cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Temporal expression of rod and cone opsins in embryonic goldfish retina predicts the spatial organization of the cone mosaic.

Purpose Cone photoreceptors in teleost fish retina are organized into a precise, crystalline mosaic in which the four spectral subtypes have a consistent position relative to each other. The objective of the current study was to describe the spatial and temporal progression of photoreceptor differentiation in the embryonic goldfish retina to understand how the retinal cone mosaic might be produced. Methods To identify developing photoreceptors when they first begin to express a specific opsin, the authors used in situ hybridization with cRNA probes generated from cDNA for rod opsin and red, green, blue, and ultraviolet cone opsins from goldfish (Carassius auratus). Results In the retina, rod opsin was expressed first, and it was restricted to a small patch of regularly spaced, precocious rods located near the ventronasal edge of the retina, close to the choroid fissure. The patch enlarged by recruitment of additional rods in a circular path, moving from ventral to nasal to dorsal to temporal retina. Expression of cone opsins began approximately 10 hours after rod opsin was first expressed, and differentiation of cone photoreceptors followed the spatial pattern laid down by the early rods. The temporal order of onset of cone opsin expression was red, then green, then blue, then ultraviolet. When rod and red cone opsin probes were combined, the number of labeled cells was additive, suggesting that these two opsins are expressed in separate populations of photoreceptors. Conclusions The onset of opsin expression in goldfish retina follows a highly ordered spatio-temporal pattern. Early differentiation and regular spacing of the precocious rods was unexpected and suggested that they may play a role in cone mosaic patterning. The order of subsequent cone opsin expression was related to the relative positions of cone subtype in the mosaic, suggesting the possibility that inductive interactions among developing photoreceptors may be responsible for patterning the cone mosaic array.
New abnormalities in the morphology, cell surface receptors, and electrolyte metabolism of In(Lu) erythrocytes

The In(Lu) phenotype is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait and is characterized by suppression of the Lutheran, P1, i, and Aua erythrocyte blood group antigens. We have developed a monoclonal antibody (L21) that strongly agglutinates all erythrocytes except In(Lu), and we have identified eight In(Lu) individuals among 42,000 blood donors tested. Studies of two families confirmed the dominant mode of inheritance and revealed several new features of this phenotype. The erythrocytes of all five affected individuals from the two families exhibited diminished hemagglutination by the lectin concanavalin A, although they reacted normally with several other lectins. The erythrocytes of two affected individuals in one family exhibited marked acanthocytosis. The erythrocytes of the proposita of the other family exhibited a mild degree of poikilocytosis, but the cells of the other two affected individuals in this family had normal morphology. The osmotic fragility of fresh In(Lu) erythrocytes was normal, but after incubation for 24 hours at 37 degrees C in plasma the In(Lu) cells exhibited a marked increase in resistance to osmotic lysis. During the incubation period the erythrocytes lost K+ and their total cation content was diminished. These data indicate that in addition to the suppression of blood group antigens noted previously, the In(Lu) phenotype includes a variety of morphological abnormalities and a defect in electrolyte metabolism. The use of L21 and similar monoclonal antibodies provides a more sensitive means of detecting In(Lu) erythrocytes than typing with human anti-Lub antisera.
Comparative Analyses of Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the TNF Promoter Region Provide Further Validation for the Vervet Monkey Model of Obesity

Tumor necrosis factor is a cytokine that plays critical roles in inflammation, the innate immune response, and a variety of other physiologic and pathophysiologic processes. In addition, TNF has recently been shown to mediate an intersection of chronic, low-grade inflammation and concurrent metabolic dysregulation associated with obesity and its comorbidities. As part of an ongoing initiative to further characterize vervet monkeys originating from St Kitts as an animal model of obesity and inflammation, we sequenced and genotyped the human ortholog vervet TNF gene and approximately 1 kb of the flanking 3′ and 5′ regions from 265 monkeys in a closed, pedigreed colony. This process revealed a total of 11 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and a single 4-bp insertion–deletion, with minor allele frequencies of 0.08 to 0.39. Many of these polymorphisms were in strong or complete linkage disequilibrium with each other, and all but 1 were contained within a single haplotype block, comprising 5 haplotypes with frequencies of 0.075 to 0.298. Using sequences from humans, chimpanzees, vervets, baboons, and rhesus macaques, phylogenetic shadowing of the TNF promoter region revealed that vervet SNPs, like the SNPs in related species, were clustered nonrandomly and nonuniformly around conserved transcription factor binding sites. These data, combined with previously defined heritable phenotypes, permit future association analyses in this nonhuman primate model and have great potential to help dissect the genetic and nongenetic contributions to complex diseases like obesity. More broadly, the sequence data and comparative analyses reported herein facilitates study of the evolution of regulatory sequences of inflammatory and immune-related genes.
OR28 Haploidentical donors for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (HCT): Changing demographics and the economics of typing this population

Aim HLA-mismatched allogeneic donors allow HCT of patients lacking an HLA identical sibling or matched unrelated donor. Most patients find a haploidentical or a partially-HLA mismatched donor among their first- and second-degree relatives or unrelated donors. We examined process improvements to reduce donor search time and cost in the new era of alternative donors and the less costly Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology for high resolution typing. Methods HLA class I typing was performed using reverse sequence specific oligonucleotide probe (rSSO) hybridization (One Lambda, Inc) to identify potential haploidentical donors. Select donors were typed at high resolution using Sanger sequence base typing during 2015 and 2016 (local and commercial kits) or NGS in 2017 (lllumina). Specimen (blood) collection kits were sent to donors using a third party vendor (Path-Tec). Results We performed a retrospective cost analysis of 2017 data. Currently, rSSO class I typing is performed on non-parent or child family members to rule out HLA disparate donors. Of 444 individuals, 188 appeared to be haploidentical and were reflexed to HRT. Only 3.9% of donors reflexed to NGS were disparate. If all 444 individuals had been initially typed by NGS, the cost for the program would have been 63.2% higher. As show in Table 1, the number of 2nd degree relatives has increased. As the donor pool expands beyond the patient’s nuclear family, the incidence of incorrectly reported donor relationships has increased, causing inappropriate testing and delays in reporting results. Furthermore, the donors’ geographical locations have expanded coast to coast, and even globally with increase of shipping costs. Of 413 kits sent in 2017, 20.1% were not returned. Download : Download high-res image (116KB) Download : Download full-size image Conclusions With the steady increase in the use of alternative HCT donors, the staggered class I typing schema remains cost effective even with the advent of NGS. Areas for cost reduction include obtaining correct relationships prior to testing and improving the return rate of collection kits. A.M. Jackson: 3. Speaker’s Bureau; Company/Organization; One Lambda/Thermo Fisher Scientific. M. Bettinotti: 3. Speaker’s Bureau; Company/Organization; One Lambda/Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Ripple-aware optical proximity correction fragmentation for back-end-of-line designs

Accurate characterization of image rippling is critical in early detection of back-end-of-line (BEOL) patterning weakpoints, as most defects are strongly associated with excessive rippling that does not get effectively compensated by optical proximity correction (OPC). We correlate image contour with design shapes to account for design geometry-dependent rippling signature, and explore the best practice of OPC fragmentation for BEOL geometries. Specifically, we predict the optimum contour as allowed by the lithographic process and illumination conditions and locate ripple peaks, valleys, and inflection points. This allows us to identify potential process weakpoints and segment the mask accordingly to achieve the best correction results.
VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline: Diagnosis and Treatment of Low Back Pain

In September 2017, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) approved the joint Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for Diagnosis and Management of Low Back Pain. This CPG was intended to provide healthcare providers a framework by which to evaluate, treat, and manage patients with low back pain (LBP). The VA/DoD Evidence-Based Practice Work Group convened a joint VA/DoD guideline development effort that included a multidisciplinary panel of practicing clinician stakeholders and conformed to the Institute of Medicine’s tenets for trustworthy clinical practice guidelines. The guideline panel developed key questions in collaboration with the ECRI Institute, which systematically searched and evaluated the literature through September 2016, developed an algorithm, and rated recommendations by using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) system. A patient focus group was also convened to ensure patient values and perspectives were considered when formulating preferences and shared decision making in the guideline. The VA/DOD LBP CPG provides evidence-based recommendations for the diagnostic approach, education and self-care, non-pharmacologic and non-invasive therapy, pharmacologic therapy, dietary supplements, non-surgical invasive therapy, and team approach to treatment of low back pain.
Preliminary clinical experience with Calypso anchored beacons for tumor tracking in lung SBRT

Purpose To present our preliminary experience with the recently released Calypso lung beacons to track lung tumor location during stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). Materials/methods Five recent lung SBRT patients had Calypso lung beacons implanted for tumor tracking during treatment. Beacons were placed by a pulmonologist using fluoroscopic navigation within 1 week prior to planning four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) acquisition. Patients were immobilized in a full-body double-vacuum bag. For the first three patients, a verification 4DCT was obtained prior to the first fraction with the patient in the treatment position to assess both beacon migration and motion of tumor and beacons relative to planning day. For each treatment fraction, Calypso was used to position the patient. A verification cone-beam CT (CBCT) confirmed the Calypso-defined target position was appropriate. Real-time Calypso tracking information was also acquired and compared to an action level that was used to determine if the tumor migrated outside of the planning target volume. Results For four patients, the implant procedure was well tolerated, with average CBCT-based shifts being within 0.2 mm of the shifts reported by Calypso at the time of imaging. The other patient had a small pneumothorax due to very peripheral tumor location and experienced beacon migration. However, the patient quickly recovered from the pneumothorax, and after deactivating that beacon, motion tracking was possible throughout his treatment. Conclusions All patients were successfully treated with SBRT using the newly released Calypso lung beacons, with initial positioning confirmed by this clinic's current clinical standard of CBCT. The system allowed us to validate, with real-time confirmation, that the planned internal target volumes were appropriate to each day's extent of actual tumor motion. An efficient and effective workflow for utilizing the new lung beacons for SBRT treatments was developed.
Discharges "Against Medical Advice" in Patients With Opioid-related Hospitalizations.

OBJECTIVES We performed a descriptive analysis of patient and treatment characteristics in premature discharges "against medical advice" (AMA) in a cohort of patients with opioid-related hospitalizations. METHODS We abstracted data from 1152 opioid related hospitalizations of 928 adult patients in a large academic health system. Using electronic health record data, hospitalizations were categorized as AMA or conventional discharge (CD). To determine differences between AMA and CD regarding treatment characteristics, Fisher exact test, t tests, ANOVA, and logistic regression were performed. RESULTS 74 / 1152 (6%) of opioid-related hospitalizations were discharged AMA. Hospitalizations that resulted in AMA discharge had shorter median length of stay (AMA vs CD 3.5 vs 5.5 days, P < 0.001) and received fewer of any type of opioid agonist treatment (AMA vs CD 73% vs 84%, P = 0.03). Although the number of hospitalizations in which methadone was administered did not differ between the AMA and CD groups, hospitalizations that resulted in AMA had more dose reductions and lesser quantities of methadone overall before discharge. Buprenorphine use was low overall in AMA and CD (0% and 2.1%, respectively). CONCLUSION In this sample of opioid related hospitalizations, admissions that resulted in AMA discharge had fewer opioid agonist administrations and lower methadone dosing. These findings support efforts to initiate opioid agonist therapy during hospital admissions, and further studies should determine whether this practice mitigates AMA discharges.
Optimal Systematic t-Deletion Correcting Codes

Systematic deletion correcting codes play an important role in applications of document exchange. Yet despite a series of recent advances made in deletion correcting codes, most of them are non-systematic. To the best of the authors' knowledge, the only known deterministic systematic t-deletion correcting code constructions with rate approaching 1 achieve O(t log2 n) bits of redundancy for constant t, where n is the code length. In this paper, we propose a systematic t-deletion correcting code construction that achieves 4t log n + o(log n) bits of redundancy, which is asymptotically within a factor of 4 from being optimal. Our encoding and decoding algorithms have complexity O(n2t+1), which is polynomial for constant t.
Anatomy and Physiology of the Hair Cycle

Hair may vary considerably in length, width, quantity, and distribution of follicles depending on its type and location on the human body. The two main types of hair are terminal hair and vellus hair. Terminal hairs are normally thicker and longer, with hair shaft diameters greater than 0.06 mm and hair bulbs rooted deeply in the subcutaneous tissue. On the other hand, vellus hairs are usually only 1–2 mm in length and have thinner shafts measuring less than 0.03 mm in diameter. Their bulbs are located in the upper portion of the dermis, and they are characteristically more hypopigmented than the baseline hair color. Vellus hair is typically more noticeable on women and children because men tend to have more terminal body hair [1].
Environmentally Friendly Tannic Acid Multilayer Coating for Reducing Corrosion of Carbon Steel

Layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly has been used to produce nanoscale anticorrosion coatings for various metals, with the notable exception of carbon steel. In this work, we introduce the first LbL asse...
Fate of the Left Pulmonary Artery and Thoracic Aorta After Transcatheter Patent Ductus Arteriosus Closure in Low Birth Weight Premature Infants

Transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus closure (TCPC) is an emerging treatment for low birth weight extremely premature neonates (EPNs). Left pulmonary artery (LPA) and descending aorta (DAO) obstruction are described device-related complications, however, data on mid- and long-term vascular outcomes are lacking. A retrospective analysis of EPNs who underwent successful TCPC at our institution from 03/2013 to 12/2018 was performed. Two-dimensional echocardiography and spectral Doppler velocities from various time points before and after TCPC were used to identify LPA and DAO flow disturbances. A total of 44 EPNs underwent successful TCPC at a median (range) procedural weight of 1150 g (755–2500 g). Thirty-two (73%) patients were closed with the AVP II and 12 (27%) with the Amplatzer Piccolo device. LPA and DAO velocities on average remained within normal limits and improved spontaneously in long-term follow up (26.1 months, range 1–75 months). One patient, who had concerning LPA flow characteristics immediately after device implant (peak velocity 2.6 m/s) developed progressive LPA stenosis requiring stent placement 3 months post-procedure. In the remaining infants, including 7 (16%) who developed LPA and 3 (7%) who developed DAO flow disturbances (range 2–2.4 m/s), all had progressive normalization of flow velocities over time. TCPC can be performed safely in EPNs with a low incidence of LPA and DAO obstruction. In the absence of significant progressive vascular obstruction in the early post-procedure period, mild increases in LPA and DAO flow velocities tend to improve spontaneously and normalize in long-term follow-up.
Contemporary analysis of ETEST for antibiotic susceptibility and minimum inhibitory concentration agreement against Pseudomonas aeruginosa from patients with cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) acute pulmonary exacerbations are often caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, including multi-drug resistant strains. Optimal antibiotic therapy is required to return lung function and should be guided by in vitro susceptibility results. There are sparse data describing ETEST performance for CF isolates using contemporary isolates, methods and interpretation, as well as novel antibiotics, such as ceftazidime–avibactam and ceftolozane–tazobactam. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 105) isolated during pulmonary exacerbation from patients with CF were acquired from 3 US hospitals. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were assessed by reference broth microdilution (BMD) and ETEST for aztreonam, cefepime, ceftazidime, ceftazidime–avibactam, ceftolozane–tazobactam, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, meropenem, piperacillin–tazobactam, and tobramycin. Broth microdilution was conducted in concordance with the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute M100. ETEST methodology reflected package insert recommendations. Performance of ETEST strips was evaluated using the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Susceptibility Testing Manufacturers Association (STMA) guidance. Of the 105 P. aeruginosa included, 46% had a mucoid phenotype. ETEST MICs typically read 0–1 dilution higher than BMD for all drugs. Categorical agreement and essential agreement ranged from 64 to 93% and 63 to 86%, respectively. The majority of observed errors were minor. A single very major error occurred with ceftazidime (4.2%). For ceftazidime–vibactam, 2 very major errors were observed and both were within essential agreement. Major errors occurred for aztreonam (3.3%), cefepime (9.4%), ceftazidime–avibactam (5.3%, adjusted 2.1%), ceftolozane–tazobactam (1%), meropenem (3.3%), piperacillin–tazobactam (2.9%), and tobramycin (1.5%). ETEST methods performed conservatively for most antibiotics against this challenging collection of P. aeruginosa from patients with CF.
A Programmable Synthesis of Diverse Terpene Architectures from Phenols

Over millennia, Nature has evolved exquisite synthetic pathways that combine isoprenes into chains, folds them into carbocycles, and then oxidizes/rearranges them into vast complexity (>50,000 members). While laboratory chemical synthesis can sometimes emulate this process, room exists for additional approaches that can also programmably lead to molecular diversity. Here we show that from simple phenols using 1) prenylation, 2) dearomatization/prenyl migration, and 3) epoxidation/radical cyclization, we can predictably, reliably, and expeditiously make polycyclic terpene frameworks; critically, step three uses the first cooperative bimetallic catalyst to effect cyclization of epoxy enones under H2. Indeed, our approach has led to the stereocontrolled formation of bicyclic, linear, angular, clovane, and propellane-based architectures with functional groups that allow further manipulation; for example, these motifs can be repurposed for ring contractions. Of note, several formal total syntheses have been achieved in routes that are as concise as, and often shorter than, previous efforts.
Thermodynamic Properties of the Nd-Bi System Via Emf Measurements, DFT Calculations, and CALPHAD Modeling

Thermodynamic properties of the Nd-Bi system were investigated using a combination of experimental measurements, first-principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT), machine learning (ML) predictions, and calculation of phase diagrams (CALPHAD) modeling. The electromotive force (emf) of Nd-Bi alloys in molten LiCl-KCl-NdCl3 at 773–973 K was measured via coulometric titration of Nd in Bi for the determination of thermochemical properties such as activity coefficients and solubilities of Nd in Bi. A new peritectic reaction of [liquid + NdBi2 = Nd3 Bi7] at 774 K was confirmed using differential scanning calorimetry, structural (X-ray diffraction), and microstructural (scanning electron microscopy) analyses. The unknown crystal structure of NdBi2 was suggested to be a mixture of the anti-La2Sb configuration and the La2Te-type configuration based on ML predictions for over 26,000 AB2-type configurations together with DFT-based verifications. Using the newly acquired experimental data and DFT-based calculations, the thermodynamic description of the Nd-Bi system was remodeled, and a more complete Nd-Bi phase diagram was calculated, including the Nd3Bi7 compound, invariant transition reactions, and liquidus temperatures.
Protein renewal in anti-peroxidase antibody forming cells. I. In vivo incorporation of 3H-leucine as studied by quantitative ultrastructural autoradiography.

Abstract The rate of incorporation of tritiated leucine into cells of the plasma cell line in the spleen of mice, previously immunized against peroxidase, was studied using quantitative autoradiography at the ultrastructural level. The amino acids were incorporated first into the rough endoplasmic reticulum and then transferred into the Golgi apparatus. No vesicular system of transport between the Golgi apparatus and the plasma membrane could be observed. The radioactive material was not found to accumulate on the plasma membrane, nor to pass through by means of vacuoles. These results favor clasmatosis as a mode of excretion for plasma cells. The kinetics of incorporation were independent of the degree of differentiation of the cells, i.e., it was the same in hemocytoblasts, and in immature and mature plasma cells. However, the absolute quantity of labelling was greater in the less mature types. The rate of incorporation was similar in plasma cells from the non-immunized control animals, and comparable to cells from animals immunized to antigens other than peroxidase (as reported in the literature). This suggests that the rate of amino acid incorporation is independent of the nature of the antigen.
Intelligence and how to get it: Why schools and cultures count.

Who are smarter, Asians or Westerners? Are there genetic explanations for group differences in test scores? From the damning research of The Bell Curve to the more recent controversy surrounding geneticist James Watson's statements, one factor has been consistently left out of the equation: culture. In the tradition of Stephen Jay Gould's The Mismeasure of Man, world-class social psychologist Richard E. Nisbett takes on the idea of intelligence as biologically determined and impervious to culture with vast implications for the role of education as it relates to social and economic development. Intelligence and How to Get It asserts that intellect is not primarily genetic but is principally determined by societal influences.
Low-floor bus design preferences of walking aid users during simulated boarding and alighting

Low-floor buses represent a significant improvement in accessible public transit for passengers with limited mobility. However, there is still a need for research on the inclusive design of transit buses to identify specific low-floor bus design conditions that are either particularly accommodating or challenging for passengers with functional and mobility impairments. These include doorway locations, seating configuration and the large front wheel-well covers that collectively impact boarding, alighting and interior movement of passengers. Findings from a laboratory study using a static full-scale simulation of a lowfloor bus to evaluate the impact of seating configuration and crowding on interior movement and accessibility for individuals with and without walking aids are presented (n=41). Simulated bus journeys that included boarding, fare payment, seating, and alighting were performed. Results from video observations and subjective assessments showed differences in boarding and alighting performance and users' perceptions of task difficulty. The need for assistive design features (e.g. handholds, stanchions), legroom and stowage space for walking aids was evident. These results demonstrate that specific design conditions in low-floor buses can significantly impact design preference among those who use walking aids. Consideration of ergonomics and inclusive design can therefore be used to improve the design of low-floor buses.
Online Synchronous Policy Iteration Method for Optimal Control

In this chapter, we discuss an online algorithm based on policy iteration (PI) for learning the continuous-time (CT) optimal control solution for nonlinear systems with infinite horizon costs. We present an online adaptive algorithm implemented as an actor/critic structure which involves simultaneous continuous-time adaptation of both actor and critic neural networks. We call this “synchronous” PI. A persistence of excitation condition is shown to guarantee convergence of the critic to the actual optimal value function. Novel tuning algorithms are given for both critic and actor networks, with extra terms in the actor tuning law being required to guarantee closed-loop dynamical stability. The convergence to the optimal controller is proven, and stability of the system is also guaranteed. Simulation examples show the effectiveness of the new algorithm.
Audit Cultures, Commodification, and Class and Race Strategies in Education.

The author discusses some of the ways in which certain elements of conservative modernization have had an impact on education at multiple levels. He points to the growth of commodifying logics and the audit culture that accompanies them. In the process, he highlights a number of dangers currently being faced. However, he urges us not to assume that these conditions can be reduced to the automatic workings out of simple formulae. He argues that we need a much more nuanced and complex picture of class relations and class projects to understand what is happening – and a more sensitive and historically grounded analysis of the place of racial dynamics in the vision both of ‘a world out of control’ that needs to be policed and of ‘cultural pollution’ that threatens ‘real knowledge’ in the growth of markets and audit cultures. Thus, Michael Apple also urges his readers to listen carefully to the critiques coming from collective voices within oppressed communities and to not assume that one can read off their po...
Spectroscopic evidence for the coordination of oxygen donor ligands to tetraphenylporphinatozinc

Abstract Direct evidence for the coordination oxygen donor ligands to tetraphenylporphinatozinc [Zn(TPP)] is presented. Dissociation constants have been determined for twenty-five zinc porphyrin-ligand complexes. A 1:1 binding stoichiometry is found in all cases. Increasing affinity for complex formation as a function of increasing basicity is observed among a limited set of structurally similar ligands. Steric constraints also strongly influence ligand binding affinity.
Two-photon absorption laser assisted device alteration using continuous wave 1,340 nm laser

We report several cases of two photon absorption (TPA) laser assisted device alteration (LADA) using continuous wave (CW) 1,340 nm laser in Si Complimentary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) Integrated Circuits (IC). Two photon absorption using CW 1,340 nm laser in Si was confirmed by photon beam induced photocurrent measurements. TPA LADA showed greater than two times better resolution in critical timing circuit defect localization and debug application, when compared with traditional single photon absorption (SPA) LADA with CW 1,064 nm laser. A simplified analysis on the resolution improvements presented here showed in good agreement with our experimental observations. Further enhancements of this technology are outlined, which we believe will enable this technology for critical timing circuit debug capabilities well into the future generations of Si CMOS Debug applications.
Histopathologic Features of Eosinophilic Esophagitis

The pathology of eosinophilic esophagitis (EE) when fully developed in humans is highly characteristic and readily discriminated from the histology of the normal esophagus. The histologic alterations are not pathognomonic for any of the multiple causes of EE, and the correct diagnosis can be made only if the histology is correlated with clinical findings. The histology of the normal esophagus is reviewed and contrasted with the findings in EE. The characteristic findings in EE are illustrated. Selected research in humans and animal models pertinent to EE are briefly reviewed.
Acculturating Indian Immigrant Men in New York City: Applying the Social Capital Construct to Understand Their Experiences and Health

This study qualitatively explored social capital available to individuals (N = 17) within a community-based purposive sample of adult male immigrants from India in New York City (NYC). Analysis of in-depth interview data identified possible pathways for social capital’s influences upon acculturative stress. The study defined social capital in terms of the participants’ social relationships among peers, in the workplace, and with their ethnic community. Their relationships were assessed in terms of support, trust, and reciprocity. Among the recent immigrants, hopelessness and frustration about future work prospects were associated with symptoms of depression and substance abuse. The participants identified wealth as a distinct marker of social class and they described social class as a combination of education and occupation. Social class largely determined the particular peer and community networks each participant joined. Participants relied upon ongoing connections with family in India, despite their geographic separation, to relieve acculturative stress. Social support from peers was the participants’ most useful and immediate resource for alleviating acculturative stress. For participants of lower socioeconomic status, acculturative stress was compounded by social-relationship expectations and norms from India that persisted within NYCs immigrant community. Namely, lower-SES participants were more likely to experience frustration and setbacks when they sought out intimate social relationships with women.
p53, mutations, and apoptosis in genistein-exposed human lymphoblastoid cells.

The phytoestrogen, genistein, is a naturally occurring isoflavone found in soy products. On a biochemical basis, genistein is a competitive inhibitor of tyrosine kinases and the DNA synthesis-related enzyme, topoisomerase-II (topo-II). Exposure of mammalian cells to genistein results in DNA damage that is similar to that induced by the topo-II inhibitor and chromosomal mutagen, m-amsa. In order to determine the potential genotoxicity of genistein, human lymphoblastoid cells which differ in the functional status of the tumor suppressor gene, p53, were exposed to genistein and the induction of micronuclei quantified by microscopic analysis. In addition, the mutant fraction at the thymidine kinase (tk) locus (both the normal-growth and slow-growth phenotypes) was determined by resistance to trifluorothymidine (TFT) and at the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase (hprt) locus by resistance to 6-thioguanine (6-TG). Flow cytometric analysis of the percentage of viable, apoptotic and degenerating cells was utilized to determine the rate and kinetics of cell death after genistein exposure. The detection of micronuclei in both cell lines indicated that genistein-induced damage had occurred in both AHH-1 tk+/- and L3. Linear regression analysis detected a significant increase in the number of 6-TG-resistant clones in both AHH-1 tk+/- (p53+/-) and L3 (p53+/+). A comparison of slopes revealed no difference between the lines. In contrast, a significant, concentration-dependent increase in the number of TFT-resistant clones with the slow-growth phenotype was detected in AHH-1 tk+/- (mutant p53), but not in L3 (wild-type p53). Cell death occurred primarily by apoptosis in both cell lines; however, a concentration-dependent decrease in the percentage of viable cells was detected immediately after exposure in L3, but not until 32 h after exposure in AHH-1 tk+/-. A comparison of the slopes of the concentration-response curves for the percentage of viable cells revealed no difference between the cell lines in the effect of genistein on cell viability. Our results may be interpreted that genistein is a chromosomal mutagen and that p53 functional status affects the recovery of chromosomal mutants, possibly by signalling cells into the apoptosis pathways.
Magnetic resonance imaging using deoxyhemoglobin contrast versus positron emission tomography in the assessment of brain function.

Abstract 1. 1. Function of the brain can be assessed through radiologic imaging to determine physiology of underlying tissue. 2. 2. Until recently, positron emission tomography has been the standard tool with which to study function. 3. 3. In the past few years, several investigators have attempted to use magnetic resonance imaging, which has better resolution and is less expensive, to provide functional information. 4. 4. A noninvasive technique termed BOLD (blood oxygen level dependent) has become a popular area of research to determine physiologic change that occurs in the brain in resting as well as activated states. 5. 5. This article reviews what information PET has given us with regard to function of the brain, followed by a discussion of the principle of functional MRI of the brain with emphasis on what has been done in this field as well as future application of the technique.
ChunkStream: Interactive streaming of structured data

We present ChunkStream, a system for efficient streaming and interactive editing of online video. Rather than using a specialized protocol and stream format, ChunkStream makes use of a generic mechanism employing chunks. Chunks are fixed-size arrays that contain a mixture of scalar data and references to other chunks. Chunks allow programmers to expose large, but fine-grained, data structures over the network. ChunkStream represents video clips using simple data types like linked lists and search trees, allowing a client to retrieve and work with only the portions of the clips that it needs. ChunkStream supports resource-adaptive playback and ''live'' streaming of real-time video as well as fast, frame-accurate seeking; bandwidth-efficient high-speed playback; and compilation of editing decisions from a set of clips. Benchmarks indicate that ChunkStream uses less bandwidth than HTTP Live Streaming while providing better support for editing primitives.
Diffusion of radioactively tagged penetrants through rubbery polymers. II. Dependence on molecular length of penetrant

The diffusion of radioactively tagged n-hexadecane, n-dotriacontane, and a polybutadiene oligomer with molecular weight 1600 has been studied in 12 rubbery polymers. Diffusion coefficients were obtained from the theory for the thin smear method: for n-hexadecane and for n-dotriacontane (with one exception), in the form appropriate for a completely miscible polymer-penetrant pair, and for the oligomer in the form appropriate for slow entry of the pentrant across the penetrant-polymer interface. For the four flexible linear penetrants, n-dodecane, n-hexadecane, n-dotriacontane, and oligomer, the ratios of diffusion coefficients (or translational friction coefficients) are nearly the same in every polymer. It is concluded that these penetrants travel with similar segmentwise motions, although that is not the case with bulkier, more rigid penetrants. For the three normal paraffins, the friction coefficient is approximately proportional to molecular weight, but that for the oligomer is smaller than would be predicted on this basis.
Sociability, Interpersonal Relations, and the Internet Reconciling Conflicting Findings

During the course of the past year, at least four different academic surveys have been conducted, each focusing to some extent on the impact of Internet use on the quantity and quality of interpersonal communication and sociability. Remarkably, these studies arrive at starkly different conclusions regarding the social repercussions of Internet use. At the heart of this debate is whether Internet use can be a potentially isolating activity or one that leads to substantially greater communication among people and thus enhances human connectivity and sociability. Based on an analysis of these studies' key findings and methodological approaches, this article attempts to understand the role of the Internet in shaping our interpersonal relations. The key findings suggest that Internet users do not become more sociable; rather, they already display a higher degree of social connectivity and participation, due to the fact that they are better educated, better off financially, and less likely to be among the elder...
Number and evolutionary conservation of α- and β-tubulin and cytoplasmic β- and γ-actin genes using specific cloned cDNA probes

Abstract Bacterial clones containing inserted DNA sequences specific for α-tubulin, β-tubulin, β-actin and γ-actin have been constructed from mRNA of embryonic chick brain. Plasmids containing approximately 75, 90 and >90%, respectively, of the sequences present in α-tubulin, β-tubulin and β-actin mRNAs have been isolated as well as clones containing parts of the extensive 3′ untranslated regions of the β- and γ-actin mRNAs. The sequences for the two tubulins do not cross hybridize. Hybridization of labeled, cloned probes for each of the tubulins with chicken DNA digested with several restriction endonucleases reveals about four fragments for α- and four for β-tubulin. This seems to be the number of genes, since both the 5′ and 3′ ends of either cloned tubulin cDNAs hybridize to at least four common fragments in genomic DNA which has been digested with restriction endonucleases. The tubulin probes are able to hybridize under stringent conditions to DNA of all vertebrate genomes tested, as well as to sea urchin DNA, but not to yeast DNA. In digested sea urchin sperm DNA there are more than 20 different fragments which hybridize to both the 5′ and 3′ ends of the tubulin cDNAs. A full-length β-actin cDNA clone hybridizes to 4–7 bands in restricted chicken DNA and cross hybridizes to DNA from every other species tested, including sea urchin and yeast. Hybridization to chicken DNA of cloned probes specific for the 3′ untranslated regions of β- and γ-actin mRNA indicates that the β sequence is present only once in the genome and the γ is present in at most three copies. Neither 3′ untranslated sequence is conserved evolutionarily.
Free and protein-bound tryptophan in serum of untreated patients with chronic renal failure

Free and protein-bound tryptophan in serum of untreated patients with chronic renal failure. In fasting sera from 46 untreated patients with chronic renal failure and in 22 normal subjects, non-protein-bound tryptophan, F, was separated by pH-controlled equilibrium dialysis. Total tryptophan, T, and F were measured by HPLC. Results in patients were related to gender, severity of chronic renal failure (as measured by radioisotopic glomerular filtration rate), protein intake (as measured by 24-hr urinary urea N excretion), and protein nutrition (as measured by serum concentrations of albumin and transferrin). T was subnormal in 59% of the patients. In seven hypoalbuminemic patients, F/T was markedly increased (approaching unity) but F was normal. In 39 non-hypoalbuminemic patients, F was again normal but F/T was often increased at glomerular filtration rates below 30 ml/min/3 m 2 of height 2 , especially in females. T was significantly correlated with estimated protein intake (r = 0.54, P=0.0004), even though neither F nor serum protein levels were correlated with it. We conclude that the serum level of free tryptophan is well-maintained in chronic renal failure, being uninfluenced by severity of renal insufficiency, voluntary protein intake, or serum protein concentrations. On the other hand, protein-bound tryptophan varies with protein intake, decreases markedly in hypoalbuminemic patients, and also decreases in many non-hypoalbuminemic patients (especially females) when the glomerular filtration rate falls below approximately 30 ml/min/3 m 2 of height 2 .
Confirmation of genetic linkage between human systemic lupus erythematosus and chromosome 1q41.

Objective Genetic susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is undoubtedly complex and, presumably, involves multiple loci. Linkage of SLE to D1S229 at chromosome 1q41 has been previously reported in a cohort of 52 affected sibpairs. The present study sought to confirm this reported linkage in an independent cohort of 127 extended multiplex SLE pedigrees containing 107 affected sibpairs. Methods Genotype data were collected for D1S229 and 18 flanking microsatellite markers spanning chromosome 1q32–1q42. Analyses of genotype data included a model-based logarithm of odds (LOD) score approach, affected sibpair analyses, and transmission disequilibrium tests. Results A maximum LOD score of 1.46 was found with D1S229 in a subgroup of 78 European American pedigrees, with additional support from multiple markers clustered around D1S229. Increased allele sharing in affected siblings was most significant at D1S2616, particularly in European Americans (P = 0.0005), followed by D1S229 (P = 0.002), D1S490 (P = 0.028), and D1S1605 (P = 0.037). Although linkage in a subgroup of 40 African American pedigrees was not suggested by the analyses of any marker tested in the chromosomal region surrounding D1S229, a maximum LOD score of 3.03 was found with D1S3462, mapped 15 centimorgans distal to D1S229. Conclusion Our linkage analysis results in European Americans at D1S229 are remarkably similar to those previously reported. That at least 1 genetic effect near this locus is important for susceptibility to lupus should now be generally accepted, and efforts to identify the gene are thereby justified.
Ultrafast Dynamics in Superexcited States of Phenol

We observe three-photon ionization photoelectron spectra of phenol in a molecular beam. After excitation by the first photon to the S1 electronic state, a second photon lifts the molecule to a set of superexcited molecular states at an energy of 9 eV, which is 0.5 eV above the ionization energy. Photoelectron spectra are obtained by ionizing the molecule with a third photon. The spectra show prominent Rydberg series with δ = 0.32 and δ = 0.80, as well as several other series. Time-delayed photoelectron spectra are obtained from two-color ionization experiments. These spectra are analyzed by eliminating underlying contributions from competing ionization processes, and by referencing all decays to a set of particularly persistent photoelectron peaks. A kinetic picture emerges that invokes an ultrafast conversion of the initially excited, optically bright, superexcited valence state to a set of vibrationally excited Rydberg states, on a femtosecond time scale. Further dynamical processes among the Rydberg st...
Dual laser-assisted lamellar anterior keratoplasty with top hat graft: a laboratory study.

OBJECTIVES To develop a dual laser-assisted lamellar anterior keratoplasty (LALAK) technique, using excimer and femtosecond lasers to perform surgery on eye bank eyes. METHODS First, we compared corneal stromal surfaces produced by (1) deep excimer ablation, (2) femtosecond lamellar cuts, and (3) manual dissection and evaluated the effect of excimer laser smoothing with fluid masking on each surface. Masked observers graded scanning electron microscopy images on a 5-point roughness scale. Then, we performed a 6-mm diameter excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy ablation to a residual bed thickness of 200 μm, followed by laser smoothing. We used the femtosecond laser to cut donors in a modified top hat design with a thin tapered brim, which fitted into a manually dissected circumferential pocket at the base of the recipient bed. Fourier domain optical coherence tomography was used to measure corneal pachymetry and evaluate graft fit. RESULTS Deep excimer ablation with smoothing (n = 4) produced a significantly (P < 0.05) smoother surface (grade = 3.5) than deep excimer alone (n = 4, grade = 3.8) or manual dissection with (n = 1, grade = 3.8) and without smoothing (n = 1, grade = 4.8). Deep femtosecond cuts (n = 2) produced macroscopic concentric ridges on the stromal surface. Experimental LALAK was performed on 4 recipients prepared by deep excimer ablation and 4 donors cut with the femtosecond laser. After suturing, good peripheral graft-host match was observed on Fourier domain optical coherence tomography imaging. CONCLUSION These preliminary studies show that the LALAK technique permits improved interface smoothness and graft edge matching. Clinical trials are needed to determine whether these improvements can translate to better vision.
Integrated simulation and optimization for wildfire containment

Wildfire containment is an important but challenging task. The ability to predict fire spread behavior, optimize a plan for firefighting resource dispatch and evaluate such a plan using several firefighting tactics is essential for supporting decision making for containing wildfires. In this article, we present an integrated framework for wildfire spread simulation, firefighting resource optimization and wildfire suppression simulation. We present a stochastic mixed-integer programming model for initial attack to generate firefighting resource dispatch plans using as input fire spread scenario results from a standard wildfire behavior simulator. A new agent-based discrete event simulation model for fire suppression is used to simulate fire suppression based on dispatch plans from the stochastic optimization model, and in turn provides feedback to the optimization model for revising the dispatch plans if necessary. We report on several experimental results, which demonstrate that different firefighting tactics can lead to significantly different fire suppression results for a given dispatch plan, and simulation of these tactics can provide valuable information for fire managers in selecting dispatch plans from optimization models before actual implementation in the field.
Developmental ECM Sculpting: Laying It Down and Cutting It Up

In mammals, proteolytic remodeling of the embryonic extracellular matrix (ECM) controls morphogenesis, but the key players remain elusive. Two recent reports identify new roles for metalloproteinases belonging to the MT-MMP and ADAMTS families in branching morphogenesis and interdigital web regression.