cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 160: Altered levels of circulating microRNAs in the plasma of non-small cell lung cancer patients: Potential as biomarker

The development of molecular markers for lung cancer could offset the deficiencies of currently available early detection and staging approaches. To this end, blood markers are particularly attractive since samples are obtained in a minimally invasive way at any stage of lung carcinogenesis. In this study we compared the levels of 10 microRNAs (miR-21, miR-31, miR-155, miR-147, miR-218, miR-377, miR-551b*, miR-569, miR-1283, and miR-1468) in the blood plasma of 27 non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and 38 healthy controls, using quantitative reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), to determine if these miRNAs might have a diagnostic value for NSCLC. The results of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), which measures the ability of the test to correctly classify those with and without the disease, were 0.98, 1.00, 0.8, and 0.98 for miR-21, miR-155, miR-377 and miR-1468, respectively, indicating that plasma levels of miR-21, miR-155, miR-377 and miR-1468 are powerful discriminators between patients and controls. At the optimum cutoff point for the cycle threshold (CT) value of the four miRNAs, the sensitivities of miR-21, miR-155, miR-377 and miR-1468 were 92.5%, 100%, 84%, and 100%, respectively; the corresponding values for the test specificity were 100%, 100%, 88%, and 100%, respectively. These results indicate the great potential of miR-21, miR-155, miR-377 and miR-1468 as diagnostic markers for NSCLC but need to be proved in prospective studies with larger samples. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 160. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-160
The Arsenical Poisoning of Livestock

Recommendations for the spraying of alfalfa to control the alfalfa weevil, Phytonomus murinus Fabr., have been guided largely by Dr. H. C. Gardiner's work on the arsenical poisoning of domestic animals, which was recorded in the transcript of the Riverside Dairy Case in the United States District Court of Utah, but which has not heretofore been readily accessible to entomologists and the public, to both of whom it is of the highest importance. Dr. Gardiner, in an exhaustive series of feeding experiments, clinical observations and autopsies, determined the physiological effect of various doses of arsenic, continued for various periods of time, upon farm animals. The dangerous dose was shown to be far greater than the amount which is contained in a feed of sprayed hay.
Feeding Behavior and Egg Maturation of the Red and Gray Sunflower Seed Weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on Cultivated Sunflower

Adult gray and red sunflower seed weevils, Smicronyx sordidus LeConte and Smicronyx fulvus LeConte, respectively, are pests of sunflower, Helianthus annuus L., and use the plant as food and an oviposition site. The evolved behavior of these weevils minimizes competition for food and oviposition sites on the sunflower plant. Both male and female S. sordidus fed more on leaves of sunflower hybrid '894' than on disk flowers. Mature eggs developed when females were given access to prebloom R1-R3 stage sunflower plants. Females feeding only on blooming capitula did not develop mature eggs even after 12 d. S. fulvus females fed more on sunflower hybrid '894' disk flowers than on leaves or bracts; males fed more on disk flowers and leaves than on bracts. Females exposed to prebloom stages (R1-R4) did not produce mature eggs, but did so when access was prolonged until bloom stage (R5.1). Females confined in blooming capitula developed mature eggs after 4 d. Pollen stimulated egg maturation only when mixed with other foods such as ground sunflower seed, sucrose, or water. The preference of each weevil species for a particular sunflower plant tissue, organ, or structure, and growth stage for feeding and reproduction may be useful in developing efficient management strategies for these sunflower pests.
Genetic polymorphisms in genes related to risk-taking behaviours predicting body mass index trajectory among Mexican American adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: Obesity is associated with multiple health problems and often originates in childhood. The purpose is to investigate the associations of genetic polymorphisms in genes related to risk-taking behaviours with body mass index (BMI) trajectory over adolescence among Mexican Americans. METHODS: This study included 1229 Mexican American adolescents who participated in a large population-based cohort study in Houston, Texas. BMI data were obtained at baseline and two follow-ups. The median follow-up time was 59 months. Participants were genotyped for 672 functional and tagging variants in genes involved in the dopamine, serotonin and cannabinoid pathways. RESULTS: After adjusting for multiple comparisons, three genetic variants, namely, rs933271 and rs4646310 in COMT gene, and rs9567733 in HTR2A gene were significantly associated with BMI growth over adolescence. Using those three variants, we created an allelic score, and the allelic score was associated with BMI growth over adolescence (P CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that genetic variants in selected genes involved in dopamine and serotonin pathways have noticeable effects on BMI over adolescence.© 2016 The Authors. Pediatric Obesity © 2016 International Association for the Study of Obesity. Language: en
Left ventricular shape changes during the course of evolving heart failure

The temporal relationship between left ventricular (LV) shape changes and the development of LV dysfunction, dilation, and sympathoadrenergic hyperactivity was examined in 10 dogs with chronic hear...
Low-power suppression of fast-motion spin 3/2 signals

Triple Quantum Filters (TQFs) are frequently used for the selection of bi-exponentially relaxing spin 3/2 nuclei (in particular 23Na) in ordered environments, such as biological tissues. These methods provide an excellent selection of slow-motion spins, but their sensitivity is generally low, and coherence selection requirements may lead to long experiments when applied in vivo. Alternative methods, such as 2P DIM, have demonstrated that the sensitivities of the signals from bi-exponentially relaxing sodium can be significantly increased using strategies other than TQFs. A shortcoming of the 2P DIM method is its strong dependence on B0 inhomogeneities. We describe here a method, which is sensitive to the slow-motion regime, while the signal from spins in the fast-motion regime is suppressed. This method is shown to be more effective than TQFs, requires minimal phase cycling for the suppression of the influence of rf inhomogeneity, and has less dependence on resonance offsets and B0-inhomogeneity than 2P DIM.
Protein Folding and the Role of Chaperone Proteins in Neurodegenerative Disease

Many neurodegenerative disorders are characterized by conformational changes in proteins that result in misfolding, aggregation, and intra- or extraneuronal accumulation of amyloid fibrils. Molecular chaperones provide a first line of defense against misfolded, aggregation-prone proteins, and are among the most potent suppressors of neurodegeneration known for animal models of human disease. We propose that molecular chaperones are neuroprotective because of their ability to modulate the earliest aberrant protein interactions that trigger pathogenic cascades. A detailed understanding of the molecular basis of protection by chaperones against neurodegeneration might lead to the development of therapies for neurodegeration might lead to the development of therapies for neurodegenerative disorders that are associated with protein misfolding and aggregation.
New Product Ideas from ‘Lead Users’

(1989). New Product Ideas from ‘Lead Users’. Research-Technology Management: Vol. 32, No. 3, pp. 24-27.
Rights, centers, and peripheries: experimental moves in Japanese Buddhism

In this paper I examine how the Japanese True Pure Land Buddhist school (Jōdo Shinshū or Shin Buddhism) has attempted to come to terms with the position of temple wife (bōmori), which has historically been a local position based solely on marriage ties to the resident priest of a temple, in a way that accommodates the modern principles of individual rights and freedom of religion. The central Jōdo Shinshū institutions of the Ōtani-ha and Honganji-ha have responded to demands to recognize the autonomous choice of temple wives to undertake a life of service to the parish temple by formulating an initiation ceremony meant to encourage the temple wife’s self-awareness as a religious professional. Utilizing ethnographic fieldwork conducted from 2009 to 2013, I survey the various sites where Buddhism is lived and experimented in contemporary Japan. I highlight the interplay between local and central sources of religious meaning and authenticity.
“People Hide, But I'm Here. I Count:” Examining Undocumented Youth Identity Formation in an Urban Community-School

This article sheds light on the educational trajectories of undocumented youth who engage in forms of organizing through a community-school partnership in an urban public school in Chicago. Drawing on data from an ethnographic study in an urban public high school, readers learn that undocumented youth gain a positive sense of identity and belonging to their school and community by participating in a community-based after-school program called The Dream Act Club. First, the article argues that undocumented youth participation in community organizing helps them make sense of their identity in relation to the larger community and societal context. Second, the article argues that social spaces like The Dream Act Club provide networks of support and what Levinson calls (2001) “intimate cultures,” enabling undocumented youth to accomplish two things (a) critique and dismantle negative stereotypes around the undocumented status that are perpetuated through the media and political figures on a larger scale, and t...
Prevalence and location of tobacco smoke exposure outside the home in adults and children in the United States.

Abstract Objectives Tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) is associated with many adverse health outcomes. The goal of this study was to provide insight into the prevalence and location of self-reported TSE outside the home for US adults and children. Study design Cross-sectional survey. Methods Data from a nationally representative sample of US adults from 2014 were included. Participants who responded that they smelled smoke during the past seven days in various settings were considered to have been exposed to TSE. Parents were asked about TSE exposure of their children. Results Sixty-nine percent of all adults reported TSE outside their home in the past seven days. The most common exposure location among adults was on a public sidewalk and outside the doorway of a building (both 33%). Thirty-three percent of parents reported outside the home TSE for their children in the past seven days. Most commonly, the reported exposure was ‘In some other place(s)’ (16%), followed by at a relative's house (10%). Conclusions This study reports on TSE outside the home in a wide variety of settings and a broad range of ages in a nationally representative US sample. A high proportion of US adults and children are exposed to TSE outside the home in indoor, outdoor, public, and private settings. Smoke-free laws, clinical interventions, education, and a change in social norms are required to stop TSE.
Review: 6 newer drugs reduce seizures with no detectable differences among them

Source Citation Marson AG, Kadir ZA, Chadwick DW. New antiepileptic drugs: a systematic review of their efficacy and tolerability. BMJ. 1996 Nov 9; 313:1169-74.
Adjunctions and Locally Transferable Factorization Systems

We present an approach to construct factorization systems in abstract categories. It gives new factorization systems from some given ones, when we have a relevant family of adjunctions between slice categories. The approach is based on the notion of a local factorization system, which is introduced in this paper. Relations between local factorization systems and full replete reflective subcategories of corresponding slice categories are investigated. Several applications of this approach are given.
Pathobiology of Sickle Cell Disease Vaso-occlusion and Targeted Therapies

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a complex condition that is characterized by frequent painful episodes. The underlying pathophysiology of vaso-occlusion or VOC is the interactions between the sickle RBCs, endothelium, platelets, neutrophils, and the subsequent inflammatory environment. Emerging treatments are currently focused on ameliorating these abnormal interactions, and the following chapter highlights the current understanding of VOC pathophysiology and novel therapies.
Generation of Kappa Distributions in Solar Wind at 1 au

We examine the generation of kappa distributions in the solar wind plasma near 1 au. Several mechanisms are mentioned in the literature, each characterized by a specific relationship between the solar wind plasma features, the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), and the kappa index-the parameter that governs the kappa distributions. This relationship serves as a signature condition that helps the identification of the mechanism in the plasma. In general, a mechanism that generates kappa distributions involves a single or a series of stochastic or physical processes that induces local correlations among particles. We identify three fundamental solar wind plasma conditions that can generate kappa distributions, noted as (i) Debye shielding, (ii) frozen IMF, and (iii) temperature fluctuations, each one prevailing in different scales of solar wind plasma and magnetic field properties. Moreover, our findings show that the kappa distributions, and thus, their generating mechanisms, vary significantly with solar wind features: (i) the kappa index has different dependence on the solar wind speed for slow and fast modes, i.e., slow wind is characterized by a quasi-constant kappa index, K (is) approx. 4.3 +/- 0.7, while fast wind exhibits kappa indices that increase with bulk speed; (ii) the dispersion of magnetosonic waves is more effective for lower kappa indices (i.e., further from thermal equilibrium); and (iii) the kappa and polytropic indices are positively correlated, as it was anticipated by the theory.
Data mining for automated diagnosis of neurological and psychiatric disorders

In this keynote lecture, the author presents novel algorithms for data mining of time-series data and automated electroencephalogram (EEG)-based diagnosis of neurological and psychiatric disorders based on adroit integration of three different computing technologies and problem solving paradigms: neural networks, wavelets, and the chaos theory. Examples of the research performed by the author and his associates for automated diagnosis of epilepsy, the Alzheimer's Disease, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and Parkinson's disease (PD) are reviewed.
Black Spaces/White Spaces: Black Lives, Leisure, and Life Politics

Racial neutrality does not exist within digital and virtual spaces. Our racialized identities are imported into these spaces, as are the ideologies of our respective societies. This reality begs th...
Managing Anxiety and Stress through Psycho-Imagery and Behavior Therapy Techniques

Anxiety is a pervasive problem in our society today as a “crippling device” in blocking creative growth among children as well as adults. The author has studied and employed eclectic behavioral approaches in the reduction of test anxiety, public speaking, social anxieties, sexual anxieties, addictive habits, phobic fears, and obsessive-compulsive traits.
When do Students Interrupt Help? Effects of Time, Help Type, and Individual Differences

When do students interrupt help to request different help? To study this question, we embedded a within-subject experiment in the 2003-2004 version of Project LISTEN's Reading Tutor. We analyze 168,983 trials of this experiment, randomized by help type, and report patterns in when students choose to interrupt help. Using the amount of prior help, we fit an exponential curve to predict interruption rate with an r2 of 0.97 on aggregate data and an r2 of 0.22 on individual data. To improve the model fit for individual data, we adjust our model to account for different types of help and individual differences. Finally, we report small but significant correlations between a student parameter in our model and external measures of motivation and academic performance.
New Developments in Surgical Treatment for Penile Size Preservation in Peyronie's Disease.

Abstract Introduction Peyronie’s disease (PD) is associated with penile length loss due to atrophy that occurs as a result of fibrous inelastic scarring. Studies have shown diminished penile length and girth, as well as the inability to participate in sexual activity, can lead to decreased quality of life, emotional challenges, and sexual dissatisfaction in a large percentage of men. Aim To provide a summary of the new developments in the surgical techniques available for the PD patient, with a focus on procedures that provide penile size restoration. Methods A MEDLINE PubMed search was used to identify articles related to surgical treatments for PD, including plication procedures, penile prosthesis placement, and techniques for size restoration. Main Outcome Measure Types of surgical treatments for PD and their outcomes regarding penile length and patient satisfaction. Results The Nesbit procedure, among other plication procedures, and penile prosthesis placement with modeling or plication are likely to decrease penile length. Although plaque incision with grafting offers restoration of penile length, it carries a risk of postoperative erectile dysfunction (ED). For men with concomitant ED and severe curvature not amenable to prosthesis with modeling or plication, options include grafting, circumferential tunical incisions, subcoronal prosthesis placement, and the sliding technique with its modifications, allowing for management of both PD and ED while restoring penile length. Adjunct procedures, such as ventral phalloplasty and suspensory ligament release, have also been shown to restore length in PD patients. Novel therapies continue to evolve with the goal of preserving length while treating curvature. Conclusion There are numerous surgical options for correcting penile curvature in PD patients, with or without concomitant ED treatment. When determining the optimal procedure, it is important to consider possible preservation of penile length and to discuss possible complications to increase patient satisfaction and improve quality of life. Barrett-Harlow B, Clavell-Hernandez J, Wang R. New Developments in Surgical Treatment for Penile Size Preservation in Peyronie’s Disease. Sex Med Rev 2019;7:156–166.
Mcdonald’s versus NLRB: The End of Franchising, or an Overdue Restoration of Countervailing Power?

Following a series of national protests in support of an increase in the federal minimum wage, many fast food workers faced retaliation by their employers when they returned to work; schedules were changed, wages and hours were reduced, and some employees were terminated. These retaliatory actions resulted in a number of complaints being filed with the National Labor Relations Board alleging violations of the National Labor Relations Act. Several of the complaints were found to have merit and, additionally, in several instances both the immediate employer, the franchisee, and the corporate organization of which it was a part, the franchisor, were named as co‐defendants. This ruling—that franchisors like McDonald’s USA—could be held jointly responsible for the labor violations of independent franchisees reversed a long‐standing precedent, whereby franchisees were regarded as independent contractors solely responsible for day‐to‐day labor practices, including compliance with federal and state labor statutes. Critics of the ruling argue that it will open the door to unionization and may well spell the end of the service‐sponsor franchising format. Supporters of the NLRB argue that the ruling is just and reflects new “industrial realities” in retail labor markets. Further, a case can be made that the NLRB’s position represents a step in the direction of the restoration of more equitable balance of power between labor and management.
Murine responses to (tyr-glu-ala-gly)n. I. Ir gene control of t and b lymphocyte responses.

A series of known sequential polypeptides is being synthesized and used in our laboratory to study the contribution of antigen structure, i. e., amino acid sequence and conformation in antigen recognition and specificity of the immune response. The capacity to respond to one such α-helical polypeptide (T-G-A-Gly)n, is T-cell dependent and restricted to mice of theH- 2b haplotype. The response is controlled by anIr gene mapping to theK region and/or theIA subregion which allows the animal to make both a T-cell mediated response, as well as a humoral response to the polypeptide. The response of three mutant strains at theK end of the major histocompatibility locus (MHC) need not differ from that of the responder parental haplotype. PETLES obtained from mice possessing a responder haplotype proliferate when cultured in vitro with (T-G-A-Gly)n. The antibody level of individual inbred mice of a given strain at a given time differs significantly (from 80% binding to less than 10% antigen bound in 3 out of 57 mice). There is also great individual variability in time of appearance of the antibody response and where peak optimal levels are seen. Possible explanations for the variation in the antibody expression include: (a) the polymer is a weak immunogen, (b) the presence of modifier gene(s) outside of the major histocompatibility complex controlling the magnitude of the antibody level, (c) the possible effect of the polymer which is a B cell mitogen as a generator of suppressor T cells and, (d) a feedback mechanism effect on B cells controlling the antibody level.
Modeling Stripe Formation on Growing Zebrafish Tailfins

As zebrafish develop, black and gold stripes form across their skin due to the interactions of brightly colored pigment cells. These characteristic patterns emerge on the growing fish body, as well as on the anal and caudal fins. While wild-type stripes form parallel to a horizontal marker on the body, patterns on the tailfin gradually extend distally outward. Interestingly, several mutations lead to altered body patterns without affecting fin stripes. Through an exploratory modeling approach, our goal is to help better understand these differences between body and fin patterns. By adapting a prior agent-based model of cell interactions on the fish body, we present an in silico study of stripe development on tailfins. Our main result is a demonstration that two cell types can produce stripes on the caudal fin. We highlight several ways that bone rays, growth, and the body-fin interface may be involved in patterning, and we raise questions for future work related to pattern robustness.
Unitary circuit synthesis for tomography of generalized coherent states

We present a method that outputs a sequence of simple unitary operations to prepare a given quantum state that is a generalized coherent state. Our method takes as inputs the expectation values of some relevant observables. Such expectations can be estimated by performing projective measurements on O(M3⁡log(M/δ)/e2) copies of the state, where M is the dimension of an associated Lie algebra, ɛ is a precision parameter, and 1 − δ is the required confidence level. The method can be implemented on a classical computer and runs in time O(M4⁡log(M/e)). It provides O(M⁡log(M/e)) simple unitaries that form the sequence. The overall complexity is then polynomial in M, being very efficient in cases where M is significantly smaller than the Hilbert space dimension, as for some fermion algebras. When the algebra of relevant observables is given by certain Pauli matrices, each simple unitary may be easily decomposed into two-qubit gates. We discuss applications to efficient quantum state tomography and classical simulations of quantum circuits.We present a method that outputs a sequence of simple unitary operations to prepare a given quantum state that is a generalized coherent state. Our method takes as inputs the expectation values of some relevant observables. Such expectations can be estimated by performing projective measurements on O(M3⁡log(M/δ)/e2) copies of the state, where M is the dimension of an associated Lie algebra, ɛ is a precision parameter, and 1 − δ is the required confidence level. The method can be implemented on a classical computer and runs in time O(M4⁡log(M/e)). It provides O(M⁡log(M/e)) simple unitaries that form the sequence. The overall complexity is then polynomial in M, being very efficient in cases where M is significantly smaller than the Hilbert space dimension, as for some fermion algebras. When the algebra of relevant observables is given by certain Pauli matrices, each simple unitary may be easily decomposed into two-qubit gates. We discuss applications to efficient quantum state tomography and classical simul...
Effect of Historical Forces on Liberalization and Democratization in Transition

This chapter discusses the economic and political transformation in 29 post-communist countries in the 30 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall. While religious and imperial history continues to explain political trajectories, adoption of strong parliamentarian systems has countered some of the adverse effects of these historical legacies on economic liberalization. The divergence between democracy and political rights over the region is thus four to five times larger than what is observed for economic freedom and ease of doing business. While some early choices when transition started explain some of the economic evolution in the region, history and ethnicity predict democratization well.
Spatial frequency and valence interact in complex emotion perception

Research on spatial frequency contributions to facial emotion identification has largely focused on basic emotions. The present experiment characterised spatial frequency contributions to decoding ...
Decision Trees and Random Forests for Regression and Classification

This chapter covers the topics of decision tree models and random forests. We begin with a discussion of how binary yes/no decisions can be used to build a model for a regression problem by dividing, or partitioning, the independent variables for a simple problem with 2 independent variables. This idea is then generalized for regression problems of more variables before continuing on to classification problems. We then introduce the idea of combining many trees together in the random forest model. Random forests have each tree in the forest built on different training data and use randomization when building the trees as well. The prediction of each of these trees is averaged in a regression problem or votes on a class for a classification problem to give the predicted value of the dependent variable. We demonstrate the efficacy of random forests through a case study of predicting the output of an expensive computer simulation.
AAPM task group 241 – MR-guided focused ultrasound

Task Group (TG) 241 of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), operating under the Work Group for Technology Assessment in Image-Guided Interventions, was formed in September of 2013 with an international membership of experts from MR-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS), focused ultrasound and ultrasound physics, radiation oncology, industry and federal agencies. The charge of TG-241 is to report through peer-reviewed publications on the assessment of state-of-the-art clinical MRgFUS technology, including the intrinsic system characteristics, quantitative metrics, sources of uncertainty, quality assurance measures, data types and nomenclature as well as training issues for medical physicists.
A Question of Dimensions

In 1907, Albert Einstein studied the heat capacity of diamond to gain insight into the quantization of vibrations in solids. Hone et al. have now measured the heat capacity of another carbon compound, carbon nanotubes, to determine the dimensionality of their vibrations as a function of temperature. In his Perspective, de Heer compares the two studies, and concludes that carbon continues to provide new fundamental insights into the properties of condensed matter.
Activity-dependent release of endogenous adenosine modulates synaptic responses in the rat hippocampus

Adenosine is a potent inhibitory modulator of synaptic transmission in the CNS, but its role in normal physiological function is unclear. In the present experiments, we have found electrophysiological evidence for activity-dependent release of adenosine from hippocampal slices evoked by physiologically relevant stimulation, and have demonstrated that this adenosine modifies synaptic activity in this brain region. When two independent excitatory pathways to the CA1 pyramidal neurons are used to evoke field EPSP responses, prior activation of one pathway will inhibit the EPSP evoked via the other input. This inhibition can be antagonized by the nonselective adenosine receptor antagonist theophylline, and by the selective A1 receptor antagonist 8-cyclopentyltheophylline, suggesting that the inhibitory response is due to the release of endogenous adenosine that activates presynaptic release-modulating A1 receptors. This inhibition can be observed following a single stimulus to the conditioning pathway, although it is more pronounced when a train of conditioning pulses is used, and is maximal following a train of 16-32 stimuli (at 100 Hz). When a train of four conditioning pulses is used, the inhibition appears with a latency of approximately 50 msec, peaks approximately 200-250 msec following the conditioning train, and recovers to baseline between 1 and 2 sec. Further evidence that this inhibition of excitatory transmission is mediated via adenosine is provided by the observation that superfusion with dipyridamole (an adenosine uptake inhibitor), and the adenosine deaminase inhibitor erythro-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine, enhanced both the duration and amplitude of the inhibition.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Martin’s sulfurane dehydrating reagent

Dehydrates secondary and tertiary alcohols to give olefins, but forms ethers with primary alcohols. Cf. Burgess dehydrating reagent.
Dependence in network reliability

It is fairly easy to calculate the reliability of a network with independent nodes by using a technique called pivoting. However, when there is dependence, this calculation will prove inaccurate and a model for the dependence is required. This paper considers the issues involved in developing a suitable model. Particular emphasis is placed on ensuring the calculations and distributions involved do not become intractable for large networks. Various potential distributions are discussed. Strategies are suggested for simplifying the dependence. A model for cascading failures is proposed.
Effects of inherited cores and magmatic overgrowths on zircon (U‐Th)/He ages and age‐eU trends from Greater Himalayan sequence rocks, Mount Everest region, Tibet

Previous constraints on the timing and rate of exhumation of the footwall of the South Tibetan detachment system (STDS) north of Mount Everest suggest rapid Miocene cooling from ∼ 700°C to 120°C between ∼14–17 Ma. However, 25 new single grain zircon He ages from leucogranites intruding Greater Himalayan Sequence rocks in the footwall of the STDS are between 9.9 and 15 Ma, with weighted mean ages between 10 and 12 Ma. Zircon grains exhibit a positive correlation between age and effective uranium (eU). Laser ablation zircon U-Pb geochronology, detailed SEM observations, and laser ablation depth-profiling of these zircons reveal low-eU 0.5–2.5 Ga inherited cores overgrown by high-eU 17–22 Ma rims. This intragranular zonation produces ages as much as 32% too young when a standard alpha-ejection correction assuming uniform eU distribution is applied. Modeling of the effects of varying rim thickness and rim eU concentration on the bulk grain eU and alpha-ejection correction suggests that zonation also exerts the primary control on the form of the age-eU correlation observed. Application of grain-specific zonation-dependent age corrections to our data yields zircon He ages between 14 and 17 Ma, in agreement with AFT and 40Ar/39Ar ages. Growth of magmatic rims followed by cooling to < 120°C within 1–6 million years supports rapid tectonic exhumation associated with slip along the STDS in the Miocene. This study highlights the importance of characterizing parent nuclide zonation in zircon He studies which seek to understand the timing of exhumation along exhumed crustal blocks.
NEWTONIAN GRAVITATIONAL THEORY: INTERACTION WITH LIGHT.

The interaction of light with the gravitational field of a mass point described by a Newtonian gravitational field theory gives the same gravitational red shift as accepted theory. The dual force which is an integral part of the classical field theory and which has been shown to give the same advance of the perihelion of the orbit as Einstein's General Theory of Relativity is also the reason that light is deflected in the neighborhood of a massive particle. The deflection predicted is slightly more than 10% larger than Einstein's value, but within the experimental error of observational data. The dual force and its effects must be taken seriously. Its role in electrodynamics and quantum mechanics is briefly discussed.
Pneumatic applanation tomometer studies II. Rabbit cornea data

Abstract An experimental study has been made on the performance of select applanating tonometer sensors applied to artificially-pressurized enucleated rabbit eyes. Open stopcock data have been found to be in good agreement with an analytical model developed in an earlier study in which pressurized rubber diaphragms were used as eye simulators. This study therefore substantiates the validity of the simple membrane model for this type of applanating tonometer. It further provides guidelines for sensor construction and calibration. Some closed stopcock measurements were made to show that the probe pressure accurately monitors the intraocular pressure after the break point, i.e., where the probe fully contacts the cornea.
Did multiple sediment-associated stressors contribute to the 1999 lobster mass mortality event in Western Long Island Sound, USA?

Near-bottom hypoxia during summer months has been a documented recurring phenomenon for decades in western Long Island Sound (WLIS); this temperate estuary has also supported, until 1999, a substantial American lobster (Homarus americanus) fishery. In response to a dramatic mass die-off of lobsters that began in WLIS in the late summer of 1999, a benthic habitat survey using a sediment-profile imaging (SPI) camera was conducted in October 1999. Follow-up surveys involving SPI and simultaneous measurements of dissolved oxygen (DO), hydrogen sulfide and ammonia within 10 cm of the bottom were conducted in August, September and November 2000. The SPI images revealed black sediments at or just below the sediment-water interface at a high proportion of stations in both 1999 and 2000, suggesting strongly reducing conditions and elevated levels of sulfides and other reduced end-products in sediment pore-water. Visual redox depths were relatively shallow (less than 2 cm) and spatially variable, and benthic communities appeared to be dominated by small, surface-dwelling opportunists. In August 2000, near-bottom DO concentrations < 2 mg I−1 coincided with shallow redox depths at stations in the Western Narrows region. As DO levels increased from August to November 2000, visual redox depths remained shallow. Both sulfide and ammonia were detected in samples of bottom water taken within about 10 cm of the seafloor in all three 2000 surveys. The results suggest that anaerobic decomposition processes within the organic-rich sediments of WLIS strongly influence conditions at the sediment-water interface during late summer-early fall, the time of year that the lobster mortality event of 1999 began. Releases of reduced end-products (e.g., sulfide and ammonia) into overlying waters, combined with low DO levels and abnormally high water temperatures, represent multiple environmental stressors that may have physiologically weakened the lobsters and increased their susceptibility to deadly pathogens.
RNA species obtained from clonal lines of avian sarcoma and from avian leukosis virus

Abstract Gel electrophoresis of the dissociated 60–70 S RNA prepared from cloned avian sarcoma viruses showed a single major peak corresponding to size class a . Class b RNA was not detectable in these preparations. Class a RNA derived from the Schmidt-Ruppin strain of Rous sarcoma virus had a slightly but reproducibly lower electrophoretic mobility than class a RNA of Prague strain Rous sarcoma virus. The presence of avian tumor virus group specific ( gs ) antigens in chicken cells before infection did not detectably influence the electropherograms of the dissociated avian sarcoma virus RNA: cloned sarcoma virus from gs positive and gs negative cells showed identical gel patterns. However, two avian sarcoma virus clones derived from a clonal colony of transformed cells contained a new RNA component which migrated slower than class a RNA. This unusual component was found consistently in the original clonal cultures but was not seen if new cells were infected with the same virus, suggesting a cell mediated modification of viral RNA. Additional evidence was obtained for the absence of class a RNA from avian tumor viruses which cannot form foci in fibroblast cultures. Several leukosis and transformation defective viruses which had not been analyzed previously showed class b RNA only. No significant differences between the class b RNA preparations obtained from several independently isolated transformation defective viruses were detected.
Nonplanar index‐guided quantum well heterostructure periodic laser array

Data are presented on nonplanar index‐guided quantum well heterostructure periodic laser arrays grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). The nonplanar array structure, formed by a single MOCVD growth over a selectively etched corrugated substrate, not only provides index guiding for the individual array elements, but also suppresses lateral lasing and amplified spontaneous emission for the entire array. As a result, the entire width of the device is utilized for optical emission, and no additional processing steps are required. Devices tested exhibit uniform emission and show no signs of lateral lasing or amplified spontaneous emission for array widths up to 3.3 times the cavity length. The processing required for device fabrication is therefore minimized by taking advantage of the properties of MOCVD growth over nonplanar substrates.
Potassium transport across the frog retinal pigment epithelium.

Previous experiments indicate that the apical membrane of the frog retinal pigment epithelium contains electrogenic Na∶K pumps. In the pressent experiments net potassium and rubidium transport across the epithelium was measured as a function of extracellular potassium (rubidium) concentration, [K] o ([Rb] o ). The net rate of retina-to-choroid42K(86Rb) transport increased monotonically as [K] o ([Rb] o ), increased from approximately 0.2 to 5mm on both sides of the tissue or on the apical (neural retinal) side of the tissue. No further increase was observed when [K] o ([Rb] o ) was elevated to 10mm. Net sodium transport was also stimulated by elevating [K] o . The net K transport was completely inhibited by 10−4 m ouabain in the solution bathing the apical membrane. Ouabain inhibited the unidirectional K flux in the direction of net flux but had not effect on the back-flux in the choroid-to-retina direction. The magnitude of the ouabain-inhibitable42K(86Rb) flux increased with [K] o ([Rb] o ). These results show that the apical membrane Na∶K pumps play an important role in the net active transport of potassium (rubidium) across the epithelium. The [K] o changes that modulate potassium transport coincide with the light-induced [K] o changes that occur in the extracellular space separating the photoreceptors and the apical membrane of the pigment epithelium.
Electrophoretic mobility for peptides with post‐translational modifications in capillary electrophoresis

Several semiempirical models for peptide electrophoretic mobility have been tested for capillary electrophoresis (CE) separation with a positively charged capillary using on-line CE combined with electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). In the current system with pH 2.7, the expression q/M(0.56) provided the best correlation with the electrophoretic mobility in the analysis of a set of 18 standard samples, where q is the calculated net charge and M is the molecular weight. The peptides resulting from various digests of horse heart myoglobin or bovine hemoglobin were used to demonstrate the validity of this correlation. Post-translationally modified peptides from tryptic digest of human myelin basic protein were also investigated and were found to provide excellent correlation with the linear plot when the total charge of the peptide was correctly calculated. If the total charge was not properly calculated then the post-translationally modified peptides fell off the linear plot. Using this method five arginine residues (residues 5, 49, 54, 97 and 130) were found to be partially citrullinated, four glutamine residues (residues 8, 103, 121 and 147) were found to be partially deamidated and both methionines at residues 21 and 167 were found to be partially oxidized. Three peptides were found with phosphorylation; TPPPSQGK (residue 98 to 105), FSWGAEGQR (residue 114 to 122), and SGSPMAR (residue 163 to 169) and Arginine at 107 was found to be partially monomethylated or dimethylated. The method may provide an excellent means of identifying the presence of peptides with post-translational modifications in conjunction with MS.
SU-E-T-559: Dosimetric and Volumetric Modulation Using Helical TomoTherapy Planning for Malignant Pleural MesotheliomaTumors

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to come up with the most desirable and achievable target dose and OAR sparing using helical TomoTherapy planning system based on the earlier conducted studies. Methods: Patient having mesothelioma with mediastinal nodes was planned using helical TomoTherapy with Gross tumor volumes (GTVs) outlined were investigated: The goal was (1) keeping the prescribed dose to the targets while reducing the dose to the OARs and (2) escalating the target dose while maintaining the original level of healthy tissue sparing. Results: The primary lesion and nodal mass were kept at 98.7% of the dose and planning target volume (PTV) margins of 3 mm inner and 1cm outer with the planned mean of 94% volume to 54 Gy. Mean lung dose is 15.6 Gy, V5Gy:33%, V20Gy:30.1%, with contralateral lung V5Gy:0.87% Heart V45:26.2%, PTV V54Gy:90.5%, Pitch: 0.43 and Modulation factor: 1.66 Conclusion: Based on many studies on the comparison of 3DCRT, IMRT and TomoTherapy, it is recommended that helical TomoTherapy provide better target coverage and sparing of OARs. Our data proved better PTV coverage. We planned a target dose of 54Gy but our institute would recommend re-evaluation at 45Gy. Helical TomoTherapy is a promising technique in the multimodality treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Unlike other studies where low doses received by the contralateral lung appear to be the limiting factor, we found using helical TomoTherapy the contralateral to be minimal V5Gy:0.87%.
A demonstration of several independent, partially overlapping, retinotopic maps in the optic tract of the cat

Abstract We show here that the retina is represented in the cat's optic tract by several separate, retinotopically organized maps. Fibers in different diameter classes from indepent maps, and both hemiretinae of the opposite side, as well as the temporal retina of the same side, are mapped in the tract. These several maps form rough topographic representation significantly out of register with each other.
VISCOSITY AND THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF AIR AND DIFFUSIVITY OF WATER VAPOR IN AIR

Abstract Carefully chosen numerical values for the viscosity and thermal conductivity of air and diffusivity of water vapor in air are tabulated for temperatures from −20C to +4OC and for a pressure of 1000 mb. A summary of physical constants relating to air is included.
ON THE FROBENIUS–PERRON EIGENVALUES OF CARTAN MATRICES FOR SOME FINITE GROUPS

We study integrality of the Frobenius–Perron eigenvalues of the Cartan matrices for the principal blocks of some finite groups of Lie type with noncyclic abelian Sylow p-subgroups.
Validity and reliability testing of a post-occupancy evaluation questionnaire on indoor environmental quality and occupants' satisfaction

A post-occupancy evaluation (POE) conceptual framework and questionnaire were developed and tested for occupant satisfaction in sustainable buildings. The purpose of this study was to test the POE questionnaire for validity and reliability and report the test results as well as those of a confirmatory case study analysis. An online, self-administered questionnaire was completed by 218 occupants of a sustainable office building in the Midwest. Statistical analysis for validity and reliability is reported. Additionally, several notable results were found in the case study: a) overall occupant satisfaction is significantly influenced by lighting/view conditions and furnishings conditions; b) occupant satisfaction with lighting/view conditions was significantly related to visual comfort of lighting; c) occupant satisfaction with furnishings conditions was significantly related to visual privacy. Finally, the questionnaire was found to be valid and reliable, which provides the industry with an instrument to learn more about occupant responses to sustainable buildings.
Biologic properties of factor-independent nonadherent hematopoietic and adherent preadipocyte cell lines derived from continuous bone marrow culture

Abstract Cell lines dependent for growth upon an inducer T-cell synthesized glycoprotein factor interleukin-3 have been derived from continuous mouse bone marrow cultures. These factor-dependent (FD) lines have been shown to be multipotential (erythroid/basophil/neutrophil) or (eosinophil/basophil/neutrophil); or are unipotent basophil or neutrophil granulocyte cell lines. Both classes of cloned FD lines have maintained self-renewal in vitro for several years with absolute growth dependence on freshly added IL-3. In four instances, factor-independent (FI) variant cell lines were derived, one by subculture in medium containing hydrocortisone and 25% horse serum and three by evolution of variants from cloned FD lines. One class of (FI) lines demonstrated adherent fibroblast-like morphology with differentiation to differentiated adipocytes in medium containing 10-5 hydrocortisone. A second class of cell lines evolved from cloned FD lines and each grew in suspension culture to a saturation density over 10-fold greater than that for the parent FD line (greater than 107/ml) and each contained no detectable hematopoietic cellular differentiation markers by histochemistry or cell surface receptors. In contrast to IL-3 dependent cell lines, (FI) cell lines failed to differentiate to mature granulocyte morphology in diffusion chambers in vivo. The FI cell lines formed no detectable CFUs in vivo, did not reconstitute hematopoiesis in irradiated mice and did not form tumors in vivo. The failure of the (FI) lines to form tumors and lack of detectable hematopoietic differentiation capacity indicates that these lines may represent an intermediate state between normally regulated hematopoietic cellular self-renewal and malignant transformation.