cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ghrelin deletion protects against age-associated hepatic steatosis by downregulating the C/EBPα-p300/DGAT1 pathway.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease worldwide. NAFLD usually begins as low-grade hepatic steatosis which further progresses in an age-dependent manner to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma in some patients. Ghrelin is a hormone known to promote adiposity in rodents and humans, but its potential role in hepatic steatosis is unknown. We hypothesized that genetic ghrelin deletion will protect against the development of age-related hepatic steatosis. To examine this hypothesis, we utilized ghrelin knockout (KO) mice. Although no different in young animals (3 months old), we found that at 20 months of age, ghrelin KO mice have significantly reduced hepatic steatosis compared to aged-matched wild-type (WT) mice. Examination of molecular pathways by which deletion of ghrelin reduces steatosis showed that the increase in expression of diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase-1 (DGAT1), one of the key enzymes of triglyceride (TG) synthesis, seen with age in WT mice, is not present in KO mice. This was due to the lack of activation of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-alpha (C/EBPα) protein and subsequent reduction of C/EBPα-p300 complexes. These complexes were abundant in livers of old WT mice and were bound to and activated the DGAT1 promoter. However, the C/EBPα-p300 complexes were not detected on the DGAT1 promoter in livers of old KO mice resulting in lower levels of the enzyme. In conclusion, these studies demonstrate the mechanism by which ghrelin deletion prevents age-associated hepatic steatosis and suggest that targeting this pathway may offer therapeutic benefit for NAFLD.
Numerical simulation of the deformation response of geosynthetic reinforced soil mini-piers

This paper presents a numerical investigation of the deformation response of geosynthetic reinforced soil (GRS) mini-piers under service load conditions. The backfill soil was characterized using a...
Gonadotropic Stimulation of Enzymes Involved in Testicular Growth

The marked decrease in testicular size following hypophysectomy and its restoration toward normal following the injection of pituitary extracts have long been known. Analyses of the endocrine and molecular mechanisms involved in the growth response of the gonads to gonadotropins have been undertaken by many investigators. Gonadotropic hormones increase the production of cyclic AMP (cAMP) (Murad et al, 1969; Hollinger, 1970; Kuehl et al., 1970; Dorrington et al., 1972; Braun and Sepsenwol, 1974) and increase the synthesis of RNA and protein in the testis of the rat (Means and Hall, 1967, 1968, 1969; Goswami et al., 1968; D. Villee and Goswami, 1973). The increased synthesis of RNA and protein in response to gonadotropins is inhibited by pretreatment of the animals with actinomycin D (Means and Hall, 1969; Goswami et al., 1968; Reddy and Villee, 1975a). The ubiquitous distribution of the polyamines, their responses to hormonal stimuli, and their possible involvement in both transcriptional and translational events of cellular growth processes have been reported repeatedly and reviewed extensively (Williams-Ashman et al., 1972; Russell, 1973).
The rise and fall of universal jurisdiction

The article considers the rise and fall of universal jurisdiction. I begin by revisiting the unique Zeitgeist of the 1990s and by broaching the actors behind the campaign for universal jurisdiction. Then I discuss how these actors, mainly non-governmental organizations, framed the issue and how policy-oriented international lawyers constructed the legal argument. Thereafter I review the (alleged) historical sources of universal jurisdiction and their contemporary (distorted) interpretation. My subsequent examination of post-World War II multilateral treaty practice finds little enthusiasm among states for universal jurisdiction. After that I assess cases of the last fifteen or so years, distinguishing between “hard” cases (in courts) and “virtual” cases (in the media). Next I show in a brief post mortem how a backlash in Africa, the United States, Israel, and China against virtual trials in Europe caused the premature end of universal jurisdiction. In the final section I draw some lessons and ponder its future.
The Effects of Restraint Stress on the Neuropathogenesis of Theiler’s Virus-induced Demyelination: A Murine Model for Multiple Sclerosis

Physical and psychosocial stressors have been shown to compromise immune function (Ader et al., 1991; Kielcolt-Glaser and Glaser, 1995). The immune suppressive effects of stress may be more pronounced in individuals that already have limited immune competence, such as infants, individuals with a predisposition to autoimmune disease, and the elderly (Kielcolt-Glaser and Glaser, 1995). An individual’s response to a stressor is manifested in physiological, hormonal, behavioral, and immunological changes. These stress-induced responses are initiated by the hypothalamus and translated into action by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system. Products from these two systems (e.g., corticoid hormones and catecholamines) can directly modulate the activity of various immune effector cells (Ader et al., 1991).
Conditional waiting time distributions of runs and patterns and their applications

In this paper, a simple and general method based on the finite Markov chain imbedding technique is proposed to determine the exact conditional distributions of runs and patterns in a sequence of Bernoulli trials given the total number of successes. The idea is that given the total number of successes, the Bernoulli trials are viewed as random permutations. Then, we extend the result to multistate trials. The conditional distributions studied here lead to runs and patterns-type distribution-free tests whose applications are widespread. Two applications are considered. First, a distribution-free test for randomness is applied to rainfall data at Oxford from 1858 to 1952. The second application is to develop runs and patterns-type distribution-free control charts which can be used as Phase I and/or Phase II control charts. Numerical results for two commonly used runs-type statistics, the longest run and scan statistics, are also given.
Cost-Effectiveness of Urolithiasis Management in Pregnancy

AbstractIntroduction:Urolithiasis complicating pregnancy presents a challenge for urology and obstetric teams. The management options of ureteral stenting, percutaneous nephrostomy and ureteroscopy...
The Gang Member Stands Out: Stigma as a Residual Consequence of Gang Involvement:

The topic of stigma and discrimination has been explored among various criminal justice populations; however, few studies have examined the stigma associated with being a former gang member. This s...
Playing with frames of reference in veneration rituals: Fractal dynamics in encounters with a Muslim saint:

Paradigmatic shifts in anthropological theory shape the ways in which play and ritual are conceptualized. By demarcating these shifts, the argument is made that an analysis of both play and ritual ...
Do Labor Values Explain Chinese Prices? Evidence from China’s Input-Output Tables, 1990–2012:

We use China’s input-output tables from 1990 to 2012 to study the deviations between labor-value-based direct prices, prices of production, and market prices. We find that the cross-sectional devia...
Mischievous malakoplakia: A potential pitfall of mpMRI of the prostate?

Abstract Interpretation of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) for prostate cancer diagnosis and staging can be challenging and, in some cases, benign prostate disease can mimic locally advanced malignancy. We present the case of a 57 year-old male with biopsy-proven Gleason 3 + 4 prostate cancer and a preoperative mpMRI showing extraprostatic extension who was later found to have infiltrating malakoplakia on final surgical pathology. This case highlights the importance of recognizing that malakoplakia of the prostate can present as a PI-RADS 5 lesion with extracapsular extension on mpMRI. Such cases can result in wide-excision, non-nerve sparing radical prostatectomies that may be unwarranted.
Green, David Gordon (Director). (2018). Halloween [Motion picture]. 2018. United States: Miramax, Blumhouse Productions, Trancas International Films, Rough House Pictures.

Director David Gordon Green’s Halloween is a captivating slasher film about terror and violence against women. Set four decades after the events of the original 1978 film, the film continues the st...
Microsaccade generation requires a foveal anchor

Visual scene characteristics can affect various aspects of saccade and microsaccade dynamics. For example, blank visual scenes are known to elicit diminished saccade and microsaccade production, compared to natural scenes. Similarly, microsaccades are less frequent in the dark. Yet, the extent to which foveal versus peripheral visual information contribute to microsaccade production remains unclear: because microsaccade directions are biased towards covert attention locations, it follows that peripheral visual stimulation could suffice to produce regular microsaccade dynamics, even without foveal stimulation being present. Here we determined the characteristics of microsaccades as a function of foveal and/or peripheral visual stimulation, while human subjects conducted four types of oculomotor tasks (fixation, free viewing, guided viewing and passive viewing). Foveal information was either available, or made unavailable, by the presentation of simulated scotomas. We found foveal stimulation to be critical for microsaccade production, and peripheral stimulation, by itself, to be insufficient to yield normal microsaccades. In each oculomotor task, microsaccade production decreased when scotomas blocked foveal stimulation. Across comparable foveal stimulation conditions, the type of peripheral stimulation (static versus dynamic) moreover affected microsaccade production, with dynamic backgrounds resulting in lower microsaccadic rates than static backgrounds. These results indicate that a foveal visual anchor is necessary for normal microsaccade generation. Whereas peripheral visual stimulation, on its own, does not suffice for normal microsaccade production, it can nevertheless modulate microsaccadic characteristics. These findings extend our current understanding of the links between visual input and ocular motor control, and may therefore help improve the diagnosis and treatment of ophthalmic conditions that degrade central vision, such as age-related macular degeneration.
Versatile van der Waals Density Functional Based on a Meta-Generalized Gradient Approximation

Van der Waals interactions are ubiquitous in different materials yet not always described properly by current theories. Now, researchers have determined how to accurately and efficiently treat long-range Van der Waals interactions together with other chemical bonds, new findings that are important for studies of layered materials.
An Epidemiological Evaluation of Breeding Soundness Examinations in Beef Bulls

Breeding soundness is a crucial criterion when selecting or maintaining bulls for breeding stock. The breeding soundness examination (BSE) is a commonly used tool for bull selection, retention, and usage in beef herds and artificial insemination centers. Ten to twenty percent of bulls evaluated fail the BSE according to the criteria previously set forth by the Society for Theriogenology.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Childhood Growth Trajectories

Childhood overweight and obesity are a primary social and public health concern. Over the past 30 years, rates of childhood overweight and obesity in the United States of America (USA) have drastically increased, particularly among Black and Latino/a populations. However, they tend to be underrepresented in the childhood obesity literature. This study expands previous literature by identifying different BMI growth trajectories for Black, Latino/a, and White children from birth to age nine. This study found a high prevalence rate of overweight and obesity in a predominantly low-income minority group. Using growth-based trajectory modeling, this study also found different growth trajectories by racial/ethnic groups, with Latino/a children having the most concerning growth trajectories from birth to 9 years. These findings demonstrate that ethnic/racial disparities in childhood overweight and obesity start as early as birth, indicating the need to devote more attention from researchers and health policy-makers to address these disparities as early as possible.
Short proofs of three results about intersecting systems

In this note, we give short proofs of three theorems about intersection problems. The first one is a determination of the maximum size of a nontrivial $k$-uniform, $d$-wise intersecting family for $n\ge \left(1+\frac{d}{2}\right)(k-d+2)$, which improves upon a recent result of O'Neill and Verstraete. Our proof also extends to $d$-wise, $t$-intersecting families, and from this result we obtain a version of the Erdős-Ko-Rado theorem for $d$-wise, $t$-intersecting families. The second result partially proves a conjecture of Frankl and Tokushige about $k$-uniform families with restricted pairwise intersection sizes. The third result concerns graph intersections. Answering a question of Ellis, we construct $K_{s, t}$-intersecting families of graphs which have size larger than the Erdős-Ko-Rado-type construction whenever $t$ is sufficiently large in terms of $s$.
Switching Pattern Analysis of Coupled Multi-phase Boost-Buck Converters

Split duty cycle coupled multi-phase variant of the cascaded boost-buck converter with multiphase low voltage buck stage, suitable for bidirectional operation provides benefits of low current ripple, small magnetic component size and high efficiency. This paper proposes an enhancement to split duty cycle switching pattern that would result in a further reduction in ripple current values in each buck phase, resulting in a much lower losses during operation and hence more efficient operation can be achieved, suitable for bidirectional operation where the low voltage port has high current, requiring a multi-phase buck stage. The paper covers split duty cycle vs. alternating split duty cycle converter operation principle using coupled inductors where the selected magnetic component used in both switching patterns is the same. Proposed analysis is validated by simulation and experimental results.
Effects of Insulin and High Glucose on Human Meibomian Gland Epithelial Cells

Meibomian glands play an extremely important role in the health and well-being of the ocular surface. The acinar epithelial cells of these glands secrete a proteinaceous lipid mixture (i.e., meibum) that promotes the stability and prevents the evaporation of the tear film.1 Conversely, meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), and the resulting meibum insufficiency, destabilizes the tear film, increases its evaporation and osmolarity, and is the most common cause of dry eye disease (DED). Dry eye disease afflicts tens of millions of people in the United States alone and is one of the most frequent causes of patient visits to eye care practitioners.2 Recently, investigators have discovered that diabetes is a significant risk factor for the development of MGD.1,3 Such an association might have been predicted, given that the meibomian gland is a large sebaceous gland,4 and that sebaceous gland structure and function are compromised in diabetic patients.5–7 However, the molecular mechanisms that underlie the impact of diabetes on the human meibomian gland are unknown. We hypothesize that insulin resistance/deficiency and hyperglycemia, which are pathognomonic features of diabetes, are critical factors in the pathogenesis of MGD in diabetic patients. Our rationale is 2-fold. First, insulin is essential for optimal sebaceous gland activity, and is known to induce glandular cell proliferation and lipid accumulation.8 Lack of insulin, in turn, would promote dysfunction. Second, hyperglycemia contributes to lipolysis in adipocytes,9,10 and this response, if occurring in the meibomian gland, could dramatically reduce the quality of meibum. The purpose of this study was to begin to test our hypotheses by examining the influence of insulin and high glucose on immortalized human meibomian gland epithelial cells (IHMGECs).11 We evaluated whether insulin, as it does in other cells,12 promotes activation of the AKT pathway by binding to the insulin receptor (IR) or insulin-like growth factor–1 (IGF-1) receptor (IGF-1R). We also determined whether insulin stimulates cell proliferation and lipid accumulation in, and whether high glucose is toxic to, IHMGECs. For the toxicity studies, we focused on high glucose's impact on the levels of IR, IGF-1R, AKT, FOXO1, as well as the lipogenesis regulator SREBP-1.
Behavioral Syndromes in the Sagebrush Cricket: A Pilot Study to Quantify Individual Variation in Male Calling Behavior

The field of behavioral ecology has recently been reinvigorated by the addition of the notion of behavioral syndromes (a.k.a. animal personality). Behavioral syndromes imply the existence of individual variation in behavioral expression that is consistent across distinct functional contexts (e.g. foraging, mating, anti-predator). The syndromes paradigm suggests that the behavioral phenotype is best viewed as an integrated phenomenon wherein any given behavior can only be fully understood by studying selection pressures in all contexts. Here we report on a pilot study on behavioral syndromes in the Sagebrush cricket (Cyphoderrris strepitans), an acoustic Orthopteran insect that inhabits high altitude sagebrush meadows of Grand Teton National Park. The results of our preliminary analysis suggest very little consistent repeatability in the mating behavior of C. strepitans. In addition, we make note of the synergistic collaboration in our group between faculty researchers and graduate, undergraduate and high school research collaborators.
Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicus sp. n., an Anaerobic, Autotrophic, Extreme Thermophile

The isolation of a new methanogenic bacterium, Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicus sp. n., is described. Successful isolation required a medium containing inorganic salts, an atmosphere consisting of an 80:20 mixture of hydrogen-carbon dioxide, and incubation temperatures of 65 to 70 C. Isolates of M. thermoautotrophicus were gram-positive, nonmotile, irregularly curved rods which frequently formed long filaments. The organism was found to be an autotroph and a strict anaerobe, and to have a pH optimum of 7.2 to 7.6. The optimal temperature for growth was 65 to 70 C, the maximum being 75 C and the minimum about 40 C. The generation time at the optimum was about 5 hr. The deoxyribonucleic acid of M. thermoautotrophicus had a guanine plus cytosine (GC) content of 52 moles per cent, whereas Methanobacterium sp. strain M.O.H. had a GC content of 38%. When heated, intact ribosomes of Methanobacterium sp. strain M.O.H. were stable up to 55 C and had a T(m) of 73 C. In contrast, ribosomes of M. thermoautotrophicus were stable up to 75 C and had a T(m) of 82 C. Upon complete thermal denaturation, ribosomes of strain M.O.H. underwent a 59% hyperchromic shift, whereas those of the thermophile showed only a 20% increase in hyperchromicity. Methane formation in cell-free extracts of M. thermoautotrophicus was temperature-dependent and required hydrogen and carbon dioxide; methyl cobalamin served as a methyl donor, and addition of coenzyme M stimulated methanogenesis.
Current Suicidal Ideation among Treatment-Engaged Active Duty Soldiers and Marines.

We examined suicidal ideation among 399 active-duty Soldiers and Marines engaged in mental health treatment. Using a generalized linear model (GLM) controlling for demographic and military factors, depression, and positive traumatic brain injury (TBI) screen, we confirmed our hypothesis that self-report measures of current post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms uniquely predicted suicidal ideation. The association between PTSD severity and suicidal ideation was moderated by gender, with women at higher risk as PTSD severity increased. Female Soldiers and Marines with high levels of PTSD should receive additional monitoring and intervention. Self-report measures may aid with risk assessment and identify symptom-related distress associated with suicide risk.
Mapping product knowledge to life cycle inventory bounds: a case study of steel manufacturing

Abstract This study develops and demonstrates a bounding methodology to quantify uncertainty in life cycle inventory (LCI) results arising from lack of detailed information on constituent materials. The method starts with the observation that the LCI of a material can change significantly with different attributes such as country of origin and recycled content, information often not specified in available bill-of-materials data. This lack of detailed information can be mapped to numerical bounds for LCI results. We demonstrate this idea via a case study of the contribution of steel manufacturing to the cumulative energy demand (CED) and life cycle global warming potential (GWP) of residential buildings. If steel type, recycled content and country of origin are all unknown, life cycle CO2-equivalent emissions of steel can vary from .7 to 5.9 kg CO2eq/kg. When used in compiling an LCI of a building, this wide range leads to overlapping results in a comparison of life cycle GWP impact between steel- and concrete-framed buildings. That is, without knowledge of the particulars of steel used, life cycle assessment (LCA) cannot distinguish between the two building types. In contrast, with knowledge that the steel is low or un-alloyed, produced in the U.S., and has greater than 60% recycled content, uncertainty bounds are reduced to .8–1.4 kg CO2eq/kg steel. With this range, the net impact of concrete-framed buildings is unambiguously larger than steel-framed residences. While demonstrated here for steel manufacturing, this bounding approach is broadly applicable in LCA.
The role of F18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in identifying patients at high risk for lethal arrhythmias from cardiac sarcoidosis and the use of serial scanning to guide therapy

Substantial literature exists linking inflammation with arrhythmia, in particular with regards to serological markers of systemic inflammation. Regional inflammation can be identified using positron emission tomography (PET) with the radiotracer F18-fluorodeoxyglucose (F18-FDG). In the current series, we demonstrate novel applications of cardiac PET using F18-FDG and N13-ammonia radiotracers in the evaluation and treatment of arrhythmia associated with cardiac sarcoidosis. These applications include defining the cause of arrhythmia, identifying arrhythmias that will be amenable to medical management, and guiding therapy using serial scanning. Though these applications are promising, prospective multicenter studies are needed to provide better understanding of the utility of PET imaging in the diagnosis and treatment of arrhythmias.
Influence of pH on Available Amino Acid Concentrations in Fermented Cornheal

Cornmeal was fermented at 45°C for 1, 2, 3, and 4 days. Meal was also allowed to ferment without a pH adjustment at 45°C for 1, 2, 3, and 4 days. The fermentation without a pH adjustment produced the largest concentrations of lysine, methionine, and tryptophan. Of the pH ranges tested, lysine was best produced at pH 5.0-5.5, methionine at 4.0-4.5, and tryptophan at 4.0-4.5. All samples fermented at pH 4.M.5 or at pH 5.0-5.5 for 1 and 2 days were significantly (P<0.05) higher in lysine, methionine, and tryptophan than nonfermented corn. Fermentations of 1 and 2 days produced the highest concentrations of available amino acids, which then decreased by days 3 and 4. Authors Nanson and Fields are with the Dept. of Food Science & Nutrition, College of Agriculture, Univ. of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 652 11.
Race and the spatial segregation of jobless men in urban America.

Changes in U.S. metropolitan areas over the past 30 years are thought to have concentrated jobless men in low-income, predominantly minority neighborhoods clustered near the center of the city. Using tract-level data from the Neighborhood Change Database for 1970–2000, I examine how the residential segregation of jobless from employed men has changed over the past three decades. I find that jobless men in U.S. metropolitan areas have become less uniformly distributed throughout the metropolis and more isolated, concentrated, and clustered since 1970; but they have also become less centralized. Racial and ethnic group differences in the spatial segregation of jobless men are large. Jobless black men occupy a uniquely disadvantaged ecological position in the metropolis: in comparison with other jobless men, they are much less uniformly distributed throughout the metropolis and much more isolated from employed men, they are concentrated in a smaller amount of physical space, and their neighborhoods are more clustered and are located closer to the center of the city. The dimensions of segregation strongly overlap for black jobless men, producing a multidimensional layering of segregation not encountered by other jobless men. Multivariate models reveal that the uniquely disadvantaged ecological position of jobless black men is less a reflection of different patterns of regional concentration and metropolitan settlement or of differences in group-status characteristics than it is an inevitable consequence of extreme levels of racial residential segregation in the United States.
Scaling behavior of coupled conservative weakly nonlinear oscillators

The scaling of the solution of coupled conservative weakly nonlinear oscillators is demonstrated and analyzed through evaluating the normal modes and their bifurcation with an equivalent linearization technique and calculating the general solutions with a method of multiple seales. The scaling law for coupled Duffing oscillators is that the coupling intensity should be proportional to the total energy of the system.
Job Applicant Similarity on Cognitive Ability, Vocational Interests, And Personality Characteristics: Do Similar Persons Choose Similar Jobs?:

This study examines whether people who have similar cognitive ability, vocational interests, and personality characteristics choose similar jobs. Subjects were 139 job applicants at a private emplo...
Exploratory user study of haptic and auditory display for multimodal geographical information systems

In this paper, the result of haptic and auditory display experiments is reported as an exploratory user test for augmenting visually dominant geographical information systems (GIS). The test results showed the haptic display to be the best in performance, the auditory display to be the worst, and the combination of the two modes to lie in the middle. It was found that the musical experience and haptic device experience affected the performance of the auditory tasks and the haptic tasks respectively. The results also show that there is interference between two modes in the combined situation. The plans for future work are described, including the tests with different kinds of geographical information tasks.
QEPAS spectrophones: design, optimization, and performance

The impact of design parameters of a spectrophone for quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy on its performance was investigated. The microresonator of spectrophone is optimized based on an experimental study. The results show that a 4.4 mm-long tube with 0.6 mm inner diameter yields the highest signal-to-noise ratio, which is ∼30 times higher than that of a bare QTF at gas pressures between 400 and 800 Torr. The optimized configuration demonstrates a normalized noise-equivalent absorption coefficient (1σ) of 3.3×10−9 cm−1W/Hz1/2 for C2H2 detection at atmospheric pressure. The effect of the changing carrier gas composition is studied. A side-by-side sensitivity comparison between QEPAS and conventional photoacoustic spectroscopy technique is reported.
Pathophysiology and Definitions of Seizures and Status Epilepticus

The pathophysiology of seizures is multifactorial and incompletely understood. Experimental work demonstrates that prolonged, abnormal, and excessive neuronal electrical activity in itself is injurious through several mechanisms independent of systemic acidosis and hypoxia. Population survival studies and laboratory investigations support the idea that brain injury and epileptogenesis result from status epilepticus. The basic distinction in seizure types is that of generalized and partial seizures. Correct classification of seizure types will aid in clinical communications and guide correct therapies. Revised definitions of generalized convulsive status epilepticus suggest making this diagnosis with as few as 5 minutes of continuous seizure activity.
A Study of Helicopter Rotor Rotational Noise

The rotational noise of model helicopter rotors in forward flight was studied in an anechoic wind tunnel. The parameters under study were the rotor thrust (blade loading), blade number, and advance ratio. The separate effects of each parameter were identified with the other parameters being held constant. The directivity of the noise was also measured. Twelve sets of data for rotational noise as a function of frequency were compared with the theory of Lowson and Ollerhead. In general, the agreement is reasonably good, except for the cases of 1) low and high disk loadings, 2) the four-bladed rotor, and 3) low advance ratios. The theory always underestimates the rotational noise at high harmonics.
Adaptive temporal smoothing of sinogram data using Karhunen-Loeve (KL) transform for myocardial blood flow estimation from dose-reduced dynamic CT

There is a strong need for an accurate and easily available technique for myocardial blood flow (MBF) estimation to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD). Dynamic CT would provide a quick and widely available technique to do so. However, its biggest limitation is the dose imparted to the patient. We are exploring techniques to reduce the patient dose by either reducing the tube current or by reducing the number of temporal frames in the dynamic CT sequence. Both of these dose reduction techniques result in very noisy data. In order to extract the myocardial blood flow information from the noisy sinograms, we have been looking at several data-domain smoothing techniques. In our previous work, 1 we explored the sinogram restoration technique in both the spatial and temporal domain. In this work, we explore the use of Karhunen-Loeve (KL) transform to provide temporal smoothing in the sinogram domain. This technique has been applied previously to dynamic image sequences in PET. 2, 3 We find that the cluster-based KL transform method yields noticeable improvement in the smoothness of time attenuation curves (TAC). We make use of a quantitative blood flow model to estimate MBF from these TACs and determine which smoothing method provides the most accurate MBF estimates.
Relation of intraoperative or early postoperative transmural myocardial infarction to patency of aortocoronary bypass grafts and to diseased ungrafted coronary arteries.

Abstract Serial preoperative and postoperative electrocardiograms and vectorcardiograms were obtained in 500 patients undergoing saphenous vein aortocoronary artery bypass graft surgery. Evidence of transmural myocardial infarction was found early postoperatively in 67 patients (13 percent). Age and sex distributions, number of vessels diseased or vessels grafted, and preoperative and postoperative New York Heart Association functional classification (mean follow-up, 26 months) did not differ in the groups with and without infarction. Increased duration of cardiopulmonary bypass time (more than 120 minutes) was slightly greater in the group with infarction ( P Twenty-five percent of all transmural infarctions occurred within the zone of myocardium supplied by a diseased ungrafted artery. In 32 patients with early evidence of transmural myocardial infarction in a zone of myocardium supplied by a grafted artery, postoperative angiography showed as many with patent as with occluded grafts. Of 154 patients in the group without infarction who had early postoperative graft angiograms, 30 (19 percent) had one graft occluded and yet no evidence of transmural infarction by our criteria. Therefore, early postoperative evidence of transmural myocardial infarction as defined in this study is an unreliable indicator of the status of the graft supplying the zone of infarction.
A comparative analysis of partial order planning and task reduction planning

Although task reduction (HTN) planning historically preceded partial order (PO) planning, and is believed to be more general than the latter, very little comparative analysis of the two planning formalisms has been done. Part of the reason for this has been the lack of systematic understanding of the functionalities provided by HTN planning over and above that of partial order planning. In this paper I will describe a generalized algorithm template for partial order planning based on refinement search, and extend it to cover HTN planning. I will use this framework as a basis to (i) discuss the similarities and differences between the HTN and the partial order planning methods, (ii) critically examine the claims regarding the efficiency and expressiveness of HTN planning, and (iii) shed light on several of the less understood features of HTN planning.
A single ovary of Anolis carolinensis responds more to exogenous gonadotropin if the contralateral ovary is absent.

Abstract The lizard Anolis carolinensis exhibits asymmetric ovarian growth. At any given time, the larger ovary (LO) contains a larger follicle than does the smaller ovary (SO). Physiologically hypophysectomized females with quiescent ovaries were treated with gonadotropin (ovine FSH) or saline vehicle after either surgical removal of the LO or sham operation. The smaller ovaries of initial control, sham-operated, and hemiovariectomized (HO) females were similar in weight and follicular size. Therefore, endogenous gonadotropin secretion remained at subthreshold levels during the experiment and after HO. FSH significantly stimulated ovarian follicular growth in both sham-operated and HO females. However, the response of the SO of HO females to FSH was significantly greater than that in shamoperated females. These results demonstrate a greater sensitivity of the SO to FSH if the LO is absent.
Delineation of the antigenic sites of oxidized ribonuclease in the mouse by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis and hemagglutination inhibition

Antigenic regions of oxidized bovine pancreatic ribonuclease (O-RNase) in the mouse were analyzed by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) and hemagglutination, using peptide segments encompassing nearly the entire molecule, Purified peptides. 1–20, 11–31, 40–61, 67–85, 67–98, and 105–124 were obtained by enzymatic digestion. Two smaller car☐y (C)-terminal peptides, ala114-124 and 118–124, were synthesized by solid phase procedures. Only the C-terminal half (residues 67 on) inhibited the hemagglutination of O-RNase with mouse antibodies. Studies on the antigenicity of the eicosapeptide 105–124 were particularly interesting. This peptide elicited PCA and was an efficient inhibitor of PCA and hemagglutination produced with the intact antigen. The two synthetic derivatives, ala114-124 and 118–124, reacted with antibody in the hemagglutination of sheep erythrocytes coated with peptide-protein conjugate. These peptides did not inhibit the hemagglutination of peptide 105–124-conjugate, suggesting that peptide 105–124 has an antigenic site not found on them. In addition, the 11-member peptide ala114-124 elicited PC A, demonstrating a valence of two or more. Thus, peptide 105–124 appears to be at least trivalent. The above observations further substantiate the multivalence of this eicosapeptide previously observed in the goat. This C-terminal peptide with its multiple antigenic sites contributes a major share of the antigenicity of O-RNase for the mouse. Species differences were observed in the antigenic map of O-RNase. Unlike rabbits and goats, mice responded to the 67–98 region but not to the 40–61 region which is a major determinant in the other species.
Acid-soap formation in aqueous oleate solutions

Abstract Surfactants have been considered in the past to form premicellar multimers such as dimers and acid soap. In a previous publication, we presented a thermodynamic model for the surface tension dependence on surfactant concentration taking into account premicellar aggregation and we considered the possibility of formation of dimers in alkaline potassium oleate solutions. In this paper, the surface tension data for potassium oleate solutions at two pH values is analyzed using the above model and the observed differences from predictions of the model are attributed to the formation of acid soaps in the neutral pH region. The formation constant for acid soap is estimated from this analysis to be 1.75 × 10 5 (kmole/m 3 ) −1 .
Hemodynamic effects of sodium pentobarbital in the bovine.

Abstract The effects of intravenous sodium pentobarbital (SP) were studied in 34 normal and in 7 calves with brisket disease (BD). Average increase in pulmonary artery pressure was 12 mm Hg for normal calves with no significant change in BD calves. Average increase in femoral artery pressure after a transient decrease was 24 mm Hg in normal calves and 33 mm Hg in BD calves. Pulmonary artery wedge pressure and cardiac output did not change significantly in either normal or BD calves. Heart rate increased in both groups. When the diluent for SP, propylene glycol, ethanol and water (PG) was tested variable results were observed. In seven calves PG elicited no response while SP produced pulmonary hypertension. In five calves however, pulmonary hypertension occurred due to PG alone. The effect of SP on pulmonary artery pressure is probably due to a direct pressor effect on pulmonary vessels whereas the basis for the effect on the systemic circulation is unclear.
A finite element analysis of orthogonal machining using different tool edge geometries

Abstract This paper summarizes the effects of edge preparation of the cutting tool (round/hone edge and T-land/chamfer edge) upon chip formation, cutting forces, and process variables (temperature, stress, and strain) in orthogonal cutting as determined with finite element method (FEM) simulations. The results obtained from this study provide a fundamental understanding of the process mechanics for cutting with realistic cutting tool edges and may assist in the optimization of tool edge design. The Lagrangian thermo-viscoplastic cutting simulation of 0.2% carbon steel was conducted until the steady chip flow and cutting forces were obtained. The predicted cutting forces and chip geometries for the hone tools with different edge radii were compared with the experimental results given in the literature. Tool temperatures and tool stresses on the tool rake face were predicted while the material flow at the vicinity of the edge radius was characterized by the location of the stagnation point. A similar process model and the relevant analyses were extended to the application of chamfer tools with different chamfer widths and chamfer angles.
PIXE analysis of intermediate and thick targets via line intensity ratios

Accounting for target self-absorption of X rays and the variation of the production cross section with proton energy, calculated yield ratios LK for 3.2 MeV protons for elements Fe through Br and K(3.2 MeV)K(1.6 MeV) for elements S through Br show sufficient variation with target thickness to permit a determination of effective thickness ranging from thin to infinitely thick. For uniform composition targets of a known fraction of elements Z < 10 PIXE quantitative analyses are possible on the basis of a yield ratio for an intense line in the spectrum of a target under analysis. Expressed in terms of thin target yield, those of thicker targets are smaller by a factor whose value is dominated by self-absorption in the case of low Z elements and by the decrease of production cross section for high Z elements. This line intensity ratio method is advantageous in that it involves only the use of PIXE spectra and their analyses and in that it results in an effective thickness for geometrically non-uniform targets when a proton beam of uniform areal density is used. Application of the method to intermediate thickness samples of air paniculate matter from an inertial impactor is discussed.
1H, 13C, and 15N resonance assignment of the cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein endosulfine-alpha in free and micelle-bound states

13C, 15N, and 1H chemical shift assignments are presented for the cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein endosulfine-alpha in its free and micelle-bound states. Secondary chemical shift analysis demonstrates formation of four helices in the micelle-bound state, which are not present in the absence of detergent.
Measurement of the shunt impedance of overcoupled klystron cavities

The paper describes a measurement method for the determination of the shunt impedance Zsh = (R0/Q0)QL for over-coupled klystron cavities by field measurements in the cavity gap and a slotted line connected to the output waveguide. Losses and possible field distortions introduced by the coupling network are taken into account. An experimental check was performed on a cavity for which the characteristic impedance R0/Q0 was computed exactly. Under carefully controlled conditions a measurement accuracy of 5% can be achieved. The application of the method to the measurement of the shunt impedance of a multiple-beam ring circuit that is heavily over-coupled to a concentric line is described.
The AAAS Celebrates Its 150th

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), which has become the preeminent professional society worldwide in interdisciplinary sciences, technology and public policy, was founded 150 years ago. The President of AAAS presents several vignettes on the venerable history of AAAS and their influence on the Association today are presented.
A carbon structure on the Re/0001/ surface.

The (0001) face of a rhenium single crystal was prepared by spark cutting and electropolishing for obtaining LEED intensity data. The six-domain LEED pattern observed in the course of cleaning the crystal in vacuum is attributed to carbon.
Application of wildland scenic assessment methods to the urban landscape

Abstract This research explores the feasibility of studying the urban landscape using procedures from wildland scenic quality assessment, and ascertains the influence of some physical characteristics of urban landscapes on esthetic evaluations. Diverse groups of raters, including a men's civic club and a group of minority high school students, evaluated the scenic quality of 240 photographs of a small Georgia city. The slides were scored for physical features using both objective measurements of the area of each image covered by different elements, such as pavement, structures and vegetation, and subjective ratings of physical characteristics such as lawn and shrub maintenance. The results indicated a high degree of agreement among observers in their evaluations of the city scenes. Linear regressions of scenic quality on physical features accounted for about half of the variance, with development intensity detracting from scenic quality, and the amount of vegetation in the scene enhancing it. Landscape maintenance also emerged as an important factor. Suggestions for improvements in future application of the method are discussed.
In vivo functional characterization of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae 60S biogenesis GTPase Nog1

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae Nog1 GTPase is critical for assembly of the large ribosomal subunit. Mutations in conserved residues in the GTP-binding pocket cause defects in cell growth and 60S ribosome assembly but mutant proteins retain their ability to associate with the pre-60S. Association of Nog1 with the pre-60S is independent of guanine nucleotide added to cell extracts. Thus, it appears that nucleotide occupancy does not substantially affect Nog1 association with pre-60S particles. Somewhat surprisingly, neither of the conserved threonines in the G2 motif of the GTPase domain is essential for Nog1 function. Neither the steady-state rRNA levels nor the protein composition (as determined by isobaric labeling and identification by mass spectrometry of peptides) of the pre-60S particles in the nog1P176V mutant are grossly perturbed, although levels of four proteins (Nog1, Nop2, Nop15, and Tif6) are modestly reduced in pre-60S particles isolated from the mutant. Deletion analysis revealed that the C-terminal 168 amino acids are not required for function; however, the N-terminal 126 amino acids are required. Optimal association with pre-60S particles requires sequences between amino acids 347–456. Several conserved charge-to-alanine substitutions outside the GTPase domain display modest growth phenotypes indicating that these residues are not critical for function.
A new HLA-DPA1 allele, DPA1*02016, identified in African-American population.

: A new HLA-DPA1 allele has been found in the African-American population. This newly discovered type is homologous with the DPA1*02011 allele, except in codon 38 of the DPA1 sequence. The variant of DPA1 was detected by sequence-specific oligonucleotide (SSO) typing, and specified by cloning and sequencing methods. GenBank accession number is AF165160. The WHO Nomenclature Committee has officially assigned the name DPA1*02016 ( Note).
Architectural Roles of Affect and How to Evaluate Them in Artificial Agents

This paper examines the possibility of designing affective artificial agents by laying out a program for systematically defining and evaluating possible functional roles of affective states in architectures for virtual and robotic artificial agents. The author provides functional and architectural characterizations for simple and complex affective states, discusses possible interactions between affective and non-affective processes, and proposes an experimental evaluation framework that allows for the rigorous quantification of the utility of architectural components (for affective and non-affective agents alike). In doing so, it also provides a brief overview of past findings about the utility of affect mechanisms for artificial agents that were obtained following the proposed methodology.
Boundaries between basins of attraction in matrix maps

The properties of the boundary between basins of attraction of the logistic map in 2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2 real matrices are explored. The relationship between the Julia set and the boundary is analyzed. Numerical values for the capacity dimension are given, and a mechanism for the origin of a transient scaling behavior is proposed.
A mixed integer programming approach for optimal power grid intentional islanding

A power grid island is a self-sufficient subnetwork in a large-scale power system. In weakly connected islands, limited inter-island power flows are allowed. Intentional islanding of a power grid is helpful for the analysis of distributed generation systems connected to a power grid, and valuable for power system reliability of extreme emergency states. In this paper, we use graph partitioning methods to form islands in a power grid and formulate these problems as mixed integer programs. Our models are based the optimal power flow model to minimize the load shedding cost. With these mathematical programming models, optimal formation of islands can be obtained and the different approaches can be compared. Through experiment on IEEE-30-Bus system, computational results are analyzed and compared to provide insight for power grid intentional islanding.