cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Metric Learning from Relative Comparisons by Minimizing Squared Residual

Recent studies [1] -- [5] have suggested using constraints in the form of relative distance comparisons to represent domain knowledge: d(a, b)
Will Natural Resources Professionals Volunteer to Teach Youth

A unique approach to volunteer marketing research involved a mail survey with natural resources professionals from across Pennsylvania. Previous work identified this group as a source of potential volunteers for the 4-H youth natural resources program. The results give insights into those most likely to volunteer to teach youth through 4-H programs. Self-percieved confidence with youth, confidence in knowledge about natural resources, and personal interest in the specific subject matter to be taught were key factors predicting willingness. Additionally, a need to fulfill feelings of social responsibility and high levels of outdoor activity were also important predictors. This study demonstrates the value of surveying and working with a specific population of potential volunteers to determine their promise for volunteer involvement and program expansion.
Origins of genetic toxicology and the environmental Mutagen Society

A brief history of events that contributed to the establishment of genetic toxicology as a distinct research area and influenced the formation of the Environmental Mutagen Society is presented.
How Do Canadian Budget Forecasts Compare With Those of Other Industrial Countries

This paper compares Canadian central government budget forecasting with forecasting by other industrial countries. While fiscal forecasting in Canada is governed by one of the strongest institutional frameworks, quantitative analysis suggests that budget projections of macroeconomic and fiscal aggregates have been more cautious than in other countries since the mid-1990s. The relatively volatile macroeconomic environment as well as institutional factors, such as Canada&apos's asymmetric deficit target, have likely contributed to this outcome.
Near‐Net‐Shaped Calcium Hydroxyapatite by the Oxidation of Machinable, Calcium‐Bearing Precursors (the Volume Identical Metal Oxidation, or VIMOX, Process)

A novel VIMOX (volume identical metal oxidation) route to near-net-shaped calcium hydroxyapatite, Ca 10 (PO 4 ) 6 (OH) 2 , is demonstrated: the oxidation of machinable Ca-Ca 2 P 2 O 7 precursors. Mechanically alloyed mixtures of Ca and β-Ca 2 P 2 O 7 were compacted into disk- and bar-shaped preforms. The latter preforms could be machined into cylinders using a metalworking lathe (200 rpm, hardened steel tooling). After oxidation at 600°C in O 2 , and then postoxidation annealing in H 2 O/O 2 mixtures at 850°C and 1150°C, phase-pure hydroxyapatite was obtained. Because of offsetting volume changes from calcium oxidation and hydroxyapatite formation, porous hydroxyapatite bodies were produced that retained the shapes and dimensions (within 1%) of the machined precursors.
Support for Gun Control: the Influence of Personal, Sociotropic, and Ideological Concerns1

Two random telephone surveys were conducted-one in Evanston, Illinois and one in Morton Grove, Illinois-to assess the motivations underlying public support for handgun control. The data from both surveys suggested that such support was linked most strongly to citizen beliefs about the effect of a handgun ban on the overall crime rate. Little support was found for either the suggestion that gun control opposition is linked to concerns about personal protection against crime or for the suggestion that views about gun control are part of a more general ideological orientation.
Fatty Acylation of the Rat Asialoglycoprotein Receptor THE THREE SUBUNITS FROM ACTIVE RECEPTORS CONTAIN COVALENTLY BOUND PALMITATE AND STEARATE

Abstract Rat hepatic asialoglycoprotein receptors (ASGP-Rs) are hetero-oligomers composed of three homologous glycoprotein subunits, designated rat hepatic lectins (RHL) 1, 2, and 3. ASGP-Rs mediate the endocytosis and degradation of circulating glycoconjugates containing terminal N-acetylgalactosamine or galactose, including desialylated plasma glycoproteins. We have shown in permeable rat hepatocytes that the ligand binding activity of one subpopulation of receptors (designated State 2 ASGP-Rs) can be decreased or increased, respectively, by ATP and palmitoyl-CoA (Weigel, P. H., and Oka, J. A.(1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 27186-27190). We proposed that a reversible and cyclic acylation/deacylation process may regulate ASGP-R activity during endocytosis, receptor-ligand dissociation, and receptor recycling. In the accompanying paper (Zeng, F-Y., and Weigel, P. H.(1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 21388-21395), we show that the ligand binding activity of affinity-purified State 2 ASGP-Rs is decreased by treatment with hydroxylamine under mild conditions consistent with these ASGP-Rs being fatty acylated in vivo. In this study, we used a chemical method to determine the presence of covalently-bound fatty acids in individual ASGP-R subunits. The affinity-purified ASGP-R preparations were separated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under nonreducing conditions, and the gel slices containing individual RHL subunits were treated with alkali to release covalently bound fatty acids, which were subsequently analyzed by gas chromatography and confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Both stearic and palmitic acids were detected in all three receptor subunits. Pretreatment of ASGP-Rs with hydroxylamine before SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis reduced the content of both fatty acids by 66-80%, indicating that most of these fatty acids are attached to cysteine residues via thioester linkages. Furthermore, when freshly isolated hepatocytes were cultured in the presence of [3H]palmitate, all three RHL subunits in affinity-purified ASGP-Rs were metabolically labeled. We conclude that RHL1, RHL2, and RHL3 are modified by fatty acylation in intact cells.
Treatment of Lentigo Maligna with Imiquimod before Staged Excision

BACKGROUND Imiquimod 5% cream has demonstrated effectiveness in the treatment of lentigo maligna (LM) in several small studies. None of the studies to date have included posttreatment surgical removal to confirm negative histologic margins. OBJECTIVE The aim of this retrospective analysis was to assess the efficacy of topical imiquimod in LM by circumferentially examining vertically oriented sections from a geometrically designed "picture frame" margin as well as bread-loafed sections of the central portion after staged excisions of imiquimod-treated lesions of LM. METHODS Forty patients with biopsy-confirmed LM were treated five times a week for 3 months with 5% imiquimod cream before staged excision. Tazarotene 0.1% gel was added when no clinical signs of erythema developed with imiquimod alone after 1 month (10 patients). After the course of topical therapy, patients were assessed for clinical and complete histologic clearance after staged excision. RESULTS A total of 33 of 40 patients had a complete clinical response as determined by the absence of remaining clinical lesion on physical examination. Upon histologic review, 30 of 40 patients had no evidence of LM whereas 10 of 40 harbored residual disease. One patient was found to have histologic evidence of invasion after completing the topical protocol. After a mean follow-up of 18 months (range, 12-34 months) and after complete surgical excision of the treatment site, none of the imiquimod-treated patients had evidence of recurrence. CONCLUSIONS Imiquimod appears to be an effective adjunctive treatment for LM but does not qualify as a replacement therapy for surgery.
Epidemiology of physical activity and fitness in children and adolescents

Abstract Variations in physical activity and aerobic power are examined in relation to age and gender of children and adolescents. Reviews of the world literature show aerobic power relative to body mass remains stable from ages 6 to 16 for males, but for females it declines about 2% per year. Overall, males are about 25% more fit than females. Reviews of nine studies using standardized self‐reports or objective measures of physical activity revealed that males are about 15 to 25% more active than females. Over the school age years, a consistent decline in physical activity is seen, with males decreasing about 2.7% per year and females decreasing about 7.4% per year. These data suggest that older youth and females are at increased risk of obesity because of a sedentary lifestyle.
Intra-individual variability in Alzheimer's disease and cognitive aging: definitions, context, and effect sizes.

Background/Aims To explore different definitions of intra-individual variability (IIV) to summarize performance on commonly utilized cognitive tests (Mini Mental State Exam; Clock Drawing Test); compare them and their potential to differentiate clinically-defined populations; and to examine their utility in predicting clinical change in individuals from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). Methods Sample statistics were computed from ADNI cohorts with no cognitive diagnosis, a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and a diagnosis of possible or probable Alzheimer's disease (AD). Nine different definitions of IIV were computed for each sample, and standardized effect sizes (Cohen's d) were computed for each of these definitions in 500 simulated replicates using scores on the Mini Mental State Exam and Clock Drawing Test. IIV was computed based on test items separately (‘within test’ IIV) and the two tests together (‘across test’ IIV). The best performing definition was then used to compute IIV for a third test, the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive, and the simulations and effect sizes were again computed. All effect size estimates based on simulated data were compared to those computed based on the total scores in the observed data. Association between total score and IIV summaries of the tests and the Clinician's Dementia Rating were estimated to test the utility of IIV in predicting clinically meaningful changes in the cohorts over 12- and 24-month intervals. Results ES estimates differed substantially depending on the definition of IIV and the test(s) on which IIV was based. IIV (coefficient of variation) summaries of MMSE and Clock-Drawing performed similarly to their total scores, the ADAS total performed better than its IIV summary. Conclusion IIV can be computed within (items) or across (totals) items on commonly-utilized cognitive tests, and may provide a useful additional summary measure of neuropsychological test performance.
Developmental lead exposure inhibits adult rat retinal, but not kidney, Na+,K(+)-ATPase.

Neonatal lead exposure produces selective rod degeneration and functional deficits in adult hooded rats. Similar alterations occur following retinal exposure to ouabain. This study determined whether there were long-term effects of neonatal lead exposure on rat retinal or renal Na+,K+-ATPase (Na,K-ATPase) activity and employed in vitro studies to examine the mechanism of ionic lead (Pb2+)-induced inhibition of retinal Na,K-ATPase. Pups, exposed to lead only via the milk of dams consuming 0, 0.02, or 0.2% lead solutions, had mean blood lead concentrations of 1.2, 18.8, and 59.4 μg/dl at weaning, respectively, and 5–7 μg/dl as adults. Prior lead exposure produced significant dose-dependent decreases in isolated retinal Na,K-ATPase activity (−11%; −26%) whereas activity in the kidney was unchanged. In contrast, Na,K-ATPase from both isolated control tissues was inhibited by Pb2+. The half-maximal inhibitory dose (I50) of Pb2+ for retinal and renal Na,K-ATPase was 5.21 × 10−7 and 1.25 × 10−5 m, respectively. The Hill coefficient of the retina was 0.42 whereas it was 0.88 in the kidney. With MgATP as a substrate, the Pb2+-induced inhibition of retinal Na,K-ATPase was competitive and reversible with a Ki of 2.1 × 10−7 m. Retinal and renal Na,K-ATPase were 20-fold and 1.1-fold more sensitive to inhibition by Pb2+ than by Ca2+, respectively. The Pb2+-induced inhibition of retinal Na,K-ATPase was antagonized by Na+, potentiated by Mg2+, not altered by K+ or Ca2+, and prevented by ATP. Kinetic and competition studies with the retinal Na,K-ATPase establish that the Pb2+-induced inhibition is complex. The increased sensitivity of retinal, compared to renal, Na,K-ATPase to inhibition following in vivo or in vitro lead exposure may relate to their different α subunit composition. This is speculated to play a fundamental role in the target organ toxicity of lead.
Mechanisms underlying sleep–wake disturbances in alcoholism: Focus on the cholinergic pedunculopontine tegmentum

Abstract Sleep–wake (S–W) disturbances are frequently associated with alcohol use disorders (AUD), occurring during periods of active drinking, withdrawal, and abstinence. These S–W disturbances can persist after months or even years of abstinence, suggesting that chronic alcohol consumption may have enduring negative effects on both homeostatic and circadian sleep processes. It is now generally accepted that S–W disturbances in alcohol-dependent individuals are a significant cause of relapse in drinking. Although significant progress has been made in identifying the socio-economic burden and health risks of alcohol addiction, the underlying neurobiological mechanisms that lead to S–W disorders in AUD are poorly understood. Marked progress has been made in understanding the basic neurobiological mechanisms of how different sleep stages are normally regulated. This review article in seeking to explain the neurobiological mechanisms underlying S–W disturbances associated with AUD, describes an evidence-based, easily testable, novel hypothesis that chronic alcohol consumption induces neuroadaptive changes in the cholinergic cell compartment of the pedunculopontine tegmentum (CCC-PPT). These changes include increases in N-methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) and kainate receptor sensitivity and a decrease in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAB)-receptor sensitivity in the CCC-PPT. Together these changes are the primary pathophysiological mechanisms that underlie S–W disturbances in AUD. This review is targeted for both basic neuroscientists in alcohol addiction research and clinicians who are in search of new and more effective therapeutic interventions to treat and/or eliminate sleep disorders associated with AUD.
Bridging the Semantic Gap to Mitigate Kernel-Level Keyloggers

Kernel-level key loggers, which are installed as part of the operating system (OS) with complete control of kernel code, data and resources, are a growing and very serious threat to the security of current systems. Defending against this type of malware means defending the kernel itself against compromise and it is still an open and difficult problem. This paper details the implementation of two classical kernel-level key loggers for Linux 2.6.38 and how current defense approaches still fail to protect OSes against this type of malware. We further present our current research directions to mitigate this threat by employing an architecture where a guest OS and a virtual machine layer actively collaborate to guarantee kernel integrity. This collaborative approach allows us to better bridge the semantic gap between the OS and architecture layers and devise stronger and more flexible defense solutions to protect the integrity of OS kernels.
A comparison of MOS gate structures formed by depositing polycrystalline silicon on thin oxides using conventional low pressure chemical vapor deposition and rapid thermal chemical vapor deposition

MOS structures with 80A-200A thick gate oxides were fabricated using polycrystalline silicon gate electrodes deposited by rapid thermal chemical vapor deposition (RTCVD) and by conventional chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD). Polycrystalline silicon doping was achieved by BF2 or As implantation followed by rapid thermal annealing (RTA). The Q-C method was employed to study the electrical properties of the capacitors through high and low frequencyC- V profiles. The electrical properties of the MOS structures show that the devices fabricated using RTCVD polycrystalline Si are comparable in quality to those with LPCVD polycrystalline silicon gate electrodes. However, the results also indicate that boron diffusion through the thin oxide is a problem regardless of the deposition technique used for polycrystalline silicon. Boron penetration is accompanied by a shift in threshold voltage, inversion layer capacitance and a high density of midgap interface traps. Dopant diffusion in polycrystalline silicon and through the thin gate oxides was also studied by secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS). The findings of the SIMS analysis correlate well with the electrical measurements. The results indicate that significant boron diffusion can occur through an 80A oxide if an RTA temperature higher than 1000° C is used. On the other hand, both SIMS and electrical measurements suggest that As penetration into the substrate is negligible even at temperatures as high as 1100° C.
Impact of “Off-Label” Utilization of Drug-Eluting Stents on Clinical Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

The utilization of drug-eluting stents (DES) in “real world” practice has deviated from Food and Drug Administration-approved indications. Safety concerns have arisen from recent reports that suggested increased mortality and nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) with DES usage. Little is known about the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing intracoronary DES implantation for unapproved indications as a group compared with outcomes after bare metal stent (BMS) placement. The clinical outcomes of 546 patients undergoing DES implantation for ≥1 non–Food and Drug Administration-approved (“off label”) indication since the approval of the device were assessed. The group was then matched by propensity score with 546 patients receiving BMSs prior to DES approval for the same indications. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (cardiac death, nonfatal Q-wave myocardial infarction [MI], and target vessel revascularization) at 12 months. Baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics were well matched between BMS and DES groups. The use of debulking devices was higher in the BMS group. Patients in the BMS group were more likely to be treated with larger diameter and shorter stents. There was no significant difference in the rate of in-hospital and 30-day adverse cardiac events. At 12 months, the primary endpoint of major adverse cardiac events was significantly reduced in the DES group (23.6% vs 16.7%, p = 0.004), driven by reductions in the need for repeat revascularization (target lesion revascularization: 16.4% vs 7.8%, p
Heterogeneous Catalysis in Organic Synthesis

For the synthetic chemist the most common heterogeneously catalyzed reactions are the catalytic hydrogenations of organic functional groups. There are, however, a number of other synthetically useful reactions which can be promoted by heterogeneous catalysts. We have been studying some of these over the past several years in order to expand our understanding of such reactions and to make them more attractive to the synthetic chemist. These reactions along with some data on enantioselective heterogeneous catalysis, are discussed in order to illustrate the variety of synthetically useful reactions which can be run over heterogeneous catalysts and how the catalysts can be modified to enhance reaction selectivity.
Magnetic behavior of iron oxide nanoparticle–biomolecule assembly

Abstract Iron oxide nanoparticles of 8–20 nm in size were investigated as an assembly with biomolecules synthesized in an aqueous solution. The magnetic behavior of the biomolecule–nanoparticles assembly depends sensitively on the morphology and hence the distribution of the nanoparticles, where the dipole coupling between the nanoparticles governs the overall magnetic behavior. In assemblies of iron oxide nanoparticles with trypsin, we observe a formation of unusual self-alignment of nanoparticles within trypsin molecules. In such an assembly structure, the magnetic particles tend to exhibit a lower spin-glass transition temperature than as-synthesized bare iron oxide nanoparticles probably due to reduced interparticle couplings within the molecular matrix. The observed self-alignment of nanoparticles in biomolecules may be a useful approach for directed nanoparticles assembly.
Solution to the traveling salesman problem using heuristic function maximization

An approach for solving the traveling salesman problem as formulated in the AIAA Artificial Intelligence Design Challenge is presented. The approach is based on heuristic measures involving intercity fares, city values, and value-to-fare ratios. Other heuristic factors take into account the available budget, the expected trip cost, and the likelihood of low-cost hub cities. Monte Carlo simulations show that this heuristic method produces optimal solutions over 90% of the time for problems dominated by fare, and 55% (84% in a revised program) of the time for problems not dominated by fare or value.
An examination of library World Wide Web sites at medium-sized universities

This article presents the results of a study of World Wide Web (Web) Sites for 133 academic libraries serving medium-sized universities. Each library Web site was examined, and all of the features were recorded. The study identified 31 core components which were present in over 50 percent of the libraries surveyed. The study indicated that: the navigational and design aspects of library Web sites should be improved; materials should be placed on the sites only if they will be accessed and utilized by the user community; and libraries could profit by making greater use of online tutorials and virtual tours to supplement regular bibliographic instruction.
Temperature Effects on Generation and Entrainment of Bubbles Induced by a Water Jet

Abstract A simple experiment simulating the jet feature of breaking waves is conducted to study quantitative effects of the water temperature on the generation of bubbles at the air–water interface and their entrainment into the water column. The results indicate that there is a critical water temperature for the inception of bubbles. Such a critical temperature can be attributed to changes of the surface tension and viscosity, both of which decrease as water temperature increases. Field measurements of the bubble entrainment depth, bubble size spectrum, and whitecap coverage are shown to have similar temperature dependencies as our observations.
Spatial and temporal trends of persistent organic pollutants and mercury in beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) from Alaska.

Abstract Remote locations, such as the Arctic, are often sinks for persistent contaminants which can ultimately bioaccumulate in local wildlife. Assessing temporal contaminant trends in the Arctic is important in understanding whether restrictions on legacy persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have led to concentration declines. Beluga whale ( Delphinapterus leucas ) tissue samples were collected from two subpopulations (Cook Inlet, Alaska and the eastern Chukchi Sea) between 1989 and 2006. Several POPs (polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane and related compounds (DDTs), chlordanes, hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), chlorobenzenes, mirex, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and semi-quantitatively hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs)) were measured in 70 blubber samples, and total mercury (Hg) was measured in 67 liver samples from a similar set of individuals. Legacy POPs (PCBs, chlordanes, DDTs, and HCHs) were the predominant organic compound classes in both subpopulations, with median concentrations of 2360 ng/g lipid for Σ 80 PCBs and 1890 ng/g lipid for Σ 6 DDTs. Backward stepwise multiple regressions showed that at least one of the four independent variables (subpopulation, sampling year, sex, and animal length) influenced the POP and Hg concentrations. ΣPCBs, ΣDDTs, Σchlordanes, Σchlorobenzenes, mirex, and Hg were significantly higher in belugas from the eastern Chukchi Sea than from the Cook Inlet ( p ≤ 0.0001). In contrast, Σ 8 PBDE and α-HBCD concentrations were significantly lower in belugas from the eastern Chukchi Sea than from the Cook Inlet ( p 8 PBDE and α-HBCD were observed for both subpopulations ( p ≤ 0.0003), and temporal declines were seen for ΣHCHs and Σchlorobenzenes in eastern Chukchi Sea belugas only ( p ≤ 0.0107). All other POP and Hg concentrations were stable, indicating either a lagging response of the Arctic to source reductions or the maintenance of concentrations by unregulated sources. Sex and length also significantly influenced some concentrations, and these findings are discussed.
The influence of occupation and age on maximal and rapid lower extremity strength.

The aims of this study were to 1) examine the influence of age and occupation on maximal and rapid strength of the lower-extremity muscles and 2) examine the relationship between maximal and rapid strength and physical workload (work index (WI)) in the blue-collar (BC) cohort. Peak torque (PT) and peak rate of torque development (peakRTD) of the leg extensors (LE), leg flexors (LF), and plantar flexors (PF) were assessed in 47 young (age = 24.1 ± 2.4 years) and 41 middle-aged (52.4 ± 5.2 years) white-collar (WC) and BC men. Middle-aged workers exhibited lower PT for all muscles, and peakRTD for the LF and PF muscles. A positive relationship (r = 0.59; P < 0.01) was observed between WI and peakRTD for the PF in the young BC workers, however, this relationship was negative (r = −0.45; P = 0.053) for the LF of the middle-aged BC workers. Lowering physical work demands and/or incorporating effective health-related practices for employees may be appealing strategies to enhance aging workers' productivity and longevity in the workforce.
In vitro aging of ß-amyloid protein causes peptide aggregation and neurotoxicity ☆

Abstract s-Amyloid peptide forms the senile plaques of Alzheimer's disease and has been previously demonstrated to have both trophic and toxic effects on neurons in vitro. We report here that synthetic s-amyloid peptide shows both aggregation and neurotoxicity after a 2–4 day incubation period, but is neurite-promoting and not toxic in its initially solubilized state. SDS-PAGE characterization shows that newly solubilized s-amyloid is predominantly monomeric whereas incubated peptide has several high molecular weight species.
Mg-xonotlite and its coexisting phases

Abstract Mixtures of different MgO/CaO and CaO/SiO 2 were treated hydrothermally at 180 to 300 °C saturated water vapor pressures for 10h-3days. The results show that tobermorite coexists with Mg(OH ) 2 and xonotlite phases at 180 °C, that xonotlite phase is coexistent with hydrous magnesium silicate when Mg(OH ) 2 disappears at over 240 °C. MgO can enter 14.71wt.% into xonotlite phase, more than in tobermorite phase. At the same time, the variation of lattice parameters in Mg-xonotlite phase is extremely small.
Stimulation of staphylococcal and micrococcal growth in milk of lysed leukocytes.

Abstract Leukocytes of milk, collected after injections of physiological saline into normal quarters and lysed by sonication, promoted growth of staphylococci and micrococci in vitro. One- to twofold increases in bacteria occurred after 12-hour incubation of mixtures of lysed leukocytes and bacteria in sterile skimmilk compared to controls without lysed leukocytes. Lysate equivalent to one million leukocytes was required to produce stimulated growth. Increasing lysed leukocytes up to 35million per milliliter, the highest tested, increased stimulation of bacterial growth. The factor(s) which promoted growth was dialyzable and heat stable. Stimulation of growth was due to a shortened lag phase and not to a change in rate of division during the logarithmic phase.
Quasispecies variation of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus during natural infection

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) displays notorious genetic, antigenic, and clinical variability. Little is known, however, about the nature and extent of viral variation present within naturally infected animals. By amplifying and cloning the open reading frame 5 gene from tonsils of naturally infected swine, and by sequencing individual clones, we characterized viral diversity in nine animals from two farms. All animals harbored multiple PRRSV variants at both the nucleic and the amino acid levels. Structural variation and rates of synonymous and nonsynonymous nucleotide substitution were no different within known epitopes than elsewhere. Analysis of molecular variance indicated that differences between farms, among animals within farms, and within individual animals accounted for 92.94, 3.84, and 3.22% of the total viral genetic variability observed, respectively. PRRSV exists during natural infection as a quasispecies distribution of related genotypes. Positive natural selection for immune evasiveness does not appear to maintain this diversity.
A compendium of the mouse mammary tumor biologist: from the initial observations in the house mouse to the development of genetically engineered mice.

For over a century, mouse mammary tumor biology and the associated mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) have served as the foundation for experimental cancer research, in general, and, in particular, experimental breast cancer research. Spontaneous mouse mammary tumors were the basis for studies of the natural history of neoplasia, oncogenic viruses, host responses, endocrinology and neoplastic progression. However, lacking formal proof of a human mammary tumor virus, the preeminence of the mouse model faded in the 1980s. Since the late 1980s, genetically engineered mice (GEM) have proven extremely useful for studying breast cancer and have become the animal model for human breast cancer. Hundreds of mouse models of human breast cancer have been developed sincethefirst demonstrationin1984.TheGEMhaveattractedanewgeneration ofmolecular and cellular biologists eager to apply their skill setsto these surrogates of the human disease. Newcomers often enter the field without an appreciation of the origins of mouse mammary tumor biologyand the basis for manyof the prevailing concepts. Our purpose in writing this compendium is to extend an “olive branch” while simultaneously deepen the knowledge of thenovicemousemammarytumorbiologistastheyjourneyintoafieldrichinpathologyand genetics spanning several centuries.
Activator protein 1 (AP-1) contributes to EpCAM-dependent breast cancer invasion

EpCAM is a cell-surface glycoprotein that is overexpressed in the majority of epithelial carcinomas. However, the functional role of EpCAM in regulating cancer invasion remains controversial, and the mechanism(s) underlying EpCAM-mediated regulation of breast cancer invasion remain to be defined. EpCAM expression was manipulated in breast cancer cell lines using RNA interference and cDNA expression constructs. Recombinant EpCAM was used to rescue EpCAM signaling following specific ablation of EpCAM. Protein and gene expression, invasion, transcription factor activity, and protein phosphorylation were measured using standard molecular biology techniques. In loss-of-function, and gain-of-function experiments we demonstrate that EpCAM expression is associated with increased breast cancer invasion in vitro and in vivo. We demonstrate further that specific ablation of EpCAM expression is associated with decreased activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcription factor activity. Phosphoprotein analyses confirm that specific ablation of EpCAM is associated with decreased phosphorylation of the AP-1 subunit c-Jun. Recombinant soluble extracellular EpCAM (rEpCAM) is able to rescue invasion, AP-1 transcription factor activity, and c-Jun phosphorylation in a dose-dependent fashion. Pharmacologic inhibitors, and constitutively active constructs of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signal transduction pathway, suggest that the impact of EpCAM expression on AP-1 transcription factor activity is mediated through the JNK pathway. In functional rescue experiments, forced expression of c-Jun rescues invasion in breast cancer cells following specific ablation of EpCAM. These data demonstrate for the first time that EpCAM expression can influence the JNK/AP-1 signal transduction pathway, and suggest that modulation of AP-1 transcription factor activity contributes to EpCAM-dependent breast cancer invasion. These data have important implications for the design and application of molecular therapies targeting EpCAM.
Magnetic Microscopy of Fe/Mn/Fe Layers

Manganese layers were deposited on polycrystalline Fe-based soft magnetic films. The magnetic domain structure of thin Fe overlayers on top these Mn films was measured by secondary electron microscopy with polarization analysis. The Fe layers show spin polarization only beyond a certain critical thickness of about 20 A. Beyond this thickness the domain structure of the substrate starts to appear in the Fe overlayer. This delayed onset of ferromagnetic order in the Fe layers is attributed to frustration of ferromagnetic order due to the strong coupling to the antiferromagnetically ordered Mn. With increasing Fe film thickness (between 20-30 A) the magnetization increases and shows the same domain pattern as the substrate. We find that for all Mn thicknesses studied (up to 170 A) the Fe overlayer domain structure reproduces the substrate domain structure and the magnetization is always aligned parallel with the substrate magnetization.
Procedures for feasibility detection in the presence of multiple constraints

In this paper, we address the problem of finding a set of feasible or near-feasible systems among a finite number of simulated systems in the presence of stochastic constraints. Andradottir, Goldsman, and Kim (2005) present a procedure that detects feasibility of systems in the presence of one constraint with a pre-specified probability of correctness. We extend their procedure to the case of multiple constraints by the use of the Bonferroni inequality. Unfortunately, the resulting procedure tends to be very conservative when the number of systems or constraints is large. As a remedy, we present a screening procedure that uses an aggregated observation, which is a linear combination of the collected observations across stochastic constraints. Then, we present an accelerated procedure that combine the extension of Andradottir, Goldsman, and Kim (2005) with the procedure that uses aggregated observations. Some experimental results that compare the performance of the proposed procedures are presented.
Reentering Women: The Impact of Social Ties on Long-Term Recidivism

Criminological theories have long suggested that family relationships influence criminal behavior. Yet, little recidivism research focuses on in-prison social ties. Despite evidence that social tie...
Characterization of dynamic actin associations with T-cell receptor microclusters in primary T cells.

T cell triggering through T-cell antigen receptors (TCRs) results in spatial assembly of the receptors on multiple length scales. This assembly is mediated by the T cell actin cytoskeleton, which reorganizes in response to TCR phosphorylation and then induces the coalescence of TCRs into microclusters, followed by their unification into a micrometer-scale structure. The exact outcomes of the association of TCRs with a dynamic and fluctuating actin network across these length scales are not well characterized, but it is clear that weak and transient interactions at the single-molecule level sum to yield significant receptor rearrangements at the plasma membrane. We used the hybrid live cell–nanopatterned supported lipid bilayer system to quantitatively probe the actin–TCR interaction in primary T cells. A specialized tracking algorithm revealed that actin slows as it passes over TCR clusters in a direction-dependent manner with respect to the resistance against TCR motion. We also observed transient actin enrichments at sites corresponding to putative TCR clusters that far exceeded pure stochastic fluctuations and described an image time-autocorrelation analysis method to quantify these accumulations.
Finding Contradictions in Text

Detecting conflicting statements is a foundational text understanding task with applications in information analysis. We propose an appropriate definition of contradiction for NLP tasks and develop available corpora, from which we construct a typology of contradictions. We demonstrate that a system for contradiction needs to make more fine-grained distinctions than the common systems for entailment. In particular, we argue for the centrality of event coreference and therefore incorporate such a component based on topicality. We present the first detailed breakdown of performance on this task. Detecting some types of contradiction requires deeper inferential paths than our system is capable of, but we achieve good performance on types arising from negation and antonymy.
A low-cost Internet-enabled smart sensor

This paper deals with Web sensors with particular attention to data structures and interfacing features described by IEEE1451 standard. A network architecture is proposed to reduce Web-sensor structural complexity. Transducer and electronic datasheets (TEDS) are directly interfaced to Internet through an HTTP-based protocol, that has been inspired by IEEE1451.2 Transducer Independent Interface (TII). Finally, a working prototype has been realized and some tests have been carried out to evaluate functionalities and real performances.
Adaptive Tuning of Switched-Mode Power Supplies Operating in Discontinuous and Continuous Conduction Modes

This paper presents an approach to adaptive tuning of voltage-mode digital controllers for switched-mode power supplies in the presence of large signal changes from discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) to continuous conduction mode (CCM) and vice versa. The approach is capable of maintaining a high-performance control loop without the stability issues related to DCM-to-CCM mode transitions. The adaptive tuner, modeled as a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) controller, is designed to continuously adjust the parameters of a PID compensator such that crossover frequency and phase margin measured by the digital controller match desired values. A simplified design procedure for the adaptive tuning system is proposed that reduces the small-signal MIMO design into two independent single-input, single-output control loops. Simulation results are given showing that despite wide uncertainty in the power stage, the adaptive tuning system still converges to the desired stability margins. Experimental results are given using an 11- to 5-V, 45-W, DCM/CCM buck converter as a test bed.
Formal verification of memory circuits by switch-level simulation

An N-bit RAM can be verified by simulating just O(N log N) patterns. This approach to verification is fast, requires minimal attention on the part of the user to the circuit details, and can utilize more sophisticated circuit models than other approaches to formal verification. The technique has been applied to a CMOS static RAM design using the COSMOS switch-level simulator. By simulating many patterns in parallel, a massively parallel computer can verify a 4K RAM in under 6 min. >
Assessing outcomes of character‐building programs: Problems and prospects

This concluding chapter reviews some of the methodological issues that analysts need to consider when evaluating the success of character-development programs.
Higher-order boundary-layer solution for unsteady motion of a circular cylinder

The higher-order boundary-layer solution for an impulsively started circular cylinder with uniform velocity and for an exponentially accelerating cylinder in incompressible, relatively high-Reynolds-number flow of short duration are considered. A perturbation method is employed to linearize the two-dimensional vorticity transport equation by a double series expansion with respect to the Reynolds number and the time. A matched asymptotic expansion is carried out to define the proper boundary conditions between the viscous and inviscid layers for the linearized first-, second-, and third-order boundary-layer equations. Singularities appear in the higher-order approximate solutions to the viscous displacement velocities and skin frictions, which coincide with the singularity of the first-order approximate solution. These singularities have alternating signs and increasing magnitudes, thus attempting to remove the effects of the singularity of the lower-order solution. However, this futile attempt at removing a singularity by superposing even stronger singularities makes the solution worse around the singularity, which shows that the singularity is an artifact of the thin-boundary-layer approximation.
Preimplantation genetic diagnosis for stargardt disease.

Purpose To report the first use of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and preimplantation genetic diagnosis to achieve an unaffected pregnancy in an autosomal-recessive retinal dystrophy. Design Case report. Methods An affected male with Stargardt disease and his carrier wife underwent IVF. Embryos obtained by intracytoplasmic sperm injection underwent single-cell DNA testing via polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme analysis to detect the presence of ABCA4 mutant alleles. Embryos were diagnosed as being either affected by or carriers for Stargardt disease. A single carrier embryo was implanted. Results Chorionic villus sampling performed during the first trimester verified that the fetus possessed only 1 mutant paternal allele and 1 normal maternal allele, thus making her an unaffected carrier of the disease. A healthy, live-born female was delivered. Conclusion IVF and preimplantation genetic diagnosis can assist couples with an affected spouse and a carrier spouse with recessive retinal dystrophies to have an unaffected child.
Small insertions and deletions (INDELs) in human genomes

In this review, we focus on progress that has been made with detecting small insertions and deletions (INDELs) in human genomes. Over the past decade, several million small INDELs have been discovered in human populations and personal genomes. The amount of genetic variation that is caused by these small INDELs is substantial. The number of INDELs in human genomes is second only to the number of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and, in terms of base pairs of variation, INDELs cause similar levels of variation as SNPs. Many of these INDELs map to functionally important sites within human genes, and thus, are likely to influence human traits and diseases. Therefore, small INDEL variation will play a prominent role in personalized medicine.
NASA and the Emergence of New Surgical Technologies

The technology explosion of the last 20 years has changed the face of surgery dramatically. For example, application of video technology in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has revolutionized care with proven benefits to the patient that include reduced morbidity, decreased hospital stay, and earlier detection of pathology. There exists additional opportunity to improve surgery through technology over the next decade. Surgeons can and should exploit technologies that we routinely use in our everyday life. Industry and government have invested billions of dollars and decades of effort in technologies such as computers and robotics that can be readily applied to improve surgical practice. As the annual meeting of the Association for Academic Surgeons was held in Houston, exploitation of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) related technology was explored during this presentation. Effective application of advanced technology in surgery should address fundamental issues of cost, access, and quality of care. From the standpoint of cost, economists predict that nearly 18% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will be spent on healthcare in 2005 ($1.1 trillion). Despite staggering healthcare expenditures, geographic and socioeconomic disparities in health care delivery persist such that many Americans lack access to quality care. The recent reports by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), To Err is Human and Crossing the Quality Chasm, Patient Safety describe fundamental issues in quality that threaten and kill patients. The lack of quality is disturbing: medical errors cause up to 98,000 unnecessary deaths per year in the United States [1]. The magnitude of the problem is alarming— more people in our nation die from medical errors each
Pastry: Scalable, Decentralized Object Location, and Routing for Large-Scale Peer-to-Peer Systems

This paper presents the design and evaluation of Pastry, a scalable, distributed object location and routing substrate for wide-area peer-to-peer ap- plications. Pastry performs application-level routing and object location in a po- tentially very large overlay network of nodes connected via the Internet. It can be used to support a variety of peer-to-peer applications, including global data storage, data sharing, group communication and naming. Each node in the Pastry network has a unique identifier (nodeId). When presented with a message and a key, a Pastry node efficiently routes the message to the node with a nodeId that is numerically closest to the key, among all currently live Pastry nodes. Each Pastry node keeps track of its immediate neighbors in the nodeId space, and notifies applications of new node arrivals, node failures and recoveries. Pastry takes into account network locality; it seeks to minimize the distance messages travel, according to a to scalar proximity metric like the number of IP routing hops. Pastry is completely decentralized, scalable, and self-organizing; it automatically adapts to the arrival, departure and failure of nodes. Experimental results obtained with a prototype implementation on an emulated network of up to 100,000 nodes confirm Pastry's scalability and efficiency, its ability to self-organize and adapt to node failures, and its good network locality properties.
Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS): An Emerging Neuroimaging Technology with Important Applications for the Study of Brain Disorders

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is an emerging functional neuroimaging technology offering a relatively non-invasive, safe, portable, and low-cost method of indirect and direct monitoring of brain activity. Most exciting is its potential to allow more ecologically valid investigations that can translate laboratory work into more realistic everyday settings and clinical environments. Our aim is to acquaint clinicians and researchers with the unique and beneficial characteristics of fNIRS by reviewing its relative merits and limitations vis-a-vis other brain-imaging technologies such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). We review cross-validation work between fMRI and fNIRS, and discuss possible reservations about its deployment in clinical research and practice. Finally, because there is no comprehensive review of applications of fNIRS to brain disorders, we also review findings from the few studies utilizing fNIRS to investigate neurocognitive processes associated with neurologic...