cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Congruence modular varieties with small free spectra

Let A be a finite algebra that generates a congruence modular variety. We show that the free spectrum of ${\cal V}({\bf A})$ fails to have a doubly exponentially lower bound if and only if A has a finitely generated clone and A is a direct product of nilpotent algebras of prime power cardinality.
A Compact, Broadband Antenna for Planetary Surface-to-Surface Wireless Communications

The Compact Microstrip Monopole Antenna (CMMA) is a novel antenna design that combines a microstrip patch antenna with a three-dimensional structure to attain a highly directive, broadband, compact antenna. A Tri-Lobed Patch (TLP) was designed to minimize the patch's area while reducing the antenna's operating frequency. A Grounding Wall (GW) connects the patch to the ground plane and a Vertical Enclosure Wall (VEW) extends up away from portions of the patch's perimeter. This VEW supplies the antenna with a higher directivity in the radial direction as well as reduces the operating frequency. The CMMA was designed to operate at 2.23 GHz, but experimental results have shown this antenna resonates at 2.05 GHz which is on the order of approximately Lambda(sub o)/11.6 with respect to the antenna's largest dimension, with a directivity and bandwidth of 6.0 dBi, and 130 MHz (6.3 percent), respectively. This miniature, radially emitting antenna makes the CMMA attractive for planetary-based surface-to-surface communications.
Disasters and Their Effects on Children

Julia Lynch, MD, Joe Wathen, MD, Eric Tham, MD, Patrick Mahar, MD, Stephen Berman, MD* Military Infectious Disease Research Program, US Army, Medical Research and Material Command (US Army, MRMC), 504 Scott Street, Fort Detrick, MA 21702, USA Department of Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado, The Children’s Hospital, 13123 East 16th Avenue, B251, Aurora, CO 80045, USA Department of Pediatrics, General Academic Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
Formative Evaluation of a Rapid Universal Safety and Health (RUSH) System for Construction

Rapid construction projects and processes will become increasingly important in the aftermath of natural and/or unnatural disasters. For use in expedited projects (as well as traditional projects), a Rapid Universal Safety and Health system (RUSH) was designed, developed and deployed. For its inaugural application, the RUSH was applied to a 106 hour residential construction project. This paper presents the formative evaluation based upon on-site data collection and a survey instruments administered just after the project to trades, managers and safety team members. No major incidents were recorded. The results will be discussed in terms of the observational and survey results. Language: en
Multiple cutaneous monoclonal B‐cell proliferations as harbingers of systemic angioimmunoblastic T‐cell lymphoma

We describe a 66-year-old man initially diagnosed with primary cutaneous marginal zone B-cell lymphoma who developed four additional monoclonal/monotypic B-cell lymphoid proliferations and a systemic angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma over the course of 19 months. Through retrospective analysis, we identified the evolution of a T-cell clone within the background of clinically and pathologically dominant cutaneous B-cell tumors. In terms of clinical practice, this case supports that patients diagnosed with multiple clonal B-cell proliferation need thorough investigation and close clinical follow up to identify a coexistent or evolving systemic lymphoma, in particular, peripheral T-cell lymphomas of follicular T-helper cell type, such as angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma. Biologically, this case offers unique insight into the interactions between B-cell and T-cell lineages in lymphoid neoplasia.
Heterogeneous signal intensity in magnetic resonance images of hypertrophied left ventricular myocardium

Left ventricular hypertrophy is associated with decreased longevity and often leads to congestive heart failure. An exploratory study of magnetic resonance imaging in human left ventricular hypertrophy was performed. First, 13 patients with left ventricular hypertrophy and 7 controls of similar ages were studied using electrocardiogramgated end-diastolic images. Visual inspection suggested that low-intensity zones were frequently found within the hypertrophied myocardium. To verify this observation, the images were processed with semi-automatic edge detection and a derivative-based tissue characterization algorithm, yielding tissue heterogeneity indices (THI-A and THI-V) which objectively measured the low-intensity zones. THI-A and THI-V were both significantly greater in left ventricular hypertrophy patients than in controls (THI-A: 0.111 vs 0.038, p = 0.009). THI was also significantly correlated with duration of disease and electrocardiographic abnormalities. To validate these initial findings prospectively, the same quantitative analysis was applied to magnetic resonance images of an additional 20 left ventricular hypertrophy patients and 12 controls from two institutions, using different imaging systems and different acquisition parameters. Again, THI was significantly greater in patients than in controls. Analysis of end-systolic images yielded similar results. In four dogs with left ventricular hypertrophy induced by aortic banding, THI showed a statistically significant increase as left ventricular hypertrophy developed. Hypertrophied myocardium thus shows reproducible differences from normal tissue with magnetic resonance imaging; hence, quantitative magnetic resonance tissue characterization may be useful in assessing pathologic changes in LVH.
Culdoscopy: a foundation for natural orifice surgery--past, present, and future.

C I w v p w a c c w or more than 100 years, transvaginal endoscopy, later nown as culdoscopy, has been performed to visualize the bdominal and pelvic cavity. At one time, culdoscopy lourished as both a diagnostic and therapeutic procedure. he technique came under criticism for its restricted visulization and limited operative capabilities balanced against are but concerning complications. With rising advances in igid endoscopic technology, laparoscopy rapidly replaced uldoscopy, pushing it to the edge of obscurity for decades. ow recent interest in natural orifice transluminal endocopic surgery has resulted in a reconsideration of culdosopy as a means of facilitating this promising surgical pproach.
The structure of political cognition: A new approach to its meaning and measurement

Recent studies of political beliefs have largely abandoned the traditional concern with their ideological content for a newfound interest in their cognitive content. This interest in shared cognition has shed new light onwhat people think about politics, but it has largely ignored the question ofhow people think about politics. This paper addresses one important dimension of that void by considering the structure of political cognition and, more specifically, how that structure varies across people. It uses a schematic approach to (1) develop a general unifying theory of the structure of political cognition; (2) suggest the political implications of different types of cognitive structure; and (3) develop an easily administered and construct-valid methodology for measuring the structure of political cognition. By way of illustration, this methodology is used to measure the structure of individuals' political cognitions about issues in their community.
Endogenous inhibitors of 4'-[3H]chlorodiazepam (Ro 5-4864) binding to ‘peripheral’ sites for benzodiazepines

‘Peripheral’ binding sites for benzodiazepines are under neural or homonal control in the pineal gland, olfactory bulb, and kidney. These observations prompted a search for an endogenous substance which could modulate these sites under physiological conditions. Acidified methanol extracts from several tissues (e.g. stomach, kidney, lung) were found to inhibit the binding of [3H]Ro 5-4864 to ‘peripheral’ binding sites, but did not significantly affect the binding of [3H]diazepam to ‘brain’ benzodiazepine receptors. Fractionation of a crude extract prepared from antral stomach by either ultrafiltration or gel filtration chromatography yielded high (Mr > 10000) and low (Mr < 1000) Mr fractions which competitively inhibited [3H]Ro 5-4864 binding to ‘peripheral’ sites. These observations suggest the presence of endogenous substances in several rat tissues which may represent physiologically important ligands for ‘peripheral’ binding sites for benzodiazepines.
Non-Linear Control of Tilting-Quadcopter Using Feedback Linearization Based Motion Control

In this paper, a nonlinear control of a tilting rotor quadcopter is presented. The overall control architecture is divided into two sub-controllers. The first controller is based on the feedback linearization control derived from the dynamic model of the tilting quadcopter. This controls the pitch, roll, and yaw motions required for movement along an arbitrary trajectory in space. The second controller is based on two PD controllers which are used to control the tilting of the quadcopter independently along the pitch and the yaw directions respectively. The overall control enables the quadcopter to combine tilting and movement along a desired trajectory simultaneously. Simulation studies are presented based on the developed nonlinear dynamic model of the tilting rotor quadcopter to demonstrate the validity and effectiveness of the overall control system for an arbitrary trajectory tracking.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
The PROMIS initiative: involvement of rehabilitation stakeholders in development and examples of applications in rehabilitation research.

Abstract Amtmann D, Cook KF, Johnson KL, Cella D. The PROMIS initiative: involvement of rehabilitation stakeholders in development and examples of applications in rehabilitation research. To fully capture the impact of a disease or condition on the lives of individuals, patient-reported outcomes are considered a necessary component of health measurement in rehabilitation. This article provides an overview of the involvement of rehabilitation stakeholders in the development of sound measurement tools for the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS), a National Institutes of Health–funded initiative. PROMIS is a multisite study that included many different populations. We focus on the involvement of people with several chronic conditions, including multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, and arthritis, in the development of PROMIS measures. We describe both qualitative and quantitative methods used, including expert panels, focus groups, cognitive interviews, and item response theory modeling, which resulted in enhanced utility of PROMIS measures in rehabilitation. Measures include a set of global health items and 12 item banks representing 6 domains. Scores are reported in the T score metric (mean ± SD, 50±10) and centered on mean values from the U.S. general population. The PROMIS item banks measure quality of life and symptoms of people with chronic conditions and have the potential to enhance research and clinical practice by facilitating comparisons of scores across domains and populations.
The genetic behaviour of a cloned mouse ribosomal DNA segment mimics mouse ribosomal gene evolution.

A 1.7 × 103 base-pair SalI fragment of mouse ribosomal gene spacer undergoes recA-independent deletions of DNA in units of approximately 126 base-pairs when cloned in λ or bacterial plasmids. When we examined the structure of the 1.7 × 103 base-pair piece with PvuII we found it to be composed of about equal numbers of copies of each of two subrepeating units, 120 and 130 base-pairs in size. The correlation between the size of the structural subunits and the functional genetic unit of this fragment as expressed in Escherichia coli led us to study the organization of these sequences in mice. SalI (or HindII) digests of DNA samples from wild and inbred strains revealed extensive heterogeneity in the size of fragments homologous to this 1.7 × 103 base-pair piece. A total of 15 different size classes were detected in our samples. We found that these fragments were also organized in PvuII repeating units about equal in size to the PvuII repeats in the cloned 1.7 × 103 base-pair piece. Using an objective analytical procedure (see the Appendix) we determined that the 15 different fragments found in our mouse DNA samples probably originated as a result of genetic events based on a 135 base-pair structural unit. We consider the similarity between the size of the PvuII structural unit and the unit of genetic behavior in both the cloned and uncloned DNA samples to be significant. We suspect that there are aspects of the nucleotide structure or organization of the PvuII repeating units that play a dominant role in its genetic behavior, regardless of whether these sequences are present in E. coli or mice. We believe that the clones containing this mouse sequence may provide an experimental system for studying the nature of the genetic events that are involved in multigene evolution.
Neural progenitor cells do not differentiate prematurely in presenilin-1 null mutant mice.

Abstract Mice with a null mutation of the presenilin-1 (PS1−/−) gene die during late intrauterine life or shortly after birth and exhibit defects in cortical development. A previous report suggested that neurons differentiate prematurely in PS1−/− brain [M. Handler, X. Yang, J. Shen, Presenilin-1 regulates neuronal differentiation during neurogenesis, Development 127 (2000) 2593–2606]. Here we reexamined the issue of whether premature neuronal differentiation occurs in PS1−/− brain using fresh cell suspensions from embryonic E11.5 and E13.5 telencephalon where individual cell phenotypes can be easily determined with cell type specific markers. Immunostaining with seven neuronal specific markers (MAP2, β-III tubulin, GABA, reelin, GluR2/3, calbindin, and calretinin) failed to reveal any evidence of premature neuronal differentiation in PS1−/− telencephalon. We also determined the fraction of cells expressing the neural progenitor marker nestin and found no evidence for premature depletion of neural progenitor cells in PS1−/− telencephalon. Moreover, based on MAP2 staining of tissue sections from E12.5 embryos the topography of newly generated neurons also appeared to be undisturbed in the telencephalon of PS1−/− embryos. These studies thus argue that premature neuronal differentiation is unlikely to be a core pathophysiological feature underlying the aberrant cortical development that occurs in PS1−/− brain.
Roundtables Focus on Key Issues in Hotel Finance, Marketing, and Law

Excerpt] The Spring 2007 Roundtable season at the Center for Hospitality Research was a strong one, with research presentations and discussion that is absent at conferences elsewhere. This past May we held the first annual Real Estate and Finance Roundtable, the third annual Marketing Roundtable, and the seventh annual Labor and Employment Law Roundtable. While each Roundtable differed in substance and style, there was one constant: that is, industry professionals, faculty, and students were able to spend one concentrated day in an informal atmosphere to learn from each other. The most common parting comment from our participants was the best one: “See you next year.” Below is an overview of some of the key discussion points from the Spring 2007 Roundtables.
Management of post-chemotherapy extra-retroperitoneal residual masses.

Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men age 20–35 years and accounts for approximately 1% of all male malignancies. While the retroperitoneum is often the first and only site of metastatic disease, approximately 40% of patients presenting with metastatic disease will have disease involving extra-retroperitoneal sites. A medline review was conducted to evaluate peer-reviewed articles reporting on the outcome of patients with germ cell tumors and extra-retroperitoneal metastases. Following chemotherapy, approximately 70% of patients will have residual masses in the retroperitoneum and several series demonstrate that approximately 50% of patients will harbor teratoma or viable GCT in the retroperitoneum. Additionally, up to 35% of patients will have radiographic evidence of extra-retroperitoneal (ERP) masses after chemotherapy. In this manuscript, we will review the current role of surgery for patients with post-chemotherapy residual ERP metastases.
Influence of superheat and hammer speed on the formation of metallic glasses

Abstract The effect of superheat on the formation of Fe 80 B 20 and Pd 80 Si 20 metallic glasses in the shock tube and hammer and anvil RST techniques was determined. The strong effect of increased superheat on the thickness and corresponding cooling rate in the quenched alloys supports the RST models of Kroeger et al . [2] and Megli, Eddingfield and Brower [3] wherein the fluid flow and heat flow were shown to be decoupled during rapid quenching. These models predict an expanded range for interface controlled heat transfer which covers the thickness range experienced in most rapid quenching techniques. Additionally, this work shows the strong effect of increased hammer speed on decreasing the as-quenched thickness and increasing the ease of glass formation in these two alloys.
Islamic founding principles on organ transplantation and the evolution of Islamic scholarly opinions on the subject.

Abstract Background Muslims constitute about one-fourth of the human population, and a significant fraction of the organ recipients identify themselves as Muslims. A large fraction of the Muslim population is devout but unclear regarding the religious principles on organ donation and transplantation and is dependent on scholars' and imams' opinions. Methods The Qur'an, the authentic Prophetic Traditions, and expert opinions on the subject were investigated. Results The sources of the Islamic founding principles on organ donation and transplantation are the Qur'an, the Prophetic Traditions, Usulul Fiqh or expert opinions based on the Qur'an and Traditions, and Maslaha or the principles of public interest deduced by the scholars. Some Muslim scholars, mostly from the Indian subcontinent, opine that live organ donation, extraction of organs from dead persons, and transplantation are prohibited. Many Arab scholars and Muslim scholars settled in the western hemisphere opine that live organ donation, organ extraction from dead persons, and transplantation are permitted, but organ donation must be a voluntary act of charity. Of late, the Iranian imams/scholars have recognized that the national government may acquire live donor organs for a uniform compensation and equitably distribute the acquired organs to patients with failing organs. Conclusions The current Islamic working principles on transplantation medicine are nonuniform, transitory, and somewhat detached from the bulk of the population. How such heterogeneity is affecting transplantation medicine, and organ donation in particular, among Muslim populations warrants further investigation.
An online evolutionary approach to developing internet services

High dependability in Internet services is a difficult challenge: new features are constantly added, the systems are being scaled to support more users, and these systems are subject to unpredictable workloads and inputs. To deal with these challenges, operators must constantly adapt and evolve their system in response to its dynamic behavior. We argue that this online evolution is necessary for the development and deployment of dependable Internet services. This paper presents a conceptual model of online evolution consisting of three phases---monitoring, analysis, and modification---and present techniques we have found useful in speeding the process of online evolution.
Design and Implementation of Recording and Readout System for Micro-holographic Optical Data Storage

A lens design having constant working distance while having variable recording depth for micro holographic data storage system has been proposed. Variation of focal length is suppressed for the entire depth within 1% which enables focusing and tracking servoing without changing servo parameters.
EFFECT OF ANXIETY ON REAL AND IDEAL VOCATIONAL ASPIRATION AMONG GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS.

DURING the course of the collection of data for an investigation of certain problems related to school-leaving behaviour among fifth-form boys in a Midland's grammar school, information was obtained about their real and their ideal expectations about their own occupation achievement. This report is concerned with an analysis of relationships among these real and ideal vocational aspirations and achievement-related anxiety as measured by a modified form of the test anxiety questionnaire (TAQ)1 which had been prepared for use within the British school system as a 15-item self-rating scale.
Earlier treatment may explain diabetes data.

In the News Focus story “Paradoxical effects of tightly controlled blood sugar” (17 October 2008, p. [365][1]), G. Taubes reported that tight glucose control in the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD), ADVANCE, and Veterans Affairs Diabetes Trial (VADT) trials failed to
Cellular actions of Al at low (1.25 μM) concentrations in primary oligodendrocyte culture

Abstract At a physiologically relevant concentration (1.25 μM), aluminum had an activating effect on oligodendrocyte cell cultures, similar to that previously reported for other cell types. G protein-linked signal transduction was stimulated as indicated by enhanced production of IP3, and protein synthesis was increased. At this concentration Al did not promote cell damage but did enhance oxidative effects initiated by reactive oxygen species. Both AlCl 3 and Al transferrin (AlTf) had similar actions at equimolar concentrations. In vivo, physiological Al ion may act by common cellular pathways in diverse cell types. These effects may be relevant to Al toxicological, pharmacological (immunoadjuvant), and physiological effects.
Core temperature measurement in hypovolemic resuscitation

Study objectives: Accurate core temperature measurement in severely hypovolemic patients can be difficult to achieve. We used a dog model to determine both a convenient method of measuring core temperature and the relative accuracy of the multiple sites. Design: Prospective laboratory (animal model) study. Setting: Operating suites in the Animal Care Department. Participants: Eight adult, anesthetized greyhound dogs. Interventions: Continuous temperature monitoring by thermistors placed in the brain, central vein, tympanic membrane, bladder, rectum, esophagus, and subcutaneous tissue. Hemorrhage to 65% initial intravascular volume and autologous transfusion of cooled blood, during which serial temperature measurements were recorded. Measurements and main results: The readings were analyzed with Pearson's correlation coefficient. Brain temperature correlated very well with tympanic membrane temperature throughout the course ( r = .869, P Conclusions: Because intravascular hypothermia appears to be the source of the arrhythmias and hemostatic abnormalities often seen during the early resuscitation of hypovolemic patients, our results suggest bladder or tympanic membrane as the initial temperature site. After the initial resuscitation, end organ (eg, brain) temperature is the most important and is most accurately reflected by tympanic membrane temperature.
Sound Levels and Shadow Zones Behind Barriers in Florida

A description is given of new results based on measurements of 19 noise barriers in the state of Florida and the innovative techniques used during data analysis. This work is a continuation of an ongoing study of noise barrier effectiveness in Florida. A new empirical method was developed to estimate the length of shadow zones behind highway noise barriers. This new method can lead to more effective design of future highway noise barriers. The method required an estimate of location and strength of a simulated background source to determine a more realistic edge of the shadow zone. This work also produced custom software that estimates and graphs the formation of shadow zones behind barriers, given readily available site information.
Borrower–Lender Distance, Credit Scoring, and Loan Performance: Evidence From Informational-Opaque Small Business Borrowers

Abstract Over the past decade, the distances between small businesses and their bank lenders have increased substantially, as increasing numbers of bank lenders have implemented credit-scoring models to evaluate the creditworthiness of small businesses. These developments are antithetical to the traditional small business lending process, which emphasizes local proximity, bank–borrower relationships, and qualitative information. We theoretically model and empirically test whether and how these changes have affected the probability that small business loans default, using 1984–2001 data from the SBA's flagship lending program. On average, both distance and credit scoring are associated with higher default probabilities—the former suggests that distance interferes with information collection, while the latter suggests that production efficiencies encourage credit-scoring lenders to expand output by making riskier loans at the margin. The default-increasing effects of distance are substantially dampened at credit scoring banks, however, suggesting that hard-information lending approaches may outperform soft-information, relationship-based lending approaches in long-distance situations.
Sustainable unattended sensors for security and environmental monitoring

This paper describes two ocean energy harvesting approaches and technologies for providing sustainable power for distributed unattended sensor and unmanned underwater vehicle networks in open ocean and in coastal and riverine areas. Technologies and systems described include energy harvesting using bottom mounted microbial fuel cells and energy harvesting from naturally occurring methane and methane hydrate deposits. The potential continuous power that could be extracted using these methods ranges from milliwatts for very small microbial fuel cells to tens of kilowatts for methane hydrate processing systems. Exploiting the appropriate naturally occurring ocean or coastal energy source will enable the placement and use of large networks of unattended sensors, both fixed in position and on rechargeable unmanned undersea vehicles. The continuous operation of such systems will have a profound impact on our knowledge of marine biological, physical and chemical processes and systems and will also facilitate improved homeland security and port surveillance.
The Changing Position of Strategic Spatial Planning in Flanders. A Socio-Political and Instrument-Based Perspective

This article explains how and why strategic spatial planning in Flanders has gone through some important transformations in the last 20 years. To do this, it relates spatial planning and its tools to some major societal changes. It first explains some of the complexities of this interplay from a theoretical point of view and argues for a socio-political and co-evolutionary perspective on planning tools. The article then provides some empirical evidence, exploring Flemish planning tools in general and strategic spatial planning more specifically. Although not evident at first sight, it appears that both the tools and the socio-political position of Flemish strategic spatial planning have changed. This poses some major challenges in rehabilitating spatial planning tools and repositioning spatial planning in Flanders.
An application of SPM in the study of galactosemic cataract

Abstract The spatial distribution of minor elements, potassium, chlorine and sulfur, in the thick frozen hydrated lenses from rats of galactosemic cataract was measured by the scanning proton microprobe, using a 2 MeV collimated beam emergent into dry nitrogen atmosphere. The results are compared with the freeze-dried samples and the distribution of elements correlated to the opacity is shown.
Social Marketing for Archives: The Austin History Center Experience

SUMMARY The author outlines the basic concepts of social marketing and describes how the Austin History Center at the Austin Public Library in Austin, Texas has used those concepts to build an outreach program for its targeted market. The discussion especially considers how the staff has identified problems that have historically hindered its relationship with some elements within its minority population and how it has developed programs and services which address the needs of Austin's minority groups. Examples are provided that illustrate how the Center applied social marketing concepts and suggests that these techniques can be used by other archives and libraries.
Paramedian thalamopeduncular infarction: clinical syndromes and magnetic resonance imaging.

We prospectively examined 11 patients with magnetic resonance imaging–documented infarction in the paramedian thalamopeduncular region, which is supplied by the superior mesencephalic and posterior thalamosubthalamic arteries. Variations in the size and rostral–caudal extent of infarction correlated with the following three clinical patterns: (1) With unilateral paramedian mesencephalic infarction, an ipsilateral third nerve paresis was accompanied by mild contralateral hemiparesis or hemiataxia. Contralateral ptosis and impaired upgaze were observed in two patients; one of them showed additional damage to the posterior commissure. (2) With bilateral infarction in the thalamopeduncular junction, involving the mesencephalic reticular formation, supranuclear vertical gaze defects were accompanied by impaired consciousness or memory, and mild aphasia in some patients. Persistent amnesia was observed only when the dominant anterior nucleus or mamillothalamic tract was damaged. (3) With larger thalamopeduncular infarcts, partial or complete third nerve paresis was combined with supranuclear gaze disturbance and delayed contralateral tremor. An unusual gaze disorder, a variant of the vertical “one-and-a-half syndrome,” occurred with a small strategically placed lesion at the thalamopeduncular junction, best explained by selective damage to supranuclear pathways or partial nuclear involvement. The primary cause of these infarctions was embolism to the basilar apex or local atheroma at the origin of the posterior cerebral artery.
Effect of X-Irradiation on Cecal Flora of the Rat.∗

Summary1. The effect of total-body x-irradiation (825 ir in air) on the cecal flora of rats has been studied. Numbers of lacto-bacilli, coliforms? and azide-resistant organisms in rats fasted 24 hours before and after irradiation were compared to those in pair-fed control rats fasted for the same 48-hour period. The normally predominant lacto-bacilli decreased in number while the coli-forms and azide-resistant bacteria increased. 2. A fasting period of 48 hours elicited no proportional change in bacterial types when the counts were compared with those of normal fed rats. 3. Irradiation itself was responsible, at least in part, for the observed changes.
Topological aspects of immunological control networks

Immunological control networks can be modelled by bipartite signed directed graphs called influence diagrams. Possible flow topologies around unstable steady states in such systems can be determined by kinetic logic based on the directed Boolean cubes of switching circuit theory. This method can identify the stable ''help'' and ''suppression'' configurations of the basic Herzenberg core regulatory circuit as well as the ''memory'' and ''non-responsive'' configurations of the model of Kaufman, Urbain and Thomas. Furthermore, addition of a single vertex to the Herzenberg core regulatory circuit, so as to preserve the bipartite nature of the signed directed graph, leads to a network with five independent internal variables and two connected feedback circuits, either positive and negative circuits of length 4 or positive circuits of lengths 4 and 2. The flow topology of either of these systems indicates that addition of the fifth vertex switches the basic four-vertex core regulatory circuit into one of its two stable configurations.
Prolonged expression of a lysosomal enzyme in mouse liver after Sleeping Beauty transposon-mediated gene delivery: implications for non-viral gene therapy of mucopolysaccharidoses.

Background The Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon system is a non-viral vector system that can integrate precise sequences into chromosomes. We evaluated the SB transposon system as a tool for gene therapy of mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) types I and VII. Methods We constructed SB transposon plasmids for high-level expression of human β-glucuronidase (hGUSB) or α-L-iduronidase (hIDUA). Plasmids were delivered with and without SB transposase to mouse liver by rapid, high-volume tail-vein injection. We studied the duration of expressed therapeutic enzyme activity, transgene presence by PCR, lysosomal pathology by toluidine blue staining and cell-mediated immune response histologically and by immunohistochemical staining. Results Transgene frequency, distribution of transgene and enzyme expression in liver and the level of transgenic enzyme required for amelioration of lysosomal pathology were estimated in MPS I and VII mice. Without immunomodulation, initial GUSB and IDUA activities in plasma reached > 100-fold of wild-type (WT) levels but fell to background within 4 weeks post-injection. In immunomodulated transposon-treated MPS I mice plasma IDUA persisted for over 3 months at up to 100-fold WT activity in one-third of MPS I mice, which was sufficient to reverse lysosomal pathology in the liver and, partially, in distant organs. Histological and immunohistochemical examination of liver sections in IDUA transposon-treated WT mice revealed inflammation 10 days post-injection consisting predominantly of mononuclear cells, some of which were CD4- or CD8-positive. Conclusions Our results demonstrate the feasibility of achieving prolonged expression of lysosomal enzymes in the liver and reversing MPS disease in adult mice with a single dose of therapeutic SB transposons. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Intensive blood pressure/glucose control in type 2 diabetes: why is it so difficult to decrease coronary heart disease?

Intensive blood pressure/glucose control in type 2 diabetes: why is it so difficult to decrease coronary heart disease?
Consequences of complexity within biological networks: robustness and health, or vulnerability and disease.

One promise of molecular genetics for many of us was that a detailed knowledge of mutant alleles would permit accurate prediction of prognosis and better selection of therapeutic strategies for Mendelian disorders (1). This presumed predictive promise was naive and was based on a reductionist view of genotype-phenotype correlations, i.e., that a refined and specific knowledge of a mutation’s impact on protein structure and function would permit extrapolation to the phenotype of the intact organism. The reality of molecular genetics, however, is that for many diseases only a subset of mutations reliably predicts phenotype. This lack of genotype-phenotype correlation for many Mendelian disorders shows us that the clinical phenotypes of “simple” Mendelian disorders are complex traits (1,2). In retrospect we should have recognized that an individual with a clinical disorder is not the product of the single gene that is disrupted, but that the genetic disruption is embedded within the context of that individual’s entire genome and environmental experience. Since
Slurry erosion of polyphenylene sulfide-glass fiber composites

Abstract The erosive wear of glass-fiber-reinforced polyphenylene sulfide in a sand slurry has been investigated as a function of sand particle velocity and sand particle size. The morphology of slurry erosion failure has been examined by scanning electron microscopy and a possible equation for slurry erosion has been derived.
Zinspy sensors with enhanced dynamic range for imaging neuronal cell zinc uptake and mobilization.

Thiophene moieties were incorporated into previously described Zinspy (ZS) fluorescent Zn(II) sensor motifs (Nolan, E. M.; Lippard, S. J. Inorg. Chem. 2004, 43, 8310−8317) to provide enhanced fluorescence properties, low-micromolar dissociation constants for Zn(II), and improved Zn(II) selectivity. Halogenation of the xanthenone and benzoate moieties of the fluorescein platform systematically modulates the excitation and emission profiles, pH-dependent fluorescence, Zn(II) affinity, and Zn(II) complexation rates, offering a general strategy for tuning multiple properties of xanthenone-based metal ion sensors. Extensive biological studies in cultured cells and primary neuronal cultures demonstrate 2-{6-hydroxy-3-oxo-4,5-bis[(pyridin-2-ylmethylthiophen-2-ylmethylamino)methyl]-3H-xanthen-9-yl}benzoic acid (ZS5) to be a versatile imaging tool for detecting Zn(II) in vivo. ZS5 localizes to the mitochondria of HeLa cells and allows visualization of glutamate-mediated Zn(II) uptake in dendrites and Zn(II) releas...
New isocyanide complexes of chromium derived from ethanolic solutions of chromium(II)

Abstract Treatment of ethanolic solutions of chromium(II) which are derived from the reduction of CrCl 3 · 6H 2 O solutions) with excess phenyl isocyanide in the presence of KPF 6 affords the complex [Cr(CNPh) 5 Cl]PF 6 . Under similar conditions, p -tolyl isocyanide yields the chromium(I) complex [Cr(CN- p -tol) 6 PF 6 . The paramagnetic, yellow-green compound [Cr(CNPh) 5 Cl]PF 6 decomposes in dichloromethane solution to yield the chromium(II) species [Cr(CNPh) 6 ](PF 6 ) 2 . Treatment of dichloromethane solutions of [Cr(CNPh) 5 Cl]PF 6 with tertiary phosphines PR 3 (PR 3 = P-n-BU 3 , P-n-Pr 3 , PEt 3 or PEt 2 Ph) and with 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe) gives paramagnetic trans -[Cr(CNPh) 4 (PR 3 )Cl]PF 6 and [Cr(CNPh) 3 (dppe)Cl]PF 6 . However, bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (dppm) reacts with [Cr(CNPh) 5 Cl]PF 6 to yield the diamagnetic, seven-coordinate complex [Cr[CNPh) 5 (dppm)(PF 6 2 . In the presence of excess P(OR) 3 (R = Me or Et), ethanolic chromium(II) solutions and PhNC react to form [Cr(CNPh) 5 Cl]PF 6 whereas amines and phosphines lead to the formation of the homoleptic 18-electron compound Cr(CNPh) 6 .
Lens coupled bow-tie antenna for millimeter wave operations

In this paper, we present a broadband bow-tie slot antenna coupled through an extended hemispherical lens to obtain high gain. The antenna is designed at 85 GHz by using 3-D finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method and 55% bandwidth is achieved for -10 dB return loss. Bow-tie slot antenna with tuning stub yields input impedance of 50 Omega, which benefits integration with microwave/millimeter wave (mmW) circuits. The directivity from the integrated lens antenna is 15 dB with HPBW of plusmn 15deg.
The production of witchcraft/witchcraft as production: memory, modernity, and the slave trade in Sierra Leone

In this article, I examine how memory is entailed in the constitution and representation of global modernity. During four centuries of Atlantic slave trading in Sierra Leone, Temne witchfinding developed as a technique for the ritual production of slaves. Today, Sierra Leone's integration into an earlier Atlantic world is “remembered” both in witchfinding ritual and in cosmological images of an ultramodern witch-city built from the extraction of human life and value.
Cromolyn sodium: fitting an old friend into current asthma treatment.

Cromolyn sodium (Intal®) has been available in the United States to treat asthma for more than 30 years. Its clinical efficacy in patients with mild or moderate persistent asthma is well documented, and its extensive clinical record of safety remains unique among antiasthma medications. The history of cromolyn sodium complements the science behind current understanding of asthma pathophysiology. Cromolyn sodium was the first nonsteroid, antiasthma drug that blocked chemical mediator release at the cellular level. However, the younger generation of health care providers may not be familiar with the medication due to the plethora of antiasthma agents that have recently become available. This review reexamines the role of cromolyn sodium (now available as an HFA aerosol) in the treatment of asthma.
Reductive Elimination of Ether from T‐Shaped, Monomeric Arylpalladium Alkoxides

Reductive elimination of ethers from organopalladium alkoxides is the C–O bond-forming step of the palladium-catalyzed etherification of aryl halides.[1] At this time, examples of the reductive eliminations of ethers from isolated organopalladium alkoxide complexes are limited. Only reductive eliminations of alkyl aryl ethers from complexes generated in situ, reductive elimination of an oxygen heterocycle from a single oxapalladacycle,[2] reductive eliminations from arylpalladium alkoxides containing activating groups on the aryl ring,[3, 4] and reductive eliminations of biaryl ethers in low yield from isolated complexes[5, 6] are documented. Most importantly, the most active catalysts for the palladium-catalyzed etherification of aryl halides contain sterically hindered monophosphines,[1, 6–15] and no reductive eliminations from arylpalladium alkoxides containing hindered monophosphines have been described.
Cascading switching nodes in data vortex optical packet interconnection network

Cascading of semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) based switching nodes has been studied experimentally in a re-circulating loop test-bed of the data vortex packet interconnection network. The experimental results show that the signal bit-error-rates can still exceed 10−9 after 72 node hops, demonstrating the physical layer scalability of the data vortex network.
Emulsifier‐free emulsion polymerization with cationic comonomer

An earlier article1 described the emulsion polymerization of styrene and various anionic comonomers, together with an anionic initiator, to give uniform latices at ca. 35% solids content. This article extends the work to cationic systems. Cationic comonomers 1,2-dimethyl 5-vinylpyridinium methylsulfate and 1-ethyl 2-methyl 5-vinylpyridinium bromide were synthesized and used with azobis(isobutyramidine hydrocholoride) initiator in the emulsifier- free emulsion polymerization of styrene. Recipes and results were generally comparable to those of the anionic systems, excepts for the dependence of particle diameter on comonomers concentration. Here the initial decrease was followed by an increase in particle diameter at higher comonomer content. The surface charge increased sharply with comonomer content.
Ideological Differences in the Construction of Meaning

Synonym selections for de-contextualized abstract words were analyzed for differences in meaning related to personal ideology. Best and worst synonym choices of fifty-six subjects who tested as either constructionists or positivists on the Attitudes about Reality scale (AAR) were expected to reflect meanings most congruent with each group's views about reality. Constructionists were expected to emphasize meanings consistent with a relational view of reality while positivists were expected to emphasize meanings consistent with an “objectivist” view. Results indicated group differences in synonym choices on a third of the target words presented. In the absence of substantive models for analyzing de-contextualized abstract words, interpretations of synonym selections, though speculative, suggested support for the hypothesis that differences in meaning construction consistent with personal ideologies occur at the level of a single word with an interpretive domain.
Jus Post Bellum in Iraq: The Development of Emerging Norms for Economic Reform in Post Conflict Countries

Finally emerging from decades of conflict and isolation, Iraq has endured three devastating wars, the demise of the Saddam Hussein regime, the end of international economic sanctions, and the protracted process of approving a constitution and forming a new democratically elected government. The nation’s emergence from war, and efforts to build the foundations of stable governance and economic growth, provides a fascinating case study for analyzing new international norms promoting the “rule of law” in war torn countries. This paper directly addresses arguments that early legal and economic reforms implemented by the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) and the Iraqi Interim Government in Iraq during 2003-2005 may have violated the principle of “conservation” in international humanitarian law. The paper further examines whether a new doctrine of "jus post bellum" is emerging, and the extent to which the United Nations and international economic organizations are permitted to support economic reforms as part of a larger effort to engage in peace building and establish a "rule of law" in post-conflict countries.
Temporal Difference Learning of Position Evaluation in the Game of Go

The game of Go has a high branching factor that defeats the tree search approach used in computer chess, and long-range spatiotemporal interactions that make position evaluation extremely difficult. Development of conventional Go programs is hampered by their knowledge-intensive nature. We demonstrate a viable alternative by training networks to evaluate Go positions via temporal difference (TD) learning. Our approach is based on network architectures that reflect the spatial organization of both input and reinforcement signals on the Go board, and training protocols that provide exposure to competent (though unlabelled) play. These techniques yield far better performance than undifferentiated networks trained by selfplay alone. A network with less than 500 weights learned within 3,000 games of 9×9 Go a position evaluation function that enables a primitive one-ply search to defeat a commercial Go program at a low playing level.
Predictors of reduction in mitral regurgitation in patients undergoing cardiac resynchronisation treatment

Background: CRT causes reduction in MR due to left ventricular (LV) remodelling, but determinants of clinically meaningful MR reduction acutely after CRT have not been evaluated. Objectives: We evaluated echocardiographic predictors of significant reduction in functional mitral regurgitation (MR) by cardiac resynchronisation treatment (CRT). Methods: 35 patients with ⩾ moderate to severe MR underwent CRT for presence of electrical and/or mechanical dyssynchrony. Significant reduction in MR post-CRT was defined as reduction to less than moderate MR (MR jet area/left atrial area Results: Significant MR reduction of 62% (28%) from baseline MR occurred in 18 patients vs 22% (16%) in the remaining patients (group 2), p 400 ms in the mid inferior segment and peak negative strain of ⩾9% and 8% in the basal and mid posterior segments, respectively, to predict follow-up MR was 88% and 93% respectively and positive and negative predictive value was 94% and 87%. Conclusion: In patients with cardiomyopathy and significant MR, the presence of delayed longitudinal strain in the mid inferior LV segment along with preserved negative systolic strain in the basal and mid posterior segments predicts substantial reduction in MR post-CRT.
Twenty‐first‐century check clearing: Are you ready?

The terrorist attacks of 9/11 showed how easy it was to severely disrupt our banking system. The grounding of air flights delayed the transportation of millions of checks—causing the Federal Reserve Bank's check float to balloon to more than 100 times its normal level. To protect our banking system, Congress passed the Check 21 Act. But what will be the impact on businesses, consumers, and financial institutions? What potential problems will companies face? And what steps can you take to get ready for Check 21? The authors take a close look at these issues and provide some answers. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.