cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Expression of galanin immunoreactivity in gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons in mice: a confocal microscopic study.

The expression of galanin immunoreactivity (galanin-IR) in gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons was investigated in mice using double label immunohistochemistry combined with confocal laser scanning microscopy. A large proportion of GnRH cells in proestrous mice and very few GnRH cells in male mice exhibited galanin-IR. These results are consistent with earlier reports in rats. Unlike in rats, the proportion of GnRH cells coexpressing galanin in mice was high following ovariectomy (OVX) and the treatment of OVX mice with estrogen decreased the number of GnRH cells with galanin-IR. The GnRH system can be considered more active during proestrous and following OVX since the output of luteinizing hormone is elevated during these phases in females. Since the induction of galanin-IR in GnRH cells is more pronounced in OVX and proestrous mice, the expression of galanin-IR in GnRH cells in mice appears to be an activation-dependent phenomenon rather than a direct effect of estrogen. However, in OVX mice treated with steroids to induce an LH surge the number of GnRH cells with galanin-IR was not proportionately increased. The possible reasons for this discrepancy are also discussed.
EFFECTS OF NONSINGULAR PREPROCESSING ON FEEDFORWARD NETWORK TRAINING

In the neural network literature, many preprocessing techniques, such as feature de-correlation, input unbiasing and normalization, are suggested to accelerate multilayer perceptron training. In this paper, we show that a network trained with an original data set and one trained with a linear transformation of the original data will go through the same training dynamics, as long as they start from equivalent states. Thus preprocessing techniques may not be helpful and are merely equivalent to using a different weight set to initialize the network. Theoretical analyses of such preprocessing approaches are given for conjugate gradient, back propagation and the Newton method. In addition, an efficient Newton-like training algorithm is proposed for hidden layer training. Experiments on various data sets confirm the theoretical analyses and verify the improvement of the new algorithm.
Facile, One-Step Preparation of Trigonellinate Esters

Abstract Trigonelline anhydride was synthesized and was found to readily react with various alcohols to yield the corresponding trigonellinate esters.
The effect of steroids on mortality in experimental traumatic shock.

SummaryWe have performed an experiment using a modified Noble-Collip drum to evaluate the effect of various steroids on traumatic non-hemorrhagic shock. Our results indicate that certain glucocorticoids including hydrocortisone, prednisolone and 6α-methylprednisolone will significantly reduce the mortality of the animals subjected to the trauma.
Partially observed branching processes for stochastic epidemics.

At the offset of a (stochastic) epidemic, it is of importance to have a mathematical model that will assist in the making of an informed judgement on whether the epidemic will explode, or will be minor and die out. In this paper, we consider probabilistic inferences related to the event of extinction of a discrete time branching process when this cannot be directly observed. Instead, we are able to observe only a random “trace” of the process, which not only trails the latter, but also directly affects it (in terms of interventions). A simple model is proposed that provides tractability, preserves a marginal branching property, and gives reasonable closed form expressions.
A Matrix Metalloproteinase Proenzyme Activator Produced by Articular Cartilage

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in connective tissue turnover under physiological and pathological conditions. MMP activity is regulated by the requirement for zymogen activation. This report describes a proMMP-3 activator produced by articular cartilage. The activator initiates a step-wise processing of proMMP-3 to generate an array of active species. Sequencing of activation intermediates demonstrated cleavage on the NH2-terminal side of certain basic residues in the MMP-3 propeptide. Metal ion chelators inhibited activator-dependent proteolysis, and activity was restored by low levels of ZnCl2. These catalytic properties suggest similarity to members of the insulinase superfamily of metalloendopeptidases with in vitro specificity for single arginine or paired basic processing sites in a variety of prohormones. Dibasic sites also exist in the propeptides of several MMPs including proMMP-3. This is the first report that cartilage produces a potent MMP proenzyme activator, opening the possibility of a novel intrinsic activation pathway for catabolic processes in this avascular tissue.
New vision performance indicators of biocular head-mounted display image misalignment

This is the last in a series of studies designed to establish objective tools that can evaluate vision and cognitive visual performance with head-/helmet-mounted displays (HMDs) in a static environment. These tools will be applied to ongoing studies in an interactive, animated environment that will compare visual performance of biocular and monocular HMDs and evaluate image misalignment tolerance standards during long-term wear (4-6 hours) and during vibration. In this study, saccadic velocity significantly decreased following image misalignment, but not following a corresponding control period without misalignment, showing the measurement to be sensitive to image misalignment in a full-overlap biocular display. Pupil constriction latency significantly increased for both the experimental and control conditions, indicating that, although sensitive to using the optical device, this measurement was not specifically sensitive to a divergent horizontal misalignment of 3.1 milliradians (mrad). These results add saccadic velocity to the tools that we have already established. We also evaluated the visual performance of presbyopic subjects using a full-overlap display and found decreased performance with and without image misalignment. This has implications for helmet-mounted display use by older pilots that certainly warrants further investigation. In previous studies 6, 7 individuals with accommodative and vergence problems showed reduced performance when there was a small divergent horizontal image misalignment in a partial-overlap biocular display.
Theory and Guidelines to Proper Coupling Design for Rotor Dynamics Considerations

Discussion de deux types d'instabilites mecaniques des accouplements a engrenage qui ont ete observes en exploitation et sur des bancs d'essais. Il s'agit d'instabilites dues a un fluide emprisonne dans des rotors partiellement remplis d'un liquide, ainsi que des instabilites d'engrenement. On indique des criteres de conception, et en particulier des formules, qui permettent d'eviter de telles instabilites. Une discussion d'un autre essai montre l'importance de la selection de materiaux appropries
Imported inputs, real wage rigidity and devaluation in the small open economy∗

Abstract This paper examines the effects of devaluation upon employment in a tradables-nontradables model of the small open economy where there is a rigid real wage and imports consist of both intermediate inputs and final goods. It is shown that, in general, economies importing intermediates are not more prone to contraction than those importing only consumption goods. A new reason is also uncovered as to why the existence of an initial trade balance deficit increases the likelihood that devaluation will be contractionary.
Blood Volume of the Nasal Salt Glands and other Glands and Organs of Sea Gulls

THE ability of an organ to function is dependent on its blood supply. The salt gland operates as a highly efficient sodium pump capable of secreting about 8 sodium/adenon-ine triphosphate1,2 and its secretion has a concentration of sodium ranging from 400 to 1,200 m.equiv. sodium chloride/l, (ref. 3). The unique function of the avian salt gland and the lack of information on its blood volume prompted this investigation.
Autokinesis direction during and after eye turn

The aftereffect (AE) of eye turn on autokinesis direction is usually, but not always, opposite to the inducing turn direction. During four experiments, a model predicting the aftereffect’s time course and a new measure utilizing the concept of the position of random autokinetic movement (PRAKM) were developed. They showed that aftereffect direction alternates during dissipation and that its first direction is not a simple function of previous eye position, but of the process by which that position is achieved, suggesting that at least two processes are involved. In one S, versions produced the usual AE, while, after vergences, the AE was in the same direction as the inducing turn. Differential recruitment of these systems in monocular fixation could account for individual differences in the AE.
EVIDENCE FOR ELECTROPHILIC CHARACTER IN OXYGEN ATOM TRANSFER BY CARBONYL OXIDES

— Naphthalene was oxidized by carbonyi oxides produced by singlet oxygen oxidation of p, p-disubstituted diphenyldiazomethanes. Yields of naphthol products correlate with Hammett σ constants giving ρ=+0.93. The results are interpreted as indicating the electrophilic character of these oxidations.
Alveolar ridge maintenance with solid nonporous hydroxylapatite root implants

Abstract Animal studies were carried out to determine a simple technique of implantation of nonresorbable polycrystalline hydroxylapatite solid root forms and the biocompatibility of the material placed in fresh extraction sockets. An appropriately shaped root form was evaluated, and alveolar bone preservation was investigated in dogs and primates. It was found that bone and soft tissue would migrate across the HA root implant when placed 2 to 3 mm below the alveolar bone crest without soft-tissue closure. It was not necessary to use roots that fit the socket from the apex to the alveolar crest. An average of 2 mm more alveolar bone was preserved in fresh extraction sites as compared to control sites. The results of the animal studies indicated the appropriateness of a clinical trial in human beings.
Physicians With The Least Experience Have Higher Cost Profiles Than Do Physicians With The Most Experience

Health plans and Medicare are using cost profiles to identify which physicians account for more health care spending than others. By identifying the costliest physicians, health plans and Medicare ...
Material transport phenomena in the impact wear of titanium alloys

Abstract Results are presented from compound impact wear studies performed with titanium alloys of different β phase content and morphology. The “material pair” consisted of a 17-4 PH stainless steel counterface and a flatended titanium alloy specimen. Each material pair was exposed to variations in relative transverse sliding velocity and number of repetitive load cycles. Testing was conducted primarily at a single level of nominal peak normal impulsive stress. Both optical and scanning electron microscopy were used to monitor changes in worn surface and subsurface regions. Energy-dispersive X-ray studies of the initial and worn surfaces comprising the material pair clearly indicated the nature of the material transport between the opposing surfaces. Wear debris were studied by optical microscopy and by powder X-ray techniques. Utilizing the reciprocating impact wear testing apparatus, it was determined that material transport appears to be a controlling factor. The type of transport ( i.e. material passing from specimen to counterface or vice versa) was found to vary under differing test conditions. Such findings may contribute to the understanding of wear for systems other than those characterized by repetitive impulsive contact. Material removal is minimal at particular levels of relative transverse sliding velocity, and these levels are not necessarily affected by the magnitude of the nominal level of stress. It appears that the nature and quantity of the constituents (α, β) in the titanium alloys are critical in establishing wear behavior for the material pairs investigated.
Enzymatic Synthesis and Chemical Properties of Sweet Aminomalonyl (Ama) Dipeptide Esters (R)-Ama-(S)-Phe-OMe and (R)-Ama-(S)-Phe-OEt

Proteases catalyze the coupling of N-protected L-amino acids and C-protected L-amino acids, but the enzymatic synthesis of aminomalonic acid (Ama)-containing peptides has not been reported. We undertook the synthesis of sweet (R)-Ama-(S)-Phe-OMe (800 times sweeter than sucrose) and (R)-Ama-(S)-Phe-OEt (50 times sweeter than sucrose) by coupling Z-(RS)-Ama(OBzl)-OH and H-L-Phe-OR (R, Me or Et) with thermolysin (EC 3.4.24.4) and subsequent hydrogenolysis. Thermolysin catalyzed the synthesis of Z-(R)-Ama(OBzl)-(S)-Phe-OR (R, Me or Et), which is the precursor of sweet (R)-Ama-(S)-Phe-OR (R, Me or Et). The Ama residues of Z-(R or S)-Ama(OBzl)-(S)-Phe-OR (R, Me or Et) and (R or S)-Ama-(S)-Phe-OR (R, Me or Et) were susceptible to facile racemization. Both Z-(R)-Ama(OBzl)-(S)-Phe-OMe and Z-(S)-Ama(OBzl)-(S)-Phe-OMe were sparingly soluble in water. The desired Z-(R)-Ama(OBzl)-(S)-Phe-OMe was more soluble than Z-(S)-Ama(OBzl)-(S)-Phe-OMe; consequently, the precipitated Z-(R)-Ama(OBzl)-(S)-Phe-OMe gradually dissolve...
Temperature-related development and population parameters for Typhlodromus pyri (Acari: Phytoseiidae) found in Oregon vineyards

The beneficial mite Typhlodromus pyri is a key predator of grapevine rust mite Calepitrimerus vitis in Pacific coastal vineyards. Rust mite feeding has been associated with damage such as stunted, deformed shoot growth and reductions in fruit yield. The life history traits of T. pyri were assessed at seven constant temperatures (12.5, 15, 17.5, 20, 25, 30 and 35 °C) to determine population parameters providing data to better predict biological control of C. vitis populations by T. pyri in vineyards. Successful development from the egg to adult stage was observed at temperatures ranging from 15 to 30 °C. Constant exposure to 12.5 and 35 °C resulted in 100 % mortality in immature T. pyri. Developmental times, fecundity and longevity were highest at 25 °C. The estimated minimum and maximum developmental thresholds were 7.24 and 42.56 °C, respectively. Intrinsic rate of increase (r m ) was positive from 15 to 30 °C indicating population growth within this range of temperatures. Net reproductive rate and intrinsic rate of increase were greatest at 25 °C. These developmental parameters can be used to estimate population growth, determine seasonal phenology and aid in conservation management of T. pyri. Results presented in this study will aid in evaluating the effectiveness of T. pyri as a key biological control agent of C. vitis during different periods of the growing season in Pacific Northwest vineyards.
Age‐dependent variations in the drusen fluorescence on indocyanine green angiography

Purpose: To examine the fluorescence patterns of macular drusen using indocyanine green (ICG) angiography in human subjects of different ages. Methods: A total of 180 eyes in 100 consecutive patients aged 34−90 years with macula drusen were evaluated with ICG angiography using the Topcon 1024 ImageNet system. Eyes were divided into two groups depending on age. The older group (subjects over the age of 55 years) comprised 170 eyes. The younger group (subjects 55 years or younger) comprised 10 eyes. The fluorescence patterns of the drusen were graded as hyper­fluorescent (brighter than the background fluorescence), hypofluorescent (darker than the background fluorescence) or isofluorescent (unable to be distinguished from the background fluorescence). The ICG angiogram appearances were correlated with the clinical types of drusen in differing age groups. Results: An age-dependent difference in the fluorescence pattern of drusen was observed. Drusen in the older group were hypofluorescent or isofluorescent (169/170 eyes). In contrast, drusen in the younger group (55 years or younger) were hyperfluorescent (10/10 eyes). Conclusions: This study defines the distinct age-dependent differences in the ICG fluorescence pattern of drusen. This heterogeneity might be due to differential binding of extravasated ICG to the constituents and histological site of the drusen deposits. Furthermore, ICG angiography is able to differentiate drusen types not possible by clinical and fluorescein angiographic evaluation.
House of quality: A fuzzy logic-based requirements analysis

Abstract House Of Quality (HOQ) is one of the matrices of an iterative process called Quality Function Deployment (QFD). The foundation of the HOQ is the belief that products should be designed to reflect customers' desires and taste. HOQ is performed by a multidisciplinary team representing marketing, design engineering, manufacturing engineering, and any other functions considered critical by the company. In general, it provides a framework in which all participants can communicate their thoughts about a product. More specifically, HOQ is often used to identify the relationships between requirements based on different viewpoints. There are two issues in analyzing these requirements using HOQ. First, requirements are often described informally using vague terms. However, lack of formal way in interpreting the semantics of these requirements makes it difficult to determine if a realization of the system meets its customer's needs. Second, identifying relationships between requirements is often time consuming. Sometimes, it is difficult to arrive at a group consensus on a particular relationship between requirements. To address these issues, we have developed a fuzzy logic-based extension to HOQ for capturing imprecise requirements to both facilitate communication of team members and have a formal representation of requirements. Based on this representation, we developed a heuristic inference scheme to reason about the implicit relationships between requirements. We illustrate our approach using a textile mill supply business application.
Plastic Collapse Assessment of Unequal Wall Joints in Pipeline Transitions

This paper presents the results of extensive numerical and analytical analyses considering the many differences in the flow properties of today’s steels with a view to determine if the code design basis developed for early steels remains appropriate in light of these changes. These analyses involved parametric study of steel grade, tensile strength, yield-to-tensile (Y/T) strength ratio, and joint geometry, for a range of transitions within as well as beyond current ASME code allowables. The numerical results indicate that the plastic-collapse failure conditions of unequal wall joints are controlled by the pipe or fitting remote to the weld, as would occur for high-quality slightly over-matched welds. Mismatch location, taper angle and anisotropy of unequal wall joints have limited influence on such failures. Based on trends in these results, a closed-form plastic collapse solution to predict internal pressure was developed as the pipe geometry, material hardening and tensile properties for both end opened and end capped pressurized pipes in reference to deformation instability, finite strain theory and deformation theory of plasticity. A plastic collapse criterion and the corresponding plastic collapse assessment diagram (PCAD) were then developed as a function of the wall thickness and tensile strength mismatch conditions to ensure plastic collapse failure in the thinner-wall, higher strength line pipe. General procedures to use the PCAD are outlined in this paper. Application of PCAD indicates that the high yield strength grades with high Y/T can be used within as well as beyond current code limitations on the transition wall-thickness mismatch for a wide range of strength mismatch.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
CW high-power conduction-cooled edge-pumped slab laser

We have developed a high average power zig-zag slab laser based on conduction-cooling and a novel pumping geometry called edge-pumping. The edge-pumping geometry decouples the cooling and optical pumping interfaces, simplifying the laser head design. The advantages of this design include efficient pump absorption, uniform conductive-cooling, high brightness fiber-coupled laser diode pumping, and power scalability. We have demonstrated this new design in a Nd:YAG zig-zag slab laser which operates at 104 W of multimode power for 340 W of pump power with a 40% slope efficiency. TEM00 mode operation was demonstrated at 39.5 W for 250 W of pump power at a slope efficiency of 21%. Thermal lensing measurements indicate an effective focal length of < 0.5 m in both the zig-zag and the non-zig-zag planes for 340 W of pump power.
Increasing accessibility to medical robotics education

To overcome existing barriers in medical robotics education, this paper presents work done during a joint-collaboration project that creates a new educational toolset and associated curriculum for demonstrating telesurgery applications. Created using the LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT robotics set, programmed with LabVIEW, and capable of doing real-time closed-loop control over large distances, the project team developed a product aimed at influencing 6th to 8th grade classrooms by exposing the students to engineering design and communication topics within the real-world application of medical robotics.
Associations of the β-fibrinogen Hae III and factor XIII Val34Leu gene variants with venous thrombosis

Abstract Introduction The factor XIII Val34Leu (100 G → T) and β-fibrinogen Hae III (− 455 G → A) gene variants have been associated with reduced risk of venous thrombosis, but not in all studies. Methods We investigated the associations of these polymorphisms with risk of venous thrombosis in a prospective, population-based study of 21,680 men and women aged 45–100 years at enrollment. Factor XIII 100 G/T and β-fibrinogen − 455 G/A were analyzed on stored DNA from 511 thrombosis cases and 1028 control subjects without thrombosis during follow up. Results The β-fibrinogen A allele was present in 24.4% of cases and 32.3% of controls. Compared to GG subjects, the age, race, and sex adjusted odds ratio (OR) of venous thrombosis was 0.77 (95% CI 0.59–0.99) for GA subjects, and 0.60 (95% CI 0.31–1.16) for AA subjects. The adjusted OR of thrombosis associated with factor XIII 100 G/T was 1.01 (95% CI 0.81–1.26) for GT subjects and 0.45 (95% CI 0.44–1.19) for TT subjects, compared to GG. For both genotypes, ORs of thrombosis were similar in whites and non-whites, although there were no non-white fibrinogen AA cases. β-fibrinogen − 455 GA or AA attenuated the thrombosis risk associated with obesity (from 2.14 to 1.25) and factor V Leiden (from 3.89 to 2.36). Conclusions β-fibrinogen − 455 G/A, but not factor XIII 100 G/T, was associated with a lower risk of venous thrombosis in this general population sample. β-fibrinogen − 455 A may attenuate the increased thrombosis risk associated with obesity or factor V Leiden.
Responses of white-faced capuchins (Cebus capucinus) to naturalistic and experimentally presented food-associated calls.

In the context of foraging, many animal species produce specific calls that attract others. Researchers hypothesize that these vocalizations function to inform others about food; however, few studies have investigated whether food-associated calls alone are sufficient to cause individuals to respond as if they have been informed about food. Playback experiments on white-faced capuchins (Cebus capucinus) investigated whether listeners could infer the presence of food merely by hearing food-associated calls. Recipients looked significantly longer toward the call source and approached the speaker more often after hearing food-associated calls, as compared with control calls. Because these responses are not indicative of feeding, it is unclear whether listeners associated the calls with food. Nonetheless, these responses, specific to food-associated calls, may increase individuals’ chances of finding food.
High-efficiency waveguide-coupled lambda =1.3 mu m In/sub x/Ga/sub 1-x/As/GaAs MSM detector exhibiting large extinction ratios at L and X band

The design and fabrication of a 1.3- mu m waveguide-coupled strained-layer In/sub x/Ga/sub 1-x/As/GaAs MSM detector with an optimized active layer thickness is reported. For 100- mu m-long devices, a responsivity of 0.58 mA/mW is observed. Using the detector as an optoelectronic switch, on/off ratios better than 40 dB were achieved at L and X band. >
Morningness-eveningness and lifestyle regularity

The relation between morningness (M) - eveningness (E) and lifestyle regularity was studied in a convenience sample of 100 healthy subjects aged between 20 and 59 yrs (47 males and 53 females; mean age 33.6 yrs). Morningness-eveningness was measured by a single administration of the 13-item Composite Scale for Morningness (CSM). Lifestyle regularity was measured by requiring subjects to complete a five-item Social Rhythm Metric diary (SRM-5) each evening for two weeks. Each week of SRM-5 was analyzed separately and the two SRM scores averaged to yield the lifestyle regularity measure for the subject. Subjects were categorized by morningness into top and bottom quartiles of CSM score (denoted M-types and E-types, respectively), with the remaining 50% of subjects denoted as intermediate (I-types). Mean SRM scores significantly differed between the three morningness groups (p <0.001) in the order E-types (SRM = 3.6), then I-types (SRM=4.0), then M-types (SRM=4.9), with higher scores indicating greater daily lifestyle regularity. The effect size of the E-type versus M-type difference was approximately 1.3. The relationship between the CSM and SRM scores was also confirmed using a correlational analysis (rho = 0.428; p < 0.001). This correlational finding was substantially weaker when age was partialed out (r=0.186; p=0.065), although there was still a trend toward a significan relationship. Thus it appears that morning types appear to be more regular in their daily lifestyle than are evening types, suggesting a relationship between these two aspects of human circadian behavior.
Composable context-aware architectural connectors

In mobile and pervasive computing systems, the ability of an application to adapt its behavior in response to a changing environment is essential. In this paper we propose a new class of context-aware architectural connectors that enable software designers to incorporate context-aware aspects into a software architecture design. These context-aware connectors must also be composable to allow multiple types of context to be applied to a single architectural connection. We introduce our notion of context-aware connectors and describe some intended uses.
A study of the use of 6K ACTDP cryocoolers for the MIRI instrument on JWST

The Mid Infrared Instrument (MIRI) of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a demanding application for the use of space cryocoolers. During calendar year 2003 an extensive study was carried out examining the application to this mission of hybrid 6K/18K J-T cryocoolers developed by NASA as part of their Advanced Cryocooler Technology Development Program (ACTDP). Among the most challenging requirements of the MIRI application were the requirements to cool down the ∼90 kg 6 K cooling load in less than 30 days and to restrict the location of the compressors with their heat dissipation and vibration generation to a remote spacecraft position some 12 meters away from the cryogenic load. Because the hybrid 6K/18K J-T cryocoolers have unique load-carrying capability as a function of temperature, the cooldown requirement was the primary consideration in cooler sizing. This paper presents the lessons learned and performance achieved in the MIRI cryocooler application. In the final proposed configuration, all of the MIRI/JWST design considerations were successfully met. Although the cryocooler option was eventually deselected in favor of a solid-hydrogen stored cryogen system, the cryocooler study offered an important opportunity for understanding and refining the performance and integration capabilities of this important new class of low-temperature space cryocoolers.
Betas in Up and Down Markets

This paper examines the single-period Capital Asset Pricing Model/market model assumption of a linear relationship between returns on individual stocks and the market index. For portfolios formed by size, past performance, and historical beta, the results indicate that a specification which conditions beta on the sign of the market risk premium generally provides a better description of monthly cross-sectional returns. Some theoretical explanations and research implications of the results are discussed.
Gene Expression-Based Detection of Radiation Exposure in Mice after Treatment with Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor and Lipopolysaccharide

In a large-scale nuclear incident, many thousands of people may be exposed to a wide range of radiation doses. Rapid biological dosimetry will be required on an individualized basis to estimate the exposures and to make treatment decisions. To ameliorate the adverse effects of exposure, victims may be treated with one or more cytokine growth factors, including granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), which has therapeutic efficacy for treating radiation-induced bone marrow ablation by stimulating granulopoiesis. The existence of infections and the administration of G-CSF each may confound the ability to achieve reliable dosimetry by gene expression analysis. In this study, C57BL/6 mice were used to determine the extent to which G-CSF and lipopolysaccharide (LPS, which simulates infection by gram-negative bacteria) alter the expression of genes that are either radiation-responsive or non-responsive, i.e., show potential for use as endogenous controls. Mice were acutely exposed to 60Co γ rays at eithe...
Mainstem and Backwater Fish Assemblages in the Tidal Caloosahatchee River: Implications for Freshwater Inflow Studies

Research strategies for investigating the freshwater-inflow requirements of estuarine fishes often integrate life-history information and correlative analyses of inflow and fish abundance. In tidal rivers, however, some fish have affinities for embayments, oxbows, and smaller tributaries, often referred to collectively as river “backwaters”. The objective of this study was to determine whether freshwater and estuarine fish assemblages differed between backwaters and the mainstem of the tidal Caloosahatchee River, a highly managed river system located in an urban setting in southwest Florida. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling of 21.3-m seine data revealed that fish assemblages did indeed differ between the backwater and mainstem habitats in each of three river sections. Univariate analyses identified species that differed in abundance between the habitats, which included ecologically and economically important fishes in the region. For example, striped mullet Mugil cephalus and pinfish Lagodon rhomboides were more abundant along the river's mainstem; common snook Centropomus undecimalis and bluegill Lepomis macrochirus were more abundant in the river's backwaters. For those species that were more abundant along the mainstem of the river or showed no difference, studies that measure changes in the distribution and abundance of these species with varying inflow along the mainstem of the river are justified. However, for species that were more abundant in backwater areas, geomorphological features should be considered in the design of studies that assess factors affecting fish use.
Phase I study of decitabine-mediated gene expression in patients with cancers involving the lungs, esophagus, or pleura.

Purpose: The DNA methylation paradox, manifested as derepression of cancer-testis antigens, and silencing of tumor suppressors during malignant transformation, provides the rationale for the utilization of chromatin remodeling agents for cancer therapy. A phase I trial was done to examine pharmacokinetics, toxicities, and gene expression mediated by 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (DAC) in patients with thoracic malignancies. Experimental Design: Thirty-five patients with cancers refractory to standard therapy received continuous 72-hour DAC infusions using a phase I dose-escalation schema. Each full course of therapy consisted of two identical 35-day cycles. Plasma DAC levels were evaluated by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques. Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR, methylation-specific PCR, and immunohistochemical techniques were used to evaluate NY-ESO-1, MAGE-3, and p16 expression in tumor biopsies. Long oligonucleotide arrays were used to evaluate gene expression profiles in laser-captured tumor cells before and after DAC exposure. Results: Thirty-five patients were evaluable for toxicities; 25 were evaluable for treatment response. Myelosuppression constituted dose-limiting toxicity. The maximum tolerated dose of DAC was 60 to 75 mg/m 2 depending on the number of prior cytotoxic chemotherapy regimens. No objective responses were observed. Plasma DAC concentrations approximated thresholds for gene induction in cultured cancer cells. Target gene induction was observed in 36% of patients. Posttreatment antibodies to NY-ESO-1 were detected in three patients exhibiting NY-ESO-1 induction in their tumor tissues. Complex, heterogeneous gene expression profiles were observed in pretreatment and posttreatment tissues. Conclusion: Prolonged DAC infusions can modulate gene expression in primary thoracic malignancies. These findings support further evaluation of DNA-demethylating agents alone or in combination with other regimens targeting induced gene products for the treatment of these neoplasms.
Application of SCAM (Substituted Cysteine Accessibility Method) to gap junction intercellular channels

The pore-lining residues of gap junction channels determine their permeability to ions and small cellular metabolites. These residues can be identified through systematic cysteine substitution and accessibility analysis, commonly known as SCAM (Substituted Cysteine Accessibility Method). However, application of this technique to intercellular channels is more complicated than for their transmembrane counterparts. We have utilized a novel dual-oocyte perfusion device to apply cysteine reagents to the cytoplasmic face of paired, voltage-clamped Xenopus oocytes. In this configuration, a large and irreversible cysteine reagent MBB (maliemidobutyryl biocytin, mw 537) was shown to readily traverse the gap junction pore and induce conductance changes upon reaction of accessible sites. Of the 11 reactive sites identified, 6 were located in M3, where they span the bilayer. They display a periodicity characteristic of the tilted helix that lines the pore in the gap junction structure of Unger et al. (1999). Access to several of the other sites was attributed to aqueous crevices between transmembrane helices. Reactive sites were slightly different than those identified for gap junction hemichannels (Zhou et al. 1997), suggesting that conformational changes occur upon docking.
OVIPOSITION, EARLY DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH OF THE CAVE SALAMANDER, EURYCEA LUCIFUGA: SURFACE AND SUBTERRANEAN INFLUENCES ON A TROGLOPHILIC SPECIES

We describe oviposition site, clutch characteristics and breeding phenology of a population of Eurycea lucifuga, the cave salamander, from SE Missouri, to understand the impact of biophysical and biotic conditions on a troglophilic species. In the field oviposition occurred in underground rimstone pools over 6 mo, with most reproduction occurring from August to October. Individual females deposited 1–31 eggs per pool, hatching approximately 10–20 d post-oviposition. Larvae remained in the pools as long as 6 mo before moving into the stream. We raised eggs and larvae of E. lucifuga in the lab and compared survival, growth, and development under three temperature regimes. Embryonic growth was slowest at cooler temperatures and produced larger larvae, while temperatures typical of summer surface stream temperatures resulted in high mortality. We suggest that the cool, predator free habitats of midwestern caves have allowed for a longer reproductive season in E. lucifuga, but that the unpredictable hydrology ...
The future of growth-promoting therapy.

Abstract Growth hormone (GH) has been in use for 50 years in children with short stature. Recent developments suggest that our traditional approaches to growth-promoting therapy will be challenged in the following areas: 1) Diagnostic: The diagnosis of GH deficiency has always been problematic, largely due to limitations inherent in GH stimulation tests and related biochemical measures. The development of new tools for diagnosis of genetic etiologies of hormonal deficiencies and insensitivity, as well as the growing availability of such methodologies, will greatly strengthen existing diagnostic strategies. 2) Therapeutic: Long-acting GH preparations are already in clinical trials. IGF-I therapy is approved for treatment of IGF deficiency. Novel approaches to select skeletal dysplasias show promise and will potentially expand our therapeutic armamentarium. 3) Monitoring: Traditional weight-based dosing of GH will be supplemented by IGF-based and auxology-based strategies, allowing greater individualization of therapy. 4) Safety: Growth-promoting therapies will continue to require careful monitoring of safety. Recent consensus workshops have advocated life-time surveillance programs. 5) Ethics: Questions will continue to be raised concerning ethical issues related to growth-promoting therapy in children. The availability of new tools for diagnosis and monitoring will address some, but not all, of these issues.
Teaching an iterative approach with rotating groups in an undergraduate software engineering course

In order to provide a realistic software development experience, the University of Mary Washington Computer Science Department offers a one semester project based software engineering course. We use realistic projects to help the students learn the entire software development process. However, during the period of 2004--2008 two issues became apparent. First, students were discouraged because of the failure to complete projects, even though they were relatively small in nature. Second, viable clients began decreasing since word had gotten out that students were unlikely to deliver working products at the end of the semester. In this paper we report on how we changed the course to use the iterative software process model and simultaneously changed our team management technique to require student teams to change membership over the semester. The original focus of this research was to investigate methods to increase the quantity of projects completed and increase student satisfaction at the end of the semester. This paper presents a combination of old and new research. The older portion of the research, creating dynamic teams, was implemented in the academic year of 2008--2009 and results were previously published. Combining dynamic teams and using iterative software development was used in academic year of 2009--2010, background and results are presented in this paper. Overall, both changes improved the client experience and added a touch of reality in the software engineering course.
Introduction: The History of Voter ID Laws and the Story of Crawford v. Marion County Election Board

Voter ID has become one of the biggest hot-button issues in American politics. Everyone accepts that this issue is a major battleground. Yet where did the idea even come from? This chapter tells that story. (This submission contains only the introduction to the chapter. The full chapter is published in the book Election Law Stories).The backstory of the Supreme Court’s 2008 decision in Crawford v. Marion County Election Board, which upheld Indiana’s voter ID law, requires a deep dive into national and Indiana politics. It is the tale of Kit Bond, a U.S. Senator from Missouri, who was deeply concerned about the election results in his state in 2000 and claimed that Republican John Ashcroft lost his U.S. Senate election race only because of voting by dead people and dogs. In response, Bond slipped a voter ID measure into the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002. This proved to be the initial catalyst for states like Indiana to go even further with their own stricter photo ID requirements. It is the story of aspiring Indiana Republican politicians who regained control of the Governor’s mansion and both legislative houses and sought to enact a voting law that could help their side in future elections. It contains important figures such as Indiana Representative Bill Crawford, the longest-serving black state lawmaker in U.S. history, who stood up for Democrats and African-Americans to protest a law he believed would lead to disenfranchisement in the same way that poll taxes and literacy tests once did more explicitly. And it recounts the litigation path of this important case, culminating in the Supreme Court’s fractured decision upholding the law, which reverberated throughout the country as more and more states began passing voter ID requirements. This chapter tells that story through interviews with the key players in the debate and litigation, research into the history of the national and Indiana voter ID provisions, and detailed analysis of the opinions in Crawford.
Developing a complex systems perspective for medical education to facilitate the integration of basic science and clinical medicine

Rationale, aims and objectives The purpose of medical education is to produce competent and capable professional practitioners who can combine the art and science of medicine. Moreover, this process must prepare individuals to practise in a field in which knowledge is increasing and the contexts in which that knowledge is applied are changing in unpredictable ways. The ‘basic sciences’ are important in the training of a physician. The goal of basic science training is to learn it in a way that the material can be applied in practice. Much effort has been expended to integrate basic science and clinical training, while adding many other topics to the medical curriculum. This effort has been challenging. The aims of the paper are (1) to propose a unifying conceptual framework that facilitates knowledge integration among all levels of living systems from cell to society and (2) illustrate the organizing principles with two examples of the framework in action – cybernetic systems (with feedback) and distributed robustness. Methods Literature related to hierarchical and holarchical frameworks was reviewed. Results An organizing framework derived from living systems theory and spanning the range from molecular biology to health systems management was developed. The application of cybernetic systems to three levels (regulation of pancreatic beta cell production of insulin, physician adjustment of medication for glycaemic control and development and action of performance measures for diabetes care) was illustrated. Similarly distributed robustness was illustrated by the DNA damage response system and principles underlying patient safety. Conclusions Each of the illustrated organizing principles offers a means to facilitate the weaving of basic science and clinical medicine throughout the course of study. The use of such an approach may promote systems thinking, which is a core competency for effective and capable medical practice.
Abstract SY04-01: Skin stem cells in silence, action, and cancer

Stem cells have the ability to self-renew long term and differentiate into one or more tissues. Typically, stem cells are used sparingly to replenish cells during normal homeostasis. This is particularly true of adult tissues which undergo relatively infrequent or periodic turnover. However, stem cells must also have the ability to respond quickly in response to injury, where they must be mobilized to undergo rapid tissue regeneration. How stem cells balance self-renewal and differentiation is of fundamental importance to our understanding of normal tissue maintenance and wound repair. Moreover, increasing evidence suggests that the regulatory circuitry governing this balancing act is at the root of some types of tumors both in mice and in humans. The skin is an excellent model system to understand how stem cells function in normal tissue generation and how this process goes awry in cancer. Using skin as our paradigm, we9ve been dissecting how extrinsic signaling to stem sets off a cascade of changes in transcription that governs the activation of stem cells during tissue development, homeostasis and hair regeneration. Our findings have provided us with new insights into our understanding of the process of stem cell activation, and in so doing have revealed mechanisms which are also deregulated in a variety of different human cancers. As importantly in understanding how stem cells are activated is learning about the signals that instruct stem cells to stop making tissue. Our recent discoveries on this topic have led us to the realm of identifying cancer stem cells (tumor-initiating cells) of squamous cell carcinomas of the skin. The second most abundant form of cancer world-wide, skin squamous cell carcinomas also establish a paradigm for many life-threatening cancers of lung, esophagus, breast, cervix, prostate, throat and oral tissues. We9ve demonstrated that when purified and introduced directly into the skin of a host recipient, a single cancer stem cell from a skin squamous cell carcinoma can generate a new squamous cell carcinoma that is similar in properties to the parent tumor. We show that cancer stem cell numbers and aggressiveness are predicated on the tumor microenvironment and on the ability of cancer stem cells to respond to it. The striking differences between the microenvironments of cancer stem cells and their normal counterparts seems likely to contribute to why their expression profiles are also markedly distinct. Our findings have major implications for our understanding of stem cells and cancer. [This work was supported by the HHMI and grants from the National Institutes of Health and The Emerald Foundation] 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 SY04-01. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-SY04-01
Economic-Robust Session Based Spectrum Trading

This chapter further extends the session based spectrum trading into an economic-robust session based one. Beyond considering the end-to-end performance of spectrum trading as illustrated in last chapter, the economic-robust session based spectrum trading also guarantee the economic properties of spectrum trading such as incentive compatibility, individual rationality, and budget balance. By employing two bidding manners, i.e., bidding for the whole session and unit rate bidding, we formulate the spectrum trading problems under multiple economic and multi-hop CR transmission constraints, design two pricing mechanisms to charge the winning spectrum bidders, and further mathematically prove the economic-robustness of the proposed spectrum trading schemes. Through extensive simulations, we show the proposed schemes are economic-robust and effective in improving spectrum utilization.