cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract B53: Identifying functional polymorphisms that alter sulforaphane‐induced gene expression via the NRF2 pathway

Dietary isothiocyanates derived from the consumption of broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables have been shown to prevent cancer in various animal and clinical studies. Sulforaphane has been extensively used in mouse liver and lung studies to assess both anticancer effects and oxidant‐induced gene transcriptional profiles. Sulforaphane imparts its antioxidant effects by activating the nuclear factor (erythroid‐derived 2)‐like 2 (NRF2) pathway. NRF2 is a key transcriptional activator of antioxidant and phase II drug metabolism enzymes that regulate transcription by binding cis‐acting antioxidant response elements (AREs) found in gene promoter regions. Since genetic factors, such as loss of function deletions in drug metabolism genes like glutathione‐S‐transferases, can influence the effectiveness of chemopreventive or chemotherapeutic agents, we hypothesized that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within ARE sequences located in NRF2 target genes may alter sulforaphane‐induced transcriptional regulation of these enzymes. To assess this, we exposed 60 unrelated, HapMap CEU cell lines to sulforaphane and measured global gene expression with Illumina gene expression arrays. We observed 2946 expression probes were either significantly induced (1436) or suppressed (1510) in at least 6 of the 60 cell lines by a fold change of 1.3 or greater (t‐test with FDR correction, p Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(1 Suppl):B53.
The use of CDKN2A deletion as a diagnostic marker for malignant mesothelioma in body cavity effusions

BACKGROUND The distinction between benign reactive mesothelial cells and malignant mesothelial cells in serous effusions is difficult and has an unusually high false negative rate. Unfortunately, there are no generally accepted markers to distinguish between benign reactive and malignant mesothelial cells. Homozygous deletion of CDKN2A is frequent in mesothelioma (present in > 70% of tumors). Therefore, detection of CDKN2A deletion by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was evaluated as an ancillary test in the cytologic diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma. METHODS Dual-color FISH for CDKN2A and chromosome 9 centromere was performed on cytolyt-fixed Thinprep slides from 6 cytologically suspicious and 7 cytologically positive effusions (all with histologically confirmed mesothelioma) and in 19 cytologically benign effusions (14 pleural effusions, 3 pericardial effusions, and 2 abdominal fluid specimens). Specimens containing ≥ 15 nuclei that lacked signals for CDKN2A but showed at least 1 signal for chromosome 9 centromere were considered positive. In samples with negative cytology, the nuclei of at least 100 mesothelial cells were evaluated; whereas, in specimens with positive or suspicious cytology, counting nuclei was done only if < 15% of nuclei showed homozygous loss of CDKN2A. RESULTS Homozygous deletion was detected in mesothelial cells in six of seven specimens with positive cytology and in six of six specimens with suspicious cytology. Cytologically, there were numerous tumor cells in a single positive specimen without homozygous deletion. All 19 cytologically negative specimens were negative for CDKN2A deletion. CONCLUSIONS The detection of homozygous CDKN2A deletion by FISH would have been helpful in confirming a diagnosis of mesothelioma over reactive mesothelial cells in 12 of 13 samples with positive or suspicious cytology. Further studies on larger series of patients with suspicious cytology are needed to evaluate the validity and efficiency of this approach for improving the diagnostic accuracy of effusion cytology. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2003;99:51–56. © 2003 American Cancer Society.
A translinear SiGe BiCMOS current-controlled oscillator with 80 Hz---800 MHz tuning range

A 3-phase current controlled sinusoidal oscillator, tunable over a wide range of frequencies is presented. The oscillator comprises a ring of 3 cascaded differential G m ? C low-pass filter stages, implemented in a fully translinear, NPN-only circuit. Closed-form analytical expressions are derived to quantify both frequency and amplitude tuning, as a function of two current biases. Experimental results from a 0.5 μm SiGe BiCMOS chip demonstrate 7 decades of tuning range, from 80 Hz to 800 MHz, as well as low harmonic distortion. Power consumption scales with oscillation frequency, measuring 2 μW/MHz The circuit serves a range of applications including agile communications, analog built-in self-test, stochastic adaptive control, spectroscopy, and bioinstrumentation.
Solitons Induced by Boundary Conditions

Publisher Summary This chapter examines the solitons induced by boundary conditions. In water, solitary waves can be generated by three different methods, which include an initial profile evolving into one or many solitary waves, a moving ship or equivalent pressure source on the surface of water, or boundary excitation, such as a sluice opening or a wall pushing. The most exciting advances in soliton theory, such as soliton interaction and collision, and the inverse scattering transform have all come from pure initial value problems. The nonzero initial state has the effect of increasing the soliton maturing time, so that there are many solitons awaiting maturation, and only a few near the front have attained full maturity. The problem of existence and uniqueness has been addressed in detail. They showed that prescribing initial conditions and a single boundary condition with suitable smoothness and compatibility conditions results in a unique solution of the Korteweg–deVries equation in the quarterplane, with appropriate smoothness. With minimal assumptions on smoothness, the existence of a unique distribution solution is proved. The inverse scattering transform method is also summarized for pure initial value problems.
Subdued, a TMEM16 family Ca2+-activated Cl− channel in Drosophila melanogaster with an unexpected role in host defense

Ions are at the root of most processes that occur in the body, so they must be able to move in and out of cells. However, because they have an electric charge, ions are not usually able to pass through the fatty membrane that encloses all cells. Instead, they must be imported or exported by a variety of dedicated proteins in the cell membrane. These include ion channels – proteins that, under certain conditions, open to form pores – and ion transporters. Calcium-activated chloride channels are ion channels that permeate chloride ions when the concentration of calcium ions inside the cell increases. Two important calcium-activated chloride channels in mammals belong to the TMEM16 family of proteins, which is conserved in many organisms. However, to date all the examples of TMEM16 proteins forming calcium-activated chloride channels have been found in vertebrates. Moreover, it is not known how many members of the TMEM16 family can act as ion channels. Wong et al. have now isolated a protein belonging to the TMEM16 family from fruit flies and, in a series of experiments on human cells, showed that it acts as a calcium-activated chloride channel. Previous work has shown that fruit flies lacking this protein, which is called Subdued, are more susceptible than wild-type flies to a pathogenic bacterium called Serratia marrescens, which implies that the Subdued ion channel might be involved in the immune system. Indeed, Wong et al. found that the mutant flies died more often than wild-type flies after eating these bacteria; the mutant files also had higher levels of the bacteria in their digestive tracts. These results will be of interest to researchers trying to understand how TMEM16 ion channels evolved to be involved in processes as diverse as vision, the secretion of bodily fluids and the immune system.
Female labor force participation, status integration and suicide, 1950-1969

Using Census data covering the 29 year period starting in 1950 this study tests the hypothesis that (1)#female labor force participation may result in more married women committing suicide due to the strain of household and outside working responsibilities and the (2) female labor force participation may also be associated with higher rates of male suicide due to the fact that it represents apparent failure of the husband as sole breadwinner (Stack, 1978). Results show that during the 1950's male suicide was not associated with growth in the female labor force, but female suicide was. During the 1960s male suicide was negatively associated with female labor force participation, but the opposite was true for females. It is argued that working women represented a weakening of norms concerning sex roles. Apparently as more and more women entered the labor force, role conflict did ensue, but contrary to the above hypothesis it only increased female suicide potential. These results are discussed in terms of different normative sex role contexts of the 1950s and the 1960s.
Evaluation of Atriplex lines for selenium accumulation, salt tolerance and suitability for a key agricultural insect pest

Thirty Atriplex lines were examined for potential habitat improvement and phytoremediation of selenium (Se) contaminated sites. Studies were conducted to determine the biomass production, Se accumulation, and resistance of each line to the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua, an agriculturally important insect. Plants were tested using three salinity treatments: (1) control, no Se; (2) NaCl and CaCl2 salts and 1 mg l � 1 Se (12.7 mM) added as sodium selenate; and (3) iso-osmotic to treatment 2 containing high concentrations of sulfate and 1 mg l � 1 Se added as sodium selenate. Insect bioassays measured survival, growth, and development. Atriplex patula, A. spongiosa 415862, A. hortensis, A. hortensis 379088 and A. hortensis 379092 were among the top biomass producers and Se accumulators, yet they exhibited significantly reduced insect growth, development, and survival. High background sulfate strongly reduced Se accumulation, suggesting that phytoremediation potential is greatest in saline areas having low to moderate sulfate levels. However, these lines grew well in high salinity soils, indicating possible use as a self-seeding cover crop to improve habitat. All plant lines grown in control and high sulfate salinity treatments are acceptable oviposition sites for S. exigua, indicating that these plants would help reduce populations of this key agricultural pest. # 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
On deadlocks in interconnection networks

Deadlock avoidance-based and deadlock recovery-based routing algorithms have been proposed in recent years without full understanding of the likelihood and characteristics of actual deadlocks in interconnection networks. This work models the interrelationships between routing freedom, message blocking, correlated resource dependencies and deadlock formation. We empirically show that increasing routing freedom, as achieved by allowing unrestricted routing over multiple virtual channels, makes deadlocks highly improbable and reduces the likelihood of other types of correlated message blocking behavior that can degrade performance. Our results further substantiate that recovery-based routing algorithms have a higher potential performance advantage over deadlock avoidance-based routing algorithms which, inherently, allow less routing freedom.
Characteristics of S-shaped waveguide structures by the annealed proton exchange process in LiNbO/sub 3/

The loss of S-shaped waveguide bends in annealed proton-exchanged LiNbO/sub 3/ integrated optical devices is found to be dependent on the length of thermal annealing time. The minimum transition length required in order to have losses as low as 0.2 dB is 2.0 mm for a 0.1-mm lateral offset. Intersecting waveguides based on S-shaped structures have been characterized for passive crossovers. An angle greater than 6 degrees is required to provide a crosstalk of less than -30 dB. At a particular angle, intersecting waveguides offer the possibility of making a 3-dB coupler if an insertion loss of 1.2 dB is not a big concern. Zero-gap couplers based on S-shaped structures have been characterized for applications as 3-dB couplers as well. This type of 3-dB coupler has a much lower insertion loss of roughly 0.4-0.5 dB. Both 3-dB intersecting waveguides and 3-dB zero-gap couplers are less sensitive to wavelength variations. >
Health literacy teaching in US medical schools, 2010.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Increasing and improving training about health literacy for US health professionals has been repeatedly called for at the national level. However, little is known about the current state of health literacy teaching in US health professions schools, including medical schools. This study aimed to provide a baseline snapshot of the quantity and characteristics of health literacy teaching in US medical schools. METHODS: We conducted a self-administered web-based survey of the deans responsible for medical education at 133 US schools of allopathic medicine. RESULTS: Data were received from 61 institutions; 72.1% of respondents reported teaching about health literacy in their required curriculum. Among schools with a required health literacy curriculum, the median time spent teaching about health literacy was 3 hours. The majority of health literacy teaching occurred in the first 2 years of the curriculum. The most common ly reported techniques for teaching about health literacy included didactics, simulated patient encounters, and workshops. Evaluation of learners was most commonly achieved using standardized patients, clinical observation, and written examinations. CONCLUSIONS: Many US allopathic schools of medicine report teaching about health literacy in their required curricula. There is considerable variability in the number of hours devoted to such instruction and in the content and teaching and evaluative techniques used in these health literacy curricula.
False Rate Analysis of Bloom Filter Replicas in Distributed Systems

Recently, Bloom filters have been widely used in distributed systems where they are replicated to process distributed queries. Bloom filter replicas become stale in a dynamic environment. A good understanding of the impact of staleness on false negatives and false positives can provide the system designers with important insights into the development and deployment of distributed Bloom filters in many distributed systems. To our best knowledge, this paper is the first one that analyzes the probabilities of false negatives and positives by developing analytical models, which take the staleness into consideration. Based on the theoretical analysis, we proposed an updating protocol that directly control the false rate. Extensive simulations validate the analytical models and prove the updating protocol to be very accurate and effective.
Aural environment adjustment for noise cancelling headphones employing early reverberation signature

The listening quality of noise cancelling headphones is compromised by the distortion of perceptual aural environment. We introduce signal processing algorithms that establish an amenable aural environment by embedding early reverberation signature to the residual noise. The authors also provide performance evaluations and a summary.
Recurrent Oral and Genital Ulcers in an Infant: Neonatal Presentation of Pediatric Behçet Disease.

Behcet disease is a complex, multisystem disease characterized by recurrent oral and genital ulcerations. It rarely occurs in infants or children. Neonatal Behcet disease has been reported in infants whose ulcers resolve at or before 9 weeks of age. Few cases of neonatal Behcet disease persisting into childhood have previously been reported. We report the case of a 1-month-old infant who presented with severe recurrent genital ulcerations and at 6 months developed recurrent oral ulcerations. Her orogenital ulcerations continue to recur. Human leukocyte antigen testing revealed HLA-B51 and B44 positivity. This is a case of pediatric Behcet disease in the neonatal period. Behcet disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of recurrent genital and oral ulcerations in infants and children.
Internal biliary stenting in orthotopic liver transplantation

Biliary complications account for significant morbidity in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), with a reported incidence ranging from 6% to 47%, and many centers are reassessing the need and options available for stenting the biliary anastomosis. We report on our experience using a 6F Silastic, double-J, ureteral stent as an internal biliary stent in OLT. From October 15, 1995, to September 30, 1998, a total of 99 patients at our institution underwent 108 OLTs. Of these, 77 patients received an end-to-end choledochocholedochostomy over an internal stent. Three patients died within 1 week post-OLT, leaving 74 patients for evaluation (follow-up, 2 to 38 months). Stents were placed transanastomotic and transsphincteric at the time of OLT and secured with a dissolvable suture. At 4 to 6 weeks post-OLT, stents visible within the biliary tree on kidney, ureters, and bladder radiograph were removed endoscopically. Graft and patient survival rates were 92% and 96%, respectively. There were 12 biliary complications (18%): anastomotic leak in 6 patients (9%), anastomotic stricture in 5 patients (7.6%), and stent migration in 1 patient (1.5%). Thirty-two patients (43%) passed the biliary stent without intervention, whereas 42 patients (57%) underwent esophagogastro duodenoscopy (EGD) stent removal at 4 to 6 weeks without incident. Treatment of the complications included percutaneous drainage, endoscopic dilatation with stenting, and/or conversion to Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy. The use of the 6 F Silastic, double-J, ureteral stent provides a safe and effective means of stenting the biliary anastomosis in OLT. Major advantages to this method are that it: (1) is completely internal, (2) is biliary decompressive, (3) is radiopaque, (4) can be spontaneously passed, and (5) is easily accessible for EGD extraction.
An Empirical Analysis of the Relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Emotion Work: An Examination of Public Service Employees

Scholars and researchers have stressed the importance of emotional intelligence and emotional work. Both areas consider emotions in the workplace, and emotion cannot be separated from today’s organizational life. Theoretically, an emotionally intelligent person may enhance his or her performance of emotion work in the service arena. Thus far, few studies have empirically examined the relationship between emotional intelligence and emotion work in the public service arena. This study examines the model of emotional intelligence and emotion work in a sample of public service employees representing a broad variety of jobs. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to empirically test the hypothesized model. The findings show that emotional intelligence plays a partially significant role in the performance of emotion work. Others’ emotional awareness and self-emotional management were found to be variables related to performance of emotion work.
Fragility in dynamic networks: Application to neural networks in the epileptic cortex

Epilepsy is a network phenomenon characterized by atypical activity at the neuronal and population levels during seizures, including tonic spiking, increased heterogeneity in spiking rates, and synchronization. The etiology of epilepsy is unclear, but a common theme among proposed mechanisms is that structural connectivity between neurons is altered. It is hypothesized that epilepsy arises not from random changes in connectivity, but from specific structural changes to the most fragile nodes or neurons in the network. In this letter, the minimum energy perturbation on functional connectivity required to destabilize linear networks is derived. Perturbation results are then applied to a probabilistic nonlinear neural network model that operates at a stable fixed point. That is, if a small stimulus is applied to the network, the activation probabilities of each neuron respond transiently but eventually recover to their baseline values. When the perturbed network is destabilized, the activation probabilities shift to larger or smaller values or oscillate when a small stimulus is applied. Finally, the structural modifications to the neural network that achieve the functional perturbation are derived. Simulations of the unperturbed and perturbed networks qualitatively reflect neuronal activity observed in epilepsy patients, suggesting that the changes in network dynamics due to destabilizing perturbations, including the emergence of an unstable manifold or a stable limit cycle, may be indicative of neuronal or population dynamics during seizure. That is, the epileptic cortex is always on the brink of instability and minute changes in the synaptic weights associated with the most fragile node can suddenly destabilize the network to cause seizures. Finally, the theory developed here and its interpretation of epileptic networks enables the design of a straightforward feedback controller that first detects when the network has destabilized and then applies linear state feedback control to steer the network back to its stable state.
Power Management Using Test-Pattern Ordering for Wafer-Level Test During Burn-In

Wafer-level test during burn-in (WLTBI) is a promising technique to reduce test and burn-in costs in semiconductor manufacturing. However, scan-based testing leads to significant power variations in a die during test-pattern application. This variation adversely affects the accuracy of predictions of junction temperatures and the time required for burn-in. We present a test-pattern ordering technique for WLTBI, where the objective is to minimize the variation in power consumption during test application. The test-pattern ordering problem for WLTBI is formulated and solved optimally using integer linear programming. Efficient heuristic methods are also presented to easily solve the pattern-ordering problem for large circuits. Simulation results are presented for the ISCAS'89 and the IWLS'05 benchmark circuits, and the proposed ordering technique is compared with two baseline methods that carry out pattern ordering to minimize peak power and average power, respectively. A third baseline method that randomly orders test patterns is also used to evaluate the proposed methods.
Carbon and water vapor exchange of an open-canopied ponderosa pine ecosystem.

Eddy covariance measurements of carbon dioxide and water vapor exchange were made above a ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex P. and C. Laws.) forest located in a semiarid environment in central Oregon. The stand is a mixture of old-growth and young trees. Annual net carbon gain by the ecosystem (NEE) was 320 170 gC m ˇ2 year ˇ1 in 1996 and 270 180 gC m ˇ2 year ˇ1 in 1997. Compared to boreal evergreen forest at higher latitudes, the pine forest has a substantial net carbon gain (150 80 gC m ˇ2 year ˇ1 in 1996 and 180 80 gC m ˇ2 year ˇ1 in 1997) outside the traditionally defined
Paranasal sinus radiology, Part 3B: Sphenoidal sinus.

This article describes the complex anatomy of the sphenoid bone. The development and size of the sphenoidal sinuses are quite variable and complete analysis of the sinus walls requires several views. The essential plain film projections and use of tomography and CT scans are described. Sphenoidal sinus inflammatory disease produces changes similar to those already discussed in the articles in this series on the frontal sinus and the ethmoidal sinus. Illustrations of sphenoidal sinus inflammatory disease are provided.
Preliminary Field Results on a New Transient Induction System Employing Pseudo-Noise Signals

An experimental system is described which utilizes pseudo-noise (PN) and cross-correlation techniques to characterize subsurface conducting bodies such as those pertaining to natural resources. The system is essentially an extension of the loop-loop, transient-electromagnetic, induction systems used in ore prospecting. In lieu of a low duty-cycle pulse, this system transmits a wide-bandwidth PN digital waveform. The mapping signature is obtained by cross-correlation of the received signal with a replica of the sounding PN waveform. The receiver also averages several signatures to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. This type of system has the potential advantages over previous transient systems of using smaller antennas and requiring less transmitter power for more portable operation. Preliminary field data is shown and discussed for a high conductivity dike of ilmenite magnetite and for the surrounding low conductivity anorthosite. Frequency response data is obtained digitally via the Discrete Fourier Transform operation on the time domain signatures. Interpretations are given for both time and frequency domain representations.
Debates in Dysphagia Management: How Do You Use Evidence-Based Practice in Your Dysphagia Patient Care?

Evidence-based practice requires astute clinicians to blend our best clinical judgment with the best available external evidence and the patient's own values and expectations. Sometimes, we value one more than another during clinical decision-making, though it is never wise to do so, and sometimes other factors that we are unaware of produce unanticipated clinical outcomes. Sometimes, we feel very strongly about one clinical method or another, and hopefully that belief is founded in evidence. Some beliefs, however, are not founded in evidence. The sound use of evidence is the best way to navigate the debates within our field of practice.
Interpretation of Sorption Studies for Compound Isomers or Mixtures

For compound mixtures or compounds with two or more differently sorbing isomers which are not analytically distinguished, combined sorption parameters determined in the laboratory are dependent upon the ratio of different compounds or isomers and upon experimental methods and conditions. The purpose of this paper is to mathematically examine the effects of these factors on sorption parameters calculated from batch (shake-flask) and continuous flow column sorption studies of compound or isomer mixtures. The analysis in this paper helps explain the apparent anomalies between batch and column sorption results in previously published studies of Rhodamine WT (RWT). In batch reactors, the solid: liquid ratio, Rs, has a major effect on batch sorption results. As Rs decreases, partitioning coefficients determined from batch results approach those determined from column results, which is contrary to the trend that may be anticipated for single component analytes. A single column sorption coefficient or retardation factor for multiple constituents does not accurately describe the transport of the individual compounds. The implications of the effects of experimental methods suggest that sorption parameters determined from batch studies for compound or isomer mixtures (e.g., BTEX, combined xylenes, and others) should be interpreted with care. Significant errors in prediction and description of contaminant transport can result if the presence of multiple compounds or isomers is not recognized or if batch or column data for compound or isomer mixtures are misinterpreted.
Differential expenditure patterns of local food system participants

Since 2009 the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has funded over 2600 local food initiatives. However, the economic impacts of these policies remain unclear largely due to data deficiencies that preclude the understanding of differential expenditure patterns of farms participating in these local market channels (both in terms of what inputs they require, and where the inputs are purchased—local or not). This paper utilizes two unique data sets from samples of producers in New York State (NYS) to build expenditure profiles for local food system participants. We employ USDA Agricultural Resource Management Survey data as a robustness check on our results. The primary contribution of this paper is to provide preliminary evidence that local food system participants in NYS have different expenditure patterns than farmers who do not sell through local food markets. We show that farmers with local food sales have higher reliance on local labor and other variable expenses as primary inputs than farms without local food sales, and that local food producers spend a higher percentage of total expenditure in the local economy. Based on our results, we recommend that future economic impact assessments utilize revised expenditure profiles that more accurately reflect inter-industry linkages of the local food sector.
Measurement of Sedimentation in TVA Reservoirs

TVA is investigating sedimentation in 30 reservoirs in Valley, comprising total of 1150 active sediment ranges; equipment developed which has materially increased accuracy of hydrographic investigations as well as efficiency of field work; design and use of truck and trailer, boat and motors, two-way radios, distance measuring equipment, and echo sounding equipment.
Syntheses of Optically Active Alpha-amino Acids from Alpha-keto Acids by Hydrogenolytic Asymmetric Transamination

Optically active alpha amino acids synthesized from alpha keto acids by hydrogenolytic asymmetric transamination
Pierre Robin Sequence: A Perioperative Review

The clinical triad of micrognathia (small mandible), glossoptosis (backward, downward displacement of the tongue), and airway obstruction defines the Pierre Robin sequence (PRS). Airway obstruction and respiratory distress are clinical hallmarks. Patients may present with stridor, retractions, and cyanosis. Severe obstruction results in feeding difficulty, reflux, and failure to thrive. Treatment options depend on the severity of airway obstruction and include prone positioning, nasopharyngeal airways, tongue lip adhesion, mandibular distraction osteogenesis, and tracheostomy. The neonate and infant with PRS require care from multiple specialists including anesthesiology, plastic surgery, otolaryngology, speech pathology, gastroenterology, radiology, and neonatology. The anesthesiologist involved in the care of patients with PRS will interface with a multidisciplinary team in a variety of clinical settings. This perioperative review is a collaborative effort from multiple specialties including anesthesiology, plastic surgery, otolaryngology, and speech pathology. We will discuss the background and clinical presentation of patients with PRS, as well as some of the controversies regarding their care.
Science as a Human Activity: Kuhn’s Concept of a Paradigm

In Chapter 3, I briefly discussed the dispute between the formalist, contextualist and realist views on the nature of scientific theory. There is little doubt that Kuhn’s approach to science is the penultimate contextualism, one diametrically opposed to the formalists, especially to the adherents of D-N. Kuhn also disavows the doctrine of scientific realism because it supposedly can not provide us with a tenable model of scientific change (or progress). Instead of viewing the transition from one fundamental scientific theory to a new, ‘better’ system in terms of what many of us would normally think of as ‘coming closer to the truth’ or ‘more accurately describing the world out there’,the process of scientific change is actually based on non-objective, sociological-political factors. 1 The notion of scientific transition being an objective process is a myth that has been perpetuated by the logical positivists, formalists and realists, and the sooner it is debunked, the better. Scientific progress must be viewed not in logical but human terms, in particular, in terms of the replacement of a total network of values, commitments and theoretical institutions of a scientific community with an entirely different set. Scientific change is more like an evolutionary struggle of ideas where the persuasive — vis-a-vis logical — force of a theory is a measure of its survival traits.2 Hence the structure of scientific progress mirrors that of a revolution where logic and objectivity of the D–N kind play little or no role in the process. Such a result actually follows from Kuhn’s analysis of the nature of scientific theory, in particular, his development and application of the notion of a scientific paradigm, to which I now turn.
Renal leiomyosarcoma in a cat

Renal leiomyosarcoma was diagnosed in a 10-year-old Domestic Shorthair cat with a 3-year history of clinically managed, chronic renal disease. Sudden death was preceded by a brief episode of mental dullness and confusion. At postmortem examination, the gross appearance of the left kidney was suggestive of hydronephrosis, and a nephrolith was present in the contralateral kidney. However, histology revealed an infiltrative, poorly differentiated, spindle cell sarcoma bordering the grossly cavitated area. Neoplastic cells were immunoreactive for vimentin and smooth muscle actin, which led to a diagnosis of renal leiomyosarcoma; neoplastic cells were not immunoreactive for desmin. Leiomyosarcoma arising in the kidney is a rare occurrence in humans and an even rarer occurrence in veterinary medicine with no prior cases being reported in cats in the English literature. The macroscopic appearance of the tumor at postmortem examination was misleadingly suggestive of hydronephrosis as a result of the large cavitation and may be similar to particularly unusual cases of renal leiomyosarcomas in humans that have a cystic or cavitated appearance.
Manifold Representations for State Estimation in Contact Manipulation

We investigate the problem of using contact sensors to estimate the configuration of an object during manipulation. Contact sensing is very discriminative by nature and, therefore, the set of object configurations that activate a sensor constitutes a lower-dimensional manifold in the configuration space of the object. This causes conventional state estimation methods, such as particle filters, to perform poorly during periods of contact. The manifold particle filter addresses this problem by sampling particles directly from the contact manifold. When it exists, we can sample these particles from an analytic representation of the contact manifold. We present two alternative sample-based contact manifold representations that make no assumptions about the object-hand geometry: rejection sampling and trajectory rollouts. We discuss theoretical considerations behind these three representations and compare their performance in a suite of simulation experiments. We show that all three representations enable the manifold particle filter to outperform the conventional particle filter. Additionally, we show that the trajectory rollout representation performs similarly to the analytic method despite the rollout method’s relative simplicity.
Barriers to Latino Warehouse Workers’ Health Care: Survey Results from Inland Southern California and Policy Implications

ABSTRACTThis article uses original survey data to explore the barriers to health care access among Latinos who are low-wage warehouse workers, providing a window on health care vulnerabilities of workers of low wages that are especially acute among undocumented immigrants and contingent workers. About one third of respondents had visited a doctor in the past year, whereas about two thirds lacked health insurance. Results from our logistic regression analysis show that, controlling for other factors, unemployed workers, direct hires, and those with health insurance had significantly greater odds than those without these characteristics to have visited a doctor in the past year. Along with changes in immigration and health care policies, reducing employers’ reliance on temporary staffing agencies is imperative for improving these and other low-wage workers’ health care access.
Characterization and Failure Analysis of Materials and Devices

When there are compelling reasons to find the physical causes for low yields, poor performance, degradation, or failure of components, devices, and systems, an experimental investigation of some sort is usually undertaken. Depending on the information sought and the complexity involved, the study may involve little more than a tedious testing routine, have all the earmarks of unraveling a detective mystery, or resemble a research project. In addressing the totality of issues raised in this book, the experimental studies conducted generally have one or more objectives discussed in this chapter.
Real Methods in Complex Dynamics

1. Lecture 1: Introduction to Complex Dynamics and Its Methods 1.1. Introduction 1.2. General Remarks on Dynamics 1.3. An Introduction to Complex Dynamics and Its Methods 2. Lecture 2: Basic Complex Dynamics in Higher Dimension 2.1. Local Dynamics 2.2. Global Dynamics 2.3. Fatou Components 3. Lecture 3: Saddle Points for Henon Maps 3.1. Elementary Properties of Henon Maps 3.2. Ergodicity and Measure Hyperbolicity 3.3. Density of Saddle Points 4. Lecture 4: Saddle Hyperbolicity for Henon Maps 4.1. J and J* 4.2. Proof of Theorem 4.10 4.3. Proof of Theorem 4.9 References
High Resolution Mapping of Bactericidal Monoclonal Antibody Binding Epitopes on Staphylococcus aureus Antigen MntC.

The Staphylococcus aureus manganese transporter protein MntC is under investigation as a component of a prophylactic S.aureus vaccine. Passive immunization with monoclonal antibodies mAB 305-78-7 and mAB 305-101-8 produced using MntC was shown to significantly reduce S. aureus burden in an infant rat model of infection. Earlier interference mapping suggested that a total of 23 monoclonal antibodies generated against MntC could be subdivided into three interference groups, representing three independent immunogenic regions. In the current work binding epitopes for selected representatives of each of these interference groups (mAB 305-72-5 – group 1, mAB 305-78-7 – group 2, and mAB 305-101-8 – group 3) were mapped using Hydrogen-Deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry (DXMS). All of the identified epitopes are discontinuous, with binding surface formed by structural elements that are separated within the primary sequence of the protein but adjacent in the context of the three-dimensional structure. The approach was validated by co-crystallizing the Fab fragment of one of the antibodies (mAB 305-78-7) with MntC and solving the three-dimensional structure of the complex. X-ray results themselves and localization of the mAB 305-78-7 epitope were further validated using antibody binding experiments with MntC variants containing substitutions of key amino acid residues. These results provided insight into the antigenic properties of MntC and how these properties may play a role in protecting the hostagainst S. aureus infection by preventing the capture and transport of Mn2+, a key element that the pathogen uses to evade host immunity.
A Maize Gene Regulatory Network for Phenolic Metabolism

The translation of the genotype into phenotype, represented for example by the expression of genes encoding enzymes required for the biosynthesis of phytochemicals that are important for interaction of plants with the environment, is largely carried out by transcription factors (TFs) that recognize specific cis-regulatory elements in the genes that they control. TFs and their target genes are organized in gene regulatory networks (GRNs), and thus uncovering GRN architecture presents an important biological challenge necessary to explain gene regulation. Linking TFs to the genes they control, central to understanding GRNs, can be carried out using gene- or TF-centered approaches. In this study, we employed a gene-centered approach utilizing the yeast one-hybrid assay to generate a network of protein-DNA interactions that participate in the transcriptional control of genes involved in the biosynthesis of maize phenolic compounds including general phenylpropanoids, lignins, and flavonoids. We identified 1100 protein-DNA interactions involving 54 phenolic gene promoters and 568 TFs. A set of 11 TFs recognized 10 or more promoters, suggesting a role in coordinating pathway gene expression. The integration of the gene-centered network with information derived from TF-centered approaches provides a foundation for a phenolics GRN characterized by interlaced feed-forward loops that link developmental regulators with biosynthetic genes.
Evaluation of methods to predict bacterial yield using thermodynamics.

Thermodynamic models can be used to predict bacterial yields and develop stoichiometric representation of biological reactions in the absence of empirical data. Several methods have been used by microbiologists, biotechnologists, and environmental engineers. This manuscript illustrates that these formulations are related. Yields predicted by estimation of Gibbs energy of dissipation and yields predicted by assumed efficiency of energy capture are comparable. Direct comparison of yield predictions from different methods shows the effects of assumptions inherent in the methodologies. Mathematical relationships between estimated values from the different methods help identify the best predictionsfrom each method to bound the estimate of bacterial yield.
Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Femoral Tunnel Visualization for Button Fixation

Arthroscopic reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) remains one of the most commonly performed procedures in orthopaedic surgery. We describe a technique to visualize the button being advanced through the femoral tunnel using an arthroscope placed in the anteromedial portal. Looking into the femoral tunnel in line with the sutures, this technique allows the surgeon to directly visualize the femoral button as it traverses the femoral tunnel and confirms that it is engaged over the femoral cortex. Certain complications can arise, however, with the use of a suspensory fixation with a button on the femoral cortex. This method can decrease operative time and complication rates.
Lipid peroxidation impairs proliferation and differentiation of skeletal muscle myoblasts in vitro

Background Oxidative stress can lead to loss of muscle mass and function, which contributes to age-mediated skeletal muscle complications such as sarcopenia, impaired satellite cell regeneration, and reduced energy production. Here, we hypothesized that lipid peroxidation, a key determinant of oxidative stress, has distinct roles on survival, differentiation and regeneration of myoblasts. Methods C2C12 Myoblasts were cultured in normal growth medium and differentiation was induced by exposing the cells to low nutrient media supplemented with 2% horse serum for 5 days. Cells were treated with varying doses of malondialdehyde (MDA) (0.25 to 100µM) and cell survival was analyzed using an MTT assay. We selected 1 and 10µM of MDA to examine myoblast proliferation and differentiation using bright field microscopy and immunoblotting. Lastly, a scratch assay was performed to visualize MDA mediated effects on regeneration. All experiments were performed in replicates (n=3-4/group). Results 12.5µM of MDA significantly (p 50%) at 24 and 48hr indicating a pathological relevance of oxidative stress in myoblasts. Although proliferation was unchanged in MDA treated cells at 24hr, both 1 and 10µM MDA were sufficient to impair proliferation at 48hr. Despite similar effects on proliferation, 1 and 10µM MDA induced distinct changes in myotube differentiation. While similar myotube structure was seen at day 1, 10µM MDA delayed differentiation progress at day 2 and appeared to produce a dedifferentiated phenotype at day 3. Cell morphology in the 10µM condition was unique from 1µM as ~50% differentiation occurred in these cells. These results indicate that a pro-oxidative (1µM of MDA) environment might be beneficial to the differentiating cells, but the severe oxidative condition (10µM of MDA) is detrimental and compromises the differentiation process. Indeed, immunoblot analysis for Myogenin, a differentiation marker, was undetectable in 10µM MDA treated cells on day 3, confirming that severe lipid peroxidation inhibits the myotube formation. Moreover, the scratch assay indicated that wound closure in MDA treated cells was significantly (p Conclusion Our results reveal the unique effects of lipid peroxidation on myoblast proliferation and differentiation. In particular, we postulate that a pro-oxidative environment is crucial for the myoblast differentiation process.
State tobacco control expenditures and tax paid cigarette sales.

This research is the first nationally representative study to examine the relationship between actual state-level tobacco control spending in each of the 5 CDC’s Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Program categories and cigarette sales. We employed several alternative two-way fixed-effects regression techniques to estimate the determinants of cigarette sales in the United States for the years 2008–2012. State spending on tobacco control was found to have a negative and significant impact on cigarette sales in all models that were estimated. Spending in the areas of cessation interventions, health communication interventions, and state and community interventions were found to have a negative impact on cigarette sales in all models that were estimated, whereas spending in the areas of surveillance and evaluation, and administration and management were found to have negative effects on cigarette sales in only some models. Our models predict that states that spend up to seven times their current levels could still see significant reductions in cigarette sales. The findings from this research could help inform further investments in state tobacco control programs.
Characterization of aerosol nitroaromatic compounds: Validation of an experimental method

The analytical capabilities associated with the use of silylation reactions have been extended to a new class of organic molecules, nitroaromatic compounds (NACs). These compounds are a possible contributor to urban particulate matter of secondary origin which would make them important analytes due to their (1) detrimental health effects, (2) potential to affect aerosol optical properties, and (3) and usefulness for identifying PM2.5 from biomass burning. The technique is based on derivatization of the parent NACs by using N,O-bis-(trimethylsilyl)-trifluoro acetamide, one of the most prevalent derivatization reagent for analyzing hydroxylated molecules, followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using electron ionization (EI) and methane chemical ionization (CI). This method is evaluated for 32 NACs including nitrophenols, methyl-/methoxy-nitrophenols, nitrobenzoic acids, and nitrobenzyl alcohols. Electron ionization spectra were characterized by a high abundance of ions corresponding to [M+ ] or [M+ - 15]. Chemical ionization spectra exhibited high abundance for [M+ + 1], [M+ - 15], and [M+ + 29] ions. Both EI and CI spectra exhibit ions specific to nitro group(s) for [M+ - 31], [M+ - 45], and [M+ - 60]. The strong abundance observed for [M+ ] (EI), [M+ - 15] (EI/CI), or [M+ + 1] (CI) ions is consistent with the high charge stabilizing ability associated with aromatic compounds. The combination of EI and CI ionization offers strong capabilities for detection and identification of NACs. Spectra associated with NACs, containing hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen atoms only, as silylated derivatives show fragment/adduct ions at either (a) odd or (b) even masses that indicate either (a) odd or (b) even number of nitro groups, respectively. Mass spectra associated with silylated NACs exhibited 3 distinct regions where characteristic fragmentation with a specific pattern associated with (1) ─OH and/or ─COOH groups, (2) ─NO2 group(s), and (3) benzene ring(s). These findings were confirmed with applications to chamber aerosol and ambient PM2.5 .