cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Global Sumoylation Changes Occurring during Keratinocyte Differentiation

Sumoylation is a highly dynamic process that plays a role in a multitude of processes ranging from cell cycle progression to mRNA processing and cancer. A previous study from our lab demonstrated that SUMO plays an important role in keratinocyte differentiation. Here we present a new method of tracking the sumoylation state of proteins by creating a stably transfected HaCaT keratinocyte cell line expressing an inducible SNAP-SUMO3 protein. The SNAP-tag allows covalent fluorescent labeling that is denaturation resistant. When combined with two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, the SNAP-tag technology provides direct visualization of sumoylated targets and can be used to follow temporal changes in the global cohort of sumoylated proteins during dynamic processes such as differentiation. HaCaT keratinocyte cells expressing SNAP-SUMO3 displayed normal morphological and biochemical features that are consistent with typical keratinocyte differentiation. SNAP-SUMO3 also localized normally in these cells with a predominantly nuclear signal and some minor cytoplasmic staining, consistent with previous reports for untagged SUMO2/3. During keratinocyte differentiation the total number of proteins modified by SNAP-SUMO3 was highest in basal cells, decreased abruptly after induction of differentiation, and slowly rebounded beginning between 48 and 72 hours as differentiation progressed. However, within this overall trend the pattern of change for individual sumoylated proteins was highly variable with both increases and decreases in amount over time. From these results we conclude that sumoylation of proteins during keratinocyte differentiation is a complex process which likely reflects and contributes to the biochemical changes that drive differentiation.
Characterization and modeling of intradie variation and its applications to design for manufacturability

Device scaling increases the impact of within-die variation or mismatch on the performance and yield of many important components of System on Chip (SoC) designs. This has created a need for accurate characterization, modeling, and simulation of mismatch. This paper provides a brief overview of the recent progress in these areas along with an example illustrating the application of these techniques to Design for Manufacturability (DFM) of Ultra Deep Submicron (UDSM) technologies.
Maternal plasma and egg yolk testosterone concentrations during embryonic development in green anoles (Anolis carolinensis).

Sex steroids of presumably maternal origin have been found in avian, crocodilian, and chelonian egg yolks, and they can affect offspring morphology and behavior. The present study reports testosterone (T) levels to which embryos are potentially exposed in the green anole (Anolis carolinensis), a lizard with genotypic sex determination. We documented plasma and yolk T concentrations in adult females, in their developing follicles and eggs, and in freshly oviposited and incubating eggs. Plasma T was higher in reproductively active than in reproductively inactive females. Within reproductively active females, those with a single, large yolking follicle had higher plasma T than those that had one or more shelling, oviductal eggs. Individual females contributed different amounts of T to their yolks, but within females, more mature follicles or eggs consistently had higher yolk T concentrations than did less mature follicles or eggs. Similar to previous research, yolk T concentrations at oviposition were higher in male eggs than in female eggs. However, T levels during incubation did not differ by embryo sex, but rather increased in both male and female eggs. These results suggest that T plays a role in the reproductive physiology of females and potentially in the phenotypic development of their offspring. Furthermore, whereas the yolk T increase observed during follicular maturation is clearly a maternal influence, it remains unclear whether that observed during egg development (i.e., postfertilization) results from a lack of T uptake by the embryo as yolk is absorbed, from embryonic production of T that diffuses into the yolk, or from some combination of these processes. Because lizard embryos are comparatively well developed at oviposition, the assumption that yolk steroids are strictly of maternal origin may require modification, and the possibility that embryos are modulating their own steroid environment needs to be explored.
Progressive renal disease: Role of race and antihypertensive medications

Progressive renal disease: Role of race and antihypertensive medications. Hypertension is associated with an accelerated rate of decline in renal function in patients with chronic renal disease. To identify factors that might alter the rate of decline in renal function, we reviewed records of 200 patients from the Nephrology Clinic of the Durham VA Medical Center who had chronic progressive renal insufficiency. The average rate of decline in renal function (slope of reciprocal plasma creatinine versus time) was -0.80 ± 0.62 (SD) ml/mg month in 112 black patients and -0.84 ± 0.59 in 88 white patients. Multiple regression analysis indicates that the patient's age, level of diastolic blood pressure and type of antihypertensive treatment had a significant effect on the slope of reciprocal creatinine whereas the patient's race and diagnosis did not. In individual patients, addition of minoxidil or a calcium channel blocker to other medications significantly lowered blood pressure and slope of reciprocal creatinine. Some antihypertensive medications lowered blood pressure without significantly affecting the slope. These data suggest that specific medications may have a favorable effect on the progression of chronic renal disease by mechanisms in addition to reduction of blood pressure.
Amphenone inhibition of adrenal corticosteroid output in the hypophysectomized dog.

HERTZ et al. (1951) reported evidence of decreased corticosteroid production by the hypertrophied adrenals of the Amphenone treated rat. Hume and Nelson (1955a) demonstrated a marked depression in the rate of adrenal corticosteroid production in the acutely hypophysectomized dog following intravenous administration of Amphenone. These investigators used adrenal corticosteroid output in response to standardized doses of ACTH as a measure of adrenal cortical functional activity. Studies made during the post-Amphenone treatment period in the hypophysectomized and the intact dog are presented in this report. Data are included which show the lack of effect of stilbestrol on the rate of corticosteroid output of the adrenal in the acutely hypophysectomized dog. In addition, the findings of Hume and Nelson (1955a) were confirmed.
Dimethyl sulfide metabolism in salt marsh sediments

Abstract Anoxic sediment slurries prepared from Spartina salt marsh soils contained dimethyl sulfide (DMS) at concentrations ranging from 1 to 10 μM. DMS was produced in slurries over the initial 1–24 h incubation. After the initial period of production, DMS decreased to undetectable levels and methane thiol (MSH) was produced. Inhibition of methanogenesis caused a 20% decrease in the rate of DMS consumption, while inhibition of sulfate reduction caused a 80% decrease in DMS consumption. When sulfate reduction and methanogenesis were simultaneously inhibited, DMS did not decrease. DMS contributed about 28% to the methane production rate, while DMS probably contributed only 1% or less to the sulfate reduction rate. Incubation of the sediment slurries under an atmosphere of air resulted in similar DMS consumption compared to anaerobic incubations, but MSH and CH 4 were not evolved. Sediments from the marsh released significant quantities of DMS when treated with cold alkali, indicating that potentially significant sources of DMS existed in the sediments. Values of base-hydrolyzable DMS as high as 190 μmol per liter of sediment were observed near the sediment surface, and values always decreased with depth in the sediment. Simple flux experiments with small intact sediment cores, showed that DMS was emitted from the marsh surface when cores were injected with glutaraldehyde or molybdate and 2-bromoethanesulfonate (BES), but nit when cores were left uninhibited. These results showed that DMS was readily metabolized by microbes in marsh sediments and that this metabolism may be responsible for reducing the emission of DMS from the marsh surface.
Influence of geometric parameters on characteristics of an interdigital dielectrometry sensor

Interdigital dielectrometry technology provides means for non-destructive measurement of various physical properties in the bulk of insulating materials. Results of continuing work on the refinement of this technology are presented. A close match of theoretical results and experimental values is achieved with a sensor designed to minimize non-ideal effects. Optimization of the sensor design and parameter estimation algorithms is performed by studying the influence of various geometric parameters on the sensor's response.
Generating spatially and temporally controllable long-range concentration gradients in a microfluidic device

Concentration gradients have important applications in chemical and biological studies. Here we have achieved rapid generation of spatially and temporally controllable concentration gradients of diffusible molecules (i.e. proteins or toxins) in a portable microfluidic device. The formation of the concentration gradients was initiated by a passive-pump-induced forward flow and further optimized during an evaporation-induced backward flow. We were able to stabilize the gradient for up to 12 hours by stopping the flow. The computational simulations illustrated the combined effects of convection and diffusion on the gradient generation, and fit well with the experimental data. HL-1 cardiac cells were cultured in the device, and were shown to be responsive to the stabilized concentration gradient of a cardiac toxin, alpha-cypermethrin. The approach presented here may be useful for many biological and chemical processes that require rapid generation of long-range gradients in a portable microfluidic device.
Quantitative Proteome Analysis: Methods and Applications

With the completion of the genomic sequencing of a number of species, including that of humans, much attention is currently focused on how the information in these sequences might be interpreted in terms of the structure, function, and control of biologic systems and processes. Quantitative proteome analysis, the global analysis of protein expression, is increasingly being used as a method to study steady-state and perturbation-induced changes in protein profiles. The rationale for quantitative proteome analysis is described, along with a new technology for high throughput quantitative profiling of proteins in complex mixtures and its current status with selected applications.
Tunable optical bandpass filter with high-quality vertical mirrors microassembled on movable MEMS platforms

In this paper we introduce a tunable MEMS optical bandpass filter with large vertical mirrors (450µm tall) micro-assembled on MEMS actuators based on MEMS platform technology. The fabrication process requires only one mask, and the platform technology allows a very compact chip size with high optical quality vertical mirrors. In addition, electrostatic combdrive actuators enable precise, continuous, and independent tuning of both the center wavelength and optical passband. The 1-dB bandwidth can be continuously varied from 0.1nm to 1.3nm. The center wavelength can be precisely controlled over a large spectral range by either actuating the movable blocking mirrors, or by rotating the grating for coarse tuning.
Genetic differences in alcohol sensitivity and the inheritance of alcoholism risk.

Background. Substantial evidence exists for an important genetic contribution to alcohol dependence risk in women and men. It has been suggested that genetically determined differences in alcohol sensitivity may represent one pathway by which an increase in alcohol dependence risk occurs. Methods. Telephone interview follow-up data were obtained on twins from male, female and unlike­ sex twin pairs who had participated in an alcohol challenge study in 1979-81, as well as other pairs from the same Australian twin panel surveyed by mail in 1980-82. Results. At follow-up, alcohol challenge men did not differ from other male twins from the same age cohort on measures of lifetime psychopathology or drinking habits; but alcohol challenge women were on average heavier drinkers than other women. A composite alcohol sensitivity measure, combining subjective intoxication and increase in body-sway after alcohol challenge in 1979-81, exhibited high heritability (60 %). Parental alcoholism history was weakly associated with decreased alcohol sensitivity in women, but not after adjustment for baseline drinking history, or in men. High alcohol sensitivity in men was associated with substantially reduced alcohol dependence risk (OR = 0'05, 95 % CI 0'01-0'39). Furthermore, significantly decreased (i.e. low) alcohol sensitivity was observed in non-alcoholic males whose MZ co-twin had a history of alcohol dependence, compared to other non-alcoholics. These associations remained significant in conservative analyses that controlled for respondents' alcohol consumption levels and alcohol problems in 1979-81. Conclusions. Men (but not women) at increased genetic risk of alcohol dependence (assessed by MZ co-twin's history of alcohol dependence) exhibited reduced alcohol sensitivity. Associations with parental alcoholism were inconsistent.
Osteopontin stimulates a subpopulation of quiescent human prostate epithelial cells with high proliferative potential to divide in vitro.

BACKGROUND Osteopontin (OPN) is a secreted extracellular matrix (ECM) protein found in bone, as well as associated with epithelial cells. The main objective of these studies was to test in vitro the hypothesis that interaction with OPN stimulates proliferation of a quiescent subpopulation of prostate epithelial cells with high proliferative potential. METHODS To simulate conditions that restrict proliferation and inhibit terminal differentiation of basal cells in vivo, control cultures grew on substrate coated with collagen (CO) or fibronectin (FN), in medium containing low levels of growth factors. RESULTS Under growth-restricting conditions, most prostate epithelial cells with high proliferative potential, seeded in control secondary cultures, were quiescent within the time frame of the studies, as indicated by the small number of large colonies in these cultures. Growing prostate epithelial cells (PR) under the same growth-restricting conditions, but on substrate coated with OPN instead of CO or FN, stimulated proliferation of a subpopulation of single cells with high proliferative ability as indicated by: 1) dose-dependent increase in the percentage of single cells incorporating bromodeoxyuridine, i.e., proliferating PR; and 2) subsequent dose-dependent increase in the percentage of large colonies. The OPN effect was not merely due to preferential attachment to OPN, because PR attachment to OPN, CO, or FN was identical. PR attachment to OPN was inhibited in the presence of GRGDTP or an antibody against the integrin subunit αv, but not in the presence of an RGES peptide or a nonspecific IgG. CONCLUSIONS Integrin-mediated OPN/PR interaction stimulates proliferation of a quiescent subpopulation of prostate epithelial cells with high proliferative potential, possibly stem cells. Prostate 35:83–94, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy for Elderly Patients with Stage I-II Unresected Lung Cancer

Radiotherapy (RT) is the standard therapy for unresected stage I-II nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Using population-based data, we compared survival and toxicity among unresected elderly patients treated with combined chemoradiotherapy (CRT) or RT alone. Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) registry (National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA) we identified 3,006 cases of unresected stage I-II NSCLC. We used propensity score methods to compare survival and rates of toxicity of patients treated with RT versus CRT. Overall, 844 (28%) patients received CRT. Adjusted analyses showed that CRT was associated with improved survival (hazard ratio 0.85, 95% CI 0.78-0.94). Combination therapy was also associated with better survival among stage I patients treated with intermediate complexity RT (HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.70-0.90); however, no difference in survival was observed among patients treated with complex RT. In stage II patients, CRT was associated with improved survival regardless of the RT technique (HR 0.61-0.72). CRT was associated with increased odds of toxicity. Despite increased toxicity, CRT may improve survival of elderly unresected patients with stage II disease as well as stage I NSCLC treated with intermediate RT complexity. Randomised trials are needed to clarify the balance of benefits and risk of CRT in unresected patients.
Multiplexed electrical sensor arrays in microfluidic networks

A major limitation of many microfluidic platforms is their inability to perform large scale, real time, sensing, routing, or scheduling of the materials moving through them. This paper seeks to address the first of these deficiencies by introducing a multiplexed sensing architecture capable of monitoring the movement of liquid droplets in large microfluidic networks. We describe the design and fabrication of the sensor array, as well as its integration and testing in microfluidic networks. Individual sensors consisting of small electrical components (resistors, capacitors, or conduction gaps) are addressed using a multiplexing approach that allows an array of m × n sensors to be supported by only m + n + 1 electrical contacts, as compared to the 2 × m × n contacts traditionally necessary. For example, a multiplexed 10 × 10 array of sensors can be operated with 21 contacts, as opposed to the 200 contacts needed in a traditional configuration. The multiplexing relies on the fact that each sensing element is connected to two electrical leads, and each electrical lead is connected to multiple sensing elements. Here we show the principle using a 4 × 4 multiplexed arrays of resistive and capacitive sensors to monitor the passage of discrete liquid plugs through a microfluidic network.
Instantaneous frequency and amplitude at the envelope peak of a constant-phase wavelet

Robertson and Nogami (1984) have shown that the instantaneous frequency at the peak of a zero‐phase Ricker wavelet is exactly equal to that wavelet’s average Fourier spectral frequency weighted by its amplitude spectrum. Bodine (1986) gave an example which shows this is also true for constant‐phase bandpass wavelets. Here I prove that this holds for any constant‐phase wavelet. I then develop an equation expressing this quantity as a function of propagation time through an attenuating medium. A corresponding equation is derived for the amplitude of the envelope peak. Taken together, these may aid in the analysis of seismic data as suggested by Robertson and Nogami (1984), Bodine (1986), and Robertson and Fisher (1988).
A biosignal acquisition and conditioning board as a cross-course senior design project

In a single-semester course that incorporates both lecture and design, time constraints make it difficult to provide students with a substantive design experience that addresses multiple system elements. This paper presents a design experience that addressed numerous facets of a biomedical signal acquisition system by merging design credits for two undergraduate, senior-level courses: EECE 773 - Bioinstrumentation Design Laboratory and EECE 628 - Electronic Instrumentation. The innovative effort joined the sensor circuitry and signal display elements of a bioinstrumentation course with the data acquisition and serial communication topics often taught in electronic instrumentation courses. The overall goals of this project were to (a) create a substantial, design-driven learning experience for electrical engineering seniors and (b) increase student interest by attaching a biomedical context to an instrumentation project that would otherwise be generic. These goals were supported by 11 learning objectives that address clinical context, project planning, project roles, signal conditioning, signal management, printed circuit board development, biomedical data display, and written communication. In the initial project offering, 18 students were divided into three teams, each of which designed and built a system to acquire, process, and display data from multiple biomedical sensors, where the signal conditioning functionality for each sensor was remotely programmable. Each acquisition board communicated with a custom Lab VIEW interface via a Universal Serial Bus link. Development foci for each team changed over time as technical choices led to unexpected design complexities. Assessment of the experience was provided via a post- project survey that addressed the 11 learning objectives, learning in 16 technical areas, interpersonal team dynamics, and project administration. Survey results mirrored informal student comments: while this effort required a substantial time commitment relative to a typical course project, the learning and satisfaction derived were worth the investment.
Development of a decision logic to support group improvisation: an application to emergency response

This paper reviews recent progress in the development of a computer-based system for supporting improvised group decision making in risky, time-constrained situations. One goal of this research is to realize a system design which is consonant with cognitively-grounded research on improvisation and which contributes to performance on representative tasks. Some of the issues and challenges involved in supporting creative but time-constrained decision making are first outlined. Salient constructs from research on cognition in improvisation, particularly in jazz, are next reviewed in order to frame the discussion of system design principles. The operationalization of these principles is next discussed. The paper concludes with a brief discussion of current work in the evaluation of the system and also outlines areas for further work.
S-Phase-Dependent Enhancement of Dengue Virus 2 Replication in Mosquito Cells, but Not in Human Cells

Dengue virus (DEN) is the most prevalent cause of arthropod-borne viral illness in humans. We determined the influence of cellular growth state on DEN type 2 (DEN2) replication in mosquito and human cells, based on the hypothesis that manipulation of cellular growth state will facilitate identification of viral and cellular determinants of productive infection. Comparison of density-arrested and cycling C6/36 Aedes albopictus cells infected with a low-passage DEN2 isolate revealed that cycling cells generated higher virus titers per cell. When C6/36 cells were stalled in S-phase via a thymidine (THY) block, titers of low-passage DEN2 isolates and a high-passage strain, 16681, were increased approximately 30-fold and 10-fold, respectively. Moreover, virus release was earlier in THY-treated cells than in asynchronously cycling cells. Adsorption, entry, genome uncoating, and translation were not responsible for increased titers of virus from S-phase C6/36 cells. In contrast to the 30-fold increase in virus titers, intracellular levels of viral RNA were increased approximately 2-fold, suggesting that the S-phase-responsive step is late in the DEN2 replication cycle. Analysis of viral RNA and protein released from the cells indicated that enhanced DEN2 assembly is largely responsible for increased virus titers produced during S-phase. In contrast to C6/36 cells, DEN2 titers from S-phase human hepatoma cells or primary human fibroblasts were not increased. These results demonstrate a differential response of DEN2 to the mosquito and human cell cycle and provide a framework for detailed studies into the mechanisms mediating virus assembly.
Potential Problems in the Statistical Control of Variables in Organizational Research: A Qualitative Analysis With Recommendations

The author examines statistical control in a random sample of 60 articles published in four top journals during 2000 to 2002. Authors’bases for including control variables, clarity regarding measur...
Endogenous Glucagon-like peptide-1 suppresses high-fat food intake by reducing synaptic drive onto mesolimbic dopamine neurons

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and its analogs act as appetite suppressants and have been proven to be clinically efficacious in reducing body weight in obese individuals. Central GLP-1 is expressed in a small population of brainstem cells located in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS), which project to a wide range of brain areas. However, it remains unclear how endogenous GLP-1 released in the brain contributes to appetite regulation. Using chemogenetic tools, we discovered that central GLP-1 acts on the midbrain ventral tegmental area (VTA) and suppresses high-fat food intake. We used integrated pathway tracing and synaptic physiology to further demonstrate that activation of GLP-1 receptors specifically reduces the excitatory synaptic strength of dopamine (DA) neurons within the VTA that project to the nucleus accumbens (NAc) medial shell. These data suggest that GLP-1 released from NTS neurons can reduce highly palatable food intake by suppressing mesolimbic DA signaling.
Coordinated intrahepatic and extrahepatic regulation of cytochrome p4502D6 in healthy subjects and in patients after liver transplantation.

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6 activity exhibits wide intersubject variation even among individuals with similar genotypes in whom the active enzyme is expressed. There is, therefore, a need to understand the mechanisms involved in determining its activity. The relationship of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression to CYP2D6 activity has been evaluated in hepatic and extrahepatic tissues to test the hypothesis of coordinated regulation. In human liver microsomes, there was a greater than 25-fold variation in both bufuralol hydroxylation and concentration of mRNA for CYP2D6, with a significant association between variables (n = 20; Spearman correlation coefficient [rs] = 0.85, P < .001). In normal subjects, there was a similar extent of interindividual variation in in vivo activity of CYP2D6, measured as the debrisoquin (INN, debrisoquine) recovery ratio, and in mRNA for CYP2D6 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, with a significant association between variables (n = 78; rs = 0.56 [95% confidence interval, 0.35 to 0.73],P < .001), whereas no association was found between mRNA for CYP2D6 and CYP2E1 activity. Recipients of liver transplants, at a time of stable liver function, had a similar relationship between debrisoquin recovery ratio and concentration of mRNA for CYP2D6 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (n = 27; rs = 0.74 [95% confidence interval, −0.16 to 0.44], P < .001). Three recipients, who had CYP2D6*4/*4 genotypes, remained phenotypically poor metabolizers for CYP2D6 after liver transplantation. Collectively, these results imply that transcriptional regulation of mRNA for CYP is a major determinant of in vivo activity and that regulation of intrahepatic and extrahepatic enzymes is coordinated, possibly through a mechanism that is predominantly extrahepatic. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2003) 73, 456–467; doi: 10.1016/S0009-9236(03)00055-9
The design of a wearable computer

The design process used to produce an innovative computer system is presented. The computer system that resulted from the process uses a circular motif both for the user interface and the input device. The input device is a dial and the user interface is visually organized around the concept of a circle. The design process itself proceeded in the presence of a great many constraints and we discuss these constraints and how an innovative design was achieved in spite of the constraints.
Short Paper: Autonomic Adaptation of Virtual Distributed Environments in a Multi-Domain Infrastructure

By federating resources from multiple domains, a shared infrastructure provides aggregated computation resources to a large number of users. With rapid advances in virtualization technologies, we propose the concept of virtual distributed environments as a new sharing paradigm for a multi-domain shared infrastructure. Such virtual environments provide users with confined, customized platforms to execute legacy parallel/distributed applications. Furthermore, we propose to support autonomic adaptation of virtual distributed environments, driven by both dynamic availability of infrastructure resources and dynamic application resource demand. We identify new research challenges and describe our on-going work and preliminary results.
Pharmacy Students’ Evaluation of Pharmaceutical Advertisements: Research Evidence from a 5th year classroom

Background: Pharmaceutical advertisements are powerful patient education sources. Aim: The aim of this study was to document students’ analysis of advertisements, as educational materials. Method: The study used a mixed method design that yielded both quantitative and qualitative data for assessment. Results: The results indicated that students were able to (a) apply their interdisciplinary knowledge to analyze the information in pharmaceutical advertisements, (b) function as independent learners by individually identifying themes in pharmaceutical advertisements that targeted consumer behavior and (c) evaluate the claims in advertisements for scientific accuracy. Conclusion: The results can support the formulation of classroom pedagogies to improve 5th year pharmacy students’ capacity t o take a more active role in preparing for their future job.
Into the Age of Boerhaave

With Ruysch, Witsen, Merian, van Leeuwenhoek and Rumphius we have already left the Golden Century behind us and have entered the period we can associate with Herman Boerhaave, the Leiden professor of medicine. This “Age of Boerhaave” was no Golden Century and the Regents were no longer the sturdy “boys of Jan De Witt” deciding on the fate of Europe. Yet the age should not be underestimated. It was not only the time of overfed rentiers living on their investments in their town houses and country homes along rivers like the Vecht with their formal gardens, arbors and pretty vistas, a maximum of obsequious poor on charity and a minimum of picturesque sea dogs. It was also a time of continued scientific life at the universities, especially those of Leiden and Utrecht, and though contributions to exact science diminished in value after Huygens’ death in 1695 and the departure of Johann Bernoulli from Groningen in 1705, medicine, experimental physics, botany and chemistry flourished and attracted students from all over the world.
Ancient properties in the new world: The paradox of the “other” in toni morrison's tar baby

(1986). Ancient Properties in the New World: The Paradox of the “Other” in Toni Morrison's Tar Baby. The Black Scholar: Vol. 17, The Black Woman Writer and the Diaspora, pp. 19-25.
Semi-Supervised Normalized Cuts for Image Segmentation

Since its introduction as a powerful graph-based method for image segmentation, the Normalized Cuts (NCuts) algorithm has been generalized to incorporate expert knowledge about how certain pixels or regions should be grouped, or how the resulting segmentation should be biased to be correlated with priors. Previous approaches incorporate hard must-link constraints on how certain pixels should be grouped as well as hard cannot-link constraints on how other pixels should be separated into different groups. In this paper, we reformulate NCuts to allow both sets of constraints to be handled in a soft manner, enabling the user to tune the degree to which the constraints are satisfied. An approximate spectral solution to the reformulated problem exists without requiring explicit construction of a large, dense matrix, hence, computation time is comparable to that of unconstrained NCuts. Using synthetic data and real imagery, we show that soft handling of constraints yields better results than unconstrained NCuts and enables more robust clustering and segmentation than is possible when the constraints are strictly enforced.
Rethinking Coalitions: Anti-Pornography Feminists, Conservatives, and Relationships between Collaborative Adversarial Movements

Social movements interact in a wide range of ways, yet we have only a few concepts for thinking about these interactions: coalition, spillover, and opposition. Many social movements interact with each other as neither coalition partners nor opposing movements. In this article, I argue that we need to think more broadly and precisely about the relationships between movements and suggest a framework for conceptualizing noncoalitional interaction between movements. Although social movements scholars have not theorized such interactions, “strange bedfellows” are not uncommon. They differ from coalitions in form, dynamics, relationship to larger movements, and consequences. I first distinguish types of relationships between movements based on extent of interaction and ideological congruence and describe the relationship between collaborating, ideologically opposed movements, which I call “collaborative adversarial relationships.” Second, I differentiate among the dimensions along which social movements may interact and outline the range of forms that collaborative adversarial relationships may take. Third, I theorize factors that influence collaborative adversarial relationships’ development over time, the effects on participants, and consequences for larger movements, in contrast to coalitions. I draw on the case of the relationship between anti-pornography feminists and conservatives during the 1980s, charting the dynamics of their interaction across arenas and over time.
Exfoliative cytology in the preoperative diagnosis of parotid tumors.

In the current literature most authors agree that no completely satisfactory method exists for the preoperative diagnosis of parotid tumor. Blady and Hocker state that on sialography most malignant tumors show "infiltration" of the ducts, which they feel is diagnostic. The present study was undertaken to see whether such infiltrating lesions shed malignant cells which might be collected in the saliva and studied in the same manner as are bronchial washings. I t was felt that if positive results could be obtained with Papanicolaou smears, surgeons might be encouraged to adopt more radical initial surgical measures in the hope of improving the present discouraging results in the treatment of malignant lesions of the parotid gland. We have found no such study recorded in the English literature. This investigation was made on 33 patients who underwent surgical treatment of parotid tumors at the Mayo Clinic from July 1 to December 5, 1953. A total of 45 patients underwent such treatment during this period, but because of the nature of the previous operations and other factors, the remaining 12 were not considered suitable for study. On the night before operation, a specimen was collected from each parotid gland, the normal side thus serving as a control. In the first patients studied, Stensen's duct was cannulated, but in the remaining patients the simple but efficient device of Curby was used. Salivary flow was stimulated by unsweetened lemon juice. From 2 to 5 ml. of secretion was obtained in all cases, which was stained by a method previously described for bronchial washings. Three slides were made from each specimen. After the tumor was removed, fresh imprints were made in most cases and these were fixed and stained in the same manner as the secretions; these slides showed the appearance of known tumor cells stained by the same technic and served as further controls. All frozen-section diagnoses were confirmed by paraffin sections. Table 1 lists the diagnoses made on the basis of the tumors removed. All the smears showed a few scattered normal-appearing squamous cells and occasional columnar cells. No cells characteristic of the various benign tumors, as seen on the fresh imprints, were found. In the 7 cases in which the tumor was malignant, the slides made from the secretion in 1 of the cases of muco-epidermoid tumor were suggestive of malignancy, while those made in 1 of the cases of adenocarcinoma and in the case of undifferentiated carcinoma showed a few
Why I am concerned about the future of medicine.

Thanks to a memorable medical education at Duke University School of Medicine, and drawing as well on inspiration arising from 3 years of experience as a nurse in the Duke Medical Center Neurosurgical ICU, it has been a privilege to practice academic and private practice neurosurgery for 35 years. As my career draws to a close, I must confess to significant uneasiness and reservations about the future of the practice of medicine, particularly when measured against the vision and ideals with which I had been imbued by my medical education.
Poly-Si Thin Film Formation Using a Novel Low Thermal Budget Process

Polycrystalline silicon thin films were formed from the amorphous silicon thin film by the pulsed rapid thermal annealing process enhanced with a thin nickel seed layer through the vertical crystallization mechanism. In this paper, authors presented the results on the material properties of the crystallized film. The dopant and film thickness effects were also investigated. It has been demonstrated that a 2 μm thick amorphous silicon n + -i-p + diode structure could be transformed into polycrystalline stack with a 4-pulse 1 sec 850°C heating and 5 sec cooling cycle process.
HISTORY AND THE SUBJECT OF THE SPANISH GOLDEN AGE

(1989). HISTORY AND THE SUBJECT OF THE SPANISH GOLDEN AGE. The Seventeenth Century: Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 19-32.
An Investigation on Performance of Motor Caused by the Distribution of Diameter of Al_2O_3

The discrete model named Euler-Lagrange model was used to simulate the performance of motor and compared with the performance of odd-diameter.The simulation was compared with the performance of test,the result indicates the method of several segments is more useful than the odd-diameter method.
Automatic detection of radio signal obstruction in wireless sensor networks' on-demand deployment

This paper presents an application of machine learning approach for automatic terrain classification suitable for optimal wireless sensor network performance in on-demand deployment. The work entails practical terrain image processing using supervised SVM kernel algorithm moving from gray scale level to color and covering every aspect of a typical terrain image. This paper showcases the integral part of proposed intelligent decision making framework that will be used in wireless sensor network deployment process. The proposed system will automatically identify the areas with potential obstructions to radio frequency signal in a pre-deployment procedure or simulation. This research work presents the performance of the approach which is consistence with practical deployment behavior.
Transabdominal ultrasound versus excretory urography in preoperative evaluation of patients with prostatism.

AbstractTransabdominal ultrasound is superior to excretory urography when radiographic imaging of the urinary tract is indicated in patients with prostatism. We studied 53 patients with excretory urography and ultrasonography before prostatectomy. Patients with a history of microscopic or macroscopic hematuria, urolithiasis, renal failure or upper urinary tract anomalies were excluded from our study. Ultrasonography proved to be more accurate in defining prostatic size and configuration. Bladder wall thickness also was quantified more clearly with ultrasonography.We found 17 renal masses incidentally with excretory urography, although ultrasound was essential and superior to excretory urography in defining these masses in each case. We recommend that ultrasonography be used in lieu of excretory urography when imaging of the urinary tract is indicated before prostatectomy.
Eighty-six Percent Failure Rate of a Modular-Neck Femoral Stem Design at 3 to 5 Years: Lessons Learned

Background: While innovation drives advancement, it is not immune to failure. Previously, we reported a corrosion-related revision rate of 28% (23 of 81 total hip arthroplasties) among patients who received the Rejuvenate modular-neck stem implant with short-term follow-up. Because we observed a dramatic interval failure rate after our initial report, we undertook this study. Methods: We prospectively followed a cohort of patients who had undergone implantation of the Rejuvenate modular-neck stem, as previously reported. At a minimum of 3 years of follow-up (range, 3.0 to 5.5 years), 73 hips in 63 patients (90% of the original group) were available for analysis. The mean serum cobalt and chromium ion levels were obtained preoperatively and postoperatively. Elevated serum cobalt ion levels (>4 μg/L), pain, or abnormal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings were indications for revision surgery. Patient factors and serum metal ion levels were correlated to revision surgery. Additionally, post-revision serum cobalt and chromium ion level trends were assessed. Results: An 86% clinical failure rate (63 of the 73 hips) was observed at a mean follow-up of 4.2 ± 0.6 years (range, 3.0 to 5.5 years); 57 (78%) of the hips underwent revision at a mean of 3.2 ± 1.0 years (range, 1.0 to 5.5 years), and 6 (8%) of the hips were scheduled for revision. Patients who underwent revision surgery were younger and had greater serum metal ion levels and greater pain compared with patients who did not undergo revision. An elevated serum cobalt ion level was the most important independent factor associated with revision surgery. Cobalt ion levels decreased sharply after revision; however, some patients demonstrated persistent elevation with more gradual decline. Conclusions: Emphasizing the reporting of positive results may leave orthopaedic surgeons reticent to publicize negative results; however, the high failure rate of this implant design within 5 years prompted this report. We believe that patients and orthopaedic surgeons should be made aware of this implant’s clinical problems and patients should be followed closely. Expedient revision is necessary when failure is identified, to minimize potentially severe tissue damage and metal toxicity. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Effects of levo-acetylcarnitine on second motoneuron survival after axotomy

Abstract Little is known about factors that regulate the survival of cranial motoneurons which project to peripheral targets. Various neurotrophic factors of central and peripheral origin have been isolated. In this study; we examined thirteen newborn Wistar rats to determine the effects of acetyl-L-carnitine treatment on the survival of motoneurons within the facial nucleus after transection of the facial nerve. Acetyl-L-carnitine was administered for 7 days in seven rats after nerve transection, while saline solution was injected in 6 rats used as controls. Both the motoneuron number and the motoneuron diameter were significantly higher in the facial nucleus of the rats treated with acetyl-L-cartinite than in the facial nucleus of the control rats. The results obtained suggest that acetyl-L-carnitine can rescue a substantial number of facial motoneurons from axotomy-induced cell death. Compared to neurotrophic factors, because of its simple molecular structure, acetyl-L-carnitine permits a safe oral and parenteral administration.-It is suggested that acetyl-L-carnitine could be considered for use as a therapeutic agent in neurodegenerative disorders. [Neurol Res 17: 373-376].
Computed tomographic excretory urography features of intramural ectopic ureters in 10 dogs.

OBJECTIVES To describe the morphologic and morphometric computed tomographic excretory urography features of intramural ectopic ureters in dogs. METHODS Retrospective evaluation of computed tomographic excretory urography studies in 10 dogs with surgical and/or cystoscopically confirmed intramural ectopic ureters. All studies were assessed for ureteral ectopia, dilatation, tortuosity, ureterovesicular junction morphology and ureteral orifice location. RESULTS A total of 14 intramural ectopic ureters were confirmed at surgery/cystoscopy with reviewers correctly identifying 100% (14/14). Abnormalities on computed tomographic excretory urography included ureteral dilatation (7), ureteral tortuosity (3), lack of a normal ureterovesicular junction (14), urethral ureteral orifice location (14) and lack of ureteral divergence (14). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Lack of a normal ureterovesicular junction, a urethral–ureteral orifice location and lack of ureteral divergence are common computed tomographic excretory urography findings in dogs with intramural ectopic ureters. This technique requires further investigation to determine whether it might allow differentiation of intramural and extramural ectopic ureters.
Epitaxial ScAlN grown by molecular beam epitaxy on GaN and SiC substrates

ScxAl1-xN is a promising ultra-wide bandgap material with a variety of potential applications in electronic, optoelectronic, and acoustoelectric devices related to its large piezoelectric and spontaneous polarization coefficients. We demonstrate growth of ScxAl1-xN on GaN and SiC substrates using plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy with x = 0.14–0.24. For metal-rich growth conditions, mixed cubic and wurtzite phases formed, while excellent film quality was demonstrated under N-rich growth conditions at temperatures between 520 and 730 °C. An rms roughness as low as 0.7 nm and 0002 rocking curve full-width at half maximum as low as 265 arc sec were measured for a Sc0.16Al0.84 N film on GaN. To further demonstrate the quality of the ScAlN material, a high-electron-mobility transistor heterostructure with a Sc0.14Al0.86 N barrier, GaN/AlN interlayers, and a GaN buffer was grown on SiC, which showed the presence of a two-dimensional electron gas with a sheet charge density of 3.4 × 1013 cm−2 and a Hall mob...
Pulse Wave and Blood Pressure Changes Occurring during a Physical Training Program

Abstract Members of the Santa Barbara basketball team were tested periodically during and after the 1957–58 season of play. The changes in physical conditioning were estimated using a step test. During this period of time the blood pressure and pulse wave measurements were studied to investigate the effects of basketball conditioning on these measurements. The resting and postexercise systolic blood pressure measurements decreased significantly during training. These changes were significant after 16 weeks, while the pulse rate changes indicated conditioning had changed in six weeks. During de-training these measurements reversed and made significant changes in ten weeks. The pulse wave measurements more closely followed those of the step test. They changed significantly in six weeks, leveled off, and finally reversed to the starting level during de-training.
Two cases of combination therapy with cetuximab, paclitaxel, and cisplatin for advanced head and neck cancer.

Two patients diagnosed with advanced head and neck cancer were treated with cetuximab 400 mg/m2 intravenously for one loading dose followed by 250 mg/m2 IV on days 1, 8, and 15 along with paclitaxe...
Complications of Scleral-Fixated Intraocular Lenses

Introduction: Understanding the evolution of complications after scleral-fixated lens placement demonstrates advantageous surgical techniques and suitable candidates. Materials/Methods: A literatur...
Connecting the Dots: From Actin Polymerization to Synapse Formation

Protrusive behavior of dendritic spines on developing neurons has been previously suggested to mediate the formation of new axodendritic synaptic contacts. A study by Zito et al. in this issue of Neuron links actin polymerization in dendritic spines with the motility that the spines exhibit and the synapses that they form.