cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Metabolomics in Chronobiology: Metabolic Alterations by Sleep Loss and Circadian Function

Almost all organisms have a molecular clock which is responsive to external circadian cues, such as light:dark and temperature cycles. In turn, numerous rhythmic physiological processes are cyclical, such as energy balance, the sleep:wake cycle and cardio-metabolic function. Recently, time-dependent changes in metabolism and metabolic function have come to the fore via implication in various disease pathologies such as cancer and other metabolic diseases. Metabolite measurement through the circadian day requires reliable and quantitative methods to ensure temporal differences are accurately captured. Appropriate study design and data processing measures essential for detecting rhythmicity in metabolomics data are also required. Here a combination of analytical approaches based on nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) will be used in chronobiology measurements from both clinical and model systems. The tools included COLMeD, an LC-MS optimization strategy based on design of experiments methods, and NMR targeted profiling. Application of these tools to novel biological questions in the chronobiology area, such as the effects of sleep deprivation and interaction of the molecular clock with oncogene function will also be considered. Future developments in these technologies are anticipated vis-a-vis validating these early findings, given that metabolomics has only recently entered the ring with other systems biology assessments in chronobiology studies.
Towards quantitative imaging: stability of fully automated nodule segmentation across varied dose levels and reconstruction parameters in a low-dose CT screening patient cohort

Quantitative imaging in lung cancer CT seeks to characterize nodules through quantitative features, usually from a region of interest delineating the nodule. The segmentation, however, can vary depending on segmentation approach and image quality, which can affect the extracted feature values. In this study, we utilize a fully-automated nodule segmentation method – to avoid reader-influenced inconsistencies – to explore the effects of varied dose levels and reconstruction parameters on segmentation. Raw projection CT images from a low-dose screening patient cohort (N=59) were reconstructed at multiple dose levels (100%, 50%, 25%, 10%), two slice thicknesses (1.0mm, 0.6mm), and a medium kernel. Fully-automated nodule detection and segmentation was then applied, from which 12 nodules were selected. Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) was used to assess the similarity of the segmentation ROIs of the same nodule across different reconstruction and dose conditions. Nodules at 1.0mm slice thickness and dose levels of 25% and 50% resulted in DSC values greater than 0.85 when compared to 100% dose, with lower dose leading to a lower average and wider spread of DSC values. At 0.6mm, the increased bias and wider spread of DSC values from lowering dose were more pronounced. The effects of dose reduction on DSC for CAD-segmented nodules were similar in magnitude to reducing the slice thickness from 1.0mm to 0.6mm. In conclusion, variation of dose and slice thickness can result in very different segmentations because of noise and image quality. However, there exists some stability in segmentation overlap, as even at 1mm, an image with 25% of the lowdose scan still results in segmentations similar to that seen in a full-dose scan.
Brand familiarity as a moderating factor in the ad and brand attitude relationship and advertising appeals

Studies examining the effects of advertising appeals have yielded conflicting results. Some have found that an emotional appeal is more persuasive than an informational appeal, while others have de...
The Roles of Metal and Organic Cations in Zeolite Synthesis

Abstract The position is taken that the crystallization products of a gel are the key to understanding the important gel intermediate structures and therefore the mode of zeolite genesis. Reviewing the products of reactions in sodium and potassium aluminosilicate gels leads to the conclusion that extended sheet (Na) and columnar (K) sub-structures are the important structure building units. The smaller base metal cation controls the nature of the sub-structure and the larger cation the ways in which such units interconnect to form specific zeolites.
Human Cerebral Blood Flow and Traumatic Brain Injury

The measurement of cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the clinical setting first began in earnest during the 1940s by Kety and Schmidt. By utilizing an inert diffusible gas (nitrous oxide), measuring it in arterial and jugular venous blood, and applying the Fick principle of blood flow determination they were able to calculate a global rate of CBF of mL/100 g/min. Kety–Schmidt-based CBF measurements evolved over the next 2 decades by the substitution of radioactive gases for nitrous oxide.
Invasive non-urachal adenocarcinoma of the bladder: analysis of the National Cancer Database

To review the United States National Cancer Database (NCDB) from 2004 to 2015 and analyze survival outcomes of invasive non-urachal adenocarcinoma based on treatment modality. The NCDB 2004–2015 bladder dataset was queried for adenocarcinoma histology, excluding urachal variant, and limited to patients with clinical stage T2–T4 disease. Treatment modality was categorized as no treatment, cystectomy (partial or radical), external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), or EBRT plus cystectomy. Our primary outcome was overall survival. Cox regression (CR) and Kaplan–Meier (KM) analysis were performed. 851 patients were identified with invasive (cT2–T4) adenocarcinoma of the bladder. Treatment modalities included 398 (47.8%) no treatment, 298 (35.8%) cystectomy, 124 (14.9%) EBRT, and 31 (3.7%) EBRT plus cystectomy. On KM analysis excluding those with metastatic disease, the 5-year survival was significantly better (p < 0.001) for patients who underwent cystectomy (39.6%), versus no treatment (21.0%), EBRT (18.6%), or EBRT plus cystectomy (26.9%) (log rank, p < 0.001). On CR for mortality, age (HR 1.030, p < 0.001), Charlson score 1 (HR 1.287, p = 0.034), cT4 (HR 1.768, p < 0.001), and receiving treatment at a low-volume center (HR 1.289, p = 0.026) were associated with worsened survival; however, cystectomy (HR 0.593, p < 0.001) was the only factor associated with improved survival. For those undergoing cystectomy, the mean length of stay was 8.5 days and the 30-day readmission rate was 7.0%. Invasive non-urachal adenocarcinoma of the bladder is a rare diagnosis. Survival benefits in patients without metastatic disease are seen only in those patients undergoing definitive surgery.
The McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities, 1973. Dorothea McCarthy

(1974). The McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities, 1973. Dorothea McCarthy. Measurement and Evaluation in Guidance: Vol. 6, No. 4, pp. 250-254.
Quantifying partial migration with sex-ratio balancing

Partial migration, the phenomenon in which animal populations are composed of both migratory and nonmigratory individuals, is widespread among migrating animals. The proportion of migrants in these...
190 Opposite profiles of complement in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) among patients with antiphospholipid antibodies

Background Antiphospholoipid syndrome (APS) is the association of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) with thromboses and/or recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Among patients with SLE, one-third have aPL and 10%–15% have a manifestation of secondary APS. Although mouse models suggested complement drives the pathogenesis of APS, we have little knowledge on how complement proteins and genes contribute to the pathology of human APS, and the concurrence of SLE and APS. Methods We performed a cross-sectional study on complement proteins and genes in 525 patients with aPL. Among them, 237 experienced thromboses and 293 had SLE; 111 had both SLE and thromboses, and 106 had neither SLE nor thrombosis. Complement protein levels were determined by radial immunodiffusion for C4, C3 and factor H; and by functional ELISA for mannan binding lectin (MBL). Total C4, C4A and C4B gene copy numbers (GCN) were measured by TaqMan-based realtime PCR. Results Two to six copies of C4 genes are frequently present in a diploid genome, and each copy may code for an acidic C4A or a basic C4B protein. We observed significantly (a) higher protein levels of total C4, C4A, C4B, C3 and anticardiolipin (ACLA) IgG, (b) increased frequencies of lupus anticoagulant and males, and (c) depressed levels of complement factor H, MBL and ACLA-IgM among patients with thrombosis than those without thrombosis (n=288). We also observed significantly lower GCNs of total C4 and C4A among aPL-positive patients with both SLE and thrombosis than others. By contrast, aPL-positive subjects with SLE had significantly reduced protein levels of C3, total C4, C4A, C4B and ACLA-IgG, and higher frequency of females than those without SLE. Patients with thrombosis but without SLE (n=126), and patients with SLE but without thrombosis (n=182) had the greatest differences in mean protein levels of C3 (p=2.6×10–6), C4 (p=2.2×10–9) and ACLA-IgG (p=1.2×10–5). RPL occurred in 23.7% of female patients and thrombotic SLE patients had the highest frequency of RPL (41.0%; p=3.8×10–10). Compared with non-RPL females, RPL had significantly higher frequency of thrombosis and elevated C4 protein levels. Female patients with homozygous C4A deficiency all experienced RPL (p=0.0001) but the opposite was true for patients with homozygous C4B deficiency (p=0.017). Conclusions There are substantial differences for complement protein concentrations and genetic diversities among aPL-positive patients with thromboses, recurrent pregnancy loss and SLE. These results are relvant for diagnosis and management of APS and SLE. Funding Source(s): This work was supported by NIH grants 1 R01 AR050078, 1 R21070905, 1 R01 AR073311 (CYY), and RR00046 (UNC).
Noninvasive Positive-Pressure Ventilation

The recent introduction of noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (NPPV) and its successful and widespread use in the management of chronic ventilatory failure have resulted in its application in selected patients with acute respiratory failure. NPPV has now become a treatment option for some patients who would otherwise be managed by intubation or perhaps would not have received mechanical ventilation at all.
Shift-invariant sparse coding for audio classification

Sparse coding is an unsupervised learning algorithm that learns a succinct high-level representation of the inputs given only unlabeled data; it represents each input as a sparse linear combination of a set of basis functions. Originally applied to modeling the human visual cortex, sparse coding has also been shown to be useful for self-taught learning, in which the goal is to solve a supervised classification task given access to additional unlabeled data drawn from different classes than that in the supervised learning problem. Shift-invariant sparse coding (SISC) is an extension of sparse coding which reconstructs a (usually time-series) input using all of the basis functions in all possible shifts. In this paper, we present an efficient algorithm for learning SISC bases. Our method is based on iteratively solving two large convex optimization problems: The first, which computes the linear coefficients, is an L1-regularized linear least squares problem with potentially hundreds of thousands of variables. Existing methods typically use a heuristic to select a small subset of the variables to optimize, but we present a way to efficiently compute the exact solution. The second, which solves for bases, is a constrained linear least squares problem. By optimizing over complex-valued variables in the Fourier domain, we reduce the coupling between the different variables, allowing the problem to be solved efficiently. We show that SISC's learned high-level representations of speech and music provide useful features for classification tasks within those domains. When applied to classification, under certain conditions the learned features outperform state of the art spectral and cepstral features.
Ab Initio Investigation of Li and Na Migration in Guest-Free, Type I Clathrates

Guest-free, type I clathrates with formula Tt46 (Tt = Si, Ge, Sn) are comprised of open, cage-like frameworks with the potential for facile Li or Na conduction. Herein, ab initio density functional theory (DFT) is used to evaluate the ionic mobility of Li and Na through the clathrate crystal structures. The favorable Li and Na positions inside the clathrate structures are determined, and the migration pathways and barriers are evaluated using the nudged elastic band (NEB) method. The results show that it is energetically favorable for a Li atom to occupy the center position inside the small Tt20 cages while preferring the off-center positions in the larger Tt24 cages. The lowest Li migration barriers are found to be 0.35, 0.13 and 0.37 eV for Si46, Ge46, and Sn46, respectively, with the dominant diffusion pathway along channels of Tt24 cages connected by hexagonal faces. Li accessibility to the Si20 cage in Si46 appears to be restricted in the dilute regime due to a high energy barrier (2.0 eV) except for...
[Epidemiological analysis of malaria prevalence in Sichuan Province, 2012-2014].

OBJECTIVE To understand the characteristics of malaria prevalence in Sichuan Province from 2012 to 2014, so as to provide evidences for improving the work of malaria elimination. METHODS The epidemiological data of malaria cases in Sichuan Province were collected from the Disease Surveillance Information Reporting System of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and analyzed with the descriptive epidemiological method. RESULTS A total of 690 imported malaria cases were reported in Sichuan Province from 2012 to 2014. In detail, 54.49% (376/690) were falciparum malaria cases, 42.03% (290/690) were vivax malaria cases, 0.58% (4/690) were malariae malaria cases, 1.88% (13/690) were ovale malaria cases, and 1.01% (7/690) were mixed infection cases with Plasmodium vivax and P. falciparum. Among them, five cases died. Totally 671 malaria cases were infected overseas, accounting for 97.25% of the total cases. Among which, 517 patients returned from Africa and 138 patients returned from Southeast Asia. There were malaria cases reported in the whole year, and 185 cases were reported in May and June, accounting for 26.81% of the total cases. The cases distributed in 20 prefecture-level cities in the whole province, and there were 137 and 105 ones reported in Guangan and Chengdu, respectively, which accounted for 35.07% of the total cases. CONCLUSIONS The number of patients with overseas imported malaria in Sichuan Province increases year by year, and therefore effective measures should be carried out to control the overseas imported malaria.
Update: AHA guidelines for CPR and emergency cardiovascular care

Continuous review of current research and practice has resulted in updates to the American Heart Association guidelines for CPR and emergency cardiovascular care. This article examines the recommendations and their implementation into current healthcare practice.
Tunable structural color of bottlebrush block copolymers through direct-write 3D printing from solution

Additive manufacturing of functional materials is limited by control of microstructure and assembly at the nanoscale. In this work, we integrate nonequilibrium self-assembly with direct-write three-dimensional (3D) printing to prepare bottlebrush block copolymer (BBCP) photonic crystals (PCs) with tunable structure color. After varying deposition conditions during printing of a single ink solution, peak reflected wavelength for BBCP PCs span a range of 403 to 626 nm (blue to red), corresponding to an estimated change in d-spacing of >70 nm (Bragg- Snell equation). Physical characterization confirms that these vivid optical effects are underpinned by tuning of lamellar domain spacing, which we attribute to modulation of polymer conformation. Using in situ optical microscopy and solvent-vapor annealing, we identify kinetic trapping of metastable microstructures during printing as the mechanism for domain size control. More generally, we present a robust processing scheme with potential for on-the-fly property tuning of a variety of functional materials.
Approaching 80 years of snow water equivalent information by merging different data streams

Merging multiple data streams together can improve the overall length of record and achieve the number of observations required for robust statistical analysis. We merge complementary information from different data streams with a regression-based approach to estimate the 1 April snow water equivalent (SWE) volume over Sierra Nevada, USA. We more than double the length of available data-driven SWE volume records by leveraging in-situ snow depth observations from longer-length snow course records and SWE volumes from a shorter-length snow reanalysis. With the resulting data-driven merged time series (1940–2018), we conduct frequency analysis to estimate return periods and associated uncertainty, which can inform decisions about the water supply, drought response, and flood control. We show that the shorter (~30-year) reanalysis results in an underestimation of the 100-year return period by ~25 years (relative to the ~80-year merged dataset). Drought and flood risk and water resources planning can be substantially affected if return periods of SWE, which are closely related to potential flooding in spring and water availability in summer, are misrepresented. Machine-accessible metadata file describing the reported data: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.12902354
Predicting healthcare utilization in youth with type 1 diabetes: The importance of family level variables.

Objective Little is known about how family factors impacting treatment adherence in type 1 diabetes are directly associated with unplanned healthcare utilization (e.g., emergency room visits and hospital admissions). Given the substantial financial burden of diabetes, understanding predictors of healthcare utilization in particular is important to inform behavioral interventions aimed toward improving adherence. Research design and methods The current study examined the relationship between family-level variables and healthcare utilization in a sample of 239 youth with type 1 diabetes and their parents. Healthcare utilization was determined via parent report and chart review. Parent- and youth-reports regarding levels of family conflict, youth autonomy, and parent support related to diabetes management were obtained via questionnaire, and negative reciprocity was obtained by coding observations of parent and youth interactions. Generalized Estimating Equations were used to examine the longitudinal association between healthcare utilization and family-level factors. Results Higher levels of observed negative reciprocity were associated with more frequent hospital admissions, while higher levels of youth-reported parent involvement in diabetes management were associated with fewer hospital admissions and ED visits. Conclusions These findings highlight how family-level factors are directly related to healthcare utilization and point to the continued importance of integrating family-focused behavioral interventions in routine medical care for improving type 1 diabetes outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.
Dose-response analysis of microvasculature changes in the murine fetal brain and the maternal extremities due to prenatal ethanol exposure.

Significance: Prenatal exposure to ethanol causes several morphological and neurobehavioral deficits. While there are some studies on the effects of ethanol exposure on blood flow, research focusing on acute changes in the microvasculature is limited. Aim: The first aim of this study was to assess the dose-dependent changes in murine fetal brain microvasculature of developing fetuses in response to maternal alcohol consumption. The second aim was to quantify changes in vasculature occurring concurrently in the mother’s hindlimb and the fetus’s brain after maternal exposure to alcohol. Approach: Correlation mapping optical coherence angiography was used to evaluate the effects of prenatal exposure to different doses of ethanol (3, 1.5, and 0.75 g / kg) on murine fetal brain vasculature in utero. Additionally, simultaneous imaging of maternal peripheral vessels and the fetal brain vasculature was performed to assess changes of the vasculature occurring concurrently in response to ethanol consumption. Results: The fetal brain vessel diameters (VDs) decreased by ∼47 % , 30%, and 14% in response to ethanol doses of 3, 1.5, and 0.75 g / kg, respectively. However, the mother’s hindlimb VD increased by 63% in response to ethanol at a dose of 3 g / kg. Conclusions: Results showed a dose-dependent reduction in vascular blood flow in fetal brain vessels when the mother was exposed to ethanol, whereas vessels in the maternal hindlimb exhibited concurrent vasodilation.
Association of Sepsis Mortality with Specific Cancer Sites and Treatment Type: The Multiethnic Cohort Study

Sepsis is a severe dysregulated immune response to infection. Sepsis deaths represent 9% of cancer deaths in the U.S. Evidence of the effect of specific cancer sites on sepsis mortality risk remains limited, and no research has evaluated the effect of cancer treatment on the risk of sepsis death. We examined whether cancer sites and treatments differentially affect the risk of sepsis death compared to other-cause mortality, among the 94,784 Hawaii participants in the Multiethnic Cohort, including 29,255 cancer cases, using competing risk Cox proportional hazards regression. Cancer diagnosis at any site was associated with similar increases in sepsis and non-sepsis mortality risk (HR: 3.39 and 3.51, resp.). Colorectal cancer differentially affected the risk of sepsis and non-sepsis mortality with a 40% higher effect on the risk of sepsis death compared with non-sepsis mortality (RRR: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.14–1.72). Lung cancer was associated with a significantly lower increase in sepsis compared to non-sepsis mortality (HR: 1.22 and 3.0, resp.; RRR: 0.39). Radiation therapy had no effect on sepsis mortality but was associated with higher risk of non-sepsis mortality (HR: 0.90 and 1.16, resp.; RRR: 0.76), whereas chemotherapy was associated with higher risk of both sepsis and non-sepsis mortality (HR: 1.31 and 1.21, resp.). We conclude that the risk of sepsis-related mortality is differentially affected by cancer sites and treatments. These associations were consistent across sexes and ethnic groups.
The Effects of Temperature Change on Tc-99m MAA Radiochemical Purity

165 Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether significant temperature changes on Tc99m-MAA can affect the radiochemical purity. Methods: This was a prospective study. Sixty one samples were obtained including the control sample, each was around 18.5 megabecquerel. All Samples were tested for radiochemical purity before and after temperature change and the results were analyzed using a two sample, paired t-test. Samples were divided into four groups of 15 samples. The first group was heated in a 49 C° bath for 15 minutes, the second group was frozen for 15 minutes, the Third group was heated in a 49 C° bath for 90 minutes, and the fourth group was frozen for 90 minutes. After all samples thawed to room temperature, they were tested for radiochemical purity using saline and silica gel strips. The control sample was tested four times with each group. Results: The control sample had an average radiochemical purity of 98.9% for the four times it was tested. All four groups had an average of 99% radiochemical purity, with a p-value of 0.2 indicating that no changes had occurred in the radiochemical purity of all samples after temperature changes. Conclusions: Temperature changes do not affect the radiochemical purity of Tc99m-MAA.
Starting Pitch Selection is Precise in Exploratory Study of Collegiate Nonmusic Majors

Starting pitch selection—whether intentional or habitual or otherwise— has been theorized to vary according to multiple variables. The purpose of this study was to explore starting pitch selection ...
Educating on democracy in a time of environmental disasters

The recent diffusion of democracy across the globe has led to an increase in the curiosity of scholars, policymakers and the public alike about the main principles and characteristics of democracy. Equally important are concerns over outcomes of democracy, especially responsiveness of democracy to environmental and citizens’ protection in times of disasters. This article aims to answer several questions about the understanding of principles and outcomes of democracy, and the complexity and variability of democracy across countries, which are still unanswered in the literature. Specifically, it adds to the scholarly debates on democracy and environmental disasters in three ways. First, it presents theoretical and empirical debates on definitions and principles of democracy and its progress worldwide. Second, it discusses the effect of democracy on environmental sustainability. Third, it focuses on the pre-eminence of responsiveness of democratic in comparison to non-democratic governments to environmental disasters, and the best pathways to education on democracy in a time of environmental disasters. The article concludes by highlighting the advantage of mechanisms and solutions of democracy in contrast to non-democracy to challenges in times of environmental disasters and to teaching about responses to environmental disasters.
Flexible metal-organic framework compounds: In situ studies for selective CO2 capture

Abstract Results are presented that explore the dynamic structural changes occurring in two highly flexible nanocrystalline metal-organic framework (MOF) compounds during the adsorption and desorption of pure gases and binary mixtures. The Ni(1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene)[Ni(CN)4] and catena-bis(dibenzoylmethanato)-(4,4′-bipyridyl)nickel(II) chosen for this study are 3-D and 1-D porous coordination polymers (PCP) with a similar gate opening pressure response for CO2 isotherms at 303 K, but with differing degrees of flexibility for structural change to accommodate guest molecules. As such, they serve as a potential model system for evaluating the complex kinetics associated with dynamic structure changes occurring in response to gas adsorption in flexible MOF systems. Insights into the crystallographic changes occurring as the MOF pore structure expands and contracts in response to interactions with CO2, N2, and CO2/N2 mixtures have been obtained from in situ small-angle neutron scattering and neutron diffraction, combined with ex situ X-ray diffraction structure measurements. The role of structure in carbon capture functionality is discussed with reference to the ongoing characterization challenges and a possible materials-by-design approach.
International Space Station Payload Operations Integration Center (Poic) Overview

Objectives and Goals: Maintain and operate the POIC and support integrated Space Station command and control functions. Provide software and hardware systems to support ISS payloads and Shuttle for the POIF cadre, Payload Developers and International Partners. Provide design, development, independent verification &validation, configuration, operational product/system deliveries and maintenance of those systems for telemetry, commanding, database and planning. Provide Backup Control Center for MCC-H in case of shutdown. Provide certified personnel and systems to support 24x7 facility operations per ISS Program. Payloads CoFR Implementation Plan (SSP 52054) and MSFC Payload Operations CoFR Implementation Plan (POIF-1006).
1.2.1 Realizing Complete Traceability With An Integrated Systems Engineering Environment (ISEE)

The development of any major system involves a dynamic atmosphere of ideas, people, and information. Traceability (from requirements to functions to physical architecture) grounds a system and all its confusing details to the founding ideas that are critical to its success. Documenting the process (i.e., decision rationale, considered and discarded alternatives, changes, approvals, etc.) is as important as documenting the system requirements, concept, and design themselves. As chronicled in this paper, the US Navy has undertaken an effort using RDD-100® to provide such traceability with an Integrated Systems Engineering Environment (ISEE) for the Navy Theater Wide Theater Ballistic Missile Defense (NTW TBMD) Program. The NTW ISEE is used to centrally locate all technical information related to the engineering development of the NTW TBMD system. It supports critical activities such as specification development, concept definition, and certification by utilizing critical database capabilities. Such an information management environment has become a necessity in developing large systems.
The proton transfer reactions of muscle pyruvate kinase.

Rabbit muscle pyruvate kinase detritiates phosphoenolpyruvate 3-tritium under conditions of the net forward reaction prior to the release of pyruvate. This exchange requires that release of pyruvate is not rapid with respect to reversal of the proton transfer steps involved in the catalysis of its enolization. This conclusion is consistent with the low tritium isotope effect that is observed for the hydrogen exchange on pyruvate that is activated by ATP. An intrinsic isotope effect for the proton abstraction step as high as 26 can be expected since such high values were observed in the enzymatic enolization of pyruvate activated by other phosphate compounds. Considerable exchange of tritium from tritiated water into remaining phosphoenolpyruvate during the course of the forward pyruvate kinase reaction is observed, indicating that the enzyme-bound pyruvate-ATP complex that is generated in the forward reaction can return to substrate form at a significant rate relative to product release. A kinetic analysis indicates that the release of phosphoenolpyruvate and ADP may be a rate-determining factor in this exchange rate. Thus, the conclusions of earlier workers that muscle pyruvate kinase follows rapid equilibrium kinetics require re-examination. The effects of varying pH, mono- and divalent cations, temperature, and alternative activators on the rates of proton exchange are reported.
Programmable optical wavelength filter based on from a 2-D MEMS micromirror array

A 2-D MEMS micromirror array is shown to generate arbitrary spectral reflectance profiles by diffraction from its deformable surface. Both amplitude and phase of the reflected spectrum can be programmed by computer.
The fourth power moment of automorphic $L$-functions for $GL(2)$ over a short interval

In this paper we will prove bounds for the fourth power moment in the t aspect over a short interval of automorphic L-functions L(s, g) for GL(2) on the central critical line Re s = 1/2. Here g is a fixed holomorphic or Maass Hecke eigenform for the modular group SL 2 (Z), or in certain cases, for the Hecke congruence subgroup Γ 0 (N) with N > 1. The short interval is from a large K to K + K 103/135+∈ . The proof is based on an estimate in the proof of subconvexity bounds for Rankin-Selberg L-function for Maass forms by Jianya Liu and Yangbo Ye (2002) and Yuk-Kam Lau, Jianya Liu, and Yangbo Ye (2004), which in turn relies on the Kuznetsov formula (1981) and bounds for shifted convolution sums of Fourier coefficients of a cusp form proved by Sarnak (2001) and by Lau, Liu, and Ye (2004).
Gene expression profiling of low selenium status in the mouse intestine: transcriptional activation of genes linked to DNA damage, cell cycle control and oxidative stress.

The essential trace mineral selenium (Se) has been shown previously to inhibit intestinal, prostate, lung and liver tumor development and associated mortality in both experimental animals and humans. Although Se is likely to be one of the most powerful cancer chemopreventive agents in the human diet, its mechanism of action is unknown. To better understand the biological consequences of alterations in Se status, the gene expression profile associated with low Se status in the intestine of C57BI/6J mice was analyzed. Mice were fed either a high fat (14%), torula yeast-based, Se-deficient diet (<0.01 mg/kg) or the same diet supplemented with a high level of dietary Se (1 mg/kg, as seleno-L-methionine) for 90 d. Use of high density oligonucleotide arrays representing 6347 genes revealed that low Se status results in a differential gene expression pattern indicative of activation of genes involved in DNA damage, oxidative stress and cell cycle control, and a decrease in the expression of genes involved in detoxification. These results suggest that suboptimal intake of a single trace mineral can have broad effects on gene expression patterns, providing a framework for understanding the multiple beneficial effects of Se in cancer chemoprevention and human health.
Cytomorphologic features that distinguish schwannoma from other low-grade spindle cell lesions.

BACKGROUND Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of spindled mesenchymal lesions, including schwannomas, are challenging because of overlapping cytomorphological features. The objective of the current study was to identify key diagnostic cytological criteria for the diagnosis of schwannoma and to distinguish it from its common mimics. METHODS A total of 58 schwannomas were evaluated and compared with 98 benign and low-grade spindle cell lesions, including 17 gastrointestinal stromal tumors and 20 fibromatosis cases. Biopsy confirmation was available for all cases. The authors semiquantitatively evaluated cellularity, quality of stroma (fibrous and fibrillar), the presence of single cells with bipolar cytoplasmic processes, and marked nuclear pleomorphism (in the absence of other features of malignancy). Nuclear features evaluated included fishhook-type nuclei, intranuclear inclusions, chromatin pattern, and nucleoli. RESULTS Schwannomas demonstrated cohesive tissue fragments with fibrillary and occasionally fibrous stroma. The presence of intranuclear inclusions and marked nuclear pleomorphism and the absence of single cells with bipolar cytoplasmic processes emerged as statistically significant differences between the schwannoma and the nonschwannoma groups. When 5 criteria were present (high numbers of clusters, few to no single cells, fibrillary stroma, nuclei with pointed tips, and anisonucleosis) the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for the diagnosis of schwannoma were 22%, 97%, 81%, and 68%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Cohesive tissue fragments with fibrillary/fibrous stroma, intranuclear inclusions, marked nuclear pleomorphism, and the absence of spindled cells with bipolar cytoplasmic processes are strongly suggestive of schwannoma and assist in excluding potential mimics. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2015. © 2015 American Cancer Society. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2015;123:171–179. © 2014 American Cancer Society.
Distributed optimization of Contention Windows in 802.11e MAC to provide QoS differentiation and maximize channel utilization

We propose a distributed algorithm for optimizing the Contention Windows in IEEE 802.11e based WLANs with the dual intention of providing fine-grained QoS and maximizing the channel utilization. The underlying concept behind the algorithm is modeling the network state as a function of MAC parameters and solving this analytical model constrained by the QoS requirements of multiple nodes. The main contribution of this paper is the completely distributed realization of this concept. The problem appears as a system of non-linear equations which is solved by an iterative gradient-based method. Distributed solution is achieved by first decoupling the equations and second by implicit message passing through local measurements. This allows local computation of partial differentials and residuals of the iterative process. Local measurements serve as inputs for the next iterative step and as natural feedback mechanism to handle dynamic channel conditions. Convergence of iterations is ensured through progressive target setting of QoS requirements. Extensive simulation results and a proof of concept with a test bed show that the algorithm achieves fine-grained QoS differentiation while minimizing delays, collisions and packet losses. As a result, when the network scales, the algorithm is shown to maximize the channel utilization and maintain a near optimal total throughput of the system. Finally, sub-minute convergence time makes the algorithm suitable for real-time flows.
Mutagenic interactions of model chemical mixtures

Although current methodology for human health risk assessment assumes additive interactions among the contaminants of a complex mixture, chemical interactions may occur which produce synergistic or antagonistic effects. In this study, the mutagenic response of three model compounds, benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P), pentachlorophenol (PCP) and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), were tested individually and in binary and tertiary solutions, using the Salmonella/microsome assay with each of three bacterial tester strains (TA97a, TA98, and TA100). For all strains, B(a)P was mutagenic with metabolic activation (Arochlor 1254-induced Sprague-Dawley rat liver S9 fraction), TNT was mutagenic without metabolic activation, and pentachlorophenol was inactive both with and without metabolic activation. In binary and tertiary solutions, pentachlorophenol had no effect on the mutagenicity of B(a)P or TNT, independent of metabolic activation. For strain TA97a, the mutagenicity of B(a)P with metabolic activation was slightly decreased in the presence of TNT; the mutagenicity of TNT without metabolic activation was slightly decreased in the presence of B(a)P and PCP; and the mutagenicity of the tertiary solution (496 revertants/10 ug) with metabolic activation was lower than the mutagenicity of B(a)P alone (729 revertants/10 ug). The mutagenicity of B(a)P in strain TA98 with activation was inhibited by the addition of TNT. Studies conducted using several concentrations of TNT or B(a)P indicate that the inhibition of B(a)P mutagenicity was increased as the concentration of TNT increased. Assays performed using four concentrations of S9 indicated the inhibition of B(a)P mutagenicity was relatively unaffected by the level of S9. The data suggest that an interaction in the presence of TNT limits the concentration of B(a)P that is capable of reaching or binding with bacterial DNA.
Learning English as a Second Language: A Case Study of a Chinese Girl in an American Preschool.

(2007). Learning English as a Second Language: A Case Study of a Chinese Girl in an American Preschool. Childhood Education: Vol. 83, No. 5, pp. 267-272.
Seismic images of active magma systems beneath the East Pacific rise between 17...05' and 17...35'S

Seismic reflection data from the East Pacific Rise between 17°059 and 17°359S image a magma lens that varies regularly in depth and width as ridge morphology changes, confirming the notion that axial morphology can be used to infer ridge magmatic state. However, at 17°269S, where the ridge is locally shallow and broad, the magma lens is markedly shallower and wider than predicted from regional trends. In this area, submersible dives reveal recent volcanic eruptions. These observations indicate that it is where the width and depth of the magma chamber differ from regional trends, indicating an enhanced magmatic budget, that is diagnostic of current magmatism.
Secondary kinase reactions catalyzed by yeast pyruvate kinase.

Abstract 1. 1. Yeast pyruvate kinase (EC 2.7.1.40) catalyzes, in addition to the primary, physiologically important reaction, three secondary kinase reactions, the ATP-dependent phosphorylations of fluoride (fluorokinase), hydroxylamine (hydroxylamine kinase) and glycolate (glycolate kinase). 2. 2. These reactions are accelerated by fructose-1,6-bisphosphate, the allosteric activator of the primary reaction. With Mg2+ as the required divalent cation, none of these reactions are observed in the absence of fructose-bisphosphate. With Mn2+, fructose-bisphosphate is required for the glycolate kinase reaction, but merely stimulates the other reactions. 3. 3. The effect of other divalent cations and pH on the three secondary kinase reactions was also examined. 4. 4. Results are compared with those obtained for muscle pyruvate kinase and the implications of the results for the mechanism of the yeast enzyme are discussed.
Quantum Noise in Linear Amplifiers

The classical definition of noise figure, based on signal-to-noise ratio, is adapted to the case when quantum noise is predominant. The noise figure is normalized to "uncertainty noise." General quantum mechanical equations for linear amplifiers are set up using the condition of linearity and the requirement that the commutator brackets of the pertinent operators are conserved in the amplification. These equations include as special cases the maser, the parametric amplifier, and the parametric up-converter. Using these equations the noise figure of a general amplifier is derived. The minimum value of this noise figure is equal to 2. The significance of the result with regard to a simultaneous phase and amplitude measurement is explored.
Building Biosynthetic Schools: Reviewing Compartmentation of CNS Taurine Synthesis

Taurine is one of the mammalian brain's most abundant and indispensable amino acids. Considerable strides have been made in understanding taurine biosynthesis within the brain, but many disputed issues nonetheless remain. Heading the list is the cellular origin of biosynthetically derived taurine: glial or neuronal? This article reviews the competing theories surrounding cellular compartmentation of taurine biosynthesis in the brain. It concludes that while in vitro systems clearly show astrocytes to be fully capable of taurine synthesis and neurons to be limited to synthesizing taurine from hypotaurine, there is insufficient evidence to attribute these processes to any one cell type in vivo. Instead, there is a growing body of evidence that suggests brain taurine biosynthesis is occurring via a more cooperative metabolic interaction between astrocytes and neurons.
CFTR CL- CHANNEL AND CFTR-ASSOCIATED ATP CHANNEL : DISTINCT PORES REGULATED BY COMMON GATES

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a chloride channel that is regulated by phosphorylation of the R domain and ATP hydrolysis at two nucleotide-binding domains (NBDs). It is controversial whether CFTR conducts ATP or whether CFTR might be closely associated with a separate ATP conductance. To characterize ATP channels associated with CFTR, we analyzed Cl- and ATP single channel-currents in excised inside-out membrane patches from MDCK epithelial cells transiently expressing CFTR. With 100 mM ATP in the pipette and 140 mM Cl- in the bath, ATP channels were associated with CFTR Cl- channels in two-thirds of patches that included CFTR. CFTR Cl- channels and CFTR-associated ATP channels had slope conductances of 7.4 pS and 5.2 pS, respectively, and had distinct reversal potentials and sensitivities to channel blockers. CFTR-associated ATP channels exhibited slow gating kinetics that depended on the presence of protein kinase A and cytoplasmic ATP, similar to CFTR Cl- channels. Gating kinetics of the ATP channels as well as the CFTR Cl- channels were similarly affected by non-hydrolyzable ATP analogues and mutations in the CFTR R domain and NBDs. Our results indicate that phosphorylation- and nucleotide-hydrolysis-dependent gating of CFTR is directly involved in gating of an associated ATP channel. However, the permeation pathways for Cl- and ATP are distinct and the ATP conduction pathway is not obligatorily associated with the expression of CFTR.
Relevance of mask-roughness-induced printed line-edge roughness in recent and future extreme-ultraviolet lithography tests

The control of line-edge roughness (LER) of features printed in photoresist poses significant challenges to next-generation lithography techniques such as extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) lithography. Achieving adequately low LER levels requires accurate resist characterization as well as the ability to separate resist effects from other potential contributors to LER. One potentially significant contributor to LER arises from roughness on the mask coupling to speckle in the aerial image and consequently to LER in the printed image. Here I numerically study mask surface roughness and phase roughness to resist LER coupling both as a function of illumination coherence and defocus. Moreover, the potential consequences of this mask effect for recent EUV lithography experiments is studied through direct comparison with experimental through-focus printing data collected at a variety of coherence settings. Finally, the effect that mask roughness will play in upcoming 0.3-numerical-aperture resist testing is considered.
Breakdown of the Planck blackbody radiation law at nanoscale gaps

The Planck theory of blackbody radiation imposes a limit on the maximum radiative transfer between two objects at given temperatures. When the two objects are close enough, near-field effects due to tunneling of evanescent waves lead to enhancement of radiative transfer above the Planck limit. When the objects can support electromagnetic surface polaritons, the enhancement can be a few orders-of-magnitude larger than the blackbody limit. In this paper, we summarize our recent measurements of radiative transfer between two parallel silica surfaces and between a silica microsphere and a flat silica surface that show unambiguous evidence of enhancement of radiative transfer due to near-field effects above the Planck limit.
FBXW7 modulates cellular stress response and metastatic potential through HSF1 post-translational modification

​Heat-shock factor 1 (​HSF1) orchestrates the heat-shock response in eukaryotes. Although this pathway has evolved to help cells adapt in the presence of challenging conditions, it is co-opted in cancer to support malignancy. However, the mechanisms that regulate ​HSF1 and thus cellular stress response are poorly understood. Here we show that the ubiquitin ligase ​FBXW7α interacts with ​HSF1 through a conserved motif phosphorylated by ​GSK3β and ​ERK1. ​FBXW7α ubiquitylates ​HSF1 and loss of ​FBXW7α results in impaired degradation of nuclear ​HSF1 and defective heat-shock response attenuation. ​FBXW7α is either mutated or transcriptionally downregulated in melanoma and ​HSF1 nuclear stabilization correlates with increased metastatic potential and disease progression. ​FBXW7α deficiency and subsequent ​HSF1 accumulation activates an invasion-supportive transcriptional program and enhances the metastatic potential of human melanoma cells. These findings identify a post-translational mechanism of regulation of the ​HSF1 transcriptional program both in the presence of exogenous stress and in cancer.
Balancing the rights of subjects, scientists, and society: 10 principles for human subject committees

(1988). Balancing the rights of subjects, scientists, and society: 10 principles for human subject committees. The Journal of Sex Research: Vol. 24, No. 1, pp. 378-385.
Regulation of biosynthesis of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and of tRNA in Escherichia coli

Spontaneous revertants of a temperature-sensitive Escherichia coli strain bearing a thermolabile glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase have been selected for growth at 42°C. Of the 50 revertants tested, all have retained the thermolabile glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase and have elevated levels of tRNA Gln 1 . The genetic locus gln T, responsible for tRNA Gln 1 overproduction has been characterized as a duplication and mapped. The level of other tRNA species or of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases is unaffected in this mutant. However, an increased amount of glutamine synthetase is found as a consequence of the gln T mutation.