cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Radiation Therapy Potentiates Effective Oncolytic Viral Therapy in the Treatment of Lung Cancer

Background Replication-competent oncolytic herpes simplex viruses with deletion of the γ 1 34.5 gene preferentially replicate in and kill malignant cells. The γ 1 34.5 gene codes for ICP 34.5, a protein that enhances viral replication, and is homologous to growth arrest and DNA damage protein 34 (GADD34), a radiation-inducible DNA repair gene. We hypothesized that radiation therapy may potentiate efficacy of oncolytic viral therapy by upregulating GADD34 and promoting viral replication. Methods The A549 and H1299 lung cancer cell lines were infected with NV1066, an oncolytic herpes simplex virus, at multiplicities of infection (number of viral particles per tumor cell) of 0.1 to 0.5 in vitro with radiation (2 to 10 Gy) or without radiation. Viral replication was determined by plaque assay, cell-to-cell spread was determined by flow cytometry, cell kill was determined by lactate dehydrogenase assay, and GADD34 induction was determined by real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction and Western blot method. Evidence of synergistic cytotoxicity dependence with GADD34 induction is further confirmed by small inhibitory RNA inhibition of GADD34 expression. Results Using both the isobologram method and combination index method of Chou and Talalay, significant synergism was demonstrated between radiation therapy and NV1066 both in vitro and in vivo. As a result of such synergism, a dose reduction for each agent (2- to 6,000-fold) can be accomplished for a wide range of therapeutic effect levels without sacrificing tumor cell kill. This effect is correlated with increased GADD34 expression and inhibited by transfection of small inhibitory RNA directed against GADD34. Conclusions These data provide the cellular basis for the clinical investigation of combined use of radiation therapy with oncolytic herpes simplex virus therapy in the treatment of lung cancer to achieve synergistic efficacy while minimizing dosage and toxicity.
Peak reflectance and color gamut of superimposed left- and right-handed cholesteric liquid crystals

Coatings of cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) have properties of narrowband optical filters. It has been proposed and tested experimentally that superimposed coatings of left- and right-handed CLCs double the peak reflectance from 0.5 to 1.0. In an alternate method a halfwave plate inserted between two coatings of left-or right-handed CLCs accomplishes the same result. As the spectra of such superimposed coatings resemble those of optimum colors, the color gamut obtained with such liquid crystal coatings approaches that of optimum colors.
Why are systemic glioblastoma metastases rare? Systemic and cerebral growth of mouse glioblastoma

Abstract Background Systemic metastasis of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in the form of bulk tumor is rare. This could be because of patient death before clinically detectable systemic metastasis, impediments to systemic egress, or the inability of GBM to grow outside the central nervous system (CNS). In the present paper, we tested this last hypothesis. Methods The delayed brain tumor (DBT) cell was characterized with respect to in vitro and in vivo morphology, growth rate, anchorage-independent growth, glial fibrillary acidic protein expression and cytogenetic analysis, and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) typing. We then assayed implantation-induced intracerebral and systemic GBM growth using 3 rodent models with increasing relative immunologic differences between implanted DBT cells and hosts (Balb/c mice, an isograft, MHC I H2, class type D; C3H mice, an allograft; Wistar rats, a xenograft). Results After implantation in the brain, DBT cells generated tumors that were similar to human GBM. Intracerebral DBT implantation as an isograft or allograft produced only intracranial tumors, whereas intracerebral and systemic implantation as a xenograft produced no tumors. Systemic isograft implantation yielded only systemic tumors. Systemic implantation as allografts produced only transient subcutaneous masses. Conclusions Delayed brain tumor cells implanted outside the CNS formed tumors unless there was a significant difference between the immunotype of the implanted cells and host. These results support the hypothesis that the rarity of systemic GBM tumors lies in the presence of physical barriers and/or systemic hurdles that prevent their timely growth. These results also demonstrate that GBMs are antigenic, although not immunogenic, with their syngeneic host. Therefore, GBM may be amenable to targeted immunotherapy given successful artificial priming of the immune system.
Factoring sparse resultants of linearly combined polynomials

This paper is part of the author's work on determining the irreducible factors of sparse (toric) resultants of composed polynomials. The motivation behind this work is to use the factors for efficient elimination of variables, by sparse resultant computation, from composed polynomials. Previous works considered the sparse (toric) resultant of polynomials having arbitrary (mixed) supports composed with (i.e. evaluated at) polynomials having the same (unmixed) supports and of polynomials having the same (unmixed) supports composed with polynomials having arbitrary (mixed) supports, resp. Here, we consider the sparse resultant of linear polynomials having arbitrary (mixed) supports composed with polynomials having arbitrary (mixed) supports, also called "linearly combined polynomials", (under a natural assumption on their exponents). The main contribution of this paper is to determine the irreducible factors, together with their exponents, of the sparse resultant of these linearly combined polynomials. This result essentially generalizes a result by Gelfand, Kapranov and Zelevinsky factoring the sparse resultant of unmixed dense linear polynomials composed with polynomials with unmixed supports. It is expected that this result can be applied to eliminate variables from linearly combined polynomials with improved efficiency.
Real-time one-dimensional coherent imaging through single-mode fibers by space–time conversion processors

We introduce and experimentally demonstrate a novel technique for one-dimensional coherent imaging through a single-mode optical fiber by use of a pulse shaper and a pulse imager. In contrast to the wavelength-division-multiplexed encoding technique, our approach preserves both amplitude and phase information of the optical signal transmitted through the fiber, allowing one to encode longitudinal in addition to transverse optical information. The effect of the fiber-material dispersion on our imaging technique is analyzed, and potential solutions are discussed.
Rapidly Inducible Protein Modification Using Rapamycin-mediated Complementation Of Tobacco Etch Virus (TEV) Protease

Traditional modalities of protein knock down rely on transcriptional or translation suppression and are thus hampered by slow endogenous protein turnover rates and compensatory mechanisms. Directly targeting proteins, rather than synthetic pathways, facilitates more rapid depletion of the targeted protein. Tobacco etch virus protease (TEVp), a potyvirus nuclear inclusion protein, cleaves at a canonical sequence, ENLYFQ/G, with sufficient specificity to be useful for targeting specific proteins. Starting with a TEVp mutant (S219V) deficient in autocatalysis (Kapust et al., Protein Eng. 14:993, 2001), we have humanized the codon bias and introduced mutations (van den Berg et al., J. Biotechnology 121:291, 2006) to increase solubility. Expression of the modified TEVp was well tolerated by Hela cells and resulted in efficient cleavage, as determined by Forster resonance energy transfer, of a co-expressed reporter consisting of fluorescent proteins (Cerulean and Venus) fused with a linker containing a TEVp cleavage sequence. Splitting the TEVp at residue 119 (Wehr et al., Nat. Methods 3:985, 2006) and fusing the fragments to FKBP12 and the c-terminus of FRB resulted in inducible enzyme activity following addition of rapamycin to living cells. Cleavage at 37°C proceeded exponentially with a time constant of approximately 100 minutes. In an effort to accelerate cleavage, the two halves of the complementation system were fused to form circular permutated unitary constructs. However, these constructs demonstrated constitutive activity without rapamycin. Fusing one half of TEVp to the reporter protein (cleavage in cis) also resulted in non-regulated activity. Current efforts are aimed at targeting one half of TEVp to the plasma membrane and recruiting the other half from the cytoplasm upon addition of rapamycin. Targeted protein cleavage was monitored by measuring KV3.4 inactivation of a reporter construct consisting of EGFP-TEVP site-KV3.4.
Triplet-sensitized photolysis of alkoxycarbonyl azides in solution and matrices

Abstract Photolysis of azides 1 – 4 in methanol, which have a built-in intramolecular triplet sensitizer, yields mainly carbamates 5 – 8 . Laser flash photolysis of 1 – 4 shows formation of their triplet-excited ketone, which decays by intramolecular energy transfer to form triplet nitrenes 1n – 4n . Irradiating 1 – 3 in matrices yields isocyanic acid, whereas photolysis of 4 forms isocyanate 4i . The depletion rate of the azide bands between 2100 and 2200 cm −1 is different than the rate of formation for the isocyanic acid bands at ∼2265 cm −1 ; thus, the formation of isocyanic acid is a stepwise process. Irradiating 1 in matrices produces an absorption band due to nitrene 1n ( λ max ∼ 343 nm), which is depleted upon further irradiation, whereas the absorption due to 4-acetyl benzaldehyde ( λ max ∼ 280 nm) increases with prolonged irradiation. We propose that formation of isocyanic acid in matrices must come from secondary photolysis of nitrenes 1n – 3n . This mechanism is further supported by calculation, which show that the estimated transition state for 1n – 4n to fall apart to yield alkoxy and cyanato radicals is only ∼34 kcal/mol above the ground state of the triplet nitrenes and thus the cleavage can take place photochemically. Thus, nitrenes 1n – 4n can be formed selectively, but these intermediates are highly photosensitive and undergo secondary photolysis in matrices.
Patient-centered outcomes after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the second most common general surgical operation performed in the United States, yet little has been reported on patient-centered outcomes. We prospectively followed 100 patients for 2 years as part of an institutional review board–approved study. The Surgical Outcomes Measurement System (SOMS) was used to quantify quality-of-life (QoL) values at various time points postoperatively. Maximum pain was reported at 24 h (5.5 ± 2.2), and decreased to preoperative levels at 7 days (1.2 ± 2.3 vs. 2.0 ± 1.6, P = 0.096). Bowel function improved from before the operation to 3 weeks after surgery (10.7 ± 3.8 vs. 12.0 ± 3.2, P < 0.05), but then regressed to preoperative levels. Physical function worsened from before surgery (31.7 ± 6.2) to 1 week (27.5 ± 5.9, P < 0.0001), but surpassed preoperative levels at 3 weeks (33.5 ± 3.4, P < 0.01). Return to the activities of daily living occurred at 6.3 ± 4.7 days and work at 11.1 ± 9.0 days. Fatigue increased from before surgery (15.8 ± 6.2) to week 1 (20.7 ± 6.6, P < 0.0001) before improving at week 3 (14.0 ± 5.8, P < 0.01). Forty-four patients contacted the health care team 61 times before their 3 weeks appointment, most commonly for wound issues (26.2 %), pain (24.6 %), and gastrointestinal issues (24.6 %). Seventy-two percent reported that the procedure had no negative effect on cosmesis at 6 months. Satisfaction with the procedure was high, averaging 9.52 out of 11. QoL is significantly affected in the 24 h after LC but returns to baseline at week 3. Cosmesis and overall satisfaction are high, and QoL improvements are maintained in the long term except for bowel function, which regresses to preoperative levels of impairment. Analysis of patient-initiated contacts after LC may provide feedback on discharge counseling to increase patient satisfaction.
Divisible and exponent actions of semigroups

In this paper we consider divisible actions of semigroups which have a completely simple minimal ideal and establish that these actions are determined by the divisible actions of the Schutzenberger group of the minimal ideal. In the third section, we discuss the concept of an exponent action and present a result which relates the notion of divisible action to the notion of exponent action. The fourth section of this paper exhibits a characterization of exponent functions. To find such a characterization was the original objective of this project.
Scaling of direct drive robot arms

This article studies the ways that the performance of direct drive (DD) serial robots changes as system size is changed. We are particularly interested in the physical laws for scaling down direct drive arms to small sizes. Using theoretical scaling analysis, we show that there is a net physical performance advantage to small direct drive arms. A key factor for direct drive robot performance is the torque-to-mass ratio of the actuators, U. We show how U varies with the scale of DD actuators, and we also calculate how the dynamic performance varies with scale and U. We compare our calculations with experimental measurements of actuators of various sizes taken from small hard disk drives and compare them with published data for larger motors. Finally, we describe a prototype, five- axis, direct drive serial arm having a reach of 10 cm and a work volume of about 136 cm3. Some potential applications are briefly discussed.
Sleep-disordered breathing: effects on brain structure and function

Sleep-disordered breathing is accompanied by neural injury that affects a wide range of physiological systems which include processes for sensing chemoreception and airflow, driving respiratory musculature, timing circuitry for coordination of breathing patterning, and integration of blood pressure mechanisms with respiration. The damage also occurs in regions mediating emotion and mood, as well as areas regulating memory and cognitive functioning, and appears in structures that serve significant glycemic control processes. The injured structures include brain areas involved in hormone release and action of major neurotransmitters, including those playing a role in depression. The injury is reflected in a range of structural magnetic resonance procedures, and also appears as functional distortions of evoked activity in brain areas mediating vital autonomic and breathing functions. The damage is preferentially unilateral, and includes axonal projections; the asymmetry of the injury poses unique concerns for sympathetic discharge and potential consequences for arrhythmia. Sleep-disordered breathing should be viewed as a condition that includes central nervous system injury and impaired function; the processes underlying injury remain unclear.
Dynein arm substructure and the orientation of arm-microtubule attachments.

Abstract In the presence of AMP-PCP (β,γ-methyleneadenosine 5′-triphosphate), a non-hydrolyzable analog of ATP, negative stain images of increased morphological detail indicate that the dynein arm, attached to ciliary doublet microtubules, is composed of subunits including a cape, an elongated body and a head. The arrangement of these subunits makes it possible to distinguish A from B subfiber binding sites on a single arm and to demonstrate that the head of an extended arm on subfiber A of one ciliary doublet is capable of binding to subfiber B of an adjacent doublet in a specific orientation, which supports a key step in a current model of the mechanochemical cycle by which the arm produces microtubule sliding in the ciliary axoneme.
Coprecipitation of Uranium(VI) with Calcite: XAFS, micro-XAS, and luminescence characterization

X-ray absorption and luminescence spectroscopies have been used to characterize the local structure and coordination of uranium(VI) species coprecipitated with calcite (CaCO3) from room-temperature aqueous solutions. Different solution chemistries and pHs are found to result in differences in the equatorial coordination of the uranyl species (UO2 ) incorporated in the calcite, with multiple coordination environ- ments of uranyl evident in one sample. Differences in the equatorial coordination between the aqueous uranyl species and those found in the calcite indicate that coordination changes occur during incorporation of at least some species. This contrasts with previous findings showing no change in equatorial coordination during uranyl incorporation into aragonite, and may explain the greater incorporation in this latter phase. The absence of calcium backscatterers and well defined structure beyond the equatorial shell is consistent with disorder associated with disruption of the local calcite structure. This may indicate an inability of the uranyl unit to assume a stable structural environment in the host calcite, which could decrease the stability of uranyl- containing calcite. Calcite single crystals grown in uranyl-containing solutions exhibit polygonized spiral growth hillocks on (101 ¯4) surfaces composed of four vicinal surfaces, consistent with face symmetry. Micro-X-ray fluorescence reveals that uranium is differentially incorporated between nonequivalent vicinal surfaces, reflecting step- selective incorporation of uranyl species during growth. Micro-X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectra from the nonequivalent vicinal faces fail to reveal any differences in speciation between the vicinals or that might account for the presence of the multiple coordination environments identified by luminescence and X-ray absorption spectroscopies. Copyright © 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd
PERSONALITY, LEARNING STYLE AND COGNITVE STYLE PROFILES OF MATHEMATICALLY TALENTED STUDENTS

Clear personality differences were found for a sample of academically talented students when compared to a general population of same age students. On the Myers‐Briggs dimensions, the academically talented students differed significantly from the comparison group on all four dimensions. Specifically, the academically talented group expressed greater preferences for introversion, intuition, and thinking. Although there were more judging types in this group than in the comparison group, overall more academically talented students expressed a preference for a perceptive style. They also tended to be higher on achievement motivation and lower on interpersonal and social concerns. In particular, a cognitive style that empasizes a thinking over a feeling mode appears to mediate gender differences in mathematics ability and achievement.
A contact lens with embedded sensor for monitoring tear glucose level

We report the design, construction, and testing of a contact lens with an integrated amperometric glucose sensor, proposing the possibility of in situ human health monitoring simply by wearing a contact lens. The glucose sensor was constructed by creating microstructures on a polymer substrate, which was subsequently shaped into a contact lens. Titania sol-gel film was applied to immobilize glucose oxidase, and Nafion® was used to decrease several potential interferences (ascorbic acid, lactate, and urea) present in the tear film. The sensor exhibits a fast response (20s), a high sensitivity (240 μA cm(-2) mM(-1)) and a good reproducibility after testing a number of sensors. It shows good linearity for the typical range of glucose concentrations in the tear film (0.1-0.6 mM), and acceptable accuracy in the presence of interfering agents. The sensor can attain a minimum detection of less than 0.01 mM glucose.
Pre-surgery binge eating status: Effect on eating behavior and weight outcome after gastric bypass

Background: The impact of pre-surgical binge eating on postoperative outcomes is poorly understood. Previous studies have found marked preoperative differences between binge eaters (BE) and non-binge eaters (NBE) in hunger and disinhibition using the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ). Short-term prospective data are mixed regarding whether these differences persist after surgery and if preoperative binge eating impacts postoperative weight outcomes. The purpose of the present study was to compare self-reported eating behavior and weight outcomes between BE and NBE after the first postoperative year. Methods: Prior to surgery, 72 Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) patients completed the Questionnaire of Eating and Weight Patterns (QEWP) or QEWP-Revised (QEWP-R), to assess binge eating status which was defined as one objective binge episode per week over the past 6 months. Subjects also completed the TFEQ prior to surgery and again ≥12 months after surgery. Results: For BE, higher scores were found for both hunger and disinhibition prior to surgery. At a mean of 18 months after surgery, BE and NBE were indistinguishable on these subscales and there were no differences in weight lost. Conclusions: RYGBP surgery has an equally positive impact on eating behavior and weight loss for both BE and NBE. Within a multidisciplinary clinic, preoperative BE status does not appear to be a negative prognostic indicator for RYGBP surgery in the domains of weight loss and disinhibition. Further replication is needed with longer follow-up times and larger samples.
The Interaction of Creep and Physical Aging in a Semicrystalline Thermoplastic Matrix Composite above Tg

The second generation of polymer matrix composites are based on ther moplastic resins—crystalline and amorphous. For these non-crosslinked polymers, long- term creep at elevated temperatures has been suggested to be a possible detrimental effect. t-T superposition is the standard technique used to predict long-term properties. We have examined creep above the nominal Tg in both the viscoelastic and viscoplastic load range for AS4/Jl[poly(bis 4,4' dicyclohexylmethane) n-dodecanediamide], uniaxial composites. Surprisingly, long-term creep does not appear to be a problem; within reasonable load ranges it is compensated by shrinkage due to physical aging, resulting in negative creep under some circumstances. Simple t-T superposition is invalid for long-term predictions. Physical aging occurs above the nominal T g due to a double or distributed Tg.
USA resistance patterns among UTI pathogens

The fluoroquinolones are a new, potent class of antimicrobials which are heavily prescribed in the United States. Resistance to these agents has developed primarily in organisms that are inherently less sensitive, such as Staphylococcus spp. and Pseudomonas spp., but also, in some centres, in more sensitive organisms, such as members of the Enterobacteriaceae. Because the fluoroquinolones are a valuable class of broad-spectrum antibiotics, it is desirable that their usefulness be conserved by adopting measures to prevent or minimize the development of resistance. One obvious approach to this is to restrict their use, preventing overuse or misuse. The therapy of urinary tract infections is a major area in which fluoroquinolone usage could be reduced or rationalized. Although these agents are highly efficacious in the therapy of urinary tract infections, so too are older, less expensive agents such as nitrofurantoin, co-trimoxazole, sulphonamides and amoxycillin. From considerations of both economy and minimizing the development of resistance there appears to be little justification for using fluoroquinolones routinely to treat urinary tract infections, except where other oral agents may not be well tolerated or are unlikely to be effective.
Kidney function assessment in the critically ill child: is it time to leave creatinine behind?

The accurate diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) is especially problematic in critically ill patients in whom renal function is in an unsteady state, rendering creatinine-based baseline assessment measures of renal function potentially inadequate. Herrero-Morin and colleagues performed a cross-sectional analysis of the ability of cystatin C and β2 microglobulin to reflect creatinine clearance in pediatric patients with AKI. The aim of this commentary is to review the current state of AKI clinical and translational research in the light of the results presented in that study.
Freely Suspended Strands of Tilted Columnar Liquid-Crystal Phases: One-Dimensional Nematics with Orientational Jumps

Observations of stable, freely suspended liquid-crystal strands are reported. Liquid crystals of triphenylene hexa-$n$-dodecanoate can be stretched into strands of diameter \ensuremath{\gtrsim}1 \ensuremath{\mu}m, with the disk-shaped molecules arranged into columns along the strand axis. In the $D1$ phase ($Tl110\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ C) the molecules are tilted with respect to the strand axis, the tilt orientation behaving as a one-dimensional nematiclike field, interrupted by jumps in orientation between degenerate stable positions relative to the column lattice.
Optimal Testing of Digitally Assisted Adaptive RF Systems

Testing of adaptive analog/RF systems is challenging due to the fact that any test procedure must ensure that the system adapts correctly to external perturbations (process, workload) without incurring the excessive test time associated with iterative tuning procedures. This problem is made worse by the increased number of adaptation settings ("tuning knob values") and the requirement of measuring specifications at all of these settings. In this paper, a new test technique is proposed that allows the closed loop performance of the adaptation procedure to be predicted from a set of open-loop tests. The optimal knob settings where the system should be tested in open-loop are found using a gradient based search algorithm and optimized multitone test signals are generated such that the error in performance prediction across different tuning knob settings is minimized. The results of these tests are then mapped to the performance of the adaptive system which is validated implicitly without incurring large testing and tuning costs. Simulation results and hardware measurement results prove the validity of the proposed technique.
What do J-NABS papers tell us about the state of knowledge in freshwater benthic science?

AbstractThe approaches that researchers use to generate knowledge typically vary with the state of knowledge within a discipline: description of phenomena during early phases, documentation of patterns and explanatory proposals during intermediate stages, and tests of causal hypotheses and theory building during mature stages. Ideally, the approaches used will result in the most efficient maturation of knowledge given the current state of knowledge. However, this idea has seldom been examined for freshwater benthic science, a habitat-based discipline. We evaluated the research approaches used by recent authors of papers published in the Journal of the North American Benthological Society (J-NABS) to assess the state of freshwater benthic science as perceived by freshwater benthic scientists and members of the North American Benthological Society (NABS). To do so, we categorized articles published during 2000 to 2005 in J-NABS with respect to the general research approach (taxonomic descriptions, case stud...
An analytical model of NPS and DQE comparing photon counting and energy integrating detectors

ABSTRACT In this work, analytical models of the optical transfer function (OTF), noise power spectra (NPS), and detective quantum efficiency (DQE) are developed for two types of digital x-ray detectors. The two detector types are (1) energy integrating (EI), for which the point spread function (PSF) is interpreted as a weighting function for counting x-rays, and (2) photon counting (PC), for which the PSF is treated as a probability. The OTF is the Four ier transform of the PSF. The two detector types, having the same PSF, possess an equivalent OTF. NPS is the discrete space Fourier transform (DSFT) of the autocovariance of signal in tensity. From first principles, it is shown that while covariance is equivalent for both detector types, variance is not. As a consequence, provided the two detector types have equivalent PSFs, a difference in NPS exis ts such that NPS PC  NPS EI and hence DQE PC  DQE EI . The necessary and sufficient condition for equality is that the PSF is either zero or unity everywhere. A PSF modeled as the convolution of a Lorentzian with a rect function is analyzed in order to illustrate the differences in NPS and DQE. The Lorentzian models the blurring of the x-ray converter, while the rect function reflects the sampling of the detector. The NPS difference between the two detector types is shown to increase with increasing PSF width. In conclusion, this work develops analytical models of OTF, NPS, and DQE for energy integrating and photon counting digital x-ray detectors. Keywords: Energy integrating detector, photon counting detector, point spread function (PSF), optical transfer function (OTF), modulation transfer function (MTF), noise power spectra (NPS), detective quantum efficiency (DQE).
Creatine Supplementation and Women Athletes

The effect of oral creatine (Cr) supplementation on performance has received a considerable amount of attention in recent years, and has been shown to be effective for enhancing both aerobic and anaerobic exercise performance. The majority of Cr research has used men as subjects; therefore, findings reported for men may not necessarily be generalized to women, and there has been some controversy regarding the effectiveness of Cr supplementation for improving high intensity exercise performance in women. For example, Forsberg et al. (1) reported that women have an approx 10% higher total muscle-Cr (TCr) content compared with men, suggesting that they may have a lower potential to Cr load and, therefore, may not experience improvements in performance similar to those observed for men. However, more recently, a number of studies have reported that there are no gender differences in the magnitude of change in phosphocreatine (PCr) and/or TCr content following Cr loading (2,3), and that short-term supplementation is equally effective between genders for increasing indices of high intensity exercise performance (4). The purpose of this chapter was to examine the morphological potential for women to respond to Cr supplementation, and its effects on exercise performance and body composition. Based on the findings, practical applications and recommendations for future study are discussed.
Spectroscopy of short, intense laser pulses due to gas ionization effects

We study the effects of ionization of neutral gases by use of short, intense, chirped pulses with various higher-order distortions in the frequency domain. Investigations were carried out with a one-dimensional, fully relativistic fluid code, which included strong field tunneling and collisional ionization as well as quasi-two-dimensional focusing and defocusing. The resulting effects on the spectrum are explained in terms of blue shifting and depletion of different parts of the spectral intensity distribution according to their position within the laser pulse in the time domain. In turn, we point out that qualitative information about the pulse’s phase distortion may be gained from the observation of such spectral distributions. A comparison of the experimentally measured spectrum of a strongly distorted laser pulse with our simulations is given.
Saccharification of cellolulose by the cellulolytic enzyme system of Thermonospora sp. I. Stability of cellulolytic activities with respect to time, temperature, and pH

The stabilities and optima with respect to temperature and pH of the β-glucosidase, Avicelase, and carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase) activity of Thermomonospora sp., in the culture filtrate, culture whole broth, and filtrate after sonication of culture solids, are reported. The β-glucosidase is cell associated and has an optimal activity at about pH 6.5 and 55°C. In the whole culture broth, it has a half-life of about 8 hr at 55°C and less than 1 hr at 60°C, while the half-life of the activity in the sonicated, cell-free filtrate is less than 1 hr at 55°C. The Avicelase and CMCase activities occur in the extracellular culture fluid and have optima at about pH 7.0 and 5.9, and 65 and 70°C, respectively. The CMCase activity is stable over 24 hr at 60°C, but declines by 50% in the same period at 65°C. The Avicelase activity declines by 15% over 24 hr at 55°C, and by 50% at 60°C. The highest pH studied (pH 7.3) was the most destabilizing for all three activities. The thermostable characteristics of the cellulases from Themomonospora appear to make them suitable for commercial saccharification processes operating at elevated temperatures.
The Wisconsin Hα Mapper Northern Sky Survey

The Wisconsin Hα Mapper (WHAM) has surveyed the distribution and kinematics of ionized gas in the Galaxy above declination -30°. The WHAM Northern Sky Survey (WHAM-NSS) has an angular resolution of 1° and provides the first absolutely calibrated, kinematically resolved map of the Hα emission from the warm ionized medium (WIM) within ~±100 km s-1 of the local standard of rest. Leveraging WHAM's 12 km s-1 spectral resolution, we have modeled and removed atmospheric emission and zodiacal absorption features from each of the 37,565 spectra. The resulting Hα profiles reveal ionized gas detected in nearly every direction on the sky with a sensitivity of 0.15 R (3 σ). Complex distributions of ionized gas are revealed in the nearby spiral arms up to 1-2 kpc away from the Galactic plane. Toward the inner Galaxy, the WHAM-NSS provides information about the WIM out to the tangent point down to a few degrees from the plane. Ionized gas is also detected toward many intermediate velocity clouds at high latitudes. Several new H II regions are revealed around early B stars and evolved stellar cores (sdB/O). This work presents the details of the instrument, the survey, and the data reduction techniques. The WHAM-NSS is also presented and analyzed for its gross properties. Finally, some general conclusions are presented about the nature of the WIM as revealed by the WHAM-NSS.
Synthetic Protein Surface Domains as Bioactive Stationary Phases

Significant developments toward the site- or domain-specific interaction of proteins with chemically defined stationary phases have been made during the last 10 to 20 years. Most of these efforts, however, were focused primarily on the need for improved protein purification strategies. One example was the introduction of new chemical methods for the immobilization of transition-metal ions (Porath et al., 1975; Porath and Olin, 1983). Immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC), although relatively slow to gain widespread acceptance, is clearly an important advancement in the field of protein purification. In our view, however, the use of immobilized metal ions can address questions that go beyond affinity chromatography and protein purification. Indeed, the interactions of peptides and proteins with surface-immobilized transition-metal ions presents an opportunity to investigate and ultimately model biospecific metal ion-dependent macromolecular recognition events. To help explore the development of this opportunity, we have evaluated (1) protein surface—metal ion interaction mechanisms (Hutchens et al., 1988, 1989b; Hutchens and Li, 1988; Hutchens and Yip, 1990a,b, 1992a,b; Yip et al., 1989; Yip and Hutchens, 1989), (2) metal ion-dependent macromolecular surface recognition (Hutchens et al., 1981, 1989b), and (3) the use of immobilized metal ions to evaluate ligand-induced alterations in macro-molecular surface structure (Hutchens and Li, 1990; Hutchens and Yip, 1991b). We have shown both qualitative and quantitative examples of variability in affinity and selectivity in the biomolecular surface recognition of surface-immobilized metal ions. Until recently, our efforts in this area have been limited to the use of relatively simple, chemically defined (i. e., nonbiological) stationary-phase metal ion chelators of the type introduced by Porath and co-workers (Porath et al., 1975; Porath and Olin, 1983).
Diachronic Universals in Interpersonal Structures Evidence from Literary Sources

Factor analyses of frequencies of social interaction in literary material from different historical periods were used to explore the possibility that affiliation, dominance, and intimacy are universal dimensions of interpersonal relations. The findings suggest that the first two dimensions have not undergone any major changes over the past 3,000 years. However, it is likely that the intimacy formality continuum has developed substantially through this period of time. Results are discussed in the context of a theoretical framework that views the fundamental features of social behavior as emerging over time in a systematic fashion.
Effect of Uterine Flushings on RNA Synthesis by ‘Implanting’ and‘ Delayed Implanting’ Mouse Blastocysts in vitro

Blastocysts were collected from the uteri of ‘normal’ and ‘delayed implanting’ mice and incubated with either Brinster’s medium containing H uridine, or the same medium mixed with material flushed from the uteri of ‘implanting’ or ‘delayed implanting’ animals. The rate of embryonic RNA synthesis was estimated from the incorporation of H uridine by the embryos in vitro. RNA synthesis by normal embryos incubated in Brinster’s medium was linear for at least 6 h. RNA synthesis by delayed implanting embryos in Brinster’s medium was initially low and increased to the level of normal embryos by the fourth hour in vitro. In contrast, RNA synthesis was low in both types of embryos incubated in medium containing uterine flushings; material from the uteri of ‘implanting’ animals was as effective an inhibitor of RNA synthesis as that from ‘delayed implanting’ animals. The apparent inhibitory activity is dialyzable and heat resistant. It is not known whether or not the inhibitory effect of uterine flushings on embryonic RNA synthesis found in vitro has any significance in vivo.
Serving Native American Children and Families: Considering Cultural Variables.

As a group, Native American people are perhaps the least understood and most underserved populations in schools. Native American is a collective term, representing a large variety of cultures, lang...
Responses to Variation in Song Length by Male White-Crowned Sparrows

Bird song has the potential to convey a variety of information about the singer, including the singer’s current motivational state. A recent review by Searcy & Beecher (2009) (Anim. Behav. 78, 2009; 1281) emphasized how little is currently known about whether song functions as an aggressive signal in territorial interactions. A recent observational study of song length variation in the Puget Sound white-crowned sparrow reported that males shorten the terminal trill in their single song type while singing close by another male, and shorten the trill even further immediately before chasing the opponent. Here, we report the results of two song playback experiments designed to test whether males distinguish the differences in song length that occur in agonistic and non-agonistic contexts. We found that males gave stronger responses, as measured by close approach distances, to either a series of songs increasing in duration (compared to a series decreasing in duration), or to long loud songs (compared to short soft songs). In both experiments, males gave weaker responses to the stimuli hypothesized to be more aggressive. Males shortened their songs in response to both simulated intrusions. Combined with the observational data on song variation in different contexts, these experiments support the conclusion that song length variation contains information about aggressive motivation in the white-crowned sparrow.
A global survey of stress orientations in subducting slabs as revealed by intermediate‐depth earthquakes

SUMMARY We examine a variety of mechanisms that have been proposed as contributors to the stress fields expressed as intermediate-depth seismicity in subducting slabs. To this end, we study principal stress orientations for a global data set of 1900 intermediate-depth focal solutions, determining the patterns of events characterized primarily by downdip compression, downdip tension, or neither. In regions dominated by downdip principal stresses, we find that conjugate stress axes exhibit preferential slab-normal orientations. Furthermore, we observe a clear trend of thermal control, in which colder slabs exhibit greater components of downdip compression while warmer slabs display greater downdip tension. In those regions not dominated by downdip principal stresses, a significant number of events exhibit lateral stresses in the form of subhorizontal principal axes in the plane of the slab. We conclude that the evidently complementary roles played by lithospheric age and subduction rate in constraining stress regimes support thermomechanical and petrological buoyancy models for control of intermediate-depth stresses. Moreover, observed lateral stresses support the traditional model of a squeezed ping-pong ball and stress patterns overall are consistent with some influence by reactivated fossil faults.
A new species of Austracarus (Acari: Trombiculidae) from a South African steinbok (Mammalia: Artiodactyla).

ABSTRACT A new species, Austracarus campestris (Trombiculidae) is described from Raphicerus campestris collected in South Africa. Illustrations are given and a key to the species of Austracarus is included.
A deletion mutant of the latency-associated transcript of herpes simplex virus type 1 reactivates from the latent state with reduced frequency

We have generated and characterized a deletion mutant of herpes simplex virus type-1, dlLAT1.8, which lacks the putative promoter region, transcriptional start site, and 1,015 base pairs of the DNA sequences specifying the latency-associated transcripts (LATs). When tested in a CD-1 mouse ocular model, dlLAT1.8 was replication competent in the eye and in ganglia during acute infection but reactivated from explant cultures of ganglia with reduced efficiency (49%) relative to those of wild-type and marker-rescued viruses (94 and 85%, respectively) despite the fact that levels of mutant viral DNA in ganglia during latent infection were comparable to wild-type levels. The neurovirulence of KOS was not significantly altered by the removal of sequences specifying the LATs, as judged by numbers of animals dying on or before 30 days postinfection. Examination of ganglia latently infected with dlLAT1.8 by in situ hybridization revealed no LAT expression. The genotype of reactivated virus was identical to that of input dlLAT1.8 virus as judged by Southern blot analysis. These studies suggest that although the LATs are not essential for the establishment and reactivation of latency in our model, they may play a role in determining the frequency of reactivation of virus from the latent state.
Thin Dielectric Spacer for the Monolithic Integration of Bulk Germanium or Germanium Quantum Wells With Silicon-on-Insulator Waveguides

We propose an approach to monolithically integrate bulk germanium (Ge) or Ge quantum wells with silicon-on-insulator (SOI) waveguides through selective epitaxy and direct butt coupling. To prevent lateral epitaxial growth during the selective epitaxy, a dielectric insulating spacer layer is deposited on the sidewall facet of the SOI waveguide. With an SiO2 spacer that is 20 nm thick, the additional insertion loss penalty can be as low as 0.13 dB. We also propose and demonstrate a robust, reliable, and complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS)-compatible fabrication process to realize sub-30-nm spacers.
Discovery of Association Rules in Temporal Databases

Temporal databases naturally contain a wealth of information that can be unearthed by knowledge discovery and data mining techniques. Discovering association rules in market basket data have been widely studied and many algorithms have been developed. In this study, we examine discovery of association rules in temporal databases. We use the enumeration operation of the temporal relational algebra to prepare the data for discovery of association rules. To observe the changes in association rules and their statistics over the time, we can apply an incremental association rule mining technique to a series of datasets obtained over consecutive time intervals
GATA1 mutations in Down Syndrome: Implications for biology and diagnosis of children with transient myeloproliferative disorder and acute megakaryoblastic leukemia

Although physicians have known for many decades that children with Down syndrome are predisposed to developing transient myeloproliferative disorder (TMD) and acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (AMKL), many questions regarding these disorders remain unresolved. First, what is the relationship between TMD and AMKL? Second, what specific genetic alterations contribute to the leukemic process? Finally, what factors lead to the increased predisposition to these myeloid disorders? In this review I will summarize important new insights into the biology of TMD and AMKL gained from the recent discovery that GATA1, a gene that encodes an essential hematopoietic transcription factor, is mutated in the leukemic blasts from nearly all patients with these malignancies. In addition, I will discuss whether assaying for the presence of a GATA1 mutation can aid in the diagnosis of these and related megakaryoblastic leukemias. Future research aimed at defining the activity of mutant GATA-1 protein and identifying interacting factors encoded by chromosome 21 will likely lead to an even greater understanding of this intriguing leukemia.
A stochastic gradient adaptive filter with gradient adaptive step size

The step size of this adaptive filter is changed according to a gradient descent algorithm designed to reduce the squared estimation error during each iteration. An approximate analysis of the performance of the adaptive filter when its inputs are zero mean, white, and Gaussian noise and the set of optimal coefficients are time varying according to a random-walk model is presented. The algorithm has very good convergence speed and low steady-state misadjustment. The tracking performance of these algorithms in nonstationary environments is relatively insensitive to the choice of the parameters of the adaptive filter and is very close to the best possible performance of the least mean square (LMS) algorithm for a large range of values of the step size of the adaptation algorithm. Several simulation examples demonstrating the good properties of the adaptive filters as well as verifying the analytical results are also presented. >
Candidate Gene Discovery in Cardiovascular Disease

See related article, pages 617–625 One of the most exciting new experimental technologies to emerge in recent years has been methods for obtaining genome-wide mRNA expression data using oligonucleotide1 and cDNA microarrays2 (for review, see Cook and Rosenzweig3). Application of gene expression profiling was limited initially by cost, which in turn imposed severe constraints on the number of hybridizations that could be performed and thus the statistical significance of experimental results. This barrier has been reduced as array fabrication techniques have advanced and it is now common for studies to investigate differential gene expression at relatively large sample numbers, see for example, Singh et al4 and Margulis et al5. Improved statistical methods for inferring regulated genes6 as well as for grouping genes on the basis of related expression patterns7 have also been developed and refined. Application of these methods to analysis of differential gene expression in cardiovascular disease typically reveals large numbers of genes with altered expression. These numbers can range from hundreds8 to thousands5 and they pose a new challenge—how best do we sift through these lists to identify those genes having relevance to disease development and progression (referred to as “candidate …