cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regulatory T cells in cancer

CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) are increased in the peripheral circulation of patients suffering from many different types of cancers and can prevent protective antitumor immunity from optimal functioning. Properties of Tregs in the solid tumor mass and its draining lymph nodes may differ compared to Tregs in peripheral circulation, making studies of tumor microenvironmental Tregs the focus of more recent work. These tumor-associated Tregs are heterogeneous with respect to mechanisms of their origin and in their mechanisms for regulating and impeding successful antitumor immunity. Although many studies now report that tumor Treg content inversely correlates with survival or therapeutic response, there are conflicting data, including reports that Tregs are beneficial in some types of cancers. Strategies to manage Treg-mediated immune dysfunction for therapeutic purposes include depleting Tregs, blocking their regulatory functions or differentiation, altering their trafficking, diverting them into a different T cell differentiation pathway, or raising the effector cell threshold to Treg-mediated regulation. Several clinical trials have now been conducted demonstrating the feasibility and relative safety of managing Tregs in human cancer. This chapter surveys current understandings of Tregs in malignancies, including their origins, mechanisms of action, interactions with other immune cells and strategies to manage them therapeutically. Other regulatory cells in cancer will be addressed in brief.
Plant community response to regional sources of dominant grasses in grasslands restored across a longitudinal gradient

Citation: Wilson, L. R., Gibson, D. J., Baer, S. G., & Johnson, L. C. (2016). Plant community response to regional sources of dominant grasses in grasslands restored across a longitudinal gradient. Ecosphere, 7(4), 16. doi:10.1002/ecs2.1329
Autonomic Printing Infrastructure for the Enterprise

In this paper we describe a solution to introduce autonomic behavior to the enterprise printing infrastructure. The techniques proposed do not need an overhaul to replace existing print devices—our solution introduces fail-over print capability to the millions of printers that comprise the installed base. We describe techniques for “printer neighborhood-awareness” and for enabling an easy path to the fail-over solution deployment without requiring custom PC software or new driver installs. We also discuss our experiences deploying this solution in a live enterprise IT environment.
Logically Optimal Curriculum Sequences for Adaptive Hypermedia Systems

Curriculum sequencing is an important technique used in many adaptive hypermedia systems. When following one of the possible page sequences, visiting some pages may become redundant, because its content has been covered already by another page. Using disjunctive and conjunctive prerequisites instead of partial orders to describe the many possible sequences, logical redundancy between pages can be computed on the fly without burdening the teaching model with that task [1]. Although the general case of finding all redundant pages is NP-Complete [2] and thus, intractable unless P = NP, a large subset can be located efficiently in realtime. The advantage of separating out logical redundancy, the advantage of using conjunctive and disjunctive prerequisites, and the algorithms to find redundant pages are discussed. An interesting characteristic of the presented approach is that it can be used together with a wide variety of user and teaching models.
The major endemic mycoses in the setting of AIDS: clinical manifestations.

There are four major endemic systemic mycoses, including coccidioidomycosis, paracoccidioidomycosis, blastomycosis, and histoplasmosis. All of these are commonly found in geographically circumscribed areas of the western hemisphere, but histoplasmosis is uncommonly scattered about the eastern hemisphere as well. None of these infections were initially associated with AIDS, and as recently as 1985 histoplasmosis, the most commonly seen, was reported in only 0.5% of AIDS patients. The situation has changed considerably since 1985. At present there are increasing numbers of patients who have developed coccidioidomycosis in the setting of HIV exposure (Ampel et al., 1989). These are discussed elsewhere in this book (see Galgiani et al.). Two others, paracoccidioidomycosis and blastomycosis, remain rarities in the setting of AIDS. Of 2 patients with North American blastomycosis, neither had other concurrent infections, neither had diagnostic serologic titers, and both had disseminated disease (Chiu et al., 1988). One reported patient with paracoccidioidomycosis also had disseminated disease (Bakos et al., 1988). Remarkably, this developed while he was receiving ketoconazole for esophageal candidiasis. The disease did respond to intravenously administered amphotericin B. There are other scattered unreported cases of these infections in AIDS patients.
Transperineal Template Guided Prostate Biopsy Selects Candidates for Active Surveillance--How Many Cores are Enough?

Purpose: Most prostate cancer active surveillance protocols recommend a confirmatory biopsy within 3 to 6 months of diagnosis. Transperineal template guided biopsy is an approach to improve the detection of high grade prostate cancer. However, to our knowledge the optimal technique is unknown. We evaluated the relative performance of 2 transperineal template guided biopsy approaches.Materials and Methods: Institutional review board approved prospective databases at Virginia Mason and University of Michigan were used. Men eligible for active surveillance based on initial 12-core biopsy demonstrating NCCN® guideline low risk prostate cancer were included in study. All men underwent confirmatory transperineal template guided biopsy between 2005 and 2014, and within 6 months of diagnosis. The biopsy technique was based on a 24-core template with 12 anterior and 12 posterior cores or a template based on gland volume with an average of 1 core per cc. Outcome comparisons were made by the chi-square and Fisher ex...
Cell fusion mediated by interaction of a hybrid CD4.CD8 molecule with the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope glycoprotein does occur after a long lag time.

Several domains of CD4 have been suggested to play a critical role in events that follow its binding to the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein (gp120-gp41). It has been reported previously that cells expressing a chimeric molecule consisting of the first 177 residues of human CD4 attached to residues from the hinge, transmembrane, and cytoplasmic domains of human CD8 did not form syncytia with HIV-1-infected cells (L. Poulin, L.A. Evans, S. Tang, A. Barboza, H. Legg, D.R. Littman, and J.A. Levy, J. Virol. 65: 4893-4901, 1991). In contrast, we found that the hybrid CD4.CD8 molecule expressed in human cells did render them susceptible to fusion with cells expressing HIV-1IIIB or HIV-1RF envelope glycoproteins encoded by vaccinia virus recombinants, but only after long lag times. The lag time of membrane fusion mediated by the hybrid CD4.CD8 molecule was fivefold longer than that for the wild-type CD4 molecule. However, the rate of binding to and the affinity of soluble gp120 for membrane-associated CD4.CD8 were the same as for CD4. Both molecules were laterally mobile, as determined by patching experiments. Coexpression of the CD4.CD8 chimera with wild-type CD4 did not lead to interference in fusion but had an additive effect. Therefore, the proximal membrane domains of CD4 play an important role in determining the kinetics of postbinding events leading to membrane fusion. We hypothesize that the long lag time is due to the inability of the CD4.CD8-gp120-gp41 complex to undergo the rapid conformational changes which occur during the fusion mediated by wild-type CD4.
Azoreductase in Staphylococcus aureus

Azoreductase(s) catalyze a NAD(P)H-dependent reaction in bacteria to metabolize azo dyes to colorless aromatic amines. Azoreductases from bacteria represent a novel family of enzymes with little similarity to other reductases. This unit will describe the current methods for measuring azoreductase from Staphylococcus aureus, which has been suggested to serve as a model strain to study the azo dye degradation by human skin microflora. Curr. Protoc. Toxicol. 41:4.28.1-4.28.9. © 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Keywords: azoreductase; azo dye; Staphylococcus aureus; enzyme activity; metabolites
Patterns of Suicidality and Alcohol Use in Alcoholics with Major Depression

The aims of this study were (1) to comprehensively characterize a population of alcoholics with major depression in a psychiatric hospital, (2) to determine the prevalence of suicidal behavior in this sample, and (3) to determine whether quantity of alcohol ingested was associated with level of suicidality. Ratings of drinking, depression, and suicidality were obtained using both self-rated and observer-rated instruments. The prevalence of suicide attempts in the week before hospitalization was remarkably high, approaching 40%, whereas 70% had made a suicide attempt at some point in their lifetime. These suicide attempts were typically impulsive in nature, involving little if any premeditation. Most subjects reported drinking more heavily than usual on the day of their suicide attempt. Recent suicidal behavior was significantly associated with recent very heavy drinking (< or = 70 drinks per week) and with number of drinks per drinking day. Quantity of drinking per drinking day was also significantly higher in those making a recent suicide attempt. However, no association was found between quantity of alcohol consumption and suicidal ideation. These findings suggest that recent heavy alcohol use primarily affects suicidality by increasing the likelihood of acting on suicidal ideation rather than by inducing suicidal ideation.
“A Strange Medley-Book”: Lucy Larcom's An Idyl of Work

Lucy Larcom's long autobiographical poem An Idyl of Work (1874) is a formally sophisticated treatment not of the material conditions of industrial labor but rather of the conditions of the Lowell mill workers' access to culture and of the agency of literary culture in the making of class.
Escape and evade control policies for ensuring the physical security of nonholonomic, ground-based, unattended mobile sensor nodes

In order to realize the wide-scale deployment of high-endurance, unattended mobile sensing technologies, it is vital to ensure the self-preservation of the sensing assets. Deployed mobile sensor nodes face a variety of physical security threats including theft, vandalism and physical damage. Unattended mobile sensor nodes must be able to respond to these threats with control policies that facilitate escape and evasion to a low-risk state. In this work the Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) problem has been considered. The PIT maneuver is a technique that a pursuing, car-like vehicle can use to force a fleeing vehicle to abruptly turn ninety degrees to the direction of travel. The abrupt change in direction generally causes the fleeing driver to lose control and stop. The PIT maneuver was originally developed by law enforcement to end vehicular pursuits in a manner that minimizes damage to the persons and property involved. It is easy to imagine that unattended autonomous convoys could be targets of this type of action by adversarial agents. This effort focused on developing control policies unattended mobile sensor nodes could employ to escape, evade and recover from PIT-maneuver-like attacks. The development of these control policies involved both simulation as well as small-scale experimental testing. The goal of this work is to be a step toward ensuring the physical security of unattended sensor node assets.
The effect of feedback training on lumbosacral compression during simulated occupational lifting.

This study measured the effect of a feedback training program on lumbar compression during simulated occupational lifting. Two distinct types of feedback were compared: real-time electromyographic feedback, vs. an acceleration index delivered verbally post-lift. Kinematic data were collected from 28 subjects during symmetrical sagittal plane lifts. Following a baseline session, two feedback training sessions were provided, with a 1-week interval between each session. A control group followed the same protocols, but without receiving feedback training. A post-training session, using protocols identical to the baseline session, was used to assess pre-to-post changes in the dependent variable: peak lumbosacral compression computed using a dynamic linked-segment model. All three groups showed reductions in peak compression from pre-to-post: on average the control group improved by 11.2%, the EMG group by 16.7%, and the acceleration group by 25.3%. The results revealed an interaction between the improvement an...
Studies in the diabetic Chinese hamster: electron microscopy of pancreatic islets.

Electron microscopic studies were performed on pancreatic islets of normal, genetic, nondiabetic Chinese hamsters and of diabetic animals of all degrees of severity. The ultrastructural appearance of the islets of normal hamsters did not differ from that of normal rats and mice. The islets of the profoundly diabetic animals could be distinguished because of the magnitude of beta cell glycogen infiltration, frequency of beta cell necrosis and decreased number of surviving beta cells. Islets of hamsters with spontaneous remission from diabetes contained increased numbers of hyperfunctioning beta cells. Surviving beta cells of all diabetic hamsters revealed ultrastructural evidence of enhanced insulin synthesis and secretion but revealed no evidence to suggest that they were insensitive to physiological stimuli or incapable of insulin synthesis. Spontaneous remission among diabetic Chinese hamsters could thus be explained, in part, on the basis of enhanced beta cell replication resulting in an increased insulin synthetic capacity.
An Illustrated Case for Active Learning

Educational psychologists and instructional specialists agree that students should be actively involved in the educational process. Despite evidence that students learn better and are more committed to learning when they work with course material, chalk-and-talk remains the dominant pedagogy in economics instruction. This article provides a rationale for active learning in undergraduate economic courses based on the literature and on the author's experience. It provides examples of active learning exercises, explains why students and teachers benefit from active learning, and concludes that the benefits of active learning outweigh the costs. The exercises in this article focus on the concept of present value. A companion Web site provides exercises useful for teaching other financial market concepts.
Mammalian cell fusion. 3. A HeLa cell inducer of premature chromosome condensation active in cells from a variety of animal species.

The phenomenon of premature chromosome condensation (PCC) is induced in unstimulated horse lymphocytes, bovine spermatozoa, Chinese hamster ovary cells, embryonic chick fibroblasts and erythrocytes, Xenopus kidney and mosquito cells by fusing each of these cell types with HeLa cells blocked in mitosis. Thus it becomes possible to visualize chromosomes even from non-multiplying cells of heterologous species, such as, chick erythrocytes and bovine spermatozoa.
A two-pour technique for investing interim partial dentures

A technique for the use of two stone layers to invest an interim partial denture has been presented. Holding all components on the master cast ensures accuracy.
Role of antibodies to tubulointerstitial nephritis antigen in human anti-tubular basement membrane nephritis associated with membranous nephropathy

Abstract We report three patients, from two unrelated families, with anti-tubular basement membrane (TBM) antibody nephritis associated with membranous nephropathy. This rare disorder is characterized by nephrotic syndrome, tubular dysfunction, and progression to renal failure. Direct immunofluorescent studies in these patients revealed linear IgG deposition along the proximal TBM, while circulating antibodies reacting with proximal TBM but not with glomerular basement membrane were identified by indirect immunofluorescence. Sera from all three patients reacted by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western immunoblotting with purified 58-kd tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) antigen isolated from TBM. Additional reactivity with a 175-kd component, which may be a higher-molecular-weight form of TIN antigen, was observed by immunoblotting. Since recurrent Fanconi syndrome was seen after transplantation in one patient, anti-TBM antibodies were removed by plasmapheresis prior to kidney transplantation in the other two patients. Neither patient has clinical evidence of recurrent anti-TBM nephritis in the allograft despite the post-transplantation reappearance of anti-TBM antibodies in the serum of one patient. Serologic and molecular HLA class I and class II polymorphism analysis has identified the presence of both HLA-B7 and -DRw8 antigens in two unrelated affected individuals (0.3% expected frequency in the white population). We conclude that sera from patients with anti-TBM nephritis associated with membranous nephropathy react with 58-kd TIN antigen previously implicated in the pathogenesis of primary anti-TBM nephritis. This rare autoimmune disorder may be HLA associated with B7 and/or DRw8, providing susceptibility to the disease. Further investigation is needed to understand the pathogenesis of recurrent anti-TBM nephritis in the renal allograft.
Sensitivity of melphalan-resistant tumors to selenite in vivo

Previous studies have demonstrated that melphalan-resistant human ovarian tumor cells exhibit a higher degree of sensitivity to the cytotoxic effects of selenite in vitro than comparable drug-sensitive cells (P.B. Caffrey, G.D. Frenkel, Selenite cytotoxicity in drug resistant and non-resistant human ovarian tumor cells, Cancer Res. 52 (1992) 4812-4816; P.B. Caffrey, G.D. Frenkel, The development of drug resistance by tumor cells in vitro is accompanied by the development of sensitivity to selenite, Cancer Lett. 81 (1994) 59-65). We have now examined the sensitivity of drug-resistant tumors to selenite in vivo. A2780 human ovarian tumor cells, or their melphalan-resistant derivative (A2780ME) cells were injected subcutaneously into nude mice and the resulting tumors were found to be melphalan-sensitive and -resistant, respectively, in vivo. Treatment with selenite (2 mg/kg Se s.c.), which had no overt toxic effect on the animals, resulted in a significant decrease in the rate of growth of the melphalan-resistant tumors, but not on the rate of growth of the drug-sensitive tumors. Thus, melphalan-resistant ovarian tumors are also more sensitive to selenite treatment in vivo.
Regulation of matrilysin in the rat uterus

Matrilysin was first discovered in the involuting rat uterus; it has also been known as uterine metalloproteinase, putative metalloproteinase (Pump-1), and matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP-7). It is the smallest member (28 kDa) of a family of 15 MMPs that together are able to degrade most of the macromolecules of the extracellular matrix. This family is briefly reviewed; all members are zinc metalloproteinases that occur in zymogen form with the active site zinc blocked by cysteine. Matrilysin can degrade a wide range of gelatins, proteoglycans, and glycoproteins of the matrix and can activate several other MMPs including collagenase. With respect to the uterus, matrilysin is localized to epithelial cells and varies in amount with the estrus cycle and is found in high levels during postpartum involution. There is evidence for a role in the last stage of cervical ripening and immediately postpartum. Induction of premature delivery by onapristone and prostaglandin E2 advances these changes in matrilysin. Regulation of the enzyme levels in the uterus are considered from four viewpoints: control of protein synthesis (particularly in response to hormones), activation of the proenzyme to functional protease, retention of enzyme by binding to matrix components such as heparan sulfate, and inhibition by natural inhibitors such as tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) and alpha 2-macroglobulin.
Effects of postischemic left ventricular pressure-volume unloading on contractile recovery and myocardial blood flow in the regionally stunned canine heart

Abstract Objective: Myocardial stunning remains a clinical problem without definitive therapy. This study tested the hypothesis that mechanical therapy with a ventricular assist device would accelerate recovery of contractility in stunned myocardium by increasing the postischemic myocardial blood flow. Methods: Regional stunning was induced in dogs (25 kg) by 15 minutes of coronary occlusion and 180 minutes of reperfusion. One group (ventricular assist device; n=10) was reperfused in conjunction with left ventricular unloading with a centrifugal-pump ventricular assist device. A second group (control; n=8) underwent unmodified reperfusion. Hemodynamic and regional function data were acquired in all dogs with the heart in the working state before and during ischemia and after 180 minutes of reperfusion. Regional myocardial blood flow was measured at these same intervals and after 30 minutes of reperfusion, at which time the left ventricle was mechanically unloaded in animals with a ventricular assist device. Results: Regional stunning was observed in all animals, but cardiogenic shock developed in none of them. After 180 minutes of reperfusion, animals with a ventricular assist device had greater systolic shortening in the risk segment than did control animals (11.5% ± 2.8% vs 1.1% ± 1.3%; P Conclusions: Mechanical left ventricular unloading attenuates regional myocardial stunning within 3 hours in normotensive dogs, independent of effects on myocardial blood flow. The mechanism underlying this effect remains undefined, but these data support expanded use of mechanical therapy for stunned myocardium in clinical settings. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1999;118:181-8)
Middle School Assessments that Contribute to Literacy Goals

Assessment in physical education is not new. What is new is a national focus on teacher evaluation systems that include the use of student achievement scores from administered assessments. An additional educational focus is on the implementation of Common Core Learning Standards in all subject areas, including physical education. Physical educators are now being charged with implementing literacy concepts throughout their curricula. Although many effective physical educators have incorporated literacy concepts into their curricula for decades, recent reform efforts have placed the added expectation of documenting student learning in physical education. This article presents examples of field-tested middle school assessments that could be used in teacher evaluation systems to show student learning. The assessments presented can also be used as viable, realistic, and authentic evaluations in physical education that contribute to literacy goals associated with the Common Core Learning Standards.
Effect on bond stresses of partial bond failure of overlapping fibers in a composite material

Abstract The distributions of bond stresses are computed for a sheet of matrix material which is reinforced by a repeating pattern of overlapping fibers, the sheet being subjected to tension in the direction of the fibers. In particular, the effects on these stresses of progressive bond failure (debonding) is computed for various bond spacing and length parameters. The corresponding problem of rows and columns of fibers in a matrix is briefly discussed.
The role of spatial attention in the selection of real and illusory objects

Selective attention may be flexibly directed toward particular locations in the visual field (spatial attention) or to entire object configurations (object-based attention). A key question is whether spatial attention plays a direct role in the selection of objects, perhaps by spreading its facilitatory influence throughout the boundaries of an object. We studied the relationship between spatial and object-based attention in a design in which subjects attended to brief offsets of one corner of a real or illusory square form. Object-selective attention was indexed by differences in event-related potential (ERP) amplitudes and blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) activations to unattended corner offsets in conditions in which the objects were intact versus fragmented or absent. This design ensured that object-based attention effects were not an artifact of attention being guided by simple directional cues such as parallel lines, which may have occurred in previous studies. Both space-based and object-based attention were associated with enhanced negative ERPs (N1 component at 140-180 ms) that were colocalized with BOLD activations in lateral occipital cortex (LOC). These results provide physiological evidence that directing spatial attention to one part of an object (whether real or illusory) facilitates the processing of the entire object at the level of the LOC and thus contributes directly to object-based selective attention.
Comment on McQuarie‐Wardell Debate

(1980). Comment on McQuarie-Wardell Debate. The Sociological Quarterly: Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 459-462.
Two Energy Efficient Algorithms for Tracking Objects in a Sensor Network

We propose two energy efficient algorithms for locating a target object moving in an area covered by a wireless ad hoc network. The first algorithm developed conserve energy by efficiently identifying sensor nodes, as Home Nodes, and use only local messages between neighboring nodes to follow the trail of the object. Since we avoid the long-range transmission and maximize the localization, the algorithms reduce the communication cost. The dynamic nature of the second algorithm exploits the predefined parameters such as the object velocity. Our algorithm represents query shipping against the conventional data shipping as a means to reduce the amount of data being shipped across the network. Hence, it locates the objects over the network with minimal energy conservation using short-range message transmissions. The performance analysis (both experimental and theoretical) shows the effectiveness of the two algorithms in comparison to another tracking algorithm. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
To tell the truth: Measuring concordance in multiply reported network data

Abstract Social network data must accurately reflect actors’ relationships to properly estimate network features. Here, we examine multiple reports of sexual, drug-sharing and social tie data on high-risk networks in Colorado Springs. By comparing multiple reports on the same ties, we can evaluate the reliability of this study's network data. Our findings suggest that these data have a high level of reporting agreement. From these findings, we discuss implications for analysis of these and similar data and provide suggestions for future social network data collection efforts.
Selenium biomethylation in an Alkaline, saline environment

Abstract Biomethylation of Se in evaporation pond water was studied and optimized in laboratory-incubated mesocosms. Methylating microorganisms were present in all pond waters collected from the San Joaquin Valley, Calif. and were inhibited by bactericides (10 mg 1−1 crystal violet, 100 mg 1−1 penicillin G, and a 1:1 mixture of 50 mg 1−1 penicillin G and 50 mg 1−1 polymyxin B sulfate), but not by fungicides (200 mg 1−1 cycloheximide, 200 mg 1−1 nystatin and 50 mg 1−1 sodium dichromate). The addition of casein (4 g 1−1) increased bacterial numbers 1000-fold and stimulated biomethylation 25-fold. The provision of growth matrices (sand, glass beads or nylon polymers) stimulated Se biomethylation in unamended water but not in peptone-amended water. Biomethylation was optimal in a well-mixed, aerobic system amended with a protein source. Cofactors (10 μM homocysteine and 10 μM reduced glutathione) enhanced the production of dimethylselenide in peptone-amended pond water. The species of inorganic Se present, SeO32− and SeO42− had little effect on the methylation efficiency. Increasing the Se concentration to 1.9, 3.9, 11.9, 21.9 or 101.9 mg Se 1−1 in peptone-amended pond water decreased the percentage of Se removed from 8 to 3.8, 2, 1.3, 0.7 and 0.1%, respectively. Selenium removal ranged between 8 and 100% for peptone-amended pond waters containing between 2.2 and 0.02 μg Se 1−1, respectively. Biomethylation was inhibited by 0.1 M NO3− but additional SO42− (0.1, 1 M) had no effect on DMSe release. It may be possible to apply these findings in the design of a bioreactor to deselenify agricultural drainage water.
THE ANATOMY OF TUMORS INDUCED ON CITRUS BY CITRUS VEIN-ENATION VIRUS'

A B S T R A C T Citrus vein-enation virus-induced tumors on leaves, thorns, stems, and roots of Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle and C. jambhiri Lush. were investigated. Leaf vein tumors are initiated as cytological abnormalities of phloem fiber primordial cells adjacent to protophloem sieve tubes. The tumors then enlarge through hyperplasia of the affected fiber primordia. The mesophyll and epidermal tissues on the abaxial side of affected veins divide less prolifically and contribute to the tumor mass. Leaf vein tumors are determinate, like the protophloem where they originate, and cease enlarging as the leaf matures. Most thorn tumors are initiated in fiber primordia and develop similarly to vein tumors. Stem tumors and some thorn tumors develop from affected cells of the procambial tissue that lies between the metaxylem and metaphloem of vascular bundles. The cambium which differentiates in these areas is composed of affected cells and produces large amounts of abnormal xylem tissue. The resulting woody tumors are indeterminate like the cambium and secondary xylem.
Approximation Algorithms for Capacitated Stochastic Inventory Control Models

We develop the first algorithmic approach to compute provably good ordering policies for a multiperiod, capacitated, stochastic inventory system facing stochastic nonstationary and correlated demands that evolve over time. Our approach is computationally efficient and guaranteed to produce a policy with total expected cost no more than twice that of an optimal policy. As part of our computational approach, we propose a novel scheme to account for backlogging costs in a capacitated, multiperiod environment. Our cost-accounting scheme, called the forced marginal backlogging cost-accounting scheme, is significantly different from the period-by-period accounting approach to backlogging costs used in dynamic programming; it captures the long-term impact of a decision on system performance in the presence of capacity constraints. In the likely event that the per-unit order costs are large compared to the holding and backlogging costs, a transformation of cost parameters yields a significantly improved guarantee...
Optimization of radar scanning strategies using an ensemble relative error criterion

We study the determination of optimal radar scanning direction parameters for a network of n radars. Our approach is to seek directions that minimize relative errors between retrieved and model-based predicted wind fields in ensembles of possible wind fields. The underlying estimation model is based on the variational problem to retrieve wind fields from radar data. The considerations here view retrieved wind fields as functions of parameterized scanning strategies. The scanning strategies are formulated in terms of a scanning model that depends, in particular, on tracking parameters. A mathematical formulation is presented as an optimization problem that may be generalized to networks with any number of radar in which existence and approximation results are developed. A numerical study for a network containing two radar is presented illustrating the theory developed.
Preparative syntheses of 2,6-dideoxy-α-L-lyxo-hexose (2-deoxy-α-L-fucose) and its D-ribo epimer (digitoxose)

Abstract Methyl 4,6- O -benzylidene-2-deoxy-α- D - ribo -hexopyranoside ( 1 ) is converted into methyl 3,4-di- O -benzoyl-6-bromo-2,6-dideoxy-α- D - ribo -hexopyranoside ( 3 ) via the 3- O -benzoyl derivative ( 2 ) of 1 by subsequent treatment with N -bromosuccinimide. Compound 3 is the key intermediate in high-yielding, preparative syntheses of the title dideoxy sugars, which are constituents of many antibiotics. Dehydrohalogenation of 3 affords the 5,6-unsaturated glycoside 7 . which undergoes stereospecific reduction by hydrogen with net inversion at C-5 to give methyl 3,4-di- O -benzoyl-2,6-dideoxy-β- L - lyxo -hexopyranoside ( 8 ), whereas reductive dehalogenation of 3 provides the corresponding D - ribo derivative 4 . The unprotected glycosides 9 ( L - lyxo ) and 5 ( D - ribo ) are readily obtained by catalytic transesterification, and mild, acid hydrolysis gives the crystalline title sugars 10 ( L - lyxo ) and 6 ( D - ribo ) in 45 and 57% overall yield from 1 without the necessity of chromatographic purification at any of the steps.
Prejudice and gender differentials in the US labor market in the last twenty years

Abstract Earnings differentials between men and women have experienced a stable convergence during the 1980s, following a process started in the late 1970s. However, in the 1990s the convergence has almost stopped. The first objective of the paper is to evaluate if discrimination, defined as explicit prejudice, may have a role in explaining this slowdown in the convergence. The second objective is to assess whether the prediction of a decrease in the proportion of prejudiced employers implied by the Becker’s model of taste discrimination is taking place and if so at what speed. These objectives are achieved by developing and estimating a search model of the labor market with matching, bargaining, employer’s prejudice and worker’s participation decisions. The results show that the proportion of prejudiced employers is estimated to be decreasing at an increasing speed, going from about 69% in 1985 to about 32% in 2005. Therefore prejudice is not estimated to be a relevant factor in explaining the slower convergence between male and female earnings in the 1990s. The results are consistent with the Becker’s model of taste discrimination if one is willing to assume a very slow adjustment process.
Patterns of Homicide Among Women

The population of 136 women arrested in Detroit, Michigan, for homicides committed during 1982 and 1983 is analyzed in the context of their killings. Analyses include demographic and social characteristics of offenders and victims, demographic and social relationships between offenders and victims, circumstances of offense, and arrest disposition. Where feasible, comparisons are made with sex-general populations of homicide offenders.
Effects of historical and current disturbance on forest biomass in Minnesota

Historical carbon storage prior to widespread forest clearing is uncertain. We examined aboveground biomass in historical (1847–1908) and current (2004–2008) mixed and broadleaf forests of Minnesota. Our objective was to compare aboveground forest biomass density and total aboveground carbon storage for two forest types with different historical and current disturbance regimes. We used densities and diameter distributions from historical and current tree surveys and applied relationships between diameter and biomass to estimate biomass in historical and current forests for larger trees with diameters ≥12.7 cm. In the 8.5 million ha Northern Mixed Forest ecological division of Minnesota, historical forests ecosystems under a stand-replacing fire regime that produced high density forests contained greater aboveground biomass density (98 Mg/ha) than current forests (53 Mg/ha) disturbed by frequent tree cutting. Historical total carbon storage was 333 TgC and current carbon storage was 158 TgC; estimates depended on diameter distribution and historical forested extent. In the 4.5 million ha Eastern Broadleaf Forest division, historical forests under a frequent surface fire regime that produced low density oak savannas contained less biomass density (54 Mg/ha) than current dense eastern broadleaf forests (93 Mg/ha). Historical total carbon storage was 79 TgC and current carbon storage was 31 TgC, depending on diameter distribution and forested extent. Total carbon storage appears to be unrealized due to potential for tree diameter increases in both divisions, stem density increases in the Northern Mixed Forest, and forested extent increases in the Eastern Broadleaf Forest.
Subcellular distribution of [125I]Iodoaryl [beta]-methyl fatty acids

Subcellular distribution studies of two aryl branched-chain and one aryl straight-chain iodinated fatty acids were carried out as part of a continuing effort to determine if such acids are metabolized by beta-oxidation. For the omega-iodoaryl fatty acids, a change in subcellular radioactivity location was observed which was chain-length dependent. Chain lengths of 15 carbons, straight and branched, were largely found in the nuclear-membrane fraction, whereas a chain length of 8 carbons was largely located in the cytosol. No unequivocal evidence for metabolic trapping in the mitochondria was observed for omega-iodoaryl branched-chain fatty acids using the centrifugation technique employed in this study.
Towards a Comprehensive Validation of ELISA Kits for Food Allergens. Case 2—Milk

Milk and milk derivatives are common ingredients in food products. Undeclared milk is one of the leading causes of recalls in many countries, including the USA, and cases of allergic reactions have been reported due to unexpected exposures. There are commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits available to the food industry to comply with the law by ensuring label accuracy and to identify potential sources of cross-contact. These kits are also used by regulatory agencies as part of their compliance programs. However, none of the commercial ELISAs for milk have been validated. Performance of ELISA kits for food allergens is affected by matrix, food processing, and stability and solubility of target proteins, among others factors. The performance of different commercial kits for milk allergens was evaluated by comparing a standard [National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) SRM #1549] spiked in wheat flour. We also compared the effect of food processing on detectability of milk proteins from incurred peanut butter cookies baked at various times. Kits differed in their ability to detect heat-treated milk proteins in baked cookies. Immunoblots clearly showed differences in antibody specificities and in their ability to detect proteins in processed foods. Factors such as undefined antibody specificity and differences in sample extraction solutions, materials used for calibrators, and reporting units contribute to variability of results among test kits and, hence, to increased uncertainty regarding the most appropriate use of the kits. Moreover, the use of incurred vs. spiked samples may affect protein recovery and, therefore, jeopardize the quantitative nature of the kit.
1834 ANESTHETIC AGENTS DECREASE PULMONARY VASCULAR FLUID FLUX AFTER OXIDANT CHALLENGE

In the isolated perfused rabbit lung tert-butyl-hydroperoxide (t-bu-OOH) produces a pulmonary vasopressor response by generating thromboxane A2 (TxA2). Inhalation anesthetics augment both the pressor response to t-bu-OOH and the production of TxA2. We investigated the effect of cyclopropane (C3H6) on lung fluid flux in isolated rabbit lungs perfused with Krebs-Henseleit (KH) solution with recirculation. We continuously recorded pulmonary artery pressure (Ppa) and left atrial reservoir weight (dw). Ten preparations were given 2 t-bu-OOH challenges of 200 uM over 1 min while being ventilated with air, separated by 10 min, followed by ventilation serially with C3H6 at 0.5 and 2MAC each for 10 min with 200uM t-bu-OOH challenges at each anesthetic dose separated by 10 min. Four preparations, used as controls, were treated similarly, but were ventilated only with air. Results are below, expressed as flux in mL min−1: By 2-way ANOVA and Least Significant Difference, fluxes with both doses of C3H6 are significantly less (P<0.02) than flux with air ventilation alone. This study demonstrates that, although anesthetics augment eicosanoid production after oxidant challenge in the isolated lung, they decrease fluid flux. Cyclooxygenase products thus contribute little to lung fluid leak.
Calmodulin, zinc, and calcium in cellular and membrane regulation: An interpretive review

A considerable amount of work in recent years has indicated that the intracellular effects of calcium are mediated primarily by calcium-binding proteins. One of the most important of these proteins is a 17,000-molecular weight protein–calmodulin. Calmodulin, when activated by calcium, has the potential to activate many enzymes and to stimulate many intracellular events. While calcium is required for many types of cellular activations, zinc tends to be a cellular inhibitor. It appears that zinc is antagonistic to calcium, tending to inhibit the same cellular reactions triggered by an influx of intra-cellular calcium. Recent investigations have led us to hypothesize that the zinc-calcium antagonism mentioned above may be the result of inhibitory effects of zinc on calmodulin-stimulated functions. This inhibition may operate through binding of zinc to the target proteins of calmodulin or through binding of zinc to calmodulin after the calmodulin is complexed to protein. This area will be reviewed in the first part of this paper. In the erythrocyte, excessive intracellular calcium causes hemoglobin retention by erythrocyte membranes and causes erythrocyte shrinkage. Both of these events may occur in sickle erythrocytes because of sickling-induced calcium accumulation. Recent studies suggest that excessive calcium-activated calmodulin may be responsible for both hemoglobin retention by the membrane and for erythrocyte shrinkage. On the other hand, trifluoperazine — a phenothiazine drug that inhibits the action of calmodulin — causes erythrocyte swelling (membrane expansion). These observations have led us to hypothesize that calmodulin is intimately involved with regulation of the erythrocyte membrane expansion/shrinkage state. The possible role of excessive calcium-activated calmodulin in inducing abnormalities in the sickle membrane may lead to a more rational therapy aimed at the membrane lesion in this disease. This therapy might involve a combination of inhibitory agents such as zinc and a phenothiazine. In the last part of the review, we present a model for the regulation of membrane shrinkage by calmodulin in equilibrium with membrane expansion by spectrin-actin phosphorylation. Whether or not this model is right in its basic elements, we hope it will provoke some additional thinking and experimental work. In fact, this entire review should be viewed as interpretive. That is, observations from diverse sources have been put together in an attempt to make sense out of them and, in particular, to provoke thinking and stimulate experimental work in these areas.
Concentration-Dependent Enhancement of 1 -Dodecylazacycloheptan-2-one on the Percutaneous Penetration Kinetics of Triamcinolone Acetonide

The enhancing effect of 1-dodecylazacycloheptan-2-one (I) on the penetration kinetics of triamcinolone acetonide (II) and the possible mechanisms of enhancement were studied using nonreinforced and reinforced silicone elastomer membranes and full-thickness hairless mouse skin as penetration barriers. Lactam I, at test concentrations of 0.1–10%, significantly promoted the extent and the rate of penetration of the acetonide II. Regardless of the barrier used the effect was concentration dependent, but the penetration profiles were different. The enhancement with synthetic membranes was attributed solely to the effect of lactam I doubling the diffusion constant (D), which resulted in the increase of the permeability coefficient (Kp) and the shortening of the lag time (τ); the partition coefficient (Km), however, was not affected. With mouse skin, I exerted effects on both D and Km. Compound I potentiated the retention of II in skin (a reservoir effect) about sevenfold; however, the enhancing reservoir effect was independent of the concentration of I. Pretreatment with I was found to be more efficient than the coapplication of I and II in the vehicle. The coexistence of I and II was not required for the enhancement, and the reduced enhancing efficiency suggested an interaction between I and II in the vehicle. Penetration impedance was observed after exposure to I with skin, but not with synthetic membranes. Interaction of I with the skin component, or the coexistence of I and II in the skin, could be responsible for such an impedance.
Parametric Frugal Sensing of Power Spectra for Moving Average Models

Wideband spectrum sensing is a fundamental component of cognitive radio and other applications. A novel frugal sensing scheme was recently proposed as a means of crowdsourcing the task of spectrum sensing. Using a network of scattered low-end sensors transmitting randomly filtered power measurement bits to a fusion center, a non-parametric approach to spectral estimation was adopted to estimate the ambient power spectrum. Here, a parametric spectral estimation approach is considered within the context of frugal sensing. Assuming a Moving-Average (MA) representation for the signal of interest, the problem of estimating admissible MA parameters, and thus the MA power spectrum, from single bit quantized data is formulated. This turns out being a non-convex quadratically constrained quadratic program (QCQP), which is NP–Hard in general. Approximate solutions can be obtained via semi-definite relaxation (SDR) followed by randomization; but this rarely produces a feasible solution for this particular kind of QCQP. A new Sequential Parametric Convex Approximation (SPCA) method is proposed for this purpose, which can be initialized from an infeasible starting point, and yet still produce a feasible point for the QCQP, when one exists, with high probability. Simulations not only reveal the superior performance of the parametric techniques over the globally optimum solutions obtained from the non-parametric formulation, but also the better performance of the SPCA algorithm over the SDR technique.
Search Your Way to an Accurate Diagnosis: Predictors of Internet-Based Diagnosis Accuracy

Many people search online for health information and make self-diagnoses. However, little is known about factors affecting whether a person is able to make an accurate Internet-based diagnosis. An online survey (N = 209) was conducted to explore the predictors of Internet-based diagnosis accuracy. A multiple regression analysis showed that approximately 22% of the variance of diagnosis accuracy was accounted for by the linear combination of health-information orientation, eHealth literacy, prior knowledge, and Internet search time. However, only prior knowledge and search time were significant predictors of diagnosis accuracy, with prior knowledge positively and search time negatively related to diagnosis accuracy. A paired t test indicated that participants' diagnosis accuracy increased after the Internet search. This study implies that simply searching all over the Internet for a long time may not produce accurate diagnoses. Online health searches can be beneficial supplements, but they should not repla...