cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanisms of intrinsic and acquired resistance to kinase‐targeted therapies

Summary Cancer drugs that target pivotal signaling molecules required for malignant cell survival and growth have demonstrated striking antitumor activities in appropriately selected patient populations. Unfortunately, however, therapeutic responses are often of limited duration, typically 6–12 months, because of emergence of drug-resistant subclones of tumor cells. In this review, we highlight several of the mechanisms of emergent resistance to several kinase-targeted small molecule therapies used in melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and other solid tumors as illustrative examples. We discuss the implications of these findings for the development of new treatment strategies to delay or prevent the onset of drug resistance.
Learnability of CFLs: inferring syntactic models from constituent structure

Inductive inference is a learning process based on discovering models for bodies of knowledge, given sample information. The inference process we discuss here is concerned with inductive acquisition of syntactic models for context-free languages (CFLs), given appropriate language samples. The knowledge to be modeled in this case is any CFL L, with the model to be determined a recognitive or generative characterization of L's syntactic structure. L will be learned syntactically once a machine M recognizing L, or a context-free grammar (CFG) G generating L, is inductively inferred from a sentence sample. The capability of distinguishing between L and its complement, or of generating all and only L's sentences, is the knowledge acquired, with the learner (inference process) gaining this knowledge by acquiring M or G. An observer (informant, teacher, or oracle) has such knowledge of L and can provide the learner with appropriate sample information to ensure that M or G is correctly identified.
Olefin incorporation on supported FeCo alloy Fischer-Tropsch catalysts

We have previously reported on the properties of silicasupported Fe, Co and FeCo alloy for the Fischer-Tropsch (FT) reaction, both at atmospheric pressure and up to 14 atm (14 × 1·0133 × 105 Pa). The selectivity for C2−C3 olefins reported in the literature for these catalysts (particularly FeCo) was found to be somewhat suppressed at higher pressures, although methanol production was enhanced. The present study is concerned with the possible role of olefin insertion on hydrocarbon chain growth and oxygenate production. Results for both ethylene and 1-pentene indicate some incorporation into the next higher carbon number product at low CO conversions, but not a significant effect on overall chain growth. There is a diminution of oxygenate formation with olefin-containing feeds for all catalysts and reaction conditions investigated (250°C, 1 and 7·8 atm). Present results do not exclude a role of olefin insertion in the mechanism of chain growth, but it seems to be a minor one at most.
A Non-Cut Cell Immersed Boundary Method for Use in Icing Simulations

This paper describes a computational fluid dynamic method used for modelling changes in aircraft geometry due to icing. While an aircraft undergoes icing, the accumulated ice results in a geometric alteration of the aerodynamic surfaces. In computational simulations for icing, it is necessary that the corresponding geometric change is taken into consideration. The method used, herein, for the representation of the geometric change due to icing is a non-cut cell Immersed Boundary Method (IBM). Computational cells that are in a body fitted grid of a clean aerodynamic geometry that are inside a predicted ice formation are identified. An IBM is then used to change these cells from being active computational cells to having properties of viscous solid bodies. This method has been implemented in the NASA developed node centered, finite volume computational fluid dynamics code, FUN3D. The presented capability is tested for two-dimensional airfoils including a clean airfoil, an iced airfoil, and an airfoil in harmonic pitching motion about its quarter chord. For these simulations velocity contours, pressure distributions, coefficients of lift, coefficients of drag, and coefficients of pitching moment about the airfoil's quarter chord are computed and used for comparison against experimental results, a higher order panel method code with viscous effects, XFOIL, and the results from FUN3D's original solution process. The results of the IBM simulations show that the accuracy of the IBM compares satisfactorily with the experimental results, XFOIL results, and the results from FUN3D's original solution process.
Energy levels of 31S and 19Ne

Recently Colli et al., using the 32S(n, d)31P reaction, reported the existence of a 450 keV level in 31P. However, the investigation of other reactions has shown no evidence for such a level. Using the Livermore neutron time-of-flight facility and the (p, n) reaction on 31P, we have searched for the analogue of this proposed level in the mirror nucleus 31S. Neutron spectra were obtained for angles between 30° and 120° and for proton energies from 7.5 to 13.0 MeV. Although the correspondence between the observed levels in 31S and those reported for 31P was excellent up to the maximum excitation energy studied, viz., 3.7 MeV, no evidence for a level at 450 keV excitation was obtained. The reaction 19F(p, n)19Ne also was studied up to an excitation energy of 3.0 MeV in 19Ne. Besides confirming the results obtained by Freeman and West, a previously unreported level at 2.8 MeV was observed.
Olfactory enrichment improves the recognition of individual components in mixtures.

Olfactory enrichment improves the recognition of individual components in mixtures. PHYSIOL BEHAV 000-000, 2006.Odor mixtures can exhibit synthetic (the mixture is qualitatively different from its components) or elemental properties (the components are recognizable). We tested how prior olfactory enrichment affects the recognition of individual components in binary mixtures. Experimental rats were exposed to pairs of similar odors for one-hour periods twice daily over 20 days. Spontaneous discrimination between the binary mixture and the individual components of similar pairs of odors was tested before and after the odor enrichment. We found that, after the enrichment period, rats could discriminate components in binary mixtures that had not been discriminated prior to the enrichment period, and that this increase in discrimination capability was not always specific to the odorants used during the enrichment period.
Mineralization and magnetization of chiton teeth : Paleomagnetic, sedimentologic, and biologic implications of organic magnetite

Abstract Magnetite precipitation and tooth formation in chitons (Polyplacophora) proceeds through a biochemically-controlled reduction of the mineral ferrihydrite. Resulting crystals of single-domain magnetite are closely packed against one another and are typically near 0.1 μm in diameter. The natural magnetization of these teeth is characterized by abnormally low stability to alternating field demagnetization (m.d.f. near 12 mT) but has no appreciable decay due to low-temperature cycling. Chitons may be responsible for natural magnetizations on the order of 10 −6 G in marine sediments, whereas mud bacteria could produce remanence near 10 −8 G in both marine and freshwater sediments.
Are fisheries “sustainable”?

We discuss whether the concept of sustainability is appropriate for a renewable resource whose natural variability is at the same decadal time scales as human technologies for harvesting.
Opening Pandora's box : An evaluation of auto salvage yards as sources of toxicants in watersheds and their effects on fish survivorship and growth rate

We determined the effects of auto salvage yards on fathead minnow larvae in Northcentral, Northeast, and Southwest Arkansas areas. Fathead minnows (N = 1800) were stocked into microcosms with varying percentages of ephemeral stream water (0, 6, 12.5, 25, 50, and 100%) from auto salvage yard areas and monitored for changes in weight and survivorship. Growth rates and survivorship were significantly reduced at higher concentrations. In addition, we evaluated auto salvage yards as potential sources of heavy metals and analyzed fish tissues for the presence of these metals. Although no concentrations of metals were significantly greater than zero in fish tissues, Mn, Cu, Pb, Zn, and Al water concentrations within ephemeral streams at all three salvage yard areas were greater than regulatory limits. Our results support the need for further analyses of salvage yards as sources of toxicants and their effects on fish.
Why solutions continue to elude us.

Abstract Three issues addressed in Robert Weir's book Selective Nontreatment of Handicapped Newborns raise important questions about the social and political context of moral judgment, and the relation of moral judgment to moral theory. (1) Arguments to the effect that infants are not moral ‘persons’ as we normally understand the concept of personhood, illuminate the dialectical relationship between sound, confident moral judgments and moral theories. (2) The way we describe and label decisions to offer or not to offer particular treatments to specific individuals has political and moral consequences. In general, we should opt for descriptions that display, rather than conceal, the problematic and controversial aspects of our decisions. (3) The active killing of patients can only be defended from the narrowest viewpoint of minimizing that individual's suffering. It ignores the requirements made of other moral actors, and it fails to acknowledge a number of important facts about social institutions. Workable solutions must be attentive to the political and social context of moral dilemmas.
American soul: a cultural narrative

American Soul is about American myth. This superb book explores and excavates the narratives that infuse, influence and sometimes govern how Americans see themselves and the world. Myth in this sen...
Biology of the Chicken Body Louse, Menacanthus stramineus

During in-vitro and in-vivo rearings of the chicken body louse, Menacanthus stramineus (Nitzsch), the incubation period of the eggs was 4–5 days and each of the 3 nymphal stages required 3 days. Rearings in vitro were most successful at 35°C and 95% RH. Mated females produced 0–4 eggs per day, and averaged 1.6 eggs a day during a 12.4 day adult life. Peak oviposition occurred when females were 5–6 days old.
Symmetric range assignment with disjoint MST constraints

If V is a set of n points in the unit square [0,1]2, and if R:V-> Re+ is an assignment of positive real numbers (radii) to to those points, define a graph G(R) as follows: [v,w] is an undirected edge if and only if the Euclidean distance d(v,w) is less than or equal to min(R(v),R(w)). Given α≥ 1 and k∈ Z+, let Rk* be the range assignment that minimizes the function J(R) =sum limitsv #8712; VR(v)α, subject to the constraint that G(R) has at least k edge-disjoint spanning trees. For n random points in [0,1]2, the expected value of the optimum, E(J(Rk*)), is asymptotically Θ(n1-α/2). This is proved by analyzing a crude approximation algorithm that finds a range assignment Rka such that the ratio J(Rka)/J(Rk*) is bounded.
GR-owing up stressed: implications for anxiety and addiction.

f e w n s a s d s a d c d t s E arly life adversity is known to have profound effects on the development and function of neural circuits that control emotional behaviors (1). The result in humans is a greatly nhanced predisposition to develop depression and anxiety disorers or addiction throughout the individual’s lifetime. Rodent modls of chronic stress have begun to identify the critical periods of arly life adversity along with the brain circuits and molecules that ontrol pathologic behaviors relevant to these psychiatric disorers. In this issue, Wei et al. (2) provides new evidence for a critical indow before weaning, whereby increased levels of glucocortioid receptors (GRs) in the forebrain lead to lifelong increases in xploratory-based anxiety behavior and cocaine-induced locomoor sensitization. Associated with these behavioral changes are vast ifelong transcriptional changes in the dentate gyrus of the hipocampus (hipp) and, to a lesser extent, the nucleus accumbens NAc), brain structures critically involved in stress disorders and ddiction. These data highlight the potential importance of develpmental experience in controlling normal brain function and beavior in adulthood. Glucocorticoids are powerful regulators of brain plasticity mechnisms and can produce profound and irreversible changes in brain ircuitry when an individual is exposed to extremely high levels of tress or even more moderate stress during critical phases of develpment. In response to stress, glucocorticoids are known to act ithin multiple brain structures through the GR, which upon actiation, can translocate to the nucleus and act as a transcription actor to induce gene expression. During prolonged stress, GRependent mechanisms switch from protective to maladaptive hrough a switch in transcriptional targets that can promote denritic atrophy and hypertrophy and even neuronal loss (3). It is this witch that is thought to underlie the development of psychiatric isorders such as anxiety, depression, and addiction. Thus, much ecent effort has focused on defining the type, duration, quality, nd developmental timing of stressful experience in promoting tressand addiction-related behaviors. This is not to say that stress s always bad. It is quite clear that even in the face of extreme stress, ost humans and animals are resilient and can maintain normal sychologic and physical function. However, when organisms are xposed to chronic elevations in glucocorticoids early on, they do ot develop normal coping resources and this leads to a greatly ncreased risk for developing psychiatric disorders throughout dulthood. In the article by Wei et al. (2), the authors provide mechanistic vidence that a critical window of GR overexpression during early ife is sufficient to increase anxiety and addiction liability later in life. he authors used a transgenic mouse line with a tetracycline-reguated promoter that can be turned on or off to tightly control GR verexpression throughout the animal’s lifetime. By doing so, they ere able to define the developmental timing of such GR-depen-
Ectopic ureter in childhood

Summary The radiological features of ectopic ureter in childhood are described and explained together with three illustrative cases. These three cases were under the care of Mr. David Levi and Dr. Ian Anderson in the Westminster Children's Hospital, and I wish to express my grateful thanks to them both for their kind co-operation.
Microscale vortex-assisted electroporator for sequential molecular delivery.

Electroporation has received increasing attention in the past years, because it is a very powerful technique for physically introducing non-permeant exogenous molecular probes into cells. This work reports a microfluidic electroporation platform capable of performing multiple molecule delivery to mammalian cells with precise and molecular-dependent parameter control. The system’s ability to isolate cells with uniform size distribution allows for less variation in electroporation efficiency per given electric field strength; hence enhanced sample viability. Moreover, its process visualization feature allows for observation of the fluorescent molecular uptake process in real-time, which permits prompt molecular delivery parameter adjustments in situ for efficiency enhancement. To show the vast capabilities of the reported platform, macromolecules with different sizes and electrical charges (e.g., Dextran with MW of 3,000 and 70,000 Da) were delivered to metastatic breast cancer cells with high delivery efficiencies (>70%) for all tested molecules. The developed platform has proven its potential for use in the expansion of research fields where on-chip electroporation techniques can be beneficial.
Simultaneous grinding and dissolution of TNT solids in an agitated slurry

In the slurry-phase bioremediation of soils contaminated with 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) solids, TNT dissolution can be the rate-limiting step in the biodegradation process. To determine the effects of slurry concentration on solids dissolution, TNT particles were dissolved in a stirred vessel containing water and inert Teflon (PTFE) chips. For a constant agitator speed, the solid–liquid mass-transfer coefficient (kL) decreased as the percentage of PTFE solids was increased. However, observed dissolution rates for TNT beads in agitated slurries were much higher than anticipated due to the grinding effect of PTFE chips. A size–mass balance was used to account for the grinding of TNT beads in these slurries; this same balance was then used to predict TNT dissolution rates. Slurry grinding was shown to be an important mechanism for enhancing the dissolution of TNT solids, and the size–mass balance was demonstrated to be an effective tool for modeling this process. These results have important implications for the bioremediation of TNT solids in soil slurry reactors.
Factors Influencing Mammography Screening of Chinese American Women

Objective: To explore factors influencing breast cancer screening behavior among Chinese women residing in the United States. Design: A descriptive study guided by the health belief model adapted for Chinese American women. An English-language questionnaire was modified, translated, and pretested before use in the study sample. Data were analyzed using descriptive and multivariate analysis techniques. Setting: An urban area in Michigan in 2001. Participants: A consecutive nonprobability sample of 206 Chinese American women age 40 and older. Main Outcome Measure: The percentage of women age 40 and older who received a mammogram in the past year. Results: Access to health care, perceived barriers to mammography screening, need for breast health care, and information-seeking behavior had direct effects on Chinese American women's mammography screening utilization. Cultural affiliation had an indirect effect on breast cancer screening behavior, moderated through access to health care. The variance in mammography screening explained by these factors was 51%. Conclusion: Effective strategies for promoting breast cancer screening among Chinese American women should address ways to improve informationseeking behaviors and access to health care. Cultural affiliation and beliefs should be considered when counseling Chinese American women regarding breast cancer screening.
Defaecation syncope: new light on an old problem

Syncope, the sudden loss of consciousness with spontaneous recovery, is a frequent clinical problem for which patients are commonly referred for evaluation [1]. While a number of conditions may result in syncope, one particular group of causes has been the subject of intense study over the last two decades. For years prior to this it had been postulated that many episodes of unexplained syncope occurred due to periods of decompensation in the autonomic nervous system that would lead to hypotension (with or without bradycardia) sufficiently profound so as to cause cerebral hypoperfusion and loss of consciousness, an entity known as vasovagal (or more recently as neurocardiogenic or reflex) syncope. In a landmark paper by Kenny and colleagues, head upright tilt table testing was introduced as a method for provoking autonomic nervous system decompensation in a laboratory setting [2]. This not only provided a long sought after diagnostic modality for unmasking vasovagal syncope, but also introduced a controlled setting in which detailed measurements and observations could be made during the syncope itself. Consequently, there has been a sudden and tremendous increase in our knowledge concerning these disorders. At the same time, it has become evident that classic vasovagal (neurocardiogenic) syncope is but one aspect of a broad, heterogenous collection of disturbances in the body's autonomic nervous system, which lead to alterations in normal homeostatic mechanisms to a sufficient extent so that loss of … Fax: +1-419-383-3041. E-mail address: bgrubb{at}mco.edu.
Lipoprotein abnormalities are highly prevalent in pediatric heart transplant recipients

The role of hyperlipidemia in graft coronary artery disease (GCAD) is controversial although hyper-triglyceridemia is an independent risk factor. Recent studies show that 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) inhibitors decrease the incidence of GCAD in adults. The incidence of GCAD in pediatric patients is lower than in adults; it is not clear whether age-related differences in lipid metabolism account for some of this protection. This study was performed to: characterize the lipoprotein profile in children after heart transplantation; demonstrate that total cholesterol (TC) is a poor marker for underlying lipoprotein abnormalities; and to compare lipid abnormalities in patients who had been converted from cyclosporin A (CsA) to tacrolimus. Seventy-one determinations of fasting lipoprotein profiles were performed in a cohort of 28 children. Each child had at least two determinations on separate occasions. TC, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and serum triglyceride (TG) levels were categorized as abnormal if greater than the 75th percentile for age and gender. A high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level less than the 25th percentile was considered abnormal. Immunosuppression included CsA or tacrolimus, azathioprine, and prednisone. We found that 90% of the patients studied had abnormalities of either TG or HDL. In contrast, LDL tended to be normal when adjusted for age and gender. TC was a poor indicator of any underlying abnormality in TG, LDL, or HDL. In patients converted to tacrolimus, no significant differences were found in the levels of TG, LDL or HDL compared with each patient's respective values while receiving CsA. Hence, lipoprotein abnormalities among pediatric heart transplant recipients are highly prevalent. TC is a poor screening tool in the evaluation for lipid abnormalities. Lipoprotein profiles remain statistically unchanged after conversion from CsA to tacrolimus.
A Note on NCOM Temperature Forecast Error Calibration Using the Ensemble Transform

Abstract During the MREA07 trial, off the NW coast of Italy in the late spring and summer of 2007, Navy Coastal Ocean Modeling (NCOM) multiple nests free-run ensembles were made available in real-time for the LASIE07 and BP07 events and a fairly complete set of observations were collected inside the inner nests domains. This note addresses the problem of predicting NCOM local unbiased 0–24 h forecast errors by perturbing a limited number of possible error sources through Monte-Carlo simulations, without local data assimilation. It discusses preliminary results using the Ensemble Transform [Bishop, C.H., and Toth, Z., 1999: Ensemble transformation and adaptive observations. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, 56, 1748–1765] to calibrate the ensemble spread by adjusting its characteristics (spread–skill relationship and magnitude) to an observed or pre-estimated error field. A small (10 members) ensemble of free runs was used for water column temperature forecast Root Mean Square (RMS) error prediction. After being post-processed they were compared with observed errors and those estimated using time variability as an error proxy. The ensemble runs were generated through atmospheric forcing perturbations using the space–time deformation method as proposed by [Hong, H.X., Bishop, C., 2007. Ensemble and probabilistic forecasting. IUGG XXIV General Assembly 2007, Perugia, Italy, 2–13 July], keeping independent initial conditions. Because at the starting time all runs shared the same IC, the ensemble was run for roughly two weeks for spinning up and then used during the following 10 days for data comparisons, during which the ensemble spread did not diverge and was consistent with the observed dynamics. Comparisons of ensemble spread of temperature profiles with local observed errors and time variability (assumed as an error proxy) showed that they were consistent through this 10 day analysis period, with performances above the non-calibrated ensemble estimates and time-variability used as error proxy.
Covering bottom sediments as a lake restoration technique

: Sediment covering to control macrophytes and sediment nutrient release is reviewed. It is concluded that fly ash application to control sediment phosphorus release presents more dangers to the lake than benefits and should not be used. Polyethylene sheeting has not had long term effectiveness due to macrophyte regrowth on its surface. PVC-coated fiberglass screen is expensive but nontoxic and appears to give long term macrophyte control. Similar results may be obtained with spun-bonded polypropylene. Sand, clay, and sheeting to retard nutrient release have received insufficient attention.
Scorcese's the Age of Innocence: An Escalation Interpretation:

Escalation theory provides an explanation for why individuals and organizations often continue with failing courses of action. Contemporary models of escalation involve multiple determinants differentially influencing persistence over time. This article examines how Martin Scorcese's film The Age of Innocence, can provide an effective teaching illustration of contemporary escalation theory. The article then discusses the broader implications of this demonstration for management theory and management education.
Interaction of Hantavirus Nucleocapsid Protein with Ribosomal Protein S19

Hantaviruses, members of the Bunyaviridae family, are emerging category A pathogens that initiate the translation of their capped mRNAs by a novel mechanism mediated by viral nucleocapsid protein (N). N specifically binds to the mRNA 5' m7G cap and 40S ribosomal subunit, a complex of 18S rRNA and multiple ribosomal proteins. Here, we show that N specifically interacts with the ribosomal protein S19 (RPS19), located at the head region of the 40S subunit. We suggest that this N-RPS19 interaction facilitates ribosome loading on capped mRNAs during N-mediated translation initiation.
III.— Report on Fossil Fishes collected by the Geological Survey of Scotland in Eskdale and Liddesdale . Part I.— Ganoidei

I am indebted to the kindness of Professor Ramsay, Director-General, and of Professor Geikie, Director of the Scottish Branch of the Geological Survey of Great Britain, for the privilege of examining and describing a remarkable collection of fossil fish-remains from the Lower Carboniferous rocks (Calciferous Sandstone Series) of Eskdale and Liddesdale. Most of the specimens were collected by Mr Arthur Macconochie, one of the collectors attached to the Scottish Geological Survey; and Mr Walter Park of Brooklyn Cottage, Langholm, has also willingly co-operated in the search, so far as the district of Eskdale is concerned. I have myself also had the pleasure of twice visiting Eskdale, along with Mr Macconochie and Mr B. N. Peach, and on these occasions I obtained a few specimens for my own collection.
Abrupt Circulation Responses to Tropical Upper-Tropospheric Warming in a Relatively Simple Stratosphere-Resolving AGCM

AbstractThe circulation response of the atmosphere to climate change–like thermal forcing is explored with a relatively simple, stratosphere-resolving general circulation model. The model is forced with highly idealized physics, but integrates the primitive equations at resolution comparable to comprehensive climate models. An imposed forcing mimics the warming induced by greenhouse gasses in the low-latitude upper troposphere. The forcing amplitude is progressively increased over a range comparable in magnitude to the warming projected by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change coupled climate model scenarios. For weak to moderate warming, the circulation response is remarkably similar to that found in comprehensive models: the Hadley cell widens and weakens, the tropospheric midlatitude jets shift poleward, and the Brewer–Dobson circulation (BDC) increases. However, when the warming of the tropical upper troposphere exceeds a critical threshold, ~5 K, an abrupt change of the atmospheric circulation is...
Glucose intolerance in hyperthyroidism: role of glucagon.

The role of insulin in glucose intolerance of hyperthyroidism has been studied by several workers with conflicting results. However, the nature of glucagon secretion has never been investigated. Therefore, plasma glucose, insulin, and glucagon responses to an oral glucose load (100 g) were determined in normal subjects and hyperthyroid patients. Fasting plasma glucose was not abnormal in hyperthyroid patients. Peak values after oral glucose were attained at 30 min in both groups, but it was markedly elevated in hyperthyroid patients and the return to basal level was delayed. In hyperthyroidism, fasting plasma insulin was raised and the insulin response to oral glucose was exaggerated. Furthermore, peak insulin occurred later than in normal subjects. Basal glucagon was markedly elevated in 4 of 13 hyperthyroid patients, whereas it was unchanged in the remaining 9. In both groups, glucose ingestion resulted in the lowering of glucagon. However, the percent fall was smaller in hyperthyroid patients. Insulino...
Influence of housing characteristics on bacterial and fungal communities in homes of asthmatic children.

Variations in home characteristics, such as moisture and occupancy, affect indoor microbial ecology as well as human exposure to microorganisms. Our objective was to determine how indoor bacterial and fungal community structure and diversity are associated with the broader home environment and its occupants. Next-generation DNA sequencing was used to describe fungal and bacterial communities in house dust sampled from 198 homes of asthmatic children in southern New England. Housing characteristics included number of people/children, level of urbanization, single/multifamily home, reported mold, reported water leaks, air conditioning (AC) use, and presence of pets. Both fungal and bacterial community structures were non-random and demonstrated species segregation (C-score, P < 0.00001). Increased microbial richness was associated with the presence of pets, water leaks, longer AC use, suburban (vs. urban) homes, and dust composition measures (P < 0.05). The most significant differences in community composition were observed for AC use and occupancy (people, children, and pets) characteristics. Occupant density measures were associated with beneficial bacterial taxa, including Lactobacillus johnsonii as measured by qPCR. A more complete knowledge of indoor microbial communities is useful for linking housing characteristics to human health outcomes. Microbial assemblies in house dust result, in part, from the building's physical and occupant characteristics.
Sequential diagnosability is co-NP complete

F.P. Preparata et al. (1967) introduced a graph-theoretical model for fault diagnosis called the PMC model. The question of determining the sequential diagnosability number of a system in the PMC model has remained open. The authors formalize the notion of sequential diagnosability. The question of determining the sequential diagnosability number of a system is addressed by showing that the appropriate decision problem is co-NP complete. The problem is also shown to be co-NP complete even when restricted to planar graphs both in the weighted and the BGM models. >
Active CMOS Array for Electrochemical Sensing of Biomolecules

We describe the design of a 4times4 active sensor array for multiplexed electrochemical biomolecular detection in a 0.25-mum-CMOS process. Integrated potentiostats sense the current flowing through the on-chip Au electrodes that result from reactions occurring at the chip surface. Preliminary experimental results include cyclic voltammetry of several redox species and application to DNA probe coverage characterization.
Cytotype regulation in Drosophila melanogaster: synergism between telomeric and non-telomeric P elements

The X-linked telomeric P elements TP5 and TP6 interact synergistically with non-telomeric P elements to repress hybrid dysgenesis. In this repression, the telomeric P elements exert maternal effects, which, however, are not sufficient to establish synergism with the non-telomeric P elements. Once synergism is established, the capacity to repress dysgenesis in the offspring of a cross persists for at least two generations after removing the telomeric P element from the genotype. At the molecular level, synergism between telomeric and non-telomeric P elements is correlated with effective elimination of P-element mRNA in the germ line. Maternally transmitted mutations in the genes aubergine, piwi and Suppressor of variegation 205 [Su(var)205] block the establishment of synergism between telomeric and non-telomeric P elements, and paternally transmitted mutations in piwi and Su(var)205 disrupt synergism that has already been established. These findings are discussed in terms of a model of cytotype regulation of P elements based on Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) that are amplified by cycling between sense and antisense species.
Issues in the diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children

This paper provides a brief overview of the nature of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and the current criteria used in its clinical diagnosis. While the disorder continues to be viewed as one of inattention and/or hyperactive-impulsive behavior, theories of ADHD are beginning to focus more on poor inhibition and deficient executive functioning (self-regulation) as being central to the disorder. Problems have been identified by research pertaining to the clinical diagnostic criteria outlined in the DSM-IV that, at present, remain unresolved. Clinicians should be aware of these problems and the adjustments that need to be made to them when dealing with special populations that were not represented in the field trials used to develop these criteria.
Membrane Topography and Topogenesis of Prenylated Rab Acceptor (PRA1)

The mouse prenylated Rab acceptor (mPRA1) is associated with the Golgi membrane at steady state and interacts with Rab proteins. It contains two internal hydrophobic domains (34 residues each) that have enough residues to form four transmembrane (TM) segments. In this study, we have determined the membrane topography of mPRA1 in both intact cells and isolated microsomes. The putative TM segments of mPRA1 were used to substitute for a known TM segment of a model membrane protein to determine whether the mPRA1 segments integrate into the membrane. Furthermore, N-linked glycosylation scanning methods were used to distinguish luminal domains from cytoplasmic domains of mPRA1. The data demonstrate that mPRA1 is a polytopic membrane protein containing four TM segments. These TM segments act cooperatively during the translocation and integration at the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. All hydrophilic domains are in the cytoplasm, including the N-terminal domain, the linker domain between the two hydrophobic domains, and the C-terminal domain. As a result, the bulk of mPRA1 is located in the cytoplasm, supporting its postulated role in regulating Rab membrane targeting and intracellular trafficking.
Analytic formulation and numerical implementation of an acoustic pressure gradient prediction

Two new analytical formulations of the acoustic pressure gradient have been developed and implemented in the PSU-WOPWOP rotor noise prediction code. The pressure gradient can be used to solve the boundary condition for scattering problems and it is a key aspect to solve acoustic scattering problems. The first formulation is derived from the gradient of the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings (FW-H) equation. This formulation has a form involving the observer time differentiation outside the integrals. In the second formulation, the time differentiation is taken inside the integrals analytically. This formulation avoids the numerical time differentiation with respect to the observer time, which is computationally more efficient. The acoustic pressure gradient predicted by these new formulations is validated through comparison with available exact solutions for a stationary and moving monopole sources. The agreement between the predictions and exact solutions is excellent. The formulations are applied to the rotor noise problems for two model rotors. A purely numerical approach is compared with the analytical formulations. The agreement between the analytical formulations and the numerical method is excellent for both stationary and moving observer cases.
Downregulation of uPA, uPAR and MMP-9 using small, interfering, hairpin RNA (siRNA) inhibits glioma cell invasion, angiogenesis and tumor growth

The diffuse, extensive infiltration of malignant gliomas into the surrounding normal brain is believed to rely on modification of the proteolysis of extracellular matrix components. Our previous results clearly demonstrate that uPA, uPAR and MMP-9 concentrations increase significantly during tumor progression and that tumor growth can be inhibited with antisense stable clones of these molecules. Because antisense-mediated gene silencing does not completely inhibit the translation of target mRNA and high concentrations of antisense molecules are required to achieve gene silencing, we used the RNAi approach to silence uPA, uPAR and MMP-9 in this study. We examined a cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter-driven DNA-template approach to induce hairpin RNA (hpRNA)-triggered RNAi to inhibit uPA, uPAR and MMP-9 gene expression with a single construct. uPAR protein levels and enzymatic activity of uPA and MMP-9 were found to significantly decrease in cells transfected with a plasmid expressing hairpin siRNA for uPAR, uPA and MMP-9. pU(2)M-transfected SNB19 cells significantly decreased uPA, uPAR and MMP-9 expression compared to mock and EV/SV-transfected cells, determined by immunohistochemical analysis. Furthermore, the effect of the single constructs for these molecules was a specific inhibition of their respective protein levels, as demonstrated by immunohistochemical analysis. After transfection with a plasmid vector expressing dsRNA for uPA, uPAR and MMP-9, glioma-cell invasion was retarded compared with mock and EV/SV-treated groups, demonstrated by Matrigel-invasion assay and spheroid-invasion assay. Downregulation of uPA, uPAR and MMP-9 using RNAi inhibited angiogenesis in an in vitro (co-culture) model. Direct intratumoral injections of plasmid DNA expressing hpRNA for uPA, uPAR and MMP-9 significantly regressed pre-established intracranial tumors in nude mice. In addition, cells treated with RNAi for uPAR, uPA and MMP-9 showed reduced pERK levels compared with parental and EV/SV-treated SNB19 cells. Our results support the therapeutic potential of RNAi as a method for gene therapy in treating gliomas.
The origin and evolution of activity analysis.

Practitioners ofoccupational therapy in the early 1900s selected therapeutic activities with an intuitive understanding oftheir characteristics and operations. The tenn activity analysis and the methodology for breaking down and examining tasks scientifically, however, were borrowedfrom industry during World War 1. Methods originally used in time and motion study ofjobs were applied to vocational retraining and therapeutic crafts, later, they were applied to a broader range ofactivities. The most systematic early use ofactivi~y analysis was in occupational therapy for physical dysfunction, particularly in military hos­ pitals. Development ofthe concept was gradual until the 1970s, when the delineation oftheoreticalframes ofreference for practice led to important changes. To­ day, activi~y ana~ysis is viewed as a multifaceted pro­ cess that involves both generic and specific components. Cynrhia Creighron, MA. OTR, is Research Associate, Rehabilita­
Potential Impact of Parental Tdap Immunization on Infant Pertussis Hospitalizations

We estimated the potential impact of parental Tdap immunization before delivery, at delivery and at the 2-week newborn visit on U.S. infant pertussis hospitalizations. We used published data for pertussis hospitalization rates among U.S. infants aged 0–4 months, the Tdap vaccine efficacy in adults, and the proportion of infants with pertussis <6 months of age in which either parent was the source (16%–40% from mothers and 16%–20% from fathers). Immunizing parents before pregnancy or ≥2 weeks prior to delivery should reduce pertussis hospitalizations among infants 0–4 months by 2694–9314 if both parents are vaccinated, and by 1347–6909 if only mothers are vaccinated. Greater reductions in pertussis hospitalizations would be achieved if parents are immunized ≥2 weeks prior to delivery than after delivery or the 2-week newborn visit. Although immunizing parents prior to pregnancy or delivery is best, immunizing parents in the postpartum period should provide protection to that newborn and to infants of subsequent pregnancies.
Terrestrial and freshwater Tardigrada of the Americas.

This paper provides a comprehensive list of the freshwater and terrestrial tardigrade fauna reported from the Americas (North America, South America, Central America and the West Indies), their distribution in the Americas, and the substrates from which they have been reported. Data were obtained from 316 published references. Authors’ identifications were accepted at face value unless subsequently amended. Taxa were assigned to sub-national units (states, provinces, etc.). Many areas, in particular large portions of Central America and the West Indies, have no reported tardigrade fauna. The presence of 54 genera and 380 species has been reported for the Americas; 245 species have been collected in the Nearctic ecozone and 251 in the Neotropical ecozone. Among the tardigrade species found in the Americas, 52 are currently considered cosmopolitan, while 153 species have known distributions restricted to the Americas. Based on recent taxonomic revision of the genus Milnesium , the vast majority of records of M. tardigradum in the Americas should now be reassigned to Milnesium tardigradum sensu lato , either because the provided description differs from M. tardigradum sensu stricto or because insufficient description is provided to make a determination; the remainder should be considered Milnesium cf. tardigradum . Most terrestrial tardigrade sampling in the Americas has focused on cryptogams (mosses, lichens and liverworts); 90% of the species have been collected in such substrates. The proportion of species collected in other habitats is lower: 14% in leaf litter, 20% in soil, and 24% in aquatic samples (in other terrestrial substrates the proportion never exceeds 5%). Most freshwater tardigrades have been collected from aquatic vegetation and sediment. For nine species in the Americas no substrates have been reported.
Direction-of-arrival estimation for wide-band signals using the ESPRIT algorithm

A novel direction-of-arrival estimation algorithm is proposed that applies to wideband emitter signals. A sensor array with a translation invariance structure is assumed, and an extension of the ESPRIT algorithm for narrowband emitter signals is obtained. The emitter signals are modeled as the stationary output of a finite-dimensional linear system driven by white noise. The array response to a unit impulse from a given direction is represented as the impulse response of a linear system. The measured data from the sensor array can then be seen as the output of a multidimensional linear system driven by white noise sources and corrupted by additive noise. The emitter signals and the array output are characterized by the modes of the linear system. The ESPRIT algorithm is applied at the poles of the system, the power of the signals sharing the pole is captured, and the effect of noise is reduced. The algorithm requires no knowledge, storage, or search of the array manifold, as opposed to wideband extensions of the MUSIC algorithm. This results in a computationally efficient algorithm that is insensitive to array perturbations. Simulations are presented comparing the wideband and ESPRIT algorithm to the modal signal subspace method and the coherent signal subspace method. >
Carboxypeptidase D is up-regulated in raw 264.7 macrophages and stimulates nitric oxide synthesis by cells in arginine-free medium.

Membrane-bound carboxypeptidase D (CPD) is a B-type carboxypeptidase that specifically cleaves C-terminal Arg or Lys from peptides and proteins. RAW 264.7 cells contained significant membrane-bound CPD activity as shown by activity assays and immunoprecipitation. To determine whether CPD can increase nitric oxide (NO) synthesis by releasing precursor Arg, cells were activated in Arg-free medium with 50 U/ml interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and 0.1 μg/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to up-regulate inducible NO synthase. Addition of the specific carboxypeptidase substrate, 200 μM furylacryloyl-Ala-Arg, stimulated NO production by 6-fold and this effect was blocked 83% by a specific inhibitor,dl-2-mercaptomethyl-3-guanidinoethylthiopropanoic acid (MGTA). MGTA did not inhibit NO synthesis stimulated by added free Arg. Lys, an inhibitor of Arg transport, also blocked the effect of the carboxypeptidase substrate. In cells stimulated with IFN-γ and LPS in Arg-free medium, CPD activity increased 2- to 3-fold between 8 and 16 h after treatment, but did not change in cells stimulated in medium containing 0.4 mM Arg. The NO synthase inhibitor N -monomethyl-l-arginine blocked the inhibitory Arg effect and the NO donor S -nitroso-acetylpenicillamine mimicked it, indicating that high levels of NO block the up-regulation of CPD. Immunohistochemical staining and Western analysis revealed an increase in CPD protein, and Northern analysis showed increased CPD mRNA upon stimulation of cells in Arg-free medium. CPD was localized both on the plasma membrane and in the Golgi. These data suggest that CPD expression is enhanced during inflammatory processes and may stimulate NO production by cleaving Arg from peptide substrates.
Mosquito and Arbovirus Activity During 1997-2002 in a Wetland in Northeastern Mississippi

The species composition and population dynamics of adult mosquitoes in a wetland near Iuka, MS, were analyzed over a 6-yr period (1997Ð2002)and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR)detection rates of arboviruses determined during Þve of those years. Blood meals of three likely vector species were identiÞed using a PCR-based method that allows identiÞcation of the host to species. Culex erraticus (Dyar & Knab)composed 51.9% of the population during the 6-yr period with 295 females collected per trap night. Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE)virus was detected in six genera of mosquitoes (Coquillettidia perturbans (Walker), Culex restuans Theobald, Culex salinarius Coquillett, Culex erraticus (Dyar & Knab), Anopheles crucians Wiedemann, Anopheles quadrimaculatus Say, Aedes vexans (Meigen), Ochlerotatus triseriatus Say, and Psorophora ferox Hum- boldt)with positive pools occurring in 1998, 1999, and 2002. Culiseta melanura Coquillett occurred at a low level (1%)and was not infected. Saint Louis encephalitis virus was detected once in a single pool of Cx. erraticus in 1998. Neither West Nile virus nor LaCrosse virus was found. Minimum infection rates per 1000 females tested of competent vectors of EEE virus were variable and ranged from 0.14 for Cx. erraticus to 40.0 for Oc. triseriatus. Thirty-nine species of birds were identiÞed in the focus with blood-engorged mosquitoes found to contain meals (n 29)from eight avian species. The majority of meals was from the great blue heron, Ardea herodias L. (n 55%), but when bird abundance data were adjusted for avian mass, the brown-headed cowbird, Molothrus ater (Boddaert); blue jay, Cyanocitta cristata (L.); and northern mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos (L.), were overrepresented as hosts.