cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Japan's coordinated technology transfer and direct investments in Asia

This paper sets out to show how Japan's official development assistance (ODA), also known as foreign aid, together with direct overseas investments of multinational firms, has been instrumental in energizing the economies and altering international trade patterns of East Asia. The coordination of government aid with private–sector investments is the key to productive results, as well as an emphasis on human factors in technology transfer which targets the development of human resources through strong inter–personal contact. These have led to sustainable economic development via integrated production systems and viable export programs in this highly dynamic part of the world.
Parallelism analysis in rule-based systems using graph grammars

The processing speed of Rule-Based Systems (or Production Systems PS) may be increased by using parallel processing techniques. In this paper we present a model for studying and exploiting parallelism in PS which is based on graph grammar theory. First, interdependencies between production rules are identified and then used to minimize the PS search space and to map the PS into multiprocessors.
Management of patients with recurrence of diffuse low grade glioma: A systematic review and evidence-based clinical practice guideline.

Target population These recommendations apply to adult patients with recurrent low-grade glioma (LGG) with initial pathologic diagnosis of a WHO grade II infiltrative glioma (oligodendroglioma, astrocytoma, or oligo-astrocytoma).
Exposure of Daudi Cells to Low-Frequency Magnetic Fields Does Not Elevate MYC Steady-State mRNA Levels

Abstract Morehouse, C. A. and Owen, R. D. Exposure of Daudi Cells to Low-Frequency Magnetic Fields Does Not Elevate MYC Steady-State mRNA Levels. The effect of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF EMF) exposures to human health has been widely debated. Epidemiological studies have found a possible correlation between increased cancer incidence and environmental ELF EMF exposures. Results from in vitro studies performed to examine the possible underlying bioeffects of ELF EMFs have varied greatly. Reported effects range from robust and reproducible effects to undetectable. In this study, Daudi cells were exposed to 60 Hz magnetic fields for 20, 40 or 60 min at flux densities of 12.5, 50, 100 or 500 μT. Exposures were performed in the Regional ELF-EMF Exposure Facility (Rockville, MD) to minimize variables that might contribute to a false positive effect. Exposures included sham/sham, exposed/sham or sham/exposed, and were performed with blinding with respect to type of exposure. 12-O-Tetradec...
Hemolytic transfusion reaction due to anti-Tca

BACKGROUND: Anti-Tca detects a high-incidence antigen in the Cromer blood group system. Cromer system antibodies have not usually been associated with hemolytic transfusion reactions or hemolytic disease of the newborn. CASE REPORT: Anti-Tca (initially identified in the patient's serum in 1982) was not detected when she was admitted to the hospital with upper gastrointestinal. bleeding. Three units of red cells were administered. The patient was discharged, but was readmitted to the hospital after her hemoglobin fell to 7.1 g per dL. Antibody detection tests remained negative and three additional units were transfused. Over the next 7 days, her hemoglobin steadily fell to 5.5 g per dL. The level of lactate dehydrogenase rose to 1257, the plasma hemoglobin rose to >16 mg per dL, and the haptoglobin decreased to <6 mg per dL. Five days after transfusion, her direct antiglobulin test was weakly reactive with complement-specific antiglobulin reagents. Eluates were nonreactive. Anti-Tca was detected in her serum; no other antibodies were detected. Differential typing failed to detect any circulating Tc(a+) red cells. The antibody was strongly reactive in a monocyte monolayer assay. CONCLUSION: Although Cromer system antibodies have generally not been proven to be clinically significant in transfusion therapy, the destruction of red cells from six units of transfused Tc(a+) red cells in this patient indicates that anti-Tca may have destructive potential in some patients.
Central venous line complications with chronic ambulatory infusion of prostacyclin analogues in pediatric patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

AbstractChronic infusion of prostacyclin (PGI2) via a Broviac central venous line (CVL) is attended by risk of CVL-related complications, but we know of only one report regarding CVL-associated bloodstream infection (BSI) with PGI2 in children and none regarding other complications. We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving pediatric patients with pulmonary hypertension treated with chronic intravenous infusion of PGI2 at Boston Children’s Hospital and determined the rate (per 1,000 line-days) of various CVL-related complications. We also determined how often complications necessitated line replacement and hospitalization, time to replacement of CVLs, and interpatient variability in the incidence of complications. From 1999 until 2014, 26 patients meeting follow-up criteria had PGI2 infusion, representing 43,855 line-days; mean follow-up was 56 months (range, 1.4–161 months). The CVL complication rates (per 1,000 line-days) were as follows: CVL-BSI, 0.25; superficial line infection, 0.48; impair...
A physician's point of view

What follows are the perceptions of two individuals-a patient and a highly respected medical oncologist who did not participate in the care of this patient but read the patient's essay. We encourage readers to share their thoughts about these essays in correspondence. Barrie E. Cassileth, Ph.D. Department of Integrative Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York A. Bernard Ackerman, M.D. Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology, New York, New York Copyright 2000 American Cancer Society.
Outcomes Evaluation in Faith-Based Social Services: Are We Evaluating Faith Accurately?

In response to a recent call for research on the effectiveness of faith-based organizations, this article synthesizes how effectiveness has been defined and measured in evaluation research of faith...
Nonsurgical septal reduction therapy for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy: one-year follow-up

Abstract OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to evaluate the one-year outcome of the first 50 patients who underwent nonsurgical septal reduction for symptomatic hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy at our institution. BACKGROUND Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction is an important determinant of clinical symptoms in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Nonsurgical septal reduction is a new therapy that has been shown to result in left ventricular outflow tract gradient reduction and resolution of symptoms immediately after the procedure and on midterm follow-up. METHODS Fifty patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy who underwent nonsurgical septal reduction at our institution and completed 1-year follow-up are described. Complete history, physical examination, two-dimensional echocardiography with Doppler and exercise treadmill testing have been analyzed. RESULTS The mean age of the study group was 53 ± 17 years. All patients had refractory symptoms before enrollment. Ninety-four percent had class III or IV New York Heart Association class symptoms at baseline compared to none at 1 year (p CONCLUSION Nonsurgical septal reduction therapy is an effective therapy for symptomatic patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy with persistence of the favorable outcome up to one year after the procedure.
Mitigating Access Control Vulnerabilities through Interactive Static Analysis

Access control vulnerabilities due to programming errors have consistently ranked amongst top software vulnerabilities. Previous research efforts have concentrated on using automatic program analysis techniques to detect access control vulnerabilities in applications. We report a comparative study of six open source PHP applications, and find that implicit assumptions of previous research techniques can significantly limit their effectiveness. We propose a more effective hybrid approach to mitigate access control vulnerabilities. Developers are reminded in-situ of potential access control vulnerabilities, where self-review of code can help them discover mistakes. Additionally, developers are prompted for application-specific access control knowledge, providing samples of code that could be thought of as static analysis by example. These examples are turned into code patterns that can be used in performing static analysis to detect additional access control vulnerabilities and alert the developer to take corrective actions. Our evaluation of six open source applications detected 20 zero-day access control vulnerabilities in addition to finding all access control vulnerabilities detected in previous works.
MiR-34a and miR-483-5p are candidate serum biomarkers for adrenocortical tumors.

Background Nonfunctioning adrenal incidentalomas are common and many patients undergo adrenalectomy to exclude adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). Recent studies have shown dysregulated microRNA (miRNA) expression in ACC. The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility and diagnostic accuracy of measuring serum miRNAs in patients with benign and malignant adrenocortical neoplasms. Method Five miRNAs were selected from miRNA profiling studies in ACC (miR-let-7d, -34a, -195, -214, and 483-5p). Total miRNA was extracted from serum samples in patients with malignant and benign adrenal neoplasms. miRNAs levels were measured by quantitative reverse transcript polymerase chain reaction and normalized to miR-16. To determine if miRNAs were secreted from ACC cells, we measured miRNA levels in culture. Results Serum samples from 22 patients with cortical adenomas and 17 patients with ACC were analyzed, and all 5 miRNAs were detected. We found greater levels of miR-34a ( P = .001) and miR-483-5p ( P = .011) in patients with ACC. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.81 for miR-34a and 0.74 for miR-438-5p. MiR-34a and miR-483-5p levels in ACC cells were greater in the supernatant at 48 hours compared with intracellular levels. Conclusion We show that dysregulated miRNAs in ACC are detectable in human serum samples. MiR-34a and miR-483-5p are candidate serum biomarkers for distinguishing between benign and malignant adrenocortical tumors.
Development of a Hydro-Salinity Simulation Model for Colorado’s Arkansas Valley

A model to calculate the quantity and quality of river flows by simulating hydro-chemical processes in soil and the spatial/temporal distribution of irrigation return flows is introduced. By simulating the hydro-chemical processes, the quantity and quality of the deep percolating water can be predicted. The spatial and temporal distribution of the deep percolating water is simulated by constructing a groundwater flow path and calculating the groundwater travel time using response functions. A probabilistic approach was developed to calculate the groundwater travel time taking into account the fact that some irrigated fields have subsurface drainage which shortens travel times. All related hydrological components are integrated into the computation of river flow quantity and quality including groundwater return flow, irrigation tail water, tributary inflow, river diversion, phreatophyte consumption, river channel losses, and river depletion due to pumping. An illustrative example is included to demonstrate...
The Place of Religion in A State University

(1959). The Place of Religion in A State University. Religious Education: Vol. 54, No. 2, pp. 128-130.
Rehabilitation problems of head and neck cancer patients

Head and neck cancer and its treatment result in varying degrees of disability affecting various organ systems. Ideal treatment of such patients requires a unit capable of managing problems in the areas of: Reconstructive surgery, maxillofacial prosthodontia, dentistry, deglutition disorders, and psychological, social, and vocational rehabilitation. Provision of such facilities in an integrated manner will give the patient the optimal chance for rehabilitation from the complex disabilities occurring in head and neck cancer.
Romanticism, community and social services

A society engages in policy romanticism when it maintains a tenacious attachment to distorted assertions about reality that are institutionalized in both the public and private sectors. The invocation of community to commend a sublime subjectivity that pre-empts questioning is realized in the concept of social capital. Community and social capital are both romantic notions buttressing American public policies that maintain great inequalities and ignore the concrete needs of many citizens. In the United States, public policy reflects private attitudes. In this way, the inadequacies and ineffectiveness of many social welfare programs are intentional choices rather than distortions of the people's will. Democracy is not an inevitable prelude to decency.
Prediction Of Correlation Errors In Stereo-Pair Images

Machines that have been developed to determine the topography of a region from stereo-pair photographs are subject to correlation errors resulting in incorrect elevation calculations. In this paper, the determination of the location of the peak of the correlation function of two similar arrays of picture elements is modeled as a parameter estimation problem. The Cramer-Rao lower bound and various measures of contrast are considered as possible features in recognition schemes for predicting the magnitude of correlation errors. Preliminary simulation results are included.
Effect of ethanol and vitamin A excess on vitamin A status in the liver, plasma and foetuses of pregnant rats

Abstract The effect of maternal consumption of dietary ethanol and high doses of vitamin A by gavage was investigated by evaluating plasma, liver and foetal vitamin A in Osborne—Mendel pregnant rats with a view to assessing whether ethanol modulated the potential toxicity of excess vitamin A. All groups received 4000 IU vitamin A/litre in a liquid diet. Ethanol-exposed groups also received 6.4% (v/v) ethanol in the liquid diet. Vitamin A was administered by gavage once per day in corn oil in doses ranging from 10,000 to 160,000 IU/kg body weight. Plasma vitamin A levels in ethanol-exposed groups were similar to levels in a pair-fed group. Plasma vitamin A levels were similar in the group given ethanol plus 40,000 IU vitamin A/kg and the group given 40,000 IU vitamin A/kg only, but were higher in the group receiving ethanol plus 80,000 IU vitamin A/kg than in the group given 80,000 IU vitamin A/kg only. Retinyl esters were present in the plasma of animals receiving 160,000 IU vitamin A/kg only, indicating possible saturation of the liver with vitamin A. Retinyl palmitate levels in female foetuses of the group administered ethanol plus 80,000 IU vitamin A/kg were significantly higher than those of the group administered 80,000 IU vitamin A/kg only; no significant differences in levels of retinyl palmitate in male foetuses were observed between these two groups. This observation suggests a possible sex difference in the modulation of vitamin A toxicity by ethanol in the foetus.
The Precipitation Response Over the Continental United States to Cold Tropical Pacific Sea Surface Temperatures

The dominant pattern of annual mean SST variability in the Pacific (in its cold phase) produces pronounced precipitation deficits over the continental United States (U.S.) throughout the annual cycle. This study investigates the physical and dynamical processes through which the cold Pacific pattern affects the U.S. precipitation, particularly the causes for the peak dry impacts in fall, as well as the nature of the differences between the summer and fall responses. Results, based on observations and reanalyses, show that the peak precipitation deficit over the U.S. during fall is primarily due to reduced atmospheric moisture transport from the Gulf of Mexico into the central and eastern U.S., and secondarily due to a reduction in local evaporation from land-atmosphere feedback. The former is associated with a strong and systematic low-level northeasterly flow anomaly over the southeastern U.S. that counteracts the northwest branch of the climatological flow associated with the north Atlantic subtropical high. The above northeasterly anomaly is maintained by both diabatic heating anomalies in the nearby Intra-American Seas and diabatic cooling anomalies in the tropical Pacific. In contrast, the modest summertime precipitation deficit over the U.S. is mainly the result of local land-atmosphere feedback; the rather weak and disorganized atmospheric circulation anomalies over and to the south of the U.S. make little contribution. An evaluation of NSIPP-1 AGCM simulations shows it to be deficient in simulating the warm season tropical convection responses over the Intra-American Seas to the cold Pacific pattern and thereby the precipitation responses over the U.S., a problem that appears to be common to many AGCMs.
Endoscopic approach to lesions of the sphenoid sinus, orbital apex, and clivus.

Abstract Objective: The expanding role of endoscopic management of sinonasal disorders includes approaches to the skull base. In this report, we review our experience approaching lesions of the sphenoid sinus, orbital apex, and clivus via a transnasal endoscopic technique. Design: A retrospective, case series review of 15 patients presenting with skull base lesions approached via an endoscopic approach was performed. Emphasis was placed on analyzing the preoperative planning strategy and the surgical technique. Setting: Academic referral center. Results: We reviewed the medical records of 15 patients who underwent an endoscopic approach to the sphenoid sinus, orbital apex, or clivus. Ten patients presented with lesions of the sphenoid sinus and clivus. The lesions in this patient group included metastasis to the cavernous sinus and clivus (3); fibrous dysplasia (2); plasmacytoma of the clivus (2); and 1 patient each with cholesterol granuloma, meningoencephalocele, and recurrent teratoma. Five patients presented with lesions of the orbital apex. These included invasive fungal sinusitis (2), mucopyocele (2), and pseudotumor (1). Image-guided surgical navigation was used in each case, and all approaches consisted of entirely endoscopic transnasal techniques. Conclusions: Endoscopic approaches to the skull base are possible because of advancements in technology now available to the rhinologic surgeon. This report highlights the preoperative strategies and surgical techniques used in approaching lesions of the sphenoid sinus, orbital apex, and clivus. These extended techniques should provide a more direct, less invasive, and more cost-effective method for approaching select skull base lesions.
Multimodal Optical Imaging Approach for In-Vivo Diagnosis of Oral Cancer

Simultaneous endogenous fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) of a hamster cheek-pouch model of oral epithelial cancer allowed discriminating in-vivo benign and malignant lesions with sensitivity and specificity >90%.
Bidirectional transport of glucocorticoid receptors across the nuclear envelope.

Abstract We have used transient interspecies heterokaryons to analyze nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and demonstrated that receptors that accumulate within nuclei upon ligand binding are not statically confined to that compartment, but rather have the capacity to reversibly transverse the nuclear envelope. The ability of various GR mutants to shuttle between nuclei of heterokaryons excluded transcriptional activation and DNA binding as prerequisites for nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of GR. However, a constitutively nuclear GR derivative that has fused at its amino terminus the simian virus 40 large tumor antigen nuclear localization signal sequence was unable to efficiently export from nuclei unless ligand-bound. These results uncover an unexpected effect of ligand binding to GR--i.e., the overriding of a dominant negative effect on nuclear export of a heterologous nuclear import signal sequence. Furthermore, they demonstrate that a nuclear import signal sequence can influence nuclear processing pathways that culminate in efficient nuclear export.
Variable structure regulation of partially linearizable dynamics

It is shown how the theory of decoupling and partial linearization of nonlinear affine systems can enhance the design of variable structure control systems and expand their range of applicability. Refined insights into the design of nonlinear switching surfaces and a new regular form are obtained. Application to an adjustable speed induction motor drive illustrates how this method allows stabilization of a periodic attractor.
S-R Compatibility Effects with Orthogonal Stimulus and Response Dimensions:

An experiment was conducted to assess the relative influence of several factors on performance with orthogonal stimulus-response arrays. Subjects responded to the onset of one of three aligned light circles with a press of one of three aligned response keys. The response array was aligned parallel, angled, or orthogonal to the stimulus array. The results indicated that performance with orthogonal arrays is worse than with parallel or angled S-R arrays. For the orthogonal arrangements, the results also indicate that each hand prefers a mapping directly opposite to the other hand, and that this mapping reverses when the orientation of the stimulus and response arrays are transposed. In addition, the results also revealed that the relative costs of orthogonal S-R arrangements are somewhat attenuated when the assigned mapping associates (i.e., colocates) a given display with its closest control.
Distance effects in memory for sequences: Evidence for estimation and scanning processes

The current study sought to uncover how temporal information is represented in our knowledge about routine events. In Experiment 1 we collected norming data on eight routines taken from Galambos (1983). In Experiment 2 participants were presented with two actions of varying distance from a routine and asked “Are the actions in the correct order?”. We found that a number of variables interact with distance, including action position, routine familiarity, and experimental block. These data suggest that sometimes participants are faster when the actions are far apart in the routine, while at other times they are faster when actions are closer together, providing evidence for both distance and reverse-distance effects, respectively. A model is presented to help interpret these data in which temporal information for routine events is both: (1) coarsely coded, and processed by an estimation mechanism; and (2) represented serially, and processed by a scanning mechanism.
The role of endoscopic ultrasound in assessing tumor response and staging after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for esophageal cancer.

Although the role of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in the initial staging of esophageal cancer is well established, its role in assessing tumor response and staging esophageal cancers after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is controversial, and this study aimed to investigate this role. This study retrospectively analyzed 110 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent EUS by single surgeon before and after NAC. Tumor response was assessed before and after NAC. Patients with more than a 50% reduction in tumor size based on EUS evaluation were classified as having a significant response to chemotherapy, and those with less than a 50% reduction were categorized as having a partial response. Disease stage was established by tumor node metastasis (TNM) classification. Initial staging was performed using EUS and computed tomography (CT) scans of the chest and abdomen. The EUS-determined stage was compared with the postsurgical pathologic stage. χ2 analysis and Fisher’s exact testing were performed. A response to NAC was shown by 96 patients (87.3%) and no response by 14 patients (12.7%). Of the 96 responding patients, 37 (38.5%) showed a significant response, whereas 43 (61.5%) of 69 patients showed a partial response. The EUS staging correlated well with the pathologic staging for 9 (64.3%) of the 14 nonresponders and for 34 (35.4%) of the 96 responders to NAC (P = 0.04). The EUS accurately predicted both the T and N status for 26 (23.6%) of the 110 patients. Prediction of N status was significantly more accurate than prediction of the T stage for the post-NAC patients. Of the 110 patients, 43 (39.1%) patients had an accurate T-stage prediction, and 64 (58.2%) had an accurate N stage match (P = 0.02). The T stage was overstaged for 60 (54.5%) of the patients and understaged for 7 of the patients (6.4%).The study found overstaging of the T stage to be more common among the patients who responded to chemotherapy. The N stage was overstaged for 25 (22.7%) and understaged for 21 (19.1%) of the 110 patients. The findings showed EUS to be a useful tool for assessing response to chemotherapy and for evaluating the extent of disease, thus facilitating surgical decision making. However, EUS is an unreliable tool for staging esophageal cancer after NAC. Overstaging of the T stage is significantly more common and could be related to the inflammatory effect or fibrosis after NAC.
Activation domains of CCAAT enhancer binding protein δ: Regions required for native activity and prostaglandin E2-Dependent transactivation of insulin-like growth factor I gene expression in rat osteoblasts

In osteoblasts, hormones such as prostaglandin E2 that activate protein kinase A increase the translocation of transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer binding protein δ (C/EBPδ) from the cytoplasm to the nucleus where it rapidly induces IGF-I gene expression. In this study, we identified activation and suppression domains in C/EBPδ using native and heterologous gene promoter assay systems. We demonstrated functional interactions between C/EBPδ and trans-gene-expressed cAMP response element binding protein-binding protein, and showed that the ability of C/EBPδ to promote gene expression was suppressed by viral protein E1A, which blocks the activity of native cAMP response element binding protein-binding protein. Site-directed mutations at serines 62 or 191 within C/EBPδ reduced its basal transcriptional activity, whereas mutation at serine 191 suppressed the stimulatory effect of prostaglandin E2 on C/EBPδ function as well as its DNA binding potential. These results are consistent with the location of serine 1...
Age-dependent differences of interleukin-6 activity in cardiac function after burn complicated by sepsis

Abstract Interleukin (IL)-6 is a pleiotropic cytokine that is activated after acute injuries, and plays an important role during aging. We aim to define the role of IL-6 on myocardial dysfunction following a 40% total body surface area burn followed by late (7 days) Streptococcus pneumoniae sepsis (burn plus sepsis) in 2- and 14-month-old wild type and IL-6−/− mice. We measured global hemodynamic and cardiac contractile function with left ventricular pressure–volume analysis 24 h after sepsis induction, and measured phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT-3), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and IL-1β in the heart with Western blot analysis. We also measured mRNA expression of IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β. Sham injured mice did not manifest any appreciable level of p-STAT-3 or functional deficiencies regardless of age or presence of the IL-6 gene. Burn plus sepsis injury was associated with a significant deterioration of global hemodynamic and cardiac contractile function in WT mice in both age groups. This dysfunction was attenuated by IL-6 deficiency at age 2 months, but accentuated at age 14 months. Aging was associated with an increase in mRNA expression of IL-6 (WT mice), TNF-α, and IL-1β (all mice). At age 14 months, IL-6 deficient mice exhibited a greater TNF-α mRNA expression than the wild type mice. We conclude aging is associated with changed cytokine gene transcription, and burn plus sepsis injury further intensifies such gene responses. IL-6 deficiency does not abrogate STAT-3 phosphorylation and it may enhance expression of other inflammatory cytokines. The differential effects of IL-6 deficiency on the cardiac function in young and aging mice cannot be explained by cytokine gene expression alone, and require further studies.
Auditory Development in the Fetus and Infant

Auditory development in the fetus and infant entails the structural parts of the ears that develop in the first 20 weeks of gestation, and the neurosensory part of the auditory system develops primarily after 20 weeks' gestational age. The auditory system becomes functional at around 25 weeks' gestation. The cochlea of the middle ear and the auditory cortex in the temporal lobe are most important in the development of the auditory system. They are both easily affected by the environment and care practices in the newborn intensive care unit (NICU). The period from 25 weeks' gestation to 5 to 6 months of age is most critical to the development of the neurosensory part of the auditory system. This is the time when the hair cells of the cochlea, the axons of the auditory nerve, and the neurons of the temporal lobe auditory cortex are tuned to receive signals of specific frequencies and intensities. Unlike the visual system, the auditory system requires outside auditory stimulation. This needs to include speech, music, and meaningful sounds from the environment. The preterm as well as the term infant cannot recognize or discriminate meaningful sounds with background noise levels greater than 60 dB. The more intense the background noise, especially low frequency, the fewer specific frequencies (pitch) can be heard and used to tune the hair cells of the cochlea. Continuous exposure to loud background noise in the NICU or home will interfere with auditory development and especially frequency discrimination. The initial stimulation of the auditory system (speech and music) needs to occur in utero or in the NICU to develop tonotopic columns in the auditory cortex and to have the critical tuning of the hair cells of the cochlea occur. The control of outside noise, the exposure to meaningful speech sounds and music, and the protection of sleep and sleep cycles, especially rapid eye movement sleep, are essential for healthy auditory development. The environment and care practices for the fetus in utero or the infant in the NICU are critical factors in the development of the auditory system.
Finding the zeros of an analytic function

A method for finding the zeros of functions of R^n into R^n having properties of complex analytic functions is discussed.
From microalbuminuria to hyperhomocysteinemia

Keywords: diabetic nephropathy, cardiovascular disease, angiotensin converting enzyme, chronic renal failure, folic acid
Orchiectomized Fischer 344 male rat models body composition in hypogonadal state.

The hypogonadal state in men is accompanied by substantial decreases in muscle and bone mass and by an increase in adiposity. Most of the strains of orchiectomized (ORX) rat that have been used to model this state display substantial losses in bone, but only subtle changes in adiposity and muscle mass. In order to identify a rat model displaying a robust catabolic response to ORX, we studied three strains: Fischer 344 (F344), Brown Norway and Wistar. ORX caused a significant and sustained decrease in weight gained by F344, but only a trend toward reduced weight gain in Brown Norway rats and a modest reduction weight gain in Wistar rats that was significant only after 56 days. ORX suppressed food intake in F344 rats, and to a lesser degree in Brown Norway and Wistar rats. ORX reduced muscle mass significantly in F344 rats, but not in Brown Norway or Wistar rats. ORX increased adiposity moderately in F344 rats and substantially in Wistar rats. ORX caused a marked reduction in prostate mass and increase in bone resorption in all three strains. Thus, F344 was the only strain in which ORX produced substantial decreases in food intake, body weight and muscle mass with increased adiposity and increased bone resorption. We conclude that the F344 rat displays a broad range of catabolic effects following ORX and is the best rat model for studying the androgenic pathway and strategies for reversing catabolic changes induced by hypogonadism.
Cooperation and conflict in microbial biofilms

Biofilms, in which cells attach to surfaces and secrete slime (polymeric substances), are central to microbial life. Biofilms are often thought to require high levels of cooperation because extracellular polymeric substances are a shared resource produced by one cell that can be used by others. Here we examine this hypothesis by using a detailed individual-based simulation of a biofilm to investigate the outcome of evolutionary competitions between strains that differ in their level of polymer production. Our model includes a biochemical description of the carbon fluxes for growth and polymer production, and it explicitly calculates diffusion-reaction effects and the resulting solute gradients in the biofilm. An emergent property of these simple but realistic mechanistic assumptions is a strong evolutionary advantage to extracellular polymer production. Polymer secretion is altruistic to cells above a focal cell: it pushes later generations in their lineage up and out into better oxygen conditions, but it harms others; polymer production suffocates neighboring nonpolymer producers. This property, analogous to vertical growth in plants, suggests that polymer secretion provides a strong competitive advantage to cell lineages within mixed-genotype biofilms: global cooperation is not required. Our model fundamentally changes how biofilms are expected to respond to changing social conditions; the presence of multiple strains in a biofilm should promote rather than inhibit polymer secretion.
Evaluation of Soybean Germplasm for Resistance to Phakopsora pachyrhizi

Abstract Phakopsora pachyrhizi, the causal fungus of soybean rust, was discovered in the continental U.S. in November 2004. The presence of this disease in the U.S. may have an impact on soybean (G...
Involvement and dogmatism as inhibitors of attitude change

Attitude change was related to issue involvement, dogmatism, and initial position in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design with 5 Ss per cell. The Ss were selected from extreme quartiles of 800 high school students pretested on both dogmatism and attitude toward fluoridation. Half were experimentally involved in their position, half in an irrelevant issue. A taped discrepant communication on fluoridation, supposedly an interview with a previous S, was presented to all Ss. As predicted, high involvement and dogmatism reduced the communication's persuasiveness, but involvement contributed most of the curtailment. Con Ss were more resistant to persuasion than pro Ss. Con Ss who were both dogmatic and relevantly involved gave significantly more boomerang responses. Latitudes of acceptance were unaffected by involvement. Implications for Sherif and Hovland's social judgment theory were discussed.
Speech manifestations in lateralization of temporal lobe seizures

To evaluate the role of speech manifestations in lateralization of temporal lobe seizures, we reviewed videotapes of 100 complex partial seizures in 35 patients who underwent temporal lobectomy for intractable epilepsy. All patients had prolonged electroencephalographic video monitoring with scalp and subdural electrodes, and their speech dominance was determined with an intracarotid amobarbital test. Speech manifestations were observed in 79 seizures and were classified as vocalization, normal speech, or abnormal speech. Vocalization of sounds without speech quality occurred ictally in 48.5% of patients. Normal speech (identifiable speech) occurred ictally in 34.2% of patients. Abnormal speech (speech arrest, dysphasia, dysarthria, and nonidentifiable speech) occurred in 51.4% of patients, either ictally or postictally. Of all the above speech manifestations, only postictal dysphasia and ictal identifiable speech had significant lateralizing value: 92% of patients with postictal dysphasia had their seizures originating from the dominant temporal lobe (p < 0.001), and 83% of those with ictal identifiable speech had their seizures from the nondominant side (p = 0.013). This study shows that speech manifestations are common in complex partial seizures of temporal lobe origin and can provide an excellent clinical tool for lateralization of seizure onset.
Bioconjugation of hydrogels for tissue engineering

Success of tissue engineered constructs in regenerative medicine is limited by the lack of cellmatrix interactions to guide devleopment of the seeded cells into the desired tissue. This review highlights the most exciting developments in bioconjugation of synthetic hydrogels targeted to tissue engineering. Application of conjugation techniques has resulted in the synthesis of novel biomimetic cell-responsive hydrogels to control the cascade of cell migration, adhesion, survival, differentiation, and maturation to the desired lineage concurrent with matrix remodeling. The future outlook includes developing conjugated patterned hydrogel matrices, developing novel hydrogel matrices to support self-renewal and pluripotency of embryonic and adult stem cells, and merging 3D printing with bioconjugation to fabricate hydrogels with anatomical arrangement of cells and biomolecules.
The amino acid composition of some cretaceous fossils.

Abstract 1. 1. Vertebrate and invertebrate fossil specimens and associated matrix samples from the Late Cretaceous Niobrara Formation of Kansas have been analyzed for amino acid content by liquid column chromatography. 2. 2. Detectable quantities of amino acids are found in the insoluble residual protein fractions from each specimen and in the acid soluble (amino acid containing) f fractions also isolated from selected samples. 3. 3. Niobrara bone specimens are similar in residual protein composition to other fossil bones of Jurassic, Cretaceous and Pliocene age from different localities; but they retain approximately twice the total content of amino acids. 4. 4. The total quantity of amino acids recovered from soluble fractions of bone is much less than that found in the insoluble fractions. 5. 5. Significant compositional differences exist between average insoluble and soluble fraction analyses. 6. 6. Insoluble and soluble fractions isolated from chalk matrix samples yield only small amounts of amino acids of undetermined origin.
Monitoring hirudin anticoagulation in two patients undergoing cardiac surgery with a plasma-modified act method.

HEPARIN-INDUCED thrombocytopenia (HIT) is an immunologically-mediated reaction to unfractionated heparin that can result in life-threatening thrombotic complications. When patients with a history of HIT present for cardiac surgery, anticoagulation for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) can be challenging. Recombinant hirudin (r-hirudin) has been reported as a feasible alternative for anticoagulation. 1-8 R-hirudin is a potent direct thrombin inhibitor that works independently of antithrombin-III, offers a rapid onset of anticoagulation, and has a relatively short half-life (60-90 min) in patients with normal renal function. 9 The ability to rapidly and reliably monitor intraoperative levels of r-hirudin anticoagulation, however, has been problematic. The levels of r-hirudin recommended for anticoagulation during CPB (3.5-4.5 μg/ml) 10 exceed those that can be effectively monitored with either the partial thromboplastin time or activated clotting time. 11 The authors described a plasma-modified kaolin-activated clotting time (PM-ACT) assay as a new point-of-care monitoring tool for r-hirudin anticoagulation has been previously described. 12 This assay, accomplished by mixing patient whole blood samples with an equal volume of citrated commercial normal plasma, extends the ACT monitoring range by correcting for hemodilution of coagulation factors and diluting r-hirudin plasma concentrations. The authors present two cases where the PM-ACT was used to monitor r-hirudin anticoagulation during cardiac surgery, and describe the potential for significant perioperative bleeding complications.
RESPONSE PATTERNING IN THE OPERANT-CONDITIONING SITUATION WITH TWENTY-FOUR-HOUR INTERTRIAL INTERVAL

S~mmasy.-16 female, albino rats served as Ss in an investigation of performance on single and double-alternation sequences of reward-nonreward. Ss were run in an operant conditioning chamber with a 24-hr. intertrial interval. The results indicated that Ss receiving the single-alternation reward-nonreward sequence learned to respond appropriately, i.e., fast on reward days, slow on nonreward days, while Ss run under the double-alternation sequence did not exhibit appropriate responding. The results are seen as being supportive of Capaldi's sequential hypothesis.
A green campus project and advances in semiconductor nanostructures for photovoltaic applications

We provide an overview of the various campus wide “Green” projects at the University of California, San Diego aiming for higher energy saving and efficiency for buildings and facilities. We present results on novel photovoltaic and photoelectrochemical cells based on semiconductor nanostructures, including compound semiconductor quantum wells and Si-based nanowires, for solar energy generation and storage.
Liquid metal compatibility issues for test blanket modules

Abstract Liquid metal compatibility issues are being investigated for two different test blanket modules involving either Li or Pb–17 at.%Li. A solution to the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) problem for the V–Li concept may be attainable using multi-layer coatings or a flow channel insert with vanadium in contact with the flowing Li instead of a ceramic insulating layer. These strategies rely on the expected excellent compatibility of vanadium alloys which is being further investigated. For systems using Pb–17Li, capsule testing of SiC and various alloys is being conducted. Monolithic SiC specimens exposed for 1000 h in Pb–Li at 800 and 1100 °C showed no mass change after cleaning and no detectable increase in the Si content of the Pb–Li after the test. In order to investigate the behavior of corrosion resistant aluminide coatings, initial capsule testing at 700 °C has been used to establish baseline dissolution rates for 316 stainless steel, FeCrAl, Fe3Al and NiAl. The samples containing Al showed significantly less mass loss than 316 stainless steel, suggesting that aluminide coatings will be beneficial in this temperature range.
Detection and quantification of N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-4-aminobiphenyl adducts in human pancreas tissue using capillary liquid chromatography-microelectrospray mass spectrometry.

Cigarette smoking has been associated with various cancers including bladder and pancreas. 4-Aminobiphenyl has been isolated as a constituent of cigarette smoke and has been established as a carcinogen in various animal models and humans. In rodents and humans, 4-aminobiphenyl is N-hydroxylated and forms adducts to DNA, the predominant one being N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-4-aminobiphenyl (dG-C8-ABP). In this study, we report a micro-electrospray mass spectrometric (μESI-MS) isotope dilution method for the detection and quantification of dG-C8-ABP in human pancreatic tissue. A reverse phase capillary column (320 μm ID) was connected to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer via a commercially available micro-ESI source. The system was operated in the selected reaction monitoring mode transmitting the [M + H]+ → [M + H − 116]+ transitions for both the analyte and the isotopically labeled internal standard. Twelve human pancreas samples were analyzed, where six were current smokers (three male and three female) a...
Sound modes in holographic superfluids

Superfluids support many different types of sound waves. We investigate the relation between the sound waves in a relativistic and a nonrelativistic superfluid by using hydrodynamics to calculate the various sound speeds. Then, using a particular holographic scalar gravity realization of a strongly interacting superfluid, we compute first, second, and fourth sound speeds as a function of the temperature. The relativistic low temperature results for second sound differ from Landau's well known prediction for the nonrelativistic, incompressible case.
Role of glycosylation in the functional expression of an Aspergillus niger phytase (phyA) in Pichia pastoris.

Abstract Economical and thermostable phytase enzymes are needed to release phytate-phosphorus in plant foods for human and animal nutrition and to reduce phosphorus pollution of animal waste. Our objectives were to determine if a methylotrophic yeast,Pichia pastoris,was able to express a phytase gene (phyA) fromAspergillus nigerefficiently and if suppression of glycosylation by tunicamycin affected its functional expression. The gene (1.4 kb) was inserted into an expression vector pPICZαA with a signal peptide α-factor, under the control of AOX1 promoter. The resulting plasmid was transformed into twoP. pastorisstrains: KM71 (methanol utilization slow) and X33 (wild-type). Both host strains produced high levels of active phytase (25–65 units/ml of medium) that were largely secreted into the medium. The expressed enzyme was cross-reacted with the polyclonal antibody raised against the wild-type enzyme and showed two pH optima, 2.5 and 5.5, and an optimal temperature at 60°C. Compared with thephyAphytase overexpressed byA. niger,this phytase had identical capacity in hydrolyzing phytate-phosphorus from soybean meal and slightly better thermostability. Deglycosylation of the secreted phytase resulted in reduction in the size from 95 to 55 kDa and in thermostability by 34%. Tunicamycin (20 μg/ml of medium) resulted in significant reductions of both intracellular and extracellular phytase activity expression. Because there was no accumulation of intracellular phytase protein, the impairment did not seem to occur at the level of translocation of phytase. In conclusion, glycosylation was vital to the biosynthesis of thephyAphytase inP. pastorisand the thermostability of the expressed enzyme.
Conspiracy of silence: sportswriters and the long campaign to desegregate baseball

The release of the Hollywood film ‘42’ in the spring of 2013 provided yet another opportunity to reflect on the significance of Jackie Robinson's integration of Major League Baseball. Highlighting ...
Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol-methamphetamine interaction in the rabbit

Abstract The combined effects of Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ 9 -THC) and methamphetamine on the electroencephalogram and behaviour, were measured in adult unrestrained rabbits. The increase in mean cortical electrogenesis (voltage output) of the electroencephalogram, induced by Δ 9 -THC, was clearly reversed by methamphetamine. Hippocampal theta rhythm disrupted by Δ 9 -THC was restored by methamphetamine. Methamphetamine also antagonized Δ 9 -THC-induced alteration of postural and activity behaviours. Moreover, striking “pathological” behaviour resulted from the Δ 9 -THC-methamphetamine combination. These data indicate that both antagonism and potentiation occurred with the Δ 9 -THC-methamphetamine treatment sequence.