cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optical emission spectroscopy measurements of electron beam-generated plasma in argon

Summary from only given. Optical emission spectroscopy is simple, non-intrusive diagnostics that has been extensively applied for characterization of excited species produced in discharges. In this work, we apply optical emission spectroscopy to electron beam-generated plasma produced in argon. The effects of magnetic field, duty factor, pressure and current density on the produced optical emission are discussed. Collisional-radiative model is applied to estimate species density and electron temperature and compare to the experimental results.
Relationships between Crayfish Abundance Patterns and Environmental Variables across Two Spatial Scales in a Central Kentucky River Basin, USA

ABSTRACT The relationships between crayfish species abundance patterns during summer baseflow conditions and environmental variables at the watershed and reach scales were assessed across 30 study reaches in Kentucky's upper Green River basin, U.S.A. Mixed gravel-cobble and large boulder substrates were sampled from each reach. Six species in total were obtained. Orconectes rusticus and Orconectes putnami were obtained from 29 reaches each and combined comprised 92.6% of the total individuals collected. The most common Cambarus (C. graysoni) constituted 4.8% of the total individuals obtained. Although O. putnami and C. graysoni had higher mean density values on large boulders, an independent measure t-test revealed non-significant differences. A similar result occurred for O. rusticus, with only slightly higher densities on gravel-cobble substrates. A canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) in the forward selection procedure reduced the number of environmental variables from 27 to five for the gravel-cobb...
Physiological attributes of the pyloric caeca and anterior intestine of green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) potentially influencing microhabitat specificity of Leptorhynchoides thecatus (Acanthocephala)

Abstract Pyloric caeca are present in some species of fish and serve as a habitat for many helminth parasites. Physiological and biochemical attributes of luminal contents of the caeca and proximal intestine of green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus, were compared to determine factors that could account for localization of Leptorhynchoides thecatus (Acanthocephala) in caeca after initial establishment in caeca and anterior portion of the intestine. Caecal protein concentrations were significantly higher. The anterior intestine exhibited significantly higher levels of proteolytic activity; however, caeca exhibited higher levels of aminopeptidase activity. The pH of caeca was significantly higher than that of the proximal portion of the intestine. Caeca contained greater total amounts of materials, and therefore contained greater total amounts of proteins, free amino acids, lipids, carbohydrates, and bile salts. A significant time–place interaction was detected regarding total free amino acids, suggesting that enzymatic activity in the caeca was responsible for increased amounts of intestinal amino acids. Physiological factors that might influence microhabitat specificity of L. thecatus include inadequate levels of intestinal protein, different levels of proteolytic activity (perhaps resulting from differences in pH), such as aminopeptidase activity, and lack of sufficient quantities of anterior intestinal nutrients to sustain worms. These results demonstrate subtle spatial and temporal complexities intrinsic to the environment of helminths inhabiting the teleost enteric system.
The melting and gravity induced ablation of metal spheres due to thermal radiation at the bounding surface

Abstract The melting of metal spheres is considered, due to a spatially uniform radiant heat flux at their surface and under conditions where the gravity induced flow of the melt approaches total ablation. The problem is formulated and the numerical solution of the differential equations was found to be in good agreement with experimental data obtained for lead and tin spheres. A discussion is presented on the validity of the total ablation asymptote and on the applicability of a simpler, lumped parameter approach.
Meta-Analyses of Fakability Estimates: Implications for Personality Measurement

The authors examined whether individuals can fake their responses to a personality inventory if instructed to do so. Between-subjects and within-subject designs were metaanalyzed separately. Across 51 studies, fakability did not vary by personality dimension; all the Big Five factors were equally fakable. Faking produced the largest distortions in social desirability scales. Instructions to fake good produced lower effect sizes compared with instructions to fake bad. Comparing meta-analytic results from within-subjects and between-subjects designs, we conclude, based on statistical and methodological considerations, that within-subjects designs produce more accurate estimates. Between-subjects designs may distort estimates due to Subject × Treatment interactions and low statistical power.
New scaling law based on the hydrodynamical model of particle production

Abstract It is shown that Landau's hydrodynamical model of particle production accounts for many features of pion production in proton-proton collisions observed in recent experiments. A new energy-dependent scaling is proposed, in terms of which the distribution of secondaries at various energies falls on a universal curve having no adjustable parameters.
Inhibitors of T-cell mitogenesis: Effect of mitogen dose

Abstract The inhibitory effects of seven compounds (hydrocortisone, histamine, interferon, isoproterenol, norepinephrine, serotonin, and γ-aminobutyric acid) were tested in phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated cultures of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells as a function of PHA concentration. The cultures stimulated by suboptimal levels of PHA were much more sensitive to inhibition by the added compounds, with the curve of percentage inhibition versus concentration of inhibitor shifted to the left by greater than two orders of magnitude in all cases. At the lower doses of mitogen, concentrations of hydrocortisone, histamine, interferon, and isoproterenol which approach the concentrations of these or analogous compounds in vivo caused significant and substantial inhibition of the mitogen response.
Modeling the resolution and sensitivity of FAIMS analyses

Field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) is rapidly gaining acceptance as a robust, versatile tool for post-ionization separations prior to mass-spectrometric analyses. The separation is based on differences between ion mobilities at high and low electric fields, and proceeds at atmospheric pressure. Two major advantages of FAIMS over condensed-phase separations are its high speed and an ion focusing effect that often improves sensitivity. While selected aspects of FAIMS performance are understood empirically, no physical model rationalizing the resolving power and sensitivity of the method and revealing their dependence on instrumental variables has existed. Here we present a first-principles computational treatment capable of simulating the FAIMS analyzer for virtually any geometry (including the known cylindrical and planar designs) and arbitrary operational parameters. The approach involves propagating an ensemble of ion trajectories through the device in real time under the influence of applied asymmetric potential, diffusional motion incorporating the high-field and anisotropic phenomena, and mutual Coulomb repulsion of ionic charges. Calculations for both resolution and sensitivity are validated by excellent agreement with measurements in different FAIMS modes for ions representing diverse types and analyte classes.
Wavelength-agile fiber laser using group-velocity dispersion of pulsed super-continua and application to broadband absorption spectroscopy

A swept-wavelength source is created by connecting four elements in series: a femtosecond fiber laser at 1.56 μm, a non-linear fiber, a dispersive fiber and a tunable spectral bandpass filter. The 1.56-μm pulses are converted to super-continuum (1.1–2.2 μm) pulses by the non-linear fiber, and these broadband pulses are stretched and arranged into wavelength scans by the dispersive fiber. The tunable bandpass filter is used to select a portion of the super-continuum as a scan-wavelength output. A variety of scan characteristics are possible using this approach. As an example, an output with an effective linewidth of approximately 1 cm-1 is scanned from 1350–1550 nm every 20 ns. Compared to previous scanning benchmarks of approximately 1 nm/μs, such broad, rapid scans offer new capabilities: a gas sensing application is demonstrated by monitoring absorption bands of H2O, CO2, C2H2 and C2H6O at a pressure of 10 bar.
Effect of serum on the antiviral and anticellular activities of mouse interferon.

Fetal bovine serum markedly decreased the ability of mouse L-929 interferon preparations to inhibit the formation of L-929 clones, but did not affect their ability to inhibit vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) plaque formation in these cells. This dissociation of effects by interferon preparations indicates that: 1. the mechanism of action of interferon for its anticlonal and antiviral activities is different; or 2. the molecule responsible for the anticlonal activity is a separate growth inhibitory factor.
The Curiosity Mars Rover's Fault Protection Engine

The Curiosity Rover, currently operating on Mars, contains flight software onboard to autonomously handle aspects of system fault protection. Over 1000 monitors and 39 responses are present in the flight software. Orchestrating these behaviorsis the flight software's fault protection engine. In this paper, we discuss the engine's design, responsibilities, and present some lessons learned for future missions.
Ultrasound-enhanced thrombolysis at 20 kHz with air-filled and perfluorocarbon-filled contrast bispheres

Abstract Background: Ultrasound (US) at low frequencies has been shown to enhance clot lysis by itself and in the presence of urokinase (UK). The comparative effects of air-filled versus perfluorocarbon-filled polymer bispheres in enhancing this effect have not been previously demonstrated. Methods: Freshly drawn human blood was incubated at 37°C for 2 hours, and the subsequent formed clot was dried and weighed. It was then exposed to saline control, saline + UK (10,000 IU), saline + UK + US, saline + UK + US + low shell-strength polymer bispheres (PB1), saline + UK + US + high shell-strength polymer bispheres (PB2), and perfluorocarbon-filled high shell-strength polymer bipsheres (PB3) for a total of 6 minutes. Clots were removed and weighed to determine the percentage of thrombolysis. Results: The percentage of clot lysis for each study group was as follows: saline 18.5% ± 4%, US alone 22.2% ± 5%, UK alone 21.9% ± 4%, US+UK 32.2% ± 8% ( P P P Conclusion: Ultrasound at 20 kHz significantly enhances clot lysis. The addition of perfluorocarbon-filled bispheres increased this effect more significantly than did the addition of air-filled polymer bispheres. (J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2000;13:1025-9.)
Residence location as a measure of environmental exposure: a review of air pollution epidemiology studies

Residence location has long been used to indicate environmental exposure in many epidemiological studies. This indicator is easy to establish, requires little exposure or monitoring data, and is potentially applicable to many types of investigations. The validity, accuracy and utility of residence location as an exposure indicator, however, is challenged by current concerns regarding multiple exposure pathways, persistent and toxic contaminants, and cumulative exposures from non-point, mobile and point sources. This paper reviews 45 epidemiological studies that use residence location to identify study populations and estimate air pollution exposures. Thirteen (29%) of the studies determined environmental exposures based on "proximity" measures, usually the distance from a subject's residence to a pollutant source. Other studies used "zones" presumed to have equal pollutant levels. Several studies combined zone and proximity approaches. Exposures were quantified using monitoring data in 27 (60%) studies and dispersion modeling in two (4%) studies. Sixteen (36%) studies did not use any environmental data to quantify exposure. A total of 31 (69%) of the studies reported significant associations between health endpoints and the pollutant exposures represented by residence location. In general, comprehensive and systematic approaches to identify and estimate population exposures were not used, and the exposure estimates were therefore deemed likely to have great uncertainty. Unless exposure levels among groups are verified, it cannot be determined whether nonsignificant associations between exposures and health endpoints indicate a lack of measurable health effects, or are merely a result of exposure misclassification. Site-specific and quantitative exposure assessments are needed to better quantify and confirm exposures within such studies, as well as to permit interpretations and comparisons across studies.
Beyond the DAP versus standards dilemma: Examining the unforgiving complexity of kindergarten teaching in the United States

Abstract This article presents findings from a qualitative study of two kindergarten teachers’ responses to the professional demands posed by recent shifts in national and state education policies in the United States. Although the literature has framed the practical challenges resulting from these changing expectations in terms of curricular/instructional tensions between developmentally appropriate practices (DAP) and academic standards, study participants indicated adapting to the changing climate of kindergarten, managing the expectations of their students’ parents, and responding to the demands of the first grade teachers at their school site were their most significant challenges. These findings suggest looking beyond our current framing of the situation to examine the full range of complexities and opportunities facing kindergarten teachers will lead to deeper understandings of the ways in which practitioners experience and respond to the new demands and changing expectations shaping their work.
Quantitation of Phagocytic Cells in Phenytoin‐lnduced Connective Tissue Proliferation in the Rat

This study demonstrates that, in rats, systemically administered phenytoin produces a statistically significant increase in accumulation of phagocytic and esterase positive cells in areas of phenytoin-induced connective tissue proliferation. Many of these cells are perceived to be macrophages. Since macrophages have been shown to produce chemoattractant and mitogens for fibroblasts, they may very well play a major role in the gingival hyperplasia seen in patients taking phenytoin. The results of the study show that the effects of phenytoin on fibroblasts may be more complex than previously thought.
Khalkha Mongolian speakers' vowel bias: L1 influences on the acquisition of non-adjacent vocalic dependencies

Native language (L1) phonology has been shown to play an important role in influencing humans' perception and production of novel speech. Yet research examining the conditions which trigger humans to calculate transitional probability between non-adjacent linguistic elements has not considered the potential influence of L1 phonology. For example, previous artificial grammar learning (AGL) literature has shown that participants acquire certain non-adjacent phonological dependencies only with difficulty. However, this previous research used only speakers of English or French, languages which do not exhibit such dependencies. This paper investigates how L1 phonology influences participants' acquisition of non-adjacent phonological dependencies in an AGL task. Five experiments were conducted with speakers of Khalkha Mongolian, a language which exhibits a non-adjacent dependency, vowel harmony and with speakers of American English, a language which exhibits no such dependencies. Khalkha Mongolian speakers succ...
Turbulent heat transfer coefficients and fluid flow patterns on the faces of a centrally positioned blockage in a duct

Abstract Experiments encompassing both heat-transfer measurements and flow visualization were performed for turbulent flow in a square duct whose cross section was partially obstructed by a centrally positioned transverse blockage. Heat-transfer coefficients were obtained for both the upstream and downstream faces of the blockage element. The flow visualization, performed with the oil-lampblack technique, revealed the presence of three stagnation zones on the upstream face. The downstream face is washed by highly complex recirculation zones, characterized by sidewise fluid motions (along the span of the blockage). Heat-transfer coefficients on the upstream face generally increase with the square root of the Reynolds number; at a given mass flow, higher coefficients are in evidence at smaller blockage heights. The downstream-face coefficients display a complex dependence on both the blockage height and the Reynolds number. In the main, for the Reynolds number range investigated, the upstream-face coefficients are greater than the downstream-face coefficients. Comparisons with the literature showed that the coefficients for a centrally positioned blockage exceed those for a wall-attached blockage by as much as a factor of two.
The Reactivities of HIV-1+ Human Sera with Solid-Phase V3 Loop Peptides Can Be Poor Predictors of Their Reactivities with V3 Loops on Native gp120 Molecules

The binding of HIV-1+ human serum antibodies to solid phase-adsorbed V3 loop peptides from the IIIB, SF-2, and MN isolates was compared with the abilities of the same peptides to inhibit binding of the sera to the homologous or heterologous native gp120 molecules. The reactivities of the sera with the solid-phase peptides were found to be poor predictors of the potencies of the peptides as competitors in solution for antibody binding to the V3 loop in situ. Furthermore, the extent of cross-reaction of HIV-1+ human serum antibodies with the three V3 peptides in solid-phase assays was potently influenced by the presence or absence of nonionic detergent. Because the use of solid-phase V3 peptide assays is widespread, and there is no consensus on the use or omission of detergent, there is considerable potential for confusion. These factors should be considered when interpreting data derived from V3 peptide serology when this method is used to dissect the human immune response to HIV-1 infection. It is also shown in quantitative studies of HIV-1+ serum antibody binding to homologous and heterologous gp120s that the general anti-gp120 antibody response is significantly "type specific" for the homologous gp120.
Daily Cocaine Self-administration Under Long- access Conditions Augments Restraint-induced Increases in Plasma Corticosterone and Impairs Glucocorticoid Receptor-mediated Negative Feedback in Rats

Cocaine addiction appears to be associated with a drug-induced dysregulation of stressor responsiveness that may contribute to further cocaine use. The present study examined alterations in stressor-induced activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in rats provided daily access to cocaine for self-administration (SA) under long-access conditions (1.0 mg/kg/infusion; 6 hx14 days). Cocaine self-administering rats displayed reduced basal plasma corticosterone (CORT) levels but showed an augmented restraint-induced percent increase response from baseline compared to saline self-administering controls when measured 24 days after SA testing. This augmented CORT response may have been attributable to impaired glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-mediated feedback regulation of HPA function, since cocaine self-administering rats were also less susceptible to dexamethasone (0.01 mg/kg, i.p.) suppression of plasma CORT levels. GR protein expression measured using Western blot analysis was significantly reduced in the dorsomedial hypothalamus (including the paraventricular nucleus [PVN]) but not in the pituitary gland, ventromedial hypothalamus, dorsal hippocampus, ventral subiculum, medial prefrontal cortex or amygdala in cocaine self-administering rats. Surprisingly, basal corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) mRNA or post-restraint increases in CRH mRNA measured at a single (90 min) time-point in the PVN using in situ hybridization did not differ between groups. The findings suggest that cocaine use produces persistent changes in individual responsiveness to stressors that may contribute to the addiction process.
HIV/AIDS in women: stigma and gender empowerment in Africa

In this perspective, we argue that the unequal burden of HIV/AIDS in African women, particularly young females in the 15–34 year age group, is symbolic of the low and unequal status of women. We examine the gendered nature of HIV infection in which a higher proportion of females than males have contracted HIV and the attendant stigma that they disproportionately encounter in their daily lives. We conclude the paper by highlighting both short- and long-term strategies to combat HIV infection and stigma. An important short-term solution is the provision of affordable therapy in the form of readily accessible antiretroviral therapies. Long-term strategies include female empowerment and the eradication of stigma that is often perpetrated against those living with HIV, particularly women.
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Treatment of Myleodysplastic Syndromes

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation is a potentially curative treatment for myelodysplastic syndromes. Transplants are clearly indicated in patients with intermediate-2 and high risk disease; there is controversy regarding when transplantation should be performed in patients with low and intermediate-1 risk disease. Most patients with MDS are over age 65 and Medicare has recently provisionally approved transplants, but only when performed as part of a comparative clinical trial which still must be finalized. Nonmyeloablative preparative regimens allow treatment of older patients with MDS, and novel approaches are under evaluation to reduce the risk of relapse and treatment related morbidity and mortality.
A Description of the Multi-Center Traffic Management Advisor (McTMA) Simulation Environment

The Multi-Center Traffic Management Advisor (McTMA) tool, being developed jointly by NASA and the FAA, is being tested to aid with the coordination and management of highly congested air traffic in the "Northeast corridor" of the United States. The McTMA systems interconnect to form a data network and are being field tested in six air traffic control (ATC) facilities: Boston Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC), Cleveland ARTCC, New York ARTCC, Washington ARTCC, the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON), and the Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC). Concept testing and validation of this highly complex system were conducted in the McTMA simulation environment at NASA Ames Research Center prior to field test. A highly innovative simulation design was employed in order to efficiently test McTMA operating in the complex Northeast Corridor. This paper presents a description of that innovative simulation architecture and its environment.
The roles of predation and postlarval transport in recruitment of the soft shell clam (Mya arenaria)

Rates of mortality and transport of newly settled benthic invertebrates can be very high and potentially have profound effects on patterns of recruitment. We used the soft shell clam Mya arenaria as a model organism to compare the magnitude of rates of postlarval transport and predation on juveniles. We hypothesized that there is a critical size below which spatial variation in abundance of juvenile Mya is hydrodynamically controlled and above which abundance is mainly influenced by mortality, particularly due to epibenthic predators. To test this hypothesis, we examined transport and predation of early juvenile Mya in Barnstable Harbor, Massachusetts, USA. A caging experiment demonstrated that exclusion of epibenthic predators had a large impact on the density and size distribution of juvenile Mya within a few weeks of settlement and disproportionately affected juveniles of >2-mm shell length. Enclosure of the green crab Carcinus maenas changed the size distribution of Mya but did not significantly affect abundance. We attributed the effect of predator exclusion primarily to juvenile green crabs and fish. Current meter measurements suggested that tidal currents were strong enough to cause bedload transport of sediment and Mya. Measurement of gross and net rates of transport of Mya, using bedload traps and pans of defaunated sediment, confirmed that juveniles up to 5-mm shell length were routinely redistributed by tidal currents, particularly during spring tides. The number of postlarval Mya transported varied among sites and dates and was significantly related to ambient density of Mya and sediment flux. The loss of Mya during the caging experiment was compared to the rate of net flux of Mya due to transport during an intermediate tide. This comparison suggested that the loss due to predation was considerably larger than the flux due to transport for individuals >2 mm, but that rates of the two processes were more similar for individuals <2 mm. These experiments indicate that, while predation is likely the ultimate factor controlling abundance and size of juvenile Mya at this site, transport often redistributes individuals, at least at the scale of a tidal flat (10s to 100s of m).
Primary care for limited English-speaking patients and parents

AbstractPurpose:The number of persons in the United States who have a primary language other than English has been steadily increasing for decades. The latest census information reveals that citizens with limited English proficiency (LEP) represent approximately 16% of the population. The inability
Culture and listeners' gaze responses to stuttering.

Background: It is frequently observed that listeners demonstrate gaze aversion to stuttering. This response may have profound social/communicative implications for both fluent and stuttering individuals. However, there is a lack of empirical examination of listeners’ eye gaze responses to stuttering, and it is unclear whether cultural background plays a role in regulating listeners’ eye gaze response to stuttering. Aim: To examine listeners’ eye gaze responses to stuttering speech relative to fluent speech in three cultural groups. Methods & Procedures: Eighteen African-American, 18 European-American and 18 Chinese adults were audiovisually presented with three stuttering and three fluent speech samples, when an eye-tracking device simultaneously recorded their gaze behaviours. The targets of listeners’ eye gaze included four regions of interest (ROIs) on the speaker's face: eyes, nose, mouth and outside (i.e., everything else). Listeners’ per cent of gaze time, gaze fixation count and average duration of gaze fixation were analysed with repeated-measures ANOVAs regarding each ROI as functions of the speaker's fluency status and listeners’ cultural background. Outcomes & Results: When observing stuttering speech, listeners tended to reduce gaze fixation duration on the speaker's eyes and increase their gaze time on the mouth. However, different from the two American groups, the Chinese group reduced their gaze time on the speaker's mouth. In addition, the Chinese participants’ gaze behaviours were more focused on the ROI of outside, whereas the two American groups showed a similar focus on the ROIs of eyes and mouth. Conclusions & Implications: All groups of listeners responded to stuttering with gaze aversions mainly contributed to by a reduction in gaze fixation duration rather than gaze fixation number. This pattern of gaze aversion suggests that stuttering oppresses listeners with an emotional and/or cognitive overload. Attention shift and compensation strategies for speech signal degradation may also account for listeners’ gaze responses to stuttering. Cultural differences in eye gaze responses to stuttering were observed mainly between Chinese and American listeners.
Study of DNA properties under controlled conditions using AFM based nano-robotics

After much initial controversy over the past 20 years, the mechanism of charge-transfer in DNA is now moving towards a consensus view in the chemistry community that the dominant charge-transfer mechanism appears to be distance-dependent coherent tunnelling through unit-step and weak-distance-dependent thermal hopping through multi-step. Contrary to the consensus in the chemistry society, the problem of whether DNA is conducting or insulating remains to be hotly debated among physics groups due to the disparate experimental results varying from conductor to insulator. The study of DNA electronic properties requires an efficient way to accurately position and individually manipulate DNA molecules. The recent development of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) based nano-robotics seems to be a promising solution. In this research, the DNA molecules are positioned onto a pair of electrodes by a nano-robotic tool. The electrical properties of DNA are studied under controlled conditions.
Cigarette Smoke and Breast Cancer Stem Cells

Copyright: © 2012 Kanda Y. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Epidemiological studies have suggested that cigarette smoking is related to increased breast cancer risk. In agreement with this, clinical studies indicated that smoking increases breast cancer mortality and the incidence of metastasis from the breasts to the lungs [1,2]. Cigarette smoke contains over 4000 different chemicals, many of which are toxic and carcinogenic in a variety of cells, including breast epithelial cells [3]. Among them, nicotine is considered to be related to increased cancer risk. For example, nicotine has been shown to induce resistance to the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin in human MCF-7 breast cancer cells [4]. Moreover, this compound has been shown to release vascular endothelial growth factor, which plays a key role in angiogenesis [5]. However, limited experimental data support direct links between breast cancer and nicotine exposure. In addition, the mechanisms by which nicotine might promote breast cancer are not fully understood.
Dr. Hersh replies.

To the Editor: In their letter, Dr. Chanchlani, et al 1 briefly described the outcomes of their established program for transition from pediatric to adult rheumatology care in the United Kingdom2,3. Their results demonstrated that even with a coordinated program, nearly one-quarter of the cohort did not meet their definition of a successful transfer (receipt of a letter from the first adult appointment), or was lost to followup. Further, the authors found that documentation of direct communication with adult providers was lacking in 24% of cases, and patients were not provided with a medical summary in nearly 60% of cases. As the authors discussed, written communication with adult providers and creation of a medical summary for patients … Address correspondence to Dr. A.O. Hersh, 81 N. Mario Capecchi Drive, 4th Floor, Salt Lake City, Utah 84113, USA. E-mail: aimee.hersh{at}hsc.utah.edu
RIGHT-TAIL INFORMATION IN FINANCIAL MARKETS

It is well known that when investors evaluate risk or opportunity, they often depart from predictions of expected utility. In addition, for both academic and financial communities it is a familiar stylized fact that stock return distributions are not normal. Both empirical evidence and experimental evidence indicate that distributional information of asset returns has an important impact on investors. In this paper, we argue that the right-tail distributional information of returns can provide very valuable information to investors and portfolio managers, and right-tail information should be used together with other (say, left-tail) information in analyzing financial markets. Here, we introduce measures for the right-tail distribution. Quantile regression estimators for the right-tail measures are proposed, and their asymptotic properties are developed. Statistical inference on testing for changes of right-tail distribution is also discussed. A Monte Carlo experiment is conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed estimator. The proposed estimation method may also be applied to estimation of other measures in finance.
Deletion of Ku70, Ku80, or Both Causes Early Aging without Substantially Increased Cancer

Ku70 forms a heterodimer with Ku80, called Ku, that is critical for repairing DNA double-stand breaks by nonhomologous end joining and for maintaining telomeres. Mice with either gene mutated exhibit similar phenotypes that include increased sensitivity to ionizing radiation and severe combined immunodeficiency. However, there are also differences in the reported phenotypes. For example, only Ku70 mutants are reported to exhibit a high incidence of thymic lymphomas while only Ku80 mutants are reported to exhibit early aging with very low cancer levels. There are two explanations for these differences. First, either Ku70 or Ku80 functions outside the Ku heterodimer such that deletion of one is not identical to deletion of the other. Second, divergent genetic backgrounds or environments influence the phenotype. To distinguish between these possibilities, the Ku70 and Ku80 mutations were crossed together to generate Ku70, Ku80, and double-mutant mice in the same genetic background raised in the same environment. We show that these three cohorts have similar phenotypes that most resemble the previous report for Ku80 mutant mice, i.e., early aging without substantially increased cancer levels. Thus, our observations suggest that the Ku heterodimer is important for longevity assurance in mice since divergent genetic backgrounds and/or environments likely account for these previously reported differences.
Photodissociation studies of calcium–coronene and calcium–pyrene cation clusters

Abstract Gas-phase cluster cations combining calcium atoms and the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) coronene (C 24 H 12 ) and pyrene (C 16 H 10 ) are produced in a molecular beam using laser vaporization in a pulsed nozzle cluster source. Time-of-flight mass spectrometry reveals the formation of clusters of the form Ca x (coronene) y + for up to x = 4 and y = 3 and Ca x (pyrene) y + for up to x = 2 and y = 3. Mass-selected photodissociation studies show that the calcium cation is the most prominent fragment for each system. Photoinduced calcium carbide formation is prominent when two or more calcium atoms are present. Additionally, there is evidence that these clusters can form sandwich structures.
TurboFold: iterative probabilistic estimation of secondary structures for multiple RNA sequences.

The prediction of secondary structure, i.e. the set of canonical base pairs between nucleotides, is a first step in developing an understanding of the function of an RNA sequence. The most accurate computational methods predict conserved structures for a set of homologous RNA sequences. These methods usually suffer from high computational complexity. In this paper, TurboFold, a novel and efficient method for secondary structure prediction for multiple RNA sequences, is presented. TurboFold takes, as input, a set of homologous RNA sequences and outputs estimates of the base pairing probabilities for each sequence. The base pairing probabilities for a sequence are estimated by combining intrinsic information, derived from the sequence itself via the nearest neighbor thermodynamic model, with extrinsic information, derived from the other sequences in the input set. For a given sequence, the extrinsic information is computed by using pairwise-sequence-alignment-based probabilities for co-incidence with each of the other sequences, along with estimated base pairing probabilities, from the previous iteration, for the other sequences. The extrinsic information is introduced as free energy modifications for base pairing in a partition function computation based on the nearest neighbor thermodynamic model. This process yields updated estimates of base pairing probability. The updated base pairing probabilities in turn are used to recompute extrinsic information, resulting in the overall iterative estimation procedure that defines TurboFold. TurboFold is benchmarked on a number of ncRNA datasets and compared against alternative secondary structure prediction methods. The iterative procedure in TurboFold is shown to improve estimates of base pairing probability with each iteration, though only small gains are obtained beyond three iterations. Secondary structures composed of base pairs with estimated probabilities higher than a significance threshold are shown to be more accurate for TurboFold than for alternative methods that estimate base pairing probabilities. TurboFold-MEA, which uses base pairing probabilities from TurboFold in a maximum expected accuracy algorithm for secondary structure prediction, has accuracy comparable to the best performing secondary structure prediction methods. The computational and memory requirements for TurboFold are modest and, in terms of sequence length and number of sequences, scale much more favorably than joint alignment and folding algorithms. TurboFold is an iterative probabilistic method for predicting secondary structures for multiple RNA sequences that efficiently and accurately combines the information from the comparative analysis between sequences with the thermodynamic folding model. Unlike most other multi-sequence structure prediction methods, TurboFold does not enforce strict commonality of structures and is therefore useful for predicting structures for homologous sequences that have diverged significantly. TurboFold can be downloaded as part of the RNAstructure package at http://rna.urmc.rochester.edu .
Generalized bacterial genome editing using mobile group II introns and Cre-lox

Efficient bacterial genetic engineering approaches with broad-host applicability are rare. We combine two systems, mobile group II introns ('targetrons') and Cre/lox, which function efficiently in many different organisms, into a versatile platform we call GETR (Genome Editing via Targetrons and Recombinases). The introns deliver lox sites to specific genomic loci, enabling genomic manipulations. Efficiency is enhanced by adding flexibility to the RNA hairpins formed by the lox sites. We use the system for insertions, deletions, inversions, and one-step cut-and-paste operations. We demonstrate insertion of a 12-kb polyketide synthase operon into the lacZ gene of Escherichia coli, multiple simultaneous and sequential deletions of up to 120 kb in E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus, inversions of up to 1.2 Mb in E. coli and Bacillus subtilis, and one-step cut-and-pastes for translocating 120 kb of genomic sequence to a site 1.5 Mb away. We also demonstrate the simultaneous delivery of lox sites into multiple loci in the Shewanella oneidensis genome. No selectable markers need to be placed in the genome, and the efficiency of Cre-mediated manipulations typically approaches 100%.
100-Gbit/s time-division multiplexed multi-access networks

The trend toward higher bandwidth networks includes rapid growth of bursty datagram and other dynamic virtual-circuit services. Optical time-division multi-access (OTDM) networks can provide low-access-delay bandwidth on demand to support these services. Using optical techniques, future networks could operate at burst rates of 100 Gbit/s because OTDM techniques allow very high-speed optical logic and buffering that are capable of operating at these high data rates. Aspects of OTDM technology requirements are examined including HLAN architecture implementation.
In vitro perfusion studies of the human placenta. VI. Evidence against active glucose transport.

Abstract Previous studies in our laboratory using "in vitro" perfusion have established that glucose transport across the human placenta is a carrier-mediated process. It is not known whether these carriers require the expenditure of metabolic energy to function. In the experiments presented here we demonstrate in the perfused placenta that there is no reduction in the rate of glucose transport or its analogue 3-O-methyl-α-D-glucopyranoside (3MG) in the presence of 10 −4 M dinitrophenol (DNP), an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation. The presence of DNP, however, does cause an increase in the glucose utilization rate as well as increased lactic acid production. In order to test whether glucose transport depends on the functioning of a sodium pump system, the sodium in the perfusion system was replaced with choline chloride. The final sodium content was 30 mEq/L. In the presence of a low sodium concentration there was no decrease in the rate of 3MG transport compared to the control experiments run at normal sodium levels. Also "counter transport" of glucose was observed, a further indication that the glucose carrier mechanism does not require a sodium gradient in order to function. Since the transport rate of glucose or its analogue 3MG across the placenta is not reduced in the presence of 10 −4 M DNP and is not reduced in the absence of a sodium gradient, it is unlikely that the mechanism of glucose transport is an active process requiring the expenditure of metabolic energic.
Imaging endothelial cell invasion and network formation in response to human breast cancer cells

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 46, 2005 1145 We have developed a non-invasive assay to study endothelial cell invasion, migration and network formation, in a microenvironment that mimics solid tumors. Such an assay is useful to develop effective strategies for anti-angiogenic treatment. Our assay was housed in a 24-well Millipore insert with 4 μm membrane pore size. MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells were seeded between two layers of ECM gel within this insert. Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) were seeded on top of this sandwich-like structure, resulting in a layer of ECM gel separating cancer cells from the HUVECs. For MRI tracking, HUVECs were magnetofected with a superparamagnetic iron-oxide contrast agent (Feridex®, 2 μg per ml of EGM-2 medium) that shortens the T2 relaxation time of bulk water, producing hypointensity in MR images. HUVECs migrated toward the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells in response to paracrine factors secreted by the cancer cells. In the presence of cancer cells, HUVECs formed and retained a lumen-like network structure, and increasingly invaded the ECM gel toward the cancer cells. T2-weighted MR images of the chambers were obtained in 1 scan with TE = 60 ms, TR = 517 ms, field-of-view = 1.6 cm, slice thickness = 0.5 cm, acquisition matrix = 256 x 256. The MR images were binarized and adaptive thresholding was applied to identify areas of hypointensity indicating HUVEC presence. The effect of invasion and migration was quantified by calculating the fractional area of HUVECs in the cancer cell seed layer (day 2: 1.9 ± 1.2 and day 6: 5.0 ± 1.5; MEAN ± SD; n = 3). HUVEC presence in the cancer cell seed layer was cross-validated with endothelial cell specific monoclonal antibody CD31 fluorescence staining, and Prussian blue staining of iron-content. In controls (chambers without cancer cells), fewer HUVECs invaded and/or migrated into the ECM gel (day 2: 0.82 ± 0.58 and day 6: 0.11± 0.19; MEAN ± SD; n = 3); while HUVECs initially formed a network on the surface of the ECM gel, this structure lost integrity during the 6-day experiments. Here, for the first time, we have non-invasively and longitudinally characterized HUVEC motility, invasive potential, and network-formation in the presence and absence of cancer cells. Our assay can be used to study endothelial cell and network response to various growth and inhibition factors involved in the angiogenic process. We are currently studying endothelial response to hypoxia and VEGF overexpression. The assay can also be used to study endothelial response to synergistic effects of various competing pro- and anti-angiogenic factors. This novel assay might prove very useful in longitudinal high throughput studies to determine the efficacy of anticancer drugs. Additionally, our assay may add insights into the 3-dimensional remodeling of basement membranes in response to various factors and conditions.
Effect of positive end-expiratory pressure on hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in the dog

We studied the effects of uni- and bilateral positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) on pulmonary artery pressure-flow (Ppa/Q) relationships during unilateral hypoxia in anesthetized dogs. A bronchial divider was inserted, the right lung was ventilated with 100% O2, and the left lung was ventilated with either 100% O2 (hyperoxia) or a hypoxic gas mixture (hypoxia). Left lung blood flow (QL) and aortic flow (QT) were measured by electromagnetic flow probes. Simultaneous Ppa/Q relations for both lungs, with Q on the ordinate, were obtained by altering QT via an arteriovenous fistula and an inferior vena cava occluder. Ppa/Q slopes (delta Q/delta Ppa) and extrapolated zero-flow Ppa intercepts (Pzf) were obtained by linear regression analysis. Bilateral PEEP increased Pzf for both lungs (P less than 0.01) but did not alter delta Q/delta Ppa of either lung. Unilateral PEEP decreased ipsilateral blood flow (P less than 0.001) and increased Pzf for the ipsilateral lung (P less than 0.05). Left lung PEEP did not affect the slope of the left lung Ppa/Q relationship (delta QL/delta Ppa). Hypoxic ventilation of the left lung decreased QL (P less than 0.001), increased Pzf (P less than 0.05), and decreased delta QL/delta Ppa (P less than 0.001). Neither uni- nor bilateral PEEP altered this flow diversion away from the left lung or the reduction in delta QL/delta Ppa with left lung hypoxia. We conclude that PEEP and alveolar hypoxia increase pulmonary vascular resistance at different loci, such that their effects are additive. A net increase in 10 cmH2O of PEEP does not inhibit the pulmonary vascular response to regional alveolar hypoxia.
Coherent control over collective polariton excitations: The dawn of polaritonics

Coherent optical control efforts to date have been aimed almost exclusively at manipulation of excitations that are localized in space. Control over coherently propagating modes offers several important new prospects. First, it opens up the use of spatial as well as temporal parameters as control elements in the design of optimized excitation waveforms. This enables new types of control in which interferences among coherent responses that originate from different regions of a sample may be used to selectively enhance or suppress the net response at a specified location and/or time. Coherent amplification of responses is possible through constructive interferences, allowing large coherent amplitudes to be achieved with modest excitation light intensities. Collective responses may be optically excited in one region of a heterogeneous sample and directed toward other regions including those at which the responses could not be driven directly by the excitation light due to selection rules, opacity, or other restrictions. In this manner the normally inaccessible regions may be studied or subjected to otherwise unattainable coherent control. In addition, propagating modes may possibly be used as coherent signals that can be launched at specified locations or ”addresses” and received, manipulated further, or read out at other specified addresses, all at ultrahigh bandwidths.