cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Trophic ecology of an aquatic mite ( Piona carnea ) preying on Daphnia pulex : effects of predator density, nutrient supply and a second predator ( Chaoborus americanus )

As compared to other aquatic invertebrates, relatively little is known about the ecology of predaceous, pelagic water mites. Studies to date do, however, show that water mites can be important components of aquatic food webs. Here, we used manipulative field experiments to better understand the trophic ecology of a predaceous water mite (Piona carnea). Three experiments were conducted that examined (i) the effect of P. carnea density on the per-capita interaction strength (PCIS) of P. carnea preying on zooplankton; (ii) how the effects of P. carnea predation change with prey productivity; and (iii) how P. carnea interacts with another pelagic predator (Chaoborus americanus) to affect a shared prey species (Daphnia pulex). Results from the first experiment showed that P. carnea can strongly impact D. pulex populations, and that the PCIS of P. carnea decreases with an increase in P. carnea density. The second experiment showed that the effects of P. carnea on D. pulex populations depend on bottom-up factors that influence D. pulex population biomass and the reproductive potential of a D. pulex population relative to its size. The third experiment uncovered a non-additive interaction between P. carnea and C. americanus that resulted in a risk reducing situation for D. pulex in the presence of both predators. Together these experiments show that P. carnea imposes a strong negative impact on D. pulex, that the magnitude of this negative impact is dependent on the P. carnea density and the productivity of the system, and that the trophic ecology of P. carnea is modified by coexisting predator species.
Generation of Highly Specific Aptamers via Micromagnetic Selection

Aptamers are nucleic acid-based reagents that bind to target molecules with high affinity and specificity. However, methods for generating aptamers from random combinatorial libraries (e.g., systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX)) are often labor-intensive and time-consuming. Recent studies suggest that microfluidic SELEX (M-SELEX) technology can accelerate aptamer isolation by enabling highly stringent selection conditions through the use of very small amounts of target molecules. We present here an alternative M-SELEX method, which employs a disposable microfluidic chip to rapidly generate aptamers with high affinity and specificity. The micromagnetic separation (MMS) chip integrates microfabricated ferromagnetic structures to reproducibly generate large magnetic field gradients within its microchannel that efficiently trap magnetic bead-bound aptamers. Operation of the MMS device is facile and robust and demonstrates high recovery of the beads (99.5%), such that picomolar amounts of target molecule can be used. Importantly, the device demonstrates exceptional separation efficiency in removing weakly bound and unbound ssDNA to rapidly enrich target-specific aptamers. As a model, we demonstrate here the generation of DNA aptamers against streptavidin in three rounds of positive selection. We further enhanced the specificity of the selected aptamers via a round of negative selection in the same device against bovine serum albumin (BSA). The resulting aptamers displayed dissociation constants ranging from 25 to 65 nM for streptavidin and negligible affinity for BSA. Since a wide spectrum of molecular targets can be readily conjugated to magnetic beads, MMS-based SELEX provides a general platform for rapid generation of specific aptamers.
Allocation of attentional resources during habituation to food cues

Two experiments were designed to test the hypothesis that habituation to repeated food cues can be inhibited by allocating processing resources to nonfood cues. In two experiments, the salivary response to 10 presentations of lemon yogurt was assessed while subjects engaged in a controlled cognitive search task (demanding attentional resources), an automatic search task (needing fewer attentional resources), or no task. In Experiment 1, the controlled and automatic search tasks differed in the number of memory set items. In Experiment 2, the size of the memory sets was held constant, and individuals were provided practice to stabilize the different search strategies in the task. The automatic search and no task groups habituated to the repeated presentation of food cues in both experiments, but the controlled search group did not. These results support the hypothesis that allocation of attentional resources to external cues can influence the processing of food cues.
The accumulation of radioactive caesium from water by the brown trout (Salmo trutta) and its comparison with plaice and rays

The patterns of accumulation of caesium-137 from water by the tissues and organs of the freshwater teleost, the brown trout (Salmo trutta) are described. Estimates of the biological half-times and steady-state concentrations are derived, using a simple exponential equation. In all tissues and organs examined, other than muscle, the rate processes of the trout fall between those of the plaice and the ray. It is concluded that most of the caesium accumulated by the brown trout from water enters other than by the gut, probably through the gills, but as with plaice and ray, the main source of the caesium, possibly 90%, must come from the food. Despite differences in the levels of accumulation, the ratios of the tissue to blood steady state concentrations are very similar in all three species. The steady state caesium concentration of the blood appears to be directly related to the red blood cell count of the fish.
Retrieval from spoken documents using content and speaker information

There has been a recent upsurge in the deployment of emerging technologies such as speech and speaker recognition which are reaching maturity. We discuss the details of the components required to build a system for audio indexing and retrieval for spoken documents using content and speaker based information facilitated by speech and speaker recognition. The real power of spoken document analysis is in using both content and speaker information together in retrieval by combining the results. The experiments described here are in the broadcast news domain, but the underlying techniques can easily be extended to other speech-centric applications and transactions.
Direct comparison of RD114-pseudotyped versus amphotropic-pseudotyped retroviral vectors for transduction of rhesus macaque long-term repopulating cells.

Recently, RD114 (feline endogenous retrovirus envelope protein)-pseudotyped retroviral particles have been shown to transduce human NOD/SCID repopulating cells efficiently. In this study, we compared directly transduction of repopulating cells with RD114-pseudotyped vector to that with standard amphotropic vector in the rhesus macaque model. G-CSF/SCF-mobilized CD34+ rhesus peripheral blood cells were cultured in the presence of SCF, Flt-3 ligand, and MGDF on Retronectin-coated flasks. To assess directly the ability of the two pseudotypes to transduce primitive cells, both vectors were added simultaneously to the target cells every 24 h, for a total of four exposures in 96 h. The cells were reinfused after the animals received 1000 cGy total body irradiation. At the end of transduction, gene marking efficiency of CFU was higher with amphotropic LNL6 vector (mean 88.4%) vs RD114-G1Na vector (mean 18.5%). After long-term engraftment in three animals, total neo gene marking levels were 4–5% in PBMNCs and 1.5–4% in granulocytes. The RD114-G1Na marking levels were consistently higher in granulocytes than in mononuclear cells, while amphotropic LNL6 marking levels were higher in PBMNCs than in granulocytes. The differential gene marking patterns suggest that RD114 and amphotropic vectors may target distinct progenitor or stem cell populations. There was no clear advantage for RD114-pseudotyped vectors in this predictive preclinical model in terms of overall long-term marking levels; however, optimization of transduction conditions by increasing m.o.i. or inducing the receptor could potentially improve results with this novel vector system.
A large pelvic mass in a 39-year-old man

Schwannomas are encapsulated, usually benign, tumors composed of well-differentiated Schwann cells, arising from the neural sheath of peripheral nerves. The most common type of benign schwannoma is the acoustic neuroma arising from the eighth cranial nerve. Retroperitoneal schwannomas account for 0.5-3% of the retroperitoneal tumors in most series. We present a case of a 39-year-old man with a pelvic mass, arising from a sacral nerve root, diagnosed as a schwannoma.
A parallel B-spline surface fitting algorithm

A parallel fitting algorithm using uniform bicubic B-spline surfaces is presented. This algorithm is based on the observation that a tensor product spline surface fitting problem can be split into two spline curve fitting problems, and each of these problems can be carried out in parallel by cyclic reduction. Using this approach, the control points of a uniform bicubic B-spline surface that interpolates a grid of m x n points can be found in O(log m + log n) time on mn processors. Furthermore, since smaller systems of equations are solved in the algorithm, the accumulated error resulting from this approach is smaller than that of the traditional algorithms.
Usefulness of the Acrobead Test in Evaluating Human Acrosome Function in Fresh and Cryopreserved Sperm

AbstractPurpose: Assays for the acrosome reaction are usually cumbersome and lack reproducibility. Accurate determination of acrosomal status is important in patients diagnosed with male infertility before proceeding with intrauterine insemination or in vitro fertilization. We determined the optimum capacitation time and acrosomal status of fresh semen specimens in normal fertile men with the Acrobead† †Fertility Technologies, Inc., Natick, Massachusetts.test, and whether the assay could be used to evaluate cryopreserved semen specimens.Materials and Methods: Semen samples from 13 normal donors were divided, with half of the fresh ejaculate used for the Acrobead test and half cryopreserved for a minimum of 24 hours in liquid nitrogen before testing. Fresh and frozen specimens were prepared with the swim-up technique. Sperm concentration was adjusted to 4, 2, 1 and 0.5 × 106/ml. in 4 wells of a 96-well tissue culture plate. Ten micro l. polyacrylamide beads (1.5 × 106/ml.) coated with anti-CD46 monoclonal ...
The independence transformation under almost additivity

When the consumer’s tastes are close to preference independence, each transformed good is uniquely associated with one observed good. The off-diagonal elements of the composition matrix of the transformation are equal apart from sign and are inversely proportional to the difference between the income elasticities of the corresponding observed goods.
Effects of staged versus sudden reperfusion after acute coronary occlusion in the dog

Sudden and staged reperfusion after experimental coronary artery occlusion was studied in relation to recovery of cardiac function and postreperfusion arrhythmias. Eighteen closed chest dogs with 3 hour intracoronary balloon occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery were studied using two-dimensional echocardiography over a period of 3 weeks after reperfusion. Nine dogs had sudden reperfusion by abrupt balloon deflation. In nine other dogs reperfusion was staged with partial reflow (20 ml/min) for 2 hours through the central lumen of the catheter during persisting intracoronary balloon inflation, followed by balloon deflation and full reperfusion. Within the first 30 minutes of sudden reperfusion, ischemic zone end-diastolic wall thickness increased significantly, from 6.8 ± 0.3 mm at 3 hours of occlusion to 10.2 ± 2.6 mm (p p > 0.1). Sudden reperfusion caused a much higher frequency of premature ventricular complexes than was the case with staged reperfusion (3 hours postreperfusion, 227 ± 167 versus 14 ± 23 premature complexes per 5 minutes, p Thus, compared with sudden reperfusion, staged reperfusion accelerated improvement in cardiac function and reduced arrhythmias in the early reperfusion period.
Bevacizumab therapy for adults with recurrent/progressive meningioma: a retrospective series

Intracranial meningiomas are often indolent tumors which typically grow over years to decades. Nonetheless, meningiomas that progress after maximum safe resection and radiation therapy pose a significant therapeutic challenge and effective therapies have yet to be identified. Preclinical studies implicate angiogenesis in the pathophysiology of more aggressive meningiomas, suggesting that anti-angiogenic therapies may be of utility in this setting. We performed a retrospective review of fourteen patients with recurrent meningioma treated at Duke University Medical Center with bevacizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor, administered either alone or in combination with chemotherapy. Most patients were heavily pre-treated. Progression-free survival at 6 months was 86 % and was comparable regardless of meningioma grade and whether bevacizumab was administered as monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy. Most toxicities were mild however single patients developed CNS hemorrhage (grade 1) and intestinal perforation (grade 4), respectively. Bevacizumab can be administered safely to patients with meningioma and appears to be associated with encouraging anti-tumor effect when administered as either a single agent or in combination with chemotherapy. Phase II trials investigating bevacizumab in patients with progressive/recurrent meningioma are warranted.
Deletion analysis of two nonessential regions of the T4 genome.

Abstract Mutants of T4 which contain a duplication of the rII region also often contain a compensating deletion of a nonessential segment of the genome. This relationship was used to isolate a series of viable deletion mutations. The deletions were mapped genetically, making use of their effect on plaque morphology, and by electron microscopy of DNA heteroduplexes to T2, a T2 T4 hybrid, and T4 wild type. They were also tested in several laboratories for various phage functions, enzymes, and proteins. Two different overlapping deletions located between genes 32 and 63 and ten located between genes 39 and 56 were obtained. Analysis of the former class indicates that there are at least 1400 base pairs of DNA between genes 32 and 63 which are unaccounted for by presently known genes. Deletions of the latter class affect the production of exonuclease A, a DNA-dependent ATPase, a 5′-phosphatase, and two proteins revealed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. They also affect modification of host RNA polymerase, suppression of unwinding protein deficiency (sud phenotype), and ability to grow on two different Escherichia coli strains. The effect of different deletions on these properties demonstrates that at least seven genes are involved and allows their approximate locations to be determined. The general applicability of the method used for selecting deletions of nonessential DNA is discussed.
Characterization of PINCH-2, a New Focal Adhesion Protein That Regulates the PINCH-1-ILK Interaction, Cell Spreading, and Migration

Integrin-linked kinase (ILK) is a multidomain protein that plays important roles at cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesion sites. We describe here a new LIM-domain containing protein (termed as PINCH-2) that forms a complex with ILK. PINCH-2 is co-expressed with PINCH-1 (previously known as PINCH), another member of the PINCH protein family, in a variety of human cells. Immunofluorescent staining of cells with PINCH-2-specific antibodies show that PINCH-2 localizes to both cell-ECM contact sites and the nucleus. Deletion of the first LIM (LIM1) domain of PINCH-2 abolished the ability of PINCH-2 to form a complex with ILK. The ILK-binding defective LIM1-deletion mutant, unlike the wild type PINCH-2 or the ILK-binding competent LIM5-deletion mutant, was incapable of localizing to cell-ECM contact sites, suggesting that ILK binding is required for this process. Importantly, the PINCH-2-ILK and PINCH-1-ILK interactions are mutually exclusive. Overexpression of PINCH-2 significantly inhibited the PINCH-1-ILK interaction and reduced cell spreading and migration. These results identify a novel nuclear and focal adhesion protein that associates with ILK and reveals an important role of PINCH-2 in the regulation of the PINCH-1-ILK interaction, cell shape change, and migration.
High dietary level of synthetic vitamin E on lipid peroxidation, membrane fatty acid composition and cytotoxicity in breast cancer xenograft and in mouse host tissue

d-α-tocopherol is a naturally occurring form of vitamin E not previously known to have antitumor activity. Synthetic vitamin E (sE) is a commonly used dietary supplement consisting of a mixture of d-α-tocopherol and 7 equimolar stereoisomers. To test for antilipid peroxidation and for antitumor activity of sE supplementation, two groups of nude mice bearing a MDA-MB 231 human breast cancer tumor were fed an AIN-76 diet, one with and one without an additional 2000 IU/kg dry food (equivalent to 900 mg of all-rac-α-tocopherol or sE). This provided an intake of about 200 mg/kg body weight per day. The mice were killed at either 2 or 6 weeks after the start of dietary intervention. During necropsy, tumor and host tissues were excised for histology and for biochemical analyses. Tumor growth was significantly reduced by 6 weeks of sE supplementation. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, an indicator of lipid peroxidation, were suppressed in tumor and in host tissues in sE supplemented mice. In the sE treated mice, the fatty acid composition of microsomal and mitochondrial membranes of tumor and host tissues had proportionately less linoleic acid (n-6 C 18-2), similar levels of arachidonic acid (n-6 C 20-4), but more docosahexanoic acid (n-3 C 22-6). The sE supplementation had no significant effect on blood counts or on intestinal histology but gave some evidence of cardiac toxicity as judged by myocyte vacuoles and by an indicator of oxidative stress (increased ratio of Mn SOD mRNA over GPX1 mRNA). At least one of the stereoisomers in sE has antitumor activity. Synthetic vitamin E appears to preferentially stabilize membrane fatty acids with more double bonds in the acyl chain. Although sE suppressed tumor growth and lipid peroxidation, it may have side-effects in the heart.
LONG-TERM TREATMENT OF PARKINSONISM WITH BROMOCRIPTINE

Abstract 92 patients with parkinsonism have been treated with bromocriptine for up to 30 months. 48 continue to receive bromocriptine with benefit; of these, 35 take bromocriptine (mean dose 53 mg daily) in combination with levodopa and 13 take bromocriptine (mean dose 45 mg daily) without levodopa. In those who were originally on levodopa, addition of bromocriptine allowed a mean 41% reduction in the dose of levodopa; the largest group of patients to benefit from bromocriptine entered the study because of excessive dyskinesia or "on-off" phenomena induced by levodopa. In 40 patients bromocriptine was stopped because of adverse reactions, absence of therapeutic response, or non-compliance with the protocol. The main problems were psychiatric disturbance (8 patients) and erythromelalgia (7 patients); these effects tended to occur late (mean 6 months and 10 months, respectively) and with high dosage (mean 66 mg and 115 mg daily). Other fre quent adverse effects were dizziness and nausea; these began considerably earlier (at 2 months and 1 month) and with much lower dosage (31 mg and 12 mg daily). 4 patients died, for reasons apparently unrelated to therapy.
Long-term endocardial atrial pacing in children with postoperative bradycardia-tachycardia syndrome and limited ventricular access.

Abstract Permanent pacing in children, including those with postoperative bradycardia-tachycardia syndrome, has been compromised by the availability of pulse generators, electrode leads and implantation techniques designed for the adult patient. Recent technologic improvements and simplified implantation techniques have reduced many of these barriers and have made endocardial as well as epicardial ventricular pacing more feasible. However, in some children, ventricular pacing may be impeded by anatomic abnormalities due to congenital anomalies or prior cardiac operations. In these instances, endocardial atrial pacing may provide an alternative therapeutic approach in selected patients. This report describes the use of endocardial atrial demand pacing in four children with postoperative bradycardia-tachycardia syndrome and restricted ventricular access. This approach controls symptomatic bradycardia, helps prevent and convert paroxysmal intraatrial tachycardia and overcomes the problem of limited ventricular access.
Tree-cotree splitting enhanced broadband finite-element simulation including lumped circuit elements

This paper reports our recent progress on the study of the tree-cotree splitting (TCS) technique [1]–[3] for solving low frequency instability problem in the finite-element full-wave analysis so as to achieve a broadband simulation from high frequencies down to the DC region. In this paper, the tree-cotree splitting is applied with a diagonal scaling to further improve the matrix conditioning so that the frequency samples in our multipoint model order reduction method, the solution space projection (SSP), can be moved down to even lower frequencies. The experiments also show that the tree-cotree splitting makes a preconditioning more effective. Besides, lumped impedance elements [4] are also incorporated into our finite-element full-wave analysis. Modification is made to the associated discretized model as the tree-cotree splitting is applied.
Hemolytic Complement Activity in Broiler Chickens and Turkeys

Broiler chickens and turkeys were tested for hemolytic complement (C) activity at 7 or 14 day intervals beginning at one day of age and ending at 42 days of age. The mean titers for chickens on days 1, 14, 28, and 42 were 1:14, 1:14, 1:22, and 1:33, respectively. The mean C titers for turkeys on days 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 42 were 1:4, 1:6, 1:9, 1:10, 1:19, and 1:25, respectively. Birds were segregated as to sex so hemolytic activities could be compared. There were no significant differences between sexes in C titers in broiler chickens at any of the ages tested. This was also true of turkeys, except at 42 days of age when the C titer of the hens was significantly higher than the toms. Complement titers increased with age in both broiler chickens and turkeys.
Vitamin D Receptor Expression Is Associated with PIK3CA and KRAS Mutations in Colorectal Cancer

Vitamin D is associated with decreased risks of various cancers, including colon cancer. The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is a transcription factor, which plays an important role in cellular differentiation and inhibition of proliferation. A link between VDR and the RAS–mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) or phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)–AKT pathway has been suggested. However, the prognostic role of VDR expression or its relationship with PIK3CA or KRAS mutation remains uncertain. Among 619 colorectal cancers in two prospective cohort studies, 233 (38%) tumors showed VDR overexpression by immunohistochemistry. We analyzed for PIK3CA and KRAS mutations and LINE-1 methylation by Pyrosequencing, microsatellite instability (MSI), and DNA methylation (epigenetic changes) in eight CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP)–specific promoters [ CACNA1G, CDKN2A (p16), CRABP1, IGF2, MLH1, NEUROG1, RUNX3 , and SOCS1 ] by MethyLight (real-time PCR). VDR overexpression was significantly associated with KRAS mutation (odds ratio, 1.55; 95% confidence interval, 1.11-2.16) and PIK3CA mutation (odds ratio, 2.17; 95% confidence interval, 1.36-3.47), both of which persisted in multivariate logistic regression analysis. VDR was not independently associated with body mass index, family history of colorectal cancer, tumor location (colon versus rectum), stage, tumor grade, signet ring cells, CIMP, MSI, LINE-1 hypomethylation, BRAF , p53, p21, β-catenin, or cyclooxygenase-2. VDR expression was not significantly related with patient survival, prognosis, or clinical outcome. In conclusion, VDR overexpression in colorectal cancer is independently associated with PIK3CA and KRAS mutations. Our data support potential interactions between the VDR, RAS–MAPK and PI3K–AKT pathways, and possible influence by KRAS or PIK3CA mutation on therapy or chemoprevention targeting VDR. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2009;18(10):2765–72)
Accelerating the discontinuous Galerkin method for seismic wave propagation simulations using the graphic processing unit (GPU)-single-GPU implementation

We have successfully ported an arbitrary high-order discontinuous Galerkin (ADER-DG) method for solving the three-dimensional elastic seismic wave equation on unstructured tetrahedral meshes to an Nvidia Tesla C2075 GPU using the Nvidia CUDA programming model. On average our implementation obtained a speedup factor of about 24.3 for the single-precision version of our GPU code and a speedup factor of about 12.8 for the double-precision version of our GPU code when compared with the double precision serial CPU code running on one Intel Xeon W5880 core. When compared with the parallel CPU code running on two, four and eight cores, the speedup factor of our single-precision GPU code is around 12.9, 6.8 and 3.6, respectively. In this article, we give a brief summary of the ADER-DG method, a short introduction to the CUDA programming model and a description of our CUDA implementation and optimization of the ADER-DG method on the GPU. To our knowledge, this is the first study that explores the potential of accelerating the ADER-DG method for seismic wave-propagation simulations using a GPU.
Economic Congestion Relief across Multiple Regions Requires Tradable Physical Flow-Gate Rights

This paper is concerned with market-based protocols for relieving congestion caused by transactions outside the control area in which the congestion occurred. One approach, proposed by Cadwalader et al. is based on dual decomposition in which out of area congestion is "priced-out" and added to the optimal power flow (OPF) objective function of the control area operator while the prices are determined iteratively via nodal energy adjustment bids. The paper demonstrates through a simple three node example that even with "correct prices" on out-of-area congested interfaces, the augmented AC-OPF objective function of a control area operator might not be locally convex at the optimal solution and hence the control area's optimal dispatch may violate the thermal constraints on out-of-area interfaces. That conclusion supports the alternative "flow-based" approach that enforces thermal limits more directly, which is consistent with North American Electric Reliability Council's (NERC's) FLOWBAT proposal for interzonal transmission load relief (TLR).
Long-Term Surgical Outcome of Partially Accommodative Esotropia

Partially accommodative esotropia is an acquired strabismus characterized by high hyperopia, a normal AC/A ratio, and a deviation that responds only partially to spectacle correction. Surgery is done for the non-accommodative portion of the deviation. Over-corrections are managed by reducing the hyperopic power of the spectacles. This retrospective study was done to determine the risk factors for a poor surgical outcome, and to evaluate the efficacy of hyperopic spectacle reduction in the long-term management of consecutive exotropia. Of the 108 patients enrolled, 19% had a residual esotropia, 37% were surgical successes, and 44% developed consecutive exotropia. Residual ET was associated with deteriorated refractive esotropia, moderate to severe amblyopia, and increasing hyperopia with age. Consecutive XT was associated with a distance-near disparity, low hyperopic refractive error, anisometropia, poor binocular vision, and undercorrection of the hyperopic refractive error prior to surgery. Intentional reduction of the hyperopic correction was not successful in the long-term management of consecutive XT. Fifty-eight percent of those managed in this manner developed a pseudo-dissociated horizontal deviation. The high rate of consecutive exotropia following standard surgery suggests that augmented surgery for partially accommodative esotropia is highly likely to result in over-correction.
A circularly polarized crossed drooping dipole antenna

The authors present engineering and flight model results for a crossed drooping dipole antenna that was designed to provide hemispherical coverage for the telecommunications system onboard the NASA/JPL Galileo spacecraft. A split-tube balun was used for impedance matching within the frequency band of 2115-2295 MHz. Antenna gain patterns are shown; peak gains of 5.3 dBi were achieved at both frequencies for the flight model. The measured results are compared with the requirements. Higher than expected gain results were achieved; however, this was partially offset by the higher-than-expected axial ratios measured at the top end of the band. An engineering model antenna was developed to investigate the effects of varying the lengths of the dipoles, the distance from the dipoles to the tip of the mast, and the height of the dipoles over the ground plane. By systematically varying these parameters, peak-on-axis, dip-on-axis (bi-lobed), or tri-lobed patterns could be achieved. >
On the Possibility of Obtaining MOSFET-Like Performance and Sub-60-mV/dec Swing in 1-D Broken-Gap Tunnel Transistors

Tunneling field-effect transistors (TFETs) have gained a great deal of interest recently due to their potential to reduce power dissipation in integrated circuits. One major challenge for TFETs so far has been to achieve high drive currents, which is a prerequisite for high-performance operation. In this paper, we explore the performance potential of a 1-D TFET with a broken-gap heterojunction source injector using dissipative quantum transport simulations based on the nonequilibrium Green's function formalism, as well as the carbon nanotube band structure as the model 1-D material system. We provide detailed insights into broken-gap TFET (BG-TFET) operation and show that it can, indeed, produce less than 60 mV/dec subthreshold swing at room temperature, even in the presence of electron-phonon scattering. The 1-D geometry is recognized to be uniquely favorable due to its superior electrostatic control, reduced carrier thermalization rate, and beneficial quantum confinement effects that reduce the off-state leakage below the thermionic limit. Because of higher source injection compared to staggered-gap and homojunction geometries, BG-TFET delivers superior performance that is comparable to MOSFET's. BG-TFET even exceeds the MOSFET performance at lower supply voltages (VDD), showing promise for low-power/high-performance applications.
Modification of gene expression of the small airway epithelium in response to cigarette smoking

The earliest morphologic evidence of changes in the airways associated with chronic cigarette smoking is in the small airways. To help understand how smoking modifies small airway structure and function, we developed a strategy using fiberoptic bronchoscopy and brushing to sample the human small airway (10th-12th order) bronchial epithelium to assess gene expression (Affymetrix HG-U133A and HG-133 Plus 2.0 array) in phenotypically normal smokers (n = 16, 25 +/- 7 pack-years) compared to matched nonsmokers (n = 17). Compared to samples from large (second to third order) bronchi, the small airway samples had a higher proportion of ciliated cells, but less basal, undifferentiated, and secretory cells, and contained Clara cells. Even though the smokers were phenotypically normal, microarray analysis of gene expression of the small airway epithelium of the smokers compared to the nonsmokers demonstrated up- and downregulation of genes in multiple categories relevant to the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), including genes coding for cytokines/innate immunity, apoptosis, mucin, response to oxidants and xenobiotics, and general cellular processes. In the context that COPD starts in the small airways, these gene expression changes in the small airway epithelium in phenotypically normal smokers are candidates for the development of therapeutic strategies to prevent the onset of COPD.
Potential Autonomic Risk Factors for Chronic TMD: Descriptive Data and Empirically Identified Domains from the OPPERA Case-Control Study

Abstract Case-control studies have consistently associated psychosocial factors with chronic pain in general, and with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) specifically. Moreover, a handful of prospective studies suggest that preexisting psychosocial characteristics represent risk factors for new onset TMD. The current study presents psychosocial findings from the baseline case-control study of the Orofacial Pain Prospective Evaluation and Risk Assessment (OPPERA) cooperative agreement. For this study, 1,633 TMD-free controls and 185 TMD cases completed a battery of psychosocial instruments assessing general psychosocial adjustment and personality, affective distress, psychosocial stress, somatic awareness, and pain coping and catastrophizing. In bivariate and demographically adjusted analyses, odds of TMD were associated with higher levels of psychosocial symptoms, affective distress, somatic awareness, and pain catastrophizing. Among controls, significant gender and ethnic group differences in psychosocial measures were observed, consistent with previous findings. Principal component analysis was undertaken to identify latent constructs revealing 4 components: stress and negative affectivity, global psychosocial symptoms, passive pain coping, and active pain coping. These findings provide further evidence of associations between psychosocial factors and TMD. Future prospective analyses in the OPPERA cohort will determine if the premorbid presence of these psychosocial factors predicts increased risk for developing new onset TMD. Perspective This article reports baseline psychosocial findings from the OPPERA Study, a large prospective cohort study designed to discover causal determinants of TMD pain. Findings indicate significant differences between TMD cases and TMD-free controls across multiple psychosocial constructs, and future analyses will determine whether these psychosocial factors increase risk for new onset TMD.
Burkholderia Cepacia: A Case Report

We present a case of a 60-year-old male with chronic kidney disease, stage V, hemodialysis-dependent, who was admitted to the hospital because of the occurrence of chills during hemodialysis. Burkholderia cepacia was identified in multiple blood cultures, temporally spaced. Analysis of the water supply at the dialysis center revealed no Burkholderia contamination. J Med Cases. 2014;5(1):9-10 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4021/jmc1425e
A Region of the Nucleosome Required for Multiple Types of Transcriptional Silencing in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Extended heterochromatin domains, which are repressive to transcription and help define centromeres and telomeres, are formed through specific interactions between silencing proteins and nucleosomes. This study reveals that in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the same nucleosomal surface is critical for the formation of multiple types of heterochromatin, but not for local repression mediated by a related transcriptional repressor. Thus, this region of the nucleosome may be generally important to long-range silencing. In S. cerevisiae, the Sir proteins perform long-range silencing, whereas the Sum1 complex acts locally to repress specific genes. A mutant form of Sum1p, Sum1-1p, achieves silencing in the absence of Sir proteins. A genetic screen identified mutations in histones H3 and H4 that disrupt Sum1-1 silencing and fall in regions of the nucleosome previously known to disrupt Sir silencing and rDNA silencing. In contrast, no mutations were identified that disrupt wild-type Sum1 repression. Mutations that disrupt silencing fall in two regions of the nucleosome, the tip of the H3 tail and a surface of the nucleosomal core (LRS domain) and the adjacent base of the H4 tail. The LRS/H4 tail region interacts with the Sir3p bromo-adjacent homology (BAH) domain to facilitate Sir silencing. By analogy, this study is consistent with the LRS/H4 tail region interacting with Orc1p, a paralog of Sir3p, to facilitate Sum1-1 silencing. Thus, the LRS/H4 tail region of the nucleosome may be relatively accessible and facilitate interactions between silencing proteins and nucleosomes to stabilize long-range silencing.
SOI: opportunities and challenges for sub-0.25 mu m VLSI

It is argued that, as VLSI minimum feature size is reduced down to the 0.25- mu m regime and below, utilization of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) as the substrate offers a number of key advantages over bulk silicon. Scaling of the room-temperature CMOS is rapidly approaching its limits. SOI devices in the 0.25- mu m regime and below show significant performance improvements compared with bulk CMOS. This suggests that SOI substrates could provide the highest performance room-temperature CMOS, provided a number of outstanding problems are solved. SOI also has a clear advantage over bulk for low-temperature (77 K) operation at a reduced voltage. In bipolar technology, SOI allows realization of devices with no parasitic junction capacitance, sub-0.25 mu m emitter widths, easy isolation, and CMOS-like density. Ease of isolation on SOI allows easy integration of MOS and bipolar devices. >
Hierarchical GUI test case generation using automated planning

The widespread use of GUIs for interacting with software is leading to the construction of more and more complex GUIs. With the growing complexity come challenges in testing the correctness of a GUI and its underlying software. We present a new technique to automatically generate test cases for GUIs that exploits planning, a well-developed and used technique in artificial intelligence. Given a set of operators, an initial state, and a goal state, a planner produces a sequence of the operators that will transform the initial state to the goal state. Our test case generation technique enables efficient application of planning by first creating a hierarchical model of a GUI based on its structure. The GUI model consists of hierarchical planning operators representing the possible events in the GUI. The test designer defines the preconditions and effects of the hierarchical operators, which are input into a plan-generation system. The test designer also creates scenarios that represent typical initial and goal states for a GUI user. The planner then generates plans representing sequences of GUI interactions that a user might employ to reach the goal state from the initial state. We implemented our test case generation system, called Planning Assisted Tester for Graphical User Interface Systems (PATHS) and experimentally evaluated its practicality and effectiveness. We describe a prototype implementation of PATHS and report on the results of controlled experiments to generate test cases for Microsoft's WordPad.
Distal ureteral regeneration after radical transurethral bladder tumor resection

Abstract Objectives. Radical, full-thickness resection of the bladder wall and overlying bladder tumor is a management option in highly selected patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer. The consequences of iatrogenic ureteral injury in patients whose tumor involves the ureteral orifice and intramural ureter have not been reported. This report details an experience with 4 patients who underwent full-thickness resection of the hemi-trigone and distal ureter as treatment for muscle-invasive bladder tumors. Methods. Between August 1995 and February 1999, 4 patients with T2 transitional cell cancer involving the bladder base and hemi-trigone underwent radical transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT), defined as resection of the tumor and bladder wall into the perivesical fat as primary tumor management. Six weeks later, the patients underwent a restaging TURBT to assess the pathologic response and status of the distal ureter. Patients were then followed up at regular intervals for the development of hydronephrosis and/or upper tract complications. Results. Regeneration of the distal ureter was noted at 6 weeks in all patients. At a mean follow-up of 24 months, no patient had developed evidence of upper tract deterioration. All patients remained without evidence of tumor recurrence. Conclusions. This experience suggests that iatrogenic injury to the distal ureter during radical transurethral resection of tumor involving the hemi-trigone does not result in long-term distal ureteral damage. Involvement of the hemi-trigone by tumor does not appear to be a contraindication to radical TURBT.
Feeding damage of the introduced leafhopper Sophonia rufofascia (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) to plants in forests and watersheds of the Hawaiian Islands

Experiments were performed to determine the role of the leafhopper Sophonia rufofascia (Kuoh & Kuoh) in damage observed on forest and watershed plants in the Hawaiian Islands. Laboratory manipulation of leafhopper populations on fiddlewood, Citharexylum spinosum L., caused interveinal chlorosis and vein browning on young fully expanded leaves similar to that observed on leafhopper infested plants seen in the field and necrosis on older leaves. Field studies with caged “uluhe” fern, Dicranopteris linearis (Burman), demonstrated that frond veins turned brown within 2 d of leafhopper feeding; and by 141 d after feeding, an average of 85% of the surface area of the fronds were necrotic compared with only 12% necrosis in untreated cages. Field trials with stump-cut firetree, Myrica faya Aiton, were performed to determine the effect of leafhopper feeding on new growth. Our studies showed that the new growth in exclusion cages had significantly greater stem length and diameter, a higher number of nodes, fewer damaged leaves, and almost twice as much leaf area compared with plants caged but with the sides left open to permit leafhopper access. Microscopic examination of sections through damaged areas of several leafhopper host plants showed vascular bundle abnormalities similar to those associated with hopperburn caused by potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae (Harris), feeding on alfalfa. On Hawaiian tree fern, Cibotium splendens (Gaudichaud), oviposition into the midvein also disrupted vascular bundle integrity and often caused death of the distal portions of the pinnule.
Envision as Choice Architecture: Can Smarter Defaults Lead to More Sustainable Designs?

Like any decision making framework, the Envision rating system has embedded “choice architecture”; for instance, some options are presented before others, options are grouped together, and some are even pre-selected. Whether intentionally designed to do so or not, choice architecture influences the decisions which are made. In our research, we are examining how Envision’s current choice architecture, as well as adjustments to it, might help infrastructure stakeholders choose more sustainable options. In this paper, we draw from behavioral science literature to describe and categorize choice architecture in Envision. We then explore whether changes to defaults, one form of choice architecture, may impact design outcomes. The current default in each category of Envision is zero points, and projects can earn points by improving upon industry norms. We hypothesize that a more ambitious default will lead to higher point scores and a more sustainable design. Our rationale is supported by query theory, in which choices are made based on a linear series of questions and these questions are dependent on the starting point, or default. Research in behavioral economics and consumer decisions have shown that simply changing defaults can lead to drastically different decisions. In this paper, we share our methods and preliminary findings from the study of defaults. Then we describe other choice architecture interventions, which warrant further study as they may influence decisions made using the Envision rating system.
Angle-Resolved Thermal Dissociative Sticking of Light Alkanes on Pt(111): Transitioning from Dynamical to Statistical Behavior

Gas-surface reactivity involving small molecules can exhibit significant dynamical deviations away from statistical behavior that complicate quantitative modeling of catalytic processes. This study examines dissociative chemisorption of light alkanes to determine if a transition toward statistical behavior can be identified at some threshold level of molecular complexity. Angle-resolved thermal dissociative sticking coefficients (ar-DSCs) were measured for methane, ethane, and propane on Pt(111) using effusive molecular beams at a temperature of 700 K. The ar-DSCs were peaked around the direction of the surface normal, and the angular variation flattened with increasing alkane size from roughly cos12ϑ to only a 20% variance with angle. Precursor-mediated microcanonical trapping models of the gas-surface reactivity were used to simulate the ar-DSCs while maintaining consistency with other nonequilibrium supersonic and effusive molecular beam experiments. This work indicates that dissociative chemisorption ...
NBR2: A former junk gene emerges as a key player in tumor suppression.

ABSTRACTNBR2 (neighbor of BRCA1 gene 2) is a non–protein coding gene that resides adjacent to tumor suppressor gene BRCA1, but its role in cancer biology has remained unknown. Our recent study showed that NBR2 encodes a long non-coding RNA and suppresses tumor development through regulation of adenosine monophosphate–activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation.
A State Department-University Approach in Providing Internship Experiences for Prospective Leadership Personnel in Special Education:

The author depicts one cooperative state-university approach to implementing the federal directives -for preparing supervisors and directors of special education programs for exceptional children in state and local school systems. Internship experiences which are provided graduate students in the state's special education section, in the field, and in intermediate, county, and city school systems are outlined. The underlying theme is the need for sound theoretical and course work background in the administration and supervision of special education services, coupled with broad practical internship experiences in supervision and administration. Additional needs for the extensive consideration of issues and problems involved in special education programing are indicated.
Inside Canadian intelligence: exposing the new realities of espionage and international terrorism, edited by Dwight Hamilton

In the wake of multiple horrifying attacks in the last year alone (Paris, Brussels, to name just two high-profile cases), terrorist groups pose one of the most pernicious threats to international s...
Lumbar and thoracic spine pain in the athlete: radiographic evaluation.

A comprehensive but basic and updated systematic radio-graphic approach to various pain-producing thoracolumbar diseases is presented. The advantages and limitations of available diagnostic modalities are discussed in relation to the clinically considered etiologies.
Water, Culture Solutions, and Buffers

To provide directions for preparing a variety of solutions in which hydra can he cultured or maintained for extended periods.