cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
FunSet: an open-source software and web server for performing and displaying Gene Ontology enrichment analysis

Gene Ontology enrichment analysis provides an effective way to extract meaningful information from complex biological datasets. By identifying terms that are significantly overrepresented in a gene set, researchers can uncover biological features shared by genes. In addition to extracting enriched terms, it is also important to visualize the results in a way that is conducive to biological interpretation. Here we present FunSet, a new web server to perform and visualize enrichment analysis. The web server identifies Gene Ontology terms that are statistically overrepresented in a target set with respect to a background set. The enriched terms are displayed in a 2D plot that captures the semantic similarity between terms, with the option to cluster terms via spectral clustering and identify a representative term for each cluster. FunSet can be used interactively or programmatically, and allows users to download the enrichment results both in tabular form and in graphical form as SVG files or in data format as JSON or csv. To enhance reproducibility of the analyses, users have access to historical data for the ontology and the annotations. The source code for the standalone program and the web server are made available with an open-source license.
Poincaré series for tensor invariants and the McKay correspondence

Abstract For a finite group G and a finite-dimensional G -module V , we prove a general result on the Poincare series for the G -invariants in the tensor algebra T ( V ) = ⨁ k ≥ 0 V ⊗ k . We apply this result to the finite subgroups G of the 2 × 2 special unitary matrices and their natural module V of 2 × 1 column vectors. Because these subgroups are in one-to-one correspondence with the simply laced affine Dynkin diagrams by the McKay correspondence, the Poincare series obtained are the generating functions for the number of walks on the simply laced affine Dynkin diagrams.
"Heading for the Clouds?" Implications for Cloud Computing Adopters

Cloud computing projects have many implications, including issues such as security, compliance, funding, cohesion with existing systems, operational resource requirements, and number of employees involved. In order to gain a better understanding of why businesses are interested in adopting cloud services in spite of these potential difficulties, we interviewed senior IT personnel at five different organizations about their processes related to “cloud” decisions, their thoughts before and during the process, and the outcome of their endeavor. Our results provide insights from their perspectives into the similarities and differences among the organizations and the implications of “going into the cloud”. We conclude with a list of recommended questions and areas to consider for use by other organizations looking into adopting cloud services. The ultimate goal is to help businesses considering a cloud computing project by providing advice from other organizations based on their experience.
Long-distance quantum communication just around the corner?

Optical communication channels over long distances have always been plagued by coherence loss and attenuation. This seriously compromises their use for quantum communication. Now, researchers from Innsbruck and Harvard have found a new and efficient way to stretch these quantum channels by using entangled atomic ensembles.
Performance Characteristics of Four High-Throughput Immunoassays for Detection of IgG Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.

The role of serologic testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), in both the clinical and public health settings, will continue to evolve as we gain increasing insight into our immune response to the virus. Here, we evaluated four high-throughput serologic tests for detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies, from Abbott Laboratories (Abbott Park, IL), Epitope Diagnostics, Inc. (San Diego, CA), Euroimmun (Lubeck, Germany), and Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics (Rochester, NY), using a panel of serially collected serum samples (n = 224) from 56 patients with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), healthy donor sera from 2018, and a cross-reactivity serum panel collected in early 2020. The sensitivities of the Abbott, Epitope, Euroimmun, and Ortho-Clinical IgG assays in convalescent-phase serum samples collected more than 14 days post-symptom onset or post-initial positive reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) result were 92.9% (78/84), 88.1% (74/84), 97.6% (82/84), and 98.8% (83/84), respectively. Among unique convalescent patients, sensitivities of the Abbott, Epitope, Euroimmun, and Ortho-Clinical anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG assays were 97.3% (36/37), 73% (27/37), 94.6% (35/37), and 97.3% (36/37), respectively. Overall assay specificity/positive predictive values based on a 5% prevalence rate were 99.6%/92.8%, 99.6%/90.6%, 98.0%/71.2%, and 99.6%/92.5%, respectively, for the Abbott, Epitope, Euroimmun, and Ortho-Clinical IgG assays. In conclusion, we show high sensitivity in convalescent-phase sera and high specificity for the Abbott, Euroimmun, and Ortho-Clinical anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG assays. With the unprecedented influx of commercially available serologic tests for detection of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, it remains imperative that laboratories thoroughly evaluate such assays for accuracy prior to implementation.
Trees as Dialogue: Negotiating Boundaries with the Anne Frank Sapling Project

My qualitative research paper focuses on the Anne Frank sapling installation at the Clinton Presidential Museum and Library in Little Rock, Arkansas. Saplings grafted from the tree that grew outside Anne Frank’s window in Amsterdam while she wrote her famous diary are provided by the Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect to organizations that will link the tree to dialogues about past and present social justice issues. Building on Thomas Gieryn’s recent work on “truth-spots,” I explore the sapling installation as a possible “truth-spot,” and reflect on what kind of truth is supported there. From a symbolic interactionist perspective, I consider the sapling as a boundary-crossing entity that, together with other elements of the installation, stimulates reflection and inclusive dialogue, and fosters hope without shunning complexity. I discuss the sapling’s ecological needs and material agency, since it is not a passive recipient of human meanings and orchestrations. I also comment on the changing role of museum installations and exhibit space in the context of social justice.
A 43–97-GHz Mixer-First Front-End With Quadrature Input Matching and On-Chip Image Rejection

This article presents a wideband millimeter-wave (mmWave) receiver front-end that covers the frequency range from 43 to 97 GHz, supporting the operation in the major parts of the V-, E-, and W-bands. The front-end incorporates a passive mixer-first topology to achieve high linearity and wideband performance. The front-end adopts I/Q generation at the RF port, using a coupled-line coupler (CLC), rather than at the local oscillator (LO) port to mitigate the crosstalk of the overlapping I/Q LO signals especially present at high frequencies. The CLC at the RF input facilitates ultrawide band input matching. The front-end implements the multi-gate gm3 cancellation technique at the IF amplifiers to preserve the linearity and provide gain at the IF section. Image rejection capabilities using a current mode transformer-based IF 90° coupler are implemented on chip and demonstrated with measurements. The front-end prototype is fabricated on the GlobalFoundries 22-nm FD-SOI CMOS process and it demonstrates an ultra-wideband performance across the frequency range 43–97 GHz (2.25:1 bandwidth) with image rejection of up to 32 dB, IIP3 of 1.6–5.2 dBm, and gain of 15 dB. The implementation used is low-IF topology with 3.8-GHz IF frequency and 1-GHz bandwidth. Furthermore, the measurement results show that the front-end supports high-speed modulated signals of up to 6-Gbps 64QAM modulation data.
Flipping the Classroom to Optimize Clinical Decision-Making in the Didactic Setting.

BACKGROUND Deliberate inclusion of clinical decision-making nursing skills in the didactic setting will assist students in potentially making better patient care decisions. This can be optimized through use of the flipped learning andragogy. Flipped learning promotes an interactive classroom environment. It fosters teamwork and collaboration. Direct content instruction is the responsibility of students. OBJECTIVE This cohort pilot study investigated how the flipped and nonflipped approach to teaching impacted clinical decision-making and student participation. METHODS The Clinical Decision-Making in Nursing Scale (CDMNS) was administered to the students in the flipped classroom and the nonflipped classroom on week 1 and week 6. A student participation checklist was used to observe class activities at three separate intervals (baseline, mid-semester, and end-semester). A repeated measures analysis of covariance was conducted with Instruction Group as the between subjects factor (Flipped and Nonflipped) and Time (preinstruction and postinstruction) as the within subjects factor, and covarying age. The Time by the Instruction group was significant. The Flipped group showed an increase in Clinical decision-making scores (p < .001) after instruction while the Nonflipped group did not (p = .40). RESULTS The Flipped group (n = 24) showed an increase in Clinical decision-making scores (p < .001) after instruction while the Nonflipped group (n = 23) did not (p = .40). The Flipped classroom showed 100% participation at baseline, mid-semester, and end of semester. The Nonflipped classroom showed overall lower levels of participation, with 42%, 33%, and 39% at each point respectively. CONCLUSION/IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Students who were taught using the flipped instruction were able to apply what they learned in relevant case studies, virtual simulations, and practice National Council Licensure Examination RN (NCLEX-RN) type questions. Through teamwork and collaboration, students had time to practice clinical decision-making skills. This was evident in the increased CDMNS scores and increased levels of participation over time in the flipped group when compared to the nonflipped group.
Equatorial sclera anisotropy measured using ultrasound elastography

We characterized the stiffness and anisotropy of the equatorial sclera and its dependence on intraocular pressure (IOP). Porcine eyes were tested using ultrasound elastography under IOP control. Shear waves were induced using a mechanical shaker, and an off-axis 17.8 MHz transducer used to track the wave propagation in the equatorial and anterior-posterior directions. Wave speed was measured and used to estimate directional Young’s moduli. Anisotropy was defined as the ratio of the equatorial moduli to the anterior-posterior moduli. Sclera was stiffer in the equatorial direction, with anisotropy decreasing with IOP, from, 5.1 at 10 mmHg to 3.7 at 30 mmHg.
Varying kinetic stability, icosahedral ordering, and mechanical properties of a model Zr-Cu-Al metallic glass by sputtering

${\mathrm{Zr}}_{65}{\mathrm{Cu}}_{27.5}{\mathrm{Al}}_{7.5}$ metallic glass thin films with widely varying kinetic stability as a function of deposition rate were synthesized by single-target direct current magnetron sputtering. Fluctuation electron microscopy and angular correlations in coherent electron nanodiffraction show that glasses with increased stability have increased nanoscale structural order, particularly of icosahedral character. The most kinetically stable film's reduced modulus was 22% higher than a glass of the same composition rapidly quenched from the liquid, consistent with increased density and improved thermodynamic stability. These results suggest that enhanced nanoscale icosahedral order contributes both to the kinetic stability of the glass and its resistance to mechanical deformation.
Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare and aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma that affects the brain, eyes, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), or spinal cord without systemic involvement. Here, we review the clinical presentation, diagnostic work-up, novel pathophysiologic insights, and treatment of immunocompetent PCNSL patients. Diagnosis of PCNSL requires a high level of suspicion as clinical signs and deficits can vary depending upon the involved CNS compartments. Rapid initiation of therapy is essential for good neurologic recovery and disease control. In general, the prognosis of PCNSL has improved significantly over the past few decades, largely due to the introduction and wide-spread use of high-dose methotrexate (MTX) chemotherapy, considered the backbone of first-line polychemotherapy treatment. Upon completion of MTX-based treatment, a consolidation strategy is often required and can consist of non-myeloablative or myeloablative chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplant, radiation, maintenance therapy, or observation. Unfortunately, relapse is common and 5-year survival rates stand at only 30-40%. Novel insights into the pathophysiology of PCNSL have identified key mechanisms in tumor pathogenesis including activation of the B-cell receptor pathway, a suppressed tumor immune microenvironment, and immune evasion. These insights have led to the identification of novel small molecules and agents targeting these aberrant pathways. Agents such as the Bruton Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) inhibitor ibrutinib or immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) like lenalidomide or pomalidomide have shown promising response rates in the clinical trial setting for recurrent/refractory PCNSL and are increasingly being adopted in clinical use.
Technology and power

I Introduction.- 1. Technology and Human Needs.- The Technological Perspective.- A Focus on the Powerholder.- II The Psychology of Power.- 2. Tactics of Influence in Everyday Life.- Why Bother to Influence Others?.- Control of Resources.- Tactics of Influence.- Empirical Studies of Influence Strategies.- When Are Stronger and Weaker Tactics Used?.- Gender Differences in the Use of Influence.- Other Studies of Influence Tactics.- Technology, Dependency, and Power.- 3. The Metamorphic Effects of Power.- Early Writings.- Power Corrupts.- Autonomy and Control.- The Consequences of Using Strong Tactics.- Does Power Corrupt?.- III Technology and Control.- 4. Behavior Control Technology.- What Is Behavioral Technology?.- Behavioral Control Technologies.- The Ethics of Behavior Control.- Can the Metamorphic Model Be Applied to Behavioral Technologies?.- Therapeutic Practices and Changes in the Therapist.- Some Cautions.- Techniques of Leadership and the Metamorphic Model.- Conclusion.- 5. Medical Technology.- The Balance of Power in Doctor-Patient Relations.- Pre-World War II.- The Mental Health Profession.- Modern Technology and the New Physician.- Future Trends in Medicine.- 6. The Routinization of Work.- Technology Reduces Management's Dependency on Labor.- Field Studies in Industry.- Technology and Democracy.- 7. The Technology of Coercion.- Why Use Coercion.- Colonialism and Military Power.- The Metamorphic Model of Power.- A Final Account.- 8. Solutions.- Problems of Technology.- Solutions to Technological Problems.- Author Index.
First Order Theory and Its Interpretation

In this preparatory chapter, we present in a condensed manner the fundamental concepts and certain important results of first order predicate logic (FOPL) which we will use or reference in succeeding chapters. We have tried to state all definitions in a rigorous and self-contained manner, yet because of the limited space, we have omitted the proofs of theorems. Interested readers are referred to Shoenfield [Sho], Manna [Man] and Lloyd [Llo]. The word ‘logic’ is understood to mean the discourse that deals with a formal language, theories constructed in it and their interpretations. These are the respective subjects of the first three sections. Next, some of the major results on the undecidability and incompleteness of FOPL are summarized. The final section discusses a restriction of FOPL which is particularly relevant to computer science in that it forms the theoretical basis for theorem proving and logic programming.
Krysolgan in the Treatment of Lupus Erythematosus: Report on Twenty-eight Cases*

Excerpt In the treatment of lupus erythematosus it is probably too much to expect that any one method will act as a specific in all form of the disease, although it can be said without hesitation t...
Models of focal epilepsy.

Publisher Summary Focal symptomatic epilepsy is the most common form of human epilepsy and the most refractory to antiepileptic drugs. This chapter discusses the use of animal models for research that specifically benefits people with epilepsy, which can be divided into three categories. These include the research to understand fundamental mechanisms of epilepsy and its consequences, research to improve or develop new diagnostic techniques for epilepsy, and research to test new therapeutic approaches for epilepsy, including the testing of potential antiepileptic compounds. The first widely used animal model of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy was amygdala kindling in rats and other animals. Recently, two neurotoxic agents, kainic acid and pilocarpine as well as stimulation-induced, self-sustained status epilepticus have been used to produce neuronal death and synaptic reorganization in the hippocampus of rats resembling that of human hippocampal sclerosis, the most common pathological finding in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. The acute focal cat neocortical penicillin model was used for elucidating the neuronal mechanisms underlying the interictal spike-and-wave, which was later confirmed in chronic animal models and in patients.
CALCITONIN GENE-RELATED PEPTIDE: UNDERSTANDING ITS ROLE

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a 37 amino acid neuropeptide, identified in multiple species, has widespread distribution and expression. CGRP acts through G protein-coupled receptors whose presence and changes in function modulate the peptide's effects in various tissues. Three receptor subtypes have been identified and CGRP's signal transduction through the receptors is dependent on two accessory proteins: Receptor activity modifying protein1 (RAMP1) and Receptor component protein (RCP). Several endogenous substances such as glucocorticoids, nitric oxide (NO), nerve growth factors (NGF), and steroid hormones modulate CGRP release and synthesis. Both peptide and non-peptide agonists and antagonists of CGRP receptors are being developed. Also the therapeutic benefits of some antagonists such as BIBN 4096 BS in migraine have been promising. This brief review provides a preliminary understanding of the diverse biological effects of the peptide in various systems. The current status of CGRP and its receptors in many pathophysiological states is not fully explored and future findings are greatly awaited.
Query by Excel

Spreadsheets, and MS Excel in particular, are established analysis tools. They offer an attractive user interface, provide an easy to use computational model, and offer substantial interactivity for what-if analysis. However, as opposed to RDBMS, spreadsheets do not provide a central repository hence they do not provide shareability of models built in Excel and lead to proliferation of multiple copies of the same spreadsheet. Furthermore, spreadsheets do not offer scalable computation, for example, they lack parallelization. To address the shareability, and scalability problems, we propose to automatically translate Excel computation into SQL. An analyst can import the data from a relational system, define computation over it using familiar Excel formulas and then translate and store it as a relational SQL view over the imported data. The Excel computation is then performed by the relational system. To edit the model, the analyst can bring the model back to Excel, modify it in Excel and store it back as an SQL View. We refer to this system as Query by Excel, QBX in short.
Great Lakes Rangifer and Paleoindians: Archaeological and Paleontological Caribou Remains from Michigan

AbstractIt is often argued that Paleoindians in the Great Lakes were targeting caribou as a primary economic resource, but this assertion has been difficult to test since zooarchaeological remains in the region are extremely scarce due to degradation in highly acidic soils. This paper presents new faunal evidence from Michigan including archaeological and paleontological Rangifer specimens (n = 27), and one cervid tooth fragment recovered from a submerged caribou hunting site in Lake Huron. Despite preservation issues, these remains demonstrate that caribou were abundant on the landscape in prehistoric Michigan. Additionally, the distribution of absolute dates on Rangifer remains in the Great Lakes basin reveals that the archaeological and paleontological records in this region are closely tied to dynamic water levels at the end of the Pleistocene. These changing shorelines left critical evidence for understanding this period of dynamic environmental and cultural change submerged beneath the Great Lakes.
Toward a Unification of Human-Computer Learning and Tutoring

We define a learning tutor as being an intelligent agent that learns from human tutors and then tutors human learners. The notion of a learning tutor provides a conceptual framework for integrating the fields of intelligent tutoring-learning environments and machine learning-based knowledge acquisition. We present the conceptual framework of a learning tutor that adapts and integrates major portions of two existing successful systems, one of each kind, originally built separately by the respective authors. It is being developed and applied to the domains of software use and chemistry.
Russell-Silver Syndrome

Summary Disease characteristics. Russell-Silver syndrome (RSS) is characterized by intrauterinegrowth retardation accompanied by postnatal growth deficiency. The birth weight of affectedindividuals is typically two or more SD below the mean, and postnatal growth two or more SDbelow the mean for length or height. Affected individuals typically have proportionately shortstature, normal head circumference, fifth-finger clinodactyly, typical facial features, and limb-length asymmetry that may result from hemihypotrophy with diminished growth of the affectedside. Growth velocity is normal in children with RSS. The average adult height of males is151.2 cm and that of females is 139.9 cm. Evidence exists that children with RSS are atsignificant risk for developmental delay (both motor and cognitive) and learning disabilities.Diagnosis/testing. RSS is a genetically heterogeneous condition and for most affectedindividuals represents a phenotype rather than a specific disorder. The diagnosis is thereforeprimarily based upon identification of consistent clinical features, especially prenatal andpostnatal growth retardation with normal head circumference. About 10% of individuals withRSS will have maternal uniparental disomy for chromosome 7, confirmatory testing for whichis available clinically. Epigenetic mutations of the imprinted region of chromosome 11p15.5appear also to be implicated in some individuals with RSS; testing for these changes is clinicallyavailable.Management. Treatment may include growth hormone therapy, physical, occupational,speech, and language therapy, and an individualized education plan. Treatment ofgastroesophageal reflux initially with positioning and thickened feeds is recommended alongwith use of acid-blocking medications; surgical management with fundoplication may benecessary. Lower-limb length discrepancy exceeding 3 cm requires intervention; in olderchildren, distraction osteogenesis or epiphysiodesis can be considered. Severe micrognathiaor cleft palate is managed by a multidisciplinary craniofacial team. Males with cryptorchidismshould be referred to a urologist; orchiopexy may be required. Males with micropenis shouldbe referred to an endocrinologist; androgenic hormone therapy may be indicated. Surveillanceincludes monitoring of: growth velocity; blood glucose concentration for hypoglycemia ininfants and as needed in older children; limb length at each well-child visit in early childhoodfor evidence of asymmetric growth; and speech/language development.Genetic counseling. RSS has multiple etiologies including: maternal uniparental disomy forchromosome 7, possible mutations or epigenetic changes that modify expression of genes inthe imprinted region of chromosome 11p15.5, and autosomal dominant or autosomal recessive
Combinatorial Use of Short Probes for Differential Gene Expression Profiling

Motivation: Gene chips or microarrays have made it possible to perform large-scale gene-expression experiments at the wholegenome level. To reduce the cost and identify genes that are differentially expressed between samples from hybridization signal intensity, we are proposing a suite of methods to use a relatively small number of short oligo probes for whole-genome or tissue-specific gene-expression studies. Results: We present methods to choose a set of short oligos to design a genome or tissue-specific biochip and then to solve a set of equations for gene-expression levels to determine genes that are differentially expressed between samples. The methods have been tested to define a set of 4,000 8mers as probes to identify genes that have fold changes for more than 6,000 identified yeast ORFs. These methods can also be expanded to design genome-specific or tissue-specific biochips for other organisms with full gene-sequence information.
Oral contraceptives and venous thromboembolism: should epidemiologic associations drive clinical decision making?

New studies linking use of oral contraceptives (OCs) containing a third generation progestogen with venous thromboembolism (VTE) have stirred controversy. Epidemiologists face the task of separating a direct effect of the OC from the confounding effect of a pre-existing factor (e.g. smoking). Only 1-2% of VTE cases are fatal. The percentage of VTE cases that are diagnosed and treated in the hospital is low and falling. A major challenge in the epidemiologic study of non-fatal conditions is that clinical and social factors will also affect whether or when or where the diagnosis is made. The newest studies of OCs and VTE were based on cases diagnosed and treated in the hospital. They found the risks for non-fatal VTE among OC users to be about 2-4 times higher than those for non-users and 1.5-2 times higher for those using levonorgestrel-containing OCs. In the past laboratory and epidemiologic studies have pointed to the estrogen dose as the main risk factor for VTE and thus the lower estrogen dose OCs are less likely to contribute to VTE than the older higher estrogen dose OCs. Yet the new studies found an increased risk of VTE with lower doses of estrogen. There has been consistency in the findings leading some to conclude that causation explains the findings. A re-analysis of the data from these studies found that the highest relative risks occurred with the recently introduced desogestrel-containing OC that has only 20 mcg ethinyl estradiol. Yet it would have been expected to be safer than the other OCs. The authors concluded that clinicians may have assumed that each new OC should be safer and thus they have been selectively prescribing them to higher risk women. Since the association between the third generation OCs and VTE risk is weak and there is no biologic explanation for the association one should not consider the association causal. Physicians should consider all the evidence before changing OC prescription practices. Clinical actions based on weak associations undermine their credibility and that of epidemiologists.
36 Characterisation of Lung Mechanics and Inflammation in Heterozygous Abca3 Mice After Exposure to 95% Oxygen or Room Air

36 Characterisation of Lung Mechanics and Inflammation in Heterozygous Abca3 Mice After Exposure to 95% Oxygen or Room Air
Bile modulates intestinal epithelial barrier function via an extracellular signal related kinase 1/2 dependent mechanism

Objective Obstructive jaundice is frequently complicated by infections and has been associated with increased bacterial translocation and gut mucosal hyperpermeability in animal models. Proper expression of the tight junction (TJ) proteins ZO-1 and occludin is important for normal gut barrier function. We tested whether bile modulates intestinal epithelial ZO-1 and occludin expression.
Differential inhibition of epidermal growth factor signaling pathways in rat hepatocytes by long-term ethanol treatment

Abstract BACKGROUND & AIMS: Long-term ethanol intake suppresses liver regeneration in vivo and ethanol interferes with epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced DNA synthesis in vitro. Therefore, the effects of long-term ethanol treatment on EGF-activated signaling reactions in rat hepatocytes were investigated. METHODS: Hepatocytes from long-term ethanol-fed rats and pair-fed controls were stimulated with EGF (0.5-20 nmol/L) for 15-120 seconds. Tyrosine phosphorylation of EGF receptor (EGFR), Shc, and phospholipase-C gamma1 (PLC gamma), and growth factor receptor binding protein 2 (Grb2) coprecipitation with EGFR and Shc were analyzed by Western blotting. RESULTS: EGFR autophosphorylation was suppressed at all EGF concentrations in ethanol-fed cells compared with pair-fed cells, without significant differences in total EGFR protein or EGFR tyrosine kinase activity detected in cell lysates, suggesting that intracellular factors suppressed EGFR function. EGF- induced PLC gamma tyrosine phosphorylation and inositol 1,4,5- trisphosphate (InsP3) formation were suppressed, but cytosolic [Ca2+]c elevation was little affected, indicating enhanced InsP3-mediated intracellular Ca2+ release in ethanol-fed cells. Grb2 binding to EGFR was suppressed, but EGF-induced Shc tyrosine phosphorylation and Grb2 association with Shc were not significantly decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term ethanol feeding suppressed EGF-induced receptor autophosphorylation in rat hepatocytes with differential inhibition of downstream signaling processes mediated by PLC gamma, Shc, and Grb2. Altered patterns of downstream signals emanating from EGFR may contribute to deficient liver regeneration in chronic alcoholism. (Gastroenterology 1997 Jun;112(6):2073-88)
Definitive Chemoradiation (CRT) for Organ Preservation in Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Hypopharynx (SCC-HP): Oncological Outcomes and Late Toxicity

Purpose/Objective(s): To report outcomes of patients with laryngeal or hypopharyngeal carcinoma treated with definitive intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Materials/Methods: The clinical records of all patients with laryngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas treated with definitive IMRT at our institution between January 2004 and December 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. Fifty patients were reviewed. All patients would have required a total laryngectomy. Forty-two (84%) patients received concurrent chemotherapy, 6 (12%) received no chemotherapy, and 2 (4%) received adjuvant chemotherapy. Of patients who received concurrent chemotherapy, the majority of them (24 patients, 48%) received cisplatin alone; 6 patients (12%) received cetuximab alone, 8 (16%) received both cetuximab and cisplatin, and 6 (12%) received other chemotherapy regimens. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and univariate Log-rank statistics were applied. Results: Median follow-up was 26.0 months (range, 4.0-106.0 months). Median age was 61 years (range, 35-83 years); 39 (78%) were male. There were 35 (70%) laryngeal and 15 hypopharyngeal cancers. Twelve (24%), 29 (58%), and 2 (4%) patients were diagnosed clinical stages III, IVA, and IVB, respectively. All patients were prescribed 7000 cGy in 35 daily fractions; however, 2 patients were unable to complete the full treatment. There were 16 local, 7 regional, and 15 distant failures. For all patients, local control (LC), locoregional control (LRC), and overall survival (OS) at 2 years were 73%, 68%, and 63%, respectively. The 2 year LC, LRC and OS for laryngeal cancer were 77%, 75%, and 70%, respectively. For hypopharyngeal cancer, LC, LRC, and OS at 2 years were 54%, 45%, and 47%, respectively. LC and LRC were not significantly different between sites, but there was a trend toward improved OS in patients with laryngeal cancer, (P Z 0.06). Eleven patients underwent salvage laryngectomy (9 laryngeal and 2 hypopharyngeal). Altogether, 34 (68%) patients had a feeding tube placed; 6 (12.5%) before, 25 (50%) during, and 3 (6%) after radiation therapy. At the time of last follow up, only 14 patients (28%) remained feeding tube dependent. Outcomes looking at tumor volume, CTV expansion, and other dosimetric properties will be reported later. Conclusions: The use of IMRT achieved encouraging local and regional tumor control in patients with hypopharyngeal and laryngeal cancer. There is a trend toward worse overall survival in patients with hypopharyngeal compared to laryngeal carcinoma. Feeding tube placement and dependency were common treatment related toxicities but were preferred to the loss of a lung powered voice. Author Disclosure: C. Kreofsky: None. Y.I. Garces: None. D.L. Price: None. K.A. Price: None. R.L. Foote: None.
Gender Differences in Science: An Expertise Perspective

The purpose of this paper is to propose a new approach to research on gender differences in science that uses the work on expertise in science as a framework for understanding gender differences. Because gender differences in achievement and participation in the sciences are largest in physics, the focus of this review is on physics. The nature of expertise is first discussed and a framework that focuses on factors that influence the emergence of expertise in physics is presented. This is used to interpret what is known about gender differences in science, particularly physics. Next, the potential contributions of the research on gender differences to our understanding of expertise are discussed. Using what is learned from these two areas of research, recommendations are made for future research examining gender differences in physics. It is suggested that such an approach be used for other areas of science, such as chemistry, where large gender differences in achievement and participation also exist.
Vehicle–snow interaction: Testing, modeling and validation for combined longitudinal and lateral slip

Abstract General operations of a vehicle involve simultaneous slip in the longitudinal and lateral directions, the combination of which is much more complicated than purely longitudinal or lateral motions. During vehicle–snow interactions, additional complexities arise due to uncertainties of snow material properties and of interfacial properties between the tire and snow, calling for the stochastic modeling of the interactions to validate the model. For validation, a statistical framework was formed with several components: a deterministic, physically-based tire–snow interaction model, a stochastic metamodel based on the physical model, a statistical model for calibration, prediction using the models, validation metrics, and new test data using an instrumented vehicle. The longitudinal and lateral drawbar pulls, and the torque and overturning moment, were used simultaneously to calibrate model parameters for a front and a rear tire. Four local and global validation metrics and extensive summary statistics were used to assess the quality of the models, with good results.
Codes over rings of size p2 and lattices over imaginary quadratic fields

Let @?>0 be a square-free integer congruent to 3 mod 4 and O"K the ring of integers of the imaginary quadratic field K=Q(-@?). Codes C over rings O"K/pO"K determine lattices @L"@?(C) over K. If p@?@? then the ring R:=O"K/pO"K is isomorphic to F"p"^"2 or F"pxF"p. Given a code C over R, theta functions on the corresponding lattices are defined. These theta series @q"@L"""@?"("C")(q) can be written in terms of the complete weight enumerators of C. We show that for any two @? p(n+1)(n+2)2 there is a unique symmetric weight enumerator corresponding to a given theta function. We verify the conjecture for primes p<7, @?=<59, and small n.
Pre-Launch Noise Characterization of the Landsat-7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM Plus)

A noise characterization of the Landsat-7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) instrument was performed as part of a near-real time performance assessment and health monitoring program. Perl'ormance data for the integrated Landsat-7 spacecraft and ETM+ were collected before, during, and after the spacecraft thermal vacuum testing program at the Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space (LMMS) facilities in Valley Forge, PA. The Landsat-7 spacecraft and ETM+ instrument were successfully launched on April 15, 1999. The spacecraft and ETM+ are now nearing the end of the on orbit engineering checkout phase, and Landsat-7 is expected to be declared operational on or about July 15, 1999. A preliminary post-launch noise characterization was performed and compared with the pre-launch characterization. In general the overall noise levels in the ETM+ are at or below the specification levels. Coherent noise is seen in most bands, but is only operationally significant when imaging in (he panchromatic band (band 8). This coherent noise has an amplitude as high as approximately 3 DN (peak-to-peak, high gain) at the Nyquist rate of 104 kHz, and causes the noise levels in panchromatic band images at times to exceed the total noise specification by up to approximately 10%. However, this 104 kHz noise is now much weaker than it was prior to the successful repair of the ETM+ power supplies that was completed in May 1998. Weak and stable coherent noise at approximately 5 kHz is seen in all bands in the prime focal plane (bands 1-4 and 8) with the prime (side A) electronics. Very strong coherent noise at approximately 20 kHz is seen in a few detectors of bands 1 and 8, but this noise is almost entirely in the turn-around region between scans when the ETM+ is not imaging the Earth. Strong coherent noise was seen in 2 detectors of band 5 during some of the pre-launch testing; however, this noise seems to be temperature dependent, and has not been seen in the current on orbit environment. Strong 91 kHz coherent noise was observed in the redundant (side B) panchromatic band data after the completion of spacecraft thermal vacuum testing. The cause of this coherent noise was identified as a failed capacitor that was replaced prior to launch, and this noise has not been seen on orbit.
Modeling toxic compounds from nitric oxide emission measurements

Abstract Determining the amount and rate of degradation of toxic pollutants in soil and groundwater is difficult and often requires invasive techniques, such as deploying extensive monitoring well networks. Even with these networks, degradation rates across entire systems cannot readily be extrapolated from the samples. When organic compounds are degraded by microbes, especially nitrifying bacteria, oxides or nitrogen (NOx) are released to the atmosphere. Thus, the flux of nitric oxide (NO) from the soil to the lower troposphere can be used to predict the rate at which organic compounds are degraded. By characterizing and applying biogenic and anthropogenic processes in soils the rates of degradation of organic compounds. Toluene was selected as a representative of toxic aromatic compounds, since it is inherently toxic, it is a substituted benzene compound and is listed as a hazardous air pollutant under Section 12 of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. Measured toluene concentrations in soil, microbial population growth and NO fluxes in chamber studies were used to develop and parameterize a numerical model based on carbon and nitrogen cycling. These measurements, in turn, were used as indicators of bioremediation of air toxic (i.e. toluene) concentrations. The model found that chemical concentration, soil microbial abundance, and NO production can be directly related to the experimental results (significant at P
Models of College Entry in the United States and the Challenges of Estimating Primary and Secondary Effects

In recent work in the sociology of education, the primary effects of stratification are defined as the effects of social class origins on preparation for future educational attainment. The secondar...
A hybrid finite element-analytical method for determining the intrinsic elastic moduli of particles having moderately extended shapes and a wide range of elastic properties

Abstract The presence of a low (dilute) concentration of particulate inclusions having any shape and any property mismatch with the matrix in which they are placed, influences the elasticity of the resulting composite material. This influence is via the intrinsic moduli, which characterize the first-order term in an expansion of the effective properties in terms of the volume fraction of inclusions. The intrinsic moduli have only been solved exactly for general property mismatch in the case of ellipsoidal particles, and are analytically intractable for more general geometries. The problem of computing intrinsic elastic moduli for general geometries is approached by combining exact information that is known from analytical theory with numerical finite element computations to obtain an approximate analytical description of the intrinsic bulk ( K ) and shear ( G ) moduli of the particles as a function of shape and matrix and inclusion elastic properties. The approximant analytical equations are developed for a wide range of isotropic elastic property ( K , G , and Poisson’s ratio) mismatch with the matrix and a modest range in shape, so that these approximants should be useful in characterizing property changes in real composite materials (e.g., concrete and polymer nanocomposites) to which a dilute concentration of particles have been added. Particular emphasis is given in this initial study to particles having a rectangular parallelepiped shape.
Disseminated Histoplasmosis Accompanied by Cutaneous Fragility in a Cat

A 4 yr old, spayed female domestic shorthair was referred with a 2 mo history of weight loss, anorexia, and diarrhea. Skin fragility was noted on presentation and a large skin tear measuring 5 cm × 5 cm was obvious over the dorsal cervical region. The patient was previously treated with short-term prednisone that was discontinued 6 wk before presentation. Initial diagnostics (complete blood count and biochemistry) did not indicate an endocrine disorder, the most common cause of acquired feline skin fragility. Necropsy revealed diffuse histoplasmosis (most significantly affecting the skin), epidermal atrophy, dermal collagen separation, and infiltration in the dermis and subcutis by inflammatory cells containing yeast organisms consistent with Histoplasma spp. Infiltrative fungal infection should be considered as a potential cause of acquired feline skin fragility.
Seleno- and Telluroaldehydes and -ketones

Reports of selenoaldehydes (selenals), selenoketones (selones), telluroaldehydes (tellurals), and telluroketones (tellones) are uncommon in the literature due to the relative instability of the carbonselenium and carbontellurium double bonds. In many cases the desired seleno- or tellurocarbonyl compounds can be trapped, most often as their corresponding cycloadducts. Carbonselenium and carbontellurium double bonds can often be stabilized through conjugation, by metal complexation or by steric shielding. Significant advances in the preparations of these classes of compounds have been reported in recent years. A number of new reagents have been described allowing for direct preparations of selenoaldehydes and selenoketones from the corresponding carbonyl compounds. Several other routes to selenals and selones involve base-promoted elimination reactions and sigmatropic rearrangements. Treatment of phosphorus ylides with selenium, termed Staudinger chalcogenation, has proved to be a particularly useful method for the preparation of a variety of selenoketones. Tellurocarbonyl compounds are even less well represented in the literature than the corresponding selenocarbonyl compounds, but their preparations often parallel those reported for similar selenocarbonyl derivatives. The preparation and reactions of isolable sterically hindered telluroketones are described in detail for the first time.
The application of the principle of conserved myocardium volume in guiding automated chamber estimation in mouse cardiac imaging

Active contours have been used in a wide variety of image processing applications due to their ability to effectively distinguish image boundaries with limited user input. In this paper, we consider 3D gradient vector field (GVF) active surfaces and their application in the determination of the volume of the mouse heart left ventricle. The accuracy and efficacy of a 3D active surface is strongly dependent upon the selection of several parameters, corresponding to the tension and rigidity of the active surface and the weight of the GVF. However, selection of these parameters is often subjective and iterative. We observe that the volume of the cardiac muscle is, to a good approximation, conserved through the cardiac cycle. Therefore, we propose using the degree of conservation of heart muscle volume as a metric for assessing optimality of a particular set of active surface parameters. A synthetic dataset consisting of nested ellipsoids of known volume was constructed. The outer ellipsoid contracted over time to imitate a heart cycle, and the inner ellipsoid compensated to maintain constant volume. The segmentation algorithm was also investigated in vivo using B-mode data sets obtained by scanning the hearts of three separate mice. Active surfaces were initialized using a broad range of values for each of the parameters under consideration. Conservation of volume was a useful predictor of the efficacy of the model for the range of values tested for the GVF weighting parameter, though it was less effective at predicting the efficacy of the active surface tension and rigidity parameters.
Preparation of spherical pellets of dried bacteria by isodensity freezing.

Summary A density gradient was established in a cold mixture of Freon 113 and heptane by cooling the base of the container. In this freezing mixture, interfacial tension forms aqueous drops into spheres. As soon as freezing begins, the pellets of bacteria rise to the surface and, on transferring to suitable containers, are dried under high vacuum. Viability of the bacteria was retained.
Identification-based optimization of dynamical systems under uncertainty

Abstract The operation of chemical processes is inherently subject to uncertainty. Traditionally, uncertainties have been accounted for in system design by discretizing the uncertainty space and considering the resulting ensemble of scenarios in solving the design optimization problem. Scenario-based approaches are computationally demanding and can rapidly become intractable. We propose identification-based optimization (IBO) as a novel framework for the optimal design of dynamical systems under uncertainty. Our method originates in nonlinear system identification theory, and is predicated on representing uncertain variables as pseudo-random multi-level signals (PRMSs), which are imposed on the system model during each time integration step of a dynamic optimization. The uncertainty space is thus efficiently sampled without using computationally expensive scenario sets. We establish a procedure for generating PRMSs for uncertain variables based on their probability density functions. The computational benefits of IBO are illustrated through comparative case studies.