cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanisms and outcome of severe mitral regulation after inoue balloon valvuloplasty

Abstract Objectives. The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence, mechanism and outcome of severe mitral regurgitation after treatment of mitral stenosis with percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty using the Inoue balloon. Background. Severe mitral regurgitation occurs in up to 15% of percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty procedures for acquired mitral stenosis. The incidence and mechanism of production of mitral regurgitation with the recently introduced single-ballon lnone technique have not been characterized. Methods. We examined the incidence, mechanism, predictors and outcome of severe mitral regurgitation after Inoue balloon valvuloplasty in 280 patients in the North American multicenter registry. Twenty-one patients who developed either clinically significant or angiographically severe regurgitation were identified, and their echocardiograms were reviewed to determine the mechanism of regurgitation. These patients were then compared with the remaining patients without severe regurgitation to identify predictors of this outcome. Results. The incidence of severe regurgitation in this study was 7.5%, and the mean grade of angiographic regurgitation in these patients increased from 0.9 ± 1.0 to 2.8 ± 0.7 (p Conclusions. Severe mitral regurgitation is a relatively infrequent complication of Inoue balloon valvutoplasty and results from disruption of the valve integrity, chordal rapture and leaflet tearing. Careful balloon positioning may help avoid chordal rapture, and heavily calcified posterior lesflets may be at greater risk of tearing. Most patients who develop severe regurgitation will require nonemergency mitral valve replacement.
Case Study: Risperidone Treatment of Children and Adolescents with Developmental Disorders

In a clinical trial, 20 children and adolescents with developmental disorders (age range 8 through 17 years) refractory to previous psychotropic treatments were administered the atypical neuroleptic risperidone (dose range 1.5 to 10 mg/day). In a follow-up period ranging from 8 to 15 months, risperidone demonstrated clinical efficacy in 13 children. Twelve patients were free of side effects and two had minor ones. Three patients had marked weight increase, and galactorrhea developed in two adolescent girls. In this open study, risperidone was associated with clinical improvement. However, controlled studies are needed to determine its relative efficacy and safety in this special population.
High-dynamic-range magnetometry with a single electronic spin in diamond

Phase-estimation algorithms applied to single electronic spins in diamond allow weak magnetic fields to be measured with high sensitivity and a large dynamic range.
Group force mobility model and its obstacle avoidance capability

Abstract Many mobility models attempt to provide realistic simulation to many real world scenarios. However, existing mobility models, such as RPGM [X. Hong, M. Gerla, G. Pei, C. Chiang, A group mobility model for ad hoc wireless networks, in: Proceedings of ACM/IEEE MSWiM’99, Seattle, WA, August 1999, pp. 53–60] and others, fail to address many aspects. These limitations range from mobile node (MN) collision avoidance, obstacle avoidance, and the interaction of MNs within a group. Our research, the group force mobility model (GFMM) [S.A. Williams, D. Huang, A group force mobility model, Appeared at 9th Communications and Networking Simulation Symposium, April 2006], proposes a novel idea which introduces the concept of attraction and repulsion forces to address many of these limitations. Williams and Huang [A group force mobility model, Appeared at 9th Communications and Networking Simulation Symposium, April 2006] described some of the limitations and drawbacks that many models neglect. This model effectively simulates the interaction of MNs within a group, the interaction of groups to one another, the coherency of a group, and the avoidance of collision with groups, nodes, and obstacles. This paper provides an overview of GFMM and particularly illustrates the GFMM's ability to avoid collision with obstacles, which is a vital property to posses in order to provide a realistic simulaition. We compare our model with the commonly used RPGM model and provide statistical assessments based on connectivity metrics such as link changed, link duration, and relative speed. All will be detailed and explained in this paper.
Differential Localization and Operation of Distinct Mg2+ Transporters in Apical and Basolateral Sides of Rat Liver Plasma Membrane

Upon activation of specific cell signaling, hepatocytes rapidly accumulate or release an amount of Mg2+ equivalent to 10% of their total Mg2+ content. Although it is widely accepted that Mg2+ efflux is Na+-dependent, little is known about transporter identity and the overall regulation. Even less is known about the mechanism of cellular Mg2+uptake. Using sealed and right-sided rat liver plasma membrane vesicles representing either the basolateral (bLPM) or apical (aLPM) domain, it was possible to dissect three different Mg2+ transport mechanisms based upon specific inhibition, localization within the plasma membrane, and directionality. The bLPM possesses only one Mg2+ transporter, which is strictly Na+-dependent, bi-directional, and not inhibited by amiloride. The aLPM possesses two separate Mg2+ transporters. One, similar to that in the bLPM because it strictly depends on Na+ transport, and it can be differentiated from that of the bLPM because it is unidirectional and fully inhibited by amiloride. The second is a novel Ca2+/Mg2+ exchanger that is unidirectional and inhibited by amiloride and imipramine. Hence, the bLPM transporter may be responsible for the exchange of Mg2+ between hepatocytes and plasma, and vice versa, shown in livers upon specific metabolic stimulation, whereas the aLPM transporters can only extrude Mg2+ into the biliary tract. The dissection of these three distinct pathways and, therefore, the opportunity to study each individually will greatly facilitate further characterization of these transporters and a better understanding of Mg2+homeostasis.
Human retroocular fibroblasts in vitro: A model for the study of graves’ ophthalmopathy

Orbital connective tissue and extraocular muscles are histologically abnormal in patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO). Although extraocular muscles have been extensively studied as a target for autoimmune attack in the disease, no system has been available to study retroocular fibroblasts in GO. We developed a technique to isolate fibroblasts from minced explants of connective tissue removed in the course of transantral orbital decompression surgery for GO. Postmortem specimens from individuals without evidence of thyroid disease were obtained from the same anatomical site. Confluent cells could be passaged at least 10 times with stable morphology and frozen with greater than 75% viability. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to study the in vitro binding of serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) to these cells. We found no difference in the degree of specific binding between GO cells and cells from normal individuals. However, there was significantly greater binding of IgG from GO sera than of that from normal serum to retroocular GO fibroblasts. These results suggest that serum IgG autoantibodies against normal retroocular fibroblasts are present in some GO patients.
Active growth factor delivery from poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) foams prepared in supercritical CO2

Abstract A method for the production of microporous poly( d , l -lactide-co-glycolide) foams containing encapsulated proteins using supercritical carbon dioxide is described. Foams generated as aqueous protein emulsions in a polymer–solvent solution were saturated with carbon dioxide at supercritical conditions, and then suddenly supersaturated at ambient conditions causing bubble nucleation and precipitation of the polymer. Proteins contained in the water phase of the emulsion were encapsulated within the foams, including basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), an angiogenic factor of interest in tissue engineering applications. The release and activity of bFGF from these foams was determined in vitro and compared with similar porous scaffolds prepared by traditional solvent casting–salt leaching techniques. Total protein release rate was greater from structures made in CO2 than those made by the salt leaching technique, however a large initial burst of bFGF was released from the salt leached structures. This initial burst was not observed from the polymer foams processed in CO2 and active bFGF was released at a relatively constant rate. Residual methylene chloride levels were measured in the foams made with CO2 and were found to be above the limits imposed by the US Pharmacopoeia implying that further solvent removal would be required prior to in vivo use.
Studies of the Human Testis. III. Effect of Estrogen on Testosterone Formation in Human Testis in Vitro

The effect of estradiol-17β on the conversion of 3H-dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) in human testicular tissue was studied in 24-hr organ culture. With the addition of increasing amounts of estradiol-17β, the formation of radioactive testosterone was progressively reduced with parallel accumulation of labeled androst-5-ene-3β, 17β-diol (Δ5-diol). No change was observed in the recovery of labeled androst-4-ene-3,17-dione (Δ4-dione). When equal amounts of 3H-Δ5-diol and 14C-Δ4-dione were used as precursors, added estradiol-17β inhibited the conversion of Δ5-diol to testosterone but not the conversion of Δ4-dione to testosterone. Addition of testosterone to the organ culture inhibited the production of 3H-testosterone from 3H-DHA, while 3H-Δ5-diol increased with no change in 3H-Δ4-dione. Addition of Δ5-diol to the culture medium reduced formation of radioactive testosterone, Δ5-diol and Δ1-dione from 3H-DHA. From these results it is concluded that estradiol-17β added in vitro has an inhibitory effect on 3β-hydr...
Analyzing Personalized Policies for Online Biometric Verification

Motivated by India’s nationwide biometric program for social inclusion, we analyze verification (i.e., one-to-one matching) in the case where we possess similarity scores for 10 fingerprints and two irises between a resident’s biometric images at enrollment and his biometric images during his first verification. At subsequent verifications, we allow individualized strategies based on these 12 scores: we acquire a subset of the 12 images, get new scores for this subset that quantify the similarity to the corresponding enrollment images, and use the likelihood ratio (i.e., the likelihood of observing these scores if the resident is genuine divided by the corresponding likelihood if the resident is an imposter) to decide whether a resident is genuine or an imposter. We also consider two-stage policies, where additional images are acquired in a second stage if the first-stage results are inconclusive. Using performance data from India’s program, we develop a new probabilistic model for the joint distribution of the 12 similarity scores and find near-optimal individualized strategies that minimize the false reject rate (FRR) subject to constraints on the false accept rate (FAR) and mean verification delay for each resident. Our individualized policies achieve the same FRR as a policy that acquires (and optimally fuses) 12 biometrics for each resident, which represents a five (four, respectively) log reduction in FRR relative to fingerprint (iris, respectively) policies previously proposed for India’s biometric program. The mean delay is sec for our proposed policy, compared to 30 sec for a policy that acquires one fingerprint and 107 sec for a policy that acquires all 12 biometrics. This policy acquires iris scans from 32–41% of residents (depending on the FAR) and acquires an average of 1.3 fingerprints per resident.
Prolactin-producing pituitary adenomas.

Eight patients with amenorrhea, galactorrhea, and hyperprolactinemia underwent excision of pituitary adenomas by means of a microsurgical pro cedure that used a transsphenoidal approach. Prolactin values returned to normal in five of the patients and were significantly lower in three. Five patients resumed their menses. Two became pregnant. All eight patients had used oral contraceptives. The association of oral contraceptives and prolactin- producing pituitary adenomas is discussed.
A community approach to weight control: The American Cancer Society Weight-A-Thon

Abstract The present study evaluated the effectiveness of the Weight-A-Thon, a fund-raising event sponsored by the American Cancer Society of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, as a community approach to weight control. Two hundred thirty-two people participated in the 1979 Weight-A-Thon. Their weight losses during the 6-week event averaged 8.3 pounds, which compares favorably with weight losses in more intensive face-to-face programs. Participants tended to gain weight after the program, but 7 months after the Weight-A-Thon still had an overall weight loss of 4.5 pounds. These data suggest that community fund-raising activities such as the Weight-A-Thon may assist in the treatment and prevention of obesity. Recommendations are made for improving the long-term effectiveness of the Weight-A-Thon program.
Room temperature operation of InAs/GaSb SLS infrared photovoltaic detectors with cut-off wavelength ~5 μm

Optimization of various growth parameters for Type-II GaSb (10MLs)/InAs(10MLs) nanoscale superlattices (SL) and GaSb layers, grown by solid molecular beam epitaxy, has been undertaken. We present optical and structural characterization for these heterostructures, using high resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD), photoluminescence (PL) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Optimized parameters were then used for growth of InAs/GaSb SLs photovoltaic detectors (λcut-off ~5 μm) operating at room temperature. By controlling the nature of interfaces, the in-plane mismatch between GaSb-buffer layer and SLs can be reduced enabling the growth of active regions up to 3μm. Normal incidence single pixel photodiodes were fabricated using standard lithography with apertures ranging from 25-300 μm in diameter. The spectral response from the SLs detector was observed at room temperature. This suggests the potential of the SLs technology for realizing high operating temperature (HOT) sensors. Responsivity measurements were also undertaken using a calibrated black body source, 400Hz optical chopper, SR 770 FFT Network signal analyzer and Keithley 428 preamplifier. We obtained current responsivity equal 2.16 A/W at V = -0.3V(300K). The Johnson noise limited D* at 300K was estimated to be 4.6x109 cm·Hz1/2/W at V = -0.3V© (2006) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Assessment of fungal communities in soil and tomato roots subjected to diverse land and crop management systems

Abstract Effects of diverse agricultural land management practices on soil and on root colonizing fungal communities were determined through a PCR-based molecular method and a culture-dependent method, respectively, in a field location with uniform soil type. Initiated in July 2000, the management systems were: conventional tomato production, frequent tillage (disk fallow), undisturbed weed fallow, bahiagrass pasture (Paspalum notatum var. notatum ‘Argentine’), and an organically managed system including cover crops and annual applications of poultry manure and urban plant debris. Culture-dependent colony counting was used to identify and enumerate communities of root colonizing fungi and length heterogeneity polymerase chain reaction (LH-PCR) analysis of internal transcribed spacer-1 (ITS-1) profiles to characterize phylotypes in soil fungal communities. Three years after initiation of land management treatments and midway through tomato cultivation, both methods detected a high degree of similarity in fungal community composition between weed fallow and bahiagrass plots. Soil fungal communities in organically managed plots were similar to each other and distinct from communities in other land management systems while the composition of root colonizing fungal communities in organic plots was divergent. The results demonstrate that the soil fungal communities and root colonizing fungal communities were affected differently depending on land and crop management practices. Fusarium oxysporum was a dominant species in all soil and root colonizing fungal communities except those subjected to organic management practices.
The effect of maximal exercise on temporal summation of second pain (windup) in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome.

Exercise activates endogenous opioid and adrenergic systems, but attenuation of exper- imental pain by exercise has not been shown consistently. In this study, effects of exercise on tem- poral summation of late pain responses to stimulation of unmyelinated (C) nociceptors were assessed. When a preheated thermode was applied repetitively to glabrous skin of the hand in a series of brief contacts at rates of 0.2 to 0.5 Hz, the perceived intensity of late thermal sensations increased after successive contacts. This summation of pain sensations provides information regard- ing the status of central opioid and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor systems. For normal subjects, tem- poral summation of late pain sensations was substantially attenuated when testing began 1.5 or 10 minutes after exercise. Individuals diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) report generalized chronic pain that is increased after exercise. Therefore, we hypothesized that strenuous exercise would increase summation of late pain sensations in this cohort. Patients with FMS and control sub- jects exerted to similarly high metabolic rates, as shown by physiologic monitoring. Ratings of late pain sensations increased for patients with FMS after exercise, an effect opposite to a decrease in rat- ings for age/sex-matched control subjects. In contrast to this result for experimentally induced pain, clinical pain ratings were not substantially altered after strenuous exercise by patients with FMS.
Function of activation loop tyrosine phosphorylation in the mechanism of c-Kit auto-activation and its implication in sunitinib resistance

The activation of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) is tightly regulated through a variety of mechanisms. Kinetic studies show that activation of c-Kit RTK occurs through an inter-molecular autophosphorylation. Phosphopeptide mapping of c-Kit reveals that 14-22 phosphates are added to each mol of wild-type (WT) c-Kit during the activation. Phosphorylation sites are found on the JM, kinase insert (KID), c-terminal domains and the activation loop (A-loop), but only the sites on the JM domain contribute to the kinase activation. The A-loop tyrosine (Y(823)) is not phosphorylated until very late in the activation (>90% completion), indicating that the A-loop phosphorylation is not required for c-Kit activation. A sunitinib-resistant mutant D816H that accelerates auto-activation by 184-fold shows no phosphorylation on the A-loop tyrosine after full activation. A loss-of-phosphorylation mutation Y823F remains fully competent in auto-activation. Similar to WT and D816H, the unactivated Y823F mutant binds sunitinib and imatinib with high affinity (K(D) = 5.9 nM). But unlike the WT and D816H where the activated enzymes lose the ability to bind the two drugs, activated Y823F binds the two inhibitors effectively. These observations suggest that the A-loop of activated Y823F remains flexible and can readily adopt unactivated conformations to accommodate DFG-out binders.
Ecology: paradise sustained.

Biodiversity stabilizes ecosystem functioning in small-scale, short-term experiments, but do such findings scale up to the larger world? A global study of fossil reefs from the past 500 million years suggests they do.
When the enemy is unclear: US censuses and photographs of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines from the beginning of the 20th century

Abstract In this close reading of US census documents and photographic representations of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines between 1899 and 1905, I complicate our current notions of colonial representations as exoticizing and primitivizing documents in the service of the colonizer. Focusing particularly on the surprising inclusion of photographs of the local census enumerators along with the extensive amount of numerical data about age, occupation, race, sex, and education that they gathered about island populations, I argue that the very presence of these seemingly unimportant photographs demonstrates a recognition of sameness on the part of the US census organizers and perhaps of the US readers of the census books. Contrasting the presentation of these European-origin Cuban and Puerto Rican elites with representations of the Philippines reveals not only that colonizations are place-specific but also that they sometimes include ambivalences that emerge in unlikely modes of representation – represen...
Changes in the photoconductivity of sputtered films of cadmium sulphide resulting from sulphur dioxide chemisorption

The effect which SO2 has on the photocurrent flowing parallel to the surface in sputtered thin films of cadmium sulphide is investigated. The photocurrent was observed to be inversely related to the partial pressure of SO2 in a flowing N2 environment. A theoretical model previously derived to characterize the CdSO2 interaction is shown to properly characterize the CdSSO2 interaction. The steady-state photocurrent is shown to be inversely related to the logarithm of the gas partial pressure as predicted by theory. These experimental data further substantiate the previously derived theoretical model and show that thin films can be used as gas detectors.
Scottish Crofters: A Historical Ethnography of a Celtic Village

Scottish Crofters:. Historical Ethnography of. Celtic Village. Susan Parman. Belmont, CA. Thomson Wadsworth. 2005 (1990). xii, 175 pp. ISBN: 0-030-30754-6 (paper).
Joining the WTO: Why Does It Take So Long?

The WTO aspires to universal membership, but the process of joining has become very lengthy and many countries have faced particularly difficult and prolonged negotiations. The WTO applies a detailed and legalistic approach to accession, due to its accumulation of policy coverage over the years and the enforcement powers of the Dispute Settlement Understanding. In WTO accession cases, WTO incumbent members appear to have a superior bargaining position. At the same time, applicant countries appear to differ in their capability or willingness to gather information and institute the many reforms required to conclude the accession negotiation. Based on the record of completed and ongoing accession negotiations, the present study uses an endurance model to identify the factors that determine the probability of an applicant’s joining in a given month. In addition to the number of completed accessions, World Bank indexes of “government effectiveness” have a particularly strong influence on the duration of the accession process. In view of the difficult cases remaining in order to complete universal WTO membership, the authors propose a broader approach to WTO membership and more flexibility in accession requirements.
Vapor‐phase Decontamination of Apples Inoculated with Escherichia coli

: Improved methods of decontaminating apples containing human pathogens are required. In this study, application of gaseous antimicrobial agents was investigated. An apparatus, which transfers vapor from hot antimicrobial solutions to a treatment vessel, was evaluated with Golden Delicious apples inoculated with E. coli. Vapor from glacial acetic acid at 60°C provided population reductions exceeding 3.5 log10 CFU/g but induced discoloration. Vapor from heated hydrogen peroxide and chlorine dioxide solutions gave reductions ≤ 2 logs. However, chlorine dioxide gas, applied at 20°C in an airtight container, achieved a 4.5 log reduction, with minimal quality loss. Reductions achieved with this treatment greatly exceed those obtained by other decontamination methods for raw commodities.
Photoexcitation and photodissociation lasers. II. CO laser emission from the vacuum UV photodissociation of COS

Abstract Carbon monoxide laser emission was observed in the vacuum UV flash-photolysis of various COS mixtures. About 30 vibration—rotation transitions of CO ranging from Δv(13→ 12) to Δv(7 → 6) were identified. Detailed study of the effects of flash energy, inert gases and chemically reactive gases on the intensity of CO stimulated emission led to the conclusion that the emission results directly from the initial photodissociation reaction, The reaction of S(1D) with COS: seems to have little effect on CO stimulated emission.
Multi-channel seismic imaging of a crustal magma chamber along the East Pacific Rise

A reflection observed on multi-channel seismic profiles along and across the East Pacific Rise between 8°50′ N and 13°30′ N is interpreted to arise from the top of a crustal magma chamber located 1.2–2.4 km below the sea floor. The magma chamber is quite narrow (<4 – 6 km wide), but can be traced as a nearly continuous feature for tens of kilometres along the rise axis.
Development of Self-Concept in Chilean, Mexican, and United States School Children.

Summary The development of self-concept (SC), self-esteem (SE), and self-ideal (SI) was examined in second, fourth, sixth, and eighth graders (approximately 50 boys and 50 girls in each grade) from Chile, Mexico, and the United States. SC, SE, and SI were assessed for physical maturity, peer relations, academic success, and school adaptiveness. For physical maturity and peer relations, the differences between national groups were small and each of the self-measures remained relatively stable across grades. Academic success SC and SE became less positive as grade level increased. For Mexican and United States students, the decline was most rapid between grades two and six; for Chilean, it was most pronounced between grades six and eight. Academic success SI for Mexican students was consistently lower than it was for Chilean and United States students. School adaptiveness SC and SE declined across grades, while SI remained relatively stable. Differences between national groups were minor. Overall, these res...
1153 PNEUMOCYSTIS CARINII ANTIGEN AND ANTIBODY IN CHILDREN WITH PNEUMONIA

Serologic profiles of Pneumocystis carinii (PC) based upon incidence of antigenemia & IgG antibody (AB) titers in pediatric patients in Papua, New Guinea (NG) & Memphis, TN support the ubiquity of PC. PC IgG AB was titered by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay & antigenemia was detected by a counterimmunoelectrophoresis test, both developed in our laboratory. Antigen (AG) used in the ELISA test was derived from cell culture-grown PC. NG children with pneumonia (N=188) had higher anti-PC titers than U.S. controls (N=50). Those with PC AG (+) pneumonia had highest titers (geometric mean titer = 277), suggesting a specific immune response to PC. Those with PC AG (-) pneumonia (GMT=139) had higher titers than matched U.S. controls (GMT=60), perhaps reflecting more environmental exposure or differences due to socio-economic status. The extent to which PC is responsible for morbidity in multiple-agent pneumonias remains to be elucidated. Since PC is treatable, this represents a high priority goal, as the decision to treat might influence survival in critical cases. Mean AB titers were all significantly different (p=<.050). This suggests the potential usefulness of serologic methods in documenting the involvement of PC in childhood pneumonia & in defining its epidemiology. These tests may provide a means for differentiating among pediatric pneumonias due to PC, Chlamydia, & cytomegalovirus, which may be clinically indistinguishable.
Multispectral Enhancement towards Digital Staining

Background: Digital staining can be considered as a special form of image enhancement wherein the concern is not only to increase the contrast between the background objects and objects of interest, but to also impart the colors that mark the objects’ unique reactions to a specific stain. In this paper, we extended the previously proposed multispectral enhancement methods such that the colors of the background pixels can also be changed. Methods: In the previous multispectral enhancement methods a shifting factor is provided to the original spectrum. To implement digital staining, a spectral transformation process is introduced prior to spectral shifting. Results: The enhancement method is applied to multispectral images of H&E stained liver tissue. The resulting digitally stained images show good correlation with the serial-section images of the tissue which are physically stained with Masson's trichrome. Conclusion: We have presented a multispectral enhancement method that can be adjusted to produce digitally stained-images. The current experimental results show the viability of the method. However, to achieve robust enhancement performance issues that arise from variations in staining conditions has to be addressed as well. This would be part of our future work.
Another look at adaptation on the average

Abstract We give a short proof of the following fact: sequential choice of linear functional observations in a Hilbert space context yields no benefit for mean square error prediction of a linear operator if the underlying distribution is elliptically contoured.
Why is the temperature of the universe 2.726 Kelvin

The Cosmic Background Explorer satellite has recently made the most accurate measurement of the temperature of the universe, determining it to be 2.726 ± 0.01 kelvin. In trying to understand why the temperature has this value, one is led to discover the most fundamental features of the universe—an early, radiation-dominated epoch, enormous entropy per nucleon, synthesis of the light elements around 3 minutes after the bang, and a small excess of matter over antimatter—as well as some of the most pressing issues in cosmology today—the development of structure in the universe and the identification of the nature of the ubiquitous dark matter.
Synaptic neurotransmission protein UNC-13 affects RNA interference in neurons

Caenorhabditis elegans UNC-13 is an integral component of the synaptic vesicle cycle, functioning in the priming step. A recent yeast two-hybrid screen against UNC-13 identified three interacting proteins that are thought to function in pathways other than neurotransmitter release. One such protein, ERI-1, negatively regulates exogenous RNA interference in the nervous system and other tissues. This study investigates a role for UNC-13 in RNAi through analysis of RNAi penetrance in unc-13 and eri-1 mutant strains. Feeding these strains double stranded RNA corresponding to a neuronally expressed GFP reporter resulted in a significant reduction of GFP in double mutants compared to GFP expression in eri-1 mutants, indicating that UNC-13 functions in conjunction with ERI-1 in RNAi. There is no evidence for altered neurotransmission in eri-1 mutants.
Outcomes after late explantation of aortic endografts depend on indication for explantation.

Background With the growing prevalence of endovascular repair for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), the number of patients requiring graft explantation is increasing. Therefore, knowledge related to outcomes after explantation may lead to improvement in surgical options. In this study we compare our experience with explantation of aortic endografts, based on indication. Methods The medical records of all aortic procedures performed at our center were queried during the period from 2002 to 2012. Relevant data from patients needing explantation of aortic endografts were analyzed using Fisher’s exact test, t-test, and Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results Thirty-nine patients underwent aortic endograft explantation (64.1% men). Mean age was 71.9 years with a mean aneurysm size of 6.8 cm (range 3.5–10.7 cm). Hypertension (97.4%), hyperlipidemia (76.9%), and history of smoking (82%) were the most prevalent risk factors. Mean time to explant was 41.7 months (range 2.2–118.4 months). The primary explant indication was endoleak in 27 (69.2%) and infection in 12 (30.8%) patients. The endoleak group consisted of 13 type I, 8 type II, 1 type III, 4 endotension, 1 rupture, and 4 patients with multiple endoleaks. Seven patients were symptomatic, whereas 2 had ruptured aneurysms. Half of the patients in the infection group required supraceliac clamping for explantation. Operative blood loss (P = 0.08) and need for transfusion (P = 0.005) were significantly higher in the infection group. Thirty-day morbidity was 51.8% for the endoleak group and 83% for the infection group (P = 0.08). There were only 2 deaths in the cohort within 30 days, both in the infection group. Twenty-seven patients were alive at a mean follow-up of 1.9 years (range 0.1–8.4 years). Conclusions Endograft explantation is a challenging operation with high morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, patients with an infectious etiology have significantly worse outcomes than those requiring explantation for endoleaks.
Distress among caregivers of phase I trial participants: a cross-sectional study.

Purpose The number of patients with cancer enrolling in phase I trials is expected to increase as these trials incorporate patient selection and exhibit greater efficacy in the era of targeted therapies. Despite the fact that people with advanced cancer often require a caregiver, little is known about the experience of caregivers of people enrolling in oncology phase I clinical trials. We conducted a cross-sectional study assessing the distress and emotion regulation of caregivers of phase I trial participants to inform the design of future interventions targeting the unique needs of this population.
Atmospheric dry deposition of trace metals in the coastal region of Los Angeles, California, USA

Emissions of trace metals to the atmosphere and subsequent deposition, either directly to a waterbody surface or indirectly to the watershed as washoff during rainfall, represents a potential source of contamination to surface waters near urban centers. The present study provides measurements of atmospheric concentrations of particle-bound trace metals, and it estimates the dry deposition mass loading of trace metals in coastal watersheds in the Los Angeles, California, USA, air basin. Coarse-particle atmospheric concentrations of metals were measured seasonally using a Noll Rotary Impactor at six urban sites and one nonurban site. Dry deposition fluxes were calculated by summing the product of air concentration and the theoretical deposition velocity for each particle size fraction. Mean fluxes at urban sites ranged from 3.2 to 9.1, 11 to 34, 3.8 to 8.8, 8.3 to 29, and 69 to 228 microg/m2/d for chromium, copper, nickel, lead, and zinc, respectively. Mean concentrations and fluxes were significantly higher at urban sites compared with the nonurban site, although differences between urban and nonurban sites were reduced when sampling took place within 5 d after rainfall. Dry deposition to watershed land surfaces was substantial, representing a potentially large source of trace metals based on comparisons with load estimates from stormwater runoff.
CENTRAL LIMIT THEOREMS FOR FINITE WALSH‐FOURIER TRANSFORMS OF WEAKLY STATIONARY TIME SERIES

. In this paper we utilize martingale theorems to obtain central limit theorems for the finite Walsh-Fourier transforms of various second-order stationary processes.
Experimental short-term immunosuppression after bowel transplantation and donor-specific bone marrow infusion.

Hypothesis We previously showed in a large animal pig model that unmodified donor-specific bone marrow infusion (DSBMI) did not facilitate total bowel engraftment; in contrast, it increased the risks of rejection, infection, and graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) posttransplant. We hypothesize that continuous immunosuppression, in combination with DSBMI, might contribute to—or even trigger—these unwarranted immune responses by both host and graft; therefore, discontinuing immunosuppression might decrease these risks and prolong survival. Methods Six groups of outbred, mixed lymphocyte culture–reactive pigs underwent a total (small and large) bowel transplant: group 1, nonimmunosuppressed control pigs (n = 5); group 2, nonimmunosuppressed DSBMI pigs (n = 6); group 3, tacrolimus (indefinite) pigs (n = 7); group 4, tacrolimus (indefinite) plus DSBMI pigs (n = 7); group 5, tacrolimus (10 days only) pigs (n = 5); and group 6, tacrolimus (10 days only) plus DSBMI pigs (n = 6). Results The combination of short-term immunosuppression and DSBMI (group 6) significantly prolonged survival, compared with short-term immunosuppression only (group 5) or DSBMI only (group 2). Short-term immunosuppression and DSBMI (group 6) did not prolong overall survival, compared with indefinite immunosuppression with (group 4) or without (group 3) DSBMI: survival rates at 7, 14, and 28 days posttransplant were 100%, 100%, and 67% in group 6; 100%, 100%, and 71% in group 3; and 100%, 67%, and 47% in group 4 ( P = .14). Short-term immunosuppression and DSBMI (group 6) increased the incidence of rejection, infection, and GVHD, compared with indefinite immunosuppression without (but not with) DSBMI. Conclusions Short-term immunosuppression and DSBMI did not prolong survival and did not reduce the incidence of death from rejection, infection, or GVHD, compared with indefinite immunosuppression without DSBMI. But short-term immunosuppression and DSBMI resulted in a lower incidence of death from infection and GVHD, compared with indefinite immunosuppression and DSBMI. When immunosuppression was discontinued 10 days posttransplant, the effect of DSBMI was insufficient to avert death from rejection. Clinical Relevance The clinical results of bowel transplantation trail those of other solid organ transplants. It reduced the rates of infection and GVHD. Our study shows that systemically infused donor-specific bone marrow with short-term or indefinite immunosuppression does not improve outcome after bowel transplantation. It seems necessary to modify the time, dosing, routing, and/or composition of donor-specific bone marrow before it can be successfully used in clinical bowel transplantation.
Milk protein analysis using a micro fabricated sieve: A promising possibility

In cheese making, proteins present in the micellar phase, i.e., α, β, κ, γ casein and their variants, determine the yield and properties of the final product (Walsh and others 1995). The current milk prices are based on solid components, that is, fat, total protein and other solids. However, the cheese yields are extremely sensitive to variations in protein sub-components. Thus, total protein content, although a simple measure of yield, is not the most accurate one. In the future, the food Industry might require simple tools to analyze protein components in a given sample of milk. Two features of such a tool, portability and accuracy, would be invaluable. In this article, a protocol for design of a micro-scale sleve for the separation of proteins is conceived. En technologie fromagere, les proteines presentes dans la phase micellaire, les caseines α, β, κ, γ et leurs variants, determinent les proprietes et les rendements finaux. Pour separer ces proteines, une methode a ete mise au point: elle est basee sur la differentiation des molecules d'apres leur mobilite electrophoretique et leur coefficient de diffusion lorsqu'elles sont soumises a un champ electrique diagonal. Un micro-tamis a ete mis au point.
Transient radiation properties of an integrated equiangular spiral antenna

Self-complementary two-arm equiangular spiral antennas were fabricated on silicon-on-sapphire substrates. Picosecond photoconductive pulse generation and sampling were used to investigate their transient radiation properties. Results are presented on transient response, bandwidth, polarization, and radiation pattern. The equiangular spiral antenna is found to be highly efficient, and its transient response exhibits a frequency sweep which is a direct consequence of the antenna structure. In this mode of excitation, the antenna remains circularly polarized, and the pattern for radiation through the substrate is quite broad. >
Concurrent Failures and Redundant Protection Problem in Hierarchical GMPLS Networks

The generalized multiprotocol label switching (GMPLS) networks attain a hierarchical structure, andeach layer maintains an independent protection mechanism, resulting in redundant protection. The common pool method provides a basic approach to solve the redundant protection problem. Although the common pool method is simple and robust, however it can fail in some cases. This work first shows that none of the prior work satisfies both redundant protection and two links failure problem simultaneously. Moreover, this work also presents a new type of two links failure problem (i.e., the failure of two links at two different layers), which can happen frequently and the common poolmethod cannot cope with. To solve the proposed two links failure problem, while minimizing the cost of redundant protection problem, this work proposes a new protection scheme for hierarchical GMPLS networks.
Effect of Fiber Waviness on the High-Strain-Rate Behavior of Composites

The effect of fiber waviness on the high-strain-rate behavior of carbon/epoxy composite materials was investigated. Falling weight impact and Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar systems were developed for basic characterization of unidirectional aligned composites in compression at strain rates up to 1800 s-1. Seventy-two and forty-eight-ply unidirectional carbon/epoxy (IM6G/3501-6) laminates loaded in the longitudinal and transverse directions were characterized. Compression tests on 45° off-axis laminates of the same unidirectional material were also conducted to obtain the in-plane shear stress-strain behavior. Strain rates over a wide range, from quasi-static up to 1800 s-1, were recorded.An incremental analysis was then used to predict the high-strain-rate behavior of composites with fiber waviness using the results obtained from the strain rate characterization. It is shown that, under longitudinal compressive loading, the nonlinear stress-strain behavior shows significant stiffening as the strain rate inc...
File classification in self-* storage systems

To tune and manage themselves, file and storage systems must understand key properties (e.g., access pattern, lifetime, size) of their various files. This paper describes how systems can automatically learn to classify the properties of files (e.g., read-only access pattern, short-lived, small in size) and predict the properties of new files, as they are created, by exploiting the strong associations between a file's properties and the names and attributes assigned to it. These associations exist, strongly but differently, in each of four real NFS environments studied. Decision tree classifiers can automatically identify and model such associations, providing prediction accuracies that often exceed 90%. Such predictions can be used to select storage policies (e.g., disk allocation schemes and replication factors) for individual files. Further, changes in associations can expose information about applications, helping autonomic system components distinguish growth from fundamental change.
Protease Inhibitors for Recurrent Hepatitis C after Liver Transplantation-When Less is More

The approval of boceprevir and telaprevir, two protease inhibitors for hepatitis C (HCV) treatment earlier this year, was met with virtually universal optimism as the addition of these medications will lead to a significantly improved chance of viral eradication in HCV genotype 1 patients. However, this enthusiasm is yet to be embraced by the liver transplant community primarily due to the interaction between protease inhibitors and calcineurin inhibitors such as cyclosporine and tacrolimus. Boceprevir and telaprevir inhibit cytochrome P450 3A which metabolizes cyclosporine and tacrolimus leading to elevated and potentially lethal levels of these calcineurin inhibitors.
The Subjective Experience of Being Medicated in Troubled Youth: A Sample from Residential Treatment

The use of psychotropic medications in youth has significantly increased in recent years. Moreover, the use of multiple medications, or polypharmacy, has seen a corresponding increase. The use of medications is largely based on diagnostic impressions and the targeted symptom. However, due to the dearth of applied research with severely troubled youth, there is very little “evidence base” to guide this practice. The Survey of Adolescent Treatment Experience study surveyed youth, currently placed in residential care, on their impressions of medication effectiveness on a wide-range of symptom categories. Youth report only mediocre effectiveness in their medication across a range of symptom questions. Approximately one third of youth indicated that they felt positive about taking medications. On average, slightly less than 50 % of youth reported benefits from medications across symptom categories. It is argued that these findings should inform the efforts toward individualized treatment models.
On the use of operational amplifiers in loudspeaker analogs

A signal flow graph model for the vented box loudspeaker has been previously developed. [1]. Here, the signal flow graph is used to derive an analog computer circuit which will simulate the vented box loudspeaker using the operational amplifiers of a general purpose analog computer. Simulations using this model are in excellent agreement with computations made from acoustic circuit models. Scale factors are calculated for the measured electrical, mechanical, and acoustical parameters of the loudspeaker driver. The circuit with the potentiometer settings based on the scale factors was operated in real time on a Hitachi 505 general purpose computer.
Effect of energy drink and caffeinated beverage consumption on sleep, mood, and performance in children and adolescents

The increasing availability of highly caffeinated beverages, including energy drinks, in the United States has resulted in a rise in consumption by children and adolescents. In addition, there is mounting evidence that these products are often consumed by youth for their perceived fatigue-mitigating and mood- or performance-enhancing effects. Although such perceptions by children and adolescents about the potential consequences of caffeine consumption are highly likely to influence decision making regarding the use of such products, there is still a relative paucity of studies that focus on the effect of caffeinated beverages on sleep, mood, and performance in the pediatric population. This review summarizes the following aspects of this topic, as derived from the information currently available: 1) the perception, among youth, of caffeine's risks and benefits and the sources of information about caffeine, particularly with regard to sleep, mood, and performance; 2) the bidirectional effect of caffeine on sleep in children and adolescents and the association of caffeine with other sleep-related practices, and 3) the evidence that supports caffeine as a performance and mood enhancer as well as a countermeasure to sleepiness in the pediatric population. Finally, gaps in knowledge are identified, and a direction for future research is outlined.