cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Proposal for adoption of the base of the Undulograptus austrodentatus Biozone as a global Ordovician stage and series boundary level

The base of the Undulograptus austrodentatus Biozone appears to be a synchronous event that is widely recognizable within graptolitic facies around the world. It occurs within an interval in which graptolite species ranges are now well known and in which there is a rapid turnover in the composition of graptolite faunas. This turnover reflects the rapid evolutionary radiation of the Diplograptacea simultaneously with the appearance of several distinctive pseudisograptid and glossograptid species. These events provide the basis for the recognition of two thin but widely applicable subzones; a lower Arienigraptus zhejiangensis Subzone and an upper U. sinicus Subzone. The occurrence of the lower boundary of the U. austrodentatus Biozone within a succession of first appearances also permits accurate and reliable identification of the boundary as well as assessment of stratigraphic completeness across the boundary interval in correlated sections. Diverse graptolite faunas of late Yapeenian and early Darriwilian age occur in association with the Histiodella altifrons Biozone of the North American midcontinent conodont zonation and the Paroistodus originalis and Microzarkodina parva biozones of the North Atlantic conodont zonation. They also occur in association with the shelly-fossil zonations developed for several different continents. These features of the base of the U. austrodentatus Biozone make it a suitable level for use as the boundary level for a global stage. Its stratigraphic position within the Ordovician System relative to other likely global stages as well as its coincidence with one of the major events in graptolite evolutionary history suggest that this level also may be a suitable level for the base of a global Middle Ordovician Series.Ordovician System, Ordovician stages, graptolite zonation, chronostratigraphy, international correlation. Charles E. Mitchell and Jorg Maletz, Department of Geology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14260-1550, USA; 13th July, 1994; revised 22nd May, 1995.
Solder Joint Electromigration Mechanisms

Electromigation behavior of solder joints with thick Cu column was studied. The failure mechanisms for both SnPb and SnAg solder joints were discussed. To better understand the mechanisms, voids nucleation and propagation were also studied through Kelvin structure resistant monitoring and cross-sectional in-situ SEM observation. It was observed that package substrate process may play a role on how much portion of the life time that void nucleation and propagation could take respectively. Package warpage also played an important role on electromigration performance.© 2009 ASME
Transplant approach establishes that kidneys are responsible for serum CSF-1 but require a stimulus in MRL-lpr mice.

Transplant approach establishes that kidneys are responsible for serum CSF-1 but require a stimulus in MRL-lpr mice. Colony stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) is a chemoattractant and growth factor for macrophages. In autoimmune MRL- lpr mice, CSF-1 is detected in the circulation and there is an increase in CSF-1 transcripts and macrophages in the kidney. The purpose of this study was to establish whether the MRL- lpr kidney is responsible for increasing serum CSF-1, and to determine if the expression of CSF-1 requires a circulating component in MRL- lpr mice. We transplanted a MRL- lpr kidney with nephritis [serum CSF-1 = 32.6 ± 5.1 colony forming units (CFU)] into a bilaterally nephrectomized normal MRL-++ recipient. Circulating CSF-1 increased from 1.2 ± 0.5CFU to 14.1 ± 5.6CFU in recipients by one week. Continuous production of CSF-1 required a stimulating component since: (1) CSF-1 in the kidney and circulation disappeared several weeks after engraftment into MRL-++ mice and (2) isolated glomeruli from MRL- lpr required stimulation to express CSF-1. In the transplanted MRL- lpr kidney, hypercel-lularity in the glomerulus and interstitium (predominantly macrophages) returned to normal as rapidly as two weeks after engraftment into MRL-++. Thus, this study establishes that the kidney is responsible for circulating CSF-1 in MRL- lpr mice. Without the autoimmune environment CSF-1, macrophages, but not T cells, disappear and nephritis resolves.
A Review Of Far Infrared Free Electron Laser Characteristics And Experiments

A brief introduction to the theory of free electron laser operation is presented. Emphasis is on summarizing the characteristics needed for operation in the 10 - 1000 μm region of the spectrum. A survey of current far infrared free electron laser experiments is also included.
Compound action potentials recorded from the exposed eighth nerve in patients with intractable tinnitus

Compound action potentials (CAP) were recorded directly from the exposed intracranial portion of the eighth nerve in 19 patients undergoing microvascular decompression (MVD) of the eighth nerve for intractable tinnitus. The waveform of the CAPs recorded in patients with tinnitus varied from normal to highly abnormal, but only in 1 patient were there distinct abnormalities in the waveform of the CAP that could not be attributed to the patient's hearing loss. The mean values of the latencies of the N1 and N2 peaks in the CAPs recorded from the exposed eighth nerve in patients with tinnitus and high-frequency hearing loss were virtually indistinguishable from the latencies obtained in patients with similar hearing loss but no tinnitus. There was no statistically significant difference between the latency of peak III in the brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) in these two groups of patients, but the latency of peak V was slightly shorter (statistically significant) in the patients with tinnitus than it was in the patients without tinnitus.
Singular Perturbation Theory Applied to Markov Models for DNA Damage Caused by Ionizing Radiation

The induction of DNA double strand breaks by ionizing radiation, and enzymatic double strand break repair or misrepair, are modeled as continuous time Markov chains. Systems of partial differential equations for appropriate probability generating functions are solved by singular perturbation theory with scaling. The zero-th order singular perturbation result coincides with a model recently suggested in a biological literature. Higher order terms correct for various effects including "overkill". The results are applicable to both sparsely ionizing and densely ionizing radiation.
Thickness of the patella in men and women with osteoarthritis

Abstract The maximum thickness of the patella was prospectively measured during 216 primary total knee arthroplasties (TKA) that included patellar resurfacing. Of the measured patellae, 93 were in 75 men and 123 were in 99 women. Average patient age was 68.9 years for men and 71.2 years for women. All patients were diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Mean maximal patellar thickness in men was 26.1 mm and in women it was 22.6 mm. This difference was significant ( P
Nonlinear propagation of electromagnetic waves in a plasma by means of electromagnetically induced transparency

Abstract Magnetized plasma can be made transparent at the cyclotron frequency by addition of a helical undulator. The purpose of the undulator is to couple the transverse (propagating) and longitudinal (non-propagating) electromagnetic waves in the plasma. The coupling is particularly strong when the electron cyclotron and plasma frequencies are equal. It is demonstrated that this coupling gives rise to ultra-slow electromagnetic waves with group velocity vg ≪ c (where c is the speed of light in vacuum), resulting in the extreme energy compression in the plasma. A linear propagation equation for the electromagnetic wave envelope is derived, and its group velocity and group velocity dispersion are calculated. Relativistic corrections to the plasma electron motion are included to derive the nonlinear propagation equation. It is shown that, in comparison with unmagnetized plasma, an enhancement of non-linearities of order 1/v 2 g is expected. Implications for relativistic self-focusing in the plasma are disc...
Glucose regulation and cognitive function after bariatric surgery.

Introduction: Obesity is associated with cognitive impairment, and bariatric surgery has been shown to improve cognitive functioning. Rapid improvements in glycemic control are common after bariatric surgery and likely contribute to these cognitive gains. We examined whether improvements in glucose regulation are associated with better cognitive function following bariatric surgery. Method: A total of 85 adult bariatric surgery patients underwent computerized cognitive testing and fasting blood draw for glucose, insulin, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) at baseline and 12 months postoperatively. Results: Significant improvements in both cognitive function and glycemic control were observed among patients. After controlling for baseline factors, 12-month homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance HOMA-IR predicted 12-month digits backward (β = –.253, p < .05), switching of attention–A (β = .156, p < .05), and switching of attention–B (β = –.181, p < .05). Specifically, as HOMA-IR decreased over time...
Should access to transcatheter aortic valve replacement be limited to high-volume surgical centers?

Joseph Bavaria and Allan Schwartz participated in a debate held at the Postgraduate Course of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery 2012 Annual Meeting, presenting opposing positions on the question of whether transcatheter aortic valve replacement should be limited to high-volume centers. They and coauthors present their arguments in this issue of the Journal. The discussion is a new incarnation of the long-standing volume–outcome relationship debate, placed this time in the context of a new technology that is shared by cardiac surgeons and interventional cardiologists. Bavaria presents a great deal of data based on published literature over the last 3 decades; these data generally show that larger volume programs and individual surgeons are associated with better outcomes in terms of mortality and morbidity, with a few exceptions. Green and colleagues present arguments based on recent studies that show no volume–outcome associations and a number of other arguments suggesting that limiting access to transcatheter aortic valve replacement is not a good idea. Several important issues related to the volume–outcomes ongoing debate are not addressed by either side of this discussion, however. These are related to excellence, wellcontrolled studies, and moving targets.
Stabilizing properties of copolymers adsorbed on heterogeneous surfaces : A model for the interactions between a polymer-coated influenza virus and a cell

We use scaling theory and two-dimensional self-consistent field calculations to investigate the adsorption of copolymers onto heterogeneous surfaces, which represent the surface of the influenza virus. The copolymers contain “stickers” that are highly attracted to receptors on the viral surface. We vary the sticker concentration and determine the conformation of the adsorbed chains on the heterogeneous substrate. We then calculate the interaction energy as a function of distance between this polymer-coated surface and a bare interface, which represents the surface of a red blood cell. The results show that there is an optimal range of the sticker concentrations that sterically inhibit contact between the two surfaces. The findings help rationalize recent experiments, which show that the extent of inhibition depends on the fraction of stickers in adsorbing copolymer.
Demonstration of rabies virus-specific antibody in the sera of free-ranging Iowa raccoons (Procyon lotor).

Between 1984 and 1988, a study was conducted to evaluate the frequency of rabies virus neutralizing antibodies in raccoons (Procyon lotor) in two counties in Iowa. Nine hundred eighty five raccoons were trapped and tagged in Guthrie and Cerro Gordo counties during the spring, summer and fall of each year. Sex, age and weight were recorded for each animal and a blood sample was collected. Serum samples were tested for the presence of serum neutralizing antibodies (SNA) by the rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT), mouse serum neutralization test (MSN), and an indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) technique for detecting immunoglobulin G. Fifty-one raccoons (5%) were found to have SNA by the RFFIT. Thirty-six serum samples (24 with RFFIT antibody titer >3.0, and 12 <3.0) were also tested by the MSN, with results correlating well with the RFFIT results (r = 0.86, P < 0.01, Kappa = 0.93). In 35 raccoons with SNA by the RFFIT, six individuals had immunoglobulin G binding activity by the IFA test. These...
Lennard-Jones potential calculations of the barrier to rotation around the glycosidic CN linkage in selected purine nucleosides and nucleotides. A direct comparison of the results of 6–12 potential calculations with results of semiempirical molecular orbital studies

Abstract Lennard-Jones (6–12) potential energy calculations were performed on the barrier to rotation around the CN glycosidic linkage in purine nucleosides and nucleotides. While such calculations are strictly valid only for relatively non-polar substances the results of these simple and very inexpensive calculations appear to be in reasonable accord with the results of semi-empirical molecular orbital calculations. The effect of the assumed hydrogen van der Waals radius on rotational barrier was examined and use of the accepted value of 1·2 along with the newer 1·0 simultaneously is shown to be useful in determining the source of such barriers. The detailed curves indicated that those molecules found in the syn conformation in the solid state possessed relatively small barriers to rotation. Adenine nucleotides and nucleosides invariably were indicated to have very large barriers to rotation with notable exception of the 3′-O-acetyladenosine and 2′ and 3′-AMP. A systematic variation of the C(8) substituent from H to F to Cl to Br in guanosine and 8-bromoguanosine indicates that the preference of the syn conformation is primarily due to steric factors. However, a minor barrier which appears to be due to the fluorine electronegativity is also noticed when the C(8)F passes near the ribose O(1′)atom. Inclusion of electrostatic interaction (monopole-monopole) in the potential barrier calculation indicated a minor contribution from this term even in the molecules possessing considerable charge asymmetry.
Cellular mechanisms of insulin resistance in humans

Carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR) spectroscopy and phosphorus (31p) NMR spectroscopy have been used to help define the contribution of insulin-stimulated muscle glycogen synthesis to whole-body insulin-stimulated glucose metabolism in normal individuals and the extent to which this process is defective in patients with type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes. Assessments of the response to hyperglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamping have shown that abnormalities of muscle glycogen synthesis, apparently mediated by a defect in GLUT-4 transport and/or hexokinase activity, play a major role in causing insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes. Studies of the mechanisms by which free fatty acids (FFA) cause insulin resistance in humans indicate that increased FFA levels inhibit glucose transport, which may be a consequence of decreased insulin receptor substrate (IRS-1)-associated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity. 13C NMR spectroscopy studies have documented that liver glycogen concentrations are reduced and the rate of hepatic gluconeogenesis is increased in subjects with type 2 diabetes; thus, the higher rate of glucose production in type 2 diabetes can be attributed entirely to increased rates of hepatic gluconeogenesis. These cellular mechanisms of insulin resistance can be addressed through combination therapy with agents that reverse the principal pathophysiologic defects of type 2 diabetes. The biguanide metformin appears to lower glucose by suppressing hepatic glucose production, whereas the thiazolidinedione troglitazone appears to increase glucose clearance by peripheral tissues. The two agents together have been shown to provide better glucose control than either drug alone, without stimulating insulin secretion.
Metabolism of the nonionic surfactant 14C-labeled α[(p-1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenyl]-ω-hydroxyhexa(oxyethylene) in rats☆

Abstract The metabolism of the nonionic surfactant, 14 C-labeled α[( p -1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenyl]-ω-hydroxyhexa(oxyethylene) (TOP-6EOH) ( 14 C in the ethylene oxide unit adjacent to the aromatic ring), was investigated in rats. In experiment I, intact rats given a single oral dose of [ 14 C]TOP-6EOH eliminated 6% of the 14 C in the urine, 2% in the respiratory gases, and 89% in the feces within 96 hr. In experiment II, bile duct-cannulated rats given a single oral dose of [ 14 C]TOP-6EOH eliminated an average of 3% of the total 14 C in the urine, 3% in the feces, and 79% in the bile within 48 hr. In experiment III, rats were fitted with a bile duct cannula and a reentry cannula to facilitate the perfusion of 14 C-bile (collected from rats in experiment II) into the small intestine. Within 72 hr after the 14 C-bile was perfused into the small intestine, 3% of the 14 C was eliminated in the urine, 25% in the feces, and 68% in the bile. 14 C-Metabolites in the pooled bile collected in experiment II were isolated by conventional and high-pressure liquid chromatography. A total of 12 types of 14 C-labeled metabolites were identified in the bile. These metabolites resulted from: (i) oxidation of the alkyl group; (ii) oxidation of the terminal ethylene oxide unit; (iii) removal of one or more ethylene oxide units from the molecule; (iv) combinations of i–iii, and (v) conjugation of the products of i–iv.
Scheduling Jobs with Exponentially Distributed Processing Times and Intree Precedence Constraints on Two Parallel Machines

We consider n jobs with independent exponentially distributed processing times that are to be processed on two machines operating in parallel. The jobs are subject to precedence constraints that have the form of an intree, i.e., each job, except for the last one, has one direct successor. A job is at level l if its successor is at level l-1 the last job is at level 0. We assume that all jobs at level l have i.i.d. exponentially distributed processing times, with mean 1/µl. Under these assumptions, we show that the policy that schedules HLF highest level first minimizes the expected makespan in the class of preemptive as well as nonpreemptive schedules. This conclusion generalizes a previous result of Chandy and Reynolds.
Generation of mountain wave-induced mean flows and turbulence near the tropopause

Gravity waves interacting with the tropopause are investigated using linear and nonlinear numerical simulations. The tropopause is modelled as the interface between two layers of constant Brunt–Vaisala frequency. The simulations are two-dimensional with uniform horizontal flow, the background rotation is ignored, and the gravity waves are generated by flow over an idealized isolated obstacle shape at the surface. The nonlinear simulation results show a horizontal wave-induced mean flow at the tropopause similar to previous results treating horizontally periodic internal waves impinging on a density-gradient interface. The mean flow created by the impinging gravity waves is increased over the background wind below the tropopause and decreased above the tropopause. This effect is not present in the linear simulations. The nonlinear effect is felt more strongly for cases with higher mountain heights and larger values of the stability in the upper layer. The final steady mountain-wave flow appears to permanently retain this mean-flow change. The deceleration region above the tropopause results in a patch of slow-moving fluid near the interface which induces local regions of reduced Richardson number and may help explain some observational results of higher turbulence intensities near the tropopause over mountainous regions.
The volume and evolution of web page templates

Web pages contain a combination of unique content and template material, which is present across multiple pages and used primarily for formatting, navigation, and branding. We study the nature, evolution, and prevalence of these templates on the web. As part of this work, we develop new randomized algorithms for template extraction that perform approximately twenty times faster than existing approaches with similar quality. Our results show that 40--50% of the content on the web is template content. Over the last eight years, the fraction of template content has doubled, and the growth shows no sign of abating. Text, links, and total HTML bytes within templates are all growing as a fraction of total content at a rate of between 6 and 8% per year. We discuss the deleterious implications of this growth for information retrieval and ranking, classification, and link analysis.
Aspects of the magmatic geochemistry of bismuth

Abstract Bismuth has been determined in 74 rocks from a differentiated tholeiitic dolerite, two calc-alkaline batholith suites and in 66 mineral separates from one of the batholiths. Average bismuth contents, weighted for rock type, of the Great Lake (Tasmania) dolerite, the Southern California batholith and the Idaho batholith are, 32, 50 and 70 ppb respectively. All three bodies demonstrate an enrichment of bismuth in residual magmas with magmatic differentiation. Bismuth is greatly enriched (relative to the host rock) in the calcium-rich accessory minerals, apatite and sphene, but other mineral analyses show that a Bi-Ca association is of little significance to the magmatic geochemistry of bismuth. Most of the bismuth, in the Southern California batholith at least, occurs in a trace mineral phase (possibly sulfides) present as inclusions in the rock-forming minerals.
Metabolism of tissues from pregnant, diabetic rats in vitro.

The carbohydrate metabolism of maternal liver, placenta, and fetal liver obtained from normal, pregnant, diabetic, and diabetic pregnant animals was measured in vitro. All of these alterations in the physiologic status of the animal produce complex alterations in the carbohydrate metabolism of the tissues studied. The simplest hypothesis which adequately accounts for the observed results is that the effects of pregnancy and diabetes are approximately additive in the maternal organism, and that the metabolic defects of the infant are primarily the result of an oversupply of glucose to the fetus in utero.
Preliminary results with sutured colonic anastomoses reinforced with dye-enhanced fibrinogen and a diode laser

A common cause of morbidity in patients recovering from bowel surgery is leakage from colonic anastomoses. A technique utilizing a laser activated protein solder to strengthen colonic anastomoses in a canine model was evaluated. Following creation of six single-layer interrupted suture anastomoses in four dogs, a protein solder consisting of indocyanine green dye and fibrinogen was topically appied to the serosal surface and exposed to 808 nm continuous wave diode laser energy. Immediately following anastomosis, the mean leakage pressure of sutures alone was 129 +/- 14 mm hg (n equals 6), while the mean leakage pressure of sutures reinforced with the laser welded solder was 312 +/- 32 mm hg (n equals 6) (p <0.001). Histologic examination of sections take through the anastomosis demonstrated a layer of fibrinogen across the anastomotic gap without evidence of thermal injury. Laser activated protein solder significantly enhances the immediate strength of sutured colonic anastomoses without causing appreciable thermal injury to surrounding tissues.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Thermomechanical Properties, Collapse Pressure, and Expansion of Shape Memory Polymer Neurovascular Stent Prototypes

Shape memory polymer stent prototypes were fabricated from thermoplastic polyurethane. Commercial stents are generally made of stainless steel or other alloys. These alloys are too stiff and prevent most stent designs from being able to navigate small and tortuous vessels to reach intracranial lesions. A solid tubular model and a high flexibility laser etched model are presented. The stents were tested for collapse in a pressure chamber. At 37°C, the full collapse pressure was comparable to that of commercially available stents, and higher than the estimated maximum pressure exerted by intracranial arteries. However, there is a potential for onset of collapse, which needs further study. The stents were crimped and expanded, the laser-etched stent showed full recovery with an expansion ratio of 2.7 and a 1% axial shortening.
Non-vacuum YBCO films on buffer layered Ni tapes: processing, growth and properties

YBCO thin films on buffer layered Ni tapes were investigated via a sol-gel technique. YBCO films were prepared using solutions of various Y, Ba, and Cu precursor compounds. SrTiO/sub 3/ was used on Ni tapes as a buffer layer, ESEM, EDS, and XRD analysis were used to characterize the YBCO films. Sol-gel YBCO coated conductors on buffer layered Ni tapes yielded a T/sub c/ of 90 K by a transport 4-wire resistance measurement. The films produced in this manner were homogeneous, and free of pinholes and cracks.
A longitudinal view of improved management strategies and outcomes after iatrogenic iliac artery rupture during endovascular aneurysm repair

Background Intraoperative rupture of the iliac artery is a serious complication of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), the outcomes of which have changed with increasing experience and improved endovascular tools over the past 2 decades. Over the past 15 years, the incidence and management of iliac rupture has changed as devices have improved and experience has grown. This study reviews our longitudinal experience with this complication. Methods All cases of iliac artery rupture during EVAR from 1997 through 2011 were reviewed for presentation, treatment strategies, and outcomes. Results Iliac artery rupture complicated 20 (3%) of 707 EVARs performed. Sixteen (80%) common and four (20%) external iliac arteries were ruptured. Hypotension (systolic blood pressure: Conclusions Iliac artery rupture remains relatively uncommon but can carry a high morbidity and mortality. As device technology, imaging quality for preoperative planning, and experience level have improved, iliac rupture has become less common, and outcomes in the setting of iliac rupture have significantly improved. Endoluminal management has evolved as the primary treatment strategy. Resection of both hypogastric arteries is associated with mortality from pelvic ischemia, a likely indicator of systemic disease.
A Bayesian Network Framework for Real-Time Object Selection

Image segmentation is essential in many computer vision and image understanding applications. We present a Bayesian network for object boundary detection in which the MPE (most probable explanation) before any evidence can produce multiple non-overlapping, non-self-intersecting closed contours and the MPE with evidence-where one or more connected boundary points are provided-produces a single non-self-intersecting, closed contour that accurately defines an object's boundary. We also present a near-linear-time algorithm that determines the MPE by computing the minimum-path spanning tree of a weighted, planar graph and finding the excluded edge that forms the most probable loop. This allows for real-time feedback within an interactive environment in which every mouse movement produces a recomputation of the MPE based on the new evidence and displays the corresponding closed loop. We call this interface "object highlighting" since object boundaries appear and disappear as the mouse cursor moves.
Correction to "Pseudorandom scanning"

Summary form only given, as follows. The word "ingenuously" in the first sentence of the above correspondence (Ibid., vol COM-12, Sep 1964, pp 105-107) should have been "ingeniously."
Head‐to‐Head Cross‐Linked Adduct between the Antitumor Unit Bis(μ‐N,N′‐di‐p‐tolylformamidinato)dirhodium(II,II) and the DNA Fragment d(GpG)

Reactions of the compound cis-[Rh 2 (DTolF) 2 (CH 3 CN) 6 ](BF 4 ) 2 , a formamidinate derivative of the class of antitumor compounds [Rh 2 (O 2 CR) 4 ] (R=Me, Et, Pr), with 9-ethylguanine (9-EtGuaH) or the dinucleotide d(GpG) proceed by substitution of the acetonitrile groups, with the guanine bases spanning the Rh-Rh bond, in a bridging fashion, through sites N7/06. In the case of 9-EtGuaH, both head-to-head (HH) and head-to-tail (HT) isomers are formed, whereas with the tethered bases in d(GpG), only one right-handed conformer HH1R [Rh 2 -(DTolF) 2 {d(GpG)}] is present in solution. For both cis-[Rh 2 (DTolF) 2 (9-EtGuaH) 2 ](BF 4 ) 2 and [Rh 2 (DTolF) 2 {d-(GpG)}], the absence of N7 protona-tion at low pH and the substantial decrease of the pK a values for N1-H deprotonation, support N7/06 binding of the bases to the dirhodium core. The N7/06 binding of the bases is further corroborated by the downfield shift by Δδ∼4.0 ppm of the 13 C NMR resonances for the C6 nuclei as compared to the corresponding resonances of the free ligands. The HH arrangement of the guanine bases in [Rh 2 (DTolF) 2 -{d(GpG)}] is indicated by the intense H8/H8 ROE cross-peaks in the 2D ROESY NMR spectrum. Complete characterization of the [Rh 2 (DTolF) 2 {d-(GpG)}] conformer by 2D NMR spectroscopy supports anti-orientation and N (C3'-endo) conformation for both deoxyribose residues. The N-pucker for the 5'-G base is universal in such crosslinks, but it is very unusual for platinum and unprecedented for dirhodium HH cross-linked adducts to have both deoxyribose residues in the N-type conformation. The bulk, the nonlabile character, and the electron-donating ability of the formamidinate bridging groups spanning the dirhodium core affect the nature of the preferred dirhodium DNA adducts. Molecular modeling studies performed on [Rh 2 -(DTolF) 2 {d(GpG)}] corroborate the structural features obtained by NMR spectroscopy.
A theoretical estimate of the energy barriers between stable conformations of the proline dimer

Synopsis Semi-empirical energy calculations for an internal Pro-Pro dimer are presented that take into account the nature of the flexibility of the proline ring due to its puckering. Calculations show that three stable conformations are available for the dimer: the cis (w = O", + = 160'); the trans (w = 180", $ = 160", also referred to as trans'); and the cis' (w = 180°, tb = -40') conformations. The best conformational pathways between these stable conformations are determined. Calculations also show that the barrier for cis'-trans' conversion is of the same order of magnitude as that for cis-trans conversion.
An Introduction to the Use and Preparation of Artificial Diets with Special Emphasis on Diets for Phytophagous Lepidoptera

(1971). An Introduction to the Use and Preparation of Artificial Diets with Special Emphasis on Diets for Phytophagous Lepidoptera. PANS Pest Articles & News Summaries: Vol. 17, No. 4, pp. 421-424.
Tuft-cell-derived IL-25 regulates an intestinal ILC2–epithelial response circuit

Parasitic helminths and allergens induce a type 2 immune response leading to profound changes in tissue physiology, including hyperplasia of mucus-secreting goblet cells and smooth muscle hypercontractility. This response, known as 'weep and sweep', requires interleukin (IL)-13 production by tissue-resident group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) and recruited type 2 helper T cells (TH2 cells). Experiments in mice and humans have demonstrated requirements for the epithelial cytokines IL-33, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and IL-25 in the activation of ILC2s, but the sources and regulation of these signals remain poorly defined. In the small intestine, the epithelium consists of at least five distinct cellular lineages, including the tuft cell, whose function is unclear. Here we show that tuft cells constitutively express IL-25 to sustain ILC2 homeostasis in the resting lamina propria in mice. After helminth infection, tuft-cell-derived IL-25 further activates ILC2s to secrete IL-13, which acts on epithelial crypt progenitors to promote differentiation of tuft and goblet cells, leading to increased frequencies of both. Tuft cells, ILC2s and epithelial progenitors therefore comprise a response circuit that mediates epithelial remodelling associated with type 2 immunity in the small intestine, and perhaps at other mucosal barriers populated by these cells.
UHC Presents Universal Challenges

“Universal health coverage” (UHC) is the current global rallying call in an ongoing movement aimed at strengthening national health systems to extend their reach and promote equity. The conceptuali...
Background seismicity rates and precursory seismic quiescence: Imperial Valley, California

The problem of recognizing precursory seismicity rate changes consists of two steps. First, a background or normal rate must be determined and, second, anomalous rates must be recognized. In this paper, we address the first of these steps, determining a background seismicity rate. Two problems must be dealt with if a meaningful background rate is to be determined. First dependent events must be recognized and removed from consideration and, second, detection or reporting changes must be accounted for. A number of techniques are available for recognizing dependent events. We used the one developed by McNally (1976) in this work. The technique we used for recgonizing detection and reporting changes was developed by Habermann (1983). We demonstrate these techniques on seismicity from the Imperial Valley region of California. After a reasonable background rate is determined, we examine seismicity rates in this region prior to the Imperial Valley earthquake of 15 October 1979. The source area of the earthquake shows a possible precursory quiescence which started during July 1979. The time of this rate decrease is close to the time of a change in the seismic instrumentation in the Imperial Valley which makes it difficult to determine whether the decrease is real or related to detection. Several other seismicity rate changes observed in the Imperial Valley appear to be related to changes in the operation of the network there. These include quiescent periods which occur only if magnitude cutoffs are applied to the data and periods of low reporting of events with M ≧ 2.5. These observations suggest that magnitudes were not reported for some events during several time periods. All of these observations indicate that determination of detection histories is crucial for meaningful seismicity studies.
NONFORMALDEHYDE POLYMERIZATION-CROSSLINKING TREATMENT OF COTTON FABRICS FOR IMPROVED STRENGTH RETENTION

A new concept in polycarboxylic crosslinking agents for cellulose is introduced using olefinically unsaturated dicarboxylic acids, maleic acid (MA), and itaconic acid (IA). In contrast to previous studies involving acids containing at least three carboxylic groups per molecule, we found that the dicarboxylic monomers can be effective cross-linking agents for cellulose when they are applied in the presence of a free radical initiator and an esterification catalyst. The results demonstrate that the system of a 1:1 mole ratio of MA and IA substantially increases a smooth drying appearance while maintaining much improved strength retention of the treated fabric and without involving any formaldehyde. Striking effects appear in the increased Stoll flex abrasion resistance of the treated fabric. The evidence of cellulose crosslinks through esterification reactions of carboxyl groups in MA and IA and cellulose hydroxyl groups is confirmed by chemical analyses and FT-IR spectra.
Abstract LB-385: The Hippo pathway component YAP1 promotes cerebellar precursor survival after irradiation and can accelerate medulloblastoma onset

Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant solid tumor in children. These tumors arise in the developing cerebellum, a region of the brain that undergoes rapid expansion after birth. Current treatments for medulloblastoma include radiation, surgery and chemotherapy, all of which are associated with devastating physical and mental side effects in long-term survivors. Recently, cells within medulloblastomas that survive radiation treatment and can repopulate the tumors post-radiation have been identified. These cells reside in regions adjacent to blood vessels, and their post-radiation survival is promoted by PI3 kinase pathway activity. Ideal medulloblastoma therapies will attack the tumors and eliminate the tumor re-initiating cells but spare the rest of the brain. We have recently published that the oncogenic transcriptional co-activator YAP1, which is negatively regulated by the Hippo pathway, is up regulated and amplified in a subset of human medulloblastomas with aberrant Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling. YAP1 is found in cells of the perivascular niche, where proposed tumor-repopulating cells reside. Post-irradiation, YAP1 was found in newly-growing tumor cells. We report here that YAP1 is actively involved in survival post-irradiation. CGNPs that over-express YAP1 in vitro proliferate more and present less apoptosis after irradiation than those over-expressing GFP. Among YAP1 target genes in CGNPs we found Securin, which, apart from its known role in mitosis, it has been shown to have roles in survival after DNA damage. We also found Securin highly expressed in human and mouse medulloblastomas. Moreover, injection of YAP 1 over-expressing medulloblastoma cells in postnatal day 4 wild type mice accelerate medulloblastoma onset compared to GFP over-expressing cells. These findings implicate YAP1 as a new Shh effector that may be targeted by medulloblastoma therapies aimed at eliminating medulloblastoma recurrence. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-385.
The Educational Impact of Creating a New UAV for Curriculum Enhancement

The Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering of Virginia Tech requires a new fleet of UAVs for use in augmenting the aircraft flight mechanics curriculum for undergraduates. This paper describes a project that was undertaken by a mixture of graduate and undergraduate students to meet that requirement. The pedagogical methods employed in designing this experience are discussed. The aircraft’s requirements and the design methodologies used to meet those requirements are discussed. The construction of the aircraft, and a preliminary flight test summary are also detailed. Included in this report are data that can be used to create a 6-DOF simulation of the UAV discussed in this paper. This project was used to create educational opportunities for students to design, build, and flight test a UAV in a production environment that goes beyond a traditional DBF project.
RATES OF MOLECULAR AND CHROMOSOMAL EVOLUTION IN SALAMANDERS.

Changes in karyotype are receiving increasing attention from evolutionary biologists. This is in part because recent observations suggest that evolution at the organismal level is correlated more highly with karyotypic evolution than with structural gene evolution (Wilson et al., 1974b, 1975, 1977b; Prager et al., 1976; Bush et al., 1977). The salamander order Urodela is of interest in this regard because, as has long been recognized by herpetologists (D. B. Wake, pers. comm), this group is karyotypically conservative. To determine how conservative a group is, it is desirable to calculate rates of evolution. Recently, a fossil-based method was used to calculate a mean rate for 11 extant genera of salamanders (Wilson et al., 1975; Bush et al., 1977). As the authors pointed out, this method has several weaknesses, especially when applied to a group whose fossil record is so little known. For this reason, we thought it important to examine chromosomal evolution in salamanders by another method, preferably one that is not so dependent on the fossil record. Biochemical methods of comparing protein sequences can also provide estimates of divergence times among species and thus enable independent calculation of rates of chromosomal evolution (Wilson et al., 1974a,b; Wilson et al., 1977a). In this article we present the results of using a biochemical method to estimate rates of chromosomal evolution in the urodeles. The biochemical method is based on comparing the serum albumins of species whose karyotypes are known. The albumin comparisons provide an approximate estimate of the time elapsed since the species compared last shared a common ancestor. With this time, one can calculate an approximate minimum value for the mean rate at which karyotypic differences have arisen between the species compared. Two methods of analyzing the biochemical data were used and both give results in approximate agreement with those obtained by the fossil-based method, confirming that karyotypic evolution in salamanders has been slower than in frogs and very much slower than in mammals.
A comparative assessment of clinical whole exome and transcriptome profiling across sequencing centers: implications for precision cancer medicine

// Eliezer M. Van Allen 1, * , Dan Robinson 2, * , Colm Morrissey 3 , Colin Pritchard 5 , Alma Imamovic 1 , Scott Carter 1 , Mara Rosenberg 1 , Aaron McKenna 1 , Yi-Mi Wu 2 , Xuhong Cao 2 , Arul Chinnaiyan 2 , Levi Garraway 1 , Peter S. Nelson 3, 4, 6 1 Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, 02142, MA, USA 2 Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, 48109, MI, USA 3 Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, 98195, WA, USA 4 Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, 98195, WA, USA 5 Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, 98195, WA, USA 6 Divisions of Human Biology and Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, 98109, WA, USA * These authors contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: Peter S. Nelson, e-mail: pnelson@fhcrc.org Keywords: precision oncology, genomics, sequencing, prostate cancer Received: October 31, 2015 Accepted: March 29, 2016 Published: May 05, 2016 ABSTRACT Advances in next generation sequencing technologies provide approaches to comprehensively determine genomic alterations within a tumor that occur as a cause or consequence of neoplastic growth. Though providers offering various cancer genomics assays have multiplied, the level of reproducibility in terms of the technical sensitivity and the conclusions resulting from the data analyses have not been assessed. We sought to determine the reproducibility of ascertaining tumor genome aberrations using whole exome sequencing (WES) and RNAseq. Samples of the same metastatic tumors were independently processed and subjected to WES of tumor and constitutional DNA, and RNAseq of RNA, at two sequencing centers. Overall, the sequencing results were highly comparable. Concordant mutation calls ranged from 88% to 93% of all variants including 100% agreement across 154 cancer-associated genes. Regions of copy losses and gains were uniformly identified and called by each sequencing center and chromosomal plots showed nearly identical patterns. Transcript abundance levels also exhibited a high degree of concordance (r 2 ≥ 0.78;Pearson). Biologically-relevant gene fusion events were concordantly called. Exome sequencing of germline DNA samples provided a minimum of 30X coverage depth across 56 genes where incidental findings are recommended to be reported. One possible pathogenic variant in the APC gene was identified by both sequencing centers. The findings from this study demonstrate that results of somatic and germline sequencing are highly concordant across sequencing centers that have substantial experience in the technological requirements for preparing, sequencing and annotating DNA and RNA from human biospecimens.
Stress, self-esteem, and racism: relationships with low birth weight and preterm delivery in African American women.

Low birth weight (LBW) is two times greater for African Americans than for Whites. Stress, self-esteem, and racism were proposed as correlates for LBW. A sample of African American women (N = 165) were interviewed in a prenatal HMO. Multiple regressions analyses run on the final sample (N = 147) demonstrated no significant relationship between stress, self-esteem, and racism with newborn birth weight or gestational age. A significant positive relationship, however, between racism and stress (p < .001) and a significant negative relationship between self-esteem and stress (p < .001) were demonstrated. Continued research on variables such as stress, self-esteem, and racism is necessary to understand their relationships to LBW in the African American childbearing family.
The Theory of Fuzzy Decisions, Optimal Taxation and Cost-Benefit Distribution

The previous chapters of Volume I [93lb] have been used to develop a logical framework for the assessment and accountability of costs and benefits of social projects, feasibility studies, decision making in automatic mechanical systems. In this chapter, we shall examine social payment distribution of costs associated with projects and social decisions of all forms and show its relevance to cost-stress distribution in mechanical systems. The payment distribution of total cost of social project among the members of the society is equivalent to asking the question as to who pays for the cost of government and governance of the sociopolitical organization of society. It is assumed here that government and governance together constitute a social project and that such a social project has benefits to the society. The benefits come to us through the consumption or mere availability of government goods and services. The total output and services present themselves as benefit characteristics that bring satisfaction which is measured in terms of individual utility indices the sum of which constitutes social benefit.
Size‐Dependent Cellular Uptake of DNA Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles

The extensive use of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in nanomedicine, especially for intracellular imaging, photothermal therapy, and drug delivery, has necessitated the study of how functionalized AuNPs engage with living biological interfaces like the mammalian cell. Nanoparticle size, shape, surface charge, and surface functionality can affect the accumulation of functionalized AuNPs in cells. Confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry demonstrate that CaSki cells, a human cervical cancer cell line, internalize AuNPs functionalized with hairpin, single stranded, and double stranded DNA differently. Surface charge and DNA conformation are shown to have no effect on the cell-nanoparticle interaction. CaSki cells accumulate small DNA-AuNPs in greater quantities than large DNA-AuNPs, demonstrating that size is the major contributor to cellular uptake properties. These data suggest that DNA-AuNPs can be easily tailored through modulation of size to design functional AuNPs with optimal cellular uptake properties and enhanced performance in nanomedicine applications.