cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Team chemistry: the missing link in skill assessment for teams

The task of assessing the skill of players and teams in games is an old problem spanning numerous disciplinary fields and can be traced back to foundational work from the early 20th century. However, in the past 15 years, the arrival and immense popularity of online multi-player gaming has kindled new interest in skill assessment due to the importance of ensuring that automatically-generated competitions (in a process called "matchmaking") between perhaps millions of candidate players and teams are fair - that each player or team competing against one another has a roughly equal probability of winning a given game. Poor matchmaking has the effect of discouraging less-skilled players from continuing to play, which, in games that are increasingly reliant on multiplayer competition, is detrimental to a game's longevity and, therefore, its profitability. Beyond this problem, though, there exists a more general need to better account for attributes present in team-based games specifically, including the notion of "team chemistry" - a latent feature corresponding to the level of cohesion among teammates believed to impact the expected performance of teams not accounted for by the comparatively narrow lens of individual player skill alone. In this thesis, we introduce a skill assessment framework which accounts for the effects of "team chemistry" using the performances of subgroups of players in teams. These subgroups therefore form the atomic unit to which skill ratings are assigned and maintained, standing in stark contrast to the existing practice of assigning skill ratings to individual players only. Further, existing skill assessment algorithms, such as Elo, Glicko, or TrueSkill, can be easily modified to be utilized as "base learners" for the maintenance of these subgroup ratings. The final estimated overall skill of a team is then computed as an aggregation of these subgroup skill ratings, and we describe a number of novel approaches for doing so. Through experimentation, it is shown that several of these aggregation approaches greatly improve the likelihood of correctly predicting the outcomes of unseen games, and we draw a number of interesting conclusions based on evaluations conducted on datasets from online multi-player video games and real-world sports.
PLX4032, a selective BRAFV600E kinase inhibitor, activates the ERK pathway and enhances cell migration and proliferation of BRAFWT melanoma cells

BRAF(V600E/K) is a frequent mutationally active tumor-specific kinase in melanomas that is currently targeted for therapy by the specific inhibitor PLX4032. Our studies with melanoma tumor cells that are BRAF(V600E/K) and BRAF(WT) showed that, paradoxically, while PLX4032 inhibited ERK1/2 in the highly sensitive BRAF(V600E/K), it activated the pathway in the resistant BRAF(WT) cells, via RAF1 activation, regardless of the status of mutations in NRAS or PTEN. The persistently active ERK1/2 triggered downstream effectors in BRAF(WT) melanoma cells and induced changes in the expression of a wide-spectrum of genes associated with cell cycle control. Furthermore, PLX4032 increased the rate of proliferation of growth factor-dependent NRAS Q61L mutant primary melanoma cells, reduced cell adherence and increased mobility of cells from advanced lesions. The results suggest that the drug can confer an advantage to BRAF(WT) primary and metastatic tumor cells in vivo and provide markers for monitoring clinical responses.
Building Disciplinary Literacy through Popular Fiction

Science educators have noted the unique characteristics of science literacy in terms of text structure, vocabulary demands, and reliance on abstract concepts (Cervetti, Pearson, Bravo, & Barber, 2006; Fang & Schleppegrell, 2008; Pytash, 2013). Furthermore, other scholars have defined scientific thinking processes as inextricable from the reading and writing practices used to communicate them (Norris & Phillips, 2003). Through a collaboration between a literacy educator and a science educator, we hoped to reimagine a content area reading course for middle and high school pre-service science teachers that incorporated a focus on the disciplinary literacy of science through popular fiction. Without positioning literacy as overly additive, our pre-service teachers illustrated there are ways to logistically structure scientific inquiry to include and authentically underscore disciplinary literacy. Our findings suggest specific practices for how teacher educators can best support the disciplinary literacy development of pre-service science teachers.
The First Galactic Plane Survey at 8.35 and 14.35 GHz

We present the first images of the Galactic plane (GP; |b| < 5°, -15° < l < 255°) at 8.35 and 14.35 GHz. These observations used the National Radio Astronomy Observatory–NASA Green Bank Earth Station to survey the sky simultaneously at these frequencies. These are the first results from the GP survey observations, a program to monitor the sky at 8.35 and 14.35 GHz. The GP survey series is intended to detect short-lived radio sources. We present four independent observations of the Galactic plane, combined to provide a set of reference images of the Galactic plane. The first survey, GPA, covers 0.82 sr (6.5%) of the sky. A source list is presented for all sources brighter than 0.9 Jy at 8.35 GHz and also for all sources brighter than 2.5 Jy at 14.35 GHz. The FITS format images, residual images, source lists, and archive data are available over the Internet. Later papers will present the results of the variable source search.
Target tracking by neural network maneuver detection and input estimation

Although the Kalman filter is a powerful linear estimator for a continuous random process, it may fail to converge in the presence of sharp measurement discontinuities which may be caused by clutter or sudden target maneuvers. On the other hand, conventional models for the detection and compensation of target maneuvers are primarily based on a linear mapping of the innovation process onto an artificial noise process which is used to further adjust the covariance matrices of the Kalman filter. The nonlinear mapping capabilities of trained neural networks are employed to generate an estimate of the input noise through parallel processing of the Doppler information, the innovation process, and heading change estimate of a maneuvering target in clutter. It is shown that a neural network in conjunction with the Kalman filter can better resolve the bias caused by target maneuvers.
Resistance of [18f]-fluorodeoxyglucose-avid metastatic thyroid cancer lesions to treatment with high-dose radioactive iodine.

Radioactive iodine (131I) is an important therapeutic option for the treatment of metastatic thyroid carcinoma. Survival in patients with metastases that concentrate radioiodine is better than those whose metastatic lesions do not take up radioiodine. Survival is markedly reduced in patients who have metastatic lesions that concentrate 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) on positron emission tomography (PET). In this retrospective study, we evaluated the ability of 131I to destroy FDG-avid metastatic lesions in thyroid cancer patients. Twenty-five patients with positive FDG-PET scans received at least one dose of 131I treatment before a second FDG-PET was performed. The average interval between the two PET scans was 12.9 months. The average interval between the 131I treatment and the follow-up FDG-PET was 10.1 months. We measured posttherapy changes in lesional volume, in standard uptake values (SUV) of FDG, and in serum thyroglobulin (Tg) levels. The total volume of FDG-avid metastases rose significantly (p = 0...
Repellency to two-spotted spider mite,Tetranychus urticae Koch, as related to leaf surface chemistry ofLycopersicon hirsutum accessions.

Bioassays employingTetranychus urticae Koch were used to examine repellency of leaves and trichome secretions of one cultivar of tomato,Lycopersicon esculentum, and 11 accessions ofL. hirsutum consisting of seven accessions ofL. hirsutum f.typicum and four accessions ofL. hirsutum f.glabratum. Leaves of f.typicum were more repellent to mites than were those of f.glabratum orL. esculentum. Removal of trichomes and their secretions by wiping leaves of f.typicum accessions with 95% ethanol rendered them less repellent, indicating that trichomes or their secretions were potentially responsible for repellency. Gas and thin-layer chromatography of leaflet washes obtained by steeping leaflets in hexane indicated that the chemical composition of the washes differed among accessions. The main difference between botanical forms was the presence in leaflet washes from f.typicum accessions of compounds eluting late on the gas Chromatograph and migrating further on reverse-phase thin-layer chromatography; compounds having these characteristics were absent in washes of f.glabratum andL. esculentum. The compositions of secretions taken directly from type I, type IV, and type VI trichomes were similar to that of the leaflet wash obtained from the same f.typicum plant, indicating that leaflet washes contained mainly compounds of trichomal origin. Leaflet washes from f.typicum plants were generally more repellent toT. urticae than were washes from f.glabratum when tested by choice and nonchoice bioassays. Taken together, the data indicate that trichome secretions of f.typicum are likely responsible for potent repellency to two-spotted spider mites observed in this taxon; the likely active compounds are sesquiterpene acids or other polar constituents of trichome secretions.
Implementation of a Thick-Film Composite Li-Ion Microcathode Using Carbon Nanotubes as the Conductive Filler

This paper describes the development of a thick-film microcathode for use in Li-ion microbatteries in order to provide increased power and energy per area. These cathodes take advantage of a composite porous electrode structure, utilizing carbon nanotubes (CNT) as the conductive filler. The use of carbon nanotubes was found to significantly reduce the measured resistance of the electrodes, increase active material accessibility, and improve electrode performance. In particular, the cycling and power performance of the thick-film cathodes was significantly improved, and the need for compression was eliminated. Cathode thickness and CNT content were optimized to maximize capacity and power performance. Power capability of >50 mW/sq cm (17 mA/sq cm) with discharge capacity of >0.17 mAh/sq cm was demonstrated. The feasibility of fabricating thick-film microcathodes capable of providing the power and capacity needed for use in autonomous microsensor systems was also demonstrated.
Invisible decays of Higgs bosons

Abstract We point out that the main decays of Higgs bosons (H) may be quite different from those conventionally envisaged. In particular, if there exists the axion (a), the majoron (M) and the light Higgs (h) of Gelmini and Roncadelli, or a massive neutrino, one or more of the decays [rmH]→ aa , hh , MM , and v v , which yield effectively undetectable final states, may well dominate over other modes. We discuss the implications for searches for, and bounds on, Higgs particles.
Temperature Selection and Performance by Bluegills: Evidence for Selection in Response to Available Power

Abstract Some fishes, including bluegills Lepomis macrochirus, have highest critical swimming speeds at their preferred temperatures; however, it is not known why fishes select temperatures that are optimal for performance. This paper examines the relationship between selected temperatures and critical swimming speeds for bluegills to test the hypothesis that fishes select temperatures in response to available power. A rationale is presented that available power is a useful short-term measure of fitness among intraspecific competitors, that Fry's scope for activity is a measure of available power, and that critical swimming speed is a function of Fry's scope for activity and can be used as a measure of available power. Results of this study supported the hypothesis by demonstrating that for each acclimation temperature, critical swimming speeds of bluegills were highest at preferred temperatures, and decreased at other temperatures with frequency of time spent at those temperatures, although the exact nat...
Sum and tracking radiation patterns of a conical horn

The gain and the radiation patterns of a conical horn excited by a circular waveguide operating in the TE_{mn} and TM_{mn} modes are predicted. The expressions are rigorously derived by using the accurate calculation of the associated Legendre function with the real order and the integer degree.
Microtiter latex agglutination--quantitative and qualitative equivalent to hemagglutination inhibition for detection of rubella antibody.

Abstract Sera were tested for rubella antibody by a standard hemagglutination inhibition method and by latex agglutination in microtiter plates (Virogen Rubella Micro Test). When 157 sera were examined by hemagglutination inhibition and by microtiter latex agglutination for immune status, 149 of the results agreed. The eight discrepant sera (all hemagglutination inhibitionnegative, latex agglutination-positive) were tested by a card latex agglutination method (Rubascan) and a passive hemagglutination method (Rubacell). Results, except where noted, agreed with those of the microtiter latex agglutination. One hundred forty-eight of the 149 sera that were in agreement as to immune status were also within a fourfold variation when hemagglutination inhibition and latex agglutination titers were compared. An additional 100 sera were tested for immune status by microtiter latex agglutination and by passive hemagglutination with the single discrepant result agreeing with the latex agglutination when tested by a third method. Both microtiter latex agglutination and hemagglutination inhibition agreed in detection of fourfold or greater rises in each of 20 paired sera.
Hepatic Effects of Endothelin: Metabolism of [125I]Endothelin-1 by Liver-Derived Cells

Abstract Endothelin, a potent vasoactive peptide originally isolated from cultured porcine endothelial cells, (1) elicits hemodynamic and glycogenolytic actions in perfused rat liver; (2) evokes phosphoinositide signaling in hepatic cells; and (3) stimulates synthesis of mediators in Kupffer cells and glucose production in hepatocytes. Recently, we characterized receptor(s) for endothelin on hepatocytes (C. R. Gandhi, R. H. Behal, S. A. K. Harvey, T. Nouchi, and M. S. Olson, Biochem. J. 287, 897-904, 1992). Both hepatocytes and Kupffer cells rapidly internalize [ 125 I]endothelin-1 ([ 125 I]ET-1). In the present study we exposed primary cultures of hepatocytes or Kupifer cells to [ 125 I]ET-1 and analyzed the radiolabeled metabolites which appeared in the cell medium. Six metabolites were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) from hepatocyte medium; these peaks had approximate elution times of 5 (free iodide), 22,35, 37, 38, and 41 min, respectively, whereas the elution time for [ 125 I]ET-1 was 43 min. The kinetics of formation of the metabolites, and experiments using excess unlabeled ET-1, both showed that internalization of the native peptide by hepatocytes is required for the metabolism of [ 125 I]ET-1 into metabolite 22 , and for the subsequent deiodination of metabolite 22 . The formation of metabolites 35-41 does not require internalization of the native peptide. In Kupffer cells, the cell medium contained only metabolite 22 and metabolite 41 . Internalization of the native peptide was required for the formation of metabolite 22 but not for metabolite 41 . Three classes of [ 125 I]ET-1 metabolites from hepatic cells also were separated by sequential precipitation with trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and with silver nitrate. This procedure facilitated multiple rapid assays of [ 125 I]ET-1 metabolism. Phosphoramidon, an inhibitor of neutral metalloendopeptidases, did not affect signiticantly the binding or the metabolism of [ 125 I]ET-1 by hepatocytes or Kupffer cells. The aminopeptidase inhibitor bacitracin strongly attenuated [ 125 I]ET-1 metabolism by hepatocytes, with a concomitant increase in the intracellular content of [ 125 I]ET-1. These data suggest that enzymes capable of endothelin degradation are present both on the surface and in the intracellular compartment of hepatic cells, and that endothelin is not metabolized by neutral endopeptidase 24.11 in the liver.
Integration of ultra high-speed color videoendoscopy with time-synchronized measures of vocal function

Daryush D. Mehta, SM1,2; Dimitar D. Deliyski, PhD3; Steven M. Zeitels, MD1,4; Matias Zanartu, MS5; and Robert E. Hillman, PhD1,2,4 1Center for Laryngeal Surgery and Voice Rehabilitation, Massachusetts General Hospital; 2Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology Program, Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology; 3Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of South Carolina; 4Harvard Medical School; 5School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University
Cost-effectiveness of Collecting Routine Cytologic Specimens During Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy for Endoscopically Visible Lung Tumor

Study objective Fiberoptic bronchoscopy is the most common modality used to diagnose endobronchial carcinoma. Collection of brushing and washing specimens for cytology is common during bronchoscopy for endobronchial abnormality, but it is unknown if collection of these specimens is cost-effective. Design Retrospective review of a computerized database with cost-effectiveness analysis. Setting Tertiary care medical center. Patients Two hundred one patients undergoing bronchoscopy for endobronchial lung tumor. Interventions: All patients in the study underwent fiberoptic bronchoscopy that included forceps biopsies, washings, and brushings. In addition to analyzing the sensitivity of forceps biopsy, washings, and brushings at diagnosing malignancy, we analyzed the coste-ffectiveness of three potential specimen collection strategies. These strategies were (1) collection of both washings and brushings in addition to forceps biopsy specimen, (2) collection of either washings or brushings in addition to forceps biopsy specimen, and (3) collection of forceps biopsy specimen only. Measurements and results The sensitivity of bronchoscopy, including biopsy, washing, and brushing is 85.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 80.1 to 90.5%). The sensitivity of forceps biopsy is 80.8% (95% CI, 75.0 to 86.6%). The addition of washings and brushings increases the sensitivity of bronchoscopy from 80.8 to 85.3% (McNemar's p=0.01). Cost-effectiveness analysis reveals that forceps biopsy plus washing or brushing has a marginal cost-effectiveness ratio of $308 per reduced-quality day avoided compared with forceps alone. Adding an additional cytology specimen has a marginal cost-effectiveness ratio of $5,500 per reduced-quality day avoided. Conclusions There is a modest but definite increase in the sensitivity of bronchoscopy in diagnosing endobronchial cancer with the addition of washings and brushings for cytology. Cost-effectiveness analysis reveals that collection of either washings or brushings is probably the best strategy.
Phase problem in synchrotron Mössbauer spectroscopy

The problem of phase determination in forward-directed scattering of synchrotron radiation by nuclei with sharp resonances is investigated. It is shown that the phase of the wave field can be uniquely obtained relative to a reference field from four intensity measurements. The knowledge of the relative phase permits reconstruction of the energy spectrum of the transmitted radiation. The coherent superposition of the two fields can be achieved by use of an x-ray interferometer.
Assembly of the Sarcoglycan Complex INSIGHTS FOR MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY

Four unique transmembrane glycoproteins comprise the sarcoglycan complex in striated muscle. The sarcoglycan complex contributes to maintenance of sarcolemma integrity. A shared feature of four types of autosomal recessive limb girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) is that mutations in a single sarcoglycan gene result in the loss of all sarcoglycans at the sarcolemma. The mechanism of destabilization is unknown. We report here our findings of sarcoglycan complex biosynthesis in a heterologous cell system. We demonstrate that the sarcoglycans are glycosylated and assemble into a complex that resides in the plasma membrane. Complex assembly was dependent on the simultaneous synthesis of all four sarcoglycans. Mutant sarcoglycans block complex formation and insertion of the sarcoglycans into the plasma membrane. This constitutes the first biochemical evidence to support the idea that the molecular defect in sarcoglycan-deficient LGMD is because of aberrant sarcoglycan complex assembly and trafficking, which leads to the absence of the complex from the sarcolemma.
Wages, Nonwage Compensation, and Municipal Unions

This study demonstrates that union power in municipal labor markets depends upon the form of unionization within each municipal department and on municipal bargaining policies, holding constant the legal environment. Bargaining units achieve larger increases in total compensation than unrecognized organizations, which are themselves stronger than unorganized departments. Compensation levels for unorganized and organized departments are higher in cities that bargain with other departments than in cities which do not bargain. Union wage effects understate total compensation effects regardless of the degree of unionization
Optimal Cooperative Power-Limited Rendezvous Between Coplanar Circular Orbits

Minimum-fuel rendezvous of two power-limited spacecraft is investigated. Both vehicles are active and provide thrust to complete the rendezvous. Total propellant consumption is minimized. A direct-minimization method, direct collocation with nonlinear programming, is used to obtain cooperative rendezvous solutions in an inverse- square gravitational field. Unconstrained and constrained circular terminal orbits are considered. The optimal solutions depend upon the power-to-mass ratios of the spacecraft, the initial orbits, and the specified transfer time. Optimal cooperative rendezvous solutions are compared with optimal active-passive solutions and with previously reported linearized solutions. ISTORICALLY, spacecraft rendezvous has involved one thrusting (active) vehicle and one coasting (passive) vehicle. A cooperative power-limited (PL) rendezvous is an orbital maneuver in which two PL spacecraft are active. With both vehicles thrust- ing, a reduction in total propellant consumption is obtained when compared to the traditional active-passive rendezvous. The practical application of cooperative rendezvous occurs if both vehicles have comparable size and propulsive capability. It would make no sense to consider cooperative rendezvous between a small spacecraft and a space station. Early studies of cooperative control considered general linear or nonlinear systems with various performance indices.1"4 Recently, cooperative rendezvous methodology has been applied to spacecraft maneuvering. Prussing and Conway5 determined the optimal termi- nal maneuver for a cooperative impulsive rendezvous. Mirfakhraie6 and Mirfakhraie and Conway7 developed a method for determin- ing fuel-optimal trajectories for the fixed-time impulsive cooper- ative rendezvous. Coverstone-Carroll and Prussing8 obtained an- alytical solutions for fixed-time PL cooperative rendezvous using the Hill-Clohessy-Wiltshire linearized gravity field to approximate the inverse-square gravity field. In this article, fixed-time cooper- ative and active-passive (noncooperative) rendezvous solutions are obtained for two PL spacecraft in an inverse-square gravity field. Transfer times, maximum exhaust powers, and the initial orbits of the spacecraft are varied to determine their influence on the optimal cooperative solution. Optimal solutions subject to circular terminal- orbit constraints are also examined. Necessary Conditions for Optimal Solution
Daisy Maude Orleman Robinson: The first American woman dermatologist

Born in 1868 and the first American woman to become a dermatologist, Daisy Maude Orleman (later Robinson) graduated from the National Medical College of Columbian University, now George Washington University, in 1890. After training in dermatology in Paris and Zurich and after marriage to Andrew Rose Robinson in 1904, she joined the faculty of the New York Polyclinic Medical School and the Northwestern Dispensary in New York, where she was an attending dermatologist starting in 1905. Her achievements included being the first woman dermatologist to present a case at a dermatologic meeting, to publish a scholarly paper in dermatology, to present a case at an international dermatology meeting, and to have a documented clinical practice in dermatology in the United States. A 1916 publication listed her as the best known woman dermatologist in the world. After service in the US Army Medical Corps during World War I, she had a distinguished career in the US Public Health Service, where she devoted her career to the eradication of venereal diseases and the development of sex education programs, particularly for young women.
The B Isoform of the Insulin Receptor Signals More Efficiently Than the A Isoform in HepG2 Cells

We have demonstrated previously that dexamethasone treatment of HepG2 cells caused an enhancement of insulin's metabolic effects (Kosaki, A., and Webster, N. J.(1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 21990-21996). This correlated with increased expression of the mRNA encoding the B isoform of the insulin receptor (IR). In the present study, we have demonstrated that dexamethasone treatment caused in addition an enhancement in insulin-stimulated immediate-early gene expression (c-fos and egr-1). Dexamethasone treatment caused an increase in in vivo IR autophosphorylation and insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) phosphorylation both early events in the insulin signaling pathway. Furthermore, the IRS-1 phosphorylation was distinctly left shifted, although the level of IRS-1 protein was unchanged. Total cellular tyrosine phosphatase activity was unaltered when assayed with 32P-labeled IR and IRS-1. Studies in vitro on wheat-germ agglutinin-purified receptors showed that the B isoform of the IR had increased kinase activity both toward itself and the exogenous substrates poly-glu4:tyr1 and recombinant IRS-1 protein. In addition, two-dimensional tryptic phosphopeptide maps indicated that the B isoform has an additional phosphopeptide that is not seen for the A isoform. In conclusion, it appears that the B isoform of the IR signals more efficiently than the A isoform in HepG2 cells.
Fusobacterium is associated with colorectal adenomas.

The human gut microbiota is increasingly recognized as a player in colorectal cancer (CRC). While particular imbalances in the gut microbiota have been linked to colorectal adenomas and cancer, no specific bacterium has been identified as a risk factor. Recent studies have reported a high abundance of Fusobacterium in CRC subjects compared to normal subjects, but this observation has not been reported for adenomas, CRC precursors. We assessed the abundance of Fusobacterium species in the normal rectal mucosa of subjects with (n = 48) and without adenomas (n = 67). We also confirmed previous reports on Fusobacterium and CRC in 10 CRC tumor tissues and 9 matching normal tissues by pyrosequencing. We extracted DNA from rectal mucosal biopsies and measured bacterial levels by quantitative PCR of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene. Local cytokine gene expression was also determined in mucosal biopsies from adenoma cases and controls by quantitative PCR. The mean log abundance of Fusobacterium or cytokine gene expression between cases and controls was compared by t-test. Logistic regression was used to compare tertiles of Fusobacterium abundance. Adenoma subjects had a significantly higher abundance of Fusobacterium species compared to controls (p = 0.01). Compared to the lowest tertile, subjects with high abundance of Fusobacterium were significantly more likely to have adenomas (OR 3.66, 95% CI 1.37–9.74, p-trend 0.005). Cases but not controls had a significant positive correlation between local cytokine gene expression and Fusobacterium abundance. Among cases, the correlation for local TNF-α and Fusobacterium was r = 0.33, p = 0.06 while it was 0.44, p = 0.01 for Fusobacterium and IL-10. These results support a link between the abundance of Fusobacterium in colonic mucosa and adenomas and suggest a possible role for mucosal inflammation in this process.
BRCA1 promoter methylation is associated with increased mortality among women with breast cancer

To better understand breast cancer etiology and progression, we explored the association between promoter methylation status of three breast cancer-related genes (BRCA1, APC, and p16) and survival in a large cohort of women with breast cancer. About 800 archived tumor tissues were collected from women diagnosed with a first primary invasive or in situ breast cancer in 1996–1997. The vital status of the participants was followed through the end of year 2005 with a mean follow-up time of 8.0 years. Promoter methylation was assessed by methylation-specific PCR (for BRCA1) and MethyLight (for APC and p16). The association of promoter methylation and breast cancer mortality was evaluated by Cox-proportional hazards models. Methylated promoters were found in 59.0, 48.4, and 3.6% of the tumor samples for BRCA1, APC, and p16, respectively. Breast cancer-specific mortality was strongly associated with promoter methylation of p16 [HR and 95% CI: 3.53 (1.83–6.78)], whereas the associations with of BRCA1 and APC were less pronounced [HR and 95% CI: 1.81 (1.18–2.78) and 1.46 (0.98–2.17), respectively]. Similar associations were observed with all-cause mortality. As the number of methylated genes increased, the risk of breast cancer-specific mortality also increased in a dose-dependent manner (P, trend = 0.01). Importantly, even with our results stratified by hormone receptor status, promoter methylation of the three genes remained predictive of mortality. Our results suggest that promoter methylation could be promising epigenetic markers to be considered for breast cancer survival.
Fluid Mechanics Computer Project for Mechanical Engineering Students

The curriculum in the Mechanical Engineering (ME) Department at Florida Atlantic University contains a course entitled ‘Computer Applications in ME’. The software package used in the course is Matl...
SYMBIOSIS BETWEEN IN VIVO AND IN VITRO NMR SPECTROSCOPY: THE CREATINE, N-ACETYLASPARTATE, GLUTAMATE, AND GABA CONTENT OF THE EPILEPTIC HUMAN BRAIN

High resolution 1H NMR spectroscopy was used to analyze temporal lobe biopsies obtained from patients with epilepsy. Heat-stabilized cerebrum, dialyzed cytosolic macromolecules, and perchloric acid extracts were studied using one- and two dimensional spectroscopy. Anterior temporal lobe neocortex was enriched in GABA, glutamate, alanine, N-acetylaspartate, and creatine. Subjacent white matter was enriched in aspartate, glutamine, and inositol. The N-acetylaspartate/creatine mole ratio was lower in anterior temporal neocortex with mesial (0.66) than neocortical (0.80) temporal lobe epilepsy. Human brain biopsy samples were separated into crude and refined synaptosomes, neuronal cell bodies, and glia using density gradient centrifugation. Neuronal fractions were enriched in glutamate and N-acetylaspartate. Glial cell fractions were enriched in lactate, glutamine, and inositol. The creatine content was the same in biopsied epileptic cortex (8.8–8.9 mmol/kg) and normal in vivo occipital lobe (8.9 mmol/kg). Glutamate content was higher in epileptic cortex at biopsy (10.1–10.5 mmol/kg) than normal in vivo occipital lobe (8.8 mmol/kg). GABA content was higher in biopsies of epileptic cortex (2.3–2.2 mmol/kg) than in normal in vivo occipital lobe (1.2 mmol/kg). N-acetylaspartate content was lower in biopsied epileptic temporal cortex (5.8–6.8 mmol/kg) than normal in vivo occipital lobe (8.9 mmol/kg). Paired in vivo and ex vivo measurements are critical for a firm understanding of the changes seen in the 1H-spectra from patients with epilepsy.
Update on radiation therapy in patients with Cushing's disease.

Radiation therapy is an important therapy for patients with Cushing’s disease who are not in remission or relapse after transsphenoidal pituitary surgery and are not considered surgical candidates. The development of stereotactic radiation therapy, using gamma knife, linear accelerators or proton beam based methods, has enabled selective radiation delivery to the target while minimizing exposure of healthy tissues. In patients whose tumors are sufficiently distant from the optic apparatus, stereotactic radiation therapy can be delivered in a single session, a procedure termed radiosurgery, which significantly improves patient convenience. Original articles on radiation therapy in Cushing's disease, published during the past 12 months (2013–2014), were identified and pertinent data extracted. Recent studies have reported on the outcomes of patients with Cushing’s disease who received mostly stereotactic radiation therapy. While tumor control has been excellent, biochemical remission was less consistently achieved. Some studies suggested that stereotactic radiation may lead to biochemical remission faster than conventional radiation therapy. In addition, retrospective data have suggested that withdrawing medical therapy around the time stereotactic radiation therapy is administered might lead to a faster biochemical response. Regardless of the radiation therapy method, biochemical recurrences may develop and these patients are at long-term risk of developing anterior hypopituitarism and require lifelong periodic endocrine follow-up. Other, less frequent complications may include cranial neuropathies, secondary tumor formation or temporal lobe necrosis. It is plausible that complications may be less frequent after stereotactic radiation therapy, but this requires confirmation. Radiation therapy is an effective second line therapy in patients with Cushing’s disease. Ongoing refinements in delivery of radiation therapy are anticipated to lead to improved patient outcomes, but long-term follow-up data, including adequate control groups, are needed to fully investigate this possibility.
Evolution of a class in fiber-optic communications

Classes in fiber-optic communications, presented at Arizona State University for four decades, have evolved in both content and delivery. Content updates followed the development of new components and network strategies, while delivery methods changed from blackboard-to- television-to-Internet. Evolution, evaluation, and future direction of these classes are described.
Atomic-force-microscopic study of etched nuclear tracks at extremely short distance scale

Abstract We demonstrate that with an atomic-force-microscope it is now possible to scan and measure etched nuclear tracks due to highly charged ionizing particles for a sampling distance as short as ∼0.5–5 μm at a density as high as ∼108–109 cm−2. Combining the data obtained with an optical microscope, we establish that charge resolution σZ varies with the sampling distance L s as σ Z ∝ 1 √L s over more than two orders of magnitude in Ls, suggesting that the charge resolution is governed by intrinsic fluctuations in energy deposition. Potential applications of this novel technique are discussed.
Reduced-order observer-based decentralised control of non-linear interconnected systems

The output feedback-based asymptotic stabilisation problem for a class of non-linear interconnected systems is considered, where the non-linear interconnections between subsystems satisfy quadratic constraints. A novel decentralised dynamic output feedback control strategy involving local projection operator-based reduced-order observers is proposed. This decentralised controller is characterised by the separation property. Two easily verifiable conditions that guarantee the asymptotic stability of the closed-loop system driven by the proposed decentralised controller are given. The effectiveness of the developed decentralised control strategy is illustrated with a numerical example and simulations.
Muscle Biopsy Samples for Histochemical Processing: Alterations Induced by Storage

Skeletal muscle samples from two healthy dogs were stored in ice at 0 C for up to 30 hours to examine the influence of time on cell morphology and morphometry. Cytochemical and histochemical properties of muscle to 18 hours were not markedly different from fresh frozen tissue. Samples stored to 30 hours were still satisfactory, despite a decline and unevenness in depth of staining. Morphometry from samples stored at 0 C for 6 hours or longer is not recommended, due to the statistically significant increase in diameter (from 21 to 25%) of type I and type II fibers.
The [Mn2(2-OHsalpn)2]2-,-,0,+ System: Synthesis, Structure, Spectroscopy, and Magnetism of the First Structurally Characterized Dinuclear Manganese Series Containing Four Distinct Oxidation States

The series of complexes [Mn2(2-OH(Xsal)pn)2]2-,-,0,+ [where 2-OH(Xsal)pn represents substituted-phenyl-ring derivatives (X = H, 5-Cl, 3,5-Cl2, 5-NO2) of 1,3-bis(salicylideneamino)-2-propanol] allow for the first detailed structural, magnetic, and spectroscopic study of a series of complexes that are the most active functional models for the manganese catalases. Representative examples of each oxidation state of the series (mimicking all of the known oxidation states for the enzyme's reaction chemistry) have been crystallographically characterized. The molecules presented herein are described as symmetric derivatives because they form dimers with both of the ligands spanning both Mn ions with the alkoxide on the backbone of the ligand bridging the metals. The variation in Mn−Mn separation across the four structures is 0.11 A [Mn(II)−Mn(II) = 3.33 A; Mn(II)−Mn(III) = 3.25 A; Mn(III)−Mn(III) = 3.36 A; Mn(III)−Mn(IV) = 3.25 A], showing that the basic core structure is highly invariant. Nonetheless, significan...
An electron microscope study of sodium chloride particles as used in aerosol generation

Abstract The effects of temperature, moisture, and filament age on sodium chloride particles evaporated from the hot-wire source used in the La Mer generator were studied with the RCA EMU-2E electron microscope. The size appears to vary with temperature and filament age, and concentration seems to be a function of temperature. The shape of the sodium chloride crystals is related to the amount of moisture present. The variation of particle size with filament age appears to yield smooth curves, implying an orderly change. This is attributed to crystal growth in the coating of the hot wire.
Mating refusal in Musca domestica: effects of repeated mating and decerebration upon frequency and duration of copulation.

The loss of sexual receptivity displayed by once-mated female house flies, Musca domestica L., was investigated by repeatedly mating males to deplete the accessory secretion responsible for inducing this behavior. With each successive mating, there was a step-wise increase in the amount of time spent in copulo and in the number of females remating that were first crossed with previously mated males. Mating pairs containing males that had copulated three times before remained in copulo about twice as long as pairs containing virgin males. The remating of females initially crossed with virgin males was 3% as compared to 21% for those females crossed with males that had mated three times previously. These phenomena are apparently related to the titer of male accessory secretion reaching the receptor site(s) in the female that induce mating refusal behavior. The brain of the female apears to have some control over the loss of mating receptivity since mating inhibition was not displayed by females that had been decapitated or had their brains destroyed.
Component analysis of the fast photoelectric signal from model bacteriorhodopsin membranes

Abstract Bacteriorhodopsin (BR), the light-driven proton pump found in Halobacteria salinarium, exhibits a fast photoelectric signal which is the manifestation of light-induced vectorial charge separation and recombination in the purple membrane. The photosignal can be decomposed into three components (B1, B2, and B2′). We have associated these components with chemical processes taking place at various domains of bacteriorhodopsin (B1 from hydrophobic regions, and B2 and B2′ from the intracellular and extracellular hydrophilic domains, respectively). In this report, we investigate the effect of halide ions and divalent cations on the B1 and the B2 components. We found that halide ions are required for the generation of the B2 component at low pH whereas divalent cations enhance the B2 component at medium to high pH. In addition, these signals can be either abolished or inhibited by blockers of chloride ion transport and by divalent cation chelators, respectively. We tentatively decompose the B2 component into two subcomponents: B2-a for the Cl−-dependent subcomponent that appears at low pH, and B2-c for the divalent cation-sensitive subcomponent that appears at medium to high pH. It is possible that the B2-a component may be generated by interfacial Cl− transfer whereas the B2-c component may be generated by interfacial proton transfer.
Intelligent information retrieval using rough set approximations

Abstract The theory of rough sets was introduced in 1982. It allows us to classify objects into sets of equivalent members based on their attributes. We may then examine any combination of the same objects (or even their attributes) using the resultant classification. The theory has direct applications in the design and evaluation of classification schemes and the selection of discriminating attributes. Introductory papers discuss its application in the domain of medical diagnostic systems. Here we apply it to the design of information retrieval systems accessing collections of documents. Advantages offered by the theory are: the implicit inclusion of Boolean logic; term weighting; and the ability to rank retrieved documents. In the first section, we describe the theory. This is derived from the work by others in the field and includes only the most relevant aspects of the theory. In the second, we apply it to information retrieval. Specifically, we design the approximation space, search strategies, and illustrate the application of relevance feedback to improve document indexing. In Section 3, we compare the rough set formalism to the Boolean, Vector, and Fuzzy models of information retrieval. Finally, we present a small-scale evaluation of rough sets that indicates its potential in information retrieval.
Locomotion and shell-righting behaviour in adult and juvenile Aporrhais occidentalis (Gastropoda: Strombacea)

Differences in behaviour between adult and juvenile Aporrhais occidentalis are related to age-dependent changes in shell morphology and habitat. Juvenile snails right their shells by pulling with the propodium, and do not ‘kick’ at the substratum until the expanded outer lip of the adult shell has formed. Locomotion of juveniles is by arhythmical crawling, with ‘leaping’ taking place only during escape from predators. Adult snails leap during both normal and escape locomotion. Data are presented that demonstrate the importance of the outer lip in stabilizing the shell during leaping locomotion. Escape reactions of A. occidentalis are similar to, but slower than, those reported in the literature for species of strombids. Most of the basic locomotory and shell-righting behaviour patterns seen in the highly specialized Strombidae are observable in the more primitive A. occidentalis. However, the use of the operculum in locomotion and shell righting, although characteristic of the Strombidae, is not found in A. occidentalis. The behaviour of Aporrhais is discussed in relation to evolution within the superfamily Strombacea.
A general linear model for estimating effect size in the presence of publication bias

When the process of publication favors studies with smallp-values, and hence large effect estimates, combined estimates from many studies may be biased. This paper describes a model for estimation of effect size when there is selection based on one-tailedp-values. The model employs the method of maximum likelihood in the context of a mixed (fixed and random) effects general linear model for effect sizes. It offers a test for the presence of publication bias, and corrected estimates of the parameters of the linear model for effect magnitude. The model is illustrated using a well-known data set on the benefits of psychotherapy.
High-Resolution Infrared Spectroscopy Using a Temperature-Controlled Long-Path Absorption Cell: The v3 Band of Uranium Hexafluoride at 16 μm

High-resolution UF6 absorption spectra at 16 μm have been obtained with the use of tunable diode lasers and a long-pathlength (~103-m) sample cell. The frequencies of the v3 Q-branch subband heads for both 238UF6 and 235UF6 have been determined, along with those for the (v3 + v6) − v6 "hot-band" transition. Band contour studies have been carried out as a function of temperature, and comparisons are made with previous work.
Quantification of Adhesiveness of Osteoblasts to Titanium Surfaces in Vitro by the Micropipette Aspiration Technique

For osseointegration to occur at a biomaterial surface implanted in tissue, osteoblasts must first adhere to the surface and subsequently lay down a framework of submatrix proteins and mineral. Thus the adhesion force of an osteoblast to a surface can serve as a measure of its biocompatibility during the first hours after implantation. This study used the micropipette aspiration technique to quantify the adhesion force of individual Ost-6 neonatal rat calvarial osteoblasts interacting with smooth, rough, fibronectin (FN)-coated, and hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated commercially pure titanium surfaces. Individual cellular adhesion forces ranged from 2 to 320 mdyn and were proportional to the time allowed to adhere (seeding time, 15-120 min) and adsorbed FN coating concentration (5-20 microg/ml). For the 60 min seeding time, osteoblasts adhered 80% more strongly to 5 microg/ml FN-coated titanium than to smooth uncoated titanium, due to specific affinity of the alpha(v)beta(1) transmembrane integrin for the FN molecule. Average adhesion force on plasma sprayed HA-coated titanium was only 40% as high as the uncoated surface, indicating that the osteoconductive effects of HA were not evident in the first 60 min of adhesion. There was no difference in adhesion force between the uncoated smooth and rough titanium surfaces for the 60 min seeding time. The uncoated and FN-coated titanium surfaces had the same average cell-surface contact angle used to assess the degree of cell flattening on the titanium surface. This indicated that osteoblasts formed equal quantities of cell-substrate bonds to the two surfaces but with very different adhesion forces, thus osteoblast affinity for the titanium surfaces was expressed in higher individual cell-substrate bond forces.
Governing transnational social problems: public health politics on the US–Mexico border

Governance research suggests that transnational networks are the key to developing and implementing cooperative public policy across borders. I examine this claim through analysing how the US–Mexico Border Health Commission, a policy instrument designed to enhance transnational public health cooperation, developed from idea to law in Mexico and the United States. Despite a long-standing transnational network, the policy process took over ten years and was contentious, politicized by domestic policymaking in the United States. I show how transnational networked governance intersects with domestic politics and find that the structure of overlap between the two are places where actors promoting state and transnational interests struggle with each other to define public problems in an attempt to shape policy outcomes.