cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Erythromycin Thiocyanate and the Performance of Laying Hens

Abstract RELATIVELY little work has been published on the effects of erythromycin thiocyanate on the performance of laying hens. Potter et al. (1963) conducted an experiment with laying hens over a 44-week laying period. They observed that during the first two 11-week periods, the production of the hens fed a diet with erythromycin thiocyanate (10 gms./ton) was significantly greater than that of the hens fed the same diet without the antibiotic; however, no significant effects were observed over the next two 11-week periods, nor over the entire 44-week period taken as a whole. Mortality differences between antibiotic-treated birds and controls also failed to be significant. Guenthner and Carlson (1964) fed several antibiotics including erythromycin thiocyanate (10 gms./ton) over a period of two years and noted an increase in egg production in each case, but little or no effect on fertility, hatchability, egg size, shell thickness and Haugh units. Mortality varied considerably . . .
Membrane antigens in chronic active hepatitis: Physicochemical and immunological studies of soluble liver homogenate fractions

Abstract Since the liver membrane components termed liver-specific protein (LSP) and liver membrane antigen (LM-Ag) have been implicated as target antigens in chronic active hepatitis (CAH), we performed physicochemical and immunological analyses of these and other fractions obtained from liver homogenates. Supernatants were prepared from homogenates of human and rabbit liver by centrifugation at 105,000 g for 1 hr; after gel filtration on Sepharose 6B, the LSP fraction was obtained as the excluded peak I and LM-Ag as an included fraction, peak IIB. Comparison by immunodiffusion with reference LSP and guinea pig antisera to LSP confirmed the similarity of our fractions to reference preparations. Upon SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), human and rabbit peak I were found to contain at least 25 distinct protein bands with a wide range of molecular weights (14,000->100,000) and the other peaks were found to be equally heterogeneous. Thin-layer polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing (PAGIF) revealed 35–40 separate bands in both peaks I and IIB with a wide range of isoelectric points (3.5–10.0). These results indicate that liver homogenate fractions such as LSP and LM-Ag can no longer be considered as single protein preparations, and are in fact highly complex mixtures of multiple proteins. Further separation and characterization of such fractions will facilitate identification of liver antigens for use in in vitro immunological assays.
The hemodynamics of oxytocin and other vasoactive agents during neuraxial anesthesia for cesarean delivery: findings in six cases

Oxytocin is a commonly used uterotonic that can cause significant and even fatal hypotension, particularly when given as a bolus. The resulting hypotension can be produced by a decrease in systemic vascular resistance or cardiac output through a decrease in venous return. Parturients with normal volume status, heart valves and pulmonary vasculature most often respond to this hypotension with a compensatory increase in heart rate and stroke volume. Oxytocin-induced hypotension at cesarean delivery may be incorrectly attributed to blood loss. Pulse power analysis (also called "pulse contour analysis") of an arterial pressure wave form allows continuous evaluation of systemic vascular resistance and cardiac output in real time, thereby elucidating the causative factors behind changes in blood pressure. Pulse power analysis was conducted in six cases of cesarean delivery performed under neuraxial anesthesia. Hypotension in response to oxytocin was associated with a decrease in systemic vascular resistance and a compensatory increase in stroke volume, heart rate and cardiac output. Pulse power analysis may be helpful in determining the etiology of and treating hypotension during cesarean delivery under neuraxial anesthesia.
Life change events as stressors and their relationship to mental health among undergraduate university students.

In the present study, 87 male and 91 female undergraduate students (18 to 30 yr. old) were surveyed to determine whether the previously observed inverse relationship between life-change events and ...
“Because You Got to Have Heat”: The Networked Assemblage of Energy Poverty in Eastern North Carolina

Current discussions of energy policy seldom acknowledge the problem of energy poverty, a situation in which a household cannot afford to adequately heat or cool the home. In this article, we examine the concept of energy poverty and describe some of its contours in a rural part of North Carolina. Energy poverty, we suggest, is best viewed as a geographical assemblage of networked materialities and socioeconomic relations. To illustrate this approach, we focus on the geographical patterns of three key determinants of energy poverty in eastern North Carolina: the socioeconomic characteristics of rural households, the networked infrastructures of energy provision, and the material conditions of the home. Throughout, we highlight the lived effects of energy poverty, drawing on transcripts from interviews conducted with recipients of weatherization assistance in the region. The challenges of the energy poor, we suggest, deserve greater attention in public policy and as part of a broader understanding of welfar...
Crystallization of ThSiO4 from structurally and/or compositionally diphasic gels

The use of structurally and/or compositionally diphasic gels has been shown earlier to have profound effects in lowering the crystallization temperature and enhancing densification in several systems. In this study of solid-state epitaxy the ThSiO4 composition has been investigated. The use of compositional diphasicity allows one to lower the huttonite (β-ThSiO4) crystallization temperature by as much as 200°C. Using crystalline thorite (α-ThSiO4) as second phase nuclei partially stabilizes this phase (hypothetically metastable), while the introduction of huttonite nuclei completely inhibits the formation of the α form, which appears in detectable quantities in the unseeded precursors. This confirms the structural (epitaxial) control of the solid-state reaction. The use of structural or compositional nanoheterogeneity clearly helps to lower the crystallization temperature and to stabilize a particular polymorph in ccramics processed by the sol-gel route, and this principle can certainly be utilized more generally.
Incomplete Solubility in Nitride Alloys

A model based on the valence-force-field (VFF) model has been developed specifically for the calculation of the irascibility gaps in III-V nitride alloys. In the dilute limit, this model allows the relaxation of the atoms on both sublattices. It was found that the energy due to bond stretching and bond bending was lowered and the solubility limit was increased substantially when both sublattices were allowed to relax to distances as large as the sixth nearest neighbor positions. Using this model, the equilibrium mole fraction of N in GaP was calculated to be 6×l0−7 at 700°C. This is slightly higher than the calculated results from the semi-empirical delta lattice parameter (DLP) model. Both the temperature dependence and the absolute values of the calculated solubility agree closely with the experimental data. The solubility is more than three orders of magnitude larger than the result obtained using the VFF model with the group V atom positions given by the virtual crystal approximation, i.e., with relaxation of only the first neighbor bonds. Other nitride systems, such as GaAsN, AlPN, AlAsN, InPN, and InAsN were investigated as well. The equilibrium mole fractions of nitrogen in InP and InAs are the highest, which agrees well with recent experimental data where high N concentrations have been produced in InAsN alloys. Calculations were also performed for the alloy systems with mixing on the group III sublattice that are so important for device applications. Allowing relaxation to the 3rd nearest neighbor gives an In solubility in GaN at 800°C of less than 6%. Again, this is in agreement with the results of the DLP model calculation. This result may partially explain the difficulties experienced with the growth of these alloys. Indeed, evidence of solid immiscibility has recently been reported. A significant miscibility gap was also calculated for the AlInN system, but the AlGaN system is completely miscible.
i2MAP: an incremental and iterative modeling and analysis process

Detecting errors early within the development process for an embedded system assists a developer in avoiding excessive error correction costs and minimizing catastrophic losses resulting from failures in deployed systems. Towards that end, this paper presents i2MAP, an iterative and incremental goal-driven process for constructing an analysis-level UML model of an embedded system. The UML model is formally analyzed for adherence to the behavioral properties captured in a companion goal model. The process uses goal modeling to capture the requirements of the system, and uses UML to capture analysis-level structural and behavioral information. Both types of i2MAP models can be used to drive a rigorous approach to model-driven development of embedded systems. In this paper, we illustrate the i2MAP process and the accompanying tool suite in the development of an embedded system model for an adaptive light control system.
Superconductivity: Turn up the temperature

A more elaborate picture is developing of what makes some materials superconduct at relatively high temperatures. With it come hints for how to design materials with still higher transition temperatures.
Node conversion in hypermedia systems

In a hypermedia system information is stored in a network of nodes, connected by links. Each node can be presented using one or more media formats. The problem of automatically converting a node from one media format to another is considered. This capability would allow users to select the most convenient representation for a particular application. A number of possible conversions are presented, and some of the design issues involved in automatic node conversion are discussed. A prototype system has been implemented, and future research is planned.
Quirks of Stirling's Approximation.

Stirling’s approximation to ln n! is typically introduced to physical chemistry students as a step in the derivation of the statistical expression for the entropy. However, naive application of this approximation leads to incorrect conclusions. In this article, the problem is first illustrated using a familiar “toy model” example, the two-state system of N classical spins, where it is shown that two different physical situations lead to the same computed value of the entropy. Retention of additional terms in the approximation of the factorial is required to yield an accurate expression for the statistical weight of the most probable configuration in such model systems, but generates only a little extra accuracy in entropy calculations, and then only in the limit of very small numbers of particles. Additionally, inclusion of these terms makes the entropy nonextensive. We show here that, in the standard derivation of the entropy of the microcanonical ensemble, it is the freedom to allow the ensemble size to...
High-resolution microspectroscopy and sub-nanosecond time-resolved spectroscopy with the synchrotron infrared source

Abstract Infrared produced as synchrotron radiation has useful qualities for a number of infrared measurement methods. The most important is the high source brightness, which allows infrared microspectroscopy to be performed on sample regions having a size equal to the wavelength of light (a few microns). The source is also pulsed, enabling time-resolved spectroscopy to be performed without the need for a high-speed infrared detector. This paper reviews the qualities of infrared synchrotron radiation, and shows performance capabilities for microspectroscopy and sub-nanosecond time-resolved spectroscopy. Results from the National Synchrotron Light Source infrared beamlines are presented or reviewed.
Cell adhesion molecules and pulmonary fibrosis.

Pulmonary fibrosis comprises a group of conditions with common pathologic and physiologic responses in the lung. Pulmonary fibrosis results from a very wide variety of causes, listed in the Table (1). These include inhalational exposure to inorganic and organic agents (eg, cadmium, asbestos fibers, thermophillic actinomycetes, etc), inflammatory response to infectious agents, collagen vascular diseases, and late responses to the acute respiratory distress syndrome. Up to one half of the cases are idiopathic, with no specific etiology or associated condition identified despite thorough evaluation. Pulmonary fibrosis is a major source of morbidity and mortality. Patients typically present with symptoms of cough and dyspnea; when the condition progresses, chronic respiratory failure and cor pulmonale often ensue. Although some forms of pulmonary fibrosis of known origin may have a better prognosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive condition that rarely, if ever, remits spontaneously (2). In large series, the 5-year survival of patients with IPF was less than 50%. Unfortunately, despite intensive investigation, the results of therapy for IPF have remained poor. First-line therapy with corticosteroids offers only a 15% to 20% response rate despite very significant side effects. More aggressive immunosuppressive therapy with cytotoxic agents has had only a modest impact on the outcome of the disease. This pessimistic picture regarding treatment for IPF has spurred increased interest in investigations into the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. A better understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the initiation and maintenance of the fibrotic process may lead to new approaches to therapy that will improve the outcome of this devastating condition. It is clear that cell– cell interactions as well as cell– extracellular matrix interactions are critical for the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. One of the essential mechanisms by which cells interact with the microenvironment is through the expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs). Recent progress in our understanding of the biology of CAMs has suggested that there are several points at which these molecules play critical roles in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis, and offers hope for new therapeutic modalities.
Enhanced interferon production and lymphokine-activated cytotoxicity of human placental cells

Abstract The immunologic competence of human placental mononuclear cells was compared to that of adult and cord blood mononuclear cells. Mononuclear cells were isolated from fresh placentas by digestion with collagenase and DNase, followed by Ficoll-Hypaque and discontinuous Percoll separation. Placental cells incubated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) synthesized significantly more interferon-γ (IFN-γ) at 2 days (29 ± 5.5 IU/ml) and 5 days (46 ± 8.5 IU/ml) than PHA-activated cord cells (3.6 ± 0.6 IU/ml at 2 days and 2.7 ± 0.7 IU/ml at 5 days) but less than PHA-activated adult cells (81 ±20 IU/ml at 2 days and 270 ± 161 IU/ml at 5 days). Placental and adult cells, but not cord cells, also synthesized significant quantities of IFN-γ following incubation with interleukin-2 (IL-2). There was synergism between IL-2 and PHA activation for IFN-γ production for some cord samples. After a 5- to 7-day incubation with IL-2, the lymphocyte-activated killer (LAK cell) cytotoxicity of placental cells (measured in a 3-hr chromium-release assay at an E:T ratio of 40:1) was enhanced 13-fold against K562 target cells (6 ± 2% to 77 ± 4%) compared to a 4-fold increase in cord cells (16 ± 4% to 68 ± 3%) and a 2-fold increase in normal adult cells (35 ± 4% to 65 ± 3%). Against the natural killer (NK)-resistant Raji target, placental cells increased their LAK cytotoxic activity (3 ± 1% to 59 ± 7%) compared to a 7-fold increase with cord cells (6 ± 1% to 43 ± 3%) and a 3-fold increase with adult cells (11 ± 2% to 38 ± 4%). A notable degree of cytotoxic activity in the absence of IL-2 against Molt targets was noted in 11 of 14 (79%) placental cell samples at 5 days. Only 10 of 24 (42%) adult and 17 of 37 (40%) cord samples showed spontaneous cytotoxic activity equal to or greater than 10%. Some placental samples actually showed an increase in cytotoxic activity when incubated without IL-2. The ability of placental cells to produce significant levels of IFN-γ, to develop considerable LAK activity, and to maintain or develop cytotoxic activity in the absence of IL-2 suggests a vigorous, active immune system of the placenta compared to the relatively dormant immune system of the neonate. These observations suggest that placental cells may have a primary role in fetal defense.
Uptake of lanthanum by a yeast.

IN the course of studies of the barium metabolism of larval Drosophila which it is planned to report in full elsewhere, we have found that larvae on a medium containing barium-140 showed lanthanum-140 enrichment if the medium had been inoculated with Texas Y-2 strain of yeast1 twenty-four hours before adding the larvae, but barium-140 enrichment if the larvae had been placed directly on the sterile food. These enrichments were measured by means of deviations in the shape of the curves of radioactive decay for the chain 140Ba → 140La → 140Ce, as has been clearly described2 for the strontium-90–yttrium-90 chain. The observation appeared explicable on the assumption that the yeast cells were selecting lanthanum from the medium, while the larvae, though preferring to feed on yeast cells, preferentially absorb barium.
Multidimensional Binary Search Trees in Database Applications

The multidimensional binary search tree (abbreviated k-d tree) is a data structure for storing multikey records. This structure has been used to solve a number of "geometric" problems in statistics and data analysis. The purposes of this paper are to cast k-d trees in a database framework, to collect the results on k-d trees that have appeared since the structure was introduced, and to show how the basic data structure can be modified to facilitate implementation in large (and very large) databases.
Random-bond Ising chain in a magnetic field at low temperatures

The low-temperature behavior ($T\ensuremath{\ll}h, J$) of a random-bond Ising chain in a magnetic field is considered [$H=\ensuremath{-}(\frac{1}{2})J\ensuremath{\Sigma}{T}_{i}{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{i}{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{i+1}\ensuremath{-}h\ensuremath{\Sigma}{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{i}, {\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{i}=\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1$, ${{T}_{i}}$ is a fixed random sequence of numbers +1 and -1 with concentrations ${c}_{1}$ and ${c}_{2}=1\ensuremath{-}{c}_{1}$, respectively]. The ground-state energy ${E}_{0}$, magnetization ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{0}$ and zero-point entropy ${S}_{0}$ are calculated exactly. It is shown that ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{0}$ and ${S}_{0}$ are discontinuous functions of magnetic field having jumps at $h=\frac{J}{n}$, $n=1, 2, \dots{}$.
Reduction in lactate accumulation correlates with differentiation-induced terminal cell division of leukemia cells

Lactate accumulation in the medium and glucose utilization decreased during the induction of in vitro differentiation of mouse erythroleukemia (MEL) and human myeloid leukemia (HL-60) cells. The decrease in lactate accumulation occurred as early as 24 h after inducer treatment was initiated and occurred prior to the decrease in glucose utilization. The decrease in lactate accumulation was greater than that predicted by the decrease in glucose utilization, i.e., the ratio of glucose used glycolytically, as measured by lactate accumulation, to glucose used in other pathways ('glycolytic ratio') markedly decreased during differentiation in these cell lines. Differentiation correlated with the abrogation of the high levels of lactate accumulation first described by Warburg as characteristic of some transformed and neoplastic cells. Studies on both parental and differentiation-resistant variant MEL cell lines indicated that the changes in lactate accumulation were not dependent on the changes in glucose utilization and could be dissociated from them. Moreover, the changes in lactate accumulation only occurred in cells able to undergo differentiation-induced terminal cell division. This regulatable expression of lactate accumulation in MEL and HL-60 cells in vitro may make them useful model systems for the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms controlling lactate formation in malignant cells.
Geomorphological control of subsurface hydrology in the creekbank zone of tidal marshes

Abstract A combination of field and numerical modeling methods was used to assess porewater movement in a narrow (20 m) Spartina marsh which was flooded regularly by tidal waters. Soil composition and soil hydraulic properties did not vary across the marsh or with depth. Hydraulic head was monitored on a transect perpendicular to the creekbank. During exposure of the marsh surface, hydraulic gradients were predominantly horizontal; vertical gradients were small or zero. Subsurface flow was directed from the marsh interior toward the creekbank. Approximately 141 of pore water were discharged laterally to the adjacent tidal creek per meter of creekbank over a complete tidal cycle. A numerical hydrological model was modified to simulate subsurface hydraulics in the creekbank vicinity of regularly flooded tidal marshes. The model was parameterized to represent soil conditions, tidal fluctuations and topography at the field site. Observed changes in hydraulic head over complete tidal cycles were accurately predicted by the model. Model simulations identified the vertical infiltration of creek water into the marsh surface at the onset of tidal flooding as the primary source (66%) for the replacement of water drained at the creekbank. Significant replacement (31%) also occurred as discharge from the interior marsh. Horizontal recharge at the creekbank was minimal (3%). A sensitivity analysis was conducted with the model to assess the relative importance of geomorphological factors and soil properties in controlling pore water export at the creekbank of tidal marsh soils. Each parameter was varied systematically over a realistic range for field conditions. Changes in marsh elevation exerted greater control over creekbank discharge than changes in soil hydraulic properties. More rapid turnover of pore water near creekbanks of higher elevation marshes is hypothesized.
Corrections for Modulation and Time-Constant Effects on Isolated Level-Crossing Signals

An expression is obtained for the first Fourier coefficient of modulated dispersion curves, which can be used with Wahlquist’s analysis for Lorentz curves to describe any level-crossing signal obtained by modulating magnetic or electric fields. Corrections to the widths and centers of both Δm=1 and Δm=2 signals are tabulated for distortions which arise from modulation, optical misalignment, and the use of large integrating times in phase-sensitive detectors.
A dual plane variation of the Hough transform for detecting non-concentric circles of different radii

Abstract The Hough transform for circle detection requires the search of a 3-dimensional parameter space for circles of arbitrary radius. A technique has been developed which calculates intersection points of edge gradient vectors storing response weights in one plane and the product of weights and radii in another plane effectively eliminating the radius dimension of the parameter space. The result is a significant savings in both search time and storage in the parameter space accumulator.
Bispectral Index Monitoring of Conscious Sedation With the Combination of Meperidine and Midazolam During Endoscopy

Background & Aims: Current practice guidelines strongly recommend differentiation of deep from moderate sedation during endoscopy. Standard methods of sedation monitoring are labor-intense. Bispectral index monitoring (BIS) is widely used during anesthesia, but its benefits during conscious sedation are controversial. Thus, we performed a prospective observational study to assess its ability for detecting deep sedation during endoscopy. Methods: Patients presenting for elective outpatient endoscopy were monitored simultaneously with the Modified Observer’s Assessment of Alertness and Sedation (MOAA/S) and BIS. A combination of a narcotic and benzodiazepine was used, with the target being moderate sedation and analgesia. Deep sedation was defined by MOAA/S score of 1–2 and BIS score of ≤75. With MOAA/S as the reference standard, the accuracy of BIS for detecting deep sedation was evaluated. Results: A total of 775 simultaneous observations of BIS and MOAA/S scores were recorded on 76 patients. Deep sedation, defined by MOAA/S and BIS, was seen in 204 (26%) and 92 (12%) observations, respectively. BIS correlated poorly with deep sedation (rho, −0.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], −0.16–0.12). The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values (95% CI) for detecting deep sedation were 29.6 (23.4–36.3), 94.9 (92.8–96.6), 68.2 (57.4–77.7), and 78.6 (75.3–81.7), respectively. Conclusions: BIS has a low accuracy for detecting deep sedation as a result of a considerable overlap of scores across the sedation levels. Further refinements in BIS are needed to differentiate deep from moderate sedation for future studies on conscious sedation.
Differential blood-brain barrier permeabilities to [14C]sucrose and [3H]inulin after osmotic opening in the rat.

The blood-brain barrier (B-BB) in 3-month-old rats was opened unilaterally by infusing 1.8 m L(+)arabinose in water into the internal carotid artery through a catheter in the external carotid. Two poorly penetrating uncharged test radiotracers of differing molecular weight and size, [14C]sucrose (340 daltons, radius 5 A) and [3H]inulin (5500 daltons, radius 15 A), were simultaneously injected i.v. in untreated rats, or rats at 1, 30, or 50 min after infusion of hypertonic arabinose solution. Evans-blue solution was injected 5 min prior to osmotic treatment as a visual indicator of barrier integrity. In regions of uninfused control brains, the [14C]sucrose permeability-surface area (PA) product approximated 10(-5) s-1, whereas PA was not measurable for [3H]inulin. In arabinose-infused animals, PA products on the ipsilateral hemisphere for both [14C]sucrose and [3H]inulin were markedly elevated 6 min after infusion, but decreased by 35 and 55 min. In nearly all regions, statistically significant differences were not found between 6-min [14C]sucrose- and [3H]inulin-PA values (P greater than 0.05). However, at 35 and 55 min in most regions, the PA for [3H]inulin was significantly lower (P less than 0.05) than PA for [14C]sucrose. The results indicated that the B-BB closed more rapidly to larger than to smaller molecules after osmotic treatment and were consistent with a pore model for osmotic B-BB opening.
A single plasmid transfection that offers a significant advantage associated with puromycin selection in Drosophila Schneider S2 cells expressing heterologous proteins

The Drosophila Schneider S2 (S2) Expression System enables expression of recombinant proteins constitutively, as well as inductively. This system can establish both transient and stable transformants with various selection markers. The generation of stable cell lines for increased expression or large scale expression of the desired protein is currently accomplished by cotransfection of both the expression and selection vectors. The selection vectors, pCoHYGRO and pCoBLAST, are commercially available using hygromycin-B and blasticidin S, respectively. Recently, we generated a plasmid, pCoPURO, for selection of transfected S2 cells using puromycin, which allows significant acceleration of the selection time. Although co-transfection of the selection marker with the plasmid for heterologous protein expression is functional in stable expression at short culture periods, the expression levels of stable transformants are continuously decreased during long culture times. To overcome this limitation, we generated pMT-PURO, a new plasmid that contains both the expression cassette and puromycin selection marker in a single plasmid. This system allows rapid selection and maintenance of the transformed S2 lines for extended culture periods.
The influence of illness severity and time since life change on the size of the life change-health change relationship.

Abstract This paper examines the relationship between recent life change experience and subsequent changes in health as a function of the length of time between life change and health change reports. We attempt to present data concerning an ambiguity in the literature about whether this relationship tends to increase, decrease, or remain unchanged as time elapses between life change report and health status follow-up.
Energy and Cost Reduction in Localized Multisensory Systems through Application-Driven Compression

Localized multisensory systems for medical diagnostics are becoming increasingly important due to the prevalence of lightweight sensors and new collection, storage, and communication platforms such as mobile phones and tablets. These systems are often comprised of multisensory arrays that can be inefficient in terms of energy and cost both in sensing and transmission. We make the following two key observations: (i) the raw sensed data itself is unimportant, only those metrics relevant to diagnosis are needed, and (ii) it is often the case that the information relevant to medical diagnosis can be easily derived from the raw sensed data. Therefore, we drive our energy optimization procedure by selecting a subset of sensors that can predict these metrics well, eliminating all others and ultimately reducing the number of required sensors. We also develop a novel procedure for combining adjacent sensors to further reduce cost and sensing energy while increasing prediction strength. Finally, we present an algorithm for sub sampling the selected sensors that leverages the observations that: (i) most sensors need only be sampled after a physiological event is triggered, and (ii) such events tend to be predictable from semantic information and therefore a high sampling rate is unnecessary.
Catalysis of the hydrolysis of ethyl benzoate on surfactant-coated metal surfaces

Abstract Further studies were made of the catalysis of the hydrolysis of ethyl benzoate by cationic surfactant films adsorbed on platinum. It was shown that this phenomenon occurred with a variety of cationic surfactants and metals, glass and Teflon as solid surfaces. The catalytic effect of nickel increased linearly with the area of metal in a manner similar to that of platinum. This increase was concluded to be caused by formation of the equivalent of an inverted micelle by adsorption of the anion of the surfactant on the metal surface and ion pairing of the hydrophobic cation. As the surfactant concentration increased, organized multilayer adsorption occurred and the surface passed alternately from the hydrophobic inverted micelle structure with an increasing rate to the hydrophilic normal micelle structure with a decreasing rate. At a specific surfactant concentration much lower than the critical micelle concentration, a sharp decrease in rate is observed. This was interpreted as being caused by chloride poisoning during the formation of the first adsorbed layer. The fact that the alternating increases and decreases in the rate of reaction with increasing concentration of the surfactant differed in phase when Teflon and glass surfaces were used was interpreted in terms of the structure of the first adsorbed layer with the hydrophilic end on glass and the hydrophobic end on Teflon.
Internexin, MAP1B, and nestin in cortical dysplasia as markers of developmental maturity

Cortical dysplasias (CD) are characterized histologically by disorganized cortical lamination and abnormally shaped neurons. We hypothesized that neurons within CD have failed to differentiate fully and may express proteins such as cytoskeletal elements characteristic of immature cells. Disrupted expression of certain cytoskeletal proteins, which have been implicated in neuronal polarity, process outgrowth, and migration, could result in disorganized cortical lamination. Thus, we probed two CD subtypes, focal CD (FCD) and hemimegalencephaly (HME), with antibodies specific for cytoskeletal proteins that are developmentally regulated in neural progenitor cells and neurons to define more fully the developmental phenotype of neurons within CD. Microtubule-associated protein 1B (MAP1B) and the intermediate filament (IF) protein nestin are enriched in neural progenitors, whereas MAP2B, phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated forms of medium (NFM) and high (NFH) molecular weight neurofilament (NF) proteins, as well as the light NF subunit (NFL) and the IF protein α internexin are expressed in developing and mature neurons. Immunolabeling for internexin and MAP1B was more abundant in the most abnormally shaped neurons that populated dysplastic regions than in adjacent regions exhibiting milder cytoarchitectural abnormalities or control cortex. Nestin immunoreactivity was noted in large dysplastic and heterotopic neurons within the deeper cortical layers of CD specimens but not in normal cortex. In contrast, neurons in CD specimens also expressed cytoskeletal markers characteristic of differentiated neurons such as NF subunits and MAP2B. These findings suggest that the cytoarchitectural abnormalities in CD may reflect pathophysiological changes in the developing brain that disrupt expression of several key components of the neuronal cytoskeleton and may contribute to impaired migration of cortical neurons.
Marriage of military and commercial RECCE products for surveillance applications

During recent years, in order to meet increased demands for aerial surveillance data and due to decreased availability of support from military tactical reconnaissance organizations, many state and federal agencies have begun to expand their organic reconnaissance capabilities. Agencies have attempted to minimize system costs by procuring excess military sensors, only to find that adaptation of existing military sensor control and data annotation systems, or development of application specific systems, is cost prohibitive. One proposed solution to this dilemma, as presented within this paper, is user integrated reconnaissance systems which can include excess military sensors, but which also make extensive use of cost effective commercially procurable reconnaissance management system (RMS) components.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
COSMID: A Web-based Tool for Identifying and Validating CRISPR/Cas Off-target Sites

Precise genome editing using engineered nucleases can significantly facilitate biological studies and disease treatment. In particular, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) with CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins are a potentially powerful tool for modifying a genome by targeted cleavage of DNA sequences complementary to designed guide strand RNAs. Although CRISPR/Cas systems can have on-target cleavage rates close to the transfection rates, they may also have relatively high off-target cleavage at similar genomic sites that contain one or more base pair mismatches, and insertions or deletions relative to the guide strand. We have developed a bioinformatics-based tool, COSMID (CRISPR Off-target Sites with Mismatches, Insertions, and Deletions) that searches genomes for potential off-target sites (http://crispr.bme.gatech.edu). Based on the user-supplied guide strand and input parameters, COSMID identifies potential off-target sites with the specified number of mismatched bases and insertions or deletions when compared with the guide strand. For each site, amplification primers optimal for the chosen application are also given as output. This ranked-list of potential off-target sites assists the choice and evaluation of intended target sites, thus helping the design of CRISPR/Cas systems with minimal off-target effects, as well as the identification and quantification of CRISPR/Cas induced off-target cleavage in cells.
Thymic Stromal-Derived Lymphopoietin Induces Proliferation of Pre-B Leukemia and Antagonizes mTOR Inhibitors, Suggesting a Role for Interleukin-7Rα Signaling

Understanding the pathogenesis of leukemia in the context of lymphopoiesis may reveal novel therapeutic targets. Previously, we have shown that mTOR inhibitors (MTI) show activity in vitro and in preclinical models of both human and murine precursor B acute lymphoblastic leukemia (pre-B ALL), inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis. These MTI-mediated effects can be reversed by interleukin-7 (IL-7), an important regulator of early B-cell development. This observation led us to examine the contribution of signaling via the IL-7Ralpha chain, which is shared by the receptor complexes of IL-7 and thymic stromal-derived lymphopoietin (TSLP). TSLP is closely related to IL-7 and active in lymphopoiesis, but an effect of TSLP on leukemia cells has not been described. We examined the effect of TSLP on pre-B ALL cells and their response to MTIs. Here, we show that TSLP stimulates proliferation of pre-B ALL cell lines. TSLP also partially reverses the effects of MTI on proliferation, apoptosis, and ribosomal protein S6 and 4E-BP1 phosphorylation in cell lines, with similar biological effects seen in some primary human lymphoblast samples. These data show that TSLP can promote survival of pre-B ALL cells and antagonize the effects of MTIs. These findings suggest that IL-7Ralpha chain is responsible for transducing the survival signal that overcomes MTI-mediated growth inhibition in pre-B ALL. Thus, further exploration of the IL-7Ralpha pathway may identify potential therapeutic targets in the treatment of ALL. Our data illustrate that growth-factor-mediated signaling may provide one mechanism of MTI resistance.
Heterogeneous physicochemistry of the polar ozone hole

Processes occurring in the polar winter stratosphere, which involve polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs), are investigated using observations from the Airborne Antarctic Ozone Experiment. In particular, data on the properties of PSCs and their physical chemistry, the microphysical processes and time constants for cloud processes, the heterogeneous chemical processes and their time constants, and nonlinearities in the long-term ozone trend associated with physical and chemical processes are examined. The chemical reactions leading to the depletion of the inert chlorine reservoir in a presence of type I PSCs are established, and it is shown that type II PSCs contribute to chemical processing that sustains the chemical imbalance of the polar stratosphere. It is shown that, using a simple model, the decadal evolution of the Antarctic ozone hole may be understood through nonlinearities in the heterogeneous chemistry, with possible contributing effects of variations in stratospheric temperatures and water vapor concentrations.
Identification of the major cysteine protease of Giardia and its role in encystation

Giardia lamblia is a protozoan parasite and the earliest branching clade of eukaryota. The Giardia life cycle alternates between an asexually replicating vegetative form and an infectious cyst form. Encystation and excystation are crucial processes for the survival and transmission of Giardia. Cysteine proteases in Giardia have been implicated in proteolytic processing events that enable the continuance of the life cycle throughout encystation and excystation. Using quantitative real-time PCR, the expression of twenty-seven clan CA cysteine protease genes in the Giardia genome was measured during both vegetative growth and encystation. Giardia cysteine protease 2 was the most highly expressed cysteine protease during both life cycle stages measured, with a dramatic expression increase during encystation. The mRNA transcript for Giardia cysteine protease 2 was 7-fold up-regulated during encystation and was greater than 3-fold higher than any other Giardia protease gene product. Recombinant Giardia cysteine protease 2 was expressed, purified, and biochemically characterized. The activity of the recombinant cysteine protease 2 protein was confirmed to be identical to the dominant cysteine protease activity found in G. lamblia lysates. Giardia cysteine protease 2 was co-localized with cyst wall protein in encystation-specific vesicles during encystation and processed cyst wall protein 2 to the size found in Giardia cyst walls. These data suggest that Giardia cysteine protease 2 is not only the major cysteine endoprotease expressed in Giardia, but is also central to the encystation process.
Sexuality and discipline among Filipina domestic workers in Hong Kong

Filipina domestic workers in Hong Kong are viewed as sexually threatening and thus in need of strict discipline. In this article I present and analyze the discourse on the sexuality of Filipina domestic workers, arguing that their reputation is linked primarily to their ambiguous social and class identities, and to broad changes in the familial and economic landscape of Hong Kong. Clothing serves as one forum in which sexuality is expressed, discipline is enacted and resisted, and various forms of power are exercised, [sexuality, Filipina domestic workers, discipline, resistance, clothing, Hong Kong].
Pregnancy after liver transplantation with tacrolimus immunosuppression: a single center's experience update at 13 years.

Background Chronic liver disease often leads to amenorrhea in women of childbearing age. There are several reports of successful pregnancy after liver transplantation (LTx) with cyclosporine A immunosuppression. Tacrolimus has been increasingly used in solid-organ transplantation, and the effect of the drug on pregnancy is still of interest to clinicians. This study updates our single-center experience. Methods All pregnancies after LTx with tacrolimus immunosuppression were followed prospectively. Patients' clinical courses during pregnancy and labor along with gestational period and birth weight were catalogued. Changes in liver function, renal function, and immunosuppression also were recorded. The birth weight percentile was calculated on the basis of the gestational period using a standard chart. Results Thirty-seven mothers delivered 49 babies. Three mothers delivered three times, and six mothers delivered two times. Thirty-six mothers (97%) survived the pregnancy, and 36 allografts (97%) survived. The one death and graft loss was in a patient who demonstrated infra-aortic arterial graft, which clotted by the gravid uterus during labor. The patient developed a gangrenous liver and died before she could undergo retransplantation. The mean gestational period was 36.4+/-3.2 weeks, excluding two premature deliveries at 23 and 24 weeks gestation. Twenty-two babies (46.9%) were delivered by cesarean section, and the other babies were delivered vaginally. In addition to the two premature babies, one baby, who was born to a mother with Alagille syndrome, died from congenital birth defects. The rest of the newborns survived. The mean birth weight was 2,797+/-775 g, with 38 babies (78%) weighing more than 2,000 g. The mean birth weight percentile to gestational period was 54+/-23. Four babies (8.5%) had a birth weight percentile of less than 25, and 28 babies (59.6%) had a birth weight percentile greater than 50. Twelve patients demonstrated an increase in hepatic enzymes without jaundice during the pregnancy. All of them responded to augmentation of immunosuppression. Conclusion The present report reconfirms the safety of tacrolimus during pregnancy after LTx. Preterm delivery and low birth weight seem to be a persistent problem in all solid-organ transplantation under any form of immunosuppression. However, toxemia of pregnancy and new onset of hypertension seem to be have a low occurrence with the use of tacrolimus.
Maintenance of Rectifiers on Electrochemical Installations

Operating experiences and information gained over a period of years from the operation of a large group of mercury arc rectifiers have shown that, while rectifiers provide a very economical means of converting from a-c to d-c power, they are not entirely trouble free. The principal operating difficulty has been the seemingly inherent tendency for a rectifier to arc-back. This peculiarity has challenged both the designer and operator since it has been found that both contribute toward the solution. The present paper presents the features which have been found advisable for the operator to observe and control in order to keep the occurrences of arc-back at a minimum.
Flexural and Shear Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Members Strengthened with a Discrete Fiber-Reinforced Polyurea System

Recent research has been conducted to evaluate the benefits provided by externally-applied discrete fiber-reinforced polyurea (DFRP) coating systems. This coating was proposed to allow for ease of construction in repair-retrofit situations and to provide multihazard benefits, ranging from blast or impact fragmentation mitigation to seismic reinforcement and general strengthening. This phase of research investigated the flexural and shear reinforcement capabilities of the systems. Testing parameters included type of structural failure, polyurea, and fiber volume fraction. Additionally, the effects of the thickness of the composite system were considered. Concrete beam specimens were fabricated and coated per the designed test matrix and subjected to four-point bending. Analysis was based on ultimate capacity, deflection, overall ductility, and the qualitative observations of coating adhesion and fragmentation confinement. In addition, a theoretical model was developed and validated to describe the flexural behavior of the polyurea-coated beams and to normalize the test data for comparison. Results presented in this paper suggest measurable strengthening for both flexural and shear capacity provided by the coating system and substantial gains in ductility. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)CC.1943-5614.0000308. © 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers. CE Database subject headings: Fiber reinforced polymer; Rehabilitation; Reinforced concrete; Flexural strength; Shear strength; Model verification.
Performance directed synthesis for table look up programmable gate arrays

The authors address the problem of delay optimization for programmable gate arrays. The main considerations are the number of levels in the circuit and the wiring delay. The authors propose a two-phase approach: the first phase involves delay optimizations during logic synthesis before placement, while the second uses logic resynthesis in the case of a timing-driven placement technique. Results and comparisons on benchmarks are presented. >
Confidence scalable post-silicon statistical delay prediction under process variations

Due to increased variability trends in nanoscale integrated circuits, statistical circuit analysis has become essential. We present a novel method for post-silicon analysis that gathers data from a small number of on-chip test structures, and combines this information with pre-silicon statistical timing analysis to obtain narrow, die-specific, timing PDFs. Experimental results show that for the benchmark suite being considered, taking all parameter variations into consideration, our approach can get a PDF with the standard deviation 83.5% smaller on average than the SSTA result. The approach is scalable to smaller test structure overheads.