cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The use of a leukocyte cell line culture supernatant for skin reaction testing in malignant melanoma

A study was conducted to determine some of the potential applications of a human leukocyte culture supernatant or “lymphokine” preparation in cancer patients. The application evaluated in this study was the use of this preparation as a skin test reagent for evaluation of the inflammatory response following intradermal injection. The preparation was derived from the supernatant of a long-term cultured lymphoblastoid cell line with migration inhibition factor (MIF) and other lymphokine activities. Dose response, histology and toxicity studies were done in 53 patients with malignant melanoma stage IIIB and IV. A dose response curve was observed for both erythema and induration at 12 and 24 hours, but not at 48 hours. An optimal intradermal dose for eliciting inflammation was determined and found to be five units. Histopathological evaluation of biopsy specimens showed a mixed cell reaction including granulocytes, eosinophils, lymphocytes and monocytes differing in lymphocyte content from the classical delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction in man. Compared with the response to recall antigens, only a weak correlation with the DTH response to the recall antigens was found. Our results support the conclusion that lymphokines may be used in the future to evaluate the ability to develop nonspecific inflammation in cancer patients, and that this inflammatory response can be obtained in a number of patients no longer capable of responding to recall antigens.
B. subtilis ribosomal proteins: structural homology and post-translational modifications.

Ribosomal proteins of the model gram-positive bacterium B. subtilis 168 were extensively characterized in a proteomic study. Mass spectra of the 52 proteins expected to be constitutive components o...
The State and the Labor Market

Over the past two decades, labor market conditions in the United States and many European countries have dramatically changed. Low unemployment rates have been followed by high unemployment rates. Taking their cue from neoclassical economics, many economists, politicians, and employers see rigidities in the labor market as being one of the chief causes of the high unemployment. These rigidities, due primarily to past actions of labor unions and governments, need to be eliminated if market forces are to be liberated. Freeing-up market forces will lead to a more well-functioning, flexible labor market. This, in turn, will have beneficial effects on employment and productivity. On the whole, workers, employers, and the entire society will be better off.
Chromatin-based epigenetics of adult subventricular zone neural stem cells

In specific regions of the adult mammalian brain, neural stem cells (NSCs) generate new neurons throughout life. Emerging evidence indicate that chromatin-based transcriptional regulation is a key epigenetic mechanism for the life-long function of adult NSCs. In the adult mouse brain, NSCs in the subventricular zone (SVZ) retain the ability to produce both neurons and glia for the life of the animal. In this review, we discuss the origin and function of SVZ NSCs as they relate to key epigenetic concepts of development and potential underlying mechanism of chromatin-based transcriptional regulation. A central point of discussion is how SVZ NSCs – which possess many characteristics of mature, non-neurogenic astrocytes – maintain a “youthful” ability to produce both neuronal and glial lineages. In addition to reviewing data regarding the function of chromatin-modifying factors in SVZ neurogenesis, we incorporate our growing understanding that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) serve as an important element to chromatin-based transcriptional regulation, including that of SVZ NSCs. Discoveries regarding the epigenetic mechanisms of adult SVZ NSCs may provide key insights into fundamental principles of adult stem cell biology as well as the more complex and dynamic developmental environment of the embryonic brain.
Automatic estimation the number of clusters in hierarchical data clustering

Emergent pattern recognition is crucially needed for a real-time monitoring network to recognize emerging behavior of a physical system from sensor measurement data. To achieve effective emergent pattern recognition, one of the challenging problems is to determine the number of data clusters automatically. This paper studies the performance of the model-based clustering approach and using the knee of an evaluation graph for the estimation of the number of clusters. The working principle of these two methods is presented in the article. Both methods have been used for the classification of damage patterns for a benchmark civil structure. The performance of these two methods on determining the number of clusters and classification success rate is discussed.
Space motion sickness medications - Interference with biomedical parameters

The possibility that drugs administered to Skylab 3 (SL-3) and 4 (SL-4) crewmen for space motion sickness may have interfered with their biomedical evaluation in space was investigated. Healthy volunteers received combinations of Scopolamine/Dexedrine for four days in regimens similar to those used in these missions. Urine samples, heart rate, body temperature, mood and performance were analyzed for drug-related changes. Twenty-four hour urine samples were analyzed by the same procedures as those used to analyze the flight samples. Hormone concentrations determined included cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine, aldosterone and antidiuretic hormone (ADH). In addition, volume, specific gravity, osmolarity, sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), chloride (Cl), inorganic phosphate, uric acid and creatinine were measured. Performance was not affected by the Scopolamine/Dexedrine. The drug combination increased daily mean heart rate (HR) significantly in all the subjects and daily mean rectal temperature (RT) in some of the subjects. A 2-4 hr phase shift in the HR circadian rhythm was also observed which indicates that internal circadian synchrony was disturbed by the drugs. Psychological and subjective evaluation indicated that the subjects could usually identify which days they were given the drugs by an increase in tension and anxiety, decreased patience, restlessness, decreased appetite, difficulty in sleeping and feelings of increased heart rate and body temperature. Urinary electrolytes were not changed significantly by the drug, but marked and significant changes occurred in urine volume and hormone excretion patterns. Scopolamine/Dexedrine caused consistent elevations in urinary cortisol and epinephrine and a transient elevation in ADH. Norepinephrine excretion was decreased, but there was no significant change in aldosterone excretion or in 24 hr urine volume. A comparison of these findings with the first four days of inflight data from the SL-3 and SL-4 missions leads to the conclusion that the dramatic increases in aldosterone excretion during the first three days of spaceflight probably can be directly attributed to weightlessness, whereas the antimotion sickness medication could have substantially contributed to the early increased excretion of epinephrine and cortisol during these missions.
Body sensor networks based sensor fusion for cardiovascular biosignal predictions

A Multivariate Autoregressive (MAR) model based sensor fusion technique is developed in this work to improve the reliability and accuracy of cardiovascular biosignal prediction by taking advantages of combining sensory data from heterogeneous biosensors in a network. The importance and potential applications of sensor fusion in body sensor networks are introduced. Real-world data from MIT-BIH multi-parameter database MIMIC (Multi-parameter Intelligent Monitoring for Intensive Care) is used to verify the MAR model performance. The effects of model order number and involved biosignal number are studied. The experiments also show that ECG signals can be partially recovered from other biosignals even if the ECG input is completely missing.
Human Metapneumovirus Glycoprotein G Inhibits Innate Immune Responses

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a leading cause of acute respiratory tract infection in infants, as well as in the elderly and immunocompromised patients. No effective treatment or vaccine for hMPV is currently available. A recombinant hMPV lacking the G protein (rhMPV-ΔG) was recently developed as a potential vaccine candidate and shown to be attenuated in the respiratory tract of a rodent model of infection. The mechanism of its attenuation, as well as the role of G protein in modulation of hMPV-induced cellular responses in vitro, as well as in vivo, is currently unknown. In this study, we found that rhMPV-ΔG-infected airway epithelial cells produced higher levels of chemokines and type I interferon (IFN) compared to cells infected with rhMPV-WT. Infection of airway epithelial cells with rhMPV-ΔG enhanced activation of transcription factors belonging to the nuclear factor (NF)-κB and interferon regulatory factor (IRF) families, as revealed by increased nuclear translocation and/or phosphorylation of these transcription factors. Compared to rhMPV-WT, rhMPV-ΔG also increased IRF- and NF-κB-dependent gene transcription, which was reversely inhibited by G protein expression. Since RNA helicases have been shown to play a fundamental role in initiating viral-induced cellular signaling, we investigated whether retinoic induced gene (RIG)-I was the target of G protein inhibitory activity. We found that indeed G protein associated with RIG-I and inhibited RIG-I-dependent gene transcription, identifying an important mechanism by which hMPV affects innate immune responses. This is the first study investigating the role of hMPV G protein in cellular signaling and identifies G as an important virulence factor, as it inhibits the production of important immune and antiviral mediators by targeting RIG-I, a major intracellular viral RNA sensor.
Downregulation of Smurf2, a tumor-suppressive ubiquitin ligase, in triple-negative breast cancers: Involvement of the RB-microRNA axis

Background The HECT family ubiquitin ligase Smurf2 regulates cell polarity, migration, division, differentiation and death, by targeting diverse substrates that are critical for receptor signaling, cytoskeleton, chromatin remodeling and transcription. Recent studies suggest that Smurf2 functions as a tumor suppressor in mice. However, no inactivating mutation of SMURF2 has been reported in human, and information about Smurf2 expression in human cancer remains limited or complicated. Here we demonstrate that Smurf2 expression is downregulated in human breast cancer tissues, especially of the triple-negative subtype, and address the mechanism of Smurf2 downregulation in triple-negative breast cancer cells.
Aging and the Development of Enhanced Respiration in Potato Tuber Tissue

Disks of potato tissue were aged by two separate methods. The resulting enhaiicetl respirations differed both qualitatively and quantitativety. It is suggested that the diverse results previously reported indicating changes in the terminal oxidative steps and/or in the relative contributions by competing metabolic pathways to the total respiration reflect variations in the methods employed to age the tissues. The nature of the stimulated respiration is discussed in terms of removal or retention of metabolites within the tissue during aging.
The Ontology of Emotion

L'A. developpe une theorie compatibiliste de la nature de l'emotion, selon laquelle l'emotion n'est pas un etat de la conscience, mais plutot l'objet d'une certaine forme de conscience. L'intentionnalite de l'emotion n'est donc pas inherente a l'emotion elle-meme, mais derive de l'intentionnalite d'un certain etat de la conscience
Analysis of an all-digital data-transition tracking loop

An all-digital implementation of the data-transition tracking loop (DTTL) is proposed and analyzed. The input waveform is assumed to be nonreturn-to-zero (NRZ)-coded binary signals. The mathematical analysis of the loop is reduced to the study of a Markov chain which allows the derivation of expressions for the mean square phase error, steady-state probabilities, transient behavior (time to acquire and time to bit slippage), and bit error rate (BER). Theoretical results have been validated using a computer simulation of the loop. The all-digital implementation can take full advantage of advanced technology in memory and processing speeds. >
Determination of the cellular location of cyclic nucleotide binding sites using 8-azidoadenosine-3', 5'-monophosphate, a photoaffinity probe.

A photoaffinity analog of cyclic AMP, 8-azidoadenosine-3′,5′-monophosphate (8-N3cAMP), and a linear gradient sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel system have been used to photolabel and separate possible cyclic AMP binding sites in whole cells of the sarcoma 37 line. At least four sites within the whole sarcoma 37 cell bind [32P]8-N3cAMP such that they are saturated at 1.0 μm concentration. These four binding moieties appear to have measurably different affinities for 8-N3cAMP and the number of total sites labeled per cell differs with each binding moiety. Cell fractionation allows separation of some of the photolabeled sites and gives an indication as to the geographical location of these binding sites within the whole cell. Enrichment by cell fractionation allows additional photolabeled sites to be observed.
Electrophoretic profiles of cyanobacterial membrane polypeptides showing heme-dependent peroxidase activity

Abstract The photosynthetic membranes of Anacystis nidulans R2 were examined electrophoretically following solubilization with lithium dodecyl sulfate. Electrophoresis yielded six prominent chlorophyll-containing bands. In addition, five polypeptides were observed which possessed heme-dependent peroxidase activity, monitored by incubating gels with 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine plus hydrogen peroxide. One such polypeptide, at 105 kdaltons, was removed by repeated washing of the membranes. Four remaining peroxidase-active polypeptides were observed at 7.2, 13.5, 18.5 and 33 kdaltons. Further examination of these four polypeptides yielded the following results. (1) The mobility of the 33 kdalton polypeptide was altered from 29 to 33 kdaltons upon heating (70°C) during membrane solubilization. (2) All four polypeptides showed stable heme-protein associations in the presence of 8 M urea; however, in the presence of urea, alterations in protein mobility were observed for each poly-peptide and only two (at 13.5 and 33 kdaltons) showed peroxidase activity following heating (70°C) during membrane solubilization. (3) The presence of thiols during membrane solubilization at 0°C was required to observe peroxidase activity at 7.2 kdaltons. These results, when compared to known properties of isolated cytochromes, suggest that the four polypeptides characterized here correspond to the subunits of photosynthetic cytochromes. Electrophoretic assessment of maize mutants lacking cytochrome f and b6 activity supports this suggestion.
Identification of cells of origin of non-primary afferents to the dorsal column nuclei of the cat

In order to identify cells of origin in the spinal cord of non-primary afferents to the dorsal column nuclei (DCN), the retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) has been utilized in adult cats. 10 to 30% HRP was injected bilaterally (0.6 μl per side) in the dorsal medulla of nine cats. In most instances the spread of the injected enzyme extended a few millimeters rostrocaudally and infiltrated the DCN as well as other nuclei and fiber tracts. Labelled cells in these cases are numerous in the upper cervical, brachial and lumbosacral cord but are sparse in thoracic segments below T1. At upper cervical levels (C1-C4) HRP-positive neurons are distributed throughout the grey matter but are especially concentrated in the medial part of lamina VI. Cells projecting to the dorsal medulla are mainly localized in lamina IV and, more ventrally, along the medial border of the dorsal horn in the brachial and lumbosacral cord. Labelled cells at these levels are also scattered within lamina I and laminae VI through VIII in cases in which the focus of the injection involved extensive portions of the medulla. From cases in which bilateral HRP injections were preceded by spinal tractotomy, it appears that the axons of at least the majority of labelled cells in lamina IV ascend in the ipsilateral dorsal quadrant of the spinal cord. In another group of adult cats, 0.1 to 0.25 μl of 30 to 50% HRP was injected unilaterally in the dorsal medulla at the level of, or rostral to, the obex. With these volumes of exogenous enzyme, an intense reaction product is largely confined within the limits of the DCN. Labelled cells in these cases are found almost exclusively in the medial part of lamina VI at upper cervical levels and, at brachial and lumbosacral levels, throughout lamina IV and medially in lamina V on the side of the cord ipsilateral to the injection. The results are discussed in relation to the organization of the dorsal horn and ascending pathways with special reference to cells of origin of the spinocervical tract.
Migraine and vertebrobasilar ischemia.

I studied 9 patients with migraine and posterior circulation ischemia. Inclusion criteria were (1) brainstem or cerebellar infarcts or transient ischemic attacks, (2) satisfactory vertebrobasilar angiograms, and (3) migraine. Excluded were patients with only occipital lobe ischemia, known arteriosclerosis, or other nonmigrainous vascular disease. Two women and 7 men, ages 6 to 58 years (mean, 34.7), had transient attacks only (2), single strokes (4), single stroke followed by attacks (1), or multiple strokes (2). Five had antecedent classic, 2 common migraine, and classic migraine began only after the initial ischemic event in the other two. The 7 stroke patients all had CT- or MRI-documented brainstem (4) or cerebellar (6) infarcts. Angiography was normal (3) or demonstrated basilar artery (BA) narrowing (2) or occlusion (4), or branch occlusion (1). In 3 patients the initially occluded BA later reopened. At follow-up (average 4.3 years, range 1 to 9 years), 5 were normal and 4 had important clinical deficits. I conclude that (1) “basilar migraine” is not always benign; it affects both sexes and a wide age range; (2) the pattern of headaches, attacks, and strokes varies; (3) migraine may appear only after ischemia; (4) some patients have BA occlusion or diffuse narrowing; and (5) BA occlusion can be temporary.
Rod phototransduction in transgenic mice expressing a mutant opsin gene

Rod-mediated electroretinograms (ERG’s) were recorded from transgenic mice expressing a mouse opsin gene with three point mutations (V20G, P23H, and P27L; termed VPP mice) and from normal littermates. The leading edge of the a wave was analyzed in relation to a computational model of rod phototransduction [ J. Physiol.499, 719 ( 1992)], in which values for the maximum response (RmP3), transduction gain (S), and transduction delay (td) are derived from a-wave data. VPP mice exhibited an age-related decrease in RmP3. This decrease was consistent with reductions in the number of rod photoreceptors and in the length of rod outer segments observed in previous histological studies of the VPP retina. Values of S determined for the VPP mice were within the normal range, consistent with a normal amplification of the visual signal in VPP rods. At high stimulus intensities, both normal and VPP mice exhibited a decrease in S, which may reflect depletion of a phototransduction substrate at these stimulus levels. We examined the recovery of the a wave after a bright conditioning flash by measuring the rod a-wave response to a probe flash presented at varying times after the conditioning stimulus. In both normal and VPP mice a fourfold (0.6-log-unit) increase in conditioning stimulus intensity increased both T50%, the period required for half-maximal recovery, and τ, the exponential time constant describing recovery. However, the increases in T50% and τ were significantly greater in VPP mice, indicating an abnormally slow recovery of the flash response in VPP rods.
Relationship between antigravity control and postural control in young children.

The purposes of this study were 1) to determine the relationship between antigravity control (supine flexion and prone extension) and postural control (static and dynamic balance), 2) to determine the quality of antigravity and postural control, and 3) to determine whether sex and ethnic group differences correlate with differences in antigravity control and postural control in young children. I tested 107 black, Hispanic, and Caucasian children in a Head Start program, with a mean age of 61 months. The study results showed significant relationships between antigravity control and postural control. Subjects' supine flexion performance was significantly related to the quantity and quality of their static and dynamic balance performance, whereas prone extension performance was related only to the quality of dynamic balance performance. Quality scale measurements (r = .90) indicated that the children in this study had not yet developed full antigravity or postural control. The study results revealed differences between sexes in the quality of static balance and prone extension performance and ethnic differences in static balance, dynamic balance, and prone extension performance.
DOES PERFORMANCE IMPROVE FOLLOWING MULTISOURCE FEEDBACK? A THEORETICAL MODEL, META-ANALYSIS, AND REVIEW OF EMPIRICAL FINDINGS

We review evidence showing that multisource feedback ratings are related to other measures of leadership effectiveness and that different rater sources conceptualize performance in a similar manner. We then describe a meta-analysis of 24 longitudinal studies showing that improvement in direct report, peer, and supervisor ratings over time is generally small. We present a theoretical framework and review empirical evidence suggesting performance improvement should be more likely for some feedback recipients than others. Specifically, improvement is most likely to occur when feedback indicates that change is necessary, recipients have a positive feedback orientation, perceive a need to change their behavior, react positively to the feedback, believe change is feasible, set appropriate goals to regulate their behavior, and take actions that lead to skill and performance improvement. It has been nearly 10 years since London and Smither (1995) evaluated the state of multisource feedback practice and offered theory-based propositions for understanding how people process and use the feedback. This article assesses progress in the field, especially focusing on the extent to which feedback recipients improve their performance after receiving multisource feedback. We argue that practitioners should not expect large, widespread performance improvement after employees receive multisource feedback. Instead, we present a theoretical model that suggests some feedback recipients should be more likely to improve than others. First, we review empirical evidence concerning the validity of multisource feedback. This is important because it would make little sense to focus
Mass transfer during drop formation

Etude d'un systeme controle par la resistance de la phase dispersee. Il apparait que le temps de formation total est le parametre le plus important lorsque l'on determine le coefficient de transfert de matiere au cours de la formation d'une goutte
A Client/Intercept Based System for Optimized Wireless Access to Web Services

In this paper we discuss the introduction of Web services in the wireless/mobile domain. The use of Web services is gradually expanding into the mobile Internet area where the population of users is rapidly increasing. Web services offer standardized ways of creating, publishing, searching and invoking services and provide a very important platform for the development of mobile e-commerce. We identify problems related to the use of the verbose protocols of Web services (i.e., SOAP/HTTP) over the "expensive" wireless medium. Our architecture assumes the existence of WS-aware software (client or provider) in the wireless device. We try to optimize the HTTP/SOAP stream exchanged over the wireless medium. Our effort is largely based on the IBM WebExpress design. Our measurements indicate substantial benefits for the users
The Management of Cardiac Patients in Relation to Surgery

Skillful anesthesia and surgical operations do not significantly increase the demands upon the heart for work. Patients who have organic heart disease but who have been able to carry on normal daily activities without symptoms referable to the heart tolerate anesthesia and operation without difficulty provided that anoxia, hemorrhage and shock are avoided. Hypertension, cardiac enlargement, valvular disease other than advanced aortic stenosis, and electrocardiographic abnormalities, per se, do not increase surgical mortality or postoperative morbidity. When symptomatic myocardial insufficiency or evidence of congestive heart failure is present, a period of preoperativre treatment with rest, digitalis, sodium restriction and mercurial diuretics is advisable. Treatment should be as thorough as possible during the interval in which the operation can be safely delayed. With adequate management, patients who have had myocardial failure can be expected to tolerate aniesthesia and surgery satisfactorily. Postope...
Probabilistic counter updates for predictor hysteresis and bias

Hardware predictor designers have incorporated hysteresis and/or bias to achieve desired behavior by increasing the number of bits per counter. Some resulting proposed predictor designs are currently impractical because their counter tables are too large. We describe a method for dramatically reducing the amount of storage required for a predictor's counter table with minimal impact on prediction accuracy. Probabilistic updates to counter state are implemented using a hardware pseudo-random number generator to increment or decrement counters a fraction of the time, meaning fewer counter bits are required. We demonstrate the effectiveness of probabilistic updates in the context of Fields et al.'s critical path predictor, which employs a biased 6-bit counter. Averaged across the SPEC CINT2000 benchmarks, our 2-bit and 3-bit probabilistic counters closely approximate a 6-bit deterministic one (achieving speedups of 7.75% and 7.91% compared to 7.94%) when used for criticality-based scheduling in a clustered machine. Performance degrades gracefully, enabling even a 1-bit probabilistic counter to outperform the best 3-bit deterministic counter we found
Hypervelocity dust impacts on the Wind spacecraft: Correlations between Ulysses and Wind interstellar dust detections

The Wind spacecraft is positioned just sunward of Earth at the first Lagrange point, while the Ulysses spacecraft orbits above and below the ecliptic plane crossing the ecliptic as far from the Sun as the orbit of Jupiter (∼5 AU). While Wind does not carry a dedicated dust detector, we demonstrate the ability of Wind electric field measurements to detect hypervelocity dust impacts through their impact plasma signatures. Interstellar dust (ISD) and interplanetary dust particles are differentiated based on a yearly modulation of the ISD flux. Measurements of ISD flux variation by Wind are found to be in good agreement with ISD flux variation measured by Ulysses. While measurements of the ISD flow direction through the Solar System determined by Wind could not be directly compared to those from Ulysses, strong variation in ISD flow direction was observed during similar time periods by both spacecraft.
African independent churches in Mozambique: healing the afflictions of inequality.

The recent explosive proliferation of African Independent Churches (AICs) in central Mozambique coincided with rapid growth of economic disparity in the 1990s produced by privatization, cuts in government services, and arrival of foreign aid promoted by Mozambique's World Bank/International Monetary Fund Structural Adjustment Program. Drawing on ethnographic research in the city of Chimoio, this article argues that growing inequality has led to declining social cohesion, heightened individual competition, fear of interpersonal violence, and intensified conflict between spouses in poor families. This perilous social environment finds expression in heightened fears of witchcraft, sorcery, and avenging spirits, which are often blamed in Shona ideology for reproductive health problems. Many women with sick children or suffering from infertility turn to AICs for treatment because traditional healers are increasingly viewed as dangerous and too expensive. The AICs invoke the "Holy Spirit" to exorcise malevolent agents and then provide a community of mutual aid and ongoing protection against spirit threats. [Mozambique, social inequality, African Independent Churches, intrahousehold, health]
Heat conduction in microbes exposed to pulsed electric fields

Nonthermal pasteurization of liquid foods by intense pulsed electric fields results in advantages over conventional heat pasteurization. Thermal damage to liquid foods can adversely affect the flavor and taste and result in loss of nutrients. Numerical modeling of heating parameters near the microbe during exposure to these intense electric fields is described. Boundary conditions at membrane interfaces included the continuity of temperature and continuity of heat flow. Temperature, heat flow vector, and heat source were included in the one-dimensional model. Two simulations are reported here. Simulation 1 consisted of a 0.5 /spl mu/m wide microbe suspended in liquid with conductivity of 0.01 S/m and was treated with an applied electric field of 40 kV/cm for 375 ns. Simulation 2 contained a 1.0 /spl mu/m wide microbe suspended in liquid with conductivity of 0.1 S/m and was treated with an applied electric field of 40 kV/cm for 1 /spl mu/s. Comparison is made with a uniform conductivity model (ohmic), and it is shown that significant differences exist in the heating parameters between the two models. For the parameters used in these one-dimensional simulations, conditions for electroporation were found to exist without a significant temperature rise in the microbe.
Coupled electrical and thermal 3D IC centric microfluidic heat sink design and technology

Through-silicon via (TSV) technology, an enabler for 3D ICs, has evolved, enabling thinner and shorter TSVs within substantially thinned wafers to achieve faster interconnects, large bandwidth density, and low power consumption. Yet, heat dissipation in 3D ICs becomes more and more challenging, especially in applications that require stacking of multiple processor and memory chips. Microfluidic cooling has been proposed as a solution to reject heat from 3D stacks that contain processor chips. However, current liquid cooling technology inevitably increases the wafer thickness, which is contrary to TSV technology trend. To date, little work has been done to optimize heat sink design to benefit TSV performance, and no attempt has been made to analyze the corresponding impact of a particular heat sink design on the performance of the electrical TSVs. A heat sink design without consideration of TSV performance can greatly diminish the advantages of 3D ICs. This paper presents a holistic cooling solution for 3D ICs, which not only meets thermal requirements, but also minimizes TSV parasitics that impact latency, bandwidth density, and power consumption. This paper will report: a) the design of a 3D-centric heat sink, b) the fabrication of the heat sink and associated high aspect ratio integrated TSVs, c) the thermal testing of the liquid-cooled heat sink and comparison to air-cooled heat sink, and d) the impact of the heat sink geometry on TSV capacitance.
Ray tracing study of the electron cyclotron current drive in DIII-D using 60 GHz

The efficiency of the electron-cyclotron current drive using 60-GHz sources in the DIII-D tokamak is numerically investigated for the following cases: The inside-launched fundamental extraordinary mode, the outside-launched fundamental ordinary mode, and the outside-launched second-harmonic extraordinary mode. In the limit-weak ECH power and for plasma parameters relevant for experiments, illumination of the plasma with inside-launched fundamental extraordinary mode is found to have the highest efficiency. >
Organizational transformation among NGOs, North and South

Going Global: Transforming Relief and Development NGOs, by Marc Linberg and Coralie Bryant. Bloomfield, Conn.: Kumarian Press, 2001. 271 pp., $25.95 cloth. Towards Financial Self-Reliance: A Handbook of Resource Mobilization for Civil Society Organizations in the South, by Richard Holloway. London: Earthscan, 2001. 233 pp., $25.00 cloth.
Epigenetic suppression of neuroligin 1 underlies amyloid-induced memory deficiency

Amyloid-induced microglial activation and neuroinflammation impair central synapses and memory function, although the mechanism remains unclear. Neuroligin 1 (NLGN1), a postsynaptic protein found in central excitatory synapses, governs excitatory synaptic efficacy and plasticity in the brain. Here we found, in rodents, that amyloid fibril-induced neuroinflammation enhanced the interaction between histone deacetylase 2 and methyl-CpG-binding protein 2, leading to suppressed histone H3 acetylation and enhanced cytosine methylation in the Nlgn1 promoter region and decreased NLGN1 expression, underlying amyloid-induced memory deficiency. Manipulation of microglia-associated neuroinflammation modulated the epigenetic modification of the Nlgn1 promoter, hippocampal glutamatergic transmission and memory function. These findings link neuroinflammation, synaptic efficacy and memory, thus providing insight into the pathogenesis of amyloid-associated diseases.
Seismic simulation of inelastic soils via frequency-dependent moduli and damping

Although soils are known to exhibit nonlinear behavior even at small strains, evaluations of the response of sedimentary basins to strong seismic motions are almost always based on linear, elastic solutions incorporating frequency-independent damping. The principal reasons for this relate to the robustness of the linear, linear algorithm and the ease with which the required parameters can be determined experimentally in engineering practice. Most often, but not always, attempts are made in these analyses to compensate for the inelastic behavior by adjusting the material parameters for the representative levels of strain by means of an iterative method. However, both the standard iterative method and the direct linear solution without iterations suffer from two important shortcomings. First, they do not account for the effect of high confining pressures on inelastic behavior. However, it is known from experiments with sands subjected to cyclic shearing strains under confining pressures of up to 5 Mpa, that in highly confined samples, the material remains nearly elastic for a larger range of strains than do those samples subjected to a lesser pressure. Second, the amplification analyses disregard the fact that small-amplitude, high frequency components of deformation involve hysteresis loops with little modulus degradation or damping (i.e., nearly elastic secondary loops). Thus, motions computed at the surface of the basin with the standard method usually exhibit unrealistically low amplitudes at high frequencies. This article presents the results obtained with a series of “true” nonlinear numerical analyses with inelastic (Masing-type) soils and layered profiles subjected to broadband earthquake motions, taking into account the effect of the confining pressure. These show that it is possible to simulate closely the actual inelastic behavior of rate-independent soils by means of linear analyses in which the soil moduli and damping change with frequency. It is emphasized that the variation in the linear model of the material parameters with frequency arises solely because the strains have broad frequency content, and not because the materials exhibit any rate dependence when tested cyclically. The proposed new model is successfully applied to a 1-km-deep model for the Mississippi embayment near Memphis, Tenn. The seismograms computed at the surface not only satisfy causality (which cannot be taken for granted when using frequency-dependent parameters), but their spectra contain the full band of frequencies expected.
A Comparative Analysis of Depth-Discontinuity and Mixed-Pixel Detection Algorithms

Laser scanner measurements are corrupted by noise and artifacts that can undermine the performance of registration, segmentation, surface reconstruction, recognition, and other algorithms operating on the data. While much research has addressed laser scanner noise models, comparatively little is known about other artifacts, such as the mixed pixel effect, color-dependent range biases, and specular reflection effects. This paper focuses on the mixed pixel effect and the related challenge of detecting depth discontinuities in 3D data. While a number of algorithms have been proposed for detecting mixed pixels and depth discontinuities, there is no consensus on how well such algorithms perform or which algorithm performs best. This paper presents a comparative analysis of five mixed-pixel/discontinuity detection algorithms on real data sets. We find that an algorithm based on the surface normal angle has the best overall performance, but that no algorithm performs exceptionally well. Factors influencing algorithm performance are also discussed.
Upgrade rate of core biopsy-determined atypical ductal hyperplasia by open excisional biopsy.

Abstract Background: Core biopsy finding of atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) are generally followed by open biopsy to avoid underestimation of malignant disease. Methods: Retrospective examination of 11 gauge stereotactic-guided vacuum-assisted core biopsies was made with respect to ADH diagnosis, follow-up open biopsy, and upgrade rate. Readily available clinical, mammographic, and pathologic features potentially contributory to an upgrade were studied. Results: This series of 1,313 patients had 43 ADH diagnoses. Thirty-two had open follow-up. There were 4 upgrades. Mammographic indication for biopsy, age, removal of calcifications, and the percentage of ADH in the specimen were not significant in predicting an upgrade with all probabilities over 0.10, odds ratios not different than 1, and 95% bounds all encompassing 1. Conclusions: These data indicate a high upgrade rate (13%) for ADH-positive core biopsies with no definitive predictive criteria for an upgrade. Our data support follow-up excision of ADH lesions diagnosed by core biopsy.
A SPECIFIC HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR ADULT CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE INTEGRATED WITH ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS CAN FACILITATE MULTICENTER RESEARCH

Adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) are the fastest growing population in cardiology. We pioneered a tailored clinical-research information system to foster multicenter data sharing. Our objective is to determine if automated acquisition of existing electronic health records (EHR) integrated
Evaluation of Community Health Education Workshops among Chinese Older Adults in Chicago: A Community-Based Participatory Research Approach

Background: Health education is one of the proven ways to improve knowledge and change health attitudes and behaviors. This study is intended to assess the effectiveness of five health workshops in a Chinese community, focusing on depression, elder abuse, nutrition, breast cancer and stroke. Methods: A community-based participatory research approach was implemented to plan and organize the workshops. A total of 236 Chinese community-dwelling older adults participated in different health workshops. Quantitative questionnaires on knowledge, risk factors and outcomes of each health topic were distributed before and after the workshop. Pre and post workshop comparison analyses were conducted to examine the effectiveness of the workshops on knowledge and learning. Results: Overall, the health workshops have significantly improved participants’ understanding throughout the five health themes (P<0.05). Whereas Chinese older adults have limited knowledge on depression, nutrition and stroke, their health knowledge regarding depression and elder abuse were significantly improved after attending the workshops. In addition, health education workshops increased older adults’ understanding of the risk factors and consequences of depression, elder abuse and breast cancer. Conclusion: This study sheds light on the importance of promoting health education, and the complexity and challenges of designing health education for community dwelling Chinese older adults. Significant implications for researchers, community service providers, health service workers and policy makers are discussed.
Laparoscopic uteroovarian ligament truncation and uterosacral oophoropexy for idiopathic recurrent ovarian torsion: case report and review of literature.

Unilateral recurrent ovarian torsion in adults is unusual following treatment of common underlying risk factors (e.g. benign cysts). Subtle anatomic etiologies, such as an elongated uteroovarian ligament and robust ovarian volume, are commonly underappreciated and may contribute to idiopathic recurrent unilateral torsion in adults. As seen in this case, combined surgical procedures may be required to prevent recurrence. 28 year old nulligravid woman with seven episodes of right ovarian torsion (without adnexal pathology)—six of those within 18 months—refractory to a series of previous surgical interventions. Laparoscopic uteroovarian ligament truncation with interval uterosacral ligament oophoropexy was employed. Ovarian torsion has not occurred in 45 months. Uteroovarian ligament truncation and uterosacral ligament oophoropexy is a feasible and effective combined surgical approach for the prevention of recurrent idiopathic ovarian torsion in adults without obvious risk factors.
Ending the Silence: Adults who Use Augmentative Communication and their Experiences as Victims of Crimes

Until recently, crime against individuals with disabilities has received little research attention. Information about people who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and their experiences as victims of crime is even more limited. The purposes of this study were to address (a) the extent to which adults who use AAC have been victims of crime or abuse; (b) the characteristics of victimization experiences, including the type of crime, frequency, type of perpetrator, and setting; (c) the likelihood of reporting crime or abuse; and, (d) the effects of the crime on victims who use AAC. Survey results from 40 adults who use AAC indicated that 45% of individuals experienced crime or abuse. Ninety-seven percent of those who experienced crime or abuse knew the perpetrators, 71% reported being victimized multiple times, and 66% experienced multiple types of victimization. Only 28% reported their experiences to the police. Long-term effects of the crimes included significant physical and emotional har...
To replace or not to replace: the significance of reduced functional tooth replacement in marsupial and placental mammals

Marsupial mammals are characterized by a pattern of dental replacement thought to be unique. The apparent primitive therian pattern is two functional generations of teeth at the incisor, canine, and premolar loci, and a series of molar teeth, which by definition are never replaced. In marsupials, the incisor, canine, and first and second premolar positions possess only a single functional generation. Recently this pattern of dental development has been hypothesized to be a synapomorphy of metatherians, and has been used to diagnose taxa in the fossil record. Further, the suppression of the first generation of teeth has been linked to the marsupial mode of reproduction, through the mechanical suppression of odontogenesis during the period of fixation of marsupials, and has been used to reconstruct the mode of reproduction of fossil organisms. Here we show that dental development occurs throughout the period of fixation; therefore, the hypothesis that odontogenesis is mechanically suppressed during this period is refuted. Further, we present comparative data on dental replacement in eutherians and demonstrate that suppression of tooth replacement is fairly common in diverse groups of placental mammals. We conclude that reproductive mode is neither a necessary nor a sufficient explanation for the loss of tooth replacement in marsupials. We explore possible alternative explanations for the loss of replacement in therians, but we argue that no single hypothesis is adequate to explain the full range of observed patterns.
Matrix Mechanics and Cell Contractility in Angiogenesis

Angiogenesis is a complex process that relies on the interplay of chemical and mechanical signaling events that ultimately result in the formation of new blood vessels. While much work has uncovered the chemical signaling events that mediate angiogenesis, the role of the mechanical environment is less understood. In this chapter, we will discuss how the mechanical microenvironment regulates angiogenesis by examining how matrix stiffness and cellular contractility mediate endothelial cell behaviors that are necessary for the progression of angiogenesis. Specifically, we will describe the roles of matrix stiffness and cell contractility as regulators of endothelial cell adhesion and shape, migration, growth, cell–cell interactions, and cell–matrix remodeling. Collectively, these findings implicate endogenous cellular forces and matrix stiffness as critical components of the angiogenic microenvironment, and suggest that both are important parameters for tissue engineering applications and a greater understanding of angiogenesis during disease progression.
81. Die plastischen Korrekturoperationen im Ano-Rectalbereich

Die Indikation zu unseren 483 plastischen Korrektur-Operationen im Anorectalbereich bildete der isolierte Mucosaprolaps, Hamorrhoiden III. Grades mit Mucosaprolaps, das Ectropium, die Analstenose, grosere perianale Tumoren, hohe transsphinctere Analfisteln sowie kleinere rectovaginale Fisteln. Die angewandten plastischen Verfahren waren „anal reconstruction” nach Parks, die V-Y-Plastik, bei grosen perianalen Tumoren die Lappenplastik bzw. S-Plastik nach Ferguson sowie der gestielte Rectumschleimhautlappen bei den hohen transsphincteren Anal- bzw. Rectovaginal-Fisteln.
Design and Fabrication of Zwitter-Wettable Nanostructured Films

Manipulating surface properties using chemistry and roughness has led to the development of advanced multifunctional surfaces. Here, in a nanostructured polymer film consisting of a hydrophilic reservoir of chitosan/carboxymethyl cellulose capped with various hydrophobic layers, we demonstrate the role of a third design factor, water permeation rate. We use this additional design criterion to produce antifogging coatings that readily absorb water vapor while simultaneously exhibiting hydrophobic character to liquid water. These zwitter-wettable films, produced via aqueous layer-by-layer assembly, consist of a nanoscale thin hydrophobic capping layer (chitosan/Nafion) that enables water vapor to diffuse rapidly into the underlying hydrophilic reservoir rather than nucleating drops of liquid water on the surface. We characterize these novel films using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) and via depth-profiling X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) in addition to extensive tes...