cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Temperature alters multimodal signaling and mating success in an ectotherm

Temperature affects ectotherms in a variety of ways. These effects can be especially complex in sexual behaviors, as different sexes may be affected differently by temperature. We examined this in the jumping spider, Habronattus clypeatus. In this species, males court females using visual and vibratory signals. We tested whether key intersexual behaviors would change with temperature in similar, predictable ways across males and females. We first measured temperature and apparent activity of individuals across the day. We found that H. clypeatus are active across a wide range of temperatures (11–56 °C) and are most active at times of day when temperature ranges from 13 to 46 °C. Next, we performed mating experiments across behaviorally relevant temperatures. Females were more likely to allow males to progress to later stages of courtship and had higher mating rates at higher temperatures. Male visual and vibratory courtship behaviors generally became faster, higher-pitched, and lower in amplitude at higher temperatures. This relationship between temperature and signal aspects attained a roughly curvilinear shape, with an asymptote around 40 °C. Intriguingly, mating rates in the lab were highest at temperatures potentially above those during peak spider activity in the field. Our results suggest that temperature’s effects on behavior are complex and can affect males and females differently. This work emphasizes that understanding temperature effects on mating is critical to understanding sexual selection patterns particularly in species which use complex signals. Temperature affects communication in most ectothermic species. Previous research has shown that temperature changes courter signals and chooser choice. However, this has never been investigated in species that use multimodal signals. We investigate how signals and choice change across temperatures in a desert-dwelling jumping spider. Using field temperature/activity modeling and a series of courtship experiments in the lab, we show that male signals and female choice change with temperature across biologically relevant ranges. Our results suggest that the temperatures at which mating is most likely occur at times of the day when animals are least active. These counterintuitive results highlight the importance of understanding how behavior in a controlled lab environment corresponds to natural field conditions as well as the importance of examining the effects of naturally occurring environmental variation on behavior.
Development and validation of an assay to measure cannabidiol and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol in human EDTA plasma by UHPLC-MS/MS

Abstract The therapeutic use of cannabinoids has increased with providers often recommending cannabinoid-containing products with limited pre-clinical and clinical pharmacokinetic studies. An ultra-performance liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the determination of cannabidiol and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol in human ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) plasma. The cannabinoids are extracted from plasma with a liquid-liquid procedure utilizing methyl tert-butyl ether. UHPLC Separation was achieved with a Waters Acquity HSS T3 column (100 × 2.1 mm, 1.8 μm) under isocratic conditions (18:82:0.02 water:methanol:formic acid v/v/v). The run time was 8.5 min. Detection of analytes was achieved using electrospray ionization and triple quadrupole selected reaction monitoring. Standard curve concentrations ranged from 0.5 to 250 ng/mL for cannabidiol and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol. The intra- and inter-day accuracy (% bias) and precision (relative standard deviation) were
Insights into the pathogenesis of varicella viruses.

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a highly contagious, neurotropic alpha-herpes virus that causes varicella (chickenpox). VZV establishes lifelong latency in the sensory ganglia from which it can reactivate to induce herpes zoster (HZ), a painful disease that primarily affects older individuals and those who are immune-suppressed. Given that VZV infection is highly specific to humans, developing a reliable in vivo model that recapitulates the hallmarks of VZV infection has been challenging. Simian varicella virus (SVV) infection in non-human primates reproduces the cardinal features of VZV infections in humans and allows the study of varicella virus pathogenesis in the natural host. In this review, we summarize our current knowledge about genomic and virion structure of varicelloviruses as well as viral pathogenesis and antiviral immune responses during acute infection, latency, and reactivation. We also examine the immune evasion mechanisms developed by varicelloviruses to escape the host immune responses and the current vaccines available for protecting individuals against chickenpox and herpes zoster. Data from recent studies suggest that infected T cells are important for viral dissemination to the cutaneous sites of infection as well as the site of latency and that a viral latency-associated transcript might play a role in the transition from lytic infection to latency and then reactivation. Recent studies have provided exciting insights into mechanisms of varicelloviruses pathogenesis such as the critical role of T cells in VZV/SVV dissemination from the respiratory mucosa to the skin and the sensory ganglia; the ability of VZV/SVV to interfere with host defense; and the identification of VLT transcripts in latently infected ganglia. However, our understanding of these phenomena remains poorly understood. Therefore, it is critical that we continue to investigate host-pathogen interactions during varicelloviruses infection. These studies will lead to a deeper understanding of VZV biology as well as novel aspects of cell biology.
Soluble fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 1 Localization in Renal Biopsies of CKD

Introduction Soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFLT1) is a splice variant of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor lacking the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains and acts as a powerful antagonist of VEGF signaling. Plasma sFLT1 levels are higher in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and correlate with renal dysfunction. The source of plasma sFLT1 in CKD is unclear. Methods Fifty-two renal biopsies were studied for sFLT1 expression using immunohistochemistry and evaluated on a 0–4 grading scale of positive cells within inflammatory infiltrates. These included drug-induced interstitial nephritis (6); allografts (12), with polyomavirus nephritis (3); diabetes mellitus (10); lupus glomerulonephritis (6); pauci-immune vasculitis (7); IgA nephropathy (6); and miscellaneous CKD (5). Results Forty-seven biopsies had inflammatory infiltrates of which 37 had sFLT1-positive cells: of these biopsies, 3 were grade 4, i.e., had cells that constituted more than 50% of the inflammatory infiltrate, 9 were grade 3 (25%–50%), 5 were grade 2 (10%–25%), 3 were grade 1 (10%), and 17 were grade 0.5 ( Conclusion sFLT1-positive histiocytes are generally part of the inflammatory infiltrates noted in CKD and are particularly abundant in forms of interstitial nephritis. Their presence promotes an anti-angiogenic state locally in the tubulointerstitium that could inhibit capillary repair, contribute to peritubular capillary loss, and enhance fibrosis in CKD.
Dietary saturated fat and heart disease: a narrative review

The American Heart Association (AHA) recently published a meta-analysis that confirmed their 60-year-old recommendation to limit saturated fat (SFA, saturated fatty acid) and replace it with polyunsaturated fat to reduce the risk of heart disease based on the strength of 4 Core Trials. To assess the evidence for this recommendation, meta-analyses on the effect of SFA consumption on heart disease outcomes were reviewed. Nineteen meta-analyses addressing this topic were identified: 9 observational studies and 10 randomized controlled trials. Meta-analyses of observational studies found no association between SFA intake and heart disease, while meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials were inconsistent but tended to show a lack of an association. The inconsistency seems to have been mediated by the differing clinical trials included. For example, the AHA meta-analysis only included 4 trials (the Core Trials), and those trials contained design and methodological flaws and did not meet all the predefined inclusion criteria. The AHA stance regarding the strength of the evidence for the recommendation to limit SFAs for heart disease prevention may be overstated and in need of reevaluation.
A systematic review of the health effects associated with the inhalation of particle-filtered and whole diesel exhaust

Background: Diesel exhaust is a complex mixture comprised of gases and particulate matter and is a contributor to ambient air pollution. To reduce health risks, recent changes in diesel engine technology have significantly altered the composition of diesel exhaust, primarily by lowering emissions of particulate matter. However, animal toxicological studies continue to report health effects following exposure to diesel exhaust from engines employing particulate filters. The cause of these effects remains unclear.Objective and methods: To gain an understanding of the role of both particle-filtered and whole diesel exhaust on specific health outcomes, we conducted a systematic review in which we examined animal toxicological and controlled human exposure studies that included a comparison between inhalation of particle-filtered and whole diesel exhaust on any health endpoint.Results: We identified 26 studies that met both the inclusion and study evaluation criteria. For most health outcomes, the particle filtration methods employed in the included studies did not appreciably attenuate the health effects associated with exposure to whole diesel exhaust. There were also several health endpoints for which significant effects were associated with exposure to either particle-filtered or whole diesel exhaust, but not to both.Conclusions: Overall, the results from this systematic review demonstrate that exposure to different components in diesel exhaust can have distinct and independent health effects. Thus, to better inform human health risk assessments, future studies aimed at elucidating the health effects from diesel exhaust should include exposure to both particle-filtered and whole diesel exhaust.
Vagus Nerve Stimulation versus Responsive Neurostimulator System in Patients with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy.

Introduction Patients with medically refractory temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) are candidates for neuromodulation procedures. While vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) was historically the procedure of choice for this condition, the responsive neurostimulation system (RNS) has come into favor for its more targeted approach. While both VNS and RNS have been reported as efficacious treatments for TLE, the outcomes of these 2 procedures have not been directly compared. This study aims to compare outcomes following VNS versus RNS for TLE. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the records of all patients with TLE who underwent VNS or RNS placement at our institution from 2003 to 2018. The primary outcome was change in seizure frequency. Other outcomes included Engel score, change in anti-epileptic medications, and complications. Results Twenty-three patients met inclusion criteria; 11 underwent VNS and 12 underwent RNS. At baseline, the 2 groups were statistically similar regarding age at surgery, epilepsy duration, and preoperative seizure frequency. At last follow-up, both groups displayed reduced seizure frequency (mean reduction of 46.3% for the VNS group and 58.1% for the RNS group, p = 0.49). Responder rate, Engel score, and change in medications were statistically similar between groups. Compared to 0.0% of the VNS group, 13.3% of the RNS group experienced infection requiring re-operation. Conclusion Despite their different mechanisms, VNS and RNS resulted in similar response rates for patients with TLE. We suggest that VNS should not be excluded as a treatment for patients with medically refractory TLE who are not candidates for resective or ablative procedures.
The Effect of Adriamycin on Solid Tumors and Acute Leukemia of Adults and Children

Eighty-six patients were included in this study. There were 44 patients with leukemia of whom 30 had acute lymphocytic leukemia (26 children and 4 adults), 14 had acute myelocytic leukemia. In addition, there were 20 children and 22 adults with a variety of disseminated solid tumors. All children with leukemia had advanced disease, and had received all conventional chemo therapeutic drugs including dauno- rubicin1 in most cases.
Research and reconciliation: Unsettling ways of knowing through indigenous relationships.

This unique and remarkable volume brings together multiple voices and nuanced perspectives to convey a broad understanding of the processes and importance of research that is aligned with Indigenou...
Moving Borders from the Periphery to the Center: River Basins, Political Boundaries, and Water Management Policy

Boundaries are a fact of life. We owe much of our understanding of the world, and of biophysical as well as societal interactions, to the order imposed by borders and boundaries. Yet, at the same time, we recognize "borderlands" as important areas that transcend political boundaries. These zones of interaction provide a place for utilizing things held in common (such as shared water resources) as well as reinforcing differences (for example, differing regulatory structures). Borders sometimes serve as legal or political barriers to scientific data gathering and collaboration. Of equal or even greater importance, borders often impede the rational application of scientific knowledge to the problems it is meant to solve. As Aaron Wolf and others have noted, the problems of managing water and other resources are exacerbated when those resources cross political boundaries and jurisdictions [Wolf, et al., 1999; Udall and Varady, 1994]. While this reasoning has been persuasive, the persistence of political and administrative practices that treat border areas as peripheries has prevented transboundary management issues from receiving the attention they deserve—an observation that is especially meaningful in the case of river basins. The distinctiveness of the transboundary condition should be of particular interest to scientists because of the contrast between the disparities engendered by political borders and the continuity found in natural processes. By and large, managers, decisionmakers, and the public-at-large accept that transboundary basins are distinct from watersheds that do not cross borders, and 10
Kinetic characterization of a saturable pathway for rapid clearance of circulating fibrin monomer

The mechanism of clearance of circulating fibrin monomer was investigated in rabbits through (1) study of decay in plasma concentrations of 125I-labeled monomers with variant fibrinopeptide content and (2) concurrent analysis of decay of the monomers relative to coinjected 131I-fibrinogen. Under the conditions employed, essentially all of the fibrin became distributed in a soluble form in plasma and decayed independently of the coinjected fibrinogen. Among the species of fibrin studied, monomer lacking fibrinopeptide A alone (alpha-fibrin) underwent very rapid clearance by a saturable mechanism that was not evident in relatively sluggish clearance of monomer lacking either fibrinopeptide B alone (beta-fibrin) or both fibrinopeptides A and B (alpha beta-fibrin). Decay of alpha-fibrin conformed with a kinetic mechanism involving first-order permeation of the fibrin into extravascular space at a rate equivalent to that of permeation of fibrinogen; unlike fibrinogen, however, the alpha-fibrin underwent immediate absorption in parallel with permeation (t1/2 = 2.6 hours) at doses below an apparent saturating level of 3 mg/kg. At doses near the absorptive limit, the uptake accompanying permeation diminished as in a second-order kinetic mechanism, and at very high doses the plasma decay of the alpha-fibrin approached that of fibrinogen. The beta- and alpha beta-fibrins also permeated extravascular space in parallel with fibrinogen, but absorption proceeded sluggishly (t1/2 = 11 and 16 hours, respectively) at low doses and did not change with increasing dose. The uniquely rapid and saturable clearance of alpha-fibrin is suggested to involve uptake through the fibrin aggregation site that is blocked by fibrinopeptide A in fibrinogen and beta-fibrin and by tight binding to fibrinogen in soluble complexes formed by alpha beta-fibrin. A corollary of this hypothesis is that rapid uptake depends on dissociability of fibrin complexes for access to the aggregation site, a mechanism that is just the converse of uptake through aggregation.
Captive Audience Doctrine in First Amendment Jurisprudence

This brief article discusses the captive audience doctrine, which strives to relieve recipients from being held captive to unwanted speech. It rests on the belief that in certain circumstances people should not have to be exposed to offensive speech. As such, the doctrine serves as an exception to the First Amendment rule requiring people exposed to unwanted speech to avert their eyes and ears. The primary venue in which the captive audience doctrine has been applied is an individual’s home.
Incidence and predictors of understaging in patients with clinical T1 urothelial carcinoma undergoing radical cystectomy.

Objective To evaluate predictors of understaging in patients with presumed non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) identified on transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT) who underwent radical cystectomy (RC) with attention to the role of a restaging TURBT. Patients and Methods We retrospectively evaluated 279 consecutive patients with clinically staged T1 (cT1) disease after TURBT who underwent RC at our institution from April 2000 to July 2011. In all, 60 of these cT1 patients had undergone a restaging TURBT before RC. The primary outcome measure was pathological staging of ≥T2 disease at the time of RC. Results In all, 134 (48.0%) patients were understaged. Of the 60 patients who remained cT1 after a restaging TURBT, 28 (46.7%) were understaged. Solitary tumour (odds ratio [OR] 0.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.25–0.76, P = 0.004) and fewer prior TURBTs (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.71–1.00, P = 0.05) were independent risk factors for understaging. Conclusions Despite the overall improvement in staging accuracy linked to restaging TURBTs, the risk of clinical understaging remains high in restaged patients found to have persistent T1 urothelial carcinoma who undergo RC. Solitary tumour and fewer prior TURBTs are independent risk factors for being understaged. Incorporating these predictors into preoperative risk stratification may allow for augmented identification of those patients with clinical NMIBC who stand to benefit most from RC.
A microwave resonance diagnostic for measuring characteristics of pulsed ion beams

This paper describes an experiment to characterize ions generated by a pulsed vacuum arc by using a microwave resonant cavity (MRC) as a transient diagnostic. Specific information is desired on the various species which can drift into the beam during repetitive operations of arc plasma generation. The arc source reference voltage is elevated above ground (∼200V), which results in a separation of ion species in the beam due to the acceleration experienced by the ions. The cylindrical MRC used in this study has a resonant frequency of ∼2.8 GHz when excited by a continuous RF source in the TM 01 mode of operation. When the neutralized ion beam propagates through the MRC located downstream from the arc source, the resonant frequency of the MRC is shifted by the local disturbance in electric field inside the cavity due to the presence of the electron space charge in the beam. Coupled with the time-of-flight separation of various ion masses, the MRC resonance shift provides a temporally resolved measurement of beam species and density downstream from the vacuum ion source without the use of a potentially invasive diagnostic such as charge collector plates within the beam cross-section. This diagnostic technique should prove useful in a variety of pulsed ion beam studies and applications in research and industrial environments.
Camptothecin and 10-hydroxycamptothecin from Camptotheca acuminata hairy roots

Camptothecin (CPT) is an anticancer and antiviral alkaloid produced by the Chinese tree Camptotheca acuminata (Nyssaceae) and some other species belonging to the families Apocynaceae, Olacaceae, and Rubiaceae. Bark and seeds are currently used as sources for the drug. Several attempts have been made to produce CPT from cell suspensions; however, the low yields obtained limit this approach. Cultures of differentiated cell types may be an alternative source of alkaloid production. Hairy root cultures of C. acuminata were established from tissue transformed with Agrobacterium rhizogenes strains ATCC 15834 and R-1000. Integration of the genes responsible for the hairy-root phenotype (rol genes) into the plant genome was verified by DNA gel blot analysis. The hairy roots produce and secrete CPT as well as the more potent and less toxic natural derivative, 10-hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT), into the medium. Remarkably, the cultures were able to synthesize the alkaloids at levels equal to, and sometimes greater than, the roots in planta, i.e., 1.0 and 0.15 mg/g dry weight for CPT and the HCPT, respectively.
Court Ordered Multiple Offender Drunk Drivers: Validity and Reliability of Rapid Assessment

ABSTRACT The Alcohol Use Disorders and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedules' (AUDADIS) DSM-IV related items are used to evaluate the convergent validity of the Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (SAD-Q), the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST), and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) with persons convicted for multiple offences of driving under the influence. A total of 187 participants underwent semi-structured interviewing; of these 84% were alcohol dependent. The instruments exhibit acceptable internal consistency (all alphas > .85) as well as test/re-test reliability (all r = s ≥ .85). The MAST converged most closely with a DSM-IV diagnosis. Implications for rapid assessment instrument research as well as practice in public agencies are discussed.
Arteriovenous Fistula Following Lumbar Disc Surgery Influence On Echocardiography and Transmission of Murmur To the Feet

Six months after lumbar disc surgery, a 43-year-old woman presented with signs and symptoms of high-output circulatory failure secondary to an acquired abdominal arteriovenous fistula. Unusual findings in this case included a continuous murmur, which was transmitted to the soles of both feet and pericardial effusion, both of which disappeared after corrective surgery. Echocardiography demonstrated resolution of chamber enlargement following repair of the fistula. The mechanism of vascular injury during disc surgery and hemodynamic effects of such A-V fistulas are discussed.
Serum Insulin‐Like Growth Factor I in Healthy Older Men in Relation to Physical Activity

Objective: The serum level of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is lower in old men than in young men. It has been theorized that this change may result in part from the lower level of physical activity in the elderly. The objective of the present study was to test this theory. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Community-dwelling healthy men. Participants: Twenty-nine young men aged 21–29 and 120 older men aged 58–98. A wide range of habitual physical activity was assured in the older men by recruiting them both in senior centers and in fitness centers. Measurements: Serum IGF-I level was measured by radioimmunoassay. Physical activity was estimated as the sum of moderate, hard, and very hard activities in leisure and occupation during the previous week as determined by the interviewer-administered Seven Day Physical Activity Recall questionnaire. Results: IGF-I was significantly higher (363.7 + 16 ng/mL, avg + SEM) in the young men than in the senior center older men (219.6 + 5 ng/mL) or in the fitness center older men (168.3 + 11 ng/mL) (P < 0.01). The level of IGF-I in the senior center older men was higher than that in the fitness center older men (P = 0.05). The physical activity of the fitness center older men (128.5 + 15 Kcal/kg/wk, avg + SE) was statistically similar to that of the young men (101.3 + 19 Kcal/kg/wk). The physical activity levels of both of these groups were significantly higher than that of the senior center older men (33.6 + 3 Kcal/kg/wk) (P < 0.010). Within none of the three groups was there a significant correlation between IGF-I and physical activity. When the two groups of older men were combined, there was, in fact, an inverse correlation of IGF-I and physical activity (P = 0.001). Conclusion: The data do not support the hypothesis that lack of physical activity is responsible for the decline in serum IGF-I with advancing age. J Am Geriatr Soc 42:71–76, 1994
CAM: A high-performance cellular-automaton machine

Abstract CAM is a high-performance machine dedicated to the simulation of cellular automata and other distributed dynamical systems. Its speed is about one-thousand times greater than that of a general-purpose computer programmed to do the same task; in practical terms, this means that CAM can show the evolution of cellular automata on a color monitor with an update rate, dynamic range, and spatial resolution comparable to those of a Super-8 movie, thus permitting intensive interactive experimentation. Machines of this kind can open up novel fields of research, and in this context it is important that results be easy to obtain, reproduce, and transmit. For these reasons, in designing CAM it was important to achieve functional simplicity, high flexibility, and moderate production cost. We expect that many research groups will be able to own their own copy of the machine to do research with.
City Management in the United States and Norway: A Comparative Analysis of Professional Orientations

This analysis examines the effects of political culture on the nature and practice of professional local government management by comparing the structures, responsibilities, and relationships of city administrative executives in the democratic countries of the United States and Norway. The findings suggest that, despite fundamental differences in societal institutions and settings, American and Norwegian city managers serve similar roles in their respective local government organizations. However, the notable variations in the processes of municipal management identified between the two nations appear to reflect the contextual influence of divergent political foundations on the operational environment of professional public administrators.
Parathion residues on apple and peach foliage as affected by the presence of the fungicides, maneb and zinéb.

The problem of hazard to crop workers who enter fields or orchards following application of toxic pesticides has been of considerable interest during recent years. Several outbreaks of illness resulting from crop reentry following pesticide application have occurred since QUINBY and LEMMON (1958) first reported pesticide residues as a cause of poisoning in crop workers; however, most of these "residue poisonings" have been relatively mild in nature.
A comparison of androgen production and clearance in hirsute and obese women

Abstract Virilization in women is associated with increased production of testosterone as well as a variety of androgenic prehormones, including androstenedione, androstenediol, DHEA, DHEA-sulfate, dihydrotestosterone and androstanediol. Of these hormones, it is likely that testosterone is the androgen which initiates a series of androgen-receptor mediated events resulting in stimulation of 5α reductase in the skin and hair follicles, producing dihydrotestosterone locally. The metabolism of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone within the hair follicle results in increased clearance of testosterone, however at the expense of hair follicle stimulation. Increased 5α reductase of the skin and hair allows other prehormones to be metabolized to dihydrotestosterone and androstanediol, further stimulating the hair follicle (multiplier effect). In obese women, androgen production rates are elevated and SHBG levels are depressed, in many cases to the same magnitude as that observed in hirsute women. Increased androgen production rates in obesity, however, are associated with major increases in clearance rates of these androgens. Resultant androgen blood levels are even lower than observed in the non-obese population. It appears likely that adipose tissue is the site of the increased clearance rates and metabolism of prehormones to dihydrotestosterone and androstanediol. A delicate balance likely exists between production and clearance of these biologically active hormones. Minor aberrations in this balance may result in the increased incidence of hirsutism seen in the obese female population.
Lawsuits Against Auditors

In this paper we compare two matched samples of 117 corporations whose auditors are and are not sued, to provide information on lawsuits. Lawsuits tend to be filed against auditors of client firms that have liquidity problems and poor stock price performance. There is little evidence of poorer accounting performance or accounting manipulation in the year in which wrongdoing is alleged to have occurred. The likelihood of a lawsuit against an auditor is greater if the audit report is qualified, the less structured is the audit and the larger the proportion of the auditor's revenues generated by the client. We also use multivariate models to compare the two samples. However, the multivariate analysis' data requirements reduce the number of observations in each sample to 21. Nevertheless, the multivariate analysis also suggests that we can discriminate between the litigation and control firms using the variables that are significant in the univariate analysis.
SlipChip for Immunoassays in Nanoliter Volumes

This article describes a SlipChip-based approach to perform bead-based heterogeneous immunoassays with multiple nanoliter-volume samples. As a potential device to analyze the output of the chemistrode, the performance of this platform was tested using low concentrations of biomolecules. Two strategies to perform the immunoassay in the SlipChip were tested: (1) a unidirectional slipping method to combine the well containing a sample with a series of wells preloaded with reagents and (2) a back-and-forth slipping method to introduce a series of reagents to a well containing the sample by reloading and slipping the well containing the reagent. The SlipChips were fabricated with hydrophilic surfaces on the interior of the wells and with hydrophobic surfaces on the face of the SlipChip to enhance filling, transferring, and maintaining aqueous solutions in shallow wells. Nanopatterning was used to increase the hydrophobic nature of the SlipChip surface. Magnetic beads containing the capture antibody were effici...
Effect of hard particle impacts on the atomic oxygen survivability of reflector surfaces with transparent protective overcoats

Silver mirror samples with protective coatings were subjected to a stream of 27 microns alumina particles to induce pinhole defects. The protective coating consisted of a layer of aluminum dioxide over silver followed by a layer of silicon dioxide over the alumina. Samples were prepared on both graphite-epoxy composite and fused quartz substrates. After exposure to the hard particle stream, the samples were exposed to an oxygen plasma environment in a laboratory plasma asher. The effects of both the hard particles and the oxygen plasma were documented by both reflectance measurements and scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that oxidative damage to the silver reflecting layer continues beyond that of the erosively exposed silver. Oxidative undercutting of the silver layer and graphite-epoxy substrate continues in undamaged areas through adjacent, particle damaged defect sites. This may have implications for the use of such mirrors in a space station solar dynamic power system.
Analysis and comparison of motion-correction techniques in diffusion-weighted imaging†

Motion continues to be a significant problem in MRI, producing image artifacts that can severely degrade image quality. In diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), the problem is amplified by the presence of large gradient fields used to produce the diffusion weighting. Three correction methods applicable for correction of specific classes of motion are described and compared. The first is based on a generalised projection onto convex sets (GPOCS) postprocessing algorithm. The second technique uses the collection of navigator echoes to track phase errors. The third technique is based on a radial-scan data acquisition combined with a modified projection-reconstruction algorithm. Although each technique corrects well for translations, the radial-scan method proves to be more robust when more complex motions are present. A detailed description of the causes of MR data errors caused by rigid body motion is included as an appendix.
The Development of Vehicle Position Estimation Algorithms Based on the Use of AMR Sensors

This paper focuses on the use of anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) sensors for imminent crash detection in cars. The AMR sensors are used to measure the magnetic field from another vehicle in close proximity to estimate relative position and velocity from the measurement. An analytical formulation for the relationship between magnetic field and vehicle position is developed. The challenges in the use of the AMR sensors include their nonlinear behavior, limited range, and magnetic signature levels that vary with each type of car. An adaptive filter based on the iterated extended Kalman filter (IEKF) is developed to automatically tune filter parameters for each encountered car and to reliably estimate relative car position. The utilization of an additional sonar sensor during the initial detection of the encountered vehicle is shown to highly speed up the parameter convergence of the filter. Experimental results are presented from a number of tests with various vehicles to show that the proposed sensor system is viable.
Gastrointetinal Problems in the Chronically Critically Ill Patient

Although they occur less frequently than cardiopulmonary events, gastrointestinal complications now are recognized increasingly in chronically critically ill patients. These are usually the consequence of systemic processes and multiorgan dysfunction that are prevalent in this patient population. Recognition of gastrointestinal complications in critically ill patients is extremely challenging because classic signs and symptoms are often absent or masked by the frequent use of sedative and narcotic medications in intubated patients. Moreover, laboratory and radiologic studies are not always helpful. This situation often results in delayed diagnosis which, in turn, leads to increased mortality. In this article, the authors review the epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, prevention, and management of the various gastrointestinal complications that occur in a chronically ventilated patient. These critically ill patients receive their care both in long-term acute care facilities and in intensive care units (ICUs).
The effect of varying levels of Gamborg's B5 salts and temperature on the accumulation of starch and hyoscyamine in batch cultures of transformed roots of Datura stramonium

The partitioning of carbon between reserve polysaccharide and alkaloid secondary products was investigated in batch cultures of transformed roots of Datura stramonium grown in media in which the carbon substrate concentration was held constant and the level of mineral nutrients was varied. The growth and accumulation of starch and hyoscyamine was examined in roots grown at temperatures of 20°C, 25°C or 30°C in media containing 5% sucrose and levels of mineral nutrients varying from 1/4 to twice the standard level of Gamborg's B5 salts. The dry matter content was highest (up to 15% w/w) in roots grown at either 20°C or 25°C in medium of the lowest ionic strenth (1/4 B5 salts) and decreased as the ionic strength was raised (down to 7% w/w with 2 B5 salts). Up to half of this decrease could be accounted for by loss of starch from the roots. At 20°C and 25°C, the starch content of the roots grown in medium of the lowest ionic strength (1/4 B5) was 40 mg g-1 and 22 mg g-1 fresh weight respectively but decreased to less than 1 mg g-1 weight at either temperature when the ionic strength of the medium was raised to 2 B5. At 30°C, starch accumulation was severely inhibited in all media. In contrast, varying either the temperature or the ionic strength of the medium had only a small effect on hyoscyamine accumulation which remained at between 0.4–0.6 mg g-1 fresh weight. Although increases in the level of mineral salts had little effect on the hyoscyamine content of the roots, total yields however, increased due to stimulation of growth. Time course experiments showed that cultures grown at either 20°C or 25°C continued to accumulate both starch and hyoscyamine into late stationary phase.
Diagnostic value of needle aspiration in Haemophilus influenzae type b cellulitis.

nucleocapsids were seen in some ependymal cells, suggesting that mumps virus may have an affinity for ependymal cells in human beings, as has been demonstrated in some experimental animals. Although mumps virus was not isolated from the CSF, both the clinical history of parotitis and detection of mumps specific IgM in our patient's serum suggested a recent infection with mumps virus. A normal head circumference and rate of head growth, with no prior symptoms of hydrocephalus, suggested the acute onset of hydrocephalus caused by mumps virus infection, rather than accentuation of a chronic obstructive hydrocephalus antedating the illness. Our patient had been immunized against mumps virus at 18 months of age, but this apparently did not provide adequate protection either due to initial vaccine failure or, less likely, a waning immune response to mumps virus. Although six other children have been reported with the onset of symptoms of aqueductal stenosis between three months and four years after clinical mumps, the brief interval between clinical mumps and the onset of symptoms of aqueductal stenosis in our patient is the shortest we know of, and greatly strengthens the circumstantial evidence linking mumps virus to the pathogenesis of acquired aqueductal stenosis.:' ~ REFERENCES 1. Dandy WE: The diagnosis and treatment of hydrocephalus resulting from strictures of the aqueduct of Sylvius, Surg Gynecol Obstet 31:340, 1920. 2. Johnson KP: Hydrocephalus following viral infections: The pathology of acqueductal stenosis developing after experimental mumps viral infection, J Neuropath Exp Neurol 27:591, 1968. 3. Johnson RT: Hydrocephalus and viral infections, Dev Med Child Neurol 17:807, 1975. 4. Timmons GD, and Johnson KP: Aqueductal stenosis and hydrocephalus after mumps encephalitis, N Engl J Med 283:1505, 1970. 5. Bray PF: Mumps: A cause of hydrocephalus? Pediatrics 49:446, 1972. 6. Paraiez E: Angeberr zum membranosen Verschluss des Aqueductus Sylvii, Acta Paediatr Acad Sci Hung 11:21, 1970. 7. Hower J, Claer HE, Duchting M, "Aquaducktverschluss nach Mumps-meningitis", Dsch Med Wochenschr 97:43, 1972. 8. Steigman A, quoted by Bray PJ: Letter to the editor, Pediatrics 50:49, 1972. 9. Naske R, and Poustka K: Eine settene Komplikation nache Mumps Meningoenzephalatis, Wein Med Wochenschr !23:221, 1973. 10. Herndon RN, and Johnson RT: A method for the electron microscopic study of cerebral spinal fluid sediment, J Neuropath Exp Neurol 29:320, 1970.
Game Programming for Complex System Development and Abet Accreditation Assessment

Abstract “Game Programming” has been used in the past for practicing “Worked Example” principles. In this novel attempt, it is used for teaching “Complex System Development” with the goals of covering software engineering principles and satisfying partially the ABET accreditation requirement, i.e., for students to acquire the ability to apply design and development principles in the construction of software systems of varying complexity. In this paper, the course design and the assessment are presented. The assessment results and the experiences learned are discussed.
Laser-induced surface damage of infrared nonlinear materials.

The thresholds for surface damage due to pulsed laser irradiation at 10.6 μm have been measured for CdGeAs2, AgGaSe2, AgGaS2, and Tl3AsSe3. In each case the threshold for pit formation is significantly lower than the threshold for visible plasma formation.
Criteria for the Selection of Radionuclides for Targeting Nuclear Antigens for Cancer Radioimmunotherapy

The potential of utilizing immunoconjugates to selectively deliver radionuclides for the destruction of tumors has stimulated much research activity. From dosimetric and other considerations, the choice of radiolabel is an important factor that needs to be optimized for maximum effectiveness of radioimmunotherapy (RIT). This paper reviews and assesses a number of present and future radionuclides that are particularly suitable for RIT based on the various physical, chemical, and biological considerations. Although intermediate to high-energy beta emitters (with and without gamma photons in their emission) possess a number of advantages for most RIT, the use of alpha, Auger, and short range conversion electron emitters could be attractive for targeting nuclear antigens when the radioimmunoconjugate is internalized into tumor cells. Factors relating to the production and availability of candidate radionuclides as well as their stable chemical attachment to monoclonal antibodies are discussed.
Nucleotide sequence of a cDNA clone for mouse pro alpha 1(I) collagen protein.

Abstract A cDNA clone for mouse proα 1(I) collagen has been isolated and sequenced. A 1.8-kb PstI fragment spans nucleotides -1991 to -159 of the α-domain of mouse proα1(I) collagen.
Fugitive mercury emissions from a chlor-alkali factory: sources and fluxes to the atmosphere

Abstract During winter 2000, a multi-organization research team assessed fugitive (non-stack) mercury air emissions at a chlor-alkali factory in the US using a variety of sophisticated mercury vapor analyzers to assess fugitive air emissions of mercury. The team obtained mercury data over a 9-day period from inside the factory, with the first known concurrent awareness of manufacturing operations. Emissions were measured from the roof vent, the open-sided basement below the production cells, and from surrounding soils and sealed waste ponds. Some emphasis was also placed on assessing the spatial distribution of Hg concentrations within an operating cell room. The team used real-time and near-real-time Hg analyzers including a Tekran 5-min integrated sampler modified for cell-room use, Lumex RA915+ and Jerome 431-X portable Hg analyzers, and a long-path integrating DOAS system for gaseous elemental Hg, coupled with an optical anemometer for measuring vent-averaged air flow rates. The integrated beam (DOAS) and point measurements of Hg° compared favorably. One principal finding is that fugitive air emissions from the cell-room roof vent are episodic and vary with factory operating conditions (maintenance and minor operational perturbations). Therefore, air emissions are likely to vary widely among factories on a worldwide basis, in accordance with operating procedures followed at each. Properly positioned, real-time mercury vapor analyzers are potentially valuable tools to locate small-scale process leaks, and to estimate overall emissions from the cell-room building. A preliminary estimate of daily fugitive Hg emissions during this period (∼400–600 g d−1) indicated that the bulk of the atmospheric loss was emitted from the roof vent of the main production building. Sealed waste ponds were not important sources, emitting Hg at rates comparable to background soils.
Vertical-scanning Mutagenesis of a Critical Tryptophan in the “Minor Groove Binding Track” of HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase MAJOR GROOVE DNA ADDUCTS IDENTIFY SPECIFIC PROTEIN INTERACTIONS IN THE MINOR GROOVE

Abstract Biochemical and molecular modeling studies of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase (RT) have revealed that a structural element, the minor groove binding track (MGBT), is important for both replication frameshift fidelity and processivity. The MGBT interactions occur in the DNA minor groove from the second through sixth base pair from the primer 3′-terminus where the DNA undergoes a structural transition from A-like to B-form DNA. Alanine-scanning mutagenesis had previously demonstrated that Gly262 and Trp266 of the MGBT contributes important DNA interactions. To probe the molecular interactions occurring in this critical region, eight mutants of RT were studied in which alternate residues were substituted for Trp266. These enzymes were characterized in primer extension assays in which the template DNA was adducted at a single adenine by either R- or S-enantiomers of styrene oxide. These lesions failed to block DNA polymerization by wild-type RT, yet the Trp266mutants and an alanine mutant of Gly262 terminated synthesis on styrene oxide-adducted templates. Significantly, the sites of termination occurred primarily 1 and 3 bases following adduct bypass, when the lesion was positioned in the major groove of the template-primer stem. These results indicate that residue 266 serves as a “protein sensor” of altered minor groove interactions and identifies which base pair interactions are altered by these lesions. In addition, the major groove lesion must alter important structural transitions in the template-primer stem, such as minor groove widening, that allow RT access to the minor groove.
Seasonal mass balance of halogens in simulated rice paddies

Halogens released from soil reservoirs to the atmosphere play important roles in atmospheric chemistry, including ozone loss and aerosol formation. Closed system experiments to determine controlling factors in halogen movement between the pedosphere, hydrosphere, terrestrial biosphere, and atmosphere are needed. This paper presents results from a closed system experiment on simulated rice paddies. It was observed that most water-extractable (bioavailable), halogens were swept downward from the surface during the initial watering pulse (∼50, 70, and 75% of chloride, bromide, and iodide in unadulterated soils). Soil halogens were sequestered by rice plants with 28, 4, and 24% of the remaining bioavailable chlorine, bromine, and iodine processed by the plant tissue by the end of the season. Of the bioavailable halogens taken into the rice plant, less than 1% of chlorine or bromine is volatilized as a methyl halide while over 90% of iodide is emitted as gaseous CH3I. Copyright 2004 by the American Geophysical Union.
Making correct statistical inferences using a wrong probability model

Abstract Large sample methods for estimating the variance of parameter estimates for hypothesis-testing purposes and statistical test for model selection when the statistical model is wrong (i.e., misspecified) are reviewed. A parallel distributed processing (PDP) statistical model for analyzing categorical time series data is then proposed, and a theorem establishing when the quasi-maximum likelihood estimates of the model are unique is stated and proved. Analysis of Golden et al.'s (1993, in the Proceedings of the 14th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society (pp. 487-491). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum) categorical time-series data with respect to the proposed PDP model showed that White's asymptotic statistical theory yielded results which were more consistent with boot-strap estimates than classical methods of statistical inference.