cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hedgehog signaling maintains a tumor stem cell compartment in multiple myeloma

The cancer stem cell hypothesis suggests that malignant growth depends on a subset of tumor cells with stem cell-like properties of self-renewal. Because hedgehog (Hh) signaling regulates progenitor cell fate in normal development and homeostasis, aberrant pathway activation might be involved in the maintenance of such a population in cancer. Indeed, mutational activation of the Hh pathway is associated with medulloblastoma and basal cell carcinoma; pathway activity is also critical for growth of other tumors lacking such mutations, although the mechanism of pathway activation is poorly understood. Here we study the role and mechanism of Hh pathway activation in multiple myeloma (MM), a malignancy with a well defined stem cell compartment. In this model, rare malignant progenitors capable of clonal expansion resemble B cells, whereas the much larger tumor cell population manifests a differentiated plasma cell phenotype that pathologically defines the disease. We show that the subset of MM cells that manifests Hh pathway activity is markedly concentrated within the tumor stem cell compartment. The Hh ligand promotes expansion of MM stem cells without differentiation, whereas the Hh pathway blockade, while having little or no effect on malignant plasma cell growth, markedly inhibits clonal expansion accompanied by terminal differentiation of purified MM stem cells. These data reveal that Hh pathway activation is heterogeneous across the spectrum of MM tumor stem cells and their more differentiated progeny. The potential existence of similar relationships in other adult cancers may have important biologic and clinical implications for the study of aberrant Hh signaling.
TO JUDGE ITEMS OR PEOPLE: A NOTE ON INSTRUCTIONS TO THURSTONE-ITEM JUDGES

The attitude-measurement techniques developed by Thurstone are characterized by a dependence upon judges for the assignment of scale values to items.' Our concern here is with the instructions the judges follow in their judgment procedure. The usual procedure is to instruct judges to "judge the degree of favorableness or unfavorableness of feeling expressed by each statement."2 We shall present evidence that suggests that a modified form of instructions may increase the agreement among judges about the scale value to be assigned an item. Such modified instructions also affect the central tendency of a number of items, changing initially neutral items to more extreme positions with a concomitant gain in face validity.
Synthesis of Taurine from Sulfate by the Chick

SummaryThe young chick actively converts sulfate-sulfur into taurine. The presence of optimum levels of inorganic sulfate in the diet appears to enhance the reaction more than with organic sulfur. Dietary cysteine represses the formation of total taurine in the liver and taurocholate-S35in the bile fluid. These preliminary data suggest that one or more of the nonessential amino acids may combine with activated sulfate to form taurine without passing via cysteine. Components of one carbon metabolism and vitamin B12. appear to be associated with the overall reaction.
Experiments in Social Psychology: Science or Self-Deception?

Criticisms of the very idea of experimentation in social psychology are longstanding; a focal claim recently has been that social psychological hypotheses are non-empirical. We contest this claim, but argue that many experiments in social psychology are pointless nonetheless because they are fundamentally circular. Testing hypotheses requires operationalization; operationalization requires assumptions; and in social psychology, we argue, the necessary assumptions often already imply that the hypotheses can be confirmed. Confirmability of the hypotheses of a number of experiments recently reported in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology is shown to be implied by two illustrative truistic principles central to theories assumed in any tests of these hypotheses. We suggest that research aimed at finding specifically social psychological laws may only yield unfalsifiable truisms, while useful social psychological research aims elsewhere.
Algorithmic fault tree synthesis for control loops

Abstract Efficient process control is an integral part of the design and operation of a safe and productive chemical plant. It is crucial for fault tree analysis since control systems are designed to prevent process deviations. How to handle control loops is a major concern in the research of computer-aided fault tree synthesis for the chemical process industry (CPI). This paper presents a systematic methodology to produce fault tree models for control loops and protective safe guards. Two examples are provided to illustrate the basic idea.
QUANTITATIVE PREPARATION OF METHYL ESTERS OF SHORT-CHAIN AND LONG-CHAIN FATTY ACIDS FOR GAS CHROMATOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS.

Abstract Gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) of fatty acid methyl esters provides a rapid and convenient method for the analysis of free and esterified fatty acids. A number of procedures (1–6) have been described for the quantitative preparation of methyl esters of long-chain fatty acids (usually C12–20) prior to gas chromatographic analysis. However, methylation of short-chain fatty acids and their esters with methanol-HCl reagent does not give quantitative yields of methyl esters due to losses during evaporation (7) and sublimation (6) procedures. Analysis of esterified fatty acids of triglycerides, phospholipids, and sterol esters can be accomplished after saponification followed by methylation with diazomethane or BF3-methanol. These procedures, however, do not give quantitative yields of methyl esters (2). In this paper we describe a method for quantitative preparation of the methyl esters of both short- and long-chain fatty acids by transesterification with BF3-methanol reagent.
On a tiling problem of R.B. Eggleton

Abstract A tiling of the plane with polygonal tiles is said to be strict if any point common to two tiles is a vertex of both or a vertex of neither. A triangle is said to be rational if its sides have rational length. Recently R.B. Eggleton asked if it is possible to strictly tile the plane with rational triangles using precisely one triangle from each congruence class. In this paper we constructively prove the existence of such a tiling by a suitable modification of the technique suggested by Eggleton. The theory of rational points on elliptic curves, in particular, the Nagell-Lutz theorem, plays a crucial role in completing the proof.
Bessel difference systems of fractional order

[3, 41. For v = 0, (1) is similar to the system treated by Gergen et al. [5, 61. Some of their results are shown to hold for system (1) when 0 < v < 1. Representa- tions are obtained for the exact eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of systems of the form (l), using a technique similar to one employed by Boyer [2] to treat the case v = 0. It is convenient for our purposes to consider the matrix eigenvalue problem equivalent to (1). The N x N tridiagonal matrix A,,, which has eigenvalues and eigenvectors identical to the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of (1) has nonzero elements given by the coefficients of the scheme (1).
New GPS constraints on the motion of the Yakutat Block

Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements were made at Yakutat, on the Yakutat terrane of southern Alaska, to investigate the motion of the Yakutat block with respect to the North American plate and to help constrain motion along the Fairweather fault. The velocity of Yakutat derived from the GPS data is 44.1 +/− 1.9 mm/yr toward N37° +/− 4°W relative to stable North America. The magnitude of this velocity is similar to that of the Pacific plate predicted by NUVEL1A, although there is a significant difference in the azimuth of these two vectors. The motion of Yakutat relative to North America is almost exactly parallel to the strike of the Fairweather fault, suggesting that most deformation inboard of Yakutat is right-lateral strike slip on the Fairweather fault or faults parallel to it, and that significant motion normal to the Fairweather fault occurs offshore of Yakutat. The GPS velocity at Yakutat is also used to help constrain the slip rate and locking depth of the Fairweather fault.
Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Modulates Microtubule Dynamics via RhoA-GTP-Diaphanous 2 Signaling and Utilizes the Dynein Motors To Deliver Its DNA to the Nucleus

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8; also called Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus), which is implicated in the pathogenesis of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) and lymphoproliferative disorders, infects a variety of target cells both in vivo and in vitro. HHV-8 binds to several in vitro target cells via cell surface heparan sulfate and utilizes the α3β1 integrin as one of its entry receptors. Interactions with cell surface molecules induce the activation of host cell signaling cascades and cytoskeletal changes (P. P. Naranatt, S. M. Akula, C. A. Zien, H. H. Krishnan, and B. Chandran, J. Virol. 77:1524-1539, 2003). However, the mechanism by which the HHV-8-induced signaling pathway facilitates the complex events associated with the internalization and nuclear trafficking of internalized viral DNA is as yet undefined. Here we examined the role of HHV-8-induced cytoskeletal dynamics in the infectious process and their interlinkage with signaling pathways. The depolymerization of microtubules did not affect HHV-8 binding and internalization, but it inhibited the nuclear delivery of viral DNA and infection. In contrast, the depolymerization of actin microfilaments did not have any effect on virus binding, entry, nuclear delivery, or infection. Early during infection, HHV-8 induced the acetylation of microtubules and the activation of the RhoA and Rac1 GTPases. The inactivation of Rho GTPases by Clostridium difficile toxin B significantly reduced microtubular acetylation and the delivery of viral DNA to the nucleus. In contrast, the activation of Rho GTPases by Escherichia coli cytotoxic necrotizing factor significantly augmented the nuclear delivery of viral DNA. Among the Rho GTPase-induced downstream effector molecules known to stabilize the microtubules, the activation of RhoA-GTP-dependent diaphanous 2 was observed, with no significant activation in the Rac- and Cdc42-dependent PAK1/2 and stathmin molecules. The nuclear delivery of viral DNA increased in cells expressing a constitutively active RhoA mutant and decreased in cells expressing a dominant-negative mutant of RhoA. HHV-8 capsids colocalized with the microtubules, as observed by confocal microscopic examination, and the colocalization was abolished by the destabilization of microtubules with nocodazole and by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor affecting the Rho GTPases. These results suggest that HHV-8 induces Rho GTPases, and in doing so, modulates microtubules and promotes the trafficking of viral capsids and the establishment of infection. This is the first demonstration of virus-induced host cell signaling pathways in the modulation of microtubule dynamics and in the trafficking of viral DNA to the infected cell nucleus. These results further support our hypothesis that HHV-8 manipulates the host cell signaling pathway to create an appropriate intracellular environment that is conducive to the establishment of a successful infection.
Mechanism of Selective Oxidation of Propene to Acrolein on Bismuth Molybdates from Quantum Mechanical Calculations

In order to understand the mechanism for selective ammoxidation of propene to acrylonitrile by bismuth molybdates, we report quantum mechanical studies (using the B3LYP flavor of density functional theory) for the various steps involved in converting the allyl-activated intermediate to acrylonitrile over molybdenum oxide (using a Mo_3O_9 cluster model) under conditions adjusted to describe both high and low partial pressures of NH_3 in the feed. We find that the rate-determining step in converting of allyl to acrylonitrile at all feed partial pressures is the second hydrogen abstraction from the nitrogen-bound allyl intermediate (Mo−NH−CH_2−CH═CH_2) to form Mo−NH═CH−CH═CH_2). We find that imido groups (Mo═NH) have two roles: (1) a direct effect on H abstraction barriers, H abstraction by an imido moiety is (~8 kcal/mol) more favorable than abstraction by an oxo moiety (Mo═O), and (2) an indirect effect, the presence of spectator imido groups decreases the H abstraction barriers by an additional ~15 kcal/mol. Therefore, at higher NH_3 pressures (which increases the number of Mo═NH groups), the second H abstraction barrier decreases significantly, in agreement with experimental observations that propene conversion is higher at higher partial pressures of NH_3. At high NH_3 pressures we find that the final hydrogen abstraction has a high barrier [ΔH‡_(fourth-ab) = 31.6 kcal/mol compared to ΔH‡_(second-ab) = 16.4 kcal/mol] due to formation of low Mo oxidation states in the final state. However, we find that reoxidizing the surface prior to the last hydrogen abstraction leads to a significant reduction of this barrier to ΔH‡_(fourth-ab) = 15.9 kcal/mol, so that this step is no longer rate determining. Therefore, we conclude that reoxidation during the reaction is necessary for facile conversion of allyl to acrylonitrile.
Rodents Rely on Merkel Cells for Texture Discrimination Tasks

The cutaneous somatosensory system contains multiple types of mechanoreceptors that detect different mechanical stimuli (Johnson, 2001). These stimuli, either alone or in combination, are ultimately interpreted by the brain as different aspects of the sense of touch. Psychophysical and electrophysiological experiments in humans and other mammals implicate one of these mechanoreceptors, the Merkel cell/neurite complex, in two-point discrimination and the detection of curvature, shape, and texture (Johnson and Lamb, 1981; Johnson et al., 2000; Johnson, 2001). However, whether Merkel cell/neurite complex function is required for the detection of these stimuli is unknown. We genetically engineered mice that lack Merkel cells (Maricich et al., 2009; Morrison et al., 2009) to directly test the hypothesis that Merkel cell/neurite complexes are necessary to perform these types of sensory discrimination tasks. We found that mice devoid of Merkel cells could not detect textured surfaces with their feet while other measures of motor and sensory function were unaffected. Interestingly, these mice retained the ability to discriminate both texture and shape using their whiskers, suggesting that other somatosensory afferents can functionally substitute for Merkel cell/neurite complexes in this sensory organ. These findings suggest that Merkel cell/neurite complexes are essential for texture discrimination tasks involving glabrous skin but not whiskers.
Accurate measurement of force and displacement with optical tweezers using DNA molecules as metrology standards

Optical tweezers facilitate measurement of piconewton-level forces and nanometer-level displacements and have broad applications in biophysics and soft matter physics research. We have shown previously that DNA molecules can be used as metrology standards to define such measurements. Force-extension measurements on two DNA molecules of different lengths can be used to determine four necessary measurement parameters. Here, we show that the accuracy of determining these parameters can be improved by more than 7-fold by incorporating measurements of the DNA overstretching transition and using a multi-step data analysis procedure. This method results in very robust and precise fitting of DNA force-extension measurements to the worm-like chain model. We verify the accuracy through independent measurements of DNA stretching, DNA unzipping, and microsphere contact forces.
Homology-driven assembly of a sequence-ready mouse BAC contig map spanning regions related to the 46-Mb gene-rich euchromatic segments of human chromosome 19

Draft sequence derived from the 46-Mb gene-rich euchromatic portion of human chromosome 19 (HSA19) was utilized to generate a sequence-ready physical map spanning homologous regions of mouse chromosomes. Sequence similarity searches with the human sequence identified more than 1000 individual orthologous mouse genes from which 382 overgo probes were developed for hybridization. Using human gene order and spacing as a model, these probes were used to isolate and assemble bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clone contigs spanning homologous mouse regions. Each contig was verified, extended, and joined to neighboring contigs by restriction enzyme fingerprinting analysis. Approximately 3000 mouse BACs were analyzed and assembled into 44 contigs with a combined length of 41.4 Mb. These BAC contigs, covering 90% of HSA19-related mouse DNA, are distributed throughout 15 homology segments derived from different regions of mouse chromosomes 7, 8, 9, 10, and 17. The alignment of the HSA19 map with the ordered mouse BAC contigs revealed a number of structural differences in several overtly conserved homologous regions and more precisely defined the borders of the known regions of HSA19-syntenic homology. Our results demonstrate that given a human draft sequence, BAC contig maps can be constructed quickly for comparative sequencing without the need for preestablished mouse-specific genetic or physical markers and indicate that similar strategies can be applied with equal success to genomes of other vertebrate species.
Generalizations of Two Sided Power Distributions and Their Convolution

A general form of a family of bounded two-sided continuous distributions is introduced. The uniform and triangular distributions are possibly the simplest and best known members of this family. We also describe families of continuous distribution on a bounded interval generated by convolutions of these two-sided distributions. Examples of various forms of convolutions of triangular distributions are presented and analyzed.
Signaling by Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptors: Pathways, Paradigms and Targets for Therapeutic Modulation

(1999). Signaling by Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptors: Pathways, Paradigms and Targets for Therapeutic Modulation. International Reviews of Immunology: Vol. 18, No. 4, pp. 405-427.
Unusual features of micellar diffusion

Diffusion coefficients of tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide in aqueous solutions have been determined at 25, 95 and 135 °C using the Taylor dispersion technique. The diffusion coefficient exhibits a minimum at a surfactant concentration above the critical micelle concentration (CMC). The results are interpreted in terms of electrostatic coupling and rapid exchange between micelle, surfactant monomer and counterions.
Evidence for alternative splicing in hepatic alpha 1B-adrenergic receptor gene expression.

AbstractThe interactions of catecholamines with α1B-adrenergic receptors (α1B-AR) located on the surface of many cell types are responsible for physiologic and pathologic functions in mammalian systems. Transcription of the α1B-AR gene leads to the expression of multiple α1B-AR mRNAs that are distributed in a tissue-specific fashion. The purpose of this study was to define the 5′-untranslated regions of the multiple α1B-AR gene transcripts. Evidence for a previously unidentified intron in the α1B-AR gene upstream of the receptor open reading frame was obtained via rapid amplification of cDNA ends. A product was amplified and was found to be missing the nucleotide interval from -708 to -194, (+1 is the start of translation). Evidence for tissue-specific alternative intron splicing was obtained from ribonuclease protection assays and RT-PCR experiments. Using an RNA probe extending from -240 to +93 and including 45 nucleotides into the putative intron, a single protected fragment was detected in heart RNA w...
Aristotle and Altruism

I shall deal with two connected problems in Aristotle's theory of friendship: what does he mean by deriving friendship from selflove in Nicomachean Ethics IX.4 and IX.8? And how exactly does the concept of the friend as another self function as a premiss in the final argument of NE IX.9 to show that the happy man will need friends? It will be convenient to discuss these two questions in terms of egoism and altruism, but since this introduces the risk of anachronistic assumptions and associations, let me begin with a precautionary word about the terminology. What I mean by altruism here is limited to what Hume called particular as opposed to general benevolence, what Mackie has recently called 'self-referential altruism', a 'concern for others, but for others who have some special connection with oneself'.' For our purposes altruism means a concern for the welfare of friends, relations, and personal associates, not good will towards all and sundry. In classical times at any rate, the Greeks seem to have had no inkling of a notion of brotherly love that could extend to all humanity. The nearest approximation is the Socratic doctrine that one should never harm one's enemies. But even Socrates does not suggest one should love them. Just as humility is not a Greek virtue, so general benevolence (understood as loving one's neighbour as oneself) is not a Greek moral ideal.2 For present purposes egoism must also be taken with a grain of salt, as a catch-all reference to any concern for one's own interests or welfare. Egoism here does not imply any dogmatic or
Fibromuscular dysplasia of the internal carotid artery.

Twenty patients have undergone a total of 28 revascularization procedures for symptomatic fibromuscular dysplasia of the internal carotid artery. A wide spectrum of preoperative complaints included transient cerebral ischemic symptoms and completed strokes. Only one patient sustained a transient postoperative neurologic deficit. All patients have had improvement or complete cessation of their preoperative complaints, and there have been no late postoperative strokes. The surgical techniques employed, including resection and reanastomosis and graduated internal dilation, have been successful in establishing widely patent and durable internal carotid artery lumens.
Integration of IR Video to Enhance Measurements of the Thermal Diffusivity Tensor

Proper positioning of temperature sensors is required to minimize error in measurements of thermal diffusivity. Calculating the proper position of these sensors a priori, however, requires knowing the very thermophysical properties of the material one is testing. Presented here are calculations illustrating how IR video might be used to optimize a biaxial, pulsed thermal diffusivity measurement system. Results will be shown for representative elastomers.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Intrathecal baclofen in pain management.

Baclofen is a GABAB agonist that is administered spinally via an implanted drug delivery device to treat spasticity. It has been shown to have powerful antinociceptive effects in experimental animal models at doses that produce little or no motor-blocking effects but has rarely been used as a spinal analgesic agent in patients without spasticity. Several studies have indicated that intrathecal baclofen provides relief of central pain in patients with spasticity. To date, only 3 studies have shown it to be effective in patients with peripheral nociceptive or neuropathic pain mechanisms. Combinations of baclofen and morphine or clonidine are more effective than each drug alone in clinical as well as animal studies.
Exercise-induced fall in coupling of human β2-adrenergic receptors☆

The purpose of this study was to quantitatively examine to what extent acute exertion diminishes the activity of β-adrenergic receptors through diminishing coupling. Normal neutrophil membrane preparations containing β2-adrenergic receptors were obtained from healthy human volunteers, then exposed to autologous venous plasma obtained before and after acute forearm exertion. There was an acute, dramatic diminution in coupling (P < .003) after only a few minutes of exercise. Preexertion plasma had no significant effect upon coupling. Substantial diminution in β-adrenergic receptor sensitivity is thus acutely demonstrable in this model which serves as a model for both metabolic acidosis and acute exertion.
Use of the 2,6-bis[(dimethylamino)methyl]phenyl ligand to form some pentacoordinate derivatives of P(III), As(III), Sb(III) and Bi(III)

Abstract Reaction of Li[2,6-(Me2NCH2)2C6H3] with ECl3 results in the chelated dichlorides, [2,6-(Me2NCH2)2C6H3]ECl2 (EP (1), As (2), Sb (3), Bi (4)). Compounds 1 and 2 are converted into the corresponding EH2 derivatives, [2,6-(Me2NCH2)2C6H3]EH2 (EP (5), As (6)) by reduction with LiAlH4. The structure of 3 has been determined by X-ray crystallography. Compound 3 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c with a=11.135(1), b=8.620(1), c=16.245(2) A, β=95.87(1)°, V=1551(2) A3 and Z=4. The geometry at Sb is distorted square pyramidal.
Identification of an indigenous plasmid carrying a gene for trimethoprim resistance in Pseudomonas syringae pv. glycinea

Pseudomonas syringae pv. glycinea Race 8 strain PgB3 is naturally resistant to trimethoprim (Tp) at concentrations up to 500 μg/ml. A genomic library of total PgB3 DNA was constructed by ligating EcoRI-restricted DNA into the EcoRI site of the cosmid vector, pLAFR1, packaging the DNA in vitro into bacteriophage lambda, and transducing E. coli DH1 cells. Of 960 cosmid clones selected for resistance to tetracycline, six were resistant to trimethoprim at 500 μg/ml. An insert into pLAFR1 of about 9.4 kb was shown to be consistently present in the tirmethoprim-resistant clones. Southern blot analysis using radioactively labeled insert DNA as probe indicated that the 9.4 kb fragment hybridized only with a 40 kb indigenous plasmid from PgB3 designated pPg2.
The Role of Interventional Therapy for Pleural Diseases

Pleural diseases encompass a vast and heterogeneous group of diseases that have traditionally received relatively little attention from researchers, resulting in empiric approaches to patient management based largely on expert opinions and anecdotal evidence. Yet, paradoxically, pleural diseases represent a considerable burden for patients, providers, and the healthcare system as a whole, with a rising incidence of malignant pleural effusions and pleural space infections, in increasingly complex patients. Fortunately, the last decade has witnessed unprecedented research efforts from the pleural community, which have resulted in substantial advances in risk-stratification, patient selection, treatment efficacy and the development of evidence-based recommendations ultimately leading to improved patient care. In this review, we will present a summary of the current evidence for the management of pleural diseases with an emphasis on interventional procedures, and highlight the need for future research efforts in the field of malignant pleural effusions, pleural space infections and pneumothorax.
Fluoroscopic Radiation Exposure in Spinal Surgery: In Vivo Evaluation for Operating Room Personnel.

Study Design:Prospective in vivo investigation of fluoroscopic radiation exposure during spinal surgery.Objective:To quantify the total amount of radiation dosage and identify techniques to maintain safe levels of fluoroscopic exposure in the operating room.Summary of Background Data:No previous stu
Supercritical (and subcritical) fluid behavior and modeling: drops, streams, shear and mixing layers, jets and sprays

A critical review of recent investigations in the realm of supercritical (and subcritical) fluid behavior is presented with the goal of obtaining a perspective on the peculiarities of high pressure observations. Experiments with drops, isolated or in groups, streams, shear and mixing layers, jets and sprays are tabulated and discussed as a precursor to forming a conceptual picture of fluid comportment. The physics of fluid behavior in the supercritical and subcritical regimes is discussed, and major differences between the observations in these two regimes are identified and explained. A variety of supercritical fluid models is then examined in the context of drop studies, and salient aspects of fluid behavior are identified. In particular, a model that has been validated with microgravity drop experiments is described and summarized; in this validated model, the differences in subcritical/supercritical comportment are interpreted in terms of lengths scales and it is this difference that is responsible for the traditional Lewis number expression no longer portraying the ratio of heat to mass transfer in supercritical fluids; instead, an effective Lewis number is recommended that gives a realistic estimate of the ratio of these length scales. Furthermore, the application of various fluid models to the description of supercritical fluid in various geometric configurations is discussed for conditions relevant to liquid rocket, Diesel and gas turbine engines. Such preliminary simulations performed with the validated fluid model have already reproduced some specific experimental features of supercritical fluid jet disintegration. Finally, comments are offered regarding future areas of research.
SUBCHRONIC TOXICITY OF VOMITOXIN IN SPRAGUE-DAWLEY RATS

Purified vomitoxin was incorporated into the diet at a level of 20 ppm and fed to male Sprague-Dawley rats ad lib. for 90 days. Few clinical signs of toxicity were observed. Rats in the vomitoxin treatment group were less efficient in converting feed into body mass, but there was no feed refusal. Terminal body weight was reduced in the vomitoxin treatment group. There were no statistically significant effects on serum enzyme levels, haematological parameters or tissue lesions, or on liver detoxification systems, as reflected in levels of microsomal cytochrome P-450 or in glutathione S-transferase activity.
Accuracy of abbreviated manometry in detecting esophageal motility abnormalities

We determined whether an abbreviated motility study that is commonly employed in clinical esophageal manometrics was as accurate as an extended manometric evaluation in detecting abnormalities in the esophageal body. One hundred patients underwent both abbreviated (stationary catheter, 10 wet swallows) and extended manometries (stepwise catheter withdrawal, 62±1 wet swallows). Classification by the two techniques was identical in 83 patients. Abbreviated manometry failed to recognize nine abnormal motility patterns. The abbreviated method was least accurate in the identification of intermittent and focal motility abnormalities (sensitivity=0.50). Misclassifications were related to catheter position and not solely to differences in the total number of swallows. Of the individual wave parameters measured by each method, detection of multipeaked contraction waves was the most discrepant (R=0.59). These findings indicate that abbreviated esophageal manometry is reasonably well correlated with a more extended method in detecting esophageal motility disorders and, because of its relative simplicity, appears appropriate for use in clinical practice. Errors related to stationary recording port positions may interfere with the overall accuracy of the abbreviated technique.
Neonatal feeding practices of Anglo American mothers and Asian Indian mothers living in the United States and India.

Abstract Objective To compare the colostrum and prelacteal feeding practices of Anglo American mothers and Asian Indian mothers living in the United States and India. Design Data were collected by interviews in the mother's home. Setting Southeastern United States and India. Participants Participants included 75 mother-infant pairs (n = 25 per ethnic group). Variables Measured Demographic characteristics, length of US residence, mother's colostrum and prelacteal feeding practices, and associated reasons. Analysis Descriptive statistics. Results All Anglo American mothers initiated breast-feeding immediately after the infant's birth, and none gave prelacteal feeds. Asian Indian mothers living in the United States and India initiated breast-feeding postpartum at means of 12 and 30 hours, respectively. Six of the Asian Indian women living in the United States and 17 Asian Indian mothers living in India delayed introducing colostrum and fed prelacteal feeds. Conclusions and Implications Asian Indian women who come to live in the United States demonstrate different feeding practices than their Indian counterparts. In India, women may receive guidance regarding breast-feeding primarily from relatives and friends, whereas in the United States, breast-feeding counseling may be provided by health professionals. Nutritionists are encouraged to understand the maternal reasons for withholding colostrum and prelacteal feeding and to give compatible messages targeted at women of Asian Indian origin about breast-feeding.
Role of chemokines in the pathogenesis of asthma

The prevalence of asthma has risen drastically in the last two decades, with a worldwide impact on health care systems. Although several factors contribute to the development of asthma, inflammation seems to be a common factor that leads to the most severe asthmatic responses. In the past decade, researchers have characterized a large group of chemotactic cytokines, also known as chemokines, which are implicated in asthmatic inflammation. These chemokines control and direct the migration and activation of various leukocyte populations. Targeting chemokines should lead to new ways of controlling the inflammatory asthmatic response.
Radial Electron Collection in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

We introduce a new photoelectrode architecture consisting of concentric conducting and semiconducting nanotubes for use in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Atomic layer deposition is employed to grow indium tin oxide (ITO) within a porous template and subsequently coat the high area photoelectrode with amorphous TiO2. Compared with control devices lacking a current collector within the pores, the new photoelectrode geometry exhibits dramatically higher current densities, an effect attributed to the radial collection of electrons.
Subcellular near-field biomolecule sampling using a biosensor

As the initial experiments towards integrating the near-field ablation and a fiber-optic biosensor, we report the near-field ablation on Arabidopsis thaliana leaf samples with a 2μm ablation spot. We also report time-dependent spectral plots of detecting biomolecules in the ground Arabidopsis leaf solution. The sensitivity of detecting biomolecules with amino functional groups was improved by using a biosensor coated with a specific type of cross linkers.
Understanding cardiovascular disease through the lens of genome-wide association studies

The past few years have seen significant advances in the identification of genetic factors that contribute to complex disease. Progress in cardiovascular diseases (CVD) has been particularly impressive, with genome-wide association studies (GWAS) leading to the identification of ∼160 loci associated with CVD and its risk factors, many of which implicate new biological pathways. Here we focus on our growing understanding of the genetic contribution to CVD, examining the gene variants that increase the risk of particular CVD events and those underlying traditional CVD risk factors. Although GWAS face several technical challenges, including the potential for both false-positive and false-negative findings, they are starting to provide a unique view of the genetic architecture of a common disease.
The study and simulation of high-order overlay control including field-by-field methodologies

Overlay continues to be one of the key challenges for photolithography in semiconductor manufacturing. It becomes even more challenging due to the continued shrinking of the device node. The corresponding tighter overlay specs require the consideration of new paradigms for overlay control, such as high-order control schemes and/or field-by-field overlay control. These approaches have been demonstrated to provide tighter overlay control for design rule structures, and can be applied to areas such as double patterning lithography (DPL), as well as for correcting non-linear overlay deformation signatures caused by non-lithographic wafer processing. Previously we presented a study of high-order control applied to high order scanner correction, high order scanner alignment, and the sampling required to support these techniques. Here we extend this work, using sources of variation (SOV) techniques, and have further studied the impact of field by field compensation. This report will show an optimized procedure for high order control using production wafers and field by field control.
Effect of T-stress on fatigue crack closure in 3-D small-scale yielding

Abstract This paper investigates the effects of in-plane constraint on 3-D fatigue crack closure in the small-scale yielding regime. The finite element analyses grow a sharp, straight-through crack in a modified boundary layer model under mode I, constant amplitude cyclic loading with prescribed but independent peak values of stress intensity factor, Kmax, and the T-stress, Tmax. A purely kinematic hardening law with constant modulus represents the material constitutive behavior. The computational results demonstrate that a two parameter characterization of crack tip fields in terms of K max /σ 0 B and Tmax/σ0, where σ0 denotes the yield stress of the material, correlates successfully the normalized opening load Kop/Kmax across variations of thickness (B), constraint level and material flow properties. Both negative and positive T-stress reduce the through-thickness variation in local opening load levels along the crack front. A negative T-stress increases Kop/Kmax values, particularly at low peak loads where the plastic zone size remains a fraction of the thickness; a positive T-stress has limited effect on Kop/Kmax values. The fringe plots of individual plastic strain components reveal (a) in the absence of T-stress (Tmax/σ0=0), plastic contraction in the thickness direction compensates primarily for permanent stretching in the direction normal to the crack plane required for closure, (b) for negative T-stress (Tmax/σ0 0), both in-plane directions experience permanent stretching and the thickness direction alone undergoes plastic contraction.
Embayment scale assessment of submarine groundwater discharge nutrient loading and associated land use

Abstract A shoreline survey of porewater nutrient concentrations and 222Rn surface water activities was performed in Port Jefferson Harbor, NY, an embayment of Long Island Sound. Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) was calculated for individual shoreline segments; shallow porewater nutrient concentrations were applied to calculated groundwater flux values in order to spatially depict the nutrient flux to overlying harbor water. Nitrate was the dominant form of inorganic nitrogen as porewater concentrations of ammonium were negligible. Land use analysis showed that nitrate to phosphate ratios (N:P) in SGD were positively correlated with medium to high development of inland aquifer watersheds. A multivariate regression model was developed which describes 79% of the variability in shoreline nitrate discharge. Three modes of nutrient transport were observed; 1) High SGD rates coupled with nutrient rich groundwater derived from high density development, 2) moderate SGD rates coupled with low nutrient groundwater from low density development/forested watersheds and 3) negligible SGD rates associated with recirculated seawater adjacent to low density development areas. Transport mode 1 dominated total SGD nitrate inputs primarily due to steep hydraulic gradient, a characteristic of tunnel valleys in glacial deposits, which highlights the critical role hydrogeology plays in groundwater nitrogen loading to surface water. Total nitrate inputs to the harbor from shoreline SGD alone are 980 mol d−1, similar to average daily sewage treatment plant nitrogen inputs of 870 mol d−1. The techniques used in this study represent an effective methodology for calculating SGD derived nutrient loads where a surface water nutrient source is present.
Light Reflectance Compared with Other Nitrogen Stress Measurements in Corn Leaves

New tools that can rapidly quantify the N status of corn could be valuable in N fertilizer management practices. This study was conducted to compare light reflectance from corn leaves with other parameters used to detect N deficiencies. Light reflectance (400-700 nm) as measured from corn leaves in the laboratory with a Hunter tristimulus colorimeter was compared with Minolta SPAD 502 chlorophyll meter readings (light transmittance at 650 and 940 nm), leaf N concentrations, and specific leaf N (N content per unit area). Measurements were made on individual ear leaves collected from an irrigated corn N response trial with four hybrids and have N treatments. Light reflectance near 550 nm was the best wavelength to separate N treatment differences. Reflectance at 550 nm provided a stronger relationship with both leaf N concentration and chlorophyll meter reading than between chlorophyll meter readings and leaf N concentration. The measurement of light reflectance near 550 nm has promise as a technique to detect N deficiencies in corn leaves
A stochastic programming approach for planning horizons of infinite horizon capacity planning problems

Planning horizon is a key issue in production planning. Different from previous approaches based on Markov Decision Processes, we study the planning horizon of capacity planning problems within the framework of stochastic programming. We first consider an infinite horizon stochastic capacity planning model involving a single resource, linear cost structure, and discrete distributions for general stochastic cost and demand data (non-Markovian and non-stationary). We give sufficient conditions for the existence of an optimal solution. Furthermore, we study the monotonicity property of the finite horizon approximation of the original problem. We show that, the optimal objective value and solution of the finite horizon approximation problem will converge to the optimal objective value and solution of the infinite horizon problem, when the time horizon goes to infinity. These convergence results, together with the integrality of decision variables, imply the existence of a planning horizon. We also develop a useful formula to calculate an upper bound on the planning horizon. Then by decomposition, we show the existence of a planning horizon for a class of very general stochastic capacity planning problems, which have complicated decision structure.
Enzymatic Redesigning of Biologically Active Heparan Sulfate

Heparan sulfate carries a wide range of biological activities, regulating blood coagulation, cell differentiation, and inflammatory responses. The sulfation patterns of the polysaccharide are essential for the biological activities. In this study, we report an enzymatic method for the sulfation of multimilligram amounts of heparan sulfate with specific functions using immobilized sulfotransferases combined with a 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate regeneration system. By selecting appropriate enzymatic modification steps, an inactive precursor has been converted to the heparan sulfate having three distinct biological activities, associated with binding to antithrombin, fibroblast growth factor-2, and herpes simplex virus envelope glycoprotein D. Because the recombinant sulfotransferases are expressed in bacteria, and the method uses a low cost sulfo donor, it can be readily utilized to synthesize large quantities of anticoagulant heparin drug or other biologically active heparan sulfates.
Multi-quantum well electro-optic modulator using a combination of excitonic index and absorption changes

Efficient reflection modulation, using index and absorption changes in a novel p-i-n surface-normal Fabry-Perot resonator configuration, is reported. A reverse bias changes both the absorption and the index of refraction by a tuning of the exciton resonance. In the resonator configuration, these effects cause both a shift in the position of the Fabry-Perot modes and a change in its Q, which can combine to enhance the net change in modulator reflectivity near the exciton lines. Further away from these exciton lines, the Fabry-Perot modes tune purely by index modulation. >
Effect of exciton-optical phonon interactions on the binding energies of excitons in ionic quantum well structures

We have derived an expression for the effective interaction potential between the constituents of an exciton, namely an electron and a hole in an ionic quantum well structure by taking into account the electron-hole interactions with the confined optical, interface and half-space longitudinal optical phonon modes using a variational method. We follow an approach similar to that used by Haken to derive an effective potential between an electron and a hole in bulk ionic crystals. Using our interaction potential we have calculated the binding energies of excitons in several ionic quantum well structures. We find that the values of the exciton binding energies calculated using this effective interaction potential are always larger than those obtained using a Coulomb potential screened by the static dielectric constant. We compare our results with those of some recent calculations.
Loss of heterozygosity at the mannose 6-phosphate insulin-like growth factor 2 receptor (M6P/IGF2R) locus predisposes patients to radiation-induced lung injury.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at the mannose 6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor 2 receptor (M6P/IGF2R) gene locus and the development of radiation-induced lung injury. Material and Methods: Thirty-five lung cancer patients with both stored plasma for Transforming Growth Factor β1 (TGFβ1) analysis and sufficient quantities of archival pathology tissue to screen for LOH were studied. All patients had been treated with thoracic radiotherapy for their malignancy and had radiographically detectable tumor present before beginning radiotherapy. Tumor and normal cells were microdissected from archival lung cancer pathology specimens. Two polymorphisms in the 3′ untranslated region of the M6P/IGF2R were used to screen for LOH. Plasma TGFβ1 levels were measured using acid-ethanol extraction and an ELISA. TGFβ1 and M6P/IGF2R protein expression was estimated by immunofluorescence and immunohistochemical staining. Symptomatic radiation pneumonitis was scored according to National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria without knowledge of the results of TGFβ or LOH analyses. Results: Of the 35 patients, 10 were homozygous for this polymorphism (noninformative) and were excluded. Of the 25 informative patients, 13 had LOH. Twelve of 13 patients with LOH had increased pretreatment plasma TGFβ1 levels, vs. 3/12 patients without LOH (p < 0.01). A decrease or loss of M6P/IGF2R protein in the malignant cell accompanied by increased latent TGFβ1 protein in extracellular matrix and tumor stroma was found in tumors with LOH, suggesting that this mutation resulted in loss of function of the receptor. Seven of 13 (54%) LOH patients developed symptomatic radiation-induced lung injury vs. 1/12 (8%) of patients without LOH (p = 0.05). Conclusions: Loss of the M6P/IGF2R gene strongly correlates with the development of radiation pneumonitis after thoracic radiotherapy (RT). Furthermore, patients with LOH (in the setting of measurable tumor) are much more likely to have elevated plasma TGFβ, suggesting an inability to normally process this cytokine. Thus, loss of the M6P/IGF2R gene may predispose patients to the development of radiation-induced lung injury.