cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
rSalvador: An R Package for the Fluctuation Experiment.

The past few years have seen a surge of novel applications of the Luria-Delbruck fluctuation assay protocol in bacterial research. Appropriate analysis of fluctuation assay data often requires computational methods that are unavailable in the popular web tool FALCOR. This paper introduces an R package named rSalvador to bring improvements to the field. The paper focuses on rSalvador’s capabilities to alleviate three kinds of problems found in recent investigations: (i) resorting to partial plating without properly accounting for the effects of partial plating; (ii) conducting attendant fitness assays without incorporating mutants’ relative fitness in subsequent data analysis; and (iii) comparing mutation rates using methods that are in general inapplicable to fluctuation assay data. In addition, the paper touches on rSalvador’s capabilities to estimate sample size and the difficulties related to parameter nonidentifiability.
Summary and Closing Remarks

The adoption of micromechanical material models and computational methods in additive manufacturing and 3D printing has the potential to bring a level of systematic analysis that can make it a reliable large-scale manufacturing process.
Being realistic about motivation

T.M. Scanlon’s ‘reasons fundamentalism’ is thought to face difficulties answering the normative question—that is, explaining why it’s irrational to not do what you judge yourself to have most reason to do. I argue that this difficulty results from Scanlon’s failure to provide a theory of mind that can give substance to his account of normative judgment and its tie to motivation. A central aim of this paper is to address that deficiency. To do this, I draw on broadly cognitivist theories of emotion (those of, e.g., Martha Nussbaum and Robert Roberts). These theories are interesting because they view emotions as cognitive states from which motivation emerges. Thus, they provide a model Scanlon can use to develop a richer account of both the judgment-motivation connection and the irrationality of not doing what you judge yourself to have most reason to do. However, the success on this front is only partial—even this more developed proposal fails to give a satisfactory answer to the normative question.
Stress System Response and Decision Making in Heavy Episodic Users of Alcohol and Online Video Games.

Objective: Few empirical studies have addressed stress system response and subsequent decision making in problematic online video game players who also consume alcohol. Method: Participants were ra...
Some adjunction-theoretic properties of codimension two nonsingular subvarieties of quadrics

We make precise the structure of the first two reduction morphisms associated with codimension two nonsingular subvarieties of quadrics $\Q{n}$, $n\geq 5$. We give a coarse classification of the same class of subvarieties when they are assumed to be not of log-general-type. Keywords: Adjunction Theory, classification, codimension two, conic bundles, low codimension, non log-general-type, quadric, reduction, special variety
Lazy counterfactual symbolic execution

We present counterfactual symbolic execution, a new approach that produces counterexamples that localize the causes of failure of static verification. First, we develop a notion of symbolic weak head normal form and use it to define lazy symbolic execution reduction rules for non-strict languages like Haskell. Second, we introduce counterfactual branching, a new method to identify places where verification fails due to imprecise specifications (as opposed to incorrect code). Third, we show how to use counterfactual symbolic execution to localize refinement type errors, by translating refinement types into assertions. We implement our approach in a new Haskell symbolic execution engine, G2, and evaluate it on a corpus of 7550 errors gathered from users of the LiquidHaskell refinement type system. We show that for 97.7% of these errors, G2 is able to quickly find counterexamples that show how the code or specifications must be fixed to enable verification.
Sensorimotor Integration Can Enhance Auditory Perception

Whenever we move, speak, or play musical instruments, our actions generate auditory sensory input. The sensory consequences of our actions are thought to be predicted via sensorimotor integration, which involves anatomical and functional links between auditory and motor brain regions. The physiological connections are relatively well established, but less is known about how sensorimotor integration affects auditory perception. The sensory attenuation hypothesis suggests that the perceived loudness of self-generated sounds is attenuated to help distinguish self-generated sounds from ambient sounds. Sensory attenuation would work for louder ambient sounds, but could lead to less accurate perception if the ambient sounds were quieter. We hypothesize that a key function of sensorimotor integration is the facilitated processing of self-generated sounds, leading to more accurate perception under most conditions. The sensory attenuation hypothesis predicts better performance for higher but not lower intensity comparisons, whereas sensory facilitation predicts improved perception regardless of comparison sound intensity. A series of experiments tested these hypotheses, with results supporting the enhancement hypothesis. Overall, people were more accurate at comparing the loudness of two sounds when making one of the sounds themselves. We propose that the brain selectively modulates the perception of self-generated sounds to enhance representations of action consequences.
Tandem mass tag labeling to characterize muscle-specific proteome changes in beef during early postmortem period.

Abstract Previous research has indicated that variation in the proteome profile of longissimus lumborum (LL) and psoas major (PM) post-rigor influences meat quality attributes such as tenderness and color stability during retail display. Tandem mass tag (TMT) labeling is a chemical labeling approach using isobaric mass tags for accurate mass spectrometry-based quantification and identification of biological macromolecules. The objective of this study was to use TMT labeling to examine proteome profile variation between beef LL and PM during the early postmortem period (45 min, 12 h, and 36 h). We identified a total of 629 proteins, of which 71 were differentially abundant (fold change > 1.5, P Significance Longissimus lumborum and psoas major are two highly valuable cuts in beef carcass exhibiting different quality attributes such as color and tenderness, partly due to their distinct muscle fiber proportion and metabolic property. We characterized the proteomic change of these two muscles at early postmortem using tandem mass tag labeling for the first time, which highlighted the potential relationships between metabolism, cell death, and color stability. Our work provides a new perspective on muscle-to-meat conversion, especially on the potential effect of muscle-specific cell death on meat color stability.
Neurofibromatosis type 1–related hydrocephalus: causes and treatment considerations

The prevalence of hydrocephalus among patients with neurofibromatosis type I (NF1) is estimated to be between 1 and 13%. Most hydrocephalic causes are obstructive-aqueductal webs, chiasmatic-hypothalamic tumors, and thalamic mass effect related to NF changes. Other NF1-related conditions may mimic the clinical presentation of hydrocephalus and should be ruled out while evaluating children with headaches. These include brain tumors and moyamoya syndrome. Treatment of NF1-related hydrocephalus should be personally tailored, including tumor resection or debulking, shunts, and endoscopic procedures such as septostomy and third ventriculostomy. Despite these personalized treatments, many of the primary treatments (including shunts and endoscopic procedures) fail, and patients should be screened and followed accordingly. In the current manuscript, we review the causes of NF1-related hydrocephalus, as well as treatment options.
Sources of the frontocentral mismatch negativity and P3a responses in schizophrenia patients and healthy comparison subjects.

Abstract Background Mismatch negativity (MMN) and P3a are event-related potential measures of early auditory information processing that are increasingly used as translational biomarkers in the development of treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders. These responses are reduced in schizophrenia patients over the frontocentral scalp electrodes and are associated with important domains of cognitive and psychosocial functioning. While MMN and P3a responses are generated by a dynamic network of cortical sources distributed across the temporal and frontal brain regions, it is not clear how these sources independently contribute to MMN and P3a at the primary frontocentral scalp electrode or to abnormalities observed in schizophrenia. This study aimed to determine the independent source contributions and characterize the magnitude of impairment in source-level MMN and P3a responses in schizophrenia patients. Methods A novel method was applied to back-project the contributions of 11 independent cortical source components to Fz, the primary scalp sensor that is used in clinical studies, in n = 589 schizophrenia patients and n = 449 healthy comparison subjects. Results The groups showed comparable individual source contributions underlying both MMN and P3a responses at Fz. Source-level responses revealed an increasing magnitude of impairment in schizophrenia patients from the temporal to more frontal sources. Conclusions Schizophrenia patients have a normal architecture of source contributions that are accompanied by widespread abnormalities in source resolved mismatch and P3a responses, with more prominent deficits detected from the frontal sources. Quantification of source contributions and source-level responses accelerates clarification of the neural networks underlying MMN reduction at Fz in schizophrenia patients.
Improved overall survival for patients with early-onset pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

379Background: The median age of diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC) is 70 years. Only about 20% of patients are diagnosed prior to the age of 60. We sought to identify clinical c...
Human Choice in International Law

Human Choice in International Law is an exploration of human choice in international legal and political decision making. This book investigates the neurobiology of how people choose and the history of how personal choice has affected decisions about international peace and security. It charts important decision moments in international law about genocide, intervention into armed conflict and nuclear weapons at the central institutions of the international legal order. Professor Spain Bradley analyzes the role that particular individuals, serving as international judges or Security Council representatives, play in shaping decision outcomes and then applies insights from neuroscience to assert the importance of analyzing how cognitive processes such as empathy, emotion and bias can influence such decisionmakers. Drawing upon historical accounts and personal interviews, this book reveals the beauty and struggle of human influences that shape the creation and practice of international law.
Increased Antimicrobial and Multidrug Resistance Downstream of Wastewater Treatment Plants in an Urban Watershed

Development and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and multidrug resistance (MDR) through propagation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) in various environments is a global emerging public health concern. The role of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) as hot spots for the dissemination of AMR and MDR has been widely pointed out by the scientific community. In this study, we collected surface water samples from sites upstream and downstream of two WWTP discharge points in an urban watershed in the Bryan-College Station (BCS), Texas area, over a period of nine months. E. coli isolates were tested for resistance to ampicillin, tetracycline, sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin, cephalothin, cefoperazone, gentamycin, and imipenem using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Antimicrobial resistant heterotrophic bacteria were cultured on R2A media amended with ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, and sulfamethoxazole for analyzing heterotrophic bacteria capable of growth on antibiotic-containing media. In addition, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method was used to measure eight ARG - tetA, tetW, aacA, ampC, mecA, ermA, blaTEM, and intI1 in the surface water collected at each time point. Significant associations (p < 0.05) were observed between the locations of sampling sites relative to WWTP discharge points and the rate of E. coli isolate resistance to tetracycline, ampicillin, cefoperazone, ciprofloxacin, and sulfamethoxazole together with an increased rate of isolate MDR. The abundance of antibiotic-resistant heterotrophs was significantly greater (p < 0.05) downstream of WWTPs compared to upstream locations for all tested antibiotics. Consistent with the results from the culture-based methods, the concentrations of all ARG were substantially higher in the downstream sites compared to the upstream sites, particularly in the site immediately downstream of the WWTP effluent discharges (except mecA). In addition, the Class I integron (intI1) genes were detected in high amounts at all sites and all sampling points, and were about ∼20 times higher in the downstream sites (2.5 × 107 copies/100 mL surface water) compared to the upstream sites (1.2 × 106 copies/100 mL surface water). Results suggest that the treated WWTP effluent discharges into surface waters can potentially contribute to the occurrence and prevalence of AMR in urban watersheds. In addition to detecting increased ARG in the downstream sites by qPCR, findings from this study also report an increase in viable AMR (HPC) and MDR (E. coli) in these sites. This data will benefit establishment of improved environmental regulations and practices to help manage AMR/MDR and ARG discharges into the environment, and to develop mitigation strategies and effective treatment of wastewater.
Serum Neuron-Specific-Enolase Thresholds for Predicting Postcardiac Arrest Outcome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Objective: To determine thresholds of serum neuron-specific-enolase (NSE) for prediction of poor outcome after cardiac arrest with > 95% specificity using a unique method of multiple thresholds meta-analysis. Methods: Data from a systematic review by the European Resuscitation Council (ERC 2014) were updated with literature searches from PubMed, Cochrane, and Scopus until August 2020. Search terms included the MeSH terms “heart arrest” and “biological markers”; and the text words “cardiac arrest”, “neuron specific enolase”, “coma” and “prognosis”. Cohort studies with comatose cardiac arrest survivors aged > 16 years, undergoing targeted temperature management (TTM) and NSE levels within 96 h of resuscitation, were included. Poor outcome was defined as cerebral performance category 3-5 at hospital discharge or later. Studies without extractable contingency tables were excluded. A multiple thresholds meta-analysis model was used to generate summary ROC curves for various time-points. NSE thresholds [and 95% prediction intervals] for > 95% specificity were calculated. Evidence appraisal was performed using a method adapted from the American Academy of Neurology grading criteria. Results: Data from 11 studies (n = 1982) at 0-24 h, 21 studies (n =2815) at 24-48 h, and 13 studies (n =2557) at 48-72 h was analyzed. AUCs for prediction of poor outcomes were significantly larger at 24-48 h and 48-72 h compared to 0-24 h (0.82 and 0.83 vs 0.64). Quality of evidence was very low for most studies because of the risk of incorporation bias—knowledge of NSE levels potentially influenced life support withdrawal decisions. To minimize falsely pessimistic predictions, NSE thresholds at the upper 95% limit of prediction intervals are reported. For prediction of poor outcome with specificity > 95%, upper limits of the prediction interval for NSE were 70.4 ng/mL at 24-48 h, and 58.6 ng/mL at 48-72 h. Sensitivity analyses excluding studies with inconsistent TTM use or different outcome criteria did not substantially alter the results. Conclusions: NSE thresholds for highly specific prediction of poor outcome are much higher than generally used. Future studies must minimize bias by masking treatment teams to the results of potential predictors and by pre-specifying criteria for withdrawal of life support.
Structure and trends of externalizing and internalizing psychiatric symptoms and gender differences among adolescents in the US from 1991 to 2018

We aimed to estimate the structure of internalizing and externalizing symptoms and potential time dynamics in their association. This is understudied among adolescents, despite increasing internalizing and decreasing externalizing symptoms in recent years. We analyzed data from US Monitoring the Future cross-sectional surveys (1991–2018) representative of school-attending adolescents (N = 304,542). Exploratory factor analysis using maximum likelihood estimation method and promax rotation resulted in a two-factor solution (factor correlation r = 0.24) that differentiated eight internalizing and seven conduct-related externalizing symptoms. Time-varying effect modification linear regression models estimated the association between standardized internalizing and externalizing symptoms factor scores over time overall and by gender. In 2012, trends in average factor scores diverged for internalizing and externalizing factors. The average standardized internalizing factor score increased from − 0.03 in 2012 to 0.06 in 2013 and the average externalizing factor score decreased from − 0.06 in 2011 to − 0.13 in 2012. We found that for every one-unit increase in standardized internalizing factor score, standardized externalizing factor score increased by 0.224 units in 2010 (95% CI: 0.215, 0.233); the magnitude of this increase was 22.3% lower in 2018 (i.e., 0.174 units; 95% CI: 0.160, 0.188). Decoupling of internalizing and externalizing symptoms began earlier among boys (~ 1995) than among girls (~ 2010). The decoupling of internalizing and externalizing symptoms among adolescents suggests that changes in the prevalence of shared risk factors for adolescent psychiatric symptoms affect these dimensions in opposing directions, raising the importance of considering symptoms and their risk factors together in prevention and intervention efforts.
Extracting road vector data from raster maps

Raster maps are an important source of road information. Because of the overlapping map features (e.g., roads and text labels) and the varying image quality, extracting road vector data from raster maps usually requires significant user input to achieve accurate results. In this paper, we present an accurate road vectorization technique that minimizes user input by combining our previous work on extracting road pixels and road-intersection templates to extract accurate road vector data from raster maps. Our approach enables GIS applications to exploit the road information in raster maps for the areas where the road vector data are otherwise not easily accessible, such as the countries of the Middle East. We show that our approach requires minimal user input and achieves an average of 93.2% completeness and 95.6% correctness in an experiment using raster maps from various sources.
Market Size and Economics for Biosensors

The breadth and depth of biosensor applications have resulted in a 25% increase in the world biosensor market prediction made as early as August 2002 by Kalorama Information for the year 2005 of $2.3 billion to $2.9 billion. Though medical applications remain the major area of application, biosensors are gradually penetrating a wide variety of non-medical areas. Earlier predictions indicated that the medical application was around 90% of the total biosensor market, which includes clinical applications for diabetes, cholesterol, and coagulation monitoring. However, medical applications of biosensors are now down to around 60%. These changes are atributed to the rapidly advancing technologies and to some serious business challenges. The biosensor field has expanded dramatically in the past 45 years or so since the first demonstration of a biosensor application in 1962. Self-diagnosis of blood glucose levels by diabetes sufferers, however, remains the dominant area of biosensor application. The increased investment in new laboratories is essential to permit the application research required for determining the commercial applicability of biosensors. Different trends and models for collaboration between different entities are being noticed at the present time. Some of these trends are presented here. Incubators are springing up wherein scholarly research at universities may be gradually turned into or groomed to becoming successful business ventures. In effect, the future expansion of biosensor markets will depend on the balance between market opportunities and technical and/or financial obstacles. Different examples of biosensor companies along with their product and what analyte it detects have been described. Most, if not all, of the examples have been selected at random to provide an overall perspective of the biosensors that have been or are in the process of being commercialized.
Special tools for the assessment of balance and dizziness in individuals with mild traumatic brain injury.

Introduction Although a majority of patients following minor traumatic brain injury recover to their pre-morbid functional level, persistent activity and participation limitations can occur in the refractory patient. These long-term consequences of brain injury may only become apparent months to years after the injury. In order to quantify these long-term sequella, laboratory, clinical and functional outcome measures may not only identify needed areas of treatment, but may also assist in determining the impact of the treatment on the individuals function. Purpose The aim of this manuscript is to review the clinical utility of vestibular laboratory testing and the bedside vestibular examination in patients following mild traumatic brain injury. In addition, the validity and inter-observer reliability of functional outcome measures commonly used in individuals with mTBI will also be reviewed. Summary Because of the diffuse pathology seen with mTBI, multiple tests are needed to determine the resultant impairment and their impact on the patient's activity level and participation level. Laboratory test and bedside tests of vestibular impairment are reviewed. Functional outcome measures including the Dynamic Gait Index, the Functional Gait Assessment, the Balance Error Scoring System, and Dual Task Performance are reviewed for their appropriateness in quantifying the effect of mTBI at activity level and participation level of the individual. Conclusion TBI rehabilitation services are increasingly exemplified by the needs of patients, rather than by the underlying pathology or diagnosis. Basing treatment decisions and treatment timing on laboratory, clinical, and functional testing can optimize the rehabilitation outcome.
Sexual function in older adults following thoracolumbar to pelvic instrumentation for spinal deformity.

Object Sexual function is an often-overlooked aspect of health-related quality of life among older adults treated for spinal deformity. The authors' objective was to assess sexual function among older adults following thoracolumbar fusion with pelvic fixation for spinal deformity. Methods This was a retrospective review of consecutive older adults (≥50 years) treated with posterior thoracolumbar instrumentation (including pelvic fixation) for spinal deformity and with a minimum 18-month follow-up. Patients completed the Changes in Sexual Function Questionnaire-14 (CSFQ-14), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12). Results Sixty-two patients (45 women and 17 men) with a mean age of 70 years (range 50–83 years) met the inclusion criteria. Eight women did not complete all questionnaires and were excluded from the subanalysis. The mean number of instrumented levels was 9.8 (range 6–18), and the mean follow-up was 36 months (range 19–69 months). Based on the CSFQ-14, 13 pa...
Generalizing Domain Theory

Domain theory began in an attempt to provide mathematical models for high-level programming languages, an area where it has proved to be particularly useful. It is perhaps the most widely-used method for devising semantic models for such languages. This paper is a survey of some generalizations of domain theory that have arisen in efforts to solve related problems. In each case, a description is given of the problem and of the solution generalizing domain theory it inspired. The problems range from the relation of domain theory to other approaches for providing semantic models, particularly in process algebra, to issues surrounding the notion of a computational model, an approach inspired by the recent work of Abbas Edalat.
The journey of dually-involved youth: The description and prediction of rereporting and recidivism

Abstract Dually-involved youth refers to youth that are simultaneously receiving services from both the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. The current study focused on a sample of dually-involved youth (N = 1148). The study examined the characteristics of dually-involved youth and reported and predicted the incidence of subsequent maltreatment and re-offending. We found that 8% of dually-involved youth had at least one arrest before entering child welfare system, 32% experienced new reports of maltreatment referrals subsequent to arrest, and 56% were charged with a second offense (i.e., recidivated). The court outcomes received in delinquency court were associated with both rereporting and recidivism. These findings support the development of a shared services model for child welfare and juvenile justice systems.
A Note on the Lyapunov Stability Analysis of a Linear Railway Wheelset

SUMMARY In this paper a Lyapunov function is generated for the linearized equations governing a steel wheelset on steel rails. Thus the authors attack the asymmetric problem, and successfully apply Ingwerson's method for constructing Lyapunov functions. The stability criteria applied to this function yield a closed-form expression for the critical forward speed of the wheelset. Thus the authors retain the advantage of Lyapunov's direct method by obtaining an explicit solution for the critical speed. And, although this linearized result has been obtained by other methods, the result is provocative because it suggests that a similar attack on the intractable nonlinear problem (currently being mounted by the authors) may indeed bear fruit.
Behavioral effects of the entomopathogenic fungus, Entomophthora muscae on its host Musca domestica: Postural changes in dying hosts and gated pattern of mortality

Abstract Videotaped records of house flies dying from infection with the fungus Entomophthora muscae showed that flies typically die on the fourth or fifth day post-infection in elevated positions, with the proboscis extended and attached to the substrate, the legs spread, the abdomen angled away from the substrate and the wings raised above the thorax. Four events occurring before or shortly after death were identified, the last locomotory movement (LM), the last extension of the proboscis to the substrate (PD), the start of upward wing movement (WS) and the end of upward wing movement (WU). Progression through this sequence was essentially unidirectional and highly stereotyped. The median elapsed time between WS and WU was 15 min. The median time between LM and WU was 1.25 h. The mortality of diseased flies, observed over several days, exhibited a distinct diel periodicity under both natural and artificial photoperiodic regimes with most flies dying 0–5 h before the onset of darkness. The mortality of flies held in the dark from the time of exposure until death did not exhibit rhythmicity; however, a circadian periodicity of mortality was observed in a population of infected flies exposed to a L12:D12 photoperiod for 3 days following infection and then held in continuous darkness. These findings indicate that mortality in E. muscae-diseased flies is a gated phenomenon governed by a biological clock, that, it is argued, is most probably a property of the fungus.
T-cell responses to oligodendrocyte-specific protein in multiple sclerosis.

Oligodendrocyte-specific protein (OSP) is concentrated in CNS myelin and is a potential autoantigen in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS). We performed proliferation assays with lymphocytes from MS patients and normal controls. OSP peptide-induced proliferation was common in relapsing-remitting MS and controls samples but was less pronounced in samples from secondary progressive MS subjects. These data demonstrate that OSP-reactive T cells are part of the normal immune repertoire and therefore have the potential to contribute to the pathogenesis of MS. Given the lack of specificity to MS, OSP-reactive T-cells are unlikely to be solely responsible for the disease process. J. Neurosci. Res. 66:506–509, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Glycosaminoglycans of iliac crest cartilage in spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita.

Iliac crest cartilage biopsies from five children with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita contained increased amounts of chondroitin-6-sulfate and keratan sulfate. The increase was similar to that observed in the cartilage of patients with Morquio's disease. However, unlike patients with Morquio's disease, those with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita did not excrete an abnormal amount of keratan sulfate in urine. Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita can be considered a mucopolysaccharidosis without mucopolysacchariduria.
DAPK3 Suppresses Acini Morphogenesis and is Required for Mouse Development

Death-associated protein kinase (DAPK3) is a serine/threonine kinase involved in various signaling pathways important to tissue homeostasis and mammalian biology. Considered to be a putative tumor suppressor, the molecular mechanism by which DAPK3 exerts its suppressive function is not fully understood and the field lacks an appropriate mouse model. To address these gaps, an in vitro three-dimensional tumorigenesis model was used and a constitutive DAPK3-knockout mouse was generated. In the 3D morphogenesis model, loss of DAPK3 through lentiviral-mediated knockdown enlarged acinar size by accelerated acini proliferation and apoptosis while maintaining acini polarity. Depletion of DAPK3 enhanced growth factor–dependent mTOR activation and, furthermore, enlarged DAPK3 acini structures were uniquely sensitive to low doses of rapamycin. Simultaneous knockdown of RAPTOR, a key mTORC1 component, reversed the augmented acinar size in DAPK3-depleted structures indicating an epistatic interaction. Using a validated gene trap strategy to generate a constitutive DAPK3-knockout mouse, it was demonstrated that DAPK3 is vital for early mouse development. The Dapk3 promoter exhibits spatiotemporal activity in developing mice and is actively expressed in normal breast epithelia of adult mice. Importantly, reduction of DAPK3 expression correlates with the development of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and more aggressive breast cancer as observed in the Oncomine database of clinical breast cancer specimens. Implications: Novel cellular and mouse modeling studies of DAPK3 shed light on its tumor-suppressive mechanisms and provide direct evidence that DAPK3 has relevance in early development. Mol Cancer Res; 13(2); 358–67. ©2014 AACR.
Mating potential of feral and laboratory-reared Eoreuma loftini (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

When Mexican rice borers, Eoreuma loftini (Dyar), were provided a surplus of mates, an average of 91.0% and 88.3% of laboratory-reared Mexican rice borer males and females, respectively, mated on the night following eclosion. Males mated as many as five times each, but only 4.3% of females mated as many as two times and none mated more than twice. Of the 250 mated feral females captured with sweep nets or light traps, none contained more than one spermatophore. Captures of feral male Mexican rice borers in pheromone traps in sugarcane fields were initiated at approximately the same time with baits of synthetic lures and virgin females. Fewer males were caught in traps baited with mated females than ones baited with either pheromone lures or virgin females (0.1 males per trap per night versus 8.9 and 4.9 males per trap per night, respectively).
Modeling time and topology for animation and visualization with examples on parametric geometry

The art of animation relies upon modeling objects that change over time. A sequence of static images is displayed to produce an illusion of motion. Even for simple cases, a careful analysis exposes that formal topological guarantees are often lacking. This absence of rigor can result in subtle, but significant, topological flaws. A new modeling approach is proposed to integrate topological rigor with a continuous model of time. Examples will be given for Bezier curves, while indicating extensions to a richer class of parametric curves and surfaces. Applications to scientific visualization for molecular modeling are discussed. Prototype animations are available for viewing over the web.
Radio frequency electric fields processing of orange juice

Abstract The non-thermal process of radio frequency electric fields (RFEF) has been shown to inactivate bacteria in apple juice at moderately low temperatures, but has yet to be extended to inactivate bacteria in orange juice. An 80 kW RFEF pasteurizer was used to process pulp-free orange juice at flow rates of 1.0 and 1.4 l/min. Escherichia coli K12 in orange juice was exposed to electric field strengths of 15 and 20 kV/cm at frequencies of 21, 30, and 40 kHz. Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) content and color of the juice before and after treatment were analyzed. Electrical energy costs were calculated using the measured voltage and current. An energy balance was performed using the inlet and outlet temperatures. Processing at an outlet temperature of 65 °C reduced the population of E. coli by 3.3 log relative to the control. Increasing the treatment time and temperature and decreasing the frequency enhanced the level of inactivation. Varying the electric field strength over the range of conditions used had no effect on the inactivation. No loss in ascorbic acid or enzymatic browning was observed due to RFEF processing. The electrical energy determined using the voltage and current was 180 J/ml. This was in good agreement with the energy calculated using the temperature data. The electrical cost was $0.0026/l of orange juice. The results provided the first evidence that the RFEF process inactivates bacteria in orange juice at moderately low temperatures. Industrial relevance The RFEF process has been shown to inactivate E. coli in apple juice at moderately low temperatures, but has yet to be extended to inactivate bacteria in orange juice. An RFEF pilot plant pasteurizer was used to process orange juice at rates of up to 1.4 l/min. RFEF processing reduced the population of E. coli by 99.3% at 60 °C and a hold time of 3 s, whereas conventional heating at the same conditions had no effect on the E. coli . This work demonstrated that the non-thermal RFEF process can be extended to inactivate bacteria in orange juice.
Familial Hypercholesterolemia—Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Screening

Familial hypercholesterolemia is among the commonest inherited metabolic disorders and is characterized by severely elevated LDL cholesterol levels. Mutations in four genes have been noted in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH): LDL receptor (most common), apolipoprotein B (Apo B), proprotein convertase subtilin/kexin 9 (PCSK9), and low-density lipoprotein receptor adaptor protein (LDLRAP). In most cases, inheritance is autosomal co-dominant with homozygotes having double the LDL cholesterol levels of heterozygotes. Autosomal recessive inheritance is rare. The prevalence of the heterozygous state has been estimated at 1 in 200 to 1 in 500 and of the homozygous state from 1 in 160,000 to 1 in 1,000, 000. Three formal diagnostic criteria have been proposed to diagnose FH in practice-MedPed, Simon Broome, and Dutch Lipid Clinic Network. The role of genetic testing and cascade screening among families is discussed in this review.
Effects of hypoxia on atrial muscarinic cholinergic receptors and cardiac parasympathetic responsiveness.

Abstract Chronic exposure of rats to hypoxia resulted in a lower resting heart rate and a supranormal increase in heart rate in response to parasympathetic blockade by atropine. The density of muscarinic cholinergic receptors labeled by the antagonist [ 3 H]quinuclidinyl benzilate was elevated significantly in the atria of animals kept hypoxic for 2–4 weeks. Chronic hypoxia did not change the affinity of the receptor for [ 3 H]quinuclidinyl benzilate, the weight of the atria, or the amount of protein per atrial pair. Thus, the decrease in resting heart rate may be explained by the increase in the density of atrial muscarinic cholinergic receptors.
Selective radioprotection of hepatocytes by systemic and portal vein infusions of amifostine in a rat liver tumor model.

Abstract Purpose: The tolerance of the liver to radiation is too low to permit an effective dose to be delivered to patients who have diffuse intrahepatic cancer. In this study we evaluated whether systemic or portal venous administration of the aminothiol compound, amifostine, could protect the normal liver from the effects of ionizing radiation without compromising tumor cell kill in a rat liver tumor model. Methods and Materials: Rats implanted with liver tumors were infused with 200 mg/kg amifostine over 15 min via the femoral or portal vein. The livers were irradiated with a single 6-Gy fraction 15–20 min after the termination of amifostine infusion. Protection of the liver was assessed by an in vitro hepatocyte micronucleus assay and tumor protection by an in vivo - in vitro clonogenic survival assay. Tissue levels of the active metabolite, free WR-1065, were determined in the tumor and in the normal liver using a specific HPLC assay with electrochemical detection. Results: After a 6-Gy fraction, the frequency of hepatocyte micronuclei after administration of saline, systemic amifostine, and portal venous amifostine was 18.7 ± 1%, 6.8 ± 1%, and 9.9 ± 2%, respectively, corresponding to a radiation equivalent effect of 6 Gy ± 0.5, 1.8 Gy ± 0.3, and 2.5 Gy ± 1.3, respectively. Both amifostine conditions showed considerably less radiation effect than saline-treated controls ( p p = 0.3). The surviving fraction of tumor cells was not affected by amifostine treatment and was 0.03 ± 0.02 and 0.05 ± 0.03 for systemic and portal venous delivery and 0.06 ± 0.02 for control animals (ANOVA analysis showed no significant difference of the means p = 0.34). Portal venous delivery produced significantly less WR-1065 in the tumor compared to systemic administration (54 μM ± 36 vs. 343 μM ± 88, respectively, p = 0.03). Conclusions: Both systemic and portal venous administration of amifostine effectively protect hepatocytes from ionizing radiation without compromising tumor cell kill in a clinically relevant animal model. These findings suggest that amifostine may be a selective normal tissue radioprotectant in liver cancer and that regional/portal infusions may be preferable to systemic dosing.
Enhancement of colon and stomach carcinogenesis in 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-treated rats fed a diet high in heterocyclic amines

Epidemiological studies have linked the consumption of red meat and the consumption of highly browned meats containing high levels of heterocyclic aromatic amines (HCAs) to increased risk of colorectal cancer or polyps. We have examined the effects of long-term feeding of beef-containing diets with low and high levels of HCAs (in the context of a low- or high-beef tallow diet) on a standard 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced colon tumorigenesis protocol. Feeding of a beef diet high in HCAs resulted in more DMH-induced colon adenocarcinomas, but only in the context of a low fat diet. The high HCA diets increased stomach tumors in all DMH-treated rats. An apparent interaction of high HCA levels with a high fat level reduced the colon tumor incidence and tumor numbers in those rats on diets containing both these factors. These results support the epidemiological data linking well-cooked meat to increased risk for colon and stomach cancer, but the role of the dietary fat level remains puzzling. Additionally, we examined the DNA of liver, colon, and stomach from control rats (not treated with DMH) fed a high level of HCAs for 27 weeks. The genomic DNA was analyzed for the presence of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-f]pyridine (PhIP) adducts by 32P-postlabeling analysis and was also used in PCR to amplify the rat p53 and Apc genes, followed by direct dye-terminator DNA sequencing. Results showed that no PhIP adducts were present in any tissue. In addition, there were no signature p53 or Apc gene mutations seen in the colon or stomach DNA. These results indicate that the high level of HCAs present in a diet of well-cooked meat does not cause (1) persistent PhIP adducts similar to those produced by feeding pure PhIP at high doses or (2) p53 and Apc gene mutations in nontumor tissue.
Motorcycle Use in the United States: Crash Experiences, Safety Perspectives, and Countermeasures

Motorcycles are an important form of personal transportation used by many Americans. They provide an enjoyable recreational opportunity for many and a convenient, functional mode of transportation for others. However, U.S. motorcycle crash rates are 68% higher (per vehicle-mile traveled [VMT]) than those for other vehicles, and their fatal crash rates are more than 28 times higher. This investigation examines the riding and crash experiences and safety perceptions and recommendations of 238 U.S. motorcyclists. Top rider recommendations to other motorcyclists are to wear a helmet, to avoid riding under the influence (of alcohol or drugs), and to obtain motorcycle training. Ordered probit model results for helmet-use prediction suggest that those who ride on a daily or weekly basis and have received formal motorcycle training are more likely to wear a helmet. Other results show that rider training is most common among those who wear a helmet, ride on a weekly or monthly basis, and ride to and from work, sch...
Measurements of vapor flow regimes in liquid metal pools

There is significant ongoing research within the APEX project to develop innovative first wall/blanket concepts capable of efficiently extracting useful thermal energy from magnetic fusion devices that can substantially improve the attractiveness of fusion energy systems. Among the several different ideas are solid and liquid wall concepts. One solid wall concept being considered is the EVOLVE concept. This concept relies on liquid lithium filled tungsten trays to act as a heat transfer and tritium breeding media. In this design, liquid lithium flows into tungsten trays and is brought to the saturation temperature by volumetric neutronic heating of the liquid lithium and tungsten trays. The lithium vapor generated could then be used as the heat transfer media for the thermal power cycle. Key to this design is the vaporization and boiling of the lithium in the presence of a strong magnetic fields (∼ 7 T). Initial analysis of the boiling phenomena lead to many questions regarding the void fractions and boiling flow regime (void distribution) that may exist in the trays [Fusion Technol. 39 (2001) 810]. Since it is necessary to know the void fraction and flow regime present during the boiling process to determine the neutronic heating and energy removal capability, experiments have been initiated to examine this issue. This paper presents initial experiments and scaling analysis conducted in a new test section, which provides real time X-ray determination of flow regimes and void fractions within a pool of low-density liquid metal (NaK) during gas injection inside a horizontal magnetic field. Data will be presented from a first series of tests with gas injection of volumetric flow rates from 0 to 5 SCFH (0 < Jg < 0.06 m/s) with no field.
Design of an ultrahigh vacuum transfer mechanism to interconnect an oxide molecular beam epitaxy growth chamber and an x-ray photoemission spectroscopy analysis system

We designed a mechanism and the accompanying sample holders to transfer between a VEECO 930 oxide molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) and a PHI Versa Probe X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) chamber within a multiple station growth, processing, and analysis system through ultrahigh vacuum (UHV). The mechanism consists of four parts: (1) a platen compatible with the MBE growth stage, (2) a platen compatible with the XPS analysis stage, (3) a sample coupon that is transferred between the two platens, and (4) the accompanying UHV transfer line. The mechanism offers a robust design that enables transfer back and forth between the growth chamber and the analysis chamber, and yet is flexible enough to allow transfer between standard sample holders for thin film growth and masked sample holders for making electrical contacts and Schottky junctions, all without breaking vacuum. We used this mechanism to transfer a barium strontium titanate thin film into the XPS analysis chamber and performed XPS measurements before and after exposing the sample to the air. After air exposure, a thin overlayer of carbon was found to form and a significant shift (∼1 eV) in the core level binding energies was observed.
Genetic Vaccine for Respiratory Syncytial Virus Provides Protection Without Disease Potentiation

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of infectious lower respiratory disease in infants and the elderly. As there is no vaccine for RSV, we developed a genetic vaccine approach that induced protection of the entire respiratory tract from a single parenteral administration. The approach was based on adenovirus vectors derived from newly isolated nonhuman primate viruses with low seroprevalence. We show for the first time that a single intramuscular (IM) injection of the replication-deficient adenovirus vectors expressing the RSV fusion (F0) glycoprotein induced immune responses that protected both the lungs and noses of cotton rats and mice even at low doses and for several months postimmunization. The immune response included high titers of neutralizing antibody that were maintained ≥24 weeks and RSV-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cells. The vectors were as potently immunogenic as a human adenovirus 5 vector in these two key respiratory pathogen animal models. Importantly, there was minimal alveolitis and granulocytic infiltrates in the lung, and type 2 cytokines were not produced after RSV challenge even under conditions of partial protection. Overall, this genetic vaccine is highly effective without potentiating immunopathology, and the results support development of the vaccine candidate for human testing.
On the design and fabrication of novel lateral bipolar transistor in a deep-submicron technology

Abstract The performance of a npn Lateral Bipolar Transistor (LBJT), based on a minimally modified submicron MOSFET without gate oxide, was studied by means of simulations and measurements on fabricated devices. Large-tilt angle, single-sided implants were successfully used to control the breakdown voltage by tailoring an asymmetric collector doping profile and providing a lightly doped region on the collector side to increase the breakdown voltage. This was accomplished by using a base/gate pedestal as the mask for the large-tilt angle, single sided implantation in a self-aligned fashion. The individual collector–base and emitter–base junctions were found to be of excellent quality but, as expected due to the lack of carrier confinement in the base of devices built on bulk silicon, the common emitter current gain was lower than one. Two options enhancing the device performance were studied using simulators: building the LBJT on Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) or introducing SiGe into the base. The SOI device promises to provide better performance and ease of processing when compared to the SiGe base device.