cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microenvironmental Control of Disc Cell Function: Influence of Hypoxia and Osmotic Pressure

The tissues of the intervertebral disc form a specialized niche which is both avascular and hypoxic; moreover, the osmotic pressure within the niche is raised due to the high concentration of aggrecan and other proteoglycans. Survival of nucleus pulposus cells within the niche is controlled by two major transcription factors HIF and TonEBP. HIF-1 stability is primarily regulated by oxygen-independent pathways. PHD2 plays a limited role in HIF-1 turnover, while HIF-2 turnover is refractory to prolyl hydroxylation. Nucleus pulposus cells are obligate glycolytic and require HIF-1 for energy generation. With respect to the hyperosmolar and mechanically stressed environment of the disc, both nucleus pulpous and annulus fibrosus cells robustly express TonEBP protein which is critical for cell function and survival. Ton EBP regulates the osmotic status of disc cells by controlling the expression of non-ionic osmolyte transporter proteins and GAG levels. Other niche factors such as hypoxia, TGF family proteins, and calcium control TonEBP expression and activity in the nucleus pulposus. CCN2/CTGF, a matricellular protein promotes expression of disc aggrecan and collagen II. In contrast to other cell types, hypoxia decreased CCN2 transcription. suggesting a complex regulation by hypoxia and HIF-1. Finally, disc cells expressed genes of the notch signaling pathway. Hypoxia increased notch1 and notch4 expression while jagged1 was induced by hypoxia in the annulus. Since these pathways regulate key aspects of disc cell function, it should be possible to promote tissue repair by manipulating oxemic conditions within the niche or use proteins of the notch signaling pathway to reactivate the endogenous progenitor cells. Restoration of disc cell function and prevention of degeneration remains the ultimate goal of current intervertebral disc research.
13C-1H Spin-Coupling Constants in Furanosyl Rings: Application to Oligonucleotide Structure Determination

Conformational analysis of the five-membered (furanose) rings of oligonucleotides commonly relies on the use of three-bond (vicinal) 1H-1H spin-coupling constants ( 3 JHH) obtained from an analysis of 2D NMR cross-peaks (Schmitz et al 1990; Emsley et al 1993; Majumdar and Hosur 1992). For a HaCxCyHb fragment, the magnitude of 3JHa,Hb depends on the Cx-Cy torsion angle, with maximal coupling observed when Ha and Hb are eclipsed or antiperiplanar, and minimal coupling observed when these atoms are approximately orthogonal (Karplus 1959); in the ensuing years since this discovery, more refined Karplus relationships have been proposed that account for substitution and/or electronegativity effects at Cx and Cy on 3JHa,Hb (Haasnoot et al 1980).
The Effect of Mean Pressure on Large Pulse Tube Cryocoolers

We have been developing large scale, Stirling-type pulse tube cryocoolers. These cryocoolers are operated at or near 60 Hz and are directly powered by a dual-opposed linear motor pressure wave generator (PWG). The PWG is non-lubricated, requiring no oil removal from the helium working fluid. The PWG drives the unit directly, with no need for a rotating valve. The power input to the PWG and cryocooler can be scaled according to the refrigeration need, as opposed traditional refrigeration where capacity control is achieved by on-off operation.
The Art of Talking Past One Another: The Badiou–Rancière Debate

Alain Badiou (1937–) and Jacques Ranciere (1940–) have come to occupy two of the most prominent positions in contemporary theoretical debates. As the junior faculty members at the University of Paris VIII (Vincennes-St. Denis), they were for a long time in the shadow of the founder of the philosophy department, Michel Foucault (1926–84), and prestigious faculty members like Jean-Francois Lyotard (1924–98) and Gilles Deleuze (1925–95). Although they are not far in age from Jacques Derrida (1930–2004) and are of the same generation as Jean-Luc Nancy (1940–), Philippe Lacoue-Labarthe (1940–2007) and Etienne Balibar (1942–), the massive importation of ‘post-structuralist theory’ into the anglophone world – often at the expense of other intellectual developments – created the unfortunate illusion, founded on a veritable parallax in transatlantic visibility, that nothing else of great importance had been going on in France since the 1960s. With the passing away of an older generation and the changing fads of the intellectual world, Badiou and Ranciere have now increasingly come into the limelight, often as a pair. However, in spite of the fact that they have worked for years together in very close proximity and have written on one another's work, their interactions have generally been decidedly one-sided. Badiou's major essays on Ranciere all deal with the question of politics (with only a few passing comments on aesthetics), but the latter has not – to my knowledge – published an extensive reply to Badiou's account of their fundamental dissensus in this area. Instead, he has written articles berating Badiou for his work on aesthetics, and the latter has graced him with the same silent rejoinder, as far as I know. As illuminating as these polemical writings are, one cannot help but wonder why they have not led to responses and to the development of a veritable intellectual exchange and debate. As things stand, it is as if they have cultivated, perhaps unwittingly, the art of talking past one another. They send salvos from two privileged citadels – politics (Badiou) and aesthetics (Ranciere) – with little or no reaction from their apparent adversary. In what follows, I would therefore like to try to stage one part of this debate – which is precisely not a debate – by outlining their respective positions on art, while simultaneously considering some of the important political and historical stakes.
Discussion: Better, Not Fewer, Plots

This article is a discussion of another article in the same journal issue: "The Case Against Normal Plots of Effects" by Russel V. Lenth, on pages 91-97. Mee agrees about the danger of potential misinterpretation, but argues that rather than d..
Review of "Neurotechnologist Reference Guide, 4th Edition," by Quantum Neuromonitoring.

As soon as I received this slim reference guide in the mail, I knew I wanted it for my trainees. Spiral bound with laminated covers, it can stand up to disinfecting wipes and survive being thrown i...
Political Homophily in a Large-Scale Online Communication Network:

As communication increasingly occurs in online environments, it is important to know the structure of such conversations in social networks. Here, we investigate patterns of conversation in online ...
Changes of frontal cortical subregion volumes in alcohol dependent individuals during early abstinence: associations with treatment outcome

We previously reported that at 1-and-4 weeks of sobriety, those who relapsed after treatment demonstrated significantly smaller total frontal cortical volume than individuals who maintained abstinence for at least 12 months post treatment. The segmentation method employed did not permit examination of frontal subregions that serve as nodes of the executive, salience and emotional regulation networks; structural abnormalities in these circuits are associated with relapse in those seeking treatment for alcohol use disorders (AUD). The primary goal of this study was to determine if frontal cortical subregion volume recovery during early abstinence is associated with long-term abstinence from alcohol. We compared bilateral components of the dorsal prefrontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex and insula volumes, at 1 and 4 weeks of abstinence, between individuals who resumed drinking within 12 months of treatment (Relapsers) those who showed sustained abstinence over 12 months following treatment (Abstainers) and healthy Controls. At 1 and 4 weeks of sobriety, Relapsers demonstrated significantly smaller volumes than Controls in 15 of 20 regions of interest, while Abstainers only had smaller volumes than Controls in 5 of 20 regions. In Relapsers, increasing volumes over 1 month in multiple frontal subregions and the insula were associated with longer duration of abstinence after treatment. The persistent bilateral frontal and insula volume deficits in Relapsers over 4 weeks from last alcohol use may have implications for neurostimulation methods targeting anterior frontal/insula regions, and represent an endophenotype that differentiates those who respond more favorably to available psychosocial and pharmacological interventions.
Risks for cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms due to land management and climate interactions

The frequency and severity of cyanobacteria harmful blooms (CyanoHABs) have been increasing with frequent eutrophication and shifting climate paradigms. CyanoHABs produce a spectrum of toxins and can trigger neurological disorder, organ failure, and even death. To promote proactive CyanoHAB management, geospatial risk modeling can act as a predictive mechanism to supplement current mitigation efforts. In this study, iterative AIC analysis was performed on 17 watershed-level biophysical parameters to identify the strongest predictors based on Sentinel-2-derived cyanobacteria cell densities (CCD) for 771 waterbodies in Georgia Piedmont. This study used a streamlined watershed delineation technique, a 1-meter LULC classification with ~88% accuracy, and a technique to predict CyanoHAB risk in small-to-medium sized waterbodies. Landscape characteristics were computed utilizing the Google Earth Engine platform that enabled large spatio-temporal scope and variable inclusion. Watershed maximum winter temperature, percent agriculture, percent forest, percent impervious, and waterbody area were the strongest predictors of CCD with a 0.33 R-squared. Warmer winter temperatures allow cyanobacteria to be photosynthetically active year-round, and trigger CyanoHABs when warmer temperatures and nutrients are introduced in early spring, typically referred to as Spring Bloom in southeast U.S. The risk models revealed an unexpected significant linear relationship between percent forest and CCD. It is due to the fact that land reclamation via reforestation in the piedmont have left legacy sediment and nutrients which are mobilized as surface runoff to the watershed after rain events. A Jenks Natural Break scheme assigned waterbodies to CyanoHAB risk groups, and of the 771 waterbodies, 24.38% were low, 37.35% and 38.26% were medium and high risk respectively. This research supplements existing cyanobacteria risk modeling methods by introducing a novel, scalable, and reproducible method to determine yearly regional risk. Future studies should include factors such as demographic, socioeconomic, labor, and site-specific environmental conditions to create more holistic CyanoHAB risk outputs.
Evaluation of Runner-Type Peanut Cultivar Tolerance to Paraquat Tank Mixes

ABSTRACT Herbicide tank mixes are often used to reduce peanut injury caused by paraquat and broaden the weed control spectrum. New peanut cultivars are continuously being introduced therefore deter...
Early Determinants of Neurocritical Care Unit Length of Stay in Patients with Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

The present study considers patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) admitted to the neurocritical care unit (NCCU) through the Emergency Department (ED). It aims to identify patient-specific clinical variables that can be assessed on presentation and that are associated with prolonged NCCU length of stay (LOS). A cross-sectional, single-center, retrospective analysis of ICH patients directly admitted from the ED to the NCCU over an 8-year period was performed. Patients’ demographics, clinical exam characteristics, serum laboratory values, intubation status, and neurosurgical procedures at presentation were recorded. Head computed tomography scans obtained on presentation were reviewed. LOS was calculated based on the number of midnights spent in the NCCU. Prolonged LOS was determined using a change point analysis, adopting the method of Taylor which utilizes CUMSUM charts and bootstrap analysis. A decision tree model was trained and validated to identify reliable variables associated with prolonged LOS. Two hundred and five patients with ICH were analyzed. Prolonged LOS was calculated to be a stay that exceeds 8 days; 68 patients (33%) had a prolonged LOS in NCCU. Median LOS did not differ between survivors and patients who died in hospital. Clinical variables explored through the decision tree model were intubation status, neurosurgical intervention (EVD, decompression or evacuation within 24 h from presentation), and components of the ICH score: age, GCS, hematoma volume, the presence of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), and infratentorial location. The model accuracy was 0.8 and AUC was 0.83 (95% CI 0.78–0.89). We propose an ICH-LOS model based on neurosurgical intervention, intubation status and GCS at presentation to predict prolonged LOS in the NCCU in patients with ICH. This simple clinical tool, if prospectively validated, could help with medical planning, contribute to patient care-directed conversations, assist in optimizing hospital resource utilization, and, more importantly, motivating patient-specific interventions aimed at optimizing outcomes and decreasing LOS.
Energy Flow in the Production of Order

The Earth itself is an open system, with specific sources and sinks of energy, and a number of continuing ordering processes, including geological differentiation and life.
BiTEs, DARTS, BiKEs and TriKEs-Are Antibody Based Therapies Changing the Future Treatment of AML?

Nearly four decades after their conceptualization, antibody-based therapies are slowly being added to the treatment landscape of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). While the antibody–drug conjugate gemtuzumab ozogamicin is the only antibody-based therapy that has been approved for AML treatment thus far, several bispecific antibodies have been developed and shown early encouraging results. Bispecific antibodies comprise a wide variety of constructs that share the common concept of simultaneous binding of a surface target on malignant cells and most commonly CD3 on T cells leading to an endogenous, HLA-independent, immune response against malignant cells. However, the use of bispecific antibodies in AML has been limited by the absence of highly specific leukemia-associated antigens leading to on-target, off-leukemia side effects as well as reduced efficacy due to antigen escape. Herein, we discuss the history and evolution of bispecific T cell engagers as well as various adaptations such as dual affinity retargeting antibodies, bi- and tri-specific killer engager antibodies. Common side effects including cytokine release syndrome and management thereof are highlighted. Lastly, we expound on the future direction and integration of such antibody-based therapies with other immunotherapies (programmed cell death-1 inhibitors and chimeric antigen receptor T cells).
Estimating Consumers' Valuation of Organic and Cosmetically Damaged Apples

The sooty blotch and flyspeck (SBFS) disease complex causes cosmetic damage but does not affect the safety or eating quality of apples. Treatment for disease is more difficult and costly for organic producers, and consumers' willingness to pay for organic apples needs to be considered in growers' choice of production technologies. A mixed probit model was applied to survey data to evaluate consumers' willingness to buy apples. The results show consumers will pay a premium for organic production methods and for apples with low amounts of SBFS damage. Behavioral variables such as experience growing fruit significantly affect the willingness to buy apples of different damage levels. Consumers have limited tolerance of very blemished apples and trade off production technology attributes for cosmetic appearance. Better understanding of this tradeoff can improve organic producers' decisions about disease control.
Rent to Own Unionism

In "Information and the Market for Union Representation," (94 Va. L. Rev. 1 (2008)) Professor Matthew Bodie provides an instructive framework for addressing information deficiencies in union elections. His consumer or "purchase of services" paradigm is apt and well illustrates the shortcomings of the more dominant approaches to elections. The extent to which this paradigm should drive the National Labor Relations Board's (NLRB) regulation of union elections is less obvious. The best fit with Bodie's consumer paradigm appears to be a system in which employees can easily designate a union as their representative, yet can just as easily get rid of the union. In other words, employees, like many other consumers, could purchase union services with the knowledge that they can easily change their mind later. It is not clear, however, whether the benefits associated with that "Rent To Own" model are worth its costs.Bodie's consumer paradigm provides a valuable insight into the information deficiencies implicated by union elections. At a minimum, this model should inform the NLRB's regulation of union elections. Yet relying on the model too much could lead to more problems than it is worth. Identifying the most effective middle ground between these concerns is difficult; indeed, such ground may not exist. Despite this uncertainty, Bodie's consumer paradigm serves an important role, as it provides further evidence that the NLRB's current governance of elections is in dire need of reform and establishes itself as a essential factor in any future attempts at reform.
How modifying third-party information affects interpersonal impressions and the evaluation of collaborative online media

Previous research has drawn upon warranting theory to help explain how viewers evaluate people and entities online. Extending previous research, this study assesses how the ability of a target to modify third-party information affects perceptions of warranting value, and in turn, interpersonal impressions and the perceived legitimacy of online media that host evaluations. Additionally, this work explores how the perceived objectivity of a third-party evaluator affects impressions in online settings. The results provide support for warranting theory and help clarify how impressions are formed in online environments when people have the ability to generate and modify content collectively. The theoretical implications this study has for warranting theory and future research directions are discussed.
Matched field processing for underwater source localization

Summary form only given, as follows. Conventional direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation assumes that the signals incident on the receiving array are plane waves, an incorrect assumption when the speed of wave propagation in the medium is a function of position. Matched field processing generalizes DOA estimation by using replica fields which are not plane waves, but which are solutions to the wave equation in the particular environment present. The strong dependence of the underwater pressure field upon source position allows estimation of both range and depth of the source. However, inaccurate knowledge of the physical characteristics of the propagation medium may result in significant estimation errors. Four methods for performing the matched field processing, the Bartlett, minimum-variance, autoregressive, and MUSIC methods, are investigated both theoretically and via computer simulation. In particular, the sensitivity of each method to signal-to-noise ratio and spatial noise structure as well as to errors in the sound speed profile, is investigated. >
Corneal topography and the Hirschberg test

A simple trigonometric analysis of the Hirschberg test with the assumption that the corneal surface is spherical predicts a sinusoidal dependence of the corneal reflex displacement on the angle of ocular rotation. A comparison with corneal reflex photographs demonstrates that at angles larger than 50 prism diopters (26 deg) the reflex displacements are larger than predicted by the spherical model. This discrepancy may be accounted for by incorporating a more general description of the corneal topography into the geometric analysis. The linear Hirschberg relation that is seen in typical data is accounted for by a relative flattening of the peripheral cornea by ~ 20% of the apical curvature. This geometric analysis of the functional dependence of the Hirschberg relation on the corneal topography can be expressed as an integral equation. Differentiation yields a second-order differential equation for the corneal topography in terms of the Hirschberg data. If the Hirschberg relation is assumed to be linear, a quadratic dependence is found for the corneal curvature. A similar differential approach can be formulated for the Placido disk. In this sense the corneal topography problem given in terms of Placido disk data is shown to be wellformulated. The relative simplicity of the Hirschberg geometry is seen to stem from the alignment of the light source with the eye of the observer.
Nonuniqueness and Uniqueness of Capillary Surfaces

It is shown that for any gravity field g and contact angle 7, an axially symmetric container can be found that differs arbitrarily little from a circular cylinder and can be half filled with liquid in a continuum of distinct ways, such that no two of the surface interfaces are mutually congruent and such that all of them are in equilibrium with the same mechanical energy. This answers affirmatively a question raised by Gulliver and Hildebrandt [1], who obtained such a container in the particular case g = 0, γ = π/2.
Towards Nucleotide Differentiation with Solid-State Nanopores

Nanopores have made significant progress toward a viable “$1000 genome” since their discovery just over a decade ago. To date, however, solid state nanopores have not demonstrated the resolution and signal power necessary to discriminate between different nucleotides or short polymer chains.Here we report on the detection and discrimination of short chains of nucleotides. We use ultra-thin membranes(1), reproducibly fabricate sub-2nm nanopores, and exploit our proven ability to sample at high frequencies with low noise(2). Combining these experimental features enables measurements with high-sensitivity, high-signal, and low signal-to-noise, which allow us to detect different molecules through our nanopores.1. Wanunu, M., Dadosh, T., Ray, V., Jin, J., McReynolds, L., and Drndic, M. 2010. Rapid electronic detection of probe-specific microRNAs using thin nanopore sensors. Nature Nanotechnology 5:807-814.2. Rosenstein, J.K., Wanunu, M., Merchant, C.A., Drndic, M., and Shepard, K.L. 2012. Integrated nanopore sensing platform with sub-microsecond temporal resolution. Nature Methods 9:487-U112.
Luminescent properties of water-soluble conjugated metallopolymers and their application to fluorescent nitric oxide detection.

Water-soluble π-conjugated polymers (CPs) incorporating 5,5‘-(2,2‘-dipyridyl) (CP1) or 6,6‘-(2,2‘-dipyridyl) (CP2) units within the π-conjugated backbone were prepared as scaffolds for macromolecul...
CALCULATION OF THE SIXTH-ORDER CONTRIBUTION FROM THE FOURTH-ORDER VACUUM POLARIZATION TO THE DIFFERENCE OF THE ANOMALOUS MAGNETIC MOMENTS OF MUON AND ELECTRON.

We present the details of a calculation of the sixth-order contribution to $\frac{1}{2}({g}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}\ensuremath{-}{g}_{e})$ from the proper fourth-order vacuum polarization. As a byproduct of this calculation, we have also obtained the finite part of the fourth-order contribution to the charge-renormalization constant ${Z}_{3}$.
Overexpression of Orai1 and STIM1 Proteins Alters Regulation of Store-operated Ca2+ Entry by Endogenous Mediators

Orai1 and STIM1 have been identified as the main determinants of the store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE). Their specific roles in SOCE and their molecular interactions have been studied extensively following heterologous overexpression or molecular knockdown and extrapolated to the endogenous processes in naive cells. Using molecular and imaging techniques, we found that variation of expression levels of Orai1 or STIM1 can significantly alter expression and role of some endogenous regulators of SOCE. Although functional inhibition of Ca2+-independent phospholipase A2 β (iPLA2β or PLA2g6A), or depletion of plasma membrane cholesterol caused a dramatic loss of endogenous SOCE in HEK293 cells, these effects were attenuated significantly when either Orai1 or STIM1 were overexpressed. Molecular knockdown of iPLA2β impaired SOCE in both control cells and cells overexpressing STIM1. We also discovered important cross-talk between expression of Orai1 and a specific plasma membrane variant of iPLA2β but not STIM1. These data confirm the role of iPLA2β as an essential mediator of endogenous SOCE and demonstrate that its physiological role can be obscured by Orai1 and STIM1 overexpression. Background: Store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) is essential for cell function. Results: We discovered cross-talk between expression of molecules that determine SOCE and demonstrated that the role of endogenous mediators may be altered in overexpressed system. Conclusion: iPLA2β is an important regulator of endogenous SOCE, but its role can be obscured by Orai1 and STIM1 overexpression. Significance: Mediators of endogenous SOCE are important for Ca2+ homeostasis in health and disease.
Coupled oxidative phosphorylation in crude extracts of Azotobacter agilis.

Summary1) The effect of method of preparation of the extract, sonic disintegration, grinding with alumina, disruption in ball mill, or sudden release of pressure in the French Cell, on P/O ratio of crude extracts of A. agilis with succinate as substrate has been investigated. 2) The P/O ratios show a wide range of variation with different extracts prepared by same method, but with all methods used, P/O ratios were low compared to mycobacterial and mammalian systems. Some evidence is presented that a labile factor is present in extracts and is responsible, at least in part, for the low ratios observed.
Field‐Enhanced Ionization

At field strengths which can lie markedly below the critical values for impact ionization and Zener extraction, field induced changes in the capture cross section, barrier height, and frequency factor of Coulomb-attractive centers due to a deformation of the potential around the center and induced by the external field can cause a marked redistribution of carriers over these centers (field-enhanced ionization). These changes in the kinetic parameters of the centers are estimated, using a classical model, and are given as a function of the external field. For a typical semiconductor at T = 200 °K, a possible decrease of trap-occupation up to a factor of two, already, at fields of the order of 102 V/cm is calculated. Fur Feldstarken, die betrachtlich unterhalb der kritischen Werte fur Stosionisation und fur Feldemission liegen, konnen feldbedingte Anderungen des Einfangquerschnittes, der Barrierenhohe und des Frequenzfaktors von Coulomb-attraktiven Zentren, verursacht durch eine Potentialdeformation in der Nahe des Zentrums durch das ausere elektrische Feld, eine merkliche Umverteilung von Ladungstragern uber diese Zentren hervorrufen („field-enhanced ionization”). Die Anderungen der kinetischen Parameter dieser Zentren werden in einem klassischen Modell und als Funktion des auseren Feldes angegeben. Es wird ausgerechnet, das fur einen typischen Halbleiter bei T = 200 °K die Hafttermbesetzung bis um einen Faktor zwei schon bei Feldstarken in der Nahe von 100 V/cm absinken kann.
Triple interactions involving close binaries in globular clusters

The interaction of a circularized tidal binary system with a third star is studied statistically through the results of about 70,000 numerical scattering experiments. The stars involved are taken to be identical polytropes, with radii equal to one-third of the initial binary separation. The effects of nonzero stellar radii are included by calculating an approximation to the energy dissipated by tidal interactions and estimating the energy lost through physical collisions. These are then used to modify the interaction cross sections obtained in the point-mass approximation. It is found that, for a wide range of assumptions about the details of the triple interactions and the stars' structure, the net rate at which tidal binaries heat the stellar system is substantially reduced (by as much as a factor of 20) below that obtained when the binaries are treated simply as point masses. The most likely outcome of a triple encounter is the coalescence of two, or all three, of the stars involved.
Simulations of tropospheric joint distributions in the UW θ‐σ model and CCM2

Results are presented for experiments which examine the ability of the University of Wisconsin (UW) hybrid isentropic-sigma (θ-σ) and sigma (σ) coordinate models and the NCAR Community Climate Model 2 (CCM2) to transport and conserve the joint distributions of potential temperature (θ) or equivalent potential temperature (θe) and a source-free inert trace constituent identical to the respective initial distribution (tθ or tθe). Under the idealized isentropic conditions of these experiments, the governing equations for the atmospheric continuum require that the joint distributions (θ, tθ or θe, tθe) be conserved throughout the integration. Deviation in the paired values is an objective measure of a model's skill to conserve the joint distributions. Results show that conservation remains higher in the UW θ-σ model than in the other models, even near the interface between isentropic and sigma model domains.
A novel BRCA2-binding protein and breast and ovarian tumorigenesis.

A fundamental question of cancer genetics is how genes responsible for inherited cancer contribute to the far more frequent cases of cancer that are purely somatic in origin. Somatic mutations in p...
Assessing blood coagulation status with laser speckle rheology

We have developed and investigated a novel optical approach, Laser Speckle Rheology (LSR), to evaluate a patient’s coagulation status by measuring the viscoelastic properties of blood during coagulation. In LSR, a blood sample is illuminated with laser light and temporal speckle intensity fluctuations are measured using a high-speed CMOS camera. During blood coagulation, changes in the viscoelastic properties of the clot restrict Brownian displacements of light scattering centers within the sample, altering the rate of speckle intensity fluctuations. As a result, blood coagulation status can be measured by relating the time scale of speckle intensity fluctuations with clinically relevant coagulation metrics including clotting time and fibrinogen content. Our results report a close correlation between coagulation metrics measured using LSR and conventional coagulation results of activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time and functional fibrinogen levels, creating the unique opportunity to evaluate a patient’s coagulation status in real-time at the point of care.
Resurgence of Emerald Shiners Notropis atherinoides in Lake Huron's Main Basin

Emerald shiners Notropis atherinoides were formerly common in Lakes Huron and Michigan, but declined during the 1960s as the exotic alewife Alosa pseudoharengus proliferated. The Lake Huron emerald shiner population was chronically depressed through 2004; however, we detected resurgence in emerald shiner density and biomass in Lake Huron during acoustic and midwater trawl surveys conducted during 2004–2006. Emerald shiners were not found during 2004, but by 2006 main basin density exceeded 500 fish/ha, biomass estimates exceeded 0.5 kg/ha, and emerald shiners contributed more to pelagic biomass than alewives or rainbow smelt Osmerus mordax. Length frequency distributions suggested that increased density was the result of two consecutive strong year classes in 2005 and 2006. Emerald shiner distributions also expanded from a focus in western Lake Huron in 2005 to a lakewide distribution in 2006. Emerald shiners occurred offshore, but were nearly always associated with epilimnetic surface waters warmer than 19°C. Resurgence of emerald shiners was likely a consequence of reduced alewife abundance, as they declined concurrently with alewife proliferation during the early 1960s. Return of this species may benefit native nearshore piscivores; however, benefits to Pacific salmonids Oncorhynchus spp. are uncertain because emerald shiners are smaller and still less abundant than historically important prey species, and they may be thermally segregated from salmonines.
Comment on “Dimensionally Induced Structural Transformations in Titanium-Aluminum Multilayers”

A Comment on the Letter by Rajarshi Banerjee, Rajir Ahuja, and Hamish L. Fraser, Phys. Rev. Lett. 76, 3778 (1996). The authors of the Letter offer a Reply.
Fluidic flexible matrix composite semi-active vibration isolation mounts

Variable stiffness f2mc are investigated for vibration isolation through analysis and experiments. The f2mc are novel structures that have been shown to achieve significant changes in stiffness through simple valve control. The objective of this research is to develop analysis tools to investigate the f2mc variable modulus system for semi-active vibration isolation and to validate the results through experiments. A non-linear analytical model of an isolation mount based on the f2mc tube with a proportional valve is developed. Analysis results indicate that the f2mc-based isolation mount is effective for reducing the force transmitted to the foundation and that the transmissibility ratio can be tuned via proportional valve control. Experimental results agree with analysis results and validate semi-active vibration isolation using a proportional valve.
Catalytic properties of the resolved flavoprotein and cytochrome B components of the NADPH dependent O2−• generating oxidase from human neutrophils

The resolved flavoprotein and cytochrome b55g components of the NADPH dependent 0 -. further f generating oxidase from human neutrophils were the subject of stu y. The resolved flavoprotein, depleted of cytochrome bssg, was reduced by NADPH under anaerobic conditions and reoxidized by oxygen. NADPH dependent 02-. generation by the resolved flavoprotein fraction was not detectable, however it was competent in the transfer of electrons from NADPH to artificial electron acceptors. The resolved cytochrome b559, depleted of flavoprotein, demonstrated no measureable NADPH dependent O2 . generating activity and was not reduced by NADPH under anaerobic conditions. The dithionite reduced form of the resolved cytochrome bssg was rapidly oxidized by oxygen, as was the cytochrome bssg in the intact oxldase.
The dependence of surface damage induced by electrical-discharge machining on the fracture strength of Al2O3−Cr3C2 composites

Abstract The feasibility of electrical-discharge machining (EDM) conducted on the Al 2 O 3 -Cr 3 C 2 composites is explored for various contents and particle sizes of Cr 3 C 2 in composites. The characteristics of surfaces after EDM were examined by scanning electron microscopy. The surface roughness after EDM, the material removal rate and the variation of fracture strength were studied in terms of EDM processing variables, e.g., pulse current, pulse duration time, and electrical polarity. Mechanisms for removal of Al 2 O 3 -Cr 3 C 2 composites by EDM are also proposed.
A Method for Making Carbohydrate Serum Broth of Constant Composition for use in the Study of Streptococci

very markedly the development of the streptococci. It was often observed that exudate from appendiceal and other peritonitis cases showed in direct smears a mixture of Gram-negative bacilli and Grampositive streptococci. Part of this material was added to plain broth and part to serum broth, and on examination of the growth in twentyfour hours or less the microscopical pictures from the two media were very different. That from the plain broth showed a predominance of Gram-negative bacilli with very few Gram-positive cocci, while the smear from serum broth showed what often appeared to be a pure culture of streptococci. From feces, one obtains practically the same results, that is, in the serum broth, the streptococci developing are numerous, while in plain broth they are almost absent.
Is Experience Transparent

1Consciousness, some say, is “transparent” to first-person acts of attention; experience is “diaphanous.” You might take this to suggest that when you try to focus attention on consciousness or experience itself, you find you cannot: attention “passes through” straight to the object you are conscious of – the object you experience. But the metaphor has been variously elaborated. Here are two recent invocations of transparency by philosophers who think it bears significantly on the nature of experience. Gilbert Harman (1990) writes: Look at a tree and try to turn your attention to the intrinsic features of your visual experience. I predict you will find that the only features there to turn your attention to will be features of the presented tree. And here’s one way Michael Tye (1995) puts the point: Try to focus your attention on some intrinsic feature of the experience that distinguishes it from other experience, something other than what it is an experience of. The task seems impossible: one’s awareness seems always to slip through the experience to blueness and squareness, as instanced together in an external object. In turning one’s mind inward to attend to the experience, one seems to end up concentrating on what is outside again, on external features or properties. Whatever the truth or import of transparency claims, they are generally offered on the basis of first-person reflection, or introspection, broadly construed. What I mean here is this. We can make first-person judgments attributing various sorts of experience to ourselves. And the warrant we have for making such judgments differs significantly in kind from that which other people ordinarily have or would need for the corresponding second or third person judgments about us. When Harman and Tye invite us to try to attend to our own experience, they are pretty clearly inviting us to confirm
Fluorimetric and phosphorimetric characteristics of several vitamins

Abstract The fluorescence and phosphorescence characteristics of 14 vitamins were evaluated. The existence or absence of fluorescence and phosphorescence was compared with predictions based upon molecular structure. Analytically useful fluorescence signals were obtained for p -aminobenzoic acid, folic acid, calciferol, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavine, α-tocopherol and vitamin A, whereas analytically useful phosphorescence signals were obtained for p -aminobenzoic acid, folic acid, niacinamide, pyridoxine hydrochloride, and α-tocopherol. All other vitamins either did not fluoresce or phosphoresce or could not be measured, owing to experimental difficulties. The complementary nature of fluorimetry and phosphorimetry is evident in these studies.
Biosecurity on Dairy Operations: Hazards and Risks

The objective here was to present a model for considering biosecurity related to infectious diseases on US dairy operations using a risk assessment framework. With the example of an important dairy cattle pathogen (Mycobacterium paratuberculosis), I followed risk assessment steps to characterize risks related to the use of certain management practices and possible risk reduction within an infectious disease biosecurity program. Biosecurity practices focus on the prevention of introduction of these pathogens to the dairy, and estimates of the risks associated with introduction of different sources of cattle are presented. In addition, biosecurity practices also limit the transmission of these pathogens within an infected dairy operation, especially those focused on sick cow management, calving area management, and manure management. Recent information from the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) Dairy 96 Study indicates that many of these practices have not been adopted on US dairy operations, indicating both risk of disease and opportunity for animal health improvement.
Introduction of sulfhydryl groups into proteins at carboxyl sites.

A two-step procedure for introduction of sulfhydryl groups at protein carboxyl groups is described. The resultant proteins contain 2-aminoethanethiol residues bound by amide linkages to the protein carboxyl groups. First an amide bond is formed between a carboxyl group of the protein and one of the amino groups of cystamine. Then the disulfide bond is reduced with dithiothreitol, yielding the amide of 2-aminoethanethiol. This procedure was used to incorporate sulfhydryl groups into carbonic anhydrase and adrenocorticotropic hormone. The effect of carbodiimide concentration and pH of the coupling reaction on stoichiometry of sulfhydryl group incorporation was examined. The method was used to prepare bovine carbonic anhydrase containing up to nine sulfhydryl groups per molecule with no loss of enzymatic activity and biologically active adrenocorticotropic hormone containing one sulfhydryl group per molecule.
A factor in the salt wash of reticulocyte ribosomes that can interact with acetylphenylalanyl-tRNA.

Abstract A factor removed from reticulocyte ribosomes by 0.5 M KCl solution can bind acetylphe-tRNA or phe-tRNA either independently to itself or to washed ribosomes. This binding is not dependent upon poly U or GTP. Acetylphe-tRNA bound by this mechanism appears not to be available directly for the reactions of peptide extension catalyzed by TI, TII, or the ribosomal peptidyl-transferase. The acetylphe-tRNA binding factor is coincident with phenylalanine activating enzyme activity over several purification steps. Prior incubation of the salt wash fraction with phenylalanine and ATP reduced the level of acetylphe-tRNA or phe-tRNA that can be bound to the salt wash fraction during a subsequent incubation. It is suggested that phe-tRNA synthetase may be involved in these binding phenomena.
Multi-view action recognition one camera at a time

For human action recognition methods, there is often a trade-off between classification accuracy and computational efficiency. Methods that include 3D information from multiple cameras are often computationally expensive and not suitable for real-time application. 2D, frame-based methods are generally more efficient, but suffer from lower recognition accuracies. In this paper, we present a hybrid keypose-based method that operates in a multi-camera environment, but uses only a single camera at a time. We learn, for each keypose, the relative utility of a particular viewpoint compared with switching to a different available camera in the network for future classification. On a benchmark multi-camera action recognition dataset, our method outperforms approaches that incorporate all available cameras.
PURIFICATION AND PROPERTIES OF LYSOSTAPHIN--A LYTIC AGENT FOR STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS.

Abstract A lytic substance for the staphylococci, lysostaphin, has been purified about 35-fold on the basis of an increase in specific activity (units of activity per mg protein). The substance is non-dialyzable and its activity is destroyed upon exposure to a temperature of 76° for 15 min. The rate of cell lysis is dependent upon temperature, pH, lysostaphin concentration, and ionic strength of the assay medium. Amino acid analysis shows large amounts of ammonia (26%), aspartic acid (12%) and glutamic acid (9.6%) compared to the toatal amino acids. The lytic protein has a sedimentation coefficient ( s 20 , w ) of 2.35 S, an isoelectric point between 10.4 and 11.4 and exhibits an absorption peak in the ultraviolet spectrum at a wavelength between 270 and 280 mμ.
Depleted Uranium, Public Science, and the Politics of Closure

The public controversy over depleted uranium (DU) seems to follow a standard trajectory—scientific closure, via the reduction of scientific uncertainty, led directly to policy closure, as government bureaucracies increasingly downplayed its dangers and denied redress to exposed individuals. Closer inspection, however, reveals a more complex dynamic. A series of expert, public science reports, while articulating a shared narrative of DU safety, actually accentuated great uncertainty concerning DU's biological effects, mirroring new uncertainties raised by ongoing scientific research. Policy closure is thus mirrored in neither the scholarly scientific literature nor in broader political realms, suggesting a close and unique relation between the expert reports and governmental policy making. Public science institutions and the expert reports they produce are crucial political resources for resolving governmental policy making but are decidedly less successful at closing the broader political debate.
Tetrahedral interpolation algorithm accuracy

Three-dimensional interpolation can minimize calculations when converting images from one device-independent color space to another or converting information between device-dependent and device-independent color spaces; this makes 3D interpolation a suitable way to implement many kinds of color space transformations. This paper analyzes trilinear interpolation and several tetrahedral interpolation schemes that extract data from a cubical packing of space, including a five-tetrahedron scheme proposed by Kanamori and Kotera, a six-tetrahedron method due to Clark, and three variations on the Clark arrangement. Also analyzed are two versions of the disphenoid extraction from the body-centered-cubic packing proposed by Kasson, Plouffe, and Nin, and the PRISM method reported by Kanamori, et al. The test for interpolation algorithm performance of the earlier paper is applied to a large set of color space conversions and lattice granularities, allowing meaningful conclusions about average and worst-case performance.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The Origins of Lesser Antillean French Creole: Some Literary and Lexical Evidence

A survey of literary and lexical evidence — early French descriptions of Martinique and its neighboring islands, and the etymologies of modern Dominican names for fish and parts of dugout canoes — suggests that Lesser Antillean French Creole did not take shape until the first decades of the 18th century, some 70 years after French colonization got seriously underway in 1635. The language's progenitors included a Spanish-Carib-French pidgin used between French settlers, their African slaves, and the islands' aboriginal inhabitants; a simplified form of French; and Standard French. No African influences are attested before the 1690s.
Report on qualitative research methods workshop

This special session will recap qualitative research design and analysis as discussed during an NSF-sponsored two-part workshop for computer science education researchers held in 2009-2010. Several workshop participants will illustrate the use of qualitative methods by describing their research projects. They will briefly present their methodologies, analyses and findings. Attendees will be encouraged to ask questions about how qualitative methods can be used in their own research projects.
Regionalizing Multilateralism: Estimating the Power of Potential Regional Voting Blocs in the IMF

This paper explores the voting power of hypothetical regional voting blocs in the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund. We first discuss the prospect of regionally defined groups becoming more significant in the Fund’s decision-making process. After briefly outlining the IMF’s formal decision procedures, including its weighted voting system, use of special majorities, and the function of voting groups in the Fund’s Executive Board we define three indices of a priori voting power — the Banzhaf, Johnston, and Shapley-Shubik indices — which are then applied to existing voting groups. Following this we simulate several regionally defined a priori coalitions and their potential to influence outcomes in passing resolutions in the Fund using a simple majority. The coalitions we specify are based on the assumption that members of the IMF will form into voting blocs based on regionally-defined preferences. The procedures employed use existing voting weights to project the relative strengths of altern...