cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On-Line Time-Series Damage State Estimation Using Correlation Analysis and Ultrasonic Broadband Active Sensing

This paper proposes an approach to estimate the fatigue-induced damage state of a metallic structure under biaxial cyclic load. An ultrasonic based technique for broadband active sensing is used. A novel damage index estimation technique based on dual sensor signals is developed that removes the contribution from high frequency input dependant noise. The scalar damage index at any particular damage condition is evaluated using a nonparametric system identification approach such as correlation analysis. The time series estimation of the damage indices (or damage states) shows good correlation with visual measurements of crack length. The time series 2σ error bound was also evaluated to study the effect of measurement noise on damage state estimation.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
When gene medication is also genetic modification – Regulating DNA treatment

The molecular methods used in DNA vaccination and gene therapy resemble in many ways the methods applied in genetic modification of organisms. In some regulatory regimes, this creates an overlap between 'gene medication' and genetic modification. In Norway, an animal injected with plasmid DNA, in the form of DNA vaccine or gene therapy, currently is viewed as being genetically modified for as long as the added DNA is present in the animal. However, regulating a DNA-vaccinated animal as genetically modified creates both regulatory and practical challenges. It is also counter-intuitive to many biologists. Since immune responses can be elicited also to alter traits, the borderline between vaccination and the modification of properties is no longer distinct. In this paper, we discuss the background for the Norwegian interpretation and ways in which the regulatory challenge can be handled.
WE-C-224A-03: NCI Perspective On Clinical Trials for Emerging RT

The National Cancer Institute funds numerous clinical trials that employ radiation therapy either as the primary question in the trial or as standard of care adjuvant therapy that is only secondary to the primary agent. In any case it has been shown that the validity of the trial is strongly dependant upon the quality and reproducibility of the radiation administered. In all cases it is of paramount concern that the risks of the treatments be as quantified as possible so that the study design is valid and there can be a true informed consent. Toward those ends the NCI also funds efforts to ensure the correctness of the physical dosimetry (ie. Radiological Physics Center) and the comparability of advanced technical methods (ie. The Advanced Technology Consortium). This presentation will explain these cooperative agreements and highlight some of their accomplishments that impact upon the risks of using advanced radiotherapy methods in clinical trials.
Iliac artery injuries and pelvic fractures: a national trauma database analysis of associated injuries and outcomes.

BACKGROUND:: Although infrequent, injury to the common or external iliac artery in association with pelvic fractures can be devastating, and descriptive data are lacking. This study was performed to determine the incidence, injury patterns, and outcomes of blunt iliac artery injuries (BIAIs) in association with moderate or severe pelvic fractures. METHODS:: Patients with moderate or severe pelvic fractures (abbreviated injury score of 3 or 4) were identified from the National Trauma Databank. Records with and without common or external BIAI were compared. Admission variables included Emergency Department (ED) hypotension (systolic blood pressure /=25, femur or lumbosacral fractures, solid organ injury, vascular injury, and hollow viscus injury. The association of BIAI with moderate or severe pelvic fractures was studied. Outcomes were also analyzed, and independent associations with BIAI were determined by logistic regression. RESULTS:: Of 6,377 patients with moderate or severe pelvic fractures, 221 (3.5%) had an associated BIAI. Patients with BIAI were more likely to have ED hypotension, Glasgow Coma Score /=25, genitourinary injury, bowel injury, and severe (abbreviated injury score 4) pelvic fractures. BIAI was also associated with higher mortality, lower extremity amputation, compartment syndrome, and overall complications. Independent risk factors for BIAI included severe pelvic fracture, ED hypotension, ISS >/=25, genitourinary injury, and bowel injury. CONCLUSION:: BIAI is a rare diagnosis, but when present it is associated with a higher rate of overall complications and mortality. Vigilance is warranted in the diagnosis and management of this infrequent injury, especially in the setting of severe pelvic fractures. Language: en
Rapamycin inhibits clonal expansion and adipogenic differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells

Differentiating 3T3-L1 cells express an immunophilin early during the adipocyte conversion program as described in this issue [Yeh, W.-C., Li, T.-K., Bierer, B. E. & McKnight, S. L. (1995) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 92, 11081-11085]. The temporal expression profile of this protein, designated FK506-binding protein (FKBP) 51, is concordant with the clonal-expansion period undertaken by 3T3-L1 cells after exposure to adipogenic hormones. Having observed FKBP51 synthesis early during adipogenesis, we tested the effects of three immunosuppressive drugs--cyclosporin A, FK506, and rapamycin--on the terminal-differentiation process. Adipocyte conversion was not affected by either cyclosporin A or FK506 and yet was significantly reduced by rapamycin at drug concentrations as low as 10 nM. Clonal expansion was impeded in drug-treated cultures, as was the accumulation of cytoplasmic lipid droplets normally seen late during differentiation. Rapamycin treatment likewise inhibited the expression of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha, a transcription factor required for 3T3-L1 cell differentiation. All three of these effects were reversed by high FK506 concentrations, indicating that the operative inhibitory event was mediated by an immunophilin-rapamycin complex.
An off-axis, single-pass, radial-group-delay compensator design using an Offner triplet for a broadband OPCPA laser

An off-axis, single-pass, radial-group-delay compensator was designed using an Offner triplet and two negative lenses for a broadband (810∼1010-nm) optical parametric amplifier laser. It reduces radial group delay from 270 fs to 0.7 fs.
YKT6 is a Core Constituent of Membrane Fusion Machineries at the Arabidopsis trans-Golgi Network

SNARE complex formation is essential for membrane fusion in exocytotic and vacuolar trafficking pathways. Vesicle-associated (v-) SNARE associates with a target membrane (t-) SNARE to form a SNARE complex bridging two membranes, which may facilitate membrane fusion. The Arabidopsis genome encodes a large number of predicted SNARE proteins that might function primarily as fusogens for vesicle transport in endomembrane systems. The SNAREs SYP41, SYP61 and VTI12 reside in the trans-Golgi network and have been proposed to function together in vesicle fusion with this organelle. Here, we use a liposome fusion assay to demonstrate that VTI12 and either SYP41 or SYP61, but not both, are required for membrane fusion. This indicates that SYP41 and SYP61 are likely to function in independent vesicle fusion reactions in Arabidopsis. In addition, we have identified two new functionally interchangeable components, YKT61 and YKT62, that show sequence similarity to the multifunctional yeast SNARE YKT6. Both YKT61 and YKT62 interact with SYP41 and are essential for membrane fusion mediated by either SYP41 or SYP61. These results therefore define the core constituents required for membrane fusion at the Arabidopsis trans-Golgi network.
Hemodynamic, renal, and hormonal responses to lower body positive pressure in human subjects

Studies in healthy human subjects subjected to lower body positive pressure (LBPP) have failed to elucidate many of the physiologic effects of this maneuver. In 7 healthy, well-hydrated men we studied the following responses to LBPP (35 mm Hg, 1 hour, supine position): systemic and renal hemodynamics; urine volume (UV), urine osmolality (Uosm), and urine sodium level (UNaV); free water (CH20) and osmolar (Cosm) clearances; plasma renin activity (PRA); levels of aldosterone (PA), cortisol (CORT), norepinephrine (NE), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), and vasopressin (AVP); osmolality (Posm); and serum sodium level. Subjects were restudied on a control day with zero trouser pressure. The recorded changes (p < 0.05) when comparing the LBPP day with the control day were as follows: fractional Na+ reabsorption increased (98.7% ± 0.2% to 99.3% ± 0.1%) and UNaV decreased (0.19 ± 0.03 mEq/min to 0.10 ± 0.01 mEq/min), with concomitant increases in PRA (1.7 ± 0.2 ng/ml/90 min to 4.5 ± 1.8 ng/ml/90 min), PA (7.7 ± 0.7 ng/dl to 9.3 ± 1.5 ng/dl), and CORT (13.0 ± 2.6 mg/dl to 19.2 ± 3 mg/dl); the increase in blood pressure with LBPP (96 ± 3 mm Hg to 112 ± 4 mm Hg) was greater than that during control conditions. Renal plasma flow tended to display an interactive pattern across days, with a slight decline during LBPP (5%) and a slight elevation under control conditions (9%). On the LBPP day only, filtered Na+ declined (15 ± I mEq/min to 12 ± 1 mEq/min) as a function of reduced glomerular filtration rate (112 ± 5 ml/min to 91 ± 7 ml/min), blood volume decreased (by 2.7% ± 0.7%), CO decreased (5.5 ± 0.3 L/min to 4.7 ± 0.3 L/min), and stroke volume declined (101 ± 6 ml to 84 ± 3 ml). On both days, NE increased (control, 221 ± 23 pg/ml to 340 ± 33 pg/ml; LBPP, 236 ± 17 pg/ml to 369 ± 31 pg/ml) and ANP increased (control, 47 ± 7 pg/ml to 97 ± 21 pg/ml; LBPP, 49 ± 10 pg/ml to 104 ± 30 pg/ml). We concluded that LBPP reduces renal sodium excretion. The mechanism for this reduction is not known, although it did occur in association with an increase in plasma renin activity, which in turn results from mechanical reduction of renal perfusion, stress-related CORT stimulation, a reflex-based elevation in peripheral vascular resistance leading to a reflex increase in plasma renin activity, or a combination of these.
Resident and attending physician perception of maladaptive response to stress in residents

Background : Residency stress has been shown to interfere with resident well-being and patient safety. We developed a survey research study designed to explore factors that may affect perception of a maladaptive response to stress. Methods : A 16-item survey with 12 Likert-type perception items was designed to determine how often respondents agreed or disagreed with statements regarding the resident on the trigger tape. A total of 438 respondents from multiple institutions completed surveys. Results : Attending physicians were more likely than residents to agree that the resident on the trigger tape was impaired, p <0.0001; needed to seek professional counseling, p =0.0003; should be removed from the service, p =0.002; was not receiving adequate support from the attending physician, p =0.007; and was a risk to patient safety, p =0.02. Attending physicians were also less likely to agree that the resident was a good role model, p =0.001, and that the resident should be able to resolve these issues herself/himself, p <0.0001. Conclusion : Our data suggest that resident physicians may not be able to adequately detect maladaptive responses to stress and that attending physicians may be more adept at recognizing this problem. More innovative faculty and resident development workshops should be created to teach and encourage physicians to better observe and detect residents who are displaying maladaptive responses to stress. Keywords: stress; stress management; residents; graduate medical education (Published: 17 November 2014) Citation: Med Educ Online 2014, 19 : 25041 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/meo.v19.25041
the expectancy effect in anthropological research: an experimental study of riddle collection

This study investigates the impact of anthropologists' expectations on the results of empirical field studies. Interviewers were provided with one of three different expectation sets concerning the number of riddles they could expect to collect from a sample of college students. Interviewers then collected riddles from these students, and it was discovered that the more riddles an interviewer expected to collect, the more he or she did collect. Sex of the interviewer and the interviewer's previous experience also influenced the number of riddles collected, as did the size of the room in which the interviewing occurred.
The system thorium-germanium

Abstract An investigation of the thorium-germanium system has established the formation of the phases Th3Ge, Th3Ge2, ThGe, ThGe1.5, ThGe1.6, ThGe2 and Th0.9Ge2. Crystal structure data for all the phases except Th3Ge are given. A tentative phase diagram has been constructed on the basis of metallographic and X-ray analyses and from melting point determinations. The phase equilibrium and structure results are discussed and compared with corresponding results for the thorium-silicon and uranium-silicon systems.
Predictive value of histologic tumor necrosis after radiation

Postsurgical evaluation of histologic changes of tumors after preoperative chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy has been a routine clinical practice of pathologists and oncologists. There appears to be secure evidence that the extent of tumor necrosis vs. viable tumor cells postchemotherapy is a clinically useful predictor of outcome. The significance of histologic tumor necrosis after radiotherapy, however, has not been clearly established and deserves further investigation. We investigated the correlation between histological extent of tumor necrosis, survival of tumor transplants, and radiation doses in an experimental model using three human tumor xenografts. Three human tumor cell lines were investigated: STS-26, SCC-21, and HGL-21. Tumors were grown subcutaneously in athymic nude mice and received external beam radiation of different doses. Tumors were excised 2 weeks postirradiation. One-half of the tumor was divided into 1-mm(3) fragments and transplanted to naive mice. The other half was examined for histologic tumor necrosis. Transplant survival was strongly correlated with radiation dose, TCD(p) (radiation dose that results in local tumor control in proportion, p, to irradiated tumors). In contrast, there was no clear association between transplant survival rate and the extent of tumor necrosis. The experimental model demonstrated a strong inverse correlation between radiation doses and tumor transplant survival. Histologic tumor necrosis did not correlate well with radiation doses or transplant survival rates. Despite common practices in histologic examination of tumors posttherapy, clinical interpretations and implications of histologic tumor necrosis after radiotherapy should be considered with caution.
Magnetic luminescent nanoparticles as internal calibration for an immunoassay for ricin

Fluorescence techniques rely on measurement of relative fluorescence units and require calibration to obtain reliable and comparable quantitative data. Fluorescent immunoassays are a very sensitive and convenient method of choice for rapid detection of biotoxins, such as ricin. Here we present the application of magnetic luminescent nanoparticles (MLNPs) with a magnetic core of Fe3O4 and a fluorescent shell of Eu:Gd2O3 as carriers for a nanobead-immunoassay for the detection of ricin with internal calibration. A sandwich immunoassay for ricin was performed on the surface of the MLNPs. The particles were functionalized with capture polyclonal antibodies. Anti-ricin antibodies labeled with Alexa Fluor dye were used as the detecting antibodies. After magnetic extraction, the amount of ricin bound to the particle surface was quantified and related to the fluorescence signal of the nanoparticles. In this new platform, the MLNPs have three main functions: (1) a probe for the specific extraction of the target analyte from the sample; (2) a carrier in the quantitative immunoassay with magnetic separation; and (3) an internal standard in the fluorescence measurement of the dye reporter. The MLNPs serve as an internal control for the total analysis including extraction and assay performance. This approach eliminates the experimental error inherent in particle extraction and measurement of absolute organic dye fluorescence intensities. All fluorescent measurements were performed in a microplate reader. The standard curve for ricin had a dynamic range from 20 ng/ml to 100 μg/ml with a detection limit of 5 ng/ml. The configuration that has been developed can be easily adapted to a high throughput miniaturized system.© (2008) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Dietary Factors and Hyperuricaemia

The connection of gout and hyperuricaemia with gluttony, overindulgence in food and alcohol and obesity dates from ancient times. Studies from different parts of the world suggest that the incidence and severity of hyperuricaemia and gout may be increasing. Uric acid (urate) is the end product of purine degradation. Although most uric acid is derived from the metabolism of endogenous purine, eating foods rich in purines contributes to the total pool of uric acid. Sustained hyperuricaemia is a risk factor for acute gouty arthritis, chronic tophaceous gout, renal stones and possibly cardiovascular events and mortality. Before starting lifelong urate-lowering drug therapy, it is important to identify and treat underlying disorders that may be contributing to hyperuricaemia. It is relevant to recognize the strong association of the insulin resistance syndrome (IRS) (abdominal obesity, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, raised serum insulin levels and glucose intolerance) with hyperuricaemia. Consumption of meat, seafood and alcoholic beverages in moderation and attention to food portion size is important. Moderation in the consumption of not only beer but also other forms of alcohol is essential. In the obese, controlled weight management has the potential to lower serum urate in a quantitatively similar way to relatively unpalatable "low purine" diets. Non-fat milk and low-fat yogurt have a variety of health benefits and dairy products may have clinically meaningful antihyperuricaemic effects. In addition, fruits, such as cherries and high intakes of vegetable protein diet may reduce serum urate levels.
The facile reaction of B-alkyl-9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonanes with benzaldehyde

Abstract Certain B -alkyl-9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonanes, in contrast to the corresponding trialkylboranes, reduce benzaldehyde to benzyl alcohol under exceptionally mild conditions. Concurrently, the B -alkyl group is transformed into an olefin. A cyclic process is proposed for this reaction.
Evaluation and early medical experience with an ultrasound mini-PACS system at the VA Medical Center, West Los Angeles

The first development phase of a multi-modality Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS) has been completed at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center West Los Angeles. This initial phase involved the development of an ultrasound mini-PACS system using a commercially available PACS product line (IMPAXTM) from AGFA Division of Miles Inc. The PACS provides acquisition, archival, display, and network printing capabilities.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Effects of Grain Size and Microcracking on the Thermal Diffusivity of MgTi2O5

The laser flash technique was used to study the effect of grain size on the thermal diffusivity of polycrystalline MgTi2O5 from 25° to 800°C. Microcracking decreased the thermal diffusivity by as much as a factor of two with the decrease increasing with increasing grain size. When specimens were heated then cooled, the thermal diffusivity exhibited a horizontal flat figure-eight hysteresis. This hysteresis, which appeared to be a function of the thermal history, was attributed to a balance between crack healing, or closure, at high temperatures and the growth of existing cracks or the formation of new cracks during cooling.
Computational tomographic reconstruction for limited Ill-posed interferometric data

Abstract The test results of continuous local basis functions, that is, the polynomial, cubic B-spline, and convoluted Hanning functions, are presented for tomographic reconstruction of continuous phase objects from multidirectional projection interfrograms with limited data points. The concept of the approach is based on the use of identical but regularly displaced and overlapping continuous functions that have support only in a local region. They thus produce higher-order approximating power. Their performances are fairly similar; however, the convoluted Hanning function appears to be an excellent candidate. For the conducted tests, in general, the function outperforms the conventional methods including the grid method and convolution back-projection, especially as the noise level or degree of data limitation increases.
Contribution of sex-differentiated experiences to spatial and mechanical reasoning abilities.

For 137 women and 115 men first-year college students tested spatial visualization and mechanical reasoning were most strongly correlated with four everyday spatial abilities—understanding mathematics/science and graphs/charts, drafting and drawing things, and arranging objects. Despite greater practice on only 2 of 10 activities, men uniformly judged they had significantly better spatial ability compared to their same-gender peers than did the women.
SIMPLIFIED GAS CHROMATOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF PESTICIDES FROM BLOOD.

A rapid method for the extraction and identification of 23 pesticides present in blood is described. The pesticides are extracted from blood with a mixture of acetone and ethyl ether in equal volumes. The extracts are evaporated to dryness, the residue dissolved in a known quantity of hexane and an aliquot injected directly into the gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector. No purification of the acetone-ether extract is required. A glass column packed with 5% SE 52 on hexamethyldisilizane-treated chromosorb W 60/80 is used at a temperature of 190°. The method was successfully applied to blood from laboratory animals to which acute doses of six of the most common pesticides were given orally. The quantity of pesticides found is reported.
Direct and indirect treatment of living tissue: Dielectric barrier discharges VS. plasma jets

Summary form only given. Two approaches are being used in non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma treatment of human tissue and sterilization surfaces. In the first, the plasma is produced remotely and its afterglow is delivered in a plume to the tissue. When plasma jets are used, the sterilizing or therapeutic effects are likely produced by relatively long-lived neutral species and radicals as most of the charged particles do not survive outside the plasma generation region. These jets are usually operated with a few percent of molecular gases such as O2. in helium to avoid plasma instabilities. The resulting reactive oxygen species (ROS) are delivered to the tissue where some amount of energy transfer from metastable states may occur in addition to chemical processes. The jets interacting with air may also generate fluxes of reactive nitrogen species (RNS). In the second approach, plasmas are generated in direct contact with living tissue or bacteria. When dielectric barrier discharges (DBDs) are used for this purpose, the plasma source typically contains the powered electrode while the tis sue is the counter electrode.[1] The direct method differs from the indirect technique by delivery of ions and photons to the surface with fluxes orders of magnitude larger. The charging of the tissue (or bacteria) can produce electric fields large enough for electroporation. In this talk, we will discuss results from a computational comparison of the treatment of liquid covered wounds by di electric barrier discharges and plasma-jets. The interaction of single and multiple filaments in DBDs with the wounds as well as different regimes of plasma-jet operations will be con sidered. The production and diffusion of ROS into the blood serum, to blood platelets and to the underlying cells will be discussed. The studies will be performed using a computer model which solves for charged particle, neutral and photon fluxes while solving Poisson's equation, and resolving spatial scales on reactor-to-cellular levels.
The association between endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular outcomes in a population-based multi-ethnic cohort.

Abstract Background Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) may predict cardiovascular events in selected high-risk patients. Whether FMD testing predicts cardiovascular events in asymptomatic, lower risk individuals from the general population is unknown. Methods and results As a part of a multi-ethnic, prospective cohort study, the Northern Manhattan Study, we examined FMD by high-resolution ultrasonography in 842 community participants who were free of stroke or myocardial infarction. Lower FMD levels predicted cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction, stroke and vascular death) at 36 months of follow-up (hazard ratio (HR)=1.12 for every 1% decrease in FMD, 95% CI 1.01–1.25, p =0.03). The risk of events in patients with FMD in the lower two tertiles (FMD p =0.04 for lowest versus highest tertile, and HR=3.05, 95% CI 1.03–9.66, p =0.04 for middle versus highest tertile). In a multivariate analysis including cardiovascular risk factors, the increase in risk associated with FMD was no longer statistically significant. Conclusions Non-invasive FMD testing predicts incident cardiovascular events in this multi-ethnic, population-based sample, but its predictive value is not independent of cardiovascular risk factors.
The feeling of looking

Sensory cortex area 3a contains a map of the body. A new paper reports the location of eye position signals in this map, which should allow researchers to test the functions of eye position signals and visual gain fields in more detail.
Review article: the management of achalasia - a comparison of different treatment modalities.

SUMMARY Background Achalasia is an uncommon primary oesophageal motor disorder with an unknown aetiology. Therapeutic options for achalasia are aimed at decreasing the lower oesophageal sphincter pressure, improving the oesophageal empting, and most importantly, relieving the symptoms of achalasia. Modalities for treatment include pharmacologic, endoscopic, pneumatic dilatation and surgical. The decision of which modality to use involves the consideration of multiple clinical and economic factors. Aim To review the management strategies currently available for achalasia. Methods A Medline search identified the original articles and reviews the published in the English language literature between 1966 and 2006. Results The results reveal that pharmacotherapy, injection of botulinum toxin, pneumatic dilatation and minimally invasive surgical oesophagomyotomy are variably effective at controlling the symptoms of achalasia but that each modality has specific strengths and weaknesses which make them each suitable in certain populations. Overall, pharmacologic therapy results in the shortest lived, least durable response followed by botulinum toxin injection, pneumatic dilatation and surgery, respectively.
Synthesis and NMR Studies of Activated Derivatives of cis- and trans-5-Amino-6-oxopiperidine-2-carboxylic Acid and the Corresponding Bicyclic Dilactam 2,5-DBO: Potential Building Blocks for Stereoregular Polyamides and Peptides

Presented here are the syntheses of bicyclodilactams as precursors of polymeric lactams. A new preparation for the 2,5-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octa-3,6-dione was developed. The four possible dimers were...
CONDYLECTOMY IN THE RAT.

Abstract To assess the contribution of the condyle to the growth of the mandible, forty-two Holtzman albino rats weighing between 40–50 g, were bilaterally condylectomized and at maturity compared anatomically and radiographicalry with 10 shamoperated and 27 control animals. From standardized lateral radiographs, the incisor overjet and molar overjet were determined. Comparisons were also made of the anteroposterior length of the mandibles, utilizing as landmarks infradentale and the most posterior point of the distal angular process. Findings showed that the mandibles of the condylectomized group were 2 mm shorter than those of controls. However, the relation of the mandibular to maxillary dentition as seen radiographically was unaffected. Histologically, a scar tissue type response was noted in the condylectomized area.
Exact and adaptive prediction intervals for order statistics

We construct exact prediction intervals for future order statistics based on a random sample from a given family of distributions with unknown location and scale parameters. In the one sample problem, only a specified number of the first order statistics are available. In the two sample problem, predicitons are made for a second independent sample. We also propose an adaptive two stage procedure when the distribution is unknown. First the data are used to select a distribution and then a prediction interval for that distribution is constructed. We show that the adaptive procedure provides protection against model misspecification
Protection against apoptosis in chicken bursa cells by phorbol ester in vitro.

Abstract Like the thymus, the bursa of Fabricius is a site of massive lymphopoiesis accompanied by cell death in vivo. In the present study we have, therefore, examined whether chicken bursa and thymus cells exhibit apoptosis. Bursa and thymus cells from SC chickens, 4-10 weeks of age, were incubated for 8-24 hr with various reagents. Genomic DNA was isolated, electrophoresed in 3% Nusieve agarose gels, and examined for patterns of DNA fragmentation. A laddering of DNA in multiples of 200 base pairs, indicative of apoptosis, was observed particularly with bursa and, to a much smallest extent, with thymus or spleen cells. These patterns of DNA fragmentation from bursa cells could be prevented by adding phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) but not by its inactive analog 4α-PMA during culture. Ionomycin is not required for this effect and, alone, appears to be slightly toxic for bursa cells, although it does not inhibit the effect of PMA. PMA did not affect the degree of DNA fragmentation in spleen or thymus cells. The addition of the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor staurosporine abolished both the preventive effect of PMA on apoptosis and its protective effect on bursa cells, as assayed by [3H]thymidine incorporation 24-48 hr after the initiation of cultures. PKC inhibitors also prevented the proliferation-inducing effect of PMA + ionomycin on spleen cells. It is concluded that the activation of protein kinase C and perhaps other kinases protects against apoptosis in cultured bursa cells.
General equilibrium and social choice in economies with increasing returns

For any intransitive community preference, we construct a non-convex economy where all the marginal cost pricing general equilibria are Pareto inefficient (theorem 3.2). The result is valid without requiring a fixed income distribution rule (corollary 3.3). Intransitive community preferences are a frequent occurrence (theorem 3.1): necessary and sufficient conditions for transitivity of the community preference fail in a set which is open and dense in the space of individual preferences with a standard topology.
Structure and properties of a new family of ceramic phosphides: AgZnLaP2, AgZnSmP2, and CuZnSmP2

Abstract Three new quaternary phosphides, AgZnLaP2, AgZnSmP2, and CuZnSmP2, were synthesized by direct reaction of the elements. Recrystallization by isothermal chemical vapor transport, using iodine as the transporting agent, yielded single crystals. The structure of AgZnSmP2 was refined from single crystal X-ray data in the space group P 3 m1 to an R value of 2.11%. The lattice parameters are a = 4.1247(4)A and c = 6.6920(6), A. The other two compounds were found to be isostructural, with lattice parameters a = 4.194(2), A and c = 6.817(2), A for AgZnLaP2 and a = 4.016(2), A and c = 6.592(2), A for CuZnSmP2. These new materials sinter at temperatures near 800°C, have melting points above 1100°C, and do not react with water at room temperature. Diffuse reflectance spectra and the temperature dependence of the resistivity indicate that these materials are heavily doped semiconductors.
Microscopic Polyangiitis With Ocular Involvement

Microscopic polyangiitis is an exclusively small-vessel (arterioles, capillaries, or venules) vasculitis that primarily involves the kidney and often involves the lungs, skin, or nervous system. Characteristic features include focal segmental glomerulonephritis, nongranulomatous necrotizing vasculitis, and serum positive for perinuclear-staining antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (P-ANCA). We report a case of microscopic polyangiitis with previously unreported eyelid and conjunctival manifestations that responded well to immunosuppressive therapy.
Microwave imaging of breast tumors with contrast agents: Theoretical study of dielectric contrast enhancement requirements

We propose a microwave breast tumor imaging technique that exploits changes in tumor dielectric properties resulting from the use of a contrast agent. A linear system, whose solution is the agent-induced change in dielectric properties, is established based on a microwave inverse scattering formulation. The linear system is solved using a sparsity regularizer. We identify the minimum required increase in tumor dielectric properties introduced by a contrast agent such that a 1-cm-diameter tumor can be accurately localized in 3D realistic numerical breast phantoms across all breast density classes. The results may be used to guide future contrast agent development.
Highlights from the STAR experiment at RHIC

Ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions produced at RHIC differ significantly from a superposition of proton-proton collisions. Evidence of collective expansion has been gathered. The yield of high transverse momentum particles has been found to be lower in head-on Au−Au collisions than is expected by scaling p-p collisions. Di-jet processes, which are frequent in p-p collisions, are almost absent in head-on Au−Au collisions. The current results from RHIC indicate that Au−Au collisions at \(\sqrt {S_{NN} } = 130\) GeV and \(\sqrt {S_{NN} } = 200\) GeV yield an expanding system that is opaque to high momentum partons.
Substrate and cofactor specificity and selective inhibition of lactate dehydrogenase from the malarial parasite P. falciparum

Lactate dehydrogenase from the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum has many amino acid residues that are unique compared to any other known lactate dehydrogenase. This includes residues that define the substrate and cofactor binding sites. Nevertheless, parasite lactate dehydrogenase exhibits high specificity for pyruvic acid, even more restricted than the specificity of human lactate dehydrogenases M4 and H4. Parasite lactate dehydrogenase exhibits high catalytic efficiency in the reduction of pyruvate, kcat/Km = 9.0 x 10(8) min(-1) M(-1). Parasite lactate dehydrogenase also exhibits similar cofactor specificity to the human isoforms in the oxidation of L-lactate with NAD+ and with a series of NAD+ analogs, suggesting a similar cofactor binding environment in spite of the numerous amino acid differences. Parasite lactate dehydrogenase exhibits an enhanced kcat with the analog 3-acetylpyridine adenine dinucleotide (APAD+) whereas the human isoforms exhibit a lower kcat. This differential response to APAD+ provides the kinetic basis for the enzyme-based detection of malarial parasites. A series of inhibitors structurally related to the natural product gossypol were shown to be competitive inhibitors of the binding of NADH. Slight changes in structure produced marked changes in selectivity of inhibition of lactate dehydrogenase. 7-p-Trifluoromethylbenzyl-8-deoxyhemigossylic acid inhibited parasite lactate dehydrogenase, Ki = 0.2 microM, which was 65- and 400-fold tighter binding compared to the M4 and H4 isoforms of human lactate dehydrogenase. The results suggest that the cofactor site of parasite lactate dehydrogenase may be a potential target for structure-based drug design.
High-performance liquid chromatography of selected organic peroxides with oxidative amperometric detection

Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with oxidative amperometric detection was optimized for the determination of several organic peroxides in drinking water under ideal conditions. The determinations were performed under isocratic conditions using acetonitrile and methanol as the organic modifiers with 0.05 M potassium phosphate buffer solution. The oxidative amperometric response of the organic peroxides was dependent on the concentration of organic modifier and the electrode potential. The optimum electrode potential (EOxAPP), for the simultaneous determination of the organic peroxides was approximately +1.150 ± 0.05 V versus the Ag/AgCl reference electrode. The maximum analytical signal for butan-2-one peroxide and tert-butyl hydroperoxide, when using acetonitrile, was obtained with 20% v/v organic modifier. For cumene hydroperoxide, the maximum analytical signal was achieved with approximately 35% v/v acetonitrile. The retention time of cumene hydroperoxide, on an octyldecylsilane column (250 × 4 mm id), decreased sharply from >100 to <10 min when the organic modifier concentration was varied from 5 to 50% v/v. The retention time of butan-2-one and tert-butyl hydroperoxide, under the same conditions, varied by <10 min. The calibration curves for the aliphatic peroxides and aromatic peroxide were linear from 2 to 200 ng and from 0.2 to 200 ng injected, respectively.
Relative roles of heat transport and interface rearrangement rates in the rapid growth of crystals in undercooled melts

Perhaps, the highest measured crystal growth velocities (50 m/s) are those of Ni dendrites growing into pure undercooled melts as reported by Walker and Colligan and Bayles. Recent theoretical (Langer and Muller-Krumbhaar) and experimental (Glicksman et al.) advances in our understanding of dendritic growth allow accurate calculation of the heat transport limited rate of dendritic growth. We use previous results on the effect of interface kinetics on the morphological stability of a sphere to calculate the effect of interface kinetics on dendritic growth. An interface kinetic coefficient based on the estimated velocity of sound in molten nickel provides a good fit to the dendritic growth data at high velocities.
Surface Crack Initiation Under Contact Fatigue: Experimental Observation and Contact Analysis

An experimental study of surface crack initiation was performed by means of a transverse furrow manufactured by the electric discharge machining (EDM) method. Since there is no built-up edge andplastic zone associated with an EDM furrow, the associated stress analysis is relatively simple and provides a reliable means of comparison with experiment. The test results showed that the crack initiation life was not sensitive to the size of the furrow. This phenomenon was explained by means of a micro-elastohydrodynamic lubrication (MEHL) analysis. The calculated results indicated that the pressure peak, P max , near the furrow was not sensitive to the depth and width of the furrow, and P max could be estimated from the Hertzian contact pressure P 0
Wide distribution of an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of cyclic ADP-ribose.

Abstract Cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) is a metabolite of NAD + that is as effective as inositol trisphosphate in mobilizing intracellular Ca 2+ stores. Its synthesizing enzyme, ADP-ribosyl cyclase, has been shown to be present in mammalian and invertebrate tissues. In this study we identify another widely-distributed enzyme that can hydrolyze cADPR to ADP-ribose. Incubation of cADPR with brain extracts resulted in progressive decrease in its Ca 2+ mobilizing activity. The degradation of cADPR was catalyzed by a heat-labile protein factor in the brain extracts. Analysis by HPLC indicated a single degradation product was produced in equal molar quantity and that it has identical elution time as ADP-ribose. Proton NMR confirmed that the product was ADP-ribose. The degradation enzyme had a Michaelis constant of 0.16 mM and a broad pH maximum around neutrality. Centrifugation studies of the total brain extracts showed that the degradation activity was membrane-bound. Survey of tissues from various animals established that both the degradation and the synthesizing enzyme of cADPR were widely distributed from mammals to invertebrates. Since the degradation enzyme hydrolyzes an unique linkage between the adenine group and the terminal ribosyl moiety of cADPR, we propose to call it cyclic ADP-ribose hydrolase.
Development and initial deployments of an autonomous in situ instrument for long‐term monitoring of copper (II) in the marine environment

We developed an autonomous, in situ instrument to detect dissolved copper in seawater, suitable for deployment on time scales from weeks to a month. A commercially available in situ nitrate analyzer (YSI 9600) was adapted to measure copper (II) by chemiluminescence. Modifications included construction of a photomultiplier (PMT)–based detector and flow-cell, the use of more chemically resistant plastics for parts in contact with the reagents, addition of an online acidification step, and optimization of the method and flow parameters. Microsolenoid pumps take in sample and dispense reagent, standard, and blank solutions, which are stored in 1 L plastic bags. Filtration (0.45 im) and acidification (pH ~1.7) permit a measurement of total dissolved Cu(II). Calibration is achieved by periodically analyzing ligand-stabilized seawater standard and blank solutions stored at pH 8 and acidified online. Averaged over all in situ deployments, the instrument had a detection limit of 0.8 ± 0.3 nM, a sample precision of 11% (n = 612), and an accuracy of 17% (compared to discrete samples n = 27). The instrument is capable of functioning autonomously for 25 d when sampling every hour and calibrating every 6 h. Reagent consumption is the limiting factor.
Molecular assessment of lymph nodes in patients with resected stage I non–small cell lung cancer: Preliminary results of a prospective study

Abstract Objectives: Routine histologic examination of resected lymph nodes in patients with stage I non–small cell lung cancer may underestimate the incidence of advanced disease. The presence of occult lymph node metastases may predict a higher risk of recurrence after intended curative resection. The purpose of this study was to determine the prognostic significance of TP53 and K- ras mutations in histologically determined negative lymph nodes from patients with stage I non–small cell lung cancer who underwent intended curative surgical resection. Methods: Between July 1995 and March 1998, clinical data and tissue samples of primary tumors and lymph nodes were collected in a prospective fashion from 102 patients undergoing resection for non–small cell lung cancer (stage I, n=55; stage II, n=32; stage IIIA, n=15). TP53 and K- ras mutations were detected by direct sequencing. If molecular alterations were found in the primary tumor, the corresponding lymph nodes were examined for these same TP53 (by oligonucleotide hybridization) and K- ras (by allele-specific ligation) mutations. Results: TP53 mutations were found in 47 of 94 primary tumors (50%), and K- ras mutations were present in 26 of 55 adenocarcinomas (47%). A total of 134 lymph nodes from 32 patients with stage I disease were analyzed. In 9 cases (28%) the same TP53 or K- ras mutations were found in tumor and lymph node specimens, suggesting occult metastasis. On the basis of nodal location, 7 patients had their disease upstaged by a single stage and 2 patients by two stages. All 28 patients with stage II or III disease had pathologically determined positive nodes that were confirmed as positive by molecular analysis. Standard histopathologic assessment of regional lymph nodes failed to detect metastases at levels below 0.9% tumor-specific mutant TP53 clones per node. No statistically significant difference in disease-specific or overall survival was observed between patients with stage I disease with and without molecular lymph node metastases. Conclusions: Occult lymph node metastases are present in a significant percentage of patients with stage I non–small cell lung cancer. These data suggest that molecular analysis allows a more accurate assessment of staging. However, larger studies are needed to determine the clinical role of molecular staging. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2002;123:466-74
X-ray beam filtration, dosimetry phantom size and CT patient dose conversion factors

We examine how the choice of CT x-ray beam filtration and phantom size influences patient dose (D) to computed tomography dose index (CTDI) conversion factors (i.e. D/CTDI). The ratio of head to body phantom CTDI(w) for a defined scan technique is alpha, and the ratio of organ dose when the body filter is changed to the head filter is beta. CTDI and organ doses were obtained using the ImPACT CT patient dosimetry calculator, and values of alpha and beta were determined for 39 CT scanners. The average value of alpha for the 39 CT scanners covering a 20 year period was 1.99 +/- 0.23, but 30% of scanners had alpha values that differed by more than 10% from the average. For GE, the value of alpha has been approximately constant at approximately 2.0. Both Philips and Siemens show a definite upward trend from values well below 2.0 in the early 1990s to well over 2.0 for their latest models. The data for Toshiba show no overall trend with time with half the data points below 2.0 and the remainder above this value. The average value of beta was 1.09 +/- 0.25. All vendors showed a downward trend in the beta parameter, and where the most recent scanners from each vendor had a beta value close to unity. Our results show that average D/CTDI conversion factors for a body phantom/filter combination are typically double those appropriate for a head phantom/filter combination.
Efficient conflict driven learning in a boolean satisfiability solver

One of the most important features of current state-of-the-art SAT solvers is the use of conflict based backtracking and learning techniques. In this paper, we generalize various conflict driven learning strategies in terms of different partitioning schemes of the implication graph. We re-examine the learning techniques used in various SAT solvers and propose an array of new learning schemes. Extensive experiments with real world examples show that the best performing new learning scheme has at least a 2/spl times/ speedup compared with learning schemes employed in state-of-the-art SAT solvers.
Detection and source location of weak cyclostationary signals: simplifications of the maximum-likelihood receiver

The problem of dual-receiver interception of low-SNR signals, which includes detection of the presence of a particular signal type and location of its source, is considered. In particular, source-location based on time-difference-of-arrival (TDOA) measurements is examined, and the low-SNR maximum-likelihood receiver for joint detection and TDOA estimation is taken as a starting point. By explicitly revealing the way in which this receiver exploits the spectral correlation properties of the cyclostationary signal, several partial implementations with optimality properties of their own are proposed. These greatly simplified implementations, which require only a one-dimensional search over the TDOA parameter, are shown by simulation to perform competitively with the relatively complicated maximum-likelihood receiver which requires a two- or three-dimensional search for phase-shift keyed (PSK) signals. >