cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Seasat: A spacecraft views the marine environment with microwave sensors

Seasat-A is a new NASA satellite dedicated to oceanographic measurements of interest to a broad spectrum of the marine community. Its strong suit is an array of active and passive microwave instruments that give it the ability to view surface features on a day-night, near-all-weather basis. It will measure such features as wave heights, lengths, and directions; surface wind velocities; currents; temperatures; ice cover; and the marine geoid. Sensor capabilities and examples of their data output will be given, and the usefulness of these data for understanding the coastal marine environment will be discussed.
Detection of Merkel cell virus and correlation with histologic presence of Merkel cell carcinoma in sentinel lymph nodes

Adjuvant treatment can dramatically improve the survival of patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), making early, accurate detection of nodal disease critical. The purpose of this study was to correlate Merkel cell virus (MCV) detection with histopathologic disease in sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) of MCC. Merkel cell carcinoma cases with SLN (n=25) were compared with negative controls (n=27). Viral load was obtained by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for regions VP1 and LT3 of MCV. Histopathologic disease and viral load were correlated. Merkel cell virus was detected in 16 out of 17 (94%) of primary MCC (mean viral load (MVL)=1.44 copies per genome). Viral load in the negative controls was <0.01 copies per genome. Merkel cell carcinoma was present in 5 out of 25 (20%) SLN by histopathology, and MCV was detected in 11 out of 25 (44%) MCC SLN (MVL=1.68 copies per genome). In all, 15 out of 25 (60%) SLN showed correlation between histologic and MCV results. In all, 2 out of 25 (8%) samples were histopathologically positive and PCR negative. Of note, 8 out of 25 (32%) samples had detectable MCV without microscopic disease. Patients with positive SLN for MCV even if negative by histopathology were identified. The application of molecular techniques to detect subhistologic disease in SLN of MCC patients may identify a subset of patients who would benefit from adjuvant nodal treatment.
Growth fraction determination in pulmonary hypoplasia using Ki-67 (MIB-1) antibody.

Pulmonary hypoplasia (PH) is a developmental abnormality that is typically assessed using lung/body weight ratios, radial alveolar counts, or lung volume measurements. Although it is often assumed that PH results from failure of growth and development, analysis of the proliferative index in PH has not been extensively described. We examined the lungs of 12 fetuses and newborn infants with pulmonary hypoplasia and those of 8 gestational age-matched controls using Ki-67 immunohistochemistry. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues were utilized. Growth fractions (GFs) were determined for peripheral lung parenchyma and bronchioles. The ratio of GFs for parenchyma and bronchioles was compared. There was no significant difference in the GF ratios obtained between control and hypoplastic lungs when gestational age was 24 weeks the GF ratio of mean values for controls was approximately four times the ratio of the mean values for the hypoplastic lungs. GF did not vary according to the presumed cause of PH, and at gestational ages < 24 weeks rates were the same as or greater than those of controls. These findings suggest that proliferative potential exists at < 24 weeks and that the growth of the lung parenchyma in relation to the conducting airways is significantly reduced or ceases after this point in gestation. Clinical interventions at or before 24 weeks of gestation might result in improved survival of infants with a propensity for pulmonary hypoplasia.
ALTERATIONS IN NEONATAL RESPIRATORY FUNCTION FOLLOWING CHEST PHYSIOTHERAPY

Percussion, suctioning and hyperventilation have been recommended for airway management in neonates requiring endotracheal tubes. To investigate physiological alterations in respiratory function due to chest physiotherapy, we measured arterial blood gases, respiratory patterns, lung mechanics, and functional residual capacity (FRC) in 10 neonates, weights (1.25 to 3.20 kg) during the control period, post vibration of the chest and suctioning, after hyperventilation, and 2 hours post suctioning. Post suctioning compared to controls mean (± SEM) PaO2 decreased 75.2 (± 9.3) to 44.0 (±3.1) mm Hg (P<0.01) while lung compliance and FRC were unchanged. There was a decrease in inspiratory resistance (RI) from 81.8 (± 14.6) to 59.0 (± 10.6) cm H2O/L/sec. (P<0.02) and I:E ratio increased from 0.93 (± 0.04) to 1.04 (± 0.06) (P<0.07). Hyperventilation compared to post suctioning resulted in an increase in mean (± SEM) PaO2 to 63.9 (± 10.0) mmHg (P<0.01), and RI to 98.3 (± 22.0) cm H2O/L/sec. (P<0.05). FRC, CL, VT were unchanged. Two hour followup values for all parameters studied were similar to control values except for a trend toward increased compliance. There were no significant differences at any stage of the study for PaCO2, pH, base excess, VT, or minute ventilation. This study indicates that there is a significant decrease in PaO2 after chest vibration and suctioning increase in PaO2 after hyperventilation but these changes do not appear to be related to alterations in lung volume.
Application of single-grain OSL dating to ice-proximal deposits, glacial Lake Benson, west-central Minnesota, USA

Abstract Glacial Lake Benson formed in west-central Minnesota as the Des Moines lobe of the Laurentide ice sheet retreated north of a small moraine in the Minnesota River lowland. Although previous research has constrained the timing of glacial Lake Agassiz immediately to the north, little age control is available for the formation of glacial Lake Benson and ice-marginal positions to the south. In order to constrain the age of glacial Lake Benson and test the application of single-grain optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating to ice-marginal deposits, seven OSL samples were collected from a variety of depositional settings. These included deltaic deposits linked to specific lake levels, pro-glacial fluvial, ice-contact and supra-glacial deposits. Single-grain OSL results indicate evidence for incomplete resetting (partial bleaching) of the luminescence signal, as expected for glacial environments, and therefore ages were calculated using a minimum age model. OSL results constrain the timing of ice-margin retreat and lake formation to 14.4–14.8 ka. Analysis of single-grain equivalent dose distributions indicates that deposits created by glacial-dominated processes typically had higher over-dispersion (>50%) and greater positive skew (>0.9) than deposits originating from fluvial processes. These results suggest that water-lain deposits should be targeted for OSL sampling over those created by glacial processes when dating ice-proximal settings.
Induction and recovery from anesthesia in channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus fingerlings exposed to clove oil.

.— The use of clove oil as an anesthetic for channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus fingerlings was examined. At 100 mg/L. clove oil induced anesthesia within 1 min following exposure. Fish recovered from a 10-min period of anesthesia in 100 mg/L clove oil within 4 min following removal from the anesthetic solution. At clove oil concentrations of 150 mg/L or greater, recovery times were prolonged, requiring longer than 10 min for recovery. At 300 mg/L, mortality was observed with half of the catfish fingerlings failing to recover from the 10-min exposure. Fish could be safely maintained in 100 mg/L clove oil for periods of up to 15 min; exposure for longer than 15 min produced both prolonged recovery times and mortality. At a concentration of 100 ma clove oil produced responses similar to those of the commonly used fish anesthetic MS-222. The low cost of clove oil relative to MS-222 and the extensive testing and use of clove oil in dentistry and as a food ingredient make clove oil an attractive candidate as a fish anesthetic.
Squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal.

Abstract Purpose: To report the results of primary radiotherapy for treatment of anal canal carcinoma from the University of Florida series and review issues related to treatment of this disease. Methods and Materials: Forty-nine patients were treated with primary radiation therapy (RT) for cure. Patients had a minimum 2-year follow-up (median, 9.8 years). After 1990, patients with lesions of at least 3 cm also received chemotherapy with fluorouracil (1000 mg/m 2 ) plus cisplatin (100 mg/m 2 ) or mitomycin (10–15 mg/m 2 ) if medically fit ( n = 26). RT was delivered with a 4-field box technique to deliver 45 Gy in 25 fractions. The inguinal nodes were treated daily using electrons to supplement the dose in that region to a total dose of 45 Gy if clinically negative or about 60 Gy if involved. There were no planned breaks. A 10- to 15-Gy boost was delivered using interstitial iridium 192 implant ( n = 32), en face 60 Co field ( n = 5), or external-beam photon fields ( n = 11). Results: Local control rates at 5 years were 100% for T1N0, 92% for T2N0 or N1, 75% for T3N0, 67% for T4N0, 88% for T4N pos or T any N2–3, and 85% overall. With surgical salvage, ultimate local control rates were 100%, 100%, 81%, 100%, and 88%, respectively, with 92% overall. Cause-specific survival rates at 5 years were 100% for Stage I, 88% for Stage II, 100% for Stage IIIA, and 70% for Stage IIIB. Absolute survival rates at 5 years were 62%, 68%, 100%, and 70%. Sphincter preservation rates were 83%, 79%, 75%, and 100% by stage and 81% overall. There was an improvement in local control with the addition of chemotherapy in more advanced disease, but it was not significant. There was an increase in acute toxicity with the addition of chemotherapy (12% ≥ Grade 4) but not long-term toxicity. Late toxicity requiring colostomy occurred in 6% of patients and consisted of soft tissue necrosis. Conclusions: The majority of patients with anal canal carcinoma can be treated with curative intent using a sphincter-sparing approach of radiation with or without chemotherapy even with advanced disease. With the addition of chemotherapy to radiation, there is an increased risk of acute toxicity and about 1–2% incidence of toxic death. Smaller tumors (T1 and early T2) probably do not require the addition of chemotherapy.
Factors associated with soft- and hard-tissue compromise of endosseous implants

This prospective analysis identifies factors associated with endosseous implant removal as well as factors associated with implant morbidity resulting in nonscheduled patient visits. Treatment of the latter conditions is discussed. The most important factors identified for implant success were surgery without compromise in technique, placing implants into sound bone, avoiding thin bone or implant dehiscence at the time of implant placement, avoiding premature implant exposure during the healing period, establishing a balanced restoration, and insuring appropriate follow-up hygiene care. In the posterior mandible, the presence of keratinized gingiva was strongly correlated with optimal soft- and hard-tissue health.
Purification and Characterization of Procathepsin L, a Self-Processing Zymogen of Guinea Pig Spermatozoa That Acts on a Cathepsin D Assay Substrate

Abstract Procathepsin L, the precursor to a powerful lysosomal cysteine proteinase, has been purified to apparent homogeneity from guinea pig spermatozoa, a novel and previously unrecognized source of this catalytically active zymogen. In the range of pH 5.0, procathepsin L (39,000 M r ) readily self-processed yielding a mature, single-chain proteinase (29,000 M r ) and an intact propeptide (10,000 M r ) by what appeared kinetically to be an intramolecular reaction mechanism. These characteristics resembled those reported for the “major excreted protein” (MEP) of malignantly transformed mouse fibroblasts—a protein that has been characterized as the precursor to the mouse analog of human cathepsin L (B. R. Troen, S. Gal, and M. M. Gottesman (1987) Biochem. J. 246, 731–735). Other characteristics shared by the guinea pig and mouse zymogens included proteolytic activity at pH 5.0, homologous N-terminal amino acid sequences, and immunological relatedness. It was thus concluded that acrosomal procathepsin L is the guinea pig analog of MEP. Acrosomal procathepsin L had a specific activity on benzyloxycarbonyl-Phe-Arg-7-(4-methyl)coumarylamide (Z-Phe-Arg-NMec) of 30 μmol min −1 mg −1 enzyme at pH 3.2 and 37°C. Relative to the assay substrate, rates on other fluorogenic substrates were 90% for Z-Phe-Cit-NMec, 63% for Z-Leu-Leu-Arg-NMec, 43% for D-Phe-Ser(Bzl)-Phe-Phe-Ala-Ala-p-aminobenzoate (a “specific” cathepsin D assay substrate), and 32% for Z-Val-Val-Arg-NMec. No action was detected on Z-Arg-Arg-NMec or Arg-NMec. Mature cathepsin L showed the same relative order of substrate specificity as its proenzyme form, but the absolute rates were about 5-fold greater. Additionally, the mature (single-chain) form of cathep sin L displayed K m and k cat values on Z-Phe-Arg-NMec that yielded an exceptionally high catalytic coefficient (11,600 s −1 m M −1 ) compared to values reported for two-chain forms of cathepsin L. Self-processing by acrosomal procathepsin L at pH 5.5 was totally inhibited by leupeptin, cystatin C, Ep-475, and Z-Phe-Phe-CHN 2 at 1 μ M levels. Gossypol (0.1 m M ) gave 94% inhibition. Interestingly, dextran sulfate (100 μg ml −1 ) gave a 3.6-fold increase in the rate of self-processing seen at pH 5.5—a phenomenon of potential physiological relevance in view of the high-negative-charge density present within the hyaluronic acid-rich outer layer (cumulus oophorus) of the ovum.
Processes Linking Parents’ and Adolescents’ Religiousness and Adolescent Substance Use: Monitoring and Self-Control

Empirical evidence suggests that religiousness is related negatively to adolescent substance use; yet, we know little about how such protective effects might occur. The current study examined whether parents' and adoles- cents' religiousness are associated positively with parental, religious, and self-monitoring, which in turn are related to higher self-control, thereby related to lower adolescent substance use. Participants were 220 adolescents (45 % female) who were interviewed at ages 10-16 and again 2.4 years later. Structural equation modeling analyses sug- gested that higher adolescents' religiousness at Time 1 was related to lower substance use at Time 2 indirectly through religious monitoring, self-monitoring, and self-control. Higher parents' religiousness at Time 1 was associated with higher parental monitoring at Time 2, which in turn was related to lower adolescent substance use at Time 2 directly and indirectly through higher adolescent self-control. The results illustrate that adolescents with high awareness of being monitored by God are likely to show high self-control abilities and, consequently, low substance use. The findings further suggest that adolescents' religiousness as well as their religious environments (e.g., familial context) can facilitate desirable developmental outcomes.
Formation of Fabry-Perot cavity in one-dimensional and two-dimensional GaAs nanostructures

We report formation of an optical cavity and observation of Fabry-Perot resonance in GaAs nanowires and nanosheets grown by metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) with selective area growth (SAG). These nanostructures are grown along the (111)B direction. The formation of an optical cavity in the nanowires and nanosheets are fundamentally different from each other. In nanowires the optical cavity is formed along the length of the nanowire with ends of the nanowire behaving as two parallel mirrors. In nanosheets, however, the three non-parallel edges of the GaAs nanosheets are involved in trapping of the light through total internal reflection, thus forming a 2D cavity. We show that through surface passivation and local field enhancement, both the photoluminescence intensity and hence Fabry-Perot peak intensity increases significantly. Transferring the GaAs nanowires and nanosheets to the gold substrate (instead of Si/SiO2 substrate) leads to substantial enhancement in the photoluminescence intensity by 5X (for nanowires) and 3.7X (for nanosheets) to infinite enhancement of the FP peaks intensities. In order to reduce the non-radiative recombination in these nanowires the surface states in the nanowires can be passivated by either an ionic liquid (EMIM-TFSI) or an AlGaAs surface layer. Both passivations methods lead to an enhancement of the optical response by up to 12X.
The smell of danger: A behavioral and neural analysis of predator odor-induced fear

The odors of predators used in animal models provide, in addition to electric footshock, an important means to investigate the neurobiology of fear. Studies indicate that cat odor and trimethylthiazoline (TMT), a synthetic compound isolated from fox feces, are often presented to rodents to induce fear-related responses including freezing, avoidance, stress hormone and, in some tests, risk assessment behavior. Furthermore, we report that different amounts of cat odor impregnated on small-, medium-, or large-sized cloths impact the display of fear-related behavior when presented to rats. That is, rats exposed to a large cat odor containing cloth exhibit an increase in fear behavior, particularly freezing, which remains at high levels in habituation tests administered over a period of 7 days. The large cloth also induces a long-lasting increase in avoidance behavior during repeated habituation and extinction tests. A review of the brain regions involved in predator odor-induced fear behavior indicates a modulatory role of the medial amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and dorsal premammillary nucleus. In addition, the basolateral amygdala is involved in fear behavior induced by cat odor but not TMT, and the central amygdala does not appear to play a major behavioral role in predator odor-induced fear. Future research involving the use of predator odor is likely to rapidly expand knowledge on the neurobiology of fear, which has implications for understanding fear-related psychopathology.
Psoriasis, dysphagia, and esophageal webs or rings.

Esophageal webs and rings may have a congenital origin and have been associated with iron-deficiency states and esophageal mucosal inflammation. Cutaneous diseases associated with esophageal webs and rings include benign mucosal pemphigoid and epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica. We report three cases of patients with psoriasis and associated single or multiple esophageal webs. Two of the three patients experienced a significant degree of dysphagia requiring periodic esophageal dilatation. Esophageal abnormalities did not seem to correlate directly with the extent or activity of psoriasis. The cause of esophageal webs or rings in these patients with psoriasis is not known. This report suggests, but does not prove, that there may be an association between these conditions.
Platelet-derived serotonin, the endothelium, and cardiovascular disease.

We advance the hypothesis that ketanserin, a 5-HT2 receptor antagonist, may provide vascular protection. This is due mainly to inhibition of the effect of serotonin, released by platelets activated at the site of arterial wall injury, on platelets and vascular smooth muscle cells which contribute to vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and connective tissue synthesis, vasospasms in areas of defective endothelial cell-dependent relaxation and to platelet-dependent thrombus formation in various experimental scenarios. Clinical data obtained so far with ketanserin in patients, subjected to coronary angioplasty, with critical coronary stenosis and at risk for vascular accidents due to atherosclerosis, suggest that, within certain limitations, vascular protection by ketanserin might also occur in man.
The DHH1/RCKp54 family of helicases: An ancient family of proteins that promote translational silencing

Translational control is a vital aspect of gene expression. Message specific translational repressors have been known for decades. Recent evidence, however, suggests that a general machinery exists that dampens the translational capacity of the majority of mRNAs. This activity has been best ascribed to a conserved family of RNA helicases called the DHH1/RCKp54 family. The function of these helicases is to promote translational silencing. By transitioning mRNA into quiescence, DHH1/RCKp54 helicases promote either mRNA destruction or storage. In this review we describe the known roles of these helicases and propose a mechanistic model to explain their mode of action. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: The Biology of RNA helicases - Modulation for life.
Culture, Communication, and Competence: A Commentary on Variables Affecting Social and Academic Behavior

The editors of this special issue have recruited six papers focused on the ways that language and communication interact with culture to influence student behavior. Two themes that emerge from these papers are the fundamental role of communication in learning and living, and the impact of culture on the functions of communication. The present commentary is offered in admiration for the work of the authors, and with the goal of emphasizing common messages that may guide both future research and practice.
Termination Shock Asymmetries as Seen by the Voyager Spacecraft: The Role of the Interstellar Magnetic Field and Neutral Hydrogen

We show that asymmetries of the termination shock due to the influence of the interstellar magnetic field (ISMF) are considerably smaller in the presence of neutral hydrogen atoms, which tend to symmetrize the heliopause, the termination shock, and the bow shock due to charge exchange with charged particles. This leads to a much stronger restriction on the ISMF direction and its strength. We demonstrate that in the presence of the interplanetary magnetic field the plane defined by the local interstellar medium (LISM) velocity and magnetic field vectors does not exactly coincide with the plane defined by the interstellar neutral helium and hydrogen velocity vectors in the supersonic solar wind region, which limits the accuracy of the inferred direction of the ISMF. We take into account the tilt of the LISM velocity vector with respect to the ecliptic plane and show that magnetic fields as strong as 3 μG or greater may be necessary to account for the observed asymmetry. Estimates are made of the longitudinal streaming anisotropy of energetic charged particles at the termination shock caused by the nonalignment of the interplanetary magnetic field with its surface. By investigating the behavior of interplanetary magnetic field lines that cross the Voyager 1 trajectory in the inner heliosheath, we estimate the length of the trajectory segment that is directly connected by these lines to the termination shock. A possible effect of the ISMF draping over the heliopause is discussed in connection with radio emission generated in the outer heliosheath.
Why Differences Make a Difference: A Field Study of Diversity, Conflict and Performance in Workgroups:

A multimethod field study of 92 workgroups explored the influence of three types of workgroup diversity (social category diversity, value diversity, and informational diversity) and two moderators ...
Recent Translational Findings on Impulsivity in Relation to Drug Abuse

Impulsive behavior is strongly implicated in drug abuse, as both a cause and a consequence of drug use. To understand how impulsive behaviors lead to and result from drug use, translational evidence from both human and non-human animal studies is needed. Here, we review recent (2009 or later) studies that have investigated two major components of impulsive behavior, inhibitory control and impulsive choice, across preclinical and clinical studies. We concentrate on the stop-signal task as the measure of inhibitory control and delay discounting as the measure of impulsive choice. Consistent with previous reports, recent studies show greater impulsive behavior in drug users compared with non-users. Additionally, new evidence supports the prospective role of impulsive behavior in drug abuse, and has begun to identify the neurobiological mechanisms underlying impulsive behavior. We focus on the commonalities and differences in findings between preclinical and clinical studies, and suggest future directions for translational research.
The Medial Extended Amygdala in Male Reproductive Behavior A Node in the Mammalian Social Behavior Network

Hormonal and chemosensory signals regulate social behaviors in a wide variety of mammals. In the male Syrian hamster, these signals are integrated in nuclei of the medial extended amygdala, where olfactory and vomeronasal system transmission is modulated by populations of androgen- and estrogen-sensitive neurons. Evidence from behavioral changes following lesions and from immediate early gene expression supports the hypothesis that the medial extended amygdala and medial preoptic area belong to a circuit that functions selectively in male sexual behavior. However, accumulated behavioral, neuroanatomical, and neuroendocrine data in hamsters, other rodents, and other mammals indicate that this circuit is embedded in a larger integrated network that controls not only male mating behavior, but female sexual behavior, parental behavior, and various forms of aggression. In this context, perhaps an individual animal's social responses can be more easily understood as a repertoire of closely interrelated, hormone-regulated behaviors, shaped by development and experience and modulated acutely by the environmental signals and the hormonal milieu of the brain.
Non-contact probe calibration for THz-frequency device characterization

We present a non-contact, on-wafer, broadband device and component testing methodology scalable to the THz band. The “contactless” probe setup is based on radiative coupling of vector network analyzer test ports onto the coplanar waveguide environment of monolithic devices and integrated circuits. Efficient power coupling is achieved via planar, broadband, antennas that act as the “virtual” probe-tips on the chip under test. For accurate S-parameter measurements, repeatable errors in the setup are calibrated. In this paper, we demonstrate for the first time experimental validation of the calibration of the new non-contact probes for the 325-500 GHz band (using WR 2.2 frequency extenders and a standard vector network analyzer as the backend). This non-contact probe setup is accurate, low-cost and is readily scalable down to the mmW band and up to the THz band (60GHz-3THz).
Geometric Local Structure in Biological Networks

The recent explosion in biological and other real-world network data has created the need for improved tools for large network analyses. Several new mathematical techniques for analyzing local structural properties of large networks have recently been developed. Our work introduces small induced subgraphs of large networks, called graphlets. We use graphlets to develop "network signatures" that quantify local structural properties of a network. Based on these network signatures, we design two novel "network agreement" measures. These measures lead us to new, well-fitting geometric graph models of biological networks. Models are in turn used to design efficient heuristics.
Sweet & Salt: Water and the Dutch

Sweet and Salt: Water and the Dutch, edited by Tracy Metz and Maartje van den Heuvel, catalogues the problems, solutions, and representations of the Dutch landscape to remind us that its inhabitant...
Magnetic field dependence of the nematic-isotropic transition temperature

The nematic-isotropic transition temperature was measured by means of an optical technique as a function of applied magnetic field for the material octyl-cyanobiphenyl. The results represent the first unambiguous demonstration of the magnetic field term in the thermodynamic equation for a liquid-crystal phase transition.
Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5B activity regulates larval growth rate and germline development in Caenorhabditis elegans

In C. elegans, a population of proliferating germ cells is maintained via GLP-1/Notch signaling; in the absence of GLP-1 signaling, germ cells prematurely enter meiosis and differentiate. We previously identified ego (enhancer of glp-1) genes that promote germline proliferation and interact genetically with the GLP-1 signaling pathway. Here, we report that iffb-1 (initiation factor five B) is an ego gene. iffb-1 encodes the sole C. elegans isoform of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5B, a protein essential for translation. We have used RNA interference and a deletion mutation to determine the developmental consequences of reduced iffb-1 activity. Our data indicate that maternal iffb-1 gene expression is sufficient for embryogenesis, and zygotic iffb-1 expression is required for development beyond late L1/early L2 stage. Partial reduction in iffb-1 expression delays larval development and can severely disrupt proliferation and differentiation of germ cells. We hypothesize that germline development is particularly sensitive to iffb-1 expression level.
Empirical case studies in attribute noise detection

The quality of data is an important issue in any domain-specific data mining and knowledge discovery initiative. The validity of solutions produced by data-driven algorithms can be diminished if the data being analyzed are of low quality. The quality of data is often realized in terms of data noise present in the given dataset and can include noisy attributes or labeling errors. Hence, tools for improving the quality of data are important to the data mining analyst. We present a comprehensive empirical investigation of our new and innovative technique for ranking attributes in a given dataset from most to least noisy. Upon identifying the noisy attributes, specific treatments can be applied depending on how the data are to be used. In a classification setting, for example, if the class label is determined to contain the most noise, processes to cleanse this important attribute may be undertaken. Independent variables or predictors that have a low correlation to the class attribute and appear noisy may be eliminated from the analysis. Several case studies using both real-world and synthetic datasets are presented in this study. The noise detection performance is evaluated by injecting noise into multiple attributes at different noise levels. The empirical results demonstrate conclusively that our technique provides a very accurate and useful ranking of noisy attributes in a given dataset.
SANBoost: automated SAN-level caching in storage area network

The storage traffic for different logical units (LUs) of a disk array converge at the array's cache. The cache is allocated among the LUs approximately according to their relative I/O rates. In the case of nonuniform I/O rates and sensitivity to storage response times between differing applications in a storage area network (SAN), undesirable cache interference between LUs can result in unacceptable storage performance for some LUs. This paper describes SANBoost, a SAN-level caching approach that can be enabled selectively on a per-LU basis to provide a performance isolation mechanism for response time metrics related to storage quality of service (QoS). SANBoost automates hot data detection and migration processes in block-level storage. The design consists of a migration module implemented in a fabric-based SAN virtualization appliance and a solid-state disk (SSD) that acts as a cache resource within the same SAN. Simulation results quantify the impact of a specific static SANBoost caching policy on the SPC-1 benchmark workload and address the relative impact of adapting a threshold in the placement algorithm.
Production of Electricity from Acetate or Butyrate Using a Single-Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell

Hydrogen can be recovered by fermentation of organic material rich in carbohydrates, but much of the organic matter remains in the form of acetate and butyrate. An alternative to methane production from this organic matter is the direct generation of electricity in a microbial fuel cell (MFC). Electricity generation using a single-chambered MFC was examined using acetate or butyrate. Power generated with acetate (800 mg/L) (506 mW/m2 or 12.7 mW/L) was up to 66% higher than that fed with butyrate (1000 mg/L) (305 mW/m2 or 7.6 mW/L), demonstrating that acetate is a preferred aqueous substrate for electricity generation in MFCs. Power output as a function of substrate concentration was well described by saturation kinetics, although maximum power densities varied with the circuit load. Maximum power densities and half-saturation constants were Pmax = 661 mW/m2 and Ks = 141 mg/L for acetate (218 Ω) and Pmax = 349 mW/m2 and Ks = 93 mg/L for butyrate (1000 Ω). Similar open circuit potentials were obtained in us...
Update on Congress and new budget

Thanks to some all-night sessions, Congress has adjourned until next year, having completed work on all but one of 13 appropriations bills. Hearings are being held by the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee on economic growth packages, with little else scheduled. Congress is due to reconvene briefly on January 3, but will recess again until January 21. The action on the budget for fiscal year 1993, which begins on October 1, 1992, is now at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue. Departments, agencies, and the Office of Management and Budget are in the midst of assembling the budget request for FY 1993. The executive branch maintains an almost total blackout on any official or unofficial news about what is being requested, much less what will be in the new budget.
Effective Stress Management A Model of Emotional Intelligence, Self-Leadership, and Student Stress Coping

This article develops and presents a model of the relationships among emotional intelligence, self-leadership, and stress coping among management students. In short, the authors’ model suggests that effective emotion regulation and self-leadership, as mediated through positive affect and self-efficacy, has the potential to facilitate stress coping among students. A primary implication of the model is that basic emotion regulation and self-leadership strategies could be included in introductory management courses to potentially increase management students’ abilities to cope with stress. Furthermore, because the model has the potential to generalize to the workplace, management students exposed to emotion regulation and self-leadership strategies may be better equipped to effectively manage stress in their future careers.
Land Use and Transport in China

Perhaps no developing country better represents the challenges and opportunities posed by the forces of urbanization in this century than China. The country is undergoing a major demographic transition of rapid and intense urbanization. This issue of the Journal of Transport and Land Use offers a snapshot of the interactions between land use and transportation systems in China at three different scales of analysis.
Cinema and the City: Film and Urban Societies in a Global Context

Mark Shiel and Tony Fitzmaurice, eds. Malden, MA: Blackwell, 2001. xxi and 297 pp., index. $29.95 paper (ISBN 0-631-22244-8). Cinema and the City has its origins in a conference of the same name, h...
Fast tunable filter for high-speed optical packet switching

Increasing data rates and the burstiness of traffic sources has led naturally to increasing interest in multi-Gigabit/sec optical packet-switching. One approach to achieve ultrafast packet-switching is using high-speed piezoelectrically-driven fiber Fabry-Perot tunable filter (FFP-TF) for WDM network. The requirement for fast tuning raises a whole new set of challenges, such as a ringing, thermostability, and mechanical inertia control. It was shown that a correlation between the mechanical resonance and optical response of the filter is important for the filter's speed optimization. These features together with the FFP-TF's high capacitance are being folded into building a special controller to substantially improve the shape of the driving signal and the response of the filter. The resultant controller enables tuning the high-speed FFP-TF three-orders-of-magnitude faster than that possible with standard commercial FFP-TFs. The fastest switching time achieved is 3 /spl mu/s. This achievement can help update Rainbow-2 Broadcast-and-Select High-Speed WDM All-Optical network.
The effect of GPI‐anchor deficiency on apoptosis in mice carrying a Piga gene mutation in hematopoietic cells

Glycosyl phosphatidylinositol (GPI) an- chors are used by a variety of proteins to link to the cell surface. GPI-anchored proteins are deficient on a proportion of blood cells from patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. This is caused by the expansion of a cell clone that has acquired a mutation in a gene, PIGA, which is essential in the synthesis of GPI anchors. The na- ture of the growth/survival advantage permitting the expansion of PIGA - cells is unknown. A de- creased susceptibility to apoptosis has been found in blood cells from patients, but the contribution of the PIGA gene mutation to this finding remained controversial. Therefore, we investigated apopto- sis in mice that harbor a targeted Piga gene muta- tion in hematopoietic cells. When exposed to a variety of apoptotic stimuli, apoptosis in PIGA - thymocytes, granulocytes, and hematopoietic pro- genitor cells was similar to apoptosis induced in PIGA cells from the same mouse or from wild- type controls. Similarly, whole-body -irradiation did not produce an in vivo survival advantage of PIGA - hematopoietic stem cells. Our findings imply that a Piga gene mutation does not alter suscepti- bility to cell death, indicating that other factors in addition to the PIGA gene mutation are necessary to promote the clonal outgrowth of PIGA - cells. J. Leukoc. Biol. 72: 1228-1233; 2002.
The search for an economic domain of operation when grinding below the film boiling limit

Abstract An investigation has been conducted to determine whether an economic domain of shallow-cut grinding exists below the film boiling temperature. It identifies the potential benefits of grinding below film boiling and provides preliminary theoretical evidence based on accepted thermal analyses in grinding and the results of previous research. The evidence shows that an economic domain in shallow-cut grinding could exist. The stock removal rate reported by one group of researchers [ Bull Jap. Soc. Precision Engng 17 (2), 133 (1983)] [1] was only 1 mm 3 (mm s) −1 , whereas 5–6 mm 3 (mm s) −1 is commonly accepted as an economic stock removal rate in shallow-cut grinding. The present thermal analysis indicates that the stock removal rates of 16 mm 3 (mm s) −1 might be possible with alumina wheels operating at conventional wheel speeds with very small depths of cut. Rates higher than 250 mm 3 (mm s) −1 might be possible when using CBN wheels and high wheel speeds.
Improving the employment self-concept of persons with disabilities: A field-based experiment

Research has indicated that self-concept can be an effective predictor of rehabilitation outcomes. The Comprehensive Labor and Employment Opportunities (CLEO) program was designed as a psychoeducational intervention to increase self-concept in persons with disabilities. The purpose of this study was to determine if participation in the CLEO program had a positive effect on the self-concept of persons with disabilities who were being served by the public rehabilitation program in Michigan. A quasi-experimental design with a nonequivalent control group was employed for this study. Pre- and postmeasures of self-concept were taken using the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale: 2nd edition (TSCS:2). Results revealed significant growth within the treatment group and significant difference in growth between treatment and control groups in the area of Total self-concept at the time of posttest. No significant differences were found in the area of Academic/Work self-concept. Implications for practice, education, and furt...
Frequency Estimation over Sliding Windows

Capturing characteristics of large data streams has received considerable attention. The constraints in space and time often restrict the data stream processing to only one pass. Furthermore, processing data streams over sliding windows makes the problem more difficult and challenging. In this paper, we address the problem of estimating epsi-approximate frequency in data streams over sliding windows. We are the first who propose an efficient algorithm which can achieve O(1/epsi) space requirement and only need O(1) running time to process each item in the data stream and to answer a query.
Genetics studies indicate that neural induction and early neuronal maturation are disturbed in autism

Postmortem neuropathological studies of autism consistently reveal distinctive types of malformations, including cortical dysplasias, heterotopias, and various neuronomorphometric abnormalities. In keeping with these observations, we review here that 88% of high-risk genes for autism influence neural induction and early maturation of the neuroblast. In addition, 80% of these same genes influence later stages of differentiation, including neurite and synapse development, suggesting that these gene products exhibit long-lasting developmental effects on cell development as well as extensive functional redundancy in processes of neural proliferation, growth, and maturation. We also address the putative genetic overlap of autism with conditions like epilepsy and schizophrenia, with implications to shared and divergent etiologies. This review imports the necessity of a frameshift in our understanding of the neurodevelopmental basis of autism to include all stages of neuronal maturation, ranging from neural induction to synaptogenesis.
Performance analysis: Knowing what to do and how by Dale Brethower, CPT

Dale Brethower, CPT, is professor emeritus of psychology at Western Michigan University and a visiting professor at the Technological Institute of Sonora, Mexico. He has been a consultant more than 30 years with a very impressive client list. In addition, he has served two terms on the board of directors of ISPI and is a former president of ISPI. HRD Press and ISPI publish Performance Analysis (price: $19.95; ISBN: 1–59996–054–0). The publisher may be reached online at http://www.hrdpress.com or by phone at 800-822–2891.
Development of hyperspectral imaging technique for the detection of apple surface defects and contaminations

A high spatial resolution (0.5–1.0 mm) hyperspectral imaging system is presented as a tool for selecting better multispectral methods to detect defective and contaminated foods and agricultural products. Examples of direct linear or non-linear analysis of the spectral bands of hyperspectral images that resulted in more efficient multispectral imaging techniques are given. Various image analysis methods for the detection of defects and/or contaminations on the surfaces of Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Gala, and Fuji apples are compared. Surface defects/contaminations studied include side rots, bruises, flyspecks, scabs and molds, fungal diseases (such as black pox), and soil contaminations. Differences in spectral responses within the 430–900 nm spectral range are analyzed using monochromatic images and second difference analysis methods for sorting wholesome and contaminated apples. An asymmetric second difference method using a chlorophyll absorption waveband at 685 nm and two bands in the near-infrared region is shown to provide excellent detection of the defective/contaminated portions of apples, independent of the apple color and cultivar. Simple and requiring less computation than other methods such as principal component analysis, the asymmetric second difference method can be easily implemented as a multispectral imaging technique. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
When some is not every: dissociating scalar implicature generation and mismatch.

r r Abstract: Making inferences beyond the literal meaning of sentences occurs with certain scalar expres- sions via scalar implicatures. For example, adults usually interpret some as some but not all. On the basis of behavioral research, it has been suggested that processing implicatures is cognitively costly. How- ever, many studies have used cases where sentences with some did not match the context in which they were presented. Our study aimed to examine whether the processing cost is linked to implicature generation, to the mismatch between the implicature and the context, or to both processes. To do so, we explored the neural patterns of implicature generation and implicature mismatch using fMRI. Thir- teen participants performed a sentence-picture matching task (where pictures determined the context) with mismatched implicatures, successful implicatures or no implicature conditions. Several brain regions were identified when comparing cases of implicature mismatch and cases without implica- tures. One of these regions, left-IFG, was jointly activated for mismatched and successful implicatures, as observed in a conjunction analysis. By contrast, left-MFG and medial-frontal-gyrus, were identified when comparing cases of implicature mismatch with cases of successful implicatures. Thus, the left IFG can be interpreted as being linked to implicature generation, whereas the other two areas seem to participate in the processing of the mismatch between the implicature and its context. Our results indi- cate that scalar implicatures induce processing cost in different ways. This should be considered in future research. Hum Brain Mapp 00:000-000, 2013. V C 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The effect of pronase on lymphocyte surface markers and implications for flow cytometric crossmatch

Aim Pronase treatment of lymphocytes has been used to improve the specificity and sensitivity of the flow cytometric crossmatch for almost 20 years, due to its ability to remove Fc receptors from B cells and reduce non-specific background. Due to controversy in the published data, and significant variations in laboratory practices about the use of pronase, our goal was to determine the concentration-dependent effect of pronase on lymphocyte surface molecules, such as CD32 (Fc γ RIIB), HLA class I and II, CD3, CD19, and CD20, and to provide a standardized procedure to improve the performance of flow cytometric crossmatch assays. Methods Lymphocytes from 8 donors were isolated from blood, lymph nodes (LN) or spleen, and were digested using different concentrations of pronase ranging from 0.3 through 2 mg/ml. Surface CD32, CD3, CD19, CD20, HLA class I and class II were monitored by antibody staining using multi-color flow cytometry. Results Digestion with pronase at 0.6 mg/ml concentration or higher decreased CD32 expression by 80% on peripheral blood B cells and 85–90% on LN and splenic B cells. Pronase treatment did not reduce expression of HLA class I, however, it increased W6/32 antibody staining by 20–40% on B cells, and 150–200% on T cells. Similarly, pronase did not decrease HLA class II expression, but increased Tu39 antibody staining by 10–30% on lymph node and blood B cells. Binding of the CD3 antibody on pronase-treated T cells was increased by 2–2.5 fold, compared to untreated cells. There was no significant effect on CD19 expression up to 1 mg/ml, but 45–55% decrease was observed at 2 mg/ml. Pronase reduced CD20 expression in a concentration-dependent manner by up to 98–99% at 2 mg/ml. Conclusions Pronase treatment increases specificity of the crossmatch assay since it reduces CD32 expression on B cells. Our data show that concentrations higher than 0.6 mg/ml do not decrease CD32 expression any further. Pronase treatment is safe since it does not decrease HLA class I or class II expression, but rather increases pan-HLA antibody binding, likely due to receptor “unmasking”, thus increasing the sensitivity of the crossmatch assay. Finally, increasing pronase concentration to 2 mg/ml eliminates B cell CD20 expression, a procedure that can help to eliminate interferences by rituximab-containing sera used for crossmatch.