cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sex-Typed May Be Beautiful but Androgynous is Good

Srr?nmary.-The effects of a stimulus person's sex-role orientation on both opposite-sex attracrion and attribution of physical attractiveness were assessed. Msle and female undergraduates, classified as sex-typed or androgynous according to their scores on the Bem Sex-role Inventory, were asked to form impressions of two members of the opposite sex on the basis of some of their responses to the inventory. The protocols were actually bogus and were contrived to represent a feminine female, a masculine male, and an androgynous person (same for both sexes). Each subject was given one sex-typed and one androgynous protocol and was asked to form impressions of both. The results indicated that both androgynous and sex-typed females liked the androgynous male significantly more than the masculine one, although males did not differentiate between the two females. Moreover, significantly greater physical amactiveness was attributed to the sex-typed stimulus pmson than to the androgynous one. A recent study by Pursell and Banikiotes ( 1978) found that androgynous individuals tended to be more attracted to androgynous stimulus persons and sex-typed individuals to sex-typed ones. Moreover, an interaction of sex of subject and sex role of stimulus person indicated that females preferred androgynous stimulus persons and males preferred sex-ryped ones. Unfortunately it is difficult to draw firm conclusions because the investigators tested both samesex and opposite-sex attraction but did noc report any findings relevant to this distinction. One purpose of the present study, therefore, was to clarify the effects of sex role of the stimulus person on opposite-sex attraction. A second purpose was to investigate attributions of physical attractiveness made about sex-typed and androgynous stimulus persons. Although there is nothing in the literature which directly relates to this issue, Goldberg, Gottesdiener, and Abramson (1975) found thar both male and female students perceived female supporters of the feminist movement as less attractive than nonsupporters.
Community Service as Learning.

This chapter uses the conceptual framework of a learning organization to make a case for how a theory might enrich organizational practice in the field of higher education.
Continuous precipitation in Cu-rich Cu-Ti binary and Cu-Ti-Al ternary alloys

An investigation has been carried out to study precipitation in a Cu-4% Ti binary and a Cu-2.1% Ti-2.4% Al ternary alloys which develop modulated microstructures upon ageing. Precipitate-free zones near the grain boundaries were observed on ageing immediately below a critical temperature representing the transition from the coherent to the incoherent region of the coherent phase diagram. In addition, a pronounced tendency for elastic interaction between the precipitate particles was detected, giving rise to aligned groups of precipitates containing a maximum of eight or nine particles in each group. At least near this critical temperature, decomposition occurs in the metastable region of the coherent phase diagram rather than in the spinodal region. The formation of the modulated structures in these alloys is, therefore, considered to arise not necessarily through spinodal decomposition. Continuous precipitation in a Cu-2.1% Ti-5% Al alloy is shown to result in spherical particles with no alignment. The effect of Al addition on the coherent solvus temperature is discussed in terms of a vacancy solute interaction mechanism.
The roots of today's “women's jobs” and “men's jobs”: Using the index of dissimilarity to measure occupational segregation by gender☆

Abstract Looked at broadly, occupational distributions by sex in the United States have changed remarkably little since 1900; accordingly, researchers have found a slow rate of decline in the index of dissimilarity (a measure of occupational segregation by gender), estimates of which have so far been confined to the 20th century. This paper analyzes trends in the index over the latter part of the 19th century. The results indicate that during this period, industrialization and the associated changes in the nature of the business enterprise resulted in a rapid declinne in occupational segregation by gender, as measured by the index. This decline occurs earliest in cities experiencing early industrialization. Index estimates are presented for the United States and for selected midwestern cities, and changes in the index are decomposed into occupational mix effects and sex composition effects. Occupation-specific index changes are used to identify which occupations influenced changes in the overall index. The results indicate that the dynamic occupational shifts of the 19th century set the stage for the “men's jobs” and “women's jobs” that have been so persistently stable in the 20th century.
Fulminant demyelinating neuropathy mimicking cerebral death

Guillain-Barre syndrome can very rarely present with acute quadripares and cranial nerve involvement resembling a locked-in state. We describe a very unusual case of fulminant neuropathy in a child who was previously exposed to vincristine. The clinical picture resembled brain death; however, electrodiagnostic studies led to the diagnosis of a peripheral neuropathy. Serial electrodiagnostic studies and pathologic findings confirmed demyelination.
Incremental semi-supervised subspace learning for image retrieval

Subspace learning techniques are widespread in pattern recognition research. They include Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Locality Preserving Projection (LPP), etc. These techniques are generally unsupervised which allows them to model data in the absence of labels or categories. In relevance feedback driven image retrieval system, the user provided information can be used to better describe the intrinsic semantic relationships between images. In this paper, we propose a semi-supervised subspace learning algorithm which incrementally learns an adaptive subspace by preserving the semantic structure of the image space, based on user interactions in a relevance feedback driven query-by-example system. Our algorithm is capable of accumulating knowledge from users, which could result in new feature representations for images in the database so that the system's future retrieval performance can be enhanced. Experiments on a large collection of images have shown the effectiveness and efficiency of our proposed algorithm.
Comparison of marine sediment toxicity test protocols for the amphipod Rhepoxynius abronius and the polychaete worm Nereis (Neanthes) arenaceodentata

The 10-d amphipod survival toxicity test protocol using Rhepoxynius abronius was compared to the 20-d polychaete worm growth and survival protocol using Nereis (Neanthes) arenaceodentata. Of the 341 sediment samples collected in California and tested over a 2-year period. 78% significantly inhibited R. abronius survival, whereas 2 and 26% significantly inhibited N. arenaceodentata survival and biomass, respectively. Statistical power associated with each protocol endpoint was determined by calculating the minimum significant difference (MSD) for each test protocol for this data set. The 90th percentile MSDs for R. abronius survival and N. arenaceodentata survival and biomass were 16, 36, and 56%, respectively. Survival of R. abronius was significantly negatively correlated with a number of toxicants including metals, pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and polychlorinated biphenyls. No significant correlations were determined between N. arenaceodentata survival or biomass and contaminants measured. Amphipod survival was also negatively correlated with sediment total organic carbon and grain size, but when samples with a high percent fine grain size (>90% fines) were eliminated from consideration, the overall conclusions of the study were not altered. The 10-d amphipod survival protocol using R. abronius was a more sensitive indicator of toxicity, but the results indicate that this was due tomore » greater statistical power rather than greater sensitivity of the test organisms or endpoints.« less
Multiple forms of aldolase and triose phosphate isomerase in diverse plant species

Abstract The isoelectric points of aldolase and triose phosphate isomerase from a phylogenetically diverse group of plants have been determined. In several of the eukaryotes the isoelectric points of the chloroplastic and cytoplasmic forms differ slightly. Between species the isoelectric points are surprisingly constant. These results suggest that the chloroplastic and cytoplasmic forms of aldolase and of triose phosphate isomerase in higher plants were derived from common ancestral forms of aldolase and of triose phosphate isomerase, respectively.
Three large, functioning cystic parathyroid adenomas.

Objective: To report a very rare case of 3 large, functioning cystic parathyroid adenomas causing primary hyperparathyroidism.Methods: We present the history, clinical findings, laboratory test res...
Grundlagenforschung — Fluch oder Segen?: Festrede zum 25jährigen Jubiläum von DESY

„Wir haben uns hier versammelt, um das 25jahrige Jubilaum von DESY zu feiern. Es freut mich sehr, das ich an diesem Fest mitwirken kann, und zwar aus mehreren Grunden. Erstens ist DESY ein Schwesterinstitut des Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, kurz SLAC, das zur Stanford-Universitat in Kalifornien gehort und wo ich seit 34 Jahren arbeite. SLAC und DESY arbeiten auf ahnlichen Gebieten, wir betreiben beide Elektronenbeschleuniger und Elektron-Positron-Speicherringe, unsere Institute haben ahnliche Grose, wir haben beide ungefahr die gleiche Zahl von, Mitarbeitern, und wir fangen beide jetzt an, Kollisionsmaschinen neuer Art zu bauen. Zum anderen bin ich sehr gerne hier, um DESY zu den grosen Fortschritten der Wissenschaft zu gratulieren, die von hier in Bewegung gesetzt werden. Und schlieslich ist dies fur mich ein sentimentaler Besuch. Von 1919 bis 1934 lebte ich als Kind in Hamburg; ich wurde an der Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums erzogen, und mein Vater lehrte an der Universitat Hamburg.
Atomic Detail Investigation of the Structure and Dynamics of DNA•RNA Hybrids: A Molecular Dynamics Study

DNA•RNA hybrid duplexes are biologically important molecules and are shown to have potential therapeutic properties. To investigate the relationship between structures, energetics, solvation and RNase H activity of hybrid duplexes in comparison with pure DNA and RNA duplexes, a molecular dynamics study using the CHARMM27 force field was undertaken. The structural properties of all the four nucleic acids are in very good agreement with the experimental data. The backbone dihedral angles and the puckering of the (deoxy)ribose indicate that the purine rich strands retain their A/B like properties but the pyrimidine rich DNA strand undergoes A-B conformational transitions. The minor groove widths of the hybrid structures are narrower than in the RNA duplex a requirement for RNase H binding. In addition, sampling of noncanonical phosphodiester backbone dihedrals by the DNA strands, differential solvation properties and helical properties, most notably rise, are suggested to contribute to hybrids being RNase H substrates. Differential RNase H activity towards hybrids containing purine vs. pyrimidine rich RNA strands is suggested to be due to sampling of values of the phosphodiester backbone dihedrals in the DNA strands. Notably, the present results indicate that hybrids have decreased flexibility as compared to RNA, in contrast to previous reports.
A GEOMORPHIC MONITORING AND ADAPTIVE ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK TO ASSESS THE EFFECT OF LOWLAND FLOODPLAIN RIVER RESTORATION ON CHANNEL-FLOODPLAIN SEDIMENT CONTINUITY

The state of the science of lowland river floodplain restoration reflects the relatively new and experimental nature of large river floodplain rehabilitation efforts. Based on results of a case study of floodplain restoration at the lowland Cosumnes River, California, we present a geomorphic monitoring and adaptive assessment framework that addresses the need to inform and utilize scientific knowledge in lowland floodplain river restoration activities. Highlighting hydrogeomorphic processes that lead to habitat creation, we identify a discharge threshold for connectivity and sediment transfer from the channel to the floodplain and integrate discharge magnitude and duration to quantify a threshold to aid determination of when geomorphic monitoring is warranted. Using floodplain sand deposition volume in splay complexes as one indicator of dynamic floodplain habitat, we develop a model to aid prediction of the sand deposition volume as an assessment tool to use to analyze future monitoring data. Because geomorphic processes that form the physical structure of a habitat are dynamic, and because the most successful restoration projects accommodate this fundamental characteristic of ecosystems, monitoring designs must both identify trends and be adapted iteratively so that relevant features continue to be measured. Thus, in this paper, adaptive assessment is defined as the modification of monitoring and analysis methods as a dynamic system evolves following restoration activities. The adaptive monitoring and assessment methods proposed facilitate long-term measurements of channel–floodplain sediment transfer, and changes in sediment storage and morphology unique to lowland river–floodplain interactions and the habitat that these physical processes support. The adaptive assessment framework should be integrated with biological and chemical elements of an interdisciplinary ecosystem monitoring program to answer research hypotheses and to advance restoration science in lowland floodplain river systems. Copyright # 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Laser Flash Photolysis Study of Chlorofluorocarbene

10-exo-Fluoro-10‘-endo-chlorotricylco[4.3.1.01,6]decadiene-2,4 (1) was synthesized. Continuous photolysis of 1 (300 nm) generates chlorofluorocarbene 2, which can be intercepted with tetramethylethylene (TME) to form the expected cyclopropane 3. Laser flash photolysis (LFP) of 1 (308 nm) in cyclohexane at ambient temperature does not result in the direct detection of 2 by time-resolved UV−vis spectroscopy. However, LFP of 1 in the presence of pyridine produces the intense transient absorption of ylide 4 at 450 nm. The absolute rate constant of reaction of 2 with pyridine is 8.0 × 109 M-1 s-1 in cyclohexane. LFP (266 nm) of 1 in heptane at ambient temperature produces a transient species with a C−F vibration at 1142 cm-1 and a lifetime of 2.5 μs at ambient temperature. The carrier of the transient absorption is assigned to carbene 2 on the basis of density functional theory (DFT) calculations and on the basis of its kinetic behavior. The absolute rate constant of reaction of carbene 2 with TME was determin...
Near-surface data clustering for imaging enhancement

Summary Popular approaches for near-surface modeling, as tomostatics and refraction methods, often fail when dealing with sharp variations of both elevation and P velocity. We present here a new method for integrating high-resolution geophysical data by clustering. Complex geological models can be built in a cost-effective way, providing better static corrections. This method is applied to a challenging 3D seismic survey from the Arabian Peninsula and compared to other current techniques.
Do TNF Inhibitors Reduce the Risk of Myocardial Infarction in Psoriasis Patients

Jashin J. Wu, MD; Kwun-Yee T. Poon, MS; Jennifer C. Channual, MD; Albert Yuh-Jer Shen, MS, MDObjective: To assess whether patients with psoriasis treated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors have a decreased risk of myocardial infarction (MI) compared with those not treated with TNF inhibitors.Design: Retrospective cohort study.Setting: Kaiser Permanente Southern California health plan.Patients: Patients with at least 3 International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification, codes for psoriasis (696.1) or psoriatic arthritis (696.0) (without antecedent MI) between January 1, 2004, and November 30, 2010.Main Outcome Measure: Incident MI.Results: Of 8845 patients included, 1673 received a TNF inhibitor for at least 2 months (TNF inhibitor cohort), 2097 were TNF inhibitor naive and received other systemic agents or phototherapy (oral/phototherapy cohort), and 5075 were not treated with TNF inhibitors, other systemic therapies, or phototherapy (topical cohort). The median duration of follow-up was 4.3 years (interquartile range, 2.9, 5.5 years), and the median duration of TNF inhibitor therapy was 685 days (interquartile range, 215, 1312 days). After adjusting for MI risk factors, the TNF inhibitor cohort had a significantly lower hazard of MI compared with the topical cohort (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.32-0.79). The incidence of MI in the TNF inhibitor, oral/phototherapy, and topical cohorts were 3.05, 3.85, and 6.73 per 1000 patient-years, respectively.Conclusions: Use of TNF inhibitors for psoriasis was associated with a significant reduction in MI risk and incident rate compared with treatment with topical agents. Use of TNF inhibitors for psoriasis was associated with a non–statistically significant lower MI incident rate compared with treatment with oral agents/phototherapy.doi:10.1001/archdermatol.2012.2502
Two-dimensional electron gas (2-DEG) interaction in a double-heterostructure selectively contacted field-effect transistor

Experimental results concerning the interaction between two two-dimensional electron gases (2-DEGs) in a single-quantum-well AlGaAs/GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructure field-effect transistor are presented. The results of magneto-transconductance measurements clearly delineate the behavior of low-field carrier mobilities in the two 2-DEG systems. The drain current/voltage characteristics clearly demonstrate that at 300 K the two 2-DEG systems interact, and at 77 K there is negligible interaction between the two 2-DEG systems under low-field conditions of operation. >
The prospect of APOBEC3G for the future of HIV therapy

APOBEC3G (Apo3G), a cellular protein that has the ability to inhibit HIV, offers a new hope for fighting against HIV-1 infection. Recent advances in Apo3G structural and functional studies provide an opportunity for structurebased drug design and development to unleash the potent anti-HIV activity of Apo3G for AIDS prevention and therapy. Although the availability of antiretroviral regimens in the USA has significantly improved the life expectancy of patients presently receiving treatment, viral strains are emerging that are resistant to at least one or more of the six major classes of HIV drugs, which include inhibitors of viral entry, fusion, integrases, reverse transcriptase (nucleoside/nucleotide analogs and non-nucleoside inhibitors) and proteases [1]. Also troubling is the prevalent number of new infections that involve the transmission of drugresistant viral strains [1]. As HIV patients live longer, the emergence of drug-resistant HIV viral strains has become a more common occurrence. There is an urgent need for novel classes of HIV drugs that can inactivate the highly mutagenic HIV virus with high efficiency and less toxicity.
Targeting tumor angiogenesis: comparison of peptide and polymer-peptide conjugates.

Endothelial cells in tumor angiogenesis are highly accessible, genetically stable and present unique molecular markers for targeted therapy. Neoplasia is also characterized by enhanced vascular permeability and disordered lymphatics so that both active and passive targeting strategies may play a role in localizing angiogenesis-targeted agents. To investigate the relative importance of these targeting strategies, the tissue biodistribution of both endothelial-specific and nonspecific peptides and their macromolecular peptide-copolymer conjugates were studied in 2 xenograft models of prostate cancer. Tumor-to-normal tissue background ratios (T/B) of these constructs were compared to evaluate the effect of molecular size on blood clearance and nonspecific vascular permeability. Methods: Water-soluble N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) copolymers were synthesized with side chains terminated in a doubly cyclized Arg-Gly-Asp motif KACDCRGDCFCG (RGD4C: active peptide targeting the αVβ3 integrin) and KACDCRGECFCG (RGE4C: nonactive peptide). The bioactivity of the polymer conjugates and free peptides was characterized in vitro by endothelial cell adhesion assay. The 99mTc(CO)3-labeled compounds were injected into SCID mice bearing DU145 or PC-3 prostate tumor xenografts for scintigraphic imaging and necropsy organ counting. Results: HPMA copolymer-RGD4C conjugates showed similar inhibition of cell adhesion as free RGD4C attached to 99mTc(CO)3 chelator N-ω-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-l-lysine (RGD4C-DPK) and were significantly higher (P
High-efficiency piezoelectric-transducer-tuned feedback microstrip ring-resonator oscillators operating at high resonant frequencies

A tunable-feedback ring-resonator oscillator using a voltage-controlled piezoelectric transducer (PET) is introduced. The new oscillator is constructed by a ring resonator with a pair of orthogonal feed lines as a feedback structure. The ring resonator with two orthogonal feed lines can suppress odd modes and operate at even modes. This operation shows a similar characteristic of high operating oscillation frequencies as that of the push-push oscillators. The high operating resonant frequency characteristic is predicted by a simple transmission-line model. The simulated and measured results agree well with each other. At a fixed frequency of 12.09 GHz, the oscillator has a high DC-to-RF efficiency of 48.7% with an output power of 5.33 dBm. A voltage-controlled PET is used to vary the resonant frequencies of the ring resonator, which, in turn, tunes the oscillator with a good tuning rage of 4.25% around 12 GHz. This tuned oscillator operating at high oscillation frequency can be used in many wireless and sensor systems.
Sustaining Plant Breeding–National Workshop

Sustaining plant breeding was the central theme of a national workshop held in Raleigh, NC, February 8–9, 2007. The workshop was spearheaded by Ann Marie Thro, National Program Staff of USDA-CSREES, and was co-hosted by the Departments of Crop Science and Horticultural Science of North Carolina State University. The major catalyst for the meeting was the growing imbalance between the importance of plant breeding to the nation's future versus the steady decline in the national plant breeding investment over the past 20 years. This has led to a significant reduction in the number of public plant breeders in the U.S. and an associated substantial weakening of university education programs in this area (Frey, 1996; Guner and Wehner, 2003; Morris et al., 2006; Price, 1999). Several previous efforts have drawn attention to our nation's declining plant breeding capacity (National Plant Breeding Study, 1994). More recently, a plant breeding workshop held in 2005 at Michigan State University also focused on the decline in numbers of plant breeders in the public arena (Hancock, 2006). However, the message from these efforts was not nationally audible or sustained through the establishment of a dedicated group interested in maintaining plant breeding as a science and profession.
Modelling RNA folding under mechanical tension.

We investigate the thermodynamics and kinetics of RNA unfolding and refolding under mechanical tension. The hierarchical nature of RNA structure and the existence of thermodynamic parameters for base pair formation based on nearest-neighbour interactions allows modelling of sequence-dependent folding dynamics for any secondary structure. We calculate experimental observables such as the transition force for unfolding, the end-to-end distribution function and its variance, as well as kinetic information, for a representative RNA sequence and for a sequence containing two homopolymer segments: A·U and G·C.
FDA Approval Summary: Olaparib Monotherapy in Patients with Deleterious Germline BRCA-Mutated Advanced Ovarian Cancer Treated with Three or More Lines of Chemotherapy

On December 19, 2014, the FDA approved olaparib capsules (Lynparza; AstraZeneca) for the treatment of patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious germline BRCA-mutated (gBRCAm) advanced ovarian cancer who have been treated with three or more prior lines of chemotherapy. The BRACAnalysis CDx (Myriad Genetic Laboratories, Inc.) was approved concurrently. An international multicenter, single-arm trial enrolled 137 patients with measurable gBRCAm-associated ovarian cancer treated with three or more prior lines of chemotherapy. Patients received olaparib at a dose of 400 mg by mouth twice daily until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The objective response rate (ORR) was 34% with median response duration of 7.9 months in this cohort. The most common adverse reactions (≥20%) in patients treated with olaparib were anemia, nausea, fatigue (including asthenia), vomiting, diarrhea, dysgeusia, dyspepsia, headache, decreased appetite, nasopharyngitis/pharyngitis/upper respiratory infection, cough, arthralgia/musculoskeletal pain, myalgia, back pain, dermatitis/rash, and abdominal pain/discomfort. Myelodysplatic syndrome and/or acute myeloid leukemia occurred in 2% of the patients enrolled on this trial.
Deletion of relA abrogates the capacity of Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis to establish an infection in calves

Previous comparative studies in goats revealed deletion of relA but not pknG abrogates the capacity of M. a. paratuberculosis (Map) to establish a persistent infection. The immune response elicited by the mutant cleared infection. The objective of the present study was to extend the studies in calves and compare the proliferative response elicited by the relA deletion mutant (ΔrelA) and Map using flow cytometry and quantitative reverse transcription real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Six 3-day-old calves were divided into two groups. Three were vaccinated with ΔrelA and 3 inoculated with wild type Map. The calves were challenged with Map 1 month later and necropsied 3 months post challenge. Three untreated calves were used as uninfected controls. Examination of tissues revealed the ΔrelA mutant was immune eliminated. Bacterial load of Map was significantly reduced in the calves vaccinated with ΔrelA and challenged with Map in comparison with calves inoculated and challenged with Map. A vigorous CD4 memory T cell response was detected at necropsy in PBMC from both infected groups. CD8 positive NK cells proliferated in the presence and absence of antigen stimulation in both treated groups but not in the uninfected group. IFN-γ, IL17, and IL22 gene expression were up-regulated with an associated increase in their transcription factors, Tbet and RORC, in both treated groups. TGF-β, IL-10, and FoxP3 were not up-regulated, indicating no activation of regulatory T cells. The findings show that the immune response to ΔrelA is clearly different than the response to Map. Understanding the immunological basis for this difference should facilitate development of a vaccine that elicits sterile immunity.
Adhesion force between calcium oxalate monohydrate crystal and kidney epithelial cells and possible relevance for kidney stone formation

Abstract AFM interaction force measurements have been performed between calcium oxalate monohydrate crystal (COM) colloidal probes and monolayers of renal epithelial cells (on a polymer substrate) in artificial urine (AU) solutions. The adhesion force was measured for the COM/MDCK cell interaction, while no adhesion force was found for the COM/LLC-PK1 cell interaction. Long-range repulsive forces for both lines of cells were measured in the range of 2–3 μm. After removal of the cell from the substrate by the AU flow, the basal membrane (BM), with a thickness of 100–200 nm, remained on the substrate. In this case, the shorter-range repulsive forces were found on the extending (approaching) portion of force/indentation curves. Similar to the COM/MDCK cell interaction, the retracting portions of curves for COM/basal membranes have shown the existence of the attractive force of adhesion for the interaction of COM with a BM of MDCK cells, while no adhesion was found for COM/BM LLC-PK1 cells interaction. No adhesion force was found for the interaction of a BM (of any cells) with the silicon nitride tip. Besides the hydrodynamic reasons, the adhesion difference between LLC-PK1 and MDCK cells possibly explains the preferential deposition of crystals only in collecting ducts (lined with MDCK-type cells) and the lack of the crystal deposition in the proximal tubules (lined with LLC-PK1-type cells). Previous treatments of cells with oxalate alone increased the adhesion force COM/BM MDCK; however, even after oxalate treatment there was small or no adhesion between COM and BM LLC-PK1 cells. Note that the adhesion force for COM/BM MDCK is practically independent of the probe velocity, i.e., does not have the viscous origin. Evaluation of the adhesion energy shows that this force should be related to the ionic or hydrogen bonds of samples.
Performance improvement of metal-gate/high-k CMOS by NiPt-silicidation using laser annealing

NiPt-silicide formation using advanced annealing such as laser annealing (LA) or microwave annealing (MWA) is applied for gate-first metal gate/high-k CMOS. It is found that LA enhances NMOS drive current due to the reduction of parasitic resistance. It is found that LA produces characteristic Pt-distribution and reduces interfacial resistance between NiPtSi and Si especially for NMOS. On the other hand, MWA produces homogeneous NiPt-silicide and suppresses defect density related to contact leakage current.
National Institutes of Health State of the Science Symposium in Therapeutic Apheresis: Scientific Opportunities in Extracorporeal Photopheresis

The clinical use of extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) for accepted indications such as graft-versus-host disease, transplant rejection, and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma continues to increase. Expanded applications for ECP, such as the treatment of select autoimmune diseases, are being explored. Extracorporeal photopheresis's capacity to both immunotolerize in the autoreactive setting, while immunizing against a lymphoma is unusual and suggestive of a unique mechanism. It is likely that ECP's induction of dendritic cells is key to its efficacy in both of these settings, but exactly how ECP impacts other immune components and their interactions is not fully understood. Further basic science research is necessary to elucidate how these dissimilar cellular activities are functionally integrated. On the clinical side, collaborative multicenter trials designed to recognize the principal variables controlling therapeutic responses and improve prognostic indicators may enable tailoring devices, treatment schedules, and doses to the needs of the individual patients or diseases. This review describes our current understanding of how ECP influences the immune system, reviews the existing clinical applications of ECP, and explores areas for future basic science and clinical research as presented at the National Institutes of Health State of the Science Symposium in Therapeutic Apheresis in November 2012.
Feasibility Analysis of the Parametric Response Map as an Early Predictor of Treatment Efficacy in Head and Neck Cancer

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Estimating changes in the volume transfer constant, normalized area under the contrast-enhancement time curve at 60 seconds, and fractional blood plasma volume by using dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging may be useful in predicting tumor response to chemoradiation. We hypothesized that the parametric response map, a voxel-by-voxel analysis of quantitative dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging maps, predicts survival in patients with head and neck cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients with locoregionally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma underwent definitive concurrent chemoradiation therapy. For each patient, dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging data were collected before and 2 weeks after treatment initiation. Change in perfusion parameters within the primary tumor volume with time was analyzed by parametric response mapping and by whole-tumor mean percentage change. Outcome was defined as overall survival. The perfusion parameter and metric most predictive of outcome were identified. Overall survival was estimated by the log-rank test and Kaplan-Meier survival curve. RESULTS: The volume transfer constant and normalized area under the contrast-enhancement time curve at 60 seconds were predictive of survival both in parametric response map analysis (volume transfer constant, P = .002; normalized area under the contrast-enhancement time curve at 60 seconds, P = .02) and in the percentage change analysis (volume transfer constant, P = .04; normalized area under the contrast-enhancement time curve at 60 seconds, P = .02). Blood plasma volume predicted survival in neither analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Parametric response mapping of MR perfusion biomarkers could potentially guide treatment modification in patients with predicted treatment failure. Larger studies are needed to determine whether parametric response map analysis or percentage signal change in these perfusion parameters is the stronger predictor of survival.
Concurrent models of computation for embedded software

The prevailing abstractions for software are better suited to the traditional problem of computation, namely transformation of data, than to the problems of embedded software. These abstractions have weak notions of concurrency and the passage of time, which are key elements of embedded software. Innovations such as nesC/TinyOS (developed for programming very small programmable sensor nodes called 'motes'), Click (created to support the design of software-based network routers), Simulink with Real-Time Workshop (created for embedded control software) and Lustre/SCADE (created for safety-critical embedded software) offer abstractions that address some of these issues and differ significantly from the prevailing abstractions in software engineering. The paper surveys some of the abstractions that have been explored.
Current scientific understanding of the environmental biosafety of transgenic fish and shellfish

A fluorescent zebrafish was the first genetically engineered animal to be marketed, and biotechnologists are developing many transgenic fish and shellfish. Biosafety science is not sufficiently advanced to be able to draw scientifically reliable and broadly trusted conclusions about the environmental effects of these animals. The science is best developed for identifying hazards posed by environmental spread of a transgenic fish or shellfish and least developed for assessing potential ecological harms of spread. Environmental spread of certain transgenic fish or shellfish could be an indirect route of entry into the human food supply. The management of predicted environmental risks is in its infancy and has thus far focused on the first step of the risk management process, i.e. risk reduction, via a few confinement methods. There is a critical need to improve scientific methods of environmental safety assessment and management and to gather empirical data needed to substantiate biosafety conclusions and to effectively manage transgenic fish and shellfish. Scientists and potentially affected parties should participate in prioritising the knowledge gaps to be addressed.
Pre-service teacher beliefs about language learning: The second language acquisition course as an agent for change

This large mixed methods study investigated the effects of the introductory second language acquisition (SLA) course on the beliefs of pre-service teachers (n = 381) enrolled over a three-year period at a state university in California. Pre- to post-course paired sample t-tests that were run on 23 beliefs statements from a widely used survey revealed significant changes in beliefs in several areas including the length of time for acquisition, difficulty of language acquisition, the role of culture, the role of error correction, the importance of grammar, and the efficacy of audiolingual learning strategies. In extensive written post-course explanations, the pre-service teachers attributed their pre-course beliefs to language learning experience in high school and post-course changes in their beliefs to the SLA course content and experiential activities, most notably tutoring an ESL student (the first contact for some teachers). Depth of knowledge was revealed in the teacher comments; this included informa...
Differential expression of melanocytic markers in myoid, lipomatous, and vascular components of renal angiomyolipomas

Abstract Context.—Renal angiomyolipoma is a tumor composed of varying amounts of fat, smooth muscle, and blood vessels. Characteristically, tumor cells express melanocytic markers such as HMB-45 and Melan-A. Recently, several other markers have been described as having excellent diagnostic sensitivity in cutaneous melanocytic lesions. Objectives.—To compare the sensitivities of 5 melanocytic markers in renal angiomyolipoma and to study the expression patterns of these markers in the 3 different components of angiomyolipoma. Design.—A tissue microarray of 20 renal angiomyolipomas was constructed. For each case, 3 cores containing fat, blood vessels, and smooth muscle were taken. The tissue microarray was then stained for HMB-45, Melan-A, tyrosinase, NK1-C3, and CD117. Results.—HMB-45 was positive in 95%, Melan-A in 85%, NK1-C3 in 70%, tyrosinase in 50%, and CD117 in 40% of the cases. All (20/20) were positive for HMB-45 and Melan-A combined. These 5 markers had different sensitivities in the 3 components. ...
Differential diagnosis of adductor spasmodic dysphonia and muscle tension dysphonia using phonatory break analysis.

Objectives: Muscle tension dysphonia (MTD) can masquerade as adductor spasmodic dysphonia (ADSD) leading to diagnostic confusion. Intraword phonatory breaks have been offered as the sine qua non of ADSD, however, little is known regarding the presence of phonatory breaks in MTD. This investigation assessed the diagnostic worth of acoustic analysis of phonatory breaks as a possible objective test to distinguish ADSD from MTD. Study Design: Case-control comparison. Methods: Voice samples from patients with confirmed ADSD (n = 41) and MTD (n = 59) were analyzed acoustically to determine the presence, frequency, and duration of phonatory breaks—defined as complete interruption of phonation within a word. Estimates of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, and likelihood ratios were calculated to determine the precision and worth of phonatory break analysis as a clinical diagnostic test. Results: 1) Individuals with ADSD showed a significantly higher number of phonatory breaks as compared with MTD. 2) All measures of diagnostic precision varied according to both duration and frequency of phonatory breaks, with separation of males and females leading to different diagnostic test performance results. Conclusions: The results suggest that phonatory break analysis offers promise as an objective test to distinguish ADSD from MTD, with respectable diagnostic precision, especially among men. Automation of the acoustic analysis procedure should be explored.
QoS-GRAF: A Framework for QoS based Grid Resource Allocation with Failure provisioning

In this paper, it describes the QoS-GRAF, a framework for providing revenue maximization in a utility computing grid where jobs have multiple resource dependencies and differentiated QoS pricing. To solve the revenue maximization problem the linear relaxation based algorithms, MRPA and MLBA, that achieve performance within 1-5% of the optimal solution and significantly outperform alternative approaches are used. Both show better revenue earnings across small, medium and large jobs, with efficient resource utilization. As a part ongoing work, the backup algorithms for multiple failures is developed. Scheduling algorithms are incorporated to produce maximum profitable schedule considering job deadlines
Mechanisms of airway protection and upper esophageal sphincter opening during belching

The mechanisms of airway protection, upper esophageal sphincter (UES) opening, and their coordination during belching were studied with a concurrent videoendoscopic, videofluoroscopic, and manometric technique. Analysis of videoendoscopic recordings revealed that glottal function during gastric and esophageal belching was similar and consisted of vocal cord adduction resulting in closure of intoitus to trachea, followed by anterior-caudad movement of the glottis, followed by slitlike or triangular UES opening. When a belch episode was associated with an intragastric pressure increase, in addition to the above features, there was approximation of arytenoids to the base of the epiglottis before the UES opened. Duration of vocal cord closure during belches induced by 40 ml intraesophageal air injection was significantly longer than belches induced by 20 ml (P less than 0.01). Vocal cord closure preceded the UES opening invariably. Analysis of videofluoroscopic recordings showed that hyoid bone movement during belching had a distinctive pattern different from its movement during swallowing. UES opening started generally when the hyoid bone was pulled anteriorly. Anterior hyoid excursion of 0.78 +/- 0.1 cm during belching was significantly shorter than its excursion of 1.8 +/- 0.09 cm during swallowing (P less than 0.01). We conclude that glottal closure is an integral component of both esophageal and gastric belch reflexes that prevents aspiration of regurgitated material into the airway. Glottal closure mechanism during belching has two tiers of closure: 1) vocal cord closure and 2) aryepiglottic approximation. Glottal and UES functions are closely coordinated during belching, and finally, during belching, UES is pulled open after its relaxation.
Modeling the impact of residential HVAC filtration on indoor particles of outdoor origin (RP-1691)

Much of human exposure to airborne particles of outdoor origin, including fine particles smaller than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) and ultrafine particles smaller than 0.1 μm (UFPs), occurs in residences. High-efficiency central HVAC filters are increasingly being used in residences, but questions remain about their effectiveness in reducing indoor PM2.5 and UFPs of outdoor origin in homes operating under realistic conditions (e.g., with HVAC systems operating only to meet heating or cooling demands). Here dynamic building energy and indoor air mass balance modeling are combined to estimate the impacts of 11 HVAC filters (minimum efficiency reporting value [MERV] 5 through high-efficiency particulate air [HEPA]) on indoor concentrations of PM2.5 and UFPs of outdoor origin in multiple vintages of prototypical single-family residences relying on either infiltration or mechanical ventilation systems in 22 U.S. cities. Results demonstrate that higher-efficiency HVAC filters can meaningfully reduce indoor proportions of out...
5,6-Dihydropyrimidine peroxyl radical reactivity in DNA.

Nucleobase radicals are a major family of reactive species produced in DNA as a result of oxidative stress. Two such radicals, 5-hydroxy-5,6-dihydrothymidin-6-yl radical (1) and 5,6-dihydrouridin-6-yl radical (5), were independently generated within chemically synthesized oligonucleotides from photochemical precursors. Neither nucleobase radical produces direct strand breaks or alkali-labile lesions in single or double stranded DNA. The respective peroxyl radicals, resulting from O2 trapping, add to 5′-adjacent nucleobases, with a preference for dG. Distal dG’s are also oxidatively damaged by the peroxyl radicals. Experiments using a variety of sequences indicate that distal damage occurs via covalent modification of the 5′-adjacent dG, but there is no evidence for electron transfer by the nucleobase peroxyl radicals.
Mutual dependence of sodium and chloride absorption by renal distal tubule

Sodium transport and chloride transport by the renal distal tubule of rats were studied by in vivo continuous microperfusion to determine the effects of separately altering luminal sodium and chloride concentrations. Results showed that sodium absorption depends on luminal sodium concentration and chloride absorption depends on luminal chloride concentration; both relations are linear between approximately 10 and 100 mM and have slopes of approximately 2.5 pmol X min-1 X mM-1. Sodium absorption is also a saturable function of luminal chloride concentration, and chloride absorption is a saturable function of luminal sodium concentration; the half-maximal chloride and sodium concentrations are approximately 10 mM. Furosemide, 10(-4) M, when added to the fluid used to perfuse this segment inhibited sodium absorption and chloride absorption to a similar extent. Removal of chloride from luminal fluid (replaced with sulfate) and addition of furosemide to the perfusion fluid had little or no effect on the measured transepithelial voltage. The results are consistent with the presence of a mechanism in the luminal membrane of distal tubule cells that couples the absorptive transport of sodium and chloride.
Water Quality Detection for Rural Drinking Water Safety Project in Beibei,Chongqing

Objective To analyze the results of water quality detection for the rural drinking water safety project in Beibei during 2008-2009 and provide reference for the further improvement of the drinking water safety project in Beibei.Methods The analysis on the detection of 168 water samples was conducted during 2008-2009.Results Of 168 samples,48 were qualified with the qualified rate of 28.57%. The qualified rate of water in 2009 was higher than in 2008 (χ2=9.81,P0.005). The water quality in high water season was better than that in low water season(χ2=11.67,P0.005). Of all the unqualified indicators,the first five were micro-organisms indicators.Conclusion By comparison of water quality indicators in the rural area of Beibei in 2008,the water quality was improved greatly in 2009,but the overall qualified rate was still low.
Biomimetic Synthesis and Studies Toward Enantioselective Synthesis of Flindersial Alkaloids

A strategy allowing both stereocontrol and control over structural isomer formation has been defined for the antimalarial flindersial alkaloids. The recently reported flinderoles were demonstrated to be derived from the natural product borrerine. The structural isomers of flinderoles, the borreverines, were also produced in vitro along with the flinderoles through the dimerization of borrerine in acidic conditions. This result is thought to replicate the biosynthesis of these compounds. Flinderoles A, B, and C, desmethylflinderole C, isoborreverine, and dimethylisoborreverine can each be synthesized in three steps from tryptamine. Furthermore, progress toward a concise enantioselective synthesis of flinderoles A, B, and C is described. This work includes enantioselective conjugate addition to an unprotected indole-appended enone. Chirality 27:14–17, 2015. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Increasing Hepatitis B Testing and Linkage to Care of Foreign-Born Asians, Sacramento, California, 2012–2013

Objective.Without medical intervention, about one-quarter of the 1.4–2.2 million Americans chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) will die of HBV-associated conditions, including liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma. We report on a program in Sacramento County, California, that offered HBV screening to at-risk adults, referred infected individuals to care, and vaccinated uninfected adults who were susceptible to HBV infection (i.e., individuals who tested negative for hepatitis B surface antigen and who were never vaccinated against HBV).Methods.We engaged organizations linked to Chinese, Hmong, Korean, and Vietnamese communities to cosponsor HBV screenings of Asian Americans as part of the Hepatitis Testing and Linkage to Care initiative, which promoted viral hepatitis B and hepatitis C screening, posttest counseling, and linkage to care at 34 U.S. sites. We held 28 hepatitis B community screening events throughout Sacramento County, California, in collaboration with these groups fro...