cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A microfluidic system for large DNA molecule arrays.

Single molecule approaches offer the promise of large, exquisitely miniature ensembles for the generation of equally large data sets. Although microfluidic devices have previously been designed to manipulate single DNA molecules, many of the functionalities they embody are not applicable to very large DNA molecules, normally extracted from cells. Importantly, such microfluidic devices must work within an integrated system to enable high-throughput biological or biochemical analysisa key measure of any device aimed at the chemical/biological interface and required if large data sets are to be created for subsequent analysis. The challenge here was to design an integrated microfluidic device to control the deposition or elongation of large DNA molecules (up to millimeters in length), which would serve as a general platform for biological/biochemical analysis to function within an integrated system that included massively parallel data collection and analysis. The approach we took was to use replica molding ...
Fluorine-18-labeled [Nle4,d-Phe7]-α-MSH, an α-melanocyte stimulating hormone analogue

Abstract The α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) analogue [Nle 4 , d -Phe 7 ]-α-MSH was labeled with 18 F using N -succinimidyl 4-[ 18 F]fluorobenzoate ([ 18 F]SFB) in >80% radiochemical yield. The IC 50 values of [Nle 4 , d -Phe 7 ]-α-MSH and para -fluorobenzoyl-[Nle 4 , d -Phe 7 ]-α-MSH ([Nle 4 , d -Phe 7 , Lys 11 -( 18 F)PFB]-α-MSH) for inhibiting the binding of meta -[ 131 I]iodobenzoyl-[Nle 4 , d -Phe 7 ]-α-MSH ([NIe 4 , d -Phe 7 , Lys 11 - 131 I)MIB]-α-MSH) to B16-F1 murine melanoma cells were 89 ± 9 pM and 112 ± 22 pM, respectively, suggesting that addition of 4-fluorobenzoate did not compromise α-MSH receptor binding affinity. Binding of [Nle 4 , d -Phe 7 ,Lys 11 -( 18 F)PFB]-α-MSH was influenced by the specific activity of the preparation (400–1000 Ci/mmol). The normal tissue clearance of [Nle 4 , d -Phe 7 ,Lys 11 -( 18 F)PFB]-α-MSH in mice was quite rapid, with little evidence for defluorination.
Earthquake mobilization plan tested

In the seismological community, much effort has been directed recently toward developing a coordinated plan for rapid response to major earthquakes. This topic was the subject of a special interest group at the recent annual meeting of the Incorporated Research Institutions in Seismology (IRIS). Several new and some old ideas concerning a rapid array mobilization plan (RAMP) emerged. IRIS has agreed to set aside initial funding and equipment to deploy five seismic stations in support of approved RAMP initiatives. Although five stations are not sufficient to ensure a successful aftershock deployment, the present high demand for IRIS portable equipment in planned experiments precludes reserving any additional instruments for aftershock studies.
White matter characterization of adolescent binge drinking with and without co-occurring marijuana use: A 3-year investigation

The aims of this study were to investigate the consequences of prolonged patterns of alcohol and marijuana use on white matter integrity and neurocognitive functioning in late adolescence, and examine neurodevelopmental trajectories over three years of regular follow-up visits. Three groups of demographically similar teens received assessments every 1.5 years (controls with consistently minimal substance use, n=16; teens who gradually increase their heavy episodic drinking n=17, and continuous binge drinkers with heavy marijuana use, n=21), including comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations, diffusion tensor imaging, and detailed substance use interviews. One-way ANOVA identified fifteen white matter clusters that significantly differed between groups at 3-year follow-up, ages 19-22; controls consistently demonstrated higher values of tissue integrity across fiber tracts. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant declines in white matter integrity from baseline to 3-year follow-up in the subsample of substance users, along with poorer global neurocognitive performance in alcohol users with heavy marijuana use by the 18-month follow-up. Findings suggest healthier brain white matter microstructure and better neurocognitive performance for teens free from heavy alcohol and marijuana use. Long-term engagement in these substances may adversely influence white matter and increase vulnerability for development of neuropathology purported to underlie future risk-taking and addictive behaviors.
QRS prolongation is strongly associated with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias in children with dilated cardiomyopathy

Background The incidence of sudden death in children with dilated cardiomyopathy has been estimated at Methods We conducted a retrospective record review of 183 children with dilated cardiomyopathy treated at a single center between 2000 and 2011. Life-threatening arrhythmia was defined as any ventricular arrhythmia that resulted in syncope or hypotension and required medical intervention. Risk factors for life-threatening arrhythmias were identified with univariate analyses. A prediction model was constructed with multivariate logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curves. Results Nineteen patients experienced life-threatening arrhythmias, representing an annualized rate of 4.9%. Outpatient life-threatening arrhythmias occurred at a rate of 2.2% per year. Predictors of outpatient life-threatening arrhythmias were longer QRS duration ( p = 0.003) and increased left ventricular posterior wall (LVPWd) thickness ( p = 0.03). Only QRS duration remained significant in multivariate logistic regression (odds ratio, 1.8 for every unit increase in z -score; 95% CI, 1.01–1.9; p = 0.04). For all life-threatening arrhythmias, prolonged QRS duration was the only significant risk factor in multivariate logistic regression (odds ratio, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1–2.2; p = 0.02). Conclusion In children with dilated cardiomyopathy, as QRS duration increases, so too does the risk of life-threatening arrhythmias. Life-threatening arrhythmias occurred at an annual rate of 5%, which was much higher than the previously reported rate of sudden cardiac death in this population.
AppA Is a Blue Light Photoreceptor that Antirepresses Photosynthesis Gene Expression in Rhodobacter sphaeroides

Photosynthetic bacteria regulate photosystem synthesis in response to alterations in oxygen tension and light intensity. In this study we show that the PpsR repressor from Rhodobacter sphaeroides binds to DNA in a redox-dependent manner through the formation/breakage of an intramolecular disulfide bond. We also demonstrate that PpsR is antagonized by the flavin-containing antirepressor, AppA, that is capable of breaking the disulfide bond in oxidized PpsR as well as forming a stable AppA-PpsR(2) antirepressor-repressor complex. Blue light excitation of AppA induces a photocycle that is characterized by a long-lived red-shifted absorbance of the flavin. Light-excited AppA was found to be incapable of forming the AppA-PpsR(2) antirepressor complex. These results establish AppA as a transcription factor that controls both redox and blue light repression of photosystem gene expression by mediating DNA binding activity of PpsR.
Collective modes in the loop-current-ordered phase of cuprates

Recently two branches of weakly dispersive collective modes have been discovered in underdoped cuprates by inelastic neutron scattering. Polarization analysis reveals that the modes are magnetic excitations. They are visible only for temperatures below the transition temperature to a broken symmetry phase, which was discovered earlier, and their intensity increases as temperature is further decreased. The broken symmetry phase itself has symmetries consistent with ordering of orbital current loops within a unit cell without breaking translational symmetry. In order to calculate the collective modes of such a state we add quantum terms to the Ashkin-Teller model with which the classical loop current order has been described. We derive that the mean-field ground state of the quantum model is a product over all unit cells of linear combination of the four possible classical configurations of the loop current order in each unit cell. The collective modes are calculated by using a generalized Holstein-Primakoff boson representation of orbital moment operators and lead to three branches of gapped weakly dispersive collective modes. The experimental results are consistent with the two lower-energy branches; the third mode is at a higher energy than looked for by present neutron-scattering experiments and might also be overdamped. Implications of the discovery of the collective modes are discussed.
Sulfur Oxyacids and Radicals in the Gas Phase. A Variable-Time Neutralization−Photoexcitation−Reionization Mass Spectrometric and Ab Initio/RRKM Study

Hydroxysulfinyl radical (1), hydrogensulfonyl radical (2), and dihydroxysulfane (6) were generated in the gas phase by collisional reduction of the corresponding cations and studied by the variable...
No Effect of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure on Activity in Three Inbred Strains of Mice

Aims: Prenatal exposure to alcohol can have adverse effects on the developing fetus. Two of the hallmarks of children exposed to alcohol prenatally are attention deficits and hyperactivity. While hyperactivity has been observed in rats following prenatal ethanol exposure, few studies have examined these effects in mice. The present study investigated the effects of prenatal ethanol exposure on activity in mice from three inbred strains: C57BL/6 (B6), Inbred Long Sleep (ILS) and Inbred Short Sleep (ISS). Methods: On Days 7 through 18 of gestation, mice were intragastrically intubated twice daily with either 3.0 g/kg ethanol (E) or an isocaloric amount of maltose-dextrin (MD); non-intubated control (NIC) litters were also generated. Offspring activity was monitored at 30, 60, 90 and 150 days of age. Results: While results showed no effects of prenatal ethanol exposure on any measures of activity, we did observe differences in baseline activity among the strains. ISS mice were more active than B6 and ILS for all activity measures except stereotypy; B6 mice had higher measures of stereotypy than ILS and ISS. Younger mice were more active than older mice. The only sex effects were on measures of stereotypy, where males had higher scores. Conclusions: Mice are an excellent organism to study genetic influences on many phenotypes. However, our study and others have shown few effects of prenatal ethanol exposure on behavior in mice. It appears as if the prenatal period in mice, corresponding to organogenesis, is not a sensitive period for producing behavioral deficits following ethanol exposure. It is likely that the first 2 weeks postnatally, corresponding to the brain growth spurt, are more sensitive for producing behavioral effects.
Differential sensitivity of neural and non-neural protein kinase isozymes to cyclic AMP.

Summary Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, which plays a major role in metabolic and genetic regulation, consists of two classes of isozymes denoted as type I and type II. The type II isozyme, moreover, consists of two subclasses denoted as neural and non-neural based upon immunochemical differences between the enzyme isolated from bovine brain and heart, respectively. Whereas the catalytic (C) subunits of these three isozymes are quite similar, all three isozymes differ with respect to their regulatory (R) subunits. In the present report, we have compared the sensitivities to cyclic AMP of the type I and type II isozymes in several tissues from a single species (rat). The sensitivities of the three isozymes to cyclic AMP were type I ≫ non-neural type II > neural type II. We suggest that the differences in sensitivity to cyclic AMP of isozymes present in the same cell provides the cell with a dynamic range of responses to the widely varying alterations in cellular cyclic AMP levels produced by regulatory first messengers.
Software development: an outsider's view

Comparing software with other disciplines and industries can help resolve the perennial debate between those who advocate an engineering approach to development and those who advocate a craft-based approach. Our ultimate goal should be to simply and directly raise the profile of software generally, respecting and making explicit its unique structures and important role in society, and creating training opportunities, research projects, and tools to support it. Such efforts move software not only beyond current methodology debates but also closer and more understandably to the world outside looking in.
Electrocardiographic findings in rheumatic heart disease.

and therefore would not afford criteria for the diagnosis. On the other hand, it is certainly true that there are many instances in which the electrocardiogram may give the only sign of rheumatic activity. This is more apt to be true at the end than at the beginning of an acute attack. I have seen patients in whom there were no joint symptoms and who had only electrocardiographic changes. I remember one such patient, who came into the clinic ambulatory, with fever and with electrocardiographic changes, and we did not quite know why. She then developed a pericardial rub, and the reason for the electrocardiographic changes became evident. She later developed some joint symptoms which led to a diagnosis of rheumatic fever. But that case I think is exceptional. Usually the electrocardiogram is a manifestation of the disease which is diagnosed on the basis of other findings. There are in general three types of pathological changes: (1) There is a general inflammatory reaction with edema, interstitial swelling, leukocytosis and fibrinous degeneration. (2) There is the specific type of pathological change known as the Aschoff body, which is found in the interstitial tissue surrounding the small muscle bundles and particularly in the interstitial tissue surrounding the smaller arteries. (3) And then there is an arteritis which is also a definite rheumatic manifestation and which occurs in the coronary arteries as well as in other arteries of the body. We are particularly concerned with the coronary arteries where it causes an intimal thickening and eventually a fibrosis of the vessel wall.
Thin-Layer Dielectrics in the Pb[(Mg1/3Nb2/3)1-xTix]O3 System

Thin layers of Pb((Mg{sub 1/3}Nb{sub 2/3}){sub 1{minus}x})O{sub 3} (PMNT) were prepared by spin casting alkoxide-based solutions on platinized Si. The effects of additives, heat treatment, and composition (x = 0 to 0.9) on perovskite phase development, ceramic microstructure, and dielectric properties are reported. Depending upon the processing conditions, ceramic thin layers could be formed in a nonferroelectric pyrochlore phase (A{sub 2}B{sub 2}O{sub 6}) or in a ferroelastic perovskite phase (ABO{sub 3}). The dimensions of the pyrochlore and perovskite units cells were related and increased with Mg and Nb contents. To minimize pyrochlore formation, the most effective processing method involved rapid heat treatment between successive solution depositions. Phase development and microstructure were also affected by solution additives. Additions of benzoic acid were found to affect the structure in solution and the later organic pyrolysis behavior from thin layers. In this paper the effect of composition on the dielectric and ferroelectric properties is reported.
Accountancy, teaching methods, sex, and American College Test scores.

Dtrnrnary.-This study examines the significance of sex, methodology, academic preparation, and age as related to development of judgmental and problem-solving skills. Sex, American College Test (ACT) Mathematics scores, Composite ACT scores, grades in course work, grade point average (GPA), and age were used in studying the effects of teaching method on 96 students' ability to analyze data in financial statements. Results reflect positively on accounting students compared to the general college population and the women students in particulat.
Using radar-sounding data to identify the distribution and sources of subglacial water: application to Dome C, East Antarctica

Basal radar reflectivity is the most important measurement for the detection of subglacial water. However, dielectric loss in the overlying ice column complicates the determination of basal reflectivity. Dielectric attenuation is a function of ice temperature and impurity concentration. Temperature distribution is a function of climate history, basal heat flow and vertical strain rate, all of which can be partially inferred from the structure of dated internal layers. Using 11 dated layers, isotope records from Dome C, East Antarctica, and a model of the spatial variation of geothermal flux, we calculate the vertical strain rate and accumulation-rate history, allowing identification of areas where the basal melt rate exceeds 1.5 mm a -1 . The accumulation-rate history and vertical strain rates are then used as inputs for a transient temperature model. The model outputs for the present-day temperature distribution are then combined with depth-dependent ionic concentrations to model dielectric loss and infer basal reflectivity. The resulting reflection coefficients are consistent (� -5 dB) across a variety of subglacial water bodies. We also identify a high reflectivity >-15 dB in Concordia Trench and along suspected subglacial water-flow routes in Vincennes Basin. Highland areas tend to have highly variable reflection coefficients near -30 dB, consistent with an ice-bedrock interface. This combined model also identifies three areas of enhanced basal melting along Concordia Ridge, Concordia Subglacial Lake and Vincennes Basin. Melt at Concordia Subglacial Lake exceeds 5 mm a -1 . The inferred basal melt at these locations is not possible without enhanced geothermal flux. We demonstrate how radar-sounding data can provide both input and verification for a self-consistent model of vertical strain, vertical temperature distribution and meltwater distribution.
Structural behavior of a small-scale prestressed concrete reactor vessel

Abstract Discussion of the behavior and strength of prestressed concrete reactor vessels subjected to increasing internal gas pressure, and description of the observed modes of failure in a series of tests of prestressed concrete reactor vessel models. Derivation and discussion of methods to calculate the ultimate structural capacities corresponding to the different modes of failure.
Utilizing an electronic portal imaging device to monitor light and radiation field congruence

A method to investigate light and radiation field congruence utilizing a commercially available amorphous silicon electronic portal imaging device (EPID) was developed. This method employed an EPID, the associated EPI software, and a diamond-shaped template. The template was constructed from a block tray in which Sn/Pb wires, 1 mm in diameter, were embedded into a diamond shaped groove milled into the tray. The collimator jaws of the linac were aligned such that the light field fell directly on the corners of the diamond. A radiation detection algorithm within the EPI software determined the extent of the radiation field. The light and radiation field congruence was evaluated by comparing the vertexes of the diamond reference structure to the detected radiation field. In addition, the digital jaw settings were recorded and later compared to the light field detected on the films and EPIs. Three linear accelerators were tracked for a period ranging from 28 months. Light radiation field congruence tests with films and EPIs were comparable, yielding a difference of less than 0.6 mm, well within the allowed 2-mm tolerance. A disparity was observed in the magnitude of the detected light field. The X and Y dimensions of the light field measured with film differed by less than or equal to 1.4 mm from the digital collimator settings, whereas the values extracted from the EPIs differed by up to 2.5 mm. Based on these findings, EPIs were found to be a quick and reliable alternative to film for qualitative and relative analyses. 2003 American College of Medical Physics.
Single integral equation for diffraction from dielectric gratings in layered media

A single integral-equation formulation based on multilayered media Green's functions is presented and applied to 2-D dielectric grating problems. Its advantage over previous formulations based on free-space Green's functions is that, here, the unknowns appear only on the surfaces of the nonplanar parts of a layered grating structure. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 32: 383–388, 2002.
The complement system plays a critical role in the development of experimental autoimmune anterior uveitis.

Complement is a major component of innate immunity.1 In recent years, it has become increasingly evident that complement is also involved in the antigen-specific immune responses with an identified role in antigen processing and presentation, T-cell proliferation and differentiation, B-cell activation,2–3 and systemic tolerance induced by the introduction of antigen into an immune-privileged site such as the anterior chamber of the eye.4 Inappropriate activation of complement has been implicated in various diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, ischemia–reperfusion injury, Huntington’s and prion disease, and multiple sclerosis (MS).5–9 However, the role of complement in ocular autoimmune disease is not well understood. Experimental autoimmune anterior uveitis (EAAU) is an organ-specific autoimmune disease of the eye that serves as an animal model of idiopathic human anterior uveitis.10–14 We have previously shown that in this model, severe inflammation occurs in the anterior segment of the eye of Lewis rats after the footpad injection of melanin-associated antigen (MAA).11–14 Antigen-specific CD4+ T cells can adoptively transfer disease into naive syngeneic recipients and are the predominant inflammatory cells within the uvea.12–14 The purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of complement in the pathogenesis of EAAU.
Is the EEG a useful monitor during cardiac surgery? A case report.

Au cours de l'observation 2 episodes de perte grave de l'activite electrique normale causes l'un par le debranchement de la pompe, l'autre au moment d'une embolie gazeuse
Comparing time histories for validation of simulation models : Error measures and metrics

Computer modeling and simulation are the cornerstones of product design and development in the automotive industry. Computer-aided engineering tools have improved to the extent that virtual testing may lead to significant reduction in prototype building and testing of vehicle designs. In order to make this a reality, we need to assess our confidence in the predictive capabilities of simulation models. As a first step in this direction, this paper deals with developing measures and a metric to compare time histories obtained from simulation model outputs and experimental tests. The focus of the work is on vehicle safety applications. We restrict attention to quantifying discrepancy between time histories as the latter constitute the predominant form of responses of interest in vehicle safety considerations. First, we evaluate popular measures used to quantify discrepancy between time histories in fields such as statistics, computational mechanics, signal processing, and data mining. Three independent error measures are proposed for vehicle safety applications, associated with three physically meaningful characteristics (phase, magnitude, and slope), which utilize norms, cross-correlation measures, and algorithms such as dynamic time warping to quantify discrepancies. A combined use of these three measures can serve as a metric that encapsulates the important aspects of time history comparison. It is also shown how these measures can be used in conjunction with ratings from subject matter experts to build regression-based validation metrics.
Giffen Behavior and Subsistence Consumption.

This paper provides the first real-world evidence of Giffen behavior, i.e., upward sloping demand. Subsidizing the prices of dietary staples for extremely poor households in two provinces of China, we find strong evidence of Giffen behavior for rice in Hunan, and weaker evidence for wheat in Gansu. The data provide new insight into the consumption behavior of the poor, who act as though maximizing utility subject to subsistence concerns. We find that their elasticity of demand depends significantly, and nonlinearly, on the severity of their poverty. Understanding this heterogeneity is important for the effective design of welfare programs for the poor. (JEL D12, 012)
Evaluation of the use of patient-focused simulation for student assessment in a surgery clerkship

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of simulated patients in conjunction with anatomic and tissue task-training models to assess skills. Methods Faculty reviewed the objectives of the clerkship to identify skills to be acquired. Three cases were developed related to rectal examination, suturing, and inserting intravenous lines and nasogastric tubes. Student scores were based on their ability to gather data from simulated patients and perform procedures on simulation models. Results A total of 670 students were assessed between 2006 and 2009. Alpha reliability coefficients were .97 for Communication/Interpersonal Skills, .71 for Procedures, and .58 for Data Gathering. Students receiving low ratings from faculty in the clerkship had significantly ( P P Conclusions The combination of simulated patients and simulation models yielded reliable scores for procedural and interpersonal skills, and evidence of validity related to clinical ratings.
Airborne laser swath mapping of the summit of Erebus volcano, Antarctica: Applications to geological mapping of a volcano

Abstract The lidar observations reported here have provided the first high precision topographic data on the active craters of Erebus volcano, Antarctica. Digital elevation data are invaluable for geomorphic analysis of volcanoes especially when combined with methods to automatically extract landscape features. The data are indispensable for studying eruptive events and volcano-tectonic processes. Airborne laser scanning or lidar is a rapidly emerging technology to map surface topography with high accuracy and detail, comparable to a 1:1000 scale map. In the austral summer of 2001–2002 airborne laser scanning data were collected in Antarctica over the summit plateau of Erebus volcano. We describe the high-resolution data set from Erebus, products derived from the data and demonstrate how extracted topographic features can be used in the geomorphic analysis of volcanoes. Background is presented on the airborne laser scanning method and on the accuracy estimation of laser points. We describe the computation of a high-resolution DEM with a grid size of 2 m × 2 m for the summit area of Erebus volcano. Errors in the DEM are assessed using independent ground-based GPS data and the RMS error is estimated to be ± 0.39 m. Visualization methods reveal topographic features that are very useful for geomorphic analysis. Automatic feature extraction and processing is necessary to exploit the high-resolution and accurate elevation data. Methods are described to extract 1D and 2D features and organize them for subsequent analysis. Fitting analytical functions to 3D point clouds or DEMs is particularly effective in extracting topographic features, including planes, higher order surfaces, cones, and conic sections. These methods are used to obtain a quantitative description of the calderas and modern-day crater of Erebus. Especially valuable are the measured surface areas if the lava lakes as these control thermal emissions and gas fluxes from the volcano. Examination of the surface elevations of Ray Lava Lake, Werner Vent and Active Vent indicates that the active vents were more or less in magmastatic equilibrium in 2001 December. Conic segments are fitted to mapped sections of caldera rims to identify the sections buried under younger lava flows or covered by ice and snow. Automatic methods are used to detect and characterize lava channels using geomorphometric maps generated from the DEM.
Differential contribution of stature phenotypes to assortative mating in parents of Philadelphia black and white school children.

Assortative mating for stature, weight, and the ponderal and Quetelet's indices is considered in a large sample of Philadelphia Blacks and Whites. The husband-wife correlation for stature is positive and significant in Whites (r = 0.34, d.f. = 382), but negligible in Blacks (r = 0.06, d.f. = 420). Correlations for weight and the body indices are positive and significant in both samples, those for body indices showing some dependency on the husband-wife correlations for stature and weight. When couples are grouped into statural mating combinations on the basis of short (S), medium (M) and tall (T), White spouses' statures show an approximately linear relationship to one another. The distribution of Black spouses' statures, however, is not completely independent, even though the husband-wife correlation is close to zero. There are elements of both positive and negative assortative mating among Blacks, resulting in an excess of certain mating types over that expected on the basis of chance. These mating types are usually those in which the husband is shorter than the wife, except at the heterogeneous extremes of the bivariate array.
Phosphatidylserine reduces immune response against human recombinant Factor VIII in Hemophilia A mice by regulation of dendritic cell function

A major clinical complication in the treatment of Hemophilia A using exogenously administered recombinant Factor VIII (FVIII) is the development of neutralizing antibodies. It has been shown previously that FVIII complexed with phosphatidylserine (PS) reduces the development of total and neutralizing antibody titers in hemophilic mice. The effect of complexation of FVIII with PS upon dendritic cell (DC) uptake, maturation and processing, T-cell proliferation and cytokine secretion profiles was investigated. Flow cytometric studies of DC showed that PS inhibited the up-regulation of cell surface co-stimulatory markers (CD86 and CD40). PS reduced T-cell proliferation and significantly increased levels of TGF-β and IL-10 but reduced secretion of IL-6 and IL-17 compared to controls. The data suggest that PS reduces immunogenicity of FVIII by regulating dendritic cell maturation and subsequent T-lymphocyte activity through modulation of cytokine secretion. A possible mechanism for PS-mediated induction of FVIII tolerance is discussed.
Remembering White Detroit:Whiteness in the Mix of History and Memory

Detroit provides a unique perspective on issues of whiteness because it grounds many situations where whites are racially objectified—in settings where the nor-motive status of their racial position cannot be assumed, and where whiteness is not often an unmarked identity. The distinct class texture of their objectifications are evident in comments by white Detroiters grappling with the city's history, either through their personal memories or their current experiences. The heterogeneity of their versions of Detroit's history suggests that whites contend with die continuing cultural significance of race and of whiteness from a range of uneven social positions. [Whiteness, urban underclass, social memory, race, Detroit]
TNF-α promotes a stop signal that inhibits neutrophil polarization and migration via a p38 MAPK pathway

Neutrophils are a major component of the inflammatory response in patients with asthma and other inflammatory conditions. Proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), are increased in the airway of patients with severe asthma and have been implicated in the recruitment of neutrophils into areas of inflammation. Here, we show that TNF-alpha induces a stop signal that promotes firm neutrophil adhesion and inhibits neutrophil polarization and chemotaxis to chemoattractants including interleukin-8 and C5a. TNF-alpha treatment of neutrophils plated on a fibrinogen-coated surface promotes firm neutrophil adhesion and the formation of vinculin-containing focal complexes. TNF-alpha induces a more than tenfold increase in p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) but not extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation. Inhibition of p38 MAPK in neutrophils treated with TNF-alpha causes neutrophil polarization and motility. These findings suggest that TNF-alpha initiates a stop signal through a p38 MAPK pathway, which may promote the retention of neutrophils in inflammatory sites. Together, our data suggest that inhibition of p38 MAPK may be an attractive target to limit inflammatory responses that are mediated by TNF-alpha.
Transection of the Pelvic or Vagus Nerve Forestalls Ripening of the Cervix and Delays Birth in Rats

Innervation of the cervix is important for normal timing of birth because transection of the pelvic nerve forestalls birth and causes dystocia. To discover whether transection of the parasympathetic innervation of the cervix affects cervical ripening in the process of parturition was the objective of the present study. Rats on Day 16 of pregnancy had the pelvic nerve (PnX) or the vagus nerve (VnX) or both pathways (PnX+VnX) transected, sham-operated (Sham) or nonpregnant rats served as controls. Sections of fixed peripartum cervix were stained for collagen or processed by immunohistochemistry to identify macrophages and nerve fibers. All Sham controls delivered by the morning of Day 22 postbreeding, while births were delayed in more than 75% of neurectomized rats by more than 12 h. Dystocia was evident in more than 25% of the PnX and PnX+VnX rats. Moreover, on prepartum Day 21, serum progesterone was increased severalfold in neurectomized versus Sham rats. Assessments of cell nuclei counts indicated that the cervix of neurectomized rats and Sham controls had become equally hypertrophied compared to the unripe cervix in nonpregnant rats. Collagen content and structure were reduced in the cervix of all pregnant rats, whether neurectomized or Shams, versus that in nonpregnant rats. Stereological analysis of cervix sections found reduced numbers of resident macrophages in prepartum PnX and PnX+VnX rats on Day 21 postbreeding, as well as in VnX rats on Day 22 postbreeding compared to that in Sham controls. Finally, nerve transections blocked the prepartum increase in innervation that occurred in Sham rats on Day 21 postbreeding. These findings indicate that parasympathetic innervation of the cervix mediates local inflammatory processes, withdrawal of progesterone in circulation, and the normal timing of birth. Therefore, pelvic and vagal nerves regulate macrophage immigration and nerve fiber density but may not be involved in final remodeling of the extracellular matrix in the prepartum cervix. These findings support the contention that immigration of immune cells and enhanced innervation are involved in processes that remodel the cervix and time parturition.
Persistent methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and rate of FEV1 decline in cystic fibrosis.

Rationale: The prevalence in cystic fibrosis (CF) of respiratory cultures with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has dramatically increased over the last 10 years, but the effect of MRSA on FEV1 decline in CF is unknown.Objectives: To determine the association between MRSA respiratory infection and FEV1 decline in children and adults with CF.Methods: This was a 10-year cohort study using the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation patient registry from 1996–2005. We studied individuals who developed new MRSA respiratory tract infection. Repeated-measures regression was used to assess the association between MRSA and FEV1 decline, adjusted for confounders, in individuals aged 8–21 years and adults (aged 22–45 yr). Two different statistical models were used to assess robustness of results.Measurements and Main Results: The study cohort included 17,357 patients with an average follow-up of 5.3 years. During the study period, 1,732 individuals developed new persistent MRSA infection (≥3 MRSA cultures; ave...
RFID-a practical solution for problems you didn't even know you had!

Radio frequency identification (RFID) comprises a base radio transmitter/receiver, or reader, which can interrogate, display, and sometimes rewrite, an electronic code held in a remote device, transponder, and thus identify any item with which the transponder is associated. This paper introduces the ideas of RFID, using TIRIS technology as examples, with particular emphasis an how these principles can be utilised in practical applications.
Tracking of Multiple, Partially Occluded Humans based on Static Body Part Detection

Tracking of humans in videos is important for many applications. A major source of difficulty in performing this task is due to inter-human or scene occlusion. We present an approach based on representing humans as an assembly of four body parts and detection of the body parts in single frames which makes the method insensitive to camera motions. The responses of the body part detectors and a combined human detector provide the "observations" used for tracking. Trajectory initialization and termination are both fully automatic and rely on the confidences computed from the detection responses. An object is tracked by data association if its corresponding detection response can be found; otherwise it is tracked by a meanshift style tracker. Our method can track humans with both inter-object and scene occlusions. The system is evaluated on three sets of videos and compared with previous method.
The role of hydration in the distribution of free radical trapping in directly ionized DNA.

Abstract Purkayastha, S., Milligan, J. R. and Bernhard, W. A. The Role of Hydration in the Distribution of Free Radical Trapping in Directly Ionized DNA. Radiat. Res. 166, 1–8 (2006). The purpose of this study was to elucidate the role of hydration (Γ) in the distribution of free radical trapping in directly ionized DNA. Solid-state films of pUC18 (2686 bp) plasmids were hydrated to Γ in the range 2.5 ≤ Γ ≤ 22.5 mol water/mol nucleotide. Free radical yields, G(Σfr), measured by EPR at 4 K are seen to increase from 0.28 ± 0.01 μmol/J at Γ = 2.5 to 0.63 ± 0.01 μmol/J at Γ= 22.5, respectively. Based on a semi-empirical model of the free radical trapping events that follow the initial ionizations of the DNA components, we conclude that two-thirds of the holes formed on the inner solvation shell (Γ < 10) transfer to the sugar-phosphate backbone. Likewise, of the holes produced by direct ionization of the sugar-phosphate, about one-third are trapped by deprotonation as neutral sugar-phosphate radical species, w...
An Optimality Principle for Unsupervised Learning

We propose an optimality principle for training an unsupervised feedforward neural network based upon maximal ability to reconstruct the input data from the network outputs. We describe an algorithm which can be used to train either linear or nonlinear networks with certain types of nonlinearity. Examples of applications to the problems of image coding, feature detection, and analysis of random-dot stereograms are presented.
SPECSweb multistatic tracking on a truth-blind simulated scenario of the MSTWG

Effective fusion and tracking of multistatic active sonar contacts is challenging, due to high levels of false alarm clutter present on all sonar nodes. Such false alarms often overload the sensor-to-fusion-center communications links and fusion/tracking processes, producing too many false tracks. The Specular-Cued Surveillance Web (SPECSweb) multistatic tracker mitigates these problems through implementation of two amplitude thresholds: a high threshold used to identify the occurrence of high-strength specular detection cues for track initiation, and a low threshold for selective extraction of additional detections within retrieval snippets for track extension forward and backward in time. This approach can significantly reduce the data rate at the input to the fusion/tracking algorithm, and reduce node-to-fusion-center communication link throughput requirements. This paper provides performance results of this tracking algorithm on simulated multistatic data sets from the Multistatic Tracking Working Group (MSTWG). These included a (“truth-blind”) data set for which the target truth information was not provided in advance of the time of algorithm application. The results show effective tracking performance using this approach, yielding high quality target tracks with no or few false tracks. The method is shown to have excellent potential in reducing the overloading of the communication links, the automated tracking algorithm, and the ultimately, the operator.
The Petrogenesis of Volcaniclastic Komatiites in the Barberton Greenstone Belt, South Africa: a Textural and Geochemical Study

The Onverwacht Group of the 3·5^3·2 Ga Barberton greenstone belt, South Africa contains multiple stratigraphic units that include laterally extensive beds of komatiitic ash, accretionary lapilli, and lapilli. These units have been affected by pervasive silicification, serpentinization, or, less commonly, carbonate metasomatism. Silicification resulted in SiO2þK2O485 wt % and depletion of most other major and trace elements. Most of these tuffs have prominent high Hf/Hf* and Zr/Zr* (0·5^12), which cannot result from normal magmatic processes but are due to the typically immobile rare earth elements migrating during post-silicification fluid^rock interaction. Similarly, their low Ce/Ce* values do not reflect Archean surface redox conditions but the circulation of later oxidizing fluids. Despite this intense alteration, ratios of Al2O3 and TiO2 remain uniform and coherent within single volcanic units. These ratios indicate that most silicified tuffs are not petrogenetically related to the underlying or overlying komatiitic flow rocks and that each originated from either separate mantle sources or different partial melting conditions. Serpentinized tuffs retain komatiitic element abundances but Al2O3 fails to define a tight linear array with the demonstrably immobile elements Ti and Zr.We speculate that this is due to post-depositional mixing of Al-depleted and Al-undepleted tuff layers by aqueous currents. Excellent textural preservation of the silicified tuffs shows they are characterized by a dearth of phenocrysts, low particle vesicularity and abundance of fine vitric ash, suggesting the eruption and rapid quenching of superheated or near-liquidus anhydrous magmas. Minor assimilation of hydrated basaltic or ultramafic crust within the dry magma may have enhanced the surface phreatomagmatic explosivity while still allowing the magma to rise close to an adiabatic ascent path. However, textural and geochemical evidence for such a process is scarce. Temporal and compositional constraints show that the diversity in the types of komatiites throughout the Onverwacht Group can be accounted for by variations in plume^mantle dynamics and that komatiitic tuffs were deposited during intervals of volcanism characterized by low effusive eruptive volumes and/or low emplacement rates.
A glow discharge ion source with fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometric detection.

A glow discharge (CD) ion source has been coupled to a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometer using a four-element electrostatic lens to accelerate and focus ions generated external to the instrument’s high magnetic field into its analyzer cell. Like other CD mass spectrometers, GD-FT-ICR can provide a quantitative measure of bulk analyte concentration with good precision and accuracy. Although detection limits currently attainable are several orders of magnitude higher than the commercially available magnetic sector-based instrument, CD-FT-ICR holds promise for ultrahigh resolving power elemental mass analysis. Several schemes are proposed to lower the detection limits of the technique while still providing high enough resolution to resolve isobaric interferences.
After neurology residency: new opportunities, new challenges.

An ever-increasing number of choices are now available for the neurology house officer after completion of residency. Most residents pursue a fellowship (74%), enter into a neurology practice (19%), or proceed directly into an academic position (5%). Of those who obtain further training, many continue in academics (57%), some will join a private practice (39%), and a few are employed in industry (1%).1 A fellowship can provide core research training and expertise within a subspecialty of neurology that may assist the trainee for a future career within academic, industrial, or private practice arenas. This training can also provide the necessary requirements for board certification within subspecialty areas and can shield the trainee from the already long-deferred confrontation with the real world. A close relationship with a senior mentor may also be forged during this time and can allow for the shaping of future career goals. This article examines the different options that are available after completing a neurology residency. The table provides a summary as well as additional information concerning possible careers after completing residency. View this table: Table Possible careers after completing neurology residency Overall, about one half of all neurology residents (44%) intend to pursue a career in academics.1 Those pursuing an academic career will be required to successfully balance clinical, research, and teaching obligations. Three possible options are available for the resident interested in pursuing a career in academic neurology: basic neuroscientist, teacher/clinician, or patient-oriented researcher. ### Basic neuroscientist Interest in the basic sciences section of academic neurology may be related to burgeoning treatment options and expanding neuroscience research that has occurred during the Decade of …
Personal, Expository, Critical, and Creative: Using Writing in Mathematics Courses.

AbstractThis article provides a framework for creating and using writing assignments based on four types of writing: personal, expository, critical, and creative. This framework includes specific areas of student growth affected by these writing styles. Illustrative sample assignments are given throughout for each type of writing and various combinations thereof. Also discussed are the assessment of mathematical writing and suggestions for beginning users of writing in mathematics courses.