cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abnormal cholecystokinin mRNA levels in entorhinal cortex of schizophrenics

Limbic cortical regions, including anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), prefrontal cortex (PFC) and entorhinal cortex (ERC), have been implicated in the neuropathology of schizophrenia. Glutamate projection neurons connect these limbic cortical regions to each other, as well as to the terminal fields of the striatal/accumbens dopamine neurons. Subsets of these glutamate projection neurons, and of the GABA interneurons in cortex, contain the neuropeptide cholecystokinin (CCK). In an effort to study the limbic cortical glutamate projection neurons and GABA interneurons in schizophrenia, we have measured CCK mRNA with in situ hybridization histochemistry in postmortem samples of dorsolateral (DL)PFC, ACC and ERC of seven schizophrenics, nine non-psychotic suicides and seven normal controls. CCK mRNA is decreased in ERC (especially layers iii vi) and subiculum in schizophrenics relative to controls. Cellular analysis indicates that there is a decrease in density of CCK mRNA in labelled neurons. In so far as ERC CCK mRNA is not reduced in rats treated chronically with haloperidol, this decrease in schizophrenics does not appear to be related to neuroleptic treatment. In contrast, in DLPFC, where schizophrenics do not differ from normals, the suicide victims have elevated CCK mRNA (especially in layers v and vi), and increased cellular density of CCK mRNA, relative to both normals and schizophrenics. These results lend further support for the involvement of ERC and hippocampus in schizophrenia, suggesting that neurons that utilize CCK may be particularly important. Similarly, an increase in CCK mRNA levels in the PFC of suicides adds to a growing body of evidence implicating this structure in this pathological state. In so far as CCK is co-localized with GABA or glutamate in cortical neurons, both of these neuronal populations need to be studied further in schizophrenia and suicide.
Suppression of Fires in Confined Spaces by Nitrogen Pressurization: Ml Extinction Limits for Liquid Pool Fires

Abstract Larger scale studies of liquid pool fires involved varying the pool surface area and depth, the chamber size and geometry, the pressurization rate, and the fuel and fuel temperature. Fuel-oxidant mixing and fuel temperature are the primary determinants of how much nitrogen is needed for flame suppression. In the worst cases, turbulent fires of boiling n-heptane or ethanol, reduction of the ambient oxygen concentration to about 10.9 percent by volume was required. The results are discussed with regard to other extinction experiments and are found to be consistent.
Great Himalayan earthquakes and the Tibetan plateau

It has been assumed that Himalayan earthquakes are driven by the release of compressional strain accumulating close to the Greater Himalaya. However, elastic models of the Indo-Asian collision using recently imaged subsurface interface geometries suggest that a substantial fraction of the southernmost 500 kilometres of the Tibetan plateau participates in driving great ruptures. We show here that this Tibetan reservoir of elastic strain energy is drained in proportion to Himalayan rupture length, and that the consequent growth of slip and magnitude with rupture area, when compared to data from recent earthquakes, can be used to infer a approximately 500-year renewal time for these events. The elastic models also illuminate two puzzling features of plate boundary seismicity: how great earthquakes can re-rupture regions that have already ruptured in recent smaller earthquakes and how mega-earthquakes with greater than 20 metres slip may occur at millennia-long intervals, driven by residual strain following many centuries of smaller earthquakes.
Reusable pouch development for long term space missions: A 3D ohmic model for verification of sterilization efficacy

One of the challenges of food system development during a long term space mission is the need for reheating of food, processing and stabilization of waste products, including food and biological waste. We have previously reported on the development of a pouch with electrodes, which permits reheating and sterilization of its internal contents, and the development of a two-dimensional heat transfer model for design optimization. However, a fully three-dimensional model is necessary for ensuring that thermal processes result in sterility of all parts of the product, particularly edge regions. The ohmic heating of tomato soup in a pouch was simulated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes with user defined functions (UDFs) for electric field equations. In general, good agreement was observed between model and experiment, excepting a zone at the edge, where the model tended to underpredict temperature. The 3D model permitted identification of the potential cold spots over the entire pouch, which was not obvious using our previous 2D model. In particular, the bottom corners of the pouch were found to be a zone of low current density, and showed a temperature of only 53.3 °C even when the peak pouch temperature was 139 °C. The 3D model is a useful tool to optimize electrode configurations, and to assure adequate sterilization processes.
Keys to the successful implementation of an ICU patient data management system

Implementation of an ICU data management system requires consideration of many factors, including site preparation for equipment, system backup, ICU & medical staff training and evaluation. This paper describes the strategy for implementing a patient data management system at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and details our steps for planning, training, configuration and problem resolution.
The Superior Articular Process as an External Landmark for Determining the Transverse Plane Angulation of Thoracic Pedicles.

Abstract Study Design Computed tomographic (CT) study of thoracic spine pedicles. Objective To analyze the usefulness of the superior articular process (SAP) as an external landmark for determining the transverse plane angulation of thoracic pedicles. Summary of Background Data The use of thoracic pedicle screws has become commonplace. Although most authors report them to be safe, their use poses a risk to neurovascular structures. Previous studies have provided useful information regarding thoracic pedicle anatomy, but this information is difficult to apply intra-operatively. To avoid neurovascular injury, it is important to determine the correct transverse plane angulation of screw insertion. Methods Two separate investigators reviewed thoracic spine CT scans of 53 patients, 26 years of age or younger. Measurements were taken of the angular relationship of the pedicle and the SAP of T4–T11. A 90° angle was subtended from a line parallel to the SAP with a starting point at the midpoint of the lateral half of the SAP. Measurements were then adjusted laterally for medial breeches and medially for lateral breeches, to align the trajectory down the middle of the pedicle. The degree of correction was recorded. Each investigator made 3 sets of measurements. We calculated kappa values to assess intra-observer/interobserver agreement. Results Of the 4,008 measurements, 95.2% were contained within bone, leaving 4.8% pedicle violations. The average correction made for medial and lateral breeches was 6.3% and 6.7%, respectively. The first rater had 92.6% agreement, and an intra-observer kappa value of 0.57. The second rater had a 95.3% agreement and an intra-observer kappa value of 0.40. Conclusions The results support the hypothesis that the SAP can be a useful external landmark for determining the transverse plane angulation of thoracic pedicle screw insertion.
Meeting Needs of Young Children at Risk for or Having a Disability.

Poverty-related factors place children at higher risk for disabilities and also serve as barriers to families accessing services for their children and themselves. Early childhood practitioners can play a critical role in supporting families by providing services to overcome these obstacles and by working in partnership with specialized early intervention programs to assure the families and children receive those services. Families (N = 3,001) enrolled in the Early Head Start (EHS) Research and Evaluation Project were randomly assigned to the program group (who received EHS services) or the control group in a rigorous, experimental design study in order to evaluate program impacts. All participating families were living in poverty, included a pregnant woman or a child below age 1, and were eligible for EHS. The majority of children enrolled in the EHS Research and Evaluation Project was identified as having at least one of a great variety of disability indicators (e.g., family received Part C services, child has been diagnosed as having asthma). There was a very small number of families, however, actually enrolled in Part C services. Enrollment in EHS was associated with children being less likely to have cognitive or language delays and their families being more likely to receive early intervention (Part C) services and have Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs) when they needed them.
The rise and fall of leaded gasoline

Abstract Leaded gasoline has become one of the few “environmentally unsafe” products to be forced out of the market place. The history of lead additives in gasoline is outlined, from the discovery of the antiknock properties of tetraethyllead in 1921 (the first gallon of leaded gasoline was sold on 2 February 1923 to a motorist in Dayton, Ohio), to recent measures to remove lead from the gasoline of the 1980s. This report provides an historical backdrop to the continuing debate on environmental lead pollution.
Factors that impede and facilitate management careers of women in the Malaysian civil service

Female and male managers of the Malaysian civil service were surveyed in an attempt to elucidate the factors that have facilitated and hindered their careers. The emphasis in this article is on career differences between women and men. Many of the conditions which inhibit the careers of female managers elsewhere in the world were also reported by those sampled. Family requirements and resulting role conflict were evident. Many women have not married. There was some evidence of sexual harassment. There is a suggestion that women may suffer from low self-esteem and attribute their career progress primarily to luck. On the positive side, and despite a government policy that has resulted in more public resources for higher education being awarded to men than to women, women managers have achieved career success. This is largely because of the socioeconomic status of their parents and the apparent willingness of parents to educate female offspring who were not necessarily the first-born.
Identities and approximations for the weight distribution of q-ary codes

An explicit formula is derived that enumerates the complete weight distribution of an (n, k, d) linear code using a partially known weight distribution. An approximation formula for the weight distribution of q-ary linear (n, k, d) codes is also derived. It is shown that, for a given q-ary linear (n, k, d) code, the ratio of the number of codewords of weight u to the number of words of weight u approaches the constant Q=q/sup -(n-k)/ as u becomes large. The error term is a decreasing function of the minimum weight of the dual. The results are also valid for nonlinear (n, M, d) codes with the minimum weight of the dual replaced by the dual distance. >
Has the Information Content of Quarterly Earnings Announcements Declined in the Past Three Decades

This paper examines changes in the information content of earnings over the past three decades using the two metrics from Beaver [1968]: abnormal trading volume and abnormal return volatility. We find no evidence of a decline in the information content of earnings announcements over the past three decades, as measured by both abnormal trading volume and return volatility around quarterly earnings announcements. If anything, our results suggest an increase over time in the informativeness of quarterly earnings announcements. Variables reflecting changes in firm-specific factors account for a portion of the observed increase.
Observability analysis and bad data processing for state estimation with equality constraints

A factorization-based observability analysis and the normalized residual-based bad-data processing have been carried out for state estimation using the normal equation approach. The observability analysis is conducted during the process of triangular factorization of the gain matrix. The normalized residuals are calculated using the sparse inverse of the gain matrix. The method of Lagrange multipliers is applied to handle state estimation with equality constraints arising from zero injections, because of its better numerical robustness. The method uses a different coefficient matrix in place of the gain matrix at each iteration. The factorization-based observability analysis and normalized residual-based bad-data processing are extended to state estimation with equality constraints. It is shown that the observability analysis can be carried out in the triangular factorization of the coefficient matrix, and the normalized residuals can be calculated using the sparse inverse of this matrix. Test results are presented. >
Case of the Season: Ectopic Pancreas

Apreviously healthy 37-year-old woman complained of episodic right upper abdominal pain. An extensive clinical workup had been negative, including physical examination, upper endoscopy, complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, and coagulation studies. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis demonstrated a solitary mass adjacent to the gastric antrum (Fig. 1). The mass had a lobulated contour with interdigitation of its parenchyma with the surrounding mesenteric fat along the inferior border. The mass did not appear to obstruct the gastric outlet, and there were no adjacent inflammatory changes. An ultrasound-guided percutaneous core needle biopsy was subsequently performed (not shown). The patient initially tolerated the procedure well and was discharged home. However, during the week following the biopsy, she developed acute right upper quadrant abdominal pain and presented to the emergency department. In the emergency department, she was found to be febrile (101.61F), with elevated white blood cell count (16,000 mm
Some Aspects of the Fate of Cold Fronts in the Gulf of Mexico

Abstract This is a summary of the frontal activity in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea based on the fronts rather than on the more standard climatological summary of frequency in latitude-longitude squares. The orientation of the entering front is a function of the origin of the front. The duration and final departure of the front is discussed along with the extent of the penetration southward and the development of frontal waves.
Public relations in the small business environment: Creating identity and building reputation

Abstract This study explores the identity and reputation management activities of small businesses in the field of nanotechnology and examines how small nanotechnology firms create identity and build reputation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 managers at small nanotechnology firms and 14 other persons who work with or are familiar with small nanotechnology firms. Thematic analysis of the interview transcripts found three themes related to identity creation – consistency, internal training, and human capital as leverage – and three themes related to reputation management – credibility, transparency, and legitimacy. Based on the findings, an identity and reputation management model for small firms is proposed. Implications for public relations educators and for small firms are also discussed.
Structures and magnetocrystalline anisotropies of RCo10Mo2 compounds

Abstract A new series of alloys with composition RCo10Mo2 (R = Y, Ce, Pr, Nd, Gd, Sm, Dy and Er) has been synthesized and investigated by X-ray and magnetometry techniques. All of the compounds in this series crystallize in the tetragonal ThMn12-type structure. Magnetic studies indicate that the 3d sublattice favors a uniaxial anisotropy in this system. The easy direction of magnetization is along the c-axis for R = Y, Ce, Pr, Nd, Gd and Dy at room temperature. The DyCo10Mo2 compound has the largest anisotropy field (48 kOe) at 300 K. SmCo10Mo2 has an easy plane and ErCo10Mo2 exhibits a conical anisotropy at room temperature. A spin re-orientation from planar to conical was observed for SmCo10Mo2 at about 450 K with increasing temperature. With increasing temperature the ErCo10Mo2 compound undergoes two spin re-orientations, from planar to conical at 143 K and from conical to axial at 350 K.
The Exciton Binding Energy of III–V Semiconductor Compounds

The experimental data on band structure parameters, external dielectric constants, and exciton binding energies of the III–V semiconductors have been correlated and the deviations of the experimental exciton binding energies from the values predicted by a hydrogenic formula involving the external dielectric constant have been explained. It is shown that the external dielectric constant must be multiplied by an enhancement factor to obtain the dielectric screening constant for the electron-hole interaction if the energy gaps are small. This enhancement factor is explained theoretically and is obtained explicitely as a function of the gap from the experimental data for the III–V semiconductors.
Influence of Waste Engine Oil on Asphalt Mixtures Containing Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement

This paper presents the results from a laboratory study in which the influence of waste engine oil on the performance of hot-mix asphalt (HMA) containing reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) was evaluated. The lab test consists of binder test and mixture test. For binder test, the extracted RAP binder was blended with virgin binder and waste oil to investigate the rheological properties as well as fatigue properties. The waste engine oil was collected from a local auto repair shop. Performance Grade 64-22 was selected as virgin binder. For mixture test, the HMA containing RAP was evaluated at three RAP contents [(1) 0%, (2) 25%, and (3) 40%] and three waste oil contents [(1) 0%, (2) 2%, and (3) 5%]. Binder master curves, linear amplitude sweep, Superpave indirect tension, beam fatigue, and asphalt pavement analyzer rutting tests were conducted to evaluate the engineering properties of asphalt and asphalt mixtures. The results from the research reported in this paper indicated that the incorporation of waste engine oil into HMA with RAP may offset the increase of stiffness caused by aged binder in RAP. The inclusion of waste engine oil decreased optimum asphalt content, and reduced rut resistance. Meanwhile, it may also have limited improvements on fatigue resistance of the mixtures.
Photochemical reduction of carbonate to formaldehyde on TiO2 powder

Abstract Photochemical reactions at semiconductor particle surfaces have been used to drive energy uphill reactions to store light energy. Carbonate radical anion was found to be intermediate when carbonate was used to intercept the photogenerated hole on TiO 2 by exciting with light energy of more than 3.2 eV. The carbonate anion radical undergoes secondary reactions on the surface to give formaldehyde. The chemical energy stored in this reaction is 580 kj/mole. The quantum yield for the formation of HCHO is 4 × 10 −3 , but extended irradiation leads to loss of formaldehyde.
Biologically-inspired robust and adaptive multi-sensor fusion and active control

In this paper, we describe a method and system for robust and efficient goal-oriented active control of a machine (e.g., robot) based on processing, hierarchical spatial understanding, representation and memory of multimodal sensory inputs. This work assumes that a high-level plan or goal is known a priori or is provided by an operator interface, which translates into an overall perceptual processing strategy for the machine. Its analogy to the human brain is the download of plans and decisions from the pre-frontal cortex into various perceptual working memories as a perceptual plan that then guides the sensory data collection and processing. For example, a goal might be to look for specific colored objects in a scene while also looking for specific sound sources. This paper combines three key ideas and methods into a single closed-loop active control system. (1) Use high-level plan or goal to determine and prioritize spatial locations or waypoints (targets) in multimodal sensory space; (2) collect/store information about these spatial locations at the appropriate hierarchy and representation in a spatial working memory. This includes invariant learning of these spatial representations and how to convert between them; and (3) execute actions based on ordered retrieval of these spatial locations from hierarchical spatial working memory and using the "right" level of representation that can efficiently translate into motor actions. In its most specific form, the active control is described for a vision system (such as a pantilt- zoom camera system mounted on a robotic head and neck unit) which finds and then fixates on high saliency visual objects. We also describe the approach where the goal is to turn towards and sequentially foveate on salient multimodal cues that include both visual and auditory inputs.
Comparison of intravenous and oral verapamil dosing.

To compare the effects of intravenous and oral verapamil we examined the prolongation of the PR interval in 11 patients after (1) a single 10 mg IV bolus given over 2 min, (2) a single oral dose of 120 mg, and (3) a sustained concentration-maintaining infusion. Maximal PR interval prolongation was delayed relative to peak plasma verapamil concentration in all patients after the bolus and in seven of 11 patients after oral dosing. In all 11 patients oral verapamil was less potent than a single intravenous bolus of verapamil; the plasma verapamil concentration corresponding to a 10% prolongation of the PR was 39.5 ± 21.7 ng/ml after the bolus and 146.3 ± 75.1 ng/ml after the oral dose (P = 0.001). However, there was no such difference between oral verapamil and an infusion in six patients. The plasma verapamil concentration corresponding to a 10% PR prolongation was 35.7 ± 24 ng/ml after the bolus, 132.5 ± 80.8 ng/ml after the oral dose, and 85.2 ± 29.9 ng/ml after the infusion. Maximum PR prolongation (drug efficacy) was comparable for the three methods of administration. There was no evidence of tachyphalaxis during prolonged infusions. We conclude that both oral doses and infusions of verapamil are less potent than bolus doses, but that drug efficacy at the concentrations reached is equivalent for the three. Plasma verapamil concentrations determined after bolus doses appear to underestimate effective plasma concentration when the drug is given by the oral or infusion methods. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1982) 32, 711–720; doi:10.1038/clpt.1982.227
Transcriptional Profile of the Arabidopsis Root Quiescent Center

The self-renewal characteristics of stem cells render them vital engines of development. To better understand the molecular mechanisms that determine the properties of stem cells, transcript profiling was conducted on quiescent center (QC) cells from the Arabidopsis thaliana root meristem. The AGAMOUS-LIKE 42 (AGL42) gene, which encodes a MADS box transcription factor whose expression is enriched in the QC, was used to mark these cells. RNA was isolated from sorted cells, labeled, and hybridized to Affymetrix microarrays. Comparisons with digital in situ expression profiles of surrounding tissues identified a set of genes enriched in the QC. Promoter regions from a subset of transcription factors identified as enriched in the QC conferred expression in the QC. These studies demonstrated that it is possible to successfully isolate and profile a rare cell type in the plant. Mutations in all enriched transcription factor genes including AGL42 exhibited no detectable root phenotype, raising the possibility of a high degree of functional redundancy in the QC.
SU‐FF‐I‐146: Reconstruction of Absorber Concentration Using a Linear Source Model for Interstitial Spectroscopic Diffuse Optical Tomography

Purpose: Light, photosensitizer and oxygen are the major components of Photodynamic therapy(PDT). With the implementation of interstitial diffuse optical tomography (iDOT), the optical properties of tumor tissue can be reconstructed spatially using an inverse algorithm. Further, the spatially‐resolved hemoglobin oxygen saturation and sensitizer distribution are expected to be established with the reconstructed optical properties. In this study, we incorporate a spectroscopy system with the existed iDOT to reconstruct the spatial distributions of absorber concentration. We especially focus on linear source system, because the acquisition time for a linear source system is much shorter than that for a point source system, making it more suitable for clinical use. Methods and Materials: A spectroscopic iDOT system has been developed to characterize the hemoglobin oxygen saturation and sensitizer concentration of the prostate gland during PDT. During data acquisition, isotropic detectors and the cylindrical fibers coupled to a white light source are inserted into the prostate gland, and absorption spectra are acquired along the detector insertion axis under the control of a motorized system. For our CW iDOT system, two dimensional optical properties of the prostate gland are reconstructed by solving the inverse problem with the use of an adjoint model based on diffusion theory.Results: To verify the accuracy of our methodology, we have performed measurements in an optically heterogeneous solid tissue‐simlulating phantom of known composition. We compare the spatial distribution images of optical properties and absorber concentration reconstructed for the phantom with the known results based on material composition. Results of clinical data reconstruction are also shown in this study. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that it is feasible to reconstruct the optical properties of the sample and the distributions of absorbers with known absorption spectra, indicating that reconstruction of hemodynamic and drug concentration in vivo is practical in clinical applications.
Geometric and rheological asperities in an exposed fault zone

[1] Earthquake dynamics are strongly affected by fault zone structure and fault surface geometry. Here we investigate the interplay of bulk deformation and surface topography using detailed structural analysis of a fault zone near Klamath Falls, Oregon, combined with LiDAR measurements of the fault surface. We find that the fault zone has a layered damage architecture. Slip primarily occurs inside a 1–20 mm wide band that contains principal slip surfaces with individual widths of ∼100 μm. The slip band sits atop a cohesive layer which deforms by granular flow. Several fault strands with total slips of 0.5–150 m also have cohesive layers with thicknesses increasing monotonically with slip. The thickness added to the cohesive layer per unit slip decreases with increasing displacement indicating that slip progressively localizes. The main fault is a continuous surface with 10–40 m long quasi-elliptical geometrical asperities, i.e., bumps. The bumps reflect variations of the thickness of the granular cohesive layer and can be generated by a pinch-and-swell instability. As the granular layer is rheological distinct from its surroundings, the asperities are both geometrical and rheological inhomogenities. Modeling slip along wavy faults shows that slip on a surface with a realistic geometry requires internal yielding of the host rock. Our observations suggest that the internal deformation processes in the fault zone include ongoing fracture, slip along secondary faults, and particle rotation. Granular flow is an important part of faulting in this locale. Slip surfaces localize on the border of the granular cohesive layer. The ongoing slip smoothes the surfaces and thus the structural and geometrical evolution of the granular layer creates a preference for continued of slip on the same surface. There is a feedback cycle between slip on the surface and the generation of the granular layer that then deforms and controls the locus of future slip.
Dominance, friendship, and resource utilization in preschool children's groups.

Abstract Field and a laboratory experiments were carried out with 58 preschool children in order to analyze their behavior when faced with a limited resource (a movie viewer which required help to operate it) and to relate variations in resource utilization to measures of dominance and friendship obtained earlier by observation in the pre-school setting and by sociometric measures. The field experiment elicited a mixture of physically assertive/ agonistic behaviors, commands, appeals to personal needs or rules, and cooperative behavior—all related to viewing the movie. Dominance rank was significantly and positively related to resource utilization (viewing the movie). In the laboratory experiment, the children varied greatly in resource utilization and cooperative behavior as a function of their dominance status—dominant children having much more access to the resource than their lower-ranked classmates. Group performance also varied greatly and appeared to be significantly influenced by dominance and friendship. The optimal combination for producing high utilization appeared to be a group of high-ranking friends. Equitability and effectiveness of utilization were also affected by dominance and friendship as well as by physically assertive/agonistic and cooperative behaviors during the episode. In both experiments, boys used the resource significantly more than girls. The findings are discussed briefly in terms of sociobiological notions of cooperation, competition, and resource utilization.
Neonatal intestinal perforation in Hirschsprung's disease

Over a period of 18 years, 77 of 135 patients treated for Hirschsprung's disease (HD) presented in the neonatal period. Of these 77 patients, 8 had gastrointestinal (GI) perforations. Seven patients were born at full term and 1 at 32 weeks of gestation. Three patients had associated trisomy 21. The site of perforation included rectum in 1 patient, sigmoid in 1, descending colon in 1, transverse colon in 2, caecum in 2, and jejunum in 1. Perforations occurred in ganglionic bowel in 7 patients and in the aganglionic segment in 1. One patient died in the newborn period of overwhelming sepsis secondary to enterocolitis, and histology of the bowel confirmed HD. In 6 patients HD was confirmed on barium enema and suction rectal biopsy, and they subsequently underwent a definitive pull-through operation. The 1 patient in whom the initial barium enema was normal continued to suffer from constipation until the age of 7 years, when the diagnosis of HD was established. He then underwent a pull-through procedure with no further problems. An association between neonatal intestinal perforation and HD must therefore be recognised to avoid delay in the management.
CHAOS IN COOPERATION: CONTINUOUS-VALUED PRISONER’S DILEMMAS IN INFINITE-VALUED LOGIC

The Prisoner’s Dilemma (PD) has become a paradigm of the evolution of cooperation. The PD can be generalized to the continuous-valued case in which players are allowed to choose intermediate levels of cooperation. When continuous-valued PDs are played in the spatial context of cellular automata, generous strategies are favored. Continuous-valued PDs are naturally represented in infinite-valued logic. The infinite-valued logic allows us to prove that cooperative interactions between continuous-valued strategies are paradigmatically chaotic. Escape-time diagrams using a given level of mutual cooperation as a threshold produce fractal images. The sensitive dependence of chaotic dynamical systems models a practical unpredictability within the PD (even though only deterministic nonstochastic strategies are involved) that is characteristic of many real life choice situations.
Limited Exercise Capacity in Heterozygous Manganese Superoxide Dismutase Gene–Knockout Mice Roles of Superoxide Anion and Nitric Oxide

Background— We have reported that there is a limitation of exercise capacity in mice with defects in the expression of endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase, which is associated with a greater increase in whole-body oxygen consumption (Vo2). We hypothesized that in states in which superoxide anion (O2−) is increased, especially in the mitochondria, whole-body Vo2 will be increased because of the inactivation of NO, and consequently, exercise capacity will be reduced. Methods and Results— Heterozygous manganese superoxide anion dismutase (SOD2) gene–knockout mice (SOD2+/−), in which SOD2 activity is reduced by 30% to 80%, and wild-type control mice (SOD2+/+) were treadmill-tested to measure indices defining exercise capacity. Tempol was given to each mouse for 7 days by an intraperitoneal injection to scavenge O2− before a second treadmill testing. Vo2 and carbon dioxide production (Vco2) at rest were increased in SOD2+/−. The work (vertical distance run × body weight) to exhaustion was decreased in S...
Thermodynamic elucidation of structural stability of deuterated biological molecules: deuterated phospholipid vesicles in H2O.

Abstract Thermodynamic studies of deuterated phospholipids in H20 were conducted using deuterated lipid bilayer yesides prepared from aqueous dispersions of 1,2-dimyristoyl- d 54 -, 1,2-dipalmitoyl- d 62 -, and 1,2-distearoyl- d 70 -phosphatidylcholines. The results obtained in combination with those previously reported in D 2 O made possible the evaluation of deuterium solvent and deuterium alkylchain substitution effects in deuterated phospholipids. These effects included the temperature (δ t m ), the enthalpy (δΔ H ), the free energy (δΔ G ), the entropy (δΔ S ), and the cooperative melting unit (δ n ) of the main lipid phase transition from the gel to the liquid-crystalline phase. To supplement thermodynamic observations, fluorescence steady-state polarization measurements were also performed. The results were examined to elucidate the nature of interactions in deuterated compounds. The deuterium solvent effect increases the structural stability of deuterated lipid vesicles, due to an enhancement of hydrophobic interaction in D 2 O. This observation is contrary to that previously reported for deuterated proteins, phycocyanins, where structural stability is reduced in D 2 O solvent. These findings therefore support the proposal that an alteration in hydrophobic interactions in deuterated proteins due to deuterium substitution is not likely to play a significant role in contributing to the structural instability of proteins.
Applications of Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy to Life Science

Positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS) is a novel method that can provide molecular-level information about complex biological and macromolecular structure in a manner which is different, but complementary, to conventional medical and biochemical research methodology. Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) and Doppler broadening energy spectroscopy (DBES), coupled with a slow positron beam have been extensively applied to the life science research recently. These techniques provide new information about the atomic and molecular level free-volume and void sizes, and their distributions 0.1 nm to a few nm, molecular bonding, structures at depth-layers, and phase transitions. This paper is to review recent research on positron annihilation spectroscopy applied to the area of life science and also focus on current bioscience-related work in the positron group at the University of MissouriKansas City (UMKC).
Communist Successor Party Adaptation in Candidate-Centered Systems: the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia and the Czech Social Democratic Party in the Czech Republic

I compare the adaptation strategies of the Czech ex-communists to competitive elections upon the implosion of East European communism in 1989. In order to survive in a competitive electoral environment, parties that symbolize the communist legacy ought to refashion their internal organization and party programs; their leaders have to signal to their target electorate that they will jettison their predecessors’ dictatorial practices and embrace democratic instruments. The direction and magnitude of these organizational and programmatic changes are dictated by the electoral goals of these parties’ leadership and are shaped by important features of the electoral institutions such as ballot structure.
Nucleotide sequence of the 3' half of AKV.

Abstract We report the nucleotide sequence of the 3' half of the ecotropic murine leukemia virus AKV genome. To obtain a preliminary sequence, we developed a sequencing strategy whereby a nested set of restriction fragments is chemically modified prior to gel purification and strand scission. The sequence defines the genetic map of the 3' half of AKV and locates recombinant regions previously identified in structural analyses of MCF viruses.
Management of erectile dysfunction following radical prostatectomy.

Radical prostatectomy (RP) has been the gold standard treatment for organ/specimen-confined prostate cancer for several decades. Improved surgical techniques have decreased the rate of “total” and stress-induced incontinence to < 10%, but urologists still report that most patients experience erectile dysfunction (ED) following RP (1–3). Although the surgical technique and experience remain the dominant variables in outcome, other factors affecting postoperative ED include the patient’s age, preoperative sexual function, psychological adjustment to a cancer diagnosis, and coexisting medical diseases (i.e., diabetes, hypertension). Other preoperative variables include the stage of disease, preservation of the neurovascular bundles, urinary incontinence, and adjuvant treatments (radiation therapy, hormonal therapy) (3–4).
Shock Fitting of Aggradational Profiles Due to Backwater

The paper attempts to demonstrate the use of shock fitting to locate and track the evolution and movement of deltas in backwater environments. Emphasis is placed on the use of bedload transport. The modeling approach is described, and the development of the shock fitting procedure. The experiments are described and compared with the numerical model. Besides modeling the physical process of deltas correctly, shock fitting is also an efective way to reduce computer time when modeling aggradational environments, because the computational grid may be made more sparse upstream of the delta lip, where bed conditions change only slowly.
Structure-Activity Studies on Mutagenicity of Nitrosamines Using Molecular Connectivity

The structure-activity relationship of a series of nitrosamines was evaluated for mutagenic potency as measured in the Ames test. The structural description was made using molecular connectivity. A good correlation was found.
The Effect of Music and Progressive Muscle Relaxation on Anxiety, Fatigue, and Quality of Life in Family Caregivers of Hospice Patients

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of music, progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), and music combined with progressive muscle relaxation on the reduction of anxiety, fatigue, and improvement of quality of life in family hospice caregivers. Subjects (N = 32) were divided randomly into 4 groups: control, music only, progressive muscle relaxation only, and music combined with progressive muscle relaxation and were tested twice a week for a duration of 2 weeks. A pre and posttest measuring anxiety and fatigue was administered each session. Quality of life was measured only on the first and last session. Results of three-way mixed design ANOVA indicated no significant main effect for group. However, results revealed a significant main effect for pretest and posttest on anxiety F(1, 28) = 51.82, p < .01 and fatigue, F(1, 28) = 32.86, p < .01. Significant difference on time effect were found for both anxiety F(3, 84) = 3.53, p < .05 and fatigue F(3, 84) = 5.21, p < .01. Follow-up paired t tests used for posthoc testing were conducted to compare pre and posttest difference scores for each group separately. Statistical results indicated a significant difference in quality of life when comparing the subject sample as a whole across the four days of treatment period, F(1, 28) = 14.21, p < .01. Follow-up paired sample t test indicated that the control and PMR group exhibited a significant difference in pre and posttest quality of life scores. There was a significant correlation between anxiety and quality of life (r(32) = .75, p < .01), anxiety and fatigue (r(32) = .55, p < .01), and fatigue and quality of life (r(32) = -.53, p < .01).
Production of liquid hydrocarbons from pretreated bio-oil via catalytic deoxygenation with syngas

Abstract Biomass-derived fast pyrolysis oil (bio-oil) is a potential alternative replacement for conventional transportation fuels. But negative properties such as lower energy density, higher water content and acidity prevent the direct use of pyrolysis oil as a fuel. Catalytic deoxygenation of pyrolysis oils to hydrocarbons has been studied widely with application of high heat and hydrogen pressure. However, consumption of a large amount of expensive hydrogen has remained a problem for this technology. Therefore, development of an efficient and reduced hydrogen deoxygenation method would be desirable. In this study, we have applied catalytic deoxygenation of pretreated bio-oil in the presence of pressurized syngas to produce liquid hydrocarbons. The pretreatment is an oxidation step that converts aldehydes to carboxylic acids that are more conducive to catalytic conversion to hydrocarbons than are raw bio-oils. The pretreated bio-oil allowed performance of a partial deoxygenation step with a low amount of hydrogen (syngas). This partially deoxygenated product was then fully deoxygenated with pure hydrogen to produce hydrocarbons. Properties of the resultant liquid hydrocarbons were analyzed by ASTM standards for transportation fuels. The hydrocarbon mixture obtained by our process was analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, detailed hydrocarbon analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and simulated distillation.
Polarized electron-nucleus scattering and parity-violating neutral-current interactions

The polarization asymmetry in the scattering of polarized electrons from nuclei coming from the interference between electromagnetic interactions and parity-violating neutral-current interactions is discussed. It is shown how measurements of this asymmetry in various elastic and inelastic electron-nucleus scatterings can be used to determine specific spin and isospin terms in the hadronic neutral current. A specially interesting case would be a measurement in a ${0}^{+}$ \ensuremath{\rightarrow}${0}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ excitation, in which the asymmetry is 100 times larger than usual because the electromagnetic matrix element involves two-photon exchange.
Physical Limitation and Anger Stress Exposure and Assessing the Role of Psychosocial Resources

Is there a relationship between physical limitation and anger proneness? And, if so, is this relationship conditioned by associated differences in stress exposure and the availability of psychosocial coping resources? We explore these questions using data from a two-wave panel study including a representative sample of persons with and without physical limitations (N = 1,473). Results of longitudinal change analysis demonstrate that physical limitation is associated with an increased tendency to both experience and express anger. Findings also reveal that this association is largely accounted for by variations in the experience of discrimination and differences in the psychosocial coping resources of mastery and self-esteem
Vibrio fischeri σ54 Controls Motility, Biofilm Formation, Luminescence, and Colonization

In this study, we demonstrated that the putative Vibrio fischeri rpoN gene, which encodes sigma(54), controls flagellar biogenesis, biofilm development, and bioluminescence. We also show that rpoN plays a requisite role initiating the symbiotic association of V. fischeri with juveniles of the squid Euprymna scolopes.
Use of diuretics with ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers and NSAIDs increases the risk of acute kidney injury

Commentary on: Lapi F, Azoulay L, Yin H, et al. Concurrent use of diuretics, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, and angiotensin receptor blockers with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and risk of acute kidney injury: nested case-control study. BMJ 2013;346:e8525.[OpenUrl][1][Abstract/FREE Full Text][2] Acute kidney injury (AKI) is increasing both in the USA and Europe.1 ,2 Most people with AKI return to baseline renal function, but AKI predisposes some patients to an increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD).3 ,4 Medications contribute to AKI whether administered in hospital such as aminoglycoside antibiotics, or when prescribed for outpatients, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) whose adverse effects are seen more often to involve the gastrointestinal tract rather than kidneys. Lapi and colleagues report … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DBMJ%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1136%252Fbmj.e8525%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F23299844%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/ijlink?linkType=ABST&journalCode=bmj&resid=346/jan08_12/e8525&atom=%2Febmed%2F18%2F6%2F232.atom
Ectopic pro-opiomelanocortin syndrome

Ectopic POMC syndrome remains one of the most challenging differential diagnoses in endocrinology. Recent progress in the understanding of the tissue specific regulation of POMC gene expression and new insights into the processing of the POMC peptide in nonpituitary tissues has helped elucidate some of the molecular events leading to ectopic expression and secretion of POMC peptides. Corticotropin and other POMC-derived peptides have diverse effects on adrenal steroidogenesis, growth, and extra-adrenal tissues. Differences in POMC gene regulation in the corticotrope versus ectopic POMC-producing tumors provides a scientific framework for the clinical distinction between eutopic and ectopic Cushing's syndrome. In an attempt to revisit recent basic and clinical advances in the diagnosis of ectopic POMC syndrome the authors undertook an extensive literature review of 530 cases in 197 published papers and provided a molecular biologic, demographic and diagnostic update. According to this review, the four most common causes of ectopic POMC syndrome are the small cell carcinoma of the lung (27%), bronchial carcinoids (21%), islet cell tumor of the pancreas (16%), and thymic carcinoids (10%). Although the clinical features of patients with ectopic POMC syndrome are similar to those with Cushing's disease, subgroup analysis reveals a broad spectrum of severity and progression of signs and symptoms of hypercortisolism. The endocrine workup of a patient with suspected ectopic POMC syndrome includes the establishment of pathologic hypercortisolism, diagnosis of corticotropin dependency, and the differential diagnosis of corticotropin-dependent Cushing's syndrome. The use of a variety of baseline endocrine values, dynamic endocrine testing, and invasive procedures leads to the correct diagnosis in the majority of patients with ectopic POMC syndrome. Diagnostic imaging, including conventional radiological techniques and somatostatin receptor scintigraphy, aids in the correct localization and eventual treatment of ectopic POMC production.