cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 4828: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) isolated from patients with metastatic breast cancer utilizing a sensitive microfluidic graphene oxide (GO) nanosheet device express markers of cancer stem cells

Breast cancers are driven by a subset of cells that display stem cell properties. These “cancer stem cells” (CSCs) mediate metastasis and contribute to treatment resistance. Many current CTC isolation technologies are limited in their sensitivity and are particularly inefficient at capturing cells which display an epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype which has been associated with CSCs. We have developed a sensitive microfluidic device using functionalized graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets to identify and isolate CTCs from patients with metastatic breast cancer. Unlike other CTC capture devices with microposts, the effective functionalized surface created by GO allows the device to be two-dimensional. The GO nanosheets were adsorbed onto the patterned gold surface and then chemically functionalized. Blood samples were collected into EDTA and AdnaGen tubes from patients with metastatic breast cancer and analyzed within 24 hours of blood sampling. Isolated CTCs were studied for expression of genes using a multiplex TaqMan-based qRT-PCR method. CTC preparations were checked for white blood cells (WBCs) contamination by examining CD45 expression and verifying that there was no or extremely low levels of CD45 expression in all of the processed samples. The majority of isolated CTCs showed mRNA expression of EMT markers including TGFβ and Vimentin at different levels among tested samples. In addition, markers of breast CSCs including CD44+/CD24- and ALDH1+ were observed in CTCs isolated from patients across the molecular subtypes of breast cancer. Interestingly, HER2+ CTCs were isolated from patients with HER2/neu- primary tumors. This is consistent with recent work from our group that demonstrated selective expression of HER2 in the CSC-like populations of luminal breast cancers occur independent of HER2 gene amplification. These studies demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing GO nanosheet microfluidic devices to isolate and molecularly characterize CTCs from metastatic breast cancer patients. Such liquid biopsies may be of particular value for following CSC populations for patients on therapeutic clinical trials. Citation Format: Shamileh Fouladdel, Hyeun Joong Yoon, Tae Hyun Kim, An Shi, Tahra Luther, Jill Hayden, Shawn G. Clouthier, Yadwinder S. Deol, Monika L. Burness, Daniel F. Hayes, Sunitha Nagrath, Ebrahim Azizi, Max S. Wicha. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) isolated from patients with metastatic breast cancer utilizing a sensitive microfluidic graphene oxide (GO) nanosheet device express markers of cancer stem cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 4828. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-4828
The HL-A and ABO antigens in trophoblastic disease.

No statistically significant deviations in phenotype frequencies of the 25 HL-A antigens or the ABO antigens were seen when 111 Caucasian patients with trophoblastic disease were compared with 1,259 healthy Caucasian controls. However, an increase in the incidence of HL-A11 was found in 39 patients who currently had the disease, but not in 72 who had recovered from the disease. Further, an increase in the frequency of W18 was observed among 18 patients who currently had‘invasive’disease (choriocarcinoma or invasive mole), but not in 44 who had recovered from such disease. If valid for larger patient population, these increases may suggest association of HL-All and W18 with the‘morbidity’of the trophoblastic disease. No increase in histocompatibility was seen in 45 patient-couples over 67 control-couples in terms of decrease in the number of male spouse's HL-A incompatibilities, and no significant difference was seen in the distribution of pregnancies in the two groups. No significant difference was observed in the incidence of different male-female combinations of ABO blood groups between 95 patient-couples and an equal number of control-couples. Lymphocytotoxic antibodies were found in 64 patients (158 sera) or 36% of the 178 patients (413 sera) examined. HL-A specific antibodies were found in 30 or 17% patients (39 sera). Of these 30, 24 patients had molar pregnancies and six had choriocarcinoma. Whether these antibodies have a role in the destruction of neoplastic tissue remains to be determined.
A diffusion mobility database for magnesium alloy development

Abstract A database of atomic mobility parameters for single phase Mg–X (X=Ag, Al, Be, Cd, Ce, In, Fe, Ga, La, Mn, Ni, Sb, Sn, U, and Zn) systems was developed through the critical assessment of available Mg diffusion literature. Optimization of the binary diffusion activation energy terms for Ag, Al, Sn, and Zn solutes, as well as the Al–Zn interaction parameter were completed through the coupling of an existing thermodynamic database with the DICTRA software program. In general, agreement between simulated and experimental diffusion profiles was observed, although limitations for extrapolation to higher order systems were seen due to the limited multicomponent diffusion studies in Mg. This work, however, ultimately provides the foundation for the integration of diffusion simulations and predictions in future Mg alloy design. Further research to expand the current database, through either the experimental measurement or simulation of multicomponent diffusion and diffusivity in other phases (e.g. intermetallics, liquid), is expected to increase the database utility.
Mobility of MenC and PhoU in Live E. Coli: A Single Molecule Tracking Study

Innumerable signal transduction systems have evolved in which an environmental signal is transferred across the cell membrane to the cell interior via a series of protein movements and protein-protein interactions. Knowledge of the diffusion of signalling proteins in these networks and the effects of the presence of their interacting partners is required to understand the dynamics of the signalling response of such networks. Here, we will discuss our recent research using single molecule imaging techniques to determine the mobility of several proteins labelled by the fast folding variant of yellow fluorescent protein, Venus, in live E. coli. Specifically, we have determined the mobility of PhoU, a member of the PhoR-PhoB two-component signalling system and MenC, the o-succinylbenzoyl-CoA synthase, which has been found to interact with PhoU (Y.-J. Hsieh, Y. Yang, and B. L. Wanner, unpublished data). The effect of interactions of these proteins on their mobilities was investigated through monitoring protein diffusion in cells having deletions of the interacting partner genes. Results will be discussed in terms of their implications on the dynamics of signal transduction systems and in comparison to the known mobilities of other proteins and lipids in E. coli and eukaryotic cells.
Race and sex as variables for children involved in treatment.

Race and sex as variables in psychiatric treatment at five child psychiatry clinics were examined. From an earlier study data indicating race was significant were reanalyzed. Across clinics major findings indicated that black females were seen for psychotherapy for significantly fewer sessions than white females, black males and white males and that parents of sons who were in therapy came in for psychotherapy significantly more often than parents of daughters. The implications and the limitations of the study are discussed.
A parallel reduced-space sequential-quadratic programming algorithm for frequency-domain small animal optical tomography

Computational speed and available memory size on a single processor are two limiting factors when using the frequency-domain equation of radiative transport (FD-ERT) as a forward and inverse model to reconstruct three-dimensional (3D) tomographic images. In this work, we report on a parallel, multiprocessor reducedspace sequential quadratic programming (RSQP) approach to improve computational speed and reduce memory requirement. To evaluate and quantify the performance of the code, we performed simulation studies employing a 3D numerical mouse model. Furthermore, we tested the algorithm with experimental data obtained from tumor bearing mice.
Dynamically partitionable autoassociative networks as a solution to the neural binding problem.

An outstanding question in theoretical neuroscience is how the brain solves the neural binding problem. In vision, binding can be summarized as the ability to represent that certain properties belong to one object while other properties belong to a different object. I review the binding problem in visual and other domains, and review its simplest proposed solution – the anatomical binding hypothesis. This hypothesis has traditionally been rejected as a true solution because it seems to require a type of one-to-one wiring of neurons that would be impossible in a biological system (as opposed to an engineered system like a computer). I show that this requirement for one-to-one wiring can be loosened by carefully considering how the neural representation is actually put to use by the rest of the brain. This leads to a solution where a symbol is represented not as a particular pattern of neural activation but instead as a piece of a global stable attractor state. I introduce the Dynamically Partitionable AutoAssociative Network (DPAAN) as an implementation of this solution and show how DPANNs can be used in systems which perform perceptual binding and in systems that implement syntax-sensitive rules. Finally I show how the core parts of the cognitive architecture ACT-R can be neurally implemented using a DPAAN as ACT-R’s global workspace. Because the DPAAN solution to the binding problem requires only ‘flat’ neural representations (as opposed to the phase encoded representation hypothesized in neural synchrony solutions) it is directly compatible with the most well developed neural models of learning, memory, and pattern recognition.
Effects of small amygdala lesions on fear, but not aggression, in the rat

The effects of amygdala lesions on passive avoidance of drinking (dPA) and social interactions in a resident-intruder test were examined in two experiments that utilized different lines of Long-Evans hooded rats. The lesions were fairly well restricted to the rostral half of the central nucleus (rACe), or the cholinergically richly innervated basolateral nucleus (ABL) or the medial nucleus (AMe) of the amygdala. In both experiments, dPA deficits indicating disturbances in fear conditioning or fear expression were found with ABL and rACe lesions. The rACe lesions produced a greater deficit. AMe lesions caused no dPA deficit at all, which contrasts with the mild PA deficits reported by others employing larger lesions extending to the cortical nucleus and, perhaps, damaging the central nucleus. Social behavior was not affected by the lesions in any clear manner. In rats from a long-standing home colony, rACe lesions increased a behavior of plowing and kicking the wood-chip cage bedding during social encounters, and AMe lesions increased lateral defense behaviors. Both effects are paradoxical, suggesting increased anxiety in the fear-deficient rACe rats and increased defense with AMe lesions, despite several previous reports of decreased defense. In the second experiment, rats purchased from a supplier showed no lesion effects during social interactions; like the control group, all three lesion groups exhibited increases in offense associated with cohabitation with a female. The ABL lesions, particularly, had no effect comparable to the decreased offense recently reported to occur following neurotoxin lesions.
Transcriptional activation of Mn-superoxide dismutase gene (sodA) of Escherichia coli by MnCl2

Transcription of the manganese-superoxide dismutase gene (sodA) in Escherichia coli was shown to be activated by manganese. Addition of MnCl2 increased the expression of beta-galactosidase from a sodA::lacZ protein fusion and increased the concentration of mRNA transcribed from sodA+ and sodA::lacZ constructs. The stimulatory affect of manganese on the expression of sodA::lacZ was greatly reduced (i.e., > 90%) in a strain harboring a fur mutation. We also found that manganese was capable of altering DNA topology. These results show that Mn2+ causes activation of sodA transcription.
Factors Influencing the Assessment of the Availability of Choline in Feedstuffs

Experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that chicks fed diets designed to be first-limiting in choline will also respond to supplements of sulfur-containing amino acids and that the growth response of chicks fed a choline-limiting diet to a supplement of a feedstuff cannot be accepted as a reliable measure of the choline content of the feedstuff. Chicks fed 25% isolated soybean protein (ISP) diets that were severely limiting in choline showed a growth response to supplements of either choline or methionine. A bioassay was used to determine the availability of choline in soybean meal (SBM). Results indicated that including 10% SBM in the 25% ISP diet (at the expense of corn starch) drastically altered the chicks' response to choline. When 100 ppm choline was added to the 10% SBM diet, growth responses, compared to the original standard curve, indicated recoveries of 400 and 352% in two experiments. Additional studies indicated that chicks fed the 25% ISP + 10% SBM-based diet responded not only to choline additions but also to methionine, cystine, sulfate, and betaine additions. Further, it was shown that chicks fed a practical-type corn-soy-grease-based diet respond equally as well to supplements of 1% concentrated Steffens Filtrate, .2% L-methionine, or 800 ppm choline. The validity of assays of choline availability based on the assumption that choline is the first-limiting nutrient is questioned.
On the importance of peer influence for adolescent drug use: commonly neglected considerations

Peer influence is generally believed to be a major cause of adolescent drug behavior. This paper reviews research findings on friend selection and projection to suggest that the magnitude of friend influence may be overestimated. This paper also observes that, although adolescent drug use is assumed to begin in response to peer group influence, peer groups have rarely been measured in studies of drug behavior. Social network analysis is identified as a promising method for measuring peer groups. The implications of this review for research and programs are considered.
Identification, recombinant expression, and biochemical characterization of a flavonol 3-O-glucosyltransferase clone from Citrus paradisi

Abstract Glucosylation is a predominant flavonoid modification reaction affecting the solubility, stability, and subsequent bioavailability of these metabolites. Flavonoid glycosides affect taste characteristics in citrus making the associated glucosyltransferases particularly interesting targets for biotechnology applications in these species. In this work, a Citrus paradisi glucosyltransferase gene was identified, cloned, and introduced into the pET recombinant protein expression system utilizing primers designed against a predicted flavonoid glucosyltransferase gene ( V max = 20.45 pKat/μg), kaempferol ( K m app = 12 μ M ; V max = 11.63 pKat/μg), and myricetin ( K m app = 33 μ M ; V max = 12.21 pKat/μg) but did not glucosylate the anthocyanidin, cyanidin. Glucosylation occurred at the 3 hydroxyl position as confirmed by HPLC and TLC analyses with certified reference compounds. The optimum pH was 7.5 with a pronounced buffer effect noted for reactions performed in Tris–HCl buffer. The enzyme was inhibited by Cu 2+ , Fe 2+ , and Zn 2+ as well as UDP ( K i app = 69.5 μ M ), which is a product of the reaction. Treatment of the enzyme with a variety of amino acid modifying compounds suggests that cysteine, histidine, arginine, tryptophan, and tyrosine residues are important for activity. The thorough characterization of this C. paradisi flavonol 3-O-glucosyltransferase adds to the growing base of glucosyltransferase knowledge, and will be used to further investigate structure–function relationships.
IQ and Delinquency: A Test of Two Competing Explanations

In the past, sociologists either dismissed or ignored the well-established empirical relationship between IQ and juvenile delinquency. More recently, however, they have come to accept the IQ/JD connection but now debate the most valid explanation for it. Some have advanced what we characterized as a “school performance” model, while others adhere to what may be called a “school reaction” model. The major bone of contention between the competing models is over the school variables thought to mediate the IQ/JD relationship. In this study, we specified the most dominant versions of the competing models as well as a model integrating the concepts of each. Using three waves of data from the Youth in Transition project, we first estimated parameters for each of the competing models and then parameters for the integrated model. Considered independently, each model was supported by the data. However, when each of the separate models was forced to take into account the explanatory contribution of its competitor, only the school performance model was supported. Implications of the findings for schooling and delinquency are discussed.
Genetic variability between two breeds based on restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) of major histocompatibility complex class I genes in the pig.

Restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses of SLA class I genes were performed on 55 Duroc and 24 Hampshire boars from the 1986–87 national performance tests of each breed. Few boars were inbred. Southern blotting and hybridization procedures were performed on genomic DNA isolated from white blood cells by using Pvu II, Bam HI, and Eco RI endonucleases and a swine MHC class I probe. Genetic variability within and between the two breeds was estimated in terms of nucleotide diversity, by using a mathematical analysis based on the different RFLP patterns. The nucleotide diversity calculated within each breed was less than that between the two breeds. The results from the nucleotide diversity analysis suggested that genetic variability was greater in the Duroc breed than in the Hampshire breed. A relatively high level of genetic variability was shown in the class I major histocompatibility complex genes in the pig.
Degeneration of some intralaminar thalamic nuclei after cortical removals in the cat

1 The projections of the central medial, paracentral, and central lateral nuclei of the cat have been studied by the method of retrograde degeneration. 2 Following removal of neocortex, with preservation of rhinencephalic and sub-cortical structures, the central medial, paracentral, and central lateral nuclei degenerate severely. 3 The central medial and paracentral nuclei degenerate only after extensive cortical lesions which include limbic cortex. There is evidence of a topographical organization of the projection since rostral sectors of central medial and paracentral nuclei show cell loss after lesions involving anterior limbic and orbitofrontal cortex while caudal sectors degenerate after lesions involving cingulate and parieto-occipital cortex. 4 The central lateral nucleus projects to cortex of the parieto-occipital region. 5 Some findings are considered which indicate that fibers from the central medial, paracentral, and central lateral nuclei travel rostrally to the region of the head of the caudate nucleus before turning caudally to distribute to cortical areas.
Elevated C-reactive protein levels are associated with prevalent dementia in the oldest-old

Abstract Background C-reactive protein (CRP) is a nonspecific marker of inflammation that is increased in the brain and serum of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and has been associated with increased risk of developing dementia. Inflammation increases with age, and the number of people reaching age 90 years and older is growing, making the association between inflammation and dementia increasingly relevant. Using a cross-sectional design, we examined whether high levels of serum CRP are associated with increased odds of prevalent dementia in the oldest-old. Methods Serum CRP levels of 305 participants (mean age ± standard deviation, 94.3 ± 2.9 years) from the 90+ Study, a longitudinal cohort study of people aged 90 years and older, were evaluated with respect to all-cause dementia. Levels of CRP were divided into three categories: undetectable ( Results Relative to participants with undetectable CRP levels, participants with detectable or elevated CRP levels had increased odds of all-cause dementia (detectable: OR, 3.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.2–7.3; elevated: OR, 5.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.9–12.9). When participants were subdivided by gender, significantly increased ORs were seen only in women. Conclusions In the oldest-old, high CRP levels are associated with increased odds of all-cause dementia, particularly in women. Prospective studies are necessary to confirm whether increased CRP levels are associated with an increased risk of developing dementia in this age group.
Simulating Gravity Changes in Topologically Realistic Driven Earthquake Fault Systems: First Results

Currently, GPS and InSAR measurements are used to monitor deformation produced by slip on earthquake faults. It has been suggested that another method to accomplish many of the same objectives would be through satellite-based gravity measurements. The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission has shown that it is possible to make detailed gravity measurements from space for climate dynamics and other purposes. To build the groundwork for a more advanced satellite-based gravity survey, we must estimate the level of accuracy needed for precise estimation of fault slip in earthquakes. We turn to numerical simulations of earthquake fault systems and use these to estimate gravity changes. The current generation of Virtual California (VC) simulates faults of any orientation, dip, and rake. In this work, we discuss these computations and the implications they have for accuracies needed for a dedicated gravity monitoring mission. Preliminary results are in agreement with previous results calculated from an older and simpler version of VC. Computed gravity changes are in the range of tens of μGal over distances up to a few hundred kilometers, near the detection threshold for GRACE.
UALC Best Practices Metadata Guidelines: A Consortial Approach

The Utah Academic Library Consortium Task Force, formed from two of Utah Academic Library Consortium's standing committees, Cataloging and Digitization, was established to improve metadata for new digital and special collections input by the Mountain West Digital Library's members (http://www.mwdl.org). This article describes issues relating to metadata policies developed for a library consortium consisting of university, college, and public libraries and museums and historical societies in Utah, Nevada, and Idaho. It will explore the need for best practices, current and ongoing challenges with metadata in general, and the considerations taken in developing guidelines entitled: Metadata Guidelines for the Mountain West Digital Library.
The "Personality" of Personality Theory and Research

The objective of this article is to consider the changes that have taken place in the status of personality since the mid-1940s and to provide an overview of the current status of personality theory and research in the context of its history and challenge, and of likely future developments. During the last several decades the status and salience of personality study relative to other areas of psychological research has undergone a decline, although there have been some important advances during this period. In addition, there are a number of signs suggesting that a revitalization of the area of personality is taking place, and that we can anticipate a resurgence of research addressed to central problems of personality structure, dynamics, and development. The title chosen for this article is intended to convey the idea that I will draw upon the field of personality itself for concepts to describe its status. I do not intend to belabor the metaphor and restrict my analysis to personality terminology. Howev...
Extensions of the Freund Distribution with Applications in Reliability Theory

The Freund distribution models situations in which the exponential residual lifetime of one component depends on the working status of another component. The literature has discussed generalizations and analogs of the Freund distribution. Such generalizations can be obtained by replacing exponential random variables by Weibull or gamma random variables, or by compounding mixing Freund distributions. This paper shows how to unify various well-known generalizations of the Freund distribution by using one simple functional representation. This functional representation has a physical meaning that sheds new light on the meaning of some of these generalizations. Furthermore, using this functional representation, we derive various properties of the Freund distribution and its extensions. In particular, we show that some random variables, which have the Freund distribution or one of its extensions, are positively associated and also belong to some classes of multivariate "increasing failure rate average" and "new better than used" distributions. These properties provide bounds for various probabilistic quantities of interest in reliability theory.
Moral Intuition Connecting Current Knowledge to Future Organizational Research and Practice

In contrast to older, conventional accounts that treat ethical decision making and behavior as the result of deliberative and intendedly rational processes, a rapidly growing body of social science research has framed ethical thought and behavior as driven by intuition. We review this important new body of knowledge in terms of both the process and content of moral intuition. Then, to demonstrate its value to organizational scholars, we consider the potential impact of moral intuition research in four areas of organizational studies especially suited to insights from this research: leadership, organizational corruption, ethics training and education, and divestiture socialization. Our review and discussion suggest that the literature on moral intuition is incredibly rich, fruitful, and meaningful to a wide range of audiences.
Global objectives for standard cell placement

Recursive bisection based placement is well known, and recent advances in partitioning have made the approach more attractive. While partitioners can optimize a placement from a local perspective, high performance design requires consideration of global issues as well. We focus on aspects of the placement problem which cannot be captured with bisection, addressing them through a new approach derived from recent work on k-way partitioning. We consider large values of k, and objective functions which are more complex than the traditional min-cut. Our placement tool, Feng Shui, integrates this new k-way partitioning method into a traditional recursive bisection framework. Experimental results show the effect of the approach; there is reduced variation in solution quality, in 8 of 11 benchmarks best case wire length is improved, and for 9 of 11 benchmarks, average wire length is improved. These improvements are obtained with negligible impact to total run time.
Peptides and Proteins in the Vapor Phase

This article provides a review of recent studies of the properties of unsolvated (and partially solvated) peptides and proteins. The methods used to produce vapor-phase peptide and protein ions are described along with some of the techniques used to study them, such as H/D exchange, blackbody infrared radiative dissociation, and ion mobility measurements. Studies of unsolvated peptides and proteins provide information about their intrinsic intramolecular interactions. The topics covered include the role of zwitterions and salt bridges in the vapor phase, Coulomb interactions in multiply charged ions, the unfolding and refolding of vapor-phase proteins, and the stability of unsolvated helices and sheets. Finally, dehydration and rehydration studies of proteins in the vapor phase are described. These can provide exquisitely detailed information about hydration interactions, such as the enthalpy and entropy changes associated with adsorbing individual water molecules.
Conceptual Art, Ideas, and Ontology

Peter Goldie and Elisabeth Schellekens have recently articulated the Idea Idea, the thesis that �in conceptual art, there is no physical medium: the medium is the idea.� But what is an idea, and in the case of works such as Duchamp's Fountain, how does the idea relate to the urinal? In answering these questions, it becomes apparent that the Idea Idea should be rejected. After showing this, I offer a new ontology of conceptual art, according to which such artworks are not ideas but artifacts imbued with ideas. After defending this view from objections, I briefly discuss some implications it has for the ontology of art in general.
Onset of necking in electro-magnetically formed rings

Abstract The electromagnetic forming (EMF) process is an attractive manufacturing technique, which uses electromagnetic (Lorentz) body forces to fabricate metallic parts. One of the many advantages of EMF is the considerable ductility increase observed in several metals, with aluminum featuring prominently among them. The quantitative explanation of this phenomenon is the primary motivation of this work. To study the ductility increase due to EMF, an aluminum ring is placed outside a fixed coil, which is connected to a capacitor. Upon the capacitor's discharge, the time varying current in the coil induces a larger current in the ring specimen and the resulting Lorentz forces make it expand. The coupled coil–ring electromagnetic and thermomechanical problem is solved, using an experimentally obtained constitutive model for a particular aluminum alloy. Our results show that for realistic imperfections, the EMF ring starts necking at strains about six times larger than its static counterpart, as observed experimentally. This study establishes the importance of solving the fully coupled electromagnetic and thermomechanical problem and provides insight on how different constitutive parameters influence ductility in an EMF process.
A Case of Necrotizing Fasciitis with a LRINEC Score of Zero: Clinical Suspicion Should Trump Scoring Systems

Abstract Background Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a potentially lethal infection involving the skin, subcutaneous tissue, and fascia. The Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotizing fasciitis (LRINEC) score has been proposed as a way of using abnormal laboratory values to distinguish between severe cellulitis and necrotizing fasciitis. Objectives The utility of the LRINEC system, including a review of current literature on this scoring system, is discussed. Case Report A case of a 37-year-old man is presented. As part of the diagnostic work-up, appropriate laboratory tests necessary to calculate a LRINEC score were obtained. Despite a LRINEC score of 0, NF was later confirmed at surgery. Conclusions Although the LRINEC score has been proposed as a robust way of identifying patients with early NF, it failed to detect NF in the patient reported here. NF should thus remain primarily a disease of clinical suspicion, and this suspicion should trump the LRINEC score.
Fault covers in reconfigurable PLAs

Three kinds of faults are considered: stuck-at faults, bridging faults, and crosspoint faults. A new way of repairing bridging faults is introduced. It is shown that the problem of finding a minimum cover is NP-complete but that a special case of this problem can be formulated as a 2-SAT problem, which can be solved in polynomial time. The problem of finding a feasible cover for RPLAs (reconfigurable programmable logic arrays) with bridging faults alone is shown to be NP-complete. A necessary and sufficient condition on the number of spares for the existence of a feasible cover and an algorithm for finding a minimum feasible cover are presented. >
Exogenously cued attention triggers competitive selection of surfaces.

It has been reported that when an endogenous cue directs attention to a brief translation of one of two superimposed surfaces, observers reliably report the direction of that translation as well as the direction of a second translation of the cued surface. In contrast, if the uncued surface translates second, direction judgments are severely impaired for several hundred milliseconds. We replicated this result, but found that the impairment survived the removal of the endogenous cue. The impairment is therefore not due to endogenously cued attention. Instead, a brief translation of one surface acts as an exogenous cue that triggers an automatic selection mechanism, which suppresses processing of the other surface. This study provides a clear case of exogenous cueing of surface-based attention. We relate these results to identified competitive selection mechanisms in visual cortex.
Delay test generation. II. Algebra and algorithms

For pt.I see ibid., p.857-66 (1988). A novel algebra is introduced for delay test generation. The algebra combines the nine natural logic values (00 , 01, 0X, 10, 11, 1X, X1, XX) with special attributes that record both heuristic choices and whatever information about waveforms is deducible algebraically (i.e. without numerical computations using actual gate delays). A test generator uses this algebra in an efficiently organized backtrack search. The test generator is linked to a delay fault simulator. Previous event-driven simulators have considered different types of events; one type of event is a change in faultless values from one test to another test, and the other type of event is a difference between faulty and faultless values. The presented simulator is driven by both types of events. Each generated test is simulated to determine the quality of detection. >
High-accuracy finite-difference equations for dielectric waveguide analysis I: uniform regions and dielectric interfaces

A methodology is presented that allows the derivation of low-truncation-error finite-difference representations or the two-dimensional Helmholtz equation, specific to waveguide analysis. This methodology is derived from the formal infinite series solution involving Bessel functions and sines and cosines. The resulting finite-difference equations are valid everywhere except at dielectric corners, and are highly accurate (from fourth to sixth order, depending on the type of grid employed). None the less, they utilize only a nine-point stencil, and thus lead to only minor increases in numerical effort compared with the standard Crank-Nicolson equations.
Identification of Small Ice Cloud Particles Using Passive Radiometric Observations

Abstract There is currently significant uncertainty about the extent to which cirrus clouds are composed of “small” ice crystals smaller than about 20-μm effective radius. This is due in part to concerns that in situ measurements from aircraft are plagued by ice particle shattering on instrument inlets, artificially negatively biasing effective radii. Here, space-based measurements are applied to the problem. It is found that a space-based infrared split-window technique is less sensitive but more accurate than a visible-near-infrared technique for confident assessment of whether thin cirrus clouds have small effective radii, independent of a normal range of retrieval assumptions. Because of the sensitivities of the infrared split-window technique, however, this method can only accurately determine the presence of small particles for ice clouds with optical depths between roughly 0.5 and 3.0. Applied to Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data, it is found that a very conservative minimu...
Robust multiple-phase switched-capacitor DC-DC converter with digital interleaving regulation scheme

An integrated switched-capacitor (SC) DC-DC converter with a digital interleaving regulation scheme is presented. By interleaving the newly-structured charge pump (CP) cells in multiple phases, the input current ripple and output voltage ripple are reduced significantly. The converter exhibits excellent robustness, even when one of the CP cells fails to operate. A fully digital controller is employed with a hysteretic control algorithm. It features dead-beat system stability and fast transient response. Hspice post-layout simulation shows that, with a 1.5 V input power supply, the SC converter accurately provides an adjustable regulated power output in a range of 1.6 to 2.7 V. The maximum output ripple is 40 mV when a full load of 0.54 W is supplied. Transient response of 1.8 ms is observed when the load current switches from half- to full-load (from 100 to 200 mA).
Raman spectroscopic studies of oxygen defects in Co-doped ZnO films exhibiting room-temperature ferromagnetism

The optical properties, Raman spectra, and magnetization of Zn1−xCoxO (0≤x<0.1) thin films are reported. Optical transmission spectra confirm the substitution of Co2+ cations for Zn2+ ions at the tetrahedral sites of ZnO. Raman spectra of films annealed in air show an additional broad vibrational mode, attributed to disordered –Zn–O–Co– local vibrations. These modes disappear on vacuum annealing, suggesting the formation of oxygen vacancies close to the dopant sites (–Zn––Co–). Magnetization measurements show that air-annealed films lack significant moment, whereas vacuum-annealed samples with intermediate Co concentrations (0.012<x<0.05) exhibit room-temperature ferromagnetism. Using the framework of the bound magnetic polaron model, the polaron size is estimated to be roughly 7.8 A for this system.
Robust detection of small stochastic signals

We consider the problem of detecting a stochastic signal in white not-necessarily-Gaussian noise, using vector valued observations. The locally optimal detector is presented and its performance evaluated. The least-favorable signal spectrum and noise density (over specified classes) are found, and it is shown that the detector using these least-favorable assumptions is minimax robust. The class of spectra is that of any stochastic signal of specified power whose spectrum can be bounded from above and from below by two given positive functions. The class of densities is the /spl epsi/-contamination model. We present examples of the performance achievable with the robust detector in one of these the spectral uncertainty class corresponds to the unknown Doppler shift of a radar return signal. It is demonstrated that the standard matched-filter's performance degradation with increasing Doppler shift can be avoided almost entirely through use of the robust processor.
Development of taste perception in humans: Sensitivity and preference throughout the life span.

The literature relating to the development of taste sensitivity and preference in humans is critically reviewed. Characterization of the sensitivities and preferences of children and the elderly, relative to those of young adults, is of both theoretical and practical importance. Nonetheless, the former age groups have been neglected in psychophysica l investigations. There is a need to employ measurement techniques that are minimally affected by developmental changes in attention, motivation, and other nonsensory factors. In addition, increased investigative effort should be directed toward the study of possible developmental changes in suprathreshol d perception. Finally, preferences for taste qualities should not be characterized in terms of averaged, positive or negative responses. Rather, individual functions relating degree of preference to tastant concentration should be examined. In their extensive 1970 review of sensory and perceptual development, Pick and Pick stated that at that time there had been no developmental investigations of taste sensitivity. Although not strictly accurate, their contention reflected the paucity of work in this area and the fact that the few studies which had been published were limited in both scope and impact. The past decade has seen a tremendous increase in work in the field of gustatory development, together with improvements in psychophysica l methodology and the development of measurement techniques that may be successfully applied to infants and young children. Impetus to this activity has been provided by the growing concern with diet and nutrition and the recognition of the role that taste sensitivity and preferences must play in the establishment of dietary patterns. The present article reviews the literature
Elevated levels of cyclin D1 protein in response to increased expression of eukaryotic initiation factor 4E

Cyclin D1 is a G1-specific cyclin that has been linked to lymphoid, parathyroid, and breast tumors. Recent studies suggested that high protein levels of cyclin D1 are not always produced when cyclin D1 mRNA is overexpressed in transfected cells, suggesting that posttranscriptional events may be important in cyclin D1 regulation. The mRNA cap-binding protein (eukaryotic initiation factor 4E [eIF-4E]) is a potential regulatory of several posttranscriptional events, and it can itself induce neoplastic transformation. Consequently, we examined eIF-4E as a potential regulator of cyclin D1. Overexpression of cyclin D1 mRNA in NIH 3T3 cells did not increase cyclin D1 protein. In contrast, overexpression of eIF-4E markedly increased the amount of cyclin D1 protein in NIH 3T3 cells. This increase was specific to cyclin D1 in comparison with the retinoblastoma gene product, c-Myc, actin, and eukaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha. We also examined cyclin D1 protein in cells expressing an estrogen receptor-Myc fusion protein because we previously found that eIF-4E increases after induction of c-myc function. In these cells, increased levels of eIF-4E protein were closely followed by increases in levels of cyclin D1 protein, but the level of cyclin D1 mRNA was not increased. We conclude that increases in cyclin D1 levels may result from increased expression of eIF-4E, and this regulation may be one determinant of cyclin D1 levels in the cell.
Empirical determination of effective gap penalties for sequence comparison

Motivation: No general theory guides the selection of gap penalties for local sequence alignment. We empirically determined the most effective gap penalties for protein sequence similarity searches with substitution matrices over a range of target evolutionary distances from 20 to 200 Point Accepted Mutations (PAMs). Results: We embedded real and simulated homologs of protein sequences into a database and searched the database to determine the gap penalties that produced the best statistical significance for the distant homologs. The most effective penalty for the first residue in a gap (q + r) changes as a function of evolutionary distance, while the gap extension penalty for additional residues (r) does not. For these data, the optimal gap penalties for a given matrix scaled in 1/3 bit units (e.g. BLOSUM50, PAM200) are q = 25 − 0.1 • (target PAM distance), r = 5. Our results provide an empirical basis for selection of gap penalties and demonstrate how optimal gap penalties behave as a function of the target evolutionary distance of the substitution matrix. These gap penalties can improve expectation values by at least one order of magnitude when searching with short sequences, and improve the alignment of proteins containing short sequences repeated in tandem.
SQUID-based systems for co-registration of ultra-low field nuclear magnetic resonance images and magnetoencephalography

Abstract The ability to perform magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in ultra-low magnetic fields (ULF) of ∼100 μT, using superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) detection, has enabled a new class of magnetoencephalography (MEG) instrumentation capable of recording both anatomical (via the ULF MRI) and functional (biomagnetic) information about the brain. The combined ULF MRI/MEG instrument allows both structural and functional information to be co-registered to a single coordinate system and acquired in a single device. In this paper we discuss the considerations and challenges required to develop a combined ULF MRI/MEG device, including pulse sequence development, magnetic field generation, SQUID operation in an environment of pulsed pre-polarization, and optimization of pick-up coil geometries for MRI in different noise environments. We also discuss the design of a “hybrid” ULF MRI/MEG system under development in our laboratory that uses SQUID pick-up coils separately optimized for MEG and ULF MRI.
Superconductivity and strong intrinsic defects in LaPd 1-x Bi 2

Two new phases LaPd${}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}$Bi${}_{2}$ and CePd${}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}$Bi${}_{2}$ were obtained by growing single crystals in Bi flux. They adopt the tetragonal ZrCuSi${}_{2}$-type structure and feature Bi-square nets and PbO-type PdBi layers with significant partial Pd occupancy. Bulk superconductivity at 2.1 K and metallic behavior above ${T}_{c}$ are observed in LaPd${}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}$Bi${}_{2}$. A small residual resistance ratio (RRR) indicates a strong scattering effect induced by the Pd vacancies, which implies an $s$-wave pairing symmetry in LaPd${}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}$Bi${}_{2}$. The broadening of the resistivity transition was measured under different magnetic fields demonstrating a high upper critical field of 3 T. Hall effect measurements reveal dominantly electron-like charge carriers and single-band transport behavior in LaPd${}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}$Bi${}_{2}$. The paramagnetic CePd${}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}$Bi${}_{2}$ is nonsuperconducting but shows antiferromagnetic ordering below 6 K.
Visual Cues Generated during Action Facilitate 14-Month-Old Infants' Mental Rotation.

Although action experience has been shown to enhance the development of spatial cognition, the mechanism underlying the effects of action is still unclear. The present research examined the role of visual cues generated during action in promoting infants’ mental rotation. We sought to clarify the underlying mechanism by decoupling different aspects of action experience and choosing to manipulate the visual aspect while holding other aspects constant. Fourteen-month-old infants were given opportunities to rotate a cylinder placed on a turntable; the cylinder was decorated with vertical or horizontal stripes. If the effects of action hinge on the quality of visual cues generated during action, infants should benefit more from rotating the cylinder with vertical stripes as they generate richer cues when each stripe moves laterally with the cylinder. As predicted, the infants in the vertical-stripe condition looked significantly longer at an improbable outcome than at a probable outcome of a hidden-rotation e...
Body mass index in ambulatory cerebral palsy patients.

Malnutrition is a common problem in children with cerebral palsy. Although malnutrition is often recognized in patients with severe cerebral palsy, it can be unrecognized in less severely affected patients. The consequences of malnutrition are serious, and include decreased muscle strength, poor imm
Inhibition of mumps and influenza B virus multiplication by synthetic poly-D-lysine.

SummaryPoly-D-lysine, though ten times more toxic, inhibited mumps and influenza B Lee strain viruses to approximately the same extent as poly-L-lysine in the allantoic sac of the chick embryo. As little as 0.001 mg per embryo of either lysine polypeptide was sufficient to inhibit high levels of viral infection. Evidence was obtained which suggested the existence in allantoic fluid of enzymes which hydrolyze both poly-D-lysine and poly-L-lysine.