cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Birth weight, ethnicity, and occurrence of cancer in children: a population-based, incident case-control study in the State of Texas, USA.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between birth weight and risk of early age childhood cancer and whether racial differences in birth weight distribution could explain differences in the incidence of cancer in white, Hispanic, and black children. Methods: We compared birth weights of 268 children younger than five years old and diagnosed with cancer in the State of Texas in 1995 to the birth weights of 2680 randomly selected, age-matched population-based controls. Birth weight, sex, race/ethnicity, maternal age, smoking status, parity, and gestational age information was ascertained from the birth certificates. Logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between high birth weight (> 4000 g) and occurrence of childhood cancer. Results: Increased odds ratios (OR) were found for “total cancer cases” (OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.9–2.1), “leukemia cases” (OR 1.7, 95% CI 0.9–3.0) and “acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cases” (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.2–4.1). Increased ORs in the former two groups were shown to be due to ALL cases. Including the race/ethnicity variable in the regression model did not affect the ORs. Conclusion: Compared to newborns who weighed between 2500 and 4000 g at birth, children who weighed > 4000 g had an increased risk of developing childhood ALL during the first five years of life. Birth weight differences does not explain the sequence of childhood cancer incidence by race/ethnicity.
A novel environmental enrichment device improved broiler performance without sacrificing bird physiological or environmental quality measures.

ABSTRACT Modern commercial broilers have been genetically selected for fast growth and heavy breast muscling, contributing to a top-heavy phenotype and increased leg lameness. A quick-growing phenotype coupled with poor leg health fosters inactivity. The objective of this study was to stimulate broiler movement using novel environmental enrichment and determine the impact of movement on production, leg health, and environmental parameters. A total of 1,200 Ross 308 broilers were housed in 40 pens with 30 birds/pen for 6 wk in 2 separate rooms (laser enrichment or control). Each enrichment device was mounted above 2 adjoining pens, projected 2 independent, randomly moving laser beams at the floor to stimulate innate predatory behavior, and was active 4 times daily in 4-min periods. Performance outcomes were calculated by pen and averaged per bird for each performance period and overall days 0 to 42. A total of 70 randomly selected focal birds were examined for breast blisters and footpad dermatitis each week and euthanized on day 42 for tibia quality measures. Air quality and litter moisture were sampled by week. Laser-enriched pens had greater average bird feed intake in starter (P 0.05). In summary, a novel enrichment device based on bird visual feeding and predatory instincts positively affected performance through decreased FCR and increased ADG without sacrificing external animal-based measures, tibia quality, or air or litter quality.
Likelihood of Spontaneous Cardioversion of Atrial Fibrillation Using a Conservative Management Strategy Among Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department.

Numerous emergency department (ED) atrial fibrillation (AF) protocols have been developed to reduce hospitalizations, focusing on the use of cardioversion in the ED. An alternative strategy of rate control with early specialty follow-up may be more widely applicable. The likelihood of spontaneous cardioversion with such a protocol is unknown. Between 2015 and 2018, 157 patients who presented to the ED with a primary diagnosis of AF and were hemodynamically stable and with low to moderate symptom severity were discharged with early follow-up at an AF specialty clinic. Rhythm at short-term (within 72 hours), within 30-day follow-up, and need for electrical cardioversion was tabulated. Various demographic and co-morbidity variables were assessed to determine their association with likelihood of spontaneous cardioversion. At an average of 2.3 days, 63% and within 30 days, 83% had spontaneous cardioversion. By 90 days, only 6.3% required electrical cardioversion. Diabetes (38% vs 69%, p
Short Star-Products for Filtered Quantizations, I

We develop a theory of short star-products for filtered quantizations of graded Poisson algebras, introduced in 2016 by Beem, Peelaers and Rastelli for algebras of regular functions on hyperKahler cones in the context of 3-dimensional $N=4$ superconformal field theories [Beem C., Peelaers W., Rastelli L., Comm. Math. Phys. 354 (2017), 345-392, arXiv:1601.05378]. This appears to be a new structure in representation theory, which is an algebraic incarnation of the non-holomorphic ${\rm SU}(2)$-symmetry of such cones. Using the technique of twisted traces on quantizations (an idea due to Kontsevich), we prove the conjecture by Beem, Peelaers and Rastelli that short star-products depend on finitely many parameters (under a natural nondegeneracy condition), and also construct these star products in a number of examples, confirming another conjecture by Beem, Peelaers and Rastelli.
Intragenomic heterogeneity in DNA damage processing: Potential implications for risk assessment

There have been many attempts to analyze the complex relationships between measured DNA repair levels in mammalian cells and various biological end-points such as survival, mutagenesis, and transformation. In such studies the repair proficiency has been assumed to be uniform throughout the genome and, in fact, cell population homogeneity is also generally assumed. However, it is quite likely that DNA damage in some domains of the genome is processed more efficiently than in others and that such heterogeneity in repair would result in corresponding differences in the responses seen for particular biological effects. The genome includes many different functional classes of DNA of which some are “silent” (e.g., repetitive sequences in heterochromatin, unexpressed genes) while others are active (e.g., expressed genes, elements required for the translation machinery, and various regulatory regions). The consequences of unrepaired or misrepaired damage in DNA will most certainly depend upon the precise location of the damage with respect to these functional classes. This fact is well-documented at the nucleotide sequence level in bacteria by correlations of the spectrum of particular lesions with “hot spots” for mutagenesis. However, we have obtained little information on the specificity of the mutagenic response in relation to damage and repair in mammalian systems, analyzed at the various levels of genomic organization. Differences in the repair response to damage in selected genomic regions may account for some of the profound differences seen in the carcinogenic response in different tissues or when different organisms are compared. Therefore, it may be important to understand the “fine structure” of DNA repair in mammalian genomes in order to assess carcinogenic risks.
Abstract P440: Diabetes and the Long-term Risk of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is known to be related to lower risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). However, the full spectrum of glycemic status including prediabetes and the duration of diab...
Tympanometric interaural asymmetry in African-American school-aged children

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the tympanometric asymmetry in children. The determination of ear differences would be useful clinically in determining what qualifies as a significant asymmetry in tympanometric indices and hence middle ear dysfunction. Methods Fifty-five otologically normal school-aged African American children participated. Middle ear indices of peak compensated static acoustic admittance, equivalent ear canal volume, tympanometric peak pressure, and tympanometric width were examined. Results No significant differences between right and left tympanometric indices were found (p > .05). Correlations between right and left tympanometric indices were positive and statistically significant (p Conclusions Critical differences for tympanometric indices can be used by clinicians to assess if ear asymmetries are statistically significant.
Non-thermal plasma-assisted hydrogenolysis of polyethylene to light hydrocarbons

Abstract Upcycling is an attractive approach for valorization of waste plastics to valuable chemicals. Here we report the first case study of non-thermal plasma-assisted hydrogenolysis of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) to C1-C3 hydrocarbons. Light alkanes, predominately CH4, C2H6 and C3H8 with >95% selectivity, were obtained under ambient condition as result of favorable thermodynamics and fast reaction kinetics. The findings demonstrated that hydrogenolysis that typically demands above 300 °C with thermal catalysis can occur at room temperature in assistance of non-thermal plasma. This proof-of-concept study showcases a novel strategy for upcycling of plastics to valuable hydrocarbons under ambient condition.
Chinese Economic Growth: Sources and Prospects

China's impressive growth is rooted in the liberalization of a surplus labor economy that has a high saving rate. The reallocation of surplus agriculture labor to industry and service sectors generates a growth effect that shows up in total factor productivity (TFP) growth. Net TFP, the resulting residual, contains the true measure of technological progress (among other effects). Taking account of mismeasurement problems, especially of value added in the industry sector, I calculated a plausible range of estimates for each source of growth. My point estimates for each of their contribution to the average annual 9.3 percent growth rate in the 1979-93 period growth rate in the 1985-93 subperiod are, respectively: 1979-93 1985-93------- -------4.9 5.5 percentage points from capitalaccumulation 1.3 1.1 percentage points from labor forceexpansion 1.1 1.3 percentage points from reallocationof labor from agriculture 0.2 0.3 percentage points from inconsistentuse of base prices 0.5-0.7 0.9-1.2 percentage points from overstatementof industrial growth 1.1-1.3 0.3-0.6 percentage points from net TFPgrowth
Intraductal Papilloma of the Breast: Prevalence of Malignancy and Natural History Under Active Surveillance

The optimal management of intraductal papillomas (IPs) without atypia diagnosed on needle core biopsy (NCB) is unclear. This study analyzed the malignancy risk of immediately excised IPs and characterized the behavior of IPs under active surveillance (AS). We retrospectively reviewed the pathology and imaging records of patients diagnosed with IPs without atypia on NCB during a 10-year period (1999–2019). The malignancy upgrade rate was assessed in patients who had an immediate surgical excision, and the rates of both radiographic progression and development of malignancy were assessed in a cohort of patients undergoing AS. The inclusion criteria were met in 152 patients with 175 IPs with a mean age of 51 ± 13 years. The average size of the IPs on initial imaging was 8 ± 4 mm. Most of the lesions (57%, n = 99) were immediately excised, whereas 76 (43%) underwent AS with interval imaging with a median follow-up period of 15 months (range, 5–111 months). Among the immediately excised IPs, surgical pathology revealed benign findings in 97% (n = 96) and ductal carcinoma in situ in 3% (n = 3). In the AS cohort, 72% (n = 55) of the IPs remained stable, and 25% (n = 19) resolved or decreased in size. At 2 years, 4% had increased in size on imaging and were subsequently excised, with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS, n = 1) and benign pathology (n = 1) noted on final pathology. In a large series of breast IPs without atypia, no invasive carcinoma was observed after immediate excision, and 96% of the lesions had not progressed on AS. This suggests that patients with IP shown on NCB can safely undergo AS, with surgery reserved for radiographic lesion progression.
Making Modern Muslim Women: The ‘Aisyiyah-Muhammadiyah Madrasah Perempuan Berkemajuan Program

This paper examines religious and social dimensions of the ‘Aisyiyah Madrasah Perempuan Berkemajuan (I. MPB – Women’s Progressive Madrasah) program. MPB is a cadre building program designed to educate members and followers about the ‘Aisyiah /Muhammadiyah’s religious and social agendas, deepen their commitment to them and strengthen collective identities based on them. It is an integral component of larger efforts to promote the recently rediscovered and redefined concept of Islam Berkemajuan (Progressive Islam) that was originally formulated in the opening decades of the twentieth century and to use it as a tool for countering efforts by conservative and extremist organizations to “infiltrate” Muhammadiyah institutions and gain adherents, especially among Muhammadiyah youth. It is also an effort to provide a wasathiyah (A. middle way) alternative to what van Bruinessen describes as “The Conservative Turn” in Indonesian Islam.
Psychological Healthcare Burden Lessens After Hip Arthroscopy for Those With Comorbid Depression or Anxiety

Purpose In this study, we investigated whether patients undergoing arthroscopic treatment of femoral acetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) seek health care for treatment of comorbid depression and anxiety in the year following hip arthroscopy. Methods Using the Truven Health Marketscan database, FAIS patients who underwent hip arthroscopy between January 2009 and December 2016 were identified. Claims related to depression or anxiety filed during the year before surgery were required for inclusion. Using claims for pharmaceutical and psychological therapy treatments for mental health disorders, four groups of patients were analyzed on the basis of preoperative anxiety/depression treatment: medication only, therapy only, medication + therapy, and no treatment. Number of opioid pain prescriptions within 180 days prior to surgery and >90 days after hip arthroscopy were also compared. Results Depression and anxiety claims were identified in 5,208/14,830 (35.1%) patients. Preoperative treatment for depression and anxiety included medication only (n = 648, 12.4%), therapy only (n = 899, 17.3%), medication + therapy (n = 252, 4.8%), and no treatment (n = 3,409, 65.5%). Of the 900 patients who filled an anxiety/depression-related prescription prior to surgery, 422 (46.9%) patients did not fill a similar prescription in the postoperative year. Of the 1,151 patients receiving anxiety/depression-related therapy prior to surgery, 549 (47.7%) did not receive therapy in the postoperative year. Preoperative opioid prescriptions were filled for 393 patients (60.6%) in medication-only group, 275 (30.6%) in therapy-only group, 156 (61.9%) in medication + therapy group, and 1,059 (31.1%) in the group receiving no treatment. Opioid prescriptions >90 days postoperatively were filled for 330 (50.9%), 225 (25.0%), 120 (47.6%), and 861 (25.3%) patients, respectively. Conclusion Hip arthroscopy for FAIS is associated with a decreased postoperative use of health care resources for the treatment of depression and anxiety. Clinicians should also be aware of the potential interplay between preoperative psychotropic medication use and prolonged opioid use when counseling patients. Level of Evidence IV, therapeutic case series
Effectiveness of Continuous Hypertonic Saline in Acute Ischemic Infarcts: A Radiographic and Clinical Evaluation.

Objective The role of continuous hypertonic saline (HS) infusion in the management of malignant cerebral edema is controversial. We evaluated patients presenting with large anterior circulation territory infarcts and compared radiographic and clinical outcomes to evaluate the effects of continuous HS. Methods This was a retrospective review of patients with malignant ischemic strokes who were initially managed with continuous HS versus routine medical management. Radiographic parameters of cerebral edema and clinical parameters were collected at different time intervals after admission. Rates and timing of surgery, mortality, and complications were also collected. Results The study included 43 patients: 26 in group 1 (HS) and 17 in group 2 (no HS). Both cohorts had comparable baseline clinical and radiographic parameters. There was no difference between rates and timing of surgery, complications, and mortality. Mean midline shift was significantly greater in the HS group at interval 1 (12–36 hours, P = 0.003) and interval 2 (36–60 hours, P = 0.030), and mean change in midline shift from initial interval to interval 1 was significantly greater in the HS group (P = 0.019). Conclusions Despite the widespread use of continuous HS in acute ischemic infarcts, only a limited number of studies have evaluated its efficacy, and virtually no studies have studied its effect on radiographic progression and rates of decompressive surgery. Results of this study indicate that there is no benefit of continuous HS. In fact, there may be worsening of cerebral edema with administration of continuous HS. In addition, there are no differences in prevention or delay of decompressive surgery or in overall mortality.
Association between WWOX/MAF variants and dementia-related neuropathologic endophenotypes.

Abstract The genetic locus containing the WWOX and MAF genes was implicated as a clinical Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk locus in two recent large meta-analytic genome wide association studies (GWAS). In a prior GWAS, we identified a variant in WWOX as a suggestive risk allele for hippocampal sclerosis (HS). We hypothesized that the WWOX/MAF locus may be preferentially associated with non-plaque- and non-tau-related neuropathological changes (NC). Data from research participants with GWAS and autopsy measures from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC) and the Religious Orders Study and the Rush Memory and Aging Project (ROSMAP) were meta-analyzed. Notably, no variants in the locus were significantly associated with ADNC. However, several WWOX/MAF variants had significant adjusted associations with limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy NC (LATE-NC), HS, and brain arteriolosclerosis. These associations remained largely unchanged after adjustment for ADNC (operationalized with standard semiquantitative staging), suggesting that these associations are independent of ADNC. Thus, WWOX genetic variants associated with clinical AD-type dementia phenotype were associated pathologically with LATE-NC related brain changes, not ADNC.
Moment reduction due to oxygen contamination of Fe/sub 35/Co/sub 65/

Summary form only given. Obtaining high moment sputtered thin films with soft properties requires small grains with good exchange coupling between the grains. Contamination of grain boundaries during deposition will significantly degrade magnetic softness and reduce magnetic moment. In this work, we report on such contamination induced by substrate bias during sputter deposition of Fe/sub 35/Co/sub 65/ films.
Chemotherapy: a successful application in abdominal fibromatosis.

The fibromatoses constitute a group of disorders denoted by a variety of classifying terms and characterized by fibroblastic proliferation with deposition of collagen and reticulin.1 The biologic behavior of these tumors is such that local proliferation with invasion of adjacent normal tissues occurs frequently. However, metastasis, if it ever occurs, is a rare event.1-3 Recommended treatment for fibromatosis has been largely surgical, allowing wide local margins to prevent recurrence.3-4 Such surgery, however, may not always be possible when the mass is nonresectable. Radiaction therapy is acquiring a recognized role in the management of fibromatosis,2-5 but its use is also limited by tumor location and potential toxicity to normal tissues.
Cytochrome P450/Models

Cytochrome P450 is a monooxygenase that contains an iron heme active site. This enzyme catalyzes the activation of molecular oxygen with the resulting insertion of one oxygen atom into organic substrates. In order to understand how this catalytic system functions, it is essential to know the structure of the active site and the changes that this catalytic center undergoes during its reaction cycle. Over the past 40 years, this has been a subject of intense research and has resulted in an abundance of both structural and mechanistic knowledge. Several researchers have succeeded in mimicking many of the properties of cytochrome P450 using synthetic porphyrins and genetically engineered mutants of other well-characterized heme proteins. Furthermore, the activity of P450 can be manipulated extensively through the use of genetic engineering and carefully constructed substrates. However, P450 researchers continue to ask the fundamental question: how does the enzyme activate dioxygen? The involvement of an oxoferryl porphyrin π-cation radical as the “active oxygen” intermediate in the P450 reaction cycle has long been suspected, but it has not yet been observed during dioxygen- and substrate-dependent turnover of the enzyme. Nonetheless, by focusing on the similarities between P450 enzymes and the peroxidases, a significantly higher degree of understanding of P450 mechanism of action has been developed. Keywords: heme-iron; cytochrome P450; monooxygenase; oxygen rebound mechanism; ferric (hydro)peroxide; compound I; oxoferryl heme; thiolate-ligated heme-iron
Induced menstruation for metrorrhagia and amenorrhea.

Abstract 1.1. Progesterone has been given in various forms as 278 courses of treatment in seventy-six patients. 2.2. Antibleeding effects during metrorrhagia and withdrawal bleeding effects have been utilized in controlling metrorrhagia and amenorrhea. 3.3. Of eight patients with puberty metrorrhagia, four were apparently cured, one had recurrence after six months, and one developed amenorrhea. Two were not cured, being controlled only as long as progesterone was given. 4.4. Of thirty cases with metrorrhagia after puberty, thirteen were considered cured (seven received thyroid). 5.5. Of seven patients with primary amenorrhea, one was cured. This patient had an estrogenic vaginal mucosa before treatment and probably had only delayed menarche. 6.6. Of thirty-one patients with secondary amenorrhea, eight have been considered improved or cured (five received thyroid). 7.7. Progesterone produces a menstruating type of endometrium with fragmentation and necrosis, which apparently clears the uterus of the superficial layers of endometrium. 8.8. This useful procedure controls bleeding accurately, but cure apparently depends on spontaneous reversion to normal, aided in some cases by correction of abnormal weight changes, and the administration of thyroid as indicated.
Experimental study of the inductance of pinned vortices in superconducting YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 − δ films

Using a two-coil mutual inductance method, we have measured the complex resistivity ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{v}{(T,B}_{e})$ of pinned vortices in c-axis pulsed laser deposited ${\mathrm{YBa}}_{2}{\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{7\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\delta}}$ films with magnetic fields applied perpendicular to the film. At low frequencies (100 kHz) ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{v}$ is inductive and is inversely proportional to the Labusch parameter, the average vortex pinning force constant ${\ensuremath{\kappa}}_{\mathrm{exp}}.$ The observed weakening of ${\ensuremath{\kappa}}_{\mathrm{exp}}$ with increasing vortex density and temperature is consistent with a simple model based on extended pinning defects. We conclude that the effective radius of the defects is about 3\char21{}8 \AA{}, and that, thermal supercurrent (phase) fluctuations have their full classical amplitude down to 5 K in the bandwidth set by the characteristic depinning frequency.
Modeling trip duration for mobile source emissions forecasting

Metropolitan area trip durations are an important input for estimating area-wide running loss emissions, operating mode fractions, and vehicle miles traveled accumulated on local roads in the region. This paper discusses the formulation and implementation of a methodology for modeling trip durations. The approach develops a log-linear regression model of trip duration as a function of trip purpose, time of day of the trip start, and other land use and socio-demographic characteristics of the zone of trip start, using vehicle trip data from household travel surveys and supplemental zonal demographic and land use data. A distinguishing characteristic of the methodology is the straightforward manner in which model parameters estimated from vehicle trip data can be applied to obtain zonal-level trip duration distributions. The modeling framework is applied to develop trip duration distributions for the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas.
Estimating the Production Efficiency of US Foreign Direct Investment

This paper empirically estimates the efficiency of outward US foreign direct investment (FDI) within the framework of economies of scale, which is hypothesized as a main goal of ‘efficiency-seeking’ multinationals. By using data for the period 1982–2007 and a nonhomogeneous production, the estimates of efficiency indicate an improvement in efficiency from decreasing to increasing returns to scale. The increasing productivity of both capital and labor is a contributory factor. Evidence of increasing elasticity of factor substitution attests to management use of a flexible production technology that enables efficient resource allocation. The results lend support to the ‘efficiency-seeking’ hypothesis of FDI. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND HEAT RESISTANCE OF SOME AEROBIC BACTERIAL SPORES

Walker, Homer W. (Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Ames), Jack R. Matches, and John C. Ayres. Chemical composition and heat resistance of some aerobic bacterial spores. J. Bacteriol. 82:960-966. 1961.-Analyses of spores of Bacillus species for nitrogen, carbohydrate, dipicolinic acid, and phosphorus showed little correlation with heat resistance. However, as the molar concentration of magnesium increased in relation to dipicolinic acid and calcium concentrations, heat resistance generally decreased. Analyses of several batches of spores indicated that this relationship between calcium, magnesium, and dipicolinic acid did not always hold true. Therefore, while these materials apparently play an important role, other factors need to be included before a full explanation of thermal stability of spores can be made.
Baltic EI and depalatalization

Abstract The author posits that in word final position the Common Baltic group ∗∗∗- Cjai > ∗∗- Cei > ∗- Cei , i.e. in the final step palatalization was lost. Etymological depalatalization is found in those cases where East Baltic ∗- Cei passed to ∗- Cie , cf. nom. pl. masc. pesti pestie pestjai and in the dat. sg. of - e stem nound, e.g. vertei vertjai . In some cases the palatalized consonants have been restored by analogy, e.g. valdžiai (not ∗ valdei as our theory supposes) with dž on the basis of the nom. sg. valdžia . The ∗- ē (Lith. - e ) stem nouns owe their origin to analogy with the ∗- ā stems, i.e. - Cai is to ∗- Cā as - Cei is to ∗- Cē .
Remediation at the Community College: Pressing Issues, Uncertain Solutions

Community colleges welcome traditional-age and adult students who are not prepared to do college-level work, but there is a lack of consensus about how they should be assessed, placed, and taught.
Team-based learning instruction for responsible conduct of research positively impacts ethical decision-making.

Common practices for responsible conduct of research (RCR) instruction have recently been shown to have no positive impact on and possibly to undermine ethical decision-making (EDM). We show that a team-based learning (TBL) RCR curriculum results in some gains in decision ethicality, the use of more helpful metacognitive reasoning strategies in decision-making, and elimination of most negative effects of other forms of RCR instruction on social–behavioral responses. TBL supports the reasoning strategies and social mechanisms that underlie EDM and ethics instruction, and may provide a more effective method for RCR instruction than lectures and small group discussion.
PDE-based reconstruction of the cerebral cortex from MR images

The topologically correct and geometrically accurate reconstruction of the cerebral cortex from magnetic resonance (MR) images is an important step in quantitative analysis of the human brain structure, e.g. in cortical thickness measurement studies. Limited resolution of MR images, noise, intensity inhomogeneities, and partial volume effects can all contribute to geometrical inaccuracies and topological errors in the model of cortical surfaces. For example, unresolved touching banks of gray matter (GM) in narrow sulci pose a particular challenge for an automated algorithm, requiring specific steps for the recovery of separating boundaries. We present a method for the automated reconstruction of the cortical compartment from MR images. The method is based on several partial differential equation (PDE) modelling stages. First, a potential field is computed in an electrostatic model with GM posing as an insulating dielectric layer surrounding a charged conductive white matter (WM) object. Second, geodesic distances from WM along the streamlines of the potential field are computed in a Eulerian framework PDE. Third, a digital skeleton surface separating GM sulcal banks is derived by finding shocks in the distance field. At the last stage, a geometric deformable model based on the level set PDE is used to reconstruct the outer cortical surface by advection along the gradient of the distance or potential field. The rule preserving the digital topology, and the skeleton of the distance field resolving fused adjacent banks in sulci, constrain the deformable model evolution. In addition, the deformable model may use the distance field as a constraint on thickness of the reconstructed cortical layer.
Increased nonspecific resistance to malaria produced by administration of killed Corynebacterium parvum

Abstract The prior injection of dead Corynebacterium parvum , a potent RES stimulant, increases resistance of mice subsequently challenged with sporozoites of P. berghei . The pretreatment consisted of one or more intravenous injections of a suspension of heat-killed C. parvum containing the equivalent of 220 gamma of dry bacillar body. It was effective when it preceded by one to three weeks the sporozoite inoculation. This resulted in total protection of a considerable number of animals against the inoculation of 5,000 sporozoites of P. berghei , and in a delayed infection in all the other pretreated mice. These animals also survived longer than the controls. A small number of pretreated animals completely overcame this otherwise invariably fatal infection. The effects of this pretreatment and the possible mechanism producing this nonspecific increase of resistance against the malaria infection are discussed.
The effect of ethnicity, gender, eye color and wavelength on the biometric menagerie

Ever since the discovery by Doddington, et al. that the vast majority of biometric errors come from a relatively small number of “weak users”, significant research has been devoted to understanding and correcting for the so called biometric menagerie problem. The majority of work in this area revolves around the assumption that match scores are partially dependent on the particular subjects involved in the comparison operation. The focus of this research is to promote a fundamental shift in this understanding by demonstrating that identification rates are noticeably affected by certain intrinsic properties of the subject, such as his or her ethnicity, gender and eye color as well as characteristics of the image, notably the wavelength of light utilized by the sensor. To support these claims, a unique data collection in which these variables are controlled is created. Experiments involving this dataset indicate significant differences in match score behavior as these factors change throughout the subject pool. These results are crucially important to understanding the expected performance of iris biometric systems as they are utilized on larger and more diverse population sets.
A universal lossless compressor with side information based on context tree weighting

This paper proposes a new algorithm based on the context-tree weighting method for universal compression of a finite-alphabet sequence x1 n with side information y1 n available to both the encoder and decoder. We prove that with probability one the compression ratio converges to the conditional entropy rate for jointly stationary ergodic sources. Experimental results with Markov chains and English texts show the effectiveness of the algorithm
Calibration of capacitance probe sensors in a saline silty clay soil

Capacitance probe sensors are a popular electromagnetic method of measuring soil water content. However, there is concern about the influence of soil salinity on the sensor readings. In this study capacitance sensors are calibrated for a saline silty clay soil. An electric circuit model is used to relate the sensor's resonant frequency F to the permittivity () of the soil. The circuit model is able to account for the effect of dielectric losses on the resonant frequency. Dielectric mixing models and empirical models are used to relate the permittivity to the soil water content (). The results show that the electric circuit model does not fit the F?() data if the calibrated bulk electrical conductivity (EC) model is used. The dielectric losses are overestimated. Increasing the exponent c in the tortuosity factor of the bulk EC model and thereby lowering the bulk EC and the dielectric losses improves the performance of the model. Measured and calculated volumetric water contents compare reasonably well (R2 = 0.884). However, only 73 out of 88 data points can be described. The rejected points are invariably at high water contents where the high dielectric losses result in the sensor frequency being insensitive to ().
Effect of Calf Contact on Hormonally Induced Lactation

Abstract The effect of a young calf on dairy cows undergoing hormonal inducement to lactate was investigated. Fourteen Holstein, Jersey, and Brown Swiss cows were paired and assigned randomly to two groups. Each cow received .1mg 17- β -estradiol and .25 mg/kg body weight progesterone daily for 7 days. A male Holstein calf under 14 days of age was placed with each cow of one group during induction and prior to milking while the other group served as a control. Milk production was recorded for the initial 90 days on 12 cows and for 305 days on 6 of the 12 cows. Milk secretion was induced successfully in that all cows produced in excess of 10 kg/day. First secretion was at 10.1±2.0 days for the control group and at 8.9±1.1 days for the experimental group. The control group had an extended 305-day mean production of 4292±390kg which was not significantly different from 4731±290kg for cows in the experimental group. Compared to the previous lactation, milk production was 55±8% for the control group and 63±3% for the experimental group. Six cows allowed to complete lactations produced at 80±2% of their previous lactations.
Strategies for Fault Tolerance in Multicomponent Applications

Abstract This paper discusses on-going work with the Integrated Plasma Simulator (IPS), a framework for coupled multiphysics simulations of plasmas, to allow simulations to run through the loss of nodes on which the simulation is executing. While many different techniques are available to improve the fault tolerance of computational science applications on high-performance computer systems, checkpoint/restart (C/R) remains virtually the only one that see widespread use in practice. Our focus here is to augment the traditional C/R approach with additional techniques that can provide a more localized and tailored response to faults based on the ability to restart failed tasks on an individual basis, and the use of information external to the application itself in order to guide decision-making, in many cases avoiding the need to stop and restart the entire simulation. This capability involves several features within the IPS framework, and leverages the Fault Tolerance Backplane, a publish/subscribe event service to disseminate fault-related information throughout HPC systems, to obtain information from the Reliability, Availability and Serviceability (RAS) subsystem of the HPC system. This work is described in the context of Cray XT-series computer systems for concreteness, but is applicable to other environments as well. As part of the analysis of this work, we discuss the requirements to generalize this approach to other complex simulation applications beyond the Integrated Plasma Simulator.
Analysis of a fence-free platinum etch process

Abstract In a previous study we describe a high flow, Cl2-rich dry etch (DE) process which yields fence-free Pt etch structures. In that work we identify the existence of a transient fence defect, and show that it can cause the formation of an extremely shallow sidewall in the fully etched structure. We now expand upon this effort by documenting how several of the key DE parameters individually influence the sidewall profile. Through a series of four experiments, we found that: (a) the inclusion of Ar into the Cl2/CF4 gas mix promotes the formation of fencing; (b) insufficient total gas flow induces DE cone formation localized to the sidewalls of the etched Pt electrodes; (c) the inclusion of CF4 in the gas mix is unnecessary; and (d) the choice of self-bias voltage influences the critical dimension control and sidewall angle of the etched Pt electrodes.
DEPENDENCE OF MONOCYTE CHEMOATTRACTANT PROTEIN 1 INDUCED HYPERALGESIA ON THE ISOLECTIN B4-BINDING PROTEIN VERSICAN

Abstract The type 1 chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1) has been implicated in the generation of inflammatory and neuropathic pain, but the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. Here we show that mechanical hyperalgesia induced by intradermal injection of MCP-1 in the rat is blocked by the intrathecal administration of isolectin B4 (IB4)-saporin, a selective neurotoxin for IB4+/Ret+-nociceptors. MCP-1-induced hyperalgesia is also attenuated by intrathecal antisense oligodeoxynucleotides targeting mRNA for versican, a molecule that binds MCP-1 and that also renders the Ret-expressing nociceptors IB4-positive (+). Finally, peripheral administration of ADAMTS-4 or chondroitinase ABC, two enzymes that disrupt versican integrity by the degradation of the versican core-protein or its chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycan side chains, respectively, also attenuated MCP-1 hyperalgesia at the site of nociceptive testing. We suggest that versican's glycosaminoglycan side chains present MCP-1 to a CCR2 expressing cell type in the skin that, in turn, selectively activates IB4+/Ret+ nociceptors, thereby contributing to enhanced mechanical sensitivity under inflammatory conditions.
Cytosolic Ca2+ pulses and protein kinase activation in the signal transduction pathways leading to the plant oxidative burst

The oxidative burst, the rapid production of O2- and H2O2 by plant cells in response to pathogens and Stressors, is a critical step in plant disease resistance and is controlled by several different elicitor-initiated signaling pathways. While different defense elicitors appear to activate disparate initial steps in signaling the oxidative burst, all of the elicitors tested thus far appear to stimulate pathways that converge on the same three core signaling intermediates: 1) the Ca2+-independent activation of a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family member, 2) the influx of Ca2+ into the cytosol, deriving most critically from an internal compartment, and 3) the Ca2+-dependent activation of additional protein kinases including a second MAPK homologue and possibly calcium dependent protein kinases (CDPKs). Data from several recent reports are summarized to place these signaling events into a complete and updated model of signaling to the plant oxidative burst.
Changes in daily serum corticosterone values in maturing male and female rats

Abstract Weanling age (day 22) Sprague-Dawley male and female rats were placed on a 14 hour light:10 hour dark cycle (lights on 6 a.m.–8 p.m.). Blood samples were obtained from alternate groups daily at noon (1200 hours) and 8 p.m. (2000 hours) by cardiac puncture. Serum corticosterone (compound B) was assayed by a microassay chemical procedure, sensitive to 2.5 ng B. In female rats, initial values were high, due perhaps to the stress of shipment and subsequent surgery (13.6±0.2 ug% at 1200 and 28.5±2.7 ug% at 2000 in controls and 29.9±0.3 ug% at 1200 and 27.2±6.7 ug% at 2000 in ovariectomized [OVX] rats). By day 25 noon values had fallen to the limit of the assay in both control and OVX rats (
MAGNET R&D FOR A FUTURE VLHC

Superconducting magnets are the underlying technology for all existing and future hadron colliders. A vigorous national R&D effort has been launched to improve magnet performance and reduce costs. Various designs are being considered including a low-field superferric magnet that could be the first step in a staged construction of a Very Large Hadron Collider. High-field magnets are being developed based on cosine-theta, block, and common-coil arrangements using both wind-and-react and react-and-wind fabrication techniques. A review of the different magnet R&D programs and the status of each is presented. An important part of the national effort is an R&D program to improve the performance and lower the cost of Nb3Sn superconducting wire.
MEMS fabrication perspectives from the MIT Microengine Project

Large-scale high power-density power sources, such as jet engines and turbines for electric power generation, are commonplace in engineering, yet no sources of corresponding power-density exist on a smaller scale. The MIT Microengine Project is an effort to address this situation by utilizing micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) technology to construct a family of microscale devices such as gas turbine engines, microrockets, micropumps, and electrical micromotors and microgenerators that attempt to bring the advantages of macro-scale engines to a more portable scale. Fabrication aspects of the project are discussed in this article, with emphasis on the challenges involved in fabricating complex pieces of microturbomachinery that must sustain combustion pressures and temperatures, high rotational speeds, and be machined to micron tolerances.
Abstract 664: Polymerization of human βIII-tubulin is distinct from βI-tubulin in a cell-free system

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Tubulins are a family of proteins consisting of 7 α- and 6 β-tubulin isotypes. Many studies have demonstrated that tumors overexpressing βIII-tubulin have a poor response to chemotherapy. Suppression of βIII-tubulin sensitizes non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells to microtubule-interacting agents, such as Taxol. βIII-tubulin has also been shown to mediate the incidence and progression of lung cancer. Tubulin isotype content of βI-, βIII-, βIV- and βV-tubulin in the human lung carcinoma cell line A549 is 50%, 8%, 36.5%, and 5.5%, respectively. In our study, the ability of six microtubule stabilizing agents, Taxol, epothilone B (EpoB), discodermolide (Disco), Ixabepilone, laulimalide and peloruside A, to polymerize tubulin in a 100,000 × g supernatant prepared from A549 cells was examined. The level of different tubulin isotypes in the drug-polymerized tubulin was determined by Western blot analysis with tubulin isotype specific antibodies. In the absence of drug, the level of polymerized βI-, βIII-, βIV- and βV-tubulin was 55%, 9%, 25%, and 48%, respectively. Ten µM Taxol caused a smalll increase (<15%) in βI- and βV- tubulin polymerization, but it induced a 367% and 228% increase in βIII- and βIV-tubulin polymerization. Among the six drugs tested, Disco and EpoB exhibited the greatest ability to polymerize all isotypes. The differential βI- and βIII-tubulin polymerization effects also were observed when intact A549 cells were lysed in the presence of drugs, followed by centrifugation. In the absence of drug, the level of polymerized βI- and βIII-tubulin was 9% and 0.2%, respectively. In the presence of 10 µM Taxol, the level of polymerized βI- and βIII-tubulin was increased to 28% and 7% which corresponded to a 3- and 35-fold increase in βI- and βIII-tubulin polymerization, respectively. However, when purified bovine brain tubulin in the absence of all endogenous proteins was used, there was no differential effect of drugs on the polymerization of βI+II- and βIII-tubulin. The βI-, βII-, βIII-, and βIV-tubulin content in bovine brain is 3%, 58%, 25% and 14%, respectively. Disco and EpoB also have the strongest effects on the polymerization of all bovine brain tubulin isotypes. Our results indicate that polymerization of βIII-tubulin is distinct from that of βI-tubulin in a cell-free system and that endogenous cellular components may influence the polymerization of tubulin isotypes. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 664. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-664
Molecular Cochaperones: Tumor Growth and Cancer Treatment

Molecular chaperones play important roles in all cellular organisms by maintaining the proteome in an optimally folded state. They appear to be at a premium in cancer cells whose evolution along the malignant pathways requires the fostering of cohorts of mutant proteins that are employed to overcome tumor suppressive regulation. To function at significant rates in cells, HSPs interact with cochaperones, proteins that assist in catalyzing individual steps in molecular chaperoning as well as in posttranslational modification and intracellular localization. We review current knowledge regarding the roles of chaperones such as heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) and Hsp70 and their cochaperones in cancer. Cochaperones are potential targets for cancer therapy in themselves and can be used to assess the likely prognosis of individual malignancies. Hsp70 cochaperones Bag1, Bag3, and Hop play significant roles in the etiology of some cancers as do Hsp90 cochaperones Aha1, p23, Cdc37, and FKBP1. Others such as the J domain protein family, HspBP1, TTC4, and FKBPL appear to be associated with more benign tumor phenotypes. The key importance of cochaperones for many pathways of protein folding in cancer suggests high promise for the future development of novel pharmaceutical agents.