cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Expression of the C‐Met/HGF receptor in human breast carcinoma: Correlation with tumor progression

Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) induces cell motility and tissue remodeling of various epithelial cells through its receptor, the product of the proto-oncogene c-met. High levels of HGF/SF have been correlated with poor prognosis in human breast carcinoma. In this study, we examined the expression of the c-Met receptor in human breast-carcinoma cells in vivo and in cultured cell lines. Immunohistochemical analysis of biopsy samples of human breast carcinoma indicated that, in normal mammary gland, c-Met is localized in the ductal epithelium. The level of expression of c-Met in primary carcinomas was maintained in autologous metastatic lymph-node lesions in some cases, and in other cases was elevated. Frequently there was evidence of heterogeneity in cellular expression of c-Met within individual tumors, suggesting that micro-environmental factors may regulate receptor expression. In an analysis of a panel of human breast-carcinoma cell lines, we found that moderately differentiated cell lines did not express detectable levels of c-Met and were not responsive to HGF. In contrast, poorly differentiated and invasive cell lines did express high levels of the receptor and responded to HGF by increased motility and invasiveness. Sensitivity to HGF/SF also correlated with expression of the c-Met 9-kb mRNA. No correlation was found between gene copy number and the expression level of c-Met protein or mRNA. When the moderately differentiated and c-Met-negative T47D cell line was transfected with c-DNA for c-met, the transfectants showed delayed cell scattering and migratory response to HGF. Thus, over-expression of c-Met in moderately differentiated carcinoma cells may be one of several attributes that contribute to an invasive phenotype during the progression of breast cancer.
Content: Covariation, control and contingency

The Representational Theory of the Mind allows for psychological explanations couched in terms of the contents of propositional attitudes. Propositional attitudes themselves are taken to be relations to mental representations. These representations (partially) determine the contents of the attitudes in which they figure. Thus, Representationalism owes an explanation of the contents of mental representations. This essay constitutes an atomistic theory of the content of formally or syntactically simple mental representation, proposing that the content of such a representation is determined by the intersection of the representation's correlational and control properties. The theory is distinguished from standard information-based accounts of mental content in allowing that the relevant correlations be contingent while insisting on an efferent aspect to mental content. The theory on offer allows for a natural explanation of misrepresentation, finds a niche for the notion ofnarrow content, welcomes radical first person fallibility with respect to questions of content, admits of mental ambiguity and recognizes that the future of a psychological agent is a factor in determining the content of the agent's present psychological states.
Cardiovascular biomarkers: The state of the art in 2006 ☆

Abstract Background The explosion in cardiovascular biomarkers has been stimulated in large part by proteomics, genomics and an improved understanding of the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease. New advances are occurring rapidly and remaining on the cutting edge of the science is harder and harder. In the past few years, major changes have evolved in our ability to use cardiac troponin, BNP and CRP which will markedly impact on their clinical utility. These changes including greater sensitivity, a better understanding of what specific fragments are being measured and how these markers are used clinically is obligatory. There is also a need for new markers. Conclusions As with other disciplines, this work has built on the work of others.
Effects of monocular deprivation on geniculocortical pathways in the owl monkey, Aotus trivirgatus

As has been shown for a number of other mammals, monocular eyelid suture in the newborn owl monkey, a New World primate, is followed by a failure of neurons in the deprived layers of the lateral geniculate nucleus to reach normal size in the adult animal. This failure appears to be almost completely confined to relay cells, identified by horseradish peroxidase (HRP) injections into cortex, rather than interneurons. Similar proportions of neurons in both the deprived and non-deprived layers are labeled after HRP injections, suggesting that relay cells do not lose all cortical connections as a result of visual deprivation.
Enhancing Sport Performance: Merging Sports Science with Coaching

Over the years, sport science has mainly been viewed by coaches as inaccessible, too technical, or in many cases, non-applicable to the actual sport setting. With the renewed focus on prevention of...
Analyses of globin release from reticulocyte ribosomes.

Abstract Investigations of the biosynthetic processes which constitute the respective stages of protein synthesis indicate the presence of a specific mechanism for the release of completed protein from the biosynthetic template (Morris, 1964) . It was demonstrated early in the studies of protein biosynthesis that cell-free systems prepared from rabbit reticulocytes synthesize hemoglobin molecules which are no longer attached to the ribosomal template and are chromatographically indistinguishable from carrier hemoglobin (Schweet et al , 1958) . The details of the process by which completed protein chains are liberated to a nonparticulate state have been a subject of previous publications from this laboratory. It is the purpose of this communication to present the results of further studies which indicate the release of globin molecules from reticulocyte ribosomes involves cleavage of the globyl-sRNA bond at the ribosomal level and that the first soluble product of the release reaction is the protein molecule, free from soluble RNA. A mechanism for the termination and release of completed protein chains from the ribosomal template is proposed.
A G protein-coupled receptor phosphatase required for rhodopsin function

Heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein)-coupled receptors are phosphorylated by kinases that mediate agonist-dependent receptor deactivation. Although many receptor kinases have been isolated, the corresponding phosphatases, necessary for restoring the ground state of the receptor, have not been identified. Drosophila RDGC (retinal degeneration C) is a phosphatase required for rhodopsin dephosphorylation in vivo. Loss of RDGC caused severe defects in the termination of the light response as well as extensive light-dependent retinal degeneration. These phenotypes resulted from the hyperphosphorylation of rhodopsin because expression of a truncated rhodopsin lacking the phosphorylation sites restored normal photoreceptor function. These results suggest the existence of a family of receptor phosphatases involved in the regulation of G protein-coupled signaling cascades.
The effect of leptin on maturing porcine oocytes is dependent on glucose concentration.

Increased body weight is often accompanied by increased circulating levels of leptin and glucose, which alters glucose metabolism in various tissues, including perhaps the oocyte. Alteration of glucose metabolism impacts oocyte function and may contribute to the subfertility often associated with obese individuals. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of leptin (0, 10, and 100 ng/ml) on the oocyte and cumulus cells during in vitro maturation under differing glucose concentrations. We examined the effects of leptin on oocyte maturation, blastocyst development, and/or gene expression in oocytes and cumulus cells (IRS1, IGF1, PPARγ, IL6, GLUT1) in a physiological glucose (2 mM) and high glucose (50 mM) environment. We also evaluated the effect of leptin on glucose metabolism via glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway. In a physiological glucose environment, leptin did not have an influence on oocyte maturation, blastocyst development, or oocyte gene expression. Expression of GLUT1 in cumulus cells was downregulated with 100 ng/ml leptin treatment, but did not affect oocyte glucose metabolism. In a high glucose environment, oocyte maturation and glycolysis were decreased, but in the presence of 100 ng/ml leptin, these parameters were improved to levels similar to control. This effect is potentially mediated by an upregulation of oocyte IRS1 and a correction of cumulus cell IGF1 expression. The present study demonstrates that in a physiological glucose concentration, leptin plays a negligible role in oocyte function. However, leptin appears to modulate the deleterious impact of a high glucose environment on oocyte function. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 79: 296–307, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Evidence of a structural defect in Ice VII and the side-chain-dependent response of small model peptides to increased pressure.

The effect of high pressure on the OH stretch of dilute HOD in D2O was examined using high-pressure Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. It was found that at pressures directly above the ice VI to ice VII transition, ice VII displays a splitting in the OH absorption indicative of differing hydrogen bonding environments. This result is contrary to published structures of ice VII in which each OH oscillator should experience an identical electronic environment. The anomalous band was found to decrease in absorbance and finally disappear at ∼43.0 kbar. In addition, the pressure response of the amide I′ and II′ bands of three small model peptides was examined. Analysis of these bands' response to increased pressure indicates significant side-chain dependence of their structural rearrangement, which may play a role in the composition of full length proteins of barophilic organisms.
Cell-surface proteolysis, growth factor activation and intercellular communication in the progression of melanoma

Abstract Normal skin architecture and melanocyte function is maintained by a dynamic interplay between the melanocytes themselves, the epithelial cells between which they are interspersed, and their microenvironment. The microenvironment consists of the extracellular matrix, fibroblasts, migratory immune cells, and neural elements supported by a vascular network, all within a milieu of cytokines, growth factors, and bioactive peptides as well as proteolytic enzymes. Cells interact with the microenvironment via complex autocrine and paracrine mechanisms. Proteolytic enzymes in melanoma may activate or release growth factors from the microenvironment or act directly on the microenvironment itself, thereby facilitating angiogenesis or tumor cell migration. This review summarizes recent findings regarding the expression, structure and function of proteolytic enzymes at or near the cell surface in cell–cell and cell–stroma interactions during melanoma progression. Cell-surface (membrane) peptidases are a multi-functional group of ectoenzymes that have been implicated in the control of growth and differentiation of many cellular systems. The potential, but yet speculative, role of other membrane-bound molecules, such as multifunctional surface proteins with adhesion and protease activity (ADAM gene family) or the ephrin/Eph receptor protein kinases in the pathogenesis of melanoma are discussed.
Surface electronic properties and site-specific laser desorption processes of highly structured nanoporous MgO thin films

The surface electronic properties of metal oxides critically depend on low-coordinated sites, such as kinks, corners and steps. In order to characterize such surface sites, we prepare defect enriched surfaces by growing thin MgO films and measure X-ray photoelectron spectra of films and vacuum-cleaved MgO single crystals. In the case of thin films, we observe O 1s spectra with a significant shoulder feature at 2.3 eV higher binding energy (HBE) than the corresponding peak at 530.0 eV representing regular bulk lattice oxygen. We evaluate this feature in terms of non-stoichiometric oxygen and formation of an oxygen-rich layer at the topmost surface of the MgO columns. Under excitation with 266-nm-laser pulses, known to be resonant with low-coordinated surface anions, we observe preferential depletion of defective oxygen-states (HBE signal) and temporary restoration of ideal surface stoichiometry. The results from XPS studies are in line with 266 nm laser stimulated desorption experiments of Mg- and O-atoms. Both results indicate new surface specific excitation regimes, which might eventually allow site-specific manipulation of surface morphology.
Structure and physical characteristics of pumice from the climactic eruption of Mount Mazama (Crater Lake), Oregon

The vesicularity, permeability, and structure of pumice clasts provide insight into conditions of vesiculation and fragmentation during Plinian fall and pyroclastic flow-producing phases of the ~7,700 cal. year B.P. climactic eruption of Mount Mazama (Crater Lake), Oregon. We show that bulk properties (vesicularity and permeability) can be correlated with internal textures and that the clast structure can be related to inferred changes in eruption conditions. The vesicularity of all pumice clasts is 75–88%, with >90% interconnected pore volume. However, pumice clasts from the Plinian fall deposits exhibit a wider vesicularity range and higher volume percentage of interconnected vesicles than do clasts from pyroclastic-flow deposits. Pumice permeabilities also differ between the two clast types, with pumice from the fall deposit having higher minimum permeabilities (~5×10–13 m2) and a narrower permeability range (5–50×10–13 m2) than clasts from pyroclastic-flow deposits (0.2–330×10–13 m2). The observed permeability can be modeled to estimate average vesicle aperture radii of 1–5 µm for the fall deposit clasts and 0.25–1 µm for clasts from the pyroclastic flows. High vesicle number densities (~109 cm–3) in all clasts suggest that bubble nucleation occurred rapidly and at high supersaturations. Post-nucleation modifications to bubble populations include both bubble growth and coalescence. A single stage of bubble nucleation and growth can account for 35–60% of the vesicle population in clasts from the fall deposits, and 65–80% in pumice from pyroclastic flows. Large vesicles form a separate population which defines a power law distribution with fractal dimension D=3.3 (range 3.0–3.5). The large D value, coupled with textural evidence, suggests that the large vesicles formed primarily by coalescence. When viewed together, the bulk properties (vesicularity, permeability) and textural characteristics of all clasts indicate rapid bubble nucleation followed by bubble growth, coalescence and permeability development. This sequence of events is best explained by nucleation in response to a downward-propagating decompression wave, followed by rapid bubble growth and coalescence prior to magma disruption by fragmentation. The heterogeneity of vesicle sizes and shapes, and the absence of differential expansion across individual clasts, suggest that post-fragmentation expansion played a limited role in the development of pumice structure. The higher vesicle number densities and lower permeabilities of pyroclastic-flow clasts indicate limited coalescence and suggest that fragmentation occurred shortly after decompression. Either increased eruption velocities or increased depth of fragmentation accompanying caldera collapse could explain compression of the pre-fragmentation vesiculation interval.
A 42-Year-Old Policeman With Rash and Abnormal Chest Radiograph*

A 42-year-old policeman is seen in the dermatology clinic because of a sudden onset of a rash over both legs and on the extensor surfaces of both forearms. It is accompanied by redness and tenderness over both ankles for the past 5 days. About 2 weeks earlier, he had complained of a few days of unproductive cough, which he described as “close to a cold.” The patient was recently discharged from the Army after 20 years of service in the military police. During his enlistment, he had lived in many states, including Arkansas, California, Illinois, and Wisconsin. The patient was referred to you because of an abnormal chest radiograph (Fig 1). Physical examination is normal except for the presence of a rash over both legs and arms (Fig 2). Both ankles are tender to palpation, but there is no redness or swelling. The differential diagnosis includes all of the following, except:
Estimation of runoff rates, mass balance, and elevation changes on the Greenland ice sheet from passive microwave observations

[1] Annual melt duration from Special Sensor Microwave/Imager satellite data is used in a simple surface mass balance (SMB) model to estimate runoff rates, mass balance, and surface elevation changes for the Greenland ice sheet. Estimates are made using a variable accumulation rate that is based on precipitation from a dynamic climate model using European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts analysis data. The overall SMB is positive for the 1988–1999 period, but it is near the estimate of calving rates. Two years, 1995 and 1998, show a negative SMB. There is some evidence that years with higher runoff are associated with lower accumulation and that years with higher than average runoff in southern Greenland are associated with lower than average runoff in the north. Variations in accumulation rates dominate SMB variability in east and southeast Greenland, while runoff rates dominate in west Greenland. SMB is also used to estimate elevation changes resulting from trends in SMB during the 1988–1999 and 1993–1999 time periods, which in general agree with laser altimeter finding of thinning below 2000 m above sea level and near equilibrium above that elevation.
Prognosis after acute myocardial infarction in patients with and without residual anterograde coronary blood flow.

Abstract The restoration of anterograde coronary flow during the hours to days after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) may be beneficial independent of an effect on left ventricular function. This study was done to assess the influence of residual anterograde coronary perfusion on long-term morbidity and mortality in patients after AMI. Over a 10-year period, 179 subjects (132 men, 47 women, aged 25 to 66 years) with infarction and angiographic evidence of disease of only 1 coronary artery were followed for 47 ± 29 (mean ± standard deviation) months. All were receiving medical therapy. Sixty-four patients had partial or complete anterograde perfusion of the infarct artery (group I), whereas the other 115 had no or minimal anterograde perfusion (group II). The 2 groups were similar in age, sex, risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, duration of follow-up, maintenance medications and left ventricular function. In group I, unstable angina and congestive heart failure each occurred in ≤10%, and none died. In marked contrast, the 115 patients in group II frequently had unstable angina (25%) and congestive heart failure (17%) (p ≤ 0.05 for both vs group I), and 21 (18%) died suddenly (p
Electronic structure of III-V semiconductors and alloys using simple orbitals

A tight-binding model using four Slater or Gaussian orbitals per atom is employed along with pseudopotentials to calculate the electronic structure of zinc-blende semiconductors. Accurate band energies for the six lowest bands of GaP, GaAs, GaSb, InP, InAs, and InSb are obtained by adjusting the exponential factors in the orbitals. It is possible to generate about equally accurate band structures by using a universal basis set for all six systems. The interatomic interactions in this universal basis are found to scale as the inverse squares of the lattice parameters. This result suggests an improved virtual-crystal approximation which always gives the correct sign for the bowing parameter of the fundamental gap in ternary alloys. A procedure that modifies the Hamiltonian matrix to yield the correct effective masses and band energies near the gap has also been implemented and applied to A1As, GaP, GaAs, and InP.
Smad proteins and transforming growth factor-β signaling

Smad proteins and transforming growth factor-β signaling. It is now generally accepted that transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) has an important role in the pathogenesis of both acute and chronic forms of renal disease. Although TGF-β's potent fibrogenic activity is considered a major factor in chronic progression of renal disease, this cytokine participates in the control of several fundamental cellular responses in the kidney including inflammation, programmed cell death, cell growth, cell differentiation, and cellular hypertrophy. Recent identification of Smad proteins as intracellular mediators of TGF-β signaling has provided important insights into mechanisms that may determine the specificity of TGF-β action in different renal and inflammatory cells. Thus, Smads are characterized by an astonishingly complex array of molecular and functional interactions with other signaling pathways. These emerging patterns of signaling cross talk involving Smad proteins suggest a dynamic profile of positive or negative transmodulation of TGF-β signaling, depending on the cellular context. Understanding the interplay between these signaling cascades is an important field of investigation that will ultimately reveal new targets for precise and selective modulation of TGF-β's diverse actions in renal diseases.
The role of fluorescence in situ hybridization and polymerase chain reaction in the diagnosis and classification of lymphoproliferative disorders on fine-needle aspiration.

BACKGROUND: Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) has been used in the evaluation of lymphadenopathy for a long time and is highly reliable in the identification of metastatic malignancies. However, the role of FNA in the assessment of new lymphoproliferative disorders continues to be a subject of debate. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the role of molecular cytogenetic studies in FNA diagnoses of lymphoproliferative disorders. METHODS: A retrospective, computer-based search for lymph node FNAs from 2006 to 2007 was performed. Cases with either fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and/or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) studies were subjected to further analysis. RESULTS: In total, 243 lymph node FNAs were performed during the period, including 104 that were positive/suspicious for metastatic malignancies, 16 that were positive/suspicious for lymphomas, 15 that demonstrated atypical lymphoid proliferation, 73 that were reactive, 14 that were deemed granulomas, and 21 that were determined to be nondiagnostic. Molecular analysis included combined FISH/PCR in 4 cases, FISH only in 7 cases, and PCR only in 4 cases. By using multiplex PCR, 6 cases with atypical/negative flow cytometry results were diagnosed as 4 B-cell lymphomas, 1 T-cell lymphoma, and 1 reactive lymph node; and 4 cases that had atypical T cells determined by flow cytometry were diagnosed as reactive. One CD10-negative follicular lymphoma and 2 cases with suspicious flow cytometry results were positive for t(14;18)(q32;q21) by FISH. Forty-five cases had follow-up histology with 3 false-negative findings and no false-positive results. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, multiplex PCR studies for immunoglobulin heavy-chain or T-cell receptor gene rearrangements were useful for demonstrating clonality, and FISH studies were able to detect translocations or gene rearrangements that allowed for the subclassification of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
Comparison of corrosion-resistance and hydrogen permeation properties of Zn–Ni, Zn–Ni–Cd and Cd coatings on low-carbon steel

Zn–Ni–Cd alloy was electroplated from an alkaline sulfate bath under potentiostatic conditions. The corrosion and hydrogen permeation characteristics of Zn–Ni–Cd alloy coatings electrodeposited from alkaline bath were studied and compared with those of Cd and Zn–Ni coatings obtained using commercial baths. Zn–Ni–Cd alloy was electroplated from an alkaline sulfate bath under potentiostatic conditions. The corrosion potential of this Zn–Ni–Cd coating was −0.62 V vs. SCE, which is still negative potential compared to iron. The corrosion rate of Zn–Ni–Cd coated steel was 0.073 mm y−1, which is estimated in a solution at a pH of 7. This value is much lower than the corrosion rate of Zn–Ni alloy (0.502 mm y−1) and Cd (0.306 mm y−1) coatings deposited from commercial baths. Zn–Ni–Cd alloys are also demonstrated to have superior hydrogen permeation inhibition properties compared to Cd and Zn–Ni coatings. Kinetic parameters of hydrogen permeation such as the transfer coefficient, α, the modified exchange current density, i0′, thickness dependent adsorption–absorption rate constant, k″, recombination rate constant, k3, surface hydrogen coverage, θs, were evaluated by applying a mathematical model to analyze experimental results.
Relative degradation rates of NTA, EDTA and DTPA and environmental implications

Abstract Multidentate chelating agents such as NTA, EDTA and DTPA are receiving widespread use in a variety of industrial applications and are entering natural water systems. The presence of these chelates in the environment can be undesirable because they solubilise toxic heavy metals. We have analysed the relative biodegradabilities of NTA, EDTA and DTPA in several different chemical environments. The objective was to determine whether any particular chelate is significantly more biodegradable than the others and therefore more desirable from an environmental point of view. Our results suggest that total degradation (including biological and non-biological) rates decrease in the order: DTPA > EDTA > NTA over the short term and NTA ∼ DTPA > EDTA over the long term. However, photolysis appeared to account for a significant proportion of DTPA degradation. Therefore, considering only biodegradation: NTA > EDTA ∼ DTPA. Degradation rates of all three chelates are not rapid enough, even under ideal laboratory conditions, to preclude concern about their release to the environment.
NASAL VERSUS NASO-PHARYNGEAL CONTINUOUS POSITIVE AIRWAY PRESSURE (CPAP) USE IN PRETERM NEONATES. 1163

NASAL VERSUS NASO-PHARYNGEAL CONTINUOUS POSITIVE AIRWAY PRESSURE (CPAP) USE IN PRETERM NEONATES. 1163
Repeated exposure to objects and peers in a play setting

Abstract Two hypotheses were contrasted. One posed a positive relationship between mere repeated exposure and preference for stimulus of concern; the other predicted that preference for stimuli would be modulated by their relative novelty and complexity. These hypotheses were tested within the context of a naturalistic play situation in which 40 4- to 5-year-old children were repeatedly exposed to and interacted with play settings differing in complexity. Overt preference for play objects declined with repeated exposure, the rate of decline being inversely determined by the complexity of the play stimuli. Preference for peers, however, increased as a function of repeated exposure, with the amount of increase being an inverse function of the complexity of the external setting.
Early-stage performance modeling and its application for integrated embedded control software design

Most of current embedded control software (ECSW) development techniques deal only with performance specifications during the early software design phase and delay the modeling and analysis until the detail design has been completed. In this paper, we propose a new approach to modeling and analysis of the performance of the designed ECSW without knowing the platform configuration and the software deployment. The functional model is assumed --- as is commonly the case in practice --- to be constructed by integrating existing (reusable) software components. The performance of components and connections in the model are modeled using annotated requirements and virtual resource demands. Our algorithm then computes the system performance such as end-to-end delays of transactions and workloads by traversing the model. The results can be applied to the platform design and runtime architecture generation. To demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed method in real world applications, we present the analysis of automotive vehicle-to-vehicle control software as an example.
Science and art of setting performance standards and cutoff scores in kinesiology.

Setting standards and cutoff scores is essential to any measurement and evaluation practice. Two evaluation frameworks, norm-referenced (NR) and criterion-referenced (CR), have often been used for setting standards. Although setting fitness standards based on the NR evaluation is relatively easy as long as a nationally representative sample can be obtained and regularly updated, it has several limitations—namely, time dependency, population dependence, discouraging low-level performers, and favoring advantaged or punishing disadvantaged individuals. Fortunately, these limitations can be significantly eliminated by employing the CR evaluation, which was introduced to kinesiology by Safrit and colleagues in the 1980s and has been successfully applied to some practical problems (e.g., set health-related fitness standards for FITNESSGRAM®). Yet, the CR evaluation has its own challenges, e.g., selecting an appropriate measure for a criterion behavior, when the expected relationship between the criterion behavi...
Predicting bed load transport of sand and gravel on Goodwin Creek

Bed load transport rates are difficult to predict in channels with bed material composed of sand and gravel mixtures. The transport of bed load was measured on Goodwin Creek, and in a laboratory flume channel with a similar bed material size distribution. The range of bed load transport rates measured in the laboratory channel were similar to those measured in the channel of Goodwin Creek; however, the shear stresses calculated on Goodwin Creek were three times greater than in the laboratory channel for similar bed load transport rates. Much of this difference in shear stress was removed by applying the drag partitioning technique of Einstein, although significant differences between the two sets of data remain. Predictions of bed load transport rates using three previously published transport relations were good for most flows for the laboratory data. For the Goodwin Creek bed load data, predicted transport rates were close to measured ones for low flows but diverged by an order of magnitude or more for high shear stresses. Improved methods of shear stress partitioning are needed to improve the performance of bed load transport relations on streams of this type.
A model for analyzing handoff algorithms (cellular radio)

A model for analyzing the performance of handoff algorithms based on signal strength measurements made by mobile stations in a lognormal fading environment is presented. This model enables one to evaluate the effect of averaging the hysteresis on the handoff process. Handoffs are related to level crossings of the difference between the received signal strengths from two base stations. The algorithm performance is derived by modeling the level crossings as Poisson processes with time-varying rate functions. The model is seen to yield results that agree with simulations over the range of algorithm parameters of practical interest. These results can be used to determine the averaging interval and hysteresis level that achieve the optimum tradeoff between the number of unnecessary handoffs and the delay in handing off. >
Sensitivity of Oklahoma Binders on Dynamic Modulus of Asphalt Mixes and Distress Functions

AbstractFor designing pavements many state agencies, including those in Oklahoma, use the 1993 AASHTO Guide for Design of Pavement Structures, which is empirical in nature. However, the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) is believed to predict pavement distresses in a more mechanistic approach, on the basis of material properties, local traffic, and climate conditions. Among material properties in the MEPDG, the dynamic modulus (E*) of the asphalt mix is one of the key parameters necessary to achieve the highest level of design reliability. The present study was conducted to estimate E* values of two commonly used hot mix asphalt (HMA) mixes (S3 and S4) in Oklahoma. Different design reliability levels, on the basis of rheological properties of three performance grade (PG) binders, were considered. These asphalt binders were collected from three different sources in Oklahoma. Furthermore, sensitivities of major pavement distresses, namely, rutting, fatigue cracking, thermal cracking, and r...
Structure‐based redesign of proteins for minimal T‐cell epitope content

The protein universe displays a wealth of therapeutically relevant activities, but T cell driven immune responses to non-“self” biological agents present a major impediment to harnessing the full diversity of these molecular functions. Mutagenic T cell epitope deletion seeks to mitigate the immune response, but can typically address only a small number of epitopes. Here we pursue a “bottom up” approach that redesigns an entire protein to remain native-like but contain few if any immunogenic epitopes. We do so by extending the Rosetta flexible-backbone protein design software with an epitope scoring mechanism and appropriate constraints. The method is benchmarked with a diverse panel of proteins and applied to three targets of therapeutic interest. We show that the deimmunized designs indeed have minimal predicted epitope content and are native-like in terms of various quality measures, and moreover that they display levels of native sequence recovery comparable to those of non-deimmunized designs.
Gas-liquid chromatography of terpenes—XII

Abstract The seasonal variation in the composition of the volatile oil from locally grown wild tansy plants was determined. Some plants were found to produce 80–90 per cent l-thujone, whereas others gave the normal content (70–85 per cent) of d-isothujone throughout the growing season. Significant variations in the content of the minor components were found to occur only in very young plants, when appreciable amounts of ϵ-, γ- and δ-cadinene and an unidentified labile (possibly C5) alcohol were detected.
δPKC inhibition during ishchemia and reperfusion: targeting BAD and the cell death machinery

Background: Inhibiting δPKC translocation during ischemia and reperfusion protects the heart from cell death by affecting the progression of apoptosis. In the heart, δPKC is activated and translocates from the soluble to the particulate fraction during ischemia and reperfusion, which has been correlated with an increase in myocardial cell damage and death. Objective: Inhibiting δPKC activity in the heart during ischemia and reperfusion is cardioprotective. Using a dPKC-specific translocation inhibitor peptide (δV1-1) developed by our lab, we have shown that inhibiting δPKC translocation during ischemia salvages myocardial cells from ischemic-induced damage. We next wanted to to determine if δPKC inhibition affects myocardial cell survival by inhibiting apoptosis.Methods: In order to address the question of whether modulating δPKC activity affects apoptosis, we used Langendorff coronary perfusion apparatus to subject adult male rat hearts to a 30 minute period of no-flow global ischemia with and without 15 or 60 minutes of reperfusion using buffer with or without a 500 nM concentration of δV1-1. Results: We show that ischemia and reperfusion induce changes in the ratio of proand anti-apoptotic proteins. During 30 minutes of global ischemia with and without 15 and 60 minutes of reperfusion, there is both a significant increase in the levels of a pro-apoptotic protein, BAD, accompanied by significant decreases in the protein levels of the anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl2 and Bcl-xL. Importantly, hearts treated with δV1-1 show a significant decline in BAD levels (to those present in normoxia) but no alterations in the levels of Bcl-2 or Bcl-xL. Further experiments show that inhibiting δPKC translocation decreases TUNEL-stained (terminal dUTP transferase-mediated nick-end labeling) nuclei in ischemic rat hearts. In control hearts, after 15 minutes, ∼15% of the cells (both myocytes and nonmyocytes) were TUNEL-positive; and the number further increased to ∼20% after 60 minutes of reperfusion. Treating hearts with δV1-1 reduced the number of TUNELpositive nuclei after 15 and 60 minutes to less than 4% (p 0.05). In addition, δV11 administration during both 15 and 60 minutes of post-ischemic reperfusion led to a decrease in caspase 3 activation and DNA laddering. Conclusions: These data suggest that by inhibiting the accumulation of a pro-apoptotic protein, BAD, as well as other downstreammarkers of programmed cell death, inhibiting δPKC translocation during ischemia and reperfusion protects the heart by ultimately inhibiting apoptosis.
Parametric Rao Tests for Multichannel Adaptive Detection in Partially Homogeneous Environment

This paper considers the problem of detecting a multichannel signal in partially homogeneous environments, where the disturbances in both test signal and training signals share the same covariance matrix up to an unknown power scaling factor. Two different parametric Rao tests, referred to as the normalized parametric Rao (NPRao) test and the scale-invariant parametric Rao (SI-PRao) test, respectively, are developed by modeling the disturbance as a multichannel autoregressive (AR) process. The NPRao and SI-PRao tests entail reduced training requirements and computational efficiency, compared with conventional fully adaptive, covariance matrix based solutions. The SI-PRao test attains asymptotically a constant false alarm rate (CFAR) that is independent of the covariance matrix and power scaling factor of the disturbance. Comparisons with the covariance matrix based, scale-invariant generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT), also known as the adaptive coherence estimator (ACE), are included. Numerical results show that the parametric Rao detectors, in particular the SI-PRao test, attain considerably better detection performance and use significantly less training than the ACE detector.
Modeling of elasto-capillary phenomena.

Surface energy is an important factor in the deformation of fluids but is typically a minimal or negligible effect in solids. However, when a solid is soft and its characteristic dimension is small, forces due to surface energy can become important and induce significant elastic deformation. The interplay between surface energy and elasticity can lead to interesting elasto-capillary phenomena. We present a finite-element-based numerical simulation capability for modeling these effects in a static, implicit framework. We demonstrate the capacity of the simulation capability by examining three elasto-capillary problems: (i) wetting of an elastic hemispherical droplet on a substrate, (ii) cavitation of an elastomer, and (iii) the Rayleigh–Plateau instability in soft elastic filaments.
Delay-bounded adaptive UFH-based anti-jamming wireless communication

Anti-jamming communication without pre-shared secrets has gained increasing research interest recently and is commonly tackled by utilizing the technique of uncoordinated frequency hopping (UFH). Existing researches, however, are almost all based on ad hoc designs of frequency hopping strategies, lacking of theoretical foundations for scheme design and performance evaluation. To fill this gap, this paper introduces the online optimization theory into the solution and, for the first time, makes thorough quantitative performance characterization possible for UFH-based anti-jamming communications. Specifically, we propose an efficient online UFH algorithm achieving asymptotic optimum and analytically prove its optimality under different message coding scenarios. Extensive simulative evaluations are conducted to validate our theoretical analysis under both oblivious and adaptive jamming strategies.
Reciprocity Relationships for Gyrotropic Media

Reversal of the dc magnetic field in gyrotropic media transposes the tensor permeability and permittivity. It is shown that this also transposes the impedance, admittance, and scattering matrices any device. It follows from this that the usual reciprocity statements for isotropic media apply to gyrotropic media if one reverses the dc magnetic field whenever an interchange of source and is made.
ONYX versus n-BCA for embolization of cranial dural arteriovenous fistulas

Purpose To evaluate the efficacy of n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (Trufill n-BCA) versus ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (ONYX) for the embolization of cranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVF). Methods Fifty-three consecutive patients with cranial dural AVF were treated with liquid embolic agents from November, 2003 to November, 2008. These 53 patients had 56 lesions treated with arterial embolization. Patients embolized to completion underwent follow-up angiography at 3 months to assess for durable occlusion. Results Twenty-one lesions were treated with n-BCA. Seven patients treated with n-BCA had initial angiographic occlusion of their DAVF, which were durable at 3 months. Six patients had adjunctive treatment with coils and/or polyvinyl alcohol particles, but none of these were occluded by endovascular treatment alone. Eleven patients underwent post-embolization surgery for closure of their DAVF. There was one death related to intractable status epilepticus at presentation. One patient developed a major stroke from venous sinus thrombosis after embolization. Thirty-five lesions were treated with ONYX in 34 patients. Twenty-nine patients treated with ONYX had initial angiographic occlusion of their DAVF by embolization alone. One patient had recurrence at 3 months and was re-treated out of 27 total follow-ups. Four patients underwent post-embolization surgical obliteration of their lesions. No deaths or major strokes occurred in this cohort. Conclusion Initial angiographic occlusion (p=0.0004) and durable angiographic occlusion (p=0.0018) rates for embolization of cranial DAVF show a statistically significant higher efficacy with ONYX compared with n-BCA. Patients embolized with ONYX underwent surgery less frequently compared with those treated with n-BCA (p=0.0015).
Multiple Neoplasia in a Rhesus Monkey Macaca mulatta

Spontaneous and induced neoplasms in monkeys have been reported infrequently. RATCLIFFE~~ and LOMBARD and WITTE~~ have established that the incidence of tumors in nonhuman primates is low. Other reports have been made concerning the overall low incidence of neoplasms in monkeys. An aged female rhesus monkey (Mucucu mulattu) with multiple primary tumors, one with metastasis, is the subject of this report. She had received fractional doses of whole-body irradiation over a decade before.
Preparing the Minds of the Future

A psychiatrist, who also knows what the school world is like, believes that the ancient dream of being able to enlarge a man's capacities to think is about to become a reality.
MR Colonography and MR Enterography

The bowel is a common site for pathologic processes, including malignancies and inflammatory disease. Colorectal cancer accounts for 10% of all new cancers and 9% of cancer deaths. A significant decrease in the incidence of colorectal cancer and cancer death rates has been attributed to screening measures, earlier detection, and improved therapies. Virtual colonoscopy (VC), also known as computed tomography colonography, is an effective method for detecting polyps. However, in light of increasing concerns about ionizing radiation exposure from medical imaging and potential increased risk of future radiation-induced malignancies, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is seen as an increasingly attractive alternative. Improvements in MRI technology now permit three-dimensional volumetric imaging of the entire colon in a single breath hold at high spatial resolution, making VC with MRI possible.
Toward virtual anatomy: A stereoscopic 3-D interactive multimedia computer program for cranial osteology

Advances in computer visualization and user interface technologies have enabled development of “virtual reality” programs that allow users to perceive and to interact with objects in artificial three-dimensional environments. Such technologies were used to create an image database and program for studying the human skull, a specimen that has become increasingly expensive and scarce. Stereoscopic image pairs of a museum-quality skull were digitized from multiple views. For each view, the stereo pairs were interlaced into a single, field-sequential stereoscopic picture using an image processing program. The resulting interlaced image files are organized in an interactive multimedia program. At run-time, gray-scale 3-D images are displayed on a large-screen computer monitor and observed through liquid-crystal shutter goggles. Users can then control the program and change views with a mouse and cursor to point-and-click on screen-level control words (“buttons”). For each view of the skull, an ID control button can be used to overlay pointers and captions for important structures. Pointing and clicking on “hidden buttons” overlying certain structures triggers digitized audio spoken word descriptions or mini lectures. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Reassessing the Impact of Civil Society: Nonprofit Sector, Press Freedom, and Corruption

The notion that a strong civil society helps to fight corruption has become a cornerstone of governance policy. Yet, a continuing dearth of empirical research, which tests this general proposition and probes the relevant causal mechanisms, feeds rising skepticism of current policy initiatives. This study theorizes the relationship between civil society and corruption, arguing that civil society's impact depends to a large extent on its ability to generate sufficient public pressure which, in turn, depends on the press being free. Analysis of cross-national and longitudinal data shows that civil society strength is indeed inversely linked to the level of corruption, but the impact is highly dependent on press freedom. This conditioning effect affirms the importance of the public pressure mechanism. These results explain the need for policy to target both civil society and press freedom in promoting accountable governance and sustainable development.
Trajectory generation for two robots cooperating to perform a task

This paper formulates an algorithm for trajectory generation for two robots cooperating to perform an assembly task. Treating the two robots as a single redundant system, this paper derives two Jacobian matrices which relate the joint rates of the entire system to the relative motion of the grippers with respect to one another. The main advantage of this method over previous methods is that operations may be described in the coordinates of the assembly rather than in world coordinates. To join parts using this algorithm, the desired relative position is specified and the algorithm automatically determines where the robots perform the assembly. In the process of generating the trajectory, the dexterity of the highly redundant dual-robot system is taken advantage of to satisfy a variety of secondary constraints. Secondary constraints may include obstacle and joint limit avoidance and constraints to satisfy certain absolute position and orientation goals. The algorithm typically involves two phases. First the parts to be assembled are brought from an arbitrary initial configuration to an approach configuration. This phase uses a newly derived relative distance Jacobian formulation which inherently avoids collisions. Then, a more traditional Jacobian formulation is used to join the parts.