cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Metaxin 3 is a Highly Conserved Vertebrate Protein Homologous to Mitochondrial Import Proteins and GSTs

ABSTRACT Metaxin 3 genes are shown to be widely conserved in vertebrates, including mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, and reptiles. Metaxin 3 genes, however, are not found in invertebrates, plants, and bacteria. The predicted metaxin 3 proteins were identified by their homology to the metaxin 3 proteins encoded by zebrafish and Xenopus cDNAs. Further evidence that they are metaxin proteins was provided by the presence of GST_N_Metaxin, GST_C_Metaxin, and Tom37 protein domains, and the absence of other major domains. Alignment of human metaxin 3 and human metaxin 1 predicted amino acid sequences showed 45% identities, while human metaxin 2 had 23% identities. These results indicate that metaxin 3 is a distinct metaxin. A wide variety of vertebrate species—including human, zebrafish, Xenopus, dog, shark, elephant, panda, and platypus—had the same genes adjacent to the metaxin 3 gene. In particular, the thrombospondin 4 gene (THBS4) is next to the metaxin 3 gene (MTX3). By comparison, the thrombospondin 3 gene (THBS3) is next to the metaxin 1 gene (MTX1). Phylogenetic analysis showed that metaxin 3, metaxin 1, and metaxin 2 protein sequences formed separate clusters, but with all three metaxins being derived from a common ancestor. Alpha-helices dominate the predicted secondary structures of metaxin 3 proteins. Little beta-strand is present. The pattern of 9 helical segments is also found for metaxins 1 and 2.
Flow Cytometric Analysis of Monocytes and Granulocytes May Be Useful in the Distinction of Myeloid Neoplasms from Reactive Conditions: A Single Institution Experience and Literature Review.

Objective To determine if the immunophenotype of monocytes and granulocytes could help differentiate between reactive conditions and myeloid neoplasms. Materials We analyzed 94 patients including acute myeloid leukemia (n=53), myelodysplastic syndrome (n=19), chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (n=13), and chronic myelogenous leukemia (n=9). Twenty-five cases of reactive condition were included as controls. Results Myeloid neoplasm cases showed significantly altered expression patterns including overexpression of CD56, altered expression of HLA-DR, underexpression of CD14, CD64, and altered expression of CD33 when compared to controls. Conclusions There are significant and consistent differences in immunophenotype of monocytes and granulocytes in neoplastic groups versus controls. Immunophenotypic evaluation of monocytes and granulocytes in addition to blasts may be useful in flow cytometric assessment of minimal residual disease in myeloid neoplasms.
Uncrossed Lovers: Remembering Race in Romeo and Juliet and Mississippi Masala

Beginning with an account of how love and sex are devalued within the violent social order of Shakespeare’s Verona, this chapter reads Indian director Mira Nair’s 1991 film about a love affair between the daughter of Indian immigrants and a black man in modern-day Greenwood, Mississippi as a response to the Renaissance love tragedy. Reading the languages of blackness and sexual desire that mark the Shakespeare play, the sonnets that are contemporary with it, and Othello, the chapter discusses how theatrical and film directors have attempted to use racial difference as a way of explaining why Romeo and Juliet’s love is wrong and dangerous, while continuing to naturalize the family feud at the heart of the play. In contrast, Nair asks us to think more seriously about what the racial history of love might be.
Neutrophil Swarms Are More Than the Accumulation of Cells.

Neutrophils move from the blood into tissues, migrate under the guidance of chemical gradients, and accumulate at sites of infection, where they phagocytose and kill microbes within minutes. These ...
Chronic Aortocaval Fistula Presenting as Right Heart Failure: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Iatrogenic aortocaval fistula (ACF) is an infrequent cause of heart failure. A 65-year-old man presented to the cardiology clinic eight months after an open abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. He developed predominantly right-sided cardiac failure after surgery, with minimal response to guideline-directed medical therapy. A transthoracic echocardiogram revealed decreased right-sided systolic function. A computed tomography angiographic scan of the abdomen revealed a large ACF at the distal end of the AAA repair. The patient was referred for closure surgery. ACF should be considered in a patient with unexplained right heart failure, especially in the setting of a known AAA or recent AAA repair.
Comparative Antibody Responses to the Live-Attenuated and Recombinant Herpes Zoster Vaccines.

Two herpes zoster (HZ) vaccines licensed in the United States are recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP): (i) live-attenuated vaccine (ZVL) using vOka strain varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and (ii) recombinant adjuvanted vaccine (RZV) containing recombinant varicella-zoster virus (VZV) glycoprotein E (gE). Two phase 3 clinical trials of RZV led the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to recommend it with preferred status. VZV T cell-mediated immunity (CMI), but not humoral immunity, is considered essential for protection against HZ. Published studies of humoral immunity focused on VZV-specific IgG concentration. To complement reports comparing the CMI responses to these vaccines, we compared humoral responses in ZVL and RZV recipients, emphasizing functional qualities (avidity and neutralization). Baseline avidities to a VZV glycoprotein mixture (gp) were near the upper limit of detection, but avidity to gE was much lower. Small increases in gp avidity were observed for both RZV and ZVL vaccination (19 and 12 avidity index units [AIU], respectively). RZV boosted both gE avidity and VZV neutralizing antibody significantly more than ZVL (mean gE avidity boost, 47 AIU versus 22 AIU; mean neutralizing antibody boost, 22-fold versus 8-fold). Increases in neutralizing antibodies strongly correlated with gE avidity increases (r = 0.5) and moderately with gp avidity increases (r = 0.23). After 1 year, 81% of RZV recipients and only 18% of ZVL recipients retained >50% of their peak avidity boosts. These results are consistent with the CMI responses to these vaccines: RZV responses are skewed to long-term memory, whereas ZVL preferentially induces transient effector responses.IMPORTANCE These observations further distinguish the immunogenicity and duration of the immune response of the two vaccines. In addition, measurements of functional humoral immunity (IgG avidity and neutralizing antibody) in response to zoster immunization, alone or combined with other immune markers, might contribute to practical in vitro correlates of protection. Combined with previous observations of the cell-mediated response to these vaccines, this study suggests that vaccine development will benefit from more expansive and granular assessments of acquired immunity during early phase 1 immunogenicity trials.
Replicated Computational Results (RCR) Report for “Adaptive Precision Block-Jacobi for High Performance Preconditioning in the Ginkgo Linear Algebra Software”

The article by Flegar et al. titled “Adaptive Precision Block-Jacobi for High Performance Preconditioning in the Ginkgo Linear Algebra Software” presents a novel, practical implementation of an adaptive precision block-Jacobi preconditioner. Performance results using state-of-the-art GPU architectures for the block-Jacobi preconditioner generation and application demonstrate the practical usability of the method, compared to a traditional full-precision block-Jacobi preconditioner. A production-ready implementation is provided in the Ginkgo numerical linear algebra library. In this report, the Ginkgo library is reinstalled and performance results are generated to perform a comparison to the original results when using Ginkgo’s Conjugate Gradient solver with either the full or the adaptive precision block-Jacobi preconditioner for a suite of test problems on an NVIDIA GPU accelerator. After completing this process, the published results are deemed reproducible.
Civil Conflict and Economic Development in Southeast Asia

This paper uses civil conflicts in Southeast Asia to illustrate the economic causes and consequences of the conflicts on the economy. It argues that the causes of conflicts in this region are consistent with what predicted by theories that link economic growth and inequality to the motives and opportunity costs of civil unrests. The chapter discusses the economic impacts of civil conflicts on physical capital, natural capital, human capital, and total factor productivity, as well as arguing that the effects could persist in the long run.
An Analysis of Enrollment and Query Attacks on Hierarchical Bloom Filter-based Biometric Systems

A Hierarchical Bloom Filter (HBF) -based biometric framework was recently proposed to provide compact storage, noise tolerance, and fast query processing for resource-constrained environments, e.g., Internet of things (IoT). While security and privacy were also touted as features of the HBF, it was not thoroughly evaluated. Compared to the classical BFs, the HBF uses a threshold parameter to make robust authentication decisions when the HBF encounters noise in the biometric input which one would think might lead to security issues. In this paper, the attack vectors that could compromise the HBF security by increasing the false positive authentication of non-members and by leaking soft information about enrolled members are explored. With quantitative analyses, HBF-based biometric system security under these well-defined attack vectors is evaluated and it is concluded that the framework is more difficult to attack than the classical Bloom Filter. Further, experimental results show that soft biometric information is also kept private.
Using Citizen Science to Incorporate Research into Introductory Biology Courses at Multiple Universities

Although participation in citizen science has been hypothesized to have many educational benefits for undergraduates, little work has been published on this topic. We asked whether biology content knowledge and increased undergraduate engagement could be attained through involvement in citizen science. Across three universities, we included Caterpillars Count! as a research experience in introductory biology courses. This citizen science project measures seasonal variation in the abundance of arthropods on the foliage of trees and shrubs. Undergraduate students learned to survey plants for arthropods, add their observations to a large dataset, and use this national dataset to address questions. Each institution chose to emphasize slightly different content from the project and spent different amounts of time on it in class. Over five semesters, more than 1,200 students participated in a pre- and post-assessment of knowledge related to citizen science, ecology, and the nature and process of science. A subset of students also provided written reflections. Students at all three institutions showed significant knowledge gains. The topics showing the largest gains across institutions were most related to the citizen science project, including concepts related to arthropod identification and a proper understanding of what citizen science is. These results support the use of citizen science in introductory courses to engage students, to improve learning, and to increase students’ spirit of discovery.
Bayesian Analysis of Curves Shape Variation through Registration and Regression

Misalignment of functional features in a sample of random curves leads to potentially misleading inference, when variation in timing is ignored. This chapter reviews the use of Bayesian hierarchical curve registration in Biostatistics and Bioinformatics. Several models allowing for unit-specific random time scales are discussed and applied to longitudinal data arising in biomedicine, pharmacokinetics, and time-course genomics. We consider representations of random functionals based on P-spline priors. Under this framework, straightforward posterior simulation strategies are outlined for inference. Beyond curve registration, we discuss joint regression modeling of both random effects and population level functional quantities. Finally, the use of mixture priors is discussed in the setting of differential expression analysis.
A central limit theorem for independent summands

A new central limit theorem for independent summands is obtained. In the case of identically distributed summands, it is stronger than the Levy-Lindeberg form of the central limit theorem. The results are extended to random sample size and to multivariate solutions.
Sushi Train Interface: Passive and Interactive Information Sharing

We proposed sushi train interface as a novel information sharing method to have users notice everyday information in a natural manner. In the interface, information rails are projected on ceilings or walls, and information dishes go around on the rails. Users interact with the information rails using remote pointing devices. We constructed a prototype as a proof-of-concept and implemented pointing methods by a camera device and a smart laser pointer. The both methods are expected to be used for interacting information rails.
Structures for Organisation of Agrarian Innovations

This paper adapts the principles of the new developing New Institutional and Transaction Cost Economics (integrating Economics, Organization, Law, Political and Behavioral Sciences) to the area of agrarian research and innovations. The major institutional, behavioral, dimensional, technological and transaction costs factors for governing research and innovation activities are determined. The specific market, private, public and hybrid modes for organization of agrarian innovations are specified. The effective boundaries of different governing modes are assessed, and needs and forms for public intervention in agrarian research and innovation are clarified.
Origins of the Kuroshio and Mindanao Currents

Abstract : The long-term goal of this research is to quantify the processes leading to the bifurcation of the North Equatorial Current (NEC) into the northward flowing Kuroshio and the southward flowing Mindanao Current. The four objectives of this project are as follows: (1) to clarify the dynamic state of the NEC-Kuroshio-Mindanao Current system; (2) to quantify the temporal evolution of the upper ocean temperature and salinity (T/S) fields, the seasonal mixed layer above the pycnocline, and the deeper mode and intermediate waters; (3) to evaluate the upper ocean heat, salt, and potential vorticity budget in the OMKC region; and (4) to improve the predictability of oceanic circulation variability on various time scales in the OKMC region by incorporating in-situ data, including those from profiling float measurements. Profiling floats will be deployed during the duration of the OKMC project. In conjunction, high-quality satellite altimeter sea surface height (SSH) information will be analyzed. By combining the SSH information and profiling float T/S data, we plan to infer the strengths and locations (through dynamic height difference and maximum gradient) of the incoming NEC and the bifurcated Kuroshio and Mindanao Currents. Dynamic height maps from the SSH and float T/S data will be used to put in perspective the temporal and spatial variability of the regional circulation detected by other observational instruments. The broad-scale SSH information will also be used to explore the dynamics for regional variability that is forced remotely in the interior ocean.
A countable nondiscrete topological field without nontrivial convergent sequences

A construction of a space in the title is presented, answering a question asked by A. Arkhangel'skii and D. Shakhmatov.
Meade, Robert D

Robert Meade's interest in cultures other than his own began in elementary school in rural Indiana, where he was an avid reader and spent much time with books about foreign places and their inhabitants. These avocational interests have continued to be paramount for the duration of his personal as well as professional life. Meade received his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1956. His graduate work centered on human motivation and his dissertation was based on studies of motivation and time perception. His first visits abroad were centered on Europe where he was especially interested in how behavior and thought in those countries differed from those of his own. He also undertook a year of travel in Asia and Africa, where even more differences in culture suggested further investigation of how those cultures affected behavior and psychological processes. Keywords: cross-cultural psychology
On Adrienne Rich

ADRIENNE RICH IS ONE TOUGH POET. In a voice which is power ful, resolute, critical, and honest, she has tried to integrate the personal and the political in order to create a woman-identified aesthetic. She has consis tently challenged the premises of patriarchal beliefs and attempted to shape "the dream of a common language" capable of articulating a true image of women in our society. Her poetry reflects our culture and tries to shape it. In her own feminist way, she has shown the ability to transform herself, to re-create her poetic voice in response to herself, as well as to the larger world around her. In doing so, Rich carries on the modernist tradition of Yeats and Auden.
Ethnic and Genetic Differences in Susceptibility to Osteoporotic Fractures

This chapter contains a review of current information relative to the genetic and environmental determinants of ethnic and racial differences in bone mass and susceptibility to osteoporotic fractures. Evidence for differences in bone mass at all stages of the life cycle is documented, with particular reference to blacks vs. whites and whites vs. Asians. The potential of genetic markers to explain these differences is discussed.
Visual queries: the foundation of visual thinking

There is no visual model of the world in our heads. Over the past few years the phenomena of change blindness and inattentional blindness as well as studies of the capacity of visual working memory all point to the fact that we do not retain much about the world from one fixation to the next. The impression we have of a detailed visual environment comes from our ability to make rapid eye movements and sample the environment at will. What we see at any given instant in time is determined by what we are trying to accomplish. We see what we need to see. If we need to find a path through a crowd we see the openings. If we are trying to find a friend we see the faces. We can think of this process of seeing as the execution of a continuous stream of visual queries on the environment. Depending on the task at hand the brain constructs a visual query and we execute a visual search to satisfy that query. Making visual queries a central concept opens the door to a theory of how we think visually with interactive displays. The process can be thought of as constructing and executing queries on displays. Problem components are formulated into questions (or hypotheses) that can be answered (or tested) by means of pattern discovery. These are formulated into visual queries having the form of search patterns. Visual eye-movement scanning strategies are used to search the display. Within each fixation, active attention determines which patterns are pulled from visual cortex subsystems that do pattern analysis. Patterns and objects are formed as transitory object files from a proto-pattern space. Elementary visual queries can be executed at a rate of 40 msec per simple pattern. Links to non-visual propositional information are activated by icons or familiar patterns, bringing visual information simultaneously into verbal working memory.
Cerebral edema in diabetic ketoacidosis.

Cerebral edema causes or contributes to death in diabetic ketoacidosis under two distinct circumstances — in comatose patients and during treatment in conscious patients. In 1936 Dillon et al.1 fou...
Social rhythm stability following late-life spousal bereavement : associations with depression and sleep impairment

The aim of this study was to investigate changes in social rhythm stability and sleep in spousally bereaved subjects (n = 94) and in nonbereaved elderly control subjects (n = 45). Social rhythm stability and activity level were measured with a diary-like instrument, the Social Rhythm Metric (SRM). We observed that spousal bereavement, per se, was not associated with a lower social rhythm stability or activity level except in the presence of a major depressive episode. We also observed an inverse correlation between severity of depression and social rhythm stability, and a positive correlation between depression and both subjective and objective measures of sleep impairment. Higher social rhythm stability was correlated with better sleep in subjects with high activity levels, but not in subjects with low activity levels. Longitudinal data, including pre-bereavement assessment of social rhythm stability, are necessary to ascertain directional effects, i.e., whether loss of spouse occasions disruption of social rhythms or whether such disruption precedes sleep impairment and depression.
Combined photoacoustic and magneto-motive ultrasound imaging

Ultrasound imaging can provide excellent resolution at reasonable depths while retaining the advantages of being nonionizing, cost-effective and portable. However, the contrast in ultrasound imaging is limited, and various ultrasoundbased techniques such as photoacoustic (PA) and magneto-motive ultrasound (MMUS) imaging have been developed to augment ultrasound imaging. Photoacoustic imaging enhances imaging contrast by visualizing the optical absorption of either tissue or injected contrast agents (e.g., gold or silver nanoparticles). MMUS imaging enhances the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound based on the detection of magnetic nanoparticles perturbed by an external magnetic field. This paper presents integrated magneto-photo-acoustic (MPA) imaging - a fusion of complementary ultrasound-based imaging techniques. To demonstrate the feasibility of MPA imaging, porcine ex-vivo tissue experiments were performed using a dual contrast (magnetic/plasmonic) agent. Spatially co-registered and temporally consecutive ultrasound, photoacoustic, and magneto-motive ultrasound images of the same cross-section of tissue were obtained. Our ex-vivo results indicate that magneto-photo-acoustic imaging can be used to detect magnetic/plasmonic nanoparticles with high resolution, sensitivity and contrast. Therefore, our study suggests that magneto-photo-acoustic images can identify the morphological properties, molecular information and complementary functional information of the tissue.
Ecosystem services along a management gradient in Michigan (USA) cropping systems

To assess tradeoffs and synergies among different services provided by major ecosystems in agricultural landscapes, we examined agricultural yield, aboveground net primary productivity, global warming impact, soil quality, water conservation, water quality, and plant diversity in eight replicated ecosystems along a management intensity gradient on the same soil type in SW Michigan, USA. Ecosystems included four annual grain systems in a maize–soybean–wheat rotation, two perennial crops (alfalfa and hybrid poplar trees), an early successional community, and a late-successional deciduous forest. The annual grain systems included tilled and no-till treatments both managed with conventional chemical inputs; and reduced input and biologically based treatments both managed with tillage for weed control and leguminous winter cover crops for nitrogen. Radar diagrams illustrated the suite of services provided by each system. We found 13 significant interactions between ecosystem service indicators, seven being positive and six negative. Numerous trade-offs with grain yield were found, suggesting that by focusing on grain yield in these systems, land managers may be neglecting other ecosystem services. Management of nitrogen fertilizer, cover crops, and tillage (no-till) were particularly important determinants for the delivery of multiple ecosystem services.
Consequences of systemic absorption of topical glucocorticoids

250 In this issue of the JAAD, Kerner et al report blunted adrenal responses after the use of topical corticosteroids. While it is reassuring that laboratory values remained within the normal range in this particular study, the blunted responses serve as a reminder that systemic absorption of topically applied corticosteroids can have systemic implications. Topical corticosteroids can cause iatrogenic Cushing disease and adrenal suppression. Those at greater risk for medically significant adrenal suppression include infants and young children, those with an impaired cutaneous barrier, and those in whom highly potent corticosteroids are applied over large areas or under occlusion. Highly vascular areas, such as the ear canals and diaper area, have been associated with enhanced systemic absorption. Practical guidelines to reduce the effects of systemic absorption include pulse application of more potent corticosteroids (weekends only or 2 weeks on/1 week off), medication holidays, use of the minimal effective strength and dose of medication, and the use of steroid-sparing agents. We must be mindful that many patients with steroidresponsive dermatoses remain under-treated, and our role is to optimize patient outcomes while minimizing the risk of complications. The following commentary by Lynnette Nieman, MD, of the National Institutes of Health, focuses on topical corticosteroids and their potential to induce adrenal suppression.
Correlational relationships between self-statements and affective states

The current study examined the correlational relationship between specific cognitions and affective states in normal individuals. A research inventory composed of five hypothetical situations and a series of self-report measures of psychopathology was administered to 224 undergraduates. Participants responded to the inventory by rating the situational characteristicness of specific self-statements and affects. An additional 212 participants completed only an observer version of the inventory. Specific self-statements were found to be highly correlated with corresponding affective states in both the actor and observer inventory conditions. Specific irrational self-statements were also significantly related to noncorresponding dysphoric affects, while a negative relationship was obtained between rational cognitions and dysphoric affects. The magnitude of these relationships was significantly greater for low cross-situationally consistent individuals. Multiple-regression analyses indicated that although specific irrational self-statements and affects were only moderately correlated with corresponding self-report measures of psychopathology, the relationship between specific self-statements and affects with respect to the measures was an interactional one. The methodological features of the study and the implications of the findings are discussed.
Magnetic Phenomena in v(TCNE)xy(Solvent): Role of Disorder and Random Anisotropy

We report here a summary of recent developments in our magnetization, ac susceptibility, electron spin resonance, charge transport and structural studies of high Tc molecular magnet systems based o...
Alexander Bain and the teaching of rhetoric

This paper explores Alexander Bain's concept of teaching rhetoric, the psychological precepts underlying his pedagogical theory, and the relevance of rhetoric to the teacher.
Phase Separation in the SiC–AlN Pseudobinary System: The Role of Coherency Strain Energy

This paper reports on SiC-AIN polycrystalline samples of equimolar composition that were fabricated by hot-pressing. Single-phase samples were annealed over a range of temperatures between 1600{degrees} and 2000{degrees} C for up to 1145 h to effect the formation of modulated structures. Electron diffraction from the (2110) zone axis showed four distinct satellite spots around every main diffraction spot with modulations occurring orthogonal to {l brace}0112{r brace} planes. The direction of modulation experimentally observed is consistent with that determined by the minimization of the coherency strain energy. Computer simulation was conducted to generate the morphology of modulated structures. The simulated microstructure was found to be very similar to that observed experimentally.
End user programming and context responsiveness in handheld prompting systems for persons with cognitive disabilities and caregivers

Providing instructions via handheld prompters holds much promise for supporting independence for persons with cognitive disabilities. Because users of these tools are paired - caregivers who make scripts and a person with cognitive disabilities who uses them - designing such a system presents unique meta-design problems. The problems of changing content and configuration on a handheld computer, as needs and abilities change of the users with cognitive disabilities, produce a critical need for end-user programming tools. This paper describes the design and testing of the MAPS (Memory Aiding Prompting System) system, consisting of a handheld prompter and a multimedia editing tool for script creation, storage, and modification. The unique meta-design challenges of supporting end-user programming of context-responsive systems, and its broader implications, are presented.
Agarose gel electrophoresis in isozyme separation and visualization

Isozyme analysis of rodent-human somatic cell hybrids has been used frequently to detect specific human chromosomes. The majority of these isozyme systems employs starch gels, the use of which can be laborious when screening large numbers of cell lines. We describe the development of two procedures to detect the long arms of human chromosomes 1 and 2 in Chinese hamster-human cell hybrids by a rapid and reproducible method using 1-mm-thick agarose gels. Detection of human chromosome 1q was accomplished by screening for human fumarate hydratase activity, whose gene has been mapped to 1q42.1. Detection of chromosome 2q was performed by screening for the isozyme isocitrate dehydrogenase 1, which has been localized to 2q32-qter. These systems provide a basis for the further development of procedures for detecting chromosome-specific isozyme markers in agarose gels.
Chesapeake Bay nutrient budgets — a reassessment

Recently published annual mass balances or budgets for nitrogen, phosphorus, and silicon in Chesapeake Bay have pictured the estuary as retaining a very large fraction, perhaps all, of the nutrients that enter from land drainage, the atmosphere, and anthropogenic discharges. However, these budgets have been based on estimates of the net exchanges of nutrients at the mouth of the bay or on the rates of accumulation of nutrients and sediments calculated from the distributions of various geochemical tracers in the sediments. While conceptually straightforward, the first approach is subject to large errors because it requires the determination of a small "signal" against a large background of tidal "noise". The second approach has led to overestimates of the nutrient trapping efficiency of the bay because tracer-derived sediment deposition rates have been multiplied by the surface area of the whole bay or various parts of the bay rather than by the smaller area of active sediment deposition. This approach is also incorrect because the average, long-term rates of sediment deposition measured by the geochemical tracers, including major floods, have been compared to shorter-term records of nutrient input. The more appropriate calculation of nutrient retention based on contemporaneous measurements of nutrient and sediment input and the chemical compositon of sediments accumulated in the estuary shows that Chesapeake Bay retains only some 3–6% of the nitrogen, 11–17% of the phosphorus and 33–83% of the silicon brought into its waters during a year in which no major flood occurred. This behavior suggests that current problems of estuarine eutrophication are more a consequence of present nutrient inputs than an inevitable or inescapable legacy of past enrichment. It also follows that the management or manipulation of nutrient loadings to esturies may lead to a more rapid response in environmental quality than previously predicted.
An Early Experience Using the Technique of Transoral OrVil EEA Stapler for Minimally Invasive Transthoracic Esophagectomy

Background Minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) has been performed using a variety of techniques evolving during the past decade. We present our initial experience and outcomes of patients undergoing transthoracic MIE using a circular end-to-side anastomosis created with the transorally directed EEA circular stapler OrVil (Covidien, New Haven, CT). Complications, including anastomotic leak and stricture occurrence, are reviewed. Methods A retrospective review evaluated consecutive patients undergoing MIE for esophageal cancer or related disease with intrathoracic end-to-side anastomoses using the transorally directed EEA circular stapler from December 2007 to May 2010. Medical records were reviewed for demographics, staging, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, comorbidities, adjuvant therapy, complications, and survival. Results During this period, 51 consecutive patients (84% male; mean age, 65 years) underwent MIE. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy was performed in 32 patients, and 4 had intraoperative radiotherapy. Mean operative time was 338 minutes (range, 211 to 565 minutes), including the 4 patients with intraoperative radiotherapy. Operative time improved with experience (excluding intraoperative radiotherapy) from a mean of 378 minutes (patients 1 to 14) to 300 minutes (patients 37 to 51). Median hospital stay was 11 days (range, 6 to 48 days). Anastomotic leaks occurred in 5 patients (9.8%). Postoperative deaths included 1 in-hospital (2.0%) and 2 (3.9%) after discharge. Stricture was diagnosed and treated in 7 patients (13.7%). Follow-up was a median of 12 months (range, 1 to 31 months). Conclusions Transthoracic MIE using an end-to-side anastomosis with the transorally directed EEA circular stapler resulted in acceptable stricture and leak rates with good outcomes comparable to published outcomes for open surgical resections.
Dazzle dart: reflections on computer games

One of the striking things about the current crop of "educational computer games" is the generally tame and above all stingy way in which they use computational resources. Computer programs select random numbers, display game boards, and prompt players to guess secret words or numbers. In almost every case these things can be done, not to mention done better, without using a computer at all. It is short-sighted and wasteful to have powerful machines simply replace spinners, game boards, and flash cards.
Performance assessment of small-package-class nonintrusive inspection systems

The DoD Counterdrug Technology Development Program has addressed the development and demonstration of technology to enhance nonintrusive inspection of small packages such as passenger baggage, commercially delivered parcels, and breakbulk cargo items. Within the past year they have supported several small package-class nonintrusive inspection system performance assessment activities. All performance assessment programs involved the use of a red/blue team concept and were conducted in accordance with approved assessment protocols. This paper presents a discussion related to the systematic performance assessment of small package-class nonintrusive inspection technologies, including transmission, backscatter and computed tomography x-ray imaging, and protocol-related considerations for the assessment of these systems.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
SDF-1α/CXCL12 enhances GABA and glutamate synaptic activity at serotonin neurons in the rat dorsal raphe nucleus

The serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) system has a well-characterized role in depression. Recent reports describe comorbidities of mood-immune disorders, suggesting an immunological component may contribute to the pathogenesis of depression as well. Chemokines, immune proteins which mediate leukocyte trafficking, and their receptors are widely distributed in the brain, mediate neuronal patterning, and modulate various neuropathologies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the neuroanatomical relationship and functional impact of the chemokine stromal cell-derived factor-1α/CXCL12 and its receptor, CXCR4, on the serotonin dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) system in the rat using anatomical and electrophysiological techniques. Immunohistochemical analysis indicates that over 70% of 5-HT neurons colocalize with CXCL12 and CXCR4. At a subcellular level, CXCL12 localizes throughout the cytoplasm whereas CXCR4 concentrates to the outer membrane and processes of 5-HT neurons. CXCL12 and CXCR4 also colocalize on individual DRN cells. Furthermore, electrophysiological studies demonstrate CXCL12 depolarization of 5-HT neurons indirectly via glutamate synaptic inputs. CXCL12 also enhances the frequency of spontaneous inhibitory and excitatory postsynaptic currents (sIPSC and sEPSC). CXCL12 concentration-dependently increases evoked IPSC amplitude and decreases evoked IPSC paired-pulse ratio selectively in 5-HT neurons, effects blocked by the CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100. These data indicate presynaptic enhancement of GABA and glutamate release at 5-HT DRN neurons by CXCL12. Immunohistochemical analysis further shows CXCR4 localization to DRN GABA neurons, providing an anatomical basis for CXCL12 effects on GABA release. Thus, CXCL12 indirectly modulates 5-HT neurotransmission via GABA and glutamate synaptic afferents. Future therapies targeting CXCL12 and other chemokines may treat serotonin related mood disorders, particularly depression experienced by immune-compromised individuals.
Muscle and nerve biopsies: techniques for the neurologist and neurosurgeon.

Abstract Objective Muscle and nerve biopsies are commonly performed procedures for the diagnosis of neuromuscular disorders. Neurologists and neurosurgeons are often consulted to perform these procedures in clinical practice. We provide guidelines in the performance of muscle and nerve biopsies. Methods We describe the technique for performance of muscle and nerve biopsy, and review the relevant literature. Results The quadriceps muscle is the most typical biopsy site for most myopathies, whereas the sural nerve is the most common nerve biopsy site for most peripheral neuropathies. Other sites may be utilized depending upon the pattern of symptoms or the differential diagnosis. Motor nerves may be sampled in the setting of motor neuron disease, for example. We advocate the use of conduit repair to allow for sensory or motor recovery to occur following nerve biopsy. Conclusion The muscle biopsy and nerve biopsy may be performed with high yield, low morbidity, and rare complications.
Synthesis of key sandramycin analogs: systematic examination of the intercalation chromophore

Abstract The preparation and examination of 2–22 constituting a systematic study of the chromophore of sandramycin ( 1 ) are detailed. Fluorescence quenching studies were used to establish binding constants for 1–24 within calf thymus DNA, within a single high affinity bis-intercalation binding site 5′-d(GCATGC) 2 , and to establish the preference for sandramycin binding to 5′-d(GCXXGC) 2 where XX=AT, TA, GC, and CG. From the latter studies, sandramycin was found to exhibit a preference that follows the order: 5′-d(GCATGC) 2 > 5′- d(GCGCGC) 2 , δδG° = 0.3 kcal/mol > 5′-d(GCTAGC) 2 , 5′-d(GCCGGC) 2 , δδG° = 0.6 kcal/mol although it binds with high affinity to all four deoxyoligonucleotides. The two highest affinity sequences constitute repeating 5′-PuPy motifs with each intercalation event occurring at a 5′-PyPu step. The most effective sequence constitutes the less stable duplex, contains the sterically most accessible minor groove central to the bis-intercalation site, and the ability to accept two gly-NG/T C2 carbonyl H-bonds identified in prior NMR studies. Similarly, the contribution of the individual structural features of the chromophore were assessed with the high affinity duplex sequence 5′-d(GCATGC) 2 . To a first approximation, the cytotoxic properties were found to parallel trends established in the DNA binding affinities. The exception to this generalization was 4 which lacks the sandramycin chromophore phenol. Although typically 4–10 × less potent than sandramycin against leukemia cell lines, it proved to be 1–10,000 × more potent against melanomas, carcinomas, and adenocarcinomas exhibiting IC 50 values of 1 pM−10 nM placing it among the most potent agents identified to date. Additionally, the first disclosure of the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitory activity of sandramycin ( 1 ) as well as that of its key analogs are described and define the chromophore structural features required for their exceptional potency. Two analogs, 18 and 3 , roughly maintain the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitory potency of 1 but exhibit substantially diminished cytotoxic activity (10 2 –10 3 x).
The Magnetic Properties of Stainless Steels

STEELS containing varying amounts of nickel and chromium have been found to be resistant to chemical corrosion and oxidation, and for this reason are grouped under the general name of stainless steel. Little thought was given to their adaptability in electromagnetic circuits, as it was a generally accepted fact that most of the nickel-chromium steels were nonmagnetic or relatively poor in magnetic characteristics as compared with silicon steel. However, the manufacturers of solenoid valves encountered so many valve failures in attempting to use regular steel in valves exposed to acid vapors, that they were forced to resort to the magnetically inferior stainless steels. As this is a highly specialized use of stainless steels, it was not surprising that none of the steel companies had available data on their magnetic properties.
SU‐GG‐J‐163: Radiotherapy Response Assessment Using Deformed Serial 18F‐FDG PET/CT

Purpose: To assess the ability of SUV measured on serial 18 F ‐ FDG PET/CT to differentiate radiotherapy (RT) responders from non‐responders. Method and Materials: Between November 2005 and August 2007, 88 eligible patients with AJCC stage III‐IVb HNSCC were enrolled in an IRB approved protocol to receive serial PET/CT imaging studies prior to and following RT. Analysis of similar anatomic volumes on temporally separated images was facilitated with a deformable image registration technique to map pre‐ and post‐RT CTimages to a reference image set, namely the RT planning CTimages. The resulting deformable transformations were applied to the pre‐ and post‐RT PETimages, thereby aligning both PETdata sets to the RT planning CTimages. SUV reduction factors were created from pre‐ and post‐RT SUV ratios and calculated for RT contours and fixed thresholds of the maximum signal intensity on PETimages. Variations in pre‐ and post‐RT PET/CT scannermodel and uptake duration were controlled to eliminate possible confounding factors for intrapatient analysis.Results: Cross correlation of patients whose serial PET/CT images were collected with the same scannermodel and with uptake duration differences ⩽ 15 min reduced the useable number of patients drastically from 88 to 10. For the controlled patient cohort, the average SUV reduction factor for responders (N = 7) vs. non‐responders (N = 3) calculated for the GTV contour was (1.4 ± 1.6) and (1.0 ± 1.7), respectively. For all contours (N = 4), nonparametric testing revealed [P > 0.05]. Conclusion: The average SUV reduction factor was not able to significantly differentiate responders and non‐responders in all contours studied. The large reduction in useable patients following strict data set control may be an important cautionary note for future studies investigating serial PET/CT for treatment response monitoring. Research sponsored by Varian Medical Systems.
Volatile Halocarbons in the Detroit River and their Relationship with Contaminant Sources

Volatile halocarbon measurements show that presently active point sources for contaminants in the Detroit River are primarily sewage treatment plants (STP) and combined storm sewers. From the observed ratios of municipal and industrial type contaminants, it is deduced that the waste water processed by sewage treatment plants contains significant contaminant loadings of industrial origin. Major sources of such loadings were found along the Trenton Channel, at the confluences of several tributaries including the Ecorse River, River Rouge, Conners Creek, Little River, and Turkey Creek, and at outfalls from several industrial areas including the Detroit STP, Ford Canada, West Windsor STP, and Allied Chemical Canada.
Implausibility versus misinterpretation of the FLMP

The case for the independence of featural processing supports Merge and FLMP alike. The target article's criticisms of the latter model are founded on misunderstanding its application to natural language processing. In fact, the main difference in the functional properties of the models is the FLMP's ability to account for graded perceptual experience. @T3:It is startling to be informed that beliefs you have held for a quarter of a century are indefensible and implausible. So it comes as a relief to discover that it was all just a big misunderstanding.
Anomalous water loss rates from spittle nests of spittlebugs Aphrophora saratoga (Homoptera: Cercopidae)

Abstract 1. 1. Evaporative water loss rates from the isolated spittle of the pine spittlebug, Aphrophora Saratoga, were measured and compared to evaporation rates from free water surfaces. 2. 2. Water evaporated from isolated spittle at an average rate of 2.77 μg/sec, compared to an average rate of 8.08 μg sec− cm −2from a free water surface, a reduction of about 35%. 3. 3. When this reduction of evaporation is compared with the increase of evaporation that would result from inflating a drop of anal fluid to form the spittle mass, the spittle seems to provide little net reduction of evaporative water loss. 4. 4. The conventional view of the spittle as providing protection for the nymph against desiccation is probably erroneous.
Direct evidence for the role of incorporated BUdR in the induction of sister chromatid exchanges.

Abstract The level of bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR) substitution for thymidine (dThd) in nascent DNA of Chinese hamster cells increases rapidly with increasing BUdR concentration at low BUdR/base pair (BU/bp) ratios and then increases much more slowly at higher ratios. The relationship between percentage substitution and BU/bp indicates that BUdR competes with dThd for incorporation into DNA and that BUdR concentration has no effect on the effective dThd/base pair ratio in these cells. Equal amounts of BUdR are incorporated during both the first and second cell cycles (S phases) after provision of the dThd analog. Incorporation of BUdR induces sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs), and induction appears to occur during the cell cycle (S phase) in which incorporation occurs, with incorporated BUdR from previous cycles having little effect. BUdR-induced SCE frequencies are linearly proportional to the percentage substitution of BUdR for dThd. Extrapolation to zero substitution indicates that SCEs occur spontaneously at a frequency of 0.045 per chromosome per cycle, and that many so-called “spontaneous” SCEs are actually induced by BUdR.
Finite Temperature Properties of Quantum Antiferromagnets in a Uniform Magnetic Field in One and Two Dimensions

Consider a d-dimensional antiferromagnet with a quantum disordered ground state and a gap to bosonic excitations with nonzero spin. In a finite external magnetic field, this antiferromagnet will undergo a phase transition to a ground state with nonzero magnetization, describable as the condensation of a dilute gas of bosons. The finite-temperature properties of the Bose gas in the vicinity of this transition are argued to obey a hypothesis of zero scale-factor universality for d2, with logarithmic violations in d=2. Scaling properties of various experimental observables are computed in an expansion in \ensuremath{\epsilon}=2-d, and exactly in d=1.