cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tumor-specific immunity can be enhanced by transfection of tumor cells with syngeneic MHC-class-II genes or allogeneic MHC-class-I genes.

Mouse Sal sarcoma cells are lethal in the autologous A/J (KkDd) host. In order to improve the immune response to the Sal tumor, Sal cells have been transfected with syngeneic MHC-class-II or allogeneic MHC-class-I genes. MHC-class-II transfectants are uniformly rejected by the autologous host and immunization with them protects against subsequent Sal challenge. The improved immunity is probably the result of enhanced generation of tumor-specific Th cells. We hypothesize that class-II+ tumor cells trigger an improved Th-cell response because they directly present Sal tumor antigens in the context of class-II molecules to Th cells, by-passing professional APC. Studies by others have demonstrated that antigen presentation requires an intracellular signal transmitted by the cytoplasmic domain of the APC class-II molecule. Sal cells expressing class-ll antigens with truncated cytoplasmic domains are as malignant as wild-type Sal cells. These experiments therefore support the role of tumor-cell class-II molecules as antigen presentation elements, and demonstrate the requirement for intact class-II molecules for tumor protection. Sal cells have also been transfected with allogeneic MHC-class-I genes. Although Kb-transfected cells are not rejected by A/J mice, Db-transfected Sal cells and Kb- plus Db-transfected cells are rejected. The Db transfectants effectively immunize A/J mice against subsequent Sal challenge. These experiments demonstrate that expression of certain allogeneic MHC-class-I genes can lead to tumor-specific immunity, and that such transfectants can protect against challenges of wild-type tumor cells. Transfection of tumor cells with syngeneic MHC-class-II or allogeneic MHC-class-I genes may therefore be a potential strategy for improving tumor-specific immunity in the autologous host.
Endometrial stem cell transplantation restores dopamine production in a Parkinson’s disease model

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by the loss of dopaminergic neurons. Adult human endometrial derived stem cells (HEDSC), a readily obtainable type of mesenchymal stem-like cell, were used to generate dopaminergic cells and for transplantation. Cells expressing CD90, platelet derived growth factor (PDGF)-Rβ and CD146 but not CD45 or CD31 were differentiated in vitro into dopaminergic neurons that exhibited axon projections, pyramidal cell bodies and dendritic projections that recapitulate synapse formation; these cells also expressed the neural marker nestin and tyrosine hydroxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme in dopamine synthesis. Whole cell patch clamp recording identified G-protein coupled inwardly rectifying potassium current 2 channels characteristic of central neurons. A 1-methyl 4-phenyl 1,2,3,6-tetrahydro pyridine induced animal model of PD was used to demonstrate the ability of labelled HEDSC to engraft, migrate to the site of lesion, differentiate in vivo and significantly increase striatal dopamine and dopamine metabolite concentrations. HEDSC are a highly inducible source of allogenic stem cells that rescue dopamine concentrations in an immunocompetent PD mouse model.
The role of solute segregation in promoting the hardenability of steel

The two most potent promoters of hardenability in steel are boron and phosphorus. It appears that these elements function by segregating to austenite grain boundaries and interfering with the nucleation of proeutectoid ferrite. It is suggested that this occurs by the stabilization or alteration of the structure of certain special grain boundary re-gions which serve as favored nucleation sites for ferrite. It is demonstrated how at least part of the effect of alloying elements like manganese and chromium might be ascribed to their enhancement of phosphorus segregation. Under certain conditions phosphorus could be a useful addition to increase the hardenability of low alloy steels.
Disorder Operators in Chern-Simons-Fermion Theories

Building on the recent progress in solving Chern-Simons-matter theories in the planar limit, we compute the scaling dimensions of a large class of disorder ("monopole") operators in $U(N)_k$ Chern-Simons-fermion theories at all 't Hooft couplings $\lambda = N/k$. We find that the lowest-dimension operator of this sort has dimension $\frac23 k^{3/2}$. We comment on the implications of these results to analyzing maps of fermionic disorder operators under 3D bosonization.
Examining Virtual Busts: Are Photogrammetrically Generated Head Models Effective for Person Identification?

We examined the effectiveness of using 3D, visual, digital representations of human heads and faces (i.e., virtual busts) for person identification. In a series of 11 studies, participants learned a number of human faces from analog photographs. We then crafted virtual busts from those analog photographs, and compared recognition of photographs of the virtual busts to the original analog photographs. We demonstrated that the accuracy of person identification using photographs of virtual busts is high in an absolute sense, but not as high as using the original analog photographs. We present a paradigm for comparing the similarity, both structural (objectively similar in shape) and subjective (subjectively in the eyes of a viewer) of virtual busts to analog photographs, with the goal of beginning the discussion of a uniform standard for assessing the fidelity of digital models of human faces.
A revised method for determining the absolute abundance of diatoms

Diatoms and other microfossils are used extensively in reconstructions of past climates and environments, in both terrestrial and marine settings. Both relative and absolute abundances of diatom taxa in sediment are important tools in these reconstructions. However, acquiring these data is a labor-intensive process. Settling-based diatom slide preparation techniques often bias samples through aliquot subsampling and sediment washing. Other techniques involve the use of added markers, which might obscure diatoms on the slide. This paper presents a revision to the widely adopted settling-based diatom slide preparation method presented by Scherer (J Paleolimnol 12:171–179, 1994) and provides a direct comparison to another widely used method. Evenly distributed diatom slides can be created by a settling process, which yields multiple statistically similar diatom slides without needing to clean sediment of salts or do aqueous subsampling, which may impart a bias in the sample when there is a wide range of particle shapes and sizes in the assemblage. Two samples originally utilized by Scherer (J Paleolimnol 12:171–179, 1994) were prepared via the updated method through a series of replicates. These results were compared to the same samples, processed with the method of Schrader and Gersonde (Utrecht Micropaleontol Bull 17:129–176, 1978), utilizing Petri dishes and the original results of Scherer (J Paleolimnol 12:171–179, 1994). The new modification presented here produces smaller standard deviations than the original Scherer method, and order of magnitude better statistics than the Schrader and Gersonde (Utrecht Micropaleontol Bull 17:129–176, 1978) method.
Linear AC magnetic circuit theory

A theory is presented for linear, AC magnetic circuits. The theory develops real and imaginary reluctance terms, which are used in the same manner as real and imaginary impedance terms in linear, AC electrical circuit theory. The reluctance terms can be manipulated through coil-coupled resistances and capacitances. The theory is applied to a parallel magnetic-circuit configuration to show the limits of applicability for the particular materials from which the circuit is constructed. >
Power Options for Wireless Sensor Networks

To combat the security threats of the 21st century it has become increasingly necessary to protect ever-remote terrain with wireless sensor surveillance. These systems must be seff-sustaining to ensure they are constanty operational. Sandia developed a software simulation tool to validate a variety of renewable energy sources for commercial needs. While this software is heavily used in industry it has yet to be fully applied to wireless sensor networks. Based on simulated solar energy yields two different solar energy systems were designed, built, and deployed to the field. In the time since the solar energy power supplies were deployed zero hours have been spent on maintenance and it was not necessary to replace a single battery.
Robust position regulation of a rotary servo actuated by a shape memory alloy wire

This paper presents the design and experimental results of robust control of a rotary servo actuated by an SMA wire. A rotary servo device using NiTi type of SMA wire have been designed and fabricated for this research. This rotary servo is equipped with an RVIT (rotary variable inductance tansformer) sensor for angular position measurements. To actively control the servo, a sliding-mode based robust control approach is used. The sliding-mode based robust control consists of three components: a standard proportional plus derivative (PD) control term, a feedforward term used as a bias current, and a robust term to increase the system's stability and control accuracy. The control strategy is implemented using a dSPACE real-time control system. Experimental results show that the rotary servo can be precisely controlled using the sliding-mode based robust control approach.
Phenomenological theory of the interaction of electrons with polar phonons in anisotropic crystals

Abstract The generalized phenomenological lattice equations of Huang are used to derive the Hamiltonian of the coupled electron phonon system in an anisotropic crystal. The dependence of the coupling constant on the angle formed by the phonon wave vector and the axis of an uniaxial crystal is given explicitely. A significant dependence of the coupling constant on this angle persists even in the case of dominant mechanical or electrostatic forces.
From Game Protection to Wildlife Management: Frame Shifts, Organizational Development, and Field Practices

One enduring question in social movements research is the rela- tionship between cultural representations and organizational structure. In this article, we examine the development of different discursive frames over time, and how such frame shifts affect movement structure and practices. This approach seeks to illuminate the dialectical interplay between the movement community's discursive frame and its practices, and thus expand our under- standing of the process of social movement growth and change. Through a close qualitative and historical analysis of a discursive shift within the hunting community of the United States in the 1930s from a focus strictly on game protection to a more expanded discursive frame of wildlife management, we show how this cultural shift led to major changes in both the organizational structure and advocacy goals of this social movement. We conclude with a discussion of how this process can be further studied.
Aliskiren-hydrochlorothiazide combination for the treatment of hypertension.

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and currently has been estimated at 30% of the US population. Of these, only 36.8% have their blood pressure reduced to recommended levels of lower than 140/90 mmHg for uncomplicated hypertension, or less than 130/80 mmHg for patients with diabetes mellitus or renal disease. Since monotherapy controls blood pressure in less than 50% of treated hypertensive patients, combination therapy is often required to bring blood pressure to the recommended levels of the 7th Joint National Committee report. One of the most effective and widely used combinations is the combination of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker with hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ). Aliskiren, a new blocker of the renin–angiotensin system has been developed and approved by the US FDA on 18th January 2008 for the treatment of hypertension. Aliskiren is a direct inhibitor of renin, the rate-limiting enzyme for the production of angiote...
Coalition Governments in Western Europe. Edited by Wolfgang C. Müller and Kaare Strøm. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000. 602p. $90.00.

This comprehensive volume analyzing Western European government coalitions from 1945 until 1999 is an impressive and meticulously researched work. Using a uniform, cross-national collection of data the authors examine both the governing institutions and the patterns of conflict resolution in the 13 Western European democracies that have experienced coalition government during the post-World War two years.
Channeling the water data deluge: a system for flexible integration and analysis of hydrologic data

The hydrologic cycle and understanding the relationship between rainfall and runoff is an important component of earth system science, sustainable development, and natural disasters caused by floods. With this in mind, the integration of digital earth data for hydrologic sciences is an important area of research. Currently, it takes a tremendous amount of effort to perform hydrologic analysis at a large scale because the data to support such analyses are not available on a single system in an integrated format that can be easily manipulated. Furthermore, the state-of-the-art in hydrologic data integration typically uses a rigid relational database making it difficult to redesign the data model to incorporate new data types. The HydroCloud system incorporates a flexible document data model to integrate precipitation and stream flow data across spatial and temporal dimensions for large-scale hydrologic analyses. In this paper, a document database schema is presented to store the integrated data-set along wi...
The impact of deposition site on vaccination efficiency of a live bacterial poultry vaccine

Abstract Vaccines are utilized within the poultry industry to minimize disease-associated losses and spray vaccination is a commonly utilized means for the mass application of poultry vaccines. During this process, vaccine-laden particles are deposited upon target areas (e.g., eyes, nares, and oral cavity) resulting in the direct internalization of the vaccine. However, particles are also deposited on nontarget areas such as the exterior of the subject and its surrounding environment. To better determine the fate of particles deposited upon nontarget areas and the impact of deposition site on the efficiency of vaccine application, a live bacterial poultry vaccine (AviPro® MG F) was applied via spray using a spray cabinet with a slotted partition allowing for head-only, body-only, and whole-bird spray application. At 11 wk age, Hy-Line® W-36 pullets (n = 280) were allocated equally among 7 treatments including: nonvaccinated controls, pullets spray-vaccinated at the manufacturer's recommended dose (1X) in a site-specific manner (head-only, body-only, and whole-bird), pullets spray-vaccinated at 5X the recommended level (body-only), pullets vaccinated by manual eye-drop application (1X), and pullets eye-drop vaccinated at a level approximating that achieved during the spray vaccination process (1/700X). At 6 to 7 wk postvaccination, vaccination efficiency was assessed via serological-based assays [serum plate agglutination (SPA) and ELISA] and the detection of vaccine-derived in vivo populations. Results indicate an additive contribution of the vaccine deposited on the body to the overall vaccination efficiency of this live bacterial live poultry vaccine.
Residues in Eggs and Tissues of Chickens on Rations Containing Low Levels of DDT

Abstract INTRODUCTION NABER and Ware (1961) and Ware and Naber (1961) reported on lindane residues in eggs and tissues of chickens consuming less than 1 p.p.m. of lindane in the diet. The reports for other chlorinated insecticides have been chiefly on feeding trials in which the diets contained in excess of 50 p.p.m. of insecticide to determine toxicity (Marsden and Bird, 1947; and Rubin et al., 1947). There is a lack of information on the residues in eggs and tissues from chickens consuming DDT in the diet at less than 1 p.p.m. concentration. The DDT could be introduced in the ration from alfalfa hay (Draper et al., 1950) or animal fat (Carter et al., 1948). This research was performed to determine residues of DDT in eggs and tissues of laying hens and tissues of broilers on rations containing DDT in amounts under 1 p.p.m. for various periods of time as might…
Using student reports to measure immediacy: Is it a valid methodology?

Teacher immediacy has been a widely studied construct with the overall finding that being immediate is good. Verbal and nonverbal immediacy has been associated with increased motivation to study and learning. The most common methodology used to measure teacher immediacy has been student reports. An underlying assumption of this methodology is that students are able to objectively observe and report the behaviors performed by their instructor. The validity of this methodology has never been examined. The purpose of this study is to examine a variety of individual differences that may influence how students report their instructors' immediacy behaviors. Results from four studies are presented. The general conclusion drawn from these studies is that the individual differences examined do not influence the reporting of immediacy, providing support for the use of this methodology.
FPGA-based implementation of Horner's rule on a high performance heterogeneous computer

Codes that have large/irregular-stride (L/I) memory access patterns often perform poorly on mainstream clusters because of the general purpose processor (GPP) memory hierarchy. In the event of erratic access of data, the cache suffers misses and causes inadequate performance of the kernel. High performance heterogeneous computers (HPHCs) are parallel computing clusters that contain multiple and different processing units such as GPPs, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), graphics processing units, etc., connected via a high-speed network. In this research, 64-bit foating-point MPI codes are used to illustrate the run-time performance impact of L/I memory accesses in both software-only and FPGA-augmented codes and to assess the benefits of mapping L/I-type codes onto HPHC clusters. The experiments documented herein reveal that large-stride software-only codes experience unfavorable performance. On the contrary, large-stride FPGA-augmented codes do not endure such disparaging performance because FPGAs are not impacted by stride. For experiments with large data sizes, the unit-stride FPGA-augmented code ran over two times slower than software except for when there was substantial data reuse. On the other hand, the large-stride FPGA-augmented code ran faster than software for all the larger data sizes.
Desmoglein 1-dependent suppression of EGFR signaling promotes epidermal differentiation and morphogenesis.

Dsg1 (desmoglein 1) is a member of the cadherin family of Ca2+-dependent cell adhesion molecules that is first expressed in the epidermis as keratinocytes transit out of the basal layer and becomes concentrated in the uppermost cell layers of this stratified epithelium. In this study, we show that Dsg1 is not only required for maintaining epidermal tissue integrity in the superficial layers but also supports keratinocyte differentiation and suprabasal morphogenesis. Dsg1 lacking N-terminal ectodomain residues required for adhesion remained capable of promoting keratinocyte differentiation. Moreover, this capability did not depend on cytodomain interactions with the armadillo protein plakoglobin or coexpression of its companion suprabasal cadherin, Dsc1 (desmocollin 1). Instead, Dsg1 was required for suppression of epidermal growth factor receptor–Erk1/2 (extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2) signaling, thereby facilitating keratinocyte progression through a terminal differentiation program. In addition to serving as a rigid anchor between adjacent cells, this study implicates desmosomal cadherins as key components of a signaling axis governing epithelial morphogenesis.
Male Association Preference for Conspecifics in the Redband Darter, Etheostoma luteovinctum (Teleostei: Percidae) Based on Visual Cues

Divergent visual signals and associated mate preferences are frequently hypothesized to result in behavioral isolation between species lineages. Females are traditionally predicted to be the choosier sex, using visual cues such as male color to facilitate mate recognition and assessment. However, a number of authors have hypothesized that males also are selective in choosing mates and that male preferences can be important in maintaining behavioral isolation. Darters of the genus Etheostoma (Percidae) are a diverse group of sexually dimorphic fishes in which males of most species exhibit elaborate nuptial coloration during spawning seasons. Male coloration is hypothesized to play a role in maintaining behavioral isolation between darter species, and females show association preferences for conspecific male coloration. However, the degree to which males exhibit preferences for conspecific female visual cues is less clear. We examined conspecific association preferences based only on visual signals in male ...
The ligand-binding domains of the thyroid hormone/retinoid receptor gene subfamily function in vivo to mediate heterodimerization, gene silencing, and transactivation

The ligand-binding domains (LBDs) of the thyroid/retinoid receptor gene subfamily contain a series of heptad motifs important for dimeric interactions. This subfamily includes thyroid hormone receptors (T3Rs), all-trans retinoic acid (RA) receptors (RARs), 9-cis RA receptors (RARs and retinoid X receptors [RXRs]), the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptor (VDR), and the receptors that modulate the peroxisomal beta-oxidation pathway (PPARs). These receptors bind to their DNA response elements in vitro as heterodimers with the RXRs. Unliganded receptors in vivo, in particular the T3Rs, can mediate gene silencing and ligand converts these receptors into a transcriptionally active form. The in vivo interactions of these receptors with RXR were studied by using a GAL4-RXR chimera containing the yeast GAL4 DNA-binding domain and the LBD of RXR beta. GAL4-RXR activates transcription from GAL4 response elements in the presence of 9-cis RA. Unliganded T3R, which does not bind or activate GAL4 elements, represses the activation of GAL4-RXR by 9-cis RA in HeLa cells. However, addition of T3 alone leads to transcriptional activation. These findings suggest that T3R can repress or activate transcription while tethered to the LBD of GAL4-RXR and that heterodimerization can occur in vivo without stabilization by hormone response elements. Similar ligand-dependent activation was observed in HeLa cells expressing RAR, VDR, or PPAR and in GH4C1 cells from endogenous receptors. Replacement of the last 17 amino acids of the LBD of RXRbeta with the 90-amino-acid transactivating domain of the herpes simplex virus VP16 protein leads to a GAL4 constitutive activator that is repressed by wild-type T3R but not by a ninth heptad mutant that does not form heterodimers. This finding suggests that the ninth heptad or T3R is important for gene silencing and that the LBD of RXR does not exhibit silencing activity. This conclusion was verified with GAL4-LBD chimeras and with wild-type receptors in assays using appropriate response elements. These studies indicate that the LBD has diverse functional roles in gene regulation.
Expression of the protein product of the PCPH proto-oncogene in human tumor cell lines.

Abstract Rouzaut, A., Recio, J. A. and Notario, V. Expression of the Protein Product of the PCPH Proto-oncogene in Human Tumor Cell Lines. Exposure of Syrian hamster embryo fibroblasts to chemical carcinogens resulted in the oncogenic activation of the PCPH proto-oncogene by induction of a single base-pair deletion that generated a truncated PCPH oncoprotein (mutated PCPH). Recently, we isolated and characterized the cDNA for the human PCPH proto-oncogene and determined that in humans PCPH is a single-copy gene located in chromosome 14 (14q24.3). Pilot mRNA expression studies indicated that PCPH was expressed in the majority of normal organs tested, particularly in liver and kidney, but it appeared to be expressed either at low levels or not at all in tumor cells or cell lines derived from the high-expressing tissues. We have generated an antiserum against bacterial recombinant Syrian hamster PCPH. This antiserum recognizes both the normal and truncated, oncogenic Syrian hamster PCPH proteins and cross-re...
the ChemiCal imbalanCe explanation of Depression: reDuCing blame at What Cost?

Brain disease models of psychopathology, such as the popular “chemical imbalance” explanation of depression, have been widely disseminated in an attempt to reduce the stigma of mental illness. ironically, such models appear to increase prejudicial attitudes among the general public toward persons with mental disor ders. However, little is known about how biochemical causal explanations affect the perceptions of individuals seeking mental health treatment. Ninety under graduate students participated in a thought experiment in which they were asked to imagine feeling depressed, seeking help from a doctor who diagnosed them with major depressive disorder, and receiving, in counterbalanced order, a chemical imbalance and biopsychosocial explanation for their symptoms. ratings of each explanation’s credibility and perceptions of self-stigma (e.g., blame), prognosis, and treatment expectancies were obtained. Compared to the biopsychosocial model, the chemical imbalance model was associated with significantly less self-stigma but also significantly lower credibility, a worse expected prognosis, and the perception that psychosocial interventions would be ineffective. the chemical imbalance explanation appears to reduce blame at the cost of fostering pessimism about recovery and the efficacy of nonbiological treatments. research is needed on how the chemical imbalance model affects the clinical response of patients receiving mental health treatment.
A simple device to position large/flaccid breasts during tangential breast irradiation

Abstract Purpose: It is technically difficult to irradiate large pendulous or flaccid breasts with tangential photon fields because they often lie very high or lateral on the chestwall. We, therefore, designed a device to reposition the breast on the chestwall to facilitate treatment. Methods and Materials: A device to aid in repositioning the breast on the chestwall has been designed. The device consists of a reinforced polyvinylchloride tube formed into a ring that is placed around the breast. A strap around the patient's chest holds the ring in place. The breast tissue is manually moved to the desired position on chestwall, whereafter the strap is tightened to maintain the position. Treatment setup marks are placed on the skin peripheral to the breast and on the immobilization mold. Results: Twelve patients with large/flaccid breasts were successfully treated with this device. The technical and physician staff find the reproducibility and acute treatment reactions to be acceptable. Anatomically, the use of this device reduces the volume of lung tissue otherwise included in the tangential fields in patients where the breast lies far lateral. In patients where the breast lies too far cephalad on the chestwall for tangential fields to clear the arm, repositioning of the breast with this device makes tangential fields possible. Conclusion: This repositioning appliance aids in the radiation treatment of patients with large or flaccid breasts and, in some instances, renders otherwise nontreatable patients treatable with radiation therapy.
Defect interactions on solid surfaces

A unified approach to the calculation of the elastic interaction between defects on a surface tbat descrii, for example, steps, islands, and stress domains is presented. This is a~mpI~hed by dete~~g tire spatial dependence of the elastic displ~ment fields generated by the idealized point and line forces representing these defects and applying a power counting argument. This argument is then extended to determine the dependence of the interaction energy of two such elastic defects on their separation. In order to apply this analysis to a spatially extended surface defect we develop a multipole expansion of the displacement field that can be used to easily classify the force distribution of this defect in terms of its moments and, hence, determine the dependence of defect-defect interaction energies on separation. As a specific example, we calculate the elastic interaction between two separated circular islands on the surface of an elastic half-space and interpret the results in terms of power counting arguments.
Effect of fibrinogen on leukocyte margination and adhesion in postcapillary venules.

Objective: To quantitatively evaluate the role of fibrinogen (Fb) as a determinant of leukocyte (WBC) margination in postcapillary venules in light of its ability to induce red blood cell (RBC) aggregation with reductions in shear rate ( ˙ γ ) and increase adhesiveness of WBCs to endothelium (EC). Methods: Red cell aggregation (RCA), WBC margination (flux at the EC), rolling velocity, and adhesion to the EC were measured in rat mesenteric postcapillary venules upon reducing ˙ γ , prior to and following systemic infusion of Fb. Proximal occlusion of feeding microvessels with a blunted probe facilitated reductions in ˙ γ from 600 to 50 s −1 . An index of aggregation (G) was derived from lightscattering properties of RBCs, where G was proportional to the number of RBCs per aggregate. WBC margination was measured as the percentage of total luminal WBC flux that rolled on the EC, F ∗ . Results: For normal levels of Fb (0.07 g%), reductions in ˙ γ resulted in a 4-fold rise in F ∗ and no change in G as ˙ γ was reduced to 50 s −1 . Infusion of Fb to achieve a plasma concentration to 0.7 g% caused a modest 20% increase in G and a 2.5-fold increase in F ∗ at ˙ γ = 50 s −1 . WBC-EC adhesion appeared to increase significantly, but much less than with infusion of high molecular weight dextran (Dx). With Dx, G increased 3-fold, with reductions in ˙ γ , but F ∗ increased only half the amount incurred with Fb at low shear. The greater margination in the presence of Fb results from RBC rouleaux that promote radial migration of WBCs. In contrast, clumps of RBCs resulting from high molecular weight Dx entrain WBCs within plasma gaps along the vessel centerline. Conclusions: In the presence of Fb, margination of WBCs increases dramatically at low shear due to rouleaux formation, which enhances radial migration of WBCs. This effect is much greater than with Dx because disruption of the much weaker Fb induced rouleaux precludes reductions in HMICRO, whereas clumping aggregates induced by Dx form plasma gaps. Thus, modest levels of RCA caused by increased Fb may greatly enhance margination and with an enhancement of adhesiveness synergistically promote firm WBC-EC adhesion in the low flow state. Microcirculation (2004) 11, 295‐306. doi:10.1080/10739680490425994
Models for a Class of Man-Environment Epidemic Diseases

The mathematical theory of man-environment epidemic diseases is not yet well developed as such [1], even if many attempts have been made to describe particular examples of such diseases (see for example the brilliant work on schistosomiasis and helminthic infections [3, 14, 15, 16]). Our own interest started from the analysis of fecal-oral transmitted diseases (such as cholera, typhoid fever, infectious hepatitis, poliomyelitis, etc.), which can be regarded as a particular class of man-environment diseases, but we would like to propose these models as a possible way to describe other diseases which are spread via an interaction (direct or indirect) with the environment. We start with the analysis of the basic model (Section 2) which had been originally proposed to describe the mechanism of transmission of cholera epidemics in the European Mediterranean regions in 1973 [11]. This model suggests the introduction of a basic threshold parameter θ which has been the guideline for all subsequent work; it is important to mention that, for preventive purposes, we need to suggest, to the health authorities of a country, parameters that must be maintained below a suitable threshold in order to prevent the outbreak of future epidemics. In Section 3 we analyze modifications of the basic threshold parameter to take into account seasonal fluctuations of the parameters of the epidemic model. A behavior of this kind was revealed by the statistical analysis of the experimental data relative to the typhoid fever in the city of Bari, Southern Italy [8], where to a mean endemic level, we could see a superimposed periodic fluctuation of a seasonal kind.
Alterations in cell cycle control during tumor progression: effects on apoptosis and the response to therapeutic agents.

It has long been apparent that alterations in the control of the cell cycle accompany the development of tumorigenicity. The mere observation that cell growth continues in tumors whereas normal cells for the most part cease dividing and retain a diploid amount of DNA suggests that the controls regulating the normal cell cycle have failed to function in the tumor cell. In recent years the biochemical mechanisms underlying the transitions through the cell cycle have begun to be identified, and some of the gene products that are mutated in cancer cells have been shown to interact directly with these genes in control of the cell cycle. These mutated genes, as well as the cell cycle regulators, have been shown to affect whether cells undergo programmed cell death and to influence how cells respond to DNA-damaging agents that are frequently used therapeutically. Thus the genetic changes in the cell that affect cell cycle progression also have a bearing on the therapeutic outcome. While the description of the changes affecting the G0 to G1 to S phase transition is currently better understand as regards malignancy, the G2/M to phase transition also has important implications for therapy.
Abuse in Childhood or Adolescence and Gestational Diabetes: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Introduction Early life abuse has been linked to later Type 2 diabetes, but its association with gestational diabetes has not been examined. The aim of this study was to examine the association between childhood and adolescent abuse victimization and risk of gestational diabetes in the Nurses' Health Study II. Methods Participants were asked about experiences of physical and sexual abuse in childhood or adolescence in 2001 and about history of pregnancy complications in 2009. Mothers of singleton live births who provided information on their abuse history comprised the study sample. Modified Poisson regression was used to estimate risk ratios and 95% CIs for gestational diabetes as a function of physical and sexual abuse victimization. Analyses were conducted in 2014−2015. Results Of 45,550 women in the analysis, 8% reported severe physical abuse and 11% reported forced sexual activity in childhood or adolescence. Approximately 3% ( n =3,181) of pregnancies were complicated by gestational diabetes. In adjusted models, severe physical abuse was associated with a 42% greater gestational diabetes risk (risk ratio=1.42, 95% CI=1.21, 1.66) relative to no physical abuse. Forced sexual activity was associated with a 30% greater risk (95% CI=1.14, 1.49). Women with histories of both physical and sexual abuse were at higher risk than women exposed to a single type of abuse. These associations were not explained by overweight status in early adulthood or prior to pregnancy. Conclusions Childhood and adolescent victimization is associated with increased risk of gestational diabetes in adult women.
Biological Studies on Obligate Mite Ectoparasites of the House Mouse, with a Key for the Identification of Their Immature and Adult Stages (Acarina: Myobiidae and Listrophoridae)

During the period from July 1, 1949 to June 30, 1950, a survey was conducted to elucidate the relation of the commensal house mouse (Mus musculus Linnaeus) to the epidemiology of murine typhus in the State of Mississippi. House mice were live-trapped and their ectoparasites were removed by a brushing and washing technique. It was found in this survey that the most abundant and widely distributed ectoparasites of the house mouse were two species of fur mites, Radfordia affunis Poppe and Myobia murismusculi (Schrank) (52.9% of all ectoparasites collected), family Myobiidae, and a representative of the family Listrophoridae, Myocoptes musculinus Koch (35.4%). These species are believed to be true obligate ectoparasites of the house mouse in Mississippi.
Antigenicity of Connective Tissue Extracts.

Summary1. Antibodies to rabbit connective tissue have been induced in the guinea pig. 2. Connective tissue extracts from aged rabbits had greater antigenicity than from young animals. 3. Anticonnective tissue serum crossreacted with the cytoplasmic fraction of rabbit leukocytes. 4. Chemical characteristics of the antigenic component of connective tissue remain incompletely explored.
Failure of Thyrotropic Pituitary Hormone to Prevent Spontaneous Mammary Cancer in Mice

SummaryLong continued subcutaneous injection of an anterior pituitary preparation which contained thyrotropic hormone and some gonadotropic hormone did not definitely affect the incidence of mammary carcinoma in female mice of the RIII strain.
Modeling Radiation-Induced Scattering in Graphene

In this paper we analyze and model conductivity ( σ) and mobility ( μ) degradation in graphene due to total ionizing dose (TID)-induced carrier scattering effects. The analysis technique presented in this paper utilizes in situ measurements of low-field transport in graphene samples irradiated with gamma rays (Co-60) in multiple doses up to 2 Mrad(Si). The carrier backscattering mean free path ( λ) is extracted as a function of ionizing radiation by fitting the measurements with analytical calculations of conductivity in graphene derived from scattering theory. This derivation is based on the Landauer approach and incorporates the linear dispersion relation near the Dirac point, and the two-dimensional (2-D) structure of graphene. The extractions of λ are used to model the impact of radiation-induced scattering on the conductance ( G) of graphene FETs as a function of channel length ( L) from the diffusive (i.e., for L ≫ λ) to the ballistic limit (i.e., for L ≪ λ).
Development and survival of threecornered alfalfa hopper (Homoptera: membracidae) nymphs at constant temperatures

Development and survival of threecornered alfalfa hopper, Spissistilus festinus (Say), nymphs were assessed at 10 constant temperatures from 12.8 to 35.0°C. Relationships between temperature and development rate of individual instars and the nymphal stage were described by either two- or four-parameter biophysical models. The occurrence of high-temperature inhibition of development was variable among instars. Development of the nymphal stage was described by a model with no inhibition and a model with high-temperature inhibition. Mortality of nymphs was 100% at 12.8, 19.7, and 35.0°C. Nymphal survival was >50% only at 26.7 and 29.4°C.
Delivery of adenoviral vectors to the prostate for gene therapy

Prostate cancer has become the most frequently occurring cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men. One novel approach to combat prostate cancer is gene therapy. A replication-deficient recombinant adenoviral vector (AdRSVlacZ) expressing bacterial β-galactosidase (β-gal) (lacZ) under the control of the Rous sarcoma virus promoter was used to determine which delivery route was best for the transduction of adenoviral vectors to the prostate. Using a canine model, adenoviral vectors were administered by intravenous, intra-arterial, and intraprostatic (i.p.) injections. After injections, the expression of the lacZ gene was measured in canine prostates as well as in various other organs to determine the distribution of the disseminated adenoviral vector by (a) the percentage of cells expressing lacZ in situ (5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl β-D-galactoside staining), (b) β-gal enzymatic activity (colorimetric β-gal assay), and (c) polymerase chain reaction of genomic DNA using primers specific for the adenoviral genome. An i.p. injection of the adenoviral vector resulted in a greater transduction rate and expression level of lacZ in the prostate than either intravenous or intra-arterial (inferior vesical/prostatic artery) injections. Thus, an i.p. (or intratumoral) injection seems to be the best route to treat local regional prostate cancer by viral-based gene therapy.
Niche breadth,overlap,and detrended correspondence analysis of mosquitoes in five arid wetlands in North Xinjiang, China

Objective To determine the niche breadth, overlap, and inter- species correlations of mosquito species in five aridwetlands in North Xinjiang using ecological niche theory and relevant methods.MethodsMosquitoes were captured withcarbon dioxide-baited light traps and were then classified and counted. Niche breadth and overlap were estimated with Shannon-Wiener's and Pianka's formulae, respectively. Hierarchical cluster analysis was performed with a matrix of the constituent ratioof individual species, and detrended correspondence analysis(DCA) was performed with the population size of each mosquitospecies in different wetland habitats.ResultsA total of 20 731 mosquitoes, belonging to 16 species in 5 genera, were capturedin the five arid wetlands in North Xinjiang. Of these, Aedes dorsalis had the greatest niche breadth(0.8326), followed byAe. vexans(0.6350), Ae. caspius(0.5954), and Anopheles messeae(0.5558). Regarding niche overlap index, there were 26 species(20.31%) with log- transformed values above 0.90 and 85 species(70.83%) with log- transformed values above 0.50. The fivewetland habitats were classified into two major ecotypes by hierarchical cluster analysis. DCA ordination diagram showed thelongest distance of Ae. sinkiangensis and Mansonia richiardii from other species among the mosquitoes tested.ConclusionThedominant mosquito species does not always has the greatest niche breadth. Similar mosquito population structure exists in thewetlands of Buergen River, the lower reach of Ertix River, and the lower reach of Yili River, as well as in the wetlands of EbinurLake and the estuary of Emin River. Species distribution of mosquitoes and their correlations with wetland habitats can bedirectly reflected by DCA ordination.
THE TWO SIRS EPIDEMICAL MODELS WITH VERTICAL INFECTION AND VACCINATION IN THE EASILY INFECTED GROUPS

The SIRS epidemical models with continuous and impulsive vaccinations are discussed.The reproduction numbers corresponding to those two models are given.A complete global analysis is given to the continuous vaccination models by using a Liapunov function and a Lasalle invariable theory.In the SIRS epidemical models with impulsive vaccinations,the existence and global stability of the disease-free periodic solution is proved by using a Floquet multiplication theory and a comparative theorem.
Smooth muscle stretch-activated phospholipase C activity.

Rabbit aortic muscles were stretched from a holding length of 0.6 maximum length (Lmax) to lengths as great as 1.0 Lmax and the new length maintained. When muscles were stretched to 1.0 Lmax, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3] and inositol 1,4-bisphosphate [Ins(1,4)P2] contents were increased at 375 ms (uncorrected for freezing time) poststretch to 209 +/- 27 and 139.8 +/- 12% (SE), respectively, of control values. Increases in Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Ins(1,4)P2 contents reached an apparent maximum at approximately 500 ms, i.e., to 243.7 +/- 15.8 and 180.9 +/- 16.2% of control, and were decreased to near control levels at 1,700 ms poststretch. The stretch threshold for phospholipase C (PLC) activation was 0.85 Lmax. The latency to onset of PLC activation, correcting for the time for freezing, was 275 to 375 ms. Maximal PLC activity was 91 pmol.s-1.100 nmol total lipid P(i)-1, which corresponded to 10% of total phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate being hydrolyzed per second. The mechanism of stretch-activated PLC activity involved influx of Ca2+ via gadolinium-sensitive ion channels, but not via nifedipine-sensitive ion channels.
Congruences for the number of spin characters of the double covers of the symmetric and alternating groups

Let p be an odd prime. The bar partitions with sign and p-bar-core partitions with sign respectively label the spin characters and p-defect zero spin characters of the double cover of the symmetric group, and by restriction, those of the alternating group. The generating functions for these objects have been determined by J. Olsson. We study these functions from an arithmetic perspective, using classical analytic tools and elementary generating function manipulation to obtain many Ramanujan-like congruences.
Mercury contamination and stable isotopes reveal variability in foraging ecology of generalist California gulls

Abstract Environmental contaminants are a concern for animal health, but contaminant exposure can also be used as a tracer of foraging ecology. In particular, mercury (Hg) concentrations are highly variable among aquatic and terrestrial food webs as a result of habitat- and site-specific biogeochemical processes that produce the bioaccumulative form, methylmercury (MeHg). We used stable isotopes and total Hg (THg) concentrations of a generalist consumer, the California gull ( Larus californicus ), to examine foraging ecology and illustrate the utility of using Hg contamination as an ecological tracer under certain conditions. We identified four main foraging clusters of gulls during pre-breeding and breeding, using a traditional approach based on light stable isotopes. The foraging cluster with the highest δ 15 N and δ 34 S values in gulls (cluster 4) had mean blood THg concentrations 614% (pre-breeding) and 250% (breeding) higher than gulls with the lowest isotope values (cluster 1). Using a traditional approach of stable-isotope mixing models, we showed that breeding birds with a higher proportion of garbage in their diet (cluster 2: 63–82% garbage) corresponded to lower THg concentrations and lower δ 15 N and δ 34 S values. In contrast, gull clusters with higher THg concentrations, which were more enriched in 15 N and 34 S isotopes, consumed a higher proportion of more natural, estuarine prey. δ 34 S values, which change markedly across the terrestrial to marine habitat gradient, were positively correlated with blood THg concentrations in gulls. The linkage we observed between stable isotopes and THg concentrations suggests that Hg contamination can be used as an additional tool for understanding animal foraging across coastal habitat gradients.
A formal analysis of Correspondence Theory

This paper provides a computational analysis of the complexity of GEN and Correspondence Theory in terms of the nature of the logic involved in their formulation. The first result of this analysis shows that the GEN function is not definable in Monadic Second Order (MSO) logic. Second, we show that the set of input-output Correspondence-theoretic candidates from a given underlying representation is definable in First Order (FO) logic, which is less complex than MSO-logic. Third, we present some case studies where the correct input-output Correspondence-theoretic candidate from a given underlying representation can be accomplished with FO-definable, language-specific, inviolable constraints without recourse to optimization.