cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Depth Variation of Transport Parameters in Poly-Si Under Am1 Illumination

Grain boundary (GB) recombination is a controlling factor in the electronic properties of polycrystalline silicon. We would like to report computer modeling of the variation of electron transport parameters with depth, under illumination. The GB barrier height (Vg) versus photogeneration rate G and depth are presented, along with the resulting electron lifetime (τ), mobility (μ) and diffusion length (L). Under AM1 illumination, Vg increases whereas τ, μ and L all decrease drastically with increasing depth. The GB trap density is used as a parameter, and strongly influences transport parameters in both dark and light cases.
Vasopressin immunoreactivity in the anterior hypothalamus is altered during the establishment of dominant/subordinate relationships between hamsters

When paired for 15-min periods for 5–8 consecutive days, castrated, testosterone-treated hamsters consistently assumed the dominant status, based on a higher aggression index (18 ± 3) and frequency of flank marking (15 ±3) as compared to their castrated, untreated subordinate partners (−1.3 ± 1 and 2.4 ± 1, respectively). In addition to these hamsters with established dominant/subordinate relationships, control hamsters with no social interactions were killed, and in all animals the vasopressin level in the anterior hypothalamus-medial preoptic area was assessed by counting vasopressin immuno-reactive perikarya following immunocytochemistry, or by radioimmunoassay of vasopressin from tissue punches. In the socialized pairs the subordinate hamsters had a significantly (P < 0.01) lower number of vasopressin staining perikarya in the anterior hypothalamus, specifically the area of the nucleus circularis, than their dominant partners (n = 6 pairs). There was also a significantly (P < 0.001) lower level of vasopressin immunoreactivity in punches taken from the area of the nucleus circularis in subordinate hamsters as compared to their dominant partners (n = 14 pairs). However, there were no significant differences in the number of perikarya or the concentration of immunoreactive vasopressin between subordinate and dominant hamsters in the supraoptic nucleus, paraventricular nucleus, suprachiasmatic nucleus or bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. The number of perikarya (n = 5 pairs) and concentration of vasopressin (n = 8 pairs) for all vasopressin immunoreactive sites, including the nucleus circularis, were similar for testosterone-treated and untreated hamsters that remained isolated and not subjected to daily aggressive encounters. The values in both groups of unsocialized hamsters were also similar to those seen in the testosterone-treated dominant hamsters. In summary, the only difference in the vasopressin level between dominant and subordinate hamsters was observed in the area of the nucleus circularis. Furthermore, the only group of hamsters that differed in both the number of vasopressin immunoreactive perikarya and concentration of vasopressin were castrated controls, i.e. subordinates, that were tested daily with highly aggressive testosterone-treated dominant hamsters. These data provide evidence showing (1) that the diminution in vasopressin immunoreactivity in subordinate hamsters occurs in response to repeated social encounters with aggressive dominant hamsters, (2) that a behavioral manipulation may contribute to changes in the neuroanatomy and/or chemistry of the central nervous system, and (3) that the vasopressinergic neurons of nucleus circularis may be involved in the control of vasopressin-dependent flank marking. The lower level of flank marking behavior in subordinate hamsters may reflect, in part, the level of vasopressin synthesis and release from this population of neurons.
Effects of temperature on conditioned reflexes and on nerve conduction in fish

1. Peripheral nerves of catfish, Ictalurus, continued to conduct impulses at low temperatures but were blocked when the temperature approached zero. Nerves from fish acclimated to 24° were blocked at 3°, from fish acclimated to 10° were blocked at 1° C. 2. Breathing movements of goldfish were conditioned to interruption by light as the conditioned stimulus and a shock as unconditioned stimulus. Individual goldfish showed much variability in rate of establishment of the conditioned response. 3. After conditioning, the response could be interrupted, usually reversibly, by cooling. The temperature at which the conditioned response was lost, varied according to the temperature of conditioning, the blocking temperature rising approximately 5° for each 10° increase of conditioning temperature. 4. The minimum temperature at which, conditioning could be established varied according to acclimation temperature. Fish acclimated to 15° could not be conditioned below 6–7° while those acclimated to 25° were not conditioned below 12–13°. 5. The rate of change of minimum temperature for conditioning during acclimation was rapid, and required six to seventy-two hours. The time was longer for a large change in acclimation temperature than for a small change. 6. It is concluded that one important component of temperature adaptation in fish consists of persistent alteration in capacity for central nervous integration.
Characteristics of Rural Crack and Powder Cocaine Use: Gender and Other Correlates

Background: Little is known about the relationship of gender with cocaine use in rural areas. This study describes these relationships among stimulant users residing in rural areas of Arkansas, Kentucky, and Ohio. Objectives: Understanding the characteristics of crack and powder cocaine users in rural areas may help inform prevention, education, and treatment efforts to address rural stimulant use. Methods: Participants were 690 stimulant users, including 274 (38.6%) females, residing in nine rural counties. Cocaine use was measured by self-report of cocaine use, frequency of use, age of first use, and cocaine abuse/dependence. Powder cocaine use was reported by 49% of this sample of stimulant users and 59% reported using crack cocaine. Findings: Differing use patterns emerged for female and male cocaine users in this rural sample; females began using alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine at later ages than males but there were no gender differences in current powder cocaine use. Females reported more frequent ...
Verified Solution Method for Population Epidemiology Models with Uncertainty

Epidemiological models can be used to study the impact of an infection within a population. These models often involve parameters that are not known with certainty. Using a method for verified solution of nonlinear dynamic models, we can bound the disease trajectories that are possible for given bounds on the uncertain parameters. The method is based on the use of an interval Taylor series to represent dependence on time and the use of Taylor models to represent dependence on uncertain parameters and/or initial conditions. The use of this method in epidemiology is demonstrated using the SIRS model, and other variations of Kermack-McKendrick models, including the case of time-dependent transmission.
HPV vaccine use among African American girls: qualitative formative research using a participatory social marketing approach.

Abstract Objective To generate recommendations for framing messages to promote HPV vaccination, specifically for African American adolescents and their parents who have not yet made a decision about the vaccine (the “Undecided” market segment). Methods Focus groups and interviews were conducted with African American girls ages 11–18 (N = 34) and their mothers (N = 31), broken into market segments based on daughter's vaccination status and mother's intent to vaccinate. Results Findings suggested that the HPV vaccine should be presented to “Undecided” mothers and adolescents as a routine vaccine (just like other vaccines) that helps prevent cancer. Within the “Undecided” segment, we identified two sub-segments based on barriers to HPV vaccination and degree of reluctance. The “Undecided/Ready If Offered” segment would easily accept HPV vaccine if given the opportunity, with basic information and a healthcare provider recommendation. The “Undecided/Skeptical” segment would need more in-depth information to allay concerns about vaccine safety, mistrust of drug companies, and recommended age. Some mothers and girls had the erroneous perception that girls do not need the vaccine until they become sexually active. African American adolescents and their mothers overwhelmingly thought campaigns should target both girls and boys for HPV vaccination. In addition, campaigns and messages may need to be tailored for pre-teens (ages 9–12) versus teens (ages 13–18) and their parents. Conclusions Findings pointed to the need to “normalize” the perception of HPV vaccine as just another routine vaccine (e.g., part of pre-teen vaccine package). Findings can inform social marketing campaigns targeting Undecided or ethnically diverse families.
The complexity of information set decoding

Information set decoding is an algorithm for decoding any linear code. Expressions for the complexity of the procedure that are logarithmically exact for virtually all codes are presented. The expressions cover the cases of complete minimum distance decoding and bounded hard-decision decoding, as well as the important case of bounded soft-decision decoding. It is demonstrated that these results are vastly better than those for the trivial algorithms of searching through all codewords or through all syndromes, and are significantly better than those for any other general algorithm currently known. For codes over large symbol fields, the procedure tends towards a complexity that is subexponential in the symbol size. >
EFFECT OF MEDIAN TREATMENT ON URBAN ARTERIAL SAFETY: AN ACCIDENT PREDICTION MODEL

The development of a model for predicting the safety of an urban arterial street with a specified median treatment is described. The median treatments considered are raised-curb median, two-way left-turn lane (TWL TL), and undivided cross section. The model calibration was based on maximum-likelihood techniques, an assumed negative binomial distribution of the residuals, and a nonlinear relationship between accident frequency and daily traffic demand and segment length. Several conclusions were formulated on the basis of the model developed. One conclusion is that average daily traffic demand, driveway density, unsignalized public street approach density, median type, and adjacent land use are significantly correlated with accident frequency. In general, accidents are more frequent on street segments with higher traffic demands, driveway densities, or public street densities. Accidents are also more frequent when the land use is business or office as opposed to residential or industrial. The undivided cro...
Propionic Acid, Sodium Propionate and Calcium Propionate as Inhibitors of Mold Growth. I. Observations on the Use of Pro-Pionate-Treated Parchment in Inhibiting Mold Growth on the Surface of Butter

Summary 1.Parchment paper treated in five per cent calcium propionate solution acidified to pH 5.5 with lactic acid was fully as effective in inhibiting mold growth on unsalted butter as parchments treated in ten per cent unacidified solution. Further, butter wrapped in parchments treated in the five per cent acidified solution showed marked superiority in keeping quality, as judged by surface flavor over controls or other prints wrapped in parchments treated in unacidified solutions of higher concentration. 2.No advantage was obtained by using a solution consisting of a mixture of either propionate with sodium chloride for the treatment of wrappers. Solutions of either propionate were superior to a saturated solution of sodium chloride for the inhibition of surface mold growth. 3.Below 0° F. pre-storage of butter, wrapped in propionate-treated parchment, did not prevent subsequent protection against mold growth on storage at higher temperatures. 4.Calcium-propionate-impregnated parchments were found to be effective only when used in dry wrapping. Immersing such paper in water before wrapping resulted in leaching the propionate from the paper and consequently a loss of effectiveness. 5.Heating acidified or unacidified propionate solutions did not impair their effectiveness. 6.The species of Penicillium used was markedly more resistant to the inhibiting effect of the propionates than species of other genera studied.
Functional and structural analysis of the human SLO3 pH- and voltage-gated K+ channel

The activation of eukaryotic SLO K+ channels by intracellular cues, mediated by a cytoplasmic structure called the gating ring, is central to their physiological roles. SLO3 channels are exclusively expressed in mammalian sperm, where variations of intracellular pH are critical to cellular function. Previous studies primarily focused on the mouse SLO3 orthologue and revealed that, in murine sperm, SLO3 mediates a voltage- and alkalization-activated K+ current essential to male fertility. Here we investigate the activation of the human SLO3 channel by intracellular pH at the functional and structural level. By using electrophysiology in a heterologous system, we show that human SLO3 opens upon intracellular pH increase and that its expression and functional properties are modulated by LRRC52, a testis-specific accessory subunit. We next present the crystal structure of the human SLO3 gating ring. Comparison with the known structures of the corresponding domain from SLO1, a Ca2+-activated homologue, suggests that the SLO3 gating ring structure may represent an open state. Together, these results present insights into the function of a protein expected to be critical for human reproduction and provide a framework to study the mechanism of pH gating in SLO3 channels.
Fitting the Genes into Your Waist

Men tend to be taller, heavier, and leaner than women. To dissect the genetics underlying these sex differences, Randall and colleagues assessed over 270,000 people and found seven single-nucleotide polymorphisms that are significantly associated with waist features in women but show little to no evidence of association in men. In this meta-analysis of studies conducted by the Genetic Investigation of ANthropometric Traits (GIANT) consortium, the authors tested for genetic associations separately for men and women, under a range of models. They examined an array of body-shape related phenotypes: height, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, hip circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio. The authors identified seven genome-wide significant loci with sex-specific effects; six of these were found to be associated with waist-to-hip ratio (after correction for BMI), and the seventh was associated with waist circumference (also after correction for BMI). The effects of these loci were all found to be specific to women; these loci had almost no association with these phenotypes in men. In epidemiological studies, waist-to-hip ratio is strongly associated with the risk of death and is thought to reflect fat distribution because the effects of BMI are controlled for in the phenotype. Among the seven loci, three were previously unidentified associations, one of which was PPARG . This finding is of particular importance because PPARG plays a prominent role in the genesis of type 2 diabetes and is a target for current therapies. Taken together, the results demonstrate that for some traits sexual dimorphism is a component of the variation in the population and that new sex-specific biology can be uncovered with such an approach. They also point to the wisdom of conducting sex-specific analyses in genetic association studies. J. C. Randall et al. , Sex-stratified genome-wide association studies including 270,000 individuals show sexual dimorphism in genetic loci for anthropometric traits. PLoS Genet . 9 , e1003500 (2013). [[Full Text]][1] [1]: http://www.plosgenetics.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pgen.1003500
A readable TCP in the Prolac protocol language

Prolac is a new statically-typed, object-oriented language for network protocol implementation. It is designed for readability, extensibility, and real-world implementation; most previous protocol languages, in contrast, have been based on hard-to-implement theoretical models and have focused on verification. We present a working Prolac TCP implementation directly derived from 4.4BSD. Our implementation is modular---protocol processing is logically divided into minimally-interacting pieces; readable---Prolac encourages top-down structure and naming intermediate computations; and extensible---subclassing cleanly separates protocol extensions like delayed acknowledgements and slow start. The Prolac compiler uses simple global analysis to remove expensive language features like dynamic dispatch, resulting in end-to-end performance comparable to an unmodified Linux 2.0 TCP.
IC implementation of a current-mode chaotic neuron

An IC implementation of a new current-mode chaotic neuron is presented. The circuit mainly consists of CMOS inverters, which are used as transconductance amplifiers and nonlinear elements. The chip was fabricated using 1.2 /spl mu/m HP CMOS process. One neuron occupies only 0.0076 mm/sup 2/ which is smaller than a standard bonding pad. The circuit was tested at a clock frequency of 2 MHz.
Museum studies in the United States: coming a long way for a long time

(1987). Museum studies in the United States: coming a long way for a long time. Museum International: Vol. 39, No. 4, pp. 268-274.
Computing optically disjoint paths for survivable all-optical networks

We consider the problem of finding two paths for given wavelength channels in the network such that one of them remains available in the event of an optical attack by addition of minimal optoelectronic equipment.
The Dot-Guessing Game: A "Fruit Fly" for Human Computation Research

I propose a human computation task that has a number of properties that make it useful for empirical research. The task itself is simple: subjects are asked to guess the number of dots in an image. The task is useful because: (1) it is simple to generate examples; (2) it is a CAPTCHA; and (3) it has an objective solution that allows us to nely grade performances, yet subjects cannot simply look up the answer. To demonstrate its value, I conducted two experiments using the dot-guessing task. Across both experiments, I found that the \crowd" performed well, with the arithmetic mean guess besting most individual guesses. However, I found that subjects displayed well-known behavioral biases relevant to the design of human computation systems. In the rst experiment, subjects reported whether the number of dots in an image was larger or smaller than a randomly chosen number. The randomly chosen reference number strongly anchored subjects’ subsequent guesses. In the second experiment, subjects were asked to choose between an incentive payment contract that rewarded good work (and self-knowledge about relative ability) and a xed payment contract. I found that selection of the incentive contract did not improve performance, nor did it reveal information about relative ability. However, subjects who chose the incentive contract were more likely to be male, suggesting that their choice in contracts was determined by dierences in risk-aversion.
In vivo functional imaging of human cone photoreceptors.

We evaluate a novel non-invasive optical technique for observing fast physiological processes, in particular phototransduction, in single photoreceptor cells in the living human eye. The method takes advantage of the interference of multiple reflections within the outer segments (OS) of cones. This self-interference phenomenon is highly sensitive to phase changes such as those caused by variations in refractive index and scatter within the photoreceptor cell. A high-speed (192 Hz) flood-illumination retina camera equipped with adaptive optics (AO) is used to observe individual photoreceptors, and to monitor changes in their reflectance in response to visible stimuli (“scintillation”). AO and high frame rates are necessary for resolving individual cones and their fast temporal dynamics, respectively. Scintillation initiates within 5 to 10 ms after the onset of the stimulus flash, lasts 300 to 400 ms, is observed at visible and near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths, and is highly sensitive to the coherence length of the imaging light source. To our knowledge this is the first demonstration of in vivo optical imaging of the fast physiological processes that accompany phototransduction in individual photoreceptors.
Thresholding method for dimensionality reduction in recognition systems

Often recognition systems must be designed with a relatively small amount of training data. Plug-in test statistics suffer from large estimation errors, often causing the performance to degrade as the measurement vector dimension increases. Choosing a better test statistic or applying a method of dimensionality reduction are two possible solutions to this problem. In this paper, we consider a recognition problem where the data for each population are assumed to have the same parametric distribution but differ in their unknown parameters. The collected vectors of data as well as their components are assumed to be independent. The system is designed to implement a plug-in log-likelihood ratio test with maximum-likelihood (ML) estimates of the unknown parameters instead of the true parameters. Because a small amount of data is available to estimate the parameters, the performance of such a system is strongly degraded relative to the performance with known parameters. To improve the performance of the system we define a thresholding function that, when incorporated into the plug-in log-likelihood ratio, significantly decreases the probability of error for binary and multiple hypothesis testing problems for the exponential class of populations. We analyze the modified test statistic and present the results of Monte Carlo simulation. Special attention is paid to the complex Gaussian model with zero mean and unknown variances.
Joint rate control and scheduling in multihop wireless networks

We study the joint problem of allocating data rates and finding a stabilizing scheduling policy in a multihop wireless network. We propose a dual optimization based approach through which the rate control problem and the scheduling problem can be decomposed. We demonstrate via both analytical and numerical results that the proposed mechanism can fully utilize the capacity of the network, maintain fairness, and improve the quality of service to the users.
Discussion of “Combining biomarkers to optimize patient treatment recommendation”

We congratulate the Kang, Janes, and Huang (hereafter KJH) on an interesting and powerful new method for estimating an optimal treatment rule, also referred to as an optimal treatment regime. Their proposed method relies on having a high-quality estimator for the regression of outcome on biomarkers and treatment, which the authors obtain using a novel boosting algorithm. Methods for constructing treatment rules/regimes that rely on outcome models are sometimes called indirect or regression-based methods because the treatment rule is inferred from the outcome model (Barto and Dieterich, 1988). Regression-based methods are appealing because they can be used to make prognostic predictions as well as treatment recommendations. While it is common practice to use parametric or semiparametric models in regression-based approaches (Robins, 2004; Chakraborty and Moodie, 2013; Laber et al., 2014; Schulte et al., 2014), there is growing interest in using nonparametric methods to avoid model misspecification (Zhao et al., 2011; Moodie et al., 2013). In contrast, direct estimation methods, also known as policy-search methods, try to weaken or eliminate dependence on correct outcome models and instead attempt to search for the best treatment rule within a pre-specified class of rules (Orellana, Rotnitzky, and Robins, 2010; Zhang et al., 2012a,b; Zhao et al., 2012; Zhang et al., 2013). Direct estimation methods make fewer assumptions about the outcome model, which may make them more robust to model misspecification but potentially more variable. We derive a direct estimation analog to the method of KJH, which we term value boosting. The method is based on recasting the problem of estimating an optimal treatment rule as a weighted classification problem (Zhang et al., 2012a; Zhao et al., 2012). We show how the method of KJH can be used with existing policy-search methods to construct a treatment rule that is interpretable, logistically feasible, parsimonious, or otherwise appealing.
Sparse Signal Detection from Incoherent Projections

The recently introduced theory of compressed sensing (CS) enables the reconstruction or approximation of sparse or compressible signals from a small set of incoherent projections; often the number of projections can be much smaller than the number of Nyquist rate samples. In this paper, we show that the CS framework is information scalable to a wide range of statistical inference tasks. In particular, we demonstrate how CS principles can solve signal detection problems given incoherent measurements without ever reconstructing the signals involved. We specifically study the case of signal detection in strong inference and noise and propose an incoherent detection and estimation algorithm (IDEA) based on matching pursuit. The number of measurements and computations necessary for successful detection using IDEA is significantly lower than that necessary for successful reconstruction. Simulations show that IDEA is very resilient to strong interference, additive noise, and measurement quantization. When combined with random measurements, IDEA is applicable to a wide range of different signal classes
Set-membership identification for adaptive equalization

This paper proposes employing set-membership identification for adaptive equalization. A novel feature of the set-membership identification (SMI) is selective update of the estimates for the channel parameters. This is in sharp contrast with conventional recursive schemes such as recursive least-squares (RLS) which updates continually regardless of the benefit of updates. Simulation results show that the SMI algorithm uses less than 20% of the data for parameter updates in the training mode and less than 10% of the data in the decision-directed mode, without much performance degradation in terms of bit error rate.
Does molecular rotation affect the transition Reynolds number

Abstract We examine recent claims that the molecular rotation, which manifests itself in the form of bulk viscosity, has a measurable effect on the transition Reynolds number in pipe flow. We also conduct new experiments using argon. We conclude that the effects, if they exist at all, are negligibly small for the conditions of the experiment.
A super lightweight UHPC–HSS deck panel for movable bridges

Abstract Movable bridges often include open grid steel deck for its light weight and ease of installation. These decks, however, suffer from poor rideability and high maintenance costs. In search for a new generation of lightweight solid decks that address these issues, a novel system was recently developed using ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) in the form of a low-profile asymmetric waffle slab reinforced with high-strength steel (HSS) rebars. The deck was shown as a structurally viable alternative, yet its overall weight including haunches and connections exceeded the weight limits for deck replacement on some existing movable bridges. The purpose of this study was to optimize the design of proposed UHPC–HSS deck system to meet the weight limits for existing movable bridges. The size and reinforcement of the proposed deck were modified in two phases, and five specimens with single or multiple ribs were tested in simple or two-span configurations. Test results have shown that the optimized section with an overall depth of 102 mm and the main longitudinal reinforcement of No. 16 M (16 mm) can suitably meet the load demand, ductility and serviceability requirements, while staying within the weight limits of 1.0 kN/m 2 for a movable bridge with a stringer spacing of 1.2 m.
An advanced bioinformatics approach for analyzing RNA-seq data reveals sigma H-dependent regulation of competence genes in Listeria monocytogenes

Alternative σ factors are important transcriptional regulators in bacteria. While σB has been shown to control a large regulon and play important roles in stress response and virulence in the pathogen Listeria monocytogenes, the function of σH has not yet been well defined in Listeria, even though σH controls a large regulon in the closely related non-pathogenic Bacillus subtilis. Using RNA-seq characterization of a L. monocytogenes strain with deletions of all 4 genes encoding alternative σ factors (ΔBCHL), which was further modified to overexpress sigH (ΔBCHL::P rha -sigH), we identified 6 transcription units (TUs) that are transcribed from σH-dependent promoters. Five of these TUs had not been previously identified. Identification of these promoters was facilitated by use of a bio-informatics approach that compared normalized RNA-seq coverage (NRC), between ΔBCHL::P rha -sigH and a ΔBCHL control, using sliding windows of 51 nt along the whole genome rather than comparing NRC calculated only for whole genes. Interestingly, we found that three operons that encode competence genes (comGABCDEFG, comEABC, coiA) are transcribed from σH-dependent promoters. While these promoters were highly conserved in L. monocytogenes, none of them were found in all Listeria spp. and coiA and its σH-dependent promoter were only found in L. monocytogenes. Our data indicate that a number of L. monocytogenes competence genes are regulated by σH. This σH-dependent regulation of competence related genes is conserved in the pathogen L. monocytogenes, but not in other non-pathogenic Listeria strains. Combined with prior data that indicated a role of σH in virulence in a mouse model, this suggests a possible novel role of σH-dependent competence genes in L. monocytogenes virulence. Development and implementation of a sliding window approach to identify differential transcription using RNA-seq data, not only allowed for identification of σH-dependent promoters, but also provides a general approach for sensitive identification of differentially transcribed promoters and genes, particularly for genes that are transcribed from multiple promoter elements only some of which show differential transcription.
Abstract 1281: MALDI imaging mass spectrometry of three-dimensional cell culture systems

3D cell cultures have increased complexity compared to simple monolayer and suspension cultures, recapitulating the cellular architecture in the body. For example, many colon cancer cell lines form rounded heterogeneous spheroid structures that mimic the pathophysiological properties of tumors when grown under appropriate cell culture conditions. Classical imaging methodologies, like immunohistochemistry, are commonly used to examine the distribution of specific species within the spheroids. However, there is a need for an unbiased discovery-based methodology that would allow examination of protein/peptide distributions in 3D culture systems, without a need for prior knowledge of the analytes. We have developed MALDI imaging mass spectrometry protocols to examine protein distributions in 3D cultures models. Using the HCT 116 colon carcinoma cell line, we have grown spheroids measuring 1 mm in diameter for MALDI IMS imaging. We detect changes in the spatial distribution of proteins across the spheroids by IMS. While most proteins are distributed across the structures, some are localized to either the proliferative outer rim of the spheroids or to the central necrotic core. We are now expanding our studies to map the changes in protein distribution that accompany knockdown of E-cadherin (CDH1). We are inserting inducible shRNAs targeting CDH1 into HCT 116 cells. Once our cells stably express the shRNAs, we will grow spheroids and then trigger knockdown of CDH1 expression. We will map changes in protein expression over a time course using the MALDI imaging mass spectrometry protocols we have developed. As CDH1 is a critical component of cell-cell junctions, we anticipate that its reduction will trigger phenotypic changes in the spheroid structures. In addition, we expect to see a shift in transcriptional activity that correlates with activation of the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition. Our unbiased protein mapping technology enables us to examine previously observed protein changes that result from CDH1 reduction. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1281. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-1281
Problems Encountered in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Osteoid Osteoma of the Talus

Although osteoid osteomata of the talus are documented fairly often in the pathology literature, clinical case reports are rare. Two cases are detailed in this paper. The first lesion was located in the cancellous bone of the talar neck. The second lesion was a subperiosteal para-articular variant of osteoid osteoma. The problems encountered in the diagnosis and treatment are reviewed.
Cell-Free Protein Synthesis Technology in NMR High-Throughput Structure Determination

This chapter describes the current implementation of the cell-free translation platform developed at the Center for Eukaryotic Structural Genomics (CESG) and practical aspects of the production of stable isotope-labeled eukaryotic proteins for NMR structure determination. Protocols are reported for the use of wheat germ cell-free translation in small-scale screening for the level of total protein expression, the solubility of the expressed protein, and the success in purification as predictive indicators of the likelihood that a protein may be obtained in sufficient quantity and quality to initiate structural studies. In most circumstances, the small-scale reactions also produce sufficient protein to permit bioanalytical and functional characterizations. The protocols incorporate the use of robots specialized for small-scale cell-free translation, large-scale protein production, and automated purification of soluble, His(6)-tagged proteins. The integration of isotopically labeled proteins into the sequence of experiments required for NMR structure determination is outlined, and additional protocols for production of integral membrane proteins in the presence of either detergents or unilamellar liposomes are presented.
Recipe Modification Improves Food Safety Practices during Cooking of Poultry.

ABSTRACT Many consumers do not practice proper food safety behaviors when preparing food in the home. Several approaches have been taken to improve food safety behaviors among consumers, but there still is a deficit in actual practice of these behaviors. The objective of this study was to assess whether the introduction of food safety instructions in recipes for chicken breasts and ground turkey patties would improve consumers' food safety behaviors during preparation. In total, 155 consumers in two locations (Manhattan, KS, and Nashville, TN) were asked to prepare a baked chicken breast and a ground turkey patty following recipes that either did or did not contain food safety instructions. They were observed to track hand washing and thermometer use. Participants who received recipes with food safety instructions (n = 73) demonstrated significantly improved food safety preparation behaviors compared with those who did not have food safety instructions in the recipe (n = 82). In addition, the majority of ...
Classification and Solutions of First-Order Differential Equations

This chapter discusses the classification and solutions of first-order differential equations. A differentiable function y = y(x) is said to be a solution of the differential equation if F(x, y(x), y'(x)) ≡ 0 ; x and y are called the independent and the dependent variables, correspondingly. A family of functions { f } is called a complete solution of the equation in a certain interval if it contains all the solutions of the equation defined in the interval. The chapter discusses the solution of elementary first-order differential equations. It discusses a variety of differential equations that can be solved by the elementary methods and for which the general solution is obtained by integration.
X-Ray Fluorescence Determination of Manganese in FD&C Blue No. 1

An X-ray fluorescence (XRF) method was developed for determining manganese in FD&C Blue No. 1 from simply prepared pressed pellets. Results were compared with those of atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) of acid-digested or ashed samples. Levels of manganese determined by XRF and AAS were equivalent. The limit of detection (3σ) for the XRF method was 3 μg manganese/g dye. The 95% confidence interval at the specification level was 100 ± 10 μg manganese/g dye.
Synthesis, X-ray, 1H-NMR and DFT analysis of the phthalimide-hydrazone probes as selective anion sensor

AbstractTwo simple phthalimide–hydrazone probes with nitro groups were synthesised and characterised by NMR, FT-IR, HR-MS and single crystal X-ray crystallography. The synthesised receptors were evaluated for application in anion sensing. The receptors displayed strong, sensitive and selective colouration in the presence of cyanide ions by forming a stable complex with cyanide ion. The use of variable nitro groups helped in the elucidation of the mechanism of the complex formation. The 1H NMR spectroscopy was used to support the mechanism of the complex formation. DFT methods were used to understand the stability of the complex with respect to the reactant. The absorbance data were also compared with the TD-DFT calculated excitation parameters. The experimental results were found to correlate well with the theoretical data.
Anastomotic Leak Management Following Low Anterior Resections

Anastomotic leaks commonly occur after low anterior resections (LAR) and are among the most feared complications encountered by surgeons. Although, overall mortality rates remain low (~2 %) following LAR, one-third of all postoperative deaths occur in patients with anastomotic leak [1] Anastomotic leaks also result in increased rates of patient morbidity, permanent stomas, as well as poor bowel function and incontinence in those patients managed without a permanent stoma [2–4]. Despite an extensive amount of literature addressing risk factors and methods of prevention, the number of anastomotic leaks following low anterior resections has remained the same for the last 40 years [5].
Main Lecture, Section 1 - High Polymers, XXIVth International Congress of Pure and Applied Chemistry

The field of carbenium ion polyreactions includes polymerization and post-polymerization processes, e.g., besides homo- and copolymerizations, polycondensations, grafting, cyclizations, degradations, etc. After an overview and classification of these reactions and a presentation of a simplified scheme of the mechanisms involved, select topics will be discussed in some detail. Of particular current interest are cationic model reactions and their relation to initiation, chain transfer and termination processes. Model experiments provide the basis for hydration, a new termination mechanism. The use of the initiator system Me 2 AlCl/tBuCl and other alkylaluminum-based initiator systems will be described. Finally, recent work in the area of carbenium ion grafting, particularly that pertaining to the poly[(ethylene- co -propylene)- g -stvrene] system will be discussed.
Genome-wide identification and characterization of Notch transcription complex–binding sequence-paired sites in leukemia cells

Notch transcription complexes (NTCs) drive target gene expression by binding to two distinct types of genomic response elements, NTC monomer–binding sites and sequence-paired sites (SPSs) that bind NTC dimers. SPSs are conserved and have been linked to the Notch responsiveness of a few genes. To assess the overall contribution of SPSs to Notch-dependent gene regulation, we determined the DNA sequence requirements for NTC dimerization using a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay and applied insights from these in vitro studies to Notch-“addicted” T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cells. We found that SPSs contributed to the regulation of about a third of direct Notch target genes. Although originally described in promoters, SPSs are present mainly in long-range enhancers, including an enhancer containing a newly described SPS that regulates HES5 expression. Our work provides a general method for identifying SPSs in genome-wide data sets and highlights the widespread role of NTC dimerization in Notch-transformed leukemia cells.
Perineuronal nets labeled by monoclonal antibody VC1.1 ensheath interneurons expressing parvalbumin and calbindin in the rat amygdala

Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are specialized condensations of extracellular matrix that ensheath particular neuronal subpopulations in the brain and spinal cord. PNNs regulate synaptic plasticity, including the encoding of fear memories by the amygdala. The present immunohistochemical investigation studied PNN structure and distribution, as well as the neurochemistry of their ensheathed neurons, in the rat amygdala using monoclonal antibody VC1.1, which recognizes a glucuronic acid 3-sulfate glycan associated with PNNs in the cerebral cortex. VC1.1+ PNNs surrounded the cell bodies and dendrites of a subset of nonpyramidal neurons in cortex-like portions of the amygdala (basolateral amygdalar complex, cortical nuclei, nucleus of the lateral olfactory tract, and amygdalohippocampal region). There was also significant neuropilar VC1.1 immunoreactivity, whose density varied in different amygdalar nuclei. Cell counts in the basolateral nucleus revealed that virtually all neurons ensheathed by VC1.1+ PNNs were parvalbumin-positive (PV+) interneurons, and these VC1.1+/PV+ cells constituted 60% of all PV+ interneurons, including all of the larger PV+ neurons. Approximately 70% of VC1.1+ neurons were calbindin-positive (CB+), and these VC1.1+/CB+ cells constituted about 40% of all CB+ neurons. Colocalization of VC1.1 with Vicia villosa agglutinin (VVA) binding, which stains terminal N-acetylgalactosamines, revealed that VC1.1+ PNNs were largely a subset of VVA+ PNNs. This investigation provides baseline data regarding PNNs in the rat which should be useful for future studies of their function in this species.
Wireless Sensor Network Security: Approaches to Detecting and Avoiding Wormhole Attacks

This paper explores Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) and the related security issues and complications arising from a specific type of security breach, the wormhole attack. Wormhole attacks against WSNs are classified as passive, external laptop-class threats. Because malicious wormhole attacks are increasing, these attacks pose a serious security threat and increase the costs to maintain a Wireless Sensor Network. Research into preventing wormhole attacks yields two distinct model approach types: Administrator-Viewpoint models and User-Viewpoint models. While the modalities vary, the four Administrator-Viewpoint models reviewed were designed in the early 2000s and suggest defending against wormhole attacks through the use of expensive hardware, packet leashes, or topology visualization systems. On the other hand, the four proposed User-Viewpoint models have become the current theoretical models of choice. While existing as simulation approaches to defend against wormhole attacks, the User-Viewpoint models use internally calculated routing algorithms to suggest routes to avoid or evade, not defend against, established wormhole routes. This paper confirms the efficacies of the User-Viewpoint models in the lab simulations are viewed as the most promising cost-effective, future security solutions to wormhole attacks.
Phenotype profiling of white-nose syndrome pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans and closely-related Pseudogymnoascus pannorum reveals metabolic differences underlying fungal lifestyles

Background: Pseudogymnoascus destructans , a psychrophile, causes bat white-nose syndrome (WNS). Pseudogymnoascus pannorum , a closely related fungus, causes human and canine diseases rarely. Both pathogens were reported from the same mines and caves in the United States, but only P. destructans caused WNS. Earlier genome comparisons revealed that P. pannorum contained more deduced proteins with ascribed enzymatic functions than P. destructans . Methods: We performed metabolic profiling with Biolog PM microarray plates to confirm in silico gene predictions. Results: P. pannorum utilized 78 of 190 carbon sources (41%), and 41 of 91 nitrogen compounds (43%) tested. P. destructans used 23 carbon compounds (12%) and 23 nitrogen compounds (24%). P. destructans exhibited more robust growth on the phosphorous compounds and nutrient supplements (83% and 15%, respectively) compared to P. pannorum (27% and 1%, respectively.). P. pannorum exhibited higher tolerance to osmolytes, pH extremes, and a variety of chemical compounds than P. destructans . Conclusions: An abundance of carbohydrate degradation pathways combined with robust stress tolerance provided clues for the soil distribution of P. pannorum . The limited metabolic profile of P. destructans was compatible with in silico predictions of far fewer proteins and enzymes. P. destructans ability to catabolize diverse phosphorous and nutrient supplements might be critical in the colonization and invasion of bat tissues. The present study of 1,047 different metabolic activities provides a framework for future gene-function investigations of the unique biology of the psychrophilic fungi.
Women and higher education: Trends and perspectives

During the past century, women in most countries of the world have gained at least some access to higher education. As was the case with suffrage and the ability to hold property, access to higher education was a right that was essential if women were to gain some independence vis a vis men. Indeed, higher education was often thought to be the mechanism that would prepare women, in an orderly and rational manner, for participation in the public sphere. Through qualifications and credentials secured through the higher learning, women would equip themselves for all manner of professional positions, entering the market place and political arena with the same advantages as men.