cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Femtoliter Microarray Wells for Ultrasensitive DNA/mRNA Detection

ABSTRACT DNA/mRNA analysis and genetic mutation detection are important in biomedical sciences, clinical diagnosis, and environmental monitoring. In this study, a femtoliter microwell array system has been developed for ultrasensitive DNA/mRNA detection using molecular beacon (MB) DNA probes. The microwell array system, with laser-induced fluorescence imaging, can be used to achieve a detection limit of 9 Rhodamin 6G molecules in 28 fL (28 × 10−15 L) wells in this array. Hybridization kinetics of the MBs and their complementary DNA targets has been monitored with a concentration detection limit of 3.0 nM. As few as 50 target DNA copies can be monitored in each well. The specificity of MB and the effect of DNA target concentration on the MB hybridization kinetics have been investigated in femtoliter wells. Analysis of specific rat γ-actin mRNA sequence amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and simultaneous measurement of multiple analytes have also been studied with this microwell array system. As t...
Liquid medium and liquid overlays improve embryogenic tissue initiation in conifers

Somatic embryogenesis (SE) is expected to play an important role in increasing productivity, sustainability, and uniformity of future US forests. For commercial use, SE technology must work with a variety of genetically diverse trees. Initiation in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.), the main commercial US forest species, is often recalcitrant for desirable genotypes. Liquid initiation medium with no or low gelling agent or placement of the explant on gelled medium followed later by a liquid medium overlay during the initiation process increased initiation for loblolly pine and Norway spruce (Picea abies). Loblolly pine liquid medium required reduction of NAA from 2 mg/l in gelled medium to 0.3 mg/l in liquid medium. Once the NAA concentration was adjusted, loblolly pine initiation occurred in liquid medium with fully immersed megagametophytes, explants supported at the liquid medium surface, or on gelled medium overlaid with liquid medium. Liquid overlays (0.25 ml) consisting of medium with NAA reduced to 0.3 mg/l, 9 mg/l ABA and no gelling agent applied to explants on 2 ml of gelled medium provided excellent initiation results. Greatest initiation percentages occurred when the liquid overlay was applied 14 days after placement of the megagametophyte on gelled medium. Initiation increases ranged from +8.5% with high-value cross-pollinated seed sources to +6.5 to +9.9% with open-pollinated and often recalcitrant seed sources. Liquid medium addition allows rapid replenishment of nutrients and adjustment or change of pH, hormones, or other parameters without disturbing the tissue.
Refractory Demodex Folliculitis in Five Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

: We report five children with acute lymphocytic leukemia on maintenance chemotherapy who had Demodex folliculitis. None experienced complete clearing when treated with permethrin 5% cream. Topical metronidazole helped to lessen the eruption in four, but did not provide full clearing. The one child who was treated with sodium sulfacetamide 10%, sulfur 5% formulation had resolution of the eruption. We suggest that treatment of Demodex folliculitis in children with acute lymphocytic leukemia is more difficult than is suggested in the literature. Newer sodium sulfacetamide/sulfur formulations should be considered when treating this condition, particularly in children with acute lymphocytic leukemia.
New HER2-Positive Targeting Agents in Clinical Practice

Overexpression of human epidermal growth factor occurs in approximately 20–25 % of invasive breast cancers. This subtype of breast cancer has been associated with poor clinical outcomes. The development of trastuzumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to the extracellular domain of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), revolutionized outcomes of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer; however, many patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer eventually become resistant to it. Several newer anti-HER2 agents have been developed, including lapatinib, pertuzumab, and trastuzumab emtansine. These exciting advances in drug development for HER2-positive breast cancer have also led to many challenges, including how to optimally sequence and combine HER2-targeted agents.
Homogenization of Hydraulic Conductivity for Hierarchical Sedimentary Deposits at Multiple Scales

Based on a three-dimensional heterogeneous aquifer model exhibiting non-stationary, statistically anisotropic correlation, three hydrostratigraphic models (HSMs) are created within a sedimentary hierarchy. A geostatistical analysis of natural log conductivity (lnK) is conducted for the units of the HSMs. Hydraulic conductivity is then upscaled using numerical and analytical methods. Increasing lnK variances are evaluated. Results suggest that for the aquifer model tested: (1) the numerical method is capable of upscaling irregular domains with reasonable accuracy for a lnK variance up to 7.0. (2) Accuracy of the upscaled equivalent conductivities (K*) and associated performance of the HSMs are sensitive to homogenization level, heterogeneity variance, and boundary condition. Variance is found to be the most significant factor impacting the accuracy of the HSMs. (3) Diagonal tensor appears a good approximation for the full-tensor K*. (4) For the HSM units, when the variance is low (less than 1.0), all analytical methods are nearly equally accurate; however, when variance becomes higher, analytical methods generally are less accurate.
Evaluation of Reproductive Efficiency of Dairy Cattle with Emphasis on Timing of Breeding

Abstract Approximately 2600 inseminations in Holstein cows and heifers were performed to evaluate the effect of time differences between first observation of estrus and insemination on conception and to assess the effects of management and environment on fertility. Factors that significantly affected conception rate included: lactation number, service number, sire, site of semen deposition in the reproductive tract, lactation number by service number interaction, and maximum tempeature the day after insemination. Days postpartum to first estrus were 36.8, to first service were 77.8, and to second service were 115.4. Mean time for onset of estrus was 0815h (n=2420) under our management system. About 33% of heifers were in estrus 18 to 19 d following breeding compared with about 9% of cows. Forty-four percent of older cows returned to estrus 23 to 24 d postbreeding compared with 15.8% of heifers. There was no correlation between time of onset of estrus for early postpartum heats and breeding heats. Fifty-three percent of problem cows responded to prostaglandin F 2α injection and had a normal conception rate. Cows that were inseminated at 80h postprostaglandin had a conception rate of 20.7%.
Probing the physiological state of phytoplankton at the single-cell level

Probing the physiological state of phytoplankton at the single-cell level provides valuable insight in ecological studies as well as in environmental monitoring of pollution or UV impacts. This paper reviews the recent progress in assessing the physiological state of phytoplankton with flow cytometry by inherent cell properties such as cell size and chlorophyll autofluorescence, specific fluorescent dyes, and newly developed molecular probes and enzyme substrates. It is reported how nitrogen and iron limitation as well as the effect of copper pollution could be derived from changes in cell inherent properties. Effects of Cu were also recorded by monitoring cell membrane potentials and esterase activity. Photosynthetic capacity of algae was assessed by changes in chlorophyll fluorescence with the electron transport inhibitor DCMU, by a cytometric adaptation of the pump-and-probe approach, and molecular probes for Rubisco. Antibodies were also applied to mark non-terminal stages in the cell DNA replication cycle, to detect non-proliferating cells, to assess DNA damage caused by UV-B radiation and to quantify diatom stickiness. Fluorescein diacetate proved useful to discriminate metabolically active from inactive cells and to reveal strategies of dark survival in algae. The activity of alkaline phosphatase was recorded by a new fluorigenic substrate ELF, and polyclonal antibodies against nitrate reductase (NR) provided measurements of the NR abundance. An outlook will show how recent developments in molecular probes might affect the future analysis of marine ecosystems and their communities.
Measuring change: mixed Markov models for ordinal panel data.

In an analysis of longitudinal data it is important to distinguish between dependencies caused by within - and between - subject variability. This paper presents mixed Markov models for ordinal data that take into account both sources of variation. In addition, covariates that may capture differences among panel members and timespecific changes are also incorporated in the model. The model is derived by specifying an observation-driven process at the individual level and allowing for parametric or semi-parametric representations of random parameter variation across the units of analysis. As a result, the approach is well suited for modelling ordinal panel data with a large number of time points. In an application a three-week diary study is analysed to test hypotheses about the relationships between emotions and personality factors over time.
The characteristics of UWB signal transmitting through a lossy dielectric slab

The electromagnetic transmission phenomenon is one of the most important parts of propagation modeling of UWB signals in the indoor environment. However, in previous work there has not been an efficient solution for the transmission of UWB signals. In this paper, we develop an analytical time-domain solution of a transmitted electric field through a lossy dielectric slab excited by an oblique incident plane wave. This solution is derived from the inverse Laplace transform of refraction coefficients at both surfaces of the slab and propagation losses in the slab. Based on the solution, a detailed investigation is presented on the transmitted field waveform for UWB signals passing through lossy dielectric slabs in varied scenarios of an indoor environment. Finally, we discuss the transmission loss of different slabs in the indoor environment and how to efficiently apply our solution efficiently in modeling the UWB propagation.
Enseñando Derecho Procesal Civil Comparado (Teaching Comparative Civil Procedure)

The English version of this document can be found at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1016897 La version francaise de ce document se trouvent a: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1016412 The Greek version of this document can be found at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1757707 This article describes the author's experience teaching Comparative Civil Procedure for US and foreign students in the past 10 years. This is an interactive course, as compared to the essentially 'passive' Socratic Method and can be an inspiring experience for both the faculty and the students, because it creates a rare environment for learning and experimentation. The methodology can be used to teach any course from a comparative perspective, like Comparative Contracts, Comparative Torts, Comparative Class Actions, Comparative Antitrust, etc.
Cardiac Morbidity and Mortality Following Radiotherapy

With increasing evidence in recent years of radiation-induced cardiac morbidity and mortality, it is ironic that fewer than 50 years ago the heart was considered resistant to radiation. One of the first reports on radiation-induced myocardial infarction was by Pearson in 1957. Since then, several other studies have examined the effect of radiation on the heart (Cohn et al. 1967; Jones and Wedgwood 1960; Leach 1943; Lindahl et al. 1983, Rubin and Casarett 1968; Whitfield et al. 1963). The rapid increase in knowledge is partially due to advances in and beneficial outcomes of cancer treatments, especially of Hodgkin’s disease. Careful follow-up of patients successfully treated for Hodgkin’s disease, from Stanford (Hancock et al. 1993b; Stewart and Fajardo 1984), the Joint Center for Radiation Therapy (Mauch et al. 1988; Tarbell et al. 1990), the University of Minnesota (Lee et al. 1990) and other institutions (joensuu 1993), along with overviews of individual studies (Henry-Amar and Somers 1990a), have added to our knowledge of the potential harmful effects of radiation on the heart.
Being Useful: Policy Relevance and International Relations Theory. Edited by Miroslav Nincic and Joseph Lepgold. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2000. 416p. $80.00 cloth, $29.95 paper.

Thucydides, one of the intellectual fathers of international relations (IR), wrote a postmortem of a great war. In the process he also served as a general and was banished from Athens when he arrived too late to save a battle. Fortunately for us, the banishment improved his data and his analysis. Such are the delicate complications of analysis, theory, and practice. Being in the world of action provides crucial questions; distancing oneself from that world provides insight into the questions. This volume edited by Miroslav Nincic and Joseph Lepgold explores the variety of problems and prospects associated with linking theory and practice in international affairs. They do not argue that theory should be rejected for praxis. Rather they and their contributors argue that the isolation of the two unnecessarily oversimplifies the political world. The world of academic IR theory can benefit from closer contact with the world of policy and the world of policy will do better if it uses more theory.
Bullous Pemphigoid, Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid and Pemphigus Vulgaris: An Update on Pathobiology

Pemphigoid and pemphigus vulgaris (PV) are autoimmune diseases that cause potentially debilitating erosions and blistering of the skin and/or mucous membranes. In bullous pemphigoid (BP), autoantibodies target components of the basement membrane zone (BMZ), most importantly the hemidesmosomal proteins, BP180 and BP230. Research efforts have uncovered some of the complex mechanisms that cause this disease, including the interplay between the humoral and cell-mediated immune responses, as well as the role of complement activation, inflammatory cell activation, and proteolytic enzymes. In mucous membrane pemphigoid, which preferentially targets mucous membranes, several antigenic targets along the BMZ have been identified. In PV, desmoglein autoantibodies play the most critical role in the disease, with various other target antigens acting adjunctively to exacerbate the disease by apoptotic signaling. The relationship between apoptosis and acanthosis has yet to be clearly defined, but they may promote each other to enhance disease activity. This article provides an update on the pathogenesis of these diseases.
Variation-aware dynamic voltage/frequency scaling

Fine-grained dynamic voltage/frequency scaling (DVFS) is an important tool in managing the balance between power and performance in chip-multiprocessors. Although manufacturing process variations are giving rise to significant core-to-core variations in power and performance, traditional DVFS controllers are unaware of these variations.
All-optical CDMA with bipolar codes

A method for the transmission and detection of bipolar sequences in a unipolar system is presented. It allows all-optical implementation, in noncoherent optical CDMA systems, of the bipolar codes that have been developed for the radio domain. A practical design is described that encodes the spectrum of a broadband optical source to support a large number of subscribers.
Alteration in abundance of specific membrane proteins of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is attributed to deletion of the inner membrane protein MorC

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is an important pathogen in the etiology of human periodontal and systemic diseases. Inactivation of the gene coding for the inner membrane protein, morphogenesis protein C (MorC), results in pleotropic effects pertaining to the membrane structure and function of this bacterium. The role of this protein in membrane biogenesis is unknown. To begin to understand the role of this conserved protein, stable isotope dimethyl labeling in conjunction with MS was used to quantitatively analyze differences in the membrane proteomes of the isogenic mutant and wild-type strain. A total of 613 proteins were quantified and 601 of these proteins were found to be equal in abundance between the two strains. The remaining 12 proteins were found in lesser (10) or greater (2) abundance in the membrane preparation of the mutant strain compared with the wild-type strain. The 12 proteins were ascribed functions associated with protein quality control systems, oxidative stress responses, and protein secretion. The potential relationship between these proteins and the phenotypes of the MorC mutant strain is discussed.
DIFFERENTIAL SEDIMENTATION OF POLLEN GRAINS IN LAKES

ABSTJ3ACT Water circulation affects the sedimentation of pollen grains in lakes, sorting them according to morphological type. Pollen grains with rapid rates of sinking fall downward through the water and arc deposited evenly onto the sediment throughout the lake. Those with slower sinking speeds in water, due to small size or low density, arc kept in suspension in the turbulent waters of the epilimnion. They are carried across the lake in wind-driven water currents and are deposited preferentially onto littoral sediment. Preferential deposition distorts the original ratios in which pollen enters the lake from the air, causing variations in the pollen percentages in sediment from different parts of the basin. The process is thus of concern to paleoecologists, who seek to use pollen percentages as an index of regional vegetation.
Maya Angelou's Children's Books: Inspiration for Turning Poetry Into Music

This column presents books for children penned by Maya Angelou. These poems and stories, based on her experiences as an African American woman living in the United States, Egypt, Ghana, and South Africa, include extraordinary photography and artwork. Suggestions for inclusion in the general music classroom are provided.
Construction of quasicyclic LDPC codes based on the minimum weight codewords of Reed-Solomon codes

This work presents an algebraic method for constructing QC-LDPC codes based on the minimum-weight (m-w) codewords of Reed-Solomon (RS) codes over GF(q) with two information symbols.
Mass Spectrometry and Biomarker Development

Biomarkers potentially play a crucial role in early disease diagnosis, prognosis and targeted therapy. In the past decade, mass spectrometry based proteomics has become increasingly important in biomarker development due to large advances in technology and associated methods. This chapter mainly focuses on the application of broad (e.g. shotgun) proteomics in biomarker discovery and the utility of targeted proteomics in biomarker verification and validation. A range of mass spectrometry methodologies are discussed emphasizing their efficacy in the different stages in biomarker development, with a particular emphasis on blood biomarker development.
Extended argument principle and integral design constraints. II. New integral relations

For pt.1 see Proc. 39th IEEE Conf. Decision Contr., p.4984-89 (2000). This paper studies performance limitation and design tradeoff issues in the analysis and design of linear time-invariant, single-input single-output feedback control systems. We develop a number of integral constraints, which extend the classical Bode/Poisson sensitivity and complementary sensitivity integrals. The new integral relations lead to new insights into the study of fundamental limitation and design tradeoff issues, and together with the classical results, enable a more refined and more informative performance analysis.
Deadly power: a funeral to counter sorcery in South India

In this article, I argue that the regenerative potential of Tamil sorcery and countersorcery in South India inevitably depends on destruction; I demonstrate what ritual specialists' and sufferers' perspectives can reveal about relations of power, death, and regeneration. I take issue with Bruce Kapferer's recent proposition that sorcery is a creative practice through which human beings make and remake their lives, [sorcery, countersorcery, ritual healing, funeral symbolism, South India, Tamil people]
A 250-Mbit/s CMOS crosspoint switch

Voltage swing reduction and constant current steering techniques for high-speed CMOS crosspoint switches are described. These techniques reduced crosstalk and intersymbol interference originating from capacitive and inductive couplings along the high-speed channels. An experimental 16*16 crosspoint switch using the techniques has achieved a worst-case data rate of 250 Mbit/s with 80% eye opening and 0.2-ns timing jitter from a 5-V supply. The worst crosstalk noise is 140 mV/sub p-p/, average delay through the switch is 6 ns, and power consumption is 900 mW. Also, the scaling experiment has demonstrated robustness of the design against blind scaling. >
Guidance from above: common cues direct distinct signaling outcomes in vascular and neural patterning

The nervous and vascular systems are both exquisitely branched and complicated systems and their proper development requires careful guidance of nerves and vessels. The recent realization that common ligand-receptor pairs are used in guiding the patterning of both systems has prompted the question of whether similar signaling pathways are used in both systems. This review highlights recent progress in our understanding of the similarities and differences in the intracellular signaling mechanisms downstream of semaphorins, ephrins and vascular endothelial growth factor in neurons and endothelial cells during neural and vascular development. We present evidence that similar intracellular signaling principles underlying cytoskeletal regulation are used to control neural and vascular guidance, although the specific molecules used in neurons and endothelial cells are often different.
Yoga experience as a predictor of psychological wellness in women over 45 years.

Background: Although high levels of subjective well-being (SWB) are common in old age, a subset of older individuals is disproportionately vulnerable to negative affect. Yoga has been shown to have many short-term benefits, but researchers have not determined whether a long-term or frequent yoga practice increasingly protects older women from low levels of psychological well-being. Aims: The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which psychological attitudes, transcendence, mental mastery, and subjective vitality in a sample of female yoga practitioners over 45 years varied according to the length and frequency of yoga practice. Materials and Methods: We administered online surveys to a non-probability sample of 211 female yoga practitioners 45 to 80. We used weighted least squares regression analyses to evaluate the relationship of extent of yoga experience to the outcome variables after accounting for age and lifestyle factors. Results: Participants had practiced yoga for as long as 50 years and for up to 28 h per week. There were significant positive relationships between yoga experience and all outcome variables. These significant relationships remained after accounting for age and lifestyle factors. When we computed yoga experience in terms of total calendar years, without accounting for hours of practice, significant relationships did not remain. Transcendence of the ordinary was the most strongly associated with current yoga practice frequency, and positive psychological attitudes were the most strongly associated with total lifetime hours of practice. Conclusions: Among a non-probability sample of female yoga practitioners between 45 and 80 years, increased yoga experience predicted increased levels of psychological well-being. Results showed a dose-response effect, with yoga experience exercising an increasingly protective effect against low levels of SWB and vitality.
p24 proteins and quality control of LIN-12 and GLP-1 trafficking in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Mutations in the Caenorhabditis elegans sel-9 gene elevate the activity of lin-12 and glp-1, which encode members of the LIN-12/NOTCH family of receptors. Sequence analysis indicates SEL-9 is one of several C. elegans p24 proteins. Allele-specific genetic interactions suggest that reducing sel-9 activity increases the activity of mutations altering the extracellular domains of LIN-12 or GLP-1. Reducing sel-9 activity restores the trafficking to the plasma membrane of a mutant GLP-1 protein that would otherwise accumulate within the cell. Our results suggest a role for SEL-9 and other p24 proteins in the negative regulation of transport of LIN-12 and GLP-1 to the cell surface, and favor a role for p24 proteins in a quality control mechanism for endoplasmic reticulum–Golgi transport.
The Microdilution Antibiotic Susceptibility Test: Bacteroides fragilis

A micro broth-dilution method was developed for the antibiotic susceptibility testing of Bacteroides fragilis . Eighty strains of B. fragilis were tested against six antibiotics using the agar dilution test as the reference method. The microdilution test yielded results in 24 hours, and agreement with the reference test was satisfactory. Certain subspeciesspecific patterns of antibiotic susceptibility were observed. However, larger numbers of subspecies should be evaluated before subspeciation of B. fragilis can be used as a reliable predictor of antibiotic susceptibility.
Abstract P2-10-21: Prognostic value of estrogen receptor status in women with synchronous or metachronous breast cancers

Background: Estrogen receptor (ER) is an important prognostic and predictive factor for breast cancer (BC) patients. For women with two primary breast cancers, however, estrogen receptor status measured at the two tumors is not always the same, either due to tumor heterogeneity, or because of limited reproducibility of receptor assays. For women with metachronous breast cancers, it is unclear if estrogen receptor status of previous cancer has prognostic value. For women with synchronous breast cancers, it is important to know if inconsistent receptor status predicts worse clinical outcome. Methods: Data on ER status of two primary breast cancers were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program 1990–2009. We used piecewise proportional hazard Cox models to examine the joint effect of ER statuses of two tumors on overall survival or disease-free survival. Hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated, after adjusting for age, stage, race/ethnicity, histology, grade, and treatments in Cox models. Synchronous and metachronous cases were analyzed separately. Results: There are 12,285 patients with synchronous breast cancers; 81.2% had both tumors being ER positive, 10.2% had one tumor being ER positive but the other being ER negative, and 5.6% had both tumors being ER negative. As shown in the Table, patients with inconsistent ER status (heterogeneity) had worse short-term survival rate than patients with double ER positive tumors. Among the 14,470 patients with metachronous breast cancers, 60.2% had two ER+ tumors, 13.8% had two ER− tumors, 11.8% had ER status changing from negative to positive, and 14.1% had ER status changing from positive to negative. In addition to ER status of the index cancer, ER status of the first cancer has independent prognostic value in predicting both short-term and long-term outcome (p = 0.0002). Conclusions: Our study found that estrogen status of previous cancer has independent prognostic value for women with metachronous breast cancers. We also found that inconsistency in ER status between two tumors predicts worse survival for women with synchronous breast cancer. These findings suggest that heterogeneity or change in estrogen receptor expression in patients with two breast cancers should be considered during decision making on treatment or counseling on prognosis. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-10-21.
Foliage Coloration Changes in loblolly Pine During Southern Pine Beetle Attack

A study was made of foliage coloration changes and correlation with Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmerman brood presence in loblolly pine during southern pine beetle attack, near Mt. Olive, N. C. It was found that foliage remained green for a while after southern pine beetle attack, then faded to a yellow, then red, then only a few red needles remained on the tree, and finally the tree was bare. Tables are presented showing that the time interval involved in foliage coloration change varied with time of year. The time the brood remained in beetle-attacked trees also varied with time of year, with the brood remaining in the trees for longer periods during the winter months. Color of foliage was not a good indicator of southern pine beetle brood presence. During some months, the brood emerged from the tree while the crown was still green, while during other months the brood remained in the tree after it was completely bare.
Fifty Sermons on Handel's Messiah

When William Cowper introduced these verses into The Task in 1785 the gigantic Handel Commemoration of the preceding year still rang fresh in the ears of thousands of Englishmen. In 1783 several musical amateurs had proposed to commemorate the centenary of Handel's birth and the twenty-fifth anniversary of his death by a series of stupendous Handel performances on a hitherto unprecedented scale, and the first great Handel Festival had accordingly taken place in Westminster Abbey in the late spring of 1784, warmly patronized by George III and the greater nobility, and enthusiastically attended by more than three thousand persons from every corner of the kingdom. A vocal and instrumental band of 525 performers, “inflamed and actuated by the Muse of Handel,” made this mammoth celebration “the most splendid tribute ever paid to posthumous fame,” and current periodicals exhausted every superlative in praising the grand occasion. The European Magazine reported that “the immense volume and torrent of sound, was almost too much for the head or the sense to bear — we were elevated into a species of delirium.” The performance was in “so superior, and so exalted a stile, that it must not be subjected to the rules of pettyfogging criticism,” since “so grand and beautiful a spectacle, with at the same time a feast so rich and perfect, has not been presented to the public eye within our memory.”
Computational Learning Theory

As they say, nothing is more practical than a good theory. And indeed, mathematical models of learnability have helped improve our understanding of what it takes to induce a useful classifier from data, and, conversely, why the outcome of a machine-learning undertaking so often disappoints. And so, even though this textbook does not want to be mathematical, it cannot help introducing at least the basic concepts of the computational learning theory.
Effect of different motivational techniques during training and in testing upon strength performance.

Abstract The effect of applying different motivational techniques during training and in testing upon strength performance was investigated. After initial testing, 120 male subjects formed four experimental groups and trained on one isometric press exercise 3 days per week for 8 weeks as follows: Group I (no purposefully induced motivator), Group II (knowledge of scores), Group III (knowledge of scores + assigned goal), and Group IV (knowledge of scores + assigned goal + placebo effect). An iso-scale was used to obtain training and testing scores for each subject. Following 6 weeks of training under the assigned types of motivation, each subject was given a final training test without assigned motivation and later was again tested under a special motivational testing situation which resembled an athletic contest. The findings in this study would appear to warrant the conclusions that motivational training promotes significant strength gains, whereas nonmotivated training is of little practical value conce...
Pulmonary stenting for the treatment of sarcoid induced pulmonary vascular stenosis.

Background: The best treatment of patients with external pulmonary vascular compression due to advanced sarcoidosis is unknown. Objectives: To report a single-center experience of percutaneous treatment for pulmonary vascular stenosis caused by external compression due to advanced sarcoidosis. Methods: We report a case series of 5 patients with biopsy confirmed advanced sarcoidosis, seen at our academic institution with worsening dyspnea despite increase of immunosuppressive therapy. All patients were evaluated by a multidisciplinary team (cardiology, pulmonary and radiology) using a multi-modality approach, including chest-computed tomography angiography, ventilation/perfusion scintigraphy, pulmonary function test, 6-minute walk test and heart catheterization. Results: Three out of five patients underwent pulmonary artery or vein angioplasty and stenting resulting in symptomatic improvement: Patient 1 had persistent symptomatic improvement measured by subjective and objective methods at 30 months; patient 2 required re-intervention due to recurrent pulmonary vein stenosis at 6-months followed by persistent improvement; and patient 3, had a procedure complicated with in-stent thrombosis requiring thrombolysis and anticoagulation with improvement. The remaining two patients were medically treated because underlying thromboembolic disease (patient 4) and diffuse pulmonary vein stenosis not amenable to percutaneous intervention (patient 5). Conclusions: Pulmonary vascular stenosis from external compression can be a rare but unrecognized caused of worsening symptoms in advanced sarcoidosis. Pulmonary vascular angioplasty and stenting can provide clinical benefit in select patients.
A Comparison of Apheresis Cell Content Collected from the Same Donors Mobilized with Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) Vs. a Single Injection of AMD3100.

AMD3100 (AMD) is a bicyclam compound that inhibits the binding of stromal cell derived factor-1 to its cognate receptor CXCR4 present on CD34 + hematopoetic progenitor cells. Recently, investigators have shown that substantial numbers of CD34 + cells are released into circulation following a single injection of AMD, making this a potentially attractive mobilization agent for both autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Mononuclear cells transplanted in G-CSF (G) mobilized allografts mediate both desirable and undesirable post-transplant events (i.e. Graft-vs-tumor and GVHD); therefore, to determine the suitability of AMD mobilized products for allografting, we assessed the cellular content of apheresis collections obtained from the same donors mobilized with AMD vs G. Between 11/03–07/04, 6 healthy donors (male=3, female=3), median age 43 years (range 18–57), underwent a 15–25 liter apheresis following G mobilization (10mcg/kg/d x 5 days); 66–143 (median 82) days later, the same donors underwent repeat apheresis 6 hours following a single subcutaneous injection of AMD (240mcg/kg); the apheresis blood volume processed after AMD mobilization was matched to the volume processed after G mobilization in 5/6 donors. Data on peripheral blood (PB) and apheresis cellular content with both mobilization agents are shown in Table-1. AMD was well tolerated (no > grade I toxicities) and effectively mobilized CD34 + cells in the majority of donors who had a previous successful G mobilization. Both drugs significantly increased PB CD34 + counts and the total WBC count, and absolute neutrophil counts (ANC), monocyte counts (AMC) and lymphocyte counts (ALC) above pre-mobilization baselines. In the PB, the increase in WBC count, ANC, and the CD34 + counts were significantly higher after G mobilization compared to AMD. In contrast, there was a trend towards a higher blood ALC increase following AMD administration compared to G. Apheresis collections mobilized with AMD contained similar numbers of mononuclear cells and CD3 + T-cells, higher numbers of CD19 + B-cells and lower numbers of monocytes and CD34 + cells compared to G mobilized collections; whether prior G mobilization negatively impacted the CD34 + cell content in AMD mobilized grafts can not be determined from this study. One patient failed mobilization with both G (CD34 + pre-count 6 /uL) and AMD (CD34 + pre-count 6 /uL); a trial investigating the efficacy of combining AMD with G in patients who fail to mobilize with G alone is currently being pursued. A detailed phenotypic analysis of lymphocyte subsets mobilized with G vs AMD3100 will be presented in a separate analysis.
“I Haven't Time to Write”: Martha May Eliot and American Medical Education Reform

"We are up to our eyes in work. I have about 32 children tonight all with some contagious disease, if not two, and several very sick!" wrote Dr. Martha May Eliot to her parents in 1920, adding, "The hospital is full almost to overflowing and still they come." Eliot, who would go on to become an influential American pediatrician and public health authority, as well as the head of the Federal Children's Bureau, wrote her parents frequently during the course of her education at Radcliffe College (Cambridge, Massachusetts), Bryn Mawr College (Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania), Johns Hopkins Medical School (Baltimore, Maryland), Peter Bent Brigham Hospital (Boston, Massachusetts), St. Louis Children's Hospital (St. Louis, Missouri), and Yale University Medical School (New Haven, Connecticut). Through these letters, she detailed her experience as a woman professional at elite institutions during a key transformative period in U.S. medicine. This article uses Eliot's collection of correspondence to shed light on physicians' experience of the increasingly rigorous training, testing, and licensing processes introduced in top medical schools and to offer insights into the history of women's medical education and experience in building careers as academic professionals during that time. Eliot's letters also illustrate how the newer, higher standards for medical graduates and postgraduates may have hastened-rather than hindered-the progress of some elite women in the medical profession. Today's physicians and medical educators, as well as those completing graduate training, will find much to draw on from the experience revealed by this rich epistolary archive.
S-acylation of SOD1, CCS, and a stable SOD1-CCS heterodimer in human spinal cords from ALS and non-ALS subjects

Previously, we found that human Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1) is S-acylated (palmitoylated) in vitro and in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) mouse models, and that S-acylation increased for ALS-causing SOD1 mutants relative to wild type. Here, we use the acyl resin-assisted capture (acyl-RAC) assay to demonstrate S-acylation of SOD1 in human post-mortem spinal cord homogenates from ALS and non-ALS subjects. Acyl-RAC further revealed that endogenous copper chaperone for SOD1 (CCS) is S-acylated in both human and mouse spinal cords, and in vitro in HEK293 cells. SOD1 and CCS formed a highly stable heterodimer in human spinal cord homogenates that was resistant to dissociation by boiling, denaturants, or reducing agents and was not observed in vitro unless both SOD1 and CCS were overexpressed. Cysteine mutations that attenuate SOD1 maturation prevented the SOD1-CCS heterodimer formation. The degree of S-acylation was highest for SOD1-CCS heterodimers, intermediate for CCS monomers, and lowest for SOD1 monomers. Given that S-acylation facilitates anchoring of soluble proteins to cell membranes, our findings suggest that S-acylation and membrane localization may play an important role in CCS-mediated SOD1 maturation. Furthermore, the highly stable S-acylated SOD1-CCS heterodimer may serve as a long-lived maturation intermediate in human spinal cord.
Imaging of Cholangiocarcinoma

Cross-section imaging plays an increasingly important role in the evaluation and diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma (CC). CCs can have varied radiological appearances, depending on their location, morphology, as well as their histological characteristics. An awareness of the varied imaging manifestations of CC and its accurate diagnosis are necessary to direct appropriate management. Recent advances in imaging techniques, histological assessment, molecular imaging, surgical techniques, and radiation therapy have all revitalized interest in the diagnosis and management of CCs.
Infective Endocarditis of the Systemic Venous Baffle Following the Atrial Switch Procedure in an Adult.

• Central venous catheters may increase risk for infective endocarditis in patients with adult congenital heart disease.
Overtraining Extinction Effect for Goldfish ( Carassius a Ura Tus ) Experiencing Classical Conditioning With An Aversive Us

Restrained goldfish experienced 25, 50, 75, or 150 forward conditioning trials with a 9.5-sec conditioned stimulus-unconditioned stimulus (CS-US) interval. The CS was a light, click, or weak electric shock. A transducer monitored US-induced cessation of breathing, unconditioned response (UR), and the decrease in breathing that occurred to the CS after repeated pairings of the CS and US. Following classical conditioning training each fish experienced 25 extinction trials with the CS that it experienced during acquisition. An overtraining extinction effect was obtained; i.e., resistance to extinction for fish with 150 acquisition trials was lower than resistance to extinction for fish with 75 acquisition trials. The overtraining extinction effect was present for a greater number of trials when the CS was a weak shock as opposed to a light or click. Groups with 175 forward conditioning trials indicated that the overtraining extinction effect was not a result of deterioration of the fish across days of training. Control groups with CS alone, US alone, or random CS, US presentations showed that the overtraining extinction effect was a result of extinction of a true conditioned response.
Toward Best Practices in Performance Evaluation

In 1997 we had the honor of presenting to an Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) assemblage our views of best practices in performance evaluation. We chose to discuss the performance evaluation activities at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). While our experiences could have led us to focus on other federal laboratories or government agencies, we were then, and still are, of the opinion that the performance evaluation practices within the Program Office and within the Advanced Technology Program (ATP) at NIST are at the forefront. We emphasized that in Link and Scott (1998b). Hence, we have highlighted eight NIST-based case studies in this book.
Characterization of Silybum marianum triacylglycerol regioisomers using accurate mass quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is a medicinal plant commonly used as a food supplement for liver protection against hepatitis C virus. The fruits are very rich in lipids (>30%); however, their che...
Control of Steroid Receptor Levels and Steroid Antagonism

In previous chapters of this book the action of each hormone was considered separately. However, it is clear that hormones interact to modify and sometimes antagonize each other (Clark et al., 1976b). These relationships have been recognized at the physiologic level for many years, but only recently have their mechanisms begun to be understood. These interactions will be discussed further as they relate to reproductive physiology in Chap. VIII.
Large eddy simulation of turbulent heat transfer in stationary and rotating square ducts

The velocity field and the instability of the flow in a rotating square duct were investigated. The velocity profiles were obtained for Ekman numbers less than 1/16 by combining a linear Stewartson layer solution, a non-linear Ekman layer solution and a local similarity assumption. The transition of the secondary-flow pattern from one pair of vortices to two pairs of vortices was studied with the conventional linearized equations for small disturbances. The resultant sixth order equation was solved numerically. The onset of the instability of the Ekman layer was also studied and found to be relevant to the class A and class B waves. The present theory was compared with the experimental results of Smirnov and Yurkin (1983). The critical rotation numbers for marginal stability of both the Stewartson layer and the Ekman layer were found in good agreement with measurements. The experiments of Smirnov and Yurkin (1983) also revealed a boundary in the parameter space corresponding to the sudden change of the slopes of the drag curves, which was found at least partially related to the wavy instability of the Stewartson layer. A quasi-geostrophic method was used to include the effects of Ekman friction in the instability formula. The critical rotation numbers obtained were in qualitative agreement with experimental measurements. Another phenomenon the experiments discovered was the pulsation of the four-vortex pattern as a certain critical Reynolds number was exceeded. This phenomenon has not yet been explained by the present analysis.
Metabolism of Cell Surface Receptors

There is continuous renewal of cell surface components in virtually all organisms. A steady production and turnover of surface membrane components preserves the cell surface “phenotype” at negligible cost in terms of total cell energy. For each cell, the “phenotype” of the cell surface is determined largely by the rates of biosynthesis and degradation of cell surface molecules. These rates determine the number of each molecular species resident in the plasma membrane and thus determine the capacity of the cell to perform the functions mediated by these molecules. The arrangement of molecules is another important aspect of cell phenotype; altered spatial organization may, in some cases, underlie altered responsiveness.
Kinetic Study of CaO-Catalyzed Transesterification of Cyclic Carbonates with Methanol

Simultaneous catalytic contributions of CaO in the liquid phase (homogeneous) and in the solid phase (heterogeneous) for transesterification are considered in the kinetic analysis, because sparingly soluble CaO has significant catalytic activity. Experimental concentration–time profiles were obtained at different catalyst loadings, propylene carbonate (PC) concentrations, and methanol concentrations in a temperature range of 20–60 °C in a stirred batch reactor for both the homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions. Kinetic models based on power-law rate forms were evaluated and discriminated to fit the experimental data. Reaction orders of 1 for PC, 2 for methanol, and 1 for both DMC and PG fit the experimental data best for the homogeneous reaction, whereas orders of 0.35 for PC, 1.9 for methanol, and 0 for both DMC and PG fit the experimental data best for the heterogeneous reaction. The heterogeneous CaO catalyst (Ea = 56.8 kJ/mol) was found to be more active than the homogeneous CaO catalyst (Ea = 82.4 ...