cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gonadotropin Suppression of Apoptosis in Cultured Preovulatory Follicles: Mediatory Role of Endogenous Insulin-Like Growth Factor I*

Although the majority of ovarian follicles undergo atresia through a mechanism involving apoptotic cell death, in vivo studies concerning the hormonal regulation of atresia have been difficult due to the presence of heterogeneous population of follicles in the ovary. In the present study, the regulation of follicle apoptosis by gonadotropins, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), and IGF-binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) was examined using a serum-free culture of preovulatory follicles. Immature rats at 26 days of age received a single dose of PMSG. Two days later, the largest preovulatory follicles were collected for in vitro culture with or without hormones. After 24 h of culture, follicular apoptotic DNA fragmentation was analyzed by autoradiography of size-fractionated DNA labeled at 3'-ends by [32P]dideoxy-ATP. A spontaneous increase in apoptotic DNA fragmentation occurred after 24 h of culture in the absence of hormones, whereas treatment with human CG (hCG) or FSH suppressed follicular apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner, with 0.1 microgram/ml causing maximal suppression by 60-62%. Cotreatment with hCG and FSH had no additional effect. Like gonadotropins, treatment with IGF-I and insulin also suppressed the spontaneous onset of apoptosis, with IGF-I being more effective than insulin. Cotreatment with IGFBP-3 and hCG dose-dependently reversed the suppressive effect of hCG on apoptosis by 42%, suggesting a mediatory role of endogenously produced IGF-I. The addition of IGFBP-3 also blocked the suppressive action of IGF-I by 49%, whereas it did not affect the suppressive action of an IGF-I agonist or insulin. Treatment with IGFBP-3 alone had no effect on apoptotic DNA fragmentation. Estrogen and progesterone production by the cultured follicles were also analyzed by RIA. Gonadotropin treatment resulted in a marked stimulation of the production of both steroid productions. In contrast, treatment with IGF-I caused a small increase in estrogen but decreased progesterone production. Although treatment with IGFBP-3 alone decreased both estrogen and progesterone production, cotreatment with IGFBP-3 and hCG resulted in a slight decrease in estrogen production but an increase in progesterone production. Furthermore, IGFBP-3 did not affect IGF-I action on steroid production. To further substantiate the hypothesis that IGFBP-3 blocks the suppressive effect of hCG on apoptosis by neutralizing endogenously produced IGF-I, solution hybridization analysis was performed, and hCG treatment was shown to increase IGF-I messenger RNA levels in cultured follicles by 1.9-fold.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Tapering duodenoplasty and Roux-en-Y duodenojejunostomy in the management of adult megaduodenum.

CASE REPORT A 41-year-old man with a history of chronic diarrhea and fatty stools since childhood and an inability to gain weight presented with C6 and T3 vertebral fractures. A bone mineral density scan of the lumbar spine from L2 to L4 was 61% of predicted, which was 4.3 standard deviations below the mean for an individual his age. An extensive endocrine work-up revealed a parathyroid hormone level of 4.1 and a serum calcium level of 7.8 mg/dL with an albumin of 3.5 g/dL. Based on these findings, malabsorption of vitamin D was suspected to be the cause of his bone disease. He underwent an upper gastrointestinal series that revealed a massively dilated duodenum (Fig 1). The remainder of his gastrointestinal evaluation was unremarkable. Based on these finding and our clinical suspicion that his bone disease and malabsorption were a direct result of megaduodenum and bacterial overgrowth, the patient was surgically explored. The duodenum was approxi-
Long-term effects of early cortical epileptiform activity on development of visuocortical receptive fields in the rabbit

Abstract We studied the long-term effects of early epileptiform activity on the development of receptive fields in the visual cortex of the rabbit. Aqueous penicillin was injected twice daily into a cannula implanted over the monocular region of one visual cortex. Drug administration was initiated on postnatal day 8–9 and was discontinued on postnatal day 24–30. Coincidental with the penicillin injections a mixture of penicillin and penicillinase was similarly applied to the monocular visual region of the contralateral (control) cortex. Following each drug administration interictal epileptiform activity was observed only from the penicillin-treated (epileptic) cortex. Single-unit recordings were made in the visual cortex 5 or 11 months after the drug-treatment period. In both 5-month and 11-month postepileptic cortex, cell samples from areas adjacent to the cannula site showed abnormal percentages of receptive field types relative to control cortex percentages. After 5 months a low proportion of oriented type cells and a high proportion of no response and indefinite type cells were found. After 11 months a low proportion of oriented type cells was also found but the proportion of no response and indefinite type cells was normal; however, an unusually high proportion of non-oriented type cells was now evident. These results indicate that although previously epileptic visual cortex eventually develops a normal complement of cells with specific receptive fields, the quantitative distribution of those cells with regard to their various functional specificity remains abnormal.
Persistence after Three Cycles of Selection in NewHy RS-Wheatgrass (Elymus hoffmannii K.B. Jensen & Asay) at Increased Salinity Levels

Difficulties associated with producing high quality forage on salt affected soils is often associated with the inability of plants to establish and persist at elevated soil salinity levels. The cultivar NewHy RS-wheatgrass is recommended for use on range sites with moderate salinity problems that receive at least 35 cm of annual precipitation. Objectives of this study were to evaluate (i) the ability to improve plant persistence in NewHy over three cycles of greenhouse selection at increased salinity levels and (ii) corresponding changes in seedling vigor and germination under nonsaline conditions. Greenhouse grown plants were irrigated every 3 d with a complete nutrient solution and salt levels were increased by an electrical conductivity (EC) of 6 dS m -1 every 1 to 2 wk until an EC level of 42 dS m -1 was reached and maintained until plant mortality occurred in 2002 and 2003. Probit analysis was used to estimate the time and salt concentration required to kill 50% of the plants (LD 50 ) in each cycle. Significant differences for LD 50 were found among the different cycles of NewHy selected for persistence under saline conditions and the quackgrass [Elytrigia repens (L.) Nevski] parent with a resulting ranking of Cycle-3 > Cycle-2 > Cycle-1 > quackgrass > NewHy (Cycle-0). The largest single gain was achieved from NewHy Cycle-0 to Cycle-1, which required an additional 145 ECdays to reach an LD 50 level. Smaller increases were observed between Cycles-1 and -2 and between Cycles-2 and -3. Selection for persistence under a saline environment did not reduce seedling germination rate or vigor.
The wrath of Robert Rauschenberg

The droit de suite, or artists' resale proceeds right, requires the owner of a work of art who resells it to pay a percentage of the resale price (or, under some statutes, of the profit) to the artist. The droit de suite first appeared in France in 1920. California enacted a version of it in 19761 and is the only common law jurisdiction to have done so. A congressionally mandated study on the topic is at this writing nearing completion, however, and supporters of a federal resale proceeds right, repeatedly rebuffed in the past, are again preparing to press their case in Congress. They will again be opposed by knowledgeable people who see the right as a textbook example of uninformed good intentions in support of a bad cause. Within the EC the French are pressing, and the Commission is pursuing, a proposal to impose the right on all member nations, a proposal that the British and others oppose. These developments and the recent American publication of a French monograph on the topic2 provide the occasion for a closer look at the arguments for and against the droit de suite. Pierredon-Fawcett briefly deals with the justifications for the right in her first chapter and touches lightly on the objections to it at a number of points. That debate is not, however, where her main interest lies. Her brief study focusses instead on a description of the different forms this French invention has taken and the ways it is
The role of bone marrow and thymic elements in the initiation and spread of virus production in the AKR thymus

Passive anti-viral immunotherapy greatly suppresses the incidence of spontaneous leukemia in AKR mice, rendering the thymus of successfully treated animals devoid of infectious ecotropic retrovirus. Reconstitution assays have determined that the thymic and splenic homing cells of the AKR bone marrow become ecotropic virus producers subsequent to their seeding of these hematopoietic organs and that in vitro depletion of gp71 expressing bone marrow cells reduces stem cell numbers without affecting prothymocyte content. In the thymus, a population of radioresistant cells, which phenotypically resemble cortical thymocytes, but are unique in their expression of high levels of H-2Kk antigen, have been found to produce high levels of both ecotropic and MCF virus and have been implicated as a putative therapeutic target cell population of anti-viral treatment. In addition, the failure of treated animals to reconstitute following lethal irradiation suggests that an immunotherapy-induced alteration occurs in the bone marrow of AKR mice.
Use of propofol for short duration procedures in children with long chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCHAD) or trifunctional protein (TFP) deficiencies

The medication propofol, commonly used for anesthesia, has been avoided in patients with mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation disorders (FAODs) due to concerns that it contains long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs), and because of reports of severe side effects in some critically ill patients receiving high-dose propofol infusions that mimic some of the symptoms regularly found in FAOD patients. In this secondary analysis, we examined the outcomes of 8 children with long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl CoA dehydrogenase (LCHAD) deficiency or trifunctional protein (TFP) deficiency who were repeatedly sedated for an electroretinogram (ERG) as part of a longitudinal study of the progression of chorioretinopathy commonly found in this population. A total of 39 sedated ERG procedures were completed using propofol for sedation. The propofol dosing, estimated total energy needs of the subject, and inpatient dietary intake recording were completed in 32 of these procedures. The LCFAs in the propofol provided approximately 1.0% of the average total daily energy needs. The sedation with propofol resulted in no adverse side effects and was safely used in this short duration procedure.
Sun-tracking commands and reaction wheel sizing with configuration optimization

This paper is composed of two parts. In the first part, two-axis sun-tracking commands for solar arrays articulated to Earth-pointing spacecraft are developed. In the second, the paper deals with optimization of cant angle(s) of reaction wheel pyramids for minimizing power consumption and required torque and momentum capacity of the wheels to deliver a cylindrical momentum envelope and a rectangular parallelepiped torque envelope. The two commonly used four-wheel pyramid configurations and a new one, according to which the wheels are inclined to roll and yaw axes of the spacecraft at unequal angles, are analyzed in depth. The minimum torque and momentum capacity of each wheel in the four-wheel pyramids are compared with the capacity of each wheel in six- and three-wheel pyramids. Both no-wheelfailure and one-wheel-failure cases are considered for all pyramidal configurations. The literal relationships developed in the paper are very useful for quickly determining the optimum cant angle(s) and the torque and momentum capacity of the wheels for given requirements about the spacecraft axes, and for selecting a most suitable wheel configuration from six- and three-wheel pyramids, three four-wheel pyramids of different bases, and six- and three-wheel orthogonal arrangements.
Complex permittivity of common minerals and one soil at low water contents

The complex permittivity of quartz, feldspars, calcite, and non-crystalline gypsum at 4%–7% volumetric water content shows low conductivity and low-frequency dispersion. At similar water contents, montmorillonite, gypsum crystallites, and a desert soil all show unusually strong and broad low-frequency dispersion, and strong attenuation rates above 100 MHz. The desert soil contained 80% quartz, 10% feldspars, and 10% gypsum, with the gypsum appearing as crystallites and crustations on the quartz particles. Despite insignificant salt or clay mineral content, the dispersion and attenuation rates of the soil exceed those of its constituents and are similar to that of montmorillonite, with a rate exceeding 100 dB m−1 by 1 GHz. We attribute this to a Maxwell-Wagner type of relaxation, likely caused by polarization resulting from surface charge and from the charge separation caused by dielectric and conductivity contrasts between the gypsum and quartz. The conductivity contrasts were likely enhanced by ions dissolved from the gypsum and feldspars into free water within, and water adsorbed on the quartz surfaces.
Channel modeling for optical wireless communication through dense fog

Feature Issue on Optical Wireless Communications (OWC) The modified vector radiative transfer equation is solved in the frequency domain to study the frequency response of the propagation channel. In the time domain, the impulse response is obtained by taking the inverse Fourier transform of the frequency response. The time-domain analysis investigates the effects of the receiver's field of view on reducing the bit error rate when there is intersymbol interference caused by the temporal spread of the received signal.
Intracellular distribution of enzymes catalyzing succinate production from glucose in Rangia mantle.

Abstract 1. 1. Succinate production in a number of invertebrates has been postulated to be the result of anaerobic glycolysis in the presence of inadequate levels of lactic dehydrogenase. The redox pair of phosphopyridine nucleotides is kept in the oxidized state by two reductive reactions: reduction of oxalacetate and reduction of fumarate. 2. 2. The production of oxalacetate from glucose has been demonstrated to occur anaerobically in Rangia mantle. All the reactions are catalyzed enzymes located in the cytoplasmic fraction of mantle. 3. 3. The reduction of oxalacetate and dehydration of malate are catalyzed by enzymes also located in the cytoplasmic fraction but the enzyme catalyzing the reduction of fumarate has been located within the mitochondria or particles corresponding to mammalian mitochondria. 4. 4. Fumarate is reduced by NADH in the mitochondria which in Rangia mantle, unlike mammalian mitochondria, appear to be permeable to NADH.
The Identification of Uncultured Microbial Pathogens

Clinicians have long been aware of human diseases that are associated with visible but uncultured microorganisms. Without the ability to cultivate these organisms, they have remained unidentified. Environmental microbiologists have also discovered on the basis of recent advances in the field of molecular phylogeny that culture-based methods for detecting microorganisms are biased and insensitive. A culture-independent experimental approach is described for the identification of microbial pathogens. This approach incorporates fundamental aspects of 16S rRNA-based molecular phylogeny as well as nucleic acid amplification technology. From its application to Whipple's disease, one can speculate as to the potential insights a highly sensitive, culture-independent method may provide into the diversity and natural ecology of human microbial pathogens.
Progesterone in the blood. A quantitative method employing gas liquid chromatography.

A new method for the measurement of progesterone in the blood has been described in detail. After addition of NaOH to 5 ml plasma, the progesterone was extracted with acetone and then ether. The extract was purified by chromatography through a miniature celite column using trimethylpentane as the mobile phase and 90% methanol as the stationary phase. This step removed a large quantity of pigmented material and cholesterol. Further purification was achieved by thin layer chromatography in the system chloroform/acetone 9:1. After transfer to a simple dry sample application device, the progesterone was separated and the quantity was measured by means of gas liquid chromatography using a 6 ft XE 60 column. The method has been used to assay samples of plasma from patients at all stages of pregnancy and parturition. Its accuracy and reproducibility have been assessed by multiple measurements of 0.1 Mg progesterone added to male pooled plasma. The mean recovery at this level was 78.6%, SD±11.7%, coeflicient of v...
Normal and Shear Force Measurement Using a Flexible Polymer Tactile Sensor With Embedded Multiple Capacitors

In this paper, we report a new flexible capacitive tactile sensor array with the capability of measuring both normal and shear force distribution using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as a base material. A tactile cell consists of two thick PDMS layers with embedded electrodes, an air gap, and a pillar structure. The pillar structure is formed at the center of each tactile cell between the air gap under a large bump. There are four capacitors in a cell to decompose the contact force into normal and shear components. Four capacitors are arranged in a square form. If a normal force is applied on the bump, the PDMS layer on the pillar structure is compressed, and the air gap between the top and bottom electrodes decreases, resulting in the increase in all four capacitances. If a shear force is applied, a torque is induced around the pillar. Therefore, the capacitance of the two capacitors increases, whereas that of the other two decreases. The bump and the pillar structure play a critical role to generate a torque for shear force measurement. The sensor has been realized in an 8 x 8 array of unit sensors, and each unit sensor responds to normal and shear stresses in all three axes, respectively. Measurement of a single sensor shows that the full-scale range of detectable force is about 10 mN, which corresponds to 131 kPa in three directions. The sensitivities of a cell measured with a current setup are 2.5%/mN, 3.0%/mN, and 2.9 %/mN for the x-, y-, and z-directions, respectively. Normal and shear force images are also captured from a 4 x 4 array of the fabricated sensor. Distinctive characteristic patterns appear when a shear force is applied to the sensor.
Ten-Year Incidence of Gross Proteinuria in People With Diabetes

There are few population-based epidemiological data describing the long-term incidence of gross proteinuria in people with diabetes. We performed a population-based study in southern Wisconsin of individuals with diabetes diagnosed at either or = 30 years of age either taking (older-onset taking insulin, n = 376) or not taking insulin (older-onset not taking insulin, n = 418). The presence of gross proteinuria (> or = 0.3 g/l) was determined by means of a reagent strip. The incidence of proteinuria in the 10-year interval was 28% in the younger-onset group, it was 40% in the older-onset group taking insulin, and it was 33% in the older-onset group not taking insulin. After we controlled for other risk factors, the 10-year incidence of proteinuria was significantly related to higher glycosylated hemoglobin level and diastolic blood pressure at baseline and to an increase in glycosylated hemoglobin level and an increase in diastolic blood pressure from baseline to the 4-year follow-up in the younger-onset group and to higher glycosylated hemoglobin level, higher systolic blood pressure, and higher total pack-years of cigarettes smoked at baseline and an increase in systolic blood pressure from baseline to the 4-year follow-up in the older-onset groups. These data suggest that modification of three factors--hyperglycemia, high blood pressure, and smoking--may lead to a reduction in the long-term incidence of proteinuria.
Managing puma hunting in the western United States: through a metapopulation approach

To achieve long-term viability of hunted puma (Puma concolor) populations (even at historically low densities), we propose a management plan based on the metapopulation concept that designates source areas (closed to hunting) and sink areas (open to hunting). We use 11 years of data from Idaho and Utah to demonstrate how the proposed management plan might be implemented. We use minimum and maximum densities of resident animals to calculate minimum and maximum effective population sizes, neighbourhood areas (regional management units) and usable habitat within the units. We designate sink and source areas based on their size, accessibility to hunters and juxtaposition. We show that closing 63% of puma habitat to hunting would ensure long-term puma population viability while permitting traditional hunting levels in other areas. This system could be adapted to existing state (and interstate) hunting management units, and we outline several steps by which wildlife agencies might set up a process (including public participation) to manage puma hunting.
Antibacterial Therapy for Acute Otitis Media: A Critical Analysis

Twenty-five published trials of antibacterial therapy for acute otitis media were reviewed according to 13 methodologic standards for the design of clinical trials. Randomized, controlled trials, often with the double-blind technique, have been widely applied to assess efficacy. Bias can be further avoided by prognostic stratification according to known risk factors and by the measurement and analysis of patient compliance with treatment. A less frequently recognized problem is the insensitive trial. Bacteriologic diagnosis of the middle ear exudate before therapy can improve the sensitivity of clinical trials. The eradication of pathogens from the middle ear may be a more sensitive measure of outcome than the resolution of ear effusion. The analysis of type II statistical error should be included in trials that reveal no difference between antibacterial agents. The evaluation of new antibacterial agents for this important health problem requires rigorous research design. Antimicrobial drugs have become the mainstay of therapy for acute otitis media. Appropriate antibacterial therapy has been shown to sterilize the middle ear fluid. Moreover, the widespread use of antibacterial agents has been associated with a decrease in suppurative mastoiditis and secondary intracranial infections. Recently, the emergence of ampicillin-resistant strains of Haemophilus influenzae has produced new interest in the use of alter
A comprehensive, automated approach to determining sea ice thickness from SAR data

Documents an approach to sea ice classification through a combination of methods, both algorithmic and heuristic. The resulting system is a comprehensive technique, which uses dynamic local thresholding as a classification basis and then supplements that initial classification using heuristic geophysical knowledge organized in expert systems. The dynamic local thresholding method allows separation of the ice into thickness classes based on local intensity distributions. Because it utilizes the data within each image, it can adapt to varying ice thickness intensities to regional and seasonal changes and is not subject to limitations caused by using predefined parameters. >
Study and design of a capacitively coupled polymeric internal antenna

A capacitively coupled polymeric internal antenna is introduced for Bluetooth or GPS applications. Such an antenna can be easily fabricated on a flexible film substrate and attached to the inside surface of the plastic housing of a portable wireless device, such as a PDA. The proposed antenna saves critical space on the printed circuit board (PCB) and eliminates the need for a vertical contact feed. Thus manufacturing is also simplified and cost is reduced. Practical examples of utilizing such a concept for Bluetooth (2.45 GHz) and GPS (1.575 GHz) applications are provided. The antenna system requires a small coupling plate (as small as 4 by 4 mm/sup 2/) that can be easily surface mounted on a PCB. The solution proposed provides wideband operation satisfying Bluetooth functionality with good radiation pattern and gain.
Simplified performance estimation of FSK/PSK hybrid signaling radar systems

FSK/PSK signaling radar systems make use of a pulse compression signaling scheme formed by a combination of two common modulation techniques: frequency shift keying (FSK) and phase shift keying (PSK). This technique of radar signaling can achieve high time-bandwidth products-the primary measure of radar signal processing gain. Since the ability of most radars to detect moving targets against a ground clutter background is often phase noise limited, if is feared that the phase noise of the oscillators required for synthesis of the signal component frequencies could result in a performance degradation that outweighs the performance improvement obtained from the complex signaling scheme. In this paper, the effects of phase noise on the digital Doppler processor of an FSK/PSK signaling radar system are analyzed in a very general fashion. These results can be applied to other types of radar systems that use other forms of pulse compression and also to systems that use no pulse compression. The analysis is based on a complete radar system stochastic process model and simplifying assumptions are made based on practical component characteristics. The paper concludes with a helpful example. >
Energetic Limits to Economic Growth

The human population and economy have grown exponentially and now have impacts on climate, ecosystem processes, and biodiversity far exceeding those of any other species. Like all organisms, humans are subject to natural laws and are limited by energy and other resources. In this article, we use a macro ecological approach to integrate perspectives of physics, ecology, and economics with an analysis of extensive global data to show how energy imposes fundamental constraints on economic growth and development. We demonstrate a positive scaling relationship between per capita energy use and per capita gross domestic product (GDP) both across nations and within nations over time. Other indicators of socioeconomic status and ecological impactare correlated with energy use and GDP. We estimate global energy consumption for alternative future scenarios of population growth and standards of living. Large amounts of energy will be required to fuel economic growth, increase standards of living, and lift developing...
Using an innovative journal club strategy to teach civility to nursing students: Lessons learned

Background: Civility is foundational to nursing practice, crucial for nurse retention and productivity, and contributes to positive patient outcomes. Incivility in nursing begins in academia; nurse faculty have described uncivil behavior as a widespread problem among students. The purpose of this article is to describe an educational strategy to promote civility among nursing students in an academic setting. Educational Innovation: We used a journal club intervention with seventy-nine senior nursing students. The intervention combined class discussions, speaker presentations, and active learning strategies to raise student awareness and effect positive behavioral change in senior students enrolled in a nursing leadership course during their final semester in the program. Six fifty-minute sessions were incorporated into course content. Each session included faculty-led discussion based on assigned journal articles and a variety of active learning strategies. Lessons Learned: This article provides a description of each session and describes approaches we found helpful in implementing the journal club. We offer suggestions for tailoring a journal club strategy for use in a variety of ways in order to help nursing students make the transition from civility in school to civility in the workplace.
The biosynthesis and turnover of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide in enucleated culture cells.

Nicotinic acid mononucleotide (NaMN) and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) have been proposed as intermediates in the biosynthesis of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) from nicotinic acid and nicotinamide respectively. Although NaMN and NMN were not detected in acid extracts from whole D98/AH2 cells following pulses with 3H-nicotinic acid and 3H-nicotinamide, they were observed following pulses of enucleated cells. Several experiments indicate that enucleated cells are incapable of synthesizing NAD and that biosynthesis stops with mononucleotide formation. These results provide support for the idea, based upon fractionation studies, that NAD pyrophosphorylase (which catalyzes the reaction NMN or NaMN + ATP NAD or desamido-NAD) is localized exclusively in the nucleus. Acid extraction and chromatography were also used to compare the stability of 3H-NAD in enucleated and whole cells. In the presence of the glutamine analog, azaserine, the intracellular concentration of 3H-NAD decreased exponentially with a half-life of 4 hours in whole cells. In enucleated cells the intracellular concentration of 3H-NAD decreased with a half-life greater than 14 hours. The increased stability of NAD in enucleated cells was confirmed by autoradiography. These results demonstrate the key role of the nucleus in both the biosynthesis and turnover of NAD.
ECE curriculum in 2013 and beyond: vision for a metropolitan public research university

In this paper, the authors discuss the anticipated curriculum of electrical and computer engineering (ECE) programs in the year 2013 and beyond for a prototypical metropolitan public research university. Assumptions are made regarding the evolution of the relevant technology addressed by the curriculum, the nature of metropolitan public universities in the next decade, and the nature of the learning environment, technology, and educational focus based on present trends. A 128-credit-hour curriculum is proposed that addresses these challenges.
PROTEIN-BASED MICROARRAY FOR THE DETECTION OF PATHOGENIC BACTERIA1

Microarrays have been used for gene expression and protein interaction studies, but recently, multianalyte diagnostic assays have employed the microarray platform. We developed a microarray immunoassay for bacteria, with biotinylated capture antibodies on streptavidin slides. To complete the fluorescent sandwich immunoassay following capture of bacteria (Escherichia coli O157:H7), a fluorescein-labeled antibody was used to label antibody-bound bacteria. The assay time was less than 4 h. As this method was developed, it became apparent that several methodological factors markedly affected the results. Therefore, a series of experiments was conducted to investigate methodological factors that affected the assay, including analysis of variation in normal printing, use of a coverslip to contain sample exposure to the microarrayed antibodies, surface chemistries of capture antibody immobilization/attachment and assay reaction time. The use of a coverslip during immunological reactions reduced the fluorescent signal by approximately 50% compared with the use of an uncovered, hydrophobic barrier that was also used to contain sample solution during exposure to the microarray. Also, when protein G was used for capture antibody attachment, a lower signal was generated than when biotinylated capture antibody was used. At high bacterial concentrations (108 or 109 cells/mL), the assay could be shortened to less than 20 min. Antibody microarrays were effectively used to detect bacteria, but assay parameters markedly affected the results and required careful design.
Control of arteriolar resistance in heart failure. Partial attenuation of specific phosphodiesterase inhibitor-mediated vasodilation by digitalis glycosides.

BACKGROUNDThe vasodilatory response to local specific type III phosphodiesterase inhibition with amrinone was evaluated before and immediately after local administration of digoxin in 14 patients with severe congestive heart failure (CHF).METHODS AND RESULTSA 3F polyethylene catheter was inserted into the common femoral artery for drug administration and pressure monitoring. Mean blood flow velocity (MBFV) was continuously determined in the superficial femoral artery by transcutaneous Doppler ultrasonography. After intra-arterial administration of 10 mg amrinone, group MBFV increased from 7.7 +/- 1.4 to 16.0 +/- 2.1 cm/sec (p less than 0.05, n = 10). Local administration of 20 micrograms digoxin, which was infused over 20 minutes, did not alter group MBFV (i.e., 8.2 +/- 1.6 versus 7.6 +/- 1.5 cm/sec; p = NS, n = 10). The second administration of 10 mg amrinone, which immediately followed completion of local digoxin infusion, increased group MBFV but to a lesser extent than that produced by the first amrin...
A gene fusion method to screen for regulatory effects on gene expression: application to the LDL receptor

We have evaluated the feasibility of using fusion genes to link transcriptional promoters of biomedical interest to reporter genes to screen for pharmacological or genetic regulatory effects. Using gene targeting, we generated two lines of embryonic stem (ES) cells expressing human alpha-fetoprotein (hAFP) under control of the endogenous promoter for the LDL receptor (LDLR). In one line, hAFP was introduced into the first intron after the translational start codon; in the other, hAFP was positioned in the 3'-untranslated region leaving the potential for expression of LDLR intact. In both lines, an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) was included to facilitate translation. Readily measurable levels of hAFP were found in the medium with both targeted ES cell lines, compared with undetectable levels with the starting cell line. The expectation that the level of hAFP would reflect the steady-state level of mRNA for the fusion transcript and secondarily transcriptional control of LDLR was confirmed by correlating hAFP levels with the abundance of LDLR and fusion transcripts. We also generated mice carrying the LDLR-hAFP fusion in the 3'-untranslated region and these mice produced detectable levels of hAFP in serum. Levels of hAFP in culture medium and in serum were increased by simvastatin, a drug known to up-regulate LDLR. These ES cell clones and mice are suitable for pharmacological and genetic screening to detect effects on expression of LDLR. The data demonstrate the feasibility of using gene fusions to screen for drugs and genetic factors that affect expression of a wide variety of genes of interest.
Using IEEE standard 1057 for testing analog-to-digital converters

We have used IEEE Trial Use Standard 1057 since 1989 for testing and evaluating analog-to-digital converters for use in high energy physics experiments. This standard primarily covers waveform digitizers, such as digital oscilloscopes, but much of it is applicable to testing ADCs. Using DC levels and sine, triangle, and specialized waveforms, we measure parameters such as integral and differential nonlinearity, number of effective bits, word error rate, short term settling time, and overvoltage recovery. We summarize the tests performed and describe our experience in using the standard.
A Game-Theoretic Framework for Bandwidth Attacks and Statistical Defenses

We introduce a game-theoretic framework for reasoning about bandwidth attacks, a common form of distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks. In particular, our traffic injection game models the attacker as a rational but limited-resource entity who uses limited knowledge of traffic patterns to launch IP spoofing based bandwidth attacks on a server. We model the defender as a coarse-grained, relative volume based statistical filter. We analyze the effectiveness of the defender against the attacker by analyzing the payoffs of various strategies in the traffic injection game. Furthermore, we analyze how these payoffs change in the presence of random noise. Our results show that there is potential for using statistical methods for creating defense mechanisms that can detect a DDoS attack and that even when an attacker has a priori knowledge of the expected traffic volume for the dimension and divisions employed in the attack, the attack traffic can still be exposed to the defender.
Pulmonary embolus originating from renal vein stump thrombus after laparoscopic living donor nephrectomy: case report.

Abstract Background Pulmonary embolism (PE) is an uncommon, life-threatening complication after living donor nephrectomy (LDN), and is considered among the most common causes for donor mortality. Most cases of postoperative PEs are thought to originate in deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the lower extremities. Case Report A 56-year-old, healthy woman underwent laparoscopic left LDN. Her postoperative course was complicated by PE, presenting at postoperative day 7. Doppler ultrasonography of her lower extremities did not demonstrate DVT. Both transthoracic echocardiogram and contrast-enhanced computed tomography demonstrated a floating thrombus within the inferior vena cava (IVC) originating from a thrombus in the left renal vein stump. Symptoms resolved with systemic anticoagulation. Repeat transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated resolution of the IVC thrombus. Conclusions Thrombus originating in left renal vein stump should be considered in patients who develop PE after LDN, especially when lower extremity DVT is not demonstrated.
Exploiting web search to generate synonyms for entities

Tasks recognizing named entities such as products, people names, or locations from documents have recently received significant attention in the literature. Many solutions to these tasks assume the existence of reference entity tables. An important challenge that needs to be addressed in the entity extraction task is that of ascertaining whether or not a candidate string approximately matches with a named entity in a given reference table.Prior approaches have relied on string-based similarity which only compare a candidate string and an entity it matches with. In this paper, we exploit web search engines in order to define new similarity functions. We then develop efficient techniques to facilitate approximate matching in the context of our proposed similarity functions. In an extensive experimental evaluation, we demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of our techniques.
Family patterns of developmental dyslexia, part II: Behavioral phenotypes

The motor control of bimanual coordination and motor speech was compared between first degree relatives from families with at least 2 dyslexic family members, and families where probands were the only affected family members. Half of affected relatives had motor coordination deficits; and they came from families in which probands also showed impaired motor coordination. By contrast, affected relatives without motor deficits came from dyslexia families where probands did not have motor deficits. Motor coordination deficits were more common and more severe among affected offspring in families where both parents were affected than among affected offspring in families where only one parent was affected. However, motor coordination deficits were also more common and more severe in affected parents when both parents were affected than among affected parents in families where only one parent was affected. We conclude that impaired temporal resolution in motor action identifies a behavioral phenotype in some subtypes of developmental dyslexia. The observed pattern of transmission for motor deficits and reading impairment in about half of dyslexia families was most congruent with a genetic model of dyslexia in which 2 codominant major genes cosegregate in dyslexia pedigrees where the proband is also motorically impaired. 54 refs., 5more » figs., 5 tabs.« less
Orbitofrontal cortex provides cross-modal valuation of self-generated stimuli

Prior research has shown that the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) plays an important role in the representation of the evaluation of stimuli, regardless of stimulus modality. Based on these findings, researchers have proposed that the OFC serves a common currency function, allowing for the direct comparison of different types of perceptual stimuli (e.g. food, drink, money). The present study was designed to extend this research and investigate whether these same regions of OFC that have been identified in previous research are involved in evaluating imagined stimuli. Specifically, we asked participants to draw on prior attitudinal knowledge to generate internal representations of liked and disliked exemplars from different categories during functional magnetic resonance imaging. The results of this study support the idea that imagined stimuli (regardless of stimulus category) are evaluated in the OFC using a common system that has been identified in previous research for externally perceived stimuli.
Metaphors of intent

Current research in cognitive linguistics questions demonstrates that metaphor is pervasive in the understanding and communication of abstractions of all kinds. This has wide-ranging implications for how we describe actual and envisaged information artifacts. Although it is not machinery or mind or mathematics or matter, requirements engineering and design methods must take some metaphorical stance toward their subject matter. This paper investigates two types of fundamental metaphors that recur throughout requirements engineering: (1) reification of abstractions as material substances and containers; (2) spatialization of abstractions as locations, trajectories and spatial relations; and (3) anthropomorphisms, some of which have recently been codified by M. Jackson (2001) as problem frames.
Glaucomas: Pseudoexfoliation Glaucoma

The identity of the material proteins responsible for PXF glaucoma is not known [1]. However, genetic risk factors for the development of PXF material and PXF glaucoma have recently been identified [2]. Single ­nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the lysyl oxidase-like 1 (LOXL1) gene are associated with PXF glaucoma in many patient populations, including Scandinavian, Japanese, Australian, and American cohorts [2–9]. LOXL1 is an enzymatic protein important in extracellular matrix metabolism and turnover. Thus, changes in the extracellular matrix of PXF tissues have been hypothesized to be the pathophysiological mechanism responsible for the development of PXF glaucoma [1, 10].
Energy: Reimagine fuel cells.

Combine energy generation and storage to ensure that networks remain robust as more renewable technologies are adopted, urge John P. Lemmon.
Immigration Enforcement's Discontents: The Creation and Endurance of the American Sanctuary City

Since 1979 more than 45 cities nationwide, as well as a handful of states, have passed policies making their cities or states "sanctuaries" for undocumented immigrants. While these policies do differ from one another in some cases, they all share a commitment to limiting, or expressly forbidding, the participation of local officials in the enforcement of federal immigration law. On the surface this seems merely a jurisdictional or resource issue but this paper argues that sanctuary policy has clear ideological component that has its origins in the Central American refugee crisis of the 1980s. This paper will draw on the writings of William Sewell Jr., Robin Stryker, and Paul Pierson to construct the story of the sanctuary city. I will argue that while the Central American Sanctuary Movement provided the historical event necessary for the spread of sanctuary policies, the passage of the LAPD's Special Order Number 40 actually represented the first step in this process but lacked the ideological component that would drive the spread of sanctuary policies throughout the country. I will further argue that once passed, the surprising resilience of sanctuary is largely due to path dependence. By detailing the factors leading to the creation and spread of sanctuary policy, as well as the reasons for the endurance of these policies, I hope to provide a starting point for further research.
Improved Determination of the Neutral Decay Branching Ratios of the K 1 0 Meson and the Λ 0 Hyperon

Using a 15-in. bubble chamber filled with methyl iodide, propane, and ethane, we have measured the neutral branching ratios of the ${{K}_{1}}^{0}$ meson and the ${\ensuremath{\Lambda}}^{0}$ hyperon. The neutral modes of the decays were observed directly from the materialized $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays. The results are ${B}_{K}\ensuremath{\equiv}\frac{({{K}_{1}}^{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0})}{({{K}_{1}}^{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}})+({{K}_{1}}^{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0})}=0.288\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.021$ and ${B}_{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}\ensuremath{\equiv}\frac{({\ensuremath{\Lambda}}^{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}n+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0})}{({\ensuremath{\Lambda}}^{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}p+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}})+({\ensuremath{\Lambda}}^{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}n+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0})}=0.291\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.034.$The ${B}_{K}$ ratio suggests an admixture of $|\ensuremath{\Delta}I|=\frac{3}{2}$ in the ${{K}_{1}}^{0}$ decay consistent with that implied by the decay ${K}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}$. The relative phase $\ensuremath{\phi}$ between the $|\ensuremath{\Delta}I|=\frac{1}{2} \mathrm{and} \frac{3}{2}$ amplitudes is determined to be $\ensuremath{\phi}={{0}_{\ensuremath{-}0}}^{+54}$ deg.
Rethinking Gorsuch: The Case for NPDES Regulation of Dam Discharge

The reservoir created by damming a river, along with the dam itself, contributes to a host of adverse environmental effects. These environmental harms would not occur in the same quantity or quality but for the existence of the dam-reservoir construct. In many cases, these environmental harms manifest in the form of pollutants that may be discharged by dam operations to the downstream waters. NPDES permits should therefore be required for dam discharge. EPA, however, has refused to regulate dam discharge under NDPES, relying on a 1982 D.C. Circuit opinion, National Wildlife Federation v. Gorsuch. More recent court opinions, scientific studies, and EPA’s own water quality regulations have undermined Gorsuch. The time has come, therefore, to follow the statutory requirements of NPDES by regulating dam discharge accordingly.
A Semianalytical Analysis of Transient Supercritical Assembly Extinction Probabilities

Stochastic point kinetics neglecting delayed neutrons has been subject to rigorous analysis in the years since its introduction. Many approximate solutions appearing within this context are based upon the "quadratic approximation, " where fission multiplicity is truncated at two. In this technical note we review the quadratic approximation within the context of a stochastic, space-independent, one-energy-group model neglecting delayed neutrons and its generalization to higher-order approximations in transient and stationary systems. This generalization results in the probability of a zero neutron population for a source-free system being governed by transcendental and polynomial algebraic equations in the transient and infinite time limit cases, respectively. For 239 Pu, we solve the transcendental equation over a wider range of prompt multiplication factors and times than has been previously accomplished. We also reproduce and generalize associated solutions of the polynomial algebraic equation. In both cases, solutions are computed for successive generalizations of the quadratic approximation to higher-order maximum fission multiplicity.