cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comprehensive evaluation of imputation performance in African Americans

Imputation of genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays to a larger known reference panel of SNPs has become a standard and an essential part of genome-wide association studies. However, little is known about the behavior of imputation in African Americans with respect to the different imputation algorithms, the reference population(s) and the reference SNP panels used. Genome-wide SNP data (Affymetrix 6.0) from 3207 African American samples in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC) was used to systematically evaluate imputation quality and yield. Imputation was performed with the imputation algorithms MACH, IMPUTE and BEAGLE using several combinations of three reference panels of HapMap III (ASW, YRI and CEU) and 1000 Genomes Project (pilot 1 YRI June 2010 release, EUR and AFR August 2010 and June 2011 releases) panels with SNP data on chromosomes 18, 20 and 22. About 10% of the directly genotyped SNPs from each chromosome were masked, and SNPs common between the reference panels were used for evaluating the imputation quality using two statistical metrics—concordance accuracy and Cohen’s kappa (κ) coefficient. The dependencies of these metrics on the minor allele frequencies (MAF) and specific genotype categories (minor allele homozygotes, heterozygotes and major allele homozygotes) were thoroughly investigated to determine the best panel and method for imputation in African Americans. In addition, the power to detect imputed SNPs associated with simulated phenotypes was studied using the mean genotype of each masked SNP in the imputed data. Our results indicate that the genotype concordances after stratification into each genotype category and Cohen’s κ coefficient are considerably better equipped to differentiate imputation performance compared with the traditionally used total concordance statistic, and both statistics improved with increasing MAF irrespective of the imputation method. We also find that both MACH and IMPUTE performed equally well and consistently better than BEAGLE irrespective of the reference panel used. Of the various combinations of reference panels, for both HapMap III and 1000 Genomes Project reference panels, the multi-ethnic panels had better imputation accuracy than those containing only single ethnic samples. The most recent 1000 Genomes Project release June 2011 had substantially higher number of imputed SNPs than HapMap III and performed as well or better than the best combined HapMap III reference panels and previous releases of the 1000 Genomes Project.
Retention of functional tolerance to ethanol in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta)

Abstract Tolerance to ethanol (3 g/kg 90 min prior to testing) was assessed in a group of 4 rhesus monkeys in which tolerance development had been observed using the same behavioral task one year prior to the present study. Although some decrements in performance on a two-choice discrimination-reversal learning task were observed, these changes were transient and statistically insignificant. Results indicate that functional tolerance persisted throughout a one year abstinence period.
Shoot regeneration from protoplasts of Ulmus × ‘Pioneer’

Abstract Protoplasts were isolated from leaf-derived calli of Ulmus × ‘Pioneer’ with a yield of 0.2 × 10 3 –2.0 × 10 5 protoplasts/gram of callus. Protoplasts were cultured in KM medium 8p supplemented with 1.0 μM 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 2.5 μM naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), 1 μM zeatin, 0.38 M glucose and 0.7 mM sucrose. Cultures were incubated in darkness at 25°C. Cell wall regeneration followed by cell division was observed in at most 20% of the protoplasts 10 days after culture. However, colonies (0.2–0.3 mm in diameter) developed from less than 7% of the total cells 14 days after culture. A dense green callus formed 6 weeks after colonies were transferred to Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 200 mg/l casein hydrolysate, 3% (w/v) sucrose, and different concentrations of benzyladenine (BA) or kinetin (5, 10, 20, 30 μM). Shoot bud primordia were initiated on MS medium containing 10–30 μM BA. Buds developed into shoots three weeks after they were transferred to MS medium containing 2 μM BA. Shoots were rooted and adapted to the green-house environment.
Screening models for batch process development : Part II. Case studies

Screening models for batch process development are applied to several case studies. Two different processes are examined, and the targeting models derived for the reaction tasks illustrate the ability of screening models to employ information that is commonly available early in process development to perform aspects of the process synthesis. Bounds for the extents and selectivity of reaction are derived in terms of key operating variables. The first process demonstrates the ability of the screening models to identify favorable processing structures and illustrates the need to consider a rich enough set of processing configurations when generating the process superstructure. The application of the screening models to an industrial siloxane monomer process demonstrates the ability of the screening models to identify favorable processing structures early in the design of a real-world example process, and illustrates how the screening models facilitate the dynamic optimization of particular process structures.
Immunological identification of cerebellar cell lines

Abstract Spleen cells from BALB/c mice, previously immunized with rat cerebellar tissue, were fused to the mouse myeloma cell line SP2/O-Ag14 and the cerebellar cell type specificity of the resultant hybridomas determined. In this report we describe the specificity of one hybridoma, C4/12. Monoclonal antibodies secreted by this hybridoma recognize granule cell neurons in adult cerebellar frozen sections, and in primary cultures started from 3 to 5-day-old newborn rats. In addition, C4/12 recognizes a subclass of astrocytes when screened on primary cultures but not adult cerebellar tissue. Two temperature sensitive Rous sarcoma virus transformed cerebellar cell lines, previously shown to be either neuronal or glial, were screened for the presence of the antigen. Both cell lines are positive at the temperature permissive for transformation, whereas the glial line but not the neuronal line exhibits the antigen at the nonpermissive temperature. These results are discussed in light of the cell lines being representative of precursor cells.
Determination of nadir growth hormone concentration cutoff in patients with acromegaly.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to define an appropriate nadir growth hormone (nGH) cutoff for patients with acromegaly in remission using the Access Ultrasensitive human growth hormone (hGH) assay (Beckman Coulter, Brea, CA).Methods: This cross-sectional study included 55 acromegalic subjects and 41 healthy adult volunteers. All subjects underwent oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT) for growth hormones (GHs). An optimal cutoff for nGH for patients with active disease versus those in remission was determined using receiver-operating curve analysis.Results: The nGH of 0.53 ng/mL revealed a sensitivity of 97% (95% confidence interval [CI], 83-100%) and a specificity of 100% (95% CI, 82-100%). All 22 patients with acromegaly in remission suppressed GH to <1 ng/mL, 20/22 (91%) suppressed to <0.4 ng/mL, and 19/22 (86%) of subjects suppressed to <0.3 ng/mL (the maximum nGH measured in our healthy volunteer group).Conclusion: When using the Access Ultrasensitive hGH assay for OGTT, a cutoff of 0.53 ng...
Groundwater nitrate pollution in intensively farmed regions

Intensified agricultural practices that have developed during the past century have helped improve food security for many people but have also added to nitrate pollution in water supply. Balancing the water needs for agriculture with the need for clean groundwater for drinking requires understanding factors such as the routes by which nitrate enters the water supply and how long nitrate remains in the water. The Thames River catchment provides a good study example because the water quality in the river, which supplies drinking water to millions of people, has been monitored for the past 140 years, and the region has undergone significant agricultural development over the past century. Howden et al. studied nitrate transport from agricultural land to water in the Thames basin using a simple model that considers an estimate of the amount of nitrate that could leach the groundwater based on land use practices along with an algorithm that determines the route nitrate would take to reach surface water or groundwater from agricultural areas.
Sea surface motion over an anticyclonic eddy on the Oyashio Front

Abstract NOAA-6 AVHRR (11-μm band) satellite images for 20 and 21 May 1981 have been used with an interactive computer algorithm to calculate surface flow components from displacement of surface pattern features and elapsed time. The results give estimates of speed and direction for motion along the Oyashio Front and over an anticyclonic eddy between the First and Second Oyashio Intrusions. Speeds of 54 cm/s were detected along the Oyashio thermal ridge. On the periphery of the eddy, speeds in the order of 25 cm/s were present while, nearer the center, motion at 14 cm/s was indicated. A composite picture of flow vectors overlayed on the image for 20 May infers streamline flow characteristics for the surface motion and shows surface isolation of the eddy from the Tohoku area to the south.
Kinetic intermediate reveals staggered pH-dependent transitions along the membrane insertion pathway of the diphtheria toxin T-domain.

ABSTRACT : The pH-triggered membrane insertion pathway of the T-domain of diphtheria toxin was studiedusingsite-selectivefluorescencelabelingwithsubsequentapplicationofseveralspectroscopictechniques(e.g.,fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, FRET, lifetime quenching, and kinetic fluorescence). FCS measure-ments indicate that pH-dependent formation of the membrane-competent form depends only slightly on theamount of anionic lipids in the membrane. The subsequent transbilayer insertion, however, is stronglyfavored by anionic lipids. Kinetic FRET measurements between the donor-labeled T-domain and acceptor-labeled lipid vesicles demonstrate rapid membrane association at all pH values for which binding occurs. Incontrast, the transmembrane insertion kinetics is significantly slower and is also both pH- and lipid-dependent. Analysis of kinetic behavior of binding and insertion indicates the presence of several interfacialintermediates on the insertion pathway of the T-domain, from soluble W-state to transmembrane T-state.Intermediate interfacial I-state can be trapped in membranes with low content of anionic lipids (10%). Inmembranes of greater anionic lipid content, another pH-dependent transition results in the formation of theinsertion-competent state and subsequent transmembrane insertion. Comparison of the results of variouskinetic and equilibrium experiments suggests that the pH dependences determining membrane associationandtransbilayerinsertiontransitionsaredifferentbutstaggered.Anioniclipidsnotonlyassistinformationofthe insertion-competent form but also lower the kinetic barrier for the final insertion.ThefunctionofthediphtheriatoxinT-domainistotranslocatethe catalytic domain across the lipid bilayer in response toacidification of the endosome, a task this 178-residue protein isable to perform without the help of any other proteins (1).Althoughtheexactmechanismofmembranetranslocationisnotunderstood,proteinrefoldinginthelipidbilayerenvironmenthasto be the central issue. Thus, deciphering the mechanism ofpH-triggered DTT
Competition between rhythmic and linguistic organization in a sentence-rhythm Stroop task.

We provide a test of Patel's [(2003). Language, music, syntax and the brain. Nature Neuroscience, 6, 674–681] shared syntactic integration resources hypothesis by investigating the competition between determinants of rhythmic parsing and linguistic parsing using a sentence-rhythm Stroop task. We played five-note rhythm patterns in which each note is replaced with a spoken word of a five-word sentence and asked participants to indicate the starting point of the rhythm while they disregarded which word would normally be heard as the first word of the sentence. In Study 1, listeners completed the task in their native language. In Study 2, we investigated whether this competition is weakened if the sentences were in a listener's non-native language. In Study 3, we investigated how much language mastery is necessary to obtain the effects seen in Studies 1 and 2. We demonstrate that processing resources for rhythmic parsing and linguistic parsing overlap with one another, particularly when the task is demanding...
Stable oxygen (δ18O) and hydrogen (δD) isotopes in ovicaprid dentinal collagen record seasonal variation

Abstract Understanding paleoenvironmental conditions, including the frequency and amplitude of seasonal variation, is crucial to understanding a wide array of human behaviors in prehistory. In vertebrate calcified tissue, inorganic oxygen isotopes derived from apatite have been widely used as a proxy for paleoenvironment and seasonality in the archaeological record. However, organic sources of δ 18 O and δ D in mineralized tissue have remained largely unexplored. Here we measure the oxygen ( δ 18 O) and hydrogen ( δ D) composition of dentin collagen sequentially sampled from the lower cheek teeth of four modern ovicaprids from the Baga Gazar'in Chuluu (BGC) region of the Gobi Desert of Mongolia. A significant correlation between trends in hydrogen and oxygen isotope values within individual teeth was identified. The amplitude of isotopic variation observed in sampled tooth dentin is similar to the yearly range of hydrogen and oxygen isotopic variation observed in meteoric precipitation for the region. These data indicate that dentin collagen δ 18 O and δ D isotopic values reflect seasonal variation in the organic oxygen and hydrogen isotopic composition of diet and ingested water. We argue that paired measurements of dentin collagen δ 18 O and δ D appear to be reliable seasonal climatic indicators.
Buffer Capacity, Ecosystem Feedbacks, and Seawater Chemistry under Global Change

Ocean acidification (OA) results in reduced seawater pH and aragonite saturation state (Ωarag), but also reduced seawater buffer capacity. As buffer capacity decreases, diel variation in seawater chemistry increases. However, a variety of ecosystem feedbacks can modulate changes in both average seawater chemistry and diel seawater chemistry variation. Here we model these effects for a coastal, reef flat ecosystem. We show that an increase in offshore pCO2 and temperature (to 900 µatm and + 3 °C) can increase diel pH variation by as much as a factor of 2.5 and can increase diel pCO2 variation by a factor of 4.6, depending on ecosystem feedbacks and seawater residence time. Importantly, these effects are different between day and night. With increasing seawater residence time and increasing feedback intensity, daytime seawater chemistry becomes more similar to present-day conditions while nighttime seawater chemistry becomes less similar to present-day conditions. Recent studies suggest that carbonate chemistry variation itself, independent of the average chemistry conditions, can have important effects on marine organisms and ecosystem processes. Better constraining ecosystem feedbacks under global change will improve projections of coastal water chemistry, but this study shows the importance of considering changes in both average carbonate chemistry and diel chemistry variation for organisms and ecosystems.
Identification of a recurring translocation site involving chromosome 6 in human malignant melanoma.

The recognition of recurring sites of chromosome change in human cancers has pinpointed the location in the genome of several important growth-regulatory sequences (e.g., cellular oncogenes). This report details the finding of a recurring translocation site involving the long arm of chromosome 6 (6q) in malignant melanoma. We have observed a translocation (t) between chromosomes 1 and 6 in five different cases of malignant metastatic melanoma. All five melanomas evidencing t(1;6) involved band regions 6q11-13, while two different regions of chromosome 1 (p22, q12-q21) were shown to be translocated to 6q. In reviewing previously published cases of melanoma, an additional two cases of t(1;6) and 13 cases of other translocations to 6q11-13 have been identified. Chromosome 6q contains several biologically important gene sequences including the proto-oncogenes ros, myb, and mas1. However, based on current mapping studies, the breakpoint of this translocation (6q11-13) is not within the region encoding these sequences. By analogy to other systems, molecular analysis of the translocation breakpoints may identify a gene(s) which plays a role in melanoma tumorigenesis.
Explaining Choices Among Technological Risks

I address the issue of the process through which some risks, rather than others, are defined as acceptable. The predominant view, based on psychological research, is summarized and then criticized for taking insufficient account of the structural context within which decisions are made concerning risks. I then use evidence from the history of nuclear power, the unsafe Ford Pintos, and an instance of toxic chemical contamination to develop a more sociological perspective on acceptable risk. The analysis is grounded in organizational theory and centers on decision making processes regarding technological risks.
On the use of niching for dynamic landscapes

Application of genetic algorithms to problems where the fitness landscape changes dynamically is a challenging problem. Genetic algorithms for such environments must maintain a diverse population that can adapt to the changing landscape and locate better solutions dynamically. A niching genetic algorithm suitable for locating multiple solutions in a multimodal landscape is applied. The results show the suitability of such approach to locate and maintain solutions in a dynamic landscape.
Co-recognition of Human Activity and Sensor Location via Compressed Sensing in Wearable Body Sensor Networks

Human activity recognition using wearable body sensors is playing a significant role in ubiquitous and mobile computing. One of the issues related to this wearable technology is that the captured activity signals are highly dependent on the location where the sensors are worn on the human body. Existing research work either extracts location information from certain activity signals or takes advantage of the sensor location information as a priori to achieve better activity recognition performance. In this paper, we present a compressed sensing-based approach to co-recognize human activity and sensor location in a single framework. To validate the effectiveness of our approach, we did a pilot study for the task of recognizing 14 human activities and 7 on body-locations. On average, our approach achieves an 87:72% classification accuracy (the mean of precision and recall).
ULTRACENTRIFUGATION STUDIES ON THE ELEMENTARY BODIES OF VACCINE VIRUS : I. GENERAL METHODS AND DETERMINATION OF PARTICLE SIZE.

Throughout the article by Drs. Pickels and Smadel (pages 583–606), for photomicrometer read microphotometer.
Real-time detection of circulating apoptotic cells by in vivo flow cytometry.

Survival of cancer cells in the circulation is an important step in metastasis. However, the fate of circulating tumor cells is difficult to assess with conventional methods that require blood sampling. We report the first in situ measurement of circulating apoptotic cells in live animals using in vivo flow cytometry, a novel method [1–3] that enables real-time detection and quantification of circulating cells without blood extraction. Injected cancer cells undergo cell death within 1–2 hr after entering the mouse circulation. Apoptotic cells are rapidly cleared from the circulation with a half-life of ~10 min. Real-time monitoring of circulating apoptotic cells can be useful for detecting early changes in disease processes, as well as for monitoring response to therapeutic intervention. To detect circulating apoptotic cells in vivo, annexin-V conjugated to Alexa Fluor 647 (AF647) was used to label exposed phosphatidylserine on the cell surface. The long wavelength of AF647 fluorescence (Molecular Probes, OR) allows its detection through blood with minimum attenuation by red blood cells. In initial studies conducted to demonstrate that our instrument had sufficient sensitivity to detect individual annexin-Vlabeled apoptotic cells in vivo, we used MatLyLu prostate cancer cells pretreated with camptothecin [4] as a positive control. We verified that >80% of the camptothecin-treated cells undergo apoptosis by conventional flow cytometry (i.e., >80% of the treated cells were FITC–annexin V positive and propidium iodide negative). The camptothecin-treated cells were then labeled with the AF647-conjugated annexin-V and injected into the mouse intravenously. The circulating annexin-V + cells were measured by focusing a He–Ne laser beam onto an ear vessel and detecting the fluorescent bursts as individual cells flowed
The media and government officials: environmental policy communication

The media play an important role in connecting citizens to government officials. Much of what citizens learn about environmental policy making and implementation is learned through media coverage of government actions. We have evidence to suggest that the media can influence citizens' perceptions of government, but we know less about the media's dependence on government. The paper is meant to extend our knowledge about media/government relations by studying media coverage of one environmental policy, Superfund, over a ten year period.
Passage of CD18- and CD18+ Bovine Neutrophils into Pulmonary Alveoli during Acute Pasteurella haemolytica Pneumonia

CD 18 is a subunit for three p2 integrin molecules (Mac- 1, p 150, 95, LFA- l), which are expressed on the plasma membrane of neutrophils. These molecules mediate passage of neutrophils into sites of infection. In children and animals that lack CD 18 expression, neutrophil infiltration is impaired in most tissues. However, in lung, CD 18- neutrophils have been identified in the airway spaces during spontaneous episodes of pneumonia. To determine whether CD 18 is vital for passage through the pulmonary alveolar wall, lung lobes of cattle with neutrophils that were deficient in CD 18 expression (CD 1 8-) and cattle with normal CD 1 8 expression (CD 18+ ) were inoculated with Pasteurella haemolytica by fiberoptic bronchoscopy; control lobes were inoculated with pyrogen-free saline (PFS). Neutrophil passage into alveolar lumina at 4 and 6 hours postinoculation was measured by computerized image analysis. Blood levels of neutrophils for CD18- cattle ranged from 12- to 26-fold higher than for CD18+ cattle prior to inoculation, and counts in both groups rose slightly postinoculation. In P. haemolytica-inoculated lobes, total numbers of neutrophils in alveolar lumina of the two groups were similar. An increase in the number of neutrophils in the alveolar wall was fourfold greater in CD18- cattle than in CD18+ cattle. In PFS-inoculated lobes, the number of neutrophils in the alveolar wall was sixfold higher in CD18 cattle than in CD18+ cattle. This work shows that by 4 and 6 hours, CD18- neutrophils enter the alveolar lumen at a rate similar to that in CD 18+ cattle. Higher numbers of CD 18- neutrophils are present in the alveolar wall of control (PFS) and bacteria-inoculated lobes. Thus, the CDI 8- cells are increased in the walls of alveoli and numbers of neutrophils that enter the alveolar lumen are similar in CD18+ and CD18- cattle. heter~dimer.~~ This mutation results in < 1% normal expression of all three (Mac-1, p150,95, LFA-1) P2 integrin~.~~,~~, ~~ Affected cattle develop a variety of pathologic changes because of impaired transmigration of neutrophils across vascular walls into sites of infec- tion.28 Mucosal infections in these animals have few neutrophilic infiltrates. Paradoxically, in pneumonic lungs from cattle with BLAD, prominent neutrophilic infiltrates are present in the alveolar lumina, bronchi, and br~n~hiole~.~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ Neutrophilic infiltrates are also present in children with LAD that have died with pneumonia.22 Infiltrates of neutrophils within the pul- monary parenchyma of BLAD cattle and LAD chil- dren contrast sharply with the minimal infiltrates of neutrophils in mucosal lesions of the alimentary tract, skin, and other ~~ssu~s.~~~~~~~~ J~
Are cognitive radios energy efficient? A study of the Wireless LAN scenario

Cognitive radios have been proposed in recent years to make more efficient use of the wireless spectrum and alleviate congestion on widely used frequency bands. A key aspect of these radios is the ‘cognition’ gained through a spectrum scanning process. The benefits of this cognition is apparent and well studied in terms of better performance of communication. The benefits in terms of reduced energy consumption, however, due to easier channel access and less contention have not been quantified in prior work. On the other hand, spectrum scanning to gain cognition is a power-intensive process and the costs incurred in terms of lost energy need to be accounted for. Thus, it is not clear whether a cognitive radio would be more energy efficient than a conventional radio, and if so, under what circumstances. This focus on energy consumption is particularly important when considering portable communication devices that are energy constrained. This work takes a first step in this direction by exploring whether a cognitive radio can save energy over a conventional radio in the Ad Hoc Wireless LAN scenario. The interplay between different important parameters to this problem is analyzed and their impact on energy consumption studied.
Strategies To Discover the Structural Components of Cyst and Oocyst Walls

Cysts of Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica and oocysts of Toxoplasma gondii and Cryptosporidium parvum are the infectious and sometimes diagnostic forms of these parasites. To discover the structural components of cyst and oocyst walls, we have developed strategies based upon a few simple assumptions. Briefly, the most abundant wall proteins are identified by monoclonal antibodies or mass spectrometry. Structural components include a sugar polysaccharide (chitin for Entamoeba, β-1,3-linked glucose for Toxoplasma, and β-1,3-linked GalNAc for Giardia) and/or acid-fast lipids (Toxoplasma and Cryptosporidium). Because Entamoeba cysts and Toxoplasma oocysts are difficult to obtain, studies of walls of nonhuman pathogens (E. invadens and Eimeria, respectively) accelerate discovery. Biochemical methods to dissect fungal walls work well for cyst and oocyst walls, although the results are often unexpected. For example, echinocandins, which inhibit glucan synthases and kill fungi, arrest the development of oocyst walls and block their release into the intestinal lumen. Candida walls are coated with mannans, while Entamoeba cysts are coated in a dextran-like glucose polymer. Models for cyst and oocyst walls derive from their structural components and organization within the wall. Cyst walls are composed of chitin fibrils and lectins that bind chitin (Entamoeba) or fibrils of the β-1,3-GalNAc polymer and lectins that bind the polymer (Giardia). Oocyst walls of Toxoplasma have two distinct layers that resemble those of fungi (β-1,3-glucan in the inner layer) or mycobacteria (acid-fast lipids in the outer layer). Oocyst walls of Cryptosporidium have a rigid bilayer of acid-fast lipids and inner layer of oocyst wall proteins.
Role of consulting engineering experiences for civil engineering technology faculty and other engineering educators in the next century

Remaining current in one's field is a requirement for promotion and tenure in engineering and engineering technology faculty positions. Technology and engineering, however, are changing at an ever-increasing pace. In the next century, engineering educators will be challenged to keep up with an increasing number of new developments within their fields of expertise. Research and industrial experiences are often used to maintain currency. Incorporating these experiences into the curriculum keeps the education of future engineers and engineering technologists current as well. Industrial experiences for civil engineering faculty often involve relationships with local consulting engineering firms. Consulting experiences can provide multiple benefits for civil engineering faculty and their students. This paper discusses consulting engineering as a means of remaining current in the practice of civil engineering and integrating consulting experiences into the curriculum. Also discussed are the benefits of consulting experiences for professional development of civil engineering technology faculty.
Brachial Artery Diameter and the Right Ventricle: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis-Right Ventricle Study

Background: Endothelial dysfunction is associated with left ventricular morphology and longterm cardiovascular outcomes. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between both baseline brachial artery diameter and peripheral endothelial function (assessed by brachial artery ultrasonography) and right ventricular (RV) mass, RV end-diastolic volume (RVEDV), and RV ejection fraction (RVEF). Methods: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) performed cardiac MRI and brachial artery ultrasonography on participants without clinical cardiovascular disease. Baseline brachial artery diameter and fl ow-mediated dilation were assessed. Results: The mean age was 60.9 years, and 49.4% of subjects were men (n 5 2,425). In adjusted models, larger brachial artery diameter was strongly associated with greater RV mass ( b 5 0.55 g, P , .001), larger RVEDV ( b 5 3.99 mL, P , .001), and decreased RVEF ( b 5 2 0.46%, P 5 .03). These relationships persisted after further adjustment for the respective left ventricular parameters. Flow-mediated dilation was not associated with RV mass or RVEF and was only weakly associated with RVEDV. Conclusions: Brachial artery diameter is associated with greater RV mass and RVEDV, as well as lower RVEF. Changes in the systemic arterial circulation may have pathophysiologic links to pulmonary vascular dysfunction or abnormalities in RV perfusion. CHEST 2012; 142(6):1399–1405 Abbreviations: BD 5 baseline brachial artery diameter; FMD 5 fl ow-mediated dilation; LV 5 left ventricular; MESA 5 Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis; RV 5 right ventricular; RVEDV 5 right ventricular end-diastolic volume; RVEF 5 right ventricular ejection fraction; SDB 5 sleep-disordered breathing
Minimal randomness and information theory

This is a tutorial survey of recent information theoretic results dealing with the minimal randomness necessary for the generation of random processes with prescribed distributions.
Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer related death in both Europe and the United States. Approximately 20% of cases occur in familial aggregations making this disorder the most frequent form of hereditary neoplasia [1]. Consequently, patients with colorectal cancer often present with a positive family history which may have significant implications for their care. Recent advances in the genetic basis for some forms of hereditary colon cancer has led to the clinical availability of genetic testing for these patients. Hereditary non polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) is an autosomal dominant condition characterized by an early age of colorectal cancer onset (median age 44 years), an excess of proximal colon tumors (70% proximal to the splenic flexure) and of metachronous disease, and an increased risk of extracolonic malignancies within the pedigree [2], Between 1% and 5% of all colorectal cancers may be attributable to this disorder [2, 3]. The syndrome was initially described in 1913 by Warthin, a
Defective osteoclast differentiation and function in the osteopetrotic (os) rabbit

We tested the ability of normal osteoclast progenitors found in neonatal liver and bone marrow to develop into functional osteoclasts when co-cultured with metatarsals from newborn osteopetrotic rabbits; the latter inherit an osteoclast incompetence resistant to cure by bone marrow transplantation. This system, developed by Burger and colleagues, has been shown to produce normal, functional osteoclasts when used with normal metatarsals. Our study tested the competence of the mutant skeletal microenvironment for differentiation of normal osteoclasts. Mutant and normal metatarsals were cultured alone or with normal liver, spleen, or bone marrow for up to 14 days. All normal cultures possessed a marrow cavity and contained numerous osteoclasts with cytochemical characteristics (tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase) of active cells. Mutant metatarsals co-cultured with normal spleen, liver, or bone marrow failed to develop a marrow cavity (evidence in itself of reduced bone resorption) and had osteoclasts reduced in both numbers and cytochemically detectable activity. Similar metatarsal cultures of an osteopetrotic rat mutation (incisors--absent) curable by bone-marrow transplantation exhibited marrow cavity development in mutant metatarsals co-cultured with normal spleen. These data suggest that the skeletal environment of osteopetrotic rabbits contains an inhibitor or lacks a promoter of osteoclast differentiation and function.
Infections in Hemopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients, Part II

Abstract Hemopoietic stem cell transplantation, also known as bone marrow transplantation, is a newly developed medical procedure that is now used to treat patients who were diagnosed with diseases once thought incurable such as hematologic malignancies; immune deficiencies; solid tumors such as breast and ovarian cancers; sickle cell disease; and genetic defect disorders. To minimize the risk of donor stem cell transplant rejection, recipient patients undergo severe immunosuppression therapy as part of their care. As a consequence of the patient's profound immunosuppression, opportunistic infections emerge as common causes of disease. Part II of this article reviews some of the more common opportunistic parasitic, bacterial, and viral infections that can occur in these immunocompromised patients with an emphasis on methods for their laboratory diagnosis. Part I of this article, which was published in the previous issue of this newsletter, reviewed opportunistic fungal infections in this patient group.
Sex and power: gender differences in computer-mediated interactions

A preponderance of psychological literature indicates gender differences in written and oral communication. This study explores a new channel of communication, that of cybertalk. As this method of discourse is not gender-salient, one might argue that sex differences in communication style would be eliminated or reduced. However, we suggest that gendered power differentials in communication style transcend the medium. Archived electronic discussions (n=701) on sex-typed topics were selected and analyzed for length, frequency of communication and discourse content (fact vs. opinion). It was hypothesized that male communicators would display power behaviors by writing longer postings, by posting more frequently, and by writing more opinionated discourse as compared to female communicators. Congruent with the first prediction, men's discourse entries consisted of a greater number of words. However, women communicated more frequently than did men, a finding opposite to the hypothesized direction. The third gendered comparison, while not reaching statistical significance, indicated a modest trend with men writing more opinionated communications in two out of the three sex-typed categories (masculine and gender-neutral). Findings suggest that cyberspace, a context where gender of communicators is not salient, remains a male-dominated atmosphere, where gender differentiation and power displays in communication persist, similar to other communication modes.
Breast cancer risk in a large cohort of female antidepressant medication users

Abstract Paroxetine in particular has been speculated to increase the risk of breast cancer. The aim of this study was to determine if breast cancer risk is elevated among women who used paroxetine relative to those who used other antidepressants. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 109,004 female health plan members who used various antidepressants between 1995 and 2000 to evaluate breast cancer risk. The age-adjusted relative risk comparing ever users of paroxetine to those who used other antidepressants was 1.12 (95% CI 0.96–1.31). Women who used paroxetine 2 or more years did not have a greater risk of breast cancer compared to women who used the medication for a shorter period.
Observer Backstepping Neuro-Fuzzy Control Design for a Type of Nonlinear System

This paper presents a control system design for a type of time-varying nonlinear system. The control system comprises neuro-fuzzy system identifier, Luenberger observer, backstepping controller and variable structure controller. We use adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system to identify the plant in real time without the need of underlying mathematical model. However, some knowledge about the plant structure and upper bounds is required. With the use of observer, the control system can be designed from plant output and input alone while plant states are assumed unmeasurable. Controller is designed based on backstepping scheme and uncertainties from the plant identification and state estimation processes are handled by variable structure controller. Under some important assumptions, the control system is proved to be able to track a smooth desired trajectory with uniformly ultimately bounded tracking error. A simulation based on one-link flexible-joint robot manipulator is provided.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity of chloroform in mice: effect of deuterium substitution.

Chloroform (CHCI3) produces renal and hepatic damage in humans and experimental animals. Deuterium‐labeled chloroform (CDCI3) has been reported to be less hepatotoxic than CHCI3 in rats. However, this isotope effect has not been determined in other species or in extrahepatic tissues. In this investigation, the effect of deuterium substitution on the nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity of CHCI3 was quantified in male ICR mice. Renal and hepatic damage were determined 24 h after administration of various doses of CHCI3 or CDCI3. Liver damage was estimated by measuring serum glutamic‐pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) activity. Nephrotoxicity was evaluated by measuring blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and in vitro renal cortical accumulation of p‐aminohip‐purate (PAH) and tetraethylammonium (TEA). Dose‐related hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity were observed after administration of CHCI3 and CDCI3. CDCI3 produced less liver damage than CHCI3 in mice, suggesting that mouse liver metabolizes CHCI3 by the same mechanism as rat ...
Neurobiology and linguistics are not yet unifiable

Neurobiological models of language need a level of analysis that can account for the typical range of language phenomena. Because linguistically motivated models have been successful in explaining numerous language properties, it is premature to dismiss them as biologically irrelevant. Models attempting to unify neurobiology and linguistics need to be sensitive to both sources of evidence.
Increased AMPA receptor GluR1 subunit incorporation in rat hippocampal CA1 synapses during benzodiazepine withdrawal.

Prolonged benzodiazepine treatment leads to tolerance and increases the risk of dependence. Flurazepam (FZP) withdrawal is associated with increased anxiety correlated with increased AMPAR-mediated synaptic function and AMPAR binding in CA1 pyramidal neurons. Enhanced AMPAR synaptic strength is also associated with a shift toward inward rectification of synaptic currents and increased expression of GluR1, but not GluR2 subunits, suggesting augmented membrane incorporation of GluR1-containing, GluR2-lacking AMPARs. To test this hypothesis, the postsynaptic incorporation of GluR1 and GluR2 subunits in CA1 neurons after FZP withdrawal was examined using postembedding immunogold quantitative electron microscopy. The percentage of GluR1 positively-labeled stratum radiatum (SR) synapses was significantly increased in FZP-withdrawn rats (88.2 ± 2.2%) compared to controls (74.4 ± 1.9%). In addition, GluR1 immunogold density was significantly increased by 30% in SR synapses in CA1 neurons from FZP-withdrawn rats compared to control rats (FZP: 14.1 ± 0.3 gold particles/μm; CON: 10.8 ± 0.4 gold particles/μm). In contrast, GluR2 immunogold density was not significantly different between groups. Taken together with recent functional data from our laboratory, the current study suggests that the enhanced glutamatergic strength at CA1 neuron synapses during benzodiazepine withdrawal is mediated by increased incorporation of GluR1-containing AMPARs. Mechanisms underlying synaptic plasticity in this model of drug dependence are therefore fundamentally similar to those that operate during activity-dependent plasticity.
Accumulation-based concurrent fault detection for linear digital state variable systems

An algorithmic fault detection scheme for linear digital state variable systems is proposed. The proposed scheme eliminates the necessity of observing the internal states of the system for concurrent fault detection by utilizing an accumulation-based approach. Observation merely of the inputs and the outputs results in significantly reduced area overhead and no performance penalty. Experimental results verify that 100% concurrent fault detection is attainable for linear digital state variable systems.
Improving Simulations of Convective Systems from TRMM LBA: Easterly and Westerly Regimes

Abstract The 3D Goddard Cumulus Ensemble model is used to simulate two convective events observed during the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Large-Scale Biosphere–Atmosphere (TRMM LBA) experiment in Brazil. These two events epitomized the type of convective systems that formed in two distinctly different environments observed during TRMM LBA. The 26 January 1999 squall line formed within a sheared low-level easterly wind flow. On 23 February 1999, convection developed in weak low-level westerly flow, resulting in weakly organized, less intense convection. Initial simulations captured the basic organization and intensity of each event. However, improvements to the model resolution and microphysics produced better simulations as compared to observations. More realistic diurnal convective growth was achieved by lowering the horizontal grid spacing from 1000 to 250 m. This produced a gradual transition from shallow to deep convection that occurred over a span of hours as opposed to an abrupt appearance of...
The Apparent Relation between Plasma 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Insulin Resistance Is Largely Attributable to Central Adiposity in Overweight and Obese Adults

Background: Research indicates that plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] is associated with insulin resistance, but whether regional adiposity confounds this association is unclear. Objective: This study assessed the potential influence of adiposity and its anatomical distribution on the relation between plasma 25(OH)D and insulin resistance. Methods: A secondary analysis of data from middle-aged overweight and obese healthy adults [n = 336: 213 women and 123 men; mean ± SD (range); age: 48 ± 8 y (35–65 y); body mass index (BMI; in kg/m2): 30.3 ± 2.7 (26–35)] from West Lafayette, Indiana (40.4°N), were used for this cross-sectional analysis. Multiple linear regression analyses that controlled for multiple covariates were used as the primary statistical model. Results: Of all participants, 8.6% and 20.5% displayed moderate [20.1–37.5 nmol/L plasma 25(OH)D] to mild (37.6–49.9 nmol/L) vitamin D insufficiency, respectively. A regression analysis controlling for age, sex, race, plasma parathyroid hormone concentration, season of year, and supplement use showed that 25(OH)D was negatively associated with fasting insulin (P = 0.021). Additional regression analyses showed that total and central adiposity but not peripheral adiposity predicted low plasma 25(OH)D [total fat mass index (FMI): P = 0.018; android FMI: P = 0.052; gynoid FMI: P = 0.15; appendicular FMI: P = 0.07) and insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance: total and android FMI, P <0.0001; gynoid FMI, P = 0.94; appendicular FMI, P = 0.86). The associations of total and central adiposity with insulin resistance remained significant after adjusting for plasma 25(OH)D. However, adjusting for central adiposity but not other anatomical measures of fat distribution eliminated the association between plasma 25(OH)D and insulin resistance. Conclusion: Central adiposity drives the association between plasma 25(OH)D and insulin resistance in overweight and obese adults. The trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00812409.
Regularity Properties Through Generalized Derivatives

In the wide-ranging generalizations we have been developing of the inverse function theorem and implicit function theorem, we have followed the idea that conclusions about a solution mapping, concerning the Aubin property, say, or the existence of a single-valued localization, can be drawn by confirming that some auxiliary solution mapping, obtained from a kind of approximation, has the property in question. In the classical framework, we can appeal to a condition like the invertibility of a Jacobian matrix and thus tie in with standard calculus. Now, though, we are far away in another world where even a concept of differentiability seems to be lacking. However, substitutes for classical differentiability can very well be introduced and put to work. In this chapter we show the way to that and explain numerous consequences.
Tai Chi and its anti-inflammatory effect on the peripheral blood leukocytes

Purpose: From the perspective of neuroscience, acupuncture-induced sensation is not only coming from the bottom-up modulation of ‘simple needling’ in the somatosensory receptor, but also from the reciprocal interaction with the topdown modulation of the brain. Enhanced body schema triggered by acupuncture stimulation can influence the homeostatic control system through a modulated salience network of the brain. We investigated commonalities and differences in brain responses to enhanced bodily attention around the acupuncture points with or without actual stimulation. Methods: Fourteen participants received acupuncture needles at both PC6 (median nerve) and HT7 (ulnar nerve) acupoints in the left hand. To enhance bodily attention to acupoints, participants were required to respond to the locations of stimulations at PC6 or HT7 in a two alternative-forced choice task. Two fMRI scans were taken in a block design: session 1 labeled withmanual stimulation (actual stimulation with randomized acupoint stimulation) and session 2 labeled with electro-acupuncture (no physical stimulation; pseudostimulation). To compare cortical activation patterns, data were analyzed using the freesurfer software. Results: In the conjunction analysis, both actual and pseudo-stimulation produced brain activations in the insula, anterior cingulate cortex, secondary somatosensory cortex, superior parietal cortex, and brain deactivations in themedial prefrontal cortex, posterior cingulate cortex, inferior parietal cortex, and the parahippocampus. In the contrast analysis, actual stimulation exhibited greater brain activations inposterior insula, posterior operculumand the caudal part of anterior cingulate cortex, compared to pseudo-stimulation. Conclusion:We demonstrated that enhanced bodily attention triggered by acupuncture stimulation is able to activate the salience network and deactivate the default mode network regardless of actual stimulation. Our findings suggest that the component of enhanced attention to a certain part of the body plays an important role in the brain responses to acupuncture stimulation. Contact: Younbyoung Chae, ybchae@khu.ac.kr