cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Congenital Heart Disease: In Search of Remedial Etiologies

In searching for remedial etiologies for congenital heart disease (CHD), we have focused on identifying interactive signaling pathways or “hubs” in which mutations disrupt fundamental cell biological functions in cardiac progenitor cells in a lineage-specific manner. Based on the frequency of heart defects seen in a clinical setting, we emphasize two signaling hubs – nodal kinases activated by extracellular ligands (e.g., periostin) and the cytoskeletal regulatory protein, filamin A (FLNA). We discuss them in the context of valve and septal development and the lineages which give origin to their progenitor cells. We also explore developmental windows that are potentially amenable to remedial therapy using homeostatic mechanisms like those revealed by a chimeric mice model, i.e., irradiated animals whose bone marrow had been reconstituted with GFP+ hematopoietic stem cells, that shows bone marrow-derived cells track to the heart, engraft, and give rise to bona fide fibroblasts. We propose to use this model to deliver genetic payloads or protein cargos during the neonatal period to override biochemical or structural deficits of CHD associated with valve and septal signaling hubs or fibroblast/myocyte interactions. Preliminary tests of the model indicate remedial potential for cardiac injuries.
26-P : PERSISTENT C1q BINDING DSA PATTERNS ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED LONG-TERM POSTTRANSPLANT AMR, CMR, AND CAV IN HEART TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS

Aim Posttransplant (postTX) determination of de novo donor antigen specific antibody (DSA) has been monitored traditionally by conventional Luminex single antigen bead assays (LSAB-IgG). Correlation of DSA detected by the LSAB C1q binding assay and clinical outcomes remains to be investigated in our heart recipient population. Methods Sera from 48 recipients transplanted between Jan 1994 and Oct 2012 were included in this study. All recipients were transplanted with a negative CDC xm with 3 having weak flow cytometric xms. Multiple postTX sera were tested by LSAB-IgG and for C1q binding and were shown to have DSAs. The postTX sera were received at routine clinic visits and at the time of biopsy. Biopsies were graded based on the new ISHLT grading scale. Results Two major patterns of DSA binding were observed:. 1) Persistent C1q binding DSA patterns, none of which reverted to C1q negative binding patterns (N=29) and 2). Persistent C1q negative binding patterns (N=19)(Table 1). The antibody patterns were shown to be persistent an average of 18 mo. (range 1 and 54 mo.). The predominant DSA specificity was class II: DQ alone (N=32), DRB3/4/5 (N=4), DQ+ DRB3 or 4 (N=6), DRB1 (N=1). Conclusions Patients with the persistent C1q binding DSA had a higher incidence of AMR, CMR, NF-MACE, and a significantly higher incidence of CAV. Predominant class II, specifically anti-HLA DQ DSA patterns, were observed. No C1q positive pattern resolved to negative. Thus, some antibody patterns may be easier to resolve after therapy for rejection. Not all patients with the C1q binding DQ DSA profile have experienced a clinical event to date suggesting antibodies to non-HLA or a possible subclinical event.[figure1]
Circumnutation: From Plants to Robots

We discuss and demonstrate how an approach used by plants can be adapted as a useful algorithm for motion planning in robotics. Specifically, we review the process of circumnutation, which is used by numerous plants, and particularly climbing vines, to explore and contact their environments. We show how circumnutation can be adapted to generate practical algorithms for motion planning for continuum tendril robots. The analysis and discussion is supported by experimental results using a robot tendril. Using circumnutation, performance of the robot is enhanced by efficiently enabling environmental contact, which helps guide and stabilize the robot.
Two-Step Process To Create "Roll-Off" Superamphiphobic Paper Surfaces.

Surface modification of cellulose-based paper, which displays roll-off properties for water and oils (surface tension ≥23.8 mN·m–1) and good repellency toward n-heptane (20.1 mN·m–1), is reported. Droplets of water, diiodomethane, motor oil, hexadecane, and decane all “bead up”, i.e., exhibit high contact angles, and roll off the treated surface under the influence of gravity. Unlike widely used approaches that rely on the deposition of nanoparticles or electrospun nanofibers to create superamphiphobic surfaces, our method generates a hierarchical structure as an inherent property of the substrate and displays good adhesion between the film and substrate. The two-step combination of plasma etching and vapor deposition used in this study enables fine-tuning of the nanoscale roughness and thereby facilitates enhanced fundamental understanding of the effect of micro- and nanoscale roughness on the paper wetting properties. The surfaces maintain their “roll-off” properties after dynamic impact tests, demonstr...
Simultaneous Incidental Parathyroid Carcinoma and Intrathyroid Parathyroid Gland in Suspected Renal Failure Induced Hyperparathyroidism

Hyperparathyroidism is a common disorder affecting more than hundreds of thousands of people annually. While most commonly secondary to an adenoma, it may also arise from four-gland hyperplasia or malignancy. In the case of primary hyperparathyroidism, the number of glands involved may be unknown prior to surgery. In contrast, the metabolic disorder associated with renal failure induced hyperparathyroidism ensures a hyperplasia picture. Despite the uniform hyperplasia seen in tertiary disease and the preoperative expectation for four-gland exploration, our case demonstrates the continued need for a surgeon's vigilance during dissection to identify all glands and appropriately use intraoperative parathyroid hormone (PTH) testing. In addition, while intraoperative PTH assessment is an effective method for confirming adequacy of treatment for hyperparathyroidism, only surgical pathology can confirm malignancy, which should be considered with PTH levels > 1,000. The case also underscores the importance of comprehensive surgery management and mindful interpretation of intraoperative PTH levels in the management of hyperparathyroidism. Standard surgical technique includes complete exploration of the central compartment, and thyroid lobectomy when the aforementioned exploration fails to reveal the necessary parathyroid tissue, especially with a persistently elevated PTH. Without a standardized progressive compartment exploration and judicious use of intraoperative hormone testing, intrathyroidal parathyroid glands can be missed.
Fusarium head blight and deoxynivalenol in malting and brewing: successes and future challenges

While beer is safe in terms of foodborne pathogens, mycotoxins on grains present brewers with food safety issues. Most studied are pathogens that cause Fusarium head blight (FHB) and produce deoxynivalenol (DON) during pathogenesis. This article intents to provide a concise review of FHB and DON in malting and brewing. Despite the fact that FHB was recognized as a cause of quality problems in the early twentieth century, it was the discovery of several trichothecenes in the 1970’s, and implementation of regulations in the 1990’s that lead brewers to be more concerned with FHB. Several studies have shown that DON is frequently found on barley and in beer, and that its levels may increase during malting. Selection of low DON grain, adequate storage, and process modifications are often, but not always, effective in reducing malt DON levels. The low levels of DON detected in commercial beer suggest brewers and maltsters have largely been successful in preventing highly contaminated materials from entering the processing chain. However, information on the co-occurence of mycotoxins in beer is becoming increasingly available, and future challenges to the brewing industry are likely to come from regulation of other mycotoxins. The growing craft segment also presents some potential challenges.
Staged Treatment of Infected Tibiotalar Fusion Using a Combination Antibiotic Spacer and Antibiotic-Coated Intramedullary Nail.

Pilon fractures are notoriously difficult injuries to treat. The current published data on salvage procedures after failed pilon fractures includes both total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) and tibiotalar fusion, each with its own specific indications. However, no acceptable treatment algorithm addressing the complications of these limb salvage procedures is available. We present the case of a 23-year-old patient, who sustained a complex pilon fracture after a motor vehicle accident. The patient was referred to our institution after an initial fixation attempt, followed by subsequent failed TAA, which was complicated by an infected fusion attempt. We describe a staged treatment approach to clearing the infection and obtaining the final fusion goals.
Self-Trust and Social Truth

Self-trust (Lehrer 1997) is, I have argued, central in what one accepts and prefers. The argument is that the evaluation of belief and desire and the assumption that one is trustworthy in such evaluation is a condition of reasonableness. I should have argued that the evaluation of emotion and feeling is equally a condition. The positive evaluation of belief in terms of background information yields acceptance of what one believes. Similarly, the positive evaluation of desire yields the preference to obtain what is desired. Moreover, such evaluation, notably when it is reflective, involves trusting oneself and, implicitly, the acceptance of one’s trustworthiness in such evaluation. If one fails to accept that one is trustworthy or fails to prefer being trustworthy, the assumption that such evaluation is reasonable is defeated. On the other hand, the combination of acceptance that one is trustworthy and preference for being trustworthy, when successful yields the further conclusion that one is reasonable in what one accepts and prefers.
Identification of IL-40, a Novel B Cell-Associated Cytokine.

We describe a novel B cell–associated cytokine, encoded by an uncharacterized gene ( C17orf99 ; chromosome 17 open reading frame 99), that is expressed in bone marrow and fetal liver and whose expression is also induced in peripheral B cells upon activation. C17orf99 is only present in mammalian genomes, and it encodes a small (∼27-kDa) secreted protein unrelated to other cytokine families, suggesting a function in mammalian immune responses. Accordingly, C17orf99 expression is induced in the mammary gland upon the onset of lactation, and a C17orf99 −/− mouse exhibits reduced levels of IgA in the serum, gut, feces, and lactating mammary gland. C17orf99 −/− mice have smaller and fewer Peyer’s patches and lower numbers of IgA-secreting cells. The microbiome of C17orf99 −/− mice exhibits altered composition, likely a consequence of the reduced levels of IgA in the gut. Although naive B cells can express C17orf99 upon activation, their production increases following culture with various cytokines, including IL-4 and TGF-β1, suggesting that differentiation can result in the expansion of C17orf99 -producing B cells during some immune responses. Taken together, these observations indicate that C17orf99 encodes a novel B cell–associated cytokine, which we have called IL-40, that plays an important role in humoral immune responses and may also play a role in B cell development. Importantly, IL-40 is also expressed by human activated B cells and by several human B cell lymphomas. The latter observations suggest that it may play a role in the pathogenesis of certain human diseases.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Dehumanization

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is widely viewed as an important feature of contemporary business. It is characterized by the notion that organizations ought to voluntarily recognize and, where possible, practically mitigate the social impacts of its business activities, and that doing so allows organizations to meet the expectations of affected stakeholders. However, CSR initiatives are almost universally tethered to the idea that corporations exist to serve their own performance objectives, and that these will ultimately take precedence over wider macro-social considerations. The present paper proposes that this conception of CSR mirrors the underlying neurological tension between the domains of analytic reasoning and empathic or socioemotional reasoning, and the neural correlates of each. Using the opposing domains hypothesis, it is proposed that CSR, as it is currently conceived of and practiced, is antithetical to social and ethical reasoning at the level of the brain, can increase the scope for dehumanization, and demands calling the ethical dimensions of CSR into question.
Development and growth trends in angiotensin II-induced murine dissecting abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Abdominal aortic aneurysms are pathological dilations that can suddenly rupture, causing more than 15,000 deaths in the U.S. annually. Current treatment focuses on observation until an aneurysm's size warrants surgical intervention. Thus, there is a need for therapeutic intervention to inhibit growth of smaller aneurysms. An experimental aneurysm model that infuses angiotensin II into apolipoprotein E-deficient mice is widely used to investigate underlying pathological mechanisms and potential therapeutics, but this model has two caveats: (1) aneurysms do not always form, and (2) aneurysm severity and growth is inconsistent among animals. Here we use high-frequency ultrasound to collect data from angiotensin II-induced aneurysms to develop prediction models of both aneurysm formation and growth. Baseline measurements of aortic diameter, volume/length, and strain were used with animal mass and age in a quadratic discriminant analysis and logistic regression to build two statistical models to predict disease status. Longitudinal ultrasound data were also acquired from mice with aneurysms to quantify aneurysm diameter, circumferential strain, blood flow velocity, aneurysm volume/length, and thrombus and open-false lumen volumes over 28 days. Measurements taken at aneurysm diagnosis were used with branching artery information to produce a multiple linear regression model to predict final aneurysm volume/length. All three statistical models could be useful in future aneurysm therapeutic studies to better delineate the effects of preventative and suppressive treatments from normal variations in the angiotensin II aneurysm model.
The YouReputation Prototype

The rise of the Social Semantic Web brought with it the always connected way of life. As conversations are increasingly distributed, everything starts with listening and observing the conversationscape. Doing so will help organizations to identify exactly where relevant discussions are taking place, as well as their scale and frequency. The YouReputation prototype is the entrepreneurial venture to bring different aspects of the presented FORA framework to fruition. It is an algorithmic and systematic instantiation of the framework’s interaction and navigation, achieved through a separation of information acquisition and the use of acquired information. Hence, YouReputation constitutes an information design prototype, distinct from both the look and feel of final software.
The effects of Uncaria tomentosa on acetylsalicylic acid and paclitaxel

For thousands of years, the indigenous women of Peru have relied on traditional medicine as a method for treating illnesses. While conventional medicine exists in Peru today, women continuously turn to the remedies they know and trust when modern medicine is inaccessible. The vast amounts of ethnopharmacological plants are utilized for a large span of conditions such as digestion, headaches, and inflammation. In particular, Uncaria tomentosa commonly known as Cat’s claw, a bark like plant native to the Amazonian regions of Peru has been investigated for its historical anti-inflammatory uses and was found to contain many antioxidant properties. However, not much is known about the effects of U. tomentosa on the molecular mechanism of drugs such as paclitaxel (taxol) and acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin). To address this question, a randomized survey was conducted on women and health care providers within the region of Cusco, Peru. The survey revealed that U. tomentosa remains a prominent healing aid within th...
Abstract 2820: Macrophages recruited to and function to promote activation of cancer stem cells in response to chemotherapy

Failure of chemoradiotherapy for treating colorectal cancer (CRC) is often caused by the relapse of residual tumor cells that enrich cancer stem cells (CSCs). However, how CSCs are regulated by tumor microenvironment (TME), particularly myeloid derived cells (MDCs), remains unclear. Here, we used the APCMin/+ adenoma model to study the dynamic interaction between MDCs and CSCs in vivo following chemoradiotherapy. Using 3D scanning electronic microscopy, we observed that while proliferating tumor cells were dying following chemoradiotherapy, MDCs or its derivative tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) were recruited to the site where CSCs paired with necroptotic cells. TAMs functioned to promote activation of slow-cycling CSCs. Dissected with single cell RNA-seq, we observed that while proliferating tumor cells were declining following chemotherapy, an increase in MDCs was accompanied with a reduction of immune cells as well as an activation and short-term expansion of initially quiescent CSCs. Depletion of TAMs using a drugs or genetic means resulting in reduced CSCs and attenuated tumorigenesis. Mechanistically, we uncovered that TAM with secreted PGE2 activated Akt and Wnt signaling to promote activation of CSCs. Hence, targeting TAMs will benefit clinical treatment of CRC by reducing drug-resistant CSCs. Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Xi C. He, Linheng Li. Macrophages recruited to and function to promote activation of cancer stem cells in response to chemotherapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2820.
An Investigation of Racial Disparities in Weight Loss Outcomes: Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Versus Sleeve Gastrectomy

The current study aimed to test if racial disparities in weight loss outcomes between African American and Caucasian patients who underwent bariatric surgery were due to pre-surgical BMI differences. Primary data was collected from pre-surgical evaluations conducted at a midwestern hospital. A retrospective chart review was conducted of 136 patients. Patient age and race, type of procedure, and pre- and 1-year post-surgical BMI were collected. African American patients were less likely to undergo bariatric surgery compared with Caucasian patients. Caucasian patients undergoing Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) had a greater change in BMI compared with African American patients who underwent RYGB. Significant differences in weight loss outcomes were not found among patients who underwent the sleeve gastrectomy. Race was not related to pre-surgical BMI or procedure type. Despite pre-surgical BMI typically being higher among African American patients, this was not found in the current study. Pre-surgical BMI may not explain the racial disparities in weight loss post-bariatric surgery that are found between African American and Caucasian patients. Future studies should consider psychosocial, environmental, and cultural influences on racial disparities.
Electromagnetic Design and Assembly Analysis of a Halbach Rotor Magnetic Gear for a Marine Hydrokinetic Application

This paper presents the design and analysis of the second stage of a 5kW multistage magnetically geared generator for a marine hydrokinetic generator application. In order to reduce the field harmonics and maximize the torque density, a Halbach rotor typology is utilized. A key feature of the presented magnetic gear (MG) design is the unique magnet arrangement that enables the inner and outer Halbach rotor magnets to be more easily assembled, even with dimensional tolerance inaccuracies. The presented Halbach magnet rotor typology makes use of the internal magnet forces to retain the magnets in position, the presented design also helps with the assembly process. The 3-D finite element analysis (FEA) calculated torque and active region torque density for the design is 227 N•m and 276.5 N•m/L respectively. The experimental assembly is presented.
Fire: Sandome no satsujin/The Third Murder, 2017

Sanbanme no satsujin/The Third Murder (2017) is an atypical “courtroom drama” where an evocative use of fire, and a “tripling” theme, opens onto an investigation of the slippery nature of justice (and truth).
Graphene-based hybrid materials for advanced batteries

Abstract With the rising demand for abundant and safer energy storage, rechargeable nonlithium ion electrochemical systems are being increasingly considered as alternatives to lithium-ion battery (LIB) systems. However, as these alternative ions, owing to their large sizes, have their own kinetic and structural, upgraded electrode architectures become an important necessity. It is here that 2D materials, due to the large number of favorable properties such as high surface area, elevated electrical and thermal conductivities, and enhanced chemical and mechanical stability are deemed to play a very important role. Also, novel fabrication techniques have been developed which aim to greatly tailor and take advantage of the variety of fascinating morphology and layered structures that 2D materials provide. It is the also expected that a combination of 2D materials, as a hybrid, will further enhance the overall electrochemical performance. Recent studies along those lines have demonstrated, synergistic effects between graphene and other 2D materials including transition metal dichalcogenides, MXenes, and phosphorene based anodes have been observed. In this chapter, applications and performances of graphene-based 2D hybrid anodes for advanced nonlithium batteries (sodium-ion, potassium-ion, and magnesium-ion battery systems) is presented.
James Joyce 1882–1941

James Augustine Aloysius Joyce was born on 2 February 1882 in a suburb of Dublin, Ireland. He is considered to be one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century. He lived a nomadic life throughout Europe and honed his craft by writing lectures, newspaper articles, and translations. In his lifetime Joyce was a controversial figure and he remains one to this day. Two of his novels have been described as obscene and unreadable. Despite the controversy and criticism, Joyce's work has influenced twentieth century literature in countless ways. He died from a perforated duodenum on 13 January 1941 in Zurich, Switzerland.
Benzotriazole concentrations in airport runoff are reduced following changes in airport deicer formulations.

A comparison of the presence of additives in airport deicers commonly used in the United States and in airport runoff was conducted with data collected before and after changes in deicer formulations. Three isomers of benzotriazoles (BTs) -4-methyl-1H-benzotriazole (4-MeBT), 5-methyl-1H-benzotriazole (5-MeBT), and 1H-benzotriazole (1H-BT)-are corrosion inhibitors added to some formulations of airport deicers and are reported to be a source of aquatic toxicity in streams receiving airport runoff. Concentrations of BT in aircraft deicers and anti-icing fluids (ADAF) were reduced over time but were not reduced in potassium acetate airfield-pavement deicer material (PDM) that was used throughout the study period. Streams receiving runoff from Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, were monitored from 2004-2019 for BTs, with concentrations of 4-MeBT varying from <0.35-4600 µg/L, 5-MeBT varying from <0.25-6600 µg/L, and 1H-BT varying from <0.25-150 µg/L. Median 4-MeBT concentrations at sites downstream from the airport decreased by approximately 74%, 5-MeBT by 69%, and 1H-BT by 82% following reduction in BTs in ADAF formulations, resulting in the reduction of potential for aquatic toxicity in receiving streams. A change in residuals from regression analysis between freezing point depressants and BTs indicate that the reduction in BT concentrations in airport runoff was a result of BT reduction in ADAF formulations, but PDM may still be a substantial source of BTs in airport runoff. Because BTs are a source of aquatic toxicity in airport deicers, the reductions in BTs in the common deicers observed in this study can be used to demonstrate the potential for a reduction on the effects to aquatic organisms in airport runoff, resulting in greater likelihood of meeting aquatic toxicity requirements in airport stormwater permits, and potentially driving airports, airlines, and permit holders to advocate for further reduction or elimination of BTs and other harmful contaminants in airport deicers. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
What Does It Mean to Say All Are Created Equal?: Liberalism and Socialism on Basic Rights

Contra the conventional wisdom of some conservative commentators like Jordan Peterson (See Jordan Peterson. “Religion, Sovereignty, Natural Rights and the Constituent Elements of Experience.” Archive for the Psychology of Religion, Vol. 28, 2006.), the concept of rights has deep roots in a variety of non-Western cultures and legal systems (See Jack Donelly. Universal Human Rights in Theory and Practice: Third Edition [Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2013] and Lo Chung-Shu. “A Confucian Approach to Human Rights.” UNESCO Courier, April 2018. https://en.unesco.org/courier/2018-4/confucian-approach-human-rights.).
Grammar in use across time and space

This monograph contains the first systematic investigation of the Japanese ‘dative subject’ construction across time and space. It demonstrates that, in order to capture what speakers/writers know about how to put an utterance or a clause together, it is necessary to pay attention to what they do in actual language use and in different discourse types. The work also shows the importance of diachronic perspectives to help us better understand the ways in which a particular grammatical structure is represented synchronically. By utilizing modern Japanese conversation, contemporary Japanese novels, and a pre-modern and modern Japanese literature corpus, the study highlights the role of ‘dative subjects’ at the semantic and discourse-pragmatic levels. Specifically, it demonstrates that what has been considered to be a most ‘grammatical’ aspect of Japanese actually turns out to be rather pragmatically oriented.
Seller Behavior in Common Value Auctions: Cursed and Cursed Again

In common value auctions the winning bid often exceeds the value of the good purchased. This "winnerÂ’s curse" is bad for the buyers, but good for the sellers. Given this, people bidding for the right to resell a good might be expected to bid more than the expected value. Furthermore, if sellers have different forecasts about the extent of the winnerÂ’s curse among buyers, then the value of the right to resell is in turn a common value good, and potential sellers might even be expected to suffer from a winnerÂ’s curse of their own. In this paper I report on results from a new experiment where one group of people enter an auction for the right to auction a common value good to another group. I find a winnerÂ’s curse among the buyers, extending the results others have found into a new experimental setting where the auctioneer is a participant in the experiment, rather than the experimenter. I also find that the sellers do overbid, and so suffer from a curse of their own.
Toxicoinformatics for Systems Toxicology

Systems biology and systems toxicology mean different things to different people. To some, both disciplines focus on the creation of biological networks, and may be called network biology. To others, these disciplines conjure images of mathematical models to explain biological phenomena. Others will take a stance that it is really the combination of these philosophies, while there are others who believe that they are no more than the integration of omics technologies with other biological disciplines. Regardless of where you fall in this spectrum there is one universal truth: investigators require a significant amount of data to perform systems biology and systems toxicology. This chapter discusses some ideas with respect to data management, including data security, as well as databases and data warehouses. The chapter closes with some discussion of modeling and gene regulatory element identification. After reading this chapter the reader should have a better idea of some of the issues with respect to data management and analysis in systems biology and systems toxicology. Keywords: bioinformatics; database; data management; machine learning; toxicoinformatics
Title Registration and Land Law Reform: A Reply

RITING under the somewhat question-begging title of "The Resurrection of Title Registration" in the April, I940, issue of this Review,' Professor Percy Bordwell, dean of American property law teachers,2 seeks to condemn, albeit in a half-hearted and ambiguous way, that method of keeping the public books about land which has popularly come to be known as the Torrens System. Largely an answer to certain uncompromising criticisms of Professor Richard B. Powell's earlier condemnation of that system in his Registration of the Title to Land in the State of New York,3 Professor Bordwell's article is so temperate in tone and so speciously reasonable, with its generous concessions, that a reader unfamiliar with the problem may miss its paradoxical quality and the utter inconclusiveness of its argument. The burden of Professor Bordwell's complaint is several-fold.4 The advocates of title registration, he asserts, have "largely assumed its manifest superiority over prevalent systems of recording." To explain away the
Atmospheric and Ocean Sensing with GNSS

The 1980s and 1990s saw the Global Positioning System (GPS) transform space geodesy from an elite national enterprise to one open to the individual researcher. By adapting the tools from that endeavor we are learning to probe the atmosphere and the ocean surface in novel ways, including ground-based sensing of atmospheric moisture; space-based profiling of atmospheric refractivity by active limb sounding; and global ocean altimetry with reflected signals. Ground-based GPS moisture sensing is already being tested for weather prediction. Limb sounding is less mature but offers a variety of attractions, including high accuracy, stability, and resolution; all-weather operation, and low cost. GPS “reflectometry” is least advanced but shows promise for a number of niche applications.
Transient Electromagnetic Fields in Highly Conductive Media

It can be readily demonstrated that the spatial and time dependences of an electromagnetic field in highly conductive media are governed by the diffusion equation [1, 2, 3]. It can be also easily shown that this equation is satisfied by the damped wave solutions having a complex wave vector causing attenuation over distance [1, 2, 4]. Such is basically a fact that can be intuitively predicted; the amplitude of an electromagnetic field with time and spatial harmonics entering a good conductor attenuates rapidly due to eddy current loss while its phase at a given location changes in time as the field advances. To make this picture valid, one must prove that measurable field amplitude exists after the wave front has traveled a sufficient distance. In case of pulsed eddy current test this distance is usually twice the specimen thickness.
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone and NMDA Receptor Gene Expression and Colocalization Change during Puberty in Female Rats

During development, an increase in gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) release occurs that is critical for the initiation of puberty. This increase is attributable, at least in part, to activation of the GnRH neurosecretory system by inputs from neurotransmitters, such as glutamate, acting via NMDA receptors. We examined changes in GnRH and NMDA-R1 gene expression by RNase protection assay of preoptic area-anterior hypothalamic (POA-AH) dissections of female rats undergoing normal puberty or in which precocious puberty was induced by treatment with the glutamate agonist NMA. GnRH mRNA levels increased significantly throughout normal development; this was accelerated by treatment with NMA. NMDA-R1 mRNA levels increased only between P10 and P20. The acceleration of the elevation in GnRH mRNA levels by NMDA suggests that a stimulation of GnRH gene expression may be a rate-limiting factor for the onset of puberty. This is attributable to a post-transcriptional mechanism because GnRH primary transcript levels, an index of proGnRH gene transcription, were not observed to change during puberty. Alterations in the colocalization of GnRH neurons with the NMDA-R1 subunit during puberty also were assessed immunocytochemically. The percentage of GnRH neurons that double-labeled with NMDA-R1 was 2% in prepubertal rats and 3% in pubertal rats; this increased to 19% in postpubertal rats. Taken together, these studies suggest that an increase in glutamatergic input to GnRH neurons plays a role in the increase in GnRH release and gene expression that occurs at the initiation of puberty.
Novel Therapeutic Targets in the Brain Tumor Microenvironment

// Joanna J. Phillips 1,2 1 Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco 2 Department of Pathology, Division of Neuropathology, University of California San Francisco Correspondence: Joanna J. Phillips, email: // Keywords : Glioblastoma, proteoglycans, HSPG, sulfs, sulf2, tumor microenvironment Received : May 06, 2012, Accepted : May 23, 2012, Published : May 25, 2012 Abstract Glioblastoma (GBM), a highly malignant brain tumor of adults and children, diffusely invades within the non-neoplastic brain. Despite aggressive current therapeutic interventions, improved therapeutic strategies are greatly needed. Interactions between the tumor and constituents of its microenvironment are known to regulate malignancy, and heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) are important as they bind diverse extracellular proteins, including growth factors and cell adhesion molecules, regulating the activity of several ligand-mediated signaling pathways. Recent work from our group described a mechanism by which GBM regulates PDGFR-alpha signaling via enzymatic alteration of heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) in the extracellular microenvironment. Blocking tumor-induced alterations of HSPGs, which can be achieved by pharmacological strategies, would potentially inhibit multiple oncogenic signaling pathways in tumor cells and disrupt critical tumor-microenvironment interactions. Here we examine HSPGs and the enzymes that modify them in GBM. We compare their expression across tumor subtypes, their potential roles in oncogenesis, and their potential as novel therapeutic targets in GBM.
Coadministration of HIV vaccine vectors with vaccinia viruses expressing IL-15 but not IL-2 induces long-lasting cellular immunity

Vaccine efficacy is determined largely by cellular and humoral immunity as well as long-lasting immunological memory. IL-2 and IL-15 were evaluated in vaccinia vectors expressing HIV gp160 for the establishment of an effective vaccine strategy. Both IL-2 and IL-15 in the vaccinia vector induced strong and long-lasting antibody-mediated immunity as well as a short-term cytotoxic T cell response against HIV gp120. In addition, IL-15 also supported robust CD8+ T cell-mediated long-term immunity, whereas the CD8+ T cell-mediated immunity induced by IL-2 was short-lived. Moreover, we found that the cytokine milieu at the time of priming had surprisingly persistent effects on the character of the memory CD8 T cells long afterward with respect to their fate, functional activities, cytokine receptor expression, and antigen-independent proliferation.
High-resolution group velocity analysis

Abstract A method is developed for group velocity dispersion analysis of seismic surface waves using the instantaneous frequency estimator of Griffiths (1975). The inverse of a data-adaptive prediction error spectrum is contoured to give a high-resolution estimate of the group arrival time of a compact waveform. The method is applied to two SRO long-period recordings. Results from the first, an NTS explosion recorded at Albuquerque, indicate a structure for the Colorado plateau exhibiting a 40 km thick crust and no low-velocity zone. Results from the second, a Southern Iran earthquake recorded at Mashad, indicate a standard continental structure for the Iran plateau with, however, an anomalously thick 55-km crust. Both events were approximately 1000 km away from the respective stations.
Targeting Alcohol-Induced Epigenetic Changes: A Pharmacotherapeutic Approach for Alcoholism Treatment

Alcoholism is a significant worldwide health problem, and yet current therapeutic approaches do not consistently prevent relapse. Epigenetics is an emerging science, providing fresh insight into developmental mechanisms preceding many diseases. Research over the last decade has exposed ethanol as an agent capable of producing epigenetic changes associated with alcohol tolerance, dependence, craving, and tissue toxicity. This article outlines research into these ethanol-mediated changes and possible directions for future pharmacotherapy treatments for alcohol-related disorders.
Catheter-based ultrasound technology for image-guided thermal therapy: Current technology and applications

AbstractCatheter-based ultrasound (CBUS) is applied to deliver minimally invasive thermal therapy to solid cancer tumours, benign tissue growth, vascular disease, and tissue remodelling. Compared to other energy modalities used in catheter-based surgical interventions, unique features of ultrasound result in conformable and precise energy delivery with high selectivity, fast treatment times, and larger treatment volumes. We present a concise review of CBUS technology being currently utilized in animal and clinical studies or being developed for future applications. CBUS devices have been categorised into interstitial, endoluminal and endovascular/cardiac applications. Basic applicator designs, site-specific evaluations and possible treatment applications have been discussed in brief. Particular emphasis has been given to ablation studies that incorporate image guidance for applicator placement, therapy monitoring, feedback control, and post-procedure assessment. Examples of devices included here span the ...
Invasive Optics for Watching the Brain Work

Optical methods are revolutionizing neuroscience, from high-resolution multiphoton microscopy, to functional imaging with Ca2+- and voltage-sensitive dyes, to direct optical stimulation and inhibition of neurons with light. Yet this incredibly powerful toolbox has been limited in its application by an inability of microscopy to image deep in the living brain. We have made great strides in this direction through novel invasive micro-optics capable of penetrating the brain to gain access to deep brain regions. We will show recent results, including simultaneous Ca2+-sensitive imaging of hundreds of neurons throughout all 6 layers of cortex in awake mice.
A Portfolio Analysis of Poor Rural Wage-Working Families' Assets and Debts

Data from the 1970–73 rural income maintenance experiment were employed to estimate a stock adjustment model for poor rural wage-working families' assets and debts. The assets were owned housing, cars, consumer durables, and liquid assets. The debts were home mortgages, non-real estate debts to financial institutions, and non-real estate debts to nonfinancial institutions. Poor whites increase assets by $.12 and debts by $.06 given a $1.00 increase in nonwelfare income; poor blacks react hardly at all. Both own- and cross-partial stock adjustment coefficients were estimated. Stock adjustments are more complex in the white than the black portfolios.
Maldeployment of the TAG thoracic endograft

The TAG thoracic endograft is a commercially available device used for endovascular repair of thoracic aneurysms. It has a single-action deployment mechanism, similar to its abdominal counterpart, consisting of an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene string, which is used to constrain the self-expanding stent graft within an integral external expanded polytetrafluoroethylene corset. This report describes two cases of deployment failure of the TAG device and the bailout techniques used to correct the problem and complete the procedure. In one case, this complication resulted in a devastating intraoperative stroke that led to the death of the patient. Although this is an extremely rare occurrence, the rapid recognition of the problem and ability to correct it by using catheter-based techniques are important during endovascular treatment of thoracic aortic diseases using the TAG device.
Thermal convection loop with heating from above

Abstract The dynamics of single phase, buoyancy-induced flow in a toroidal loop are investigated theoretically under conditions of time-dependent, periodically varying, wall temperature. The heating and cooling, which are applied to the loop walls, are symmetrical with respect to the loop's axis which is parallel to the gravity vector. On average, the upper half's temperature is maintained at a higher value than that of the lower half. That is, on average, the temperature field inside the loop is stably stratified and the Rayleigh number based on the average temperature difference assumes a negative value. Despite this fact, as the Rayleigh number decreases, the flow in the loop exhibits a rich range of flow structures with a net amount of heat transport from the hot to the cold boundary. As the Rayleigh number decreases, the flow structures change from no-motion to time periodic motion to chaotic flow occasionally interrupted by periodic windows.
Aerobic Biotransformation and Fate of N-Ethyl Perfluorooctane Sulfonamidoethanol (N-EtFOSE) in Activated Sludge

Processes affecting the fate of perfluorinated organics are of increasing concern due to the global dispersal, persistence, and bioaccumulation of these contaminants. The volatile compound N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamidoethanol (N-EtFOSE) and its phosphate esters have been used in protective surface coatings. In this report, we describe the fate of N-EtFOSE in aerobic batch assays. These assays were performed using undiluted activated sludge in serum bottles that were sealed to prevent the escape of N-EtFOSE and volatile transformation products. Separate assays were performed with N-EtFOSE and reported transformation products. N-EtFOSE degraded to N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid (N-EtFOSAA) with an observed first-order rate of 0.99 ± 0.08 day−1 and a pseudosecond order rate of 0.26 ± 0.02 L/mg VSS day−1. N-EtFOSAA underwent further transformation at a slower rate (0.093 ± 0.012 day−1) to N-ethylperfluorooctane sulfonamide (N-EtFOSA). N-EtFOSA then transformed to perfluorooctane sulfona...
Automated support for repairing input-model faults

Model transforms are a class of applications that convert a model to another model or text. The inputs to such transforms are often large and complex; therefore, faults in the models that cause a transformation to generate incorrect output can be difficult to identify and fix. In previous work, we presented an approach that uses dynamic tainting to help locate input-model faults. In this paper, we present techniques to assist with repairing input-model faults. Our approach collects runtime information for the failing transformation, and computes repair actions that are targeted toward fixing the immediate cause of the failure. In many cases, these repair actions result in the generation of the correct output. In other cases, the initial fix can be incomplete, with the input model requiring further repairs. To address this, we present a pattern-analysis technique that identifies correct output fragments that are similar to the incorrect fragment and, based on the taint information associated with such fragments, computes additional repair actions. We present the results of empirical studies, conducted using real model transforms, which illustrate the applicability and effectiveness of our approach for repairing different types of faults.
Alloimmunization to red blood cell antigens by transfusion.

To the editor: In their impressive report in a previous issue of Blood , Higgins and Sloan examined large patient databases and developed a model of alloimmunization to red blood cell antigens as a stochastic process.[1][1] They identified a subgroup of recipients that had a substantially increased
The evolution of knowledge in the labor force during industrial structuring in Japan

This paper tracks the progression of knowledge levels in the labor force between 1975 and 1985 in the Japanese economy as a whole and it's fifty three component sectors, utilizing a measure of knowledge which reflects the worker's educational level and vocational preparation, verbal, numerical and analytical capability and his/her ability to synthesize inferences and knowledge. The links between the worker's knowledge levels and the economic fortunes of industries are inferred for various sectors particularly those with divergent patterns of comparative advantage. Changes in the levels of knowledge embodied in all workers in the different industries are decomposed into their sources: technical change, changes in the structure of final demand, changes in labor productivity, and the changes in the component structure of occupation. The analysis of these sources highlights the facilitating role of human capital changes in Japan in an era of considerable structural change.
Protonation of Unactivated Aromatic Hydrocarbons on Osmium(II): Stabilization of Arenium Cations via Unprecedented η2- and η3-Coordination

Complexes of the form [Os(NH3)5(L)](OTf)2 (where L = an unactivated arene or polyaromatic hydrocarbon) are readily protonated by triflic acid (HOTf) to generate stable arenium, naphthalenium, and a...
Translating Comments on Student Evaluations into the Language of Learning

Written comments on student evaluations often seem idiosyncratic, lacking the power of numerical statistical data. These statements, however, may sometimes reveal intellectual challenges common to novice learners in our disciplines. Instructors can use these insights as part of a scholarly approach to teaching, making meaningful adjustments to future classes and informing curricular choices in productive ways. In this article we examine common student complaints in three particular situations: quantitative classes, writing-intensive courses, and classes taught using student-active formats. We discuss implications of these comments for faculty as they seek to promote students’ intellectual development.
The Motion of a Solid Sphere in an Oscillating Flow: An Evaluation of Remotely Sensed Doppler Velocity Estimates in the Sea

Abstract Several popular techniques employed to remotely sense oceanic velocity fields utilize the Doppler shifts of backscattered radiation (such as sound or light) from suspended particles to estimate fluid velocities. Implicit in this use is the assumption that the motion of the particles and the fluid parcels about them is identical. Here, a simple dynamical model of a solid sphere in a unidirectional oscillating flow is used to evaluate the effects of differential particle motion on remotely sensed Doppler velocity estimates. The analysis indicates that typical oceanic particles will move with the fluid if their density is equal to the fluid's density or if the oscillation frequency (ω) is less than a critical frequency (ωc≡0.1νa−2; where ν is the kinematic viscosity of the fluid and a is the particle radius). For oscillation frequencies greater than ωc, the particle and flow velocities diverge significantly from each other. Particle motion will be amplified for particles less dense than the fluid an...