cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
LINEAR AGGREGATIONS OF STOMATA AND EPIDERMAL CELLS IN TRADESCANTIA LEAVES : EVIDENCE FOR THEIR GROUP PATTERNING AS A FUNCTION OF THE CELL CYCLE

We tested Charlton's hypothesis (1990) that stomata are present and patterned in linear cell aggregations using the monocot Tradescantia. We examined the following features of the leaf epidermis in support of this theory: linear groups (strings) of stomatal complexes and of epidermal cells were sought in immature and mature regions of entire leaves; the lengths (in cell number) and incidences (numerical occurrence) of both string types were determined; the uniformity and progression of stomatal differentiation within strings were studied; physical characteristics of differentiating strings within cell files were measured. Undifferentiated epidermal cells from the leaf base were stained with DAPI to reveal precursors of stomatal strings immediately proximal to the stomatal initial region. The results indicated that the Tradescantia epidermis in the leaf blade consists of linear groups of stomata and epidermal cells, which did not change in cell number nor incidence during development. The incidence of stomata by length was nonrandom. Although incidence decreased with string length, the decline was not linear nor exponential. Stomatal strings show cell cycle synchrony in DAPI staining of stomatal precursors and synchrony of stomatal differentiation within a string. The irregularity in the length of the stomatal development region, and each differentiation stage in it, by cell file was consistent with the variation in string length and unity in string development. The evidence supports Charlton's hypothesis that cells are patterned based on their position in the cell cycle and that linear groups of stomata reflect cell lineages, which maintain a degree of cell cycle synchrony.
Calmodulin-dependent Regulation of Inducible and Neuronal Nitric-oxide Synthase

Neuronal and endothelial nitric-oxide synthases depend upon Ca2+/calmodulin for activation, whereas the activity of the inducible nitric-oxide synthase is Ca2+-independent, presumably due to tightly bound calmodulin. To study these different mechanisms, a series of chimeras derived from neuronal and inducible nitric- oxide synthases were analyzed. Chimeras containing only the oxygenase domain, calmodulin-binding region, or reductase domain of inducible nitric-oxide synthase did not confer significant Ca2+-independent activity. However, each chimera was more sensitive to Ca2+ than the neuronal isoform. The calmodulin-binding region of inducible nitric-oxide synthase with either its oxygenase or reductase domains resulted in significant, but not total, Ca2+-independent activity. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments showed no calmodulin associated with the former chimera in the absence of Ca2+. Trifluoperazine also inhibited this chimera in the absence of Ca2+. The combined interactions of calmodulin bound to inducible nitric-oxide synthase calmodulin-binding region with the oxygenase domain may be weaker than with the reductase domain. Thus, Ca2+-independent activity of inducible nitric-oxide synthase appears to result from the concerted interactions of calmodulin with both the oxygenase and reductase domains in addition to the canonical calmodulin-binding region. The neuronal isoform is not regulated by a unique autoinhibitory element in its reductase domain.
Topological finiteness for edge-vertex enumeration☆

The number of PL-homeomorphism types of combinatorial manifolds in a fixed dimension with an upper bound on g2 is finite.
An Assessment of Five Turbulence Models in Predicting Turbulent Separation

Four different turbulence models were employed to predict the flow over a wall-mounted Glauert-Goldschmied body. The models evaluated include: 1) two-layer k–e, 2) shear stress transport, 3) low-Reynolds number k–ω, 4) Spalart-Allmaras, and 5) v2 −f. Calculations were performed for both an uncontrolled case, and a controlled-flow case which used steady suction through a slot located at the 65% chord station. The flow conditions include a freestream Mach number of approximately 0.1, and a chord Reynolds number of just under 1 million. For each model, the numerical results over predicted the experimentally determined re-attachment length. An examination of streamwise velocity profiles at several stations downstream of the trailing edge revealed considerable variation in the predictions of the five turbulence models.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
A modified pattern search

A modification to the pattern search of Hooke and Jeeves is given which improves convergence. The modification is particularly useful when solving constrained optimization problems by a penalty function approach.
An integrated approach to communication skills in an accounting curriculum

Abstract While accounting students think that they do not need written and oral communication skills in order to succeed in the profession, educators and practitioners stress the need for these skills. Not only is there a set of perceived factors of success in the field that includes the quality of communication skills, but also managers in many different industries complain that recent graduates are unable to effectively communicate their ideas in writing. This article presents the results of an integrated approach to this problem along with specific methodologies, cases, and heuristic evaluation of the program. In addition, it is proposed that communication skills are best taught within professional accounting programs in core courses rather than being taught solely either as part of general education or by a special business communication course.
Synthesis and Characterization of Water-Soluble Chiral Conducting Polymer Nanocomposites

We report the template-guided synthesis of water-soluble chiral conducting polymer nanocomposites. This synthetic route is facile and can be carried out on a large scale easily. Synthesis of water-soluble polyaniline nanocomposites is achieved by careful control of experimental parameters such as acid concentration, ionic strength, monomer/template ratio, total reagent concentration, order of reagent addition, temperature, and timing. Here, we show that a chiral polyaniline nanocomposite can be synthesized by addition of a chiral inducing agent (chiral acid) prior to polymerization and that the enantioselectivity of polyaniline can be controlled by the addition of the (+) or (−) form of the chiral acid. Further, we show that varying the chiral acid and/or salt concentration has a dramatic impact on the degree of chirality in the final polymer nanocomposite. The polyaniline nanocomposites were characterized by UV−vis, infrared (IR), circular dichroism spectroscopy, and tunneling electron microscopy. IR spe...
Quantum Monte Carlo and transfer-matrix calculations for one-dimensional easy-plane ferromagnets.

We have applied previously used quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) techniques to obtain numerically the thermodynamics of two well-studied quasi-one-dimensional (1D) easy-plane ferromagnetic models, in the presence of an applied magnetic field in the easy plane. The checkerboard decomposition form of the Trotter approximation to the partition function has been used. Internal energy, specific heat, magnetization, and susceptibility have been obtained for model Hamiltonians believed appropriate for spin S-italic = (1/2) ((C/sub 6/H/sub 11/NH/sub 3/)CuBr/sub 3/ (CHAB)) and S-italic = 1 (CsNiF/sub 3/), in temperature and field ranges where classical theories have predicted solitonlike kink excitations. The S-italic = (1/2) QMC calculations are verified and superseded by a numerically exact quantum transfer-matrix (QTM) technique. Results for the temperature dependence of the peak in the specific heat versus field are compared with available experimental results. For the model applicable to CHAB, it is found that there is no value of the easy-plane anisotropy parameter from 4% to 10% for which the QTM calculation can adequately reproduce the experimentally obtained peak height and position. On the other hand, the QMC results for the model assumed for CsNiF/sub 3/ do roughly reproduce the temperature dependence of the experimental peak positions, but not the peakmore » heights. However, statistical errors present in our QMC data are large, and a better method is still needed for computing the quantum statistical mechanics of S-italic = 1 systems.« less
A mutagenic analysis of the E5 protein of human papillomavirus type 16 reveals that E5 binding to the vacuolar H+-ATPase is not sufficient for biological activity, using mammalian and yeast expression systems.

The E5 gene of human papillomavirus type 16 encodes a highly hydrophobic membrane protein previously shown to inhibit endosomal acidification, presumably by binding to the 16-kDa pore-forming subunit of the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase (v-ATPase). The role of this interaction in the disruption of v-ATPase activity was explored through extensive mutagenesis of E5 to identify residues that mediate binding to the 16-kDa subunit. Coimmunoprecipitations revealed that the hydrophobic span between residues 41 and 54 is primarily responsible for this interaction and can be replaced with random hydrophobic amino acids. Studies using mutated 16-kDa proteins indicated that the fourth transmembrane domain of the pore subunit mediates binding to E5. Analysis of the E5 mutants in a yeast expression system revealed that several mutants that retained the capacity to bind to the 16-kDa subunit in COS-1 cells failed to disrupt vacuolar acidification. These data argue that E5 binding to the pore subunit is not sufficient for the associated activity of disruption of v-ATPase function.
Non-linear non-planar oscillations of a cantilever beam under lateral base excitations

Abstract The non-planar responses of a cantilevered beam subject to lateral harmonic baseexcitation are investigated using two non-linear coupled integrodifferential equations of motion. The equations contain cubic non-linearities due to curvature and inertia. Two uniform beams with rectangular cross sections are considered: one has an aspect ratio near unity, and the other has an aspect ratio near 6.27. A combination of the Galerkin procedure and the method of multiple scales is used to construct a first-order uniform expansion for the case of a one-to-one internal resonance and a primary resonance. The results show that the non-linear geometric terms are important for the responses of low-frequency modes because they produce hardening spring effects. On the other hand, the non-linear inertia terms dominate the responses of high-frequency modes. We also obtain quantitative results for non-planar motions and investigate their dynamic behavior. For different range of parameters, the non-planar motions can be steady whirling motions, whirling motions of the beating type, or chaotic motions. Furthermore, we investigate the effects of damping.
Pennsylvanian time scales and cycle periods

Geochronological results from central Europe indicate that the duration of Pennsylvanian time is only 19 m.y., compared to the Harland et al. and Palmer estimates of 34 m.y. Prior calculations of Pennsylvanian cycle periods from the midcontinent of North America suggesting a fit with Milankovitch orbital parameters may well be in errors; as a consequence, other mechanisms for possible eustatic sea-level changes represented in those cycles are needed. Calculation of cycle periods of 100 ka or less lack precision in stratigraphic intervals representing ages characterized by error margins of millions of years. Thus, cycle periods may be less reliable as an indicator of global process than previously considered, particularly in rocks of Paleozoic and early and middle Mesozoic age.
Rapid action of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on hepatocyte phospholipids

Recent studies have reported cellular effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 within 15 minutes, a time period too rapid to be mediated by nuclear activation. The vitamin increases hepatocyte cytosolic calcium levels in the absence of extracellular calcium within 5 minutes. Since metabolites of phosphatidylinositol have been implicated as second messengers in the regulation of cytosolic calcium, we examined the effect of 1,25-dihy-droxyvitamin D3 on hepatocyte phosphatidylinositol turnover and compared these effects to those produced by vasopressin. In isolated hepatocytes labeled with [3H]inositol, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (4 nM) increased [3H]glycerophosphoryIinositol by 16% (p < 0.01) within 2.5 minutes, by 18% (p < 0.01) after 5 minutes, and by 11% (p < 0.05) after 10 minutes. At a concentration of 20 nM, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 increased [3H]glycerophosphorylinositol by 27% (p < 0.01) after 5 minutes. Vitamin D did not affect [3H]inositol polyphosphates. Conversely, vasopressin had no effect on [3H]glycerophosphorylinositol but significantly increased [3H]inositol phosphate, [3H]inositol bisphosphate, and [3H]inositol trisphosphate. 1,25-Dihy-droxyvitamin D3 (4 nM) decreased [3H]phosphatidylinositol by 10% (p < 0.05) after 5 minutes and by 16% (p < 0.01) after 10 minutes. At a concentration of 20 nM, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D decreased [3H]phosphatidylinositol by 18% (p < 0.01) after 5 minutes. The vitamin did not affect [3H]phosphatidylinositol bis-phosphate or [3H]phosphatidylinositol trisphosphate. 24,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D had no effect on inositol phospholipids. The effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on inositol phospholipids were blocked by quinacrine. Bromophenacylbromide inhibited the effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on inositol phospholipids and also blocked the vitamin-induced increments in cytosolic calcium. In isolated hepatocytes labeled with [3H]arachidonic acid, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (20 nM) decreased 3H-labeled phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, as well as phosphatidylinositol. The data indicate that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 may enhance deacylation of hepatocyte phospholipids, perhaps by activation of phospholipase A activity. The ability of vitamin D to increase cytosolic calcium requires activation of phospholipase A. Although both 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and vasopressin rapidly affect phospholipid metabolism, their mechanisms of action differ.
Quantitation of Cefaclor in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms Using High Performance Liquid Chromatography

A stability-indicating high performance liquid chromatography method for the quantitation of acyclovir in pharmaceutical dosage forms (capsules, ointment and injection) has been developed. The meth...
Determinants of the larval molting pattern of the crustacean Balanus eburneus Gould (Cirripedia: Thoracica)

Larval development of the thoracican cirripede Balanus eburneus is invariant, consisting of six naupliar instars and a terminal nonfeeding cypris instar. In order to elucidate determinants of its fixed instar molting pattern we tested the following hypotheses: (1) the rate of morphogenesis is correlated with the rate of molting; (2) the timing of the morphogenetic molt to the cyprid is time (age) dependent; and (3) initiation of the molt to the cyprid is dependent upon the accumulation of a minimum amount of energy reserves. Naupliar food supply was manipulated in order to vary rates of molting and accumulation of energy reserves. Total oil cell volume per larva was used to nondestructively estimate energy reserve level. Compound eye development and thoracic appendage development during the six naupliar instar were confined to specific phases of the molt cycle. Suspension of the molt cycle resulted in suspension of morphological development. Initiation of the molt to the cyprid was neither time dependent nor a function of larval oil cell volume. However, the rate of passage through the molt cycle increased abruptly in larvae having an oil cell volume greater than 4–6 × 104 μm3. Nauplii entering the final phase of the molt cycle (D2–4) would attempt to complete development to the cyprid irrespective of their oil cell volume. Correlations between cypris oil cell volume and cypris metamorphic success implied that the naupliar oil cell volume “threshold” of 4–6 × 104 μ3 represented the amount of energy reserves needed to complete covert developmental events rendering the cyprid capable of successfully metamorphosing to the juvenile. These results suggest that molt cycle stage-specific morphogenesis and growth (energy reserve accumulation) are important determinants of the fixed instar molting of B. eburneus larvae. Comparisons with studies of larval crustaceans which vary instar number indicate (1) greater independence between the processes of molting and morphogenesis among species with a variable instar molting pattern and also that (2) growth is an important determinant of each type of molting pattern.
MetaFam: a unified classification of protein families. II. Schema and query capabilities

Motivation: Protein sequence and family data is accumulating at such a rapid rate that state-of-the-art databases and interface tools are required to aid curators with their classifications. We have designed such a system, MetaFam, to facilitate the comparison and integration of public protein sequence and family data. This paper presents the global schema, integration issues, and query capabilities of MetaFam. Results: MetaFam is an integrated data warehouse of information about protein families and their sequences. This data has been collected into a consistent global schema, and stored in an Oracle relational database. The warehouse implementation allows for quick removal of outdated data sets. In addition to the relational implementation of the primary schema, we have developed several derived tables that enable efficient access from data visualization and exploration tools. Through a series of straightforward SQL queries, we demonstrate the usefulness of this data warehouse for comparing protein family classifications and for functional assignment of new sequences. Availability: Access to the MetaFam database is provided through a Java applet called MetaFamView, which can be run from the MetaFam web site at http://www.metafam. ahc.umn.edu/. Access to the relational data via named Oracle accounts can be arranged with the authors. Arrangements can also be made to obtain the data in Oracle export dump' format. Contact: metafam@ahc.umn.edu Supplementary information: The complete relational schema, integration scripts, and analysis queries are available from the authors.
Steroid Regulation of Retinol-Binding Protein in the Ovine Oviduct

Two studies were conducted to identify retinol-binding protein (RBP) expression in the ovine oviduct and to determine the role of ovarian steroids in its regulation. Ewes were salpingectomized on Days 1, 5, or 10 of their respective estrous cycles, and oviducts were homogenized for RNA analysis, fixed for immunocytochemistry (ICC), or cultured for 24 h for protein analysis. ICC localized RBP to the epithelium of all oviducts. RBP synthesis was demonstrated by immunoprecipitation of radiolabeled RBP from the medium of oviductal explant cultures. Explant culture medium from oviducts harvested on Day 1 contained significantly more RBP than medium from oviducts collected on Days 5 or 10. Slot-blot analysis demonstrated that steady-state RBP mRNA levels were significantly higher on Day 1 than Day 5 or 10. In the second experiment, ovariectomized ewes were treated with estradiol-17β (E 2 ), progesterone (P 4 ), E 2 +P 4 (E2+P4), or vehicle control, and oviducts were analyzed as above. P 4 alone or in combination with E 2 significantly reduced steady-state RBP mRNA levels compared to those in E 2 -treated animals. Oviductal explants from E 2 - and E2+P4-treated animals released 3- to 5-fold more RBP into the medium than control and P 4 treatments as determined by ELISA. RBP synthesis of metabolically labeled RBP was increased by E 2 and E2+P4 treatments. This study demonstrates that P 4 applied on an estradiol background negatively regulates RBP gene expression in the oviduct whereas estradiol appears to stimulate RBP synthesis and secretion.
Resonant tunneling injection detectors and imagers

We present a SWIR detector, which combines resonant structures with injection photodetectors. Room temperature dark current of 8nA at 1V and internal quantum efficiency of 72% were measured. 320-by-256 element arrays were fabricated towards focal plane array integration.
Dielectrophoretic assembly of carbon nanofiber nanoelectromechanical devices

We report a technique for the assembly of bottom-up nanomechanical devices. This technique employs the dielectrophoretic manipulation of nanostructures within a multiple layer lithography process. Mechanical resonators were specifically produced by assembling and clamping tubular carbon fibers onto prefabricated pads. Our preliminary results showed that an assembled cantilevered fiber with length L=5 /spl mu/m and width of W=180 nm possessed a resonant frequency of f=1.17 MHz. A shorter L=3-/spl mu/m-long singly clamped resonator of similar width showed a resonance of f=3.12 MHz. This frequency range is in agreement with the low gigapascal bending moduli previously reported for carbon structures showing extensive volume defects. This technology would allow the integration of bottom-up nanostructures with other more established fabrication processes, thus allowing the deployment of engineered nanodevices in integrated systems.
Glutamate Receptor-Mediated Oligodendrocyte Toxicity in Periventricular Leukomalacia: A Protective Role for Topiramate

Periventricular leukomalacia is a form of hypoxic-ischemic cerebral white matter injury seen most commonly in premature infants and is the major antecedent of cerebral palsy. Glutamate receptor-mediated excitotoxicity is a predominant mechanism of hypoxic-ischemic injury to developing cerebral white matter. We have demonstrated previously the protective effect of AMPA-kainate-type glutamate receptor blockade in a rodent model of periventricular leukomalacia. The present study explores the therapeutic potential of glutamate receptor blockade for hypoxic-ischemic white matter injury. We demonstrate that AMPA receptors are expressed on developing human oligodendrocytes that populate fetal white matter at 23-32 weeks gestation, the period of highest risk for periventricular leukomalacia. We show that the clinically available anticonvulsant topiramate, when administered post-insult in vivo, is protective against selective hypoxic-ischemic white matter injury and decreases the subsequent neuromotor deficits. We further demonstrate that topiramate attenuates AMPA-kainate receptor-mediated cell death and calcium influx, as well as kainate-evoked currents in developing oligodendrocytes, similar to the AMPA-kainate receptor antagonist 6-nitro-7-sulfamoylbenzo-(f)quinoxaline-2,3-dione (NBQX). Notably, protective doses of NBQX and topiramate do not affect normal maturation and proliferation of oligodendrocytes either in vivo or in vitro. Taken together, these results suggest that AMPA-kainate receptor blockade may have potential for translation as a therapeutic strategy for periventricular leukomalacia and that the mechanism of protective efficacy of topiramate is caused at least in part by attenuation of excitotoxic injury to premyelinating oligodendrocytes in developing white matter.
Busy Brides and the Business of Family Life: The Wedding-Planning Industry and the Commodity Frontier

As work traditionally located in the private sphere, wedding planning, like other domestic functions, has become commodified. Building upon Hochschild's work on the commercialization of intimate life, this article explores the relationship of feminism to the commercial spirit of intimate life to understand wedding planning as a commodified domestic service designed to meet the competing demands of work and home for women. In its marketing, the industry makes use of feminism, harnessing liberal feminist ideals of “having it all”: The solution for busy, engaged career women is to outsource their wedding planning. Thus, both the problem and the answer are rooted in a capitalist version of liberal feminism. Based on interviews with six wedding planners, an analysis of the online advertising of 280 planning businesses, and an examination of the industry, this case study of wedding planning illuminates the connections between liberal feminism and the commodification of family life.
Autonomous and navigation in a structured environment

The author describes a hardware and software system developed to perform autonomous navigation of a land vehicle in a structured environment. The vehicle used for development and testing of the system was the Jeep Cherokee Mobile Robotics Testbed Vehicle developed at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque. Since obstacle detection and avoidance have not yet been incorporated into the system, a structured environment is postulated that presumes that the paths to be traversed are free of obstacles. The system performs path planning and execution based on maps constructed using the vehicle's onboard navigation system and map-maker. The system software, hardware, and performance data are discussed. >
Education, Entrepreneurship and Immigration: America's New Immigrant Entrepreneurs, Part II

Skilled immigrants have achieved great success in starting engineering and technology companies in the United States, and they contribute significantly to the country's economic growth over time. The purpose of this study was to understand in greater detail the educational backgrounds and career trajectories of these immigrant entrepreneurs, as well as to identify lessons for enhancing the competitiveness of the U.S. economy. Census data show that the immigrants who are most likely to start engineering and technology businesses - from India, the UK, China, Taiwan, Japan, and Germany - are better educated than their native-born counterparts. Our research shows that these company founders are also better-educated than the norm in their respective immigrant groups. In fact, 96 percent of all immigrant entrepreneurs involved in engineering and technology in our study have completed a bachelor's degree, and 74 percent hold master's or PhD degrees. The great majority (75 percent) of their highest degrees are in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics-related fields. Immigrant founders were educated in a diverse set of universities in their home countries and across the United States. No single U.S. institution stands out as a source of immigrant founders. Similarly, those who received their undergraduate degrees in India or China graduated from a diverse assortment of institutions. Even the famed Indian Institutes of Technology educated only 15 percent of Indian company founders. More than half of the foreign-born founders of U.S. technology and engineering businesses initially came to the United States to study. Very few came with the sole purpose of starting a company. They typically founded companies after working and residing in America for an average of thirteen years. Immigrant entrepreneurs are concentrated in the nation's leading technology centers. The regions with the largest immigrant populations also tend to have the greatest number of technology startups. On average, 31 percent of the engineering and technology companies founded from 1995 to 2005 in the eleven technology centers that we surveyed had an immigrant as a key founder. This contrasts with the national average of 25.4 percent. Tech centers with a disproportionate percentage of immigrant startups relative to their state averages include Silicon Valley, with 52.4 percent (compared with a state average of 38.8 percent); New York City with 43.8 percent (vs. 26 percent); Seattle with 23.4 percent (vs. 11.3 percent); and Research Triangle Park with 18.7 percent (vs. 13.9 percent). Our research confirms that advanced education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics is correlated with high rates of entrepreneurship and innovation. The U.S. economy depends upon these high rates of entrepreneurship and innovation to maintain its global edge.
Pediatric subaxial cervical spine injuries: origins, management, and outcome in 51 patients.

Object. In this study the authors evaluated the mechanisms and patterns of injury and the factors affecting management and outcome of pediatric subaxial cervical spine injuries (C3‐7). Methods. Fifty-one pediatric patients (38 boys and 13 girls; mean age 12.4 years, range 10 months‐16 years) with subaxial cervical spine injuries were reviewed retrospectively. Motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) were the most common cause of injury. Overall, 12% presented with a dislocation, 63% with a fracture, 19% with a fracture‐dislocation, and 6% with a ligamentous injury. The most frequently injured level was C6‐7 (33%); C3‐4 (6%) was least frequently involved. Sixty-four percent of patients were neurologically intact, 16% had incomplete spinal cord injuries (SCIs), 14% had complete SCIs, and three patients (6%) died after admission and before assessment. Treatment was conservative in 64%: seven (13%) wore a halo vest and 26 (51%) wore a rigid cervical orthosis. Surgery was performed in the other 18 patients (36%), with the breakdown as follows: 15 (30%) underwent an anterior approach, two (4%) had posterior approaches, and one (2%) had a combined approach. Postoperatively, four patients (8%) who had a neurological deficit improved. The overall mortality rate was 8%; all deaths were related to MVAs. There were no surgeryrelated deaths or complications. Conclusions. Subaxial cervical spine injuries are common in children 9 to 16 years of age, and occur principally between C-5 and C-7. Multilevel injury is more common in children 8 years of age and older than in younger children and infants. Most patients with subaxial cervical spine injuries can be treated conservatively. Both anterior and posterior approaches are safe and effective.
Pre-Gaussian noise in strong laser–atom interactions

We present a continuation of a general theoretical approach to noisy laser-atom interactions based on a special Markov-chain description of external fluctuations. This chain, composed of n independent two-state jump processes, forms a non-Gaussian stochastic process from which a detailed discussion of the atomic response can be given. We show that the n-component Markov chain also has the property of pre-Gaussian noise, because in the limit of n → ∞ it converges to a Gaussian stochastic process. We exhibit solutions for the field spectrum and the atomic-fluorescence spectrum for phase, frequency, and amplitude pre-Gaussian fluctuations of the driving-laser light.
Nested Case-Control Risk Score Prediction

Risk scores are calculated to identify those patients at the highest level of risk for an outcome. In some cases, interventions are implemented for patients at high risk. Standard practice for risk score prediction relies heavily on parametric regression. Generating a good estimator of the function of interest using parametric regression can be a significant challenge. As discussed in Chap. 3, high-dimensional data are increasingly common in epidemiology, and researchers may have dozens, hundreds, or thousands of potential predictors that are possibly related to the outcome.
‘The law is the true embodiment of everything that’s excellent’: mandates – a view from the United States

Effective as of 7 April 2008, scientific articles accepted for publication or published that draw upon work done with the financial support of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States are subject to a sweeping new mandate – the first of its kind – that alters the circumstances under which they are published and read.This paper will review the mandate and the way American institutions are responding to it, after which we will consider mandates on the US scene and their downstream implications.
The City and the Sword: San Francisco and the Rise of the Metropolitan-Military Complex 1919–1941

"We do not need the [United States] fleet to protect us from anybody. We feel sure that the nations on this sunny side of the globe will all let us alone if we will let them alone.... What we want of the fleet is to sell it supplies, do the necessary repair work, and enjoy the company of the uniforms at our society hops. That, of course, is all the East wants of the Navy in time of peace, and hitherto they have hogged it all." San Francisco Chronicle, May 29, 1919
Abundance and Diversity of Adult Carabidae in Insecticide-Treated and Untreated Alfalfa Fields

Forty-nine species of Carabidae were collected from 10 alfalfa fields in Rockbridge County, Va. Species composition and diversity of carabid populations were affected by insecticides applied to control the alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Harpalus pensylvanicus DeGeer (Coleoptera: Carabidae), a species known to feed on diapausing forms of the alfalfa weevil parasite, Bathyplectes curculionis (Thomson) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), and on adult alfalfa weevils was more abundant in untreated alfalfa fields than in fields treated with insecticides. A positive relationship was found between densities of adult H. pensylvanicus and damaged Bathyplectes spp. cocoons.
“Total Westernization” in Kuomintang China: The Case of Ch'en Hsü-Ching

(1979). “Total Westernization” in Kuomintang China: The Case of Ch'en Hsu-Ching. Monumenta Serica: Vol. 34, No. 1, pp. 77-143.
Laboratory Diagnosis in An Outbreak of Shigella Sonnei Infection With Atypical Clinical Symptoms

Objective To analyze the laboratory diagnosis progress in a suspected unexplained fever outbreak of Shigella sonnei with atypical clinical symptoms,as a case sample for similar incidents;and to investigate the role of the fluorescent PCR in pathogens diagnosis by the change of Ct values through the enrichment of pathogens.Methods The throat swab,rectal swab samples from patients and suspected water samples were collected and detected with enzyme substrate technique for total coliforms,conventional culture and fluorescent PCR,then the vitro susceptibility test was carried out for the isolates with MIC(minimal inhibitory concentration) method.Results Six out of 10 water samples did not meet the GB5749-2006 in total coliforms and Escherichia.coli,all the 9 rectal swabs were Shigella sonnei positive and water samples negative by conventional culture,and all the 9 rectal swabs were Shigella sonnei positive by fluorescent PCR.Besides,5 water samples were Shigella sonnei positive and changes of Ct values were observed after bacteria culture by fluorescent PCR.According to the MIC results,9 isolates were 100% resistant to amoxicillin,piperacillin,ticarcillin,partly resistant to β-lactams,cephalosporins(1-4 generation) but 100% senstinve to carbopenems.Conclusions Indicator bacteria testing,conventional culture and fluorescent PCR method were carried out synchronous,providing the laboratory diagnosis timely in 48h,which was meaningful for the outbreak control.The vitro susceptibility test guided the clinical medication as well.
Summary and Perspectives

TSTA has been convincingly demonstrated for a variety of experimental tumours of various aetiology — it is most markedly expressed in tumours induced by oncogenic viruses and carbohydrate carcinogens. The host organism is able to react against these antigens in the same manner as against other, normal weak transplantation antigens. Immune reactions are mediated by immunologically competent cells. Under certain circumstances, these reactions may be depressed on the basis of immunological tolerance or immunological enhancement. The reduction of antigenicity or adaptation of the tumour may also have adverse effects on these reactions.
HCPRVR: an interpreter for logic programs

An overview of a logic program interpreter written in Lisp is presented. The interpreter is a Horn clause-based theorem prover augmented by Lisp functions attached to some predicate names. Its application to natural language processing is discussed. The theory of operation is explained, including the high level organization of the PROVE function and an efficient version of unification. The paper concludes with comments on the overall efficiency of the interpreter.
Virtual reality and medicine: from training systems to performance machines

The paper reviews a decade of work in applying virtual reality to medicine. Beginning with a brief history of simulations and surgery, we present a background to surgery simulators and then discuss the problem of limited human body models in past systems. We present our work at developing human body models beginning with the first virtual reality leg simulator in 1989. This model allowed simple tendon transfers and osteotomies with the computer able to predict the resulting mechanics and ability to walk. We also discuss the leg model's evolution into a performance machine which will allow a surgeon to predict position and subsequent function of an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) repair. This is paralleled by Department of Defense work on a leg model that can have a simulated wound and predicts blood loss and its ability to function. We review computer aided surgery and virtual reality technologies. We then present our work in plastic surgery computer aided planning and predict the importance of this work for surgical training.
Activities in an S-STEM Program To Catalyze Early Entry into Research

A cohort program to increase retention of under-represented groups in chemistry was developed at the College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University. In particular, this program chose to emphasize early career mentoring and early access to research. This goal was chosen because research has been repeatedly shown to increase scientific identity resulting in increased retention of students in the STEM fields. Several elements of this program have been useful in preparing students to access research programs early in their college careers including a summer bridge program, career mentoring, advising, and a second year “research bootcamp” course.
Linear Integrate-and-Fire (LIF) Neurons

Nearly half a century before Hodgkin and Huxley, in 1907, Louis Edouard Lapicque proposed a mathematical model of nerve cells. Lapicque died in 1952, the year when the famous series of papers by Hodgkin and Huxley appeared in print. Lapicque’s model is nowadays known as the integrate-and-fire neuron. We will refer to it as the LIF neuron. Most authors take the L in “LIF” to stand for “leaky,” for reasons that will become clear shortly. We take it to stand for “linear,” to distinguish it from the quadratic integrate-and-fire (QIF) neuron discussed in Chapter 8 The LIF neuron is useful because of its utter mathematical simplicity. It can lead to insight, but as we will demonstrate with examples in later chapters, reduced models such as the LIF neuron are also dangerous — they can lead to incorrect conclusions.
A novel model of highly lethal uncontrolled torso hemorrhage in swine.

Abstract Introduction A reproducible, lethal noncompressible torso hemorrhage model is important to civilian and military trauma research. Current large animal models balancing clinical applicability with standardization and internal validity. As such, large animal models of trauma vary widely in the surgical literature, limiting comparisons. Our aim was to create and validate a porcine model of uncontrolled hemorrhage that maximizes reproducibility and standardization. Methods Seven Yorkshire-cross swine were anesthetized, instrumented, and splenectomized. A simple liver tourniquet was applied before injury to prevent unregulated hemorrhage while creating a traumatic amputation of 30% of the liver. Release of the tourniquet and rapid abdominal closure following injury provided a standardized reference point for the onset and duration of uncontrolled hemorrhage. At the moment of death, the liver tourniquet was quickly reapplied to provide accurate quantification of intra-abdominal blood loss. Weight and volume of the resected and residual liver segments were measured. Hemodynamic parameters were recorded continuously throughout each experiment. Results This liver injury was rapidly and universally lethal (11.2 ± 4.9 min). The volume of hemorrhage (35.8% ± 6% of total blood volume) and severity of uncontrolled hemorrhage (100% of animals deteriorated to a sustained mean arterial pressure Conclusions This novel tourniquet-assisted noncompressible torso hemorrhage model creates a standardized, reproducible, highly lethal, and clinically applicable injury in swine. Use of the tourniquet allowed for consistent liver injury and precise control over hemorrhage. Recorded blood loss was similar across all animals. Improving reproducibility and standardization has the potential to offer improvements in large animal translational models of hemorrhage. Level of Evidence Level I
Childhood trauma and risk for suicidal distress in justice-involved children

Abstract Justice-involved children (JIC) have higher rates of trauma exposure and suicidality than the general population. The Childhood Trauma Model predicts that children can accumulate multiple traumatic experiences that can be more harmful than a single traumatic event. The purpose of this study is to investigate the individual and cumulative effects of childhood trauma on suicidal distress among JIC. The study employs logistic regression to analyze panel data on 2367 12–16 year-olds from the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (FLDJJ). The study shows that 9 types of individual traumatic experiences increased risk for suicidal ideation from 22 to 180%. For one unit increase in the trauma score, the risk for suicidal distress increased 25%, so that JIC who experienced 5 types of traumas were 2.4 times more likely to experience suicidal distress as JIC who experienced a single trauma. These findings illustrate the need to invest mental health services and suicide prevention resources in populations in the juvenile justice system. Intervention must be tailored to serve children who suffered specific traumatic events, as well as those who experience multiple types of trauma. Further, policies that manage JIC as kid criminals rather than as traumatized children may exacerbate their suicidality and problematic behavior.
Distributed Adaptive Locomotion Learning in ModRED Modular Self-reconfigurable Robot

We study the problem of adaptive locomotion learning for modular self-reconfigurable robots (MSRs). MSRs are mostly used in unknown and difficult-to-navigate environments where they can take a completely new shape to accomplish the current task at hand. Therefore it is almost impossible to develop the control sequences for all possible configurations with varying shape and size. The modules have to learn and adapt their locomotion in dynamic time to be more robust in nature. In this paper, we propose a Q-learning based locomotion adaptation strategy which balances exploration versus exploitation in a more sophisticated fashion. We have applied our proposed strategy mainly on the ModRED modular robot within the Webots simulator environment. To show the generalizability of our approach, we have also applied it on a Yamor modular robot. Experimental results show that our proposed technique outperforms a random locomotion strategy and it is able to adapt to module failures.
Resistance Mechanisms to Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitors

Pharmacological cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CDKi) target a class of kinases (CDKs) that are critical mediators of cell cycle progression. Cell cycle deregulation is a hallmark of cancer, and CDKs have long been considered attractive targets for anti-cancer agents. After initial failures of pan-CDKi in clinical trials, two highly specific CDK4/6 inhibitors, palbociclib and ribociclib, are now FDA-approved in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer and an integral part of the treatment regimen. A third CDK4/6 inhibitor, abemaciclib, has also demonstrated promising clinical activity and has been granted break through status by the FDA. CDK4/6 inhibitors in combination with endocrine therapy significantly improve progression-free survival in patients with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. CDK1/2 inhibitors, such as dinaciclib, have also advanced to late-stage clinical trials but have yet to be FDA-approved in human cancers. Preclinical studies are beginning to shed light on inherent and acquired mechanisms of resistance to CDKi. Several cancer-relevant signaling pathways, such as the MAPK and PI3K pathways, drive cell cycle progression and contribute to CDK activity, suggesting that concomitant inhibition of these pathways may delay the outgrowth of CDKi-resistant cells. Mutation or deletion of RB1 is associated with inherent resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors and may also play a role in acquired CDKi resistance. Similarly, amplification or overexpression of cyclin E1 may render cancer cells less dependent on CDK4/6. Ultimately, putative mechanisms of CDKi resistance will need to be validated by the analysis of clinical samples from CDKi-treated cancers.
Resistance of Selected Sorghum Genotypes to Maize Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is a major insect pest of stored grain. This study evaluated resistance of grain of 26 sorghum genotypes, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, to maize weevil under laboratory conditions. Three female and two male newly emerged maize weevils were reared with 5 g of grain in each of 10 vials for each of the 26 sorghum genotypes in a laboratory experiment. The weevils and grain of each genotype were scored once every 3 wk for a total of five times during 105 d. The numbers of live and newly emerged maize weevils, dead weevils from the initial population, damage score (scale of 1-5), and grain weight loss were used to indicate resistance. The least percentage weight loss of 23.9 and 24.1% was recorded for sorghum genotypes Sureno and (5BRON151*Tegemeo)-HG7, respectively. Genotypes B.HF8 and (A964*P850029)-HW6 had the most weight loss, 70.6 and 67.7%, at 105 d after infestation. Genotypes B.HF8 and (A964*P850029)-HW6 consistently exhibited the highest numbers of maize weevil, 63 and 84, per vial at 105 d after infestation. Sorghum genotypes Sureno, (SV1*Sima/IS23250)-LG15, (5BRON151*Tegemeo)-HG7, and (B35*B9501)-HD9 ranked among the top four genotypes with least damage rating more often than any other genotype across the five sampling dates. On the other hand, genotypes B.HF8, (A964*P850029)-HW6, (Segaolane*WM#322)LG2, and (Tx2880*(Tx2880*(Tx2864*(Tx436*(Tx2864*PI550607)))))-PR3-CM1 were more often ranked among the top four genotypes with the highest damage rating. Our results indicate that grain of genotype Sureno is most resistant to the maize weevil among screened genotypes.
Nanobody-antigen conjugates elicit HPV-specific antitumor immune responses

High-risk human papillomavirus-associated cancers express viral oncoproteins (e.g., E6 and E7) that induce and maintain the malignant phenotype. The viral origin of these proteins makes them attractive targets for development of a therapeutic vaccine. Camelid-derived single-domain antibody fragments (nanobodies or VHHs) that recognize cell surface proteins on antigen-presenting cells (APC) can serve as targeted delivery vehicles for antigens attached to them. Such VHHs were shown to induce CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses against model antigens conjugated to them via sortase, but antitumor responses had not yet been investigated. Here, we tested the ability of an anti-CD11b VHH (VHHCD11b) to target APCs and serve as the basis for a therapeutic vaccine to induce CD8+ T-cell responses against HPV+ tumors. Mice immunized with VHHCD11b conjugated to an H-2Db-restricted immunodominant E7 epitope (E749-57) had more E7-specific CD8+ T cells compared with those immunized with E749-57 peptide alone. These CD8+ T cells acted prophylactically and conferred protection against a subsequent challenge with HPV E7-expressing tumor cells. In a therapeutic setting, VHHCD11b-E749-57 vaccination resulted in greater numbers of CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes compared with mice receiving E749-57 peptide alone in HPV+ tumor-bearing mice, as measured by in vivo noninvasive VHH-based immune-positron emission tomography (immunoPET), which correlated with tumor regression and survival outcome. Together, these results demonstrate that VHHs can serve as a therapeutic cancer vaccine platform for HPV-induced cancers. Cancer Immunol Res; 6(7); 870-80. ©2018 AACR.