cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genetics of life span in mice

Thymic involution that occurs earlier in some individuals than others may be the result of complex interactions between genetic factors and the environment. Such interactions may produce defects of thymus-dependent immune regulation associated with susceptibility to developing autoimmune diseases, malignancy, and an increased number of infections associated with aging. The major histocompatibility complex may be important in determining profiles of cause of death and length of life in mice. Genetic influences on life span involve interactions between loci and allelic interactions during life which may change following viral infections or exposure to other environmental factors. We have used different experimental protocols to study the influence of H-2 on life span and found that interactions between genetic regions, are inconsistent, particularly when comparing mice infected or not infected with Sendai virus. Genes important for life span need to be studied against many genetic backgrounds and under differing environmental conditions because of the complexity of the genetics of life span. Several genetic models were used to demonstrate that the MHC is a marker of life span in backcross and intercross male mice of the H-2d and H-2b genotypes in B10 congenic mice. Females lived longer than males in backcross and intercross mice, while males lived longer than females in B10 congenics. H-2d was at a disadvantage for life span in backcross mice of the dilute brown and brown males exposed to Sendai infection, but intercross mice not exposed to Sendai virus of the same genotype were not at a disadvantage. H-2d mice were not disadvantaged when compared to H-2b in B10 congenics that had not been exposed to Sendai virus infection but the reverse was true when they were exposed. Overall, all our studies suggest that genetic influences in life span may involve interactions between loci and many allelic interactions in growing animals or humans. These genetic influences on life span may vary after they are exposed to infections or other environmental conditions. This paper emphasizes the need to use several genetic models, especially animals that have been monitored for infections, to study the genetics of life span.
Signs of sedentism and mobility in an agro-pastoral community during the Levantine Middle Bronze Age: Interpreting site function and occupation strategy at Zahrat adh-Dhra‘ 1 in Jordan

Abstract Successfully interpreting levels of permanence at archaeological sites is frequently hampered by the difficulty of correlating sedentary or mobile behavior with specific material culture traits. Owing to the diversity of occupation strategies, which can combine varying levels of permanence with any number of economic subsistence strategies and behavioral characteristics, archaeologists have remained divided over which methodological approaches are the most suitable. In the southern Levant, sedentary and mobile groups enjoyed a close and persistent relationship, which stimulated a flexible approach to occupation strategies, and allowed for fluctuations in levels of permanence among the same social groups through time. Such fluctuations have generated a problematic material record that can contain signs of both sedentary and mobile behaviors. Examination of the agriculturally marginal Middle Bronze II settlement of Zahrat adh-Dhra‘ 1, located on the Dead Sea Plain of Jordan, illustrates the difficulties associated with interpreting occupation strategies for southern Levantine sites. The material culture record from the site, comprising evidence for economic subsistence, trade, settlement and behavior, provides at times conflicting signals for a sedentary, semi-sedentary (transhumant), or possibly non-sedentary occupation. Due to a lack of clearly prescribed indices for interpreting the permanence levels of sites, interpretations must rely on a flexible, inductive approach, which seeks to balance suites of evidence in preference to a rigid correlation with ethnographically derived models.
Relationship Proximity to Victims of Witnessed Community Violence: Associations With Adolescent Internalizing and Externalizing Behaviors

The high numbers of youth witnessing community violence, and the adverse emotional, behavioral, and physical health problems that may result, are significant public health concerns for adolescents between the ages of 15 and 24 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2006; U.S. Surgeon General, 2001). Rates of witnessing community violence far exceed the rates of victimization (Kennedy, 2008; Lambert, Ialongo, Boyd, & Cooley, 2005; Sheidow, Gorman-Smith, Tolan, & Henry, 2001; Weist, Acosta, & Youngstrom, 2001), and research has found that, on average, between 76% and 98% of adolescents have witnessed community violence at least once during their lifetime (Campbell & Schwarz, 1996; Gorman-Smith, Henry, & Tolan, 2004; Rosenthal, 2000). Of concern, a recent meta-analysis showed similar negative effects for youth witnessing and being victimized by community violence (Fowler, Tompsett, Braciszewski, Jacques-Tiura, & Baltes, 2009), highlighting the importance of examining under what conditions youth’s witnessing community violence results in emotional and behavioral difficulties. Youth’s relationship to the victim of community violence may determine, in part, how they respond to witnessing community violence. Thus, the present study examines whether relationship proximity to the victim of witnessed community violence is important for understanding whether adolescents who have witnessed community violence experience internalizing and externalizing problems.
Pathogenic and host range determinants of the feline aplastic anemia retrovirus

Abstract Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) C-Sarma (or FSC) is a prototype of subgroup C FeLVs, which induce fatal aplastic anemia in outbred specific-pathogen-free (SPF) cats. FeLV C isolates also possess an extended host range in vitro, including an ability, unique among FeLVs, to replicate in guinea pig cells. To identify the viral determinants responsible for the pathogenicity and host range of FSC we constructed a series of proviral DNAs by exchanging gene fragments between FSC and FeLV-61E (or F6A), the latter of which is minimally pathogenic and whose host range in vitro is restricted to feline cells. Transfer of an 886-base-pair (bp) fragment of FSC, encompassing the codons for 73 amino acids at the 3' end of pol (the integrase/endonuclease gene) and the codons for 241 amino acids of the N-terminal portion of env [the extracellular glycoprotein (gp70) gene], into the F6A genome was sufficient to confer onto chimeric viruses the ability to induce fatal aplastic anemia in SPF cats. In contrast, no chimera lacking this sequence induced disease. When assayed in vitro, all chimeric viruses containing the 886-bp fragment of FSC acquired the ability to replicate in heterologous cells, including dog and guinea pig cells. Thus, the pathogenic and the host range determinants of the feline aplastic anemia retrovirus colocalize to a 3' pol-5' env region of the FSC genome and likely reside within a region encoding 241 amino acid residues of the N terminus of the extracellular glycoprotein.
High-density lipoprotein and its apolipoproteins inhibit cytolytic activity of complement. Studies on the nature of inhibitory moiety

Abstract Human high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and its apolipoproteins A-1 and A-II inhibit complement-mediated lysis of human and sheep erythrocytes. This inhibitory activity under study is exerted after C9 is bound to membrane-associated C5b-8 complexes but prior to completed assembly and insertion of the C5b-9 complex. In this paper, we define some structure-activity relationships of the inhibitory moiety. With the exception of weak lytic inhibitory activity found in LDL/VLDL pools and in some unconcentrated minor fractions of plasma obtained by hydrophobic chromatography, all inhibitor activity was found in fractions which contained either apolipoprotein A-I, apolipoprotein A-II, or both. Intact HDL has a high level of inhibitor activity but delipidation by chloroform-methanol extraction was associated with an increase in activity on a protein-weight basis. Purified apolipoprotein A-I and apolipoprotein A-II exhibited equal inhibitory activity, greater than that exhibited by intact HDL. Nevertheless, ultracentrifugal fractions in which no free apolipoproteins could be demonstrated still possessed inhibitory activity. These experiments suggest that delipidation of HDL is not necessary for expression of inhibitor activity, although we could not rule out the possibility that apolipoproteins in dynamic equilibrium with HDL are responsible for the inhibitor activity observed in whole serum and plasma and in HDL preparations. Limited proteinase digestion completely abolished the inhibitory activity of partially delipidated HDL. Phospholipase C had little or no effect on the inhibitory activity of delipidated HDL, apolipoprotein A-I or apolipoprotein A-II, but reduced the inhibitory activity of intact HDL. These data suggest that the phospholipid polar headgroups are not necessary for inhibitory activity. However, the loss of these headgroups is associated with decreased activity, possibly due to increased hydrophobicity of HDL, or increased association among HDL micelles, and subsequent decrease in effective molar concentration of the inhibitory moiety.
Presentation of the 2009 Roebling Medal of the Mineralogical Society of America to Alexandra Navrotsky

It is with great pleasure that I introduce Alexandra (“Alex”) Navrotsky as recipient of the Mineralogical Society of America’s highest honor, the Roebling Medal. I have known Alex for over 25 years, first as my Ph.D. advisor and mentor, and now as a friend and colleague. Alex is quite simply one of the outstanding scientists of our generation. Her research activities have centered on the thermodynamics and stability of minerals and ceramic materials. Starting as an experimentalist with a specialty in high-temperature solution calorimetry, she has since incorporated a diversity of other experimental as well as theoretical techniques to provide a global picture of the structure and bonding features responsible for the properties and phase relations of the system under study. Alex is a great synthesist of experimental and theoretical data, with the ability to understand and construct grand themes of physical behaviour ranging from the macroscopic to the nanoscale. She was one of the early “mineral physicists”, defining and giving sense to that new field of study. Below, I highlight just a few of the achievements of this remarkable member of our community. Alex’s first area of major …
A cumulative report on the biomedical engineering research experiences for undergraduates program at Purdue University

The highest need for engineers in the next decade will be in the biomedical sector. For this reason, the objective of the present study was to increase exposure and interest in biomedical engineering (BME) through a National Science Foundation (NSF) sponsored Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program at Purdue University. To meet this goal, undergraduate students participating in the program (http://www.ecn.purdue.edu/BME/REU) conducted BME-related research on the Purdue campus during the summers of 2001-2003. Of these students, 82% were either females or underrepresented minorities and 70% had not had hands-on BME experiences at their undergraduate institution prior to the REU program. REU students attended weekly lab meetings, visited BME industries, made operating room/clinic trips, attended a bioethics series, prepared and presented 4'/spl times/6' research posters, and gave formal 30-minute long oral presentations to Purdue students/faculty/staff and visiting faculty. In addition, the research conducted over the summers by these outstanding students has resulted in 22 manuscripts and 33 abstracts that have been presented at national BME-related conferences, including three REU students who have been recognized with research awards. Finally, survey results provided evidence that REU participants were extremely pleased with the experience and were more likely to enroll in BME graduate programs at the conclusion of the REU program.
Expert Blind Spot Among Preservice Teachers

This study (N = 48) examined the relationship between preservice secondary teachers’ subject-matter expertise in mathematics and their judgments of students’ algebra problem-solving difficulty. As predicted by the “expert blind spot” hypothesis, participants with more advanced mathematics education, regardless of their program affiliation or teaching plans, were more likely to view symbolic reasoning and mastery of equations as a necessary prerequisite for word equations and story problem solving. This view is in contrast with students’ actual performance patterns. An examination across several subject areas, including mathematics, science, and language arts, suggests a common pattern. This article considers how teachers’ developmental views may influence classroom practice and professional development, and calls into question policies that seek to streamline the licensure process of new teachers on the basis of their subject-matter expertise.
Advanced Educational Technologies -- Promise and Puzzlement

Enormous sums of money and human effort have gone into educational technologies over the past decade. Yet nagging questions surface as to whether this tremendous investment produces advantageous results. While we intuitively feel that the influence of technology should be substantial, little sound guidance exists as to what is effective and why or how to use it. We seem to have cleared several of the hurdles for building a computer-aided instruction infrastructure; now we must turn our attention to richer understandings of research into the impact of technologies in the classroom. This special issue of the Journal of Universal Computer Science focuses on assessment and evaluation practices. The six articles in this collection have been clustered around three major issues: (1) pragmatics -- cost estimations and product reviews, (2) measuring the effectiveness of theory-driven design, (3) extending paradigms for capturing more profound understanding of variables and outcomes. Category: K.3 - Computers and Education
Ultraviolet light resistance of vinyl miniblinds. Part 2: Reaction products formed by lead in air

Accelerated ultraviolet light aging was carried out using lead stabilized commercial vinyl miniblinds as well as a vinyl composition designed for outdoor use. The levels of surface lead found after such exposure were compared to results obtained in the field by the North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources (DEHNR).
Active data collection for efficient estimation and comparison of nonlinear neural models

The stimulus-response relationship of many sensory neurons is nonlinear, but fully quantifying this relationship by a complex nonlinear model may require too much data to be experimentally tractable. Here we present a theoretical study of a general two-stage computational method that may help to significantly reduce the number of stimuli needed to obtain an accurate mathematical description of nonlinear neural responses. Our method of active data collection first adaptively generates stimuli that are optimal for estimating the parameters of competing nonlinear models and then uses these estimates to generate stimuli online that are optimal for discriminating these models. We applied our method to simple hierarchical circuit models, including nonlinear networks built on the spatiotemporal or spectral-temporal receptive fields, and confirmed that collecting data using our two-stage adaptive algorithm was far more effective for estimating and comparing competing nonlinear sensory processing models than standard nonadaptive methods using random stimuli.
EUV sources for Lithography

Pressed by the demands of the impending implementation of Extreme UV Lithography at the end of the decade, several competing EUV light source technologies vie to capture a billion dollar market. Here we review this exciting competition.
Effects of cyproterone acetate on associations of spermatozoa and seminal vesicles in the guinea pig

The effects of subcutaneous injections of cyproterone acetate (CA) on the formation and maintenance of epididymal spermatozoa in rouleaux and seminal vesicle weights were observed in guinea pigs. Sexually mature and immature males were assigned to groups: 1) CA-injected, 2) oil-injected, and 3) untreated controls. An additional group of mature animals was castrated. Injections were given as CA (10 mg/day for 25 days to immatures and 30 mg/day for 21 days to adults) in 0.2 ml benzyl benzoate-castor oil or the oil vehicle only. Seminal vesicle weights were significantly decreased in CA-treated and castrated males. In the cauda epididymis of adult CA-treated animals, rouleaux were absent in segment 5 but present in segment 6. In immature animals, rouleaux were present throughout the cauda. CA did not block rouleau maintenance, however, the higher dosage of the antiandrogen inhibited rouleau formation in adults.
FIELD RESEARCH METHODS IN STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT: CONTRIBUTIONS TO THEORY BUILDING AND TESTING*

This article discusses the contributions that field methods have made to the theory-development process in strategic management. Field studies drawn from the literature are classified according to their research goal (description, explanation, or prediction) and according to whether they built or tested theory. the overall conclusion is that field research methods will continue to be used heavily to develop strategy theory. However, certain conditions must be met to maximize the contribution of field methods to strategy research. These conditions include a balanced research agenda, multifaceted research approaches, innovative datagathering techniques, and an applied futuristic orientation.
SNR Estimation for M-ARY Non-Coherent Frequency Shift Keying Systems

This paper considers how to estimate the average signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for a communication system employing orthogonal non-coherent M-ARY frequency shift keying (NCMFSK), in white Gaussian noise (AWGN) and over both symbol-by-symbol fading channels and block fading channels. The proposed algorithm finds its application in a variety of applications including a cooperative transmission system, which is the main motivation behind this study. The maximum likelihood estimator and one using data statistics have been derived and simulated for various scenarios including data-aided, non-data aided and joint estimation using both the data and pilot sequences. We also derive the Cramer-Rao bound for the estimators in the case of Rayleigh fading channels. The results show that for a particular region of interest (e.g. high SNR or low SNR) and depending upon the availability of pilot sequence, a particular SNR estimation scheme is suitable.
Population density and spatial pattern of sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in desert lettuce production fields

Soil population densities and spatial patterns of sclerotia produced by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum were determined in six commercial lettuce production fields with varying histories of lettuce drop in Yuma County, AZ. Each field was divided into eight approximate equal sections and in each section, a plot (10 × 20 m) was randomly selected for soil sampling. Soil cores were collected along both diagonals at 2 m intervals in each plot and sclerotia populations were determined by wet sieving. The average soil sclerotia population per plot ranged from 0.0 to 5.8/100 g soil. The highest and the lowest percent of individual soil samples with ≥ 1 sclerotia/100 g soil per plot were 63% and 7%, respectively. Three indices of dispersions - variance/mean, Morisita's index and Lloyd's index - calculated for each of the six fields indicated that sclerotia distributions were aggregated. However, in none of the fields could the sclerotia distributions be adequately described by the Poisson, negative binomial or Neyman type A distributions.
Image quality evaluation using automatic image scanning and a novel nonparametric free-response data analysis method. Application to PET energy based scatter correction evaluation

We present the application of a task-based image quality evaluation procedure that combines an automatic signal detection technique with a novel nonparametric free-response data analysis method. The procedure delivers an index measuring the detectability of signals at unknown locations, in a manner that requires only a small number of image samples, thus making it convenient for practical applications. We are using the free-response methodology, which allows for multiple marks to be retrieved from an image. An overall signal detectability metric is obtained by using an exponential transformation of the free-response operating characteristic (EFROC) curve. A nonparametric estimator with expressions for its variance calculations are presented. The procedure allows for scaling of the detectability index to any given image size, a property that makes it advantageous for application to phantom experiments in which multiple signals can be inserted, or have relatively large background volumes that can be scanned for false signals. Such experiments can provide substantial signal detectability information with only a few images. We apply this technique to evaluate an energy-based scatter estimation method for PET, which is used in conjunction with an image reconstruction algorithm that incorporates energy-dependent corrections for scatter and random coincidences [Phys. Med. Biol. 51 (2006) 2919–2937]. A comparison of PET time-of-flight (TOF) performance versus no-TOF is also presented.
Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase of Mycobacterium tuberculosis contributes to survival in activated macrophages that are generating an oxidative burst.

Macrophages produce reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species that have potent antimicrobial activity. Resistance to killing by macrophages is critical to the virulence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. M. tuberculosis has two genes encoding superoxide dismutase proteins, sodA and sodC. SodC is a Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase responsible for only a minor portion of the superoxide dismutase activity of M. tuberculosis. However, SodC has a lipoprotein binding motif, which suggests that it may be anchored in the membrane to protect M. tuberculosis from reactive oxygen intermediates at the bacterial surface. To examine the role of the Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase in protecting M. tuberculosis from the toxic effects of exogenously generated reactive oxygen species, we constructed a null mutation in the sodC gene. In this report, we show that the M. tuberculosis sodC mutant is readily killed by superoxide generated externally, while the isogenic parental M. tuberculosis is unaffected under these conditions. Furthermore, the sodC mutant has enhanced susceptibility to killing by gamma interferon (IFN-γ)-activated murine peritoneal macrophages producing oxidative burst products but is unaffected by macrophages not activated by IFN-γ or by macrophages from respiratory burst-deficient mice. These observations establish that the Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase contributes to the resistance of M. tuberculosis against oxidative burst products generated by activated macrophages.
Enzymatic and transcriptional regulation of human ecto-ATPase/E-NTPDase 2.

We have characterized the regulation of expressed human ecto-ATPase (E-NTPDase 2), a cell surface integral membrane glycoprotein. Ecto-ATPase activity is inhibited by parameters that decrease membrane protein interaction, i.e., detergents and high temperatures. These inhibitory effects are overcome when membranes are pretreated with concanavalin A or chemical cross-linking agents that increase the amounts of ecto-ATPase oligomers. Cross-linking agents also abrogate substrate inactivation of the ecto-ATPase, a unique characteristic of the enzyme. These effects indicate that the magnitude of negative substrate regulation is dependent on quaternary structures of the protein, which likely involves interaction of transmembrane domains. The importance of transmembrane domains of ecto-ATPase in activity modulation is demonstrated further by the stimulatory effect of digitonin, a steroid glycoside that preferentially interacts with cholesterol in the membranes but does not promote oligomer formation. These results indicate that ecto-ATPase activity is regulated by a multitude of mechanisms, some of which may have physiological significance. Ecto-ATPase is also susceptible to transcriptional regulation. Ecto-ATPase gene expression is increased in a human hepatoma whereas it is undetectable in the normal liver.
The adenovirus death protein (E3-11.6K) is required at very late stages of infection for efficient cell lysis and release of adenovirus from infected cells.

Adenovirus (Ad) infection is concluded by assembly of virions in the cell nucleus followed by lysis of cells by an unknown mechanism. We have described an Ad nuclear membrane glycoprotein of 11,600 kDa (E3-11.6K) which is encoded by the E3 transcription unit and which is synthesized in small amounts from the E3 promoter at early stages of infection but in large amounts from the major late promoter at very late stages of infection. We now report that E3-11.6K is required for the efficient lysis (death) of Ad-infected cells, and we propose that the function of E3-11.6K is to mediate the release of Ad progeny from infected cells. We have renamed E3-11.6K the Ad death protein (ADP). Virus mutants that lack ADP replicated as well as adp+ Ad, but the cells lysed more slowly, virus release from the cell was retarded, and the plaques were small and developed slowly. Cells infected with adp+ viruses began to lyse at 2 or 3 days postinfection (p.i.) and were completely lysed by 5 or 6 days p.i. In contrast, cells infected with adp mutants did not begin significant lysis until 5 or 6 days p.i. Cell lysis and viability were determined by plaque size, extracellular virus, cell morphology, release of lactate dehydrogenase, trypan blue exclusion, the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay for mitochondrial activity, RNA degradation, and DNA degradation as determined by agarose gel electrophoresis and the terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase end labeling assay. Protein synthesis was almost nonexistent at 3 days p.i. in cells infected with adp+ Ads, but it was still increasing in cells infected with adp mutants. Host cell protein synthesis was undetectable at 1 day p.i. in cells infected with adp+ Ads or adp mutants. Cells infected with adp mutants showed Ad cytopathic effect at 1 or 2 days p.i. in that they rounded up and detached, but the cells remained metabolically active and intact for >5 days p.i. When examined by electron microscopy, the nuclei were extremely swollen and full of virus, and the nuclear membrane appeared to be intact. ADP is unrelated in sequence to other known cell death-promoting proteins.
An Interview with Paul Volcker

Martin Feldstein interviewed Paul Volcker in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on July 10, 2013, as part of a conference at the National Bureau of Economic Research on "The First 100 Years of the Federal Reserve: The Policy Record, Lessons Learned, and Prospects for the Future." Volcker was Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System from 1979 through 1987. Before that, he served stints as President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York from 1975 to 1979, as Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs in the US Department of the Treasury from 1969 to 1974, as Deputy Undersecretary for Monetary Affairs in the Treasury from 1963 to 1965, and as an economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York from 1952 to 1957. He has led and served on a wide array of commissions, including chairing the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board from its inception in 2009 through 2011.
Methylation by a mutant T2 DNA [N6-adenine] methyltransferase expands the usage of RecA-assisted endonuclease (RARE) cleavage

Properties of a mutant bacteriophage T2 DNA [N:(6)-adenine] methyltransferase (T2 Dam MTase) have been investigated for its potential utilization in RecA-assisted restriction endonuclease (RARE) cleavage. Steady-state kinetic analyses with oligonucleotide duplexes revealed that, compared to wild-type T4 Dam, both wild-type T2 Dam and mutant T2 Dam P126S had a 1.5-fold higher k(cat) in methylating canonical GATC sites. Additionally, T2 Dam P126S showed increased efficiencies in methylation of non-canonical GAY sites relative to the wild-type enzymes. In agreement with these steady-state kinetic data, when bacteriophage lambda DNA was used as a substrate, maximal protection from restriction nuclease cleavage in vitro was achieved on the sequences GATC, GATN and GACY, while protection of GACR sequences was less efficient. Collectively, our data suggest that T2 Dam P126S can modify 28 recognition sequences. The feasibility of using the mutant enzyme in RARE cleavage with BCL:I and ECO:RV endonucleases has been shown on phage lambda DNA and with BCL:I and DPN:II endonucleases on yeast chromosomal DNA embedded in agarose.
Comments on ''The Goddard Coastal Wave Model. Part II: Kinematics'' *

which is identical to the governing equation of WAVEWATCH2 and represents an extension of the governing equation of WAM. The left side of this equation represents the effects of wave propagation as dictated by the dispersion relation and is inherently linear. The right side represents source and sink functions, including several effects of nonlinear wave propagation. Focusing on kinematic aspects of wave propagation, LH assume S [ 0 throughout the paper. In WAM and WAVEWATCH purely linear propagation is considered, and the characteristic velocities cg,
Abstract 718: The Association of Erectile Dysfunction with Carotid Intima Media Thickness and Endothelial Dysfunction: A Meta-Analysis

Introduction: A recent meta-analysis showed that erectile dysfunction (ED) was associated with elevated cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. However, findings from studies examining the relationship between ED and sub-clinical CVD have been conflicting. This study summarizes the current evidence related to the association of ED and vascular disease as measured by flow mediated dilation (FMD) of the endothelium and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT). Methods: We searched multiple internet databases for published literature on studies assessing the association of ED and FMD, and CIMT between 1964 and 2014. A total of 11 studies met the inclusion criteria for examining the association between ED and FMD, while 7 studies met criteria for assessing the association with CIMT. Fixed-effect and random-effect models were used to assess and compare the standardized mean difference (SMD) of FMD and CIMT between persons with and without ED. Results: From a total of 795 individual participant data (590 with and 205 without ED), persons with ED had a 0.66mm (0.49, 0.83) increase in CIMT by fixed effects model or 0.67mm (0.44, 0.90) by random effects model compared to those without ED. Similarly, from 1055 individual participant data (536 with and 419 without ED), ED was associated with a significant reduction in FMD by both fixed effect (-1.10% (95% CI: -2.10, -0.95)) and random effect models (-1.53% (95% CI: -2.10, -0.95)). There was significant heterogeneity among studies assessing the relationship between ED and FMD (I2 = 93.2%, p<0.001) but not among those comparing CIMT among persons with ED (I2 = 43.5% p=0.09). Conclusion: This study confirms that ED is associated with both worsening endothelial function and increased CIMT. Thus, worsening vascular function may be a pathogenic mechanism for increased CVD morbidity and mortality in persons with ED. A diagnosis of ED should prompt a thorough CV work-up and aggressive preventive management. ![][1] [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif
Consensus-ADMM for General Quadratically Constrained Quadratic Programming

Nonconvex quadratically constrained quadratic programming (QCQP) problems have numerous applications in signal processing, machine learning, and wireless communications, albeit the general QCQP is NP-hard, and several interesting special cases are NP-hard as well. This paper proposes a new algorithm for general QCQP. The problem is first reformulated in consensus optimization form, to which the alternating direction method of multipliers can be applied. The reformulation is done in such a way that each of the subproblems is a QCQP with only one constraint (QCQP-1), which is efficiently solvable irrespective of (non)convexity. The core components are carefully designed to make the overall algorithm more scalable, including efficient methods for solving QCQP-1, memory efficient implementation, parallel/distributed implementation, and smart initialization. The proposed algorithm is then tested in two applications: multicast beamforming and phase retrieval. The results indicate superior performance over prior state-of-the-art methods.
Explaining the Evolving Web - Mixing Technology with Pleasure

This paper provides a framework for examining what services are and will be required for consumers participating in the vast electronic market that is the Internet. There are many profound changes taking place, somewhat different than could be envisioned when Electronic Market Theory was first developed, but in general quite consistent with the theory [1, 2]. From the perspective of the service provider the most important insights are that consumers have been empowered by the Web 2.0 technologies to provide or tailor the services that satisfy their needs, and that a key job of the service provider is to build the platforms that make the consumer’s job as easy and transparent as possible. The chain of reasoning supporting this insight is summarized below and then elaborated on in the following sections:
Convection, Evaporation, and Condensation of Simple and Binary Fluids in Confined Geometries

Rayleigh-Benard and Marangoni convection in a layer of a homogeneous fluid with a free surface in the absence of phase change is a classic (and extensively studied) problem of fluid mechanics. Phase change has a major effect on the convection problem. Most notably, significant latent heat generated at the free surface as a result of phase change can dramatically alter the interfacial temperature, and hence, the thermocapillary stresses. Furthermore, differential evaporation in binary fluids can lead to considerable variation in the concentration field, producing solutocapillarity stresses, which can compete with thermocapillarity and buoyancy.This talk describes numerical studies of convection in alcohol and alcohol-water mixtures due to a horizontal temperature gradient in the presence of phase change. We illustrate how the composition of the liquid and the presence of non-condensable gases (e.g., air) can be used to alter the balance of the dominant forces. In particular, by adding or removing air from the test cell, the direction of the flow can be reversed by emphasizing either the thermocapillary or the solutocapillary stresses.© 2012 ASME
Abstract 3631: Secretory phospholipase A2-IIa is a target gene of the HER/HER2-elicited pathway and a potential plasma biomarker for poor prognosis of prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among men in the US. Currently, there is no validated noninvasive biomarker with high specificity and sensitivity for prostate cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Only one out of five biopsies is diagnosed with cancer in PSA positive (>4 ng/ml) patients, while many aggressive cancers fail to be detected by PSA screening. Although the value of PSA test in the active surveillance remains to be validated, clinicians rely on it for cancer monitoring due to the lack of alternatives. These clinical obstacles underscore the urgent need for new biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Previous studies showed that prostate cancer tissues overexpress secretory phospholipase A2 group IIa (sPLA2-IIa) and sPLA2-IIa expression levels are increased with cancer progression. We are the first to demonstrate that prostate cancer cells secrete sPLA2-IIa and androgen-independent prostate cancer LNCaP-AI cells, relative to androgen-dependent parental LNCaP cells, express and secrete significant higher levels of sPLA2-IIa. We explored the underlying mechanism of sPLA2-IIa overexpression and found that EGF and Heregulin-α enhanced expression of the sPLA2-IIa gene, which was mediated by HER2 and HER3 activation. sPLA2-IIa is a NF-kB target gene. The EGFR/HER2 dual inhibitor Lapatinib and the NF-kB inhibitor Bortezomib inhibited sPLA2-IIa expression and secretion. EGF and Heregulin-α stimulated expression of the sPLA2-IIa gene at the transcriptional level via HER/HER2-PI3K-Akt-NF-kB signaling. We further confirmed that human sPLA2-IIa secreted by LNCaP xenograft in tumor bearing nude mice reached detectable plasma concentrations, while it was not detectable in the control mice. More importantly, plasma sPLA2-IIa was elevated in prostate cancer patients. A Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis of 134 patient plasma specimens revealed that high levels of plasma sPLA2-IIa, with the optimum cutoff value of 2.0 ng/ml, were significantly associated with high Gleason score (8∼10) relative to intermediate Gleason score (6∼7) prostate cancers and advanced relative to indolent cancers. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.73 and 0.74, respectively. In summary, we found that elevated HER/HER2-elicited signaling contributes to sPLA2-IIa overexpression and secretion in prostate cancer cells. Our findings support the notion that high levels of plasma sPLA2-IIa may serve as a poor prognostic biomarker capable of distinguishing aggressive from indolent prostate cancers, which may improve decision-making and optimize patient management. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3631. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-3631
Pathological Lesions Produced in Rabbits Following Intravenous Injection of Concentrated Scarlet Fever Toxin.

Duval and Hibbard1 reported in numerous publications the production in rabbits of acute glomerulo-nephritis following the intravenous administration of the bacteria-free toxic principle of Streptococcus scarlatinae, which they characterized as endotoxic in nature. Their histopathological material was considered analogous to that observed in human scarlatinal glomerulo-nephritis. Reith, Warfield and Enzer2 after repeating these experiments concluded that identical renal lesions also occurred in normal rabbits as well as in those injected with suspensions of non-scarlatinal streptococci. They averred that none of the renal lesions produced were typical of human acute glomerulo-nephritis. Rich, Bumstead and Frobisher3 were able to produce glomerular damage in rabbits by the intravenous injection of bacteria-free filtrates of fresh broth cultures of a virulent strain of Streptococcus viridans isolated from the blood in a case of subacute endocarditis with renal involvement. Their histopathological material wa...
The role of membrane dynamics in electrical and infrared neural stimulation

We recently developed a nonlinear optical imaging technique based on second harmonic generation (SHG) to identify membrane disruption events in live cells. This technique was used to detect nanoporation in the plasma membrane following nanosecond pulsed electric field (nsPEF) exposure. It has been hypothesized that similar poration events could be induced by the thermal gradients generated by infrared (IR) laser energy. Optical pulses are a highly desirable stimulus for the nervous system, as they are capable of inhibiting and producing action potentials in a highly localized but non-contact fashion. However, the underlying mechanisms involved with infrared neural stimulation (INS) are not well understood. The ability of our method to non-invasively measure membrane structure and transmembrane potential via Two Photon Fluorescence (TPF) make it uniquely suited to neurological research. In this work, we leverage our technique to understand what role membrane structure plays during INS and contrast it with nsPEF stimulation. We begin by examining the effect of IR pulses on CHO-K1 cells before progressing to primary hippocampal neurons. The use of these two cell lines allows us to directly compare poration as a result of IR pulses to nsPEF exposure in both a neuron-derived cell line, and one likely lacking native channels sensitive to thermal stimuli.
Photoinduced Electron and Energy Transfer in a Molecular Triad Featuring a Fullerene Redox Mediator.

In order to investigate the possibility of a fullerene acting as an electron and/or singlet energy relay between a donor chromophore and an acceptor, a triad consisting of a fullerene (C60) covalently linked to both a porphyrin energy and electron donor (P) and a β-tetracyanoporphyrin energy and electron acceptor (CyP) was synthesized. Steady state and time-resolved spectroscopic investigations show that the porphyrin first excited singlet state donates singlet excitation and an electron to the fullerene and also donates singlet excitation to the CyP. All three processes differ in rate constant by factors of ≤1.3, and all are much faster than the decay of 1P–C60–CyP by unichromophoric processes. The fullerene excited state accepts an electron from P and donates singlet excitation energy to CyP. The P•+–C60•––CyP charge-separated state transfers an electron to CyP to produce a final P•+–C60–CyP•– state. The same state is formed from P–C60–1CyP. Overall, the final charge-separated state is formed with a qua...
Experimental Design of Formulations Utilizing High Dimensional Model Representation.

Many applications involve formulations or mixtures where large numbers of components are possible to choose from, but a final composition with only a few components is sought. Finding suitable bina...
Mean: a full JavaScript stack for web development: conference tutorial

While there are many different languages and components used to create web applications, occasionally there are groups of components and technologies used together so frequently that they are referred to as a stack or platform. The most common web development stack has probably been the LAMP stack. This acronym stands for four components that comprise the stack. The 'L' stands for Linux, the 'A' refers to the Apache HTTP Web Server, the 'M' is the MySQL Database, and the 'P' is the PHP server-side language. This stack has been used to create many multi-page database driven web applications over the years. As web applications evolved into more single page applications, many development teams needed server-side developers using a language such as PHP, ASP, or Java, and a front-end developer that used JavaScript in the browser client. A common language for both client and server side code would provide an opportunity for quicker development of web applications by smaller teams of developers. This is also a benefit when teaching web development in the classroom. The students can learn one language, JavaScript, and create client code for user interfaces and server-side code for database connectivity and other tasks.
Abstract A007: Intratumoral delivery of inactivated vaccinia virus is more efficacious than live oncolytic vaccinia virus in murine bilateral tumor implantation models

Poxviruses are large cytoplasmic DNA viruses that have potentials as vaccine vectors and oncolytic agents. Although almost all of the oncolytic vaccinia viruses that are being investigated in clinical trials are replication competent, it is still unclear how these viruses exert antitumor immunologic effects, and whether viral replication is even necessary to achieve systemic antitumor efficacy. In this study, we compared therapeutic efficacy of the intratumoral delivery of the live, attenuated, replication competent oncolytic vaccinia virus expressing mGM-CSF (VC-TK−-mGM-CSF)vs. its heat-inactivated counterpart (iVC-TK−-mGM-CSF) in two bilateral tumor implantation models- B16-F10 murine melanoma and MC38 colon adenocarcinoma. We found that intratumoral injection of inactivated virus exerted stronger systemic antitumor effects than the live virus. FACS analyses of tumor infiltrating immune cells revealed that intratumoral injection of iVC-TK−-mGM-CSF lead to increased percentages and numbers of activating effector CD8+ and CD4+ T cells and reduced percentages and numbers of CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells in the non-injected tumors compared with intratumoral delivery of the live virus. Infection of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DCs) with iVC-TK−-mGM-CSF induced type I IFN and proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine production and DC maturation, whereas the live virus did not. Taken together, our results demonstrate that intratumoral delivery of inactivated vaccina virus is safer and more efficacious than live oncolytic vaccinia virus expressing mGM-CSF in two murine bilateral tumor implantation models. Our findings have important implications for the design of poxviral-based immunotherapeutics for patients with metastatic cancers. Note: This abstract was not presented at the conference. Citation Format: Weiyi Wang, Peihong Dai, Ning Yang, Stewart Shuman, Taha Merghoub, Jedd D. Wolchok, Liang Deng. Intratumoral delivery of inactivated vaccinia virus is more efficacious than live oncolytic vaccinia virus in murine bilateral tumor implantation models [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Second CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; 2016 Sept 25-28; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2016;4(11 Suppl):Abstract nr A007.
“Colossal” interstitial supersaturation in delta ferrite in stainless steels: (II) low-temperature nitridation of the 17-7 PH alloy

Abstract Low-temperature gas-phase nitridation has been studied in interstitially-hardened 17-7 precipitation-hardening stainless steel. After nitridation, conventional transmission electron microscopy reveals that delta ferrite grains in such alloys show a uniform weak diffraction contrast. Chemical analysis reveals that the weak-contrast ferrite grains contain an enormous interstitial nitrogen supersaturation (>20 at.%). Surprisingly, there is no significant tetragonality in these weak-contrast ferrite grains. Such weak diffraction contrast is attributed to a nanometer-scale nitridation-induced spinodal decomposition of delta ferrite grains. In addition, nitride nanoparticles are observed in the steel, and were identified as rocksalt-structured MN nitride (M: Fe, Cr, Ni, and Al). Further, platelets of hexagonal M 2 N 1- x are observed at low nitriding temperatures (623 and 653 K), but were absent during nitridation at a higher temperature (713 K).
Organization and Control of the Federal Reserve System

This chapter discusses the organization of the Federal Reserve System and explains its major functions. The formal structure of the System includes member banks, district Federal Reserve banks, the Board of Governors, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), and a minor body called the Federal Advisory Council. Congress has given the System a number of monetary and nonmonetary functions and has assigned these responsibilities to different parts of the System. The Federal Reserve System is a creature of Congress, to which it owes its form of organization and its powers. Congress exerts indirect influence upon Fed decisions by means of confirming appointments of the Chairman and the other six members of the Board of Governors, by overseeing its operations, and by holding frequent hearings on the conduct of monetary policy. The Federal Reserve banks hold reserves of member banks, operate the discount facilities, conduct research, and contribute to policy formulation by means of membership of their presidents on the FOMC. The FOMC is responsible for the conduct of open market operations, which makes it the premier monetary policymaking body in the System.