cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Toward a Valid View of God

LIBERAL Christians have affirmed their faith in religious certainty on the strength of two basic claims: namely, that Jesus revealed the character of God a morally good God; and that Jesus revealed God's purpose for the world a morally perfect humanity in accord with God's own character. The outlook of liberal Christianity, embracing both its theology and its ethical program, centres in its certainty concerning these two doctrines which form its sources.
Chemokine receptor CCR6 transduces signals that activate p130Cas and alter cAMP-stimulated ion transport in human intestinal epithelial cells

Human colon epithelial cells express the G protein-coupled receptor CCR6, the sole receptor for the chemokine CCL20 (also termed MIP-3α). CCL20 produced by intestinal epithelial cells is upregulate...
Paradoxical Quantitative Electroencephalographs Changes in Rats Stressed Osmotically

Using a method of EEG analysis previously described, the effects of hyperosmotic and hypo-osmotic compounds injected intraperitoneally are studied. It is shown that the effects of both types of osmotic stressing cause similar types of response when the EEG is evaluated using this algorithm. It is shown that the hyperosmotic agent used (glucose and water) was more effective on a volume basis than the hypo-osmotic agent (distilled water). The changes in EEG activity with osmotic stressing show a quantitative response (i.e., the larger the dosage of osmotic agent the higher the response as scored using the algorithm). It is suggested that this algorithm may be useful in evaluating the changes in electrical activity in experimental animals while undergoing drug response evaluation.
Crystallographic analysis of the NNA7 Fab and proposal for the mode of human blood-group recognition.

The NNA7 Fab antibody fragment recognizes the human N-­type blood-group antigen comprised of the N-terminal glycopeptide of glycophorin A (GPA). A mutant form of this Fab fragment, NNA7-G91S, exhibits markedly reduced antigen binding. To provide insight into how these Fab fragments recognize this glycopeptide antigen, the crystal structures of NNA7 and NNA7-G91S were solved and refined to 1.83 and 1.97 A resolution, respectively. Both molecules are composed of the same heavy (H) chain Fd fragment, but each contains a slightly different light (L) chain owing to the G91S substitution. Specifically, the G91S mutation pushes the backbone of the neighboring H chain away from complementarity-determining region 3 (CDR3) of the L-chain variable region, allowing an additional glycerol cryoprotectant molecule to enter the antigen-combining site near the putative location of O-linked glycosylation. Each Fab fragment also possesses a well defined 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid (MES) molecule trapped in its antigen-combining site, as well as a crystallographic symmetry-related molecule comprising an amino-acid sequence that is virtually identical to the N-­terminus of GPA. The MES molecule interacts with the H-­chain CDR in a manner reminiscent of antibody–carbohydrate complexes. These results suggest a model for recognition of the glycopeptide antigen that accounts for the deleterious effect of the G91S substitution.
Indirectly connected bis(N-Heterocyclic Carbene) bimetallic complexes: Dependence of metal-metal electronic coupling on linker geometry

Reaction of 1,1′,3,3′-tetra(tert-amyl)benzobis(imidazolylidene) (1) with 2 equiv of FcN3 or FcNCS afforded bisadducts [(FcN3)2(1)] (2) or [(FcNCS)2(1)] (3), respectively (Fc = ferrocene). To the best of our knowledge, these represent the first examples of complexes comprising metals indirectly connected to the carbene atoms of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) via their ligand sets. Cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry indicated that bis(NHC) 1 facilitated significant electronic coupling between ferrocene centers in 2 (ΔE = 140 mV), but not in 3. We believe the different degrees of electronic interaction are due to geometric factors: the triazene linker in 2 is nearly coplanar with the bis(NHC) scaffold, whereas the isothiocyanate linker is orthogonal, as determined by X-ray crystallography. Employing this “indirect connection” strategy should enable tuning of metal−metal interactions by simple alteration the organic linker between NHC and MLn fragments rather than complete redesign thereof. Given that ...
Crystallization behavior of melt-spun Nd/sub x/Fe/sub 93-x/Nb/sub 1/B/sub 6/ alloys

The crystallization behavior of Nd/sub x/Fe/sub 93-x/Nb/sub 1/B/sub 6/ melt-spun ribbons was investigated using calorimetric techniques. The crystallization products were identified by X-ray diffraction and thermomagnetic measurements. Samples with x/spl ges/10 crystallize directly from amorphous to a mixture of Nd/sub 2/Fe/sub 14/B and /spl alpha/-Fe phases. For 10<x<7, the final mixture of 2:14:1 and /spl alpha/-Fe phases is obtained through a two stage crystallization where the intermediate metastable Nd/sub 2/Fe/sub 23/B/sub 3/ and Nd/sub 3/Fe/sub 62/B/sub 14/ phases are produced at the initial crystallization. In samples with 7<x<4 the intermediate phase Is Nd/sub 3/Fe/sub 62/B/sub 14/. No metastable phases were observed in samples containing less than 3 at% Nd although the calorimetric measurements indicated a two-step crystallization process.
A historical review of robust control

A historical review of recent results in robust control is presented. The robust control problem, i.e., the problem of designing accurate control systems in the presence of significant plant uncertainties, is classical. However, over the past 15 years, significant new theory has been developed for the solution of this problem, especially with respect to linear multivariable systems characterized in the frequency domain, and the term robust control for this classical problem is only of recent vintage (1972). Some of the major contributions of modern robust control theory include the development of synthesis techniques for robust stabilization, and H2and H^{\infty} sensitivity optimization of multivariable systems. In this review, we confine the term robust control to the design of fixed controllers. Thus, only nonadaptive or nonself-tuning solutions to the problem of controlling uncertain systems are reviewed. Finally, it should be noted that the review is largely limited to the literature published in IEEE journals and conference proceedings, and some English-language journals. It is, of course, recognized that many significant related contributions have appeared elsewhere.
Statin medications are associated with a lower probability of having an abnormal screening prostate-specific antigen result.

Objective To investigate how statin use is associated with the probability of having an abnormal screening prostate-specific antigen (PSA) result according to common PSA thresholds for biopsy (>2.5, >4.0, and >6.5 ng/mL). Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of 323,426 men aged ≥65 years who had a screening PSA test in 2003 at a Veterans Affairs facility. The primary predictor was the use of statin medications at the time of index screening PSA test. The main outcome was the screening PSA value. Poisson regressions were performed to calculate adjusted relative risks for having an abnormal screening PSA result according to statin usage. Results Percentages of men with PSA results exceeding commonly used thresholds of >2.5, >4.0, and >6.5 ng/mL were 21.0%, 7.6%, and 1.6%, respectively. These percentages decreased with statin use, increasing statin dose, duration of statin use, and potency of the statin. For example, after adjusting for age, the percentage of men having a PSA level >4.0 ng/mL ranged from 8.2% in non–statin users to 6.2% in men prescribed with >40 mg of simvastatin dose. Adjusted relative risks of having a PSA level >4.0 ng/mL were 0.89 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.86-0.93), 0.87 (95% CI, 0.84-0.91), and 0.83 (95% CI, 0.80-0.87), respectively for men on simvastatin dose of 5-20, >20-40, and >40 mg vs non–statin users. Conclusion Statin use is associated with a reduction in the probability that an older man will have an abnormal screening PSA result, regardless of the PSA threshold. This reduction is more pronounced with higher statin dose, longer statin duration, and higher statin potency.
Upward Turbulent Flame Spread on Wood Under External Radiation

Experiments were performed to obtain histories of surface temperatures and rates of upward flame spread for velocity oriented, thermally thick wood slabs exposed to surface fluxes of thermal radiation up to 2.6 W/cm{sup 2}. Above a critical irradiance sustained upward flame spread occurred for Douglas-fir particle board with pilot initiation at the base of the fuel face. Data obtained included temperatures, flame heights, pyrolysis-front heights, combustion duration, and char-layer thickness for various irradiances and preheat times. The measurements were compared with theory.
ORIGIN OF GUANINE NUCLEOTIDES IN ISOLATED HEART MITOCHONDRIA

Presence of guanine nucleotide within the matrix of mitochondria is uncontested; the mechanism by which GTP takes up residence in the matrix is unknown. In this report, we demonstrate for the first time that direct transport of guanine nucleotide across the inner membrane of heart mitochondria is possible. Transport of guanine nucleotides from the medium to the matrix was suggested by inhibition of translation in isolated rat heart mitochondria when GTP-γ-S was added to the medium. This result suggested that GTP was one source of matrix GTP. Other sources were investigated by measuring matrix uptake and conversion to GTP of several purines, purine nucleosides, and purine nucleotides. Results demonstrated that [14C]-guanine and [3H]-guanosine were not taken up by isolated mitochondria and were not converted to any other compound. While [14C]-ATP and [3H]-AMP were taken up readily into the matrix, radioactivity was never associated with a guanine compound. [3H]-IMP was not taken up into the matrix and was never converted to another compound. Our data showed that label added as [3H]-GTP, [3H]-GDP, or [3H]-GMP was readily taken up and concentrated in the matrix of isolated mitochondria.
Memory performance in Holocaust survivors with posttraumatic stress disorder.

OBJECTIVE: The authors evaluated memory performance in Holocaust survivors and its association with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and age. METHOD: Memory performance was measured in Holocaust survivors with PTSD (N=31) and without PTSD (N=16) and healthy Jewish adults not exposed to the Holocaust (N=35). Explicit and implicit memory were measured by paired-associate recall and word stem completion, respectively. RESULTS: The groups did not differ by age or gender, but the survivors with PTSD had significantly fewer years of education and had lower estimated IQs than the survivors without PTSD and the nonexposed group. There was a significant overall group effect for paired-associate recall but not word stem completion. The survivors with PTSD recalled fewer semantically unrelated words than did the survivors without PTSD and the nonexposed group and fewer semantically related words than the nonexposed group. Of the survivors with PTSD, 36% performed at a level indicative of frank cognitive impairme...
Isopentenoid synthesis in embryonic Drosophila cells: Prenylated protein profile and prenyl group usage

Abstract It has been established that vertebrates and yeasts modified a unique subset of polypeptides with farnesyl and geranylgeranyl residues. This observation has been extended to Drosophila K c cells. [ 3 H]Mevalonate was incorporated into 54 K c cell peptides (18–92 kDa). As reported for mammalian cells, most of the labeled peptides had molecular weights between 21 and 27 kDa. C 18 radio-HPLC tryptic digest profiles for delipidized, [ 3 H]mevalonate-labeled (a) insect ( Drosophila and Spodoptera frugiperda ) and mammalian (Chinese hamster ovary met 18-2b) cells, (b) K c cell nuclear lamin, and (c) a 23.5-kDa purified K c cell GTP-binding protein were compared and analyzed. [ 35 S]Cysteine-labeled K c cells yielded a tryptic digest radio-HPLC profile which was congruent with that for [ 3 H]mevalonate-labeled cells. A significant fraction (30–33%) of the doubly labeled tryptic peptides were eluted with ⩾93% acetonitrile. K c cell nuclear lamin tryptic digests yielded a single 3 H-labeled product which migrated as S -farnesylcysteine. The K c cell 23.5-kDa GTP-binding protein's 3 H-labeled oligopeptide(s)/amino acid(s) was geranylgeranylated and its tryptic digest profile was representative of prenylated proteins whose oligopeptides eluted with ⩾93% acetonitrile. Moreover, the 3 H-labeled oligopeptide/amino acid profiles plus prenyl group patterns for [ 3 H]mevalonate-labeled K c and mammalian cell total extracts were similar. Collectively, these observations supported a prenylated protein spectrum and prenyl group usage as highly conserved eukaryotic cellular characteristics.
A comparative porosity study of active carbons

Abstract Comparative porosity studies based on nitrogen sorption isotherms have been carried out on several experimental coal-derived active carbons. Micropore evaluation utilized either the “MP” method of Mikhail et al. [ J. Colloid Interface Sci. 26, 45 1968], or the Dubinin-Radushkevich treatment (“Progress in Surface and Membrane Science,” Academic Press, New York 1975). The analysis of mesopores was carried out using the “modelless” treatment of Brunauer and co-workers [ J. Colloid Interface Sci. 24, 451 1967]. Neither micropore method was found entirely suitable in that the MP method excluded pores in the submicropore range while nonlinearity of the Dubinin-Radushkevich plots had to be allowed for in the upper micro and mesopore range. Typical active carbons appear to have approximately 90% of their porosity in the micropore range (on a pore volume basis), of which a significant fraction lies in the submicro range. Inadequacies in the MP treatment result in a failure to account for 1–2% of this submicropore volume, a failure that results in a surface area apparently some 10% too low. Finally, it appears to be typical of such active carbons that part of the mesopore volume is accessed exclusively through micropore structure.
Molecular comparison of alpha 2-adrenergic receptors from rat adrenocortical carcinoma and human blood platelet.

We have previously described a simple two-step purification technique to isolate α2-adrenergic receptors from the rat adrenocortical carcinoma (Jaiswal, R. K. and Sharma, R. K. (1985) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 130, 58–64). Utilizing this technique we have now achieved ∼ 77 000-fold purification to apparent homogeneity of α2-adrenergic receptors from human platelets. We have compared the biochemical characteristics of these receptors with those from the rat, which were purified ∼ 40000-fold to homogeneity. The [125I] receptor proteins from two sources showed: (a) a single radioactive band with a Mr of 64000 as evidenced by one- and two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDSPAGE); and (b) a single symmetrical peak with a pl of 4.2 by isoelectric focusing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Both proteins showed typical α2-adrenergic binding characteristics with specific binding activities of 13.85 nmol/mg and 14.17 nmol/mg protein. These values are close to the theoretical binding activity of 15.6 nmol/mg protein for 1 mol of the ligand binding 1 mol of the receptor protein. These results attest to the purity of the receptors, to its Mr of 64000, and to its acidic nature. However, the peptide maps of the radioiodinated α2-adrenergic receptors from rat adrenocortical carcinoma and human blood platelets reveal some distinct differences which may relate to the differences in the pharmacological specificities between rodent and nonrodent α2-adrenergic receptors.
Target detection-sensitivity enhancement using high-resolution radar and 2-D and 3-D stereo target displays

A 1989 experiment in detection-sensitivity enhancement of an airplane target in a background of ground clutter is reported. The experiment showed an 11 dB improvement when a high-resolution radar target was displayed as a 2-D image rather than a blip or blob (0-dimensions). A further 7 dB was observed when the target was displayed in stereo (3-D). These extraordinary observations warrant independent verification and theoretical examination. >
Absence of detectable xanthine oxidase in human myocardium

The enzyme xanthine oxidase has been implicated as a generator of toxic oxygen metabolites that contribute to ischemic injury. Because substantial species variability has been demonstrated and because there are minimal human data available, the relevance of xanthine oxidase to human heart damage has been in doubt. We report the absence of xanthine oxidase activity in nine human heart biopsy specimens obtained during cardiac surgery, and in two larger samples obtained during heart transplantation. A sensitive radiochemical assay was used to assess enzyme activity. Our findings imply that oxygen free radicals generated by xanthine oxidase are not relevant in terms of human myocardial injury.
Temperature-sensitive virion transcriptase activity in mutants of WSN influenza virus.

Temperature-sensitive mutants of WSN influenza virus (10, 11, 12) were testedin vitro for activity of the viron RNA-dependent RNA transcriptase at various temperatures. Temperature-sensitivity was found for virion transcriptase activity of mutants beloning to complementation/recombination group I, but not groups II, IV and V. It was not possible on the basis of the results to specify the precise biochemical lesion of mutants from group III.
Effect of intratesticular injection of sodium fluoride on spermatogenesis.

Abstract The potential of sodium fluoride to affect spermatogenesis in the rat was assessed by intratesticular injection. Experimental rats' left testis was injected with sodium fluoride (50, 175 and 250 ppm) in vehicle (0.9% physiological saline); control testes were injected with vehicle. The right testis served as a non-injected control. Testicular tissues collected ‘at’ and ‘distal to’ the injection site and from the non-injected control testes were evaluated microscopically 24 hr and 1, 2 and 3 wk post-injection. Testicular tissues obtained at and distal to the injection site in all fluoride-injected groups resembled tissues collected from corresponding areas in the controls. Seminiferous tubule damage observed in both the vehicle-injected control testes and the fluoride-injected testes but not in the non-injected testes was attributed to injection trauma. Polymorphonuclear leucocyte infiltration was observed 24 hr post injection only at the injection site in the vehicle- and fluoride-injected groups. Leydig cells were unaffected. Leucocyte infiltration with seminiferous tubule damage was not considered to be a fluoride treatment-related effect because it was observed in both vehicle- and fluoride-injected testes. The results demonstrate that spermatogenesis in the rat is not adversely affected by direct exposure to fluoride at levels 200 times greater than those under normal conditions.
The effect of "irrelevant" variables on decision making: Criterion shifts in preferential choice?

Abstract In decision research, it is widely assumed that decision makers have subjective experiences which indicate definitively, albeit with random fluctuations, whether or not one alternative is preferable to another. Further, it is assumed that subjects' choices reflect this underlying preference order. It follows from this position, as a logical consequence rather than an empirical observation, that if a manipulation affects people's choices, it does so by changing the way people subjectively experience the alternatives (presumably via people's encoding or combination of attribute information). In psychophysics, an analogous theoretical position has been relinquished. Specifically, it is no longer believed that observers in a detection experiment have subjective experiences which indicate definitively, albeit with error, whether a signal has been perceived. Rather, according to signal detection theory, the observer's sensory experience can be portrayed as a quantifiable sensation that must be converted into an overt report of “signal present” or “signal absent” by comparing the sensation with a criterion. In this paper, we describe two models of preferential choice, the lexicographic criterion model and a probabilistic criterion model, that replace the notion of definitive preference with an analogue of signal detection theory. In the models, the decision maker is represented as having quantifiable inclinations, rather than definitive preferences, that must be converted into an overt choice by comparing the inclinations with a criterion. By attributing the effects of experimental manipulations to shifts in the criterion, rather than to changes in people's inclinations, the model offers a testable alternative to the proposition that altered choices imply altered preferences.
Selenoprotein expression is regulated at multiple levels in prostate cells

Selenium supplementation in a population with low basal blood selenium levels has been reported to decrease the incidence of several cancers including prostate cancer. Based on the clinical findings, it is likely that the antioxidant function of one or more selenoproteins is responsible for the chemopreventive effect, although low molecular weight seleno-compounds have also been posited to selectively induce apoptosis in transformed cells. To address the effects of selenium supplementation on selenoprotein expression in prostate cells, we have undertaken an analysis of antioxidant selenoprotein expression as well as selenium toxicity in non-tumorigenic prostate epithelial cells (RWPE-1) and prostate cancer cells (LNCaP and PC-3). Our results show that two of the glutathione peroxidase family members (GPX1 and GPX4) are highly induced by supplemental selenium in prostate cancer cells but only slightly induced in RWPE-1 cells. In addition, GPX1 levels are dramatically lower in PC-3 cells as compared to RWPE-1 or LNCaP cells. GPX2 protein and mRNA, however, are only detectable in RWPE-1 cells. Of the three selenium compounds tested (sodium selenite, sodium selenate and selenomethionine), only sodium selenite shows toxicity in a physiological range of selenium concentrations. Notably and in contrast to previous studies, RWPE-1 cells were significantly more sensitive to selenite than either of the prostate cancer cell lines. These results demonstrate that selenoproteins and selenium metabolism are regulated at multiple levels in prostate cells.
Treatment of Apnea of Prematurity

In the last decade, knowledge regarding the neurodevelopment and functional aspects of the respiratory centers during postnatal maturation has increased substantially. However, an increase in such knowledge has not provided a basis for change in practice. The diagnosis of apnea of prematurity (AOP) is one of exclusion. All causes of secondary apnea must be ruled out before initiating treatment for AOP. Treatment will depend on the etiology as well as effectiveness and tolerability of the treatment by the patient. The primary goal of any treatment of AOP is to prevent the frequency of apnea lasting >20 seconds, and/or those that are shorter, but associated with cyanosis and bradycardia. The clinical management of AOP is not much different today than it was two decades ago, with pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatment options remaining the mainstay of therapy. Methylxanthines are still the most widely used pharmacologic agents. Due to the wider therapeutic index of caffeine and ease of once daily administration, it should be the preferred agent. Doxapram, or nonpharmacologic treatment measures such as nasal continuous positive airway pressure, may be considered in infants who are unresponsive to methylxanthine treatment alone. Treatment should be continued until there is complete resolution of apnea, and for some time thereafter. The choice of method for weaning treatment remains one of individual physician preference. Discharge from hospital after apnea requires close monitoring and some infants will require home apnea monitors. The decision to provide a home apnea monitor should be individualized for each patient, depending on the effectiveness of treatment and clinical response.
Increasing motivation changes subjective reports of listening effort and choice of coping strategy.

AbstractObjective: The purpose of this project was to examine the effect of changing motivation on subjective ratings of listening effort and on the likelihood that a listener chooses either a controlling or an avoidance coping strategy. Design: Two experiments were conducted, one with auditory-only (AO) and one with auditory-visual (AV) stimuli, both using the same speech recognition in noise materials. Four signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) were used, two in each experiment. The two SNRs targeted 80% and 50% correct performance. Motivation was manipulated by either having participants listen carefully to the speech (low motivation), or listen carefully to the speech and then answer quiz questions about the speech (high motivation). Study sample: Sixteen participants with normal hearing participated in each experiment. Eight randomly selected participants participated in both. Results: Using AO and AV stimuli, motivation generally increased subjective ratings of listening effort and tiredness. In addition, u...
Activation of herpes simplex following dermabrasion: Report of a patient successfully treated with intravenous acyclovir and brief review of the literature

Herpes simplex labialis developed in a patient immediately following dermabrasion. The patient was hospitalized because the infection had spread rapidly over the dermabraded face and was complicated by secondary impetiginization. Herpesvirus hominis type I and Enterobacter aerogenes were isolated from cultures. Intravenous acyclovir and oral antibiotics were administered. On this regimen, new vesicle formation ceased in 36 hours. Complete resolution of the infection occurred within 6 days, with an excellent cosmetic result. Observation at 1 month confirmed no sequelae (in particular, scarring). The "at risk" patient with a history of recurrent herpes labialis should be identified prospectively in an attempt to prevent possible reactivation; should this complication ensue, appropriate treatment should be immediately administered because a state of local immunocompromise exists. We believe our patient benefited greatly from vigorous treatment, with significant shortening of time to healing. Prophylaxis with oral acyclovir of "at risk" patients prior to dermabrasion is proposed.
Heat capacity and thermodynamic properties of alkali metal compounds. Part 7. Cesium and rubidium dimolybdates

Abstract The heat capacities of cesium and rubidium bromides and rubidium iodide have been measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in the temperature range 310–780 K. These values have been combined with measured and estimated values for the standard entropy and enthalpy of formation for CsBr, RbBr, and RbI to obtain thermodynamic functions up to 800 K.
The Effect of Verbal Symbolization on the Serial Position Curve in Motor Perceptual Maze Learning

(1962). The Effect of Verbal Symbolization on the Serial Position Curve in Motor Perceptual Maze Learning. The Journal of General Psychology: Vol. 66, No. 1, pp. 47-51.
Effects of light on nitrogen and carbon uptake during a Prorocentrum minimum bloom

Abstract During a 4-week period in late spring 1998 an extensive Prorocentrum minimum (Pavillard) Schiller bloom developed in several tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay. Experiments were carried out in one of these tributaries using 13C and 15N isotopic techniques to characterize C and N uptake as a function of irradiance during the course of this bloom. Uptake rates of N substrates (NO3−, NH4+, urea, and an amino acid mixture) and C substrates (bicarbonate and urea) were measured. For each N substrate, short-term uptake rates (0.5 h) were not substantially different over the irradiance range measured, suggesting that N uptake of this dinoflagellate was not strongly light-dependent over this time scale. Dark uptake rates of all N substrates ranged between 35 and 113% of light uptake rates. Over the duration of the P. minimum bloom, however, total ambient N uptake rates increased with increasing natural irradiance. Uptake of bicarbonate showed typical light-dependent photosynthetic characteristics and the measured photosynthetic parameters suggested that at least on the short time scale (0.5 h), P. minimum cells were adapted to high light. Rates of C uptake from the substrate urea were minimal,
Thyrotropin-releasing hormone: effects on identified neurons of the dorsal vagal complex.

Abstract Previous reports have demonstrated that intraventricular administration of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) markedly elevates parasympathetic efferent activity. The following study determined if this response could be attributed to an effect of TRH on the neurons in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMN) and/or the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS), the nuclei that comprise the dorsal vagal complex (DVC). Individual DMN or NTS units were identified electrophysiologically by using stimulating electrodes placed on the cervical vagus. Alterations in firing rate of identified cells in response to pressure injection of TRH (10–40 fmol in 10–40 pl) or equal volumes of artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) were monitored. Of the DMN cells that were responsive to TRH, all were excited, whereas all responsive NTS cells were inhibited by this peptide. TRH was characterized as potent and had long-lasting effects on cells in DMN and NTS. The action of TRH on both nuclei in the dorsal vagal complex may explain the powerful effects of this peptide on vagally mediated functions.
Entanglement in a valence-bond solid state.

C.N.Yang Institute for Theoretical Physics, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY 11794-3840, USA(Dated: February 1, 2008)We study entanglement in Valence-Bond-Solid state, which describes the ground state of an AKLTquantum spin chain, consisting of bulk spin-1’s and two spin-1/2’s at the ends. We characterizeentanglement between various subsystems of the ground state by mostly calculating the entropyof one of the subsystems; when appropriate, we evaluate concurrences as well. We show that thereduced density matrix of a continuous block of bulk spins is independent of the size of the chainand the location of the block relative to the ends. Moreover, we show that the entanglement of theblock with the rest of the sites approaches a constant value exponentially fast, as the size of theblock increases. We also calculate the entanglement of (i) any two bulk spins with the rest, and(ii) the end spin-1/2’s (together and separately) with the rest of the ground state. For example,we show that (i) any two bulk spins become maximally entangled with the rest of the ground stateexponentially fast in their separation distance, (ii) the two end spin-1/2’s share no entanglement,and (iii) each end spin-1/2 is maximally entangled with the rest.
Reactive scattering of Cs+ with t-butyl chloride: a prototype stripping reaction in a relatively complex system

Abstract The results of the reactive scattering ofCs + with t -butyl chloride at relative collision energies of 5.6 and 8.0 eV are reported. Despite the complexity of the system, the angular and energy distributions at 8.0 eV are in reasonable agreement with the stripping model.
Use of biologic agents in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease.

Purpose of review Owing to its aggressive clinical course and associated immunologic abnormalities, pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasingly managed with immunomodulators and biologic agents. Clinical experience with therapy targeted against tumor necrosis factor-alpha has raised important questions about these agents, which will be addressed in this review. Recent findings Pediatric IBD is increasingly appreciated to have a variety of recognized clinical phenotypes that are associated with particular genotypes and serologic responses. These observations may ultimately allow individualized therapy that could change the natural history of pediatric IBD and reverse its severe metabolic and growth effects. Several new studies suggest that antitumor necrosis factor therapy could be an important part of this therapeutic vista. In addition to shedding light on who could best benefit from such agents, optimization of such therapy and its safety have been active areas of recent research. Summary Biologic therapy for pediatric IBD is an increasingly employed strategy. The aggressive nature of the disease and its consequent metabolic effects make this an attractive option for many patients. Recent research is helping guide the clinician to identify who could best benefit from such therapy while also exploring its safety and ideal dosing strategy.
Extended quasi-particle-phonon coupling theory for odd-mass spherical nuclei

Abstract The low-lying states of an odd-mass spherical nucleus are considered to be states of a quasi-particle coupled to an even core. The quasi-particle modes are obtained by the Bogolyubov-Valatin transformation. The coupled linearized equations for the amplitudes of excitation of the states of the odd-mass nucleus are obtained by the equation-of-motion method. The problem is formulated so that only amplitudes of single excitations appear, as this automatically ensures hermiticity, in contrast to the second random phase approximation. This is accomplished by employing an expansion in terms of a complete set of states of the even core. The states of the core are treated by RPA. This method is called extended quasi-particle-phonon coupling (EQPC) as it can be regarded as an extension of the usual quasi-particle-phonon coupling (QPC) through the inclusion of the “backward-going” amplitudes. Preliminary numerical calculations, based on the pairing plus quadrupole force effective Hamiltonian, show that the effects of “backward-coupling” are very pronounced in the odd-mass isotopes of Tc, Rh and Ag. This mechanism seems to provide an explanation for the occurrence of low-lying phonon levels in these nuclei. The self-consistency of the theory is also discussed.
Laboratory experiments on frazil ice growth in supercooled water

Abstract Presented herein are the results of a laboratory investigation of the influence of turbulence and water temperature on the nature and rate of frazil ice growth in a turbulent body of supercooled water. The results indicate that the rate and the quantity of frazil ice growth increase with both increasing turbulence intensity and with decreasing water temperature at the instant of seeding, when a small fragment of ice is placed in the supercooled water. The turbulence characteristics of a flow affect the rate of frazil-ice growth by governing the temperature to which the flow can be supercooled; by influencing heat transfer from the frazil ice to surrounding water; and by promoting secondary nucleation, crystal, platelet and floc fracture, thereby increasing the number of nucleation sites available for further frazil ice growth. Larger frazil ice platelets, beginning as single crystals then becoming laminar fusions of crystals, were observed to form in water supercooled to lower temperatures. However, platelet size generally decreased with increasing turbulence intensity, as platelets with a major diameter larger than a certain value tend to break when buffeted by turbulence eddies. The investigation of frazil ice growth involved the use of a simplified analytical model, in which the rate of frazil ice growth is related to temperature rise of a turbulent volume of water due to the release of latent heat of fusion of liquid water to ice. Experiments conducted in a turbulence jar with a heated, vertically oscillating grid served both to guide and to calibrate the analytical model as well as to afford insights into frazil ice growth.
Oral Food Desensitization

The immunologic interactions in the gastrointestinal tract are extensive and complex. In most cases, the end result of this activity is one of tolerance, which refers to the inhibition of an immune response. However, in a minority of cases, food allergy develops, and this seems to be increasing in prevalence. We continue to learn about the mechanisms involved in these processes and the factors that may promote tolerance as opposed to allergy. At this point, management of food allergy consists of allergen avoidance and readiness to manage an accidental exposure reaction, but using current knowledge of gastrointestinal immunity, researchers are investigating immunomodulatory approaches that will provide “active” therapy for food allergy and induce tolerance. Oral immunotherapy is one important therapy being studied, and in this article, we review recent results from studies of this potential treatment for food allergy.
Reduction of two voltage-dependent K+ currents mediates retention of a learned association

A single identified neuron, the medial type B photoreceptor, was isolated by axotomy from the nervous systems of nudibranch molluscs (Hermissenda) which had been exposed to three different training experiences. Paired animals had been trained with repeated paired presentations of light and rotation and random animals with randomized light and rotation; naive animals had no training. A two-microelectrode voltage clamp of axotomized type B somata (separated from all synaptic interactions and impulse activity) was used to measure, with a blind procedure, three distinct ionic currents at least 24 h after the training experience. An early K+ current, IA, and a Ca2+-dependent K+ current, ICa2+ − K+, but not a light-induced inward Na+ current, were significantly reduced for the paired as compared to the random and naive animals. The magnitude of ICa2+ − K+ reduction was related (again measured blindly) to the degree of training-induced suppression of phototaxis (a measure of the learned behavior) for the paired animals. These data are consistent with previous observations indicating that changes of intrinsic type B membrane properties are an important means for encoding the acquisition and retention of Hermissenda associative learning.
Neural reactivity to monetary rewards and losses differentiates social from generalized anxiety in children

Background The relationship between reward sensitivity and pediatric anxiety is poorly understood. Evidence suggests that alterations in reward processing are more characteristic of depressive than anxiety disorders. However, some studies have reported that anxiety disorders are also associated with perturbations in reward processing. Heterogeneity in the forms of anxiety studied may account for the differences between studies. We used the feedback-negativity, an event-related potential sensitive to monetary gains versus losses (ΔFN), to examine whether different forms of youth anxiety symptoms were uniquely associated with reward sensitivity as indexed by neural reactivity to the receipt of positive and negative monetary outcomes. Method Participants were 390, eight- to ten-year-old children (175 females) from a large community sample. The ΔFN was measured during a monetary reward task. Self-reports of child anxiety and depression symptoms and temperamental positive emotionality (PE) were obtained. Results Multiple regression analysis revealed that social anxiety and generalized anxiety symptoms were unique predictors of reward sensitivity after accounting for concurrent depressive symptoms and PE. While social anxiety was associated with a greater ΔFN, generalized anxiety was associated with a reduced ΔFN. Conclusions Different symptom dimensions of child anxiety are differentially related to alterations in reward sensitivity. This may, in part, explain inconsistent findings in the literature regarding reward processing in anxiety.
Effects of shock probability on heart rate of rats during classical conditioning

Abstract Heart rate of rats which received either 0%, 50%, or 100% shock reinforcement was obtained during a 10 day classical conditioning period. Pre-CS heart rate decreased over the ten-day conditioning period for the partially reinforced animals but remained at a constant level for the consistently reinforced groups, i.e., groups 0% and 100%. At the end of the initial 10 day conditioning phase the reinforcement conditions were changed. The 50% groups were tested for 5 days with extinction procedures, i.e., 0% shock, with no resulting change in pre-CS level. The group which had received 100% reinforcement during original training was also tested for 5 days on extinction and their pre-CS heart rates decreased significantly during this period. The 0% group was switched to 100% reinforcement for 5 days and their pre-CS rates also showed significant reduction as a result of the shift in reinforcement conditions. The cardiac rate data were not consistently related to activity levels during testing sessions. The data suggest that intertrial bradycardia is a function of the uncertainty or ambiguity of the situation with respect to the noxious consequences of conditioning stimuli.
To treat or not to treat

Mathematical models that predict epidemiological outcomes in the treatment of viral infections enable prospective evaluation of complex public health decisions (pages 673–678).
Physics of unstable nuclei: from structure to sequential decays

In this presentation we discuss features of nuclear structure and properties of nuclear decays that result from coupling to the reaction states with one and two nucleons in the continuum. Physics of the one-body decays is reviewed, and perturbations due to the virtual excitations into the continuum of reaction states are examined. The two-body decays are explored using the sequential decay mechanism. The two-neutron s-wave breakups are of particular interest, here the two-body nature of the process appears to suppress the decay rate as compared to the kinematically equivalent one-body s-wave decay. The effective phase space scaling and the resulting from it decay width as a function of the available energy are examined for identical and non-identical particles assuming different values of the scattering length.
Single event gate rupture in thin gate oxides

The dependence of single event gate rupture (SEGR) critical field on oxide thickness is examined for gate oxides from 6 to 18 nm. Capacitor data are compared to SEGR data from full integrated circuits. A 1/E/sub CR/ dependence is found for critical field to rupture as a function of ion linear energy transfer (LET), consistent with earlier work for power MOSFETS with oxide thicknesses from 30 to 150 nm. More importantly, critical field to rupture increases with decreasing oxide thickness, consistent with increasing oxide breakdown field prior to heavy-ion exposure. This suggests that SEGR need not be a limiting factor as future technologies scale into the deep submicron region. However, there is a great deal of uncertainty in how voltage may scale with decreasing oxide thickness, and SEGR may continue to be a concern for devices that operate at electric fields significantly higher than 5 MV/cm.
Regulation of cell cycle progression by calcium/calmodulin-dependent pathways

Many hormones, growth factors, and cytokines regulate proliferation of their target cells. Perhaps the most universal signaling cascades required for proliferative responses are those initiated by transient rises in intracellular calcium (Ca(2+)). The major intracellular receptor for Ca(2+) is calmodulin (CaM). CaM is a small protein that contains four EF-hand Ca(2+) binding sites and is highly conserved among eukaryotes. In all organisms in which the CaM gene has been deleted, it is essential. Although Ca(2+)/CaM is required for proliferation in both unicellular and multicellular eukaryotes, the essential targets of Ca(2+)/CaM-dependent pathways required for cell proliferation remain elusive. Potential Ca(2+)/CaM-dependent targets include the serine/threonine phosphatase calcineurin and the family of multifunctional Ca(2+)/CaM-dependent protein kinases. Whereas these enzymes are essential in Aspergillus nidulans, they are not required under normal growth conditions in yeast. However, in mammalian cells, studies demonstrate that both types of enzymes contribute to the regulation of cell cycle progression. Unfortunately, the mechanism by which Ca(2+)/CaM and its downstream targets, particularly calcineurin and the Ca(2+)/CaM-dependent protein kinases, regulate key cell cycle-regulatory proteins, remains enigmatic. By understanding how Ca(2+)/CaM regulates cell cycle progression in normal mammalian cells, we may gain insight into how hormones control cell division and how cancer cells subvert the need for Ca(2+) and its downstream targets to proliferate.
Mapping brain circuits of reward and motivation: in the footsteps of Ann Kelley.

a b s t r a c t Ann Kelley was a scientific pioneer in reward neuroscience. Her many notable discoveries included demonstrations of accumbens/striatal circuitry roles in eating behavior and in food reward, explorations of limbic interactions with hypothalamic regulatory circuits, and additional interactions of motivation circuits with learning functions. Ann Kelley’s accomplishments inspired other researchers to follow in her footsteps, including our own laboratory group. Here we describe results from several lines of our research that sprang in part from earlier findings by Kelley and colleagues. We describe hedonic hotspots for generating intense pleasure ‘liking’, separate identities of ‘wanting’ versus ‘liking’ systems, a novel role for dorsal neostriatum in generating motivation to eat, a limbic keyboard mechanism in nucleus accumbens for generating intense desire versus intense dread, and dynamic limbic transformations of learned memories into motivation. We describe how origins for each of these themes can be traced to fundamental contributions by Ann Kelley.
Distributed collaboration with limited communication using mission state estimates

This paper describes a distributed system for collaboration and control of a group of mobile agents, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs). The system allows a group of vehicles to work together to accomplish a mission via an allocation mechanism that works with a limited communication range and is tolerant to agent failure. This system could be used in a number of applications including mapping, surveillance, search, and rescue operations. The user defines the objectives of the group in terms of a mission plan. The mission plan contains a set of tasks, and each task contains a number of subtasks. A subtask is one objective that can be executed by a single agent, while a task is a series of related objectives that can be executed by one or more agents. Each agent in the group maintains information on the status of the mission in the form of a mission state estimate. The mission state estimate contains an agent's current knowledge of the progress of each subtask in the mission. Whenever possible, agents share their mission state estimates and use an update protocol to produce updated estimates. This protocol is designed such that the most valid information available will propagate throughout the group. Agent decision-making is based on a combination of information from both the mission state estimate and the internal state of the agent. After checking the subtasks for completion, fault, and redo conditions, the agent selects the task and subtask for which it is best suited, taking into account its knowledge of the assignments and expected performance of others in the group. An execution module produces lower-level commands for the agent based on a set of subtask parameters. A simulated example mission demonstrates operation of the system.