cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Maternal Complications of Pregnancy that Affect Fetal Development

The experience of pregnancy and childbirth transforms the lives of mothers and their families. As it may be anticipated, a large number of medical and surgical complications in the pregnant mother may affect development of the fetus and health of the newborn infant. Since the early nineteenth century (Bard 1807), volumes may be devoted to a consideration of these (Creasy et al. 2014; Reece and Hobbins 2007); however, in the light of space limitations, only several will be considered here.
Specialized fibroblast differentiated states underlie scar formation in the infarcted mouse heart

Fibroblasts are a dynamic cell type that achieve selective differentiated states to mediate acute wound healing and long-term tissue remodeling with scarring. With myocardial infarction injury, cardiomyocytes are replaced by secreted extracellular matrix proteins produced by proliferating and differentiating fibroblasts. Here, we employed 3 different mouse lineage-tracing models and stage-specific gene profiling to phenotypically analyze and classify resident cardiac fibroblast dynamics during myocardial infarction injury and stable scar formation. Fibroblasts were activated and highly proliferative, reaching a maximum rate within 2 to 4 days after infarction injury, at which point they expanded 3.5-fold and were maintained long term. By 3 to 7 days, these cells differentiated into myofibroblasts that secreted abundant extracellular matrix proteins and expressed smooth muscle α-actin to structurally support the necrotic area. By 7 to 10 days, myofibroblasts lost proliferative ability and smooth muscle α-actin expression as the collagen-containing extracellular matrix and scar fully matured. However, these same lineage-traced initial fibroblasts persisted within the scar, achieving a new molecular and stable differentiated state referred to as a matrifibrocyte, which was also observed in the scars of human hearts. These cells express common and unique extracellular matrix and tendon genes that are more specialized to support the mature scar.
Portfolio Efficiency under Singularity and Orthogonality

Portfolio efficiency has been evaluated in current theory in three different ways. First, we have the efficiency frontier formulation in the Markowitz-Tobin sense, which minimizes the variance of portfolio return subject to a lower bound on expected return. This yields a sequence of vectors of optimal investment proportions, given the mean variance parameters or their statistical estimates. The role of singularity in this framework arises in two ways, e.g., through the near-singularity of the variance-covariance matrix as the size of the portfolio is increased, and through the presence of large standard errors of the estimates of the mean return vector. Szego [1] has recently considered the first case, i.e., the near-singularity of the variance-covariance matrix of returns and its impact on enlarging the size of a given portfolio. Secondly, we may refer to several econometric tests based on the vector of optimal investment proportions, which are designed to evaluate a portfolio for ex ante mean variance efficiency.
Impact of Emitter Width Scaling on Performance and Ruggedness of SiGe HBTs for PA Applications

We present performance and ruggedness trade-offs for the different emitter widths of SiGe HBTs using GLOBALFOUNDRIES 1K5PAXE technology for power amplifier (PA) applications. The technology offers HBTs with low intrinsic base resistance (R BI ) and low emitter-base capacitance $(\mathbf{C}_{\mathbf{BE}})$ which allows for wide emitter devices essential for high power density PA designs through improved emitter utilization. Load-pull measurements of HBTs with $\mathbf{W}_{\mathbf{E}}=1.2\mu m$ show ~1.5dB higher gain at 5.8GHz for a ~17% smaller footprint compared to $\text{W}_{\text{E}}=0.8\mu m$ HBT (for a fixed emitter area). However, smaller footprint increases thermal resistance which degrades ruggedness. Simulations show that the ruggedness can be recovered through power cell layout optimization or by using emitter ballasting techniques. This paper also shows the importance of good mutual heating model between devices for first pass design success and reduced design cycle time.
Characterizing Curvature in Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording Using Spin-Stand Imaging

In an ideal magnetic recording system, individual bits would be recorded as rectangular magnetic domains in the recording media, but in reality, the transitions from one bit to the next are curved due to practical geometry considerations. This is particularly true in heat-assisted magnetic recording, where the shape of the bits is defined primarily by the approximately circular thermal spot produced in the media by the laser near-field transducer. Since this curvature in the transition profiles can degrade the signal-to-noise ratio and bit error rate of the read signal, an accurate metrology tool for characterizing the curvature produced by various head and media designs is essential. Here, we present a method of aligning read signals from trimmed tracks at a range of cross-track positions to produce a 2-D map of the magnetic patterns recorded in the media. From these data, metrics characterizing the transition curvature (e.g., the radius of curvature at the track center) can be extracted.
The right to the resilient city: progressive politics and the green growth machine in New York City

We examine the post disaster history of a proposed resilience infrastructure capital project, the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project, part of a larger proposed resilience infrastructure design called “The Big U.” This proposed ring of bermed parkland around the waterfront of Lower Manhattan won $335 million in the Housing and Urban Development Rebuild by Design competition. The purpose of the Big U was to make the Lower Manhattan coastline resilient against storms and provide green space amenities to neighborhood residents. The Bjarke Ingels Group proposal created the East Side Coastal Resiliency section of the Big U design through an inclusive process with local residents. Yet, 6 years since Sandy and 4 years since the HUD award, the project had not yet broken ground and the final design had not yet been approved. We look at this resilience project to ask the question: does this project reflect the right to the resilient city, that is, is it being designed in the interests of low-income neighborhood residents adjoining the project, creating a more resilient city for everyone? Or, will the final design of the project repeat the problems of unequal post-disaster redevelopment?
Time Dependent Nanomechanical Response of Nacre

Nacre, the shiny inner layer of seashells is a model biomimetic system composed of 95% of inorganic (aragonite) phase and 5% of organic phase (mainly proteins and polysaccharides). Nacre exhibits an interlocked layered “brick and mortar” structure where the bricks are made up of aragonite and mortar is the organic phase. We have performed nanoindentation and dynamic nanoindentation tests to study the nanomechanical and dynamic nanomechanical response of nacre. The indentation experiments performed at low loads indicate an elastic modulus of about 15 GPa for the organic phase. The low load, low penetration experiments appear to be better indicators of nanomechanical behavior. Dynamic nanomechanical response of nacre was studied using dynamic nanoindentation (nano-DMA). Significant increase in the values of tan δ was observed with increase in frequency. Also the dynamic nanoindentation experiments indicate that nacre exhibits viscoelastic behavior. Further, fourier transform spectroscopy experiments of nacre in innate and undisturbed state indicate the presence of water in nacre. The nanograin structure of nacre platelets, as well as the entrapped and adsorbed water, is two important contributors to the viscoelastic response of nacre. Atomic force microscopy experiments also indicate a very high force to remove organic from the aragonite in nacre. These experiments provide important insight into nanomechanical response of nacre, its constituents and also interfaces.
Risk stratification of papillary thyroid carcinoma and its variants; from clinicopathologic features to molecular profiling

Abstract Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), usually a low-risk malignant tumor of thyroid, has some variants that clinically behave in an aggressive manner. A combination of clinicopathologic and molecular profiling data can serve as an integral part of risk stratification paradigm to predict patient prognosis. This can also minimize potential harm from overtreatment in patients at low risk for disease-specific mortality and morbidity; while appropriately treating and monitoring patients at higher risk. In this manuscript, we review different prognostic parameters that can be utilized to stratify cases of PTC into clinically low, intermediate and high risk categories.
Blocking autophagy to starve pancreatic cancer.

Channing Der and Kirsten Bryant discuss recent work leading towards therapeutic targeting of autophagy in pancreatic cancer.
Effects of vitamin D3 and its chemical analogs on the growth of Hodgkin's lymphoma, in vitro.

Vitamin D receptor (VDR) activities have been noted for a number of B cell malignancies which showed varying sensitivities to vitamin D3 (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, VD3, calcitriol) and its synthetic analogs. The objective of this study was to address the potential effects of VD3 and vitamin D3 analogs (VDAs) on the growth of Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL), a malignant pathology of B cell origin, in vitro. Immunofluorescence staining showed the expression of VDR by primary Hodgkin’s (H) and Reed–Sternberg (RS)—HRS-tumor cells in HL histological sections. Western blot analyses revealed expression of VDR in the HL cell lines Hs445, HDLM2, KMH2, and L428. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) on data obtained from water-soluble tetrazolium 1 (WST-1) cell proliferation assay showed decreased cell growth in HDLM2 and L428, 72 h after treatment with 10 µM of either VD3 of VDAs. Western blot analyses showed that treatment of L428 cells with the VDAs (calcipotriol and EB1089) resulted in modest increases in nuclear accumulation of VDR (nuVDR) compared to either dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or VD3 treatments. nuVDR for DMSO control and VD3 was comparable. These results suggest that VD3 or VDAs may affect growth of HL.
Speeding up Automatic Parallel I/O Performance Optimization in Panda

The large number of system components and their complex interactions in a parallel I/O system, together with dynamically changing I/O patterns in scientific applications, impose a great challenge in selecting high-quality I/O plans for an anticipated I/O workload in a target execution environment. Previous research has shown that a model-based approach that uses a performance model of the parallel I/O system to predict the performance of the parallel I/O system for a given I/O plan, coupled with an effective search algorithm (simulated annealing) can identify a high quality I/O plan automatically. However, to be truly successful, such automatic strategies must not only be capable of selecting high-quality I/O plans for a parallel system, but also be able to select them quickly. In this paper, we study the cost of optimization when using the model-based approach. We identify the major performance factors that affect the optimization time, and present techniques used to speed up the process. Our performance results obtained from an IBM SP show that with these techniques, our prototype optimization engine can select high-quality I/O plans quickly.
The Science of Addiction Through the Lens of Opioid Treatment for Chronic Noncancer Pain.

Abstract Addiction is a chronic, relapsing brain disease. It is not the same as physical dependence (i.e., withdrawal) and tolerance, but is characterized by loss of control over the use of the substance, continued use despite consequences, compulsive use, and cravings. Addiction involves functional changes to brain pathways involved in reward, stress and learning, and these changes can last a long time after the addictive substance is no longer used. Repeated interruption of normal brain function from repetitive use of addictive substances can hijack normal reward mechanisms resulting in fundamental alterations in brain structure and function. Over time, addictive substances can bring about a false fixed prediction error that cannot be rectified during learning. And, for individuals who develop an addiction, initial impulsive drug use progresses to compulsive drug use and this progression also has neurobiological underpinnings. Drug addiction is partly heritable, although there is no single gene coding specifically for the disease of addiction. Genetic factors contribute to a vulnerability to develop both addiction and addiction comorbidities, and play an appreciable role in responses to and metabolism of addictive substances, and most likely, the experience of rewarding effects. Patients with pain who are addicted to opioids have, in addition to the pain disorder, a chronic relapsing brain disease that can be life-threatening. Addiction can be treated and controlled, but not cured. Treatment of pain in individuals with addiction is a complex clinical challenge. Holistic assessment, interprofessional approaches, use of established guidelines, and non-pharmacological complementary modalities are needed.
Fecal microbiota transplantation in a toddler after heart transplant was a safe and effective treatment for recurrent Clostridiodes difficile infection: A case report

Pediatric recipients of SOT have a significantly increased risk of Clostridiodes (formerly Clostridium) difficile infection (CDI), which is associated with adverse outcomes after SOT. Alterations to the intestinal microbiota community structure increase the risk of CDI. FMT is a safe and effective treatment for recurrent CDI in immunocompetent children and adults. While there are increasing data that FMT in immunosuppressed patients is safe and effective without increased risk of infection, data regarding safety and efficacy of FMT in children after SOT are limited. To our knowledge, we report the youngest immunocompromised patient to undergo FMT and the third overall case of FMT in a child after HTx. Our patient presented with five episodes of rCDI in 6 months, and 16S rRNA genetic analysis revealed significant loss of overall microbiota community structure and diversity prior to FMT compared with a donor and a healthy, age-matched control. After FMT, marked and prolonged (at least 16 months) shifts in the recipient microbiota community structure and diversity were evident, approaching that of donor and healthy, age-matched control. FMT was well tolerated, restored microbial diversity without any graft or transplant complications, and prevented further rCDI episodes after more than 4 years of follow-up.
Optimal control of coefficients in parabolic free boundary problems modeling laser ablation

Abstract Inverse Stefan type free boundary problem for the second order parabolic equation arising in modeling of laser ablation of biomedical tissues is analyzed, where information on the coefficients, heat flux on the fixed boundary, and density of heat sources are missing and must be found along with the temperature and free boundary. New PDE constrained optimal control framework in Hilbert–Besov spaces introduced in Abdulla (2013) is employed, where the missing data and the free boundary are components of the control vector, and optimality criteria are based on the final moment measurement of the temperature and position of the free boundary. Discretization by finite differences is pursued, and convergence of the discrete optimal control problems to the original problem is proved. Numerical algorithm based on the Frechet differentiability and the gradient method in Hilbert–Besov spaces is implemented. The results of the numerical experiments for the identification of the free boundary and diffusion coefficient are presented.
The Unfulfilled Promise of Digital Networks: Heterogeneity in the Effect of Technology on Collective Action Mobilization

The adoption of Social Networking Service (SNS) and other technologies by political activists has been touted as signifying a new era of collective action wherein citizens across the democratic world can use technology to impact the political system and public sphere. Yet, actual network practices vary across cultures. In this chapter, I examine cross-national variation in collective action, looking at differences in collective action between East Asia and the West, as well as within East Asia. I argue that the effect of technology on collective action depends on specific cultural attributes related to social networks.
Intensity- and timing-dependent modulation of motion perception with transcranial magnetic stimulation of visual cortex

Abstract Despite the widespread use of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in research and clinical care, the dose–response relations and neurophysiological correlates of modulatory effects remain relatively unexplored. To fill this gap, we studied modulation of visual processing as a function of TMS parameters. Our approach combined electroencephalography (EEG) with application of single pulse TMS to visual cortex as participants performed a motion perception task. During each participants’ first visit, motion coherence thresholds, 64-channel visual evoked potentials (VEPs), and TMS resting motor thresholds (RMT) were measured. In second and third visits, single pulse TMS was delivered at one of two latencies, either 30 ms before the onset of motion or at the onset latency of the N2 VEP component derived from the first session. TMS was delivered at 0%, 80%, 100%, or 120% of RMT over the site of N2 peak activity, or at 120% over vertex. Behavioral results demonstrated a significant main effect of TMS timing on accuracy, with better performance when TMS was applied at the N2-Onset timing versus Pre-Onset, as well as a significant interaction, indicating that 80% intensity produced higher accuracy than other conditions at the N2-Onset. TMS effects on the P3 VEP showed reduced amplitudes in the 80% Pre-Onset condition, an increase for the 120% N2-Onset condition, and monotonic amplitude scaling with stimulation intensity. The N2 component was not affected by TMS. These findings reveal the influence of TMS intensity and timing on visual perception and electrophysiological responses, with optimal facilitation at stimulation intensities below RMT.
Enduring and Emergent Public Opinion in Relation to a Suburban Stadium District: The Case of Truist Park–Battery Atlanta

Stadium districts are almost always located in central cities. One exception, and the focus of this study, is Truist Park–Battery Atlanta, a $1.3-billion baseball stadium development that opened in...
Conserved genetic signatures parcellate cardinal spinal neuron classes into local and projection subsets

Motor and sensory functions of the spinal cord are mediated by populations of cardinal neurons arising from separate progenitor lineages. However, each cardinal class is composed of multiple neuronal types with distinct molecular, anatomical, and physiological features, and there is not a unifying logic that systematically accounts for this diversity. We reasoned that the expansion of new neuronal types occurred in a stepwise manner analogous to animal speciation, and we explored this by defining transcriptomic relationships using a top-down approach. We uncovered orderly genetic tiers that sequentially divide groups of neurons by their motor-sensory, local-long range, and excitatory-inhibitory features. The genetic signatures defining neuronal projections were tied to neuronal birth date and conserved across cardinal classes. Thus, the intersection of cardinal class with projection markers provides a unifying taxonomic solution for systematically identifying distinct functional subsets.
The quantification of liver fat from wave speed and attenuation

A framework is developed for estimating the volume fraction of fat in steatotic livers from viscoelastic measures of shear wave speed and attenuation. These measures are emerging on clinical ultrasound systems' elastography options so this approach can become widely available for assessing and monitoring steatosis. The framework assumes a distribution of fat vesicles as spherical inhomogeneities within the liver and uses a composite rheological model (Christensen 1969J. Mech. Phys. Solids1723-41) to determine the shear modulus as a function of increasing volume of fat within the liver. We show that accurate measurements of shear wave speed and attenuation provide the necessary and sufficient information to solve for the unknown fat volume and the underlying liver stiffness. Extension of the framework to compression wave measurements is also possible. Data from viscoelastic phantoms, human liver studies, and steatotic animal livers are shown to provide reasonable estimates of the volume fraction of fat.
Synthetic Cationic Autoantigen Mimics Glatiramer Acetate Persistence at the Site of Injection and Is Efficacious Against Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis.

A synthetic peptide, K-PLP, consisting of 11-unit poly-lysine (K11) linked via polyethylene glycol (PEG) to proteolipid protein epitope (PLP) was synthesized, characterized, and evaluated for efficacy in ameliorating experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) induced by PLP. K-PLP was designed to mimic the cationic nature of the relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis treatment, glatiramer acetate (GA). With a pI of ~10, GA is able to form visible aggregates at the site of injection via electrostatic interactions with the anionic extracellular matrix. Aggregation further facilitates the retention of GA at the site of injection and draining lymph nodes, which may contribute to its mechanism of action. K-PLP with a pI of ~11, was found to form visible aggregates in the presence of glycosaminoglycans and persist at the injection site and draining lymph nodes in vivo, similar to GA. Additionally, EAE mice treated with K-PLP showed significant inhibition of clinical symptoms compared to free poly-lysine and to PLP, which are the components of K-PLP, and GA. The ability of the poly-lysine motif to retain PLP at the injection site, which increased the local exposure of PLP to immune cells may be an important factor affecting drug efficacy.
Comparing Incision Choices in Immediate Microvascular Breast Reconstruction after Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy: Unique Considerations to Optimize Outcomes.

BACKGROUND Incision planning is a critical factor in nipple-sparing mastectomy outcomes. Evidence on optimal incision patterns in patients undergoing nipple-sparing mastectomy and immediate microvascular breast reconstruction is lacking in the literature. METHODS A single-institution retrospective review was performed of consecutive patients undergoing nipple-sparing mastectomy and immediate microvascular autologous reconstruction from 2007 to 2019. Outcomes-including major mastectomy flap necrosis, full nipple-areola complex necrosis, and any major ischemic complication of the skin envelope-were compared among incision types. Multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with major ischemic complication. RESULTS Two hundred seventy-nine reconstructions (163 patients) were identified, primarily using internal mammary recipient vessels (98.9 percent). Vertical incisions were used in 139 cases; inframammary, in 53; lateral radial, in 51; and inverted-T, in 35. Thirty-two cases (11.5 percent) had major mastectomy flap necrosis, 11 (3.9 percent) had full nipple-areola complex necrosis, and 38 (13.6 percent) had any major ischemic complication. Inframammary incisions had higher rates of major ischemic complication (25 percent) than vertical (5.8 percent; p < 0.001) and lateral radial (7.8 percent; p = 0.032) incisions. Inverted-T incisions also had higher rates of major ischemic complication (36.1 percent) than both vertical (p < 0.001) and lateral radial (p = 0.002) incisions. Inframammary incisions (OR, 4.382; p = 0.002), inverted-T incisions (OR, 3.952; p = 0.011), and mastectomy weight (OR, 1.003; p < 0.001) were independently associated with an increased risk of major ischemic complication. Inframammary incisions with major ischemic complication demonstrated significantly higher body mass index, mastectomy weight, and flap weight compared to those without. CONCLUSIONS Inframammary and inverted-T incisions are associated with a higher risk of major ischemic skin envelope complications after nipple-sparing mastectomy and immediate microvascular breast reconstruction. Radial incisions can be considered to optimize recipient vessel exposure without compromising perfusion. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic, III.
Fuzzy Generative Adversarial Networks

Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) are well-known tools for data generation and semi-supervised classification. GANs, with less labeled data, outperform Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) in classification across various tasks, this shows promise for developing GANs capable of trespassing into the domain of semi-supervised regression. However, developing GANs for regression introduce two major challenges: (1) inherent instability in the GAN formulation and (2) performing regression and achieving stability simultaneously. This paper introduces techniques that show improvement in the GANs' regression capability through mean absolute error (MAE) and mean squared error (MSE). We bake a differentiable fuzzy logic system at multiple locations in a GAN because fuzzy logic systems have demonstrated high efficacy in classification and regression settings. The fuzzy logic takes the output of either or both the generator and the discriminator to either or both predict the output, $y$, and evaluate the generator's performance. We outline the results of applying the fuzzy logic system to CGAN and summarize each approach's efficacy. This paper shows that adding a fuzzy logic layer can enhance GAN's ability to perform regression; the most desirable injection location is problem-specific, and we show this through experiments over various datasets. Besides, we demonstrate empirically that the fuzzy-infused GAN is competitive with DNNs.
Life through Death: Sacrificial Eating

“Biological” or physical death is not the whole death, not even its ultimate essence … in [the] Christian vision, death is above all a spiritual reality , of which one can partake while being alive, from which one can be free while lying in the grave. Death here is man's separation from life , and this means from God Who is the Giver of life, Who Himself is Life. Death is not an eventuality that with luck, waits for another day. It is today's cup from which God now insists you drink. If you think that somehow you can choose today not to carry the deaths of your past life and former loves, you are wrong. There is no choice about that: if you rise at all, it will be from those. And it will be from those as perpetually present to you – as carried by you and offered by you to all the others who alone can give you life. The only choice you have is between accepting those deaths or pretending to a life that doesn't exist. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. (John 12:24) The Eucharist, as a communion of love in and through Christ's sacrifice, involves learning cruciformity as members of Christ's sacrificial Body. As such, the Eucharist fulfills Israel's mode of sacrificial worship, in which sacrifice and communion are inextricably integrated.
Magnetic resonance acoustic radiation force (impulse) imaging (MR-ARFI)

MR-ARFI adds to the rich toolbox of MR imaging methods for guiding focused ultrasound. MRI has exquisite soft tissue contrast for targeting focused ultrasound and a variety of contrast mechanisms for assessing the effect of focused ultrasound. In addition, MR can provide temperature mapping in near-realtime. MR-ARFI is an imaging method that compliments these other capabilities: MR-ARFI can provide a very low temperature rise method to locate the focal spot, calibrate the beam intensity, and potentially evaluate and improve focusing. MR-ARFI typically uses a relatively long ultrasound pulse (1-20 ms) during the application of a magnetic field gradient to encode the displacement of tissue into the phase of the MR image. MR-ARFI is related to elastography, shear-wave imaging, and harmonic motion imaging methods, which evaluate tissue stiffness by evaluation of the ultrasound shear wave that propagates after the ultrasound pulse. However, MR-ARFI is instead visualizing the quasi-static displacement of tissue during the ultrasound pulse, rather than the shear wave after the pulse.
Molecular characterization of an attenuated human immunodeficiency virus type 2 isolate.

Abstract Naturally occurring strains of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can vary considerably in their in vitro biological properties, and such differences may also be reflected in their in vivo pathogenesis. In an attempt to define genetic determinants of viral pathogenicity, we have molecularly cloned, sequenced, and characterized an attenuated isolate of HIV type 2 (HIV-2/ST) that differs from prototype HIV-2 strains in its inability to fuse with and kill susceptible CD4-bearing target cells. A proviral clone, termed JSP4-27, was identified to be transfection competent and to fully exhibit the noncytopathic and nonfusogenic properties of its parental isolate. Nucleotide sequence analysis of this clone revealed a genomic organization very similar to that of cytopathic HIV-2 strains and an overall nucleotide sequence homology of 88 to 90%. Amino acid sequence comparison confirmed the integrity of all major viral gene products in JSP4-27 but identified two amino acid sequence substitutions in its envelope fusion region. To investigate whether these mutations were responsible for the nonfusogenic phenotype of JSP4-27, we amplified, cloned, and sequenced the envelope fusion regions of four additional HIV-2/ST strains, two of which represented in vitro-generated, fusogenic and cytopathic variants of HIV-2/ST. The analysis showed that all HIV-2/ST strains examined, including the fusogenic variants, contained the same amino acid sequence changes. On the basis of these findings, we conclude that the attenuated phenotype of JSP4-27, and that of its parental virus, is not due to a direct alteration of the envelope fusion domain. Our results also show, for the first time, that individual replication-competent proviral clones can be representative of attenuated strains of HIV.
Distributed chemical plume process detection: MILCOM 2005 #1644

We have developed a new approach for detecting and tracking chemical or biological plumes in distributed sensor networks, with the objective of solving the inverse location problem. The canonical plume tracking problem suffers from the challenge of a large state space, and we seek reduced dimensionality using information theoretic and stochastic methods. Working with an airborne plume we model a plume using multiple hypothesis tracking (MHT) techniques as opposed to transport based methods rooted in solutions to differential equations. The simple plume model attributes include: diffusion constant, wind direction, and wind magnitude. The location of the plume prior to current observations is calculated statistically with the use of an estimator-based joint probability. The main contribution of this work is the predictor model - a required step of the MHT algorithm. A customized predictor for plumes (as opposed to Kalman filtering) allows the MHT-like algorithm to treat the plume tracking problem as the extreme instance of the multi-target tacking (MTT) problem. The central question: how can a MHT-like method be implemented for plumes in a sensor network of simple sensors capable of rudimentary binary detection, wind speed, and wind direction. The predictor must handle the problem of data association for plume observations. The context for this work is the development of multiple competing models which is correlated to incoming observations in real time. The models run in a generic multi-purpose framework called PQS (process query system). Simulations were performed demonstrating the viability of the MHT approach with the use of a customized predictor for plume target tracking
In vitro repair of psoralen-DNA cross-links by RecA, UvrABC, and the 5'-exonuclease of DNA polymerase I.

Psoralens produce DNA interstrand cross-links which are thought to be repaired via a sequential excision and recombination mechanism in Escherichia coli. The first round of incision by UvrABC has been characterized: it results in 11-base oligonucleotide cross-linked to an intact DNA strand (Van Houten, B., Gamper, B., Holbrook, S.R., Hearst, J.E., and Sancar, A. (1986) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 83, 8077-8081). In the present work, DNA substrates containing 4'-hydroxymethyl-4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen (HMT) cross-links in defined positions are constructed and used to analyze the other steps in repair. It is shown that RecA protein mediates strand transfer past an oligonucleotide cross-linked to a single-stranded DNA circle and that the resulting heteroduplex is a substrate for the UvrABC complex: it excises a double-stranded oligonucleotide which contains the HMT cross-link. It is also found that the first round of UvrABC incision does not lead directly to strand exchange but that an intervening step is needed. That step is carried out in vitro by the 5'-exonuclease activity of DNA polymerase I (pol I) which creates a single-stranded DNA region (a gap) at an incised cross-link such that RecA can initiate strand exchange. Studies using cross-linked oligonucleotides showed that the gap produced by pol I results from the inability of the polymerase to add nucleotides to a 3'-OH end two to three nucleotides away from the furan side of an HMT cross-link. Pol I can, however, extend a 3'-OH end next to the pyrone side of the cross-link. Since UvrABC incises predominantly the furan side of psoralen cross-links in duplex DNA, this discrepancy has important consequences for repair.
The first European congress on agricultural and food ethics and follow-up workshop on ethics and food biotechnology: A US perspective

The first European Congress on Agriculturaland Food Ethics was held at Wageningen University andResearch Center (WUR), Wageningen, The Netherlands, March 4–6, 1999. This was the inaugural conference forthe newly forming European Society for Agricultural andFood Ethics – EUR-SAFE – and around two hundredpeople from across Europe (and a handful of NorthAmericans) participated. Following theCongress/conference, a small (16 people), two-dayworkshop funded in part by the US National ScienceFoundation focused on similarities and differencesbetween the US and the EU regarding publicdiscourse/debate on food biotechnology. A briefoverview of the Congress and the follow-up workshopsuggests what lessons AFHVS and ASFS might learn fromEuropean experience of agricultural and food ethics.
Taking the work out of workflow: mechanisms for document-centered collaboration

There are two aspects to technical support for collaborative activity; support for content work and support for coordination. The design of CSCW systems must typically address both of these, combining them in a collaborative application. This approach, however, suffers from a variety of well-known problems, not least the compatibility between collaborative and single-user applications, working styles and practices. In this paper, we describe an alternative approach that makes coordination and collaborative functionality an aspect of the collaborative artifact rather than a collaborative application. We present an infrastructure and a series of application examples to illustrate the idea of document-centered collaboration, in which coordination and collaboration are separated from and independent of applications.
Multi-line Zeeman analysis

I present preliminary results of a multi-line Zeeman analysis of the active star ξ Boo A and the inactive star τ Cet. High S/N echelle spectra are compared with LTE model line profiles for 25 Fe I lines to deduce surface magnetic fields.
Engineering outreach web page

This paper describes an engineering outreach web page that was developed to aid high school students and others interested in engineering as a possible career. The page draws on input from engineers, engineering students and nonengineering students, and provides, in an informal and entertaining style, information about engineering, its various disciplines, education options and resources, engineering societies, employment resources and representative engineering student projects. This approach to outreach takes advantage of modern computer media technology and is more efficient than traditional outreach activities.
Frit Making Metal Oxides and Regulatory Compliance

Porcelain enamel glass, known as frit, fried glass in the French language, has been manufactured industrially for more than 100 years. Many of the glass formulations have a long history of successful application and safe consumer use. With increasing knowledge of the physiological and ecological effects of various materials in our daily lives, new regulations are being promulgated at an ever-increasing frequency. The Porcelain Enamel Institute has been active and effective in assisting regulators in developing common-sense approaches to control of various metal compounds used in enamel formulations. Of critical concern is the short-term and long-term exposure of the public and those using these materials through wastewater, air, and municipal waste treatment facilities that handle effluents. Many of the regulated metal compounds, oxides of these metals in many cases-such as nickel oxide, cobalt oxide, copper oxide, manganese dioxide, and molybdenum oxide-and, in more limited cases, chromium compounds, are used in porcelain enamel ground coat formulations. Chromium compounds are of particular concern because of the toxicity of Cr(IV) or hexavalent chrome in mists, dusts, and fumes. This paper illustrate the limits of exposure or control of these materials. The PEI, the enameling industry, and its consultants have been successful in reducing or eliminating the use of lead, cadmium, selenium, and barium in a variety of enamel systems. When still in use, frits and enameling compounds with these materials are carefully controlled. Ongoing awareness of regulatory issues is important to our industry to ensure that clear understanding of the use and amounts of materials used by our industry is understood by those writing regulations. Enamels continue to be safe and highly effective coating systems for a variety of metal products that produce superior performance for consumers.
Vector-Dominance Model Comparison of π + Photoproduction with ρ 0 Production by Pions

A comparison of the reactions $\ensuremath{\gamma}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}n$ and ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\rho}}^{0}n$ at 4 and 8 GeV/c has been made using the vector-dominance model. Although the ${\ensuremath{\rho}}^{0}$ data are insufficient to show the very narrow forward peak observed in the photoproduction data, agreement is obtained to within errors for $|t|\ensuremath{\lesssim}0.1$ ${(\mathrm{G}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}/\mathit{c})}^{2}$. Taking interference effects into account, this agreement can be extended to $|t|\ensuremath{\approx}1.5$ ${(\mathrm{G}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}/\mathit{c})}^{2}$ at 4 GeV/c, but only to 0.3 ${(\mathrm{G}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}/\mathit{c})}^{2}$ at 8 GeV/c.
Differential epidural block predicts the success of visceral block in patients with chronic visceral abdominal pain.

Abstract: Background and Aims: Differential thoracic epidural regional block, also known as a differential neural block (DNB), involves the placement of an epidural catheter placed in the thoracic epidural space to achieve appropriate anesthesia in a dermatomal distribution. This is a retrospective case series evaluating how well a DNB may predict success of subsequent visceral blockade in patients with chronic abdominal pain of visceral origin. Methods: Of 402 patients who had a DNB performed for unexplained abdominal pain from January 2000 to January 2009, 81 patients were found to have results consistent with visceral pain and thus underwent subsequent visceral blockade. Basic demographic data, years of chronic pain, history of psychosocial issues, initial visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, pain location, and medication usage were documented in our electronic medical record database. Parameters regarding DNB and visceral blocks also were documented. Descriptive statistics were computed for all variables. The positive predictive value (PPV) for DNB for whom visceral block was successful (at least a 50% reduction in VAS) was calculated. Additionally, subjects with successful visceral blocks were compared to those with unsuccessful visceral blocks. Participants: All patients with chronic abdominal pain with normal gastrointestinal studies who underwent DNB. Setting: Tertiary Outpatient Pain Management Clinic. Design: Retrospective Cohort Study. Results: Mean age of patients was 46 (± 15) years, 73% were female, and median duration of pain was 5 years. 67% of subjects were taking opioid analgesics. PPV of DNB was 70.4%. Only factor found to be statistically significant with visceral block success was baseline VAS with higher scores associated with DNB predictive success (6.8 ± 1.7 vs. 5.5, 1.8; P = 0.004). Use of membrane stabilizing medications was significantly more common in subjects for whom visceral block was not successful (46% vs. 25%; P = 0.058). Area underneath curve (AUC) for VAS was found to be 0.70 (95% CI: 0.57, 0.82), which signifies fair discrimination. Conclusion: Differential neural block is fairly predictive of subsequent visceral block success in patients with chronic abdominal pain of visceral origin. An initial VAS ≥ 5 provides a sensitivity of 93%, which implies that VAS < 5 may predict unsuccessful visceral block. Contrarily, a value of ≥ 8 would provide a specificity of 92% and may be used to predict success of subsequent visceral block.
Muscle activation characteristics of stance balance control in children with spastic cerebral palsy.

Abstract Two studies were conducted to investigate muscle recruitment of children with spastic cerebral palsy in response to unexpected perturbation of balance in stance. The aim of the studies was to investigate neural and non-neural mechanical contributions to muscle responses differences these children display when maintaining balance. In the first study, muscle responses of children with spastic diplegia were compared to typically developing children with similar levels of walking experience. Each child stood on a moveable platform that was displaced backward. Electromyographic recordings of posterior agonist and anterior antagonist muscles of the legs and trunk were analyzed and compared to those of normal children who had obtained a similar developmental levels of mobility. Children with spastic cerebral palsy were found to have an increase in antagonist recruitment and decreased trunk activation when compared to typically developing children at the same level of walking experience. Developmental trends were noted to be similar in all children with or without pathology. As children gained independent walking skills, they demonstrated shorter onset latencies in leg and thigh muscles. In the second study, older children with no pathology were perturbed in crouch stance, simulating the posture of their matched children with cerebral palsy. Changes in their muscle responses were observed to more clearly approximate the muscle onset latency organization of children with spastic diplegia. Results of these studies suggest that muscle recruitment differences for balance control in children with spasticity are due to CNS deficits as well as mechanical changes in posture.
Tissue specificity and serologic reactivity of an autoantigen associated with autoimmune thyroid disease.

A recent report has identified a new autoantigen called D1 that appears to be associated with Graves' ophthalmopathy and is expressed in the thyroid and eye muscle. To better characterize the tissue specificity and disease relevance of this antigen, we evaluated the expression of D1 RNA in various human tissues using a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay. These studies indicate a wide tissue distribution of the messenger RNA for this antigen, including the thyroid, eye muscle, parathyroid, spleen, skeletal muscle, and uterus. There were variations in the relative amounts of specific message for D1 in the different tissues, with the uterus, thyroid, and eye muscle having the greatest amount of product per microgram of total RNA. A maltose binding protein-D1 fusion protein was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified, and used to assess serologic reactivity to D1 by Western blot. Autoantibodies to this antigen were noted in 19 of 24 (78%) of Hashimoto's disease patients, 26 of 41 (63%) of G...
Circulants, inversion of circulants, and some related matrix algebras

Abstract The spectral theory for circulants over R or C is discussed, followed by a discussion of inversion of circulants. The algebraic theory of one-generator matrix algebras and applications to circulants and some related algebras are presented. The theory of symmetric functions plays an important role. Thus the latter methods apply over arbitrary commutative rings.
Improving chemically amplified resist modeling for 2D layout patterns

Physical insight into acid movement in Fickean and non-Fickean diffusions is illustrated for chemically-amplified (CA) resist system. According to this new insight, we propose two diffusion-sensitive patterns for the detection of acid diffusion, which are a sequentially double exposed cross pattern and standing waves from an isolated trench. Their shapes on the wafer are highly dependent on the type of acid diffusion in photoresist. By comparing the simulated shapes of these two patterns with experimental SEM measurements, a method of characterizing PEB modeling is developed. This new method can distinguish Fickean and non-Fickean diffusion and extract post-exposure (PEB) parameters accurately. This method is applied to APEX-E and UV210 and shows that reduced non-Fickean diffusion models both of these resists the best. The development thresholds for both 1D and 2D patterns under various image slopes are systematically investigated for APEX-E and UV210. A programmed foreground and background double exposure is applied to vary the image slope. This study demonstrates that thresholds for 2D trench end patterns are higher than that for 1D trenches. Except for the threshold for 1D trenches in UV210, which remains a constant regardless of image slope, all thresholds increase as image slope decreases. Thresholds in APEX-E increase up to 60% as image slope decreases by 30% while thresholds for trench end patterns in UV210 increase up to 20% as the slope decreases by 25%.