cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluations of Tumor Acidosis Within In Vivo Tumor Models Using Parametric Maps Generated with AcidoCEST MRI

Purpose We aimed to develop pixelwise maps of tumor acidosis to aid in evaluating extracellular tumor pH (pHe) in cancer biology.
Identifying damage locations under ambient vibrations utilizing vector autoregressive models and Mahalanobis distances

Abstract This paper presents a study for identifying damage locations in an idealized steel bridge girder using the ambient vibration measurements. A sensitive damage feature is proposed in the context of statistical pattern recognition to address the damage detection problem. The study utilizes an experimental program that consists of a two-span continuous steel beam subjected to ambient vibrations. The vibration responses of the beam are measured along its length under simulated ambient vibrations and different healthy/damage conditions of the beam. The ambient vibration is simulated using a hydraulic actuator, and damages are induced by cutting portions of the flange at two locations. Multivariate vector autoregressive models were fitted to the vibration response time histories measured at the multiple sensor locations. A sensitive damage feature is proposed for identifying the damage location by applying Mahalanobis distances to the coefficients of the vector autoregressive models. A linear discriminant criterion was used to evaluate the amount of variations in the damage features obtained for different sensor locations with respect to the healthy condition of the beam. The analyses indicate that the highest variations in the damage features were coincident with the sensors closely located to the damages. The presented method showed a promising sensitivity to identify the damage location even when the induced damage was very small.
World as View and World as Event

As a concept and term, “world view” is useful but can at times be misleading. It reflects the marked tendency of technologized man to think of actuality as something essentially picturable and to think of knowledge itself by analogy with visual activity to the exclusion, more or less, of the other senses. Oral or nonwriting cultures tend much more to cast up actuality in comprehensive auditory terms, such as voice and harmony. Their “world” is not so markedly something spread out before the eyes as a “view” but rather something dynamic and relatively unpredictable, an event-world rather than an object-world, highly personal, overtly polemic, fostering sound-oriented, traditionalist personality structures less interiorized and solipsistic than those of technologized man. The concept of world view may not only interfere with the empathy necessary for understanding such cultures but may even be outmoded for our own, since modern technological man has entered into a new electronic compact with sound.
Improved dimensional infidelity of curve-shaped VARTM composite laminates using a multi-stage curing technique – Experiments and modeling

The spring-in phenomenon is a common dimensional infidelity problem that occurs when a curved composite part is released from the mold after full consolidation during a Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer (VARTM) process. In this study, a multi-stage curing (MSC) technique, which is a typical resolution to cure thick composite parts, is applied to the parts manufactured via VARTM for investigating the induced improvement in the spring-in problem. The experimental results evidently show that the MSC technique significantly mitigates the spring-in problem. A new MSC spring-in model that accounts for the slipping effect between the stage-laminates of each curing stage is also developed for predicting the spring-in behavior during the MSC process. The predictions show a good agreement with the experimental results and suggest that the MSC technique would be a useful method for controlling the spring-in of composite parts.
PRPP SYNTHETASE SUPERACTIVITY IN LYMPHOBLAST LINES: 11

Superactivity of PRPP synthetase (PS) is an X chromosome-linked disorder associated with gout and uric acid overproduction. Fibroblasts from affected males show PS superactivity and increased rates of PRPP and purine nucleotide synthesis. Kinetic aberrations underlying PS superactivity include: catalytic defects; regulatory defects; substrate (ribose-5-P) binding defects; and combined catalytic and regulatory defects. We studied PS in B lymphoblasts derived from blood lymphocytes (PBL) of 6 males whose fibroblasts express the 4 classes of PS superactivity. Neither excessive PS activity nor increased rates of PRPP or purine synthesis were found in lymphoblasts from 3 patients with catalytic defects in fibroblasts, despite PS superactivity in PBL from these patients. Catalytic superactivity was also absent in lymphoblasts from a patient with combined defects in fibroblast PS. These cells and cells from 2 other patients expressed the specific regulatory and substrate binding defects found in fibroblast PS from the respective patients and also showed increased rates of PRPP and purine synthesis. Immunoreactive PS differed <20% among lymphoblast lines, and PS absolute specific activities were those of normal fibroblast PS. Thus, neither reduced levels of mutant PS nor activation of normal PS explained selective expression of PS superactivity in lymphoblasts. Altered electrophoretic mobilities and thermal stabilities, found with some catalytically superactive fibroblast PS, were absent in lymphoblasts from the respective patients. The basis of selective expression of PS superactivity remains to be determined.
Fluorescence spectral characteristics of fiber optic imaging bundles

Fiber optic-imaging bundles have been evaluated to characterize their fluorescence properties. Excitation-emission maps were generated in the UV/visible range using a customized spectrometer.
Evaluation of the quality of clinical research studies of magnetic resonance angiography: 1991-1994

To evaluate the quality of clinical research studies of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), the authors reviewed studies of carotid, renal, and lower extremity MRA published in English during 1991-1994. The purpose, design, and implementation of the study, and the type of statistical information presented, were evaluated. The results were compared with those of previous studies that assessed the quality of MRI research. Fifty-nine studies of renal (n=10), carotid (n=29), and lower extremity (n=20) MRA were identified; 30 met the inclusion criteria for the analysis. In these papers, presentation of a reference standard was routine, observer blinding was usual, information often was given about patient selection and exclusion, sample sizes were always given, and parameter estimates and statistical analyses were common. However, evidence of research planning was not routine, measurement of interobserver variability was occasional, variability of parameter estimates was usually not estimated, and validation of statistical assumptions was uncommon. On balance the authors conclude that the scientific quality of recent investigations of MRA is better than that of older studies of MRI.
Russia's true business performance: Inviting to international business?

Abstract Russia may be twice as inviting to international businesses as has been previously thought, because its gross domestic product (GDP) and its consumer demand may be twice as large as has been reported in the official Russian statistics of Goskomstat. This is because as much as 90 percent of the business activity of Russian companies, especially small private-sector companies, is never reported to Goskomstat and therefore never included in Russia 's data about GDP and per capita income (PCI). This vibrant and growing economy, unearthed in this study by carefully structured qualitative research tools, implies solid, but dangerous and compromising, opportunities for international business.
Restructuring of hydrogenation metal catalysts under the influence of CO and H2

CO and H2 structure and reactivity on single-crystal transition metal surfaces (platinum, rhodium, and palladium) were examined by surface-sensitive techniques including scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and sum frequency generation (SFG) in high-pressure surface science studies. The studies indicated that ordered CO structures not observed in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) can form at high pressure (10-6–103 torr). In addition, CO and H2 induce metal atom mobility and restructure the surface. On platinum, CO dissociates at high temperature (≥ 500 K), and a platinum carbonyl precursor is implicated. Concerning catalytic reactions, structure sensitive CO dissociation plays an important role in the ignition of CO oxidation, whereas CO poisons olefin hydrogenation, which becomes CO desorption limited. Lastly, solid-state hydrogen atoms are more active for hydrogenation than surface hydrogen atoms. These results suggest that spatially and temporally resolved techniques would permit molecular studies of reaction intermediates of CO and H2 in the future.
Characterization of Microscale Wear in a Polysilicon-Based MEMS Device Using AFM and PEEM–NEXAFS Spectromicroscopy

Mechanisms of microscale wear in silicon-based microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) are elucidated by studying a polysilicon nanotractor, a device specifically designed to conduct friction and wear tests under controlled conditions. Photoelectron emission microscopy (PEEM) was combined with near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to quantitatively probe chemical changes and structural modification, respectively, in the wear track of the nanotractor. The ability of PEEM–NEXAFS to spatially map chemical variations in the near-surface region of samples at high lateral spatial resolution is unparalleled and therefore ideally suited for this study. The results show that it is possible to detect microscopic chemical changes using PEEM–NEXAFS, specifically, oxidation at the sliding interface of a MEMS device. We observe that wear induces oxidation of the polysilicon at the immediate contact interface, and the spectra are consistent with those from amorphous SiO2. The oxidation is correlated with gouging and debris build-up in the wear track, as measured by AFM and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
A distributed online algorithm for optimal real-time energy distribution in smart grid

The two-way energy and information flows in a smart gird, together with the smart devices, bring new perspectives to energy management and demand response. This paper investigates a distributed online algorithm for electricity energy distribution in a smart grid environment. We first present a formulation that captures the key design factors such as user utility, grid load smoothing, and energy provisioning cost. The problem is shown to be convex and can be solved with an online algorithm that only requires present information about users and the grid in our prior work. In this paper, we develop a distributed online algorithm which decomposes and solves the online problem in a distributed manner, and prove that the distributed online solution is asymptotically optimal. The proposed distributed online algorithm is also practical and effective for user privacy protection. It is evaluated with trace-driven simulations and shown to outperform a benchmark scheme.
A Possible Heterodimeric Prophage-Like Element in the Genome of the Insect Endosymbiont Sodalis glossinidius

Extrachromosomal element pSOG3 (52,162 nucleotides) in the genome of Sodalis glossinidius contains redundant phage-related gene pairs, indicating that it may have been formed by the fusion of two ancestral phage genomes followed by gene degradation. We suggest that pSOG3 is a prophage that has undergone genome degeneration accompanying host adaptation to symbiosis.
Acute myocardial infarction in cardiac transplant recipients

To characterize the clinical and pathologic features of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in cardiac transplant recipients, 22 Stanford patients who had 25 documented infarcts at a mean of 3.86 years after transplantation were reviewed. Symptoms included chest pain (2), arm pain (3), weakness (16), dyspnea (11) and palpitations (8). Three episodes were clinically silent, detected only as new electrocardiographic changes during routine follow-up. Of 18 patients hospitalized with symptoms, only 7 had electrocardiographic changes of typical Q-wave AMI; 5 had nonspecific ST-segment changes and 2 had no documented changes. Two had old Q waves. Twelve of the 18 were misdiagnosed at admission as having infection or congestive heart failure. Serial creatine phosphokinase levels were obtained in 13 patients, and values were elevated in 8. Six of 25 AMI episodes were associated with development of congestive heart failure and 4 others led to development of cardiogenic shock. Seven patients died during the acute phase of infarction, 12 were retransplanted from 2 days to 6 months after infarct and 1 died suddenly after discharge. Two healed myocardial infarctions of unknown duration were found at autopsy or on explantation in patients not clinically suspected of having an AMI. All infarcts occurred in patients known to have angiographic evidence of transplant coronary artery disease, based on annual coronary arteriography. At autopsy or explantation all hearts were found to have characteristic diffuse concentric coronary artery narrowing, and 4 (18%) had an unusual pattern of multiple foci of nontransmural AMI.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The early history of EEG data-processing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Massachusetts General Hospital

Abstract The applications to the study of spontaneous and evoked brain potentials in the period from the late 1940's to the early 1960's of Norbert Wiener's World War II work on prediction theory are traced, including the development of an analog correlator system specifically for brain potentials. © 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.
Mepolizumab in eosinophilic disorders

Mepolizumab (Bosatria®, GlaxoSmithKline) is a biologic agent developed to treat asthma. It represents a humanized monoclonal antibody of IgG1 κ type, which targets human IL-5 and thus prevents its interaction with the α-chain of the IL-5 receptor. To date, it has not been approved for use in any eosinophil-related disorder; however, several studies have suggested some therapeutic benefit across a spectrum of eosinophil-related disorders. This article evaluates the currently available preclinical and clinical studies, and the impact of mepolizumab against a variety of eosinophilic disorders.
P(RNCH2CH2)3N: Very Strong Non-Ionic Bases Useful in Organic Synthesis

Bases of the title type (pro-azaphosphatranes) are very strong (pKa ca. 32 in acetonitrile). After briefly reviewing recent uses of popular nitrogen-containing bases of various types, the synthesis, unusual structural features and unique chemical characteristics of pro-azaphosphatranes and some of their derivatives are described. Recent advances in utilizing pro-azaphosphatranes as stoichiometric reagents and as catalysts in a wide variety of useful organic transformations are then summarized. In their role as catalysts, pro-azaphosphatranes are seen not only to act as deprotonation agents, but also to activate for further reaction of carbon and silicon in several substrates possessing such atoms.
Differential induction of cytochrome P450 transcripts in Papilio polyxenes by linear and angular furanocoumarins

Abstract Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases play critical roles in the detoxification of linear and angular furanocoumarins present in the host plants of Papilio polyxenes (black swallowtail) larvae. To determine the spectrum of linear and angular furanocoumarins that induce isozymes responsible for these detoxifications, the metabolic activities of individual P. polyxenes larvae were monitored in response to individual furanocoumarins. Two linear furanocoumarins, xanthotoxin and bergapten, as well as the angular furanocoumarin, angelicin, significantly and selectively induce metabolism of several furanocoumarins. Another angular furanocoumarin, sphondin, does not induce furanocoumarin metabolism even though it is itself capable of being metabolized in vivo . Northern analysis of the mRNAs induced in response to each of four naturally occurring furanocoumarins indicates that mRNAs related to CYP6B1 are highly induced by the two linear furanocoumarins (xanthotoxin, bergapten) and by angelicin, the angular furanocoumarin. RNase protection analysis indicates that CYP6Blv1–3 transcripts, which we have already cloned, are specifically induced by xanthotoxin and that additional CYP6Bl-related transcripts are induced in response to angelicin. These data indicate that a complex array of CYP6B1 transcripts, derived from a minimum of two loci, is responsible for furanocoumarin metabolism in P. polyxenes . Transcripts derived from these loci appear to be differentially induced by linear and angular furanocoumarins.
Factors Driving Water Utility Rate Structure Choice: Evidence from Four Southern U.S. States

Water utilities typically set residential water prices using one of three rate structures: increasing block rate (IBR), uniform rate (UR), or decreasing block rate (DBR). Historically, DBR has been the most widely used residential rate structure, but water utilities are increasingly switching to a UR or IBR structure. The literature suggests several possible motivations for rate structure decisions, but provides little empirical evidence to support these suggestions and largely ignores the role of water managers’ attitudes and perceptions in the rate structure decision. The objective of this study is to statistically assess factors that drive rate structure changes, specifically toward UR or IBR, in the southern US. We designed and implemented a survey of water utility managers in Arkansas, Florida, Oklahoma, and Tennessee, including rural to urban water utilities. Survey questions were selected based on water utility manager input and literature review and included rate structure changes, system characteristics, and attitudes and perceptions about factors likely to influence rate structure changes. The rate structure adoption decision is modeled using both multinomial logit and Heckman probit specifications. Our results suggest that different factors drive the adoption of UR and IBR, including fair prices for end-users, qualifying for government grants/loans, revenue concerns, treatment cost increases, and infrastructure investment needs.
Local Polarity and Microviscosity in the Hydrophobic Cores of Amphiphilic Star-like and Scorpion-like Macromolecules

Fluorescence spectroscopy is used to probe the polarity and local friction in aqueous solutions of three amphiphilic polymers. Aggregate core polarity and local friction on the nanoscale are observ...
A printed paper-based inverted F-antenna (PIFA) for WLAN applications

This work shows the practicality of a paper substrate in wireless local area network (WLAN) applications for the first time. This substrate was used in designing, fabricating and testing a printed inverted F-antenna (PIFA) operating at 2.45GHz. Although paper substrates exhibit relatively high dielectric losses (tanδ ∼ 0.07 at 2.45GHz), the maximum achievable gain of the fabricated antenna is +1.2 dBi and the total efficiency is ∼ 82% at the resonant frequency. Furthermore, the simulation results of the return loss, as well as the radiation pattern of the antenna agree with the corresponding measured results.
Submonomer synthesis of azapeptide ligands of the Insulin Receptor Tyrosine Kinase domain.

Abstract Azapeptide ligands of the Insulin Receptor Tyrosine Kinase (IRTK) were developed by solid-phase submonomer azapeptide synthesis in sufficient isolated yields (36–55%) and purities >95% for structure–activity relationship studies. The azapeptides adopted folded geometries with some proportion of random coil according to CD and NMR spectroscopy. In vitro phosphorylation of the IRTK domain in the presence of azapeptides produced a lead inhibitor, Ac-DIazaYET-NH2 (∼50% at 400 μM) whereas the [aza-DOPA3] and [aza-Glu4] analogs were found to stimulate IRTK phosphorylations. Thus, azapeptide ligands of the IRTK provide important modulatory activity of this important class of enzymes for anti-cancer and related applications in drug discovery.
Genetic Interaction Between the Escherichia coli AcpT Phosphopantetheinyl Transferase and the YejM Inner Membrane Protein

Strain LH530, a mutant of Escherichia coli K-12, was reported by others to show increased outer membrane permeability, temperature-sensitive growth, and reduced synthesis of lipid A. The unmapped mutant gene was found to be suppressed by high-copy-number plasmids carrying the wild-type acpT gene, which encodes a protein that catalyzes a post-translational protein modification, the attachment of 4′-phosphopantetheine. We mapped the strain LH530 mutation to a gene of unknown function, yejM, known to encode an inner membrane protein. The mutation is a yejM nonsense mutation that produces a truncated protein lacking the predicted periplasmic domain. Reconstruction of the mutation gave a strain having the same phenotypes as LH530. In contrast to the nonsense mutants, deletion of the entire yejM gene was lethal. Suppression by AcpT overexpression of the yejM nonsense mutants encoding the truncated proteins was specific to AcpT. Moreover, AcpT overexpression also suppressed the lethality due to deletion of the entire yejM gene and this suppression also did not require that AcpT be enzymatically active. The mechanism whereby overexpression of a specific cytosolic protein bypasses the essentiality of an inner membrane protein is unknown.
Documentation for the casual user: A critical overview

Although common wisdom holds that the ultimate success of any office automation system depends upon end user acceptance, little, if any, attention seems given to the system documentation needed to enable the casual user to use the system properly, efficiently, and effectively. The casual user interacts aperiodically with the system and the interactions are not always a direct requirement of job role; most middle management would be included in this class.Several examples of system documentation are reviewed. This paper then attempts to summarize some of the most significant casual user needs and the documentation principles associated with them, to evaluate the applicability of these needs to real-world systems, and to suggest how these needs may be met more effectively.
A novel tool for probing membrane protein structure: Solid-state NMR with proton spin diffusion and X-nucleus detection

We present a new solid-state NMR approach, based on 1H spin diffusion with X-nucleus (15N, 13C, 31P) detection, for investigating the structure of membrane proteins. For any segment with a resolvable signal in the X-nucleus spectrum, the depth of insertion into the lipid bilayer can be determined. The technique represents the adaptation of the Goldman−Shen 1H spin-diffusion experiment with X-nucleus detection to proteins in hydrated lipid bilayers (>25% water by weight) in the gel state at 240 K. The experiments are demonstrated on the 21-kDa channel-forming domain of the toxin-like colicin E1 molecule incorporated into lipid vesicles. More than 32% of the protons in our sample are in mobile H2O molecules, which can be selected efficiently by the 1H T2 filter in the Goldman−Shen sequence. The transfer of 1H magnetization from mobile H2O to the colicin E1 channel domain is 80% complete within only 5 ms. This transfer to the protein, probed by the amide 15N signals, is faster than the transfer to the rigid ...
An open trial of clozapine in 11 adolescents with childhood-onset schizophrenia

ABSTRACT Objective To review the response of 11 adolescents with childhood-onset schizophrenia to a 6-week open clozapine trial. Method Eleven children meeting DSM-III-R criteria for schizophrenia had a 6-week open trial of clozapine (mean sixth week daily dose 370 mg). Behavioral ratings included the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and Children's Global Assessment Scale. Results More than half showed marked improvement in Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale ratings by 6 weeks of clozapine therapy compared to admission drug rating and compared to a systematic 6-week trial of haloperidol. Conclusions This open trial indicates that clozapine may be a promising treatment for children and adolescents with schizophrenia who do not respond well to typical neuroleptics. A double-blind placebo-controlled study is ongoing.
TUNDISH NOZZLE CLOGGING - APPLICATION OF COMPUTATIONAL MODELS

Clogging of the tundish nozzle is a major castability problem in continuous casting of steel for several reasons. Firstly, clogging increases the frequency of operation disruptions to change nozzles or tundishes or even to stop casting. These extra transitions increase operating cost, decrease productivity, and lower quality. Secondly, clogging can lead directly to a variety of quality problems. Clogs change the nozzle flow pattern and jet characteristics exiting the ports, which can disrupt flow in the mold, leading to surface defects in the steel product and even breakouts. Dislodged clogs also disturb the flow and either become trapped in the steel or change the flux composition, leading to defects in either case. Quality problems also arise from the mold level transients which occur as the flow control device compensates for the clogging.
Immunotactoid glomerulopathy in sickle cell anemia.

A 12-year-old African American male with homozygous sickle cell disease (SCD) was admitted with insidious onset of periorbital and scrotal edema. The initial evaluation failed to reveal any underlying monoclonal gammopathy, or cryoglobulinemia, or other systemic causes for the renal disease. A percutaneous renal biopsy was consistent with immunotactoid glomerulopathy (ITG), which is rare in children and is characterized histologically by fibrillar deposits in the glomeruli. Children can present with symptoms of nephrotic syndrome and progress to end stage renal disease. Our patient was treated with an ACE inhibitor and is currently free of edema and with normal renal function on follow-up at 1 year. Immunotactoid glomerulopathy should be considered in the differential diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome in children with sickle cell disease. Renal biopsy is indicated in children with sickle cell disease and nephrotic syndrome and ITG should be considered as potential cause. Although there is no effective treatment for this condition, ACE inhibitors can decrease the proteinuria and possibly delay the progression to end stage renal disease. The side effects related to the use of ACE inhibitors should be monitored. These include renal impairment, hyperkalemia, anemia, neutropenia, and angioedema. Since we have a short follow-up in our patient, the role and safety of ACE inhibitors in the management of ITG need further evaluation.
Large Area Uniform Deposition of YBa2Cu3O7 Thin Films by a 90° Off-axis Sputtering Technique

Large area uniform deposition of Yba 2 Cu 3 O 7 (YBCO) thin films on 8 inch diameter wafers, using a 3 inch diameter sputtering target and optimized substrate rotation in a single target 90° off-axis sputtering technique, is reported. The variation in thickness, composition and superconducting properties was studied as a function of substrate position on stationary and rotating substrates. The films deposited from a 3” target on rotating substrates displayed uniform thickness ( c > 88.3°K) over an 8” diameter area.
Finite fuzzy automata, regular fuzzy languages, and pattern recognition

Abstract Fuzzy set theory is summarized, and finite fuzzy automata and languages are described. Some results in fuzzy languages based on the “max(min)” rule are discussed. An application of fuzzy languages in syntactic pattern analysis is described and is illustrated by a simple example.
An individual differences approach to the suggestibility of memory over time

We examined how certain personality traits might relate to the formation of suggestive memory over time. We hypothesised that compliance and trust relate to initial acceptance of misinformation as memory, whereas fantasy proneness might relate to integration of misinformation into memory after later intervals (relative to the time of exposure to misinformation). Participants watched an excerpt from a movie—the simulated eyewitness event. They next answered a recall test that included embedded misinformation about the movie. Participants then answered a yes/no recognition test. A week later, participants answered a second yes/no recognition test about the movie (each yes/no recognition test included different questions). Before both recognition tests, participants were warned about the misinformation shown during recall and were asked to base their answer on the movie excerpt only. After completing the second recognition test, participants answered questions from the Neuroticism Extroversion Openness Perso...
On the design of robust classifiers for computer vision

The design of robust classifiers, which can contend with the noisy and outlier ridden datasets typical of computer vision, is studied. It is argued that such robustness requires loss functions that penalize both large positive and negative margins. The probability elicitation view of classifier design is adopted, and a set of necessary conditions for the design of such losses is identified. These conditions are used to derive a novel robust Bayes-consistent loss, denoted Tangent loss, and an associated boosting algorithm, denoted TangentBoost. Experiments with data from the computer vision problems of scene classification, object tracking, and multiple instance learning show that TangentBoost consistently outperforms previous boosting algorithms.
General poisson exact breakdown of the mutual information to study the role of correlations in populations of neurons

We present an integrative formalism of mutual information expansion, the general Poisson exact breakdown, which explicitly evaluates the informational contribution of correlations in the spike counts both between and within neurons. The formalism was validated on simulated data and applied to real neurons recorded from the rat somatosensory cortex. From the general Poisson exact breakdown, a considerable number of mutual information measures introduced in the neural computation literature can be directly derived, including the exact breakdown (Pola, Thiele, Hoffmann, & Panzeri, 2003), the Poisson exact breakdown (Scaglione, Foffani, Scannella, Cerutti, & Moxon, 2008) the synergy and redundancy between neurons (Schneidman, Bialek, & Berry, 2003), and the information lost by an optimal decoder that assumes the absence of correlations between neurons (Nirenberg & Latham, 2003; Pola et al., 2003). The general Poisson exact breakdown thus offers a convenient set of building blocks for studying the role of correlations in population codes.
The emotional impact of sexual violence research on participants

Participation in research on sexual trauma may provoke disturbing memories and distressing emotions. Despite the proliferation of research on sexual violence during the last decade, little is known about the effects of study involvement on participants. Based on a review of the literature, the author's experiences as a sexual as a violence, researcher, and reflections of women who have participated in such research, this article explores the emotional impact of sexual violence research on participants. Although the risk of lasting harm stemming from participation in trauma research is a legitimate concern, the benefits of confiding a traumatic experience to a trustworthy other seem to outweigh the immediate distress that accompanies discussion of painful experiences. A useful framework for understanding the responses of research participants who talk or write about traumatic experiences is discussed.
The left atrial pressure pulses in experimental mitral valve lesions.

Comparative studies of left atrial electrokymograms, left atrial pressure tracings, and pulmonary wedge pressure tracings were made in dogs with experimental mitral insufficiency or stenosis. Typical patterns were found in pure insufficiency or stenosis. A remarkable coincidence was found between pressure tracings and electrokymograms of the left atrium.
Platinum−Germanium Compounds from the Reactions of (COD)PtMe2 (COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) with HGePh3

The reaction of Pt(COD)Me2 with HGePh3 in hexane solvent at room temperature for 30 h yielded the two new compounds Pt(COD)(Me)(GePh3), 1 (16%), and Pt(COD)(GePh3)2, 2 (9%), by replacement of the methyl groups by GePh3 ligands. When this reaction was performed under an atmosphere of CO the compound trans-Pt(CO)2(GePh3)2, 3 was obtained in 26% yield together with a new compound Pt2(CO)2(GePh3)2(μ-GePh2)2, 4 in 10% yield. Compound 2 was obtained from 1 in 51% yield by reaction with an additional quantity of HGePh3 and 3 was obtained from 2 in 16% yield by treatment with CO. All four products were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Compound 4 contains two platinum atoms with two bridging GePh2 ligands and a Pt−Pt single bond. Fenske−Hall molecular orbital calculations on a model for 4 were performed to understand its bonding.
From Sidekick to Sideshow— Celebrity, Entertainment, and the Politics of Distraction Why Americans Are “Sleepwalking Toward the End of the Earth”

In America, entertainment celebrities have entered politics, and the news media have become part of the entertainment industry. At the same time, political figures cultivate their role as celebrities, with image handlers and engineered media campaigns that treat voters like fans. President Bush has modeled himself on Ronald Reagan—the “western” movie actor as much as the president. The role bears little relation to reality, but it has become commonly accepted by a politically obsequious press and amovie-loving public. The persona is actively promoted by the White House as part of the politics of distraction—a strategy designed to keep the public from learning about what is being done in its name and with its tax dollars. The politics of distraction can explain why the public has failed to perceive the global climate crisis, but Americans will need to awake soon from this dream state if they wish to survive.
Polycomb Group Gene OsFIE2 Regulates Rice (Oryza sativa) Seed Development and Grain Filling via a Mechanism Distinct from Arabidopsis

Cereal endosperm represents 60% of the calories consumed by human beings worldwide. In addition, cereals also serve as the primary feedstock for livestock. However, the regulatory mechanism of cereal endosperm and seed development is largely unknown. Polycomb complex has been shown to play a key role in the regulation of endosperm development in Arabidopsis, but its role in cereal endosperm development remains obscure. Additionally, the enzyme activities of the polycomb complexes have not been demonstrated in plants. Here we purified the rice OsFIE2-polycomb complex using tandem affinity purification and demonstrated its specific H3 methyltransferase activity. We found that the OsFIE2 gene product was responsible for H3K27me3 production specifically in vivo. Genetic studies showed that a reduction of OsFIE2 expression led to smaller seeds, partially filled seeds, and partial loss of seed dormancy. Gene expression and proteomics analyses found that the starch synthesis rate limiting step enzyme and multiple storage proteins are down-regulated in OsFIE2 reduction lines. Genome wide ChIP–Seq data analysis shows that H3K27me3 is associated with many genes in the young seeds. The H3K27me3 modification and gene expression in a key helix-loop-helix transcription factor is shown to be regulated by OsFIE2. Our results suggest that OsFIE2-polycomb complex positively regulates rice endosperm development and grain filling via a mechanism highly different from that in Arabidopsis.
Enhanced external counterpulsation: a new modality in the treatment of angina and heart failure.

can be found at: Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics Additional services and information for http://cpt.sagepub.com/cgi/alerts Email Alerts: http://cpt.sagepub.com/subscriptions Subscriptions: http://www.sagepub.com/journalsReprints.nav Reprints: http://www.sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav Permissions: http://cpt.sagepub.com/cgi/content/refs/11/4/271 SAGE Journals Online and HighWire Press platforms): (this article cites 18 articles hosted on the Citations
Early Childhood Special Educators Reflect on their Preparation and Practice

Twenty-five recent graduates of a Master's Program in Early Childhood Special Education participated in focus group interviews designed to explore their perceptions and experiences regarding their first years of practice in urban schools. Findings revealed that participants faced many challenges including collaboration with colleagues, seeking and finding support, working with complex family issues, and dealing with the demands of a large bureaucratic system. Implications for personnel preparation programs are discussed and recommendations are provided, focusing on the needs of early childhood special education teachers.
Feasibility of contrast-enhanced photoacoustic liver imaging at a wavelength of 1064 nm

The feasibility of photoacoustic imaging in ex-vivo liver tissue was demonstrated. Studies were performed using a pulsed laser at 1064 nm to reduce background noise. Gold nanorods resonant at 1064 nm were visualized in the blood-laden liver.
Observation of Cellular Cholesterol Efflux at Microcavity Electrodes

Cholesterol oxidase modified platinum microcavity electrodes are used to measure cholesterol efflux from the plasma membrane surface of a single neuron in the buccal ganglion of Aplysia at room temperature. A background subtraction analog chronocoulometry method is used to measure hydrogen peroxide accumulation in the microcavity volume resulting from cellular cholesterol efflux and enzymatic oxidation. The data are consistent with the aqueous diffusion model for cellular cholesterol efflux where plasma membrane cholesterol undergoes exchange with solution phase cholesterol.
Algal cell rupture using high pressure homogenization as a prelude to oil extraction

Abstract Research associated with extraction of lipids from algae and the use of algal biomass for transportation fuel production is still in its infancy. Measurement techniques associated with algal systems are still not well established and, as a result, pitfalls exist. This paper discusses several measurement and characterization techniques that were attempted while developing an algal oil extraction system and their effectiveness. Measurements were made primarily to quantify the degree of algal cell breakage using high pressure homogenization – as a prelude to solvent extraction.
Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Elbow

Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the elbow is a disorder of subchondral bone leading to the loss of support to the articular cartilage. This condition affects adolescents, especially those in overhead-throwing sports and activities that require weight bearing on the elbow. Patients often exhibit lateral elbow pain, aching at rest, and restricted elbow motion. Radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging should be used for diagnosis and staging of OCD. OCD lesions can be classified into 4 stages; stages I and II are considered stable lesions whereas stages III and IV are unstable lesions. Stable lesions can be treated conservatively by stopping the aggravating activity with 3-6 weeks of immobilization. Physical therapy and gradual return to play follow the period of rest. For unstable, advanced lesions in patients who have failed nonoperative treatment, surgery is the most effective treatment. Multiple surgical options are available including open debridement, arthroscopic debridement, microfracture, fragment fixation, and osteochondral mosaicplasty.
Knowledge-based system for the computer aided design of ingot casting processes

The complexity of the design in thermal manufacturing processes stems from the need to simulate complicated heat transfer, fluid flow and phase change phenomena and couple the results with the design rules and knowledge available of these processes to obtain satisfactory designs. In this regard, the ability of expert systems to use heuristic reasoning has proved to be a powerful tool in the computer-aided-design of thermal manufacturing systems.
Electrochemistry and electrogenerated chemiluminescence of 3,6-di(spirobifluorene)-N-phenylcarbazole

We report here the electrochemistry, luminescence, and electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) of 3,6-dispirobifluorene-N-phenylcarbazole (DSBFNPC). DSBFNPC contains two spirobifluorene groups covalently attached to the N-phenylcarbazole core. The optimized geometry as determined from semiempirical MNDO calculations shows that the phenyl group is twisted 89° from the plane of central carbazole, indicating a lack of electron delocalization between these groups. However, the two fluorene rings of each spirobifluorene group are twisted 58° relative to each other and two spirobifluorene groups are twisted 64° from the N-phenylcarbazole ring, suggesting some charge delocalization among these groups. The cyclic voltammetry of this compound shows two reversible oxidation waves (assigned to the formation of the cation and dication) and a two-electron reduction wave that becomes reversible at higher scan rates (assigned to formation of anion). Digital simulations were carried out to obtain details of the electroc...
Pain level as a predictor of return to work.

Dear Editor, In a interesting recent report in your journal [3], Kool et al. attempted to predict return to work in a group of patients with chronic low back pain (LBP) in a prospective study design. They found through regression analysis that behavioral signs (Waddell signs), the Step Test, the pseudo strength test and pain levels of 9 or 10 on a 10-point visual analog scale (VAS) were significantly associated with non-return to work. It is interesting to note that VAS pain levels of 9 or 10 had the best positive predictive value and specificity for non-return to work after 1 year [3]. I would like to make the readership familiar with previous literature that has also demonstrated the importance of pain levels in predicting return/non-return to work. In an early work, Fishbain et al. [1] developed a functional capacity battery that was based on the Dictionary of Occupational Titles job factors. The dictionary classifies each job in the US according to 20 job factors such as lifting, balancing, etc. This study noted that the vast majority of chronic LBP patients could not pass the full battery. Fishbain et al. [2] subsequently went on to test the validity of the battery for predicting return/non-return to work in chronic LBP patients going through a pain facility rehabilitation program. They found the following by discriminant analyses: Eight job factors such as lifting and balancing plus workers' compensation status plus pain level predicted return/non-return to work. If a chronic LBP patient could perform these job factors and had a pain level of less than 5.4 on a 10-point scale he/she had a 75% chance of returning to work at 30 months following treatment completion. Return to work could not be predicted without utilizing pain levels. The findings from this study [2] impact on the Kool et al. study [3] in the following manner: It is very likely that in Kool and co-workers' patient group there will have been a statistical relationship between pain level and return to work (the higher the pain level the less likely the return to work). In choosing 9 or 10 as the pain level, Kool et al. probably selected chronic LBP patients who had zero chance of returning to work. Kool and co-workers' choice of testing the 9 or 10 pain level for non-return to work is in keeping with the concept that such a pain level could be a behavior sign. As the above-mentioned study [2] indicates, however, any level of pain above 5.4 on a 10-point VAS scale can keep a chronic LBP patient from returning to work.
Multidimensional Simulation of Plasma in Argon through a Shock in Hypersonic Flow

We present a new numerical formulation governing the physics of a plasma near strong shock waves in gases at hypersonic speeds. A plasma is composed of multiple species in thermo-chemical nonequlibrium, thus making high-fidelity numerical modeling challenging. In order to reduce the size and complexity of the problem, a number of simulation approaches take advantage of simplifications concerning the flow properties of the various species. The plasma is also often assumed to be charge neutral in order to bypass the requirement of the solution of Maxwell’s equations. In this work, we drop these simplifications and solve the full Navier-Stokes equations for each species in the plasma including the physics of thermo-chemical nonequilibrium, along with Maxwell’s equations to account for electrodynamic e↵ects. The full set of equations has been programmed in the “Stanford University Unstructured” (SU 2 )o pen source suite of tools, and two di↵erent test cases have been simulated and compared with published data. In the first case, the unsteady dynamics of plasma formation near a normal shock wave at Mach 15 are modeled and compared with previous work. In the second case, heat transfer to a three dimensional body from a stream of plasma at Mach 4.6 is simulated and compared with experimental data. The two test cases show an excellent match with published data. In addition to this validation / verification study, this paper also presents the formulation and numerical implementation of our model for the equations governing high-temperature plasmas.
Antioxidants regulate normal human keratinocyte differentiation

Cancer begins with a normal cell that, due to persistent environmental insult, is transformed, via a series of progressively more insidious steps, into a cancer cell. A major goal of chemopreventive therapy is to alter the normal cell response to the environmental agent with the goal of inhibiting disease progression. (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is an important bioactive green tea antioxidant that possesses remarkable cancer chemopreventive properties. We have recently explored the hypothesis that EGCG prevents cancer by promoting keratinocyte differentiation. Based on our findings, we argue that EGCG acts to enhance the differentiation of normal keratinocytes. This is a potentially important finding, as it represents a novel mechanism of disease inhibition by EGCG--cancer preventive "differentiation therapy". However, not all antioxidant chemopreventive agents work by this mechanism. Curcumin, for example, inhibits the differentiation-promoting activity of EGCG. This report discusses the mechanism of EGCG and curcumin action in regulating expression of involucrin, a marker of keratinocyte differentiation.