cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the Use of Z-Scores for Fine-Mapping with Related Individuals

Using summary statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) has been widely used for fine-mapping complex traits in humans. The statistical framework was largely developed for unrelated samples. Though it is possible to apply the framework to fine-mapping with related individuals, extensive modifications are needed. Unfortunately, this has often been ignored in summary-statistics-based fine-mapping with related individuals. In this paper, we show in theory and simulation what modifications are necessary to extend the use of summary statistics to related individuals. The analysis also demonstrates that though existing summary-statistics-based fine-mapping methods can be adapted for related individuals, they appear to have no computational advantage over individual-data-based methods.
Plant Desiccation Tolerance

Section 1. Vegetative Desiccation Tolerance. 1. Plant desiccation tolerance: diversity, distribution, and real-world applications - Andrew J. Wood and Matthew A. Jenks. 2. Lessons on dehydration tolerance from desiccation tolerant plants - Melvin Oliver. 3. Mechanisms of desiccation tolerance in Angiosperm resurrection plants - Jill M. Farrant. 4. Desiccation tolerance in lichens - Richard P. Beckett and Farida V. Minibayeva. 5. Desiccation tolerance: gene expression, pathways and regulation of gene expression - Dorothea Bartels, Jonathon Phillips, and John Chandler. Section 2. Desiccation Tolerance of Pollen, Spores and Seeds. 6. Seed desiccation-tolerance mechanisms - Patricia Berjak, Jill M. Farrant, and Norman W. Pammenter. 7. The glassy state in dry seeds and pollen - Olivier Leprince and Julia Buitink. 8. DNA structure and seed desiccation tolerance - Ivan Broubriak, Shirley McCready, and Daphne J. Osborne. 9. Structural dynamics and desiccation damage in plant reproductive organs - Christina Walters and Karen L. Koster. Section 3. Applications of Desiccation Tolerance Research. 10. Desiccation tolerance genes and avenues for crop improvement - Revel Iyer, Sagadevan G. Mundree, Mohamed Suhail Rafudeen, and Jennifer Ann Thompson
English Grammar: Kinds of words

Do you shudder when you hear the words noun or verb ? Don't worry — you already know all about word categories, also known as parts of speech, though you may not think you do. You know, for example, that you can say the idea and the boy but not * the about or * happy the . (As stated in the How to use this book section, an asterisk [*] is used to indicate that something is ungrammatical.) That is, you know that some words can go in some places in a sentence and others can't. A word category, or part of speech, is just a name given to a group of words that have something in common, such as where they can go in a sentence. Part I gives you a quick and easy guide to basic word categories.
Operator norms and essential norms of weighted composition operators between Banach spaces of analytic functions

Abstract In this work, we characterize the bounded and compact weighted composition operators from a large class of Banach space of analytic functions on the open unit disk into weighted Banach spaces, determine the operator norm exactly and obtain estimates on the essential norm. We obtain an exact formula of the essential norm when such operators map the Hardy spaces, the weighted Bergman spaces, the Bloch space and the little Bloch space into the Banach space H μ ∞ (where the weight μ is a continuous function). In this general setting we also study such operators when the target space is an α-Bloch space for any α > 0 and more generally, any Bloch-type space. As special cases, we derive norm and essential norm approximations for the operators acting on the Hardy spaces and the weighted Bergman spaces. Immediate corollaries are results on certain integral operators.
Ion transport ATPases as targets for free radical damage: Protection by an aminosteroid of the Ca2+ pump atpase and Na+/K+ pump ATPase of human red blood cell membranes

Preincubation of red blood cell membranes in the presence of ferrous sulfate and EDTA resulted in both a concentration- and time-dependent inhibition of the Na+/K+ pump ATPase, basal Ca2+ pump ATPase, and the calmodulin- (CaM) activated Ca2+ pump ATPase. The IC50, for all three ATPases was approximately 2.5 × 10−5 M iron. The addition to membranes of ferrous iron and EDTA in an approximately 1:1 ratio resulted in conversion to the ferric iron form in several minutes. However, inhibition of the ion pump ATPases and cross-linking of membrane proteins occurred over the course of several hours. The time course of formation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) closely paralleled inhibition of the ion pump ATPases. Inhibition of the ion pump ATPases was prevented by the addition of deferoxamine or Superoxide dismutase but not by mannitol, ethanol, or catalase. Both butylated hydroxytoluene and tirilazad mesylate (U74006F) prevented the formation of TBARS, limited the inhibition of the ion pump ATPases, and reduced cross-linking of membrane proteins. These data may be interpreted to suggest that inhibition of ion pump ATPases in plasma membranes may occur as a result of iron-promoted formation of Superoxide and subsequent lipid peroxidation, which can be prevented by free-radical scavengers including butylated hydroxytoluene and U74006F.
Endovascular therapy for acute ischemic stroke.

Publisher Summary This chapter presents an overview of catheter-based strategies for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. New techniques and recent advances are highlighted such as a mechanical thrombectomy device for restoration of blood flow in the neurovasculature. Endovascular therapy is an effective alternative for recanalization of major vessel occlusion and has become a reality in the armamentarium of stroke treatment. Site-specific intra-arterial delivery of thrombolytic agents has enabled recanalization of anterior and posterior circulation lesions. Mechanical techniques for clot disruption have resulted in increased vessel recanalization rates and reduced hemorrhage rates concomitant with reduced doses of thrombolytic agents. Improvement in patient selection, refinement in technology, and the incorporation of endovascular teams at stroke centers drives the utility of these techniques forward.
The Homology of the real moduli spaces \bar(M)_(0,n)

We compute the rank of the first homology group and we study the higher Betti numbers of the real points of the Deligne-Mumford-Knudsen compactification of stable n-pointed curves of genus 0,which coincides with the Chow quotient (RP^1)^n//PGL(2,R)(after Kapranov).
Time-limited waveform synthesis for range-Doppler radar

Summary form only given. An exact expression has been derived for the continuous ambiguity function of a time-limited waveform in terms of the discrete ambiguity function of the same waveform, and the resulting aliasing problem has been studied. The results have been used to solve the problem of least-squares synthesis of ambiguity functions for time-limited waveforms. The optimal waveform is specified by its Fourier transform samples taken at the Nyquist rate. Since the waveform is time limited, in general there are infinitely many nonzero frequency samples. Therefore, for practical purposes, all but a finite number of samples are specified to be zero. With this constraint, the design problem is solved by optimally choosing the nonzero Fourier-transform samples. This is accomplished by finding the eigenvector corresponding to the largest eigenvalue of a Hermitian matrix generated from the desired ambiguity function. The corresponding time waveform is then obtained by inverse transforming the optimal Fourier samples using the fast Fourier transform (FFT). Weighting of the Fourier samples prior to the FFT reduces the Gibbs' phenomenon. >
Reasoning in dynamic logic about program termination

Total correctness assertions (TCAs) have long been considered a natural formalization of successful program termination. However, research dating back to the 1980s suggests that validity of TCAs is a notion of limited interest; we corroborate this by proving compactness and Herbrand properties for the valid TCAs, defining in passing a new sound, complete, and syntax-directed deductive system for TCAs. It follows that proving TCAs whose truth depends on underlying inductive data-types is impossible in logics of programs that are sound for all structures, such as Dynamic Logic (DL) based on Segerberg-Pratt's PDL, even when augmented with powerful first-order theories like Peano Arithmetic. The Convergence Rule of [6] bypasses this difficulty, but is methodologically and conceptually problematic, in addition to being unsound for general validity. We propose instead to bind variables to inductive data via DL's box operator, leading to an alternative formalization of termination assertions, which we dub Inductive TCA (ITCA). We show that validity of ITCAs is directly reducible to validity of partial correctness assertions, confirming the foundational importance of the latter.
Herpes simplex virus type 2 antibodies: high prevalence in monogamous women in Costa Rica.

Articulo cientifico -- Universidad de Costa Rica. Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud, 1989
Content-Based Publish/Subscribe Systems

The application and deployment of publish/subscribe systems have developed significantly over the past years. A publish/subscribe system is a powerful paradigm for information dissemination from publishers (data/event producers) to subscribers (data/event consumers) in large-scale distributed networks. Publish/subscribe systems have been used in a variety of applications ranging from personalized information dissemination to large-scale and critical monitoring. This chapter provides a survey on current content-based publish/subscribe systems. It first introduces the publish/subscribe systems, then presents a survey of current systems based on three classification criteria: subscription model, routing and topology. It details different publish/subscribe systems in the centralized category and distributed category including multicast-based systems and Distributed hash table (DHT)-based systems. Finally, it concludes the chapter with concluding remarks and open issues.
Ground path inductance characterization of a 225PBGA

This paper presents the measured L data of the ground (V/sub SS/) structure of a 225PBGA by using a two-port network analyzer technique. The ground structure of this package has eight source points (bond wire sites) and one sink point (solder ball site). Measurement data is presented in terms of an 8/spl times/8 matrix for the V/sub SS/ L path. Experimental procedure and its implications are discussed.
The Juno mission to Jupiter — A pre-launch update

Juno, the second mission within the New Frontiers Program, is a Jupiter polar orbiter mission that will return high-priority science data relevant to multiple divisions within NASA's Science Mission Directorate.12 Juno is currently in system integration/test in Denver and ships to Astrotech in Titusville, Florida in April 2011 to conduct final checkout in preparation for integration with the launch vehicle and subsequent launch in August 2011. This paper builds upon the Juno mission overview paper published after the Project PDR (2009 IEEE Aerospace Conference - paper #1582 that provided an comprehensive description of Juno's science objectives, and the instrument payload, spacecraft design including solar arrays, radiation vault, stellar reference unit, and the mission/operations design following arrival at Jupiter) and reviews Juno's current project status, provides a description of the Juno mission through Jupiter arrival, summarizes mission and spacecraft design changes that have occurred since the Juno Project level PDR and discusses some of the technical and management challenges that the Juno team has encountered in keeping Juno successfully on track for launch in August.
A Deacylase in Rhizobium leguminosarum Membranes That Cleaves the 3-O-Linked β-Hydroxymyristoyl Moiety of Lipid A Precursors

Lipid A from the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Rhizobium leguminosarum displays many structural differences compared with lipid A of Escherichia coli. R. leguminosarum lipid A lacks the usual 1- and 4'-phosphate groups but is derivatized with a galacturonic acid substituent at position 4'. R. leguminosarum lipid A often contains an aminogluconic acid moiety in place of the proximal glucosamine 1-phosphate unit. Striking differences also exist in the secondary acyl chains attached to E. coli versus R. leguminosarum lipid A, specifically the presence of 27-hydroxyoctacosanoate and the absence of laurate and myristate in R. leguminosarum. Recently, we have found that lipid A isolated by pH 4.5 hydrolysis of R. leguminosarum cells is more heterogeneous than previously reported (Que, N. L. S., Basu, S. S., White, K. A., and Raetz, C. R. H. (1998) FASEB J. 12, A1284 (abstr.)). Lipid A species lacking the 3-O-linked beta-hydroxymyristoyl residue on the proximal unit contribute to this heterogeneity. We now describe a membrane-bound deacylase from R. leguminosarum that removes a single ester-linked beta-hydroxymyristoyl moiety from some lipid A precursors, including lipid X, lipid IVA, and (3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid)2-lipid IVA. The enzyme does not cleave E. coli lipid A or lipid A precursors containing an acyloxyacyl moiety on the distal glucosamine unit. The enzyme is not present in extracts of E. coli or Rhizobium meliloti, but it is readily demonstrable in membranes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which also contains a significant proportion of 3-O-deacylated lipid A species. Optimal reaction rates are seen between pH 5.5 and 6.5. The enzyme requires a nonionic detergent and divalent metal ions for activity. It cleaves the monosaccharide lipid X at about 5% the rate of lipid IVA and (3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid)2-lipid IVA. 1H NMR spectroscopy of the deacylase reaction product, generated with lipid IVA as the substrate, confirms unequivocally that the enzyme cleaves only the ester-linked beta-hydroxymyristoyl residue at the 3-position of the glucosamine disaccharide.
An electron spin resonance investigation and molecular orbital calculation of the anion radical intermediate in the enzymatic cis-trans isomerization of furylfuramide, a nitrofuran derivative of ethylene.

Abstract The enzymatic cis-trans isomerization of nitrofuran derivatives has been proposed to occur via the formation of a radical anion intermediate. ESR investigations, in conjunction with intermediate neglect of differential overlap (INDO) molecular orbital calculations, support this concept by demonstrating the enzymatic generation of cis and trans radical anions of 3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-(2-furyl) acrylamide. The INDO calculations further indicate that the rotational barrier between the cis and trans anion radicals of this compound is only 5–10 kcal/mol, whereas a 70 kcal/mol barrier exists for the parent geometric isomers. Hyperfine splitting constants for the cis-trans conformers have been assigned on the basis of INDO calculations. Surprisingly, only the nitrogen hyperfine splitting of the nitro group is distinguishably different in the two conformers, a result which is not inconsistent with the INDO calculations.
Yin-yang 1 and glucocorticoid receptor participate in the Stat5-mediated growth hormone response of the serine protease inhibitor 2.1 gene.

A growth hormone-inducible nuclear factor complex (GHINF), affinity-purified using the growth hormone response element (GHRE) from the promoter of rat serine protease inhibitor 2.1, was found to contain Stat5a and -5b, as well as additional components. The ubiquitous transcription factor yin-yang 1 (YY1) is present in GHINF. An antibody to YY1 inhibited the formation of the GHINF·GHRE complex in an electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Furthermore, Stat5 was co-immunoprecipitated from rat hepatic nuclear extracts with antibodies to YY1. An examination of the GHRE shows that, in addition to two γ-activated sites, it contains a putative YY1 binding site between the two γ-activated sites, overlapping them both. Mutation of this putative YY1 site results in a decrease of GHINF·GHRE complex formation in an electrophoretic mobility shift assay and a corresponding decrease in growth hormone (GH) response in functional assays. The glucocorticoid receptor was also present in GHINF, and Stat5 co-immunoprecipitates with glucocorticoid receptor in hepatic nuclear extracts from rats treated with GH. GH activation of serine protease inhibitor 2.1 requires the unique sequence of the GHRE encompassing the recognition sites of several transcription factors, and the interaction of these factors enhances the assembly of the transcription complex.
Is Hyperglycemia Bad for the Heart During Acute Ischemia

Objective This study investigates the impact of diabetes on myocardium in the setting of acute ischemia–reperfusion in a porcine model. Methods In normoglycemic (ND group) and alloxan-induced diabetic (DM group) male Yucatan pigs, the left anterior descending coronary artery territory was made ischemic and then reperfused. Hemodynamic values and myocardial function were measured. Monastryl blue and triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining were used to assess size of the areas at risk and infarction. Glycogen content was assessed using periodic acid–Schiff staining. Cell death and survival signaling pathways were assessed by immunoblotting. Results Mean arterial pressure and developed left ventricular pressure were lower in the DM group ( P P P P P = .7). Ischemic myocardium in the DM group displayed more prominent staining for glycogen compared with the ND group. In the area at risk, expression of cell survival proteins including phosphorylated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (0.17 ± 0.04 vs 0.04 ± 0.01; P P P P Conclusions Although type I diabetes worsens global left ventricular function, it is protective in the ischemic area, leading to increased expression of cell survival proteins and decreased infarct size.
An efficient handover decision making for heterogeneous wireless connectivity management

During vertical handover process, considering a network selection based on various Quality of Service (QoS) metrics which indicate the network access performance does not necessarily imply that the chosen network improves or satisfies the users' Perceived Quality of Service (PQoS). This paper not only investigates all kind of information that can constitute the context-aware during handover decision step but also it defines a handover decision algorithm based on network measurements with taking into account the PQoS. Our algorithm uses the sensitive context criteria which are the key required by each class of service and checks their impact on the performance of the chosen network. Here we develop a new context-aware vertical handover algorithm based on a Multi Attribute Decision Making (MADM) approach and we take into account the PQoS. A perform convergence toward the appropriate network is given by our proposed decision function algorithm which guarantees the end users' PQoS. Simulation results show that our algorithm reduces the number of criteria based on sensitivity for the context awareness. It also avoids the unnecessary executed handover generated by bad network selection which is computationally expensive and can impacts processing delay.
EPA-1159 – Defining emotions: exploring chaos

This essay suggests the need to abandon vernacular terms used for emotions, and a preliminary attempt to define them instead. First described is the massive confusion in popular and scientific conceptions of emotion. Although recently there has been considerable interest, we are still in the flat earth stage. The main problem is a sizeable structure of erroneous assumptions, such as venting anger’gets it off your chest.’ There seem to be at least four defenses against confronting emotions directly: 1. Ignore. 2. Generalize (using only abstract terms: emotions, affect, arousal, etc.). 3. Disguise: use one of the vast number of alternative words that hide emotional content, such as’an awkward moment.’ 4. Confuse especially in English, the most important emotion terms are at least ambiguous and often misleading. A preliminary approach is offered toward defining fear, grief, anger, shame and pride. The elaborate hiding of shame studies by the use of alternative words is described in detail. Approaches to emotion that allow them to be noticed and discussed openly and directly are probably important not only for research but for our whole civilization.
High Fructose Corn Syrup Replacement for Sucrose in Shortened Cakes

Cakes were prepared with high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) at 0, 50, and 75% replacement for sucrose to study the quality of cakes prepared with HFCS. Objective measurements showed that cakes prepared with HFCS were lower in volume, darker in crust and crumb color and no different in moisture content when compared with sucrose cakes. The taste panel found the sensory evaluation of the HFCS more moist and no different in crumb color. The 75% HFCS cakes were rated sweeter than the sucrose or the 50% HFCS. The sucrose cake was rated highest for overall acceptability but the sensory differences were slight.
Americanism and anti-communism: the UAW and repressive liberalism before the red scare

The relationship between Communism and Americanism during the Popular Front period is now largely perceived as a positive one. By promoting the idea that Communism was an extension of specifically American political traditions, the argument runs, Communists were able to advance their participation in the unions and in a left-oriented cultural-political alliance with broad popular appeal. Against this perspective, this article highlights the repressive significance of liberal nationalism as a resource for the narrowing of political culture in the New Deal labor movement. In particular, the analysis focuses on the importance of Americanism to attacks by the Reuther caucus on the Communist Party in the United Automobile Workers (UAW) from the end of the 1930s through the war. Such factional politics are significant both as a reflection of more general developments in the Congress of Industrial Organizations and because of the UAW's centrality to the political trajectory of the labor movement. More broadly, t...
A DVD Program on Fall Prevention Skills Training for Cancer Family Caregivers

This feasibility study tested an instructional DVD program for improving cancer family caregivers' knowledge and preparedness in fall prevention and reducing fall occurrence among the patients they care for at home. DVD program features included training caregivers on safe mobility skills. Family caregivers of cancer patients were surveyed before and after viewing the DVD program on “Moving Safely” in the home. Cancer patients were followed 4 months postintervention to determine if fall occurrence was reduced. There was a decrease in the number of patients who fell postintervention compared with those who fell preintervention. Caregivers' perceptions of knowledge about fall prevention improved significantly after viewing the DVD. An instructional DVD program is an effective educational tool for preparing family caregivers with the knowledge and skills needed to reduce the incidence of falls in the home setting. Educators must develop programs for preparing family caregivers to perform nursing skills within the home.
Charge spreading and position sensitivity in a segmented planar germanium detector

Abstract The size of the charge cloud collected in a segmented germanium detector is limited by the size of the initial cloud, uniformity of the electric field, and the diffusion of electrons and holes through the detector. These factors affect the minimize size of a practical electrode structure and consequently the position sensitivity. We have completed measurements on a germanium strip detector with a finely collimated gamma ray beam to measure these properties. Preliminary results indicate that the electrons and holes spread by
LCOGT sites and site operations

LCOGT is currently building and deploying a world-wide network of at least twelve 1-meter and twenty-four 0.4-meter telescopes to as many as 4 sites in the Southern hemisphere (Chile, South Africa, Eastern Australia) and 4 in the Northern hemisphere (Hawaii, West Texas, Canary Islands). Our deployment and operations model emphasizes modularity and interchangeability of major components, maintenance and troubleshooting personnel who are local to the site, and autonomy of operation. We plan to ship, install, and spare large units (in many cases entire telescopes), with minimal assembly on site.
What Determines Giving to Hurricane Katrina Victims? Experimental Evidence on Racial Group Loyalty

We investigate the role of racial group loyalty on generosity in a broadly representative sample of the US adult population. We use an audiovisual presentation to manipulate beliefs about the race, income, and worthiness of Hurricane Katrina victims. Respondents then decide how to divide $100 between themselves and Katrina victims. We find no effects of victims' race on giving on average. However, respondents who report feeling close to their racial or eth - nic group give substantially more when victims are of the same race, while respondents who do not feel close to their group give substan
Phenotypic and Functional Characterization of In Vivo Tissue Engineered Smooth Muscle From Normal and Pathological Bladders

ABSTRACTPurpose: The engineering of bladder tissue involves obtaining a biopsy from a host, expanding the cells, seeding them onto a matrix and implanting the cell-matrix composite back into the host. Clinically, cells used for these techniques may be harvested from abnormal bladders. It is not known whether abnormal bladder cells may be engineered into functionally normal tissue. We investigated the phenotypic and functional characteristics of tissue engineered bladder smooth muscle derived from patients with functionally normal bladders and functionally abnormal exstrophic and neuropathic bladders.Materials and Methods: Human smooth muscle cells derived from functionally normal bladders, exstrophic bladders and neurogenic bladders were grown, expanded and seeded onto polymer scaffolds. Sixteen cell seeded scaffolds were analyzed in vitro and 40 cell seeded scaffolds were implanted in athymic mice. The tissue engineered constructs were retrieved and analyzed at 2 weeks and 2 months. The scaffolds were ev...
Hypothalamic hamartoma: a source of luteinizing-hormone-releasing factor in precocious puberty.

The presence of a hypothalamic hamartoma and precocious puberty in a 19-month-old boy provided an opportunity to study their relation. Excised tissue had the ultrastructural characteristics of an independent neuroendocrine unit -- i.e., neurons containing neurosecretory granules and blood vessels with fenestrated endothelium and double basement membranes. Immunofluorescence studies using specific antibody to luteinizing-hormone-releasing factor showed antigenicity to the factor in the hamartoma. The testicular-hypothalamic-pituitary axis was tested. Clomiphene unresponsiveness suggested a lack of maturation of central-nervous-system events characteristic of normal puberty. The negative feedback system between gonad and brain was intact but partially resistant to steroid suppression. These studies suggest that hypothalamic hamartomas may cause precocious puberty by autonomous production and release of luteinizing-hormone-releasing factor into vessels that communicate with the pituitary portal blood system.
Consumption of vitamin D in fortified and natural foods and in vitamin preparations

Data were obtained from seven-day records of the daily intake of vitamin D in measured amounts of fortified and natural foods and in vitamin preparations. The 150 subjects ranged in age from newly born to 17 years. The daily average varied from 21 to 1,800 I.U. Of the total group, 9.3 per cent consistently had intakes above 1,000 I.U.; 31.3 per cent, below 400 I.U.; 3.3 per cent, less than 100 I.U.; and 50 per cent, from 400 to 800 I.U., optimal range. Milk was found to be the most uniform source of vitamin D for all age groups; other vitamin D—fortified foods were not needed to bring consumption to the desired level.
Settling of discs inside a vertical fluid-filled tube

The broadside settling of discs along the centerline of a fluid-filled tube is studied. The Stokes equation is solved by a method of eigenfunction expansions and collocation. Depending on the geometry, the flow field shows different arrangements of recirculating eddies. Due to mutual shielding, the discs settle faster when they are closer together.
Acute otitis media caused by Branhamella catarrhalis: biology and therapy

B. catarrhalis was commoner in winter than summer. B. catarrhalis was present in middle-ear fluid (MEF) of 17%7 of children with otitis media, and was commoner in fall and winter (20%o) than in spring and summer (11%, P < .05). Seventy-five percent of isolates produced P-lactamase (Ravasio type). In five of 20 patients, treatment with 3-lactamasesusceptible agents failed to sterilize B. catarrhalis-infected MEF. All of these five patients were infected with 3-lactamase-producing strains. The increasing prominence of antibioticresistant B. catarrhalis in acute otitis media may lead to a reevaluation of initial antibiotic therapy for acute otitis media, particularly in winter or in areas where colonization with such strains is prevalent.
Measurement of absorbed dose by 7-GeV bremsstrahlung in a PMMA phantom

Abstract High-energy electron storage rings generate energetic bremsstrahlung photons through radiative interaction of the particle beam with the residual gas molecules and other components inside the storage ring. At synchrotron radiation facilities, where beamlines are channeled out of the storage ring, a continuous bremsstrahlung spectrum, with a maximum energy of the stored particle beam, will be present. At the advanced photon source (APS), where the stored beam energy is 7 GeV, bremsstrahlung generated in the straight sections of the insertion device beamlines, which are a total of 15.38 m in length, can be significant. The contribution from each bremsstrahlung interaction adds up to produce a narrow mono-directional bremsstrahlung beam that comes down through the insertion device beamlines. The resulting absorbed dose distributions by this radiation in a 300 mm×300 mm×300 mm tissue substitute cube phantom were measured with LiF:Mg,Ti (TLD-700) thermoluminescent dosemeters. The normalized absorbed dose, in a cross-sectional area of 100 mm2 at a depth of 150 mm of the PMMA phantom, was measured as 3.3×106 mGy h−1W−1 for 7-GeV bremsstrahlung spectrum.
A comparison of atomoxetine administered as once versus twice daily dosing on the school and home functioning of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Abstract Objective: This secondary analysis examined the efficacy and tolerability of atomoxetine (ATX) dosed once (QD) versus twice (BID) daily in 55 children aged 6–12 with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods: The original 8-week trial was designed to assess the benefits of adding behavioral therapy to ATX. In it, all subjects were treated openly with ATX, with 50% randomly assigned to additional behavioral treatments. Every subject was started on QD dosing with a target dose of 1.2 mg/kg per day. A switch to BID dosing was allowed at study midpoint to improve tolerability and efficacy. Subjects not responding to ATX at midpoint were also given the option of 0.6 mg/kg dose increase. ADHD and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) symptoms, global functioning, side effects, and classroom performance were measured weekly. Results: There were 22 subjects (40%) who switched to BID dosing at midpoint (mean dose = 1.56 mg/kg per day) with the other 33 remaining on QD dosing (mean dose = 1.33...
Identification of LTR-specific small non-coding RNA in FeLV infected cells.

The U3-LTR region of leukemia viruses transactivates cancer-related signaling pathways through the production of a non-coding RNA transcript although the role of this transcript in virus infection remains unknown. In this study we demonstrate for the first time that an long terminal repeat (LTR)-specific small non-coding RNA is produced from a feline leukemia virus (FeLV)-infected feline cell line. RNA cloning identified this as a 104 base transcript that originates from the U3-LTR region. We also demonstrate that in in vitro assays this LTR-RNA transcript activates NFκB signaling. Taken together, our findings suggest a possible role for this LTR transcript in FeLV pathogenesis.
A tale of two centromeres—diversity of structure but conservation of function in plants and animals

The structural and functional aspects of two specific centromeres, one drawn from the animal kingdom (Drosophila) and the other from the plant kingdom (maize), are compared. Both cases illustrate an epigenetic component to centromere specification. The observations of neocentromeres in Drosophila and inactive centromeres in maize constitute one line of evidence for this hypothesis. Another common feature is the divisibility of centromere function with reduced stability as the size decreases. The systems differ in that Drosophila has no common sequence repeat at all centromeres, whereas maize has a 150-bp unit present in tandem arrays together with a centromere-specific transposon, centromere retrotransposon maize, present at all primary constrictions. Aspects of centromere structure known only from one or the other system might be common to both, namely, the presence of centromere RNAs in the kinetochore as found in maize and the organization of the centromeric histone 3 in tetrameric nucleosomes.
μ-Opioid and GABAB receptors modulate different types of Ca2+ currents in rat nodose ganglion neurons

Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were obtained from nodose ganglion neurons acutely dissociated from 10-30-day-old rats to characterize the Ca2+ channel types that are modulated by GABA(B) and mu-opioid receptors. Five components of high-threshold current were distinguished on the basis of their sensitivity to blockade by omega-conotoxin GVIA, nifedipine, omega-agatoxin IVA and omega-conotoxin MVIIC. Administration of the mu-opioid agonist H-Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-Phe(N-Me)-Gly-ol (0.3-1 mM) or the GABA(B) agonist baclofen in saturating concentrations suppressed high-threshold Ca2+ currents by 49.9+/-2.4% (n=69) and 18.7+/-2.1% (n=35), respectively. The inhibition by H-Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-Phe(N-Me)-Gly-ol exceeded that by baclofen in virtually all neurons that responded to both agonists (67%), and occlusion experiments revealed that responses to mu-opioid and GABA(B) receptor activation were not linearly additive. In addition, administration of staurosporine, a non-selective inhibitor of protein kinase A and C, did not affect the inhibitory responses to either agonist or prevent the occlusion of baclofen-induced current inhibition by H-Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-Phe(N-Me)-Gly-ol. Blockade of N-type channels by omega-conotoxin GVIA eliminated current suppression by baclofen in all cells tested (n=11). Mu-opioid-induced inhibition in current was abolished by omega-conotoxin GVIA in 12 of 30 neurons tested, but was only partially reduced in the remaining 18 neurons. In the latter cells administration of omega-agatoxin IVA reduced, but did not eliminate the mu-opioid sensitive current component that persisted after blockade of N-type channels. This residual component of mu-opioid-sensitive current was blocked completely by omega-conotoxin MVIIC in nine neurons, whereas responses to H-Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-Phe(N-Me)-Gly-ol were still recorded in the remaining cells after administration of these Ca2+ channel toxins and nifedipine. Dihydropyridine-sensitive (L-type) current was not affected by activation of mu-opioid or GABA(B) receptors in any of the neurons. These data indicate that in nodose ganglion neurons mu-opioid receptors are negatively coupled to N-, P- and Q-type channels as well as to a fourth, unidentified toxin-resistant Ca2+ channel. In contrast, GABA(B) receptors are coupled only to N-type channels. Furthermore, the results do not support a role for either protein kinase C or A in the modulatory pathway(s) coupling mu-opioid and GABA(B) receptors to Ca2+ channels, but rather lend credence to the notion that the signalling mechanisms utilized by these two receptors might simply compete for inhibitory control of a common pool of N-type channels.
Role of robot-assisted surgery for bladder cancer.

Purpose of reviewTo review the developments and current status of robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) with pelvic lymphadenectomy (PLND) and urinary diversion for the treatment of bladder cancer.Recent findingsRARC is growing steadily in 2008, and it is superseding pure laparoscopic radical cys
Dynamic rate adaptation

We describe a technique for automatically adapting to the rate of an incoming signal. We first build a model of the signal using a recurrent network trained to predict the input at some delay, for a ‘typical’ rate of the signal. Then, fixing the weights of this network, we adapt the time constant τ of the network using gradient descent, adapting the delay appropriately as well. We have found that on simple signals, the network adapts rapidly to new inputs varying in rate from being twice as fast as the original signal, down to ten times as slow. So far our results are based on linear rate changes. We discuss the possibilities of the application of this idea to speech.
Generation And Projection Of Stereo Motion Picture Films

The three dimensional impression of the real world is obtained from a variety of clues such as eye accomodation (change of focal length of eye), shading, motion of object, parallactic displacement of the views of the eyes and relative size of known objects. The computer controlled stereo optical display generation system that I will describe in this paper utilizes parallactic displacement of the two views presented to the eyes to give a subjective three dimensional impression of a displayed object.
Retooling faculty orientation

Are nursing faculty gradually becoming extinct? The answer is yes if we rely on National League for Nursing statistics indicating that 13 per cent of the nurses pursuing advanced education are directing their studies toward a teaching career and the United States Department of Health and Human Services Division of Nursing statistics indicating a total decline of 30 per cent in employed nurse educators during a 4-year period. New faculty are currently being recruited from the ranks of clinicians or from those with an administration specialization. The scarcity of faculty with adequate preparation to teach will affect quality education unless mechanisms to recruit, nurture, and retain qualified faculty are developed. This article addresses the use of a formalized orientation program to develop and socialize new faculty members into the academic setting in an expeditious manner. A general and specific orientation program was developed that began 6 weeks before employment and spanned one semester. Examples of the tools that were developed and used for orientation are included. Three new faculty have participated in the orientation process and have become valued team members. The results indicate that they benefited from a modular approach, which includes ongoing support meetings and the use of a mentor.
Direct evidence for methylation of arginine residues in high molecular weight forms of basic fibroblast growth factor.

Abstract Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a heparin-binding angiogenic polypeptide mitogen. Protein sequence analysis of bFGF isolated from tissue sources initially established that it is composed of 146 amino acids (apparent Mr 18,000). More recently larger apparent molecular weight forms have been identified and partially characterized. In addition, these high molecular weight forms (apparent Mr 22,000 and 25,000) have been shown to localize preferentially to nuclear fractions of transfected cells. In this report we demonstrate that the higher molecular weight, amino terminally extended forms of bFGF contain methylated arginine residues. The demonstration is based on 1) amino acid sequence analysis of a protein known to contain methylated arginine (myelin basic protein) and a comparison with amino acid sequence analysis of trypsin-derived fragments of the high molecular weight bFGF purified from guinea pig brain and 2) the ability to label in vivo the high molecular weight forms of bFGF with S-adenosyl-L-(methyl-3H)-methionine, the substrate of arginine-protein methylase I. These results are suggestive of a role of arginine methylation in directing nuclear localization of certain forms of bFGF.
Outing, truth-Telling, and the Shame of the Closet

This essay examines the nature of being in the closet, coming out, and the practice of outing. It is argued that no general rule against outing can be maintained since outing others may be defensible as one pursues one's own legitimate legal and moral interests. Neither does privacy extend to all aspects of human life which someone may wish to keep secret, especially if information about sexual orientation is not obtained in any immoral way. Withholding information about sexual orientation may sometimes be justified but on grounds of secrecy and not in a way that always forbids outing. The shame and degradation of the closet are evils, but outing is not necessarily their solution, though any loss of "privacy" entailed by coming out of the closet can be more than compensated by the rewards of casting off implications of worthlessness.
Imaging spin flows in semiconductors subject to electric, magnetic, and strain fields.

Using scanning Kerr microscopy, we directly acquire two-dimensional images of spin-polarized electrons flowing laterally in bulk epilayers of $n\ensuremath{\mathbin:}\mathrm{GaAs}$. Optical injection provides a local dc source of polarized electrons, whose subsequent drift and/or diffusion is controlled with electric, magnetic, and---in particular---strain fields. Spin precession induced by controlled uniaxial stress along the $⟨110⟩$ axes demonstrates the direct $\mathbf{k}$-linear spin-orbit coupling of electron spin to the shear (off diagonal) components of the strain tensor, ${ϵ}_{xy}$.
Influence of PDO on South Asian summer monsoon and monsoon–ENSO relation

This study has investigated the possible relation between the Indian summer monsoon and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) observed in the sea surface temperature (SST) of the North Pacific Ocean. Using long records of observations and coupled model (NCAR CCSM4) simulation, this study has found that the warm (cold) phase of the PDO is associated with deficit (excess) rainfall over India. The PDO extends its influence to the tropical Pacific and modifies the relation between the monsoon rainfall and El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). During the warm PDO period, the impact of El Nino (La Nina) on the monsoon rainfall is enhanced (reduced). A hypothesis put forward for the mechanism by which PDO affects the monsoon starts with the seasonal footprinting of SST from the North Pacific to the subtropical Pacific. This condition affects the trade winds, and either strengthens or weakens the Walker circulation over the Pacific and Indian Oceans depending on the phase of the PDO. The associated Hadley circulation in the monsoon region determines the impact of PDO on the monsoon rainfall. We suggest that knowing the phase of PDO may lead to better long-term prediction of the seasonal monsoon rainfall and the impact of ENSO on monsoon.
A study of structural transformation rates in NiTiF6·6D2O

Abstract The progression rate versus temperature for the supercooled structural transformation in NiTiF 6 ·6D 2 O is compared to that of NiTiF 6 ·6H 2 O. Energy parameters are obtained from a fit to a nucleation and growth model. Deuteration lowers the critical temperature by ≈ 14 K, and a second transition seen in the hydrated salt is not unambiguously observed.
Urgent Clinical Need for Accurate and Precise Bilirubin Measurements in the United States to Prevent Kernicterus

Kernicterus, a preventable brain injury resulting from severe neonatal jaundice, has reemerged in the US (1)(2)(3). Newborn jaundice, a usually benign condition that typically resolves with supervision and appropriate nutritional intake, can progress to severe hyperbilirubinemia in ∼8–10% of healthy newborn infants. Severe hyperbilirubinemia may need treatment with phototherapy. Some newborns discharged as healthy have developed severe hyperbilirubinemia after discharge and succumbed to serious and often irreversible posticteric sequelae. Kernicterus, as described in neonates, refers to the icteric (yellow) staining of the basal ganglia, specifically the globus pallidus (4). The voluntary Pilot Kernicterus Registry now recognizes a syndrome of bilirubin-induced neurologic dysfunction (BIND), which includes kernicterus in its most severe acute and chronic forms. Using the Registry eligibility criteria, Johnson et al. (1) have documented the reemergence of kernicterus in a population of term and near-term “healthy” infants after its near eradication following prevention of Rh sensitization and widespread availability of phototherapy. The common insult in all cases of BIND results from a total serum bilirubin (TSB) concentration that exceeds the infant’s neuroprotective defenses and leads to neuronal injury, primarily in the basal ganglia, central and peripheral auditory pathways, hippocampus, diencephalon, subthalamic nuclei, midbrain, cerebellum and pontine and brain-stem nuclei for oculomotor function and for respiratory, neurohumoral, and electrolyte control. The manifestations of acute bilirubin encephalopathy and chronic kernicteric sequelae may be minimal to severe and occur as various combinations (or possibly, isolated findings) of extrapyramidal disorders, neuromotor abnormalities, sensorineural hearing loss, and visual disability. Although not yet demonstrated, some experts believe that milder and subtler neurologic manifestations of BIND exist. The current reemergence of kernicterus in babies discharged as healthy from US hospitals represents a crisis of credibility and calls into question our ability to measure TSB with accuracy and precision. There is a need …
Museum visitor preferences and intentions in constructing aesthetic experience

Abstract Visitors to art museums vary on a number of a dimensions related to how they construct their museum experience. The visiting preferences and intentions of a sample of visitors to the Metropolitan Museum of Art were examined by having them respond to a survey as they entered the Museum. Visitors were presented with a set of nine contrasting statements (e.g., “I know how I like to look at art” and “I would like to learn more about how to look at art”.) separated by a six-point scale. Responses to the statement pairs indicated wide variability on items concerning whether visitors liked to look at many works of art in depth, or a few works briefly; whether they preferred to discuss works with others, or look alone; whether they preferred a linear or global organization; whether they wanted to learn more about how to look at art, or felt their skills were adequate. A series of regression equations looked at the relationship of age, education, self-reported knowledge of art, and frequency of Museum visitation to responses to the statement pairs. Knowledge of art was consistently the most important predictor.
Long-term individual recovery for the IRAS mission

IRAS (Infrared Astronomical Satellite) was launched on January 25, 1983 with the primary purpose of performing an infrared survey of the entire celestial sphere. Holes were left in the main survey when some areas received less than the minimum 2-layer coverage. A second survey filled in many of these holes; however, many still required long-term individual recovery. The result was a smooth survey with 96 percent of the sky covered to the desired depth of 2 or more layers.