cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
One-step Multi-material Preform Extrusion for Robust Chalcogenide Glass Optical Fibers

We demonstrate a novel process of one-step extrusion of multi-material fiber preforms containing chalcogenide glasses and polymers. The polymer lends mechanical robustness to the drawn chalcogenide infrared fibers and tapers.
The path forward: the future of graduate education in the pharmaceutical sciences: the report of the 2010-2011 Research and Graduate Affairs Committee.

According to the Bylaws of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), the Research and Graduate Affairs Committee (RGAC) shall provide assistance to the Association in developing its research, graduate education, and scholarship agenda. This assistance may include facilitating colleges and schools in formulating and advancing legislative and regulatory initiatives, and nurturing collaborative activities with organizations sharing an interest in issues related to the pharmaceutical sciences. President Rod Carter presented the following charge for the 2010-11 RGAC: Utilizing the report titled “The Path Forward: The Future of Graduate Education in the U.S.”1 from the Commission on the Future of Graduate Education, critically examine the current status of graduate programs in colleges and schools of pharmacy across the spectrum of pharmaceutical sciences and recommend actions by AACP and/or its member colleges and schools that would allow pharmacy graduate programs to flourish in this envisioned future. President Carter further recommended that the Committee consider key past reports, including those of former Research and Graduate Affairs Committees, AACP task forces and council reports. The Committee met in person in Crystal City, Virginia, in October 2010 and communicated subsequently by conference calls and other electronic communication. During the October meeting the committee was fortunate to have Patricia McAllister, Vice President of Government Relations and External Affairs from the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) and staff for the “Path Forward” report, meet with the Committee to summarize the issues and recommendations contained in this April 2010 analysis of graduate education. The Committee also considered the recently released report from the National Research Council which offers a data-based assessment of doctoral programs in 62 fields in the United States.2
Optimization of Set-up Conditions for Stability of The Centerless Grinding Process

Abstract The stability of the centerless grinding process is very sensitive to the set-up conditions due to the uniqueness of the work-holding system. Centerless grinding produces precision components with high productivity only when the set-up condition is optimally chosen. This paper describes the effect of set-up conditions on three stability criteria of the centerless grinding system. It also presents guidelines for determining proper set-up conditions to avoid spinners, chatter vibration and roundness problems. Finally, an algorithm for providing the optimum set-up condition based on process aims is proposed and the simulation results are discussed.
Monophenolase activity of avocado polyphenol oxidase

Abstract Polyphenol oxidase of avocado mesocarp catalyses (a) the orthohydroxylation of monophenols like l -tyrosine, d -tyrosine, tyramine and p -cresol, and (b) the oxidation of the corresponding o -dihydroxyphenols to quinones. The rate of step b is much greater than that of step a. The hydroxylation of monophenols occurs after a lag period. DOPA or ascorbate effectively eliminate the lag but not dl -6-methyltetrahydropteridine or tetrahydrofolic acid. At 1.66 × 10 −4 M, α,α-dipyridyl has no effect, while diethyldithiocarbamate at this concentration inhibits the hydroxylation reaction by 90%. The tyrosinase activity of avocado polyphenol oxidase is inactivated in the course of the reaction; this inactivation occurs faster and is more pronounced in the presence of exogenously added DOPA. This inactivation is partially prevented by a large excess of ascorbate. The K m values indicate that tyramine, dopamine, p -cresol and 4-methyl catechol are better substrates for avocado polyphenol oxidase than tyrosine or DOPA.
The origin of crystal-containing cells in the cecal epithelium of mice.

Crystal-containing cells are found with regularity in the cecal epithelium of the mouse. The crystal-containing cells may contain aggregated rhomboidal crystals or membrane-bound semicrystalline granular inclusions which demonstrate a 60 lamellar periodicity. Treatment of mice with actinomycin D increased the number of crystal-containing cells and the number of crystals held within them. The increased number of crystal-containing cells is shown to arise not from the existing cell types of the epithelium, but from a migratory cell type which invades the cecal mucosa from the lamina propria. An intermediate cell type possessing morphological similarities of a granulocyte and the crystal-containing cell is suggested as the precursor to the crystal-containing cell.
Survival of Campylobacter jejuni on Poultry Skin and Meat at Varying Temperatures

Researchers have recently found a much higher prevalence of Campylobacter on skin-on poultry products vs. skinless products. These data suggest that contamination is associated primarily with poultry skin, and Campylobacter may not survive on skinless poultry meat. Therefore, the objective of this study was to quantify the survival of Campylobacter poultry skin vs. meat under differing storage conditions. Skin and meat were irradiated to eliminate native microflora and inoculated with Campylobacter jejuni (~5.0 x 10(5) cfu/mL). Meat and skin samples were packaged in polystyrene trays, covered with Cryovac film, and then subjected to 1 of the following storage conditions: 1) 4 degrees C for 11 d; 2) 4 degrees C for 1 d, then -3 degrees C for 10 d; 3) 4 degrees C for 1 d, -3 degrees C for 1 d, then 4 degrees C for 9 d; or 4) 4 degrees C for 1 d, -3 degrees C for 1 d, 20 degrees C for 1 h on d2, then 4 degrees for 9 d. On d 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11, populations of Campylobacter were determined. The experiment was replicated 3 times. In each experiment, populations of surviving Campylobacter were not affected by storage conditions (P > or = 0.05), and there was no interaction between temperature treatments and sample type. Surviving Campylobacter populations were affected (P < or = 0.05) by sample type (skin vs. meat). Campylobacter, in the absence of competing microflora, survived well on poultry skin and meat at the temperatures tested. In all experiments, higher populations were established on the inoculated skin vs. inoculated meat. These populations remained consistently 0.4 to 0.9 log(10) cfu/g higher on skin vs. meat. Poultry skin topography may account, in part, for these higher populations on skin.
Laparoscopic management of ureteropelvic junction obstruction in patients with upper urinary tract anomalies.

ABSTRACTPurpose: We report our experience with the laparoscopic management of ureteropelvic junction obstruction in patients with upper urinary tract abnormalities.Materials and Methods: Between July 1994 and May 2002, 7 men and 4 women with upper urinary tract anatomical abnormalities were referred to our institution for management of symptomatic ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Anomalies included horseshoe kidneys in 5 cases, pelvic kidneys in 3, a pancake kidney in 1, a malrotated kidney in 1 and a duplicated collecting system in 1. Three patients had associated renal stones that were extracted during reconstruction. Mean patient age was 37.4 years (range 25 to 60). One patient had undergone a previously unsuccessful endopyelotomy and 2 had a history of abdominal surgery.Results: Mean operative time was 195 minutes (range 85 to 403) and mean estimated blood loss was 122 cc (range 20 to 300). No patient in this series required transfusion. Average length of hospital stay was 3.2 days (range 2 to 5). ...
Submillimeter Modeling Of Millimeter Radar Systems

A submillimeter radar modeling facility has been developed for the acquisition of data from scale models of tactical targets to determine the scattering of millimeter waves from the corresponding full size vehicles. Advances in submillimeter optically pumped laser technology and minicomputer control and display have been utilized to achieve a versatile radar modeling system in a laboratory. High resolution imaging and radar cross section (RCS) measurements have been made and the necessary calibration techniques have been developed. Evolving submillimeter technology should permit the modeling of frequency-agile radar systems.© (1981) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Star poly(ethylene oxide) as a low temperature electrolyte and crystallization inhibitor

A significant problem with electrolytes for lithium ion and lithium metal batteries is poor low temperature performance due to electrolyte crystallization. Highly branched polyethers are intrinsically resistant to crystallization because of their inability to pack efficiently, and, thus, they should have low melting temperatures and improved low temperature conductivities. In this report, we describe the characterization of tetrakis(2-methoxy(2-ethoxy(2-ethoxy)))pentaerythritol, a four-armed polyether star, which has a glass transition of −93 °C and no evidence of a melting transition. Electrolytes prepared with LiClO4 have conductivities of 6 × 10-5 S/cm at 0 °C and 3.7 × 10-7 S/cm at −40 °C, establishing the star architecture as an interesting electrolyte for low temperature applications. In contrast, electrolytes based on poly(ethylene glycol) dimethyl ether 500, a linear polymer of approximately the same molecular weight, crystallize at ∼14 °C, resulting in a drastic drop in conductivity to ∼10-7 S/cm...
Simplified device equations and transport coefficients for GaAs device modeling

In the analysis of submicrometer GaAs devices, consideration of hot-electron effects is imperative. A generalized current equation suggested by Thornber allows the inclusion of some of the hot-electron effects into standard drift/diffusion device models, and hence does not require too large computational resources. In this brief, we report gradient and rate coefficient tables (graphs) that are necessary to complement the standard approach for electrons in GaAs at 300 K as calculated by Monte Carlo methods.
Microparticles in Health and Disease

Microparticles (MPs), small membrane-derived vesicles, are derived from many cell types and released into the circulation. Microparticles can express antigens, and contain cell surface proteins, cytoplasmic contents, and nuclear components from their cell of origin that determines their composition, characterization, and transfer of biologic information. Certain prompts for this release include shear stress, complement activation, proapoptotic stimulation, cellular damage, or agonist interaction with cell surface receptors. Release can be physiologic or pathologic and is associated with proinflammatory and procoagulant effects and has been implicated in thrombotic states. Microparticles also contribute to systemic inflammation and cardiovascular, hematologic, and oncologic disease states. The study of MPs in human medicine is rapidly advancing and extends into the physiology of health, the pathophysiology of disease, and the role of MPs in transfusion medicine. In veterinary medicine, published work on MPs has been limited to the area of inherited disorders, blood storage, and leukoreduction (LR). Microparticle research is still in its infancy, and this review should be seen as a snapshot of what is currently known. As research continues important limitations, including variations in preanalytic variables such as collection, storage, or centrifugation, and limitations of quantitation are coming to the forefront. Correlation of quantitation of MPs with assays of activity will hopefully shed light on the true nature of MPs in health and disease. This review will focus on the role of cellular exocytic vesiculation in health, disease, and transfusion medicine.
Influence of dietary vitamin E and selenium on distribution of Se75 in the chick.

SummaryThree-week-old chicks fed either a Vit. E deficient or supplemented diet were intraperitoneally injected with Se75, and distribution of the isotope was determined in various tissues at 24, 48, and 168 hours after injection. Similarly, 2-week-old chicks fed a selenium deficient or supplemented diet were given an oral dose of Se75 and the distribution of the isotope in several tissues was determined at 24 and 168 hours after administration. Vitamin E had no effect on distribution of selenium, but selenium itself had a marked effect on the uptake and retention of radioselenium. One-half of the dose was retained by selenium-deficient chicks at 7 days, whereas only 1/5 of the dose was retained by chicks fed 1 ppm selenium from day-of-age. Considerable selenium was deposited and retained in the cerebellum of chicks even though this element cannot prevent encephalomalacia.
Academic Double-Dipping: Professional Profit or Loss?

In my three decades in the profession I have served on an uncountable number of search committees. In recent years I increasingly encountered an annoying (to me) practice among applicants, multiple vita entries for identically titled, and thus presumably identically written, conference papers. I originally dismissed such practices as vita padding, a not well socialized, nor particularly well accomplished, applicant seeking to make his or her research performance look more impressive than it actually is.
Differentiation of transient erythroblastopenia of childhood from congenital hypoplastic anemia.

Erythrocyte properties of patients with congenital hypoplastic anemia were compared to those of patients with transient erythroblastopenia of childhood. The MCV was less than 85 in all nine TEC patients studied and greater than 90 in all 11 CHA patients. Hemoglobin F concentration was elevated beyond the normal level for age in eight CHA patients and almost always normal in TEC. The i antigen score was more likely to be elevated in CHA than in TEC. The activities of transaminase, aldolase, phosphofructokinase, and glutathione peroxidase were higher in CHA than in TEC (p
Acute Effects of Inhaled Nitric Oxide on Pulmonary and Cardiac Function in Preterm Infants with Evolving Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Acute Effects of Inhaled Nitric Oxide on Pulmonary and Cardiac Function in Preterm Infants with Evolving Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Shape analysis using morphological processing and genetic algorithms

A novel way of combining morphological processing and genetic algorithms (GAs) to generate high-performance shape discrimination operators is presented. GAs can evolve operators that discriminate among classes comprising different shapes. The operators are defined as variable structuring elements and can be sequenced as program forms. The population of such operators, evaluated according to an index of performance corresponding to shape discrimination ability, evolves into an optimal set of operators using genetic search. Experimental results are presented to illustrate the feasibility of the approach for shape discrimination. >
Entamoeba histolytica Induces Intestinal Cathelicidins but Is Resistant to Cathelicidin-Mediated Killing

The enteric protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica is the cause of potentially fatal amebic colitis and liver abscesses. E. histolytica trophozoites colonize the colon, where they induce inflammation, penetrate the mucosa, and disrupt the host immune system. The early establishment of E. histolytica in the colon occurs in the presence of antimicrobial human (LL-37) and murine (CRAMP [cathelin-related antimicrobial peptide]) cathelicidins, essential components of the mammalian innate defense system in the intestine. Studying this early step in the pathogenesis of amebic colitis, we demonstrate that E. histolytica trophozoites or their released proteinases, including cysteine proteinase 1 (EhCP1), induce intestinal cathelicidins in human intestinal epithelial cell lines and in a mouse model of amebic colitis. Despite induction, E. histolytica trophozoites were found to be resistant to killing by these antimicrobial peptides, and LL-37 and CRAMP were rapidly cleaved by released amebic cysteine proteases. The cathelicidin fragments however, did maintain their antimicrobial activity against bacteria. Degradation of intestinal cathelicidins is a novel function of E. histolytica cysteine proteinases in the evasion of the innate immune system in the bowel. Thus, early intestinal epithelial colonization of invasive trophozoites involves a complex interplay in which the ultimate outcome of infection depends in part on the balance between degradation of cathelicidins by amebic released cysteine proteinases and upregulation of proinflammatory mediators which trigger the inflammatory response.
Neoadjuvant therapy for gastric cancer: current evidence and future directions

Although surgical resection remains the only potentially curative treatment for gastric cancer (GC), poor long-term outcomes with resection alone compel a multimodality approach to this disease. Multimodality strategies vary widely; while adjuvant approaches are typically favored in Asia and the United States (USA), a growing body of evidence supports neoadjuvant and/or perioperative strategies in locally advanced tumors. Neoadjuvant approaches are particularly attractive given the morbidity associated with surgical management of GC and the substantial risk of omission of adjuvant therapy. The specific advantages of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) compared to chemotherapy have not been well defined, particularly in the preoperative setting and trials aimed at determining the optimal elements and sequencing of therapy are underway. Future studies will also define the role of targeted and biologic therapies.
Educational Visions from Two Continents: What Tagore adds to the Deweyan perspective

In this global village, it is relevant to look at two educational visionaries from two continents, John Dewey and Rabindranath Tagore. Dewey observed that the modern individual was depersonalized by the industrial and commercial culture. He, thus, envisioned a new individual who would find fulfillment in maximum individuality within maximum community, which was embodied in his democratic concept and educational philosophy. Tagore's educational vision was based on India's traditional philosophy of harmony and fullness. It focused on self‐realization within the context of international education. This article compares the educational visions of Dewey and Tagore and demonstrates that Tagore's international educational perspective adds to Dewey's concepts of social individual and democracy and that their perspectives have implications for contemporary education.
Self-similar evolution of a precipitate in inhomogeneous elastic media

Abstract In this paper, we present linear theory and nonlinear simulations to study the self-similar growth and shrinkage of a precipitate in a 2D elastic media. This work is motivated by a series of studies by Li et al., where the existence and morphological stability of self-similarly evolving crystals were demonstrated in a diffusional field. Here, we extend the theory and simulations to account for solid-state phase transformations where elasticity plays an important role in regularizing the evolution of the precipitate. For given applied strain or stress boundary conditions, we show that depending on the mass flux entering/exiting the system, there exist critical scalings of flux and elasticity at which compact self-similar growth/shrinkage occurs in the linear regime. We then develop a spectrally accurate boundary integral method combined with a rescaling scheme to investigate the effects of nonlinearity and the morphological stability of these linear self-similar precipitates. Our numerical results reveal that at long times there exists nonlinear stabilization that leads the precipitate to evolve to compact universal limiting shapes selected by the applied stress and mass diffusion flux. These theoretical and numerical results suggest that the classical Mullins–Sekerka instability, which drives precipitates to acquire dendritic or dense-branching morphologies, can be controlled. This could potentially provide a new route to controlling material microstructures.
Mitochondrial DNA of Schizophyllum commune: restriction map, genetic map, and mode of inheritance.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) found in the basidiomycete Schizophyllum commune (strain 4–40) is a circular molecule 49.75 kbp in lenght. A physical map containing 61 restriction sites revealed no repeat structures. Cloned genes from Neurospora crassa, Aspergillus nidulans, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were used in Southern hybridizations to locate nine mitochondrial genes, including a possible pseudogene of ATPase 9, on the restriction map. A probe from a functional ATPase 9 gene identified homologous fragments only in the nuclear genome of S. commune. Restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) between mtDNA isolated from different strains of S. commune were used to show that mitochondria do not migrate with nuclei during dikaryosis.
Aspirin in stroke prevention

Aspirin is now standard preventive therapy in patients at risk for stroke, but many questions remain about its efficacy and use. No single trial has clearly demonstrated the efficacy of aspirin for prevention of stroke after transient ischemic attack (TIA). However, almost all studies showed some benefit in the aspirin group. Recently, metaanalysis, integrating and analyzing data from multiple studies, has attempted to clarify the picture. One such analysis1 showed no significant benefit for aspirin alone. Another analysis was carried out in collaboration with the principal investigators of all studies of platelet antiaggregate drugs for prevention of vascular disease, and weighted the studies according to the numbers of patients in each. This represented 25 completed studies enrolling 29 000 patients with angina, myocardial infarction, TIA, or stroke.
Mast cells in the pinna of Balb/c ‘nude’ (nu/nu) and heterozygotes (nu/+) mice

The relative number of mast cells in the ear lobes' skin (pinna) of nude (athymic) nu/nu and normal (thymic) nu/+ heterozygotes of Balb/c mice was similar. The results obtained contradict some suggestions about the general influence of the thymus on the number of mast cells in the skin and suggest the existence of some local factor(s) in regulation of skin mast cell numbers.
Antagonism of Arachidonic Acid Is Linked to the Antitumorigenic Effect of Dietary Eicosapentaenoic Acid in ApcMin/+ Mice

The multiple intestinal neoplasia (Apc(Min/+)) mouse possesses a germline mutation at codon 850 of the adenomatous polyposis coli (Apc) gene resulting in the formation of a nonfunctional truncated gene product. Following a somatic mutation of the remaining wild-type allele, mice spontaneously develop approximately 40-50 tumors throughout the intestinal tract. This mouse model has been used to study intestinal tumorigenesis because this mutation is analogous to the inherited APC mutation in humans with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). These individuals characteristically develop numerous adenomas throughout their intestinal tracts. Only a few studies have evaluated the effects of dietary fatty acids on tumorigenesis in this animal model with varying results, and none have linked these effects to alterations in arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism. This study was designed to evaluate the antitumorigenic effect of dietary (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the Apc(Min/+) mouse model and to determine whether these effects are related to inhibition of AA metabolism. Male Apc(Min/+)mice were fed diets supplemented with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), AA or a combination of AA + EPA. Mean tumor number in the EPA group was 68% lower (P<0.05) compared with the control group, whereas AA supplementation did not significantly alter tumor load. The reduction in tumor load coincided with significant reductions in intestinal AA content and levels of prostaglandins. However, supplementing AA to the EPA diet (AA + EPA) abolished the antitumorigenic effect of EPA, increased tissue AA content fourfold and prostaglandin production two- to fourfold. These results indicate that AA is involved in tumorigenesis and suggest that EPA's ability to reduce tumor load in Apc(Min/+) mice is related to reductions in tissue AA content or its metabolism.
A model for the role of integrins in flow induced mechanotransduction in osteyocytes

Recent studies demonstrate that osteocyte processes directly attach to the canalicular wall at discrete, infrequent collagen hillocks, most likely via integrins. In the current paper, we develop a model for these attachment complexes to determine whether they would induce focal strain amplification. Our model predicts that axial strains on the osteocyte process membrane in the vicinity of integrin-based attachments are approximately two orders of magnitude larger than whole bone tissue strains due to the sliding of actin filaments relative to integrin-based attachments. This large strain amplification can provide a mechanism for osteocyte excitation.
Improving the outcome of high-risk neonates with hypoplastic left heart syndrome: hybrid procedure or conventional surgical palliation?

Objectives: Despite significant progress, surgical outcome for high-risk patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) remain suboptimal. The hybrid palliation lessens the initial operative insult and is expected to improve overall survival; however the outcome of this management sequence is unknown. Methods: Retrospective review of all high-risk neonates (prematurity, low birth weight, associated genetic or co-morbid conditions) undergoing initial palliation for HLHS either by hybrid or Stage I Norwood procedure at a single institution between January 2001 and December 2006. The two strategies were compared using survival after stage II as the end-point for outcome.Results: The cohort included 33 patients (14 hybrid and 19 Norwood) with a mean age of 3.8 2.4 days, weight of 2.6 0.6 kg and Aristotle comprehensive score of 18.7 2.5. Aortic atresia was present in 5/14 hybrid and 12/19 Norwood patients. The mean gestational age was 36.8 2.2 weeks, six patients were under 36 weeks in each group. Patients undergoing hybrid palliation had a lower preoperative pH [7.14 0.2 vs 7.25 0.05, p = 0.04], higher incidence of organ dysfunction [9/14 (64%) vs 5/19 (26%), p = 0.03] and less associated cardiac anomalies [3/13 (21%) vs 13/19 (68%), p = 0.009]. Hospital mortality and interstage mortality was 7/33 (21%) and 6/26 (23%) for the entire cohort, without significant differences between the hybrid and the conventional Norwood strategies. Of the original 33 patients only 16 (48.5%) were alive following the second stage procedure (7/14 (50%) hybrid and 9/19 (47.4%) Norwood). Conclusions: Regardless of the type of initial palliation, high-risk neonates with HLHS continue to have decreased survival. Although the hybrid approach reduces the initial surgical insult, important interstage mortality and ongoing morbidity result in survival no different than with conventional surgical palliation. # 2008 European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Denitrification and nitrous oxide production in a coastal marine ecosystem1

Denitrification was measured directly as the flux of N, from sediment cores collected at various times of year at three stations in the Narragansett Bay, R.I., area. Rates of N, production ranged from about 10 to 115 pmol N*m-2*h-1, with lowest values at 2°C in winter and highest at 15°C in summer. Denitrification represents a major sink for fixed N in the bay; annually the N, production is equal to about 50% of the fixed inorganic N loading to the bay from rivers, land, and sewage. About 35% of the organic nitrogen mineralized in the sediments is removed from the ecosystem by denitrification. The percentage of organic nitrogen being mineralized in the sediments as N20 relative to N, or N03- + NO,- is higher in polluted sediments than in relatively unpolluted sediments, but in all cases is < 10%. Brandt (1899) suggested that denitrifying bacteria were important in controlling the supply of available nitrogen in the ocean and, therefore, plankton production. While it is now established that N is usually the nutrient most limiting to phytoplankton production in marine waters (Thomas 1969; Ryther and Dunstan 197 l), the mechanisms controlling its supply are still not well understood. If Brandt’s hypothesis is correct, the role of denitrification should be especially evident in estuaries and other coastal areas where a significant portion of the nutrient supply comes from mineralization of organic matter in the sediments (see Nixon 198 1). During denitrification, nitrate or nitrite, instead of 02, is used as the terminal electro%acceptor for the oxidation of organic matter, and gaseous nitrogen is produced (Payne 1973). The abundant supply of organic matter and the low oxygen concentrations in coastal sediments would present favorable conditions for denitrification. No direct measurements of N2 production from subtidal coastal sediments have been reported other than those of Seitzinger et al. (1980). There is, however, considerable circumstantial evidence that denitrifi
Maturation stage–specific regulation of megakaryopoiesis by pointed-domain Ets proteins

Numerous megakaryocyte-specific genes contain signature Ets-binding sites in their regulatory regions. Fli-1 (friend leukemia integration 1), an Ets transcription factor, is required for the normal maturation of megakaryocytes and controls the expression of multiple megakaryocyte-specific genes. However, in Fli-1–/– mice, early megakaryopoiesis persists, and the expression of the early megakaryocyte-specific genes, αIIb and cMpl, is maintained, consistent with functional compensation by a related Ets factor(s). Here we identify the Ets protein GABPα (GA-binding protein α) as a regulator of early megakaryocyte-specific genes. Notably, GABPα preferentially occupies Ets elements of early megakaryocyte-specific genes in vitro and in vivo, whereas Fli-1 binds both early and late megakaryocyte-specific genes. Moreover, the ratio of GABPα/Fli-1 expression declines throughout megakaryocyte maturation. Consistent with this expression pattern, primary fetal liver–derived megakaryocytes from Fli-1–deficient murine embryos exhibit reduced expression of genes associated with late stages of maturation (glycoprotein [GP] Ibα, GPIX, and platelet factor 4 [PF4]), whereas GABPα-deficient megakaryocytes were mostly impaired in the expression of early megakaryocyte-specific genes (αIIb and cMpl). Finally, mechanistic experiments revealed that GABPα, like Fli-1, can impart transcriptional synergy between the hematopoietic transcription factor GATA-1 and its cofactor FOG-1 (friend of GATA-1). In concert, these data reveal disparate, but overlapping, functions of Ets transcription factors at distinct stages of megakaryocyte maturation.
Sepsis and the broken endothelium

The study by Yang and colleagues examined 81 patients with septic shock due to pneumonia, along with 20 patients with pneumonia without organ dysfunction. Their major findings were that circulating levels of soluble vascular endothelial cell growth factor receptor-1 (sVEGFR-1) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) were associated with organ dysfunction and mortality, whereas vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) levels had no such predictive power. Yang and colleagues are to be complimented for a well-conducted study of a reasonably (and helpfully!) homogeneous population of patients with sepsis that carefully and comprehensively analyzed the relationship between sVEGFR-1, uPA, VEGF and clinical outcome. The study serves not only to provide evidence in support of new diagnostic biomarker targets in sepsis, but also to augment the growing evidence of an important role of the endothelium in sepsis in general, and the VEGF signaling axis in particular.
Upper Devonian–Mississippian stratigraphic framework of the Arkoma Basin and distribution of potential source-rock facies in the Woodford–Chattanooga and Fayetteville–Caney shale-gas systems

Wireline logs were used to document the stratigraphic framework of Upper Devonian–Mississippian strata in the Arkoma Basin, and maps of high-gamma ray (HGR) log response were used to analyze the spatial distribution of potential source rocks in the Woodford–Chattanooga and Fayetteville–Caney shale-gas systems. The Woodford–Chattanooga shale is a transgressive deposit that accumulated on an arid continental margin influenced by marine upwelling and minimal sediment influx. A broad HGR depocenter along the southwestern margin of the basin includes two areas of higher accommodation containing the thickest HGR concentrations. Basin-wide patterns of HGR likely reflect broad tectonic influence on accommodation. The proportion of chert in the formation increases eastward and southward, likely reflecting latitudinal and bathymetric influence on the accumulation of siliceous ooze. The Lower Mississippian Burlington sequence, which lies between the two shale-gas systems, comprises carbonate ramp and distal shale deposits. Proximal ramp facies form an apron around the southern flank of the Ozark uplift and grade radially basinward into distal facies. An Upper Mississippian succession in the east includes lowstand deposits of the Batesville delta, which onlap the relict Burlington ramp. Basinwide, the succession includes the transgressive Fayetteville–Caney shale overlain by regressive deposits of the proximal Pitkin Limestone and distal upper Fayetteville (Arkansas) and “false” Caney (Oklahoma) shale. The HGR shale is concentrated in an area of intermediate accommodation on the western margin of the Mississippi Embayment and just basinward of the Pitkin Limestone pinchout in Arkansas, and in an area of relatively high accommodation in Oklahoma.
Embedding lattices of fuzzy subgroups into lattices of crisp subgroups

Each lattice of fuzzy subgroups is shown to be isomorphic with a lattice of crisp subgroups. This allows an immediate reformulation of the results on lattices of crisp subgroups into results on lattices of fuzzy subgroups.
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin Decreases Responsiveness of the Hypothalamus to Estradiol as a Feedback Inducer of Preovulatory Gonadotropin Secretion in the Immature Gonadotropin-Primed Rat

Abstract Sprague–Dawley rats (23-day-old) were dosed with TCDD (32 μg/kg) in corn oil or vehicle alone. Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) was injected (5 IU, sc) 24 h later to induce follicular development. Another 24 h later, half of TCDD- or corn oil-treated rats were injected (sc) with 17β-estradiol-cypionate (ECP, at 0.004 to 0.5 mg/kg). Blood and ovaries were collected on expected proestrous (preovulatory period) at 51, 54, and 58 h after eCG injection as well as in the morning after ovulation (72 h after eCG). Serum concentrations of 17β-estradiol (E), progesterone (P), luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were determined by radioimmunoassay. The number of ova shed was measured at 72 h after injection of eCG by irrigating ova from oviducts. During the preovulatory period (∼58 h after eCG injection), a circulating level of 70–100 pg E/ml coincided with LH and FSH surges and later normal ovulation of 10 to 12 ova/rat was observed in controls. However, the same concentration of E was not associated with LH and FSH surges in rats treated with TCDD (32 μg/kg), resulting in reduced ovarian weight gain and reduction of ovulation by 70 to 80% (2–3 ova/rat). Blockage of the gonadotropin surge, reduced ovarian weight gain, and ovulation were all reversed completely by the lowest effective dose of ECP (0.1 mg/kg). At 72 h after eCG, serum P secretion was reduced and serum E levels were significantly increased compared to those of corn oil-treated controls. ECP alone had no effect on serum P levels at any time point, but in rats treated with TCDD and ECP, both the reduction of P (at 58 and 72 h) and the increase in E secretion (72 h) were completely reversed. Further studies confirmed that restoration by ECP of gonadotropin surges and associated ovulation could not be attained until circulating levels of E rose sufficiently high to trigger the LH and FSH surges. The new action threshold of E for inducing gonadotropin surges in rats treated with TCDD (32 μg/kg) was determined to be eight- to 10-fold higher than that in controls. Thus, it is apparent that TCDD decreased the responsiveness of the hypothalamus to E as a feedback inducer of preovulatory gonadotropin secretion.
Combined direct-indirect adaptive speed control strategy for wind induction generator

A combined direct and indirect model reference adaptive controller for variable speed wind induction generator is presented. The main concept of the proposed philosophy is to ensure automatic change of the controller parameters so that they correspond to the current generator's environment and provide an appropriate control action to improve the overall control system performance. The effectiveness of the proposed technique is demonstrated through computer simulation. The obtained results confirm the capability of such control scheme.
Asymptotically Stabilizing Potential Control for the Eye Movement Dynamics

In this paper, we analyze the problem of stabilizing a rotating eye movement control system satisfying the Listing’s constraint. The control system is described using a suitably defined Lagrangian and written in the corresponding Hamiltonian form. We introduce a damping control and show that this choice of control asymptotically stabilizes the equilibrium point of the dynamics, while driving the state to a point of minimum total energy. The equilibrium point can be placed by appropriately locating the minimum of a potential function. The damping controller has been shown to be optimal with respect to a suitable cost function. We choose alternate forms of this cost function, by adding a term proportional to the potential energy, and synthesize stabilizing control, using numerical solution to the the well known Hamilton Jacobi Bellman equation. Using Chebyshev collocation method, the newly synthesized controller is compared with the damping control.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Biological resource catalog: NIF and NeuroLex

In the digital age one can find data and teaching materials on the web, however data and materials of a high quality are not always ranked very high on commercial search engines that look at the number of other sites that link to a page rather than the quality of the information. Additionally, many such materials are maintained within databases that are inaccessible to search technology. To solve these problems, the Neuroscience Information Framework (NIF: http://www.neuinfo.org) was created to aid the neuroscience community to discover useful digital resources, such as academic databases, and it has also developed a large digital catalog of resources that are related to neuroscience.NIF has developed a “resource ontology”, and synchronized to a large extent the effort with the BRO (biomedical resource ontology) and assigned all 4000+ digital resources within the catalog to one or more of these ontological categories, making it possible to discover for example: all atlases through the NIF catalog. The resource categories are: Data, Funding, Job, Material, People, Services, Software, and Training. Most of these comprise sub-categorizations, definitions and synonyms and they can be viewed in the Neurolex found at http://neurolex.org/wiki/Resource_Type_Hierarchy. Each “resource descriptor” has been coded in OWL format files and has a unique identifier as well as synonyms and subclasses to help search systems locate data.Cataloging efforts of digital resources are tricky because unlike publications they can change at any time, including major shifts of data and structure, therefore the curation effort must be reasonably scoped and relatively nimble. NIF has developed some self reporting tools in the DISCO suite, accessible from http://disco.neuinfo.org/webportal/discoDashboardShow.do, to create just such a nimble resource identification system such that when a resource changes content or data structure significantly, the resource provider (such as the webmaster or database engineer) can change a small xml file sitting on their home page that will alert the NIF system and any other automated agent that the resource has changed. This tool in addition to the human curation effort results in a catalog that is reasonably representative of the state of biomedical resources.NIF maintains a list of current policies, issues and solicits input from community members at https://confluence.crbs.ucsd.edu/display/NIF/NIF+Resources+and+Curation+Policies.
Estimation of continuous object distributions from limited Fourier magnitude measurements

From finite complex spectral data one can construct a continuous object with a given support that is consistent with the data. Given Fourier magnitude data only, one can choose the phases arbitrarily in the above construction. The energy in the extrapolated spectrum is phase dependent and provides a cost function to be used in phase retrieval. The minimization process is performed iteratively, using an algorithm that can be viewed as a combination of Gerchberg–Papoulis and Fienup error reduction.
A probabilistic framework for modeling and real-time monitoring human fatigue

A probabilistic framework based on the Bayesian networks for modeling and real-time inferring human fatigue by integrating information from various sensory data and certain relevant contextual information is introduced. A static fatigue model that captures the static relationships between fatigue, significant factors that cause fatigue, and various sensory observations that typically result from fatigue is first presented. Such a model provides mathematically coherent and sound basis for systematically aggregating uncertain evidences from different sources, augmented with relevant contextual information. The static model, however, fails to capture the dynamic aspect of fatigue. Fatigue is a cognitive state that is developed over time. To account for the temporal aspect of human fatigue, the static fatigue model is extended based on dynamic Bayesian networks. The dynamic fatigue model allows to integrate fatigue evidences not only spatially but also temporally, therefore, leading to a more robust and accurate fatigue modeling and inference. A real-time nonintrusive fatigue monitor was built based on integrating the proposed fatigue model with a computer vision system developed for extracting various visual cues typically related to fatigue. Performance evaluation of the fatigue monitor using both synthetic and real data demonstrates the validity of the proposed fatigue model in both modeling and real-time inference of fatigue
Welcome to the Fun House: The Incredible Maze of Divorce Taxation

Using legislative histories the article shows how the incidence of taxation began to fall more heavily on women in the context of divorce as women's social and political status rose during World War II and that this trend continued through several sets of divorce tax reform.
Circulation over Continental Shelves and Shelf-Break Regions

This paper presents a discussion of the wind driven circulation over a continental shelf and shelf-break as predicted by a finite element model. Upwelling over continental shelves, near the coast, is a well documented phenomenon, having received much attention over the past decade (e.g., Allen, 1980). At the same time, a secondary upwelling region, occurring over the continental shelf-break has been discussed both by means of observations (e.g., Petrie, 1983) and theoretically via analytical models (e.g., Johnson and Mania, 1979). The dynamics of this latter type of upwelling is still not well understood.
Abstract TP421: Cerebral Blood Flow Dynamics and Head-of-Bed Changes in the Setting of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Background: Head-of-bed (HOB) elevation is usually restricted in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). This practice is believed to prevent cerebral hypoperfusion. Objective: The goal of this study is to correlate HOB changes (0 o and 90 o ) with cerebral blood flow using Trans-cranial Doppler (TCD) and thermal diffusion probe in SAH patients. Methods: Thirteen patients with SAH were prospectively enrolled in the study. Eight patients underwent placement of a thermal diffusion probe for regional CBF measurement in the same setting when placing a ventriculostomy. CBF values were measured by TCD alone (13 subjects) or concurrently with thermal diffusion probe (8 subjects) with the patients in a flat (0 o ) and upright sitting position (90 o ) at day 3, 7, and 10. Results: The average increase in blood flow velocity when changing HOB from 0 o to 90 o was 7.8% on day 3, 0.1% on day 7, and 13.1% on day 10. The middle cerebral artery had the least changes in velocity compared to the anterior cerebral and the posterior cerebral arteries. The average regional CBF measurement was 22.7 +/- 10.3 ml/100g/min in the supine position and 23.6 +/- 9.1 mg/100g/min in the sitting position. The changes were not statistically significant. No change in clinical exam was appreciated. None of the patients developed clinical cerebral vasospasm. Conclusion: Changing HOB position in the setting of SAH did not significantly affect either cerebral blood flow velocity or regional blood flow. This data suggests that early mobilization should be considered given the detrimental effects of prolonged bed rest.
Studies of leukocyte kinetics in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Intravenously administered H3TdR was used to study peripheral blood leukocyte kinetics of ten patients with CLL in relapse and one in partial remission. Two distinct patterns were found. The first pattern indicates the presence of a small, proliferating population of lymphocytes which is present in the blood for a relatively brief time. This pattern was found in patients with no organomegaly and with relatively lower peripheral lymphocyte counts. In the second pattern almost all of the cells present were non-proliferating and long-lived. The patients with the latter pattern had organomegaly. These studies support the concept that there is a progressive widespread accumulation of long-lived lymphocytes in CLL often leading to splenic pooling and, in some cases, hypersplenism.
Propagule pressure cannot always overcome biotic resistance: the role of density‐dependent establishment in four invasive species

Summary Successful invasions result from species functional traits interacting with the receiving community. Some have proposed that propagule pressure, or the size and number of introductions, can overcome high invasion resistance. However, few studies empirically investigate the relationship among functional traits, community composition, and propagule pressure. Here, we empirically examined how propagule pressure influenced the invasive success of four species in four resident communities (bare ground, grass-only, forb-only, and full resident community). The four species represented both small- and large-seeded grasses and forbs, and propagule sizes (the number of individuals in an introduction event) ranged from 16 to 160 000 seeds m−2. Invasion probability varied among species and communities and was strongly influenced by the propagule size. The large-seeded species had the highest invasion success in all communities, while the grasses did as well or better, respectively, in the grass-only and bare ground communities. However, contrary to existing assumptions, we found that the establishment probability of individual seeds decreased exponentially with increasing propagule size. Therefore, increased propagule pressure was subjected to severely diminishing returns on invasiveness. Thus, while propagule pressure played a role in determining invasion success, it was not always able to overcome communities with high invasion resistance, particularly for species that experienced strong density-dependent inhibition. The role of propagule pressure in invasion is more complex than previously thought and may present important trade-offs for bet-hedging colonisation strategies.