cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A position paper on selenium in ecotoxicology : A procedure for deriving site-specific water quality criteria

Abstract This paper describes a method for deriving site-specific water quality criteria for selenium using a two-step process: (1) gather information on selenium residues and biological effects at the site and in down-gradient systems and (2) examine criteria based on the degree of bioaccumulation, the relationship between measured residues and threshold concentrations for reproductive effects in fish and wildlife, and any observed reproductive impacts. Several outcomes are possible—criteria can be left unmodified, adjusted upward by a fixed amount (50%), or adjusted downward by one of three amounts (25, 50, or 75%). A criterion (existing or proposed) is lowered or raised by an amount that is proportional to the magnitude of bioaccumulation and toxic effects present—i.e., the degree of biological hazard. Criteria can be modified under two circumstances: (1) diagnostic residuesandtoxic effects must be coupled (present) in order to lower a criterion or (2) diagnostic residuesandtoxic effects must be coupled (absent) in order to raise a criterion. Coupling residues and effects makes the procedure sensitive to the natural inter- and intraspecific variation in bioaccumulation and toxic responses exhibited by fish and wildlife in aquatic ecosystems. The goal is to establish criteria that keep food-chain bioaccumulation below levels that result in toxicity to fish and wildlife. Precautions are given for those attempting to apply the generic EPA model for implementing national water quality criteria to a site-specific selenium criterion.
El proceso de Kafka, Crónica de una muerte anunciada de Gabriel García Márquez y Ekomo de Nsue Angue: la problemática de la cuestión existencial

This article is a transatlantic study aimed at finding an aesthetical/ethical relation between Hispano-American, European and Hispano-African literatures. It is a particular and unique study that focuses on three important writers of the world literature: Franz Kafka (Europe), Gabriel Garcia Marquez (Latin America) and Maria Nsue Angue (Africa). Apart from the biographical and narratological interests shared by the three writers, we perceive in their respective works a common preoccupation about the concept of existentialism and the destiny of human being in the world. This article presents and analyzes the way in which each writer elaborates the problematic of the subjectivity of the human being according to their own socio-cultural environment. It also presents how Nsue Angue and Garcia Marquez use the phenomenon of “absence/presence” to separate or differentiate themselves from Kafka and create a new style of writing. What is absent in El Proceso of Kafka is made present and (sub) inverted by Nsue Angue and Garcia Marquez (in their novels) in order to come to the same conclusion: human life is full of tragedies.
Astrocytes inhibit microglial surface expression of dendritic cell-related co-stimulatory molecules through a contact-mediated process.

Murine microglia cultured in isolation were treated sequentially with granulocyte/monocyte colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) (5 days) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (2 days) to elicit a mature dendritic cell-like (DC-like) phenotype. Examined by flow cytometry microglia thus isolated show high surface expression of CD11c together with the co-stimulatory molecules CD40, CD80, and CD86 that are necessary for T-cell activation. In contrast, microglia co-cultured with astrocytes fail to achieve a mature DC-like phenotype. Contact with the astrocytic environment is necessary for the inhibition. Failure was not because of a more rapid degradation of protein. Bone marrow-derived cells, like microglia, were prevented by astrocytes from attaining a mature DC phenotype. Although GM-CSF pre-treatment substantially increases mRNA of co-stimulatory molecules and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) Class II in isolated microglia, co-cultured microglia await treatment with LPS to up-regulate them. In contrast, western blot and immunocytochemical analysis revealed that it is not a failure of transcription or translation, nor is it a more rapid degradation of mRNA that is responsible for the low surface expression; rather microglia co-cultured with astrocytes produce mRNA and protein but do not traffic the protein onto the cell surface.
Tumor-cell-platelet aggregation does not correlate with metastatic potential of rat 13762NF mammary adenocarcinoma tumor cell clones.

The ability of tumor cells to induce platelet aggregation has been correlated with their capacities to colonize the lungs of experimental animals. We tested this hypothesis by studying the ability of cloned, low-passage metastatic tumor cell lines derived from rat 13762NF mammary adenocarcinoma to aggregate rat platelets in vitro and in vivo, and we then compared this activity to metastatic potential by determining the incidence of lung metastasis after subcutaneous or intravenous inoculation of the tumor cell clones into syngeneic rats. Our results failed to show a correlation between in vitro platelet-aggregating activity and metastatic potential. In this system we could not detect platelet-aggregation activity with the most metastatic tumor clone, while the least metastatic clone clearly possessed high platelet-aggregating activity. In addition, by measuring changes in blood platelet and fibrinogen concentrations at various intervals following intravenous injection of tumor cell clones, we were able to confirm in vivo the observed in vitro differences in their plateletaggregating activities. Thus, platelet aggregating activity is heterogeneously expressed among 13762NF cell clones and appears unrelated to spontaneous or experimental metastasis in this tumor system.
Fisheries Education in the 1980's: The Issues

Abstract As a profession grows and matures its members typically take a greater collective interest in the education of future members of that profession. Many members of the American Fisheries Society are now actively involved in a discussion of the status and future direction of fisheries education. There are many issues in fisheries education: curriculum, “training vs. education,” unemployment, role of theses, grade inflation, certification, accreditation, civil service requirements, teaching effectiveness, continuing education, and the role of “soft” funds in academia.
Measurement of actinic flux and the calculation of photolysis rate parameters for the Central California Ozone Study

The field measurement program of the Central California Ozone Study (CCOS) was conducted during the summer of 2000 with an overall goal of improving the understanding of ozone formation over central and northern California. Measurements of actinic flux were made as part of the study using spectroradiometers located at University of California, Davis; Sunol, California, and the Desert Research Institute in Reno, Nevada. The measured actinic flux was compared with the standard Peterson flux for a high ozone episode that occurred at the end of July. The standard Peterson flux was found to be greater than the measured flux across the spectral range. The measured actinic flux was used, along with standard quantum yields and absorption cross-section data to calculate the photolysis rate parameters for nitrogen dioxide, ozone and formaldehyde, and a radiative transfer model was used to simulate these same photolysis rate parameters. The simulated photolysis rate parameters for nitrogen dioxide could be up to 56% greater than the photolysis rate parameters derived from the measured actinic flux; for ozone the difference was as great as 160%; for the molecular reaction of formaldehyde the difference was as great as 89%; and for the radical producing channel the difference was as great as 126%. A simple atmospheric chemistry box-model was used to estimate the significance of these differences for air quality assessment. For a typical high ozone episode day 31 July, differences between modeled ozone concentrations based on photolysis rate parameters versus those derived from measured actinic flux were less than 7% change in concentration, while differences in HO concentrations were as high as 15%.
Behavioral, compound action potential, and single unit thresholds: Relationship in normal and abnormal ears

Comparisons were made for two species (chinchilla and mongolian gerbil) among mean behavioral audiogram, mean just detectable action potential (AP) responses to tone bursts, and single‐fiber response thresholds at the characteristic frequency, averaged in one‐octave bands. In normal animals and in a group of Kanamycin‐treated chinchillas, these mean measures appear to have a well‐ordered relationship. Unit and AP thresholds are within 10 dB from one another throughout the frequency range. Behavioral thresholds are usually 15–20 dB more sensitive, but the three curves are roughly parallel except at the highest frequencies, where the behavioral threshold begins to increase approximately one‐half octave above the physiological ones. Individual examples for four gerbils and four chinchillas having hair cell losses due to Kanamycin intoxication reinforce the notion based on mean data that in most cases AP thresholds can serve to predict the behavioral threshold configuration.
Intercomparison of Aircraft and Buoy Measurements of Wind and Wind Stress during SMILE

Abstract An intercomparison between low-level aircraft measurements of wind and wind stress and buoy measurements of wind and estimated wind stress was made using data collected over the northern California shelf in the Shelf Mixed Layer Experiment (SMILE). Twenty-five buoy overflights were made with the NCAR King Air at a nominal altitude of 30 m over NOAA Data Buoy Center (NDBC) environmental buoys 46013 and 46014 between 13 February and 17 March 1989; meteorological conditions during this period were varied, with both up- and downcoast winds and variable stability. The buoy winds measured at 10 m were adjusted to the aircraft altitude using flux profile relations, and the surface fluxes and stability were estimated using both the TOGA COARE and Large and Pond bulk parameterizations. The agreement between the King Air wind speed and direction measurements and the adjusted NDBC buoy wind speed and direction measurements was good. Average differences (aircraft − buoy) and standard deviations were 0.6 ± 0....
Effect of inorganic matter removal from coals and chars on their surface areas

Removal of inorganic matter from coals by acid treatment brings about random and, in some cases, significant changes in surface areas measured by adsorption of N2 and CO2. Changes in surface areas of chars are generally more pronounced than those found in coals. However, the surface area changes in chars are markedly dependent upon whether the acid treatment is given to the coal precursor prior to charring or to the char produced from the raw coal. Changes in surface areas of raw coals and chars produced therefrom have been attributed to: (i) ‘physical’ removal of inorganic matter from the aperture-cavity system, (ii) bonding of HCl to basic nitrogen present in pyridine-like structures, and (iii) adsorption of acid. Results suggest that the removal of inorganic matter from coals prior to charring affects the carbonization process and, hence, the surface area of the resultant char.
Silicon emission in and out resonant coupling with high Q optical mode

Silicon emission in and out resonant coupling with a high Q optical mode is studied in a microdisk cavity with emissive W-centers. Results show that the W-centers photoluminescence intensity in a silicon microdisk is one order of magnitude higher than that in the substrate. It exhibits a maximum when emission line and cavity mode frequencies are matched.
Synthesis of DL-[3-11C]phenylalanine.

Abstract [3-11C]Phenylalanine has been prepared by a five-step synthesis beginning with 11CO2. [11C]Benzyl chloride was prepared by addition of11CO2 to phenylmagnesium bromide, hydride reduction to [11C]benzyl alcohol, and chlorination (CCl4, tri-n-octylphosphine). The [11C]benzyl chloride was then used to alkylate the anion of N-diphenylmethylene)glycine ethyl ester using phase-transfer catalysis. The protecting groups were removed by acidic hydrolysis to yield DL -[3-11C]phenylalanine in 25–31% overall radiochemical yield (decay corrected) in a synthesis time of 60–70 min.
Clay nanocomposites based on poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene): Structure and properties

Structure-properties relationships in poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene), PVDF-HFP, clay nanocomposites are reported for the first time. Addition of organically modified clays to PVDF-HFP promotes an α to β transformation of the polymer crystals. The degree of transformation depends on the nature of the clay surface modifier and scales with the strength of the interactions between the clay and the polymer. The nanocomposites exhibit significant increases in elongation to failure compared to the neat copolymer. In addition, their dielectric permittivity is higher over a wide temperature range. Their mechanical and dielectric properties scale similar to the amount of the β phase present in the nanocomposites.
Esmolol for control of increases in heart rate and blood pressure during tracheal intubation after thiopentone and succinylcholine

Esmolol, an ultra-short-acting cardioselective beta-adrenergic blocker, was investigated in a double-blind prospective protocol for its ability to control haemodynamic responses associated with tracheal intubation after thiopentone and succinylcholine. Thirty ASA physical status I patients received a 12-minute infusion of esmolol (500 micrograms X kg-1 X min-1 for four minutes, then 300 micrograms X kg-1 X min-1 for 8 minutes) or saline. Five minutes after the start of the drug/placebo infusion, anaesthesia was induced with 4 mg X kg-1 thiopentone followed by succinylcholine for tracheal intubation. Prior to induction esmolol produced significant decreases in heart rate (HR) (9.3 +/- 1.8 per cent) and rate-pressure product (RPP) (13.1 +/- 1.8 per cent), systolic blood pressure (SAP) (4.3 +/- 1.5 per cent) and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) (1.7 +/- 2.0 per cent). Increases in HR, SAP and RPP after intubation were approximately 50 per cent less in patients given esmolol compared to patients given placebo. There were highly significant differences in HR (p less than 0.0001), and RPP (p less than 0.0005) and significant differences in SAP (p less than 0.05) when the maximal esmolol post-intubation response was compared to the maximal placebo response. Infusion of esmolol in the dose utilized in this study significantly attenuated but did not completely eliminate cardiovascular responses to intubation.
Ring-opened heterocycles: Promising ionic liquids for gas separation and capture

We report on a new class of highly fluid ionic liquids integrating a cation that resembles an opened imidazolium structure with two distinct anions, bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, [Tf{sub 2}N], and a nitrile-containing anion, [C(CN)3]. These new ionic liquids show exceptional CO{sub 2} permeability values in liquid membrane gas separations with results that equal or exceed the Robeson upper bound. Moreover, these ionic liquids offer ideal CO{sub 2}/N{sub 2} selectivities competitive with the best results reported to date, exhibiting values that range from 28 to 45. The nitrile containing ionic liquid displayed the highest ideal CO{sub 2}/N{sub 2} selectivity with a value of 45 which primarily results from a reduction in the nitrogen permeability. In addition to permeability results, CO{sub 2} solubilities were also measured for the this new class of ionic liquids with values similar to the popular 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide. The CO{sub 2} solubility results were compared to predicted values obtained using both a modified regular solution theory and the quantum chemical Conductor-like Screening Model for Real Solvents (COSMO-RS) method. Agreement between predicted and measured solubility values is also discussed.
Effects of local and intravenous anesthetics on the activity of glutamate transporter type 2

Abstract Glutamate transporters may be important targets for anesthetic action in the central nervous system. The authors investigated the effects of the intravenous anesthetics, thiopental and ketamine, and the local anesthetics, lidocaine and bupivacaine, on the activity of glutamate transporter type 2, EAAT2. EAAT2 was expressed in Xenopus oocytes by injection of its mRNA. By using two-electrode voltage clamping, membrane currents were recorded after the application of l -glutamate (30 μM) in the presence or absence of various concentrations of anesthetics. Lidocaine and bupivacaine did not change glutamate-induced inward currents at the tested concentrations (1–1000 μM). Thiopental and ketamine also did not affect the activity of EAAT2 at the tested concentrations (0.3–300 μM). Our results suggest that the two commonly used local anesthetics (lidocaine and bupivacaine) and intravenous anesthetics (thiopental and ketamine) do not affect the activity of EAAT2 expressed in oocytes. EAAT2 may not be a target for these anesthetics.
Phase-Locked Loop Measurement of Sarcomere Length with High Time Resolution

A method for making high-speed measurements of sarcomere length directly from the muscle striation image is presented. A phase-locked loop is used with a self-scanned photodiode array to measure the spatial frequency of the striation pattern. Computation circuitry converts frequency to sarcomere length. The sarcomere length output has a resolution better than 2 nm at a sample rate of once every 250?s.
Electron/photon matched field technique for treatment of orbital disease

Abstract Purpose : A number of approaches have been described in the literature for irradiation of malignant and benign diseases of the orbit. Techniques described to date do not deliver a homogeneous dose to the orbital contents while sparing the cornea and lens of excessive dose. This is a result of the geometry encountered in this region and the fact that the target volume, which includes the periorbital and retroorbital tissues but excludes the cornea, anterior chamber, and lens, cannot be readily accommodated by photon beams alone. To improve the dose distribution for these treatments, we have developed a technique that combines a low-energy electron field carefully matched with modified photon fields to achieve acceptable dose coverage and uniformity. Methods and Materials : An anterior electron field and a lateral photon field setup is used to encompass the target volume. Modification of these fields permits accurate matching as well as conformation of the dose distribution to the orbit. A flat-surfaced wax compensator assures uniform electron penetration across the field, and a sunken lead alloy eye block prevents excessive dose to the central structures of the anterior segment. The anterior edge of the photon field is modified by broadening the penumbra using a form of pseudodynamic collimation. Direct measurements using film and ion chamber dosimetry were used to study the characteristics of the fall-off region of the electron field and the penumbra of the photon fields. From the data collected, the technique for accurate field matching and dose uniformity was generated. Results : The isodose curves produced with this treatment technique demonstrate homogeneous dose coverage of the orbit, including the paralenticular region, and sufficient dose sparing of the anterior segment. The posterior lens accumulates less than 40% of the prescribed dose, and the lateral aspect of the lens receives less than 30%. A dose variation in the match region of ±12% is confronted when an unmodified photon field edge is matched with the fall-off of the electron field at the 50% isodose lines. By modifying the penumbra, the dose variation is reduced to ±2%. Treatment setup accuracy is essential. Conclusions : The electron/photon matched field technique offers a uniform isodose distribution for treatment of the orbit that has not been previously achieved. With this technique a homogeneous dose can be delivered to the entire orbit while avoiding a significant dose to the anterior segment and minimizing the risk of morbidity.
Spectral partitioning in diffraction tomography

The scattering mechanism of diffraction tomography is described by the integral form of the Helmholtz equation. The goal of diffraction tomography is to invert this equation in order to reconstruct the object function from the measured scattered fields. During the forward propagation process, the spatial spectrum of the object under investigation is 'smeared,' by a convolution in the spectral domain, across the propagating and evanescent regions of the received field. Hence, care must be taken in performing the reconstruct, as the object's spectral information has been moved into regions where it may be considered to be noise rather than useful information. This will reduce the quality and resolution of the reconstruction. We show how the object's spectrum can be partitioned into resolvable and non-resolvable parts based upon the cutoff between the propagating and evanescent fields. Operating under the Born approximation, we develop a beam- forming on transmit approach to direct the energy into either the propagating or evanescent parts of the spectrum. In this manner, we may individually interrogate the propagating and evanescent regions of the object spectrum.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Repair-efficient distributed storage codes with heterogeneous reliability requirements

The digital contents in a large scale distributed storage systems usually have different reliability requirements (e.g., new customer billing records vs. 10-year-old office document backup), and for this reason, erasure codes with different strengths should be utilized to achieve the best storage efficiency. On the other hand, in such large scale distributed storage systems, nodes fail on a regular basis, and the contents stored on them need to be regenerated and stored on other healthy nodes, the efficiency of which is an important factor affecting the overall quality of service. In this work, repair-efficient data storage codes are considered in systems with heterogeneous reliability requirements. We formulate the problem of multi-reliability regenerating (MRR) codes and investigate the optimal storage vs. repair-bandwidth tradeoff. One key question is whether contents with different reliability requirements need to be “mixed” in the optimal solution, for which we show that such a mixing can strictly improve upon the non-mixing solution.
Upregulation of the Bcl-2 family of proteins in end stage heart failure

Abstract OBJECTIVES To elucidate the pattern of expression of four members of the Bcl-2 family of proteins and to correlate this with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase [TdT]-mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) and DNA fragmentation. BACKGROUND Apoptosis has been implicated as a possible mechanism in the development of heart failure. However, the mechanisms involved remain unclear. METHODS We have studied the expression of four members of the Bcl-2 family that are involved in the regulation of apoptosis and analyzed DNA fragmentation as a marker of apoptosis and as a biochemical criterion to distinguish between apoptosis and necrosis in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), ischemic heart disease (IHD) and normal donors. RESULTS Western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry of the proapoptotic and antiapoptotic Bcl-2 proteins demonstrated significantly higher levels of all these proteins in the diseased groups compared with normal donors. Additionally, Bax was significantly higher in the IHD group compared with DCM. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase [TdT]-mediated dUTP nick end labelling analysis demonstrated a significantly higher percentage of TUNEL-positive cells in the diseased groups compared with the control. Genomic DNA extraction of ventricular myocardial tissue showed no demonstrable DNA laddering for any of the groups. CONCLUSIONS The significant increases in the levels of the proapoptotic proteins Bak and Bax and the higher percentage of TUNEL-positive cells in both diseased groups suggests the presence of ongoing apoptosis. However, increases in the antiapoptotic proteins, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, suggest a possible concommitant, compensatory antiapoptotic mechanism in patients with heart failure.
Dual geometries for a set of 3-charge microstates

Abstract We construct a set of extremal D1–D5–P solutions, by taking appropriate limits in a known family of nonextremal 3-charge solutions. The extremal geometries turn out to be completely smooth, with no horizon and no singularity. The solutions have the right charges to be the duals of a family of CFT microstates which are obtained by spectral flow from the NS vacuum.
45,X/46,X,+r(X) can have a distinct phenotype different from Ullrich-Turner syndrome

We present a patient with 45,X/46,X, + r(X) mosaicism and lack of inactivation of either the normal or the ring X in the 46,X, + r(X) cells. The patient has mental retardation, syndactyly, minor facial anomalies, and a congenital heart defect. Although most patients with 45,X/46,X, + r(X) have the Ullrich-Turner syndrome, 2 previously described patients with this karyotype also had a distinct phenotype consisting of severe mental retardation, syndactyly, and abnormal face. The unusually severe phenotype in these patients was thought to be due to lack of X-inactivation of the ring X chromosome. The findings in our patient support this hypothesis.
Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis, β-adrenergic receptors and interferon gamma-secreting cells in β-adrenergic agonist-treated rats

Abstract Treatment with the β2-adrenergic agonist terbutaline or the β-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol suppresses experimental allergic encephalomyelitis, decreases the number of IFNγ-producing splenic cells, and decreases the number of β-adrenergic receptors on splenic lymphocytes in Lewis rats. The effects of terbutaline are greater when the drug is given from the day of immunization through the acute phase of the illness or from day 15 postimmunization until recovery, than when given for the first 12 days after immunization.
Breaking the glass ceiling: an interview with Dr. Shirley Graves, a pioneering woman in medicine

Summary Shirley Graves M.D., D.Sc. (honorary) (1936), Professor Emeritus of Anesthesiology and Pediatrics at the University of Florida, was one of the most influential women in medicine in the 1960 and 1970s, a time when the medical profession was overwhelmingly male-dominated. In today's society, it is hard to believe that only 50 years ago, women were scarce in the field of medicine. Yet Dr. Graves was a pioneer in the fields of pediatric anesthesia and pediatric critical care medicine. She identifies her development of the pediatric intensive care unit and her leadership in the Division of Pediatric Anesthesia at the University of Florida as her defining contributions. Through her journal articles, book chapters, national and international lectures, and leadership in the American Society of Anesthesiology and the Florida Society of Anesthesiology, she inspired a generation of men and women physicians to conquer the unthinkable and break through the glass ceiling.
Serotonin-uptake inhibitors in obsessive-compulsive disorder: A case report

Abstract The authors describe a patient with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) refractory to treatment with a tricyclic antidepressant, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, lithium carbonate, carbamazepine, neuroleptics and various combinations of these drugs, whose OCD responded dramatically and repeatedly to treatment with two potent serotonin-uptake inhibitors, clomipramine and citalopram. Response to these agents was complicated by the induction of mania, but the amelioration of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in this patient argues for further trials of selective serotonin-uptake blockers in the treatment of this and other obsessive-compulsive patients, and may offer some support to the hypothesis of a disturbance in serotonergic transmission, at least in this case of this disorder.
The structure and function of the gill tufts in larval Amphipterygidae (Odonata:zygoptera)

Larvae of the subfamily Amphipteryginae (Odonata) bear a tuft of tracheal gills on either side of the anus. The two tufts are derived from the laminae sub-anales, and are protected by the non-respiratory epiproct and paraprocts, and by plates derived from the cerci, lamina supra-analis or the lamina sub-analis itself. Each is approximately 1 mm long in mature larvae and comprises a series of repeatedly branching filaments, the terminal twigs of which are 5 to 10 μ in diameter. The total surface area of the tufts is approximately 5.0 mm2 in mature larvae of Devadatta, and more in the larvae of Pentaphlebia and Rimanella. Each tuft is connected by a large trachea to the longitudinal tracheal trunk. This large trachea divides many times, eventually forming a dense palisade of tracheoles in the epidermis of the filaments, immediately beneath the thin investing cuticle.
Near-infrared radiance measurements as a ground reflection signature

Observations of the spectrum of light from thunderstorms indicate that the radiance amplitude of the near-IR portion of the spectrum is often relatively greater in comparison with the amplitude of the radiance of the visible portion of the spectrum than it is in the spectrum of solar radiation at the surface. Observational data suggest that two mechanisms may cause this effect. The first is the reduction in the shorter wavelengths due to selective scattering, and the second is selective reflection from foliage.
Nonlinear model reduction for energy metabolism in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A nonlinear model reduction method based on time scale analysis was applied to a detailed mechanistic model of the glucose catabolic pathway in S. cerevisiae. The method allows us to identify quasi steady state constraints of complete conversion and reaction equilibrium corresponding to the fast reactions of the pathway, and to derive a reduced-order nonlinear model of the pathway dynamics for the time scale of interest, in terms of suitable linear combinations of the species concentrations. Numerical simulations were performed to validate the utilization of the reduced model in the description of the metabolic network.
Gemcitabine Plus Radiation Therapy for High-Grade Glioma: Long-Term Results of a Phase 1 Dose-Escalation Study.

Purpose To evaluate the tolerability and efficacy of gemcitabine plus radiation therapy (RT) in this phase 1 study of patients with newly diagnosed malignant glioma (HGG). Patients and Methods Between 2004 and 2012, 29 adults with HGG were enrolled. After any extent of resection, RT (60 Gy over 6 weeks) was given concurrent with escalating doses of weekly gemcitabine. Using a time-to-event continual reassessment method, 5 dose levels were evaluated starting at 500 mg/m 2 during the last 2 weeks of RT and advanced stepwise into earlier weeks. The primary objective was to determine the recommended phase 2 dose of gemcitabine plus RT. Secondary objectives included progression-free survival, overall survival (OS), and long-term toxicity. Results Median follow-up was 38.1 months (range, 8.9-117.5 months); 24 patients were evaluable for toxicity. After 2005 when standard practice changed, patients with World Health Organization grade 4 tumors were no longer enrolled. Median progression-free survival for 22 patients with grade 3 tumors was 26.0 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 15.6-inestimable), and OS was 48.5 months (95% CI 26.8-inestimable). In 4 IDH mutated, 1p/19q codeleted patients, no failures occurred, with all but 1 alive at time of last follow-up. Seven with IDH mutated, non-codeleted tumors with ATRX loss had intermediate OS of 73.5 months (95% CI 32.8-inestimable). Six nonmutated, non-codeleted patients had a median OS of 26.5 months (95% CI 25.4-inestimable). The recommended phase 2 dose of gemcitabine plus RT was 750 mg/m 2 /wk given the last 4 weeks of RT. Dose reductions were most commonly due to grade 3 neutropenia; no grade 4 or 5 toxicities were seen. Conclusions Gemcitabine concurrent with RT is well-tolerated and yields promising outcomes, including in patients with adverse molecular features. It is a candidate for further study, particularly for poor-prognosis patient subgroups with HGG.
Automatic Type-Driven Library Generation for Telescoping Languages

Telescoping languages is a strategy to automatically generate highly-optimized domain-specific libraries. The key idea is to create specialized variants of library procedures through extensive offline processing. This paper describes a telescoping system, called ARGen, which generates high-performance Fortran or C libraries from prototype Matlab code for the linear algebra library, ARPACK. ARGen uses variable types to guide procedure specializations on possible calling contexts. ARGen needs to infer Matlab types in order to speculate on the possible variants of library procedures, as well as to generate code. This paper shows that our type-inference system is powerful enough to generate all the variants needed for ARPACK automatically from the Matlab development code. The ideas demonstrated here provide a basis for building a more general telescoping system for Matlab.
On the Internet Delay-Based Clustering

The scalability of routing in large scale networks, such as the Internet, is critical to achieve low delay and high throughput. The lack of scalability of routing protocols in large-scale networks results from the prohibitive overhead incurred during dissemination of path metric values across the network. This paper addresses this problem and proposes a cluster-based scheme, referred to as d-median, which strikes a balance between scalability and routing efficiency. In this scheme, the link metric information is exchanged on a per-cluster basis, rather than on a per-node basis thereby reducing considerably the routing overhead. The simulation results show that the scheme exhibits better performance compared to existing models.
Assessment of Low-Gradient Aortic Stenosis With Dobutamine

Low-gradient aortic stenosis (AS) has been a vexing problem for cardiologists since its original description in 1980 by Carabello et al.1 In that study, 3 of 4 patients with low-gradient AS died at surgery, and the other patient had persistent severe heart failure postoperatively. Subsequent studies showed that although operative mortality is high, most patients survive aortic valve replacement (AVR), and some have dramatic improvement in symptoms and left ventricular (LV) function.2,3 The challenge facing clinicians is how to accurately distinguish those patients who will benefit from AVR from those who will not. The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines for valvular heart disease recommend hemodynamic evaluation of low-gradient AS with dobutamine echocardiography to distinguish patients with fixed anatomic AS from those with flow-dependent (“relative”) AS in patients with LV dysfunction.4 In the latter case, aortic valve area (AVA) is spuriously low because there is not enough forward flow to fully open the leaflets.5–7 To understand how dobutamine infusion helps sort out the dilemma of low-gradient AS, it is useful to revisit the hemodynamic principles that govern the relationship between AVA, flow, and gradient. Article p 711 In 1951, Gorlin and Gorlin proposed the “hydraulic orifice equation” for calculation of valve area in valvular stenosis.8 The Gorlin formula was based on the fundamental equation: equation ![Formula][1] in which valve area (A) is equal to transvalvular flow (F), divided by transvalvular velocity (V). In AS, the Gorlin formula is used to calculate AVA as: equation ![Formula][2] Because transvalvular flow occurs during systole in AS, the numerator (flow) becomes the cardiac output (CO) divided by heart rate times systolic ejection period (SEP), or stroke volume divided by SEP. The denominator (velocity) could not be measured in 1951 (Doppler echocardiography did not exist), so it was calculated from the … [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif [2]: /embed/graphic-2.gif
Ewing sarcoma mimicking atypical carcinoid tumor: detection of unexpected genomic alterations demonstrates the use of next generation sequencing as a diagnostic tool

Increasingly, tumors are being analyzed for a variety of mutations and other genomic changes, with the goals of guiding personalized therapy and directing patients to appropriate clinical trials based on genotype, as well as identifying previously unknown genomic changes in different tumor types and thereby providing new insights into the pathogenesis of human cancers. Next generation sequencing is a powerful research tool now gaining traction in the clinic. In this report, we demonstrate the utility of next generation sequencing assays in providing diagnostic information when evaluating tumor specimens. This is illustrated by a case previously thought to represent an atypical carcinoid tumor, in which an EWSR1-ERG translocation was detected during next generation sequencing using a hybrid capture approach, leading to a revised diagnosis of Ewing sarcoma. The role of translocation detection in these assays is also discussed.
GTNEUT: A code for the calculation of neutral particle transport in plasmas based on the Transmission and Escape Probability method

GTNEUT is a two-dimensional code for the calculation of the transport of neutral particles in fusion plasmas. It is based on the Transmission and Escape Probabilities (TEP) method and can be considered a computationally efficient alternative to traditional Monte Carlo methods. The code has been benchmarked extensively against Monte Carlo and has been used to model the distribution of neutrals in fusion experiments.
Novel Repair of an External Iliac Vein Aneurysm

Aneurysms involving the venous system are a rare entity. We report the case of a 37-year-old woman who presented to us with activity-limiting left gluteal pain and who on consequent workup was found to have a left external iliac vein aneurysm in a setting of iliocavomegaly. She underwent successful treatment of her aneurysm with a novel approach that involved staple plication and resection of the aneurysm over a balloon mandrel. We discuss the presentation, diagnosis, and surgical technique adopted for the treatment of this uncommon condition.
Software requirements negotiation: some lessons learned

Negotiating requirements is one of the first steps in any software system life cycle, but its results have probably the most significant impact on the system's value. However, the processes of requirements negotiation are not well understood. We have had the opportunity to capture and analyze requirements negotiation behavior for groups of projects developing library multimedia archive systems, using an instrumented version of the USC WinWin groupware system for requirements negotiation. Some of the more illuminating results were: most stakeholder Win Conditions were noncontroversial (were not involved in issues); negotiation activity varied by stakeholder role; LCO package quality (measured by grading criteria) could be predicted by negotiation attributes; and WinWin increased cooperativeness, reduced friction, and helped focus on key issues.
Fixed rings of simple rings

(1978). Fixed rings of simple rings. Communications in Algebra: Vol. 6, No. 17, pp. 1741-1750.
Regulation of α-Fetoprotein Expression by Nkx2.8

The alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) gene is an important model of developmental gene silencing and neoplastic gene reactivation. Nkx2.8 is a divergent homeodomain factor originally cloned through its binding to the promoter-coupling element (PCE), a regulatory region upstream of the AFP promoter that mediates stimulation by distant enhancers. Nkx2.8 is the only developmentally regulated factor that has been associated with AFP gene expression. Fetoprotein transcription factor, an orphan nuclear receptor, has also been shown to bind the PCE but is not developmentally regulated. The binding specificities of both families of transcription factor were determined, and overlapping sites for each were defined in the PCE. After modification of nuclear extract and gel shift analysis procedures, Nkx2.8 was identified in six AFP-positive cell lines. Transient-transfection analysis did not show transcriptional stimulation by Nkx2.8 or other active NK2 factors, which only interfered with gene expression. However, two sets of analysis demonstrated the relationship of Nkx2.8 to AFP expression: chromatin immunoprecipitation demonstrated that Nkx2.8 bound to the active AFP promoter, and antisense inhibition of Nkx2.8 mRNA translation selectively reduced expression of both the endogenous human AFP gene and transfected reporters containing the rat AFP promoter.
Genome-Wide Identification of PAX3-FKHR Binding Sites in Rhabdomyosarcoma Reveals Candidate Target Genes Important for Development and Cancer

The PAX3-FKHR fusion protein is present in a majority of alveolar rhabdomyosarcomas associated with increased aggressiveness and poor prognosis. To better understand the molecular pathogenesis of PAX3-FKHR, we carried out the first, unbiased genome-wide identification of PAX3-FKHR binding sites and associated target genes in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. The data shows that PAX3-FKHR binds to the same sites as PAX3 at both MYF5 and MYOD enhancers. The genome-wide analysis reveals that the PAX3-FKHR sites are (a) mostly distal to transcription start sites, (b) conserved, (c) enriched for PAX3 motifs, and (d) strongly associated with genes overexpressed in PAX3-FKHR-positive rhabdomyosarcoma cells and tumors. There is little evidence in our data set for PAX3-FKHR binding at the promoter sequences. The genome-wide analysis further illustrates a strong association between PAX3 and E-box motifs in these binding sites, suggestive of a common coregulation for many target genes. We also provide the first direct evidence that FGFR4 and IGF1R are the targets for PAX3-FKHR. The map of PAX3-FKHR binding sites provides a framework for understanding the pathogenic roles of PAX3-FKHR, as well as its molecular targets to allow a systematic evaluation of agents against this aggressive rhabdomyosarcoma.
Science Signaling Podcast: 20 September 2011

This Podcast features an interview with Robert Lefkowitz, corecipient of this year’s Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Lefkowitz has been studying the function of G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) for 40 years, and his laboratory has made many important contributions to our current understanding of GPCR structure and function. GPCRs are integral membrane proteins with seven transmembrane–spanning domains. The extracellular portions of the receptors bind to ligands outside the cell, and the intracellular portions of these receptors transduce signaling. GPCRs control many different aspects of cell biology and participate in the regulation of many physiological processes. A large percentage of drugs in use today target GPCRs or their associated signal transduction partners. Lefkowitz discusses GPCR function and specificity, his role in this field of research, and future challenges.
Formation and Growth of Intermetallic Compound Cu6Sn5 at Early Stages in Lead-Free Soldering

In this work, the early stages of the formation and growth of the intermetallic compound Cu6Sn5 during soldering reactions between a Cu substrate and liquid Sn are examined through phase-field simulations. The liquid Sn-based solder (L phase) and the copper substrate (α phase) are considered to be under metastable equilibrium conditions that eventually lead to nucleation of the Cu6Sn5 intermetallic compound (IMC) (η phase) at the solid/liquid interface. Nucleation is incorporated into the model through a classical treatment considering that individual nucleation events follow a Poisson distribution function. The driving forces for the nucleation and phase transformations are obtained by coupling the phase-field simulations to CALPHAD models. In the phase-field simulations, physical properties such as liquid surface as well as IMC interfacial energies are treated parametrically to probe the behavior of the system under various growth conditions. The simulations are compared with previous works and are shown to have good (qualitative) agreement with recent detailed studies on the early stages of the interaction between Cu and liquid Sn.
Particle swarm optimization for dual-band implantable antennas

In this paper, we investigate a flexible PSO implementation using the familiar MATLAB and Ansoft HFSS for dual-band antenna design with an emphasis on the MICS and ISM bands. Several antennas including the E-shaped patch are included. This work forms the basis for future research regarding antenna miniaturization for implantable devices.
Human immunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2 and simian immunodeficiency virus Nef use distinct but overlapping target sites for downregulation of cell surface CD4.

Although the Nef proteins encoded by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and simian immuno-deficiency virus (SIV) are known to induce the efficient internalization and degradation of cell surface CD4, it remains unclear whether this process involves a direct interaction between Nef and CD4. Here, we report that CD4 downregulation by HIV-1 and SIV Nef requires distinct but overlapping target sites within the CD4 intracytoplasmic domain. In particular, mutation of a glutamic acid residue located at CD4 residue 405 or of arginine and methionine residues located, respectively, at residue 406 and 407 results in a mutant CD4 protein that is efficiently downregulated by HIV-1 Nef but refractory to downregulation by SIV Nef. However, both HIV-1 and SIV Nef require an isoleucine located at residue 410 and the dileucine motif found at CD4 residues 413 and 414. CD4 downregulation induced by the Nef protein encoded by HIV-2 is shown to require a CD4 target sequence that is similar to, but distinct from, that observed with SIV Nef. These data explain the previous finding that the murine CD4 protein, which has an alanine at residue 405, is refractory to downregulation by SIV, but not HIV-1, Nef (J. L. Foster, S.J. Anderson, A. L. B. Frazier, and J. V. Garcia, Virology 201:373-379, 1994). In addition, these observations provide strong genetic support for the hypothesis that the Nef-mediated downregulation of cell surface CD4 requires a direct Nef-CD4 interaction.
Joint-design of multiresolution modulation and ARQ protocol for prioritized packet transmission in wireless ad-hoc networks

In this article, we investigate two variants of traditional automatic repeat request (ARQ) protocols that exploit the disparity in bit error protection levels of multi-resolution M-ary phase-shift-keying for prioritizing the transport of more ldquocriticalrdquo messages in integrated voice/data and delay-sensitive applications (e.g., audio/video streaming). This cross-layer design can lead to a substantial performance improvement (e.g., better sound/picture quality or enhanced throughput of high priority messages) over non-prioritized transmission especially at low and moderate mean channel signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) values or during network congestion. For instance, our numerical results reveal that the proposed SR-ARQ-I and SR-ARQ-II schemes (beta = 0.4) yield approximately 56% and 163% higher throughput than the traditional selective-repeat ARQ protocol in Rayleigh fading at the mean channel SNR of 19dB. This significant throughput gain is obtained by not discarding the correctly demodulated bits within the erroneously demodulated symbols, and also by reducing the average number of retransmission requests in SR-ARQ-II protocol through better error protection (if possible) for the retransmitted packets. However, there exists a slight throughput penalty in the high SNR regime due to competitive nature of the ldquooptimal reliable signaling raterdquo in an unknown time-varying channel.