cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 3006: Melanoma cell lines derived from patient derived xenografts (PDX) can contain murine chromosomes resultant from cell fusions

Introduction: Patient Derived Xenografts (PDX) provide a distinct platform to generate in vivo and ex vivo cell lines to investigate novel therapies. However, human-murine cell fusions may skew the models and is a poorly characterized phenomenon. Methods: Malignant melanoma IRB-consented biopsies [IRBs: 17-000548; 17-001685; 17-001351; 11-003254] were excised from various sites and implanted into gender-matched 4-6 weeks old NOD-scid IL2Rgammanull mice. Tumor-bearing mice were humanely euthanized and adherent cell lines were generated after Miltenyi gentleMACS™ dissociation of the PDXs. Briefly, adherent cells are allowed to proliferate and passaged when 70% confluent for approximately 4-8 weeks. PDX-derived cell products were processed for long term-cryostorage and an aliquot was sent for GenePrint 10 System-Promega®-LaragenTM cell line authentication paired with patient-matched peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) for specimen congruency. Mouse-genome contaminant resulting cultures were prepared and sent for cell line characterization by G-banded metaphase karyotyping-Cell Line GeneticsTM. Cultures containing murine karyotypes were processed according to manufacturer recommendations by Miltenyi Mouse Cell Depletion KitTM where the flow through (negative fraction) represents the human-cell fraction. Results: We implanted 86 patient-derived biopsies into mice over 3years, from which 39 [45%] resulted in progressively growing PDXs. From these PDXs we have generated 26 [37%]-patient-specific PDX-derived cell lines. G-banded metaphase karyotyping demonstrated that 6 [24%]- cell lines presented murine chromosome contamination. The immunoprofile of these 6 cellular materials appear to be murine as the totality of the cultures were sequestered in the column by mouse depletion cell cocktail. Separation assay was validated by bonafide human cell lines, utilized as human positive controls, M257 and MX210 both with human karyotypes and matched Cell ID profiling. The murine colon carcinoma cell line MC38, was utilized as a positive murine control, and performed identically as the 6 PDX-derived cellular materials with abnormal mouse genomes. Conclusion: Detection of murine-human fusion cells in cell lines derived from PDXs may limit the utility of these models. Citation Format: Agustin Vega-Crespo, Ignacio Baselga-Carretero, Ivan Perez-Garcilaso, Sameeha Jilani, Kevin Chen, Vaneet Khullar, Egmidio Medina, Yaroslav Teper, Antoni Ribas, Begona Comin-Anduix. Melanoma cell lines derived from patient derived xenografts (PDX) can contain murine chromosomes resultant from cell fusions [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 3006.
Applying an Individual Word-Problem Intervention to a Small-Group Setting: A Pilot Study’s Evidence of Improved Word-Problem Performance for Students Experiencing Mathematics Difficulty:

The purpose of this pilot study was to determine whether positive results from a word-problem intervention implemented one-to-one contributed to similar outcomes when implemented in small groups of...
Utility of polysomnography for management of chronic invasive mechanical ventilation in children.

OBJECTIVE With advances in technology, pediatric patients are sent home with chronic invasive mechanical ventilation (CIMV). Ventilation optimization and preparation for weaning are essential processes, however, there is no standard approach to weaning and titrating ventilator settings in children. There is little information in the literature on the utility of polysomnography (PSG) in weaning and titration of CIMV. Our objective is to review the role of PSG on titration and weaning of CIMV in children. METHODS A retrospective review of medical records and polysomnograms was performed on CIMV dependent patients at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center from January 2011 to October 2017. Patients underwent overnight ventilator weaning or titration PSG. Subjects with less than 3 h of total sleep time were excluded. RESULTS About 163 PSGs were divided into 97 PSGs for ventilator titration and 66 PSGs for ventilator weaning. Of the 97 ventilator titration PSGs, 59 (60.8%) had inadequate ventilation, 10 (10.3%) had inadequate oxygenation, 22 (22.7%) had significant tracheostomy leak, 13 (13.4%) had autocycling, 3 (3.1%) had failure to trigger, 4 (4.1%) had central sleep apnea, and 24 (25.8%) had adequate ventilation on current ventilator settings. Of the 66 ventilator weaning PSGs, 48 (72.7%) weaned to lower ventilator settings or off ventilator support and 18 (27.3%) did not wean. DISCUSSION Our results indicate that PSG is useful in titration and weaning of ventilator settings in children with CIMV. Larger studies are needed to evaluate the subgroup of this population who would benefit most from PSG for assessment of adequate ventilator support.
The Psychology of Good and Evil: Self-Esteem and Aggression

Earlier in the book, I mentioned that aggressive behavior and low self-esteem have been found, in a variety of studies, to go together. In recent works, however, this relationship has been challenged. Here I will discuss some important characteristics of aggressive boys and men, including self-esteem. Aggressive boys see other people as hostile, especially to themselves. They see others as intending to harm. For example, when they see pictures showing boys playing soccer and one boy kicking another while trying to get the ball away from him, they interpret this as intentional harmdoing (Coie & Dodge, 1997). Aggressive adults, both college students and prison inmates, also see other people as hostile (Galvin & Spielman, 1999). However, intentional rather than accidental harm caused by others is especially likely to provoke retaliatory aggression (Mallick & McCandless, 1966). Boys who are not aggressive assume that such acts are accidental. Some children who are badly treated, given their specific circumstances, may come to feel hostility and even hatred toward people. However, the need for connection to other people is profound, and even such children and the adults they grow into will desire and seek connection to some others. Negative beliefs and hostility, as they come to be expressed in behavior, create a self-fulfilling prophecy. Reacting to others as if they had aggressed against us makes them respond aggressively. A group of unfamiliar boys, after spending a period of time with an aggressive boy, becomes aggressive toward him (Dodge, 1980).
Impurities block the α to ω martensitic transformation in titanium

Impurities control phase stability and phase transformations in natural and man-made materials, from shape-memory alloys1 to steel2 to planetary cores3. Experiments and empirical databases are still central to tuning the impurity effects. What is missing is a broad theoretical underpinning. Consider, for example, the titanium martensitic transformations: diffusionless structural transformations proceeding near the speed of sound2. Pure titanium transforms from ductile α to brittle ω at 9 GPa, creating serious technological problems for β-stabilized titanium alloys. Impurities in the titanium alloys A-70 and Ti–6Al–4V (wt%) suppress the transformation up to at least 35 GPa, increasing their technological utility as lightweight materials in aerospace applications. These and other empirical discoveries in technological materials call for broad theoretical understanding. Impurities pose two theoretical challenges: the effect on the relative phase stability, and the energy barrier of the transformation. Ab initio methods4,5 calculate both changes due to impurities. We show that interstitial oxygen, nitrogen and carbon retard the transformation whereas substitutional aluminium and vanadium influence the transformation by changing the d-electron concentration6. The resulting microscopic picture explains the suppression of the transformation in commercial A-70 and Ti–6Al–4V alloys. In general, the effect of impurities on relative energies and energy barriers is central to understanding structural phase transformations.
High trace-velocity infrasound from pulsating auroras at Fairbanks, Alaska

[1] We report here on infrasound signals observed using the infrasound microphone array at Fairbanks, Alaska that are apparently associated with the presence of pulsating auroras near the zenith. We have investigated the frequency domain coherence between the luminous intensity of the pulsating auroras and the high trace-velocity infrasound received at the earth's surface. Video data of the aurora display from an All-Sky video camera on the night of December 5, 2003 was compared with the pressure waveform data from the eight-microphone infrasonic array at Fairbanks. Enhanced coherence between the two signals was observed when a propagation delay time for the infrasound sample with respect to the video data sample was used. The frequency domain coherence was found to be high between the pulsating aurora intensity above the array and the high trace-velocity infrasound signals at the surface in the pass band from 0.03 to 0.08 Hz. Ray-tracing studies indicate that such high trace-velocity infrasound signals originate from sources within 35 km of the zenith above the array for a source height of 110 km. The presence of pulsating aurora patches within this area during the time interval of received infrasound and the high coherence between the video and infrasound data lead us to believe that periodic heating of the atmosphere by pulsating aurora is the actual source of the observed high trace-velocity infrasound.
Hidden Markov Models to identify pilot instrument scanning and attention patterns

A previous study successfully demonstrated the potential usefulness of Hidden Markov Model (HMM) analysis techniques in analyzing pilots' eye-movement data to detect differences in scanning and attention patterns caused by display format changes. This paper focuses on assessing differences among pilots using the same display format. A flight simulator experiment was conducted with four pilots who had different levels of flight expertise. The analysis revealed variations in the HMM structures during the final descent segment: a 2-state HMM for the patterns of the least experienced pilot, a 3-state HMM for the two intermediate-level pilots, and a 4-state HMM for the most experienced pilot. The added "attitude-monitoring" state in the 4-state HMM reflected a flight technique well-known among experienced instrument pilots. HMM analysis methodology and interpretation issues are also discussed.
Chapter 22 Pre- and postnatal expression of amino acid neurotransmitters, calcium binding proteins, and nitric oxide synthase in the developing superior colliculus

Publisher Summary Neurons within the superior colliculus (SC) contain a variety of neurochemicals, including the amino acid neurotransmitters gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate, the calcium-binding proteins calbindin and parvalbumin, and the neuromodulator nitric oxide. The chapter examines the development of expression of these substances using antibody immunocytochemistry. GABA and calbindin are expressed very early in development, at a time when cells are still dividing and migrating from the subventricular zone. The expression of both GABA and cannabinoid receptor (CB) is maximal at around E40-46, the age at which these cells have just established their adult lamination and extrinsic afferents have begun to grow into the tectum. GABA and CB play diverse roles during this stage of development, including the regulation of intracellular calcium during cell migration and neurite outgrowth. Glutamate is expressed somewhat later in development and parvalbumin immunoreactivity does not appear until shortly after birth. These two substances continue to increase in density throughout the period of postnatal growth, at a time when synapse formation and evoked electrical activity are beginning to develop. Both parvalbumin (PV) and glutamate may be involved in one or both of these activity dependent processes. nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression occurs in these cells at precisely the time when axons begin to form patches that innervate these clusters.
The Budget Outlook and Options for Fiscal Policy

[© Brookings Institution] This paper examines the federal budget outlook and evaluates alternative fiscal policy choices. Official projections of the federal budget surplus have declined dramatically in the past year. Adjusting such measures for the treatment of retirement trust funds, realistic estimates of future tax and spending levels, and longer time horizons implies an even bleaker picture. Freezing the tax cut passed last year would be a significant step toward fiscal responsibility. In contrast, the Bush Administration's budget proposes making last year's tax cut permanent and seeks further tax cuts that would exacerbate long-term fiscal problems.
Increase the visibility of microbial growth in a winogradsky column by substituting diatomaceous Earth for sediment.

The difficulty students have seeing the color associated with microbial growth in a traditional Winogradsky column can be overcome by substituting diatomaceous earth (DE) for sediment. Microbial growth in a DE column is visible from the early stages of ecological succession and the colors produced appear more vibrant. A flat-sided tissue culture flask can be used as a column container to provide a large surface area for observation. The enhanced visual experience provided by a DE column increases student engagement and learning. Editor's Note : The ASM advocates that students must successfully demonstrate the ability to explain and practice safe laboratory techniques. For more information, read the laboratory safety section of the ASM Curriculum Recommendations: Introductory Course in Microbiology and the Guidelines for Biosafety in Teaching Laboratories, available at www.asm.org . The Editors of JMBE recommend that adopters of the protocols included in this article follow a minimum of Biosafety Level 1 practices.
Chronic exercise preserves brain function in masters athletes when compared to sedentary counterparts

AbstractObjective: Exercise is beneficial for both the body and the mind, and it has been associated with protective neurocognitive effects, such as increased levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurogenesis. These effects are linked to the attenuation of age-related mental decline and the preservation of mental capacities in older, physically active adults. This study evaluated whether masters athletes, a highly active population, have better cognitive function compared to age-matched non-athletes based on the Immediate Post-concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) tool. Methods: Masters athletes and sedentary controls were recruited and screened for eligibility. All subjects were excluded if they had preexisting neurological diseases, psychiatric disorders, substance abuse disorders, learning disorders, and/or a history of traumatic brain injury, and in addition, control subjects were excluded if they performed >1 h/week of aerobic exercise. All participants completed a health an...
Voices of Modernity: Language Ideologies and the Politics of Inequality

Voices of Modernity: Language Ideologies and the Politics of Inequality. Richard Bauman and Charles L. Briggs. Cambridge, MA: Cambridge University Press, 2003. 356 pp.
Objective Bayesian Two Sample Hypothesis Testing for Online Controlled Experiments

As A/B testing gains wider adoption in the industry, more people begin to realize the limitations of the traditional frequentist null hypothesis statistical testing (NHST). The large number of search results for the query ``Bayesian A/B testing'' shows just how much the interest in the Bayesian perspective is growing. In recent years there are also voices arguing that Bayesian A/B testing should replace frequentist NHST and is strictly superior in all aspects. Our goal here is to clarify the myth by looking at both advantages and issues of Bayesian methods. In particular, we propose an objective Bayesian A/B testing framework for which we hope to bring the best from Bayesian and frequentist methods together. Unlike traditional methods, this method requires the existence of historical A/B test data to objectively learn a prior. We have successfully applied this method to Bing, using thousands of experiments to establish the priors.
Hippocampal α7 and α4β2 nicotinic receptors and working memory

Abstract Nicotine and other nicotinic receptor agonists have been found in a variety of studies to improve memory, while nicotinic receptor blockade can impair memory. The critical neural mechanisms for nicotinic involvement with memory are still under investigation. Initial evidence supports the involvement of the ventral hippocampus. Lesions in this area block nicotine-induced memory improvement and mecamylamine-induced impairment. Local ventral hippocampal application of the nicotinic channel blocker mecamylamine impairs memory in the 8-arm radial maze. Both α4β2 and α7 nicotinic receptors seem to be involved. Ventral hippocampal infusions of high doses of the α4β2 nicotinic antagonist dihydro-β-erythrodine (DHβE) and the α7 nicotinic antagonist methyllycaconitine (MLA) impair memory performance on the 8-arm radial maze. However, high doses of these drugs may limit specificity and they cause preconvulsant effects, which in themselves may affect memory. The current study used the more challenging 16-arm radial maze to determine the effects of lower doses of these drugs on memory and to differentiate effects on working and reference memory. Adult female Sprague–Dawley rats were trained on a working and reference memory task in the 16-arm radial maze and then were implanted with bilateral chronic guide cannulae directed to the ventral hippocampus. After recovery from surgery, the rats received acute intrahippocampal infusions of dose combinations of DHβE and MLA. In the first study, DHβE (0 and 6.75 μg/side) and MLA (0, 6.75, 13.5 and 27 μg/side) were administered in a counter-balanced order. In the second study, lower doses of DHβE (0, 1.6375, 3.275 and 6.75 μg/side) were administered alone or with MLA (0 and 6.75 μg/side) in a counter-balanced order. In the first study, DHβE caused a significant increase in both working and reference memory errors. MLA at a dose of 27 μg/side caused a significant increase in working memory errors, but this dose had no significant effect on reference memory errors. Interestingly, no additive effects were seen with combined administration of DHβE and MLA in this study, and at the doses used, no effects were seen on response latency. In the second study, lower doses of DHβE did not cause a significant deficit in working memory performance. Co-administration of MLA with these subthreshold doses did precipitate a memory impairment. The current results confirm the specificity of the memory deficits caused by these drugs. These results support the involvement of α4β2 and α7 nicotinic receptors in the ventral hippocampus as being critical for memory function.
Nonthermal RF Plasma Modifications on Pd/γ-Al2O3 for Selective Hydrogenation of Acetylene in the Presence of Ethylene

Nonthermal RF plasma modification has been applied to alumina-supported Pd catalysts for selective hydrogenation of acetylene in the presence of ethylene. High ethylene selectivity and good acetyle...
Similarities and differences in the coupling of human β1- and β2-adrenoceptors to Gsα splice variants

Abstract The human β 1 -adrenoceptor (β 1 AR) and β 2 -adrenoceptor (β 2 AR) couple to G s -proteins to activate adenylyl cyclase (AC). There are differences in desensitization between the β 2 AR and the originally cloned Gly389-β 1 AR, but with respect to ternary complex formation, constitutive activity, and AC activation the picture is unclear. To learn more about the similarities and differences between the β 1 AR and β 2 AR, we analyzed coupling of the Gly389-β 1 AR to the G s α splice variants G s α L and G s α S using β 1 AR-G s α fusion proteins expressed in Sf9 cells and compared the data with previously published data on β 2 AR-G s α fusion proteins (Seifert et al ., J Biol Chem 1998;273:5109–16). Fusion ensures defined receptor/G-protein stoichiometry and efficient coupling. The agonist (−)-isoproterenol stabilized the ternary complex at β 1 AR-G s α S , β 1 AR-G s α L , β 2 AR-G s α S , and β 2 AR-G s α L with similar efficiency. β 1 AR-G s α L but not β 1 AR-G s α S showed the hallmarks of constitutive activity as assessed by increased potencies and efficacies of partial agonists and AC activation by the agonist-free receptor. Similar differences were observed previously for β 2 AR-G s α S and β 2 AR-G s α L . β 1 AR-G s α S and β 2 AR-G s α S were similarly efficient at activating AC, but β 1 AR-G s α L was ∼4-fold more efficient at activating AC than β 2 AR-G s α L . Our data show that (i) the β 1 AR and β 2 AR are similarly efficient at stabilizing the ternary complex with G s α splice variants, (ii) G s α L confers constitutive activity to the β 1 AR and β 2 AR, and (iii) the β 1 AR coupled to G s α L is more efficient at activating AC than the β 2 AR coupled to G s α L . These data help us understand some of the discrepancies regarding similarities and differences between the β 1 AR and β 2 AR.
Effective training of manual signs without physical prompts and the potential for overgeneralization of mands across reinforcers for challenging behavior

AbstractThis review provides a summary and appraisal commentary on the treatment review by Falcomata, T. S., Wacker, D. P., Ringdahl, J. E., Vinquist, K., & Dutt, A. (2013). An evaluation of generalization of mands during functional communication training. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 46, 444–454.Source of funding and disclosure of interests. No source of funding was indicated, nor were any interests declared.
Modulator and filter circuits for EEG biofeedback

Inexpensive designs for two components of an EEG biofeedback system are described. A two-channel modulator accepts a pair of input signals for modulation of two audio carrier frequencies a musical fifth apart. Carrier suppression is obtained with a simple balanced modulator circuit for each channel. The filter circuit is an integrated circuit adaptation of a successful vacuum tube design reported by other investigators a number of years ago. Various configurations of this equipment for two-channel EEG biofeedback are described.
Kinship correlations reported by Sir Cyril Burt.

All the kinship correlations (and their sample sizes) reported over a period of 30 years by Sir Cyril Burt are presented in tabular form. The kinships include identical twins reared together and apart, fraternal twins, siblings, parent-child, grandparent-grandchild, cousins, and others, more rare types of relationships. Burt's statistical methods and the procedures for testing and obtaining “final assessments” of mental ability are fully described, and the final assessments for Burt's 53 monozygotic twins reared apart are given in full. Misprints and inconsistencies in some of the data are noted, and recommendations are made for the presentation and preservation of kinship data secured by future researchers.
Regional brain cholinesterase activity in rats injected intraperitoneally with anatoxin-a(s) or paraoxon

Adult male Long-Evans rats were injected intraperitoneally with 1.5, 3.0 or 9.0 micrograms/kg of anatoxin-a(s) that had been extracted from laboratory-grown Anabaena flos-aquae NRC-525-17, 800 micrograms/kg of paraoxon, or a control solution. Blood, anterior spinal cord, and brain cerebellar, cortical, medullary, midbrain, hippocampal, hypothalamic, olfactory and striatal cholinesterase activity was determined in rats that died prior to 2 hours or were anesthetized and killed at 2 hours. Unlike paraoxon, anatoxin-a(s) did not cause detectable inhibition of cholinesterase in the central nervous system, but did cause inhibition of cholinesterase in blood, suggesting that anatoxin-a(s) is strictly a peripheral cholinesterase inhibitor.
CP/MAS 13C NMR analysis of cellulase treated bleached softwood kraft pulp

Abstract Fully bleached softwood kraft pulps were hydrolyzed with cellulase (1,4-(1,3:1,4)-β- d -glucan 4-glucano-hydrolase, EC 3.2.1.4) from Trichoderma reesei. Supra-molecular structural features of cellulose during enzymatic hydrolysis were examined by using CP/MAS 13C NMR spectra in combination with line-fitting analysis. Different types of cellulose allomorphs (cellulose Iα, cellulose Iβ, para-crystalline) and amorphous regions were hydrolyzed to a different extent by the enzyme used. Also observed was a rapid initial phase for hydrolysis of regions followed by a slow hydrolysis phase. Cellulose Iα, para-crystalline, and non-crystalline regions of cellulose are more susceptible to enzymatic hydrolysis than cellulose Iβ during the initial phase. After the initial phase, all the regions are then similarly susceptible to enzymatic hydrolysis.
Tuning of whispering gallery modes of polymeric micro-spheres and shells using external electric field

The electrostriction effect on the whispering gallery modes (WGM) of polymeric micro-spheres is investigated analytically and experimentally. Electrostriction is the elastic deformation (mechanical strain) of a dielectric material due the force exerted by an electric field. The elastic deformation also leads to mechanical stress which perturbs the refractive index of the sphere. Both if these effects (strain and stress) induce a shift in the WGM of the dielectric microsphere. We develop analytical expressions for the WGM shift due to electrostriction for solid and thin-walled micro-shells. The analytical results show that detection of electric fields < 1000 V/m is possible using water filled PDMS microshells. The electric field sensitivities for solid spheres, on the other hand, are significantly smaller. Results of experiments carried out using solid polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) spheres agree well with the analytical prediction. These results are encouraging for future development of WGM-based optical switches/filters as well as electric field sensors.
Determination of the superconducting strong-coupling microscopic parameters of Nb by electron tunneling

Abstract The electron-coupled phonon spectrum and microscopic parameters λ and μ* have been determined for high purity, single crystal niobium from tunnel junctions fabricated with three different counterelectrodes. Studies of polycrystalline niobium samples reproduce these results. All spectra compare well with phonon spectra extracted from neutron scattering experiments. Values of λ are BCS-like and μ* is always negative. Critical temperatures determined from our spectra compare well with the measured T c ′s. Computer modeling studies describing a niobium-like material cannot generate an acceptable set of strong-coupling parameters. We conclude that the observed behavior of Nb cannot be explained within the formalism of currently accepted strong-coupling theory.
Fatty acyl chain specificity of phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis catalyzed by lipoprotein lipase. Effect of apolipoprotein C-II and its (56-79) synthetic fragment.

Mixed acyl chain phosphatidylcholine molecules in Triton N-101 micelles were employed as substrates for lipoprotein lipase to test which substrate acyl chain has the greatest effect on activation of the enzyme by apolipoprotein C-II. The phospholipase A1 activity of lipoprotein lipase was measured by pH-stat. The activation factor (lipoprotein lipase activity plus apolipoprotein C-II / activity minus apolipoprotein C-II) increased monotonically with apolipoprotein C-II concentration up to 1 μM apolipoprotein C-II at an enzyme concentration of 0.01 μM. The maximal activation factor for phosphatidylcholine substrate molecules with sn-2 acyl chain lengths of 14 averages 14.8. By contrast, for sn-2 acyl chain lengths of 16 the activation factor was 29.2. Varying the sn-1 acyl chain length had no significant effect on the activation factor. The chain-length dependence of the activation factor is similar with the apolipoprotein C-II peptide fragment comprising residues 56–79, which does not include the lipid-binding region of apolipoprotein C-II. These data are consistent with a model for activation of lipoprotein lipase in which residues 56–79 bind to lipoprotein lipase and alter the interaction of the sn-2 acyl chain of the phosphatidylcholine (PC) substrate or the lysoPC product within the activated state complex.
Characterizing gastrolith surface roughness with light scattering

Abstract Light scattering measurements on gastroliths, suspected gastroliths, and stream-polished rocks are compared using the Kirchhoff approximation for scattering by rough surfaces. The results for suspected and known gastroliths are very similar. Stream-polished rocks, however, exhibit greater surface roughness. Light scattering appears to be a practical method for rapidly and non-destructively characterizing gastroliths.
Adaptive Design of Pervasive Computing System Under QoS Constraints1

User mobility in pervasive computing makes it fundamentally different from traditional desktop computing. Accordingly, the system configurations, such as resource allocation and routing, are extrem...
Mirror-based pattern generation for maskless lithography

In this paper, we consider the composition of integrated circuit patterns using dense arrays of mirrors. Typically the mirrors are 10-100 wavelengths in size and are demagnified some to form slightly sub-resolution spots or pixels at the wafer. The mirrors are actuated to modulate the light intensity. We consider both pure phase mirrors, moved in pistonlike fashion, and tilting mirrors, which provide a mix of amplitude and phase modulation. We compare the image quality and useful process window for DUV or EUV imaging of typical features. The performance of both mirror types is similar when operated in gray-scale analog mode to provide arbitrary image placement and feature sizing, but for a given feature one mirror type will have slightly superior performance. Simple piston mirrors have a disadvantage with respect to image shift with defocus for certain features. A new type of mirror arrangement, termed the double-piston mirror, can equal or better the performance of tilt mirrors in all situations examined.
Current and novel immunosuppressive therapy for autoimmune hepatitis

Corticosteroids alone or in conjunction with azathioprine is the treatment of choice in patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and results in remission induction in over 80% of patients. Sustained response to therapy may result in substantial regression of fibrosis even in advanced cases. The outcome of rapid withdrawal of immunosuppression is disease relapse in many patients. Consequently, the use of 2 mg/kg/d of azathioprine as a sole agent to maintain remission has been widely accepted in clinical practice. Persistent severe laboratory abnormalities or histologic abnormalities such as bridging necrosis or multilobular necrosis are absolute indications for treatment based on controlled clinical trials, but debate exists as to whether all patients with AIH need treatment. Examination of liver tissue remains the best method of evaluating both treatment response and need for treatment in patients who have little biochemical activity. Alternative strategies in patients who have failed to achieve remission on "standard therapy" of corticosteroids with or without azathioprine or patients with drug toxicity include the use of cyclosporine, tacrolimus, or mycophenolate mofetil. Liver transplantation is the treatment of choice in managing decompensated disease. In this review we examine current management strategies of AIH, and evaluate available data pertaining to the use of novel immunosuppressive agents in this condition.
Cytologic evaluation of lymphadenopathy associated with mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome: role of immunophenotypic and molecular ancillary studies.

BACKGROUND. The most common presenting site of extracutaneous disease in mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome is the peripheral lymph node. Although fine-needle aspiration biopsy has been shown to be a valuable diagnostic technique in evaluating lymphadenopathy, its utility in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma has not been extensively studied. With fine-needle aspiration biopsy, material can be collected for ancillary diagnostic studies and for morphologic evaluation. METHODS. The authors report a series of 11 fine-needle aspiration biopsy specimens from 10 mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome patients. Flow cytometric immunophenotyping and T-cell receptor gamma chain polymerase chain reaction were performed on fine-needle aspiration biopsy material and correlated with cytologic findings. RESULTS. Seven of 10 patients had lymph node involvement by cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, with 3 cases exhibiting large-cell transformation and 4 cases exhibiting a small-cell pattern. Flow cytometric immunophenotyping identified an abnormal T-cell population in 6 cases. A clonal T-cell rearrangement by T-cell receptor gamma chain polymerase chain reaction (TCR-γ PCR) was identified in 1case in which insufficient events were present for evaluation by flow cytometry and in 1 case in which flow cytometry was not diagnostic of T-cell lymphoma. Two cases showed involvement by classic Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosed by immunohistochemistry on cell block material. CONCLUSIONS. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy in conjunction with immunophenotyping and T-cell receptor gamma chain polymerase chain reaction is significantly useful in evaluation of lymphadenopathy in patients with mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome, especially for triaging lymph nodes that would otherwise not be sampled or for evaluating multiple lymph nodes. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Total shoulder arthroplasty: Factors influencing prosthetic sizing

Abstract Prosthetic sizing of the glenohumeral articulation influences postoperative shoulder strength stability and range of motion through its influence on the lateral humeral offset. Prosthetic sizing along with proper prosthetic orientation, soft tissue balancing, capsular release, and rotator cuff repair when necessary, are inter-related factors that significantly influence the function of the prosthetic shoulder. Intraoperative assessment of prosthetic size is determined by the lateral humeral offset rotator cuff tissue tension, intraoperative range of motion, and stability of the shoulder.
Calculated specific heat contribution of F2-centers in LiF

Abstract The Schottky heat capacity of F 2 − centers in LiF has been computed using the molecular ion model, the spin Hamiltonian, and the associated eigenvalue equation in terms of which spin resonance and optical absorption data have been so adquately interpreted. An anisotropic hyperfine peak occurs at T p 1 ≈ g 0 β 0 b cos ⁡ θ 3 ⋅ 72 k ≈ 10 − 2 ° K where b is a hyperfine constant and θ is the angle between the molecular bond axis and the magnetic field. An isotropic “hole” spin Zeeman peak occurs at T p 2 ≈ g 0 β 0 H 2 ⋅ 4 k ≈ 10 − 1 ° K for H between 1 and 10 kg. For 10 18 /cm 3 centers, the hyperfine heat capacity maximum is 100 erg/°K cm 3 and the “hole” heat capacity maximum is 65 erg/°K cm 3 . If the related experiment were performed, these contributions would greatly exceed the lattice heat capacity for T ≤ 1°K, but would probably be partially disguised by other paramagnetic contributions.
Understanding quantified categorical expressions.

A model of categorical inference (Revlis, 1975b) claims that a conversion operation participates in the encoding of quantified, categorical expressions. As a consequence, a reasoner is said to interpret such sentences as “All A are B” in a way that permits it to also be the case that “All B are A.” The present study examines this conception of encoding using a sentence-picture verification task. In two experiments, students were asked to judge whether one of five possible Euler diagrams was true or false of a categorical expression (e.g., All A are B, No A are B, Some A are B, Some A are not B). Verification errors support a three-stage verification model whose major component is access to a “meaning stack” representing the progressive analysis of categorical relations; at the top of that stack is a converted reading of the input sentence. These findings have implications for current conceptions of categorical inference and semantic retrieval.
Patterned sequence in the transcriptome of vascular plants

Microsatellites (repeated subsequences based on motifs of one to six nucleotides) are widely used as codominant genetic markers because of their frequent polymorphism and relative selective neutrality. Minisatellites are repeats of motifs having seven or more nucleotides. The large number of EST sequences now available in public databases offers an opportunity to compare microsatellite and minisatellite properties and evaluate their evolution over a broad range of plant taxa. Repeated motifs from one to 250 nucleotides long were identified in 6793306 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from 88 genera of vascular plants, using a custom data-processing pipeline that allowed limited variation among repeats. The pipeline processed trimmed but otherwise unfiltered sequence and output nonredundant loci of at least 15 nucleotides, with degree of polymorphism and PCR primers wherever possible. Motifs that were an integral multiple of three in length were more abundant and richer in G/C than other motifs. From 80 to 85% of minisatellite motifs represented repeats within proteins, up to the 228-nucleotide repeat of ubiquitin, but not all of these repeats preserved reading frame. The remaining 15 to 20% of minisatellite motifs were associated with transcribed repetitive elements, e.g., retrotransposons. Relative microsatellite motif frequencies did not correlate tightly to phylogenetic relationship. Evolution of increased microsatellite and EST GC content was evident within the grasses. Microsatellites were less frequent in the transcriptome of genera with large genomes, but there was no evidence for greater dilution of the transcriptome with transposable element transcripts in these genera. The relatively low correlation of microsatellite spectrum to phylogeny suggests that repeat loci evolve more rapidly than the surrounding sequence, although tissue specificity of the different EST libraries is a complicating factor. In-frame motifs are more abundant and higher in GC than frame-shifting motifs, but most EST minisatellite loci appear to represent repeats in translated sequence, regardless of whether reading frame is preserved. Motifs of four to six nucleotides are as polymorphic in EST collections as the commonly used motifs of two and three nucleotides, and they can be exploited as genetic markers with little additional effort.
Translation and Materiality: The Space of Invention Between Designing and Building

Abstract The “Ethereal Theatre” is a portable theater designed and built by Temple University students for the Philadelphia Fringe Festival's annual summer celebration of dance, theater, and performance art. The studio challenged conventional modes of designing/building by questioning the projective relationship between drawing and building. Within a six-week time frame, students designed through the entire drawing/building process, constructing a continuous space of invention as they went. Conceptually as well as physically, the theater became an exquisite corpse (of constructions).
Stress-relieved magnetoelastic amorphous metal DC magnetometer

Reduction in the low-frequency stress-induced noise has improved the performance of a magnetoelastic amorphous metal fluxgate magnetometer by a factor of 20. This is accomplished by utilising a viscous fluid interface between the ribbon and its support structure. A minimum detectable field of 120pT/?Hz is demonstrated.
The interfacial structure of phospholipid monolayer films : an infrared reflectance study

Abstract Monolayer films of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) at the air-water (A/W) interface have been investigated in situ using external reflection-absorption IR spectroscopy. The IR spectra of the monolayer films were monitored as a function of the two-dimensional molecular area of the phospholipd molecules on the surface of a Langmuir trough. Examination of the conformation-sensitive CH stretching bands of the molecule's hydrocarbon chains reveals the existence of two phase transitions during film compression. The first transition corresponds to the main liquid-expanded-to-liquid-condensed monolayer phase transition (at ∼58–78 A2 molecule−1), while the second transition occurs at ∼40–57 A2 molecule−1 and is indicative of a transition to a solid-condensed phase under increasing pressure. The headgroup bands from the phosphate ester group were also monitored during film compression. The asymmetric phosphate stretching band of the DPPC monolayer film is composed of two bands, one at ∼1220 cm−1 and the second at ∼1257 cm−1. These bands are also seen, and frequency shifts noted, for the interaction of the soluble cations Ca2+ and Pr3+ with the phospholipid phosphate group. The band splitting and frequency shifts suggest a mixture of hydration states for the lipid's phosphate group. The equilibrium between these hydration states can be changed by film compression and/or cation interaction with the lipid headgroup.
Structure and function of ribosomal protein S4 genes on the human and mouse sex chromosomes.

Abstract The human sex-linked genes RPS4X and RPS4Y encode distinct isoforms of ribosomal protein S4. Insufficient expression of S4 may play a role in the development of Turner syndrome, the complex human phenotype associated with monosomy X. In mice, the S4 protein is encoded by an X-linked gene, Rps4, and is identical to human S4X; there is no mouse Y homolog. We report here the organization of the human RPS4X and RPS4Y and mouse Rps4 genes. Each gene comprises seven exons; the positions of introns are conserved. The 5' flanking sequences of human RPS4X and mouse Rps4 are very similar, while RPS4Y diverges shortly upstream of the transcription start site. In chickens, S4 is encoded by a single gene that is not sex linked. The chicken protein differs from human S4X by four amino acid substitutions, all within a region encoded by a single exon. Three of the four substitutions are also present in human S4Y, suggesting that the chicken S4 gene may have arisen by recombination between S4X- and S4Y-like sequences. Using isoform-specific antisera, we determined that human S4X and S4Y are both present in translationally active ribosomes. S4Y is about 10 to 15% as abundant as S4X in ribosomes from normal male placental tissue and 46,XY cultured cells. In 49,XYYYY cells, S4Y is about half as abundant as S4X. In 49,XXXXY cells, S4Y is barely detectable. These results bear on the hypothesized role of S4 deficiency in Turner syndrome.
The Surface Water and Ocean Topography Mission: centimetric spaceborne radar interferometry

Over the last two decades, several nadir profiling radar altimeters have provided our first global look at the ocean basinscale circulation and the ocean mesoscale at wavelengths longer than 100 km. Due to sampling limitations, nadir altimetry is unable to resolve the small wavelength ocean mesoscale and sub-mesoscale that are responsible for the vertical mixing of ocean heat and gases and the dissipation of kinetic energy from large to small scales. The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission being considered by NASA has as one of its main goals the measurement of ocean topography with kilometer-scale spatial resolution and centimeter scale accuracy. In this paper, we provide an overview of all error sources that contribute to the SWOT mission for the ocean. This paper is a sequel to an earlier paper describing the SWOT mission, the science and its payload.
On the Mechanisms of the Feedback Control of Human Brain-Wave Activity

The recent attention given to the feedback control of human brain-wave activity and the implications of such control prompts a careful analysis of this phenomenon. Particular emphasis is placed on the learned control of the alpha rhythm. A review of possible factors that might influence the density of alpha rhythms led to the differentiation of three general sources of influence: constitutional, physiological, and cognitive-attentional factors. Each of these factors is discussed as a possible mediator of the learned control of the alpha rhythm. The view is advanced that increases in alpha density during feedback training arise from a diminution of those factors that block this rhythm, and some implications of such a view arc discussed. Several of the issues raised appear generalizable to the whole question of the operant control of autonomic activity.
Peripheral Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Receptor Type 2 Activation Increases Colonic Blood Flow Through Nitric Oxide Pathway in Rats

Background Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) peptides exert profound effects on the secretomotor function of the gastrointestinal tract. Nevertheless, despite the presence of CRF peptides and receptors in colonic tissue, their influence on colonic blood flow (CBF) is unknown.
On inverses of Vandermonde and confluent Vandermonde matrices III

We derive lower bounds for the norm of the inverse Vandermonde matrix and the norm of certain inverse confluent Vandermonde matrices. They supplement upper bounds which were obtained in previous papers.
Timolol plus maximum tolerated antiglaucoma therapy: A one-year followup study

Thirty-three eyes of 22 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or severe ocular hypertension had topical timolol maleate added to their maximally tolerated medical regimens. With minimal side effects, 25 eyes (76%) could be treated medically for one year, and only eight eyes (24%) required filtering surgery. Thirteen (39%) of the medically treated eyes achieved intraocular pressures of 21 mm Hg or less. After the addition of timolol, 17 of the 33 eyes (52%) completed the one-year protocol with final mean intraocular pressure decreases of 5 mm Hg or more on medical therapy.
In planta Engineering of Gold Nanoparticles of Desirable Geometries by Modulating Growth Conditions: An Environment-friendly Approach

Unique properties of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) can be achieved by manipulating their geometries. However, it is not known if the shapes and sizes of AuNPs can be modulated in planta. Here, we evaluated the accumulation of gold across taxonomically diverse plant species (alfalfa, cucumber, red clover, ryegrass, sunflower, and oregano). Significant variations were detected in the uptake of gold in the roots ranging from 500 ppm (ryegrass) to 2500 ppm (alfalfa). Alfalfa was selected for subsequent studies due to its ability to accumulate relatively large quantities of gold in its roots. Temporal analysis revealed that most of the AuNPs formed within 6 h of treatment, and the majority of them fall within the size range of 10-30 nm. Spherical AuNPs (1-50 nm) were detected ubiquitously across different treatments. To elucidate the effects of growth variables on the geometries of in planta synthesized AuNPs, alfalfa was subjected to KAuCl(4) (50 ppm) treatment for 3d under different pH, temperature, and light regimes. Interestingly, manipulation of growth conditions triggered a noticeable shift in the relative abundance of spherical, triangular, hexagonal, and rectangular AuNPs providing empirical evidence toward the feasibility of their in planta engineering.