cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Towars a Theory of Stochastic Hybrid Systems

n this paper, we present a scheme of stochastic hybrid system which introduces randomness to the deterministic framework of the traditional hybrid systems by allowing the flow inside each invariant set of the discrete state variables to be governed by stochastic differential equation (SDE) rather than the deterministic ones. The notion of embedded Markov chains is proposed for such systems and some illustrative example from high way model is presented. As an important application, these ideas are then applied to the state space discretization of one dimensional SDE to obtain the natural discretized stochastic hybrid system together with its embedded MC. The invariant distribution and exit probability from interval of the MC are studied and it is shown that they converge to their counterparts for the solution process of the original SDE as the discretization step goes to zero. As a result, the discretized stochastic hybrid system provides a useful tool for studying various sample path properties of the SDE.
Private Environmental Governance

Environmental law has quietly transformed from a positive law field deeply rooted in administrative law to one that is also heavily rooted in private law and private governance. After two decades (1970-1990) of remarkable activity, more than two decades have now passed without a major federal environmental statute (1991-2012). Whether the appropriate next step is expansion or contraction, reforms to the federal statutory framework have stalled. Federal regulatory activity and state and local measures have filled some of the gap, but private governance efforts – the pursuit of public ends through private standards, monitoring, enforcement, and dispute resolution – now play an important role. Corporations report that their toxics use is regulated more by private supply chain contract requirements than the federal toxics statute. The fate of 14% of the temperate forests and 7% of the fisheries around the world is in the hands of private certification systems. More money is spent on private environmental inspections than on the entire federal environmental enforcement office. The emergence of private governance is hiding in plain view because the conceptual model by which environmental law is viewed and the metrics by which legal activity is measured do not square easily with private governance. Environmental preferences are expressed in private market decisions, not through voting or lobbying. Standard-setting, enforcement, and dispute resolution occur through private actions and institutions, not legislatures, agencies and courts. This Article demonstrates the value of conceptualizing seemingly disparate private activities as a discrete new model of environmental governance. Viewing private environmental governance in this way provides new insights about collective action problems, re-frames the standards used for environmental instrument choice, and suggests new actors and actions to address environmental problems.
Effects of a grape-supplemented diet on proliferation and Wnt signaling in the colonic mucosa are greatest for those over age 50 and with high arginine consumption

A diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and a grape-derived compound, resveratrol, have been linked to a reduced incidence of colon cancer. In vitro and in vivo, resveratrol suppresses Wnt signaling, a pathway constitutively activated in over 85 % of colon cancers. Thirty participants were placed on a low resveratrol diet and subsequently allocated to one of three groups ingesting 1/3-to-1 lb (0.15–0.45 kg) of grapes per day for 2 weeks. Dietary information was collected via 24-h recall. Colon biopsies for biomarker analysis were obtained pre- and post-grape and evaluated for the expression of Wnt pathway target genes and for markers of proliferation by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Participants lost an average of 2 · 6 lb (1.2 kg, p = 0 · 0018) during the period of grape ingestion. The expression of CyclinD1 (p < 0 · 01), AXIN2, CD133 (p = 0 · 02) and Ki67 (p = 0 · 002) were all reduced after grape ingestion. Individuals over 50 years of age and those with high dietary arginine consumption had increased basal expression of CyclinD1, AXIN2, cMYC and CD133 (p value range 0 · 04 to <0 · 001) that, following grape ingestion, were reduced to levels seen in younger participants. The reduction in Wnt signaling and mucosal proliferation seen following short-term ingestion of 1/3–1 lb (0.15–0.45 kg) of grapes per day may reduce the risk of mutational events that can facilitate colon carcinogenesis. The potential benefit is most marked for high-risk older individuals and individuals whose diet is high in arginine intake. Dietary grape supplementation may play a role in colon cancer prevention for high-risk individuals.
An immunohistochemical study of the nerve growth factor receptor in developing rats

Nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor expression was studied in rats between embryonic day 11 (E11) to postnatal day 10 (PND10) by using a monoclonal antibody, 192-IgG, that specifically recognizes rat NGF receptor. Sympathetic ganglia were lightly stained by 192-IgG for NGF receptor immunoreactivity (NGFRI) (E11-PND10). Neural crest-derived sensory ganglia were moderately to densely stained (E11-PND10). Areas in CNS innervated by the central processes of these ganglia were also stained. Parasympathetic ciliary ganglion showed some detectable staining (E16-PND6). Placode-derived sensory ganglia were stained more densely than that of neural crest-derived sensory ganglia. The most densely stained tissue for NGFRI was found in all peripheral nerves. Basal forebrain cholinergic neurons were NGFRI positive from E15 throughout the period examined. Motoneurons in both spinal cord and brain stem were positive for NGFRI between E15 and PND10. NGFRI staining was seen in a variety of sensory pathways and related structures, such as olfactory tract and glomerular layer of olfactory bulb; retina, optic nerve and tract, lateral geniculate nucleus, medial terminal nucleus of the accessory optic tract, and olivary pretectal nucleus; ventral cochlear nucleus and to a lesser degree in dorsal cochlear nucleus, superior olive, and nucleus of lateral lemniscus; solitary tract; cuneate nucleus, gracile nucleus, and ventroposterior thalamic nucleus. The specific staining was also found in some other CNS structures, including brain-stem reticular formation; amygdala; medial nucleus of inferior olive but not the rest of inferior olive, external granule cell layer and Purkinje's cells of cerebellum, and deep cerebellar nuclei. Some non-neuronal tissues such as meninges and dental tissue showed very distinctive staining. Limb buds and somites were NGFRI positive starting at E11, and the staining on muscle tissue became very dense at E15-E18 and largely disappeared around PND10. Embryonic thymus was positive for NGFRI. The adventitia surrounding blood vessels was very densely stained. The changes in NGFRI staining seen in this study suggest that NGF may have broader effects during development than previously thought.
Semivariogram modeling by weighted least squares

Abstract Permissible semivariogram models are fundamental for geostatistical estimation and simulation of attributes having a continuous spatiotemporal variation. The usual practice is to fit those models manually to experimental semivariograms. Fitting by weighted least squares produces comparable results to fitting manually in less time, systematically, and provides an Akaike information criterion for the proper comparison of alternative models. We illustrate the application of a computer program with examples showing the fitting of simple and nested models.
Intracranial capillary hemangioma : case report and review of the literature

Abstract Background Capillary hemangiomas are benign vascular lesions that commonly present at birth or in early infancy on the face, scalp, back, or chest. The authors present an exceedingly rare case of an intracranial capillary hemangioma arising in an adult. Only 4 biopsy-proven cases have been reported in the pediatric population previous to this case report. Case Description A 31-year-old pregnant woman presented at 38 weeks of gestation with severe headaches, nausea, and vomiting. Imaging revealed an extra-axial mass lesion arising from the tentorium with both supra- and infratentorial components. The patient underwent a resection of her tumor, which was diagnosed as a capillary hemangioma by histopathologic examination. The patient required 2 further resections after the lesion exhibited a rapid regrowth from residual tumor in the left transverse sinus. The patient has remained free of disease 41 months out from her third surgery. Conclusions Intracranial capillary hemangiomas are exceedingly rare entities, with a capability for rapid growth. When gross total resection cannot be achieved, these patients should be observed closely, and the use of adjuvant radiotherapy should be considered.
Characterization of Different Starches Oxidized by Hypochlorite

The effects of starch origin (potato, corn, and rice starches) and hypochlorite level (NaOCl, 0.8% and 2% w/w) on the structures and physicochemical properties of oxidized starches were investigated. Carboxyl and carbonyl group contents of oxidized starches increased with increasing NaOCl level, with potato starch having the highest and corn starch having the lowest carboxyl groups content at both NaOCl levels. Oxidation generally reduced the pasting temperature and viscosity of native starches as demonstrated by using a Rapid Visco Analyser. The peak viscosities of oxidized rice and corn starches were higher than those of their native counterparts at 0.8% NaOCl. The morphology of starches was not altered and X-ray diffraction patterns of all the starches remained unchanged after oxidation. Oxidized starch batters exhibited greater adhesions than did native starch batters, with rice starch batter exhibiting the greatest adhesion. Carbohydrate profiles by high-performance size-exclusion chromatography indicated that both amylopectin and amylose were degraded during oxidation. The level of oxidation was largely dependent on the degree of crystallinity of starch and the degree of polymerization of amylose, whereas the adhesion property of oxidized starch was mainly attributed to its granular size and shape.
Leukocyte Recruitment and Ischemic Brain Injury

Leukocytes are recruited into the cerebral microcirculation following an ischemic insult. The leukocyte–endothelial cell adhesion manifested within a few hours after ischemia (followed by reperfusion, I/R) largely reflects an infiltration of neutrophils, while other leukocyte populations appear to dominate the adhesive interactions with the vessel wall at 24 h of reperfusion. The influx of rolling and adherent leukocytes is accompanied by the recruitment of adherent platelets, which likely enhances the cytotoxic potential of the leukocytes to which they are attached. The recruitment of leukocytes and platelets in the postischemic brain is mediated by specific adhesion glycoproteins expressed by the activated blood cells and on cerebral microvascular endothelial cells. This process is also modulated by different signaling pathways (e.g., CD40/CD40L, Notch) and cytokines (e.g., RANTES) that are activated/released following I/R. Some of the known risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including hypercholesterolemia and obesity appear to exacerbate the leukocyte and platelet recruitment elicited by brain I/R. Although lymphocyte–endothelial cell and –platelet interactions in the postischemic cerebral microcirculation have not been evaluated to date, recent evidence in experimental animals implicate both CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes in the cerebral microvascular dysfunction, inflammation, and tissue injury associated with brain I/R. Evidence implicating regulatory T-cells as cerebroprotective modulators of the inflammatory and tissue injury responses to brain I/R support a continued focus on leukocytes as a target for therapeutic intervention in ischemic stroke.
Efficient approach for the parallel solid-phase synthesis of 1,1,3,4-tetrasubstituted-5-oxopiperazin-1-ium compounds

An efficient approach for the design and parallel solid-phase synthesis of unique tetrasubstituted oxopiperazinium derivatives is presented. The synthetic procedure involved a seven-step sequence carried out starting from resin-bound dipeptides. The desired compounds were obtained in good yields and high purity.
Social Backgrounds as Predictors of Votes On State Courts of Last Resort: the Case of Sex Discrimination:

HE VIABILITY of the social background approach as a means by which to explain judicial behavior has been an issue of considerable scholarly debate. The internal logic of the theory remains sound: shared social and political traits reflect similar socialization processes and life experiences, which in turn produce similar attitudes and ultimately behavior (votes). Several different kinds of criticisms of this approach have been levied. For one thing, social background factors have not proven to be particularly effective means by which to explain judicial behavior. The conceptual criticisms are perhaps more serious. For example, exclusive attention to social backgrounds ignores the effects of several important institutional factors such as attention to precedent, judicial independence, and the bond which exists among judges (Grossman 1966). Goldman and Sarat (1978: 374) claim that background traits are too crude to be linked to attitudes, values, and roles; it is impossible to draw causal connections between background characteristics and votes (see also Gibson 1978). Furthermore, while the particular life experiences of a given jurist will have obvious implications for attitude formation and decision making, this link as important as it may be on an individual basis becomes hopelessly strained when these personal attributes are aggregated for often hundreds of judges and thousands of votes. Despite these criticisms, social background theory has demonstrated its resilience, inspired most recently by the work of Tate (1981) and Carp and Rowland (1983) among others. Of special significance is Tate's argument for strengthening the theoretical link between backgrounds, values, and behavior (the Achilles' heel of background research): "It may be that attitudes reflecting values and role perceptions, the intervening variables ostensibly excluded from attribute models, are so closely linked in a causal sense to voting that one can serve as an operational indicator of the other. ... If votes and attitudes are so closely linked that one may be inferred from the other, it would appear that for most analytical purposes they may be indistinguishable" (p. 365). The conclusion would appear to be that the social background approach remains viable, yet is not without limitations. Social backgrounds are indeed important, yet a comprehensive model of judicial behavior would have
Statistical Computation of Discrete Cosine Transform in Video Encoders

Computation reduction is important for the implementation of software video codecs. This paper describes a scheme for reducing the required computations in video encoders by skipping some of the discrete cosine transformation (DCT) and quantization calculations. We study the relationship between the mean absolute error (MAE) of the motion compensated difference blocks and the distribution of DCT coefficients. The relationship between the quantized DCT coefficients and the quantization level is also investigated. Based on the MAE of the motion compensated difference block and the quantization level, three options for the DCT calculation can be chosen: calculating all 8 × 8 DCT coefficients, calculating the DC coefficient only, or skipping the whole DCT computation. Simulation results show that the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) degradation is negligible with significant computation reduction achieved.
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA AND THE WIDER WORLD OF ISLAM: HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES*

Today we come face to face with perhaps the greatest evil that stalks the modern world-that of nationalism ... The path of the Ummah and that of the Islamic movement is blocked by nation-states. These nation-states are like huge boulders blown across our path by the ill-wind of recent history. All nation-states that today occupy, enslave and exploit the lands, peoples and resources of the Ummah must of necessity be dismantled ..... It is quite clear that one Ummah must mean one Islamic movement, leading to one global Islamic State under one Imam/Khalifa. (Kalim Saddiqui in M. Ghayasuddin, The Impact of Nationalism on the Muslim World,
Conflicts inherent in Corporate Codes

Codes of Conduct have enjoyed a long history as guides to human behavior. Corporate Codes of Conduct enjoy significant popularity in the U.S. and U.K. This article examines Codes in terms of their evolution (history), expectations (from possible to impossible), and enforcement (the area of greatest difficulty). The article examines trends in Corporate Codes and defines Codes as one aspect of developing corporate conscience. The article concludes with the view that useful as Codes may be, the inherent problem with Codes has been their separation over time from a moral foundation or philosophical base.
Soil Quality and its Dependence on Dynamic Physical Processes

Protecting the ability of the soil resource to operate for the benefit of all biological entities is a necessary and unarguable goal. Soils are central to life, and the processes that occur in soils are crucial components of the global ecosystem. Protecting these resources from deterioration as a result of human activities is the present focus of many, not only in the scientific community, but in society at-large. Ecologists, climatologists, hydrologists and, of course, agriculturalists are well aware of the importance of protecting soil quality. So too, have land-use planners, public works engineers, water quality specialists, and fertilizer and pesticide dealers become aware of the importance of maintaining the ability of soil to sustain plant growth, infiltrate and redistribute water and chemicals, and act as natural biological filters. The dynamic processes that exist in a soil system are the determinants of the soil's condition, or quality, at any one time. These dynamic processes determine the potential of the soil to, for example, redistribute water, allow gas exchange, and bear a load at a specific time. Prediction of soil quality must project the effect of these dynamic processes in current or proposed management systems, if soil quality is to be maintained or enhanced.
Electrical Effects on Atmospheric Chemistry

Electrical discharges in planetary atmospheres, and lightning in particular, can cause otherwise unexpected—but highly important—chemical species to be present. The synthesis of oxidants on Mars, nitrates on Earth and Early Mars, and of organic matter elsewhere can be driven by lightning and related electrical phenomena.
Mice lacking cathepsin K maintain bone remodeling but develop bone fragility despite high bone mass.

Bone microstructural and biomechanical properties were analyzed in mice genetically lacking cathepsin K (CatK). CatK deficiency (CatK−/−) produced mild osteopetrosis, elevated numbers of osteoclasts, regions of disorganized bone microstructure, and increased bone fragility, showing how chronic alteration of enzyme activity during skeletal development dramatically affects bone organization and function. Introduction: Mouse models of CatK deficiency recapitulate the osteopetrosis of human pyknodysostosis and allow study of clinically relevant issues: how inhibition of this enzyme activity affects bone integrity structurally and biomechanically. To address these questions, we generated CatK-deficient mice by targeted disruption of the Ctsk gene and compared their bone structural and mechanical properties with wildtype (WT) controls. Materials and Methods: Standard histomorphometric and biomechanical analyses were performed on femora from C57BL/6J male and female CatK−/−, CatK+/−, and WT mice. Results: CatK−/− femora exhibited the mild metaphyseal osteopetrosis, a greater cortical bone area and thickness, normal bone strength, but a high degree of brittleness (nearly 50–70% decrease in postyield displacement versus WT) and a 30–40% reduction in the work-to-failure. In cancellous bone, osteoclast numbers and resorption surface were increased markedly (∼150% and 50%, respectively), despite the overall decrease in net bone resorption for CatK-deficient mice. Bone formation indices were altered in CatK−/− mice as well, with significant increases in mineral appositional rate, but not in bone formation surface; these data suggest difference in osteoblast work but not in their recruitment in CatK deficiency. CatK-deficient cortical bones had large areas of woven bone and intracortical resorption spaces within the disorganized tissue. Bone phenotype in CatK−/− was similar in males and females. Conclusions: Genetic CatK deficiency in mice results not only in the impairment of osteoclast function and osteopetrosis, but also altered osteoblast function, defective tissue organization, and very brittle bones. Whether this bone fragility in CatK deficiency results entirely from indirect effects of suppressed bone turnover because of impaired osteoclast function or perhaps represents a previously unappreciated more direct role for CatK in bone formation remains to be established.
Rapid resolution of carbohydrate isomers by electrospray ionization ambient pressure ion mobility spectrometry-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-APIMS-TOFMS)

Carbohydrates are an extremely complex group of isomeric molecules that have been difficult to analyze in the gas phase by mass spectrometry because (1) precursor ions and product ions to successive stages of MS(n) are frequently mixtures of isomers, and (2) detailed information about the anomeric configuration and location of specific stereochemical variants of monosaccharides within larger molecules has not been possible to obtain in a general way. Herein, it is demonstrated that gas-phase analyses by direct combination of electrospray ionization, ambient pressure ion mobility spectrometry, and time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-APIMS-TOFMS) provides sufficient resolution to separate different anomeric methyl glycosides and to separate different stereoisomeric methyl glycosides having the same anomeric configuration. Reducing sugars were typically resolved into more than one peak, which might represent separation of cyclic species having different anomeric configurations and/or ring forms. The extent of separation, both with methyl glycosides and reducing sugars, was significantly affected by the nature of the drift gas and by the nature of an adducting metal ion or ion complex. The study demonstrated that ESI-APIMS-TOFMS is a rapid and effective analytical technique for the separation of isomeric methyl glycosides and simple sugars, and can be used to differentiate glycosides having different anomeric configurations.
Forest Harvesting Influence on Water Table Dynamics in a Florida Flatwoods Landscape

Flatwoods are an important ecological plant community in the southeastern Coastal Plain with approximately one-third of Florida's flatwoods in timberland. This study was conducted to investigate hydroperiod changes in the water table of both hydric and nonhydric soils following harvest in a Florida cypress [Taxodium distichum (L.)]-pine (Pinus elliottii var. elliottii Engelm.) flatwoods landscape. Shallow water-table wells were established on a 42-ha area and divided into three harvesting treatments containing mature slash pine plantations and pine-cypress swamps: control, dearcut (both hydric and nonhydric soils harvested), and cypress swamps only harvested (hydric soils only harvested). Water-table measurements were obtained at 2-wk intervals for 6 yr. Harvesting treatments occurred 2 yr into the study. Regression equations created from preharvest water-table data between the control block and harvested blocks allowed us to predict uncut water-table responses in the cut areas. These predicted values were compared with the actual postharvest observations. The water-table level increased 48 and 49 cm and 19 and 21 cm in the hydric and nonhydric soils in the dearcut and cypress swamps only cut, respectively, during the first 126 d after harvesting. Significant differences (P < 0.10) in water-table depth because of harvesting occurred throughout the four postharvest years, but the differences were less than seen initially, and the pattern was seasonal. Compared with the predicted uncut condition, water tables tended to be lower (drier) during the growing season and higher (wetter) during the nongrowing season. These seasonal fluctuations were presumably driven by changes in evapotranspiration rates resulting from differences in leaf area of the pine canopy and understory.
Acoustical communication of male sharp-tailed grouse (Pedioecetes phasianellus) on a north dakota dancing ground

Abstract Male sharp-tailed grouse ( Pedioecetes phasianellus ) possess a complex set of acoustic signals used to mediate their social interactions. Coos are species typical and stereotyped, are common during most of the spring mating season, and are concerned with species identification and advertisement. Gobbles are aggressive, differ consistently among individuals, are common only during the first portion of the season, and are involved in the establishment and defence of territories. During midseason females visit the lek, are courted by males, and copulations occur. At this time, dancing, chilks, and cork notes (all common) are concerned with attracting and stimulating females. Other sounds are aggressive (face-off chatter) or allow males to maintain contact during lulls in activity (cluck).
Solid Phase Synthesis and Restriction Endonuclease Cleavage of Oligodeoxynucleotides Containing 5-(Hydroxymethyl)-Cytosine

Emerging data suggest an important role for cytosine methylation in tumorigenesis. Simultaneously, recent studies indicate a significant contribution of endogenous oxidative DNA damage to the development of human disease. Oxidation of the 5-methyl group of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) residues in DNA results in the formation of 5-(hydroxymethyl)cytosine (hmC). The biological consequences ofhmC residues in vertebrate DNA are as yet unknown; however, conversion of the hydrophobic methyl group to the hydrophilic hydroxymethyl group may substantially alter the interaction of sequence-specific binding proteins with DNA. Central to both biophysical and biochemical studies on the potential consequences of specific DNA damage products such as hmC are efficient methods for the synthesis of oligodeoxynucleotides containing such modified bases at selected positions. In this paper, we describe a method for the placement of hmC residues in oligodeoxynucleotides using established phosphoramidite chemistry. In addition, we have examined the influence of specific hmC residues on enzymatic cleavage of oligodeoxynucleotides by the methylation-sensitive restriction endonucleases MspI and HpaII.
Regulation of gonadal sex ratios and pubertal development by the thyroid endocrine system in zebrafish ( Danio rerio )

We examined associations between thyroid condition, gonadal sex and pubertal development in zebrafish. Seventy-two-hour postfertilization larvae were reared in untreated medium or in the presence of goitrogens (sodium perchlorate, 0.82 mM; methimazole, 0.15 and 0.3 mM) or thyroxine (1 and 10 nM) for 30 days. Thyrocyte height, gonadal sex and gonadal development were histologically determined at 45 and 60 days postfertilization (dpf). Thyrocyte hypertrophy, an index of hypothyroidism, was observed at 45 and 60 dpf in perchlorate-treated but only at 45 dpf in methimazole-treated fish. Similarly, gonadal sex ratios were biased toward ovaries relative to control animals at 45 and 60 dpf in perchlorate-treated fish but only at 45 dpf in methimazole-treated fish. Gonadal sex ratios were biased toward testes at 45 and 60 dpf in thyroxine-treated fish. Spermatogenesis was delayed in testes from goitrogen-treated fish at 60 dpf relative to control values, but was unaffected in testes from thyroxine-treated individuals. Oogenesis seemed to be nonspecifically delayed in all treatments relative to control at 60 dpf. This study confirmed the previously reported association between hypothyroid condition and ovarian-skewed ratios, and hyperthyroid condition and testicular-skewed ratios, and also showed that male pubertal development is specifically delayed by experimental hypothyroidism. The simultaneous recovery from the hypothyroid and ovary-inducing effects of methimazole by 60 dpf (27 days post-treatment) suggests that the ovary-skewing effect of goitrogens is reversible when thyroid conditions return to basal levels before developmental commitment of gonadal sex. Conversely, the masculinizing effect of hyperthyroidism seems to be stable and perhaps permanent.
HSP-27 has no diagnostic or prognostic significance in prostate or bladder cancers

Heat shock protein 27 (hsp-27) is a cytosol protein of unknown function that is concentrated in many estrogen-sensitive normal target organs and is expressed to a varying degree in many tumors, including ductal carcinoma of the breast, malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) of the soft tissues, adenocarcinoma of the prostate, and transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder. Overexpression of hsp-27 has independent prognostic significance in patients with breast cancer and MFH, but its potential predictive value with prostate and bladder cancers has not been evaluated. Differential expression of hsp-27 may occur between invasive cancer and host tissue that could aid in diagnosis, and varying expression among invasive cancers may have potential prognostic significance that could influence the use of adjubant therapy. To test these hypotheses, hsp-27 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in archival formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections of primary prostate and bladder carcinomas where the outcome of the patient was known. In 36 prostate cancer specimens from patients who had undergone radical prostatectomy (Stages T1, T2; NO; MO), no normal glandular elements or invasive cancers expressed this protein. In 24 bladder cancer specimens from patients who had undergone radical cystectomy (Stages T2, T3A, T3B, T4A; NO, N 1; MO), 12 (50%) cancers overexpressed this protein. Hsp-27 did not correlate with degree of histologic differentiation, Tstage, nodal status, local recurrence, metastases, or survival. From these observations, we conclude that hsp-27 expression has neither diagnostic nor prognostic significance and will not serve as a predictive biologic marker with these important genitourinary cancers.
41Ca: past, present and future

Abstract Accelerator mass spectrometry measurements of 41Ca have come of age. The ability to routinely obtain currents of CaH3− of 5 μA and backgrounds of less than 10−15, and even 5×10−16 at times, makes possible measurements with a precision of 5% in an hour. Studies of 41Ca in a wide variety of extraterrestrial materials addressing several very different problems, including the temporal constancy of galactic and solar cosmic rays, the determination of terrestrial ages of meteorites, and their pre-atmospheric size are now in progress. However, the goal of employing 41Ca to date bones still remains elusive. The major experimental problem is the production of currents of sufficient intensity. But more fundamental, it seems likely that the radiocalcium dating model is seriously flawed. In this short review, we summarize the technical developments that have led to a successful technique to measure 41Ca, and discuss the more significant applications of 41Ca both on the Earth and above.
Spectrum Determination of Terahertz Sources Using Fabry-Perot Interferometer and Bolometer Detector

We describe a method to determine the radiation spectrum of terahertz sources using a transmitted Fabry-Perot interferometer and a bolometer detector. Our novel Fabry-Perot spectrometer can measure the spectrum of an unknown broadband sub-terahertz and terahertz source. The spectrometer does not need to be pre-tuned. We develop a new algorithm to support the measurements using this spectrometer. Our technique allows us to measure the spectrum over more than an octave, and our numerical algorithm is very stable and robust, providing for an accurate spectrum determination. Two Gunn oscillation sources with the main frequencies at 200 GHz and 600 GHz are used to test the proposed method. The spectrum extracted from the measured data shows that this method is accurate and reliable.
Reversible compression of cytoplasm

Abstract Incubation for 3 min in 1 M sorbitol causes animal cells to lose 50–75% of their water content. Upon return to normal medium, the ultrastructure and morphology of the cells return to normal within 3 min. Mitoses continue normally; migration patterns and growth curves also return to normal. An intriguing aspect of irreversibility was observed when blebbing microplasts switched to ruffling. They would have continued to bleb without the prior episode of dehydration in sorbitol. During incubation with 1 M sorbitol the shrunken cells appear to store excess surface area in numerous, rapidly forming microvilli. The cytoplasm is also altered. Bundles of individual microfilaments and intermediate filaments condense into homogeneous streaks of materials which retain their birefringence. In contrast, microtubules display a clearly visible exclusion zone around each individual tubule. Sharply outlined patches of tiny granules appear in electron micrographs. The results are discussed with respect to the morphological compartmentalization and the viscoelasticity of the cytoplasm.
Inhibition of Human Adult and Fetal Heme Oxygenase by New Synthetic Heme Analogues

Heme oxygenase (HO) is the rate-limiting enzyme for heme degradation, and elevated levels of HO may be associated with a variety of pathologic disturbances. A limited number of HO inhibitors such as the metalloporphyrins have been proposed as possible chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of hyperbilirubinemia. We undertook the study of various natural newly synthesized heme analogues as possible inhibitors of HO in human adult and fetal liver microsomes. We investigated two compounds with substitutions at the 2 and 4 position of the porphyrin ring, iron deuteroporphyrin 2,4 disulfonic (1a) and iron deuteroporphyrin 2,4 bis glycol (1b), and two compounds with substitutions of aromatic groups on the methene bridges of the porphyrin molecule, meso-tetra-4-carboxyphenyl-porphine (2a) and meso-tetra-4-sulfonatophenyl-porphine (2b). When these heme analogues were incubated in the reaction media in the presence of heme, two of the analogues (1a) and (1b) inhibited the conversion of heme to bilirubin. This inhibition was 97% and 65% respectively for (1a) and (1b) when both were present in 30 microM concentrations. Both of these compounds exhibited competitive type inhibition. The kI for the more potent inhibitor, (1b), was determined to be 0.30 microM. Porphyrins with aromatic substitutions at the methene bridges (2a, 2b) did not inhibit the conversion of heme to bilirubin, even at relatively high concentrations. Furthermore, the specific activity of HO was significantly greater (5X) in fetal microsomes as contrasted with adult microsomes as contrasted with adult microsomes. Even though fetal microsomes had greater HO activity, 5 microM of compound (1b) caused a similar degree of inhibition in both adult and fetal preparations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Issues in the real-time computation of optimal control

Under appropriate conditions, the dynamics of a control system governed by ordinary differential equations can be formulated in several ways: differential inclusion, control parametrization, flatness parametrization, higher-order inclusions and so on. A plethora of techniques have been proposed for each of these formulations but they are typically not portable across equivalent mathematical formulations. Further complications arise as a result of configuration and control constraints such as those imposed by obstacle avoidance or control saturation. In this paper, we present a unified framework for handling the computation of optimal controls where the description of the governing equations or that of the path constraint is not a limitation. In fact, our method exploits the advantages offered by coordinate transformations and harnesses any inherent smoothness present in the optimal system trajectories. We demonstrate how our computational framework can easily and efficiently handle different cost formulations, control sets and path constraints. We illustrate our ideas by formulating a robotics problem in eight different ways, including a differentially flat formulation subject to control saturation. This example establishes the loss of convexity in the flat formulation as well as its ramifications for computation and optimality. In addition, a numerical comparison of our unified approach to a recent technique tailored for control-affine systems reveals that we get about 30% improvement in the performance index.
Significantly Decreased Referrals to Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Infants with Severe Meconium Aspiration without Nitric Oxide Therapy and without Increased Mortality: A Report of 134 Cases

Significantly Decreased Referrals to Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Infants with Severe Meconium Aspiration without Nitric Oxide Therapy and without Increased Mortality: A Report of 134 Cases
Synthesis of two 3-amino-2,3-dideoxyhexuronic acid derivatives☆

Abstract Methyl (methyl 3-acetamido-2,3-dideoxy-α- D - ribo -hexopyranosid)uronate was prepared from methyl 3-acetamido-4 O -benzoyl-6-bromo-2,3,6-trideoxy-α- D - ribo -hexopyranoside (2) by a sequence or reactions involving photodecomposition of the 6-azido-4-hydroxyl analog of 2 , followed by successive mild hydrolysis of the intermediate imine 8 (to afford the aldehyde 11 ), oxidation, and esterification. In contrast, mild hydrolysis of the photoproduct (6) from the corresponding 6-azido-4-acetate proceeded with complete β-elimination to give, after oxidation and esterification, methyl (methyl 3-acetamido-2,3,4-trideoxy-α- D - glycero -hex-4 -enopyranosid)uronate. The intermediate imines ( 6 and 8 ) and corresponding aldehydes ( 9 and 11 ) were characterized as their crystalline 1,3-diphenylimidazolidine analogs, and aldehyde 9 further as the oxime.
TU-E-BRB-10: Dosimetric Consequences of Setup Errors Using CBCT for SBRT Localization.

Purpose: Steep dose gradients and high dose per fraction in stereotactic ablative radiation therapy (SABR or SBRT) necessitate highly accurate tumor localization. This study evaluates inter‐fraction shifts, as defined by couch correction analysis, and investigates the effect of tumor location and internal target volume (ITV) on these shifts. In addition, residual errors associated with post‐CBCT correction and their dosimetric consequences were quantified. Methods: Daily free‐breathing (FB) CBCTimages used for daily localization of 78 patients with non‐small cell lungcancer were retrospectively evaluated. Among the population, 39 patients also received pre‐treatment kV images after CBCT alignment. ITV inter‐fraction displacement was evaluated by matching the CBCT and the FB helical CTimages, and setup errors were quantified using orthogonal kV images. Associations between ITV location and inter‐fraction motion were studied by categorizing tumors into the following locations: chest‐wall seated (CWS) and island, peripheral, central, or upper, middle and lower. Dosimetric consequences for the patient with the largest setup error were explored. Results: ITV inter‐fraction motion included the mean of the systematic error, ?inter=(−1.4, 2.0, 1.6) mm, standard deviation (SD) of the systematic error, Σinter=(2.1, 4.2, 2.9) mm, and SD of random errors, sinter=(2.2, 3.2, 3.6) mm. No significant associations were observed between inter‐fraction shifts and tumor location or volume. Using CBCT for image guidance reduced the observed errors to μsetup=(−0.3, 0.1, 0.0) mm, Σsetup=(0.6, 0.6, 0.4) mm and ssetup=(1.2, 0.7, 0.7) mm. Dosimetric consequences for the patient with the largest setup error were explored. It was shown that a 3.0 mm setup margin was sufficient to provide greater than 95% dose coverage to the ITV. Conclusion:CBCTimage guidance reduced setup errors significantly such that 2–3 mm, population‐based, setup margins provided proper dose coverage to the ITV. Further investigation of inter‐and intrafraction error classification by tumor location is warranted.
MicroRNA Expression in Alpha and Beta Cells of Human Pancreatic Islets

microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in pancreatic development and adult β-cell physiology. Our hypothesis is based on the assumption that each islet cell type has a specific pattern of miRNA expression. We sought to determine the profile of miRNA expression in α-and β-cells, the main components of pancreatic islets, because this analysis may lead to a better understanding of islet gene regulatory pathways. Highly enriched (>98%) subsets of human α-and β-cells were obtained by flow cytometric sorting after intracellular staining with c-peptide and glucagon antibody. The method of sorting based on intracellular staining is possible because miRNAs are stable after fixation. MiRNA expression levels were determined by quantitative high throughput PCR-based miRNA array platform screening. Most of the miRNAs were preferentially expressed in β-cells. From the total of 667 miRNAs screened, the Significant Analysis of Microarray identified 141 miRNAs, of which only 7 were expressed more in α-cells (α-miRNAs) and 134 were expressed more in β-cells (β-miRNAs). Bioinformatic analysis identified potential targets of β-miRNAs analyzing the Beta Cell Gene Atlas, described in the T1Dbase, the web platform, supporting the type 1 diabetes (T1D) community. cMaf, a transcription factor regulating glucagon expression expressed selectively in α-cells (TFα) is targeted by β-miRNAs; miR-200c, miR-125b and miR-182. Min6 cells treated with inhibitors of these miRNAs show an increased expression of cMaf RNA. Conversely, over expression of miR-200c, miR-125b or miR-182 in the mouse alpha cell line αTC6 decreases the level of cMAF mRNA and protein. MiR-200c also inhibits the expression of Zfpm2, a TFα that inhibits the PI3K signaling pathway, at both RNA and protein levels. In conclusion, we identified miRNAs differentially expressed in pancreatic α- and β-cells and their potential transcription factor targets that could add new insights into different aspects of islet biology and pathophysiology.
Increases in Antarctic penguin populations: reduced competition with whales or a loss of sea ice due to environmental warming?

A central tenet of Antarctic ecology suggests that increases in Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) populations during the last four decades resulted from an increase in prey availability brought on by the decrease in baleen whale stocks. We question this tenet and present evidence to support the hypothesis that these increases are due to a gradual decrease in the frequency of cold years with extensive winter sea ice cover resulting from environmental warming. Supporting data were derived from one of the first, major multidisciplinary winter expedition to the Scotia and Weddell seas; recent satellite images of ocean ice cover; and the analysis of long-term surface temperature records and penguin demography. Our observations indicate there is a need to pay close attention to environmental data in the management of Southern Ocean resources given the complexity of relating biological changes to ecological perturbations.
A comparison of gradient capacity anion chromatography using macrocycles D-2.2.2 and D-2.2.1 in constant or variable temperature mode.

Abstract The ability of macrocyclic ligands to complex alkali metal cations has been exploited to perform chromatographic separations of anions. Macrocycles adsorbed to reversed phase columns can complex eluent cations, thus generating anion exchange sites. Gradient separations of anions can be performed by changing the column capacity during the course of the separation, either by changing the eluent cation or by changing the column temperature. Gradient anion separations are performed by changing the eluent from sodium hydroxide to lithium hydroxide with the cryptand D-2.2.2, while similar anion separations are achieved with D-2.2.1 by a KOH-LiOH gradient. Since the complexation of cations by macrocycles is exothermic, increasing the column temperature decreases the anion column capacity, allowing temperature gradient separations. The experimentally measured Δ H values for D-2.2.1 are higher than for D-2.2.2, leading to steeper gradients and thus better separations with D-2.2.1.
ELECTRON PARAMAGNETIC RESONANCE OF Co-DOPED PbWO4.

The EPR of Co-doped PbW${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ was observed at 9 GHz at temperatures below 16\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. Four sets of lines were seen, each characterized by an effective electronic spin $S$ of \textonehalf{} and a nuclear spin $I$ of $\frac{7}{2}$. The spectral parameters of one set in an appropriate coordinate system were as follows: ${g}_{i}:4.50, 6.20, \mathrm{and} 2.07$; and ${A}_{i}(\mathrm{in}\mathrm{GHz}):0.605, 0.970, \mathrm{and} 0.248$ ($i=x, y, z$). The Eulerian angles of this coordinate system with respect to the crystal axis system ($\mathrm{caa}$) were: $\ensuremath{\alpha}=43.8\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$, $\ensuremath{\beta}=28.0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$, and $\ensuremath{\gamma}=\ensuremath{-}65.3\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$. The remaining three cordinate sets are obtained by increasing $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ in increments of 90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. Above 16\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, the spectra gradually became broad and weak, and finally at 20\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K disappeared, clearly as a result of the onset of fast spin-lattice relaxation. Below 4.2\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, the relaxation times became so long that difficulty was encountered in recording the true line shape. We believe that Co enters this lattice in a 2+ state and probably substitutes at a W site. The ground state in this site of ${S}_{4}$ symmetry then would be $^{4}A_{2}$. From relaxation data, we estimate that the separation of the two sets of Kramers doublets is several tens of wave numbers. The EPR of Co-doped PbMo${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ and PbW${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ are essentially the same.