cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Optical Fiber Biosensor for Monitoring Drug Delivery

An optical fiber biosensor has been presented for monitoring drug delivery inside the body in real time. Over the decades several optical techniques have been realized to monitor drug delivery, however, those are not that much efficient as the one presented here. In this paper, a new micromachined optical fiber biosensor has been demonstrated with both theoretical and numerical models. The detailed fabrication processes have been outlined in a multimode optical fiber which is based on MEMS fabrication. The sensor is designed by following the basic principle of Fabry-Perot interferometer. The optical biosensor presented here could be able to detect and monitor the drug delivery in real time and it could also potentially be used in the area of microfluidics, nano research and other biomedical applications.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Henry Austin and the Italian Villa

The extent of the practice of Henry Austin, and the variety of the problems he met, are such that he may justly be regarded as a typical New England architect of his time. His ready acceptance and flexible handling of the Italian villa style are of some interest in relation to the larger problems of style and taste in mid-nineteenth-century America. Austin became an enthusiastic proponent of the style shortly after he opened his own office in 1837. How did it happen that both architect and client in the mid-forties favored the irregular, coarsely detailed forms from Tuscany? How was this picturesque approach to design handled by individual architects? It was of course another imported fashion like the Greek and Gothic, but for several decades it was more important in domestic work than either of these styles. On what did our architects base these fanciful compositions? It is toward answering such questions that an examination of this phase of Henry Austin's career in relation to that of some of his fellow...
Alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus in the pregnant ewe: Metabolic and cardiovascular effects on the mother and her fetus

Diabetes mellitus was acutely produced in nine pregnant sheep by the intravenous administration of alloxan 40 mg/kg in the maternal inferior vena cava. Maternal and fetal plasma concentrations of glucose, lactate, beta-hydroxybutyrate, insulin, glucagon, and PaO2, oxygen content, and pH were determined before and at days 1, 3, and 5 after the injection of alloxan. Two animals aborted between days 1 and 3 after alloxan administration. In the other animals, significant changes occurred from baseline to day 5: maternal hyperglycemia (56.8 +/- 5.2 vs. 227.3 +/- 54.6 mg/dl; p less than 0.01), maternal hypoinsulinemia (6.2 +/- 3.5 vs. 1.0 +/- 0.4 microU/ml, p = 0.016); maternal hyperketonemia (beta-hydroxybutyrate: 0.79 +/- 0.27 vs. 4.69 +/- 2.64 mmol/L, p less than 0.01); fetal hyperglycemia (17.0 +/- 2.6 vs. 86.0 +/- 16.2 mg/dl, p less than 0.001); fetal hyperinsulinemia (8.4 +/- 4.5 vs. 19.2 +/- 6.4 microU/ml, p less than 0.001); fetal hyperketonemia (beta-hydroxybutyrate: 0.03 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.06 +/- 0.02 mmol/L, p less than 0.05); fetal hypoxemia (arterial PO2: 21.6 +/- 1.8 vs. 18.0 +/- 2.8 mm Hg, p less than 0.05, and oxygen content: 7.1 +/- 0.5 vs. 4.5 +/- 1.9 vol/dl, p less than 0.02). Thus alloxan administered in the pregnant ewe can produce major metabolic and endocrine derangements acutely simulating those occurring in human insulin-dependent diabetic pregnancy.
A unified approach for pressure and temperature effects in dynamic failure criteria

Abstract In most of the existing dynamic failure criteria, effects of temperature and pressure are ignored. In a few recent contributions, attempts to include initial temperature effects have been proposed. However, the combination of both temperature and pressure effects is still lacking in all existing criteria. The aim of the present work is to model the effects of both pressure and temperature on dynamic failure. We propose a unified approach that can be implemented within several dynamic failure criteria to simulate spallation at different initial temperatures and in a wide range of pressure. This approach is based on the scaling of the threshold failure stress similar to the scaling of the flow stress used in pressure dependent plasticity. This scaling uses the shear modulus for which we propose a thermodynamically based evolution law as function of temperature and pressure. For strain controlled failure, the threshold strain is also modified to account for triaxiality. We summarize existing dynamic failure criteria and we present our proposed approach for temperature and pressure effects as it applies to each of these criteria. Results from this approach are discussed and compared with experimental observations. As an illustration, we selected one of these failure criteria and applied it to simulate spallation in planar impact test. Predicted results for this test are also discussed in comparison with experimental observations.
Electron-beam micropobe analysis of the wear behavior of sputter-deposited MoS2 coatings

Abstract Michelson interferometry (MI), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and Auger electron spectroscopy have been combined to study the deformation and wear behavior of sputter deposited MoS2 coatings. MI combined with EDS were shown to distinguish deformation from wear. EDS combined with Auger sputter depth profiling were especially valuable for identifying reaction products (e.g. oxides of Mo and Fe) of the wear process. EDS data were quantified using a procedure that accounts for the severe overlap of the Mo(Lα)+S(Kα) spectra. The sensitivity of quantitative EDS to thickness changes in fully dense MoS2 was determined to be 30 nm.
The future and diversity in higher education

Purpose – This paper describes and reflects upon the “Future of Diversity and Opportunity in Higher Education: A National Forum on Innovation and Collaboration”.Design/methodology/approach – Participant observation, journaling and content analysis comprise data sources for this work.Findings – Featured sessions center upon the need for leaders in higher education to play key roles in advocating for diversity on postsecondary campuses and the move from individual to democratic merit in student admission and faculty hiring or promotion.Originality/value – Adjudication against institutions working toward diversity requires new ways of promoting opportunity for underrepresented members of the postsecondary community. The following work describes such strategies.
Gene therapy book misses the target

Abstract Concepts in Gene Therapy edited by Michael Strauss and John A. Barranger, de Gruyter, 1997. US $99.95 (xx+553 pages) ISBN 3 11 014984 2
Smoking onset among teens: An empirical analysis of initial situations☆

Abstract This study attempted to identify factors associated with smoking onset among teens. It was hypothesized that initial cigarette smoking is largely prompted by peers, and that these prompts and subsequent social reinforcement may account for smoking participation. An in-depth structured interview investigating the first three smoking or smoking pressure experiences was conducted with 157 teens, including persistent experimental smokers (who smoked more than 10 cigarettes), mininal experimental smokers (who smoked less than 10 cigarettes), and nonsmokers. Analyses confirmed that prompting by peers is characteristic of a large majority of smoking onset situations. Initial situations are much more likely to involve others of the same sex. In roughly half of the incidents another young person was trying a cigarette for the first time. Persistent experimenters, when compared with minimal experimenters, were exposed to significantly more influences to smoke. These influences included modeling and social encouragement. Additional data suggested that persistent experimenters were more primed to smoke than minimal experimenters. For example, they had engaged in more premeditation, accepted offers to smoke with less hesitation, and inhaled more frequently. Also, pleasant emotional and physiological effects discriminated continuers from quitters. Nonsmokers appeared to possess more effective response strategies to refuse cigarettes. Implications of these data for prevention program design are discussed.
Translational Control of Tetracycline Resistance and Conjugation in the Bacteroides Conjugative Transposon CTnDOT

The tetQ-rteA-rteB operon of the Bacteroides conjugative transposon CTnDOT is responsible for tetracycline control of the excision and transfer of CTnDOT. Previous studies revealed that tetracycline control of this operon occurred at the translational level and involved a hairpin structure located within the 130-base leader sequence that lies between the promoter of tetQ and the start codon of the gene. This hairpin structure is formed by two sequences, designated Hp1 and Hp8. Hp8 contains the ribosome binding site for tetQ. Examination of the leader region sequence revealed three sequences that might encode a leader peptide. One was only 3 amino acids long. The other two were 16 amino acids long. By introducing stop codons into the peptide coding regions, we have now shown that the 3-amino-acid peptide is the one that is essential for tetracycline control. Between Hp1 and Hp8 lies an 85-bp region that contains other possible RNA hairpin structures. Deletion analysis of this intervening DNA segment has now identified a sequence, designated Hp2, which is essential for tetracycline regulation. This sequence could form a short hairpin structure with Hp1. Mutations that made the Hp1-Hp2 structure more stable caused nearly constitutively high expression of the operon. Thus, stalling of ribosomes on the 3-amino-acid leader peptide could favor formation of the Hp1-Hp2 structure and thus preclude formation of the Hp1-Hp8 structure, releasing the ribosome binding site of tetQ. Finally, comparison of the CTnDOT tetQ leader regions with upstream regions of five tetQ genes found in other elements reveals that the sequences are virtually identical, suggesting that translational attenuation is responsible for control of tetracycline resistance in these other cases as well.
Fluvial landsculpting and the fractal dimension of topography

Abstract Quantitative models of landform development can help us to understand the evolution of mountains and regional topography, and the effects of tectonic motions and climate on landscape, including its fractal geometry. This paper presents a general and powerful three-dimensional model of fluvial erosion and deposition at hill- to mountain-range scale. The model works by accumulating the effects of randomly seeded storms or floods (precipitons) that cause diffusional smoothing then move downslope on digital topography grids, that erode portions of elevation differences, that transport a slope-limited amount of eroded material, and that deposit alluvium when their sediment-carrying capacity is exceeded. The iteration of these simple and almost linear rules produce very complicated simulated landscapes, demonstrating that complex landscapes do not require complex laws. Each process implemented in the model is affected differently by changes in horizontal scale. Erosion, a scale-free process, roughens topography at all wavelengths. This roughening is balanced by diffusive processes (scaling as 1 L 2 ) at short wavelengths and deposition (scaling (scaling as 1 L 2 ) at long wavelenghts. Such a mixture of scale-free and scale-dependent processes can produce multifractal behavior in the models. The fractal dimension of the model topography is much more sensitive to climatic variables than to tectonic uplift. Landscape evolution may be fractal, but it does not seem to be chaotic. Analysis of topography of areas in southern Arizona using variograms shows approximately fractal behavior, with mean fractal dimension around 2.2–2.3. Departures from an exact fractal relatioship imply that the topography is in detail multifractal. The fractal dimension at short wavelengths is less than that at long wavelengths. This variation could either be caused by the relative strengths of diffusive and erosional processes shaping the topography, or a result of changes in climatic or tectonic conditions still preserved in the landscape.
COMPLEX FORMATION BETWEEN ALCOHOLS AND THE AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS PYRENE AND 1-METHYLPYRENE

—Pyrene and 1-methylpyrene have been shown by infrared spectrometry to form 1:I molecular complexes with alcohols at a concentration of 0.02 M in CCl4 solutions. The association constants are of the order of 1 M-1. The fluorescence decay profiles of 10μM pyrcnc in dilutc butanol-heptane solutions have been found to be the sum of two exponential components in agreement with ground state complex formation
X-ray observations of 4U/MXB 1735-44

The paper discusses the SAS-3 X-ray observations of MXB 1735-44 during 1977-78. Fifty-three bursts were observed in 20 days, in irregular intervals from 2 to more than 50 hr. The irregular burst behavior of MXB 1735-44 may be caused by its high intrinsic X-ray luminosity. No correlations were found between burst frequency and properties of the associated persistent source, such as flux and hardness of the persistent spectrum. There may be a correlation between the size of the bursts and burst intervals: the bursts tend to be smaller when they occur more frequently. The distributions of the burst sizes in terms of their integrated burst flux and maximum burst flux have standard deviations of about 37%.
miR-106b fine tunes ATG16L1 expression and autophagic activity in intestinal epithelial HCT116 cells.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules that regulate over 30% of human protein-coding genes by binding to the 3'UTR of mRNAs that results in mRNA cleavage and/or translational arrest.1, 2 A single miRNA can regulate hundreds of genes simultaneously and an mRNA may be subject to regulation by multiple miRNAs coordinately.1 Based on the miRBase database, over 1000 mature human miRNAs have been identified so far.3 Therefore, miRNAs constitute a complex regulatory network in managing almost each physiological and pathological process. The dysregulated miRNAs have implicated in human diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).4 We have previously reported that several miRNAs, including miR-106a, are differentially expressed in tissues of IBD patients.5-7 We are interested in assessing whether these dysregulated miRNAs are involved in the IBD pathogenesis. miR-106a belongs to the miR-17 family, which includes miRs-17, −20a, −20b, −93, and −106b. These miRNAs share the same seed region and therefore may target common mRNAs.8 An in silico analysis reveals that the members of miR-17 family target over 12 autophagy genes (Table, Supplemental Digital Content 1, http://links.lww.com/IBD/A217) such as ULK1, BECN1, ATG12, ATG5, and ATG16L1. These genes act sequentially in the autophagy process, with most of them involved in the autophagosome formation, a central event in autophagy;9 in particular, ATG12, ATG5, and ATG16L1 constitute an important protein conjugation system required for the autophagosome formation.10 In addition, miR-17 family members are predicted to target some signaling molecules that orchestrate autophagy activation, including PTEN, STAT3, and MAPK1. Therefore, miR-17 family miRNAs may play an integral role in regulating autophagic function by targeting diverse autophagy genes and autophagy regulators at once. Among the IBD-associated miRNAs, miR-106a especially attracted our attention because it is predicted to target ATG16L1, a genetic susceptibility gene for Crohn's disease (CD). Human data support a strong association of ATG16L1 T300A polymorphism with CD.11-13 Animal studies have demonstrated that ATG16L1 defect or low protein expression increases inflammatory response and produces CD-like pathology.14-16 Cumulated evidence suggests that autophagy in the intestinal epithelium behaves as a defensive strategy for clearance of microbes,17-19 but autophagy impairment results in intestinal epithelial dysfunction and IBD pathogenesis. In this study, we assessed the regulatory effects of miR-106a and other members of miR-17 family on ATG16L1 expression and autophagic activity in human intestinal epithelial HCT116 cells.
G protein subunit Gα13 binds to integrin αIIbβ3 and mediates integrin “outside-in” signaling

Integrins mediate cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix and transmit signals within the cell that stimulate cell spreading, retraction, migration, and proliferation. The mechanism of integrin outside-in signaling has been unclear. We found that the heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein) Galpha13 directly bound to the integrin beta3 cytoplasmic domain and that Galpha13-integrin interaction was promoted by ligand binding to the integrin alphaIIbbeta3 and by guanosine triphosphate (GTP) loading of Galpha13. Interference of Galpha13 expression or a myristoylated fragment of Galpha13 that inhibited interaction of alphaIIbbeta3 with Galpha13 diminished activation of protein kinase c-Src and stimulated the small guanosine triphosphatase RhoA, consequently inhibiting cell spreading and accelerating cell retraction. We conclude that integrins are noncanonical Galpha13-coupled receptors that provide a mechanism for dynamic regulation of RhoA.
The undesired equilibria of formation control with ring graphs

We consider the formation control problem with the ring graph. Because the graph is cyclic, undesired equilibria arise. We investigate the structures of the undesired equilibria and develop conditions that describe the undesired formations. When the desired formation is an equilateral polygon, we prove by linearization that the undesired equilibria are unstable. We also discuss the interpretation for the unstable eigenvector.
Multiresolution-based segmentation of calcifications for the early detection of breast cancer

Clusters of microcalcifications in a mammogram may be an early indication of breast cancer. Unfortunately, due to size, shape and limited contrast from surrounding normal tissue, microcalcifications can occasionally be hard to detect in computer-aided detection (CAD) systems. These CAD systems can also be slow compared to a radiologist's performance when reviewing film-screen mammography. The research described here investigates a rapid, multiresolution-based approach combined with wavelet analysis to provide an accurate segmentation of potential calcifications. An initial multiresolution approach to fuzzy c-means (FCM) segmentation is employed to rapidly distinguish medically significant tissues. Tissue areas chosen for high-resolution analysis are broken into multiple windows. Within each window, wavelet analysis is used to generate a contrast image, and a local FCM segmentation generates an estimate of local intensity. A simple two-rule fuzzy system then combines intensity and contrast information to derive fuzzy memberships of pixels in the high-contrast, bright pixel class. A double threshold is finally applied to this fuzzy membership to detect and segment calcifications. This sequence of steps is shown to approach detection rates of conventional classifier designs and may therefore be useful as a pre-processing module for these systems to improve speed. Results are reported for 25 images obtained from the Digital Database for Screening Mammography (DDSM).
Providing secondary access to licensed spectrum through coordination

Most wireless systems receive a license that gives them exclusive access to a block of spectrum. Exclusivity guarantees adequate quality of service, but it also leads to inefficient use of spectrum. Even when the license holder is idle, no other device can use the spectrum. This paper explores an alternative paradigm for secondary access to spectrum, where a secondary device can transmit when and only when the primary license holder grants permission. In this spectrum usage paradigm, each secondary device makes a request for temporary access to spectrum by providing a primary license holder with information such as its required bandwidth, its required signal to interference ratio, its transmit power, and its location, which is essential for a primary license holder in making an admission decision. This explicit coordination makes it possible to protect the quality of service of both primary and secondary, while gaining the efficiency of spectrum sharing. In this paper, we consider the case where the primary license holder is a GSM-based cellular carrier. We show that our proposed sharing scheme works well even with simple admission control and primitive frequency assignment algorithms. Moreover, imprecise location information does not significantly undermine the performance of our scheme. We also demonstrate that our scheme is attractive to a license holder by showing that a cellular carrier can profit from offering a secondary device access to spectrum at a price lower than it would normally charge a cellular call.
“Ralpha” Space Station plan takes flight

The anxiously awaited plans for a joint U.S.-Russian space station were revealed by the Clinton Administration last week. Informally called “Ralpha,” the joint station would link the U.S.-led space station “Alpha” with an upgraded Russian station (see Eos, October 26). The Clinton proposal lays out a threephase strategy for U.S.-Russian cooperation in space, culminating in a “world” space station effort involving the United States, Russia, Japan, Canada, and Europe. The plan is described in an addendum to the “Program Implementation Plan” for Alpha.
Small-time expansions of the distributions, densities, and option prices of stochastic volatility models with Lévy jumps

Abstract We consider a stochastic volatility model with Levy jumps for a log-return process Z = ( Z t ) t ≥ 0 of the form Z = U + X , where U = ( U t ) t ≥ 0 is a classical stochastic volatility process and X = ( X t ) t ≥ 0 is an independent Levy process with absolutely continuous Levy measure ν . Small-time expansions, of arbitrary polynomial order, in time- t , are obtained for the tails P ( Z t ≥ z ) , z > 0 , and for the call-option prices E ( e z + Z t − 1 ) + , z ≠ 0 , assuming smoothness conditions on the density of ν away from the origin and a small-time large deviation principle on U . Our approach allows for a unified treatment of general payoff functions of the form φ ( x ) 1 x ≥ z for smooth functions φ and z > 0 . As a consequence of our tail expansions, the polynomial expansions in t of the transition densities f t are also obtained under mild conditions.
Paradoxical enhancement by bicuculline of dentate granule cell IPSPs evoked by fimbria stimulation in rat hippocampal slices

Stimulation of the fimbria in rat hippocampal slices evoked an extracellular negativity in the granule cell layer and a small depolarization in granule cells at their resting potentials. The intracellular potentials appeared to be GABAA receptor-mediated IPSPs because they reversed at −69.1 ± 1.0 mV (mean ± S.E.M., n = 14) and were blocked by the GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline (10–50 μM, n = 14). However, during the first few minutes of perfusion with bicuculline, IPSPs transiently and paradoxically increased in amplitude. As IPSPs increased, the reversal potential and latency to onset remained the same. These effects were reversible, and during the wash period IPSPs first increased and then stabilized at a smaller amplitude, similar to IPSPs evoked in control conditions. As the GABAA receptor-mediated IPSP decreased, it was followed by a second hyperpolarization. This late hyperpolarization appeared to be a GABAB receptor-mediated IPSP, because it reversed near the equilibrium potential for potassium (mean −81.8 ± 2.3 mV, n = 12, [K+]o = 5 mM) and was blocked by the GABAB receptor antagonist 2-hydroxy saclofen (250–500 μM, n = 5). The results suggest that GABAA and GABAB receptor-mediated IPSPs evoked in granule cells by fimbria stimulation are normally inhibited by activation of GABAA receptors. The inhibition by GABAA receptors is strong enough that, in control conditions, the GABAA IPSPs are barely detectable and the GABAB IPSPs are undetectable. The relevant GABAA receptors could be located presynaptically, on the nerve terminals of inhibitory interneurons that innervate granule cells, or on the dendrites and somata of the interneurons, where they may be affected by GABAergic inputs activated by fimbria stimulation. These data demonstrate the strength and complexity of pathways utilizing GABAA receptors and GABAB receptors to inhibit dentate granule cells.
The effect of internal excitation on the collision induced dissociation of I+2(2Πg,υ) ions

Abstract Cross sections for collision induced dissociation of 0.65 to 3.2 keV I + 2 ( 2 Π g , υ) ions in I + 2 ( 2 Π g , υ) + N 2 (X 1 Σ + g , υ = 0) interactions have been determined. Reaction cross sections for I + 2 ( 2 Π 3 2 ,g , υ) ions in low vibrational levels vary smoothly from 6 to 10 A 2 with increasing kinetic energy. Dissociation cross sections for I + 2 ( 2 Π 1 2 ,g , υ) ions are larger than those involving ground state ions. Processes involving highly excited metastable states of I + 2 are not observed in this investigation.
Perceived similarity and liking as functions of manipulated similarity and subjective social favorability

Perceived similarity and liking were measured as functions of manipulated similarity of attributes with high or neutral (subjectively perceived) social appropriateness. Similarity was strongly affected by the manipulation under both levels of social appropriateness, but individuals manipulated as highly similar on “desirable” attributes were perceived as more similar than those on “neutral” attributes, while “dissimilar” others on “desirable” attributes were perceived as more dissimilar than those described as dissimilar on “neutral” attributes. Liking for similar other was greater than that for dissimilar other, but no main or interaction effects due to social appropriateness occurred.
Considering a Motorcycle Safety Campaign as Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

This article argues that teaching health campaigns from an engaged pedagogy perspective is beneficial for students, instructors, and communities. This argument is supported by a teaching and learning perspective using a motorcycle safety campaign as an exemplar. Retrospective interviews were conducted with students who participated in a graduate-level, two-course engaged pedagogy sequence. Subsequently, the instructor’s perspective is used to describe challenges and offer suggestions for teaching health campaigns applying the scholarship of teaching and learning perspective. The analysis illustrates the benefits gained by incorporating a real-time health campaign into the curriculum, such as accomplishing specific course objectives while working on a bona fide safety campaign, and achieving a high level of student satisfaction. Ultimately, instructors are encouraged to incorporate this engaged approach when designing and teaching health campaign courses.
Surface waves in chiral layers

We analyze the surface-wave propagation in homogeneous layers of chiral or optically active materials. Two cases of chiral slab are considered: a symmetric chiral slab waveguide and a grounded chiral slab waveguide. The dispersion relation and the electric-field components for surface waves guided in a symmetric chiral slab are analyzed and discussed in detail. The plots of dispersion diagrams and normalized intensities of electric-field components of surface waves are given for both symmetric and grounded chiral slabs, and their novel features are pointed out. The effects of chirality on these diagrams and field components are discussed. Physical insights and potential applications of the results are addressed.
Epigenetic Control of Highly Homologous Killer Ig-Like Receptor Gene Alleles

Mature human NK lymphocytes express the highly homologous killer Ig-like receptor (KIR) genes in a stochastic fashion, and KIR transcription precisely correlates with allele-specific DNA methylation. In this study, we demonstrate that CpG methylation of a minimal KIR promoter inhibited transcription. In human peripheral blood NK cells and long-term cell lines, expressed KIR genes were associated with a moderate level of acetylated histone H3 and H4 and trimethylated histone H3 lysine 4. Histone modifications were preferentially associated with the transcribed allele in NK cell lines with monoallelic KIR expression. Although reduced, a substantial amount of histone acetylation and H3 lysine 4 trimethylation also was associated with nonexpressed KIR genes. DNA hypomethylation correlated with increased chromatin accessibility, both in vitro and in vivo. Treatment of NK cell lines and developing NK cells with the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine, caused a dramatic increase in KIR RNA and protein expression, but little change in histone modification. Our findings suggest that KIR transcription is primarily controlled by DNA methylation.
DEPRESSED WAGES ALONG THE U.S.‐MEXICO BORDER: AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS

Portions of the United States near the Mexican border are experiencing massive inflows of both legal and illegal migrants of Mexican origin. The resultant concentration of low skill labor in these areas of the southwestern states supposedly has led to an excess supply of labor and subsequent depressed labor market conditions, particularly for blue collar workers and Mexican-American nationals. This paper analyzes the degree to which the labor market in this area is depressed. The results presented here tend to verify hypotheses suggested by several other authors but indicate that the magnitude of the problem as reflected by low wages along the border is much less severe than generally believed. The importance of this study is that it measures a phenomenon that heretofore has been accepted with very little empirical verification.
Genetically engineered tumor cell vaccine in a head and neck cancer model.

Objectives Using a murine model, a novel tumor vaccine for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma expressing the granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) gene was evaluated for its ability to protect against tumor challenge. Study Design Mice vaccinated in the floor of the mouth with the GM-CSF tumor cell vaccine were challenged with parental tumor cells, and subsequent tumor development was monitored. Specificity of the antitumor response was demonstrated by vaccinating the mice and then challenging them with an unrelated but syngeneic radiation–induced fibrosarcoma tumor cell line, RIF. Irradiated (only) tumor cells were used as a control to see whether an augmented antitumor response was attributable to possible increased immunogenicity that could theoretically be induced by the irradiation. Methods The GM-CSF gene was transduced into tumor cells via a retroviral vector. The tumor cells were irradiated to prevent replication in vivo. GM-CSF concentrations were determined using ELISA, and physiological activity was confirmed using a biological assay with a GM-CSF–dependent cell line. Results Vaccination with genetically engineered tumor cells significantly protected against subsequent tumor challenge (5% level) when compared to control groups. Mice were not protected when vaccinated and challenged with the unrelated tumor cell line, RIF. Mice vaccinated with irradiated (only) tumor cells were not protected, either. Conclusions Vaccination with genetically engineered tumor cells offers significant protection from later tumor challenge. The response is systemic and tumor specific, not due to an inflammatory response. Irradiation of the tumor cells does not account for the augmented antitumor response. This work supports the continued investigation of the GM-CSF tumor vaccine for the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Why do tree species affect soils? The Warp and Woof of tree-soil interactions

Many ideas have been advanced regarding how trees affect soils. Enough evidence is now available to evaluate the strength of these ideas and to consider interactions between tree species and soils in an evolutionary context. Forest floor mass commonly differs by about 20% for different species growing on the same site; differences of up to 5-fold have been reported. Litterfall mass and N content commonly differ by 20 to 30%, but larger differences are also common (especially with N-fixing species). The net mineralizaton of soil N typically differs by 50% or more among species, indicating very strong feedback possibilities. We evaluate the evolutionary context of tree effects on soils by considering 3 degrees of coupling of trees to soils: tightly woven connections where the fitness of the tree is enhanced by its effect on soils; loosely woven interactions where selection for tree fitness unrelated to soil properties leads to indirect effects on soils (either enhancing or impairing fitness); and frayed interactions where the effects of trees on soil derive from features of the ecosystem that do not involve direct selection for tree fitness. Evidence supports each of these degrees of interaction for at least some cases, and no single context explains all the interactions between trees and soils. Important areas for further work include: next-generation assessments of the effects of trees on soil suitability for the same (and different) species, and the role of soil organisms in developing and modifying the effects of trees on soils.
The Visceral Neuraxis in Thirst and Renal Function

Truisms are, of course, self evident. In spite of their obviousness we need to reconsider some in order to appreciate understanding that we take for granted and to remind ourselves of the value of particular approaches we use in our research on brain function. It seems evident to me that understanding behavior and higher order brain function reduces to knowing the rules governing the flow of information in neural networks. Biochemical, molecular, cellular and pharmocological events affect brain function by rising to modulate this flow of infomation in neural circuits. Given these axioms it is, therefore, important to learn the organization of the brain’s neural networks.
Infants’ observing and heart period responses as related to novelty of visual stimuli

No justification was found for computing an average reliability estimate although fairly high interobserver correlations were obtained for judgments of infants’ fixation times. No intrastimulus decrement was found in observing times, whereas heart period responses when adjusted for prestimulus levels showed across-trial changes, but differentially for males and females. Relationships between observation duration and degree of interstimulus novelty were contingent upon stimulus sequence and tended to be nonmonotonic.
Psychometric evaluation and normative data for the depression, anxiety, and stress scales-21 (DASS-21) in a nonclinical sample of U.S. adults

Health care professionals are coming under increased pressure to empirically monitor patient outcomes across settings as a means of improving clinical practice. Within the psychiatric and primary care communities, many have begun utilizing brief psychometric measures of psychological functioning to accomplish these goals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties and clinical utility of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales-21-item version (DASS-21), and contribute normative data to facilitate interpretation using a sample of U.S. adults (N = 503). Item-scale convergence was generally supported, although assumptions of item-scale divergence were not met. Only 86%, 50%, and 43% of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress items, respectively, correlated significantly greater with their hypothesized scales than other scales. Internal consistency reliability was acceptable for all scales and comparable to existing research (αs = .91, .80, and .84 for Depression, Anxiety, and Stress, respectively). Scale-level correlations were greater than what has been reported elsewhere (range of rs = .68 to .73), and principal components analysis supported the extraction of only one component accounting for 47% of the item-level variance. However, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) favored a three-factor structure when compared to a one-factor model. The implications for the health care professions are discussed.
KIT ligand and bone morphogenetic protein signaling enhances human embryonic stem cell to germ-like cell differentiation

BACKGROUND: Signaling mechanisms involved in early human germ cell development are largely unknown and believed to be similar to mouse germ cell development; however, there may be species specific differences. KIT ligand (KITL) and Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) are necessary in mouse germ cell development and may play an important role in human germ cell development. METHODS: KITL signaling studies were conducted by differentiating human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) on KITL wild-type, hetero- or homozygous knockout feeders for 10 days, and the effects of BMP signaling was determined by differentiation in the presence of BMP4 or its antagonist, Noggin. The formation of germ-like cells was ascertained by immunocytochemistry, flow cytometry and quantitative RT-PCR for germ cell markers. RESULTS: The loss of KITL in enrichment and differentiation cultures resulted in significant down-regulation of germ cell genes and a 70.5% decrease in germ-like (DDX4+ POU5FI +) cells, indicating that KITL is involved in human germ cell development. Moreover, endogenous BMP signaling caused germ-like (DDX4+ POU5FI +) cell differentiation, and the inhibition of this pathway caused a significant decrease in germ cell gene expression and in the number of DDX4+ POU5FI + cells. Further, we demonstrated that eliminating feeders but maintaining their secreted extracellular matrix is sufficient to sustain the increased numbers of DDX4+ POU5FI+ cells in culture. However, this resulted in decreased germ cell gene expression. CONCLUSIONS: From these studies, we establish that KITL and BMP4 germ cell signaling affects in vitro formation of hESC derived germ-like cells and we suggest that they may play an important role in normal human germ cell development.
Exploiting prior knowledge and gene distances in the analysis of tumor expression profiles with extended Hidden Markov Models

Motivation: Changes in gene expression levels play a central role in tumors. Additional information about the distribution of gene expression levels and distances between adjacent genes on chromosomes should be integrated into the analysis of tumor expression profiles. Results: We use a Hidden Markov Model with distance-scaled transition matrices (DSHMM) to incorporate chromosomal distances of adjacent genes on chromosomes into the identification of differentially expressed genes in breast cancer. We train the DSHMM by integrating prior knowledge about potential distributions of expression levels of differentially expressed and unchanged genes in tumor. We find that especially the combination of these data and to a lesser extent the modeling of distances between adjacent genes contribute to a substantial improvement of the identification of differentially expressed genes in comparison to other existing methods. This performance benefit is also supported by the identification of genes well known to be associated with breast cancer. That suggests applications of DSHMMs for screening of other tumor expression profiles. Availability: The DSHMM is available as part of the open-source Java library Jstacs ( www.jstacs.de/index.php/DSHMM). Contact: seifert@ipk-gatersleben.de Supplementary information:Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. Supplementary data files are available at the Jstacs's web site.
Cell type specification during sea urchin development

Recent discoveries indicate that cell lineages and fates play a key role in the establishment of spatially restricted gene expression during sea urchin development. Unique sets of founder cells generate five territories of gene expression by means of an invariant pattern of complete cleavage. Cell lineage analysis demonstrates that the second embryonic axis, the oral-aboral axis, is specified with reference to the first cleavage plane. In the undisturbed embryo, clones that contribute to one territory or another begin to appear at the third cleavage, and founder cell segregation to all five territories is completed by the sixth cleavage. Founder cell segregation is a key feature of mechanisms that establish the spatially defined gene activity of sea urchin embryogenesis.
Stabilization of non-affine nonlinear systems via smooth state feedback

This paper presents sufficient conditions for a nonaffine nonlinear system x/spl dot/=f(x,u) to be locally (resp. globally) asymptotically stabilizable via smooth state feedback. Our results incorporate a series of well-known stabilization theorems proposed in the literature for affine control systems and extend them to nonaffine systems. >
Real-Time Semi-Automatic Segmentation Using a Bayesian Network

This paper presents a semi-automatic segmentation technique called Bayesian cut that formulates object boundary detection as the most probable explanation (MPE) of a Bayesian networks joint probability distribution. A two-layer Bayesian network structure is formulated from a planar graph representing a watershed segmentation of an image. The networks prior probabilities encode the confidence that an edge in the planar graph belongs to an object boundary while the conditional probability tables (CPTs) enforce global contour properties of closure and simplicity (i.e., no self-intersections). Evidence, in the form of one or more connected boundary points, allows the network to compute the MPE with minimal user guidance. The constraints imposed by CPTs also permit a linear-time algorithm to compute the MPE, which in turn allows for interactive segmentation where every mouse movement recomputes the MPE based on the current cursor position and displays the corresponding segmentation.
Alterations in pulse wave propagation reflect the degree of outflow tract banding in HH18 chicken embryos

Hemodynamic conditions play a critical role in embryonic cardiovascular development, and altered blood flow leads to congenital heart defects. Chicken embryos are frequently used as models of cardiac development, with abnormal blood flow achieved through surgical interventions such as outflow tract (OFT) banding, in which a suture is tightened around the heart OFT to restrict blood flow. Banding in embryos increases blood pressure and alters blood flow dynamics, leading to cardiac malformations similar to those seen in human congenital heart disease. In studying these hemodynamic changes, synchronization of data to the cardiac cycle is challenging, and alterations in the timing of cardiovascular events after interventions are frequently lost. To overcome this difficulty, we used ECG signals from chicken embryos (Hamburger-Hamilton stage 18, ∼3 days of incubation) to synchronize blood pressure measurements and optical coherence tomography images. Our results revealed that, after 2 h of banding, blood pressure and pulse wave propagation strongly depend on band tightness. In particular, while pulse transit time in the heart OFT of control embryos is ∼10% of the cardiac cycle, after banding (35% to 50% band tightness) it becomes negligible, indicating a faster OFT pulse wave velocity. Pulse wave propagation in the circulation is likewise affected; however, pulse transit time between the ventricle and dorsal aorta (at the level of the heart) is unchanged, suggesting an overall preservation of cardiovascular function. Changes in cardiac pressure wave propagation are likely contributing to the extent of cardiac malformations observed in banded hearts.
A Review of the Sphindidae (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea) of Madagascar

Abstract Due to its astonishingly rich and imperiled biodiversity, the small island of Madagascar is globally significant in terms of species conservation. To contribute to the ongoing research and conservation efforts there, a taxonomic review of the Malagasy species of Sphindidae (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea) is provided. Five species are treated, representing two genera, Sphindus Megerle in Dejean and Aspidiphorus Zeigler in Dejean. Diagnoses, descriptions, illustrations and a taxonomic key are provided. Four new species are described: Aspidiphorus bisulcatus Forrester & McHugh, new species; Aspidiphorus inordinatus Forrester & McHugh, new species, Aspidiphorus protuberans Forrester & McHugh, new species; and Aspidiphorus quadratidentis Forrester & McHugh, new species.
Malignant sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias in women: characteristics and outcome of treatment with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator

Clinical rhythm, heart disease, ejection fraction, defibrillation threshold, recurrent arrhythmias, and mortality were compared in 268 consecutive recipients (213 men and 55 women) of their first implantable cardioverter defibrillator for life-threatening ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation. Women were younger than men, less likely to have structural heart disease, and more likely to have clinical ventricular fibrillation, a higher ejection fraction, and a lower defibrillation threshold. Complications of defibrillator placement were similar in both sexes. Unadjusted survival tended to be higher in women than in men (97% vs 90%, respectively, at 2 years, P = 0.08), largely due to fewer deaths from noncardiac causes or cardiac causes other than arrhythmia (P = 0.04). Women also tended to be at lower, albeit still substantial, risk for recurrent arrhythmias during follow-up (37% vs 52% in men at 2 years, P = 0.11). After adjustment for baseline differences, overall survival, arrhythmia death-free survival, nonarrhythmia death-free survival, and frequency of recurrent arrhythmias were not found to be gender related. Despite their apparent "lower risk" status on initial presentation, women remained at substantial risk for recurrent arrhythmias. This underscores the need to avoid being unduly biased by the "appearance" of health in managing women with malignant arrhythmias. That survival and other clinical endpoints were all ultimately independent of gender emphasizes the importance of other clinical variables in assessing risk from ventricular tachyarrhythmias.
Use of Cigarette-Smoking History to Estimate the Likelihood of Mutations in Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Gene Exons 19 and 21 in Lung Adenocarcinomas

Purpose Lung adenocarcinomas with mutations in exons 19 and 21 of the epidermal growth factor receptor gene (EGFR) demonstrate sensitivity to gefitinib or erlotinib. Investigators have reported an association between EGFR mutations and the amount and duration of cigarette smoking, with the highest incidence of mutations seen in never smokers. Methods EGFR exon 19 and 21 mutation status was determined in 265 tumor samples using direct sequencing, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. A detailed smoking history was obtained. Patients were categorized as never smokers (< 100 lifetime cigarettes), former smokers (quit ≥ 1 year ago), or current smokers (quit < 1 year ago). Results We detected EGFR mutations in 34 (51%) of 67 never smokers (95% CI, 38% to 64%), 29 (19%) of 151 former smokers (95% CI, 13% to 27%), and two (4%) of 47 current smokers (95% CI, 1% to 16%). Significantly fewer EGFR mutations were found in people who smoked for more than 15 pa...