cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The rectification of an electrical synapse can change the functional output of a pattern- generating circuit

Electrical synapses are known to promote synchrony and speed in neuronal systems. However, other studies have found that electrical synapses can have the opposite effect by desynchronizing network neurons. Although they are mechanistically simple, electrical synapses can have unintuitive effects on neuronal network activity. The present study aims to further our understanding of electrical synapses by exploring their rectification in a neuronal circuit model. Rectification is the asymmetrical passage of current through a gap junction between two neurons and it is often likened to a diode in an electrical circuit. Rectifying electrical synapses have been shown to support specialized functions in several biological preparations [1]. We investigate how rectification affects the functional output of a 5-cell, pattern-generating, model network and its sensitivity to synaptic modulation. The circuit is composed of heterogeneous neurons with different intrinsic oscillation frequencies. Neurons were modeled as Morris-Lecar [2] neurons modified by a hyperpolarization-activated current as in a previous study [3]. We find that circuit output depends on the polarity and placement of the rectifying electrical synapse and the intrinsic properties of the neurons on either side of it (Figure 1). Furthermore, using the parameterscape visualization method [3], we find that rectification can affect the circuit’s sensitivity to modulation of synaptic strength including modulation of chemical synapse strength. This
New local duals in eternal inflation

Global-local duality is the equivalence of seemingly different regulators in eternal inflation. For example, the light-cone time cutoff (a global measure, which regulates time) makes the same predictions as the causal patch (a local measure that cuts off space). We show that global-local duality is far more general. It rests on a redundancy inherent in any global cutoff: at late times, an attractor regime is reached, characterized by the unlimited exponential self-reproduction of a certain fundamental region of spacetime. An equivalent local cutoff can be obtained by restricting to this fundamental region. We derive local duals to several global cutoffs of interest. The new scale factor cutoff is dual to the short fat geodesic, a geodesic of fixed infinitesimal proper width. Vilenkin's comoving apparent horizon cutoff is equivalent to the Hubbletube, whose width is proportional to the local Hubble volume. The famous youngness problem of the proper time cutoff can be readily understood by considering its local dual, the incredible shrinking geodesic.
Control of the pheromone biosynthetic pathway in Helicoverpa zea by the pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide

Hormonal control of the production of the main sex pheromone component, Z11-hexadecenal (Z11-16:Ald), of female Helicoverpa zea was investigated using labeled precursors to monitor the pheromone biosynthetic pathway. The pathway originates with the biosynthesis of palmitic acid followed by δ11 desaturation to form the intermediate Z11-16:Acid, which is then reduced to a primary alcohol and then oxidized to Z11-16:Ald. Incubation of glands either in vivo or in an isolated gland culture with the deuterium labeled compounds, D3-16:Acid or D9-Z11-16:Acid, yielded no differences in label incorporation into pheromone in the presence or absence of synthetic PBAN (Pheromone biosynthesis activity neuropeptide). However, unlabeled pheromone titers increased about tenfold above controls in the presence of PBAN in both in vivo and in vitro cultures. When isolated glands were incubated with [1-14C]acetate, about a thirtyfold increase in the incorporation of radiolabel into Z11-16:Ald above controls was observed in the presence of PBAN. Also, about a tenfold increase in incorporation was observed in saturated and monounstaturated fatty acids found in the gland upon stimulation with PBAN. These results indicate that the hormone PBAN controls pheromone biosynthesis in H. zea by regulating a step in or prior to fatty acid biosynthesis.
The cortical organization of speech processing: Feedback control and predictive coding the context of a dual-stream model

Speech recognition is an active process that involves some form of predictive coding. This statement is relatively uncontroversial. What is less clear is the source of the prediction. The dual-stream model of speech processing suggests that there are two possible sources of predictive coding in speech perception: the motor speech system and the lexical-conceptual system. Here I provide an overview of the dual-stream model of speech processing and then discuss evidence concerning the source of predictive coding during speech recognition. I conclude that, in contrast to recent theoretical trends, the dorsal sensory-motor stream is not a source of forward prediction that can facilitate speech recognition. Rather, it is forward prediction coming out of the ventral stream that serves this function.
Comments on two recent deconvolution methods.

In a recent paper Vajda et al. presented a deconvolution method based on the assumptions that the response of a system and the input function to a system are described by first- order linear processes. The method is similar to one proposed by Veng- Pedersen, and obtains similar results. In this article a simpler, not new, and now generally available method for this special use is considered to point out potential risks associated with all three deconvolution methods.
Second-generation replication-competent oncolytic adenovirus armed with improved suicide genes and ADP gene demonstrates greater efficacy without increased toxicity.

Replication-competent adenovirus-mediated suicide gene therapy has proven to be safe in humans when delivered intraprostatically. Although signs of efficacy are emerging, it is likely that further improvements will be needed before this technology will have widespread applicability in the clinic. Toward this end, we have developed a second-generation, replication-competent adenovirus (Ad5-yCD/mutTKSR39rep-ADP) containing an improved yeast cytosine deaminase (yCD)/mutantSR39 herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase fusion (yCD/mutTKSR39) gene and the adenovirus death protein (ADP) gene. Relative to the first-generation Ad5-CD/TKrep adenovirus, Ad5-yCD/mutTKSR39rep-ADP demonstrated greater tumor cell kill in vitro and significantly greater tumor control in preclinical models of human cancer. Quantification of transgene volume following direct injection of fadenovirus into human tumor xenografts and the naive canine prostate demonstrated that ADP enhanced adenoviral spread in vivo. Toxicology studies were performed to determine whether the improved yCD/mutTKSR39 fusion and ADP genes increased toxicity. Intraprostatic injection of Ad5-yCD/mutTKSR39rep-ADP did not result in significantly increased toxicity relative to the parental Ad5-CD/TKrep adenovirus, the latter of which has proven to be safe in two Phase I prostate cancer clinical trials. Together, these results provide the scientific basis for evaluating the safety and efficacy of the second-generation Ad5-yCD/mutTKSR39rep-ADP adenovirus in humans.
Dicyandiamide precipitation in epoxy solutions and latex dispersions: threshold concentration analysis using a two-stage drying model

Abstract We examined drying in solventborne and waterborne latex impregnating resins using gravimetric methods, focusing on the precipitation of dicyandiamide (DICY) curing agent during coalescence, in neat resin films and glass-reinforced composites. A two-stage drying model was applied to the drying data yielding a threshold concentration for DICY surface segregation in latex epoxy to be between 3 and 4.5 wt%. Faster drying kinetics correlated with reduced surface DICY segregation. Drying model results show the rapid coalescence of both a ‘skin’ layer in the drying latex and trapped DICY within the lattice before its conveyance to the surface by percolating water. The presence of dispersed obstructions led to deviations from the latex drying model, particularly at higher DICY concentrations as more DICY crystallized.
The effect of age on gene expression in adult and juvenile rats following femoral fracture.

ObjectiveTo compare mRNA gene expression during fracture healing in young and adult rats.DesignGene expression was measured at zero, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks after fracture (6 rats/age/time point) in rats at 6 and 26 weeks of age at surgery.SettingAAALAC-accredited vivarium of an independent acade
Spectral theory for a differential operator: characteristic determinant and Green's function

Abstract For a two-point differential operator L in L2[a, b], it is shown that the Green's function has the representation G(t, s; λ) = H(t, s; λ) D(λ) for λ belonging to the resolvent set θ(L), where D(λ) is the characteristic determinant and H(t, s; λ) is an entire function in the λ variable admitting a power series expansion about any point λ0∈ C . This representation is given several applications: first, to calculate the coefficient operators in the Laurent series for the resolvent Rλ(L) about each point λ0 in the spectrum σ(L), and second, to relate the algebraic multiplicity v(λ0) of an eigenvalue λ0 to the ascent m0 of the operator λ0I − L.
Behavior Analysis in Curriculum Design: A Hierarchically Sequenced Introductory Mathematics Curriculum

A method of systematic task analysis is applied to the problem of designing a sequence of learning objectives that will provide an optimal match for the child's natural sequence of acquisition of mathematical skills and concepts. The authors begin by proposing an operational definition of the number concept in the form of a set of behaviors which, taken together, permit the inference that the child has an abstract concept of “number”. These are the “objectives” of the curriculum. Each behavior in the defining set is then subjected to an analysis that identifies hypothesized components of skilled performance and prerequisites for learning these components. On the basis of these analyses, specific sequences of learning objectives are proposed. The proposed sequences are hypothesized to be those that will best facilitate learning, by maximizing transfer from earlier to later objectives. Relevant literature on early learning and cognitive development is considered in conjunction with the analyses and the resulting sequences. The paper concludes with a discussion of the ways in which the curriculum can be implemented and studied in schools. Examples of data on individual children are presented, and the use of such data for improving the curriculum itself, as well as for examining the effects of other treatment variables, is considered.
Hypnotherapy: A Possible Alternative for Treating Pupils Affected with Attention Deficit Disorder

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the effectiveness of hypnotherapy in treating attention-deficit-hyperactivity by certified psychologist and physicians. The 7 boys and 4 girls were enrolled in a Special Day classroom for hyperkinesis and behavior problems and were being given methylphenidate (Ritalin). Three attempts were made to hypnotize these subjects; however, the group had to be reduced from 11 to 3 and finally, from 3 to a single child to be successful. A significant improvement from pre- and post-hypnotic sessions was noted.
Measurements of Elastic Moduli of Silicone Gel Substrates with a Microfluidic Device

Thin layers of gels with mechanical properties mimicking animal tissues are widely used to study the rigidity sensing of adherent animal cells and to measure forces applied by cells to their substrate with traction force microscopy. The gels are usually based on polyacrylamide and their elastic modulus is measured with an atomic force microscope (AFM). Here we present a simple microfluidic device that generates high shear stresses in a laminar flow above a gel-coated substrate and apply the device to gels with elastic moduli in a range from 0.4 to 300 kPa that are all prepared by mixing two components of a transparent commercial silicone Sylgard 184. The elastic modulus is measured by tracking beads on the gel surface under a wide-field fluorescence microscope without any other specialized equipment. The measurements have small and simple to estimate errors and their results are confirmed by conventional tensile tests. A master curve is obtained relating the mixing ratios of the two components of Sylgard 184 with the resulting elastic moduli of the gels. The rigidity of the silicone gels is less susceptible to effects from drying, swelling, and aging than polyacrylamide gels and can be easily coated with fluorescent tracer particles and with molecules promoting cellular adhesion. This work can lead to broader use of silicone gels in the cell biology laboratory and to improved repeatability and accuracy of cell traction force microscopy and rigidity sensing experiments.
Surface lipids of Drosophila melanogaster: comparison of the lipids from female and male wild type and sex-linked yellow mutant

Abstract The lipid components of the cuticle of both male and female wild type and yellow mutant fruit flies, Drosophila melanogaster, were analyzed and compared. Major types of components found in hexane extracts of males included hydrocarbons, cis- vaccenyl acetate, acylglycerols, and free fatty acids. Cis- vaccenyl acetate was present in extracts from male insects, but was recovered in very small amounts from females. The major types of hydrocarbons present in both male and female insects include n- alkanes , alkenes, alkadienes, and 2-methylalkanes. No qualitative differences were observed in the hydrocarbons from male and female insects. Quantitative differences were noted. From the hydrocarbons of yellow mutant males where there is greater 23-carbon alkane, 23-carbon alkenes and 25-carbon alkenes than from the hydrocarbons of yellow mutant females. The hydrocarbons from yellow mutant females show greater 27- and 29-carbon alkane and alkenes.
Forming Analysis of AZ31 Magnesium Alloy Sheets by Means of a Multistep Inverse Approach

This article applies a multistep inverse approach to predict the forming of AZ31 magnesium alloy sheets. A finite element code was developed that implements the inverse approach formulation for the forming analysis. This inverse approach uses the deformation theory of plasticity and assumes that the deformation is independent of the loading history for each intermediate configuration. Failure during forming is predicted by a stress-based criterion or a forming limit diagram-based criterion. The inverse analysis predictions have been compared with experimental results found in the literature and incremental analysis using ABAQUS. The multistep inverse analysis has been shown to very quickly and fairly accurately predict stress, plastic strain, thickness distributions and failure locations on deeply drawn parts made of AZ31 magnesium alloy. The capability of INAPH to predict the formability of magnesium alloys has also been demonstrated at various temperatures. As magnesium alloys possess very limited formability at room temperature, and their formability becomes better at higher temperatures (>100 °C), the inverse analysis constitutes an efficient and valuable tool to predict forming of magnesium alloy parts as a function of temperature. In addition, other processing and design parameters such as the initial dimensions, final desired shape, blank holder forces, and friction can be quickly adjusted to assess the forming feasibility.
Research and information needs related to nonpoint source pollution and wetlands in the watershed: An EPA perspective

Abstract Two related Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) efforts, wetlands protection and nonpoint source pollution control, fail to fully consider landscape factors when making site-specific decisions. This paper discusses the relationship of the two programs and the use of created and natural wetlands to treat nonpoint source (NPS) pollution. Recommendations to improve the programs include increased technical transfer of existing information, and more research on construction methods and siting of created wetlands to effectively manage NPS pollution. Additional research is also needed to determine (1) the maximum pollutant loading rates to assure the biological integrity of wetlands, (2) the effectiveness of current land-use practices in protecting habitat and water quality functions, (3) wetland functions as pollutant sinks, (4) NPS pollution threats to wildlife, (5) practical watershed models, and (6) indicators and reference sites for monitoring wetland condition. Model watershed demonstrations, jointly implemented by the research and conservation communities, are recommended as a means of integrating research results.
A new penumbra: transitioning from injury into repair after stroke

The penumbra is an area of brain tissue that is damaged but not yet dead after focal ischemia. The existence of a penumbra implies that therapeutic salvage is theoretically possible after stroke. The first decade of penumbral science investigated the ischemic regulation of electrophysiology, cerebral blood flow and metabolism. The second decade advanced our understanding of molecular mechanisms that mediate penumbral cell death. And the third decade saw the rapid development of clinical neuroimaging tools that are now increasingly applied in stroke patients. But how can we look ahead as we move into the fourth decade of penumbra research? This author speculates that a paradigm shift is needed. Most molecular targets for therapy have biphasic roles in stroke pathophysiology. During the acute phase, these targets mediate injury. During the recovery phase, the same mediators contribute to neurovascular remodeling. It is this boundary zone that comprises the new penumbra, and future investigations should dissect where, when and how damaged brain makes the transition from injury into repair.
Heparin-induced platelet aggregation. II. Dose/response relationships for two low molecular weight heparin fractions (CY 216 and CY 222)

We have previously shown that unmodified heparin (bovine lung or porcine mucosal) and a low molecular weight heparin fraction, PK 10169, cause platelet aggregation in a dose and molecular weight-dependent manner. In this report, we show that two other low molecular weight heparin fractions, CY 216 and CY 222, also cause platelet aggregation in a dose and molecular weight-dependent manner. Utilizing heparin and defined fractions of CY 216 and CY 222 separated on the basis of molecular weight, we determined dose/response (D/R) relationships for each of these agents and their individual fractions. In comparison to an unmodified porcine mucosal heparin, CY 216 yielded a D/R curve that was shifted down and to the right, indicating that this agent is less potent in causing platelet aggregation. The D/R curve for CY 222, which has a lower molecular weight that CY 216, was shifted further down and to the right, indicating that it was less potent than CY 216. The D/R curves obtained with the fractions of CY 216 and CY 222 demonstrate that as the molecular weight of the fractions decrease, they become progressively less potent in causing platelet aggregation. Fractions with molecular weights of less than approximately 3,000 daltons are essentially without activity in causing platelet aggregation. Platelet aggregation studies with CY 216 and CY 222 fractions separated on the basis of affinity for antithrombin III (AT III) indicate that the platelet aggregating activity of these agents may not be related to their affinity for AT III. However, these latter results are not conclusive and need to be expanded.
A model for length control of flagellar hooks of Salmonella typhimurium

We present a mathematical model for the growth and length regulation of the hook component of the flagellar motor of Salmonella typhimurium. Under the assumption that the molecular constituents are translocated into the nascent filament by an ATP-ase and then move by molecular diffusion to the growing end, where they polymerize into the growing tube, we find that there is a detectable transition from secretion limited growth to diffusion limited growth. We propose that this transition can be detected by the secretant FliK, allowing FliK to interact with FlhB thereby changing the secretion target of the type III secretion machinery and terminating the growth of the hook.
Parenting and Ninth Graders’ Self‐Efficacy and Relational Self‐Esteem in Latino Immigrant Families

The purpose of this study was to examine whether Latino adolescents’ perceptions of maternal and paternal behaviors (support, psychological control) were related to their general self-efficacy and relational self-esteem. Self-report surveys were collected from 662 Latino ninth graders from three public high schools in Los Angeles. The results were consistent with the looking glass self and self-efficacy theory. The results showed that perceived supportive behaviors from mothers and fathers were significantly and positively related to boys’ and girls’ general self-efficacy and relational self-esteem, while perceived psychologically controlling behaviors from mothers and fathers were significantly and negatively related to general self-efficacy. Extension educators and human service professionals serving Latino families should encourage supportive parenting behaviors, caution against the use of psychological control, help Latino youth recognize supportive behaviors by parents, and teach Latino youth strategies to buffer themselves from the impact of parents’ psychological control.
Spontaneous migrating motor complexes occur in both the terminal ileum and colon of the C57BL/6 mouse in vitro

We have studied migrating motor complexes (MMCs) in the isolated terminal ileum or colon (IMMCs and CMMCs respectively) of the C57BL/6 mouse. Periodic contractions occurred spontaneously in both preparations in the absence of intraluminal stimulation. After an initial period, complexes became synchronized between the oral and anal ends of the tissue, and could be observed for in excess of 7 h. The propagation velocity was 3.1+/-1.0 and 3.9+/-0.6 mm s(-1) in the ileum and colon respectively. IMMCs occurred every 6.01+/-0.39 min and had a duration of 86.3+/-10.4 s. The interval between CMMCs was smaller (3.52+/-0.31 min) and contractions were shorter in duration (30.7+/-3.6 s). In both preparations, these motor events were dependent on cholinergic transmission: blocked by hexamethonium (500 microM) and attenuated or blocked by atropine (1 microM). This study is the first demonstration of spontaneous migrating contractions in the isolated ileum or colon of the C57BL/6 mouse, the strain of choice for neurological transgenic and targeted mice.
Change in urethral sphincter neuromuscular function during pregnancy persists after delivery

Objective The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of pregnancy and first vaginal delivery on urethral striated sphincter neuromuscular function. Study Design Quantitative electromyographic (EMG) interference pattern analysis of the urethral sphincter of 23 nulligravidas and 31 third trimester primigravidas allowed comparison of mean motor unit parameters before term vaginal delivery and postpartum. Results Mean electromyographic interference pattern parameters in the primigravidas were significantly lower than nulligravidas even antepartum, with decreased turns, lower amplitude, and less activity. The only significant change at 6 months' postpartum was further decline in number of turns resulting in a further decrease in turns:amplitude. All other electromyographic abnormalities persisted at 6 months' postpartum and remained abnormal compared to the nulligravidas. Conclusion Urethral sphincter neuromuscular function changed significantly during pregnancy and these changes persisted postpartum. Lack of recovery 6 months' postpartum suggests a physiologic impact of pregnancy itself on future risk of urinary incontinence.
Multimarket Competition, Consumer Search, and the Organizational Structure of Multiunit Firms

This research explores how market competition influences a firm's optimal organizational structure. For this purpose, a computational model of competing multiunit firms is developed in which unit managers and corporate staff continually search for better practices, while consumers search among units to find a better match. Organizational structure impacts both the practices at the unit level and the extent of knowledge transfer. An increasing returns mechanism is identified, which results in the relative performance of the centralized form being greater when competition is more intense.
Surgical management of PCL injuries: indications, techniques, and outcomes

The ideal treatment for posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries is controversial and remains an active area of orthopedic research. The indications for surgery and the ideal method of reconstruction continue to be evaluated in biomechanical and clinical studies. Recent research has provided information on the anatomy and biomechanics of the PCL, and the merits and drawbacks of the transtibial compared with the tibial inlay technique, the use of single vs double-bundle reconstruction, and different graft options for reconstruction. This review discusses important factors in the surgical treatment of PCL injuries, with attention to the most current literature on these topics.
Efficient buffering for concurrent disk and tape I/O

Abstract Tertiary storage is becoming increasingly important for many organizations involved in large-scale data analysis and data mining activities. Yet database management systems (DBMS) and other data-intensive systems do not incorporate tertiary storage as a first-class citizen in the storage hierarchy. For instance, the typical solution for bringing tertiary-resident data under the control of a DBMS is to use operating system facilities to copy the data to secondary storage, and then to perform query optimization and execution as if the data had been in secondary storage all along. This approach fails to recognize the opportunities for saving execution time and storage space if the data were accessed on tertiary devices directly and in parallel with other I/Os. In this paper we examine issues in accessing secondary and tertiary storage in parallel and suggest buffering mechanisms for increasing the throughput of applications with concurrent, intensive I/O requirements. We first identify several factors that determine the parallel I/O performance of secondary and tertiary storage devices. We discuss the performance characteristics of magnetic disks and magnetic tapes when used alone and when used concurrently, sharing the same I/O bus. We then describe alternative buffering schemes for parallel I/O and analyze their efficiency via an experimental implementation.
Neurocognitive mechanisms of fear conditioning and vulnerability to anxiety.

Although anxiety disorders are the most common of psychiatric diseases with 28% life prevalence (Kessler et al., 2005), the etiology and neurobehavioral mechanisms underlying anxiety are not fully understood. Anxiety has commonly been separated into dimensions of state and trait anxiety (Freud, 1924; Spielberger, 1966). State anxiety constitutes the transitory negative emotions elicited by a stressor whereas trait anxiety refers to the predisposition to react negatively to stressful situations. Twin studies suggest both genetic and environmental contributions to trait anxiety (Lau et al., 2006). In addition, investigations have begun to demonstrate the role of genetic factors in fear conditioning in humans (Hettema et al., 2003; Lonsdorf et al., 2009), suggesting that genetic influences might determine how we learn from stressful experiences. The idea that fear conditioning provides an explanation for the acquisition of anxiety disorders has a long and storied history in psychological science (e.g., Pavlov, 1927; Mineka and Zinbarg, 2006). In the classic view, the evolutionarily adaptive capacity to defensively respond to learned threats can lead to maladaptive behavior. For instance, an anxious individual may learn that a stimulus or situation is threatening, which may then lead to pathological reactions (e.g., phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder). Understanding how humans control learned fear can provide more effective clinical treatments and has spurred numerous investigations into the brain mechanisms underlying fear regulation.
Are moderate parties rewarded in multiparty systems? A pooled analysis of Western European elections, 1984–1998

We present cross-national analyses - both cross-sectional and longitudinal - esti- mating the vote shares for approximately 80 parties across Western Europe from 1984 to 1998. The results indicate that parties' vote shares increase with their proximity to the centre of the voter distribution, although the effects are relatively small. These findings corrobo- rate the theoretical results reported by Lin et al. in their article 'Equilibrium in Multican- didate Probabilistic Spatial Voting' (Public Choice, Vol. 98, pp. 59-82), and provide support for conclusions reported by other authors who rely on simulations of individual-level data from national election surveys.
Isolation of single-walled carbon nanotube enantiomers by density differentiation

Current methods of synthesizing single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) result in racemic mixtures that have impeded the study of left- and right-handed SWNTs. Here we present a method of isolating different SWNT enantiomers using density gradient ultracentrifugation. Enantiomer separation is enabled by the chiral surfactant sodium cholate, which discriminates between left- and right-handed SWNTs and thus induces subtle differences in their buoyant densities. This sorting strategy can be employed for simultaneous enrichment by handedness and roll-up vector of SWNTs having diameters ranging from 0.7 to 1.5 nm. In addition, circular dichroism of enantiomer refined samples enables identification of high-energy optical transitions in SWNTs.
p21 (WAF1/CIP1) Protein Expression Is Associated with Prolonged Survival but Not with p53 Expression in Epithelial Ovarian Carcinoma

Abstract Objective. The objective of this study was to clarify the influence of p21 protein expression in ovarian cancer. p21 (WAF1 [wild-type p53 activated fragment 1]/CIP1) is a universal cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor and can be induced as a downstream effector of the p53 tumor suppressor gene. Methods. The expression of p21 was evaluated by immunohistochemical analysis with the monoclonal antibody WAF1 (Oncogene Science) on 106 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples of epithelial ovarian cancer. Results. p21 was expressed in 65 (61%) of all cases. p21 expression was associated with early stage in FIGO classification (FIGO I and II, P = 0.003) and no tumor residues after primary tumor resection ( P = 0.018). Immunohistochemical staining results were judged as negative if no tumor nuclei were stained, as weak positive if 1–49% were stained, and as strong positive if over 50% of nuclei were stained. Clinical follow-up showed a better overall survival for cases with strong p21 expression (79 months) versus 40 months for weak expression and 30 months for no expression ( P = 0.033). Previously determined p53 expression of this cohort was compared with p21 status. p53 overexpression was observed in 49 cases (48%) and showed no association with p21 expression. Conclusion. No correlation was found between p21 and p53 expression. p21 expression is a significant prognostic marker for improved survival in ovarian cancer and is associated with early FIGO stage and zero tumor residues after primary tumor resection.
In-plane orientation control of (001)YBa2Cu3O7-δ grown on (001)MgO by pulsed organometallic beam epitaxy

Thin films of (001) YBCO are grown on epitaxially polished (001) MgO by pulsed organometallic beam epitaxy. The in‐plane orientation of the film is controlled by the thickness of a BaO layer, grown in situ, prior to the YBCO growth. For thin BaO layers (<≊7×1014 Ba/cm2) the films grown [110]YBCO∥[100]MgO. For thick BaO layers (≳≊11×1014 Ba/cm2) the films grow [100]YBCO∥[100]MgO. A mechanism that relates the change in YBCO in‐plane orientation to a change in the structure of the initial BaO layers with BaO thickness is described.
"The Party" Role Playing to Enhance Multicultural Understanding

(1994). “The Party”: Role Playing to Enhance Multicultural Understanding. College Teaching: Vol. 42, No. 3, pp. 109-110.
Chemical lonization mass spectrometry of wax esters

Chemical ionization (CI) mass spectra of long-chain saturated, monenoic and dienoic wax ester analogues, using isobutane and methane as reagent gases, are reported and compared. Because less fragmentation occurs, CI spectra are simpler than the electron impact spectra. The quasi molecular ion (M+1) is the base peak in the spectra. Saturated, monenoic and dienoic wax ester mixtures have been analyzed by this technique.
The effect of ex vivo refrigerated storage and cell preservation solution (Cyto-Chex II) on CD11b expression and oxidative burst activity of dog neutrophils.

The expression of CD11b and oxidative burst activity of dog neutrophils undergoing ex vivo refrigerated storage was studied using flow-cytometry . Additionally, the effect of a proprietary cell stabilization reagent (Cyto-Chex) on the expression of CD11b and oxidative burst activity was studied. Expression of CD11b was very high (>90% positive) on dog neutr ophils isolated from peripheral blood. Dog neutrophils showed a rapid and sustained increase in CD11b antigen density (P<0.01) during refrigerated storage, this increase was prevented by treatment with Cyto-Chex but was not completely blocked on the first day. There were no significant differences in mean antigen density between any days in the non-preserved group or between Days 1 to 4 in the Cyto-Chex treated group. The non-treated group showed significantly greater mean antigen density at all time points when compared to the preservative treated group (P<0.0001). Treatment with Cyto-Chex did not interfere with measurement of oxidative burst function on the first 2 days. Alterations of both resting oxidative activity and stimulated response were observed over time in both treated and untreated blood samples. Cyto-Chex treated samples showed a dramatic, significant decline in stimulated response after the third day of storage (P<0.001), while non-treated cells showed steadily increasing, but non-significant differences in stimulated response. Cyto-Chex was demonstrated to be a useful reagent for stabilization of dog neutrophil membrane antigens during storage, however this reagent is not recommended for preservation of cells for functional assays.
New Therapeutics in C1INH Deficiency: A Review of Recent Studies and Advances

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a genetic condition causing a significant burden of illness for affected individuals. Episodes of angioedema involving the skin, gastrointestinal tract, as well as the larynx and oropharynx are often unpredictable and cause significant morbidity and mortality. Isolation of the underlying protein deficiency, specifically the serine protease C1 inhibitor, and further description of its role in multiple physiologic cascades has led to the development of several specific therapies for HAE. This report provides a brief overview of HAE but focuses primarily on reviewing recently published clinical studies of therapeutics developed for medical management of the condition.
Simplified technic for preparing blood group specific substance A.

SummaryA method for preparing blood group specific substance A from Difco neo-peptone by the Folin-Wu technic is described and comparisons with other preparations are made. The method is simple and the product obtained compares favorably in purity and potency with products obtained by other methods.
Image reconstruction for 3D light microscopy with a regularized linear method incorporating a smoothness prior

We have shown that the linear least-squares (LLS) estimate of the intensities of a 3-D object obtained from a set of optical sections is unstable due to the inversion of small and zero-valued eigenvalues of the point-spread function (PSF) operator. The LLS solution was regularized by constraining it to lie in a subspace spanned by the eigenvectors corresponding to a selected number of the largest eigenvalues. In this paper we extend the regularized LLS solution to a maximum a posteriori (MAP) solution induced by a prior formed from a 'Good's like' smoothness penalty. This approach also yields a regularized linear estimator which reduces noise as well as edge artifacts in the reconstruction. The advantage of the linear MAP (LMAP) estimate over the current regularized LLS (RLLS) is its ability to regularize the inverse problem by smoothly penalizing components in the image associated with small eigenvalues. Computer simulations were performed using a theoretical PSF and a simple phantom to compare the two regularization techniques. It is shown that the reconstructions using the smoothness prior, give superior variance and bias results compared to the RLLS reconstructions. Encouraging reconstructions obtained with the LMAP method from real microscopical images of a 10 micrometers fluorescent bead, and a four-cell Volvox embryo are shown.
The New Science of Cities by Michael Batty: The Opinion of an Economist

Cities are the cradle of a wide range of cultural, social, and technological innovations that are at the heart of modern economic growth and development. Half of humanity today lives in cities but, until the last two decades, economists have paid much less attention to cities than have other social scientists. By contrast, geographers have long studied the role of cities in human affairs. Michael Batty, a distinguished scholar in the field of human geography, has recently written The New Science of Cities, a synthesis of his work and of some other prominent urban geographers. A review of his book is the first objective of this essay. The second is to discuss and compare the tools and concepts developed by urban economists with those of urban geographers in the hope of triggering a fruitful debate between those two groups of social scientists.
A prospective study of simplified omeprazole suspension for the prophylaxis of stress-related mucosal damage

Objectives To determine the efficacy, safety, and cost of simplified omeprazole suspension in mechanically ventilated critically ill patients who have at least one additional risk factor for stress-related mucosal damage.Design Prospective, open-label study.Setting Surgical intensive care and burn u
Sclerosing epithelial hamartoma.

Summary The clinical aspects and histological details of sixteen examples of an epithelial hamartoma are reported. Similar cases have previously been described as solitary trichoepithelioma. However, the histological features are distinct and warrant a separate designation. The importance of histological differential diagnosis is emphasized.
Computational identification of gene over-expression targets for metabolic engineering of taxadiene production

Taxadiene is the first dedicated intermediate in the biosynthetic pathway of the anticancer compound Taxol. Recent studies have taken advantage of heterologous hosts to produce taxadiene and other isoprenoid compounds, and such ventures now offer research opportunities that take advantage of the engineering tools associated with the surrogate host. In this study, metabolic engineering was applied in the context of over-expression targets predicted to improve taxadiene production. Identified targets included genes both within and outside of the isoprenoid precursor pathway. These targets were then tested for experimental over-expression in a heterologous Escherichia coli host designed to support isoprenoid biosynthesis. Results confirmed the computationally predicted improvements and indicated a synergy between targets within the expected isoprenoid precursor pathway and those outside this pathway. The presented algorithm is broadly applicable to other host systems and/or product choices.
Teaching Listening Strategies in the Inclusive Classroom

Many students who are at risk and those with disabilities struggle with listening. Too often, teacher training programs and basal reading series do not emphasize the importance of listening for learning and literacy. This article discusses the relationship between listening and literacy and offers listening activities that complement an existing elementary reading curriculum.
Complexity of non-adaptive optimization algorithms for a class of diffusions

This paper is concerned with the analysis of the average error in approximating the global minimum of a 1-dimensional, time-homogeneous diffusion by non-adaptive methods. We derive the limiting distribution of the suitably normalized approximation error for both random and deterministic non-adaptive approximation methods. We identify the form of the asymptotically optimal random non-adaptive approximation methods.
Forest Restoration on a Closed Landfill: Rapid Addition of New Species by Bird Dispersal

Urban areas often contain sizeable pockets of de- graded land, such as inactive landfills, that could be re- claimed as wildlife habitat and as connecting links to en- hance remnant natural areas. In the northeastern US, many such lands fail to undergo natural succession to woodland, instead retaining a weedy, herbaceous cover for many years. We hypothesize that seed dispersal is a limiting factor, and that a form of secondary succession could be stimulated by introducing clusters of trees and shrubs to attract avian seed dispersers. As a direct test, we censused a 1.5-ha experimental plantation on the Fresh Kills Landfill (Staten Island, New York) one year after installation, in search of evidence that the plantation was spreading or increasing in diversity. The 1 7planted species, many from coastal scrub forests native to this region, were surviving well but contributed almost no seedlings to the area, in part because only 20% of the in- stalled trees or shrubs were reproductive. Of the 1079 woody seedlings found, 95% came from sources outside the plan- tation; most (71%) were from fleshy-fruited, bird-dispersed plants from nearby woodland fringes. Although the restora- tion planting itself had not begun to produce seedlings, it didfunction as a site for attracting dispersers, who enriched theyoung community with*20 new species. One-fourth of all new recruits were from nine additional wind-dispersed spe- cies. Locations with a high ratio of trees to shrubs had pro- portionately more recruits, indicating that plant size con- tributed to disperser attraction. The density of new recruits of each species was dependent on distance from the nearest potential seed source. Introducing native species with the capacity to attract avian dispersers may be the key to success
Induced dipoles and dielectrophoresis of nanocolloids in electrolytes.

Electric induced dipoles of nanocolloids the size of the Debye length are shown to be one order stronger than predicted by the classical Maxwell-Wagner theory and its extensions. The difference is attributed to normal ion migration within the diffuse layer, and adsorption onto the Stern layer at the poles. The characteristic relaxation frequency (the crossover frequency for dielectrophoresis) is shown to be inversely proportional to the $RC$ time of the diffuse layer capacitance and resistance, and has an anomalous $\ensuremath{-}1$ scaling with respect to the product of the Debye length and the particle size.
Theory and Algorithm of Estimating Energy Consumption Breakdowns using ON/OFF State Sensing

This article considers a problem of periodically estimating energy consumption breakdowns for main appliances inside building using a single power meter and the knowledge of the ON/OFF states of individual appliances. In the first part of this article, we formulate the problem as a constrained convex optimization problem with tunable parameters. Then we propose an online algorithm that adaptively determines the optimization parameters to robustly estimate the breakdown information. The proposed solution is evaluated by experiment using a scaled-down proof-of-concept prototype with real measurements. In the second part, we provide detailed analysis to understand the performance of our proposed algorithm. We first develop a stochastic model to describe evolution of appliances’ ON/OFF states using continuous-time Markov chain. Then we derive analytical bounds of estimation error and the probability of a rank-deficient binary matrix. Those analytical bounds are verified by extensive simulations. Finally, we study the effect of collinearity of binary data matrix on estimation performance. Simulation results suggest that our algorithm is robust against the collinearity of binary dataset.
Civil society’s role in promoting local development in countries in transition A comparative study of the Philippines and Romania

EnglishThis article discusses civil society’s role in the process of local development undertaken by countries transitioning towards democracy, comparing and contrasting the experiences of the Phil...
Genome scale enzyme–metabolite and drug–target interaction predictions using the signature molecular descriptor

Motivation: Identifying protein enzymatic or pharmacological activities are important areas of research in biology and chemistry. Biological and chemical databases are increasingly being populated with linkages between protein sequences and chemical structures. There is now sufficient information to apply machine-learning techniques to predict interactions between chemicals and proteins at a genome scale. Current machine-learning techniques use as input either protein sequences and structures or chemical information. We propose here a method to infer protein–chemical interactions using heterogeneous input consisting of both protein sequence and chemical information. Results: Our method relies on expressing proteins and chemicals with a common cheminformatics representation. We demonstrate our approach by predicting whether proteins can catalyze reactions not present in training sets. We also predict whether a given drug can bind a target, in the absence of prior binding information for that drug and target. Such predictions cannot be made with current machine-learning techniques requiring binding information for individual reactions or individual targets. Availability and Contact: For questions, paper reprints, please contact Jean-Loup Faulon at jfaulon@sandia.gov. Additional information on the signature molecular descriptor and codes can be downloaded at: http://www.cs.sandia.gov/~jfaulon/publication-signature.html Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.