cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Capital taxation with open borders

Since 1975, both corporate income tax rates and top marginal income tax rates have been lowered in most OECD countries. A common explanation of this phenomenon is that increased international capital mobility reduced the ability of governments to tax income from capital. In this paper, we examine the constraints on the taxation of income from capital with free capital mobility. We demonstrate that capital mobility increases the constraints on the taxation of income from capital only when investors expect future taxes to rise. As long as taxes are stable, governments using the right tax instruments can collect substantial taxes on uninvested profits without affecting private investment whether capital is mobile or not. We conclude that increased capital mobility is not a compelling explanation of the reduction in tax rates that has occurred in the past fifteen years.
Parallel simulation of anisotropic diffusion with human brain DT-MRI Data

Abstract We conduct simulations for the 3D unsteady state anisotropic diffusion process with DT-MRI data in the human brain by discretizing the governing diffusion equation on Cartesian grid and adopting a high performance differential–algebraic equation (DAE) solver, the parallel version of implicit differential–algebraic (IDA) solver, to tackle the resulting large scale system of DAEs. Parallel preconditioning techniques including sparse approximate inverse and banded-block-diagonal preconditioners are used with the GMRES method to accelerate the convergence rate of the iterative solution. We then investigate and compare the efficiency and effectiveness of the two parallel preconditioners. The experimental results of the diffusion simulations on a parallel supercomputer show that the sparse approximate inverse preconditioning strategy, which is robust and efficient with good scalability, gives a much better overall performance than the banded-block-diagonal preconditioner.
Electron transfer and reaction mechanism of laccases

Laccases are part of the family of multicopper oxidases (MCOs), which couple the oxidation of substrates to the four electron reduction of O2 to H2O. MCOs contain a minimum of four Cu’s divided into Type 1 (T1), Type 2 (T2), and binuclear Type 3 (T3) Cu sites that are distinguished based on unique spectroscopic features. Substrate oxidation occurs near the T1, and electrons are transferred approximately 13 A through the protein via the Cys-His pathway to the T2/T3 trinuclear copper cluster (TNC), where dioxygen reduction occurs. This review outlines the electron transfer (ET) process in laccases, and the mechanism of O2 reduction as elucidated through spectroscopic, kinetic, and computational data. Marcus theory is used to describe the relevant factors which impact ET rates including the driving force, reorganization energy, and electronic coupling matrix element. Then, the mechanism of O2 reaction is detailed with particular focus on the intermediates formed during the two 2e− reduction steps. The first 2e− step forms the peroxide intermediate, followed by the second 2e− step to form the native intermediate, which has been shown to be the catalytically relevant fully oxidized form of the enzyme.
Crystal structures of two cyclic pseudopentapeptides containing ψ[CH2S] and ψ[CH2SO] backbone surrogates

The solid state conformations of cyclo [Gly-Pro psi[CH2S] Gly-D-Phe-Pro] and cyclo [Gly-Pro psi[CH2-(S)-SO]Gly-D-Phe-Pro] have been characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. Crystals of the sulfide trihydrate are orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1), with a = 10.156(3) A, b = 11.704(3) A, c = 21.913(4) A, and Z = 4. Crystals of the sulfoxide are monoclinic, P2(1) with a = 10.662(1) A, b = 8.552(3) A, c = 12.947(2) A, beta = 94.28(2), and Z = 2. Unlike their all-amide parent, which adopts an all-trans backbone conformation and a type II beta-turn encompassing Gly-Pro-Gly-D-Phe, both of these peptides contain a cis Gly1-Pro2 bond and form a novel turn structure, i.e., a type II' beta-turn consisting of Gly-D-Phe-Pro-Gly. The turn structure in each of these peptides is stabilized by an intramolecular H bond between the carbonyl oxygen of Gly1 and the amide proton of D-Phe4. In the cyclic sulfoxide, the sulfinyl group is not involved in H bonding despite its strong potential as a hydrogen-bond acceptor. The crystal structure made it possible to establish the absolute configuration of the sulfinyl group in this peptide. The two crystal structures also helped identify a type II' beta-turn in the DMSO-d6 solution conformers of these peptides.
The Burden of Stroke and its Sequelae

To assess the magnitude of the problem of stroke, data were summarised from several national surveys conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics. This report describes the occurrence of stroke and the utilisation of healthcare services for stroke in the US, with special attention to the population 65 years of age and over. In 1993, 150 108 deaths were attributed to stroke, the third leading cause of death. Death rates rose steeply with age and men had higher death rates than women. Death rates were lower in Whites than in Blacks with the exception of ages 85 and over. Considerable geographic variation in stroke mortality was also noted.
The formation of inorganic pyrophosphate in microsomes.

Abstract The formation of inorganic pyrophosphate from orthophosphate in respiring liver homogenates has been investigated. The results indicate that the major source of the pyrophosphate-forming system is in the microsome fraction, and that the pyrophosphate is formed from ATP, which can be generated either oxidatively by mitochondria or nonoxidatively by certain phosphate-transferring enzyme systems. Soluble fractions have a slight, variable, capacity to form pyrophosphate in the oxidative, but not in the nonoxidative system. Pyrophosphate formation is strongly inhibited at high adenine nucleotide concentrations whether ATP is generated oxidatively or nonoxidatively. Some microsome preparations will form small amounts of pyrophosphate from ATP in the absence of a generating system, but only if the amount of ATP added is low. Phosphate is required for maximal activity, but is not incorporated into pyrophosphate in the nonoxidative system. GTP, UTP, and CTP will substitute for ATP.
Malignant lymphomas involving the ovary: A clinicopathologic analysis of 39 cases

We report 39 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who initially presented with ovarian enlargement. Fifteen patients had unilateral (10 left, four right, one unknown) and 24 had bilateral ovarian masses. The median size of the tumors was 8 cm (range, 2 to 23 cm). Histologically, using the Working Formulation, 21 lesions (54%) were classified as small noncleaved cell, Burkitt's type; 12 (31%) as large cell (nine diffuse, three focally follicular); three (8%) as diffuse mixed, small and large cell; two (5%) as large cell immunoblastic; and one (2%) as follicular and diffuse small cleaved cell. Twenty-six tumors were analyzed immunophenotypically, 25 (96%) of which were B-cell neoplasms. However, combining histologic and immunohistochemical findings, 37 neoplasms were of B-cell lineage, one diffuse large-cell lymphoma was not analyzed, and one large-cell immunoblastic lymphoma (with features of anaplastic large-cell lymphoma) was of T-cell lineage with an aberrant immunophenotype. On the basis of staging studies and clinical follow-up, we conclude that only four (10%) of the neoplasms in this study most likely arose in the ovary. The primary neoplasms, three diffuse large-cell and one diffuse mixed small- and large-cell, were B-cell neoplasms. Three of four patients with primary neoplasms were apparently cured at last follow-up following surgical excision and chemotherapy. The remainder of the lymphomas in this study, most commonly of small noncleaved cell, Burkitt's type, appear to be systemic tumors that involved the ovaries secondarily. Approximately 40% of patients with systemic neoplasms were alive without evidence of disease at last follow-up.
Mercury and beyond: diode-pumped solid state lasers for inertial fusion energy

We have begun building the ''Mercury'' laser system as the first in a series of new generation diode-pumped solid-state lasers for inertial fusion research. Mercury will integrate three key technologies: diodes, crystals, and gas cooling, within a unique laser architecture that is scalable to kilojoule and megajoule energy levels for fusion energy applications. The primary near-term performance goals include 10% electrical efficiencies at 10 Hz and 1005 with a 2-10 ns pulse length at 1.047 {micro}m wavelength. When completed, Mercury will allow rep-rated target experiments with multiple chambers for high energy density physics research.
Uptake of Pramipexole by Human Organic Cation Transporters

Pramipexole is a hydrophilic, weakly basic drug, but exhibits high oral bioavailability in humans (>90%). In rats, rOct1 and rOct2 contribute toward pramipexole excretion into urine. The objective of this study was to assess whether pramipexole is a substrate for human OCT1−3. In vitro uptake studies were performed using hOCT1-MDCK monolayers, hOCT2-HEK cells and hOCT3-HEK cells. hOCT2 transported pramipexole in a high affinity manner (Kt = 15.4 ± 4.1 μM, Jmax = 0.476 ± 0.028 pmol/s/cm2). hOCT3 transported pramipexole in a low affinity manner (Kt = 138 ± 31 μM, Jmax = 1.10 ± 0.08 pmol/s/cm2). Although previously reported to be translocated by rOct1, pramipexole was not a substrate for hOCT1. The human intestinal absorption of pramipexole may involve transport by OCT3 and possibly OCT2. OCT2- and OCT3-mediated transport of pramipexole have implications in the drug’s elimination from the kidney and distribution in the brain, respectively.
A decentralized fault prognosis scheme for nonlinear interconnected discrete-time systems

This paper deals with the design of a decentralized fault diagnosis and prognosis methodology for interconnected nonlinear dynamical systems. For each subsystem, a local fault detector (LFD) is designed based on the measured local states of the subsystem alone. A fault is detected by using a local residual signal generated via the measured local subsystem states and the LFD estimates states. Each LFD consists of an adaptive online approximator to compensate the fault dynamics from local and non-local faults. Due to the interconnection nature of the large scale system, the non-local faults propagate to other subsystems and therefore are detected thus eliminating the need to measure and transmit the states of other subsystems. Fault detectability condition is also included for both local and non-local faults. Upon detection, faults local to the subsystem and to other subsystems are isolated. In addition, the proposed scheme provides the time to failure (or remaining useful life) information by using local measurements alone. Simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed decentralized fault diagnosis and prognosis scheme.
A meta-analysis of 64-section coronary CT angiography findings for predicting 30-day major adverse cardiac events in patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndrome.

Rationale and Objectives To determine the accuracy of 64-section coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in predicting 30 day major adverse cardiac events (MACE) for patients presenting with symptoms concerning for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Materials and Methods Electronic databases between January 1, 2005, and May, 1, 2011, and reference lists from relevant published research articles were searched. We included studies on adult patients who presented with active symptoms suggestive of ACS, had immediate 64-section CCTA performed and were assessed for MACE at a minimum of 30 days past their initial presentation. Studies had to report or provide sufficient detail to determine sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value in relation to MACE using a 50% diameter stenosis as cutoff criterion for coronary artery disease. Results Nine studies were included for a total of 1559 patients studied (42.3% women, mean age 51.9 ± 10.6). Patients ranged from low to intermediate risk for ACS. All had initial inconclusive electrocardiograms and negative cardiac biomarker results. A total of 14.8% of patients had a positive CCTA result. The pooled sensitivity was 93.3% (95% CI 88.3%–96.6%), specificity was 89.9% (95% CI 88.3%–91.3%), positive predictive value was 48.1% (95% CI 42.5%–53.8%), and negative predictive value was 99.3% (95% CI 98.7%–99.6%). Conclusion Sixty-four section CCTA had a 99.3% negative predictive value in excluding MACE for 30 days after initial symptom presentation in 85.2% of our study population. Although the value of 64-section CCTA is best for identifying patients who can safely be discharged home, it is less useful for patients who have positive results.
Evaluation of two-step iterative resampling procedure for internal validation of genome-wide association studies

Background Genome-wide association (GWA) studies have successfully identified many common genetic variants associated with complex diseases over the past decade. The standard method for validating the top single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identified in GWA studies is to identify and replicate the findings in external cohorts. However, in cases of rare diseases like retinoblastoma and Ewing sarcoma that have prevalence rates of about 0.000001, it can be difficult to find an external validation cohort within a reasonable time frame. Even when disease outcomes are not rare, it can be hard to find a suitable external validation cohort.
Interproton coupling constant variations in 3-membered ring heterocycles. Separation of lone pair and inductive effects

In order to separate inductive and lone pair effects on geminal and vicinal coupling constants in a stereochemically well-defined system, the 1H NMR spectra of phenylcyclopropane (1), N-methyl-2-phenylaziridine (2), styrene oxide (3) and 1,1-dimethyl-2-phenylaziridinium fluorosulfonate (4) were compared. In D2O the heterocyclic ring protons of 4 were split into an ABX pattern which gave J(cis) = 8.5, J(trans) = 7.4 and J(gem) = −4.8 Hz (signs consistent with INDOR results). From the small solvent effects on J(vic) determined from 4-d1, it was concluded that J(gem) is −5.0 ± 1.0 Hz in methylene chloride. The absolute values for the coupling constants for 1 and 4 provide a measure of the inductive effect of the ring hetero group on J. Values of J(gem) for 2 and 3 deviated from those predicted on the basis of the above inductive effect, suggesting lone pair contributions to J(gem) of c. +5.5 Hz per lone pair. With this estimate it was possible to predict accurately the J(gem) values for 2-t-butyloxaziridine and 1-t-butyldiaziridine. The values of J(cis) and J(trans) for 2 and 3 likewise suggested a contribution of −2.5 Hz to J(cis) and −2.7 Hz to J(trans) per lone pair. The present results suggest that the major factors causing positive J(gem) values in epoxides and aziridines are increased s character to the CH bonds and lone pair effects, while the so-called electronegativity effect actually operates in the opposite direction to decrease J(gem). Also, the unusually low J(vic) values of epoxides relative to cyclopropanes are now seen to be due more to negative lone pair contributions than to the electron withdrawing ability of oxygen.
Trapped-electron Dating: ESR Studies

THERMOLUMINESCENCE (TL) dating of ancient fired ceramics is well established1–7. The process is neither very accurate nor well understood. The TL often comes from crystalline xenocrysts in the pottery8 which are of quartz and feldspar.
The utility of combinations of drugs directed at specific sites of the same target enzyme--ribonucleotide reductase as the model.

Abstract Ribonucleotide reductase is a key enzyme in DNA replication and, as such, has been a target for antitumor agents. This enzyme is composed of two non-identical protein subunits which can be specifically and independently inhibited. Combinations of drugs directed at the effector-binding and non-heme iron subunits of ribonucleotide reductase resulted in the synergistic inhibition of L1210 cell growth and synergistic L1210 cell kill. These combinations included dAdo/EHNA/IMPY/Desferal; dAdo/EHNA/hydroxyurea/Desferal (the EHNA was required to protect dAdo from deamination while Desferal modulated the effects of IMPY or hydroxyurea); 2-F-araA/IMPY/Desferal and 2-F-2′-dAdo/IMPY/Desferal (EHNA was not required to protect 2-F-araA or 2-F-2′-dAdo from deamination); and dGuo/8-AGuo/IMPY/Desferal (8-AGuo was required to protect dGuo from phosphorolysis). Although thymidine alone inhibited L1210 cell growth, it was not possible to potentiate the effects of thymidine with the pyrimidine nucleoside phosphorylase inhibitors, acyclothymidine, 5-chlorouracil and 2,6-dihydroxypyridine. Combinations of drugs directed at the ribonucleotide reductase and DNA polymerase sites were studied for their effects on L1210 cell growth. With these combinations, no synergistic inhibition of L1210 cell growth was observed. The combinations of aphidicolin and IMPY/Desferal and aphidicolin and dAdo/EHNA inhibited L1210 cell growth in an additive manner; the combinations of IMPY/Desferal and BuAU or IMPY/Desferal and BuPdG resulted in antagonistic inhibition of L1210 cell growth. From these results it is clear that combination chemotherapy directed at independent sites of the same key target enzyme can result in strong synergistic inhibition of cell growth and cytotoxicity offering a clear therapeutic advantage. In contrast, the combinations directed at sequential key enzymes (e.g. ribonucleotide reductase and DNA polymerase) did not result in synergistic inhibition of cell growth. The utility of combinations of drugs directed at specific but independent sites of the target enzyme (e.g. ribonucleotide reductase) has been demonstrated in tumor cell systems in culture and now must be demonstrated in vivo .
Comparative study of input devices for a VR mine simulation

It has been shown that virtual reality (VR) can be used to train mine workers for safety in critical situations [4]. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has a virtual reality (VR) laboratory on its Pittsburgh campus. Currently, input devices for the system are an Xbox 360 game pad and an air mouse. Due to the high cost and added complexity of most 3D tracking systems, we wanted to first test to see if the mine safety application could benefit from an upgrade to a 6-DOF tracking system. Thus, we conducted a pilot study at Duke University's six-sided CAVE-type system, and collected performance and questionnaire data for three tasks (selection, navigation, and maneuvering) and three devices (gamepad, air mouse, 6-DOF wand). Results indicate that the wand allows users to complete tasks faster and is preferred by users. However, in certain situations its use led to more errors.
Bosutinib for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive leukemias

Introduction: Bosutinib is a dual ABL1 and SRC third-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) indicated for the treatment of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) resistant or intolera...
Earth science: River incision revisited

A data-set compilation suggests that measurements of river erosion into rock depend on the observation timescale, casting doubt on whether terraces and other incised landforms faithfully record changes in climate and tectonics.
A high power cascode switch for rapid and efficient energy transfer at high repetition rates

Rapid pulsing from high voltage, high current pulsed power supplies is challenging for a number of reasons, chief among them is the lack of solid state switches capable of switching desired voltage and current with sufficiently fast turn on and turn off times. To address this issue, a switching system composed of power MOSFETs arranged in a cascode configuration has been developed. This system is capable of switching 500 V at 1 kA with turn on time less than 10 ns and a maximum di/dt of 1×1010 A/s. It has been used as the primary switch in multiple pulse generators and has operated at pulsed repetition rates as high as 100 kHz. In these initial tests, repetition rate was limited only by the charging circuitry. Given sufficiently robust charging, this design is capable of operating at repetition rates as high as 1 MHz in an architecture that produces 10 kV, 5 ns pulses. The first prototype of this system has been completed and characterized; the results from measurements designed to extract time resolved switch parasitics are reported. In light of the successful implementation of this prototype, design of the next iteration of this modular cascade switch is planning stages. Emphasis is placed on usability, with the intention of producing a fully shielded “black box” that is easily integrated into the front end switching system of existing pulsed power supplies.
Host plant predictability and the feeding patterns of monophagous, oligophagous, and polyphagous insect herbivores

Host plant preferences for 34 insect herbivore species are reported. Most polyphagous herbivores feeding on annuals, herbaceous perennials, and woody perennials show distinct preferences for the least abundant plant species among their various host plants. In addition, some populations of widely distributed polyphagous species are much more specialized in their diet than host plant lists alone would suggest. The high level of polyphagy on annuals and herbaceous perennials is suggested to be strongly influenced by the unpredictability of the host plant that is, in turn, controlled by environmental variability. Oligophagous herbivores preferred the least abundant woody perennials on the study sites. Ten of the 22 monophagous herbivores preferred the rarest of all the plant species on the same sites.
Geophysical explanation for the disparity in spreading rates between the Northern and Southern hemispheres

[1] An interesting characteristic of the Earth, often noticed by schoolchildren, is that it seems out of balance: Oceans dominate the Southern Hemisphere, while continental crust seems to be crowded into the Northern Hemisphere. The cause of this inequity involves the greater number of mid-ocean spreading ridges and significantly faster spreading rates in the Southern Hemisphere, but no explanation has ever been suggested for this hemispheric disparity in spreading ridges and rates. An examination of east-west spreading rates and plate motion indicates that the imbalance is due to simple spherical geometry. In the Southern Hemisphere, the system of spreading ridges encircling Antarctica is pushing all of the neighboring plates northward, away from Antarctica. As these plates approach the equator, they begin to occupy larger latitudinal circumferences. This large-scale northward motion of latitudinal bands of crust to lower latitudes requires significant emplacement of new crustal material to fill up the larger circumferences, resulting in extremely high sum total east-west spreading rates along those latitudes. Contrariwise, in the Northern Hemisphere the general northward motion of plates away from the equator and toward smaller circumferences has led to a steep drop in spreading rates and the number of active spreading ridges. Sum total east-west spreading rates along latitudes are correlated with the rate of latitudinal circumferential extension to a significant degree (r = 0.68). The geophysical result of this correlation has been the asymmetric globe that we see today, mostly young and oceanic in the south, mostly old and continental in the north.
European security and the European Union in theory and practice

Securing Europe: European security in an American epoch, by Lisa Watanabe, London, Palgrave Macmillan, 2010, v + 191 pp., £54 (hardcover), ISBN13: 978-0-230-00216-6 The EU and the European security...
Relational confidence bounds are easy with the bootstrap

Statistical estimation and approximate query processing have become increasingly prevalent applications for database systems. However, approximation is usually of little use without some sort of guarantee on estimation accuracy, or "confidence bound." Analytically deriving probabilistic guarantees for database queries over sampled data is a daunting task, not suitable for the faint of heart, and certainly beyond the expertise of the typical database system end-user. This paper considers the problem of incorporating into a database system a powerful "plug-in" method for computing confidence bounds on the answer to relational database queries over sampled or incomplete data. This statistical tool, called the bootstrap, is simple enough that it can be used by a data-base programmer with a rudimentary mathematical background, but general enough that it can be applied to almost any statistical inference problem. Given the power and ease-of-use of the bootstrap, we argue that the algorithms presented for supporting the bootstrap should be incorporated into any database system which is intended to support analytic processing.
Research note: genes on chromosomes: the conversion of Thomas Hunt Morgan.

In the first decade of the twentieth century, the foundation for the science of genetics was set. In 1900, the data of Gregor Mendel were rediscovered. By 1915, a community of scientists accepted that there were entities on chromosomes that controlled the development of observable traits. During the intervening period, Thomas Hunt Morgan was one of the major skeptics regarding the chromosomal location of the genes. His acceptance may have been the turning point for the flowering of American genetics. This paper will discuss the reasons for Morgan's recalcitrance, his conversion to belief, and the nature of the scientific evidence that led to his acceptance.
An improved differential voltage technique for capacitance measurement

Abstract A differential voltage capacitance technique is described for measuring the capacitance of forward-biased Schottky diodes. This technique is based on the concept of an improved admittance bridge. Difficulties arising from the high conductive component were solved or minimized. Data were obtained for NiSi and PdGaAs Schottky diodes with quality factors as low as 0.001. Compared to accurate phase capacitance spectroscopy and other bridge methods, this technique is more reliable and easier to operate.
Individualization of Therapy for Hypertension in the 1990′S: The Role of Calcium Antagonists

The Joint National Committee Reports IV 1988 and V 1992 have emphasized individualization of drug therapy for patients with hypertension - a departure from the “stepped” care approach of initiating therapy with diuretics as advocated by the JNC I-III in the 1970′s and 1980′s. This review highlights individualization or “patient profiling” using calcium channel blockers as first-line treatment strategy for patients with primary hypertension - especially in the patient who has attendant risk factors and sequelae. The calcium channel antagonists, especially effective in elderly and Black patients, have proven efficacy in reducing left ventricular hypertrophy and improving diastolic function in patients with hypertensive heart disease. The heart rate limiting calcium antagonist, verapamil, has been found effective in outcome trials of reducing death and reinfarction rates post myocardial infarction and is an alternative therapy for the beta blocker intolerant hypertensive post myocardial infarction. More vasc...
MO‐D‐I‐611‐02: A Simple and Effective Method to Determine Clinical Significance of CT Ring Artifacts

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of using air scan to determine quantitatively whether CT ring artifacts are clinically significant. Method and Materials: Clinical contrast medium Optiray 320 was used to make CT artifact tools, which were attached to CTdetectors at various locations. Preliminary scans of standard uniform phantoms were acquired on a 16‐slice CT scanner with and without artifact tools. Images of an anthropomorphic phantom (ATOM, CIRS, Inc.) were acquired with the chest pulmonary embolus protocol to determine whether the rings are clinically significant. Air scans were acquired with the same artifact tools in place using a clinical as well as a QC protocol. Standard deviation values of ROI placed in images of uniform phantoms and air scans were recorded. The air scan data associated with the rings that are least visible in the anthropomorphic phantoms were used to investigate whether a threshold exists which indicates if rings are clinically significant. Results: Sensitivity of this method varies slightly with image thickness, mAs, scan mode, and ROI size. Evaluation of QC air scans showed good separation of the standard deviation values between “blank” air scans and those with artifacts for different ring diameters. Different threshold values were found based on size of ROI used to measure standard deviation, and it is necessary to use at least two different ROI sizes for either small or large ring artifacts. Conclusion: While air scans are overly sensitive for the visual detection of ring artifacts in CTimages, they may be useful in establishing quantitative criteria for determining whether the rings present are clinically significant. With stack mode viewing, a quick and simple evaluation may be feasible for multidetector row CT scanners of large number of data channels for those institutions without the means to develop automated off‐line analysis.
The Yeast Retrograde Response as a Model of Intracellular Signaling of Mitochondrial Dysfunction

Mitochondrial dysfunction activates intracellular signaling pathways that impact yeast longevity, and the best known of these pathways is the retrograde response. More recently, similar responses have been discerned in other systems, from invertebrates to human cells. However, the identity of the signal transducers is either unknown or apparently diverse, contrasting with the well-established signaling module of the yeast retrograde response. On the other hand, it has become equally clear that several other pathways and processes interact with the retrograde response, embedding it in a network responsive to a variety of cellular states. An examination of this network supports the notion that the master regulator NFkB aggregated a variety of mitochondria-related cellular responses at some point in evolution and has become the retrograde transcription factor. This has significant consequences for how we view some of the deficits associated with aging, such as inflammation. The support for NFkB as the retrograde response transcription factor is not only based on functional analyses. It is bolstered by the fact that NFkB can regulate Myc-Max, which is activated in human cells with dysfunctional mitochondria and impacts cellular metabolism. Myc-Max is homologous to the yeast retrograde response transcription factor Rtg1-Rtg3. Further research will be needed to disentangle the pro-aging from the anti-aging effects of NFkB. Interestingly, this is also a challenge for the complete understanding of the yeast retrograde response.
Effect of locally delivered IGF-1 on nerve regeneration during aging: An experimental study in rats

Age is an important predictor of neuromuscular recovery after peripheral nerve injury. Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is a potent neurotrophic factor that is known to decline with increasing age. The purpose of this study was to determine if locally delivered IGF-1 would improve nerve regeneration and neuromuscular recovery in aged animals. Young and aged rats underwent nerve transection and repair with either saline or IGF-1 continuously delivered to the site of the nerve repair. After 3 months, nerve regeneration and neuromuscular junction morphology were assessed. In both young and aged animals, IGF-1 significantly improved axon number, diameter, and density. IGF-1 also significantly increased myelination and Schwann cell activity and preserved the morphology of the postsynaptic neuromuscular junction (NMJ). These results show that aged regenerating nerve is sensitive to IGF-1 treatment.
The decay of the skyrmion

Abstract We show that the two-flavor Skyrme model for the nucleon with gauged SU(2) LEFT and a single lepton doublet is consistent only if the soliton is quantized as a fermion. To do so we devise a proof of Witten's SU(2) anomaly valid for both fundamental fermions and solitons. We also prove that weak instantons cause the skyrmion to decay into pions plus a single lepton. This effect can be identified with 't Hooft's interaction causing baryon decay at the quark level.
Pathophysiological features of the pulsatile secretion of biologically active luteinizing hormone in man.

Summary-The development of an in vitro bioassay of high specificity, sensitivity and precision for the measurement of low circulating concentrations of biologically active glycoprotein hormones has offered exciting new insights into the in uivo secretion and metabolic clearance of luteinizing hormone (LH) in various pathophysiolo~cal states. Moreover, the most recent combined application of the rat interstitial cell testosterone (RICT) bioassay and a novel multiple-parameter deonvolution model has allowed investigators to dissect plasma concentration profiles of bioactive LH into defined secretory bursts, which have numerically explicit amplitudes, locations in time, and durations, and are acted upon by dete~inable subject- and study-specific endogenous metabolic clearance re (ii) demonstrated that low-dose exogenous GnRH pulses effectively mimic spontaneous bioactive LH pulsa6lity; (iii) investigated the role of endogenous androgen and estrogen in
The Rhythms of Drinking in a Peruvian Coastal Mestizo Community

A result of field research in Viru, Peru in 1947-48 and in 1960, this paper describes traditional drinking patterns in a peasant village. The primary beverage in Viru is chicha, made from maize. A nineteenth-century recipe and present methods of manufacture are compared. Holmberg describes daily drinking patterns, drinking at annual religious festivals, and patterns of alcohol use at the ritual celebration of life cycle events. Consumption of chicha during the day is seen as an alternative to drinking the unhealthful local water, while ceremonial drinking serves functions of social integration. Traditional patterns of drinking are such an integral part of the value structure of Viru that they are not likely to change in the near future.
MEG and EEG auditory responses to tone, click and white noise stimuli ☆

We report the results of two experiments comparing the amplitude of MEG auditory evoked fields (AEFs) and EEG auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) to tone, click and white noise stimuli. In the first experiment, AEFs and AEPs, bandpassed between 2.0 and 40 Hz, were averaged for 500 msec following 128 irregularly spaced alternating 92 dB clicks and 88 msec long 2 kHz tones, in 16 adult human subjects (8 male, 8 female). Recordings were made from both hemispheres, one side at a time, at a position of the way up from T3 to C3 and T4 to C4. The magnetic sensor was a figure-8 SQUID gradiometer with a 4 cm baseline oriented for maximum sensitivity to a current dipole(s) perpendicular to the sylvian fissure. The dependent variable was the maximum amplitude of the responses occurring within 250 msec of stimulus delivery. A 4-way (2b × 2w × 2w × 2w) ANOVA was used for statistical analysis of amplitude data examining differences between sex, laterality (contralateral vs. ipsilateral), auditory stimuli (click vs. tone) and hemisphere (left vs. right). AEFs in response to tone stimuli were of higher amplitide than those for click stimuli, for both left and right hemispheres, and for both contralateral and ipsilateral ear stimulation (F = 65.2, df = 1, 14, P < 0.001). The opposite relationships (click responses of greater amplitude than tone responses) were found with EEG AEPs (F = 10.4, df = 1, 14, P < 0.01). AEFs and EEG AEPs were both of higher amplitude in response to contralateral compared to ipsilateral ear stimulation, when averaged across both left and right hemispheres, both clicks and tones, and both sexes. The second experiment, using 8 subjects, was identical except white noise bursts were used as stimuli instead of clicks. We found significantly higher amplitude AEFs to tones compared to equal length and SPL white noise bursts, with a non-significant trend for the reverse to be true for AEPs. Overall, tones appeared to produce the highest amplitude AEFs, and clicks the lowest amplitude, with white noise stimuli being intermediate. AEF amplitude as a function of stimulus type parallels previously reported auditory cortex unit activation by similar stimuli, and thus AEFs may more closely reflect cortical unit activity patterns, whereas other influences appear operative in influencing AEP amplitude.
MOTOR ASSESSMENT OF COCAINE-EXPOSED INFANTS

No assessment of development of cocaine-exposed infants beyond the neonatal period has as yet been published. The Movement Assessment Inventory (MAI) is designed to evaluate muscle tone, primary reflexes, automatic reactions and volitional movement in the first year of life. The test at 4 months of age provides an assessment of risk for motor dysfunction. A group of 15 full-term cocaine-exposed infants was compared to a control group of 50 full-term infants at 4 months of age. The 2 groups were similar for gestational age and maternal gravidity, age and racial distribution. There was a significant difference in total risk score (t test, P<.01) tor the 2 groups of infants (cocaine=10.6±3.6 vs control=6.6±3.8). A breakdown of risk scores revealed significant differences (cocaine vs controls, t test, P<.05) in muscle tone (3.85 vs 1.94), reflexes (2.77 vs 1.54) and volitional movements (1.69 vs 1.04). Placement of infants within previously established ranges of risk scores (0-7=no risk, 8-13=questionable, 13=high risk) revealed a significant difference in distribution (X2, P<.01): Although previous studies of the effects of intrauterine exposure to substances of abuse have not revealed significant differences in motor development as measured by the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, it appears that the MAI has demonstrated qualitative differences between cocaine-exposed and normal infants.
Army women's sexual health information needs.

Objective To ascertain Army women's specific sexual health information needs prior to developing a theoretically based, self-administered intervention to promote safer sexual practices during deployment. Design An exploratory design was employed to address the research questions. Participants Participants (N= 131) were Army women recruited from Army posts around the United States. The women ranged in age from 18 to 68 years (M= 30.8, SD= 10.5), were of varied ethnicity, and had an average time in service of 8.0 years (SD= 6.6). Main outcome measures Desire for knowledge about sexual health and safer sexual practices were measured with forced-choice responses based upon DiIorio's Safer Sex Questionnaire (DiIorio, Parsons, Lehr, Adame, & Carlone, 1992) and open-ended questions to assess past information received, quality of that information, and information desired. Results Participants had moderate levels of sexual risk behaviors. Forced-choice responses yielded little desire for information regarding safer sexual practices. Women identified different sexual health and safer sexual information needs based upon whether they were at a normal duty station or during deployment. Conclusions Participants did not identify many information needs; however, their sexual behaviors indicate the need for interventions.
Molecular Dipole Function Inversion from Time Dependent Probability Density and Electric Field Data

A noniterative quantum mechanical algorithm is presented to extract the dipole function from time dependent probability density and external electric field data. The algorithm determines the dipole function as the solution of an exact linear integral equation without the need to solve the Schrodinger equation. The inversion in regular regions of the dipole is accurate and stable under perturbations from noisy data. The regular regions of the dipole are automatically identified by the algorithm, and Tikhonov regularization is employed. There is much freedom in the external electric field with the best choices generally producing broad excitations of many eigenstates. Field designs may be estimated from the Hamiltonian or through closed loop learning techniques in the laboratory. The inversion algorithm is tested in a simulation for O−H, which shows that the algorithm is very reliable. Since the inversion algorithm is fast, it is argued that closed loop laboratory learning techniques may be applied to optim...
College drinking problems and social anxiety: The importance of drinking context.

Social anxiety more than quadruples the risk of developing an alcohol use disorder, yet it is inconsistently linked to heavy alcohol use. Elucidation of the relation between social anxiety and alcohol use is an important next step in treating and preventing risky drinking. College students routinely face potentially anxiety-provoking social situations (e.g., meeting new people) and socially anxious undergraduates are especially vulnerable to alcohol-related impairment. Drinking to cope with social anxiety is thought to reinforce alcohol use, yet research on coping-motivated drinking among socially anxious students has yielded inconsistent findings. Further, undergraduate drinking varies by drinking context, yet the role of context in drinking behaviors among socially anxious individuals remains unclear. The current study sought to examine the relationship of social anxiety and drinking quantity in specific drinking contexts among undergraduates (N = 611). We also evaluated whether relevant drinking contexts mediated the relationship between social anxiety and alcohol-related problems. Clinically elevated social anxiety was related to heavier consumption in negative emotion (e.g., feeling sad or angry) and personal/intimate (e.g., before sexual intercourse) contexts, but not social/convivial contexts (e.g., parties, bars). Quantity of alcohol consumed in negative emotion and personal/intimate contexts mediated the relationship between social anxiety and drinking problem severity. Drinking in personal/intimate contexts demonstrated a unique mediational role. FINDINGS suggest that heavy drinking in particular contexts (especially personal/intimate and negative emotion) may play an important role in drinking problems among socially anxious individuals. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved). Language: en
From proton pump to proteome. Twenty-five years of research on ion transport in higher plants.

To understand just how far research on ion transport has come, it is informative to look first at the status of the field 25 years ago. In the early 1970s, scientists were still struggling to understand the basic structure of the cell membrane. The fluid mosaic model of membrane structure entered
Magnet Incorporated Carbon Electrodes: Methods for Construction and Demonstration of Increased Electrochemical Flux

Magnetic fields at electrodes increase flux through dynamics. Magnetically modified electrodes sustain a permanent magnetic field because magnetic materials are either attached to the electrode surface or incorporated into the electronic conductor of the electrode. Thus far, magnetically modified electrodes have been produced by coating electrode surfaces with composites of Nafion and magnetic microparticles. Glassy carbon and platinum electrodes as well as fuel cell electrodes modified with Nafion and magnetic microparticles exhibit enhanced flux as compared to similar nonmagnetic composites. Here, magnet incorporated carbon electrodes (MICEs) are presented. Two examples are described: magnet incorporated carbon paste electrodes (MICE-Ps) and magnet incorporated carbon epoxy electrodes (MICE-Es). Voltammetrically driven fluxes for MICEs are higher than those for the corresponding nonmagnetic controls (carbon paste (CPEs) and carbon epoxy (CEEs) electrodes).
Fluxional behavior of (CO)4Fe(u-AsMe2)Mo(CO)2(C5H5)

Abstract The 1 H and 13 C NMR spectra of the heterobimetallic compound (CO) 4 Fe(μ-AsMe 2 )Mo(CO) 2 (C 5 H 5 ) reveal three different fluxional processes.
Genomic and Proteomic Profiles Reveal the Association of Gelsolin to TP53 Status and Bladder Cancer Progression

Bladder cancer transformation and immortalization require the inactivation of key regulatory genes, including TP53. Genotyping of a large cohort of bladder cancer patients (n = 256) using the TP53 GeneChip showed mutations in 103 cases (40.2%), the majority of them mapping to the DNA-binding core domain. TP53 mutation status was significantly associated with tumor stage (P = 0.0001) and overall survival for patients with advanced disease (P = 0.01). Transcript profiling using oligonucleotide arrays was performed on a subset of these cases (n = 46). Supervised analyses identified genes differentially expressed between invasive bladder tumors with wild-type (n = 24) and mutated TP53 (n = 22). Pathway analyses of top-ranked genes supported the central role of TP53 in the functional network of such gene patterns. A proteomic strategy using reverse phase arrays with protein extracts of bladder cancer cell lines validated the association of identified differentially expressed genes, such as gelsolin, to TP53 status. Immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays (n = 294) revealed that gelsolin was associated with tumor stage and overall survival, correlating positively with TP53 status in a subset of these patients. This study further reveals that TP53 mutations are frequent events in bladder cancer progression and identified gelsolin related to TP53 status, tumor staging, and clinical outcome by independent high-throughput strategies.
Transballoon Intravascular Ultrasound Imaging During Balloon Angioplasty in Animal Models With Coarctation and Branch Pulmonary Stenosis

Background Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) studies performed after balloon dilation provide a method for evaluating the adequacy of angioplasty and the nature of associated changes in vessel walls. Previously, IVUS studies required the use of separate scanning catheters inserted independently before and after balloon angioplasty. We tested a 0.035-in, 30-MHz IVUS transducer wire that images from within commercially available 5F balloon dilation catheters. Methods and Results Seven stenoses were created in the left pulmonary artery (n=3) and in the aortic isthmus (n=4) in six lambs (weight, 3.4 to 12.5 kg). The balloon catheter selected was advanced across the stenotic area and the IVUS wire advanced in the guide lumen to the center of the balloon. Continuous IVUS images were obtained through balloons before, during, and after dilation. Transballoon imaging confirmed balloon location within the stenotic segment. Luminal diameters of stenotic and adjacent vessel segments before and after angioplasty by IVUS...