cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
LACK OF EFFECT OF LEPTIN ON GLUCOSE TRANSPORT, LIPOPROTEIN LIPASE, AND INSULIN ACTION IN ADIPOSE AND MUSCLE CELLS

The effect of leptin on glucose transport, lipogenesis, and lipoprotein lipase activity was studied in cultured rat adipocytes and 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Leptin had no effect on basal and insulin stimulated glucose transport in isolated adipocytes from the rat and the genetically obese mouse. The incorporation of glucose into lipids was also unaffected. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity remained unchanged in response to leptin in these cells, as well as in minced adipose tissue. Leptin also had no effect on both basal and insulin-stimulated glucose transport in cultured rat and human skeletal muscle cells. These studies showed that leptin had no effect on glucose transport, lipoprotein lipase activity, and insulin action in fat and muscle cells in vitro.
Human calcium metabolism including bone resorption measured with 41Ca tracer

Accelerator mass spectrometry is so sensitive to small quantities of 41Ca that it might be used as a tracer in the study of human calcium kinetics to generate unique kinds of data. In contrast with the use of other Ca isotopic tracers, 41Ca tracer can be so administered that the tracer movements between the various body pools achieve a quasi steady state. Resorbing bone may thus be directly measured. We have tested such a protocol against a conventional stable isotope experiment with good agreement.
THE PSYCHEDELICS: LOVE OR HOSTILITY POTION?

30 heavy psychedelic users were compared with 30 matched controls using the Rosenzweig and Comrey tests. The drug-dependent group demonstrated aberrant personality traits only with respect to increased Hostility. It appears that this propensity is unrelated to degree of drug dependency and may reflect a predisposing state. People who have difficulty handling their aggressive feelings may tend to become heavy drug users. How this hostility is expressed does appear to change with degree of dependence, becoming more extrapunitive and obstacle dominant as drug dependency increases.
ROLE OF RADIATION TREATMENT IN INTERMEDIATE RISK ENDOMETRIAL CANCER—CON: 0019

Virtually all efforts to define a role for adjuvant therapy in the management of endometrial cancer are confounded by issues relating to adequacy of staging, consistency of pathologic evaluation, agreement on prognostic criteria, and personal investigator bias. Nevertheless, there is general consensus that women in the lowest risk groups are adequately treated by surgery alone, and those in the highest risk subsets who may benefit from additional therapy are ideal candidates for clinical trial participation. Management of the woman with intermediate risk remains controversial. The available data do not support a role for external beam pelvic radiotherapy in such cases. Three large randomized trials have attempted to assess the impact of external beam therapy following hysterectomy for endometrial cancer. The Norwegian Radium Hospital study (1980) randomized 540 clinical stage I patients to receive either pelvic radiation or no therapy after hysterectomy and vaginal cuff brachytherapy. There was no survival difference noted at 5 years (89% vs. 91%) although the radiotherapy group had fewer pelvic failures. The Gynecologic Oncology Group intermediate risk trial reported on 390 evaluable women who received either pelvic irradiation or no therapy after surgery. Progression-free survival was superior in the radiotherapy group because they developed fewer pelvic recurrences. However, overall 4-year survival rates were not statistically different (92% versus 86%). Finally, the PORTEC Study Group randomized 714 intermediate risk patients to either postoperative pelvic radiotherapy or no treatment. Cancer death rates and 5-year survivals were virtually identical (81% versus 85%). Radiated patients had more frequent complications while “no treatment” patients had more pelvic failures. Although it is possible to raise specific objections to some details of methodology in each of these trials, the overall conclusion of each was that no statistically significant survival advantage could be shown for women who received adjuvant pelvic radiotherapy. Consequently, it seems reasonable to recommend a treatment plan that includes hysterectomy alone—or, at most, hysterectomy plus vaginal cuff brachytherapy—as the standard approach for women with intermediate risk tumors.
ABCA4-associated retinal degenerations spare structure and function of the human parapapillary retina

Purpose To study the parapapillary retinal region in patients with ABCA4-associated retinal degenerations. Methods Patients with Stargardt disease or cone-rod dystrophy and disease-causing variants in the ABCA4 gene were included. Fixation location was determined under fundus visualization, and central cone-mediated vision was measured. Intensity and texture abnormalities of autofluorescence (AF) images were quantified. Parapapillary retina of an eye donor with ungenotyped Stargardt disease was examined microscopically. Results AF images ranged from normal, to spatially homogenous abnormal increase of intensity, to a spatially heterogenous speckled pattern, to variably sized patches of low intensity. A parapapillary ring of normal-appearing AF was visible at all disease stages. Quantitative analysis of the intensity and texture properties of AF images showed the preserved region to be an annulus, at least 0.6 mm wide, surrounding the optic nerve head. A similar region of relatively preserved photoreceptor nuclei was apparent in the donor retina. In patients with foveal fixation, there was better cone sensitivity at a parapapillary locus in the nasal retina than at the same eccentricity in the temporal retina. In patients with eccentric fixation, approximately 30% had a preferred retinal locus in the parapapillary retina. Conclusions Human retinal degenerations caused by ABCA4 mutations spare the structure of retina and RPE in a circular parapapillary region that commonly serves as the preferred fixation locus when central vision is lost. The retina between fovea and optic nerve head could serve as a convenient, accessible, and informative region for structural and functional studies to determine natural history or outcome of therapy in ABCA4-associated disease.
Dizinc Phosphohydrolase Model Built on a m‐Terphenyl Scaffold and Its Use in Indicator Displacement Assays for Pyrophosphate Under Physiological Conditions (Eur. J. Org. Chem. 3/2009)

The cover picture shows a dizinc phosphohydrolase model built on a m-terphenyl scaffold that binds pyrophosphate with concomitant displacement of complexometric indicators; this leads to dramatic color changes that can be detected visually and quantified spectroscopically. Details are discussed in the article by R. C. Smith et al. on p. 343 ff.
Diabetes, TZDs, and Bone: A Review of the Clinical Evidence.

Evidence from rodent and in vitro models suggests that activation of PPAR-γ by thiazolidinediones (TZDs) causes increased bone marrow adiposity and decreased osteoblastogenesis, resulting in bone loss. TZDs are prescribed for the treatment of diabetes, providing an opportunity to determine whether PPAR-γ activation also impacts bone in humans. In addition, since type 2 diabetes is associated with higher fracture risk, an understanding of the clinical impact of TZDs on bone is needed to guide fracture prevention efforts in this population. This review summarizes current findings regarding type 2 diabetes and increased fracture risk and then considers the available evidence regarding TZD use and bone metabolism in humans.
Monolithic Power-Combining Techniques for Watt-Level 2.4-GHz CMOS Power Amplifiers for WLAN Applications

Two monolithic power combining schemes for CMOS power amplifiers (PAs)-distributed LC and current-mode transformer-based-are compared. Fully integrated 2.4-GHz PAs using these techniques were fabricated in a 65-nm standard CMOS technology. From a 3.3-V supply, the distributed-LC combined PA produces a saturated power of 31.5 dBm with peak power-added efficiency (PAE) of 25%. The current-mode transformer-based PA combiner produces 33.5-dBm saturated power with 37.6% peak PAE. With gm -linearization and digital pre-distortion, these PAs transmit 25.5 and 26.4 dBm with - 25-dB error vector magnitude for a 54-Mb/s orthogonal frequency division multiplexing signal, respectively.
Identification of membrane-contacting loops of the catalytic domain of cytochrome P450 2C2 by tryptophan fluorescence scanning.

The catalytic domain of cytochrome P450 is thought to contact the lipid core of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane based on antibody epitope accessibility, protease susceptibility, and hydrophobic surfaces present on P450 structures of solubilized forms of the proteins. Quenching by nitroxide spin label-modified phospholipids of the fluorescence of tryptophan residues substituted into cytochrome P450 2C2, modified to contain tryptophan only at position 120, was used to identify regions of P450 inserted into the lipid core and to estimate the depth of penetration. Consistent with the proposed models of cytochrome P450-membrane interaction, the fluorescence of tryptophans inserted at residues 36 and 69 in the two segments of P450 2C2 flanking the A-helix and at residue 380 in the β2-2 strand was quenched by nitroxide spin labels on carbon 5 of the fatty acid tails of the phospholipids within the lipid bilayer. The fluorescence of tryptophan at 380 was also strongly quenched by a spin label on carbon 12 of t...
L-pipecolaturia in Zellweger syndrome

Abstract Purified rat peroxisomes have been reported to oxidize D -pipecolic acid and the pipecolaturia of Zellweger syndrome has been attributed to the absence of peroxisomes. The logical consequences would be excesses of D -pipecolic acid in the urine of patients and Zellweger syndrome. The urine of two patients with Zellweger syndrome has been analyzed by complexing the pipecolic acid to copper-aspartame to separate the L - and D -isomers. L -Pipecolic acid constituted 100% and 78% of the total pipecolic acid in the two urines. The possibility of preferential retention of D -pipecolic acid was excluded by measuring renal excretion in two control subjects following administration of each isomer. The clearance of L -pipecolic acid was 1.1 and 0.2 ml/min and of D -pipecolic acid was 36.4 and 43.6 ml/min. These results do not support the contention that the pipecolaturia of Zellweger syndrome is the direct result of peroxisomal deficiencies.
A semiclassical approach to collisional ionization with application to the ArHe system

A semiclassical approach based on the propagation of classical trajectories on potential surfaces analytically continued into the complex plane, together with a discretization procedure, has been developed for the problem of collisional ionization. Based on Franck-Condon considerations the formalism is reduced to that of the two-state approximation. Preionization loss and tunnelling beyond turning points have not been considered. Calculated partial ionization cross sections for the Ar-He system show good agreement with a fully quantum mechanical treatment.
Human leukocyte interferon separation of biologically different species by modification of carbohydrate moieties

Human leukocyte interferon was studied to determine if its antiviral (AV) and growth inhibitory (GI) activities could be separated by enzymatic or chemical cleavage of carbohydrate moieties and electrophoretic procedures. The relative proportion of the two activities (AV:GI ratio) was determined for each gel fraction. Untreated interferon and interferon deglycosylated by glycosidases or meta-periodate were subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate. The AV:GI ratio was similar for all fractions, indicating that no dissociation of activities was achieved based on molecular weight differences. The three preparations were then examined by isoelectric focusing to attempt separation based on charge. The untreated sample was resolved into several peaks each with a constant AV:GI ratio of 3:1. Both deglycosylated interferons showed inconstant AV:GI ratios yielding GI fractions that were enriched or depleted in AV activity. These results indicate that under the conditions used the AV and GI activities could not be separated, although molecules can be obtained that differ significantly in their relative antiviral and growth inhibitory properties.
P-STAR analysis in a converging economy: the case of Greece

Abstract The paper applies the P-STAR model of inflation determination to the case of Greece by accounting for both domestic and foreign price disequilibria. Since the 1970s the Greek economy has experienced high rates of inflation, but after 1993 a systematic deflation effort started in view of the country's prospect of joining the ERM. Testing empirically the determinants of inflation becomes imperative not only in the context of understanding the deflation effort, but also in assessing the effect of future price pressures.
Deforestation Near Public Lands: An Empirical Examination of Associated Processes

This article is an empirical examination of human-environment interactions associated with deforestation. The focus is on areas adjacent to the Buffalo National River and Ozark–St. Francis National Forest. Satellite imagery and census data over a 10-year timeframe are analyzed using multivariate methods to provide insight into underlying processes impacting land cover change. Examination of the parameters in areas near public land boundaries in conjunction with distance-to-the-boundary measures indicate changes immediately adjacent to the public lands differ from those at a distance. Public lands with differing mandates (resource conservation for current and future utilization in the case of U.S. Forest Service lands and preservation of existing “wilderness” condition in the case of the Buffalo National River) function separately within the wider landscape context. Land cover change due to deforestation is driven by transportation infrastructure, slope, distance to large urban centers, and location relati...
Control-value theory: Using achievement emotions to improve understanding of motivation, learning, and performance in medical education: AMEE Guide No. 64

In this AMEE Guide, we consider the emergent theoretical and empirical work on human emotion and how this work can inform the theory, research, and practice of medical education. In the Guide, we define emotion, in general, and achievement emotions, more specifically. We describe one of the leading contemporary theories of achievement emotions, control-value theory (Pekrun 2006), and we distinguish between different types of achievement emotions, their proximal antecedents, and their consequences for motivation, learning, and performance. Next, we review the empirical support for control-value theory from non-medical fields and suggest several important implications for educational practice. In this section, we highlight the importance of designing learning environments that foster a high degree of control and value for students. Finally, we end with a discussion of the need for more research on achievement emotions in medical education, and we propose several key research questions we believe will facilitate our understanding of achievement emotions and their impact on important educational outcomes.
The Fine Structure of Some Blood Vessels of the Earthworm, Eisenia foetida

The fine structure of the main dorsal and ventral circulatory trunks and of the subneural vessels and capillaries of the ventral nerve cord of the earthworm, Eisenia foetida, has been studied with the electron microscope. All of these vessels are lined internally by a continuous extracellular basement membrane varying in thickness (0.03 to 1 µ) with the vessel involved. The dorsal, ventral, and subneural vessels display inside this membrane scattered flattened macrophagic or leucocytic cells called amebocytes. These lie against the inner lining of the basement membrane, covering only a small fraction of its surface. They have long, attenuated branching cell processes. All of these vessels are lined with a continuous layer of unfenestrated endothelial cells displaying myofilaments and hence qualifying for the designation of "myoendothelial cells." The degree of muscular specialization varies over a spectrum, however, ranging from a delicate endowment of thin myofilaments in the capillary myoendothelial cells to highly specialized myoendothelial cells in the main pulsating dorsal blood trunk, which serves as the worm's "heart" or propulsive "aorta." The myoendothelial cells most specialized for contraction display well organized sarcoplasmic reticulum and myofibrils with thick and thin myofilaments resembling those of the earthworm body wall musculature. In the ventral circulatory trunk, circular and longitudinal myofilaments are found in each myoendothelial cell. In the dorsal trunk, the lining myoendothelial cells contain longitudinal myofilaments. Outside these cells are circular muscle cells. The lateral parts of the dorsal vessels have an additional outer longitudinal muscle layer. The blood plasma inside all of the vessels shows scattered particles representing the circulating earthworm blood pigment, erythrocruorin.
Key metrology considerations for fiber Bragg grating sensors

We discuss the current status of fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor metrology. High-accuracy wavelength measurements are critical for FBG strain sensors, because wavelength measurement uncertainties even as small as 1 pm lead to an uncertainty of nearly 1 microstrain. We administered an FBG wavelength measurements round robin in which twelve participants measured the spectral reflectance of four FBGs; we found that the measured peak wavelengths of a single FBG varied by as much as 35 pm. We have determined that this variation results from two factors: the uncertainty of the measurement systems and the wavelength instability of the athermally packaged FBGs. We found that the wavelengths of athermally packaged gratings will drift with time and can undergo large jumps and that it is difficult to achieve stability better than 4 pm/year. We discuss the measurement uncertainties for several common wavelength measurement systems, including tunable laser, optical spectrum analyzer (OSA), and interferometric measurements. We show that when using an OSA, as many of the round-robin participants did, it is difficult to achieve a measurement uncertainty better than 10 pm, and if the OSA is not accurately calibrated to a known wavelength reference; then wavelength measurement uncertainty can be as large as 1 nm. Wavelength references that are based on molecular absorption lines are ideal for calibrating OSAs, but they are not optimal for calibrating FBG interrogation units where a reference based on reflection lines rather than absorption lines is often preferred. We discuss other possible candidates for wavelength references for FBG sensor interrogation units.
Instrumentation for Evaluating Differences in Ammonia Volatilization from Broiler Litter and Cake

SUMMARY Greater understanding of the mechanisms affecting NH3 volatilization from reused broiler bedding is needed to determine pathways for mitigating NH3 emissions. A chamber acid trap (CAT) system was developed to provide an improved laboratory method for determining NH3 volatilization from litter or cake samples and for assessing treatment technologies to decrease NH3 losses from poultry litter. The CAT system offers precision control of air flow rate through sample chambers as well as straightforward, precise determination of the amount of N volatilized. This article outlines the basic setup of the CAT system. The system can be utilized and modified for researching specific mechanisms involving physical, chemical, or biological treatments affecting NH3 volatilization from litter or cake.
Whole exome sequencing implicates an INO80D mutation in a syndrome of aortic hypoplasia, premature atherosclerosis, and arterial stiffness

Background—Massively parallel, high-throughput sequencing technology is helping to generate new insights into the genetic basis of human diseases. We used whole exome sequencing to identify the mut...
Performance of multipath routing for on-demand protocols in mobile ad hoc networks

Mobile ad hoc networks are characterized by multi-hop wireless links, absence of any cellular infrastructure, and frequent host mobility. Design of efficient routing protocols in such networks is a challenging issue. As class of routing protocols called on-demandprotocols hs recently found attention because of their low routing overhead. The on-demand protocols depend on query floods to discover routes whenever a new route is needed. Such floods take up a substantial portion of network bandwidth. We focus on a particular on-demand protocol, called Dynamic Source Routing, and show how intelligent use of multipath techniques can reduce the frequency of query floods. We develop an analytic modeling framework to determine the relative frequency of query floods for various techniques. Our modeling effort shows that while multipath routing is significantly better than single path routing, the performance advantage is small beyond a few paths and for long paths lengths. It also shows that providing all intermediate nodes in the primary (shortest) route with alternative paths has a significantly better performance than providing only the source with alternate paths. We perform some simulation experiments which validate these findings.
Toward a discipline of real-time programming

Programming is divided into three major categories with increasing complexity of reasoning in program validation: sequential programming, multiprogramming, and real-time programming. By adhering to a strict programming discipline and by using a suitable high-level language molded after this discipline, the complexity of reasoning about concurrency and execution time constraints may be drastically reduced. This may be the only practical way to make real-time systems analytically verifiable and ultimately reliable. A possible discipline is outlined and expressed in terms of the language Modula.
Bimodal biophotonic imaging of the structure-function relationship in cardiac tissue

The development of systems physiology is hampered by the limited ability to relate tissue structure and function in intact organs in vivo or in vitro. Here, we show the application of a bimodal biopho- tonic imaging approach that employs optical coherence tomography and fluorescent imaging to investigate the structure-function relation- ship at the tissue level in the heart. Reconstruction of cardiac excita- tion and structure was limited by the depth penetration of bimodal imaging to 2m min atrial tissue, and 1m min ventricular myo- cardium. The subcellular resolution of optical coherence tomography clearly demonstrated that microscopic fiber orientation governs the pattern of wave propagation in functionally characterized rabbit si- noatrial and atrioventricular nodal preparations and revealed struc- tural heterogeneities contributing to ventricular arrhythmias. The combination of this bimodal biophotonic imaging approach with his- tology and/or immunohistochemistry can span multiple scales of res- olution for the investigation of the molecular and structural determi- nants of intact tissue physiology. © 2008 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation
Replication-Competent Recombinant Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) Viruses Expressing Indicator Proteins and Antiviral Cytokines

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) can subvert early innate immunity, which leads to ineffective antimicrobial responses. Overcoming immune subversion is critical for developing vaccines and other measures to control this devastating swine virus. The overall goal of this work was to enhance innate and adaptive immunity following vaccination through the expression of interferon (IFN) genes by the PRRSV genome. We have constructed a series of recombinant PRRS viruses using an infectious PRRSV cDNA clone (pCMV-P129). Coding regions of exogenous genes, which included Renilla luciferase (Rluc), green and red fluorescent proteins (GFP and DsRed, respectively) and several interferons (IFNs), were constructed and expressed through a unique subgenomic mRNA placed between ORF1b and ORF2 of the PRRSV infectious clone. The constructs, which expressed Rluc, GFP, DsRed, efficiently produced progeny viruses and mimicked the parental virus in both MARC-145 cells and porcine macrophages. In contrast, replication of IFN-expressing viruses was attenuated, similar to the level of replication observed after the addition of exogenous IFN. Furthermore, the IFN expressing viruses inhibited the replication of a second PRRS virus co-transfected or co-infected. Inhibition by the different IFN subtypes corresponded to their anti-PRRSV activity, i.e., IFNω5 ° IFNα1 > IFN-β > IFNδ3. In summary, the indicator-expressing viruses provided an efficient means for real-time monitoring of viral replication thus allowing high‑throughput elucidation of the role of host factors in PRRSV infection. This was shown when they were used to clearly demonstrate the involvement of tumor susceptibility gene 101 (TSG101) in the early stage of PRRSV infection. In addition, replication‑competent IFN-expressing viruses may be good candidates for development of modified live virus (MLV) vaccines, which are capable of reversing subverted innate immune responses and may induce more effective adaptive immunity against PRRSV infection.
Fournier’s gangrene in a modern surgical setting: improved survival with aggressive management

Objective To examine the outcome of 23 consecutive patients with Fournier's gangrene. Patients and methods Patients' charts were reviewed retrospectively from all those treated for Fournier's gangrene between July 1994 and July 1997 at the UCLA affiliated hospitals. Results Twenty-three patients were identified (mean age 51.7 years, range 13-71). The aetiologies included perirectal abscess (43%), urethral stricture (30%), scrotal abscess (21%) and unknown (4%). Predisposing factors included diabetes mellitus (43%), steroids or chemotherapy (21% alcohol abuse (43% ), malignancy (26%) and radiation therapy (9%). All 23 patients initially received wide debridement and placement of a percutaneous suprapubic tube. At the time of the first surgery, total scrotectomy was required in all, colostomy in 17% and penectomy in 4%. An additional 35% required eventual colostomy and an additional 9% required a penectomy. Patients underwent repeat debridement a mean of 2.5 times; the overall survival was 96%. Conclusion Survival can be improved in patients with Fournier's gangrene by combining aggressive surgical and medical management. The keys to successful outcome included a high index of suspicion, prompt fluid resuscitation, rapid initiation of broad-spectrum antibiotics, a multidisciplinary approach, early surgical intervention with radical debridement, haemo-dynamic support in an intensive care setting, and frequent repeat operative debridement.
Beyond flat surface computing: challenges of depth-aware and curved interfaces

In the past decade, multi-touch-sensitive interactive surfaces have transitioned from pure research prototypes in the lab, to commercial products with wide-spread adoption. One of the longer term visions of this research follows the idea of ubiquitous computing, where everyday surfaces in our environment are made interactive. However, most of current interfaces remain firmly tied to the traditional flat rectangular displays of the today's computers and while they benefit from the directness and the ease of use, they are often not much more than touch-enabled standard desktop interfaces. In this paper, we argue for explorations that transcend the traditional notion of the flat display, and envision interfaces that are curved, three-dimensional, or that cross the boundary between the digital and physical world. In particular, we present two research directions that explore this idea: (a) exploring the three-dimensional interaction space above the display and (b) enabling gestural and touch interactions on curved devices for novel interaction possibilities. To illustrate both of these, we draw examples from our own work and the work of others, and guide the reader through several case studies that highlight the challenges and benefits of such novel interfaces. The implications on media requirements and collaboration aspects are discussed in detail, and, whenever possible, we highlight promising directions of future research. We believe that the compelling application design for future non-flat user interfaces will greatly depend on exploiting the unique characteristics of the given form factor.
Reply to Kirsch's Rejoinder Regarding Antidepressant Meta-Analysis

Kirsch attempts to rebut the critiques of his article by ignoring relevant criticism and citing further irrelevant and inaccurately cited meta-analyses. The irrelevance of the within effect size used by Kirsch to the proportion of patients specifically benefitted in a clinical trial is discussed.
Design and Optimization of Superjunction Collectors for Use in High-Speed SiGe HBTs

After reviewing the various mechanisms causing breakdown in bipolar transistors, we present a novel collector design for silicon-germanium heterojunction bipolar transistors (SiGe HBTs). The design improves the well-known speed/breakdown voltage tradeoff in SiGe HBTs for radio-frequency (RF) and millimeter-wave applications. Applying multiple alternating p- and n-type layers (a superjunction) deep in the collector-base (CB) space-charge region (SCR) alters the electric field and electron temperature in the CB junction. Consequently, impact ionization is suppressed, whereas the width of the CB SCR is not increased, and therefore, the breakdown voltages BVCEO and BVCEO are increased, with no degradation in the device speed or RF performance. For a fixed alternating-current performance, BVCEO is improved by 0.33 V, producing a SiGe HBT with fT = 101 GHz, fmax = 351 GHz, and BVCEO = 3.0 V, as predicted by calibrated DESSIS technology computer-aided design simulations. Concerns with regard to the influence of thermal cycles associated with fabrication are considered, and a more practical doping profile is proposed to simplify the use of superjunctions. The proposed structure is also contrasted with other approaches from the literature.
Routing Traffic at Hub Facilities

Flows arriving at a hub or a transshipment facility may need to be switched from one path to another to complete their journey. These transfer aspects of hub and spoke systems are widely recognized as a hindrance to efficient completion of transit trips. For example, time-consuming delays at transfer points for bus passengers are a major reason for poor levels of service between some nodes when the origin and destination are on different network lines. Such transfers also arise in multimodal interaction systems. This paper outlines a simple notation and analytical framework for optimizing flows within a hub (i.e. at nodes with transfers) and discusses several variants of the problem. This paper addresses prototype models for the efficient allocation of resources to facilitate the operation of interactions at the hub. The paper is primarily a conceptual and methodological overview, but well-recognized existing optimization models are suggested as being useful for some of the related tasks. Small numerical examples are used to illustrate some of the ideas.
Development of a pulsatile-flow tissue engineered heart. Valve bioreactor system to mimic the physiological function of the human left heart

Investigators use bioreactors to grow tissues on three-dimensional scaffolds because bioreactors provide dynamic conditions that are more suitable for cell growth and proliferation than static culture. Recently, bioreactors have been developed that more closely resemble human physiological conditions. It is thought that the cells in culture will respond positively to conditions that mimic the natural tissue environment producing replacement tissues that are structurally and functionally similar to the original tissues. This report describes a pulsatile flow, two-valve bioreactor system which mimics the left half of the human heart to condition and test tissue engineered heart valves before pre-clinical and clinical trials. Test results will be based on data from flow meters and pressure sensors. The system makes use of a removable valve chamber that will allow investigators to use the bulk of the system for valves of different sizes. The system fits into standard CO/sub 2/ incubators so that monitoring and maintaining optimum tissue culture conditions is unnecessary. The system is modular so that the media will remain sterile while still allowing individual components, such as the valve chamber, to be removed and opened in a tissue culture hood without exposing the whole system to contaminants.
A Murmur in an Asymptomatic Athlete

(1997). A Murmur in an Asymptomatic Athlete. The Physician and Sportsmedicine: Vol. 25, No. 8, pp. 135-137.
Mechanistic study on the photochemical "light switch" behavior of [Ru(bpy)2dmdppz]2+.

[Ru(bpy)2dmdppz]2+ (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine and dmdppz = 3,6-dimethyl dipyridylphenazine), a strained Ru(II) polypyridyl complex, is a derivative of the well-known luminescent “light switch”, [Ru(bpy)2dppz]2+ (dppz = dipyridylphenazine). [Ru(bpy)2dmdppz]2+ is of interest because it acts as a photochemical sensor and metalating agent for DNA. Here we report a detailed study to elucidate the mechanism of ligand substitution by investigating the photochemical reaction in a variety of solvents and by determining the effects of different incoming ligands, the incoming ligand concentration, and the temperature dependence. Results from these studies indicate that the mechanism of substitution is associative or interchange associative, in contrast with the dissociative mechanism of other photolabile Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes.
Regulation of cardiac pacemaker current If in excised membranes from sinoatrial node cells

We have proposed that voltage-gated ionic channels are regulated by receptor-guanine-nucleotide binding (G) protein pathways that are membrane delimited (direct) or cytoplasmic (indirect). Since indirect pathways are known to couple muscarinic and beta-adrenergic receptors to hyperpolarization-activated current (If) channels, we tested our hypothesis that direct pathways might also be present by measuring If currents in rabbit sinoatrial node cells using the gigaseal patch clamp method. Whole cell If currents were increased by the beta-agonist isoproterenol (Iso) and decreased by the muscarinic agonist carbachol (Carb) at rates that were similar to the rate at which carbachol increased muscarinic K(+)-acetylcholine channel (K+[ACh]) current in the same cells. K+[ACh] currents are directly gated by a G protein, and the results therefore supported our hypothesis. Much stronger support came after we established for the first time that If could be recorded from excised inside out membrane patches in the absence of cytoplasmic substrates. Under these conditions Iso increased and Carb decreased cell-free patch If provided guanosine 5'-triphosphate and Mg2+ were present. Thus G proteins couple autonomic receptors to If within the plasma membrane, probably by a direct action.
A Selected Bibliography of the Onion Maggot, Hylemya antiqua (Meigen)

When an investigator shifts his attention to a new area or insect, he may spend weeks acquiring knowledge of the literature pertaining thereto. Therefore, when he has acquired an extensive card catalog, or whatever other method he uses for a bibliographic aid, he can render other investigators a service if he makes his records available.
Design and Experiment of Operational Control System for Mineral Grinding Process Based on Soft PLC Technology

To better overcome the operational control experimental problems of mineral grinding processes,a semi-physical simulation experiment system consisting of an operational monitoring subsystem,an operational control subsystem,a virtual sensors and actuators subsystem,and a virtual object subsystem was developed for operational control.In this system,an embedded controller based on soft PLC technology was adopted in operational monitoring subsystem for process control and optimization,and a monitoring software based on C sharp language was also programmed for process monitoring.Integrated with the virtual model of sensors and actuators,the virtual object subsystem and combined with the above subsystems,the developed system is characterized with high realtime capabilities,good portability and accord with the actual industrial processes.The experiment results showthat the system can achieve satisfactory control performances for the mineral grinding process and can provide an appropriate,reliable and effective verification environment for operational control methods.
Current Status and Development Trend of Hard Anodic Oxidation of Aluminum Alloy

A review is provided of commonly used electrolytes as well as the types of power sources and their development for hard anodic oxidation of Al alloys.The current status of research on hard anodic oxidation is briefed,and the development trend of hard anodic oxidation of Al alloys is suggested.
Borderlands -An Audiovisual Interface for Granular Synthesis.

Borderlands is a new interface for composing and performing with granular synthesis. The software enables flexible, realtime improvisation and is designed to allow users to engage with sonic material on a fundamental level, breaking free of traditional paradigms for interaction with this technique. The user is envisioned as an organizer of sound, simultaneously assuming the roles of curator, performer, and listener. This paper places the software within the context of painterly interfaces and describes the user interaction design and synthesis methodology.
Equivalency of human menopausal gonadotropin and follicle-stimulating hormone stimulation after gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist suppression*

This study compares the use of human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) versus follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), after gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) suppression for in vitro fertilization. Thirty-seven patients were randomized to ovarian stimulation with either hMG or pure FSH. The GnRH-a leuprolide acetate was administered to all patients beginning in the midluteal phase of the prior cycle and continuing until the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration. There were no significant differences between hMG and FSH cycles with regard to the day of hCG administration, mean peak estradiol levels, number of ampules of medication used, and number of oocytes aspirated, embryos transferred, or pregnancies. We conclude that there is no significant difference between hMG and FSH stimulation when used in conjunction with GnRH-a.
Making Platelets Ex Vivo

Generating platelets for clinical use beginning with human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) or induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has met so far with modest success as several laboratories have reported generating megakaryocytes beginning with these early cells and generating functional platelets from these ex vivo grown megakaryocytes. The barriers in modern-day platelet transfusions are presented. The potential advantages and utilities of preparing ex vivo generated megakaryocytes and platelets are presented. Limitations to the present day strategies and potential approaches to overcome these limitations are presented as well.
FRET binding antenna reports spatiotemporal dynamics of GDI-Cdc42 GTPase interactions

The modification of Cdc42 with a FRET binding antenna (GDI.Cdc42 FLARE) enables detection of Cdc42 binding to guanine-nucleotide dissociation inhibitor (GDI) and Cdc42 activation with improved spatial-temporal resolution during cellular protrusion and retraction. Guanine-nucleotide dissociation inhibitors (GDIs) are negative regulators of Rho family GTPases that sequester the GTPases away from the membrane. Here we ask how GDI–Cdc42 interaction regulates localized Cdc42 activation for cell motility. The sensitivity of cells to overexpression of Rho family pathway components led us to a new biosensor, GDI.Cdc42 FLARE, in which Cdc42 is modified with a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) 'binding antenna' that selectively reports Cdc42 binding to endogenous GDIs. Similar antennae could also report GDI–Rac1 and GDI–RhoA interaction. Through computational multiplexing and simultaneous imaging, we determined the spatiotemporal dynamics of GDI–Cdc42 interaction and Cdc42 activation during cell protrusion and retraction. This revealed remarkably tight coordination of GTPase release and activation on a time scale of 10 s, suggesting that GDI–Cdc42 interactions are a critical component of the spatiotemporal regulation of Cdc42 activity, and not merely a mechanism for global sequestration of an inactivated pool of signaling molecules.
Advanced Physical Inspection Methods for Counterfeit IC Detection

The remarkable increase in counterfeit parts (a factor of 4 since 2009) [1] is a huge reliability and security concern in various industries ranging from automotive electronics to sensitive military applications increasing the possibility of premature failure in critical systems [2-5]. Counterfeit parts can also incur a great financial loss to legitimate electronics companies [6]. The issue is even more alarming as the counterfeiters use more sophisticated methods making counterfeit detection a much harder task [7-8]. Therefore, it is reasonable to develop more advanced counterfeit detection methods targeting a more efficient detection of sophisticated counterfeited parts.
Microenvironmental Contribution to Dysfunctional Hematopoiesis in a Murine Model of Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Abstract In vitro data provide evidence of an altered bone marrow microenvironment (BMME) in the myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). To assess the role of the BMME in MDS in vivo, we used a well-established transgenic murine model with expression of the translocation product Nup98-HOXD13 (NHD13) in hematopoietic cells that leads to development of an MDS phenotype, fully penetrant by 5 months of age. In order to assess whether the BMME contributes to diminished hematopoiesis as a feature of MDS, we transplanted marrow from 5-month-old NHD13 mice and normal competitor marrow into irradiated NHD13 mice and their wild type (WT) littermates. Serial analysis of peripheral blood (PB) indicated engraftment of NHD13 marrow was improved in WT recipients relative to NHD13 recipients (2-way ANOVA, WT vs. NHD13: p Disclosures Calvi: Fate Therapeutics: Patents & Royalties.
Modeling of Plasma Formation and Evolution on the Surface of Ohmically Heated Conductors

The surface response to MG fields is important for eventual Magnetized Target Fusion (MTF) experiments1-2. Recent radiation-hydro numerical simulations in a planar geometry by Garanin et al.3 show how plasma can be generated through thermal processes on a metal surface. Experiments to study metal plasma formation and stability on the surface of typical liner materials in the MG regime are underway at the University of Nevada at Reno (UNR). Additional experiments on larger facilities such as Atlas and Shiva Star are also planned. We present here our initial modeling of the surface response of aluminum cylindrical conductors, assuming experimentally relevant current rise-times, which determine the ratio of current skin depth relative to conductor radius. Important effects include plasma formation, radiation transport, and the unstable m=0 mode driven by curvature of the magnetic field that holds the surface plasma against the metal. The sensitivity of results to various equation-of-state and resistivity models is also discussed.
Muscle-Nerve-Muscle Grafting for Facial Reanimation in Rats.

OBJECTIVE Facial paralysis is a devastating condition leaving patients with a myriad of aesthetic and functional consequences. Muscle-nerve-muscle (MNM) neurotization is a reinnervation technique that involves implanting an autogenous nerve graft as a conduit between an innervated "donor" muscle and a denervated "recipient" muscle. We investigated the use of MNM reinnervation, alone or in combination with electrical stimulation (ES) and testosterone propionate (TP) in comparison to nerve reanastomosis (RE), on functional recovery following rat facial nerve injury. METHODS Thirty-one male, Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to groups: no graft (control), MNM grafting alone (MNM), MNM grafting with ES and TP (MNM+ES+TP), or RE. Harvested right facial nerve branches were used as the MNM graft. Functional recovery was assessed by behavioral observations and electromyographic recordings. RESULTS The MNM grafting improved muscle tone and vibrissae movement. The ES+TP treatment further enhanced muscle tone as well as reduced recovery time for coordinated movement in a manner that is comparable to those of RE. Electromyographic recordings demonstrated electrical conductance across all MNM grafts. CONCLUSION These data have important implications for patients with unilateral paralysis from facial or laryngeal nerve injury, particularly those who are not candidates for nerve reanastomosis.
Predictive Behavior of a Computational Foot/Ankle Model through Artificial Neural Networks

Computational models are useful tools to study the biomechanics of human joints. Their predictive performance is heavily dependent on bony anatomy and soft tissue properties. Imaging data provides anatomical requirements while approximate tissue properties are implemented from literature data, when available. We sought to improve the predictive capability of a computational foot/ankle model by optimizing its ligament stiffness inputs using feedforward and radial basis function neural networks. While the former demonstrated better performance than the latter per mean square error, both networks provided reasonable stiffness predictions for implementation into the computational model.
133-P: PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF LIFECODES-RBC ASSAY FOR GENOTYPING OF TRANSPLANT PATIENTS

Aim Approximately 10% of small bowel transplants are complicated by hemolytic anemia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the LIFECODES RBC Luminex-based assay for the genotyping of a transplant population. Methods The LIFECODES RBC assay was evaluated using 29 samples, including post-transplant chimerism, with reference result obtained by serology and/or DNA methods. In addition, characterized DNA samples were mixed 5%, 10%, 25% and 50% to evaluate sensitivity to chimerism. Results Concordance between genotyping methods was 100%. Genotype and serologic type were discrepant for at least one of the six blood groups for half of the specimens tested. The LIFECODES RBC genotyping performed well with EDTA and ACD preserved blood extracted by a variety of methods, including manual Qiagen column and organic methods, automated extraction with the Roche MagNaPure Compact and Qiagen EZ1 Advanced XL. In the DNA mixing studies, no change in patient genotype was observed below a 50% mixture. Conclusions The LIFECODES RBC method is easily adoptable within a histocompatibility laboratory already utilizing the Luminex platform. The LIFECODES RBC assay provides superior results compared to serological methods and will tolerate the level of chimerism typically observed in this patient population.
Tunneling devices over van der Waals bonded hetero-interface

Van der Waals (vdW) bonded heterojunctions composed of diverse two-dimensional (2D) layered materials are emerging as a novel material platform that exhibits intriguing physical phenomena and promises compelling device applications. Here we discuss the development of tunneling devices based on vdW bonded heterojunctions, specially focusing on an Esaki diode with broken gap alignment. Beyond that, an electric oscillator built upon this diode is also demonstrated.