cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the conceptual foundations of anti-realism

The central premise of Michael Dummett's global argument for anti-realism is the thesis that a speaker's grasp of the meaning of a declarative, indexical-free sentence must be manifested in her uses of that sentence. This enigmatic thesis has been the subject of a great deal of discussion, and something of a consensus has emerged about its content and justification. The received view is that the manifestation thesis expresses a behaviorist and reductive theory of meaning, essentially in agreement with Quine's view of language, and motivated by worries about the epistemology of communication. In the present paper I begin by arguing that this standard interpretation of the manifestation thesis is neither particularly faithful to Dummett's writings nor philosophically compelling. I then continue by reconstructing, from Dummett's texts, an account of the manifestation thesis, and of its justification, that differ sharply from the received view. On my reading, the thesis is motivated not epistemologically, but conceptually. I argue that connections among our conceptions of meaning, assertion, and justification lead to a conclusion about the metaphysics of meaning: we cannot form a clearly coherent conception of how two speakers can attach different meanings to a sentence without at the same time differing in what they count as justifying assertions made with that sentence. I conclude with some suggestions about how Dummett's argument for global anti-realism should be understood, given my account of the manifestation thesis.
Photoreflectance Characterization and Control of Defects in Gan by Etching with an Inductively Coupled Plasma

Photoreflectance (PR) is used to detect and characterize the electronic effects etch-induced defects in GaN that is exposed to an Ar or Ar/Cl inductively coupled plasma (ICP). Because of the sensitivity of PR we can follow the formation of etch-induced defects as a function of ion energies and densities. We show that at low RF powers, below 100W, the surface improves in electronic quality, but as the power is increased beyond 200W, etch-induced defects, are formed. The use of an Ar/Cl mixture plays a critical role in control of etch-induced defects.
Adjuvant therapy for colon cancer

Adjuvant therapy for colon cancer is now a mature and widely accepted standard of care for patients with resected large bowel tumors: adjuvant therapy for stage III colon cancer has also been shown to be highly cost-effective. The cost of 5-FU/levamisole therapy for stage III colon cancer per year of life saved is less than $ 5,000, which represents a favorable cost-benefit relationship for a medical intervention. The clinician managing a patient with colon cancer at the present time has several options for therapy. In patients with stage III colon cancer, therapy with 5-FU-based regimens clearly increases overall and disease-free survival. It is also clear that the results that have been obtained are not perfect; therefore, the first option of therapy should always be an ongoing clinical trial. Many such trials are available, and Table 7 lists currently active studies in the United States. The clinician managing a patient with stage III colon cancer who is not in a clinical trial may choose a variety of regimens administered for durations of 6 to 12 months (Table 8). The preponderance of evidence suggests that 5-FU plus levamisole for 12 months is equal in efficacy to 5-FU plus leucovorin-based regimens given for a shorter period of time. A clinician may still choose the 5-FU plus levamisole regimen because of the decreased oral, myelosuppressive, and diarrheal toxicities associated with that regimen as opposed to the 5-FU/leucovorin regimens. Portal vein infusion of fluorinated pyrimidines still must be considered investigational. Finally, although we cannot be absolutely sure about the benefit of adjuvant therapy in patients with resected node-negative colon cancer, the NSABP data suggest that some benefit may be seen in these patients. It is known that patients with stage II cancers demonstrating high-grade bowel obstruction or bowel perforation have poor prognoses with surgery alone. Such patients may be good candidates for adjuvant therapy. Also, a major effort to define high risk and low risk for recurrence in patients with stage II colon cancer by analyzing molecular genetic factors (tumor ploidy and alternations in tumor suppressor genes) may lead to a selection of Dukes B patients definitely requiring adjuvant therapy.
Dietary Fat and Tumor Metastasis

Evidence from several types of studies indicates a relationship between fat intake and occurrence of malignant tumors at specific sites. When rodents are fed high-fat diets, the incidence of mammary tumors sharply increases and latency of tumor appearance is greatly diminished, as compared with the same parameters in animals fed low levels of fat. Despite advances in surgical technique and the development of aggressive therapies for the treatment of primary cancers, most deaths in humans with cancer are caused by metastasis. Accordingly, we have reviewed the process of metastasis and have focused on the question of whether dietary fat can play a role. Metastasis is a complex, multistep, progressive process, and dietary fats may affect specific events such as implantation, survival, and proliferation of tumors. Finally, we discuss possible mechanisms by which dietary fat can modulate metastasis. Available data lead us to stress the importance of assessment of metastasis in studies of the effects of dietary fat on tumorigenesis.
Reduced order models and controllers for distributed parameter systems using the Kullback-Leibler information divergence

We consider reduced order digital controllers for distributed parameter systems (DPS). we use the reduced order model (ROM) as the truth model, and a finite past predictor to compute the Kullback-Leibler information divergence (KLID). The finite past predictor makes our method computationally attractive for DPS. We include a random observation noise, thus small differences in process statistics have negligible effect. We do not obtain an analytical solution, an iterative search is used instead to find the model parameters. We present two control designs: 1) a ROM is found and an LQG controller is designed based on the ROM; and 2) the optimal LQG controller for a high order approximation of the DPS is found, then a reduced order controller is found to minimize the KLID between outputs of the closed loop systems under each controller.
The Impact of Information Technology on Coordination: Evidence From the B-2

This paper explores the economic processes through which information technology can facilitate coordination within and between firms. The paper presents and analyzes a case study of the B-2 "Stealth" bomber, an aircraft that was designed by four firms almost entirely by computer. The key information systems used in the project were (1) a common-access database to manage part designs and (2) an advanced system to perform structural analysis. These systems played a crucial role in enabling the four firms to coordinate their design and development activities precisely enough to meet the demanding engineering requirements imposed by the aircraft's unique mission. The paper analyses the case study using transaction cost, agency, and information processing theories. The analysis leads to several conclusions about the mechanisms through which the variables emphasized in these theories operated to improve coordination. First, the information systems aided coordination directly by making information processing less costly. Second, this enhanced information processing made the governance of the project more efficient. In particular, by establishing a "technical grammar" for communication, the systems helped to create social conventions around which firms could coordinate their activities, thus limiting the need for a hierarchical authority to promote coordination. This technical grammar also reduced governance costs by reducing asset-specificity, thereby reducing risks associated with contractual holdup. These interactions between communication and governance effects have not been elucidated in the IT/coordination literature. They are important in part because they help explain why the vertically disintegrated organization of the project proved viable. Finally, the systems facilitated decentralized decision-making by reducing agency (measurement) costs. This combination of effects may generalize to other settings in which information technology is used to promote coordination, especially in "virtual" or "disaggregated" corporations.
Integrating pair programming into a software development process

Anecdotal and statistical evidence indicates that pair programmers - two programmers working side-by-side at one computer collaborating on the same design, algorithm, code or test - outperform individual programmers. One of the programmers (the driver) has control of the keyboard/mouse and actively implements the program. The other programmer (the observer) continuously observes the work of the driver to identify tactical (syntactic, spelling, etc.) defects, and also thinks strategically about the direction of the work. On demand, the two programmers can brainstorm any challenging problem. Because the two programmers periodically switch roles, they work together as equals to develop software. This practice of pair programming can be integrated into any software development process. As an example, this paper describes the changes that were made to the Personal Software Process (PSP) to leverage the power of two programmers working together, thereby formulating the Collaborative Software Process (CSP). The paper also discusses the expected results of incorporating pair programming into a software development process in which traditional, individual programming is currently used.
Transmitter off on Viking Orbiter 1

On Thursday, August 7, engineers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, sent a radio command to NASA's Viking Orbiter 1 that switched off its transmitter and ended the spacecraft's 4-year mission in orbit around Mars. Kermit Watkins, Viking project manager, said the orbiter was shut down because its attitude control gas was expected to be depleted before it completed its next orbit of Mars. ‘By sending the turn-off command,’ Watkins said, ‘instead of allowing it to occur automatically on the spacecraft, we will be sure that the radio transmitter has been shut off.’
An application of fuzzy clustering to software quality prediction

The ever increasing demand for high software reliability requires more robust modeling techniques for software quality prediction. The paper presents a modeling technique that integrates fuzzy subtractive clustering with module-order modeling for software quality prediction. First fuzzy subtractive clustering is used to predict the number of faults, then module-order modeling is used to predict whether modules are fault-prone or not. Note that multiple linear regression is a special case of fuzzy subtractive clustering. We conducted a case study of a large legacy telecommunication system to predict whether each module will be considered fault-prone. The case study found that using fuzzy subtractive clustering and module-order modeling, one can classify modules which will likely have faults discovered by customers with useful accuracy prior to release.
Site-directed replacement of the invariant lysine 73 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae iso-1-cytochrome c with all ribosomally encoded amino acids☆

Abstract Site-directed mutagenesis has been used to replace the evolutionally invariant lysine 73 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae iso-1-cytochrome c with all 19 ribosomally encoded amino acids. This residue is implicated in the protein-protein complexation and redox properties of cytochrome c . Functional studies were performed in the context of both a multicopy and a centromeric phagemid using a yeast strain that is incapable of iso-1-cytochrome c production. Functionality was ascertained by growth on the non-fermentable carbon sources lactate and glycerol at 30°C and 37°C. Doubling times derived from growth curves in liquid glycerol media were used to quantify differences in the functionality of mutants relative to the wild type protein. The cysteine 73 mutant shows a dramatically reduced growth rate. Growth rates for transformants carrying the other mutations are no more than 50% slower than transformants carrying the wild type allele. The data suggest that thermostability is related to evolutionary conservation but that the requirement for a lysine residue at position 73 is met readily by a variety of amino acids. Therefore, the redox properties of cytochrome c and its complexation with its redox partners are not absolutely dependent on a lysine at position 73.
Role of the α-Helical Linker of the C-Terminal Translocator in the Biogenesis of the Serine Protease Subfamily of Autotransporters

Autotransporters are secreted virulence factors that comprise three domains: an N-terminal signal peptide, an internal passenger domain, and a C-terminal β-domain. The mechanism of passenger translocation across the outer membrane remains undefined, with four models having been proposed: the “hairpin,” the “threading,” the “multimeric,” and the “Omp85 (YaeT)” models. In an attempt to understand autotransporter biogenesis, we screened the sequences of the serine protease subfamily of autotransporters (SPATEs) for conserved features indicative of a common secretion mechanism. Our analyses revealed a strictly conserved 14-amino-acid motif within the predicted α-helical linker region, upstream of the β-domain of SPATEs. We investigated the function of this motif through a mutagenesis approach using Tsh as a model. Our studies demonstrate that mutations throughout the conserved motif do not block insertion of the β-domain into the outer membrane. However, nonconservative mutations of four hydrophobic (V1099, L1102, G1107, and L1109) and three polar (N1100, K1104, and R1105) residues of the motif severely decrease or even abolish Tsh biogenesis. Further studies showed that these mutations interfere with passenger transport across the outer membrane. Bioinformatical analyses suggest that the critical polar and hydrophobic amino acids localize on opposite sides of the helix that runs through the β-barrel pore. Our data indicate that the conserved motif is important for passenger secretion across the outer membrane and that mutations in certain residues severely affect the secretion process. We discuss how these results fit with the four proposed models for autotransporter secretion and potential applications in antimicrobial and vaccine development.
Expression of estrogen receptor gene in mouse oocyte and during embryogenesis.

Estrogen is required for oocyte maturation and embryonic development in vivo; however, the mechanism involved is not clear. Since the effect of estrogen is mediated through the estrogen receptor (ER), we examined the ontogeny and expression of the ER gene in mouse oocytes and embryos of various gestational stages using the highly sensitive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique. Total RNA, extracted from 40 ovulated oocytes, 2-cell embryos, morulae, and blastocysts, was reverse transcribed into cDNA. A pair of primers flanking the 453-bp region encoding the hormone-binding domain of ER was used for 30 cycles of PCR. The identity of the amplified product was confirmed by sizing and Southern blot hybridization. The results indicated that ER gene is expressed in unfertilized oocytes and cumulus–oocyte complexes. The amount of ER mRNA decreases in 2-cell embryos, coincident with degradation of maternal mRNA. No ER transcript can be detected in the morulae or blastocyst stage when the embryonic genome has been activated. Postimplantation embryos do not contain detectable ER mRNA until gestation day 8. The levels of ER mRNA increase from day 10 to day 18 of gestation. These data suggest that estrogen, secreted by granulosa cells, may directly influence oocyte growth and maturation in vivo. Since estrogen is known to stimulate the production of growth factors in mouse uteri, the absence of ER mRNA in periimplantation embryos suggests that the effects of estrogen on early embryogenesis may be indirect, i.e., through estrogen-regulated growth-promoting factors produced by the reproductive tract. In mid- and late-post-implantation embryos which contain ER mRNA, estrogen may affect embryonic development through the receptor-mediated mechanisms. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Skeletal organization in the coral, Pocillopora damicornis

The skeleton of this Hawaiian reef coral was found to contain at least 99.9% by weight of the mineral aragonite, present as submicroscopic crystals in spheritic arrangements. The organic component of the skeleton comprises 0.01 to 0.1% of the total weight and has 3 microscopic constituents: (1) filaments of lime-boring algae, (2) a dispersed network of fibres 1 µ in diameter, and (3) a transparent, milky, regionally birefringent matrix of chitin. The chitin was observed to be a spongework of fibrils of average diameter 20 mµ. The chitin fibrils were inferred to be randomly oriented in the plane of the skeletogenic epithelium perpendicular to the direction of growth of the long axes of the aragonite crystals. The development of the skeleton is traced from the initial mineral deposit by the larva after its attachment, through the formation of the larval skeleton and growth into the fully formed, branching colony. The process of formation of chitin fibrils according to the contour of the skeletogenic epithelium and the later deposition of aragonite crystals as described accounts for the formation of all skeletal elements of Pocillopora. Evidence is presented for the hypotheses that (1) the amide group of the chitin molecule is responsible for the ability of certain organic substrates to be calcified (thus protein is not a necessary component of such substrates); (2) zooxanthellae in Pocillopora contribute a product of photosynthesis to the coral as the monomer of the chitin matrix; and (3) chitin synthesis thus depends on the activity of zooxanthellae and the rate of chitin synthesis controls the rate of skeletogenesis in Pocillopora.
Discovery of cancer susceptibility genes: study designs, analytic approaches, and trends in technology.

Determining the genetic causes of cancers has immense public health benefits, ranging from prevention to earlier detection and treatment of disease. Although a number of cancer susceptibility genes have been successfully identified, design and analytic issues remain that challenge the current paradigm of gene discovery. Some examples are the definition and measurement of cancer phenotype, the use of intermediate end points, the choice of sample (e.g., affected relative pairs versus large extended pedigrees), the choice of analytic method [e.g., parametric logarithm of the odds (LOD) score method versus model-free methods], and the influence of gene-environment interaction on linkage analysis. Furthermore, association methods, based on either the traditional case-control study design or family-based controls, are popular choices to evaluate candidate genes or screen for linkage disequilibrium. Finally, the study design and analytic methods for gene discovery are determined to some extent by what genomic technology is feasible within the laboratory. Many of the main issues related to gene discovery, as well as trends in genomic technology that will impact on gene discovery, are discussed from the perspective of their strengths and weaknesses, pointing to areas in need of further work.
Leapfrogging vortex rings : Hamiltonian structure, geometric phases and discrete reduction

We present two interesting features of vortexrings in incompressible, Newtonian 4uids that involve their Hamiltonian structure.
Newman and the Tradition concerning the Papal Antichrist

In the successive waves of “No Popery” which ebbed and flowed until the middle of the nineteenth century in British public life, the role played by the oldfashioned identification of the pope of the Roman Catholic Church with Antichrist is not easily discernible. Yet its presence is undeniable, though rarely on the surface or on the lips of those who, in the ordinary sense, “made history.” A study of the background and setting of John Henry Newman's thought on the papacy and the Antichrist has led me to uncover a neglected field of popular and cultured Antichrist thinking which helps to account for the persistence of “No Popery” sentiment in Christian history after its demise had been prematurely announced by more than one reasonable and enlightened politician.
Cocaine Metabolite (Benzoylecgonine) in Hair and Urine of Drug Users

Two methods of drug detection, urinalysis and hair analysis, were compared with respect to the efficiency of identification of drug use in a population of men living on the Arizona-Mexico border. The standard curve of cannabinoids in urine was linear to 20 ng/mL. The GC/MS levels for all cannabinoids combined in urine were very similar to that obtained by radioimmunoassay (RIA), 91% concordance. Similar results were obtained from samples analyzed dually for the cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine (BE) after spiking. As determined by RIA of urine, 74% of the subjects were positive for cannabinoids. The majority were in the range of 100-1000 ng/mg creatinine. The pattern of excretion of THC metabolites with respect to the verbally reported time of first use was fairly normal, with the peak rate of elimination 13-24 hours following the last reported use. Washed hair samples were extracted by overnight acid hydrolysis. Urine samples and neutralized hair extracts were analyzed for cocaine and BE by RIA. Of the hair samples, 55% contained cocaine/BE, as compared with only 4.3% of the urine samples. Most hair samples contained cocaine/BE in the range of 25-100 ng/sample (100 mg hair). All hair samples testing negative for cocaine/BE by RIA also tested negative by GC/MS, and four samples containing the highest amounts of cocaine and BE by RIA were similarly found to contain the highest amounts by GC/MS. Hair analysis, therefore, gives a wider window of detection of drug use than does urinalysis and shows merit in the confirmation of cocaine use in small clinical research studies.
GMM with Weak Identification and Near Exogenneity

This chapter studies the asymptotic properties of estimation and inference with weak identification and near exogeneity in a GMM framework with instrumental variables. We obtained limiting results under weak identification and near exogeneity of general GMM estimators and some specific GMM estimators, such as one-step GMM estimator, two-step GMM estimator and continuous updating estimator. We also examine the asymptotic properties of the Anderson-Rubin type and the Kleibergen type tests under weak identification and near exogeneity.
Sensorimotor learning and the cerebellum

This paper describes our current work on integrating experimental and theoretical studies of a simple form of sensorimotor learning: the classically conditioned rabbit eyelid closure response. We first review experimental efforts to determine the neural basis of the conditioned eyelid closure response and these support the role of the cerebellum as the site of the memory trace. Then our current work to bring the modeling in closer contact with the biology is described. In particular, we extend our earlier model of response topography to be more physiological in the circuit connectivity, the learning algorithm, and the conditioned stimulus representation. The results of these extensions include a more realistic conditioned response topography and reinforcement learning which accounts for an experimentally established negative feedback loop.
Effect of Strip-Planting vs. Solid-Planting on Predators of Cotton Insects in Southeastern Missouri, 1969 ,

Natural control of cotton insect pests was high throughout the season in tests in two 20-acre fields, ½ of each planted to solid cotton and the other to 50-ft strips of cotton, alfalfa, corn, oats, and soybeans. Heliothis spp. damaged 1.06% of the bolls in solidplanted cotton and 0.60% of the bolls in strip-planted cotton in 1 field, but there was no difference in the 2nd field. Damage was below the economic threshold in all plots. Predation of marked cabbage looper eggs was higher in strip-planted plots on the few dates when differences were significant. Average seasonal survival of marked eggs of cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hubner), for 72 hr was 35.4% less in the stripplanted plot in one field and 14.6% less in the strip-planted plot in the other field than in solid-planted plots. Populations of predators, primarily Orius insidiosus (Say) and coccinellids, generally did not differ significantly between solid-planted and stripplanted plots.
Enumeration of Tours in Hamiltonian Rectangular Lattice Graphs

(1981). Enumeration of Tours in Hamiltonian Rectangular Lattice Graphs. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 54, No. 1, pp. 19-23.
Courtship behavior of a plethodontid salamander, Desmognathus aeneus

This experiment showed that the courtship behavior of Desmognathus aeneus includes a prolonged biting phase, during which the male bites the female tenaciously. This unusual behavior has been described in only one other plethodontid, Desmognathus wrighti. In most other respects, the courtship behavior of D. aeneus is similar to that of its congeners. Morphological characters associated with biting, as well as the functional and evolutionary significance of biting, are evaluated. The courtship behavior preceding and including insemination in salamanders is elaborate. Among plethodontid salaman- ders there is relatively little diversity in courtship behavior, but numerous studies have documented courtship behavior in plethodontids (Noble and Brady, 1930; Or- gan, 1961a; Salthe, 1967; Arnold, 1972). Sal- amanders have no intromittent organ. In- stead, the male transfers sperm by means of a spermatophore, a gelatinous base sup- porting a sperm mass. After the male courts with the female for a period lasting up to several hours, he deposits a spermatophore on the substrate. He leads the female over
Effect of Temperature on Velocity of Reaction in Hemolysis

quantitatively as are the rates of disappearance of the reacting substances. This is not true, however, when one of the products of a reaction is a colored substance, for then the velocity of the reaction can within certain limits be determined by the rate of increase in the intensity of color of the liquid in which the reaction is proceeding. Hemolysis, whether caused by physical, chemical or biologic means, is a reaction involving the liberation of hemoglobin from the stroma of the cells, and is accompanied by a change in the physical state of the liquid?a change from a turbid, fairly opaque, pinkish liquid to one that is water clear and of various shades of color, from a faint yellow to an intense red, depending on the concentration of the dissolved hemoglobin. It is, therefore, a reaction which can be measured with a fair degree of accuracy.
Lipid composition and molecular interactions change with depth in the avian stratum corneum to regulate cutaneous water loss.

The outermost 10-20 µm of the epidermis, the stratum corneum (SC), consists of flat, dead cells embedded in a matrix of intercellular lipids. These lipids regulate cutaneous water loss (CWL), which accounts for over half of total water loss in birds. However, the mechanisms by which lipids are able to regulate CWL and how these mechanisms change with depth in the SC are poorly understood. We used attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) to measure lipid-lipid and lipid-water interactions as a function of depth in the SC of house sparrows (Passer domesticus Linnaeus) in the winter and summer. We then compared these molecular interactions at each depth with lipid composition at the same depth. We found that in both groups, water content increased with depth in the SC, and likely contributed to greater numbers of gauche defects in lipids in deeper levels of the SC. In winter-caught birds, which had lower rates of CWL than summer-caught birds, water exhibited stronger hydrogen bonding in deeper layers of the SC, and these strong hydrogen bonds were associated with greater amounts of polar lipids such as ceramides and cerebrosides. Based on these data, we propose a model by which polar lipids in deep levels of the SC form strong hydrogen bonds with water molecules to increase the viscosity of water and slow the permeation of water through the SC.
Topical Review: Provider–Patient Interactions: An Important Consideration for Racial/Ethnic Health Disparities in Youth

Objective To summarize literature on the role of provider-patient interactions (PPI) in racial/ethnic health disparities and consider the relevance of PPI for understanding health disparities in pediatric psychology. Methods Topical review of literature focusing on health disparities and PPI in adult and pediatric populations. Results For adults, evidence is clear that racial/ethnic minorities experience poorer quality PPI, which may be associated with poorer health outcomes. In pediatric populations, the emerging literature indicates similar associations, and potential promising targets for intervention including information exchange, shared decision-making and patient-centered communication. PPI research in pediatric populations poses a number of methodological challenges including culturally and developmentally sensitive measurement of triadic (caregiver, patient, provider) interactions. Conclusions Health disparities in PPI exist for racial/ethnic minority youth and may contribute to poorer health outcomes. Pediatric psychologists can make valuable contributions, given their expertise and role within medical settings. Research, clinical, and policy recommendations are discussed.
Occult tumor contamination of hematopoietic stem-cell products does not affect clinical outcome of autologous transplantation in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

PURPOSETo determine whether occult tumor contamination of autologous bone marrow or peripheral-blood progenitor cells (PBPC) influences clinical outcome after high-dose chemotherapy in patients with stage IV breast cancer.PATIENTS AND METHODSWe used an immunocytochemical assay capable of detecting one tumor cell in 5 x 10(5) hematopoietic cells to analyze bone marrow and/or PBPC collections obtained from 57 consecutive women with chemotherapy-sensitive metastatic breast cancer who received high-dose chemotherapy. The influence of occult tumor on time to progression, overall survival, and first site of recurrence (old or new) was studied.RESULTSTwenty-three of 57 (40%) patients received bone marrow (n=6) or peripheral-blood progenitor collections (n=17) that contained microscopic cancer. Median time to progression and overall survival were 9 and 22 months in patients who did not receive infused tumor cells, compared with 10 and 24 months, respectively, in those who received occult tumor (P=not significant ...
Activation of the Caenorhabditis elegans Degenerin Channel by Shear Stress Requires the MEC-10 Subunit.

Mechanotransduction in Caenorhabditis elegans touch receptor neurons is mediated by an ion channel formed by MEC-4, MEC-10, and accessory proteins. To define the role of these subunits in the channel's response to mechanical force, we expressed degenerin channels comprising MEC-4 and MEC-10 in Xenopus oocytes and examined their response to laminar shear stress (LSS). Shear stress evoked a rapid increase in whole cell currents in oocytes expressing degenerin channels as well as channels with a MEC-4 degenerin mutation (MEC-4d), suggesting that C. elegans degenerin channels are sensitive to LSS. MEC-10 is required for a robust LSS response as the response was largely blunted in oocytes expressing homomeric MEC-4 or MEC-4d channels. We examined a series of MEC-10/MEC-4 chimeras to identify specific domains (amino terminus, first transmembrane domain, and extracellular domain) and sites (residues 130–132 and 134–137) within MEC-10 that are required for a robust response to shear stress. In addition, the LSS response was largely abolished by MEC-10 mutations encoded by a touch-insensitive mec-10 allele, providing a correlation between the channel's responses to two different mechanical forces. Our findings suggest that MEC-10 has an important role in the channel's response to mechanical forces.
Memorial of Eugene N. Cameron, 1910–1999

Eugene Cameron, a long-time member and fellow of the Mineralogical Society of America, passed away in Madison, Wisconsin, on April 21, 1999. Thus ended a remarkably full life that had been dedicated to the geosciences, public outreach and education, and his family. Although best known for his ore deposit work and Society of Economic Geologists (SEG) connections, Gene’s first professional society membership was with MSA beginning in 1934. During his 65 years of continuous membership he published 13 papers, including his first two, in the American Mineralogist, contributed to the first MSA Special Paper, served on the Council from 1967–1969 and retired in 1981 as a Life Fellow. Born in Atlanta, GA August 10, 1910, the son of a lumber businessman, Gene’s family moved often and he attended 13 different elementary and secondary schools in the East and South. Throughout his childhood he received encouragement toward higher education from his parents even though neither of them had attended college. After Gene graduated from high school, an uncle in New York City, employed as a cashier at the Chase National Bank, got Gene a summer job as a page. In the fall of 1927, Gene enrolled at New York University (NYU) at the behest of his summer boss and other officers of the bank who had taken up a collection to pay his tuition and books. After the first year he got a job working the night shift at the bank while he attended school during the day. Gene’s interest in geology was an accident, he was late registering, and all the biology courses were full. Two enthusiastic and engaging geology teachers at NYU had Gene hooked by the end of his freshman year and began his lifelong appreciation of and support for excellence in teaching. He served as a teaching …
Intestinal tumor load in the Min/+ mouse model is not correlated with eicosanoid biosynthesis.

Several lines of evidence demonstrate an inverse relationship between the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and aspirin-like drugs, and intestinal cancer. NSAIDs have been shown to reduce the risk of intestinal cancer in humans by 50%.1–4 It is well known that the anti-inflammatory properties of NSAIDs are related to their ability to inhibit prostaglandin biosynthesis. Cyclooxygenase (COX) catalyzes the committed step in prostaglandin formation. Two isoforms of cyclooxygenase exist, COX-1 and COX-2. NSAIDs can inhibit both. COX-1 is the constitutively expressed isoform, and COX-2 is the inducible form of the enzyme involved in inflammation.5–7
Mandibular Advancement Device-Emergent Central Sleep Apnea Can Resolve Spontaneously: A Case Report.

The development of treatment emergent central sleep apnea (CSA) has been described after almost all obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) therapies. While the course of positive airway pressure (PAP) emerg...
Use of Mouse Models in Atherosclerosis Research

Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of death in most developed nations and the social and economic burden of this disease is quite high. Atherosclerosis is a major underlying basis for most cardiovascular diseases including myocardial infarction and stroke. Genetically modified mouse models, particularly mice deficient in apoprotein E or the LDL receptor, have been widely used in preclinical atherosclerosis studies to gain insight into the mechanisms underlying this pathology. This chapter reviews several mouse models of atherosclerosis progression and regression as well as the role of immune cells in disease progression and the genetics of murine atherogenesis.
The Structure of Diversity among Migrant Rights Organisations in Europe: Implications for Supranational Political Participation

European umbrella organisations that promote migrant and refugee rights seek to influence EU policy-making in the context of Europe’s ‘migration and refugee crisis’. From a functional representation perspective, their legitimacy rests on being representative of large constituencies that actively participate in their work. Yet past research on national migrant rights organisations underscores that, due to their diversity, priorities within the movement are not uniform. Different scholars come to different conclusions regarding the cleavages that define the movement. Moreover, it remains unclear how these cleavages impact participation in European umbrella organisations. This paper investigates these questions by empirically examining the cleavages among the membership base of two EU umbrella organisations: the European Council on Refugees and Exiles and the European Network Against Racism. Data come from a content analysis of member organisations’ websites and interviews with directors of European umbrella organisations. Factor analysis techniques are used to assess empirically the different dimensions that structure diversity, examining several fault lines: identity/ideology, target population and worldview. The results point to cleavages that can differentially affect participation in the umbrella and present strategies used by leaders of umbrella organisations to encourage more active participation by certain types of under-represented member organisations.
Short-Term NOS II Inhibition Leads to Long-Term Salt-Sensitivity in Dahl Salt-Resistant Rats

P111 We have previously shown that inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS II) evokes a salt-sensitive increase in blood pressure in Dahl salt-resistant rats when given a high salt (8% NaCl) diet for 7 days. To determine whether or not the effect of NOS II inhibition is short-lived, we continued the high salt diet for an additional 3 weeks following the discontinuation of the NOS II inhibitor. DR rats were given one of two NOS II selective inhibitors, AMT (300 nmoles/hr) and 1400W (35 nmoles/hr) for 2 weeks. A high salt diet was initiated after the first week of NOS II inhibition and continued for an additional 3 weeks for a total of 4 weeks of high salt treatment. Control DR rats received high salt alone for 4 weeks. Systolic blood pressure was taken at baseline and once weekly for the treatment period. Blood pressure significantly increased in DR rats after 1 week of high salt following NOS II inhibition. The blood pressure remained elevated throughout the 4-week period of high salt treatment despite the discontinuation of NOS II inhibitors 1 week following the initiation of the high salt diet. There was no significant change in blood pressure in DR rats on high salt diet alone. These data suggest that salt-sensitive hypertension can be evoked by transient NOS II inhibitor exposure. We conclude that tranisent NOS II inhibition may initiate events or processes that high salt maintains leading to sustained elevation in systolic blood pressure.
The in vivo T helper type 17 and regulatory T cell immune responses to Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans.

Summary The periodontal pathogen Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is known to elicit systemic immune response in infected host, and occasionally causes non-oral infections. Detailed information on its immunopathological responses and the involvement of bacterial virulence factors remains to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to assess the systemic immune response to A. actinomycetemcomitans oral infection. We used an animal model that simulates systemic dissemination of the bacteria by injecting live wild type (WT) D7S-1 and double knockout mutant of leukotoxin and cytolethal distending toxin (ΔltxΔcdt) A. actinomycetemcomitans strains in rat oral mucosa. Draining lymph nodes were examined for Treg and Th17 subsets and their associated mediators. An increase in the proportion of Th17 cells and decrease in Treg cells over the experimental period of 3 weeks were similarly observed for rats challenged with WT and ΔltxΔcdt. Significant up and down-regulation of proinflammatory cytokines in the Th17 gene pathway was noted, as well as several qualitative differences between WT and ΔltxΔcdt. Furthermore, we observed differential fold regulation in key genes associated with a proinflammatory response in ΔltxΔcdt-inoculated rats relative to D7S-1 group. This suggests that although the knockout of these two virulence factors (ΔltxΔcdt) may suppress certain proinflammatory genes, it causes similar over-expression of other genes compared to D7S-1, indicating a common factor that still remains in the pathogenicity of A. actinomycetemcomins. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
The embryonated egg as a culture medium for the animal phase of Coccidioides immitis.

different forms, depending upon its environment. In the animal, including man, this organism exists in the form of thick-walled spherules ranging in sizes from 2 to 120 p in diameter and characteristically reproduces by endosporulation. This form is generally referred to as the animal phase or parasitic stage of growth. The individual organisms are referred to as sporangia or spherules. In or on artificial mediums, C. immitis exists in the so-called vegetative or mycelial phase of growth, which is characterized by the development of a mycelium composed of hyphal elements. Reproduction in this phase is accomplished by the development of branching filaments and arthrospores. In the laboratory investigation of C. immitis, it is highly desirable to study the animal phase of this organism, but to date there has been no in vitro method
A parallel finite element solution method

Abstract New parallel computer architectures have revolutionized the design of computer algorithms, and promise to have significant influence on algorithms for structural engineering computations. In this paper, a parallel finite element solution method is presented. The solution method proposed does not require the formation of global system equations, but computes directly the element distortions, as opposed to solving a system of nodal equations. An element or substructure is mapped on to a processor of an MIMD multiprocessing system. Each processor stores only the information relevant to the element or substructure for which the processor represents. The finite element computations can be performed in parallel, in that a processor generates the local stiffness, computes the element distortions and determines the stress-strain characteristics for the element or substructure associated with the processor.
A vascularized bone graft for repair of scaphoid nonunion

The majority of scaphoid fractures respond to casting, splinting, or open reduction and internal fixation. In patients who fail to heal a scaphoid fracture, several factors may contribute, including delay in treatment, fracture displacement, proximal third location, avascular necrosis, and associated carpal instability.
Chemical application strategies to protect water quality.

Management of turfgrass on golf courses and athletic fields often involves application of plant protection products to maintain or enhance turfgrass health and performance. However, the transport of fertilizer and pesticides with runoff to adjacent surface waters can enhance algal blooms, promote eutrophication and may have negative impacts on sensitive aquatic organisms and ecosystems. Thus, we evaluated the effectiveness of chemical application setbacks to reduce the off-site transport of chemicals with storm runoff. Experiments with water soluble tracer compounds confirmed an increase in application setback distance resulted in a significant increase in the volume of runoff measured before first off-site chemical detection, as well as a significant reduction in the total percentage of applied chemical transported with the storm runoff. For example, implementation of a 6.1 m application setback reduced the total percentage of an applied water soluble tracer by 43%, from 18.5% of applied to 10.5% of applied. Evaluation of chemographs revealed the efficacy of application setbacks could be observed with storms resulting in lesser (e.g. 100 L) and greater (e.g. > 300 L) quantities of runoff. Application setbacks offer turfgrass managers a mitigation approach that requires no additional resources or time inputs and may serve as an alternative practice when buffers are less appropriate for land management objectives or site conditions. Characterizing potential contamination of surface waters and developing strategies to safeguard water quality will help protect the environment and improve water resource security. This information is useful to grounds superintendents for designing chemical application strategies to maximize environmental stewardship. The data will also be useful to scientists and regulators working with chemical transport and risk models.
A systematic review of neuroimaging findings in children and adolescents with sports-related concussion.

ABSTRACTBackground: Sport-related concussion (SRC) generally does not result in structural anomalies revealed through clinical imaging techniques such as MRI and CT. While advanced neuroimaging techniques offer another avenue to investigate the subtle alterations following SRC, the current pediatric literature in this area has yet to be reviewed. The aim of this review is to systematically explore the literature on magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and cortical thickness following SRC in children and adolescents.Methods: A systematic Pubmed search using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis guidelines was conducted independently for each neuroimaging method. Studies were screened for inclusion based on pre-determined criteria.Results: A total of 26 studies were included (MRS = 4, DTI = 10, fMRI = 11, cortical thickness = 1). A total of 16 studies were conducted solely with male athletes, whi...
A Novel Method for Surface Mesh Smoothing: Applications in Biomedical Modeling

In this paper, we present a surface-fitting based smoothing algorithm for discrete, general-purpose mesh models. The surface patch around a mesh vertex is defined in a local coordinate system and fitted with a quadratic polynomial function. An initial mesh smoothing is achieved by projecting each vertex onto the fitted surface. At each vertex of the initial mesh, the curvature is estimated and used to label the vertex as one of four types. The curvature-based vertex labeling, together with the curvature variation within a local region of a vertex, is utilized to adaptively smooth the mesh with fine features well preserved. Finally, three post-processing methods are adopted for mesh quality improvement. A number of realworld mesh models are tested to demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of our approach.
Involvement of molecular chaperones in intracellular protein breakdown

In all cells and organelles, there exist multiple molecular chaperones, which not only can facilitate the proper folding, transport and assembly of multimeric structures, but also appear to function in intracellular protein degradation. Recent findings in E. coli indicate that the major chaperones of the Hsp70 (DnaK) and Hsp60 (GroEL) families and their cofactors (DnaJ, GrpE or GroEL and Trigger Factor) associate with certain short-lived proteins (e.g. mutant polypeptides or regulatory proteins) and promote their degradation by the ATP-dependent proteases, La (Ion or ClpP). Moreover, ATPases of ClpA/B family not only function in ATP-dependent proteolysis in association with the Clp protease, but by themselves can facilitate or act as chaperones in protein assembly. In eukaryotes, Hsp70 and their cofactors, the DnaJ homologs, are essential for the ubiquitination of certain abnormal and regulatory proteins and in the breakdown of certain polyubiquitinated polypeptides by 26S proteasome. It is likley that the chaperones function in proteolysis either as elements that faciliate the recognition of unfolded proteins or that the chaperones partially unfold substrates to make them more susceptible to proteases or ubiquitinating enzymes.