cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Use of chemokine Releasing Tissue Engineering Scaffolds in a Model of Inflammatory Response-Mediated Melanoma Cancer Metastasis

Inflammatory responses and associated products have been implicated in cancer metastasis. However, the relationship between these two processes is uncertain due to the lack of a suitable model. Taking advantage of localized and controllable inflammatory responses induced by biomaterial implantation and the capability of tissue scaffolds to release a wide variety of chemokines, we report a novel system for studying the molecular mechanisms of inflammation-mediated cancer metastasis. The animal model is comprised of an initial subcutaneous implantation of biomaterial microspheres which prompt localized inflammatory responses, followed by the transplantation of metastatic cancer cells into the peritoneal cavity or blood circulation. Histological results demonstrated that substantial numbers of B16F10 cells were recruited to the site nearby biomaterial implants. There was a strong correlation between the degree of biomaterial-mediated inflammatory responses and number of recruited cancer cells. Inflammation-mediated cancer cell migration was inhibited by small molecule inhibitors of CXCR4 but not by neutralizing antibody against CCL21. Using chemokine-releasing scaffolds, further studies were carried out to explore the possibility of enhancing cancer cell recruitment. Interestingly, erythropoietin (EPO) releasing scaffolds, but not stromal cell-derived factor-1α-releasing scaffolds, were found to accumulate substantially more melanoma cells than controls. Rather unexpectedly, perhaps by indirectly reducing circulating cancer cells, mice implanted with EPO-releasing scaffolds had ~30% longer life span than other groups. These results suggest that chemokine-releasing scaffolds may potentially function as implantable cancer traps and serve as powerful tools for studying cancer distraction and even selective annihilation of circulating metastatic cancer cells.
Chronic inflammatory meningoencephalitis should not be mistaken for Alzheimer's disease.

We describe two patients with a chronic encephalopathy that clinically resembled dementia but that resolved after oral administration of high-dose corticosteroid therapy. Both patients had serologically documented Sjogren's syndrome, a diagnosis that was further supported by biopsy of a salivary gland in one. Neither patient had radiologic evidence of vasculitis of the central nervous system. In one patient, meningeal and brain biopsy specimens showed perivascular inflammatory lymphocytic infiltrates. Chronic inflammatory meningoencephalitis is a treatable cause of chronic encephalopathy that should be clinically distinguished from dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Synthetic database for polarimetric imagery

The use of polarization as the principal parameter in target recognition and clutter reduction typically requires numerous field measurements with linear and circular polarizers in order to obtain a complete set of polarimetric images for a given target. We have developed a method which reduces the number of necessary field measurements to characterize the polarization state of a given scene. In polarimetric analysis with a single linear polarizer inserted in the light sensing path, it is found that three polarimetric images are sufficient to characterize the observed light field. These images are taken with the polarizer oriented at two mutually orthogonal directions and their bisecting direction respectively. These three polarimetric images form a basis set which allows the scene at any arbitrary polarization angle to be reconstructed. A synthetic polarimetric image data base can be easily realized with only these three images rather than the huge storage and retrieval requirements for a true measured data base. The coherency matrix of a quasi-monochromatic light wave together with Stokes vector and Mueller matrix are used to deduce the minimum required measurements in constructing a synthetic data base. Examples of measured and derived images will be compared and discussed.
Should hyperhomocysteinemia be treated in patients with atherosclerotic disease

Numerous retrospective and prospective observational studies support an association between elevated homocysteine and increased risk for myocardial infarction, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. Although folic acid therapy substantially reduces homocysteine levels, recent large, randomized controlled trials failed to translate folic acid-induced homocysteine reduction into clinical benefit for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular events. These studies are compelling and have generated some newfound skepticism regarding a clinical role for folic acid therapy. Because these intervention trials have been limited to patients with mild hyperhomocysteinemia, the results of the trials imply that folic acid therapy may be best suited for individuals with more robustly elevated homocysteine levels. Furthermore, the potential benefit of folic acid therapy for primary prevention in individuals at low- or intermediate-risk for atherothrombotic disease has not been studied to date. Thus, at this time, folic acid therapy for borderline or mild hyperhomocysteinemia is not recommended. However, the role of folic acid therapy in patients with intermediate or severe hyperhomocysteinemia, or for primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases, remains unresolved.
Statistics: an essential technology in environmental research and management

Statistical methods as developed and used in decision making and scientific research are of recent origin. The logical foundations of statistics are still under discussion and some care is needed in applying the existing methodology and interpreting results. Some pitfalls in statistical data analysis are discussed and the importance of cross examination of data (or exploratory data analysis) before using specific statistical techniques are emphasized. Comments are made on the treatment of outliers, choice of stochastic models, use of multivariate techniques and the choice of software (expert systems) in statistical analysis. The need for developing new methodology with particular relevance to environmental research and policy is stressed.
Couples Undergoing Infertility Treatment: Implications for Counselors:

This review examines the current literature regarding infertility counseling as it applies to clinical practice. Although there have been several excellent studies and articles published within the past few years, including ones in this journal, the references to a case study here adds another dimension to the literature. The author describes a case of a couple who is referred to counseling by the clinic performing the in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Current issues that family counselors face such as reactions to infertility, differences between male and female reactions, parenting after successful IVF treatment, reactions to unsuccessful treatment, and the role of counseling and psychotherapy are discussed.
Vitamin D deficiency in adolescent females

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to estimate the incidence of low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels in adolescent girls and across racial groups and seasons. Methods Healthy postmenarcheal girls (12–18 years of age) were recruited for the study. Serum samples were assayed for 25(OH)D with a competitive protein binding assay (CPB) (Nichols Institute, San Clemente, California). Results The study included 370 girls (mean age, 15.5 ± 1.6 y), with a mean serum 25(OH)D level of 53.7(29.0) nmol/L. Seventeen percent of the girls were found to be vitamin D deficient (serum 25(OH)D ≤ 27.5 nmol/L) and 54% were vitamin D insufficient (serum 25(OH)D ≤ 50 nmol/L) using the CPB assay. There was a significant difference in mean serum 25(OH)D levels between the African-American girls (43.0 nmol/L) and non-African-American girls (72.2 nmol/L) ( p p r = −.19) ( p = .0002). Conclusions For adolescent girls living in the northeastern United States, especially African-American girls, low 25(OH)D levels are a noteworthy concern because bone acquisition is crucial during this period of development.
Foot and Ankle Severity Scale (FASS)

Increasing use of air bags and seat belts has led to the saving of many lives. However, the orthopaedic surgeon is now left to manage increasing numbers of serious foot and ankle trauma. It is important to injury prevention programs to have an injury severity scale for these injuries. The Abbreviated Injury Scale is used widely; however, it is intended primarily to gauge possibility of death after accidents. It is not sensitive enough to give meaningful data about the foot and ankle trauma epidemic. The Trauma Committee of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society has developed a rank order list of 91 foot and ankle injuries that commonly occur in vehicular crashes. The injuries are ranked according to severity (FASS-S). Estimated long-term impairment is also given for each injury (FASS-I). This scale is designed as a guideline to help rank importance and impairment of vehicular crash injuries. It is expected that the scale will be modified as future validity testing and other research dictates.
Materials science tetrahedron - A useful tool for pharmaceutical research and development

The concept of materials science tetrahedron (MST) concisely depicts the inter-dependent relationship among the structure, properties, performance, and processing of a drug. Similar to its role in traditional materials science, MST encompasses the development in the emerging field of pharmaceutical materials science and forms a scientific foundation to the design and development of new drug products. Examples are given to demonstrate the applicability of MST to both pharmaceutical research and product development. It is proposed that a systematic implementation of MST can expedite the transformation of pharmaceutical product development from an art to a science. By following the principle of MST, integration of research among different laboratories can be attained. The pharmaceutical science community as a whole can conduct more efficient, collaborative, and coherent research.
Photochemical and microbial consumption of dissolved organic carbon and dissolved oxygen in the Amazon River system

Abstract Bacterial and photochemical mineralization of dissolved organic matter were investigated in the Amazon River system. Dissolved oxygen, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and bacterial growth were measured during incubations conducted under natural sunlight and in the dark. Substrate addition experiments indicated that the relatively low rates of bacterial activity in Amazon River water were caused by C limitation. Experiments to determine the photoreactivity of this biologically refractory DOC revealed unusually high rates of photochemical consumption of DOC (~4.0 μM C h−1) and dissolved oxygen (~3.6 μM O2 h−1) in Rio Negro surface waters. In additional experiments we observed that bacterial growth and respiration were not significantly stimulated or inhibited during periods of sunlight exposure. The molar ratio of DOC to O2 consumed during photochemical processes was close to one (1.11–1.14) in all photooxidation experiments. Sunlight exposure over 27 h showed that at least 15% of Rio Negro DOM was photoreactive. The rate of photochemical consumption of DOC was approximately sevenfold greater than bacterial DOC utilization in Rio Negro surface waters; however, integrated over the entire water column microbial remineralization was the dominant process for oxygen and DOC consumption. Photomineralization of biologically refractory riverine DOM appears to be more important than previously believed and could be a major removal mechanism for terrestrially-derived DOM in the coastal ocean.
Assessing Impacts of Nutrient Competition on the Chemical Composition of Individual Microalgae Species

Microalgae cells can chemically adapt to ambient conditions. In this study, it has been hypothesized that the microalgal species composition could include the mechanism thought to cause changes in the cell content. An FTIR-spectroscopic measurement technique has been developed in this study for investigations of this hypothesis. Experiments were based on culturing microalgae species individually followed by comparing their spectroscopic signatures to the same species cultured under the same ambient conditions in mixtures. While keeping all other parameters the same, any significant spectroscopic shifts between the single-species cultures and the mixed cultures were then attributed to competition effects. These spectroscopic analyses were performed on Dunaliella salina, Dunaliella parva, and Nannochlorpsis oculata. These cells were exposed to concentration series of bicarbonate (C-source), ammonium (N-source), and nitrate (an alternative N-source). It has been shown that there are significant chemical shif...
Sex steroid hormones during the ovarian cycle of an all-female, parthenogenetic lizard and their correlation with pseudosexual behavior.

Cnemidophorus uniparens is a unisexual lizard that reproduces by parthenogenesis. Individuals of this species display male-like and female-like copulatory behaviors during different phases of the ovarian cycle suggesting that these pseudocopulatory behaviors are hormonally activated. To learn more about both the endocrinology of parthenogenesis and the possible hormonal activation of male-like copulatory behavior in female individuals, we (1) characterized changes in plasma levels of the sex steroid hormones progesterone, 5α-dihydrotestosterone, testosterone, and 17β-estradiol during the ovarian cycle in both free-living and captive individuals, and (2) measured sex steroid hormones in plasma collected from captive individuals immediately after they expressed male-like or female-like copulatory behavior. In general, the pattern of secretion of ovarian hormones in C. uniparens appears to be similar to that of other oviparous vertebrates with similar reproductive cycles. Estradiol is elevated only during the preovulatory phase, whereas progesterone increases slightly during vitellogenesis and then increases dramatically following ovulation. Circulating levels of androgen are very low and are generally below the sensitivity of our radioimmunoassay at all stages of the ovarian cycle. The hormonal correlates of female-like copulatory behavior suggest that, as in other vertebrates, female receptivity is activated by a synergism of estradiol and progesterone. There is no evidence that the hormonal cycle has been altered to produce elevated levels of androgens during the phase of the cycle when male-like behavior is expressed. Rather it seems more likely that the central nervous system has evolved a novel response to a typical pattern of ovarian steroid hormone secretion. At present, the best hormonal correlate of male-like behavior is that changes in plasma levels of progesterone closely parallel changes in probability of expressing male-like behavior.
Agent Based Supervision of Zone 3 Relays to Prevent Hidden Failure Based Tripping

In this paper, we propose a distributed agent based supervisory scheme to make Zone 3 relays robust to hidden failure induced tripping, facilitated by the communication network -- soon to become an integral parts of the smart grid. Possible elimination of Zone 3 relays (remote backup protection) has been studied in the recent past and these remote backup relays have been adjudged to be essential for power system protection [23]. Even though Zone 3 relays are often overly sensitive to remote line overloading, and are known to cause unwarranted trips during cascading failure scenarios, they are prescribed as acceptable means for remote backup. Therefore, providing robustness to Zone 3 relays to minimize the risk of erroneous trips, especially when hidden failures [10, 1] make them vulnerable to over reaction, is an important problem. In our scheme, a synchronous grid is populated with agents at each relay, and an agent hierarchy is maintained in master/slave relationship. The communication established between relay agents decreases the probability of erroneous Zone 3 trips thereby preventing them from aggravating cascading failure scenarios, and reducing the probability of cascading blackouts. Unlike other agent based relay proposals, ours is a nonintrusive approach.
Cohesive-zone laws for void growth — I. Experimental field projection of crack-tip crazing in glassy polymers

Abstract A hybrid framework for inverse analysis of crack-tip cohesive-zone model is developed in this two-part paper to measure cohesive-zone laws of void growth in polymers by combining analytical, experimental, and numerical approaches. This paper focuses on experimental measurements of the cohesive-zone laws for two nonlinear fracture processes in glassy polymers, namely multiple crazing in crack-growth toughening of rubber-toughened high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) and crazing of steady-state crack growth in polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) under a methanol environment. To this end, electronic speckle pattern interferometry (ESPI) is first applied to measure the crack-tip displacement fields surrounding the fracture process zones in these polymers. These fields are subsequently equilibrium smoothed and used in the extraction of the cohesive-zone laws via an analytical solution method of the inverse problem, the planar field projection method (P-FPM) [Hong, S., Kim, K.-S., 2003. Extraction of cohesive-zone laws from elastic far-fields of a cohesive crack tip: a field projection method. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids 51, 1267–1286]. Results show that the proposed framework of the P-FPM could provide a systematic way of finding the shape of the cohesive-zone laws governed by the different micro-mechanisms in the fracture processes. In HIPS, inter-particle multiple crazing develops and the craze zone broadens ahead of a crack-tip under mechanical loading. The corresponding cohesive-zone relationship of the multiple-craze zone is found to be highly convex, which indicates effectiveness of rubber particle toughening. It is also observed that the effective peak traction, 7 MPa, in the crack-tip cohesive zone of HIPS (30% rubber content) is lower than the uniaxial yield stress of 9 MPa, presumably due to stress multi-axiality effects. In contrast, in PMMA, methanol localizes the crack-tip craze, weakening the craze traction for craze-void initiation to about 9 MPa and the fibril pull-out stress to less than 6 MPa. This reduction in cohesive traction, coupled with a strongly concave traction–separation cohesive-zone relationship, signifies environmental embrittlement of PMMA. These experimentally determined cohesive-zone laws are compared with detailed numerical analyses of effective microscale-void growth ahead of a crack tip in Part II.
Field-strength formulation of gauge theories: Transformation of the functional integral

We present a formulation of gauge field theories in which the gauge potentials ${A}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}(x)$ are eliminated in a simple way in terms of the field strengths ${F}_{\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\nu}}(x)$. Our results are closely related to, but are much simpler than, Halpern's dual variable formulation of gauge theories in the axial gauge. We work in the coordinate gauge ${x}^{\ensuremath{\mu}}{A}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}(x)=0$, and show both analytically and geometrically that the potential ${A}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}$ can be determined uniquely from the field strengths ${F}_{\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\nu}}$ for a suitable class of $F'\mathrm{s}$, $A\ensuremath{\rightarrow}A[F]$. We show, furthermore, that a tensor ${F}_{\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\nu}}(x)$ is a coordinate-gauge field tensor if and only if it satisfies the restricted set of Bianchi identities ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}^{\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\nu}\ensuremath{\sigma}\ensuremath{\lambda}}{x}_{\ensuremath{\sigma}}{D}^{\ensuremath{\rho}}[F]^{*}F_{\ensuremath{\rho}\ensuremath{\lambda}}=0$, $D=\ensuremath{\partial}+[A[F], \ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}]$. These results permit us to transform the functional integral for the vacuum-to-vacuum amplitude $Z[J]$ for the gauge theory to a form in which the potentials are completely eliminated in terms of the field strengths. When the Bianchi constraints are eliminated using a set of Lagrange multiplier fields ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{\ensuremath{\sigma}}(x)$, the $F'\mathrm{s}$ can be integrated out completely to obtain a form of the theory which appears to be useful for strong coupling.
Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Formate by [Ni(PR2NR′2)2(CH3CN)]2+ Complexes

[Ni(PR2NR′2)2(CH3CN)]2+ complexes with R = Ph, R′ = 4-MeOPh or R = Cy, R′ = Ph , and a mixed-ligand [Ni(PR2NR′2)(PR′′2NR′2)(CH3CN)]2+ with R = Cy, R′ = Ph, R′′ = Ph, have been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. These and previously reported complexes are shown to be electrocatalysts for the oxidation of formate in solution to produce CO2, protons, and electrons, with rates that are first-order in catalyst and formate at formate concentrations below ∼0.04 M (34 equiv). At concentrations above ∼0.06 M formate (52 equiv), catalytic rates become nearly independent of formate concentration. For the catalysts studied, maximum observed turnover frequencies vary from <1.1 to 15.8 s–1 at room temperature, which are the highest rates yet reported for formate oxidation by homogeneous catalysts. These catalysts are the only base-metal electrocatalysts as well as the only homogeneous electrocatalysts reported to date for the oxidation of formate. An acetate complex demonstrating an ...
Meaning and Scientific Status of Causality

The disagreement with regard to the validity of the principle of causality, existing to-day among scientists, has its roots in the diversity of definitions of the principle itself rather than in a problematic scientific situation.1 As far as the formulation of quantum theory is complete its bearing upon philosophical questions can be fixed with precision provided the questions are phrased intelligibly. But a question is intelligible from a scientific point of view only if it satisfies two conditions: (1) the meaning of its terms must be fixed; (2) it must be in accord with the conventions of the science to which the question is put.
Relationship of Angler Exploitation to the Size, Age, and Sex of Walleyes in Escanaba Lake, Wisconsin

Abstract Between 1955 and 1979, there was an inverse relationship between angler exploitation rates for walleye (Stizostedion v. vitreum) and the mean lengths and ages of walleyes in Escanaba Lake, Wisconsin. This phenomenon may be caused by the bait size used by anglers, the relationship of feeding frequency to walleye size, differential natural mortality rates between young and old walleyes, age or size differences in walleye behavior, or combinations of these factors. The inverse relationship between walleye age or length and exploitation could lessen the increase in angling yield that might otherwise result from an increased minimum length limit (if no compensatory changes in growth or natural mortality resulted from an increase in the density of larger fish). Male and female walleyes were exploited equally in Escanaba Lake.
2-aza-1,3-dienes as novel precursors for the synthesis of N-unsubstituted β-lactams. A three step synthesis of 4-acetoxy-3-phenoxy-2-azeridinone

Abstract 2-Aza-1,3-dienes, prepared in excellent yields from aldehydes and readily available allylamine, were utilized to synthesize N -(1-propenyl)-β-lactams. Oxidative cleavage of the N -protecting group produced N -unsubstituted β-lactams. 4-Acetoxy-3-phenoxy-2-azetidinone was synthesized in three steps and 34% overall yield.
EPR study of the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of (meth)acrylates

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy was applied to atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and methyl acrylate (MA) in order to investigate the mechanism of the controlled/“living” radical polymerization system. Although initially only copper(I) species was added to the system as a catalyst, EPR signals of copper(II) species were observed during the polymerization of MMA initiated by ethyl 2-bromoisobutyrate and p-methylbenzenesulfonyl chloride, and polymerization of MA initiated by methyl 2-bromopropionate. As the polymerization proceeded, the concentration of copper(II) increased gradually until a steady state was reached. The EPR results indicate that 5–6% of copper(I) species converted to copper(II) species in polymerization of MMA and about 3% in polymerization of MA at 90°C.
Optimized light absorption in Si wire array solar cells

Reducing reflection and transmission losses in photovoltaic devices is essential for realizing highly efficient power conversion. Here, we theoretically investigate arrays of radial junction silicon wires to determine the optimal geometry for maximized light absorption. Using a generalized rigorous coupled wave analysis, we calculate the scattering spectra of arrays of varying wire radii, length, and lattice filling factors. Near unity absorption, far exceeding that of conventional thin film devices, is calculated for a square array of 20 µm long wires with radii of 200 nm and a filling fraction of 30%. These results suggest a potentially cost-effective route toward high efficiency solar cells.
Experimental methods in the pathogenesis of limb ischemia

Ischemia of extremities is responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality and the pathophysiology of this condition warrants further study. The purpose of this review is to discuss techniques used in the evaluation of limb ischemia and reperfusion. It is of critical importance to study limb blood flow distribution to the microcirculation where nutritive exchange occurs. Skeletal muscle ischemia progresses to infarction when critical deficits of cellular metabolites develop, which mandates that studies be focused at the cellular level. It is clear that the adverse effects of ischemia can be exacerbated by a reperfusion injury to the endothelium of the microvasculature. Investigators wishing to study limb ischemia have a wide spectrum of methodology and established models available to use in improving the understanding of the complex events of ischemic injury.
An Overview Of Binary Optics At The Perkin-Elmer Corporation

Binary optics is an emerging technology whereby light is directed, combined, or distributed by the surface of an optical material that has a binary, or "stepped," phase or transmission microstructure. Binary optical elements can be fabricated under computer control to behave as thin lenses, prisms, gratings, holograms, or phase plates, as the need arises. Their useful properties have been demonstrated in several applications at Perkin-Elmer.
Constraints from unification of interactions in a class of composite models

Abstract Constraints from the unification of non-gravitational interactions are discussed for a class of composite models of quarks and leptons with unbroken SU(N)H ⊗ SU(3)c ⊗ U(1)em interactions (H being hypercolor responsible for the binding of preons). Some new models are proposed in this connection. The minimal SU(7) unification is analyzed in detail for the case of N = 4.
On the flow of granular materials with variable material properties

The mechanics of flowing granular materials such as coal, sand, agricultural products, fertilizers, dry chemicals, metal ores, etc., and their flow characteristics have received considerable attention in recent years. In this paper, the governing equations for the flow of granular materials are derived using a continuum approach. For a fully developed flow of these materials down an inclined plane, the equations reduce to a system of coupled non-linear ordinary differential equations for the case where the material properties are assumed to vary quadratically with the volume fraction. The boundary value problem is solved numerically and the results are presented for the volume fraction and velocity profiles.
CARBON MONOXIDE AND CYANIDE LIGANDS IN A CLASSICAL ORGANOMETALLIC COMPLEX MODEL FOR FE-ONLY HYDROGENASE

The Fe(I) organometallic complex [(µ-SCH(2)CH(2)CH(2)S)Fe(2)(CO)(6)] provides a structural model for the cyano-carbonyl diiron site of Fe-only hydrogenase as characterized by X-ray crystallography (the picture shows the structure (black) of the model overlaid with that of the Fe-Fe dimetallic site in the hydrogenase isolated from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans). Cyanide substitution of CO occurs readily and provides spectroscopic references for the active site.
Parameterized phase response curves for characterizing neuronal behaviors under transient conditions

Phase response curves (PRCs) are a simple model of how a neuron's spike time is affected by synaptic inputs. PRCs are useful in predicting how networks of neurons behave when connected. One challen...
ALTERNATIVE MORPHOGENETIC EVENTS IN CELL SUSPENSIONS

A B S T R A C T Two distinct types of regeneration, rhizogenesis and embryogenesis, were observed as alternative morphogenetic events in wild carrot cell suspensions. Petiole-derived callus, grown on high-auxin media lacking reduced nitrogen, was dispersed, passed through sieves, and the 45-75-Mi fraction was used to inoculate low-auxin liquid media. After 2-3 weeks adventitious roots developed from endogenous primordia within large cell clumps. In contrast, liquid cultures inoculated with the same fraction, or with the fraction that passed a 45 ji pore sieve, from callus grown on media containing reduced nitrogen yielded enormous numbers of embryos. Globular proembryos were recognizable within several days of inoculation as bud-like outgrowths from relatively few-celled proembryogenic masses. The ontogeny of embryos from cultured cells has been compared to the ontogeny of the carrot seed embryo.: These new data are discussed in the light of previous regenerative work with carrot cell cultures, current theories of causal aspects of embryogenesis in vitro, and current concepts of the forces controlling embryo development. IN A previous short report the general features and implications of embryogenesis in tissue cultures of the wild carrot, Daucus carota, were discussed (Halperin and Wetherell, 1965a). In this paper histological details are given concerning both embryogenesis and an alternative regenerative process, rhizogenesis, which occur in wild carrot cell suspensions. Studies of regenerative phenomena in cell cultures of both domestic and wild carrot, by Steward and his co-workers, have involved different methods and led to somewhat different conclusions (Steward, Mapes, and Mears, 1958; Steward et al., 1964). The essential similSrities and differences in experimental findings are discussed in this paper in the light of new data presented. No other detailed studies of embryogenesis in tissue cultures have been reported, although several brief reports concerning the occurrence of embryos in cultured tissue from a variety of species attest to the fact that studies of this type may soon be feasible with species other than carrot. MATERIALS AND METHODS-Explants used to start cultures consisted of surface-sterilized segments cut from petioles of rosette stage wild carrots raised in the greenhouse. Explants and derived cultures were grown on semi-solid or liquid media containing inorganic salts, with the exception of nitrogen and iron, as published by Lin and Staba (1961). Nitrogen was supplied in various forms as specified for each experiment. Iron EDTA was prepared as specified by Mura
Basketball's Forgotten Experiment: Don Barksdale and the Legacy of the United States Olympic Basketball Team

The 1948 United States Olympic basketball team has largely been forgotten in the annals of American history despite taking a major step toward racial integration in American sports. Don Barksdale, the first African American to represent the US on the hardwood in the Olympics, joined nine players from the American South and legendary University of Kentucky coach, Adolph Rupp - a man notoriously identified as a racist. While Barksdale experienced very little racial mistreatment during the London Olympics, the lead-up to the Games reveals America's ambiguous views on race relations. During training in the segregated states of Oklahoma and Kentucky, Barksdale experienced varying levels of treatment from his teammates, coaches, and citizens of the two southern states. His experiences paralleled those of another racial pioneer, Jackie Robinson, who mentored Barksdale throughout his basketball journeys. Today, Robinson stands as a household name for breaking baseball's color barrier while Barksdale, whose feat o...
Tracking filter initialization with Doppler-biased multistatic time-of-arrival measurements

We discuss the multistatic target tracking problem in which the target is illuminated by Doppler tolerant waveforms (DTW). DTW introduce a bias to the true time-of-arrival, as a result of which the corresponding range measurement accuracy is degraded when this bias is ignored. An important part in the design of a tracking filter using nonlinear measurements is the initialization: the initial state estimate should be unbiased and the associated covariance should be consistent with the errors. This paper presents a maximum likelihood based method as well as a simpler iterative bias cancellation method to initialize a tracking filter from two observation frames. The iterative method makes it possible to obtain unbiased initial position and velocity estimates by canceling out the Doppler bias. Simulation results show that both estimators are efficient.
Adaptive estimation in time series regression models

This work develops adaptive estimators for a linear regression model with serially correlated errors. We show that these results continue to hold when the order of the ARMA process characterizing the errors is unknown. The finite sample results are promising, indicating that substantial efficiency gains may be possible for samples as small as 50 observations. We use these estimators to investigate the behavior of the forward foreign exchange market.
Research Advances: Potential New Drugs: 970 Million and Still Counting; Natural Viagra?; Sugarcoated Quantum Dots for Drug Delivery

Many current research projects focus on aspects of molecular medicine. This month’s Research Advances highlight the development of a small-molecules database for inspiring new drug design, the scientific assessment of a folk remedy, and the possibility of enhancing drug-delivery mechanisms.
Paroxetine binding in the blood platelets of post-traumatic stress disorder patients

Platelet serotonin (5-HT) uptake, as determined by 3H-paroxetine (PA) binding, was studied in 20 Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) patients and 20 normal controls. Kd (an inverse measure of affinity of 3H-PA binding to uptake sites) and Bmax (maximum number of 3H-PA binding sites) of 3H-PA binding were significantly decreased in PTSD patients as compared to normal controls. However, there was no difference in Kd or Bmax between PTSD patients with and without a diagnosis of major depression. The Bmax of 3H-PA binding was negatively correlated with state dependent anxiety score whereas Kd was positively correlated with the Mississippi Scale for Combat-Related PTSD score. The role of serotonergic processes in the psychobiology of PTSD is discussed.
Fast Solution of $\ell _{1}$ -Norm Minimization Problems When the Solution May Be Sparse

The minimum lscr1-norm solution to an underdetermined system of linear equations y=Ax is often, remarkably, also the sparsest solution to that system. This sparsity-seeking property is of interest in signal processing and information transmission. However, general-purpose optimizers are much too slow for lscr1 minimization in many large-scale applications.In this paper, the Homotopy method, originally proposed by Osborne et al. and Efron et al., is applied to the underdetermined lscr1-minimization problem min parxpar1 subject to y=Ax. Homotopy is shown to run much more rapidly than general-purpose LP solvers when sufficient sparsity is present. Indeed, the method often has the following k-step solution property: if the underlying solution has only k nonzeros, the Homotopy method reaches that solution in only k iterative steps. This k-step solution property is demonstrated for several ensembles of matrices, including incoherent matrices, uniform spherical matrices, and partial orthogonal matrices. These results imply that Homotopy may be used to rapidly decode error-correcting codes in a stylized communication system with a computational budget constraint. The approach also sheds light on the evident parallelism in results on lscr1 minimization and orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP), and aids in explaining the inherent relations between Homotopy, least angle regression (LARS), OMP, and polytope faces pursuit.
Simultaneous Type and Dimensional Synthesis of Planar 1DOF Mechanisms Using Evolutionary Search and Convertible Agents (DETC2009-86722)

This paper introduces a novel approach to automated mechanism synthesis called “convertible agents.” The evolutionary computing technique has been developed specifically for the unique design challenges encountered when synthesizing a mechanism for both type and dimensionality. Several case studies are presented, which demonstrate the approach’s effectiveness over earlier solution strategies. In these studies, six different planar single-degree-of-freedom mechanism types are considered: a four-bar mechanism, Stephenson’s six-bar-mechanisms (types I, II, and III), and Watt’s six-bar-mechanisms (types I and II). The synthesis technique selects the best suited mechanism type from this set and optimizes its dimensions to meet the design objective at hand. The method is readily scalable to account for any number of different mechanism types and complexities.
Hot Flashes: Epidemiology and Physiologya

A review of the literature illustrates the many questions about hot flashes that remain unanswered. My survey addresses some of these questions. The prospective and retrospective descriptions of hot flashes provide a more detailed profile of the hot flash than has previously been available. Further, data from this survey demonstrate that while the patterns of hot flashes may be varied, there are commonalities in hot flash physiology and subjective manifestation. The data indicate that hot flashes may start much earlier and continue far longer than is commonly recognized by physicians or acknowledged in textbooks of gynecology. Studies of hot flash duration must control for age or age at hot flash onset, since the older the subjects, the more potential years of hot flashes and the greater the probability of encompassing the entire period of hot flashes. Hot flashes are not static; patterns may change with time. For some women, hot flashes become less frequent and less intense; for others, hot flashes may continue at hourly intervals well into old age. How common these experiences are for women of all ages still needs to be discovered. As expounded by Kaufert, McKinlay, Goodman, and many others, a greater effort must be made to standardize definitions and question formats as well as to improve methodology in epidemiologic investigations to facilitate comparability between studies and insure that proffered conclusions indeed reflect the questions being asked. Physiological studies are critical counterparts to the epidemiology; yet such studies have been too few. My work, by examining the physiology and psychophysiology of hot flashes, has raised additional questions about central and peripheral inputs that may affect the subjective experience of hot flashes. A more complete understanding of the thermoregulatory, cardiovascular, and psychophysiology of women with hot flashes are compared to women without will facilitate the prediction of who is most likely to be affected and the identification of additional approaches to the management of hot flashes.
Molecular simulation to characterize the adsorption behavior of a fibrinogen gamma-chain fragment.

Implants invoke inflammatory responses from the body even if they are chemically inert and nontoxic. It has been shown that a crucial precedent event in the inflammatory process is the spontaneous adsorption of fibrinogen (Fg) on implant surfaces, which is typically followed by the presence of phagocytic cells. Interactions between the phagocyte integrin Mac-1 and two short sequences within the fibrinogen A chain, A190-202 and A377-395, may partially explain phagocyte accumulation at implant surfaces. These two sequences are believed to form an integrin binding site that is inaccessible when Fg is in its soluble-state structure but then becomes available for Mac-1 binding following adsorption, presumably due to adsorptioninduced conformational changes. The objective of this research was to theoretically investigate this possibility by using molecular dynamics simulations of the A-chain fragment of Fg over self-assembled monolayer (SAM) surfaces presenting different types of surface chemistry. The GROMACS software package was used to carry out the molecular simulations in an explicit solvation environment ove ra5n speriod of time. The adsorption of the A-chain of fibrinogen was simulated on five types of SAM surfaces. The simulations showed that this protein fragment exhibits distinctly different adsorption behavior on the different surface chemistries. Although the trajectory files showed that significant conformational changes did not occur in this protein fragment over the time frame of the simulations, it was predicted that the protein does undergo substantial rotational and translational motions over the surface prior to stabilizing in various preferred orientations. This suggests that the kinetics of surface-induced conformational changes in a protein’s structure might be much slower than the kinetics of orientational changes, thus enabling the principles of adsorption thermodynamics to be used to guide adsorbing proteins into defined orientations on surfaces before large conformational changes can occur. This finding may be very important for biomaterial surface design as it suggests that surface chemistry can potentially be used to directly control the orientation of adsorbing proteins in a manner that either presents or hides specific bioactive sites contained within a protein’s structure, thereby providing a mechanism to control cellular responses to the adsorbed protein layer.
Data Fusion and Multicue Data Matching by Diffusion Maps

Data fusion and multicue data matching are fundamental tasks of high-dimensional data analysis. In this paper, we apply the recently introduced diffusion framework to address these tasks. Our contribution is three-fold: first, we present the Laplace-Beltrami approach for computing density invariant embeddings which are essential for integrating different sources of data. Second, we describe a refinement of the Nystrom extension algorithm called "geometric harmonics." We also explain how to use this tool for data assimilation. Finally, we introduce a multicue data matching scheme based on nonlinear spectral graphs alignment. The effectiveness of the presented schemes is validated by applying it to the problems of lipreading and image sequence alignment
A Human Model of Small Fiber Neuropathy to Study Wound Healing

The aim of this study was to develop a human model of acute wound healing that isolated the effects of small fiber neuropathy on the healing process. Twenty-five healthy subjects had the transient receptor vanilloid 1 agonist capsaicin and placebo creams topically applied to contralateral areas on the skin of the thigh for 48 hours. Subjects had shallow (1.2 millimeter) and deep (>3 millimeter) punch skin biopsies from each thigh on days 1 and 14. Biopsy wound healing was monitored photographically until closure. Intra-epidermal and sweat-gland nerve fiber densities were measured for each biopsy. Shallow wounds in capsaicin-treated sites healed more slowly than in placebo treated skin with biopsies taken on day 1 (P<0.001) and day 14 (P<0.001). Deep biopsies in the capsaicin and placebo areas healed at similar rates at both time points. Nerve fiber densities were reduced only in capsaicin treated regions (P<0.01). In conclusion, topical application of capsaicin causes a small fiber neuropathy and is associated with a delay in healing of shallow, but not deep wounds. This novel human model may prove valuable in the study of wound healing in patients with neuropathy.
Retry mode soft Reed-Solomon decoding

Summary form only given. In this paper, we propose a new retry mode scheme for magnetic recording systems based on a soft Reed-Solomon (RS) decoding algorithm . Instead of using asymptotic bounds, we present realistic simulation results over partial response channels, and discuss some practical implementation issues such as system architecture and erasures due to disk defects and thermal asperities. Simulation results show that a significant performance improvement can be obtained without increasing hardware complexity.
Characterization of Native and Recombinant Forms of an Unusual Cobalt-Dependent Proline Dipeptidase (Prolidase) from the Hyperthermophilic Archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus

Proline dipeptidase (prolidase) was purified from cell extracts of the proteolytic, hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus by multistep chromatography. The enzyme is a homodimer (39.4 kDa per subunit) and as purified contains one cobalt atom per subunit. Its catalytic activity also required the addition of Co2+ ions (Kd, 0.24 mM), indicating that the enzyme has a second metal ion binding site. Co2+ could be replaced by Mn2+ (resulting in a 25% decrease in activity) but not by Mg2+, Ca2+, Fe2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, or Ni2+. The prolidase exhibited a narrow substrate specificity and hydrolyzed only dipeptides with proline at the C terminus and a nonpolar amino acid (Met, Leu, Val, Phe, or Ala) at the N terminus. Optimal prolidase activity with Met-Pro as the substrate occurred at a pH of 7.0 and a temperature of 100°C. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified prolidase was used to identify in the P. furiosus genome database a putative prolidase-encoding gene with a product corresponding to 349 amino acids. This gene was expressed in Escherichia coli and the recombinant protein was purified. Its properties, including molecular mass, metal ion dependence, pH and temperature optima, substrate specificity, and thermostability, were indistinguishable from those of the native prolidase from P. furiosus. Furthermore, the Km values for the substrate Met-Pro were comparable for the native and recombinant forms, although the recombinant enzyme exhibited a twofold greater Vmax value than the native protein. The amino acid sequence of P. furiosus prolidase has significant similarity with those of prolidases from mesophilic organisms, but the enzyme differs from them in its substrate specificity, thermostability, metal dependency, and response to inhibitors. The P. furiosus enzyme appears to be the second Co-containing member (after methionine aminopeptidase) of the binuclear N-terminal exopeptidase family.
The hemoglobin profile and erythroleukemia

The red blood cells of a 7-year-old girl with erythroleukemia contained about 60% fetal type hemoglobin, reduced quantities of both Hb A2 and acetyl-cholinesterase, elevatd activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and a hexokinase pattern similar to that of a neonate. She experienced thrombocytopenia with bleeding, a poor response to therapy, and a short survival. Her course, and that of several other published cases, may support the theory of Lucarelli et al., which postulates the existence of distinct fetal and adult hematologic stem cells. Presence of fetal characteristics in red cells of patients with leukemia suggests that malignant cells may be of fetal origin in contrast, other types of leukemia are associated with red cells having adult characteristics which, presumably, originated from adult hematologic stem cells.