cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Age of Information with Unreliable Transmissions in Multi-Source Multi-Hop Status Update Systems

This paper studies the "age of information" (AoI) in multi-hop networks with time-slotted transmissions and packet loss in a setting where each node is both a source and monitor of information. Nodes take turns broadcasting their information to other nodes while also maintaining tables of updates for the information received from other nodes. It is assumed that transmission errors in the network occur with a fixed error probability and that transmission errors are independent across links. Using tools from graph theory, two algorithms are developed based on sequential flooding with repetitive transmissions when transmission errors occur. These algorithms generate status update dissemination schedules for any network with a connected topology. The two algorithms differ in terms of whether the root nodes in each sequential flooding tree resample their local information when transmission errors occur. A lower bound on the average peak AoI as a function of fundamental graph properties is also derived for schedules generated by the algorithm without resampling by the root nodes. Numerical results are presented to evaluate the achieved average peak AoI for some canonical graph topologies.
Variable Assembly of EMRE and MCU Creates Functional Channels with Distinct Gatekeeping Profiles

Summary MCU is a Ca2+-selective channel that mediates mitochondrial Ca2+ influx. The human channel contains tetrameric pore-forming MCU, regulatory subunits MICU1/2, and EMRE that is required both for channel function and MICU1/2-mediated Ca2+ regulation. A structure of MCU with EMRE revealed a 4:4 stoichiometry, but the stoichiometry in vivo is unknown. Expression of tagged EMRE and MCU at a 1:10 ratio in cells lacking EMRE and MCU restored channel activity but not full channel gatekeeping. Increasing EMRE expression enhanced gatekeeping, raising the cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]c) threshold for channel activation. MCU-EMRE concatemers creating channels with 1EMRE:4MCU restored Ca2+ uptake in cells, whereas cells expressing concatemers that enforced a 4EMRE:4MCU stoichiometry demonstrated enhanced channel gatekeeping. Concatemers enforcing 2EMRE/4MCU recapitulated the activity, gatekeeping, and size of endogenous channels. Thus, MCU does not require four EMRE, with most endogenous channels containing two, but complexes with 1–4 EMRE have activity with full or partial gatekeeping.
Leveraging Technology: How Black Girls Enact Critical Digital Literacies for Social Change.

This study examines critical digital literacy practices among 390 Black girls, ages 13–17. Through a data sharing initiative with a community organization, we conducted a qualitative analysis of 31...
Real-Time Teleoperation of Magnetic Force-Driven Microrobots With 3D Haptic Force Feedback for Micro-Navigation and Micro-Transportation

Untethered mobile microrobots controlled by an external magnetic gradient field can be employed as advanced biomedical applications inside the human body such as cell therapy, micromanipulation, and noninvasive surgery. Haptic technology and telecommunication, on the other hand, can extend the potentials of untethered microrobot applications. In those applications, users can communicate with the robot operating system remotely to manipulate microrobots with haptic feedback. Haptic sensations artificially constructed by the wirelessly communicated information can assist human operators to experience forces while controlling the microrobots. The proposed system is composed of a haptic device and a magnetic tweezer system, both of which are integrated through a teleoperation technique based on network communication. Users can control the microrobots remotely and feel the haptic interactions with the remote environment in real-time. The 3D haptic environment is reconstructed dynamically by a model-free haptic rendering algorithm using a 2D planar image input of the microscope. The interaction between microrobots and environmental objects is haptically rendered as 3D objects to achieve spatial haptic operation with obstacle avoidance. Moreover, path generation and path guidance forces provide virtual interaction for human users to manipulate the microrobot by following the near-optimal path in path-following tasks. The potential applications of the presented system are medical remote treatment in different sites, remote drug delivery by avoiding physically penetrating through the skin, remotely-controlled cell manipulations, and biopsy without a biopsy needle.
Attribution of NF-κB Activity to CHUK/IKKα-Involved Carcinogenesis

Studies analyzing human cancer genome sequences and genetically modified mouse models have extensively expanded our understanding of human tumorigenesis, even challenging or reversing the dogma of certain genes as originally characterized by in vitro studies. Inhibitor-κB kinase α (IKKα), which is encoded by the conserved helix-loop-helix ubiquitous kinase (CHUK) gene, is first identified as a serine/threonine protein kinase in the inhibitor-κB kinase complex (IKK), which is composed of IKKα, IKKβ, and IKKγ (NEMO). IKK phosphorylates serine residues 32 and 36 of IκBα, a nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) inhibitor, to induce IκBα protein degradation, resulting in the nuclear translocation of NF-κB dimers that function as transcriptional factors to regulate immunity, infection, lymphoid organ/cell development, cell death/growth, and tumorigenesis. NF-κB and IKK are broadly and differentially expressed in the cells of our body. For a long time, the idea that the IKK complex acts as a direct upstream activator of NF-κB in carcinogenesis has been predominately accepted in the field. Surprisingly, IKKα has emerged as a novel suppressor for skin, lung, esophageal, and nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, as well as lung and pancreatic adenocarcinoma (ADC). Thus, Ikkα loss is a tumor driver in mice. On the other hand, lacking the RANKL/RANK/IKKα pathway impairs mammary gland development and attenuates oncogene- and chemical carcinogen-induced breast and prostate tumorigenesis and metastasis. In general, NF-κB activation leads one of the major inflammatory pathways and stimulates tumorigenesis. Since IKKα and NF-κB play significant roles in human health, revealing the interplay between them greatly benefits the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of human cancer. In this review, we discuss the intriguing attribution of NF-κB to CHUK/IKKα-involved carcinogenesis.
RNA-Binding Proteins Direct Myogenic Cell Fate Decisions

ABSTRACT RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are essential for skeletal muscle regeneration and RBP dysfunction causes muscle degeneration and neuromuscular disease. How ubiquitously expressed RBPs orchestrate complex tissue regeneration and direct cell fate decisions in skeletal muscle remains poorly understood. Single cell RNA-sequencing of regenerating skeletal muscle reveals that RBP expression, including numerous neuromuscular disease-associated RBPs, is temporally regulated in skeletal muscle stem cells and correlates to stages of myogenic differentiation. By combining machine learning with RBP engagement scoring, we discover that the neuromuscular disease associated RBP Hnrnpa2b1 is a differentiation-specifying regulator of myogenesis controlling myogenic cell fate transitions during terminal differentiation. The timing of RBP expression specifies cell fate transitions by providing a layer of post-transcriptional regulation needed to coordinate stem cell fate decisions during complex tissue regeneration.
Quantum Integrated Photonics Fabrication at the Foundry Level

Silicon integrated photonics has grown in the last decade to fill the market with classical devices that offer tremendous SWaP benefits over conventional bulk optics or fiber components. For quantum systems the material and device losses present were still too large to allow for larger scaling of systems at the single and low photon level. Over the last couple years, both industry and government laboratories have worked closely with commercial foundries to drop the optical losses to levels that now can scale quantum systems. This research area, the results, and the next steps forward for integrating other materials and qubit systems into the platform will be the subject of my talk.
Maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes in individuals with a prior cesarean birth who undergo induction at 39 weeks.

Objective To compare the maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes among individuals with one or two prior cesarean deliveries who are induced at 39 weeks gestational age versus those that are expectantly managed. Methods This was a population-based cross-sectional study using U.S. National Vital Statistics 2014-2018 period linked birth and infant death data. Cohorts were individuals with one or two prior cesarean deliveries who were induced at 39.0 to 39.6 weeks gestation or underwent delivery from 40.0 to 41.6 weeks gestational age from either spontaneous labor or induction. The primary outcome was a composite of maternal adverse outcomes: admission to the intensive care unit, transfusion, uterine rupture, or unplanned hysterectomy. The secondary outcome was a composite of neonatal adverse outcomes, including: 5-minute Apgar score 6 h, neonatal seizures, or neonatal mortality (death within 27 days of birth). Results Of 263,489 women who met the inclusion criteria 21,951 (8.3%) underwent induction at 39 weeks. The composite maternal adverse outcome was significantly higher in women who delivered at 40-41 weeks gestation when compared to the 39 week gestation induction of labor cohort (8.1 versus 9.4 per 1,000 births; aRR 1.18; 95% CI 1.01-1.39). The overall rate of composite neonatal adverse outcome was 10.4 per 1,000 live births. The composite neonatal adverse outcome was also significantly elevated among deliveries at 40-41 weeks gestation as well (8.6 vs. 10.8 per 1,000 live births; aRR 1.31; 95%CI 1.12-1.53). Conclusion In women undergoing trial of labor after cesarean, induction of labor at 39 weeks gestation was associated with fewer maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes when compared to delivery at 40-41 weeks gestation.
Influence of Simulated Golf Cart Traffic and Nitrogen Rate on Buffalograss Quality

Application of 2 and 3 lb N/1,000 ft2 resulted in acceptable buffalograss quality when subjected to simulated golf cart traffic. Across all fertilizer treatments, traffic rates of 8 and 16 passes per week resulted in unacceptable quality ratings for the study duration.
DISTANCES OF PLANETARY NEBULAE

One of the most fundamental physical parameter in astronomy is the distance to the objects we detect in the universe. For many classes of astronomical objects, accurate and proven methods have been developed to determine their distances. Such classes of objects include stars within ~100 pc from the sun, binary stellar systems, variable stars, stellar clusters, main sequence stars, and other galaxies. It has been, however, more difficult to develop satisfactory methods to determine accurate distances to the more than 1000 planetary nebulae that have been discovered in our galaxy.
JVIR celebrates 25 years of innovation. Part 1: 1989-1995.

For 25 years, the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (JVIR) has served as a leading global forum for the publication of innovative, impactful, and inquisitive medical science in the field of vascular and interventional radiology. As the official journal of the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR), JVIR experienced solid growth and recognition, which have paralleled and showcased the growth and recognition of the Society as well as of the specialty. It has been a remarkable 25 years. Dr. Haskal and I, at JVIR, invite you and all who have contributed to, or enjoyed the success of, the journal during the past quarter century to join us in celebrating JVIR’s Silver Jubilee Anniversary with this five-part series. (The full content of the exhibit is available online at www.jvir.org.) The series is based on the JVIR Timeline (Fig 1) displayed at the SIR Annual Meeting in Atlanta, with each part spotlighting a term of the five editors-in-chief. This division serves the purpose of providing a glimpse into the creation and triumph of JVIR while highlighting milestones, landmarks, and leaders whose vision, dedication, and passion for our specialty made the journal an enduring reflection of a uniquely innovative specialty.
CLINICAL AND LABORATORY INDICATORS OF VESICOURETERAL REFLUX (VUR)

Tests are needed to identify children with urinary infection (UTI) who are at high risk for having VUR and other treatable abnormalities. To identify risk factors, we studied 40 children 10 mg/dl, 5/14 (36%); ≤10mg/dl, 1/19 (5%) (p=0.036). Maximum urine osmolality with DDAVP: <800 mosm 5/14 (35%), ≥800 mosm 1/12 (8%) (p=0.117). Conclusions: Race, age and presence of fever identify the majority of children with VUR. CRP and the DDAVP test may be of additional value in identifying high-risk children.
Abstract T P115: Racial/Ethnic Differences in Post-Stroke Rehabilitation Utilization and Functional Outcomes in the South Carolina Stroke Belt

Background: Significant racial and ethnic disparities in stroke incidence, severity, morbidity and mortality have been consistently reported, but there are limited reports on racial/ethnic differences in post-stroke rehabilitation utilization and long term functional outcomes. Objective: To examine racial and ethnic differences in post-stroke rehabilitation utilization and functional outcomes. Methods: We examined one year follow-up data collected as part of the STEP-South Carolina Project that was designed to measure clinical, treatment, and functional outcomes in post-stroke patients. We used univariate and multivariate regression analyses adjusted for stroke severity to examine racial-ethnic differences in rehabilitation utilization (occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy) and functional outcomes using a 20 question measure of activities of daily living (ADL) & instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) performance, life participation and driving. Results: Data from 162 stroke survivors (106 White, 56 Black) were collected at one year follow-up. As shown in the table, no significant differences were found between Blacks and Whites for rehabilitation utilization. In multivariate comparisons controlling for NIHSS, Blacks were less likely to report independence in overall functional performance outcomes as well as specific measures of toileting, walking, transportation, laundry and shopping. In addition, fewer Blacks reported driving at one year post-discharge. Conclusions: Fewer Blacks exhibited ADL and IADL independence at one year post-stroke after controlling for stroke severity, despite the fact that there were no racial-ethnic differences in rehabilitation utilization. Future studies are needed to further understand the reason for this disparity in recovery
Binding and regulatory properties of expressed functional domains of chicken gizzard smooth muscle caldesmon

We expressed the following fragments of chicken gizzard caldesmon in the pMW 172/BL21 (DE3) system at 0.4-2.2 mg of pure protein/liter of culture: full-length smooth muscle caldesmon (CDh) (amino acids 1-756), nonmuscle caldesmon (CDl), amino acids 1-128 (N128), 1-578 (N578), 230-419, 606-756 (606C), and 658-756 (658C). CDh bound tropomyosin with a Kd of 1.5 microM; N578, 230-419, and 606C bound with affinities at least 2-5 fold lower; N128 bound weakly; and 658C did not bind. Only N128 and N578 bound to smooth muscle myosin, both about 10-fold weaker than CDh and CDl. Only 606C and 658C bound to actin-tropomyosin with affinities CDh = 606C > 658C. The binding to actin-tropomyosin was biphasic, whereas the binding to actin was monophasic, corresponding to the weak binding component found in the presence of tropomyosin. Calmodulin bound only to the C-terminal fragments with the same affinity as CDh. CDh, 606C, and 658C inhibited actin-tropomyosin-activated myosin ATPase, with maximal inhibition correlated with 1 caldesmon bound/14 actins, and inhibition was reversed by Ca(2+)-calmodulin. Thus, the actomyosin ATPase regulatory function, calmodulin binding, and most actin binding is located within the C-terminal 99 amino acids, whereas tropomyosin binding is distributed throughout the rest of the molecule.
Heterogeneous Network-Based Concurrent Computing Systems

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses that parallel processing, the method of having many small tasks solve one large problem, has emerged as a key enabling technology in modern computing. It has been witnessed an ever-increasing acceptance and adoption of parallel processing, both for high-performance scientific computing and for more general-purpose applications, was a result of the demand for higher performance, lower cost, and sustained productivity. The acceptance has been facilitated by two major developments: massively parallel processors (MPPs) and the widespread use of distributed computing. MPPs are now the most powerful computers in the world. These machines combine a few hundred to a few thousand CPUs in a single large cabinet connected to hundreds of gigabytes of memory. MPPs offer enormous computational power and are used to solve computational Grand Challenge problems such as global climate modeling and drug design. As simulations become more realistic, the computational power required to produce them grows rapidly. Thus, researchers on the cutting edge turn to MPPs and parallel processing to get the most computational power possible. The chapter also discusses the second major development that affects scientific problem solving, which is distributed computing. Distributed computing is a process whereby a set of computers connected by a network are used collectively to solve a single large problem. The Parallel Virtual Machine (PVM) system described in the chapter uses the message-passing model to allow programmers to exploit distributed computing across a wide variety of computer types, including MPPs. A key concept in PVM is that it makes a collection of computers appear as one large virtual machine, hence the name.
Fas-mediated apoptosis and activation-induced T-cell proliferation are defective in mice lacking FADD/Mort1

Programmed cell death, or apoptosis, is important in homeostasis of the immune system: for example, non-functional or autoreactive lymphocytes are eliminated through apoptosis. One member of the tumour necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) family, Fas (also known as CD95 or Apo-1), can trigger cell death and is essential for lymphocyte homeostasis. FADD/Mort1 is a Fas-associated protein that is thought to mediate apoptosis by recruiting the protease caspase-8. A dominant-negative mutant of FADD inhibits apoptosis initiated by Fas and other TNFR family members. Other proteins, notably Daxx, also bind Fas and presumably mediate a FADD-independent apoptotic pathway. Here we investigate the role of FADD in vivo by generating FADD-deficient mice. As homozygous mice die in utero, we generated FADD-/- embryonic stem cells and FADD-/- chimaeras in a background devoid of the recombination activating gene RAG-1, which activates rearrangement of the immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor genes. We found that thymocyte subpopulations were apparently normal in newborn chimaeras. Fas-induced apoptosis was completely blocked, indicating that there are no redundant Fas apoptotic pathways. As these mice age, their thymocytes decrease to an undetectable level, although peripheral T cells are present in all older FADD-/- chimaeras. Unexpectedly, activation-induced proliferation is impaired in these FADD-/- T cells, despite production of the cytokine interleukin (IL)-2. These results and the similarities between FADD-/- mice and mice lacking the beta-subunit of the IL-2 receptor suggest that there is an unexpected connection between cell proliferation and apoptosis.
Fault diagnosis for analog integrated circuits based on the circuit layout

An approach to the fault diagnosis for analog integrated circuits is proposed. It uses fault models from the defect statistics to generate faulty circuits. Fault simulations are then applied to those faulty circuits to generate different fault classes which can be used for the fault diagnosis for analog integrated circuits. An example is also given to demonstrate this approach. >
Segregation in fluorocarbon-hydrocarbon solutions

The acceleration of13C nmr relaxation rates by oxygen or by nitroxide radical was determined for representative perfluorohexane-heptane mixtures. In the 90:10 (v/v) solution, oxygen is found to affect perfluorohexane, but on the other hand, nitroxide affects the alkane the more strongly. In 15∶:85 solutions, little differentiation was noticeable although the data are less secure. In the former solution, domains are believed to exist, which are similar to the pure solvent in ability to dissolve paramagnetic relaxants. Force field calculations on the shape of fluorocarbon molecules are reviewed.
Auditory evoked response correlates of hearing in the parrakeet (Melopsittacus undulatus)

Computer-averaged auditory evoked brain responses (EBRs) elicited by tones of different frequencies and intensities were recorded from surface electrodes on the skull of unanesthetized parrakeets. The amplitude and latency of all prominent components of the response waveform were measured, and amplitude-intensity and latency-intensity functions were determined using regression lines fitted by the method of least squares. A linear-log relation was apparent between response amplitude and stimulus intensity, and the slope of the amplitude-intensity function varied as a function of the frequency of the stimulating tone. A good correspondence was observed between the species’ audibility curve as determined behaviorally and EBR estimates of absolute threshold.
How many rational points does a random curve have

A large part of modern arithmetic geometry is dedicated to or motivated by the study of rational points on varieties. For an elliptic curve over Q, the set of rational points forms a finitely generated abelian group. The ranks of these groups, when ranging over all elliptic curves, are conjectured to be evenly distributed between rank 0 and rank 1, with higher ranks being negligible. We will describe these conjectures and discuss some results on bounds for average rank, highlighting the recent work of Bhargava and Shankar.
Association of smoking and chronic pain syndromes in Kentucky women.

Abstract The objective of this project was to determine the relationship between cigarette smoking and the reporting of chronic pain syndromes among participants in the Kentucky Women’s Health Registry. Data was analyzed on 6,092 women over 18 years of age who responded to survey questions on pain and smoking. The chronic pain syndromes included in the analysis were fibromyalgia, sciatica, chronic neck pain, chronic back pain, joint pain, chronic head pain, nerve problems, and pain all over the body. Analyses controlled for age, body mass index, and Appalachian versus non-Appalachian county of residence. Results showed that women who were daily smokers reported more chronic pain (defined as the presence of any reported chronic pain syndromes) than women who were never smokers (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.04 and 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.67, 2.49). An increased risk was also seen for “some-day” smokers (aOR 1.68, 95% CI 1.24, 2.27), and former smokers (aOR 1.20, 95% CI 1.06, 1.37), though with less of an association in the latter group. This study provides evidence of an association between chronic pain and cigarette smoking that is reduced in former smokers. Perspective This paper presents the association between smoking and musculoskeletal pain syndromes among Kentucky women. This finding may provide additional opportunities for intervention in patients with chronic pain.
Global marine bacterial diversity peaks at high latitudes in winter

Genomic approaches to characterizing bacterial communities are revealing significant differences in diversity and composition between environments. But bacterial distributions have not been mapped at a global scale. Although current community surveys are way too sparse to map global diversity patterns directly, there is now sufficient data to fit accurate models of how bacterial distributions vary across different environments and to make global scale maps from these models. We apply this approach to map the global distributions of bacteria in marine surface waters. Our spatially and temporally explicit predictions suggest that bacterial diversity peaks in temperate latitudes across the world's oceans. These global peaks are seasonal, occurring 6 months apart in the two hemispheres, in the boreal and austral winters. This pattern is quite different from the tropical, seasonally consistent diversity patterns observed for most macroorganisms. However, like other marine organisms, surface water bacteria are particularly diverse in regions of high human environmental impacts on the oceans. Our maps provide the first picture of bacterial distributions at a global scale and suggest important differences between the diversity patterns of bacteria compared with other organisms.
Microscopic analysis of cell death by metabolic stress-induced autophagy in prostate cancer

Autophagy is an intracellular recycling mechanism that helps cells to survive against environmental stress and nutritional starvation. We have recently shown that prostate cancers undergo metabolic stress and caspase-independent cell death following exposure to arginine deiminase (ADI, an enzyme that degrades arginine in tissue). The aims of our current investigation into the application of ADI as a novel cancer therapy are to identify the components mediating tumor cell death, and to determine the role of autophagy (stimulated by ADI and/or rapamycin) on cell death. Using advanced fluorescence microscopy techniques including 3D deconvolution and superresolution structured-illumination microscopy (SIM), we show that prostate tumor cells that are killed after exposure to ADI for extended periods, exhibit a morphology that is distinct from caspase-dependent apoptosis; and that autophagosomes forming as a result of ADI stimulation contain DAPI-stained nuclear material. Fluorescence imaging (as well as cryo-electron microscopy) show a breakdown of both the inner and outer nuclear membranes at the interface between the cell nucleus and aggregated autophagolysosomes. Finally, the addition of N-acetyl cysteine (or NAC, a scavenger for reactive oxygen species) effectively abolishes the appearance of autophagolysosomes containing nuclear material. We hope to continue this research to understand the processes that govern the survival or death of these tumor cells, in order to develop methods to improve the efficacy of cancer pharmacotherapy.
Morin transition suppression in Polycrystalline 57 Hematite (α-Fe 2 O 3 ) exposed to 56 Fe(II)

We used the isotope selectivity of 57Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy to investigate changes in the magnetic properties of polycrystalline hematite exposed to ferrous iron (Fe(II)). We found that sorption of 56Fe(II), followed by interfacial electron exchange, alters the bulk magnetic properties of 57hematite. After reaction with 56Fe(II), we observed partial suppression of the Morin transition of 57hematite to below 13 K. This is significantly lower than the Morin temperature (T M) of ∼230 K measured for isotopically enriched polycrystalline 57hematite, as well as the T M of 264 ± 2 K reported for normal polycrystalline hematite.
Morphological Variability in the Comprehension of Agreement: An Argument for Representation over Computation.

Previous accounts of morphological variability disagree over whether its cause is representational or computational in nature. Under a computational account, variability is confined to production; under a representational account, variability extends to comprehension and is qualitatively similar to variability in production. This article presents experimental evidence from the comprehension and production of gender and number agreement in second language (L2) Spanish clitics and adjectives. Intermediate-level participants show variability across comprehension and production; across tasks, masculine defaults are adopted. Advanced-level participants show less variability, although evidence for masculine defaults emerges across tasks. Number agreement proved relatively unproblematic, except in the production of adjective agreement where singular defaults are systematically adopted by intermediate- and advanced-level speakers. The qualitative similarity of variability across comprehension and production suppo...
Composition of the immune system of allophenic mice.

Abstract The composition of the peripheral blood, the spleen, and the thymus of 19 allophenic mice was analyzed using cytotoxic antisera for cell surface antigens. All three types of mice which were studied [C57BL/6 ↔ DBA/1, C57BL/6 ↔ (CBA × CBA/H-T6), C57BL/6 ↔ (A × SJL)] were found to be true chimeras since the killing of their cells with both parental types of antisera was never greater than 100%. The correlation of the blood composition with the spleen composition was excellent for all of the mice. However, only some mice showed a good correlation of the thymus composition with either the blood or the spleen composition. Thus, there seem to be two types of allophenic mice in the population: those in which the thymus composition is correlated to the spleen and blood composition and those in which it is not. Possible mechanisms to explain this observation are discussed.
Common programming language ambiguity

When most people think of portable programs they think of programs that can be compiled by different compilers (with few, if any, changes required in the source code). It is an unwritten assumption that all of these compilers accept (to a reasonable degree) the same language.In this paper we shall demonstrate that this commonly required similarity can be relaxed considerably under certain circumstances. This is accomplished by introducing an unusual new technique for writing portable programs.
Form, Experience and the Centrality of Rhetoric to Pedagogy

This essay notes a resurgence of interest in rhetorical studies on the appeal of form, grounded in the work of rhetorical theorist Kenneth Burke. The essay argues that form is not only a way to structure discourses, it is a way to structure experience. Form is foundational in creating perceptions and thus experiences. Form is also highly rhetorical, in that how we structure our world carries social and ideological implications. The essay thus argues that an understanding of form as foundational and rhetorical should be central to the educational curriculum. This way of understanding form is then a way of making rhetoric central to education in ways surpassing even the efforts of the ancient Greeks and Romans. A rhetorically centered curriculum based on teaching students how to understand form in their lives is empowering and liberating for students at the same time that it instills in them a strong awareness of ethics.
Computer tutors can address students learning to solve complex engineering problems

The ability to solve complex problems in which considerable latitude in solution is allowed is an important goal in engineering education. While feedback is critical to learning, traditional grading of handwritten homework rarely provides effective, timely feedback on attempts to solve complex problems. To address the research question of whether automated feedback can be provided on complex problem solving, a cognitive tutor approach is pursued, with truss problems in statics used as a test case. The tutor maintains a cognitive model of problem solving of the class of problems, and associates various solution steps with distinct skills or knowledge components. One can determine whether students learn individual skills by measuring the error rate as a function of practice. Data was obtained from students using the tutor to solve truss problems in place of the weekly homework assignment. Statistical analyses of the data showed that distinct skills involved very different error rates, justifying tracking them separately. Furthermore, for most skills, the error rate either was low from the start or decreased with practice, providing evidence that feedback improved performance.
Acute occlusion of the abdominal aorta

Abstract Background: Acute aortic occlusion most commonly results from aortic saddle embolus or thrombosis of an atherosclerotic abdominal aorta. The purpose of this study was to review the experience at a university hospital to better define the diagnosis and management of this uncommon process. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed from patients admitted to Emory University Hospital with acute occlusion of the abdominal aorta from 1985 through 1997. Results: Thirty-three patients were identified. In group EMB (n = 16), occlusion was due to saddle embolus. In group IST (n = 17), occlusion was attributed to in situ thrombosis of a severely diseased aorta. Operative procedures performed included transfemoral embolectomy (15), aortobifemoral bypass (9), axillobifemoral bypass (5), fasciotomy (3), and thrombolysis (1). The in-hospital mortality rate was 21% (31% EMB, 12% IST), and morbidity was significant and included mesenteric ischemia (6%), bleeding complications (9%), subsequent amputation (12%), renal failure (15%), recurrent embolization or thrombosis (21%), and cardiac complications (42%). Conclusions: Acute aortic occlusion has tremendous morbidity and mortality even with optimal surgical care.
Pulmonary barotrauma as the cause of pneumoretropharynx in pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis

Abstract A 55-year-old white woman with pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) presented to the emergency department with odynophagia and subplatysmal emphysema after a paroxysm of coughing. Lateral neck films showed subcutaneous emphysema and a retropharngeal air stripe. Chest radiographs showed neither pneumothorax nor pneumomediastinum. Patients with LAM frequently develop pulmonary barotrauma and pneumothoracies. This patient, however, had undergone prior bilateral talc pleuradesis as treatment for recurrent pneumothoracies and, thus, could not manifest this complication of barotrauma. This case illustrates the uncommon occurrence of superior dissection of air after pulmonary barotrauma.
Restenosis after multilesion percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

Abstract Experience and new technical advances have resulted in an increasing number of patients with multivessel coronary disease who can be considered for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). In selected patients with multivessel coronary disease, PTCA is a safe and effective procedure for the immediate relief of anginal symptoms. However, many questions remain regarding the long-term therapeutic benefit of the procedure. Few data are available on the incidence and clinical significance of restenosis after multilesion PTCA. Clearly, there is the potential for a higher rate of restenosis in patients who undergo dilatation of more than 1 lesion. Determination of restenosis rates after multilesion PTCA is important in the definition of expanded indications for this procedure. Because of the variations in definitions of restenosis and in patient selection factors, reported recurrence rates after multilesion PTCA are not easily compared between patient series. After multilesion dilatation the risk of developing at least 1 recurrent lesion ranges from 26% to 53% and appears to be greater than that reported for single lesion PTCA. Multilesion restenosis occurs in 7% to 21% of patients who undergo multilesion PTCA and is frequently observed in patients with recurrent symptoms. “Silent” multilesion restenosis (i.e., multiple lesion restenosis without symptoms) is rare. A higher risk of restenosis at one of several dilatation sites in a patient with extensive coronary disease should not be a deterrent in recommending multilesion PTCA to selected patients with multivessel coronary disease because the procedure provides important symptomatic relief to most. Further, recurrent narrowings are usually amenable to a second dilatation attempt if clinically indicated.
Emerging Roles for the Transforming Growth Factor-β Superfamily in Regulating Adiposity and Energy Expenditure

Members of the TGF-β superfamily regulate many aspects of development, including adipogenesis. Studies in cells and animal models have characterized the effects of superfamily signaling on adipocyte development, adiposity, and energy expenditure. Although bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 4 is generally considered a protein that promotes the differentiation of white adipocytes, BMP7 has emerged as a selective regulator of brown adipogenesis. Conversely, TGF-β and activin A inhibit adipocyte development, a process augmented in TGF-β-treated cells by Smads 6 and 7, negative regulators of canonical TGF-β signaling. Other superfamily members have mixed effects on adipogenesis depending on cell culture conditions, the timing of expression, and the cell type, and many of these effects occur by altering the expression or activities of proteins that control the adipogenic cascade, including members of the CCAAT/enhancer binding protein family and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ. BMP7, growth differentiation factor (GDF) 8, and GDF3 are versatile in their mechanisms of action, and altering their normal expression characteristics has significant effects on adiposity in vivo. In addition to their roles in adipogenesis, activins and BMP7 regulate energy expenditure by affecting the expression of genes that contribute to mitochondrial biogenesis and function. GDF8 signals through its own receptors during adipogenesis while antagonizing BMP7, an example of a ligand from one major branch of the superfamily regulating the other. With such intricate relationships that ultimately affect adiposity, TGF-β superfamily signaling holds considerable promise as a target for treating human obesity and its comorbidities.
Immunohistochemical demonstration of catechol-o-methyltransferase in mammalian brain.

Summary Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) (EC 2.1.1.6) was localized using fluorescence immunohistochemistry in rat liver and kidney and in rat, chinchilla, and bovine brains. In the brain, specific fluorescence was visable only in non-neuronal cellular elements in all three species. Ventricular ependymal cells and cells of the choroid plexuses exhibited the greatest intensity of immunofluorescence. Glial immunofluorescence appeared prominently in large myelinated fiber tracts. Interfascicular and perineuronal satellite oligodendrocytes as well as fibrous astrocytes were immunoreactive, though myelin itself did not exhibit a positive reaction. Bergmann glial cells in the cerebellum also stained brightly for COMT. Although this study indicates that the predominant localization of COMT is non-neuronal, it is important to note that the presence of small quantities of this enzyme in neurons cannot be excluded. The patterns of localization observed in the non-neuronal elements suggest that this enzyme may function as a barrier to free diffusion of catechol compounds within the central nervous system.
Measurements of Boundary Layer Profiles with In Situ Sensors and Doppler Lidar

Abstract A new in situ measurement system and lidar processing algorithms were developed for improved measurements of boundary layer profiles. The first comparisons of simultaneous Doppler lidar–derived profiles of the key turbulence statistics of the two orthogonal horizontal velocity components (longitudinal and transverse) are presented. The instrument requirements for accurate observations of stably stratified turbulence were determined. A region of stably stratified low turbulence with constant gradients of temperature and velocity was observed above the nocturnal boundary layer using high-rate sensors. The important turbulence parameters were estimated, and turbulence spectra were consistent with new theoretical descriptions of stratified turbulence. The impact of removing the larger-scale velocity features in Doppler lidar estimates of turbulent velocity variance and length scales was investigated. The Doppler lidar–derived estimates of energy dissipation rate ϵ were found to be insensitive to spat...
An Improved Method for the Purification of Vertebrate Prolyl Hydroxylase by Affinity Chromatography

Prolyl hydroxylase was purified from extracts of 13-day old chick embryos by an improved affinity column technique. Prolyl hydroxylase was released from the affinity column by poly-L-proline and was separated from the other proteins and from the poly-L-proline by ion exchange chromatography. This improvement allowed eluates from up to six affinity columns to be pooled and chromatographed in a single step. Furthermore, a major contaminating protein which was difficult to remove from the eluted enzyme using the previous procedure was easily separated by the ion exchange column. The overall advantage of the new technique allows much larger amounts of prolyl hydroxylase to be prepared at a single time than was previously possible.
Infinite dilution fugacity coefficients and the general behavior of dilute binary systems

A universally valid formal expression for the composition dependence of solute and solvent fugacity coefficients in any dilute binary system far from criticality is derived in this paper. In the present context, dilution denotes the y1 → O limit, regardless of the mixture's molar density. The results are independent of the system under study and of the choice of equation of state. The solute fugacity coefficient is simply the product of a composition-independent term (the infinite dilution fugacity coefficient) and an exponential decay composition correction. These two parameters have important thermodynamic implications: their temperature and pressure derivatives are related to the solute's partial molar enthalpy and volume, respectively. When applied to activity coefficients, the same theoretical analysis yields universal relationships for the composition dependence of activity coefficients which can be used as consistency checks for empirical correlations. The relationship between infinite dilution activity and fugacity coefficients can be used to estimate relative solubilities of a given solute in different solvents. Excellent agreement is found when the theoretical expressions are tested with three different binary systems involving a nonvolatile solid solute and a supercritical fluid.
Tumor antigen-specific CD8 T cells infiltrating the tumor express high levels of PD-1 and are functionally impaired.

Tumor antigen–specific T cells are found within melanomas, yet tumors continue to grow. Although the tumor microenvironment is thought to influence the suppression of tumor-reactive T cells, the underlying mechanisms for this T-cell dysfunction are not clear. Here, we report that the majority of tumor infiltrating T lymphocytes (TIL), including MART-1/Melan-A melanoma antigen–specific CD8 T cells, predominantly expressed PD-1, in contrast to T cells in normal tissues and peripheral blood T lymphocytes (PBL). PD-1+ TIL expressed CTLA-4 and Ki-67, markers that were not expressed by PD-1− TIL and T cells in the normal tissues and PBL. Moreover, PD-1+ TIL were primarily HLA-DR+ and CD127−, in contrast to PD-1− TIL. Effector cytokine production by PD-1+ TIL was impaired compared with PD-1− TIL and PBL. Collectively, the phenotypic and functional characterizations of TIL revealed a significantly higher frequency and level of PD-1 expression on TIL compared with normal tissue T-cell infiltrates and PBL, and PD-1 expression correlated with an exhausted phenotype and impaired effector function. These findings suggest that the tumor microenvironment can lead to up-regulation of PD-1 on tumor-reactive T cells and contribute to impaired antitumor immune responses.
Differential Aspects of Locus of Control and Attitudes Towards Death.

The relationship between locus of control and death anxiety was investigated in a sample of 99 college students. The results indicate a significant relationship between an external locus of control and concern about death. In addition, there is a specific differential patterning between various dimensions of locus of control and death anxiety items. No sex differences were found for death anxiety, but significant sex differences were found on four of the seven locus of control dimensions.
Laser Induced Controlled Nucleation and Growth Process For Large Grained Polycrystalline Silicon

Research on a new process is described which utilized a laser to achieve controlled crystallization of amorphous Si thinfilms for photovoltaic applications. Amorphous Si films are deposited on suitable substrates using RF sputtering. A laser is used to inoculate these films with crystalline embryos at specific locations. These embryos should then grow in a controlled atmosphere annealing furnace under conditions optimized to maintain the nucleation rate at zero and the transformation rate (from amorphous to crystalline silicon) at a maximum value. The result will be a polycrystalline silicon film with a large grain size to film thickness ratio, where the ultimate grain size will be determined by the laser inoculation spacing.
The role of L-arginine in hypertension and nephrotoxicity

The L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway appears to play an important role in systemic hypertension, progressive renal disease, nephrotoxicity (lead poisoning), inflammation and atherosclerosis. Interactions of nitric oxide with other systems (renin-angiotensin, endothelins, eicosanoids, cytokines and other regulators of inflammation) have been described. These interactions may be important in disease states.
Exploring ribozyme conformational changes with X-ray crystallography.

Abstract Relating three-dimensional fold to function is a central challenge in RNA structural biology. Toward this goal, X-ray crystallography has long been considered the “gold standard” for structure determinations at atomic resolution, although NMR spectroscopy has become a powerhouse in this arena as well. In the area of dynamics, NMR remains the dominant technique to probe the magnitude and timescales of molecular motion. Although the latter area remains largely unassailable by conventional crystallographic methods, inroads have been made on proteins using Laue radiation on timescales of ms to ns. Proposed ‘fourth generation’ radiation sources, such as free-electron X-ray lasers, promise ps- to fs-timescale resolution, and credible evidence is emerging that supports the feasibility of single molecule imaging. At present however, the preponderance of RNA structural information has been derived from timescale and motion insensitive crystallographic techniques. Importantly, developments in computing, automation and high-flux synchrotron sources have propelled the rapidity of ‘conventional’ RNA crystal structure determinations to timeframes of hours once a suitable set of phases is obtained. With a sufficient number of crystal structures, it is possible to create a structural ensemble that can provide insight into global and local molecular motion characteristics that are relevant to biological function. Here we describe techniques to explore conformational changes in the hairpin ribozyme, a representative non-protein-coding RNA catalyst. The approaches discussed include: (i) construct choice and design using prior knowledge to improve X-ray diffraction; (ii) recognition of long-range conformational changes and (iii) use of single-base or single-atom changes to create ensembles. The methods are broadly applicable to other RNA systems.