cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phenotypic Sexual Dimorphism in Response to Dietary Fat Manipulation in C57BL/6J Mice

Abstract Background Obesity and the metabolic syndrome are increasingly prevalent in society and their complications and response to treatment exhibit sexual dimorphism. Mouse models of high fat diet-induced obesity are commonly used for both mechanistic and therapeutic studies of metabolic disease and diabetes. However, the inclusion of female mammals in obesity research has not been a common practice, and has resulted in a paucity of data regarding the effect of sex on metabolic parameters and its applicability to humans. Methods Here we analyzed male and female C57BL/6 J mice beginning at 4 weeks of age that were placed on a low-fat diet (LFD, 10% calories from fat), a Western Diet (WD, 45% calories from fat), or a high fat diet (HFD, 60% calories from fat). Assessments of body composition, glucose homeostasis, insulin production, and energy metabolism, as well as histological analyses of pancreata were performed. Results Both male and female C57BL/6 J mice had similar increases in total percent body weight gain with both WD and HFD compared to LFD, however, male mice gained weight earlier upon HFD or WD feeding compared to female mice. Male mice maintained their caloric food intake while reducing their locomotor activity with either WD or HFD compared to LFD, whereas female mice increased their caloric food intake with WD feeding. Locomotor activity of female mice did not significantly change upon WD or HFD feeding, yet female mice exhibited increased energy expenditure compared to WD or HFD fed male mice. Glucose tolerance tests performed at 4, 12 and 20 weeks of dietary intervention revealed impaired glucose tolerance that was worse in male mice compared to females. Furthermore, male mice exhibited an increase in pancreatic β cell area as well as reduced insulin sensitivity after HFD feeding compared to WD or LFD, whereas female mice did not. Conclusions Male and female C57BL/6 J mice exhibited strikingly different responses in weight, food consumption, locomotor activity, energy expenditure and β cell adaptation upon dietary manipulation, with the latter exhibiting less striking phenotypic changes. We conclude that the nature of these responses emphasizes the need to contextualize studies of obesity pathophysiology and treatment with respect to sex.
Process Enabler and Design Opportunities for Fully Safeguarding Against the Massive Presence of Reliability Defects

We have simultaneously addressed two major challenges in semiconductor reliability engineering. One is how to characterize a genetically defective component with a massive presence of reliability defects. The other is how to passivate all the defects for measuring up to our ultimate goal of zero failures in the field. This paper highlights a decade-long case study and follow-up on many millions of IC (integrated circuit) shipments. Our insightful characterizations of defects have enabled the process maturation and the discovery of a novel design-for-reliability (DfR). Correspondingly, the mitigating measures have suppressed defects by several orders of magnitude and resulted in zero returns from a broad range of customers. Furthermore, our collective approach promises the narrative of our Road to Zero Defects, where the sky is the limit.
17 – Neurodegenerative Disorders of the Cerebellum

This chapter discusses the important diagnostic information about cerebellar neurodegenerative disorders. The neurodegenerative disorders of the central nervous system are characterized by the progressive degeneration and subsequent loss of neurons accompanied by reactive gliosis, degeneration of fibers from the deteriorating neurons, and clinical symptoms reflecting the locations of the lost neurons. These disorders occur sporadically, usually without known cause or from genetic disease with either dominant or recessive inheritance. Many neurodegenerative disorders affect the cerebellum and its pathways, resulting in progressive deterioration of cerebellar function manifested by increasing unsteadiness of gait. An autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder, Friedreich's Ataxia, or FA in short, is one of the most common of the hereditary ataxias. FA was thought to begin in childhood or early adolescence, at times in late adolescence and only rarely above age 20. In these “typical” patients, the disorder begins with progressive ataxia of the legs followed by the arms and then progresses to cause leg weakness, leading to paraplegia, ataxic dysarthria, decreased peripheral sensation to all modalities with particularly severe involvement of vibration sense and position sense, areflexia, and bilateral extensor plantar reflexes. FA patients have an increased prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes mellitus in comparison with the general population.
Effect of emulsifiers on fat absorption in the normal young adult.

Summary No definite alterations in the chylomicron curves or the areas beneath them were produced in normal young men when the ingested fat was supplemented with an exogenous emulsifier or replaced with split fat. This indicated a similar rate of fat absorption in the subjects under these conditions. Neither Tween 80 nor glycerol monooleate, when fed to rats as a 6 per cent supplement to a standard fat meal, appeared to influence the rate of fat absorption as measured by recovery of the unabsorbed fat. Furthermore, there was no demonstrable effect on fat splitting or gastric and intestinal motility. These emulsifiers may have improved the animals' tolerance to fat at this level of intake. In contrast to observations made on individuals in whom fat digestion is impaired, no evidence was found of any influence by Tween 80 or glyceryl monooleate on fat absorption. Hence it may be concluded from this study that conditions naturally exist in the normal young animal for the maximum absorption of normal amounts of fat, so that the use of an exogenous emulsifier to promote lipolysis and absorption does not appear to affect the absorptive processes.
Potential variation of nitrogen transformations in pinyon-juniper ecosystems resulting from burning

Forest floor litter, duff, and underlying soils were assembled in laboratory microcosms representing pinyon, juniper, and interspace field conditions. Burning removed more than 95% of both N and C from the litter, with losses from the duff dependent on soil moisture conditions. No significant changes in total N or C were noted in the soil. Immediate increases were observed in soil NHinf4sup+, decreasing with depth and related to soil heating. The greatest increases were noted in both the pinyon and juniper soils that were dry at the time of the burn, with interspace soils exhibiting the least changes. Soil NHinf4sup+closely approximated the controls on day 90 after the burns in all treatments. Ninety days after the burn microbial biomass N was highest in the controls, followed by the wet and then the dry-burned soils, in both the pinyon and juniper microcosms. This was inversely related to the levels of accumulated NOinf3sup-. Nitrifying bacteria populations were indirectly correlated to soil temperatures during the burn. Population levels 90 days after the burn showed increases in both the wet- and the dry-burn treatments, with those in the pinyon treatments exceeding those found in the nitial controls of pinyon soils.
Microstructural and optical properties of potassium niobate thin films

A potassium niobate thin film waveguide is an ideal candidate for producing a compact blue laser source by second harmonic generation. However, good epitaxial quality films are difficult to produce and high optical losses are a continuing problem. A report is presented in this paper on the investigations of the microstructural and optical properties of KNbO/sub 3/ thin films to better understand the origin of optical waveguide losses. Epitaxial, dense KNbO/sub 3/ thin films have been grown on MgO, MgAl/sub 2/O/sub 4/, and KTaO/sub 3/ substrates by ion-beam sputter deposition. X-ray diffraction, rocking curves, Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy, ion-channelling, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy were used to analyze the orientation, epitaxial quality, grain size, and surface roughness of the films. Optical properties including refractive index and optical scattering losses have been characterized by prism-coupling and an optical fiber loss measurement method. The dominant loss mechanism in these film waveguides is discussed. Green light by second harmonic generation has been produced in the transverse and waveguide modes in KNbO/sub 3/ films.
Interactions of medical implants with the magnetic fields in MRI

Interactions of the static, gradient and radio frequency (RF) magnetic fields in a magnetic resonance (MR) imager with implanted medical devices are qualitatively and quantitatively reviewed. The static field has typical intensity of 1.5 T, but may be as large as 8 T. Spatial variations in the static field induce potentially large forces on magnetic components. Torque is exerted on magnetic objects, tending to align the long axis along the field. Moving conducting objects will experience force and torque due to induced eddy currents. The gradient fields are of audio frequency and peak intensity of the time-varying magnetic field dB/dt may exceed 100 T/s. Metallic implants tend to locally focus the gradient currents, enhancing the potential for peripheral nerve stimulation. The frequency of the RF magnetic field is proportional to the intensity of the static field and is 64 MHz for 1.5 T. The principal bioeffect of the RF field is tissue heating. Elongated metallic implants will locally focus the RF currents, resulting in the potential for dangerous temperature rises. From calculation and measurement of the interactions of an implant with the fields in an MR imager, the safe operating conditions for a patient with an implant may be determined.
Arteriography in the Evaluation of Penetrating Pediatric Extremity Injuries

The routine use of arteriography for evaluating penetrating extremity injuries is undergoing reevaluation in the adult literature. Its role in children is less clear. Eighty-seven children treated for penetrating extremity trauma over a 5-year period were studied retrospectively to define the usefulness of arteriography. The ages ranged from 2 to 16 years. Twenty-four arteriograms were performed. Twelve were for patients who exhibited physical signs of vascular injury (diminished pulse, distal ischemia, expanding hematoma, or bruits/thrills over the wound). The other 12 were performed on asymptomatic children with wounds in proximity to major vessels. Two other patients with ongoing hemorrhage were taken directly to the operating room. Of the 12 arteriograms performed for abnormal physical signs, eight (67%) showed vascular injuries. None of the studies performed for proximity alone had abnormal results (P < .01). Ten of 10 patients with vascular injuries had abnormal physical findings, whereas only four of 77 patients without vascular injuries had abnormal findings (sensitivity 100%, specificity 95%). Eighty-five percent of patients have had follow-up in the pediatric surgery clinic, and no missed injuries or complications have been discovered. Timely diagnosis and repair is the cornerstone for successful management of vascular injuries. While the arteriogram is an important adjunct in patients who have abnormal physical findings, proximity to major vessels alone fails to identify patients at risk for significant injuries. Angiography may not be warranted in patients whose physical examination results are normal. Noninvasive modalities such as B-mode ultrasound and Doppler may have future application in the evaluation of these cases.
Articulating the Boundary between Secularism and Islamism: The Imam-Hatip Schools of Turkey

On the basis of an ethnographic analysis of an Imam-Hatip vocational religious secondary school in Turkey, I examine teachers' and parents' expectations and the process of students' identity formation. Although the students attending the Imam-Hatip school were expected to accept a reality infused with an Islamic worldview, their schooling experience actually strengthened the relational nature of identity formation in the context of Islamism and secularism, respectively.
Control of bacteriophage RNA synthesis in Escherichia coli.

The control of f2 bacteriophage RNA synthesis has been studied by labelling infected Escherichia coli with radioactive uracil during a period of restriction of amino acid or shift-down of energy source. Following encapsulation of phage RNA, radioactive phage was purified by density gradient centrifugation. Various host strains, both RCstringent and RCrelaxed were used. Results indicate that the synthesis of bacteriophage RNA is controlled by amino acids in a manner similar to that of cellular RNA. Since it is known from the work of others that infection with f2 results in the introduction into the host cell of a new template (the phage RNA) and a new (RNA-dependent) RNA polymerase, the present results are interpreted in favour of the hypothesis that mutation from RCstr to RCrel most probably results in alteration of a supposed repressor of RNA synthesis. The synthesis of f2 RNA, like host RNA, is also subject to control in the energy source shift-down. It is suggested that f2 phage RNA and its RNA-dependent RNA polymerase might provide a suitable model system for in vitro studies of the control of cellular RNA synthesis.
Phenotypic variation in electromorphs previously considered to be genetic markers in Microtus ochrogaster.

The allelic frequencies of the plasma enzymes transferrin (Tf) and leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) have been shown previously to correlate with population density, population growth rate and mortality in Microtus ochrogaster. Such changes in allozymic frequencies of Tf and LAP have been used by others as evidence supporting the Chitty/Krebs genetic-behavioral hypothesis of population growth. In this study, prairie voles were captured in midwinter and in midsummer, and brought to the lab where their allozymes of Tf and LAP were determined. The voles were then placed in controlled environments approximating some of the conditions of other seasons of the year, and their allozymes were redetermined in subsequent weeks. Changes in allozymes occurred in all experiments. Animals subected to opposite seasons (i.e. captured in winter and subjected to summer conditions, and captured in summer and subjected to winter environments) had the highest percentage of changes in electromorphs. A review of the literature revealed a plethora of evidence that Tf and LAP proteins could change electromorphs on starch gels in response to differences in blood chemistry and presumably to physiological state influenced by diet, reproductive state, and disease. Thus, since it appears that electromorphs of Tf and LAP proteins can change in voles subjected to different environments, and that these proteins may change in electronegativity in response to the physiological state of the animals, observed changes in allelic frequencies in populations of voles may be of limited value as evidence for the proposed genetic-behavioral hypothesis explaining population cycles.
Transcription in vivo of a defective parvovirus: sedimentation and electrophoretic analysis of RNA synthesized by adenovirus-associated virus and its helper adenovirus.

Abstract We have studied viral RNA synthesized in KB cells coinfected with adenovirus-associated virus type 2 (AAV-2) and adenovirus type 2 (Ad2) as the helper. RNA was analysed in nonaqueous, denaturing solvents either by sucrose density gradient sedimentation in 99% dimethyl sulfoxide or by acrylamide gel electrophoresis in 98% formamide. The analyses revealed two populations of AAV RNA, (i) a single, discrete 20 S species and (ii) a very heterogenous population ranging in size from 4 S to 18 S. In the nucleus both populations of AAV RNA were observed but in the cytoplasm the 20 S RNA was mainly present in the polysome fraction and the heterogenous RNA was mainly in the nonpolysomal fraction. The 20 S RNA therefore appears to be the only functional AAV message species. The heterogenous AAV RNA may arise from incomplete transcription or degradation of the 20 S RNA in the nucleus or cytoplasm. The molecular weight of the 20 S AAV RNA was approximately 0.9 × 106–1.0 × 106 which accounts for the entire region of the AAV genome that is stably transcribed. This 20 S RNA may be monocistronic and thus AAV DNA may contain only one gene. The 20 S AAV RNA did not appear to be formed by posttranscriptional cleavage of a larger nuclear precursor. In the same experiments the posttranscriptional cleavage of Ad RNA was clearly observed. At least nine species of Ad RNA were present in the cytoplasm late after infection and at least six of these were associated with polysomes. Nonpolysomal, cytoplasmic Ad RNA was heterogenous but contained one discrete, 5.5 S species (VA RNA) which was transported to the cytoplasm more rapidly than either Ad or AAV message RNA or cellular rRNA.
Resistance of a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 isolate to a small molecule CCR5 inhibitor can involve sequence changes in both gp120 and gp41

Here, we describe the genetic pathways taken by a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) isolate, D101.12, to become resistant to the small molecule CCR5 inhibitor, vicriviroc (VCV), in vitro. Resistant D101.12 variants contained at least one substitution in the gp120 V3 region (H308P), plus one of two patterns of gp41 sequence changes involving the fusion peptide (FP) and a downstream residue: G514V+V535M or M518V+F519L+V535M. Studies of Env-chimeric and point-substituted viruses in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and TZM-bl cells showed that resistance can arise from the cooperative action of gp120 and gp41 changes, while retaining CCR5 usage. Modeling the VCV inhibition data from the two cell types suggests that D101.12 discriminates between high- and low-VCV affinity forms of CCR5 less than D1/85.16, a resistant virus with three FP substitutions.
Numerical comparison of discrete Kalman filter algorithms: Orbit Determination case study

Numerical characteristics of various Kalman filter algorithms are illustrated with a realistic orbit determination study. The case study of this paper highlights the numerical deficiencies of the conventional and stabilized Kalman algorithms, Computational errors associated with these algorithms are found to be so large as to obscure important mismodeling effects and thus cause misleading estimates of filter accuracy. The positive result of this study is that the UD covariance factorization algorithm has excellent numerical properties and is computationally efficient, having CPU costs that differ negligibly from the conventional Kalman costs. Accuracies of the U-D filter using single precision arithmetic consistently match the double precision reference results. Numerical stability of the UD filter is further demonstrated by its insensitivity to variations in the a priori statistics.
SU‐E‐J‐186: Automated SPECT‐Based Segmentation for Quality Assurance of CT‐Delineated Tumor Volumes for 131I Tositumomab Therapy of Non‐Hodgkins Lymphoma

Purpose: CT segmentation of tumor volumes suffers from many error sources which can impact the calculation of absorbed dose and 4D bio‐effect modeling. Determination of gross tumor volumes from SPECT scans of anti‐CD20 monoclonal antibody uptake was explored as a quality assurance step. Investigated were two count threshold methods (optimal and constant threshold) and one edge detection method. Methods: Patient data were selected from a dataset of refractory non‐Hodgkins lymphoma studies of 131I radioimmunotherapy. The calibration phantom geometry consisted of seven (1 mL to 95 mL) spheres in an elliptical tank. The background activity was 5 mCi with sphere activities adjusted for an approximate 6:1 concentration ratio. Phantom scans were repeated with no background activity. The patient and calibration sphere data were collected on a Siemens Symbia TruePoint SPECT/CT scanner and reconstructed with in‐house OS‐EM software. The optimal threshold technique used a calibration of threshold vs volume. The constant threshold method (40% and 60% thresholds explored) used a calibration of volume correction factor vs volume. The edge detection method used the Canny algorithm to map edges and determine an edge correction factor. Results: Challenges included 1) resolving tumor volume from nearby significant uptake objects (organs, vessels or other tumors) and 2) identifying volume for large tumors with significantly non‐uniform activity. A constant threshold of 60% with background and volume correction performed best. The determined volumes from patient data were 0.70–0.73 (>12mL) or 0.44‐0.69 (<12mL) of the CT‐delineated volumes. The lower than unity values were attributed to non‐sharp activity boundaries. A priori volume estimates were required for object radii less than the scanner resolution (i.e. <12mL). Conclusion: The constant threshold method can be used to check the validity of CT‐delineated tumor volumes. An additional volume correction factor is required to account for non‐sharp tumor edges. Dr M Kaminski receives research support from GlaxoSmithKline and royalties from Bexxar.
Design of a triangular active ring laser 13 m on a side

The design and testing of a proof-of-principle triangular active ring laser interferometer ~13 m on a side is discussed. Issues such as lock in, multimode interference, mode hopping, and neon isotope mixtures are examined as they relate to large He-Ne ring lasers. Responses of the ring laser to Earth's rotation and perturbations that change its tilt or area are presented. Some potential applications are suggested for large interferometers.
Ensemble forecasting of tropical cyclone motion: comparisonbetween regional bred modes and random perturbations

Random perturbations (RPs) and a modified version for breeding of growing modes are used with a regional baroclinic mesoscale model to perform ensemble forecasting of tropical cyclone motion. Based on a sample of six cases, similar conclusions are found as in previous barotropic modeling studies. Even after introducing a larger spatial correlation into the RPs using a multi-quadric analysis scheme, the skill of this ensemble mean track prediction is almost always lower than that of the control forecast in the cases considered. The track prediction performance of the ensemble using regional bred modes (RBMs) as perturbations has a higher average skill. At nearly all forecast intervals except less than 24 h when the initial position error still dominates, the ensemble mean tracks in all six cases are improved over the control forecast. In the 6 h–24 h range, the success rate (ratio of the cases with a forecast improvement to the total number of cases) has a value of 10/24. In the 30 h–48 h range, the success rate increases to 20/24, but drops to 18/24 in the 54 h–72 h range. A relative skill score (RSS) is used to compare the skills of the two perturbation methodologies. It is found that the average RSSs of using RBMs are significantly higher than the corresponding ones of RPs at the 99% confidence level in all three 24-h periods. Note that the above conclusion is only based on ensemble mean forecasts. All of the possibilities from an ensemble-based probabilistic track distribution are not explored in this paper. The ensemble spreads in these RBM ensembles are large enough to include the verifying tracks in all the cases considered. It is also found that the ensemble spread is well correlated with the average error in an ensemble when using RBMs, but not with the ensemble mean forecast error in both methodologies.
Structural characterization of Lipoarabinomannans from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium smegmatis by ESI mass spectrometry.

Structural aspects of lipoarabinomannans (LAM) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium smegmatis were investigated by using mild acid hydrolysis in combination with Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR), and quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry. Exact mass measurements with less than 2.5 ppm mass error confirmed the presence of a series of arabinose oligomers (Aran; n=2–7) as the major components observed following mild acid hydrolysis of both M. tuberculosis and M. smegmatis LAM. However, the mass spectrum of the resulting LAM extract also revealed a highly-abundant distribution of ions that exact mass measurements identified as mannose-linked arabinose species, AranManm+Na+ (n=1–6; m=1–3). The observed mannose caps were linked to arabinose species as mono-, di-, and trimannose units, and the ratio of the mono-, di-, and trimannose caps was determined to be 1.00:9.00:1.15, respectively, different from previous reports. Analysis of the linkage of lithiated arabinose trimer standards was accomplished with MS3 experiments and the information generated was used to identify linkages of arabinose trimers generated by mild acid hydrolysis of M. tuberculosis and M. smegmatis LAM. The MS3 spectra confirmed the linkage of arabinose trimers from M. smegmatis and M. tuberculosis LAM as predominantly α(1 → 5), α(1 → 5).
Trans-placental transport and metabolism of carbacyclin by perfused human placental in vitro.

Abstract When carbacyclin (5E-6a-carba-prostaglandin I2) was added to the maternal afferent circulation of in vitro perfused placentae from normal term pregnancies, relatively little carbacyclin was found in either the maternal or fetal efferent circulation. When carbacyclin was added to the perfusate at 1.0μM, the peak level in the maternal effluent was only o.06μM and in the fetal effluent, 0.026 μM. When infused at 10 μM, 0.77μM carbacyclin was measured in the maternal effluent and 0.13 in the fetal effluent. These findings demonstrate that carbacyclin is transferred across the placenta from the maternal side to the fetal, but that the net transfere is small. The assay procedure employed HPLC resolution, followed by capillary gas chromatography and selected ion monitoring using PGB as an internal standard. The low levels of carbacyclin detected in the effluents did not result from poor recovery in the analyses. When carbacyclin was added to maternal or fetal effluents at 1 μM, the recovery averaged 85.4 ± 14.1% (SD); at 10 μM recovery averaged 97.3 ± 4.2%. Much of the losss of carbacyclin on passage through placental circulation resulted from metabolism. Extracts of both fetal and maternal effluents from placenta perfussed with carbacyclin contained a component which on reverse phase HPLC appeared less polar than carbacyclin. When ananlyzed by GC/MS as the methyl estertrimethylsilyl ether, this component had a mass spectrum expected for 15-dehydro-carbacyclin. When the presumed metabolite was further converted to the methoxime, the mass spectrum was identical to published spectra for that derivative of 15-dehydro-carbacyclin. When extracts of fetal effluents were analyzed for 15-dehydro-carbacyclin metabolite as well as carbacyclin, it appeared that the metabolite accounted for the majority of the carbacyclin recovered. Most of the metabolite was apparently not formed in the fetal circulation, since when carbacyclin was added to the fetal afferent circulation, little 15-dehydro-carbacyclin was observed in either efferent fluid, and most of the perfused carbacyclin was recovered unaltered in the fetal effluent.
Theorizing Otherness, the War on Drugs and Incarceration:

The notion of `black drug couriers' in prison suggests that theories of penology, criminology and victimology should move beyond their preoccupation with the individual offender. This is (not just because of the plural sense of `couriers' but more importantly) because some of what is conceptualized as punishment goes beyond individual offenders to affect whole groups and categories who could be innocent. The article theorizes victimization as mere punishment by looking at institutional practices that are deliberately designed to exclude, marginalize, control, alienate or even victimize the imprisoned Other. The crime-centredness of criminology is almost unavoidable with reference to illicit drugs and black immigrants because spatial mobility is expected to imply anomie, social disorganization or, at least, culture shock with all the predictable incidence of deviance that could be associated with exposure to a different culture. This article will critically review this apparent truism with a view to highli...
Spirituality and health: is there a relationship?

The role of spiritual and religious factors in health, viewed from a scientific perspective, has been yielding interesting if not intriguing results. In general, studies have reported fairly consis...
The effect of human T and B lymphocytes on low-density lipoprotein catabolism by cultured fibroblasts

Abstract Freshly isolated human peripheral blood B lymphocytes degrade LDL via the LDL receptor pathway to a considerably greater extent than do freshly isolated T lymphocytes. In this study, B and T lymphocytes were compared for their ability to modulate LDL degradation in fibroblasts to which they were exposed. B and T lymphocytes were purified by sheep red blood cells rosette formation and passage through a nylon column. Lymphocytes and skin fibroblasts were co-cultured for 48 h in 10% lipoprotein-deficient serum before 125 I-labeled LDL was added for measurement of its degradation. Co-culture with B lymphocytes increased LDL degradation by fibroblasts in a dose-dependent manner, but co-culture with T lymphocytes did not. B lymphocytes had the same effects on human smooth muscle cells. The enhancement of LDL degradation in fibroblasts also was observed when fibroblasts were exposed to conditioned medium from B lymphocytes. The effects of B lymphocytes were not reproduced by exposure of fibroblasts to purified immunoglobulins or to B lymphocytes that had been freeze-thawed. These findings suggest that a secretory product of B lymphocytes can increase LDL receptor activity in other cells.
Overall Fit in Covariance Structure Models: Two Types of Sample Size Effects

A controversial area in covariance structure models is the assessment of overall model fit. Researchers have expressed concern over the influence of sample size on measures of fit. Many contradictory claims have been made regarding which fit statistics are affected by N. Part of the confusion is due to there being two types of sample size effects that are confounded. The first is whether N directly enters the calculation of a fit measure. The second is whether the means of the sampling distributions of a fit index are associated with sample size. I explain these types of sample size effects and illustrate them with the major structural equation fit indices. In addition, I examine the current debate on sample size influences in light of this distinction. Structural equation models, including confirmatory factor analyses, are becoming increasingly popular in psychology. Key to these procedures is the hypothesis that the population covariance matrix of observed variables is a function of the unknown free parameters of a model. Many measures of overall model fit have been proposed to assess the degree to which this hypothesis holds (e.g., Rentier B Bollen, 1986;Hoelter, 1983; Joreskog & Sorbom, 1986; Tucker & Lewis, 1973).
Answering queries from context-sensitive probabilistic knowledge bases

Abstract We define a language for representing context-sensitive probabilistic knowledge. A knowledge base consists of a set of universally quantified probability sentences that include context constraints, which allow inference to be focused on only the relevant portions of the probabilistic knowledge. We provide a declarative semantics for our language. We present a query answering procedure that takes a query Q and a set of evidence E and constructs a Bayesian network to compute P(Q¦E) . The posterior probability is then computed using any of a number of Bayesian network inference algorithms. We use the declarative semantics to prove the query procedure sound and complete. We use concepts from logic programming to justify our approach.
Film stress changes during anodic bonding of NGL masks

Lithography below sub-130 nm requires minimization of pattern distortions due to mask fabrication. It is essential to understand the impact of each step of the entire process flow, since the fabrication (and the resulting bow of the mask as well as the stress of the layers) influences subsequent steps. This paper presents experimental and finite element results from a study of the deposition, etching, and bonding effects on the stress of the mask film stack and, in particular, looks at stress variations due to bonding. Stress measurements were conducted on five X-ray lithographic test masks. The results of this study provide insight into general deposition, etching, and bonding procedures being considered by other NGL technologies.
Leveraging graphical models to improve accuracy and reduce privacy risks of mobile sensing

The proliferation of sensors on mobile phones and wearables has led to a plethora of context classifiers designed to sense the individual's context. We argue that a key missing piece in mobile inference is a layer that fuses the outputs of several classifiers to learn deeper insights into an individual's habitual patterns and associated correlations between contexts, thereby enabling new systems optimizations and opportunities. In this paper, we design CQue, a dynamic bayesian network that operates over classifiers for individual contexts, observes relations across these outputs across time, and identifies opportunities for improving energy-efficiency and accuracy by taking advantage of relations. In addition, such a layer provides insights into privacy leakage that might occur when seemingly innocuous user context revealed to different applications on a phone may be combined to reveal more information than originally intended. In terms of system architecture, our key contribution is a clean separation between the detection layer and the fusion layer, enabling classifiers to solely focus on detecting the context, and leverage temporal smoothing and fusion mechanisms to further boost performance by just connecting to our higher-level inference engine. To applications and users, CQue provides a query interface, allowing a) applications to obtain more accurate context results while remaining agnostic of what classifiers/sensors are used and when, and b) users to specify what contexts they wish to keep private, and only allow information that has low leakage with the private context to be revealed. We implemented CQue in Android, and our results show that CQue can i) improve activity classification accuracy up to 42%, ii) reduce energy consumption in classifying social, location and activity contexts with high accuracy(>90%) by reducing the number of required classifiers by at least 33%, and iii) effectively detect and suppress contexts that reveal private information.
Optimal sizing of stand-alone photovoltaic solar power systems

Abstract We examine simple yet accurate analytic procedures for designing optimal stand-alone photovoltaic power generation systems. Solar electricity systems can represent a cost-effective alternative to high cost, conventional, diesel-fired generators, particularly in developing countries where most of the population lives in rural and isolated areas. However, the lack of simple but accurate analytic design tools currently results in either (a) significant, wasteful oversizing or (b) extremely high design costs for one-of-a-kind projects. The analytic solutions discussed here can bring the price of stand-alone photovoltaic systems to economic viabilty at today's hardware and fuel prices, and can also enable local designers in developing countries to design these systems economically and on their own. The analytic models are based on the theory of stochastic processes, and stem from analyses originally developed for analogous water reservoir, queueing and insurance risk problems.
Deletion of the GluR5 subunit of kainate receptors affects cocaine sensitivity and preference.

We have demonstrated previously that mice expressing a constitutive deletion of the kainate receptor subunit GluR5 (GluR5 KO) do not differ from wildtype (WT) littermates of a congenic C57BL/6 background with regard to both the development of morphine physical dependence as measured by naloxone-precipitated withdrawal signs and to morphine reward as revealed by the expression of conditioned place preference (CPP). However, unlike WT, GluR5 KO mice fail to develop antinociceptive tolerance following repeated systemic morphine administration. In this report, we examined the impact of GluR5 deletion on cocaine-mediated CPP and locomotor sensitization. Expression of CPP was evident in WT mice following repeated daily administration of 20 mg/kg (but not 10 mg/kg) i.p. cocaine. Interestingly, GluR5 KO mice exhibited enhanced cocaine preference as compared with WT mice at both 10 and 20 mg/kg doses. In addition, while GluR5 KO mice did not differ from WT with respect to baseline locomotor activity, mutant mice demonstrated increased locomotor hyperactivity versus WT mice after repeated injection of 15 mg/kg i.p. cocaine. Collectively, these data indicate that GluR5 appears to negatively modulate some psychostimulant and rewarding properties of cocaine, as demonstrated by heightened sensitization and salience in mutant mice.
Goals and everyday problem solving: examining the link between age-related goals and problem-solving strategy use

Qualitative interviews on family and financial problems from 332 adolescents, young, middle-aged, and older adults, demonstrated that developmentally relevant goals predicted problem-solving strategy use over and above problem domain. Four focal goals concerned autonomy, generativity, maintaining good relationships with others, and changing another person. We examined both self- and other-focused problem-solving strategies. Autonomy goals were associated with self-focused instrumental problem solving and generative goals were related to other-focused instrumental problem solving in family and financial problems. Goals of changing another person were related to other-focused instrumental problem solving in the family domain only. The match between goals and strategies, an indicator of problem-solving adaptiveness, showed that young individuals displayed the greatest match between autonomy goals and self-focused problem solving, whereas older adults showed a greater match between generative goals and other-focused problem solving. Findings speak to the importance of considering goals in investigations of age-related differences in everyday problem solving.
Hyperfine structure in excited vibrational states of NH 3 studied by laser-Stark spectroscopy

A laser-Stark spectrumeter is described that uses a Lamb-dip-stabilized CO laser to produce saturation Lamb dips in an external cavity containing a precision Stark cell. Spectra of isolated lines, fitted to a Lorentzian line shape show widths of 600 kHz (FWHM), a factor of 250 below the Doppler width. The key parameters needed to obtain such linewidths are the laser-frequency stability, which is found to be ±10 kHz for periods of 1 h or more, and the homogeneity of the Stark field, which is demonstrated through an analysis of broadening mechanisms to be ±1.7 × 10−4. Spectra showing resolved hyperfine structure on 13 transitions in the ν4 and 2ν2 bands of 14NH3 are obtained and analyzed. Measurements of the quadrupole-coupling constant eqQ, accurate to about 1% (40 kHz), are obtained from the analyses. To this accuracy, eqQ is the same in the ground and the ν4 states. The s2ν2 state, however, shows sizable changes in eqQ, in agreement with the predictions of Spirko [ Mol. Phys.38, 1761 ( 1979)].
Survival analysis of presumptive prognostic markers among oligodendrogliomas.

BACKGROUND Allelic losses of 1p and 19q arms correlate with the oligodendroglial phenotype as well as with sensitivity to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Furthermore, the DNA repair gene, methylguanine methyltransferase (MGMT), is diminished in 80% of oligodendroglial tumors and represents a possible mechanism for this therapeutic sensitivity. However, the authors questioned the relevance of genetic testing and measuring MGMT levels in tumors that were diagnostic of oligodendroglioma. METHODS The authors performed a retrospective analysis of 1p, 19q, 9p21, TP53, and MGMT status in 46 patients with oligodendrogliomas to address any relations that may exist among these markers with regard to progression-free survival (PFS) and total survival. Methodologies included comparative genomic hybridization; loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on 1p, 19q, and 9p21; TP53 mutational analysis; and immunohistochemistry for MGMT. RESULTS The authors found that survival among patients with light microscopically diagnosed oligodendroglial tumors demonstrating LOH of 1p and 19q trended toward statistical significance (P = 0.102 and P = 0.058, respectively). 9p21 LOH was significant as a predictor of PFS only among anaplastic oligodendrogliomas in this cohort (P = 0.033). TP53 mutation was found to be significantly predictive of a shorter survival (P = 0.027) among all patients and exhibited a strong trend toward a shorter PFS (P = 0.060). Low-level MGMT labeling index (LI) (< 20%) was noted in 86% of all oligodendroglial tumors. MGMT LI was not found to correlate with an improved PFS or total survival in this cohort, recognizing that median survival was not reached after a median follow-up of 104 months. CONCLUSIONS 9p21 and TP53 mutational status assisted in developing a stricter subclassification of these tumors with prognostic significance. MGMT levels were decreased in a majority of oligodendrogliomas. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
Validity of multidimensional scaling in the context of structured conceptualization

Abstract The validity of statistical techniques for deriving accurate and trustworthy conceptual representations has received little attention in the research and evaluation literature. This paper uses hand constructed and computer maps to examine the validity of multidimensional scaling in the context of structured conceptualization. The illustration offers several strategies for examining validity. The similarity assessment reveals congruence at the level of specific results and significant differences at the level of whole map findings although the findings in total suggest the potential for overall validity of representations. Findings which have implications for planning and evaluation are discussed.
Sequence differences in chromatin DNA and nuclear membrane-associated DNA in the sea urchin embryo.

Abstract Chromatin DNA and nuclear membrane DNA were isolated from hatched-blastula stage sea urchin ( S. purpuratus ) embryos. The nuclear membrane DNA, compared with chromatin DNA, is deficient in sequences homologous to the more rapidly annealing portion of blastula stage [3H]RNA and in sequences rich in polydeoxyadenylate and polydeoxyguanylate.
SU-E-T-315: Planning and Verification of CT-Based HDR Intraluminal Brachytherapy Treatment for Malignant Obstructive Jaundice.

Purpose: To present our experience using CT to plan and verify intraluminal HDR treatment for a patient with obstructive jaundice. Due to the obstruction's proximity to the small bowel, along with small bowel adhesions from past surgical history, it was imperative to verify source position relative to the bowel before each treatment.Methods:Treatment was administered to a total dose of 2000cGy in 5 fractions via a 6F intraluminal catheter inserted into the patient's 14F percutaneous drainage catheter. Graduations on the intraluminal catheter were used to measure the exact length of catheter inserted in to the patient's drainage tube allowing reproducibility. Dummy seeds inserted during CT were identified by iteratively aligning the planning system's 3D reconstruction axis to the catheter at multiple points as it snaked through the liver. Taking in to account the known offset between actual dwell positions and dummy source positions, we determined what dwell positions to activate for planning. CT verification was performed prior to each treatment to insure that the drainage catheter had not moved and that the distance from treatment site to small bowel was adequate. Dummy seeds and anatomical landmarks were identified on the scout image and correlated to the CT.Results: Verification CTs showed remarkable consistency in the day‐to‐day drainage catheter position. The physician was able to easily identify the small bowel of concern on the CT and determine if a safe distance existed for treatment.Conclusions: The method outlined in this work provides a safe means by which to treat bile duct obstructions using HDR when critical structures are nearby. We were prepared to make real‐time adjustments to our treatment plan to account for significant variation, but found it unnecessary to do so in this particular case.
Comprehensible Output as an Outcome of Linguistic Demands on the Learner

In view of the theoretical claim that comprehensible input is not sufficient for successful second language acquisition, but that opportunities for nonnative speakers (NNSs) to produce comprehensible output are also necessary (Swain, 1985), the present study sought to describe how second language learners responded linguistically when native speakers signaled difficulty in understanding them and to compare types and frequencies of the learners' responses in relation to different native-speaker (NS) signal types and different communication tasks.The NS signals differed in the extent to which they offered nonnative speakers an open-ended request for clarification or a model to repeat or acknowledge. The tasks differed in the degree of control they gave to NSs and NNSs over the preciseness and relative quantity of information needed to carry them out, and were as follows: (a) an “information-gap” task, in which the NNSs drew their own original picture and then described it to the NSs, who had to reproduce the picture solely on the basis of the NNSs' description; (b) a “jigsaw” task, in which the NNSs and NSs were required to reproduce an unseen sequence of pictures by exchanging their own uniquely held portions of the sequence; and (c) a discussion, in which the NNSs and NSs were told to share their views on the language-learning contributions of the other two communication tasks. Each task was carried out by 10 NNS–NS dyads.Results of the study provided empirical validation for the theoretical construct of comprehensible output and revealed the extent to which its production by NNSs was influenced by the linguistic demands of NS signals of comprehension difficulty and communication tasks. Additional analyses of data indicated that the gender of participants in each dyad played an important role in these results.
Role of infiltration in spin combustion in Gas–Solid systems

Abstract In the present work, based on experimental investigations of reaction propagation in Ta-N and Ti-N systems, we show that infiltration plays a key role in the mechanism of spin mode combustion. The influence of two main parameters of infiltration combustion, initial sample density (ρ) and reactant gas pressure ( P ), was investigated. Based on the results, pressure–density ( P -ρ) diagrams are constructed, which present the regions of different wave propagation behavior. For example, it is shown that for both systems a range of nitrogen pressure exists where by increasing initial sample density one passes from spin to steady planar mode, with decrease of combustion velocity. Also, for a range of ρ, decrease of P leads to combustion limit without observation of spin or oscillation modes. Further, it is shown that the phase composition of products depends on the combustion mode. A variety of questions arise from this work. While qualitative explanations are provided in this paper, we believe that quantitative answers to these and other questions may be obtained only from models that account for infiltration and the heterogeneous nature of the process.