cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of materials properties on multiplex holographic data storage

Holograms may be superimposed in a holographic medium by a number of techniques such as angular, phase-encoded, and wavelength multiplexing. For typical architectures, crosstalk increases as the bandwidth of stored data increases. The number of superimposed holograms in an ideal medium is limited by its length L, the wavelength of light (lambda) , and index of refraction n, such that for crosstalk-limited storage we can superimpose up to 2nL/(lambda) holograms of high bandwidth. In practice, however, the properties of real materials depart from the ideal through index inhomogeneities and scattering centers, dispersion in the material response as a function of grating spatial frequency, and dispersion as a function of the wavevector and polarization of both incident and scattered light. We discuss the impact of these properties on holographic data storage and describe material, device, and system strategies designed to minimize these effects.
Using story‐based causal diagrams to analyze disagreements about complex events

People often disagree about the causes of complex events. Previous research has shown that disagreement often results from cognitive and pragmatic constraints that govern people's tendency to attribute outcomes to partial rather than complete causes. This article applies the Trabasso, van den Broek, and Suh (1989) story‐based procedures to a narrative of the 1987 stock market crash. The content and structure of the resulting causal diagrams are then used to analyze some opposing causal explanations that were offered by different investigative commissions. The diagrams reveal that some major disagreements involved conflicting interpretations of the crash's multiple indirect and psychological causes. The diagrams also show that some causal explanations were incomplete and implausible because they ignored or contradicted relevant events and causal relations. Implications for discourse comprehension research are discussed, and the advantages of using causal diagrams to mitigate constraints on causal comprehen...
Episodic secretion of ACTH in rats.

Abstract While the circadian rhythm of pituitary adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) secretion has been well characterized, the ultradian rhythm has been less thoroughly investigated. To study the episodic nature of ACTH secretion, unrestrained, unanesthetized rats were bled continuously through indwelling jugular venous cannulae and blood sampled for up to 75 mintues at one-minute intervals beginning at 1100 hr ( n =6 ) or 1730 hr ( n =4 ). Sporadic low-amplitude micropulses were observed at both times of day. In addition, infrequent “superpulses” were observed in the evening. Analysis of pulse parameters revealed a significant ( p ) difference in pulse amplitude but no difference in pulse frequency or interpeak interval between morning and evening. As with other episodically secreted hormones, the threshold for pulse identification and the sampling interval were found to influence the observed pulse parameters.
Unbinding an Audience and a Speech: Dove's Answer to the Beauty/Authenticity Double Bind

Western culture puts women in a number of double binds. One of these is constituted by society's expectation that women attain a standard of beauty whose attainment requires much beauty work and its contrary expectation that women present a physically unembellished self. Because these expectations are so emphatically sanctioned, women should respond positively to a message promising to deliver them from this double bind. This article illustrates the power of that double bind and women's desire for release from it by examining a remarkably unexpected audience reaction to a public speech that only tangentially addressed this double bind. Along the way, it demonstrates that audiences are active participants in speech events (e.g., Atkinson, 1984) and can respond to a message in a manner different than what the speaker wished or anticipated.
Uptake of docosahexaenoic acid by microvessels from developing rat brain

Uptake of polyunsaturated fatty acids by the rat brain occurs mainly during the three weeks before weaning. Docosahexaenoic acid [22:6], the predominant polyunsaturated fatty acid in the adult brain, appears to be preferentially taken up from the circulation by both the adult and developing rat brain. To test the hypothesis that this preferential incorporation was mediated by the cerebral microvasculature, we compared the incorporation of 22:6 to a saturated fatty acid, palmitic acid [16:0], in freshly isolated rat brain microvessels from the pooled brains of entire litters of two-week-old rats (n = 8 litters). For each litter duplicate incubations with 2 microCi of [1-14C]22:6 or [1-14C]16:0 were performed in 60% autologous rat serum for 2 hr at 37 degrees C. [3H]Sucrose was included in each incubation, allowing correction for non-specific uptake and trapping. An average of 2.7 +/- 2.0% (SD) of the radioactivity from 16:0 was found in the microvessels after 2 hr, vs 0.9 +/- 0.6% for 22:6. This yielded a three-fold enrichment of 16:0 over 22:6 (P = 0.02, paired t-test). There was preferential incorporation of 22:6 into phosphatidylethanolamine and of 16:0 into phosphatidylcholine, although most of the label from either substrate remained as fatty acid after the 2 hr incubation. These results do not indicate that brain capillaries mediate the preferential incorporation of polyunsaturated fatty acids into brain tissue that was seen in intact young rats.
Crystallographic and EXAFS studies of conformationally designed nonplanar nickel(II) porphyrins

A series of Ni(II) tetraphenylporphyrins with varying [beta] substituents was examined by X-ray crystallography and EXAFS to assess peripheral steric effects on the conformations of the macrocycles. Crystallographic results establish that ethyl, propyl, and cyclohexenyl substitutions lead to saddle conformations of the macrocycle skeletons that minimize steric interactions between the [beta] and meso substituents. We have also taken advantage of the sensitivity of Ni-N distances to the planarity or ruffling of Ni porphyrins to establish that the saddle distortions of three compounds are maintained in solution. The Ni-N distances in solution agree well with the crystallographic values, within the precision of the EXAFS measurements, 0.02 A. The EXAFS results also establish that another compound is very distorted in solution. Although a structure of this compound has not been determined, the results are consistent with the crystallographic saddle structure of the free base analog, H[sub 2]DPP. The different conformations of the cyclopentenyl derivatives thus point to the high sensitivity of the skeletal distortions to steric interactions between [beta] and meso substituents. The present results, previous crystallographic determinations, and ongoing studies unambiguously establish that the skeletons of porphyrins and hydroporphyrins are highly flexible in vitro and in vivo. 31 refs., 3 tabs.
Mind and World

Modern philosophy finds it difficult to give a satisfactory picture of the place of minds in the world. In "Mind and World", based on the 1991 John Locke Lectures, John McDowell offers his diagnosis of this difficulty and points to a cure. He illustrates a major problem of modern philosophy - the insidious persistence of dualism - in his discussion of empirical thought. Much as we would like to conceive empirical thought as rationally grounded in experience, pitfalls await anyone who tries to articulate this position, and McDowell exposes these traps by exploiting the work of contemporary philosophers from Wilfrid Sellars to Donald Davidson. These difficulties, he contends, reflect an understandable - but surmountable - failure to see how we might integrate what Sellars calls "the logical space of reasons" into the natural world. What underlies this impasse is a conception of nature that has certain attractions for the modern age, a conception that McDowell proposes to put aside, thus circumventing these philosophical difficulties. By returning to a pre-modern conception of nature but retaining the intellectual advance of modernity that has mistakenly been viewed as dislodging it, he makes room for a fully satisfying conception of experience as a rational openness to independent reality. This approach also overcomes other obstacles that impede a generally satisfying understanding of how we are placed in the world.
After the storm: Enduring differences in mother–child recollections of traumatic and nontraumatic events

Abstract Despite a growing literature on the collaborative reminiscing of mothers and children, little is known about the kinds of things mothers and children discuss as they recollect shared traumatic experiences. Do mother–child recollections of a traumatic event differ from their recollections of more benign events? To address this question, mother–child dyads (N=29) discussed a traumatic event, namely a devastating tornado, and two nontraumatic events (one that preceded and one that followed the tornado). Each dyad discussed all three events 4-months post-tornado and again 6 months later. Whereas conversations about both event types (traumatic and nontraumatic) varied with children’s age, dyads’ recollections of the tornado were significantly longer, more narratively coherent, and more complete than their recollections of nontraumatic events. These differences largely endured over the 6-month retention interval.
Organic–inorganic semiconductor devices and 3, 4, 9, 10 perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride: an early history of organic electronics

The demonstration, over 20 years ago, of an organic–inorganic heterojunction (OI HJ) device along with investigations of the growth and physical properties of the archetypal crystalline molecular organic semiconductor 3, 4, 9, 10 perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride are discussed. Possible applications of OI HJ devices are introduced and the dramatic change in conductive properties of these materials when exposed to high-energy ion beams is described. The past and future prospects for hybrid organic-on-inorganic semiconductor structures for use in electronic and photonic applications are also presented.
Synthesis and characterization of tyramine-based hyaluronan hydrogels

Hyaluronan is particularly attractive for tissue engineering and repair because it: (1) is a normal component of the extracellular matrices of most mammalian tissues; (2) contributes to the biological and physical functions of these tissues; and (3) possesses excellent biocompatibility and physiochemical properties. In the present study, we characterize a two-step enzymatic cross-linking chemistry for production of tyramine-based hyaluronan hydrogels using fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis, enzymatic digestion, and spectroscopy including absorbance, fluorescence and 1H NMR. Substitution on hyaluronan of tyramine and other adducts from unproductive side reactions depends on the molar ratio of tyramine to carbodiimide used during the substitution (step 1) reaction. Results indicate that relatively low tyramine substitution is required to form stable hydrogels, leaving the majority of hyaluronan disaccharides unmodified. Sufficient native HA structure is maintained to allow recognition and binding by b-HABP, a HA binding complex typically found in normal cartilage biology. Hydrogels were formed from tyramine-substituted hyaluronan through a peroxidase-dependent cross-linking (step 2) reaction at hyaluronan concentrations of 2.5 mg/ml and above. Uncross-linked tyramine-substituted hyaluronan was characterized after hyaluronidase SD digestion. Cross-linked hydrogels showed increased resistance to digestion by testicular hyaluronidase and hyaluronidase SD with increasing hyaluronan concentration. Cells directly encapsulated within the hydrogels during hydrogel cross-linking remained metabolically active during 7 days of culture similar to cells cultured in monolayer.
Real-time DC motor control using the MATLAB interfaced TMS320C31 digital signal processing starter kit (DSK)

This paper addresses real-time control of DC motors using the MATLAB interfaced low cost TMS320C31 digital signal processing starter kit (DSK). A controller is designed using MATLAB functions to generate a set of coefficients associated with a desired controller's characteristics and included in a generic controller program transparent to the user. While the time response is plotted on the PC monitor screen using MATLAB, the controller is implemented on the DSK in real time to achieve the desired control functions. Test results on a motor speed control system show that actual output speeds agree with theoretical calculations.
Nucleon Tunneling in N-14 + N-14 Reactions

The tunneling process is considered as a partial explanation of observations by Reynolds and Zucker on the reactions ${\mathrm{N}}^{14}$(${\mathrm{N}}^{14}$,${\mathrm{N}}^{13}$)${\mathrm{N}}^{15}$ and ${\mathrm{N}}^{14}$(${\mathrm{N}}^{14}$,${\mathrm{C}}^{13}$)${\mathrm{O}}^{15}$. The theory of reactions of this type is first formulated in reasonably general terms, employing a classical mechanics treatment of the motion of the colliding nuclei and of the reaction products. The starting point is a set of adiabatic (fixed centers of mass of heavy aggregates) wave functions, which is transformed to a related system of functions insuring a better initial convergence of the iteration procedure. The anisotropy of transfer inherent in the $p$-nucleon eigenfunctions is taken into account but finally eliminated by the consideration of extreme $j\ensuremath{-}j$ coupling shell structure eigen-function assignments, as well as the spin and statistics of the nuclei. The effect of antisymmetrizing the wave function with respect to neutrons and protons in the incomplete shells is worked out. The relation of the angular distribution problem presented by the case of dominant Coulomb effects to a popular form of stripping theory is discussed, with the conclusion that the classical dynamics approximation to the motion of the colliding nuclei is adequate. The dependence of the total cross section on energy and of the differential cross section on angle, when compared with experiment, indicates the presence of another reaction mechanism participating especially at the lower energies.
An NADPH:FAD Oxidoreductase from the Valanimycin Producer,Streptomyces viridifaciens CLONING, ANALYSIS, AND OVEREXPRESSION

The valanimycin producer Streptomyces viridifaciens contains a two-component enzyme system that catalyzes the oxidation of isobutylamine to isobutylhydroxylamine. One component of this enzyme system is isobutylamine hydroxylase, and the other component is a flavin reductase. The gene (vlmR) encoding the flavin reductase required by isobutylamine hydroxylase has been cloned from S. viridifaciens by chromosome walking. The gene codes for a protein of 194 amino acids with a calculated mass of 21,265 Da and a calculated pI of 10.2. Overexpression of the vlmR gene in Escherichia coli as an N-terminal His-tag derivative yielded a soluble protein that was purified to homogeneity. Removal of the N-terminal His-tag from the overexpressed protein by thrombin cleavage also produced a soluble protein. Both forms of the protein exhibited a high degree of flavin reductase activity, and the thrombin-cleaved form functioned in combination with isobutylamine hydroxylase to catalyze the conversion of isobutylamine to isobutylhydroxylamine. Kinetic data indicate that the overexpressed protein utilizes FAD and NADPH in preference to FMN, riboflavin, and NADH. The deduced amino acid sequence of the VlmR protein exhibited similarity to several other flavin reductases that may constitute a new family of flavin reductases.
Structural characterization of adenine nucleotides bound to Escherichia coli adenylate kinase. 2. 31P and 13C relaxation measurements in the presence of cobalt(II) and manganese(II).

13C spin-lattice relaxation rates have been measured for two complexes of Escherichia coli adenylate kinase (AKe), viz., AKe. [U-(13)C]ATP and AKe.[U-(13)C]AMP.GDP in the presence of the substituent activating paramagnetic cation Mn(II) for the purpose of determination of the enzyme-bound conformations of ATP and AMP. (GDP has been added to the AMP complex with the enzyme in order to hold the cation in the bound complex.) Measurements of relaxation times at three different (13)C frequencies, 181.0, 125.7, and 75.4 MHz, indicate that the relaxation times in the enzyme-nucleotide complexes with the paramagnetic cation are not exchange-limited; i.e. , they are larger than the effective lifetimes of cation binding to these complexes and are, therefore, dependent on the cation-(13)C distances. An analysis of the frequency-dependent relaxation data allowed all of the ten Mn(II)-(13)C distances to be determined in each of the complexes. Similar measurements of the (31)P relaxation rate made on AKe.ATP and AKe.AMP.GDP complexes in the presence of Co(II) as the activating cation yielded Co(II)-(31)P distances for each adenine nucleotide. These distances, together with the interproton distances determined previously from TRNOESY experiments [Lin, Y., and Nageswara Rao, B. D. (2000) Biochemistry 39, 3636-3646], led to a complete characterization of both ATP and AMP conformations in AKe-bound complexes. These conformations differ significantly from the nucleotide conformations in crystals of AKe. AP(5)A and AKe.AMP.AMPPNP as determined by X-ray crystallography.
Generation of multiple simultaneous beams by aperture phase control

Radiation patterns containing multiple beams may be generated by manipulating merely the phase on an aperture, leaving the amplitude distribution undisturbed. The relative phases between the various beams may be adjusted for a best approximation.
Postoperative complications of powered intracapsular tonsillectomy and monopolar electrocautery tonsillectomy in teens versus adults.

ObjectivesThis study was performed to determine whether teens have different rates of posttonsillectomy hemorrhage, admission for dehydration, or recurrent tonsillitis compared to adults. Specifica...
Active transport of alpha-methylglucoside by the photosynthetic bacterium Chromatium vinosum.

Abstract The photosynthetic purple sulfur bacterium Chromatium vinosum possesses an active transport system for glucose that also transports the nonmetabolizable glucose analog, αmethylglucoside. Transport is not accompanied by phosphorylation nor does it appear to require ATP. Rather α-methylglucoside uptake appears to be driven directly by the electrochemical proton gradient produced by light-driven cyclic electron flow.
Optimal motion planning of redundant manipulators with controlled task infeasibility

Abstract In optimal motion planning and control, the complex time-varying nature of redundant robots, environments, and task requirements causes complex domains and conflicting constraints. Since predicting or recovering infeasibility is not always possible, infeasibilities occur frequently and are not completely avoidable. We introduce a constrained nonlinear programming framework of controlled (as opposed to recovered) infeasibility for physically valid solutions while preserving the original problem and variable space. The constraint prioritization hierarchy includes a comprehensive classification of physical consistency, design requirements, and tasks. Priority weight functions having features of normalization and prioritization are incorporated into a sequential quadratic programming (SQP) algorithm to ensure generality and strict satisfaction of high-priority constraints, while lower-priority constraint violations are minimized. These are embedded in SQP through its merit function and composite cost function, in which general nonlinear functions including unilateral, time-dependent, and nonholonomic, can be incorporated in a unified approach. Also, the avoidance of the discontinuity problem with unilateral constraints is due to the time-dependent constraints strategy, which actively adapts to varying states. Numerical examples using multibody dynamic models of a redundant manipulator demonstrate these advantages.
Calibration and field verification of semipermeable membrane devices for measuring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water

The use of semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) has become common in environmental sampling of nonpolar organic contaminants, yet few data exist for the uptake or sampling rates of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Two separate laboratory calibration experiments were conducted to determine the sampling rates of 28 individual PAH and 19 homologues. PAH with a log Kow > 4.5 remained in the linear uptake phase for 30 days, but PAH with a log Kow < 4.5 began to approach steady state within 15 days. Sampling rates, corrected for dissolved organic carbon, ranged from 2.11 to 6.06 L d(-1). Shear flow across the membrane had no statistically significant effect on rates over the range of 0.01-0.50 cm s(-1). Field verification of these sampling rates yielded agreement within about a factor of 2 for most PAH and a factor of 4 for all PAH. The worst agreement was for the most hydrophobic PAH, where partitioning into dissolved and particulate organic carbon pools are more important and less certain. These SPMD sampling rate data will allow quantitative estimations of freely dissolved concentrations of 47 compounds that are commonly used for PAH and petroleum product source identification and allocation.
Predicting Transient Downtime in Virtual Server Systems: An Efficient Sample Path Randomization Approach

A central challenge in developing cloud datacenters Service Level Agreements is the estimation of downtime distribution of a set of provisioned servers over a service window, which is compounded by three facts. First, while steady-state probabilities have been derived for birth-death processes involving server failures and repairs, they could be highly inaccurate under transience. Furthermore, steady-state cannot be assured under typical service windows. Therefore, estimation of transient distributions is essential. Second, the processes of failures and repairs may follow any distribution and hence need to be extracted using system log data and modeled using appropriate general distributions. Third, downtime distributions over service windows depend on the number of servers and their deployment structure for a contract. We develop an efficient and generalized sample path randomization approach to precisely estimate transient probabilities under three different checkpointing strategies and three flexible failure distribution models. The estimators are unbiased, consistent, efficient and sufficient. Their asymptotic convergence is established. The estimation algorithms are computationally efficient in solving practical problems and yield rich information on transient system behaviors. The methodology is general and extensible to various server failure and repair processes characterized using birth-death modeling.
Experimental pathogenicity of reovirus 13p2 for juvenile American oysters Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin) and bluegill fingerlings Lepomis macrochirus (Rafinesque)

. A viral agent (13p2), isolated from clinically normal juvenile American oysters (Crassostrea virginica) and characterized as a new serotype of reovirus, was tested to determine if it could replicate and produce disease in experimental juvenile oysters. Because the virus replicated well in the bluegill fry (BF-2) fish cell line, fingerling bluegills Lepomis macrochirus were included in the pathogenicity experiments. Exposure of oysters to the 13p2 virus in ambient seawater resulted in no significant mortality and no increased virus titres or histological lesions. Virus particles were not observed in tissues of exposed oysters when examined with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Intraperitoneal inoculation of the 13p2 virus into bluegills resulted in 44% mortality associated with a focal necrotic hepatitis. Evidence of virus replication, when evaluated histological or by virus titration, was observed in 94% of 32 inoculated fish. Samples of infected livers examined with TEM revealed typical cytoplasmic arrays of 13p2 virus particles in affected hepatocytes. Rising virus titres and hepatic lesions also occurred in bluegills exposed to water containing the 13p2 virus. These results indicated the natural host of the 13p2 virus was not the American oyster, but that it was a significant pathogen for at least one fish species.
Improving the U.S. EPA Toxic Release Inventory database for environmental health research.

In 1986, Congress passed the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) in response to the tragic death of thousands of people in Bhopal, India, following the accidental release of the toxic gas methyl isocyanate (MIC) from a Union Carbide facility. As a component of EPCRA, certain manufacturers are required to report annually the total mass (pounds per year, lb/yr) of toxic chemicals released into the environment (air, water, land, or underground injection), treated on-site, or shipped off-site for further waste treatment. This information is compiled by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) into a publicly accessible database known as the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). The TRI database is designed to encourage pollution prevention and waste reduction by increasing public access to and knowledge of environmental chemical releases. EPCRA has been generally considered by industry, government, and community representatives as one of the most successful environmental laws in U.S. history. Over the past few years, EPA has initiated a three-phased expansion to EPCRA reporting requirements that will enhance the overall usefulness of the TRI database. The focus of this article is to discuss these changes and highlight several current uses of the TRI database in environmental health research.
Determination of arginine and methylated arginines in human plasma by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Nitric oxide (NO) is synthesized from L-arginine (ARG) catalyzed by the enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and is important in the regulation of vascular tone, neurotransmission and host defense. N,N-Dimethyl L-arginine (asymmetric dimethylarginine, ADMA) and N-monomethyl L-arginine (MMA) are endogenous inhibitors of NOS. N,N'-Dimethyl L-arginine (symmetric dimethylarginine, SDMA), the inactive enantiomer of ADMA is also known to be present endogenously. A simple, sensitive and fast LC-MS-MS method was developed to extract and quantitate ADMA, SDMA, MMA and ARG from human plasma. 13C6-ARG was used as the internal standard for the assay. Protein precipitation using acetonitrile gave good recoveries of all the compounds from plasma. The compounds were separated by HPLC in less than 15 min using a silica column. The limits of detection for this method were found to be approximately 1 ng/ml for ARG, ADMA and SDMA and 2.5 ng/ml for MMA. The total LC-MS-MS analysis time is less than 15 min making this the fastest and most specific method reported to date. The use of an isocratic liquid chromatographic separation makes this method optimal for high sample throughput. The inter- and intra-day precision (% RSD) and accuracy (% error) for this assay were less than 15%. The average concentrations of ARG, ADMA, SDMA and MMA in plasma from 20 human subjects were found to be 10.9+/-4.1 microg/ml, 25.1+/-9.4 ng/ml, 33.2+/-13.1 ng/ml and 19.6+/-3.8 ng/ml, respectively.
A 5-year follow-up of ambulatory blood pressure in healthy older adults.

Abstract Background This study assessed 5-year changes in ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) in healthy, older individuals and determined the extent to which it could be predicted from earlier BP measures and other cardiovascular risk factors. Methods A total of 162 men and women, aged 55 to 79 years, with no prior medical disorders, completed a medical examination and two 24-h ABP sessions. The procedures were repeated 5 years later in 80% (130) of these subjects. A modified hierarchical regression analysis was used to determine whether initial ABP and casual blood pressure (CBP) measures and demographic and physical examination data could predict ABP in 5 years. Results The CBP and most ABP levels during waking and sleep increased after 5 years. However, CBP remained in the normotensive range for 73% of the subjects. The ABP variability tended to decrease over time. The ABP and CBP measures accounted for at least 50% of the variance in the prediction of ABP level after 5 years. In comparison, the predictability of ABP variability was quite low, particularly during sleep ( Conclusions The ABP and CBP were good predictors of future ABP level in healthy older subjects, but ABP variability was more difficult to predict. Except for age, none of the standard cardiovascular risk factors contributed significantly to the prediction of ABP level or variability.
Assessment of the LapraTy clip for facilitating reconstructive laparoscopic surgery in a porcine model.

OBJECTIVES To assess the efficacy, reliability, and performance of the LapraTy clip (LTc) as a substitute for knot tying during reconstructive surgery in a porcine model. METHODS Twenty-four farm pigs were divided in two groups, each undergoing two surgical procedures: group A, transperitoneal laparoscopic cavotomy and small-bowel enterotomy with repair, and group B, laparoscopic partial nephrectomy and cystotomy with repair. In all animals LTc were used to replace knot tying. Tissue specimens were harvested and examined at 2, 4, and 8 weeks postoperatively to assess success of reconstruction and tissue reaction. RESULTS There were no major complications. Animals in group A showed no clinical signs of caval obstruction. No intraperitoneal collections or significant narrowing were noted at the enterotomy sites. Animals in group B showed no evidence of fluid collections around the partially resected kidneys or the cystotomy sites, and all repairs were intact. Pathologic examination revealed that all LTc were encapsulated by fibroblasts and giant cells typical of a foreign body-type granulomatous reaction. No evidence of clip migration into the epithelium was noted in any of the tissues examined. CONCLUSIONS In an animal model, the LTc is a safe and efficient alternative to knot tying during laparoscopic reconstructive surgery. We are currently evaluating the clinical applicability of the LTc in a variety of urologic conditions. We believe that other surgical specialties should evaluate this device as well.
The recent decrease in CHD mortality.

Abstract Between 1968 and 1973 coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality in the United States decreased for 4 out of 5 consecutive years. This is in marked contrast with the increasing trend prior to 1960 and the flat trend in the 1960's. All race, sex and adult age groups experienced a decrease between 1968 and 1972, the overall age-adjusted rate decreasing 7.3% during this period. Decreases of similar magnitudes also occurred for all causes of death combined and for every major cause except cancer, violence, and cirrhosis of the liver. Although the recent decrease in the mortality rate for CHD has been small, the decrease appears to be real. Most of the decrease, however, appears to be due to epidemic fluctuations in the incidence of the respiratory diseases. It is concluded that fluctuations in CHD mortality since the early 1960's are largely minor perturbations arising from extraneous sources rather than from changes in the incidence or prognosis of this disease.
Abstract A26: MYCN modifies p53 transcriptional responses to oppose apoptosis and activate cell cycle progression

Introduction: The MYCN transcription factor plays a central role in neuroblastoma pathogenesis. This aggressive pediatric malignancy is p53 wild type and repression of p53 functions is required for tumorigenesis. MYC family transcription factors activate and repress a larger number of genes involved in cell proliferation, metastasis and tumorigenesis through direct and indirect mechanisms. We hypothesized that MYCN promotes NB tumorigenesis through repression of p53 transcriptional function. Design: To define MYCN mediated alterations in p53 activity, we performed RNA sequencing on NB cells treated with the MDM2 inhibitor, Nutlin 3a, in the presence or absence of MYCN expression (conditional Tet-on system). MYCN3 cells were either uninduced or induced with doxycycline for 16 h followed by treatment for 8 hours with either Nutlin 3a or control. Total RNA was isolated and used for RNA-seq on the HiSeqTM platform (Illumina). Results: Between 6.2 × 107 to 7.6 × 107 sequence tags were obtained for each condition which uniquely mapped onto the human genome reference sequence (HG19) using the PASH algorithm. We normalized the data sets using a genomic distribution (FDR Conclusions: Over all these data provide the first unbiased, genome-wide evaluation of how MYCN can modify p53 transcriptional function. Our data suggest a mechanism of direct interactions between MYCN and p53 on the promoters of p53 transcriptional targets, acting to inhibit p53 pro-apoptotic pathways. These data identify key components of the p53 transcriptional response altered by MYCN (i.e. apoptosis, mitotic checkpoints and cell cycle) and we propose that reactivation of elements provides a novel therapeutic strategy. Citation Format: Saurabh Agarwal, Kimal Rajapakshe, Cristian Coarfa, Jason Shohet. MYCN modifies p53 transcriptional responses to oppose apoptosis and activate cell cycle progression. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pediatric Cancer at the Crossroads: Translating Discovery into Improved Outcomes; Nov 3-6, 2013; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;74(20 Suppl):Abstract nr A26.
Myocardial Infarction in Sickle Cell Disease: Use of Translational Imaging to Diagnose an Under-Recognized Problem

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited disorder in which microvascular occlusion causes complications across multiple organ systems. The precise incidence of myocardial ischemia and infarction (MI), potentially under-recognized microvascular disease-related complications, remains unknown. The absence of typical atherosclerotic lesions seen in other patients with MI suggests a microvascular mechanism of myocardial injury. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) can demonstrate microvascular disease, making it an appealing modality to assess symptomatic SCD patients. We demonstrate in several dramatic instances how CMR is uniquely able to depict cardiac microvascular obstruction in patients with SCD and chest pain, without which the possibility of myocardial injury would almost certainly be otherwise neglected. Much remains unknown regarding ischemic heart disease in patients with SCD including prevalence, detection, and management. Further work to define evaluation and management algorithms for chest pain in SCD and to develop risk assessment tools may reduce sudden cardiac death in this population.
Time–frequency analysis using damped-oscillator pseudo-wavelets: Application to electrophysiological recordings

The damped-oscillator pseudo-wavelet is presented as a method of time-frequency analysis along with a new spectral density measure, the data power. An instantaneous phase can be defined for this pseudo-wavelet, and it is easily inverted. The data power measure is tested on both computer generated data and in vivo intrahippocampal electrophysiological recordings from a rat. The data power spectral density is found to give better time and frequency resolution than the more conventional total energy measure, and additionally shows intricate time-frequency structure in the rat that is altered in association with the emergence of epilepsy. With epileptogenesis, the baseline theta oscillation is severely degraded and is absorbed into a broader gamma band. There are also broad 600 Hz and 2000 Hz bands which localize to hippocampal layers that are distinct from those of the theta and gamma bands. The 600 Hz band decreases in prominence with epileptogenesis while the 2000 Hz band increases in prominence. The origins of these high frequency bands await further study. In general, we find that the damped-oscillator pseudo-wavelet is easy to use and is particularly suitable for problems where a wide range of oscillator frequencies is expected.
On Utilizing Information from a Second Sample in Estimating the Scale Parameter for a Family of Symmetric Distributions

Abstract In this article we consider two classes of estimators of the scale parameter of a family of symmetric distributions which combine the information from two samples obtained from members of this family with possibly different scale parameters. Of the two classes one is based on a preliminary test of the equality of the scale parameters while the other is arrived at by minimizing the mean square error. These classes of estimators are studied from the point of view of efficiency and relative bias. Some comments are also provided with regard to the asymptotic behavior of the estimators.
Renal cell carcinoma in a 2-year-old child with tuberous sclerosis

Tuberous sclerosis is an autosomal dominant neurocutaneous disease that affects 1 in 6,000 individuals, with up to two-thirds of the cases being sporadic.1 The tuberous sclerosis complex frequently manifests as renal lesions, the most common being angiomyolipoma, which is found in up to 80% of the cases.2 Patients are also at increased risk for renal cell carcinoma, with an onset 20 to 30 years earlier than in the general population and bilateral disease in up to 43% of the cases.3 To our knowledge we report on the youngest individual to have renal cell carcinoma in the setting of the tuberous sclerosis complex.
Supernatant protein factor and tocopherol-associated protein: an unexpected link between cholesterol synthesis and vitamin E (review).

Abstract Supernatant protein factor (SPF) is a recently cloned member of a family of cytosolic lipid-binding proteins that includes Sec14p, α-tocopherol transfer protein, and cellular retinal-binding protein. SPF stimulates the conversion of squalene to lanosterol in the downstream pathway for cholesterol biosynthesis, and overexpression of cloned SPF in hepatoma cells increases cholesterol synthesis. The mechanism of this stimulation has yet to be defined, but SPF appears to facilitate the transfer of squalene into and between intracellular membranes. The recent identification of SPF as α-tocopherol-associated protein (TAP) has called into question its long-standing association with cholesterol biosynthesis. TAP binds α-tocopherol, but not other isomers of tocopherol, with high affinity; in the presence of α-tocopherol TAP translocates to the nucleus and activates reporter gene transcription. Given the ability of α-tocopherol to down-regulate the expression of two scavenger lipoprotein receptors, SR-A and CD36, these observations raise some interesting questions regarding the role of SPF/TAP and vitamin E in cholesterol metabolism.
Naturally Occurring Antimicrobials for Minimally Processed Foods

Natural antimicrobials are gaining increased interest from researchers and food manufacturers alike seeking to discover label-friendly alternatives to the widely implemented synthetic compounds. Naturally occurring antimicrobials can be applied directly to food to protect food quality, extend food shelf life by inhibiting or inactivating spoilage microorganisms, and improve food safety by inhibiting or inactivating food-borne pathogens. There are a great number of natural antimicrobials derived from animal, plant, and microbial sources. This manuscript reviews their efficacy against spoilage and pathogenic organisms, their methods of evaluation, and their application in various foods as well as the development of novel delivery systems and incorporation with other hurdles.
The Wilms’ tumor gene (WT1) regulates E-cadherin expression and migration of prostate cancer cells

One key step in the development of prostate cancer (PCa) metastasis is the loss of E-cadherin expression associated with increased cellular motility and tumor invasion. This loss of E-cadherin expression is also required during normal embryogenesis and similar transcriptional repressors have been identified in both processes. We have previously reported the presence of one such transcription factor, WT1 in high Gleason grade prostate tumor tissues, and its absence in non-neoplastic or benign prostatic hyperplasia tissues. To better understand the effect of WT1 on E-cadherin expression and migration of PCa cells we quantified WT1 and E-cadherin mRNA levels in normal prostate epithelial and PCa cell lines with varying migratory potential. In WT1 transfected cells E-cadherin transcript levels were decreased, while they were increased in siWT1-RNA transfected PCa cells, suggesting that elevated WT1 expression was sufficient to dampen E-cadherin levels and potentially enhance migratory ability. To delineate the mechanism of WT1-mediated repression of E-cadherin, potential WT1 binding sites were tested in vitro and in vivo binding of WT1 to the E-cadherin promoter in the chromatin of LNCaP and PC3 cells was assessed by Chromatin Immunoprecipitation. The effect of WT1 binding was measured in reporter assays; in PC3 and DU145 cells WT1 decreased the activity of the proximal E-cadherin promoter. Using site-directed mutagenesis, a newly identified WT1 binding site located 146 bp from the transcription start site was shown to be required for this repression by WT1. Transwell migration and wound healing assays revealed that in LNCaP cells with low migratory potential, over-expression of WT1 was sufficient to enhance migration, conversely, in the highly migratory PC3 cells silencing of WT1 decreased migration. These findings suggested that WT1 expression in high grade prostate cancer may contribute to migration and metastasis. Thus, in prostate cancer WT1 may function as a novel oncogene facilitating development of the lethal metastatic phenotype.
Myeloma Is Characterized by Stage-Specific Alterations in DNA Methylation That Occur Early during Myelomagenesis

Epigenetic changes play important roles in carcinogenesis and influence initial steps in neoplastic transformation by altering genome stability and regulating gene expression. To characterize epigenomic changes during the transformation of normal plasma cells to myeloma, we modified the HpaII tiny fragment enrichment by ligation-mediated PCR assay to work with small numbers of purified primary marrow plasma cells. The nano-HpaII tiny fragment enrichment by ligation-mediated PCR assay was used to analyze the methylome of CD138(+) cells from 56 subjects representing premalignant (monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance), early, and advanced stages of myeloma, as well as healthy controls. Plasma cells from premalignant and early stages of myeloma were characterized by striking, widespread hypomethylation. Gene-specific hypermethylation was seen to occur in the advanced stages, and cell lines representative of relapsed cases were found to be sensitive to decitabine. Aberrant demethylation in monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance occurred primarily in CpG islands, whereas differentially methylated loci in cases of myeloma occurred predominantly outside of CpG islands and affected distinct sets of gene pathways, demonstrating qualitative epigenetic differences between premalignant and malignant stages. Examination of the methylation machinery revealed that the methyltransferase, DNMT3A, was aberrantly hypermethylated and underexpressed, but not mutated in myeloma. DNMT3A underexpression was also associated with adverse overall survival in a large cohort of patients, providing insights into genesis of hypomethylation in myeloma. These results demonstrate widespread, stage-specific epigenetic changes during myelomagenesis and suggest that early demethylation can be a potential contributor to genome instability seen in myeloma. We also identify DNMT3A expression as a novel prognostic biomarker and suggest that relapsed cases can be therapeutically targeted by hypomethylating agents.
The forgotten effect in thermal diffusion

The basic equations that describe the thermal diffusion column, including the forgotten effect, were solved numerically. When the density of the liquid in the column varies with concentration, the effect is important in transient batch operation of columns, increasingly so as the wall spacing decreases, but it has no influence at the steady state. Experimental work corroborated the theoretical results. According to the theory, the instances of concentration reversal reported in the literature cannot be the result of the forgotten effect; the fluids involved could not have had the necessary properties. Attempted duplications of these instances in careful experiments yielded normal behavior. However, theoretical and experimental work on a column with a deliberately nonconstant wall spacing indicated that concentration reversals could occur in the complete absence of any forgotten effect contribution.
Studies of male sexual tubes in hermit crabs (crustacea, decapoda, anomura, paguroidea). I. Morphology of the sexual tube in Micropagurus acantholepis (Stimpson, 1858), with comments on function and evolution.

The external morphology and internal structure of the male sexual tube of the hermit crab Micropagurus acantholepis, a member of the family Paguridae from Australian waters, is described in detail using histological thick sectioning and scanning and transmission electron microscopy techniques. This is the first in-depth study of a sexual tube in the Paguroidea, a group where a remarkable number of genera (55.9% in the family Paguridae) with species having these intriguing sexual structures are known. In M. acantholepis a sexual tube is present on the left side, whereas only a gonopore is present on the right side. The tube is used for the delivery of spermatophores to the female and consists of a sheath of cuticular origin surrounding an internal, functional extension of the posterior vas deferens. Pedunculate spermatophores were observed within the lumen and partially extruding from the terminal opening of the tube in preserved specimens. The tube protrudes from the left coxa of the fifth pereopod as an elongate 3-mm-long, hollow, coiled structure with a terminal opening. Exteriorly the tube consists of a conspicuous thick chitinous cuticular ridge throughout its length, and a thin chitinous cuticle with sparse, regularly arranged simple setae. Interior to the cuticle, the tube contains loose connective tissue, secretory cells, oblique muscle, circular muscle, and epithelial cells. The latter cells line a central lumen that runs the length of the sexual tube. The morphology, cellular composition, and function of the tube are discussed. J. Morphol. 259:106–118, 2004. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Evaluating the influence of wetland vegetation on chemical residence time in Mississippi Delta drainage ditches.

The presence of emergent vegetation within channelized aquatic environments has the capacity to provide a number of biological functions as well as alter the hydrology of the system. Vegetation within the channel exerts roughness, drag and friction on flowing water, reducing flow rates, increasing water depths and increasing hydraulic retention time. By increasing the hydraulic retention time, chemical residence time (CRT) is increased, thus improving the potential of pollutant mitigation. The study compared two geomorphologically similar drainage ditches, one vegetated and one non-vegetated to evaluate the effect obligate, in-stream wetland vegetation had on CRT. A fluoride (F ) tracer was amended to both ditches with nutrients and sediments to simulate stormwater runoff event. The measured CRT of the vegetated drainage ditch was at least twice that of the non-vegetated ditch. These results suggest that with the presence of vegetation increasing CRT, chemical removal rates will improve, and as a result increase the possibility of microbial transformation, adsorption, and macrophyte assimilation. By dredging or clear-scraping ditches and removing the vegetative component, farmers and managers alike will increase water flows, decrease CRT and potentially increase pollutant loads into aquatic receiving systems.