cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Developmental expression and regulation of flavin-containing monooxygenase by the unfolded protein response in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes)

Abstract Flavin-containing monooxygenases (FMOs) play a key role in xenobiotic metabolism, are regulated by environmental conditions, and are differentially regulated during mammalian development. Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) are a common model organism for toxicological studies. The goal of the current research was to characterize developmental expression and regulation of FMOs in Japanese medaka embryos to better understand the role of FMOs in this model species. Five putative medaka fmos were characterized from the medaka genome through the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database by protein motifs and alignments, then identified as fmo4, fmo5A, fmo5B, fmo5C and fmo5D for the current study. Fmo gene expression was analyzed at 1 dpf, 3 dpf, 6 dpf and 9 dpf and distinct developmental patterns of expression were observed. Fmo4 and fmo5D increased 3-fold during mid organogenesis (6 dpf), while fmo5B and fmo5C decreased significantly in early organogenesis (3 dpf) and fmo5A was unaltered. Promoter analysis was performed for transcription factor binding sites and indicated regulation by developmental factors and a role for the unfolded protein response in fmo modulation. Fmo regulation by the UPR was assessed with treatments of 1 μg/ml, 2 μg/ml, and 4 μg/ml Tunicamycin (Tm), and 2 mM and 4 mM dithiothreitol (DTT), well-known inducers of endoplasmic reticulum stress, for 24 h from 5–6 dpf. High concentrations to Tm induced fmo4 and fmo5A up to two-fold, while DTT significantly decreased expression of fmo5A, fmo5B, and fmo5C. Results suggest that medaka fmos are variably regulated by the UPR during organogenesis with variable developmental expression, and suggesting potential stage-dependent activation or detoxification of xenobiotics.
The tumor suppressor capability of p53 is dependent on non-muscle myosin IIA function in head and neck cancer

Over 300,000 patients develop squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) worldwide with 25-30% of patients ultimately dying from their disease. Currently, molecular biomarkers are not used in HNSCC but several genes have been identified including mutant TP53 (mutp53). Our recent work has identified an approach to stratify patients with tumors harboring high or low risk TP53 mutations. Non-muscle Myosin IIA (NMIIA) was recently identified as a tumor suppressor in HNSCC. We now demonstrate that low MYH9 expression is associated with decreased survival in patients with head and neck cancer harboring low-risk mutp53 but not high-risk mutp53. Furthermore, inhibition of NMIIA leads to increased invasion in cells harboring wildtype p53 (wtp53), which was not observed in high-risk mutp53 cells. This increased invasiveness of wtp53 following NMIIA inhibition was associated with reduced p53 target gene expression and was absent in cells expressing mutp53. This reduced expression may be due, in part, to a decrease in nuclear localization of wtp53. These findings suggest that the tumor suppressor capability of wtp53 is dependent upon functional NMIIA and that the invasive phenotype of high-risk mutp53 is independent of NMIIA.
The small circuit pump, oxygenator, and surface coating

Dr Robert Bartlett is the pioneer surgeon credited for moving extracorporeal life support (ECLS) from the operating room to the intensive care unit (ICU), where the therapy has given hope for survival to thousands of neonates, children, and adults with respiratory and/or cardiac failure. Dr Bartlett describes the ECMO timeline as ECMO 1 (1990–2008) and ECMO 2 (2008–present).1 The first phase of ECMO utilized individual components, designed for other uses, assembled together to provide ECLS at the bedside. Circuit monitoring used equipment engineered for other functions, and hence, the need for clinical personnel to oversee the delivery of this technologically complex therapy was extensive. ECMO 2, the second phase in which we are currently practicing has been revolutionized by low-resistance oxygenators, centrifugal technology, and bicaval catheters that can be placed using the Seldinger technique.2 ECMO systems are now integrated, simplified, self-monitoring, and self-regulating, and have allowed for changes in the bedside model of care. A remaining challenge in providing ECLS is the systemic inflammatory response (SIR) induced by blood exposure to the artificial circuitry. The renal, pulmonary, and neurologic dysfunction seen after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) has been attributed to the SIR.3 The development of miniaturized extracorporeal circuits (MECC) with reduced tubing length, smaller oxygenators, biocompatible coatings, and fewer components are hypothesized to reduce the blood–foreign surface contact area, and hence, reduce the SIR. A possible breakthrough in the reduction of a SIR may allow transition into the next era of ECMO care. Published reports have shown laboratory evidence that MECC application in CPB blunts the systemic inflammatory response with decreases in C-reactive protein (CRP), leukocytes, and cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, TNF), SC5b-9 (an inflammation complement complex), and activated neutrophil factors.4 In studies evaluating the clinical outcome of patients who have undergone ECLS with MECC, the benefit remains debatable with respect to 30-day mortality, neurocognitive disturbance, cerebrovascular events, renal failure, and myocardial infarction. In the outcome criteria of ventilation period, hospital stay, and ICU stay, MECC showed benefit.5 In the meta-analysis report by Harling et al., the authors found other clinical benefits with MECC, which included the reduction in blood production transfusions.6 The use of MECC for prolonged ECLS has not been extensively reported in the literature, and may be related to the functional longevity of the oxygenator. A small number of case reports have been published and a conclusion cannot be made from the current level of MECC experience for its use as an alternative equipment option in ECMO. Further research in this area will be necessary before MECC can be clinically adapted for ECMO.
El material concreto y el pensamiento geométrico: una manera de construir el algoritmo de la multiplicación

Por medio de este proyecto se pretende describir la secuencia didactica implementada en el grado segundo de primaria del Liceo Hermano Miguel La Salle a traves del uso del material concreto para la ensenanza del algoritmo de la multiplicacion. Se describira paso a paso la experiencia en el aula y el material utilizado con el fin de mostrar la relacion entre los pensamientos numerico y geometrico, asi como tambien las ventajas y desventajas del uso del material concreto en la construccion del algoritmo de la multiplicacion.
Analyzing the performance of pattern database heuristics

We introduce a model for predicting the performance of IDA* using pattern database heuristics, as a function of the branching factor of the problem, the solution depth, and the size of the pattern databases. While it is known that the larger the pattern database, the more efficient the search, we provide a quantitative analysis of this relationship. In particular, we show that for a single goal state, the number of nodes expanded by IDA* is a fraction of (logb s + 1)/s of the nodes expanded by a brute-force search, where b is the branching factor, and s is the size of the pattern database. We also show that by taking the maximum of at least two pattern databases, the number of node expansions decreases linearly with s compared to a brute-force search. We compare our theoretical predictions with empirical performance data on Rubik's Cube. Our model is conservative, and overestimates the actual number of node expansions.
Puzzling in Sociology: On Doing and Undoing Theoretical Puzzles

One typical way to motivate a sociological argument is to present the research question as a puzzle. Unlike in physical sciences, sociologists work backward to construct theoretical puzzles from th...
Stochastic Stability of Pollicott–Ruelle Resonances

Kinetic Brownian motion on the cosphere bundle of a Riemannian manifold $${\mathbb{M}}$$ is a stochastic process that models the geodesic equation perturbed by a random white force of size $${\varepsilon}$$ . When $${\mathbb{M}}$$ is compact and negatively curved, we show that the L 2-spectrum of the infinitesimal generator of this process converges to the Pollicott–Ruelle resonances of $${\mathbb{M}}$$ as $${\varepsilon}$$ goes to 0.
Development of a coherent bistatic vegetation model for signal of opportunity applications at VHF/UHF-bands

A coherent bistatic vegetation scattering model, based on a Monte Carlo simulation, is being developed to simulate polarimetric bi-static reflectometry at VHF/UHF-bands (240–270 MHz). The model is aimed to assess the value of geostationary satellite signals of opportunity to enable estimation of the Earth's biomass and root-zone soil moisture. An expression for bistatic scattering from a vegetation canopy is derived for the practical case of a ground-based/low altitude platforms with passive receivers overlooking vegetation. Using analytical wave theory in conjunction with distorted Born approximation (DBA), the transmit and receive antennas effects (i.e., polarization, orientation, height, etc.) are explicitly accounted for. Both the coherency nature of the model (joint phase and amplitude information) and the explicit account of system parameters (antenna, altitude, polarization, etc) enable one to perform various beamforming techniques to evaluate realistic deployment configurations. In this paper, several test scenarios will be presented and the results will be evaluated for feasibility for future biomass and root-zone soil moisture application using geostationary communication satellite signals of opportunity at low frequencies.
Smart Screen Management on Mobile Phones

Large and bright screens on today's mobile phones account for significant energy demand on phones' batteries. In this paper we propose an algorithm that, given the energy profile of the screen, finds the optimal schedule to minimize screen energy dissipation when the phone is idle. We profile the screen energy consumption of two popular smartphones, Nokia N95 and E71, through carefully designed micro-benchmarks. Our energy measurement results suggest that the default screen schedules on these phones are far from optimal - on average our algorithm performs 50% better than default. We also find that on the E71 not using the dim state of the screen and directly turning it off is more energy-efficient. We improve the performance of our screen scheduling algorithm by considering the history of each user's interaction with his/her phone. We study the interaction patterns of six volunteers with their smartphones. The results suggest that the distribution of the length of idle times for each user does not change over time. Therefore, the screen scheduler can learn this distribution during a learning phase and use it to improve screen management. We show that the screen energy consumption can be further reduced by up to 60% using this technique.
Impacts of biomass production at civil airports on grassland bird conservation and aviation strike risk

Growing concerns about climate change, foreign oil dependency, and environmental quality have fostered interest in perennial native grasses (e.g., switchgrass [Panicum virgatum]) for bioenergy production while also maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem function. However, biomass cultivation in marginal landscapes such as airport grasslands may have detrimental effects on aviation safety as well as conservation efforts for grassland birds. In 2011-2013, we investigated effects of vegetation composition and harvest frequency on seasonal species richness and habitat use of grassland birds and modeled relative abundance, aviation risk, and conservation value of birds associated with biomass crops. Avian relative abundance was greater in switchgrass monoculture plots during the winter months, whereas Native Warm-Season Grass (NWSG) mixed species plantings were favored by species during the breeding season. Conversely, treatment differences in aviation risk and conservation value were not biologically significant. Only 2.6% of observations included avian species of high hazard to aircraft, providing support for semi-natural grasslands as a feasible landcover option at civil airports. Additionally, varied harvest frequencies across a mosaic of switchgrass monocultures and NWSG plots allows for biomass production with multiple vegetation structure options for grassland birds to increase seasonal avian biodiversity and habitat use.
Towards a real-time coordination model for mobile computing

Current coordination models offer limited support for applications in which mobile hosts not only must coordinate their actions, but must also coordinate when those actions will be taken. This paper describes the design of TNM, a new coordination model based on timed futures - a novel extension to current coordination models through which mobile hosts can propose and negotiate which actions they will take and when. We discuss the use and advantages of this new coordination model in the context of the automatic motorway application challenge problem posed for the 2005 Monterey Workshop.
Track generation in semi-supervised learning of self-structured algorithm using noisy and sparse, visual, and infrared data

In this paper, we elaborate on what was done to implement a semi-supervised self-structured learning algorithm using aerial visual and infrared (IR) images. The objective of this paper is to focus on the processed visual and IR images and the impact they had on our testing software package with noisy and sparse areal visual and infrared data. We encountered several issues with the processed test data due to noise, invalid detections from shadow, and two or more detections being mistaken as a single detection (or vice versa). The target detections include vehicles, people, noise and unidentified objects. To overcome these phenomena, we utilized our software package to extract information from detections, such as the exact pixel content, orientation, etc. We were also able to infer information from tracks as we built them, such as direction and speed, which further helped. As a result, our algorithm is capable generating patterns to build longer tracks from detections. The improved algorithm also has the ability to differentiate and classify target detections based on binary feature representations and attributes. We plan to further extend this track generation to include learning via pattern recognition, and complex object building.
High efficiency production of germ-line transgenic Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) by electroporation with direct current-shifted radio frequency pulses.

Although there have been several studies showing the production of transgenic fish through electroporation techniques, success rates have been low and few studies show germ-line integration and expression. When electroporation has been successful, the device used is no longer commercially available. The goal of this experiment was to find an alternative efficient method of generating transgenic Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) using a commercially available electroporation device. The Gene Pulser II and RF module (Bio-Rad Laboratories, USA), along with two reporter gene constructs, were used. In contrast to other electroporation devices, which are based on a single pulse with exponential decay or square wave technology, the Gene Pulser II incorporates a direct current (DC)-shifted radio frequency (RF) signal. With this technique, over 1000 embryos can be electroporated in less than 30 min. The plasmid pCMV-SPORT-β-gal (Invitrogen, USA) was used in the supercoiled form to optimize parameters for gene transfer into single-celled embryos, and resulted in up to 100% somatic gene transfer. Similar conditions were used to generate fish transgenic for both the pCMV-EGFP plasmid (Clontech, USA) and a cytomegalovirus (CMV) driven phytase-EGFP construct. The conditions used were a voltage of 25 V, a percent modulation of 100%, a radio frequency of 35 kHz, a burst duration of 10 ms, 3 bursts, and a burst interval of 1.0 s. Seventy percent of the embryos electroporated with the pCMV-EGFP construct survived to sexual maturity, and of those, 85% were capable of passing the transgene on to their offspring. Transgenic second generation back-crossed (BC2) fry were subjected to Southern blot analysis, which confirmed germ-line integration, and observation for green fluorescence protein, which confirmed protein expression. DC-shifted RF pulses are effective and efficient in the production of transgenic medaka, and germ-line integration and expression can be achieved without linearization of the transgene vector.
Genomic and clinical characterization of B/T mixed phenotype acute leukemia reveals recurrent features and T-ALL like mutations

The B/T subtype of mixed phenotype acute leukemia (B/T MPAL) is defined by co-expression of antigens of both B- and T-cell lineages on leukemic blasts. Although it has been suggested that multilineage antigen expression portends poor response to chemotherapy, the clinical characteristics and driver mutations that underlie the pathogenesis of this rare subtype of acute leukemia are scarcely known. We identified nine cases of B/T MPAL from multiple institutions and correlated clinical and immunophenotypic findings with next-generation sequencing data. We report that B/T MPAL commonly presents with lymphadenopathy in adolescence and young adulthood. While the tumors have diverse cytogenetic and genomic perturbations, recurrent acquired aberrations include mutations in the putative transcriptional regulator PHF6 and the JAK-STAT and Ras signaling pathways. Alterations were also identified in genes encoding hematopoietic transcription factors, cell cycle regulators/tumor suppressors, and chromatin modifying enzymes. The genomic landscape of B/T MPAL strongly resembles that of T-ALL subgroups associated with early developmental arrest, while genetic alterations that are common in B-ALL were rarely seen. Two-thirds of the patients responded to ALL-based chemotherapy with or without stem cell transplantation. Our observations lay the groundwork for further study of the unique biology and clinical trajectory of B/T MPAL.
Metal Organic Framework-Coated Optical VOC Gas Sensor

We report a metal organic framework (MOF)-coated nanohole array based plasmonic gas sensor. Arrays of 200 nm circular holes are fabricated with a period of 400 nm. About 10 nm thick MOF is coated on the sensor platform to provide high sensitivity and near real-time response to gases.
Flexible Endoscopy: The Fundamentals

Endoscopy highlights the intersection of technological advancements and medical application. Innovation in optics, illumination, imaging, and manufacturing has allowed for the development of a complex array of instruments for use by endoscopists. Flexible gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy has emerged to become a well-established minimally invasive aspect of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of GI disease. Flexible endoscopes and their associated instruments and platforms are described, acknowledging that such lists are dynamic. The procedure environment is also described in terms of location, equipment, ergonomics, personnel involved, and recovery considerations. Recommendations from GI and anesthesiology associations are outlined to summarize current practices in the administration of sedative drugs to reduce patient discomfort, allow for a technically successful procedure, and reduce patient memory of the procedure. The training process for GI endoscopy is described for general surgery residents and GI fellows. Training involves didactic and technical curriculum along with mentor-supervised endoscopic procedures. After the completion of training, residents and fellows proceed through a credentialing process, which culminates in granting privileges to an individual to perform GI endoscopic procedures. Once in practice, providers must stay up to date on the ever-changing world of medical documentation, coding, and billing to ensure appropriate reimbursement.
UNIT 21.1 Micrococcal Nuclease Analysis of Chromatin Structure

This unit describes methodology for using micrococcal nuclease to investigate the presence of nucleosomes at a particular location in chromatin and to map the positions of nucleosomes at various levels of resolution. The approaches are readily adaptable to other probes of chromatin structure that cause DNA cleavage. Results obtained from such chromatin studies provide a structural view of the molecular environment of gene in their native context in cells.
Case 1: An Infant with Arm Swelling and Nodules.

A male neonate is born via spontaneous vaginal delivery to a 28-year-old primiparous woman at 39 2/7 weeks of gestation after an uncomplicated pregnancy. Labor is complicated by prolonged fetal heart rate decelerations, but the mother declines a cesarean section and vacuum extraction is initially unsuccessful. At birth the neonate is apneic but maintains a heart rate greater than 100 beats/min throughout the resuscitation. He requires intubation for persistent apnea 4 minutes after birth. His Apgar scores are 2, 3, 5, and 5 at 1, 5, 10, and 20 minutes, respectively. His physical examination on admission to the NICU is significant for diffuse hypotonia, lethargy, and absence of primitive reflexes. His arterial blood gas measurement 1.5 hours after birth shows a pH of 7.32, Pco2 of 32 mm Hg, and base deficit of 9. A blood culture specimen is collected and he starts empiric treatment with ampicillin and gentamicin. The infant is transferred to a tertiary care NICU for therapeutic hypothermia and has moderate encephalopathy on admission. He has a fluctuant, boggy mass over his occipital skull and undergoes noncontrast head computed tomography, which shows a large subgaleal hemorrhage, skull fracture, and small ventricles concerning for cerebral edema. A significant drop in his hematocrit is noted, and he receives transfusions of packed red blood cells and fresh frozen plasma. He requires a dopamine infusion and stress-dose hydrocortisone to maintain age-appropriate blood pressures. Electroencephalography (EEG) shows electrographic and clinical seizure activity, which is …
The long reach of race science

Studying human variation is possible without resorting to race, argues Angela Saini in this extract from her new book
Design for Metrology – a new idea?

Abstract There has been a wealth of research carried out in pursuit of understanding "Design for X" where "X" can be manufacturing, assembly, recycling, serviceability, or any other aspect of the product (or product family) life cycle. In this paper we review the possible meanings of "Design for Metrology" and how the evolution of the lifecycle of modern products has brought these interpretations to light. The most direct interpretation of Design for Metrology would be that the designer explicitly adds or modifies product characteristics or attributes in order that they may be measured. However, this presumes that measurement in and of itself is a design concern. More realistically, we must acknowledge that metrology provides support to manufacturing, assembly, and other activities by producing actionable information to validate, improve, or control these activities. This paper evaluates the explicit and implicit interaction between the designer and measurement processes.
Low-dose colchicine after MI reduced a composite ischemic cardiovascular outcome vs placebo.

Source Citation Tardif JC, Kouz S, Waters DD, et al. Efficacy and safety of low-dose colchicine after myocardial infarction. N Engl J Med. 2019;381:2497-2505. 31733140
DMSP synthesis genes distinguish two types of DMSP producer phenotypes

Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) is an important organic carbon and sulfur source in the surface ocean that fuels microbial activity and significantly impacts Earth's climate. After three decades of research, the cellular role(s) of DMSP and environmental drivers of production remain enigmatic. Recent work suggests that cellular DMSP concentrations, and changes in these concentrations in response to environmental stressors, define two major groups of DMSP producers: high DMSP producers that contain ≥ 50 mM intracellular DMSP and low DMSP producers that contain < 50 mM. Here we show that two recently described DMSP synthesis genes (DSYB and TpMT2) may differentiate these two DMSP phenotypes. A survey of prokaryotic and eukaryotic isolates found a significant correlation between the presence of DSYB and TpMT2 genes and previous measurements of high and low DMSP concentrations, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that DSYB and TpMT2 form two distinct clades. DSYB and TpMT2 were also found to be globally abundant in in situ surface communities, and their taxonomic annotations were similar to those observed for isolates. The strong correlation of the DSYB and TpMT2 synthesis genes with high and low producer phenotypes establishes a foundation for direct quantification of DMSP producers, enabling significantly improved predictions of DMSP in situ.
PolyBoost: An enhanced genomic variant classifier using extreme gradient boosting.

PURPOSE Human exome sequences contain 15,000-20,000 variants but many variants have unknown clinical impact. In silico predictive classifiers are recognized by the American College of Medical Genetics as a resource for interpreting these "variants of uncertain significance." Many in silico classifiers have been developed, of which PolyPhen-2 is highly successful and widely used. PolyPhen-2 uses a naive Bayes model to synthesize sequence, structural and genomic information. I investigated whether predictive performance could be improved by replacing PolyPhen-2's naive Bayes model with alternative machine learning methods. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Classifiers using the PolyPhen-2 feature set were retrained using extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), random forests, artificial neural networks, and support vector machines. Classifiers were externally validated on "pathogenic" and "benign" ClinVar variants absent from the training datasets. Software is implemented in Python and is freely available at https://github.com/djparente/polyboost and the Python Package Index (PyPI) under the BSD license. RESULTS An XGBoost-based classifier-designated PolyBoost (PolyPhen-2 Booster)-improves discriminative performance and calibration relative to PolyPhen-2 in external validation on ClinVar. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE PolyBoost analyzes PolyPhen-2 output and can be incorporated into existing bioinformatics workflows as a post-analysis method to improve interpretation of clinical exome sequences obtained to identify monogenic disease.
Cohesion, collaboration and the struggle of creating online learning communities: Development and validation of an online collective efficacy scale

Abstract A number of strategies have emerged over the last decades to guide the development of online learning communities where members share, augment and co-create information but few tools to measure their success. This paper suggests that some online communities’ success can be understood through the lens of online collective efficacy. Albert Bandura introduced the idea of collective efficacy as an emergent variable where members have agency in community success. Collective efficacy sees group success as dependent on relationships between members of the group on two levels: the degree to which individuals feel that they able to contribute to the existing group, and the degree to which individuals perceive a fit between their own abilities, desires and goals and those of the other members of the group. The present paper describes the development and validation of a 35-item Likert-scale measure of online collective efficacy to capture this phenomenon. The Confirmatory Factor Analysis corroborated the fit of the data (n = 634) to the proposed theoretical structure of the scale (comprising 6 factors), and the convergence validity analysis yielded significant moderate correlations between the proposed scale and other instruments measuring related constructs. The developed measure has both descriptive value helping researchers/instructors understand the effectiveness of their strategies in managing online learning communities; and prescriptive value, helping offer guidance in how to move towards a more successful online community.
Broadband, ultrahigh efficiency fiber-to-chip coupling via multilayer nanophotonics

We design, fabricate, and characterize a multilayer nanophotonic structure that couples light from standard optical fiber to an integrated photonics chip with unprecedented efficiency. The structure comprises a multilayer waveguide array tapering into a single waveguide supporting only fundamental TE- and TM-like modes. Measurements reveal a record-setting fiber-to-chip coupling efficiency of ${98.3}\% \;{\pm}\;{0.3}\%$ per facet at a 1575 nm wavelength that remains greater than ${92.8}\% \;{\pm}\;{0.4}\%$ across the 1550–1600 nm wavelength range. This approach is tailorable to any material platform, fiber type, or operating wavelength and represents a significant step forward for the accessibility of integrated photonics.
Case ReportsHepatic cystadenoma: an unusual presentation

A 53-yr-old woman with a history of hepatic cystadenoma 25 yr before presented with a simple hepatic cyst, which evolved over 9 yr into a complex cystadenoma with septations and internal bleeding. She was treated with a left hepatectomy. Review of the literature shows that hepatic cystadenomas, although rare, frequently can recur years later and have potential for malignant transformation. Histologic similarities of one variant with ovarian stroma raises interesting possibilities regarding the origin of these lesions. The best treatment results are obtained with radical excision.
Donor leucocyte buffy coat infusion to patients with donor specific hla antibodies undergoing haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Aim Haploidentical stem cell transplantation (SCT) is an alternative option to treat high risk patients lacking HLA identical donors. When the patient has donor specific antibodies against the Haploidentical donor(s) and there is a need for the patient to undergo transplantation, the question arises as to whether to proceed with the transplantation. It is known that the detection of donor-directed HLA specific alloantibodies (DSA) in recipients of unrelated hematopoietic stem cell transplantations is predictive of graft failure. Method Five ([5 Females: 0 Males], age median 45 years [range 24–63], diagnosis [AML (2)/Acute Erythroid Leukemia (1)/Myelofibrosis (1)/Aplastic Anemia (1)] patients with DSAs underwent Haploidentical SCT after undergoing a desensitization protocol of Rituxan/Plasma Exchange/IVG prior to transplant followed by an infusion of Donor Leucocyte buffy coat on Day-1. The buffy coat was prepared from an autologous unit of whole blood from the Haplo donor on Day-2. The blood was separated within 8 hours of collection into platelet rich plasma and packed red cells. Approximately 40–50 cc of red cells inclusive of the buffy coat was allowed to be collected in a platelet rich plasma bag. A second centrifugation separated the plasma from the red cells and the buffy coat component. The buffy coat component was then cross matched and infused to the patient. Results All five patients engrafted median 33 (range 28–40) days post-transplant. Four are alive with median follow-up of 566 days from transplant (range 408–730 days). Two patients are in disease remission (553 and 600 days from transplant), the disease recurred in 2 patients (408 and 730 days from transplant) and one patient died of a viral infection on post-transplant Day 88. Conclusion Although our numbers are small we believe that Leucocyte Buffy coat infusion after desensitization is a very promising approach for patients with DSAs undergoing Haploidentical stem cell transplantation. Download : Download full-size image
Geotechnical characteristics of deep-sea sediments from the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans

Geotechnical properties from a series of deep-sea sites in the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans are examined to evaluate overall trends and to compare with similar fine-grained soils found on land. The study areas encompass a range of sedimentary environments dominated by combinations of turbidite and pelagic deposits. Carbonate content in excess of 20% is seen to result in a decrease in liquid limit and compressibility. Vertical profiles of geotechnical properties in the North Pacific show broader changes in down-core geotechnical properties compared to the North Atlantic and reflect the effects of long-term climatic changes and seafloor spreading. Sediments in the North Atlantic indicate significant differences depending on location, which is attributed to variability in turbidite deposition, water depth, distance from sediment sources, and the effects of bottom currents. Compared to equivalent fine-grained soils on land, deep-sea sediments are generally softer, more compressible and have higher friction angles at comparable Atterberg limits. Deeper and older sediments in the North Pacific are characterized by unusually large plastic limits, which are attributed to the presence of volcanic fractions. Empirical relationships for compression index and friction angle are discussed for sediments from both oceans.
Cholesterol and hepatic lipoprotein assembly and secretion.

The assembly and secretion of apo B100 containing lipoproteins (i.e., VLDL) by the liver and cholesterol metabolism are interrelated on several different levels and for several different physiologic reasons. Firstly, hepatic VLDL is the major precursor for LDL, which in the human is the major vehicle responsible for transporting cholesterol to peripheral tissues. Secondly, cholesterol is supplied to many tissues by a specific uptake of LDL via LDL receptor, which is expressed in a regulated manner by most mammalian tissues. Thirdly, the rate of hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis and metabolism to bile acids correlates with production of VLDL. This apparent coordinate expression of cholesterol biosynthetic/catabolic enzymes and hepatic VLDL assembly/secretion are mediated at least in part through the sterol response element binding protein (SREBP) transcription factor family. Their gene targets include a plethora of enzymes that regulate glycolysis, energy production, lipogenesis and cholesterol catabolism. Studies of hepatoma cells overexpressing CYP7A1, the rate-limiting enzyme controlling bile acid synthesis, show that as a result of increased mature SREBP1, there is a coordinate induction of lipogenesis and the assembly and secretion of VLDL. These and additional studies show that the bile acid synthetic pathway and the VLDL assembly/secretion pathway are coordinately linked through SREBP-dependent transcription. Based on studies showing that within the liver acinus, the expression of CYP7A1 is mainly in the pericentral region while HMG-CoA reductase is mainly periportal, we propose that a 'metabolic zonal segregation' plays an important role in coordinate regulation of cholesterol and VLDL metabolism. This putative 'metabolic zonal segregation' may provide segregation of metabolic functions which may be mutually antagonistic. For example, there may be physiologic states in which the bile acid synthetic pathway may compete with the VLDL assembly/secretion pathway for a limited amount of cholesterol. Metabolic antagonism (e.g., competition for cholesterol) may be avoided via inducing SREBP-mediated transcription. Adaptation of catabolic hepatocytes to accommodate the expression of VLDL assembly/secretion may occur in response to activation of SREBP-mediated transcription. Support for these is discussed.
Being Middle Eastern American: Identity Negotiation in the Context of the War on Terror

Using in-depth interviews with naturalized U.S. citizens and immigrants as well as autoethnographic data, the author examines the stigma management strategies Middle Eastern Americans deploy, particularly in the aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attacks. He applies the concepts of interpretive practice and accounting to narratives of disrupted encounters in which Middle Eastern Americans were prompted to explain their identities, and classifies the stigma management strategies this group utilizes into five types of accounting: humorous, educational, defiant, cowering, and passing. This article evaluates the strengths and drawbacks of each accounting type for combating stigma and discusses how these findings inform existing scholarship on the social construction of deviant identities and their management in everyday life.
Overview of the commuted piano synthesis technique

The "commuted piano synthesis" algorithm is described, based on a simplified acoustic model of the piano. The model includes multiple coupled strings, a nonlinear hammer, and a linear enclosure model (including the soundboard) which can have arbitrarily large order. Simplifications are employed which greatly reduce computational complexity. Most of the simplifications are made possible by the commutation of linear, time-invariant systems. However, special care must be given to the piano hammer which is highly nonlinear and therefore does not commute with other components. In its present form, a complete, two-key piano can be synthesized in real time on a single 25 MHz Motorola DSP56001 signal processing chip.
The American Flag Desecration Controversy: Its Current Status and the Legal and Historical Background

(1997). The American Flag Desecration Controversy: Its Current Status and the Legal and Historical Background. Free Speech Yearbook: Vol. 35, No. 1, pp. 27-44.
Comparative survival of enteric viruses and coliphage on sewage irrigated grass

Abstract The fate of coliphage and human enteric viruses on turf grass was studied in order to elucidate the potential risk to public health when grass is irrigated with activated sludge treated sewage effluent. The survival of seeded coliphage MS‐2, poliovirus type 1, and rotavirus SA‐11 was studied outdoors during winter and summer. Virus inactivation rates were influenced by temperature as well as by type of virus. Coliphage, poliovirus, and rotavirus average inactivation rates (K = log inactivated/hr) were 0.17, 0.06 and 0.10 per hour, respectively, during the winter (4–10°C). In contrast, during the summer (36–41°C) K = 0.45, 0.37 and 0.20 per ‘hour for MS‐2, poliovirus, and rotavims, respectively. To achieve a 99% (2 log10) virus inactivation on turf grasses after the application of sewage effluents, 8 to 10 hours would be needed during the summer and 16 to 24 hours would be needed during the winter. and 0.10 per hour, respectively, during the winter (4–10°C). In contrast, during the summer (36–41°C...
Hydraulic analysis of cell-network treatment wetlands

When individual cells of a multiple-cell treatment wetland are hydraulically connected, the wetland has a cell-network structure. The hydraulic performance of treatment wetlands is often characterized using tracer residence time distributions (RTDs) measured between the wetland inlet and outlet, such that the wetland is considered as a single hydraulic unit, regardless of the extent of networking between individual internal cells. This work extends the single hydraulic unit approach to enable the specification of moments and RTD parameters for individual cells, or clusters of cells, within the cell-network based on inert tracer tests with injection only at the network inlet. Hydraulic performance is quantified in terms of hydraulic efficiency and travel time dimensionless variance using both the method of moments and RTD modeling. Cell-network analysis was applied to a case study from the Orlando Easterly Wetland (OEW), demonstrating the improvement in hydraulic performance of individual wetland cells following wetland restoration activities. Furthermore, cell-network analysis indicated that the location of water quality sampling station locations within the cell network can significantly affect the accuracy of pollutant removal effectiveness estimation when the individual sample station RTD does not represent the hydraulic unit RTD. At the OEW, it was determined that historical nutrient removal effectiveness estimation may be underestimated for one area and overestimated for another, and recommendations were provided for sample station locations to minimize future performance estimation errors.
Arm exercise as an alternative to pharmacologic stress testing: Arm exercise stress testing and outcome

Background Treadmill exercise variables are powerful predictors of all-cause mortality but are unobtainable in at least 50% of patients because of disabilities precluding lower extremity exercise. Arm exercise stress testing is a potentially cost-effective alternative, but no long-term outcome data are available. Methods We performed arm ergometer stress tests on 446 veterans aged 64.0 (11.1) years (mean [SD]) between 1997 and 2002 and investigated whether arm exercise capacity in resting metabolic equivalents, heart rate recovery (in beats per minute), delta (peak resting) heart rate (in beats per minute), and other exercise variables predict long-term all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), or coronary revascularization. Results During follow-up of 12.0 (1.3) years, 255 patients died (57.2%), 70 had MI (15.7%), and 118 underwent coronary revascularization (26.4%). After adjustment for significant demographic and clinical variables, death was predicted by arm metabolic equivalents (hazard ratio/SD 0.59, 95% CI 0.46-0.75, P P P P P P Conclusions Arm exercise capacity, heart rate recovery, and delta heart rate predict 12-year all-cause mortality and arm exercise–induced ST changes, limiting angina, and an abnormal nuclear imaging result portend coronary revascularization in lower extremity disabled veterans.
Foreign gene expression (β-galactosidase) during the cell cycle phases in recombinant CHO cells

Recombinant mammalian cultures for heterologous gene expression typically involve cells traversing the cell cycle. Studies were conducted to characterize rates of accumulation of intracellular foreign protein in single cells during the cell cycle of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with an expression vector containing the gene for dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) and the lacZ gene for bacterial beta-galactosidase (a nonsecreated protein). The lacZ gene was under the control of the constitutive cytomegalovirus promoter. These normally attachment-grown cells were adapted to suspension culture in 10(-7) M methotrexate, and a dual-laser flow cytometer was used to simultaneously determine the DNA and foreign protein (beta-galactosidase) content of single living cells. Expression of beta-galactosidase as a function of cell cycle phase was evaluated for cells in the exponential growth phase, early plateau phase, and inhibited traverse of the cell cycle during exponential growth. The results showed that the beta-galactosidase production rate is higher in the S phase than that in the G1 or G2/M phases. Also, when cell cycle progression was stopped at the S phase by addition of aphidicolin, beta-galactosidase content in single cells was higher than that in exponential phase or plateau phase cells and increased with increasing culture time. Although the cells did not continue to divide after aphidicolin addition, the production of beta-galactosidase per unit volume of culture was very similar to that in normal exponential growth.
FACTORS GOVERNING SURFACE MORPHOLOGY OF SPRAY-DRIED AMORPHOUS SUBSTANCES

ABSTRACT Changes in particle morphology (size, shape, and appearance) have been monitored during drying of drops of foods and food-related materials. The apparatus produces a single stream of drops of uniform size, using a vibrating-orifice device for drop production. The drop size and the time-temperature history of the drops as they fall can be varied and controlled. Qualitative observations are reported for drying of aqueous solutions of lactose, maltodextrin, skim milk, and coffee extract, with different feed concentrations. Particular emphasis is placed upon the tendency for development of folds upon the particle surface. A mechanistic model is developed, relating the tendency for folding to the extent of viscous flow of surface material in response to a surface-energy driving force. This model gives semi-quantitative agreement with observations for solutes of different molecular weight (and hence different viscosity) and for different feed concentrations.
An improved algorithm for simulating three-dimensional, viscoelastic turbulence

Abstract We present a new finite-difference formulation to update the conformation tensor in dumbbell models (e.g., Oldroyd-B, FENE-P, Giesekus) that guarantees positive eigenvalues of the tensor (i.e., the tensor remains positive definite) and prevents over-extension for finite-extensible models. The formulation is a generalization of the second-order, central difference scheme developed by Kurganov and Tadmor [A. Kurganov, E. Tadmor, New high-resolution central schemes for nonlinear conservation laws and convection–diffusion equations, J. Comput. Phys. 160 (2000) 241–282] that guarantees a scalar field remains everywhere positive. We have extended the algorithm to guarantee a tensor field remains everywhere positive definite following an update. Extensive testing of the algorithm shows that the volume average of the conformation tensor is conserved. Furthermore, volume averages of the conformation tensor in homogeneous turbulent shear flow made over the Eulerian grid are in quantitative agreement with Lagrangian averages made over fluid particles moving throughout the domain, highlighting the accuracy of the treatment of the convective terms.
Study of Mercury Oxidation by a Selective Catalytic Reduction Catalyst in a Pilot-Scale Slipstream Reactor at a Utility Boiler Burning Bituminous Coal†

One of the cost-effective mercury control technologies in coal-fired power plants is the enhanced oxidation of elemental mercury in selective catalytic reduction (SCR) followed by the capture of the oxidized mercury in the wet scrubber. To better understand Hg oxidation chemistry within a SCR, the Institute for Combustion Science and Environmental Technology at Western Kentucky University set up a pilot-scale SCR slipstream facility at a selected utility boiler burning bituminous coal. The greatest benefit of this scaled-down SCR slipstream test is the ability to investigate the effects of Hg oxidation in a SCR using actual flue gas with fly ash included and to isolate and control specific flue-gas compositions with spike gas additions. The average sulfur, chlorine, and mercury contents in the burned coal were 1.67% and 731 and 0.13 ppm, respectively. CaO and Fe2O3 and loss on ignition of the fly ash, which are reported to possibly affect Hg speciation, are approximately 1.65, 14.6, and 2.6% on average, r...
Acute Hemorrhagic Rectal Ulcer: An Important Cause of Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding in the Critically Ill Patients

Background and Aim The occurrence of acute hemorrhagic rectal ulcer (AHRU) in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) has not been well investigated. The aims of this study were to evaluate the clinical manifestations and outcomes in these patients.