cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Self-Packaged, Flexible, Bendable MEMS Sensors and Energy Harvesters

Desire to integrate electronic devices more closely into the everyday life of the consumer led to the emergence of flexible devices, which can conform to any shape surface. These flexible devices are lighter, thinner, and more resilient than their rigid counterparts. Since consumers these days are heavily concerned about the visual look of any product along with its technological features, the flexible devices also pave the way for innovation and creativity from the aesthetic point of view. As more and more electronics including wearable devices and displays are shifting towards the flexible regime, their basic components like sensors and integrated circuits are also required to be flexible and conformal. This paper reviews the development and evolution of several types of flexible MEMS sensors, accelerometers, and energy harvesters from the design, fabrication, and performance perspective.
Measurement of trunk muscle strength after stroke: An integrative review.

Research examining the measurement of trunk muscle strength after stroke is limited and diverse. This review, therefore, was undertaken to summarize research addressing what is known about measurem...
Speaking with a KN95 face mask: ASR performance and speaker compensation

The increasing prevalence of face masks in the United States due to the COVID-19 pandemic necessitates serious consideration of the functional impact of wearing a mask on speech. This study considers how the presence of a KN95 mask affects the performance of a commercial ASR system, Google Cloud Speech. We present evidence that wearing a mask does not impact ASR performance at the sentence level. Moreover, speakers may be naturally adapting to the mask by increasing their vowel space area. However, when speakers intentionally altered their speech by speaking clearly or loudly (though not slowly), ASR performance improved. These findings suggest that ASR users can employ speech strategies to achieve better ASR results when wearing a mask. Beyond healthy speakers, our study has implications for mask-wearing ASR users with otherwise reduced speech intelligibility. Copyright © 2021 ISCA.
Vascular characteristics of intracranial arteriovenous malformations which correlate with symptoms of hemorrhage and steal

Fifteen vascular characteristics of intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) were reviewed in 65 patients to identify those correlating with hemorrhage or clinical steal. For hemorrhage a strong positive correlation was found with central venous drainage (P < 0.0001), periventricular or intraventricular AVM location (P = 0.0002), and intranidus aneurysm (P = 0.028). A strong negative correlation was found with angiomatous change (P = 0.0005), cortical venous drainage (P = 0.005), and mixed venous drainage (P =0.021). Three characteristics correlated highly with steal: angiomatous change (P < 0.0001), size (P < 0.0001), and peripheral venous drainage (P = 0.045). These data should prove useful in identifying patients at higher risk for developing hemorrhage and clinical steal.
Discussion of “Regulatory Incentives for Earnings Management through Asset Impairment Reversals in China”

Shimin Chen, Yuetang Wang, and Ziye Zhao (2009) examine motivations for managers of Chinese-listed firms to report asset impairment reversals. The study documents that the reporting of such reversals reflects incentives to avoid delisting from Chinese stock exchanges and that stronger monitoring mechanisms attenuate this opportunistic reporting. The study exploits a unique feature of financial reporting within China, which allows large sample investigation of impairment reversals. I discuss the study's strengths, note some limitations on the analyses and inferences, and suggest recommendations for future research.
Sedentary behavior and adiposity-associated inflammation: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Background Sedentary behavior is associated with adiposity and cardiometabolic risk. Purpose To determine the associations between sedentary behavior and measures of adiposity-associated inflammation. Methods Between 2002 and 2005, a total of 1543 Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis participants completed detailed health history questionnaires, underwent physical measurements, and had blood assayed for adiponectin, leptin, tumor necrosis factor–alpha (TNF-α) and resistin. Analyses included linear regression completed in 2010. The mean age was 64.3 years and nearly 50% were female. Forty-one percent were non-Hispanic white, 24% Hispanic-American, 20% African-American, and 14% Chinese-American. Results In linear regression analyses and with adjustment for age, gender, ethnicity, education, BMI, smoking, alcohol consumption, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, hormone therapy and waist circumference, sedentary behavior was associated with higher natural log ("ln") of leptin and ln TNF-α but a lower ln adiponectin-to-leptin ratio (β=0.07, β=0.03 and –0.07, p p p Conclusions Sedentary behavior is associated with unfavorable levels of adiposity-associated inflammation.
Adult manifestation of congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to incomplete 21-hydroxylase deficiency mimicking polycystic ovarian disease

Abstract This study was carried out to document the postpubertal presentation of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), to elaborate the diagnostic criteria for it, and to investigate family members of CAH patients. Serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) was measured in normal women and 25 hirsute oligomenorrheic patients, five of whom were shown to have CAH. These five CAH patients, as a group, had significantly elevated levels of 17OHP when compared to normal and hirsute women, although the other 20 hirsute oligomenorrheic women also had higher levels of 17OHP than the follicular phase control subjects. A single intravenous bolus of 0.25 mg of adrenocorticotropic homone (ACTH) caused much larger increases in 17OHP in all five CAH patients than in the control and hirsute women. The five CAH patients had decreased cortisol but normal 11-deoxycortisol responses to ACTH, thus indicating 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21HD). Clinically, they were indistinguishable from women with polycystic ovarian disease (PCO) and had basal serum levels of androgens and urinary 17-ketosteroids which were similar to those found in 47 other women presenting with the complaint of hirsutism. However, the androstenedione levels and androstenedione/cortisol ratios in response to ACTH were significantly higher in the five CAH patients than in both the normal and hirsute women. Of seven family members tested, two fathers and one mother had an intermediate 17OHP response to ACTH, thus suggesting heterozygosity. Human lymphocyte antigen (HLA) typing on family members indicated that the inheritance of the disorder may be linked to B antigens. Two siblings of one of the CAH patients had normal 17OHP responses to ACTH and also had a different HLA-B complement. These data document the existence of adult manifestation of CAH, due to 21 HD. This disorder presents with androgen excess and oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea and mimicks PCO. The diagnosis of it highes upon the post-ACTH rise in 17OHP, whereas the levels of serum androgens and urinary 17-ketosteroids may be inconclusive.
Validated Constraint Compilation

Inaccurate scientific computation is useless at best and dangerous at worst. We address several major sources of inaccuracy. Roundoff error is well known and there is a great deal of work on minimizing it [Act96,Tay97]. By using interval constraints, we don’t eliminate roundoff error, but we make it explicit, so each answer comes with a clear indication of its accuracy. Another source of error arises from misapplying an algorithm (e.g. starting the Newton method with a poor initial choice, or using a method in a case where it does not perform well). We propose a method for reducing the chance of numerical errors in scientific programming by casting the problem as the design of an appropriate constraint solving algorithm and then separating the algorithm design process into two steps.
Children in Divorce: Intervention in the Phase of Separation

Divorce of their parents can create difficulties for the development of young children. The ability of children to integrate the various losses involved in the breaking up of a family is impeded by limitations of their cognitive understanding of events taking place during the separation phase. Because their thinking process is as yet immature, children often feel responsible for the divorce, and they otherwise distort the meaning of the events about them. The pediatrician can often guide and encourage parents to facilitate their children's understanding and acceptance of the changes in their lives.
Hypothermic Machine Preservation Reduces Molecular Markers of Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Human Liver Transplantation

Hypothermic machine perfusion (HMP) is in its infancy in clinical liver transplantation. Potential benefits include diminished preservation injury (PI) and improved graft function. Molecular data to date has been limited to extrapolation of animal studies. We analyzed liver tissue and serum collected during our Phase 1 trial of liver HMP. Grafts preserved with HMP were compared to static cold stored (SCS) transplant controls. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunohistochemistry and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were performed on liver biopsies. Expression of inflammatory cytokines, adhesion molecules and chemokines, oxidation markers, apoptosis and acute phase proteins and the levels of CD68 positive macrophages in tissue sections were evaluated. RT-PCR of reperfusion biopsy samples in the SCS group showed high expression of inflammatory cytokines, adhesion molecules and chemokines, oxidative markers and acute phase proteins. This upregulation was significantly attenuated in livers that were preserved by HMP. Immunofluorescence showed larger numbers of CD68 positive macrophages in the SCS group when compared to the HMP group. TEM samples also revealed ultrastructural damage in the SCS group that was not seen in the HMP group. HMP significantly reduced proinflammatory cytokine expression, relieving the downstream activation of adhesion molecules and migration of leukocytes, including neutrophils and macrophages when compared to SCS controls.
Managing the Historic Rural Landscape; Managing Historic Sites and Buildings: Reconciling Presentation and Preservation

Managing the Historic Rural Landscape. Jane Grenville. ed. New York: Routledge, 1999.179 pp. Managing Historic Sites and Buildings: Reconciling Presentation and Preservation. Gill Chitty and David Baker. eds. New York: Routledge, 1999.193 pp.
Understanding Project-Based Learning in Second Life with a Pedagogy, Training, and Assessment Trio

This paper presents an empirical study of how Second Life (SL) was utilized for a highly successful project‐based graduate interdisciplinary communication course. Researchers found that an integrated threefold approach emphasizing project‐based pedagogy, technical training and support, and assessment/research was effective in cultivating and understanding learning in SL. Based on research findings, a project‐based application of SL that fully accommodates student experiential learning is recommended. It is suggested that teachers who are new To Whom It May Concern: SL and are preparing to “take the plunge” adopt a systematic team approach to integrate this trio of components. The students participating in this study formed an interdisciplinary team for their required SL project in which they chose to initiate a collaboration with the Basic Initiative and a group of architecture students to create a virtual presence for two green, sustainable, urban housing designs called the Alley Flats. Preliminary surve...
Quantitative measurement of nasality in EMR children

A new bioelectronic system for detecting and measuring voice parameters (TONAR) was used to quantify nasality in 50 educable mentally retarded children. Results indicated that over one-third of the children evaluated were hypemasal. The high prevalence of excessive nasality in EMR children was contrasted with (1) normative data on 78 nonretarded children collected with the bioelectronic system and (2) with prior incidence data based on listener judgments reported for retarded and nonretarded populations. The unique advantages of instrumental measurement of the elusive problem of hypemasality are discussed. Of the four basic processes of speech production-respiration, phonation, resonation and articulation-disturbances in articulation are generally considered the most prevalent in mentally retarded populations. For example, the incidence figure of articulation disturbances reported in two separate studies of educable retarded youngsters (EMR) in special classes was 53% (Steinman, Grossman, and Reece, 1963; Wilson, 1966). Phonation and resonation disorders, however, are not uncommon in retarded populations and are believed to constitute the second major area of speech disturbance (Smith, 1968). Schlanger and Gottleben (1957) noted that 240 of their 5 16 institutionalized subjects (46%) had voice disorders. Blanchard (1964) also reported a substantial prevalence of voice problems among her 350 institutionalized children. She maintained that 3 1% of the residents had atypical voices. More recently, Marshall (1967) found that 32% of her 200 noninstitutionalized retarded children (IQ 670) demonstrated voice problems. The investigations attest to Matthews’ (1971) statement that the incidence of voice disorders among retarded populations is high-considerably higher than in the general population. Although many observations of the vocal quality of retarded persons have been subjective, definite descriptions have been made. Schlanger (1953), for example, diagnosed retarded subjects as having nasal, harsh and breathy voice qualities. Investigators seem to agree that hypemasality constitutes retarded persons’ primary voice disturbance. Schlanger and Gottleben (1957) indicated that 26% of their voice-disordered group were hypemasal, whereas Marshall (1967) found that 35% of her subjects with voice problems demonstrated excessive nasality. Most of the literature germane to voice disturbances, however, has been dependent upon listener judgments, and human perceptions of voice qualities are
Thiol Additions To Dissymmetrical 1,4-Diary Sulfonyl-2-Butynes Regioselectivity And Stereoselectivity

Abstract Regioselectivity is restored in the addition of thiols to 1,4-diarylsulfonyl-2-butynes based on differing electron-demands of the substituents on the aromatic rings attached to the butynyl sulfones. Kinetic control of addition leading to preponderant formation of the less stable vinyl sulfide with an E geometry is observed. Thermodynamic stability favors the Z isomer of the vinyl sulfide. The results are consistent with and confirm the rationale proposed earlier, implicating the intermediacy of an allene.
Short-lag spatial coherence beamforming of photoacoustic images for enhanced visualization of prostate brachytherapy seeds

Prostate brachytherapy, administered by implanting tiny radioactive seeds to treat prostate cancer, currently relies on transrectal ultrasound imaging for intraoperative visualization of the metallic seeds. Photoacoustic (PA) imaging has been suggested as a feasible alternative to ultrasound imaging due to its superior sensitivity to metal surrounded by tissue. However, PA images suffer from poor contrast when seeds are distant from the light source. We propose a transperineal light delivery method and investigate the application of a short-lag spatial coherence (SLSC) beamformer to enhance low-contrast photoacoustic signals that are distant from this type of light source. Performance is compared to a conventional delay-and-sum beamformer. A pure gelatin phantom was implanted with black ink-coated brachytherapy seeds and the mean contrast was improved by 3–25 dB with the SLSC beamformer for fiber-seed distances ranging 0.6–6.3 cm, when approximately 10% of the receive aperture elements were included in the short-lag sum. For fiber-seed distances greater than 3–4 cm, the mean contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was approximately doubled with the SLSC beamformer, while mean signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) were mostly similar with both beamformers. Lateral resolution was decreased by 2 mm, but improved with larger short-lag values at the expense of poorer CNR and SNR. Similar contrast and CNR improvements were achieved with an uncoated brachytherapy seed implanted in ex vivo tissue. Results indicate that the SLSC beamformer has potential to enhance the visualization of prostate brachytherapy seeds that are distant from the light source.
Potential for a Lidar-Based, Portable, 1 km Meteorological Tower

Abstract Lidar measurements of wind, temperature and water vapor, using a variety of techniques that rely on the detection and analysis of laser light backscattered from the atmosphere, allow data to be obtained that are similar to those hypothetically available from a meteorologically instrumented lower extending to 1 km altitude (or more). This paper reviews these various recent accomplishments in lidar instrumentation without attempting historical completeness. Based on criteria of 1) altitude resolution to 50 m, 2) tower-like measurement geometry, 3) hardware commonality between techniques and 4) daytime as well as nighttime operation, the intercomparison results in recommended techniques to be combined for a compact, mobile lidar “tower.” For horizontal wind, recommendations include pulsed time-of-flight lidar, for vertical wind, pulsed direct Doppler lidar at visible or shorter wavelengths; for temperature, Cabannes-scattering linewidth or rotational Raman band shape; and for water vapor, vibrationa...
Innervation of the abdominopelvic ureter in the cat.

The distribution of cholinergic and adrenergic nerves in the cat ureter was studied by specific histochemical techniques for acetylcholinesterase and norepinephrine. The innervation of the ureter is characterized by (1) a generalized dual cholinergic and adrenergic nerve supply, (2) the presence of muscular innervation, (3) a continuity of terminal muscular and vascular nerves, (4) a widespread distribution of ganglion cells except in the pelviureteric area and (5) regional variations in the density of both cholinergic and adrenergic elements. On the basis of these findings, it is suggested that in the cat ureter peristalsis has a myogenic origin in the proximal end of the ureter, but its distalward propagation along the abdominal and pelvic segments is controlled by a dual sympathetic and parasympathetic influence which is mediated in part through a system of intrinsic ureteric ganglion cells.
Pathogenesis of temperature-sensitive mutants of Sindbis virus in the embryonated egg. III. Autologous, homologous, and heterologous interference.

Two temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants of Sindbis virus able to synthesize RNA, but not two ts mutants defective in viral RNA synthesis, reduced the lethality of the superinfecting heat-resistant parent strain of Sindbis virus in embryonated chicken eggs as compared with results in controls. Autologous interference (of mutant with parent) was observed under a variety of conditions. Time-course studies in one selected system showed that lower titers of superinfecting parent virus were detected in doubly infected eggs than in controls eggs infected with only parent virus. Homologous interference with lethality (of mutant with an immunologically different yet related group A togavirus) was observed when the interfering virus was a ts mutant of either Sindbis virus or Eastern equine encephalitis virus. Heterologous interference (mutant with unrelated virus) could also be demonstrated with a ts mutant of Sindbis virus against vaccinia virus-induced pock formation or death. In an autologous interference experiment, in which the ts mutant of Sindbis virus was administered by the yolk sac route and the egg was challenged with parent heat-resistant Sindbis virus by the allantoic route, an interferon-like substance was found in the allantoic fluids at the time of challenge. It is concluded that certain ts viruses of togavirus group A can induce autologous, homologous, and heterologous viral interference in vivo.
Saline adaptation of granules in mesophilic UASB reactors

Abstract We exposed mesophilic up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors to high concentrations of NaCl to elucidate the saline adaptation capacity of their granular sludge. We operated 10 lab-scale UASB reactors at 37 °C and added NaCl to the influent either abruptly or gradually. With abrupt addition, NaCl concentrations were increased from 0 g L−1 to 20, 30, 35, 40, 45, or 50 g L−1. With gradual addition, the NaCl concentrations were gradually increased from 0 to 64 g L−1 or 0 to 40 g L−1. We successfully saline-adapted the granules up to 32 g NaCl L−1, while maintaining high reactor performance, suggesting that 32 g NaCl L−1 is a practical level for system operation. In the UASB reactors gradually exposed to 32 g L−1 NaCl, methane production decreased by only 13%. We also learned that combining abrupt and gradual salinity increases could shorten the adaptation period. Thus we were able to shorten the adaptation period to only 30 days by increasing the salinity abruptly to 20 g L−1, followed by gradual adaptation to 30 g NaCl L−1.
A technique for determining and coding subclasses in pattern recognition problems

The problem of organizing and partitioning large amounts of data into classes such that all data in one class will have similar properties is well known in pattern recognition research. The first step in the process, a cluster finding technique, involves grouping a large amount of data into clusters which must be detected and encoded so that automatic pattern recognition can take place. This paper describes a method for detecting and coding clusters. The principal advantages of this technique are that clusters need not be known a priori and no matrix inversion is required.
Nicotine production by tobacco callus tissues and effect of plant growth regulators

Relationships between callus origin and the nicotine contents as well as conditions of nicotine production in tobacco tissue cultures were investigated. Nicotine contents of callus tissues were remarkably affected by plant growth regulators in the culture medium. Thus, nicotine production was promoted by the regulators at lower concentrations, but gradually inhibited when the concentrations increased over an optimal region which was different among several kinds of the regulators. The nicotine contents also considerably depended on conditions of the callus induction as well as organ from which they were derived, at least just after callus induction. The differences due to the induction conditions were considered to be gradually lost during successive cultures. Thus, the nicotine contents appeared gradually to change to a certain level which mainly depended on the concentration of the regulators added to the culture medium. When such stabilized callus tissues were transferred to a culture medium containing...
Antecedents and Complications of Trauma in Boys With ADHD: Findings From a Longitudinal Study

Abstract Objective To examine the relationship between trauma and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), evaluating whether ADHD increases the risk for trauma, the risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or the risk for trauma-associated psychopathology. Method Data from a longitudinal sample of 260 children and adolescents with and without ADHD were examined. All were evaluated comprehensively with assessments in multiple domains of functioning including systematic assessments of trauma and PTSD. Comparisons were made between traumatized and nontraumatized youths with and without ADHD. Results No meaningful differences were detected in comparisons between ADHD and control children, either in the rate of trauma exposure or in the development of PTSD. Although trauma was associated with the development of major depression, this effect was independent of ADHD status. In contrast, bipolar disorder at baseline assessment was a significant risk factor for subsequent trauma exposure. Conclusions ADHD was not found to be a risk factor for either trauma exposure or PTSD, but childhood mania was. If confirmed, this finding stresses the potential severe clinical sequelae of childhood mania in children. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry, 1999, 38(1):48–55.
Insulin-like growth factor-2 activation of intestinal glutamine transport is mediated by mitogen-activated protein kinases.

Insulin-like growth factor-2 (IGF-2) plays a pivotal role in regulating intestinal epithelial metabolism, growth, and proliferation, but its regulatory effects on mucosal cell amino acid transport have not been well studied. The purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate the regulatory mechanisms and intracellular signaling pathways involved in the regulation of IGF-2 on glutamine transport in cultured intestinal cells. Continuous incubation with IGF-2 stimulated glutamine transport activity in cultured IEC-6 cells in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. Prolonged incubation (up to 48 hours) resulted in a 50% increase in transport activity (0.81 ± 0.21 nmole/mg protein/min in IGF-2 cells vs. 0.57 ±0.15 nmole/ mg protein/min in control cells) and a threefold increase in glutamine transporter ATB0 mRNA levels. IGF-2 stimulated transport activity by increasing transport maximal capacity (Vmax 4.31 ± 0.36 nmole/ mg protein/min in IGF-2 cells vs. 2.51 ± 0.23 nmole/mg protein/min in control cells) without affecting the transport affinity (Km 0.31 ± 0.03 mmol/L glutamine in IGF-2 cells vs. 0.28 ± 0.03 mmol/L glutamine in control cells). This IGF-2-induced glutamine transport activity was attenuated by actinomycin-D or cycloheximide. The levels of mitogen-activated protein kinases p42/44, MEK1/2, and p38 as well as protein kinase C levels were elevated in IGF-2-treated cells and inhibitors of mitogen-activated protein kinase MEK1 (PD 98059), mitogen-activated protein kinase p38, and protein kinase C (chelerythrine chloride) individually attenuated the IGF-2-induced glutamine transport. These data suggest that IGF-2 stimulates intestinal glutamine uptake in cultured rat intestinal epithelial cells via a mechanism that involves transcription and translation of the transporter. Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and protein kinase C cascades are involved in the regulation. This increase in glutamine uptake may occur to support intestinal cell growth and proliferation.
Is it Finally Time to Dispel the Concept of Metabolically-Healthy Obesity?

We are in the midst of a well-publicized, worldwide obesity epidemic [(1)][1]. Yet, despite its known deleterious multiorgan effects at an individual level and the economic constraints of obesity-related illnesses on global health systems, there remains an ongoing debate regarding the impact of
Eschatological Folk Songs and Poetry in the Manuscript Tradition of the Russian Old Believers of Latgale

Eschatological beliefs and teachings form the core of the RussianOld Believer theological doctrine and world view and are broadlyreflected in their writings and oral literature. This article sets out toexamine the particularities of the body of the eschatological folksongs and poetry known to the Russian Old Believers who live inthe eastern part of contemporary Latvia (Latgalia). The LatgalianOld Believer community is considered one of the richest, wellpreserved and fully functional communities of the bespopovtsy (the"priestless") branch in Europe today. This current research wasbased on material from the manuscript collections held in theDrevlekhranilishche IRLI (St. Petersburg, Russia) and field workcarried out in the Latgalian community between 2007 and 2010.First, the article describes the repertoire of eschatological songsand poetry that form the core of the written anthologies widelycirculated in the Latgalian tradition. It then moves on to analyzehow the eschatological teachings were interpreted in folk songsand poetry. Specifically, the research focuses on the folkinterpretation of the timing of the end of the world, the figure ofthe Antichrist and his realm. Finally, the article examines somelinguistic particularities of the religious songs and poetry and howthey were completed, edited and recorded in the Old Believermanuscripts.
Interorganizational information systems: new approaches to global economic development

Abstract The emergence of cross-national interorganizational configurations (IOCs) has important implications for information resource structuring, planning, and strategy. Findings reported in this paper stem from a review of the literature, a database of cross-national interorganizational configurations formed during the last two years, and a five-year study of information systems resource management in primarily U.S.-based major organizations. This study involves eight subsets of approximately twelve to fifteen organizations examined once each during this period. Within each organization, a field researcher conducted open-ended, semi-structured interviews with the top information systems manager. Findings indicate the need for a paradigm shift to incorporate the IOC as a level of analysis to match the emerging new world economic order and the needs for cross-national information resources structures and strategies.
Colon cancer cells adopt an invasive phenotype without mesenchymal transition in 3-D but not 2-D culture upon combined stimulation with EGF and crypt growth factors

The intestinal crypt homeostasis is maintained by a combination of growth factors including Wnt, R-Spondin1, Noggin and the epidermal growth factor (EGF). In human colorectal cancer, the Wnt pathway is constitutively activated through genetic and epigenetic alterations in as many as 11 genes encoding components of this crypt stem-cell maintenance mechanism. Although the proliferation of colon cancer cells does not require Wnt, it is possible that colon cancer cells can still respond to the crypt growth factors in the colonic microenvironment. A number of studies have shown that epithelial cells behave differently in 3-D versus 2-D cultures. Because the 3-D conditions more closely mimic the in vivo environment, we examined the effects of Wnt and other crypt growth factors on colon cancer cell growth in 3-D culture. Colon cancer cells were grown in 3-D matrigel supplemented with different combinations of crypt growth factors and colonies were examined for morphology and pathways. When colon cancer cells were cultured in 3-D with EGF, they grew as round spheroid colonies. However, colon cancer cells also grew as flat, disc-like colonies when cultured with EGF plus Wnt, R-Spondin1 and Noggin. Disc colonies were found to have comparable levels of E-cadherin as the spheroid colonies, but showed decreased E-cadherin at the cell-matrix contact sites. Disc colonies also elaborated F-actin rich protrusions (FRP) at the cell-matrix edge, reminiscent of an invasive phenotype but without the expression of vimentin. These E-cadherin and F-actin alterations were not induced by the four growth factors in 2-D culture. Formation of the disc colonies was inhibited by the knockdown of β-catenin and by protein kinase inhibitors such as gefitinib, imatinib and MK-2206. Furthermore, withdrawal of the crypt growth factors was able to revert the disc colonies to spheroid growth, showing that the invasive phenotype was reversible dependent on the availability of growth factors. These findings show that colon cancer cells remain responsive to the growth factors in the crypt microenvironment and can be induced to undergo morphological transformation in the more physiologically relevant 3-D culture.
Activation of low and null activity isozymes of maize alcohol dehydrogenase by antibodies.

Antisera were raised against several purified, high specific acitivity isozymes of maize alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH1). The various antisera had different effects on the activity of immunoprecipitated ADH. One antiserum completely inactivated maize ADH. This inactivation could be blocked by preicubation of the enzyme with NAD+, its cofactor, or with NADP. The different antisera were used to analyze variant froms of ADH1. Isozymes having lowered specific activity were activated to wild-type levels by precipitation of the enzymes with noninactivating antisera. Isozymes having no detectable ADH activity (CRM+ nulls) were activated by immunoprecipition with noninactivating antisera when preincubated with NAD+ or NADP. All of the CRM+ nulls were shown to be unable to bind NAD+, a flaw which can account for their lack of activity. The results indicate that a conformational equilibrium between active and inactive forms of maize ADH in solution controls the specific activity of the various isozymes. Both controls the specific activity of the various isozymes. Both NAD+ and antibodies raised against high specific activity enzymes can interact with low activity isozymes to shift the balance of the equilibrium toward the active form, thus increasing their specific activity.
Measuring attention using induced motion.

Attention was measured by means of its effect upon induced motion. Perceived horizontal motion was induced in a vertically moving test spot by the physical horizontal motion of inducing objects. All stimuli were in a frontoparallel plane. The induced motion vectored with the physical motion to produce a clockwise or counterclockwise tilt in the apparent path of motion of the test spot. Either a single inducing object or two inducing objects moving in opposite directions were used. Twelve observers were instructed to attend to or to ignore the single inducing object while fixating the test object and, when the two opposing inducing objects were present, to attend to one inducing object while ignoring the other. Tracking of the test spot was visually monitored. The tilt of the path of apparent motion of the test spot was measured by tactile adjustment of a comparison rod. It was found that the measured tilt was substantially larger when the single inducing object was attended rather than ignored. For the tw...
The end justifies the means

Translation termination, once thought to be the least complex of the steps in protein synthesis, is emerging as a process subject to considerable regulation. The prevalent mode for this regulation seems to be eRF-tweaking, the modulation of release factor activity by proteins involved in other gene expression pathways.
Unraveling the Photoluminescence Response of Light-Switching Ruthenium(II) Complexes Bound to Amyloid-β

Photoluminescent molecules are widely used for real-time monitoring of peptide aggregation. In this Article, we detail both experimental and computational modeling to elucidate the interaction between [Ru(bpy)2dppz]2+ and amyloid-β (Aβ1–40) aggregates. The transition from monomeric to fibrillar Aβ is of interest in the study of Alzheimer’s disease. Concentration-dependent experiments allowed the determination of a dissociation constant of 2.1 μM, while Job plots provided a binding stoichiometry of 2.6 Aβ monomers per [Ru(bpy)2dppz]2+. Our computational approach that combines molecular docking (both rigid and flexible) and all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations predicts that the hydrophobic cleft between Val18 and Phe20 is a plausible binding site, which could also explain the increase in photoluminescence of [Ru(bpy)2dppz]2+ upon binding. This binding site is parallel to the fibril axis, in marked contrast to the binding site of these complexes in DNA (perpendicular to the DNA axis). Other binding s...
Virulence of Vector-borne Pathogens. A Stochastic Automata Model of Perpetuationa

To determine how virulence may be perpetuated in populations of vector-borne pathogens, we simulated their fitness in a stochastic simulation based on cellular automata. Thereby, directly transmissible pathogens that differed in virulence were permitted to compete for hosts with similarly virulent pathogens that could infect hosts remotely because they were vector-borne. Fitness was defined as the proportion of the host population infected with each pathogen at equilibrium. Virulent, directly transmitted pathogens prevailed solely when their infectivity was transient. When duration of infectivity exceeded that of host survival, the less virulent pathogen invariably prevailed. Although remotely transmitted virulent pathogens persisted somewhat longer than did virulent pathogens that were transmitted directly, they never perpetuated themselves. We conclude that populations of vector-borne pathogens may retain pathogenicity somewhat longer than do those that are directly transmitted, but that both kinds of pathogens tend to become nonvirulent.
Investigations with a Cylindrical Sensor Housing - Implications for OBC Acquisition

A common observation on multicomponent OBC data is the occurrence of high amplitude, shear-like noise as shown in Figure 1. These waveforms typically occur on the vertical component but show characteristics more often associated with waveforms from the horizontal channels. The source of this noise is often attributed to: • Shear energy leaking onto the vertical component primarily from electrical or mechanical cross-coupling of the vertical and horizontal geophones (Gaiser, 1998) • An effect of the geophone gimbal mechanism • Cable strum when OBC cables are stretched taught • Structural effects and shear-wave splitting (Kragh, 2004) • Rocking, rolling, or torque of a cylindrical sensor housing (Gaiser, 1998) Of these proposed mechanisms, the effect of sensor rocking due to seismic-scale motion is the most amenable to laboratory experimentation.
Low-energy embedded FPGA structures

This paper introduces an energy-efficient FPGA module, intended for embedded implementations. The main features of the proposed cell include a rich local-interconnect network, which drastically reduces the energy dissipated in the wiring, and a dual-voltage scheme that allows pass-transistor networks to operate at low-voltages yet maintains decent performance. Simulations on a benchmark set demonstrate that the proposed module succeeds in its goal of reducing energy consumption by an order of magnitude over existing implementations.
A methodology for fatigue crack growth and residual strength prediction with applications to aircraft fuselages

The FRANC3D/STAGS software system has been developed to model curvilinear crack growth in aircraft fuselages. Simulations of fatigue crack growth have been reported previously (Potyondy et al. 1995). This paper presents two enhancements to this system. One is the generalization of the representation of cracks that allows the system to represent realistic damaged structures more accurately. With this capability, parameters that may affect the trajectory of a fatigue crack are studied. Results are compared with measurements from a full-scale test. The second enhancement is to model stable tearing for residual strength prediction. A stable tearing simulation along a crack path that captures the material nonlinearities inherent at the crack tip is performed. The CTOA (Crack Tip Opening Angle) is used as a crack growth criterion to characterize the fracture process under conditions of general yielding. Residual strength of cracked structures is predicted.
Application of new knowledge, technologies, and strategies to wheat improvement

There have been many changes impacting wheat improvement since the 1996 International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center Wheat Yield Symposium. This review highlights a few of the technological advances and impacts of new knowledge on wheat improvement that have occurred in the past 10 years as well as on-going challenges. One of the most dramatic discoveries has been the revelation that the genomes of graminaceous crops are complex, rapidly evolving, and heterogeneous, even within species. The use of marker-assisted selection for improving complex traits is one of the challenges facing wheat breeders. Integration of association analysis into conventional breeding programs is proposed as a crop improvement strategy that has the potential to improve the efficiency of molecular breeding.
Niche dimensions of New England cottontails in relation to habitat patch size.

We examined physical condition, niche dimensions, and survival of New England cottontails (Sylvilagus transitionalis) that occupied 21 habitat patches of different sizes during winter. Rabbits on small patches (≤2.5 ha) were predominantly males, and both sexes had lower body mass than individuals on large patches (≥5.0 ha). Niche indices (β, where β ranges from 0 to 1. and values approaching 1 indicate generalized resource use) of habitat use revealed that rabbits on small patches used a greater variety of microhabitats (based on understory stem density: βs, and proximity to cover: βc) than rabbits occupying large patches (βs=0.65, βc=0.66). Rabbits on small patches also consumed low quality forage more often and fed at sites farther from escape cover than rabbits on large patches. There were no significant correlations between rabbit densities and niche dimensions. Niche expansion was not a result of compertitive release or relaxation of predator pressure. Rabbits on small patches apparently modified their niche dimensions in response to resource limitations. This response included occupying sites with limited understory cover that apparently resulted in rabbits on small patches having a lower survival rate (0.35) than rabbits on large patches (0.69) during a 10-week monitoring period. Skewed sex ratios and low survival rates among rabbits on small patches suggest that these habitats act as sinks to dispersing, juveniles from large (source) patches. As a result, local populations of New England cottontails may become vulnerable to extinction if larte patches of habitat are not maintained.
Nonreactive Dynamics in Solution: The Emerging Molecular View of Solvation Dynamics and Vibrational Relaxation

Two of the more fundamental ways in which molecules change their behavior when they are dissolved are that they can begin to exchange energy with the surrounding liquid and they can induce their surroundings to rearrange so as to provide a significant stabilizing influence. The first of these is typified by the process of vibrational population relaxation of a vibrationally hot species. The second conceptcritical to solution chemistryis what is known as solvation. Both of these processes are sufficiently fundamental that one would really like to know, at the most mechanical and molecular level possible, just what events are required in order to make them happen. But how difficult is it going to be to extract such molecular detail from the complicated many-body dynamics? The most microscopic level of understanding one could ever hope to possess might seem far removed from the finely detailed dynamical information which is available routinely for individual isolated molecules and for molecule−molecule colli...
Reliability of fatty acid values purporting to represent composition of oil from different species of fish

Data reveal a very large variation in fatty acid pattern of oil from the same species of fish even when each batch of oil represents many thousands of individual fish. The necessity for using samples involving a much larger number of fish for studies to determine fatty acid patterns for a given species is emphasized. Other sources of error are considered briefly.
A review on the management of epilepsy associated with hypothalamic hamartomas

Hypothalamic hamartomas are rare congenital malformations located in the region of the tuber cinereum and third ventricle. Patients may be asymptomatic, but the usual presentation is gelastic seizures, precocious puberty, and/or developmental delay. Without surgical intervention, the gelastic seizures, which are typically present in childhood, may progress to other seizure types, including generalized epilepsy, and are generally refractory to antiepileptic drugs. This review will discuss the clinical and electrophysiologic aspects of these lesions, as well as treatment options, including surgery, endoscopy, and radiosurgery.
Chaos in one-predator, two-prey models: cGeneral results from bifurcation theory

Abstract We show that chaos is the expected outcome of the dynamics of a class of one-predator, two-prey models. This generalizes results of previous studies of Lotka—Volterra models. We examine dynamics near a state in which a high codimension bifurcation occurs, considering all possible nearby dynamics in both parameter and state space by doing an unfolding analysis of the model's normal form. In this way, we argue that realistic predator—prey systems that can be closely modeled by the general models discussed here must exhibit chaotic dynamics.
ATTRITION AND RETENTION AMONG ACCOUNTING MAJORS IN COMMUNITY COLLEGES: PROBLEMS AND POSSIBLE REMEDIATION

Accounting programs nationwide are reporting declines in enrollment and the demand for new accountants continues unabated. Given this current crisis in accounting education, attention needs to be given to recruitment and retention issues. This study used a Delphi procedure to sample the accounting department chairpersons in one state's community college system regarding four questions: What initially attracts community college students to accounting?; What are the predictors of success for community college students who choose accounting for majors?; What are the major problems students encounter in completing accounting programs and What recommendations do these chairpersons have for reducing attrition among community college accounting majors? Conclusions and recommendations are presented for community college counselors, administrators, and accounting faculty.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Risk Behaviors among California Farmworkers: Results from a Population-Based Survey.

: Context:The prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases and associated risk behaviors among California farmworkers is not well described. Purpose: To estimate the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and associated risk behaviors among California farmworkers. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of population-based survey data from 6 California agricultural regions was performed for participants tested for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhea (GC), and syphilis, and who completed an interviewer-administered behavioral risk factor survey. Findings: Among the 403 males and 234 females examined and interviewed, males (29.3%) were more likely than females (9.6%) to have had 2 or more sex partners in the past 5 years. Forty-two percent of males ever had sex with a commercial sex worker; unmarried males were more likely than married males to report sex with a commercial sex worker in the past 2 years. Twelve percent of males and 5% of females reported ever having had an STD. Most participants did not report any methods to protect against STDs. Of 192 males and 178 females tested for CT, 3 males and no females were positive. No cases of GC were found. Of 387 males and 194 females tested for syphilis, 4 males and 1 female had positive rapid plasma reagin (RPR) and Treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA) results. Conclusions: In this population-based survey among agricultural workers, there was low STD prevalence but high prevalence of sexual risk behaviors, particularly among males.
Bringing Empire Back In

Enlightenment social thinkers imagined world history as folding into two distinct periods. The premodern era featured the rise and fall of empires. Modernity ended this relentless cyclical pattern by establishing a new basis of world order: the social progress of nations. This framing of world history was foundational for classical sociologists, even as they refashioned it into a sociology of modernization.