cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Flexible microgripper and its application to micromeasurement of mechanical and thermal properties

Two novel micro-measurement systems using microfabricated flexible microgrippers (FMG) are presented. One system is a micro-measurement system for mechanical properties of a gripped micro-object under the microscope. In this system, the gripping force can be calculated from the elasticity of the microfinger and the driving voltage of FMG. By using this FMG-measurement system, the surface force of the cell membrane of sea urchin egg under seawater has been determined successfully from the measured deformation of the egg and the calculated gripping force of FMG. The other system is a micro-measurement system for thermal properties of micro-objects. For this system, a new microgripper with an integrated micro-thermocouple (TC-FMG) is proposed. By using micromachining, a new microfinger which has a thin film micro-thermocouple on the finger end has been developed and fabricated. The fabrication process and characterization results are discussed. By using a microfinger of TC-FMG with small heat capacity, the temperature change of a thermally actuated microfinger of standard FMG has been measured successfully. Using the measured temperature and temperature dependency of the resistivity of the microcoil, the in-air performance of the standard FMG could be written in the form of an equation which includes the resistivity change for various driving voltages.
Quantitative identification of metastable magnesium carbonate minerals by solid-state 13C NMR spectroscopy.

In the conversion of CO2 to mineral carbonates for the permanent geosequestration of CO2, there are multiple magnesium carbonate phases that are potential reaction products. Solid-state 13C NMR is demonstrated as an effective tool for distinguishing magnesium carbonate phases and quantitatively characterizing magnesium carbonate mixtures. Several of these mineral phases include magnesite, hydromagnesite, dypingite, and nesquehonite, which differ in composition by the number of waters of hydration or the number of crystallographic hydroxyl groups. These carbonates often form in mixtures with nearly overlapping 13C NMR resonances which makes their identification and analysis difficult. In this study, these phases have been investigated with solid-state 13C NMR spectroscopy, including both static and magic-angle spinning (MAS) experiments. Static spectra yield chemical shift anisotropy (CSA) lineshapes that are indicative of the site-symmetry variations of the carbon environments. MAS spectra yield isotropic...
Dynamic behavior of nerve growth factor upon administration to the rat brain parenchyma

By understanding how neurotrophins navigate through brain tissue, we move closer to unlocking the potential therapeutic benefit of these small (26-28kD), basic proteins. We utilize two-photon laser scanning microscopy (TPLSM) to characterize the temporal and spatial fate of the prototypical neurotrophin, nerve growth factor, in brain tissue. We administer a rhodamine-nerve growth factor conjugate (RNGF) from a micropipette to the striatal region of rat brain tissue slices. Two-photon imaging allows us to image deep into 400 micron-thick tissue slices with minimal photodamage of tissue and photobleaching of label. We use a point-source diffusion model to describe the distribution of RNGF and estimate an apparent brain tissue diffusion coefficient (D/sub B/(34/spl deg/C)) of 2.75/spl times/10/sup -7/cm/sup 2//sec. We utilize two-photon fluorescence photobleaching recovery (FPR) to estimate the free diffusion coefficient in water (D/sub F/(34/spl deg/C)) of 8.79/spl times/10/sup -7/cm/sup 2//sec. The extracellular space creates a tortuous path for diffusion, and an anticipated mismatch between D/sub F/ and D/sub B/. The square-root of the ratio of D/sub F/ to D/sub B/ gives the tortuosity, /spl tau/. We compare our estimate of /spl tau/ (1.79) to literature values for other proteins, and conclude that NGF enjoys relatively rapid diffusion in tissue. We extrapolate these findings to postulate formulation strategies for eventual clinical application.
HAWK: halting anomalies with weighted choking to rescue well-behaved TCP sessions from shrew DDoS attacks

High availability in network services is crucial for effective large-scale distributed computing. While distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks through massive packet flooding have baffled researchers for years, a new type of even more detrimental attack—shrew attacks (periodic intensive packet bursts with low average rate)—has recently been identified. Shrew attacks can significantly degrade well-behaved TCP sessions, repel potential new connections, and are very difficult to detect, not to mention defend against, due to its low average rate. We propose a new stateful adaptive queue management technique called HAWK (Halting Anomaly with Weighted choKing) which works by judiciously identifying malicious shrew packet flows using a small flow table and dropping such packets decisively to halt the attack such that well-behaved TCP sessions can re-gain their bandwidth shares. Our NS-2 based extensive performance results indicate that HAWK is highly agile.
Daily or Intermittent Budesonide in Preschool Children with Recurrent Wheezing

Background Daily inhaled glucocorticoids are recommended for young children at risk for asthma exacerbations, as indicated by a positive value on the modified asthma predictive index (API) and an exacerbation in the preceding year, but concern remains about daily adherence and effects on growth. We compared daily therapy with intermittent therapy. Methods We studied 278 children between the ages of 12 and 53 months who had positive values on the modified API, recurrent wheezing episodes, and at least one exacerbation in the previous year but a low degree of impairment. Children were randomly assigned to receive a budesonide inhalation suspension for 1 year as either an intermittent high-dose regimen (1 mg twice daily for 7 days, starting early during a predefined respiratory tract illness) or a daily low-dose regimen (0.5 mg nightly) with corresponding placebos. The primary outcome was the frequency of exacerbations requiring oral glucocorticoid therapy. Results The daily regimen of budesonide did not dif...
Numerical simulation of flow dynamics in a tidal river under various upstream hydrologic conditions

AbstractA three-dimensional Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code model was developed for a 17-km segment of the Mobile River, Alabama, USA. The model external forcing factors include river inflows from upstream, tides from downstream, and atmospheric conditions. The model was calibrated against measured water levels, velocities, and temperatures from 26 April to 29 August 2011. The Nash-Sutcliffe coefficients for water levels were greater than 0.94 and for water temperatures ranged from 0.88 to 0.99. The calibrated model was extended approximately 13 km upstream for simulating unsteady flow, dye, and temperature distributions in the Mobile River under different upstream inflows and downstream harmonic tides. Velocity profiles and distributions of flow, dye, and temperature at various locations were analyzed and show that flow recirculation could only occur under small inflow (50 m3 s-1) when downstream tides control the flow pattern in the Mobile River. The model results reveal complex interactions among dis...
Direct Addition of Ammonia Solutions to Corn Silage Fed to Dairy Cattle

Abstract Three lactating cows readily consumed corn silage to which .43% ammonia was added just prior to feeding. No ammonia odors were present, and nitrogen recoveries in silages were 80–90%. In a second trial lactating cows (seven per treatment) were fed corn silage to which .43% ammonia was added at ensiling or just prior to feeding. Treatment was for 9 wk during which silages were fed ad libitum, haylage at 4.5 kg/day, and a 14% crude protein concentrate at 1 kg per 3 kg milk. Silage and total dry matter intakes were higher for the prior-to-feeding than at-ensiling group and may have been related to neutralization of silage acidity by the ammonia. Milk persistencies were not significantly different, but were slightly higher for the ensiling than prior-to-feeding group. In the third trial, silage was mixed with varying ammonia levels (from .43 to 2.55%) and fed to four nonlactating cows. Silage intakes decreased as percent ammonia increased with ammonia intakes plateauing at about 220 g per day. Rumen and blood ammonia at the higher intakes of ammonia were higher than normal, but much lower than in urea toxicity. Only slight ammoniacal odors were detectable at .85% ammonia, but they were strong at 1.28%. Ammonia solutions can be mixed with corn silage just prior to feeding to lactating cows.
Nighttime expert panel and photometric evaluations of unlighted overhead guide signs

A nighttime field evaluation of four different retroreflective overhead-sign sheeting combinations (ASTM D4956 beaded Type III legend on beaded Type III background, Type IX legend on beaded Type III background, Type IX legend on Type IX background, and Type VII legend on beaded Type III background) was conducted on a section of US-30 near Mansfield, Ohio. The test-material combinations were compared when lighted and unlighted (illuminated by low-beam headlights only). Twelve Ohio Department of Transportation engineers and technicians served as evaluators, riding the test loops in 2002 Dodge Caravans. The white Type IX legend on green-beaded Type III background sheeting combination received the highest evaluation scores for appearance, conspicuity, and legibility. The scores for the Type VII legend on beaded Type III background signs were only slightly lower in all three categories. The Type IX legend on Type IX background combination received slightly lower evaluation scores, and the beaded Type III legen...
BREAST CANCER BEFORE AGE 45 AND ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE USE: NEW FINDINGS

The relation between the risk of breast cancer before 45 years of age and oral contraceptive use was examined in a case-control study conducted in New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Boston from 1983 to 1986 of 407 patients with breast cancer and 424 controls. With allowance for confounding, for ever use, the multivariate relative risk estimate was 2.0 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.4-2.9). For less than 10 years of use, the estimate approximated 2.0 in all categories of duration, including less than three months; for 10 or more years of use it was 4.1 (95% CI, 1.8-9.3). The association was apparent in virtually all subgroups examined, including younger and older women, and women at low and high underlying risk of breast cancer. Contrary to some previous reports, the association was not stronger for use before a first term pregnancy or at an early age. The results suggest that oral contraceptive users, particularly those with very long durations of use, may be at increased risk of breast cancer. However, information bias, particularly for short-term use, could not be ruled out. There may also have been selection bias if oral contraceptive users were under more intensive medical surveillance. It has not been possible to reconcile the findings of the various studies to date, including the authors' earlier results showing no association. The latter results were derived from data collected using methods almost identical to those used in the present study.
Role of Posturography in the Management of Vestibular Patients

Computerized dynamic posturography uses a force platform that can both translate and rotate. When combined with visual stimuli, it can be used to determine the relative importance of the various sensory inputs critical for balance, namely vision, somatosensation, and vestibular sensation. Studies to date have shown several patterns of abnormalities on posturography, the best recognized being the vestibular pattern. Many patients with a high suspicion of having a peripheral vestibular abnormality (based on other information) have such a pattern. Moreover, few normal subjects have such abnormalities. Although computerized dynamic posturography does not help in localizing a lesion or determining its etiology, such testing does provide a functional measure that can be helpful in understanding a patient's ability to properly use vestibular system information. Posturography is helpful in the management of patients with suspected vestibular disorders. In addition to suggesting the presence of a vestibular system abnormality, particularly an uncompensated peripheral vestibular deficit, a bilateral peripheral vestibular deficit, or a central vestibular abnormality, computerized dynamic posturography may help guide the clinician regarding choice of treatment and counseling of patients. Further studies are required to determine the ultimate role of computerized dynamic posturography in the management of patients with vestibular disorders.
Crystal structures of the GluR5 and GluR6 ligand binding cores: molecular mechanisms underlying kainate receptor selectivity.

Little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying differences in the ligand binding properties of AMPA, kainate, and NMDA subtype glutamate receptors. Crystal structures of the GluR5 and GluR6 kainate receptor ligand binding cores in complexes with glutamate, 2S,4R-4-methylglutamate, kainate, and quisqualate have now been solved. The structures reveal that the ligand binding cavities are 40% (GluR5) and 16% (GluR6) larger than for GluR2. The binding of AMPA- and GluR5-selective agonists to GluR6 is prevented by steric occlusion, which also interferes with the high-affinity binding of 2S,4R-4-methylglutamate to AMPA receptors. Strikingly, the extent of domain closure produced by the GluR6 partial agonist kainate is only 3° less than for glutamate and 11° greater than for the GluR2 kainate complex. This, together with extensive interdomain contacts between domains 1 and 2 of GluR5 and GluR6, absent from AMPA receptors, likely contributes to the high stability of GluR5 and GluR6 kainate complexes.
A knowledge-based approach for handling exceptions in business processes

This paper describes a novel knowledge-based methodology and toolset for helping business process designers and participants better manage exceptions (unexpected deviations from an ideal sequence of events caused by design errors, resource failures, requirement changes, etc.) that can occur during the enactment of a process. This approach is based on an on-line repository exploiting a generic and reusable body of knowledge, which describes what kinds of exceptions can occur in collaborative work processes, how these exceptions can be detected, and how they can be resolved. This work builds upon previous efforts from the MIT Process Handbook project and from research on conflict management in collaborative design.
Apolipoprotein A‐IMilano anion exchange chromatography: Mass transfer and adsorption kinetics

The mass transfer and adsorption kinetics of self-associating apolipoprotein A-I(Milano) (apoA-I(M)) was investigated for the two anion exchangers Q-Sepharose-HP and Macro-Prep-HQ. At high salt where no protein binding occurs and without urea, mass transfer was controlled by hindered pore diffusion of multiple associated forms for both materials. Adding urea suppressed self-association, but resulted in higher viscosity and caused unfolding. As a consequence, the effective diffusivity decreased as urea was added and was greater for the larger pore Macro-Prep-HQ resin. At low salt, under strong binding conditions, the adsorption kinetics followed a more complex mechanism. In this case, the kinetics was very slow for both stationary phases up to 2 M urea. However, at higher urea concentrations, the adsorption kinetics for the smaller pore Q-Sepharose-HP matrix became much faster, suggesting a transition from pore- to surface-dominated diffusion. Microscopic observations confirmed that different transport mechanisms were in play below and above 2 M urea, which marked the approximate boundary above which self-association was suppressed and unfolding occurred. The net result was enhanced uptake kinetics at high urea concentrations (e.g., 4 M) where protein unfolding is thought to lead to a more flexible structure that can reptate along the pore surface. Although the observed enhancement was dependent on the pore size and, thus, the surface area of the resin, it was not limited to apoA-I(M). BSA showed a similar trend as a function of urea when its disulfide bonds were reduced.
Unforeseen consequences of the increasing rate of cesarean deliveries: early placenta accreta and cesarean scar pregnancy. A review

This review concentrates on 2 consequences of cesarean deliveries that may occur in a subsequent pregnancy. They are the pathologically adherent placenta and the cesarean scar pregnancy. We explored their clinical and diagnostic as well as therapeutic similarities. We reviewed the literature concerning the occurrence of early placenta accreta and cesarean section scar pregnancy. The review resulted in several conclusions: (1) the diagnosis of placenta accreta and cesarean scar pregnancy is difficult; (2) transvaginal ultrasound seems to be the best diagnostic tool to establish the diagnosis; (3) an early and correct diagnosis may prevent some of their complications; (4) curettage and systemic methotrexate therapy and embolization as single treatments should be avoided if possible; and (5) in the case of cesarean scar pregnancy, local methotrexate- and hysteroscopic-directed procedures had the lowest complication rates.
Numerical study of the diapycnal flow through a tidal front with passive tracers

[1] A two-dimensional numerical model is used to study the diapycnal flow through a tidal front with passive tracers. In a basic numerical experiment a passive tracer is released into the bottom water at the offshore edge of a tidal front, and it subsequently moves on-bank with a velocity that decreases with time. This qualitatively agrees with a recent field experiment using a dye tracer on Georges Bank. Additional experiments are performed to investigate the sensitivity of the tracer dispersion to the tidal phase and the location of tracer release within the front. As the release point is moved on-bank across the front, the tracer velocity decreases until it weakly reverses on the on-bank edge of the front. This trend can be understood by considering the structure of the Lagrangian velocity field in the tidal front, the degree of vertical mixing of the tracer, and the concentration-weighted mean patch velocity. The tidal phase at the time of tracer release does not significantly affect the tracer dispersion.
Healthcare resource utilization, adherence and persistence with antipsychotic therapy among schizophrenia patients with vs. without pre-existing metabolic syndrome.

AbstractObjective:To assess the association between pre-existing metabolic syndrome and health outcomes among veterans with schizophrenia.Methods:The Veterans Integrated Service Network 16 data (VISN16) for 10/2002 – 08/2005 were used to identify patients (n = 593) with schizophrenia (ICD-9 codes: 250.xx) who were switched to a new antipsychotic agent in response to metabolic monitoring as part of a VISN 16 metabolic monitoring program. Two groups (patients with pre-existing metabolic syndrome [MetSyn+] and without [MetSyn−]) were compared on resource utilization, antipsychotic adherence (medication possession ratio: MPR) and persistence (time to all-cause discontinuation of the switched antipsychotic) over 1 year.Results:About one-third of the patients who have undergone metabolic monitoring before the medication switch (35.2%) had metabolic syndrome. The two groups did not significantly differ on healthcare resource utilization, MPR, or time to all-cause medication discontinuation. Adherence and persist...
Early lymphocyte recovery predicts superior survival after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in multiple myeloma or non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) improves survival in patients with previously untreated multiple myeloma (MM) and relapsed, chemotherapy-sensitive, aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Lower relapse rates seen in allogeneic stem cell transplantation have been related to early absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) recovery as a manifestation of early graft-verus-tumor effect. In ASCT, the relation between ALC recovery and clinical outcomes in MM and NHL was not previously described. This is a retrospective study of patients with MM and NHL who underwent ASCT at the Mayo Clinic between 1987 and 1999. The ALC threshold was determined at 500 cells/μL on day 15 after ASCT. The study identified 126 patients with MM and 104 patients with NHL. The median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) times for patients with MM were significantly longer in patients with an ALC of 500 cells/μL or more than patients with an ALC of fewer than 500 cells/μL (33 vs 12 months, P < .0001; 16 vs 8 months, P < .0003, respectively). For patients with NHL, the median OS and PFS times were significantly longer in patients with an ALC of 500 cells/μL or more versus those with fewer than 500 cells/μL (not reached vs 6 months, P < .0001; not reached vs 4 months, P < .0001, respectively). Multivariate analysis demonstrated day 15 ALC to be an independent prognostic indicator for OS and PFS rates for both groups of patients. In conclusion, ALC is correlated with clinical outcome and requires further study.
Testosterone suppresses endothelium-dependent dilation of rat middle cerebral arteries.

Little is known about vascular effects of testosterone. We previously reported chronic testosterone treatment increases vascular tone in middle cerebral arteries (MCA; 300 μm diameter) of male rats...
THE DOLBEAULT DGA OF A FORMAL NEIGHBORHOOD

Inspired by a work of Kapranov (Kap99), we define the notion of Dolbeault complex of the formal neighborhood of a closed embedding of complex manifolds. This construction allows us to study coherent sheaves over the formal neighborhood via com- plex analytic approach, as in the case of usual complex manifolds and their Dolbeault complexes. Moreover, our the Dolbeault complex as a differential graded algebra can be associated with a dg-category according to Block (Blo10). We show this dg-category is a dg-enhancement of the bounded derived category over the formal neighborhood under the assumption that the submanifold is compact. This generalizes a similar result of Block in the case of usual complex manifolds. CONTENTS
Pseudoscolia aequatoria New Species, the First Sub-Saharan Member of the Genus (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Crabronidae)

Abstract Pseudoscolia aequatoria, new species, from Archer's Post, Kenya, is the first sub-Saharan member of the genus. It is not closely related to any previously described North African species.
Child Safety Legislation

Child safety legislation is a body of regulations and laws enacted for the protection of children from birth up to age 18. The body of law includes the categories of heath, medicine, and physical safety; family and education; employment, and exploitation. According to human rights advocates, children’s status as human beings automatically entitles them to all human rights, including safety. The business legislation on child safety is generally a part of regulations established for the protection of larger classes of people such as workers, consumers, and citizens.
Determination of Sensitivity to Endophyte-Infected Tall Fescue for Beef Heifers in a Summer Field Environment

It has been known for some time that livestock, in a field environment, exhibit large individual differences in their response to toxins of endophyte-infected tall fescue (EIF). There has been little attempt, however, to quantify the level of response to these toxins or identify animal sensitivity either before, during, or after exposure. A first step toward this goal is to determine reliable markers that can be used in this selection process.
Vertical crustal movements in the vicinity of the 1931 Valentine, Texas, earthquake

Deformation possibly related to an earthquake in Texas has been revealed from analysis of precise leveling data collected by the National Geodetic Survey. Relative elevation changes deduced from first-order leveling surveys conducted between 1910 and 1957 show that at least two areas in western Texas near the epicenter of the 1931 Valentine earthquake ( M = 6.4) subsided relative to their surroundings. Apparent subsidence east of Van Horn, Texas, is attributed primarily to the combined effects of groundwater withdrawal and topography-related survey errors. In contrast, relative subsidence near Valentine, Texas, of 11.2 ± 1.0 cm extending over a distance of about 20 km does not appear to be due to either near-surface effects or leveling errors and thus may represent coseismic deformation of the Valentine earthquake. The large magnitude of the vertical movements indicated by the leveling data suggests significant dip-slip movement on the inferred earthquake fault. This is consistent with the Cenozoic structure of the region which is characterized by Basin and Range morphology. If the observed subsidence was caused by the 1931 earthquake, the leveling data suggest that the epicenter for this event lies considerably closer to Valentine than originally reported. This new location is supported by a recent relocation for the Valentine earthquake, and by local intensity reports.
Nodular Fasciitis: Definitive Diagnosis by Fine Needle Aspiration

Objectives: Nodular fasciitis (NF) is a self-limited, mass-forming, fibrous proliferation that can occur in the head and neck and may mimic malignancy. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is a minimally invasive, rapid, accurate method of obtaining diagnostic material from head and neck masses. In this study, we verify the usefulness of FNAB in obtaining a definitive diagnosis of NF. Methods: Cases were identified from our laboratory information system. Cytology slides were reviewed to note morphologic features and confirm diagnoses. Clinical history was obtained to document the case presentations and outcomes. Results: All 9 cases were found to have clinical presentations and common distinguishing morphologic features consistent with NF. Two cases were excised surgically, and the remainder regressed spontaneously. There were no recurrences. Conclusions: FNAB can produce a definitive diagnosis of NF, providing an opportunity to avoid surgical excision in patients with a typical clinical presentation.
EQUATIONS OF HEAT DISTRIBUTION WITHIN THE BODY.

A vector integral equation describing heat distribution within the body has been derived. The factors considered are heat conduction, forced convection via the circulatory system, environmental exchange, metabolic heat production, and change in heat content. The vector partial differential equation and alternative forms incorporating boundary conditions were also developed. A difference equation based on a first-order approximation to the fundamental equations was derived to form the basis of a model for heat distribution within the body. It has been shown that factors involving conduction and convection must be considered independently unless the temperature of the blood flowing from a region of the body is equal to the average temperature of the tissue in that region. If this relation between tissue and blood temperature does exist, only a single temperature from each eleeent is needed to describe the heat distribution. In this latter case, models which ascribe all heat transfer to “equivalent” conduction or to convection can give valid predictions.
Thermal death studies of third-instar Caribbean fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Laboratory tests examined mortality of 3rd-instar Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew), exposed to 40 degrees C in water baths. Larvae chilled to 4 degrees C before treatment had similar percentage survival (94%) as larvae held at ambient temperature (approximately equal to 25 degrees C) after exposure to 40 degrees C for 10 min. Significant differenoes for percentage survival were found between larvae exposed for various durations in sealed metal tubes with rearing diet and larvae exposed in fabric-sleeved cylinders with no diet. Submersion of larvae for 2 h in water at approximately equal to 25 degrees C before treatment in a 40 degrees C water bath for 67 min did not influence survival. When larvae were exposed to 40 degrees C for 67 min in empty tubes (no diet), larval cohorts at low densities (32 +/- 14 larvae per tube) had higher survival (85.8%) than survival (19.4%) of larvae treated at higher densities (361 +/- 155 larvae per tube). Temperature regimes alone did not explain larval mortality. Other factors such as larval density, substrate, and environmental factors could contribute to mortality.
Toward DMD Illuminated Spatial-Temporal Modulated Thermography

This paper reports on a system using a Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) to modulate a near-infrared laser source spatially and temporally. The DMD can produce an arbitrary heat source varying both spatially and temporally over the target. When the thermal response of the target surface is recorded using a thermal imager, this provides new possibilities in subsurface defect detection, partially with regard to features whose orientation does not allow them to be resolved using conventional thermographic inspection techniques. In this respect it is similar to conventional focused spot detection approaches; however, the DMD allows the signal to be frequency/phase multiplexed which provides for simultaneous interrogation over a large area. The parallel nature of the process permits a longer inspection time at each point which has signal-to-noise benefits. Preliminary experiments demonstrating the multiplexing approach are presented using a low-cost thermal imager. A NIR laser is spatially and temporary modulated to generated multiple thermal line sources on the surface of a composite circuit board. The infrared response is demodulated point-by-point at each drive frequency. This permits the thermal response from each line source to be resolved individually. Beyond damage detection the approach also has applications to system identification. Initial limitations due to the test setup are discussed along with future system improvements.
Screening for hepatitis infectivity among blood donors. A model for blood safety

The safety of blood and blood products is based on three interdependent activities: selection of safe donors, laboratory testing, and, where applicable, treatment of the product to reduce residual infectivity. Posttransfusion hepatitis has provided both the initial stimulus and the model for these procedures. The procedures have resulted in a progressive increase in the safety of the blood supply, which is continuing, as evidenced by a 50% decrease in the frequency of reported posttransfusion hepatitis over the past two years.
Proteomic comparison of near-isogenic barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) germplasm differing in the allelic state of a major senescence QTL identifies numerous proteins involved in plant pathogen defense

Senescence is the last developmental phase of plant tissues, organs and, in the case of monocarpic senescence, entire plants. In monocarpic crops such as barley, it leads to massive remobilization of nitrogen and other nutrients to developing seeds. To further investigate this process, a proteomic comparison of flag leaves of near-isogenic late- and early-senescing barley germplasm was performed. Protein samples at 14 and 21 days past anthesis were analyzed using both two-dimensional gel-based and label-free quantitative mass spectrometry-based (‘shotgun’) proteomic techniques. This approach identified >9000 barley proteins, and one-third of them were quantified. Analysis focused on proteins that were significantly (p < 0.05; difference ≥1.5-fold) upregulated in early-senescing line ‘10_11’ as compared to late-senescing variety ‘Karl’, as these may be functionally important for senescence. Proteins in this group included family 1 pathogenesis-related proteins, intracellular and membrane receptors or co-receptors (NBS-LRRs, LRR-RLKs), enzymes involved in attacking pathogen cell walls (glucanases), enzymes with possible roles in cuticle modification, and enzymes involved in DNA repair. Additionally, proteases and elements of the ubiquitin-proteasome system were upregulated in line ‘10_11’, suggesting involvement of nitrogen remobilization and regulatory processes. Overall, the proteomic data highlight a correlation between early senescence and upregulated defense functions. This correlation emerges more clearly from the current proteomic data than from a previously performed transcriptomic comparison of ‘Karl’ and ‘10_11’. Our findings stress the value of studying biological systems at both the transcript and protein levels, and point to the importance of pathogen defense functions during developmental leaf senescence.
Abstract PR06: Reciprocal prostate cancer signaling with its microenvironment mediates castrate-resistant disease progression

Our lab has previously reported that the mouse model knocked out for TGF-beta receptor type II in fibroblasts results in castrate resistance of prostate tissues, mediated by paracrine Wnt signaling. We found that antagonizing androgen signaling leads to Wnt ligand expression by prostatic fibroblasts, interestingly dependent on cell-cell contact. This led us to hypothesize that a juxtacrine action within the stromal compartment was important to the development of castrate resistance. Building upon this observation, we found that Notch signaling was upregulated in prostate cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) compared with normal tissue associated fibroblasts (NAFs). Further, inhibition of Notch signaling in CAFs, using DAPT, resulted in decrease in Wnt2b and decreased expression of Notch target genes. Similarly, castration or androgen receptor antagonism (i.e. bicalutamide or enzalutamide) resulted in increased Notch signaling and downstream Wnts 2 and 2b up regulation. The further generation of chimeric tissue recombinant xenografts with human RV1 prostate cancer epithelia with mouse prostate stromal cells with activated Notch signaling, derived from NICD transgenic mice resulted in increased tumor size compared with wild type control stromal recombinants. Conversely, recombinants derived from prostatic fibroblasts having a loss of Notch signaling, from RBPJ-knockout mice, had diminished tumorigenesis, compared to xenografts with the wild type fibroblasts counterpart. In trying to determine the mediator of Wnt-associated paracrine prostate epithelial expansion, we found downstream YAP activation in the RV1 cells. In a reciprocal epithelial-to-fibroblast communication we found that the RV1 cells treated with conditioned media from NICD fibroblasts showed increased IL-6 expression. Conversely, conditioned media from prostate cancer cells increased Notch target gene expression in CAFs, which was blocked upon addition of IL-6 neutralizing antibody. Taken together there is a stromal-derived signaling cascade involving Notch and Wnt ligands, that activates YAP in the epithelia for paracrine IL-6-dependent Notch activity back in the stromal fibroblasts. Critically, disruption of this cross-talk in the fibroblasts can limit the gain of stem features and castrate resistance of the adjacent epithelia in halting lethal progression of prostate cancer. This abstract is also presented as Poster A44. Citation Format: Manisha Tripathi, Srinivas Nandana, Jen-Ming Huang, Manabu Kato, Leland W. K. Chung, Rajeev Mishra, Li Xin, Neil Bhowmick. Reciprocal prostate cancer signaling with its microenvironment mediates castrate-resistant disease progression. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Function of Tumor Microenvironment in Cancer Progression; 2016 Jan 7–10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(15 Suppl):Abstract nr PR06.
Chronic lung disease in two patients with new integrin alfa3 gene mutations

Background: Integrin alfa3 (ITGA3) gene mutations are associated with Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), Nephrotic Syndrome and Epidermolysis Bullosa (ILNEB syndrome). Five cases are reported: all carried homozygous ITGA3 mutation and died in the first 2 years. Objective: We present two siblings with ILD, skin involvement and two new ITGA3 heterozygous mutations: G125R in exon 3 and R274Q in exon 6. Materials and Methods: They underwent medical examination, pulmonary function testing, Computed Tomography (CT), renal ultrasound. Results: The female, 13 years old, shows a severe failure to thrive; ILD appeared at 3 years of age, after five lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI), with dramatic effort intolerance, velcro rales and wheeze, severe, irreversible air trapping (RV/TLC 290%, FVC 30%, FEV1 30-40%), diffuse mosaic attenuation at CT. Lung biopsy was refused. She is a candidate for lung transplantation, but she9s not listed yet because she has been stable and normoxemic over the last seven years with a FEV1>30%. A recent LRTI has been followed by persistent hypoxemia. The male, 7 years old, shows a more severe cutaneous involvement; he suffers a mild lung disease characterized by wheeze, obstruction with air trapping (RV/TLC 160%) and mosaic attenuation at CT. He is stable on Inhaled Corticosteroids-Long Acting beta2 agonists. Neither sibling has renal involvement. Conclusions: Heterozygous ITGA3 mutations may correlate to a mild ILNEB syndrome without renal involvement, with different phenotypic expression. Lung disease is characterized by a stepwise decline with long periods of stability, suggesting an abnormal susceptibility of the lung to bacterial or viral infection maybe due to ITGA3 gene mutations.
Adiposity during early adulthood, changes in adiposity during adulthood, attained adiposity, and mammographic density among premenopausal women

We investigated the associations of adolescent adiposity, changes in adiposity during adulthood, and attained adiposity with volumetric mammographic density measures. We recruited 383 premenopausal women who had a routine screening mammogram at the Breast Health Center, Washington University in St. Louis, MO from December 2015 to October 2016. Trained research personnel assessed current adiposity measures. Weight at ages 18 and 30 were self-reported. We evaluated mammographic density measures: volumetric percent density (VPD), dense volume (DV), and non-dense volume (NDV) using Volpara. Multivariable linear regression models were used to evaluate the associations of adiposity measures with volumetric mammographic density measures. All attained adiposity measures, BMI at age 18, age 30, and weight change were significantly inversely associated with VPD, and positively associated with DV and NDV. One unit increase in body fat % was associated with a 4.9% decrease in VPD and a 6.5% increase in NDV (p-values 25 kg, respectively, compared to women who gained less than 5 kg during this time period (p-values <0.001). Irrespective of BMI at age 18, VPD significantly decreased and NDV increased among women who were currently obese. There is a need for mechanistic studies focusing on early adulthood to provide a better understanding of how adiposity in early life relates to mammographic density, and possibly breast cancer development in premenopausal women.
The regions of T-cell recognition on the extracellular part of the alpha chain of Torpedo californica acetylcholine receptor.

A comprehensive synthetic approach was employed to identify the continuous regions of T-cell recognition on the alpha-chain of Torpedo californica acetylcholine receptor (AChR). Eighteen synthetic consecutive overlapping peptides, of uniform size and overlaps, that spanned the entire extracellular part (residues 1-210) of the alpha chain were examined for their in vitro stimulation of lymph node cells from AChR-primed C57BL/6 (H-2b), C3H/He (H-2k), SWR(H-2q) and SJL (H-2s) mice. The T-cell recognition sites (T sites) in the AChR-primed mouse strains resided within six regions on the extracellular part of the alpha-chain. Three of the regions recognized by T cells coincided with regions recognized by antibodies (i.e. B cells) and one of these three regions also coincided with an alpha-neurotoxin binding region. It is noteworthy that, in addition to sites recognized by both T and B cells, the protein has at least two sites which are recognized exclusively by T cells and to which no detectable antibody responses are directed.
Syringe ammonia fountain

This tested demonstration presents a unique variation on the standard flame test in that it simultaneously illustrates the differences in the atomic spectra of various elements. It also requires less time for preparation and cleanup than comparable flame tests.
Developing discerning consumers: an intervention to increase skepticism toward advertisements in 4- to 5-year-olds in the US

This study examined whether an instructional intervention could increase skepticism toward advertisements in a sample of 4- to 5-year-olds (N = 44, Mage = 4.46) from the US. Children in an intervention group observed toy commercials and had the opportunity to play with the advertised toy while they were told about advertisers’ motives and the tactics they use to persuade consumers to want products. In a control condition, children were shown these same commercials and allowed to play with the advertised toy but were not instructed about the persuasive tactics used by advertisers. The intervention led to significantly higher rates of skepticism toward commercials more than a week after the training. These results have practical implications concerning ongoing debates about the efficacy of early media literacy interventions and theoretical implications regarding the mechanisms that underlie the development of skepticism.
Nonlinearity and Stochasticity in Population Dynamics

Theoretical studies of population dynamics and ecological interactions tend to focus on asymptotic attractors of mathematical models. Modeling and experimental studies show, however, that even in controlled laboratory conditions the attractors of mathematical models are likely to be insufficient to explain observed temporal patterns in data. Instead, one is more likely to see a collage of many patterns that resemble various dynamics predicted by a deterministic model that arise during randomly occurring temporal episodes. These deterministic “signals” might include patterns characteristic of a model attractor (or several model attractors — even from possibly different deterministic models), transients both near and far from attractors, and/or unstable invariant sets and their stable manifolds. This paper discusses several examples taken from experimental projects in population dynamics that illustrate these and other tenets.
RETINOL AND RETINOIC ACID

Retinol, also known as vitamin A, is essential for life. Retinol in the human body is produced by a series of metabolic processes that begin with dietary intake of β-carotene and retinyl esters. Retinoic acid (RA) is one of the most potent physiologic metabolites of retinol. Retinol and RA are essential for pre- and postnatal development of the lung and for the induction, maintenance, and regeneration of differentiated epithelial cells in the proximal and distal parts of the lung. These effects are mediated mainly through the nuclear receptors RA receptor and retinoid X receptor. RA-bound dimers of RA receptors and retinoid X receptors transactivate RA target genes complexed with numerous transcriptional coactivators. Recent observations that exogeneous RA regenerates alveoli septum damaged by elastase in a rat model suggest the possibility of using retinoids or novel targets in the retinoid signaling pathways involved in the regeneration of the damaged alveoli to treat emphysema. Some natural and synthetic retinoids used to prevent or treat several types of tumors have been clinically effective. Better understanding of the biologic effects of retinoids and their target genes regulated differentially in normal and cancer cells will help researchers exploit the beneficial aspects of the retinoids for the prevention and treatment of cancers.
Incomplete transposition of the great vessels (Taussig-Bing complex)

Abstract The physiologic studies of 6 cases of the Taussig-Bing type of incomplete transposition of the great vessels are presented. The diagnosis was confirmed at autopsy in 3 cases. The anterior position of the pulmonary artery was noted at surgery in 2 of the other 3 patients. Although most of the previously reported cases were in older children or adults, all of our patients were under 4 years of age and 5 of the 6 were infants. Cyanosis, although present in all the infants, was only of mild degree in contrast to the marked to moderate cyanosis in older children and adults previously reported. The striking clinical feature of the small infants was pulmonary congestion resulting from markedly increased pulmonary blood flow. They masqueraded clinically as patients in congestive heart failure due to acyanotic congenital heart disease with large left-to-right shunts. Angiographic studies arc usually necessary to locate the great vessels accurately and to make an exact diagnosis. Young patients with the Taussig-Bing complex, in contrast to most older patients with this syndrome, show large pulmonary blood flows, low pulmonary vascular resistances and a clinical picture of severe left-sided congestive heart failure. For these reasons, decreasing the pulmonary pressure and flow by pulmonary artery banding seemed a reasonable palliative surgical approach for treatment and was attempted in 3 infant patients. One patient died at surgery. The other 2 survived and have exhibited clinical improvement, and are now 12 and 15 months postoperative.
Reflections on the Baker–Gammel–Wills (Padé) Conjecture

In 1961, Baker, Gammel, and Wills formulated their famous conjecture that if a function f is meromorphic in the unit ball and analytic at 0, then a subsequence of its diagonal Pade approximants converges uniformly in compact subsets to f. This conjecture was disproved in 2001, but it generated a number of related unresolved conjectures. We review their status.
Experimental investigation of curved electrode actuator dynamics in viscous dielectric media

Micromanipulation of biological cells inside a liquid environment requires an actuator that has a small footprint to reduce viscous drag and low actuation voltage to prevent electrolysis and Joule heating. Curved electrode actuators hold promise for underwater micromanipulation because they yield large displacements at low actuation voltages for a small footprint. In this letter, we report on the frequency-domain characteristics of the actuator and demonstrate that the actuator can achieve large displacements (1–10 μm) and generate large forces (1–21 μN) at low actuation voltages (8 V) over the 1–1000 Hz frequency range in a viscous dielectric media.Micromanipulation of biological cells inside a liquid environment requires an actuator that has a small footprint to reduce viscous drag and low actuation voltage to prevent electrolysis and Joule heating. Curved electrode actuators hold promise for underwater micromanipulation because they yield large displacements at low actuation voltages for a small footprint. In this letter, we report on the frequency-domain characteristics of the actuator and demonstrate that the actuator can achieve large displacements (1–10 μm) and generate large forces (1–21 μN) at low actuation voltages (8 V) over the 1–1000 Hz frequency range in a viscous dielectric media.