cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effects of meridional motion on the determination of rotation by tracer tracking

We explore a systematic error that arises in feature-tracking measurements of time-average rotation. It stems from the flows of features across latitudes, and as these flows vary with the solar activity cycle, the error has a pattern of variation which mocks the torsional oscillation. We develop a series expansion for this error and evaluate the leading terms for the example case of cycle 21. It grows with the time lag; for a 30 day lag it is ≲1%, depending on how the correlations are done and interpreted. We conclude that the mock pattern cannot, however, account for the magnetic-rotation torsional oscillations pattern found in recent analyses of magnetograms from Kitt Peak and Mount Wilson. For the 1-day time lag in the Kitt Peak study, the error is negligible, and for the ∼30-day time lag in the Mount Wilson study, it represents at most about 30% of the signal.
Numerical investigation of non-reciprocal wave propagation in mechanically-modulated elastic metamaterials

Acoustic systems that break reciprocity have recently received great attention due to their potential to increase control over wave propagation and to have far-reaching impacts on engineering applications, including more efficient acoustic communication devices and vibration isolation. One means to break reciprocity is by spatiotemporal modulation of material properties, typically via electromagnetic actuation. In the present work, tunable mechanical metamaterials are investigated as a platform to achieve non-reciprocity, where effective dynamic property modulations are induced by an external pre-strain of a two-dimensional cellular material. These elastic metamaterials are studied using a nonlinear finite element model, which is suitable for unit cells having complex geometry and undergoing large deformation caused by the external pre-strain [Goldsberry et al., J. Appl. Phys., 123, 091711 (2018)]. A small-on-large approximation is used to analyze linear elastic, non-reciprocal wave propagation in the presence of a slowly-varying pre-strain. Results on non-reciprocal wave propagation in negative stiffness honeycombs, a structure exhibiting large stiffness modulations due to the presence of a mechanical instability [Correa et al., Rapid Prototyping J., 21(2), 193–200, (2015)], are shown as a case example. [Work supported by NSF.]
Chapter 17 – Isolation of Polyadenylated RNA

Polyadenylation is the process by which the poly (A) structure is added to mRNA. It is not coupled directly to transcription termination; rather it is catalyzed posttranscriptionally by a family of nuclear enzymes which is known collectively as poly (A) polymerase. The poly (A) tail also has a role in transportation of the mature mRNA out of the nucleus. The main focus of this chapter is to highlight the significance of mRNA that is purified by affinity chromatographic selection directed toward the poly (A) tail. The purpose of purifying mRNA, i.e., removing the rRNA and tRNA species, is to increase the statistical representation of the mRNAs in a sample as a function of the total mass of purified RNA. Any approach of this nature is known as an enrichment strategy. The most important aspect of poly (A) selection is keeping the volumes involved as small as possible, so as to keep the sample concentrated. A variety of techniques such as magnetic bead technology for poly (A) purification, oligo (dT)-cellulose column chromatography, and non-column poly (A) purification, are used for the purification of poly (A) mRNA and these methods have one thing in common that is the poly (A) mRNA anneals to an affinity matrix under high ionic strength (high salt) conditions. Therefore it is necessary to eliminate the electrostatic repulsion that occurs naturally between the target RNA and the thymidylate residues which are linked to the matrix.
High-Pressure Synthesis and Characterization of Perovskites with Simultaneous Ordering of Both the A- and B-Site Cations, CaCu3Ga2M2O12 (M = Sb, Ta)

Three new perovskites, CaCu3Ga2Sb2O12, CaCu3Ga2Ta2O12, and CaCu3Ga2Nb2O12, have been synthesized at 12∼12.5 GPa and 1100 °C using the uniaxial split sphere anvil type press (USSA-2000) and recovered to ambient conditions, where they have been structurally characterized using X-ray and neutron powder diffraction. The large differences in the size and bonding preferences of Ca2+ and Cu2+ stabilize a large a+a+a+ octahedral tilting distortion in all three compounds. This distortion creates a 12-coordinate icosahedral site for Ca2+ and a 4-coordinate square-planar site for Cu2+. In addition to this A-site cation ordering, CaCu3Ga2Sb2O12 and CaCu3Ga2Ta2O12 also exhibit a rock salt ordering of the octahedral B-site cations. The B-site cation order decreases from 98% in CaCu3Ga2Sb2O12 to 70% in CaCu3Ga2Ta2O12 to effectively no long range order in CaCu3Ga2Nb2O12. These materials represent the first examples in which both A-site cation order and rock salt B-site cation order have been observed simultaneously. The ...
A new direction or lack of direction? The story of innovation with outsider CEOs

A key choice facing firms in their top management team succession strategy is hiring from within the firm or from outside. While this is likely to affect the firm in multiple ways, external experie...
Music Teachers Perceptions of Creativity: A Preliminary Investigation

Music teachers embrace perceptions of creativity across a diversity of music teaching and learning contexts. A review of literature revealed limited research has investigated these perceptions. The...
Deep learning: RNNs and LSTM

Abstract Recurrent neural networks (RNNs) are a class of neural networks that are naturally suited to processing time-series data and other sequential data. Here we introduce recurrent neural networks as an extension to feedforward networks, in order to allow the processing of variable-length (or even infinite-length) sequences, and some of the most popular recurrent architectures in use, including long short-term memory (LSTM) and gated recurrent units (GRUs). In addition, various aspects surrounding RNNs are discussed in detail, including various probabilistic models that are often realized using RNNs and various applications of RNNs that have appeared within the MICCAI community.
Intravenous Iron Infusions in Pediatric Patients: A Single Institution Assessment of Efficacy and Adverse Effects of IV Iron Infusions

Background: Iron deficiency, even without a diagnosis of anemia, can be neurodevelopmentally dangerous in pediatric populations. Oral iron supplementation has been the treatment of choice but is associated with poor adherence for several reasons including metallic taste of the tablets, gastric irritation, severe constipation, and daily dosing for several weeks. Intravenous iron has been safely used in adult populations for iron supplementation, but has less commonly been used in pediatric populations. It is hypothesized that pediatric patients with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) who receive intravenous iron infusions will show normalization of hematologic parameters. Methods: EMR of patients aged 1-21 who received at least one intravenous iron infusion at Cooper University Hospital between 2016 and January 2019 were reviewed for retrospective data collection. Pre-infusion lab values including Hgb, MCV, RBCs and RDW were compared to post-infusion values to determine if values normalized after intravenous iron infusion. Patient demographics including ethnicity, cause of IDA, prior oral iron treatments, and adverse effects of oral and IV iron were analyzed. Results: There were 33 subjects in this study. The average age of the subjects was 12.8 (+/- 5.1) years of age and 79% were female. The most prevalent indication for IV iron was menorrhagia (55%), while GI issues were 18% and insufficient diet accounted for 27%. The mean baseline HGB was 8.3 (+/- 1.7) while the mean final HGB increased to 11.5 (+/- 1.4) (p Conclusion: IV iron sucrose infusions administered to pediatric outpatients were safe and effective in children and adolescents with IDA. Adherence to intravenous iron did not significantly improve. Hematologic parameters improved with infusions. Further analysis of patient demographics and characteristics of diagnosis needs to be performed to elucidate benefits of this therapy. As a single institution study, the results are limited to a regional patient population and their specific demographics. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
The Fluidity of Racial Classifications

In this article, I review the social science literature on racial fluidity, the idea that race is flexible and impermanent. I trace the ongoing evolution of racial classifications and boundaries in...
Physician Advocacy: The AMA Interim Meeting 2018.

Charles W. Van Way, III, MD, FACS, FCCP, FCCM, MSMA member since 1989, Missouri/AMA Delegate, and Missouri Medicine Contributing Editor, is Emeritus Professor of Surgery, University of Missouri - Kansas City. Contact: moc.rr.ck@yawnavc Open in a separate window
Growth and productivity of a 45-year-old Norway spruce plantation on the Fernow Experimental Forest

In 1973, as part of research addressing the timing, volume, and source of streamflows, a 22.34 ha watershed on the Fernow Experimental Forest was planted with Norway spruce (Picea abies). This publication describes the growth and productivity of this unusual Norway spruce plantation over the intervening 45 years, including information on stand density, incursion of native hardwoods, and reaction to a major disturbance, Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
Diet Quality and Associations with Food Security among Women Eligible for Indiana Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education.

Background The diet quality among adults receiving nutrition education lessons through Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) is currently unknown. Objectives The objectives of this study were to characterize the diet quality of Indiana SNAP-Ed-eligible women; estimate their mean usual intake of fruits, vegetables, dairy, and whole grains compared to Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recommendations; and determine if these dietary outcomes differed by food security status. Methods SNAP-Ed paraprofessionals recruited participants from August 2015 to May 2016 for this secondary analysis of cross-sectional data collected as the baseline assessment for a randomized controlled trial. Participants were SNAP-Ed-eligible women aged ≥18 y interested in nutrition education lessons. Dietary outcomes were assessed by one or two 24-h dietary recalls. The Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2010 was used to characterize diet quality. Mean usual intake of food groups was estimated using the National Cancer Institute Method. Food security status was classified using the US Household Food Security Survey Module. Data were analyzed in October 2019. Results Mean ± SEM HEI-2010 total score was 42 ± 0.9 for the study sample. Mean ± SE usual intake of servings of fruits (0.61 ± 0.08 cups [144.32 ± 18.93 mL]), vegetables [1.4 ± 0.10 cups (331.2 ± 23.66 mL)], dairy [1.5 ± 0.11 cups (354.88 ± 26.02 mL)], and whole grains [0.48 ± 0.06 ounces (13.61 ± 1.70 g)] did not differ by food security subgroup. Mean HEI-2010 total score was significantly higher by 4.8 ± 2.0 points for the food-secure than for the food-insecure subgroup (P = 0.01). Mean HEI-2010 component scores were 1.1 ± 0.5 points higher for whole grain (P = 0.01) and 1.0 ± 0.5 points higher for dairy (P = 0.05) in the food-secure than in the food-insecure subgroup. The proportions of the study sample not meeting the DGA recommendations for food group intake were ≥85% for both food-secure and -insecure subgroups. Conclusions Indiana SNAP-Ed-eligible women reported poor diet quality, highlighting their need for nutrition interventions aiming to improve food security and diet as per DGA recommendations in low-income populations.
Assessing imidacloprid for Nantucket pine tip moth (Rhyacionia frustrana) suppression through regional collaborative research and focus group evaluation

Abstract Nantucket pine tip moth (NPTM) [Rhyacionia frustrana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)] is a pest of young pine trees. The goal of this research project was two-fold: 1) to evaluate imidacloprid for NPTM suppression in South Georgia and 2) to incorporate county agents into a research project to facilitate knowledge transfer and extension training. Research sites in one-year planted loblolly pine stands were established by an extension specialist and county agents in five counties in South Georgia. Loblolly pines were assigned one of three treatments: untreated control, soil drench, and foliar spray. Trees were treated at a rate that would treat 500 trees per acre. Pines were assessed for NPTM infestation five times during the year, set to coincide with each NPTM generation. Tree height was measured at the end of the growing season. Qualitative data was collected on the agents' experience during a Zoom focus group and with emailed questionnaires. Imidacloprid drench and spray treatments resulted in lower NPTM infestation rates compared to untreated controls. However, while infestations rates were significantly lower, benefits were not conveyed to increased tree height. Imidacloprid treated trees were no taller than control trees. Collaborating with county agents enhanced this research project and benefitted both agents and the extension specialist. County agent involvement enhanced their job performance, allowed them to positively influence county stakeholders, contributed to core job competencies, and increased knowledge in forest health. Incorporating extension with research throughout the course of this study has been beneficial for both research outcomes and knowledge transfer.
Opioid prescribing to preteen children undergoing ambulatory surgery in the United States.

Abstract Background Overuse and misuse of opioids is a continuing crisis. The most common reason for children to receive opioids is postoperative pain, and they are often prescribed more than needed. The amount of opioids prescribed varies widely, even for minor ambulatory procedures. This study uses a large national sample to describe filled opioid prescriptions to preteen patients after all ambulatory surgical procedures and common standard procedures. Methods We analyzed Truven Health MarketScan data for July 2012 through December 2016 to perform descriptive analyses of opioid fills by age and geographic area, change over time, second opioid fills in opioid-naive patients, and variation in the types and amount of medication prescribed for 18 common and standard procedures in otolaryngology, urology, general surgery, ophthalmology, and orthopedics. Results Over 10% of preteen children filled perioperative opioid prescriptions for ambulatory surgery in the period 2012 to 2016. The amount prescribed varied widely (median 5 days’ supply, IQR 3–8, range 1–90), even for the most minor procedures, for example, frenotomy (median 4 days’ supply, IQR 2–5, range 1–60). Codeine fills were common despite safety concerns. Second opioid prescriptions were filled by opioid-naive patients after almost all procedures studied. The rate of prescribing declined significantly over time and varied substantially by age and across census regions. Conclusions We identified opioid prescribing outside of the norms of standard practice in all of the specialties studied. Standardizing perioperative opioid prescribing and developing guidelines on appropriate prescribing for children may reduce the opioids available for misuse and diversion.
Genetic variants predictive of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy symptoms in gynecologic cancer survivors

Objectives: Identifying gynecologic cancer patients at higher risk of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), a common and debilitating side effect of cancer treatment, could inform treatment decision-making and quality of life discussions. We sought to identify genetic variants associated with the prevalence of CIPN among gynecologic cancer survivors, and to determine if these variants added predictive power to a model including demographic and clinical factors. Methods: Patients were recruited from an academic gynecologic-oncology practice into a prospective cohort study. Participants included in this analysis provided a voluntary DNA saliva sample and self-reported CIPN symptoms (FACT/GOG-Ntx) along with other emotional, social and physical health items. Clinical and treatment data were abstracted from medical records. Genotyping of 23 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 15 genes identified in the literature as being related to platinum or taxane-induced neuropathy in other cancer populations was performed using iPLEX Gold method. The analyses were restricted to White females (97% of the cohort) and those who received chemotherapy. Risk allele carrier frequencies of individuals with and without high CIPN symptoms (FACT/GOG-Ntx score >9.5, median) were compared using logistic regression adjusting for age; odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) are reported. We generated receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to examine the predictive ability of the identified significant SNPs along with known clinical risk factors (age, diabetes, body mass index (BMI), Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), previous cancer diagnosis) with regards to CIPN symptomatology. Results: A total of 108 individuals who provided a saliva sample with sufficient DNA for analysis received chemotherapy and were included in the analysis. Mean age was 62.8±10.5 years; 40.4% had obesity and 9% had diabetes. Most were diagnosed with ovarian cancer (58%) or uterine cancer (30%), and were not actively receiving treatment (76%). Having at least one risk allele in two SNPs was significantly associated with high CIPN symptomology: rs3753753 in GPX7, 2.65 (1.18, 5.92) and rs139887 in SOX10, 2.55 (1.14, 5.72). Further, including these SNPs in the predictive model improved the ROC curve area under the curve (AUC) over the demographic and clinical characteristics alone (AUC: 0.75 vs. 0.66, p=0.04; Figure 1). Download : Download high-res image (121KB) Download : Download full-size image Conclusions: Genetic and clinical characteristics are predictive of higher CIPN symptomatology in gynecologic cancer survivors and combining these factors resulted in superior predictive power. Prospective validation of these results and assessment of their clinical utility are warranted.
Life Cycle and Techno-Economic Assessment Templates for Emerging Carbon Management Technologies

Technologies that valorize carbon dioxide are becoming an increasingly relevant component of the portfolio of solutions necessary to mitigate and reverse climate change. Assessing the environmental and economic characteristics of these technologies early in their developmental trajectories can help technologists either efficiently accelerate emissions reductions and commercialization or realize potential infeasibility and direct resources toward better opportunities. To aid in such assessments, this article constructs a typology of carbon removal and utilization technologies and identifies specific pathways in need of early-stage life cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic assessment (TEA) templates. Based on published literature and project experience, example LCA and TEA templates are developed for high-priority pathways with relatively low technology readiness levels including direct air capture, chemical synthesis, algae products, carbonated concrete, and carbonated aggregates. The templates attempt to capture the most important elements of early-stage LCA and TEA in an easily understandable and usable manner that still allows for reliable, order-of-magnitude estimations and hotspot analysis. Opportunities for other practitioners to use and build upon the templates are also discussed.
Chemical Therapies for Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation

Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) are ultrarare, genetically and clinically heterogeneous metabolic disorders. Although the number of identified CDG is growing rapidly, there are few therapeutic options. Most treatments involve dietary supplementation with monosaccharides or other precursors. These approaches are relatively safe, but in many cases, the molecular and biochemical underpinnings are incomplete. Recent studies demonstrate that yeast, worm, fly, and zebrafish models of CDG are powerful tools in screening repurposed drugs, ushering a new avenue to search for novel therapeutic options. Here we present a perspective on compounds that are currently in use for CDG treatment or have a potential to be applied as therapeutics in the near future.
Molecular Organization of a Raft-like Domain in a Polyunsaturated Phospholipid Bilayer: A Supervised Machine Learning Analysis of Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

Numerous health benefits are associated with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) consumed in fish oils. An understanding of the mechanism remains elusive. The plasma membrane as a site of action is the focus in this study. With large-scale all-atom MD simulations run on a model membrane (1050 lipid molecules), we observed the evolution over time (6 μs) of a circular (raft-like) domain composed of N-palmitoylsphingomyelin (PSM) and cholesterol embedded into a surrounding (non-raft) patch composed of polyunsaturated 1-palmitoyl-2-docosahexaenoylphosphatylcholine (PDPC) (1:1:1 mol). A supervised machine learning algorithm was developed to characterize the migration of each lipid based on molecular conformation and the local environment. PDPC molecules were seen to infiltrate the ordered raft-like domain in a small amount, while a small concentration of PSM and cholesterol molecules was seen to migrate into the disordered non-raft region. Enclosing the raft-like domain, a narrow (∼2 nm in width) interfacial zone composed of PDPC, PSM, and cholesterol that buffers the substantial difference in order (ΔSCD ≈ 0.12) between raft-like and non-raft environments was seen to form. Our results suggest that n-3 PUFA regulate the architecture of lipid rafts enriched in sphingolipids and cholesterol with a minimal effect on order within their interior in membranes.
Remodeling of the Leptomeningeal Microvascular Plexus in Neonatal Rats

In order to better understand the mechanisms of cerebrovascular development and differentiation, the leptomeningeal microcirculation was analyzed using in vivo fluorescence video-microscopy in neonatal (1,9, and 12 day old) Sprague-Dawley rats. The pattern of flow distribution was reconstructed, the location of radially emerging intracortical veins was identified and the minimum distance between these vessels was measured. We found no AV connections in the leptomeningeal vasculature of the neonatal rat in all examined animals. The LVP in the neonatal period of life is a venous system and probably does not serve as a major source of oxygen supply to cerebral tissue. After birth, the number of radial vessels does not increase, suggesting that intracortical vascularization continues by the branching of existing radial vessels.
Accurate estimation of friction

The effect of friction in low velocity, precise, position controlled mechanisms can be dominant and is difficult to model. This study examines the use of neural networks to model friction in mechanical systems that use DC motors for actuation. Neural network designs alleviate the need to select a friction model and determine its parameters. In addition, since neural networks are inherently capable of learning, the method can be used on-line to compensate for changes in friction characteristics. Simulation studies are performed on a DC motor load case.
The rhodanese reaction. Mechanism of thiosulfate binding.

The interaction of rhodanese with thiosulfate to form a rhodanese-thiosulfate complex has been found to involve charge neutralization as evidenced by solvent and salt effects on the Michaelis constant in the absence of such effects on the maximum velocity. It is inferred from these findings that a cationic binding group for thiosulfate is present at the active site.
Interaction of rose bengal with apo-hemoproteins. An essential histidine residue in cytochrome c peroxidase.

The interaction of “ose bengal with apo-hemoproteins was found to give rise to a large absorption change near 550 nm. This was used to study the binding of the dye to apo-cytochrome c peroxidase, apo-myoglobin, apo-horseradish peroxidase and apo-hemoglobin. In all cases there was about one tight and a number of weak binding sites per heme-binding site, and the binding was impaired in the presence of stoichiometric quantities of heme. Rose bengal was found to be an effective photo-oxidation sensitizer for apo-cytochrome c peroxidase. Kinetic evidence was obtained consistent with the possibility that binding of the dye to the protein is an important step in the photo-oxidation process. Heme was found to protect the enzyme from loss of enzymic activity caused by photo-oxidation. Photo-oxidation does not simply destroy the binding of heme to apo-cytochrome c peroxidase, but produces changes in the spectrum of the bound heme. There is a loss of ability of recombined enzyme to form an enzyme substrate complex in the presence of stoichiometric quantities of hydrogen peroxide, which apparently causes the overall loss of enzymic activity. Photo-oxidation was accompanied by loss of one tryptophan and two histidine residues per mole of protein, but apparently only one of the latter is essential to the enzymic activity. It was concluded that rose bengal can act as a specific modifying agent for the heme site in apo-hemo-proteins, and that this specificity arises from specificity of binding to the heme site. It is suggested that specificity of binding may provide a general basis for the observation of specific destruction of functionally interesting residues in photo-oxidation.
State restrictions on local debt: Their role in preventing default

Abstract Default by a local government can impose a negative externality upon other localities within a state because the state's ability to enforce debt repayment depends upon the proportion of municipalities favoring repayment. Localities benefit from maintaining their state's reputation for enforcement. Hence, jurisdictions not wishing to default favor enforcement of repayment by other jurisdictions. A debt limit increases support for enforcement by reducing the proportion of municipalities preferring default. We characterize when such a limit is optimal. We also examine the role of ‘special districts’, which typically neither are subject to a debt ceiling nor fully backed by the jurisdiction.
A Structured Architecture for Advanced Plasma Control Experiments

Recent new and improved plasma control regimes have evolved from enhancements to the systems responsible for managing the plasma configuration on the DIII-D tokamak. The collection of hardware and software components designed for this purpose is known at DIII-D as the Plasma Control System or PCS. Several new user requirements have contributed to the rapid growth of the PCS. Experiments involving digital control of the plasma vertical position have resulted in the addition of new high performance processors to operate in real-time. Recent studies in plasma disruptions involving the use of neural network based software have resulted in an increase in the number of input diagnostic signals sampled. Better methods for estimating the plasma shape and position have brought about numerous software changes and the addition of several new code modules. Furthermore, requests for performing multivariable control and feedback on the current profile are continuing to add to the demands being placed on the PCS. To support all of these demands has required a structured yet flexible hardware and software architecture for maintaining existing capabilities and easily adding new ones. This architecture along with a general overview of the DIII-D Plasma Control System is described. In addition, the latest improvements to the PCS are presented.
Toward Online Control of Glycosylation in MAbs

Abstract Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) validated for use as human therapeutics must have consistent glycan distributions to function as intended in vivo . However, achieving consistent glycan distributions is difficult since glycosylation is a non-template driven cellular process that results in significant variability in glycan distributions; and to date, no strategies exist for controlling glycosylation online. Our goal is to develop—and validate experimentally—a comprehensive strategy for effective on-line, real-time control of glycosylation patterns, using a combination of multi-scale modeling, hierarchical control, and state estimation. Such an approach requires first establishing base regulatory control for the key process variables known to affect glycosylation, such as media nutrient concentrations. In this paper, we describe the implementation of an effective bioreactor nutrient control strategy which uses a traditional PID controller with gain scheduling and data filtering to address the two main challenges of bioreactor control: bioprocess non-linearity and measurement noise.
Inverse methods in rough-surface scattering

The general approach to inversion for a specific rough-surface parameter through average power measurements is to maximize the sensitivity of the return power to the parameter of interest and minimize its sensitivity to other surface parameters. This is usually achieved by an appropriate choice of coherent or incoherent measurements, polarization, look angle and frequency.
Role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in liver metabolism and cancer

Wnt/β-catenin signaling is known for its role in embryogenesis as well as carcinogenesis. In the liver, it plays many critical roles during hepatic development and regeneration, and its dysregulation is evident in aberrant hepatic growth during various liver tumors. Its chief cellular roles in the liver include regulation of processes of cell proliferation, apoptosis, oxidative stress and differentiation, which in turn contributes to hepatic growth, zonation, xenobiotic metabolism and other metabolic processes inherent to the liver. Most of these functions of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling are dictated through the highly temporal and tissue-specific or non-specific transcriptional targets of the pathway. In addition, some of the critical functions such as cell–cell adhesion and perhaps maintenance of various junctions that are critical from an epithelial cell biology perspective are also a function of β-catenin, which is the central component of the canonical Wnt pathway. Various animal models and clinical studies have demonstrated the spectra of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in liver health and disease. Thus therapeutic modulation of this pathway for improved hepatic health is inevitable in the future. The current review discusses the advances in our understanding of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling in liver physiology and pathology especially in hepatic metabolism and various tumors in adult liver and goes on to extrapolate the pre-clinical significance and possible translational implications of such findings.
Virginia Tech's twin contenders: A comparative study of reactive and deliberative navigation

There are two commonly accepted paradigms for organizing intelligence in robotic vehicles, namely, reactive and deliberative. Although these paradigms are well known to researchers, there are few published examples directly comparing their development and application on similar vehicles operating in similar environments. Virginia Tech’s participation, with two nearly identical vehicles in the DARPA Grand Challenge, afforded a practical opportunity for such a case study. The two Virginia Tech vehicles, Cliff and Rocky, proved capable of off-road navigation, including road following and obstacle avoidance in complex desert terrain. Under the conditions of our testing, the reactive paradigm developed for Cliff produced smoother paths and proved to be more reliable than the deliberative paradigm developed for Rocky. The deliberative method shows great promise for planning feasible paths through complex environments, but it proved unnecessarily complex for the desert road navigation problem posed by the Grand Challenge. This case study, while limited to two specific software implementations, may help to shed additional light on the tradeoffs and performance of competing approaches to machine intelligence.
A Reliability Measure for Model Based Stiction Detection Approaches

Abstract Stiction in control valves is one of the long-standing problems in the process industries which lead to oscillations in closed loop systems. Numerous methods have been developed to detect stiction in linear closed-loop systems. Almost all of these methods utilize the fact that the presence of stiction in control valves introduces nonlinearities in the closed loop control system. However, there exists no measure of reliability for the results provided by these techniques. In this work, using frequency domain analysis of closed loop systems, a measure of reliability is developed for model based stiction detection approaches.
Lipopolysaccharides inhibit prolactin and renin release from human decidual cells.

Human decidual tissue consists of a heterogeneous population of cells, including stromal cells, lymphocytes, and macrophages. Lipopolysaccharides (LPS), which bind to specific cell surface receptors on macrophages, have been shown to increase prostaglandin production by the decidua and amnion. To determine whether LPS may also affect decidual hormone production, we have examined the effects of LPS on the synthesis and release of prolactin and renin. Dispersed cells from term decidual tissue exposed to LPS L2880 (Escherichia coli, 1 ILg/ml) released significantly less prolactin and renin than control cells after 24 h of exposure. Maximal inhibition of prolactin (31.6% ) and renin (62.5% ) release was noted at 72 and 96 h of exposure, respectively (p - 0.0002 in each instance). The inhibition of prolactin and renin release was dose-dependent, with half-maximal inhibition at a dose of approximately 10 ng/ml. LPS caused a decrease in prolactin synthesis as well as release. In addition, LPS inhibited the stimulation of prolactin release in response to insulin, a known secretogogue of prolactin release. After 24, 48, and 72 h of exposure, the magnitude of the stimulation of prolactin release by cells exposed to insulin (100 ng/ml) in the presence of LPS (1 g/ml) was 84.5, 57.5, and 35.2% less, respectively, than that of cells exposed to insulin alone (p = 0.0001 in each instance). LPS L6011 (Salmonella endotoxin) also inhibited prolactin and renin release. LPS had no effect on overall protein or DNA synthesis and did not cause release of alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase. Since gram-negative bacteria that cause intrauterine infections release LPS, some of the morbidity associated with intrauterine infections may be due, in part, to inhibition of decidual prolactin and renin expression. This inhibition may be a direct effect of LPS on the decidual cell or may be mediated by cytokines released by macrophages activated by LPS or by activation of the arachidonic acid pathway.
1H-NMR spectra of the 22 tetrachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins

Abstract The 22 tetrachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (TCDDs) were prepared by reacting the dipotassium salt of a chlorinated catechol with a chlorinated benzene or an ortho-chlorinated nitrobenzene. Some of the purified reaction products contained isomers formed by the Smiles rearrangement. The 300 MHz 1 H-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectra of these reaction products are presented. The spectra were assigned by spectral analysis and by comparison of NMR integrations with data from Gas Chromatographic-Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID) measurements. The uniqueness of the spectra makes NMR measurement an efficient means for the isomer-specific determination of the 22 TCDDs at the microgram level.
Electro-clinical correlation in temporal lobe epilepsy with emphasis on inter-areal analysis of the temporal lobe.

Abstract 1. 1. 100 temporal lobe epileptics were studied for electro-clinical correlations, especially in an attempt to correlate prominent clinical features of the ictal pattern and the locus within the temporal lobe of the EEG discharges. 2. 2. More than half of the cases in our series require sleep activation for evidence of epileptiform activity. The largest number of seizure discharges in the sleep record is seen in records showing seizure discharges in the waking record. 3. 3. More bitemporal than unitemporal cases are noted. Bitemporal cases usually show more discharges on the left temporal area than on the right. 4. 4. An increase in the duration of seizures is associated with an increase in the number of temporal areas showing discharges. Bitemporal cases are associated with a longer duration of seizures than unitemporal cases. 5. 5. Although the anterior temporal electrode is frequently more involved than the mid temporal electrode, both areas are often prominently involved and the area showing the higher value depends upon the statistic used for calculation and the type of cases studied. 6. 6. Grand mal seizures and ictal automatisms are associated more with activity from the anterior than mid temporal electrode. The anterior temporal electrode would seem to reflect mainly amygdaloid activity. 7. 7. The lack of grand mal seizures, the presence of behavior disorder, vertigo, autonomic changes, and psychic manifestations of the ictal pattern are associated more with activity from the mid than anterior temporal electrode. The mid temporal electrode would seem to reflect mainly hippocampal activity.
Mechanisms of anticancer action of HPMA copolymer-bound doxorubicin

This paper summarizes the peculiarities of HPMA copolymerbound doxorubicin as an anticancer drug. It was found that polymer-bound doxorubicin demonstrated higher anticancer activity compared with free doxorubicin. This phenomenon was explained by the following mechanisms of its anticancer action: preferential accumulation in tumors, internalization in membrane-limited organelles, ability to overcome existing multidrug resistance and not to induce it de novo, high intracellular toxicity and inhibition of detoxification enzymes, cell death induction by the activation of specific signaling pathways, and triggering of caspase activation cascades.
Fatigue of metal matrix composite materials

Abstract The effect of aqueous environments on the fatigue crack propagation of several metal matrix composites has been investigated. The fatigue cracking behavior and mechanisms in continuous graphite-Al and Al 2 O 3 Al and in discontinuous SiCAl materials were determined. In only the SiCAl materials were meaningful crack propagation data ( d a/ d N versus ΔK) obtained. The other materials tended to exhibit cracking in the fiber-matrix direction, primarily at the interfaces. Environmental effects tended to raise d a/ d N at a given ΔK in SiCAl by a factor of about 10, but there was no discernible difference between the effect of distilled water and 3.5% saline solution on d a/ d N versus ΔK. Transitions in the d a/ d N curves over a range of ΔK values were linked to microstructural features in a model containing the subgrain size and interwhisker spacing. An orientation dependence was observed (which stemmed from preffered orientations developed during processing) in the SiCAl composites. Fractographic examination revealed the existence of whisker clumping and growth faults along the SiC whiskers, which could lead to stress concentrations and facilitate cracking in fatigue.
Supplementation of Energy‐restricted Diets with Coconut Oil Improves Nitrogen Balance Without Elevation of Blood Cholesterol Levels

ABSTRACT: Thirty-six growing male rats were fed 1 of 6 diets for 4 wk: (1) semipurified basal diet (B) with 10% corn oil, 21.6% fat calories (FC), 14 g B diet/day; (2) B + 1 g of coconut oil (32% FC); (3) B + 1 g olive oil; (4) B + 1 g corn oil; (5) B + 2.25 g starch (18.7% FC); and (6) B + 2 g coconut oil (40% FC). Weight gain and nitrogen balance were higher (p 0.05). It may be suggested that under restricted energy intake conditions (67% to 75% of the requirements) a high-fat diet (32% to 40% fat calories), including a diet rich in highly saturated coconut oil, can serve as a source of energy and contribute to improved nitrogen balance, without elevating blood cholesterol levels.
Economics of self-medication: theory and evidence.

A pervasive phenomenon in developing countries is that self-prescribed medications are purchased from drug vendors without professional supervision. In this article we develop a model of self-medicating behavior of a utility-maximizing consumer who balances the benefits and risks of self-medication. The empirical investigation focuses on the role of income and health insurance on the use of self-medication. Our data are from the World Bank's Living Standards Measurement Survey of Vietnam, 1997-1998. The results show that self-medication is an inferior good at high income levels and a normal good at low income levels, and it shows a strong and robust negative insurance effect.
Cellular location of thymus-leukemia (TL) antigen as shown by immuno-cryoultramicrotomy.

Thymus‐leukemia (TL) antigen is a class I molecule of the major histocompatibility complex that is expressed on the surface of mouse cortical thymocytes. Though not expected, it has been reported that TL antigen can be found on isolated mitochondria of TL+ cells. We used immuno‐cryoultramicrotomy to look for TL on mitochondria in situ, thereby avoiding the plasma membrane contamination that occurs when isolating organelles. Establishing optimal fixation conditions was crucial, as mitochondrial structure was not preserved by the low concentrations of fixative needed for detection of antibody labeling. The plasma membranes of tissue culture and thymus cells were labeled well with anti‐TL antibody and protein A‐gold conjugate, while mitochondria within the cells were not labeled. Isolation of mitochondria on a one‐step Ficoll gradient resulted in a purer organelle preparation than did isolation of mitochondria by centrifugation alone. Generally, mitochondria within this purer preparation were not labeled. Our data show that under conditions where contamination by plasma membrane is not a major concern, TL antigen cannot be detected on mitochondria.
US cancer trials may go the way of the Oldsmobile

Cancer clinical trials in the US are at a major crossroads. Current government-sponsored research is some of the best in the world, but the field shares a worrying number of similarities with the American auto industry in its heyday. For clinical research to survive, the field must transform itself now to prevent a similar decline.
An Economical Method For Correcting Forecasting Error

The purpose of this discussion is to present to business forecasters and others who utilize forecast information a method for improving forecast performance. We summarize the generation of a forecast; evaluation of a forecast; and by example illustrate the optimal linear correction method for improving forecast accuracy. This technique permits forecasters and others to decompose forecast error into its components, and, in turn, reduce forecast error.
Resonance Surface Plasmon Spectroscopy: Low Molecular Weight Substrate Binding to Cytochrome P450

A new detection mechanism has been developed for low molecular weight substrate binding to heme proteins based on resonance localized surface plasmon spectroscopy. Cytochrome P450 has strong electronic transitions in the visible wavelength region. Upon binding of a substrate molecule (e.g., camphor), the absorption band of cytochrome P450 shifts to shorter wavelength. The event of camphor binding to a nanoparticle surface modified with cytochrome P450 protein receptors is monitored using UV−vis spectroscopy. It is observed for the first time that the binding of the substrate molecules to the protein receptor induces a blue-shift in the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of the nanosensors. The coupling between the molecular resonance of the substrate-free and substrate-bound cytochrome P450 proteins and the nanoparticles' LSPR leads to a highly wavelength-dependent LSPR response. When the LSPR of the nanoparticles is located at a wavelength distant from the cytochrome P450 resonance, an average of...
Impact of Species Uncertainty Perturbation on the Solution Stability of Positive Matrix Factorization of Atmospheric Particulate Matter Data

Statistical measures for evaluating the similarity of different source apportionment solutions are proposed. The sensitivity of positive matrix factorization to small perturbations in species measurement uncertainty estimates is examined using fine particulate matter measurements on organic carbon, elemental carbon, ions, and metals at the St. Louis-Midwest Supersite. A perturbed uncertainty matrix is created by multiplying each original uncertainty value by a random multiplier generated from a log-normal distribution with a mean of 1 and a standard deviation (and CV) equal to either 0.25, 0.50, or 0.75. The relative errors in reproducing the average contribution estimates from the perturbed data are generally highest for the gasoline exhaust, with the relative error (expressed as a percentage of the "true" value) exceeding 30% for all three perturbation scenarios. The most stable estimates of average source contribution were associated with secondary sulfate and secondary nitrate, with relative errors always less than 4%. Averaged over all 10 sources, the average values for our measure of relative error for the three scenarios are 8%, 14%, and 17%, respectively. Relative errors associated with day-to-day estimates of source contributions can be more than double the size of the relative errors associated with estimates of average source contributions, with errors for four of 10 source contributions exceeding 30% for the largest-perturbation scenario. The stability of source profile estimates in our simulation varies greatly between sources, with a mean correlation between perturbed gasoline exhaust profiles and the true profile equal to only 59% for the largest-perturbation scenario. The process used for evaluation is a tool that may be used to assess the stability of solutions in source apportionment studies.
The secrets of the bone marrow niche: Enigmatic niche brings challenge for HSC expansion

The bone marrow niche keeps puzzling scientists in cancer and regenerative medicine. What elements constitute the niche and how it affects neighbor cells in different disease contexts remain to be a matter of debate and extensive investigation. The translational use of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in transplantation biology poses a challenge, given the propensity of these cells to remain quiescent. Although the niche is a good candidate to exploit for reprogramming HSCs and controlling their expansion, new studies have added to its complexity. In 'Bench to Bedside', Paul S. Frenette and Yuya Kunisaki examine these studies to discuss how new players and their signals are involved in HSC maintenance and what the implications are for the development of HSC-based therapies. Among the alterations occurring in leukemias, metabolic events seem to foster cancer progression but may also be involved in cancer predisposition. Rushdia Z. Yusuf, Ying-Hua Wang and David T. Scadden peruse recent clinical and experimental studies that look at myelodysplastic syndromes and secondary leukemias and argue how metabolic changes in these cancers may not only be cell autonomous but also can emanate from the bone marrow stroma. Targeting this niche may open new avenues to reduce the risk for secondary leukemias in cancer survivors.