cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Addressing Core Competencies in Vision and Change: Use of a General Physiology Course to Reinforce Quantitative and Interdisciplinary Approaches

The recommendations for undergraduate biology training outlined in the NSF/AAAS report, Vision and Change in Undergraduate Education, include the development of critical core competencies. Many bio...
Heuristic selection for stochastic search optimization: modeling solution quality by extreme value theory

The success of stochastic algorithms is often due to their ability to effectively amplify the performance of search heuristics. This is certainly the case with stochastic sampling algorithms such as heuristic-biased stochastic sampling (HBSS) and value-biased stochastic sampling (VBSS), wherein a heuristic is used to bias a stochastic policy for choosing among alternative branches in the search tree. One complication in getting the most out of algorithms like HBSS and VBSS in a given problem domain is the need to identify the most effective search heuristic. In many domains, the relative performance of various heuristics tends to vary across different problem instances and no single heuristic dominates. In such cases, the choice of any given heuristic will be limiting and it would be advantageous to gain the collective power of several heuristics. Toward this goal, this paper describes a framework for integrating multiple heuristics within a stochastic sampling search algorithm. In its essence, the framework uses online-generated statistical models of the search performance of different base heuristics to select which to employ on each subsequent iteration of the search. To estimate the solution quality distribution resulting from repeated application of a strong heuristic within a stochastic search, we propose the use of models from extreme value theory (EVT). Our EVT-motivated approach is validated on the NP-Hard problem of resource-constrained project scheduling with time windows (RCPSP/max). Using VBSS as a base stochastic sampling algorithm, the integrated use of a set of project scheduling heuristics is shown to be competitive with the current best known heuristic algorithm for RCPSP/max and in some cases even improves upon best known solutions to difficult benchmark instances.
Correcting and extending domain knowledge using outside guidance

Analytic learning techniques, such as explanation- based learning (EBL), can be powerful methods for acquiring knowledge about a domain where there is a pre-existing theory of the domain. One application of EBL has been to learning apprentice systems where the solution to a problem generated by a human is used as input to the learning process. The learning system analyzes the example and is then able to solve similar problems without outside assistance. One limitation of EBL is that the domain theory must be complete and correct. In this paper we present a general technique for learning from outside guidance that can correct and extend a domain theory. In contrast to hybrid systems that use both analytic and empirical techniques, our approach is completely analytic, using the chunking learning mechanism in the Soar architecture. This technique is demonstrated for a block manipulation task that uses real blocks, a Puma robot arm and a camera vision system.
Thermodynamics of Solidifying or Melting Viscoelastic Material

Investigated are thermodynamic restrictions on rate-type creep laws for porous materials which slowly solidify while carrying load (aging of concrete, i.e., gradual filling of pores in concrete by hydration products) or slowly melt (gradual dehydration of concrete at high temperature). Thermodynamic potentials (Helmholtz free energy and complementary or Gibbs free energy) are determined. The chemical dissipation of elastic energy is calculated and the condition of its positiveness is proposed; this requires that elastic relations be introduced in terms of stress and strain rates for solidifying materials and in terms of stresses and strains for melting materials. Some creep laws used in practice are found to have thermodynamically inadmissible form. Creep laws of thermodynamically correct form are shown. The known forms of such laws often cannot, however, fit available long-time creep test data for concrete very well, unless some material parameters or rates are allowed to have thermodynamically inadmissible negative values for short periods of time.
What We've Learned About Supporting Faculty, Administrator, and Staff Engagement

This chapter focuses on how colleges can increase faculty, administrator, and staff engagement in reform processes, with the message that large-scale change is not merely technical work; there is a powerful human dimension that can make or break a reform.
Directed Evolution of Proteins In Vitro Using Compartmentalization in Emulsions

This unit describes a protocol for the directed evolution of proteins utilizing in vitro compartmentalization. This method uses a large number of independent in vitro transcription and translation (IVTT) reactions in water droplets suspended in an oil emulsion to enable selection of proteins that bind a target molecule. Protein variants that bind the target also bind to and allow recovery of the genes that encoded them. This protocol serves as a basis for carrying out selections in emulsions, and can potentially be modified to select for other functionalities, including catalysis. This selection method is advantageous compared to alternative selection protocols due to the ability to screen through very large-size libraries and the ability to express and screen or select for functions that would otherwise be toxic or inaccessible to in vivo selections and screens.
Perceptual differentiation of sequential visual patterns

Two experiments examined the ability to perceive a difference between two sequentially presented visual patterns. An otherwise undetectable camouflaged target form was made visible by the sequential presentation of two random-contoured patterns that were identical except for the presence of the camouflaged form in one of the patterns. Experiment 1 found that form identifications became less accurate as a function of the luminance and contours of an intervening stimulus pattern and as a function of the ISI, falling to nearly a chance level by only 30 msec. Experiment 2 illustrated contrasts in stimulus conditions and in temporal characteristics of the differentiation and the integration of sequential visual patterns. Differentiation apparently differs from integration in the following respects: (1) it requires the sequential presentation of correlated patterns, in contrast to the uncorrelated patterns that produce masking when integrated; (2) it has a maximal effect with sequential presentation at ISI=0 rather than with simultaneous presentation; and (3) it operates over a shorter range of ISI than does integration.
Distress among young adult cancer survivors: a cohort study

Purpose Being diagnosed with cancer as a young adult can lead to significant psychological distress and impaired quality of life. Compared to children and older adults diagnosed with cancer, fewer studies have addressed psychological distress among young adult cancer survivors. This study sought to identify the prevalence of, and factors associated with, distress among young adult cancer survivors (ages 18–39).
Essential fatty acids in the diet of the boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Abstract Larvae of the boll weevil ( Anthonomus grandis Boheman) developed normally in diets without added fatty acids. However, the adults from the fat-deficient diets laid fewer eggs than normal. Egg production was highest when the diet of the larvae and adults of both sexes contained a mixture of triglycerides that included trilinolein or trilinolenin. Omission of triglycerides from the diet of the larvae influenced fecundity more than their omission from the diet of the adults. Symptoms of fat deficiency in adults were most pronounced when they were reared from eggs that were obtained from parents being fed with a diet low in fat. Gas chromatographic analyses of these eggs showed that they contained only small amounts of linoleic and linolenic acids. The triglycerides added to the diet appeared to influence the synthesis and accumulation of other fatty acids in the weevil. The percent fatty acid composition of the males, females, and eggs were found to be very similar. The boll weevil did not require a dietary source of vitamin E. Weevils maintained for three generations on purified diets without added vitamin E continued to lay large numbers of eggs.
Sonochemical Decomposition of Phenol: Evidence for a Synergistic Effect of Ozone and Ultrasound for the Elimination of Total Organic Carbon from Water

The degradation of phenol (C_6H_5OH) was investigated under sonication, ozonation, and the combination of sonication and ozonation. The coupling of these two oxidation processes yielded phenol degradation kinetics that are similar to those predicted from the linear combination of the individual sonication and ozonation experiments. However, synergistic effects of sonolytic ozonation were observed for the reduction of the total organic carbon (TOC) in these systems. The rate of TOC decomposition was found to be proportional to both the aqueous steady-state ozone concentration and the ultrasonic power density. At 358 kHz, sonication combined with ozonation enhanced TOC loss rates by 43% over the sum of the rates obtained by the separate treatments. Intermediate species detected during the degradation of phenol indicate that while the primary degradation products are efficiently degraded by simple ozonolysis, the simultaneous addition of ultrasonic irradiation is necessary to degrade the more recalcitrant unsaturated daughter products.
Maternal mortality: new strategies for measurement and prevention.

Purpose of reviewMaternal mortality has recently been featured in both lay and professional literature often with a high degree of passion. This review will provide the obstetrician with a background of the current issues with maternal mortality.Recent findingsCurrent international data suggest sign
Development of an automated multiple-target mask CD disposition system to enable new sampling strategy

Traditional mask critical dimension (CD) disposition systems with only one or two targets is being challenged by the new requirements from mask-users as the wafer process control becomes more complicated in the newer generation of technologies. Historically, the mask shop does not necessarily measure and disposition off the same kind of CD structures that wafer fabs do. Mask disposition specifications and structures come from the frame-design and the tapeout, while wafer-level CD dispositions are mainly based on the historical process window established per CD-skew experiments and EOL (end of line) yield. In the current high volume manufacturing environment, the mask CDs are mainly dispositioned off their mean-to-target (MTT) and uniformity (6sigma) on one or two types of pre-determined structures. The disposition specification is set to ensure the printed mask will meet the design requirements and to ensure minimum deviation from them. The CD data are also used to adjust the dose of the mask exposure tools to control CD MTT. As a result, the mask CD disposition automation system was built to allow only one or two kinds of targets at most. In contrast, wafer-fabs measure a fairly wide range of different structures to ensure their process is on target and in control. The number of such structures that are considered critical is increasing due the growing complexity of the technology. To fully comprehend the wafer-level requirements, it is highly desirable to align the mask CD sample site and disposition to be the same as that of the wafer-fabs, to measure the OPC (optical proximity correction) structures or equivalent whenever possible, and to establish the true correlation between mask CD measurements vs. wafer CD measurement. In this paper, the development of an automated multiple-target mask CD disposition system with the goal of enabling new sampling strategy is presented. The pros and cons of its implementation are discussed. The new system has been inserted in the production of Intel's 65 nm technologies and has become the POR (plan of record) for the future technologies that are being developed.
Chronic hepatitis C in African Americans

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the most common etiology of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the United States. As a result of this high prevalence rate, chronic hepatitis C is the leading indication for liver transplantation [1]. It is estimated that approximately 4 million Americans (1.8% of the total population) have been infected with HCV and that 74% of these individuals (2.7 million persons) are chronically infected, based on testing of serum samples for anti-HCV and HCV RNA as part of the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) from 1988 to 1994 [2]. NHANES III was conducted in a noninstitutionalized civilian population via household interviews, physical examination, and collection of blood samples in special mobile examination centers [2]. Institutions (eg, prisons and hospitals) and homeless people, all of whom have been identified as having a higher HCV prevalence rate than the general population, were not included in this survey. Thus, the true prevalence rate of HCV infection in the Unite States is higher than the figures estimated from NHANES III. It is also known from NHANES III that there are variations in prevalence rates of HCV infection based on gender, ethnicity and race, socioeconomic background, and age [2]. The HCV prevalence rate among Caucasians has been projected at 1.5%, among the Hispanic population at 2.1%, and among the African American (AA) population at 3.2%. Data analysis according to race and age revealed that the highest anti-HCV prevalence rate (6.3%) was present in the AA population from 40 to 49 years of age, with men in this age range having a
Manganese Porphyrin Reduces Renal Injury and Mitochondrial Damage during Ischemia/Reperfusion

Abstract Renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury often occurs as a result of vascular surgery, organ procurement, or transplantation. We previously showed that renal I/R results in ATP depletion, oxidant production, and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) inactivation. There have been several reports that overexpression of MnSOD protects tissues/organs from I/R-related damage, thus a loss of MnSOD activity during I/R likely contributes to tissue injury. The present study examined the therapeutic benefit of a catalytic antioxidant, Mn(III) meso -tetrakis( N - n -hexylpyridinium-2-yl)porphyrin (MnTnHex-2-PyP 5+ ), using the rat renal I/R model. This was the first study to examine the effects of MnTnHex-2-PyP 5+ in an animal model of oxidative stress injury. Our results showed that porphyrin pretreatment of rats for 24 h protected against ATP depletion, MnSOD inactivation, nitrotyrosine formation, and renal dysfunction. The dose (50 μg/kg) used in this study is lower than doses of various types of antioxidants commonly used in animal models of oxidative stress injuries. In addition, using novel proteomic techniques, we identified the ATP synthase-β subunit as a key protein induced by MnTnHex-2-PyP 5+ treatment alone and complex V (ATP synthase) as a target of injury during renal I/R. These results showed that MnTnHex-2-PyP 5+ protected against renal I/R injury via induction of key mitochondrial proteins that may be capable of blunting oxidative injury.
Incidence, severity, and mortality of post-ERCP pancreatitis: a systematic review by using randomized, controlled trials

Background Data regarding the incidence and severity of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) are primarily from nonrandomized studies. Objective To determine the incidence, severity, and mortality of PEP from a systematic review of the placebo or no-stent arms of randomized, controlled trials (RCTs). Design MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched to identify RCTs evaluating the efficacy of drugs and/or pancreatic stents to prevent PEP. Setting Systematic review of patients enrolled in RCTs evaluating agents for PEP prophylaxis. Patients Patients in the placebo or no-stent arms of the RCTs Intervention ERCP. Main Outcome Measurements Incidence, severity, and mortality of PEP. Results There were 108 RCTs with 13,296 patients in the placebo or no-stent arms. Overall, the PEP incidence was 9.7% and the mortality rate was 0.7%. Severity of PEP was reported for 8857 patients: 5.7%, 2.6%, and 0.5% of cases were mild, moderate, and severe, respectively. The incidence of PEP in 2345 high-risk patients was 14.7% and the severity of PEP was mild, moderate, and severe in 8.6%, 3.9%, and 0.8%, respectively, with a 0.2% mortality rate. The incidence of PEP was 13% in North American RCTs compared with 8.4% in European and 9.9% in Asian RCTs. ERCPs conducted before and after 2000 had a PEP incidence of 7.7% and 10%, respectively. Limitations Difference in PEP risk among patients in the included RCTs. Conclusion The incidence of PEP and severe PEP is similar in high-risk patients and the overall cohort. Discrepancies in the incidence of PEP across geographic regions require further study.
Pharmacology of spinal adrenergic systems which modulate spinal nociceptive processing.

Abstract Spinopetal pathways may be activated by a variety of brainstem manipulations including microinjections of morphine which are known to modulate spinal nociceptive processing. Based on the ability of these manipulations to release spinal noradrenalin; the ability to reverse the antinociceptive effects by intrathecal adrenergic antagonists and the fact that intrathecal injections of noradrenalin mimic the antinociceptive effect, it appears that the descending modulation may be mediated by descending noradrenergic systems. Examination of the spinal receptor systems with intrathecally administered agents indicates that spinal alpha, but not beta adrenergic receptor agonists produce a powerful analgesia as measured on a variety of reflex and operant measures in mouse, rat, cat, primate and man. On the basis of agonist and antagonist structure-activity relationships it appears that a significant effect can be produced in the absence of any detectable effect on motor function by the occupation of spinal receptors. Distinguishable alpha 1 receptors also appear “analgetically-coupled,” but their effects are uniformly contaminated by signs of cutaneous hyperreflexia at doses required to produce analgesia. The ordering of potency with which intrathecal adrenergic antagonists reverse the effects of intrathecal noradrenalin is indistinguishable from that of the reversal by these intrathecal agents of the antinociceptive effects evoked by brainstem morphine. This suggests that the population of spinal receptors acted upon by exogenously administered adrenergic agonists and endogenously released noradrenalin have indistinguishable characteristics.
Prenatal high salt programs enhanced sympathoadrenal activation of the cardiovascular response to restraint.

We recently reported that feeding Sprague Dawley rats a high-salt diet during pregnancy programmed an exaggerated pressor and tachycardic response to restraint in adult female offspring. In the present investigation, a pharmacologic approach was used to determine the contribution of the sympathoadrenal system to the exaggerated response. Injection of a cocktail containing a ganglionic blocker (chlorisondamine) and a β-adrenoceptor antagonist (propranolol) prevented the stress-induced tachycardia and increase in blood pressure and abolished the difference between high-salt and normal-salt offspring. These data suggest that the prenatal high salt programmed a sympathoadrenal hyperresponsiveness to restraint stress.
Computed tomographic findings in suburothelial hemorrhage

Retroperitoneal hemorrhage with associated intramural hemorrhage into the renal pelvis and proximal ureter is a well documented complication of coagulation defects. The urographic characteristics of this condition have been well documented by several authors [1–4], but to our knowledge the computed tomographic (CT) findings in patients with this condition have not been reported previously. We describe the CT findings in 2 such cases; one related to thrombocytopenia in leukemia, and the other to anticoagulant therapy in a patient with Budd-Chiari syndrome.
Chern-Simons-Ghost Theories and de Sitter Space

We explore Chern-Simons theories coupled to fundamental ghost-like matter in the large N limit at ’t Hooft coupling λ. These theories have been conjectured to be holographically dual to parity-violating, asymptotically dS4 universes with a tower of light higher-spin fields. On $$ {\mathbb{R}}^3 $$ , to all orders in large-N perturbation theory, we show that Chern-Simons-ghost theories are related to ordinary Chern-Simons-matter theories by mapping N →−N and keeping λ fixed. Consequently, the bosonization duality of ordinary Chern-Simons-matter theories extends to a bosonization duality of Chern-Simons-ghost theories on $$ {\mathbb{R}}^3 $$ . On S 1 × S 2, in the small-S 1 limit, neither N → −N nor bosonization hold, as we show by extensively studying large-N saddles of the theories with both ghost and ordinary matter. The partition functions we compute along the way can be viewed as pieces of the late-time Hartle-Hawking wavefunction for the bulk dS4 gravity theories.
The role of glutamine transaminase K (GTK) in sulfur and α-keto acid metabolism in the brain, and in the possible bioactivation of neurotoxicants

Abstract Glutamine transaminase K (GTK), which is a freely reversible glutamine (methionine) aromatic amino acid aminotransferase, is present in most mammalian tissues, including brain. Quantitatively, the most important amine donor in vivo is glutamine. The product of glutamine transamination (i.e., α-ketoglutaramate; αKGM) is rapidly removed by cyclization and/or conversion to α-ketoglutarate. Transamination is therefore “pulled” in the direction of glutamine utilization. Major biological roles of GTK are to maintain low levels of phenylpyruvate and to close the methionine salvage pathway. GTK also catalyzes the transamination of cystathionine, lanthionine, and thialysine to the corresponding α-keto acids, which cyclize to ketimines. The cyclic ketimines and several metabolites derived therefrom are found in brain. It is not clear whether these compounds have a biological function or are metabolic dead-ends. However, high-affinity binding of lanthionine ketimine (LK) to brain membranes has been reported. Mammalian tissues possess several enzymes capable of catalyzing transamination of kynurenine in vitro. Two of these kynurenine aminotransferases (KATs), namely KAT I and KAT II, are present in brain and have been extensively studied. KAT I and KAT II are identical to GTK and α-aminoadipate aminotransferase, respectively. GTK/KAT I is largely cytosolic in kidney, but mostly mitochondrial in brain. The same gene codes for both forms, but alternative splicing dictates whether a 32-amino acid mitochondrial-targeting sequence is present in the expressed protein. The activity of KAT I is altered by a missense mutation (E61G) in the spontaneously hypertensive rat. The symptoms may be due in part to alteration of kynurenine transamination. However, owing to strong competition from other amino acid substrates, the turnover of kynurenine to kynurenate by GTK/KAT I in nervous tissue must be slow unless kynurenine and GTK are sequestered in a compartment distinct from the major amino acid pools. The possibility is discussed that the spontaneous hypertension in rats carrying the GTK/KAT I mutation may be due in part to disruption of glutamine transamination. GTK is one of several pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP)-containing enzymes that can catalyze non-physiological β-elimination reactions with cysteine S -conjugates containing a good leaving group attached at the sulfur. These elimination reactions may contribute to the bioactivation of certain electrophiles, resulting in toxicity to kidney, liver, brain, and possibly other organs. On the other hand, the β-lyase reaction catalyzed by GTK may be useful in the conversion of some cysteine S -conjugate prodrugs to active components in vivo. The roles of GTK in (a) brain nitrogen, sulfur, and aromatic amino acid/kynurenine metabolism, (b) brain α-keto acid metabolism, (c) bioactivation of certain electrophiles in brain, (d) prodrug targeting, and (e) maintenance of normal blood pressure deserve further study.
Leisure-time physical activity levels of the US workforce.

Abstract Background. Few studies in the US have assessed physical activity levels across worker groups, despite the increasingly sedentary milieu of contemporary US occupations and increasing obesity rates among US workers. The present study determined the proportion of US workers meeting the Healthy People 2010 Guidelines for leisure-time physical activity levels in major US occupational groups. Methods. Self-reported leisure-time physical activity was defined as: a) light–moderate activity ≥ 30 min five or more times per week; and/or b) vigorous activity ≥ 20 min three or more times per week. Findings collected on over 150,000 US workers, who participated in the 1997–2004 National Health Interview Surveys, were stratified by occupational group. Results. On average, the proportions of US workers meeting recommended leisure-time physical activity levels were 31% in female and 36% in male US workers. There was substantial variation in the gender-specific rates of leisure-time physical activity levels by occupation (range: 16–55%) with the lowest rates noted in blue collar groups. Conclusions. Leisure-time physical activity levels were sub-optimal among all major US worker groups, with substantial variability across occupations. As part of disease prevention, health professionals should promote increased physical activity levels among those occupations identified with very low rates of leisure-time physical activity.
Effects of grouping and crowding on learning in isolation-reared adult rats

Rats reared in isolated and overcrowded environments are inferior to those from small groups in complex learning tasks. To examine the age dependence of this phenomenon, adult rats isolated from weaning were placed in groups of 1, 4, and 16 for either 1 or 4 weeks. One week of grouping enhanced Lashley III maze performance, while 4 weeks’ grouping did not. One week of grouping did not affect shock avoidance brightness discrimination, but after 4 weeks, the group of 16 was superior. Hence, grouping or crowding in adulthood tends to reverse learning deficits produced by isolation rearing.
The Multiple True‐False Item Format: A Status Review

How do multiple true-false items differ from other item formats? What does past research indicate about the quality of multiple true-false items? What additional research is needed?
Functional interactions of the retinoblastoma protein with mammalian D-type cyclins

The retinoblastoma gene product (Rb) can interact efficiently with two of three D-type G1 cyclins (D2 and D3) in vitro. Binding depended upon the minimal regions of Rb necessary for its growth-suppressive activity, as well as upon the D-type cyclin sequence motif shared with Rb-binding DNA tumor virus oncoproteins. Coexpression of the three D-type cyclins with the cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk4) in insect cells generated Rb kinase activity. By contrast, cyclins D2 and D3, but not D1, activated another such kinase, cdk2. Introduction of cyclin D2 and Rb into the Rb-deficient cell line SAOS-2 led to overt Rb hyperphosphorylation, whereas Rb, expressed alone or together with cyclin D1, remained unphosphorylated. Cyclin D2-dependent phosphorylation inhibited its binding to the transcription factor E2F and reversed the Rb G1 exit block in the cell cycle. Thus, all D-type cyclins do not function equivalently, and one of them plays a major role in reversing the cycle-blocking function of a known tumor suppressor.
Capsule Commentary on Nápoles et. al, Physician Counseling on Colorectal Cancer Screening and Receipt of Screening among Latino Patients

In this cross-sectional study, Napoles and colleagues conducted a telephone survey to identify high-yield physician colorectal cancer (CRC) screening counseling behaviors among Latino patients, a population with known CRC disparities and relatively low screening rates. Perceived strength of physicians’ recommendations for CRC screening was associated with patients’ reported CRC screening completion; explanation of CRC risks and tests was also associated with endoscopy screening. These findings have important practice implications; specific physician communication practices may improve CRC screening completion among Latinos, in addition to strategies addressing barriers such as lack of access to care, knowledge, and language concordance.1 This study is limited by its focus on the role of physicians rather than the health care team. A recent study noted that the number of times a patient encounters a health message is positively associated with uptake.2 Does the message have to come from the physician? As the authors acknowledge, physicians face significant time pressures during primary care visits. The study could have been strengthened by assessing CRC screening counseling behaviors by not only physicians, but also other members of the health care team such as physician assistants, nurses, and medical assistants. While the strongest association was found between strength of physician recommendation and CRC screening completion, a decision still must be made regarding the type of screening. In a team-based approach, the physician or another health care provider could guide patients using a culturally and linguistically adapted CRC screening decision aid.3,4 A study by Hawley et. al found that both race/ethnicity and test attributes (e.g., accuracy and frequency) were associated with patient preferences for CRC screening tests. This study asked patients whether the physician discussed potential barriers to CRC screening but did not ask whether the physician explained different test options and helped the patient choose one or whether the patient would make the same decision again. Future research could investigate whether shared decision making incorporating patient values, preferences, and priorities as well as provider knowledge of local resource constraints would help increase completion of CRC screening by average-risk Latino patients.
Characterization of human keratinocyte

Intraspecific human cell hybrids were created by fusing normal epidermal keratinocytes with carcinoma (HeLa) cells. All of the hybrids were epithelial in morphology and exhibited a bright cytoskeletal pattern after indirect immunofluorescent labelling by antibody against keratin. Like the normal parental cells, the hybrid populations had organized arrays of microfilaments, and expressed low levels of surface fibronectin, predominantly in short ≪stitches ≫ at cell boundaries. None of the cells expressed collagen type I, as expected of epithelial cells. Subcutaneous injection into nude mice revealed that the tumorigenic phenotype was initially suppressed in certain of the hybrids. However, cells of these lineages tested at later population doublings, and other hybrid clones tested at early population doublings, formed very small, non-progressive nodules. Histologically, these nodules resembled moderately to well-differentiated squamous-cell carcinomas. The properties in vitro and in vivo of these epithelial hybrids are compared to those of human fibroblast × HeLa hybrids.
Removal of antibiotics from water using sewage sludge- and waste oil sludge-derived adsorbents

Sewage sludge- and waste oil sludge-derived materials were tested as adsorbents of pharmaceuticals from diluted water solutions. Simultaneous retention of eleven antibiotics plus two anticonvulsants was examined via batch adsorption experiments. Virgin and exhausted adsorbents were examined via thermal and FTIR analyses to elucidate adsorption mechanisms. Maximum adsorption capacities for the 6 materials tested ranged from 80 to 300 mg/g, comparable to the adsorption capacities of antibiotics on various activated carbons (200-400 mg/g) reported in the literature. The performance was linked to surface reactivity, polarity and porosity. A large volume of pores similar in size to the adsorbate molecules with hydrophobic carbon-based origin of pore walls was indicated as an important factor promoting the separation process. Moreover, the polar surface of an inorganic phase in the adsorbents attracted the functional groups of target molecules. The presence of reactive alkali metals promoted reaction with acidic groups, formation of salts and their precipitation in the pore system.
Using linear programming salary evaluation models in collective bargaining negotiations with teacher unions

Abstract The widespread incidence of teacher strikes, usually associated with demands for higher salaries, has in many school districts throughout the country, established the need to develop effective salary evaluation schemes for school district personnel. Presently used methods of determining salary, such as the fixed step salary schedule, are not capable of considering multiple factors in salary evaluation. The purpose of this paper is to formulate, then apply, a linear programming model to determine a school district salary schedule. The model is capable of incorporating all factors which are considered important by teacher unions, school board, etc., in the salary evaluation. In addition, certain union demands or conditions reached as a result of arbitration can be included in the model. Finally limits placed upon school district resources available to support the salary structure can be considered. Essentially, the model can be used by a school district to determine a logical, internally consistent salary schedule which meets specific union demands at minimum school district cost. Finally the use of the model can give school districts the added flexibility of developing salary schedules which permit overlaps in the established salary hierarchies, e.g., it would permit highly qualified teachers to receive higher salaries than low qualified administrations.
Overview Of Remote Sensing Field Research: Requirements And Status

The history of the development of remote sensing is briefly discussed, taking into account the study of the optical spectral properties of plants in the early 1950s, the concept of 'spectral signature', the multispectral scanner, and the Thematic Mapper scanner. The present state of development of remote sensing is examined. It is found that the requirements for field measurements for remote sensing field research are the same as the requirements envisioned in the 1960s. However, improved models for predicting scene reflectance and considerable field experience have clarified the aims and procedures. Information related to the status of optical measurements for crops and soils research is presented.
A starring role for nuclear physics

A review of Nuclear Physics of Stars, by C. Iliadis, Weinheim, Wiley-VCH, 2007, xiii + 666 pp., £55.00 (softback), ISBN 978 3 527 40602 9. Scope: textbook. Level: advanced undergraduate, graduate, ...
The fine structure of the olfactory mucosa in man.

This report gives a detailed description of the fine structure of the olfactory mucosa in man. Using a special biopsy instrument and technique, fresh biopsies of olfactory epithelium were taken under local anaesthesia from eight normal volunteers. Transmission electron microscopy reveals that human olfactory epithelium has four major cell types: ciliated olfactory receptors, supporting cells, basal cells and microvillar cells. The ciliated olfactory receptors, as in other mammals, are bipolar neurons; the dendrite tip, modified to form the olfactory vesicle, bears 10–30 cilia that lack dynein arms. The supporting cells, markedly different from the goblet cells of respiratory epithelium, are not specialized for mucus secretion. Instead they are equipped to contribute materials to, and remove materials from, the surface mucus. The basal cells are stem cells that serve to replace epithelial cells and receptors lost during normal turnover or injury. In addition to ciliated olfactory neurons, supporting cells and basal cells, the human olfactory mucosa contains a distinct fourth cell type, the microvillar cell, of unknown function. The apical pole of the cell sends a tuft of short microvilli into the nasal cavity; its basal pole gives rise to a slender cytoplasmic process that resembles an axon. If microvillar cells prove to be sensory cells, the current concept of the human olfactory epithelium will have to be revised to include two morphologically distinct classes of receptors.
Psychophysical approach to modeling image semantics

Current image retrieval systems compare images based on low- level primitives, such as color, color layout, texture and shape. However, recent psychophysical experiments show that human observers primarily use high-level semantic descriptors and categories to judge image similarity. To model. these high-level descriptors in terms of low-level primitives we use hierarchical clustering to segment the psychophysically determined image similarity space into semantically meaningful categories. We then conduct a series of psychophysical experiments to evaluate the perceptual salience of these categories. For each category we investigate the correlation with low-level pictorial features to identify semantically relevant features, their organization and distribution. Our findings suggest a new semantically based image similarity model.
FDA's Adverse Drug Reaction Drug Dictionary and its Role in Post-Marketing Surveillance

The FDA's Center for Drugs and Biologics maintains a variety of drug data files which were developed independently rather than as part of an integrated system. Consequently, there is no standardize...
Electric Field Propagation in the Proximal Region

A model for electric field propagation above planeearth in the region from 1 meter to 10 km from the source, specifically tailored to permit rapid quantitative solutions of EMI (electromagnetic interference) propagation problems, is obtained from classical ground-wave propagation theory extended to include induction fields. The solution is presented in the form of attenuation and height-gain curves for both vertical and horizontal polarizations and covers the spectrum from dc to 1 GHz. The quantitative effects of soil conditions are investigated by comparing propagation over good earth with propagation over the extremes of dry sand and sea water.
Effects of surface active agents on the susceptibility of Swiss Mice to Candida albicans.

The LD50's ofCandida albicans combined with Plurafac B26, Mulsor 224, Pluronic L62, and Polyethylene Glycol 400 Mono Laurate injected intraperitoneally into female white Swiss mice were calculated by the method ofReed &Muench. Each of the previously mentioned surface-active agent —Candida albicans combinations had a lower LD50 than theCandida albicans control.
Improving Power in Contrasting Linkage-Disequilibrium Patterns between Cases and Controls

Genetic association studies offer an opportunity to find genetic variants underlying complex human diseases. The success of this approach depends on the linkage disequilibrium (LD) between markers and the disease variant(s) in a local region of the genome. Because, in the region with a disease mutation, the LD pattern among markers may differ between cases and controls, in some scenarios, it is useful to compare a measure of this LD, to map disease mutations. For example, using the composite correlation to characterize the LD among markers, Zaykin et al. recently suggested an "LD contrast" test and showed that it has high power under certain haplotype-driven disease models. Furthermore, it is likely that individual variants observed at different positions in a gene act jointly with each other to influence the phenotype, and the LD contrast test is also a useful method to detect such joint action. However, the LD among markers introduced by mutations and their joint action is usually confounded by background LD, which is measured at the population level, especially in a local region with disease mutations. Because the measures of LD that are usually used, such as the composite correlation, represent both effects, they may not be optimal for the purpose of detecting association when high background LD exists. Here, we describe a test that improves the LD contrast test by taking into account the background LD. Because the proposed test is developed in a regression framework, it is very flexible and can be extended to continuous traits and to incorporate covariates. Our simulation results demonstrate the validity and substantially higher power of the proposed method over current methods. Finally, we illustrate our new method by applying it to real data from the International Collaborative Study on Hypertension in Blacks.
Overlap between systemic lupus erythematosus and Kikuchi Fujimoto disease: a clinical pathology conference held by the Department of Rheumatology at Hospital for Special Surgery.

Each author certifies that he or she has no commercial associations (e.g., consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc.) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article. Each author certifies that his or her institution has approved the reporting of this case, that all investigations were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research.
Novel Method of Temperature Stabilization for SiPM-Based Detectors

One of the drawbacks of silicon-based photomultipliers is variation of performance with even small temperature fluctuations. The purpose of this work is to investigate a novel method of temperature stabilization of SiPM-based imaging device. Our prototype cooling system utilizes optically transparent cooling fluid as means of removing heat from the light detector and spreading scintillation light among several SiPM units. Cooled liquid passes through a 2 mm opening between two Mylar sheets. The Mylar sheets are held together with an aluminum frame. An array of SiPMs and an array of LYSO scintillation crystals are attached to opposite sides of the cooling light guide. Temperature uniformity of the optical surface was evaluated with an infrared camera. A temperature gradient of 0.09 °C/cm was measured along the direction of the coolant flow. The system was tested with a 5 × 5 array of Hamamatsu S10943 SiPMs coupled to a 16 × 16 matrix of 1.5×1.5×10 mm LYSO crystals. Testing procedures included evaluation of temperature dependence of detector gain, integrated noise, ability to resolve individual crystals and energy resolution. Detector gain varied by 9.3% over the range of 5 °C. Energy resolution change of 5% was observed over the same temperature range. Integrated noise contribution showed moderate increase of 2.2% over the range of 7 °C. The separation of individual crystals was found adequate with only a weak dependence of peak-to-valley contrast ratios on temperature. An assessment of performance stability at constant temperature revealed 0.2% variation in gain and 0.7% variation in energy resolution during an hour-long acquisition. It is concluded that the proposed method is a viable option for cooling and temperature stabilizing of SiPM-based systems.
The novel kinase inhibitor EMD1214063 is effective against neuroblastoma

Children with high-risk neuroblastoma have poor survival rates, and novel therapies are needed. Previous studies have identified a role for the HGF/c-Met pathway in neuroblastoma pathogenesis. We hypothesized that EMD1214063 would be effective against neuroblastoma tumor cells and tumors in preclinical models via inhibition of HGF/c-Met signaling. Methods We determined the expression of c-Met protein by Western blots in a panel of neuroblastoma tumor cell lines and neuroblastoma cell viability after treatment with EMD1214063 using MTT assays. TUNEL assays and assays for DNA ladder formation, were performed to measure the induction of apoptosis after EMD1214063 treatment. Inhibition of intracellular signaling was measured by Western blot analysis of treated and untreated cells. To investigate the efficacy of EMD1214063 against neuroblastoma tumors in vivo, neuroblastoma cells were injected orthotopically into immunocompromised mice, and mice were treated with oral EMD1214063. Tumors were evaluated for growth, histologic appearance, and induction of apoptosis by immunohistochemistry. Results All neuroblastoma cell lines were sensitive to EMD1214063, and IC50 values ranged from 2.4 to 8.5 μM. EMD1214063 treatment inhibited HGF-mediated c-Met phosphorylation and MEK phosphorylation in neuroblastoma cells. EMD1214063 induced apoptosis in all tested cell lines. In mice with neuroblastoma xenograft tumors, EMD1214063 treatment reduced tumor growth. Conclusions Treatment of neuroblastoma tumor cells with EMD1214063 inhibits HGF-induced c-Met phosphorylation and results in cell death. EMD1214063 treatment is also effective in reducing tumor growth in vivo. EMD1214063 therefore represents a novel therapeutic agent for neuroblastoma, and further preclinical studies of EMD1214063 are warranted.
Advancements in Robotic-Assisted Thoracic Surgery

Advancements in robotic-assisted thoracic surgery present potential advantages for patients as well as new challenges for the anesthesia and surgery teams. This article describes the major aspects of the surgical approach for the most commonly performed robotic-assisted thoracic surgical procedures as well as the pertinent preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative anesthetic concerns.
Precision Zeeman-Stark Spectroscopy of the Metastable a ( 1 ) [ Σ + 3 ] State of PbO

The metastable $a(1)[^{3}\ensuremath{\Sigma}^{+}]$ state of PbO has been suggested as a suitable system in which to search for the electric dipole moment of the electron. We report here the development of experimental techniques allowing high-sensitivity measurements of Zeeman and Stark effects in this system, similar to those required for such a search. We observe Zeeman quantum beats in fluorescence from a vapor cell of PbO, with shot-noise limited extraction of the quantum beat frequencies, high counting rates, and long coherence times. We argue that improvement in sensitivity to the electron electric dipole moment by at least 2 orders of magnitude appears possible using these techniques.
Depth-dependent phosphor blur in indirect x-ray imaging sensors

The influence of phosphor screens on the digital system image quality has been studied in a number of papers. However, there has been no detailed description of the effect of depth of x-ray interaction on the blur characteristics of the phosphor and on optical collection efficiency for both powder and structured screens. We present an analysis based on optical Monte Carlo simulations of the depth-dependent phosphor blur of two classes of single-layer phosphor screens: homogeneous and columnar. The spectral sensitivity of the optical sensor is modeled according to a typical a-Si:H photodiode absorption profile. We used Gd2O2S:Tb and CsI:Tl emission spectra respectively for the powder and columnar phosphor models. We present line-spread (LSF) and modulation transfer (MTF) functions associated with the spread of signal in the phosphor, and optical collection efficiencies. We find good agreement between the Monte Carlo estimates of the MTF and the analytical solutions available in the literature. Our optical collection efficiency results show depth dependence only for the screens with highly scattering and absorptive phosphor with reflective backing, and for the case of scattering phosphor with absorptive backing.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.