cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Loss of Foxp3+ Regulatory T cell Function in Glioblastoma (P4.240)

OBJECTIVE: To understand the mechanism used by glioblastomas to escape immune surveillance. BACKGROUND: The immune response in tumors is characterized by a functionally suppressed cellular infiltrate with enrichment of CD4+CD25+CD127-Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) in the tumor microenvironment. It has been thought that tumor derived Tregs possess increased regulatory function owing to the presence of the co-inhibitory receptor PD-1 on their cell surface. DESIGN/METHODS: We isolated viable infiltrating lymphocytes from freshly resected tumors with matched peripheral blood of patients with glioblastoma and determined the functional efficacy of these cell populations. RESULTS: We observed increased expression of co-inhibitory molecules PD-1 and Tim3 on the surface of both Tregs and CD4+ effector T cells infiltrating the tumor microenvironment. Tumor-derived effector cells displayed impaired proliferative responses to anti-CD3/CD28 stimulation while exhibiting robust cytokine responses. Though present in the tumor in increased numbers, tumor derived Tregs surprisingly exhibited less ex vivo suppressor function as compared to matched circulating Tregs. Investigation of PD-1+ Tregs from the circulation of healthy controls revealed a similar phenotype with loss of ex vivo suppressor function associated with IFNγ secretion. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that the PD-1+ infiltrating tumor derived Tregs are dysfunctional and the impaired immune response in patients with glioblastomas is related to poor T effector cell function that may be amenable to anti-PD-1 therapy. Disclosure: Dr. Lowther has received research support from Bristol-Myers Squibb. Dr. Hernandez has nothing to disclose. Dr. Duan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gunel has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hafler has received personal compensation for activities with Genzyme, NKT Therapeutics, and Novartis as a consultant.
Cultural mobilities: diversity and agency in urban computing

The rise of wireless networks and portable computing devices has been accompanied by an increasing interest in technology and mobility, and in the urban environment as a site of interaction. However, most investigations have taken a relatively narrow view of urban mobility. In consequence, design practice runs the risk of privileging particular viewpoints, forms of mobility, and social groups. We are interested in a view of mobility that reaches beyond traditional assumptions about the who, when, why, and what of mobility. Based on analytic perspectives from the social sciences and on empirical fieldwork in a range of settings, we outline an alternative view of technology and mobility with both analytic and design implications.
ZONE TECHNOLOGY IMPLEMENTATION AT PHILADELPHIA NAVAL SHIPYARD -- PHASE III.

Abstract : Phase One implementation of Zone Technology at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard (PNSY) began with the planning of the Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) of the USS Kitty Hawk ((CV-63) in 1986 with the assistance of Japanese engineers from Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (IHI). Phase Two of Zone Technology implementation included the continuing work on the USS Kitty Hawk, extensive planning efforts for the USS Constellation (CV-64) SLEP, and the execution of a number of smaller availabilities. Phase Three of Zone Technology consists of the completion of the USS Kitty Hawk SLEP, the final planning and commencement of the USS Constellation SLEP utilizing 100% Zone Technology, and the planning and execution of all future availabilities utilizing the concepts of Zone Technology. Significant lessons learned from prior availabilities, particularly the USS Kitty Hawk, have been identified and implemented on the USS Constellation SLEP. Results from smaller availabilities have been encouraging and are presented. Initial comparisons between the USS Kitty Hawk and the USS Constellation SLEP work performance in cost and schedule are reviewed.
Synchrotron Infrared Spectromicroscopy for Studying Chemistry of Microbial Activity in Geologic Materials

Abstract Synchrotron radiation-based Fourier transform infrared (SR-FTIR) spectroscopy and microscopy is one of the most useful techniques for monitoring the chemistry of microbial activity of living microorganisms where it occurs in real time. Recent rapid advances in large-scale gene sequencing and functional metagenomic and metaproteomic profiling of many microbial niches on our planet is beginning to transform many research areas in environmental and earth sciences. We hope this chapter can serve as a handy guide to understand the basic principle, techniques, and limitations of applying SR-FTIR spectromicroscopy to study biogeochemical systems. We also hope that this chapter will help researchers to advance SR-FTIR spectromicroscopy to make an important contribution to earth sciences through noninvasive high-resolution experimental measurements of microbial activity on surface of geologic materials.
DNA-Binding Kinetics Determines the Mechanism of Noise-Induced Switching in Gene Networks

Gene regulatory networks are multistable dynamical systems in which attractor states represent cell phenotypes. Spontaneous, noise-induced transitions between these states are thought to underlie critical cellular processes, including cell developmental fate decisions, phenotypic plasticity in fluctuating environments, and carcinogenesis. As such, there is increasing interest in the development of theoretical and computational approaches that can shed light on the dynamics of these stochastic state transitions in multistable gene networks. We applied a numerical rare-event sampling algorithm to study transition paths of spontaneous noise-induced switching for a ubiquitous gene regulatory network motif, the bistable toggle switch, in which two mutually repressive genes compete for dominant expression. We find that the method can efficiently uncover detailed switching mechanisms that involve fluctuations both in occupancies of DNA regulatory sites and copy numbers of protein products. In addition, we show that the rate parameters governing binding and unbinding of regulatory proteins to DNA strongly influence the switching mechanism. In a regime of slow DNA-binding/unbinding kinetics, spontaneous switching occurs relatively frequently and is driven primarily by fluctuations in DNA-site occupancies. In contrast, in a regime of fast DNA-binding/unbinding kinetics, switching occurs rarely and is driven by fluctuations in levels of expressed protein. Our results demonstrate how spontaneous cell phenotype transitions involve collective behavior of both regulatory proteins and DNA. Computational approaches capable of simulating dynamics over many system variables are thus well suited to exploring dynamic mechanisms in gene networks.
Many-body calculation of the magnetic, optical, and charge-transfer spectra of solid oxygen in the alpha and beta phases.

The electronic spectra of \ensuremath{\alpha} and \ensuremath{\beta} solid ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ were calculated in a full many-body approach for a cluster consisting of four ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ molecules with periodic-boundary conditions. By including only the partially occupied \ensuremath{\pi} orbitals (16 spin orbitals, 8 electrons) the basis set consists of 12 870 many-electron states. The resulting spectra contains three basic types of excitations at very different energy ranges: (a) 81 states corresponding to the ground state and magnetic excitations (magnons) within 100 meV; (b) 1215 states of neutral molecular excitations (excitons) with energies from about 1 to 8 eV; and (c) 11 574 charge-transfer states with excitation energies up to 60 eV. Analysis of the properties of the ground states in both \ensuremath{\alpha} and \ensuremath{\beta} solid ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ has been carried out. The lowest many-body states, those that correspond to neutral, unexcited molecules, describe accurately the magnetic excitations of both solids. The two phases have very different spectra resulting, even at very low temperatures, in a sizeable difference in the (magnetic) entropy. The calculated entropy difference at the observed \ensuremath{\alpha}-\ensuremath{\beta} phase transition temperature agrees surprisingly well with the experimentally measured heat of transformation.
Hilbert space computing by analog circuits

We show that, if time comes when quantum algorithms can be used for universal parallel computation, the "quantum-parallel" computer hardware will most probably be a classical physical system corresponding to a Hilbert space and the actual realization may be the combination of analog and digital circuits. We first point out the practical difficulties of universal quantum computing which may prohibit practical applications as universal computers . Then we show how to apply analog microelectronic circuits to realize the architecture, data processing and parallel computing abilities of quantum computing via Hilbert space computing with analog circuits. Such a Hilbert-space-analog (HSA) computer simulates the Hilbert space and its operators, and it is able to use and test quantum algorithms developed for the real quantum computers. Such a computer would be free of most of the practical difficulties of realizing and running a real quantum computer. This computer can be made universal. It is remarkable that by using the same numbers of transistors as in today's PCs, such a HSA computer can manipulate ~10 7 analog numbers corresponding to ~22 qubits, simultaneously, by quantum-parallel processing.
Atomic force-multi-optical imaging integrated microscope for monitoring molecular dynamics in live cells

A novel hybrid imaging system is constructed integrating atomic force microscopy (AFM) with a combination of optical imaging techniques that offer high spatial resolution. The main application of this instrument (the NanoFluor microscope) is the study of mechanotransduction with an emphasis on extracellular matrix-integrin-cytoskeletal interactions and their role in the cellular responses to changes in external chemical and mechanical factors. The AFM allows the quantitative assessment of cytoskeletal changes, binding probability, adhesion forces, and micromechanical properties of the cells, while the optical imaging applications allow thin sectioning of the cell body at the coverslip-cell interface, permitting the study of focal adhesions using total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) and internal reflection microscopy (IRM). Combined AFM-optical imaging experiments show that mechanical stimulation at the apical surface of cells induces a force-generating cytoskeletal response, resulting in focal contact reorganization on the basal surface that can be monitored in real time. The NanoFluor system is also equipped with a novel mechanically aligned dual camera acquisition system for synthesized Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET). The integrated NanoFluor microscope system is described, including its characteristics, applications, and limitations.
Laboratory study of sidewall noise transmission and treatment for a light aircraft fuselage

The noise transmission through a fuselage from a twin-engine propeller aircraft was measured using a pneumatically driven horn sound source to simulate a propeller noise distribution. Sidewall noise treatments included a double-wall, production-type treatment and several combinations of fiberglass and lead-vinyl. The noise reduction through the fuselage sidewall without treatment is shown to agree in magnitude and trend with the reduction of propeller noise through an aircraft fuselage in flight, but differs substantially at low frequency from the transmission loss measured with a diffuse noise source. The effects of the horn source position and angle of incidence are shown. The treatments were evaluated using their insertion loss, defined as the reduction of the interior sound level that occurred when the treatment was installed. The fiberglass is shown to weigh less and to have insertion loss values that are often higher than those of the double-wall and lead-vinyl treatments. Variations of temperature in the test chamber are shown to result in changes of the noise spectrum within the fuselage. The changes observed may explain part of the variability of treatment insertion loss measured in the flight of a propeller aircraft.
Combining module selection and replication for throughput-driven streaming programs

Streaming processing is widely adopted in many data-intensive applications in various domains. FPGAs are commonly used to realize these applications since they can exploit inherent data parallelism and pipelining in the applications to achieve a better performance. In this paper we investigate the design space exploration problem (DSE) when mapping streaming applications onto FPGAs. Previous works narrowly focus on using techniques like replication or module selection to meet the throughput target. We propose to combine these two techniques together to guide the design space exploration. A formal formulation and solution to this combined problem is presented in this paper. Our objective is to optimize the total area cost subject to the throughput constraint. In particular, we are able to handle the feedback loops in the streaming programs, which, to the best of our knowledge, has never been discussed in previous work. Our methodology is evaluated with high-level synthesis tools, and we demonstrate our workflow on a set of benchmarks that vary from module kernel design such as FFT to large designs such as an MPEG-4 decoder.
Comparison of two techniques for quantifying environmental contaminants in human serum.

Abstract Peak area matching and linear regression were used to quantify eight chlorinated pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (as Aroclor 1260) in human serum. There are no statistically significant differences in data obtained by these two quantifying techniques which were indicated by the paired t-test. For chlorinated pesticides, p = 0.053 – 0.62, and for polychlorinated biphenyls (as Aroclor 1260), p = 0.64. Analyte residues for the chlorinated pesticides ranged from 0.5 ppb for hexachlorobenzene (HCB) to 186 ppb for dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE). Analyte residues for the polychlorinated biphenyls (as Aroclor 1260) ranged from 5–114 ppb. The absolute mean percent difference between the two quantifying techniques ranged from 0.06% for DDE to 8.06% for dieldrin (HEOD) among the chlorinated pesticides. The absolute mean percent difference between the two quantifying techniques for the polychlorinated biphenyls (as Aroclor 1260) was 3.4%. Peak area matching and linear regression were found to be comparable for quantifying these environmental residues in serum when the following conditions apply: 1) the concentration of the chlorinated pesticides is ≧ 0.5 ppb ( e.g., HCB, hexachlorocyclohexane (HCCH), oxychlorde (OC), heptachlor epoxide (HE), transnonachlor (TN), HEOD, and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT); 2) the concentration of the chlorinated pesticide iss ≥ 3 ppb (e.g., DDE); and 3) the total concentration of polychlorinated biphenyls (e.g., as Aroclor 1260) is ≥ 5 ppb.
Electron microscopic observations on advanced stages of spontaneous polyspermy in rabbit zygotes.

The fine structural appearance of eight spontaneously polyspermic rabbit zygotes was studied. The zygotes were considered polyspermic only after they met all criteria that excluded other possibilities of the trinucleate state. The presence of accessory male pronuclei, with varying degrees of disintegration of their chromatin in zygotes of similar age, suggests that refertilization can occur during an interval of several hours after penetration of the primary sperm. All of the polyspermic zygotes contained cortical granules intermittently beneath the vitelline (plasma) membrane. One zygote possessed cortical granule-like structures with ill-defined or no limiting membrane. Formation of enveloping membranes around the incorporated accessory sperm head was precocious since it occurred prior to disintegration of the chromatin. Advanced stages of accessory pronuclei morphologically resembled the primary pronuclei in the same zygote. In seven out of eight zygotes the accessory male pronucleus was separated from the apposing male and female pronuclei. It was concluded that although the fully expanded accessory male pronucleus is similar to the pronuclei of monospermic fertilization, the temporal events of nuclear envelope formation were disturbed.
Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) induces a quasi-morphine abstinence syndrome in the rat

Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) is a neuropeptide that exerts antiopiate effects under some circumstances, and there is evidence that it contributes to opiate tolerance. This raises the question, might N/OFQ also contribute to opiate dependence and abstinence? Twenty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were cannulated in the third ventricle and challenged 7 days later by third ventricle injection of 50, 200 or 1,000 ng N/OFQ or saline alone. Each rat was observed under "blind" conditions for 30 min beginning 15 min after onset of the third ventricle injection. There was a significant positive linear trend of signs as a function of N/OFQ dose. Subjects receiving saline had 18.0±2.0 (mean±SEM) overall abstinence-like signs, whereas subjects receiving 50, 200 or 1000 ng N/OFQ had 35.2±3.6, 49.8±2.6 and 63.5±9.7 signs, respectively. In 16 additional rats, abstinence-like signs induced by 1000 ng N/OFQ were significantly attenuated by low SC doses of morphine or clonidine. These results raise the possibility that N/OFQ might contribute to opiate dependence and subsequent abstinence syndrome. On the other hand, N/OFQ over a wide dose range induced abstinence signs with similar potency in morphine dependent and non-dependent rats.
M. K. Gandhi: some experiments with truth

Gandhiists, scholarly and otherwise, have consistently manipulated ‘the Mahatma image’ in accounting for M.K. Gandhi's role as a social and political ‘revolutionary’ and as the founder of ‘non‐violent resistance’. Uncritically assuming a consistent, virtually uninterrupted continuity between Mahatma Gandhi at the height of his career in India and M.K. Gandhi's career as a social and political reformer in Natal and the Transvaal (1893–1914), Gandhiists have systematically suppressed evidence which problematises their historiographical practice and ‘the Mahatma image’. In this paper I argue that Gandhi's practices in South Africa, particularly those resulting from his editorship of Indian Opinion, were often discontinuous with and even contradictory to the soothing fiction of ‘the Mahatma image’, but were at the same time significant factors in the genealogy of Satyagraha.
Analytical approach to characterize the intratumoral pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of gefitinib in a glioblastoma model.

Heterogeneity in brain tumors can result in variable drug distribution and possibly drug response; however, there are no readily accessible means to obtain regional pharmacokinetic (PK)/pharmacodynamic (PD) information in preclinical tumor models that typically rely on average drug concentration measurements. On the basis of a novel serial brain tumor sectioning protocol, sensitive and robust methods were developed to characterize the intratumoral PK [liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry detection (LC/MS/MS)] and PD (phosphorylated extracellular-signal-regulated kinase, antibody-based detection) of gefitinib in small amounts of glioblastoma tumor samples obtained from mice bearing intracerebral tumors administered 150 mg/kg of gefitinib. LC/MS/MS method was accurate (±15%) and precise (coefficient of variation ≤15%). For PD analysis, two antibody-based assay systems [enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and meso scale discovery (MSD)] were compared and the more sensitive method (MSD) was selected. Gefitinib concentrations showed up to 2.4 ± 0.7-fold intratumoral variability in PK and 1.5 ± 0.20-fold variability in PD. The methods are sufficiently accessible and could be applied to other anticancer drugs and tumor models to obtain greater resolution of intratumoral PKs and PDs. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 101:4100–4106, 2012
Polytonic studies of reconstituted collagen fibers.

The tensile force-contraction characteristics of cross-linked reconstituted collagen fibers have been studied for 30 different water-soluble reagents. The data were obtained via a “polytonic” loading technique, which was neither isometric nor isotonic. Certain data were found to fit a master curve, which did not depend strongly on the denaturant. For many denaturants the contractile force appeared to be a maximum at a denaturant concentration corresponding to all the solvent being consumed in denaturant hydration. Also, the maximum contractile force appeared to vary in the same manner as does the hydration number of the individual cations and anions in the solution (i.e., H > Li > Na > K, and I > Br > Cl > F). Several denaturants were found to be as effective as the well-known LiBr and KSCN in contracting the collagen.
Minimizing mean flow time in two-machine open shops and flow shops

Abstract Preemptive scheduling in open shops and flow shops so as to minimize the mean flow time are both known to be strongly NP-hard on three or more machines. However, their complexity on two machines remained open for more than a decade. In this paper we show that open shop is NP-hard in the ordinary sense and flow shop is NP-hard in the strong sense. A linear time algorithm is also given to produce optimal schedules for two-machine open shops if the optimal order of completion times is known in advance. Finally, an O ( N log N ) time algorithm is given to produce optimal schedules for two-machine flow shops if the optimal order of completion times on the first machine is known in advance, where N is the number of jobs.
In vivo tracking of hematopoietic cells in the retina of chimeric mice with a scanning laser ophthalmoscope

We examine the effect of bone marrow transplantation (BMT) on retinal cell turnover by performing simultaneous cell tracking of native microglia and engrafting donor bone marrow-derived cell (BMDC) populations in the retinae of live mice using a custom-built multi-color confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) specifically developed for murine retinal imaging. CX3CR1GFP/+ mice whose retinal microglia express the green fluorescent protein (GFP) were exposed to a lethal dose of gamma radiation and subsequently rescued with bone marrow cells from universal DsRed donor mice. Over a time course of four months after the irradiation and BMT, progressive loss of GFP+ microglia was accompanied by delayed engraftment of DsRed+ BMDC. Morphologic examination revealed that the remaining GFP+ microglia were ramified, while engrafting DsRed+ cells exhibited both ramification and dendriform shape. Leukocyte endothelial interaction, normally absent in healthy retinal vasculature, was observed even after three months, ...
Immunophenotyping of cytologic specimens by flow cytometry

Immunophenotyping by flow cytometry is well established as an ancillary technique in the diagnosis of hematopoietic neoplasms. However, flow cytometry is rarely performed on cytologic specimens because most cytologist are more comfortable with direct microscopy and believe that there is inadequate cellularity for analysis. Paradoxically, cytologic material is usually cell suspensions making it ideal for flow cytometry. In order to evaluate the usefulness of immunophenotyping cytologic specimens by flow cytometry, we retrospectively reviewed all cytologic specimens submitted to our flow cytometry unit from 1988 to 1991. Thirty-one cerebrospinal fluid specimens were analyzed. There were inadequate cells for analysis in 15 cases. Five showed a monoclonal proliferation; 11 were nondiagnostic. A range (r) of one to six cell surface markers were performed. Thirty-two body cavity fluids were analyzed: 7 peritoneal, 19 pleural, 2 pericardial, and 4 bronchoalveolar lavage. There were cells to analyze in all cases. Seven had a monoclonal proliferation; 25 were nondiagnostic (r = 4-21 markers performed). One hundred eighteen fine needle aspirates (FNA) were reviewed; 58 FNA were radiologically guided, 60 were superficial lesions. There were inadequate cells for analysis in two cases. Sixty-one demonstrated a monoclonal proliferation; 55 were nondiagnostic (r = 1-22 markers performed). We conclude that immunophenotyping by flow cytometry is of limited value for cerebrospinal fluid analysis and that knowledge of previous immunophenotyping studies is essential for correct analysis; analysis of body cavity fluids is easily performed but less often demonstrates a monoclonal proliferation. Immunophenotyping by flow cytometry is a valuable adjunctive technique for FNA and yields adequate cells for analysis.
A Three-Dimensional Computer Simulation Model Reveals the Mechanisms for Self-Organization of Plant Cortical Microtubules into Oblique Arrays

We use a 3D computer simulation model that is based on experimental data to understand how the noncentrosomal plant cortical microtubules self-organize into specific ordered patterns in both wild-t...
Developmental dissociation of T cells from B, NK, and myeloid cells revealed by MHC class II-specific chimeric immune receptors bearing TCR-ζ or FCR-γ chain signaling domains

The T-cell receptor ζ (TCR-ζ) and FcR-γ chains play a critical role in mediating signal transduction. We have previously described HIV glycoprotein 120 (gp120)–specific chimeric immune receptors (CIRs) in which the extracellular domain of CD4 is linked to the signaling domain of ζ (CD4ζ) or γ (CD4γ). Such CIRs are efficiently expressed following retroviral transduction of mature T cells and specifically redirect effector functions toward HIV-infected targets. In this report, we examine development of CD4ζ- or CD4γ-expressing T cells from retrovirally transduced hematopoietic stem cells following bone marrow transplantation. Although CD4ζ/γ-expressing myeloid, NK, and B cells were efficiently reconstituted, parallel development of CD4ζ/γ-expressing T cells was blocked prior to the CD25+CD44+prothymocyte stage. In contrast, T cells expressing a signaling-defective CIR were efficiently generated. When major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II–deficient mice were used as transplant recipients, development of CD4ζ/γ-expressing T cells was restored. We conclude that CD4ζ/γ signaling generated following engagement of MHC class II selectively arrests T-lineage development.
Electrochemical impedance spectra of full cells: Relation to capacity and capacity-rate of rechargeable Li cells using LiCoO2, LiMn2O4, and LiNiO2 cathodes

Abstract Electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) are reported for rechargeable lithium cells using cathodes LiMyOx (M=Co, Ni, and Mn) prepared from casting and high-pressure compacting. The composite cathodes were cast from a slurry mixture consisting of 30% NMP solvent and 70% solid (91% LiMyOx, 3% PVDF and 6% KS44 graphite) onto a 25-μm thick Al current collector. The compacted cathodes were made from the cast cathode using a laboratory press. The most compacted cathodes have the smallest impedance and the highest specific capacity and capacity-rate. Three equivalent circuits are proposed according to the effect of compaction pressure on our EIS results and work reported in the literature. The EIS results and relationship to the capacity and capacity-rate are discussed using these circuits. It appears that the ohmic resistance of the composite cathode is an important factor in the overall resistance of the cell and unfavorably affects the performance (capacity and capacity-rate) of the cathode.
Prognostic markers in pheochromocytoma

Clinical and histopathological features do not reliably distinguish between benign and malignant pheochromocytomas. Additional markers that might be useful prognostic indicators in the pathological assessment of these tumors are sought. Immunohistochemical expression of MIB-1, Bcl-2, cathepsin B, cathepsin D, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), c-met, and type IV collagenase were studied on formalin-fixed tissue from 33 nonconsecutive cases of pheochromocytoma, selected on the basis of reliable long-term follow-up, to determine associations with malignancy. The study group included 33 patients, 19 men and 14 women, with a mean age of 45 years, including five cases of neurofibromatosis (NF), three familial, and one MEN IIb. Mean follow-up was 63.2 months. Ten patients were determined to have malignant pheochromocytomas by the presence of metastatic disease. Features found to be associated with malignancy included MIB-1 labeling index (5% vs 1%) (P = .0009), male gender (90% vs 43%) (P = .008), extra-adrenal location (40% vs 9%) (P = .03), tumor weight (481 g vs 124 g) (P = .05), and young age (38 years vs 49 years) (P = .05). None of the five cases with NF were malignant (P = .04). S-100 positivity showed a significant (P = .02) but nonlinear association with benign tumors. Absent S-100 correlated with greater tumor weight. Malignancy was not associated with right versus left side or bilaterality, although bilateral tumors were smaller. C-met, bFGF, cathepsin B, cathepsin D, and collagenase were strongly expressed in most tumors and were not predictive of outcome, nor was bcl-2, which was variably expressed. Using multiple logistic regression with malignancy as the dependent variable, MIB-1 continued to show a significant association with malignancy (P = .005) independent of any association with sex, age, or extra-adrenal location. Using a cutoff value of MIB-1 labeling of greater than 3% yielded a specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 50% in predicting malignancy.
Peripheral nerve injury

Inadequate peripheral nerve regeneration as a result of trauma contributes greatly to the morbidity of surgical patients. Animals admitted as an emergency often have concurrent orthopaedic injuries that impair mobility and may mask peripheral nerve dysfunction if a thorough neurological examination is not performed. This article reviews the pertinent anatomy of the peripheral nervous system as well as the degenerative and regenerative responses that occur in traumatized nerves. Physical examination and electrodiagnostic techniques that characterize the extent of nerve impairment are described. The management of peripheral nerve lacerations for open and closed wounds is detailed, as well as the presenting clinical signs and prognosis for brachial plexus avulsions, sciatic nerve damage, and sacrococcygeal injury.
Markov based estimation of energy storage requirements accounting for seasonal variations

The use of energy storage in conjunction with renewable energy sources such as wind and solar is receiving more attention to help mitigate the effects of the intermittent nature of these sources. One wishes to maximize the probability that there will be enough energy available to meet the residential load demand while minimizing the cost of both the renewable energy sources as well as the energy storage device(s). The use of a first order Markov Chain has been previously investigated as a means of estimating the amount of energy storage required at a particular off-grid residence with wind energy supply. In this paper, the resultant state transition matrix is biased to account for seasonal variations in the wind resource. Compared to the data generated using the unbiased state transition matrix (STM), the biased STM yields a better autocorrelation coefficient and generally results in a larger number of hours of insufficient supply to the load. This is despite the fact that the seasonal variation in the wind resource overall yields a higher production of energy when compared to no seasonal variation.
The History of Dengue in the United States and its Recent Emergence

Dengue virus (DENV) is the most common and widespread vector-borne arbovirus in the world, and over the past 30 years, there has been a dramatic increase in incidence and geographic spread. Considering the difficulty of preventing infections and consequence of severe disease, it is important to reflect on the history of dengue in the United States and focus attention on its recent re-emergence. In this paper, we report the historical significance of dengue out- breaks in the USA between 1780 and 1945, along with the elimination strategies of the vector mosquito, Aedes aegypti. We then detail the re-emergence of dengue into the USA between 1999 and today and discuss future strategies for detection and control.
Financial statement analysis in introductory financial accounting for MBAs

Abstract This paper describes a financial statement analysis project for MBA students taking an introductory financial accounting course. The project is designed to develop financial statement literacy and to provide insight about how accounting information might be used to value and manage firms. Project benefits and project management are also discussed.
Assessment of gliosis around moveable implants in the brain.

Repositioning microelectrodes post-implantation is emerging as a promising approach to achieve long-term reliability in single neuronal recordings. The main goal of this study was to (a) assess glial reaction in response to movement of microelectrodes in the brain post-implantation and (b) determine an optimal window of time post-implantation when movement of microelectrodes within the brain would result in minimal glial reaction. Eleven Sprague-Dawley rats were implanted with two microelectrodes each that could be moved in vivo post-implantation. Three cohorts were investigated: (1) microelectrode moved at day 2 (n = 4 animals), (2) microelectrode moved at day 14 (n = 5 animals) and (3) microelectrode moved at day 28 (n = 2 animals). Histological evaluation was performed in cohorts 1–3 at four-week post-movement (30 days, 42 days and 56 days post-implantation, respectively). In addition, five control animals were implanted with microelectrodes that were not moved. Control animals were implanted for (1) 30 days (n = 1), (2) 42 days (n = 2) and (3) 56 days (n = 2) prior to histological evaluation. Quantitative assessment of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) around the tip of the microelectrodes demonstrated that GFAP levels were similar around microelectrodes moved at day 2 when compared to the 30-day controls. However, GFAP expression levels around microelectrode tips that moved at day 14 and day 28 were significantly less than those around control microelectrodes implanted for 42 and 56 days, respectively. Therefore, we conclude that moving microelectrodes after implantation is a viable strategy that does not result in any additional damage to brain tissue. Further, moving the microelectrode downwards after 14 days of implantation may actually reduce the levels of GFAP expression around the tips of the microelectrodes in the long term.
Immunological Origin and Functional Properties of Catalytic Autoantibodies to Amyloid β Peptide

Objectives Objectives The objectives of this study are to (1) evaluate the ability of the immune system to synthesize specific antibodies that catalyze the degradation of amyloid β peptide (Aβ) and to (2) evaluate the prospect of developing a catalytic IVIG (CIVIG) formulation for therapy of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
Human Nature and History

What motivated British colonialism? What motivated renaissance Florentines to finance their state? Why did Brazilian men find mixed-race women so attractive? What promotes falsity in reports of human affairs? Why did historical-mindedness develop in ancient Greece and China but not India? When homosexual communities developed, why did gay men pursue sexual strategies so different from those of lesbians? Why does a Heian-period Japanese description of fear of snakes sound so familiar to a Westerner? Why have rebels tended to be youngest rather than eldest siblings? To each of these (and many other) questions part of the answer lies in specific, identifiable features of human nature. Thus human nature is and should be a substantial concern to anyone trying to understand the past. But human nature is also an object of scientific study. This paper explores a portion of this convergence of humanistic and scientific concerns by outlining and illustrating interrelations between human nature and history. Exploration of the interrelations between history and human nature requires a detailed understanding of what human nature is. And whatever human nature may be, it is a product of human evolution. Accordingly, key concepts in evolutionary psychology are presented to provide theoretical tools for understanding the centerpiece of human nature, the human mind. As much as the study of history may benefit from an understanding of human nature, the study of history and the use of historical materials may also promote the scientific study of human nature. Examples are given and several suggestions are presented to forward this task. Finally, an argument is made for a sort of back engineering in which historical events and conditions are traced to the specific features of human nature that motivated, facilitated, or shaped them. Insofar as this task is achieved, it closes the gap between recorded history and evolutionary history, between the humanities and the sciences.
Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby and Babylon Revisited

(2007). Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby and Babylon Revisited. The Explicator: Vol. 65, No. 3, pp. 164-167.
Statistical reliability control from an IC user's perspective

The primary cause of disc drive failures continues to be component failure of integrated circuits (ICs). A solution to the dilemma is proposed, which is described here as `statistical reliability control' (SRC). After reviewing some limitations and opportunities with the alternatives, this paper focuses on wafer level reliability (WLR) and its potential for being the most statistically significant and cost-effective way to achieve SRC `upstream,' in the IC manufacturing process. This paper briefly discusses WLR's potential as the best vehicle for studying IC failure mechanism kinetics and the relationship of critical process parameters to IC reliability, to help accelerate development of advanced wafer processes and IC packages with built-in reliability. Finally, some comments on Seagate's SRC specification and ideas for implementation and use of this type of spec by users and IC manufacturers are proposed, with the goal of at least reducing many traditional `end-of-line' reliability tests and screens that are sometimes overemphasized, at the expense of directing efforts upstream, where early detection can have the greatest impact on payback and effectiveness.
Gregarious Tropical Convection

Abstract A beat source with a vertical profile like that of observed tropical mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) is shown to cause, through inviscid gravity wave dynamics, upward displacement at low levels in a mesoscale region surrounding the heating. Typical values are ∼10%–30% area contraction at the surface everywhere within 270 km of the heating 6 h after it starts. As a result, conditions near an existing MCS (but beyond the area of MCS outflow) become more favorable for the development of additional convection. This theory predicts that cloud clusters should be gregarious. Infrared satellite imagery confirms that almost half of the cold cloudiness observed in a month over the oceanic warm pool region was contributed by just 14 objectively defined multiday “supercluters”.
Numerical modeling of the effects of rebar presence and/or multilayered concrete resistivity on the apparent resistivity measured via the Wenner method

Abstract The determination of concrete resistivity via the Wenner probe has become an established non-destructive technique either as to verify performance based concrete quality or to assess the chloride diffusivity of existing concrete structures. However, various factors can result in misinterpretations when taking the resistivity measurement. In this study, the finite element method (FEM) is employed to assess the effects of specimen geometry, specimen size, rebar presence, cover depth, multi-layered resistivity, and the combined effects of these factors. The findings confirm that the influence can be quantified by FEM computations to obtain normalization parameters (i.e. cell constants) or to better interpret field resistivity measurements.
Clique - like structures in directed networks

Abstract During the past twenty years, scholars from many disciplines have paid increasing attention to the analysis of network structure. A major goal of network research has been the identification of ‘cliques’ in the networks, which, however they have been formally defined, have been seen as regions of relatively high density. The relations that have been used to define the networks have been extremely varied in nature, including genealogically defined relations, communication relations, and relations defined by common possession of a specified attribute. Although the relations used have often been asymmetric, formal definitions of cliques have generally assumed that the network links are undirected. The purpose of this paper is to define clique-like structures in directed networks whose definition takes specific account of the directedness of the links. The structures defined are of two types. Both can be seen as directed versions of maximal complete subgraphs of undirected graphs. First, a diclique is defined to be a maximal set of points, each of which is adjacent to or from any other. The mathematical theory of tournaments is used to develop several properties of dicliques that have natural sociological interpretations. For the second definition, the complete directed subgraph concept is weakened in a controlled fashion to produce a family of directed clique-like structures called (k, l)- diplexes. The (k, l)- diplexes are directed analogues of the k-plexes defined by Seidman & Foster (1978a, b) for undirected graphs. A mathematical development of properties of (k, l)- diplexes is given, including several results that have strong sociological implications. Although both dicliques and (k, l)- diplexes can be useful in substantive analysis, a comparison of the properties of the structures indicates that (k, l) - diplexes are likely to be more valuable. Just as k-plexes have provided a flexible, powerful tool for the analysis of undirected networks, it can be expected that (k, l) -diplexes will do so for directed networks.
MATLAB Tools for viewing GPS velocities and time series

Over the past decade, many Global Positioning System (GPS) networks have been installed to monitor tectonic motions around the world. Some of these networks contain hundreds of sites spread across active tectonic margins where the differences in velocities across the network can be 50–100 mm/year. For networks that have been running for a number of years, the uncertainty in the velocity estimates can be less than 1 mm/year. In some cases the vertical motions can also be significant and of importance. Often, the time series of the motions of the GPS sites show complex non-linear behavior, and in all cases the statistical model of the time series is more complex than simple white noise. In this article, we describe a set of Matlab tools developed for use with the GAMIT/GLOBK GPS data analysis system (King 2002; King and Herring 2002) that allow interactive viewing and manipulation of GPS velocities and time series with a Matlab-based graphical user interface (GUI). The formats of the data files used by the tools are specific to GAMIT/GLOBK, but they are simple ASCII files that can be generated from other file formats. The tools are referred to as GGMatlab.
Urban Secondary Educators' Views of Teacher Recruitment and Retention:

This inquiry is directed at understanding the factors related to recruitment and retention of urban secondary teachers. Data were collected via selected response questionnaires from 815 public high...
Automatic resonant cancellation using genetic search

Automation is the future trend for the target tracking systems of the Smart Munitions Test Suite at White Sands Missile Range. Resonances often appear in electro-mechanical systems and tend to reduce the performance of the control tracking algorithms. Hence, automatic resonant cancellation is one of the algorithms that should be considered. In this paper the concept and implementation of automatic resonant cancellation using Genetic Algorithms (GAs) in conjunction with the system identification package and the notch filter developed by the DSP Control Group is presented. A simple GA is used to search for the highest resonant peaks caused by imperfect coupling between motor and load. The search is guided by a fitness function which is the transfer function obtained from a system identification method.
Synthesis and Characterization of New Ruthenium-Based Olefin Metathesis Catalysts Coordinated with Bidentate Schiff-Base Ligands

A novel series of Schiff-base-substituted ruthenium carbene complexes have been prepared by the treatment of RuCl_2(=CHPh)(PCy_3)_2 with a variety of Schiff-base ligands as the thallium salts. Modification of the Schiff-base electronic and/or structural substituents allowed for the tuning of the complexes activities in olefin metathesis reactions. The structures of the complexes were unambiguously characterized by NMR studies and X-ray analysis. These newly prepared complexes are highly stable to air, moisture, and temperature and even exhibit catalytic activity in polar protic solvents.
Biphasic insulin secretion from freshly isolated or cultured, perifused rodent islets: comparative studies with rats and mice

In the present report, we compared the insulin secretory responses of freshly isolated, perifused rat and mouse islets to glucose. Prestimulatory glucose levels were changed to assess their influence on the subsequent secretory responses. Additional studies included experiments with the incretin factor glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), the cholinergic agonist carbachol, and the alpha2 agonist epinephrine. Our findings demonstrate that under conditions where glucose (8.5-11.1 mmol/L) evokes a dramatic biphasic insulin secretory response from perifused rat islets, mouse islets exhibit little response. Increasing the prestimulatory glucose level to 8.5 mmol/L dramatically distorts subsequently measured glucose-induced insulin secretion from rat islets but allows the evocation of a modest but clear biphasic response from mouse islets in response to 30 mmol/L, but not 11.1 or 16.7 mmol/L, glucose. In the presence of a minimally effective glucose level (10 mmol/L), mouse islets remain exquisitely sensitive to the combined stimulatory effects of GLP-1 (2.5 nmol/L) plus carbachol (0.5 micromol/L) and to the inhibitory influence of epinephrine (10 nmol/L). Short-term culture of rat islets in CMRL 1066 containing 5.6 mmol/L glucose resulted in a significant decrease in the secretory response to 11.1 mmol/L glucose, whereas the same manipulation improved mouse islet responses. It is concluded that the process of collagenase isolating islets does not alter mouse islet sensitivity in any adverse way and that increasing the prestimulatory glucose level can indeed alter the pattern of insulin secretion in either a positive or negative manner depending upon the species being investigated. Prior short-term culture of rodent islets differentially affects secretion from these 2 species.
Direct material cost estimating model with inventory cost effects

Abstract In evaluating inventory costs of direct material used by durable goods manufacturing firms, the costs of direct material inventory are assigned to overhead and thus become generic and are overlooked as contributors to direct material cost. Especially difficult is the situation when a job to be estimated withdraws inventory over a protracted number of periods and raw material is purchased irregularly at different prices. This paper introduces a model to estimate the effects of revolving inventory purchases of different lot quantities for a job that has fluctuating raw material demand. Because of higher inventory carrying costs in recent years, methods that estimate these costs meet with interest. Adoption by industry of the model is encouraged because of its simplicity.