cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spasing and amplification in plasmonic nanosystems

Surface plasmon amplification by stimulated emission of radiation (spaser) is a nanoscopic quantum generator of coherent local optical fields with high intensity. We will consider the latest development in the theory of spaser and review the large number of experimental data currently available Nanoplasmonics deals with collective electron dynamics on the surface of metal nanostructures, which arises due to excitations called surface plasmons [1, 2]. The surface plasmons localize and concentrate optical energy in nanoscopic regions creating highly enhanced local optical fields. They undergo ultrafast dynamics with timescales as short as a few hundred attoseconds [3]. We will start with a brief overview of the state of nanoplasmonics and its many applications [2].
The effect of immunomodulators on prevention of autoimmune diabetes is stage dependent: FTY720 prevents diabetes at three different stages in the diabetes-resistant biobreeding rat.

: Background: Autoimmune diabetes of the diabetes-resistant biobreeding (DRBB) rat shares similarities with diabetes in humans and has stages of diabetes that can be controlled and compared. FTY720 is an immunomodulator that has been efficacious in transplant and autoimmune models without inducing an immunosuppressed state. We determined the stages of diabetes that are affected by FTY720 in the DRBB rat. Methods: Autoimmune diabetes was induced with RT6.1 T-cell-depleting antibody and polyIC starting at 4 weeks of age. FTY720 (1 mg/kg/d) was started at day 0, 5, 7, and 14 following the start of depletion. The rats that did not develop diabetes were maintained for 60 d following the last dose of FTY720 before undergoing a second course of depletion. Results: FTY720 starting at day 0, 5, 7, and 14 of depletion prevented diabetes in 100, 100, 50, and 20% of the DRBB rats compared to 0% of the control rats. The surviving rats in the 5-, 7-, and 14-d groups developed diabetes after FTY720 treatment was stopped. Histological examination indicated insulitis in the control rats between day 7 and 11 of depletion and end-stage insulitis by day 18 of depletion compared to negligible insulitis in rats without diabetes. Redepletion in the surviving day 0 rats resulted in development of diabetes in 25% of these rats compared to none of the age-matched controls. Summary: FTY720 can prevent autoimmune diabetes, if administered before and/or during stimulation and expansion of the autoreactive T cells or in the early stages of insulitis. The effectiveness diminishes with each successive stage of diabetes.
Phase transition of an exciton system in GaAs coupled quantum wells

We have observed a sharp reduction of the photoluminescence linewidth from a two-dimensional exciton system (coupled GaAs/AlGaAs quantum wells), at a certain critical temperature (${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$) and under the influence of an electric field. We attribute this narrowing to a phase transition of the exciton system into an ordered state. The experiments suggest that a coherence length long enough to wash out the effect of the fluctuations, which cause the line broadening, is introduced below ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$.
The role of conditioned taste aversion in the suppression of food intake by estradiol

In three experiments, ovariectomized rats were given a familiar or novel diet prior to treatment with a brain-enhanced estradiol-chemical delivery system (E2-CDS, 1 mg/kg). Experiment 1 showed that food intake was suppressed in subjects receiving either diet, but animals given a novel diet initially showed a profound anorexia which eventually recovered to the moderate suppression of animals given the familiar diet. In Experiment 2, rats showed an aversion to a novel diet paired with the E2-CDS in a two-choice preference test given on Day 2 after the injection, indicating that the initial large reduction in intake was mediated by a conditioned taste aversion. However, no aversion was observed seven days after the E2-CDS, suggesting that the residual intake suppression was mediated by unconditioned aversion or appetite suppression. Experiment 3 showed that lengthening the postovariectomy time resulted in a taste aversion that persisted for a longer duration.
Motor-phonic tic mimicking essential palatal myoclonus.

CONCLUSIONS DISCUSSION Essential palatal myoclonus (EPM), also referred to as essential palatal tremor, is an uncommon, idiopathic disorder characterized by rhythmic, continuous, bilateral and symmetric movement of the soft palate. Instead of an oscillatory movement typically encountered in tremor, EPM is caused by contractions of the tensor veli palatini muscle, which opens the Eustachian tube and produces a clicking noise. Tics may have a clonic phenotype, but are distinguished from myoclonus by their suppressibility, presence of a premonitory sensation which is relieved by the execution of the tic, and co-morbid neurobehavioral manifestations, such as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Esophagrams Are Useful

The data presented by Euler and Ament (Pediatrics 60:65, July 1977) would suggest that the barium esophagram is of no value in the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in pediatric patients. Seven of their 24 patients with symptoms of GER required surgery (fundoplication). In none of these seven patients did the esophagram show GER. The esophagram showed reflux in only three of the 24 patients. In our experience the barium esophagram has been very reliable in demonstrating GER. Reflux was demonstrated radiologically in all of the 47 cases requiring surgical fundoplication for relief of symptoms during the past three years at the Boston Floating Hospital.
A discrete transportation network design problem with combined trip distribution and assignment

Abstract Three network design problems are formulated for optimizing discrete additions to link capacities. Trip distribution and assignment are functions of travel expenditure in each problem. A reformulation of Wilson's doubly-constrained trip distribution problem, in which entropy instead of total travel expenditure is constrained, provides zone-to-zone flows in each problem. Entropy is interpreted as a measure of zone-to-zone trip-making interaction. Computational results for a toy network are reported.
The effects of twinning and maternal experience on maternal-filial social relationships in confined beef cattle

Abstract The objective of this investigation was to assess the maternal-filial social relationships of Hereford beef cattle as influenced by maternal experience of the dam (primiparous vs. multiparous) and number of offspring (one vs. two calves). Calves were temporarily separated from their dams during the first week after parturition, and the behavioral responses of mother and young were noted during and following separation. Contact and contact-seeking behaviors between twins and their mothers began to decline by the 5th or 6th day post-partum. Over the same period, contact behaviors exhibited by single calves and their dams remained stable or increased in frequency. Mothers of twins were less responsive to their calves than mothers of singles both during and following separation, and twins interacted with alien females more frequently than single-born young. It is proposed that insufficient milk production by Hereford dams bearing two calves provides an incentive for twins to parasitize the milk supply of alien mothers and, thus, become less dependent on their natural mothers. Social feedback between mother and twins may be further reduced by dams dividing their maternal attentiveness between two offspring. In general, experienced cows were more responsive to separation from their offspring than inexperienced heifers. Cows and their calves exhibited more frequent contact and contact-seeking behavior than heifers and their young.
Large-Scale Synthesis of Long Double-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Long double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWNTs) could be synthesized in a production rate of about 0.5 g per h by an improved catalytic chemical vapor deposition method using xylene solution as carbon feedstock. The argon flowing rate affects the growth of DWNTs sensitively. Raman spectra and HRTEM images show that the DWNTs having inner diameters of about 1.0−2.0 nm dominate in the samples.
Dinuclear Tungsten, Molybdenum, and Ruthenium Complexes Derived from 1,2-Bis(3-indenyl)ethane

Treatment of dilithiated 1,2-bis(3-indenyl)ethane with M(CO)5(THF) (M = Mo, W) followed by oxidation provided the metal−metal bonded compounds M2(CO)6{μ-(η5-C9H6)2C2H4} (1, M = W; 2, M = Mo) as a m...
SU-E-I-84: A Novel Approach for the Attenuation Correction of PET Data in PET/MR Systems

Purpose: To evaluate the use of non‐attenuated PETimages (PET‐NAC) as a means for the attenuation correction (AC) of PETimages in PET/MR systems. Methods: A 3 step iterative segmentation process is proposed. The first step is used to segment the body contour from the NAC PETimages using an active contour algorithm (Kass et al., Int J Comput Vision, 321–331 (1988)). The second step was to segment the lung region from the resultant image using an optimal thresholding approach (Xu et al., IEEE T Nucl Sci, 43, 331–336 (1996)). The purpose of the third step was to delineate parts of the heart and liver from the lung contour using a region growing approach since these parts were unavoidably included in the lung contour of the second step. Finally the attenuation coefficients of the bed were included based on CTimages to eliminate the impact of the couch on the accuracy of AC. The final attenuation map was then used to AC the raw PET data and Result in a final PETimage (PET‐IAC). To assess the proposed segmentation approach, a phantom and six patients were scanned on a GE Discovery‐RX PET/CT scanner. PET‐IAC was then generated from PET‐ NAC using the proposed approach and compared to those of CT‐AC PET (PET‐CTAC). Visual inspection and SUV measurements between PET‐IAC and the PET‐CTAC for phantom and patient studies were performed to assess the accuracy of image quantification. Results: Visual inspection showed a small difference between the PET‐IAC and PET‐CTAC. PET‐IAC tumor SUVs were on average equal to 103±9% compared to the SUVs from the PET‐CTAC in the phantom study, and 110±7% in the patient studies. Conclusions: Preliminary results suggest that PET‐NAC for the AC of PETimages is feasible in the clinic. Such an approach can potentially be an alternative method of MR‐based AC in PET/MR imaging.
The characteristics and power requirements of spinning frames - II

THIS PAPER is a continuation of the investigation on the characteristics and power requirements of spinning frames presented at the AIEE North Eastern District meeting, Springfield, Mass., May 3–5, 1939, and published in this volume of AIEE Transactions, pages 1–4 (January section).
A proline-90 residue unique to SUMO-4 prevents maturation and sumoylation

Four small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) genes have been identified in humans. However, little is known about the basic biology of SUMO-4. Here, we report that SUMO-4 differs from SUMO-1, -2, and -3 in that the maturation process of SUMO-4 to active form containing C-terminal di-glycine residues is inhibited by a unique proline residue located at position 90 (Pro-90). Although, both the hydrolase and isopeptidase activities of SUMO peptidases are significantly diminished by Pro-90 as compared to Gln-90 (glutamine) in mutated SUMO genes, only the defective hydrolase activity appears to be biologically relevant. Native SUMO-4, thus, appears to be unable to form covalent isopeptide bonds with substrates. A biological role of SUMO-4, through non-covalent interactions is proposed.
Experimental combination chemotherapy: intracarotid versus intravenous administration of aziridinylbenzoquinone, BCNU, and cisplatin in dogs.

Sixteen adult beagles (10–12 kg) were used to evaluate combinations of 2,5-diaziridinyl-3,6-biscarboethoxyamino-1,4-benzoquinone (AZQ, aziridinylbenzoquinone), 1,3-bis-2-chloroethyl-1-nitrosourea (BCN
The Drosophila saxophone gene: a serine-threonine kinase receptor of the TGF-beta superfamily

The Drosophila decapentaplegic (dpp) gene encodes a transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta)-like protein that plays a key role in several aspects of development. Transduction of the DPP signal was investigated by cloning of serine-threonine kinase transmembrane receptors from Drosophila because this type of receptor is specific for the TGF-beta-like ligands. Here evidence is provided demonstrating that the Drosophila saxophone (sax) gene, a previously identified female sterile locus, encodes a TGF-beta-like type I receptor. Embryos from sax mothers and dpp embryos exhibit similar mutant phenotypes during early gastrulation, and these two loci exhibit genetic interactions, which suggest that they are utilized in the same pathway. These data suggest that sax encodes a receptor for dpp.
Augmentative and Alternative Communication Systems: Considerations for Individuals with Severe Intellectual Disabilities.

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) research and intervention for individuals with severe intellectual disabilities has advanced significantly in the last 5 years. This paper provides ...
Molecular recognition of potassium ion by the naturally occurring antibiotic ionophore nonactin

Potential of mean force (PMF), free energy perturbation (FEP), and molecular dynamics (MD) computer simulations have been used to investigate the molecular recognition of K + by the ionophore nonactin in methanol. First, parameter sets for K + and Na + in methanol were developed such that they were able to reasonably reproduce the free energy of solvation of these ions as well as coordination numbers. Next, we computed the free energy of binding difference for K + →Na + in nonactin and obtained a value of 1.0±0.8 kcal/mol which is in good agreement with the experimental value of 2.0±0.7 kcal/mol
Copper oxide based nanostructures for improved solar cell efficiency

Abstract Resurgence of copper oxide based thin film solar cells demands exclusive methods of integrating various layers with superior constituents for increased solar-electric conversion efficiency. Exceedingly optically active nanostructured phase mixture of copper oxides was synthesized by an energy efficient hydrothermal process. Comprehensive structural and optical studies of these nanostructured copper oxides reveal its efficacy as a unique solar cell material. Excellent solar cell characteristics have been observed when these nanopowders are integrated with ZnO/CuO based thin films. X-ray diffraction, Raman micro-scattering, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, UV–vis spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and optoelectronic measurements were employed to characterize these unified electronic devices. Solar cell measurements indicate a considerable increase in short circuit current density (Jsc) and open circuit voltage (Voc) in the fabricated nanostructure powder-thin film hybrid solar cell devices. The solar cell efficiency of these nanopowder-thin film devices is found to be 2.88%. The physics behind this enrichment of solar cell properties has also been elucidated in the study. Exhaustive Raman spectroscopic and photoluminescence studies prove that multi-phonon scattering may play a major role for this enhancement. This integration of nanostructures with thin film solar cells can evolve to a new direction in photovoltaic technology.
Association analysis of PRNP gene region with chronic wasting disease in Rocky Mountain elk

Background: Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) of cervids including white-tailed (Odocoileus virginianus) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni), and moose (Alces alces). A leucine variant at position 132 (132L) in prion protein of Rocky Mountain elk confers a long incubation time with CWD, but not complete resistance. However, variants in regulatory regions outside the open reading frame of PRNP have been associated with varying degrees of susceptibility to prion disease in other species, and some variants have been observed in similar regions of Rocky Mountain elk PRNP. Thus, additional genetic variants might provide increased protection, either alone or in combination with 132L. Findings: This study provided genomic sequence of all exons for PRNP of Rocky Mountain elk. Many functional sites in and around the PRNP gene region were sequenced, and this report approximately doubled (to 75) the number of known variants in this region. A haplotype-tagging approach was used to reduce the number of genetic variants required to survey this variation in the PRNP gene region of 559 Rocky Mountain elk. Eight haplotypes were observed with frequencies over 1.0%, and one haplotype was present at 71.2% frequency, reflecting limited genetic diversity in the PRNP gene region. Conclusions: The presence of 132L cut odds of CWD by more than half (Odds Ratio = 0.43; P = 0.0031), which was similar to a previous report. However after accounting for 132L, no association with CWD was found for any additional variants in the PRNP region (P > 0.05).
Likelihood models for clustered binary and continuous outcomes: application to developmental toxicology.

Summary. In developmental toxicology, methods based on dose-response modeling and quantitative risk assessment are being actively pursued. Among live fetuses, the presence of malformations and reduction in fetal weight are of primary interest, but ordinarily, the dose-response relationships are characterized in each of the outcomes separately while appropriately accounting for clustering within litters. Jointly modeling the outcomes, allowing different relationships with dose while incorporating the correlation between the fetuses and the outcomes, may be more appropriate. We propose a likelihood-based model that is an extension of a correlated probit model to incorporate continuous outcomes. Our model maintains a marginal dose–response interpretation for the individual outcomes while taking into account both the correlations between outcomes on an individual fetus and those due to clustering. The joint risk of malformation and low birth weight can then be estimated directly. This approach is particularly well suited to estimating safe dose levels as part of quantitative risk assessment.
Disseminated oligodendroglial-like leptomeningeal tumor with anaplastic progression and presumed extraneural disease: case report

We report the neuroimaging and histopathologic findings of a 12-year-old female patient with a disseminated oligodendroglial-like leptomeningeal tumor with anaplastic progression and presumed extraneural metastatic disease. These tumors may represent distinct pathology primarily seen in pediatric patients. Neuroimaging demonstrates diffuse, progressive enhancement of the leptomeninges often with interval development of intraparenchymal lesions on follow-up. Disease is typically confined to the central nervous system, though diffuse peritoneal disease was seen in our case, possibly through metastatic seeding of the abdomen via ventriculoperitoneal shunt.
A Note on the Optical Scattering Characteristics of Whole Blood

The effect of the cell membrane on the scattering and absorption of light by a red blood cell is investigated theoretically using spherical models. It is shown that although the backscattering cross section varies considerably with cell membrane refractive index, cell membrane has very little to do with other scattering and absorption characteristics in general.
Universal-conductance-fluctuation 1/f noise in a metal-insulator composite.

The dependences of the $\frac{l}{f}$ noise in CCu metal-insulator composites on temperature, frequency, magnetic field, and electric field and the noise symmetry properties were measured in the range $2 \mathrm{K}lTl300$ K, $0.1 \mathrm{Hz}lfl3$ kHz, $Bl80$ kG, and $El500$ V/cm. In the regime $Tl50$ K all properties were consistent with a picture of noise from double-well systems coupled to the conductivity via the universal-conductance-fluctuation term.
Portfolios of Alternative Assets: Why Not 100% Hedge Funds?

In recent years, interest in “alternative assets” has increased tremendously, driven by the eternal search for superior risk-adjusted returns. Hedge “funds of funds” and principal-protected versions of hedge funds in particular have made major inroads into portfolios of high net worth individuals and institutions with relatively liberal investment mandates. Despite questions about the appropriateness of including these products in portfolios and the allocations that such products should receive, adding such investments to conventional portfolios significantly improves risk-reward portfolio performance. Indeed, when risk-adjusted returns are considered, portfolios of hedge funds dominate investments in traditional bond and equity portfolios. Portfolios of hedge funds can be a substitute for bonds and cash as a defensive vehicle when equity prices decline, especially when hedge fund investments are leveraged.
Phosphoprotein isotope-coded affinity tags: application to the enrichment and identification of low-abundance phosphoproteins.

The use of a phosphoprotein isotope-coded affinity tag (PhIAT), which employs differential isotopic labeling and biotinylation, has been shown capable of enriching and identifying mixtures of low-abundance phosphopeptides. A denatured solution of β-casein was labeled using the PhIAT method, and after proteolytic digestion, the labeled peptides were isolated using immobilized avidin. The recovered peptides were separated by capillary reversed-phase liquid chromatography and identified by tandem mass spectrometry. PhIAT-labeled peptides corresponding to known O-phosphorylated peptides from β-casein were identified along with the phosphorylated peptides from αS1-casein and αS2-casein, known low-level (<5%) contaminants of commercially available β-casein. All of the casein-phosphorylated residues identified by the present PhIAT approach correspond to previously documented sites of phosphorylation. The results illustrate the efficacy of the PhIAT-labeling strategy to not only enrich mixtures for phosphopeptide...
Quantile Regression Models with Multivariate Failure Time Data

En tant qu'alternative a la classique modelisation de la moyenne par regression, la modelisation des quantiles a ete largement etudiee (surtout celle de la mediane) dans le cas de donnees de survie independantes. Cependant, les correlations naturelles ou artificielles entre donnees font qu'il est courant de rencontrer, en recherche biomedicale, des donnees de survie multivariees pour lesquelles une correlation intra-groupe doit etre ajustee. Pour des donnees de survie correlees et censurees a droite, nous explorons ici la modelisation des quantiles et adaptons une approche par equations d'estimation destinee a estimer les parametres sous hypothese d'independance. Nous adaptons egalement une version ponderee de cette meme approche, qui en ameliore l'efficacite. Nous montrons que les estimateurs des parametres sont robustes et suivent asymptotiquement une distribution normale. L'estimation de la variance, obtenue par approximation asymptotique, utilise une estimation non parametrique de la densite, cependant que la matrice de variance-covariance est estimee par bootstrap et methodes de re-echantillonnage perturbe. Des simulations montrent que l'approche proposee convient aux echantillons de taille finie. Cette nouvelle demarche est appliquee, pour illustration, a des donnees issues d'un essai clinique dans l'otite.
Electrogenerated chemiluminescence. 75. Electrochemistry and ECL of 9,10-bis(2-naphthyl)anthracene

Abstract The spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) of 9,10-bis(2-naphthyl)anthracene (BNA) was investigated. BNA shows high fluorescence quantum yields ( φ =0.86). Strong, intense ECL was observed on the surface of a Pt electrode in benzene + acetonitrile (1:1) while pulsing between the potentials for the first oxidization and reduction of BNA. The peak of ECL light emission was at 430 nm with an ECL efficiency about 90% of that of 9,10-diphenylanthracene (DPA). Cyclic voltammograms (CVs) of BNA show nernstian one-electron oxidations and reductions to the radical ions attributed to electron transfers to the anthracene core. The first reduction is followed by a second irreversible one-electron step and then two, closely spaced nernstian one-electron reductions assigned to electron transfer to the naphthalene moieties. The reduction CV was digitally simulated to establish the reduction mechanism.
Vertical structure of low frequency variability in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean

Abstract The vertical structure of low frequency velocity and temperature variability in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean is examined using surface and subsurface moored current meter data from 0°, 110°W between 20 and 3027 m depths over the period 30 March 1980 to 2 February 1981. Three methods of analysis are employed: vertical coherence, empirical orthogonal functions, and linear least-squares dynamical mode decompositions. Direct evidence is given for the existence of first baroclinic mode Kelvin waves in the east component of velocity and vertical displacement (estimated from temperature) in that the vertical displacement is coherent and in phase over the water column and the upper-ocean east component of velocity varies out of phase with the vertical displacement over the water column. Near-surface modifications due to advection, nonadiabatic processes, and local forcing are also noted.
Intersection of modular polynomials

In this paper, we consider the intersection of classic modular polynomials. The intersection number on affine space is given by the well-known Hurwitz class numbers. We give two different ways to compute the intersection number by two different compactifications of A 2 . This yields a new and more elementary formula for the intersection number. Consequently we get a class number relation. We also give a pure combinatorial proof of this class number relation.
The motivational consequences of cholinergic stimulation of the medial septal area

Direct application of carbachol to the medial septal area of satiated rats produced large significant increases in drinking. Histamine produced a small and inconsistent increase in drinking, and isoproterenol produced an inconsistent decrease in eating. Carbachol-stimulated Ss performed significantly better on a brightness discrimination task than satiated controls, as measured by running and starting speeds, but did not differ from controls in number of correct choices.
ON THE VARIETY OF LINES OF DESCENT REPRESENTED IN A POPULATION

In this case the individuals are considered as representatives of the whole series, without any regard to the descent of each. It may therefore well be that, from a biological point of view, two series having the same degree of variability of the component individuals are quite distinct. In one extreme case we may imagine the population as consisting of a number of entirely distinct lines of descent, in which each line represents a particular type. Then by grouping together the individuals of each type, we obtain a series of types different among themselves, which would indicate the heterogeneity of the types that enter into the constitution of the whole population. In the other extreme case we may imagine all the lines of descent composing the population to represent the same ancestral strain. Obviously in this case every single ancestral line would be representative of the whole population, and the averages of all the different lines would be the same.
Windowing functions for focused range-Doppler imaging

A method for obtaining windowing functions for focused range-doppler imaging of rotation objects is given. Focused range-doppler imaging of rotation objects involves the evaluation of a non-standard transform rather than the discrete Fourier transform. As such, familiar windowing functions such as Hamming are inappropriate for sidelobe control. Previous methods of evaluation involve resampling and interpolation to emulate the discrete Fourier transform. In this paper, a correction factor applied to any standard window function is derived and results shown.
The binding of selenium to the lipids of two unicellular marine algae

Abstract Axenic cultures of the green algae Dunaliella primolecta and red algae Porphyridium cruentum were grown in the presence of sublethal quantities of selenite. All purified lipids from both algae were found to contain bound selenium, except for saturated hydrocarbons. Of the lipids which contain selenium, carotenoid pigments contain the greatest concentrations. Lipid-associated selenium is not metabolically incorporated. The selenium is probably non-covalently bound to the lipids.
An Efficient System for Heterologous Expression of Secondary Metabolite Genes in Aspergillus nidulans

Fungal secondary metabolites (SMs) are an important source of medically valuable compounds. Genome projects have revealed that fungi have many SM biosynthetic gene clusters that are not normally expressed. To access these potentially valuable, cryptic clusters, we have developed a heterologous expression system in Aspergillus nidulans. We have developed an efficient system for amplifying genes from a target fungus, placing them under control of a regulatable promoter, transferring them into A. nidulans, and expressing them. We have validated this system by expressing nonreducing polyketide synthases of Aspergillus terreus and additional genes required for compound production and release. We have obtained compound production and release from six of these nonreducing polyketide synthases and have identified the products. To demonstrate that the procedure allows transfer and expression of entire secondary metabolite biosynthetic pathways, we have expressed all the genes of a silent A. terreus cluster and dem...
A Study of the Attitudes of Impacted Groups Within a Host Community Toward Prolonged Stay Tourist Visitors

One group which has generally been neglected in research on resort communities has been the host population. This study attempted to determine the impact of winter visitors on Corpus Christi as perceived by residents and particular interest groups in the city. The data revealed a generally positive attitude, suggesting that the major publics in the community are supportive of the state and city tourist agencies in promoting winter tourism.
New protocols for third-party-based authentication and secure broadcast

This paper gives Needham-Schroeder style third-party-based authentication and key-distribution protocols that do not use conventional cryptosystems such as DES. The new protocols use polynomial interpolation and secure keyed one-way hash functions, and are efficient compared with protocols using conventional cryptosystems. The same techniques are generalized to develop protocols for secure broadcast and for secure communication.
Correlated analysis of cellular DNA, membrane antigens and light scatter of human lymphoid cells

Flow cytometric correlated analysis of membrane antigens, DNA, and light scatter was performed on human lymphoid cells using fluorescein (FITC)-conjugated antibodies to label B- and T-cell antigens and propidium iodide (PI) to stain DNA after ethanol fixation and RNase treatment. A FACS II flow cytometer was modified to obtain digitized measurements of two color fluorescence and light scatter emissions, simultaneously. Software was written to allow single parameter analysis or correlated analysis of any two of the three parameters acquired. Ethanol fixation preserved FITC surface labeling for at least 15 weeks, but produced marked changes in light scatter. No changes in FITC distributions were observed after RNase treatment and PI staining, and the presence of FITC labeling did not affect DNA distributions. Within heterogeneous cell populations, the DNA distribution of cell subpopulations identified by a membrane antigen was clearly demonstrated.
On the performance of open-source RTOS synchronization primitives

Contemporary embedded system development is focusing more and more on software modularity and reuse, to reduce development costs and improve reliability. In this scenario, a Real Time Operating System (RTOS) often plays a central role to schedule task execution and provide inter-task communication and synchronization. For this reason, its performance and overhead become critical points of system design and evaluation. In this paper the basic performance of FreeRTOS, an open-source RTOS widely adopted for low-cost applications, is evaluated experimentally. The areas considered in the evaluation include context switch and semaphore synchronization overheads, as well as task activation jitter unduly induced by lower-priority tasks.
On the mechanism of activation of designed enediynes with selective cytotoxicity

Abstract A number of novel enediyne compounds such as 3 equipped with a 2-(phenylsulfonyl)ethoxycarbonyl protecting group on the nitrogen atom have demonstrated selective cutotoxicity against a variety of cancer cell lines. Compounds 4–6 possessing one or two methyl group(s) at the C2 position of the sulfone residue have been synthesized and tested, showing reduced cytotoxity as compared to 3 , suggesting that a β-elimination mechanism as the main initial step for the activation of these cytotoxic agents. The differential in the cytotoxicity of compounds 4 and 5 with opposite chirality at C2 suggests the possible existence of tumor-associated factors in certain tumor cells that may activate these systems selectively.
Stability and asymptoticity of Volterra difference equations: A progress report

We survey some of the fundamental results on the stability and asymptoticity of linear Volterra difference equations. The method of Z-transform is heavily utilized in equations of convolution type. An example is given to show that uniform asymptotic stability does not necessarily imply exponential stabilty. It is shown that the two notions are equivalent if the kernel decays exponentially. For equations of nonconvolution type, Liapunov functions are used to find explicit criteria for stability. Moreover, the resolvent matrix is defined to produce a variation of constants formula. The study of asymptotic equivalence for difference equations with infinite delay is carried out in Section 6. Finally, we state some problems.
Selective amplification of simian immunodeficiency virus genotypes after intrarectal inoculation of rhesus monkeys.

Abstract Animal models for sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus can define the influences of virus type, dose, and route of inoculation on infection and clinical outcome. We used an uncloned simian immunodeficiency virus stock (SIVmac) to inoculate cells in vitro and to inoculate rhesus monkeys by intravenous and intrarectal routes. The distribution of virus genotypes present in each of these infection examples was characterized by DNA sequence analysis of viral long terminal repeats (LTRs). Our analysis of LTR sequences from in vitro and in vivo infections revealed three main genotypes: one genotype was observed only for in vitro infection, and two other genotypes were recovered only from infected animals. By comparing animals inoculated with high intrarectal doses of SIVmac and those inoculated with low doses, we demonstrated that unique subsets of the stock were selected after intrarectal infection. Our findings indicate that minor genotypes present in the stock cross the rectal mucosa and are amplified selectively to become prominent in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from acutely infected animals. Studies with a molecular recombinant of SIV and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 sequences, SHIV, showed that viral LTR sequences do not undergo especially rapid sequence variation or rearrangement after intrarectal inoculation. The mucosal barrier exerts a significant influence on infection and disease progression by reducing the efficiency of SIVmac infection and by permitting distinct, pathogenic genotypes to become established in the host.
An epigenetic marker panel for recurrence risk prediction of low grade papillary urothelial cell carcinoma (LGPUCC) and its potential use for surveillance after transurethral resection using urine

// Leonel Maldonado 1,5,* , Mariana Brait 1,* , Christina Michailidi 1 , Enrico Munari 1,2 , Tina Driscoll 3 , Luciana Schultz 2 , Trinity Bivalacqua 3 , Mark Schoenberg 3 , David Sidransky 1 , George J. Netto 2,3 and Mohammad Obaidul Hoque 1,3,4 1 Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA 2 Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA 3 Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA 4 Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA 5 Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA * These authors contributed equally to this work Correspondence: Mohammad Obaidul Hoque, email: // George J Netto, email: // Keywords : LGPUCC, Recurrence, Epigenetics, Biomarkers, DNA methylation Received : January 21, 2014 Accepted : June 22, 2014 Published : June 23, 2014 Abstract By a candidate gene approach, we analyzed the promoter methylation (PM) of 8 genes ( ARF, TIMP3, RAR-β2, NID2, CCNA1, AIM1, CALCA and CCND2 ) by quantitative methylation specific PCR (QMSP) in the DNA of 17 non-recurrent and 19 recurrent noninvasive low grade papillary urothelial cell carcinoma (LGPUCC) archival tissues. Among the genes tested, by establishing an empiric cutoff value, CCND2, CCNA1, NID2, and CALCA showed higher frequency of methylation in recurrent than in non-recurrent LGPUCC: CCND2 10/19 (53%) vs. 2/17 (12%) (p=0.014); CCNA1 11/19 (58%) vs. 4/17 (23.5%) (p=0.048); NID2 13/19 (68%) vs. 3/17 (18%) (p=0.003) and CALCA 10/19 (53%) vs. 4/17 (23.5%) (p=0.097), respectively. We further analyzed PM of CCND 2, CCNA1 , and CALCA in urine DNA from UCC patients including LGPUCC and controls. The frequency of CCND2, CCNA1, and CALCA was significantly higher (p<0.0001) in urine of UCC cases [38/148 (26%), 50/635%) respectively] than controls [0/56 (0%), 10/60 (17%) and 16/56 (28.5%), respectively)]. Most importantly we found at least one of the 3 markers were methylated positive in 25 out of 30 (83%) cytology negative LGPUCC cases. We also explored the biological function of CCNA1 in UCC. Prospective confirmatory studies are needed to develop a reliable tool for prediction of recurrence using primary LGPUCC tissues and/or urine.
Waveform inversion of seismic refraction data and applications to young Pacific crust

Summary. We present a method for constraining the velocity-depth structure in the Earth using seismic refraction waveform data. We test the method with synthetic ‘data’ from known models, and apply it to a set of data collected in 1982 June from the East Pacific Rise at 13”N, from the MAGMA expedition. In this iterative process WKBJ seismograms are computed for a starting model; the difference between these and the observed seismograms is used to update the model subject to physical constraints. An important first step in the inverse scheme is the linearization of the WKBJ seismogram equation, allowing us to compute ‘differential seismograms’, partial derivatives of the synthetic seismogram with respect to specific model parameters. This linearization provides the means for estimating required model perturbations, based on the misfit in the seismograms. The choice of a suitable numerical strategy for computing an updated model is a crucial second step in formulating a working algorithm. Because the data contain noise, synthetic seismograms can only fit the data to this noise level. In this case, infinitely many models fit the data to this tolerance, and some of these estimates are non-physical, involving negative layer thicknesses. A successful strategy must choose from among these possibilities a well-defined, physically reasonable new model. In a commonly-used approach to solving non-linear problems the perturbation to the starting model is minimized while improving the fit to the data. After several iterations the final model, which possesses no special properties, still tends to resemble the starting model. When used with the MAGMA data this technique essentially does not perturb the model at all. A method we find much more satisfactory involves solving for the new model directly while applying physically important constraints. As constraints we require the velocity gradient remain below a fixed value and penalize the ‘roughness’ of the new model. We thus solve for the smoothest model fitting the data to the specified misfit.
Enhancing the Utility of Community Health Workers in Disaster Preparedness, Resiliency, and Recovery

ABSTRACT As part of the Deepwater Horizon Medical Settlement, the University of South Alabama's Coastal Resource & Resiliency Center is charged with preparing Community Health Workers (CHWs) to ser...
Control of electroosmosis in coated quartz capillaries

The effectiveness of various coatings for controlling the electroosmotic fluid flow that hinders electrophoretic processes is studied using analytical particle microelectrophoresis. The mobilities of 2-micron diameter glass and polystyrene latex spheres (exhibiting both negative and zero effective surface charge) were measured in 2-mm diameter quartz capillaries filled with NaCl solutions within the 3.5-7.8 pH range. It is found that capillary inner surface coatings using 5000 molecular weight (or higher) poly(ethylene glycol): significantly reduced electroosmosis within the selected pH range, were stable for long time periods, and appeared to be more effective than dextran, methylcellulose, or silane coatings.
Learning to Follow Navigational Directions

We present a system that learns to follow navigational natural language directions. Where traditional models learn from linguistic annotation or word distributions, our approach is grounded in the world, learning by apprenticeship from routes through a map paired with English descriptions. Lacking an explicit alignment between the text and the reference path makes it difficult to determine what portions of the language describe which aspects of the route. We learn this correspondence with a reinforcement learning algorithm, using the deviation of the route we follow from the intended path as a reward signal. We demonstrate that our system successfully grounds the meaning of spatial terms like above and south into geometric properties of paths.
Effect of Anti-oxidants on Growth and Lactic Acid Production by Streptococcus mutans

The effects of three anti-oxidants--tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)--on both growth and lactic acid production by eight cariogenic strains of Streptococcus mutans were investigated. Synergistic inhibitory effects of potassium sorbate on lactic acid production were also determined. All three anti-oxidants are phenolic derivatives and are commonly used in food systems due to their excellent "carry-through" properties during processing. Growth inhibition was determined by turbidity measurements at 600 nm. Lactic acid was assayed by gas chromatography, and bacterial DNA was assayed by the diphenylamine reaction. There were reduced growth levels of S. mutans due to the anti-oxidants and potassium sorbate for at least 12 hr, with TBHQ and BHA still inhibiting growth at 24 hr. Nearly all concentrations of anti-oxidants and potassium sorbate reduced lactic acid production by S. mutans, but only TBHQ significantly inhibited lactic acid production when the amount of acid per microgram DNA was calculated. A synergistic reduction of lactic acid production by S. mutans does occur in most combinations of potassium sorbate with anti-oxidants.
Correlating Microscale Thermal Conductivity of Heavily-Doped Silicon With Simultaneous Measurements of Stress

The functioning and performance of today’s integrated circuits and sensors are highly affected by the thermal properties of microscale silicon structures. Due to the well known size effect, the thermal properties of microscale silicon structures are not the same as those of the bulk silicon. Furthermore, stress/strain inside microscale silicon structures can significantly affect their thermal properties. This article presents the first thermal conductivity measurements of a microscale silicon structure under applied compressive stress at 350 K. Atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilevers made of doped single-crystal silicon were used as samples. A resistance temperature detector (RTD) heater attached to another RTD sensor was used as the heating module, which was mounted onto a nanoindentation test platform. This integrated system applied compressive load to the cantilever in the longitudinal direction while supplying heat. The thermal conductivity of the cantilevers was calculated using steady state heat conduction equation. The result shows that the measured thermal conductivity varies from 110 W/(m·K) to 140 W/(m·K) as compressive strain varies from 0.1% to 0.3%. Thermal conductivity is shown to increase with increase in compressive strain. These results match with the published simulation values. The measured thermal conductivity and stress values vary in the similar manner as a function of applied strain.
Vertebroplasty in the mid- and upper thoracic spine.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Vertebroplasty performed in the mid- and upper thoracic spine presents technical challenges that differ from those in the lower thoracic and lumbar region. We herein report results of percutaneous vertebroplasty for treatment of painful, osteoporotic compression fractures in the mid- and upper thoracic spine. METHODS: Retrospective chart review identified vertebroplasty treatments performed for painful osteoporotic compression fractures at T4-T8. The following were catalogued: percentage of vertebral body compression, needle size, surgical approach, clinical outcome, volume of cement injected, and complications. RESULTS: Sixty-three vertebral bodies were treated in 41 patients. Mean percentage of compression was 44%. Bipediculate injections were used in 12 (19%) of 63 treatment levels, and unipediculate injections were used in 51 (81%) of treatments (75 injections performed). Eleven-gauge needles were used for 55 (73%) of the 75 injections, and 13-gauge needles were used for 20 (27%). Clinical follow-up was available for 76% of the patients. Mean pre- and postoperative pain intensity was 9.7 ± 1.0 and 1.7 ± 1.9, respectively (P CONCLUSION: Transpedicular vertebroplasty is readily and safely performed using 11-gauge needles in the mid- and upper thoracic regions, yielding excellent pain relief and low complication rates.
Severe reduction in genetic variation in a montane isolate: the endangered Mount Graham red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus grahamensis)

The Mount Graham red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus grahamensis; MGRS) is endemic to the Pinaleno Mountains of Arizona at the southernmost extent of the species’ range. The MGRS was listed as federally endangered in 1987, and is currently at high risk of extinction due to declining population size and increasing threats. Here we present a genetic assessment of the MGRS using eight nuclear DNA microsatellite markers and a 472 bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. We analyzed 34 MGRS individuals and an additional 66 red squirrels from the nearby White Mountains, Arizona (T. h. mogollonensis). Both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA analyses revealed an extreme reduction in measures of genetic diversity relative to conspecifics from the White Mountains, suggesting that the MGRS has either experienced multiple bottlenecks, or a single long-term bottleneck. Additionally, we found a high degree of relatedness (mean = 0.75 ± 0.18) between individual MGRS. Our study implies that the MGRS may lack the genetic variation required to respond to a changing environment. This is especially important considering this region of the southwest United States is expected to experience profound effects from global climate change. The reduced genetic variability together with the high relatedness coefficients should be taken into account when constructing a captive population to minimize loss of the remaining genetic variation.