cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stochastic Differential Equations and Random Number Generators Minimize Numerical Instabilities in Digital Simulations

The dynamics of the olfactory system are now fairly clear (Freeman 1999b). The receptors high in the nose transduce odorant stimuli to spatial patterns of action potentials as point processes that are topographically mapped into the bulb. The bulbar KII population is the key element, providing an attractor landscape shaped by learning and attention under limbic control, the wings of which are accessed by input-dependent destabilization to generalize and classify specific inputs. The external interneurons in the glomerular layer provide logarithmic range compression, spatial coarse-graining, and excitatory bias varying with arousal (Freeman 1992a; Chang and Freeman 1999). The anterior olfactory nucleus serves as a controller of the chaotic output of the bulb (Pecora 1998; Pecora et al. 1997), and the prepyriform cortex provides for signal extraction and generalization over the bulbar outputs in respect to response selection.
Piezoelectric wave propagation in centrosymmetric crystals

On the basis of Mindlin's linear theory, which takes into account the effect of the polarization gradient, the propagation of electromechanically coupled bulk and surface/interface waves was studied in elastic dielectric centrosymmetric media. The investigation was confined to small-amplitude waves, propagating with frequencies far below those of optical waves (quasi-static approximation for the electromagnetic field) in structures, which are idealizations of possible real wave devices. These theoretical investigations predicted various modifications and several novel features of the piezoelectric wave propagation as compared with the corresponding results obtained within the framework of the classical theory. >
Digital signal processing in electrical engineering technology programs

Digital signal processing (DSP) is one of the most demanding areas in today's job market for electronic engineering graduates. Because of the need for this particular area, if not all but, most electrical/electronic engineering departments have already integrated this popular subject in their curriculum. To understand DSP, a good knowledge of advanced mathematics is required. This, in turn, has created problems for electrical engineering technology (EET) departments to successfully implemented DSP into their program, since they do not require advanced mathematics. For the last two years, many EET faculties have tried to respond to this problem and have sought help from their colleagues in other institutions through ET listserv. This paper intends to show the authors experience of teaching DSP to EET students.
Factors in the mechanism of diarrhea in bile acid malabsorption: Fecal pH—A key determinant

Abstract High fecal aqueous dihydroxy bile acid concentrations are prerequisite for bile acid-induced diarrhea. This study identified factors which cause differences in the fecal aqueous phase dihydroxy bile acid concentrations among various conditions of bile acid malabsorption, and hence determine the presence or absence of bile acid enteropathy. The study, which included colonic intubations, was performed on control subjects as well as on groups of patients with similar degrees of bile acid malabsorption due to either various lengths of ileal and proximal colonic resections or jejunoileal bypass. The aqueous dihydroxy bile acid concentrations in stool were comparable to those in the colon. In all study groups, a high correlation was found between fecal pH and percent of fecal dihydroxy bile acids in aqueous solution. High fecal aqueous dihydroxy bile acid concentrations were present if bile acid malabsorption was associated with an alkaline fecal pH, as seen in small ileal resection with no or only moderate steatorrhea. The aqueous dihydroxy bile acid concentrations were low in bile acid malabsorption and severe steatorrhea due to large ileal resection, or jejunoileal bypass, in which the fecal pH was acidic. Fecal bile acids in jejunoileal bypdss Were considerably diluted to levels which would not be secretory, even at optimal (alkaline) pH and solubility. Binding of bile acids to the solid fecal phase was found to decrease the release of dihydroxy bile acids into the aqueous phase by about 20%. The bile acids in stool as well as in colonic contents were unconjugated and not sulfated. The increased fecal aqueous dihydroxy bile acids in small ileal resection consisted, predominantly, of either chenodeoxycholic acid or deoxycholic acid. This study indicates that fecal pH is the most important determinant of diarrhea in bile acid malabsorption due to ileal resection, whereas dilution of colonic contents is generally the determining factor in the diarrhea in bile acid malabsorption due to jejunoileal bypass. Also, for the first time, it has been shown that, not only chenodeoxycholic acid, but also deoxycholic acid, can be implicated in the pathogenesis of bile acid-induced diarrhea.
Entrepreneurship Education and Lower Socioeconomic Black Youth: An Empirical Investigation

This study tested the effects of an entrepreneurship education intervention, the New Youth Entrepreneur curriculum, on lower socioeconomic black high-school students' knowledge of basic and advanced concepts in entrepreneurship. Ninety-five high school sophomores (over 85% black) from a lower socioeconomic neighborhood made up the sample for the experimental design: 51 in the treatment group and 44 in the control group. The two instruments used measured participants' knowledge of basic entrepreneurship concepts and higher cognitive levels of entrepreneurship learning, including comprehension, application, and analysis. The treatment group experienced the New Youth Entrepreneur (NYE) curriculum for one period a day for a semester, while the control group was exposed to basic entrepreneurship concepts at an awareness level as part of a general business education course. It was predicted and found that the treatment group significantly outperformed the control group on all dimensions of entrepreneurship tested. The study results confirm that appropriate curricular innovation can significantly influence the acquisition of entrepreneurship concepts and skills by lower socioeconomic black students. They also confirm that these same students can even be energized to the point of moving from opportunity recognition to initial business implementation.
Reference based annotation with GeneMapper

We introduce GeneMapper, a program for transferring annotations from a well annotated genome to other genomes. Drawing on high quality curated annotations, GeneMapper enables rapid and accurate annotation of newly sequenced genomes and is suitable for both finished and draft genomes. GeneMapper uses a profile based approach for mapping genes into multiple species, improving upon the standard pairwise approach. GeneMapper is freely available for academic use.
Symmetry-based subproduct codes

Recently, a new type of product-like codes, known as half-product codes, have been studied for OTN applications. Motivated by these codes, new classes of symmetry-invariant subproduct codes are proposed and investigated under iterative hard-decision decoding. A subset of the new class of quarter product codes has lower error floors than comparable half-product codes in terms of length, rate and performance.
Regularity of Squarefree Monomial Ideals

We survey a number of recent studies of the Castelnuovo–Mumford regularity of squarefree monomial ideals. Our focus is on bounds and exact values for the regularity in terms of combinatorial data from associated simplicial complexes and/or hypergraphs.
Risk Factors and Outcomes in Cats with Acquired Myasthenia Gravis (2001-2012).

Background Acquired myasthenia gravis (MG) in cats most commonly causes generalized weakness without megaesophagus and is more often associated with a cranial mediastinal mass, compared to dogs. Hypothesis/Objectives To extend the clinical findings described in the report of 2000 on MG in cats (J Am Vet Med Assoc 215:55–57). Animals Two hundred and thirty-five cats with MG. Methods Retrospective case study to evaluate the long-term outcome and incidence of spontaneous remission in myasthenic cats. Information including signalment, clinical presentation, presence of and type of cranial mediastinal mass, treatment including surgical versus medical, survival time, and outcome including spontaneous remissions was collected and analyzed in cats diagnosed at the Comparative Neuromuscular Laboratory, University of California San Diego by detection of acetylcholine receptor antibody titers >0.3 nmol/L by immunoprecipitation radioimmunosassay. Results Acquired MG in cats is associated with a euthanasia rate of 58%. Abyssinian and Somali cats had an increased incidence of MG compared to mixed breed cats or cats of other breeds. A cranial mediastinal mass, most commonly thymoma, was observed in 52% of the cats, which is higher than in the previous report. Spontaneous remission is not a characteristic of MG in cats. Conclusions and clinical importance Myasthenia gravis in cats is a chronic disease associated with a high incidence of a cranial mediastinal mass. Spontaneous remission is not common and clinicians should warn owners of the necessity for long-term treatment. The clinical outcome with a cranial mediastinal mass did not differ between surgical or medical treatment.
Abstract 2991: Triple combination of bevacizumab, anti-DLL4 (delta like ligand 4) and trebananib gives enhanced therapeutic effects in three xenograft tumor models

Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody targeting VEGF that is clinically approved for the treatment of multiple indications in oncology, including colorectal, lung and renal cancer as well as glioblastoma. Clinical activity has also been demonstrated in breast and ovarian cancer as well, however, the time periods of benefit for all of these indications is in months (1-5). Multiple pathways are known to participate in the process of angiogenesis, and the limited effects of bevacizumab may represent the maximum activity of targeting just one of them. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of simultaneously targeting multiple angiogenic axes including angiopoietins 1 and 2, Dll4 and VEGF. Trebananib is a recombinant peptide-Fc fusion protein that selectively blocks the Tie2 interactions of both Ang1 and Ang2. Trebananib, as well as a recombinant antibody to Dll4 were produced at Amgen, Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA. Bevacizumab was purchased from a local pharmacy. These reagents were employed in the combination treatment of three different preclinical murine tumor models (U87, glioblastoma; MiaPaca and BxPC3, pancreatic carcinoma), one of which (BxPC3) was specifically selected for its relative resistance to VEGF/KDR inhibition. Harlan Athymic nu/nu female mice at 6-7 weeks of age were injected subcutaneously on the right flank with 5 x 106 tumor cells in the presence of Matrigel and treated when the tumors were approximately 300 mm3. The results, as supported by histomorphometric analysis (percent blood vessel area, viable tumor burden), demonstrate that under conditions of optimal biological dosing, the addition of trebananib to a two-way combination of bevacizumab and anti-Dll4 resulted in a statistically significant enhancement of therapeutic effect for the three-way combination, an observation made consistently over 3 different tumor models and 3 different dose levels of bevacizumab and anti-Dll4 (p = or 1. NEJM, vol. 350, p. 2335, 2004. 2. NEJM, vol. 355, p. 2542, 2006. 3. Lancet, vol. 370, p. 2103, 2007. 4. NEJM, vol. 357, p. 2666, 2007. 5. J. Clin. Oncol., vol. 30, p. 2039, 2012. Citation Format: Bethany Mattson, Jodi Moriguchi, H. Toni Jun, Angela Coxon, Dave Cordover, Steve Kaufman, Jon Oliner, Charlie Starnes. Triple combination of bevacizumab, anti-DLL4 (delta like ligand 4) and trebananib gives enhanced therapeutic effects in three xenograft tumor models. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2991. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2991
Severe Obesity in Adolescents and Young Adults Is Associated With Subclinical Cardiac and Vascular Changes.

Context: Severe obesity is the fastest growing subgroup of obesity in youth. Objective: We sought to explore the association between severe obesity and subclinical measures of cardiac and vascular structure and function in adolescents and young adults. Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a cross-sectional comparison of 265 adolescents and young adults with severe obesity (defined as body mass index [BMI] ≥120% of the 95th percentile) to 182 adolescents and young adults with obesity (defined as BMI ≥100–119th of the 95th percentile) at tertiary medical center. Main Outcomes: Noninvasive measures of cardiac and vascular structure and function were assessed. Results: Participants were a mean age of 17.9 years, 62% were non-Caucasian, and 68% were female. Systolic blood pressure, fasting insulin, C-reactive protein, IL-6, and frequency of type 2 diabetes were higher in participants with severe obesity (all P < .05). Arterial thickness and stiffness, cardiac structure, and diastolic function were also ...
Cytokine, catabolic enzyme and structural matrix gene expression in synovial fluid following intra-articular administration of triamcinolone acetonide in exercised horses.

SummaryReason for performing study The frequent use of intra-articular triamcinolone acetonide (TA) in performance horses warrants further study of the duration of as well as the beneficial and detrimental effects on gene expression associated with administration. Objectives To assess the effects of intra-articular administration of TA on the expression of selected anti- and proinflammatory and structural matrix genes following its administration into joints of exercised Thoroughbred horses and to correlate these effects with plasma and synovial fluid drug concentrations. Study design Block design experiment. Methods Eight exercised horses received a single intra-articular administration of 9 mg of TA. Synovial fluid samples were collected from the treated and contralateral joints prior to and up to 49 days following drug administration. Microarray and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis were used to assess changes in expression levels of various inflammatory and structural genes post drug administration. Results Drug concentrations in plasma and synovial fluid, were no longer quantifiable by 6 and 28 days following drug administration respectively. In total, the expression level of 5490 genes were significantly altered on micro array analysis, following intra-articular TA administration. Of the genes selected for further study by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis, significant changes in inflammatory genes (annexin type 1, cyclooxygenase-1 and tumour necrosis factor stimulated gene 6) and structural genes (collagen and aggrecan) were noted. Conclusions This study supports the use of synovial fluid as a biological matrix for studying the effects of corticosteroids on gene expression. For the majority of genes studied the effects on expression relative to baseline for both inflammatory and matrix genes were prolonged relative to plasma and synovial fluid TA concentrations. Downregulation of collagen gene expression warrants the careful use of TA in horses.
Diversity Challenges in the CSU: One Union's Response - Handouts

These documents and conference proceedings were presented at the 36th Annual Conference of the National Center for the Study of Collective Bargaining in Higher Education and the Professions, Academic Bargaining in an Era of Constraint, held April 19-21, 2009 in New York City.
Flies and worms: molecular genetic approaches to neurobiology

Abstract The neurobiology of Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans, initiated nearly two decades ago respectively by Seymour Benzer 1 and Sidney Brenner 2 , has finally come of age. Kindled by the application of genetic approaches to neurobiology, and fuelled by the infusion of modern recombinant DNA and monoclonal antibody approaches, the last few years have witnessed an enormous explosion of interest in the neurobiology of these two organisms. Although several reviews on flies and worms have already appeared in TINS 3−11 , and many more will surely come, this special issue represents a collection of essays aimed at covering a wide range of topics on nerve and muscle function and development in these two organisms.
Race Affects Mortality After Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the most common cause of death and disability in trauma patients, affecting over 1 million Americans per year. Minorities are at disproportionate risk for TBI, and they account for nearly half of all brain injury hospitalizations. Little is known regarding racial disparities in TBI patients. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of race on mortality in patients with moderate to severe isolated TBI. METHODS: The Los Angeles County Trauma System database, consisting of admissions from five Level I and eight Level II trauma centers, was queried for all patients with isolated moderate to severe TBI admitted between 1998 and 2005. Demographics and mortality were compared between races: Asian, African American, Hispanic, White, and Other. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between race and mortality. RESULTS: A total of 17,977 (23.8% female, 76.2% male) severe TBI patients were evaluated. Of this study population, 7.1% were Asian, 13.5% were African American, 42.3% were Hispanic, 32.5% were White, and 4.7% where classified as Other. Overall, Asians (adjusted Odds Ratio AOR 1.4; 95% CI: 1.14-1.71, P = 0.001) had a significantly higher risk in mortality when compared with Whites. Surprisingly, neither African Americans (AOR 1.02; 95% CI: 0.87-1.2, P = 0.82), nor Hispanics (AOR 1.00; 95% CI: 0.89-1.13, P > 0.9) were at increased risk of death compared to their White counterparts. CONCLUSION: This data supports the hypothesis that race may play a role in mortality in moderate to severe TBI. However, only Asians were at higher risk for death. Language: en
The N-terminal domain of the rne gene product has RNase E activity and is non-overlapping with the arginine-rich RNA-binding site.

Abstract Thernegene ofEscherichia coliencodes a 118 kDa protein that has ribonuclease E (RNase E) activity and binds RNA. A functionalrnegene product is essential for cell viability and for the processing and/or decay of a variety of RNA species, including 9 S RNA, mRNA and RNAI, the antisense RNA regulator of ColE1-type plasmid replication. By testing the ability of different segments of the Rne protein to catalyze RNA cleavage and to bind RNA, we found that the N-terminal half (residues 1 to 498) of Rne contains a catalytic function sufficient for site-specific cleavage of oligoribonucleotides and complex RNAs. The C-terminal half of the protein, which contains both an arginine-rich region (residues 597 to 684) that we show binds RNA and a segment that is essential for cell viability (residues 844 to 1061), had no detectable endoribonucleolytic activity. Our results, which map the catalytic domain of RNase E, indicate the existence of discrete functional domains within the multifaceted Rne protein.
Controlling factors for crack growth under creep conditions

Abstract The creep crack growth behavior of a class I solid solution alloy, Cu-2.7 at.% Sn, has been investigated. The characteristics of creep crack growth of this class I solid solution alloy are found to be the same as those of pure metals and class II solid solution alloys. Crack growth involves a transient stage and a constant growth rate stage. The crack growth behavior in the transient stage can be characterized by the line integral C 1 ∗ , while at steady state neither the path independent line integral C 1 ∗ nor the stress intensity factor applies. However, steady state crack growth can be characterized by the power release rate C p ∗ measured using a technique developed by Landes and Begley. The results suggest that the HRR stress field does not exist when extensive damage occurs and that steady state creep crack growth is not due to a stress singularity. Rather, crack growth appears to occur in a progressive manner because of a damage gradient which develops during the transient stage.
Inhibition of Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Signaling by 2-(Morpholin-1-yl)pyrimido[2,1-α]isoquinolin-4-one

Signaling through the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is hyperactivated in many human tumors, including hamartomas associated with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Several small molecules such as LY294002 inhibit mTOR kinase activity, but they also inhibit phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) at similar concentrations. Compound 401 is a synthetic inhibitor of DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) that also targets mTOR but not PI3K in vitro (Griffin, R. J., Fontana, G., Golding, B. T., Guiard, S., Hardcastle, I. R., Leahy, J. J., Martin, N., Richardson, C., Rigoreau, L., Stockley, M., and Smith, G. C. (2005) J. Med. Chem. 48, 569-585). We used 401 to test the cellular effect of mTOR inhibition without the complicating side effects on PI3K. Treatment of cells with 401 blocked the phosphorylation of sites modified by mTOR-Raptor and mTOR-Rictor complexes (ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 Thr389 and Akt Ser473, respectively). By contrast, there was no direct inhibition of Akt Thr308 phosphorylation, which is dependent on PI3K. Similar effects were also observed in cells that lack DNA-PK. The proliferation of TSC1-/- fibroblasts was inhibited in the presence of 401, but TSC1+/+ cells were resistant. In contrast to rapamycin, long-term treatment of TSC1-/- cells with 401 did not up-regulate phospho-Akt Ser473. Because increased Akt activity promotes survival, this may explain why the level of apoptosis was increased in the presence of 401 but not rapamycin. These results suggest that mTOR kinase inhibitors might be more effective than rapamycins in controlling the growth of TSC hamartomas and other tumors that depend on elevated mTOR activity.
Ablation of Nectin4 Binding Compromises CD46 Usage by a Hybrid Vesicular Stomatitis Virus/Measles Virus

Measles virus (MV) immunosuppression is due to infection of SLAM-positive immune cells, whereas respiratory shedding and virus transmission are due to infection of nectin4-positive airway epithelial cells. The vaccine lineage MV strain Edmonston (MV-Edm) acquired an additional tropism for CD46 which is the basis of its oncolytic specificity. VSVFH is a vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) encoding the MV-Edm F and H entry proteins in place of G. The virus spreads faster than MV-Edm and is highly fusogenic and a potent oncolytic. To determine whether ablating nectin4 tropism from VSVFH might prevent shedding, increasing its safety profile as an oncolytic, or might have any effect on CD46 binding, we generated VSVFH viruses with H mutations that disrupt attachment to SLAM and/or nectin4. Disruption of nectin4 binding reduced release of VSVFH from the basolateral side of differentiated airway epithelia composed of Calu-3 cells. However, because nectin4 and CD46 have substantially overlapping receptor binding surfaces on H, disruption of nectin4 binding compromised CD46 binding and greatly diminished the oncolytic potency of these viruses on human cancer cells. Thus, our results support continued preclinical development of VSVFH without ablation of nectin4 binding.
Fractionation of HDPE on quench cooling

In a previous paper we discussed co-crystallization in a LDPE/HDPE blend using TREF and DSC. As part of that study it was observed that pure HDPE showed an unexpected fractionation behavior when quench crystallized in TREF. The overall peak broadened and two peaks appeared instead of the previously observed single peak for slow cooled HDPE. The development of two peaks was observed for all commercial HDPEs investigated, independent of their melting indices and densities. TREF and GPC were used in an attempt to evaluate the origin of the two HDPE components.
Effects of Bird Density on Salmonella Contamination of Prechill Carcasses

Abstract Two similar trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of bird density on Salmonella contamination of processed broilers. Commercial strain broiler chicks were reared in floor pens on new litter at densities of 557, 619, 697, 796, 929, and 1,115 cm2 per bird. Twenty percent of the chicks in each density were gavaged directly into the crop with .5 mL of 108 nalidixic-acid-resistant (NAR) Salmonella typhimurium on Day 2. Twenty percent of the uninoculated birds in each density category were processed at 42 days. Prechill carcasses were evaluated for NAR Salmonella incidence using the whole carcass rinse technique and a mechanical shaking device. The resulting NAR Salmonella contamination rates (from lowest to highest bird densities) were as follows: 55, 4.2, 35.7, 34.3, 88.9, and 20% in Trial 1; and 30, 20.8, 28.6, 50, 58.3, and 30% in Trial 2. A random sample of the prechill carcasses of gavaged birds indicated a contamination rate of 13.8% in Trial 1 and 61.1% in Trial 2. The NAR Salmonella contamination rates of the prechill carcasses did not appear to be affected by the bird densities evaluated in these trials. Feed intake and body weight at 42 days were adversely affected by the highest bird density, but feed utilization was not affected.
Quenching of tryptophan fluorescence in skeletal myosin rod

Quenching of Tryptophan Fluorescence in Skeletal Myosin RodYoke-chen Chang and Richard D. LudescherDepartment of Food Science, Rutgers UniversityNew Brunswick, NJ 08903ABSTRACTThe fibrous region of myosin, called myosin rod when isolated from myosinafter proteolysis, is a two—stranded coiled—coil made up of identical chains ofnearly 1000 residues. Myosin from rabbit skeletal muscle has two tryptophansper chain located at identical hydrophobic d sites in the heptad repeat whichforms the basis for hydrophobic dimerization. Steady-state quenching of thesetryptophans by KI shows downward curvature in a classic Stern-Volmer plot; analysisusing a modified S-V equation indicates that only about 80% of the tryptophans areaccessible to this charged quencher. The emission intensity decays are complex andare fit to lifetimes of 5.3, 1.6 and 0.4 ns with relative amplitudes of 0.78, 0.13,and 0.09. Lifetime resolved quenching studies indicate that only the long lifetimecomponent is quenched by iodide; the collisional rate constant for quenching thiscomponent is very similar to that calculated from the steady—state quenching data.The long lifetime component thus corresponds to a population of solvent accessibletryptophans that may be on the surface of the coiled-coil protein. These studiessuggest that the tryptophans in myosin rod may be in equilibrium between accessibleand inaccessible sites at the coiled—coil interface.
The osmaterial glands of the swallowtail butterfly Eurytides marcellus as a defence against natural enemies

. 1 Natural enemies account for almost all mortality of zebra swallowtail caterpillars (Eurytides marcellus [Cramer]) feeding on pawpaw (Asimina spp.) in Florida. 2 The osmaterial glands of the third instar caterpillars reduce predation rates in the spring, but not later in the season. 3 The seasonal decline in effectiveness of osmateria in deterring natural enemies probably stems from a reduction in the importance of the predators that are repelled by osmateria.
EFFECTS OF TYPE OF DIETARY FAT AND PROTEIN ON GLUCONEOGENESIS IN ISOLATED HEPATOCYTES FROM BHE/CDB RATS

Abstract The effect of feeding a whole-egg diet or one matched in protein and fat content on gluconeogenesis by isolated hepatocytes was studied. BHE/cdb male weanling rats were fed one of five diets, which differed in source of protein and/or fat: casein/lactalbumin with corn oil, casein/lactalbumin with menhaden oil + corn oil, egg white with corn oil, egg white with menhaden oil + corn oil, or whole egg. At 74 ± 14 days of age, the rats were killed and isolated hepatocytes were prepared. The cells were incubated with 10 m m lactate, 10 m m pyruvate, 10 m m ethanol and 10 m m lactate, 10 m m lactate and 5 m m NH4Cl, or 10 m m glutamate. The hepatocytes from the rats fed menhaden oil differed little in glucose production from the hepatocytes isolated from rats fed corn oil, regardless of protein source. Glucose production from lactate, pyruvate, lactate + ethanol, and lactate + ammonium chloride was significantly lower in hepatocytes from rats fed whole egg, compared with cells from rats fed the other diets. These data suggest that certain components of whole egg have effects on the control of gluconeogenesis.
An impedance bridge for surface temperature measurement

Temperature measurement and control is a basic requirement in many industrial processes. A common problem is the measurement of surface temperatures without contacting the object because it is inaccessible, moving, or because contacting might damage the surface finish. For example, this is the type of problem encountered when it is desired to control the surface temperature of metal molds or rolls in order to reproduce or maintain temperature conditions which are found to give a satisfactory product. The trend toward higher quality and uniformity of processed products results in increasingly closer temperature limits and correspondingly exacting requirements for the temperature-measuring instrument.
Limb salvage surgery for osteosarcoma of the proximal humerus: outcome in 17 dogs.

Objective—To describe function and identify factors that affect outcome in dogs undergoing limb salvage surgery for osteosarcoma (OS) of the proximal humerus. Study Design—A retrospective study of dogs in which OS of the proximal humerus was treated with limb salvage surgery. Animals—17 client-owned dogs. Methods: Records were analyzed for functional outcome, recurrence, metastasis, and survival. Results—Outcome was good to excellent in 12% of dogs. Recurrence, metastasis, and survival were significantly affected by completeness of surgical margins. Double plating of the distal allograft-host junction significantly reduced frequency of biomechanical failure. Conclusions—Limb salvage surgery for OS of the proximal humerus did not result in acceptable function and was fraught with postoperative complications. Outcome was significantly affected by completeness of surgical margins. Clinical Relevance—Limb salvage surgery for OS of the proximal humerus in dogs cannot be recommended until improvement in functional outcome and reduction in postoperative complications can be achieved. The dependence of outcome on completeness of surgical margins supports aggressive en bloc resection and marking and evaluating surgical margins.
Association between health care workers’ knowledge of influenza vaccine and vaccine uptake

Immunization is the most effective measure available to prevent influenza and its complications, and health care workers (HCWs) play a pivotal role. We conducted a cross-sectional survey study to determine HCWs knowledge and opinions regarding influenza vaccine and its acceptance at our institution. The most important reason for vaccine uptake was because it required formal declination (33%); physicians were more likely to be vaccinated because of patient care, whereas nurses were more likely to be vaccinated because it required formal declination.
Shaped wire antennas with maximum directivity

The optimum shape of a wire antenna for maximum directivity is obtained by applying the method of moments and the simplex method for function minimisation. Antenna shape is approximated by piecewise parabolas, and the effects of wire radius on current distribution are considered.
Effect of Methyl Methanesulphonate on Synchronized Cultures of HEp-2 Cells

ASYNCHRONOUS cultures of human cells treated with the mono-functional alkylating agent methyl methanesulphonate (MMS) seem to undergo a DNA repair process1 although the rate of cell proliferation is greatly reduced2. To learn more about the relation between DNA synthesis and cellular division in cells with damaged template DNA we have examined the effects of MMS on synchronized cultures of HEp-2 cells treated approximately half way through the G1 phase of the cell cycle. The use of synchronized cultures makes it possible to determine whether the observed reduction in cell proliferation results from inability of the cells to go through an S phase or from their inability to divide and enter a second S phase.
Molecular and colloidal engineering of ceramics

Abstract During the last decade, significant advances have been made in the processing of ceramics by a combination of techniques utilizing molecular precursors and colloids for powder consolidation. Powder consolidation methods have mainly dealt with the formation of unagglomerated powders in the size range of 0·1–1 μm, the preparation of colloidal suspensions that are suitable for the formation of high density compacts by filtration and/or plastic forming techniques, the removal of the processing aids, and the role of consolidation methods on microstructural evolution. In contrast, the molecular and/or sol-gel techniques dealt with processing at a finer dimensional scale of 10–1000 A with either molecularly homogenous precursors or nanometer-sized particulates that are used in the preparation of gels that display linear viscoelastic behavior. Similar to green compacts of micron-sized powders, these gels are then converted to dense ceramics by heat treatment. This review summarizes the concepts that are common to both of these regimes and points to the synergistic benefits of coupling molecular precursors with colloids in a process path. The emphasis is on the control of the structure of a final product at scale lengths ranging from molecular to micro- and macroscopic dimensions.
Charged spheres in general relativity

The coupled Einstein-Maxwell field equations are solved by quadratures for spherically symmetric static systems containing charge. In particular, we show how interior metrics can be derived which reduce to classical solutions for neutral distributions of matter when the charge becomes vanishingly small. A number of simple analytic solutions are expressed in order to indicate how charge can change the overall character of these objects. The stability of charged systems is considered. We find the stability of the Schwarzschild interior solution is enhanced by the inclusion of charge, and that an increase in the charge further reduces the critical radius for which instability sets in. The application of this analysis to the solution of Pant and Sah indicates their model is unstable.
Behavioral and Electrophysiological Responses Evoked by Chronic Infrared Neural Stimulation of the Cochlea

Infrared neural stimulation (INS) has been proposed as a novel method for neural stimulation. In order for INS to translate to clinical use, which would involve the use of implanted devices over years or decades, the efficacy and safety of chronic INS needs to be determined. We examined a population of cats that were chronically implanted with an optical fiber to stimulate the cochlea with infrared radiation, the first known chronic application of INS. Through behavioral responses, the cats demonstrate that stimulation occurs and a perceptual event results. Long-term stimulation did not result in a change in the electrophysiological responses, either optically-evoked or acoustically-evoked. Spiral ganglion neuron counts and post implantation tissue growth, which was localized at the optical fiber, were similar in chronically stimulated and sham implanted cochleae. Results from chronic INS experiments in the cat cochlea support future work toward INS-based neuroprostheses for humans.
On Representations of the Doubly Non-Central F Distribution

Abstract The cumulative doubly non-central F-distribution associated with the random variable F″ = mS1/nS2 is considered where S1 and S2 are two independent non-central chi-square varites with degrees of freedom n and m and non-centrality parameters λ1 and λ2, respectively. Representations in terms of series are presented together with efficient computational procedures for the special functions used in numerical evaluation.
Towards maximizing the accuracy of human-labeled sensor data

We present two studies that evaluate the accuracy of human responses to an intelligent agent's data classification questions. Prior work has shown that agents can elicit accurate human responses, but the applications vary widely in the data features and prediction information they provide to the labelers when asking for help. In an initial analysis of this work, we found the five most popular features, namely uncertainty, amount and level of context, prediction of an answer, and request for user feedback. We propose that there is a set of these data features and prediction information that maximizes the accuracy of labeler responses. In our first study, we compare accuracy of users of an activity recognizer labeling their own data across the dimensions. In the second study, participants were asked to classify a stranger's emails into folders and strangers' work activities by interruptibility. We compared the accuracy of the responses to the users' self-reports across the same five dimensions. We found very similar combinations of information (for users and strangers) that led to very accurate responses as well as more feedback that the agents could use to refine their predictions. We use these results for insight into the information that help labelers the most.
Microcalcification texture analysis in a hybrid system for computer-aided mammography

Characterization of microcalcifications with high level of confidence is a very challenging problem since microcalcifications are very small and the difference between benign and malignant clusters is often very subtle. The overall goal of the presented research is to develop a hybrid evidential system for characterization of microcalcifications in order to provide radiologists with a computerized decision aid. The hybrid system intelligently combines a domain knowledge based subsystem with a computer vision subsystem to improve the confidence level of microcalcification characterization. This paper is mainly devoted to the description of the developed computer vision part of the hybrid system. The computer vision subsystem is represented by a hierarchical evidential classifier that computes evidences about the class membership of individual microcalcifications based on their texture and then uses these evidences in a neural network for clusters characterization. The texture of each individual classification is represented by two features: the fractal dimension and a four dimension vector defined by coefficients of the Gabor expansion of a microcalcification image. The results obtained in our experiment prove the feasibility of using this method in the hybrid system.
Polymorphisms of the TGF-β1 Promoter in Tight Skin (TSK) Mice

TGF-beta1 plays a major role in fibrotic diseases including scleroderma. Human fibroblasts from sclerotic lesions display an increased sensitivity to TGF-beta1. Similarly, fibroblasts from TSK mice which develop a scleroderma-like syndrome are hyperresponsive to TGF-beta. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the TGF-beta hypersensitivity demonstrated by TSK/+ fibroblasts is associated with polymorphisms of the TGF-beta1 promoter. Sequence analysis revealed one polymorphism (a G --> T at -1133 bp) unique to the TSK/+ mouse. Transfection of fibroblasts with a 1.8 kb fragment of the TGF-beta1 promoter containing the -1133 polymorphism exhibited increased basal TGF-beta1 promoter activity which was enhanced upon incubation with TGF-beta1. This may be related to the loss of a negative regulatory site in the TSK/+ TGF-beta1 promoter.
The Dermal Layer of Sweet Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) Stalk, a Byproduct of Biofuel Production and Source of Unique 3-Deoxyanthocyanidins, Has More Antiproliferative and Proapoptotic Activity than the Pith in p53 Variants of HCT116 and Colon Cancer Stem Cells

There is a growing interest in the utilization of sweet sorghum as a renewable resource for biofuels. During the biofuel production process, large quantities of biomass are generated, creating a rich source of bioactive compounds. However, knowledge of sweet sorghum stalk is lacking. We measured the phenolic content (Folin-Ciocalteu assay), antioxidant activity (2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assay), and phytochemical composition (LC-MS) in both the pith and dermal layer of the stalk. We further tested the antiproliferative (5-bromo-2'- deoxyuridine assay) and proapoptotic (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay) activities of these extracts using HCT116 cells and colon cancer stem cells (CCSCs) with and without the tumor suppressor gene p53. For the first time, we show that the dermal layer extract of sweet sorghum contains more of the 3-deoxyanthocyanidins apigeninidin and luteolinidin than the pith, and this is associated with more anticancer activity. Furthermore, luteolinidin suppressed CCSC proliferation more than apigeninidin. In addition to being renewable biofuel, sweet sorghum may also serve as a source of health-promoting compounds.
Base flow hydrology and water quality of an Ozarks spring and associated recharge area, southern Missouri, USA

Human activities in the karst Ozark Plateaus can impact water quality of springs where surface water is rapidly transferred to subsurface conduits. Bennett Spring, in southern Missouri, is the fourth largest spring in the state and supports local tourism activities. Questions regarding poorly functioning on-site wastewater systems (OWS) have raised concerns over the long-term water quality of the spring. This study reports the results of a surface water quality monitoring program in the recharge area where monthly samples were collected at base flow to identify potential pollution sources to the spring. Base flow hydrology of the recharge area was highly variable over the study period, which was drier than normal, causing an incomplete sampling record due to no flow conditions at some sites. For most of the year, nutrient levels were less than the eutrophic threshold (ET) of 0.075 mg/l total phosphorus (TP) and 1.5 mg/l total nitrogen (TN). Sites that consistently displayed concentrations of TP and TN higher than the ET were influenced by wastewater treatment plants (WTP) or OWS. Sites with nutrient concentrations above the ET were likely influenced by the re-release of nonpoint source related TP and TN delivered to streams during storm events. Water quality and discharge at the spring outlet remained consistent over the sampling period suggesting diffuse recharge from a deep aquifer source is able to dilute shallow ground water sources carrying nonpoint pollutants at base flow. Historical and regional data comparisons show these trends have been consistent over at least the last two decades.
Integrating Proven Spelling Content and Methods with Emerging Literacy Programs.

AbstractThe integration of methods relating to theories that underlie emergent literacy such as whole language, literature-based instruction, process-conference writing, cooperative learning and computer-based instruction with established spelling practices such as the direct study of a basic core vocabulary, the application of proven study steps, and the implementation of formal spelling instruction is not only possible but desirable. It has the potential of maximizing student growth, of producing more literate citizens, and of helping preserve current practices that enhance motivation, interest, and learning. In addition, we need not only to continue to research current approaches of instruction, but need to study innovations in combination with what has already proven valid.
A fast estimation of SRAM failure rate using probability collectives

Importance sampling is a popular approach to estimate rare event failures of SRAM cells. We propose to improve importance sampling by probability collectives. First, we use "Kullback-Leibler (KL) distance" to measure the distance between the optimal sampling distribution and the original sampling distribution of variable process parameters. Further, the probability collectives (PC) technique using immediate sampling is adapted to analytically minimize the KL distance and to obtain a sampling distribution as close to the optimal as possible. The proposed algorithm significantly accelerates the convergence of importance sampling. Experiments demonstrate that proposed algorithm is 5200X faster than the Monte Carlo approach and achieves more than $40X$ speedup over other existing state-of-the-art techniques without compromising estimation accuracy.
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) alters pancreatic membrane tyrosine phosphorylation following acute treatment

To understand the basic mechanisms of TCDD's action to cause hypoinsulinemia in several experimental animals, we have studied TCDD-induced changes in various protein kinase activities in membrane preparations of guinea pig pancreas. For this purpose, young male guinea pigs were treated through a single intraperitoneal injection with 1 or 3 micrograms/kg of TCDD in vivo, and, after given time periods, pancreas samples were obtained and membranes were isolated through homogenization and centrifugation procedures. Several sets of incubation conditions were selected for protein kinase activity assay, each favoring a specific type of protein kinase. It was found that overall protein phosphorylation activities were higher in the preparation from TCDD-treated animals as compared to those found in pair-fed controls and that this trend was more pronounced when the assay medium contained Mn2+ in place of Mg2+ and EGTA. These are the conditions that are known to favor protein tyrosine kinases. Other types of protein kinases from the treated animals did not show any significant differences from the pair-fed control animals, though that of protein kinase C in the treated preparation showed a modest increase. To establish that the type of protein kinases stimulated by TCDD are protein tyrosine kinases, we have carried out phosphoamino acid analyses, KOH digestion, and western blot analyses using an antibody to phosphotyrosine. All the results were consistent in supporting the idea that TCDD causes a rise in protein-tyrosine kinases in pancreas at early stages of poisoning.
Accountability and the Camera Perspective Bias in Videotaped Confessions

Prior research indicates that altering the perspective from which a videotaped confession is recorded influences assessments of the confession's voluntariness. The present study examined whether increasing decision makers’ sense of accountability attenuates this biasing effect of camera perspective. Participants in a high-accountability (but not a low-accountability) condition were told that they would have to justify their judgments concerning the voluntary status of a video-taped confession to a trial judge. Although supplementary measures indicated that high-accountability participants processed information contained in the video-taped confession more carefully and thoroughly, the camera perspective bias persisted. This result adds to a growing body of work indicating that the criminal justice system needs to be seriously concerned with how it acquires and utilizes videotaped confession evidence.