cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identifying peer states to assess technology-based economic development

Abstract States often rely on 50-state “report cards” or indices to track their progress in technology-based economic development. Economic development agencies value these indices, published by independent consultancies, because they cut the costs of compiling data, compare states to one another and allow agencies to avoid charges of “cherry-picking” measures to serve their own purpose. The rankings of the states in these indices have appeal as they give policymakers and development agencies an idea of likely peer states and possible members of an aspirant group. Peers and aspirant groups provide a state with examples of alternative approaches to economic development, while allowing agencies to depict economic development activities in competitive terms for policymakers and legislators. Therefore, it is important that these comparisons be valid and, since the state's development policies affect the public, it is worthwhile for the citizenry to understand how agencies make these comparisons. Although rankings are easy to understand, manipulating multiple measures to produce a single number (the ranking) can distort important differences between states. The present research addresses whether these rankings provide a reliable source for peer and aspirant groups. Analysis of two popular scorecards—the State New Economy Index and the State Technology and Science Index —shows that rankings provide only a broad picture of a state's relative standing. Clustering techniques based on self-organizing maps give a more refined view, better suited for policy analysis.
A Feat of Metabolic Proportions: Pdx1 Orchestrates Islet Development and Function in the Maintenance of Glucose Homeostasis

Emerging evidence over the past decade indicates a central role for transcription factors in the embryonic development of pancreatic islets and the consequent maintenance of normal glucose homeostasis. Pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 (Pdx1) is the best studied and perhaps most important of these factors. Whereas deletion or inactivating mutations of the Pdx1 gene causes whole pancreas agenesis in both mice and humans, even haploinsufficiency of the gene or alterations in its expression in mature islet cells causes substantial impairments in glucose tolerance and the development of a late-onset form of diabetes known as maturity onset diabetes of the young. The study of Pdx1 has revealed crucial phenotypic interrelationships of the varied cell types within the pancreas, particularly as these impinge upon cellular differentiation in the embryo and neogenesis and regeneration in the adult. In this review, we describe the actions of Pdx1 in the developing and mature pancreas and attempt to unify these actions with its known roles in modulating transcriptional complex formation and chromatin structure at the molecular genetic level.
Historical biogeography of the North American glacier ice worm, Mesenchytraeus solifugus (Annelida: Oligochaeta: Enchytraeidae).

a b s t r a c t North American ice worms are the largest glacially-obligate metazoans, inhabiting coastal, temperate glaciers between southcentral Alaska and Oregon. We have collected ice worm specimens from 10 new populations, completing a broad survey throughout their geographic range. Phylogenetic analyses of 87 individuals using fragments of nuclear 18S rRNA, and mitochondrial 12S rRNA and cyctochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) identified 18 CO1 haplotypes with divergence values up to ! 10%. Phylogeo- graphic interpretations suggest a St. Elias Range, Alaskan ancestry from an aquatic mesenchytraeid oligo- chaete during the early-Pliocene. A gradual, northward expansion by active dispersal from the central St. Elias clade characterizes a northern clade that is confined to Alaska (with one exception on Vancouver Island, British Columbia), while a distinct southern clade representing worms from British Columbia, Washington and Oregon was likely founded by a passive dispersal event originating from a northern ancestor. The geographic boundary between central and southern clades coincides with an ice worm dis- tribution gap located in southern Alaska, which appears to have restricted active gene flow throughout the species' evolutionary history.
Respiratory syncytial virus interferon antagonist NS1 protein suppresses and skews the human T lymphocyte response.

We recently demonstrated that the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) NS1 protein, an antagonist of host type I interferon (IFN-I) production and signaling, has a suppressive effect on the maturation of human dendritic cells (DC) that was only partly dependent on released IFN-I. Here we investigated whether NS1 affects the ability of DC to activate CD8+ and CD4+ T cells. Human DC were infected with RSV deletion mutants lacking the NS1 and/or NS2 genes and assayed for the ability to activate autologous T cells in vitro, which were analyzed by multi-color flow cytometry. Deletion of the NS1, but not NS2, protein resulted in three major effects: (i) an increased activation and proliferation of CD8+ T cells that express CD103, a tissue homing integrin that directs CD8+ T cells to mucosal epithelial cells of the respiratory tract and triggers cytolytic activity; (ii) an increased activation and proliferation of Th17 cells, which have recently been shown to have anti-viral effects and also indirectly attract neutrophils; and (iii) decreased activation of IL-4-producing CD4+ T cells - which are associated with enhanced RSV disease - and reduced proliferation of total CD4+ T cells. Except for total CD4+ T cell proliferation, none of the T cell effects appeared to be due to increased IFN-I signaling. In the infected DC, deletion of the NS1 and NS2 genes strongly up-regulated the expression of cytokines and other molecules involved in DC maturation. This was partly IFN-I-independent, and thus might account for the T cell effects. Taken together, these data demonstrate that the NS1 protein suppresses proliferation and activation of two of the protective cell populations (CD103+ CD8+ T cells and Th17 cells), and promotes proliferation and activation of Th2 cells that can enhance RSV disease.
Spaces on and beyond the boundary of existence

In this note we discuss various questions on whether or not quotients of Riemannian manifolds by Lie groups can be the Gromov-Hausdorff limits of manifolds with certain curvature bounds. In particular we show that any quotient of a manifold by a Lie group is a limit of manifolds with a lower curvature bound; this answers a question posed by Burago, Gromov, and Perelman. On the other hand, we prove that not all such spaces are limits of manifolds with absolute curvature bounds. We also give examples of spaces with curvature ≥1 that are not limits of manifolds with curvature ≥δ > 1/4.
Morphology of rostral medullary neurons with intrinsic pacemaker activity in the rat.

Neurons with regular ongoing activity attributable to intrinsic pacemaker properties were recorded in coronal tissue slices within the nucleus reticularis rostroventrolateralis of the rat medulla oblongata (RVL). The cells were injected with horseradish peroxidase or Lucifer yellow and their dendritic and proximal axonal characteristics were investigated (n=15). These small-to-medium-sized neurons had a simple dendritic arborization (3–6 primary dendrites branching up to 3 times) apparently confined within the limits of nucleus RVL and with limited extension in the rostrocaudal direction. Their axons originated either from the cell body or from a primary dendrite and coursed in a dorsomedial direction without giving rise to lical arborizations. It is concluded that RVL pacemaker neurons, presumed to represent a non-adrenergic class of sympathoexcitatory premotor neurons, exhibit characteristics reminiscent of the archetypal ‘reticular core’ neurons.
Modeling pre-evacuation delay by evacuees in World Trade Center Towers 1 and 2 on September 11, 2001: A revisit using regression analysis

Abstract We have tested a linear regression model to identify significant predictors of pre-evacuation delay in a sample of evacuees enrolled in the World Trade Center Evacuation Study. We have found that pre-evacuation delay was greater when there were more environmental cues, more seeking out of information, and more pre-evacuation actions. Additionally, higher perceived risk was predictive of shorter pre-evacuation delay times. These findings are compared and contrasted with an analysis of participants in the National Institute of Standards and Technology investigation of the World Trade Center disaster, recently reported by Kuligowski and Mileti (2009). Both studies reported factors associated with pre-evacuation delay that were similar to those associated with community evacuation. Additionally, we found that greater knowledge and greater emergency preparedness were associated with greater perception of risk. Greater emergency preparedness was negatively related to pre-evacuation delay within World Trade Center Tower I, but within World Trade Center Tower II, the relation between emergency preparedness and pre-evacuation delay was positive. These findings have implications for training of occupants of high-rise buildings.
The Toxic Substances Control Act and in vitro toxicity testing.

I want to discuss with you a problem which arose recently and should be of interest to everyone here. There is a bill before Congress-the Toxic Substances Control Act-which might see action in the near future. The reason for concern is the difficulty in seeing it function efficiently once it is activated. To be sure, I am not a spokesman for HEW. The point is that many toxic substances reach the environment, which have not been tested for their toxicity. There may not be enough mice or rats or even investigators around to do the job. But there are other difficulties which became apparent in the last decade and which bring this issue closer to tissue culture research. Some bioassay systems which were developed over the last 50 years have slowly been questioned with regard to their usefulness. As recent as 20 years ago no one took issue, however the results of a test for carcinogenicity turned out, positive or negative, with regard to the interpretation of the data and application of the knowledge gained by regulatory agencies. Recently it has been admitted that a negative test result does not give absolute assurance of complete inactivity and a positive test does not mean that under appropriate conditions of human exposure to the chemical the same results should be expected. In the 40's investigators tackled carcinogenesis testing in whichever way appeared most useful, mostly on mice. Many of these tests are now considered inadequate for extrapolation to man. Today, feeding rats the test chemical is generally accepted but not considered conclusive, so that feeding tests on a second rodent species is recommended before taking action. In this complex situation Congress is looking into the requirements for testing if and when the Toxic Substances Control Act becomes law and how to distribute the cost between the industrial sector and the taxpayer. Not only a staggering expense is involved, but, worse, a lot of time is required. With it comes the question whether industry will have to stop using "questionable" chemicals, now in large-scale production, until convincing "safety data" are available or their use can be continued until definitive decisions regarding safety can be made. If these chemicals are to be tested in animals in ways similar to the human contact, cost estimates may be enormous. For most extensive testing of one chemical, a total of $800,000 was projected; for a chemical requiring less complete testing, $200,000 was the estimate. The question of which tests are necessary for a completely "satisfactory" answer on safety for mankind cannot be answered and therefore should not be asked. Conditions of the bioassay are different from human exposure even if they are mimicked as closely as possible. If an air pollutant is to be inhaled by the test species exactly as by man, we realize that we do not have a proper species at 676
Short Cycling of Contaminants by Zooplankton and Their Impact on Great Lakes Ecosystems

Abstract Field evidence for short cycling of organic contaminants, from sources at the air–water interface directly into the zooplankton and fishes, has generally been lacking in the literature. The potential mechanisms, however, have been intensively explored; these are dominated by the formation of organic platelets at the air–water interface and the availability to grazers of other forms of suspended detritus. Susceptibility of the zooplankton to short cycling of contaminants thus depends upon their demonstrated propensity to feed near the surface of the lakes. As contrasted with missing environmental information, experimental evidence for short cycling is clear; the experimental inclusion of small, organic particles along with natural assemblages of nannoplankton increased PCB loading to the zooplankton 2.3 times. Further field evidence on the magnitude of short cycling must be sought, because contaminants soluble in oils influence the entire food chain. Organic contaminants such as PCBs have two distinct actions upon zooplankton populations, including the reduction of birth rates and the increase in death rates, and the inhibition of ecosystem functions such as feeding.
Reversible Sound-to-Letter/Letter-to-Sound Modeling Based on Syllable Structure

This paper describes a new grapheme-to-phoneme framework, based on a combination of formal linguistic and statistical methods. A context-free grammar is used to parse words into their underlying syllable structure, and a set of sub-word "spellneme" units encoding both phonemic and graphemic information can be automatically derived from the parsed words. A statistical n-gram model can then be trained on a large lexicon of words represented in terms of these linguistically motivated subword units. The framework has potential applications in modeling unknown words and in linking spoken spellings with spoken pronunciations for fully automatic new-word acquisition via dialogue interaction. Results are reported on sound-to-letter experiments for the nouns in the Phonebook corpus.
Cloning, expression and purification of the SRCR domains of glycoprotein 340.

Glycoprotein 340 (gp340), an innate immunity molecule is secreted luminally by monolayered epithelia and associated glands within the human oral cavity. Gp340 contains 14 scavenger receptor cysteine rich (SRCR) domains, two CUB (C1r/C1s Uegf Bmp1) domains and one zona pellucida (ZP) domain. Oral streptococci are known to adhere to the tooth immobilized gp340 via its surface protein Antigen I/II (AgI/II), which is considered to be the critical first step in pathogenesis that eventually results in colonization and infection. In order to decipher the interactions between gp340’s domains and oral streptococcal AgI/II domains, we undertook to express human gp340’s first SRCR domain (SRCR1) and the first three tandem SRCR domains (SRCR123) in Drosophila S2 cells. While our initial attempts with human codons did not produce optimal results, codon-optimization for expression in Drosophila S2 cells and usage of inducible/secretory Drosophila expression system (DES) pMT/BiP/V5-HisA vector greatly enhanced the expression of the SRCR domains. Here we report the successful cloning, expression, and purification of the SRCR domains of gp340. Recognition of expressed SRCRs by the conformational dependent gp340 antibody indicate that these domains are appropriately folded and furthermore, surface plasmon resonance studies confirmed functional adherence of the SRCR domains to AgI/II.
Nippostrongylus brasiliensis: environmental influences on pheromone production by females.

Abstract Female Nippostrongylus brasiliensis produced similar amounts of pheromone during light vs. dark incubation and in sterile vs. non-sterile solutions. Female worms from hosts that were deprived of food for 24 h also released pheromone, based on the male's response in bioassay. However, incubation of females in nitrogen or carbon dioxide atmospheres apparently eliminated their production of pheromone. Release of pheromone activity by females was greatest of pH 7·1, but declined at higher or lower values.
IR emissions from UV excitation of benzene and methyl derivatives

Abstract IR emissions in the 3.1–3.8 μm region are observed from the photoexcitation of the vapor of benzene, toluene, xylenes, mesitylene and durene at 193 nm. All the molecules emit a band with a peak at 3.3 μm which is attributed to the ν = 1 → 0 transition of the aromatic CH stretching vibrational modes. In addition to the 3.3 μm band, an emission band with a peak at 3.43 μm is observed from the methyl derivatives which is attributed to the CH stretching vibrational modes of the CH 3 groups. This assignment is supported by the observation that the 3.43 μm emission intensity increases with the number of CH 3 groups in the methyl derivatives.
Improved laser technique for high sensitivity atomic absorption spectroscopy in flames

Abstract Frequency modulation laser spectroscopy is utilized for high sensitivity detection of trace species aspirated into a flame of the type commonly used for atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The method is applied to the detection of sodium atoms in an air-acetylene flame and data are obtained on the distribution of ground and excited state populations as a function of height above the burner. Absorptions as small as 1.5 × 10-4 may be detected with a signal-to-noise of one. With multi-passing, a detection limit of 3.3 × 106 sodium atoms/cm3 was obtained.
Compact FMCW design for short range millimeter-wave radar imaging applications

This paper presents the design of a new compact, low-cost, FMCW millimeter-wave radar for high-resolution, short-range imaging applications. In this design, problems that have limited the performance of classical FMCW radars were solved. A W-band FMCW radar with better than 0.3 m range resolution, 1° beamwidth, 25 kHz chirp rate, 19 dBm output power, and operating in real-time, was constructed and its performance characterized. The new system is capable of detecting in real-time a weak target, whose rcs is −20 dBsm, located at a distance of 300 m, and having a 20 dB in signal-to-noise ratio.
Learning from broadcasts of project participation: selection of second-tier actors during project-venture formation in the movie industry, 1931—40

The disintegration of project ventures after task completion creates challenges for the retention and transfer of knowledge to future projects. Consequently, it is not clear to what degree and under what conditions learning across projects occurs in project-venture settings. This study argues that the industry-wide broadcasting of project participants' identities plays a key role in supporting performance-outcome learning during the formation of project-venture teams. In a stratified random sample of 233 US movie projects between 1931 and 1940, performance-outcome learning affected the selection of second-tier participants. Such learning, however, was conditional on the industry-level availability of both project participant information and project performance for prior projects. Industry-wide broadcasting of participants' identities by individual projects in the form of on-screen credits was sufficient to enable this form of performance-outcome learning in the movie industry. The emergence of the interne...
Neurosteroids as regenerative agents in the brain: therapeutic implications

Regenerative therapeutics hold the promise of self-renewal and repair. Ageing and age-associated neurodegenerative diseases are marked by a decline in self-renewal and repair, but a capacity for regeneration is retained. The challenge faced by researchers developing molecular therapeutics to promote self-renewal in the nervous system is to activate regenerative and repair pathways often in the context of progressive degeneration. Neurosteroids regulate both regeneration and repair systems in the brain, and among this class of molecules, allopregnanolone has been broadly investigated for its role to promote regeneration in both the central and peripheral nervous systems. In the brain, allopregnanolone induced generation and survival of new neurons in the hippocampus of both aged mice and mice with Alzheimer disease, accompanied by restoration of associative learning and memory function. In the brain of mice with Alzheimer disease, allopregnanolone increased liver X receptor and pregnane X receptor expression, reduced amyloid-β and microglial activation, and increased markers of myelin and white matter generation. Therapeutic windows for efficacy of allopregnanolone were evident in the brains of mice with both normal ageing and Alzheimer disease. Allopregnanolone dose and a regenerative treatment regimen of intermittent allopregnanolone exposure were determining factors regulating therapeutic efficacy. Allopregnanolone serves as proof of concept for therapeutics that target endogenous regeneration, windows of therapeutic opportunity for regeneration, and critical system biology factors that will determine the efficacy of regeneration.
Air-stable chemical doping of carbon nanotube transistors [CNFETs]

In this paper, we have successfully demonstrated, for the first time, air-stable chemical p-doping of CNFETs via charge transfer; introduced tunability of the V/sub th/, transformed scaled CNFETs from ambipolar to unipolar, improved I/sub on/ by 2-3 orders of magnitude, suppressed minority carrier injection (immunity from drain induced I/sub off/ degradation from intrinsic Schottky barrier CNFET), yielding an excellent I/sub on//I/sub off/ ratio of 10/sup 6/, and demonstrated excellent DIBL-like behavior.
Network formation and routing for multi-hop wireless ad-hoc networks

An energy-aware on-demand Bluetooth scatternet formation and routing protocol taking into account network architecture and traffic pattern is proposed. The scatternet formation protocol is able to cope with multiple sources initiating traffic simultaneously as well as prolong network lifetime. A modified Inquiry scheme using extended ID packet is introduced for fast device discovery and power efficient propagation of route request messages with low delay. A mechanism employing POLL packets in Page processes is proposed to transfer scatternet formation and route reply information without extra overhead. In addition, the energy aware forwarding nodes selection scheme is based on local information and results in more uniform network resource utilization and improved network lifetime. Simulation results show that this protocol can provide scatternet formation with reasonable delay and with good load balance which results in prolonged network lifetime for Bluetooth-based wireless sensor networks. In this research, a metric-based scatternet formation algorithm for the Bluetooth-based sensor motes is presented. It optimizes the Bluetooth network formation from the hop distance and link quality perspectives. In addition, a smart repair mechanism is proposed to deal with link/node failure and recover the network connectivity promptly with low overhead. The experiments with the Intel Mote platform demonstrate the effectiveness of the optimizations. This research also investigates the scalability of ad hoc routing protocols in very large-scale wireless ad hoc networks. A comprehensive simulation study is conducted of the performance of an on-demand routing protocol on a very large-scale, with as many as 50,000 nodes in the network. The scalability analysis is addressed based on various network sizes, node density, traffic load, and mobility. The reasons for packet loss are analyzed and categorized at each network layer. Based on the observations, we observe the effect of the parameter selection and try to exhaust the scalability boundary of the on-demand routing protocol for wireless ad hoc networks.
Triglycerides on the rise: should we swap seats on the seesaw?

For decades, cardiovascular risk attributed to lipids beyond low-density lipoprotein (LDL) has focused appropriately on high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Indubitable observational data show a consistent inverse relationship between baseline HDL-C concentrations and cardiovascular risk. Yet, fidelity as a prospective risk marker does not guaranty that an analyte either lies in a causal pathway for disease, or that its therapeutic manipulation will yield clinical benefits. Indeed, multiple strategies to raise HDL levels therapeutically have thus far failed to forestall events in clinical trials [e.g. currently available fibrates, niacin, and the investigated cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitors]. We await eagerly with an open mind, however, results from the ongoing outcome trials with two additional CETP inhibitors. We also recognize that steady-state concentrations of HDL-C in plasma likely do not reflect the flux of HDL particles, their potential for mediating reverse cholesterol transport, and other putative functions of HDL subclasses. For example, a large body of in vitro and experimental animal studies indicates that HDL particles may have many beneficial actions beyond reverse cholesterol transport. These putative properties of HDL particles include anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, attributes not assessed by the simple laboratory measurement of HDL-C. These functional facets of HDL may provide novel targets for therapeutic manipulation in a more subtle fashion in the future. Yet, concordant with the data from clinical intervention trials showing lack of benefit (or even harm) with current approaches to pharmacological boosting of HDL-C, recent genetic studies have also cast doubt on HDL-C as a causal risk factor.1 While HDL-C has stood in the spotlight, centre stage, triglycerides have tarried in the wings as a causal cardiovascular risk factor. Adjustment for …
Removal of alignment errors in an integrated system of two 3-D sensors

An algorithm is presented to relatively align two 3-D sensors using targets that are tracked by both sensors. The algorithm estimates and removes sensor biases and sensor frame orientation errors. To illustrate this technique, the alignment algorithm is applied to simulated track data from two sensors. >
Semiautonomy and Leaving Home in Early Adulthood

Studies of leaving home in early adulthood have been inconsistent in whether semiautonomous nonhousehold-based living arrangements such as dormitories barracks and other group quarters are included as "away from home." This study uses data from the National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972 (NLS72) to trace the living arrangements sequences of young adults to clarify how semiautonomy should best be treated. This study used a 25% random subsample of the entire NLS72 sample of more than 22000. The authors divide living arrangements into 3 categories: 1) residentially dependent 2) semiautonomous and 3) residentially independent. Results show that 1) 21% of males and 18% of females experience residential semiautonomy in their 1st year after high school; 2) in 1973 73% of the young women and 49% of the young men no longer residentially dependent were in semiautonomous living arrangements; 3) in 1973 and 1974 95% or more of those living semiautonomously were either attending school or serving in the military; and 4) by 1979 the few still in semiautonomy were increasingly civilian non-students (35% of males and 85% of females). Treating the semiautonomous as if they had not left home raises the median duration between finishing high school and leaving home by 19 months comapred with treating the semiautonomous as if they had left. Those who were living semiautonomously at the 1st observation were usually more likely to be independent at the later survey than were those who residentially dependent at Time 1 although the effects are often quite small and depend on the type of semiautonomy. 55% of school-leavers and 64% of those ending military service returned home from semiautonomjy between 1973 and 1974. In 1976 52% of former students and 57% of those leaving military service reappeared in the partental home. The authors conclude that studies of leaving home in the US need to consider how semiautonomy is to be treated and such treatment should depend on the type of study being conducted.
EBSD-based continuum dislocation microscopy

Recent advances in high-resolution electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD)-based microscopy are applied to the characterization of elastic fields and incompatibility structures near the grain boundaries (GBs) in polycrystals. Two main recoveries are reported here: surface geometrically necessary dislocation (density) tensors, as described by Kroner, and the elastic fields near cracks (unconsolidated portions of interface) in loaded samples. Context for the application of these recoveries is described, using Green’s function solutions for combined heterogeneity and dislocation. Featured recoveries required the cross-correlation based determination of the elastic distortion tensor, aided by application of the simulated pattern method, and determination of the absolute pattern center utilizing the expected pattern properties in a spherical Kikuchi reference frame. High-resolution data obtained along an ultrasonically consolidated nickel boundary of varying amalgamation indicates that the imposed traction free boundary condition at free surfaces is well observed in the data structure. Further, high-resolution data acquired near a single grain boundary in well-annealed, low content steel suggests that it may be possible to measure the intrinsic elastic properties of GBs.
Operator Formalism in the Theory of Partial Polarization

In the coherency-matrix formalism (CMF), the state of polarization of the field as well as the physical devices are represented in terms of 2×2 matrixes. The possibility of being able to exchange the role played by these matrices in the CMF is considered and a versatile operator formalism is developed. The physical meaning of the various operator relations is given and the possibility of obtaining the form of the most general operator that commutes with a given physical device is discussed. The operator formalism is applied to the study of certain physical devices whose matrix operator representations have been constructed through the use of Pauli spin matrices. Emphasis is placed on the identification of all the operators (including the Pauli spin matrices) in terms of combinations of known physical devices. In this way, the physical meanings of the various operator relations are discussed together with the meanings of the commutation relations between the various well-known physical devices. Finally, the forms of the most general operators that commute with the respective operators considered in this paper are obtained.
Clinical predictors and timing of New York Heart Association class improvement with cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with advanced chronic heart failure: results from the Multicenter InSync Randomized Clinical Evaluation (MIRACLE) and Multicenter InSync ICD Randomized Clinical Evaluation (MIRACLE-ICD) trials.

Background Based on current patient selection criteria, a significant proportion of recipients of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) do not respond to treatment. The purpose of this analysis is to identify predictors and characterize the timing of response to CRT in patients with advanced heart failure. Methods Patients randomized to receive CRT in the MIRACLE and MIRACLE-ICD trials, designed to assess the benefit of CRT compared with standard medical therapy in patients with advanced heart failure, left ventricular ejection fraction Results One hundred forty-three (64%) of 224 and 190 (61%) of 313 patients in the MIRACLE and MIRACLE-ICD trials, respectively, responded to therapy, with 81 (57%) of 143 and 100 (53%) of 190 responding early. Several but differing factors predicted CRT response and timing in the two trials with a high sensitivity (89%-90%) but, owing to a low specificity (31%-49%), a modest predictive accuracy (66%-75%). Conclusions Based on improvement of ≥1 NYHA class, less than two thirds of patients enrolled in the MIRACLE or MIRACLE-ICD trials responded to CRT, with just more than half responding within the first month. Several factors predicted CRT response and timing, but given their modest predictive accuracy, comparable for both studies, additional methods for selecting candidates most likely to benefit from CRT are needed.
Exposure to anthracyclines during childhood causes cardiac injury.

The use of anthracyclines in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia is limited by associated cardiotoxic effects, which can result in cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure, and may be irreversible. Anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity in long-term survivors of childhood cancer is characterized by reduced left ventricular wall thickness and mass, which is indicative of decreased cardiac muscle and depressed left ventricular contractility which is indicative of unhealthy heart muscle. Risk factors for anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity include high cumulative anthracycline doses, high anthracycline dose intensity, and radiotherapy. Radiotherapy in patients with cancer treated with anthracyclines can exacerbate anthracycline-induced cardiac tissue damage. Several studies have shown that cardiomyopathy disease progression can be delayed in adults by using angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors such as enalapril. Studies in long-term survivors of pediatric cancer showed that enalapril has significant benefits in preventing cardiac functional deterioration on a short-term basis, but this is not sustained. Anthracycline-associated cardiotoxic effects can be combated by preventing cardiac injury during chemotherapy administration. There is evidence that dexrazoxane significantly reduces the cardiotoxicity associated with anthracyclines such as daunorubicin, doxorubicin, and epirubicin in adult patients with a wide range of tumor types. A study of the efficacy of dexrazoxane in reducing doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in children and adolescents with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia, showed that significantly fewer dexrazoxane-treated patients (21%) had elevated serum cardiac troponin (a biomarker of acute myocardial injury) levels than patients treated with chemotherapy alone (50%; P <.001). Dexrazoxane was also shown to have no effect on the event-free survival rate at 2.5 years, emphasizing that it does not detrimentally affect the efficacy of anthracycline therapy.
Expression in plants and immunogenicity of plant virus-based experimental rabies vaccine

A new approach to the production and delivery of vaccine antigens is the use of engineered amino virus-based vectors. A chimeric peptide containing antigenic determinants from rabies virus glycoprotein (G protein) (amino acids 253–275) and nucleoprotein (N protein) (amino acids 404–418) was PCR-amplified and cloned as a translational fusion product with the alfalfa mosaic virus (AlMV) coat protein (CP). This recombinant CP was expressed in two plant virus-based expression systems. The first one utilized transgenic Nicotiana tabacum cv. Samsun NN plants providing replicative functions in trans for full-length infectious RNA3 of AlMV (NF1-g24). The second one utilized Nicotiana benthamiana and spinach (Spinacia oleracea) plants using autonomously replicating tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) lacking native CP (Av/A4-g24). Recombinant virus containing the chimeric rabies virus epitope was isolated from infected transgenic N. tabacum cv. Samsun NN plants and used for parenteral immunization of mice. Mice immunized with recombinant virus were protected against challenge infection. Based on the previously demonstrated efficacy of this plant virus-based experimental rabies vaccine when orally administered to mice in virus-infected unprocessed raw spinach leaves, we assessed its efficacy in human volunteers. Three of five volunteers who had previously been immunized against rabies virus with a conventional vaccine specifically responded against the peptide antigen after ingesting spinach leaves infected with the recombinant virus. When rabies virus non-immune individuals were fed the same material, 5/9 demonstrated significant antibody responses to either rabies virus or AlMV. Following a single dose of conventional rabies virus vaccine, three of these individuals showed detectable levels of rabies virus-neutralizing antibodies, whereas none of five controls revealed these antibodies. These findings provide clear indication of the potential of the plant virus-based expression systems as supplementary oral booster for rabies vaccinations.
An object-oriented view onto public, heterogeneous text databases

Even though companies maintain highly-structured traditional business data in relational databases, large amounts of information are available in semi-structured text sources such as indexed online newspapers, patent information, literature citations, or business profiles. This information is offered by commercial providers who maintain complete control over access language, schemas and update capabilities. One way to unify access to all of this material is to make it look like a collection of objects in an object-oriented database. Such a view has been prototyped on an information service that provides some 400 full-text, bibliographic and numeric databases. The authors explain how the illusion of object-orientedness is put together and how it is maintained in queries. They also know how the object-oriented approach is used to handle some classes of schema heterogeneity. >
The co-existence of myasthenia gravis in patients with myositis: A case series

Objective Myositis and myasthenia gravis (MG) are both autoimmune disorders presenting with muscle weakness. Rarely, they occur simultaneously in the same patient. Since the management of myasthenia gravis differs from that of myositis, it is important to recognize when patients have both diseases. We reviewed the cases of 6 patients with both myositis and MG to identify clinical features that suggest the possibility of co-existing MG in myositis patients.
The Effects of Computerized Cognitive Control Training on Community Adults with Depressed Mood.

Background: Depression is frequently characterized by patterns of inflexible, maladaptive, and ruminative thinking styles, which are thought to result from a combination of decreased attentional control, decreased executive functioning, and increased negative affect. Cognitive Control Training (CCT) uses computer-based behavioral exercises with the aim of strengthening cognitive and emotional functions. A previous study found that severely depressed participants who received CCT exhibited reduced negative affect and rumination as well as improved concentration. Aims: The present study aimed to extend this line of research by employing a more stringent control group and testing the efficacy of three sessions of CCT over a 2-week period in a community population with depressed mood. Method: Forty-eight participants with high Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) scores were randomized to CCT or a comparison condition (Peripheral Vision Training; PVT). Results: Significant large effect sizes favoring CCT over PVT were found on the BDI-II (d = 0.73, p < .05) indicating CCT was effective in reducing negative mood. Additionally, correlations showed significant relationships between CCT performance (indicating ability to focus attention on CCT) and state affect ratings. Conclusions: Our results suggest that CCT is effective in altering depressed mood, although it may be specific to select mood dimensions.
Charcot arthropathy and immobilization in a weight-bearing total contact cast.

Background: The standard management for Eichenholtz Stage-I Charcot arthropathy has been with non-weight-bearing total contact casts. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of the use of weight-bearing total contact casts for similar patients. Methods: Twenty-seven patients with Charcot arthropathy of the foot and ankle were studied prospectively over a period of eighteen years, from 1988 to 2006. The average duration of follow-up was 5.5 years. Of the twenty-seven patients, twenty-six had diabetes mellitus. Total contact casts were used to treat thirty-four feet with Eichenholtz Stage-I or early Stage-II Charcot arthropathy. These patients were allowed to bear weight as tolerated. Casts were changed at weekly intervals and were worn until resolution of the acute stage of the disease. Results: No deleterious effect from weight-bearing, specifically with regard to skin ulceration or rapid deterioration of the osseous architecture, was observed in thirty-three of the thirty-four feet. Conclusions: Immobilization in a weight-bearing total contact cast appears to be a safe method of treatment of acute Eichenholtz Stage-I Charcot arthropathy of the foot and ankle. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Changes in vitamin B-6 status indicators of women fed a constant protein diet with varying levels of vitamin B-6

Changes in vitamin B-6 status indicators were evaluated in vitamin B-6-replete subjects. Ten young women consumed diets providing 85 g protein/d and 1.03, 1.33, 1.73, and 2.39 mg vitamin B-6/d for 12 or 15 d during four successive diet periods; in a second study, six women were fed diets providing 85 g protein/d and 0.84, 1.14, and 2.34 mg vitamin B-6/d for 10 or 12 d during three successive diet periods. Vitamin B-6 status indicators showing significant differences among intakes included urinary excretion of 4-pyridoxic acid and total vitamin B-6, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate and total vitamin B-6 in plasma, and xanthurenic acid excretion after a 2-g L-tryptophan load. Significant correlations were found between vitamin B-6 intake and 4-pyridoxic acid, total vitamin B-6, plasma pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, plasma total vitamin B-6, erythrocyte alanine aminotransferase percentage stimulation and postload excretion of xanthurenic acid and volatile amines (kynurenine plus acetylkynurenine). Depending on the indicator, between 20% and 70% of the subjects had inadequate values for 4-pyridoxic acid, total vitamin B-6, plasma pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, and erythrocyte alanine aminotransferase percentage stimulation at a vitamin B-6 intake of 1.33 mg/d (0.016 mg vitamin B-6/g protein). A ratio of dietary vitamin B-6 to protein > 0.016 mg/g is required for adequate vitamin B-6 status in women.
Selected bibliography of recent scholarship in second language writing

Abstract This bibliography cites and summarizes theoretically grounded reports of research and discussions of central issues in second and foreign language writing and writing instruction that have become available to its compilers during the period of December 1 through March 31, 1993. The categories used represent an attempt to aid readers, not to pigeonhole studies.
Seasonal migration of ITCZ precipitation across the equator: Why can't GCMs simulate it?

[1] The secondary meridional circulation induced by convective momentum transport (CMT) within the ascending branch of the Hadley circulation is a missing dynamical mechanism that can cause common failure of general circulation models (GCMs) in simulating seasonal migration of the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) precipitation maximum across the equator. This failure is manifested by the model bias that the precipitation peak remains north of the equator during November–March. The CMT-induced secondary circulation, characterized by strong downward motion along the equatorial belt and upward motion south and north of the belt, tends to modify the meridional distribution of precipitation with the strongest impacts during boreal winter and spring. A 20-year GCM simulation with the CMT parameterization successfully reproduces the observed seasonal migration of the ITCZ precipitation across the equator with the peaks near 8°N during boreal summer and near 8°S during boreal winter.
Single-photon and two-photon wavepackets spontaneous parametric down-conversion

Single-photon (first-order coherence) and two-photon (second-order coherence) wavepackets of entangled two-photon states in spontaneous parametric down-conversion fields are calculated and demonstrated experimentally.
Properties of a coaxial cw CO 2 laser

A cw CO2 laser has been developed in which the active medium is formed by a discharge between coaxial electrodes. The laser gain and saturation properties have been studied as functions of the various device parameters. Over-all efficiency is about the same as for a conventional longitudinal discharge laser, and advantages of the coaxial geometry include low voltage operation, rapid cooling, and rugged construction.
Abstract ED01-04: Beyond IHC: Quantitative measurement of protein analytes on tissue slides

The large number and elusive nature of analytical and pre‐analytic variables associated with immunohistochemistry (IHC) have relegated the technique to a semi‐quantitative or qualitative status. However, as companion diagnostics become more critical to patient management, there is new motivation to move IHC to a fully quantitative assay. Toward this goal, we have developed the AQUA® method of quantitative immunofluorescence (QIF) to measure critical analytes in breast tissue. Using a series of cell lines which are standardized to recombinant protein quantified on western blot, we have measured estrogen receptor in three separate cohorts of breast cancer cases. The quantitative approach reveals a cutpoint of 50pg/ug total protein and suggests that conventional IHC may have a misclassification rate of around 15%. Furthermore, when comparing the misclassified cases, it appears that QIF classification predicts outcome more accurately than the conventional methods. As accurate as QIF is, it does not address preanalytical variables, most significantly including cold ischemic time, or the time between surgical removal of the tissue sample and fixation. A series of QIF methods for antibody validation may allow neutralization of this variable in assessment of tumor tissue. In summary, measurement of protein on a pathology slide can now be achieved with accuracy and reproducibility of nucleic acid assays or ELISA assays. Combining QIF with rigorous methods of standardization and antibody validation allows companion diagnostic tests to be done on very small tissue fragments. Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2009;8(12 Suppl):ED01-04.
Comparison of use of alcohol with that of iodine for skin antisepsis in obtaining blood cultures.

Skin antisepsis preceding venipuncture has important quality control aspects in clinical laboratory medicine. Blood culture growth of contaminants can cause serious delay or misdirection in the treatment of septicemia. The transfusion reaction due to bacterially contaminated blood can be lethal. The most common laboratory practice in preparing the skin for drawing blood culture specimens and blood donor units is the use of tincture of iodine, occasionally followed by that of alcohol. The effectiveness and suggested usage of iodine as a skin antiseptic is clearly documented in the literature.'' Iodine has several disadvantages, however: the discoloration of skin is unesthetic; it can cause a contact dermatitis; it has been reported to contaminate the skin and elevate subsequent protein-bound iodine (PBI) determinations; and it is a potential source of iodine contamination to the technologist drawing the specimen, who might contaminate other specimens. For these reasons we have used isopropyl alcohol pledgets for skin antisepsis before drawing blood culture specimens for the past 4 years. This report deals with our favorable in vivo experience with its use in comparison with that of tincture of iodine. Contact plate experiments comparing the two methods of skin antisepsis are also presented.