cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Association of risk factors for choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration with decreased foveolar choroidal circulation.

Purpose To investigate the relationship between known risk factors for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) progression and foveolar choroidal circulation in eyes with nonexudative AMD. Design Cross-sectional study of nonexudative AMD. Methods Laser Doppler flowmetry measurements of relative choroidal blood velocity, choroidal blood volume (ChBVol), and choroidal blood flow (ChBFlow) were obtained in the center of the fovea of 273 study eyes of 204 AMD patients investigated at the Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania Medical School. All study eyes had visual acuity of 20/40 or better, good fixation, no other intraocular pathologic features, and no evidence of choroidal neovascularization. RPE hypertrophy was determined from color fundus photographs by trained masked graders at the Scheie Image Reading Center. Correlation analysis and multivariate linear regression analysis with adjustments for significant covariates were carried out. Results A significant inverse correlation was observed between age and ChBFlow ( r = −0.36; P r = −0.28; P r = −0.21; P = .006) and ChBVol ( r = −0.14; P = .04), but not for choroidal blood velocity. ChBFlow and ChBVol were significantly lower in patients with a history of hypertension ( P ≤ .003) and in eyes with retinal pigment epithelium hypertrophy ( P ≤ .04), respectively. Conclusions All the above-described risk factors for AMD development and progression are associated with decreased choroidal circulatory parameters, suggesting that decreases in choroidal circulatory parameters may be involved in the development of AMD.
Residents' Asthma Communication Skills in Announced Versus Unannounced Standardized Patient Exercises

Objective The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that pediatric residents would display similar levels of asthma interpersonal and communication skills in announced versus unannounced adolescent standardized patient (SP) encounters. Methods We conducted a prospective repeat measures experimental study at a pediatric residency program at an inner-city children's hospital. A cohort of residents (N = 18) was subjected at random to 3 SP exercises: announced and being directly observed by faculty, announced and not observed by faculty, and unannounced and unobserved. Six adolescent SPs were trained to complete checklists that included items like asthma daytime and nighttime symptoms, exercise-induced symptoms, triggers, and asthma education. For the unannounced exercises, SPs were inserted into residents' regularly scheduled clinics. Standardized patients rated residents immediately following each exercise. Residents were rated by faculty following the observed encounter. Faculty rating validated SP ratings on the observed encounter. Differences in proportions of categorical variables were tested by chi-square analyses. Results Fifty-four resident-SP encounters were analyzed. Residents consistently displayed significantly lower levels of desired behaviors in interpersonal and communication skills in the unannounced SP encounters on 10 of 14 checklist items. For example, residents asked about exercise-induced symptoms 90% of the time in announced/observed encounters versus 95% in announced/unobserved encounters versus 72% in unannounced/unobserved encounters ( P = .001). There were no significant differences in residents' behaviors in the announced SP exercises (whether observed or unobserved). Conclusion In this study, residents demonstrated lower levels of asthma communication skills during unannounced SP exercises. By using unannounced SPs, we were able to assess residents' interpersonal and communication skills in real clinical settings.
Imaging Sarcomeres of Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis in Humans Using Minimally Invasive Microendoscopy

Sarcomeres are the smallest contractile elements of muscle. Muscle generates force when overlapping myosin and actin filaments within the sarcomere interact to generate force. The amount of force these interactions generate depends on sarcomere length. The range of sarcomere lengths over which a muscle normally operates in the body is an important factor in analyzing a muscle’s force generating capacity. Measurement of sarcomere lengths in vivo is limited by their small size (2–4 μm) and the inability to use fluorescent dyes in humans. We recently developed a microendoscopy system to image sarcomeres in humans via Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) [1]. Here we demonstrate the use of this microendoscopy system as a robust, minimally-invasive tool for biomechanical analysis by measuring sarcomere lengths of the forearm muscle extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) in 5 human subjects.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Incidental Pancreatography via ERCP in Patients with Anomalous Pancreaticobiliary Junction Does Not Result in Pancreatitis in a North American Population

Introduction Anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction (APBJ) is the term used to describe anatomical variants of pancreatic and biliary ductal junctional anatomy. Patients have junction of the pancreatic and bile ducts located outside the duodenal wall, forming a long common channel. We report our findings and clinical outcomes in a North American series of patients with APBJ undergoing ERCP.
Normal vortex interaction with a circular cylinder

Interaction of a columnar vortex with a long circular cylinder translated normal to the vortex axis is examined for the case where the cylinder diameter is much larger than the vortex core radius. The study focuses on understanding and quantifying the limitations of traditional vortex filament models arising from vortex-induced separation of the cylinder boundary layer and vortex core shape deformation. These limitations are examined over a wide range of values of the impact parameter, defined as the ratio of the ambient normal velocity past the cylinder to the maximum vortex azimuthal velocity. Filament model predictions of vortex displacement are compared to experimental data both before and after vortex-induced boundary-layer separation. Experimental data are presented showing the importance of the ambient normal velocity to the cylinder in delaying vortex-induced boundary-layer separation, so that for cases with high impact parameter the flow is governed by inviscid effects even as the vortex moves quite close to the cylinder surface. The inviscid shape deformation of the vortex core is modest in the cases examined, even for close vortex-cylinder interaction
Exploring the transcriptome space of a recombinant BHK cell line through next generation sequencing

Baby Hamster Kidney (BHK) cell lines are used in the production of veterinary vaccines and recombinant proteins. To facilitate transcriptome analysis of BHK cell lines, we embarked on an effort to sequence, assemble, and annotate transcript sequences from a recombinant BHK cell line and Syrian hamster liver and brain. RNA-seq data were supplemented with 6,170 Sanger ESTs from parental and recombinant BHK lines to generate 221,583 contigs. Annotation by homology to other species, primarily mouse, yielded more than 15,000 unique Ensembl mouse gene IDs with high coverage of KEGG canonical pathways. High coverage of enzymes and isoforms was seen for cell metabolism and N-glycosylation pathways, areas of highest interest for biopharmaceutical production. With the high sequencing depth in RNA-seq data, we set out to identify single-nucleotide variants in the transcripts. A majority of the high-confidence variants detected in both hamster tissue libraries occurred at a frequency of 50%, indicating their origin as heterozygous germline variants. In contrast, the cell line libraries' variants showed a wide range of occurrence frequency, indicating the presence of a heterogeneous population in cultured cells. The extremely high coverage of transcripts of highly abundant genes in RNA-seq enabled us to identify low-frequency variants. Experimental verification through Sanger sequencing confirmed the presence of two variants in the cDNA of a highly expressed gene in the BHK cell line. Furthermore, we detected seven potential missense mutations in the genes of the growth signaling pathways that may have arisen during the cell line derivation process. The development and characterization of a BHK reference transcriptome will facilitate future efforts to understand, monitor, and manipulate BHK cells. Our study on sequencing variants is crucial for improved understanding of the errors inherent in high-throughput sequencing and to increase the accuracy of variant calling in BHK or other systems.
Pultrusion Process Analysis Using Knowledge-Based System

This paper describes the development and validation of analytical and numerical procedures for the simulation of temperature and cure profiles for the pultrusion process. The governing equations for heat transfer and the resin cure reaction during pultrusion are presented and finite-difference procedure is developed to solve the governing equations. Then analytical and numerical procedures are integrated into the ACES (Automated Concurrent Engineering System) software environment. It is shown that the procedures are numerically stable and predict the temperature and cure profiles, which are in good agreement with those published by other researchers. This analysis leads to the prediction of the temperature and cure distribution along the length and through the thickness of the composite. The prediction of the temperature and cure distribution enables proper selection of process variables, which affects the production rate and quality of the parts.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Atmospheric trace element concentrations associated with agricultural field burning in the Willamette Valley of Oregon

Abstract The atmospheric trace element abundances associated with agricultural field burning and rural air have been measured for the Willamette Valley of western Oregon. Neutron activation analysis was used to measure the concentrations of about 26 trace elements in gross air particulate samples and samples in which the particulate had been fractionated by size. The atmospheric trace element abundances associated with field burning are shown to be due to the trace element content of the stubble being burned. The trace element concentrations do not represent a significant health hazard. The atmospheric trace elements due to field burning concentrate in the larger sized particles with diameters > 11 μm. The trace element content of Oregon rural air is shown to be very low and indicative of the nature of the “continental background” contribution to urban atmospheres.
Nucleotide sequence of a DNA fragment that contains the abi gene of the ColIb plasmid.

Abstract A 1989-bp PstI DNA fragment from the ColIb plasmid, which contains the abi gene that is necessary for the abortive response to infections by bacteriophage BF23 or T5, was sequenced. A candidate open reading frame for the abi gene has been suggested on the basis of a Shine-Dalgarno sequence appropriately placed ahead of its ATG initiation codon, a promoter upstream from the Shine-Dalgarno sequence, and a location compatible with deletion mapping. The polypeptide that would be coded by this open reading frame is 89 amino acids long and strongly hydrophobic. A promoter that could serve this open reading frame was detected by exonuclease III “footprinting” using RNA polymerase from uninfected Escherichia coli as the DNA-binding protein.
Increasing the resolution of the adult neurogenesis picture.

The birth of new neurons in the adult mammalian brain—once thought impossible—is now a well-accepted phenomenon that takes place in the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricles and the hippocampus. This review focuses on the recent work that has sharpened our views of how hippocampal newborn neurons are regulated and function. Areas of study include (a) how neurogenesis contributes to behavioral pattern separation, (b) how pattern separation may be influenced by the properties and circuitry of newborn neurons, (c) differences along the dorsal-ventral axis of how neurogenesis is regulated and functions, and (d) adult neurogenesis in primates, including new human data. These current avenues of research reveal new details of adult neurogenesis and foreshadow what we may learn about this exciting phenomenon in the near future.
Blood loss in infants and children for open heart operations: albumin 5% versus fresh-frozen plasma in the prime.

Abstract Background Infants and children undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass become substantially hemodiluted secondary to the volume used to prime the oxygenator. Fresh-frozen plasma has been included in the prime to lessen dilution of clotting factors and correspondingly minimize blood loss and transfusions. Methods We prospectively randomized 56 patients weighing 10 kg or less who required cardiopulmonary bypass to receive either one unit of fresh-frozen plasma or 200 mL of albumin 5% in the prime. After protamine administration, samples for prothrombin time, fibrinogen, platelet count, and thromboelastogram were obtained. Mediastinal chest tube drainage and transfusion requirements were documented. Results There were no significant differences between groups regarding demographic or surgical characteristics. Blood loss during the first 24 hours was similar in both groups, but total transfusions were significantly greater in those who received fresh-frozen plasma instead of albumin 5% in the prime (8.0 ± 4.2 versus 6.1 ± 4.5 U, respectively; p = 0.035). Post hoc analyses suggest that for cyanotic patients and patients undergoing complex operations, fresh-frozen plasma in the prime results in less blood loss than albumin 5%. Conclusions Substitution of albumin 5% for fresh-frozen plasma in the prime of acyanotic patients weighing 10 kg or less who undergo noncomplex operations requiring cardiopulmonary bypass significantly reduces perioperative transfusions without increasing blood loss. Further investigation is needed to determine whether increased blood loss is associated with increased transfusions when albumin 5% is substituted for fresh-frozen plasma in the prime of infants and children who are cyanotic or undergoing complex operations.
The Relation Between Childhood Proactive and Reactive Aggression and Substance Use Initiation

The current study examined whether proactive and reactive aggression were associated with the risk for initiation of substance use from fourth to ninth grade in a sample of 126 aggressive children (66% male). In addition, the study examined whether these functions of aggression increased risk for initiation via peer delinquency and peer rejection. Proactive aggression was marginally significantly directly associated with risk for initiation of alcohol use and indirectly associated with risk for initiation of marijuana and tobacco use through peer delinquency. Reactive aggression was associated with increased risk for initiation of tobacco and marijuana use through a complex chain that included both peer rejection and peer delinquency. However, high levels of reactive aggression that did not lead to peer rejection were negatively associated with risk for initiation of tobacco and marijuana use. Implications for intervention are discussed.
Philosophy: Wissenschaft or Weltanschauung? Towards a prehistory of the analytic/Continental rift

In this article I argue that new light can be shed on the analytic/Continental divide by looking at the controversy on the nature of philosophy in late 19th-century/early-20th-century Germany. The ...
Proactive Real-Time Solution for Asthma Management

In recent years there has been an increased growth in the use of smart applications to better care and manage various medical conditions. Recent studies have concluded that the daily management via an application improves Asthma control compared to manual or paper based monitoring [1]. To this effect, this research aims to study existing Asthma applications and propose a holistic approach to Asthma care and management by developing a novel Android application that provides a real-time, multi-way communication between patients and providers (healthcare, insurance, food, drug, etc.) The current state-of-art smart applications are able to aid users send information to their physicians typically via email, but, healthcare providers still need to contact patients through traditional methods (phone, email or face-to-face appointments). Our proposed multi-way communication can eliminate phone calls, emails and appointment scheduling to save time and provide real time feedback to the patients. Furthermore, providers can monitor the health status of patients remotely by checking their patient specific journal entry and set new and/or modified action plans and also uploads those to the patient's smart devices. Providers can also send notifications to patients even if the device is in sleep mode. In case of emergency patients are able to call 911 or find the nearest hospital and pharmacy via a pre-programmed one-click method. Our pilot evaluation at a nationally recognized HIMSS Stage 6 regional trauma center (> 500 beds) and its affiliated 20 partner clinical practices has confirmed that the proposed application has the potential to significantly improve the quality of care while reducing the overall cost of care delivery for the target population.
Decreased thrombus formation in rats after chronic nicotine administration.

Abstract Female rats administered nicotine (0.57, 1.14, 2.28 or 4.56 mg/kg/day) in the drinking water for 18 weeks were tested for their in vivo susceptibility to thrombin-induced thrombus formation. Instead of an increased tendency to thrombosis, as anticipated from studies of smoking in man and from in vitro studies, chronically-administered nicotine increased the amount of thrombin required to produce thrombi.
Theoretical Basis and Computational Methods for a Number of Different Animal Models

Abstract The animal model is actually a set of many different models. Their common feature is that all animals in a herd or region or nation are evaluated jointly in contrast, for example, to separate male and female evaluations. An animal model can account for repeated records, multiple traits, nonadditive genetic effects, litter effects, and, in addition, a number of environmental effects, both fixed and random. Some of these possible models are described, some computational aspects are presented, and where possible, corresponding reduced animal model methods are presented.
Smooth tame Fréchet algebras and lie groups of pseudodifferential operators

For pseudodifferential operator algebras with globally defined 0-order symbols belonging to either the Hormander class S(ℝ) or certain prescribed subspaces, it is shown that these algebras possess important smooth tame structures that make them amenable to nonlinear functional analysis of Nash-Moser type.
CAM regulation in the United States.

As complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapies increasingly penetrate conventional health care, physicians and other health care providers find themselves providing (or being asked to provide) care at the borderland of medicine, ethics, public policy and law. Whereas historically, many physicians and patients shunned a dialogue concerning use and potential applicability of CAM therapies in mainstream care, such dialogue is now flourishing, both in the US and internationally. Discussions about CAM are enriching the physician–patient encounter, educating various players in the health-care arena about the role of nutrition, herbal medicine, mind-body interactions, and other phenomena in mainstream care and contributing to a greater foundation of world medical knowledge. Such dialogue is also leading physicians to reconsider their moral, ethical and legal obligation to be aware of the best available evidence emerging from CAM, to present such evidence to the patient in meaningful terms and to confront therapeutic issues and choices from a more comprehensive, unified perspective on health and the possibility for human healing. This chapter explores and outlines the regulatory boundaries of such an obligation.
Increased Extracellular Magnesium Increases Cellular Viability and Cellular Proliferation in Primary Cell Culture of Embryonic Chick Telencephalon: Mechanisms of Magnesium's Action

Increased Extracellular Magnesium Increases Cellular Viability and Cellular Proliferation in Primary Cell Culture of Embryonic Chick Telencephalon: Mechanisms of Magnesium's Action
MEG source localization using a frequency beamformer

This paper introduces a source localization technique that exploits the high temporal resolution of neuronal magnetoencephalography (MEG) data to locate the originating sources within the head. A traditional frequency beamforming algorithm was adapted from its conventional application of providing frequency information to yield information on the spatial location of simulated neuronal signals. This novel technique incorporates actual MEG sensor locations of the closest sensors at each location in space. The approach is relatively simple to implement, yields good spatial resolution, and accurately spatially locates a simulated source in low signal-to-noise environments.
Electron impact ionization of (1s2s2p) 4 P j autoionization states of the lithium atom

Electron spectroscopy using intersecting electron and atomic beams was used for the first time to measure the electron excitation function of the (1s2s2p)4P1/2,3/2 autoionization states of the lithium atom in the range of collision energies between the level excitation threshold and 90 eV with an energy resolution better than 0.4 eV and a magic observation angle θ=54.7°. An analysis of the intense near-threshold structure observed revealed for the first time that autodetachment states of the negative lithium ion having excitation thresholds of 58.2±0.1 and 59.5±0.1 eV exist in the autoionization energy range.
Sign algorithms for blind equalization and their convergence analysis

In blind equalization a communication channel is adaptively equalized without resorting to the usual training sequence. In this paper we have introduced two new algorithms for blind equalization, which hard limit the equalizer input or the error at the output of the equalizer. These new algorithms are simple to implement and reduce the number of multiplications by approximately one-half. We show by way of simulations that the performance of the algorithm resulting from hardlimiting the error is comparable with the performance of the corresponding algorithm in which the error is not hardlimited. We formulate the new sign-error algorithm as a stochastic minimization of an error functional and demonstrate that the case of zero intersymbol interference corresponds to local minima of this error functional. We also present convergence analysis to predict the output mean square error in both these sign algorithms. Since the algorithms are highly nonlinear we incorporate several simplifying approximations and provide heuristic justifications for the validity of these approximations when the algorithms are operated in a typical practical environment. Computer simulations demonstrate the accuracy of the predicted convergence behavior.
A simple and rapid method for preparation of HIV-expressing targets for functional assays☆

Standardized samples of target cells expressing viral antigen are necessary to perform reproducible and comparable functional assays for immune responses to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1). HIV-infected cultured cell lines show wide variability in the number of HIV-expressing cells and in the amount of viral antigen per cell. They, as well as cells coated with the infectious virus, are a biohazard. 0.015% v/v β-propiolactone (BPL) in buffered solution at pH 7.5 inactivates the infectivity of HIV but retains its antigenicity. BPL-inactivated HIV easily binds to T4 receptor bearing T-lymphocytes in a 30 min incubation at 22°C. The process of adsorption is dose-dependent and results in a standardized and reproducible sample of target cells. Applications for the method are demonstrated and include: (1) preparation of target cells for assay of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), and (2) characterization of antisera to HIV for their capacity to block HIV binding to cells.
Cloud point extraction with surfactant derivatization as an enrichment step prior to gas chromatographic or gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis.

Cloud point extraction (CPE) using Triton X-114 was successfully applied as an extractive preconcentration step prior to gas chromatographic−mass spectrometric analysis. No liquid chromatographic o...
The species censorship problem: a general solution

The longevities of species constituting a statistical population have an underlying distribution whose form and parametric values reflect probabilities of origination and extinction through time. In the case that a part of the population is extant, the form of distribution and its parameters cannot be estimated directly from the longevity data without bias. Longevities of extant “censored” species are truncated and thus do not statistically represent the underlying distribution. The remaining “uncensored” species do not represent the true relative abundances of longevities. These biases can be defined from the probability densities for species longevitys and intervalr between successive originations of species. For realistic densities ofs andr, species with an intermediate longevity are preferentially censored. This simple, general result arises because the probability of censoring a species increases with its longevity, whereas the probability of censoring a given longevity varies with its relative abundance.
Incompressible swirling flows

A mathematical model has been developed to study incompressible, isothermal, turbulent, confined, swirling flows. The model solves the conservation equations of mass, momentum, and two additional equations for the turbulent kinetic energy and the rate of dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy. The numerical predictions show a recirculation zone in the form of a one‐celled toroidal vortex at the combustor centreline. High levels of turbulence characterize the recirculation zone. The length, diameter and maximum velocity of the recirculation zone first decrease and then increase as the magnitude of the outer swirl number is first decreased from counter‐swirl to zero and then increased to co‐swirl flow conditions. Counter‐swirl produces steeper velocity gradients at the inter‐jet shear layer and promotes faster mixing than co‐swirl. The numerical results also indicate that the mass of the recirculation zone first decreases and then increases as the outer swirl number is first decreased from counter‐swirl to zero and then increased to co‐swirl conditions. The diameter, maximum velocity and mass of the recirculation zone are monotonically increasing functions of the inner jet swirl number. The recirculation zone length, diameter and mass are almost independent of the Reynolds number and outer‐to‐inner jet axial velocity ratio.
Fluoride—fluoride association in water from molecular dynamics simulations

Abstract The potential of mean force (PMF) for an F−—F− ion pair at room temperature was calculated using a rigid simple point charge (SPC/E) water model and molecular dynamics techniques. The PMF displayed a minimum at an ion—ion separation of 4.3 A with a barrier height of approximately 1.5 kcal/mol. The barrier height is a result, in part, of the presence of two water molecules that simultaneously hydrogen bond to both fluoride ions. To investigate the effect of the ionic charge on the hydration properties of an ion pair, we also computed the PMF for the F+—F+ ion pair. Our calculations indicated that the barrier height of this PMF is less significant than the corresponding barrier height observed in the computed PMF of the F−—F− ion pair. This result is reasonable because of the absence of the highly favorable hydrogen bonding between water molecules and the ion pair. When comparing the present calculation with those reported in previous works on similar systems using integral equation techniques, our simulated F−—F− PMF displays more structure and the minimum well depth is shallower, however, the barrier to dissociation is comparable.
Political Competition among the Chaco Anasazi of the American Southwest

Abstract An actor-based model of political competition is proposed to explain the development of Chaco Anasazi groups in the northern American Southwest. This model is derived from neo-Darwinian theory and the associated concept of methodological individualism, and focuses on the transition from societies dominated by egalitarian relationships to those exhibiting increasingly coercive leadership. The model especially emphasizes the role of the physical and social context for structuring individual decision-making and competitive behavior. A brief survey of the ethnographic record from around the world is employed to identify how political competition might appear in the archaeological record, with a specific focus on settlement patterns and architecture. The model is evaluated through an analysis of Chacoan communities found in the southern San Juan Basin of New Mexico, an area that is peripheral to the alleged center of the Chaco Anasazi in Chaco Canyon. Although further research is needed to improve the database and rule out alternative models, the analysis suggests that political competition between aspiring leaders could have contributed significantly to the evolution of at least the peripheral areas of the Chaco Anasazi, resulting in the archaeological patterns seen there today.
Multiwavelength HCG-VCSEL array

A multiwavelength HCG VCSEL array has been demonstrated experimentally operating at 1550 nm. The operating wavelength of single mode VCSELs spans from 1540 nm to 1591 nm.
Shuttles for the transfer of reducing equivalents in ehrlich ascites tumor cells

Abstract Ehrlich hyperdiploid ascites tumor cells are able to oxidize lactate to pyruvate. Such oxidation is sensitive to inhibitors of mitochondrial electron and energy transfer. Aminooxyacetate, an inhibitor of glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (EC 2.6.1.1), does not affect the production of pyruvate under conditions of endogenous metabolism, whereas it partially inhibits in the cells supplemented either with α-oxoglutarate plus aspartate or with dl -isocitrate. Reconstitution experiments of the fatty acid cycle performed in isolated mitochondria show that added NADH is actively oxidized. Whereas the operation of the malateaspartate shuttle under conditions of endogenous metabolism is ruled out, a possible role of the fatty acid shuttle in the transport of reducing equivalents across the mitochondrial membrane is suggested.
Effect of acyclovir on thermal stress-induced herpesvirus reactivation.

Purpose. Acyclovir has been shown to be effective in preventing recurrent herpes simplex virus lesions of the genitalia and oral labia. The purpose of the current study was to determine the effect of acyclovir on the appearance of infectious virus in the peripheral nervous system and in an end organ, the eye. Materials and methods. Mice latent for the McKrae strain of herpes simplex virus type 1 were given 3.5 mg/ml acyclovir in their drinking water. Control animals received water without drug. Acyclovir treatment was continued for 4 successive days. On the third day, the mice were subjected to a brief period of hyperthermic stress to induce viral reactivation. Twenty-four hours after stress induction, swabs of the ocular surface and homogenates of the cornea and trigeminal ganglia were analyzed for the presence of infectious herpes simplex virus type 1 and viral DNA. Results. Acyclovir treatment significantly decreased the frequency of infectious virus in the ocular tear film and the cornea but not in th...
Brain phosphoproteins: the effect of short experiences on the phosphorylation of nuclear proteins of rat brain.

In this paper we describe the effect of a short training experience on the appearance of radioactive phosphate in various chemicals in rat brain. There was little or no effect of training on radioactive phosphate in AMP, CMP, UMP, or GMP. The radioactivity was increased in nuclear nonhistone acid-extractable proteins, and possibly decreased in histones. Disc electrophoresis revealed that nuclear nonhistone acid-extractable protein is heterogeneous, containing at least 14 species of protein, only 3 of which are phosphorylated. Amino acid analysis of nuclear nonhistone acid-extractable protein showed that the difference in amount of radioactivity in brain nuclear nonhistone acid-extractable protein from the trained and untrained rats was due to an increase in the amount of radioactivity in phosphoserine, not phosphothreonine, although both contained radioactivity. Finally, an increase in the molar ratio of phosphoserine relative to serine in brain nuclear nonhistone acid-extractable protein from trained rats as compared to untrained ones was demonstrated.
On a variational formulation for hydrodynamic stability

Abstract A variational formulation based on the notion of local potential, introduced by Prigogine and Glansdorff, is used to determine the transition from laminar to turbulent flow. The minimum of this local potential gives back the Orr-Sommerfeld equation. The variational technique (local potential and Rayleigh-Ritz method) gives rise to an eigenvalue problem which determines the damping or the amplification of the disturbances in the velocity field. The critical Reynolds number is then calculated for a Poiseuille flow. We show also the influence of the non self-adjoint character of the Orr-Sommerfeld equation on the result, comparing with the case of a plane constant velocity profile. The possibility of application to non Newtonian fluids is also discussed.
Storage Induced Changes of Phenolic Acids and the Development of Hard‐To‐Cook in Dry Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris var. Seafarer)

Navy beans were stored for 9 months under three conditions (5°C/ 40% RH, 20°C/73% RH, and 35°C/80% RH) to produce different degrees of hard-to-cook (HTC) defect. Changes in free hydroxycinnamic acids, hexane soluble and methanol soluble hydroxycinnamic acids, cell wall bound hydroxycinnamic acids, and lignin content were determined. Storage induced HTC beans contained higher levels of hydroxycinnamic acids (especially ferulic acid) than the control beans in all fractions prepared from seed coats and cotyledons except for the methanol soluble and cell wall bound phenolic acid fractions from cotyledons. No significant changes in lignin content were detected among the treatments. Large increases in free hydroxycinnamic acid content associated with increased hardening, suggest a relationship between these two factors.
Toward an Improved Understanding of the Ionizing Radiation Induced DNA Damage/Response Networks in Human Malignancies

1 Departments of Radiation Oncology and Neurological Surgery, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA 2 Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA 3 Department of Radiation Oncology, Kimmel Cancer Center, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Determination of Finite Strain and Initial Shape from Deformed Elliptical Objects

To determine finite strain from material such as deformed pebbles and oolites, it is essential to consider the initial shape and orientation of the particles. The ellipsoidal objects are studied as ellipses on plane sections. The distribution of axial ratios and orientations of undeformed particles is used as the basis for a classification of initial distributions. Simple and general equations relating the initial and deformed shape and orientation of the particles are derived by considering the matrix algebra. A shape factor grid enables accurate calculation of the magnitude and orientation of the strain ellipse. A variety of important initial distributions can be determined and used. The sudden onset of continuous cleavage and oriented textures observed in some orogenic areas is partially due to the effect of the initial shape of crystals, grains, and clastic particles.
Agent cloning: an approach to agent mobility and resource allocation

Multi-agent systems are subject to performance bottlenecks in cases where agents cannot perform tasks by themselves due to insufficient resources. Solutions to such problems include passing tasks to others or agent migration to remote hosts. We propose agent cloning as a more comprehensive approach to the problem of local agent overloads. Agent cloning subsumes task transfer and agent mobility. According to our paradigm, agents may clone, pass tasks to others, die, or merge. We discuss the requirements of implementing a cloning mechanism and its benefits in a multi-agent system, and support our claims with simulation results.
Laser light absorption with density profile modifications

Two-dimensional computer simulations studied plasma heating by electron plasma waves. The results emphasize the importance of nonlinear steepening of the density profile near the critical density. A typical simulation result is presented in order to illustrate these profile modifications. It is shown that large dc magnetic field generation is an inherent property of the absorption of obliquely-incident light. (MOW)
Effects of estradiol and progesterone on platelet calcium responses

We investigated the effects of 17β-estradiol (βE 2 ), α-estradiol (αE 2 ), and progesterone (P) on baseline and vasopressin (AVP)-induced [Ca 2+ ] i in human platelets obtained from healthy male and female volunteers. Platelets were treated with βE 2 , αE 2 , P, or ethanol vehicle for 30 min at 37°C. In males, both βE 2 and P at 10 −5 mol/L reduced the AVPinduced rise in [Ca 2+ ] i , to 72 ± 3% (mean ± SEM) and 53 ± 3%, respectively. However, at 10 −6 mol/L only βE 2 had a significant effect ( P −6 and 10 −5 βE 2 reduced the AVP response to 85.3 ± 4.6% and 80.8 ± 5.4% of control values, respectively. Progesterone (10 −6 and 10 −5 mol/L) reduced the AVP response to 83.8 ± 5.1% and 60.3 ± 2.0% of control values, respectively. The inactive estrogen αE 2 had no effect on basal or AVP-induced rise in [Ca 2+ ] i in either subject population, suggesting hormonal specificity. Neither βE 2 nor P affected baseline [Ca 2+ ] i in either population. Thus, by attenuating [Ca 2+ ] i responses in platelets, βE 2 and P may modulate platelet aggregation and atherosclerosis.
Aspects of Aristotelian statics in Galileo's dynamics

Abstract This paper examines geometrical arguments from Galileo's Mechanics and Two New Sciences to discern the influence of the Aristotelian Mechanical Problems on Galileo's dynamics. A common scientific procedure is found in the Aristotelian author's treatment of the balance and lever and in Galileo's rules concerning motion along inclined planes. This scientific procedure is understood as a development of Eudoxan proportional reasoning, as it was used in Eudoxan astronomy rather than simply as it appears in Euclid's Elements . Topics treated include the significance of the circle in Galileo's demonstrations, the substitution of rectilinear elements for heterogeneous factors like weight and curvilinear distance, and the way in which elements of a motion are used to measure other elements of the same motion. The indirectness of Galileo's proofs, his conception of speed as relative and comparative, and the meaning of his concept of moment all come into clearer focus. Conclusions are drawn about Galilean idealization, and also about the contrast of literal versus figural modes of explanation in Galileo's science.
GABA(C) receptors control adaptive changes, in a glycinergic inhibitory pathway in salamander retina

We studied the role of GABA in adaptive changes in a lateral inhibitory system in the tiger salamander retina. In dark-adapted retinal slice preparations picrotoxin caused a slow enhancement of glycine-mediated IPSCs in ganglion cells. The enhancement of glycinergic IPSCs developed slowly over the course of 5–20 min, even though picrotoxin blocked both GABAA and GABACreceptors within a few seconds. The slow enhancement of glycinergic IPSCs by picrotoxin was much weaker in light-adapted preparations. The slow enhancement of glycinergic inhibitory inputs was not produced by bicuculline, indicating that it involved GABAC receptors. The responses of ganglion cells to direct application of glycine were not enhanced by picrotoxin, indicating that the enhancement was not caused by an action on glycine receptors. In dark-adapted eyecup preparations picrotoxin caused a slow enhancement of glycinergic IPSPs and transient lateral inhibition produced by a rotating windmill pattern, similar to the effect of light adaptation. The results suggest that the glycinergic inhibitory inputs are modulated by an unknown substance whose synthesis and/or release is inhibited in dark-adapted retinas by GABA acting at GABAC receptors.
A nonlinear fracture mechanics prespective on solder joint failure: going beyond the coffin-manson equation

Predicting the fatigue life of solder interconnections is a challenge due to the complex nonlinear behavior of solder alloys and the load history. Long experience with Sn-Pb solder alloys together with empirical fatigue life models such as the Coffin-Manson rule have helped us identify reliable choices among package design alternatives. However, for the currently popular Pb-free choice of SnAgCu solder joints, designing accelerated thermal cycling tests and estimating the fatigue life are challenged by the significantly different creep behavior relative to Sn-Pb alloys. In this paper, a hybrid fatigue modeling approach inspired by nonlinear fracture mechanics is developed to predict the crack trajectory and fatigue life of a solder interconnection subjected to both isothermal accelerated thermal and anisothermal power cycling conditions. The model is shown to be similar to well accepted cohesive zone models in its approach and application and is anticipated to be computationally more efficient in a finite element setting. The approach goes beyond empirical modeling in accurately predicting crack trajectories. It is argued that such non-empirical models that capture the physics of material degradation and failure can form the basis for determining meaningful Pb-free solder environmental testing conditions as well as the acceleration factors relative to field use
Oxygen-Induced Dynamic Embrittlement in Nickel-Base Superalloys

The phenomenon of dynamic embrittlement involves the stress-induced diffusion of a surface- adsorbed embrittling element into grain boundaries, leading to time-dependent decohesion along these boundaries. Here, the state of our understanding of this generic type of brittle fracture is reviewed, with the focus on cracking of nickel-base superalloys caused by oxygen, including recent and new results on cracking in bicrystals, thermo-mechanical processing to reduce the susceptibility to dynamic embrittlement, and quench cracking.
LQG/LTR robust control of nuclear reactors with improved temperature performance

The authors present the design of a robust controller using the linear quadratic Gaussian with loop transfer recovery (LQG/LTR) for nuclear reactors with the objective of maintaining a desirable performance for reactor fuel temperature and the temperature of the coolant leaving the reactor for a wide range of reactor powers. The results obtained are compared to those for an observer-based state feedback optimal reactor temperature controller. Sensitivity analysis of the dominant closed-loop eigenvalues and nonlinear simulation are used to demonstrate and compare the performance and robustness of the two controllers. The LQG/LTR approach is systematic, methodical, and easy to design and can give improved temperature performance over a wide range of reactor operation. >
A 25 dBm Outphasing Power Amplifier With Cross-Bridge Combiners

In this paper, we present a 25 dBm Class-D outphasing power amplifier (PA) with cross-bridge combiners. The Class-D PA is designed in a standard 45 nm process while the combiner is implemented on board using lumped elements for flexibilities in testing. Comparing with conventional non-isolated combiners, the elements of the cross-bridge combiner are carefully chosen so that additional resonance network is formed to reduce out-of-phase current, thereby increasing backoff efficiency of the outphasing PA. The Class-D outphasing PA with the proposed combiner is manufactured and measured at both 900 MHz and 2.4 GHz. It achieves 55% peak power-added efficiency (PAE) at 900 MHz and 45% at 2.4 GHz for a single tone input. For a 10 MHz LTE signal with 6 dB PAR, the PAE is 32% at 900 MHz with −39 dBc adjacent channel power ratio (ACPR) and 22% at 2.4 GHz with −33 dBc ACPR. With digital predistortion (DPD), the linearity of the PA at 2.4 GHz is improved further to reach −53 dBc, −50 dBc, −42 dBc ACPR for 10 MHz, 20 MHz, and 2-carrier 20 MHz LTE signals.
Directionality-based speech enhancement for hearing aids

In this work we describe methods for using the directionality of sound energy as a criterion to estimate single- and multichannel linear filters for suppression of diffuse noise and reverberation in a hearing aid application. We compare conservative strategies where direction of arrival is unknown, and more aggressive strategies where the proposed methods can be used to derive a fast acting post-filter for the output of a beamformer. We show that in situations where a target of interest is near to the listener while interfering sources are more distant, simple features that capture the directionality of sound energy can be used to attenuate significant undesired signal energy and can be more effective than a strategy based on noise-floor tracking.
Microarchitectural Synthesis of VLSI Designs with High Test Concurrency

The testability of a VLSI design is strongly affected by its register-transfer level (RTL) structure. Since the high-level synthesis process determines the RTL structure, it is necessary to consider testability during high-level synthesis. A synthesis system composed of scheduling and binding components minimizes the number of hardware sharing conicts between tests in the test schedule. Novel test conict estimates are used to direct the synthesis process. The test conflict estimation is based on examination of the interconnect structure of the partial design state during synthesis. Test conict estimates enable our synthesis system to select design options which increase test concurrency, thereby decreasing test time. Experimental results show that designs generated by this approach are testable in a highly concurrent manner.
An exact analytical time-domain model of distributed RC interconnects for high speed nonlinear circuit applications

Accurate simulation of interconnect effects is an increasingly critical step in high speed deep submicron design. With ever increasing frequency of digital/analog signals, the traditional lumped RC elements may not be accurate enough in modeling RC interconnects in VLSI applications due to the distributed nature of realistic interconnects. In this paper a novel analytic time-domain model for distributed RC interconnects is developed for application in nonlinear circuit simulators. The exact analytical solution is derived under the assumption of piecewise-linear signal waveforms at the two ports of the line. We have incorporated this model into a general purpose circuit simulator using the SWEC technique.
A review of factors affecting the success of membrane protein crystallization using bicelles

Several reports have been published detailing various platforms for obtaining crystals of membrane proteins to determine their structure including those that use disk shaped bilayers called bicelles. While these crystals have been readily grown and used for X-ray diffraction, the general understanding as to why bicelles are adequate for such a procedure or how to rationally choose conditions remains unknown. This review intends to discuss issues of protein stabilization and precipitation in the presence of lipids that may influence crystal formation.