimetic unravels host-donor interactions in allogeneic BMT-induced GvHD to reveal an early protective role for host neutrophils

Lipoxin A(4) (LXA(4)) and aspirin-triggered 15-epi-LXA(4) are potent endogenous lipid mediators thought to define the inflammatory set-point. We used single prophylactic administrations of a synthetic aspirin-triggered lipoxin A(4) signal mimetic, ATLa, to probe dynamics of early host-donor interactions in a mouse model for the inflammation-associated multifactorial disease of allogeneic bone marrow transplant (BMT) -induced graft-vs.-host disease (GvHD). We first demonstrated that both host and donor are responsive to the ATLa signals. The simple and restricted regimen of a single prophylactic administration of ATLa [100 ng/mL to donor cells or 1 microg (approximately 50 microg/kg) i.v. to host] was sufficient to delay death. Clinical indicators of weight, skin lesions, diarrhea and eye inflammation were monitored. Histological analyses on day 45 post-BMT showed that the degree of cellular trafficking, particularly neutrophil infiltrate, and protection of end-organ target pathology are different, depending on whether the host or donor was treated with ATLa. Taken together, these results chart some ATLa protective effects on GvHD cellular dynamics over time and identify a previously unrecognized effect of host neutrophils in the early phase post-BMT as important determinants in the dynamics of GvHD onset and progression.-Devchand, P. R., Schmidt, B. A., Primo, V. C., Zhang, Q.-y., Arnaout, M. A., Serhan, C. N., Nikolic, B. A synthetic eicosanoid LX-mimetic unravels host-donor interactions in allogeneic BMT-induced GvHD to reveal an early protective role for host neutrophils.
Nanobiotechnology for the Therapeutic Targeting of Cancer Cells in Blood

During metastasis, circulating tumor cells migrate away from a primary tumor via the blood circulation to form secondary tumors in distant organs. Mounting evidence from clinical observations indicates that the number of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the blood correlates with the progression of solid tumors before and during chemotherapy. Beyond the well-established role of CTCs as a fluid biopsy, however, the field of targeting CTCs for the prevention or reduction of metastases has just emerged. Conventional cancer therapeutics have a relatively short circulation time in the blood which may render the killing of CTCs inefficient due to reduced exposure of CTCs to drugs. Nevertheless, over the past few decades, the development of nanoparticles and nanoformulations to improve the half-life and release profile of drugs in circulation has rejuvenated certain traditional medicines in the emerging field of CTC neutralization. This review focuses on how the principles of nanomedicine may be applied to target CTCs. Moreover, inspired by the interactions between CTCs and host cells in the blood circulation, novel biomimetic approaches for targeted drug delivery are presented.
Studies of collision-induced radiationless transitions in polyatomic vapors: Azabenzenes

Abstract A general picture is derived of the collisional dependence of those S 1 → T intersystem crossings which occur after low level S 1 excitation in six azabenzene vapors (table 1: pyridine, pyrazine, pyrimidine, pyridazine, sym-triazine, and sym-tetrazine). New triplet yield and fluorescence quenching measurements are brought together with data in the literature. Triplet formation occurs in four of the six and with a collisional dependence. Maximum triplet yields are approximately 0.5, 1, 1, 0, 0.6 and 0 respectively.
Options for investigative postsurgical therapy for gastric cancer, and case report of using the option for combined immunotherapy and chemotherapy.

The investigative therapy for a senior patient after radical subtotal gastroesophagectomy for regional lymph node and proximal esophagus metastasized adenocarcinoma (stage IIIA, T3, N 1 M0) of the cardioesophageal junction is reported. The case has several unusual features: (1) the patient is the author and is not a physician; (2) in the absence of codified postsurgical treatment, he used his academic biomedical background, commercial associations, and international contacts to find and prioritize six clinically tested options for investigative postsurgical therapy; (3) after unsuccessful efforts to append ongoing clinical trials of new immunotherapies for breast adenocarcinoma (the first two therapy options), an innovative protocol was designed and gained allowance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for his use of combined nonspecific immunotherapy and chemotherapy based on extensive trials in South Korea that showed the synergistic effect of the two postsurgical therapies used together. A potent, new, nonspecific immunostimulant (DetoxPC) was injected subcutaneously in 10 diminishing doses during 105 weeks. Two standard chemotherapeutic drugs (5-fluorouracil and mitomycin-C) were injected intravenously in six equal doses during three weeks. Five years after the surgery, the patient enjoys good health without signs or symptoms of recurrence or metastasis. He discusses his perspectives on future clinical trials and on a patient actively pursuing investigative postsurgical therapy for a malignancy when otherwise poor survival is indicated.
Synthesis and Stability of Mixed Ligand Zirconium Phosphonate Layered Compounds

The synthesis of layered phosphonates of zirconium was carried out using ligands which were combinations of phenylphosphonic acid and either phosphoric or phosphorus acid. At high ratios of phosphate to phenylphosphonic acid in the presence of HF a staged or interstratified product was obtained in which layers of pure phosphate alternated with those of phenyl pendant groups. At lower ratios of phosphate to phosphonate both ligands are randomly dispersed on the layers with compositions Zr(O{sub 3}PC{sub 6}H{sub 5}){sub x}(HPO{sub 4}){sub x{minus}x}, where x = 0.7-1. When the second ligand was phosphite, a greater variety of products were obtained. In the case where both ligands were randomly dispersed on the layers, the interlayer distances ranged from 15.5{angstrom} (almost all phenylphosphonate)j to 10.4{angstrom}(mostly phosphite). This latter spacing arises from each phenyl group in one layer lying opposite a phosphite group in the adjacent layers. Interstratified phosphonate phosphites were also obtained. The behavior of these mixed derivatives on sulfonation under fuming sulfuric acid is also described.
A comparison of the effectiveness of thermoluminescent crystals LiF:Mg,Ti, and LiF:Mg,Cu,P for clinical dosimetry

This study compared the relative effectiveness of TLD crystals LiF:Mg,Ti (TLD-100) and LiF:Mg,Cu,P (TLD-700H) for clinical dosimetry, focusing on reproducibility, linearity, and energy response. Experimental results indicated that TLD-700H was superior to TLD-100 with regard to reproducibility, lack of supralinearity, and the absence of variation in TL signal with radiation quality. TLD-700H also had the additional advantages of higher sensitivity and immediate readability. The investigators conclude that this relatively new TLD crystal shows promising potential for clinical dosimetry.
Brain and cerebrospinal fluid permeability to intravenous thyroid hormones.

Labeled thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) given by constant intravenous infusion to dogs for 4 hr penetrate both brain and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Labeled T4 reached a steady state distribution between serum, CSF, and cerebral cortex tissue water (CCTW). Labeled T3 entered CCTW more readily than T4 but was slower to reach steady state distribution in CSF. Distribution ratios ofendogenous, nonlabeled T3 and T4 between serum, CSF, and CCTW compartments were similar. The more ready brain penetration of T3 is probably due to a less ionized state at pH 7.4 than T4. Failure of labeled albumin to penetrate CSF during the experimental period suggested a greaterpermeability to free than protein-bound hormone. Impaired transport of labeled free T4 into CSF under conditions of T4 loading was consistent with a carrier mechanism with a transport maximum. Comparison of the influx rates of protein-bound hormones to the efflux of T4 and T3 revealed an imbalance theoretically correctable onlyby influx of free ho...
Politics, culture, and class in the French revolution

(1987). Politics, culture, and class in the French revolution. History of European Ideas: Vol. 8, No. 3, pp. 381-382.
Epidemiological and Outcomes Research in Children with Pediatric Cardiomyopathy: Discussions from the International Workshop on Primary and Idiopathic Cardiomyopathies in Children.

Abstract This report summarizes the roundtable discussion held at the first International Workshop on Primary and Idiopathic Cardiomyopathies in Children which focused on future directions for research on the epidemiology, etiology and outcomes for children with cardiomyopathy. Areas identified as important for future research included: 1) developing a standardized approach to the assessment and follow-up of children with myocarditis; 2) investigating the epidemiology of sudden death in children with dilated cardiomyopathy; 3) identification of biomarkers to serve as surrogate endpoints for important clinical outcomes; 4) the continuation of observational studies like the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-sponsored Pediatric Cardiomyopathy Registry; and 5) conducting randomized clinical trials of pharmacological and behavioral interventions. It was concluded that optimal research strategies should employ a multidisciplinary research team including pediatric cardiologists, epidemiologists, biostatisticians, geneticists, patient care staff and advocacy groups. Further, adequately powered clinical trials may be facilitated by the establishment of a pediatric cardiomyopathy clinical trials network.
The use of cultured rat embryos to evaluate the teratogenic activity of serum: Cadmium and cyclophosphamide

Head fold stage rat embryos were cultured for 48 hours in vitro on serum taken at various intervals from rats that had been injected ip with either cadmium or cyclophosphamide. Their response was compared to that of embryos cultured for the same period on control serum to which these substances were added directly. One and 4 hour sera from cadmium-injected rats (2.13 mg Cd + +/kg) were lethal. Eight hour serum allowed survival but embryos were exencephalic and contained reduced amounts of protein and DNA. The response to direct cadmium was characteristically different and was related to dosage and the extent to which zero-time embryos had progressed through the head fold stage. At 1.6 ..mu..M, Cd + + susceptible embryos were hemorrhagic, though not exencephalic. One hour serum from rats given cyclophosphamide (180 mg/kg) was lethal. On 4 hour serum, embryos survived but were exencephalic and contained less protein and DNA than controls. Embryos were resistant to direct cyclophosphamide up to 800 ..mu..g per ml of medium. At this concentration, embryos appeared morphologically normal but contained reduced amounts of protein.
The amino acid sequence of a variable region of rabbit b4 light chain from an anti-SIII antibody: Comparison with light chains of the same sub-group from anti-A-variant carbohydrate antibodies

The sequence of the variable region of a light chain from rabbit anti-type III polysaccharide antibody of b4 allotype was determined. Comparison with other sequenced rabbit kappa chains showed striking similarity to light chains with the rare amino terminal sequence Ile-Val-Met from antibodies elicited against Streptococcal A-variant carbohydrate and the carbohydrate of Micrococcus lysodeikticus. Residues 28–33 within the first complementarity determining region (CDR) were identical in sequence to the anti-A-variant carbohydrate antibody light chains but the third CDR differed considerably. An unusual insertion of three amino acids following homology position 58 was found which has not been previously observed in rabbit kappa chains.
Simulation of a digital lock-in amplifier

Abstract A lock-in amplifier was simulated on an IBM 370 computer using digital signal processing. An NMR signal was generated to which 20 db of random noise was added and this was fed into the simulation. The signal was processed the same as in analog equipment; i.e., narrow-band filtering followed by phase-sensitive detection and low-pass filtering. The output had an excellent signal-to-noise ratio. Digital design equations are given.
Kinetics of Rb Absorption by Excised Barley Roots under Changing Rb Concentrations. II. An Interpretation of Kinetic Data

of salts in higher plants. Handbuch der Pflanzenphysiologie IV: 615-37. 10. STEWARD, F. C., R. M. ZACHARIUS, AND J. K. POLLARD. 1955. Nitrogenous compounds in plants; recent knowledge derived from paper partition chromatography. Ann. Acad. Sci. Fennicae. Ser. A 2, 60: 321-66. 11. TUKEY, H. B. JR. AND J. A. ROMBERGER. 1959. The nature of substances leached from foliage. Plant Physiol. 34: vi. 12. TUKEY, H. B. JR. AND H. B. TUKEY. 1962. The loss of organic and inorganic materials by leaching from leaves and other above-ground plant parts. In.: Radioisotopes in Soil-Plant Nutrition Studies, Intern. Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna. p 289-302. 13. TUKEY, H. B., JR., H. B. TUKEY, AND S. H. WiTTWER. 1958. Loss of nutrients by foliar leaching as determined by radioisotopes. Proc. Am. Soc. Hort. Sci. 71: 496-506.
A scalable distributed dynamic address allocation protocol for ad-hoc networks

Dynamic address allocation is an essential part in effective configuration and maintenance of a mobile ad-hoc network (MANET). In this paper, we present a new distributed dynamic address allocation protocol minimizing address allocation latency and communication overhead. Through analytic evaluation and experimental measurements, we show that scalability and faster recovery from failures can be achieved by dynamic address allocation. The dynamic address assignment protocol presented here requires a low memory footprint while supporting unicast, broadcast and multicast communication. A performance analysis of the proposed address allocation protocol is given in terms of address allocation latency and communication overhead. Node and Network mobility is addressed from the point of dynamic address management. The dynamic address allocation protocol is implemented on a TinyOS platform over a cluster tree network.
Heterogeneity of clinical severity and molecular lesions in Aircardi syndrome

All patients with Aicardi syndrome are female or have a 47,XXY karyotype. This finding, along with a report of an Aicardi syndrome patient with an Xp22/autosome translocation, led to the hypothesis that Aicardi syndrome might be caused by an X-linked dominant, male-lethal mutation on the short arm of the X chromosome. To study this hypothesis, we investigated X chromosome inactivation patterns in peripheral lymphocytes from seven patients. We used two methods: methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme analysis and segregation of the active X chromosome in somatic cell hybrids. We found that three of seven cytogenetically normal girls with Aicardi syndrome had profoundly skewed X-inactivation in their lymphocytes, supporting the concept that Aicardi syndrome is X linked. Three of the five girls with the greatest degree of psychomotor retardation and the poorest seizure control had skewed X-inactivation. In contrast, the two highest-functioning children had random X-inactivation. We screened DNA using eight polymorphic probes from the Xp22 region but were unable to identify a deletion in any of the seven patients. Nonrandom X-inactivation in lymphocytes and possibly other tissues in some, but not all, patients with Aicardi syndrome may reflect heterogeneity of their molecular lesions.
Interpersonal referential communication experiments with a small computer

A LINC-8 computer is used with a Tektronix 611 CRT for presenting verbal information, and a slide projector for displaying facial photographs in studies of interpersonal referential communication.
Effects of Nutrient Management on Nitrate Levels in Ground Water Near Ephrata, Pennsylvania

Effects of the implementation of nutrient management practices on ground-water quality were studied at a 55-acre farm in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, from 1985-90. After nutrient management practices were implemented at the site in October 1986, statistically significant decreases (Wilcoxon Mann-Whitney test) in median nitrate concentrations in ground- water samples occurred at four of the five wells monitored. The largest decreases in nitrate concentration occurred in samples collected at the wells that had the largest nitrate concentrations prior to nutrient management. The decreases in median nitrate concentrations in ground-water samples ranged from 8 to 32 percent of the median concentrations prior to nutrient management and corresponded to nitrogen application decreases of 39 to 67 percent in contributing areas that were defined upgradient of these wells. Changes in nitrogen applications to the contributing areas of five water wells were correlated (Spearman rank-sum test) with nitrate concentrations of the well water. Changes in ground-water nitrate concentrations lagged behind the changes in applied-nitrogen fertilizers (primarily manure) by approximately 4 to 19 months.
Empirical evaluation of a domain-oriented component library based on an embedded case study design

This paper presents an empirical evaluation of the real-life reuse of a domain-oriented library of problem-solving methods, in which top-level methods are related with respect to a domain model in an application area. First, the author clarifies research questions and the assumptions underlying this study, in accordance with a framework of case study research design. The organization of the library and its deployment processes are then briefly introduced. Taking account of the recurring modification of the library, the stability and productivity are investigated with respect to the code-size changes and the number of person-hours spent on the maintenance. Finally, it is concluded that the stability of a domain model is ensured by module dependency, and facilitates productive reuse of the domain-oriented library.
Use of a crystallization robot to set up sitting-drop vapor-diffusion crystallization and in situ crystallization screens

A commercial crystallization robot has been modified for use in setting up sitting-drop vapor-diffusion crystallization experiments, and for setting up protein crystallization screens in situ. The primary aim of this effort is the automated screening of crystallization of integral membrane proteins in detergent-containing solutions. However, the results of this work are of general utility to robotic liquid-handling systems. Sources of error that can prevent the accurate dispensing and mixing of solutions have been identified, and include local environmental, machine-specific and solution conditions. Solutions to each of these problems have been developed and implemented.
Cyber-physical security using system-level PUFs

Cyber Physical Systems (CPS) is an emerging computing paradigm that is becoming prevalent in various technologies. Achieving a trustworthy CPS requires us to build mechanisms that ensure the integrity and authenticity of these systems. Fortunately with the new advancements in semi-conductor-based technologies, in particular Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs), we have the potential to build secure couplings between cyber and physical substrates based on intrinsic physical material. In this paper, we share some thoughts on how to utilize the PUF technology for security in CPS. Based on a composition approach, we illustrate the benefits of combining multiple PUF elements, with some inherently bias factor, into one randomly secure and strong system-level PUF.
Low-acrylamide French fries and potato chips

Acrylamide is produced in starchy foods that are baked, roasted or fried at high temperatures. Concerns about the potential health issues associated with the dietary intake of this reactive compound led us to reduce the accumulation of asparagine, one of its main precursors, in the tubers of potato (Solanum tuberosum). This metabolic change was accomplished by silencing two asparagine synthetase genes through ‘all-native DNA’ transformation. Glasshouse-grown tubers of the transformed intragenic plants contained up to 20-fold reduced levels of free asparagine. This metabolic change coincided with a small increase in the formation of glutamine and did not affect tuber shape or yield. Heat-processed products derived from the low-asparagine tubers were also indistinguishable from their untransformed counterparts in terms of sensory characteristics. However, both French fries and potato chips accumulated as little as 5% of the acrylamide present in wild-type controls. Given the important role of processed potato products in the modern Western diet, a replacement of current varieties with intragenic potatoes could reduce the average daily intake of acrylamide by almost one-third.
Morphology of Burrow Systems: A Comparison of Gunnison's (Cynomys gunnisoni), White-Tailed (C. leucurus), Black-Tailed (C. ludovicianus), and Utah (C. parvidens) Prairie Dogs

Abstract In this paper, we provide a description of six excavated burrow systems of Gunnison's prairie dog (Cynomys gunnisoni) in northern Arizona. These data plus other data from the literature on structure of the burrow system of Gunnison's prairie dogs, black-tailed prairie dogs (C. ludovicianus), white-tailed prairie dogs (C. leucurus), and Utah prairie dogs (C. parvidens) were used to compare species. Our excavations reveal that burrow systems of Gunnison's prairie dog vary from simple to complex structures, with >50% of burrow systems having multiple aboveground entrances. There was no significant difference among species in total length of burrow. Burrow systems of black-tailed prairie dogs were significantly deeper than burrow systems of Gunnison's prairie dog. On average, burrow systems of Utah and Gunnison's prairie dogs had more aboveground entrances than black-tailed or white-tailed prairie dogs. Overall, the burrow systems for all species were similar in structure, complexity, and underground...
Quality of life and function after electroconvulsive therapy.

Background The National Institute for Clinical Excellence in the UK has recommended limiting the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), partly because of the inadequacy of research into the effects of ECT on quality of life and function. Aims To examine the effects of ECT on function and quality of life, particularly as they relate to changes in mood and cognition in the month following this therapy. Method We measured changes in quality of life, function, mood and cognition in a prospective sample of 77 depressed patients given ECT. Results All quality of life and function outcomes were improved at the 2-week and 4-week marks after ECT. Improvement in quality of life was related to mood, whereas improvement in instrumental activities of daily living function was related to improvement in global cognition. Conclusions Electroconvulsive therapyis associated with early improvement in function and quality of life. A restrictive attitude towards this therapy is not warranted on the basis of its effects on quality of life and function.
Spider mite (Acari : tetranychidae) infestation rate and initiation : effect on cotton yield

A 2-yr study was conducted to investigate the effect of spider mites, Tetran- ychw spp., on cotton (Cossyytum hfrsutum L.) in the West Central San Joaquin Valley of California. Results of each year were analyzed by spline (i,e,, segmented) regression. In 1982, following infestation of cotton at a550 degree-days (DD) > 12°C after planting, significant reduction in yield did not occur until a critical infestation rate (change in the proportion of infested leaves) reached 0.121/100 DD, after which, yields were dramatically reduced. Results of spline regression analysis suggest that cotton is initially tolerant of spider mites, but once the infestation rate exceeds the critical rate, tolerance breaks down rapidly. This critical rate is fundamental to the economic threshold for spider mites on cotton, which is suggested to be 0.8 proportion infested, P(I), leaves. Plots treated with an acaricide at 0.8 P(I), dlid not reach the critical infestation rate and did not experience economic loss. In 1983, yield reduction was significantly greater with early infestations than with late infestations. Combining the 1982 and 1983 data into a single regression analysis showed that the txitical infesttition rate increased with later infestation initiation. In a supplemental analysis, infes- tation rates were weighted as a function of relative spider mite species abundance and species-specific damage. Weighted infestation rates did not significantly improve or reduce the fit of the regression function. A benefit-cost analysis indicated that once the spider mite population rate of increase exceeds the critical infestation rate, yield suppression is dramatic and sufficient to warrant management intervention. KEY 'WORDS Arachnida, Goss ypium, infestation rates, spider mites
Enhancement of glioblastoma cell killing by combination treatment with temozolomide and tamoxifen or hypericin.

Object. The chemotherapeutic agent temozolomide has demonstrated antitumor activity in patients with recurrent malignant glioma. Because responses are not enduring and recurrence is nearly universal, further improvements are urgently needed. Methods. In an effort to increase the clinical activity of temozolomide, the authors investigated whether its antitumor activity could be enhanced by adding tamoxifen or hypericin, two drugs that are known to inhibit the activity of protein kinase C. Human glioblastoma multiforme cell lines A172 and LA567 were treated with combinations of temozolomide and tamoxifen or hypericin in vitro, and cell survival was analyzed using various methods. Tamoxifen and hypericin were able to greatly increase the growth-inhibitory and apoptosis-stimulatory potency of temozolomide via the downregulation of critical cell cycle‐regulatory and prosurvival components. Furthermore, with the use of an in vivo xenograft mouse model, the authors demonstrated that hypericin was able to enhance the antiglioma effects of temozolomide in the in vivo setting as well. Conclusions. Taken together, analysis of the results indicated that combination therapy involving temozolomide and tamoxifen or hypericin potently inhibited tumor growth by inducing apoptosis and provided an effective means of treating malignant glioma.
Formation of the beta-carbon of serine from formaldehyde.

SummaryC14 from labeled formaldehyde was incorporated into the β-carbon of serine greater than that from labeled formate or methanol. The indications are that formaldehyde is the more direct precursor of the β-carbon of serine.
Why do Managers Dismantle Staggered Boards

Staggered boards offer incumbent management considerable protection from hostile takeovers and proxy fights. However, in the last few years, managers of an increasing number of firms have voluntarily destaggered their boards, exposing themselves to the risk of being removed from office. This paper investigates why managers decide to destagger their boards. I find statistically significant evidence that the likelihood of destaggering increases with shareholder pressure (in the form of precatory shareholder resolutions seeking destaggered boards) and with the amount of the CEO's unvested (including out-of-the-money) options. I do not find evidence of a strong connection between the decision to destagger and firm performance, or other CEO characteristics, including other forms of compensation such as unrestricted equity. The study provides insight into the informal power and influence of shareholders over the board, and the role of equity and monetary compensation in aligning management's interests with those of the shareholders.
GENETIC CONTROL OF THE IMMUNE RESPONSE : FREQUENCY AND CHARACTERISTICS OF ANTIGEN-BINDING CELLS IN HIGH AND LOW RESPONDER MICE

The influence of immunization with (T,G)-A--L on the frequency and characteristics of [(125)I] (T,G)-A--L-binding cells (ABC) was investigated in high and low responder mice, whose ability to respond to (T,G)-A--L is under control of an H-2-linked immune response gene, Ir-1. Unimmunized high and low responder mice have about the same number of ABC in spleen and lymph nodes (6-12 ABC/10(4)). However, after immunization with (T,G)-A--L in aqueous solution, ABC in high responders increase to a much greater extent than they do in low responders. By inhibition of ABC with class-specific anti-Ig sera, it was demonstrated that in nonimmune and primed mice antigen is bound to IgM receptors, which is in agreement with the exclusive production of 19S anti-(T,G)-A--L antibody in primed animals. In contrast, after secondary challenge with antigen, ABC in high and low responder mice have mainly IgG receptors, although under the conditions used for immunization, low responders are not able to produce detectable amounts of 7S anti-(T,G)-A--L antibody. From these results and from the evidence that low responders very probably have a T cell defect, it is suggested that the switchover from IgM to IgG precursor cells can be induced by antigen itself, without the action of specific T cells. Furthermore, the failure of marked proliferation of ABC in low responders after antigenic stimulation is explained by the lack of stimulation by specific T cells. By independent methods it has been shown that all ABC detected in this study are B cells. Preliminary experiments indicate that purified peripheral T cells bind antigen, but much less per cell than do B cells.
Lyotropic Liquid Crystals as Nanoreactors for Nanoparticle Synthesis

A new methodology for the synthesis of nanoparticles using lyotropic liquid crystals as nanoreactors has been developed. The hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains of lyotropic phases have characteristic dimensions of 2-10 nm and thus can be used to confine reactants that are selectively soluble in only one domain to nanoscopic dimensions. Here, synthesis of Bi (a metal) and PbS (a compound semiconductor) nanoparticles is driven by bringing together reactants via the shear mixing of two liquid crystals, each containing dissolved reactants that are selectively soluble in one of the two phases, as proof-of-principle for this method. Modulating the phase of the lyotropic liquid crystals allows control over the geometry and interconnectivity of the nanoreactors, giving control over the diameter of nanoparticles produced. Decreasing concentration of precursors is shown to decrease particle size. It is also demonstrated that the nanoparticles produced are not agglomerated in the lyotropic liquid crystal during synthesis. The synthesized nanoparticles are characterized with TEM, electron diffraction, EDAX, and UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy.
Backwards Easton Forcing and $0^#$

It is shown that if κ is an uncountable successor cardinal in L [0 # ], then there is a normal tree T ϵ L [0 # ] of height κ such that 0 # ∉ L [ T ], yet T is κ -distributive in L [0 # ]. A proper class version of this theorem yields an analogous L [0 # ]-definable tree such that distinct branches in the presence of 0 # collapse the universe. A heretofore unutilized method for constructing in L [0 # ] generic objects for certain L -definable forcings and “exotic sequences”, combinatorial principles introduced by C. Gray, are used in constructing these trees.
Activity Awareness: from Predefined Events to New Pattern Discovery

Applying advanced video technology to understand (human) activity and intent, including the interaction of multiple people and objects, is becoming increasingly important, especially for intelligent video surveillance. Recently, technical interest in video surveillance has moved from lowlevel processing modules, such as motion detection and motion tracking, to activity awareness and more complex scene understanding. This paper presents an integrated video surveillance system at Honeywell labs, which detects predefined activities with improved robustness. Also, we present the new activity detection (pattern discovery), which can automatically capture new activities, and present the newly detected activities to the operator who checks for their validity and adds them into the activity models. Moreover, we present a torso angle feature, which represents people posture, to detect activities, such as people falling. We used real world data sets to show the effectiveness of our proposed method.
Prototyping an analog computing representation of predator prey dynamics

Analyzing systems can be a complex task especially when there is feedback across several variables in the model. Formal mathematical notation makes it difficult to understand the influences of feedback and cause/effect. Forrester created the System Dynamics methodology as a means to assist in this understanding by employing a hydraulic analogy. In this methodology, variables become simulated objects such as water valves or tanks. A variety of implementations allow users to construct and simulate these models. The problem is that for many implementations, the intuitive nature of water flow, intended by the methodology, is not as clear as it could be. For instance, the rate of flow or level in a tank may not be visualized. For novices, we suggest that this issue, as well the ability to understand relationships and linking across multiple representations can be problematic. We designed and describe a web-based interface that solves these problems.
Effects of spatial light modulator opaque dead zones on optical correlation.

Each pixel of a spatial light modulator (SLM) consists of a phase- or amplitude-modulating area (the active zone) within an inactive area (the dead zone). Here we study optical correlators that contain input and filter SLM’s whose dead zones are opaque. Computer simulations and analytical calculations are carried out for these correlators when a phase-only, a binary phase-only, or a classical matched filter is written on the filter SLM. The correlation signal-to-noise ratio for a particular filter is independent of a dead zone since its energy throughput is proportional to its peak correlation intensity.
Incidence and clinical decision making for the Wada test over one decade: 1997–2007

Purpose. The objective of this study was to review the percentage of Wada tests performed on patients with intractable temporal lobe epilepsy undergoing surgery at a single epilepsy centre over the last decade, and to identify clinical features which are more likely associated with decision making in favour of Wada testing. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed all temporal lobe resections performed between 1997 and 2007 at the Cleveland Clinic Epilepsy Center. Results. A total of 410 Wada tests were conducted on 777 patients undergoing temporal lobectomy (TL). Left temporal resection was performed in 55% of cases. The most frequent pathological diagnoses were hippocampal sclerosis (42%) and non-specific gliosis (26%). Overall, Wada test frequency in patients undergoing presurgical evaluation decreased over time. In 1997, 47 of 58 (81%) TL patients underwent Wada testing compared to 11 of 76 (14.4%) in 2007. Patients with left temporal lobe epilepsy, and/or those referred for subdural electrode placement, were significantly more likely to undergo Wada testing. The most common types of surgery were antero- medial temporal resection with removal of mesial structures (59%) and tempo- ral resection without mesial structure removal (32%). Patients with left temporal epilepsy and Wada testing were significantly more likely to undergo resection of mesial cortex. Discussion. Wada testing has declined over the last decade in this single centre study. Patients with left, likely dominant, temporal lobe epilepsy and those with subdural evaluations were more likely to undergo Wada testing. We speculate that the emergence of alternative noninvasive language laterali- zation techniques, along with concerns about the reliability of results and awareness of complication risks, are major reasons for the decline.
Neurotoxicity of traffic-related air pollution

The central nervous system is emerging as an important target for adverse health effects of air pollution, where it may contribute to neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Air pollution comprises several components, including particulate matter (PM) and ultrafine particulate matter (UFPM), gases, organic compounds, and metals. An important source of ambient PM and UFPM is represented by traffic-related air pollution, primarily diesel exhaust (DE). Human epidemiological studies and controlled animal studies have shown that exposure to air pollution, and to traffic-related air pollution or DE in particular, may lead to neurotoxicity. In particular, air pollution is emerging as a possible etiological factor in neurodevelopmental (e.g. autism spectrum disorders) and neurodegenerative (e.g. Alzheimer's disease) disorders. The most prominent effects caused by air pollution in both humans and animals are oxidative stress and neuro-inflammation. Studies in mice acutely exposed to DE (250-300μg/m3 for 6h) have shown microglia activation, increased lipid peroxidation, and neuro-inflammation in various brain regions, particularly the hippocampus and the olfactory bulb. An impairment of adult neurogenesis was also found. In most cases, the effects of DE were more pronounced in male mice, possibly because of lower antioxidant abilities due to lower expression of paraoxonase 2.
Inducing Partially Observable Markov Decision Processes

In the field of reinforcement learning (Sutton and Barto, 1998; Kaelbling et al., 1996), agents interact with an environment to learn how to act to maximize reward. Two different kinds of environment models dominate the literature—Markov Decision Processes (Puterman, 1994; Littman et al., 1995), or MDPs, and POMDPs, their Partially Observable counterpart (White, 1991; Kaelbling et al., 1998). Both consist of a Markovian state space in which state transitions and immediate rewards are influenced by the action choices of the agent. The difference between the two is that the state is directly observed by the agent in MDPs whereas agents in POMDP environments are only given indirect access to the state via “observations”. This small change to the definition of the model makes a huge difference for the difficulty of the problems of learning and planning. Whereas computing a plan that maximizes reward takes polynomial time in the size of the state space in MDPs (Papadimitriou and Tsitsiklis, 1987), determining the optimal first action to take in a POMDP is undecidable (Madani et al., 2003). The learning problem is not as well studied, but algorithms for learning to approximately optimize an MDP with a polynomial amount of experience have been created (Kearns and Singh, 2002; Strehl et al., 2009), whereas similar results for POMDPs remain elusive. A key observation for learning to obtain near optimal reward in an MDP is that inducing a highly accurate model of an MDP from experience can be a simple matter of counting observed transitions between states under the influence of the selected actions. The critical quantities are all directly observed and simple statistics are enough to reveal their relationships. Learning in more complex MDPs is a matter of properly generalizing the observed experience to novel states (Atkeson et al., 1997) and can often be done provably efficiently (Li et al., 2011). Inducing a POMDP, however, appears to involve a difficult “chicken-and-egg” problem. If a POMDP’s structure is known, it is possible to keep track of the likelihood of occupying each Markovian state at each moment of time while selecting actions and making observations, thus enabling the POMDP’s structure to be learned. But, if the POMDP’s structure is not known in advance, this information is not available, making it unclear how to collect the necessary statistics. Thus, in many ways, the POMDP induction problem has elements in common with grammatical induction. The hidden states, like non-terminals, are important for explaining the structure of observed sequences, but cannot be directly detected. Several different strategies have been used by researchers attempting to induce POMDP models in the context of reinforcement learning. The first work that explicitly introduced
The President's Secrets

The President and his high-level advisors routinely deny requests for information on the ground that disclosures of their deliberations would have a chilling effect on full and frank communications. It is understandable that they do so. As a political matter, the claim is intuitively appealing. As a legal matter, the Supreme Court validated the reasoning in first recognizing executive privilege, and relied on it again recently in Cheney v. United States District Court, involving a dispute over information concerning the President's national energy policy task force. This Article scrutinizes this pervasive and enduring - but largely unexamined - rationale for maintaining the President's secrets. The Article argues that, from a constitutional perspective, this commonsense assumption is significantly incomplete, and, as a result, overstates the strength of the President's confidentiality interest. It fails to take into account the qualified and contingent nature of the President's need for confidentiality. It also overstates the likelihood that confidentiality-induced candor will lead to better decisions. It stresses one potentially salutary effect of confidentiality - reducing speaker inhibitions - while ignoring other, more troubling consequences. Based on this assessment, the Article rejects the constitutional analysis, exemplified most recently in Cheney, that assumes the substantiality of the President's generalized or undifferentiated confidentiality interest in information disputes concerning his high-level deliberations. It argues instead for an approach - akin to the analysis suggested in the two Nixon cases of the Watergate era, but largely overlooked by subsequent lower court and Department of Justice opinions - that acknowledges the varying force of the President's confidentiality interest and requires a searching review of the extent of that interest in each case. In order to differentiate among presidential confidentiality claims, this approach, like the Nixon cases', assesses the likelihood that the proposed disclosure would chill candid deliberations. Moving beyond the Nixon cases, the differentiation approach also considers the other ways, distinct from chilling, that the sought-after disclosure would affect the quality of presidential decisions.
Molecular Sensor Based on Olfactory Transduction

The initial step in odor perception by an olfactory system is the momentary binding of odorant molecules to receptor sites of olfactory receptor cells. The interaction between odorant molecules and some receptor sites is highly specific. Humans and animals can discriminate between odorants with a high degree of molecular similarity, for example, between optical isomers. The olfactory system is capable of responding at threshold to very small concentrations of airborne chemicals.
19.8 A 0.0021mm2 1.82mW 2.2GHz PLL using time-based integral control in 65nm CMOS

Phase-locked loops (PLLs) are de-facto clock generators in analog, digital, RF, and embedded systems to generate a high frequency output clock from a low frequency reference clock. Modern systems-on-chip (SoCs) require many such PLLs that cater to multi-core processors, memories, IO interfaces and power management. A ring-oscillator-based analog charge-pump PLL offers a flexible and power-efficient way to implement such clock multipliers. However, frequency compensation of analog PLLs requires a large loop filter capacitor that occupies significant area. The area penalty is further exacerbated in deep sub-micron CMOS processes due to increasing oscillator gain and gate leakage. For example, a 2GHz PLL in 65nm CMOS requires a 90pF capacitor (R=1kΩ) to achieve 10MHz bandwidth and 70° phase margin. Assuming a capacitor density of 1fF/µm2, a 90pF capacitor occupies an area of 0.09mm2. Digital PLLs (DPLLs) offer an attractive means to eliminate the loop-filter capacitor [1, 2]. However, quantization error added by its loop components degrades the performance in multiple ways. First, it makes the DPLL loop inherently non-linear causing the steady state to be a bounded limit cycle, which manifests as deterministic jitter (DJ) at the PLL output. Second, it introduces conflicting noise bandwidth requirements, which makes it difficult to achieve low jitter in a power efficient manner. For instance, suppressing TDC quantization error by reducing PLL bandwidth increases the DCO phase noise contribution. As a result, DCO power must be increased to lower its noise contribution. This is especially problematic in ring-oscillator-based DPLLs. Finally, a high-resolution digital-to-analog converter (DAC) needed to interface the DLF output to the ring oscillator typically occupies large area and negates some of the area benefits of DPLLs [1, 2]. In view of these drawbacks, we present a PLL architecture that combines the advantages of analog (no quantization error) and digital PLLs (small area and scalability) by using a time-based integral path. The prototype PLL requires neither a high resolution DAC nor a capacitor and fits in 40µm×52µm (0.0021mm2) active area. It achieves 3.8psrms integrated jitter at 2.2GHz and consumes 1.82mW power.