cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Antigenic Fingerprinting of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)-A-Infected Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients Reveals Importance of Mucosal Anti-RSV G Antibodies in Control of RSV Infection in Humans

BACKGROUND Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection causes significant morbidity in hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients. However, antibody responses that correlate with recovery from RSV disease are not fully understood. METHODS In this study, antibody repertoire in paired serum and nasal wash samples from acutely RSV-A-infected HCT recipients who recovered early (<14 days of RSV shedding) were compared with late-recovered patients (≥14 days of shedding) using gene fragment phage display libraries and surface plasmon resonance. RESULTS Anti-F serum responses were similar between these 2 groups for antibody repertoires, neutralization titers, anti-F binding antibodies (prefusion and postfusion proteins), antibody avidity, and binding to specific antigenic sites. In contrast, nasal washes from early-recovered individuals demonstrated higher binding to F peptide containing p27. While the serum RSV G antibody repertoires in the 2 groups were similar, the strongest difference between early-recovered and late-recovered patients was observed in the titers of nasal wash antibodies, especially binding to the central conserved domain. Most importantly, a significantly higher antibody affinity to RSV G was observed in nasal washes from early-recovered individuals compared with late-recovered HCT recipients. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the importance of mucosal antibodies in resolution of RSV-A infection in the upper respiratory tract.
Platelet-derived β2m Regulates Age Related monocyte/macrophage Functions

Platelets have central roles in both immune responses and development. Stimulated platelets express leukocyte adhesion molecules and release numerous immune modulatory factors that recruit and activate leukocytes, both at the sites of activation and distantly. Monocytes are innate immune cells with dynamic immune modulatory functions that change during the aging process, a phenomenon termed "inflammaging". We have previously shown that platelets are a major source of plasma beta-2 microglobulin (β2M) and that β2M induced a monocyte pro-inflammatory phenotype. Plasma β2M increases with age and is a pro-aging factor. We hypothesized that platelet derived β2M regulates monocyte phenotypes in the context of aging. Using wild-type (WT) and platelet specific β2M knockout mice (Plt-β2M-/-) mice, we found that plasma β2M increased with age and correlated with increased circulating Ly6CHi monocytes. However, aged Plt-β2M-/- mice had significantly fewer Ly6CHi monocytes compared to WT mice. Quantitative real-time PCR of circulating monocytes showed that WT mouse monocytes were more "pro-inflammatory" with age, while Plt-β2M-/- derived monocytes adopted a "pro-reparative" phenotype. Older Plt-β2M-/- mice had a significant decline in heart function compared to age matched WT mice, as well as increased cardiac fibrosis and pro-fibrotic markers. These data suggest that platelet-derived β2M regulates age associated monocyte polarization, and a loss of platelet derived β2M shifted monocytes and macrophages to a pro-reparative phenotype and increased pro-fibrotic cardiac responses. Platelet regulation of monocyte phenotypes via β2M may maintain a balance between inflammatory and reparative signals that affects age related physiologic outcomes.
A predictive vector-field based lane-changing controller

This paper presents a predictive vector-field based controller for the motion of an ego-vehicle through highway traffic. The design is composed of a vector field controller in closed form, whose control gains are optimized online. Upon certain assumptions on the traffic conditions, safe solutions can be derived. Simulation results illustrate the efficacy of the proposed algorithm compared to a standard NMPC approach.
Adolescent with Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome

The underlying etiologies of paediatric bowel obstruction are wide ranging. It can be divided into proximal and distal bowel obstruction. Amongst the different etiologies of the proximal bowel obstructions at the level of the duodenum, there are a few etiologies including duodenal atresia, internal hernias, intestinal malrotation, annular pancreas etc. Superior mesenteric artery syndrome is amongst one of these differential diagnoses which is more prevalent in the adolescent age group. We describe the imaging features of this entity and its demographics, imaging characteristics, treatment and prognosis.
Mortality Among Hospitalized Individuals With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in the US Between 2006 and 2016.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate time trends in mortality for hospitalized adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) compared to the general hospitalized population (GHP), and to identify factors associated with increased risk of death among hospitalized SLE patients. METHODS We used the National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample to estimate all-cause mortality for adults discharged from community hospitals in the US between 2006 and 2016. Poisson regression models were used to estimate the risk of in-hospital death among all patients, including demographic characteristics, socioeconomic factors, comorbidity score, hospital region, SLE diagnosis, and race/ethnicity as covariates. RESULTS Among 340,467,049 hospitalizations analyzed, 1,903,279 had a discharge diagnosis of SLE. In adjusted analysis, the risk of inpatient death decreased among hospitalizations for patients with SLE from 2.2% to 1.5% (P < 0.001) between 2006 and 2016. All of the decrease in SLE mortality occurred between 2006 and 2008; after 2008, mortality stabilized at a rate statistically similar to the GHP. Hospitalizations for Black, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander patients with SLE were more likely to end in death compared to hospitalizations for either White patients with SLE or individuals of the same non-White race/ethnicity without SLE. CONCLUSION In the largest study of in-hospital SLE mortality published to date, we found significant improvements in mortality for hospitalized patients with SLE in the US from 2006 until 2008, after which mortality stabilized at a level similar to that of the GHP. Our results also demonstrate a persistently high mortality burden among Black and Hispanic patients with SLE in the US and contribute new data revealing high mortality among Asian/Pacific Islander patients with SLE.
Seed morphology and emergence variability in a conservation collection of Pinus torreyana

ABSTRACT PREMISE Optimizing the amount of genetic diversity captured in seed collections is a long-standing objective of ex situ conservation. Particularly for rare species where limited genetic information is available, it poses a significant challenge. However, understanding the within and among population distribution of trait variation within seed collections may provide a means to approximate standing genetic variation and inform conservation efforts. METHODS We quantified seed morphological variation and seedling emergence both within and among populations for existing seed collections of Torrey pine (Pinus torreyana), a critically endangered pine endemic to California. Using a simulation-based approach, we used estimates of within-population variance to estimate the number of maternal families required to captured 95% of trait variation within each existing seed collection. KEY RESULTS On average, 21% and 22% of seed morphological variation in Torrey pine was explained by population origin and maternal family within populations respectively. Despite significant morphological differences, seedling emergence was similar across populations. Simulations revealed that 80% and 68% of all maternal families within island and mainland seed collection respectively needed to be resampled to ensure 95% of seed trait variation within existing collections was captured. CONCLUSIONS Overall, these results suggest that substantial structure exists for seed morphological traits both within and between populations. From a conservation perspective, this indicates that to optimize genetic diversity captured in Torrey pine ex situ conservation collections, maximizing the number of maternal families sampled within each population will be necessary.
Comparative effectiveness and persistence of TNFi and non-TNFi in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a large paediatric rheumatology centre in the USA.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the persistence and effectiveness of TNF inhibitors (TNFi) vs non-TNFi among newly diagnosed JIA patients after initiation of biologic DMARD (bDMARD). METHODS Using longitudinal patient-level data extracted from electronic medical records in a large Midwestern paediatric hospital from 2009 to 2018, we identified JIA patients initiating TNFi and non-TNFi treatment. Treatment effectiveness was assessed based on disease activity. Inverse probability of treatment weighting of propensity score was used to estimate the treatment effectiveness and Kaplan-Meier analyses were conducted to assess persistence. RESULTS Of 667 JIA patients, most (92.0%) were prescribed one of the class of TNFi as their initial biologic treatment. Etanercept was the most frequently prescribed (67.1%) treatment, followed by adalimumab (27.5%). Only around 5% of patients were prescribed off-label bDMARDs as their first-course treatment; however, >20% were prescribed off-label biologics as their second-course therapy. Some 7.2% of patients received four or more bDMARDs. The median persistence of the first-course bDMARD is 320 days, with TNFi being significantly longer than the non-TNFi (395 vs 320 days, P = 0.010). The clinical Juvenile Disease Activity Score (cJADAS) reduction of TNFi users (6.6, 95% CI 5.7, 7.5) was significant greater compared with non-TNFi users (3.0, 95% CI 1.5, 4.6, P < 0.0001) at 6-month follow-up visit. CONCLUSION Persistence was significantly longer among patients initiating TNFi as their first biologic therapy than those receiving non-TNFi. Patients receiving TNF therapy had significant greater reduction of cJADAS at the 6-month follow-up visit compared with patients in the non-TNF cohort.
Interpersonal Functioning and Trauma: The Role of Empathy in Moderating the Association of PTSD and Interpersonal Functioning.

Abstract Research demonstrates consistent associations between symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and reductions in interpersonal functioning. Moderators of this association, however, remain relatively unexplored. The current study aimed to examine the extent to which aspects of empathic responding may influence the relation between PTSD symptom dimensions and interpersonal functioning in students exposed to significant trauma. Participants (N = 94, 85.1% female, 86.2% White/Non-Hispanic) completed an initial screening to assess for trauma exposure and associated symptoms of PTSD. Interpersonal functioning and dimensions of empathic responding were measured using a series of self-report and lab-based tasks. Hierarchical regression models provided evidence for a consistent association between post-trauma arousal-reactivity and reductions in interpersonal functioning. Results also indicated a moderating effect of affective empathy (β = −.37, p = .010, f2 = .086). Simple slopes and Johnson-Neyman plots identified an association between arousal-reactivity and functioning at low (β = 1.57, p
Loss of Functional SCO2 Attenuates Oxidative Stress in Diabetic Kidney Disease.

Increased oxidative stress in glomerular endothelial cells (GEnCs) contributes to early diabetic kidney disease (DKD). While mitochondrial respiratory complex IV activity is reduced in DKD, it remains unclear whether this is a driver or a consequence of oxidative stress in GEnCs. Synthesis of cytochrome C oxidase 2 (SCO2), a key metallochaperone in the electron transport chain, is critical to the biogenesis and assembly of subunits required for functional respiratory complex IV activity. Here, we investigated the effects of Sco2 hypomorphs (Sco2 KO/KI , Sco2 KI/KI ), with a functional loss of SCO2, in the progression of DKD using a murine model of Type II Diabetes Mellitus, db/db mice. Diabetic Sco2 KO/KI and Sco2 KI/KI hypomorphs exhibited a reduction in complex IV activity, but an improvement in albuminuria, serum creatinine, and histomorphometric evidence of early DKD as compared to db/db mice. Single-nucleus RNA sequencing with gene set enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes in the endothelial cluster of Sco2 KO/KI ;db/db mice demonstrated an increase in genes involved in VEGF-VEGFR2 signaling and reduced oxidative stress as compared to db/db mice. These data suggest that reduced complex IV activity due to a loss of functional SCO2 might be protective in GEnCs in early DKD.
The Interplay between Eukaryotic mRNA Degradation and Translation

The destruction of mRNA is a critical aspect of gene regulation. All mRNA must be destroyed to ensure that nuclear regulatory decisions are manifested as cytoplasmic events. In other words, ceasing mRNA transcription in response to environmental or physiological cues is irrelevant as long as cytoplasmic mRNA exists and is translated. All mRNA must, therefore, die. From this, it can be said that mRNA decay contributes significantly to the proteomes’ overall architecture by allowing cells to quickly adapt to environmental and physiological change. Although much is known about mRNA decay in eukaryotes, understanding how the process is modulated is far from complete. mRNA translation is known to be tightly integrated with mRNA decay. In the last few years, work has concentrated on this relationship as a means to elucidate regulation. From this, two views have arisen. The first suggests that mRNA must be removed from ribosomes to be destroyed in ribosome-free areas, such as P-bodies. The other view proposes mRNA decay occurs in concert with protein synthesis. In this article we summarize our current understanding on how eukaryotic mRNA decay interconnects with mRNA translation, and then analyze the data that have lead to these two diametrically opposed models on where mRNA decay occurs within the cell. Finally we attempt to reconcile these two views and suggest important areas for future investigation.
The goals of master-level gerontological students: an institutional study.

While gerontological literature has often described innovative programs and creative linkages between academia and community, less attention has been focused on the characteristics of student who enroll in gerontology. This research provides descriptive data about students enrolled in a Master's level gerontology program. Specifically, it describes demographic information such as age, sex, education, and professional backgrounds. It also examines students' motives and goals in selecting a master's in this field. Implications of goals for retention and program development are discussed and a reference section is included.
Self-consistent field calculation of electron interaction energy

The interaction energy of electrons in a finite temperature electron gas with scalar interactions are obtained on the complex energy plane. For Coulomb interactions the ground-state result is in agreement with earlier calculations but at finite temperature an additional temperaturedependent term appears in the short-range correlation energy.
Variable Efficacy of Glucocorticoids in Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

We have examined the suppression of urinary pregnanetriol and 17-ketosteroids during treatment with cortisol, cortisone, prednisone, and dexamethasone in eight patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. A large individual variation in response to each agent was observed. In some individuals, cortisone is less effective than its generally accepted potency would indicate. At equivalent glucocorticoid dosage, dexamethasone was twice as effective as the other steroids in suppressing urinary 17-ketosteroids and pregnanetriol. The potency of dexamethasone in suppressing adrenal function was 80 times that of cortisol, about twice its generally accepted potency as a glucocorticoid or anti-inflammatory agent.
An arbitrary precision real arithmetic package in REDUCE

A REDUCE arbitrary precision real arithmetic package is described which will become a part of the kernel of an algebraic-numeric system being developed for REDUCE. The basic design principles of this package are first, it is as efficient as possible in both calculation speed and memory usage, second, even a casual user can use it, and third, it is highly portable and extensible. Our idea to attain the first property is to represent the arbitrary precision real number in as short a form as possible and to handle the precision in a much more flexible manner than any other similar system. A comparison is made of our scheme with a conventional one which uses a global precision, verifying the efficiency of our scheme. Our package contains two sets of routines for elementary arithmetic operations such as addition or multiplication. An expert user can write efficient programs using the first set of routines, while a casual user may use the second set of routines with less programming effort. Our package will become faster by rewriting only four basic and simple routines machine-dependently.
The use of an agglomerative numerical technique in physical evidence comparisons.

There is an element of subjectivity to virtually all types of examinations conducted in the forensic laboratory. The level of this subjectivity may range from relatively low, as in the interpretation of certain instrumental results, to relatively high, as in the comparison of handwriting or firearms evidence. It is generally held, however, that comparisons of physical evidence should be as objective as possible.
Management of complicated chronic anal fissures with high-dose circumferential chemodenervation (HDCC) of the internal anal sphincter

Abstract Background Botulinum toxin injection into the internal anal sphincter (IAS) is gaining popularity as a second line therapy for chronic anal fissures after patients fail medical therapy. The dosage of Botulinum toxin reported in the literature ranged from 20 to 50 IU. Complicated chronic anal fissure is defined as persistent fissure concurrent with other perianal pathology. We report a new approach involving high-dose circumferential chemodenervation (HDCC) of 100 IU in treating these complicated chronic anal fissures. Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the fissure healing, complication, and recurrence rates with HDCC. Methods Complicated anal fissure was defined as fissure with other perianal pathologies including skin tag, hypertrophied papilla, fistula, symptomatic hemorrhoids, anal condylomata, and abscess. Between 2008 and 2012, 62 consecutive patients (28 Blacks, 33 Whites, 1 Hispanic) with complete follow-up data were included in this single arm study. These patients underwent HDCC-IAS with addition interventions by a single colorectal surgeon. Follow up data were obtained by chart review and office follow up. Results Of the 62 patients, the overall success rate was greater than 70% at 3 months follow-up. A few patients developed transient flatus or fecal incontinence, but shortly resolved. There was no major complication following HDCC-IAS. Conclusions Combination therapy involving HDCC-IAS and local anorectal surgery for associated condition is both safe and effective for fissure healing.
Sports dentistry and dental traumatology

Sports dentistry had its origins in the 1980s. More recently, the Academy for Sports Dentistry joined forces with the International Association of Dental Traumatology in cosponsoring the World Congress on Sports Dentistry and Dental Traumatology. It is the intent of the present paper to introduce readers to the arena of sports dentistry, suggest future areas for collaborative research, and stimulate authors to submit high quality, scientifically based manuscripts on sports dentistry to Dental Traumatology.
Patterns of Circulating Progesterone Concentrations During the Fertile Menstrual Cycle and the Remainder of Gestation in the Rhesus Monkey

During nonfertile menstrual cycles peripheral plasma progesterone concentrations (competitive protein binding analysis) begin to rise 2 days prior to ovulation, reach levels of 3–4 ng/ml on about the 15th day of the cycle and begin to decline 7 days later. During fertile cycles this decline is abruptly halted and reversed by striking increases in progesterone levels which exceed those observed in the luteal phase of the nonfertile cycle by 100%. The duration of this secondary progesterone peak, however, isonly 10 days, at which time progesterone concentrations return to below luteal phase levels. A third progesterone peak, 15 days in duration, then appears which terminates in low values of 1 ng/ml or less. Progesterone concentrations then rise for the fourth time, to 2–4 ng/ml, where they are irregularly maintained for the remainder of the 168-day gestation period. Progesterone falls abruptly at parturition to very low or immeasurable levels. (Endocrinology 84: 45, 1969)
Case study: supplementing program analysis with natural language analysis to improve a reverse engineering task

Software maintainers often use reverse engineering tools to aid in the extremely difficult task of understanding unfamiliar code, especially within large, complex software systems. While traditional program analysis can provide detailed information for reverse engineering, often this information is not sufficient to assist the user with high-level program understanding tasks. To bridge the gap between current reverse engineering tools and the high-level questions that software maintainers want answered, we propose supplementing traditional program analysis with natural language analysis of program source code. This paper presents a case study where we have augmented an existing reverse engineering tool, an aspect miner, to complement the existing traditional program analysis-based miner with natural language analysis of method names, class names, and comments. Our quantitative and qualitative results strongly suggest that supplementing traditional program analysis with natural language analysis is a promising approach to raising the level of effectiveness of reverse engineering tools.
Buddhahood for the Nonsentient Reconsidered: The Case of Kakitsubata (The Iris) and Other Nō Plays by Konparu Zenchiku

AbstractDonald Shively first considered the topic of “Buddhahood for the nonsentient” (sōmoku jōbutsu) as a theme in Nō plays back in 1957. In subsequent years there have been several major studies published on sōmoku jōbutsu in Japanese and one major study in English. This new research enables a more complex understanding of how popular conceptions of sōmoku jōbutsu play themselves out in Nō involving nonsentient beings, and in particular how the concept of Buddhahood for the nonsentient intersects with the possibility of enlightenment for women. The article takes as a case study the Nō play Kakitsubata, in which an iris, manifesting as a young woman attains enlightenment and release from her obsessive attachment to her deep purple color, which for her signals that she is the most important and beloved of the katami (fetishized poetic mementos) associated with Ariwara no Narihira, a Heian poet deified in the medieval period as the Bodhisattva of Song and Dance. In this play, as in others by Konparu Zenchiku, the solution that the playwright presents performatively to this doubled problem of salvation is ambiguous, but may well be representative of the popular understanding of the ontological and soteriological status of both nonsentient beings and women in late medieval culture.
Feuerbach and Theology

The first form of atheism is an inheritance from the skepticism of Hume, though one rather suspects that it is the common distillate of the thought of both rationalists and empiricists who were skeptical in matters religious. But undoubtedly Hume gave it classical expression, perhaps nowhere more succinctly than in the eleventh essay of the Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, where he suggests the foolishness of trying to establish theistic religion on principles of reason. Specifically, the grounding of particular events in particular providence and let us remember that no doctrine was held in higher esteem by the common heritage of traditional theism, to which men as diverse as Calvin and Leibniz had given expression in the early modern period is a purely speculative notion that really explains nothing. As Hume says, "We can never be allow'd to mount up from the universe, the Effect, to Jupiter, the Cause; and then descend downwards, to infer any new Effect from that Cause.... The knowledge of the Cause being deriv'd solely from the Effect, they must be exactly adjusted to each other, and the one can never point towards any thing farther, or be the Foundation of any new Inference and Conclusion."2 The thrust of this comment is much the same as Laplace's famous remark to Napoleon that he had no need of the theistic hypothesis. In a universe made up solely of specific items and movements, the hypothesis of a divine cause for particular events explains nothing. Indeed, the hypothesis is meaningless, and were we to use the metaphor "God is dead" in connection with this point of view, we would have to say that he is dead only in the sense that he never lived in the first place.
Mathematical model of the effect of electrodiffusion on biomineralization

Abstract Biofilm-induced mineral precipitation is a fundamentally important phenomenon with many potential applications including carbon sequestration and bioremediation. Based on a mixture model consisting of three phases (calcite, biofilm, and solvent) and also accounting for chemistry, mechanics, thermodynamics, fluid, and electrodiffusive transport effects, we describe the self-induced generation of an electric field due to different diffusivities of different ion species and study the effects of this field on ionic transport and calcite precipitation. Numerical simulations suggest that one of these effects is enhanced precipitation.
In vitro metabolism studies of [1,2,6,7-3H]-cortisol in human gingiva in health and disease

Abstract The major conversion products of incubation of 3H-cortisol with slices of human clinically normal and inflamed gingiva were identified as 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione and cortisone. Reduction of C-20 of cortisol to 20α- and 20β-dihydro metabolites was found only after incubation of cortisol with normal gingiva and not with inflamed tissue. Thus the two major pathways of metabolism of cortisol in the gingiva appear to be the oxidative cleavage of the side chain and the oxidation of 11β-ol while the reduction of the 20-one appear limited to the normal tissue. The mean rates of conversion of cortisol to its various metabolites in 12 normal and 12 chronically inflamed gingival tissue samples were 147 and 55.2 pmoles hr−1mg−1 respectively. The less conversion of cortisol in inflamed tissue might explain its effectiveness as a naturally occuring antiinflammatory hormonal steroid.
Optimization of Synthetically Novel Agonists of the Putative Cannabinoid Receptor, GPR55, using an Activated State Model

The research presented details the creation of an activated state model of the putative cannabinoid receptor, GPR55, based on the crystal structure of CXCR4, a receptor with which GPR55 has high homology. Into this model, analogs of the high throughput screen compound hit, (E)-3-(2-methoxyphenyl)-N-((4-(N-methyl-N-phenylsulfamoyl)phenyl) carbamothioyl)acrylamide (CID1792197), were docked. Of particular interest was the synthetically novel GPR55 ligand, 6-(2-hydroxyethyl)-N-((4-(N-methyl-N-phenylsulfamoyl)phenyl)carbamothioyl)-2-napthamide, in that it is a highly bioactive analog of the parent molecule (CID1792197). Both the novel ligand and its parent scaffold mimic the shape of lysophosphatidylinositol (LPI), the endogenous GPR55 ligand. Prior work in this lab established that the GPR55 binding pocket accommodates ligands with an inverted “L” or “T” shape, having long, thin profiles that can vertically penetrate deep in the receptor, while their broad upper regions occupy a horizontal binding pocket near the receptor's extracellular loops. Key interactions currently known to exist between ligands and the GPR55 receptor are hydrogen bonding with K2.60(80), aromatic stacking with F3.33(102) and Van der Waals interactions with M3.36(105), F5.47(190)and L7.35(270). The results of the current project will facilitate the design and evaluation of third generation analogs as well as a radiolabeled, high affinity ligand that will allow for optimal characterization of the binding site interactions of the GPR55 receptor. [Support: NS077347-A1, DA023204 and DA021358]
Transient solution for a plane‐strain fracture driven by a shear‐thinning, power‐law fluid

This paper analyses the problem of a fluid-driven fracture propagating in an impermeable, linear elastic rock with finite toughness. The fracture is driven by injection of an incompressible viscous fluid with power-law rheology. The relation between the fracture opening and the internal fluid pressure and the fracture propagation in mobile equilibrium are described by equations of linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM), and the flow of fluid inside the fracture is governed by the lubrication theory. It is shown that for shear-thinning fracturing fluids, the fracture propagation regime evolves in time from the toughness- to the viscosity-dominated regime. In the former, dissipation in the viscous fluid flow is negligible compared to the dissipation in extending the fracture in the rock, and in the later, the opposite holds. Corresponding self-similar asymptotic solutions are given by the zero-viscosity and zero-toughness (J. Numer. Anal. Meth. Geomech. 2002; 26:579–604) solutions, respectively. A transient solution in terms of the crack length, the fracture opening, and the net fluid pressure, which describes the fracture evolution from the early-time (toughness-dominated) to the large-time (viscosity-dominated) asymptote is presented and some of the implications for the practical range of parameters are discussed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Environmental modification of tolerance to morphine discriminative stimulus properties in rats.

The development of tolerance to the discriminative stimulus properties of morphine was examined in rats trained to discriminate saline and 3.2 mg/kg morphine under amultiple timeout 15 min, 5 min fixed-ratio 30 schedule of food delivery. Generalization gradients were generated by administering increasing doses of morphine before successive timeout periods within the experimental session. Over the course of the study, the minimal discriminable dose (MDD) of morphine under control conditions fluctuated but did not systematically increase or decrease. Acute pretreatments of 3.2–17.8 mg/kg morphine 4–24 h before a generalization test resulted in minor changes in the MDD. To examine development of tolerance, supplemental doses of morphine (17.8 mg/kg) or saline were administered twice daily while discrimination training was either suspended or continued. Tolerance was assessed by weekly generalization tests. Greater tolerance developed to the morphine stimulus when training was suspended than when training was continued. For both training conditions, response rates during generalization tests were markedly suppressed during supplemental morphine administration, and original generalization gradients were recaptured within 2 weeks after termination of supplemental morphine administration. Supplemental saline administration did not alter the discriminative or rate-altering effects of morphine under either training condition. Thus, the magnitude of tolerance to a morphine discriminative stimulus reflected an interaction of supplemental drug treatment with the training conditions imposed during that treatment.
Status of duckweed genomics and transcriptomics

Duckweeds belong to the smallest flowering plants that undergo fast vegetative growth in an aquatic environment. They are commonly used in wastewater treatment and animal feed. Whereas duckweeds have been studied at the biochemical level, their reduced morphology and wide environmental adaption had not been subjected to molecular analysis until recently. Here, we review the progress that has been made in using a DNA barcode system and the sequences of chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes to identify duckweed species at the species or population level. We also review analysis of the nuclear genome sequence of Spirodela that provides new insights into fundamental biological questions. Indeed, reduced gene families and missing genes are consistent with its compact morphogenesis, aquatic floating and suppression of juvenile-to-adult transition. Furthermore, deep RNA sequencing of Spirodela at the onset of dormancy and Landoltia in exposure of nutrient deficiency illustrate the molecular network for environmental adaption and stress response, constituting major progress towards a post-genome sequencing phase, where further functional genomic details can be explored. Rapid advances in sequencing technologies could continue to promote a proliferation of genome sequences for additional ecotypes as well as for other duckweed species.
Space medicine comes down to Earth

Over the years innovative technologies developed for space flight have found their way into a variety of useful terrestrial applications. Significant examples can be found in the area of space medicine, which has greatly influenced human health care delivery on Earth. This report discusses several US applications of space medicine to terrestrial health needs and services, stressing the importance of a 'space applications mentality' as a valuable national asset.
Secondary structural and “active site” momologies between nerve growth factor and insulin

Abstract Secondary structural elements, α-helix, β-sheet and turns, of nerve growth factor (NGF) were predicted by the method of Chou and Fasman. Analysis of the prediction results showed the presence of domain structure in NGF; the second half of the polypeptide chain showed a secondary structural “pattern” very similar to the first half. Comparison of the secondary structure of NGF and proinsulin showed significant homology between the B-chain, which has the “active site”, and NGF 25–54 The homology is reinforced by the identification of a pentapeptide sequence in NGF which is very similar to the “active site” sequence of insluin essential for receptor binding and agonist activity. The present alignment of insulin and NGF is however different from that proposed earlier on the basis of sequence data alone.
A removable silicone elastomer seal reduces granulation tissue growth and maintains the sterility of recording chambers for primate neurophysiology.

The maintenance of the sterility of craniotomies for serial acute neurophysiological recordings is exacting and time consuming yet is vital to the health of valuable experimental animals. We have developed a method to seal the craniotomy with surgical grade silicone elastomer (Silastic®) in a hermetically sealed chamber. Under these conditions the tissues in the craniotomy and the inside surface of the chamber remain unpopulated by bacteria. The silicone elastomer sealant retarded the growth of granulation tissue on the dura and reduced the procedures required to maintain ideal conditions for neurophysiological recordings.
Ultrasound waveform tomography with a spatially variant regularization scheme

Regularization is often needed in breast ultrasound waveform tomography to improve tomographic reconstructions. A global regularization parameter may lead to either over-regularization or under-regularization in different regions in the imaging domain. We develop a new ultrasound waveform tomography method with spatially-variant regularization. Our new method employs different regularization parameters in different regions of the breast so that each regularization parameter is optimal for the local region. Our numerical examples demonstrate the improvement of ultrasound waveform tomography using the spatially-variant modified total-variation regularization for sound-speed reconstructions of large and small breast tumors, particularly when their sizes are significantly different from one another.
Molecular cloning and characterization of the alcohol dehydrogenase ADH1 gene of Candida utilis ATCC 9950.

The alcohol dehydrogenase gene (ADH1) of Candida utilis ATCC9950 was cloned and expressed in recombinant Escherichia coli. C. utilis ADH1 was obtained by PCR amplification of C. utilis genomic DNA using two degenerate primers. Amino acid sequence analysis of C. utilis ADH1 indicated that it contained a zinc-binding consensus region and a NAD(P)+-binding site, and lacked a mitochondrial targeting peptide. It has a 98 and 73% identity with ADH1s of C. albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, respectively. Amino acid sequence analysis and enzyme characterization with various aliphatic and branched alcohols suggested that C. utilis ADH1 might be a primary alcohol dehydrogenase existing in the cytoplasm and requiring zinc ion and NAD(P)+ for reaction.
Sex differences in early instar behavior in Pholcus phalangioides (Araneae: Pholcidae)

Abstract Intersexual differences in juvenile behavior in invertebrates are poorly understood despite the recognition that they may be widespread. We present a study designed to explore sex differences in behavior in early instar long-bodied cellar spiders Pholcus phalangioides (Fuesslin 1775). Our findings reveal that sex differences in activity and feeding are present early in P. phalangioides, which may have important implications for studies of behavior that involve juveniles. Further investigation of the factors that underlie the early emergence of sex differences in behavior is needed.
ROARS: a robust object archival system for data intensive scientific computing

As scientific research becomes more data intensive, there is an increasing need for scalable, reliable, and high performance storage systems. Such data repositories must provide both data archival services and rich metadata, and cleanly integrate with large scale computing resources. ROARS is a hybrid approach to distributed storage that provides both large, robust, scalable storage and efficient rich metadata queries for scientific applications. In this paper, we present the design and implementation of ROARS, focusing primarily on the challenge of maintaining data integrity across long time scales. We evaluate the performance of ROARS on a storage cluster, comparing to the Hadoop distributed file system and a centralized file server. We observe that ROARS has read and write performance that scales with the number of storage nodes, and integrity checking that scales with the size of the largest node. We demonstrate the ability of ROARS to function correctly through multiple system failures and reconfigurations. ROARS has been in production use for over three years as the primary data repository for a biometrics research lab at the University of Notre Dame.
The point of triangulation.

Purpose: To explore various types of triangulation strategies and to indicate when different types of triangulation should be used in research. Methods: Reviews included literature on triangulation and multimethod strategies published since 1960 and research books specifically focusing on triangulation. Findings: Triangulation is the combination of at least two or more theoretical perspectives, methodological approaches, data sources, investigators, or data analysis methods. The intent of using triangulation is to decrease, negate, or counterbalance the deficiency of a single strategy, thereby increasing the ability to interpret the findings. Conclusions: The use of triangulation strategies does not strengthen a flawed study. Researchers should use triangulation if it can contribute to understanding the phenomenon; however, they must be able to articulate why the strategy is being used and how it might enhance the study.
Intersubband absorption in ZnO/ZnMgO quantum wells grown by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy on c-plane sapphire substrates

Abstract The authors report the growth of ZnO/ZnMgO multiple quantum well (MQW) structures by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. A set of three MQW samples with different well thicknesses were grown on c -plane sapphire substrates. Structural and optical properties of the samples were characterized by reflection high-energy electron diffraction, high-resolution x-ray diffraction (XRD) and photoluminescence measurements. Clear superlattice satellite peaks and thickness fringes observed in XRD measurements indicate the formation of periodic structure with good interfacial quality and high crystalline quality. Mid infrared absorptions around 3 μm are observed from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy measurement. The polarization-dependent absorption proves that the absorptions are originated from intersubband transitions.
Anterior displacement of the mandible in adult rhesus monkeys.

Abstract An anterior displacement of the mandible of about 1.5 mm. was instituted in five adult rhesus monkeys by placement of cast splints on the mandibular anterior teeth. Appropriate tissues were studied by histologic means. The monkeys could masticate well with the splints in place. No traumatic injury occurred to the functioning surfaces of the temporomandibular joints. A slight mesial or forward positioning of the condyles induced mild adaptive changes in the joints. However, these changes seemed insignificant, nonprogressive, and possibly reversible without treatment. There was evidence of severe trauma and significant adaptive changes in the periodontium of the teeth involved in the dysfunctional occlusal relationship. The main accommodation to the induced anterior mandibular displacement took place in the dentition rather than in the temporomandibular joints. The results of this experiment confirm the importance of adapting the occlusion to the temporomandibular joints rather than hoping for the joints to adapt to the occlusion.
What is vitamin D insufficiency? And does it matter?

The term nutrient “insufficiency,” as commonly used, refers to a nutritional status intermediate between classical, severe deficiency, and full normal. As both “deficiency” and “insufficiency” are causes of dysfunction and disease, there is no biological basis for a distinction between them. What is important to note is that, in the case of vitamin D, the preponderance of the evidence indicates that there is real, preventable disease in the range of vitamin D status values now labeled “insufficient.”
On Seeking Global History's Inner Child

Starting with distinctions between global history and globalization and between the history of childhood and the history of children, this essay suggests some approaches to the global history of childhood. It calls for exploring the common circumstances of childhood; the dissemination of practices, norms, and customs affecting children; the impact on children of webs of connections across nations and continents; and the cultural encounters that result. By doing this, students of childhood in any place or time can establish frameworks through which to recognize and address important aspects of global history and theories of global change.
Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome: the trouble with immunity when you had none

Some individuals who are infected with HIV rapidly deteriorate shortly after starting antiretroviral therapy, despite effective viral suppression. This reaction, referred to as immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS), is characterized by tissue-destructive inflammation and arises as CD4(+) T cells re-emerge. It has been proposed that IRIS is caused by a dysregulation of the expanding population of CD4(+) T cells specific for a co-infecting opportunistic pathogen. Here, we argue that IRIS instead results from hyper-responsiveness of the innate immune system to T cell help, a mechanism that may be shared by the many manifestations of IRIS that occur following the reversal of other types of immunosuppression in pathogen-infected hosts.
Test of the pairing-vibration model in 40A

Abstract Calculations with a realistic nucleon-nucleon interaction indicate that the pairing-vibration model does not provide a satisfactory description of the levels of 40A.
Impact of cooling method and incoming sheet quality on final part surface quality in thick sheet paint film thermoformed parts

Thick sheet, “dry paint” film parts were thermoformed using different cooling methods and sheet temperatures to determine whether these two parameters had a direct effect on the surface quality of the final part. Although some thermoformers have claimed that applying chilled air after forming “dry paint” film parts improves the gloss of the parts, the data from this study showed that application of chilled air did not have an effect on either the parts' initial gloss or their gloss after time-dependent hazing. The critical factor in maintaining surface quality in these parts was the maximum temperature reached by the “dry paint” film during heating. In addition, analysis of the data taken on the sheet prior to forming versus that taken on the part after forming demonstrated the importance of validating the surface quality of the as-received sheet prior to conducting process versus appearance experiments. On the basis of these findings, a recommendation is made for incoming sheet surface quality levels for both process development studies and production applications. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers
Effect of reduced pH in absence of HCO3− on anomalous and normal potential responses in bullfrog antrum

Abstract Effect of changing [K + ], [Na + ] and [Cl − ] in nutrient solution on potential difference (PD) and resistance was studied in bullfrog antrum with and without nutrient HCO 3 − but with 95% O 2 /5% CO 2 in both cases. In both cases, changing from 4 to 40 mM K + gave about the same initial PD maximum (anomalous response) which was followed by a decrease below control level. Latter effect was much less with zero than with 25 mM HCO 3 − . Changing from 102 to 8 mM Na + gave initial normal PD response about the same in both cases. However, 10 min later the change in PD with zero HCO 3 − was insignificant but with 25 mM HCO 3 − the PD decreased (anomalous response of electrogenic NaCl symport). PD maxima due to K + and Na + were largely related to ( Na + + K + )- ATPase pump. Changes in nutrient Cl − from 81 to 8.1 mM gave only a decrease in PD (normal response). Initial PD increases are explained by relative increases in resistance of simple conductance pathways and of parallel pathways of ( Na + + K + )- ATPase pump and Na + /Cl − symport. Removal of HCO 3 − and concurrent reduction of pH modify resistance of these pathways.
High temporal and spatial resolution 4D MRA using spiral data sampling and sliding window reconstruction

Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CE-MRA) requires high spatial resolution to demonstrate detailed vasculature and high temporal resolution to capture the contrast bolus. Sparse bright voxels in MRA permit substantial undersampling in MRI data acquisition, allowing simultaneous high temporal and spatial resolution. We developed a time-resolved 3D MRA technique using the efficient spiral sampling trajectory, and performed off-resonance corrections using inhomogeneity field maps. View sharing and sliding window reconstruction were utilized to generate high temporal resolution. High-resolution 3D angiograms were generated at 1–2 s per frame, with a 5–8 ml gadolinium dose, in patients with vascular disease. Magn Reson Med 52:14–18, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
On the oscillatory behavior of bounded solutions of higher order differential equations

and/or related equations, one’s conclusions frequently have to be broken into two cases: n even and n odd. (See, for example, A. G. Kartsatos [7], T. Kusano and H. Onose [9], G. Ladas, V. Lakshmikantham, and J. S. Papadakis [IO], Y. G. Sficas [L?], Sficas and V. A. Staikos [13], and G. H. Ryder and D. V. V. Wend [ll]). On the other hand, Ladas, Lakshmikantham, and Papadakis [lo] and S&as and Staikos [13] have observed that