cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Calculation of corneal temperature and shrikage during laser thermokeratoplasty (LTK)

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to develop a model to predict the corneal temperature and shrinkage during laser thermokeratoplasty and other clinical procedures relying on laser-induced thermal shrinkage of collagenous tissue. Methods. The corneal temperature was calculated by solving the bio-heat equation during laser irradiation using a semi-analytical technique. To calculate shrinkage, we assumed that corneal thermal shrinkage is a thermal denaturation process that follows an Arrhenius equation, and that shrinkage resulting from denaturation is proportional to the amount of thermal damage. We calculated shrinkage for pulsed Ho:YAG laser thermokeratoplasty using the clinical treatment algorithm. Results. The thermal model predicts that the corneal temperature reaches values that may be high enough to induce surface vaporization of the epithelium and thermal damage of the endothelium. Shrinkage calculations show that significant shrinkage is produced only after the third laser pulse. Shrinkage is produced mainly during laser pulses and stops shortly after the start of the cooling phase between laser pulses. Conclusions. These calculations demonstrate that thermal shrinkage can be predicted by combining an optical-thermal model and a thermal denaturation model. Accurate quantitative prediction of the shrinkage effect requires a better knowledge of the dynamics of shrinkage and of the optical thermal response of the cornea.
Bixplorer: Visual Analytics with Biclusters

A prototype visual analytics tool uses data mining algorithms to find patterns in textual datasets and then supports exploration of these patterns in the form of biclusters on a high-resolution display.
Up-regulation of tumor necrosis factor superfamily genes in early phases of photoreceptor degeneration.

We used quantitative real-time PCR to examine the expression of 112 genes related to retinal function and/or belonging to known pro-apoptotic, cell survival, and autophagy pathways during photoreceptor degeneration in three early-onset canine models of human photoreceptor degeneration, rod cone dysplasia 1 (rcd1), X-linked progressive retinal atrophy 2 (xlpra2), and early retinal degeneration (erd), caused respectively, by mutations in PDE6B, RPGRORF15, and STK38L. Notably, we found that expression and timing of differentially expressed (DE) genes correlated with the cell death kinetics. Gene expression profiles of rcd1 and xlpra2 were similar; however rcd1 was more severe as demonstrated by the results of the TUNEL and ONL thickness analyses, a greater number of genes that were DE, and the identification of altered expression that occurred at earlier time points. Both diseases differed from erd, where a smaller number of genes were DE. Our studies did not highlight the potential involvement of mitochondrial or autophagy pathways, but all three diseases were accompanied by the down-regulation of photoreceptor genes, and up-regulation of several genes that belong to the TNF superfamily, the extrinsic apoptotic pathway, and pro-survival pathways. These proteins were expressed by different retinal cells, including horizontal, amacrine, ON bipolar, and Muller cells, and suggest an interplay between the dying photoreceptors and inner retinal cells. Western blot and immunohistochemistry results supported the transcriptional regulation for selected proteins. This study highlights a potential role for signaling through the extrinsic apoptotic pathway in early cell death events and suggests that retinal cells other than photoreceptors might play a primary or bystander role in the degenerative process.
Laser-welding behaviour of cast Ni3Al intermetallic alloy

Ductile nickel aluminide, Ni3Al+B, is an intermetallic alloy with high strength and ductility making it a promising structural material for both elevated temperature and cryogenic temperature applications. In order to be able to use this alloy over a spectrum of temperature-critical applications, it must be capable of being joined or welded. The weldability of a cast nickel aluminide alloy containing boron was studied using laser welding. Welding was carried out at laser beam traverse speeds ranging from 42.33–254 mms−1 in the bead-on-plate and butt-joint configurations. Two types of surface preparation, namely chemical cleaning and mechanical polishing, were used prior to laser welding. The quality of the laser welds was evaluated through mechanical tests (hardness and tensile), X-ray diffraction and microscopical observations. High-magnification examination of the welds revealed fine columnar structures in the weld zone. The hardness of the weld zone was substantially higher than that of the base metal. Microscopic examination also revealed the welds to contain shrinkage cracks. For a constant set of laser parameters, the chemically etched surfaces provided deeper penetration than the mechanically polished surface. The performance of the laser-welded joint is rationalized.
Synthesis of carbon nanosheets and carbon nanotubes by radio frequency plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition

Carbon nanosheets are a two-dimensional carbon nanostructure consisting of free-standing graphite sheets (∼ 1 nm thick) which we deposit using an inductively coupled RF PECVD method. Our previous reports have shown that carbon nanosheets can be grown on a variety of substrates, without catalyst, and under various growth conditions. In this work we describe process details and plasma control parameters to permit rapid changeover from nanotube to nanosheet deposition in the same system. We present a thorough characterization of the nanosheet layer that is produced under these circumstances. We also propose plausible mechanisms to account for the different mode of layer growth leading to the observed topography and conformation of the nanosheets. The experimental evidence suggests that a combination of high plasma electron density and large atomic hydrogen density of the inductively coupled plasma is the reason for nanosheet formation.
Coupling of rayleigh-like waves with zero-sound modes in normal3He

The Landau kinetic equation is solved in the collisionless regime for a sample of normal3He excited by a surface perturbation of arbitrary ω andk. The boundary condition for the nonequilibrium particle distribution is determined for the case of specular reflection of the elementary excitations at the interface. Using the above solution, the energy flux through the boundary is obtained as a function of the surface wave velocity ω/k. The absorption spectrum and its frequency derivative are calculated numerically for typical values of temperature and pressure. The spectrum displays a sharp, resonant-like maximum concentrated at the longitudinal sound velocity and a sharp maximum of the derivative concentrated at the transverse sound velocity. The energy transfer is cut off discontinuously below the Fermi velocity. An experimental measurement of the energy transfer spectrum would permit a determination of both zero-sound velocities and the Fermi velocity with spectroscopic precision.
Energy stability and fracture for frame rate rigid body simulations

Our goal is to design robust algorithms that can be used for building real-time systems, but rather than starting with overly simplistic particle-based methods, we aim to modify higher-end visual effects algorithms. A major stumbling block in utilizing these visual effects algorithms for real-time simulation is their computational intensity. Physics engines struggle to fully exploit available resources to handle high scene complexity due to their need to divide those resources among many smaller time steps, and thus to obtain the maximum spatial complexity we design our algorithms to take only one time step per frame. This requires addressing both accuracy and stability issues for collisions, contact, and evolution in a manner significantly different from a typical simulation in which one can rely on shrinking the time step to ameliorate accuracy and stability issues. In this paper we present a novel algorithm for conserving both energy and momentum when advancing rigid body orientations, as well as a novel technique for clamping energy gain during contact and collisions. We also introduce a technique for fast and realistic fracture of rigid bodies using a novel collision-centered prescoring algorithm.
Continuous veno-venous hemodialysis pseudoflutter

We report a case of an electrocardiographic artifact simulating atrial flutter in a patient undergoing continuous veno-venous hemodialysis. As end-stage renal disease and hemodialysis are associated with atrial tachyarrhythmias, physicians should be aware of the possibility of such artifacts induced by the dialysis equipment itself.
Iodide surface coverage and its effect on the rate constants during hydrogen charging and permeation in iron

This paper demonstrates the use of the new Iyer/Pickering/Zamanzadeh/Al-Faqeer (IPZA) analysis to determine the effect of the iodide surface coverage (θI−) on the hydrogen surface coverage (θH) and the rate constants of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and hydrogen absorption reaction (HAR). Iodide ions have an inhibiting effect on the HER but they enhance the HAR. The IPZA analysis was used to determine θI− in addition to the usual parameters: hydrogen discharge (k1) and recombination (k2) rate constants, hydrogen kinetic-diffusion constant (k) and θH. Inclusion of the iodide coverage is important as shown by a comparison with literature values that were obtained using the original IPZ analysis, which does not include the θI− parameter. The θI− values from the IPZA analysis were within reasonable agreement with θI− values measured using the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) and θI− values calculated from the measured corrosion current densities before and after adding iodide to the electrolyte.
Adjoint-Based k-Eigenvalue Sensitivity Coefficients to Nuclear Data Using Continuous-Energy Monte Carlo

AbstractA continuous-energy Monte Carlo method is developed to compute adjoint-based k-eigenvalue sensitivity coefficients with respect to nuclear data. The method is implemented into MCNP6 and is based upon similar methodologies used to compute other adjoint-weighted quantities. The Monte Carlo tallies employed are explained. Verification of the method is performed by comparing results to analytic solutions, direct density perturbations, and those from other software packages such as TSUNAMI-3D and MONK. Results of analytic solutions agree within a few tenths of a percent. Direct density perturbations and comparisons with other software generally agree within a few percent.
The effect of geometry on fracture strength measurement using DCDC samples

Abstract The fracture behavior of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is studied using double cleavage drilled compression (DCDC) experiments. Increasing sample thickness is found to increase the stresses required to propagate long cracks. Crack surface features show a correlation with regimes of crack growth. Decreasing hole size leads to significant inelastic deformation during testing and, after unloading, the formation of new stress-relieving cracks at the central hole. A computational model using the experimental data estimates the critical stress intensity factor of PMMA to be 0.6–0.75 MPa m½. Photoelastic observations are used to compare experimentally observed and simulated stress distributions.
Depth inversion in shallow water based on nonlinear properties of shoaling periodic waves

Abstract Two depth inversion algorithms (DIA) applicable to coastal waters are developed, calibrated, and validated based on results of computations of periodic waves shoaling over mild slopes, in a two-dimensional numerical wave tank based on fully nonlinear potential flow (FNPF) theory. In actual field situations, these algorithms would be used to predict the cross-shore depth variation h based on sets of values of wave celerity c and length L, and either wave height H or left–right asymmetry s2/s1, simultaneously measured at a number of locations in the direction of wave propagation, e.g., using video or radar remote sensing techniques. In these DIAs, an empirical relationship, calibrated for a series of computations in the numerical wave tank, is used to express c as a function of relative depth koh and deep water steepness koHo. To carry out depth inversion, wave period is first predicted as the mean of observed L/c values, and Ho is then predicted, either based on observed H or s2/s1 values. The celerity relationship is finally inverted to predict depth h. The algorithms are validated by applying them to results of computations for cases with more complex bottom topography and different incident waves than in the original calibration computations. In all cases, root-mean-square (rms)-errors for the depth predictions are found to be less than a few percent, whereas depth predictions based on the linear dispersion relationship—which is still the basis for many state-of-the-art DIAs—have rms-errors 5 to 10 times larger.
Evaluation of the possible role of serum factors in the clearance of endotoxin from blood.

Abstract Circulating endotoxins are eliminated from the blood by phagocytes, predominantly the Kupffer cells. Neither complement nor other plasma factors appear to play a significant role in the initial stage of the phagocytosis of endotoxin. This suggests that the early phase of this process consists of a direct interaction between endotoxin and specific endotoxin receptor or binding sites on the macrophage cell membrane.
SINGULARITY COMPUTATION FOR ITERATIVE CONTROL OF NONLINEAR AFFINE SYSTEMS

This paper considers a gradient type of iterative algorithm applied to the open loop control for nonlinear affine systems. The convergence of the algorithm relies on the control signal in each iteration be nonsingular. We present an algorithm for computing the singular control for a general class of nonlinear affine systems. Various nonlinear mechanical systems, including nonholonomic systems, are included as examples.
Failure to Detect Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type-I Proviral DNA in Cell Lines and Tissues from Patients with Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

Previous molecular studies investigating the presence of HTLV-I proviral DNA in cell lines and tissue samples of patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) have reported a detection rate ranging from 0-92%. Despite the lack of epidemiologic data linking HTLV-I infection with CTCL, the molecular data still invite speculation regarding the precise role of HTLV-I in the pathogenesis of CTCL. To determine the detection rate of HTLV-I proviral DNA among CTCL patients referred to our medical center, we analyzed Epstein-Barr virus-transformed cell lines established from peripheral blood of seven CTCL patients and 43 tissue samples from 22 patients with different stages of disease. Genomic DNA was polymerase chain reaction-amplified with primers within the HTLV-I tax gene region. Amplification products were probed with nested oligonucleotide probes by Southern blot analysis. No HTLV-I proviral sequences were detected in the samples (0/50). Using HTLV-I/II pol primers, no HTLV-I pol gene sequences were detected. In tissues from one patient, HTLV-II pol and tax gene sequences were detected; however, HTLV-II proviral integration was not detected by Southern blot analysis of the genomic DNA. Our data suggest: (i) HTLV-I does not appear to be a primary etiologic agent in CTCL; and (ii) HTLV-II pol and tax gene sequences can be detected in a minority of CTCL patients, but this does not necessarily imply an etiologic role.
DESIGNATION OF A TYPE-SPECIES FOR THE GENUS PSEUDOCHIRELLA G. O. SARS, 1920 (COPEPODA, CALANOIDA)

Pseudochirella obesa G. O. Sars, 1920, is hereby designated as the type-species of the genus Pseudochirella G. O. Sars, 1920, by subsequent designation.
Diarrhea Due to Escherichia coli in the Rabbit: A Novel Mechanism

A strain of Escherichia coli O15 (RDEC-1) isolated from several rabbits with diarrhea was examined to determine (1) whether the strain could produce diarrhea when administered by the orogastric route to other rabbits and (2) whether this strain was invasive or enterotoxigenic. Strain RDEC-1 produced diarrhea in 48 of 62 rabbits when given by the orogastric route in doses that ranged from 1.5 X 10(2) to 4 X 10(10) bacteria. The organism did not give a positive result in the 18-hr ileal loop or Sereny tests and did not invade HeLa cells. Culture supernatants of strain RDEC-1 did not give positive results in the 6- or 18-hr rabbit ileal loop, suckling mouse, Y-1 adrenal cell, or Chinese hamster ovary cell assays. Fluorescent antibody staining of sections of intestine prepared in a cryostat revealed great numbers of E. coli strain RDEC-1 that adhered to the epithelial surface. It is evident that E. coli can produce diarrhea without being able to invade the mucosa or synthesize enterotoxin. Strains of E. coli similar to RDEC-1 may account for some of the E. coli-associated diarrhea that occurs in humans.
Thermal Measurements And Control Of A Lightweight Mirror

For ground-based large diameter lightweight Pyrex mirrors, internal ventilation is a necessity in order to minimize the thermal distortions. However, the demand on the ventilation system does not appear to be significant. Measurement on a sample blank showed significant effects on the blank's thermal time constant and temperature distribution. Compared with the unventilated case, a mild air flow (17 feet per minute) reduces the thermal time constant from 3 hours to 1 hour. A similar kind of flow (21 feet per minute) reduces the internal temperature difference from 2.4°C to 0.3°C, as well as reduces the temperature difference between the blank and the ambient air from 3.2°C to 0.5°C.
Measuring motor speed through typing: a surrogate for the finger tapping test

Motor speed is an important indicator and predictor of both cognitive and physical function. One common assessment of motor speed is the finger-tapping test (FTT), which is typically administered as part of a neurological or neuropsychological assessment. However, the FTT suffers from several limitations, including infrequent in-person administration, the need for a trained assessor and dedicated equipment, and potential short-term sensory–motor fatigue. In this article, we propose an alternative method of measuring motor speed, with face validity to the FTT, that addresses these limitations by measuring the interkeystroke intervals (IKI) of familiar and repeated login data collected in the home during a subject’s regular computer use. We show significant correlations between the mean tapping speeds from the FTT and the median IKIs of the nondominant (r = .77) and dominant (r = .70) hands, respectively, in an elderly cohort of subjects living independently. Finally, we discuss how the proposed method for measuring motor speed fits well into the framework of unobtrusive and continuous in-home assessment.
The Correction for Finite Angular Resolution in Directional Correlation Measurements

The correction of a measured directional correlation function for the finite angular resolution of the radiation detectors (scintillation counters) has been investigated experimentally in the case of the ${\mathrm{Ni}}^{60}$ $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ cascade. The results show that the correction factors depend upon the pulse-height selection. The significance of this result for precision measurements is discussed.
Induction of Resistance to Dark Abscission by Malformin in White Light

When cuttings or seedlings of Phaseolus aureus were treated proximally with malformin for 2 days in continuous white light, resistance to subsequent leaf abscission in the dark resulted. The amount of resistance diminished as the concentration of malformin decreased from 10 to 0.1 micromolar. Resistance to dark abscission persisted for 7 days in continuous light. Little resistance was obtained when cuttings were taken from seedlings grown under low irradiance and short photoperiods, but resistance gradually increased as the photoperiod increased. Resistance to dark abscission induced by malformin in light differs from inhibition of abscission by indoleacetic acid because when malformin is applied in the dark it stimulates abscission after distal or proximal application. Malformin induces resistance only in conjunction with light treatment.
Reduction of hydrogen peroxide stress derived from fatty acid beta-oxidation improves fatty acid utilization in Escherichia coli

Fatty acids are a promising raw material for substance production because of their highly reduced and anhydrous nature, which can provide higher fermentation yields than sugars. However, they are insoluble in water and are poorly utilized by microbes in industrial fermentation production. We used fatty acids as raw materials for l-lysine fermentation by emulsification and improved the limited fatty acid-utilization ability of Escherichia coli. We obtained a fatty acid-utilizing mutant strain by laboratory evolution and demonstrated that it expressed lower levels of an oxidative-stress marker than wild type. The intracellular hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentration of a fatty acid-utilizing wild-type E. coli strain was higher than that of a glucose-utilizing wild-type E. coli strain. The novel mutation rpsAD210Y identified in our fatty acid-utilizing mutant strain enabled us to promote cell growth, fatty-acid utilization, and l-lysine production from fatty acid. Introduction of this rpsAD210Y mutation into a wild-type strain resulted in lower H2O2 concentrations. The overexpression of superoxide dismutase (sodA) increased intracellular H2O2 concentrations and inhibited E. coli fatty-acid utilization, whereas overexpression of an oxidative-stress regulator (oxyS) decreased intracellular H2O2 concentrations and promoted E. coli fatty acid utilization and l-lysine production. Addition of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger thiourea promoted l-lysine production from fatty acids and decreased intracellular H2O2 concentrations. Among the ROS generated by fatty-acid β-oxidation, H2O2 critically affected E. coli growth and l-lysine production. This indicates that the regression of ROS stress promotes fatty acid utilization, which is beneficial for fatty acids used as raw materials in industrial production.
Extraordinary postmortem stability of kappa opioid receptors in guinea-pig brain

Postmortem delay can be an important variable in biochemical studies on autopsy tissue. We subjected guinea-pig brains to gradual cooling, simulating temperature conditions of human postmortem brains, in order to assess the sensitivity of kappa receptors to postmortem degradation. Kappa receptor specific binding was defined as the (-)-[3H]ethylketocyclazocine bound in the presence of 100 nM D-ala2-D-leu5-enkephalin and 30 nM morphine. Postmortem delays of up to 16 h did not alter the affinity or density of kappa binding sites. The remarkable stability of kappa receptors may greatly facilitate the study of this opioid receptor subtype in human brain.
Pattern-triggered immunity suppresses programmed cell death triggered by fumonisin b1.

Programmed cell death (PCD) is a crucial process for plant innate immunity and development. In plant innate immunity, PCD is believed to prevent the spread of pathogens from the infection site. Although proper control of PCD is important for plant fitness, we have limited understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating plant PCD. Plant innate immunity triggered by recognition of effectors (effector-triggered immunity, ETI) is often associated with PCD. However pattern-triggered immunity (PTI), which is triggered by recognition of elicitors called microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs), is not. Therefore we hypothesized that PTI might suppress PCD. Here we report that PCD triggered by the mycotoxin fumonisin B1 (FB1) can be suppressed by PTI in Arabidopsis. FB1-triggered cell death was suppressed by treatment with the MAMPs flg22 (a part of bacterial flagellin) or elf18 (a part of the bacterial elongation factor EF-Tu) but not chitin (a component of fungal cell walls). Although plant hormone signaling is associated with PCD and PTI, both FB1-triggered cell death and suppression of cell death by flg22 treatment were still observed in mutants deficient in jasmonic acid (JA), ethylene (ET) and salicylic acid (SA) signaling. The MAP kinases MPK3 and MPK6 are transiently activated and inactivated within one hour during PTI. We found that FB1 activated MPK3 and MPK6 about 36–48 hours after treatment. Interestingly, this late activation was attenuated by flg22 treatment. These results suggest that PTI suppression of FB1-triggered cell death may involve suppression of MPK3/MPK6 signaling but does not require JA/ET/SA signaling.
Remote memory in chronic anterograde amnesia

A marked impairment in the ability to recall events that occurred in recent years (1960–1975) was demonstrated by objective remote memory tests in a case of chronic anterograde amnesia (case N. A.). Prompted recognition of information about these events improved scores of the amnesic patient, but it improved scores of a matched control group to an even greater extent. The results provide no evidence for the notion that amnesia reflects a retrieval defect easily reversible by prompting procedures. It is suggested that procedures that improve the performance of amnesics may similarly improve the performance of normal subjects.
Structure of the Ribonuclease·Uridine−Vanadate Transition State Analogue Complex by Raman Difference Spectroscopy: Mechanistic Implications

Raman difference spectroscopy is used to assess changes in the internal bonding of the oxygens of a ⪫VO2- group when that group is incorporated into a complex also involving RNase A, uridine, and a...
Arginine to citrulline replacement in substrates of phosphorylase kinase.

Abstract Synthetic peptides based on residues 9 to 18 of glycogen phosphorylase were prepared containing citrulline at position 10 or 16, or at both positions 10 and 16. The peptides were compared as substrates for a recombinant, truncated form of the catalytic subunit of phosphorylase kinase (residues 1–300). The peptide having citrulline at position 10 was phosphorylated the same as the parent peptide. Both the peptides with a single citrulline at position 16 and with two citrullines were phosphorylated less effectively than the parent peptide; kcat/Km values were approximately 20% the value with the parent peptide. Incorporation of the second citrulline had little change in the effectiveness of the peptide as a substrate although the kinetic parameters with the citrulline peptides did show differences. The change in peptide phosphorylation did not seem to result from a change in peptide structure. Two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance studies of di-citrulline peptide are reported and showed no change in the solution structure of the peptide compared to the parent peptide. Thus, the change in kinetic parameters with the modified peptides seemed an effect of arginine replacement and was likely a consequence of the loss of charge inasmuch as the size of arginine and citrulline are similar. Arginine-16 was concluded to be more important for phosphorylase kinase recognition than arginine-10. These findings were consistent with the earlier studies using alanine replacement of arginine in synthetic peptides as substrates for the holoenzyme form of phosphorylase kinase.
Astronomical and nonlinear tidal currents in a coupled estuary shelf system

Abstract We analysed the tidal content of current time series from 53 current meters at 31 mooring locations on the inner continental shelf in the vicinity of Delaware Bay, U.S.A. We distinguish between an astronomically forced short period flow field at diurnal and semi-diurnal frequencies and a nonlinearly generated long period tidal flow field. The latter operates at the difference frequencies of the former. We found short period tidal currents to vary from 90 cm s−1 at the mouth of the estuary to 8 cm s−1 only 30 km to the north. Tidal volume flux through the mouth generates intensified tidal currents on the shelf as far as 50 km away to the southeast. At periods longer than 2 weeks we detected tidal currents with amplitudes from 1 to 3 cm s−1 and phases indicative of a horizontally coherent flow field. We also estimated mean rectified tidal flow fields of about 2–7 cm s−1. These thus contribute substantially to the overall mean currents on the shelf.
On Telgársky's question concerning β-favorability of the strong Choquet game

Answering a question of Telgarsky in the negative, it is shown that there is a space which is s-favorable in the strong Choquet game, but all of its nonempty Wd-subspaces are of the second category in themselves.
Survivin is highly expressed in CD34+38- leukemic stem/progenitor cells and predicts poor clinical outcomes in AML

Survivin, a member of the inhibitors of apoptosis protein family, plays important roles in cell proliferation and survival and is highly expressed in various malignancies, including leukemias. To better understand its role in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), we profiled survivin expression in samples obtained from 511 newly diagnosed AML patients and in CD34(+)38(-) AML stem/progenitor cells using a validated reverse-phase protein array; we correlated its levels with clinical outcomes and with levels of other proteins in the same sample set. We found that survivin levels were higher in bone marrow than in paired peripheral blood leukemic cells (n = 140, P = .0001) and that higher survivin levels significantly predicted shorter overall (P = .016) and event-free (P = .023) survival in multivariate Cox model analysis. Importantly, survivin levels were significantly higher in CD34(+)38(-) AML stem/progenitor cells than in bulk blasts and total CD34(+) AML cells (P < .05). Survivin expression correlated with the expressions of multiple proteins involved with cell proliferation and survival. Particularly, its expression strongly correlated with HIF1α in the stem/progenitor cell compartment. These results suggest that survivin is a prognostic biomarker in AML and that survivin, which is overexpressed in AML stem/progenitor cells, remains a potentially important target for leukemia therapy.
Instabilities and nonlinear dynamics of concentrated active suspensions

Suspensions of active particles, such as motile microorganisms and artificial microswimmers, are known to undergo a transition to complex large-scale dynamics at high enough concentrations. While a number of models have demonstrated that hydrodynamic interactions can in some cases explain these dynamics, collective motion in experiments is typically observed at such high volume fractions that steric interactions between nearby swimmers are significant and cannot be neglected. This raises the question of the respective roles of steric vs hydrodynamic interactions in these dense systems, which we address in this paper using a continuum theory and numerical simulations. The model we propose is based on our previous kinetic theory for dilute suspensions, in which a conservation equation for the distribution function of particle configurations is coupled to the Stokes equations for the fluid motion [D. Saintillan and M. J. Shelley, “Instabilities, pattern formation, and mixing in active suspensions,” Phys. Flu...
Characterization of a growth hormone-releasing factor from a human pancreatic islet tumour.

The neuroregulation of growth hormone (GH) secretion is mediated in part by a stimulatory, GH-releasing factor (GRF) and an inhibitory peptide, somatostatin1, both of which reach the adenohypophysis by the hypothalamic-hypophysial portal system2. Somatostatin has been shown to be a tetradecapeptide3,4, a large form of which was later also sequenced5. The existence of a GRF is supported by physiological evidence6–9 and by reports of GH-releasing activity in hypothalamic extracts10–17. Although several agents with GH-releasing activity have been identified14–16, none is of high potency and fulfils the criteria expected of a physiological GRF18,19. GH-releasing activity observed in extracts of carcinoid and pancreatic islet tumours removed from patients with GH hypersecretion, acromegaly and pituitary adenoma or hyperplasia has been partially characterized20–23. We report here the sequence of a 40 residue GH-releasing peptide purified from a pancreatic islet tumour described earlier by Thorner et al.23. A synthetic replicate of this peptide, termed human pancreatic tumour GRF [hpGRF(1–40)]-OH, co-elutes on HPLC with the native peptide and is highly potent in stimulating GH secretion in vitro and in vivo. A close structural homology with the peptides of the glucagon–secretin family, and more particularly with PHI24, is recognized. Structure–activity studies show that hpGRF(1–29)-NH2 has full intrinsic activity and potency in vitro.
Oversampled OFDM detector for MIMO underwater acoustic communications

In this paper, an oversampled orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) detector is proposed for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) underwater acoustic (UWA) communications. With simple time-domain oversampling and frequency-domain signal processing, the new oversampled OFDM (OOFDM) detector can achieve multipath diversity that is unavailable in a conventional uncoded OFDM system, while maintaining the similar complexity as the conventional OFDM system. The new OOFDM detector can be directly applied to the received OFDM signals without changing the structure of the OFDM transmitter. The proposed MIMO OOFDM detector has been tested by field trial data collected in the SPACE08 experiment launched near Martha's Vineyard, Edgartown, MA, in 2008. Experimental results show that the oversampled OFDM detector outperforms the conventional OFDM detector, and an oversampling factor of 2 achieves the best tradeoff between the performance gain and the computational complexity.
Formation of amorphous native oxides by very-low-temperature molecular beam epitaxy and water vapor oxidation

A method of preparing amorphous native aluminum oxide layers has been demonstrated. Using amorphous (Ga, As) and (Al, As) layers deposited by molecular beam epitaxy at very low temperatures (∼100°C), amorphous native oxides have been formed on various compound semiconductor substrates by wet oxidation at temperatures as low as 300°C. Extensive wet oxidation of the amorphous (Ga, As)/(Al, As) heterostructures at 400°C results in As loss near the surface of the underlying GaAs substrate. Interface degradation, however, is not observed near the surface of InP and GaP substrates under similar oxidation conditions.
Neural differentiation and the attenuated heat shock response

Abstract Differentiation of neural progenitor cells of neuroblastoma, pheochromocytoma, and surrogate stem cell lineages from a state resembling stem cells to a state resembling neurons is accompanied by a marked attenuation in induction of the heat shock protein 70 promoter driven-luciferase reporter gene, and induction of the reporter gene in primary embryonic neurons from hippocampus, cortex, and spinal cord is lower still when compared to the differentiated cells. Neural specificity of this phenotype is demonstrated by a negative correlation of hsp70–reporter gene expression and neurite extension under various experimental conditions. Analysis of biochemical events involved in induction of the heat shock response (HSR) reveal a blunted activation of HSF1 DNA-binding activity, and decreased induction of the mRNA hsp70 and the 72 kDa HSP70 protein. Immunocytochemical staining for HSP70 demonstrates a cytoplasmic staining pattern; heat shock greatly increased the HSP70 staining intensity in the undifferentiated cells and less so in the differentiated cells. Vulnerability of the differentiated cells towards the oxidizer, arsenite, and the excitotoxic glutamate/glycine is demonstrated by the dose-dependent cytotoxic effects of these agents on cell viability and activation of caspase 3/7. Importantly, conditioning heat shock as well as increased expression of HSP70 by gene transfer conferred protection against such cytotoxicity. Together, our results show that neural differentiation is associated with a decreased induction of the heat shock response and an increased vulnerability to stress induced pathologies and death.
A proposed conceptual model of nursing and population health

Abstract Objective To describe a Conceptual Model of Nursing and Population Health about the intersection of nursing and population health. Methods Review of literature and derivation of a new conceptual model. Results The conceptual model concepts are upstream factors, population factors, health care system factors, nursing activities, and population health outcomes. Nursing activities mediate the indirect relations of upstream, population, and health care system factors with population health outcomes; in addition, health care system factors and nursing activities are directly related to population health outcomes. Implications for research methods, revisions in all levels of nursing education, and population-focused advances in nursing practice are identified. Conclusion The strength of the model is its emphasis on attainment of the highest possible quality of life for populations, by means of nursing activities directed to promote or restore and maintain wellness across the life course and to prevent disease.
Liposome encapsulated polyethylenimine/ODN polyplexes for brain targeting

Despite high in vitro transfection efficiency, the use of the cationic polymer polyethylenimine (PEI) for systemic application is limited due to its rapid blood clearance and accumulation by RES sites upon intravenous administration of PEI/DNA polyplexes. Therefore, it is important to improve the properties of the PEI/DNA complex with respect to extending the systemic circulation time and suppression of RES uptake. In this study, we applied PEGylated liposome technology for systemic delivery of PEI polyplex of oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN), based on encapsulation of the PEI/ODN polyplexes into PEGylated liposomes. The PEI/ODN polyplex was prepared with a low-branched PEI with MW 2.7 kDa and 20-mer double stranded ODN and was then entrapped into PEGylated liposomes with 95% loading efficiency, leading to a virus-like structure with approximately 130 nm diameter. The PEG-stabilized liposome (PSL) entrapping PEI/ODN polyplexes remained stable in the presence of serum. Upon intravenous administration, the DNA in the PSL was cleared from systemic circulation at a significantly slower rate as compared to the naked PEI/ODN complex. Furthermore, targeting of the PSL with antibody specific to transferrin receptor redirected biodistribution of the entrapped ODN, leading to significant accumulation in the targeted organ, i.e. brain. Encapsulation of the PEI/ODN polyplexes within a long-circulating liposome provided a promising ODN delivery system for in vivo application.
Correlates of Within-Person (Across-Occasion) Variability in Reaction Time

A total of 420 adults between 18 and 91 years of age carried palm pilot (Palm M100; PalmOne, Milpitas, CA) devices and performed several reaction time trials when prompted at random times during the day. On the average, within-person variability in median reaction time from one occasion to the next was nearly the same magnitude as the between-persons variability in across-occasion mean reaction time. Analyses controlling the variation in one variable when examining relations involving the other variable suggested that an individual's mean reaction time is a more powerful predictor of relations with age and with the level of various cognitive abilities than his or her across-occasion SD.
"To surrender himself, in perfectly liberal inquiry": Walter Pater, many-sidedness, and the conversion novel.

th is essay uses wa lter Pater's Marius the Epicurean (1885) to explore why certain Victorian liberals preferred to see religion as a matter of collective inheritance rather than personal belief. re cent commentators have portrayed the Protestant emphasis on individual conversion as one of the foundations of liberal individualism. Pater's liberalism, however, sees radical breakage with the past as a threat to the humanist ideal of many-sidedness and instead imagines the path of a rich individuality as running precisely through a surrender to the inscriptions of cultural heritage. in deed, Pater virtu - ally transforms the idea of self-culture into that of ethnographic culture, with the detached aesthete becoming a participant-observer who can both submit to the determi - nations of history and reflect on them through an anthropological lens.
Hankel operators and best Hankel approximation on the half-plane

The objective of this paper is to give an interrelation between Hankel oeprators on the unit disc and Hankel operators on the half-plane. As an application, the AAK result on the half-plane is established and the rate of best Hankel approximation on the halfplane is derived.
Age differences in the allocation of study time account for age differences in memory performance.

How aging affects the utilization of monitoring in the allocation of study time was investigated by having adults learn paired associates during multiple study-test trials. During each trial, a subject paced the presentation of individual items and later judged the likelihood of recalling each item on the upcoming test; after all items had been studied and judged, recall occurred. For both age groups in Study 1, (1) people’s judgments were highly accurate at predicting recall and (2) intraindividual correlations between judgments (or recall) on one trial, and study times on the next trial were negative, which suggests that subjects utilized monitoring to allocate study time. However, the magnitude of these correlations was less for older than for younger adults. Study 2 revealed that these differences were not due to age differences in forgetting. Results from both studies suggest that older adults do not utilize on-line monitoring to allocate study to the same degree as younger adults do, and that these differences in allocation contribute to age deficits in recall.
Reproducibility of Seasonal Land Surface Climate

Abstract In this study, the sensitivity of the continental seasonal climate to initial conditions is estimated from an ensemble of decadal simulations of an atmospheric general circulation model with the same specifications of radiative forcings and monthly ocean boundary conditions, but with different initial states of atmosphere and land. As measures of the “reproducibility” of continental climate for different initial conditions, spatiotemporal correlations are computed across paired realizations of 11 model land surface variables in which the seasonal cycle is either included or excluded—the former case being pertinent to climate simulation and the latter to seasonal prediction. It is found that the land surface variables that include the seasonal cycle are impacted only marginally by changes in initial conditions; moreover, their seasonal climatologies exhibit high spatial reproducibility. In contrast, the reproducibility of a seasonal land surface anomaly is generally low, although it is substantial...
A Genetic Intervention Stands a Skip Away from Clinical Tests

Establishing dystrophin as the mutated gene in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) was arguably the first successful use of genetic information to identify a human disease gene ( 1 ). Despite the large investment in the Human Genome Project in the ensuing quarter-century, few therapies have been developed for genetic disorders. Fortunately, this is starting to change for DMD, a condition characterized by loss of functional muscle fibers and progressive muscle weakness and deterioration. Multiple therapies, including gene therapy, gene upregulation, and transcript modification, are in various stages of clinical trials for the disease. One promising approach uses antisense oligonucleotides to induce a process called exon skipping in precursor mRNA (pre-mRNA), and has advanced to phase II clinical trials ( 2 , 3 ). However, results thus far are below the threshold needed for the therapy to be effective. Kendall et al. now report a class of drugs that increases the efficiency of exon skipping ( 4 ). This could prove critical to achieving therapeutic benefit and increases the prospects for using antisense oligonucleotides as a treatment for DMD.
Negotiation, embeddedness, and non-threatening learning environments as themes of science and language convergence for English language learners

In this review, we explore the notion of teaching science to English language learners (ELLs) as a balancing act between simultaneously focusing on language and content development, on the one hand, and between structuring instruction and focusing on student learning processes, on the other hand. This exploration is conducted through the lens of a theoretical framework embedded in the Science Writing Heuristic approach, an approach exemplifying immersive orientation to argument-based inquiry. Three learning processes (learning through the language of science, learning about the language of science and living the language of science) and three classroom structures (collective zone of proximal development, symmetric power and trust relationships and teacher as decision-maker) are explored in relation to learning theories and empirical findings from second language acquisition and science, multicultural and teacher education bodies of work. Three themes – negotiation, embeddedness and non-threatening learnin...
Assessing the applicability of portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry for obsidian provenance research in the Maya lowlands

Recent innovations in portable energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) spectrometry have increased its utility for the geochemical characterization of obsidian artifacts for archaeological provenance research. However, concerns over the utility of PXRF instrumental analyses have been raised, focused on the validity and reliability of the geochemical data produced. Here we adopt the framework of Richard Hughes (On Reliability, Validity, and Scale in Obsidian Sourcing Research, 1998), whereby reliability addresses instrument stability and issues of measurement while validity pertains to an instrument’s ability to discern geochemical source provenance. This is done in order to test the utility of PXRF instruments for archaeological provenance research. k-Means cluster analysis was used to test the accuracy of PXRF through statistical comparison of data acquired via laboratory and portable energy-dispersive XRF instruments. Multivariate analysis was employed to demonstrate obsidian source representation at two Classic Maya archaeological sites in southern Belize – Uxbenka and Ek Xux – and to test the validity of data obtained from a PXRF instrument in answering archaeological research questions pertaining to regional interactions between lowland Maya polities. Results suggest that portable XRF instruments produce internally consistent results. However, data acquired from a PXRF instrument are not statistically equivalent to other XRF instruments. This is to say that while PXRF is not a reliable technique, it is valid for questions pertaining to geochemical source representation.