cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Investigation of ETV2/Etsrp Role in Lymphangiogenesis: A Potential Therapeutic Target in Lymphatic Disease

Abstract Abstract 614 Lymphangiogenesis, defined as novel growth of lymphatic vessels to constitute a functional vascular network, captures great clinical interest because of its essential role such pathologic settings as inflammation, vascular malformations, and tumor metastasis. Previous observational hurdles are now overcome by use of the optically clear and genetically modifiable zebrafish embryo, which provides a vertebrate model for understanding lymphangiogenesis and for revealing putative therapeutic targets for metastatic disease and vascular/lymphatic malformations that currently have no cure. The zebrafish ets1-related protein, Etsrp, encodes a novel ETS domain transcription factor and is an early marker for vascular endothelial progenitors. Its function is necessary and sufficient to initiate vasculogenesis and is conserved during vertebrate development. Human and murine Er71/Etv2 proteins are functional orthologs of Etsrp. However, its role in lymphatic development is unknown. Our data show that both vascular and lymphatic vessels express etsrp driven GFP transgene. To analyze Etsrp role in lymphatic development, we performed functional Etsrp knockdown by photoactivatable morpholino oligonucleotide (MO) injection into fli1:GFP; flk1:mCherry transgenic reporter zebrafish embryos whose fluorescent background allowed distinction of lymphatic from vascular vessels. Inhibition of etsrp function at early stages resulted in the absence of both lymphatic and vascular endothelial development. Inhibition of etsrp function at 1 day-post-fertilization, after the major axial vessels have already formed, specifically affected lymphangiogenesis without affecting vascular development. The major lymphatic vessel, the thoracic duct, was absent or discontinuous in Etsrp-depleted embryos, while the major axial and secondary intersegmental blood vessels were not affected. Further analysis demonstrated that the lymphatic progenitors, parachordal lymphangioblasts, failed to migrate from the posterior cardinal vein in the absence of Etsrp function. Control morpholino-injected but not photoactivated embryos did not show significant defects in the lymphatic development, demonstrating the specificity of the observed defects. Because expression of the major VegfC receptor, VegfR3 was strongly down regulated in Etsrp MO-injected embryos, our results suggest that Etsrp initiates lymphangiogenesis by regulating VegfR3 expression. In the absence of Etsrp function, lymphangioblasts would fail to respond to VegfC signaling. We report for the first time the requirement of Etsrp for normal lymphangioblast migration and thoracic duct development in zebrafish. Additional studies are in process to determine the mechanism of Etsrp role in lymphangiogenesis. Our results suggest that Etsrp may represent a potential novel target for chemical modulation in multiple human lymphatic disorders. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Robust Mølmer-Sørensen gate for neutral atoms using rapid adiabatic Rydberg dressing

The Rydberg blockade mechanism is now routinely considered for entangling qubits encoded in clock states of neutral atoms. Challenges towards implementing entangling gates with high fidelity include errors due to thermal motion of atoms, laser amplitude inhomogeneities, and imperfect Rydberg blockade. We show that adiabatic rapid passage by Rydberg dressing provides a mechanism for implementing two-qubit entangling gates by accumulating phases that are robust to these imperfections. We find that the typical error in implementing a two-qubit gate, such as the controlled phase gate, is dominated by errors in the single-atom light shift, and that this can be easily corrected using adiabatic dressing interleaved with a simple spin echo sequence. This results in a two-qubit M\o{}lmer-S\o{}rensen gate. A gate fidelity $\ensuremath{\sim}0.995$ is achievable with modest experimental parameters and a path to higher fidelities is possible for Rydberg states in atoms with a stronger blockade, longer lifetimes, and larger Rabi frequencies.
The denial of slavery in contemporary American sociology

American sociology has largely neglected enslavement as a topic of study, despite slavery’s being one of the most foundational, pervasive, and far-reaching social institutions in the West. In this paper I explain this scholarly neglect as stemming from three factors. First, disciplinary parochialism has blinded US sociologists to the complex interweaving of enslavement with the systems of oppression that sociology has decided to care about. Second, presentism, an ahistorical “account” of the past that culminates in a preference for present-day events and institutions, has relegated slavery to history. Finally, theoretical frameworks that revise enslavement as “ennobling” erase the long-term effects of psychological and physical violence on the descendants of enslaved peoples.
Does Implementing a New Intervention Disrupt Use of Existing Evidence-Based Autism Interventions?.

This study examines how the introduction of TeachTown:Basics, a computer-assisted intervention for students with autism spectrum disorder, influenced teachers’ use of other evidence-based practices...
Rapidly dynamic host cell heterogeneity in bacterial adhesion governs susceptibility to infection by Listeria monocytogenes.

Adhesion of pathogenic Listeria monocytogenes to human endothelial cells is not a random process. Instead, individual host cells are highly variable in their susceptibility. Susceptibility of indiv...
Expression and Localization of Renal Endothelin-1, Endotehlin Receptors and Endothelin Converting Enzyme in Human Renal Biopsy with Rejection after Kidney Transplantation

Endothelin (ET-1) is a potent renal and systemic vasoconstrictor and sodium regulating peptide. Endothelin synthesis in the kidney have been reported in glomerulus endothelial, epithelial and mesangial cells as well as in inner medullary collecting duct. Factors stimulating the production of endothelin include shear stress, hypoxia, vasoactive agents and cytokines. Endothelin binding to ET-A receptor in vascular smooth muscle cells stimulates vasoconstriction.Renal graft rejection is a major problem after kidney transplantation with severe renal damage and renal vasoconstriction. We hypothesized that renal tissue level of endothelin-1, endothelin receptors and endothelin converting enzyme (ECE) may increase in renal tissue with rejection after kidney transplantation. Therefore, the current study was designed to determine the endothelin-1 and endothelin receptors (ET-A and ET-B) as well as endothelin converting enzyme level by immunohistochemical staining (IHCS) in human renal tissue with rejection after kidney transplantation.
Una conversación sobre nuestra experiencia educacional

Este texto reflexiona acerca de la naturaleza del campo curricular en tanto estudios de la experiencia educacional. Lo hace utilizando la metafora de la conversacion. Se mueve entonces entre la voz academica y la biografica personal volviendose sobre la experiencia educacional del autor en relacion con los estudios curriculares. Desde dicha experiencia se abordan tres temas que parecen relevantes para aquellos que dedican sus esfuerzos al estudio y la ensenanza del curriculum. Estos temas son: internacionalizacion, estandarizacion, y el estudio de los estudios curriculares.
Novice - Expert Pair Coaching: Teaching Python in a Pandemic

Novice-Expert Pair Coaching (NEPC) is an approach to synchronously teach programming online. A computer programming educator (the expert) and an individual without prior programming experience (the novice) team up while students observe as the novice learns to code. We call NEPC a 'do-aloud,' technique, as the novice verbalizes while carrying out the expert's instructions. This approach was developed to teach Python to rising 8th and 9th grade girls using Zoom. The novice assertively asked clarifying questions, experimented with newly-learned knowledge, and confirmed her new understandings. By being public learners, the novice modeled active learning, and the expert improved his teaching after learning of ambiguity and gaps in his instructions. A video analysis of NEPC revealed individual and class advantages to teaching programming using this approach. NEPC slowed down the teaching pace, enabled learners to see the novice's keystrokes, and let students hear each dialogue between the novice and expert. The NEPC approach exploits a synchronous online format to provide more accessibility to each learner. NEPC impacted the class climate by providing a more question-friendly and less intimidating learning environment. Active learning was modeled as being academically disruptive: the novice took risks, made and recovered from mistakes, and respectfully interrupted the expert. These disruptions were constructive, encouraging students to become active participants, not passive consumers. We thought the resulting assertiveness was particularly important for our target students: Black adolescent girls. Implications for creating a more diverse programming pipeline by recruiting novice learners of diverse backgrounds are discussed in the paper.
“It should be helping me improve, not telling me I'm a bad teacher”: The influence of accountability-focused evaluations on teachers' professional identities

Abstract Around the globe, education reform is heavily focused on improving teacher “quality” through accountability measures. Utilizing qualitative methods to gain in-depth insights, this study examined ten teachers' perceptions of one such measure—performance evaluations—and its influence on their professional identities. Participants' reports of their evaluation experiences revealed a system focused on accountability almost to the exclusion of improvement that is harmful to their professional identities. These findings are significant because 1) teachers’ identities have been linked to their commitment, well-being, sense of agency, and effectiveness, and 2) they have implications for the redesign of teacher evaluation.
Terminal Embeddings in Sublinear Time.

Recently (Elkin, Filtser, Neiman 2017) introduced the concept of a {\it terminal embedding} from one metric space $(X,d_X)$ to another $(Y,d_Y)$ with a set of designated terminals $T\subset X$. Such an embedding $f$ is said to have distortion $\rho\ge 1$ if $\rho$ is the smallest value such that there exists a constant $C>0$ satisfying \begin{equation*} \forall x\in T\ \forall q\in X,\ C d_X(x, q) \le d_Y(f(x), f(q)) \le C \rho d_X(x, q) . \end{equation*} In the case that $X,Y$ are both Euclidean metrics with $Y$ being $m$-dimensional, recently (Narayanan, Nelson 2019), following work of (Mahabadi, Makarychev, Makarychev, Razenshteyn 2018), showed that distortion $1+\epsilon$ is achievable via such a terminal embedding with $m = O(\epsilon^{-2}\log n)$ for $n := |T|$. This generalizes the Johnson-Lindenstrauss lemma, which only preserves distances within $T$ and not to $T$ from the rest of space. The downside is that evaluating the embedding on some $q\in \mathbb{R}^d$ required solving a semidefinite program with $\Theta(n)$ constraints in $m$ variables and thus required some superlinear $\mathrm{poly}(n)$ runtime. Our main contribution in this work is to give a new data structure for computing terminal embeddings. We show how to pre-process $T$ to obtain an almost linear-space data structure that supports computing the terminal embedding image of any $q\in\mathbb{R}^d$ in sublinear time $n^{1-\Theta(\epsilon^2)+o(1)} + dn^{o(1)}$. To accomplish this, we leverage tools developed in the context of approximate nearest neighbor search.
Within-person changes in individual symptoms of depression predict subsequent depressive episodes in adolescents: a prospective study

The current longitudinal study examined which individual symptoms of depression uniquely predicted a subsequent Major Depressive Episode (MDE) in adolescents, and whether these relations differed by sex. Adolescents (N = 240) were first interviewed in grade 6 (M = 11.86 years old; SD = 0.56; 54 % female; 81.5 % Caucasian) and then annually through grade 12 regarding their individual symptoms of depression as well as the occurrence of MDEs. Individual symptoms of depression were assessed with the Children’s Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R) and depressive episodes were assessed with the Longitudinal Interval Follow-up Evaluation (LIFE). Results showed that within-person changes in sleep problems and low self-esteem/excessive guilt positively predicted an increased likelihood of an MDE for both boys and girls. Significant sex differences also were found. Within-person changes in anhedonia predicted an increased likelihood of a subsequent MDE among boys, whereas irritability predicted a decreased likelihood of a future MDE among boys, and concentration difficulties predicted a decreased likelihood of an MDE in girls. These results identified individual depressive symptoms that predicted subsequent depressive episodes in male and female adolescents, and may be used to guide the early detection, treatment, and prevention of depressive disorders in youth.
Arabic and Syrian Jewish identities in Mexico City, a century after migration

The two Syrian Jewish communities in Mexico City, one Aleppan and one Damascene, date to the early twentieth century. While none but the original immigrants speaks Judeo-Arabic fluently, loan words and phrases continue to play an important role in the construction and maintenance of Syrian Jewish identities among third and fourth generation individuals.
NAPF: Percolation driven probabilistic flooding for interference limited cognitive radio networks

In this paper, we argue that the traditional techniques for flooding and probabilistic flooding are not applicable to cognitive radio networks under the SINR regime. We identify the causes that i) degrade node outreach even with increasing deployment density under the SINR model and ii) lead to duplicate transmissions under the Boolean model. Further performance degradation occurs due to the additional constraints imposed by the primary users in such networks. To increase node outreach in interference-limited cognitive radio networks, we propose a modified version of probabilistic flooding that uses lower message overhead without compromising network connectivity. This is achieved by having just enough number of neighbors of a node to rebroadcast to others. The subset of neighbors that are selected to broadcast is decided on the number of neighbor a nodes has, their spatial orientation with respect to each other, and the interference they might cause. Identification of such subsets reduce duplicate retransmissions which in turn reduces interference. We use a localized clustering technique in conjunction with the concept of critical density from percolation theory such that each node decides its own rebroadcasting probability in a distributed manner. Through simulations, we compare the proposed technique with flooding and probabilistic flooding. Results validated that, the proposed technique reduces number of rebroadcasts and increases node outreach both under SINR and Boolean models.1
A model chromatin assembly system. Factors affecting nucleosome spacing.

Abstract Poly[d(A-T)] · poly[d(A-T)], when reconstituted with chicken erythrocyte core histones and subsequently incubated with sufficient histone H5 in a solution containing polyglutamic acid, forms structures resembling chromatin. H5 induces nucleosome alignment in about two hours at physiological ionic strength and 37 °C. The nucleosome spacing and apparent linker heterogeneity in the assembled nucleoprotein are very similar to those in chicken erythrocyte chromatin. Also, condensed chromatin-like fibers on the polynucleotide can be visualized. The binding of one mole of H5 per mole of core octamer is necessary to generate the physiological nucleosome spacing, which remains constant with the addition of more H5. The nucleosome repeat length is not a function of the core histone to poly[d(A-T)] ratio for values lower than the physiological ratio. With increasing ratios, in excess of the physiological value, nucleosome spacing first becomes non-uniform, and then takes on the close packing limit of approximately 165 base-pairs. In addition to eliminating possible base sequence effects on nucleosome positioning, poly[d(A-T)] allows nucleosomes to slide more readily than does DNA, thereby facilitating alignment. Evidence is presented that polyglutamic acid facilitates the nucleosome spacing activity of histone H5, primarily by keeping the nucleoprotein soluble. This model system should be useful for understanding how different repeat lengths arise in chromatin.
Re-emerging Diseases: Overview

Infectious diseases are dynamic and influenced by biological, socioeconomic, genetic, environmental, demographic, and ecologic factors as well as ongoing microbial evolution. Today's world, with its population size, density, mobility, location, inequalities, and vulnerabilities, provides a milieu in which infections are likely to continue to re-emerge. The connectedness of populations (human and animal) through travel and trade means that re-emergence of an infection anywhere may have global implications. Although many infectious diseases can be prevented or treated, most potential pathogens cannot be eliminated from their human, animal, or environmental reservoir, so control measures must be sustained. Microbes also have the capacity to change in their resistance, virulence, transmissibility, and other characteristics, so interventions to control them may need to change over time.
Potential Reduction of Fugitive Methane Emissions at Compressor Stations and Storage Facilities Powered by Natural Gas Engines

The American Gas Association (AGA) and the United States (US) Energy Information Administration (EIA) report that natural gas reserves, production, and consumption are increasing. Current estimates show over 100 years worth of recoverable reserves. As production increases, the natural gas pipeline interstate will grow or at least experience increased throughput. With the industry expanding at rapid rates and the high global warming potential of methane (21 over a 100 year period), it is important to identify potential sources for reductions in fugitive methane emissions. This research group conducted leak and loss audits at five natural gas compressor station and storage facilities. The majority of methane losses were associated with the operation of the lean-burn, natural gas engines (open crankcases, exhaust), compressor seal vents, and open liquid storage tanks. This paper focuses on the potential reduction in fugitive methane emissions of the discovered industry weaknesses through application of various proven technologies. As engines are not perfectly sealed, blow-by of intake air, fuel, and combustion gases occurs past the piston rings. In order to prevent a build-up of pressure within the crankcase, it must be vented. Diesel engines have lower hydrocarbon emissions from their crankcases due to the short duration of fuel addition after compression of the intake charge. Lean-burn, natural gas engines, like conventional gasoline engines, compress both the fuel and intake air during the compression stroke. During the 1960s, many passenger vehicles adopted positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) or closed crankcase ventilation (CCV) systems to reduce significantly hydrocarbon emissions from engines. Currently, some heavy-duty on-road engines still have open crankcase systems and most off-road engines have crankcases simply vented to the atmosphere. In this paper, researchers will examine the potential reduction in methane emissions that could be realized with the installation of retrofitted CCV systems at these locations. In addition to the reduction of methane losses from the crankcase, it is realized that with proper plumbing, flow control, and safety parameters, all of the losses typically vented to atmosphere could be ducted into the engine intake for combustion. Preliminary results show that applications of closed crankcase systems could reduce emissions from these sites by 1–11% while modifying these systems to include the losses from compressor seal vents and storage tanks could yield potential reductions in methane emissions by 10–57%.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Radiation hardness studies of InGaAs photodiodes at 30, 52, & 98 MeV and fluences to 10^10 protons/cm^2

We report the effects of radiation damage due to ionizing protons on InGaAs photodiodes. The photodiodes were irradiated at energies of 30, 52, and 98 MeV and fluences up to 1010 protons/cm2 in experiments at the Indiana University Cyclotron Facility. The photodiodes were tested for changes in their dark current, their relative responsivity as a function of wavelength from 1000 - 1600 nm, and their absolute responsivity in narrow bandpasses spread throughout the same wavelength region. The measurements were all made with detectors traceable to NIST standards. At these exposures and energies, the most significant effects are seen in the dark current levels.
The Oligomeric State of Human Alpha-Defensin 1 in Solution

Defensins are small (18-45 amino acids) proteins present in organisms from plants to humans. They function as host defense peptides, assisting the immune system cells in killing phagocytosed bacteria, and are also active against fungi and viruses. The defensins mode of action is membrane permeabilization - forming fatal, pore-like membrane defects in microbial cells. Since membrane permeabilization models require formation of protein dimers or higher oligomers to open pores in the membrane, the defensins propensity to oligomerize is important to their function and is recently a subject of many research projects. Studying oligomerization of small proteins and peptides presents many challenges. Several methods are suitable to detect oligomeric species, especially after chemical cross-linking, but only the light scattering and analytical ultracentrifugation based measurements allow estimating the equilibrium oligomerization constants without chemical modification of proteins. Still, low scattering light intensity, high diffusion and slow sedimentation rates of peptides make obtaining accurate results difficult. We will present a detailed study of the human alpha-defensin 1 (HNP1) oligomerization. HNP1, prevalent in human neutrophil granulocytes, is not only a potent antimicrobial agent, but was also shown to have cytotoxic activity against many mammalian tumor cells in vitro.
Effect of signal delay on auditory detection with gated noise

Monaural and binaural detection of a gated signal is more difficult when the noise is gated simultaneously with the signal than when the noise is continuous. As the onset of the signal is delayed, binaural detection improves quite rapidly. Monaural detection improves with signal delay, but at a slower rate. The results are interpreted in terms of signal detection theory.
Neutron detection gamma ray sensitivity criteria

The shortage of 3He has triggered the search for effective alternative neutron detection technologies for national security and safeguards applications. Any new detection technology must satisfy two basic criteria: (1) it must meet a neutron detection efficiency requirement, and (2) it must be insensitive to gamma-ray interference at a prescribed level, while still meeting the neutron detection requirement. It is the purpose of this paper to define measureable gamma ray sensitivity criteria for neutron detectors. Quantitative requirements are specified for: intrinsic gamma ray detection efficiency and gamma ray absolute rejection. The ratio GARRn is defined, and it is proposed that the requirement for neutron detection be 0.9 < GARRn < 1.1 at a 10 mR/h exposure rate. An example of results from a 3He based neutron detector are provided showing that this technology can meet the stated requirements. Results from tests of some alternative technologies are also reported.
Where techne meets poesis: some semiotic considerations in the rhetoric of technical discourse

Stylistic analysis of scientific and technical prose reveals that technical and non-technical expository prose share a number of common characteristics; consequently, common assumptions about a cle...
Preparation of second buffer layers on IBAD tapes by PLD

Abstract We have studied the crystalline texture improvement of the second buffer layers of Gd 2 Zr 2 O 7 and CeO 2 grown by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) on the first buffer layer of biaxially aligned Gd 2 Zr 2 O 7 film, which formed by ion-beam-assisted deposition (IBAD) with Δ φ of 10° on metal tape. The Δ φ for the second buffer layers rapidly decreased with the thickness, and reached 5° at the thickness of 1.4 and 0.8 μm, for Gd 2 Zr 2 O 7 and CeO 2 , respectively. TEM observations indicated that sharply textured second buffer layers had largely grown grains with the diameters near 1 μm. Severe contrasts in TEM from dense defect structures were observed in the initial growth stage of PLD, which gradually relaxed with the growth thickness. J C of 2.9 MA/cm 2 were obtained in a 10 cm long Y-123 film by using the sharply aligned CeO 2 second buffer layer on IBAD-Gd 2 Zr 2 O 7 template tape.
Two-point boundary value problems with eigenvalue parameter contained in the boundary conditions

In this paper it is shown that the analysis of Titchmarsh's book [32] for regular Sturm-Liouville problems on a finite closed interval carries over readily to regular problems involving the eigenvalue parameter in the boundary condition at one end-point. The manner in which this type of problem is associated with a self-adjoint operator in Hilbert space has recently been pointed out by Walter in [36], and his operator-theoretic formulation is adopted here. The use of the eigenfunction expansion is illustrated by applying it to solve a heat-conduction problem for a solid in contact with a fluid.
Parameter Space Decomposition for Selection of the Axial and Radial Depth of Cut in Endmilling

Feeds and speeds for conventional endmilling operations have been empirically investigated and extensively tabulated [1]. However, the selection of the geometric cutting parameters, the axial and radial depths of cut, remains an inexact science. Observation of mechanistic process simulation predictions reveal a relatively complex topology resulting from the multiple cutting flutes of conventional endmilling cutters as the axial and radial depths of cut are varied. A partitioning approach is presented that explicitly enumerates the transition events due to the entrance and exit of the individual cutting flutes. The resulting simplified optimization formulation permits selection of the axial and radial depth of cut that most efficiently satisfy critical simulation predictions such as maximum cutting force or form error. Case studies are presented illustrating the application of the method to select the cutting parameters in climb milling. The optimization objective in the case studies is to maximize the material removal rate, subject to the process induced constraints. Results suggest that operating at the extremes of either axial or radial engagement may in various instances be preferable to more conventional combinations of depth and width of cut. Certain regions of the parameter space are observed to be necessarily sub-optimal relative to particular planning constraints, while other regions are found to contain particularly attractive operating points.
Designing with the human memory in mind

This tutorial provides a "hands-on" (actually, "minds-on") exploration of several basic processes and phenomena of human memory. The emphasis is on developing both intuitive and formal knowledge that can serve as background knowledge which will be useful in interpreting design guidelines and in making educated design judgments when design guidelines fail, conflict, or are nonexistent. The demonstrations used emphasize basic general phenomena with which any theory of memory must deal. In addition, the tutorial suggests some of the implications of these phenomena for designing interactive computing systems.
Linear-quadratic Gaussian with loop-transfer recovery methodology for the F-100 engine

The design of a multivariable feedback control system for the F-100 turbofan jet engine is a challenging task for control engineers. This paper employs a linearized model of the F-100 engine to demonstrate the use of the newly developed linear-quadratic Gaussian with loop-transfer recovery design methodology that adopts an in- tegrated frequency and time-domain approach to multivariable feedback control synthesis so as to meet stability robustness, command following, and disturbance rejection specifications. ODERN turbofan jet engines represent an important multiple-input/multiple-output (MIMO) control ap- plication area since the dynamic coordination of fuel flow and several engine geometry variables can lead to improved performance and efficiency, while maintaining safe fan and compression stall margins. Indeed, the MIMO feedback con- trol of turbofan and turboshaft engine has received a great deal of attention in the past few years.1"8 The F-100 turbofan engine was used as a main design exam- ple for which different MIMO control methodologies were employed. The so-called linear-quadratic-regulator (LQR) ap- proach9'10 was the basis of engineering designs and evaluations1"4 that required the feedback of several F-100 state variables. In the past five years significant advances have been made in integrating time-domain optimization-based approaches (such as LQR and linear-quadratic Gaussian (LQG)) with fre- quency domain approaches. Such an integrated frequency- domain and state-space approach to MIMO control systems design was pioneered by Stein and his colleagues11"14 and has culminated to the so-called linear-quadratic Gaussian with loop-transfer recovery (LQG/LTR) methodology for MIMO feedback control synthesis. The primary objective of this paper is to illustrate the LQG/LTR design methodology using a four-input/fou r- output linear model of the F-100 engine. Specifically, we stress how MIMO command following and disturbance rejection performance specifications, as well as stability robustness specifications are naturally posed in the frequency domain us- ing the singular values of suitably defined loop-transfer matrices. Then, we demonstrate how the LQG/LTR design procedure is used to meet the posed specifications. Further-
On the Boundedness and Compactness of Operators of Hankel Type

Abstract Boundedness and compactness results are obtained for commutators of multiplication operators with a general class of integral operators J of a critical homogeneity which are modeled on the Bergman projection. It is shown that the commutator [ M f , J ] is bounded or compact on L p whenever the function ƒ is in an appropriately defined BMO or VMO space, respectively. Special cases of the general results include commutators with the Bergman projection in strictly pseudoconvex domains in C n and finite type domains in C 2 . In addition, it is shown that, in the case of the Bergman projection in a strictly pseudoconvex domain, the sufficient condition is also necessary.
Cyclophane capsule motifs with side pockets.

Neutral and charged multitopic cyclophane-capped anion hosts connected by three or four diamide/monoamine chains and a decomposition product with two chains have been synthesized and characterized. The chains in the two former hosts fold together to form one or two binding pockets, respectively, and FHF− and several phosphate complexes have been obtained with the anions nestled in these pockets. The decomposition product also shows propensity for binding dicarboxylates, as evidenced by an isophthalate crystal structure.
Decadal variability of tropical Pacific temperature in relation to solar cycles

Abstract We use the 8-year long satellite temperature data (2002–2010) from Atmospheric InfraRed Sounder (AIRS) and Atmospheric Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU) on the Aqua satellite to identify temperature trends in the troposphere and low stratosphere over the Nino 3.4 region of the Tropical Pacific Ocean in the most recent 11-year solar cycle. Employing more extended sea surface temperature (SST) data for five solar cycles (1950–2009) in this region we show that the satellite trends reflect a typical decrease of the sea surface temperature (SST) in the Nino 3.4 region in the declining phase of the solar cycle. The magnitude of the SST decrease depends on the solar cycle and ranges between 0.07 K/yr and 0.27 K/yr for the last five solar cycles.
Femtosecond Electronic Relaxation Dynamics in Metal Nano-Particles: Effects of Surface and Size Confinement

Abstract Direct measurements of the electron dynamics in gold colloidal nano-particles are performed using femtosecond laser spectroscopy. The small size of the panicles is found to render electronic relaxation substantially slower (7 ps) than in gold thin films (1 ps). This is attributed to weaker electron-phonon coupling and less hot electron transport in small particles. This observation is qualitatively consistent with theory but, quantitatively, much less drastic than predicted. The discrepancy between experiment and theory is primarily attributed to surface imperfection.
Motivating endosome motility

The GTPase Rab5 regulates the fusion of early endosomes. Activated Rab5 interacts with phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase and with the endosome-tethering protein EEA1. These interactions lead to enhanced motility of endosomes along microtubules.
Synthesis of N3, 5'-Cyclo-4-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)-vic-triazolo[4,5-b]pyridin-5-one, a novel compound with anti-hepatitis C virus activity

A novel anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) agent, N3,5‘-cyclo-4-(β-d-ribofuranosyl)-vic-triazolo[4,5-b]pyridinin-5-one, was identified, and the structure was confirmed by chemical synthesis from 2-hydroxy-5-nitropyridine.
The UCSB electrostatic accelerator free electron laser: First operation

Abstract A far-infrared, free electron laser, driven by a 3 MeV electrostatic accelerator modified for electron beam recovery, is described. In its initial operation at 400 μm, it has produced 10 kW peak power in 50 μs pulses whose time and frequency structure show unexpected behavior.
Pediatric risk of malignancy index for preoperative evaluation of childhood ovarian tumors

Purpose This study aimed to develop and provisionally validate a novel scoring index for preoperative cancer-risk prediction in childhood ovarian tumors.
Quantitative thermodynamic analyses of spectroscopic titration curves

Elucidation of ligand - macromolecule interactions requires detailed knowledge of energetics of the formed complexes. Spectroscopic methods are most commonly used in characterizing molecular interactions in solution. The methods do not require large quantities of material and most importantly, do not perturb the studied reactions. However, spectroscopic methods absolutely require the determination of the relationship between the observed signal and the degree of binding in order to obtain meaningful interaction parameters. In other words, the meaningful, thermodynamic interaction parameters can be only determined if the relationship between the observed signal and the degree of binding is determined and not assumed, based on an ad hoc model of the relationship. The approaches discussed here allow an experimenter to quantitatively determine the degree of binding and the free ligand concentration, i.e., they enable to construct thermodynamic binding isotherms in a model-independent fashion.
Repair of lesions which cause premature termination of transcription in chicken embryo cells irradiated with ultraviolet light.

Abstract The dose-response curves for the synthesis of rRNA and avian sarcoma virus mRNA, after irradiation of virus-infected chicken embryo fibrolast cells, have shoulders ( P. B. Hackett, H. E. Varmus, and J. M. Bishop, 1981. Virology , 112 , 714–728 ). We tested the hypothesis that the shoulders were the result of dark repair of transcription-terminating lesions after irradiation by measuring the amounts of rRNA synthesized at various times after the uv dose was applied. Our data support the hypothesis and indicated that the rate of repair in transcribed genes of chicken cells is about one or two lesions removed per 10 6 base pairs of DNA per minute during the first 3 hr after irradiation.
Privacy in location-based services: a system architecture perspective

Location-based services (LBS, for short) are information and entertainment services that are conveniently accessible by mobile users through GPS-enabled portable devices and mobile networks (e.g., 2G/3G cellular telephone and Wi-Fi networks). Examples of LBS include resource finding (e.g., where is my nearest gas station), route finding (e.g., what is the shortest route from my current location to a shopping mall, social networking (e.g., where are my friends), and location-based gaming (e.g., GPS online game). LBS rely mainly on an implicit assumption that mobile users are willing to reveal their private locations. With untrustworthy LBS providers, the revealed private location information could be abused by adversaries. For example, an adversary may infer a user's medical record by knowing that she regularly visits a specialized clinic. There are already several life scenarios that took place where personal GPS locations are abused, e.g., see [8, 27, 28].
The MHV68 M2 protein drives IL-10 dependent B cell proliferation and differentiation.

Murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV68) establishes long-term latency in memory B cells similar to the human gammaherpesvirus Epstein Barr Virus (EBV). EBV encodes an interleukin-10 (IL-10) homolog and modulates cellular IL-10 expression; however, the role of IL-10 in the establishment and/or maintenance of chronic EBV infection remains unclear. Notably, MHV68 does not encode an IL-10 homolog, but virus infection has been shown to result in elevated serum IL-10 levels in wild-type mice, and IL-10 deficiency results in decreased establishment of virus latency. Here we show that a unique MHV68 latency-associated gene product, the M2 protein, is required for the elevated serum IL-10 levels observed at 2 weeks post-infection. Furthermore, M2 protein expression in primary murine B cells drives high level IL-10 expression along with increased secretion of IL-2, IL-6, and MIP-1α. M2 expression was also shown to significantly augment LPS driven survival and proliferation of primary murine B cells. The latter was dependent on IL-10 expression as demonstrated by the failure of IL10−/− B cells to proliferate in response to M2 protein expression and rescue of M2-associated proliferation by addition of recombinant murine IL-10. M2 protein expression in primary B cells also led to upregulated surface expression of the high affinity IL-2 receptor (CD25) and the activation marker GL7, along with down-regulated surface expression of B220, MHC II, and sIgD. The cells retained CD19 and sIgG expression, suggesting differentiation to a pre-plasma memory B cell phenotype. These observations are consistent with previous analyses of M2-null MHV68 mutants that have suggested a role for the M2 protein in expansion and differentiation of MHV68 latently infected B cells—perhaps facilitating the establishment of virus latency in memory B cells. Thus, while the M2 protein is unique to MHV68, analysis of M2 function has revealed an important role for IL-10 in MHV68 pathogenesis—identifying a strategy that appears to be conserved between at least EBV and MHV68.
Synthesis of CC-1065 and duocarmycin analogs via intramolecular aryl radical cyclization of a tethered vinyl chloride

Abstract The 5- exo - trig radical cyclization of an aryl halide onto a tethered vinyl chloride produces the 3-chloromethyl dihydroindole precursors for CC-1065 and duocarmycin analogs with chlorine installed as a suitable leaving group for subsequent cyclopropane spirocyclization. The generality of this approach was examined in the context of six CC-1065 and duocarmycin analogs previously synthesized in this laboratory.
Isolation and characterization of γδ T lymphocyte cell lines from Sinclair swine peripheral blood

Abstract Sinclair miniature swine represent a breed of miniature swine which display a significant incidence of inheritable melanoma which undergo a developmentally regulated spontaneous regression. In an attempt to characterize the host cellular immune response to the melanoma, lymphocyte cell lines have been generated from peripheral blood and designated as peripheral blood lymphocyte cell lines (PBLCLs). The cell lines were expanded in vitro without the addition of exogenous mediators, cloned by limiting dilution, and characterized by flow microfluorimetry, Western, and Northern blot analysis. The cell lines were shown to be CD2−, CD4−, CD8−, and slg−, a phenotype consistent with a null cell population described in swine. The null cell population in swine has been reported to consist of a subpopulation of cells which express the γδ T cell receptor (TCR) heterodimer, swine γδ T lymphocytes. The PBLCLs were further analyzed by flow microfluorimetry and observed to express the IL-2R, swine MHC Class II antigens, and the endothelial lymphocyte adhesion marker (CD44), which can function as a homing receptor for the skin. In addition, the PBLCLs were observed to express the antigen which is recognized by mAb 86D, an antibody that has been reported to recognize an external epitope on a subset of γδ TCR bearing swine T lymphocytes. Western blot analysis of Triton X-114 phase fractions of a PBLCL revealed a protein recognized by the W6 antibody, an antibody which recognizes a conserved region of the Cδ chain. Furthermore, Southern and Northern blot analysis indicated that the PBLCL have rearranged the TCR γ chain gene and express mRNA from the TCR γ and δ chain genes prior to and following treatment with ionomycin or Concanavalin A. Therefore, the data indicates that the PBLCLs represent swine γδ T lymphocyte cell lines which should enable us to enhance our understanding of the role of γδ T lymphocytes in the porcine immune system.
Wireless non-contact measurement of human's heartbeat and bloodflow with microwave interferometry

We present a technique for measuring human's heart beat and blood flow. The technique is based on interferometry at radio frequency (RF) and can produce very fine resolution and fast response. RF interferometry is a process detecting the change of phase and capable of resolving any physical quantity being measured within a fraction of the operating wavelength. It has relatively faster system response time than other techniques due to the fact that it is typically operated with a single-frequency source rather than across a frequency range. In measurement of heart beat and blood flow in the human body, a RF signal is used as the irradiating source and the change of the phase of the return signal over time is detected in the signal processing. This phase change is processed to extract the Doppler frequency shift used for calculating the heart beat or blood flow. Accurate wireless non-contact measurement of human's heart beat and blood flow with RF interferometry will advance the practice of medicine and promise substantial benefits to patients and medical professionals.
The Arf-Kervaire problem in algebraic topology: Sketch of the proof

We provide a sketch of the proof of the non-existence of Ker- vaire Invariant one manifolds using equivariant homotopy theory (15). A treatment of the statement and history of the problem can be found in "The Arf-Kervaire problem in algebraic topology: Introduction". Our goal here is to introduce the reader to the techniques used to prove the result and to familiarize them with the kinds of computations needed.
Mediating factors in the development of psychopathology in victims of childhood sexual abuse

The effects of sexual abuse and victim-offender characteristics have been studied extensively in relation to short- and long-term psychological consequences. However, few studies have focused on mediating factors in the development of psychological sequelae associated with sexual abuse. Three hundred seventy-nine students at Washington State University were recruited from psychology courses and administered a battery of assessments. These assessments included a modified version of Groth's Sexual Victimization questionnaire, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), and the Ways of Coping Questionnaire. Results revealed that 115 subjects (30%) reported at least one level of sexual abuse before the age of 18 years. Significant differences on the main effect of abuse were found between abused and nonabused subjects on selected validity, clinical, and research scales of the MMPI. When family dysfunction was covaried, no differences were found between abused and nonabused subjects on the main effect of abuse, suggesting that family dysfunction did not account for differences between groups. In addition, a main effect of psychopathology was found between victims who reported high and those who reported lower levels of psychopathology. Differences between subjects with a history of abuse and those with no history of abuse were found on the confrontive coping, escape-avoidance, self-controlling, and distancing scales. Finally, significant differences on the main effect of abuse were found between victims who had experienced more frequent abuse and who were more familiar to the offender and victims who were less frequently abused and less familiar to the offender. Differences were found on several clinical and research scales of the MMPI and on the self-control, accepting responsibility, and escape-avoidance scales of the Ways of Coping Questionnaire. The victims who were more frequently abused and familiar with the offender had elevated scores when compared to other victims. Mediating factors, such as coping, seemed to play some role in the long-term effects of sexual abuse. Recommendations for future research in the area of other possible mediating factors and longitudinal research are suggested.