cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Art Education and Whiteness as Style

Art education needs to draw upon critical whiteness studies to further its social justice agenda while at the same time recognizing the resources that art education brings to questions of whiteness. In particular, whiteness should be conceptualized as a pre-conscious style. This style is composed of lines (that maximally extend white bodies in space) and angles of vision (that create hierarchically rigidified systems of difference). Certain forms of aesthetic experience can interrupt and suspend this geometry of lines and angles. The chapter concludes with a description of how the work of Kara Walker forces the white, male body of the author to stumble over itself and to perceptually hesitate, thus opening up the possibility for another way of living whiteness that troubles discrimination and privilege.
Use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) by cancer patients.

e13545Background: Few studies have reported on contemporary electronic cigarettes (EC) use patterns in cancer patients presenting for cancer treatment recommendations. Methods: A standardized 13 it...
Predicting Empathy: The Role of Religion and Spirituality

Empathy refers to the ability to enter another's frame of reference and sense the meaning in her or his inner world (Rogers, 1957). Two potential predictors of empathy are religion and spirituality...
IGBT Applications: Transportation

Gasoline-powered cars and trucks are used by billions of people around the world for transportation by road. The replacement of the Kettering mechanical ignition system with the electronic ignition system has improved fuel efficiency by more than 10%. The IGBT enabled the electronic ignition system in the late 1980s with billions of IGBTs manufactured by many companies for this application since that time. The electronic ignition system circuit operation is discussed and IGBT structures specifically tailored for this use are described. The IGBT-based inverters for electric and hybrid electric vehicles are described for controlling power flow to the electric motors. IGBT-based chargers for electric cars are discussed. IGBT-based motor drives are described for trains ranging from trams to subways to electric locomotives and high-speed bullet trains. The application of IGBTs for marine transportation including liquefied natural gas carriers and cruise ships is described. IGBT-based converters for All-Electric Aircraft like the Boeing Dreamliner are discussed.
Joint Probability of Extreme Streamflow and Its Day of Occurrence

AbstractThe magnitudes of peak streamflows and their return periods are important considerations in infrastructure design and hazard mitigation. Periods of high floods are usually associated with s...
Ferdinand V. Hayden: Entrepreneur of Science

By 1865 the American West had been thoroughly explored, but the knowledge obtained was by no means comprehensive. Though Americans generally agreed that the West was full of opportunities, exactly what those opportunities were and how they might best be exploited was not completely clear. Agriculture as it was then practiced was unsuitable for the rugged mountains and arid plains. Mining success depended upon identifying mineral deposits and developing effective means of extracting them. Science could contribute to answering these questions, but at the time there were no bureaus or agencies that could apply scientific expertise to these challenges. Ferdinand V. Hayden helped fill this gap beginning with his 1867 survey of Nebraska. The story of this and later Hayden expeditions illustrates the evolving relationship of government patronage and science in Gilded Age America. By sheer force of personality and persistence, Hayden succeeded in selling the federal government something it was not at all sure it wanted: science. In the process he created a secure niche for several branches of science within the federal bureaucracy. He was the one person most responsible for the creation of the United States Geological Survey as a civilian bureau. Most importantly, Hayden's surveys led to the production of detailed topographic maps and inspired--for good or ill--the intensive development of the West's resources. James G. Cassidy is an associate professor of history at St. Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Chapter 7 – Columns

Publisher Summary This chapter includes a study of columns. Simply put, columns are vertical elements subjected to compressive stress. They are the primary load bearers of the structure. The strength of wood and steel columns is limited in two ways. Either they will crush at their maximum compressive stress or they will buckle at some critical stress that is different from, and independent of, their strength in compression. Steel columns with high slenderness ratios are designed using the Euler buckling equation, while “fatter” columns, which buckle in-elastically or crush without buckling, are designed according to formulas corresponding to test results. Reinforced concrete columns are cast into forms containing a matrix of steel reinforcement. This reinforcement is distributed just inside the perimeter of the forms in a pattern designed to confine the concrete in a steel “cage,” the ability of the material to sustain an axial compressive stress is enormously increased by the presence of the confining steel, whether or not the steel contributes directly to the support of the external load.
Creation and Validation of the Performance Appraisal Motivation Scale (PAMS)

The current study investigated the effects of rater motivations on performance appraisals (PA). Despite rater motivations being important to PAs, there is no established and validated scale to meas...
Biomaterials for Adhesion in Orthopedic Applications: A Review

Abstract Adhesive biomaterials, historically, have had a wide range of applications in all medical fields. With the extensive variety of biomaterials with adhesion properties, the field of orthopedics benefits from using adhesives which can provide superior biocompatibility, resorbability, and low immunogenicity. The goal of this review is to serve as a reference of the types of adhesive biomaterials used clinically and their specific applicability in the field of orthopedics. The applications of adhesive biomaterials in orthopedics are as scaffolds, filler materials to treat bone defects and as carrier materials to deposit other bioactive materials to a site. First, we review the history and background of adhesive biomaterials and some of their general applications in orthopedics. Then we focus on the various types of adhesive biomaterials which include fibrin, collagen, polyurethane, epoxy resin, cyanoacrylates, polyesters and polymethylmethacrylate, all of which are excellent candidates for the field of orthopedics. We discuss their properties, current applications in all fields, and advantages and disadvantages found in some studies. Lastly, we indicate some future directions for adhesive biomaterials in orthopedics and highlight their advantages over conventional biomaterials in orthopedics.
Abstract 4260: Molecular imaging of glutamine (Gln) metabolism in RAS wildtype (WT) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC)

Background: Gln metabolism plays a critical role in cancer. In CRC, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and Gln cooperate to provide signal transduction and fuel for mitogen activated protein kinase-dependent cell growth. Our preclinical data illustrate that Gln abrogates EGFR inhibition and blockade of Gln metabolism restores EGFR sensitivity, forming the basis of a phase I/II clinical trial exploring dual EGFR and Gln metabolism in mCRC (NCT03263429). As a biomarker correlate, we are performing dual tracer PET imaging of Gln flux (11C-Gln) and Gln to glutamate conversion (18F-FSPG). We hypothesize that tumors dependent on Gln will exhibit high 11C-Gln uptake at baseline, while inhibition of Gln metabolism will reduce 18F-FSPG uptake. Notably, this is the first-in-human study with 11C-Gln. Methods: Adult patients (pts) with previously treated anti-EGFR, RAS WT, mCRC are enrolling and receive panitumumab (6 mg/kg Day 1 and 15) and CB-839 (800 mg twice daily) in 28-day treatment cycles. 11C-Gln and 18F-FSPG scans are performed at baseline and Cycle 1 Day 28. Lesion to blood pool ratio (LBR) is calculated for each target lesion and compared with change in tumor size as measured by RECIST 1.1 after 2 cycles of therapy. Results: The study is ongoing. To date, we have collected pre- and post-therapy PET data on 4 pts; individual lesion data for 2 pts are presented in the table. A mixed response with 11C-Gln uptake was observed for Pt #1, which could reflect different underlying lesion pathology; varying degree of lesion size change was also observed in this patient. The greatest decrease in 18F-FSPG uptake corresponded to the lesion with the smallest growth. For Pt #2, 11C-Gln uptake at baseline was highest in the lesion with the largest decrease in tumor size at Day 56; 18F-FSPG uptake was greatly reduced in all lesions, which corresponded to decreases in tumor size. Best overall response was progressive disease and partial response for Pt #1 and #2, respectively. Conclusions: Quantitative biomarkers that predict response early in the course of therapy are a means to achieve the promise of precision medicine. Our preliminary clinical imaging data suggest that the employed investigational PET molecular imaging tracers have potential for prioritizing patients for combined EGFR/Gln targeted therapy and to predict response early in the treatment course. Additional PET data for all pts and summary statistics will be presented. Citation Format: Jennifer Gray Whisenant, Gary Smith, Allison Cohen, Kristen K. Ciombor, Dana Cardin, Cathy Eng, Laura Goff, Satya Das, Tiffany Hickman, Anna Fisher, Adria Payne, Robert Coffey, G. Dan Ayers, Jordan D. Berlin, H. Charles Manning. Molecular imaging of glutamine (Gln) metabolism in RAS wildtype (WT) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 4260.
The stationary points of the hierarchical three-body problem

We study the stationary points of the hierarchical three body problem in the planetary limit (m_2, m_3 << m_1) at both the quadrupole and octupole orders. We demonstrate that the extension to octupole order preserves the principal stationary points of the quadrupole solution in the limit of small outer eccentricity e_2 but that new families of stable fixed points occur in both prograde and retrograde cases. The most important new equilibria are those that branch off from the quadrupolar solutions and extend to large e_2. The apsidal alignment of these families is a function of mass and inner planet eccentricity, and is determined by the relative directions of precession of omega_1 and omega_2 at the quadrupole level. These new equilibria are also the most resilient to the destabilizing effects of relativistic precession. We find additional equilibria that enable libration of the inner planet argument of pericentre in the limit of radial orbits and recover the non-linear analogue of the Laplace-Lagrange solutions in the coplanar limit. Finally, we show that the chaotic diffusion and orbital flips identified with the Eccentric Kozai Lidov mechanism and its variants can be understood in terms of the stationary points discussed here.
3D Live Cell Imaging Using High-Resolution Fourier Light-Field Microscopy

We develop a high-resolution Fourier light-field microscope for 3D live cell imaging. We demonstrate a lateral resolution of 300~700 nm and an axial resolution of 500~900 nm within a depth of focus of ~4 μm.
Dynamic frailty: Objective physiological assessment to guide management in necrotizing pancreatitis.

Abstract Background Physical frailty as a measure of physiological reserve is an important yet understudied topic in necrotizing pancreatitis. We measured frailty metrics in patients with necrotizing pancreatitis at baseline and at 1 month to assess dynamic change. We hypothesized that greater baseline frailty and steeper decline in frailty biomarkers are associated with worse outcomes in necrotizing pancreatitis. Methods A retrospective analysis of an institutional, necrotizing pancreatitis-specific database was performed. First order outcomes were organ failure, infected necrosis, step-up approach failure, and mortality. Baseline frailty assessment included measurement of comorbid diseases (modified frailty index), nutritional status (prognostic nutritional index), and radiologic sarcopenia (psoas muscle index, Hounsfield unit average calculation). Dynamic frailty was evaluated using psoas muscle index and Hounsfield unit average calculation. Significant associations between baseline and dynamic frailty with outcomes were analyzed. Results Three hundred and forty-one patients were included in this study. Most patients were male (65%) with biliary etiology of necrotizing pancreatitis (46%). Baseline comorbid diseases and baseline sarcopenia were not associated with first order outcomes. Lower baseline prognostic nutritional index was associated with organ failure (P Conclusion Dynamic changes in sarcopenia-focused frailty metrics were significantly and consistently associated with organ failure, infected necrosis, and death. Further development of a dynamic frailty index to objectively guide decision-making in necrotizing pancreatitis is warranted.
Hybrid and Size-corrected subsampling methods

This paper considers inference in a broad class of nonregular models. The models considered are nonregular in the sense that standard test statistics have asymptotic distributions that are discontinuous in some parameters. It is shown in Andrews and Guggenberger (2009a) that standard fixed critical value, subsampling, and m out of n bootstrap methods often have incorrect asymptotic size in such models. This paper introduces general methods of constructing tests and confidence intervals that have correct asymptotic size. In particular, we consider a hybrid subsampling/fixed-critical-value method and size-correction methods. The paper discusses two examples in detail. They are (i) confidence intervals in an autoregressive model with a root that may be close to unity and conditional heteroskedasticity of unknown form and (ii) tests and confidence intervals based on a post-conservative model selection estimator.
Conception and design of novel lumbar drain insertion simulator

Lumbar drain insertion is a common procedure that is performed by anaesthesiologists, radiologists and neurosurgeons that is generally taught through supervised learning that can place patients at risk. We describe in detail the creation and considerations of a novel lumbar drain simulator designed to allow learners to rehearse the complete lumbar drain insertion procedure from start to finish. A lumbar drain simulator was designed with the goal of simulating drain placement on a patient including identifying physical landmarks, sterile field preparation, technical steps of the procedure, troubleshooting and securing and connecting the drainage system. Emphasis was placed on simulating the structural components of the anatomic compartments encountered during needle insertion and accurate reproduction of the tactile aspects of the procedure. The simulator is able to reproduce the critical aspects of drain placement, allowing for learners to practice a complete lumbar drain placement from start to finish. A complete simulation of lumbar drain placement can be created that allows learners to practise all aspects of the lumbar drain procedure. Learners can rehearse all steps of the procedure allowing them to be more confident and facile with the procedure, which can lead to improved patient safety and satisfaction.
Quantum Mechanics from a Theory of Inertial Mass in Relativity

Quantum mechanics has been eminently successful in twentieth century physics in describing the properties of matter in the atomic domain. It demonstrates that, under some physical circumstances of experimentation, particles of matter behave like continuous waves, while under other conditions of experimentation they behave like discrete particles. The doctrine of this theory is then that of ‘wave-particle dualism’, specifying that the nature of the particle of matter is not ‘predetermined’ — it depends on the way in which it is measured.
Determination of globin mRNA sequences and their insertion into bacterial plasmids.

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews that cDNA serves as the template for synthesis of a variety of products used in various phases. The synthesis products include 32 P-labeled RNA for sequence analysis of fragments resulting from a cleavage at G residues, 32 P-labeled dC- or dT-substituted RNAs for specific cleavage at U or at C residues, and duplex gene copies for insertion into bacterial plasmids. It reviews that molecular cloning approach is applied to a wide variety of eukaryotic mRNAs. One of the advantages of the technique that is developed for the insertion of eukaryotic mRNA copies into bacterial plasmids is that a rigorous purification is not necessary; the act of cloning such material definitively eliminates all contaminating eukaryotic nucleic acid sequences. This should be especially useful to the researcher who, for instance, has a mixture of 10 different mRNA species that are difficult to separate. To obtain the corresponding sequences in pure form, it suffices to make cDNA copies of the mixture of mRNAs, convert this mixture of cDNAs to duplex gene copies, insert the DNA into bacterial plasmids and introduce the mixture of plasmids thus obtained into bacteria. Since each bacterial transformant can receive only one of the eukaryotic gene inserts, analysis of a few dozen bacterial clones should suffice to provide one with a clone for each of the interesting sequences. With such clones, it is possible to produce milligram quantities of these sequences in duplex form, sufficient for the most rapid sequencing techniques.
How can we test the neutrino mass seesaw mechanism experimentally

The seesaw mechanism for the small neutrino mass has been a popular paradigm, yet it has been believed that there is no way to test it experimentally. We present a conceivable outcome from future experiments that would convince us of the seesaw mechanism. It would involve data from the CERN Large Hadron Collider, International Linear Collider, cosmology, underground, and low-energy flavor experiments to establish the case.
The use of laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) in materials science

Laser scanning confocal microscopes are essential and ubiquitous tools in the biological, biochemical and biomedical sciences, and play a similar role to scanning electron microscopes in materials science. However, modern laser scanning confocal microscopes have a number of advantages for the study of materials, in addition to their obvious uses for high resolution reflected and transmitted light optical microscopy. In this paper, we provide several examples that exploit the laser scanning confocal microscope's capabilities of pseudo-infinite depth of field imaging, topographic imaging, photo-stimulated luminescence imaging and Raman spectroscopic imaging.
Effects of Supersuppressor Genes on Enzymes Controlling Lysine Biosynthesis in Saccharomyces

Yeast supersuppressor genes capable of masking the effects of several lysine mutant genes (ly1-1, ly9-1, ly2-1) were studied with respect to their effects on the respective enzymes (saccharopine dehydrogenase, saccharopine reductase, and α-amino-adipic acid reductase). In all strains tested, the supersuppressors functioned by allowing enzyme synthesis not found in the unsuppressed mutant. Studies by optical methods of saccharopine dehydrogenase and saccharopine reductase extracted from suppressed ly1-1 and ly9-1 cells, respectively, revealed that the Km values for these enzymes were significantly greater than those found in wild type. Saccharopine dehydrogenase from suppressed ly9-1 cells was found to have Km values similar to wild type. These findings are consistent with the inference that a supersuppressor may act by enabling nonsense codons to be read, producing altered enzyme protein. Recent findings that lysine degradation in mammals may involve saccharopine and that the human diseases, hyperlysinemia and saccharopinuria, may be due to metabolic blocks in this route of lysine degradation suggest the ly1-1 and ly9-1 yeast mutants as models for the human condition and its possible euphenic treatment.
Frequency quadrupling transmitter architecture with digital predistortion for high-order modulation signal transmission

This paper demonstrates a novel transmitter architecture based on frequency quadrupling, in which modulated signals are generated at a frequency f 0 , and subsequently up-converted to 4f 0 using a frequency quadrupler. This technique is a promising architecture for mm-wave communications, at frequencies where signal amplification, modulation and distribution at 4f 0 are challenging. To achieve acceptable output signal accuracy, predistortion of the input is mandatory. In this work, we validate the architecture using a low (microwave) demonstration frequency of f 0 = 890MHz, with 4f 0 =3.56GHz. High-order modulation signals are directly applied to a quadrupler, and “quadrupling digital predistortion” (Q-DPD) is used to restore the signal modulation format at the output. With a 5MHz bandwidth 256-QAM signal, before predistortion the output signal has an error vector magnitude (EVM) of 138%. After Q-DPD, the 256-QAM output signal has an EVM of 1.8% and adjacent channel power ratio (ACPR) of around −43dBc.
A study of anterior femoral curvature in man

A study of anterior femoral curvature was carried out on a total of 874 White, Negro, Eskimo, and American Indian femora. Variations in race, sex, and side, as well as ontogenetic changes, have been investigated. The results indicate that distinct differences in the amount and location of femoral curvature exist. Sex and side differences were generally found to be small, race differences however, in both sexes, are striking. When used with other established criteria, these data on femora will be of value in identifying skeletons of certain racial groups. It seems likely that inherent racial differences provide the substrate, as well as set the developmental limitations, for any modifications which may be imposed by function. The basic curvature may be modified or maintained by variations in the inherited physical properties of the femur. The response of these physical properties to the demands of differing extrinsic influences must also be of importance in determining the amount and location of femoral curvature.
Protein Targeting in Neurons and Endocrine Cells

Publisher Summary The functional polarity of axons is reflected in the polarized distribution of a number of proteins, both membrane and cytoskeletal. Targeting to each domain of the neuron may require a specific signal; alternatively, targeting to only one domain may be specific, while localization to the other may occur by default. In addition to sorting to the proper domain, proteins in neurons must also be sorted to the correct subcellular organelle. For example, synaptic vesicle proteins synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and posttranslationally modified in the Golgi must first be targeted to the axon and then to the nerve terminal. A number of studies suggest that synaptic vesicle proteins are finally assembled into mature synaptic vesicles at the synapse; consequently, synaptic vesicle proteins may contain multiple targeting signals to reach their final destination. Research has been going on investigating the molecular basis for targeting of membrane proteins in neurons and to synaptic vesicles in two different systems. Using dissociated cultures of rat embryonic hippocampal neurons, the mechanism for sorting of proteins to dendrites or axons is examined. In the pheochromocytoma cell line PC12, the sequences that are necessary to target an exogenous protein to synaptic vesicles is being determined. It is found that the final stage of sorting to synaptic vesicles in neurons is mediated by similar processes as in PC12 cells. To determine this, chimeras are made between cDNAs encoding the synaptic vesicle protein SV2 and the glucose transporter GLUT1, in which the cytoplasmic loop between TM6 and TM7 is replaced by the cytoplasmic loop of SV2. The distribution of the chimeras have also been analyzied on sucrose gradients designed to separate large dense-core vesicles from endosomes, synaptic vesicles, and other membranes to determine if the same targeting information is used for both types of regulated secretory vesicles.
Patenting of Micro-Organisms in India

The patentability of unicellular organisms was settled by the US Supreme court in Diamond v. Anand Chakrabarty, which is considered as the landmark judgement with respect to biotech patentability. In compliance with TRIPs, the Patents Act 1970, as amended in June 2002, gives patent rights for new microorganisms in India. Section 3(j) of the Act excludes from patentability “plants and animals in whole or any part thereof other than micro-organisms but including seeds, varieties and species and essentially biological processes for production or propagation of plants and animals.” 2002 Amendment of Indian Patent Act added explanation to chemical process, which states; chemical processes include biochemical, biotechnological and microbiological process. Other areas involving microorganisms are also patentable in India. This paper focus and examine the extant of micro-organism in India.
Recurrent Bleeding, Survival, and Longitudinal Pulmonary Function following Bronchial Artery Embolization for Hemoptysis in a U.S. Adult Population.

Abstract Purpose To report outcomes of bronchial artery embolization (BAE) for hemoptysis, including recurrent bleeding, survival, and longitudinal pulmonary function. Materials and Methods A prospective database identified 69 patients who underwent 97 BAE procedures (n = 1–7 per patient) at a tertiary academic medical center over a period of 11 years. Technical and clinical success were determined. Recurrent bleeding and survival were compared by etiology of lung disease. Rates of change in pulmonary function (forced expiratory volume in 1 s [FEV 1 ] and forced vital capacity [FVC]) were measured and compared before and after index BAE by linear regression in 17 patients. Results The technical success rate of BAE was 90%. Clinical success rates at 24 hours and 30 days were 82% and 68%, respectively. Thirty percent of patients had recurrent bleeding that required bronchoscopy (7%) or additional embolization (23%). Median time to recurrent bleeding was 29 days among the 13 patients with sarcoidosis, compared with 293 days among patients without sarcoidosis ( P = .0013). The hazard ratio for death in patients with sarcoidosis compared with those without sarcoidosis was 4 (95% confidence interval, 2.6–14.6). Analyzing all instances of pulmonary function tests, slopes of decline in FEV 1 and FVC were significantly different (FEV 1 , P = .0048; FVC, P 1 , 0.8%/y; FVC, 1%/y) and a decrease before BAE (FEV 1 , −1.6%/y; FVC, −1.4%/y). Conclusions BAE is an effective therapy for hemoptysis, but patients with sarcoidosis are at significant risk of recurrent bleeding and death compared with patients with other lung diseases. BAE does not accelerate deterioration in lung function.
Mutational Analysis of the Open Reading Frames in the Transposable Element Is1

IS1 is one of the smallest transposable elements found in bacteria (768 bp). It contains eight overlapping open-reading-frames (ORFs) greater than 50 codons, designated insA to insG and insB'. To determine which of the ORFs actually code for proteins involved in transposition, we have introduced amber codons into each ORF by site-directed mutagenesis which make neutral changes in the overlapping ORFs. Each mutant IS1 was then tested for its ability to mediate cointegrate formation in Su(+) and Su(-) backgrounds. The mutant elements were also tested for trans-complementation in an IS1-free Salmonella background. Our results show that the products of the insA and insB genes are the only ones essential for cointegrate formation. We suggest that other ORFs may, however, encode accessory proteins.
Alamethicin adsorption to a planar lipid bilayer

The effect of alamethicin and its derivatives on the voltage-dependent capacitance of phosphatidylethanolamine (squalane) membranes was measured using two different methods: lock-in detection and voltage pulse. Alamethicin and its derivatives modulate the voltage-dependent capacitance at voltages lower than the voltage at which alamethicin-induced conductance is detected. The magnitude and sign of this alamethicin-induced capacitance change depends on the aqueous alamethicin concentration and the kind of alamethicin used. Our experimental data can be interpreted as a potential-dependent pseudocapacitance associated with adsorbed alamethicin. Pseudocapacitance is expressed as a function of alamethicin charge, its concentration in the bathing solution and the applied electric field. The theory describes the dependence of the capacitance on applied voltage and alamethicin concentration. When alamethicin is neutral the theory predicts no change of the voltage-dependent capacitance with either sign of applied voltage. Experimental data are consistent with the model in which alamethicin molecules interact with each other while being adsorbed to the membrane surface. The energy of this interaction depends on the alamethicin concentration.
Thick macroporous membranes made of p-type silicon

In the last decade, very thick macro porous silicon (PS) has been enjoying a growing popularity in a wide range of applications. There is also an increasing demand for thick macroporous membranes with through pores. In this work, we studied the optimal etch conditions with respect to stable pore growth and high etch rate for macro PS in p-type silicon. A single-step etching process has been developed to tackle the problem of uniform membrane formation. Very thick (>500 μm) through-wafer macroporous membranes on p-type silicon with variable pore sizes and growth rates up to 0.95 μm/min have been successfully demonstrated.
Probing region-specific microstructure of human cortical areas using high angular and spatial resolution diffusion MRI

Abstract Regional heterogeneity in cortical cyto- and myeloarchitecture forms the structural basis of mapping of cortical areas in the human brain. In this study, we investigate the potential of diffusion MRI to probe the microstructure of cortical gray matter and its region-specific heterogeneity across cortical areas in the fixed human brain. High angular resolution diffusion imaging (HARDI) data at an isotropic resolution of 92-μm and 30 diffusion-encoding directions were acquired using a 3D diffusion-weighted gradient-and-spin-echo sequence, from prefrontal (Brodmann area 9), primary motor (area 4), primary somatosensory (area 3b), and primary visual (area 17) cortical specimens (n = 3 each) from three human subjects. Further, the diffusion MR findings in these cortical areas were compared with histological silver impregnation of the same specimens, in order to investigate the underlying architectonic features that constitute the microstructural basis of diffusion-driven contrasts in cortical gray matter. Our data reveal distinct and region-specific diffusion MR contrasts across the studied areas, allowing delineation of intracortical bands of tangential fibers in specific layers—layer I, layer VI, and the inner and outer bands of Baillarger. The findings of this work demonstrate unique sensitivity of diffusion MRI to differentiate region-specific cortical microstructure in the human brain, and will be useful for myeloarchitectonic mapping of cortical areas as well as to achieve an understanding of the basis of diffusion NMR contrasts in cortical gray matter.
A sufficient condition for pooling data

We consider the problems arising from using sequences of experiments to discover the causal structure among a set of variables, none of whom are known ahead of time to be an “outcome”. In particular, we present various approaches to resolve conflicts in the experimental results arising from sampling variability in the experiments. We provide a sufficient condition that allows for pooling of data from experiments with different joint distributions over the variables. Satisfaction of the condition allows for an independence test with greater sample size that may resolve some of the conflicts in the experimental results. The pooling condition has its own problems, but should—due to its generality—be informative to techniques for meta-analysis.
The filamentous actin cross-linking/bundling activity of mammalian formins.

Summary Formins are multidomain proteins that regulate actin filament dynamics and are defined by the formin homology 2 domain. Biochemical assays suggest that mammalian formins display actin-filament nucleation, severing, and bundling activities. Whether formins can cross-link actin filaments into viscoelastic arrays and the effectiveness of formins' bundling activity compared with that of important filamentous actin (F-actin) cross-linking/bundling proteins are unknown. Here, we used rigorous in vitro rheologic assays to deconvolve the dynamic cross-linking activity from the bundling activity of formin FRL1 and the closely related mDia1 and mDia2. In addition, we compared these formins with the canonical F-actin bundling protein fascin and cross-linking/bundling proteins α-actinin and filamin. We found that FRL1 and mDia2, but not mDia1, can help F-actin form highly elastic networks. FRL1 and mDia2 mediate the formation of highly elastic F-actin networks as effectively and rapidly as α-actinin and filamin but only past a relatively high actin-to-formin molar ratio of 50:1. Past that threshold molar ratio, the mechanical properties of F-actin/formin networks are independent of formin concentration, similar to fascin. Moreover, unlike those for α-actinin and filamin but similar to those for fascin, F-actin/formin networks show no strain-induced hardening. mDia1 cannot bundle F-actin but can weakly cross-link filaments at high concentrations. Point mutagenesis reveals that reducing the barbed-end binding activity of FRL1 and mDia2 greatly enhances the rate of formation of F-actin gels but does not significantly affect the mechanical properties of the resulting networks at steady state. Together, these results suggest that the mechanical behaviors of FRL1 and mDia2 are fundamentally different from those of cross-linking/bundling proteins α-actinin and filamin but qualitatively similar to the mechanical behavior of the bundling protein fascin, albeit with a dramatically increased (> 10-fold) threshold concentration for transition to bundling, which nevertheless leads to much stiffer F-actin networks than fascin.
Trends in blood utilization.

Data collected from the records of the blood bank at the Cleveland Clinic Hospital show that there has been a steady decrease in the number of patients receiving single-unit transfusions. Of 1,151 patients transfused in 1948, 55.3 per cent received a single-unit of blood and only 1.5 per cent received more than 10 units. In 1960 there were 1,761 patients transfused. Only 30.1 per cent received a single-unit of blood and 15.0 per cent received more than ten units. In 1948, the average number of units per patient was 2.3. This average rose to 4.9 units in 1960. These figures are for a hospital population which is made up of both adults and children. When a correction is made to take this into consideration the figure for adults in 1960 becomes 23 per cent.
Selective conversion of fibroblasts into peripheral sensory neurons

Humans and mice detect pain, itch, temperature, pressure, stretch and limb position via signaling from peripheral sensory neurons. These neurons are divided into three functional classes (nociceptors/pruritoceptors, mechanoreceptors and proprioceptors) that are distinguished by their selective expression of TrkA, TrkB or TrkC receptors, respectively. We found that transiently coexpressing Brn3a with either Ngn1 or Ngn2 selectively reprogrammed human and mouse fibroblasts to acquire key properties of these three classes of sensory neurons. These induced sensory neurons (iSNs) were electrically active, exhibited distinct sensory neuron morphologies and matched the characteristic gene expression patterns of endogenous sensory neurons, including selective expression of Trk receptors. In addition, we found that calcium-imaging assays could identify subsets of iSNs that selectively responded to diverse ligands known to activate itch- and pain-sensing neurons. These results offer a simple and rapid means for producing genetically diverse human sensory neurons suitable for drug screening and mechanistic studies.
Comparison of the Intravascular Mixing and Disappearance of Radiosodium, Radiopotassiuin and T-1824

A method is presented utilizing the rapid intravenous injection of a dye-isotope mixture and rapid, serial arterial sampling which permits the determination of rates of disappearance of these materials from the vascular system. Since K+ traverses capillary endothelial walls at about twice the rate of Na+ it appears that these two ions, while being about the same size and having the same charge, are handled in different manners by the capillaries. Other variables obtainable from the T-1824 isotope time-concentration curves such as plasma volume, circulation time, cardiac output and isotope distribution volumes are also presented.
Motion and force control of multiple robotic manipulators

This paper addresses the motion and force control problem of multiple robot arms manipulating a cooperatively held object. A general control paradigm is introduced which decouples the motion and force control problems. For motion control, different control strategies are constructed based on the variables used as the control input in the controller design. There are three natural choices; acceleration of a generalized coordinate, arm tip force vectors, and the joint torques. The first two choices require full model information but produce simple models for the control design problem. The last choice results in a class of relatively model independent control laws by exploiting the Hamiltonian structure of the open loop system. The motion control only determines the joint torque to within a manifold, due to the multiple-arm kinematic constraint. To resolve the nonuniqueness of the joint torques, two methods are introduced. If the arm and object models are available, an optimization can be performed to best allocate the desired and effector control force to the joint actuators. The other possibility is to control the internal force about some set point. It is shown that effective force regulation can be achieved even if little model information is available.
Fusarial wilt of banana in Florida

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense, recovered from wilted banana plants in Florida, was characterized for pathogenicity on tissue-culture-derived plantlets of race differentials and for vegetative compatibility. Isolates from cv. Bluggoe were identified as race 2 in pathogenicity tests and were compatible with isolates from VCG 0124 which contains members from other banana-growing regions in the eastern and western hemispheres; Florida isolates in this VCG probably originated outside the state. Isolates from cv. Silk were identified as race 1 and were compatible with isolates from VCG 01210, a VCG unique to Florida; their origin is uncertain.
Adenosine A2A receptors are expressed by GABAergic neurons of medulla oblongata in developing rat.

Abstract During early development, adenosine contributes to the occurrence of respiratory depression and recurrent apneas. Recent physiological studies indicate that GABAergic mechanisms may be involved in this inhibitory action of adenosine, via their A2A receptors. In the present study, in situ hybridization with ribonucleotide probes for A2A receptor (A2AR) mRNA was combined with the immunolabeling technique for parvalbumin and transneuronal retrograde tracing method using green fluorescent protein expressing pseudorabies virus (GFP-PRV) to (1) characterize age-dependent changes in the expression of adenosine A2ARs mRNA in brain stem regions where GABAergic neurons are located; (2) determine whether GABA-containing neurons express A2AR mRNA traits, and (3) identify whether bulbospinal GABAergic neurons projecting to phrenic nuclei contain A2AR mRNA. Results revealed expression of A2A receptors in regions of medulla oblongata containing GABAergic neurons, namely in the ventral aspect of the medulla, within the Botzinger region and caudal to it, the gigantocellular reticular nucleus, midline neurons and the caudal ventrolateral medulla oblongata. Furthermore, a subpopulation of identified GABAergic neurons, projecting to the phrenic motor nuclei, possess A2AR mRNA. It is concluded that adenosine A2ARs expressed by GABAergic neurons are likely to play a role in mediating adenosine-induced respiratory depression.
Electron Transfer in Nitrogenase Analyzed by Marcus Theory: Evidence for Gating by MgATP†

Nitrogenase-catalyzed substrate reduction reactions require electron transfer between two component proteins, the iron (Fe) protein and the molybdenum−iron (MoFe) protein, in a reaction that is cou...
The Curious Courtship of Feminist Jurisprudence and Feminist State Theory: Smart on the Power of Law

It is probably still true, as Catharine MacKinnon observed more than a decade ago, that "[feminism has no theory of the state."' There is parallel doubt about feminist jurisprudence. Nevertheless, some of the most provocative and compelling contributions to feminist theories of state power and the relationships between governance and gender have come from scholars deeply-albeit often critically-engrossed with law. Moreover, feminists must contend with states, laws, and the social forces on which their balance rests, whether we theorize them or not. This essay examines the particular strand of feminist thinking about gender and the power of law spun by British sociologist and criminologist Carol Smart. In particular, I consider how Smart's thinking might influence how feminists theorize state power and social policies.2 Smart's work raises a
Crop rotation and soil temperature influence the community structure of Aspergillus flavus in soil

Abstract Aspergillus flavus, the most important cause of aflatoxin contamination, has two major morphotypes commonly termed ‘S’ and ‘L’ strains. Strain S isolates, on average, produce more aflatoxins than the strain L isolates. The S strain has been implicated as the primary causal agent of several contamination events in both North America and Africa. Strain S incidence and A. flavus propagules were quantified periodically in 11 agricultural fields in South Texas from spring 2001 through spring 2003. Both A. flavus populations and S strain incidence varied significantly among seasons, with warm seasons having higher average quantities of A. flavus (718 CFU g−1) and higher incidences of the S strain (32.3%) than cold seasons (403 CFU g−1 and 16.9% incidence). Previous crop influenced both the quantity of A. flavus and S strains incidence. Corn favors higher soil populations of A. flavus (1628 CFU g−1) compared to cotton (374 CFU g−1) and sorghum (237 CFU g−1). In the agroecosystem of South Texas, both cotton (23.7%) and sorghum (23.5%) favored greater S strain incidence compared to corn (14.0%). Soil surface temperature greatly influenced fungal communities with propagule density decreasing when daily average soil temperature was either below 18 °C or above 30 °C, and the proportion of A. flavus belonging to the S strain increasing as soil temperature increased. The results suggest it may be possible to manipulate crop rotations in order to reduce aflatoxin severity, and that periods of increased soil temperature drive selection of the highly toxigenic S strain of A. flavus in warm climates.
Human Leukocyte Antigen DQ α Sharing Is Not Increased in Couples With Recurrent Miscarriage

PROBLEM : The results regarding human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DQ α allele sharing in recurrent miscarriage couples are conflicting. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of HLA DQ α allele sharing in our unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) patients using modern DNA analytical techniques. METHODS : DNA was extracted from whole blood samples of 1) 51 couples with at least three miscarriages, and 2) 43 fertile couples (with at least seven children and no known history of recurrent miscarriage). The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify the second exon of the HLA DQ α locus on chromosome 6. Genotypes were identified by allele specific hybridization with 12 sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes. RESULTS : 47% of recurrent miscarriage couples and 35% of fertile couples shared no alleles. 47% of recurrent miscarriage couples compared to 58% of fertile couples shared one allele, and 6% of recurrent miscarriage couples and 7% of fertile couples shared two alleles. CONCLUSIONS : Reproductive partners with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss have no increased frequency of HLA DQ α allele sharing. It is unlikely that HLA DQ α genotyping will be helpful in the management of patients with RSA.
Viewpoint: Less wire

Manufacturers aren't going to wait for a consensus to emerge on ultra wide band communications, says the author.
Long-term surveillance of previously treated breast cancer survivors by primary care physicians

Abstract Breast cancer has become the most common site of new cancers in women over the past two decades. The majority of patients survive the diagnosis and have to contend with repercussions of treatments, the possibility of recurrence, or the development of new cancers for the duration of their lives. The primary care physician may be the only professional following these women or may be in a position to evaluate symptoms that have developed since a woman’s last visit with her specialist. This article will present evidence-based recommendations on clinical follow-up by the primary care physician.
Magnetic resonance imaging in schizophrenia: relationship with clinical measures.

Abstract Relationships were examined between clinical features of schizophrenia and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volume in brain obtained by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a sample of 59 patients. The volumes of the cerebral hemispheres and CSF were measured with a computer program designed to separate reliably neural tissue from CSF. The CSF to cranial volume ratios were related to history, symptom profile and outcome functioning. Earlier age of onset was associated with higher sulcal CSF ratio, r =-0.40. The anatomic measures were unrelated to symptom severity. However, patient subtypes differed in the laterality of measures. Higher left hemispheric ratios were seen in patients with severe negative symptoms, and left predominance of ventricular relative to sulcal ratios was associated with the presence of hallucinations and delusions. The results suggest that while higher CSF is related to earlier age of onset, the clinical symptoms are more related to its lateralization. This is consistent with the hypothesis that schizophrenia is a lateralized brain disease.