cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Single-cell microarray enables high-throughput evaluation of DNA double-strand breaks and DNA repair inhibitors

A key modality of non-surgical cancer management is DNA damaging therapy that causes DNA double-strand breaks that are preferentially toxic to rapidly dividing cancer cells. Double-strand break repair capacity is recognized as an important mechanism in drug resistance and is therefore a potential target for adjuvant chemotherapy. Additionally, spontaneous and environmentally induced DSBs are known to promote cancer, making DSB evaluation important as a tool in epidemiology, clinical evaluation and in the development of novel pharmaceuticals. Currently available assays to detect double-strand breaks are limited in throughput and specificity and offer minimal information concerning the kinetics of repair. Here, we present the CometChip, a 96-well platform that enables assessment of double-strand break levels and repair capacity of multiple cell types and conditions in parallel and integrates with standard high-throughput screening and analysis technologies. We demonstrate the ability to detect multiple genetic deficiencies in double-strand break repair and evaluate a set of clinically relevant chemical inhibitors of one of the major double-strand break repair pathways, non-homologous end-joining. While other high-throughput repair assays measure residual damage or indirect markers of damage, the CometChip detects physical double-strand breaks, providing direct measurement of damage induction and repair capacity, which may be useful in developing and implementing treatment strategies with reduced side effects.
Fluorescence in situ hybridization of ductal lavage samples identifies malignant phenotypes from cytologically normal cells in women with breast cancer.

BACKGROUND. Ductal lavage (DL) does not routinely identify cytologically malignant cells. For this study, the authors asked whether molecular analyses of DL specimens from women with cancer would identify abnormal cells, even if they appeared cytologically normal. METHODS. DL was performed and yielded fluid in 29 of 45 consenting women who were undergoing breast cancer surgery. Array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was performed on the corresponding tumor tissue from 14 women. There was no single, common alteration; thus, bacterial artificial chromosome-specific fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probes were selected based on CGH alterations. RESULTS. FISH copy number changes were detected in tumor sections in 9 women. In the corresponding 9 DL samples, 1 sample was clearly malignant on cytology, 1 showed marked atypia, 1 showed mild atypia, and the rest were benign. Five of the 9 DL samples had epithelial cells that showed genetic changes identical to those observed in the tumor by FISH. The remaining 4 of 9 DL samples that did not show molecular changes were probably (N = 1) or possibly (N = 3) from the same duct as the tumor. CONCLUSIONS. Although only 11% of the DL samples were identified as malignant cytologically, 55% showed molecular changes that were identical to those observed in the tumor. FISH was more sensitive for finding tumor in DL specimens than cytology. However, the ductal system in which the tumor was located did not always yield fluid, limiting the sensitivity of DL. The results from this study showed that genetic changes can be detected in the absence of morphologic changes in cytologically benign cells, but the application will be limited without a better approach for acquiring cells and a common set of probes for detecting molecular abnormalities that are found in breast malignancies. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Geometric correction of SEM images

While the resolution that can be achieved with scanning electron microscopy is unquestioned, the accuracy of any scientificmeasurements derived from scanning electron microscopes (SEM) are limited due to a variety of sources of distortion in themicroscope and the equipment setup. For this reason, SEM images are not often used for making geometric measurements.To facilitate such measurements, a consistent and accurate means of correcting geometric distortions using a piecewise affinetransform is described and implemented. This method works independently of specific microscope settings and thereforegeneralizes well to compensate for nearly any source of geometric distortion in images. The result is a technique that can beapplied with no knowledge of the distorting functions. The distortion correction routine is performed once on an image of acalibration standard, and the associated lookup table is used to correct all subsequent images. Collection of large amounts ofhigh quality data from scanning electron microscope imagery, even when many images are required to capture an entiresample, is now possible with automated correction and registration of adjacent images.
Anterior segment evaluation of infants with retinopathy of prematurity.

Abstract To understand the mechanisms of glaucoma in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), anterior segment evaluation is essential. The authors prospectively examined the anterior segment of 27 eyes of 17 premature infants with stages IV and V ROP. Twenty-six eyes received no previous surgery or treatment. Schiotz and applanation tonometry were performed. Structural evaluation of each anterior segment was conducted by biomicroscopy and Koeppe gonioscopy. In the 26 eyes, angle closure of greater than 180° was noted in 3 (12%). The authors noted prominent Schwalbe's line in 4 eyes (15%), high iris convexity in 15 (58%), hypopigmentation of the iris root in 19 (73%), translucent matrix in the angles ("Barkan's-type" membrane) in 18 (69%), posterior synechiae in 16 (62%), visible iris or angle vessels in 12 (46%), and pigment clumping in the angle recess in 12 (46%). This study identified structural abnormalities in the anterior segment of ROP infants, including pathologic changes and anatomic features that could have a developmental origin.
Fabrication of silicon-based nanoparticles for biological imaging

Fluorescent silicon nanomaterials have initiated great interest for their potential biological applications. In this paper, we report the synthesis of water-soluble, luminescent silicon nanoparticles with high quantum yield. The surfaces of the Si nanoparticles were capped by hydrophobic or hydrophilic organic molecules that passivate and protect the silicon particles from oxidation. The as-synthesized silicon nanoparticles displayed strong photoluminescence in the blue region of the visible spectrum. The attached organic molecules conveyed both water solubility and high stability, and coating had little adverse effect on the optical properties of nanoparticles. These results have major implications towards using colloidal silicon nanoparticles effectively in biological fluorescence imaging.
Application of a generalized multiproperty apparatus to measure phase equilibrium and vapor phase densities of supercritical carbon dioxide in n-hexadecane systems up to 26 MPa

Abstract A high pressure multi-property apparatus has been developed to measure several thermodynamic and transport properties. In this study the apparatus has been applied to measure phase and volumetric properties of supercritical carbon dioxide in hexadecane from low pressures to the very vicinity of the critical pressure. The experimental data have been successfully fitted over the entire range of the experiment using the Wilson—Wegner expansion including the use of the latter to obtain an improved estimate of the critical pressure and composition. The relation between the occurrence of multiple condensed phases (at some lower temperature) and supercritical extraction is discussed.
Networked sensors for the combat forces

Real-time and detailed information is critical to the success of ground combat forces. Current manned reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition (RSTA) capabilities are not sufficient to cover battlefield intelligence gaps, provide Beyond-Line-of-Sight (BLOS) targeting, and the ambush avoidance information necessary for combat forces operating in hostile situations, complex terrain, and conducting military operations in urban terrain. This paper describes a current US Army program developing advanced networked unmanned/unattended sensor systems to survey these gaps and provide the Commander with real-time, pertinent information. Networked Sensors for the Combat Forces plans to develop and demonstrate a new generation of low cost distributed unmanned sensor systems organic to the RSTA Element. Networked unmanned sensors will provide remote monitoring of gaps, will increase a unit’s area of coverage, and will provide the commander organic assets to complete his Battlefield Situational Awareness (BSA) picture for direct and indirect fire weapons, early warning, and threat avoidance. Current efforts include developing sensor packages for unmanned ground vehicles, small unmanned aerial vehicles, and unattended ground sensors using advanced sensor technologies. These sensors will be integrated with robust networked communications and Battle Command tools for mission planning, intelligence “reachback”, and sensor data management. The network architecture design is based on a model that identifies a three-part modular design: 1) standardized sensor message protocols, 2) Sensor Data Management, and 3) Service Oriented Architecture. This simple model provides maximum flexibility for data exchange, information management and distribution. Products include: Sensor suites optimized for unmanned platforms, stationary and mobile versions of the Sensor Data Management Center, Battle Command planning tools, networked communications, and sensor management software. Details of these products and recent test results will be presented.
Lethal congenital arthrogryposis presents with increased nuchal translucency at 10-14 weeks of gestation

This study examines the ultrasonographic features of congenital lethal arthrogryposis. In 27 cases of arthrogryposis diagnosed in the second and third trimesters there was severe bilateral talipes, fixed flexion deformities of the wrists and elbows and either fixed flexion or extension of the knees. In seven (26%) of the cases there was nuchal edema. In two fetuses with arthrogryposis that were examined at 13 weeks of gestation the nuchal translucency thickness was above the 99th centile of the normal range for crown-rump length. In three other women with previously affected pregnancies, ultrasound examination at 10-14 weeks demonstrated normal fetal nuchal translucency thickness and none of these fetuses were subsequently found to have arthrogryposis. These findings suggest that lethal arthrogryposis, which is usually diagnosed by the demonstration of multiple joint contractures during the second or third trimester of pregnancy, may present as increased nuchal translucency thickness at 10-14 weeks of gestation.
Early intravitreal treatment of endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis.

Background: There are currently no standardized treatment guidelines for endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis. We report the long-term outcomes of early intravitreal treatment of endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis, defined as intravitreal and systemic antibiotics administered within 24 h of diagnosis, with conservative use of pars plana vitrectomy. Design: Interventional retrospective case series. Participants: Consecutive patients treated for culture-proven endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis between 2001 and 2008 at the Weill Cornell Medical Center. Methods: The clinical records of 18 eyes from 13 patients were reviewed. Main Outcome Measures: Visual acuity. Results: Mean age at presentation was 61 (25–85) years. All patients had underlying medical conditions. Extraocular infectious foci were identified in nine (69%) patients, with endocarditis being the most common. Gram-positive organisms were identified in 12 (92%) patients, including five with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. No cases were misdiagnosed. Final visual acuities of better than 6/120 and counting fingers were achieved in 6 (55%) and 7 (64%) of 11 eyes, respectively. Longer time between onset of ocular symptoms and intravitreal antibiotic injection correlated with worse visual outcomes (P < 0.05) and was associated with mortality (P < 0.05). Mortality was also associated with methicillin-resistant S. aureus infection (P < 0.05). Of those with follow up longer than 1 year, retinal detachment developed in 3 of 10 eyes (30%) after the acute infection, and cataract developed in 6 of 9 (67%) phakic eyes. Mean follow up was 146 (4–313) weeks. Conclusions: Intravitreal antibiotics for endogenous bacterial endophthalmitis administered within 24 h to supplement immediate systemic antibiotics may provide a relatively favourable visual prognosis.
Productive Pleasures: Episodes of a Critical Public in Cuban Dance

As ephemeral as the social effects of dance may be, still more elusive are the embodiments of a critical public. The publics so dear to democratic practice so often appear only metonymically in rul...
Transfusion-related acute lung injury

Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is a life-threatening adverse event of transfusion, which has an increasing incidence in the United States and is the leading cause of transfusion-related death. TRALI and acute lung injury (ALI) share a common clinical definition except that TRALI is temporally- and mechanistically-related to transfusion of blood or blood components. A number of different models have been proposed to explain the pathogenesis. The first is an antibody-mediated event whereby transfusion of anti-HLA, class I or class II, or anti-granulocyte antibodies into patients whose leukocytes express the cognate antigens. The antibody:antigen interaction causes complement-mediated pulmonary sequestration and activation of neutrophils (PMNs) resulting in TRALI. The second is a two-event model: the first event is the clinical condition of the patient resulting in pulmonary endothelial activation and PMN sequestration, and the second event is the transfusion of a biologic response modifier (including anti-granulocyte antibodies, lipids, and CD40 ligand) that activates these adherent PMNs resulting in endothelial damage, capillary leak, and TRALI. These hypotheses are discussed with respect to animal models and human studies that provide the experimental and clinical relevance. The definition of TRALI, patient predisposition, treatment, prevention and reporting guidelines are also examined.
Mapping the Terrain of Work/Family Journals:

An expanding body of published research addresses the relationship between paid employment and commitments to kin, an area referred to as work/family research. Largely relying on an electronic database located at Boston College, the authors analyze the prevalence of relevant articles in various journals and the extent of the likely audience for such articles in those journals in an attempt to obtain a well-defined map. The analysis yields rankings of journals. The rankings demonstrate the interdisciplinary nature of the field and highlight the need for researchers to read across disciplines but are unstable. For this and other reasons, the authors recommend reliance on an unranked set of 23 core journals.
Anomaly detection for resilient control systems using fuzzy-neural data fusion engine

Resilient control systems in critical infrastructures require increased cyber-security and state-awareness. One of the necessary conditions for achieving the desired high level of resiliency is timely reporting and understanding of the status and behavioral trends of the control system. This paper describes the design and development of a fuzzy-neural data fusion system for increased state-awareness of resilient control systems. The proposed system consists of a dedicated data fusion engine for each component of the control system. Each data fusion engine implements three-layered alarm system consisting of: 1) conventional threshold-based alarms, 2) anomalous behavior detector using self-organizing maps, and 3) prediction error based alarms using neural network based signal forecasting. The proposed system was integrated with a model of the Idaho National Laboratory Hytest facility, which is a testing facility for hybrid energy systems. Experimental results demonstrate that the implemented data fusion system provides timely plant performance monitoring and cyber-state reporting.
Beyond the gold and pray equation: introducing interrelationships in industry-level unit demand equations for business games

Product unit demand is determined by many factors in business simulations; among these are the marketing variables of price, place, promotion, and quality. In the actual marketplace, however, these variables are not independent as is assumed by many simulation algorithms in the literature. This article discusses the need for and development of a two-attribute multiple-market-segment industry-level unit demand equation that explicitly includes the correlation between the two variables that affect demand (price and promotion) that form the domain of the unit demand equation for the model described in this article.
Calculating Error Probabilities for Intersymbol and Cochannel Interference

The probability of error in a binary symmetric channel with intersymbol interference and additive noise is efficiently calculated by numerical quadrature of a Laplace inversion integral along a contour in the complex plane passing through a saddlepoint of the integrand. For Gaussian noise, a bound is set on the truncation error incurred by necessarily restricting the integration to a finite interval. The probability of error resulting from cochannel interference is calculated by a similar technique.
Environmentally Controlled Fatigue Crack-Growth Rates in SAE 4340 Steel—Temperature Effects

The temperature dependence of sustained-loading and corrosion-fatigue crack-propagation behavior of SAE 4340 steel immersed in distilled water was investigated using the fracture mechanics approach. During the load cycle, stress-intensity histories had values higher than the static threshold stress intensity (KIscc ). For a stress-intensity range of 20 ksi in., a factor of 30 increase in the corrosion-fatigue crack-growth rate was noted for a temperature increase of 70 deg C. The mechanical variables were found to have much less influence than the environmental reaction rate. In contrast with dry air results, the fatigue crack-growth rate in a distilled water environment was dependent on the mean stress-intensity for stress-intensity histories above KIscc . This dependence varied with temperature level.
Salivary Gland Function and Aging: A Model for Studying the Interaction of Aging and Systemic Disease

This review describes an approach to examining the interaction of aging and systemic disease on a key aspect of oral physiology, salivation. The approach requires several steps: defining general health, and a specific physiological function, at different ages; defining a disease of interest and the influence of the disease on the specific physiological function; and determining if the disease can affect performance of the physiological function with increased age.
Intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species Mediate the Linkage of Na+/K+-ATPase to Hypertrophy and its Marker Genes in Cardiac Myocytes

We showed before that in cardiac myocytes partial inhibition of Na+/K+-ATPase by nontoxic concentrations of ouabain causes hypertrophy and transcriptional regulations of growth-related marker genes through multiple Ca2+-dependent signal pathways many of which involve Ras and p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinases. The aim of this work was to explore the roles of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in these ouabain-initiated pathways. Ouabain caused a rapid generation of ROS within the myocytes that was prevented by preexposure of cells to N-acetylcysteine (NAC) or vitamin E. These antioxidants also blocked or attenuated the following actions of ouabain: inductions of the genes of skeletal alpha-actin and atrial natriuretic factor, repression of the gene of the alpha3-subunit of Na+/K+-ATPase, activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases, activation of Ras-dependent protein synthesis, and activation of transcription factor NF-kappaB. Induction of c-fos and activation of AP-1 by ouabain were not sensitive to NAC. Ouabain-induced inhibition of active Rb+ uptake through Na+/K+-ATPase and the resulting rise in intracellular Ca2+ were also not prevented by NAC. A phorbol ester that also causes myocyte hypertrophy did not increase ROS generation, and its effects on marker genes and protein synthesis were not affected by NAC. We conclude the following: (a) ROS are essential second messengers within some but not all signal pathways that are activated by the effect of ouabain on Na+/K+-ATPase; (b) the ROS-dependent pathways are involved in ouabain-induced hypertrophy; (c) increased ROS generation is not a common response of the myocyte to all hypertrophic stimuli; and (d) it may be possible to dissociate the positive inotropic effect of ouabain from its growth-related effects by alteration of the redox state of the cardiac myocyte.
The persistent problem of lead poisoning in birds from ammunition and fishing tackle

Lead (Pb) is a metabolic poison that can negatively influence biological processes, leading to illness and mortality across a large spectrum of North American avifauna (.120 species) and other organisms. Pb poisoning can result from numerous sources, including ingestion of bullet fragments and shot pellets left in animal carcasses, spent ammunition left in the field, lost fishing tackle, Pb-based paints, large-scale mining, and Pb smelting activities. Although Pb shot has been banned for waterfowl hunting in the United States (since 1991) and Canada (since 1999), Pb exposure remains a problem for many avian species. Despite a large body of scientific literature on exposure to Pb and its toxicological effects on birds, controversy still exists regarding its impacts at a population level. We explore these issues and highlight areas in need of investigation: (1) variation in sensitivity to Pb exposure among bird species; (2) spatial extent and sources of Pb contamination in habitats in relation to bird exposure in those same locations; and (3) interactions between avian Pb exposure and other landscape-level stressors that synergistically affect bird demography. We explore multiple paths taken to reduce Pb exposure in birds that (1) recognize common ground among a range of affected interests; (2) have been applied at local to national scales; and (3) engage governmental agencies, interest groups, and professional societies to communicate the impacts of Pb ammunition and fishing tackle, and to describe approaches for reducing their availability to birds. As they have in previous times, users of fish and wildlife will play a key role in resolving the Pb poisoning issue.
Implications of complete coherence in the space-frequency domain

It was shown not long ago that complete spatial coherence of light at a pair of points in the space-time domain may be interpreted as a manifestation of so-called "statistical similarity" between the fluctuating field at the two points. In this Letter, we consider complete spatial coherence at a pair of points in the space-frequency domain and derive a condition that the field at those points must obey. We illustrate the usefulness of the condition by an example.
Spatial expression of ENSO, drought, and summer monsoon in seasonal δ13C of ponderosa pine tree rings in southern Arizona and New Mexico

[1] Major climatic impacts from ENSO and the North American Monsoon in the U.S. Southwest provide fortuitous circumstances for exploring the suitability of stable-carbon isotope (δ13C) composition of tree rings to represent and reconstruct interannual climate variability. We sampled ponderosa pine tree rings at eight sites in seven mountain ranges over a 500-km transect in southern Arizona and New Mexico. We developed δ13C chronologies for 1985–1995 by subdividing rings into pre- and post-monsoon-onset segments based on the presence of a false-latewood band in each ring induced by the arid period immediately preceding the summer monsoon, pooling these segments from multiple trees at each site, and analyzing the cellulose component. Chronologies from two subsets of trees from the same site and separate chronologies from two different sites in the same mountain range indicate strong coherence and signal reproducibility. Additionally, the seasonal δ13C patterns showed remarkable coherence across the transect, with the spatially disjunct easternmost chronology tending to be most frequently dissimilar. The δ13C values of ring subdivisions before the false-latewood band are generally positively correlated with winter Southern Oscillation Indices (SOI), resulting from the ENSO teleconnection with southwestern winter/early spring precipitation. The δ13C from these sites correlates with monthly Palmer Drought Severity Indices (PDSI), with the strongest correlations occurring in progressively later months from first-formed to last-formed subdivisions. The post-false latewood subdivision δ13C was particularly strongly correlated with summer precipitation amount. These results confirm the strong influence of moisture on tree ring δ13C and support their use in both temporal and spatial modes to infer past climate variability.
Effect of Enzymatic and Chemical Treatments on Feather Solubility and Digestibility

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of chemical and enzymatic approaches to digest poultry feathers from dead birds for the purpose of recycling their nutrients as animal feeds. The experimental treatments were as follows: 1) control, 2) 24-h enzyme, 3) 24-h NaOH, 4) 2-h NaOH, and 5) 2-h NaOH and 24-h enzyme. The feather N solubilities of the control, 24-h enzyme, 24-h NaOH, 2-h NaOH, and 2-h NaOH and 24-h enzyme treatments were 0.91, 2.55, 78.83, 30.03, and 50.34%, respectively. The pepsin digestibilities of unsolubilized feather residues from the control, 24-h enzyme, 2-h NaOH, and 2-h NaOH and 24-h enzyme treatments were 4.67, 13.19, 55.83, and 59.08%, respectively. The in vitro amino acid digestibilities of the 2-h NaOH and 24-h enzyme treatment were significantly higher than the 24-h enzyme or 2-h NaOH (P < 0.05), except for alanine, whereas the 2-h NaOH treatment had significantly higher amino acid digestibility than the 24-h enzyme treatment (P < 0.05), except for methionine and histidine. Costs per kilogram of solubilized feather for the 24-h enzyme, 24-h NaOH, 2-h NaOH, and 2-h NaOH and 24-h enzyme treatments were $9.64, 4.72, 12.39, and 22.97, respectively. The results indicated that prolonged incubation with NaOH improved feather solubility, whereas further enzyme treatment after NaOH treatment increased feather solubility, pepsin digestibility, and in vitro amino acid digestibility.
The insulin-like growth factor-I receptor: Implications for the aging process

Aging is associated with decreased levels of growth hormone and both circulating and local levels of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). The decline in IGF-I has been postulated to be important in both physiological aging and pathological states that are seen with aging. In parallel, inappropriate apoptosis is thought to play a role in some of these same processes. In experimental models, IGF-I signalling through the IGF-I receptor confers a protective effect from apoptosis. This review summarizes the results of studies documenting the IGF-I anti-apoptotic effect in neuronal model systems. The known downstream signalling cascades that mediate this signal are beginning to be elucidated; these include MAP kinase and Akt. In addition, IGF-I prevents the reduction of anti-apoptotic proteins of the bcl-2 family induced by hyperosmotic conditions in cultured neuronal cells. IGF-I has been shown to positively impact on tau, the microtubule-associated protein, possibly preventing the degradation of proteins tha...
Pre-operative unintentional weight loss as a risk factor for surgical outcomes after elective surgery in patients with disseminated cancer

Abstract Background With improvement in survival, elective surgical procedures are being increasingly performed on patients with metastatic disease. We aimed to study the association of pre-operative unintentional weight loss (UWL) with operative outcomes in this patient population. Methods We extracted data on all patients with disseminated cancer undergoing elective surgeries between 2005 and 2011 from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP), along with the Current Procedure Terminology (CPT) codes. Based on the presence of unintentional weight loss of >10% body weight in the 6-month period preceding surgery, patients were divided into 2 cohorts – (1) patients with UWL (‘UWL' cohort) and (2) patients without UWL (‘No UWL') cohort. Differences in patient characteristics, co-morbid conditions and outcomes were compared. Results There were 30,669 surgeries recorded under 1,638 CPT codes, with 8,436 surgeries involving the eight most common CPT codes. UWL was present in 11.5% of all patients. UWL patients were more commonly (P Conclusion UWL is an independent risk factor associated with increased morbidity and mortality following elective surgeries in patients with disseminated cancer.
Auditory List Memory in Rhesus Monkeys

Auditory memory of 2 rhesus monkeys was tested in a serial probe recognition task. Lists of four environmental or natural sounds were followed by a retention interval and a test. The test matched one of the list items on half of the trials. The retention interval was varied across sessions. Six experiments showed similar results and changes in the serial position function. At short retention intervals, there was good memory for first list items (primacy effect) and poor memory for last list items. At intermediate retention intervals, memory improved for last list items (recency effect). At long retention intervals (20 s and 30 s), the recency effect was strong, and the primacy effect had dissipated. These auditory primacy and recency effects and their changes with retention interval were opposite to those for visual memory. Implications for processes and mechanisms of memory are discussed.
Design, fabrication, and analysis of a 3DOF, 3cm flapping-wing MAV

Significant advances in meso-scale prototyping are enabling rigid, articulated, and actuated microrobotic structures. Here, an elegant manufacturing paradigm is employed for the creation of a biologically- inspired flapping-wing micro air vehicle with similar dimensions to Dipteran insects. A novel wing transmission system is presented which contains one actuated and two passive degrees of freedom. The design and fabrication are detailed and the performance of the resulting structure is elucidated highlighting two key metrics: the wing trajectory and the thrust generated.
Nanocrystalline BaTiO3 from freeze-dried nitrate solutions

An aqueous, all nitrate, solution-based preparation of BaTiO3 is reported here. Rapid freezing of a barium and titanyl nitrate solution, followed by low temperature sublimitation of the solvent, yielded a freeze-dried nitrate precursor which was thermally processed to produce BaTiO3. XRD revealed that 10 min at temperatures ≧600 °C resulted in the formation of phase pure nanocrystalline BaTiO3. TEM revealed that the material was uniform and nanocrystalline (10–15 nm). The high surface to volume ratio inherent in these small particles stabilized the cubic phase of BaTiO3 at room temperature. It was also found that the average particle size of the BaTiO3 produced was highly dependent upon calcination temperature and only slightly dependent upon annealing time. This result suggests a means of selection of particle size of the product through judicious choice of calcination temperature. The experimental details of the freeze-dried precursor preparation, thermal processing of the precursor, product formation, and product morphology are discussed.
Structural analysis of the 17q22-23 amplicon identifies several independent targets of amplification in breast cancer cell lines and tumors.

A novel region of amplification in breast tumors has recently been identified on chromosome 17q22–23. In an effort to identify the oncogenes in the region that are targeted by the amplification process, we determined the structure of the amplicon in breast cancer cell lines and tumors. Physical and transcription maps of the ∼3.5-Mb region were established and used as the basis for copy number analysis within the region by Southern blot and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Seven specific and independent amplification maxima were identified in breast cancer cell lines and breast tumors. We present correlative amplification and overexpression studies for the FLJ21316 and Hs.6649 genes suggesting a role for these candidates as amplification-dependent oncogenes.
Asymptotic upper bound on the 3-to-3 amplitude

Unitarity and analyticity are used in the context of the multi-Regge hypothesis to imply an asymptotic upper bound on the 3-to-3 amplitude in the helicity-pole—Regge-pole limit. The derivation parallels the one used by Froissart for the 2-to-2 amplitude, but the presence of physical-region singularities and integral inequalities complicates the present case and makes the result rather heuristic.
Making Large Lectures Effective: An Effort to Increase Student Success

1. INTRODUCTIONAs is the case with many college and university professors, I regularly ‘teach’groups of 100 or more students gathered together several times each week in alecture hall. More precisely, I give lectures on the relevant material, supervise thework of graduate teaching assistants, and assign course grades intended to indicatethe level of achievement of those enrolled in the class. These are to be accomplishedin a manner satisfactory to the students, at least as measured by their evaluations ofthe course or reflected by an absence of complaints to the chair or dean. Without anyconcrete course goals or departmental standard of achievement, I am the sole arbiterof the grading standard applied in the course. The identification of legitimate andconcrete measures of effectiveness with which to evaluate the course is left to me.Since the course ‘product’ is, arguably, the mathematical achievement of thestudents, I believe that any measure of success must be principally constructed ofmeasures of student performance. This, then, is where I start in trying to figure outhow to teach any course. It is this process that I wish to discuss in this report on mycontinuing effort to increase the effectiveness of my teaching in large classes, (seeMillett, 1996, 1997 and 1999).While the following maxim may be debated by many college and universityfaculty members, the foundation of my teaching efforts is the statement:
Reagents and Cell Staining for Immunophenotyping by Flow Cytometry

As leukocytes progress through hematopoiesis, their expression pattern of cell-surface and intracellular molecular signatures is reflective of the cells' stage in their developmental commitment program. These markers can thus be exploited for identification purposes, and it is possible to label these specific determinants using monoclonal antibodies, which have been coupled to fluorescent fluorochromes. Immunophenotyping is the process of staining and analyzing these cells by flow cytometry for enumeration and classification. In this article, the reagents and staining protocols for immunophenotyping are discussed. The article begins with descriptions of the physical and biochemical characteristics of antibody reagents and then moves into a detailed discussion of the pitfalls, problems, and solutions commonly encountered while immunophenotyping. Step-by-step protocols and reagent formulations are provided at the end with considerations for quality control and proper experimental design.
The world cities of Hong Kong and Singapore: Network hubs of global finance:

The world cities of Hong Kong and Singapore, former creations of British colonialism, gained prominence as global financial centers primarily from decisions of firms headquartered in the core of Europe and North America to base their senior management in Hong Kong for Asia-Pacific and Singapore for Southeast Asia. This study uses qualitative interviews with financiers in both cities to examine how they use their networks to produce financial services from core-contending centers in a regional economy containing mostly core-contending, semiperipheral, and peripheral countries. The results reveal that Hong Kong’s and Singapore’s financiers and their firms gain competitive advantages in producing financial services from their network exploitation of their access to sophisticated information, knowledge, and expertise about Asia.
NFIB v. Sibelius and the Individual Mandate: Thoughts on the Tax/Regulation Distinction

Should Congress’s taxing power be broader than its regulatory power? Put differently, should the courts, on federalism grounds, be more willing to strike down federal laws that are adopted under the Commerce Clause than federal laws that are adopted under the taxing power? The Supreme Court thinks so. While the Court has on occasion held that Congress’s has exceeded its regulatory power by unconstitutionally encroaching on the regulatory domain properly reserved to the states, the Court has never found that Congress has exceeded its taxing power. Moreover, the Court recently (and famously) doubled-down on the position that Congress’s taxing power exceeds it regulatory power in the landmark case of National Federation of Independent Businesses v. Sebelius [“NFIB”], which upheld the Affordable Care Act’s “individual mandate” on taxing-power grounds. Whether it makes normative sense for the Court to treat Congress’s taxing-power as being broader than its regulatory power is the question this Article explores. The Article concludes that the way the Court has drawn the distinction between taxes and regulations, or between taxes and penalties (which, as I will point out, are a type of regulatory provisions), is both counter-intuitive and could create incentives that inefficiently alter Congress’s choices among various policy instruments. The Article also provides an alternative way of drawing the tax/regulation distinction that does not suffer from this problem. The Article ultimately concludes, however, that the tax/regulation dichotomy should probably be abandoned; and it concludes that the Supreme Court was right to uphold the Affordable Care Act’s individual health-insurance mandate, though for reasons different than ones the Court offered.
Degrees of multiplicity functions for equimultiple ideals

Let J be an equimultiple ideal of height a in a formally equidimensional local ring (R,m). If I is a proper ideal that contains J, we show that the degree of the multiplicity function fJ,I(n)=e(In/Jn) is at most a with equality if and only if J is not a reduction of I. As a consequence, we are able to define a unique filtration J⊆J[a]⊆…⊆J[1]⊆J‾ between the ideal J and its integral closure J‾ with J[k] being the largest ideal containing J such that deg⁡fJ,I(n)≤a−k−1. Further results consider the ideal J[1] and its relation to the S2-ification of the Rees algebra R[Jt].
Attraction of Pear Psylla to Blacklight

In the laboratory a 15-w blacklight lamp was more attractive to pear psylla, Psylla pyricola Foerster, than a self-filtered blacklight BLB lamp or green, cool white, gold, and red fluorescent lamps. In the field, the pear psylla did not respond to the 15-w blacklight lamp but did respond to a 32-w Circline BL Lamp® which had a greater relative output.
The effects of substrates on contractility of isolated human atria.

SummaryIsolated strips cut from the right atrial appendage of 7- to 10-year-old patients undergoing cardiac surgery were placed in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate medium at 37° and stimulated at 70 pulses per min. If the medium contained 5.5 mM glucose as substrate, the force of contraction declined rapidly. Contractility could be maintained at a constant level for 6 hr with 20 mM glucose. The optimal concentration of glucose, however, was 30 mM. Equilibration of atria in 30 mM glucose was followed by incubation in glucose-free medium for 30 min in another series and resulted in a marked fall in contractility. Introduction of 30 mM glucose or pyruvate resulted in a prompt and complete restoration of contractile force to control levels. Fructose, lactate, or acetate, also at 30 mM, restored the force only partially.
Postmeiotic Mitosis, Basidiospore Development, and Septation in Ustilago Maydis

Postmeiotic mitosis, basidiospore development and metabasidial septation are analyzed ultrastructurally in Ustilago maydis (Basidiomycota, Ustilaginales). The spindle pole body at mitotic prophase is composed of two globular elements connected by a middle piece. During the transition from interphase II to mitotic prophase the globular elements enlarge, the middle piece elongates, and the spindle pole body typically moves to an apical position on the migratory nucleus. Cytoplasmic microtubules are associated with organelle movement into the basidiospore. Sterigmata arise endogenously. Mitotic nuclei divide into a spindlecontaining portion which moves into the basidiospore and a nucleolar portion which degenerates in the metabasidium. One postmitotic sibling nucleus remains in the basidiospore while the other returns to the metabasidium. Primary metabasidial and sterigmal septa are traversed by a simple, eccentric to centric pore that may become walled-off. Complete, adventitious metabasidial septa result in the formation of fragmentation zones. The nuclear and spindle pole body cycles of U. maydis support the inclusion of the Ustilaginales in the Basidiomycetes, and these features are similar to those reported for the heterobasidiomycetous yeasts.
THE HORIZONTAL EDDIES IN THE OFFSHORE ZONE

The mean flow outside the surf zone can be unstable and form a train of submerged vortices, which migrate slowly in the offshore direction, as discovered by Matsunaga , Takehara & Awaya (1988, 1994). Li and Dalrymple (1998) conducted large scale experiments and a numerical study. They showed that two layers of vortices could exist over the water depth. Eddies near the water surface rotated in the opposite direction of eddies at mid-depth. For example, for the surface wave propagating to the right, the rotation direction of eddies near mid-depth was counterclockwise, while the rotation direction of eddies near surface was clockwise. The vortices decay offshore where there was no shear layers over water depth. Experimental and numerical studies show the velocity of long time scale vortical motion is uniform over water depth and is much slower than the undertow. A theoretical analysis showes that the stresses due to turbulence and wave serve as the source of the vorticity and this vortex train is formed by the shear instabilities of the mean flow in the cross-shore direction.
Discourses of silence: The construction of ‘otherness’ in family planning pamphlets:

This article explores verbal and visual language use in Zimbabwean contraceptive promotional brochures distributed from the early to mid-1980s. Drawing on recent work in critical discourse analysis...
Gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors. A review.

Owing to the recent discovery of their endocrine activity, gastrointestinal carcinoids are now better understood. Early diagnosis remains a problem, for many carcinoids are clinically silent for years. Operative treatment has been fairly well standardized on the basis of past experience regarding invasion and metastasis. Treatment of metastases, other than those in local lymph nodes, has not been explored fully, and an effective method has not been found. Therapy for the systemic manifestations of the carcinoid syndrome has been only partially successful.
In Search of a New Paradigm: Minorities in the Context of International Politics

Don Nakanishi performs the service of providing us with a clear-cut concept of the minority in international politics, which encompasses race and ethnicity. He also develops for us a method analysis as well as discussing the problems of content and structure for teaching courses in this field.
Polyomaviruses and Papillomaviruses

Both polyomavirus and papillomavirus families contain a small, circular DNA genome that replicates in the nucleus of infected cells. Both family members were isolated from a wide variety of species, including humans, monkeys, hamsters, mice, and birds. Historically, both family members were grouped together to form the papovavirus family, but the genomic sequencing of viruses from each family revealed that papillomavirus family members are larger in size and their genome is only transcribed from one strand of the genome in clockwise direction, whereas the expression of polyomavirus genome is bidirectional. These differences have led to both families being separated. Some family members from each group are associated with a particular disease in humans. JC virus (JCV), for example, a member of human polyomavirus family infects more than 70–80% of the human population worldwide causing central nervous system (CNS) white matter disease in immunocompromised individuals, such as AIDS patients, known as progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy (PML). In PML patients, the virus specifically infects the oligodentrocytes in the CNS, which form the myelin sheet around the axons of neuronal cells. BK virus (BKV), another human polyomavirus, is reactivated mainly in the kidneys in those individuals who are undergoing immunosuppressive therapies, such as kidney transplant patients. In those individuals, BKV lytically infects the kidney epithelial cells and leads to compromises in the function of the organ, which is a medical condition that is described as ‘polyomavirus-associated nephropathy’ (PVAN). Simian virus 40 (SV40) is a prototype of polyomaviruses, does not cause a known human disease but has been used as a tool to understand many fundamental aspects of molecular biology and cancer, including DNA replication, transcription, RNA splicing and cell transformation. There are reported cases suggesting that SV40 might be associated with some human tumors as is the case for JCV and BKV. Papillomavirus family members also infect humans (HPVs) and more than 100 genotypes were isolated to date. However, two genotypes in particular, HPV 16 and HPV 18, appear to be clinically important due to their apparent cause of cervical cancer in women. The progression of the replication cycle of the HPV is tightly regulated by the differentiation stages of the basal epithelial cells after initial infection. Since the discovery of the first human polyomavirus, JCV, there has been a rapid expansion in the discovery of the additional human polyomaviruses bringing the present number to 13. Only two of the recently discovered human polyomaviruses, MCPyV and TSPyV have been shown to be associated with a particular disease, Merkel Cell Carcinoma and Trichodysplasia Spinulosa respectively. The rest of the human polyomaviruses, including KIPyV, WUPyV, HPyV6, HPyV7, HPyV9, HPyV10, MWPyV, MXPyV, and HPyV12 have yet to be definitively linked to with a particular human disease. In this chapter, particular attention was devoted to the description of the biology of JCV, BKV, SV40, MCPyV, TSPyV, and HPV.