cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Total parenteral nutrition increases mortality after hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVES To determine the effect of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and different enteral feeding formulas on survival and liver function following hemorrhage in rats. DESIGN Prospective randomized controlled study. SETTING Laboratory of a large university-affiliated medical school. SUBJECTS Sixty-seven male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 350 to 450 g. INTERVENTIONS Jugular and gastroduodenal feeding catheters were inserted in animals 1 day before hemorrhage, and animals were started on one of six different fluid or nutritional regimens: TPN, iv saline, an enteral amino acid-based formula (AA) (Vivonex-TEN), an enteral peptide-based formula (PEP) (Reabilan-HN), an enteral intact-protein based formula (PRO) (Osmolite-HN), or enteral saline. A catheter was inserted in the tail artery and animals were hemorrhaged 5 mL/kg at baseline and 1 hr later. Animals were returned to their cages and observed for survival. Liver function was determined by measuring circulating bile acid levels at baseline and 24 hr after hemorrhage. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Mortality was significantly increased in animals receiving TPN (63%) and AA (24%). Mortality was 13% in animals receiving PRO and 0% in animals receiving PEP and saline. Liver function deteriorated in all animals after hemorrhage except the PEP group. CONCLUSIONS TPN and AA increased mortality in animals after hemorrhage. PEP was associated with zero mortality and protection of liver function after hemorrhage.
Bidirectional reflectance factor (BRF) characterization of the MODIS flight solar diffuser

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) will be one of the primary instruments observing the earth on the Earth Observing System (EOS) scheduled for launch in late 1999. The solar diffuser BRF characterization is required for MODIS on-orbit reflectance calibration. The system reflectance calibration accuracy requirement is 2 % covering a spectral region of 400 to 2300 nm. An internal flow down specification of 1 % was allotted to characterization of the BRF. The SBRS scattering goniometer will be described. The source is a quartz-halogen lamp. Multiple field stops, aperture stops, and baffle masks were experimentally optimized to reduce scattered light to acceptable levels. In addition the room was made light tight. Glan Thompson and Wollaston polarizers were used in the illuminating and viewing arms, respectively. Three sets of detectors were used to cover the 400 to 2300 nm range: PMT, Ge, and PbS. The rotary and translation stages used to move the solar diffuser, polarizers, optical filters, and detectors being computer controlled, which permitted measurements to be made remotely. This scattering goniometer is a relative device, so the flight solar diffuser is characterized by measuring it relative to a diffuser which was characterized by NIST. The transfer to the NIST standard was done before and after solar diffuser characterization. BRF measurements were made at five wavelengths and nine illumination angles with one out-of-plane observation angle. Multiple BRF measurements were made to determine repeatability and spatial uniformity. Measured BRF data will be presented.
Spontaneous reversion of tsBN67 cell proliferation and cytokinesis defects in the absence of HCF-1 function.

Mammalian HCF-1 is a highly conserved and abundant chromatin-bound protein that plays a role in both herpes simplex virus (HSV) immediate-early (IE) gene transcription and cell proliferation. Its role in cell proliferation has been evidenced through the analysis of a temperature-sensitive hamster cell line called tsBN67. When placed at nonpermissive temperature, tsBN67 cells undergo a stable and reversible proliferation arrest after a lag of 36-48 h. This phenotype results from a single point mutation in HCF-1, which disrupts HCF-1 association with both chromatin and the HSV IE transactivator VP16 at nonpermissive temperature. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of spontaneous tsBN67 growth-revertant cells that are able to proliferate at nonpermissive temperatures. These cells retain the tsBN67 HCF-1 point mutation and grow in the absence of HCF-1 chromatin association, demonstrating that complete restoration of tsBN67 HCF-1 functions is not essential for cell proliferation. Phenotypic analysis of both mutant and revertant tsBN67 cells shows that, in addition to a cell proliferation defect, these cells display a conspicuous multinucleated phenotype in a significant population of arrested cells. This defect in cytokinesis is also a result of loss of HCF-1 function, suggesting that HCF-1 plays a role in cell exit from mitosis. The revertant tsBN67 cells display a coincident restoration of cell proliferation and suppression of the cytokinetic defect, suggesting that HCF-1 plays a shared role in cell proliferation and cytokinesis.
SIV/HIV latency in the CNS: role of innate immune responses

In order to model the molecular events that lead to HIV infection and pathogenesis in the brain, we developed an accelerated, consistent simian model of HIV infection in which pigtailed macaques are inoculated with a neurovirulent SIV clone and an immunosuppressive SIV strain. Infected animals invariably develop AIDS and over 90% develop central nervous system disease with lesions typical of HIV encephalitis as well as peripheral nervous system disease with neurodegeneration by 3 months postinoculation. This model has allowed us to identify early events in the brain that lead to the downregulation of SIV replication and the establishment of latency in macrophages. We have demonstrated that SIV infection is established in the brain during acute infection and this is accompanied by increased levels of inflammatory cytokines/chemokines and increased expression of macrophages inflammatory markers. Further, our studies have delineated the effects of IFNβ in suppressing early virus replication, suppressing virus transcription and inducing viral latency as well as downregulation of early inflammation. We have identified a novel pathway of IFNβ signaling that affects viral gene expression as well as expression of cellular genes involved in inflammation. The molecular mechanisms involved in these processes will be discussed.
A Rapid Method for Growth of Metal Nanoparticles on Nanowire Substrates

The production of nickel and platinum nanoparticles on silica nanowire substrates using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition has been investigated. Determination of particle size and particle size distribution was done using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Ni nanoparticle diameters were found to be between 2 and 6 nm, with particle size increasing as the substrate temperature increased from 573 to 873 K. The size of Ni nanoparticles was found to be dependent on the chamber pressure during growth. The results indicate a competition between pressure-related diffusion within the vapor and dissociation of the precursor. Pt nanoparticle diameters were consistently found to be 2.5–3.0 nm at all deposition conditions. Insufficient thermal energy within the studied range results in a minimal contribution from surface diffusion, the primary mechanism for nanoparticle growth.
Synthesis of 1 - deuterioaldehydes from methylene - BIS - pyridinium cations

A synthesis of 1-deuterio and 1-tritioaldehydes, especially arylaldehydes, from precursor gem-dihalides is described. The scheme is especially useful when high label incorporation is desired.
Studies on the thermal dissociation of glycerol dehydrase

Abstract It has previously been shown that the interaction of the apoenzyme of glycerol dehydrase with Li or Na ions produced a reversible dissociation into two different, separately inactive protein subunits, A and B. On the other hand the formation of the complex AB · B 12 OH between hydroxocobalamin and the associated apoenzyme AB, strengthens the binding of A to B so that effective dissociating agents for the apoenzyme, such as Li, Na, or EDTA, do not cause dissociation. Dissociation of AB · B 12 OH can be achieved, however, if the complex is heated to over 60 °. Heating produces an active subunit B, an inactivated subunit A, and a B 12 derivative. Li and Na ions promote this thermal dissociation while K, Rb, Cs, and NH 4 ions inhibit it, in descending order. When the separated subunits are heated individually; subunit A is very heat labile and is somewhat stabilized against heating by high concentrations (of the order of 2 m ) of Na + , Rb + , K + , and Cs + , but not by Li + at any concentration tried; while subunit B is stabilized against heat by K + and is made more labile to heat by Na + or Li + . Potassium ions inhibit heat-mediated dissociation of AB · B 12 OH complex. Potassium ions may thus aid the association, while sodium or lithium ions may promote dissociation, by virtue of their effects on the conformation of subunit B in the AB · B 12 OH complex.
Conducting a Rigorous Quasi-Experimental Evaluation Using a School District's Existing Student Database.

Often, when an evaluation is needed, there is always a tendency to jump into data collection without first considering what might be already available. This paper demonstrates how an existing student database from a large school district could be used to provide some rigorous evidence regarding the impact of a supplementary teacher professional development programme on student achievement. Randomization was not possible in this study but to ensure rigour, matching of the treatment and the comparison groups was done on variables that were considered highly predictive of future achievement. The two groups were matched at the class level on course type, grade level and prior achievement. Next, hierarchical linear modelling was used to further control for selection bias between the two groups. According to the statistical theory on selection bias, this two‐part process of matching and modelling removes all the observed bias. This illustration shows that performing a rigorous quasi‐experimental study is possib...
Improving Adolescent Students' Reading Comprehension with iSTART

This study examines the benefits of reading strategy training on adolescent readers' comprehension of science text. Training was provided via an automated reading strategy trainer called the Interactive Strategy Trainer for Active Reading and Thinking (iSTART), which is an interactive reading strategy trainer that utilizes animated agents to provide reading strategy instruction. Half of the participants were provided with iSTART while the others (control) were given a brief demonstration of how to self-explain text. All of the students then self-explained a text about heart disease and answered text-based and bridging-inference questions. Both iSTART training and prior knowledge of reading strategies significantly contributed to the quality of self-explanations and comprehension. Adolescents with less prior knowledge about reading strategies performed significantly better on text-based questions if they received iSTART training. Conversely, for high-strategy knowledge students, iSTART improved comprehensi...
Two-loop Feynman-gauge calculation of the meson nonsinglet evolution potential

Recently, three independent determinations of the two-loop meson nonsinglet evolution potential have been completed. Two of them are an explicit light-cone-gauge calculation while the third is a less direct evaluation based on conformal symmetry. However, all three calculations disagree in the ${C}_{F}$${\mathrm{}}^{2}$ term. In this paper I present the results of a Feynman-gauge evaluation of Gegenbauer matrix elements (${V}_{2}$${)}_{\mathrm{mj}}$ of the ${C}_{F}$${\mathrm{}}^{2}$ part of the two-loop meson nonsinglet evolution potential. The results confirm one of the light-cone-gauge calculations.
Secure trust management for mobile platforms

Smartphones change the way we use the Internet. No longer are we limited to media consumption, but participation in Social Media etc. allows us all to become media producers. Moreover, with its computing power and network connectivity, the smartphone can become a peer in a peer-to-peer based content delivery network. Securing property rights to the media must be part of such sharing and propagation. This paper explores the capabilities available to the mobile smartphone platforms to secure such participation, and it describes an architecture for adding trust management to the exchange of media to and from a smartphone user.
Biological Activity of Pyrethroid Analogs in Pyrethroid-Susceptible and -Resistant Tobacco Budworms, Heliothis virescens (F.)†

The phenoxybenzyl moiety of conventional pyrethroids is a major site of oxidative metabolism in resistant tobacco budworms, Heliothis virescens (F.). In this study, this group was replaced with known P450 monooxygenase-inhibiting or oxidatively blocked groups. A variety of isomers (1R/1S, cis/trans) of the resulting chrysanthemates were tested as insecticides or synergists against tobacco budworms that were insecticide-susceptible (LSU) or that expressed metabolic resistance to cypermethrin (Pyr-R). A number of compounds with pentafluorophenyl, methylenedioxyphenyl, and propargyloxyphenyl groups were insecticidal, and activity was dependent on both geometric and stereochemical configuration of the acid moiety. Both trans and cis isomers of 1(R)-fenfluthrin, which contains a pentafluorophenyl group, suppressed resistance to cypermethrin in Pyr-R insects, confirming that oxidative metabolism of the phenoxybenzyl moiety is a major mechanism of resistance in this strain. Of the methylenedioxyphenyl compounds,...
Granuphilin C2A Domain as a Coincidence Detector for Phosphatidylserine and Phosphoinositides

Granuphilin is a membrane binding protein responsible, in part, for docking insulin secretory vesicles to the plasma membrane. Granuphilin, also known as synaptotagmin like protein 4 (Slp4), contains tandem C2 domains. Unlike synaptotagmin, however, the granuphilin C2A domain binds strongly to plasma membrane lipids independent of intracellular Ca2+. Despite the strong binding, neither the lipid targets for this protein nor the residues responsible for binding are well characterized. Our study attempts to identify the respective roles of (a) phosphoinositides such as phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate (PIP2) and (b) anionic backgroundlipids such as phosphatidylserine (PS) in binding of the granuphilin C2A domain to liposomes. Affinities are measured using protein-to-membrane FRET and titration with the competitive inhibitor inositol (1,2,3,4,5,6)-hexakisphosphate (IP6). Granuphilin C2A binds to liposomes containing phosphatidylcholine, dansyl-phosphatidylethanolamine, and PS and/or PIP2. Decreased FRET is measured as the protein is displaced from lipid upon titration with IP6. Granuphilin C2A has similar affinity for liposomes containing either 24% PS or 2% PIP2, but affinity increases ∼100-fold in the presence of both target lipids. Binding site(s) for the two lipids are being probed using site-directed mutagenesis and NMR. Overall, granuphilin demonstrates the capability to bind to background anionic lipids and phosphoinositides independently, but the presence of both lipids greatly increases the binding affinity of this protein. This suggests that granuphilin may serve as a coincidence detector to target vesicles to sites of secretion on the plasma membrane.
THE IMPLICATIONS OF PROFESSIONAL AND LEGAL GUIDELINES FOR COURT DECISIONS INVOLVING CRITERION-RELATED VALIDITY: A REVIEW AND ANALYSIS

Title VII court cases litigated since 1978 were reviewed to assess the implications of the latest professional and legal guidelines for court deliberations regarding the criterion-related validity of paper-and-pencil tests with adverse impact. Major topics important to an understanding of predictor, criterion, procedural, data analysis, and interpretation issues were examined. Among the major findings were the heavy reliance placed on test development procedures and the reluctance of many judges to accept recent research findings, often contained in professional guidelines, which are inconsistent with those in the Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures (1978). Suggestions are offered throughout to guide employers who are interested in successfully conducting or defending a criterion-related validation study.
Identification of a higher molecular weight protein that shows apparent cross-reactivity with anti-p21ras monoclonal antibodies on western blots.

Abstract We have characterized the immune cross-reactivity of several commercially available monoclonal antibodies prepared against the p21 ras proteins and used in Western blotting experiments against human tissue homogenates. Under optimal conditions, only two bands were observed on Western blots. One of these comigrated with control p21 ras protein. A second protein of apparent mobility corresponding to approximately 54 kDa was also observed with all four monoclonal antibodies tested. Protein sequencing by automated Edman degredation indicates that the 54 kDa species corresponds to human immunoglobulin heavy chain. Under suboptimal conditions, another high molecular weight species of apparent mobility 65 kDa was also observed to cross-react with some of the monoclonal antibodies tested. This 65 kDa species was identified by protein sequencing as human serum albumin. Coomassie blue staining of SDS-polyacrylamide gels indicates that serum albumin is a major contaminant of many surgically obtained human tissue samples, while p21 ras and immunoglobulin heavy chain are present at much lower concentrations. These results may be of significance when using monoclonal antibodies to determine p21 ras levels of whole tissue homogenates by dot-blot, slot-blot or microplate assays.
Fiber pigtailed thin wall capillary coupler for excitation of microsphere WGM resonator in chemical sensing

Optical microresonators have been proven as an effective means for sensitive chemical sensors development. The changes in refractive index near the resonator surface lead to the effective refractive index change and thus a shift at certain resonance wavelength. The high quality (Q) whispering gallery modes (WGMs) contributed by the rotationally symmetric structures will interact with the local circumstances through the evanescent field. The high sensitivity in detection was achieved by the long photon lifetime of the high-Q resonator (thus the long light-environment interaction path). In this paper, we present our recent research on using fiber pigtailed capillary coupler for WGM resonator excitation and its sensing applications. Capillary tube with wall thickness of several microns was used as the waveguide. The PMMA microsphere and porous glass microsphere (PGM) were integrated with the etched capillary tube for different sensing purposes. The Q-factors and free spectrum ranges (FSR) of different types of microspheres were measured by coupling light into the microsphere using novel fiber pigtailed capillary coupler. Chemical vapor at different concentrations were tested using PGM microresonator. This alignment free structure provides a new sensing probe based on WGM resonator concept.
Designing Vibrotactile Codes to Communicate Verb Phrases

Soldiers, to guard themselves from enemy assault, have to maintain visual and auditory awareness of their environment. Their visual and auditory senses are thus saturated. This makes these channels less usable for communication. The tactile medium of communication with users is appropriate for displaying information in such situations. Research in interpersonal communication among soldiers shows that the most common form of communication between soldiers involves the use of verb phrases. In this article, we have developed a three-by-three tactile display and proposed a method for mapping the components of a verb phrase to two dimensions of tactile codes—shape and waveform. Perception of tactile codes by users depends on the ability of users to distinguish shape and waveform of the code. We have proposed a measure to rate the distinguish-ability of any two shapes and created a graph-based user-centric model using this measure to select distinguishable shapes from a set of all presentable shapes.We conducted two user studies to evaluate the ability of users to perceive tactile information. The results from our first study showed users' ability to perceive tactile shapes, tactile waveforms, and form verb phrases from tactile codes. The recognition accuracy and time taken to distinguish were better when the shapes were selected from the graph model than when shapes were chosen based on intuition. The second user study was conducted to test the performance of users while performing a primary visual task simultaneously with a secondary audio or haptic task. Users were more familiar with perceiving information from an auditory medium than from a haptic medium, which was reflected in their performance. Thus the performance of users in the primary visual task was better while using an audio medium of communication than while using a haptic medium of communication.
IC mask layout with a single conductor layer

A computer program for the automatic layout of single conductor layer IC masks is described. Descriptions are included of element modelling, element placement, grid expansion, cross-over minimization, conductor routing and layout compaction.
The art and science of game programming

The University of North Texas has for many years offered classes in game programming to Computer Science students and classes in game art and design to art students. A key feature of these classes is the opportunity for these diverse communities of students to collaborate on joint projects. We describe the features that make these classes unique.
Controlling eye movements with hidden Markov models

Advances in technology and in active vision research allow and encourage sequential visual information acquisition. Hidden Markov models (HMMs) can represent probabilistic sequences and probabilistic graph structures: here we explore their use in controlling the acquisition of visual information. We include a brief tutorial with two examples: (1) use input sequences to derive an aspect graph and (2) similarly derive a finite state machine for control of visual processing.
3. Uses of Evidence in Disability Outcomes and Effectiveness Research

Outcomes and effectiveness research is a category of health services research that gauges how well the health care needs of persons with disabilities are being met. Using Patrick's Model of Health Promotion for people with disabilities as a framework for analysis, this article examines outcomes and effectiveness research related to the health care needs of persons with disabilities. The three most pressing research priorities are clear theoretical conceptualizations and qualitative research on health outcomes relevant to the needs of persons with disabilities; a systemic analysis of existing assessment instruments' utility for disability outcomes research; and the development and testing of new outcome instruments.
Artificial Neural Networks Application in Lake Water Quality Estimation Using Satellite Imagery

Lake water quality monitoring using traditional water sampling and laboratory analyses is very expensive and time consuming. Application of neural networks to predict water quality using satellite imagery data has a potential to make the water quality determination process cost-effective, quick, and feasible. This paper includes an indirect method of determining the concentrations of chlorophyll-a (chl-a) and suspended matter (SM), two optically active parameters of lake water quality. Radial basis function neural (RBFN) network models are developed to predict the chl-a and SM concentrations in the lake. The low cost commercially available Landsat-TM imagery spectral information was used as the input with chl-a or SM concentrations as output. The model is trained and validated with data from the years 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004. The model testing resulted in a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.55, and 0.90, respectively, for actual and predicted chl-a and SM concentrations. The root mean square error (RMSE), standard error of prediction (SEP), and average testing accuracy indicated the merit of the developed models.
Has the "Million-Dollar Cap" Affected CEO Pay?

High and rising executive pay levels over the past two decades have attracted considerable popular and political hostility. As Michael Jensen and Kevin J. Murphy (1990 p. 227) argue, these forces may constrain compensation practices in "informal and indirect ways." Our earlier work documents the impact of such indirect political constraints on executive compensation in regulated sectors (Paul Joskow et al., 1993, 1996). This study investigates the political use of the corporate tax code to influence executive-pay decisions more broadly. In particular, we analyze the provision of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (OBRA) that eliminated corporate tax deductibility for compensation in excess of $1 million for the CEO and each of the next four highestpaid executives within a firm. Congressional proponents of this legislation argued that this provision would reduce "excessive" CEO pay by raising its cost to the corporation. Exemptions for qualified "performance-based" compensation could have further indirect effects by inducing changes in the structure of executive compensation plans. Given the broad scope for exemptions and the minimal impact that tax deductibility of executive pay typically has on overall corporate profitability, however, the real impact of the tax cap on executive-pay patterns remains an open question. This paper, with Rose and Wolfram (2000), extends analyses by Tod Perry and Marc Zenner (1999) and Brian Hall and Jeffrey Liebman (2000), to provide further evidence on the impact of this legislation on CEO pay.
Effect of Preparation Conditions on the Characterization and Activity of Aerosol-Generated Ferric Sulfide-Based Catalysts for Direct Coal Liquefaction

Direct liquefaction of coal was studied using ferric sulfide-based catalysts generated in an aerosol reactor. The catalyst materials were prepared under varying conditions of temperature, pressure, and precursor concentration. In some runs, Fe−Cu−S mixed-metal catalysts containing 10 and 40% of Cu (based on total metal) were also used. Characterization studies reveal that the catalysts consist of hollow particles 3−20 nm in diameter, aggregated in clumps. Liquefaction experiments were performed at 350−440 °C under a hydrogen pressure of 1000 psi(cold) and 30 min reaction time with tetralin or phenanthrene as solvent. The catalyst activity and selectivity to oil-range products increase with increase in temperature of the aerosol reactor. The selectivity improves slightly when the catalyst exposure to air is minimized. The catalytic effects are more pronounced with phenanthrene as solvent. At 400 °C, both the conversion of coal and the oil yield increase with increase in catalyst loading, but the effect is ...
Parallel implementations of ensemble data assimilation for atmospheric prediction

Numerical models are used to find approximate solutions to the coupled nonlinear partial differential equations associated with the prediction of the atmosphere. The model state can be represented by a grid of discrete values; subsets of grid points are assigned to tasks for parallel solution. Data assimilation algorithms are used to combine information from a model forecast with atmospheric observations to produce an improved state estimate. Observations are irregular in space and time, for instance following the track of a polar orbiting satellite. Ensemble assimilation algorithms use statistics from a set (ensemble) of forecasts to update the model state. All the challenges of heterogeneous grid computing and partitioning for atmospheric models are in play. In addition, the heterogeneous distribution of observations in space and time is a further source of irregular computing load while ensembles lead to increased storage and an additional communication pattern. Adjacent observations cannot be assimilated simultaneously leading to a mutual exclusion scheduling problem that interacts with the grid partitioning communication patterns and load balancing. Simulations of efficient approaches to the scheduling and grid partitioning problem for ensemble assimilation are presented. Prospects for implementation on accelerator architectures are also discussed.
The Cloze Procedure and Older Adults: Effects of Age and Schooling.

The cloze procedure was used to investigate the relationship between the effects of age and schooling on predicting the readability of printed patient education materials for older adults. A total of 84 adults between the ages of 61 and 93 comprised the sample for the study. Each subject completed one cloze test in his/her own home with no imposed time limit. Tests were scored on the basis of the number of exact completions for the 50 deletions. Raw scores were converted to percentages of correct completions for the purpose of data analysis and interpretation. Each subject also supplied data on his/her age and the number of years of schooling completed. The major findings of this investigation were: (1) schooling correlated more significantly than did age with the actual cloze test scores, and (2) schooling had a more significant effect than did age upon predicting cloze test scores. The cloze procedure has implications as a diagnostic tool for physicians, health educators, and other health professionals ...
miR-125b can enhance skin tumor initiation and promote malignant progression by repressing differentiation and prolonging cell survival

Previously, we identified miR-125b as a key regulator of the undifferentiated state of hair follicle stem cells. Here, we show that in both mice and humans, miR-125b is abundantly expressed, particularly at early stages of malignant progression to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), the second most prevalent cancer worldwide. Moreover, when elevated in normal murine epidermis, miR-125b promotes tumor initiation and contributes to malignant progression. We further show that miR-125b can confer "oncomiR addiction" in early stage malignant progenitors by delaying their differentiation and favoring an SCC cancer stem cell (CSC)-like transcriptional program. To understand how, we systematically identified and validated miR125b targets that are specifically associated with tumors that are dependent on miR-125b. Through molecular and genetic analysis of these targets, we uncovered new insights underlying miR-125b's oncogenic function. Specifically, we show that, on the one hand, mir-125b directly represses stress-responsive MAP kinase genes and associated signaling. On the other hand, it indirectly prolongs activated (phosphorylated) EGFR signaling by repressing Vps4b (vacuolar protein-sorting 4 homolog B), encoding a protein implicated in negatively regulating the endosomal sorting complexes that are necessary for the recycling of active EGFR. Together, these findings illuminate miR-125b as an important microRNA regulator that is shared between normal skin progenitors and their early malignant counterparts.
Experimental dynamics of wing assisted running for a bipedal ornithopter

BOLT is a lightweight bipedal ornithopter capable of high-speed dynamic running and effecting transitions between aerial and terrestrial locomotion modes. The gait dynamics of both quasi-static and dynamic locomotion are examined through the use of an on-board accelerometer, part of a one gram electronics package also containing a processor and radio. We discuss the accelerations in the context of the traditional spring-loaded inverted pendulum model seen in nearly all legged locomotion in organisms. Flapping wings are shown to provide damping along with propulsive force. The aerodynamic forces of the flapping wings also impart passive stability to the robot, enabling it to run bipedally with only a single actuator. BOLT transitions from ground running to aerial hovering in as little as one meter of runway. Overall, the advantages provided by wings in terrestrial locomotion, coupled with aerial capabilities, allow BOLT to navigate complex three dimensional environments, switching between locomotion modes when necessary.
Parameterized physical compact thermal modeling

This paper presents a compact thermal modeling (CTM) approach, which is fully parameterized according to design geometries and material physical properties. While most compact modeling approaches facilitate thermal characterization of existing package designs, our method is better suited for preliminary exploration of the design space at both the silicon level and the package level. We show that our modeling method achieves reasonable boundary condition independence (BCI) by comparing a CTM example with a BCI model for a benchmark ball grid array single-chip package under the same standard set of boundary conditions. In essence, the presented CTM method can act as a convenient medium for enhanced interactions and collaborations among designers at the package, circuit and computer architecture levels, leading to efficient early evaluations of different thermally-related design trade-offs at all the above levels of abstraction before the actual detailed design is available. The presented modeling method can be easily extended to model emerging packaging schemes such as stacked chip-scale packaging and three-dimensional integration.
Work In progress - Western Michigan University’s effort to increase retention of first -time, first-year engineering and applied sciences students

This paper describes the activities, assessment results, and improvements to increase the retention of first- time first-year students in Western Michigan University's College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Retention strategies consist of student learning community to build connection among students and between students and the college, and faculty learning community to improve mentoring of students and student success. The student learning communities consisted of placing ~20 students into the same 3-to-4 courses together with an anchor class taught by the faculty mentor. Placement of students into learning communities is based on mathematics placement or program of studies. The 2005-2007 results indicate 2nd year retention rates have improved 8 to 17% over the weighted average retention rates of the college of the past five years. Student satisfaction surveys indicate the objectives of creating connection among students and between students and the college have been achieved. Success of the project led the university to implement several institution-wide-policies on student success.
Susceptibility of Highbush Blueberry Cultivars to Cranberry Fruitworm and Japanese Beetle

The susceptibility of ten highbush blueberry cultivars, Vaccinium corymbosum L., to infestation by two key insect pests was compared. Over 5 years of assessing infestation by cranberry fruitworm, Acrobasis vaccinii (Riley), in a replicated field planting, “Duke” received the greatest infestation in 3 of the 6 years. Susceptibility of the 10 cultivars to Japanese beetle feeding was measured over 3 years in laboratory assays designed to measure relative feeding on fruit and foliage. “Brigitta” was the most susceptible cultivar to fruit feeding, while “Elliott” and “Legacy” were the least susceptible cultivars to foliage feeding. “Elliott” and “Legacy” also had the lowest level of Japanese beetle feeding on leaves of blueberry bushes in the field. These results suggest the presence of plant-based resistance to foliage and fruit feeding insect pests in some cultivars of V. corymbosum, which could be exploited within integrated pest management strategies.
On the performance properties of the Koch fractal and other bent wire monopoles

Koch fractal monopole antennas are known to exhibit lower resonant frequencies than Euclidean monopoles of the same height. It has been concluded that there exists a unique relationship between the antenna's fractal geometry and its electromagnetic behavior. Here, the performance properties of the Koch fractal monopole are examined and compared with the performance properties of other bent wire geometry monopoles having the same total wire length and overall height. It is demonstrated that monopoles with less complex shapes exhibit lower resonant frequencies because they are more effective at increasing the electrical volume of the antenna. When these antennas are made to be resonant at the same frequency, they exhibit virtually identical performance properties independent of differences in their geometric shape and total wire length. It is also demonstrated that the effective height of these monopoles converge to that of an electrically small Euclidean monopole near the small antenna limit and they exhibit virtually identical radiation resistance properties at low frequencies. Finally, it is shown that the fractal limit in lowering of resonant frequency is related to the limit in the increase in the antenna's effective volume.
Neural correlates of self-focused and other-focused strategies for coping with cigarette cue exposure.

Brain imaging research has begun to characterize the neurocognitive processes that cigarette smokers utilize to cope with cue-elicited craving. Presently, however, it remains unclear whether distinct neural substrates support different types of coping. We sought to address this knowledge gap by examining neural responses associated with self-focused and other-focused coping techniques. Fifty-seven treatment-seeking male cigarette smokers initiated an attempt to quit smoking and subsequently underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging, during which they were asked to hold and view neutral cues and a cigarette. Participants were instructed to engage in either self-focused or other-focused coping while being presented with the cigarette and an opportunity to smoke. Those who were told to engage in self-focused coping, but not those told to utilize other-focused coping, exhibited significant activation of several regions previously implicated in self-referential processing, including the medial PFC, precuneus, and insula. In addition, coping strategy modulated the relationship between cigarette-related brain activation and self-reported craving in a subset of these regions. These findings indicate that coping strategies that entail the generation and maintenance of self-relevant information rely upon different psychological and neurobiological mechanisms than those that are not self-focused, even when the latter incorporate information that is very similar in content. Results extend previous work examining the neural substrates of coping with craving. Given the potential mnemonic and motivational advantages associated with self-related processing, findings may have significant implications for selecting and improving techniques for helping quitting smokers resist the urge to smoke.
A multi-theory constraint satisfaction system

Constraint satisfaction systems are usually designed to work within a single-theory. This paper presents an approach to multi-theory constraint satisfaction characterized by cooperation among a variety of single-theory specialists. The system consists of three main components: a blackboard, a controlling Refine procedure, and a set of specialists. Two essential techniques used in our system are item propagation and case splitting. Potential applications of this system include software testing and analysis tools.
The role of helium gas in medicine

The noble gas helium has many applications owing to its distinct physical and chemical characteristics, namely: its low density, low solubility, and high thermal conductivity. Chiefly, the abundance of studies in medicine relating to helium are concentrated in its possibility of being used as an adjunct therapy in a number of respiratory ailments such as asthma exacerbation, COPD, ARDS, croup, and bronchiolitis. Helium gas, once believed to be biologically inert, has been recently shown to be beneficial in protecting the myocardium from ischemia by various mechanisms. Though neuroprotection of brain tissue has been documented, the mechanism by which it does so has yet to be made clear. Surgeons are exploring using helium instead of carbon dioxide to insufflate the abdomen of patients undergoing laparoscopic abdominal procedures due to its superiority in preventing respiratory acidosis in patients with comorbid conditions that cause carbon dioxide retention. Newly discovered applications in Pulmonary MRI radiology and imaging of organs in very fine detail using Helium Ion Microscopy has opened exciting new possibilities for the use of helium gas in technologically advanced fields of medicine.
Antineoplastic Activity of Cultured Blue-Green Algae (Cyanophyta).

A large-scale screening program was initiated to evaluate laboratory-cultured blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) as a source of novel antineoplastic agents. Approximately 1000 cyanophyte strains from diverse habitats were cultured to provide extracts for testing. The screening program identified the families Scytonemataceae and Stigonemataceae as prolific producers of novel cytotoxic compounds. Rates of rediscovery of known compounds were relatively low.
Characterizing and mitigating the impact of process variations on phase change based memory systems

Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) has been used in main memory design for decades. However, DRAM consumes an increasing power budget and faces difficulties in scaling down for small feature size CMOS processing technologies. Compared to conventional DRAM, emerging phase change random access memory (PRAM) demonstrates superior power efficiency and processing scalability as VLSI technologies and integration density continue to advance. Nevertheless, using nano-scale fabrication technologies will unavoidably introduce design parameter variability in the manufacturing stage. In the past, the impact of process variation (PV) on conventional transistor-based storage cells and combinational logic has been studied extensively. However, the implication of PV on non-volatile memory design using emerging phase change techniques has not been well understood. In this paper, we take the first step toward characterizing the effect of process variation on PRAM and explore PV-aware design techniques. We show that process variation increases the PRAM programming power by 96% and degrades PRAM endurance by 50X. Our proposed circuit and two microarchtiecture techniques with system-level support reduce PRAM power by 44%, 59% and 57% and improve PRAM endurance by 27X, 277X and 268X, relative to PV-affected PRAM design. Moreover, we show that the synergy of the proposed cross-layer approaches, which achieve an average 63% power savings and 13050X endurance improvement over the conventional case, provide an attractive design solution to mitigate the deleterious impact of PV for non-volatile memory in the upcoming nano-scale processing technology era.
Optimization and waveforms for compressive sensing applications in the presence of interference

Compressive sensing concepts have potential applications to multiple RADAR problems, which include Moving Target Indication, and RADAR imaging in two and three spatial dimensions. Currently known sufficient conditions for reliable sparse signal reconstruction do not seem to be directly applicable or practical for some traditional RADAR problems. But experiments and mathematical invariance properties of some reconstruction methods indicate that useful products can often be obtained using these methods for circumstances outside the usual conditions.
Effect of anti-cytomegalovirus therapy on the incidence of immune recovery uveitis in AIDS patients with healed cytomegalovirus retinitis

Abstract Purpose To determine the association between anticytomegalovirus (CMV) maintenance therapy after immune recovery and immune recovery uveitis in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Design Observational cohort study. Methods Data were obtained on AIDS patients with CMV retinitis followed up at the AIDS Ocular Research Unit of University of California San Diego from November 1995 to October 1999. Immune recovery was defined as CD4 count greater than 50 cells/μl for more than 3 months. Patients with immune recovery uveitis presented with vitritis, cystoid macular edema, or epiretinal membrane. Statistical analyses were conducted to determine the risk of continued use of anti-CMV therapy after immune recovery and the relationship of developing immune recovery uveitis with the type of anti-CMV therapy. Results Forty-three patients (64 eyes) had healed CMV retinitis and had achieved immune recovery. Thirty-one patients (48 eyes) received anti-CMV therapy after immune recovery, and 20 patients (29 eyes) developed immune recovery uveitis. Per-eye analyses revealed a 3.8-fold increase in the odds of developing immune recovery uveitis with anti-CMV therapy compared with no treatment ( P = .02). If treated with cidofovir the odds were 3.3 greater than if treated with an alternative regimen ( P = .04), 4.1 greater if treated intravenously ( P = .01), and 5.2 greater than if not treated ( P = .004). If not treated with cidofovir, a nonsignificant increase in the risk (2.4) of immune recovery uveitis was found ( P = .15). Neither the potency nor the use of implants for noncidofovir treatment was related to the risk of recovery uveitis ( P > .62). Conclusions The use of cidofovir is a primary risk factor in the subsequent development of immune recovery uveitis. Ongoing treatment of healed CMV retinitis after immune recovery does not appear to protect against the development of immune recovery uveitis.
Sensing and control of MEMS Accelerometers using Kalman filter

A Kalman filter is designed and implemented for a MEMS capacitive accelerometer in order to filter out two major noise sources in the accelerometer, which are electronic noise and thermal mechanical noise (Brown noise). The dynamic modeling of the MEMS accelerometer is developed. A Kalman filter based force-to-rebalance controller is constructed on the model. Simulation results show that the Kalman filter based controller produces an excellent noise reduction, increases the dynamic range of the accelerometer, and stabilizes the accelerometer system under a closed-loop structure.
Technical Strategies for Recurrent Carotid Stenosis following Angioplasty and Stenting

As the number of carotid angioplasty and stent procedures increases, vascular surgeons should anticipate the need for increased surgical correction for complications of stenting and, particularly, in-stent restenosis. This study reviews operative technique alternatives for hemodynamically significant recurrent carotid stenosis following angioplasty and stent placement. Four techniques have been used for repair of carotid in-stent restenosis. All operations were performed with continuous electroencephalographic monitoring. Stents were completely removed in two patients. Operations performed were (1) longitudinal arteriotomy through the stent with patch angioplasty, (2) common carotid to distal internal carotid artery (ICA) bypass with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), (3) subclavian to distal ICA bypass with PTFE, and (4) carotid endarterectomy with complete stent removal and patch angioplasty. Mean operative time was 133 ± 22 min. Mean follow-up was 27.5 ± 29 months. There were no postoperative strokes, myocardial infarctions, or deaths. No cranial nerve injuries were noted. No patients developed postoperative neck hematomas requiring return to the operating room. All patients were stable at follow-up without evidence of recurrent stenosis on postoperative duplex ultrasound. Repair of carotid restenosis following angioplasty and stenting can be achieved with or without complete stent removal. Multiple technical approaches may be required, depending on the length and location of the lesion and stents, the presence of complete common carotid occlusion, and the degree of surrounding inflammation.