cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The development of cellular immunity to Epstein-Barr virus after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

Epstein-Barr virus-induced lymphoproliferative disease (EBV-LPD) is a potentially lethal complication during the first 6 months after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). To determine whether deficiencies of EBV-specific cellular immunity contribute to EBV-LPD susceptibility and distinguish patients at risk, we performed limiting dilution analysis to quantify anti-EBV cytotoxic T-lymphocyte precursor (CTLp) frequencies in 26 recipients of unmodified or T cell-depleted (TCD) grafts from EBV-seropositive donors. At 3 months post-BMT (n = 26), only five patients had EBV CTLp frequencies in the range of seropositive normal controls, irrespective of the type of transplant administered. By 6 months post-BMT, 9 of 13 patients tested had EBV CTLp frequencies within the normal range. The time period in which these patients had deficient cellular immunity to EBV corresponds to the period in which we have observed EBV-LPD in most prior patients. One patient with a low EBV CTLp frequency at 4 months post-BMT developed an EBV-LPD. Within 2 weeks of receiving an infusion of donor peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) providing less than 1,200 EBV-specific cytotoxic T-cell precursors, populations of EBV-specific CTL in the circulation were restored to levels detected in normal seropositive adults. Concurrently, the patient achieved a regression of the EBV-LPD, which has been sustained without further therapy. These studies indicate that recipients of both unmodified and TCD marrow grafts have profound deficiencies of EBV-specific T cell-mediated immunity early posttransplant, and that the period of risk for EBV-LPD closely corresponds to this interval of severe deficiency. Treatment of one patient with EBV-LPD with marrow donor-derived PBMC induced a rapid expansion of EBV-specific cytotoxic T-cell populations that occurred contemporaneously with the clinical regression of disease.
Increased risk of COVID-19 infection and mortality in people with mental disorders: analysis from electronic health records in the United States

Concerns have been expressed that persons with a pre-existing mental disorder may represent a population at increased risk for COVID-19 infec-tion and with a higher likelihood of adverse outcomes of the infection, but there is no systematic research evidence in this respect. This study assessed the impact of a recent (within past year) diagnosis of a mental disorder - including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, depression and schizophrenia - on the risk for COVID-19 infection and related mortality and hospitalization rates. We analyzed a nation-wide database of electronic health records of 61 million adult patients from 360 hospitals and 317,000 providers, across 50 states in the US, up to July 29, 2020. Patients with a recent diagnosis of a mental disorder had a significantly increased risk for COVID-19 infection, an effect strongest for depression (adjusted odds ratio, AOR=7.64, 95% CI: 7.45-7.83, p<0.001) and schizophrenia (AOR=7.34, 95% CI: 6.65-8.10, p<0.001). Among patients with a recent diagnosis of a mental disorder, African Americans had higher odds of COVID-19 infection than Caucasians, with the strongest ethnic disparity for depression (AOR=3.78, 95% CI: 3.58-3.98, p<0.001). Women with mental disorders had higher odds of COVID-19 infection than males, with the strongest gender disparity for ADHD (AOR=2.03, 95% CI: 1.73-2.39, p<0.001). Patients with both a recent diagnosis of a mental disorder and COVID-19 infection had a death rate of 8.5% (vs. 4.7% among COVID-19 patients with no mental disorder, p<0.001) and a hospitalization rate of 27.4% (vs. 18.6% among COVID-19 patients with no mental disorder, p<0.001). These findings identify individuals with a recent diagnosis of a mental disorder as being at increased risk for COVID-19 infection, which is further exacerbated among African Americans and women, and as having a higher frequency of some adverse outcomes of the infection. This evidence highlights the need to identify and address modifiable vulnerability factors for COVID-19 infection and to prevent delays in health care provision in this population.
Epitaxial Graphene Growth on SiC Wafers

An in vacuo thermal desorption process has been accomplished to form epitaxial graphene (EG) on 4H- and 6H-SiC substrates using a commercial chemical vapor deposition reactor. Correlation of growth conditions and the morphology and electrical properties of EG are described. Raman spectra of EG on Si-face samples were dominated by monolayer thickness. This approach was used to grow EG on 50 mm SiC wafers that were subsequently fabricated into field effect transistors with fmax of 14 GHz.
Visualizing plant cell wall changes proves the superiority of hydrochloric acid over sulfuric acid catalyzed γ-valerolactone pretreatment

Abstract Thermochemical pretreatment is one of the key steps to process lignocellulosic biomass for production of biofuels and biomaterials. γ-valerolactone (GVL) has been used as a green and renewable solvent to efficiently dissolve lignin under acidic conditions and enhance subsequent enzyme digestibility. Further improvement is still required to lower the pretreatment temperature in order to reduce sugar degradation and irreversible lignin condensation, as well as the capital cost. In this study, we compared the use of HCl and H2SO4 as catalysts during GVL pretreatment, and found the performance of GVL-HCl at 100 °C was comparable to that of GVL-H2SO4 at 120 °C in terms of xylan and lignin removal and enzyme digestibility. We further monitored the lignin removal and cellulose accessibility in the cell walls at different pretreatment time points by imaging the changes in lignin auto-fluorescence and in CtCBM3-GFP binding with confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), respectively. We found GVL-HCl pretreatment at a relative low temperature (100 °C) could rapidly remove lignin in the compound middle lamella and cell corner areas, which concurred with the increase of CtCBM3-GFP binding in these areas. Real-time imaging of cell wall degradation by cellulases further revealed that the secondary cell walls could be digested from both cell lumen and CML sides, and eventually fully deconstructed within 24 h. Our results provide new insight into the effects of chloride anions on plant cell wall structure during GVL pretreatment, and offer potential routes to further optimize and enhance the efficiency of GVL-based pretreatment.
Note on the Governance of Nonprofit Organizations: Lessons from Mayo Clinic

In this note, we first discuss the governance problems in nonprofit organizations (NPOs) from both a theoretical and practical perspective. We then describe the governance structure at Mayo Clinic based on a review of documents, written descriptions by those involved from the beginning and interviews with members of the leadership in recent years. Based on this, we explore the principles that determined the clinic’s governance and the lessons that can guide other NPOs. The clinic’s history reveals unusually careful thinking about the governance principles at its inception, and continued devotion to these principles even while adapting, as needed, over the years.
Controlling properties of thermogels by tuning critical solution behaviour of ternary copolymers

Thermoresponsive hydrogel materials show promise as biomaterials as their properties can be widely tuned to fit engineering requirements for an array of important applications. Here we show that the properties of thermogelling tri-block copolymers consisting of a central poly(ethylene glycol) block and pendant N-substituted polyacrylamides can be tuned by altering the random terpolymer compositions. The heterogeneity of the pendant terpolymer blocks is reflected in the concentration dependence of their critical solution behavior. The lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the pendant blocks can be finely tuned, enabling controlled modulation of thermogel properties. Altering terpolymer composition to control LCST behaviour, therefore, provides a facile approach to design thermogel properties.
A Brief Dietary Screening and Counseling Tool for Health Educators

Background: Diet quality assessment in community health settings is critical to reduce the incidence and improve management of diet-related chronic disease. Unfortunately, understandable and action...
Testimony of Nakita Q. Cuttino Visiting Assistant Professor of Law, Duke University School of Law Before The United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs

This document is the written testimony of Nakita Q. Cuttino for the June 30, 2020, hearing "The Digitization of Money and Payments" by the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. This testimony examines the existing and potential consumer risks posed by time and access frictions in the U.S. payments system. Specifically, these frictions have long been exploited in the marketplace by service providers like payday lenders and check cashers with deleterious effects on millions of Americans. Emerging financial technology, or fintech, services like early wage access programs demonstrate that these frictions will continue to be exploited in a digital economy. Accordingly, there is an urgent need to resolve these time and access frictions to improve consumer welfare. The testimony explains why a public banking option with existing payments infrastructure will most effectively serve the aims of financial inclusion in the immediate future.
Sarcoidosis-Associated Pulmonary Hypertension

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disease characterized by granulomatous tissue infiltration. It predominantly affects the lung in most patients. Sarcoidosis-associated pulmonary hypertension (SAPH) is a common complication of advanced structural lung disease due to sarcoidosis but can also be observed as an isolated vascular phenomenon in patients with little to no structural lung disease. SAPH is associated with high mortality. The spectrum of pulmonary vascular involvement that causes SAPH appears to be quite variable. Furthermore, the optimal approach to treatment remains unclear. Various clinical trials investigating the use of PAH therapies to treat SAPH have yielded mixed results. Improvements in hemodynamics have generally been more clearly demonstrated as compared to other functional and symptomatic assessments. Unfortunately, there is very little controlled, randomized, prospective data in this regard. This chapter will explore what is known with respect to the various etiologies of SAPH, the clinical course and outcomes, and published data on the use of PAH therapies for SAPH.
Advanced Energy Devices

Energy devices are important instruments in an endocrine surgeon’s toolbox because glandular organs are well vascularized and tend to bleed intraoperatively. Currently, energy devices most often used in endocrine surgery fall into two major categories: bipolar vessel sealing and ultrasonic. In current research, these energy devices have demonstrated similar rates of postoperative hematoma and injury to the parathyroid glands and recurrent laryngeal nerve, compared to traditional suture ligation. And more recently, in addition to bipolar and ultrasonic devices, radiofrequency ablation has emerged as a potential option for benign thyroid nodules and recurrent thyroid cancer.
Nowcasting Earthquakes by Visualizing the Earthquake Cycle with Machine Learning: A Comparison of Two Methods

The earthquake cycle of stress accumulation and release is associated with the elastic rebound hypothesis proposed by H.F. Reid following the M7.9 San Francisco earthquake of 1906. However, observing details of the actual values of time- and space-dependent tectonic stress is not possible at the present time. In two previous papers, we have proposed methods to image the earthquake cycle in California by means of proxy variables. These variables are based on correlations in patterns of small earthquakes that occur nearly continuously in time. The purpose of the present paper is to compare these two methods by evaluating their information content using decision thresholds and Receiver Operating Characteristic methods together with Shannon information entropy. Using seismic data from 1940 to present in California, we find that both methods provide nearly equivalent information on the rise and fall of earthquake correlations associated with major earthquakes in the region. We conclude that the resulting timeseries can be viewed as proxies for the cycle of stress accumulation and release associated with major tectonic activity.
Utility of bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling for diagnosis and lateralization of Cushing's disease in the pediatric population: case series and review of the literature.

OBJECTS Cushing's disease (CD) is the most common cause of ACTH-dependent hypercortisolism in children age ≥ 7. The utility of bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling (BIPSS), an important test in adults, is less defined in children. We present a case series of children with ACTH-dependent hypercortisolemia and review the literature to assess the utility of BIPSS in the diagnosis and localization of CD. METHODS We performed an IRB-approved chart review of patients aged ≤ 18 with ACTH-dependent hypercortisolism at MGH between 2000 and 2019 and collected clinical, laboratory, radiographic, BIPSS, surgical, and outcomes data. RESULTS In our cohort (n = 21), BIPSS had a sensitivity of 93% and specificity of 100% for diagnosis of CD. Compared to surgery, successful BIPSS correctly predicted adenoma laterality in 69% of cases vs. 70% by MRI. Among patients with lesions ≥ 4 mm (n = 9), BIPSS correctly lateralized in 50% vs. 100% by MRI. In patients with subtle lesions (< 4 mm, n = 7), BIPSS correctly lateralized in 80% vs. 71% by MRI. In patients (n = 4) with CD and negative MRIs, BIPSS correctly lateralized in 75% cases. Surgical cure was achieved in 90% of patients and 95% of patients had long-term disease control. CONCLUSIONS In our cohort (n = 21; n = 20 CD, n = 1 ectopic ACTH secretion), BIPSS was sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of CD. Compared to MRI, BIPSS was not additionally helpful for lateralization in patients with lesions ≥ 4 mm on MRI. BIPSS was helpful in guiding surgical exploration and achieving immediate postoperative remission among patients with subtle and negative MRI findings.
Mg(2+)-ATPase from rabbit skeletal muscle transverse tubules is 67-kilodalton glycoprotein.

There exists a Mg(2+)-ATPase in transverse tubules which has properties that are very different from other ATPases located in skeletal muscle cells. Several groups have suggested that a 100-kDa glycoprotein is the molecular entity responsible for this Mg(2+)-ATPase activity. In this study we have extended the methods utilized in the purification of this integral membrane glycoprotein. Although the apparent pI (isoelectric point) of this protein is pH 5, most of the net charge is due to the presence of sialic acid on the associated glycan chains. After these residues are removed, the behavior of this protein on an anion exchange column changes dramatically, allowing it to be further purified. Using a combination of the earlier procedures (Kirley, T.L. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 12682-12689 and Kirley, T. L. (1991) Biochem. J. 278, 375-400.) and the one reported here, purification to specific activities of approximately 400,000 mumol of ATP hydrolyzed/mg of protein/h were obtained and all traces of the 100-kDa protein were removed. The digitonin-solubilized Mg(2+)-ATPase appears to be a dimer of two identical 67-kDa subunits as assessed by high performance size exclusion chromatography. A single diffuse protein band is observed on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at approximately 67 kDa, which reduced to a single tight protein band at 52 kDa after deglycosylation with the following unique N-terminal amino acid sequence: Ala-Lys-Lys-Val-Leu-Pro-Leu-Leu-Leu-Pro- Pro-Leu-Val-X-Ala-Ala-Leu-Gly-Leu-Ala-X-Phe. Therefore, the Mg(2+)-ATPase appears to be an enzyme of very high specific activity, present in small quantities in transverse tubule membranes and unrelated to the known classes of ATPases present in skeletal muscle. The data reported here on the orientation of the transverse-tubule membrane preparations are consistent with the very recent report (Saborido, A., Moro, G., and Megias A. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 23490-23498) that the Mg(2+)-ATPase is an ecto-enzyme.
The Present Direction of Research in Forensic Odontology

Forensic odontology is receiving increased attention in the literature and has become a widely recognized field of expertise with broad ramifications. With this growth, research is needed to solve the most pressing problems of the discipline. The purpose of this paper is to identify current trends in research in forensic odontology. The review consisted of studies using the scientific method and reports of new techniques being tested. Also, abstracts from the annual meeting of the Odontology Section of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences from 1980 to 1987 have been reviewed to determine the current areas of emphasis in forensic dentistry.
Thinking Historically about Medieval Emotions

The recent focus on emotions in history raises numerous methodological questions. How are historians to approach texts that include emotions? This essay summarizes three dominant interpretative paradigms for interpreting medieval emotions. In the first, these emotions are seen as the uninhibited release of affect. In the second, they are viewed as well-understood modes of communication in a society that used gesture as often as it used words. In the third, they are understood as norms within an emotional community. Arguing that the latter two interpretations are fruitful, the author concludes by suggesting some methodological tools to help historians more rigorously assess and work with the emotions in the texts of the past.
A Modern Framework for Portable High-Performance Numerical Linear Algebra

In this chapter, we present a generic programming methodology for expressing data structures and algorithms for numerical linear algebra. We also present a high-performance implementation of this approach, the Matrix Template Library (MTL). As with the Standard Template Library, our approach is five-fold, consisting of generic functions, containers, iterators, adapters, and function objects, all developed specifically for high-performance numerical linear algebra. Within our framework, we provide generic functions corresponding to the mathematical operations that define linear algebra. Similarly, the containers, adapters, and iterators are used to represent and to manipulate concrete linear algebra objects such as matrices and vectors. To many scientific computing users, however, the advantages of an elegant programming interface are secondary to issues of performance. There are two aspects to how we achieved high performance in the MTL. The first is the use of static polymorphism (template functions) with modern optimizing compilers, enabling extreme flexibility with no loss in performance. The second is the application of abstraction to the optimization process itself. The Basic Linear Algebra Instruction Set (BLAIS) is presented as an abstract interface to several important performance optimizations. Our experimental results show that MTL with the BLAIS achieves performance that is as good as, or better than, vendor-tuned libraries, even though MTL and the BLAIS are written completely in C++. We therefore conclude that the use of abstraction is not a barrier to performance, contrary to conventional wisdom, and that certain abstractions can in fact facilitate optimization. In addition, MTL requires orders of magnitude fewer lines of code for its implementation, with the concomitant savings in development and maintenance effort.
Design and Performance of a Broadband MIC Low Noise K-Band Balanced Mixer, Polar Discriminator and Related Components

The design and experimental performance of a broadband (18-26.5 GHz) single balanced mixer, polar discriminator and related components fabricated in microstrip on 0.010-inch thick gold plated sapphire is described. Typical conversion loss of 7.5 dB with a maximum of 8.5 dB at the top of the band was achieved in the mixer. The output polar angle of the discriminator is linear within /spl plusmn/15/spl deg/ with an input signal level of -14 dBm. Full utilization of planar techniques is made that could also be applicable for frequencies up to and above 60 GHz.
In Situ Hybridization Evidence of Differential Modulation by Pentobarbital of GABAA Receptor α1‐ and β3‐Subunit mRNAs

Tolerance to and withdrawal from pentobarbital were induced in rats by continuous intracerebroventricular infusion via subcutaneously implanted osmotic minipumps. In situ hybridization of GABAA receptor alpha 1- and beta 3-subunit mRNA was conducted using synthetic 3'-end 35S-dATP-labeled oligodeoxynucleotide probes. Results were quantified by film densitometry. In animals that were tolerant to pentobarbital, levels of alpha 1-subunit mRNA were decreased in hippocampus, superior colliculus, and inferior colliculus, but levels of beta 3-subunit mRNA were not affected. Dramatically increased levels of GABAA receptor subunit mRNA were observed in animals 24 h after withdrawal from chronic pentobarbital treatment. These increases occurred in cerebral cortex and cerebellum for the alpha 1 subunit and in cerebral cortex only for the beta 3-subunit. These data provide further support to the structural and pharmacological GABAA receptor heterogeneity in discrete brain areas. The observed changes of subunit expression may underlie, at least in part, the receptor up- and down-regulation observed in receptor ligand binding studies.
Quality assurance for environmental monitoring programs

There are three essential elements of a quality assurance program; a quality assurance management plan, internal quality control measures and external quality assessment including an audit scheme. It is the program managers responsibility to ensure that these activities are clearly defined and documented and that individuals are assigned responsibility for their implementation and are held accountable. A generic quality assurance program is described with an outline of the main component elements.
Mitotic chromosomes of some North American Sciuridae.

SummaryMitotic chromosomes of several North American Sciuridae have been analyzed. The diploid chromosome number was 32 in Ammospermophilus harrisii harrisii and Ammospermophilus leucurus leucurus, 34 in Spermophilus richardsonii elegans and Spermophilus mexicanus parvidens, 38 in Spermophilus beecheyi douglasii, 42 in Spermophilus Interalis lateralis and 46 in Tamiasciarus hudsonicus fremonti.Chromosome number and morphology were analyzed and found to support the present classification of Sciuridae. A large terminal sex chromosome, probably the Y chromosome, was found in examples of Ammospermophilus and Spermophilus, and suggested a similarity between these genera. The usefulness of these mammals for cytogenetic studies, especially A. harrisii harrisii, was described.
Query processing in annotated logic programming: Theory and implementation

Annotated logic is a formalism that has been applied to a variety of situations in knowledge representation, expert database systems, quantitative reasoning, and hybrid databases [6], [13], [19], [20], [21], [22], [23], [24], [30], [33], [35], [36]. Annotated Logic Programming (ALP) is a subset of annotated logics that can be used directly for programming annotated logic applications [22], [23]. A top-down query processing procedure containing elements of constraint solving, called ca-resolution, is developed for ALPs. It simplifies a number of previously proposed procedures, and also improves on their efficiency. The key to its development is in observing that satisfaction, as introduced originally for ALPs, may be naturally generalized. A computer implementation of ca-resolution for ALPs is described which offers important theoretical and practical insights. Strategies for improving its efficiency are discussed.
How does interferon work? Does it even matter?

Adjuvant therapy for patients with melanoma using interferon remains controversial despite numerous randomized clinical trials. There can be no doubt that interferon works—that is, it has biologic activity sufficient to alter the natural history of resected melanoma. Multiple randomized trials have demonstrated that adjuvant interferon prolongs recurrence free survival compared with observation or compared with a defined antigen vaccine. The effect on overall survival is more contentious— only two studies have demonstrated a significant effect on overall survival, and only one of those studies included an untreated control group. Nonetheless, prolonged recurrence free survival is clear-cut evidence of a biologic effect of the therapy. From a clinical standpoint, however, this demonstrated recurrence free survival and presumptive overall survival benefit must be weighed against the substantial toxicity of therapy. It is interesting to note that, in the ongoing debate over the clinical role of adjuvant interferon , little attention has been paid to the question of how interferon works. Most clinicians seemingly accept at face value the notion that interferon acts as an immunomodulator, augmenting the host immune response to melanoma-associated antigens on residual tumor cells. However, because interferon has multiple known activities, this simple notion may not be as straightforward as it first appears. Perhaps the most salient reason to question a purely immunomodulatory role for interferon is the failure of interferon to prolong recurrence free survival in two randomized trials. Interferon at the doses administered in those two trials is a documented immunomodulator, one that many tumor immunologists would say is superior to interferon . Thus, if the mechanism of action were purely immunostimulatory, then we would anticipate an equal or greater effect for interferon . However, even if we accept the fact that the mechanism of action of interferon is uncertain, why should we care? A better understanding of the mechanism of action of adjuvant interferon may help with three unresolved but closely interrelated clinical questions: 1) What is the optimum dose of interferon ? 2) What is the optimum duration of therapy, and should therapy be stopped or continued in the event of a resectable recurrence? 3) How can we minimize the toxicity of interferon without losing efficacy? In this issue of Cancer, Kirkwood et al. present the results of a biologic companion trial to Intergroup Trial E1690, which compared high-dose and low-dose interferon 2b with observation after sur947
Revision of the 'nudidrosophila' and 'ateledrosophila' species groups of Hawaiian Drosophila (Diptera: Drosophilidae), with descriptions of twenty-two new species

The 'nudidrosophila' and 'ateledrosophila' species groups, formerly described as genera, are a relatively small and understudied part of the enormous Hawaiian Drosophila radiation. Only nine species were described previously. Here we revise the two groups, provide a key to males and females, and describe fully all species. The 'ateledrosophila' group now contains three species, D. diamphidia Hardy, D. papala sp.n. ,a ndD. preapicula Hardy. The 28 species of the 'nudidro- sophila' group are separated into five subgroups: 'hirtitibia' (D. hirtitibia Hardy, D. konaensis sp.n., D. mawaena sp.n. ,a ndD. papaalai sp.n.); 'kahania' (D. kahania sp.n.
Multidimensional Modeling of Pyrolysis Gas Transport Inside Charring Ablative Materials

The behavior of pyrolysis gas transport in arcjet test samples is numerically studied. The simulation of the pyrolysis gas flow inside a porous material is presented, using two different geometries...
Transition matrices for the theory of spectra. Techniques for their construction and calculation

Analytical techniques are developed for constructing $n\mathrm{th}$-order (i.e., $n$-electron) tensor matrices pertaining to transitions of an $N$-electron atom between two of its stationary states. These matrices serve to calculate the transition amplitude for the atom under the influence of an external field acting on $n$ electrons (typically $n=1$). Their calculation requires, in turn, the solution of a truncated hierarchy of Schr\"odinger equations introduced in the preceding paper. The techniques presented here are applied to construct the matrices and their Schr\"odinger equation for the example of Ar atoms treated in the preceding paper.
Connexin40-Deficient Mice Exhibit Atrioventricular Nodal and Infra-Hisian Conduction Abnormalities

AV Nodal and Infra-Hisian Conduction in Cx40 Mice. Introduction: Previous electrophysiologic investigations have described AV conduction disturbances in connexin4(Cx40)-deficient mice. Because expression or(Cx40 occurs predominantly in the atria and His-Purkinje system of the mouse heart, the AV conduction disturbances were thought to be secondary to disruption in His-Pnrkinje function. However, the lack of a His-bundle electrogram recording in the mouse has limited further investigation of the importance of Cx40. Using a novel technique to record His-bundle recordings in Cx40-deficient mice, we define the physiologic importance of defciencies in Cx40. Methods and Results: Ten Cx40-/- mice and 11 Cx40+/+ controls underwent a blinded, in vivo, closed chest electrophysiology study at 9 to 12 weeks of age. In the Cx40+/+ mice, the PR interval was significantly longer compared with Cx40+/+ mice (44.6 ± 6.4 msec vs 36.0 ± 4.1 msec, P = 0.002). Not only the HV interval (14.0 ± 3.0 msec vs 10.4 ± 1.2 msec, P = 0.003) but also the AH interval (33.2 ± 4.8 msec vs 27.1 ± 3.7 msec, P = 0.006), AV Wenckebach cycle lengths, and AV nodal effective and functional refractory periods were prolonged in Cx40-/- compared with Cx40+/+ mice. Conclusion: Cx40-deficient mice exhibit significant delay not only in infra-Hisian conduction, as would be expected from the expression of Cx40 in the His-Purkinje system but also in the electrophysiologic parameters that reflect AV nodal conduction. Our data suggest a significant role of Cx40 in atrionodal conduction and/or in proximal His-bundle conduction,
Leaky guided wave propagation along imperfectly bonded fibers in composite materials

Leaky guided modes propagating along embedded fibers in a composite material can be used for characterizing the fiber-matrix interface. This principle can be applied to real composites containing small-diameter fibers by using laser interferometric detection of very fine lateral resolution on the order of a few microns. The main purpose of this paper is to develop the analytical tools needed to assess the sensitivity of guided wave inspection to interface properties in composite materials. Typically, the sound velocity is much lower in the matrix than in the fiber and the guided modes are strongly attenuated by leaking their energy into the matrix as they propagate. As a result, the velocity of the lowest-order axisymmetric longitudinal mode decreases while its attenuation increases with increasing interfacial stiffness between the fiber and the matrix. It is shown that loose fibers can be readily identified from early signals produced by fast guided modes. In the case of a well-bonded fiber-matrix interface, these guided modes are slowed down and strongly attenuated by the loading of the matrix depending on the fiber diameter and the interfacial stiffness of the interface. Interestingly, the relative difference between the well-bonded and free fibers is greater at low frequencies. Therefore, good sensitivity to the sought interfacial stiffness can be achieved at a few MHz, i.e., when the fiber diameter is still much smaller than the acoustic wavelength. Our analytical results show that the leaky guided mode technique is mainly sensitive to the transverse interfacial stiffness of the fiber-matrix interface. At typical ultrasonic frequencies between 1 and 20 MHz, the technique works best in the 1011–1013 N/m3 interfacial stiffness range which is one or two orders of magnitude lower than the optimal sensitivity range of the more conventional bulk velocity and reflection methods.
Quantitative SNR analysis for ISAR imaging using joint time-frequency analysis-Short time Fourier transform

V.C. Chen recently presented an inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) imaging technique using the joint time-frequency analysis (JTFA), which has been shown having a better performance for maneuvering targets over the conventional Fourier transform method. The main reason is because the frequencies of the radar returns of the maneuvering targets are time varying and a JTFA is a technique that is suitable for such signals, in particular a JTFA may concentrate a wideband signal, such as a chirp, while it spreads noise. We quantitatively study the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in the ISAR imaging using one of the typical JTFA techniques, namely the short time Fourier transform (STFT). We show that the SNR increases in the joint time-frequency (TF) domain over the one in the time or the frequency domain alone both theoretically and numerically. This quantitatively shows the advantage of the JTFA technique for the ISAR imaging.
Bacteriorhodopsin remains dispersed in fluid phospholipid bilayers over a wide range of bilayer thicknesses

We have used vesicles made from delipidated bacteriorhodopsin and synthetic lecithins to address the following questions. If the transmembrane dimension of a protein hydrophobic surface differs from the equilibrium thickness of its lipid bilayer environment, will protein monomers aggregate to decrease the protein-lipid contact surface area? If so, how large must the difference be to induce aggregation? Using lecithins with acyl chains from di-10:0 to di-24:1, the thickness of the bilayer hydrocarbon region above the lipid phase transition temperature (tm) was varied from 14.5 A less than to 7.5 A more than the transmembrane dimension of the bacteriorhodopsin hydrophobic region. Bacteriorhodopsin remains dispersed when the surrounding bilayer hydrophobic region is 4 A thicker or 10 A thinner than the bacteriorhodopsin hydrophobic surface. Only the thin- (10:0) and thick- (24:1) bilayer samples showed any bacteriorhodopsin aggregation above tm. Thus a surprisingly large difference between protein and lipid hydrophobic thicknesses can be accommodated without protein aggregation. The lipid bilayer can evidently sustain large local distortions with a small change in free energy.
Effects of lithium dose (UCS) on the acquisition and extinction of a discriminated morphine aversion: Tests with morphine and Δ9-THC

The effects of varying the lithium dose (unconditioned stimulus [UCS]; LiCl range 30-180 mg/kg) on the acquisition and extinction of stimulus control by 5.6 mg/kg of morphine in a discriminated taste aversion (DTA) procedure were examined in rats. In addition, pharmacological specificity was examined by substituting (-)-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta9-THC) for morphine during a test phase intervening between acquisition and extinction. DTA acquisition was more rapid at higher LiCl doses. The lowest dose of LiCl, 30 mg/kg, did not robustly maintain a DTA. Two groups treated with 60 mg/kg LiCl, differing only in the type of drinking nozzle used (ball-bearing vs standard non-ball-bearing), behaved similarly. Suppression of drinking was related to the morphine dose, in an orderly manner (dose range 0.3-10 mg/kg), in rats for which morphine was followed by LiCl. No significant decline in drinking occurred for rats for which morphine was followed by saline, except perhaps at the 10 mg/kg test dose of morphine. The control of drinking was pharmacologically specific; both experimental and control animals were equally affected in tests with delta9-THC (0.3-10 mg/kg). Low doses of delta9-THC increased water consumption; this did not occur with morphine. During extinction the reinstitution of drinking was similar across groups that had been effectively conditioned, i.e. there was no apparent effect of lithium dose on extinction. After extinction, a much attenuated reaction occurred to morphine in tests with 3 and 10 mg/kg. These doses of morphine had significantly suppressed drinking before the extinction phase. Collectively, these data add to the formal similarities between sensory and drug discriminative stimuli.
Isotope fractionation during ammonium uptake by marine microbial assemblages

To determine the nitrogen isotope fractionation associated with NH4 + uptake by bacteria in seawater, the stable nitrogen isotope ratio [reported as δ15N (%o)] of NH4 + and particulate organic nitrogen (PON) were measured during the growth of three different natural bacterial assemblages. The δ15N of NH4 + and bacteria size particles (<0.8 μm) changed by as much as 8%o during 100 h of incubation with 2–5 μM NH4+. Isotope fractionation during NH4 + uptake (∊u) was calculated during incubation periods with decreasing NH4 + concentrations and increasing δ15N of NH4+. For the three experiments, the values of ∊u calculated by the Rayleigh equation were ‐20, ‐8, and ‐5%o when net rates of NH4 + uptake were 16, 36, and 240 nM h‐1, respectively. These estimates of isotope fractionation are much larger than observed with pure cultures at similar NH4 + concentrations. The large estimates of ∊ufor natural assemblages of bacteria, relative to pure culture studies, may be partly biased by regeneration of NH4 + and iso...
Properties of SF4 and its adduct with BF3

Abstract Some new data on the adduct of SF4 with BF3 are reported and arguments are given, based on these and other data, to indicate that the adduct is quite unlikely to be a donor-acceptor complex. Infra-red examination proved inconclusive due to the instability and reactivity of the adduct. SF4 has been found to react with F2 producing SF6 but is unreactive toward BrF3 and Cl2. It reacts rapidly with BCl3 producing BF3, SCl2 and Cl2 when in excess.
Germline Mutations in MSR1, ASCC1, and CTHRC1 in Patients With Barrett Esophagus and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

Context Barrett esophagus (BE) occurs in 1% to 10% of the general population and is believed to be the precursor of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). The incidence of EAC has increased 350% in the last 3 decades without clear etiology. Finding predisposition genes may improve premorbid risk assessment, genetic counseling, and management. Genome-wide multiplatform approaches may lead to the identification of genes important in BE/EAC development. Objective To identify risk alleles or mutated genes associated with BE/EAC. Design, Setting, and Patients Model-free linkage analyses of 21 concordant-affected sibling pairs with BE/EAC and 11 discordant sibling pairs (2005-2006). Significant germline genomic regions in independent prospectively accrued series of 176 white patients with BE/EAC and 200 ancestry-matched controls (2007-2010) were validated and fine mapped. Integrating data from these significant genomic regions with somatic gene expression data from 19 BE/EAC tissues yielded 12 “priority” candidate genes for mutation analysis (2010). Genes that showed mutations in cases but not in controls were further screened in an independent prospectively accrued validation series of 58 cases (2010). Main Outcome Measures Identification of germline mutations in genes associated with BE/EAC cases. Functional interrogation of the most commonly mutated gene. Results Three major genes, MSR1, ASCC1, and CTHRC1 were associated with BE/EAC (all P T (p.R293X). An independent validation series confirmed germline MSR1 mutations in 2 of 58 cases (proportion, 0.035; 95% CI, 0.004-0.120; P = .09). MSR1 mutation resulted in CCND1 up-regulation in peripheral-protein lysate. Immunohistochemistry of BE tissues in MSR1 -mutation carriers showed increased nuclear expression of CCND1. Conclusion MSR1 was significantly associated with the presence of BE/EAC in derivation and validation samples, although it was only present in a small percentage of the cases.
[F-18]2-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography after limb salvage surgery: post-surgical appearance, attenuation correction and local complications

Metal endoprostheses and internal fixation devices cause significant artifacts on CT after limb salvage surgery; positron emission tomography (PET) images should be evaluated for artifacts. (1) To describe [F-18]2-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) PET uptake patterns after limb salvage surgery. (2) To determine whether metal endoprostheses and fixation hardware cause significant artifacts on CT attenuation-corrected PET that interfere with diagnostic use of PET/CT after limb salvage surgery. We reviewed 92 studies from 18 patients ages 5–21 years. Diagnoses were osteogenic sarcoma in 14, Ewing sarcoma in 3, and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor originating in bone in 1. Nine patients had distal femur/knee endoprostheses, five had lower-extremity bone allografts secured by large metal plates and four had upper-extremity limb salvage procedures. Maximum standardized uptake value was calculated at lower-extremity soft-tissue–endoprosthesis interfaces. In 15 patients with PET/CT imaging, the first PET/CT scan after limb salvage surgery was reviewed for metal artifacts on CT images and for artifacts at locations on PET corresponding to the CT metal artifacts. Increased FDG uptake was consistently present at soft-tissue interfaces with endoprostheses, allografts and internal fixation devices, with little or no FDG uptake at cemented endoprosthesis–bone interfaces. Maximum standardized uptake value at margins of femur/knee endoprostheses ranged from 1.4 to 5.7. In four patients with distal femur/knee endoprostheses, minimal artifact was noted on attenuation-corrected PET images, but image interpretation was not affected. In the other 11 patients who had CT attenuation correction, we detected no artifacts caused by the attenuation correction. CT attenuation correction did not cause artifacts that affected interpretation of attenuation-corrected PET images.
Coherent summation of laser beams using binary phase gratings.

A method for coherent addition of lasers is presented that uses binary phase-only gratings. It is shown that a grating that splits a single beam into N equal orders with high efficiency can be used in reverse to convert N laser beams into a single beam with the same efficiency. Experiments to demonstrate the conversion of seven beams to one beam are performed with a resulting conversion efficiency of 75%. An experimental apparatus is described that adds the power from both two and three He–Ne lasers (wavelength, 3.39 μm) with efficiencies as high as 83%.
Effect of some nitrotoluenes on the biotransformation of xenobiotics in rats

Male rats were treated with phenobarbital, a dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT or 2,6-DNT), or 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (2,4,6-TNT); and the biotransformation of model xenobiotics was determined. Phenobarbital produced a stimulation, and 2,6-DNT produced a biphasic effect in biotransformation.
Homeownership and Housing Equity: An Examination of Native- Immigrant Differences in Housing Wealth

This paper examines the differences in homeownership between immigrants and native-born residents using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79) data. We estimate the preference for homeownership and the amount of home equity held by households using a two-stage procedure. The results indicate that, although immigrants are less likely to be homeowners, immigrants who make the decision to own homes are more likely to have greater housing equity than native-born residents. About 66 to 70% of the disparity in homeownership can be explained by the difference in characteristics. The remaining disparity results from different homeownership functions estimated for the two groups. We discuss the implications of these findings for policy makers, real estate market researchers, and scholars of consumer behavior.
Neurologic complications of chemotherapy for children with cancer.

Survival rates for children with cancer have increased dramatically over the past few decades. Development of new chemotherapeutic agents and the expanded use of older agents have had a major impact on this celebrated improvement. Chemotherapy can have, however, significant toxicity on the nervous system. The most common neurologic complications involve acute alterations in consciousness, leukoencephalopathy, seizures, cerebral infarctions, paralysis, neuropathy, and ototoxicity. Most of the information on toxicity comes from prospective reports and the adult patient population. Methotrexate, cyclosporin, and platinum compounds are the most frequently cited. No prospective studies have been done to evaluate chemotherapyinduced neurotoxicity in the pediatric population, and the exact incidence of such complications is unknown. Such investigation is greatly needed, as it may lead to a better understanding of how chemotherapy affects the nervous system and ultimately help develop more strategies to prevent drug-related neurotoxicity in pediatric cancer patients.
To lose, to maintain, to ignore: Weight management among women

The purpose of this study was to describe the process of weight management and the factors that influence this process in a sample of 37 middle‐class and working‐class white women of varied body size. A naturalistic study design, with a cultural‐ecological theoretical orientation and ethnographic interviewing techniques, was used. The findings indicated that there were five stages through which women moved, repeatedly, as they managed weight: appraising, de‐emphasizing, mobilizing, enacting, and maintaining. Each stage consisted of multiple processes characterized by the use of personally developed tactics and strategies. Concern about appearance rather than health was a more salient factor in the initiation of weight‐loss efforts. Progression through the five‐stage pathway for weight management was influenced by time and informants’ weight. Implications for practice include helping clients reduce the difficulty of altering cultural routines of eating and exercise and eliciting clients’ own norms for body...
Of enraged shirts, gyrating gangsters, and farting bullets: Salman Khan and the new Bollywood action film

This paper explores a new genre of Bollywood action films spawned by action superstar Salman Khan, focusing specifically on his 2010 hit Dabangg [The Thug]. The paper argues that although touted as an action film, Dabangg plays with the generic conventions of the Bollywood action film, by introducing elements of the carnivalesque into its display of masculinity and violence. In doing so it reinvents the action film as the masti (or fun/playful) film. I begin with a brief history of the Bollywood action film, situating Dabangg both within this larger tradition and also analyzing its departure from it. Next, I argue that Dabangg parodies the fight sequence, a staple of the action film genre, by introducing elements of the carnivalesque – the image of the grotesque body, songs and dances, mimicry of serious rituals and the destabilization of the boundaries between art and life – into the ritualized performance of violence and masculinity, thereby transforming the latter into comedic spectacle. Following this...