cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estimation of parameters in two-dimensional transport equations

A general approximation framework based on bicubic splines is developed for estimating temporally and spatially varying parameters in two-dimensional transport equations. The parameter estimation problem is first cast as an abstract infinite-dimensional minimization problem. Then a sequence of approximate, finite-dimensional minimization problems is defined, which yields a sequence of parameter estimates. Since convergence results relating the approximate problems to the full infinite-dimensional problem are presented in [6] and [17], this paper will focus only on the computer implementation of our technique and the results of numerical tests using analytically generated data. The technique is also applied to the analysis of actual biological data from an insect-dispersal experiment, in which the movement of cabbage-root flies in the presence of a cabbage crop was studied.
Protecting our Nation's ports with the Port Security Risk Analysis and Resource Allocation System (PortSec 3.0)

The operation of our Nation's ports depends on carefully balancing competing needs: maintaining the security of these bustling economic and transportation hubs, ensuring the continued flow of goods, and ensuring that the multitude of agencies and components (police, harbor patrol, owners, businesses, etc.) involved in port security and operations can perform their daily activities. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Center of Excellence for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events (CREATE) is developing the Port Security Risk Analysis and Resource Allocation System (PortSec), a decision-support system used to assess tactical and strategic risks to port operations and reduce risk from terrorist attacks. PortSec 3.0 builds on previous efforts by introducing a more complete risk modeling framework. Work is underway in collaboration with the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Information theory in the analysis of gene expression microarray data

The use of propositional logic in the analysis of gene expression microarray data enables the interrelations of gene expression variables to be used in answering biological or clinical questions. The main objection to this approach has been that the range of values of expression for a given gene is artificially reduced to the extremes of "high" and "low" expression, losing important analytical detail. Propositional calculus demands such bipolarity; nevertheless, propositional functions are best evaluated by means of 2 2 contingency tables, and it is precisely in this evaluation that the analytical detail can be recovered by applying the principles of information theory. I introduce a method for evaluating 2 2 contingency tables, not counting the number of cases, as is regularly done, but measuring and adding the amount of information for the cases. In this way each gene expression datum has two components: (1) a bipolar value ("high" or "low" expression) and (2) the amount of information (the decrease in uncertainty provided by the message, that is, the change in entropy). The first component is used to build propositional functions, and the second is used to evaluate the predictive power of these functions. The measurement of this second component is based on the principle that the amount of information for a variable with a particular value is inversely related to the probability of obtaining that value. Application of this method to empirical data reveals relations that had been lost in the process of bipolar data conversion.
Inter-foot coordination dynamics of quiet standing postures

It has long been held that the net center of pressure (COP(NET)) is the controlling variable to human stance that indirectly represents postural sway. The formation of the COP(NET) trajectory emerges from an active control of transporting the body weight from one foot to the other and the self-organized coordination of the COP of each individual foot—properties that cannot be determined from the typical single force platform protocol. The findings of recent studies, with the application of the two-force platform paradigm, have revealed the coordination properties of the lower limbs in regulating COP(NET). In this article, we review these new findings and insights into the control of postural stability within the framework of a dynamic systems approach. The issues include: (1) the active asymmetrical body weight distribution and transportation process during both short- and long-term stances; (2) the spatial and temporal characteristics of the inter- and intra-foot COP coupling dynamics; (3) the influence of mechanical constraints (e.g., foot position, foot orientation, etc.) on the inter-foot and intra-foot COP coordination dynamics; and (4) the role of the specificity of task context to the functional asymmetry of the feet and its relation to footedness. The findings from foot coordination dynamics reveal subtle regulation of stability and instability in postural control that needs to be mapped to the coordination dynamics of the multi-link postural control system.
Incremental Parallelization with Migration

We present a new methodology for developing parallel distributed programs in a series of incremental steps. The methodology takes advantage of threads that are able to migrate through the network and thus are able to follow distributed data. This allows the data to be partitioned and distributed first, which guarantees that elements that are used together in a computation are collocated on the same node. Next, the loops in the code are tiled to minimize migration among nodes. After deciding on the location at which each loop is to execute, the necessary migration and remote access statements are inserted to make the code executable. This process is repeated based on feedback obtained from the execution, which may improve the overall performance by suggesting a different data distribution or a different coarseness of tiling. We illustrate the trade-offs and the performance using a well-known application with two different data distributions.
SELF-ESTEEM AND DEVIANCE: THE EFFECTS OF RACE AND GENDER*

Provision of occupational and educational opportunities has been the accepted means of reintegrating offenders into society because, with assumption of conventional roles, they are believed to experience improved economic conditions and renewed feelings of respectability. However, given the limited legal options available to them, offender self-esteem may continue to depend on immersion in deviant subcultures. To examine the effects of subcultural and conventional life-styles on offender self-esteem, a sample of 372 heroin addicts in treatment was surveyed. Employment had a positive effect on the self-esteem of white male addicts only; the self-evaluations of black male, black female, and white female addicts were unaffected by employment because these users were subjected to less stable working conditions. Subcultural integration had no impact or negative impact on the self-esteem of black male, black female, and white female addicts while subcultural involvement was associated with higher self-esteem in white males. The fact that white male addicts experienced favorable self-evaluations with involvement in both conventional and deviant life-styles is inconsistent with research which suggests an antagonism between crime and work: rather, these data seem to indicate that the join pursuit of legal and illegal professions may be more common.
tRNA sulfurtransferase: a member of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase complex in rat liver.

Abstract Transfer RNA sulfurtransferase, tRNA methyltransferase, and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase activity are associated in a complex in rat liver, which is excluded from Sephadex G-200 columns. The complex can also be isolated by subjecting cell supernatants to further centrifugation at 160,000 x g for 18 hours. The resulting pellet contains 70% of the total sulfurtransferase activity, and a 3-fold increase in specific activity is accomplished through pelleting. The data suggest that the enzymes of tRNA metabolism are organized in a large complex in rat liver.
Overriding BCR/ABL mitotic signal by ICSBP-induced differentiation

![Figure][1] Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a malignant disease of hematopoietic stem cells that develops in a biphasic or triphasic course. The initial chronic phase (CML-CP) is characterized by massive expansion of granulocytic cell series. Although immature myeloid cells appear in
Failure of signal-averaged electrocardiography with use of time-domain variables to predict inducible ventricular tachycardia in patients with conduction defects

Objective To extend the application of signal-averaged electrocardiography (SAECG) to patients with ventricular conduction defects by analysis of electrocardiographic (ECG) time-domain variables. Material and Methods In 123 consecutive patients with a QRS duration of 118 ms or more on a resting ECG and without evidence of an accessory pathway, SAECG was done at the time of electrophysiologic (EP) study. For EP testing, up to three stimuli were delivered during two paced drives from two right ventricular sites. A "positive" EP result was defined as monomorphic ventricular tachycardia that lasted for more than 30 seconds or necessitated intervention. Data were obtained for four time-domain variables. All variables were analyzed for differences between patients with EP-positive and those with EP-negative results. Results Unfiltered QRS duration was the only time-domain ECG variable that was statistically different ( P = 0.02) between patients with EP-positive and those with EP-negative results (141.3 and 147.8 ms, respectively); this difference persisted when patients with right bundle branch block were excluded from analysis. This finding is the opposite of previously reported observations. When only patients with ischemic heart disease were analyzed, no SAECG variables were significantly different between patients with inducible ventricular tachycardia and those without it. Conclusion High-resolution ECG time-domain variables cannot be used to predict inducibility of ventricular tachycardia during EP testing in patients with conduction defects.
A murine model of obesity with accelerated atherosclerosis.

The epidemic of obesity sweeping developed nations is accompanied by an increase in atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. Dyslipidemia, diabetes, hypertension and obesity are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. However, delineating the mechanism of obesity-accelerated atherosclerosis has been hampered by a paucity of animal models. Similar to humans, apolipoprotein E deficient (apoE−/−) mice spontaneously develop atherosclerosis over their lifetime. To determine if apoE−/− mice would develop obesity with accelerated atherosclerosis, we fed mice diets containing 10 (LF) or 60 (HF) kcal % from fat for 17 weeks. Mice fed the HF diet had a marked increase in body weight and atherosclerotic lesion formation compared to mice fed the LF diet. There were no significant differences between groups in serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, or leptin concentrations. Plasma concentrations of the acute phase reactant serum amyloid A (SAA) are elevated in both obesity and cardiovascular disease. Accordingly, plasma SAA concentrations were increased 4.0 fold (P < 0.01) in mice fed the HF diet. SAA was associated with both pro- and anti-atherogenic lipoproteins in mice fed the HF diet compared to those fed the LF diet, in which SAA was primarily associated with the anti-atherogenic lipoprotein high density lipoprotein (HDL). Moreover, SAA was localized with apolipoprotein (apo)B-containing lipoproteins and biglycan in the vascular wall. Taken together, these data suggest male apoE deficient mice are a model of metabolic syndrome and that chronic low level inflammation associated with increased SAA concentrations may mediate atherosclerotic lesion formation.
Interface flow mechanism for tin whisker growth

Abstract Tin coatings, widely used in electronics, are susceptible to the spontaneous eruption of fine metal filaments or “whiskers”. Tin whiskers are a serious reliability issue in microelectronics, as they can cause short circuits and device failure. While it is generally accepted that whiskers grow to relieve compressive stresses, the specific mechanism for whisker formation is yet unknown. Data are presented to support an interface-transport mechanism for whisker nucleation and growth. This mechanism, involving the formation of a viscous layer at the interface between substrate and coating, could explain the extremely rapid growth of whiskers that has been observed experimentally.
Cytotoxic effects of erythromycin estolate and chlorpromazine on hepatocytes isolated from rats of varying ages: A brief note

Hepatocytes isolated from young (1 month) rats were as sensitive to the cytotoxic effects of erythromycin estolate and chlorpromazine as were liver cells obtained from older (3, 10 and 24 months) rats. The hepatocytes from the 24-month-old rats released aspartate transaminase more slowly than did parenchymal cells isolated from the younger rats.
Specific luminosity limit of e + e − colliding rings

The luminosity in flat-beam circular colliders is known to ``saturate'' at some ``threshold'' beam current above which (because the beam height grows) the luminosity varies (only) linearly with beam current, making both the specific luminosity (luminosity/current) and the beam-beam tune shift parameter ${\ensuremath{\xi}}_{y}$ independent of current. The purpose of this paper is to calculate ${\ensuremath{\xi}}_{y}$ analytically with the goal of maximizing the luminosity. A zero parameter application of the theory to 13 existing storage ring configurations yields theory/experiment equal to $1.26\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.45$ for ${\ensuremath{\xi}}_{y,\mathrm{max}}$. Parameter values (especially tunes ${Q}_{x}$, ${Q}_{y}$, and ${Q}_{s}$) expected to maximize ${\ensuremath{\xi}}_{y}$ are given. The most favored tune combinations seem not to have been tried so far in colliding beam facilities. The vertical beam growth is ascribed to ``parametric pumping'' of the vertical betatron amplitude of each individual particle by its own (inexorable) horizontal and longitudinal oscillation. A unique determination of the distribution of all particles then follows from a saturation principle which asserts that the beam height adjusts itself to the value for which the least stable particle (of probable amplitude) is barely stable. The difference equation describing the pumping can be solved by numerical iteration or, because it is (almost) linear, it can be solved analytically, at least for amplitudes small enough that resonances remain isolated. Because of the aliasing (or undersampling) characteristic of accelerators, this equation exhibits an even richer spectrum of resonances than the Mathieu equation, which the present theory generalizes. Contrary to the lore of the field (which motivates the intentional increase of damping decrement ${\ensuremath{\delta}}_{y}$ using wigglers), the theory presented here predicts the dependence of luminosity on ${\ensuremath{\delta}}_{y}$ to be quite weak. This is not inconsistent with actual collider performance according to a survey by Rice [D. Rice, Cornell University Report No. CBN 01-09 (2001)] of colliding rings built thus far.
Bulimia and Perceived Voice Disorders: A Preliminary Study:

8 subjects who exhibited the eating disorder of bulimia, when contrasted with 8 matched normal subjects, did not exhibit concomitant perceived vocal disorders.
Effects of blade removal on the proximate composition of the rhizome of the seagrass Thalassia testudinum banks ex könig

Abstract Chemical analyses (ash, protein, lipid, soluble and insoluble carbohydrate) indicated that the rhizome of Thalassia testudinum Banks ex Konig functions as a storage organ in supporting blade regeneration after defoliation in the field and laboratory, and in seasonal growth. Soluble carbohydrate is the primary reserve mobilized in the rhizome after defoliation and shows the largest decrease in level and amount during the non-growing season. Protein showed no change in the rhizome of clipped or unclipped plants. The short shoot also contributes to blade regrowth as indicated by depletion of protein and soluble carbohydrate after defoliation. The lipid content was low in all organs with no seasonal pattern or effect of defoliation. Protein levels were high in regenerated blades of clipped plants while ash levels were low. Caloric levels were lower in short shoots and rhizomes and in the regenerated blades of clipped plants due to lower levels of organic constituents.
Categorisation of web documents using extraction ontologies

Automatically recognising which HTML documents on the Web contain items of interest for a user is non-trivial. As a step toward solving this problem, we propose an approach based on information-extraction ontologies. Given HTML documents, tables, and forms, our document recognition system extracts expected ontological vocabulary (keywords and keyword phrases) and expected ontological instance data (particular values for ontological concepts). We then use machine-learned rules over this extracted information to determine whether an HTML document contains items of interest. Experimental results show that our ontological approach to categorisation works well, having achieved F-measures above 90% for all applications we tried.
Theory of electron attachment to van der Waals clusters

A theory of electron collisions with van der Waals clusters is developed which is capable of describing the vibrational Feshbach resonances (VFRs) recently observed in electron attachment to CO2 clusters. VFRs appear below vibrational excitation thresholds of one molecular unit and their energy decreases with the increase of the cluster size. The selectivity observed in vibrational excitation of individual components of a Fermi dyad is substantially reduced in the attachment spectra. We also calculate elastic electron scattering and vibrational excitation (VE) of one molecular unit in a cluster environment and demonstrate a strong influence of the VFRs on the VE cross sections. Theoretically predicted VFRs are much narrower than observed. We explain the VFR broadening by contribution of several neutral precursors, contribution of different cluster conformations and the dependence of the resonance energy on the position of the molecular unit in the cluster. A model is developed to describe the latter effect quantitatively.
Steady and time-periodic electric field-driven enhancement of heat or mass transfer to a drop: Internal problem

Abstract Transient heat or mass transfer to a spherical drop of a dielectric fluid suspended in another dielectric fluid in the presence of steady and time periodic electric fields (both uniform and non-uniform) is investigated in this paper. The internal problem or the heat (mass) transfer limit that corresponds to the bulk of the resistance being in the dispersed phase is addressed. Using a finite volume formulation, the energy conservation equation is solved to obtain the transient temperature distribution and the overall Nusselt number for the drop Peclet numbers from 0 to 10,000 and the dimensionless frequency (ω∗) from 0 to 50,000 using a fully implicit method. Application of steady and time-periodic fields leads to fluid circulation in the drop which provides an increase in the heat (mass) transfer rate. At first glance one might expect that the time-periodic field, which gives rise to a continuously varying flow field, might provide better mixing and improved heat (mass) transfer enhancement compared to time invariant one which gives rise to a steady flow field. However results show that for low to moderate Peclet numbers, the steady electric field is more effective in heat transfer enhancement compared to non-uniform time periodic field which in turn is more effective than the uniform time-periodic field. This counterintuitive heat (mass) transfer behavior is explained in detail in the paper. On the other hand, at high Peclet numbers, the non-uniform time periodic field provides significant improvement in heat (mass) transfer relative to steady uniform electric field. We show that at high Peclet numbers the maximum heat (mass) transfer enhancement is obtained when the dimensionless electric field frequency is of the order of Peclet number or ω∗ ∼ O(Pe). By tracking Lagrangian fluid particles, it is revealed that application of non-uniform unsteady electric field results in chaotic advection at high Pe whereas steady and unsteady uniform electric fields do not.
Synthesis and conformational analysis of the insulin-like 4 gene product

: Insulin-like 4 (INSL-4) is a protein expressed in the early placenta. Its primary structure is insulin-like with reference to the distribution of cysteine residues and the single chain pro-form. Insulin-like 4 was generated by solid-phase peptide synthesis of the two chains followed by the sequential synthesis of the three disulfide bonds. Two disulfide isomers were produced, one with an insulin-like disulfide bonding pattern and the other with a reversed chain orientation. The CD spectra of the two disulfide isomers were indistinguishable without any features produced by periodic structures. In addition, the hydrodynamic properties of the two isomers were identical which implied a very open structure of the disulfide-bonded two-chain molecules. It appears that insulin-likeness cannot be defined solely on the basis of the primary structure of cDNA.
Championing patient safety through mandatory influenza vaccination for all healthcare personnel and affiliated physicians.

Objective. To determine whether a mandatory seasonal influenza vaccination program will increase vaccination rates among healthcare personnel (HCP) and affiliated physicians. Setting. MedStar Health is a not-for-profit regional healthcare organization that includes 9 hospitals with approximately 25,000 HCP and approximately 4,000 affiliated physicians. HCP describes any person employed by MedStar Health. Methods. With previous vaccination rates parallel to reported national rates of 54% among HCP, MedStar Health introduced a mandatory seasonal influenza vaccination program promulgated during the 2009–2010 influenza season. HCP and affiliated physicians were given an opportunity to apply for medical or religious exemptions. Noncompliant HCP were terminated. Noncompliant physicians had their privileges administratively suspended for the influenza season. Results. HCP compliance (vaccinated and exempt) was 99.9%. The influenza vaccination rate among HCP was 98.5%. There were 338 approved medical exemptions and 18 approved religious exemptions. Only 0.01% of HCP (9 full-time, 2 part-time, and 17 per diem employees) were terminated. Overall, 93% of the affiliated physicians were vaccinated; 7 religious and 99 medical exemptions were granted. In total, 149 physicians (4%) had their admitting privileges suspended during the influenza season. Conclusion. A mandatory influenza vaccination program achieves high rates of vaccination among HCP and affiliated physicians.
Ion beam mixing of metal films on SiO2

Abstract Ion beam mixing of certain metals deposited on SiO 2 substrates causes reactions to occur which result in the formation of metal-rich suicides in the region of the interface and an increase in the adhesion of the film to the substrate. For other metals, ion irradiation causes lateral transport and coalescence of metal atoms resulting in the formation of an island structure. The results obtained by ion irradiation are compared with previous studies of high-temperature thermal processing of metal films on SiO 2 .
Affiliation With Antisocial Peers, Susceptibility to Peer Influence, and Antisocial Behavior During the Transition to Adulthood

Developmental theories suggest that affiliation with deviant peers and susceptibility to peer influence are important contributors to adolescent delinquency, but it is unclear how these variables impact antisocial behavior during the transition to adulthood, a period when most delinquent individuals decline in antisocial behavior. Using data from a longitudinal study of 1,354 antisocial youth, the present study examined how individual variation in exposure to deviant peers and resistance to peer influence affect antisocial behavior from middle adolescence into young adulthood (ages 14 to 22 years). Whereas we find evidence that antisocial individuals choose to affiliate with deviant peers, and that affiliating with deviant peers is associated with an individual's own delinquency, these complementary processes of selection and socialization operate in different developmental periods. In middle adolescence, both selection and socialization serve to make peers similar in antisocial behavior, but from ages 16 to 20 years, only socialization appears to be important. After age 20, the impact of peers on antisocial behavior disappears as individuals become increasingly resistant to peer influence, suggesting that the process of desistance from antisocial behavior may be tied to normative changes in peer relations that occur as individuals mature socially and emotionally.
Assessment of regional myocardial ischemia by positron-emission computed tomography.

Abstract Positron-emission computed tomography (PCT) is a new means of studying regional myocardial metabolism. This new device permits quantitative, cross-sectional imaging of the tissue concentrations of positron-emitting tracers of blood flow and metabolism in the myocardium. To examine the potential value of PCT for evaluating regional alterations in myocardial metabolism, acute myocardial ischemia was induced by rapid atrial pacing in open-chest dogs with partial coronary stenoses. Regional myocardial glucose uptake and utilization of free fatty acids were examined with the glucose analog F-18 2-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) and C-11-labeled palmitic acid. Myocardial blood flow was evaluated with N-13 ammonia. In the ischemic segment, uptake of C-11 paimitic acid was reduced in proportion to blood flow and its rate of clearance as an index of beta oxidation was delayed. There was a relative or absolute increase in FDG uptake (depending on the uptake of FDG in the normal myocardium). Similar observations were made in patients with ischemic heart disease and anginal symptoms at the time of study. The observed alterations in the regional distribution of positron-emitting tracers of metabolic substrates in ischemic myocardium are in agreement with previously reported animal experimental studies in which a fall in free fatty acid utilization associated with an increase in glycolytic flux was observed. These studies indicate that metabolic alterations associated with acute myocardial ischemia observed previously in destructive animal experiments do indeed occur in humans and can now be demonstrated noninvasively in humans by PCT.
Preoperative staging of cancer of the pancreas: value of MR angiography versus conventional angiography in detecting portal venous invasion.

The purpose of this study was to compare contrast-enhanced MR angiography with conventional catheter angiography for detecting portal venous invasion in the preoperative staging of pancreatic cancer, using the surgical confirmation of vascular involvement as the standard of truth.MR and conventional angiography were performed in 20 patients with pancreatic carcinoma, with surgical confirmation in all cases. MR angiography was performed at 1.5 T, with coronal (2.9 mm) and axial (6.0 mm) contrast-enhanced breath-hold two-dimensional time-of-flight imaging. Data from each imaging technique were collected prospectively and analyzed in a blinded fashion by expert vascular radiologists. Vascular involvement in each patient and in each vessel (main portal vein, confluence, splenic vein, and superior mesenteric vein) determined whether the tumor was resectable (normal, abutment) or nonresectable (encased, occluded). Surgical confirmation of the vascular involvement of the portal venous structures was used as the ...
A randomized trial of occlusal adjustment in the treatment of periodontitis patients

The purpose of the randomized clinical trial was to test; (1) the influence of occlusal adjustment (OA) in association with periodontal therapy on attachment levels, pocket depth, and tooth mobility, (2) whether OA was of greater significance in non-surgically treated periodontal defects, and (3) whether initial tooth mobility or disease severity had an affect on post-treatment attachment levels following OA. After hygienic-phase therapy, 50 patients received OA/No OA according to random assignment; 22 patients received an OA and 28 were not adjusted. 2 months after OA, either modified Widman flap surgery or scaling and root planing by a periodontist were done according to random assignment within each patient in a split-mouth design. Following active treatment patients were maintained with prophylaxis done every 3 months and scored annually. For the analysis of this two-year data, a repeated measures analysis of variance was performed using attachment level change and pocket depths as outcome indicators. There was significantly greater gain of clinical periodontal attachment in patients who received an OA compared to those who did not. Both the surgically and non-surgically treated sides of the mouth responded similarly to OA. There was no affect of OA on the response in pocket depth, nor did initial tooth mobility or initial periodontal disease severity influence the response to OA.
Dynamic heart rate response to deer hunting in men and women

The purpose of the present study was to examine the heart rate response and force tension associated with deer hunting activities in men and women. Fifteen men and women (body mass index: 25.6±5.2 kg/m2; age: 27±9 years) participated in this study. Subjects performed a maximal graded exercise test (GXT) to determine maximal heart rate (HRmax). Subjects completed a 0.8 km hike over typical hunting terrain. Following a short rest, subjects completed a 0.4 km drag using a fake deer weighing 56 kg (123 pounds, the weight of the average field dressed deer in Pennsylvania, USA) over similar terrain. HR was measured during the activities using a Polar Heart Rate Monitor. Force tension (TNmean) while dragging the deer was measured using a cable tensiometer. Women on average completed the 0.4 km drag course in 13±3 min, where men on average only needed 6±2 min to complete the drag. Women spent significantly more time ≥85% HRmax (9±4 min), than men (2±3 min) during the drag (P<0.05). Women, on average, completed 71...
Pilot study of rapid steroid elimination with alemtuzumab induction therapy in kidney and pancreas transplantation.

Abstract This study evaluates our initial experience using alemtuzumab induction with rapid corticosteroid elimination in kidney (KTX) and pancreas transplant (PTX) patients. Data were collected retrospectively for all patients who received single-dose alemtuzumab (30 mg IV intraoperatively) with steroid pretreatment and a control group who received alternate day rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rATG) induction with a steroid-based regimen. Patients in both groups received tacrolimus (TAC) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). There were 16 patients in each group, including 9 deceased donor KTXs, 5 living donor KTXs, 1 simultaneous K-PTX, and 1 sequential PTX after KTX. Demographic, immunologic, and transplant characteristics were similar between groups. Nine patients (56%) in the alemtuzumab group compared to five (25%) in the control group developed neutropenia requiring MMF or valganciclovir dose reduction (or both). Absolute lymphocyte counts at 3 months were 340 ± 200/mm 3 and 890 ± 544/ mm 3 in the alemtuzumab and control groups, respectively ( P = .001). There were two biopsy-proven acute rejection episodes (12.5%) in each group, and no difference in the incidence of infection. Creatinine clearance at 6 months was 58 mL/min in each group. Patient and kidney graft survival rates were both 94% in the alemtuzumab group (one death from cardiac arrest), compared with 100% patient and kidney graft survival rates in the control group ( P = NS), with a mean follow-up of 9 and 11 months, respectively. The results of this pilot study suggest that similar short-term outcomes can be achieved using a rapid steroid elimination protocol with alemtuzumab induction therapy compared to rATG with steroids in patients receiving TAC and MMF maintenance therapy.
A stopping rule for symbolic dynamic filtering

One of the key issues in symbolic dynamic filtering (SDF) is how to obtain a lower bound on the length of symbol blocks for computing the state probability vectors of probabilistic finite-state automata (PFSA). Having specified an absolute error bound at a confidence level, this short work formulates a stopping rule by making use of Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) computations.
Effect of antigen sensitization and challenge on oscillatory mechanics of the lung and pulmonary inflammation in obese carboxypeptidase E-deficient mice

Atopic, obese asthmatics exhibit airway obstruction with variable degrees of eosinophilic airway inflammation. We previously reported that mice obese as a result of a genetic deficiency in either l...
Strong Enhancement of Upconversion Luminescence by 3-Dimensional Plasmonic Nano-Cavities

We report a 310-fold upconversion luminescence enhancement, and 8-fold decay rate enhancement of NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+ codoped nanocrystals using a 3D plasmonic nanoantenna array. The enhancement is two orders of magnitude larger than previously reported results.
A radioisotopic, chromatographic microassay for acetyl-coenzyme a synthetase and some preliminary studies on the rat brain enzyme

Abstract 1. 1. An isotopic, chromatographic assay for acetyl-CoA synthetase (acetate:CoA ligase (AMP), EC 6.2.1.1) has been developed which is both sensitive and rapid to perform. 2. 2. The rat brain synthetase activity behaves the same as the synthetase activity from other sources when exposed to increasing concentrations of Na+, K+, or NH4+. 3. 3. The subcellular location of the rat brain synthetase is primarily mitochondrial, but 13% of the activity was found in the cytoplasm. 4. 4. Kinetic studies on the rat brain synthetase preparation indicated higher substrate affinities than previously reported and marked substrate inhibition which occurred at moderate substrate concentrations. 5. 5. In view of the differences in substrate affinities and substrate inhibition of the rat brain acetyl-CoA synthetase compared to the synthetases from other sources, it is suggested that the results of comparative studies be interpreted cautiously.
A role for 12/15 lipoxygenase in the amyloid β precursor protein metabolism

12/15 Lipoxygenase (12/15LO) protein levels and activity are increased in pathologically affected regions of Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains, compared with controls. Its metabolic products are elevated in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with AD and individuals with mild cognitive impairment, suggesting that this enzyme may be involved early in AD pathogenesis. Herein, we investigate the effect of pharmacologic inhibition of 12/15LO on the amyloid beta precursor protein (APP) metabolism. To this end, we used CHO and N2A cells stably expressing human APP with the Swedish mutant, and two structurally distinct and selective 12/15LO inhibitors, PD146176 and CDC. Our results demonstrated that both drugs dose-dependently reduced Abeta formation without affecting total APP levels. Interestingly, in the same cells we observed a significant reduction in secreted (s)APPbeta and beta-secretase (BACE), but not sAPPalpha and ADAM10 protein levels. Together, these data show for the first time that this enzymatic pathway influences Abeta formation whereby modulating the BACE proteolytic cascade. We conclude that specific pharmacologic inhibition of 12/15LO could represent a novel therapeutic target for treating or preventing AD pathology in humans.
The algal hepatoxoxin okadaic acid is a substrate for human cytochromes CYP3A4 and CYP3A5.

Abstract The hepatotoxin okadaic acid (OA) was incubated with nine human recombinant cytochrome P450s (1A1, 1A2, 2C8, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1, 3A4 and 3A5). Both CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 converted OA to a mixture of the same four metabolites, but incubation with CYP3A4 resulted in higher levels of conversion. Michaelis–Menten parameters, K m (73.4 μM) and V max (7.23 nmol of metabolites nmol −1 min −1 ) for CYP3A4 were calculated by analyzing double-reciprocal plots. LC–MS n analysis and chemical interconversion indicate that metabolites 2 and 3 are the 11 S -hydroxy and 11 R -hydroxy okadaic acid respectively, while metabolite 4 is 11-oxo okadaic acid. LC–MS n analysis of metabolite 1 shows a molecular ion which corresponds to an addition of 16 amu to OA, also suggesting hydroxylation, but the specific site has not been identified. The same four metabolites were produced upon incubation of okadaic acid with pooled human liver microsomes. This transformation could be completely inhibited with ketokonazole, and inhibitor of the CYP3A family of enzymes. The metabolites were determined to be only slightly less potent inhibitors of serine threonine protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) when compared to OA. As PP2A is the principle molecular target for OA, these oxidative transformations may not effectively detoxify OA.
Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase: A Novel Therapeutic Target in Stroke

The P450 eicosanoids epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) are produced in brain and perform important biological functions, including protection from ischemic injury. The beneficial effect of EETs, however, is limited by their metabolism via soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH). We tested the hypothesis that sEH inhibition is protective against ischemic brain damage in vivo by a mechanism linked to enhanced cerebral blood flow (CBF). We determined expression and distribution of sEH immunoreactivity (IR) in brain, and examined the effect of sEH inhibitor 12-(3-adamantan-1-yl-ureido)-dodecanoic acid butyl ester (AUDA-BE) on CBF and infarct size after experimental stroke in mice. Mice were administered a single intraperitoneal injection of AUDA-BE (10 mg/kg) or vehicle at 30 mins before 2-h middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) or at reperfusion, in the presence and absence of P450 epoxygenase inhibitor N-methylsulfonyl-6-(2-propargyloxyphenyl) hexanamide (MS-PPOH). Immunoreactivity for sEH was detected in vascular and non-vascular brain compartments, with predominant expression in neuronal cell bodies and processes. 12-(3-Adamantan-1-yl-ureido)-dodecanoic acid butyl ester was detected in plasma and brain for up to 24 h after intraperitoneal injection, which was associated with inhibition of sEH activity in brain tissue. Finally, AUDA-BE significantly reduced infarct size at 24 h after MCAO, which was prevented by MS-PPOH. However, regional CBF rates measured by iodoantipyrine (IAP) autoradiography at end ischemia revealed no differences between AUDA-BE- and vehicle-treated mice. The findings suggest that sEH inhibition is protective against ischemic injury by non-vascular mechanisms, and that sEH may serve as a therapeutic target in stroke.
Impact of wideband ADCs on the performance of multi-carrier radio receivers

Multi-carrier wideband radio receivers offer many advantages over their narrowband counter parts by pushing the digital boundary closer to the antenna. In multi-carrier wideband receivers, channel selection and filtering are done in the digital domain after analog to digital conversion (ADC); hence, such a wideband receiver requires only a single analog RF chain and a single wideband ADC for reception of many channels. The impact of the quantization noise of the ADC on the performance of a multi-carrier wideband receiver is very different from the impact of the quantization noise of the ADC in a traditional single-carrier receiver. In this paper, we derive analytical expressions that quantify this impact in terms of bit error rate (BER) for a Rayleigh fading channel.
Disclosure as a Strategy in the Patent Race

Abstract Research firms disclose a surprisingly large amount of information to the patent office through “targeted” disclosures, that is, disclosures intended to make the patent office aware of potentially patentable information. Conventional wisdom holds that these disclosures are made for defensive purposes; the disclosing firm does not itself plan to pursue patents related to the disclosed information, so the firm discloses to create prior art that might stop rivals from patenting. But firms have an incentive to disclose even if they intend to pursue patent protection. The reason is that, by making it more difficult to patent, disclosure extends the patent race. If an invention of a certain quality would have been sufficient to qualify for patent protection before the disclosure, after the disclosure any invention must be that much better before it will represent a sufficient advance over the now‐expanded prior art. This paper models disclosure strategies of this sort.
Status Epilepticus-Induced Alterations in Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor Expression in Young and Adult Rats

In adult rats, kainic acid induces status epilepticus and delayed, selective cell loss of pyramidal neurons in the hippocampal CA3. In pup rats, kainate induces status epilepticus but not the accompanying neuronal cell death. The precise mechanisms underlying this age-dependent vulnerability to seizure-induced cell death are not understood. Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are developmentally and spatially regulated throughout the hippocampus and are implicated in seizure-induced damage. In the present study we used in situ hybridization to examine possible changes in mGluR expression at the level of the hippocampus after status epilepticus in postnatal day 10 (P10) pup and adult (P40) rats. Status epilepticus did not alter expression of mGluR1, mGluR3, or mGluR5 mRNAs. In pup and adult rats, status epilepticus induced a reduction in expression of mGluR2 mRNA in granule cells of the dentate gyrus. This change could lead to augmented glutamate release at mossy fiber synapses on CA3 pyramidal cells and thereby promote hyperexcitation. In pup but not adult rats, mGluR4 mRNA expression was enhanced in CA3 pyramidal neurons. Upregulation of presynaptic mGluR4 in pup CA3 neurons could lead to reduced transmitter release from CA3 axons, including recurrent collaterals, thereby reducing vulnerability of neonatal CA3 neurons to seizure-induced damage. These findings indicate that status epilepticus affects mGluR expression in a gene- and cell-specific manner, and that these changes vary with the developmental stage.
Proteoglycan-mediated axon degeneration corrects pretarget topographic sorting errors.

Proper arrangement of axonal projections into topographic maps is crucial for brain function, especially in sensory systems. An important mechanism for map formation is pretarget axon sorting, in which topographic ordering of axons appears in tracts before axons reach their target, but this process remains poorly understood. Here, we show that selective axon degeneration is used as a correction mechanism to eliminate missorted axons in the optic tract during retinotectal development in zebrafish. Retinal axons are not precisely ordered during initial pathfinding but become corrected later, with missorted axons selectively fragmenting and degenerating. We further show that heparan sulfate is required non-cell-autonomously to correct missorted axons and that restoring its synthesis at late stages in a deficient mutant is sufficient to restore topographic sorting. These findings uncover a function for developmental axon degeneration in ordering axonal projections and identify heparan sulfate as a key regulator of that process.
Performance of mobile metallic temperature sensors in high power microwave heating systems

The goal of this study was to investigate the performance of mobile metallic temperature sensors in a packaged food processed in high power microwave assisted thermal sterilization (MATS) systems. A validated computer simulation model based on conformal finite difference time domain (FDTD) method was used to evaluate the influences of the microwave power intensity, probe tip geometry and diameter on the accuracy of the sensors. The simulation results revealed that a higher temperature zone was created near the probe tip. This temperature alteration was caused by the distortion of electric field at the probe tip area. Increasing the microwave power setting of MATS system amplified the temperature alteration. Proper sensor designs could help to reduce the temperature alterations. The flat probe tip was most sensitive to high power setting. Changing the probe tip to a spherical geometry and decreasing diameter of the probe significantly reduced the temperature alterations.
Barriers to healthcare utilization in fatiguing illness: a population-based study in Georgia

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of barriers to healthcare utilization in persons with fatiguing illness and describe its association with socio-demographics, the number of health conditions, and frequency of healthcare utilization. Furthermore, we sought to identify what types of barriers interfered with healthcare utilization and why they occurred. In a cross-sectional population-based survey, 780 subjects, 112 of them with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), completed a healthcare utilization questionnaire. Text analysis was used to create the emerging themes from verbatim responses regarding barriers to healthcare utilization. Multiple logistic regression was performed to examine the association between barriers to healthcare utilization and other factors. Forty percent of subjects reported at least one barrier to healthcare utilization. Of 112 subjects with CFS, 55% reported at least one barrier to healthcare utilization. Fatiguing status, reported duration of fatigue, insurance, and BMI were significant risk factors for barriers to healthcare utilization. After adjusting for socio-demographics, medication use, the number of health problems, and frequency of healthcare utilization, fatiguing status remained significantly associated with barriers to healthcare utilization. Subjects with CFS were nearly 4 times more likely to forego needed healthcare during the preceding year than non-fatigued subjects while those with insufficient fatigue (ISF) were nearly 3 times more likely. Three domains emerged from text analysis on barriers to healthcare utilization: 1) accessibility; 2) knowledge-attitudes-beliefs (KABs); and, 3) healthcare system. CFS and reported duration of fatigue were significantly associated with each of these domains. Persons with CFS reported high levels of healthcare utilization barriers for each domain: accessibility (34%), healthcare system (25%), and KABs (19%). In further examination of barrier domains to healthcare utilization, compared to non-fatigued persons adjusted ORs for CFS having "accessibility", "KAB" and "Healthcare System" barrier domains decreased by 40%, 30%, and 19%, respectively. Barriers to healthcare utilization pose a significant problem in persons with fatiguing illnesses. Study results suggested two-fold implications: a symptom-targeted model focusing on symptoms associated with fatigue; and an interactive model requiring efforts from patients and providers to improve interactions between them by reducing barriers in accessibility, KABs, and healthcare system.