cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Accelerated development of neurochemical and behavioral deficits in LP-BM5 infected mice with targeted deletions of the IFN-γ gene

Abstract Mice homozygous for a germline deletion of the interferon-γ gene (IFN-γ (−/−)) were infected with the LP-BM5 (BM5) retrovirus mixture to determine if the inability to produce IFN-γ reduces collateral CNS damage associated with chronic neuroinflammation. Virus burdens in spleens and brains of infected mice were comparable, but spatial memory deficits were manifested earlier and to a greater extent in BM5/IFN-γ (−/−) mice. The mice with spatial memory deficits showed considerable degradation of axons and microtubules, along with apoptosis of striatal neurons. These lesions were accompanied by extensive infiltration of perivascular spaces and ventricles by iNOS-positive leukocytes, and a 17-fold increase in CSF glutamate levels. Despite high levels of VCAM and ICAM expression on cerebral vasculature endothelia, the serum levels of soluble ICAM-1 were significantly decreased in BM5/IFN-γ (−/−) mice, which may contribute to the enhanced leukocyte infiltration and subsequent neuronal damage. These results suggest that the presence of IFN-γ is necessary at some points in the inflammatory process to protect against neurodegeneration.
Intelligent Video for Homeland Security Applications

This paper considers the problem of protecting critical infrastructure and other homeland security initiatives with the application of an intelligent video (IV) system. A systems engineering approach is followed to decompose top level requirements into system functions based on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Strategic Plan, The National Strategy for Homeland Security, and the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP). In parallel, the attributes of an intelligent video system are introduced, and then correlated with the system functions. Specific top level intelligent video system attributes and applications include virtual perimeter breach detection, object detection, removed or left object detection, object counting, object classification, object tracking, wrong way detection, facial recognition, forensic video, and behavior alerts. In this way, the overarching application of intelligent video technology to specific homeland security challenges are shown. The paper highlights the capabilities and benefits of an intelligent video system to autonomously perform real time monitoring activities and alert notifications based on user defined rules. Some of the challenges to intelligent video systems such as dynamic environments, false alarms, and privacy implications are addressed.
Bringing cognitive science into education, and back again: the value of interdisciplinary research.

Most fields reach a stage when the basic science has developed to a point where it can be naturally expanded to real-world applications. Much of cognitive science has reached that level of maturity. The signs that the time is ripe for more cognitive scientists to make their mark on educational practice are abundant. Some signs are conceptual. We have developed over the past half century a basic understanding of many cognitive processes. Some signs are more tangible, such as a growing number of organizations, journals, conferences, publications, and, in particular, funding opportunities that focus on the application of cognitive theory to educational practice. About 15 years ago, the notion of applying cognitive science to educational practice was budding, as evidenced by some government funding, such as ONR, and funding from private agencies such as the Mellon Foundation and the McDonnell foundation’s Cognitive Studies for Educational Practice (CSEP) program. Since that time, the trend to fund cognitive-based educational projects has grown. Currently, both the National Science Foundation and the Institute of Education Sciences (and others) fund a number of programs that center on projects that apply cognitive theory to educational problems. A prime example is the Cognitive and Student Learning (CASL) research program, featured in the 2006 March and May issues of the APS Observer. This program explicitly encourages researchers to test cognitive principles in educational settings. But, what business does a cognitive scientist have in the classroom? Usually, none. A great deal of expertise is required to venture out into classroom settings. The hard knocks of classroom research can be avoided by training from those who have already been there, and this type of training is usually not provided in typical cognitive science programs. More importantly, the cognitive scientist shouldn’t go at it alone because cognitive theory by itself has generally proven insufficient to cover the host of variables that come into play when considering socially dynamic settings. Very rarely does a cognitive theory apply directly to classroom. And Cognitive Science 30 (2006) 605–608 Copyright © 2006 Cognitive Science Society, Inc. All rights reserved.
Water quality criteria for 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene

Abstract The occurrence of the munitions compound 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in groundwater and surface water surrounding U.S. Army ammunition plants may result in contamination of local drinking water supplies. TNT exerts its primary toxic effect in humans on the hematologic system and liver, but it is also known to cause gastrointestinal effects and cataracts. Health effects data were analyzed for TNT and although no controlled human studies exist concerning the acute or chronic toxic effects of exposure to TNT, sufficient animal toxicity data are available to derive an ambient water quality criterion for the protection of human health. This paper summarizes the available literature on metabolism and toxicity of TNT in humans and animals. Based on noncarcinogenic mammalian toxicity data, and following the methodologies of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, an ambient water quality criterion for the protection of human health of 135 μg/liter is proposed when consumption of both contaminated water and fish is anticipated. For drinking water alone, the proposed criterion is 140 μg/liter.
Treatment of Refractory Ventricular Arrhythmias: High Dose Parenteral and Oral Bretylium Tosylate

Refractory ventricular tachyarrhythmias controlled by procainamide (4 mg/min) and bretylium (6 mg/min) developed in a patient with mitral valve prolapse. Chronic oral therapy with bretylium (1,800 mg/day) and procainamide (4.5 g/day) has been successful in suppressing ectopic ventricular beats without serious toxicity. Marked variations in plasma bretylium concentrations suggest a wide therapeutic index.
Adapted and unadapted spatial frequency channels in human vision.

Abstract The range over which luminance modulation of two spatial frequencies contribute additively to grating detection is narrow around 13.3 c/deg even under conditions of high adaptation to this frequency. Thus, adaptation does not broaden this range into that observed for threshold elevation due to adaptation.
Trait Aggressiveness and Situational Provocation: A Test of the Traits as Situational Sensitivities (TASS) Model

In this article, the authors propose and test an interactionist model of personality functioning. The model maintains that many traits function in a threshold-like manner, such that less situational strength is needed to evoke a trait-relevant response in people who are high on the trait than in those who are low on the trait. Because of these different sensitivities, people who are high on a trait are more reactive to moderate provocation than are those who are low on a trait, but the opposite is true when strong provocation is compared to moderate provocation. Three studies are reported showing how the model can be used to understand the nature of aggression.
The effects of grade and speed on leg muscle activations during walking

Abstract Compared to level walking, additional muscle actions are required to raise and lower the center of mass during uphill and downhill walking, respectively. However, it remains unclear which muscle recruitment strategies are employed at typical grades when walking over a range of speeds. Based on previous reports, we hypothesized that, across a range of walking speeds, hip, knee, and ankle extensor muscle activations would increase with steeper uphill grade, but only knee extensor muscle activations would increase with steeper downhill grade. We also hypothesized that these changes in muscle activations with grade would become more pronounced at faster walking speeds. To test these hypotheses, 10 young adults (5M/5F) walked on a standard treadmill at seven grades (0°, ±3°, ±6°, and ±9°) and three speeds (0.75, 1.25, and 1.75 m s −1 ). We quantified the stance phase electromyographic activities of the gluteus maximus (GMAX), biceps femoris (BF), rectus femoris (RF), vastus medialis (VM), medial gastrocnemius (MG), and soleus (SOL) muscles. On average, compared to level walking, hip (BF: 635%, GMAX: 345%), knee (RF: 165%, VM: 366%), and ankle (MG: 175%, SOL: 136%) extensor muscle activities increased to walk up 9°, but only knee (RF: 310%, VM: 246%) extensor muscle activities increased to walk down 9°. Further, these changes in muscle activations with grade became greater with faster walking speed. We conclude that people employ distinct uphill (hip, knee, and ankle extensors) and downhill (knee extensors) muscle recruitment strategies generally across walking speeds and progressively with steeper grade.
Real-time chemical responses in the nucleus accumbens differentiate rewarding and aversive stimuli

Rewarding and aversive stimuli evoke very different patterns of behavior and are rapidly discriminated. Here taste stimuli of opposite hedonic valence evoked opposite patterns of dopamine and metabolic activity within milliseconds in the nucleus accumbens. This rapid encoding may serve to guide ongoing behavioral responses and promote plastic changes in underlying circuitry.
Nitric Oxide-dependent Proteasomal Degradation of Cytochrome P450 2B Proteins

Exposure to inflammatory agents or cytokines causes the suppression of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme activities and expression in liver and primary hepatocyte cultures. We showed previously that phenobarbital-induced CYP2B protein is down-regulated in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes after exposure to bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide) in a nitric oxide (NO) -dependent manner. In this study, we found that CYP2B proteins in primary rat hepatocyte cultures were suppressed >60% after 6 h of treatment with interleukin-1beta (IL-1). This effect was NO-dependent, and treatment of cells with the NO donors (Z)-1-[2-(2-aminoethyl)-N-(2-ammonioethyl) aminodiazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate (NOC-18), S-nitrosoglutathione, and S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine also suppressed CYP2B proteins. However, the down-regulation by IL-1 was insensitive to inhibition of cGMP-dependent protein kinases. The down-regulation by IL-1 or NO donors was abolished by treatments with the proteasome inhibitors MG132 and lactacystin that did not affect NO production. The calpain inhibitor E64-d or the lysosomal protease inhibitors NH(4)Cl and chloroquine did not attenuate the down-regulation of CYP2B by IL-1. Treatment of HeLa cells expressing c-Myc-tagged CYP2B1 with NOC-18 down-regulated its expression and enhanced its ubiquitination. Treatment of rat liver microsomes with S-nitrosoglutathione caused S-nitrosylation of CYP2B protein and enhanced the ubiquitination pattern of CYP2B compared with unmodified CYP2B in an in vitro ubiquitination assay. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that NO-dependent CYP2B ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation are dependent on protein modification by reactive nitrogen species.
Simultaneous Panniculectomy and Ventral Hernia Repair Following Weight Reduction after Gastric Bypass Surgery: Is it Safe?

Successful obesity surgery often results months later in redundant abdominal skin and subcutaneous tissue. Following open obesity surgery, ventral hernias are also common, yet little has been written about the safety of combining panniculectomy with ventral hernia repair. We performed a retrospective analysis of a single plastic surgeon’s experience with panniculectomy following gastric bypass surgery including both patients undergoing and those not undergoing simultaneous ventral hernia repair. We reviewed the hospital and office records of patients undergoing panniculectomy at two university-affiliated community hospitals from March 2002 to February 2005 following gastric bypass surgery. The records of 100 patients (91 women) were available for review. Median age was 48 (range 25–65) and median interval between bypass surgery and panniculectomy was 23 months (range 6–286). Median decrease in BMI was 19 (range 13–47). Eighty-three patients underwent panniculectomy combined with at least one other procedure, most commonly ventral hernia repair (70) and buttock lift (9). Forty hernia repairs were performed with mesh. No patient required mesh removal in the postoperative period. Median length of hospital stay was 3 days (range 1–7). Twenty-nine patients required outpatient sharp debridement. Ten patients were readmitted for management of wound complications. No patients sustained a stroke, myocardial infarction, or pulmonary embolus. There was no mortality. Following obesity surgery, simultaneous ventral hernia repair and panniculectomy can be accomplished safely with short hospital stays and few in-hospital complications. Postoperative wound problems are not infrequent but can be managed in the outpatient setting.
Some Questionable Premises About Research Ethics

Rosamond Rhodes (2005) has provided much food for thought in her interesting and provocative article. Probably the most controversial point is her proposal that participation in a research project ...
Ueber die Wirkung von Nichtelektrolyten auf kolloides Thoriumhydroxyd bei fortschreitender Dialyse des letzteren in Gegenwart und Abwesenheit von Elektrolyten

1. Die Wirkung von Nichtelektrolyten auf kolloides Thoriumhydroxyd in verschiedenen Stadien der Dialyse wird in Gegenwart und Abwesenheit von Elektrolyten durch Messung der Koagulationsgeschwindigkeit studiert. 2. Es wurde festgestellt, a) da\ mit zunehmender Reinheit des Sols (bei fortschreitender Dialyse) die sensibilisierende Wirkung der Nichtelektrolyten auch zunimmt, und b) da\ ein annahernd reines Sol (nach genugend langer Dialyse) durch Nichtelektrolyte allein schon leicht koaguliert werden kann. 3. Die Resultate werden vom Standpunkt der verschiedenen Theorien uber Sensibilisierung und Koagulation aus diskutiert.
Tribology of Graphite and Concrete, Studied by Contact Electrical Resistance Measurement During Cyclic Compression

The tribology of graphite and cement mortar was studied by contact electrical resistance measurement during cyclic compression. Elastic deformation and plastic deformation at asperities were distinctly observed through the reversible and irreversible decreases, respectively, of the contact resistance upon loading. Elastic deformation was dominant at the maximum stress. Plastic deformation progressed and then saturated upon stress cycling.
The in-plane normal coordinate analysis of a model para-disubstituted benzene derivative

Abstract In connection with a problem in electronic spectroscopy an in-plane normal coordinate analysis for a model para -disubstituted benzene has been carried out using an IBM650 computer. The substituent, X , has a mass of twenty and the C X distance is 1.40 A. All other parameters including the force field are taken from benzene. Frequencies, potential energy distributions, and the normal coordinates both in terms of D 6 h symmetry coordinates and local Cartesian displacement coordinates are given. Comparison is made with assignments reported for symmetrical p -dihalogenobenzenes and good agreement is found. Finally, the calculated frequencies show a rather striking agreement with those observed in p -difluorobenzene.
Conversion of Depth-Dose Distributions from Slab to Spherical Geometries for Space-Shielding Applications

An approximate procedure has been developed to transform depth-dose distributions in simple slab targets so as to obtain the spatial distribution of dose in spherical target configurations for space-shielding applications. Emphasis is placed on the determination of electron and bremnsstrahlung dose, which would otherwise require more costly three-dimensional Monte Carlo calculations. For the electron-bremsstrahlung problems tested, results from the procedure require only a fraction of the computer time and are found to agree to within 10-20% as compared to direct, three-dimensional Monte Carlo calculations.
The Civil Contract of Photography

Ariella Azoulay, The Civil Contract of Photography, trans. Rela Mazali and Ruvik Danieli (New York: Zone Books, 2008), 585 pp. $36.95 (cloth). In The Civil Contract of Photography, Ariella Azoulay ...
Safeguarding against substandard/counterfeit drugs: mitigating a macroeconomic pandemic.

Abstract Background Counterfeiting and the sale of substandard pharmaceutical products can no longer be ignored. At 10% of global trade, counterfeiting is affecting many countries, causing serious downstream expenses and resource shortages. Objective To describe the nature and impact of drug product counterfeiting and substandard product sale and to present strategies that may have value in ameliorating these phenomena. Methods A literature review was conducted, supplemented by interviews of key leaders/experts in the field and the search of relevant web sites. All of the data were combined, integrated, and coordinated to present the complete picture of this problem. Results In addition to known corruption in some of the least developed countries, the trail through developed countries was detected. This report identifies means to detect faulty products and describes efforts toward resisting and ending these corrupt practices. Conclusions Counterfeit drugs, if not stopped, can be responsible for a macroeconomic pandemic where major portions of some populations may be too ill to work and where the health sector resources are completely overwhelmed, as with the case of HIV/AIDS.
Morphological dispersion of introduced Hawaiian finches: evidence for competition and a Narcissus effect

Morphological analyses were conducted on finch species introduced to Oahu, Hawaii. As many as 25 species of finches representing four families (Emberizidae, Fringillidae, Ploecidae, Estrildidae) have been introduced to Oahu. Of these, 15 species currently have established wild populations. When compared with pools of 25 and 23 species introduced to Oahu, the 15 surviving species are morphologically overdispersed. This result is consistent with the hypothesis that competition has influenced the outcome of these introductions. We also tested the hypothesis that surviving introduced finches in one habitat (sugarcane fields) were morphologically overdispersed. When the seven surviving finch species found in sugarcane were compared with the pools of 25 and 23 species, they too were morphologically overdispersed. However, when the seven sugarcane species were compared with a species pool consisting of only the surviving 15 species found across Oahu, they were not morphologically overdispersed. This result suggests that morphological analyses of community structure based only on comparisons of assemblages of surviving species may be biased by a Narcissus effect.
Perinatal herpesvirus infections. Herpes simplex, varicella, and cytomegalovirus.

HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS Perinatal herpes infection is an increasing concern among women of reproductive age. Approximately 5% of the general population has been diagnosed with genital herpes, but approximately 20% to 30% of women may have been infected with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV 2),lo7 the serotype responsible for approximately 85% of cases of genital herpes infections.12 It is estimated that there are more than 500,000 new cases diagnosed each year in the United Statesz5 and that more than 30 million people are infected.I2 Although AIDS has replaced HSV infection as the most feared sexually transmitted disease, women with genital herpes often experience a great deal of guilt and fear because of the potential devastation the infection may cause in their newborn infants.
Perceptions of Intragroup Rejection and Coping Strategies: Malleable Factors Affecting Hispanic Adolescents' Emotional and Academic Outcomes

Understanding psychosocial factors that affect the academic achievement of Hispanic adolescents remains a nationwide priority in the United States. Extending previous studies of the stressful effects of perceived discrimination, this year-long longitudinal study examined the correlates of perceived ethnic in-group rejection, coping strategies and fatalistic beliefs, on depressive symptoms, grades, and college aspirations of 2,214 Hispanic adolescents (54 % female) in Southern California. Based on the transactional model of stress and coping and on self-perception theory, structural equation models revealed that high perceived intragroup rejection (10th grade) and low levels of active coping (11th grade) were associated with depressive symptoms in 11th grade. Also, depressive symptoms partially mediated the link between intragroup rejection and both academic outcomes. Avoidant coping strategies (e.g., watching TV) also predicted depressive symptoms and were positively related to fatalism. In addition, fatalism was negatively related to grades and aspiration to attend college. The findings suggest the need to help adolescents find adequate outlets for communication and to create awareness about the potential effects of intragroup rejection.
Citation classics from the information systems literature

Abstract An analysis of 118,364 references from 3752 articles published in top IS journals during the 10 years from 1986 to 1995 is presented. Ninety-one ‘citation classics’ were identified by combining the results of this analysis with previous findings. Within this group of 91 publications, 13 ‘super classic’ publications were identified. These classics and super classics can be categorized along any of several dimensions to gain a better understanding of the IS field. These findings can be used, among other things, for developing reading lists and identifying the characteristics that make a publication ‘classic’.
The Effectiveness of Teaching 10th-Grade Students STOP, AIMS, and DARE for Planning and Drafting Persuasive Text

Explicitly and systematically teaching strategies for planning and drafting specific types of text has improved the writing of elementary and middle school students with disabilities in previous studies. In this investigation, we examined the effect of teaching a planning and drafting strategy for persuasive writing to high school students with disabilities who were also struggling writers. Six 10th-grade students (4 boys, 2 girls) were taught how to plan and write persuasive essays using the Self-Regulated Strategy Development model. A multiple baseline design, with multiple probes during baseline, treatment, and postinstruction, was used to evaluate the effectiveness of instruction. During and following instruction, all students spent a greater amount of time planning and writing their papers. Their compositions became longer, more complete, and qualitatively better. Students, teachers, and parents were also positive about the treatment and its effects.
Design and characterization of arrayed waveguide gratings using ultra-low loss Si3N4 waveguides

Planar waveguides with ultra-low propagation loss are necessary for integrating optoelectronic systems that require long optical time delay or narrowband optical filters. In this paper, we review an ultra-low loss planar waveguide platform that uses thin ( 8 μm) SiO2 cladding layers. In particular, we discuss the performance of arrayed waveguide gratings (AWGs) fabricated with the platform. We propose the use of a practical design method that takes the statistical nature of worst-case crosstalk into account. We also demonstrate the measurement of amplitude and phase error distributions in an AWG using an optical backscatter reflectometer. We show that the waveguides have phase errors small enough to achieve AWG crosstalk below −30 dB, while crosstalk below −40 dB should also be possible with optimization of the component design.
The transport of 3H-l-histidine through the Schwann and myelin sheath into the axon, including a reevaluation of myelin function.

The view is commonly held that the exclusive source of axonal substance is the neuronal cell body. The results of the present study, employing techniques of light and electron microscope autoradiography, indicate that substances of metabolic importance may reach the axon from intercellular fluids by way of the Schwann and myelin sheath. Tritiated l-histidine was injected intraperitoneally into the newt, Triturus viridescens, and the label was found in the Schwann cell body, myelin,1 and axoplasm. Nerve separated by transection from its neuronal cell bodies was labeled about as densely as intact nerve. Moreover, pieces of nerve immersed in the isotope also incorporated the labeled molecule. These results have led us to reassess traditional views of the function of the sheaths surrounding the axon.
On Hearing and Interpreting Political Messages: A Cautionary Tale of Citizen Cue-Taking

Recent research documents the widespread use of heuristics, especially a reliance on elite cues among citizens. Scholars have celebrated this mode of decision making as rational and effective. Using experimental survey data collected from white and African-American respondents, we also identify what appears to be a strong influence of elite messages on mass political judgments, but only among our black respondents. More importantly, the data reveal some of the perils of cue-taking. Although rational, this heuristic may not always be effective.
A Novel Approach to a Control Systems Laboratory

In controls education today, a significant gap exists between the material covered in the typical undergraduate classroom and the skills that students need to be practicing control system engineers. In order to help bridge this gap, a control systems laboratory was developed in the Systems Engineering Department at the United States Naval Academy (USNA) with the following design objectives. The first objective was to provide the students the opportunity to apply control theory to physical systems. The second objective was to develop labs where each student works through the complete control system design process. The third objective was to increase the students’ exposure to sampled-data control. The paper begins with a discussion of the Quanser rapid control prototype development system and laboratory experiments. Modeling and system identification are discussed next. Key areas that areas that are emphasized include the use of a dynamic signal analyzer for frequency domain identification and the identification of Coulomb friction for simulation purposes. A unified approach for root locus and Bode design that is used through out the course is discussed next. Finally, analog and digital controller implementations are discussed.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
The plant aspartate aminotransferase gene family

Aspartate aminotransferase exists as multiple isozymes in plants. These AAT isozymes are differentially localized in at least four different subcellular compartments, including the cytosol, plastids, mitochondria, and peroxisomes. The recent characterization of cDNA and genomic sequences encoding AAT from several plants has provided insight into the structure, subcellular targeting, and evolution of the AAT isozymes. The AAT isozymes appear to be targeted to subcellular compartments by the same mechanisms utilized by other targeted proteins. Both the plastid AAT and mitochondrial AAT are synthesized as precursors with appropriate N-terminal targeting sequences which are proteolytically removed after localization in their respective organelles. The cytosolic AAT isozymes lack apparent targeting sequences, thus restricting it to the cytosol. A peroxisomal AAT has not been cloned and therefore its targeting has not been investigated. Sequence analysis demonstrates that the plant AAT isozymes are in the same protein family as the vertebrate and bacterial AATs. Furthermore, similarity between vertebrate and plant mitochondrial AAT isozymes suggest the evolution of this AAT isozyme may predate the divergence of plants and animals. Analysis of plastid and cytosolic AAT suggests that they have diverged more recently than the mitochondrial gene. The sequence analysis also reveals that the cytosolic AAT is diverging at a rate 1.6 times faster than the plastid AAT. The cDNA and genomic clones have been used to investigate expression of the AAT genes during nodulation in legumes and suggest that the nodule-enhanced expression of plastid AAT is controlled at the transcriptional level.
Almost everywhere convergence of series

Etude de la convergence presque partout d'une serie de la forme Σ n=1,∞ C n f(τ n x) ou (X, β, m) est un espace de probabilites et τ: X→X une transformation ergodique de X preservant la mesure
Stock market responses to U.S. and Japanese bilateral merchandise balance of trade announcements: 1976-1987

Abstract This study presents an analysis of the impact of U.S. merchandise balance of payment announcements with Japan on U.S. stock market participants over the period from December 1976 to December 1987. The results of the study suggest that these announcements affect the overall stock market only between June 1984 and December 1987, a sample of U.S. manufacturing firms over the entire time interval, and a sample of composed of Japanese firms listed on U.S. stock exchanges only between December 1976 and May 1984.
Abstract PD04-10: Genome-Wide Copy Number Analysis of Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) from Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients

Background: Clinical studies have demonstrated the prognostic and predictive value of the number of CTCs in metastatic breast cancer. However, it is the molecular characterization of CTCs that offers insight into the biology of these tumor cells in the context of personalized treatment. Methods: Ten to twenty mLs of blood from 32 metastatic breast cancer patients with poor prognosis (≥5 CTCs in 7.5mLs blood) were subjected to immunomagnetic enrichment. Pools of ∼20 CTCs [EpCAM+, CD45-, nucleated] were isolated via fluorescence activated cell sorting, FACS. Genomic DNA was subjected to whole genome amplification followed by array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) analysis. Serial genomic profiling was performed in three patients. Genomic profiles from archival primary tumor available from 4 patients were compared to matched CTCs. Copy number analysis was performed using the Nexus® Copy Number. Genomic alterations with p ≥0.05 were considered significant. Results: Genomic profiling of CTCs revealed significant recurrent (≥35%) genomic alterations including gains in 8q12.1, 8q24 and losses in 1p36, 4p16, 5q21, 10q22, 11q24-25, and 13q34. Good concordance of CGH profiles obtained from CTCs isolated from serial blood samples attested to the reproducibility of the assay. Furthermore, comparisons of CTCs with matched archival primary tumors confirmed shared lineage with some divergence. Conclusions: Copy number analysis revealed common genomic alterations in CTCs as well as shared aberrations with matched primary tumor. In addition, we demonstrated the feasibility of serial genomic profiling of CTCs. Future work will determine associations between genomic aberrations in CTCs and clinicopathological parameters. Uncovering genomic alterations in CTCs may lead to the discovery of therapeutic biomarkers to specifically target these cells in breast cancer patients who respond poorly to current aggressive therapies. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2010;70(24 Suppl):Abstract nr PD04-10.
Mating Behavior and Fertility in the Large White Turkey

Abstract MATING behavior in higher organisms varies to a great extent between species and also within species. Guhl et al. (1945) reported that female chickens with socially low rank were more willing to mate than dominant hens. Guhl (1951) noted that less dominant cocks elicited more sexual crouches in the hens than did dominant males. Certain dominant males spent considerable time treading hens without completing matings. Hale (1953) also found that mating activity in turkeys was negatively correlated with social rank. The characteristic mating behavior patterns of turkeys have been outlined by several investigators. Margolf et al. (1947), Leighton (1952) and Smyth and Leighton (1953) showed that the female turkey was responsible for the initiation of matings. Detailed descriptions of the sexual behavior of turkeys were described by Hale and Schein (1962). Preferential mating has been implicated as a cause of differential fertility in both chickens and turkeys. Upp (1928) and…
The Course of Disability Before and After a Serious Fall Injury

Importance Although a serious fall injury is often a devastating event, little is known about the course of disability (ie, functional trajectories) before a serious fall injury or the relationship between these trajectories and those that follow the fall. Objectives To identify distinct sets of functional trajectories in the year immediately before and after a serious fall injury, to evaluate the relationship between the prefall and postfall trajectories, and to determine whether these results differed based on the type of injury. Design, Setting, and Participants Prospective cohort study conducted in greater New Haven, Connecticut, from March 16, 1998, to June 30, 2012, in 754 community-living persons aged 70 years or older who were initially nondisabled in their basic activities of daily living. Of the 130 participants who subsequently sustained a serious fall injury, 62 had a hip fracture and 68 had another fall-related injury leading to hospitalization. Main Outcomes and Measures Functional trajectories, based on 13 basic, instrumental, and mobility activities assessed during monthly interviews, were identified in the year before and the year after the serious fall injury. Results Before the fall, 5 distinct trajectories were identified: no disability in 16 participants (12.3%), mild disability in 34 (26.2%), moderate disability in 34 (26.2%), progressive disability in 23 (17.7%), and severe disability in 23 (17.7%). After the fall, 4 distinct trajectories were identified: rapid recovery in 12 participants (9.2%), gradual recovery in 35 (26.9%), little recovery in 26 (20.0%), and no recovery in 57 (43.8%). For both hip fractures and other serious fall injuries, the probabilities of the postfall trajectories were greatly influenced by the prefall trajectories, such that rapid recovery was observed only among persons who had no disability or mild disability, and a substantive recovery, defined as rapid or gradual, was highly unlikely among those who had progressive or severe disability. The postfall trajectories were consistently worse for hip fractures than for the other serious injuries. Conclusions and Relevance The functional trajectories before and after a serious fall injury are quite varied but highly interconnected, suggesting that the likelihood of recovery is greatly constrained by the prefall trajectory.
Kinetic discrimination of three sulfamethazine acetylation phenotypes.

The relationship between sulfamethazine disposition kinetics and acetylator phenotype was studied in 19 healthy subjects. Various kinetic parameters for sulfamethazine and its N4-acetylated metabolite were determined after a dose of a rapidly absorbed oral solution. When plotted on a frequency distribution histogram, the results exhibited a well-defined trimodal pattern for acetylation clearance values and overall elimination or metabolic rate constants. These data were consistent with the well-recognized acetylation polymorphism for sulfamethazine, except that they clearly subdivided the previously acknowledged “fast” acetylator mode into intermediate and rapid acetylator groups. The apparent distribution volume and renal clearance for sulfamethazine and acetylsulfamethazine did not differ significantly among the 3 phenotypes. Of special interest was the observation that rapid acetylators initially produce much greater amounts of acetyl metabolite than intermediate acetylators. The potential clinical implications of identifying rapid and intermediate acetylators are discussed in view of evidence showing that acetyl metabolites may be pharmacologically active or function as intermediates in toxic metabolic pathways. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1980) 27, 104–113; doi:10.1038/clpt.1980.16
Monomedial Hybridization in Contemporary Poetry

In his article "Monomedial Hybridization in Contemporary Poetry" Jan Baetens argues that the debate on hybridization tends to overemphasize the blurring of boundaries between signs and sign types in all possible forms: combination of types within a given work (multimodal "image-texts," comics and photo-novels, sound poetry, etc.), adaptation and remediation of one sign type by another one (filmic adaptations of novels or novelizations of films, for instance), and, more generally, the simultaneous elaboration of works in various media (the phenomenon that Jenkins called "convergence" or trans-media storytelling). While all these hybridizations have become mainstream today, if we take into account Mitchell's thesis that "there are no visual media" by which he meansthat "there are no 'pure' media," it becomes possible to draw attention to a more traditional, but perhaps more challenging and disturbing practice of sign usage: the crossing of borders between literary genres and text types, which may involve also the mixture of styles, modes, traditions, audiences and introduce new forms of genre hybridization
Saturation of optical scintillation by strong turbulence

The diffraction theory of optical scintillations has so far failed to describe the propagation of light over paths where the integrated amount of refractive-index turbulence is sufficient to cause saturation of the scintillations. We present a simple, physically based elaboration of the first-order perturbation theory and compare it with observations. Our theory reproduces in detail the observed saturation curve and the observed spatial covariance of the scintillations. In particular, we show why the fine-scale structure of scintillations persists deep into the saturation regime.
Myofascial syndrome: Response to trigger-point injections

Abstract Electromyographic recordings in 18 patients with chronic myofascial pain provided objective evidence for high levels of muscle tension, in place of the previous reliance on subjective reporting of the pain. These levels declined sharply after the injection of a local anesthetic at the trigger point, showing that measurable physiologic change accompanied the subjective relief reported by the patients.
Pressure-diameter relations of capillaries and small blood vessels in frog lung.

Static pressure-diameter measurements on small pulmonary blood vessels of frogs, analyzing capillary septal area as function of intravascular pressures noting high compliance
Enabling comprehensive data-driven system management for large computational facilities

This paper presents a tool chain, based on the open source tool TACC_Stats, for systematic and comprehensive job level resource use measurement for large cluster computers, and its incorporation into XDMoD, a reporting and analytics framework for resource management that targets meeting the information needs of users, application developers, systems administrators, systems management and funding managers. Accounting, scheduler and event logs are integrated with system performance data from TACC_Stats. TACC_Stats periodically records resource use including many hardware counters for each job running on each node. Furthermore, system level metrics are obtained through aggregation of the node (job) level data. Analysis of this data generates many types of standard and custom reports and even a limited predictive capability that has not previously been available for open-source, Linux-based software systems. This paper presents case studies of information that can be applied for effective resource management. We believe this system to be the first fully comprehensive system for supporting the information needs of all stakeholders in open-source software based HPC systems.
Using FPGAs to prototype a self-timed floating point co-processor

Self-timed circuits offer advantages over their synchronously clocked counterparts in a number of situations. However, self-timed design techniques are not widely used at present for a variety of reasons. One reason for the lack of experimentation with self-timed systems is the lack of commercially available parts to support this style of design. Field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) offer an excellent alternative for the rapid development of novel system designs provided suitable circuit structures can be implemented. This paper describes a self-timed floating point co-processor built using a combination of Actel FPGAs and semi-custom CMOS chips. This co-processor implements IEEE standard single-precision floating point operations on 32-bit values. The control is completely self-timed. Data moves between parts of the circuit according to local constraints only: there is no global clock or global control circuit. >
Ethical entrepreneurs: a study of perceptions

This paper presents the results of a survey of early stage incubator sited entrepreneurial technology firms. Firms were asked about their views on ethics and the ethical climate of their organisations. Results indicated that respondents tend to think of themselves as ethical and do not feel they must sacrifice their ethics to succeed in their ventures. The results also show that most early-stage entrepreneurs have a code of ethics that is communicated to employees. Contrary to anecdotal and theoretical suggestions that entrepreneurs are by nature more likely to 'bend rules' and act unethically, these results lend support to studies that have found that entrepreneurs are ethical.
Cytotoxicity of botulinum neurotoxins reveals a direct role of syntaxin 1 and SNAP-25 in neuron survival

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNT/A-G) are well-known to act by blocking synaptic vesicle exocytosis. Whether BoNTs disrupt additional neuronal functions has not been addressed. Here we report that cleavage of syntaxin 1 (Syx 1) by BoNT/C and cleavage of SNAP-25 by BoNT/E both induce degeneration of cultured rodent and human neurons. Furthermore, although SNAP-25 cleaved by BoNT/A can still support neuron survival, it has reduced capacity to tolerate additional mutations and also fails to pair with syntaxin isoforms other than Syx 1. Syx 1 and SNAP-25 are well-known for mediating synaptic vesicle exocytosis, but we found that neuronal death is due to blockage of plasma membrane recycling processes that share Syx 1/SNAP-25 for exocytosis, independent of blockage of synaptic vesicle exocytosis. These findings reveal neuronal cytotoxicity for a subset of BoNTs and directly link Syx 1/SNAP-25 to neuron survival as the prevalent SNARE proteins mediating multiple fusion events on neuronal plasma membranes.
Partial ecological life table of immature Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in an irrigated cotton cropping system in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas, USA

Abstract During the summers of 1996 and 1997 cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), life stages were sampled in insecticide-free, irrigated cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas. Partial ecological life tables were constructed for one generation of H. zea in each of the two growing seasons. Partial generation mortality (egg to fifth-instar) surpassed 97% in both years. The egg stage exhibited the greatest amount of real (r x ) and apparent (q x ) mortality followed by the third-instar. One hundred percent of the collected life stages consisted of H. zea. Egg parasitism ranged from 4.1 to 6% and egg predation by Orius tristicolor (White) was 4.1% in 1996 and 13.2% in 1997. Unexplained factors made the greatest contribution to H. zea mortality regardless of the life stage sampled. Each cotton bollworm generation monitored in 1996 and 1997 exhibited a Type III survivorship curve. As a result of the extensive early life stage mortality, rescue management tactics associated with...
Long-Term Significance of a CII Best Practices Course

AbstractThe Construction Industry Institute (CII) was established to improve the cost-effectiveness, safety, timeliness, and quality of the construction industry. Through research, more than a quarter of a century after it was chartered, CII has been able to establish 15 best practices and to document their effect in making significant strides to improve the delivery of capital projects in the United States and around the globe. In 2007, CII began an effort to formally expose graduate students to these best practices by developing a graduate-level course taught by industry professionals from CII member companies. After its sixth offering in 2012, more than 800 students distributed across the United States and Canada in multiple universities have learned about CII and about the role that CII’s best practices have played in improving the construction industry. The course has proven itself to be a win-win-win-win for students-faculty-industry-CII. This paper describes the course evolution as well as its sign...
Good Samaritans—-or Priests and Levites? Using William James as a Guide in the Study of Religious Prosocial Motivation

Guided by the spirit of William James, a research strategy is outlined for addressing the question whether the motivation to help associated with a devout, intrinsic, end orientation to religion is altruistic or egoistic. Conceptual analysis of the distinction between altruism and subtle forms of egoism suggests two egoistic motives to help that could easily be associated with intrinsic, end religion: (a) avoidance of social and self-punishment in the form of shame or guilt; (b) acquisition of social and self-rewards in the form of praise or esteem. Three research procedures are described that have been used to determine whether the motivation to help associated with intrinsic, end religion is directed toward one of these egoistic goals or whether the motivation is truly altruistic.
Atoms in strong, oscillating electric fields: momentum-space solutions of the time-dependent, three-dimensional Schrödinger equation

We have developed a procedure for solving the three-dimensional, time-dependent Schrodinger equation by expanding the total system wave function in a Volkov basis and by propagating the resulting first-order differential equations in time. We discuss applications to several model systems representing an atom in an intense, oscillating electric field.
The Abuse of Drug Abuse Some Implications for Medicine and Religion

Drug abuse is abused in that current approaches largely fail to recognize drug abuse as a symptom of underlying disease. The concerns of medicine, religion, and the state have been to correct the symptom, rather than to attack its causes, as our rapidly changing technologic society progressively deprives us all of several needs basic to our well-being. One response has been drug abuse, often arising from the hunger for love, understanding, and a meaning to life in our increasingly dehumanizing culture. Essential ingredients in the development of identity are religion and ritualization; if healthy, normative sources are unavailable or unattractive, drugs may be chosen. "In this paper I should like to discuss some lesser-realized aspects of drug abuse in a special group of our youth, to stress some root causes of the problem." Medicine and religion must communicate with and educate our youth and ourselves, and become advocates of youth's plight and needs. Details are given.
Aflatoxin Inhibition and Fungistasis by Peanut Tannins1

Abstract Three fractions of tannins were isolated from Florunner peanut testa. Both the growth of Aspergillus parasiticus (NRRL 2999) on PDA agar and production of aflatoxins in liquid culture were inhibited by the tannins. The ability to inhibit growth was inversely related to the ability to inhibit aflatoxin production for each fraction. Two types of tannin assays were inadequate as predictors of the biological activity of the tannin fractions.