cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experimental investigation of broad area quantum cascade lasers under external feedback

Mode creation and temporal response of broad-area quantum cascade lasers (BA-QCL) placed within an external feedback cavity are described in this publication. The critical feedback parameter becomes the mirror angle relative to the BA-QCL facet. With judicious angle choices, a plethora of curious modes can be created, each with their particular threshold and slope efficiency. These range from a nearly single far-field intensity peak to highly multimode emission similar to their diode counterparts. Dynamics are strongly dominated by transverse mode competition ranging for less than 20MHz to greater than 100MHz. When the mirror is parallel to the facet, higher frequency external cavity oscillations become undamped.
Translational Equation-Based Modeling

Equation-based models have been the main mathematical framework used for the development of computational simulations in the physical sciences and more recently, in the biological sciences. Based on a solid mathematical foundation and mature methods, equation-based models represent biological mechanisms in terms of equations and are inherently causal in nature. Newer approaches offer methods to represent the inherent diversity of cells and organisms, the imperfect data gathered from bench and clinical experiments. These methods have created the opportunity for equation-based models to provide probabilistic assessment of system state in ways not accessible to alternative stochastic approaches, and therefore offer probabilistic forecasts of the evolution of complex systems, much like weather forecasting. Equation-based models are recently emerging as a useful translational tool, with application ranging from dosing of cancer chemotherapy to closed-loop control of blood sugar in diabetic patients, contributing to improving patient-centered outcomes. Future applications will expand to rational design of clinical trials including enhancing adapting design methodology, the development of mechanistically based goal-directed therapeutic interventions, and bedside clinical decision-support systems.
Digital Frequency Multiplier for LO Generation using 22nm FDSOI

This paper presents an innovative approach, using GLOBALFOUNDRIES 22nm FDSOI technology, a Digital Frequency Multiplication technique that can be used to generate Local Oscillator signal in TDD systems radios - Wireless LAN as an example. Current WLAN radios use frequency multiplication, using mixers and transformers, and division using dividers, to plan VCO and Local Oscillator frequencies that are not harmonically related to actual transmit frequencies in order to facilitate integration of on-chip Power Amplifiers. The system designed in this paper uses Delay Locked Loop with a completely digital calibration mechanism without any charge pumps or filters. The circuit employs a unique delay cell, with back gates, designed in 22nm FDSOI technology for calibration. The overall solution is competitive, it consumes 5.5mW in power and takes 0.075mm^2 in die size for Wireless LAN MIMO radios.
Effect of Planting Date and Inoculum Density on Severity of Fusarium Wilt of Lettuce in California.

Seven lettuce cultivars were transplanted into a field infested with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae (causal agent of Fusarium wilt of lettuce) in August and September of 2014, 2015, and 2016. F...
Epigenetic Potential in Native and Introduced Populations of House Sparrows ( Passer domesticus )

Epigenetic potential, defined as the capacity for epigenetically-mediated phenotypic plasticity, may play an important role during range expansions. During range expansions, populations may encounter relatively novel challenges while experiencing lower genetic diversity. Phenotypic plasticity via epigenetic potential might be selectively advantageous at the time of initial introduction or during spread into new areas, enabling introduced organisms to cope rapidly with novel challenges. Here, we asked whether one form of epigenetic potential (i.e., the abundance of CpG sites) in three microbial surveillance genes: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) 1B (TLR1B), 2A (TLR2A), and 4 (TLR4) varied between native and introduced house sparrows (Passer domesticus). Using an opportunistic approach based on samples collected from sparrow populations around the world, we found that introduced birds had more CpG sites in TLR2A and TLR4, but not TLR1B, than native ones. Introduced birds also lost more CpG sites in TLR1B, gained more CpG sites in TLR2A, and lost fewer CpG sites in TLR4 compared to native birds. These results were not driven by differences in genetic diversity or population genetic structure, and many CpG sites fell within predicted transcription factor binding sites (TFBS), with losses and gains of CpG sites altering predicted TFBS. Although we lacked statistical power to conduct the most rigorous possible analyses, these results suggest that epigenetic potential may play a role in house sparrow range expansions, but additional work will be critical to elucidating how epigenetic potential affects gene expression and hence phenotypic plasticity at the individual, population, and species levels.
The Sonographic Spectrum of Pelvic Endometriosis: Pearls, Pitfalls, and Mimics.

AbstractEndometriosis is a common disease of reproductive-age women that is often first encountered with ultrasound. Therefore, familiarity with the variety of manifestations of endometriosis is important for appropriate diagnosis and management. The aim of this article is to review the spectrum of
Understanding the structural basis of species selective, stereospecific inhibition for Cryptosporidium and human thymidylate synthase.

Thymidylate synthase (TS), found in all organisms, is an essential enzyme responsible for the de novo synthesis of deoxythymidine monophosphate. The TS active sites of the protozoal parasite Cryptosporidium hominis and human are relatively conserved. Evaluation of antifolate compound 1 and its R-enantiomer 2 against both enzymes reveals divergent inhibitor selectivity and enzyme stereospecificity. To establish how C. hominis and human TS (ChTS and hTS) selectively discriminate 1 and 2, respectively, we determined crystal structures of ChTS complexed with 2 and hTS complexed with 1 or 2. Coupled with the previously determined structure of ChTS complexed with 1, we discuss a possible mechanism for enzyme stereospecificity and inhibitor selectivity.
Global trends in measles publications.

Introduction Beginning with the 1960s, this review analyzes trends in publications on measles indexed by the National Library of Medicine from January 1960 to mid-2018. It notes both the growth in numbers of published papers, and the increasing number and proportion of publications, in the current century, of articles on such items as costing, measles elimination, and determinants of coverage. Methods A two-person team extracted from the National Library of Medicine (NLM) homepage all citations on measles beginning in 1960 and continuing through mid-2018. These were then classified both by overall number and by subject matter, with tabular summaries of both by decade and by subject matter. The tabular presentation forms the basis for a discussion of the ten most frequently cited subjects, and publication trends, with a special emphasis on the current century. Results As in the past, the most often currently published items have been on coverage and its determinants, measles elimination, outbreak reports, SSPE, and SIAs. The putative relationship between vaccination and autism saw a spurt of articles in the 1990s, rapidly declining after the IOM report rejecting the causative hypothesis. Conclusion There is a discussion on the sequencing of polio and measles eradication, the former unlikely before 2022, and an examination of likely research priorities as the world moves from measles control to measles eradication. There is a key role for social science in combatting vaccination reticence. The role of technical innovations, such as micropatch vaccination, is discussed.
Comparison on the effect of two different removal methods of urinary catheter after brain stem tumor operation on the first urinating

Objective To evaluate the effect of two different removal methods of urinary catheter after brain stem tumor operation on the first urinating. Methods 210 patients received brain stem tumor operation were recruited. They were divided into two groups. In experimental group,bladder filling method was used,and in control group,conventional removal method was used. The first urinating conditions of two groups were compared. Results The success rate of first urinating conditions between two groups was significantly different (P ＜0.01). Conclusions Bladder filling method was better for extracting urinary canal after brain stem tumor operation than conventional removal method. It is worthy of promotion and application. Key words: Brain stem tumor; Urethral catheterization; Filling of bladder
The Jihadist Forever War: Islamic State Innovations in Terrorist Propaganda, Recruitment and Organizational Networking

It has been over a year since the last vestige of Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham’s (ISIS) caliphate project in the town of Baghuz was captured by American-backed Syrian-Kurdish paramilitary forc...
Atavistic Stomatal Responses to Blue Light in Marsileaceae

Stomata respond to changes in light environment through multiple mechanisms that jointly regulate the tradeoff between carbon assimilation and water loss. The stomatal response to blue light is highly sensitive, rapid, and not driven by photosynthesis. It is present in most vascular plant groups but is believed to have been lost in the ancestor of leptosporangiate ferns. Schizaeales and Salviniales are the only leptosporangiate orders that have not been tested for stomatal responses to a low fluence of blue light. We report that these stomatal responses are absent in Lygodium japonicum (Schizaeales). In contrast, we observed stomatal responses to a low fluence of blue light in Regnellidium diphyllum and Marsilea minuta (Marsileaceae, Salviniales). In R. diphyllum, blue light triggered stomatal oscillations. The oscillations were more sensitive to atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration than to humidity, suggesting that the blue light responses of Marsileaceae stomata differ from those of angiosperms. Our findings suggest that Marsileaceae have physiologically diverged from other leptosporangiate ferns, achieving unusually high photosynthetic capacities through amphibious lifestyles and numerous anatomical convergences with angiosperms. Blue light stomatal responses may have contributed to this divergence by enabling high rates of leaf gas exchange in Marsileaceae.
Numerical simulations of LEAP centrifuge tests for seismic response of liquefiable sloping ground

Abstract This paper presents numerical simulations of a liquefiable sloping ground related to LEAP-UCD-2017 and LEAP-Asia-2019 (Liquefaction Experiments and Analysis Projects) dynamic centrifuge model tests (Type-C phase) conducted by various institutions. The numerical simulations are performed using a pressure-dependent constitutive model implemented with the characteristics of dilatancy, cyclic mobility and associated shear deformation. The soil parameters are determined based on a series of available stress-controlled cyclic triaxial and torsional shear tests for matching the liquefaction strength curves of Ottawa F-65 sand with relative densities Dr. = 65% and 60% in calibration phase of LEAP-UCD-2017 and LEAP-Asia-2019, respectively. The computational framework for the dynamic response analysis is discussed and the computed results are presented for the selected centrifuge experiments during Type-C phase. Measured time histories (e.g., displacement, acceleration and excess pore pressure ratio) of these experiments are reasonably captured. Comparisons between the numerical simulations and measured results showed that the pressure-dependent constitutive model as well as the overall employed computational framework have the potential to predict the response of the liquefiable sloping ground, and subsequently realistically evaluate the performance of an equivalent soil system subjected to seismically-induced liquefaction.
Pharmacological Smoking Cessation Therapies in Older Adults: A Review of the Evidence.

Nearly 12 % of adults 65 years and over in Europe and 9 % in the USA are current cigarette smokers. Numerous studies have demonstrated tangible benefits of smoking cessation, regardless of advanced age. However, it is unclear which pharmacotherapy strategies are most effective in the elderly population. To that end, the literature on smoking cessation in older adults was reviewed with the aim of identifying the safest and most effective cessation pharmacotherapies. MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for all articles pertaining to elderly smoking cessation strategies. Randomized controlled trials and cohort studies were included. Studies were included without regard to population or intervention, as long as results were analyzed with a group of smokers aged 60 years and above and at least one arm of the study involved a pharmacotherapy. Only 12 studies were identified that met our inclusion criteria. The limited existing literature does not allow for a definitive answer to the most effective pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation in older adult smokers. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is the pharmacotherapy most studied in older adults, and the limited evidence that exists suggests that NRT is effective for smoking cessation among this population. Higher-quality studies that directly compare cessation strategies, including bupropion and varenicline, are needed in the older population in order to guide treatment decision making.
Synergism between Angiotensin receptors ligands: Role of Angiotensin-(1-7) in modulating AT2 R agonist response on nitric oxide in kidney cells.

Angiotensin-(1-7), an endogenous agonist for the MasR, has been shown to interact with ang-II AT1 R and AT2 R. Earlier we showed a physical and functional interaction between MasR and AT2 R in response to their respective agonists ang-(1-7) and C21. Moreover, ang-(1-7) is cardio-protective via AT1 R and alters ang-II function. Such complex nature of ang-(1-7) function is not clearly understood, particularly in relation to its functional interaction with these receptors. We tested how ang-(1-7) affects AT2 R function by utilizing HK-2 cells. The HK-2 cells were treated with a wide range of concentrations of angiotensin receptor agonists. The generation of NO• in response to agonists was determined as a readout and subjected to Bliss definition (δ score) to assess the nature of functional interaction between these receptors. Preincubation with ang-(1-7) followed by incubation with endogenous AT1 R/AT2 R agonist ang-II (δ = 162) or selective AT2 R agonist C21 (δ = 304) synergized NO• formation. The synergism was also observed when the order of incubation with ang-(1-7)/C21 was reversed (δ = 484), but not when the cells were simultaneously incubated with a mixture of ang-(1-7) and C21 (δ = 76). The synergism with nonpeptidic MasR agonist AVE0991 followed by C21 (δ = 45) was minimal. Ligand binding experiment suggested the binding of ang-(1-7) with these three receptors. However, the synergism observed with ang-(1-7) and ang-II/C21 was sensitive to the antagonists of AT2 R (PD123319) and AT1 R (candesartan), but not MasR (A779). Ang-(1-7) at lower concentrations synergies the AT2 R function in an AT1 R-dependent but MasR-independent manner. This phenomenon may have a physiological significance.
Gastric dysplasia and adenomas: how it all MAPS out!

Abstract Gastric polyps can be truly neoplastic but most polypoid dysplastic lesions are manifestations of gastritis-associated dysplasia that happens to form a polypoid lesion rather than true adenomas arising in normal background mucosa as is typically observed in the colon. However, the term adenoma has been used over the years to describe polyps with intestinal and pyloric gland differentiation, and this terminology is entrenched in our lexicon. In this review, we briefly discuss the issue of terminology, gastritis, and the following polyp types: intestinal type adenoma, pyloric gland adenoma, foveolar adenoma, and oxyntic gland adenoma (also termed oxyntic gland neoplasm and adenocarcinoma of fundic gland type.
„Meine liebsten Dinge müssen mit“ (Sarihi/Völk 2018). Zur Darstellung des kindlichen Umgangs mit Dingen im Kontext von Migration. Eine Bilderbuchanalyse

Der Beitrag befasst sich mit den Verwicklungen von Menschen und Dingen im Kontext von Migration. Untersucht wird dies anhand der Bilderbucherzahlung „Meine liebsten Dinge mussen mit“ von Sepideh Sarihi und Julie Volk. In ihr geht es um ein kleines Madchen, das mit seinen Eltern in ein fernes Land umziehen soll. Die Eltern kaufen dem Madchen einen kleinen Koffer, in dem es die Dinge unterbringen kann, die es in das neue Leben mitnehmen mochte. Allerdings erweist sich der Koffer schon bald als viel zu klein fur die Dinge, die dem Kind lieb sind. In welcher Art und Weise Sarihi und Volk in ihrem Bilderbuch die Frage nach der Verbindung von Menschen und Dingen im Kontext von Migration verhandeln, ist Gegenstand der Analyse. Es wird untersucht, wie Sarihi und Volk den Abschied von der Heimat und die Ankunft im neuen Leben im Umgang mit den Dingen in Bild und Text gestalten. Die hier vorgestellte Bilderbuchanalyse verortet sich im Feld einer migrationspadagogisch inspirierten interpretativen Sozialforschung (Breckner, Sozialtheorie des Bildes. Zur interpretativen Analyse von Bildern und Fotografien, transcript, Bielefeld, 2010). Gearbeitet wird mit einem methodischen Mix aus sozialwissenschaftlicher Bildanalyse und literaturwissenschaftlicher Bilderbuchanalyse (Staiger, BilderBucher. Theorie, Schneider Verlag Hohengehren, Baltmannsweiler, 2014).
Emerging mercury mitigation solutions for artisanal small-scale gold mining communities evaluated through a multicriteria decision analysis approach

Over 15 million people are involved in artisanal small-scale gold mining (ASGM) globally. Often, ASGM includes smelters that use mercury to extract gold. If mishandled, these actions may cause adverse health effects for smelters and their surrounding communities. There are multiple tools to reduce health risks while maintaining a sustainable economic profit, but each method has trade-offs, such as cost, efficiency, and potential health impacts that are not widely understood. Multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) is a powerful tool in assessing multiple perspectives and factors that affect stakeholder decisions and can be used to inform smelters and community members on reducing exposure to mercury. Here, MCDA was used to determine the ranks of alternatives to reduce exposure to mercury based on socio-economic, ecological, and human health criteria. Stochastic processes were used to evaluate 12 alternatives, including mitigation strategies (i.e., chelation therapy techniques, retorts, water filters) as well as mercury-free mining substitutes. In this model, the borax method ranked first 72% of the time, followed by the gravity method (19%), a multicapture system retort (7%), and low-cost retorts (≤ 1%). While MCDA is an excellent tool, results tend to be generalized across a heterogenous landscape. More localized factors such as incorrect soil chemistry could cause performance challenges for options like mercury-free mining substitutes. To aid more localized decision-making, a decision tree model was developed to aid stakeholders to explore which alternatives are suitable based on context-specific factors using “Take-the-best” decision heuristics. This work can assist researchers and stakeholders involved with ASGM to identify which options are scalable for their region as well as to mitigate adverse effects of exposure to mercury.
Book Review: The Word and the Law, by Milner S. Ball

Milner Ball’s The Word and the Law has become a widely quoted work, and has already taken its place in the continuing tale of law and religion. The text presents itself in typical Ball fashion: richly and eloquently written, densely noted with weighty references, alive with stories and the voices of those with whom Ball has conversed. A striking innovation in this book is Ball’s creation of a space in his text for the stories of those who are both his peers and not his peers, giving over the “pulpit” to women, edgy Jews, and Native Americans, all of whom are lower in the “pecking order” than Professor Ball. Deliberately, Ball starts with the concrete, the contextualized, the embedded narrative. He presents seven legal persons in their settings, constructing a social reality from their tales and beliefs, and coaxes from both his subjects and his readers admissions of faith. Ball goes to those with whom he studied and to literary texts alive with God-talk in order to weave his particular stories into the ongoing discourse of law and religion and law and literature. Along the way, Ball recognizes his own inherited social construct among the voices he chooses to portray. With his strong, poetic prose, Ball manages to avoid the level, cold voice of the white male scholar, but he alerts the reader to the requirements of the genre, to the fact that this is, after all, a University of Chicago Press book that can only really smuggle in the story of a tribal court judge. So the text is presented as a book by Milner Ball, renowned legal scholar, and “only” begins and ends with the stories of the less privileged.
Enabling near-data processing in distributed object storage systems

Most general-purpose distributed storage systems are not designed with near data processing (NDP) in mind. They do not respect semantic data boundaries when writing data, for example splitting a record across servers. This reduces NDP effectiveness by requiring data collation before computation. While semantic data awareness and NDP functions can be retroactively added to existing distributed storage, it is often complex and difficult to accomplish in practice. We propose sharing storage system layout information with data writers so they can adjust data layouts to prevent data alignment issues regardless of the underlying architectures. By doing so, we can simplify NDP implementation by reducing the need for data reassembly, and reduce the need for complex storage system or application extensions. We demonstrate a hinting mechanism on both HDFS with computational block storage and an erasure coded MinIO deployment, reducing data movement by up to 99% when querying CSV data with NDP co-located with the stored data. This was accomplished purely with client side data alignment, no modifications to the server side write paths, and no inter-node collation of data.
Biomechanical comparison of stemless humeral components in total shoulder arthroplasty

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to compare initial fixation strength between various stemless and stemmed humeral components and to correlate implant fixation strength with bone mineral density (BMD). Methods Five humeral stem designs were investigated: Stemless-A (four hollow fins), Stemless-B (central body, three solid fins), Stemless-C (central screw, peripheral rim-fit), Short stem (50 mm), and Standard stem (130 mm). Fifty cadaveric human humerii were obtained and divided into five groups. BMD within the humeral head was determined for all samples. The mean BMD was similar between groups. The 25 samples with the lowest and highest BMDs were categorized as “Low” and “High,” respectively, with a BMD threshold of 0.35 g/cm2, creating BMD subgroups. After implantation, each sample underwent a standardized biomechanical testing protocol, with axial loading followed by torsional loading. Sensors attached to the specimen recorded micromotion throughout testing. Axial loading consisted of cyclic loading for 100 cycles at 3 peak forces (220, 520, and 820 N). Torsional loading consisted of 100 cycles of internal/external rotation at 0.1 Hz at 6 peak torques, or until failure (±2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, and 15 Nm). Failure was defined as the torque at which any bone fracture, implant detachment from anchor/stem, or an excess of 50° internal/external rotation occurred. Groups and BMD subgroups were compared. Results At maximal axial loading, Stemless-B demonstrated greater micromotion (540 μm) than Stemless-C (192 μm) (P = .003). Stemless-B and Stemless-A (387 μm) also had greater micromotion than Short stem (118 μm, P Conclusion Stemless humeral implants should be used with caution in low-BMD settings ( Level of evidence Basic Science Study; Cadaveric Study
Central Nervous System Infections Due to Streptococcus anginosus Group: A Single-Center Case Series.

BACKGROUND The Streptococcus anginosus group is known for its pathogenicity and tendency for abscess formation. The S anginosus group also causes brain abscesses, yet few studies describe this presentation in the pediatric neurology literature. We describe 5 patients with central nervous system infection due to S anginosus group evaluated by child neurologists at the University of Iowa from 2014 to 2020. METHODS We performed a retrospective case series review of electronic medical records detailing the clinical presentation and course of pediatric patients with S anginosus group-associated central nervous system infection. RESULTS We identified 4 males and 1 female (8, 11, 14, 16, and 21 years). Brain imaging showed abscesses in 4 cases and empyema in 1. All underwent neurosurgical intervention and antibiotic treatment. Cultures obtained during the neurosurgical procedure grew S anginosus group (4 cases with Streptococcus intermedius and 1 with Streptococcus constellatus). An 8-year-old boy with a delayed diagnosis died from brain herniation. CONCLUSIONS Central nervous system infections due to the S anginosus group can be life-threatening. Neuroimaging plays a key role in the early identification of abscesses. Prompt surgical intervention and timely initiation of antibiotics are critical for optimal outcomes.
A Writer's Destiny

The following is an edited transcription of a talk given by Jorge Luis Borges before an overflow audience at The University of Iowa, February 19,1976. In transcribing Mr. Borge's words we have attempted to preserve the flavor of the original lecture, which toas delivered in a hushed, melodi ous voice, often hesitant and searching, as in a remembrance of things past. After the talk at Iowa, which concluded his American lecture tour, Mr. Borges returned to Argentina via Spain and Chile, where he received a national literary prize. He does not expect to visit the United States again during the next few years. We would like to thank Professor Donald A. Yates of Michigan State University for his assistance in editing this lecture.
Abortive Infection of Lysogenic Bacillus subtilis 168(SPO2) by Bacteriophage φ1

Virulent bacteriophage phi1 was not able to productively infect strains of Bacillus subtilis which were lysogenic for the temperate bacteriophage SPO2, although it adsorbed to, penetrated, and killed these bacteria. Studies of phage and host nucleic acid production in the nonpermissive host demonstrated that normal phi1 transcription was initiated early in the latent period, but this was followed by a general failure of host and phage nucleic acid synthesis about 10 to 15 min after infection. Mixed infections of phi1 and SPO2c(1), a clear-plaque mutant of SPO2, indicated that a similar inhibition of phi1 development occurred when this phage infected nonlysogenic B. subtilis cells committed to the SPO2c(1) lytic cycle. It is proposed that the SPO2- and SPO2c(1)-mediated interference did not act directly on the phi1 genome, but rather these phages altered the host physiology in such a manner that some normal step in phi1 development triggered a collapse of vital metabolic activities.
Animal Navigation: Birds Have Magnetic Maps

New 'virtual displacement' experiments demonstrate that migrating reed warblers know the magnetic coordinates of their destination, and can set a novel course to their goal with only magnetic-field parameters as a guide.
A 4.2-W 10-GHz GaN MMIC Doherty Power Amplifier

This paper describes the design and performance of an X-band GaN monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) Doherty power amplifier (DPA) in a 0.15 µm gate length GaN on SiC process. The measured output power is greater than 36dBm at peak PAE of 47% at 10 GHz. Gain flatness of ±0.1 dB around 9.2 dB is obtained at up to 25dBm input power. The PAE at 6 and 10 dB backoff is 41% and 31% respectively. For a 10-Mbps OQPSK signal, the ACPR at 10MHz is >30 dBc at maximum output power and >33 dBc at 10 dB backoff. This combination of linearity and efficiency at backoff represents state of the art for an X-band DPA. Limitations of supply modulation in DPAs to further extend output power back-off are highlighted in the discussion.
Three orders, three women

A truism of the Middle Ages of Western Europe was that society was naturally divided into three ordo, interdependent orders: those who pray, those who fight (and thus rule), and those who toil. Even as some people worried over changing gradations within the orders, few questioned that a three‐part social structure was necessary for stability and in accordance with God's plan and human nature. It happens that three of the best‐known women of the Middle Ages represent each prong of the tripartite system. They are Heloise, abbess of the Paraclete in Champagne; Eleanor of Aquitaine, born duchess and countess and twice queen by marriage; and Joan of Arc, the peasant girl of Lorraine. Their lives also reflect three distinct phases of the medieval period. Heloise lived from 1100/1 to 1163/4 during the first bloom of what has been called the renaissance of the 12th century. Eleanor's long life, from around 1122 to 1203/4, spanned its robust flowering. And Joan's death, at 17 or so, in 1431 coincided with the decl...
Enabling High-Frequency High-Efficiency Non-Isolated Boost Converters With Quasi-Square-Wave Zero-Voltage Switching and On-Chip Dynamic Dead-Time-Controlled Synchronous Gate Drive

This paper presents techniques to enable non-isolated boost converters to achieve high power efficiencies under high switching frequency and high-voltage conditions. A quasi-square-wave zero-voltage switching (QSW-ZVS) boost converter topology is proposed to achieve high-frequency soft switching without any coupled inductors in the power stage and, thus, minimize the switching power loss of the converter. An on-chip dynamic dead-time controller is developed to provide near-optimum dead time for power FETs during switching transitions under different output voltage and load current conditions in order to achieve ZVS with minimal body diode conduction loss of power FETs. A synchronous gate driver is also proposed to provide fast propagation delays and output signal rise/fall time, enabling megahertz operation of the converter. A hardware boost converter prototype is built with the synchronous gate driver circuitry implemented in a 0.5-μm high-voltage CMOS process. The proposed QSW-ZVS boost converter provides an output voltage of 150 V and delivers an output power of 130 W. The peak power efficiency of the proposed converter achieves 92.7% at the switching frequency of 1 MHz. Compared with state-of-the-art gate drivers, the worst-case propagation delay of the proposed synchronous gate driver is improved by at least 7.6 times. The operation frequency of the proposed non-isolated boost converter is also improved by at least 15 times compared with other state-of-the-art counterparts.
Determination of a geocentric coordinate frame for GPS measurements

Two strategies for determining the offset from the geocenter for GPS measurements are considered. In the first strategy, VLBI-determined relative positions are used to fix the frame orientation and the absolute scaling, while the geocenter offset is determined from GPS measurements. In the second strategy, the absolute scaling is determined by the adopted gravitational constant of earth and the adjusted periods of GPS orbits, with the latitude being obtained from the time signature of earth rotation in the GPS measurements. The results indicate that geocentric positioning to an accuracy of a few centimeters can be achieved with just one day of precise GPS pseudorange and carrier phase data.
Developmental control of Arabidopsis seed oil biosynthesis

Arabidopsis transcriptional factors LEAFY COTYLEDON1 (LEC1), LEAFY COTYLEDON2 (LEC2), FUSCA3 (FUS3), ABSCISIC ACID3 (ABI3), and ABSCISIC ACID5 (ABI5) are known to regulate multiple aspects of seed development. In an attempt to understand the developmental control of storage product accumulation, we observed the expression time course of the five transcripts. The sequential expression of these factors during seed fill suggests differentiation of their normal responsibilities. By extending the expression periods of the two early genes LEC1 and LEC2 in transgenic seeds, we demonstrated that the subsequent timing of FUS3, ABI3, and ABI5 transcripts depends on LEC1 and LEC2. Because a delayed onset or reduced level of FUS3 mRNA coincided with reduction of seed oil content in the transgenic seeds, the role of FUS3 in oil deposition was further examined. Analysis of published seed transcriptome data indicated that FUS3 transcript increased together with nearly all the plastidial fatty acid biosynthetic transcripts during development. The ability of FUS3 to rapidly induce fatty acid biosynthetic gene expression was confirmed using transgenic Arabidopsis seedlings expressing a dexamethasone (DEX)-inducible FUS3 and Arabidopsis mesophyll protoplasts transiently expressing the FUS3 gene. By accommodating the current evidence, we propose a hierarchical architecture of the transcriptional network in Arabidopsis seeds in which the oil biosynthetic pathway is integrated through the master transcriptional factor FUS3.
Acute Reduction of Plasma Nonesterified Fatty Acid by Growth Hormone in Hypophysectomized and Houssay Rats1

Intraperitoneal administration of 1 or 3 mg of bovine growth hormone (GH, NIH-916) to hypophysectomized Sprague-Dawley rats evoked a diminution of plasma nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) at 30 and 60 min. These effects were clearly distinct from the commonly observed elevation at 2–6 hr. Hypoglycemia and hypoaminoacidemia were associated temporally with the decline in plasma NEFA, Epididymal fat pads at 6 hr showed increased relative water content, as indirect evidence of intense lipid mobilization. Subtotal (95 %) pancreatectomy 3–5 days prior to removal of the hypophysis failed to prevent the 1 hr reduction of plasma NEFA in response to GH. A dose of ACTH 3 times greater than that calculated as a maximum contaminant in the larger of the GH doses used failed to elicit the 1 hr NEFA decline. The acute diminution of plasma NEFA strongly suggests, from temporal relations alone, that the adipokinetic response is not a primary effect of GH. (Endocrinology 76: 665, 1965)
Binding of western equine encephalomyelitis virus to brush border fragments isolated from mesenteronal epithelial cells of mosquitoes

Brush border fragments (BBF) were isolated from mesenteronal epithelial cells of mosquitoes that are either susceptible (WS Culex tarsalis) or refractory (WR Cx. tarsalis; Culex pipiens) to peroral infection by western equine encephalomyelitis (WEE) virus. The isolated BBF were combined with radiolabeled WEE virus in a binding assay to compare the amount of virus bound by BBF from susceptible and refractory mosquitoes. BBF and WEE virus were mixed in a microcentrifuge tube, incubated for 1 h and centrifuged at 27,000 X g-30 min to pellet WEE virus bound to BBF. Optimal binding occurred at pH 7.2, 20 degrees C and there was no requirement for divalent cations. BBF isolated from perorally susceptible mosquitoes (WS Cx. tarsalis) bound significantly greater amounts of radiolabeled WEE virus, compared to BBF isolated from refractory mosquitoes (WR Cx. tarsalis; Cx. pipiens), in all experiments. The binding of WEE virus to BBF from WS Cx. tarsalis appears to be specific, based on saturation and competitive binding studies; binding to BBF from WR Cx. tarsalis and Cx. pipiens is nonspecific. Scatchard analysis of the binding data for BBF from WS Cx. tarsalis yields an estimated 1.8-3.5 X 10(6) binding sites per mesenteronal epithelial cell with an affinity constant of (Ka) of 2.2 X 10(11) M-1.
Sexual maturation of female house mice: social inhibition.

Young female laboratory mice reared in the presence of an adult male mouse or male bedding containing a pheromone reach sexual maturity earlier than control females. A pheromone produced by grouped female mice leads to long, irregular estrous cycles or anestrus. The present study demonstrated that a female-produced pheromone delays sexual maturation when females are grouped and that free social interaction and tactile contact among the grouped females are necessary for the production of this inhibitory pheromone. Both young and adult females caged in groups produced the inhibitory pheromone. This study provided additional support for the hypothesis that in female mice morphological and sexual development are under separate control mechanisms. Two pheromones may be active in reproductive processes of female mice: one exhibiting inhibitory effects and the other acceleratory effects.
Climatic effects of an impact‐induced equatorial debris ring

[1] Several theoretical and laboratory studies suggest that some large impact events are capable of inserting material into space depending on mechanics of the impact. This material would quickly coalesce to form a temporary debris ring in orbit around the equator, which would cast its shadow on the winter hemisphere. The results of an atmospheric general circulation model (GCM) simulation where an orbiting equatorial debris ring is applied as a boundary condition to the model show how the longer-term effects of a major impact could affect the climate system. The primary effect is a severe cooling in the tropics and the subtropics, especially under the seasonally migrating ring shadow. The globe cools and becomes drier, with the exception of monsoonal regions that become wetter. The Hadley cell is weakened resulting in drier tropics and weaker subtropical high-pressure cells in the winter hemisphere. Because the tropics cool more than middle latitude regions, the equator-to-pole temperature gradient becomes shallower resulting in weaker tropospheric winds and less high-latitude storminess. We suggest that the late Eocene impact(s) (35.5 Ma) could have generated a geologically temporary orbiting debris ring based on the global distribution of tektites associated with these events and patterns of climate change immediately above the iridium/microtektite layer. The Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary event, while larger, did not produce a debris ring. We also suggest that an opaque debris ring could have acted as the trigger to at least one episode of global glaciation during the Neoproterozoic.
Family Conflict Moderates Response to Pharmacological Intervention in Pediatric Bipolar Disorder

Objective: Family conflict affects the expression of psychopathology in youth. This study investigated whether family conflict moderates response to medication in youth with bipolar disorder. Methods: Youth ages 5–17 years diagnosed with bipolar I or II disorder were recruited from a trial of combination therapy with divalproex and lithium. Mania and depression were assessed at baseline and after 8 weeks of treatment using the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) and the Children's Depression Rating Scale–Revised (CDRS-R). Parents completed the Family Assessment Device (FAD). Ordinary least-squares regression evaluated whether family conflict contributed to YMRS/CDRS-R outcomes controlling for severity of baseline mood. Results: In 55 youths, the model examining family conflict and CDRS-R outcomes showed that family conflict variables accounted for 10% of the variance in CDRS-R scores after 8 weeks of treatment. The final model was statistically significant. The FAD Problem Solving subscale was the only unique...
Liquid crystal thermometry for continuous temperature measurement in emergency department patients

A single temperature measurement recorded on admission to the emergency department provides no information about temperature alterations occurring during the course of evaluation. Continuous monitoring of patients' temperatures in the ED, however, may alter management and decrease morbidity. Our study evaluated the reliability of liquid crystal thermometers (LCTs) and the clinical benefit of continuous temperature monitoring in the ED. Commercially available LCTs (corrected 4° F to reflect core temperature) were applied to the foreheads of randomly selected patients. Serial oral electronic thermometer readings were compared to those obtained by LCT. Fever was defined as a temperature higher than 99.5 F orally or 100 F by LCT. One hundred two patients underwent simultaneous LCT and oral temperature measurements, with a correlation coefficient of 0.661. Hypothermia was not encountered. Eighty-four patients were afebrile, and 18 were febrile by oral measurement on admission. Of the afebrile patients, 13 (15.5%) became febrile while in the ED. The temperature course was identified correctly by LCT in 83.3% of cases. The LCT correctly identified all patients who were febrile on admission, as well as 92.3% of those who developed fever while in the ED. The latter fevers would have been missed by routine single-temperature determination on ED admission. Detection of fever stimulated more aggressive clinical evaluation of these patients. Eight of nine patients who defervesced in response to antipyretic therapy were identified correctly by LCT. LCT falsely identified 16 patients as becoming febrile (15.6% false positive), while missing only one patient who developed fever in the ED (1% false negative). LCT reliably monitors the dynamic temperature course of ED patients inexpensively and without invasive, complicated instrumentation. We recommend that patients identified as febrile by LCT be checked with an oral or rectal thermometer.
Inhibition of Cyclic-3′,5′-Nucleotide Phosphodiesterase Abrogates the Synergism of Hypoxia with Lipopolysaccharide in the Induction of Macrophage TNF-α Production

Abstract Background. Local tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α production by resident macrophages (Mφ) contributes to posttraumatic tissue injury. Hypoxia decreases cellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels and enhances Mφ secretion of TNF-α following lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Thus, tissue hypoxia associated with trauma likely synergizes with proinflammatory mediators in the induction of Mφ TNF-α production through an influence on cAMP generation or degradation. It is unclear whether elevation of cellular cAMP inhibits LPS-stimulated TNF-α production by hypoxic Mφ. Moreover, it is unknown whether the synergism of hypoxia with LPS can be abrogated by promotion of cAMP generation or inhibition of cAMP degradation. Methods. Rat peritoneal Mφ were stimulated with Escherichia coli LPS (20 ng/ml) in a normoxic (room air with 5% CO 2 ) or hypoxic (95% N 2 with 5% CO 2 ) condition. TNF-α levels in cell-free supernatants were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay. The β-adrenoceptor agonist isoproterenol (ISP; 5.0 μM) and the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin (FSK; 50 μM) were applied to promote cAMP generation. The nonselective cyclic-3′,5′-nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX; 1.0 mM) and the PDE III–specific inhibitor milrinone (200 μM) were used to inhibit cAMP degradation. The nondegradable cAMP analogue dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP; 100 μM) was applied to further determine the role of PDE. Results. Although hypoxia alone had a minimal effect on TNF-α production, it dramatically enhanced LPS-stimulated TNF-α production (4.08 ± 0.28 ng/10 6 cells in hypoxia plus LPS vs 1.63 ± 0.26 ng/10 6 cells in LPS, 2.5-fold, P 6 cells in ISP plus hypoxia plus LPS vs 0.55 ± 0.04 ng/10 6 cells in ISP plus LPS, threefold; 1.17 ± 0.03 ng/10 6 cells in FSK plus hypoxia plus LPS vs 0.33 ± 0.02 ng/10 6 cells in FSK plus LPS, 3.5-fold; both P 6 cells in IBMX plus hypoxia plus LPS vs 0.27 ± 0.04 ng/10 6 cells in IBMX plus LPS, P > 0.05), and the PDE III inhibitor milrinone had a comparable effect. Moreover, dbcAMP also attenuated TNF-α production with abrogation of the synergistic effect of hypoxia (0.56 ± 0.08 ng/10 6 cells in dbcAMP plus hypoxia plus LPS vs 0.46 ± 0.04 ng/10 6 cells in dbcAMP plus LPS, P > 0.05). Conclusions. The results show that elevation of cellular cAMP, either by promotion of generation or by inhibition of degradation, suppresses LPS-stimulated TNF-α production in hypoxic Mφ. It appears that hypoxia synergizes with LPS in the induction of Mφ TNF-α production through PDE-mediated cAMP degradation. Inhibition of PDE may be a therapeutic approach for suppression of synergistic induction of Mφ TNF-α production by hypoxia and LPS in posttraumatic tissue.
In vitro activity of loracarbef and effects of susceptibility test methods

Loracarbef is a new oral antimicrobial of the carbacephem class with in vitro activity against the common pathogens associated with skin infections, otitis media, sinusitis, bronchopulmonary infections, and urinary tract infections. A review of the literature shows the following ranges for 90% minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC90) values (microgram/mL) against the organisms that commonly cause these illnesses: Streptococcus pneumoniae, 0.25-2.0; Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis (beta-lactamase positive), 0.5-8.0; M. catarrhalis (beta-lactamase negative), 0.12-0.25; Haemophilus influenzae (beta-lactamase positive), 0.5-16.0; H. influenzae (beta-lactamase negative), 0.25-8.0; Escherichia coli, 2.0-25; Klebsiella pneumoniae, 0.25-8.0; Proteus mirabilis, 1.0-8.0; Streptococcus pyogenes, less than or equal to 0.06-1.0; Staphylococcus aureus (beta-lactamase positive), 8.0; S. aureus (beta-lactamase negative), 1.0-2.0. The in vitro activity of loracarbef against these common outpatient pathogens is similar to that of other oral antimicrobials such as cefaclor, cefuroxime axetil, cefixime, amoxicillin/clavulanate, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. The results of in vitro susceptibility tests with any antimicrobial, including loracarbef, are somewhat dependent on the specific test method that is employed in the laboratory. This is particularly true with H. influenzae. Furthermore, the results of loracarbef susceptibility tests are of uncertain value in predicting therapeutic outcome.
Use of Caenorhabditis elegans as a model to study Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Advances in research and technology has increased our quality of life, allowed us to combat diseases, and achieve increased longevity. Unfortunately, increased longevity is accompanied by a rise in the incidences of age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). AD is the sixth leading cause of death, and one of the leading causes of dementia amongst the aged population in the USA. It is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by the prevalence of extracellular Aβ plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles, derived from the proteolysis of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and the microtubule-associated protein tau, respectively. Despite years of extensive research, the molecular mechanisms that underlie the pathology of AD remain unclear. Model organisms, such as the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, present a complementary approach to addressing these questions. C. elegans has many advantages as a model system to study AD and other neurodegenerative diseases. Like their mammalian counterparts, they have complex biochemical pathways, most of which are conserved. Genes in which mutations are correlated with AD have orthologues in C. elegans, including an APP ortholog, APL-1, a tau homolog, PTL-1, and presenilin homologues, such as SEL-12 and HOP-1. Since the neuronal connectivity in C. elegans has already been established, C. elegans is also advantageous in modeling learning and memory impairments seen during AD. This article addresses the insights C. elegans provide in studying AD and other neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, we explore the advantages and drawbacks associated with using this model.