cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
METHYL JASMONATE IMPROVES QUALITY OF STORED ZUCCHINI SQUASH

Freshly harvested zucchini squash (Cucurbita pep0 L., CY. Elite) were pressure infiltrated (82.7 kPa for 3 min) with an aqueous suspension solution of 0.1 mM methyl jasmonate, while control fruit were similarly infiltrated with distilled water. All fruit were then stored at a chilling temperature of 5C. Chilling injury symptoms developed in the control fruit afrer 4 days of storage. However, the onset of chilling injury was significantly delayed by methyl jasmonate treatment. The methyl jasmonate treatment not only retarded the development of chilling symptoms in zucchini squash, but also maintained higher levels of carbohydrates and organic acids during storage compared with the controls. Fructose and glucose were major carbohydrates, and malic acid was the predominant organic acid in zucchini squash. Methyl jasmonate reduced the losses of these sugars and organic acids, and thus helped maintain better internal quality of zucchini squash during cold storage.
Hypertension in pregnancy is a risk factor for peripheral arterial disease decades after pregnancy.

Background An ankle-brachial index (ABI) (the ratio of ankle to brachial artery systolic blood pressure) value ≤0.9 identifies patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and elevated cardiovascular event risk. This study examined whether women with a history of hypertension in pregnancy are more likely to have an ABI ≤0.9 decades after pregnancy.
Phase-measuring fiber optic electronic speckle pattern interferometer: phase step calibration and phase drift minimization

Abstract. A phase-measuring fiber optic electronic speckle pattern in- terferometer (ESPI) was recently constructed and demonstrated. In thisarrangement, phase stepping is introduced by stretching the fiber wrappedaround a piezoelectric transducer. Calibration of the phase step is criticalin phase measurement techniques for obtaining good phase plots. Meth-ods used for calibrating the stretcher are outlined and the drifts in thephase caused by fluctuations in temperature and mechanical stressesare discussed. Ways to minimize this drift are also presented. Subject terms: speckle interferometry; electronic speckle pattern interferometry.Optical Engineering 31(2), 315-321 (February 1992).phase step calibration is important in order to obtain error- free phase maps. Different methods for calibrating the piezoelectric transducer (PZT) in an interferometric arrangement13 as well as in a fiber optic interferometric sensor arrangement14 have been developed. Methods suchas phase-lock, sinusoidal extrema sensing, and employingsoftware routines to evaluate the phase from equations andintensity values are successful with specular interferometricfringes. On the other hand, the ESPI fringes are speckled.Even though good calibration can be obtained with phase-lock and sensing methods ,
Hydraulic Conductance and Mercury-Sensitive Water Transport for Roots of Opuntia acanthocarpa in Relation to Soil Drying and Rewetting

Drought-induced changes in root hydraulic conductance ( L P ) and mercury-sensitive water transport were examined for distal (immature) and mid-root (mature) regions of Opuntia acanthocarpa . During 45 d of soil drying, L P decreased by about 67% for distal and mid-root regions. After 8 d in rewetted soil, L P recovered to 60% of its initial value for both regions. Axial xylem hydraulic conductivity was only a minor limiter of L P . Under wet conditions, HgCl 2 (50 μm), which is known to block membrane water-transport channels (aquaporins), decreased L P and the radial hydraulic conductance for the stele ( L R, S ) of the distal root region by 32% and 41%, respectively; both L P and L R, S recovered fully after transfer to 2-mercaptoethanol (10 mm). In contrast, HgCl 2 did not inhibit L P of the mid-root region under wet conditions, although it reduced L R, S by 41%. Under dry conditions, neither L P nor L R, S of the two root regions was inhibited by HgCl 2 . After 8 d of rewetting, HgCl 2 decreased L P and L R, S of the distal region by 23% and 32%, respectively, but L P and L R, S of the mid-root region were unaltered. Changes in putative aquaporin activity accounted for about 38% of the reduction in L P in drying soil and for 61% of its recovery for the distal region 8 d after rewetting. In the stele, changes in aquaporin activity accounted for about 74% of the variable L R, S during drought and after rewetting. Thus, aquaporins are important for regulating water movement for roots of O. acanthocarpa .
On rekey policies for secure group applications

Secure distribution of information to authorized recipients is an important prerequisite for group applications with commercial potential. Typically in such applications data traffic is encrypted using a single key; that key in turn is distributed securely to the group using one of several mechanisms that rely on each member having a unique set of "key encryption" keys. As users join and leave the group, members' keysets have to be changed according to a rekey policy. The rekey policy is important because it determines the security properties provided to the application (e.g. forward/backward secrecy). In this paper we present a general model of rekey policies for large-scale applications, and use it to compare the effectiveness of policies proposed in the literature for various applications. Unlike prior work, which has focused on the cost of rekeying, our model also accounts for the cost of not rekeying. We cast existing policies in terms of our model and then propose a more flexible policy that we call exposure-oriented rekeying. We present simulation results showing that our new policy reduces the peak and variation in cost to achieve a given level of security, compared with periodic or batch-oriented rekeying policies.
Solid Lubricating Films for Extreme Environments

Advances in solid lubricating films for vacuum and high temperature applications are reviewed. Traditional lubricants (e.g. graphite and dichalcogenides) are being improved and new lubricating materials (e.g. amorphous carbons) are being discovered with the aid of recent developments in deposition processes and surface analytical methods. Ion bombardmenttreatments have increased film adhesion, lowered friction coefficients and enhanced the wearlife of MoS2 films, as well as created new forms of lubricating carbons (amorphous, polymeric and diamond-like). Composite films and multilayer coating treatments are providing extra protection for surface and films against environmental degradation. Ultralow friction coefficients (<0.01) have been achieved with MoS 2 as well as diamond-like carbon films. Material selection, in some cases (e.g. thin metal films), can nowbe made basedon scientific principles, although many tribomaterials are still being developed by trialand error methods.
Interactions of quinidine and potassium on atrioventricular transmission.

The effects of quinidine and its interactions with potassium (K) on atrio-ventricular (A-V) conduction were studied in isolated, perfused rabbit hearts, utilizing microelectrode techniques. Quinidine gluconate (10 mg/liter) was added to perfusion fluid containing either normal [K+] (4.5 mEq/liter), low [K+] (1.5 mEq/liter), or high [K+] (7.5 mEq/liter). The following observations were made: (A) The marked prolongation of A-V conduction time produced by quinidine was antagonized by low K+ and enhanced by high K+ concentration. (B) Quinidine or high K+ concentration prolonged the A-V interval by slowing intra-atrial and His-Purkinje-ventricular conduction. (C) Low K+ concentration depressed conduction in the N region of the A-V node. (D) Lowering K+ concentration in the presence of quinidine shortened the A-V interval by enhancing His-Purkinje-ventricular conduction. (E) Quinidine and high K+ concentration increased the action potential amplitude in the nodal and the node-His regions of the A-V node while low K+ concentration showed opposite effects. Hence, different regions of the A-V conducting system were selectively influenced by these agents. A-V conduction in the presence of low K+and quinidine depends upon the net results of their antagonism within individual fiber types. The importance of these interrelationships in pharmacologic approach to A-V conduction disturbances is stressed.
“Maestro, what is ‘quality’?”: Language, literacy, and discourse in project-based science

Recent curriculum design projects have attempted to engage students in authentic science learning experiences in which students engage in inquiry-based research projects about questions of interest to them. Such a pedagogical and curricular approach seems an ideal space in which to construct what Lee and Fradd referred to as instructional congruence. It is, however, also a space in which the everyday language and literacy practices of young people intersect with the learning of scientific and classroom practices, thus suggesting that project-based pedagogy has the potential for conflict or confusion. In this article, we explore the discursive demands of project-based pedagogy for seventh-grade students from non- mainstream backgrounds as they enact established project curricula. We document competing Discourses in one project-based classroom and illustrate how those Discourses conflict with one another through the various texts and forms of representation used in the classroom and curriculum. Possibilities are offered for reconstructing this classroom practice to build congruent third spaces in which the different Discourses and knowledges of the discipline, classroom, and students' lives are brought together to enhance science learning and scientific literacy. fl 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 38: 469 - 498, 2001 Recent curriculum design projects have attempted to engage students in responsive or authentic science learning experiences in which students engage in inquiry-based research pro- jects about questions of interest to them (Goldman, 1997; Krajcik, Blumenfeld, Marx, Bass, & Fredricks, 1998; Merino & Hammond, 1998; Warren, Rosebery, & Conant, 1989). Typically, the features of what is often called project-based pedagogy include (a) questions that encompass worthwhile and meaningful content anchored in authentic or real-world problems; (b) inve- stigations and artifact creation that allow students to learn apply concepts, represent knowledge, and receive ongoing feedback; (c) collaboration among students, teachers, and others in the community; and (d) use of literacy and technological tools (Cognition and Technology Group, 1992; Krajcik et al., 1998; Mercado, 1993). Project-based pedagogy engages children in textual and experiential inquiry about authentic questions, and so can be considered discourse enabling. That is, project-based pedagogy affords
Experimental correlations to predict fluid resistance for simple pulsatile laminar flow of incompressible fluids in rigid tubes

The effects of oscillatory amplitude and frequency on fluid resistance for pulsatile incompressible laminar flow in rigid tubes were investigated analytically and experimentally. Analytical results predict that oscillations will have no effect on average resistance, defined as average pressure drop divided by average flow rate. The effect of oscillatory flow amplitude on total fluid resistance was obtained analytically. These results were verified experimentally. Equations are presented which allow the calculation of total fluid resistance for laminar, incompressible pulsatile flow in rigid tubes as a function of tube dimensions, fluid properties, frequency of oscillation and oscillatory flow amplitude.
Long-Term Restriction by APOBEC3F Selects Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Variants with Restored Vif Function

Tandem stop mutations K26X and H27X in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vif compromise virus replication in human T-cell lines that stably express APOBEC3F (A3F) or APOBEC3G (A3G). We previously reported that partial resistance to A3G could develop in these Vif-deficient viruses through a nucleotide A200-to-T/C transversion and a vpr null mutation, but these isolates were still susceptible to restriction by A3F. Here, long-term selection experiments were done to determine how these A3G-selected isolates might evolve to spread in the presence of A3F. We found that A3F, like A3G, is capable of potent, long-term restriction that eventually selects for heritable resistance. In all 7 instances, the selected isolates had restored Vif function to cope with A3F activity. In two isolates, Vif Q26-Q27 and Y26-Q27, the resistance phenotype recapitulated in molecular clones, but when the selected vif alleles were analyzed in the context of an otherwise wild-type viral background, a different outcome emerged. Although HIV-1 clones with Vif Q26-Q27 or Y26-Q27 were fully capable of overcoming A3F, they were now susceptible to restriction by A3G. Concordant with prior studies, a lysine at position 26 proved essential for A3G neutralization. These data combine to indicate that A3F and A3G exert at least partly distinct selective pressures and that Vif function may be essential for the virus to replicate in the presence of A3F.
Positive selection vectors for allelic exchange

We describe here the development and use of two new allelic exchange vectors, pKAS32 and pKAS46. These vectors can be used for allelic exchange in a wide variety of bacterial species because their R6K origin of replication functions only in bacteria engineered to produce the replication protein pi. In addition, these vectors express the Escherichia coli rpsL gene, encoding ribosomal protein S12, which provides a positive selection for bacteria that have exchanged cloned plasmid sequences with the corresponding chromosomal sequences. In this report, we show that these vectors can be used to efficiently introduce point mutations and deletions into the chromosome of Vibrio cholerae.
P2G-6 High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Induced Transgene Activation in a Cell-Embedded Tissue Mimicking Phantom

A cell-embedded transparent tissue-mimicking phantom was developed to study high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) induced gene activation in vitro. The phantom was constructed by using agarose hydro-gel dispersed with rat mammary carcinoma (Mac) cells that were stably transfected with GFP plasmid under the control of hsp70B promoter. Thermally sensitive bovine serum albumin (BSA) proteins were also incorporated in the phantom so that both lesion formation and gene activation could be quantified simultaneously following HIFU exposure. Both acoustic (sound speed, attenuation, acoustic impedance, nonlinear parameter B/A) and thermal properties (thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity) of the phantom were characterized in a temperature dependant manner. With a 10s HIFU exposure at 3.3-MHz, the inducible GFP gene expression patterns across the focal plane were analyzed and compared with the corresponding temperature distribution quantified by thermocouple measurements. Overall, the cell-embedded tissue-mimicking phantom was found to be a versatile tool for investigating HIFU-induced gene activation and it may also be used for general ultrasound bio-effect studies
A mixture model and EM-based algorithm for class discovery, robust classification, and outlier rejection in mixed labeled/unlabeled data sets

Several authors have shown that, when labeled data are scarce, improved classifiers can be built by augmenting the training set with a large set of unlabeled examples and then performing suitable learning. These works assume each unlabeled sample originates from one of the (known) classes. Here, we assume each unlabeled sample comes from either a known or from a heretofore undiscovered class. We propose a novel mixture model which treats as observed data not only the feature vector and the class label, but also the fact of label presence/absence for each sample. Two types of mixture components are posited. "Predefined" components generate data from known classes and assume class labels are missing at random. "Nonpredefined" components only generate unlabeled data-i.e., they capture exclusively unlabeled subsets, consistent with an outlier distribution or new classes. The predefined/nonpredefined natures are data-driven, learned along with the other parameters via an extension of the EM algorithm. Our modeling framework addresses problems involving both the known,and unknown classes: (1) robust classifier design, (2) classification with rejections, and (3) identification of the unlabeled samples (and their components) from unknown classes. Case 3 is a step toward new class discovery. Experiments are reported for each application, including topic discovery for the Reuters domain. Experiments also demonstrate the value of label presence/absence data in learning accurate mixtures.
Overlapping communication and computation with OpenMP and MPI

Machines comprised of a distributed collection of shared memory or SMP nodes are becoming common for parallel computing. OpenMP can be combined with MPI on many such machines. Motivations for combing OpenMP and MPI are discussed. While OpenMP is typically used for exploiting loop-level parallelism it can also be used to enable coarse grain parallelism, potentially leading to less overhead. We show how coarse grain OpenMP parallelism can also be used to facilitate overlapping MPI communication and computation for stencil-based grid programs such as a program performing Gauss-Seidel iteration with red-black ordering. Spatial subdivision or domain decomposition is used to assign a portion of the grid to each thread. One thread is assigned a null calculation region so it was free to perform communication. Example calculations were run on an IBM SP using both the Kuck & Associates and IBM compilers.
Prolactin and paternal behavior in the biparental California mouse, Peromyscus californicus

Relatively little is known about hormonal mechanisms underlying paternal behavior in mammals. Male California mice, Peromyscus californicus, display extensive parental care toward their young. Parental behavior of fathers, expectant fathers (males living with their pregnant partner), and virgin males was assessed in a 10-min test with a 1- to 3-day-old alien pup. Few virgin males acted parental (19%) compared to fathers one day postpartum (80%) and expectant fathers (56%). Plasma prolactin levels were significantly elevated in fathers 2 days postpartum compared to expectant fathers and virgin males. Paternal prolactin levels were similar to those of mothers. There were no differences between groups in levels of plasma testosterone. These data suggest, contrary to other reports, that prolactin is a likely correlate of paternal behavior in rodents.
CVD Co capping layers for Cu/low-k interconnects: Cu EM enhancement vs. Co thickness

Co films with various thicknesses were selectively deposited as Cu capping layers by chemical vapor deposition technique. Selectivity of the Co deposition between Cu and dielectric surfaces was improved by both raising the deposition pressure and adopting a pre-clean process prior to the Co deposition. Degree of electromigration resistance enhancement was observed to be dependent on the deposited Co thickness. Compared to the no-Co control, significant EM lifetime enhancement was observed when the Co cap is thicker than 6nm.
Dual-Wavelength Brillouin Fiber Laser for Microwave Frequency Generation

We demonstrate generation of RF/microwave frequencies using a dual-wavelength Brillouin fiber laser. We propose this device as a potential source of low phase noise, tunable frequencies into the millimeter wave regime compatible with RF-photonic systems.
Rejoinder: Continuing the Dialogue on Invariant Measurement

The major purpose of my focus article was to stimulate discussion regarding the concept of invariant measurement. My intent was to provide a historical lens for considering how our views of invariant measurement have evolved over time through the work of three key measurement theorists: Guttman, Rasch, and Mokken. The commentators have offered a variety of direct and indirect responses to my focus article; they have raised few, if any, issues with which I disagree. However, I would like to take this opportunity to continue the dialogue about invariant measurement.
Towards Flexible Service Interoperation Using Business Artifacts

This short survey describes recent and on-going work in the area of "business artifacts", an approach to business process modeling centered around a holistic combination of data and process. This includes research aiming to enable support for service interoperation that is much more flexible than current SOA-based approaches.
Importance of vanadium and nutrient ionic ratios on the development of hydroponically grown cuphea

Cuphea (Cuphea viscosissima× C. lanceolata ‘PSR 23’) seed contains oils that have industrial application. However, little is known regarding cuphea’s optimal mineral nutritional requirements or responses to inhibiting elements. Oil seed crops often need additional phosphorus (P) to achieve optimal economic yield. Vanadium (V), a commonly occurring soil constituent, interferes with plant P uptake and earlier work showed that V is a factor in lipid metabolism. Hydroponic culture was used to evaluate the relative effect of V on the development of cuphea. Relative root length, root surface area, root weight, and aerial dry weights decreased exponentially as the V concentration increased from 0 to 153M. In contrast to field observations of other crops, additions of MgSO4 to increase the Mg:(Mg + Ca) ratio further decreased plant growth by as much 50% at V concentrations greater than 31M. Root length was decreased by about 50% of the control when the plant was grown in 153M V and relative root area and dry weight were decreased by ≥75%. Increases in V concentration sharply reduced secondary and higher order lateral branching. Reduction in root growth was accompanied by a general chlorotic appearance. The results suggest that readily available V in field situations will result in poor root growth and crop performance. Also, the interaction of V and MgSO 4, common in soils in the region, will lead to further reductions in yields in the field. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Okadaic acid disrupts clusters of synaptic vesicles in frog motor nerve terminals

The fluorophore FM1-43 appears to stain membranes of recycled synaptic vesicles. We used FM1-43 to study mechanisms of synaptic vesicle clustering and mobilization in living frog motor nerve terminals. FM1-43 staining of these terminals produces a linear series of fluorescent spots, each spot marking the cluster of several hundred synaptic vesicles at an active zone. Most agents we tested did not affect staining, but the phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid (OA) disrupted the fluorescent spots, causing dye to spread throughout the terminal. Consistent with this, electron microscopy showed that vesicle clusters were disrupted by OA treatment. However, dye did not spread passively to a uniform spatial distribution. Instead, time lapse movies showed clear evidence of active dye movements, as if synaptic vesicles were being swept along by an active translocation mechanism. Large dye accumulations sometimes occurred at sites of Schwann cell nuclei. These effects of OA were not significantly affected by pretreatment with colchicine or cytochalasin D. Electrophysiological recordings showed that OA treatment reduced the amount of acetylcholine released in response to nerve stimulation. The results suggest that an increased level of protein phosphorylation induced by OA treatment mobilizes synaptic vesicles and unmasks a powerful vesicle translocation mechanism, which may function normally to distribute synaptic vesicles between active zones.
Nipah virus: An emergent paramyxovirus causing severe encephalitis in humans

Nipah virus is a recently emergent paramyxovirus that is capable of causing severe disease in both humans and animals. The first outbreak of Nipah virus occurred in Malaysia and Singapore in 1999 and, more recently, outbreaks were detected in Bangladesh. In humans, Nipah virus causes febrile encephalitis with respiratory syndrome that has a high mortality rate. The reservoir for Nipah virus is believed to be fruit bats, and humans are infected by contact with infected bats or by contact with an intermediate animal host such as pigs. Person to person spread of the virus has also been described. Nipah virus retains many of the genetic and biologic properties found in other paramyxoviruses, though it also has several unique characteristics. However, the virologic characteristics that allow the virus to cause severe disease over a broad host range, and the epidemiologic, environmental and virologic features that favor transmission to humans are unknown. This review summarizes what is known about the virology, epidemiology, pathology, diagnosis and control of this novel pathogen.
Combustion modeling in si engines with a peninsula-fractal combustion model

In premixed turbulent combustion models, two mechanisms have been used to explain the increase in the flame speed due to the turbulence. The newer explanation considers the full range of turbulence scales which wrinkle the flame front so as to increase the flame front area and, thus, the flame propagation speed. The fractal combustion model is an example of this concept. The older mechanism assumes that turbulence enables the penetration of unburned mixtures across the flame front via entrainment into the burned mixture zone. The entrainment combustion or eddy burning model is an example of this mechanism. The results of experimental studies of combustion regimes and the flame structures in SI engines has confirmed that most combustion takes place at the wrinkled flame front with additional combustion taking place in the form of flame fingers or peninsulas. As the ratio of the turbulence intensity to the laminar flame speed increases, the importance of the flame peninsulas should become increasingly important. While it has been shown that fractal geometry can be used to account for flame wrinkling, it may be difficult to extend this concept to account for the additional surface area resulting from the flame peninsulas. However, the flame frontmore » convolution that results in flame peninsulas can be envisioned as entrainment combustion. In the present research an effort was made to combine the fractal combustion model and the entrainment combustion model to generate the peninsula-fractal combustion model, so as to improve burn rate predictions of SI engine codes.« less
Coherent or Heterodyne Detection

In the previous chapter we discussed the detection of the incident power in an optical or infrared wave, basically ignoring the actual frequency of the wave except in the value of the quantum energy and the wavelength or frequency cutoff of the photon detector. We now consider heterodyne or coherent detection first demonstrated at optical frequencies by Forrester et al. (1955). By using a single-frequency local oscillator as a reference, we may convert the incoming wave’s amplitude and phase to a low frequency in the rf or microwave region. In the following sections we treat the heterodyne case, first for simple constant-amplitude co-planar waves and then in a more general way for an arbitrary amplitude and phase distribution of the local oscillator over the detector surface. We then derive two important theorems that are applicable to heterodyne detection. These are the antenna theorem, which describes the angular response of the detector, and the mixing theorem, which allows the calculation of the mixing efficiency at any arbitrary surface.
A Review of 'The Subprime Virus: Reckless Credit, Regulatory Failure, and Next Steps'

This piece reviews a book about the home mortgage crisis, The Subprime Virus. It likens the book to a comprehensive series in the New Yorker magazine, covering the subprime lending crisis and its impact on the financial system. It notes the book’s depth, details, and lucid explanations of complex events, combined with meticulous research and citations.It notes that unlike other works which focus on a single aspect of the financial crisis of 2008, this book examines the entire business of marketing and securitizing home mortgages and analyzes the collapse of federal bank regulation. The review describes similar works published on the crisis, but notes that The Subprime Virus received the book award of the American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers because of its unique combination of detail, coverage and style.
Terahertz Emission from YBa2Cu3O7−δ thin films

We report the first observation of terahertz emission from unbiased YBa2Cu3O7 thin films at room temperature excited by 1.5 eV femtosecond laser pulses. The strength of the radiated terahertz field depends on the incident angle (θ) and depends linearly on incident power. The terahertz emission also depends strongly on the rotation of the film about its surface normal (azimuthal angle, (ϕ). The strong anisotropy, with 4ϕ symmetry is demonstrated for different polarizations (incident and detected) and found to be consistent with optical rectification. Because YBCO is centrosymmetric, the secord order nonlinear susceptibility vanishes. The next order term in the nonlinear polarizations is the electric quadrupole source term which describes the observed data quite well. The terahertz radiation was found to decrease with decreasing oxygen content, indicating that the carriers in the doped sample enhance the nonlinearity responsible for the terahertz emission.
Transition in the Molecular Orientation of Phenol Adsorbates on the Ge(100)-2 × 1 Surface

The coverage-dependent adsorption behavior of phenol on the germanium (100) surface was studied with multiple internal reflection Fourier transform infrared (IR) spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Phenol chemisorbs via O–H dissociation to form adsorbed phenoxy. A transition between two adsorption configurations as a function of phenol exposure is found. Polarized IR results indicate that the surface phenoxy group lies flat in the low-exposure regime and stands upright upon higher exposures. DFT calculations also support the lying down to standing up transition through both simulated IR shifts and calculated adsorption energies. A π-complex between the phenyl ring and the surface Ge dimer is formed for the lying down configuration, causing a decrease of surface reactivity and necessitating large exposures to form the standing up orientation.
Abstract 4873: Comprehensive analysis of 160 whole-genome sequences reveals striking telomere alteration patterns in 9 pediatric cancers

Although telomere shortening has long been recognized as a feature of cancer genomes, a comprehensive characterization of telomere alteration in pediatric cancer has not yet been performed. As part of the St. Jude Children9s Research Hospital-Washington University Pediatric Cancer Genome Project (PCGP), we are performing whole genome sequence analysis on 600 pediatric cancers and matched germ line samples. This database will allow us to carry out a systematic investigation of telomere alteration across a broad range of pediatric cancers. To characterize the relative level of telomere length within a tumor, we have developed an approach that utilizes the WGS data and identifies all sequencing reads containing the telomeric repeat (TTAGGG)4. This read count is then normalized for genome-wide coverage and compared to the result from the matched germline sample to define the relative level of telomere amplification or loss in the tumor. To date we have analyzed 160 tumor/normal pairs collected from 9 distinct pediatric cancers types (Early T Progenitor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), Infant ALL, Hypo-diploid ALL, Medulloblastoma, Retinoblastoma, Neuroblastoma, Osteosarcoma, Rhabdomyosarcoma, and Adrenocortical Carcinoma). Our analysis revealed normal telomere length or minimal loss in Early T Progenitor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), Hypo-Diploid ALL, Infant-ALL, Medulloblastoma, Retinoblastoma, and Rhabdomyosarcoma. By contrast a subset of three distinct tumor types (Neurobalstoma, Oteosarcoma, and Adrenocortical Carcinoma) were characterized by marked increases in the number of telomere reads in the tumor consistent with telomere lengthening. These latter findings were validated in neuroblastoma by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (13/14) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (7/7). The presence of long telomeres was statistically associated with an increase in the number of somatic structural variations in tumor, with this association most evident in osteosarcoma. These data suggest that some pediatric cancers are associated with marked abnormalities in telomere maintenance leading to expansion in the telomere repeats. Defining the specific mutational processes that are responsible for these telomere defects and expanding the dataset to all 600 cancers in the project should help to define the mechanisms through which these alterations contribute to the transformed phenotypes. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4873. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4873
Requirement for calcium in adhesion of a fouling diatom to glass.

An assay for the adhesion of Amphora coffeaeformis (Bacillariophyceae) to glass is described. Ca2+ and Sr2+ promoted adhesion, but Ba2+ and Mn2+ were ineffective. Adhesion was inhibited by cycloheximide, carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenyl hydrazone, and α-isopropyl-α-[(N-methyl-N-homoveratryl)-γ-amino- propyl]-3,4,5-trimethyoxy phenyl acetonitrile (D-600), but not by 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1, 1-dimethyl urea or darkness. The assay has potential use in comparing chemical antifoulants.
Forum: Problems and Prospects for a Global LaborMovement

What are the roles for local, national, and international labor and worker organizations in struggles against intensified global integration? How do we achieve these possibilities? Inside this issue are five PEWS members' answers.
Selectivity of beta adrenoreceptor antagonist drugs assessed by histamine bronchial provocation

In a double-blind, within-patient, randomized study, 12 mild asthmatics were given single oral doses of propranolol (80 mg), metoprolol (100 mg), timolol (10 mg), or placebo. Resting heart rate and forced expiratory volume in one sec (FEV1) were measured before and 90 min after treatment. Nonspecific bronchial reactivity was measured by inhaled histamine at 90 min. Following each active drug, resting heart rate changed to a similar extent and to a greater degree than after placebo (p less than 0.01). Changes in FEV1 were small and not different from those after placebo. In contrast, after each active drug, bronchial reactivity increased more than after placebo. The degree of reactivity with each active drug was similar but the differences from corresponding placebo values were significant (p less than 0.05). We conclude that, in mild asthmatics, nonspecific bronchial reactivity is a more sensitive index of airway effects than resting FEV1. Moreover, in the context of this study, since the beta-blockers were given in doses likely to induce equivalent cardiac beta-blockade, there is no evidence to suggest that any one of them is more "cardioselective" than the others.
Theoretical Rationale for a Thermodynamic Glass State.

Using a chemical potential route, the square-well (SW) fluid model is solved in a quasichemical approximation (QCSW). At low temperatures, the liquid reaches a limiting density greater than the triple point density of a SW fluid but less than the equilibrium liquid-to-solid transition density for hard spheres. As this unique density is approached with decreasing temperature, the liquid entropy also approaches an asymptotic value, thus averting the “entropy catastrophe”. Mean-field models in the van der Waals (VDW) genre fail to predict this type of behavior. In VDW models, attractive force contributions to the equation of state incorrectly diverge with decreasing temperature as 1/T, whereas those for the QCSW model asymptote to a fixed value. The QCSW model posits the intuitively pleasing idea that, at high densities, attractive contributions to the configurational energy begin to saturate well before zero temperature is reached. As a consequence, the force balance between repulsive and attractive forces ...
Comparison of a Circadian-based and a Forward Rotating Watch Schedules on Sleep, Mood, and Psychomotor Vigilance Performance:

In the military, any degradation in performance may have serious implications, potentially resulting in loss of life or affecting mission accomplishment. The maritime environment imposes the additi...
Effects of annealing and thermo-mechanical treatment on the microstructures and mechanical properties of a carbon-doped FeNiMnAl multi-component alloy

Abstract The microstructures and mechanical properties of both undoped and carbon-doped (1.26 at%) f.c.c./B2 Fe 36 Ni 18 Mn 33 Al 13 multi-component alloys have been investigated in the as-cast, annealed and recrystallized states. A lamellar structure is present in the undoped alloy, while a tetragonal martensite with irregular shape is present in the carbon-doped alloy. B2-structured precipitates form upon annealing in both alloys, whose size and volume fraction increases with increasing annealing time. Lamellar coarsening also occurs during annealing of the undoped alloy. Two different thermo-mechanical treatments were applied to the carbon-doped alloy in order to decrease the grain size and disperse the martensite, which produced a significant increase in strength. The changes in yield strength are discussed in terms of the underlying strengthening mechanisms, i.e., phase boundary strengthening, grain boundary strengthening, interstitial strengthening, and precipitation strengthening. The carbon addition results in a sharp increase in ductility of the as-cast alloy, a feature ascribed to microband formation during the tensile test arising from the increase of lattice friction stress. Similar to some single-phase f.c.c. alloys, microband-induced plasticity (MBIP) effect is found to present in a two-phase multicomponent alloy in this study.
Parent-Offspring Transmission of Internalizing and Sensory over-Responsivity Symptoms in Adolescence

Reactions to sensory experiences are an overlooked correlate of affective regulation, despite the importance of bodily states on psychological processes. Children who display sensory over-responsivity (i.e., adverse reactions to typical sensations) are at greater risk for developing affective disorders. We extended this literature to adolescents and their middle-aged parents. Participants in a birth record-based study of families of adolescent twins (N = 506 families; 1012 adolescents; 53% female) completed a subset of items from the Adult Sensory Profile. We derived adolescent self-reported internalizing disorder symptoms and parent affective diagnoses from structured diagnostic interviews. Structural equation models tested the relationship between parent sensory over-responsivity symptoms and affective diagnoses and their adolescent offspring’s sensory over-responsivity and internalizing symptoms. Adolescent sensory over-responsivity symptoms were correlated with internalizing disorder symptoms. Parents with a diagnosis of anxiety or depression (mothers only) reported more frequent SOR symptoms than parents without a diagnosis. Parent depression was significantly related to adolescent sensory over-responsivity symptoms, over and above parent sensory over-responsivity symptoms (β = 0.26, p < 0.001 for mothers; β = 0.13, p = 0.004 for fathers). Father alcohol abuse/dependency also predicted offspring sensory over-responsivity symptoms. Offspring of parents with affective disorders were at additional risk for sensory dysregulation via parents’ influence on offspring internalizing problems.
Generating chemical plumes for imaging spectrometers: Equipment and procedures

The Aerospace Corporation's portable chemical release equipment has been used for some time to discharge gases and atomized liquids into the atmosphere at accurately measured flow rates, thereby producing chemical plumes whose column densities can be determined by remote infrared imaging spectrometers. Column densities can be converted into mass flow rates with a knowledge of the wind speed, the air temperature, and the ground and/or the sky radiometric temperature, which are also measured at the chemical release site, simultaneously with the release. Chemical releases have been, and continue to be, used to determine the smallest chemical plume that can be detected by an imaging spectrometer under varying conditions and to determine the accuracy to which it can infer chemical flow rates, air temperature, and wind speed. This paper describes the equipment and procedures used to release chemicals into the atmosphere and make the required meteorological and radiometric temperature measurements. The accuracy of each measurement is given.
Cardiac Channelopathies: Recognition, Treatment, Management

The discovery of the human genome has ushered in a new era of molecular testing, advancing our knowledge and ability to identify cardiac channelopathies. Genetic variations can affect the opening and closing of the potassium, sodium, and calcium channels, resulting in arrhythmias and sudden death. Cardiac arrhythmias caused by disorders of ion channels are known as cardiac channelopathies. Nurses are important members of many interdisciplinary teams and must have a general understanding of the pathophysiology of the most commonly encountered cardiac channelopathies, electrocardiogram characteristics, approaches to treatment, and care for patients and their families. This article provides an overview of cardiac channelopathies that nurses might encounter in an array of clinical and research settings, focusing on the clinically relevant features of long QT syndrome, short QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, and arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy.
Scientific Discovery and Inference: Between the Lab and Field in Biology

An adequate account of how inferences and discoveries are made in modern biology is a difficult prospect for a philosopher. Do we really deduce conclusions from Darwin’s principles? Once Darwinian biology is integrated with molecular biology, can we deduce the organism from its DNA? What does induction look like in an era where data sets are often too large to be processed by a human being? What is the role of abductive explanatory claims that try to define the biological individual in relation to the microbiome with which it may be associated, or to revise the notion of evolution when the interaction of organism and environment comes to seem much more complex than earlier generations imagined. How should we evaluate “origins of life” experiments conducted in the laboratory, where chemistry shifts to biology and we try to recreate early conditions on earth to which we have no empirical access? How are the carefully controlled conditions in the lab to be brought into productive relationship with the messy, contingent outdoor work of biologists in the field, studying crabs or eelgrass at the edge of the Pacific Ocean, or prairie plants at the end of woods, on the plains of the Midwest. To answer these questions, I sent my graduate student Tano Posteraro to work with Ted Grosholz, a marine biologist at the University of California / Davis, and my undergraduate student Alex Grigas to work with Ruth Geyer Shaw, a population geneticist at the University of Minnesota. They came back with complex and interesting answers to these questions.
Physics with the TEVATRON

We have described a new research facility which should help to advance the subject of high energy physics and carry it to the mid-1990's where, if we are lucky, we can prepare for the final assault on the route to a Grand synthesis. If the apparent summit hides an even more difficult climb, we can only hope that a new generation of “Steinberger-equivalents” emerges although it is not at all clear that such entities exist.
Forces behind the Testing Marketplace

According to evidence reviewed so far, it is clear that for close to a half-century, standardized testing in the United States has been increasing at a rapid rate — by over 10% per annum for the last two or three decades. In recent years we may be exceeding even that pace. Why has the testing marketplace grown so steadily?
Investment Optimization to Improve Power System Resilience

Power system utilities continue to strive for increased system resiliency. However, quantifying a baseline system resilience, and deciding the optimal investments to improve their resilience is challenging. This paper discusses a method to create scenarios, based on historical data, that represent the threats of severe weather events, their probability of occurrence, and the system wide consequences they generate. This paper also presents a mixed-integer stochastic nonlinear optimization model which uses the scenarios as an input to determine the optimal investments to reduce the system impacts from those scenarios. The optimization model utilizes a DC power flow to determine the loss of load during an event. Loss of load is the consequence that is minimized in this optimization model as the objective function. The results shown in this paper are from the IEEE RTS-96 three area reliability model. The scenario generation and optimization model have also been utilized on full utility models, but those results cannot be published.
Immunomodulatory Bonds of the Partnership between Dendritic Cells and T Cells

By acquiring, processing, and presenting both foreign and self-antigens, dendritic cells (DCs) initiate T cell activation that is shaped through the immunomodulatory functions of a variety of cell-membrane-bound molecules including BTLA-HVEM, CD40-CD40L, CTLA-4-CD80/CD86, CD70-CD27, ICOS-ICOS-L, OX40-OX40L, and PD-L1-PD-1, as well as several key cytokines and enzymes such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-12, IL-23, IL-27, transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), retinaldehyde dehydrogenase (Raldh), and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). Some of these distinct immunomodulatory signals are mediated by specific subsets of DCs, therefore contributing to the functional specialization of DCs in the priming and regulation of immune responses. In addition to responding to the DC-mediated signals, T cells can reciprocally modulate the immunomodulatory capacities of DCs, further refining immune responses. Here, we review recent studies, particularly in experimental mouse systems, that have delineated the integrated mechanisms of crucial immunomodulatory pathways that enable specific populations of DCs and T cells to work intimately together as single functional units that are indispensable for the maintenance of immune homeostasis.