cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SeqStain using fluorescent-DNA conjugated antibodies allows efficient, multiplexed, spatialomic profiling of human and murine tissues

Spatial organization of molecules and cells in complex tissue microenvironments provides essential cues during healthy growth and in disease. Novel techniques are needed for the elucidation of their spatial relationships and architecture. Although a few multiplex immunofluorescence based techniques have been developed for visualization of the spatial relationships of various molecules in cells and tissues, there remains a significant need for newer methods that are rapid, easy to adapt, and are gentle during the cyclic steps of fluorescence staining and de-staining. Here, we describe a novel, multiplex immunofluorescence imaging method, termed SeqStain, that uses fluorescent-DNA labelled antibodies for immunofluorescence staining of cells and tissues, and nuclease treatment for de-staining that allows selective enzymatic removal of the fluorescent signal. SeqStain can be used with primary antibodies, secondary antibodies and antibody fragments, such as Fabs, to efficiently analyse complex cells and tissues in multiple rounds of staining and de-staining. Additionally, incorporation of specific endonuclease restriction sites in antibody labels allows for selective removal of fluorescent signals, while retaining other signals that can serve as marks for subsequent analyses. The application of SeqStain on human kidney tissue provided spatialomic profile of the organization of >25 markers in the kidney, highlighting it as a versatile, easy to use and gentle new technique for spatialomic analyses of complex microenvironments.
Transpacific: The Queering of Philippine and Hispanic American Literatures

In works published since the 1970s, Hispanic American novelists have depicted queer characters in ways that have served as models for the Filipino writers who have sought to represent a gay culture in their globalized society. Notably, like writers of the Spanish American “boom,” Filipino American authors have examined the homosexual personality type defined by masculine/feminine “inversion.” Featured in recent celebrated works of Philippine fiction, the particular type of the bakla is a “classed and feminized” figure that Benedicto calls “a local sexual formation often read as a conflation of homosexuality, transvestitism, and lower-class status.” Exploring the mode of homosexual gender “inversion,” the construction of gay Filipino identity in recent fiction thus reveals signs of the transnationalization of the “queer” sensibility and homonormative ethos affirmed by Hispanic American fiction while illustrating the historical particularities of the Filipino gay culture.
Canada's Potential Productivity and Output Growth: A Post-Crisis Assessment

This study investigates the impact of the current financial crisis on Canada’s potential GDP growth. Using a simple accounting framework to decompose trend GDP growth into changes in capital, labour services, and total factor productivity, we find a sizeable drop in Canadian potential growth rate in the short term. The estimated decline of about 1 percentage point originates from a sharply decelerating capital stock accumulation (as investment has dropped steeply). However, over the medium term, we expect Canada’s potential GDP growth to gradually rise to around 2 per cent, below the pre-crisis growth rate, partly reflecting the effects of population aging.
A Virtual Serious Game for Nursing Education

Procedure skill competency is a crucial element in nursing education. However, there are several barriers to skill competency and proficiency, which include limited simulation faculty, lab time, and resources. Serious gaming has proven to be an effective approach to enhance knowledge attainment, promote problem-based active learning, and encourage critical thinking in many industries, including nursing. Therefore, we propose a virtual serious game featured with a realistic environment, considerable interaction and animation, well-designed user-friendly graphic interface, and an innovative evaluation system for nursing education. This game is designed as complementary learning material to be utilized along with traditional pedagogical methods. This game provides a supplemental learning methodology for undergraduate nursing students, enabling them to practice the skill in a safe and innovative environment. Incorporating a serious game into undergraduate nursing education can circumvent the problems of scheduling; individualized instruction; physical requirements of facilities, equipment, and supplies; and geography constraints.
Amine-mediated toxicity. The effects of dopamine, norepinephrine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, 6-hydroxydopamine, ascorbate, glutathione and peroxide on the in vitro activities of creatine and adenylate kinases in the brain of the rat.

Abstract The effects of several concentrations of amines and reducing agents on the activity of creatine (CK) and adenylate (AK) kinases were determined in homogenates of the brain of the rat at 0 and 37°C. The order of decreasing irreversible inhibition of the enzymes was peroxide, 6-hydroxydopamine, dopamine, norepinephrine, 5-hydroxytryptamine. At 37°C, approx. 50% of the activity of creatine kinase was lost in 30 min in the presence of 20 μ M dopamine. 5-Hydroxytryptamine was several orders of magnitude less toxic. The action of dopamine was not prevented by inhibition of monoamine oxidase, chelation of metals or the addition of a catalase, indicating that formation of peroxide by monoamine oxidase was not the primary cause of the loss of enzyme. Although auto-oxidation of dopamine to a toxic quinone was considered, the degree of inhibition of creatine kinase was not affected when auto-oxidation was prevented under anaerobic conditions. Glutathione (GSH), present during the incubation, protected the enzymes but could not restore activity after exposure to amine. Concentrations of glutathione above 5 mM and of oxidized glutathione as low as 10μM inhibited creatine kinase. Ascorbate protected the enzymes even when present at a concentration much less than that of the amine, but ascorbate was itself toxic. The findings indicate that dopamine, at concentrations attained after drug-induced release or ischemia, can be toxic to a metabolic enzyme present in the synaptosomal membrane.
Herd behavior in voluntary disclosure decisions: An examination of capital expenditure forecasts

This study documents evidence consistent with herding in voluntary disclosure decisions in the context of capital expenditure forecasts and investigates two possible reasons for this behavior. Theories of rational herds suggest that herding in disclosure decisions may be due to either (1) the influence of information reflected in peer firms' past disclosure decisions (informational herding), and/or (2) managers' concern for their reputations (reputational herding). Using duration analysis for repeated events, we examine the timing of capital expenditure forecasts for a broad sample of disclosing and nondisclosing firms. We predict and find that the propensity to release capital expenditure forecasts is positively associated with the proportion of prior disclosing firms within the same industry, thus, providing evidence of herding. We also find that this positive association is even higher for firms in highly concentrated industries and firms with low barriers to entry. This finding suggests that firms facing relatively high industry competition may have greater incentives to herd. To provide further evidence of the underlying sources of this behavior, we examine whether the tendency to herd varies with the information content and specificity of prior same-industry forecasts, and with the level of managerial reputation. Our findings show that managers are more likely to disclose their expenditure plans when prior peer forecasts signal a decrease in future capital spending and when prior peer forecasts are more precise. Furthermore, we find that less reputable managers exhibit greater tendencies to herd in their disclosure decisions. These findings indicate that informational and reputational factors are both significant sources of herding in voluntary disclosure decisions.
The Conversion of Cholesterol to Δ5,7,22-Cholestatrien-3β-ol by Tetrahymena pyriformis

The protozoan Tetrahymena pyriformis was incubated in a growth medium containing added unlabeled cholesterol or 26-14C-cholesterol with the following consequences: (a) the biosynthesis of tetrahymanol, a pentacyclic triterpenoid alcohol produced in the organism by squalene cyclization, was inhibited, and (b) the cholesterol was accumulated by the cells and converted metabolically to a mixture of other sterols containing Δ5,7,22-cholestatrien-3β-ol(7,22-bisdehydrocholesterol) as the major component, together with 22-dehydrocholesterol and possibly a small amount of 7-dehydrocholesterol. These three sterols, along with unconverted cholesterol, were obtained in the unsaponifiable lipid fraction from the cells, and were separated from one another by silicic acid-silver nitrate column chromatography of the corresponding acetylated derivatives. The 22-dehydrocholesterol and the recovered cholesterol were rigorously identified by comparisons of various chromatographic, spectral, and other properties of the alcohols and their acetates with those of authentic samples. The tentative identification of the 7-dehydrocholesterol was based on chromatographic comparisons of the acetate derivative with authentic material. The structure of the 7,22-bisdehydrocholesterol, a previously unknown compound, was established on the basis of ultraviolet, infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectral data for both the free sterol and its acetate derivative, and also by chemical conversions of the acetate to known compounds. Thus, hydrogenation of the 7,22-bisdehydrocholesteryl acetate with a Raney nickel catalyst gave lathosteryl acetate, and periodate-permanganate oxidation of the triene acetate gave isovaleric acid. It is suggested that the conversion of cholesterol to 7,22-bisdehydrocholesterol in the cells proceeds by way of either 7-dehydrocholesterol or 22-dehydrocholesterol as intermediate.
Measurement of diffusion constants for nucleic acids by NMR

Pulsed field-gradient NMR experiments can be used to measure thediffusion constants of nucleic acids. The diffusion constants measured inthis way for double-helical DNAs of defined length agree well both withtheory and with measurements done using other techniques. When applied toRNAs, this experi- ment easily distinguishes duplex RNAs from RNA hairpinsand thus it can solve one of the perennial problems faced by RNAspectroscopists, i.e. assessing whether their samples are monomeric or not.
Divergence and gene flow among Darwin's finches: A genome-wide view of adaptive radiation driven by interspecies allele sharing.

A recent analysis of the genomes of Darwin's finches revealed extensive interspecies allele sharing throughout the history of the radiation and identified a key locus responsible for morphological evolution in this group. The radiation of Darwin's finches on the Galapagos archipelago has long been regarded as an iconic study system for field ecology and evolutionary biology. Coupled with an extensive history of field work, these latest findings affirm the increasing acceptance of introgressive hybridization, or gene flow between species, as a significant contributor to adaptive evolution. Here, we review and discuss these findings in relation to both classical work on Darwin's finches and contemporary work showing similar evolutionary signatures in other biological systems. The continued unification of genomic data with field biology promises to further elucidate the molecular basis of adaptation in Darwin's finches and well beyond.
Diffusion approximation for equilibrium and transient queue behavior

The difficulty in solving diffusion equations generally increases with the number of dimensions. Although the evolution of the joint density f(x, y; t) for both the arrivals and the departures would give a fairly complete description of what is happening and why, it is much easier to analyze the behavior of only Q(t). We have seen that if the mean and variance rates for A(t) and D(t) depend only upon the queue length and time, then f Q (l;t) itself satisfies a diffusion equation (7.19). If there is a negligible probability that Q(t) is on a boundary, then f Q (l;t) also satisfies the boundary conditions (7.21) and F Q (l;t) satisfies (7.22).
Effects of tasks at similar and different complexity levels

We present preliminary results from a Web search study, where we paid particular attention to the design of complex tasks. We used subjective, behavioral, and cognitive measures to investigate the effects of task complexity and, separately, of search user interface elements. Our findings confirm the expected task properties by design – no differences between tasks at the same level of complexity, but significant differences between tasks at different levels of complexity on most dependent variables. The examined elements of user interface did not have a significant effect on experienced mental workload, however, they affected search behavior, but only on complex tasks. Categories and Subject Descriptors H3.3 Information Search and Retrieval: Search process.
In chemotherapy for lung cancer, sometimes less is more.

Chemotherapy remains the backbone of care for patients with metastatic cancer and provides increasing hope for patients and their families as novel drug targets and therapeutic agents are discovered. Over the past decade, the therapeutic arsenal has markedly expanded, from nitrogen mustard and folic acid antagonists of the mid-20th century to the targeted regimens of “personalized” medicine today. In patients with metastatic disease, chemotherapy can slow disease progression, leading to prolonged survival, and palliate symptoms. Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the United States because of both the high prevalence of advanced disease at diagnosis and the low rate of cure of early-stage disease. Thus, many patients with metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receive chemotherapy with the goal of prolonging life, relieving symptoms, and improving quality of life (QOL).Although chemotherapy can achieve these goals in selected patients with metastatic NSCLC and a good performance status (PS), it has a limited role in patients whose cancer has progressed through multiple lines of therapy and those with a poor PS (eg, ECOG 3 or 4). The response rates for patients with metastatic NSCLC treated with both a platinum and a taxane have been reported to be only 2% for third-line and 0% for fourth-line chemotherapy,
Seasonal and Interannual Variability of Remotely Sensed Chlorophyll

Seasonal and interannual variability of remotely sensed by Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor (SeaWiFS, aboard OrbView-2 satellite) and MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS-A, aboard Aqua satellite) surface chlorophyll a (CHL) in the Black Sea was analyzed since the start of SeaWiFS mission in 1997 till the spring of 2006. The spatio-temporal patterns analyzed by the empirical orthogonal functions (EOF) method revealed four main regions where CHL dynamics was correlated: northwest shelf (NW); southwest coastal region (SW); eastern region (E); and central region (C). Seasonal variability in the NW region had evident maximum in late spring resulting from the maximum of nutrient-rich Danube discharge. In three deep regions (SW, E, and C) the seasonal cycles were characterized by summer minimum and autumn-winter maximum. This pattern is typical to subtropical ocean areas where phytoplankton growth is nutrient-limited as a result of water column stratification. Danube discharge (correlated in 1990s–2000s with ENSO climatic cycle) looks like a most important factor regulating chlorophyll concentration on the northwestern shelf and, after a time lag of 2–2.5 years, in the deep Black Sea regions.
Late-Holocene drought and fire drove a widespread change in forest community composition in eastern North America

Several regions of the world have recently experienced climate-induced changes in forest composition, highlighting the need to understand the causes, likelihood, and dynamics of abrupt vegetation change. Although few historical examples of climate-induced forest change exist from recent centuries, particularly in humid regions like the northeastern United States, paleoecological records are rich with examples. For example, pollen records from portions of the northeastern United States indicate that eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) and American beech (Fagus grandifolia) abruptly declined in abundance between 500 and 600 yr BP. Concomitant increases in pine (Pinus spp.) and oak (Quercus spp.) occurred. Hypotheses to explain this change have included cooling during the ‘Little Ice Age’ (LIA), Native American activity, drought, and/or fires. To better understand spatiotemporal patterns of forest change and assess potential causes and dynamics, we synthesized regional pollen records and developed two high-re...
Gender differences in subcutaneous and perirenal fat distribution

Body mass index (BMI) has been shown to influence the outcome of various surgical procedures. The purpose of this study is to assess the relationship between BMI, gender, and the distribution of subcutaneous and perirenal fat. A retrospective review was performed for 123 patients who underwent radical or partial nephrectomy. Preoperative CT scans were reviewed by two independent observers. Subcutaneous fat was measured at three locations and perirenal fat was measured at six locations. Statistical analysis was performed using the Student’s t test and the Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Mean anterior subcutaneous fat was significantly greater in females than in males (2.54 vs. 1.78 cm, p < 0.001) as was mean right posterolateral subcutaneous fat (2.78 vs. 2.21 cm, p = 0.03). With regard to perirenal fat, men were greater than women for all perirenal locations around the left kidney. For the right kidney, men were greater than women for four out of six perirenal positions. In both men and women, BMI was strongly correlated with subcutaneous fat. However, BMI was weakly correlated with perirenal fat. Women exceed men in subcutaneous fat, while men exceed women in perirenal fat. Obese patients are very likely to have large amounts of subcutaneous fat, but will not necessarily have proportionally increased fat around their kidneys when compared to the patients with lower BMI. These differences may have important implications for surgical approaches to the kidney.
A table of percentage points of the distribution of the largest absolute value of k Student t variates and its applications

SUMMARY A table of I00y % points of the maximum absolute value ItI of the k-variate Student t distribution with v degrees of freedom and common correlation p is given for various values of k, v, p and y. The application of these tables to problems dealing with the construction of simultaneous confidence and prediction intervals is briefly described.
Amyloid precursor proteins protect neurons of transgenic mice against acute and chronic excitotoxic injuries in vivo

The beta-amyloid protein precursor (APP) is well conserved across different species and may fulfill important physiological functions within the CNS. While high-level neuronal expression of amyloidogenic forms of human APP results in beta-amyloid production and neurodegeneration, lower levels of neuronal human APP expression in neurons of transgenic mice may primarily accentuate physiological functions of this molecule. To assess the neuroprotective potential of human APP in vivo, mice from seven distinct transgenic lines expressing different human APP isoforms from the neuron-specific enolase promoter were challenged with systemic kainate injections (n=30) or transgene-mediated glial expression of gp120 (n=32), an HIV-1 protein capable of inducing excitotoxic neuronal damage. To quantitate human APP-mediated neuroprotection. the area of neuropil occupied by presynaptic terminals and neuronal dendrites in the neocortex and hippocampus of each mouse was determined using laser scanning confocal microscopy of double-immunolabelled brain sections and computer-aided image analysis. Compared with gp120 singly transgenic controls, mice from three of three human APP751gp120 bigenic lines expressing the 751 amino acid form of human APP at low levels showed significant protection against degeneration of presynaptic terminals; two of these lines also showed significantly less damage to neuronal dendrites. Two of three human APP695/gp120 bigenic lines expressing human APP695 at low levels were protected against presynaptic and dendritic damage, whereas one low expressor line and a human APP695/gp120 bigenic line expressing human APP695 at higher levels showed no significant protection. In the corresponding human APP singly transgenic lines, overexpressing only specific human APP isoforms, significant protection against kainate-induced degeneration of presynaptic terminals and neuronal dendrites was found in two of three human APP751 lines and not in any of the four human APP695 lines tested. These results indicate that human APP can protect neurons against chronic and acute excitotoxic insults in vivo and that human APP isoforms differ in their neuroprotective potential, at least with respect to specific forms of neural injury. It is therefore possible that impairments of neuroprotective human APP functions or aberrant shifts in human APP isoform ratios could contribute to neurodegeneration.
Cognitive and Electrophysiological Correlates of the Bilingual Stroop Effect

The bilingual color-word Stroop effect is commonly half the magnitude when naming and reading languages are different than the same. This between-within language Stroop difference (BWLS) is likened to a response set effect, with greater response conflict for response relevant than irrelevant words. The BWLS was analyzed in 2 experiments. Color congruent and incongruent words (Exp 1) appeared in the naming language or not (single), or randomly in both languages (mixed). The BWLS effect was observed in both balanced and unbalanced bilinguals. However, color congruent trials during mixed-language blocks led to slower times between than within languages, indicating that response irrelevant stimuli interfered with processing. To investigate the neural timing of the BWLS effect (Exp 2), event related potentials were recorded while balanced bilinguals named silently. Replicating monolingual findings, an N450 effect was observed with larger negative amplitude for color incongruent than congruent trials (350-550 ms post stimulus onset). This effect was equivalent within and between languages, indicating that color words from both languages created response conflict, contrary to a response set effect. A sustained negativity followed with larger amplitude for color incongruent than congruent trials, resolving earlier for between than within language Stroop. The effect shared timing (550-700 ms), but not morphology or distribution with a previously reported sustained potential. Finally, a larger early negativity (200-350 ms) was observed for between than within languages independent of color congruence. This no-go N2-like negativity may reflect processes of inhibitory control that facilitate the resolution of conflict at the sustained negativity, while the N450 reflects parallel processing of distracter words, independent of response set. In sum, the BWLS reflects brain activity over time with contributions from language and color conflict at different points.
Human Lunar Mission Capabilities Using SSTO, ISRU and LOX-Augmented NTR Technologies: A Preliminary Assessment

The feasibility of conducting human missions to the Moon is examined assuming the use of three 'high leverage' technologies: (1) a single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) launch vehicle, (2) 'in-situ' resource utilization (ISRU)--specifically 'lunar-derived' liquid oxygen (LUNOX), and (3) LOX-augmented nuclear thermal rocket (LANTR) propulsion. Lunar transportation system elements consisting of a LANTR-powered lunar transfer vehicle (LTV) and a chemical propulsion lunar landing/Earth return vehicle (LERV) are configured to fit within the 'compact' dimensions of the SSTO cargo bay (diameter: 4.6 m/length: 9.0 m) while satisfying an initial mass in low Earth orbit (IMLEO) limit of approximately 60 t (3 SSTO launches). Using approximately 8 t of LUNOX to 'reoxidize' the LERV for a 'direct return' flight to Earth reduces its size and mass allowing delivery to LEO on a single 20 t SSTO launch. Similarly, the LANTR engine's ability to operate at any oxygen/ hydrogen mixture ratio from 0 to 7 with high specific impulse (approximately 940 to 515 s) is exploited to reduce hydrogen tank volume, thereby improving packaging of the LANTR LTV's 'propulsion' and 'propellant modules'. Expendable and reusable, piloted and cargo missions and vehicle designs are presented along with estimates of LUNOX production required to support the different mission modes. Concluding remarks address the issue of lunar transportation system costs from the launch vehicle perspective.
It's ok to ask about past abuse.

Comments on the article by K. Becker-Blease and J. Freyd, which addressed the ethics of asking and not asking research subjects about abuse. In their article, they systematically reviewed often-voiced concerns about and objections to asking questions about child maltreatment in survey research. They concluded that by failing to ask about a history of child maltreatment, an important predictor of later-life problems may be overlooked. The current authors discuss the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study, which provides strong evidence of the association between early traumatic experiences and some of the major public health problems facing our nation. Results from the ACE study have shown an association between traumatic childhood experiences and a broad range of health outcomes, including liver disease, ischemic heart disease, reproductive health, and mental illness, as well as a variety of health risks such as obesity, smoking, and alcoholism. The associations that these studies showed demonstrate that researchers studying health outcomes who do not ask study subjects about traumatic childhood experiences are overlooking an important risk factor for many of the major health issues of our day. Language: en
A demonstration of the intrinsic importance of stabilizing hydrophobic binding and non-convalent van der waals contacts dominant in the non-covalent CC-1065/B-DNA binding

The comparative DNA binding properties and cytotoxic activity of CDPIn methyl esters (n = 1-5) vs. PDE-In methyl esters (n = 1-3) are detailed in studies which provide experimental evidence for the intrinsic importance of stabilizing hydrophobic binding and non-covalent van der Waals contacts dominant in the CC-1065/B-DNA minor groove binding. High affinity minor groove binding to DNA was established through: (1) the observation of CDPI3 binding (UV) but not unwinding of supercoiled DNA (phi 174 RFI DNA) thus excluding intercalative binding; (2) the observation of CDPI3 binding to T4 phage DNA (UV, delta Tm) in which the major groove is occluded by glycosylation thus excluding major groove binding; (3) the observation of salt (Na+) concentration independent high affinity CDPI3 binding to poly(dA . poly(dT) thus excluding simple electrostatic binding to the DNA phosphate backbone; and further inferred through (4) the observation of an intense induced dichroism (ICD, poly(dA) . poly(dT) and poly(dG) . poly(dC) [phi]23(358) = 24,000 and 23,500). This high affinity minor groove binding is sufficient to produce a potent cytotoxic effect.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Langmuir-Submesoscale Interactions: Descriptive Analysis of Multiscale Frontal Spindown Simulations

AbstractThe interactions between boundary layer turbulence, including Langmuir turbulence, and submesoscale processes in the oceanic mixed layer are described using large-eddy simulations of the spindown of a temperature front in the presence of submesoscale eddies, winds, and waves. The simulations solve the surface-wave-averaged Boussinesq equations with Stokes drift wave forcing at a resolution that is sufficiently fine to capture small-scale Langmuir turbulence. A simulation without Stokes drift forcing is also performed for comparison. Spatial and spectral properties of temperature, velocity, and vorticity fields are described, and these fields are scale decomposed in order to examine multiscale fluxes of momentum and buoyancy. Buoyancy flux results indicate that Langmuir turbulence counters the restratifying effects of submesoscale eddies, leading to small-scale vertical transport and mixing that is 4 times greater than in the simulations without Stokes drift forcing. The observed fluxes are also sh...
Extreme-Scale Visual Analytics

Extreme-scale visual analytics (VA) is about applying VA to extreme-scale data. The articles in this special issue examine advances related to extreme-scale VA problems, their analytical and computational challenges, and their real-world applications.
Mining data from the AP CS a exam: patterns, non-patterns, and replication failure

To better understand the learning and assessment of introductory computer science, we performed five complementary analyses on over 28 thousand student responses from the 2004 and 2009 Advanced Placement Computer Science (AP CS) A exams. Analyzing the questions from the 1988 AP CS exam, Reges hypothesized that a small set of questions, which were highly correlated with success on the rest of the exam, might be used to assess students' CS ability before taking a CS class. The pattern Reges observed was not replicated on the 2004 and 2009 AP CS A exams. Our hypotheses for why the pattern was not replicated advances Reges' alternative hypothesis regarding the importance of students' mental model of program execution.
Nano- and microscopic surface wrinkles of linearly increasing heights prepared by periodic precipitation

Arrays of surface wrinkles of linearly increasing heights (from tens of nanometers to tens of micrometers) were prepared via a spontaneous reaction−diffusion process based on periodic precipitation. The slopes, dimensions, and positions of the precipitation bands could be controlled precisely by adjusting the concentrations of the participating chemicals as well as the material properties of patterned substrates. Additional control of periodic precipitation by localized UV irradiation allowed for the preparation of discontinuous and curvilinear structures. The nonbinary 3D surface topographies were replicated into poly(dimethylsiloxane), and the applications of replicas in microfluidics, microseparations, and cell biology have been suggested.
CCL2 induces prostate cancer transendothelial cell migration via activation of the small GTPase Rac

Nearly 85% of the men who will die of prostate cancer (PCa) have skeletal metastases present. The ability of PCa cells to interact with the microenvironment determines the success of the tumor cell to form metastatic lesions. The ability to bind to human bone marrow endothelial (HBME) cells and undergo transendothelial cell migration are key steps in allowing the PCa cell to extravasate from the bone microvasculature and invade the bone stroma. We have previously demonstrated that monoctyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1; CCL2) is expressed by HBME cells and promotes PCa proliferation and migration. In the current study, we demonstrate that the CCL2 stimulation of PCa cells activates the small GTPase, Rac through the actin-associated protein PCNT1. Activation of Rac GTPase is accompanied by morphologic changes and the ability of the cells to undergo diapedesis through HBME cells. These data suggest a role for HBME-secreted CCL2 in promoting PCa cell extravasation into the bone microenvironment.
Linear programming for hazard elimination in asynchronous circuits

Hazards can be globally eliminated from an asynchronous circuit synthesized from a Signal Transition Graph by repeatedly solving an appropriate Linear Program. This article describes how to analyze the STG specification and the synthesized circuit, using bounded delay information, to formulate the problem and use a branch-and- bound procedure to solve it. Known information about the environment delays can be expressed as time bounds on the external signal transitions, and it can be exploited by the proposed methodology.
Roadway Deicer Effects on the Germination of Native Grasses and Forbs

Normal seed germination of native herbaceous species can be reduced by high concentrations of deicer products and their constituent salts. Chloride salts are commonly used during the winter months in temperate climates to remove ice and snow. Although these products greatly improve driving conditions, they can have detrimental effects on the vegetation growing along highways. The purpose of this laboratory study was to determine the impact of a magnesium-based deicer product and a sodium-based deicer product and the major salts they contain on the germination and viability of several species of grasses and forbs native to Colorado and planted in revegetation seedings there. Seeds were placed on blotter paper saturated with either a water control, one of three concentrations of each of the deicing solutions, or one of three concentrations of a pure NaCl or MgCl2 solution. Increasing concentrations of salt ions generally resulted in delayed and reduced normal seed germination, especially the sodium- and magnesium-based deicer solutions. Germination for most species was lower when seeds were grown in deicer solution compared with germination percent of seeds grown in the pure salt solutions. Some species were more tolerant of one of the salts and deicers. Species with C4 photosynthetic pathway were more tolerant than C3 species of high concentrations of both deicer products. Those species which attained the highest germination percent under moderate or high solution concentrations included blue grama, buffalograss, little bluestem, mountain brome, and slender wheatgrass.
Landholding, wealth and risk of blinding malnutrition in rural Bangladeshi households

Abstract The 1982–1983 Bangladesh nutritional blindness study visited 11,618 rural households and examined 18,660 preschool-age children in an effort to determine the prevalence and determinants of eye lesions and loss of sight due to vitamin A deficiency (xerophthalmia). Risk of xerophthalmia was significantly higher for children from households without any of the indicators of relative wealth used. Almost 80% of blind children came from landless households, and even a very small garden reduced considerably the chances of a household having a xerophthalmic child. Poorer households with access to less than 0.3 acres land or no garden or without a tin roof, wristwatch, radio or cycle were at least twice as likely as their more fortunate neighbours to have a young child with any type of xerophthalmia. Taking account of such socio-environmental risk factor weightings would direct the scarce resources of intervention programmes to households and children who most need them.
Incorporating Research Into Capstone Design Projects

Mechanical Engineering Capstone projects traditionally involve design and fabrication of a piece of hardware needed to meet the specifications of an industrial sponsor. Such projects provide an opportunity for the students to apply their classroom knowledge to a practical project and to interact and collaborate with a motivated sponsor. Howard University and Sandia National Laboratories have collaborated for the past seven years on developing research-focused projects from a national laboratory that are appropriate for Capstone design student teams. The students are exposed to a research environment and learn how to use their designs to perform experiments that can acquire high-quality data. As part of these problem-based learning projects, the students employ various Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) tools available as part of their design work, build apparatus, acquire data, and perform data analysis. The projects are focused on design, but lead to an experimental apparatus that is tested, leading to students’ experience with equipment such as data acquisition systems, high-speed cameras, image analysis, evaluation of experimental uncertainty, and comparing data with models. Two example projects will be presented in this paper, one focused on development of apparatus for testing flocculation of small particles, and another on developing a vibration test platform for experiments on bubbles under vibration.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Quantitative fluorescence measurements of the OH radical in high pressure methane flames

A method for quantifying laser-induced fluorescence signals from the OH radical in high-pressure flames is presented. The fluorescence signal per unit OH mole fraction is modeled as a function of temperature, pressure, and overall flame stoichiometry. Known values of the collisional quenching cross sections as a function of temperature are used to model the electronic quench rate. The reverse A - X (1.0) Q15 transition is used with broadband collection to measure single-point fluorescence produced by a pulsed Nd:YAG-pumped, frequency-doubled dye laser. Laser absorption and thermocouples are used to measure absolute OH concentration and temperature, respectively, which are used to confirm the validity of the model. Measurements are made in CH4/O2/N2 flames up to 10 atm.
New polyphase sequence sets with all-zero cross-correlation

This work describes an M2 × M Zak space construction of new zero correlation zone polyphase sequence sets, of sequence length M3 and set size M, with all-zero cross-correlation. The construction includes the sets with (M−1)-point, (T 2 M−1)-point and (M2 −1)-point zero auto correlation zone, where T 2 is an arbitrary non-trivial factor of M. All sequences in these sets have sparse discrete Fourier transforms with constant non-zero magnitude at M2 points and zero magnitude at (M −1)M2 points.
Calcium-dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase inhibition of basal activity by heat-stable factors from rat cerebrum

Abstract The boiled supernatant fraction from rat cerebrum contained factors which inhibited the basal activity of a Ca2+-dependent phosphodiesterase from rat cerebrum. Two inhibitory fractions were isolated by DEAE-cellulose or Sephadex chromatography and were deemed proteins, based on their sensitivity to trypsin digestion. The inhibitory fractions eluted from DEAE-cellulose columns prior to the Ca2+-dependent activator protein. The inhibitory factors, unlike the activator protein, were stable to heat treatment under alkaline conditions. The inhibitory factors caused both an increase in Km for cyclic GMP and a decrease in V . In the presence of calcium ions and purified activator protein, the Ca2+-dependent phosphodiesterase was not inhibited by the factors, but instead was slightly stimulated. The inhibitory factors caused a slight apparent stimulation of a Ca2+-independent phosphodiesterase from rat cerebrum but this proved instead to be a nonspecific stabilizing effect which was mimicked by bovine serum albumin. After prolonged alkaline treatment, the purified activator protein caused a modest Ca2+-independent activation of Ca2+-dependent phosphodiesterase. The inhibitory factors antagonized the activation of Ca2+-dependent phosphodiesterase by alkaline treated activator protein or by lysophosphatidylcholine. The inhibitory factors had no effect on activity of trypsinized Ca2+-dependent phosphodiesterase. Of various other proteins, only casein mimicked the effects of the inhibitory factors on phosphodiesterase activity.
Effect of chronic vasopressin treatment on alcohol drinking of Brattleboro HZ and DI rats

Abstract Preference for alcohol was determined for three groups of male and female rats, 100–150 days old, comprised of: (1) Long Evans (LE); (2) LE-derived Brattleboro heterozygous (HZ); and (3) Brattleboro homozygous (DI) animals afflicted with diabetes insipidus due to vasopressin deficiency. Each alcohol drinking test was run over 11 days during which food, water and an ethyl alcohol solution, increased in concentration from 3% to 25%, were freely available. Following an initial preference screen, 100 milli-units of vasopressin tannate in oil was administered subcutaneously, during a second preference test, once per day to each animal. This treatment ameliorated the polydipsia-polyuria syndrome characteristic of the DI sub-strain of Brattleboro rat. Administration of the peptide to both the LE or HZ animals exerted no effect on g/kg intake nor on the proportional measure of alcohol to water. However, in the DI rat of either gender, vasopressin reduced the mean absolute gram intake of alcohol over concentrations to resemble that of the other LE and/or HZ groups. These results demonstrate that vasopressin serves to normalize the intake of alcohol in the DI rat by virtue of the elimination of the diabetic condition. However, since vasopressin fails to alter alcohol consumption of the HZ and LE rats, it would appear that this neuroactive peptide may play only a minor role in the CNS mechanisms governing the voluntary selection of alcohol.
Lower Limb Amputee Recovery Response to an Imposed Mediolateral Error in Foot Placement

Lower limb amputees exhibit increased foot placement variability during gait [1–3] in part due to the lack of ankle musculature that reduces their ability to shift the prosthetic limb center of pressure (COP) [4]. In spite of compensating with a wider step width compared to non-amputees [2,3], amputees are still 20% more likely to fall compared to age-matched norms [5]. Since mediolateral (ML) balance is critical for successful ambulation and contingent on accurate ML foot placement [6,7], we chose to study how an error in ML foot placement affects amputee balance to gain a better understanding of the biomechanic strategies amputees employ to compensate for their lack of ankle musculature.© 2013 ASME
4618 Precut papillotomy has a low complication rate in experienced hands: a 6-year retrospective review from a specialist center.

Background: PPy has been criticized as a potentially unsafe procedure with an unacceptably high complication rate (24.3% in one series). Post-ERCP pancreatitis is a particular risk when PPy is performed for suspected sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD)(35.5% vs. 11.3%). Hypothesis: In experienced hands, PPy should have a high success rate with acceptably few complications. Methods: Computer records of patients (pts) having ERCP at our center between 6/93 and 1/99 were retrospectively reviewed. Pure PPy cases were distinguished from those in which PPy was followed by standard sphincterotomy (SS). Data were recorded on indications and outcomes. SOD was "presumed" since cannulation for manometry was not possible. As minor papillotomy, precutting on a stent in p divisum, is not a true "precut", these patients were excluded. Results: 324 PPys were performed during 6816 ERCPs (4.8%). Of the 324 PPys, 168 cases of PPy alone (52%) and 156 cases combining PPy+SS (48%) were identified. Major indications for PPy alone included pancreatitis (27.4%), CBD stones (20.2%), and pancreatic CA (12.5%). Major indications for PPy + SS were pancreatitis (16%), CBD stones (37.8%), and presumed SOD (17.3%). 15 pts had a failed PPy (8.9%), but once PPy was achieved no pt failed subsequent SS. 13 pts in the PPy group (7.7%) and 7 pts in the PPy+SS group (4.5%) had a complication, for an overall PPy related complication rate of 6.2%. Table 1 shows individual complication rates. The incidence of pancreatitis in patients with presumed SOD was 1.2%. Conclusion: In experienced hands, PPy – alone, or in combination with SS, can have a low complication rate, comparable to diagnostic and therapeutic ERCP in other settings. In this series, presumed SOD was not a risk factor for PPy-associated pancreatitis.
Improving the Efficiency of Electrical Stimulation Activities After Spinal Cord Injury

In order to enhance spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation programs using neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and functional electrical stimulation (FES) it is important to examine the manner in which muscle fibers are recruited and the dose-response relationship. A review of the literature suggests that premature force decline and early fatigue with NMES and FES activities may be alleviated with decreased current frequency and increased current intensity. Dose-response relationships with NMES and FES are dependent on the goals of interest as reversing muscle atrophy can be achieved with activities 2-3 times per week for 6 or more weeks while increasing bone mass is more limited and requires more intense activity with greater exercise frequency and duration, e.g., 3-5 days per week for at least 6-12 months. The best known protocol to elicit neurological improvement is massed practice activities-based restorative therapies (ABRT) (3-5 h per day for several weeks).
SPINACH PLASTOCYANIN AS AN ELECTRON ACCEPTOR FROM MEMBRANE-BOUND CHLOROPHYLL TRIPLET STATE IN POSITIVELY CHARGED LIPID BILAYER VESICLES*

Spinach plastocyanin is bound to egg phosphatidylcholine vesicles containing 5–25 mole percent dioctadecyldimethylammonium chloride (DODAC) via electrostatic interactions in a 50 mM betaine medium (pH=6.5). This was demonstrated by both gel filtration experiments and kinetic results using laser flash photolysis. Under those conditions, oxidized plastocyanin can function as a direct electron acceptor from membrane-bound triplet chlorophyll to produce chlorophyll cation radical and reduced plastocyanin. The fraction of chlorophyll triplet which is quenched by oxidized plastocyanin increases, and the yield of electron transfer products also increases, with an increase in the magnitude of the positive charge on the vesicles. Product decay and rise halftimes decrease with an increase in the mole percent of DODAC+ incorporated into egg phosphatidylcholine vesicles. However, both of these halftimes are independent of oxidized plastocyanin concentration. Even though ∼50% of the Chi triplets were quenched, no electron transfer product formation was observed in 5 mM phosphate buffer (pH=7.0). Under similar conditions in betaine, approximately 13% of the Chi triplets could be converted into products.
Pharmacogenomics of Beta-Blockers and Statins: Possible Implications for Perioperative Cardiac Complications

b PATIENTS UNDERGOING major noncardiac surgery can be at an increased risk for perioperative major adverse cardiac events because of the increasing prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and congestive heart failure.1 A set of cardiac risk actors and noninvasive testing may help identify patients who can enefit from -adrenergic-receptor blockers ( -ADRBs) and, ore recently, statins.2 These 2 classes of drugs have been shown independently to be effective in reducing perioperative and longterm nonfatal myocardial infarction and cardiac death.3-8 Furtherore, their combined use has been associated with a more proounced reduction in perioperative cardiac complications across ultiple levels of cardiac risk.9 However, not all patients are equally protected by -ADRB and statin therapy,2 and, in some nstances, patients treated with these agents may be at an increased isk for adverse drug reactions.10,11 Human genetic variations can be partially responsible for the clinical variation seen in response to -ADRBs and statin therapy.12 Such genetic variants have been described in nonsurgical cardiovascular patients to affect the likelihood of experiencing adverse drug reactions as well as influencing therapeutic effect.13 This review summarizes clinical studies nvolving -ADRB and statin therapy in patients with cardiovascular disease with an emphasis on genetic variation and its influence on the effect of these drugs at reducing perioperative complications.