cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
HOCl-mediated cell death and metabolic dysfunction in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The nature of oxidative damage to Saccharomyces cerevisiae caused by levels of HOCl that inhibit cell replication was explored with the intent of identifying the loci of lethal lesions. Functions of cytosolic enzymes and organelles that are highly sensitive to inactivation by HOCl, including aldolase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), and the mitochondrion, were only marginally affected by exposure of the yeast to levels of HOCl that completely inhibited colony formation. Loss of function in membrane-localized proteins, including the hexose transporters and PMA1 H(+)-ATPase, which is the primary proton pump located within the S. cerevisiae plasma membrane, was also marginal and K(+) leak rates to the extracellular medium increased only slowly with exposure to increasing amounts of HOCl, indicating that the plasma membrane retained its intrinsic impermeability to ions and metabolites. Adenylate phosphorylation levels in fermenting yeast declined in parallel with viability; however, yeast grown on respiratory substrates maintained near-normal phosphorylation levels at HOCl doses several-fold greater than that required for killing. This overall pattern of cellular response to HOCl differs markedly from that previously reported for bacteria, which appear to be killed by inhibition of plasma membrane proteins involved in energy transduction. The absence of significant loss of function in critical oxidant-sensitive cellular components and retention of ATP-synthesizing capabilities in respiring yeast cells exposed to lethal levels of HOCl suggests that toxicity in this case may arise by programmed cell death.
Experimental measurement of the scattering patterns of resistive sheets

The authors present theoretical and experimental bistatic scattering and backscattering results from a tapered resistive sheet. It is shown that it is possible to lower the bistatic scattering and backscattering sidelobe levels of a resistive sheet by tapering the resistivity. The experimental and theoretical results shown some disagreement in the low sidelobe region because of errors in the resistive taper, experimental errors, the return from the styrofoam mount, and the joining of the two tapered sheets to form a symmetrically tapered sheet. >
Replicated RPC using Amoeba closed group communication

Since remote procedure call (RPC) has become the method of choice for client-server communication in a distributed operating system, providing a fault-tolerant RPC mechanism is crucial to ensuring system reliability. The author presents a replicated RPC library for the Amoeba distributed operating system. The library's RPC protocol is presented in detail, including preliminary performance figures. The protocol is distinguished by its use of closed process groups in conjunction with the coordinator-cohort method of computation. The method presented is applicable to any system supporting closed process groups and totally ordered multicast. >
A Self-Regulatory Mechanism for Personality Trait Stability Contra-Trait Effort

Despite the considerable influence of situational factors and the resulting variability in behavior, individuals maintain stable average ways of acting. The purpose of the current research was to i...
Analysis of long queries in a large scale search log

We propose to use the search log to study long queries, in order to understand the types of information needs that are behind them, and to design techniques to improve search effectiveness when they are used. Long queries arise in many different applications, such as CQA (community-based question answering) and literature search, and they have been studied to some extent using TREC data. They are also, however, quite common in web search, as can be seen by looking at the distribution of query lengths in a large scale search log.In this paper we analyze the long queries in the search log with the aim of identifying the characteristics of the most commonly occurring types of queries, and the issues involved with using them effectively in a search engine. In addition, we propose a simple yet effective method for evaluating the performance of the queries in the search log using a combination of the click data in the search log with the existing TREC corpora.
iPod™ technology for teaching patients about anticoagulation: a pilot study of mobile computer-assisted patient education

Aim To determine whether an educational strategy using a handheld, multimedia computer (iPod™) is practical and sustainable for routine office-based patient educational tasks. Background With the limited amount of time allotted to the office encounter and the growing number of patient educational tasks, new strategies are needed to improve the efficiency of patient education. Education of patients anticoagulated with warfarin is considered critical to preventing complications. Despite the dangers associated with the use of warfarin, educational practices are variable and often haphazard. Methods During a four-month period, we examined the implementation of a three-part series of iPod™-based patient educational modules delivered to anticoagulated patients at the time of routine INR (International Normalized Ratio) blood tests for outpatients on the anticoagulation registry at an urban community health center. Findings A total of 141 computer module presentations were delivered to 91 patients during the four-month period. In all, 44 patients on the registry had no INR checkups, and thus no opportunity to view the modules, and 32 patients had at least three INR checkups but no modules were documented. Of the 130 patients with at least one INR performed during the study period, 22 (16.9%) patients completed all three modules, 91 (70.0%) patients received at least one module, and nine (7.6%) patients refused to view at least one module. Neither of the two handheld computers was lost or stolen, and no physician time was used in this routine educational activity. Patients reported that the audio and visual quality was very good, (9.0/10); the educational experience of the patient was helpful (7.4/10) compared with the patient's previous warfarin education (6.3/10), and the computer strategy extended the INR visit duration by 1-5 min at most. Conclusions The computer-assisted patient educational strategy was well received by patients, and uptake of the intervention by the clinic was successful and durable. The iPod™ strategy standardized the educational message, improved clinic efficiency, and helped this busy clinic meet its educational goals for patient education.
A novel 3D classification system for canine impactions—the KPG index

Background 3D cone beam imaging allows localization of impacted canines, using spatial relationships, with excellent tissue contrast. The aim of this project was to assess the degree of difficulty for the treatment of impacted canines, based on the 3D information provided by cone beam imaging. Methods 3D cone beam images taken from subjects with impacted canines were obtained from a private practice and school setting. Results A novel measuring scale was devised, based on three different viewpoints, in order to grade the difficulty of impaction and the potential efficacy of treatment. Depending on its anatomical location, the cusp tip and the root tip are each given a number 0–5 in three dimensions taken from a pretreatment image. The sum of the cusp tip and root tip scores in the three views dictated our anticipated difficulty of treatment. Conclusions A novel method of analysing impactions using cone beam imaging was proposed. This method utilizes the entire three views of a CBCT image. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Beyond the State as “Black Box”: Anti-Base Movements

Activists, Alliances, and Anti-U.S. Base Protests. By Yeo Andrew. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011. 222 pp., $27.99 paperback (ISBN-13: 978-0-521-17556-2). Methodology determines the direction of science (whether natural or social) and its conclusions. The book under review—an ambitious attempt to link the very different approaches of international relations with studies of social movements—is difficult to position in the literature since it challenges methodological conventions. This is what makes it so interesting and useful. Andrew Yeo uses as case studies the US bases in the Philippines, Japan, Ecuador, Italy, and South Korea to investigate why some antibase activist undertakings succeed and others fail. Related issues are how host governments balance domestic tension with international pressure from the United States on foreign policy issues and how international security relations affect host government responses to antibase pressure. Some context illuminates what is at stake and why this book carries great import. The United States has about 900 overseas bases in 45 countries, by far the largest international footprint of any state. These bases provide strategic deterrence, territorial control, logistics and transportation capabilities, and alliance support. At these facilities, munitions are stored, and equipment and troops prepositioned. From the point of view of the host state polity, bases provide jobs, boost the local economy, and establish relations of solidarity with the sending state. More negatively, bases cause “externalities,” such as noise, environmental pollution, crime, accidents, and prostitution. Two basic questions …
Nest-Site Selection and Breeding Ecology of the Cerulean Warbler in Southern Indiana

Abstract Setophaga cerulea (Cerulean Warbler) has been deemed one of the fastest-declining wood warblers in North America. Recent field studies have focused on understanding breeding requirements across its range and other natural life-history characteristics. During 2010–2011, we conducted a breeding study in Indiana to ascertain reproductive success and document nest-site characteristics associated with 22 nesting locations. We also documented breeding phenology and feeding rates during the nestling stage. Cerulean Warblers had a preference for nesting in Quercus alba (White Oak). Nesting success (30.7%; measured directly through monitoring of nests or presence of fledglings within the territory) was lower than necessary for a source population, but average when compared to other parts of the range. We recommend further inquiry into the fate of the Indiana population, as well as studies to assess reproductive rates and suitable breeding habitats that may exist elsewhere in the Cerulean Warbler's range.
Quasiparticle relaxation in Heavy Fermions studied using Inverse Fourier Transform of optical conductivity

Inverse Fourier Transform of optical conductivity is used for studies of quasiparticle relaxation in Heavy Fermions in time domain. We demonstrate the usefulness of the procedure on model spectra and then use it to study quasiparticle relaxation in two Heavy Fermions YbFe4Sb12 and CeRu4Sb12. Optical conductivity in time domain reveals details of quasiparticle relaxation close to the Fermi level, not readily accessible from the spectra in the frequency domain. In particular, we find that the relaxation of heavy quasiparticles does not start instantaneously, but typically after a few hundred femto-seconds.
SemCache: Semantics-Aware Caching for Efficient GPU Offloading

Recently, GPU libraries have made it easy to improve application performance by offloading computation to the GPU. However, using such libraries introduces the complexity of manually handling explicit data movements between GPU and CPU memory spaces. Unfortunately, when using these libraries with complex applications, it is very difficult to optimize CPU-GPU communication between multiple kernel invocations to avoid redundant communication.In this paper, we introduce SemCache, a semantics-aware GPU cache that automatically manages CPU-GPU communication and dynamically optimizes communication by eliminating redundant transfers using caching. Its key feature is the use of library semantics to determine the appropriate caching granularity for a given offloaded library (e.g., matrices in BLAS). We applied SemCache to BLAS libraries to provide a GPU drop-in replacement library which handles communications and optimizations automatically. Our caching technique is efficient; it only tracks matrices instead of tracking every memory access at fine granularity. Experimental results show that our system can dramatically reduce redundant communication for real-world computational science application and deliver significant performance improvements, beating GPU-based implementations like CULA and CUBLAS.
Monte Carlo studies of the intrinsic second hyperpolarizability

The first- and second-order hyperpolarizabilities have been extensively studied to identify universal properties near the fundamental limit. Here, we employ the Monte Carlo method to study the fundamental limit of the second hyperpolarizability. As was found for the first hyperpolarizability, the largest values of the second hyperpolarizability approach the calculated fundamental limit. The character of transition moments and energies of the energy eigenstates are investigated near the second hyperpolarizability’s upper bounds using the missing state analysis, which assesses the role of each pair of states in their contribution. In agreement with the three-level ansatz, our results indicate that only three states (ground and two excited states) dominate when the second hyperpolarizability is near the limit.
SPARSE SIGNAL AND IMAGE RECOVERY FROM COMPRESSIVE SAMPLES

In this paper we present an introduction to compressive sampling (CS), an emerging model-based framework for data acquisition and signal recovery based on the premise that a signal having a sparse representation in one basis can be reconstructed from a small number of measurements collected in a second basis that is incoherent with the first. Interestingly, a random noise-like basis will suffice for the measurement process. We will overview the basic CS theory, discuss efficient methods for signal reconstruction, and highlight applications in medical imaging
PAX8 expression in ovarian surface epithelial cells

High-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) is usually diagnosed at a late stage and is associated with poor prognosis. Understanding early stage disease biology is essential in developing clinical biomarkers to detect HGSOC earlier. While recent studies indicate that HGSOCs arise from fallopian tube secretory epithelial cells, a considerable body of evidence suggests that HGSOC can also arise from ovarian surface epithelial cells (OSECs). PAX8 is overexpressed in HGSOCs and expressed in fallopian tube secretory epithelial cells, but there are conflicting reports about PAX8 expression in OSECs. The purposes of this study were to comprehensively characterize PAX8 expression in a large series of OSECs and to investigate the role of PAX8 in early HGSOC development. PAX8 protein expression was analyzed in the OSECs of 27 normal ovaries and 7 primary OSEC cultures using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescent cytochemistry. PAX8 messenger RNA expression was quantified in 66 primary OSEC cultures. Cellular transformation was evaluated in OSECs expressing a PAX8 construct. PAX8 was expressed by 44% to 71% of OSECs. Calretinin and E-cadherin were frequently coexpressed with PAX8. Expression of PAX8 in OSECs decreased cellular migration (P = .028), but had no other effects on cellular transformation. In addition, PAX8 expression was significantly increased (P = .003) in an in vitro stepwise model of neoplastic transformation. In conclusion, PAX8 is frequently expressed by OSECs, and endogenous levels of PAX8 expression are non-transforming. These data indicate that in OSECs, PAX8 expression may represent a normal state and that OSECs may represent an origin of HGSOCs.
Binocular fixation in the rhesus monkey: Spatial and temporal characteristics

The horizontal and vertical components of the positions of both eyes of rhesus monkeys were measured during periods of binocularly stable eye positions (eye pauses) while the animals fixated a small target. Differences between monocular and binocular viewing, as well as effects of target size and background illumination, were assessed and found to be comparable to similar measures for humans. The scatter of eye position for either eye during binocular viewing had a standard deviation of 6–8 min arc in the horizontal and 7–13 min arc in the vertical meridia. Measurements of vergence and vertical misalignment, taken from binocular positional disparity, showed that for nearly 60% of eye pause time the eyes were misaligned on the fixation target by more than 7 min arc along both horizontal and vertical axes. In addition, the line of gaze during the trial was found to follow certain idiosyncratic tendencies for each monkey, although the positional variability remained relatively constant throughout the fixation trial. These observations suggest that during binocular fusion and stereopsis a mechanism exists that dynamically compensates for the relatively large shifts in retinal image position during fixation.
Radiation response characteristics of amorphous silicon arrays for megavoltage radiotherapy imaging

Signal measurements for a variety of pixelated a-Si:H imaging arrays irradiated by megavoltage beams are reported. Data are presented for 6-, 10-, and 15-MV beam energies for screens containing gadolinium-oxysulfide and calcium tungstate. These results are the first quantitative radiation signal sizes reported for such arrays. In addition, the initialization times of these arrays are reported. The performances of arrays of various sizes and pitches with respect to these measured values are compared. These results are part of an ongoing effort to develop flat-panel, real-time gamma and X-ray imagers. >
Redistricting and the Causal Impact of Race on Voter Turnout

Recent work challenges traditional understandings of the link between race and voter turnout, suggesting that there is limited evidence of increased minority voting due to co-ethnic representation and majority-minority districts. Here I examine 65.3 million registration records from 10 states to trace individual-level participation before and after the 2012 round of redistricting, testing whether a shift in congressional representation, candidacy, and/or district ethnic composition affected an individual’s decision to participate. Separating results for non-Hispanic white, black, Latino, and Asian American registrants, I find that individuals change their behavior in response to ethnoracial context, with African Americans more likely to vote when assigned to majority-black districts with black candidates or incumbents. White and Asian registrants also turn out in higher numbers when a co-ethnic candidate is on the ballot, but Latinos may be less likely to vote in the short term when assigned to majority-L...
The Relationship Between Successful Completion and Sequential Movement in Self-paced Distance Courses

A course design question for self-paced courses includes whether or not technological measures should be used in course design to force students to follow the sequence intended by the course author. This study examined learner behavior to understand whether the sequence of student assignment submissions in a self-paced distance course is related to successful completion of the course. The study included 543 students in 89 different general education courses at a private university in the United States during a two year period. Results indicate that students who completed at least one assignment or exam out of the intended sequence of instruction were more likely to complete the course. Results were consistent when replicating the analysis with subsets of the data by course characteristics such delivery type, content, course format, and course level; and student demographics such as ethnicity, gender, GPA, and class standing. Learner control and self-direction within online self-paced courses should be included in course design to increase the likelihood of learner successful completion. Additional research could benefit course design and student support to promote higher rates of completion in self-paced courses.
MOFs Under Pressure: The Reversible Compression of a Single Crystal

The structural change and resilience of a single crystal of a metal–organic framework (MOF), Zn(HO3PC4H8PO3H)·2H2O (ZAG-4), was investigated under high pressures (0–9.9 GPa) using in situ single crystal X-ray diffraction. Although the unit cell volume decreases over 27%, the quality of the single crystal is retained and the unit cell parameters revert to their original values after pressure has been removed. This framework is considerably compressible with a bulk modulus calculated at ∼11.7 GPa. The b-axis also exhibits both positive and negative linear compressibility. Within the applied pressures investigated, there was no discernible failure or amorphization point for this compound. The alkyl chains in the structure provide a spring-like cushion to stabilize the compression of the system allowing for large distortions in the metal coordination environment, without destruction of the material. This intriguing observation only adds to the current speculation as to whether or not MOFs may find a role as a...
Effects of user physical fitness on performance in virtual reality

A person's level of physical fitness can affect their health and many other factors in their lives. However, little is known about the effect of physical fitness on factors relevant to virtual environments. Towards addressing this knowledge gap, we performed a research study examining the relationship of several physical fitness measures with performance, presence, and simulator sickness during use of an HMD-based maze-type virtual environment. We recorded the trajectory of each participant through the maze. Following the virtual environment, participants reported simulator sickness, presence, and provided written and verbal feedback. Our analysis of the data shows a positive correlation between self-reported physical fitness and user performance. Further research is necessary to establish a causal relationship, and methods to make use of this new information in the design of virtual environments.
Designing courses for hybrid instruction: principles and practice

Instructional design is for education what software engineering is for computer science; both are the discipline-specific application of processes that result in higher quality outcomes. To that end, we suggest specific instructional design elements for institutions interested in implementing a hybrid format. We use the term hybrid to denote the mixing of online and face-to-face students in the same class, in a way that combines the most engaging aspects of traditional face-to-face delivery with online flexibility. Although they share many common design principles, each of the major instructional formats has unique features, and we integrated those to develop the hybrid model described in this report, which we successfully ran for several terms. The results in this paper yield relevant advice based on theory and practice.
Internationalizing Intellectual Property

This chapter considers internationalizing strategies to profit from IP knowledge, that is, the commercialization of IP in international markets. First, it emphasizes the pre-commercializing evaluation of the idea of expanding internationally. Such an evaluation should be conducted to assess the owners’ capacity, reasons to expand abroad, international IP environment and timing for IP commercialization. Second, further evaluation should be made to analyze which strategies are available for IP commercialization. These strategies need to take IP into account in assessing the costs, profits, risks and levels of headquarters (HQ) control involved in adopting a particular international commercializing strategy. Finally, the chapter discusses the decision-making process to the actual selection of an appropriate strategy for internationally commercializing an IP.
Estrogen target cells in gonads of the chicken embryo during sexual differentiation

Estrogen target cells were searched for in the differentiating gonads of the chicken embryo in order (1) to establish at the cellular level that steroid hormones can play a physiological role in gonadal sexual differentiation, and (2) to localize their sites of action. An autoradiographic technique carried out with frozen sections was employed to demonstrate the presence of binding sites for radiolabelled hormone in the nuclei of the target cells. Target cells for [3H]estradiol are found similarly in gonads of both male and female embryos from 5 1/2 (stage 27 of H and H) to 7 days of incubation. Estrogen target cells are observed in the germinal epithelium of the left but not the right gonad, and in the medulla of both the right and left gonads. In the medulla, numerous cells inside the cords are a target for estradiol. The germ cells, difficult to identify unmistakably in the experimental conditions, do not seem to be a target for estrogen hormones. A 100-fold excess of unlabelled estradiol abolishes the nuclear labelling, which is only slightly reduced after a similar excess of unlabelled dihydrotestosterone. It is concluded that the nuclear binding sites have a limited capacity for steroid hormones and are specific for estrogen hormones. The lack of clear and consistent nuclear labelling after [3H]dihydrotestosterone injection confirms the specificity of the [3H]estradiolnuclear labelling. At day 10 of incubation, only the undifferentiated remnant of the germinal epithelium in the left testis still displays labelled cells after [3H]estradiol injection. These observations confirm the determinative role currently ascribed to the estrogen hormones in the cortical differentiation, but they also emphasize that this role extends to the medulla of both gonads. In light of this presence of estrogen receptor sites in the medullary cords as well as in the germinal epithelium, one can assign the estrogen hormones more specific and diversified roles than currently believed. These roles also appear very precocious in the process of gonadal differentiation. Finally, the absence of target cells for estrogen hormones in the germinal epithelium of the right gonad accounts for the lack of cortical differentiation on the right side.
Time-Resolved Wavefront Measurement of a Pulsed Dye Laser Using Integrated Optics

An integrated optics wavefront sensor with 200-ns temporal resolution1 has been used to investigate the near-field phase and intensity distribution of a flashlamp- pumped pulsed dye laser with peak output in a 2-µs pulse of about 3.5 MW. This is the first report of a measurement of the wavefront at the aperture of a laser with temporal resolution of this order of magnitude. Ten 200-ns snapshots of the wavefront have been taken during one 2-µs laser pulse. The time-resolved phase measurements have shown that a major portion of the measured degradation of the beam quality of the laser can be explained by dynamic processes that occur during the laser pulse.
Spatiotemporal distribution of bacterioplankton functional groups along a freshwater estuary to pelagic gradient in Lake Michigan

Abstract Freshwater bacteria play key roles in biogeochemical cycling and contribute significantly to biomass and energy fluxes. However, studies of Great Lakes ecosystem dynamics often omit bacteria. Here, we used high throughput sequencing to analyze how bacterial diversity and community composition (BCC) vary seasonally along the long-term Muskegon estuary to pelagic research transect. Diversity was higher in the estuary than Lake Michigan, in spring compared to summer, and for particle-associated (PA) relative to free-living (FL) fractions. PA communities were distinct from and more variable than FL communities. For both fractions, spring BCC was more similar between estuary and nearshore Lake Michigan compared to offshore waters. In summer and fall, nearshore and offshore BCC were more similar compared to estuary BCC. Most abundant taxa were inferred to be chemoorganoheterotrophs. While, as a whole, this functional group only showed habitat preference for the PA fraction, we observed phylum- and class-level seasonal and spatial preferences. Chemoorganoheterotrophs that also perform bacteriorhodopsin-mediated phototrophy, such as acI Actinobacteria and LD12, strongly preferred FL fractions. Photoautotrophs (Cyanobacteria) were least abundant in spring, when mixotrophic methylotrophs were more abundant, particularly in the estuary. Organisms with chemolithotrophic capabilities, including a mixotrophic, highly abundant Limnohabitans (Lhab-A1) OTU, showed limited spatiotemporal patterns. One exception was Nitrosospira, an autotrophic ammonium oxidizer, which peaked in deep offshore waters in fall. Nitrosospira co-occurred with Chloroflexi CL500-11, which likely mineralizes nitrogen-rich organic matter in deep waters. These spatiotemporal BCC shifts suggest differences in bacterially mediated elemental cycling along estuary to pelagic gradients in Lake Michigan.
Circadian timing and alignment in healthy adults: associations with BMI, body fat, caloric intake and physical activity.

Introduction Disruption of circadian rhythms is one of the proposed mechanisms linking late sleep timing to obesity risk but few studies have evaluated biological markers outside of the laboratory. The goal of this study was to determine the relationship between the timing and alignment of melatonin and sleep onset (phase angle) with body mass index (BMI), body fat and obesity-related behaviors. We hypothesized that circadian alignment (relationship of melatonin to sleep timing) rather than circadian (melatonin) timing would be associated with higher BMI, body fat, dietary intake and lower physical activity. Subjects/methods Adults with sleep duration ⩾6.5 h completed 7 days of wrist actigraphy, food diaries and SenseWear arm band monitoring. Circadian timing, measured by dim light melatonin onset was measured in the clinical research unit. Circadian alignment was calculated as the duration between dim light melatonin onset and average sleep onset time in the prior week (phase angle). Body fat was evaluated using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Data were analyzed using bivariate correlations and multivariable regression analyses controlling for age, sex, sleep duration and evening light exposure. Results Participants included 97 adults (61 F, age 26.8±7.3 years) with average sleep duration 443.7 (s.d.=50.4) minutes. Average phase angle was 2.2 h (s.d.=1.5). Circadian alignment was associated with circadian timing (P Conclusion Circadian timing and alignment were not associated with increased BMI or body fat, among healthy adults with ⩾6.5 h of sleep, but circadian alignment was associated with dietary intake. There may be sex differences in the relationship between circadian alignment and body fat.
Macroporous hydroxyapatite ceramic beads for fluoride removal from drinking water

BACKGROUND This study evaluates the capacity of hydroxyapatite ceramics to remove fluoride from drinking water. Porous hydroxyapatite ceramic beads approximately 5 mm in diameter were fabricated using soluble potato starch as well as insoluble rice starch, wheat starch, corn starch, and cellulose as pore-forming agents. RESULTS Calcination of hydroxyapatite particles, followed by mixing with starches and water, compaction, and sintering at 1200 °C resulted in the formation of macroporous ceramic beads with maximum fluoride adsorption capacities ranging from 7 to 12 mg g−1, depending on the relative proportions of different pore-forming agents. Increasing the insoluble starch content from 0 to 25% by volume in ceramics with 50% by volume hydroxyapatite led to a marked improvement in fluoride adsorption by creating interconnected macropores, as evidenced by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Calcination of hydroxyapatite powder at or above 400 °C before ceramic preparation was required to obtain a ceramic material with sufficient structural integrity to withstand operation and handling after sintering. CONCLUSION This study evaluates the potential of using porous hydroxyapatite ceramics to remove fluoride from drinking water. An increase in fluoride adsorption capacity was consistent with the observation of macropores in SEM images as well as an increase in open porosity and specific surface area (SSA) measurements as the insoluble starch content was increased from 0 to 25%. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Open-source software for quantifying tumor heterogeneity: Development and validation with oral cavity cancer imaging

2090 Objectives Using advanced texture analysis methods to quantify the intratumor heterogeneity has attracted much enthusiasm for PET imaging in recent years. However, the lack of software forms a challenge for investigators wishing to evaluate such technologies and increases the difficulty to establish a standard for this quantitative analysis. Therefore, we aim to develop a software package that is open-source and free for academic research use. Methods A package called Chang-Gung Image Texture Analysis (CGITA) is developed with MATLAB. This software package is available on the Internet with source code and executables that do not require MATLAB licenses. Up to date we have implemented more than seventy heterogeneity indices based on different textural features. More indices are currently under development for CGITA. To evaluate the usefulness of those heterogeneity indices, we used the pre-therapy PET images from eighteen advanced oral cavity cancer patients. Heterogeneity indices were compared to the SUVs for their ability to predict patient disease-free survival. Results The heterogeneity indices computed with the intensity-size-zone matrices outperformed all other parameters by improving the AUC from 0.6 of SUV to 0.9 in the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Sensitivity and specificity can be improved by a margin of 10-20% with the use of textural analysis. Conclusions We have shown the usefulness of heterogeneity indices for prognosis in our cohort study of oral cavity cancer patients. The CGITA software serves as a useful computational environment for investigators to evaluate and optimize the quantification methods for tumor heterogeneity. CGITA can be downloaded from http://code.google.com/p/cgita.
Tissue Factor Promoter Haplotype Amplifies Inflammatory Response Via p38-MAPK in Neonatal Compared to Adult Human Microvascular Endothelial Cells

Abstract 1150 Age- and tissue-dependent diversity of the vascular endothelium may contribute to the devastating sequelae of inflammation and thrombosis in newborn infants, who often develop multi-organ failure from excessive coagulation-related tissue necrosis. Our previous studies have demonstrated that cytokine and cytoadhesion molecule expression by IL-1- or TNF-α-activated macrovascular endothelial cells (EC) is altered depending upon their vascular origin. Since the microvasculature is especially prone to thrombotic complications of inflammation, we compared expression of several coagulation factors between neonatal and adult human microvascular EC (HMVEC; Lonza) in response to IL-1, and found only tissue factor (TF) was expressed differentially. In addition to the differences in TF expression between neonatal vs. adult HMVEC, we also found high variability among individual neonatal HMVEC. This finding led us to investigate the possible contribution of two polymorphic TF promoter haplotypes reported to play a role in TF gene regulation. Genotyping revealed that neonatal HMVEC homozygous for an 18 base pair (bp) deletion at −1208 ( D/D ) expressed much higher levels of TF mRNA in response to IL-1 than those homozygous ( I/I ) or heterozygous ( I/D ) for the 18 bp insertion, as had also been previously reported for human umbilical vein EC. Moreover, IL-1-stimulated TF mRNA, protein, and activity levels were significantly (p D/D neonatal than D/D adult HMVEC. Importantly, these results suggested that the D/D haplotype induces a uniquely robust response to IL-1 by the TF promoter in neonatal HMVEC. Signal transduction pathway macroarray studies (SABiosciences), to compare IL-1 response, showed a striking Jak-STAT pathway activation in neonatal compared to adult HMVEC. Further analysis found that IL-1 induced a 5.8-fold increase in phosphorylation of p38-MAPK by neonatal HMVEC, significantly greater than the 1.9-fold increase by adult HMVEC (p D/D neonatal vs. adult HMVEC. These results suggest that IL-1 hyperactivation of p38-MAPK, possibly regulated by the Jak-STAT pathway, plays a role in up-regulating D/D neonatal HMVEC TF expression. The following schematic model summarizes the hypothetical response of the neonatal HMVEC TF gene to IL-1: This model highlights key components of both the p38-MAPK and NF-κB regulatory pathways. It also illustrates hyperactivation of the p38 pathway (shown as thicker arrows) and its potential up-regulation of one, or more, known, or yet-to-be characterized, D/D promoter haplotype-specific transcription factors (shown as hatched arrows) in neonatal HMVEC. This amplified inflammatory response of neonatal HMVEC appears to represent a critical developmental transition between the fetal and adult states of vascular gene regulation and expression, providing a potential basis for the increased frequency and morbidity associated with microvascular thrombosis in susceptible newborns. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Turn-on Fluorescence Detection of H2O2 and TATP

Peroxide-based explosives, like triacetone triperoxide (TATP), are important targets for detection because of their broad use in improvised explosives but pose challenges. We report a highly sensitive turn-on fluorescence detection for H2O2 and organic peroxides, including TATP. The detection strategy relies on oxidative deboronation to unmask H2Salen, which subsequently binds Zn2+ to form fluorescent Zn(Salen). Sensitivity is excellent, with detection limits below 10 nM for H2O2, TATP, and benzoyl peroxide. In addition, acid treatment is necessary to sense TATP, suggesting the potential to discriminate between H2O2 and TATP based upon minimal sample pretreatment.
Sensitivity of predictions to chemical kinetics models in a temporally evolving turbulent non-premixed flame

Abstract To investigate the sensitivity of predictions to chemical kinetics models, two different kinetics models, GRI-Mech 3.0 and an 11-species syngas model, are compared by performing 3D finite-rate kinetics-based direct numerical simulations (DNS) of a temporally evolving turbulent non-premixed syngas flame. Dynamic adaptive chemistry and correlated transport techniques are applied to enable computationally efficient simulation with the detailed GRI-Mech 3.0. Both chemical kinetics models, providing comparable qualitative trends, capture local extinction and re-ignition events. However, significant quantitative discrepancies (86–100 K difference in the temperature field) indicate high sensitivity to the chemical kinetics model. The 11-species model predicts a lower radicals-to-products conversion rate, causing statistically more local extinction and less re-ignition. This sensitivity to the chemical kinetics model is magnified relative to a 1D steady laminar simulation by the effects of unsteadiness and turbulence (up to 7 times for temperature, up to 12 times for CO, up to 13 times for H 2 , up to 7 times for O 2 , up to 5 times for CO 2 , and up to 13 times for H 2 O), with the deviations in species concentrations, temperature, and reaction rates forming a nonlinear positive feedback loop under reacting flow conditions. The differences between the results from the two models are primarily due to: (a) the larger number of species and related kinetic pathways in GRI-Mech 3.0; and (b) the differences in reaction rate coefficients for the same reactions in the two models. Both (a) and (b) are sensitive to unsteadiness and other turbulence effects, but (b) is dominant and is more sensitive to unsteadiness and other turbulence effects. At local extinction, the major differences between the results from the two chemical kinetics models are in the peak values and the volume occupied by the peak values, which is dominated by unsteady effects; at re-ignition, the differences are mainly observed in the spatial distribution of the reacting flow field, which is primarily dominated by the complex turbulence–chemistry interaction.
Metabolic syndrome alters expression of insulin signaling-related genes in swine mesenchymal stem cells.

Abstract Aims Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with insulin resistance (IR) and impaired glucose metabolism in muscle, fat, and other cells, and may induce inflammation and vascular remodeling. Endogenous reparative systems, including adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSC), are responsible for repair of damaged tissue. MSC have also been proposed as an exogenous therapeutic intervention in patients with cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease (CKD). The feasibility of using autologous cells depends on their integrity, but whether in MetS IR involves adipose tissue-derived MSC remains unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the expression of mRNA involved in insulin signaling in MSC from subjects with MetS. Methods Domestic pigs consumed a lean or obese diet (n = 6 each) for 16 weeks. MSC were collected from subcutaneous abdominal fat and analyzed using high-throughput RNA-sequencing for expression of genes involved in insulin signaling. Expression profiles for enriched (fold change > 1.4, p Results We identified in MetS-MSC 168 up-regulated and 51 down-regulated mRNAs related to insulin signaling. Enriched mRNAs were implicated in biological pathways including hepatic glucose metabolism, adipocyte differentiation, and transcription regulation, and down-regulated mRNAs in intracellular calcium signaling and cleaving peptides. Functional analysis suggested that overall these alterations could increase IR. Conclusions MetS alters mRNA expression related to insulin signaling in adipose tissue-derived MSC. These observations mandate caution during administration of autologous MSC in subjects with MetS.
Implications of T cell receptor cross-reactivity on the CD4+ T cell repertoire (APP3P.111)

Naive CD4 + T cell populations with T cell receptors (TCR) specific for different major histocompatibility complex II (MHCII)-bound foreign peptides vary in size for unknown reasons. Negative selection on self peptides could play a role. We found that MHCII-binding nonamer peptides only had to have the same residues at five positions to be recognized by the same TCR. This degree of TCR cross-reactivity between self and foreign peptides reduced the sizes of foreign peptide-specific T cell populations via clonal deletion. Small foreign p:MHCII-specific populations that underwent a greater degree of cross-reactive negative selection were on average lower affinity and produced more variable effector cell responses to immunization. In contrast, large foreign p:MHCII-specific T cell populations with minimal evidence of negative selection were higher affinity and produced larger responses to immunization. Reciprocally, an incompletely deleted naive T cell population specific for a tissue-restricted self peptide could be triggered by similar microbial peptides to cause autoimmunity. Thus, TCR cross-reactivity between similar self and foreign peptides influences the size of certain foreign peptide-specific T cell populations, and may allow tissue-restricted self peptide-specific populations to cause autoimmunity after infection.
Instrumentation and Measurements for Electron Emission from Charged Insulators

The electron was first discovered in 1898 by Sir John Joseph Thomson and has since been the subject of detailed study by nearly every scientific discipline. At nearly the same time Heinrich Rudolf Hertz conducted a series of experiments using cathode tubes, high potentials and ultraviolet light. When applying a large potential to a cathode he found that an arching event across the metal plates would occur. In addition, when shining an ultraviolet light on the metal he found that less potential was required to induce the spark. This result, taken together with other electrical phenomena brought about by the shining of light upon metal and was eventually termed the photoelectric effect. The work of Thomson and Hertz represent the beginning of electron emission studies and a body of ideas that pervade nearly all aspects of physics. In particular these ideas tell us a great deal about the nature of physical interactions within solids. In this thesis we will focus on the emission of electrons induced by an incident electron source over a range of energies, in which one can observe changes in emitted electron flux and energy distribution. In particular, when energetic particles impinge on a solid they can impart their energy, exciting electrons within the material. If this energy is sufficient to overcome surface energy barriers such as the work function, electron affinity or surface charge potential, electrons can escape from the material. The extent of electron emission from the material can be quantified as the ratio of incident particle flux to emitted particle flux, and is termed the electron yield.
NMR Spectroscopy of the Intact Heart

In the past 15 years we have witnessed the application of NMR spectroscopy to intact biological systems. The latter consisted, at first, of isolated cells, later of tissues and perfused organs, and more recently of whole animals (Gadian et al., 1979; Ugurbil et al., 1979; Hollis, 1980). This development was a natural outgrowth of earlier NMR studies on aqueous solutions of isolated biochemical systems. The major feature of NMR, advantageously used in these studies, was its noninvasive and nondestructive nature. Biological samples, including living cells and higher animals, may be subjected to an NMR experiment without sustaining damage. Nuclear spins from the entire volume of the sample, within the range sensitive to the rf coil, are subject to detection, rendering NMR an in-depth technique. Intermediate matter that does not contain magnetically active nuclei, or whose nuclei resonate at a different Larmor frequency, is practically transparent in NMR.
Psoriasis and Excessive Stress

Erica is a 19-year-old college student, who presented with a severe flare of her chronic plaque-type psoriasis. She describes the lesions as being very pruritic, to the point where she needs to take anti-allergy medication at night in order to fall asleep. The patient worries that she will fail her final examinations coming up next month in English Literature and Evolutionary Biology, two rather challenging courses. Despite tireless efforts to prepare for the exams, her self-assessment tests predict that she will score in the bottom half of each respective class, which is causing her significant distress. In addition, she is the captain of the cheerleading team at her university, and her responsibilities have doubled in the past few weeks due to her co-captain dropping out of the program.