cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improved cubic volume prediction using a new measure of form factor

Abstract For cubic volume estimation, commonly used measures of stem form, such as form quotient or crown measures, are difficult to obtain in the field and usually give only marginal improvement in mean square error of prediction. We develop prediction equations using stem height at a predetermined fraction of diameter at breast height outside bark, or the ratio of this height to total height, to predict cylindrical form factor and total stem volume for Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco). Using an independent dataset, a comparison of the volume prediction for our model shows substantial improvement in mean square deviation for volume prediction compared to three commonly-used volume equations for Douglas fir in the Pacific Northwest.
Technological Change: Some Effects on Three Canadian Fishing Villages

There are two small islands off the east coast of Canada whose inhabitants make a livelihood by traditional fishing techniques. Since World War II they have been greatly disturbed by the encroachment of American and Canadian draggers onto the local fishing grounds. These draggers are motor-driven boats 60 to 90 feet in length which fish with a large bag-like net that is towed along the sea bed. At about the same time the draggers appeared off the islands the fish catches of the local fishermen began to decline, the cost of fishing equipment to rise, and the price of fish to fall.
Clinical biology of the Barrett's metaplasia, dysplasia to carcinoma sequence.

Barrett’s esophagus is a complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease and a manifestation of chronic injury to the esophageal tissue. It is characterizedby the presence of intestinal mucosa in an esophagus linedby cardia-type mucosa; alternatively described as a columnar-linedesophagus with intestinal metaplasia or Barrett’s mucosa. When present, the abnormal mucosa confers a more than 30–125 foldrisk of progression to esophageal adenocarcinoma, which emerges at a rate of about 1–2 cancers per 100 patient years of follow-up [1–3]. Perhaps a more meaningful statement is that a middle age individual who develops Barrett’s esophagus has a risk of developing adenocarcinoma of the esophagus during his lifetime of 10–15%. Current dogma states that Barrett’s esophagus developedquickly to its full extent with little subsequent increase in length [4]. This was basedon d from patients with long segments of Barrett’s mucosa within the tubular esophagus, i.e., >3 cm. It is now accepted that intestinal metaplasia occurs in segments of cardiatype mucosa that are o3 cm in length andcan even occur in extremely small segments of cardia-type mucosa locatedjust beyondthe squamous epithelium of an endoscopically normal appearing gastroesophageal junction [5,6]. There is a controversy over the implication of these findings. Some hypothesize that intestinal metaplasia of the cardia, short segment Barrett’s, andlong segment Barrett’s are similar, but are separate distinct entities. Others state that they represent a continuum that progresses from intestinal metaplasia of the cardia to long segment Barrett’s esophagus. In the latter, the process begins with a temporary loss of lower esophageal sphincter competence due to gastric distention [7]. This results in increasedesophageal exposure to gastric juice andinjury to the esophageal squamous mucosa, which leads to the emergence of cardiac mucosa. A by-product of this inflammatory process is shortening andeventually loss of the lower esophageal sphincter, allowing more gastric juice to reflux andmore cardiac mucosa to form. Under appropriate conditions, cardiac mucosa is intestinalized andbecomes Barrett’s esophagus.
Maximum likelihood estimation of link function parameters

Abstract Maximum likelihood estimation of link function parameters in generalized linear models may be accomplished using a modified scoring algorithm with little more effort than that needed for fixed link models. Simultaneous maximum likelihood estimation of all parameters in the systematic model component provides correct asymptotic variance and covariance estimates for these parameters through the full inverse expected information matrix.
M. Gazi Yaşargil: The Time in Little Rock

Microneurosurgery is Professor Yasargil's legacy. Its impact on patient outcomes, surgeons' abilities, the field of neurosurgery in particular, and the art of surgery in general is great, profound, and everlasting. Professor Yasargil led a revolution that has transformed neurosurgery into the fine art we practice today. His ingenuity, devotion, energy, and masterful technique have made his contributions so salient that they have earned him recognition as Neurosurgery's Man of the Century. It has been an honor, a great opportunity, and a phenomenal experience to spend the last 5 years with him at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. There, he represents the very best in knowledge, expertise, dexterity, and, above all, devotion to advancing the field of neurosurgery. Most enjoyable have been his stimulating intellect and inspiring vision.
Effects of pre-rigor injection of sodium citrate or acetate, or post-rigor injection of phosphate plus salt on post-mortem glycolysis, pH, and pork quality attributes

Forty pork carcass sides were assigned to one of four treatments: pre-rigor citrate (CIT) or acetate injection (ACE); post-rigor phosphate and salt injection (PHOS); and non-injected control (CON). Loins in 20 sides were injected at 50 min post-mortem with 4% solutions of CIT or ACE to approximately 110% of projected loin weights, and 10 loins were injected at 24 h post-mortem to 106.6% with a solution of 4.4% PHOS and 2.2% salt. Although CIT increased pH (P 0.05) glycolytic metabolite concentrations. The pH increase in muscles from the CIT treatment was most likely due to its buffering ability rather than to its glycolytic inhibition. Pre-rigor CIT injection improved tenderness without the detrimental effects on color or flavor found with PHOS, but neither CIT nor ACE altered glycolytic metabolites or improved firmness, wetness, or fresh visual color over CON. Poor flavor attributes of the ACE treatment will hinder its use as an ingredient for pork enhancement solutions.
Two Methods for the Efficient Analysis of Memory Address Trace Data

The high cost of analyzing long memory address traces has limited most researchers to short traces and analysis algorithms that are linear in the length of the trace. We suggest two methods that permit a trace to be shortened in length by one to two orders of magnitude (or more) for later further analysis. The Stack Deletion Method eliminates all references in the trace to the top k levels of the LRU stack. The Snapshot Method records the reference bits of the pages in the original tape at discrete intervals and uses these bits to generate a new trace. Extensive measurements are presented, from which we conclude that there is little or no loss in accuracy using reduced traces for many purposes for a wide range of memory sizes and degrees of reduction.
Control Approaches to the Suppression of Machining Chatter Using Active Magnetic Bearings

Several control approaches to the active suppression of machining chatter, a self-excited vibration that limits metal removal rate, are examined using a specially constructed turning experiment. The experiment employs a magnetic bearing for actuation and mimics the dynamics of a flexible rotor. Control forces are applied and vibration measurements taken at a location along this structure that is not collocated with the tool. Three control approaches are considered: speed-independent control, speed-specified control, and speed-interval control. Experimental results with these are compared to those obtained using proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control, a standard approach in the magnetic bearing industry today. Significant improvements over PID in machining stability lobes are obtained and the capability to highly tailor the cutting tool compliance so as to inhibit the onset of chatter is demonstrated. Cutting tests are also presented which demonstrate the significant improvements in chatter-free chip width that may be obtained with advanced control methods
Fabrication of viscous and paste-like materials by controlled heteroaggregation of oppositely charged lipid droplets

Abstract This study describes the formation of materials with novel textural characteristics by controlled heteroaggregation of oppositely charged protein-coated lipid droplets. Heteroaggregation was induced by mixing a suspension of β-lactoglobulin (β-Lg)-coated lipid droplets ( ζ = −51 mV, d 43 ∼ 0.35 μm, 20 wt.%) with a suspension of lactoferrin (LF)-coated lipid droplets ( ζ = +32 mV, d 43 ∼ 0.35 μm, 20 wt.%) under conditions where the two proteins had opposite charges (pH 7). The mean particle size, flow behaviour, and shear modulus of the materials depended on positive-to-negative particle ratio (0–100%), pH (3–9), ionic strength (0–400 mM), and temperature (30–90 °C). The largest particle sizes, highest viscosities, and largest gel strengths were observed at intermediate particle ratios (40% LF:60% β-Lg), which was attributed to a strong electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged droplets (0 mM NaCl, pH 7, 25 °C). A reduction in particle aggregation, viscosity, and gel strength occurred at intermediate ionic strengths due to screening of the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged droplets. However, increased aggregation, thickening, and gelation occurred at higher ionic strengths due to screening in electrostatic repulsion between similarly charged droplets. Thermal treatment of the samples (90 °C) promoted a substantial increase in gel strength due to protein denaturation and increased droplet attraction. This study has important implications for the utilisation of controlled particle aggregation to create novel structures in foods, cosmetics, personal care, and other products.
The abundance of Fe(C0 3) OH in goethite and a possible constraint on minimum atmospheric oxygen partial pressures in the Phanerozoic

Abstract Concentrations of the Fe(CO 3 )OH component in goethites from Phanerozoic oolitic ironstones appear to record information on the partial pressures of soil CO 2 in ancient subaerial weathering environments. Application of a simple steady-state, one-dimensional, Fickian diffusion model to ancient goethite-bearing soils suggests that it may be possible to calculate lower limits for the partial pressure of oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere by using both the inferred soil CO 2 partial pressure and estimates of the partial pressure of atmospheric CO 2 . Extant data from colitic goethites indicate that the atmospheric P O 2 value was no lower than about 13% of the present atmospheric level (PAL) in the Late Ordovician. This value affirms existing evidence for abundant molecular oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere in the Early Paleozoic, i.e., before the widespread advent of vascular plants. Extensive colonization of the continents by vascular plants in the Devonian was associated with calculated atmospheric oxygen partial pressures that were no lower than about 39% of PAL at 360 Ma BP. For Early Jurassic to Late Cretaceous samples, the calculated lower limit of atmospheric oxygen ranged from about 20 to 25% of the present value. It remains to be established whether or not there is a systematic relationship between calculated minimum P o 2 values (or soil respiration rates) and the actual partial pressure of atmospheric oxygen.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN READER RESPONSE AND PRIOR KNOWLEDGE ON AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS' READING COMPREHENSION PERFORMANCE USING MULTICULTURAL LITERATURE

Educators receive numerous strategies to engage reluctant readers (L'Allier & Elish-Piper, 2007). Most methods involve motivating through student interest. It is important to consider cultural context when engaging reluctant readers. This study asks which is the stronger indicator of comprehension performance for 117 eighth grade African American students: interest or prior knowledge. A repeated measure design was used to investigate within-group variability of students at different achievement levels. The quantitative analysis explored the effects of cultural orientation of texts, prior achievement, and prior knowledge on students' comprehension performance. The results reveal prior knowledge as a consistently stronger indicator of comprehension.
Lidar and Balloon-Borne Cascade Impactor Measurements of Aerosols: A Case Study

Aerosol size distributions, elemental components, complex refractive indices, extinction profiles and extinction-to-backscatter ratios have been measured and inferred from balloon-borne cascade impactor and lidar observations made during a cooperative joint experiment conducted during the period 4–10 April, 1980 in Tucson, AZ. Size distributions obtained from quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) cascade impactor measurements at different heights (1 to 1000 m) and times over a period of several days were fairly similar in form, being clearly bimodal in their mass distributions with the coarse particle mode being dominant. Electron microscope and energy dispersive X-ray analyses of particles deposited on the QCM stages over the particle radii range ∼0.5–4.0 μm revealed that the particle samples were elementally dominated by both sulfur and crustal type (Al, Ca, Mg and Si) elements. Complex refractive index estimates for a wavelength of 649 nm were obtained by comparing the lidar inferred aerosol extinction-to-...
Surgical treatment of caseous mitral valve annulus calcification.

Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is common in the elderly population. It can cause mitral regurgitation, mitral stenosis, and heart block and can complicate attempts to repair or replace the mitral valve. Extensive MAC can undergo liquefaction and simulate an intracardiac mass. Previously this rare entity was believed to be a benign incidental finding on imaging. We describe a case of caseous MAC mimicking a cardiac tumor and causing spontaneous cerebral embolization.
A reassessment of static bin pressure experiments

Abstract The experimental studies concerned with Janssen's formulas for bin pressures are reviewed and reassessed. This reassessment is motivated by a recent derivation of Janssen's formulas under less restrictive assumptions. A number of conclusions are drawn and several recommendations formulated as a result of this study. For example, while it is found that much of the published data is reliable, doubt is cast on some of the data presented in the most extensive laboratory investigation undertaken. Recommendations for experimental procedures and procedures for the determination of bin pressures are presented.
Impulsive suicide attempts by a patient with alcoholic dementia

Received Aug. 12, 2002; revision received Dec. 22, 2002; accepted Jan. 22, 2003. From the Mental Health Service Line, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center; and the Department of Psychiatry, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C. Address reprint requests to Dr. Rosenberg, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Division of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neuropsychiatry, Ocler 320, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD 21287; wild.rosenbergs@verizon.net (e-mail). Copyright 2003 The Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine. Consultation-liaison psychiatrists frequently evaluate suicidal risk in patients with dementia who are on medical and surgical units. These evaluations are particularly challenging because demented patients often cannot accurately recall their mood or intent at the time of an attempted suicide or their thoughts of suicide. We present such a case of a confabulatory patient with alcoholic dementia who made two suicide attempts in the hospital within a 2-hour period
Comparison of Various Envelope Proteins for Their Ability to Pseudotype Lentiviral Vectors and Transduce Primitive Hematopoietic Cells from Human Blood

Substantial effort has been invested in developing methodologies for efficient gene transfer into human, repopulating, hematopoietic stem cells. Oncoretroviral vectors are limited by the lack of nuclear mitosis in quiescent stem cells during ex vivo transduction, whereas the preintegration complex of lentiviral vectors contains nuclear-localizing signals that permit genome integration without mitosis. We have developed a flexible and versatile system for generating lentiviral vector particles and have pseudotyped such particles with amphotropic, ecotropic, feline endogenous virus (RD114) or vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV-G) envelope proteins. Particles of all four types could be concentrated approximately 100-fold by ultracentrifugation or ultrafiltration. RD114 or amphotropic particles were more efficient than VSV-G-pseudotyped particles at transducing human cord blood CD34(+) cells and clonogenic progenitors within that population. Amphotropic particles transduced cytokine-mobilized, human peripheral blood CD34(+) cells capable of establishing hematopoiesis in immunodeficient mice more efficiently than the other two types of particles. We conclude that the use of amphotropic pseudotyped lentiviral vector particles rather than the commonly used VSV-G-pseudotyped particles should be considered in potential applications of lentiviral vectors for gene transfer into this therapeutically relevant target cell population.
l-Canavanine Metabolism in Jack Bean, Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC. (Leguminosae).

l-Canavanine, a highly toxic arginine antimetabolite, is the principal nonprotein amino acid of many leguminous plants. Labeled-precursor feeding studies, conducted primarily with [14C]carbamoyl phosphate, and utilization of the seedlings of jack bean, Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC. (Leguminosae), have provided evidence for l-canavanine biosynthesis from l-canaline via O-ureido-l-homoserine. This reaction pathway appears to constitute an important in vivo route of canavanine production. Canavanine cleavage to canaline may represent a degradative phase of canavanine metabolism distinct from the anabolic reactions described above. Thus, while these reactions of canavanine metabolism bear analogy to the mammalian Krebs-Henseleit ornithine-urea cycle, no evidence has been obtained at present for the reutilization of canaline in ureidohomoserine formation.
Phenylpropanolamine and amphetamine disrupt postprandial satiety in rats

Abstract Two tests of the behavioral specificity of the anorectic effects of amphetamine (AM) and phenylpropanolamine (PPA) were done. Intraperitoneal injections of each drug reduced the size of condensed milk test meals in 30-min pellet-deprived rats. The dose-response relations in semi-log coordinates were linear and parallel, but AM (ED 50 , 2.0±0.1 μ mol/kg) was about ten times more potent than PPA (ED 50 , 24.6±0.1 μ mol/kg). Periprandial behaviors were observed using a time-sampling technique. Both AM and PPA disrupted the normal behavioral sequence of postprandial satiety throughout their anorectic ranges, but they did so differently. AM increased postprandial exploratory behavior, decreased or eliminated resting, and, at larger doses, elicited stereotypy. In contrast, PPA inhibited both grooming and exploration, and increased resting. The drugs' effects on water intake were tested in 17-hr water-deprived rats. AM's adipsic effect (ED 50 , 2.3±0.1 μ mol/kg) was similar to its anorectic effect. PPA also inhibited drinking, although slightly less potently (ED 50 , 56.6±0.1 μ mol/kg) than it did feeding. Thus, under conditions maximizing the anorectic potencies of systemically administered AM and PPA in rats, both drugs inhibited feeding nonspecifically rather than by eliciting normal postprandial satiety.
Moment-method quantization of a linear differential eigenvalue equation for ‖Ψ ‖ 2

The one-dimensional Schr\"odinger equation can be reformulated in terms of a linear third-order differential eigenvalue equation for \ensuremath{\Vert}\ensuremath{\Psi}(x)${\ensuremath{\Vert}}^{2}$. The bounded physical states are the unique non-negative solutions which are asymptotically zero and have finite moments. Because of this, the eigenvalue-moment methods of Handy and Bessis can be applied to \ensuremath{\Vert}\ensuremath{\Psi}${\ensuremath{\Vert}}^{2}$, thereby yielding rapidly converging lower and upper bounds to the individual discrete-state eigenvalues. Two examples are considered: a one-dimensional nonlinear Schr\"odinger equation of the form -1/2\ensuremath{\Psi}`+${\mathit{x}}^{2}$(1/2+a〈\ensuremath{\Psi}\ensuremath{\Vert}${\mathit{x}}^{2}$\ensuremath{\Vert}\ensuremath{\Psi}〉)\ensuremath{\Psi}=\ensuremath{\epsilon}\ensuremath{\Psi} and the octic potential -1/2\ensuremath{\Psi}`+(1/2${\mathit{x}}^{2}$+\ensuremath{\lambda}${\mathit{x}}^{8}$)\ensuremath{\Psi}=E\ensuremath{\Psi}.
Acid rain damage to carbonate stone: A quantitative assessment based on the aqueous geochemistry of rainfall runoff from stone

An onsite experimental procedure was used to identify and quantify acid rain damage to carbonate stone, based on the change in rain runoff chemical composition. Observed changes in runoff from stone are attributed to the interaction of acidic species present in the rain with the stone surface. Onsite data obtained during the summer and fall of 1984 at three locations in the northeastern United States indicate that carbonate stone surface recession is related to acid deposition. Although the study is continuing, current data are not adequate to distinguish differences in the acid-stone reaction between limestone and marble nor among the three study sites. A single linear relation between carbonate stone surface recession (the dependent variable) and hydrogen ion loading to the stone surface (the independent variable) appears to describe the data set.
Explaining Clustered Ventilation Defects Via a Minimal Number of Airway Closure Locations

Computational models of the human lung have been developed to study lung physiology and have been used to identify the airways responsible for mechanical dysfunction in asthmatics. Tgavalekos et al. used models anatomically consistent with the human lung to link ventilation defects to the heterogeneous closure of small airways. Their approach implicitly assumed a high degree of independence between airway closures as indicated by the low compactness of the airway structures mapped to individual ventilation defects. Venegas et al. however, have found that significant mutual dependence of airways may play a role in patchy ventilation of asthmatics. This led us to explore the question to what extent anatomically consistent models can be built which do not implicitly assume high independence of airways but instead allow for the mutual dependence of airways responsible for ventilation defects. We propose an algorithm for generating subject-specific airway-tree models that minimize the number of airways that must be closed or severely constricted to cause observed ventilation defects. We also propose novel approaches for measuring the compactness of airway structures. Our approach shows that anatomically consistent models which link compact airway structures to ventilation defects can be built. Our model also shows that some ventilation defects may be caused by closures of larger airways than previously reported.
Corrosion Protective Conversion Coatings on Magnesium Disks Using a Hydrothermal Technique

A uniform, compact, and well adherent conversion coating of magnesium hydroxide has been formed on bioresorbable magnesium disks by means of a hydrothermal technique. Electrochemical results indicate that the coating brings about a significant reduction in magnesium corrosion in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution. It is also observed that corrosion resistance of the coating increases with an increase in treatment time, which in turn, increases the coating thickness. The protective behavior of magnesium hydroxide coating is attributed to its chemical inertness in PBS solution. The coatings are found to be free from pores that reduce the direct contact between corroding media and underlying magnesium.
The culture of safety

A new paradigm is emerging as a result of the Institute of Medicine reports on medical errors. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, state licensing boards, academic institutions, and health care businesses are considering their missions and goals vis-a-vis a culture of patient safety. The author presents three examples that converge to indicate that the culture of safety represents a paradigm shift for the education, delivery, funding, and evaluation of health and medical care. The system, not the individual, must be recognized as the problem; reprimanding the person who committed an error is not a solution. Health care delivery systems that reduce this potential for error must be created.
Bubble statistics and dynamics in double-stranded DNA.

The dynamical properties of double-stranded DNA are studied in the framework of the Peyrard-Bishop-Dauxois model using Langevin dynamics. Our simulations are analyzed in terms of two distribution functions describing localized separations (``bubbles'') of the double strand. The result that the bubble distributions are more sharply peaked at the active sites than thermodynamically obtained distributions is ascribed to the fact that the bubble lifetimes affect the distributions. Certain base-pair sequences are found to promote long-lived bubbles, and we argue that this is a result of length scale competition between the nonlinearity and disorder present in the system.
Regular use of aspirin or acetaminophen and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Regular use of aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has been hypothesized to be associated with reduced risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), although previous results have been inconsistent. The current study investigated the effects of regular aspirin or acetaminophen use on non-Hodgkin lymphoma risk among 625 individuals with primary, incident NHL and 2512 age and sex matched hospital controls with non-neoplastic conditions who completed a comprehensive epidemiologic questionnaire. Results indicate that regular aspirin use may be associated with decreased NHL risk among men [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.82, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.65–1.04], but not among women (aOR 0.93, 95% CI, 0.71–1.23). In contrast, regular acetaminophen use was associated with elevated NHL risk among women (aOR 1.71, 95% CI, 1.18–2.50) but not among men (aOR 0.75, 95% CI, 0.48–1.17). Other studies have demonstrated that acetaminophen is associated with transient decreases in DNA repair, and lymphocytes may be particularly susceptible to DNA damage, suggesting a mechanism for the elevated NHL risk observed.
Total sleep deprivation alters cardiovascular reactivity to acute stressors in humans

Exaggerated cardiovascular reactivity to mental stress (MS) and cold pressor test (CPT) has been linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Recent epidemiological studies identify sleep deprivation as an important risk factor for hypertension, yet the relations between sleep deprivation and cardiovascular reactivity remain equivocal. We hypothesized that 24-h total sleep deprivation (TSD) would augment cardiovascular reactivity to MS and CPT and blunt the MS-induced forearm vasodilation. Because the associations between TSD and hypertension appear to be stronger in women, a secondary aim was to probe for sex differences. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) were recorded during MS and CPT in 28 young, healthy subjects (14 men and 14 women) after normal sleep (NS) and 24-h TSD (randomized, crossover design). Forearm vascular conductance (FVC) was recorded during MS. MAP, FVC, and MSNA (n = 10) responses to MS were not different between NS and TSD (condition × time, P > 0.05). Likewise, MAP and MSNA (n = 6) responses to CPT were not different between NS and TSD (condition × time, P > 0.05). In contrast, increases in HR during both MS and CPT were augmented after TSD (condition × time, P ≤ 0.05), and these augmented HR responses persisted during both recoveries. When analyzed for sex differences, cardiovascular reactivity to MS and CPT was not different between sexes (condition × time × sex, P > 0.05). We conclude that TSD does not significantly alter MAP, MSNA, or forearm vascular responses to MS and CPT. The augmented tachycardia responses during and after both acute stressors provide new insight regarding the emerging links among sleep deprivation, stress, and cardiovascular risk.
NK-1 receptors in the rostral ventromedial medulla contribute to hyperalgesia produced by intraplantar injection of capsaicin.

Abstract The rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) is an area of the brainstem involved in the descending modulation of nociception at the level of the spinal cord. Although the RVM is involved in the inhibition or facilitation of nociception, the underlying mechanisms are not understood. Here we examined the role of the neuropeptide substance P and neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptors located in the RVM on withdrawal responses evoked by mechanical and heat stimuli applied to the rat hindpaw under normal conditions and during hyperalgesia produced by capsaicin. The mechanical withdrawal threshold was obtained using von Frey monofilaments applied to the plantar surface of the hindpaw. Sensitivity to heat was determined by measuring the latency to withdrawal from radiant heat applied to the plantar surface. Mechanical and heat hyperalgesia were defined as a decrease in withdrawal response threshold or latency, respectively. Rats were prepared with a chronic cannula and either vehicle or the NK-1 receptor antagonists, L-733,060 or RP-67580, was injected into the RVM. Paw withdrawal responses were obtained before and after RVM injection, and then at 5, 30, and 60 min after an intraplantar injection of capsaicin (10 μg). Injection of the NK-1 antagonists at doses of 0.5 pmol or higher did not alter withdrawal responses to mechanical or heat stimuli under normal conditions but reduced the duration of nocifensive behavior and the mechanical and heat hyperalgesia produced by capsaicin. These findings suggest that the activation of NK-1 receptors in the RVM contributes to the hyperalgesia produced by capsaicin.
Characterization of waiting times in a simulation of kidney paired donation.

A national kidney paired donation (KPD) program will substantially increase transplant opportunities for recipients with blood type incompatible or cross-match positive donors. It seems likely that donor–recipient pairs with certain blood types, races or restrictions will wait longer than others for a match, although no data exist to confirm this assumption. We simulated patients and characterized the predicted waiting times for different blood type sub-groups, as well as the effects of patient-imposed restrictions on waiting time. We also compared waiting times of different racial sub-groups. Almost all patients with panel-reactive antibody (PRA) less than 80% match within a few months in a national KPD program, with the longest waiting time seen by O recipients with AB donors. Highly sensitized patients wait considerably longer, especially those unwilling to travel or accept older donors, and those with AB or B donors may not match in a timely manner. Although patients are better served by matching in a combined pool than within their own race, racial inequalities exist and bonus points can offset some of these differences. These data provide the first waiting time predictions that can aid patients with incompatible donors in choosing between KPD and desensitization, and can also facilitate planning for a national KPD program.
Multilevel Amplitude Modulation Using A Composite-Resonator Vertical-Cavity Laser

Modulation characteristics of a composite-resonator vertical-cavity laser (CRVCL) can be engineered by modulating the carrier and photon densities in the two optically coupled cavities simultaneously. The total modulation response is a superposition of the individual modulation response from each cavity, when direct modulation is applied to both cavities. This property enables the CRVCL to produce multilevel signaling for optical communication. A demonstration of four-level amplitude modulation at 2.5 Gb/s is shown.
Responsible Integration of Biological and Psychosocial Models Comments on “Genetic Associations With Intimate Partner Violence in a Sample of Hazardous Drinking Men in Batterer Intervention Programs”

Despite research demonstrating that gene expression differs in response to social environmental circumstances, deterministic views of biology are common. Stuart and colleagues (2014) encourage readers to think about genetic factors in the same dynamic and probabilistic manner that they consider other causes of intimate partner violence. Given that participants had co-occurring alcohol problems, future studies should evaluate how different genetic polymorphisms uniquely and synergistically contribute to heavy drinking and aggression under different socio-environmental conditions. Psychological expectancies have a powerful impact on behavior, thus extreme caution is required before labeling people as genetically predisposed to violence.
Eavesdropping Minimization via Transmission Power Control in Ad-Hoc Wireless Networks

Reconnaissance activity is the most frequent incident on computer networks since 2002. In fact, most attacks (including DoS attacks) are usually preceded by reconnaissance activity. In order to defend against reconnaissance activity in ad-hoc wireless networks, we propose to use transmission power control as an effective mean to minimize the eavesdropping risk. Our main contributions are as follows: first, we cast the w-th order eavesdropping risk as the maximum probability of packets being eavesdropped when there are w adversarial nodes in the network. Second, we derive the closed-form solution of the 1st order eavesdropping risk as a 3rd-order polynomial function of normalized transmission radius. This derivation is based on the recently proposed model by El Gamal which assumes a uniform distribution of user nodes. Then we generalize the model to allow arbitrary user nodes distribution and prove that the uniform user distribution actually minimizes the 1st order eavesdropping risk. This result plays an essential role in deriving the first analytical bounds for the eavesdropping risk given arbitrary user distribution. Our simulation results show that for a wide range of non-uniform traffic patterns, the eavesdropping risk has the same order of magnitude as the corresponding uniform traffic cases
Science Signaling Podcast: 07 April 2009

This is a conversation with Brendan Manning, author of a Perspective published in the 24 March issue of Science Signaling . He discusses some recent studies describing the kinases required by different types of cancer cells.
Heterologous expression of dodecaheme "nanowire" cytochromes c from Geobacter sulfurreducens.

Abstract Multiheme cytochromes c are difficult to produce in heterologous systems. The genome of δ-proteobacterium Geobacter sulfurreducens contains more than a hundred genes coding for c -type cytochromes. Among those are two dodecaheme cytochromes c representing a new class of multiheme cytochromes, whose putative structure is a one-dimensional array of small highly homologous domains that contain three hemes and are covalently bound by short linkers. They are likely to form “nanowires” that are part of the electron transfer chain. We cloned the genes coding for the two cytochromes into a vector we developed for ligation-independent cloning of proteins targeted to the Escherichia coli periplasmic space. We expressed the proteins in E. coli co-transformed with a plasmid harboring the cytochrome c maturation genes. Expression levels were optimized by varying IPTG concentrations used for induction. Although both proteins appeared insoluble or strongly associated with cell membranes, they were solubilized using 0.5 M sodium chloride which was more selective than conventional solubilizing agents, such as HEGA-10 or β-octylglucoside. The solubilized proteins were dialyzed and purified by cation exchange chromatography followed by gel filtration. Mass-spectrometry analysis confirmed that both purified proteins contained the complete set of covalently attached hemes, 12 per molecule. Their visible spectra were typical of c -type cytochromes. Both proteins were successfully crystallized.
Metaphase II nuclei generated by germinal vesicle transfer in mouse oocytes support embryonic development to term

BACKGROUND: Cytoplasmic defects are thought to cause aneuploidies in oocytes and embryos and oocyte ‘reconstruction’ by germinal vesicle (GV) transfer may circumvent such defects. In mice ‘reconstructed’ oocytes undergo meiosis and fertilize normally, but early embryonic development is compromised if their ooplasm matured in vitro. This study employs sequential MII spindle and/or pronucleus (PN) transfer to assess the embryonic potential of MII nuclei that form following GV transfer. METHODS AND RESULTS: Mouse embryos generated by these procedures were transferred to the oviducts of pseudopregnant mice to monitor pregnancy outcome. Following GV transfer, the resultant metaphase II (MII) nuclei were activated either in situ or transferred and activated in ooplasts from in-vivo matured oocytes. When exchanged with the female PN of a fertilized zygote, only the PNs that developed in in-vivo matured ooplasts generated live offspring. Viable offspring also resulted when MII nuclei were transferred to in-vivo matured ooplasts and fertilized by insemination with sperm or by artificial activation and male PN transfer. Significantly, the offspring displayed normal fertility as adults. CONCLUSION: This report of live births following GV transfer in mice illustrates the importance of the maturational history of the ooplasm at PN formation for normal embryonic and fetal development.
Clinical and biological features of multiple myeloma involving the gastrointestinal system

We report 24 cases of multiple myeloma (MM) with involvement of the gastrointestinal (GI) system. We found a strong association with high A lactate dehydrogenase levels, plasmablastic morphology, and A unfavorable karyotype. GI involvement at the time of initial diagnosis was much rarer than later in the course of the disease. The A median survival after diagnosis of GI involvement was 7 months. Among 13 patients treated with stem cell transplantation, the response rate was 92%, and median progression-free survival was 4 months. We conclude that MM involving the GI system is associated with adverse biological features and with short-lasting remissions, even after A high-dose chemotherapy.
A Thought Experiment in Contemporary Drug Development: Informed Bench‐to‐Bedside Strategies

The evolution of drug development as a primary objective toward advancing patient well‐being is a fascinating illustration of both scientific progress and reductionism. An advanced understanding of biochemistry, molecular biology, and pharmacology has provided great detail surrounding complex
Length-scale Effects in Cascade Damage Production in Iron

Molecular dynamics simulations provide an atomistic description of the processes that control primary radiation damage formation in atomic displacement cascades. An extensive database of simulations describing cascade damage production in single crystal iron has been compiled using a modified version of the interatomic potential developed by Finnis and Sinclair. This same potential has been used to investigate primary damage formation in nanocrystalline iron in order to have a direct comparison with the single crystal results. A statistically significant number of simulations were carried out at cascade energies of 10 keV and 20 keV and temperatures of 100 and 600K to make this comparison. The results demonstrate a significant influence of nearby grain boundaries as a sink for mobile defects during the cascade cooling phase. This alters the residual primary damage that survives the cascade event. Compared to single crystal, substantially fewer interstitials survive in the nanograined iron, while the number of surviving vacancies is similar or slightly greater than the single crystal result. The fraction of the surviving interstitials contained in clusters is also reduced. The asymmetry in the survival of the two types of point defects is likely to alter damage accumulation at longer times.
Modeling hot flushes and quality of life in breast cancer survivors

Objectives To evaluate the relationships among measures of hot flushes, perceived hot flush interference, sleep disturbance, and measures of quality of life while controlling for potential covariates (patient and treatment variables).Methods Breast cancer survivors (n == 395) due to receive aromatase inhibitor therapy provided demographic information, physiological hot flush data via sternal skin conductance monitoring, hot flush frequency via written diary and electronic event marker, hot flush severity and bother via written diary, and questionnaire data via the Hot Flash Related Daily Interference Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the EuroQOL, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale.Results Confirmatory factor analysis supported a two-factor model for hot flush symptoms (frequency and severity). Although there was strong convergence among self-reported hot flush measures, there was a high degree of unexplained variance associated with physiol...
Staurosporine, K-252a, and K-252b stabilize calcium homeostasis and promote survival of CNS neurons in the absence of glucose.

: Staurosporine, K-252a, and the 9-carboxylic related compound K-2525 are low-molecular-weight alkaloids from microbial origin that at high concentrations are kinase inhibitors and can antagonize the effects of neuronal growth factors. Paradoxically, we have found that very low concentrations of these agents (10 fM-10 nM) prolong the survival of hippocampal, septal, and cortical neurons deprived of glucose. These agents did not prevent the depletion of ATP caused by glucose deprivation. The large elevation of intracellular calcium levels that normally mediates glucose deprivation-induced damage was attenuated by Staurosporine, K-252a, and K-252b. Western blot analysis using antiphosphotyrosine antibody showed that Staurosporine and the K-252 compounds (10–100 pM) stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of several different proteins. The tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein significantly reduced the protective effect of Staurosporine and the K-252 compounds, indicating that tyrosine phosphorylation was required for neuroprotection by these compounds. Taken together, the data demonstrate that low concentrations of Staurosporine and the K-252 compounds can stabilize calcium homeostasis, possibly by a mechanism involving activation of receptor tyrosine kinase transduction pathways.
A Comparison of the Individual Proposal and the Team Project in the Marketing Research Course

This article presents the results of an investigation of two forms of the live case: the individual proposal and the team project. One group of students was exposed to the individual proposal format while another group of students was exposed to the team project format. Comparisons of the evaluations from both groups of students revealed that the team project format is preferable.
Recognition of American Physiological Society members whose research publications had a significant impact on the discipline of physiology

Society members whose research publication during the past 125 yr had an important impact on the discipline of physiology were featured at the American Physiological Society (APS)'s 125th Anniversa...
Current–voltage curve translation by bilinear interpolation

By means of bilinear interpolation and four reference current-voltage (I-V) curves, an I-V curve of a photovoltaic (PV) module is translated to desired conditions of irradiance and PV module temperature. The four reference I-V curves are measured at two irradiance and two PV module temperature levels and contain all the essential PV module characteristic information for performing the bilinear interpolation. The interpolation is performed first with respect to open-circuit voltage to account for PV module temperature, and second with respect to short-circuit current to account for irradiance. The translation results over a wide range of irradiances and PV module temperatures agree closely with measured values for a group of PV modules representing seven different technologies. Root-mean-square errors were 1.5% or less for the I-V curve parameters of maximum power, voltage at maximum power, current at maximum power, short-circuit current, and open-circuit voltage. The translation is applicable for determining the performance of a PV module for a specified test condition, or for PV system performance modeling.
Energy-efficient anonymous multicast in mobile ad-hoc networks

Protecting personal privacy and energy efficiency are two primary concerns for mobile ad hoc networks. However, no energy-efficient multicast algorithm designed for preserving anonymity has been proposed to date. At the same time, existing approaches cannot be applied to anonymous routing due to their incapability of preserving anonymity. To solve this critical issue, we propose an energy-efficient anonymous multicast algorithm (EEAMA,), which relies only on the statistical properties of the wireless network. This not only makes EEAMA suitable to preserving anonymity, but also reduces its execution time significantly. The complexity of EEAMA increases polynomially with the size of the multicast group, as opposed to the size of the network which determines the complexity of all approaches in the literature. Extensive simulation results show that compared to anonymous unicast, EEAMA offers both better performance (in terms of packet delivery ratio, end-to-end delay and network throughput) and significant energy savings.
Demographic Marginalization, Social Integration, and Adolescents’ Educational Success

Links between schools' demographic composition and students' achievement have been a major policy interest for decades. Using a racially/ethnically diverse sample from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (N = 6,302; 54% females; 53% White, 21% African American, 15% Latino, 8% Asian American, 2% other race/ethnicity), we examined the associations between demographic marginalization, students' later social integration (loneliness at school, school attachment), and educational performance and attainment. Adolescents who were socioeconomically marginalized at school [i.e., having <15% same-socioeconomic status (SES) peers] had lower cumulative grade point averages across high school and lower educational attainment. A similar disadvantage was observed among students who were both socioeconomically and racially/ethnically marginalized at school (i.e., having <15% same-SES peers and <15% same-racial/ethnic peers). Indirect effects were also observed, such that demographic marginalization was linked to poorer school attachment, and poorer school attachment, in turn, was related to poorer academic performance. These results highlight the educational barriers associated with demographic marginalization and suggest potential targets for future intervention efforts.
Peru Coastal Currents During El Niño: 1976 and 1982

Year-long measurements of subsurface current and temperature on Peru9s continental shelf included the onset of El Nino in 1976 and 1982. The Peru Coastal Undercurrent more than doubled in speed and advected anomalously warm water poleward. El Nino began in different seasons in 1976 and 1982, but the current and temperature responses were very similar. Acceleration of poleward flow at 10°S occurred several days after sea level rose at the Galapagos Islands in October 1982, suggesting the onset of El Nino propagated as a Kelvin wave.