cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Role of DAX-1 in Reproduction

Mutations in a gene referred to as Dax-1 cause an X-linked form of adrenal hypoplasia congenita (AHC). The disorder is limited to males and is characterized by neonatal adrenal insufficiency and failure to undergo puberty because of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Consistent with these clinical manifestations, the Dax-1 gene is expressed in the adrenal gland, gonads, hypothalamus and pituitary gland. The DAX-1 protein is structurally related to orphan nuclear receptors, although it lacks the characteristic zinc finger DNA-binding domain that is highly conserved in other members of this family. Dax-1 has been shown to repress the transcription of genes that are regulated by another nuclear receptor, steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1). AHC mutations in Dax-1 eliminate its repressive activity. Genetic testing for Dax-1 mutations will enhance our ability to diagnose and treat AHC. Studies of the biological role of Dax-1 will provide new insights into the development and function of the adrenal gland and the reproductive axis.
Diffusivity of hydrogen in nickel-vanadium solid solutions

Abstract The permeability time-lag method has been used to determine the temperature dependence of the diffusivity of hydrogen in a series of nickel-vanadium solid solutions containing from 1.5–13.4 at.% vanadium. For all matrix compositions, the hydrogen diffusivity obeyed an Arrhenius relationship and the effect of V-additions was remarkably small, even for the highest V-concentration. The results have been interpreted in terms of a simple model in which the decrease in hydrogen mobility caused by the effect of trapping sites neighboring the vanadium atoms is compensated by an increased mobility due to the dilation of the matrix lattice effected by substitutional vanadium additions.
Evaluation of induced damage by CH 4 /H 2 reactive ion etching on InP: n ++

Current optoelectronic devices extensively use dry etching for their fabrication, in particular, reactive ion etching (RIE) is the most used technique. Unfortunately, dry etching induces a damaged layer on the etched surfaces that can negatively influence the electro-optical performance of the devices in terms of specs and reliability. In this work we evaluate the thickness of the surface damaged layer induced by CH4/H2 RIE on InP using a technique based on the comparison of the conductance of the material before and after the RIE. The method can be used to optimise the RIE conditions in order to minimise the extension of the surface damaged layer. To perform the conductance measurements, transmission line model and Hall effect were used. Two different etching conditions have been considered. The first is typical for low etch rate (ER) (DC bias = - 315 V), for example, used in grating formation for a DFB laser. The second for high ER (DC bias = - 650 V), for example used in mesa etching for several kinds of buried lasers. The experimental results gave damaged thicknesses of 130 and 340 A, respectively, for low and high ER conditions. This thin layer can be easily removed by annealing and with a very short wet etching to give high performances devices (27th European Conference on Optical Communication ECOC'01, Amsterdam).
Ductal eccrine carcinoma with squamous differentiation: apropos a case

Sweat gland carcinomas are rare. Given this, they can pose a diagnostic challenge especially in shave biopsy specimens. We present a case of ductal eccrine carcinoma with extensive squamoid differentiation that was repeatedly misdiagnosed by multiple dermatopathologists as squamous cell carcinoma in the initial few biopsies. As the distinction between these two neoplasms is crucial to patient management, we highlight the histologic features of this uncommon entity to highlight the potential diagnostic pitfalls.
Relationship of Age-Related Decreases in Muscle Mass and Strength to Skeletal Status

In this presentation, age-related bone loss is seen to be the consequence of a small yet persistent insufficiency in bone remodeling, where small deficits in bone mass remain upon completion of each remodeling cycle. Although loss of bone and of muscle strength develop together over time, remodeling imbalance appears to emerge much earlier than does loss of muscle mass and strength. Thus, age-related bone loss cannot be ascribed entirely to the loss of muscle. Although muscular action does influence bone mass, its most impressive effects occur between complete immobilization and ambulatory, but sedentary life. Regardless of the minor role sarcopenia may play in bone loss, muscle weakness exerts a powerful influence on hip fracture incidence because of its effect on the risk of falls. Language: en
Facilitating Cognitive Performance in Children: A Comparison of Strategy Modeling and Strategy Modeling with Overt Self-Verbalization.

Abstract Children, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 10 years old, were randomly divided into three training conditions—a strategy modeling condition, a strategy modeling with overt self-verbalization condition, and a control condition. The subjects in the two modeling conditions were given training on four cognitive tasks, a signal task, a match-to-standard task, a paired-associates task, and a twenty-questions task. A 6 (age) × 2 (sex) × 3 (treatment) × 2 (trial) analysis of variance was performed on each of the dependent variables associated with each of the four tasks. The results of these analyses indicate that both modeling conditions facilitated performance on the signal and match-to-standard tasks for all six age groups. However, the two modeling procedures facilitated performance on the paired-associates and twenty-questions tasks only in the three older age groups. Since the two modeling procedures did not differ in effectiveness, it was suggested that strategy modeling without overt self-verbalization is the more practical and efficient procedure for facilitating cognitive performance in normal children.
Proficiency in the Diagnosis of Nonpolypoid Colorectal Neoplasm Yields High Adenoma Detection Rates

Current efforts to prevent colorectal cancer focus on the detection and removal of neoplasms. Nonpolypoid colorectal neoplasms (NP-CRN) have a subtle appearance that can be difficult to recognize during colonoscopy. Endoscopists must first be familiar with the patterns of NP-CRN in order to detect and diagnose them. We studied the adenoma detection rates of endoscopists who had trained to detect NP-CRN, versus endoscopists who had not. Design: Retrospective Nested Case Control Study. Setting: Outpatient Screening Colonoscopy. Participants: Adult Veterans. Intervention: Proficiency in the features and diagnosis of NP-CRN. Main Outcomes Measurements: Adenoma detection. In total, 462 patients had screening colonoscopies—267 by colonoscopists who had trained in the features and diagnosis of NP-CRN. Patient characteristics were similar between groups—the majority were men with a mean age of 62 ± 6 years. Neoplasia was more prevalent (45.7 vs. 34.9%; p = 0.02) in patients evaluated by the trained compared to the conventionally trained group. Trained colonoscopists had a higher adenoma detection rate (0.76 vs. 0.54 adenomas per patient, p < 0.001); removed a higher proportion of neoplasia (77 vs. 35%, p < 0.001); and more frequently diagnosed NP-CRN lesions (OR 2.98, 95% CI: 1.46–6.08) compared to colonoscopists without supplemental training. Endoscopists who are proficient in the detection of NP-CRN had significantly higher adenoma detection rates—of both polypoid and flat adenomas—compared to endoscopists without training, and were more specific in resection of adenomatous over hyperplastic lesions.
Hydrolysis of Cyclotri- and Cyclotetraphosphate in Soil

Cydotriphosphate (Na 3 P 3 O 9 , C3P) and cydotetraphosphate (Na 4 P 4 O 12 , C4P) are not appreciably sorbed by soil constituents. This property combined with a reduced rate of hydrolysis of C4P and its hydrolysis products may maintain P availability for plant uptake. The primary objective of this study was to determine the residence times of C3P and C4P and their hydrolysis products in four soils. Hydrolysis of C3P and C4P was dependent on soil moisture, temperature, biological activity, and time. Cyclic P hydrolysis followed apparent first-order reaction. Recovery of hydrolysis products of C3P and C4P was higher in soils, such as Falba sandy loam (sl), which demonstrated limited sorption for mono-, di-, and triphosphate. The presence of hydrolysis products may explain the decreasing rate constants observed in soils incubated for longer than 48 h. Cyclotetraphosphate was more stable than C3P in all comparable treatments, often by three to six times. The energy of activation (E A ) for C3P and C4P was 45.8 and 61.1 kJ mol -1 , respectively, in a Falba sl, and 38.6 and 51.2 kJ mol -1 , respectively, in a Branyon day (c). Cyclotriphosphate was more readily hydrolyzed in soils compared with C4P. These results indicate a potential advantage of C4P over C3P because of its slower hydrolysis in soils, and over all linear phosphates, which are strongly sorbed by soil constituents.
Fracture partitioning: Failure mode as a function of lithology in the Monterey Formation of coastal California

Fracture style in the Monterey Formation of central California varies from one mechanical unit to the next, with joints and opening-mode veins common in dolostones, limestones, and diagenetic opal-CT beds, and with faults most abundant in beds rich in biogenic opal A and weak minerals. This dependence of failure mode on lithology was consistent throughout the deformation history of the Monterey Formation, and it reflects the regional Miocene transtensional regime followed by Pliocene–Holocene compression. Furthermore, least principal stresses derived from faults in mudstone correspond closely to opening-mode fractures in adjacent dolostones and limestones, implying that partitioning of failure mode among different beds occurred in response to the same applied tectonic stress conditions. Quantitative bulk mineralogy analyses for samples that failed during the Pliocene–Holocene tectonic phase show that beds containing 22% weak minerals deformed by brittle faulting. Results from rocks that failed in the Miocene are more scattered but show the same general trends, thereby establishing a link between mineralogical composition and failure mode in the Monterey Formation.
Low Temperature Far-Infrared Transmission Properties of Polycrystalline and Single-Crystal Silicon

Fateley et al. have reported that the far-infrared spectrum of polycrystalline silicon at room temperature has a 50% transmission curve from 30–500 cm−11 We wish to report the appearance of three bands in similar material upon cooling to liquid-nitrogen temperature. A standard low-temperature cell was used for the measurements. A Beckman model IR-11 spectrophotometer and a Perkin-Elmer 521 spectrophotometer were used to record our data.
The timing and route of movement and migration of post-copulatory female blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, from the upper Chesapeake Bay

The movement of mature female blue crabs Callinectes sapidus Rathbun from lower salinity areas to spawn near the mouths of estuaries is well documented, but specific details of the post-copulatory phase of their migratory behavior are poorly understood in Chesapeake Bay. To test the hypotheses about the timing and route of this migration, we conducted a mark-recapture study of mature females released in a mesohaline portion of the upper Chesapeake Bay. From June 1999 to October 2002, 1440 mature female blue crabs were obtained from fishers, tagged, and released in the vicinity of the Rhode River, Maryland, approximately 200 km distant from the mouth of the Bay. As of the end of 2002, 167 crabs were recaptured (11.6%), with considerable variation in recapture rates among years. All recaptures except one (in Flagler Beach, Florida) were caught within the Chesapeake Bay proper. Recaptures of female crabs released at monthly intervals from June-November indicated that migration occurred during a short fall period rather than over the prolonged period of summer to fall mating. The distances traveled by crabs before recapture differed significantly among release months. On average, crabs released in September and October traveled greater distances than crabs released in earlier months (June-August). Depths of recapture sites differed significantly among months, with shallow depths in June-August increasing in September to a maximum in November. The locations and bathymetry of recapture sites showed that female crabs used areas near the deep channel, especially the eastern shoulder, of the Bay as a migration corridor to the spawning areas of the lower estuary. The distinct fall season and route of migration should provide valuable management information for protecting the declining spawning stock of Chesapeake blue crabs.
The "psychosomatic family" model: an empirical and theoretical analysis.

Evolution of the Family Systems Paradigm has been constrained by the dichotomy between theory building and empirical research. This article integrates these two domains by presenting a theoretical analysis of the “psychosomatic family” model as it informs and is informed by an empirical research project. Forty families of children with Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), and functional recurrent abdominal pain syndrome (RAP) were rated during standard, videotaped family interaction tasks, lunch, and interview. Laboratory scores of disease activity were associated with triangulation, marital dysfunction, and total “psychosomatic family” scores. Disease activity was not significantly correlated with enmeshment, overprotection, rigidity, conflict avoidance, or poor conflict resolution. Thus, the marital/triangulation and enmeshment/ overprotection/conflict clusters may be subcomplexes of the “psychosomatic family” complex. CD, UC, and RAP groups differed in the relations among particular family patterns and disease activity. A heuristic family-psycho-somatic model is presented to facilitate future research.
Enzymatic modulation of cell volume in C6 glioma cells.

We monitored the volume of C6 glioma cells in suspension using a Coulter Counter and exposed the cells to micromolar or nanomolar levels of collagenase or clostripain. In 13 experiments, type IV collagenase (310 units ml−1; ∼3 μM L−1) decreased the volume by 8–12%, 8 min after addition. In 13 of 21 experiments, the volume decrease was followed by a volume regulatory increase (VRI) back to control levels in the continued presence of collagenase. The shrinkage evoked by type IV collagenase was eliminated by heat-inactivation of the enzyme preparation. A highly purified collagenase (type VII) at the same concentration evoked a relatively minor decrease in volume. A well-known contaminating protease present in type IV collagenase, clostripain, which specifically cleaves arginyl peptide bonds, evoked a 7 ± 2% shrinkage (100 nM L−1, 7 experiments). Clostripain did not evoke a volume regulatory increase. The initial velocity of shrinkage evoked by clostripain (0.0012 pL min−1, 0.0034 pL min−1, 0.0132 pL min−1; 1 pL = 10−12 liters) scaled with its concentration (1 nM L−1, 10 nM L−1, 100 nM L−1). The effect of clostripain was inhibited by heat-inactivation of the enzyme. Leupeptin, an inhibitor of clostripain, prevented the decrease in volume evoked by clostripain. The activity of stretch-activated ion channels was unaffected by type IV collagenase. Barium, cesium, amiloride, DIDS, or bumetanide failed to block the shrinkage evoked by type IV collagenase. These results demonstrate that clostripain, present in crude collagenase enzyme preparations, causes the shrinkage, and that C6 glioma cells can undergo a volume regulatory increase at virtually constant osmotic pressure. In addition, cleavage of a cell surface moiety, which contains arginine, and possibly proline, causes shrinkage. This moiety may be part of the extracellular or intracellular matrix providing mechanical support to the cells. VRI reflect actions of another substance in the type IV crude collagenase preparations, on a receptor independent of the arg–pro moiety. The enzymatic modulation of glioma cell volume by these two receptors may reflect a new mechanism by which such cells, and possibly other glia, regulate their contact area and interactions with other cells in the central nervous system. GLIA 27:22–31, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Transpulmonary artery correction of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery by saphenous vein graft

A transpulmonary saphenous vein graft was used to repair an anomalous origin of the Left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA). Postoperative cardiac catheterization revealed correction of the previous systemic arterial to venous shunt and a patent intrapulmonary artery conduit. The patient has experienced substantial symptomatic and functional improvement from the operation operation despite development of mild pulmonary outflow obstruction. Saphenous vein transpulmonary artery correction for ALCAPA offers an alternative surgical approach and may be the procedure of choice when anatomy or prior surgery preclude the more standard modes of revascularization.
Isolation and amino acid composition of the tryptic peptides from the beta chain of C57BL-6 mouse hemoglobin.

Abstract Fifteen tryptic peptides from the β chain of C57BL/6 mouse hemoglobin have been isolated by counter double-current distribution and by chromatography on Sephadex G-25 and Dowex 50-X2. The amino acid compositions of these peptides have been determined and the composition of the β chain can be accounted for by the sum of the amino acids from the tryptic peptides. The β chain has been found to contain 146 amino acids.
Authoritarian and accommodative child-rearing styles: Their relationships with the behavior patterns of 2-year-old children and with other variables

“Authoritarian” and “accommodative” authority styles were identified by having a group of middleclass mothers describe their responses to the behavior of their 2-year-old children. Observations in the home confirmed significant differences in approach between these two groups of mothers. The best predictor of “style” was the mother's educational level. There were no strong relationships between the mothers' approach to handling authority relationships and the children's pattern of behavior. Attempts by the physician to change child-rearing styles should be based on clear evidence of a harmful effect on the child rather than on ideologic grounds.
Strain Mapping of Al–Mg Alloy with Multi-scale Grain Structure using Digital Image Correlation Method

Al–Mg alloy powder was mechanically milled in liquid N2 (cryomilling) to produce thermally stable powder with nanocrystalline (NC) microstructure for the manufacture of high-strength alloys. A multi-scale microstructure was achieved by blending unmilled coarse-grained (CG) powder with cryomilled powder and subsequently consolidating. The final bulk alloy was comprised of ultra-fine grained (UFG) regions and discrete CG bands. Dynamic observations of tensile deformation of the alloy were recorded using a micro-straining module attached to a light microscope, and the displacements were measured by digital image correlation (DIC). Strain inhomogeneity between UFG regions and ductile CG bands was observed in the micro-strain (strain order of 10−4–10−6) range, and the strain behavior was interpreted in terms of dislocation plasticity. Special emphasis was given to the distinct displacements between adjoining regions during deformation.
Desafios técnicos e complicações da dupla substituição valvar na presença de anéis aórtico e mitral pequenos

Mulher de 57 anos portadora de cardiopatia reumatica com comprometimento das valvas aortica e mitral foi submetida a uma substituicao mitro-aortica. A presenca de aneis aortico e mitral pequenos contribuiu para uma serie de complicacoes intra-operatorias, como oclusao do ostio coronariano esquerdo e dissociacao atrioventricular do tipo III. O sulco foi reparado com generoso enxerto autologo pericardico fresco de camada dupla sobreposto por uma protese mecânica de duplo folheto. No pos-operatorio, a paciente desenvolveu insuficiencia respiratoria prolongada, pneumonia, disfuncao miocardica temporaria e insuficiencia renal aguda. No final, ela recebeu alta sem problemas residuais.
SUPPRESSION OF IGNITION OVER A HEATED METAL SURFACE

Abstract The effectiveness of various agents including N2, C2HF5, C3HF7, CF3Br, and CF3I was compared in suppressing the ignition of stoichiometric mixtures of methane/air, propane/air, and ethene/air. Measurements were made of the critical ignition temperature of the reactants as they flowed over a heated nickel surface. The results showed that CF3Br and CF3I were both highly effective suppressants of ignition for all fuels studied. This was not the case for N2, C2HF5, and C3HF7, which tended to have little effect on ignition unless very high agent concentrations were present, when ignition was not achieved. The effect of the average reactant velocity and the angle of approach of the reactants (relative to the heated metal surface) on the critical ignition temperature for stoichiametric ethene/air mixtures flowing over the heated nickel foil were also measured.
Studies of the Chick Edema Disease 10. Toxicity of Chick Edema Factors in the Chick, Chick Embryo, and Monkey

Abstract Based on recently obtained analytical information, calculations were made to ascertain the toxic effects of chick edema factor (CEF) preparations for the intact day-old chick, the developing chick embryo, and the monkey. Results indicate that CEF, principally polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins, elicits toxic responses in these experimental animals. For the intact chick, approximately 9 μ g./chick of total dioxins containing 2–8 chlorine atoms/molecule are detectable. For the fertile chicken egg, less than 1.0 ng. is detectable. For the monkey, as little as 2.15 mg. ingested for 445 days, or less, elicits obvious adverse effects. It is postulated that ingestion of these types of compounds may be toxic for man.
Olefin oxidation and ammoxidation studies over molybdate, tungstate, and vanadate catalysts having point defects

Abstract Point defects in the form of cation vacancies (φ) have been introduced into molybdates, tungstates, and vanadates with the scheelite-type crystal structure according to A 1 − x φ x MO 4 . Such defect phases have been examined as catalysts for many different reactions, but the primary emphasis has been on olefin oxidation and ammoxidation. The catalytic activity in the system Pb 1 − 3 x Bi 2 x φ x MoO 4 has been studied for the ammoxidation of propylene to acrylonitrile. When x = 0, i.e., PbMoO 4 , there is essentially no activity. However, good catalytic activity is observed for x = 0.005, and the activity thereafter increases with increasing x . Conversions of propylene to acrylonitrile as high as 76% were obtained, and this is significantly higher than obtained for bismuth molybdates. The results were similar in other systems containing bismuth. Some other such systems studied were Pb 1 − 3 x Bi 2 x φ x WO 4 , Cd 1 − 3 x Bi 2 x φ x MoO 4, Bi 1 − x φ x V 1 − 3 x Mo 3 x O 4 , and systems of the type A 5 − 3 x 1+ Bi 5 + x φ 2 x MoO 4 where A 1+ is Li, Na, or Ag. Defect scheelites of the type A 1 − x φ x MO 4 were also studied without bismuth present. In these cases, there was generally a significant increase in activity as defects were introduced, but the activity and selectivity were not as high as in the bismuth containing defect scheelites. Systems with large concentrations of bismuth, but with no intentional defects, also showed very low activity.
Effects of triploidy on rainbow trout myogenesis in vitro

To examine the effects of triploidy on rainbow trout myogenesis in vitro, mononuclear cells were liberated enzymatically from the lateralis muscles of diploid and triploid trout. The muscle of diploids yielded 1 × 106± 1 × 105 (±s.e.m.) mononuclear cells g−1 muscle compared to 0.7 × 106± 8 × 104 cells g−1 from triploids (P<0.01). The plating efficiencies of diploid and triploid mononuclear cells on Matrigel™ following 18 h of culture in Leibovitz's L-15 + 10% foetal bovine serum were not significantly different, 35.0 ± 3.5% and 33.0 ± 2.9%, respectively. For most time points examined, the proportion of nuclei in multinucleated cells and the proportion of nuclei in myosin positive cells were not significantly different for diploid and triploid trout. Taken together, these data suggest that diploid and triploid myogenic cells will differentiate similarly when compared under identical, in vitro conditions.
Prostate-specific antigen: a review of the validation of the most commonly used cancer biomarker.

BACKGROUND The widespread use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening has had a tremendous impact on all aspects of the management of prostate carcinoma. Although PSA-based screening has resulted in a stage migration to more organ-confined tumors at the time of diagnosis, and has been temporally associated with a decrease in prostate carcinoma mortality, PSA screening is imperfect. A recent analysis of results from the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT) has provided insight into the positive predictive value of PSA in the so-called “normal” range. METHODS The history of the discovery, initial studies, and subsequent widespread application of PSA screening is reviewed. RESULTS The application of PSA for screening preceded the development of current prostate biopsy techniques and an upper limit of normal was established without complete disease ascertainment. More recent modifications of PSA-based screening have been adopted clinically without sufficient validation. With current methods, overdiagnosis of clinically unimportant disease almost certainly occurs and high-grade, aggressive disease may not be detected sufficiently early to allow successful treatment. CONCLUSIONS To the authors' knowledge, the optimal upper limit of normal for PSA for prostate carcinoma screening is unknown. New biomarkers of disease are needed; these must be linked with disease prognosis and must be validated in rigorously designed clinical trials. Cancer 2004. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Relation of Aortic Wall Thickness and Distensibility to Cardiovascular Risk Factors (from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis [MESA])

To determine the relation between aortic wall thickness (WT) and aortic distensibility (AD) with traditional cardiovascular risk factors in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) cohort, 1,053 participants in MESA who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging were consecutively selected for the measurement of aortic WT and AD. Double inversion-recovery fast spin-echo images of the thoracic aorta were obtained to measure average and maximum WT. AD was measured at the same level using a gradient-echo cine sequence. Average and maximum WT were positively correlated with increasing age, and AD was inversely related to age (p −1 , p
A low current GaAs monolithic image rejection downconverter for X-band broadcast satellite applications

The design, fabrication, and performance of a fully integrated X-band monolithic image rejection downconverter are described. The downconverter consists of a low-noise amplifier, an image rejection mixer, and an IF amplifier. The downconverter receives RF signals between 11.7 and 12.3 GHz and converts them down to IF frequency between 1.0 and 1.6 GHz. A conversion gain of 46+or-1 dB, a noise figure of less than 3.3 dB, and an image rejection of 30 dB have been achieved over the RF frequency range. The chip size of the downconverter is 1.9 mm*2.2 mm, and its current dissipation is only 43 mA. Since the downconverter has sufficient image rejection due to an on-chip bandstop filter, it requires no off-chip circuits. Therefore, the use of this downconverter in X-band broadcast satellite applications will lead to a great reduction in size and current dissipation. >
Renal stromal miRNAs are required for normal nephrogenesis and glomerular mesangial survival

MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate mRNA levels. While previous studies have demonstrated that miRNAs are indispensable in the nephron progenitor and ureteric bud lineage, little is understood about stromal miRNAs during kidney development. The renal stroma (marked by expression of FoxD1) gives rise to the renal interstitium, a subset of peritubular capillaries, and multiple supportive vascular cell types including pericytes and the glomerular mesangium. In this study, we generated FoxD1(GC);Dicer(fl/fl) transgenic mice that lack miRNA biogenesis in the FoxD1 lineage. Loss of Dicer activity resulted in multifaceted renal anomalies including perturbed nephrogenesis, expansion of nephron progenitors, decreased renin-expressing cells, fewer smooth muscle afferent arterioles, and progressive mesangial cell loss in mature glomeruli. Although the initial lineage specification of FoxD1(+) stroma was not perturbed, both the glomerular mesangium and renal interstitium exhibited ectopic apoptosis, which was associated with increased expression of Bcl2l11 (Bim) and p53 effector genes (Bax, Trp53inp1, Jun, Cdkn1a, Mmp2, and Arid3a). Using a combination of high-throughput miRNA profiling of the FoxD1(+)-derived cells and mRNA profiling of differentially expressed transcripts in FoxD1(GC);Dicer(fl/fl) kidneys, at least 72 miRNA:mRNA target interactions were identified to be suppressive of the apoptotic program. Together, the results support an indispensable role for stromal miRNAs in the regulation of apoptosis during kidney development.
High throughput discovery of new fouling-resistant surfaces

A novel high throughput method for synthesis and screening of customized protein-resistant surfaces was developed. This method is an inexpensive, fast, reproducible and scalable approach to synthesize and screen protein-resistant surfaces appropriate for a specific feed. The method is illustrated here by combining a high throughput platform (HTP) approach together with our patented photo-induced graft polymerization (PGP) method developed for facile modification of commercial poly(aryl sulfone) membranes. We demonstrate that the HTP–PGP approach to synthesize and screen fouling-resistant surfaces is general, and thus provides the capability to develop surfaces optimized for specific feeds. Surfaces were prepared viagraft polymerization onto poly(ether sulfone) (PES) membranes and were evaluated using a protein adsorption assay followed by pressure-driven filtration. We have employed the HTP–PGP approach to confirm previously reported successful monomers and to develop new anti-fouling surfaces from a library of 66 monomers for four different challenges of interest to the biotechnology community: hen egg-white lysozyme, supernatant from Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution as a model cell suspension, and immunoglobulin G (IgG) precipitated in the absence and presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA) in high salt solution as a model precipitation process.
SOIL REDOX, pH, TEMPERATURE, AND WATER-TABLE PATTERNS OF A FRESHWATER TIDAL WETLAND

Knowledge of wetland hydrology, soil redox potential, pH, and temperature dynamics are key components required to understand the capacity of tidal wetlands to function, in particular to attenuate agrichemicals. In a freshwater tidal wetland along the James River in Virginia, USA, redox potential, pH, water-table level, and soil temperature were monitored continuously at two depths (20 and 50 cm) at three sites during a 12-month period from September 1, 1997 to August 31, 1998. Redox potentials were at or below − 150 mV (methanogenic or sulfate reducing conditions) at the 50-cm depth during the entire monitoring period. At the 20-cm depth, redox potentials remained highly reducing 95% of the time. The soil is continuously wet throughout the year, with the water-table level above the 20-cm soil depth for 95% of the time. Water-table level or hydrology was the primary factor controlling fluctuations in the redox state. Soil pH values were generally between 6 and 8, and they dropped 1 pH unit upon an oxidation event, which was reversible. Soil temperature at the 50-cm depth never dropped below 5° C, indicating a year-round biological activity season. This wetland supports a large diversity of plant species. Permanently reduced sub-surfaces, year-round biological activity, and large organic matter accumulations are characteristic features of this freshwater tidal wetland.
Technology of GaAs metal&#8212;Oxide&#8212;Semiconductor solar cells

The growth of an oxide interfacial layer was recently found to increase the open-circuit voltage (V oc ) and efficiency by up to 60 percent in GaAs metal-semiconductor solar cells. Several oxidation techniques have been developed which will provide the necessary oxide thickness and chemical structure. Details of these techniques using ozone, water-vapor-saturated oxygen, or oxygen gas discharges are described, as well as apparent crystallographic orientation effects. Preliminary results of the oxide chemistry obtained from X-ray, photoelectron spectroscopy are given. Ratios of arsenic oxide to gallium oxide of unity or less seem to be preferable. Samples with the highest V oc predominantly have As+3in the arsenic oxide rather than As+5. A major difficulty at this time is a reduction in open-circuit Voltage by 100-200 mv when the antireflection coating is vacuum deposited. Without this effect, values of about 750 mV for V oc and 15-percent efficiency with air mass of 1 sun can be obtained with single-crystal GaAs. All techniques are compatible with polycrystalline GaAs thin films.
Optimized multilayer perceptrons for molecular classification and diagnosis using genomic data

Motivation: Multilayer perceptrons (MLP) represent one of the widely used and effective machine learning methods currently applied to diagnostic classification based on high-dimensional genomic data. Since the dimensionalities of the existing genomic data often exceed the available sample sizes by orders of magnitude, the MLP performance may degrade owing to the curse of dimensionality and over-fitting, and may not provide acceptable prediction accuracy. Results: Based on Fisher linear discriminant analysis, we designed and implemented an MLP optimization scheme for a two-layer MLP that effectively optimizes the initialization of MLP parameters and MLP architecture. The optimized MLP consistently demonstrated its ability in easing the curse of dimensionality in large microarray datasets. In comparison with a conventional MLP using random initialization, we obtained significant improvements in major performance measures including Bayes classification accuracy, convergence properties and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (Az). Supplementary information: The Supplementary information is available on http://www.cbil.ece.vt.edu/publications.htm Contact: [email protected]
Network Distribution of Security Policies via Ant-like Foraging Behavior

The amount of media time given to computer security breaches added to a general culture of emphasizing problems rather than solutions make it appear, in many ways, that researchers in computer security are loosing the battle against attackers. Furthermore, current trends tend to show that if novel approaches to solving security problems are not explored, things are likely to get worse, not better. A possible approach that may give security experts the upper hand requires them to examine the fundamental causes of security problems. Is it possible that our security woes exist primarily due to an antiquated approach to solving the problem? In this paper, we argue that the answer is yes: one of the fundamental weaknesses of our collective approach is the static nature of most security systems. We then suggest the use of counter-measures based on a more dynamic approach a la swarm intelligence. We concentrate here on the very important issue of security policy updates and show simulation results which demonstrate the potential of our approach.
Pollen accumulation in lake sediments during historic spruce beetle disturbances in subalpine forests of southern Utah, USA

Paleoecological reconstructions using lake sediments provide important information about ecological dynamics and forest disturbance processes that occurred prior to the historic period of scientific observation. In high-altitude and high-latitude ecosystems where landscape-scale disturbances recur at time intervals exceeding observation in many regions, e.g. western North America, reconstructed environmental data are essential in providing context for land managers. During the most recent two decades eruptive populations of bark beetles (Dendroctonus spp.) have rapidly and profoundly altered subalpine forest ecosystems across western North America. Outbreaks of these insects are unprecedented in scale and severity, at least historically. Currently, little information exists about these destructive outbreaks and in general, the information that exists, does not extend beyond the most recent few centuries. The research presented here examines sedimentary pollen records from six subalpine basins affected by severe spruce beetle (D. rufipennis) epidemics during the 20th century in the high-elevation plateaus and mountain ranges of south-central Utah. Reciprocal exchanges in dominance between pollen abundance of host spruce (Picea engelmannii) and non-host subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) associated with historic outbreaks are conspicuous. Calculating simple ratios of host and non-host pollen accumulations offers a useful metric to visually identify spruce beetle outbreaks using sedimentary records. However, supporting lines of evidence may be required to identify these disturbances with greater certainty over the Holocene. Our data and findings provide a platform with which to begin exploration of other paleoecological proxy methods for the ultimate purpose of generating more temporally extensive reconstructions of bark beetle disturbances using sedimentary records.
Supplementing lactating women with flaxseed oil does not increase docosahexaenoic acid in their milk.

Background: Flaxseed oil is a rich source of 18:3n-3 (a-linolenic acid, or ALA), which is ultimately converted to 22:6n-3 (docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA), a fatty acid important for the development of the infant brain and retina. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of flaxseed oil supplementation on the breast-milk, plasma, and erythrocyte contents of DHA and other n-3 fatty acids in lactating women. Design: Seven women took 20 g flaxseed oil (10.7 g ALA) daily for 4 wk. Breast-milk and blood samples were collected weekly before, during, and after supplementation and were analyzed for fatty acid composition. Results: Breast milk, plasma, and erythrocyte ALA increased significantly over time (P < 0.001) and after 2 and 4 wk of supplementation (P < 0.05). Over time, 20:5n-3 (eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA) increased significantly in breast milk (P = 0.004) and in plasma (P < 0.001). In addition, plasma EPA increased significantly (P < 0.05) after 2 and 4 wk of supplementation. There were significant increases over time in breast-milk 22:5n-3 (docosapentaenoic acid, or DPA) (P < 0.02), plasma DPA (P < 0.001), and erythrocyte DPA (P < 0.01). No significant changes were observed in breast-milk, plasma, or erythrocyte DHA contents after flaxseed oil supplementation. Conclusions: Dietary flaxseed oil increased the breast-milk, plasma, and erythrocyte contents of the n-3 fatty acids ALA, EPA, and DPA but had no effect on breast-milk, plasma, or erythrocyte DHA contents.
Two-camera wavefront estimation with a Gercheberg-Saxton based scheme

Most mature wavefront-estimation algorithms for high-contrast imaging rely on a-priori knowledge of the deformable mirror (DM) surface and thus are limited by uncertainty in the physics of the DM. In this paper, we review the DM diversity wavefront estimation algorithm and introduce a DM-independent method of wavefront estimation that utilizes two cameras and a Gerchberg-Saxton-based iterative phase retrieval scheme. We compare the two estimation algorithms, and we present the creation of a dark hole in the image plane using the Stroke Minimization correction algorithm and this two-camera estimation.
Abnormal pinna type and hearing loss correlations in Down's syndrome

Significant hearing loss and external pinna malformations are two of the most common defects evident in Down's syndrome. The external and middle ears are linked embryologically, both arising from the first and second branchial arches. Evidence indicates that the majority of hearing loss in Down's syndrome is conductive in nature, originating from malformations of the middle ear ossicles and/or the eustachian tube. Recent studies also have indicated that hearing loss is a contributing factor to the IQ and learning deficits that afflict most individuals with Down's syndrome. Therefore, an early, external diagnostic feature for predicting conductive hearing loss would be desirable. In the current study, people with Down's syndrome, people with non-Down's mental retardation and control subjects were examined in a clinical environment for the presence of hearing loss and pinna defects. It was found that 90% of the Down's syndrome population had significant hearing loss, compared to slightly more than 50% in the non-Down's group and no hearing loss in the controls. Also, the majority of hearing loss among individuals with Down's syndrome was conductive, while all hearing loss in the non-Down's group was sensorineural. The Down's syndrome population exhibited nearly 3.5 pinna defects per ear, with malformations of the helix being very evident. The non-Down's population exhibited 2.5 pinna defects per ear, with concha defects being the most common.
Open source contribution as an effective software engineering class project

Software engineering courses often include a semester project designed to give students experience with real-world programming challenges and to expose them to phases of the software development cycle not covered in other classes. One means of engaging students in realistic programming challenges is to make participation in open source development a part of the semester project.This paper describes an assignment in which students contribute to an open source project. The project is designed to immerse students in the open source community and expose them to the work flow and design strategies of a large project. Students work in small groups and decide both which open source community to contribute to and which specific contributions they will make. They can choose to focus on implementation of new features over software maintenance or can focus on documentation and design over both. The assignment contains a proposal phase that allows the instructor to ensure that students are exposed to a healthy cross section of the development cycle.
Aspiration, Bronchial Obstruction, Bronchiectasis, and Related Disorders

The conducting airways play a pivotal role in the spectrum of pulmonary pathology, not only as conduits for injurious agents to enter the lung, but also as an anatomic compartment that is affected by a diverse array of primary or secondary bronchocentric diseases. This chapter discusses aspiration and bronchial obstruction in detail, with emphasis on the aspiration of toxic, infective, or particulate matter. Lung abscess, a frequent complication of obstruction or aspiration, is also reviewed. Both aspiration and lung abscess are reconsidered within the context of pulmonary infectious disease mainly in Chapter 8 on bacterial infections, and to some extent in the chapters on mycobacterial (Chapter 9), fungal (Chapter 10), and parasitic diseases (Chapter 14).
Sex steroids regulate pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine release by macrophages after trauma-hemorrhage

Studies indicate that macrophage immune responses in males are depressed after trauma-hemorrhage, whereas they are enhanced in females under such conditions. Nonetheless, the involvement of male an...
Assessing the Impact of Harassment by Peers: Incident Characteristics and Outcomes in a National Sample of Youth.

Although there are widely held assumptions about the characteristics of peer bullying that are of greatest concern, very few studies have empirically assessed which characteristics most affect its impact. The current research addresses this gap by using a nationally representative U.S. sample of youth ages 10–20 to examine the relative effects of a variety of potentially aggravating incident characteristics on emotional, physical health, and school-related outcomes. Findings show support for power imbalance and duration (a stronger predictor than repetition) as incident characteristics that exacerbate the negative impact of peer harassment. However, several other incident characteristics have substantial effects with or without the presence of these qualities. Injury, sexual content, involvement of multiple perpetrators, and hate/bias components of peer harassment incidents each increased at least one negative outcome. Findings point to several features of peer harassment that can provide a basis for prio...
CHALCIPORUS PIPERATOIDES IN NORTH AMERICA

Boletus piperatoides, until now only known from Michigan, is shown to have a transcontinental distribution in North America and is not uncommon in northern California. This taxon is transferred to Chalciporus and compared to C. piperatus with which it is most similar. The description of C. piperatoides adds new information to the circumscription of this taxon. A technique for identifying collections of C. piperatoides from herbarium material is also described.
Abstract B106: Coffee consumption and the risk of skin cancer

Objective : An association between caffeine intake and the risk of skin cancer has been suggested in animal studies, but has not been well established in epidemiologic studies. The objective of this study is to prospectively examine the association between coffee consumption and the risk of skin cancer. Materials and Methods : Using data from two large cohorts in the U.S., the Nurses9 Health Study (NHS) and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS), we prospectively examined the risks of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma according to coffee consumption. In the NHS, 72,921 participants were followed up from June 1984 to June 2008. In the HPFS, 39,976 participants were followed up from June 1986 to June 2008. We documented 25,480 incident skin cancer cases in the two cohorts, which comprised 22,786 BCC, 1,953 SCC, and 741 melanoma cases. Cox proportional hazard models were used to calculate relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusted for confounding variables and skin cancer risk factors. Results : A significantly inverse association was found between coffee consumption and BCC risk. The dose-response relationship was significant (P trend 3 cups/day had a RR of 0.80 (95% CI: 0.75, 0.85) in women, and 0.91 (95% CI: 0.81, 1.02) in men. The amount of caffeine consumption was also inversely associated with BCC risk. The highest quintile had the lowest risk (in women RR = 0.82; 95% CI: 0.78, 0.87, and in men RR = 0.87; 95% CI: 0.81, 0.94, both P trend Conclusion : Coffee consumption is inversely associated with BCC risk in women and men, likely through the effect of caffeine. Further studies are warranted to investigate the underlying mechanism. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2011;4(10 Suppl):B106.