cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PHOEBE, a prototype scanning laser‐feedback microscope for imaging biological cells in aqueous media

SUMMARY Based on the principle of laser-feedback interferometry (LFI), a laser-feedback microscope (LFM) has been constructed capable of providing an axial (z) resolution of a target surface topography of ∼ 1 nm and a lateral (x, y) resolution of ∼ 200 nm when used with a high-numerical-aperture oil-immersion microscope objective. LFI is a form of interferometry in which a laser's intensity is modulated by light re-entering the illuminating laser. Interfering with the light circulating in the laser resonant cavity, this back-reflected light gives information about an object's position and reflectivity. Using a 1-mW He–Ne (λ = 632·8 nm) laser, this microscope (PHOEBE) is capable of obtaining 256 × 256-pixel images over fields from (10 μm × 10 μm) to (120 μm × 120 μm) in ∼ 30 s. An electromechanical feedback circuit holds the optical pathlength between the laser output mirror and a point on the scanned object constant; this allows two types of images (surface topography and surface reflectivity) to be obtained simultaneously. For biological cells, imaging can be accomplished using back-reflected light originating from small refractive-index changes (> 0·02) at cell membrane/water interfaces; alternatively, the optical pathlength through the cell interior can be measured point-by-point by growing or placing a cell suspension on a higher-reflecting substrate (glass or a silicon wafer). Advantages of the laser-feedback microscope in comparison to other confocal optical microscopes include: the simplicity of the single-axis interferometric design; the confocal property of the laser-feedback microscope (a virtual pinhole), which is achieved by the requirement that only light that re-enters the laser meeting the stringent frequency, spatial (TEM00), and coherence requirements of the laser cavity resonator mode modulate the laser intensity; and the improved axial resolution, which is based on interferometric measurement of optical amplitude and phase rather than by use of a pinhole as in other types of confocal microscopes.
Lasting longer without oxygen: The influence of hypoxia on Notch signaling

Notch signaling has multiple functions during invertebrate and vertebrate development, where it plays important roles in cell fate determination, proliferation, survival, and border formation. The precise function of Notch signaling is context dependent, and one of the unsolved mysteries of Notch signaling is how a relatively stereotyped signal transduction pathway exerts such a wide variety of context-specific responses. Recent data from Gustaffson et al. provide important new information on this topic by showing that hypoxia enhances Notch signaling due to the association of Notch and HIF-1alpha. This interaction may have important consequences for tumor cell growth.
Notch inhibition allows oncogene-independent generation of iPS cells

The reprogramming of somatic cells to pluripotency using defined transcription factors holds great promise for biomedicine. However, human reprogramming remains inefficient and relies either on the use of the potentially dangerous oncogenes KLF4 and CMYC or the genetic inhibition of the tumor suppressor gene p53. We hypothesized that inhibition of signal transduction pathways that promote differentiation of the target somatic cells during development might relieve the requirement for non-core pluripotency factors during induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) reprogramming. Here, we show that inhibition of Notch greatly improves the efficiency of iPSC generation from mouse and human keratinocytes by suppressing p21 in a p53-independent manner and thereby enriching for undifferentiated cells capable of long-term self-renewal. Pharmacological inhibition of Notch enabled routine production of human iPSCs without KLF4 and CMYC while leaving p53 activity intact. Thus, restricting the development of somatic cells by altering intercellular communication enables the production of safer human iPSCs.
The Long Unwinding Road of RNA Helicases

RNA helicases comprise a large family of enzymes that are thought to utilize the energy of NTP binding and hydrolysis to remodel RNA or RNA-protein complexes, resulting in RNA duplex strand separation, displacement of proteins from RNA molecules, or both. These functions of RNA helicases are required for all aspects of cellular RNA metabolism, from bacteria to humans. We provide a brief overview of the functions of RNA helicases and highlight some of the recent key advances that have contributed to our current understanding of their biological function and mechanism of action.
Studies on the Convulsive Mechanism in Idiopathic Hypoparathyroidism1

THE LACK OF AGREEMENT not infrequently observed between the level of serum calcium and the occurrence of generalised convulsions in the ‘low-calcium’ types of tetany indicates the need for further information regarding other factors involved in the convulsive mechanism in such disorders. That a disturbance in the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus is primarily responsible for the initial development of the neuromuscular hyperexcitability characterizing parathyreoprivic tetany, as well as tetany associated with calcium deprivation or vitamin D deficiency, can no longer be gainsaid. Neither the milder symptoms of active tetany nor generalized convulsions occur in these clinical disorders without a marked decrease in the calcium of the blood plasma and other extracellular body fluids. Furthermore, all available evidence indicates that the ionized fraction of the calcium plays the chief role in this respect. That occurring in the combined or undissociated phase (either with protein or as colloidal calcium p...
Automatic synthesis of a dual-PLA controller with a counter

When datapath/controller designs are synthesized from high-level specifications, the control state graph can have hundreds of states and a large number of state transitions which depend only on the present state. For this class of finite state machines, an implementation with two PLAs and a counter can have much less area than a single-PLA implementation. This paper presents a new automatic procedure for coding the internal variables of an FSM with two PLAs and a counter in which the codes are selected to reduce the size of both PLAs. Analysis of the results shows that for a broad class of large FSMs the authors circuits have less cost than can be obtained using previously published automatic synthesis procedures. >
Cellular Localization of Gangliosides in the Developing Mouse Cerebellum: Analysis Using the Weaver Mutant

: The distribution of gangliosides was studied in the weaver (wv/wv) mutant mouse, where the vast majority of postmitotic granule cell neurons die prior to their differentiation. The wv mutation also shows a dosage effect, as granule cell migration is slowed or retarded in the +/wv heterozygotes. By correlating changes in ganglioside composition with the well-documented histological events that occur during cerebellar development in the normal (+/+), heterozygous (+/wv), and weaver (wv/ wv) mutant mice, information was obtained on the cellular localization and function of gangliosides. Ganglioside GM1 may be enriched in granule cell growth cones and play an important role in neurite outgrowth. A striking accumulation of GM1, which may result from altered metabolism, occurred in the adult wvlwv mice. GD3 was heavily concentrated in undifferentiated granule cells, but was rapidly displaced by the more complex gangliosides during differentiation. GD1a became enriched in granule cells during formation of synaptic and dendritic membranes, whereas GT1a appeared enriched in Purkinje cell synaptic spines. A possible fucose-containing ganglioside was quantitated only in the wvlwv mice. Ganglioside GT1b became enriched in granule cells during synaptogenesis, whereas GQ1b became enriched in these cells after synaptogenesis. The concentrations of GT1b and especially GQ1b increased continuously with age. Our results provide further evidence for a differential cellular enrichment of gangliosides in the mouse cerebellum and also suggest that certain gangliosides may be differentially distributed within the membranes of these cells at various stages of development.
A Histological Comparison of 50% and 70% Glycolic Acid Peels Using Solutions with Various pHs

BACKGROUND Seventy percent glycolic acid solutions are being commonly used as superficial chemical peeling agents. The pH of these solutions ranges from 0.08 to 2.75. The histologic effects of these various pH solutions on human skin have not been studied. OBJECTIVE The histologic effects of several commercially available glycolic acid solutions at various pHs were examined. METHODS Test areas of seven glycolic acid solutions were applied to facial skin of two patients. The skin was not prepped for a peel prior to the application of the acid. The solution was left in place for 30 minutes, then neutralized. After 48 hours, a 2-mm punch biopsy was performed and examined histologically. RESULTS The peeling solutions with a pH below 2 demonstrated the potential to induce crusting and necrosis, which was not seen with the partially neutralized solutions with a pH above 2. The higher concentration acids (70%) created more tissue damage than the lower concentration (50%) when comparing solutions with free acid. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that chemical peeling with a 70% free glycolic acid creates more tissue damage than a free glycolic acid. When using a 70% glycolic acid solution, the lower pH products (below pH 2) create more necrosis than the partially neutralized products with a pH above 2. At this time there is no evidence that creating necrosis leads to a more favorable result of the peel. Therefore, the use of partially neutralized glycolic acid solutions seems prudent, since they have a better safety profile than low pH solutions, which contain only free glycolic acid.
Direct regulation of nacre, a zebrafish MITF homolog required for pigment cell formation, by the Wnt pathway

We have shown that Wnt signals are necessary and sufficient for neural crest cells to adopt pigment cell fates. nacre, a zebrafish homolog of MITF, is required for pigment cell differentiation. We isolated a promoter region of nacre that contains Tcf/Lef binding sites, which can mediate Wnt responsiveness. This promoter binds to zebrafish Lef1 protein in vitro, and a nacre reporter construct is strongly repressed by dominant-negative Tcf in melanoma cells. Mutation of Tcf/Lef sites abolishes Lef1 binding and reporter function in vivo. Wnt signaling therefore directly activates nacre, which in turn leads to pigment cell differentiation.
Efficient, high-frequency bulk phase modulator

An efficient, 10.4-GHz bulk phase modulator is demonstrated that produces frequency-modulated optical bandwidths in excess of 300 GHz in a double-pass configuration with modest microwave drive power. The waveguide resonator design employs velocity matching to maximize phase-modulation efficiency and a modified form of cutoff waveguide coupling to achieve a high microwave cavity Q factor that reduces power requirements. The measured microwave performance of the modulator agrees well with performance predicted from fully anisotropic, three-dimensional numerical simulations.
THE CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF ELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE DETERMINATION IN THYROID DISORDERS

Interest in the relationship between the phase angle of the electrical impedance of the human body and thyroid disturbances has been prompted by the recent work which Brazier (1), (2), (3), (4) has reported in England. During the past year the American Goiter Society granted Brazier its first award for her contribution to the study of thyroid disorders. Furthermore, at the present time an apparatus of the type described by Brazier is being offered for sale in England as a diagnostic instrument for use in thyroid disease. According to the publication of this author it is possible to follow the clinical course of thyroid disease very accurately, using this electrical measurement as the basis for the estimation of thyroid activity. Since impedance values are little affected by food, activity, menstrual cycle and so forth, it appeared that this measurement might offer decided advantages over metabolic rate determinations. The earliest attempts to measure the impedance of the human body were made with direct c...
The Practice of Nursing Science: Crossing Boundaries:

This column presents descriptions of how four nurse researchers practice science, based upon a framework constructed to depict key dimensions in the practice of nursing science. Emphasis is given to the role of theory in science.
Comparison between eggsticks of two cactophagous moths, Cactoblastis cactorum and Melitara prodenialis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).

ABSTRACT The invasive cactus borer Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) now cooccurs with a species of borer native to North America, Melitara prodenialis Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), in the southeastern United States. Because C. cactorum damages native species of pricklypear (Opuntia) often through population outbreaks, it is necessary to distinguish this species from the native cactus borer that has reduced impact on pricklypear populations. Cactoblastis cactorum and M. prodenialis eggs are laid one on top of another to form eggsticks that resemble cactus spines. Both moth species utilize the same host plant species in the Opuntia genus, and during larval life stages it is easy to distinguish the two species. Determining species identification based on eggs alone, however, has been difficult. Yet, it is impractical to wait for eggs to hatch and larvae to develop to determine species identification for research or monitoring purposes. Several objective, quantitative differences were ...
Peptide chemistry: development of high performance liquid chromatography and capillary zone electrophoresis

The development of relatively non-compressible supporting media of small particle size as well as pumps that deliver constant flow rates at high pressures has enabled investigators to perform rapid, high resolution liquid chromatography for more than two decades. Studies initiated in this laboratory in 1975, evaluating the compatibility of unprotected peptides with commercially available chromatographic supports and development of solvent systems ultimately led to separations not previously observed with both synthetic peptides and native peptides from tissue extracts. It was rapidly realized however, that recovery of certain molecules could be problematic. To meet the challenges presented by the isolation of natural hormones (such as corticotropin releasing factor and growth hormone releasing hormone) and proteins (such as inhibin and activin) and the need for large quantities of highly purified peptides for clinical investigations, our group invested heavily in identifying new supports (high carbon loading and 300 A pore sizes) and solvent systems (triethylammonium phosphate and trifluoroacetic acid) compatible with reverse phase, size exclusion and ion exchange chromatographies from a practical and economical perspective. More recently, we have contributed to the identification of unusual buffer systems (inclusive of organic modifiers) compatible with capillary zone electrophoresis that will both modulate the capillaries' selectivity, increase resolution and serve as an orthogonal approach to determining peptide purity. From a pragmatic point of view, in this paper we highlight the original and timely contributions (technical and strategical) of this laboratory in the field of analytical and preparative high performance liquid chromatography and capillary zone electrophoresis of synthetic and native biologically active peptides and proteins over the past twenty years.
Processing of multiple-receiver spaceborne arrays for wide-area SAR

The instantaneous area illuminated by a single-aperture synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is fundamentally limited by the minimum SAR antenna area constraint. This limitation is due to the fact that the number of illuminated resolution cells cannot exceed the number of collected data samples. However, if spatial sampling is added through the use of multiple-receiver arrays, then the maximum unambiguous illumination area is increased because multiple beams can be formed to reject range-Doppler ambiguities. Furthermore, the maximum unambiguous illumination area increases with the number of receivers in the array. One spaceborne implementation of multiple-aperture SAR that has been proposed is a constellation of formation-flying satellites. In this implementation, several satellites fly in a cluster and work together as a single coherent system. There are many advantages to the constellation implementation including cost benefits, graceful performance degradation, and the possibility of performing in multiple modes. The disadvantage is that the spatial samples provided by such a constellation will be sparse and irregularly spaced; consequently, traditional matched filtering produces unsatisfactory results. We investigate SAR performance and processing of sparse, multiple-aperture arrays. Three filters are evaluated: the matched filter, maximum-likelihood filter, and minimum mean-square error filter.
Threadfin Shad Impacts Phytoplankton and Zooplankton Community Structures in Channel Catfish Ponds

Plankton community structure and chlorophyll a concentration were compared in twelve 0.1 ha earthen ponds co-stocked with channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus Rafinesque, 1818) in a multiple-batch culture (initial biomass=5458 kg ha−1) and a planktivore, threadfin shad (Dorosoma petenense Guther, 1867; initial biomass=449 kg ha−1), during the April–November growing season. We used a completely randomized design in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement to test the planktivore level (presence or absence of threadfin shad) and channel catfish feeding frequency (daily or every third day). Channel catfish were fed a 32% protein feed to apparent satiation on days fed. The presence of threadfin shad affected phytoplankton and zooplankton community structure more than did feeding frequency, and the impact in ponds was more pronounced after 1 July. The numbers of all major groups of zooplankton were lower in ponds with threadfin shad, but were unaffected by the feeding frequency. Chlorophyll a concentration before 1 July was higher in ponds with threadfin shad and unaffected by the feeding frequency, whereas after 1 July it was higher in ponds without threadfin shad and that were fed daily. Phytoplankton community structure after 1 July was dominated by nuisance algal bloom genera of cyanobacteria in ponds without threadfin shad and by Bacillariophyceae in ponds with threadfin shad.
Design of a network service processing platform for data path customization

Custom packet processing functionality in routers is one of the key characteristics of next-generation Internet architectures. Network services have been proposed as an abstraction to describe, compose, and deploy end-to-end connections with custom communication features. We present a novel hardware architecture for high-performance processing of such network services in the data path. The design provides simple processing units to implement services and a custom hardware infrastructure to manage packets and processing context. The design allows for simple software development, flexible network service allocation, and high scalability to handle traffic at Gigabit line rates.
Data Demand Dynamics in Wireless Communications Markets

In this paper, we focus on the users' aggregate data demand dynamics in a wireless communications market served by a monopolistic wireless service provider (WSP). Based on the equilibrium data demand, we optimize the WSP's data plans and long-term network capacity decisions to maximize its profit. First, by considering a market where only one data plan is offered, we show that there exists a unique equilibrium in the data demand dynamics regardless of the data plans, and that the convergence of data demand dynamics is subject to the network congestion cost, which is closely related to the WSP's long-term capacity decision. A sufficient condition on the network congestion cost indicates that the WSP needs to provide a sufficiently large network capacity to guarantee the convergence of data demand dynamics. We also propose a heuristic algorithm that progressively optimizes the WSP's data plan to maximize its equilibrium revenue. Next, we turn to a market where two different data plans are offered. It is shown that the existence of a unique equilibrium data demand depends on the data plans, and the convergence of data demand dynamics is still subject to the network congestion cost (and hence, the WSP's network capacity, too). We formalize the problem of optimizing the WSP's data plans and network capacities to maximize its profit. Finally, we discuss the scenario in which the data plans are offered by two competing WSPs and conduct extensive simulations to validate our analysis.
Risk communication for patients seeking IVF

Treatment for infertility is like other healthcare during which patients consider using new technologies and make risk–benefit tradeoffs owing to possible adverse effects. Consumer-oriented educational materials have been developed regarding IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection to help patients to make these decisions. Text at the high school or college level in these materials could be improved by using shorter sentences and by substituting everyday words for certain medical terms. Applying patient communication research methods developed for topics such as cancer could help make infertility materials easier to understand, especially for patients with limited health literacy. The effectiveness of new materials could then be compared with existing materials using end points such as health outcomes and patient satisfaction with decision making.
A comparison of radiographic techniques and electromagnetic transponders for localization of the prostate

The aim of this study is to compare three methodologies of prostate localization and to determine if there are significant differences in the techniques. Daily prostate localization using cone beam CT or orthogonal kV imaging has been performed at UT Southwestern Medical Center since 2006. Prostate patients are implanted with gold seeds, which are matched with the planning CT or DRR before treatment. More recently, a technology using electromagnetic transponders implanted within the prostate was introduced into our clinic (Calypso®). With each technology, patients are localized initially using skin marks and the room lasers. In this study, patients were localized with Calypso and either CBCT or kV orthogonal images in the same treatment session, allowing a direct comparison of the technologies. Localization difference distributions were determined from the difference in the offsets determined by CBCT/kV imaging and Calypso. CBCT-Calypso and kV imaging-Calypso localization data were summarized from over 900 and 250 fractions each, respectively. The Wilcoxon signed rank test is used to determine if the localization differences are statistically significant. We also calculated Pearson’s product–moment correlation coefficient (R2) to determine if there is a linear relationship between the shifts determined by Calypso and the radiographic techniques. The differences between CBCT-Calypso and kV imaging-Calypso localizations are −0.18 ± 2.90 mm, -0.79 ± 2.18 mm, -0.01 ± 1.20 mm and −0.09 ± 1.40 mm, 0.48 ± 1.50 mm, 0.08 ± 1.04 mm, respectively, in the AP, SI, and RL directions. The Pearson product–moment correlation coefficients for the CBCT-Calypso shifts were 0.71, 0.92 and 0.88 and for the OBI-Calypso comparison were 0.95, 0.89 and 0.85. The percentage of localization differences that were less than 3 mm were 86.1%, 84.5% and 96.0% for the CBCT-Calypso comparison and 95.8%, 94.3% and 97% for the kV OBI-Calypso comparison. No trends were observed in the Bland-Altman analysis. Localization of the prostate using electromagnetic transponders agrees well with radiographic techniques and each technology is suitable for high precision radiotherapy. This study finds that there is more uncertainty in CBCT localization of the prostate than in 2D orthogonal imaging, but the difference is not clinically significant.
Characterization of δ-sarcoglycan, a novel component of the oligomeric sarcoglycan complex involved in limb-girdle muscular dystrophy

The sarcoglycan complex is known to be involved in limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) and is composed of at least three proteins: α-, β-, and γ-sarcoglycan. δ-Sarcoglycan has now been identified as a second 35-kDa sarcolemmal transmembrane glycoprotein that shares high homology with γ-sarcoglycan and is expressed mainly in skeletal and cardiac muscle. Biochemical analysis has demonstrated that γ- and δ-sarcoglycan are separate entities within the sarcoglycan complex and that all four sarcoglycans exist in the complex on a stoichiometrically equal basis. Immunohistochemical analysis of skeletal muscle biopsies from patients with LGMD2C, LGMD2D, and LGMD2E demonstrated a reduction of the entire sarcoglycan complex in these muscular dystrophies. Furthermore, we have mapped the human δ-sarcoglycan gene to chromosome 5q33-q34 in a region overlapping the recently linked autosomal recessive LGMD2F locus.
Xps Analysis of the Sapphire Surface as a Function of High Temperature Vacuum Annealing

For the first time the (1102) surface of sapphire has been investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to ascertain chemical changes resulting from annealing in vacuum at 1300° C and 1450° C. As received substrates had a substantial surface C contaminant. For substrates that were chemically cleaned before inserting them into the MBE system no trace of carbon is detected. A residual flourine contaminant results from the cleaning procedure and is desorbed by the vacuum annealing. Spectra of annealed substrates are compared to the unannealed chemically cleaned substrates. The annealed substrates exhibit 0.4 to 0.5 eV shift to higher binding energy of the Al peak and a 0.3 eV shift to higher binding energy of the O peak. In addition, a 2% depletion of oxygen from the surface occurs.
Nondestructive monitoring of the repair of natural occlusal lesions using cross polarization optical coherence tomography

Previous remineralization studies employing cross polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography (CP-OCT), have been limited to the repair of artificial enamel-like lesions. In this study we attempted to remineralize existing occlusal lesions on extracted teeth. Lesions were imaged before and after exposure to an acidic remineralization regimen and the integrated reflectivity and lesion depth was calculated. Automated integration routines worked well for assessing the integrated reflectivity for the lesion areas after remineralization. Polarized light microscopy was also used to examine the lesions areas after sectioning the teeth. An acidic remineralization solution was used to remineralize the lesions. The integrated reflectivity significantly increased after exposure to the remineralization solution which suggests that the acidic solution caused additional demineralization as opposed to the desired remineralization.
Resolving Discrimination Disputes in Higher Education: Qualitative Field Research at the University of Hawaii

Allegations of unfair discrimination based on gender, age, disability, and ethnicity represent a substantial number of claims in the contemporary university. Therefore, managing discrimination claims is an extremely important task. These cases often include, for example, instances of proven unlawful discrimination pursuant to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and state civil rights legislation. They also include cases containing more ambiguous facts or arguments about perceptions of unlawful discrimination. Ultimately, when a discrimination claim is made, it can impose a great emotional and economic toll on the parties involved. This article explore the nature of these claims and the role mediation can play in their resolution.
CHROMOSOMAL FITNESS CHANGES IN EXPERIMENTAL POPULATIONS OF DROSOPHILA PERSIMILIS FROM TIMBERLINE IN THE SIERRA NEVADA

Much of the evidence for the adaptive function of Drosophila chromosomal polymorphism has been derived from experimental population cage analysis. Observation of changes in relative frequencies of competing chromosomal arrangements over a short term of about eight to ten generations is usually sufficient to establish determinacy of outcome and the net adaptive, or fitness, values of the competing karyotypes (Wright and Dobzhansky, 1946; Dobzhansky, 1948b; Dobzhansky and Levene, 1951). However experimental populations once initiated evolve new genotypes. With a given initial genetic variance the random mating population will seek its optimum genetic equilibrium within the limits of a constant laboratory environment. Such an equilibrium may or may not be close to that characteristic of the wild population from which the genotypes were derived, depending on the cleverness of the investigator at duplication of the conditions upon which the equilibrium is contingent. Of course since most of the factors of the wild environment upon which the population's adaptation depends are virtually unknown, the investigator can never hope to approximate the wild conditions; consequently the laboratory conditions are novel to the species, yet they are not so extreme that the species' norm of reaction cannot permit reasonable survival and then adjustment of its gene pool. It is this adjustment which must be taken into account in any long term analysis. Presumably in short term studies the changes in relative frequencies of competing genotypes tell us the immediate re-
Rotazyme Assay in Neonates without Diarrhea: Results of Screening Survey and Preliminary Analysis of False Positive Specimens

One hundred forty-seven stool specimens from 93 infants younger than four months of age in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit were tested for rotavirus by the Rotazyme ELISA method (Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, IL). None of the infants had diarrhea at the time of the testing. Ten of 147 (6.8%) specimens were either low or suspect positive. None had rotavirus by electron microscopy. Excluding the suspect positives, which were negative on retesting, the false positive rate was only 6 of 147 (4.1%). Of five specimens with sufficient material and repeatedly positive tests, heat to 56 degrees C for one-half hour eliminated the binding to the Rotazyme bead but had no effect on the rotavirus positive control. One patient was found to have an extremely high positive Rotazyme test, independently of the survey. No virus was found in this specimen by electron microscopy, and the material responsible for the false positive result was not removed by centrifugation (100,000 X g for one hour), heating to 56 degrees C for one-half hour, trypsin, ether/beta-mercaptoethanol, or dialysis. Thus, false positives were encountered, but the overall rate was acceptably low. Such false positives are likely to result from more than one cause and, depending on results of further study, may be confirmed as false positives by loss of reactivity at 56 degrees C for one-half hour and perhaps lack of binding to a control bead.
Der Durchschnittliche Rechenaufwand beim Simplexverfahren

In den Jahren 1947/48 hat George b. Dantzig die Simplex-Methode entwickelt und der Fachwelt als Losungsverfahren fur lineare Optimierungsprobleme vorgestellt.
Complexity Revealed: A Hierarchy of Clustered Membrane Proteins.

One relatively unexplored aspect of membranes, dating back to the Singer Nicolson Fluid-Mosaic model (1), is the lateral heterogeneity that exists in the plane of the membrane. This is an intrinsic feature of membranes and therefore must be a key to functionality. Indeed, the plasma membrane is generally accepted as being compartmentalized, permitting lipids and proteins to be organized in specific domains whose size and composition vary (2,3). Such compartmentalization may rely predominantly on the membrane-apposed cytoskeleton, termed the “membrane skeleton fence model” (4).
The future is Quantum Computing

This article consists of a collection of slides from the author's conference presentation on the future of quantum computng. Some of the specific topics discussed include: the special features of quantum computers; applications supported; market opportunties for quamtum computing products; use of CAD-CAM applications; and future areas of technological development.
Predictors of Latina/o Community College Student Vocational Choice in STEM

ABSTRACTThis study confirmed appropriate measurement model fit for a theoretical model, the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) vocational choice (STEM-VC) model. This model identified factors that successfully predicted a student’s vocational choice decision to pursue a STEM degree for Latina/o and White community college students. The STEM-VC model is an adaptation of the theoretical framework of Social Cognitive Career Theory. The following factors are included for examination: Self-Efficacy, Vocational Interests, Social Capital, Academic Achievement, Transfer Capital, and Student Validation. Unique findings of this study include the identification of a predictive STEM vocational choice model for Latino/Latina and White students. Emergent constructs predictive of STEM vocational choice for both populations included student Self-Efficacy, Transfer Capital, and Student Validation; these were consistent between both student groups. Results of the study serve to inform community colleg...
Inequality and Mortality during Russia’s Economic Transition

As the twentieth century drew to a close, few Russians mourned its departure. A centenarian born at the turn of the century in Russia would have experienced in her lifetime an extraordinary range of events, encompassing civil war, revolution, famine, political purges, a devastating world war, and finally a traumatic if hopeful attempt to introduce capitalism into an economy previously run by central planning. Concurrently with the latter event, she would have witnessed an upsurge in mortality and decline in life expectancy of a magnitude never experienced by a country at peace. Russia’s struggles in the 1990s seem only a continuation of the difficulties of the past, as the reforms intended to improve the country’s standard of living have instead, at least initially, impoverished part of the population and led to continuing economic instability.
School-Based Obesity-Prevention Programs

Publisher Summary Schools have been identified as a particularly relevant context for obesity prevention because of the substantial amount of time that children spend in this setting and the opportunity to integrate physical activity and nutrition education into existing curricula. Despite the potential schools have to substantially impact the development of healthy energy balance habits and to stem the progression of overweight and obesity in children, there is some question as to whether school-based obesity-prevention programs can effectively achieve these outcomes. This chapter provides a backdrop for the focus on school settings as a critical setting for obesity prevention; describes the types of strategies and approaches often used in school-based obesity-prevention programs; and summarizes the results of studies evaluating the effectiveness of school-based interventions to increase physical activity, decrease sedentary behavior, improve dietary habits, and reduce obesity risk. It also seeks to guide further research and discussion in this area by highlighting the conceptual gaps and methodological limitations of studies conducted to date and making recommendations for future evaluation and program/policy development.
Structural repeating units in chromatin: I. Evidence for their general occurrence

Abstract When chromatin from a diverse range of eukaryotes is prepared for the electron microscope by aldehyde fixation followed by centrifugation onto the grid, the fibers are composed of interconnected spherical particles, about 70 A in diameter. Evidence is presented which suggests that the particles are an in vivo structural repeating unit of deoxyribonucleoprotein, and not a preparation-induced artefact.
Level set segmentation with both shape and intensity priors

We present a new variational level-set-based segmentation formulation that uses both shape and intensity prior information learned from a training set. By applying Bayes' rule to the segmentation problem, the cost function decomposes into shape and image energy parts. The shape energy is based on recently proposed nonparametric shape distributions, and we propose a new image energy model that incorporates learned intensity information from both foreground and background objects. The proposed variational level set segmentation framework has two main advantages. First, by characterizing image information with regional intensity distributions, there is no need to balance image energy and shape energy using a heuristic weighting factor. Second, by incorporating learned intensity information into the image model using a nonparametric density estimation method and an appropriate distance measure, our segmentation framework can handle problems where the interior/exterior of the shape has a highly inhomogeneous intensity distribution. We demonstrate our segmentation algorithm using challenging pelvis CT scans.
UWB Pulse Generation Techniques With Switched Resonators

Power efficient UWB pulse generation techniques have been introduced. A simple, compact, and efficient RF pulse compression technique based on a switched resonator concept is used for the pulse generation. It utilizes different charging/discharging speeds of the circuit resonator by varying the resonator's Q factor and can be applied to any other microwave resonators. The approach compresses the duration of the pulse envelope without changing the phase characteristics of the RF carrier. The paper discusses the basic theory of switched resonators and the methodology of designing then for UWB pulse generation and compression.
Do Physicians Engage in Offsetting Behavior? Empirical Evidence from Medicare Part B

Historically, Medicare has operated under the assumption that health care providers respond to reductions in reimbursement through increased provision of services to offset declines in practice revenue; however, recent empirical work has found either small offsetting effects or evidence supporting a traditional supply response. Using multiple identification techniques and datasets, including distance matching a sample of physicians in close proximity but subject to distinct reimbursement rates and approximating physician practice costs, this study finds strong evidence in support of the offsetting assumption.
The Concept of Exogeneity in Econometrics

This paper is concerned with the concept of exogeneity of variables in structural econometric models. Examples from recent economic history are presented which illustrate their generation and their importance for prediction. The relationship of exogenous variables to vector autoregressive models and the notion of Granger-causality is also discussed.
Extension of the Fuzzy Database with Fuzzy Arithmetic

Abstract The fuzzy relational database model originated by the authors permits fuzzy domain values from a discrete, finite universe. The model is extended here by demonstrating that fuzzy numbers may be employed as domain values without loss of consistency with respect to representation or the relational algebra. Where equivalence is required in an ordinary relational database, similarity is employed in a fuzzy relational database. For discrete, finite universes, similarity between atomic elements is described via a fuzzy similarity relation with max-min transitivity. Two or more fuzzy numbers are defined to be α-similar if their union forms a continuous α-level set over the real line. This convention effects the partitioning of fuzzy number domains that is necessary to assure the well-definedness of the fuzzy relational algebra.
Antitrust Corporate Governance and Compliance

Cartel detection has been an important part of antitrust scholarship and policy for some time. Most of the development of the literature on cartel detection has focused at the firm level. This should not be surprising since industrial organization studies firms and markets. Antitrust scholarship has not focused as much on compliance and corporate governance within a given firm. Understanding the internal workings of firms would allow for closer to optimal deterrence, as this understanding would allow for calibrating policy around the incentives within a given firm, its subunits and individuals who work therein, to comply with antitrust law. Both theoretical and empirical work in a number of different fields, including economics, accounting, finance, organizational theory and sociology provide important insights indicating that a firm is not merely a single entity in its actions. Rather, a firm is made up of a number of various components, each of which has its own incentives that shape firm behavior. This chapter reviews both the antitrust and the non-antitrust literatures on compliance and corporate governance to provide a clearer picture of the extant literature and the theoretical and empirical gaps within the antitrust literature to better inform antitrust policy on detecting cartels. This chapter explores the scholarship both within and outside of antitrust to better understand internal detection of wrongdoing and improved compliance in the antitrust cartel context.
A mix-and-click method to measure amyloid-β concentration with sub-micromolar sensitivity

Aggregation of amyloid-β (Aβ) protein plays a central role in Alzheimer's disease. Because protein aggregation is a concentration-dependent process, rigorous investigations require accurate concentration measurements. Owing to the high aggregation propensity of Aβ protein, working solutions of Aβ are typically in the low micromolar range. Therefore, an ideal Aβ quantification method requires high sensitivity without sacrificing speed and accuracy. Absorbance at 280 nm is frequently used to measure Aβ concentration, but the sensitivity is low with only one tyrosine and no tryptophan residues in the Aβ sequence. Here we present a fluorescence method for Aβ quantification using fluorescamine, which gives high fluorescence upon reaction with primary amines. We show that, using hen egg white lysozyme as a standard, fluorescence correlates linearly with primary amine concentration across a wide range of fluorescamine concentrations, from 62.5 to 1000 µM. The maximal sensitivity of detection is achieved at a fluorescamine concentration of 250 µM or higher. The fluorescamine method is compatible with the presence of dimethyl sulfoxide, which is commonly used in the preparation of Aβ oligomers, and limits the use of absorbance at 280 nm due to its high background reading. Using aggregation kinetics, we show that the fluorescamine method gives accurate concentration measurements at low micromolar range and leads to highly consistent aggregation data. We recommend the fluorescamine assay to be used for routine and on-the-fly concentration determination in Aβ oligomerization and fibrillization experiments.
Association between infection burden and adult height.

Abstract Although highly heritable, adult height is also associated with numerous environmental factors, including exposure to infection. Particularly in developing regions of the world, infection burden appears to slow growth during childhood. Using a large database representative of the US population, we examined associations between adult height and leg length and an infection-burden index based on past exposure to Toxocara species, Toxoplasmosis gondii, cytomegalovirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, herpes simplex virus 1, and herpes simplex virus 2. In models controlled for age, sex, educational attainment, socioeconomic status, and race-ethnicity, we found that the infection-burden index predicted height (β = −0.10 [95% CI: −0.15, −0.05], p .001
Personalized Intervention in Monogenic Stone Formers

Purpose: Treatment of a first-time renal stone consists of acute management followed by medical efforts to prevent stone recurrence. Although nephrolithiasis is roughly 50% heritable, the presence of a family history usually does not affect treatment since most stone disease is regarded as polygenic, ie not attributable to a single gene. Recent evidence has suggested that single mutations could be responsible for a larger proportion of renal stones than previously thought. This intriguing possibility holds the potential to change the management paradigm in stone prevention from metabolically directed therapy to more specific approaches informed by genetic screening and testing. This review synthesizes new findings concerning monogenic kidney stone disease, and provides a concise and clinically useful reference for monogenic causes. It is expected that increased awareness of these etiologies will lead to increased use of genetic testing in recurrent stone formers and further research into the prevalence of...
The diagnostic utility of measurements of erythrocyte porphyrins

This article summarizes the diagnostic usefulness of measurements of erythrocyte porphyrins in several hematologic conditions, including lead poisoning, iron deficiency, and sickle cell anemia. It discusses the various available methods and their validity in the diagnosis of hematologic disorders and abnormalities of porphyrin metabolism.
Load modeling in synthetic electric grids

Synthetic electric grids provide full availability of large-scale realistic test cases to power system researchers without confidentiality concerns. As many power system studies require load information, it is important to have bus level variation modeled in these synthetic test cases. This paper presents a methodology for bus level static load modeling in synthetic electric grid test cases. A realistic load composition ratio for residential, commercial and industrial sectors is assigned to each bus according to the real electric grid data. Multiple normalized template load curves for each load type are created and assigned statically to each bus. The load composition ratio and load templates are then combined and scaled to a footprint electric grid to obtain the bus level load curve for the whole year. The methodology is illustrated in 2000-bus test case and validated using public ERCOT data. A unit commitment solution using the synthetic load is also presented as an application.
Wavelets und Zeit-Frequenzbereichsanalyse

Die Anwendungen der Zeit-Frequenzanalyse reichen von der Signalanalyse von Daten oder Bildern bis hin zur Kompression und Kontrastverstarkung. Wir wollen in diesem Kapitel die wichtigsten Methoden hierfur kennenlernen. Ein besonderer Schwerpunkt unter den Methoden sei dabei die Wavelet-Transformation, die, wie wir sehen werden, teilweise deutlich bessere Ergebnisse erzielt als klassische Methoden. Dabei ist naturlich wichtig, das eine breite Variation von schnellen Algorithmen existiert, und bereits die direkte Realisierung der Wavelet-Transformation mittels Filterbank selbst schon sehr effizient ist und mit einem O(n) Algorithmus berechnet werden kann.