cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hardware-software co-design for heterogeneous multiprocessor sensor nodes

To meet the needs of innovative sensor network applications, sensor nodes have long evolved from underpowered single microcontroller designs into complex architectures that accommodate multiple processors and Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). We address the problem of conceiving and implementing programs for such sensor node architectures. We rely on a universal, layered hardware/software interface that provides seamless interconnection between tasks running on a micro-controller and tasks running on a FPGA. Resource sharing is handled transparently through a shared-bus communication architecture. We demonstrate our methodology, through a heterogeneous sensor node simulator called SUNSHINE [1] for an application running the sensor nodes. We validate SUNSHINE by demonstrating the applications on a multiprocessor sensor node's testbed, which consists of a FPGA, a microcontroller and a radio front-end.
Amantadine in treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Summary. Treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) continues to be an important and growing challenge. As the response rate to FDA-approved treatment improved over the past decade, we are facing increasing number of difficult-to-treat patients such as those who have failed prior anti-viral therapy. The role of amantadine in the treatment of CHC remains unclear. Studies thus far have produced conflicting results, and type II error could not be excluded. This review summarized results published in the literature from 1997 to 2003, and reviewed the existing questions and controversies regarding the use of amantadine. Current literature suggests that amantadine is ineffective as monotherapy. Amantadine increased the sustained virologic response of certain treatment naive patients when used in combination with interferon, and may be effective as an adjunct to interferon-based combination therapy in some patients who have failed or relapsed on prior therapy. Factors such as small sample size, patient characteristics, and differences in treatment protocols including amantadine preparation and duration of therapy might explain the conflicting observations of various studies. Further investigations are needed to define optimal dosing and formulation of amantadine, and its appropriate role in management of CHC infection.
Integrating classical and contemporary explanations of political participation

Traditional theories of political participation have emphasized its social and normative components; however, recent evidence suggests that political participation has a strong additive genetic component. Accordingly, it is necessary to reevaluate the traditional empirical findings and begin to integrate the two approaches. To do so, a variety of analyses were conducted that explore the modes of genetic and environmental transmission. I find that the empirical estimates of the relationships between the phenotypic level traits are highly consistent with what has been found in the traditional literature, the vast majority of the variance in political participation that is accounted for by the predictor variables is being accounted for at the genetic level, and not at the environmental level. Thus, the current findings suggest that the empirical results found in prior studies are quite likely very accurate. However, the interpretation of those empirical findings, as well as the subsequent theoretical implications, require serious revision.
Amos vii 10-17 and Royal Attitudes Toward Prophecy in the Ancient Near East

This study examines the confrontation between the priest Amaziah and the prophet Amos in Amos vii 10-17 against the background of selected ancient Near Eastern texts that deal with royal attitudes toward prophecy. Texts from Mari, Nineveh, and Lachish all provide evidence for the role of royal officials, including priests, in reporting prophecy to the king in the ancient world. In light of this evidence, Amaziah's actions in this narrative appear to be motivated by state interests more than specifically cultic interests, as suggested in the text by his appeal to the royal sponsorship of the Bethel shrine (v. 13). Read in this way, the narrative points to the complexity of the relationship among priests, prophets, and kings in ancient Israel.
The levels of catalase and of erythrocuprein in human erythrocytes

Abstract The erythrocuprein and catalase levels of human erythrocytes were measured by a variety of immunochemical techniques. The level of erythrocuprein is near 10 mg per 100 ml erythrocytes and the copper content of this amount of erythrocuprein is in agreement with the levels of the nondialyzable copper of hemolysates. Human erythrocytes contain near 50 mg per 100 ml catalase. In studies of 351 human hemolysates no significant deviations from the normal that could be correlated with a given condition were observed in the ratios of either erythrocuprein or of catalase to hemoglobin or in the levels of these nonhemoglobin proteins.
Air medical transport curriculum provides education for medical students.

Abstract Introduction Increased regionalization of healthcare will most likely result in greater utilization of air medical transport (AMT). Education of providers regarding the utilization and capabilities of AMT will be important. This study was undertaken to determine whether our curriculum in AMT provided a useful and satisfying educational experience for medical students Methods The curriculum included three 6-hour fly-along sessions, 2 hours of lectures, 2 hours of case review, an 80-page syllabus listing articles and position papers, and a 3-page writing assignment. The study was a review of the participants' (1 st - and 2 nd -year medical students) test scores and postelective evaluation for 1 year. The setting was a two-helicopter AMT program based at an urban, university-affiliated level 1 trauma center. Twelve students (1/month) participated in the month-long elective. The students took a 20-item test before and after the elective and a 15-item postelective evaluation (5-point scale: very dissatisfied, dissatisfied, neutral, satisfied, very satisfied). A paired t -test was used to compare the mean pre-test and mean post-test scores. The evaluation data were analyzed descriptively. Results The mean number of correct responses on the post-test (M = 18.67, SD=1.61) was significantly higher than the mean number of correct responses on the pretest (M = 13.83, SD=2.17), P Conclusions Our curriculum in AMT provided a useful and satisfying educational opportunity for medical students. Their knowledge of AMT increased, and all were satisfied or very satisfied with the didactics and the crew interaction. Most thought that they would use AMT in their career.
O’Neill’s Journey

This paper considers some of the processes through which Eugene O'Neill (1888-1953) dramatically shaped his inner life and through which he created his plays. These processes at their finest are evident in his composition of Long Day's Journey into Night (1941a). During its 21-month composition, the play went through three different versions, as evidenced by the playwright's handwritten and typed materials (O'Neill, unpublished, a, b, c, d). This paper posits that each version reflects O'Neill's changing state of mind as he began to master his instinctual life, developing increasingly rich characters and creating a painful, deeply tragic vision. Thus, this paper shows that O'Neill's great artistic achievement reflected a great psychological one.
Transition from pitting to fatigue crack growth—modeling of corrosion fatigue crack nucleation in a 2024-T3 aluminum alloy

Abstract The nucleation of fatigue cracks from corrosion pits was investigated by conducting fatigue experiments on open-hole specimens of a 2024-T3 aluminum (bare) alloy in 0.5 M NaCl solution at room temperature and different load frequencies from 0.1 to 20 Hz. The maximum cyclic stresses applied at the hole ranged from 144 to 288 MPa and the load ratio, R , was 0.1. A specimen subjected to pre-corrosion in the NaCl solution prior to corrosion fatigue was also investigated. Pitting was found to be associated with constituent particles in the hole and pit growth often involved coalescence of individual particle-nucleated pits. Fatigue cracks typically nucleated from one or two of the larger pits, and the size of the pit at which the fatigue crack nucleates is a function of stress level and load frequency. The observations indicate that the nucleation of corrosion fatigue cracks essentially results from a competition between the processes of pitting and crack growth. Pitting predominates in the early stage of the corrosion fatigue process, and is replaced by corrosion fatigue crack growth. Based on these results, two criteria are proposed to describe the transition from pit growth to fatigue crack growth: (1) the stress intensity factor of the equivalent surface crack has to reach the threshold stress intensity factor, Δ K th , for fatigue crack growth, assuming that a corrosion pit may be modeled by an equivalent semi-elliptical surface crack, and (2) the time-based corrosion fatigue crack growth rate also exceeds the pit growth rate.
Unevenness in Urban Governance: Stadium Building and Downtown Redevelopment in Phoenix, Arizona

I examine sociospatial aspects of urban governance, focusing on the case of a downtown-redevelopment stadium project. In many US central cities, wider political economic processes have led to the f...
Adenosine 3′,5′-Monophosphate (Cyclic AMP) as the Mediator of the Actions of Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone (MSH) and Norepinephrine on the Frog Skin

The following evidence suggests that cyclic AMP is the mediator of MSH-induced darkening of the frog skin: 1. When added to the isolated frog skin, exogenous cyclic AMP mimicked the action of α-MSH in causing reversible dispersion of melanin granules in melanophores with resultant darkening of the skin. 2. α-MSH stimulated both cyclic AMP formation and darkening in dorsal skin but stimulated neither response in ventral skin. 3. Graded concentrations of α-MSH produced graded increases in cyclic AMP levels in the dorsal frog skin. 4. α-MSH, β-MSH and ACTH brought about increased cyclic AMP concentration in dorsal frog skin with the same relative potencies as they exhibited in stimulating frog skin darkening. 5. The increased cyclic AMP levels occurred at least as fast as darkening in response to α- MSH. 6. Theophylline (a known inhibitor of the cyclic 3′,5′-nucleotide phosphodiesterase which catalyzes cyclic AMP to 5′-AMP) acted synergistically with α-MSH in increasing the dorsal skin content of cyclic AMP....
The determinants of school district salary incentives: An empirical analysis of, where and why

Abstract Most public school districts in the United States use a salary schedule to determine compensation for teachers within the district. However, some school districts have implemented incentive pay schemes that allow flexibility at the school or even individual teacher level. These compensation schemes in some ways may more closely approximate a competitive labor market. This study examines the factors that influence a district's decision to offer incentive pay using districts from the 1999 to 2000 Schools and Staffing Survey. The results suggest that school districts that face barriers to recruitment or retention and districts that face competition from non-sectarian private schools are more likely to offer incentive pay.
Lifetest IC failures due to metal extrusion and migration resulting from process-induced stress relief

A new multilevel metal failure mechanism is presented in the context of improved manufacturing and reliability. Device failures, with electrical overstress (EOS) characteristics, are shown to be caused by metal-to-metal shorts. These shorts occur when lower metal extrudes through vias and creates upper layer metal protrusions. The metal protrusions can produce immediate or time dependent shorts to closely spaced adjacent metal lines. The metal migration that forms the protrusion failures is unrelated to classical electromigration. This mechanism is unique in that the physical stresses associated with the fabrication process/materials dominates the creation of these protrusions and failures happen without any significant component of electromigration. Effects of stresses from fabrication will be discussed including: sintering conditions, interlevel dielectric properties, and metal system composition. Reliability studies are shown to support the theory that the accelerated lifetest failures from this mechanism occur when a thin oxide breaks down between the protrusion and its adjacent metal line.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Conversion of active transport vesicles of Escherichia coli into oxidative phosphorylation vesicles.

Abstract Passage of membrane vesicles of Escherichia coli which catalyze active transport but not oxidative phosphorylation through a French pressure cell yields vesicles which catalyze oxidative phosphorylation but not active transport. The properties of these two species of membrane vesicles are described.
Semiparametric inference for the proportional odds model with time-dependent covariates

This paper studies estimation in the proportional odds model, with time-dependent covariates, based on right-censored data. The estimation procedure is an extension of the Yang and Prentice (J. Amer. Statist. Assoc. 94 (1999) 125) approach to the time-dependent covariate case. The proposed estimators include a class of minimum distance estimators defined through weighted empirical odds function. These estimators are shown to be strongly consistent and asymptotically normal, with variances that can be consistently estimated. It also contains a simulation study making comparison of some of the estimators in the class.
The development of transitive structure in children's interpersonal relations

Theories of cognitive development in children and theories of social organization in small-scale social systems when jointly considered suggest that the structure of interpersonal relations in children's groups will progress in consistent fashion from less to more transitive organization as the children become older. This social developmental hypothesis is tested by examining the organization of interpersonal sentiment preferences in 118 groups of children ranging in age from 3 to 11 years. Multiple regression techniques are used to examine the effect of age on structure. The results indicate that there is a significant relationship between age and the extent of transitive organization in the structure of the children's interpersonal preferences. Analysis of a second set of data taken from the sociometric literature provides further support for the social developmental hypothesis.
Birds of a Feather Protest Together: Theorizing Self-Organizing Political Protests with Flock Theory

The current research theorizes decentralized and self-organized political protests via flock theory (Rosen 2002), a theory of emergent self-organization in communicative human interaction. Flock theory draws from a theoretical basis of emergence and self-organizing systems, and is presented as a theory of decentralized communication structures. Focusing on the optimization of decentralized networks and roadmap based coordination of organizationally homopholous foci; the current theory poses a model of human interaction that captures the potentially egalitarian effects of cooperative evolution and collective action. Case studies of two separate decentralized political protests against Korean government and FARC are offered as evidences of such phenomena.
Technological Change and Internal Economies in Railroad Transport: Some Implications for the Great Plains

The failure of the railroads in recent decades to maintain either their relative position among the transportation industries or their absolute capital investment does not necessarily presage a continuing withdrawal of resources from the industry. Not only do reported rates of return generally understate the actual rates, but also recent innovations have improved expectations with respect to the future. The unit train, which has both improved service and markedly reduced costs per ton-mile, is of special relevance to a region heavily dependent upon the exportation of grain to distant markets. Furthermore, owing to the comparatively low traffic density of the railroads traversing the Great Plains, the merger of parallel routes would also appear to promise operating economies to an extent not realizable in other sections of the country.
Laparoscopic management of Meckel's diverticulum.

el’s diverticulum. Technetium has a high affinity for parietal cells of gastric mucosa. Because 95% of Meckel’s diverticulum contains ectopic gastric mucosa, this scan theoretically should identify most of Meckel’s diverticula. Accordingly, the sensitivity, specificity, and overall diagnostic accuracy of the scan is 80 %t o85% ,95% ,an d90% ,respectively. 2 Th efalse-negative rate is 1.7%, whereas the false-positive rate is only 0.05%, because of the abnormal accumulation of isotopes seen in intestinal duplications, Barrett’s esophagus, ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease, intussusception, arteriovenous malformations, an dneoplasm. 3 Patient swit hpersisten tgastrointestina lbleeding requiring multiple transfusions, whose source is unidentified by routine upper and lower endoscopy, angiography, and 99m Tc-pertechnetate scanning, must eventually undergo an abdominal exploration, often with endoscopic assistance; these patients usually have a midgut source, such as a Meckel’s diverticulum, small bowel stromal tumor, or arteriovenous malformation. Obviously, patients with a positive lesion on the 99m Tc-pertechnetate scan must undergo an abdominal exploration to remove the possible Meckel’s diverticulum. In both situations, the initial operative approach may be either laparoscopic or laparotomy, depending on a number of patient and physician factors.
Operation of a clinical PACS

An extremely important aspect of implementing and maintaining a reliable clinical PACS is the formation of structured quality control and user education programs. Often when systems are deployed for clinical use, improvements and usage come about slowly. This is often due to a lack of sufficient clinical feedback and/or lack of enthusiasm by the developers to make recommended changes. The PACS quality control program at UCLA is comprised of six coordinators who keep in close contact with the clinical operation. Their responsibilities include: (1) checking the status of all system processes, (2) educating PACS users on protocols and program interaction, (3) conducting user surveys, (4) checking image quality, (5) checking workstation study availability, and (6) periodically generating error and performance reports. The quality control program has been invaluable in improving system functionality and reliability. Protocols have been developed which result in daily reports summarizing the acquisition, archive, and workstation forwarding status of all studies from 4 CT, 3 MR, and 2 CR systems. The reliability of the acquisition and archiving subsystems of our PACS is over 98 percent. The clinical coordinators also study the clinical behavioral effects of PACS on its users.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Gamete-type dependent crossover interference levels in a defined region of Caenorhabditis elegans chromosome V.

In certain organisms, numbers of crossover events for any single chromosome are limited (“crossover interference”) so that double crossover events are obtained at much lower frequencies than would be expected from the simple product of independent single-crossover events. We present a number of observations during which we examined interference over a large region of Caenorhabditis elegans chromosome V. Examining this region for multiple crossover events in heteroallelic configurations with limited dimorphism, we observed high levels of crossover interference in oocytes with only partial interference in spermatocytes.
Synthesis of potential inhibitors of hemagglutination by influenza virus: chemoenzymic preparation of N-5 analogs of N-acetylneuraminic acid.

Abstract A chemoenzymic route to neuraminic acid 2 is described. This method is based on conversion of N-carbobenzoxymannosamine (ManCBz) 3 to N-carbobenzoxyneuraminic acid (Neu5CBz) 4, catalyzed by Neu5Ac aldolase. The Neu5CBz 4 was converted to the α-methyl glycoside 8 and deprotected to afford the free amine 2. This procedure has been scaled up to generate 10-gram quantities of 2. N-Acylation of 2 produced several new N-acyl neuraminic acid analogs; these have been evaluated as inhibitors of adhesion of influenza virus to chicken erythrocytes in a hemagglutination inhibition assay (HAI). This preparation of neuraminic acid 2 is compared with other literature procedures.
Inactivation by chlorine dioxide gas (ClO2) of Listeria monocytogenes spotted onto different apple surfaces

Abstract The bactericidal effects of chlorine dioxide (ClO2) gas treatments on a mixture of three strains of Listeria monocytogenes (Scott A, F5069 and LCDC 81-886) spotted on to the calyx, stem cavity and pulp surface of apples were investigated at 21°C and 90% relative humidity (RH). ClO2 gas was more effective for inactivating the bacteria attached to pulp skin than those attached to the calyx or stem cavity at a ClO2 level of 4·0 mg l−1 and a treatment time of 10 or more minutes. After treatments of 1·0–4·0 mg l−1 ClO2 for 10 min, a 2–3 log reduction of L. monocytogenes were observed on both cavities. There were 4·3±0·2 and 4·3±1·1 log reductions of L. monocytogenes achieved on the calyx and stem cavities, respectively, by a 4·0 mg l−1 ClO2 gas treatment for 30 min. After treatment of 8·0 mg l−1 ClO2 for 30 min, no survivors were detected using an end point method for 3·6–5·3 log cfu spotted site−1 on the calyx cavity and 3·5–5·0 log cfu spotted site−1 on the stem cavity. No significant differences (P>0·05) were found between bacterial log reductions on pulp skin at 1·0 or 3·0 mg l−1 ClO2 gas treatment for 10 min. When the ClO2 level was increased to 4·0 mg l−1 for 10 min, a 5·5±1·0 log cfu spotted site−1 bacteria on pulp skin was inactivated. After 4.0 mg l−1 ClO2 gas for 30 min, L. monocytogenes levels on the pulp skin could be decreased by 3·9±0·0 to 6.5±0.1 log cfu spotted site−1 using an end point determination method. ClO2 gas was a potentially powerful sanitizer for inactivating L. monocytogenes on each apple surface, especially those attached to the pulp skin.
Discrete fourier transform on multicore

This article gives an overview on the techniques needed to implement the discrete Fourier transform (DFT) efficiently on current multicore systems. The focus is on Intel-compatible multicores, but we also discuss the IBM Cell and, briefly, graphics processing units (GPUs). The performance optimization is broken down into three key challenges: parallelization, vectorization, and memory hierarchy optimization. In each case, we use the Kronecker product formalism to formally derive the necessary algorithmic transformations based on a few hardware parameters. Further code-level optimizations are discussed. The rigorous nature of this framework enables the complete automation of the implementation task as shown by the program generator Spiral. Finally, we show and analyze DFT benchmarks of the fastest libraries available for the considered platforms.
High carbohydrate availability increases LCFA uptake and decreases LCFA oxidation in perfused muscle

To determine whether changes in long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) oxidative metabolism induced by elevated intracellular carbohydrate availability are due to changes in LCFA uptake or in mitochondrial t...
Recovery of Vegetation Canopy After Severe Fire in 2000 at the Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota, USA

Abstract: Forest fires often result in varying degrees of canopy loss in forested landscapes. The subsequent trajectory of vegetation canopy recovery is important for ecosystem processes because the canopy controls photosynthesis and evapotranspiration. The loss and recovery of a canopy is often measured by leaf area index (LAI) and other vegetation indices that are related to canopy photosynthetic capacity. In this study we used time series imagery from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor onboard the Terra satellite over the period of 2000–2009 to track the recovery of the vegetation canopy after fire. The Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota, USA experienced an extensive wildfire starting on August 24, 2000 that burned a total area of 33 785 ha, most of which was ponderosa pine forest. The MODIS data show that canopy photosynthetic capacity, as measured by LAI, recovered within 3 years (2001–2003). This recovery was attributed to rapid emergence of understory grass spec...
The Diurnal Cycle of the Summertime Atmospheric Hydrologic Cycle over the Southwestern United States

Abstract Diurnal variations in the climatological large-scale summertime hydrologic cycle over the southwestern United States are examined using surface and upper-air observations along with regional model output. Rainfall rates are greatest during the daytime, but the hydrologic balance that supports this rainfall changes as the day progresses. During the late morning and early afternoon, the area-averaged rainfall is balanced predominantly by evapotranspiration augmented by low-level moisture convergence; moisture from these two sources is redistributed via eddy diffusion, resulting in an overall moistening of the atmosphere and a divergence of moisture aloft. During the late afternoon, vertical redistribution via eddy diffusion weakens considerably, although precipitation continues at approximately the same rate because of drying aloft, which also supports continued large-scale divergence of moisture at these levels. This large-scale divergence aloft persists at all times of day, suggesting that for th...
Effect of dihydrocapsiate on resting metabolic rate in humans

Background: Dihydrocapsiate is a capsinoid found in chili peppers. Dihydrocapsiate is similar to capsaicin, which is known for its thermogenic properties. Objective: The objective was to determine the acute and chronic effect of dihydrocapsiate on resting metabolic rate (RMR). Design: Seventy-eight healthy subjects in a double-blind, parallelarm trial were randomly assigned to 3 groups receiving 0 (placebo), 3, or 9 mg dihydrocapsiate/d for 28 d. After a 10-h overnight fast, RMR was measured by indirect calorimetry for 30 min before and 120 min after ingestion of dihydrocapsiate. Results: RMR was similar in the 3 groups before dosing on day 1 [1714 ± 41 kcal/d (0 mg), 1760 ± 41 kcal/d (3 mg), and 1694 ± 38 kcal/d (9 mg)] and after acute dosing (41 ± 17, 55 ± 17, and 3 ± 24 kcal/d for 3-mg, 9-mg, and placebo groups, respectively). When the chronic effect of dihydrocapsiate on RMR was calculated from the average 2-h RMR on day 28 minus the 30-min preingestion RMR at baseline, a borderline effect in subjects receiving 3 mg dihydrocapsiate/d compared with placebo was observed (61 ± 24 kcal/d compared with −1 ± 12 kcal/d, P = 0.054), whereas no significant increase in RMR in comparison with placebo was noted for the 9-mg/d dose (48 ± 23 kcal/d compared with −1 ± 12 kcal/d, P = 0.12). When data from both groups were combined, the thermic effect of dihydrocapsiate reached significance (53 ± 9 kcal/d compared with −1 ± 12 kcal/d in the placebo group, P = 0.04). Fat oxidation was unaffected by dihydrocapsiate. Conclusion: After 1 mo of supplementation, dihydrocapsiate had a small thermogenic effect of ≈50 kcal/d, which is in the range of day-to-day RMR variability. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT00999297","term_id":"NCT00999297"}}NCT00999297.
Aminoglycoside Nephrotoxicity in Humans

Aminoglycoside antibiotics are clearly nephrotoxic in humans, but since they are also highly efficacious in the treatment of serious infections caused by gram-negative bacteria, their nephrotoxicity must be viewed in perspective. Aminoglycosides cause both morphologic and functional alterations of the proximal renal tubules of humans. Although the proximal tubules appear to be affected in everyone who receives an aminoglycoside, most of the functions of the proximal tubule remain unimpaired. Exceptions include the proximal tubular reabsorption of p2-microglobulins and the renal excretion of several renal tubular enzymes. Glomerular dysfunction appears to arise subsequent to proximal tubular damage and the pathogenesis of the glomerular dysfunction remains an enigma. At a clinical level, aminoglycoside nephrotoxicity is infrequent, usually mild, and is probably always reversible if the aminoglycosides are used rationally. Variables that influence the incidence of nephrotoxicity include the dose and dosage regimen as well as the individual aminoglycoside chosen. In addition, host variables such as drug interactions, hypotension, and possibly other factors can influence nephrotoxicity. Viewed in perspective, aminoglycosides are valuable drugs that can be used relatively safely in humans. Aminoglycoside antibiotics are clearly nephrotoxic in humans. They are also highly efficacious in life-threatening gram-negative bacillary infections and are currently considered as mainstays in our therapy of these serious infections. As is true of every category of drugs, one should attempt to assess the therapeutic ratio of the aminoglycoside
Identification of metastasis-associated breast cancer genes using a high-resolution whole genome profiling approach

We employed a whole genome tumor profiling approach in an attempt to identify DNA copy number alterations (CNAs) and new candidate genes that are correlated with the metastatic potential of a primary breast carcinoma and with progression at the metastatic site. Fifty-four small (≤2 cm), high grade, ER-positive, formalin-fixed invasive ductal carcinomas were suitable for whole genome profiling analysis. Twenty-four of them did not form metastases within 5–10 years (unmatched primaries, UP). Thirty tumors had at least one synchronous axillary lymph node metastasis (matched primaries, MP; matched lymph node metastases, ML). Genomic DNA was hybridized to high density (19k) BAC arrays. Statistical analysis revealed differential distributions of CNAs between UP and MP and between MP and ML, respectively. We selected 27 candidate genes for validation experiments using quantitative (Q-)PCR of genomic DNA. For tetraspanin TSPAN1, we studied mRNA expression levels in a separate cohort of primary breast carcinomas and in breast cell lines. Matched primary (MP) tumors had a threefold higher rate of DNA copy number losses compared to UP tumors. In the UP-MP comparison, 186 BACs were differentially amplified or deleted. Most of them were localized to chromosomes 7p, 16q and 18q. In the MP-ML comparison, 131 BACs showed differential CNAs. Most of them were localized to chromosomes 1q and 20. By Q-PCR, seven candidate genes could be confirmed to show differential distributions of CNAs. TSPAN1 was amplified in UP and deleted in MP tumors. The gene was markedly downregulated in ER-negative and high-grade breast cancers. Metastasizing tumors had a higher rate of deletions, suggesting possible inactivation of metastasis suppressor genes. We provide preliminary evidence that TSPAN1 may be another important breast cancer suppressor gene belonging to the tetraspanin superfamily.
Chemoimmunotherapy With Low-Dose Fludarabine and Cyclophosphamide and High Dose Rituximab in Previously Untreated Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Purpose Chemoimmunotherapy combining fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (FCR) is an active regimen for untreated patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with 70% complete responses (CRs) and 95% overall responses (ORs). However, grade 3/4 neutropenia was reported in 52% of cycles of treatment. The purpose of this trial was to maintain the high responses but reduce the toxicity of FCR by decreasing the fludarabine and cyclophosphamide (FCR-Lite). Patients and Methods We conducted a single arm study of FCR-Lite which includes maintenance rituximab in 50 untreated CLL patients. Patients were evaluated for response using both the 1996 National Cancer Institute Working Group (NCIWG) guidelines and the 2008 guidelines. Two thirds of patients were treated by community physicians. Results The median age was 58 years (range, 36 to 85 years); 20 patients had Rai stage 1, 22 had Rai stage 2, and eight had Rai stage 3 and 4. The OR and CR rates were 100% and 79%, respectively, using the 1996 NCIWG ...
Interspecific Variation in UV Defense Mechanisms Among Temperate Freshwater Fishes

An important step in predicting the effects of future increases in UV radiation (UVR) is to evaluate the mechanisms that organisms use to prevent and repair DNA damage and determine how those mechanisms influence UVR sensitivity. Damage is prevented to varying degrees through photoprotection and repaired via two main pathways: nucleotide excision repair and photoenzymatic repair. At present, little is known about the generality or similarity of these defenses among temperate freshwater fishes. We used laboratory experiments to compare UVR defense mechanisms among five freshwater fish species representing four families and three orders. Purified DNA, freeze-killed larvae and live larvae were exposed to UVB radiation for 12 h in the presence or absence of photorepair radiation. After exposure, we quantified frequencies of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers in each exposure treatment. All five species used photoprotection and proportional decreases in dimer frequency were similar for all species. Evidence of excision repair was also found for all species but proportional decreases in photoproduct frequencies varied among species. Finally, evidence of photoenzymatic repair was found for only two of the five species.
Doing Care on the Run: Family Strategies in the Contested Terrain of Gender and Institutional Intransigence:

This study draws on the literature on care and on parents’ perceptions of their teenagers’ needs and on their own abilities and their spouses’ ability to perform the necessary caring tasks. Ethnographic interviews with 30 working parents revealed three specific caring strategies—the scheduling parent, the worry-shift parent, and the parent of last resort—all designed to maintain a sense of control over their teenagers. Rather than produce strategies that are based on negotiations with family members, parents in this study tended to develop their own individual strategies when confronted with a set of problems in caring for young teenagers, principle among these is the contested nature of teenagers’ need for care—contested by the educational institution, by employers, by spouses, and teenagers themselves. The study concludes by suggesting that these parents’ strategies lead to unequal divisions of emotional care that are shaped by gender and institutional intransigence.
Emblem Detections by Tracking Facial Features

Tracking facial features across large head rotations is a challenging research problem. Both 2D and 3D model based approaches have been proposed for feature analysis from multiple views. Accurate feature tracking enables useful video processing applications like emblem detection(an event or movement that symbolizes an idea), facial expressions recognition, morphing and synthesis. A crucial requirement is generalizability of the tracking framework across appearance variations, presence of facial hair and illumination changes. We propose a framework to detect emblems that combines active shape model with a predictive face aspect model to track features across large head movements and runs close to real time. Active Shape Model(ASM) is a deformable model for shape registration that detect facial features by combining prior shape information with the observed image data. Our view based framework represents various head poses by multiple 2D shape models and accounts for large head rotations by dynamically switching between them. Our switching variable (the current model to use) is discriminatively predicted from the SIFT descriptors computed over the bounding box of low resolution face image. We demonstrate the use of tracking framework to recognize high level events like head nodding, shaking and eye blinking.
Collimation for the Fermilab booster to main injector transfer line

A collimation system has been created for removing proton beam halo in the 8 GeV transfer line from the Fermilab Booster to Main Injector. A pair of 1.14 meter long collimators with 5.08 cm rectangular apertures is installed in a 5-m straight section. Horizontal and vertical motion systems allow them to be positioned such that halo can be scraped from four sides. An additional pair of collimators, placed one cell (90 degrees) downstream, scrape halo which is of opposite phase. Each collimator pair can scrape about 600 Watts of beam power, limited by residual activation of beamline components and sump water outside of the beam line tunnel. Personnel exposure is reduced by surrounding the iron absorber with a layer of marble. Design features, radiation calculations and instrumentation considerations will be described.
Distillation of Hydrogen — Deuterium Mixtures

The recent increase in the demand for heavy water, or deuterium oxide, has stimulated an interest in the supply of deuterium. The natural abundance of deuterium in hydrogen is known to be 1 part in 6900, and three principal methods have been considered for the separation of deuterium from hydrogen: (1) catalytic exchange between hydrogen and water vapor, (2), distillation of water, and (3) distillation of liquid hydrogen.
A scalable high-density electrochemical biosensor array for parallelized point-of-care diagnostics

This paper describes the design and verification of a prototype high-density electrochemical biosensor array for miniaturizing and enabling portable diagnostics devices that require high parallelizability. The prototype consists of a low-leakage 16-channel bi-potentiostat capable of running an electrochemical technique known as coulostatic discharge that is scalable for use with high-density sensors. Custom electronics with leakage of less than 100 fA were designed to interface with custom 4×4 nano-feature sensor array chips. By using a reversible redox molecule pair, we verified both preliminary simulated and measurement results of our system to varying redox concentrations.
Assessing the Status of Gender-Specific Programs through the Lens of Juvenile Justice Staff

The gender-specific approach for working with offenders gained momentum during the 1990s and has since been largely accepted by academics and practitioners. Despite numerous studies demonstrating a need for gender-responsive programs and policies within both adult and juvenile correctional systems, scant research has explored whether these services are meeting the intended goals. The current study addresses this through a qualitative analysis of 1 county juvenile court using in-depth interviews with staff. Findings reveal that in spite of the court's efforts to incorporate a gender-responsive approach, much work still remains regarding training staff and meeting girls' needs. Staff identified critical gaps in services and continued to perpetuate gendered norms and stereotypes. Included is a discussion as to why it has been difficult to effectively implement gender-specific programs.
Options for managing the infectious animal and plant disease risks of international trade

Infectious animal and plant diseases introduced through international trade in goods and services are a classic example of market externality. The potential harm they do is visited on people other than those engaged in their export or import, and is not taken into account in reaching export or import decisions. The use of economic instruments to internalize market externalities has been shown to yield substantial benefits in many areas of economic activity. By confronting decision-makers with the expected damage they cause, instruments of this kind have forced decision-makers to take the wider costs of their actions into account. This paper reviews the arguments for extending the range of instruments currently used to manage trade-related pest and pathogen risks, and assesses the options for deploying new instruments in the existing regulatory environment.
Musical Autonomy and Musical Meaning: A Historical Overview

The nineteenth century gave birth to the idea of absolute music—(mainly) instrumental music that, due to its lack of mimetic effects and its pure, immaterial form, was thought to transcend the non-musical world and expose its essences; it was thought to forge a more profound connection to the world than could art forms allied with language. This chapter surveys classic formulations of this idea by Schelling, E. T. A. Hoffman, and other German intellectuals. Especially useful will be Schopenhauer’s (and Susanne Langer’s) notion that music is a symbol not primarily of particular emotions but of the dynamics of experience that underlie various emotions.This chapter also locates a precedent of absolute music in Kantian thought and an heir to it in Adorno.
Genetic Control of Replication through N1-methyladenine in Human Cells

N1-methyl adenine (1-MeA) is formed in DNA by reaction with alkylating agents and naturally occurring methyl halides. The 1-MeA lesion impairs Watson-Crick base pairing and blocks normal DNA replication. Here we identify the translesion synthesis (TLS) DNA polymerases (Pols) required for replicating through 1-MeA in human cells and show that TLS through this lesion is mediated via three different pathways in which Pols ι and θ function in one pathway and Pols η and ζ, respectively, function in the other two pathways. Our biochemical studies indicate that in the Polι/Polθ pathway, Polι would carry out nucleotide insertion opposite 1-MeA from which Polθ would extend synthesis. In the Polη pathway, this Pol alone would function at both the nucleotide insertion and extension steps of TLS, and in the third pathway, Polζ would extend from the nucleotide inserted opposite 1-MeA by an as yet unidentified Pol. Whereas by pushing 1-MeA into the syn conformation and by forming Hoogsteen base pair with the T residue, Polι would carry out TLS opposite 1-MeA, the ability of Polη to replicate through 1-MeA suggests that despite its need for Watson-Crick hydrogen bonding, Polη can stabilize the adduct in its active site. Remarkably, even though Pols η and ι are quite error-prone at inserting nucleotides opposite 1-MeA, TLS opposite this lesion in human cells occurs in a highly error-free fashion. This suggests that the in vivo fidelity of TLS Pols is regulated by factors such as post-translational modifications, protein-protein interactions, and possibly others.
Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of recombinant Clostridium difficile flagellar protein FliC

Clostridium difficile is a Gram-positive bacillus and is the leading cause of toxin-mediated nosocomial diarrhea following antibiotic use. C. difficile flagella play a role in colonization, adherence, biofilm formation, and toxin production, which might contribute to the overall virulence of certain strains. Human and animal studies indicate that anti-flagella immune responses may play a role in protection against colonization by C. difficile and subsequent disease outcome. Here we report that recombinant C. difficile flagellin (FliC) is immunogenic and protective in a murine model of C. difficile infection (CDI) against a clinical C. difficile strain, UK1. Passive protection experiments using anti-FliC polyclonal serum in mice suggest this protection to be antibody-mediated. FliC immunization also was able to afford partial protection against CDI and death in hamsters following challenge with C. difficile 630Δerm. Additionally, immunization against FliC does not have an adverse effect on the normal gut flora of vaccinated hamsters as evidenced by comparing the fecal microbiome of vaccinated and control hamsters. Therefore, the use of FliC as a vaccine candidate against CDI warrants further testing.
Camaleones: El Mal Uso De Modelos Teóricos En Finanzas Y Economía (Chameleons: The Misuse of Theoretical Models in Finance and Economics)

Spanish Abstract: En este ensayo muestro que los modelos teoricos en finanzas y economia se usan de un modo que los vuelven “camaleones”, y que los camaleones devaluan la moneda intelectual y enturbian los debates de politica. Un modelo se convierte en camaleon cuando se basa en supuestos con conexiones dudosas con el mundo real pero sus conclusiones se aplican acriticamente (o sin suficiente critica) para entender la economia. Muestro que los camaleones son creados y alimentados por la idea erronea de que un modelo no se debe juzgar por sus supuestos, por el argumento infundado de que los modelos deben estar en pie de igualdad hasta que se hagan pruebas empiricas definitivas, por apelaciones improcedentes a argumentos “como si”, a la elegancia matematica, a la sutileza, por referencias a supuestos “estandar en la literatura”, y por la necesidad de manejabilidad).English Abstract: In this essay I discuss how theoretical models in finance and economics are used in ways that make them “chameleons” and that chameleons devalue intellectual currency and obscure policy debates. A model becomes a chameleon when it is based on assumptions with dubious connections with the real world but draws conclusions that are uncritically (or not critically enough) applied to understand our economy. I discuss how chameleons are created and nurtured by the mistaken notion that a model should not be judged by its assumptions, by the unfounded argument that models should have equal standing until definitive empirical tests are conducted; and by misplaced appeals to “as-if” arguments, by mathematical elegance, by subtlety, by references to assumptions that are “standard in the literature,” and by the need for manageability.
The Debugging Task: Evaluating a Robotics Design Workshop

Evaluating new educational programs and tools, especially those targeted at difficult-to-assess learning goals can be quite challenging due to the small number of participants typically engaged with pilot programs. The focus of the evaluation, then, should be on collecting rich data from each participant about their experience in the workshop and their progress towards meeting the workshop’s learning goals. We present a novel evaluation technique, the debugging task, that seeks to assess at post-workshop a participant’s independent ability to use the tools, skills, and materials of the workshop. The technique is presented in the context of Robot Diaries, a program to develop a robotics design activity centered on crafts materials and expressiveness, and targeted to middle school girls. The paper discusses the rationale for the debugging task, its implementation, and the results and analyses of girls completing the task.
The Primacy of Reasoning: The Logical Character of Galileo’s Methodology

It has turned out (Chapter 2) that it is possible to reconstruct the whole Dialogue from the point of view of the internal relationships among the propositions it contains. From this point of view the proposition that the earth moves turns out to be the crucial one in the sense that the whole book is a complex argument of which it is the conclusion. This is the logical point of view, namely the point of view of reasoning or logical practice. It should also be noticed that the methodological analysis of the Dialogue showed that the topic of logic and reasoning was one of the most frequent ones; in fact, the number of its discussions was exceeded only by the topic of experience, the excess being merely one. In other words logic and reasoning are one of the central methodological topics in the Dialogue. Because of these two ‘logical’ features of the Dialogue, it will be useful to inquire whether or to what extent it is possible to interpret the other methodological topics in terms of logic and reasoning, namely to what extent one can reduce the book’s methodological discussions to discussions concerning logic and reasoning.