cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chronic Corynebacterium striatum Septic Arthritis in a Patient Referred for Total Knee Arthroplasty

Background While Corynebacterium striatum and other Corynebacterium species were historically considered contaminants, they are recently being identified as pathogens with increasing frequency. Case Summary. We report the case of a 78-year-old gentleman with a three-year history of knee pain and established diagnosis of osteoarthritis referred for consideration for total knee arthroplasty. He had no knee pain with passive range-of-motion. Plain films demonstrated bony erosions atypical for osteoarthritis. Joint aspiration white blood cell count was 30,548/mm3, but multiple cultures were positive for C. striatum. The infection was successfully treated with open irrigation and debridement, complete synovectomy, and six weeks of intravenous daptomycin. Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first report of chronic C. striatum septic arthritis of a native joint and only the third case of C. striatum septic arthritis of the knee.C. striatum. The infection was successfully treated with open irrigation and debridement, complete synovectomy, and six weeks of intravenous daptomycin. C. striatum. The infection was successfully treated with open irrigation and debridement, complete synovectomy, and six weeks of intravenous daptomycin.
Translating Mighty Mice into Neuromuscular Therapeutics: Is Bigger Muscle Better?

There is increasing clinical research interest in skeletal muscle due in part to the rising incidence of morbidities associated with muscle, particularly insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes (inactive and over-fed muscle) as well as aging and frailty (sarcopenia). A promising avenue of drug development is focused on muscle hypertrophy: the rationale being that a larger muscle is healthier and stronger. Molecular targets for drug development include the myostatin pathway and the IGF1/AKT1 pathway, with both preclinical and clinical testing underway in the inherited muscular dystrophies and in other muscle disorders. As research intensifies, the complexity of these networks in both normal physiology and pathophysiology is becoming evident. As described by Parsons et al1 in this issue of The American Journal of Pathology, myostatin blockade in mouse models of inherited muscle disease is highly variable in its effectiveness, depending on the disease model used, the specific muscle groups studied, and even the age of the animal. Here, we discuss the underlying rationale and current data concerning modulation of muscle size in clinical disorders of muscle.
UAS Based Methodology for Measuring Glide Slope Angles of Airport Precision Approach Path Indicators (PAPI)

The Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) is a Visual Glide Slope Indicator that uses a two-color light projector system to produce a visual glidepath for pilots approaching a runway. This paper reports on a methodology for using an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) to measure angles where PAPI lights transition from white to red to assess compliance with the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Order JO6850.2B. The UAS captured images from a series of elevations at varying distances from the PAPI lights on runway 10 at the Purdue University Airport on June 27, 2019. Precise location of each image was obtained by mounting a survey prism on the UAS and using ground-based surveying total stations to record the x, y, z location of the UAS. Two 15-minute UAS missions collected 70 images that were synchronized with total station readings. UAS images were classified by the number of white and red PAPI lights visible. A logit model was used to estimate the glidepath transition angle of the four PAPI Light Housing Assemblies, which were compared with the angle and tolerance of transition angles defined in FAA Order JO6850.2B. A second independent robotic total station measured the location of the UAS when images were taken. Comparing the two independent total station measurements, the root mean squared error of the UAS position on the glide slope was 1.3 arc-min. The paper concludes that low cost UAS with a total station can quickly and accurately evaluate PAPI lights to determine if they are aimed within the prescribed FAA tolerance.
Area deprivation is associated with poorer overall survival in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Background Few studies have evaluated social determinants of outcomes disparities for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We investigated the association of area deprivation index (ADI), a measure of neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage, with overall survival (OS) among children and adolescents with ALL. Procedure We obtained demographic and clinical data, geocoded addresses at diagnosis, and vital status on all Texas children diagnosed with ALL from 1995 to 2011 (N = 4104). Using the US Census Bureau 2010 geography, we computed ADI scores for all census tracts in Texas and grouped the tracts into quartiles: least, third-most, second-most, and most disadvantaged. We mapped children to ADI quartiles based on residence at diagnosis, and estimated OS using Cox regression adjusting for sex, race/ethnicity, age, and metropolitan/nonmetropolitan residence. Results Five-year OS ranged from 89% (95% confidence interval [CI] 87-91%) for children in the least disadvantaged tracts to 79% (95% CI 76-81%) for children in the most disadvantaged tracts (P = 4E-7). An elevated hazard ratio (HR) for death was observed for children in the most disadvantaged tracts (HR 1.57, 95% CI 1.23-2.00), and trends toward increased mortality were observed in the third-most and second-most disadvantaged tracts (HR 1.23, 95% CI 0.97-1.57 and HR 1.27, 95% CI 0.99-1.62, respectively). In stratified analyses, area disadvantage was more strongly associated with OS in males than females. Conclusions Neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with inferior OS in this analysis of over 4100 children with ALL, highlighting the substantial contributions of social-environmental factors to childhood cancer survival. This association was stronger in males than females.
Integrative omics analysis identifies differential biological pathways that are associated with regional grey matter volume changes in major depressive disorder.

Background Major depressive disorder (MDD) is accompanied by alterations in grey matter volume. However, the biological processes associated with regional structural perturbations remain elusive. Methods We applied integrative omics analysis to investigate specialized transcriptome signatures and translational determinants associated with regional grey matter variations in 2737 MDD patients relative to 3098 controls by summarizing the results from gene co-expression network analysis of Allen human brain transcriptome profiles in six donors, enrichment analysis of gene-sets and cellular structure from rodents and mediation analysis of BrainSpan proteome profile in six donors. Results We found convergent alterations of grey matter volume in MDD were associated with transcriptome profiles enriched for synaptic transmission, metabolism, immune processes and transmembrane transport. Genes with abnormal expression in post-mortem tissue in MDD were also associated with transcriptome signatures. Further gene co-expression network and enrichment analysis of MDD-related genes in these signatures revealed the modules with higher neuronal expression were enriched in the medial temporal cortex and temporo-parietal junction with genes differentially associated with neuronal development and metabolism. Also, the modules with higher non-neuronal (e.g. astrocyte and oligodendrocyte) expression were concentrated in the rostral and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and were separately associated with immune response and transmembrane transport. Moreover, proteins as the gene expression products mediated the association between transcriptome signatures and brain volume changes in the visual and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Conclusions Our multidimensional analyses offer a novel approach to detect specific biological pathways that capture regional structural variations in MDD, which suggests structural endophenotypes associated with MDD.
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Peer Tutoring in First-Year Undergraduate Respiratory Therapy Students

Background: The use of planned peer tutoring (PPT) in education has been shown to enhance and expand the knowledge of both the learner and the tutor. These benefits have been shown in other higher education programs, but very little has been documented on the use of PPT in RT education. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of PPT in undergraduate RT students. Methods: Previously established PPT sessions were provided by 2nd year RT students for 1st year RT students at various points during one semester within the curriculum. All students completed an evaluation at the end of the semester, assessing their opinions on the effectiveness of the PPT sessions from their perspective as tutor or learner. Grades on 4 different assessments were compared between treatment and control groups to determine the efficacy of the tutoring sessions. This study was IRB approved. Results: Of 22 1st year participants, 13 attended at least half of the PPT sessions and became the treatment group. The remaining 1st year students and all 2nd year students became the control group. There were no significant differences between treatment and control groups for mean age (P =0.178), admission cumulative GPA (P =0.103), or admission science/math GPA (P =0.728). According to the evaluations, 1st and 2nd year students reported that PPT improved their confidence, content mastery and communication skills (range 70% - 100% agree or strongly agree). Two of the 4 assessment grades were not statistically significantly different between treatment and control groups. The laboratory practical assessment (P =0.041) and the clinical simulation assessment (P =0.022) showed a significantly higher mean score on the assessment for the treatment group. Conclusions: This study suggests that tutors and learners alike are supportive of a PPT experience in a RT program curriculum. PPT appears to be effective in enhancing student performance and is perceived as beneficial by the students. Disclosures: None.
Strategic Capital Investment Analytics: An Agent Based Approach to California High-Speed Rail Ridership Model

In this paper, we present an agent-based model (ABM) of multi-dimensional transportation choices for individuals and firms given anticipated aggregate traveler demand patterns. Conventional finance, economic and policy evaluation techniques have already been widely adopted to more evidenced based decision-making process with the aim to understand the financial, economic and social impacts on transportation choices. Prior scholars have examined common practices used to measure profitability for investment appraisal including internal rate of return (IRR), net present value (NPV) and risk analysis approaches, incorporating the concepts of time value of money and uncertainty to assess potential financial gains with different transportation projects. However, using conventional capital budget planning or static scenario analysis alone cannot capture significant, interactive and nonlinear project, demand and market uncertainties. Here we build an agent-based model on the current California High-Speed Rail (HSR) to provide insights into firm investment decisions from a computational finance perspective, given the coupling of individual choices, aggregate social demand, and government policy and tax incentives. Given individual level choice and behavioral aspects, we combine financial accounting and economic theory to identify more precise marginal revenue streams and project profitability over time to help mitigate both project and potential, system market risk.
Highly controlled lateral heterostructures in 2D transition metal dichalcogenides for optoelectronic applications (Conference Presentation)

Two-dimensional (2D) transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) are an excellent candidate for realization of a large range of optoelectronic devices on a wide variety of substrates. In this talk, a new approach based on alloying is presented for the formation of lateral heterostructures in 2D TMDCs with unprecedented control over the in-plane device profile and operation wavelength. This approach can be used for post-growth tuning of the optoelectronic properties of the planar structures as well as fabrication of optoelectronic devices such as planar diodes, light emitters, and photodetectors with exotic characteristics. Details of the material formation and properties as well as device fabrication and characterization in such 2D structures will be presented and discussed. In addition, the potential of this platform for the formation of advanced quantum nanostructures structures such as quantum dots and quantum wires will be discussed.
So Much More Than a Graduate School Mentor

I enrolled in the Psychology PhD program at Brandeis University having taken not a single psychology course as an undergrad. I knew nothing of what I was getting into. I’d been teaching elementary school and was driven by the question of how to better construct classroom environments so that they would be optimally conducive to students’ intrinsic interest and creativity. Teresa Amabile, my graduate advisor, was a young faculty member embarking on a study of the connection between creativity and motivation. With Teresa’s generous help, I survived graduate school; and we have continued to collaborate throughout my 35-year career. In this paper, I review some of the fruits of those labors—a cross-pollination of work focused on adults in the business world and children in school.
Automated end-to-end deep learning framework for classification and tumor localization from native non-stained pathology images

Deep learning based quantitative assessment of digital pathology images and understanding the underlying reasons for a specific clinical decision is challenging, and automatic histology pattern classification and tumor localization in whole-slide pathology images are critical for interpretable learning systems. In this study, we propose an end-to-end deep learning framework for automatic detection and localization of tumors directly from non-stained whole slide prostate core biopsy images (WSI). We use a previously described Generative Adversarial Network (GAN)-based model from our laboratory for computational Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE) staining of native non-stained pathology images. A convolutional neural network to detect and classify tumor regions in 1024×1024 virtually stained HE pixel patches, and a concurrent deep weakly supervised (WSL) model that provides localization of predominant histologic patterns used for tumor classification without the need for pixel-level annotations are reported in this study for the first time. The end-to-end system was evaluated on a 17K hold out set of 1024×1024 non-stained patches extracted from 13 whole slide prostate biopsy images. Experimental results yielded 86.37% patch-level classification accuracy with 85.05% precision, and achieved a Dice index of 65.07±1.99 (compared to 70.24±1.86 Dice index in the U-Net reference model for pixel-level segmentation). The end-to-end deep learning framework thus automates digital pathology image workflow from tissue staining to interpretable prostate tumor classification and can be valuable for accurate grading of prostate cancer and generalized to other whole-slide image classification tasks.
The summer of Harambe: The curious case of a deceased gorilla and an animal rights campaign turned online prank

In May 2016, a child climbed into the gorilla enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo in Ohio. The events that followed — namely the killing of a 17-year-old silverback gorilla named Harambe in order to protect the child — made national news. The story then took on a viral life of its own as a digital meme that turned the gorilla into a pop-culture craze. But Harambe’s position as an Internet phenomenon was a curious one. Despite exhibiting all the characteristics necessary for viral success and encouraging a polyvocal discourse, the Harambe Meme never became the enduring symbol of animal rights it was created to be. Instead, it was co-opted into a widely applicable element of digital humor. While it is difficult to determine what made Harambe the tool of choice for a months-long online joke, the meme’s success as a culture jam highlights the unpredictability of the Internet and underscores users’ ability to influence the fate of digital content.
Reflections on the genetics-first approach to advancements in molecular genetic and neurobiological research on neurodevelopmental disorders.

Background Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID), are common diagnoses with highly heterogeneous phenotypes and etiology. The genetics-first approach to research on NDDs has led to the identification of hundreds of genes conferring risk for ASD, ID, and related symptoms. Main body Although relatively few individuals with NDDs share likely gene-disruptive (LGD) mutations in the same gene, characterization of overlapping functions, protein networks, and temporospatial expression patterns among these genes has led to increased understanding of the neurobiological etiology of NDDs. This shift in focus away from single genes and toward broader gene-brain-behavior pathways has been accelerated by the development of publicly available transcriptomic databases, cell type-specific research methods, and sequencing of non-coding genomic regions. Conclusions The genetics-first approach to research on NDDs has advanced the identification of critical protein function pathways and temporospatial expression patterns, expanding the impact of this research beyond individuals with single-gene mutations to the broader population of patients with NDDs.
The Invisibility and Marginalization of Bisexual Mental Health

The Oxford Handbook of Sexual and Gender Minority Mental Health (edited by Esther Rothblum) draws from the fields of psychology and public health to provide a comprehensive overview of the literatu...
Flow Cytometric Evaluation of Yeast-Bacterial Cell-Cell Interactions

Synthetic cell-cell interaction systems can be useful for understanding multicellular communities or for screening binding molecules. We adapt a previously characterized set of synthetic cognate nanobody-antigen pairs to a yeast-bacteria coincubation format and use flow cytometry to evaluate cell-cell interactions mediated by binding between surface-displayed molecules. We further use fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) to enrich for a specific yeast-displayed nanobody within a mixed yeast-display population. Finally, we demonstrate that this system supports characterization of a therapeutically relevant nanobody-antigen interaction: a previously discovered nanobody that binds to the intimin protein expressed on the surface of enterohemorrhagic E. coli. Overall, our findings indicate that the yeast-bacteria format supports efficient evaluation of ligand-target interactions. With further development, this format may facilitate systematic characterization and high throughput discovery of bacterial surface-binding molecules.
From Disability to Diversity: College Success for Students with Learning Disabilities, ADHD, and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Review

From Disability to Diversity: College Success for Students with Learning Disabilities, ADHD, and Autism Spectrum Disorder (Shea et al., 2019) offers a guide to help higher education professionals raise awareness of the existence of college students with learning differences (LD) and how we can support them. The book gives information on the presentation of learning differences and how faculty and staff can support students with these differences throughout their college careers. It is designed to provide resources for higher education professionals that work in various departments across campus so they can understand the context of LD in college, help identify and support students both in and out of the classroom, and make sure that postsecondary education is inclusive for all students. From Disability to Diversity (Shea et al., 2019) offer strategies for faculty and staff to support students in a variety of areas including orientation, transition, and retention.
15 – RANK-BASED AND NONPARAMETRIC METHODS

This chapter focuses on nonparametric and rank-based methods and comparison of two independent groups. Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney test is the standard rank-based method for comparing two independent groups that is called the Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney (WMW) test. It was originally derived by Wilcoxon and later it was realized that Wilcoxon's method was the same as a procedure proposed by Mann and Whitney. Sometimes the Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney test is described as a method for comparing medians. S-PLUS function WMW: using the data stored in the S-PLUS variables x and y, the S-PLUS function WMW (x, y) computes the significance level of the Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney test. The chapter also discusses ties and heteroscedasticity. A practical concern is that if groups differ, then under general circumstances the wrong standard error is being used by the Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney test that can result in relatively poor power and an unsatisfactory confidence interval. S-PLUS function cid: The S-PLUS function cid performs the calculations for two independent groups. The Brunner–Munzel procedure: an alternative approach to both tied values and heteroscedasticity stems from the concept from Brunner and Munzel, which is based on midranks for handling tied values.
Myelodysplastic syndromes: Pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment

Our understanding of the biology of leukemia and myelodysplasia is still only partial. The diagnosis of myelodysplasia is often based on quantitative and qualitative findings in the peripheral blood and bone marrow. These findings are often shared by other disorders. There is a need for sensitive and inexpensive laboratory tests to determine clonality and karyotypic abnormalities in this disorder. Future classifications of these syndromes will need to be based on morphologic and biologic markers that are closely linked to disease progression, response to treatment, and survival. Our limited understanding of the pathogenesis of MDS decreases the specificity and effectiveness of our therapeutic interventions. Agents that are minimally toxic such as CRA, danazol, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, androgens, and pyridoxine are seldom useful. Antileukemic therapy and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation have a major role to play in patients younger than 45 years of age; in older patients these treatment modalities remain controversial because of their toxicity. Hematopoietic growth factors, used alone or in combination, may improve the quality of life and improve survival of patients with MDS. Growth factors may also decrease treatment-related mortality associated with chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation and render these treatment modalities available for a higher percentage of patients. The development of more specific differentiating agents may permit hematopoietic differentiation while minimizing side effects.
Reusability: a technique for the design of HUMS architectures

In most engineering disciplines, systems are designed by reusing existing components that have been used in other systems. It is certainly worthwhile to make use of existing architectures available as a whole or in part in the large space of designs instead of rebuilding the whole architecture. In collaboration with NASA Langley Research Center, we have been developing methods to reuse existing architectures for health and usage monitoring (HUMS) of aerospace structures. We discuss some of the key reuse techniques, which can be used to reuse existing available architectures in the design space. The primary contribution of This work is an iterative process model for employing reuse technique in a complex engineering system.
Structures of spontaneous deletions in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Abstract We have investigated the structural features of spontaneous deletions in Caenorhabditis elegans. We cloned and sequenced the junctions of 16 spontaneous deletions affecting the unc-54 myosin heavy-chain gene and compared their sequences with those of the wild type. We analyzed these sequences in an attempt to identify structural features of the gene that are consistently involved in the spontaneous deletion process. Most deletions (15 of 16) removed a single contiguous region of DNA, with no nucleotides inserted or rearranged at the deletion junctions; one deletion was more complex. unc-54 deletions were small, averaging 600 base pairs in length, and were randomly distributed throughout the gene. Unlike deletions that occur in Escherichia coli, spontaneous unc-54 deletions did not contain statistically significant direct or inverted repeats at or near their termini. Except for their small average size, we have not identified any distinguishing features of their sequence or structure. We discuss these results with regard to the mechanisms for spontaneous deletion in eucaryotic and procaryotic cells.
Chapter 5 Monolithic Pyroelectric Bolometer Arrays

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a monolithic approach to uncooled pyroelectric arrays that combines micromachining with thin-film deposition of a pyroelectric material. Pyroelectric thin-film capacitors have been monolithically integrated with on-chip signal processing electronics for uncooled IR detection applications. This has been demonstrated for both Silicon (Si) and Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) technologies for several pyroelectric thin-film materials. Solid-state micromachining techniques have been applied to form low thermal conduction microbridges elevated approximately 1.0 pm above the semiconductor substrate. The ability to apply surface-micromachining methods allows for individual reticulation of a heat-sensitive pixel element, thereby significantly reducing element-to-element thermal cross talk in IR detector array applications. The most advanced concept presented in this work successfully integrates the following technologies: (1) MOS signal processing electronics, (2) Si,N, surface-micromachined thermal isolation bridges, and (3) PbTiO, pyroelectric thin films. The resulting normalized broadband blackbody detectivity D* at room temperature and 30-Hz mechanical chopping frequency is 2 x 10 8 cmHz 1/2 /W showing feasibility for both single-element and imaging array applications.
Coevolution of bed surface patchiness and channel morphology: 2. Numerical experiments

In gravel bed rivers, bed topography and the bed surface grain size distribution evolve simultaneously, but it is not clear how feedbacks between topography and grain sorting affect channel morphology. In this, the second of a pair of papers examining interactions between bed topography and bed surface sorting in gravel bed rivers, we use a two-dimensional morphodynamic model to perform numerical experiments designed to explore the coevolution of both free and forced bars and bed surface patches. Model runs were carried out on a computational grid simulating a 200 m long, 2.75 m wide, straight, rectangular channel, with an initially flat bed at a slope of 0.0137. Over five numerical experiments, we varied (a) whether an obstruction was present, (b) whether the sediment was a gravel mixture or a single size, and (c) whether the bed surface grain size feeds back on the hydraulic roughness field. Experiments with channel obstructions developed a train of alternate bars that became stationary and were connected to the obstruction. Freely migrating alternate bars formed in the experiments without channel obstructions. Simulations incorporating roughness feedbacks between the bed surface and flow field produced flatter, broader, and longer bars than simulations using constant roughness or uniform sediment. Our findings suggest that patches are not simply a by-product of bed topography, but they interact with the evolving bed and influence morphologic evolution.
The simplest, unsteady surface flow of a frozen‐flux core that exactly fits a geomagnetic field model

This paper reconsiders a fundamental ambiguity encountered during inversion of the radial component of the MHD induction equation evaluated at the top of a spherical, inviscid, frozen-flux core. Specifically, we demonstrate that when the input model of the radial main geomagnetic field at any fixed point on the coremantle boundary evolves as an even degree polynomial in time, then there exists a unique unsteady fluid motion, that simultaneously evolves as a lowest degree polynomial in time and exactly generates the radial secular variation at that point. This result is illustrated by calculating the flow which evolves as a quartic in time and exactly fits the recent 1900–1980 field model of Bloxham and Jackson (1989), whose time dependence includes terms up through degree ten.
Is it time for a new category of nursing diagnosis

Professional vigilance, the art of "watching out," is the essence of nursing. Vigilance is the mental process that makes the informed nursing actions of assessment, diagnosis, intervention, and evaluation possible and meaningful. Nursing vigilance must be described in our nursing terminology or it risks remaining invisible to others. We propose that the current definition of nursing diagnosis be expanded to include surveillance diagnoses for which the nurse has the responsibility for problem identification and ongoing monitoring. Inclusion of surveillance diagnoses in the NANDA International taxonomy will better reflect the breadth and depth of nursing practice.
Routes to Attention or Shortcuts to Apathy? Exploring Domain-Specific Communication Pathways and Their Implications for Public Perceptions of Controversial Science

Recent research in communication has emphasized interpersonal discussion as a potential mediator or moderator of the media effects on audiences. In this study, the author develops a similar model t...
Mesenchymal stem cells from rat visceral fat exhibit multipotential differentiation in vitro.

Human subcutaneous fat-derived stem cells were recently shown to have the potential to differentiate in vitro into a variety of cell types, including adipocytes, osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and myoblasts (Zuk et al., Tissue Eng. 2001;7:211-228). Subcutaneous adipose tissue may therefore prove to be an easily acquired and abundant source of stem cells. Presently it is unclear whether mammals such as rats (which possess small or nonexistent subcutaneous fat pads) contain mesenchymal stem cells within the visceral fat of the abdominal cavity, or whether the visceral fat of any species contains stem cells. In this study we isolated and expanded a pool of mesenchymal cells from visceral fat of adult Sprague-Dawley rats and induced their differentiation in vitro into adipocytes, osteoblasts, neural cells, and chondrocytes. The differentiated phenotypes were verified by morphology as well as detection and expression of tissue-specific protein and mRNA. We conclude that despite well-documented differences in the metabolic and biochemical properties among anatomically distinct depots of fat, the visceral fat of rats contains adult mesenchymal stem cells with developmental potential similar to those isolated from subcutaneous fat in humans. Therefore, animals such as rats provide both a source of fat-derived stem cells and an immunocompetent, autologous host animal in which to investigate the capacity of the fat-derived cells to differentiate and form tissues in vivo.
Phased operation of the DIII-D FWCD antenna array with a single power source

Abstract A phasing and matching system has been designed and implemented for the four-element fast wave current drive (FWCD) antenna array on DIII-D, This system permits phased operation using a single transmitter. Coupled power levels of 1.1 Mw have been reached with relative phasing of ±π/2 and equal magnitudes of current and voltage on all four lines. Use of a single power source requires the achievement of amplitude and phase control at high power, without feedback control of these quantities. The system uses only standard components consisting of transmission lines, unmatched tees, and manually controlled phase shifters and stubs. Phasing, matching, and amplitude control for all four current straps are done using a total of five tuning elements. This simplification is achieved through the use of two resonant loops, each connecting a pair of straps. A tuning algorithm developed for the system produces accurate matching, phasing, and amplitude balance within a small number of shots (≤ 5) in cases where the loading is sufficiently high, that is, when the resonant series load resistance (RSLR) > 2 ω, at values of kQ approaching 1. A coupled transmission line model of the antenna array and resonant loops has been created and used to determine changes in resistive and reactive loading, as well as changes in coupling between array elements during plasma shots. The design and modeling of this system and the operating experience are reviewed.
Role of STAT3 in Type I Interferon Responses NEGATIVE REGULATION OF STAT1-DEPENDENT INFLAMMATORY GENE ACTIVATION

Type I interferons (IFNα/β) induce antiviral responses and have immunomodulatory effects that can either promote or suppress immunity and inflammation. In myeloid cells IFNα/β activates signal transducers and activators of transcription STAT1, STAT2, and STAT3. STAT1 and STAT2 mediate the antiviral and inflammatory effects of IFNα/β, but the function of IFNα/β-activated STAT3 is not known. We investigated the role of STAT3 in type I IFN signaling in myeloid cells by modulating STAT3 expression and the intensity of STAT3 activation using overexpression and RNA interference and determining the effects on downstream signaling and gene expression. IFNα-activated STAT3 inhibited STAT1-dependent gene activation, thereby down-regulating IFNα-mediated induction of inflammatory mediators such as the chemokines CXCL9 (Mig) and CXCL10 (IP-10). At the same time, IFNα-activated STAT3 supported ISGF-3-dependent induction of antiviral genes. STAT3 did not suppress STAT1 tyrosine phosphorylation or nuclear translocation but instead sequestered STAT1 and suppressed the formation of DNA-binding STAT1 homodimers. These results identify a regulatory function for STAT3 in attenuating the inflammatory properties of type I IFNs and provide a mechanism of suppression of STAT1 function that differs from previously described suppression of tyrosine phosphorylation. The results suggest that changes in the relative expression and activation of STAT1 and STAT3 that occur during immune responses determine the nature of cellular responses to type I IFNs.
Wind farm layout design optimization through multi-scenario decomposition with complementarity constraints

This article presents a multi-scenario decomposition with complementarity constraints approach to wind farm layout design to maximize wind energy production under region boundary and inter-turbine distance constraints. A complementarity formulation technique is introduced such that the wind farm layout design can be described with a continuously differentiable optimization model, and a multi-scenario decomposition approach is proposed to ensure efficient solution with local optimality. To combine global exploration and local optimization, a hybrid solution algorithm is presented, which combines the multi-scenario approach with a bi-objective genetic algorithm that maximizes energy production and minimizes constraint violations simultaneously. A numerical case study demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Anatomical analysis of contacts between identified neurons that control heartbeat in the leech Hirudo medicinalis

The rhythmic constriction of the heart tubes in the leech Hirudo medicinalis is controlled by an identified set of motor neurons (HE cells) and interneurons (HN cells) (reviewed by Calabrese and Peterson 1983). Electrophysiological recordings have indicated particular synaptic relationships among HE and HN cells. In the present study, the synaptic framework mediating the interactions among HE cells and HN cells was examined anatomically. Using light and electron microscopy of physiologically identified, HRP-injected cells, we have examined the zones of interaction and types of contacts between specific cells. HE cells, which have very fine, threadlike processes, interact with their contralateral homologues throughout most of the middle third of the ganglionic neuropil. When HE-cell neuntes come together, the apposed plasma membranes are rigidly parallel, separated by an intercellular gap of 6 nm, for up to 6 μm. These specializations must form the structural basis for the strong electrical coupling observed (Peterson 1983) between HE-cell pairs. HE cells also emit from the main neurite a series of extremely fine processes that extend dorsally. These appear in the light microscope to contact processes of the ipsilateral HN cell of the same ganglion, and are also in a position to make contact with the axons of more anterior HN cells. The intraganglionic processes of HN cells, which are studded with large varicosities, ramify in part of the region of neuropil occupied by HE-cell processes, as well as more posteriorly. Contacts between HE and HN cells, which are known to be mostly inhibitory synaptic contacts, are seen in the electron microscope to be formed between medium-diameter HN processes, which are filled with clear round synaptic vesicles, and multiple fine tendrils of the HE cell that surround the HN process. Certain HN cells form reciprocal inhibitory synapses with their contralateral homologues. These contacts occur near the midline, sometimes in the major mass of neuropil and sometimes embedded in the extracellular material that ensheathes the neuropil. The contacts are between medium-and small-diameter profiles that are both filled with synaptic vesicles. Our findings indicate that various classes of physiological interactions among HE and HN cells are mediated by anatomically distinct types of contacts and, at least in some cases, are segregated from each other on the neuritic trees of the cells.
Multiplex CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing for correction of dystrophin mutations that cause Duchenne muscular dystrophy

The CRISPR/Cas9 genome-editing platform is a promising technology to correct the genetic basis of hereditary diseases. The versatility, efficiency and multiplexing capabilities of the CRISPR/Cas9 system enable a variety of otherwise challenging gene correction strategies. Here, we use the CRISPR/Cas9 system to restore the expression of the dystrophin gene in cells carrying dystrophin mutations that cause Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). We design single or multiplexed sgRNAs to restore the dystrophin reading frame by targeting the mutational hotspot at exons 45-55 and introducing shifts within exons or deleting one or more exons. Following gene editing in DMD patient myoblasts, dystrophin expression is restored in vitro. Human dystrophin is also detected in vivo after transplantation of genetically corrected patient cells into immunodeficient mice. Importantly, the unique multiplex gene-editing capabilities of the CRISPR/Cas9 system facilitate the generation of a single large deletion that can correct up to 62% of DMD mutations.
Comparison studies on the effects of ultraviolet irradiation on photosynthesis

Abstract 1. 1. A comparison of chloroplasts from which plastoquinone had been extracted with ultraviolet irradiation supports the conclusion that plastoquinone destruction is not the major cause of ultraviolet inhibition of photosynthesis. No photodestruction of chloroplast lipids, carotenoids or soluble proteins by ultraviolet irradiation was detected. 2. 2. Phenazine methosulfate-mediated cyclic photophosphorylation and variable yield fluorescence were inhibited at the same rate as the Hill reaction. Examination of fluorescence emission spectra of chloroplasts and whole algal cells revealed decreases in both the 685-nm and long-wavelength emission peaks. 3. 3. Digestion of chloroplasts with lipase decreased fluorescence in a manner similar to ultraviolet irradiation. Hill reaction activity was also inhibited by lipase digestion. 4. 4. It is concluded that the inhibition of photosynthesis by ultraviolet irradiation is most likely due to a disruption of the structural integrity of the lamellar membranes which results in the loss of System II activity and associated reactions.
Prostaglandin F production in vitro by granulosa cells from rabbit pre-ovulatory follicles

Abstract The concentration of PGF in rabbit Graafian follicles increases at ovulation but the cell type responsible for PGF secretion has not been identified. We have found that a pure population of granulosa cells isolated from pre-ovulatory follicles of estrous rabbits secrete prostaglandin F in tissue culture (total secretion, 446 ng/10 days; 0.09 pg/cell/day). LH/FSH did not influence the rate of PGF secretion, but there was a 50% inhibition after dibutyryl cAMP treatment, and complete inhibition by indomethacin. These results indicate that granulosa cells could secrete the prostaglandin which accumulates in the follicle at ovulation, and that PGF secretion may be modified by the addition of cAMP to the medium.
Endothelial Pulse Amplitude Testing: Feasibility and Reproducibility in Adolescents

Objectives To test prospectively the reproducibility and feasibility of endothelial pulse amplitude testing (Endo-PAT), a novel Food and Drug Administration-approved technology, in healthy adolescents. Study design We performed Endo-PAT testing on 2 different days separated by no more than 7 days in 30 healthy fasting adolescents, ages 13 to 19 years, to assess reproducibility and feasibility. The reported level of discomfort, as measured on a pain scale of 1 to 5, was documented. Results The mean difference in paired Endo-PAT indices was 0.12 (95% CI, –0.09-0.33; P = .24; intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.78), and the within-subject variation of Endo-PAT index was 0.16. The Endo-PAT index on test days 1 and 2 were 1.91 ± 0.57 and 1.78 ± 0.51 (mean plus or minus SD), respectively. All attempted studies (100%) were completed (95% CI, 88%-100%), and all completed studies (100%) could be analyzed (95% CI, 88%-100%). The median pain score was 1 on both days. Conclusion In healthy adolescents, Endo-PAT is feasible and has excellent reproducibility. This technology may provide an easy and reliable means of assessing endothelial function in the pediatric population.
High Lysine and High Tryptophan Transgenic Maize Resulting from the Reduction of Both 19- and 22-kD α-zeins

The major maize seed storage proteins, zeins, are deficient in lysine and tryptophan content, which contribute to the poor nutritional quality of corn. Whether through the identification of mutations or genetic engineering, kernels with reduced levels of zein proteins have been shown to have increased levels of lysine and tryptophan. It has been hypothesized that these increases are due to the reduction of lysine-poor zeins and a pleiotropic increase in the lysine-rich non-zein proteins. By transforming maize with constructs expressing chimeric double-stranded RNA, kernels derived from stable transgenic plants displayed significant declines in the accumulation of both 19- and 22-kD α-zeins, which resulted in higher lysine and tryptophan content than previously reported for kernels with reduced zein levels. The observation that lysine and tryptophan content is correlated with the protein levels measured in transgenic maize kernels is consistent with the hypothesis that a pleiotropic increase in non-zein proteins is contributing to an improved amino acid balance. In addition, a large increase in accumulation of free amino acids, consisting predominantly of asparagine, asparate and glutamate, was observed in the zein reduction kernels.
The immune response in a patient to an infection with Bacteroides fragilis ss. fragilis and Clostridium difficile.

The immune response in a patient to an infection (a perirectal abscess) with Bacteroides fragilis ss. fragilis and Clostridium difficile was investigated with the use of agglutination tests, the Ouchterlony technique and indirect immunofluorescence (IFL) technique. Antibodies against B. fragilis ss. fragilis were demonstrated with all the three methods while antibodies against C. difficile were recorded only with indirect IFL technique. A significant decrease of the antibody titres (fourfold or more) as measured with agglutination tests and indirect IFL tests and a disappearance of precipitating antibodies, as demonstrated with the Ouchterlony technique, were observed during a five month period. Serum specimens from blood donors, serving as controls, showed no reactivity with the antigens used. The results also showed antigenic differences between strains of B. fragilis ss. fragilis, indicating the possibility of more than one serotype within this subspecies of B. fragilis.
VERTICALLY INTEGRATED MEASURES OF THE RATE OF PROFIT IN THE UNITED STATES 1950–90

This paper investigates the importance of increases in the productivity of producing capital in estimates of the profit rate decline which occurred in the United States during the period 1950–90. We find that, when profit rate measures take into account the increasing productivity of producing capital stock (as measured by the embodied labor required to produce it), the observed decline is about one-half that found using conventional measures of profit. This finding has important implications for interest rate and investment policies.
The effect of general imperfections on the buckling of cylindrical shells

An experimental and theoretical investigation of the effect of general imperfections on the buckling load of a circular cylindrical shell under axial compression was carried out. A non-contact probe has been used to make complete imperfection surveys on electroformed copper shells before and during the loading process up to the buckling load. The data recording process has been fully automated and the data reduction was done on an IBM 7094. Three-dimensional plots were obtained of the measured initial imperfection surfaces and of the growth of these imperfections under increasing axial load. The modal components of the measured imperfection surfaces were also obtained. The theoretical solution located the limit points of the post-buckled states. A simplified imperfection model was used consisting of one axisymmetric and one asymmetric component. For global buckling the correlation between the theoretical buckling loads and the experimental values was found to be good.
Automated genomic DNA purification options in agricultural applications using MagneSil paramagnetic particles

The automated high throughput purification of genomic DNA form plant materials can be performed using MagneSil paramagnetic particles on the Beckman-Coulter FX, BioMek 2000, and the Tecan Genesis robot. Similar automated methods are available for DNA purifications from animal blood. These methods eliminate organic extractions, lengthy incubations and cumbersome filter plates. The DNA is suitable for applications such as PCR and RAPD analysis. Methods are described for processing traditionally difficult samples such as those containing large amounts of polyphenolics or oils, while still maintaining a high level of DNA purity. The robotic protocols have ben optimized for agricultural applications such as marker assisted breeding, seed-quality testing, and SNP discovery and scoring. In addition to high yield purification of DNA from plant samples or animal blood, the use of Promega's DNA-IQ purification system is also described. This method allows for the purification of a narrow range of DNA regardless of the amount of additional DNA that is present in the initial sample. This simultaneous Isolation and Quantification of DNA allows the DNA to be used directly in applications such as PCR, SNP analysis, and RAPD, without the need for separate quantitation of the DNA.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.