cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Contribution of Bone Marrow-Derived Stem Cells to Endometrium and Endometriosis

Bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs) can differentiate into nonhematopoietic cells, suggesting that BMDCs may contribute to the maintenance of multiple tissues. Donor-derived bone marrow cells have been identified in human uterine endometrium. Here, two murine models were used to investigate the contribution of nonendometrial stem cells to endometrium. We investigate whether BMDCs can localize to uterine endometrium and to endometriosis. After bone marrow transplantation, male donor-derived bone marrow cells were found in the uterine endometrium of female mice. Although uncommon (<0.01%), these cells can differentiate into epithelial cells. After generation of experimental endometriosis by ectopic endometrial implantation in the peritoneal cavity, bone marrow from LacZ transgenic mice was used for transplantation. LacZ expressing cells were found in the wild-type ectopic endometrium implanted in the peritoneal cavity of hysterectomized LacZ transgenic mice. The repopulation of endometrium with bone marrow-derived stem cells may be important to normal endometrial physiology and also may help to explain the cellular basis for the high long-term failure of conservative alternatives to hysterectomy. The examination of a sexually dimorphic organ such as the uterus demonstrates the ability of male bone marrow, which cannot harbor circulating endometrial cells, to generate endometrium de novo and proves their mesenchymal stem cell origin. Finding Y chromosome bearing endometrial cells demonstrates the potential to recapitulate embryonic developmental pathways that were never activated in males; BMDCs may have vast regenerative capacity. Additionally, the ability of stem cells to engraft endometriosis has implications for the origin and progression of this disease. Ectopic differentiation of stem cells may be a novel mechanism of disease. Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
Efficient hydrologic tracer-test design for tracer-mass estimation and sample-collection frequency, 1, method development

Hydrological tracer testing is the most reliable diagnostic technique available for the determination of basic hydraulic and geometric parameters necessary for establishing operative solute-transport processes. Tracer-test design can be difficult because of a lack of prior knowledge of the basic hydraulic and geometric parameters desired and the appropriate tracer mass to release. A new efficient hydrologic tracer-test design (EHTD) methodology has been developed to facilitate the design of tracer tests by root determination of the one-dimensional advection–dispersion equation (ADE) using a preset average tracer concentration which provides a theoretical basis for an estimate of necessary tracer mass. The method uses basic measured field parameters (e.g., discharge, distance, cross-sectional area) that are combined in functional relationships that describe solute-transport processes related to flow velocity and time of travel. These initial estimates for time of travel and velocity are then applied to a hypothetical continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) as an analog for the hydrological-flow system to develop initial estimates for tracer concentration, tracer mass, and axial dispersion. Application of the predicted tracer mass with the hydraulic and geometric parameters in the ADE allows for an approximation of initial sample-collection time and subsequent sample-collection frequency where a maximum of 65 samples were determined to be necessary for describing the predicted tracer-breakthrough curve (BTC). Inclusion of tracer retardation and decay cause a net increase in tracer-mass estimates so that the preset average tracer concentration will be maintained and there will be a consequent steepening of the BTC, but retardation also causes BTC spreading and a delay in tracer arrival.
Thesaurus-Based Automatic Book Indexing

Abstract This paper describes a technique for automatic book indexing. The technique requires a dictionary of terms that are to appear in the index, along with all text strings that count as instances of the term. It also requires that the text be in a form suitable for processing by a text formatter. A program searches the text for each occurrence of a term or its associated strings and creates an entry to the index when either is found. The results of the experimental application to a portion of a book text are presented, including measures of precision and recall, with precision giving the ratio of terms correctly assigned in the automatic process to the total assigned, and recall giving the ratio of correct terms automatically assigned to the total number of term assignments according to a human standard. Results indicate that the technique can be applied successfully, especially for texts that employ a technical vocabulary and where there is a premium on indexing exhaustivity.
The faithful copy neuron

Theoretical and experimental evidence is presented for the presence in nervous tissue of neurons whose firing rate faithfully follow their input stimulus. Such neurons are shown to deliver their spikes with minimum dissipation per spike. This optimal performance is likely accomplished by use of local circuitry that adjusts conductances to match input currents so that the neuron operates near the threshold for firing. This results in an unusual mechanism for neuronal firing that uses background noise to achieve the desired firing rate. This framework takes place dynamically, and the present deliberations apply under time varying conditions. It is shown that an analytically explicit probability distribution function, which depends on one dimensionless parameter, can account for the interspike interval statistics under general time varying conditions. An innovative analysis based on the unsteady firing rate fits data to the appropriate probability distribution function.
A Response-to-Intervention Approach to Decreasing Early Literacy Differences in First Graders From Different Socioeconomic Backgrounds Evidence for the Intervention Validity of the DIBELS

Federal legislation mandates that local education agencies provide quality, evidence-based supplemental educational services to struggling learners. Nowhere is this more salient than in underperforming schools serving children from low-income backgrounds who are at risk for developing learning problems. The study described in this article investigated the intervention validity of two measurement tasks from the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) on the acquisition of early literacy skills of 75 first graders from low-income backgrounds. Results indicate that the DIBELS measures effectively modeled expected student growth and informed instructional planning that ultimately led to increased student outcomes.
What can we learn from fitness landscapes

A combinatorially complete data set consists of studies of all possible combinations of a set of mutant sites in a gene or mutant alleles in a genome. Among the most robust conclusions from these studies is that epistasis between beneficial mutations often shows a pattern of diminishing returns, in which favorable mutations are less fit when combined than would be expected. Another robust inference is that the number of adaptive evolutionary paths is often limited to a relatively small fraction of the theoretical possibilities, owing largely to sign epistasis requiring evolutionary steps that would entail a decrease in fitness. Here we summarize these and other results while also examining issues that remain unresolved and future directions that seem promising.
Gender-Informed Mentoring Strategies for Women Engineering Scholars: On Establishing a Caring Community

Improved mentoring of women graduate students and young faculty is one strategy for increasing the presence, retention and advancement of women scholars in engineering. We explore the sociological literature on interpersonally- and institutionallygenerated gender roles and dynamics that make the construction and maintenance of mentoring relationships especially difficult for women in male-dominated fields. In addition, we review nontraditional strategies including peer-, multiple- and collective mentorships that are likely to be more successful for most women (and many men). Finally, organizational change strategies designed to provide a more egalitarian and cooperative atmosphere in engineering programs and departments are presented. These ideas represent a social contract for a caring community more supportive of all members’ personal and professional growth and success.
A case study: implementing supportworks professional helpdesk at drew university

Drew University, a leader in ubiquitous computing, has provided computers for all incoming freshman since 1984. The support structure has evolved with the technology, and now crosses several technology departments including Administrative Computing (AC), Telecommunications (Telecom), Instructional Technology Services (ITS), and Computing & Network Services (CNS). CNS, home to the university Helpdesk, worked for a few years with two home-grown ticket tracking services, Helpdesk.drew.edu[1] and Beacon.drew.edu. These systems were not sufficient for escalating calls within and outside of the department. In February 2003, a committee was formed with representatives from all the technology departments at Drew University, and Enterprise Application Specialist Axel Larsson was charged with leading the search for the solution to the university's technology ticket tracking system. Packages that were considered were Front Range's Heat, Blue Ocean's Track-It!, and Hornbill LTD's Supportworks Helpdesk Professional. Supportworks was selected for its ease of customization, shared mailbox features that would allow students to send e-mail from the department account, full-featured inventory tracking, knowledgebase, web-based self-service, and problem and resolution profiles. It also had the most attractive pricing for the number of licenses we needed. This paper will describe the planning, selection, design, and implementation of Drew University's helpdesk solution.
Peirce's semiotic phenominalism and film

(1979). Peirce's semiotic phenominalism and film. Quarterly Review of Film Studies: Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 61-69.
Active oxygen intermediates and chlorophyllin bleaching.

Abstract Bleaching of chlorophyllin, a water soluble copper containing porphyrin molecule, was investigated with regard to the potential role of active oxygen intermediate involvement. It was found that the bleaching was highly aerobic and also biphasic in nature. The aerobic photobleaching and the dark bleaching were effectively prevented by the addition of reductants such as ascorbate and cysteine. In addition, the reductant and peroxyl radical scavenger, Trolox, was highly effective in preventing bleaching. Catalase was moderately effective in preventing photobleaching whereas peroxidase and superoxide dismutase hastened the photobleaching process. It is concluded that the bleaching of chlorophyllin is a peroxidative process which does not involve singlet oxygen, superoxide, nor the•OH radical.
Remnance of Form: Altered Reflection of Physical Reality

Remnance of Form is an interactive installation that explores the dynamic tension between an object and its shadow. By fusing light, projection, and motion technologies, the shadow can now detach itself from its former role. This creates a new narrative that challenges our perception of reality, what's real and what's not.
DNA chain flexibility and the structure of chromatin V.bodies

Abstract The persistence length of high-molecular-weight, monodisperse-bihelical DNA has been evaluated from low-shear flow birefingence and viscosity data at several temperatures in 2.0 M Nacl neutral pH buffer. At these solvent conditions, both the DNA and histone components of chromatin nu-bodies have structural features similar to those in the intact nucleohistone complex at low ionic strength. The theory of Landau and Lifshitz is used to relate the experimental result to the thermodynamic functions for bending 140 nucleotide pairs of DNA into a plausible model structure: per nu-body, delta Gb=43.8 +/- 5.3 kcal/mole, delta Hb= 45.7 +/- 3.7 kcal/mole, and delta Sb = 6.2 +/- 12.4 entropy units. This bending free energy is comparable to or less than that estimated to be required for a kinked DNA configuration and appears to be well within the range of estimated electrostatic free energies available from DNA-histone interactions in a nu-body assembly.
Comparison of two mood induction procedures

A total of 162 college students participated in an experiment designed to compare the strength and durability of two laboratory-based mood induction procedures (MIPs). Subjects were randomly assigned either to the Velten positive, negative, or neutral self-statement MIP or to a manipulated success, failure, or control condition on an ostensible achievement task. Mood was measured prior to, immediately after, and at five 6-minute intervals following exposure to the MIPs. Results indicated that both MIPs were effective in influencing mood in intended directions. However, the Velten procedure induced greater initial but more transient depressed affect than manipulated failure. The MIPs were essentially equivalent in generating brief increases in positive mood. An ethical question was raised by the durability of negative affect induced by the failure manipulation.
Semantic ambiguity within and across languages: an integrative review.

Semantic ambiguity often occurs within a language (e.g., the word “organ” in English means both a body part and a musical instrument), but it can also cross a language boundary, such that a given w...
Reaction of ortho-lithiated N-methylbenzamide with 1,2-Diketones: A novel highly efficient route to N-methylisoquinolin-1-one

Abstract 1,2-Diketones were found to react with ortho-lithlated N-methylbenzamide to give diols 4a-g in 59–80% yields. Reaction of diols 4a-g with the system Me3SiCl/Nal in MeCN furnished N-methylisoquinolin-1-ones in 84–92% yields.
Optimal Selection of Line Extensions: Incorporating Operational, Financial, and Marketing Constraints

Line extensions—variants of existing products with new appearances, functions, or forms—constitute a significant fraction of products launched each year. While line extensions typically share components with existing products, they can also cannibalize the demand of existing products. The choice of an appropriate set of line extensions is an important recurring issue for a firm and they must incorporate constraints that arise naturally from operational, financial, and marketing considerations, resulting in an analytically challenging optimization problem. We consider several variants of this problem, develop efficient heuristics that deliver near-optimal solutions, and derive a variety of interesting insights on the inherent tradeoffs in the selection of line extensions.
Applicability of adult techniques for ovarian preservation to childhood cancer patients

Purpose To appraise the feasibility of current adult medical and surgical techniques for ovarian preservation in pre-pubertal and adolescent girls with cancer.
Polysaccharide-hydrolyzing enzymes ofFrankia (Actinomycetales)

Studies were made of the polysaccharide-hydrolyzing activity inFrankia (Actinomycetales) grown in synthetic media using modifications of three standard assay procedures. In screening five different strains ofFrankia for cellulase activity, based on the method of utilization of cellulose in liquid culture, only one strain, CcI3, degraded filter paper cellulose to complete disintegration and only under very specific conditions of pH and primary carbon source. When carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) at 1% was used as substrate, all five strains showed the capacity to produce reducing sugars as hydrolytic products. Microcystalline cellulose, xylans and gum arabic were hydrolyzed to a lesser extent. Optimum activity depended upon pH and primary carbon source with pH 5.0 and pyruvate or propionate producing highest activities. In fractionation studies of culturedFrankia, assays for hydrolysis of 1% CMC in liquid medium showed that highest activity was in the enzyme preparation supernatant with lesser activity in the cell-free extract and cell wall fractions.Frankia strain CpI1 showed the greatest total hydrolytic activity against CMC after 2 weeks of culture. Strains ArI3 and CcI3 also showed good activity. The agar plate method for direct dye-polysaccharide interaction proved to be the least sensitive assay method with only ArI3 showing significant activity using CMC as substrate. It appears that theFranka strains grown in synthetic media all showed hydrolytic activity but the degree of hydrolysis of polysaccharides to reducing sugars depends upon strain of bacteria and very specific cultural conditions.
Failure of signaling through a chimeric class I-immunoglobulin molecule expressed on the surface of transfected B lymphoma cells and cells of transgenic mice.

Abstract To test the possibility that the crosslinkage of molecules expressing a transmembrane region derived from the membrane form of the μ immunoglobulin heavy chain would be sufficient for signal transduction in B cells, a chimeric gene (K k -μ) consisting of extracellular exons of the class I gene H-2K k and the transmembrane and cytosolic exons of the μ constant region gene was introduced into WEHI-231 B lymphoma cells and into mouse blastocysts. A protein consistent with the predicted product of the K k -μ gene was expressed in a transfected cell clone (S18) and in transgenic mice. Crosslinkage of K k -μ protein with soluble, Sepharose-bound, or dextran-conjugated anti-H-2K k antibodies failed to induce the accumulation of inositol phosphates or to elevate intracellular calcium concentrations in either S18 cells or B lymphocytes from transgenic mice. Furthermore, crosslinkage of K k -μ did not inhibit growth of S18 cells or stimulate DNA synthesis by transgenic B cells, in the presence or absence of interleukin-4. The failure of crosslinkage of K k -μ to initiate detectable intracellular biochemical change or to effect cellular growth suggests that simple crosslinkage of molecules expressing the μ transmembrane region is not sufficient to transduce signals in B cells.
Carbon dioxide fixation by microalgae cultivated in open bioreactors

Abstract The biofixation of carbon dioxide (CO2) by microalgae has been proven to be an efficient and economical method, mainly due to the photosynthetic ability of these microorganisms to use this gas as a source of nutrients for their development. The aim of this work was to study the growth of Spirulina LEB18 and Chlorella kessleri microalgae, exposed to controlled and non-controlled conditions, with the injection of different concentrations of CO2. The cultures was carried out in 6 L open raceway ponds, under controlled conditions at 30 °C and 39 μE m−2 s−1 and under non-controlled conditions, protected by a tunnel of transparent film. The experiments were subjected to CO2 injections at concentrations of 0.038, 6, 12 and 18% (v/v). The highest concentration of biomass (4.95 g L−1) and maximum daily fixation (0.21 g g−1 d−1) were obtained for Spirulina LEB18 in culture that was prepared in non-controlled conditions with an injection of 6% (v/v) of CO2. C. kessleri had maximum (p
Automatic tracker with optical correlator

For military and civil use, it is a key to recognize and track a moving target quickly. In the paper, an automatic tracker with optical correlator is presented. It consists of a joint transform correlator (JTC), a computer interface circuit, a power-amplifier and a CCD camera driven by two stepper motors. Experiments demonstrate that it is very effective for tracking targets.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Spin from Isospin in a Gauge Theory

We show that in an SU(2) quantum gauge field theory, with isospin symmetry broken spontaneously by a triplet of scalar mesons, isospinor degrees of freedom are converted into spin degrees of freedom in the field of a magnetic monopole.
Water and the acute biological response to surfaces.

Molecular self association in water through hydrogen bonding is a powerful organizational force leading to a three-dimensional hydrogen-bonded network (water structure) that profoundly influences solvent properties. Localized perturbations in the chemical potential of water as by, for example, contacting with a solid surface, induces compensating changes in water structure that can be sensed tens of nanometers from the point of origin using the surface force apparatus (SFA) and ancillary techniques. These instruments reveal attractive or repulsive forces between opposing surfaces immersed in water, over-and-above that anticipated by continuum theory (DLVO), that are attributed to a variable density (partial molar volume) of a more-or-less ordered water structure, depending on the water wettability (surface energy) of the water-contacting surfaces. Water structure at surfaces is thus found to be a manifestation of hydrophobicity and, while mechanistic/theoretical interpretation of experimental results rema...
Impact of Novel Formulations/Applicators of rFSH in IVF Patients: Estradiol Response Curves for the Creation of Formulation Specific IVF Stimulation Protocols

OBJECTIVE: To identify impact of changes in formulations and medication doses for rFSH applicators: FollistimTM pen and Gonal-f TM multi dose pen. DESIGN: Retrospective clinical study. Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility IVF Private Practice MATERIALS AND METHODS: 118 infertile patients undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with gonadotropins (Gntrps) and GnRH agonist and antagonist for IVF-ET (2003 to 2005) in a private practice IVF clinic. Cycles were grouped according to those that received FollistimTM (F) and those that received Gonal-fTM (G). In a sister abstract, we report comparisons between F treated IVF patients and G treated IVF patients in clinical pregnancies, number of eggs retrieved, number of 2PNs created, and average rFSH dosage per patient . In this study, we analyze ovarian estradiol (E2) response curves and plot outcome specific effects of each Gntrps group. All IVF cycles were monitored in standard fashion and all embryology was performed by a single embryologist. The statistics used for this analysis included: chi-square test, Mann Whitney U unpaired test, One-Way analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS: As we reported in our sister abstract, demographics, infertility statistics, and day 3 FSH levels (range and average) were statistically similar. Embryology data were also similar. Average number of embryos transferred was 2.1 in the F group and 3.2 in the G group (p 0.05). Although, at this time, the pregnancy rates (PR) were not statistically different, 72% of the F group became pregnant and 67% of the G group did likewise, p 0.058. In this study, there were statistical differences in ovarian responses (E2 levels) for days 4, 8, 9, 10, 12 and pre hCG trigger shots between F pregnant and F non pregnant groups (P 0.05). For the G groups, differences were also noted, however they appeared days 5 to day 11 and Pre and Post hCG trigger (p 0.05). When groups were compared by outcomes, i.e., pregnant or not, differences were noted between the F and G groups on days 7, 8, 10 and Pre and Post hCG for the pregnant groups and days 6 to 10 and the Pre and Post hCG for the non pregnant groups (P 0.05). What was most striking was that the F pregnant group E2 response curve was vastly different from the G pregnant and non pregnant group and the F non pregnant group. A model diagram is presented that may be used to modify Gntrps stimulation protocols to augment reproductive outcomes. CONCLUSION: We have demonstrated in a sister abstract for this meeting that new formulations or applicators (the Pen) for recombinant Gntrps can create more pregnancies with fewer embryos (the F group). This study suggests that the ovarian response to these newest Gntrps formulations cause selective responses by the ovary and that modifying these responses may create additional pregnancies in our infertile populations. Supported by: None
A model-based mixture-supervised classification approach in hyperspectral data analysis

It is well known that there is a strong relation between class definition precision and classification accuracy in pattern classification applications. In hyperspectral data analysis, usually classes of interest contain one or more components and may not be well represented by a single Gaussian density function. In this paper, a model-based mixture classifier, which uses mixture models to characterize class densities, is discussed. However, a key outstanding problem of this approach is how to choose the number of components and determine their parameters for such models in practice, and to do so in the face of limited training sets where estimation error becomes a significant factor. The proposed classifier estimates the number of subclasses and class statistics simultaneously by choosing the best model. The structure of class covariances is also addressed through a model-based covariance estimation technique introduced in this paper.
Ultrastructural evidence for the biflagellate origin of the uniflagellate fungal zoospore.

The morphological similarities between the kinetosome and the second centriole of the zoospores of Phlyctochytrium kniepii and P. punctatum (Chytridiomycetes) suggest that the second centriole in the chytrid zoospore is a vestigial flagellum base. It is suggested that the term vestigial kinetosome may also be used when referring to the structure which is presently termed the second centriole of the chytrid zoospore. Morphological similarities between the chytrid zoospores of P. kniepii and P. punctatum and the zoospores of Rhizidiomyces apophysatus (Hyphochytridiomycetes) are noted. The possible biflagellate origin of fungi with uniflagellate zoospores is discussed. The third fiber (C fiber) of the kinetosome triplet is shown to form as an outgrowth of the B fiber of the kinetosome doublet.
The "anterior-only" approach to neck rejuvenation: an alternative to face lift surgery.

Background: The ideal procedure for those patients with aging of the lower face and neck is a cervicofacial rhytidectomy. However, within this group is a subset of patients whose goals can be met with a lesser procedure. These patients must be interested in profile change only, with no desired change in the midface. Methods: Patients undergoing neck rejuvenation by means of a submental approach fall into three groups: (1) patients with obtuse cervicomental angles and good skin elasticity (who may be treated with liposuction alone); (2) patients with subplatysmal fat or mild to moderate skin and muscle laxity (these patients are best treated by anterior lipectomy and platysmaplasty); and (3) patients with marked skin excess or severe skin laxity (best treated by procedures with excised skin, i.e., traditional face lift or direct excision of neck skin and Z-plasty). Results: Thirty-three consecutive patients with mild (grade II, 16 patients), moderate (grade III, 11 patients), and severe (grade IV, six patients) cervicomental angle deformities were treated with anterior platysmaplasty and submental lipectomy. Twenty of 33 patients improved by one grade (61 percent), whereas 12 of 33 improved by two grades (36 percent). Conclusions: Young patients with minimal subplatysmal fat can be treated by liposuction alone. Patients with subplatysmal fat and mild or moderate skin or muscle laxity will obtain consistent results with platysmaplasty and submental lipectomy. Skin excisional procedures are reserved for those patients with severe skin excess or laxity.
Carcinoma of the female reproductive organs. Value of cross‐sectional imaging

Cross-sectional imaging techniques i.e., computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), play an integral role in the evaluation of patients with carcinoma of the female reproductive system. Neither CT nor MRI, however, are tissue-specific, and benign and malignant disease cannot be differentiated using these techniques alone. Therefore, the diagnosis is clinical and is based on history, physical examination, and histology. After the diagnosis has been made, CT and MRI are recommended for noninvasive evaluation of tumor extent, often helping in designing optimal therapy, thus facilitating more effective treatment and ultimately influencing patient prognosis. In evaluating tumors of the uterus, including endometrial and cervical carcinomas, CT is limited to the evaluation of more extensive disease. It is believed that the value of CT rises proportionately to the size and extent of disease. Its major limitation is suboptimal tissue contrast resolution, making differentiation between a small tumor and the surrounding normal tissue difficult. MRI renders excellent soft tissue contrast, allowing direct tumor visualization and assessment of tumor volume, depth of penetration, and extension to adjacent tissues. Assessment of these parameters is crucial in deciding on the choice of therapy, whether surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or their combination. The initial management of ovarian cancer usually includes surgical staging with tumor debulking. CT remains the primary staging technique; its value resides primarily in identification of tumor metastases and in patient follow-up. Despite progress in the use of CT and MRI, second-look laparotomy for ovarian cancer has not been superseded. Technical advances in radiologic cross-sectional imaging have significantly improved the accuracy of noninvasive tumor staging. Although there are still limitations to these techniques, additional technical improvement and better tissue characterization are imminent.
Nanoscience enables ultrasensitive detection of Alzheimer's biomarker

Alzheimer's disease (AD), which afflicts an estimated 16 million people worldwide, is a neurodegenerative dementia characterized by memory loss and cognitive impairment (1). Symptoms begin with mild cognitive impairment that cannot be distinguished from other more benign forms of age-related dementia. Even as the disease progresses, clinical diagnosis can be made with only 65–90% accuracy. AD cannot be definitively diagnosed until after death, when brain tissue can be examined for the senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles characteristic of the disease (2). The plaques result from aggregation of amyloid-β peptides and were long thought to be responsible for AD pathogenesis; however, their presence does not always correlate with neurological symptoms. Smaller, soluble oligomers of these peptides, referred to as amyloid-β-derived diffusible ligands (ADDLs), have recently been hypothesized as the causative agent in AD-related memory loss (3). Support for the role of ADDLs comes from their neurotoxicity (4), presence at elevated levels in the brains of AD patients as compared with age-matched controls (5), and mouse studies that indicate a reversal of memory loss upon injection of amyloid-β antibodies (6, 7). The work of Klein, Mirkin, and coworkers in this issue of PNAS (8) takes a significant step forward by demonstrating elevated ADDL concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients who had been diagnosed (postmortem) with AD, as compared with healthy subjects. The correlation of CSF ADDL levels with disease state offers promise for …
From vanguard to vanished: The declining influence of criminology textbooks on scholarship

Abstract This report examines the declining influence of criminology textbooks on scholarship in criminology/ criminal justice by comparing the citations of forty-five older textbooks (published from 1918 to 1965) and forty-nine newer textbooks (published from 1976 to 1985) in the articles and research notes appearing in the seven leading criminology/criminal justice and sociology journals published from 1966 to 1972 and 1986 to 1992. The findings show that the older textbooks were cited far more often in the leading journals than were the newer textbooks. Some reasons for these changes are offered.
An alternative to curriculum 68

The authors of this paper have had the opportunity to view computer science (CPS) curricula from three different perspectives - as students themselves, as professional applications programmers, and as employers of current computer science majors. We are concerned that the typical course of study is no longer adequate to prepare students for the real world of computer applications. The purpose of this paper is to point out some problem areas and to suggest an alternative.
A Way to Find a Lower Bound for the Minimal Solution of the Covering Problem

This correspondence derives a lower bound for the size of a minimal solution of a 0-1 covering problem.
A prediction based approach to IP traceback

Sources of a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack can be identified by the traffic they generate using the IP traceback technique. Because of its relevance, the Probabilistic Packet Marking (PPM) schemes for IP traceback is an intensively researched field. In these schemes, routers are given the extra function of randomly selecting packets from those that go through them, to embed their address information in those selected packets. During or after the attack, the paths that were traversed by the attack traffic can be identified based on the router information in the marked packets. Since these schemes require a large number of received packets to trace an attacker successfully, they usually demand a high time and space complexity to trace many attackers as is the case in DDoS attacks. This is partly because the marking scheme allows remarking, where routers can overwrite previous marking information in a selected packet, which leads to data loss. We present the Prediction Based Scheme (PBS), which is an addition to the PPM schemes for IP tracetrack. The proposed approach consists of two parts: (a) a marking scheme, that reduces the number of packets required to trace a DoS attacker and (b) an extension to a traceback algorithm, whose main feature is to return a complete attack graph with fewer received packets than the traditional algorithm. The proposed marking scheme alleviates the problem of data loss by ensuring previous marking information is not overwritten. Additionally, the proposed traceback algorithm uses graphs built using legitimate traffic to predict the path taken by attack traffic. Results show that the marking scheme in PBS, compared to PPM, ensures that traceback is possible with about 54% as many total packets to achieve complete attack path construction, while the traceback algorithm takes about 33% as many marked packets.
The isomorphism problem for Cayley ternary relational structures for some abelian groups of order 8p

A ternary relational structure X is an ordered pair (V,E) where V is a set and E a set of ordered 3-tuples whose coordinates are chosen from V (so a ternary relational structure is a natural generalization of a 3-uniform hypergraph). A ternary relational structure is called a Cayley ternary relational structure of a group G if Aut(X), the automorphism group of X, contains the left regular representation of G. We prove that two Cayley ternary relational structures of Z"2^3xZ"p, p>=11 a prime, are isomorphic if and only if they are isomorphic by a group automorphism of Z"2^3xZ"p. This result then implies that any two Cayley digraphs of Z"2^3xZ"p are isomorphic if and only if they are isomorphic by a group automorphism of Z"2^3xZ"p, p>=11 a prime.
ALA Annual Conference, Washington DC: LITA Top Tech Trends Update

Purpose – To report the highlights of the annual Library and Information Technology Association (LITA) Top Technology Trends program at 2007 American Library Association Annual Conference in Washington, DC.Design/methodology/approach – Provides a brief review of the conference program on technology issues in libraries.Findings – This summary of LITA section Top Technology Trends program with presentations and information. The presentations focus is on new technologies and their applications in a variety of library environments. The program offered a wide variety of timely presentations that were on new and emerging technologies and the application to the library environment.Originality/value – Provides descriptions of opinions on technological trends in library and information services from industry professionals.
Antigen Identification and Characterization of Lung Cancer Specific Monoclonal Antibodies Produced by mAb Proteomics

A mass spectrometric (MS)-based strategy for antigen (Ag) identification and characterization of globally produced monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) is described. Mice were immunized with a mixture of native glycoproteins, isolated from the pooled plasma of patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC), to generate a library of IgG-secreting hybridomas. Prior to immunization, the pooled NSCLC plasma was subjected to 3-sequential steps of affinity fractionation, including high abundant plasma protein depletion, glycoprotein enrichment, and polyclonal antibody affinity chromatography normalization. In this paper, to demonstrate the high quality of the globally produced mAbs, we selected 3 mAbs of high differentiating power against a matched, pooled normal plasma sample. After production of large quantities of the mAbs from ascites fluids, Ag identification was achieved by immunoaffinity purification, SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, and MS analysis of in-gel digest products. One antigen was found to be complement factor H, and the other two were mapped to different subunits of haptoglobin (Hpt). The 2 Hpt mAbs were characterized in detail to assess the quality of the mAbs produced by the global strategy. The affinity of one of the mAbs to the Hpt native tetramer form was found to have a K(D) of roughly 10(-9) M and to be 2 orders of magnitude lower than the reduced form, demonstrating the power of the mAb proteomics technology in generating mAbs to the natural form of the proteins in blood. The binding of this mAb to the beta-chain of haptoglobin was also dependent on glycosylation on this chain. The characterization of mAbs in this work reveals that the global mAb proteomics process can generate high-quality lung cancer specific mAbs capable of recognizing proteins in their native state.
Defective Transamination, a Mechanism for Resistance to Ketomycin in Escherichia coli

Abstract A spontaneous mutant of a derivative of Escherichia coli strain K-12 resistant to 50 μg of ketomycin per ml was selected. The mutant displayed a two- to threefold derepression of the isoleucine-valine biosynthetic enzymes and a reduced growth rate in minimal medium. The lesion was found to lie in the gene (ilvE) specifying transaminase B and resulted in an isoleucine limitation. The presence of exogenous isoleucine during growth in minimal medium restored normal phenotypic properties. The reduced transaminase B activity is responsible for the resistance to ketomycin. An unusual derepression of the acetohydroxy acid synthetase in response to an isoleucine limitation was noted.
Stop IAKT syndrome with student live search demos

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to share a classroom teaching technique and pedagogical style that can alleviate difficulties encountered during information literacy instruction sessions when students think they already know everything the librarian instructor plans to cover in the session. Ignoring this situation can result in a poor teaching and learning experience for all.Design/methodology/approach – This is a case study in which the author describes how to effectively involve students as active participants in search demonstrations during instruction sessions. It provides both a pedagogical rationale for this practice and practical examples of how it is accomplished.Findings – Though inviting students to conduct live searches in an instruction session is somewhat risky, the author concludes that engaging students by having them demonstrate online searches is of greater interest to their peers and contributes to a more powerful learning experience.Practical implications – This paper provides cl...
Characterization of microsatellite loci for the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, and their potential for analysis of colony structure in invading Hawaiian populations

We developed primers for five polymorphic microsatellite loci to analyse the genetic structure of colonies in an invading Argentine ant population located in Haleakala National Park on the island of Maui, Hawaii. Microsatellite loci were isolated using both a polymerase chain reaction-based and a cloning-based method. With a range of 3–18 alleles and expected levels of heterozygosity of 0.46–0.77, these loci provide useful markers for the detection of colony and population structure in new or expanding populations of this species.
Nanoscale Energy Conversion and Its Applications

There are many ways in which the energy around us can be stored, converted, and developed for use. Energy exists in two basic types: potential energy, including chemical, elastic, gravitational, and nuclear energies, and kinetic energy, including heat, electrical, and electromagnetic energies. It is often necessary to convert one type of energy to another type or other types of energy. However, human engineering and nature take very different paths to complete such conversion processes. This paper discusses the similarities and dissimilarities of energy conversion processes that are taken by nature and human engineering. One might notice that energy conversion efficiency in biological systems is often higher than what human engineering can offer. As an attempt to mimic nature’s way of energy conversion on the nanoscale, our experiment indicates that nanocatalytic particles can convert chemical energy directly to thermal energy without conventional high-temperature gas-phase combustion and without the traditional ignition process. Furthermore, we have converted chemical energy to thermal energy and thermal energy to electrical energy on semiconductor materials, an achievement that raises the possibility of constructing a new class of nano-thermoelectric power generation systems.© 2007 ASME
Locus of Control Orientations in Students with Intellectual Disability, Learning Disabilities, and No Disabilities: A Latent Growth Curve Analysis

Previous research has suggested differences in the locus of control (LOC) orientations of students with intellectual disability, learning disabilities, and no disabilities, although this research has been characterized by methodological limitations. The purpose of this study was to examine the development of LOC orientations in students with intellectual disability, learning disabilities, and no disabilities using an accelerated design and a curve-of-factors modeling framework. Participants were 1,344 children and young people between the ages of 8 and 18 years who completed two measures of LOC orientations. Students with intellectual disability, at 8 years, tend to be more externally oriented than their peers with learning disabilities and no disabilities, and from 8 to 20 years, they do not significantly increase or decrease in their perceptions of their ability to exert control over their lives. Students with learning disabilities and no disabilities tend to develop more positive orientations as they a...
Finding a new sense of self: What the clinician can do to help

Abstract Shelagh Brumfitt deserves thanks, from aphasic individuals and their families, as well as from speech-language pathologists, for her eloquent and scholarly reminder of the intense and often devastating effects that aphasia can render upon psychosocial and emotional well-being. Brumfitt opened a door, giving aphasia clinicians permission and encouragement to enter into the interpersonal aspects of the aphasic patient's world. Yet we finished the article with a sense of incompletion, wishing that she had gone on to provide suggestions to assist clinicians in their efforts to help aphasic patients deal with loss and change. If, as Brumfitt clearly urges, we should be prepared to ‘face the distress of the aphasic person’, we need some ideas about how to do it. Perhaps rushing in where winged and haloed creatures might be more cautious, we would like to provide some thoughts on how this might be done.
Persistent spatial patterns for semi-discrete models of excitable media

Excitable media have the property that in the spatially homogeneous configuration there is a globally asymptotically stable equilibrium, and no sustained non-decaying oscillations are possible. If diffusion effects are present, however, experiments seem to indicate the possibility of persistent oscillations. In more than one space dimension this may occur, apparently, even if the initial disturbance is restricted to a compact subset of an open domain in the medium. In this paper we discuss a mathematical model of this phenomenon. The model consists of a doubly infinite coupled system of ordinary differential equations, and therefore is intended to represent a spatially discrete network of interconnected “cells”.
Chemotherapy of Tuberculosis and the Mode of Action of the Sulfonamide Compounds

In one of the sulfones is to be found the first chemotherapeutic agent against tuberculosis that has sufficient promise experimentally to justify a thorough-going trial clinically. As regards the difficult problem concerning the mode of action of the sulfonamide compounds generally, it is becoming clearer that their biochemical effects are such as to interfere with the nutrition of the bacteria. This they do by damaging their enzyme systems. Theoretically, this can come about in at least two ways; they may inactivate certain enzymes per se , or they may block enzyme action by interfering with the coenzymes. Thus, the catalase-peroxydase system of enzymes can be inactivated by certain intermediate products of the oxidation of sulfanilamide. Hydroxylamine, or some related form, is perhaps the best example of this possibility. On the other hand, sulfathiazole, presumably by virtue of the chemical constitution of its thiazole group, can interfere with the synthesis of co-zymase, a growth factor indispensable for the nutrition of the staphylococcus. Inasmuch as we are dealing with oxidation-reduction mechanisms, it is conceivable that these separate biochemical functions are complementary, at least in some instances. However, there is as yet no direct evidence on the point. Anti-enzymatic action is likewise responsible for certain of the toxic effects of these drugs. Thus, the acidosis produced by sulfanilamide is referable to the inhibition of the enzyme, carbonic anhydrase, while the cyanosis is referable to a similar, if not identical, effect on hemoglobin. That is to say, it is partially oxidized to methemoglobin by the toxic NO 2 and NO derivatives of the free amino group of sulfanilamide. Finally, certain of the sulfonamide compounds, such as sulfathiazole, seem capable of stimulating the rate of oxygen consumption of the body tissues, either as a whole or, in some instances, individual tissues. This all suggests that the effect of sulfathiazole on localized infections and on wound healing where no infection is involved, is due in part to an increase in tissue resistance.
James Webb Space Telescope

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is the scientific successor to the Hubble and Spitzer missions. Its wavelength range (1 - 28μm) and sensitivity (1 nJy - 1 μJy) complement the submillimeter facilities of the coming decade, Herschel and ALMA. The JWST development is on schedule for a June 2013 launch to L2 on an Ariane 5.
An overview of the chemical modification of stroma free hemoglobin.

(1988). An Overview of the Chemical Modification of Stroma Free Hemoglobin. Biomaterials, Artificial Cells and Artificial Organs: Vol. 16, No. 1-3, pp. 71-75.