cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Judge, Jury & Encryptioner: Exceptional Device Access with a Social Cost

We present Judge, Jury and Encryptioner (JJE) an exceptional access scheme for unlocking devices that does not give unilateral power to any single authority. JJE achieves this by placing final approval to unlock a device in the hands of peer devices. JJE distributes maintenance of the protocol across a network of "custodians" such as courts, government agencies, civil rights watchdogs, and academic institutions. Unlock requests, however, can only be approved by a randomly selected set of recently active peer devices that must be physically located by law enforcement in order to gain access to the locked device. This requires that law enforcement expend both human and monetary resources and pay a "social cost" in order to find and request the participation of random device owners in the unlock process. Compared to other proposed exceptional access schemes, we believe that JJE mitigates the risk of mass surveillance, law enforcement abuse, and vulnerability to unlawful attackers. While we propose a concrete construction, our primary goal with JJE is to spur discussion on ethical exceptional access schemes that balance privacy of individuals and the desires for law enforcement. JJE transparently reveals the use of exceptional access to the public and enforces a fixed social cost that, we believe, can be an effective deterrent to mass surveillance and abuse.
Initial Coin Offerings, Speculation, and Asset Tokenization

Initial coin offerings (ICOs) are an emerging form of fundraising for blockchain-based startups. We examine how ICOs can be leveraged in the context of asset tokenization, whereby firms issue token...
Group resonant interactions between surface and internal gravity waves in a two-layer system

Nonlinear interactions between surface and internal gravity waves in a two-layer system are studied using explicit second-order nonlinear evolution equations in Hamiltonian form. Motivated by the detailed experiment of Lewis, Lake & Ko (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 63, 1974, pp. 773–800), our focus is on surface wave modulation by the group resonance mechanism that corresponds to near-resonant triad interactions between a long internal wave and short surface waves. Our numerical solutions show good agreement with laboratory measurements of the local wave amplitude and slope, and confirm that the surface modulation becomes significant when the group velocity of the surface waves matches the phase speed of the internal wave, as the linear modulation theory predicts. It is shown, however, that, after the envelope amplitude is increased sufficiently, the surface and internal waves start to exchange energy through near-resonant triad interactions, which is found to be crucial to accurately describe the long-term surface wave modulation by an internal wave. The reduced amplitude equations are also adopted to validate this observation. For oceanic applications, numerical solutions are presented for a density ratio close to one and it is found that significant energy exchanges occur through primary and successive resonant triad interactions.
Utility of Intravascular Ultrasound in Peripheral Vascular Interventions: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis:

Objectives:We sought to compare outcomes between intravascular ultrasound– (IVUS) versus angiography (AO)-guided peripheral vascular interventions (PVIs). Introduction: Intravascular ultrasound fac...
Structure evolution during deposition and thermal annealing of amorphous carbon ultrathin films investigated by molecular dynamics simulations.

The evolution of the structure of amorphous carbon (a-C) films during deposition and thermal annealing is of significant interest from both the materials science and application perspectives. However, despite the voluminous literature of studies dealing with the deposition and physical properties of a-C films, basic understanding of the structure evolution due to phase change during film growth and heating is fairly sparse and empirical, presumably due to the lack of high-resolution instruments that can probe structural changes at the atomic and molecular levels in real time. Molecular dynamics (MD) is a powerful computational method for studying atomic/molecular-scale movement and interactions. Thus, the objective of this study was to perform MD simulations that provide insight into changes in the structure of ultrathin a-C films during deposition and annealing. Simulation results reveal a multi-layer film structure, even for a-C films as thin as ~20 A, the existence of a deposition energy that yields a-C films with the highest sp3 content, the transient and steady-state stages of the structure evolution during annealing at different temperatures, and the changes in the hybridization state (mainly in the bulk layer) encountered during annealing at elevated temperatures. The MD results of this study are of particular importance to applications where the deposition conditions and operation temperature affect the structure and, in turn, the physical properties of ultrathin a-C films used as protective overcoats.
Changing Attitudes: Impact of Mandatory Tutoring in Writing Centers

This article explores the use of data rather than anecdotal evidence when considering mandatory tutoring in writing centers, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative data in determining the effectiveness of mandated sessions. A semester-long study was conducted in English 1010 and English 1010D (Introduction to Writing) classes. Administrators asked students in eight classes to visit the writing center at least one time while working on their class essays. Administrators also tracked four control courses, taught by the same instructors, where attendance was not mandated. Results showed that students attending the writing center earned higher essay and course grades. Their perception of the writing center also improved. In contrast, none of the students in the four non-mandated courses attended the writing center during the semester.
A Visual Feature based Obstacle Avoidance Method for Autonomous Navigation

We propose a simple but effective obstacle- avoiding approach for autonomous robot navigation. The method computes local but safe navigation path and relies only on visual feature information extracted from the environment. To achieve this, we first build a discrete set of candidate navigation points in camera’s field of view; then the obstacle avoiding navigation points are selected by evaluating rewards of all candidate points, where the reward metric consists of point-wise transiting probability, safety consideration, mutual information of features, and feature density. Next, we construct a navigable passage in the free space by generating a series of convex hulls that are adjacent to each other. With the navigable passage constructed, a local path that lies within the passage is planned for the robot to safely navigate through. We evaluate the method in both a real world indoor environment as well as a simulated outdoor environment.
Greening Electric Bike Sharing Using Solar Charging Stations

Electric bikes have emerged as a popular form of transportation for short trips in dense urban areas and are being increasingly adopted by bike share programs for easy accessibility to riders. Motivated by the rising popularity of electric bikes, a form of an electric vehicle, we study the research question of how to design a zero-carbon electric bike share system. Specifically we study the challenges in designing solar charging stations for electric bike systems that enable either net-zero or a fully zero-carbon operation. We design a prototype two bike solar charging station to demonstrate the feasibility of our approach. Using insights and data from our prototype solar charging station, we then conduct a data driven analysis of the costs and benefits of converting an entire bike system into one powered using solar charging stations. Using empirical analysis, we determine the panel and battery capacity for each station, and perform a feasibility evaluation of the system using 8 months of ridership data. Our results show that equipping each bike station with a single grid-tied solar panel is adequate to meet the annual charging demand from electric bikes and achieve net-zero operation using net-metering. For an off-grid setup, our analysis shows that a bike station needs twice as many solar panels, on average, along with a 1.8kWh battery, with the busiest bike station needing 6× more solar capacity than in the net-metering case. Our analysis also reveals a tradeoff between the array size and the battery size needed to achieve true-zero carbon operation for the electric bike share system.
Variation in the Content of Postpartum Visits by Maternal Race/Ethnicity, Preconception, and Pregnancy-Related Cardiovascular Disease Risk, PRAMS, 2016-2017.

ObjectivesLimited evidence suggests racial/ethnic disparities in postpartum visit attendance; however, little is known about patterns in postpartum visit content. We sought to determine whether rec...
Lifestyle and the Power of Likay Hulu (Thai Traditional Dramatic Performance) in Chumphon Sub-District, Ongkharak District, Nakhon Nayok Province

The purposes of this research are to study and to compare the level of Lifestyle and the Power of Likay Hulu (Thai Traditional Dramatic Performance) in Chumphon Sub-District, Ongkharak District, Nakhon Nayok Privince distinguish by Occupations in order to find the Relationship between Lifestyle and the Power of Likay Hulu in Chumphon Sub-District, Ongkharak District, Nakhon Nayok province. The total of 4,956 people are the studied population and the simple sampling group in the total of 350 people. Thus, instrument is Questionnaire and statistic use in research are average values, standard deviation, analysis of variance one-way ANOVA and Pearson’s simple correlation moment product. The study results found that 1) Level of Lifestyle and Power of Likay Hulu (Thai Traditional Dramatic Performance) is in high level. 2) Comparison Level of Likay Hulu distinguish by occupations, found that government service career have higher lifestyle than people that work in general employees, trading and agriculture in the statistical significant level of 0.5. 3) When Compare Power Level of Likay Hulu distinguish by Occupations, found that different kinds of occupation agreed that Power of Likay Hulu towards Community has no difference. 4) The Study of Relationship between Lifestyle and Capable Power of Likay Hulu, relationship is in very low level in the statistical significant level of .01.
Incentivizing Corruption: An Unintended Consequence of Bureaucratic Promotions in China

Conventional wisdom holds that in non-democracies, a strong central state can reward and punish local administrations through a merit-based promotion system, which should restrain corruption. But much evidence shows that rampant corruption coexists with powerful central governments. This study resolves this puzzle by incorporating bribes in a tournament model. Our model predicts that when bribes are more important than performance in superiors’ total gain, or if there is a lack of serious punishments for wrong-doing, or an increase in promotion gain, promotion can incentivize corruption. Using a fuzzy regression discontinuity design exploiting exogenous variations in officials’ likelihood of promotion from a mandatory age cutoff for bureaucratic promotion in China, combined with a unique biographical database of prefecture party secretaries and novel measures of corruption, we find that promotions encourage corruption in China. Moreover, prefecture party secretaries are more corrupt if their provincial superiors are connected to central factions, suggesting that upper-level factionalism is one of the disincentives that breaks down lower-level meritocracy.
Single-cell RNA analysis identifies pre-migratory neural crest cells expressing markers of differentiated derivatives

The neural crest is a migratory population of stem-like cells that contribute to multiple traits including the bones of the skull, peripheral nervous system, and pigment. How neural crest cells differentiate into diverse cell types is a fundamental question in the study of vertebrate biology. Here, we use single-cell RNA sequencing to characterize transcriptional changes associated with neural crest cell development in the zebrafish trunk during the early stages of migration. We show that neural crest cells are transcriptionally diverse and identify pre-migratory populations already expressing genes associated with differentiated derivatives, specifically in the xanthophore lineage. Further, we identify a population of Rohon-Beard neurons in the data. The data presented identify novel genetic markers for multiple trunk neural crest cell populations and Rohon-Beard neurons providing insight into previously uncharacterized genes critical for vertebrate development.
Tau post-translational modifications in wild-type and human amyloid precursor protein transgenic mice

The microtubule-associated protein tau has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders. Reducing tau levels ameliorates AD-related synaptic, network, and behavioral abnormalities in transgenic mice expressing human amyloid precursor protein (hAPP). We used mass spectrometry to characterize the post-translational modification of endogenous tau isolated from wild-type and hAPP mice. We identified seven types of tau modifications at 63 sites in wild-type mice. Wild-type and hAPP mice had similar modifications, supporting the hypothesis that neuronal dysfunction in hAPP mice is enabled by physiological forms of tau. Our findings provide clear evidence for acetylation and ubiquitination of the same lysine residues; some sites were also targeted by lysine methylation. Our findings refute the hypothesis of extensive O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) modification of endogenous tau. The complex post-translational modification of physiological tau suggests that tau is regulated by diverse mechanisms.
A Chronostratigraphic and Taxonomic Framework of the Origins of Modern Humans

Earlier (Pliocene) hominid evolutionary history was evidently wholly confined to the African continent, so far as all available evidence demonstrates. The origins of Australopithecus, both phylogenetically and temporally, still remain obscure, but the complexity of its differentiation is manifest in the now very substantial fossil record in parts of eastern and southern sub-Saharan Africa. Several spatially and temporally delimited speciation events are appropriately recognized, particularly, but not only, on the basis of craniodental morphology.
The philosophical approach: an interview with Ford Doolittle.

For years, the whiteboard in my office brimmed with ideas for potential interviewees. Names were erased when an interview was completed, and new names added when a particular topic piqued my interest. Some were arranged in a kind of Venn diagram by their fields, and one such cluster—concerning the origins of early life forms—included three deep thinkers: Lynn Margulis, whose 1967 paper articulated the endosymbiotic origin of mitochondria and chloroplasts; Carl Woese, whose attempts to classify prokaryotes based on ribosomal RNA cataloging led to his championing the new kingdom of Archaea in 1977; and Ford Doolittle (Fig 1), who provided evidence for Margulis’s hypothesis using Woese’s methods. Though Woese and Margulis are now deceased, Doolittle, I can attest, is very much alive and, dare I say, “kicking!” Over time, Doolittle has cogitated on a variety of intriguing evolutionary questions, including the origin of introns, the role of lateral gene transfer in speciation, and the meaning of “function.” He is always worth listening to.
Test results for the development of a novel region-based DOCSIS compliant cable plant system and protocol to optimally reduce contention mini-slot collisions and to support QoS on DOCSIS 1.1/1.2 networks

Current Data-Over-Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) standards require meeting QoS objectives to enhance the multiple and fast service environment. We present results and a technique that achieves record reduction in contention mini-slot (CMS) collisions by means of dividing the stations in the network efficiently. A primary goal of the design is to keep the entire protocol at the head-end (HE). The goal also includes leaving everything else in the current hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) systems unchanged. Our technique shows that with small changes in the medium access control (MAC) protocol at the HE, we can efficiently and dynamically divide the stations in the upstream based on load conditions to allot a specific amount of CMS for each region. The mechanism also proposes for the collection of channel statistics and channel monitoring to statistically configure the necessary division for optimum performance. We have also developed a simulation and visualization tool using MATLAB and a suitable and effective traffic generator model that could be extracted from network parameters. The results prove that the proposed approach amounts for a record 40%-45% reduction in mini-slot (ms) collisions.
Isotopic Enrichment in Laser Photochemistry

Laser technology has permitted more efficient study of the chemistry of molecules in excited states. The extent to which isotopic specificity is preserved in going from initial excitation to final product is a valuable diagnostic for excited state chemistry. This report summarizes initial results from several areas of investigation, each of which suggests that laser stimulation may offer more than simple rate enhancement.
Perspectives on PACS: where is caries prevention clinical research going?

In this issue, Papas et al. (2011) report results of the “Prevention of Adult Caries Study” (PACS). It assessed caries lesion increments among 983 adults in a Phase III randomized controlled trial of the efficacy of 10% (w/v) chlorhexidine diacetate (CH) tooth coating (Prevora®, CHX Technologies, Toronto, ON, Canada), followed by methacrylate sealant. No difference was observed in net caries increment between individuals receiving treatment and control individuals receiving a placebo. This is disappointing, given the great need for adult caries-preventive methods, encouragement by NIDCR and CDC (Horowitz, 2004; CDC, 2006), and funding by NIDCR. Surely, the authors and Journal are to be congratulated for publishing negative findings and avoiding publication bias. The trial confirms the failure of this CH-varnish vehicle in smaller, less rigorous, trials (Banting et al., 2000; Forgie et al., 2000).
Effects of an endocrine disrupter on courtship and aggressive behaviour of male three-spined stickleback,Gasterosteus aculeatus

Oestrogenic endocrine-disrupting chemicals released into the environment have the potential to affect animal behaviour. This study examined the relationship between plasma levels of gonadal steroids and behaviour and the effects of exogenous hormonal perturbation on the behaviour of nesting male three-spined stickleback. Plasma gonadal steroid concentrations were related to levels of nesting and aggressive behaviours: levels of oestradiol were negatively related to courtship behaviours while levels of 11-ketotestosterone were negatively related to nesting behaviours. The behaviour of male three-spined stickleback exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of an endocrine disrupter differed from the behaviour of control males. Control males increased their aggressive response to a live male conspecific over time, while males exposed to ethinyl oestradiol decreased their aggressive response. This study offers further evidence that low levels of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in the environment may exert subtle yet important effects on animal behaviour.
Extrusion and death of DPP/BMP-compromised epithelial cells in the developing Drosophila wing.

During animal development, epithelial cell fates are specified according to spatial position by extracellular signaling pathways. Among these, the transforming growth factor β/bone morphogenetic protein (TGF-β/BMP) pathways are evolutionarily conserved and play crucial roles in the development and homeostasis of a wide range of multicellular tissues. Here we show that in the developing Drosophila wing imaginal epithelium, cell clones deprived of the BMP-like ligand Decapentaplegic (DPP) do not die as previously thought but rather extrude from the cell layer as viable cysts exhibiting marked abnormalities in cell shape and cytoskeletal organization. We propose that in addition to assigning cell fates, a crucial developmental function of DPP/BMP signaling is the position-specific control of epithelial architecture.
Analysis of δ mRNA in the immature B lymphocytes of neonatal liver and spleen

Abstract The production of μ m and δ m mRNA was assessed by measuring the relative levels of the two species in nuclear RNA isolated from neonatal liver and from spleen cells obtained from mice of differing ages. These analyses showed that the lack of IgD expression in the immature B cells of neonatal liver is due to an absence of δ mRNA. The presence of high mol. wt species which hybridize to a δ probe indicates that the δ coding regions are transcribed and suggest that post-transcriptional events account for the lack of δ expression. Little change in the μ m - δ m mRNA ratio was observed in nuclear RNA isolated from spleen cells of mice aged from 5 days to 4 months. Thus, variations in the levels of mRNA synthesis play an insignificant role in the changes in IgM and IgD expression seen during B cell maturation in neonatal spleen.
Antiviral substances with systemic effects produced by Basidiomycetes such as Fomes fomentarius

Inhibitors of plant virus infection with systemic effects were found in the culture filtrates of Basidiomycetes such as Fomes fomentarius and Schizophyllum commune. These inhibitors were widely distributed in Agaricales and Polyporales. The inhibitors designated as BAS (Basidiomycete Antiviral Substance) were highly active against the mechanical transmission of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). No toxic effect was observed on the host plants. BAS-F, a polysaccharide produced by F. fomentarius, almost completely inhibited infection, when BAS-F at 2 μg/ml was applied to the same surface of leaves of Xanthi-nc tobacco 24 h before TMV inoculation to the upper surface of the leaves, and 500/0 inhibition was shown when BAS-F at 10 μg/ml was applied to the under surface of leaves. BAS-F also induced systemic resistance to the non-treated leaves when it was applied to only one leaf of the plant. BAS-F also had similar effects against the infection of TMV on bell pepper and tomato plants.
The importance of differential sensitivity of the visual field to intraocular pressure.

V ISUAL DAMAGE IN GLAUCOMA IS BELIEVED TO BE caused at least in part by the pressure within the eye initiating a cascade of events, leading to death of the ganglion cells. The level of intraocular pressure required to cause the damage varies markedly in an individual. Additionally, a hallmark of glaucoma is the localized nature of damage to the optic disk and visual field; the neuroretinal rim of the optic disk could be essentially dead in one area and yet apparently healthy in another. Several authors have advanced pathogenetic
Active Learning Strategies for Diverse Learning Styles: Simulations Are Only One Method

Although political science instructors increasingly recognize the advantages of incorporating active learning activities into their teaching, simulations remain the discipline's most commonly used active learning method. While certainly a useful strategy, simulations are not the only way to bring active learning into classrooms. Indeed, because students have diverse learning styles—comprised of their discrete learning preferences—engaging them in a variety of ways is important. This article explores six active learning techniques: simulations, case studies, enhanced lectures, large group discussion, small group work, and in-class writing. Incorporating these activities into an introductory, writing-intensive seminar on globalization and surveying students about their engagement with course activities, I find that different activities appeal to students with different learning preferences and that simulations are not students most preferred activity. Bringing a broader range of active learning strategies into courses can improve teaching for all students, no matter their learning style.
Achievements in microbial technology

Abstract In 1973, recombinant DNA technology was born and the age of the “new biotechnology” came upon us. Today we are seeing the amazing results of recombinant DNA technology, hybridoma technology, enzyme engineering and protein engineering. These techniques are exerting major effects on basic research and on health care, diagnostics and agriculture and soon will bring about changes in other industries such as petroleum, mining, foods and chemicals. Entire pathways of primary and secondary metabolism have been cloned and expressed in foreign microorganisms. The development of recombinant DNA technology is having its major impact on the production of rare polypeptides such as mammalian enzymes, hormones, antibodies and biological response modifiers. In addition to natural polypeptides, analogs are being produced by recombinant DNA technology and this has added an extra dimension of excitement to the field. The future is thus insured for the expanded use of microorganisms in the biotechnological world and the continued improvement in microbial processes to reduce the cost of drugs, enzymes and specialty chemicals.
Effects of aging on DNA-binding activity of the E47 transcription factor in splenic B cells.

In the present paper, we have investigated the DNA-binding activity of the E2A-encoded transcription factor E47 in LPS-activated splenic B cells from young and old BALB/c mice. E47 is a key regulator of B cell differentiation and function: it binds to the E-box site, found in the regulatory regions of several B cell-specific genes (immunoglobulin (Ig), mb-1, and λ5), promotes cell survival of early pre-B cells, helps to initiate Ig rearrangements, promotes class switch and is perhaps involved in somatic mutation in mature splenic and lymph node B cells. Results show that LPS-stimulated splenic B cells from old mice display decreased E47 DNA-binding activity as compared to young mice and that in splenic activated B cells only E47 homodimers bind DNA.
ProFound: An Expert System for Protein Identification Using Mass Spectrometric Peptide Mapping Information

We describe the protein search engine “ProFound”, which employs a Bayesian algorithm to identify proteins from protein databases using mass spectrometric peptide mapping data. The algorithm ranks protein candidates by taking into account individual properties of each protein in the database as well as other information relevant to the peptide mapping experiment. The program consistently identifies the correct protein(s) even when the data quality is relatively low or when the sample consists of a simple mixture of proteins. Illustrative examples of protein identifications are provided.
Oscillatory shock motion caused by transonic shock boundary-layer interaction

rest of the equations in the system. The DMR method computes a separate sequence of optimal acceleration factors to be used for each component of the general solution vector. The acceleration scheme was applied to the system of time-dependent Euler equations of inviscid gasdynamics in conjunction with the finite-volume, Runge-Kutta, explicit, time-stepping algorithm. Using DMR without multigriding, between 30% and 10% of the total computational efforts were saved in the subsonic compressible flow calculations. The DMR method seems to be especially suitable for stiff systems of equations and can be applied to other systems of differential equations and other numerical algorithms.
Fatigue Damage and Degradation in Random Short-Fiber SMC Composite

Damage accumulation and cyclic degradation in a random short-fiber SMC com posite subjected to tensile fatigue loading are studied. Fatigue damage in various forms of microcracking is examined. The transient nature of the nonlinear, monotonic stress- strain curve is investigated first, and subsequent property degradation and hysteresis loop changes are examined. Contrary to the behavior of certain metals and polymers, a cyclic stable state is never reached in general; cyclic softening is always observed in this class of materials. Owing to the random microstructure of the SMC material, the fatigue damage is viewed as being macroscopically homogeneous and uniform, and the damage growth is treated in a continuous sense. A parameter is then introduced to define the degree of the homogeneous damage. A power-law relationship among the rate of damage evolution, loading variables, and cyclic history is established. The homogeneous fatigue damage decreases rapidly with the loading cycle due to combined effects of...
The induction of neurotrophin and TRK receptor mRNA expression during early avian embryogenesis.

Abstract Nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurotrophin-3, designated neurotrophins, are a family of neurotrophic factors, having important functions in the survival of embryonic and adult neuronal subpopulations. Through the trk family of receptors, these neurotrophins utilize phosphotyrosine-mediated signal transduction. We have used RT-PCR to detect the expression of mRNA for the above neurotrophins and their respective receptors, namely trkA, trkB and trkC in embryonic stages 1–8 of chicken development. While trkA and trkC mRNAs were expressed from stage 1 onwards, NGF and NT-3 mRNAs were expressed only at stages 3 and 5, respectively. In contrast, BDNF mRNA was expressed at stage 1, being the only neurotrophin expressed prior to expression of its respective receptor trkB. However, the latter was not expressed until stage 8. These results indicate an earlier expression of some but not all trk proto-oncogenes, suggesting that the two different receptor mRNAs expressed i.e. trkA and trkC in conjunction with BDNF, at stage 1, may act in aspects of very early embryonic development, such as gastrulation. Thereafter, mRNAs for trkB, NGF and NT-3 are expressed reflecting their later action in early embryonic development.
Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the oral cavity: review of the literature and presentation of an ALK-positive case

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a controversial lesion composed of myofibroblastic spindle cells accompanied by varying numbers of inflammatory cells. Although various pathogenetic (ie, reactive, infectious, autoimmune, and neoplastic) factors have been implicated, the etiology of most IMTs remains unknown. Here, we present a case of IMT arising from the mandibular alveolar mucosa of an 82-year-old female. The lesion presented as a 5 × 5 cm round pedunculated painless mass of 2 months' duration, associated with a superficial resorptive defect of the mandible. The lesion was surgically removed and, on histopathologic examination, appeared to be composed of plump spindle cells set in a myxoid vascular stroma admixed with an inflammatory component consisting primarily of neutrophils and lymphocytes. Numerous large “ganglion cell–like” cells were dispersed throughout the lesion. Only occasional mitotic figures were encountered, in the absence of cytologic atypia. Ultrastucturally, prominent myofibroblastic features were seen. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the spindle and ganglion-like cells were diffusely positive for vimentin, smooth muscle actin, and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), focally positive for CD68, and negative for desmin, bcl-2 and EBV-LMP. No evidence of recurrence has been noted at a 12-month follow-up. Including our patient, only 14 cases of oral IMT have been described in the literature. Patients' age ranged from 2 to 82 years with a mean of 35 years, and a 1.6:1 female predilection was noted. The buccal mucosa was the most commonly affected site (50%), followed by the mandible (21%). None of the reported cases of oral IMT recurred or metastasized. The present case is the second reported ALK-positive oral IMT, which points to a potential neoplastic origin. Significant differences in the clinical behavior and immunohistochemical and genetic profile of lesions diagnosed as IMT may indicate that the term has been used to describe lesions with similar histology but variable etiopathogenesis and prognosis.
Importance of upgraded energy reconstruction for direct dark matter searches with liquid xenon detectors

The usual nuclear recoil energy reconstruction employed by liquid xenon dark matter search experiments relies only on the primary scintillation photon signal. Energy reconstruction based on both the photon and electron signals yields a more accurate representation of search results. For a dark matter particle of mass ${m}_{\ensuremath{\chi}}\ensuremath{\sim}10\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$, a nuclear recoil from a scattering event is more likely to be observed in the lower-left corner of the typical search box, rather than near the nuclear recoil calibration centroid. In this region of the search box, the actual nuclear recoil energies are smaller than the usual energy scale suggests, by about a factor of 2. Recent search results from the XENON100 experiment are discussed in light of these considerations.
Identification and Characterization of Protein-Protein Interaction Effectors Targeting the Invasion Machinery of the Malaria Parasite

Emerging resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to current treatments is concerning and requires the development of a new generation of drugs. In pursuit of novel compounds, we have targeted protein-protein interactions (PPIs) essential to the parasite.Plasmodium uses an actomyosin motor, part of the glideosome complex, for gliding and invasion of host cells. A key interaction of the glideosome is between aldolase and the cytoplasmic tail of the thrombospondin-related adhesive protein, TRAP. It is thought that the dynamic aldolase-TRAP complex must dissociate for forward motility and invasion to progress; therefore, we have developed an assay to identify compounds that promote this interaction, resulting in stalled gliding and invasion.We produced MBP-tagged and biotinylated peptides for studying the interaction between aldolase and TRAP using surface plasmon resonance. We have screened the Medicines for Malaria Ventures library and have identified several compounds with concentration-dependent effects in vitro. Five promising compounds were moved forward into parasite gliding and invasion assays. We have observed phenotypic differences in the ability of Plasmodium parasites to glide, and found a reduced gliding velocity and abnormal rates of sporozoite attachment and detachment. To determine the effect on invasion, both red blood cell and hepatocyte invasion assays have been performed. We are currently attempting to determine a co-crystal structure of the ternary aldolase-TRAP-compound complex, and to move promising compounds into an in vivo mouse model.
The effect of austenite grain size on microcracking in martensite of an Fe-1.22C alloy

Austenitic grain sizes of ASTM No. 9 and coarser were produced in an Fe-1.22 pct C alloy austenitized by immersion in molten lead at 1640†F (893°C), a temperature just above theA cm for this alloy, for periods between 20 s and 1 h. Microcracking sensitivity,Sv, measured as crack area/unit volume martensite, was determined as a function of grain size in brine quenched specimens. Two locations of microcracks were observed in this investigation: 1) intragranular, resulting from the impingement of one martensite plate with another, and 2) grain boundary or intergranular resulting from the impingement of martensite plates at prior austenite grain boundaries. Intragranular microcracking sensitivity, the subject of previous investigations, increased and became the dominant type of cracking with increasing grain size, and reached a constant level for grain sizes of ASTM No. 4.5 and coarser. Total microcracking sensitivity, consisting of both intragranular and grain boundary microcracks, also increased with increasing grain size, then decreased to approach the intragranular value for grain sizes coarser than ASTM No. 3.5. On the other end of the scale, grain boundary microcracking made up a much larger proportion of the total microcracking in the fine grained specimens.
Uric acid, calcium and phosphorus clearances in normal subjects on a low calcium, low phosphorus diet: Uric acid, calcium and phosphorus clearances after calcium infusion in normal and gouty patients☆

Abstract The occurrence of hyperuricemia in hyperparathyroidism 2–4 hypophosphatemia in certain cases of gout, 1 hypercalciuria, phosphaturia and uricosuria in Wilson's disease 6 and the simultaneous existence of both gout and hyperparathyroidism in the same patient, 4,8,9 suggests that calcium, phosphorus and uric acid might have relationships in common in their renal tubular transport mechanisms. If a common mechanism exists, it might be elucidated by experimentally altering metabolic handling of calcium and/or phosphorus and observing any resulting changes in uric acid metabolism. Three sets of experiments were done to test this possibility. (1) Eight normal volunteers were subjected to dietary depletion of calcium and phosphorus for 2 weeks and renal clearance studies done during the depletion period; (2) after 12 days of a calcium and phosphorus depletion diet, 6 normal subjects were infused with calcium and renal clearances done before and after; (3) after 10 days on a purine free diet 7 gouty patients were infused with calcium and renal clearances done before and after. Renal clearances for uric acid, phosphorus, calcium and endogenous creatinine were done on all subjects. Normal subjects on calcium and phosphorus depletion diets showed significant fall in clearances of both calcium and uric acid but no significant change in phosphorus clearance. Normal subjects on calcium and phosphorus depletion diet plus calcium infusion did not show the expected decrease in phosphorus clearance on hypercalcemic stimulation (suppression parathormone action); nor were uric acid clearances or serum uric acid concentrations affected. Patients with gout who had calcium infusion showed the normal decrease in phosphorus clearance after hypercalcemia but no change in uric acid clearance. It is concluded that calcium and phosphorus depletion and acute hypercalcemia do not influence uric acid clearance; hypercalcemia in gouty patients results in decrease in phosphorus clearance but does not affect uric acid clearance concomitantly. The evidence supports the concept that phosphorus, calcium and uric acid are not interrelated in their renal transport mechanisms.
Observation of a low-viscosity interface between immiscible polymer layers

X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy was employed in a surface standing wave geometry in order to resolve the thermally driven in-plane dynamics at both the surface/vacuum (top) and polymer/polymer (bottom) interfaces of a thin polystyrene (PS) film on top of Poly(4-bromo styrene) (PBrS) and supported on a Si substrate. The top vacuum interface shows two relaxation modes: one fast and one slow, while the buried polymer-polymer interface shows a single slow mode. The slow mode of the top interface is similar in magnitude and wave vector dependence to the single mode of the buried interface. The dynamics are consistent with a low-viscosity mixed layer between the PS and PBrS and coupling of the capillary wave fluctuations between this layer and the PS.
Resonance Studies in Ferromagnetic Fe 2 B and Fe 2 Zr

The hyperfine magnetic fields and quadrupole interactions in ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{2}$B and ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{2}$Zr are explored by nuclear magnetic resonance and the M\"ossbauer effect. The anisotropy found in the ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{2}$B M\"ossbauer spectra can be interpreted as a superposition of hyperfine patterns arising from an anisotropic magnetic field and electric field gradient in combination with either two magnetically inequivalent Fe sites (such as was observed in ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{2}$Zr) or a two-dimensional distribution of magnetization directions. Assuming the former, the two magnetic fields are found to be 252\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2 and 244\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2 dT at $T=4.2$ K. The B resonance frequency in ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{2}$B shows a ${T}^{\frac{3}{2}}$ dependence with some low-temperature deviations which can be understood in terms of a gap arising from magnetocrystalline anisotropy and spin-wave demagnetization. We have extracted the constants of proportionality in the spin-wave approximation, $C$ (the coefficient of the ${T}^{\frac{3}{2}}$ term) and $D$ (the coefficient of the ${T}^{\frac{5}{2}}$ term). We find that $\frac{D}{C}=(1.0\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.4)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ and that the gap temperature ${T}_{g}\ensuremath{\le}1$ K. The measured pressure variations $\frac{\ensuremath{\partial}\ensuremath{\nu}}{\ensuremath{\partial}P}$ of the $^{11}\mathrm{B}$ and $^{91}\mathrm{Zr}$ frequencies are, respectively, -21\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2 and 31\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2 Hz ${\mathrm{bar}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$.
A Framework for Adaptive Cluster Computing Using JavaSpaces

Heterogeneous networked clusters are being increasingly used as platforms for resource-intensive parallel and distributed applications. The fundamental underlying idea is to provide large amounts of processing capacity over extended periods of time by harnessing the idle and available resources on the network in an opportunistic manner. In this paper we present the design, implementation and evaluation of a framework that uses JavaSpaces to support this type of opportunistic adaptive parallel/distributed computing over networked clusters in a non-intrusive manner. The framework targets applications exhibiting coarse grained parallelism and has three key features: (1) portability across heterogeneous platforms, (2) minimal configuration overheads for participating nodes, and (3) automated system state monitoring (using SNMP) to ensure non-intrusive behavior. Experimental results presented in this paper demonstrate that for applications that can be broken into coarse-grained, relatively independent tasks, the opportunistic adaptive parallel computing framework can provide performance gains. Furthermore, the results indicate that monitoring and reacting to the current system state minimizes the intrusiveness of the framework.
The melanoma ‘epidemic’: lessons from prostate cancer

The rise in malignant melanoma incidence has been termed “epidemic”. Closer scrutiny of epidemiologic data suggests overdiagnosis as the true cause of the dramatic rise in melanoma incidence. In epidemiologic terms, “overdiagnosis” describes lesions that are histologically malignant but biologically benign. Overdiagnosis is not unique to melanoma screening but is prevalent in screening for cancers of other organs, including the thyroid and prostate glands. Glusac EJ. The melanoma ‘epidemic’: lessons from prostate cancer.
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement as a Treatment for Late Apicoaortic Conduit Obstruction in a Patient With Severe Aortic Stenosis

A 62-year–old man presented with progressive exertional dyspnea and angina. His past medical history is notable for coronary artery disease, for which he underwent a coronary artery bypass graft surgery 8 years earlier. A few years afterward, he underwent aortic valve (AV) bypass (AVB) surgery for severe aortic stenosis (AS) using an apicoaortic conduit to the descending aorta consisting of a 16-mm connector and an 18-mm valved conduit (Hancock valve; Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN; Figures 1 and 2; online-only Data Supplement Movie I). After a period of initial improvement in symptoms, the patient developed progressive dyspnea and angina and was referred for additional cardiac workup. Figure 1. An ECG-gated thin-slice contrast-enhanced cardiac computed tomography scan showing a heavily calcified native aortic valve (AV), hypertrophied left ventricle (LV), and the apical LV insertion site of the apicoaortic valved conduit. Figure 2. A 3-dimensional cardiac computed tomography reconstruction image showing the apicoaortic valved conduit, extending from its apical insertion site into the left ventricle (LV) to its insertion site into the descending aorta. Arrow , Conduit valve. The patient underwent a bicycle ergometer test, which showed a diminished functional capacity and was stopped because of fatigue and a hypotensive response. He underwent a 2-dimensional transthoracic echocardiogram with gradual dobutamine infusion. He was found to have a heavily calcified AV (online-only Data Supplement Movie II) with a rest mean transvalvular gradient of 34 mm Hg and velocity of 3.5 m/s, which increased to 50 mm Hg and 4.8 m/s, respectively, at peak dobutamine dose (Figure 3). This corresponded with a …
Post-bioprinting processing methods to improve cell viability and pattern fidelity in heterogeneous tissue test systems

Bioprinted tissue test systems show promise as a powerful tool for studying cell-cell interaction in heterogeneous, tissue-like co-culture. Several challenges were encountered while attempting to consistently fabricate samples with high viability and pattern fidelity. This paper evaluates four methods for processing samples after bioprinting but prior to adding media for incubation. These methods, composed of various combinations of three techniques meant to promote cell hydration, are evaluated with respect to sample viability and pattern preservation. In the best performing method, Hank's Balanced Salt Solution was applied immediately after fabrication and a collagen overlayer was applied one hour thereafter. The success of this method highlights the ability of the collagen substrate to absorb moisture, which promotes cell health without disturbing the cell's printed location. An addendum to the main study is an investigation of the limits of an HP26 print cartridge to deposit cells at a faster rate for the purpose of creating cell layers with densities that approach confluence.
Different serum requirements for opsonization of two serologically identical strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Two strains of serotype 2 Pseudomonas aeruginosa and one species of E. coli were compared regarding their opsonic requirements using human sera and polymorphonuclear leukocytes. None of the three organisms tested activated exclusively one complement pathway. Both strains of Pseudomonas had an absolute requirement for antibody for opsonization, but differed in complement requirements. The studies described herein showed significant differences in the mechanisn of opsonization of the two strains of Pseudomonas.
A critical review of mTOR inhibitors and epilepsy: from basic science to clinical trials.

Present medications for epilepsy have substantial limitations, such as medical intractability in many patients and lack of antiepileptogenic properties to prevent epilepsy. Drugs with novel mechanisms of action are needed to overcome these limitations. The mTOR signaling pathway has emerged as a possible therapeutic target for epilepsy. Preliminary clinical trials suggest that mTOR inhibitors reduce seizures in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) patients with intractable epilepsy. Furthermore, mTOR inhibitors have antiepileptogenic properties in preventing epilepsy in animal models of TSC. Besides TSC, accumulating preclinical data suggest that mTOR inhibitors may have antiseizure or antiepileptogenic actions in other types of epilepsy, including infantile spasms, neonatal hypoxic seizures, absence epilepsy and acquired temporal lobe epilepsy following brain injury, but these effects depend on a number of conditions. Future clinical and basic research is needed to establish whether mTOR inhibitors are an ef...