cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A hard microflow cytometer using groove-generated sheath flow for multiplexed bead and cell assays

With a view toward developing a rugged microflow cytometer, a sheath flow system was micromachined in hard plastic (polymethylmethacrylate) for analysis of particles and cells using optical detection. Six optical fibers were incorporated into the interrogation region of the chip, in which hydrodynamic focusing narrowed the core stream to ∼35 μm × 40 μm. The use of a relatively large channel at the inlet as well as in the interrogation region (375 μm × 125 μm) successfully minimized the risk of clogging. The device could withstand pressures greater than 100 psi without leaking. Assays using both coded microparticles and cells were demonstrated using the microflow cytometer. Multiplexed immunoassays detected nine different bacteria and toxins using a single mixture of coded microspheres. A549 cancer cells processed with locked nucleic acid probes were evaluated using fluorescence in situ hybridization.
Adversarial Spam Detection Using the Randomized Hough Transform-Support Vector Machine

In public e-mail systems, it is possible to solicit annotation help from users to train spam detection models. For example, we can occasionally ask a selected user to annotate whether a randomly selected message destined for their inbox is spam or not spam. Unfortunately, it is also possible that the user being solicited is an internal threat and has malicious intent. Similar to an adversary, such a user may want to introduce noise: to confuse the spam classifier into believing a spam message is not spam (to ensure delivery of similar messages), or to confuse the spam classifier into believing a non-spam message is spam (to prevent delivery of similar messages). Inspired by the Randomized Hough Transform (RHT), a set of Support Vector Machines (SVMs) is trained from randomly chosen data subsets to vote to identify training examples that have been mislabeled. The labels for messages which on the average appear on the wrong side of the decision boundary are flipped and a final SVM model is trained using the modified labels. Two data sets are used for evaluating the proposed RHT-SVM method: the TREC 2007 Spam Track data and the CEAS 2008 Spam data. To preserve the time ordered nature of the data stream, for each of the data sets, the first 10% of the messages are used for training, and the remaining 90% of the messages are used for evaluation. Separate adversarial experiments are conducted for flipping spam labels and non-spam labels. For 10 iterations, labels are flipped for a randomly selected subset of 5% of the training data and the final RHT-SVM is evaluated on the test set. Performance of the RHT-SVM is compared to the performance of the state of the art Reject On Negative Impact (RONI) algorithm. RHT-SVM shows an average 9.3% increase in the F measure compared to RONI (99.0% versus 90.6%), as well as significant improvements in other evaluation metrics. The flip sensitivity for RHT-SVM is 95.9% and the flip specificity is 99.0%. It also takes over 90% less time to complete the RHT-SVM experiments compared to the RONI experiments (20 minutes per experiment instead of 360 minutes).
A robust summarize-regress procedure for tissue-specific pharmacokinetics.

The destructive sampling necessary to obtain tissue-specific pharmacokinetics of radiolabeled ligands does not permit true time-dependent models to be estimated. To adjust for this, small groups of animals are sacrificed at varying time points and the percent injected dose per gram (PID) of radiolabeled ligands is summarized for each tissue of interest. Usually the average PID at each time point is modeled to obtain estimates of pharmacokinetic parameters for each tissue when utilizing summarize–regress procedures. In this paper, it is recommended that the median should be the summary measure at each time point to be modeled in these circumstances. The discrepancy that exists between modeling the average and median PID is demonstrated by an actual experiment. Finally, simulation studies are performed and the results are compared when using these two summary measures.
Biased Assimilation and Attitude Polarization in Response to Learning About Biological Explanations of Homosexuality

According to attribution theory stigmatized behaviors with biological explanations will be perceived more positively than those with psychological explanations, but informing people of the biological explanations of homosexuality has produced mixed results on attitudes. To examine if biased processing could explain previous findings we tested whether biased assimilation (initial attitudes' effect on perceived persuasiveness) and attitude polarization (initial attitudes' effect on reported attitude change) affected learning about biological explanations of homosexuality among 210 U.S. undergraduates. General Linear Model analyses showed that (1) individuals with positive attitudes toward homosexuality saw biological explanations as a more persuasive reason to accept homosexuality than those with negative attitudes, and (2) initial attitudes generally led to a strengthening of those attitudes after learning about biological explanations.
Decreased dendritic spine density and abnormal spine morphology in Fyn knockout mice

Fyn is a Src-family tyrosine kinase that affects long term potentiation (LTP), synapse formation, and learning and memory. Fyn is also implicated in dendritic spine formation both in vitro and in vivo. However, whether Fyn's regulation of dendritic spine formation is brain-region specific and age-dependent is unknown. In the present study, we systematically examined whether Fyn altered dendritic spine density and morphology in the cortex and hippocampus and if these effects were age-dependent. We found that Fyn knockout mice trended toward a decrease in dendritic spine density in cortical layers II/III, but not in the hippocampus, at 1 month of age. Additionally, Fyn knockout mice had significantly decreased dendritic spine density in both the cortex and hippocampus at 3 months and 1 year, and Fyn's effect on dendritic spine density was age-dependent in the hippocampus. Moreover, Fyn knockout mice had wider spines at the three time points (1 month, 3 months, 1 year) in the cortex. These findings suggest that Fyn regulates dendritic spine number and morphology over time and provide further support for Fyn's role in maintaining proper synaptic function in vivo.
Whole animal in vivo imaging after transient, nonviral gene delivery to the rat central nervous system.

We previously showed that a vector:lipid delivery system, comprised of a plasmid DNA vector and cationic lipid (lipoplex), when injected into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of rats can deliver reporter genes in vivo efficiently and with widespread expression to the Central Nervous System (CNS). To further characterize this delivery system, we now present experiments that demonstrate the in vivo time-to-peak expression of the reporter gene, firefly luciferase. We infused a formulated lipoplex containing the lipid MLRI [dissymmetric myristoyl (14:0) and lauroyl (12:1) rosenthal inhibitor–substituted compound formed from the tetraalkylammonium glycerol–based DORI] and pNDluc, a luciferase vector, into CSF in the cisterna magna (CM) of the rat. Luciferase activity was followed over time by bioluminescence imaging after injection of luciferin. Our results show that luciferase activity in the CNS of rats is widespread, peaks 72 hours after injection into CM and can be detected in vivo for at least 7–10 days after peak expression. We further show that in contrast to injection into CSF, enzyme activity is not widely distributed after injection of the vector into brain parenchyma, emphasizing the importance of CSF delivery to achieve widespread vector distribution. Finally, we confirm the distribution of firefly luciferase in brain by immunohistochemical staining from an animal that was euthanized at the peak of enzyme expression.
Interface '99: a data mining overview

This personal overview of Interface '99 is intended to communicate its meaning and relevance to SIGKDD, as well as provide valuable information on trends within the Interface for data miners seeking to learn more about statistics. In addition, it is the newest link in a bridge between the Interface and KDD begun by References 2-4 and the sessions on KDD at Interface '98 and Interface '99.
Hints of a nearside nuclear rainbow in pion scattering from 208Pb at 291 MeV

Abstract The scattering of π ± + 208 Pb at 291 MeV can be described by an optical potential with a repulsive real part which is strong enough by itself to sustain a nuclear rainbow in the nearside scattering. We examine this in detail, using a semiclassical analysis, and find that including a physically realistic amount of absorption completely changes the nature of the scattering so that the rainbow language is no longer appropriate. We compare the pion case with the scattering of light heavy-ion systems which appeat to suffer comparable absorption, yet for which the rainbow language remains significant and useful. We conclude that, in fact, the pion scattering is better characterized as strong absorption scattering than is the case for the heavy ions.
A PTBA small molecule enhances recovery and reduces postinjury fibrosis after aristolochic acid-induced kidney injury

Phenylthiobutanoic acids (PTBAs) are a new class of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors that accelerate recovery and reduce postinjury fibrosis after ischemia-reperfusion-induced acute kidney injury. However, unlike the more common scenario in which patients present with protracted and less clearly defined onset of renal injury, this model of acute kidney injury gives rise to a clearly defined injury that begins to resolve over a short period of time. In these studies, we show for the first time that treatment with the PTBA analog methyl-4-(phenylthio)butanoate (M4PTB) accelerates recovery and reduces postinjury fibrosis in a progressive model of acute kidney injury and renal fibrosis that occurs after aristolochic acid injection in mice. These effects are apparent when M4PTB treatment is delayed 4 days after the initiating injury and are associated with increased proliferation and decreased G2/M arrest of regenerating renal tubular epithelial cells. In addition, there is reduced peritubular macrophage infiltration and decreased expression of the macrophage chemokines CX3Cl1 and CCL2. Since macrophage infiltration plays a role in promoting kidney injury, and since renal tubular epithelial cells show defective repair and a marked increase in maladaptive G2/M arrest after aristolochic acid injury, these findings suggest M4PTB may be particularly beneficial in reducing injury and enhancing intrinsic cellular repair even when administered days after aristolochic acid ingestion.
Maternal parenting predicts infant biobehavioral regulation among women with a history of childhood maltreatment.

Early biobehavioral regulation, a major influence of later adaptation, develops through dyadic interactions with caregivers. Thus, identification of maternal characteristics that can ameliorate or exacerbate infants’ innate vulnerabilities is key for infant well-being and long-term healthy development. The present study evaluated the influence of maternal parenting, postpartum psychopathology, history of childhood maltreatment, and demographic risk on infant behavioral and physiological (i.e., salivary cortisol) regulation using the still-face paradigm. Our sample included 153 women with high rates of childhood maltreatment experiences. Mother–infant dyads completed a multimethod assessment at 7 months of age. Structural equation modeling showed that maternal positive (i.e., sensitive, warm, engaged, and joyful) and negative (i.e., overcontrolling and hostile) behaviors during interactions were associated with concurrent maternal depressive symptoms, single parent status, and low family income. In turn, positive parenting predicted improved infant behavioral regulation (i.e., positive affect and social behaviors following the stressor) and decreased cortisol reactivity (i.e., posttask levels that were similar to or lower than baseline cortisol). These findings suggest increased risk for those women experiencing high levels of depressive symptoms postpartum and highlight the importance of maternal positive interactive behaviors during the first year for children's neurodevelopment.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. COPD is especially prevalent in the elderly, affecting 25% of those aged ≥75 years. The course of the disease in the elderly is often complicated by co-morbid conditions, and its management is complicated by drug-drug interactions. Exacerbations of COPD increase rates of hospitalization and mortality and decrease quality of life. Exacerbations are marked by an increase from baseline in dyspnoea, sputum volume and sputum purulence. Approximately 50% of acute exacerbations of symptoms in COPD are caused by non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Stratification of exacerbations based on severity of symptoms and signs, and severity of underlying COPD, is useful in selecting patients likely to benefit from antibacterial therapy. Patients who are hospitalized with exacerbations, those who have all three symptoms (increased dyspnoea, sputum volume and sputum purulence), and those with severe underlying COPD and exacerbations benefit most from antibacterials. Antibacterial susceptibility patterns among the bacterial pathogens are evolving, and knowledge of local susceptibility patterns is useful in antibacterial selection. Penicillin, amoxicillin, cotrimoxazole (trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole) and doxycycline should not be used as an initial antibacterial because of resistance patterns. We recommend second-/third-generation cephalosporins, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, azithromycin and respiratory fluoroquinolones as initial choices. In patients at risk of colonization by, and infection as a result of, P. aeruginosa, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin or an advanced penicillin/penicillinase combination effective against this species should be used. Drug-drug interactions should be considered in antibacterial choice. The goals of antibacterial therapy for exacerbations of COPD are the prevention of complications such as respiratory failure and death, and the reduction of treatment failures. The role of pathogenic bacteria in progression of stable COPD and the use of prophylactic antibacterials in stable COPD are under investigation. Currently available evidence does not support routine clinical use of prophylactic antibacterials in stable COPD. In conclusion, pathogenic bacteria cause a significant proportion of acute exacerbations of COPD. Use of antibacterials, based on current susceptibility patterns, is beneficial in patients with severe COPD experiencing exacerbations and in patients with severe exacerbations.
Exchange-based incentive mechanisms for peer-to-peer file sharing

Performance of peer-to-peer resource sharing networks depends upon the level of cooperation of the participants. To date, cash-based systems have seemed too complex, while lighter-weight credit mechanisms have not provided strong incentives for cooperation. We propose exchange-based mechanisms that provide incentives for cooperation in peer-to-peer file sharing networks. Peers give higher service priority to requests from peers that can provide a simultaneous and symmetric service in return. We generalize this approach to n-way exchanges among rings of peers and present a search algorithm for locating such rings. We have used simulation to analyze the effect of exchanges on performance. Our results show that exchange-based mechanisms can provide strong incentives for sharing, offering significant improvements in service times for sharing users compared to free-riders, without the problems and complexity of cash- or credit-based systems.
Responses of 2 epiphytic yeasts to foliar infection by Rhizoctonia solani or mechanical wounding on the phylloplane of tall fescue.

A growth-chamber experiment was conducted to determine how foliar disease or wounding affects the ability of 2 phylloplane yeasts (Rhodotorula glutinis and Cryptococcus laurentii) to colonize leave...
Accurate assignment of ethanol origin in postmortem urine: liquid chromatographic–mass spectrometric determination of serotonin metabolites☆

Toxicological examination of fatal aviation accident victims routinely includes analysis of ethanol levels. However, distinguishing between antemortem ingestion and postmortem microbial formation complicates all positive ethanol results. Development of a single analytical approach to determine concentrations of 5-hydroxytryptophol (5-HTOL) and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA), two well-known metabolites of serotonin, has provided a convenient, rapid and reliable solution to this problem. Antemortem ethanol leads to an elevation in the 5-HTOL/5-HIAA ratio for 11-19 h after acute ingestion. The liquid-liquid extracts of postmortem urine samples were subjected to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) for the simultaneous quantitation of these two analytes, yielding detection limits of 0.1 ng/ml for each. Examination of the 5-HTOL/5-HIAA ratio was undertaken for 44 urine samples known to be antemortem ethanol-positive or antemortem ethanol-negative. Recent ethanol ingestion was conveniently and accurately separated using a 5-HTOL/5-HIAA ratio of 15 pmol/nmol, a value previously suggested using human volunteers. All 21 ethanol-negative postmortem samples were below this cutoff, while all 23 ethanol-positive postmortem samples were above this cutoff. Thus, we recommend the employment of this cutoff value, established using this straightforward LC-MS procedure, to confirm or deny recent antemortem ethanol ingestion in postmortem urine samples.
Nonlinear models with panel data

Panel data play an important role in empirical economics. With panel data one can answer questions about microeconomic dynamic behavior that could not be answered with cross sectional data. Panel data techniques are also useful for analyzing cross sectional data with grouping. This paper discusses some issues related to specification and estimation of nonlinear models using panel data.
Value of onset sequence in discriminating ventricular tachycardia from supraventricular tachycardia

A major cause of inappropriate treatment delivery by current implantable antitachycardia devices (ATDs) is failure to distinguish between paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia (VT) which requires therapy and supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) for which therapy should be suppressed. Proposed solutions to address this problem, such as morphological analysis of intracardiac electrograms, will also fail in the case of aberrantly conducted SVT. Examining the onset sequency of an arrhythmia has been proposed as an alternative for distinguishing VT from SVT. Such sequency analysis is based upon the hypothesis that VT commonly starts with one or more ventricular premature depolarizations (VPDs). Twenty-six spontaneous tachyarrhythmia onsets from 21 patients with simultaneous intraatrial and intraventricular recordings or simultaneous esophageal (atrial) and surface (ventricular) recordings were processed for interpretation of SVT and VT. The diagnosis of VT was made for onsets containing one or more VPDs; otherwise SVT was diagnosed. The algorithm diagnosed 7/7 VTs for 100% sensitivity. Specificity was 16/19 or 84%. Three cases of SVT were misdiagnosed as VT. >
Endogenous peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ augments fatty acid uptake in oxidative muscle

In the setting of insulin resistance, agonists of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ restore insulin action in muscle and promote lipid redistribution. Mice with muscle-specific knockout of PPARγ (MuPPARγKO) develop excess adiposity, despite reduced food intake and normal glucose disposal in muscle. To understand the relation between muscle PPARγ and lipid accumulation, we studied the fuel energetics of MuPPARγKO mice. Compared with controls, MuPPARγKO mice exhibited significantly increased ambulatory activity, muscle mitochondrial uncoupling, and respiratory quotient. Fitting with this latter finding, MuPPARγKO animals compared with control siblings exhibited a 25% reduction in the uptake of the fatty acid tracer 2-bromo-palmitate (P < 0.05) and a 13% increase in serum nonesterified fatty acids (P = 0.05). These abnormalities were associated with no change in AMP kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation, AMPK activity, or phosphorylation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase in muscle and occurred despite increased expression of fatty acid transport protein 1. Palmitate oxidation was not significantly altered in MuPPARγKO mice despite the increased expression of several genes promoting lipid oxidation. These data demonstrate that PPARγ, even in the absence of exogenous activators, is required for normal rates of fatty acid uptake in oxidative skeletal muscle via mechanisms independent of AMPK and fatty acid transport protein 1. Thus, when PPARγ activity in muscle is absent or reduced, there will be decreased fatty acid disposal leading to diminished energy utilization and ultimately adiposity.
Enhancing light extraction in organic light-emitting devices via hemispherical microlens arrays fabricated by soft lithography

We demonstrate enhanced light extraction in organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) by using microlens arrays fabricated by a soft lithography technique. A large-area and close-packed polystyrene (PS) monolayer was formed on the SiO2 substrate using a convective-capillary assembly method, and a polydimethylsiloxane polymer was used to obtain a concave template, from which microlens arrays were fabricated from a photopolymerizable transparent optical adhesive. The microlens contact angle and array fill factor both depend on the size of PS microspheres, and nearly close-packed, hemispherical microlens arrays with microlens contact angle of (85 ± 5 deg) and array fill factor of (85 ± 3)% were obtained with 100-μm PS microspheres. The enhancement in the light-extraction efficiency in OLEDs when such fabricated microlens arrays were attached to the light-emitting surface depends on the contact angle of microlens, device size, and detailed multilayer structure of the OLED. For a large-area (12 × 12 mm) fluorescent OLED with a near close-packed hemispherical microlens array, a maximum enhancement of (70 ± 7)% in the light-extraction efficiency was achieved.
Tenderness and yields of poultry breast are influenced by phosphate type and concentration of marinade

The effect of concentration and type of phosphate on quality of pre-rigor poultry breast was evaluated. Non-aged breasts (NAC) and aged whole birds (AC) were non-injected controls. Injection marination increased the final product yield and moisture content of breasts compared with AC and NAC. Tetrasodium pyrophosphate (TSPP)-injected breast had the highest final product yield. TSPP and sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) injection had similar effects on purge, net weight increase, moisture and expressible moisture. TSPP could only be used in low-salt marinades. Hexametaphosphate (GLASS)-injected breast had the highest pick-up but the lowest retention and moisture content. The shear force of phosphate-injected breasts was lower than that of NAC and similar to or lower than that of AC breasts. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry
Indirect effects and facilitation among native and non-native species promote invasion success along an environmental stress gradient.

Summary 1. The spatial distribution of species is mediated by a combination of biotic interactions and environmental conditions. Understanding the relative importance of these factors and how they interact is particularly important for predicting the spread of non-native species and their impact on resident communities. 2. We used a 3-species Lotka–Volterra model parameterized with field and experimental data to understand the potential for continued spread by an introduced, non-native, dune-building beach grass (Ammophila breviligulata) and whether this invasion will result in coexistence or displacement in the resident beach grass communities (native Elymus mollis and introduced, non-native Ammophila arenaria) of the US Pacific Northwest. 3. We also used the model to investigate to what extent different rates of ocean-driven sand supply mediate the outcomes of beach grass species interactions. 4. Our model suggests that A. breviligulata could invade and dominate dunes across the range of sand supply rates observed in the region. We found that sand supply influenced intra- vs. interspecific interactions, the strength of positive and indirect effects among beach grasses and the long-term abundances of the beach grass species themselves. 5. Of the two non-natives, A. breviligulata is the inferior dune-building species. Thus, our results suggest that further invasions by A. breviligulata could reduce the coastal protection services afforded by tall dunes currently dominated by A. arenaria. 6. Synthesis: In systems with strong environmental forcing and stressful conditions such as coastal dunes, environmentally mediated positive and indirect species interactions can govern invasion success and long-term native–non-native coexistence. In doing so, these interactions ultimately shape community structure and ecosystem function. Understanding the joint effects of environmental forcing and species interactions on community assembly is particularly important in cases where species introductions can alter ecosystem services, such as coastal protection, which are vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
Effects of Symbol Brightness Cueing on Attention During a Visual Search of a Cockpit Display of Traffic Information

This study investigated visual search performance for target aircraft symbols on a Cockpit Display of Traffic Information (CDTI). Of primary interest was the influence of target brightness (intensity) and highlighting validity (search directions) on the ability to detect a target aircraft among distractor aircraft. Target aircraft were distinguished by an airspace course that conflicted with Ownship (that is, the participant's aircraft). The display could present all (homogeneous) bright aircraft, all (homogeneous) dim aircraft, or mixed bright and dim aircraft, with the target aircraft being either bright or dim. In the mixed intensity condition, participants may or may not have been instructed whether the target was bright or dim. Results indicated that highlighting validity facilitated better detection times. However, instead of bright targets being detected faster, dim targets were found to be detected more slowly in the mixed intensity display than in the homogeneous display. This relative slowness may be due to a delay in confirming the dim aircraft to be a target when it it was among brighter distractor aircraft. This hypothesis will be tested in future research. Funding for this work was provided by the Advanced Air Transportation Technologies Project of NASA's Airspace Operation Systems Program.
microRNA detection comes of age.

The short nature of microRNAs (miRNAs) has presented unique obstacles to experimental biologists. Two research papers in this issue of Nature Methods describe solutions to some of these problems and provide high-resolution data on the expression patterns of these tiny regulatory RNAs.
Decoding the Histone Code: Role of H3K36me3 in Mismatch Repair and Implications for Cancer Susceptibility and Therapy

DNA mismatch repair (MMR) maintains genome stability primarily by correcting replication-associated mismatches. Defects in MMR lead to several human cancers characterized by frequent alterations in simple repetitive DNA sequences, a phenomenon called microsatellite instability (MSI). In most MSI-positive cancers, genetic or epigenetic changes that alter the function or expression of an essential MMR protein have been identified. However, in a subset of MSI-positive cancers, epigenetic or genetic changes have not been found in known MMR genes, such that the molecular basis of the MMR defect in these cells remains unknown. A possible answer to this puzzle emerged recently when it was discovered that H3K36me3, a well-studied posttranslational histone modification or histone mark, plays a role in regulating human MMR in vivo. In this review, potential roles for this histone mark to modulate genome stability and cancer susceptibility in human cells are discussed. Cancer Res; 73(21); 6379–83. ©2013 AACR.
Formation of a Highly Peptide-Receptive State of Class II MHC

Peptide binding to class II MHC proteins occurs in acidic endosomal compartments following dissociation of class II-associated invariant chain peptide (CLIP). Based on peptide binding both to empty class II MHC and to molecules preloaded with peptides including CLIP, we find evidence for two isomeric forms of empty MHC. One (inactive) does not bind peptide. The other (active) binds peptide rapidly, with k(on) 1000-fold faster than previous estimates. The active isomer can be formed either by slow isomerization of the inactive molecule or by dissociation of a preformed peptide/MHC complex. In the absence of peptide, the active isomer is unstable, rapidly converting to the inactive isomer. These results demonstrate that fast peptide binding is an inherent property of one isomer of empty class II MHC. Dissociation of peptides such as CLIP yields this transient, peptide-receptive isomer.
Imaging Subcortical Auditory Activity in Humans

There is a lack of physiological data pertaining to how listening humans process auditory information. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has provided some data for the auditory cortex in awake humans, but there is still a paucity of comparable data for subcortical auditory areas where the early stages of processing take place, as amply demonstrated by single-unit studies in animals. It is unclear why fMRI has been unsuccessful in imaging auditory brain-stem activity, but one problem may be cardiac-related, pulsatile brain-stem motion. To examine this, a method eliminating such motion (using cardiac gating) was applied to map sound-related activity in the auditory cortices and inferior colliculi in the brain stem. Activation in both the colliculi and cortex became more discernible when gating was used. In contrast with the cortex, the improvement in the colliculi resulted from a reduction in signal variability, rather than from an increase in percent signal change. This reduction is consistent with the hypothesis that motion or pulsatile flow is a major factor in brain-stem imaging. The way now seems clear to studying activity throughout the human auditory pathway in listening humans.
Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus in Children and Young Adults

We performed a retrospective study of 52 children and young adults (average age 18 yrs) with lichen sclerosus et atrophicus. In 56% of patients the eruption was still present after a follow-up of 7.5 years. Younger patients were most likely to show improvement. The histologic appearance of both groups (patients with persistent lesions and those with resolution of lesions) showed classic features of lichen sclerosus et atrophicus: homogenized collagen with an underlying bandlike lymphocytic infiltrate. Epidermal changes such as atrophy, hyperplasia, and follicular plugging were slightly more prominent in patients with persistent lesions. Menarche, pregnancy, and the presence of extragenital lesions had no effect on the prognosis, but since the condition resolved, on average, during adolescence, unknown developmental factors may be implicated.
Role of denitrifier diversity in rates of nitrous oxide consumption in a terrestrial ecosystem

Abstract The ecosystem consequences of microbial diversity are largely unknown. We tested the hypothesis that soil microbial diversity influences ecosystem function by quantifying denitrification enzyme activity among denitrifying bacteria isolated from two geomorphically similar soils with significantly different in situ nitrous oxide (N2O) emission rates. We sampled soil from two southwest Michigan sites on the same soil series that differed in plant community composition and disturbance regime — a conventionally-tilled agricultural field and a never-tilled successional field. We isolated denitrifying bacteria from these soils, characterized them based on their fatty acid profiles, and compared denitrifier community composition for the two fields. For 31 representative isolates, we measured the sensitivity of nitrous oxide reductase (Nos) — which catalyzes the reduction of N2O to N2 — to low oxygen concentrations. Of the 93 denitrifying bacteria isolated from the agricultural field and 63 from the successional field, fatty acid profiles suggested the presence of 27 denitrifying taxa with only 12 common to both soils. In each field type the four numerically dominant taxa were either rare or absent in the other field. In addition, we found substantial diversity in the sensitivity of isolate Nos enzymes to oxygen, indicating that the taxonomic diversity present among denitrifiers in these two soils is functionally significant. These results demonstrate a clear physiological basis for differences in denitrifier community function previously described ( Cavigelli and Robertson, 2000. The functional significance of denitrifier community composition in a terrestrial ecosystem. Ecology 81, 229–241. ) and indicate that differences in denitrifier community composition alone can potentially influence in situ N2O production.
A cladistic analysis of the Solanum sessile species group (section Geminata pro parte: Solanaceae)

The Solanum sessile species group is one of eight putatively monophyletic subgroups of the large and diverse Solanum section Geminata. The species group comprises ten species of mostly northern South American trees and shrubs. Characters and character states peculiar to Solanum are discussed in detail. A cladistic analysis of the sessile group yielded four equally parsimonious trees which represent two basic tree topologies. The consensus cladogram is composed of three main clades. Biogeographic analysis using the consensus tree revealed no components in common to the three clades. Possible geographical scenarios are discussed with reference to the geological history of northern South America.
The Distressed personality type: replicability and general health associations:

The Distressed personality type, identified in a cardiac population, confers risk for worse cardiac outcomes. Whether such a class of persons is identifiable in general patient populations, as well...
Interpretative Methodology from Art and Literary Criticism: A Humanistic Approach to Advertising Imagery

Departs from traditional positivist approaches to marketing research by adopting interpretative methods to analyse the visual/ verbal elements in print advertisements. Borrows from the humanistic disciplines of art and literary critical theory to show how verbal and visual elements work together as an interpretative Gestalt. Describes the methods briefly, and then illustrates them in detail by means of an exemplar – a Paco Rabanne pour Homme advertisement known as the “man‐in‐bed”. First analyses the exemplar as a verbal text and then as a visual one to demonstrate the way that congruence between the words and pictures reiterates the association between the brand benefit and the images used to convey it. Ends with a call for increased visual literacy in order to further research on advertising from a humanistic perspective.
Knowledge Based Systems in Agriculture

Using simulation models to time optimum planting dates making tactical pest control decisions using regression embedded within an expert system establishing knowledge-based irrigation schedules diagnosing plant stress with model-based reasoning systems integrating expert systems for farm-level decision support.
Tsunami Hazards for Nuclear Power Plants: Mass Failures, Uncertainty, and Warning

The 2011 Tohoku tsunami portends the beginning of a new era in tsunami hazard assessment. A new level of detail will be demanded to secure every valve, pipe, pump or fuel tank at nuclear power plants (NPPs). Three issues stand out at the dawn of this new era: earthquake magnitudes, landslide tsunamis, and probabilistic tsunami hazard assessment (PTHA). The challenges of estimating a maximum earthquake magnitude along some margin continue to be studied. While any potential role of mass failures and landslide tsunamis in the Tohoku event is unknown now, factoring for these tsunami-sources is essential to hazard assessment, and their full impact needs to be found. Armed with a thorough set of tsunami hazards, a probabilistic framework is needed, one that can reach comfortably to 50,000 year events, and quite possibly to volcanic events with 100,000 year or longer recurrence intervals. Effectiveness will ultimately be measured by NPPs that withstand tsunami attack and resume operations shortly thereafter, exactly as planned and with no surprises.
On Synergetic Extremal Control for Aerospace Applications

This paper presents an exposition to synergetic control method. The method itself is derived from a special class of functional optimization commonly addressed in the calculus of variations. Using an Euler-Lagrange equation, a closed-form of extremizing solution which yields to extremizing control function is obtained. It turns out that such control is tightly connected to a special class of LQR as well as variable structure control. This paper presents proper design guidelines for using synergetic control so that the resulting closed loop solution is stable. Numerical explorations show promising results for this approach to be applied on other aerospace problems. Nomenclature t time t0 initial time
Differential response of bermudagrass cultivars to headfires and backfires

Burning is a recommended management practice for bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] fields in the southeastern USA. There is much variation in the morphology and genetic makeup of bermudagrass cultivars. Different fire types have very different characteristics in terms of intensity and duration of heating. This study was conducted to determine whether six bermudagrass cultivars were damaged by two fire types (headfire and backfire) (...)
Inhibitory effects of benzyl isothiocyanate on the proliferation of prostate and breast cancer cells

5544 Prostate cancer is one of the most common non-skin cancers in men. Epidemiological studies suggest that dietary modifications could be an effective approach in reducing various cancers, including prostate and breast cancer. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism by which benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), a constituent of cruciferous vegetables, induced anti-proliferative activity in human prostate and breast cancer cell lines. Although it has been previously demonstrated that isothiocyanates induced cell death, the mechanism, however, remained to be clarified in different cancer cell lines. Prostate cancer cell lines (PC-3, DU-145 and LNCaP) and breast cancer cell lines (HTB-26 and HTB-132) were cultured in 96-well plates and 6-well plates and culture slides following standard procedures. The cultured cells were exposed to different concentrations of BITC (5 uM, 10 uM and 20 uM) for 3, 6 and 24 h. The effect of BITC on cell growth was analyzed by MTT. The expression of survivin, caspase-3, and TGF-s receptor II (TGF-sRII) was determined by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. The proliferation rate was compared to untreated cells. In prostate cancer cell lines, BITC induced a significant growth inhibition, with IC (50) values of 17-20 uM. Even though 3 and 6 h BITC challenge caused decreased cell proliferation, 24 h treatment of DU-145, PC-3 and LNCaP cells with 20 uM caused a significant decrease in cell growth. Addition of 20 uM of BITC inhibited the proliferation of LNCaP, DU-145 and PC-3 cell lines by 43, 63 and 52 %, respectively. In breast cancer cells, the growth inhibitory activity of BITC was significantly higher in HTB-132 (African-American origin cell line) than in HTB-26 (Caucasian origin cell line) with 49 and 36 % inhibition rate, respectively. As demonstrated by immunohistochemistry and western blot, survivin and TGF-sRII expression was repressed after BITC application, whereas caspase-3 expression increased. In summary, our studies demonstrate that BITC inhibits proliferation of prostate and breast cancer cells and induces apoptosis via caspase-3 pathways and by down regulation of survivin and TGF-sRII. Elucidation of the mechanisms underlying the cancer-protective effects of BITC is of crucial importance, not only for the use of these compounds as chemopreventive agents, but also for the identification or design of more effective chemopreventive agents. Funded by Tuskegee University/UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center
Study on Membrane permeability of Two Perennial Arachis under Low Temperature Stress

Membrane permeability of leaves is regarded as an effective physiological index when evaluate the cold resistance ability among warm-season plant.The plasma Membrane Permeability(PMP) in leaves of Arachis pintoi and A.churanensis were studied.The results showed that A.churanensis had significant lower increasing rates in PMP than A.pintoi in different low temperatures stress;After cold hardening,A.churanensis had an increasing rates of 35% in PMP while A.pintoi with 50% at 0℃ stress.It showed preliminary that A.churanensis had higher cold-resistance and better effect of cold hardening compared with A.pintoi.
Treatment of hip fractures in elderly and senile patients.

Summary Hip fractures in elderly and senile patients are associated with a high incidence of morbidity and mortality. For this reason, restoration of function rather than restoration of the hip must be the first concern. In senile patients with intertrochanteric fractures, condylocephalic fixation is preferred because of the decreased infection rate. In patients with severe osteoporosis, bed rest with traction as needed for comfort may be preferable. Fractures of the femoral neck in this group are best treated with percutaneous pin fixation. In the elderly ambulatory patient with no more than minimal confusion, compression screw fixation of intertrochanteric fractures may give a better functional result. Hips with severe osteoporosis in these patients should have adjunctive use of methylmethacrylate. In this group, fractures of the femoral neck in our experience are better treated with a cemented endoprosthesis or total hip arthroplasty.
Independent, Community-Based Aerobic Exercise Training for People With Moderate-to-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

Abstract Objective To determine whether people with moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) can adhere to a minimally supervised, community-based, vigorous aerobic exercise program. Design Prospective trial. Setting Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) facilities. Participants Community-dwelling volunteers (N=10; 8 men, 2 women; age range, 22–49y) 6 to 15 months after moderate-to-severe TBI. Intervention Participants received memberships to local YMCAs and brief orientations to exercise. They were then asked to independently complete ≥12 weeks of ≥3 training sessions per week, performed at 65% to 85% of maximum heart rate for ≥30 minutes per session. Participants could self-select exercise modality, provided they met intensity and duration targets. Programmable heart rate monitors captured session intensity and duration. Main Outcome Measures Independence with equipment and facility use and compliance with training goals (session frequency, duration, intensity, total weeks of training). Results All participants achieved independence with equipment and facility use. All met at least 2 of 4 training goals; half met all 4 goals. Participants averaged (±SD) 3.3±0.7 sessions per week for 13 weeks (range, 6–24). Average ± SD session duration was 62±23 minutes, of which 51±22 minutes occurred at or above individuals' heart rate training targets. Conclusions People in recovery from moderate-to-severe TBI can, with minimal guidance, perform vigorous, community-based exercise. This suggests that decentralized exercise may be logistically and economically sustainable after TBI, expanding its potential therapeutic utility and rendering longer-duration exercise studies more feasible.
Review of a Program to Assess the Effects on Man From Exposure to Microwaves

ABSTRACTThispaper reviews and analyzes the presentations given at the International Symposium on Biologic Effects and Health Hazards of Microwave Radiation, Warsaw, 15–18 October 1973, co-sponsored by the World Health Organization, Department of Health, Education and Welfare of the United States and the Scientific Council to the Minister of Health and Social Welfare of the Polish Peoples’ Republic, and the deliberations of an Evaluation Group which was convened by the WHO Regional Office for Europe in Copenhagen, 22 – 23 October 1973.
Behavioral Assessment of Anxiety Disorders

Behavioral assessment for anxiety disorders encompasses a variety of sophisticated techniques. However, such assessment involves far more than the application of its constituent procedures (Haynes, 1990). It is important to consider that behavioral assessment has as its primary goal the understanding and identification of causal factors associated with an individual’s anxiety response. Thus, careful application of behavioral assessment procedures involves individualized selection of those techniques that will most efficiently serve to reveal the factors that elicit or maintain the target behavior. Once selected, the repeated application of such measurement techniques is clearly one of the most important aspects of understanding what contributes to positive therapeutic change. Thus, the contributions of behavioral assessment not only to case formulation but also to efficacious treatment of anxiety are substantial and abundant. Clearly, as research continues, these contributions will increase.
Mini-review: toxicity of mercury as a consequence of enzyme alteration.

Mercury, in both its elemental and bonded states, is noted for its negative effects on biological organisms. Recent anthropogenic and environmental disasters have spurred numerous comparative studies. These studies attempted to detail the biochemical implications of mercury ingestion, in low, persistent concentrations as well as elevated acute dosages. The studies propose models for mercuric action on healthy cells; which is centered on the element’s disruption of key enzymatic processes at deposition sites. Mercury’s high affinity for the sulfhydryl moieties of enzyme catalytic sites is a common motif for enzyme inactivation. These permanent covalent modifications inactivate the enzyme, thereby inducing devastating effects on an organism’s metabolic functions. Mercury has been shown to be highly nonspecific in its binding to sulfhydryl moieties, and highly varied in terms of how it is encountered by living organisms. This review focuses on mercury’s effects on a wide swath of enzymes, with emphasis on how these alterations deleteriously affect several metabolic pathways.
Leveraging allostery to improve G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-directed therapeutics: cannabinoid receptor 1 as discovery target

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Allosteric modulators of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) hold the promise of improved pharmacology and safety over typical orthosteric GPCR ligands. These features are particularly relevant to the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) GPCR, since typical orthosteric CB1R ligands are associated with adverse events that limit their translational potential.Areas covered: The contextual basis for applying allostery to CB1R is considered from pharmacological, drug-discovery, and medicinal standpoints. Rational design of small-molecule CB1R allosteric modulators as potential pharmacotherapeutics would be greatly facilitated by direct experimental characterization of structure-function correlates underlying the biological activity of chemically-diverse CB1R allosteric modulators, CB1R allosteric ligand-binding binding pockets, and amino acid contact residues critical to allosteric ligand engagement and activity. In these regards, designer covalent probes exhibiting well-characterized molecular ...