cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cellular cardiomyoplasty--cardiomyocytes, skeletal myoblasts, or stem cells for regenerating myocardium and treatment of heart failure?

Time for primary review 23 days. In newts, excision of up to 50% of the ventricular myocardium results in spontaneous regeneration and rebuilding of the heart, a process that involves de-differentiation of the remaining cardiomyocytes, de-novo synthesis of DNA followed by proliferation and mitotic cell division of both cardiomyocytes and connective tissue, and subsequent replacing of the lost tissue [1–3]. In contrast, the mammalian heart loses its capability of a quantitatively sufficient proliferative response to various injuries soon after birth [4–6]. Interestingly, recent studies reported a certain degree of cardiomyocyte regeneration in various pathologic conditions, such as heart failure [7], orthotopic heart transplantation [8,9], or myocardial infarction [10,11], and even surmised the existence of resident cardiac stem cells [12], or extracardiac cardiomyocyte progenitor cells [13] in the mammalian heart. However, these findings are still controversial [14]. In some of these studies, the presence of the Y-chromosome in hearts from female donors after gender-incompatible heart transplantation was used as evidence for population of the hearts by extracardiac progenitors. However, recent in vitro studies reported the occurrence of spontaneous cell fusions of putative stem cells, such as bone-marrow [15] or neural stem cells [16], with embryonic stem cells when cultured together, which challenges the concept of transdifferention and requires additional investigations in this field. Nevertheless, the mechanisms of re-activated or preserved cardiomyocyte proliferation and regeneration in humans (for review see [17]) are obviously not sufficient to prevent extensive scar formation and the relentless disease progression of heart failure after myocardial infarction or loss of contractile function with pressure or volume overload [18,19]. Despite progress in pharmacological treatment of the syndrome of heart failure [20], mortality and curtailment of quality of life in advanced stages of congestive heart failure are significant [21], … *Corresponding author. Tel.: +1-213-977-4050; fax: +1-213-977-4107. rkloner{at}goodsam.org
Tet2 Catalyzes Stepwise 5-Methylcytosine Oxidation by an Iterative and de novo Mechanism

Modification of cytosine-guanine dinucleotides (CpGs) is a key part of mammalian epigenetic regulation and helps shape cellular identity. Tet enzymes catalyze stepwise oxidation of 5-methylcytosine (mC) in CpGs to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (hmC), or onward to 5-formylcytosine (fC) or 5-carboxylcytosine (caC). The multiple mC oxidation products, while intricately linked, are postulated to play independent epigenetic roles, making it critical to understand how the products of stepwise oxidation are established and maintained. Using highly sensitive isotope-based studies, we newly show that Tet2 can yield fC and caC by iteratively acting in a single encounter with mC-containing DNA, without release of the hmC intermediate, and that the modification state of the complementary CpG has little impact on Tet2 activity. By revealing Tet2 as an iterative, de novo mC oxygenase, our study provides insight into how features intrinsic to Tet2 shape the epigenetic landscape.
Visible Plasma Clouds With an Externally Excited Spherical Porous Cavity Resonator

A microwave driven resonator is as an electron/ion cloud generator for illumination and plasma source applications. A sustained porous cavity resonator (PCR) glow discharge is externally excited using a resonant frequency electromagnetic (EM) wave that excites large internal electric fields. The resonator with a Q of 300 amplifies the incident electric field by factors of about 100 causing a breakdown of the neutral gas inside the sphere. The rise time of the fields inside the sphere is Q times the wave period. A glowing plasma ball is sustained around the point where the maximum electric fields exceed the plasma-discharge threshold for the low-pressure gas inside the resonator. After the EM pump field is removed, the plasma light source is rapidly quenched. The externally driven spherical PCR was fabricated from a theoretical design of the PCR for a laboratory demonstration of the plasma ball generation system. Using both theory and experiment, basic research has been applied to understand: 1) the EMs of resonator excitation and amplification; 2) the generation of light by glow radio frequency discharge; and 3) the effect of background neutral density of the size and intensity of the glowing plasma clouds. For this study, plasma resonators were constructed for the spherical TM101 and TE101 modes and a TE011 circular-cylindrical cavity. All PCR structures provide the ability to confine a plasma into a desired spatial shape without magnetic fields.
Photophysical Characterization of a Chromophore/Water Oxidation Catalyst Containing a Layer-by-Layer Assembly on Nanocrystalline TiO2 Using Ultrafast Spectroscopy

Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy is used to characterize the first photoactivation step in a chromophore/water oxidation catalyst assembly formed through a “layer-by-layer” approach. Assemblies incorporating both chromophores and catalysts are central to the function of dye-sensitized photoelectrosynthesis cells (DSPECs) for generating solar fuels. The chromophore, [RuaII]2+ = [Ru(pbpy)2(bpy)]2+, and water oxidation catalyst, [RubII-OH2]2+ = [Ru(4,4′-(CH2PO3H2)2bpy)(Mebimpy)(H2O)]2+, where bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine, pbpy = 4,4′-(PO3H2)2bpy, and Mebimpy = 2,6-bis(1-methylbenzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine), are arranged on nanocrystalline TiO2 via phosphonate-Zr(IV) coordination linkages. Analysis of the transient spectra of the assembly (denoted TiO2-[RuaII-Zr-RubII-OH2]4+) reveal that photoexcitation initiates electron injection, which is then followed by the transfer of the oxidative equivalent from the chromophore to the catalyst with a rate of kET = 5.9 × 109 s–1 (τ = 170 ps). While the assembly, TiO...
Isolation of T antigen from solid hamster tumors induced by adenovirus type 31.

SummaryNonvirion T antigen was isolated from adenovirus-type-31 solid tumors by a series of differential extractions, including overnight digestion with papain, centrifugation, acetone and ammonium sulfate precipitation, and acrylamide-gel electrophoresis on a vertical flat-bed apparatus which enabled us to isolate individual bands of protein. The antigen is membrane-associated, has a sedimentation coefficient of 2.93, is partially heat labile, stable to freeze-thaw, and travels rapidly in acrylamide gel. It is probably not the only T antigen moiety present in these tumors.
Long-Term Effects of Intraspecific and Interspecific Cross-Fostering on Two Species of Peromyscus

Reproduction, parental behavior, offspring survivorship, physical development, and growth were studied in Peromyscus that had been reared by foster parents of the same or a closely related species. Neither type of cross-fostering had any effect in P. leucopus . Interspecifically cross-fostered P. maniculatus exhibited severely depressed reproductive success, while intraspecific cross-fostering had little effect. Parental behavior was apparently unaffected by cross-fostering in both species. Sex-related differences in response to interspecific cross-fostering occurred in both species, with males more negatively affected than females.
Corporate Voting vs. Market Price Setting

This paper examines the relation between two means of information aggregation for corporations - corporate voting and stock market pricing. If the median voter and the price-setting shareholder share similar information sets, then the outcome of close proxy contests should not have a systematic effect on stock prices. The paper shows, however, that close dissident victories are associated with significant positive movements in stock prices, while close management victories are associated with negative stock price effects. The median voter values management control more highly than the price-setting shareholder. This suggests that voting and market pricing aggregate information in very different ways, with important implications for the role of voting and market pricing in corporate law and finance.
Affordable Housing Finance in the UK

This chapter surveys housing markets, housing stress, and housing finance in relation to the US experience, before and after the credit crunch. The chapter also reflects on the current debate in the US about housing.
Neonatal Transverse Sinus Thrombosis

Four full-term newborns with transverse sinus thrombosis (TST) and a benign outcome are described from the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles and USCSM, and the University of Texas Medical School, Houston, TX.
Positive and Negative Themes Found in Sport-Related Films

Sport participation is an important part of the development of children and adolescents in the United States. The objective of this study was to determine positive and negative themes found in a selected number of sport-related films. A total of 44 sport-related films were independently viewed and analyzed by four reviewers. The most common sports depicted were baseball (27%) and football (25%). The most common positive themes were positive interactions with the coach, positive interactions with family and friends, and positive interactions with teammates (2.04, 1.42, 1.2 mean events per hour). The most common negative themes were taunting/fighting/poor sportsmanship, negative interactions with the coach, and drinking/smoking/drug use (2.13, 1.10, 0.94 mean events per hour). In conclusion, the coviewing of sport films among pediatric athletes and their coaches, athletic trainers, and/or parents in order to focus on "teachable moments" may encourage the acquisition and development of positive themes and the avoidance and de-emphasis of negative themes.
The impact of the social servicescape, density, and restaurant type on perceptions of interpersonal service quality

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate how density in the servicescape affects the three interpersonal dimensions of Stevens et al., (1995) DINESERV conceptualization of service quality (responsiveness, assurance, and empathy) across various restaurant types. Using the framework of information processing theory, it was predicted that when a customer uses density to evaluate anticipated service quality, the information processing style will vary depending on the restaurant context. For fine dining restaurants and sports bars, it was predicted that customers will use heuristic processing, but would use systematic processing when evaluating a family casual restaurant. A 3 (contextual service norms) × 2 (built density) × 2 (human density) between subjects factorial design was employed. The results identified a three-way interaction between human density, built density, and restaurant type, suggesting that the type of restaurant does indeed matter when considering how density impacts potential customers’ perceptions of a restaurant.
Complete Genome Sequence of Rhodococcus sp. Strain WMMA185, a Marine Sponge-Associated Bacterium.

ABSTRACT The Rhodococcus strain WMMA185 was isolated from the marine sponge Chondrilla nucula as part of ongoing drug discovery efforts. Analysis of the 4.44-Mb genome provides information regarding interspecies interactions as pertains to regulation of secondary metabolism and natural product biosynthetic potentials.
Coming full circle: Using program alumni as cooperating teachers for the next generation of student teachers

Characteristics of cooperating teachers that lead to successful student teaching experiences and the benefits accruing to cooperating teachers were investigated in a case study. A unique aspect of ...
Non-equilibrium assembly of microtubules: from molecules to autonomous chemical robots.

Biological systems have evolved to harness non-equilibrium processes from the molecular to the macro scale. It is currently a grand challenge of chemistry, materials science, and engineering to understand and mimic biological systems that have the ability to autonomously sense stimuli, process these inputs, and respond by performing mechanical work. New chemical systems are responding to the challenge and form the basis for future responsive, adaptive, and active materials. In this article, we describe a particular biochemical–biomechanical network based on the microtubule cytoskeletal filament – itself a non-equilibrium chemical system. We trace the non-equilibrium aspects of the system from molecules to networks and describe how the cell uses this system to perform active work in essential processes. Finally, we discuss how microtubule-based engineered systems can serve as testbeds for autonomous chemical robots composed of biological and synthetic components.
Importance of stratifying acute kidney injury in cardiogenic shock resuscitated with mechanical circulatory support therapy

Abstract Objective Although the outcomes of patients with cardiogenic shock remain poor, short-term mechanical circulatory support has become an increasingly popular modality for hemodynamic assistance and organ preservation. Because the kidney is exquisitely sensitive to poor perfusion, acute kidney injury is a common sequela of cardiogenic shock. This study examines the incidence and clinical impact of acute kidney injury in patients with short-term mechanical circulatory support for cardiogenic shock. Methods Retrospective review was performed of 293 consecutive patients with cardiogenic shock who were treated with short-term mechanical circulatory support. The well-validated 2014 Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes criteria were used to stage acute kidney injury. Outcomes of interest were long-term mortality and renal recovery. Results Acute kidney injury developed in 177 of 293 patients (60.4%), of whom 113 (38.6%) were classified with stage 3 (severe). Kaplan–Meier survival estimates indicated a 1-year survival of 49.2% in the nonsevere (stages 0-2) acute kidney injury cohort versus 27.3% in the severe acute kidney injury cohort ( P P = .011). Among hospital survivors, renal recovery occurred more frequently (82.4% vs 63.2%, P = .069) and more quickly (5.6 vs 24.5 days, P Conclusions Acute kidney injury is common and frequently severe in patients in cardiogenic shock treated with short-term mechanical circulatory support. Milder acute kidney injury resolves with survival comparable to patients without acute kidney injury. Severe acute kidney injury is an independent predictor of long-term mortality. Nonetheless, many surviving patients with acute kidney injury do experience gradual renal recovery.
Social Media Use, Friendship Quality, and the Moderating Role of Anxiety in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Social media holds promise as a technology to facilitate social engagement, but may displace offline social activities. Adolescents with ASD are well suited to capitalize on the unique features of social media, which requires less decoding of complex social information. In this cross-sectional study, we assessed social media use, anxiety and friendship quality in 44 adolescents with ASD, and 56 clinical comparison controls. Social media use was significantly associated with high friendship quality in adolescents with ASD, which was moderated by the adolescents' anxiety levels. No associations were founds between social media use, anxiety and friendship quality in the controls. Social media may be a way for adolescents with ASD without significant anxiety to improve the quality of their friendships.
Chapter 4 – Bedside assessment of the dizzy patient

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews that management of the dizzy patient depends on the history, bedside clinical exam, and laboratory testing. It discusses the history, which is a key to determine the onset of the problem, description of the symptoms and, most importantly, how the symptoms affect an individual's lifestyle. The tempo, symptoms, and circumstances of the complaint are three key items in the history. The last element is crucial to obtain as some individuals may have evidence for chronic vestibular loss on one side based on the clinical exam and laboratory testing, but they may be primarily affected by some other cause of dizziness, such as migraine or anxiety. The chapter also reviews that the bedside clinical exam can be used to distinguish peripheral versus central vestibular problems, the degree of loss, and how acute the problem may be.
Ordering in Amorphous Germanium

The preparation and characterization of fully relaxed amorphous germanium (a-Ge) is discussed. Deposition and annealing conditions are presented for samples of a-Ge which represent a free energy minimum. That is, further relaxation in this amorphous phase is not possible and further annealing results in the onset of crystallization. Using a light scattering technique, these samples are shown to have an atomic fraction of crystallinity less than 10−3. EXAFS measurements indicate that for such samples the disorder induced spread in the 109° tetrahedral bond angle is 7°. XANES experiments on the LIII edge reveal two features in the electronic density of conduction band states separated by 3 eV. The higher energy feature is apparently associated with the relaxed amorphous phase while the lower energy feature—at the band edge—appears only in crystallized samples. We discuss the importance of the incorporation of these spectroscopic results on any modelling of a-Ge.
The everyday functions of African American identity.

Publisher Summary This chapter follows the course of the scientific discourses that were first developed in the 1930s in response to high levels of internal racism and social stigmatization. The role of stigma in the black society has been elaborately explained with the help of “black identity dynamics”. The stigma management perspective associated with the lives of African–Americans is an elaboration of the nigrescence theory. The concept of identity functions is highlighted in the chapter and three functions (buffering, bonding and bridging) in particular, are explained in detail. The ideas of ‘individualism’ and ‘code-switching’ also play an important part in a black person's overall response to society. These different functions are then compared with the mechanisms of social and educational psychology literature. A preliminary research study is explained in the concluding section of the chapter. Everyday black life is thus a co-existence of stigma management and non-stigma driven activities.
Nontraditional Models of Success

In the previous chapter, we explained how minority students in Tucson, Arizona resisted hegemonic forms of curriculum and school practices related to the state’s decision to ban ethnic studies. The controversy regarding the Ethnic Studies Program in the Tucson Unified School District has illustrated how cultural liberation through education can ignite mainstream opposition.
Euclid’s Algorithm

Euclid’s algorithm for finding the greatest common divisor of two numbers dates from the fourth century b.c. but remains one of the fastest algorithms available in modern computational number theory. In this chapter we look at Euclid’s algorithm and its immediate consequences, analyze its speed, and, as an interesting aside, discuss a speculative connection between Euclid’s algorithm and classical Greek proofs that √n is irrational when n is not a square.
Femininity as Perceived Threat to Military Effectiveness: How Military Service Members Reinforce Hegemonic Masculinity in Talk

This study examined the discursive practices of military service members that work to reinforce hegemonic masculinity and heteronormativity in talk. Additionally, this study investigated how women ...
Beyond NEOD001 for systemic light-chain amyloidosis

TO THE EDITOR: Advances in therapy for rare diseases are causes for celebration because they are uncommon events. Conversely, decisions to close large-scale clinical trials testing promising therapies for rare diseases can cause disappointment.[1][1] NEOD001, a monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting
The Interactions Between Power and Couple Satisfaction for Women

ABSTRACTGender and power impact heterosexual relationships immensely. Imbalanced power dynamics within a relationship can lead to challenges. This study seeks to examine the reported power dynamics...
High Throughput Detection of Cracks and Other Faults in Solar PV Modules Using a High-Power Ultraviolet Fluorescence Imaging System

Ultraviolet Fluorescence (UVF) is an emerging PV module inspection technique capable of detecting cracks and other faults. To make UVF more practical, a new, high throughput (1000-2000 modules/hour) system utilizing a high-power UV source was developed. The system was demonstrated at 11 sites, consisting of more than 20 module models (aged 1−20+ year(s) old) from at least 8 manufacturers. UVF was observed at all sites, and cracks were detected at all but one. A demonstration of UVF’s ability for crack age differentiation is also discussed, which could have applications for insurance and warranty claims. Additionally, an automatic crack-detection utility was developed for one site, achieving an accuracy of 91.7%.
Scaling and Parallelization of Big Data Analysis on HPC and Cloud Systems

Big data analysis can exhibit significant scaling problems when migrated to High Performance Computing (HPC) clusters and/or cloud computing platforms if traditional software parallelization techniques such as POSIX multi-threading and Message Passing Interface (MPI) are used. This paper introduces a novel scaling technique based on a-well-known array job mechanism to enable a team of FDA researchers to validate a method for identifying evidence of possible adverse events in very large sets of patient medical records. The analysis employed the widely-used basic Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) package, and the proposed parallelization approach dramatically increased the scaling and thus the speed of job completion for this application and is applicable to any similar software written in any other programming language. The new scaling technique offers O(T) theoretical speedup in comparison to multi-threading and MPI techniques. Here T is the number of array job tasks. The basis of the new approach is the segmentation of both (a) the big data set being analyzed and (b) the large number of SAS analysis types applied to each data segment. The large number of unique pairs of data set segment and analysis type segment are then each processed by a separate computing node (core) in pseudo-parallel manner. As a result, a SAS big data analysis which required more than 10 days to complete and consumed more than a terabyte of RAM on a single multi-core computing node completed in less than an hour parallelized over a large number of nodes, none of which needed more than 50 GB of RAM. The massive increase in the number of tasks when running an analysis job with this degree of segmentation reduces the size, scope and execution time of each task. Besides the significant speed improvement, additional benefits include fine-grained checkpointing and increased flexibility of job submission.
Holding the Dialectic Tension Loosely: A Response to Marie and Lowell Hoffman’s Transcendence and Immanence in Contemporary Psychotherapies—Tensions, Trends, and Treatment:

This article is a response to the Hoffmans’ article, “Transcendence and Immanence in Contemporary Psychotherapies: Trends, Tensions, and Treatment,” in the present volume. The author highlights the...
Experimental Study of Acoustic Channel Reciprocity in the Shallow Ocean

The theoretical proof of channel reciprocity assumes static propagation medium and boundary conditions. Since the assumption makes little sense in the case of dynamic shallow-ocean environments, it brings up a question: how well does channel reciprocity hold in the shallow ocean? To answer this important question, a sea-going experiment was recently conducted to study the shallow-water channel reciprocity experimentally. In the experiment, two custom-built software-defined acoustic modems were deployed to probe the shared channel from two opposite directions. The channel reciprocity was evaluated by comparing the two probed channels directly. To minimize the effects of channel dynamics, a novel handshaking protocol was developed to synchronize the two-way channel probing in spite of the time asynchronism between the two modems. A set of handshaking signals was also designed to facilitate real-time channel probing while overcoming the limitations posed by half-duplex acoustic modems. Our experimental results have shown that while the shallow-ocean channels experienced in our study are not fully reciprocal in terms of channel impulse responses, they are partially reciprocal in terms of the arrival time of the dominant paths at a high probability. This article provides the details of this experimental study, including its design, setups, execution, and results.
The Sociology of Adolescent Religious and Spiritual Development

This article presents an overview of how sociologists study the religious and spiritual development of adolescents, focusing on approaches to data collection, conceptualization of measures, and theoretical framing. With regard to data collection, producing context-rich information from a number of sources, including surveys, interviews, and ethnographies, is foundational for research that aims to present a holistic picture of adolescent spirituality. Having strong concepts and measures is also inherent to recognizing the multifaceted nature of religion and spirituality. With a number of concepts and measures available, sophisticated measurement approaches – such as multidimensional or configurational models – can be employed that capture the range of diversity in how adolescents engage with religion and spirituality. Finally, context-rich data and nuanced measurement tools allow for precise theorizing about the specific factors that influence religious and spiritual development. In this regard, the theoretical contributions of a life course perspective have offered strong support that (1) adolescence is a sensitive time period for development, (2) adolescents’ lives are shaped by links to influential others and social institutions, (3) social locations create diversity in religious and spiritual outcomes, (4) adolescents exercise agency in their spiritual lives, and (5) the context of adolescent spiritual development is bounded by historical time and place.
Marking the decarbonization revolutions

Stopping climate change requires revolutionary transformations in industry and agriculture. Ahead of several major climate meetings this year, policymakers struggling to measure progress on climate change should focus less on global emissions, which will be slow to change, and more on technological advances in pioneering niches.
X-Ray, Computed Tomography (CT), Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Imaging, and Intraoperative Imaging Adjuncts in the Evaluation and Treatment of Peripheral Nerve Tumors

Benign and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) comprise many different etiologies and require imaging studies for proper evaluation and management. While ultrasound and MRI are the most commonly used and typically the most useful, other imaging modalities, such as X-ray, CT, and PET imaging, may also add valuable information in evaluating nerve tumors. Thus, understanding the value of these other modalities, the imaging characteristics of benign and malignant nerve tumors using these other modalities, and the scenarios in which these modalities are likely to provide useful information is important for being able to comprehensively evaluate and manage nerve tumors.
Paradigm shifts in international justice and the duty to protect; in search of an action principle

This article places the emerging “responsibility to protect” within the historical development of international human rights and criminal law, while also attempting to more fully theorize the responsibility to ensure that it can be a basis for action in the face of a state’s commission of atrocities against its citizens. The main point of departure concerns the issue of “right authority” at that point in time when a coercive intervention is justified. Rather than rely solely on the Security Council in these situations, this article contends that unilateral and multilateral action must be countenanced by a fully theorized “responsibility to protect.” Such action is the only likely action to be taken in many circumstances, on account of the self-interest of Security Council members and general apathy towards intervention in the United Nations. There are solid legal and policy grounds for permitting such interventions and no compelling arguments to the contrary. Without sanctioning such action, it is very likely that the responsibility to protect will become just another quaint theory in international law, irrelevant to on the ground decision-making and incapable of the protection it was created to provide.
Space, Time, Matter and Cosmology

The geodetic, or geographic, surface position is defined by a grid of great circles on a spherical Earth. A great circle divides the sphere in half, and the name comes from the fact that no greater circles can be drawn on a sphere. A great circle halfway between the North and South Poles is called the equator, because it is equally distant between both poles.
Generalized slow roll approximation for large power spectrum features

We develop a variant of the generalized slow roll approach for calculating the curvature power spectrum that is well suited for order unity deviations in power caused by sharp features in the inflaton potential. As an example, we show that predictions for a step function potential, which has been proposed to explain order unity glitches in the cosmic microwave background temperature power spectrum at multipoles $\ensuremath{\ell}=20--40$, are accurate at the percent level. Our analysis shows that to good approximation there is a single source function that is responsible for observable features and that this function is simply related to the local slope and curvature of the inflaton potential. These properties should make the generalized slow roll approximation useful for inflation-model-independent studies of features, both large and small, in the observable power spectra.
Partial least squares analysis

Partial least squares (PLS) is a method for exploring patterns of covariation between two (and potentially more) blocks of variables. It can be used to study covariation between two blocks of shape variables, making it potentially useful for studies of morphological integration, and also for synthesizing information about three-dimensional morphologies sampled by two two-dimensional views. The method can also be used for analyzing the relationship between shape and other variables, including traditional morphometric or meristic variables, or measures of biomechanical, ecological factors or behaviors. PLS is probably unfamiliar to many biologists, although it has been used extensively in the social sciences and in clinical studies. Thus, a large part of the chapter discusses similarities and differences between PLS and more familiar methods, including regression, principal components analysis (PCA), and canonical correlation analysis (CCA). Because of the potentially wide range of applications of this method, it is important to understand how it is related to other methods that address similar questions.
Cosmic Strings and the Origin of Structure in the Universe

The observed universe is homogeneous and isotropic on the largest observable scales. The best evidence for this comes from observations of the cosmic background radiation (CBR). On smaller scales, a striking amount of structure can be seen — galaxies, clusters of galaxies, and the “large scale structure” in the form of possible filaments, bubbles, sheets or voids. The best proximate explanation for this structure is small amplitude perturbations in the early universe, which grew by gravitational instability into the observed large scale structure during the expansion of the universe. At some time in the future when we have a complete theory of the universe and its initial conditions — see James Hartle’s lectures in this volume1 for some promising ideas toward such a theory — both the overall homogeneity and the structure should be a calculable consequence of the theory. Until then, people have made partial progress toward understanding the genesis of structure on a homogeneous background, based on the laws of fundamental physics as currently known. At this time we have at least two possible fundamental mechanisms for generation of the conjectural initial perturbations, namely quantum fluctuations, or thermodynamic fluctuations of a particular sort. My purpose in these lectures is to review and outline the basic physical nature of these two mechanisms, leaving out the details. Both mechanisms are well reviewed in the literature, and the reader will be referred both to more comprehensive reviews and to the primary literature throughout these lectures.
Properties and applications of anti-xanthan antibodies

Abstract Xanthan, an exocellular bacterial polysaccharide, was used to immunize rabbits to induce the synthesis of anti-xanthan antibodies. The antibodies were isolated by affinity chromatography on an appropriate adsorbent. The antibodies are of the IgG type and possess a molecular weight of 1·55 × 105. On immunization with xanthan, eight isomers of anti-xanthan antibodies are produced in the immune response to the polysaccharide and all isomers exhibit anti-xanthan activity. Several lines of evidence from inhibition tests and antibody reactivity with chemically modified xanthan indicate that the immunodominant group of the antigen is 4,6-pyr-β- d -Man-(1 → 4)-β- d -GlcA. The antibodies were used to identify xanthan in gum blends of commercial origin and in several food items.
Augmented auditory information in the control of upper-limb prostheses.

Abstract The present study compared the effects of augmented auditory information on the linear positioning performance of individuals with natural or prosthetic limbs. Subjects were ten male volunteers, five of whom had above-elbow amputations and had used their prosthetic devices for an average of 8.3 years. The other five subjects were selected from a volunteer pool. Movements were made and measured on a standard linear slide whose cursor had a pulsing infrared diode attached opposite the subject. An infrared camera and microprocessor translated diode movement into a corresponding change in voltage. The voltage was simultaneously applied to an audio device which supplied the augmented feedback. The movement of the cursor by the subject was paralleled by a linearly-related change in audible frequency (Hz). The subjects performed 15 trials at each of three retentions (immediate, 15-sec filled, and 15 sec unfilled), both with and without the augmented feedback, for a total of 90 trials. The results of group × feedback × retention intervals analysis of variance on absolute and variable error indicated both a group × retention and a group × feedback interaction. Subjects using a prosthetic limb to produce the movement were less accurate and more variable than the "normal" subjects when augmented feedback was not concurrent with response.
214 EFFECT OF LIGHT ON THE PERFUSED GUNN RAT LIVER

The livers of 6 Gunn rats (200 gm.), 3 jj and 3 Jj, were perfused for 1 hr. with std. KBR soln. to which bilirubin in conc. of 20 mg/dl was added to 4. One jj and 1 Jj were perfused in the dark, 2 each in blue fluorescent light (420-470 nm, 18 μw/cm2/nm) Bilirubin was extracted in CCl4 from half of each liver, the other half analyzed for activity of: cytochrome P450, b5, p-nitrophenol glucuronidation, benzo(a)pyrine and analine hydroxylation, aminopyrine demethylation. All livers perfused with KBR-bili. or KBR alone under light had little or no bilirubin at end of perfusion. Those perfused in the dark had significant amounts of bilirubin. Assays of both jj and Jj rat livers showed a marked increase in activity of all 6 enzymes, 40+ percent. As all rats were female, no intersex variable was encountered. Determination of bilirubin conc. of outflow KBR-bili. perfusate showed a small but significant decline q5 min. during perfusion. Bilirubin extract from livers of both jj and Jj rats in the dark was in high conc. We conclude that visible light penetrates through the intact rat liver, directly photodegrading bilirubin, possibly enhancing its uptake. These data further indicate that visible light (420-470 nm) induces hepatic cell enzyme activity. The possibility exists that visible light irradiation, as in phototherapy, will enhance drug metabolism by hepatic cell enzyme induction.
Suramin, an Experimental Chemotherapeutic Drug, Irreversibly Blocks T Cell CD45-Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase in Vitro

Abstract Suramin has long been used for the treatment of Gambian and Rhodesian trypanosomiasis and oncocerciasis. More recently, the demonstration that suramin inhibits DNA polymerases, reverse transcriptase and the lymphocyte terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase has led to its clinical trials for the treatment of AIDS and cancer. The precise nature of suramin′s anti-neoplastic action is not clear at this time. Suramin rapidly alters the tyrosine-specific phosphorylation of cellular proteins in many cancer cell lines. Here we demonstrate that suramin strongly inhibits the activity of CD45, the principal tyrosine specific protein phosphatase of T lymphocytes. Suramin-induced inactivation of CD45 is noncompetitive, irreversible and complete within 10 min. The ability of suramin to block CD45 mediated phosphatase function provides both new insight into the mechanism of action of this agent and a useful new probe for studies of T cell activation.
Molecular basis for differences between human joints

The molecular program of a cell determines responses including induction or inhibition of genes for function and activity, and this is true of the cells within articular cartilage, a major functional component of the joint. While our studies have previously focussed on differences in the molecular programs of the cells within the superficial and deep zones, we have recently begun to focus on relative differences between joints, such as the knee and ankle. In the human, these joints vary greatly in their susceptibility to joint diseases, such as osteoarthritis (OA). We have predicted that there would be a molecular basis for differences between joints that could lead to differences in susceptibility to OA, if inherent pathways locked into the resident cells induce differences in their response to their environment. We have been able to show that there are differences between the matrix components and water content; these properties correspond to a higher equilibrium modulus and dynamic stiffness but lower hydraulic permeability and serve to make the ankle cartilage stiffer, slowing movement of molecules through the cartilage. In addition to these biochemical differences in the cartilage matrix, we have also identified relative differences in the strength of the response to stimulation of chondrocytes from knee and ankle. The stronger response of the knee chondrocytes includes factors that increase damage to the cartilage matrix, such as a depression of matrix synthesis and increased enzyme activity. This response by the knee chondrocytes results in enzyme damage to the matrix that the cells may not be able to repair, while the weaker response of the ankle chondrocytes may allow the cells to repair their matrix damage.
Variability in drug metabolizing enzyme activity in HIV-infected patients

Aims To evaluate variability in cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A2, CYP2D6, CYP3A, N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2), and xanthine oxidase (XO) activity in HIV-infected patients and compare this with data from uninfected, healthy volunteers.
The Effect of Ear Canal Orientation on Tympanic Membrane Motion and the Sound Field Near the Tympanic Membrane

The contribution of human ear canal orientation to tympanic membrane (TM) surface motion and sound pressure distribution near the TM surface is investigated by using an artificial ear canal (aEC) similar in dimensions to the natural human ear canal. The aEC replaced the bony ear canal of cadaveric human temporal bones. The radial orientation of the aEC relative to the manubrium of the TM was varied. Tones of 0.2 to 18.4 kHz delivered through the aEC induced surface motions of the TM that were quantified using stroboscopic holography; the distribution of sound in the plane of the tympanic ring P TR was measured with a probe tube microphone. The results suggest that the ear canal orientation has no substantial effect on TM surface motions, but P TR at frequencies above 10 kHz is influenced by the ear canal orientation. The complex TM surface motion patterns observed at frequencies above a few kilohertz are not correlated with simpler variations in P TR distribution at the same frequencies, suggesting that the complex sound-induced TM motions are more related to the TM mechanical properties, shape, and boundary conditions rather than to spatial variations in the acoustic stimulus.
Subglottic Stenosis in Wegener's Granulomatosis

A patient with treated Wegener's granulomatosis had an inflammatory subglottic laryngotracheitis during remission from systemic features of the disease. The lesion enlarged insidiously until a critical point of stenosis occurred in the subglottic region, leading to stridor. Subglottic stenosis, another of the protean findings in Wegener's granulomatosis, may be seen more frequently in the future as patients survive longer in immunosuppressant-induced remissions.
A nearly universal critical conductivity for semiconductor-metal alloys

Classical ionized impurity scattering is employed to calculate the conductivity at and in the vicinity of the critical point. The result ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{iis}}({x\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}x}_{c},T)\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}A\sqrt{T}$, closely given by ${e}^{2}/\ensuremath{\Elzxh}{\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{\mathrm{dB}}$ with the de Broglie wavelength ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{\mathrm{dB}}\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}h/({2m}^{*}\mathrm{kT}{)}^{1/2}$ in the nondegenerate regime ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}_{F}\ensuremath{\ll}\mathrm{kT}$, is weakly dependent on the form of the density of states above the mobility edge. This result can explain the $\sqrt{T}$ term observed for amorphous semiconductor alloys. ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{iis}}(xg{x}_{c},T)$ might also explain the linear scaling behavior $\ensuremath{\sigma}(x,T)\ensuremath{-}A\sqrt{T}\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{0}({x/x}_{0}\ensuremath{-}1)$.
Spectral Monitoring of the Formation and Degradation of Polysulfide Ions in Alkaline Conditions

The recently developed protocol for the absolute determination of the various polysulfide species based by 1H NMR was applied to monitor the amount of such ions in alkaline media produced at different conditions. The thermal stability of each individual polysulfide species was also evaluated in temperature ranges representative of a typical alkaline pulping process. Overall, the species, S12-, S22-, S32-, S42-, S52-, and S62- were detected and quantified in all alkaline conditions evaluated. The concentration of sodium sulfide and the temperature were found to have a significant effect on the total amount of polysulfides detected. In summary, the di- and trisulfide anions were found to predominate over the other polysulfide species in all examined experimental conditions. Additionally, the experimental values of Ea for the thermal degradation of polysulfide species correlate with the observed stability of the individual species; i.e., S22- has the highest Ea, followed by S32-.
Chemically-mediated communication in self-oscillating, biomimetic cilia

A single biological cilium can sense minute chemical variations and transmit this information to neighboring cilia to produce a global response to the local change. Herein, we undertake the first computational study of self-oscillating, artificial cilia and show that this system can “communicate” to undergo a biomimetic, collective response to small-scale chemical changes. The cilia are formed from chemo-responsive gels undergoing the oscillatory Belousov–Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction. The activator for the reaction, u, is generated within these BZ cilia and diffuses between the neighboring gels. We find that the spatial arrangement of the BZ cilia affects the local distribution of u, which in turn affects the dynamic behavior of the system. Consequently, two closely spaced cilia bend away from each other and the chemo-mechanical traveling waves within the gels propagate top down. By increasing the inter-cilia spacing, we dramatically alter the behavior of the system and uncover a distinctive form of chemotaxis: the tethered gels bend towards higher concentrations of u and hence, towards each other. This chemotaxis is particularly pronounced in an array of five cilia, where we observe a “bunching” of the cilia towards the highest concentration in u, accompanied by the synchronization of the chemo-mechanical waves. We also show that the cilial oscillations can be controlled remotely and non-invasively by light. By selectively illuminating certain cilia, we could “play” the array like a keyboard, causing a rhythmic variation in the heights of the gels. These attributes could be exploited in a range of microfluidic applications, where the controllable communication among the BZ cilia and self-oscillating surface topology can be harnessed to transport microscopic objects within the devices.
ASTER observations of thermal anomalies preceding the April 2003 eruption of Chikurachki volcano, Kurile Islands, Russia

Abstract Chikurachki volcano (Northern Kurile Islands Chain, Paramushir Island 50° 20′N, 155° 27′E; elevation 1816 m, stratovolcano) has been in a state of unrest for over twenty years. Its most recent eruption that began in April 2003 was preceded by an eruption between January and May 2002. Thermal infrared images from the Japanese–United States' Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection radiometer (ASTER-5 TIR channels, 8–12 μm, 90 m/pixel, Noise Equivalent Delta Temperature [NEΔT] ∼0.1–0.3 K; onboard the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Terra polar-orbiting spacecraft) of a snow-covered Chikurachki Volcano taken in January 2003 show muted evidence of thermal activity. ASTER thermal infrared (TIR) images from February 2003, however, indicate warmer areas within the summit crater. Average whole-pixel temperatures of adjacent summit slopes are in the range of 250–252 K, while many summit-crater whole pixel temperatures are ∼2–6 K greater. A two component Planck solution for the warmer pixels yields a solution of 275–277 K for 10–15% of the Chikurachki summit crater and 285–295 K for 25–35% of a prominent “hotspot” on its flank. An interpretation of this enhanced pre-eruption heat flow is the presence of surface melt water. The detection in ASTER data of such subtle precursory heat-flow enhancement, even retrospectively, raises important issues for remote monitoring of “dormant” snow-capped volcanoes, especially those that threaten nearby populations, like Mt. Rainier.
Solvent dependence of δH in 2-chloro and 2-iodoethylmethyl ether

Abstract The energy differences between the gauche and trans conformations of 2-chloro and 2-iodoethylmethyl ether have been calculated in various solvents through measurement of the temperature dependence of the relative band intensities of the CX stretching modes in the Raman spectra. These results were utilized to obtain estimates for the gas phase energy differences, which were found to be 0.49 ± 0.15 kcal/mol and −0.21 ± 0.10 kcal/mol respectively. The experimentally measured solution phase energy differences were also compared to the values calculated from room temperature area ratios. The results were found to be in reasonable, qualitative agreement.
Programs for writing research reports

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