cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
From Compassionate Ageism to Intergenerational Conflict

During the 50 years in which The Gerontologist has been publishing, the politics of aging in the United States has undergone distinct changes. The political behavior of older individuals has remained largely the same even though different birth cohorts have succeeded each other in populating the ranks of older people. But the politics of policies on aging-the organized interest and advocacy groups active in this arena, the tenor of public discourse about older people as beneficiaries of policies on aging, the national political agendas regarding public old-age benefits, and the broader U.S. political economy-have changed substantially over these five decades. Now, in the contexts of the aging of the baby boom and concerns about reducing large federal fiscal deficits (annual and cumulative), the politics of U.S. policies on aging may change considerably from those of yesterday and today. Is there a possibility of future intergenerational political conflict over taxes and expenditures for the major old-age benefit programs? If so, what might prevent or mitigate it?
IN NOSTRIS EXTREMIS (TERROR AND FANATICISM IN THE WESTERN MIND)

The abolitionist John Brown. Freedom fighter? Terrorist? The choice is unsatisfying for any number of reasons, least of all for the anachronistic nomenclature and the moral obviousness of his cause. Of course Brown was right, we can easily say, to take up the fight against that “peculiar institution” of barbarous slavery. Insofar as the federal government stood in the way of historical progress, perhaps he also was justified in striking the arsenal at Harper's Ferry in 1859 as the first salvo of the American Civil War, demonstrating by his pitiful action that the Union would have to choose sides and fight. Yet no less clear today is the sheer difficulty of justifying such antistate violence. Since the 1970s and especially since September 11, 2001, with comparable moral obviousness, insurgent and terroristic violence have generally been condemned as threats to social stability and political coherence. The very liberal-democratic traditions that might otherwise superficially heroize someone like John Brown recoil at the disorder he personified. The truth of Brown's adventurism is clearly more complicated than the postcard version, and his crazed biblical prophetism, nasty 1856 murder spree in Kansas, and patronizing wish to play Moses to southern blacks must be read alongside successful efforts by the government and pro-slavery camp to brand him an incorrigible fanatic—a label that Brown himself and other abolitionists embraced as their own. What Brown represents, however, is an access point to the deep history of ideas about fanaticism and terrorism in the modern West, a history filled with paradoxes and ambiguities that nonetheless revolve around the basic fact—avoided with ease by contemporary pundits and prognosticators—that for the past several centuries we have met the enemy, and he is us.
The production of extracellular connective tissue fibrils by chick notochordal epithelium in vitro.

Fertile hens eggs were incubated 48 hours. Embryos were removed from the shell and the cervical region from each excised and placed in a balanced salt solution containing 1% trypsin for 40 minutes. Notochords were isolated by microdissection and further incubated in vitro 48 or 72 hours. Following trypsinization, unincubated notochords were rod-shaped and were shown by electron microscopy to be devoid of extracellular materials or contaminating mesenchymal cells. Extracellular materials, ultrastructurally indistinguishable from those in the perinotochordal connective tissue space in vivo, are present on the surfaces of cell clusters at 48 hours of in vitro incubation. Areas of fibrillogenesis, in which microfibrils are separated from the surface of cells by intermittent basement lamina, are common. At 72 hours of in vitro incubation fibrogenic activity is less evident, but occasionally intense concentrations of small and large microfibrils, basement lamina and other extracellular substances are seen adjacent to notochordal cell surfaces. These observations are of special interest in light of the known role of the notochord in embryonic induction and recent demonstrations that surface-associated substances (specifically collagen) are necessary for normal cytodifferentiation.
Evolving Complexity of Open Aortofemoral Reconstruction Done for Occlusive Disease in the Endovascular Era

Available endovascular and less invasive surgical interventions have diminished the need for aortofemoral bypass (AFB) construction for chronic inflow occlusive disease but have potentially increased its complexity. We reviewed our results with AFB done in 107 consecutive patients between 1997 and June 2002 (83 men, 24 women, mean age 62 ± 7 years) with chronic limb ischemia due to aortoiliofemoral occlusive disease. Perioperative factors and surgical outcomes ( 2× preop Cr, n = 7) in this series (p = 0.4). Our recent experience with AFB suggests its increasing use as a tertiary modality after failed endovascular or less invasive open reconstructions. Despite the added operative complexity associated with manipulation of the visceral aorta and its branches and the need for extended infrainguinal revascularization, satisfactory clinical outcomes can be achieved.
Summer Enrichment Programs To Foster Interest in STEM Education for Students with Blindness or Low Vision

Hands-on science enrichment experiences can be limited for students with blindness or low vision (BLV). This manuscript describes recent hands-on summer enrichment programs held for BLV students. A...
Spin-Dependent Tunneling into Ferromagnetic Nickel

Tunneling measurements on junctions between very thin superconducting aluminum films and ferromagnetic nickel films in a high magnetic field show that the tunneling current is spin dependent. The effective tunneling density of states in Ni determined by this means implies a polarization of the magnetic moments of the Ni current carriers parallel to the applied field. The technique offers a new method for investigating spin-dependent states in magnetic materials.
Purple Plague and Gold Purity

The failure of aluminum-to-gold ultrasonic bonds, after storage at elevated temperature, is often accompanied by the presence of "purple plague". However, this purple intermetallic phase can also be present in bonds that remain strong after the same treatment. Bond failure has been connected with the presence of impurities in the gold and a failure mechanism is proposed.
Fungal biomass and leaf litter processing in streams of different water chemistry

Leaf litter processing rates and fungal biomass on leaf detritus were compared in four streams of different water chemistry. The streams drained catchments underlain by different bedrock types and varied in mean pH from 4.3 to 7.5 and in mean alkalinity from 0.0 to 35.8 mg CaCO3 l−1. Processing rates were fastest in WS3 and WS4, which had a pH of 6.0; slowest in SFR, which had a pH of 4.3; and intermediate in HSR which had a pH of 7.5. Fungal biomass as measured by the fungal sterol, ergosterol, was similar in WS3, WS4, and HSR but was much lower in SFR. These results suggest that reduced processing rates in SFR were associated in part with reduced fungal biomass on the leaves, whereas reduced processing rates in HSR were not related to differences in fungal biomass on the leaves.
Surfactants for producing low interfacial tensions: III. Di and tri n-alkylbenzenesulfonates

The synthesis of several di and tri n-alkylbenzene-sulfonates is described. Low interfacial tensions can be obtained against alkanes by using these materials as surfactants. The low interfacial tension properties of these surfactants are shown to be profoundly influenced by the presence or absence of an alkyl group in the ortho position relative to the sulfonate group and also to depend on the length of this alkyl chain relative to other chains in the molecule. Surfactants where this chain is relatively long tend to give their lowest interfacial tensions against the lowest molecular weight alkanes and also to be effective at lower surfactant molecular weight.
Articulation of the Kagayanen interdental approximant: An ultrasound study

This paper documents the articulation of the interdental approximant, an unusual speech sound that occurs in several languages spoken in the Philippines and Western Australia. This sound is notable for the fact that the tongue protrudes from the mouth and contacts the lower lip, and it seems to have a lateral perceptual quality, but documentation of the other details of the sound have been sketchy. We use ultrasound imaging to study the sound produced by a speaker of Kagayanen. We show that the only constriction is interdental, that the degree of tongue protrusion is related to vowel context and focus, and that the sound does not involve tongue raising. Coronal section images indicate that the sound involves the lowering of at least one side of the tongue, making it articulatorily lateral. We also discuss the implications for theories of tongue movement.
Intraperitoneal carbon dioxide insufflation and cardiopulmonary functions: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in pigs

• We studied the effects of laparoscopic cholecystectomy on respiratory and hemodynamic function in eight adult pigs. Minute ventilation was adjusted to normalize baseline arterial blood gases, then fixed throughout carbon dioxide insufflation. A metabolic measurement cart recorded total CO2excretion, oxygen consumption, and minute ventilation. Carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum was maintained at a constant pressure of 15 mm Hg as cholecystectomy was performed. After 1 hour of insufflation, CO2excretion increased from 115±10 mL/min to 149±9 mL/min but O2consumption remained unchanged. The PaCO2increased from 35±2 mm Hg to 49±3 mm Hg and arterial pH fell from 7.47±0.02 to 7.35±0.03. Systemic and pulmonary hypertension occurred and stroke volume dropped from 35.5±3.5 mL to 28.6±2.2 mL with compensatory tachycardia. Right atrial pressure remained unchanged as inferior vena cava pressure increased to reflect the intraperitoneal pressure. We conclude that CO2pneumoperitoneum resulted in significant transperitoneal CO2absorption, with secondary hypercapnia and acidemia. The accumulation of CO2was also associated with an increase in systemic and pulmonary arterial pressure. Heart rate increased to compensate for the decreased stroke volume to maintain cardiac output. (Arch Surg. 1992;127:928-933)
Collections of nonhuman primate skeletal materials in the United States and Canada

A mail survey was completed of the nonhuman primate skeletal collections (excluding tupaiids) housed in United States and Canadian museums, universities, and other institutions. Survey results are reported by genus for both skulls and postcrania without regard for age or sex. The survey emphasized specimens of wild-caught primates but institutional personnel were not always able to separate animals which died in captivity. Responses were received from 157 of the 212 institutions to which questionnaires were sent. Of those who returned the questionnaires, 75 institutions have wild-caught, nonhuman primate skeletal materials in their collections. Institutions that have either no nonhuman primate skeletal materials (50) or only the remains of captive animals (36) are listed separately. The total number of specimens reported exeeds 21,000 skulls and 6,400 postcrania.
Finding the gaps in space GNC hardware

An industry wide survey of GNC sensors, namely star trackers, gyros, and sun sensors was undertaken. Size, mass, power, and various performance metrics were recorded for each category. A multidimensional analysis was performed, looking at the spectrum of available sensors, with the intent of identifying gaps in the available capability range. Mission types that are not currently well served by the available components are discussed, as well as some missions that would be enabled by filling gaps in the component space.
Continuum fusion methods of spectral detection

The continuum fusion (CF) methodology produces new classes of multivariate detection algorithms, some of which have been used in spectral applications. CF principles apply to model-based problems in which not all parameter values are known, a common circumstance in hyperspectral operations. We reviewed the principal theoretical and applied CF results devised to date, summarized recent experimental results, and discussed in detail an important class of algorithms that illustrate the design freedom CF affords. Finally, we reviewed the fundamental CF principles as applied to a new category of model parameters only recently considered, involving a distinction in the form of a constraint that is not recognized by older methods.
Initiation of flux reversal in magnetic-amplifier cores

Flux reversal in grain-oriented nickel-iron tape cores has been described by several models during recent years.1,2 Some difference of opinion, however, still exists with regard to the initiation of the process.1 New evidence is here set forth that nucleation and initial growth of regions or domains of reverse magnetization occur near the tape surface for applied fields sufficiently larger than the coercive force Hc of the material. Fields at least twice the coercive force will be considered. More evidence is still needed to substantiate models for fields only slightly in excess of Hc. Initial growth will be discussed, both for cores previously saturated and for those not saturated when flux reversal was initiated. The latter case, though of particular interest in many applications of ?square-loop? magnetic cores, has not been treated adequately so far.
Pixel independence: measuring spatial interactions on a CRT display

The standard working assumption of careful CRT imaging is that each pixel is imaged independently, through a point nonlinearity (the monitor's gamma function, relating screen luminance to input voltage), and then blurred by the point-spread function of the beam spot on the phosphor. Unfortunately most monitors have inadequate video bandwidth, DC restoration, and high-voltage regulation to live up to this ideal model. Two tests are recommended for assessing a CRT's deviation from the pixel-independence model.
Studies on the mechanism of cholesterol uptake by the rat tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta (cestoda)

1. With increasing cholesterol content in mixed micelles, the rate of cholesterol uptake by the tapeworm approaches a limiting, maximal value. 2. This uptake is inhibited only 32-40% by other sterols, but is not markedly dependent on medium pH or tapeworm energy metabolism. 3. The competitive exchange diffusion of absorbed [14C]cholesterol could not be demonstrated. 4. The above results partially support the hypothesis that the tapeworm absorbs cholesterol by a specific carrier-mediated process. 5. Cholesterol uptake is reduced when the capacity of the micellar phase of the medium is increased, suggesting that uptake involves the intermediate partitioning of sterol from micelles into the aqueous phase of the medium.
Trends affecting the next generation of U.S. agricultural biotechnology: Politics, policy, and plant-made pharmaceuticals

Abstract This paper analyzes the structure and history of regulatory policies in the United States, focusing on recent regulatory changes due to the promise and threat posed by plant-made pharmaceuticals (PMPs). PMPs are the latest advance in the genetic engineering of plants and promise to produce medicines inexpensively and abundantly by using a range of different plants as factories to express active medicinal ingredients; however, PMPs may pose a risk to the public's health if they enter the food supply. How the benefits and risks of PMPs are addressed by the respective government's regulation and how this will affect what, if any, products make it to the marketplace and their ultimate success are of great concern to many different parties, ranging from consumers and farmers to health and food production industries. As a result, this paper addresses the history of agricultural biotechnology regulatory policy since 1972, arguing that three distinct periods may be identified: (1) from 1972 to 1986 when the new biotechnology was focused on scientific self-regulation in the laboratory; (2) from 1987 to 2002, as the technology was being developed and widespread release of certain technologies became more common and was not perceived as an environmental threat, regulations became increasingly laxer; and finally, (3) we argue that we are entering a third phase with a series of controversies over regulatory infractions involving genetically engineered (GE) plants and the potential threats posed by PMPs.
The value of mechanistic studies in laboratory animals for the prediction of reproductive effects in wildlife: Endocrine effects on mammalian sexual differentiation

Wildlife populations from contaminated ecosystems display a variety of reproductive alterations, including cryptorchidism in the Florida panther, small baculum in young male otters, small penises in alligators, sex reversal in fish, and altered social behavior in birds. The formation of biologically plausible hypotheses regarding disruption of reproduction in wildlife can be facilitated by mechanistic studies on laboratory animals. To this end, we are investigating the in vivo and in vitro effects of endocrine-disrupting toxicants in rodents. In vitro studies have used receptor binding and transfected cell assays to confirm the suspected mechanism of action, whereas in vivo rodent studies examine altered sexual differentiation. Antiandrogenic pesticides compete with the natural ligands for both rat and human androgen receptors, block androgen-induced gene expression in vitro and in vivo, delay puberty, reduce sex accessory gland size, and alter male rat sex differentiation. In contrast, xenoestrogens affect female central nervous system sex differentiation and fecundity without producing malformations or infertility in male offspring. Prenatal administration of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) or the TCDD-like polychlorinated biphenyls produce yet another profile of effects in the offspring, reducing numbers of ejaculated sperm in male progeny and inducing urogenital malformations in females. Although phthalates are reported to be estrogenic in vitro, in vivo exposure causes developmental alterations that more closely resemble antiandrogenic activity. The mammalian data indicate that exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals produces effects that are pathognomonic for mechanisms by which they act. Mechanistic information derived from mammalian studies can enhance our ability to predict toxicant effects on reproduction in fish and wildlife.
An Empirical Analysis of the Productivity Shock Correlations between US and Rest of the World—Trends, Factors and the Role of Recessions

This study uses quarterly data for a group of advanced and emerging market economies to study the role of TFP correlations between the US and the Rest of the World. Following Bosworth and Collins [1], Solow residuals are constructed to proxy for TFP shocks. Then, bilateral correlations with the US are calculated. Recent theoretical studies have emphasized the importance of TFP shock correlations for portfolio choice. The data suggests that the correlations are indeed very volatile and drop sharply during recessions. Arellano-Bond [2] regressions suggest that US Recessions are associated with a drop in cross-country productivity correlations in the medium and long term intervals.
Clinically relevant pharmacology of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. An overview with emphasis on pharmacokinetics and effects on oxidative drug metabolism.

This paper presents an overview of the clinically relevant pharmacology of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) with an emphasis on their pharmacokinetics and effects on cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes. The SSRIs are potent inhibitors of the neuronal reuptake pump for serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) and have minimal effects on a number of other sites of actions (e.g. neuroreceptors and fast sodium channels). For this reason, drugs in this class have remarkable similarity as regards acute and maintenance antidepressant efficacy and tolerability profile.
Studies on Bleomycin-DNA and Bleomycin-Iron Interactions

The bleomycins, a group of antitumor antibiotics (Figure 1), cause the degradation of DNA by a process requiring iron(II) and dioxygen (1,2). DNA degradation appears to involve two steps: association of the drug with the nucleic acid and degradation of the DNA. As part of studies directed toward achieving an understanding of how the bleomycins degrade DNA, we have examined various properties of the drug using a variety of chemical and physico-chemical techniques, including NMR and Mossbauer spectroscopy. We have studied both the interaction of the antibiotic with its target (DNA) as well as its association with its metal ion cofactor. This work has been performed on the intact drug and its derivatives as well as on synthetic models of the parent drug. This paper reviews and updates the recent work from this laboratory on the bleomycins.
Red cell ferritin and iron storage during chick embryonic development

Abstract Ferritin, the iron storage protein, is at least 10 times as abundant in the circulating primitive red cells of the chick embryo as in the circulating definitive red cells of adult roosters. The decline in the ferritin content of the circulating red cells in the embryo corresponded to the replacement of primitive red cells by definitive red cells, monitored by the disappearance of primitive and embryonic hemoglobins. Iron concentrations in the yolk, the major nutrient storage site, changed little during the period when ferritin was lost from the circulating red cells. The storage of iron in the ferritin of the primitive red cells and the preferential loss of the stored red cell iron that was observed in chickens also occur in mice and bullfrogs, which suggests a special role for red cell ferritin in developing animals.
Mechanical response, chemical variation, and volume change in the Brookneal and Hylas shear zones, Virginia

Abstract Changes in volume and chemical composition were compared with strain indicators measured in two Alleghanian shear zones in granitoid plutons within the Virginia Piedmont. Both shear zones have measurable kinematic indicators that consistently record dextral strike-slip movement. The Brookneal zone, in the Melrose Granite, exhibits one ductile deformation event whereas the Hylas zone, in the Petersburg Granite, records both brittle and ductile events. Comparison of the chemical variation and volume change for each of the shear zones yields several surprising similarities given the differences in deformational history and structural style of the two zones. Overall, both zones experienced volume decreases during deformation from undeformed to ultramylonitic. Silica, K, and U increased in both zones with decreases in Fe, Mg, Sr, Ti, Mn, Y, Nb, Zr. Changes in element behavior with incremental changes in strain are different in each zone and appear to be directly related to the style of deformation and strain processes operating at each deformational stage. Chemical data from the Brookneal shear zone clusters into three groups corresponding to weak deformation, moderate strain, and ultramylonite. Deformation in the Hylas shear zone is more complex and abrupt changes in volume and element behavior may be related to brittle events late in the deformation history. The choice of immobile elements for mass balance and volume calculations was based on the petrography of the samples. The concentration of titanite in the Melrose Granite changes from several percent in the undeformed rock to absent with very minor Ti oxides in the ultramylonite. A similar decrease in most accessory minerals takes place in the Hylas zone; however monazite increases significantly. Titanium mobility is implied in the results of the chemical analyses and volume calculations. Further, it is postulated that the fluid source for the shear zones includes dehydration reactions in the granites themselves and may include other sources, especially in the case of the Hylas zone. Pressure driven fluid movement and mechanical response of the deforming rocks may be responsible for some of the observed variations in the chemistry and volume of the zones.
Conformal parameterization for multiply connected domains: combining finite elements and complex analysis

Conformal parameterization plays an important role in isogeometric analysis. Genus zero surfaces with multiple boundary components (multiply connected domains) can be conformally mapped onto planar domains with circular holes (circle domains). This work introduces a novel method to compute such conformal mappings combining finite element and complex analysis methods. First, the surface is mapped to planar annulus with concentric circular slits using holomorphic differentials, which is carried out using a finite element method based on Hodge decomposition; second the slit domain is conformally mapped to a circle domain by a Laurent series method. Compared with existing algorithms, the proposed method is more efficient and robust. Numerical experiments demonstrate the efficiency and efficacy of the method.
National inventories of down and dead woody material forest carbon stocks in the United States: Challenges and opportunities

Abstract Concerns over the effect of greenhouse gases and consequent international agreements and regional/national programs have spurred the need for comprehensive assessments of forest ecosystem carbon stocks. Down and dead woody (DDW) materials are a substantial component of forest carbon stocks; however, few surveys of DDW carbon stocks have been conducted at national-scales around the world. This study uses the DDW survey of the United States as a case study to examine the challenges of inventorying DDW at a national scale, reviews how dead wood carbon pools are currently estimated in the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory (NGHGI), and suggests opportunities for improving such inventories. The US currently estimates national DDW carbon stocks using models with standing live tree attributes as predictor variables, calibrated using preliminary DDW field estimates. In recent years, implementation of a national DDW inventory has resulted in inventory-based DDW estimates. National field-based DDW estimates follow the national patterns of DDW carbon dispersion seen in earlier model-based estimates. Although the current DDW inventory provides fairly repeatable measurements within a statistically defensible national sample design for producing national estimates of DDW carbon stocks, improving numerous aspects of the DDW survey would may improve the accuracy and precision of C estimates reported in the NGHGI.
Internal carotid artery-to-posterior cerebral artery bypass for revascularization of the brainstem.

Abstract We describe a novel bypass technique used to revascularize the brainstem by anastomosing the internal carotid artery (ICA) to the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) using a radial artery graft, effectively creating a functional alternative to the posterior communicating artery. A 72-year-old male patient presented with rapidly progressive neurological symptoms attributable to brainstem compression; imaging showed a giant, fusiform, partially thrombosed, vertebrobasilar artery aneurysm. An Alcock’s test revealed no significant collateral circulation from the posterior communicating arteries. To revascularize the top of the basilar artery, we performed an ICA-to-PCA bypass using a radial artery interposition graft. Specifically, we used the radial artery graft to connect the supraclinoid ICA to the P2 segment of the PCA. The basilar artery was subsequently occluded during the same operation by placing a clip below the superior cerebellar arteries. Although the bypass remained patent, the patient suffered an acute thrombosis of the aneurysm, resulting in fatal pontine infarction.
An extended cryptographic key generation scheme for multilevel data security

S. Akl and P. Taylor (Proc. Crypto-82, p.237-250, 1982) proposed an elegant solution to the multilevel key distribution problem, using a cryptographic approach. In the present work, two problems associated with the Akl-Taylor scheme are considered. First, a time-memory tradeoff technique to overcome the problem of the extremely large memory space required by the Akl-Taylor scheme is proposed. Second, an extended scheme that localizes within a small region as much as possible the inserting/deleting problem associated with the Akl-Taylor scheme is proposed. >
Creating a pan-European equity market: the origins of EASDAQ

The creation of a pan-European stock market (EASDAQ) aimed at the entrepreneurial, high-growth company sector is a significant capital market and institutional innovation in Europe. Despite its similarity to the American NASDAQ market, EASDAQ (which began trading in late 1996) is not the outcome of a causal story about institutional convergence, driven by efficiency pressures that accompany the 'globalization' of finance. Nor is it a result of convergence around an emerging hegemony of ideas proselytized by private and public financial institutions. Rather, EASDAQ is primarily a political innovation, deeply embedded in the political economy of European integration, with the European Commission as the prime mover. We stress the creative and catalytic role of the European Commission in driving institutional innovation that has now set off a much broader wave of change in European finance.
A fast hybrid TDIE-FDTD-MNA scheme for analyzing cable-induced transient coupling into shielding enclosures

A fast hybrid time-domain method for analyzing electromagnetic coupling into enclosures through imperfectly-shielded coaxial cables is described. The method computes fields on complex and multiscale structures, including platform-installed shielding enclosures, antennas, printed circuit boards, coaxial cables, and cable connectors/loads by employing three different solvers: (i) a time-domain integral-equation based FFT-accelerated parallel field solver, (ii) a finite-difference time-domain based cable solver, and (iii) a modified nodal analysis based circuit solver. These solvers are coupled at the cable connectors/loads and shields; the resulting coupled system of equations is solved simultaneously at each time step. The proposed method is used to analyze cable-induced coupling to PC cards located in a shielding enclosure.
Extraction of Keyphrases from Text: Evaluation of Four Algorithms

This report presents an empirical evaluation of four algorithms for automatically extracting keywords and keyphrases from documents. The four algorithms are compared using five different collections of documents. For each document, we have a target set of keyphrases, which were generated by hand. The target keyphrases were generated for human readers; they were not tailored for any of the four keyphrase extraction algorithms. Each of the algorithms was evaluated by the degree to which the algorithms keyphrases matched the manually generated keyphrases. The four algorithms were (1) the AutoSummarize feature in Microsofts Word 97, (2) an algorithm based on Eric Brills part-of-speech tagger, (3) the Summarize feature in Veritys Search 97, and (4) NRCs Extractor algorithm. For all five document collections, NRCs Extractor yields the best match with the manually generated keyphrases.
Assessing psychological symptom patterns of patients seeking help for hypersexual behavior

This study used the Symptom Checklist to examine the psychological symptom patterns among hypersexual patients (n = 59) at intake compared to a control group of non-hypersexual individuals (n = 55). Group membership for the hypersexual group was assigned based on the individual's chief complaint at intake and on elevated scores on the Hypersexual Behavior Inventory. A discriminant function analysis of between-group differences was statistically significant and post-hoc univariate tests revealed several distinct features associated with the hypersexual group compared to the controls. These findings are discussed in the context of treatment implications for clinicians working with patients seeking help for hypersexual behavior.
Adaptive radiotherapy for head-and-neck cancer: Initial clinical outcomes from a prospective trial

Purpose To present pilot toxicity and survival outcomes for a prospective trial investigating adaptive radiotherapy (ART) for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Methods and Materials A total of 24 patients were enrolled in an institutional review board–approved clinical trial; data for 22 of these patients were analyzed. Daily CT-guided setup and deformable image registration permitted serial mapping of clinical target volumes and avoidance structures for ART planning. Primary site was base of tongue in 15 patients, tonsil in 6 patient, and glossopharyngeal sulcus in 1 patient. Twenty patients (91%) had American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Stage IV disease. T stage distribution was 2 T1, 12 T2, 3 T3, 5 T4. N stage distribution was 1 N0, 2 N1, 5 N2a, 12 N2b, and 2 N2c. Of the patients, 21 (95%) received systemic therapy. Results With a 31-month median follow-up (range, 13–45 months), there has been no primary site failure and 1 nodal relapse, yielding 100% local and 95% regional disease control at 2 years. Baseline tumor size correlated with absolute volumetric treatment response ( p = 0.018). Parotid volumetric change correlated with duration of feeding tube placement ( p = 0.025). Acute toxicity was comparable to that observed with conventional intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). Chronic toxicity and functional outcomes beyond 1 year were tabulated. Conclusion This is the first prospective evaluation of morbidity and survival outcomes in patients with locally advanced head-and-neck cancer treated with automated adaptive replanning. ART can provide dosimetric benefit with only one or two mid-treatment replanning events. Our preliminary clinical outcomes document functional recovery and preservation of disease control at 1-year follow-up and beyond.
QGRS-Conserve: a computational method for discovering evolutionarily conserved G-quadruplex motifs

Nucleic acids containing guanine tracts can form quadruplex structures via non-Watson-Crick base pairing. Formation of G-quadruplexes is associated with the regulation of important biological functions such as transcription, genetic instability, DNA repair, DNA replication, epigenetic mechanisms, regulation of translation, and alternative splicing. G-quadruplexes play important roles in human diseases and are being considered as targets for a variety of therapies. Identification of functional G-quadruplexes and the study of their overall distribution in genomes and transcriptomes is an important pursuit. Traditional computational methods map sequence motifs capable of forming G-quadruplexes but have difficulty in distinguishing motifs that occur by chance from ones which fold into G-quadruplexes. We present Quadruplex forming ‘G’-rich sequences (QGRS)-Conserve, a computational method for calculating motif conservation across exomes and supports filtering to provide researchers with more precise methods of studying G-quadruplex distribution patterns. Our method quantitatively evaluates conservation between quadruplexes found in homologous nucleotide sequences based on several motif structural characteristics. QGRS-Conserve also efficiently manages overlapping G-quadruplex sequences such that the resulting datasets can be analyzed effectively. We have applied QGRS-Conserve to identify a large number of G-quadruplex motifs in the human exome conserved across several mammalian and non-mammalian species. We have successfully identified multiple homologs of many previously published G-quadruplexes that play post-transcriptional regulatory roles in human genes. Preliminary large-scale analysis identified many homologous G-quadruplexes in the 5′- and 3′-untranslated regions of mammalian species. An expectedly smaller set of G-quadruplex motifs was found to be conserved across larger phylogenetic distances. QGRS-Conserve provides means to build datasets that can be filtered and categorized in a variety of biological dimensions for more targeted studies in order to better understand the roles that G-quadruplexes play.
Pork skin connective tissue gel utilization in reduced-fat bologna.

This study determined temperature (50 degrees, 60 degrees, 70 degrees and 80 degrees C) and time (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0h) factors that enhanced the water binding of pork skin connective tissue (PCT); the functionality of added water (AW, 100-600%, w/w) PCT gels; and attributes of bologna containing 10-30% addition of 100-600% AW PCT gels. Heating (70 degrees C) PCT increased water binding. Gels (100-600% AW) were formed by heating PCT (70 degrees C) for 30 min. Higher AW levels increased (P<0.05) gel moisture content, while decreasing fat, melting points, collagen content, and hardness. Addition of PCT gels in bologna decreased (P<0.05) hardness and increased juiciness, indicating the potential of PCT gels as water binders and texture-modifying agents.
Circuit topology comparison and design analysis for controllable pulse parameter transcranial magnetic stimulators

We compare half-bridge and full-bridge circuit topologies for controllable pulse parameter transcranial magnetic stimulation (cTMS) devices. The full bridge can generate two more distinct coil voltage levels for enhanced pulse shaping, does not need an active snubber circuit, and requires lower semiconductor switch voltage ratings, at the cost of necessitating four semiconductor switches and associated drivers compared to two in the half bridge. In cTMS devices it may be beneficial to use coils with higher number of turns and, hence, higher inductance than that optimal in conventional TMS, since this reduces the required capacitance, stored energy, coil current, and, potentially, conduction losses and heating. However, increasing the number of coil turns raises the required capacitor voltage which presents practical limits on the number of turns, especially for very brief pulses.
The enhancement of osteogenesis by nano-fibrous scaffolds incorporating rhBMP-7 nanospheres.

Abstract It is advantageous to incorporate controlled growth factor delivery into tissue engineering strategies. The objective of this study was to develop a three-dimensional (3D) porous tissue engineering scaffold with the capability of controlled releasing recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-7 (rhBMP-7) for enhancement of bone regeneration. RhBMP-7 was first encapsulated into poly(lactic- co -glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanospheres (NS) with an average diameter of 300 nm. Poly( l -lactic acid) (PLLA) scaffolds with interconnected macroporous and nano-fibrous architectures were prepared using a combined sugar sphere template leaching and phase separation technique. A post-seeding technique was then utilized to immobilize rhBMP-7 containing PLGA nanospheres onto prefabricated nano-fibrous PLLA scaffolds with well-maintained 3D structures. In vitro release kinetics indicated that nanosphere immobilized scaffold (NS-scaffold) could release rhBMP-7 in a temporally controlled manner, depending on the chemical and degradation properties of the NS which were immobilized onto the scaffold. In vivo , rhBMP-7 delivered from NS-scaffolds induced significant ectopic bone formation throughout the scaffold while passive adsorption of rhBMP-7 into the scaffold resulted in failure of bone induction due to either the loss of rhBMP-7 biological function or insufficient duration within the scaffold. We conclude that the interconnected macroporous architecture and the sustained, prolonged delivery of bioactive rhBMP-7 from NS immobilized nano-fibrous scaffolds actively induced new bone formation throughout the scaffold. The approach offers a new delivery method of BMPs and a novel scaffold design for bone regeneration.
Role of virus replication in a murine model of AIDS-associated interstitial pneumonitis.

One of the major complications of HIV infection is the development of interstitial pneumonitis (IP). IP is characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of the lung and may lead to respiratory failure in some cases. The etiology of IP is unknown although it is likely the result of an antiviral or autoimmune response occurring in the lung. To determine the role of viral replication in the development of IP, AZT was evaluated for the ability to inhibit development of lung inflammation in a murine model of retrovirus-associated IP. Mice were infected with LP-BM5 retrovirus, which induces murine AIDS. Infected mice develop IP by 4 weeks postinfection characterized by infiltration of the lung with activated T cells, B cells, and macrophages. Virus could be detected in the lungs of these mice by 2 weeks postinfection and persisted throughout the course of disease. To determine if reduction in viral load affected the disease process, infected mice were treated with AZT for varying periods postinfection and analyzed ...
On the impact of PCA dimension reduction for hyperspectral detection of difficult targets

Due to constraints both at the sensor and on the ground, dimension reduction is a common preprocessing step performed on many hyperspectral imaging datasets. However, this transformation is not necessarily done with the ultimate data exploitation task in mind-for example, target detection or ground cover classification. Indeed, theoretically speaking it is possible that a lossy operation such as dimension reduction might have a negative impact on detection performance. This notion is investigated experimentally using real-world hyperspectral imaging data. The popular principal components transform [aka. principal components analysis (PCA)] is used to explore the impact that dimension reduction has on adaptive detection of difficult targets in both the reflective and emissive regimes. Using seven state-of-the-art algorithms, it is shown that in many cases PCA can have a minimal impact on the detection statistic value for a target that is spectrally similar to the background against which it is sought.
Endogenous Opioids Regulate the Expression of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase by Splenocytes

In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced expression of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) by splenocytes is modulated through the activation of endogenous opioids in the central nervous system. The initial studies determined the parameters of LPS-induced expression of iNOS by splenocytes. Rats were injected with LPS at doses of 0, 1, 10, 100, and 1000 μg/kg, and measures of both iNOS mRNA and protein showed a dose-dependent increase in expression. In a time course study, rats received 100 μg/kg LPS and were killed at 0, 2, 4, 8, and 16 h postinjection. Both iNOS mRNA and protein expression was detectable at the 2-h time point, with peak expression occurring at 8 h. To evaluate the involvement of endogenous opioids, the opioid receptor antagonist naltrexone was administered at 0, 0.1, 1, or 10 mg/kg s.c. in combination with LPS (100 μg/kg), with a second injection of naltrexone at the same dose 4 h after the injection of LPS. Naltrexone induced a pronounced dose-dependent reduction in iNOS mRNA and protein expression by splenocytes. The modulation of iNOS expression occurs via central opioid receptors as intracerebroventricular administration but not peripheral administration of N -methylnaltrexone, the quaternary form of naltrexone that does not readily cross the blood-brain barrier, reduced the expression of iNOS. For all of the manipulations, nitrite/nitrate levels in the plasma showed effects similar to those for iNOS mRNA and protein. Collectively, these findings indicate that central opioid receptors are involved in the in vivo regulation of splenic nitric oxide production.
A technique to compensate for disparate sources in evidence combination

Any decision procedure that is applied to a given problem involves both the gathering of relevant information from different sources and, when possible, accounting for the reliability of each source or group of sources. Due to insufficient knowledge, it may not be possible to isolate an unreliable or poor source of information. However, if a set of sources provides information to a decision algorithm, the effect of these sources as a group could be analyzed in terms of the relative coherence of the sources within it. A group whose sources are in agreement regarding the same decision is more reliable than one in which the individual sources supported different decisions. A measure of the unreliability of a group is its 'disparity', which could compensate for disagreement within a group. Theory and results to support this group unreliability are presented. >
Influence of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and ventral striatum on risk avoidance in addiction: A mediation analysis

Abstract Background Alterations in frontal and striatal function are hypothesized to underlie risky decision making in drug users, but how these regions interact to affect behavior is incompletely understood. We used mediation analysis to investigate how prefrontal cortex and ventral striatum together influence risk avoidance in abstinent drug users. Method Thirty-seven abstinent substance-dependent individuals (SDI) and 43 controls underwent fMRI while performing a decision-making task involving risk and reward. Analyses of a priori regions-of-interest tested whether activity in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and ventral striatum (VST) explained group differences in risk avoidance. Whole-brain analysis was conducted to identify brain regions influencing the negative VST-risk avoidance relationship. Results Right DLPFC (RDLPFC) positively mediated the group-risk avoidance relationship ( p p p ≤ 0.001) while right thalamus and left middle frontal gyrus negatively ( p Conclusion RDLPFC activity mediated less risky decision making while VST mediated more risky decision making across drug users and controls. These results suggest a dual pathway underlying decision making, which, if imbalanced, may adversely influence choices involving risk. Modeling contributions of multiple brain systems to behavior through mediation analysis could lead to a better understanding of mechanisms of behavior and suggest neuromodulatory treatments for addiction.
The link between the GBA gene and parkinsonism

Mutations in the glucocerebrosidase (GBA) gene, which encodes the lysosomal enzyme that is deficient in Gaucher's disease, are important and common risk factors for Parkinson's disease and related disorders. This association was first recognised in the clinic, where parkinsonism was noted, albeit rarely, in patients with Gaucher's disease and more frequently in relatives who were obligate carriers. Subsequently, findings from large studies showed that patients with Parkinson's disease and associated Lewy body disorders had an increased frequency of GBA mutations when compared with control individuals. Patients with GBA-associated parkinsonism exhibit varying parkinsonian phenotypes but tend to have an earlier age of onset and more associated cognitive changes than patients with parkinsonism without GBA mutations. Hypotheses proposed to explain this association include a gain-of-function due to mutations in glucocerebrosidase that promotes α-synuclein aggregation; substrate accumulation due to enzymatic loss-of-function, which affects α-synuclein processing and clearance; and a bidirectional feedback loop. Identification of the pathological mechanisms underlying GBA-associated parkinsonism will improve our understanding of the genetics, pathophysiology, and treatment for both rare and common neurological diseases.