cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relative sensitivity of gel diffusion, complement fixation, and immunoelectroosmophoresis tests for detection of hepatitis-associated antigen and antibody.

Abstract The immunoelectroosmophoresis (IEOP) test was compared with gel diffusion and complement fixation (CF) tests for sensitivity in detecting hepatitis-associated antigen (HAA) in the sera of hepatitis patients, for titration of HAA, and for detection of antibody to HAA. The IEOP test was found to be slightly more sensitive than either gel diffusion or CF tests for detection of antigen in the patients' sera. Titers of HAA demonstrated by IEOP were higher than those seen in gel diffusion tests but lower than CF titers. The gel diffusion test with an “enhancement” pattern was found to be more reliable than the other two procedures for detection of low levels of anti-HAA, due to the greater inhibitory effect of an antigen excess in the IEOP system and the possible masking of low levels of antibody by anticomplementary activity in the CF test system. Staining of immunoprecipitates in the IEOP test contributed little to the sensitivity of the test for detection of HAA.
Geometric remarks on Kalman filtering with intermittent observations

Sinopoli et al. (TAC, 2004) considered the problem of optimal estimation for linear systems with Gaussian noise and intermittent observations, available according to a Bernoulli arrival process. They showed that there is a "critical" arrival probability of the observations, such that under that threshold the expected value of the covariance matrix (i.e., the quadratic error) of the estimate is unbounded. Sinopoli et al., and successive authors, interpreted this result implying that the behavior of the system is qualitatively different above and below the threshold. This paper shows that this is not necessarily the only interpretation. In fact, the critical probability is different if one considers the average error instead of the average quadratic error. More generally, finding a meaningful "average" covariance is not as simple as taking the algebraic expected value. A rigorous way to frame the problem is in a differential geometric framework, by recognizing that the set of covariance matrices (or better, the manifold of Gaussian distributions) is not a flat space, and then studying the intrinsic Riemannian mean. Several metrics on this manifold are considered that lead to different critical probabilities, or no critical probability at all.
Gabor frames with trigonometric spline dual windows

A dual Gabor window pair has two functions that can reconstruct any function in L2(ℝ) using certain systems of their modulated and translated forms. Few explicit examples of dual Gabor window pairs are known. This paper constructs explicit examples with trigonometric form in one dimension as well as higher dimensions. Also, in the discrete time domain, the trigonometric form allows us to evaluate the Gabor coefficients efficiently using the Discrete Fourier Transform. The windows have fixed support and arbitrary smoothness.
Property-based testability analysis for hierarchical RTL designs

We present an analysis methodology that identifies testability bottlenecks in RTL designs, based on the concept of transparency properties. We discuss a hierarchical test generation methodology, wherein test is locally generated for each module and subsequently translated into global design applicable test. We introduce the notion of transparency properties for capturing test translation related behavior of modules, without reasoning on the complete functionality of the design. A recursive search algorithm that combines properties into test justification and propagation paths and reveals the reachability bottlenecks for each module in the design is subsequently devised. An ATPG-based experimental setup validates that the proposed methodology identifies accurately the test translation bottlenecks in the hierarchical design.
Mechanisms of Itch Evoked by β-Alanine

β-alanine, a popular supplement for muscle building, induces itch and tingling after consumption, but the underlying molecular and neural mechanisms are obscure. Here we show that, in mice, β-alanine elicited itch-associated behavior that requires MrgprD, a G-protein-coupled receptor expressed by a subpopulation of primary sensory neurons. These neurons exclusively innervate the skin, respond to β-alanine, heat, and mechanical noxious stimuli but do not respond to histamine. In humans, intradermally injected β-alanine induced itch but neither wheal nor flare, suggesting that the itch was not mediated by histamine. Thus, the primary sensory neurons responsive to β-alanine are likely part of a histamine-independent itch neural circuit and a target for treating clinical itch that is unrelieved by anti-histamines.
Orientational environments in liquids and solids

Abstract Local orientational order in liquids and solids is examined using the average “distribution of cosines” of angles subtended at particles in the liquid by pairs of nearest-neighbour particles, a techninue first introduced by Scott and Mader. This average information is compared with recent, more complete theories and simulations of orientational order. The lowest-order approximation to the “distribution of cosines” is shown to fail for dense systems, but the true distribution may measured very efficiently in computer simulators.
Field applications of stand-off sensing using visible/NIR multivariate optical computing

12 A novel multivariate visible/NIR optical computing approach applicable to standoff sensing will be demonstrated with porphyrin mixtures as examples. The ultimate goal is to develop environmental or counter-terrorism sensors for chemicals such as organophosphorus (OP) pesticides or chemical warfare simulants in the near infrared spectral region. The mathematical operation that characterizes prediction of properties via regression from optical spectra is a calculation of inner products between the spectrum and the pre-determined regression vector. The result is scaled appropriately and offset to correspond to the basis from which the regression vector is derived. The process involves collecting spectroscopic data and synthesizing a multivariate vector using a pattern recognition method. Then, an interference coating is designed that reproduces the pattern of the multivariate vector in its transmission or reflection spectrum, and appropriate interference filters are fabricated. High and low refractive index materials such as Nb2O5 and SiO2 are excellent choices for the visible and near infrared regions. The proof of concept has now been established for this system in the visible and will later be extended to chemicals such as OP compounds in the near and mid-infrared.
Satellite telemetry of fumarole temperatures, Mount Rainier, Washington

Temperatures of three fumaroles on the west summit crater of Mount Rainier, Washington, were monitored over a 5-week period by satellite telemetry. Upon interrogation by the Nimbus 4 satellite, the temperature transducer voltages were converted to digital signals and transmitted to the satellite. The information was stored on board until the Nimbus 4 came in view of the Alaska ground station, where the data were read out and forwarded via land lines to Goddard Space Flight Center.
Discrete time optimal nonlinear estimation

Recursive estimation for nonlinear discrete-time stochastic systems with additive white Gaussian observation noise is investigated. It is proved that for certain classes of systems, described either by finite Volterra series expansions or by state-linear realizations under certain algebraic conditions, the optimal conditional mean estimator is recursive and of fixed finite dimension. An example is presented to illustrate the structure of the estimators.
Detection of Water in Interstellar Regions by its Microwave Radiation

Water in interstellar regions detected by microwave emission from 6 sub 16 to 5 sub 23 rotational transition
Differential polarization imaging. II. Symmetry properties and calculations.

Various differential polarization images or Mueller images of model objects are generated using the equations derived in the previous paper (paper I of this series). These calculated images include models of the higher-order organization of metaphase chromosomes, and show the applicability of the differential polarization imaging method to the elucidation of complex molecular organizations. Then, the symmetry behavior of the Mueller matrix elements upon infinitesimal rotations of the optical components about the optical axis of the imaging system is presented. It is shown that the rotational properties of the Mueller images can be used to eliminate the linear polarization contributions to the M14 and M44 images, which appear when these images are generated with imperfect circular polarizations. The relationships between the 16 bright-field Mueller images for four different media, i.e., linearly and circularly isotropic, circularly anisotropic, linearly anisotropic, and linearly and circularly anisotropic, are also derived. For the first three cases simple relationships between the Mueller images are found and phenomenological equations in terms of the optical coefficients are derived. In the last case there are no specific relationships between the Mueller images and instead we briefly present Schellman and Jensen's method for treating this type of medium. The criterion of spatial resolution between adjacent domains of different optical anisotropy is then derived. It is found that in transitions between domains of opposite anisotropy the classical Rayleigh limit must be replaced by a magnitude criterion which depends on the limits of the sensitivity of the detection. Finally, the feasibility of optical sectioning in differential polarization imaging is demonstrated.
Cholinergic and non-cholinergic projections from the rat basal forebrain revealed by combined choline acetyltransferase and Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin immunohistochemistry

Abstract A two-color fluorescence method is described for demonstrating immunohistochemically the anterogradely transported plant lectin Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (PHAL, fluorescein isothiocyanate label) and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT, rhodamine label) on the same rat brain section. Application of this method to the study of projection neurons in the vertical and horizontal limbs of the diagonal band, the substantia innominata and nucleus basalis revealed that both cholinergic and non-cholinergic pathways followed similar trajectories to their targets. These included: (1) projections from the vertical, and, to a lesser extent, horizontal limb of the diagonal band coursing through the dorsal fornix, alveus and fimbria to the hippocampus; (2) fibers from the vertical and horizontal limbs of the diagonal band traveling anteriorly to the anterior olfactory nucleus, posterolaterally to the entorhinal cortex, and anterodorsally into the cingulum to the cingulate and retrosplenial, and, in some cases, the frontal and occipital cortices; (3) projections, mostly non-cholinergic, from the substantia innominata traveling laterally to the piriform cortex and amygdala, and anteriorly to the anterior olfactory nucleus and olfactory bulb; and (4) fibers from cells in the nucleus basalis coursing dorsally to the frontal and parietal cortices or laterally to the basolateral amygdala and piriform, insular and temporal cortices. Some axon terminations ended at right angles to the parent axon shaft in short protuberances resembling terminal boutons.
Disordered Eating: Can Women Accurately Recall Their Ringing and Purging Behaviors 10 Years Later?

Objective: To test women's ability to recall their past binging and purging behaviors. Design: Ten-year follow-up study of women who had participated in a cross-sectional survey during college. Subjects: In 1982, a sample of freshman and senior women at a large university in the Boston area were questioned about their weight, dieting history, bulimic symptoms, and eating patterns, attitudes, and concerns. In 1992, all subjects who responded to the 1982 survey were followed up to assess changes in bulimic symptoms and ability to recall past behaviors. Results: Among the 476 women who responded to both surveys, the percentage in 1992 who reported having ever binged and/or purged was less than the percentage in 1982, indicating that the recall of past behaviors was less than perfect. Denial in 1992 of ever having engaged in the behaviors ranged from 22% among the women who were self-inducing vomiting in 1982 to 64% among the women who had reported current fasting or strict dieting in 1982. Recall of past behaviors in 1992 was better among the women who had been current bingers or purgers in 1982. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that ability to recall past binging and purging is only modest. Therefore to better understand the mental and physical health consequences of these behaviors this information should be collected prospectively.
Bax Activation and Induction of Apoptosis in Human Keratinocytes by the Protein Kinase C δ Catalytic Domain

The constitutively active catalytic domain of protein kinase C (PKC)δ is an apoptotic effector generated by caspase-3 cleavage of full-length PKCδ in response to a wide variety of apoptotic stimuli, including UV radiation. The PKCδ catalytic domain induces apoptosis when ectopically expressed, however, the mechanism of apoptosis induction is unclear. We constructed a chimeric protein encoding the PKCδ catalytic domain fused to a mutated estrogen receptor ligand-binding domain in order to selectively activate the PKCδ catalytic domain. The enzymatic activity of the PKCδ catalytic domain fusion protein was induced in human keratinocytes treated with 4-hydroxytamoxifen, and its activation triggered loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and apoptosis. The apoptosis was associated with release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria and caspase activation, and was blocked by caspase inhibitors and the anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2, and Bcl-x L , suggesting a role for mitochondrial pore formation. Consistent with this, the activated PKCδ catalytic domain triggered the redistribution and activation of Bax, a Bcl-2 family protein that can directly induce cytochrome c release. In summary, despite being an apoptotic effector activated late in the apoptotic cascade, PKCδ also activates upstream components of the death effector pathway to insure the demise of cells committed to apoptosis.
Effects of Fasting on Endurance Exercise

Early studies agree that fasting is detrimental to overall physical performance and to endurance performance in humans; however, a study in rats reported an ergogenic effect where time to exhaustion was increased by a glycogen-sparing effect of elevated free fatty acids in blood resulting from a 24-hour fast. Later studies on humans have also found a detrimental effect of fasting on exercise endurance, with the exception of 1 study which found no difference. The discrepancy between humans and rats could not be explained by level of glycogen sparing, mode of exercise, duration of the fast, physiological differences or level of training. The intensity of exercise, and a potential placebo effect of fasting, are possible reasons for the conflicting results. Despite reduced endurance performance, fasted humans are able to exercise and maintain blood glucose homeostasis; the specific cause of an earlier onset of fatigue during a single bout of exercise in the fasted state remains unclear.
Stress-Induced Grain Boundary Migration in Polycrystalline Copper

We use three-dimensional (3D) grain-continuum models to study grain boundary migration, treating each grain with anisotropic elastic properties. Grain boundary speeds are computed using a finite element method to calculate differences in strain energy density across grain boundaries. Body-fitted finite element meshes are used. An interface tracking program, PLENTE, is used to develop starting structures and move the grain boundaries based on these speeds. We demonstrate this procedure on textured films consisting of 〈100〉 and 〈111〉 fiber textured film. We also apply the model to a short section of a Cu line embedded in oxide. We conclude with a discussion on the relative impact of different driving forces for grain boundary motion.
Flow through an orifice in a fibrous medium with application to fenestral pores in biological tissue

Slow viscous flow through a circular orifice in a plane wall bounded by a fibrous medium is studied using an effective medium approach, based on the Brinkman equation, using an integral equation technique. The solution is of more general interest because it describes the transition in behavior from the classic Sampson solution for creeping flow through an orifice to a potential flow solution for Darcy flow as the permeability parameter increases. Asymptotic analytical results for the total flux through the orifice for a given pressure difference are obtained for both small and large values of the permeability parameter α defined by a/Kp, where a is the orifice radius and Kp the Darcy permeability. For intermediate values of α, the integral equation is solved numerically for the flux and velocity profile at the opening. For α≫O(1), the velocity profile at the opening has a minimum at the orifice center, rises dramatically near the edge of the orifice and then experiences a boundary-layer-like correction of thickness O(1/α) to satisfy the no-slip boundary condition. The close relation between pressure driven flow through a circular orifice and broadside translation of the complementary geometry, namely a circular disk in Stokes flow, is also discussed. The effect of the finite thickness of the orifice is taken into account using a simple model proposed by Dagan et al. (J. Fluid Mech. 115 (1982)) for Stokes flow through a pore of finite length. The present results are used to estimate the hydraulic conductance of orifice like pores in fenestrated capillaries and fenestral pores in the internal elastic lamina of the arterial intima.
NONINTUITIVE CUE USE IN HABITAT SELECTION

There are at least two reasons why animals searching for a new habitat might be attracted to cues produced by competitors, predators, or other factors that reduce their fitness after they arrive and settle in the new habitat. First, such cues may be associated with other factors that enhance fitness after arrival. A simple model illustrates the conditions that favor indirect cue use, even when those cues are produced by factors with negative effects on fitness. Second, cues that improve the ability of dispersers to detect low-quality habitats may increase the likelihood that those individuals will be attracted to, and settle in, those habitats. In particular, attraction to detection cues produced by factors in low-quality habitats is likely when dispersers are relatively nonselective when they are searching for a new habitat. In such situations, cues that improve habitat detection can lead to more immigrants settling in low-quality habitats than is predicted on the basis of the relative abundance of those habitats in the landscape, a pattern that may encourage the erroneous conclusion that individuals prefer to settle in low-quality habitats. Examples are provided illustrating the application of these ideas to problems in basic and applied ecology.
Influence of Home Environment on Participation in Home Activities of Children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder

Background: This study explored the key physical and social factors within the home environment that influence the participation of children with an ASD in home activities. Method: Step 1 used a correlational research design to identify relationships between the home environment and participation patterns of children with ASD. Twenty-two children, ages 3 to 6 years, with a diagnosis of ASD participated. Data were collected using the Preschool Activity Card Sort (PACS), Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment Inventory (HOME), Parenting Stress Index (PSI), Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), and Hollingshead Four Factor Index of Social Status (ISS). In Step 2, an electronic survey gathered information from 20 occupational therapists, attempting to identify their perceptions related to factors within the home environment that influence the participation of children with ASD. Results: Significant correlations were found among parenting stress, the availability of learning materials, and parent responsiveness toward the child and the participation patterns of children in home activities. Themes relating to designated play areas for children at home, parents’ awareness of the needs of the child, and parents’ responsiveness toward their child emerged from the occupational therapists’ qualitative survey data. Conclusion: The results indicated that home environments do contribute to a child’s ability to participate in home activities.
Cyclic group blocking polyhedra

Gomory (Linear Algebra Appl 2:451–558, 1969) gave a subadditive characterization of the facets of the group polyhedron. Although there are exponentially many facets (see Gomory and Johnson in Math Program 3:359–389, 1972, Example 4.6) and exponentially many vertices for the group polyhedron for the master cyclic group problem, Gomory’s characterization of the non-trivial facets has polynomially many subadditive inequalities, in fact of order |G|2 for a finite Abelian group G. We reduce this subadditive inequality system to its minimal representation by a triple system of the same order and show the dimensionality of the polytope of non-trivial facets. The system of all triples corresponds to all solution vectors of length three into which every solution vector can be decomposed. Our minimal representation leads to a characterization of the vertices of length three. Gomory et al. (Math Program 96:321–339, 2003) introduced a shooting experiment involving solving the shooting linear program repeatedly to find important facets. We develop a topological network flow model of the dual problem of the shooting linear program in a reverse procedure from the decomposition of solution vectors into triples. Hunsaker (2003) gave a knapsack shooting experiment, which we use to find a simple pattern for the most hit knapsack facets.
Spanish medicine: trying to heal itself.

Recently, I returned to my alma mater to teach the first American-style medical ethics course at the University of Madrid School of Medicine. Besides the teaching, I visited many hospitals trying to start up discussions about ethics and ethics committees. My work provided me with a close-up look at Spain's health care system, and I came away both impressed with its ideals and shocked by its reality. The socialization of Spanish medicine has been gradual. Franco began the first phase in 1942 when he withheld a percentage of every industrial worker's salary to provide medical care, retirement, and welfare benefits. During the 1960s, the system was expanded to include white-collar workers and even some professional groups. Long before today's socialist party came to power in 1981, the fascist government had extended health benefits to more than 80% of the Spanish population and made an enormous investment in high-tech tertiary-care hospitals.
Separation performance and interfacial properties of nanocomposite reverse osmosis membranes

Abstract Four different types of nanocomposite reverse osmosis (RO) membranes were formed by interfacial polymerization of either polyamide (PA) or zeolite A-polyamide nanocomposite (ZA-PA) thin films over either pure polysulfone (PSf) or zeolite A-polysulfone nanocomposite (ZA-PSf) support membranes cast by wet phase inversion. All three nanocomposite membranes exhibited superior separation performance and interfacial properties relative to hand-cast TFC analogs including: (1) smoother, more hydrophilic surfaces (2) higher water permeability and salt rejection, and (3) improved resistance to physical compaction. Less compaction occurred for membranes with nanoparticles embedded in interfacially polymerized coating films, which adds further proof that flux decline associated with physical compaction is influenced by coating film properties in addition to support membrane properties. The new classes of nanocomposite membrane materials continue to offer promise of further improved RO membranes for use in desalination and advanced water purification.
Unity and Diversity of Psychology

Abstract Factors both internal and external to psychology are working for both unity and diversity of psychology. Table 1 gives examples of the four kinds of factors, and the article examines each of these examples. It also attempts to evaluate some of the costs and benefits of both unity and diversity. Possible courses of action are considered.
The Calculus of Integrating Differentiation: Timing Control of T-Bet

In this issue of Immunity, Schulz et al. (2009) use mathematical modeling to elucidate a signaling network controlling Ifng gene expression, thereby showing the importance of an Interleukin-12-dependent, Interferon-γ-independent second phase of inducing the transcription factor T-bet.
Prologue: nonclassical modalities of myocardial preconditioning.

classical ischemic preconditioning (IPC) occurs when single or multiple brief periods of coronary artery occlusion interspersed with brief periods of reperfusion precede a prolonged ischemic insult ([3][1]). IPC has been shown to result in a marked reduction of myocardial infarct size in all species
THE SPANISH COPULAS AS ASPECTUAL INDICATORS

The correct syntactic analysis of the distinction signalled by the two copulas in Spanish is the one in terms of the aspectual distinction 'perfective/ imperfective'. Such analysis has had very little acceptance, and it can only be surmised that this is due to the conspicuous lack of understanding of what this aspectual differentiation means in relation to copulative predicates. This study attempts to define the contents of the terms perfective/imperfective, and, hopefully, elucidate the nature of a semantic characterization that can adequately account for the distribution and meaning of these predicates. 1. The syntactic analysis assumed is one in terms of the features ~stative' and 'perfective', which ark assigned in their positive and negative values to the predicates bearing the two copulas. Ser occurs with stative and nonstative predicates, and estar only with stative ones. All adjectives and most participles are stadve; the distinction determining the use of one or the other copula with these terms is represented by the opposing values for [PERFECTIVE]. Thus, attributive predicates describing perfective states must occur with estar; those referring to imperfective states require set'. The readings assigned by the semantic rules to the feature combinations defining perfective and imperfective states, simply include a temporal specification of a delimited and of an undelimited time period, respectively. The proposed semantic characterization adequately describes the opposing di
Waiting for supershrink: an empirical analysis of therapist effects

Improving the effects of psychotherapy has been accomplished through a variety of methods. One infrequently used method involves profiling patient outcomes within therapist in order to find the empirically supported psychotherapist. This study examined data collected on 1841 clients seen by 91 therapists over a 2.5-year period in a University Counseling Center. Clients were given the Outcome Questionnaire-45 (OQ-45) on a weekly basis. After analysing data to see if general therapist traits (i.e. theoretical orientation, type of training) accounted for differences in clients' rate of improvement, data were then analysed again using Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM), to compare individual therapists to see if there were significant differences in the overall outcome and speed of client improvement. There was a significant amount of variation among therapists' clients' rates of improvement. The therapists whose clients showed the fastest rate of improvement had an average rate of change 10 times greater than the mean for the sample. The therapists whose clients showed the slowest rate of improvement actually showed an average increase in symptoms among their clients. Use of this information for improving quality of patient outcomes is discussed. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Improvement of arabidopsis mutant screens based on luciferase imagingin planta

A mutant screen was developed to isolateArabidopsis thaliana mutants affected in the signaling pathway of phytochrome A. Mutagenized transgenic seedlings were screened for deregulated expression of a chalcone synthase promoter fused to luciferase after etiolated tissue was treated with far-red light. The efficiencies of two types of cameras used for imaging the mutant population and for isolating individual mutants were compared. The cooled CCD camera performed more efficiently than the intensified CCD camera, and when combined to a powerful analysis software, it allowed rapid and accurate selection of putative mutants. A description of image-analysis automation is presented together with theoretical and experimental comparisons of the two types of cameras.
Femtosecond relaxation of highly photo-excited carriers in GaAs

Ultrafast relaxation of photo-excited electrons in p-doped and intrinsic GaAs has been investigated using the Monte Carlo method. Dynamic screening of the carrier-carrier (c-c) interaction has been implemented using a momentum and frequency dependent dielectric function. Compared to the static c-c scattering model, the current approach results in faster cooling of the electron-hole plasma, due to enhanced carrier-carrier scattering rates. In p- GaAs, the energy relaxation shows that the electron-hole plasma (EHP) cools faster with increasing hole concentration. The transient luminescence intensity and the effective carrier temperature computed from luminescence spectra compare favorably with experimental data.
Effect of influenza vaccine on bronchoprovocation testing in normal subjects

A study of 55 nonasthmatic patients was undertaken to determine if recent influenza vaccination is a justifiable exclusionary criteria for bronchoprovocation testing. Healthy subjects without history of asthma and with negative methacholine challenge tests were given an intramuscular injection of killed influenza vaccine. Methacholine challenge testing was repeated 24 h later. While a statistically significant decline in FEV 1 at 188 methacholine dose units was demonstrated (p
An Explanation of Color Nomenclature Universale

Specific physiological perception mechanisms account for some of the regularities associated with the lexical encoding of basic color terms described by Berlin and Kay (1969). This paper, however, focuses upon those regularities explained through reference to certain general principles of naming-behavior which are also pertinent to domains other than color. [cognitive anthropology, folk classification, language change, language universale, naming-behavior]
Demographic, Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioral Variables Associated With Overweight and Obesity in Low-Active Girls

This study examined personal, cognitive, affective, and behavioral variables related to body mass index (BMI) among 73 6th and 7th grade girls, and differences between categories of healthy weight, overweight, and obese in the variables. BMI was correlated with barriers to physical activity, enjoyment of physical activity, light physical activity, moderate to vigorous physical activity, vigorous physical activity, and sedentary time. As compared to obese girls, those who were non-obese perceived greater enjoyment of physical activity, engaged in more light and vigorous physical activity, and had fewer minutes/hour of sedentary time. Findings can inform interventions.
High level of mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 expression is associated with cisplatin resistance in osteosarcoma.

Background Cisplatin is one of the most effective chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of several solid tumors including osteosarcoma (OS). Despite aggressive treatment, 25% of patients with OS continue to die from their disease. Since cisplatin based regimens have been uniformly used in OS therapy, treatment failure is likely due, at least in part, to cisplatin resistance. Procedure The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between MKP-1 expression and cisplatin sensitivity of OS cell lines and to explore the mechanism underlying this relationship. Three OS cell lines were examined for their MKP-1 expression and cisplatin sensitivity. JNK phosphorylation and apoptosis induction was also measured. Western and Northern blot, flow cytometry, siRNA, and MTT assays were used. Results U2OS cells, which express high level of MKP-1, are less sensitive to cisplatin-induced cell death. Inhibition of MKP-1 by siRNA silencing sensitizes U2OS cells to cisplatin-induced cell death. Furthermore, delayed apoptosis induction following cisplatin treatment was observed in U2OS, in parallel to decreased JNK activation, increased MKP-1 expression and relatively increased cisplatin resistance. Interestingly, triptolide, an MKP-1 inhibitor, blocks MKP-1 expression and enhances cisplatin-induced cell death. Conclusion High MKP-1 expression is associated with decreased sensitivity or increased resistance to cisplatin-induced cell death in OS cell lines, and MKP-1 could potentially be used as a marker of cisplatin resistance and a therapeutic target for molecular therapies. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2008;51:754–759. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Testicular microlithiasis in patients with Down syndrome.

Objectives Testicular microlithiasis (TM) occurs with benign as well as with pathological conditions, such as testicular cancer. Since Down syndrome (DS) may be associated with increased frequency of testicular cancer, we determined the prevalence of TM in DS in patients from a DS clinic and evaluated the prevalence by age group. Study design We compared results of research scrotal ultrasounds obtained from 1998 to 2001 from 92 Latino patients with DS (ages newborn to 29.7 years) and clinical ultrasounds obtained from 1998 to 2004 from 200 Latino patients without DS (ages newborn to 18.3 years). We also reviewed the medical records. Results The prevalence of TM in DS was 29%, significantly higher than the 7% found in patients without DS ( P Conclusions We found a significantly increased prevalence of TM in DS. The clinical significance of TM needs to be investigated further.
Modification of stresses in alveolar bone induced by a tilted molar.

Stresses induced in the supporting bone by a tilted molar tooth under load have been investigated by both the photoelastic and the finite element model systems. The following conclusions were reached. 1. Altering the angle of the load applied to the unsupported molar from 0 (axial) to 30 degrees resulted in a fourfold increase in compressive stress in the supporting bone mesial to the tooth. 2. Increasing the load from 30 to 90 pounds while maintaining a 30 degree angle of application resulted in a linear increase in the shear stress on the supporting bone mesial to the tooth. 3. Following the placement of a fixed partial denture, the induced stress at a point on the mesial aspect of the molar tooth, subjected to a 60 pound load at 30 degrees to the long axis, was reduced from 241 to 43 p.s.i. 4. The introduction of a fixed partial denture resulted in a decrease in the compressive stress in the bone adjacent to the apex of the mesial root of the molar from 481 to 174 p.s.i. 5. A distributed 120 pound load applied over the length of the fixed partial denture compared against individual tooth loadings of 60 pounds revealed that placement of the fixed partial denture favored the tilted molar at the expense of the premolar.
Fully Nonparametric Hypotheses for Factorial Designs I: Multivariate Repeated Measures Designs

Abstract We introduce nonparametric versions for many of the hypotheses tested in analysis of variance and repeated measures models, such as the hypotheses of no main effects, no interaction effects, and no factor effects. These natural extensions of the nonparametric hypothesis of equality of the k distributions in the k sample problem have appealing practical interpretations. We concentrate on multivariate repeated measures designs and obtain simple rank statistics for testing these hypotheses. These statistics are the rank transform (RT) versions of the classical statistics for testing hypotheses in repeated measures designs. We emphasize that even though recent research has demonstrated the inappropriateness of the RT method for many parametric hypotheses, the RT procedure is always valid for testing our nonparametric hypotheses. We show that the rank statistics converge in distribution to central chi-squared distributions under their respective nonparametric null hypotheses. The noncentrality paramet...
The shortest definition of a number in Peano arithmetic

The shortest definition of a number by a first order formula with one free variable, where the notion of a formula defining a number extends a notion used by Boolos in a proof of the Incompleteness Theorem, is shown to be non computable. This is followed by an examination of the complexity of sets associated with this function.
402. Intracellular Trafficking of QD-FRET Nanoparticles for Gene Delivery

Development of a safe and effective nonviral gene vector remains a significant challenge in the field of gene therapy. Rational design of more efficient gene carriers will be possible only with mechanistic insights of the rate-limiting steps in the nonviral gene transfer process. In order to examine the intracellular transport of DNA nanoparticles and their dissociated individual components, we have labeled nanoparticles with quantum dots (QD) and fluorescent organic dyes as a donor and acceptor pair for fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). QDs have emerged as efficient FRET donors due to their broad absorption and narrow emission spectra, and high quantum yield, thus minimizing cross-talk between the donor and acceptor. Chitosan and plasmid DNA (pEGFP-C1) were individually labeled with a fluorescent organic dye and CdSe-ZnS quantum dots, respectively. Nanoparticles were subsequently formed by complex coacervation.
Flexible control of downloaded executable content

We present a security architecture that enables system and application a ccess control requirements to be enforced on applications composed from downloaded executable content. Downloaded executable content consists of messages downloaded from remote hosts that contain executables that run, upon receipt, on the downloading principal's machine. Unless restricted, this content can perform malicious actions, including accessing its downloading principal's private data and sending messages on this principal's behalf. Current security architectures for controlling downloaded executable content (e.g., JDK 1.2) enable specification of access control requirements for content based on its provider and identity. Since these access control requirements must cover every legal use of the class, they may include rights that are not necessary for a particular application of content. Therefore, using these systems, an application composed from downloaded executable content cannot enforce its access control requirements without the addition of application-specific security mechanisms. In this paper, we define an access control model with the following properties: (1) system administrators can define system access control requirements on applications and (2) application developers can use the same model to enforce application access control requirements without the need for ad hoc security mechanisms. This access control model uses features of role-based access control models to enable (1) specification of a single role that applies to multiple application instances; (2) selection of a content's access rights based on the content's application and role in the application; (3) consistency maintained between application state and content access rights; and (4) control of role administration. We detail a system architecture that uses this access control model to implement secure collaborative applications. Lastly, we describe an implementation of this architecture, called the Lava security architecture.
Kinetics of coagulation with fragmentation: Scaling behavior and fluctuations.

The standard coagulation process is generalized to include the effects of fragmentation and a scaling description for the cluster size distribution is developed. The Smoluchowski rate equation is used to calculate the critical exponents describing the steady-state size distribution. Predictions of the scaling and the rate equation are tested by numerical simulations. The mean-field rate-equation results are found to be valid in $dg~1$ implying that the upper critical dimension ${d}_{c}$ is less than 1.
Aldrin epoxidation in the earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris L.

Abstract Aldrin epoxidase of the earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris L., has been shown to occur mainly in the intestine and seemed to increase in activity with the development of the animal. The microsomal fraction was identified by electron microscopy as the locus of the epoxidase. Although sesamex was not inhibitory, inhibition of expoxidase by carbon monoxide suggested the involvement of cytochrome P-450. However, the carbon monoxide difference spectrum of the microsomes was dominated by a material which was spectroscopically identical to earthworm hemoglobin.
Reproductive cycle of the salmon-bellied racer, Mastigodryas melanolomus (Serpentes, Colubridae), from Costa Rica

The salmon-bellied racer, Mastigodryas melanolomus (Colubridae, Colubrinae), is known on the Atlantic versant from Tamaulipas, Mexico, to western Panama and on the Pacific slope from Nayarit, Mexico to western Guatemala (Savage 2002). In Costa Rica it is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical rainforest on both versants and in the Valle Central from sea level to 1,700 m (Solorzano 2004). This diurnal species is both terrestrial and arboreal (Solorzano 2004). It feeds mainly on lizards but also may eat frogs, snakes, reptile eggs and mammals (Seib 1984). Censky and McCoy (1988) reported on the female cycle of M. melanolomus (= Dryadophis melanolomus) from Yucatan, Mexico. Solorzano (2004) reported M. melanolomus clutch sizes and monthly occurrences of neonates from Costa Rica. The purpose of this paper is to present new information on the reproductive cycle of M. melanolomus from Costa Rica based on histological examination of gonadal material from museum specimens. The first information on the timing of the testicular cycle is also presented.
Merging equivalent contexts for scalable heap-cloning-based context-sensitive points-to analysis

A context-sensitive points-to analysis maintains separate points-to relationships for each possible (abstract) calling context of a method. Previous work has shown that a large number of equivalence classes exists in the representation of calling contexts. Such equivalent contexts provide opportunities for context-sensitive analyses based on binary decision diagrams (BDDs), in which BDDs automatically merge equivalent points-to relationships. However, the use of a BDD ``black box'' introduces additional overhead for analysis running time. Furthermore, with heap cloning (i.e., using context-sensitive object allocation sites), BDDs are not as effective because the number of equivalence classes increases significantly. A further step must be taken to look inside the BDD black box to investigate where the equivalence comes from, and what tradeoffs can be employed to enable practical large-scale heap cloning.This paper presents an analysis for Java that exploits equivalence classes in context representation. For a particular pointer variable or heap object, all abstract contexts within an equivalence class can be merged. This technique naturally results in a new non-BDD context-sensitive points-to analysis. Based on these equivalence classes,the analysis employs a last-k-substring merging approach to define scalability and precision tradeoffs. We show that small values for k can enable scalable heap cloning for large Java programs. The proposed analysis has been implemented and evaluated on a large set of Java programs. The experimental results show improvements over an existing 1-object-sensitive analysis with heap cloning, which is the most precise scalable analysis implemented in the state-of-the-art Paddle analysis framework. For computing a points-to solution for an entire program, our approach is an order of magnitude faster compared to this BDD-based analysis and to a related non-BDD refinement-based analysis.
Imaging Capabilities Of The Faint Object Camera On The Space Telescope

The Faint Object Camera built by the European Space Agency for the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) contains three optical relays capable of reimaging the HST focal plane with high spatial resolution at F/48, F-96, and F/288 focal ratios. Recent simulations and ground calibrations have demonstrated the capability of carrying out high quality astronomical observations down to 15-20 milliarcsecond spatial resolution and limiting visual magnitudes of 29-30. In this paper, the results of these tests and calculations are presented and discussed in the context of the scientific capabilities of the mission. Particular emphasis will be placed on the optical characteristics of the F/288 high resolution apodizer which promise a revolution in our understanding of the structure of very faint nebulosity around bright nearby objects such as planetary systems around young stellar objects and ejecta from evolved mass losing stars.
Epidural Analgesia in Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery: A Nationwide Analysis of Use and Outcomes

Importance The use of epidural analgesia in laparoscopic colorectal surgery has demonstrated superiority over conventional analgesia in controlling pain. Controversy exists, however, regarding its cost-effectiveness and its effect on postoperative outcomes. Objectives To examine the use of epidural analgesia in laparoscopic colorectal surgery at the national level and to compare its outcomes with those of conventional analgesia. Design, Setting, and Participants This is a retrospective review of laparoscopic colorectal cases performed with or without epidural analgesia for cancer, diverticular disease, and benign polyps. Patient demographic characteristics, disease and procedure types, and hospital settings were listed for patients in the epidural and conventional analgesia groups. A 1 to 4 case-matched analysis was performed, matching for patient demographic characteristics, hospital setting, indications, and procedure type. Data were obtained from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2010. Main Outcomes and Measures Total hospital charge, length of stay, mortality, pneumonia, respiratory failure, urinary tract infection, urinary retention, anastomotic leak, and postoperative ileus. Results A total of 191 576 laparoscopic colorectal cases were identified during the study period. Epidural analgesia was used in 4102 cases (2.14%). Epidurals were more likely to be used in large teaching hospitals, cancer cases, and rectal operations. On case-matched analysis, epidural analgesia was associated with a longer hospital stay by 0.60 day ( P = .003), higher hospital charges by $3732.71 ( P = .02), and higher rate of urinary tract infection (odds ratio = 1.81; P = .05). Epidural analgesia did not affect the incidence of respiratory failure, pneumonia, anastomotic leak, ileus, or urinary retention. Conclusions and Relevance The perioperative use of epidural analgesia in laparoscopic colorectal surgery is limited in the United States. While epidural analgesia appears to be safe, it comes with higher hospital charges, longer hospital stay, and a higher incidence of urinary tract infections.
On the number of iterations of local improvement algorithms

A general model of local improvement algorithms in combinatorial optimization accurately confirms performance characteristics often observed in individual cases. The model predicts exponentially bad worst case and low order polynomial average run times for single optimum problems including some linear complementarity problems and linear programming. For problems with multiple local optima, most notably those that are NP-complete, average speed is linearly bounded but accuracy is poor.