cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ruptured aortic aneurysm

The pa t i en t zs an 80-year-old white man brought to the Detroi t Genera l Hospi ta l Emergency Depar tmen t for evalua t ion of a syncopal episode. He complained of mild, low back pare but repor ted t ha t th is pain qmckly submded. On physical examina t ion , his blood pressure was 70/50 mm Hg and pulse ra te was 60 beats per minute. The lung fields were clear, h~s hea r t was s l ight ly enlarged, and there was a grade II/VI systohc ejectmn m u r m u r a t the lower left s te rna l border. There was no abdominal mass or tenderness A nasogastr~c tube was inserted, and a smal l amount of coffee-ground type m a t e r m l was obtained, followed by c lear ing of the aspi ra te . There was no melena or hematochezia on rec ta l examina t ion .
GAS COUNTING OF TRITIUM WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO COUNTER BACKGROUND.

Abstract Gas counting of tritium with particular reference to counter backround This paper discusses several factors in the measurement of tritium in water by conversion of samples to ethane followed by gas counting. Sources of contamination in the gas preparation proved difficult to isolate, and the tests undertaken are described. Data on counter operation is presented and the minimum detectable amount of tritium imposed by variations in the background counting rate and the error due to electrolysis is given. The optimum configuration of a shield of lead, boron in paraffin wax and concrete is shown. The ultimate background achived in this shield was 0·8 counts/min at an ethane pressure of two atmospheres.
Tight regulation of p53 activity by Mdm2 is required for ureteric bud growth and branching

Mdm2 (Murine Double Minute-2) is required to control cellular p53 activity and protein levels. Mdm2 null embryos die of p53-mediated growth arrest and apoptosis at the peri-implantation stage. Thus, the absolute requirement for Mdm2 in organogenesis is unknown. This study examined the role of Mdm2 in kidney development, an organ which develops via epithelial–mesenchymal interactions and branching morphogenesis. Mdm2 mRNA and protein are expressed in the ureteric bud (UB) epithelium and metanephric mesenchyme (MM) lineages. We report here the results of conditional deletion of Mdm2 from the UB epithelium. UBmdm2−/− mice die soon after birth and uniformly display severe renal hypodysplasia due to defective UB branching and underdeveloped nephrogenic zone. Ex vivo cultured UBmdm2−/− explants exhibit arrested development of the UB and its branches and consequently develop few nephron progenitors. UBmdm2−/− cells have reduced proliferation rate and enhanced apoptosis. Although markedly reduced in number, the UB tips of UBmdm2−/−metanephroi continue to express c-ret and Wnt11; however, there was a notable reduction in Wnt9b, Lhx-1 and Pax-2 expression levels. We further show that the UBmdm2−/− mutant phenotype is mediated by aberrant p53 activity because it is rescued by UB-specific deletion of the p53 gene. These results demonstrate a critical and cell autonomous role for Mdm2 in the UB lineage. Mdm2-mediated inhibition of p53 activity is a prerequisite for renal organogenesis.
Estimating WAIS-R IQ from the Shipley Institute of Living Scale: a replication.

Zachary, Crumpton, and Spiegel (1985) introduced a linear regression and continuous norming procedure for estimating Full Scale WAIS-R IQ from the Shipley Institute of Living Scale. The present study replicated their method with 55 adult psychiatric inpatients and day hospital patients. A high correlation (r = .85), an extremely small mean difference in IQ (.8 points), and an acceptable average absolute difference (7.6 points) were found between estimated and obtained WAIS-R. Sines and Simmons tables (1959) for Shipley estimates of WAIS IQ produced a high correlation (r = .86), but large mean and average absolute differences (13.1 and 13.6 points, respectively). The study supports use of the Zachary et al. procedure for estimating WAIS-R IQ from Shipley scores in a psychiatric population.
Silicone Y stent placement at secondary left carina for malignant central airway obstruction.

The Y silicone stents are shaped with long tracheal and left main bronchial limbs and a shorter right main bronchial limb. These stents can be used for patients with fixed or dynamic central airway obstruction from benign or malignant disease. 1 More often, these stents are used for patients with extensive tumor involvement in the lower trachea and mainstem bronchi. 2 To our knowledge, their use specifically for unilateral central airway obstruction has not been previously published. In this report, we describe the indication, method, and outcome of Y stent insertion at the level of the secondary left carina separating the left upper and lower lobe bronchi, to restore airway patency ofthe left lobar bronchi in a patient with primary squamous cell lung cancer. CLINICAL SUMMARY A7 3-year-old man with hemoptysis was found to have a left infrahilar mass involving the distal left main bronchus and the entrance of the lobar bronchi (Figure 1). Rigid bronchoscopy, neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser photocoagulation and debulking was performed under general anesthesia with assisted spontaneous ventilation using a 13-mm Efer-Dumon rigid ventilating bronchoscope (Bryan Corporation, Woburn, Mass). Tumor infiltration, cartilaginous collapse, and extrinsic compression prompted insertion of a Y silicone stent (16-mmdiameter tracheal, 12-mm-diameter bronchial limbs) within the left main bronchus. The left bronchial limb was shortened to 1.5 cm using a scalpel prior to loading the longitudinally folded stent into a large, rigid, stent introducer tube. The stent was then deployed into the entrance of the left upper lobe bronchus. While the stent was still partially folded along its long axis, rigid forceps were used to grasp the stent and pull it proximally into the distal left main bronchus, allowing unfolding of the right bronchial limb into the relatively straight left lower lobe bronchus. Forceps were then used to push the stent down onto the secondary left carinal spur. The right limb of the Y stent was thus directed into the left lower lobe bronchus while the left limb was shortened to provide access into the left upper lobe bronchus (Figure 2). There were no perioperative complications. The patient received chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Bronchoscopy 4 months later revealed patent airways and no evidence of stent-related complications. At 1-year follow-up, the patient’s airways remain patent.
Substance use among adolescents with diabetes mellitus: Preliminary findings

Abstract Alcohol and drug use frequency was assessed by means of an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire in 79 diabetic adolescents who attended a diabetic sleep away camp. More than half of the participants reported using tobacco or alcohol at least once and 12%–25% reported greater that five times use in their lifetime. The overall frequency of drug and alcohol use was less than the general adolescent population. A modified Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (MAST) was used to evaluate abnormal drinking patterns, and 40%–50% of 12- and 16-year-old campers had an abnormal score, indicating that almost one-quarter of diabetic teens drink dangerously. There was a high correlation between campers who use drugs or alcohol and a positive family history of alcohol or substance abuse. Few campers perceived alcohol or drug use to affect their diabetic control, and the majority believed their control to be good to excellent, thus demonstrating the impact of denial in diabetic adolescent substance use. Adolescent diabetic assessments should include a psychosocial history, with emphasis on patterns of substance use, family substance abuse, and use of the MAST to identify high-risk individuals.
Nonparametric empirical Bayes for the Dirichlet process mixture model

The Dirichlet process prior allows flexible nonparametric mixture modeling. The number of mixture components is not specified in advance and can grow as new data arrive. However, analyses based on the Dirichlet process prior are sensitive to the choice of the parameters, including an infinite-dimensional distributional parameter G 0. Most previous applications have either fixed G 0 as a member of a parametric family or treated G 0 in a Bayesian fashion, using parametric prior specifications. In contrast, we have developed an adaptive nonparametric method for constructing smooth estimates of G 0. We combine this method with a technique for estimating ?, the other Dirichlet process parameter, that is inspired by an existing characterization of its maximum-likelihood estimator. Together, these estimation procedures yield a flexible empirical Bayes treatment of Dirichlet process mixtures. Such a treatment is useful in situations where smooth point estimates of G 0 are of intrinsic interest, or where the structure of G 0 cannot be conveniently modeled with the usual parametric prior families. Analysis of simulated and real-world datasets illustrates the robustness of this approach.
Distinct lineages of T(H)1 cells have differential capacities for memory cell generation in vivo.

Distinct lineages of T H 1 cells have differential capacities for memory cell generation in vivo
Bio-inspired architecture for a reactive-deliberative robot controller

An incremental, bio-inspired control architecture for robots is proposed. The architecture is composed of two layers where each layer is intended to react in an analogous way to how our brain reacts to external and internal stimuli, using instinctive or deliberative reactions. The first layer, the Drive/Emotional Controller (DE Controller), uses Action Programs which are instinctual, low-level responses to a certain external stimuli. The second layer, the Deliberative/Reflective Controller (DR Controller), can only react to changes in the internal state of the DE controller. Memory, self-reflection, feelings and imagination are some of the concepts that could be considered by the DR Controller architecture, which is intended to generate high-level conscious reactions. These controllers integrate emotions into standard behavior-based architectures. We tested the proposed architecture in a task of free exploration using MODI, a two-wheeled mobile robot. Two DR controllers are tested in three different scenarios validating the proposed architecture in robotic applications.
A general ecosystem model for applications to primary productivity and carbon cycle studies in the global oceans

Abstract We have developed a general 1-D multi-component ecosystem model that incorporates a skillful upper ocean mixed layer model based on second moment closure of turbulence. The model is intended for eventual incorporation into coupled 3-D physical–biogeochemical ocean models with potential applications to modeling and studying primary productivity and carbon cycling in the global oceans as well as to promote the use of chlorophyll concentrations, in concert with satellite-sensed ocean color, as a diagnostic tool to delineate circulation features in numerical circulation models. The model is nitrogen-based and the design is deliberately general enough and modular to enable many of the existing ecosystem model formulations to be simulated and hence model-to-model comparisons rendered feasible. In its more general form (GEM10), the model solves for nitrate, ammonium, dissolved nitrogen, bacteria and two size categories of phytoplankton, zooplankton and detritus, in addition to solving for dissolved inorganic carbon and total alkalinity to enable estimation of the carbon dioxide flux at the air–sea interface. Dissolved oxygen is another prognostic variable enabling air–sea exchange of oxygen to be calculated. For potential applications to HNLC regions where productivity is constrained by the availability of a trace constituent such as iron, the model carries the trace constituent as an additional prognostic variable. Here we present 1-D model simulations for the Black Sea, Station PAPA and the BATS site. The Black Sea simulations assimilate seasonal monthly SST, SSS and surface chlorophyll, and the seasonal modulations compare favorably with earlier work. Station PAPA simulations for 1975–1977 with GEM5 assimilating observed SST and a plausible seasonal modulation of surface chlorophyll concentration also compare favorably with earlier work and with the limited observations on nitrate and pCO 2 available. Finally, GEM5 simulations at BATS for 1985–1997 are consistent with the available time series. The simulations suggest that while it is generally desirable to employ a comprehensive ecosystem model with a large number of components when accurate depiction of the entire ecosystem is desirable, as is the prevailing practice, a simpler formulation such as GEM5 (N 2 PZD model) combined with assimilation of remotely sensed SST and chlorophyll concentrations may suffice for incorporation into 3-D prediction models of primary productivity, upper ocean optical clarity and carbon cycling.
Slippery Substrates Impair ATP-dependent Protease Function by Slowing Unfolding

ATP-dependent proteases are responsible for most energy-dependent protein degradation across all species. Proteases initially bind an unstructured region on a substrate and then translocate along the polypeptide chain, unfolding and degrading protein domains as they are encountered. Although this process is normally processive, resulting in the complete degradation of substrate proteins to small peptides, some substrates are released prematurely. Regions of low sequence complexity within the substrate such as the glycine-rich region (GRR) from p105 or glycine-alanine repeats (GAr) from the EBNA1 (Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen-1) protein, can trigger partial degradation and fragment release. Loss of processivity could be due to inability to hold on to the substrate (faster release) or inability to unfold and degrade a substrate domain (slower unfolding). I previously showed that the GRR slows domain unfolding by the proteasome (Kraut, D. A., Israeli, E., Schrader, E. K., Patil, A., Nakai, K., Nanavati, D., Inobe, T., and Matouschek, A. (2012) ACS Chem. Biol. 7, 1444–1453). In contrast, a recently published study concluded that GArs increase the rate of substrate release from ClpXP, a bacterial ATP-dependent protease (Too, P. H., Erales, J., Simen, J. D., Marjanovic, A., and Coffino, P. (2013) J. Biol. Chem. 288, 13243–13257). Here, I show that these apparently contradictory results can be reconciled through a reanalysis of the ClpXP GAr data. This reanalysis shows that, as with the proteasome, low complexity sequences in substrates slow their unfolding and degradation by ClpXP, with little effect on release rates. Thus, despite their evolutionary distance and limited sequence identity, both ClpXP and the proteasome share a common mechanism by which substrate sequences regulate the processivity of degradation.
Direct synthesis of polypeptides. Polycondensation of alpha-amino acids by polymetaphosphate esters.

Following the procedure of Schramm for the synthesis of polynucleotides and polysaccharides, homopolymers ofdl-leucine,dl-phenylalanine,dl-serine, anddl-valine have been prepared in yields of 13 to 57 % through the mediation of a polymetaphosphate ester. Copolymers of the amino acids also have been prepared in lower yields (4–5 %). Infrared spectra show that the polymers are not diketopiperazines and that the polymers ofdl-leucine,dl-phenylalanine, anddl-valine are polypeptides. Conversions of as much as 57% and degrees of polymerization of approximately 12 were obtained for polyleucine. Small peptides containing possibly 2 to 3 leucine residues were detected and isolated as possible intermediates in the leucine polymerization reaction. For the polymerization ofdl-valine, a temperature of 60°C, a reaction time of 10–24 h, and a ratio of polymetaphosphate ester to amino acid of 3:1 appeared to give the best results. The Schramm procedure was initially suggested as a chemical evolution model for the formation of biological polymers under prebiotic conditions. Although the significance of this reaction to prebiological organic chemistry may be questioned, it still offers a mechanistic model for the study of the synthetic reactions involving polyphosphates which are indirectly relevant to abiotic molecular evolution and the problem of the origin of life.
Choosing the Right Coronary Stent in the Modern Era

Research and development in the field of coronary stent design is a fast-evolving and fascinating journey. A device that was once introduced to salvage acute closure associated with balloon angioplasty is now the standard of care for many patients with coronary artery disease. Newer generation stents are the product of remarkable progress in technology and innovation, driven by the need to make the stents easier to deliver and to improve their safety and efficacy. As such, the design of these stents has become quite sophisticated and complex. The number of available stents has increased giving patients and physicians more choices on one hand, but also created confusion in selecting the optimal stent for a given patient. Although a ‘one size fits all’ approach may not be reasonable, several randomized trials have attested to the efficacy and safety of newer generation durable polymer drug eluting stents. This article discusses the evidence base to support various stent choices in contemporary practice.
Bonding epoxide functions to nitric acid-oxidized carbon fibers using epichlorohydrin; A reliable analytical determination of epoxide functions on fiber surfaces

Abstract Epoxide functions were successfully bonded onto the surfaces of nitric acid-oxidized PAN-based high-strength carbon fibers by reacting surface acidic functions with epichlorohydrin. A two-stage process that included ring opening and ring closure under anhydrous conditions was employed to avoid polymer formation on the surface. Typically, more than 30 μeq of epoxy groups were bound to one gram of fibers (7-micron diameters), which initially had 60 μeq of acidic groups. The first reliable method was also developed to quantitatively analyze epoxy groups on fiber surfaces using HBr and a bromide-selective electrode. The measured epoxide concentrations on fiber surfaces ranged from a few μeq/g to 40 μeq/g.
S-state dependent Fourier transform infrared difference spectra for the photosystem II oxygen evolving complex.

Vibrational spectroscopy provides a means to investigate molecular interactions within the active site of an enzyme. We have applied difference FTIR spectroscopy coupled with a flash turnover protocol of photosystem II (PSII) to study the oxygen evolving complex (OEC). Our data show two overlapping oscillatory patterns as the sample is flashed through the four-step S-state cycle that produces O2 from two H2O molecules. The first oscillation pattern of the spectra shows a four-flash period four oscillation and reveals a number of new vibrational modes for each S-state transition, indicative of unique structural changes involved in the formation of each S-state. Importantly, the first and second flash difference spectra are reproduced in the 1800−1200 cm-1 spectral region by the fifth and sixth flash difference spectra, respectively. The second oscillation pattern observed is a four-flash, period-two oscillation associated with changes primarily to the amide I and II modes and reports on changes in sign of ...
A new variety of Miconia ceramicarpa (Melastomataceae) from French Guiana

Miconia ceramicarpa (Melastomataceae) is commonly found in the tropical forest of French Guiana. A study of the taxonomy, vegetative architecture, and inflorescence structures showed the existence of an undescribed variety, Miconia ceramicarpa var. crozieriae. RESUME. Miconia ceramicarpa est abondamment rencontrde en foret tropicale de Guyane frangaise. Une dtude de la taxonomie, de l'architecture veg6tative et des structures inflorescentielles a montrd la pr6sence d'une nouvelle varidtd, Miconia ceramicarpa var. crozieriae.
Slant path fade and rain-rate statistics associated with the COMSTAR beacon at 28.56 GHz for Wallops Island, Virginia over a three-year period

Rain-fade and rain-rate statistics covering a three-year period for Wallops Island, VA are presented. The attenuation statistics were derived from continuous measurements of beacon signals at 28.56 GHz emanating from the COMSTAR ( D_{2} and D_{3} ) geostationary satellites. The rain-rate statistics were determined from continuous measurements of precipitation with tipping-bucket rain gauges. Descriptions are given of the yearly, overall average, monthly, and time-of-day fade as well as the yearly and overall rain-rate distributions. Relatively small year-to-year variations are noted for both the fade and rain-rate statistics; however, relatively large year-to-year changes are noted for the monthly and time-of-day cases. For example, the extreme average probability variations for the year-to-year cases are within \pm20 percent relative to the average distribution over the fade interval from 3 to 25 dB. Over the rain-rate interval, 4-50 mm/h, the extreme probability deviations are within \pm25 percent relative to the three-year average rain-rate distribution. Probability deviations of factors of two or more are noted, however, for the yearly variations in both the monthly and time-of-day statistics. Using effective parameter concepts coupled with the 28.56-GHz attenuation and rain-rate measurement, the cumulative fade distribution at 19.04 GHz is predicted. This, as well as the measured 28.56-GHz fade distributions are compared with those predicted using the International Radio Consultative Committee (CCIR) global model, and excellent agreement is noted.
INFECTIOUS CATARRH OF THE ALBINO RAT I. EXPERIMENTAL TRANSMISSION IN RELATION TO THE RÔLE OF ACTINOBACILLUS MURIS

A disease syndrome referred to as infectious catarrh, encountered under natural conditions of exposure in a rat colony, was transmitted to selected animals and maintained for 5 years by nasal instillation or contact. During this period 37 passages were made in 156 rats, the rates of pneumonia, otitis media, and rhinitis being 28, 63, and 87 per cent, respectively. After the 12th passage, Brucella bronchiseptica and Actinobacillus muris (B. actinoides var. muris), which were originally present, were no longer cultivable from infected rats. By reason of the maintenance of infectious catarrh in the absence of the latter and also because of its non-invasiveness on nasal instillation, it is now believed that Actinobacillus muris is of no direct etiological significance.
Systems approaches in mental health administration: Linking state and community programs

Approaches to state-community linkage include capitation financing, utilization review, performance contracts, continuous treatment teams, and regional mental health authorities. Several states' experience in developing integrated systems of care, utilizing these approaches, are presented and analyzed from a systems perspective as the process of creating mechanisms of couple two organizational systems in a mutually beneficial manner.
Revised relativistic hydrodynamical model for neutron-star binaries

We report on numerical results from a revised hydrodynamic simulation of binary neutron-star orbits near merger. We find that the correction recently identified by Flanagan significantly reduces but does not eliminate the neutron-star compression effect. Although results of the revised simulations show that the compression is reduced for a given total orbital angular momentum, the inner most stable circular orbit moves to closer separation distances. At these closer orbits significant compression and even collapse are still possible prior to merger for a sufficiently soft EOS. We note, however, that the compression observed in the simulation is within the numerical error and also of order of the error expected from the approximation of a conformally flat spatial three metric. The reduced compression in the corrected simulation is consistent with other recent studies of rigid irrotational binaries in quasiequilibrium in which the compression effect is observed to be small. Another significant effect of this correction is that the derived binary orbital frequencies are now in closer agreement with post-Newtonian expectations. (c) 2000 The American Physical Society.
Bi-criteria scheduling problems: Number of tardy jobs and maximum weighted tardiness

Abstract Consider a single machine and a set of n jobs that are available for processing at time 0. Job j has a processing time p j , a due date d j and a weight w j . We consider bi-criteria scheduling problems involving the maximum weighted tardiness and the number of tardy jobs. We give NP-hardness proofs for the scheduling problems when either one of the two criteria is the primary criterion and the other one is the secondary criterion. These results answer two open questions posed by Lee and Vairaktarakis in 1993. We consider complexity relationships between the various problems, give polynomial-time algorithms for some special cases, and propose fast heuristics for the general case. The effectiveness of the heuristics is measured by empirical study. Our results show that one heuristic performs extremely well compared to optimal solutions.
Anywhere, anytime(+ anyone) access to the next-generation WWW

Abstract With inereasing power, miniaturization, and thin-client/NetPC structures, people will soon be able to access the full network environment wherever they are. Information access points/appliances will be built into the walls, incorporated into our working environments, carried and even worn by us, and used as an integral part of most of our daily activities. At the same time, as the Internet and information technologies are being woven into the fabric of education, business, and daily life, greater attention is being focused on whether the ordinary person, including those with disabilities, will be able to access and use these systems. It is interesting that these two seemingly different objectives have similar solutions. If we design systems which are truly ubiquitous and nomadic; that we can use whether we are walking down the hall, driving the car, sitting at our workstation, or sitting in a meeting; that we can use when we're under stress or distracted; and that make it easy for us to locate and use new services — we will have created systems which are accessible to almost anyone with a physical or sensory disability. We will also have gone a long way to creating systems that are usable by a large percentage of the population who currently find systems aversive or difficult to learn. In addition, strategies and ideas developed for people with disabilities can provide valuable techniques and insights into creating devices for all nomadic computer users.
Gene duplication in the epigenomic era.

Gene duplications, by providing DNA material for evolutionary innovations, have contributed significantly to the complexity in the structure and function of the primate genomes. However, our knowledge remains poor in terms of how this important evolutionary process is influenced and regulated by chromatin structure and epigenetic modifications.
The role of Jacobi polynomials in the theory of Hermite and Laguerre 2D polynomials

Using an alternative definition of usual Hermite polynomials, two problems in the theory of general Hermite and Laguerre 2D polynomials can be separated with advantage for the further treatment: the introduction of a general 2D matrix in the linear transformation of powers of the components of a 2D vector and the generation of Hermite (or Laguerre) polynomials by applying an integral operator to these powers. The Jacobi polynomials appear in the finite-dimensional irreducible representations of the two-dimensional general linear group GL(2, C).
Differential uptake of alkylating agents by normal and leukemic lymphocytes.

When 14C-labeled cyclophosphamide and nitrogen mustard were incubated separately with normal lymphocytes and lymphocytes from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, the amount of radioactivity associated with the normal cells far exceeded that detected on the leukemic lymphocytes. This comparative diminution may be analogous to the impaired PHA response and excess surface immunoglobulin which serve as identifying markers of the malignant B cell. Cytotoxicity and neuraminidase experiments indicated that drug uptake by lymphocytes is not capricious and may occur in an optimum, predetermined fashion. Although surface uptake and therapeutic response are not necessarily directly interrelated, initial peripheral contact with an antineoplastic agent may be an essential step which modifies tumor sensitivity or resistance. Cancer 36:1959–1965, 1975
Intrinsic program for migration of cerebellar granule cells in vitro.

Cerebellar granule cells exhibit distinct modes of migration in different cortical layers. The role of external cues in controlling these alterations has been suggested, but the significance of internal programs is not well understood. In the present study, we examined autonomous changes of migratory behavior of isolated granule cells in microexplant cultures of the postnatal mouse cerebellum. We found that isolated granule cells sequentially go through three characteristic phases of migration without cell–cell contact. In the first phase (0–20 hr in vitro) granule cells exhibit the highest rate of turning behavior and have multiple short processes. The length of the movement cycle is shortest. In the second phase (20–40 hrin vitro), granule cells extend a long and thick process and exhibit an elongated cycle of movement. Their speed is fastest, whereas the rate of turning is lowest. In the third phase (40–60 hrin vitro), granule cells slow down their movement and slightly increase their turnings. The length of the movement cycle further increases. At the end, the cells become permanently stationary, extend a lamellipodium around the soma, and emit several thin processes. Interestingly, granule cells sequentially develop four different modes of turning. These results indicate that internal (intrinsic) programs control alterations of granule cell behavior in a stage-dependent manner, suggesting that such programs independent of local cell–cell contacts may be essential for granule cell translocation in the developing cerebellum.
CONCEPTUAL: An Expert System for Conceptual Structural Design

In the conceptual design stage of a building the number of possible building configurations is enormous. The building systems selected in this stage affect the building cost much more than any other decision made in the subsequent design stages. Currently designers base their decisions mostly on experience and intuition. Since this process is not algorithmic, the best possible design is not guaranteed. In this article a model of the process by which a human expert arrives at a conceptual design for a building is presented. Based on this model, CONCEPTUAL, an automated knowledge-based expert system has been developed by the authors to aid in the conceptual design stage of buildings.
From Foreign Language Education to Education for Intercultural Citizenship: Essays and Reflections by BYRAM, MICHAEL

The article reviews the book "From Foreign Language Education to Education for Intercultural Citizenship: Essays and Reflections," by Michael Byram.
Complete genome sequence of Methanocorpusculum labreanum type strain Z

Methanocorpusculum labreanum is a methanogen belonging to the order Methanomicrobiales within the archaeal phylum Euryarchaeota. The type strain Z was isolated from surface sediments of Tar Pit Lake in the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles, California. M. labreanum is of phylogenetic interest because at the time the sequencing project began only one genome had previously been sequenced from the order Methanomicrobiales. We report here the complete genome sequence of M. labreanum type strain Z and its annotation. This is part of a 2006 Joint Genome Institute Community Sequencing Program project to sequence genomes of diverse Archaea.
Quantitative Doppler flowmetry of the portal vein in hepatic allografts: initial results in animal and human subjects

Early detection of hepatic allograft injury is essential to ensure graft viability and to minimize patient morbidity. The hepatic microvasculature is adversely affected in ischemic preservation injury and rejection, resulting in diminished sinusoidal blood flow. We investigated whether portal vein volume flow as determined by Doppler ultrasound could provide an index of graft function. In an animal model for ischemic preservation injury we found significantly reduced portal flow in animals with allograft injury. No significant difference in flow volume was demonstrated between normally functioning allografts and non-operated controls. We have evaluated 42 human patients with hepatic allografts. In patients with normally functioning livers (n = 17), mean portal vein flow (Q) was 1659 ± 524 ml/min. Patients with chronic rejection (n = 3) demonstrated markedly reduced flow (Q = 788 ± 109 ml/min; p < 0.001), similar to that seen in cirrhotic patients undergoing preoperative evaluation for liver transplantation (Q = 668 ± 256 ml/min). Patients with acute rejection demonstrated a wide variance in flow rates. Portal flow volumes < 1050 ml/min were associated with greater long term morbidity than those with greater flow volume. Quantitative doppler flowmetry of the portal vein is a promising new non-invasive technique which may provide a unique physiologic indicator of allograft perfusion.
Core formation and chemical equilibrium in the Earth—I. Physical considerations

Current models of planetary formation suggest a hierarchy in the size of planetesimals from which planets were formed, causing formation of a hot magma ocean through which metal-silicate separation (core formation) may have occurred. We analyze chemical equilibrium during metal-silicate separation and show that the size of iron as well as the thermodynamic conditions of equilibrium plays a key role in determining the chemistry of the mantle (silicates) and core (iron) after core formation. A fluid dynamical analysis shows that the hydrodynamically stable size of iron droplets is less than ∼ 10−2 m for which both chemical and thermal equilibrium should have been established during the separation from the surrounding silicate magma. However, iron may have been separated from silicates as larger bodies when accumulation of iron on rheological boundaries and resultant large scale gravitational instability occurred or when the core of colliding planetesimals directly plunged into the pre-existing core. In these cases, iron to form the core will be chemically in dis-equilibrium with surrounding silicates during separation. The relative role of equilibrium and dis-equilibrium separation has been examined taking into account of the effects of rheological structure of a growing earth that contains a completely molten near surface layer followed by a partially molten deep magma ocean and finally a solid innermost proto-nucleus. We show that the separation of iron through a completely molten magma ocean likely occurred with iron droplets assuming a hydrodynamically stable size (∼ 10−2 m) at chemical equilibrium, but the sinking iron droplets are likely to have been accumulated on top of the partially molten layer to form a layer (or a lake) of molten iron which sank to deeper portions as a larger droplet. The degree of chemical equilibrium during this process is determined by the size of droplets which is in turn controlled by the size and frequency of accreting planetesimals and the rheological properties of silicate matrix. For a plausible range of parameters, most of the iron that formed the core is likely to have been separated as large droplets or bodies and chemical equilibrium with silicate occurred only at relatively low temperatures and pressures in a shallow magma ocean or in their parental bodies. However, a small portion of iron that separated as small droplets was in chemical equilibrium with silicate at high temperatures and pressures in a deep magma ocean during the later stage of core formation. Therefore the chemistry of the core is mostly controlled by the chemical equilibrium with silicates at relatively low temperatures and pressures, whereas the chemistry of the mantle controlled by the interaction with iron during core formation is likely to have been determined mostly by the chemical equilibrium with a small amount of iron at high temperatures and pressures.
Dermoid cyst of the tongue with sinus tract

This article reports a rare case of a dermoid cyst of the body of the tongue in a 5-year-old child. A small nodule in the midline of the dorsum of the tongue had been present since birth. Surgically removed, the lesion was of a sinus tract that was apparently also present since birth. It was connected to the cyst within the musculature of the tongue. There has been no recurrence.
Structure and dynamics of repulsive magnetorheological colloids in two-dimensional channels.

We study a system of colloidal spheres with induced magnetic dipoles confined in two-dimensional (2D) hard-wall channels using Brownian dynamics simulations. The external magnetic field is directed normal to the 2D plane and therefore the colloids interact with a purely repulsive ${r}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ potential. The effects of confinement between parallel walls are determined by analyzing the structure and dynamics of these confined systems and comparing to the unbounded (infinite) 2D plane limit. The bond-order correlation function is analyzed as a function of time and exhibits unique characteristics associated with the channel-like confinement. The existence of a plateau in this correlation function is observed over an intermediate time scale and the fate of the plateau (decay or persistence) depends upon the channel width, the strength of the external magnetic field, and the number density. The plateau is analyzed in further detail and an explanation is put forth for its existence and subsequent long time behavior. Additionally, re-entrant behavior with respect to dimensionless channel width is observed in the structural properties and an associated state-diagram is presented for these systems.
Why ask, why tell? Teaching and learning about lesbians and gays in family therapy.

The article by J.K. Long (1996) in this issue of Family Process helps puncture the conventional secrecy around homosexuality, challenging the silence of many supervisors. In this commentary, I will expand on the themes raised by Long and offer some tangible steps we can take to teach and learn about lesbians/gays in couples and families.
Variable Angle Spectroscopic Ellipsometric Characterization of Polycrystalline Silicon thin Film Multilayer Structures

Variable angle spectroscopie ellipsometry (VASE), a nondestructive optical technique, was used to characterize two different multilayer samples, each having a low-pressure chemical vapor deposited polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) layer. Analysis of these samples by cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (XTEM) revealed large changes in grain size, between the undoped, as-deposited, and doped, annealed poly-Si layers. Roughness at the top of the poly-Si layers was also observed by XTEM. These features, together with the other structure parameters (thickness and composition), were analyzed ellipsometrically by fitting the measured VASE spectra with appropriate multilayer models. Each composite layer (surface overlayer, interfacial layer, and poly-Si layer) was modeled as a physical mixture, using the Bruggeman effective medium approximation. The ellipsometrically determined thicknesses were in very good agreement with the corresponding results measured by XTEM. Furthermore, VASE analysis provided additional information about the relative fractions of the constituent materials in the different composite layers. Thus, it quantitatively characterized the surface and interracial properties, and also the doping and annealing effects on the microstructure of poly-Si layers.
Advances in Artificial Neural Networks – Methodological Development and Application

Artificial neural networks as a major soft-computing technology have been extensively studied and applied during the last three decades. Research on backpropagation training algorithms for multilayer perceptron networks has spurred development of other neural network training algorithms for other networks such as radial basis function, recurrent network, feedback network, and unsupervised Kohonen self-organizing network. These networks, especially the multilayer perceptron network with a backpropagation training algorithm, have gained recognition in research and applications in various scientific and engineering areas. In order to accelerate the training process and overcome data over-fitting, research has been conducted to improve the backpropagation algorithm. Further, artificial neural networks have been integrated with other advanced methods such as fuzzy logic and wavelet analysis, to enhance the ability of data interpretation and modeling and to avoid subjectivity in the operation of the training algorithm. In recent years, support vector machines have emerged as a set of high-performance supervised generalized linear classifiers in parallel with artificial neural networks. A review on development history of artificial neural networks is presented and the standard architectures and algorithms of artificial neural networks are described. Furthermore, advanced artificial neural networks will be introduced with support vector machines, and limitations of ANNs will be identified. The future of artificial neural network development in tandem with support vector machines will be discussed in conjunction with further applications to food science and engineering, soil and water relationship for crop management, and decision support for precision agriculture. Along with the network structures and training algorithms, the applications of artificial neural networks will be reviewed as well, especially in the fields of agricultural and biological engineering.
SU-8 lift-off patterned silicone chemical vapor sensor arrays

This paper reports on the fabrication and preliminary characterizations of our micromachined silicone/carbon black chemical vapor sensor arrays. By utilizing SU-8 lift-off technique, we have successfully patterned room temperature vulcanizing (RTV) polymers down to 25 /spl mu/m feature size using low resolution mask (with line-width of 5-10/spl mu/m) with yields in excess of 90% throughout a 4" silicon wafer. Based on this technique, we have fabricated the smallest functional polymer/carbon black based chemical vapor sensor (60/spl times/60/spl times/25/spl mu/m/sup 3/) reported in the literature known to the authors thus far. Preliminary characterizations showed that the sensors are capable of sensing alcohols and acetone in the range from 2.5ppth to 12.5ppth with response time down to 5 seconds.
Different Classes of Antibiotics Differentially Influence Shiga Toxin Production

Shiga toxin (Stx) in Escherichia coli O157:H7 is encoded as a late gene product by temperate bacteriophage integrated into the chromosome. Phage late genes, including stx, are silent in the lysogenic state. However, stress signals, including some induced by antibiotics, trigger the phage to enter the lytic cycle, and phage replication and Stx production occur concurrently. In addition to the Stx produced by O157:H7, phage produced by O157:H7 can infect harmless intestinal E. coli and recruit them to produce Shiga toxin. To understand how antibiotics influence Stx production, Stx lysogens were treated with different classes of antibiotics in the presence or absence of phage-sensitive E. coli, and Stx-mediated inhibition of protein synthesis was monitored using luciferase-expressing Vero cells. Growth-inhibitory levels of antibiotics suppressed Stx production. Subinhibitory levels of antibiotics that target DNA synthesis, including ciprofloxacin (CIP) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, increased Stx production, while antibiotics that target the cell wall, transcription, or translation did not. More Stx was produced when E. coli O157:H7 was incubated in the presence of phage-sensitive E. coli than when grown as a pure culture. Remarkably, very high levels of Stx were detected even when growth of O157:H7 was completely suppressed by CIP. In contrast, azithromycin significantly reduced Stx levels even when O157:H7 viability remained high.
Quantitative proteomic analysis by iTRAQ® for the identification of candidate biomarkers in ovarian cancer serum

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy, with the majority of cases diagnosed at an advanced stage when treatments are less successful. Novel serum protein markers are needed to detect ovarian cancer in its earliest stage; when detected early, survival rates are over 90%. The identification of new serum biomarkers is hindered by the presence of a small number of highly abundant proteins that comprise approximately 95% of serum total protein. In this study, we used pooled serum depleted of the most highly abundant proteins to reduce the dynamic range of proteins, and thereby enhance the identification of serum biomarkers using the quantitative proteomic method iTRAQ®. Medium and low abundance proteins from 6 serum pools of 10 patients each from women with serous ovarian carcinoma, and 6 non-cancer control pools were labeled with isobaric tags using iTRAQ® to determine the relative abundance of serum proteins identified by MS. A total of 220 unique proteins were identified and fourteen proteins were elevated in ovarian cancer compared to control serum pools, including several novel candidate ovarian cancer biomarkers: extracellular matrix protein-1, leucine-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein-1, lipopolysaccharide binding protein-1, and proteoglycan-4. Western immunoblotting validated the relative increases in serum protein levels for several of the proteins identified. This study provides the first analysis of immunodepleted serum in combination with iTRAQ® to measure relative protein expression in ovarian cancer patients for the pursuit of serum biomarkers. Several candidate biomarkers were identified which warrant further development.
Taine: positiviste ou idéaliste?

Comment Taine s'appuye a la fois sur le positivisme de Mill et l'idealisme de Hegel, comment il echoue a trouver une methode reunissant l'induction positiviste, scientifique, et la synthese philosophique.
Systemic inflammation and remote organ injury following trauma require HMGB1

High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a 30-kDa DNA-binding protein that displays proinflammatory cytokine-like properties. HMGB1-dependent inflammatory processes have been demonstrated in models of ...