cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Three-dimensional single-hydrophone tracking of a sperm whale demonstrated using workshop data from the bahamas

A passive acoustic localization method for tracking the movement of a clicking sperm whale in three-dimensions using data from just one hydrophone is demonstrated using data made available for the 3 rd International Workshop on Detection and Classification of Marine Mammals. One recording contains sperm whale clicks recorded on a bottom-mounted hydrophone on a steep slope of the Navy's AUTEC test range. When the direct-path acoustic ray arrivals from several clicks are time-aligned, persistent associated multipath arrivals of reflected ray paths can be identified for each click event and used for localization. Although the use of multipath arrival information is a standard procedure for range-depth tracking, a three-dimensional estimate of whale position can be obtained from the same multipath information with knowledge of an azimuthally-dependent environment relative to the receiver. In this case, azimuthal distinction arises from varied bathymetry. Multipath arrival patterns are matched to unique range-, depth-, and azimuth-dependent modeled arrival patterns to make an estimate of whale location. A threedimensional whale track in range, depth, and bearing from the fixed hydrophone is presented.
Chain elongation of linoleic acid and its inhibition by other fatty acids in vitro.

Abstract Linoleic acid-1-14C was incubated with subcellular fractions of rat liver to study the mechanism of polyunsaturated fatty acid synthesis. The most effective system for the chain elongation of linoleic acid to eicosadienoic acid was liver microsomes plus malonyl coenzyme A with cofactors, NADPH, and ATP. Under anaerobic conditions, the chain elongation reaction could be separated quantitatively from the dehydrogenation reaction which otherwise required the same system. The chain elongation of linoleic acid was inhibited by saturated fatty acids of which myristic and pentadecanoic acids were most effective. Mono-unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids also act as inhibitors. From consideration of reaction kinetics and inhibition by other fatty acids, the conversion of linoleic acid to γ-linolenic acid seems preferred over the conversion of linoleic acid to homolinoleic acid.
Towards a Dynamic Model of Founding: Unlocking the Origins of Organizational Variation - Executive Summary

How do entrepreneurs make strategic decisions during new venture formation? This is an important question because the strategies that entrepreneurs select have critical short- and long-term implications (Eisenhardt and Schoonhoven, 1990). In the short-term, an entrepreneur's strategy choices will affect the new venture's likelihood of survival. In the long-term, the entrepreneur's strategy choices will affect the direction of the new venture's growth as well as its level of competitive advantage within the industry. This phenomenon, whereby initial choices are consequential for a new venture's short- and long-term existence, is termed an "imprinting effect" (Stinchcombe, 1965). The occurrence of imprinting effects has been demonstrated by an abundance of empirical research across a variety of industry settings (e.g., Romanelli, 1989). In some cases, research has even shown that imprinting effects exhibit positive feedback, such that initial choices become more influential over time (Eisenhardt and Schoonhoven, 1990). While a great deal of research has shown the importance of imprinting effects for a new venture's development, there has been relatively little research that explores how entrepreneurs come to the initial decisions that underlie these effects. Although little is known regarding the factors that affect an entrepreneur's strategic decision-making during new venture formation, past evidence points to several factors that may be influential. In particular, past research highlights both factors in the environment (e.g., public policy, competitive pressure, and product technology) as well as factors internal to the new venture (e.g., personality and knowledge of the founder and founding team) (e.g., Shane and Khurana, 2003). In this dissertation I focus on knowledge rather than the environment or personality characteristics for two primary reasons. First, while the nature of the environment can explain general trends within an industry (e.g., overall entrepreneurial activity), it cannot explain why specific individuals respond differently to the same industry environment. Second, the research on personality characteristics has generally yielded mixed results suggesting, at best, a weak relationship between personality traits and decision-making outcomes (Aldrich, 1999). In this dissertation, I examine how an entrepreneur's prior knowledge relates to the strategy choices he/she makes during new venture formation. I also examine how the founding team members affect the entrepreneur's decision-making. I first develop a set of predictions and then test these predictions using data from 120 new ventures in the United States air transportation industry from 1995-2005. In the following pages I present an executive summary that reviews the key predictions and findings from my research. I conclude the executive summary by discussing the implications of my research for practicing entrepreneurs, investors, and public policy.
Abstract 4004: Molecular characterization of circulating glioblastoma cells identifies a mesenchymal-like tumor cell subpopulation

Glioblastoma (GBM), the most common and aggressive form of glioma, is often heterogeneous, diffusely invasive and hypervascularized. Despite being aggressive, extracranial metastases are rare, suggesting constraints on hematologic dissemination or distant survival of primary GBM cells. We recently developed a novel microfluidic device, termed the CTC-iChip, for efficient, antigen agnostic capture of rare circulating tumor cells (CTCs). Using the CTC-iChip, we set out to determine whether GBM cells can be detected in the blood of mice using two orthotopic xenograft models representing diffuse (GBM8) and focal (GBM24) GBM. CTCs were identified in 5/11 and 2/5 mice bearing GBM8 and GBM24 xenografts, respectively. CTC numbers did not correlate with tumor size or latency. We then expanded our analysis to patients and identified CTCs in 12/38 GBM patients with a median 5.3 cells per ml (range: 0 to 48.2 cells per ml). To understand the molecular characteristics of GBM CTCs, we analyzed the expression of 49 GBM-specific and stem cell transcripts in single GBM CTCs from both mouse xenografts models as well as GBM patients. The expression of mesenchymal gene transcripts including VIM, TGFBR2, TGFB, and SERPINE1 was elevated in CTCs compared with cultured cells and matched primary tumor cells. Moreover, CTCs exhibited lower proliferative indices and decreased neural lineage transcripts. To determine the pathophysiologic significance of this expression profile and the prospective origin of GBM CTCs, RNA-ISH was performed on xenografts and patient tumor samples. In the highly migratory GBM8 xenograft model, broad tumor cell expression of CTC/mesenchymal transcripts was observed. However, in the GBM24 focal tumor growth model, CTC/mesenchymal gene transcripts were predominantly expressed in regions of tumor invasion, migration along fiber tracts, and around regions of necrosis. Similarly, RNA-ISH analysis of 6 GBM patient tumors revealed prominent expression of CTC/mesenchymal genes in peri-necrotic and migratory pseudopalisading cells. Finally, RNA-ISH analysis of a rare case of metastatic GBM revealed a significant enrichment of GBM/mesenchymal gene expressing tumor cells within lung and lymph node metastases. Taken together, these data provide the first evidence for the hematologic circulation of GBM cells and reveal the involvement of mesenchymal features in the pathophysiology of malignant brain tumors. Citation Format: James P. Sullivan, Brian V. Nahed, Andrew S. Chi, Marissa N. Madden, Samantha M. Oliveira, Simeon Springer, Hiroaki Wakimoto, Deepak Bhere, Khalid Shah, Phil Spuhler, Ajay M. Shah, David N. Louis, Mehmet Toner, Shyamala Maheswaran, Daniel A. Haber. Molecular characterization of circulating glioblastoma cells identifies a mesenchymal-like tumor cell subpopulation. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 4004. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-4004
Empowering English Language Learners through Social-Action Projects

Ms. Carter submitted this and it was peer-reviewed prior to electronic publishing in effect.
Expressing the Variability in Results of Metabolizable Energy Assays

In estimating the metabolizable energy of a food or feedstuff (MEf), the ME of a reference diet (MEr, containing glucose monohydrate) and the ME of a test (MEt, containing the feedstuff substituted for glucose) are determined from a feeding trial: MEf = MEglucose -1/P (MEr - MEt) where P is a proportion of substitution. Traditionally, MEr has been used in calculating the variance of MEf as if it were measured without error, leading to an underestimation of the variance in MEf. Variances of MEf estimated by a method based on the variances MEr and MEt were 4-11% greater for sample data. Underestimation of variances can lead to excess confidence in ME estimates. Too few replicates may be used for the desired confidence. Figures depicting the influence of replication and degree of substitution are included to help select the replication and proportion of substitution necessary to achieve acceptable results.
High-performance MCM interconnection circuits and fluxoelectronics

The authors describe the benefits of air-dielectric interconnections and fluxoelectronic interconnection circuits in high-performance multichip modules (MCMS). Not only do superconductors provide low-loss, dispersionless interconnection, but they also provide low-power, high-speed alternatives to conventional interconnection circuits. The low current levels in fluxoelectronic methods and low-voltage interconnection circuits and the freedom from dielectric considerations in air-dielectric interconnections may be important for developing MCMs using high-temperature superconductors. >
Anisotropic yielding behavior of a fiber-reinforced, directionally solidified eutectic alloy

A simple experimental procedure is outlined which is capable of providing information re-quired to describe multiaxial yielding and flow behavior anisotropic materials that have a rotational symmetry. By applying the anisotropic plasticity theory that has been de-veloped recently, it is shown that a total of four simple tension and compression tests is sufficient to describe the yield surface of the highly anisotropic material. The experi-mental data obtained with a directionally solidified (DS), nickel-based, tantalum carbide reinforced eutectic alloy is shown to be in excellent agreement with the theory. Calcu-lated internal parameters based on the plasticity theory are used to interpret the role of microstructural features that contribute to anisotropic yielding behavior.
TGFβ2 activation status during cardiac morphogenesis

Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) is secreted as a biologically inactive complex by many cell types in vitro, but little is known of TGFβ's activation status in vivo. This study examined the in vivo expression of active and total (active + acid-activatable) TGFβ2 in embryonic chicken hearts during cardiac morphogenesis (Hamburger-Hamilton stage 10–24). The concentration of TGFβ2 was measured by an enzyme-linked immunoassay that recognized active TGFβ2. Whole heart homogenates were either left untreated to measure active TGFβ2 or treated with acid before assay to measure total (active + acid-activatable) TGFβ2. Total TGFβ2 concentration increased more than 16-fold between stage 10/11 and stage 24. Active TGFβ2 concentration was highest at stage 14/15, but overall remained relatively constant varying at most by 2.8-fold. When expressed relative to total TGFβ2, the amount of active TGFβ2 progressively declined from 70% in stage 10/11 hearts to 7% in stage 24 hearts. The distribution of active and total TGFβ2 was examined by immunostaining with an antibody against active TGFβ2. Before immunostaining, sections were either treated with acid or left untreated to determine the distribution of total and active TGFβ2, respectively. Active TGFβ2 immunostaining was first detected in the endothelium, myocardium, and cardiac jelly of stage 14 hearts. Acid treatment had no effect on the distribution or intensity of immunostaining at this stage. Faint, active TGFβ2 immunostaining was restricted to the ventricular myocardium in stage 18 hearts. Acid treatment resulted in a marked increase in staining intensity in the ventricle, but no staining was observed in the atrium or outflow tract. In stage 24 hearts, faint active TGFβ2 staining was detected in the ventricle before acid treatment. After acid treatment, patches of intense punctate stain were found in all regions of the embryonic heart. Increases in TGFβ2 concentration and immunostaining intensity after acidification suggest that a significant amount of TGFβ2 is in the latent form. Stage-dependent differences in activation status suggest that activation may be a developmentally regulated process in the chick heart and support the notion that activation is an important step in regulating TGFβ actions in vivo. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Clinical Trial Report: Eradication of Helicobacter pylori Reduces the Risk for Subsequent Gastric Cancer

Curr Gastroenterol Rep (2010) 12:427–430 DOI 10.1007/s11894-010-0138-8 CLINICAL TRIAL REPORT Clinical Trial Report: Eradication of Helicobacter pylori Reduces the Risk for Subsequent Gastric Cancer Joseph R. Pisegna & Bijal Surti & David R. Scott Published online: 22 September 2010 # The Author(s) 2010. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com Fuccio L, Zagari RM, Eusebi LH, et al.: Meta-analysis: can Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment reduce the risk for gastric cancer? Ann Intern Med 2009, 151:121– Aims The study’s purpose is to examine whether eradication of H. pylori infection can reduce the risk for the development of gastric cancer. Rating Methods •Of importance. The authors examined the results of seven studies that met inclusion criteria by using relevant clinical trials. Relevant trials were identified through searching PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library. To be eligible to include subjects in this analysis, the randomized clinical trials were required to compare an eradication treatment group to an untreated group and to provide an analysis of the number of gastric cancers occurring during follow-up evaluation. Introduction Helicobacter pylori is a carcinogen and has been associated with the development of gastric cancer. The hypothesis to be tested in this meta-analysis is to determine whether eradication of this organism is associated with a long-term reduction in the risk for development of gastric cancer. Results A total of seven studies were considered adequate to meet the inclusion criteria. One of the studies was excluded after further analysis. Overall, 27 of 3388 (1.1%) treated patients in the H. pylori antibiotic treatment group were identified as having gastric cancer, compared to 56 of 3307 (1.7%) in those subjects who did not undergo treatment. The authors identified the relative risk for gastric cancer as 0.65 (95% CI, 0.43–0.98). J. R. Pisegna : B. Surti : D. R. Scott CURE: Digestive Diseases Research Center, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA 90073, USA J. R. Pisegna : B. Surti : D. R. Scott Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90073, USA J. R. Pisegna (*) Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, 11301 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90073, USA e-mail: jpisegna@ucla.edu Discussion The authors conclude that eradication of H. pylori reduces gastric cancer risk.
The impact of a physical geographic barrier on the dynamics of measles

Spatial–temporal patterns of measles incidence reflect the spatial distribution of human hosts. The heterogeneous spatial distribution of communities has been shown to introduce spatially dependent temporal lags in the timing of measles incidence. Incidence patterns reflect internal dynamics within a community and coupling of communities through the movement of infectious individuals. The central role of human movement in coupling dynamics in separate communities suggests that physical geographic barriers to movement should reduce spatial–temporal correlation. We examine measles dynamics in Maryland and Pennsylvania during the period of 1917–1938. The central feature of interest is the Chesapeake Bay, which separates Maryland into two distinct regions. We find that correlation of measles incidences in communities separated by the bay is reduced compared to communities not separated by the bay, suggesting the bay acted as a barrier to human movement during this time sufficient to decouple measles dynamics in Maryland counties.
Stability of immune serum globulin during storage: effects of prior heating.

Summary. Samples of Immune Serum Globulin (Human) [ISG] stored for 0–11 years at 5°C were examined by ultracentrifugation, starch gel electrophoresis, and solubility in trichloroacetic acid. The extent of proteolytic degradation was dependent on the manufacturing process (salt or ethanol precipitation) and the source (venous, placental, or mixed). Incubation of ISG with added plasmin at temperatures from -23°C to 50°C showed that maximum degradation to 3.5 S material occurred at 24°C, relatively little occurred at 45°C, and none occurred at -23°C or 50°C. Placental ISG was stored, without added plasmin, for up to 2 years, and the following observations were made: considerably more proteolysis took place at 24°C than at 5°C; heating at 45°C or 50°C prior to storage at 24°C markedly reduced the extent of degradation; and the magnitude of this reduction was the same for samples heated at 45°C for 36 h, 48 h, or 72 h, or at 50°C for 72 h. Heating at 45°C produced minimal changes in the electrophoretic or anticomplementary characteristics of ISG but did result in a marked decrease in the amount of 10 S material present.
Analysis of thermoelectric properties of AlInN semiconductor alloys

The thermoelectric properties of n-type wurtzite AlInN alloys are investigated by simulating the electron and phonon scatterings. The electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient and electronic thermal conductivity are obtained by considering all major electron scatterings. The lattice thermal conductivity is simulated by considering phonon scatterings. The simulation provides useful guideline in material optimization for thermoelectricity.
Electrostatic energy calculations by a finite-difference method: rapid calculation of charge-solvent interaction energies

Finite-difference Poisson–Boltzmann (FDPB) methods allow a fast and accurate calculations of the reaction field (charge–solvent) energies for molecular systems. Unfortunately, the energy in the FDPB calculations includes the self-energies and the finite-difference approximation to the Coulombic energies as well as the reaction field energy. A second finite-difference calculation, in a uniform dielectric, is therefore necesssary to eliminate these contributions. In this article we describe a rapid and accurate method to calculate the self energy and finite-difference Coulombic energies in a uniform dielectric thus eliminating the need for a second finite-difference calculation. The computational savings for this method range from a factor of 4 for a typical protein to a factor of 103 for small molecules. © 1992 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Limb vascular responsiveness to beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation in patients with congestive heart failure.

BACKGROUND In patients with congestive heart failure, the chronotropic and inotropic responses to beta-adrenergic agonists are reduced. It is not known whether desensitization of peripheral beta-adrenoceptors accounts for impaired limb vasodilation in these patients. Accordingly, we studied 14 normal subjects and 13 age-matched patients with congestive heart failure. METHODS AND RESULTS To distinguish vasodilation mediated by beta-adrenoceptors and adenylate cyclase from that mediated by stimulation of guanylate cyclase, each subject received intrabrachial artery infusions of isoproterenol (1-100 ng/min) and sodium nitroprusside (0.3-10 micrograms/min), respectively. Forearm blood flow was determined by venous occlusion plethysmography. Maximal vasodilative potential, determined during reactive hyperemia, was reduced in the patients with congestive heart failure. The maximal forearm blood flow response to isoproterenol was comparable in patients with heart failure and in normal subjects (8.0 +/- 1.1 versus 9.2 +/- 1.2 ml/100 ml of tissue/min, respectively, p = NS). Furthermore, the dose-response relation to isoproterenol was similar in both groups. Likewise, the forearm vasodilative response to sodium nitroprusside was preserved in the heart failure group. Plasma concentration of norepinephrine was higher in the patients with heart failure (436 +/- 34 versus 201 +/- 74 pg/ml, p less than 0.01). When both groups were considered, there was no correlation between norepinephrine levels and the maximal forearm blood flow response to isoproterenol (r = 0.10, p = NS). CONCLUSIONS We conclude that beta-adrenoceptor desensitization does not occur in the limb vessels of patients with congestive heart failure.
Children's word structure knowledge: Implications for decoding and spelling instruction

Research has shown that not all children internalize the structure of English orthography as they learn to decode and spell. In fact, many children have difficulty mastering these two skills. In this paper, the relevance of word structure knowledge to decoding and spelling instruction and performance is discussed. It was anticipated that explicit, discussion oriented, and direct decoding instruction based on word origin and structure would result in improved reading and spelling performance. During the instruction, students compared and contrasted letter-sound correspondences, syllable patterns, and morpheme patterns in English words of Anglo-Saxon, Romance, and Greek origin. Upper elementary grade students receiving the decoding instruction made significant gains in word structure knowledge and in decoding and spelling achievement.
Measurements of Divergent and Complex Thinking

The purpose of this study was to examine (a) the degree to which tests of divergent production (DP) may be confounded by verbal ability and loquacity and (b) relationships among divergent thinking, social competency, and the syntactic complexity of prose written by subjects. Subjects were 61 fifth-and sixth-grade pupils who completed a battery of tests and wrote stories on an assigned topic. Their teachers evaluated them for social competency and for creative behavior. Even after controlling for verbal ability and loquacity, the DP tests appeared to measure a common, coherent set of abilities. Verbal rather than figural DP tests appeared to have relevance to social behavior. An association between complex thinking and the tendency to write in a relatively simple style suggested that complex thinkers may have (intuitively) appreciated the value of simplicity in facilitating communication.
Democracy, civil liberties, and hostage-taking terrorism:

While hostage-taking has been a common form of terrorism for decades, which types of governments are more prone to it remains unclear. Does democracy motivate terrorists to engage in hostage-taking...
Towards Effective Use of ICTS and Traditional Media for Sustainable Rural Transformation in Africa

Development programmes initiated by governments in parts of Africa aimed at improving the living standard of the people, have either achieved minimal success or failed because of the negative attitude of the people. One issue that has therefore dominated discussions among development agencies and initiators in Africa is that of dealing with the people’s attitudes and responses to issues of development. This paper is therefore geared towards exploring ways in which ICTs and traditional media could become effective tools in the campaigns and mobilization for the adoption of innovations, which is central to rural development in Africa. The method of content analysis using review of existing document such as books, journals, periodicals, case record and others documented by government, individuals and organization s was utilized. The findings revealed that the majority of the people in Africa lived in the rural areas and were not abreast with information about government programmes aimed at improving them. Apart from acknowledging the basic challenges confronting policy makers, development communicators and other stakeholders in the development process, the paper recommends among others, that governments in Africa should create the enabling environment for the ICTS to be effectively used and synergized with traditional media in achieving development communication goals at all levels.
F8: Integrated neural interfaces

While interfaces to the brain were recently confined to science fiction, cochlear implants and deep brain stimulators are now becoming commonplace. This forum will cover circuit and material technology used to stimulate and record signals from the nervous system. Issues familiar to many circuit designers - low noise design, micropower design, partitioning between digital and analog circuits - will be recurring themes throughout this all-day forum.
Work-to-Family and Family-to-Work Spillover: The Implications of Childcare Policy and Maximum Work-Hour Legislation

This paper addresses the relationship between individual-level work-to-family and family-to-work spillover and two country-level policy measures: childcare policy and maximum work hour legislation. Coupling Gornick and Meyers’ (Families that work: policies for reconciling parenthood and employment, 2003) policy measures with individual-level data (N = 7,895) from the 2002 International Social Survey Programme, the authors analyze whether men and women in countries with stronger childcare policies and maximum work-hour legislation exhibit work-to-family and family-to-work spillover. The authors find that neither childcare policy nor maximum work-hour legislation is significantly associated with work-to-family spillover. Stronger childcare policy is associated with lower family-to-work spillover for women, especially for women with young children. Maximum-hour legislation is associated with greater family-to-work spillover for women, with a significantly larger effect for mothers of young children.
Abstract 1179: Macrophage conditioned media increases the expression of a metastasis-associated oncogene, RhoC, and the migration of inflammatory breast cancer cells

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is the most lethal form of breast cancer because it progresses rapidly and often presents with distant metastases at diagnosis. RhoC GTPases, known to play an important role in the movement of cells, are overexpressed in IBC tumor cells. The mechanism that causes this increase in RhoC expression is unknown. Tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) have been found to facilitate the movement and invasion of breast cancer. Therefore, as a component of the immune system attracted to sites of inflammation, we hypothesized that TAMs play a role in increasing RhoC expression in IBC cells, which consequently leads to IBC9s severe migratory and metastatic capabilities. The expression of RhoC increased in two different IBC cell lines, SUM149 and SUM190, in the presence of conditioned media (CM) from macrophage-differentiated U937 cells. This increase was not observed in either the normal-like MCF-10A cell line or the non-IBC MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line. From this observation, a novel microfluidic device allowed the study of the migratory phenotype of individual cells of the two IBC cell lines in response to standard chemoattractants as well as the macrophage CM. As expected, the presence of a serum gradient promoted the chemotaxis of IBC cells versus serum-free control. A CM gradient also increased the migration of IBC cells to a moderate degree. However, in the overlapping presence of CM without a gradient and serum with a gradient, the cells exhibiting an extreme migratory phenotype migrated roughly twice the distance of the serum gradient control. We believe the CM acts to “prime” the IBC cells in order to manifest an ultra-response to the serum chemoattractant. In both IBC cell lines stably-transfected with shRNA targeted to RhoC, we observed decreased migration when exposed to the CM migration conditions. Therefore, RhoC expression is necessary for this increase in migration. Studies involving RhoC inhibitors are ongoing, but could yield promising therapies for the prevention of metastasis of IBC. Future studies will aim to identify which cytokines in the CM and which specific pathways are responsible for the increased RhoC expression and migration of IBC cells. By understanding the specific mechanism of TAMs9 effects on IBC cells we hope to learn better how to control the lethal metastatic nature of inflammatory breast cancer. Citation Format: Chelsea L. Fournier, Steven G. Allen, Yu-Chih Chen, Euisik Yoon, Sofia D. Merajver. Macrophage conditioned media increases the expression of a metastasis-associated oncogene, RhoC, and the migration of inflammatory breast cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1179. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1179
Low-energy gamma-ray intensities in the decay of 152,154,155,156Eu

Abstract A re-examination of the low-energy gamma rays produced in the decay of 152,154,155,156 Eu was made using the Caltech bent-crystal gamma-ray spectrometer. Sources of high specific activity were obtained by neutron capture in enriched 151 Eu and 153 Eu. The relative intensities of 11 gamma transitions were in most cases determined with an accuracy of better than 5%. The branching ratios in 155 Gd are discussed in terms of the collective model.
Coseismic and postseismic velocity changes measured by repeating earthquakes

[1] Repeating earthquakes that rupture approximately the same fault patch and have nearly identical waveforms are a useful tool for measuring temporal changes in wave propagation in the Earth's crust. Since source and path effects are common to all earthquakes in a repeating earthquake sequence (multiplet), differences in their waveforms can be attributed to changes in the characteristics of the medium. We have identified over 20 multiplets containing between 5 and 40 repeating events in the aftershock zones of the 1989 Loma Prieta and 1984 Morgan Hill, California, earthquakes. Postmain shock events reveal delays of phases in the early S wave coda of as much as 0.2 s relative to premain shock events. The delay amounts to a path-averaged coseismic velocity decrease of about 1.5% for P waves and 3.5% for S waves. Since most of the multiplets are aftershocks and follow Omori's law, we have excellent temporal sampling in the immediate postmain shock period. We find that the amplitude of the velocity decrease decays logarithmically in time following the main shock. In some cases it returns to the premain shock values, while in others it does not. Similar results are obtained for the Morgan Hill main shock. Because the fractional change in S wave velocity is greater than the fractional change in P wave velocity, it suggests that the opening or connection of fluid-filled fractures is the underlying cause. The magnitude of the velocity change implies that low effective pressures are present in the source region of the velocity change. Our results suggest that the changes are predominantly near the stations and shallow, but we cannot exclude the possibility that changes occur at greater depth as well. If the variations are shallow, we may be detecting the lingering effects of nonlinearity during main shock strong ground motion. If the variations are deep, it suggests that pore pressures at seismogenic depths are high, which would likely play a key role in the earthquake process.
Application of strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition and tetrazine ligation to targeted Fc-drug conjugates.

We have previously described an approach whereby antibody Fc fragments harboring a single C-terminal selenocysteine residue (Fc-Sec) are directed against a variety of targets by changing the peptide or small molecule to which they are conjugated. In the present work, we describe methodology for improving the efficacy of these Fc-Sec conjugates by incorporating cytotoxic drugs. The Fc-Sec protein is first programmed to target specific tumor cell types by attachment of a bifunctional linker that contains a “clickable” handle (e.g., cyclobutane or cyclooctyne) in addition to a tumor cell-binding peptide or small molecule. Following Fc-Sec conjugation, a cytotoxic warhead is then attached by cycloaddition reactions of tetrazine or azide-containing linker. To validate this approach, we used a model system in which folic acid (FA) is the targeting moiety and a disulfide-linked biotin moiety serves as a cytotoxic drug surrogate. We demonstrated successful targeting of Fc-Sec proteins to folate-receptor expressin...
Neuroendocrine responses to the serotonin2 agonist DOI are differentially modified by three 5-HT1A agonists.

Evidence suggests that activation of 5-HT1A receptors leads to inhibition of 5-HT2-mediated behavior. The purpose of this study was to investigate the interaction between 5-HT1A and 5-HT2 receptor-mediated hormone secretion. Rats were pretreated with the 5-HT1A agonists buspirone (0, 0.5, 2.0 mg/kg, i.p.), 8-OH-DPAT (0, 0.05, 0.2 mg/kg, s.c.) or ipsapirone (0, 1.0, 2.5 mg/kg, i.p.), 45 min before decapitation. The 5-HT2 agonist DOI was administered (0–10 mg/kg, i.p.) 15 min after injection of the 5-HT1A agonists. The three 5-HT1A agonists differentially altered the DOI-induced increase of concentrations of hormone in plasma. None of the three 5-HT1A agonists influenced the basal levels of renin, ACTH and prolactin but 8-OH-DPAT and buspirone increased the basal level of corticosterone in plasma. Also, 8-OH-DPAT increased the effects of DOI on the concentration of ACTH in plasma but ipsapirone and buspirone did not. None of the 5-HT1A agonists significantly affected DOI-induced increase of concentration of corticosterone in plasma. Buspirone and 8-OH-DPAT potentiated the effect of DOI on prolactin in plasma, but ipsapirone did not. Ipsapirone potentiated the effect of DOI on the concentration of renin in plasma but this effect was not observed in 8-OH-DPAT- and buspirone-pretreated rats. The results do not support the hypothesis for a functional interaction between 5-HT1A and 5-HT2 receptors, since the three 5-HT1A agonists did not have the same influence on the hormonal effects of DOI.
Iron supplementation and iron status in exercising young women

The effect of moderate aerobic exercise training and iron supplementation on iron status was studied in college-age women. Thirteen sedentary women, randomly assigned to a placebo group or an iron treatment group (50 mg iron/day as FeSO4, exercised at least three days per week at 70–80% of maximal heart rate for 12 weeks. Increases in maximal oxygen consumption in both groups indicated improved cardiovascular fitness. Venous blood samples were obtained for hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum iron, total iron binding capacity, transferrin saturation, and ferritin determinations at weeks 0, 4, 8, and 12. Analysis of covariance using initial baseline values as the covariate showed that ferritin levels between groups were significantly different (P < 0.01), suggesting compromised iron stores in association with moderate exercise. Iron supplementation was beneficial in maintaining or improving the iron stores of moderately exercising women.
Acute short-term memory loss from trimethyltin exposure

We report a case of organic tin exposure in a graduate chemistry student. The inhalational and transcutaneous exposure occurred following a laboratory explosion. The patient initially presented with first and second degree burns of the face and chest, and developed an acute loss of short-term memory 72 hours after exposure. The memory loss gradually improved over the course of several months.
Specific binding of MobA, a plasmid-encoded protein involved in the initiation and termination of conjugal DNA transfer, to single-stranded oriT DNA

MobA protein, encoded by the broad host-range plasmid R1162, is required for conjugal mobilization of this plasmid. The protein is an essential part of the relaxosome, and is also necessary for the termination of strand transfer. In vitro, MobA is a nuclease specific for one of the two DNA strands of the origin of transfer (oriT). The protein can cleave this strand at the same site that is nicked in the relaxosome, and can also ligate the DNA. We show here that purified MobA protein forms a complex that is specific for this single oriT strand. The complex is unusually stable, with a half-life of approximately 95 min, is not disrupted by hybridization with the complementary strand, and reforms rapidly after boiling. Both the inverted repeat within oriT, and the eight bases between this repeat and the site cleaved by MobA, are required for binding by the protein. Mutations reducing base complementarity between the arms of the inverted repeat also decrease binding. This effect is partially suppressed by second-site mutations restoring complementarity. These results parallel the effects of these mutations on termination. Footprinting experiments with P1 nuclease indicate that the DNA between the inverted repeat and the nick site is protected by MobA, but that pairing between the arms of the repeat, which occurs in the absence of protein, is partially disrupted. Our results suggest that termination of strand transfer during conjugation involves tight binding of the MobA protein to the inverted repeat and adjacent oriT DNA. This complex positions the protein for ligation of the ends of the transferred strand, to reform a circular plasmid molecule.
Tomosynthesis Using A Digital Radiographic System: Discussion And Preliminary Results

A technique for tomosynthesis utilizing a computed radiographic system is described in this paper. The process involves taking a series of radiographic images of an object at various angles using a linear motion tomographic unit and a scanning laser-stimulated luminescence plate as the image receptor. The digital image data obtained with the imaging plate system are transferred to a computer for tomographic reconstruction. The reconstruction algorithm utilizes the knowledge of the geometric scan data of the tomographic unit, and it shifts each angular projection in such a way that only one plane is in register when they are added together. This technique was evaluated using an anatomical phantom. The preliminary results offer tomographic images that are comparable to those obtained by the conventional film technique.
Direct repeats in mitochondrial DNA and mammalian lifespan

Mitochondria have long been suspected to be among the leading determinants of aging due to their functional importance and accelerated deterioration caused by accumulation of mutations in the mitochondrial DNA. Direct repeats are known to contribute to deletion formation in mtDNA and are a powerful source of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-independent mutagenesis. To evaluate the potential importance of homology-based deletion formation, we have analyzed the association between direct repeats in the mtDNA sequence and the lifespans of 65 mammalian species. Here, we report a significant negative correlation between the mutagenic potential of direct repeats and the mammalian lifespan, which is especially evident in closely related species.
Insulin sensitivity decreases in short children born small for gestational age treated with growth hormone.

Objectives To evaluate insulin sensitivity in short children born small for gestational age (SGA) treated with growth hormone (GH), and to study the relationship between growth response and insulin levels. Study design In 29 children (16 female, 13 male) who were short and SGA, an oral glucose tolerance test was performed before (mean age, 8.8 years; range, 4.5-14.3 years) and after 1 year of GH treatment (33 μg/kg/day). Insulin sensitivity was calculated with the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) and the insulin sensitivity index (ISI) of Matsuda. Results The mean height increased from −3.1 to −2.4 SD. Insulin resistance (ISI P = .02) and HOMA increased from 1.2 to 2.2 ( P = .001). Glucose and HbA1c levels did not change significantly. ISI after 1 year did not correlate with height gain, but it did correlate with age (r = −0.469; P = .01) and body mass index (r = −0.52; P = .004). Conclusions Insulin sensitivity is impaired in some children who are SGA already at baseline and decreases with GH treatment in most of them. Children close to puberty and children who are less underweight have the highest risk to become insulin resistant.
Modeling the visual search of displays: a revised ACT-R model of icon search based on eye-tracking data

Because of the visual nature of computer use, researchers and designers of computer systems would like to gain some insight into the visual search strategies of computer users. Icons, a common component of graphical user interfaces, serve as the focus for a set of studies aimed at (1) developing a detailed understanding of how people search for an icon in a typically crowded screen of other icons that vary in similarity to the target, and (2) building a cognitively plausible model that simulates the processes inferred in the human search process. An eye-tracking study of the task showed that participants rarely refixated icons that they had previously examined, and that participants used an efficient search strategy of examining distractor icons nearest to their current point of gaze. These findings were integrated into an ACT-R model of the task using EMMA and a "nearest" strategy. The model fit the response time data of participants as well as a previous model of the task, but was a much better fit to the eye movement data.
Immunological cross reactivity of Mason-Pfizer monkey virus with type C RNA viruses endogenous to primates.

THE Mason–Pfizer monkey virus (MPMV) was originally isolated from a spontaneous mammary carcinoma of a rhesus monkey1,2. Further isolates have been described from normal and malignant rhesus monkey tissues3. There have also been reports of viruses4–7, nucleic acids8 and antigens9 related to MPMV in human tissues. Viruses of the MPMV group have a density in sucrose of 1.16 g cm−3 (refs 10 and 11) and possess a segmented 60–70S RNA viral genome10–12 which contains polyadenylate sequences of about 200 nucleotides13. In addition, MPMV contains a reverse transcriptase 14,15 and structural polypeptides whose number and molecular weights resemble those of known type C RNA viruses16,17. In spite of these similarities with type C viruses, available evidence indicates that MPMV falls into a distinct group. This conclusion is based on morphological features that distinguish MPMV from type C viruses18, as well as differences in the biochemical properties of their reverse transcriptases15. Further, MPMV lacks detectable immunological cross reactivity with the 30,000 molecular weight (p30) major structural polypeptides of mammalian type C viruses5,16. The antigenic determinants shared by p30s of known mammalian type C viruses have been used extensively in the identification of new virus isolates and in the analysis of immunological relationships between type C viruses19,20. Other type C virus structural components such as gp70 also have been shown to possess broadly reactive antigenic determinants21,22. We have now purified and characterised the gp70s of an endogenous virus of the baboon, an old world primate and of MPMV. Our results provide evidence that MPMV is immunologically related to endogenous type C viruses of primates.
A theory for adaptation and competition applied to logistic map dynamics

Abstract We present a theory for adaptive, predictive, and competitive agents in an evolving chaotic environment. The agents are simple algorithmic agents designed to model, predict, and exert open loop control on their environment. The environment is the time iteration of the logistic map with external noise added. We find that passive agents can make accurate single step predictions even if the environmental dynamics is chaotic, while accurate multiple step predictions are possible only if the Liapunov exponent of the environmental dynamics is negative. Multiple step predictions with high precision can be made over a broad range of conditions when one agent exerts control on the environment. When two agents are simultaneously attempting control of the environment an agent will achieve the smallest prediction error when the second agent's goal dynamics has a stable fixed point which coincides with a stable or unstable fixed point of the goal dynamics of the first agent. When the fixed points of the goal dynamics of the two agents do not match, we find that the prediction errors of both agents approach a constant value while the amplitudes of the driving forces grow at a constant rate. Further, our studies suggest that generally the agent with the more complicated goal dynamics may achieve an extremely small prediction error by a perfect entrainment of the environmental dynamics.
Psychiatrists and Child Abuse I. Case Assessment by Child Protective Services

A multiple choice self-report questionnaire was developed which contained questions about agency staffing patterns and patterns of referral of abused and neglected children and their parents to psychiatrists and psychologists. It was distributed to Child Protective Service offices in the New York City Metropolitan area. Responses indicated that the majority of abused children and their parents assessed by Child Protective Services are not being evaluated by psychiatrists or psychologists.
Economies of Scale in State Lotteries: An Update and Statistical Test

Until 1985, research in the economics literature on state lotteries was based on the simplifying assumption that administrative costs were constant. DeBoer (1985) provided empirical evidence supporting the idea that average administrative costs are not constant, but decline with output. In other words, DeBoer found evidence for the presence of economies of scale in the provision of state lotteries. The purpose of this study is to update and improve upon DeBoer's estimation of the lottery cost function. Unlike DeBoer, we statistically test for the presence of economies of scale in the administration of state lottery games. This study suggests that large scale lottery operations by larger states have lower per-unit costs than lotteries on smaller scales. Our study firmly establishes the presence of statistically significant economies of scale in the provision of state lotteries.