cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Resolving the energy levels of a nanomechanical oscillator

The quantum nature of an oscillating mechanical object is anything but apparent. The coherent states that describe the classical motion of a mechanical oscillator do not have a well defined energy, but are quantum superpositions of equally spaced energy eigenstates. Revealing this quantized structure is only possible with an apparatus that measures energy with a precision greater than the energy of a single phonon. One way to achieve this sensitivity is by engineering a strong but nonresonant interaction between the oscillator and an atom. In a system with sufficient quantum coherence, this interaction allows one to distinguish different energy eigenstates using resolvable differences in the atom's transition frequency. For photons, such dispersive measurements have been performed in cavity1,2 and circuit quantum electrodynamics3. Here we report an experiment in which an artificial atom senses the motional energy of a driven nanomechanical oscillator with sufficient sensitivity to resolve the quantization of its energy. To realize this, we build a hybrid platform that integrates nanomechanical piezoelectric resonators with a microwave superconducting qubit on the same chip. We excite phonons with resonant pulses and probe the resulting excitation spectrum of the qubit to observe phonon-number-dependent frequency shifts that are about five times larger than the qubit linewidth. Our result demonstrates a fully integrated platform for quantum acoustics that combines large couplings, considerable coherence times and excellent control over the mechanical mode structure. With modest experimental improvements, we expect that our approach will enable quantum nondemolition measurements of phonons4 and will lead to quantum sensors and information-processing approaches5 that use chip-scale nanomechanical devices.
The Data Gap: A Potential Barrier to Gender Equity in Computer Science Education

The substantial decline in female enrollment in computer science programs has been a cause of concern, especially as the application of computer technology to an ever-wider range of human endeavor expands. While many studies have examined the attitudes and perceptions of female computer science students, little attention has been paid to studying empirically how classroom interventions-such as curricular choices and pedagogical approaches-may result in disparate impacts in the learning outcomes of male and female students. This study examines recent research articles in leading journals and conference proceedings of computer science education to analyze the gender composition of the subject pool, the extent to which cognitive learning results are disaggregated by gender, and whether there are gender differences in outcomes. This study found that about one-third of studies indicated the gender composition of the subjects, and about one-third of those research subjects were female. About ten percent of papers disaggregated research findings by gender; of those, 30% found differences between male and female subjects. No studies recommended gender disaggregation of data in future work. The lack of data for learning outcomes by gender may be one of the contributors to the paucity of female computer science students; it is possible that interventions found to be more (or less) effective would show different outcomes if the data were considered in light of the gender of the participants. Thus, further research into potential gender differences in the effectiveness of computer science instructional tools is recommended.
How People View Computing Today

Since humans now have considerable experience with many types of computing they have opinions about this technology, ranging from their importance and practicality to their degree of effectiveness, benefits, and use. As we sit here at the end of the second decade of the new century, summarizing world views is difficult to do and the future even more improbable to forecast. But a snapshot in time is better than none. Survey data show that people around the world hold nuanced views of the technology’s role. For sake of simplicity we can divide them into two communities: the general public and those that use/work with/promote/have a stake in the use of IT, from academics to computer scientists and professionals, to CEOs of IT companies. Let’s begin with the public at large and what it thinks.
Remembering Sanjiv (Sam) Gambhir, MD, PhD.

Sam Gambhir served as the radiology chair, the Virginia and D.K. Ludwig Professor in Cancer Research, director of the Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, director of the Canary Center for Cancer Early Detection, and director of the Precision Health and Integrated Diagnostics Center. He authored
Chapter 17 – Vitamin D Regulation of Osteoblast Function

Publisher Summary Chondrocytes, osteoblasts, and osteocytes all likely trace their lineage to a common mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) progenitor. While gene deletion/mutation studies have firmly established the roles of Runx2, Osx, ATF4, and the Sox factors in skeletal development, this approach does not provide information regarding how osteoblast differentiation and function is controlled to maintain skeletal homeostasis. Yet, it is the regulation of osteoblast function that is of greatest relevance to understanding how factors like vitamin D function in bone. Therefore, this chapter presents a discussion of factors, including vitamin D, that regulate mature osteoblasts and osteocytes. It begins with a brief description of the overall properties of osteoblasts and related osteocytes. Following this, it presents a summary of the major functions of these cells and provides an understanding of how vitamin-D-regulated signaling pathways can control osteoblast and osteocyte function and differentiation in vitro and in vivo. Finally, it discusses the interactions between vitamin D and two major signal transduction pathways in osteoblasts.
Abstract PO-022: Plasma fatty acid levels in treatment-naïve metastatic pancreatic cancer patients are associated with clinical indicators of cachexia

Cachexia is a multifactorial syndrome characterized by weight loss and tissue wasting, which is associated with reduced quality of life, responsiveness to chemotherapy, and decreased survival. We aim to determine whether changes in plasma fatty acid content in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC): 1) are predictive of developing cachexia, and 2) whether these changes are influenced by other clinical parameters, like diabetes, that could contribute to malnutrition. Treatment-naive metastatic PDAC subjects (n=51) were enrolled in NCT01280058 in which plasma samples and clinical data were collected prior to treatment. Subjects were assigned to either weight stable ( Citation Format: Kristyn Gumpper, Phil A. Hart, Martha Belury, Olivia Crowe, Rachel M. Cole, Niharika Badi, Alice Hinton, Mitchell L. Ramsey, Anne Noonan, Darwin L. Conwell, Zobeida Cruz-Monserrate. Plasma fatty acid levels in treatment-naive metastatic pancreatic cancer patients are associated with clinical indicators of cachexia [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer; 2020 Sep 29-30. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(22 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-022.
Effects of Surgical Left Ventricular Vent in Patients with Cardiogenic Shock Requiring Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Purpose Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) for the treatment of cardiogenic shock often requires left ventricular (LV) venting to decrease afterload and prevent LV distention. Percutaneous strategies for LV venting are limited by peripheral complications such as bleeding and lower limb ischemia as well as insufficient LV unloading. A surgical LV vent is an alternative option that may provide hemodynamic and clinical benefits. Methods This is a retrospective review of 33 patients with refractory cardiogenic shock requiring VA ECMO who underwent surgical LV vent placement between July 2015 and March 2020. Surgical LV vent was placed in the LV apex via left anterolateral thoracotomy. Patients were stratified according to the percutaneous vent strategy prior to LV vent placement, which included femoral VA ECMO alone (n = 7), ECMO plus intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) (n = 10), or ECMO plus Impella (ECPELLA) (n = 16) sub-groups. The outcome of interest was immediate hemodynamic change with surgical LV vent placement as well as clinical outcomes. Results The most cited reasons for conversion to surgical LV vent included inadequate venting with percutaneous strategy, hypoxia, and bleeding from peripheral access site. Across all patients, surgical LV vent was associated with a decrease in diastolic pulmonary artery (PA) pressures (20 vs 16 mmHg, p = 0.01) along with an increase in SVO2 (69% vs 80.5%, p Conclusion The surgical LV vent can provide significant LV unloading in patients supported by VA ECMO for cardiogenic shock. Compared to percutaneous methods of LV unloading, the surgical LV vent can provide substantial unloading of the LV, improved oxygenation, and a greater degree of hemodynamic support with acceptable short-term outcomes.
LA LUCHA POR LA DIGNIDAD Y LA JUSTICIA DE LAS TRABAJADORAS DEL HOGAR EN LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS: EL CASO DE LA NATIONAL DOMESTIC WORKERS ALLIANCE Y EL MODELO DEL CENTRO DE TRABAJADORAS

RESUMEN: Es articulo discutira como en los Estados Unidos las trabajadoras del hogar llevan anos movilizandose por tener derechos laborales, y cambiar la nocion de que el trabajo del hogar no es un “trabajo verdadero”. Se expondra y discutira como la creacion de leyes para las trabajadoras del hogar en EEUU ayuda a que estas generen una identidad colectiva que propicia una mayor participacion politica. Dicha accion ha sido encaminada por la National Domestic Workers Alliance. Tambien se discutira el modelo del centro de trabajadores (worker centers) seguido ampliamente por este sector laboral. Con ello se analizaran las capacidades disruptivas (FOX-PIVEN and CLOWARD, 1977) el poder simbolico (CHUN, 2009), ideologico (LUI, 2015) y estructural (SILVER, 2003) que las trabajadoras del hogar tienen en EEUU, asi como una revision critica a los centros de trabajadores, la forma en que toman decisiones y el financiamiento obtenido (FRANZ and FERNANDES, 2018; MCCARTHY and ZALD, 1977). RESUMO: Este artigo discutira como as trabalhadoras domesticas nos Estados Unidos vem se mobilizando ha anos para ter direitos trabalhistas e para mudar a nocao de que o trabalho domestico nao e um "trabalho de verdade". Sera apresentado e discutido como a criacao de leis para trabalhadoras domesticas nos Estados Unidos as ajuda a gerar uma identidade coletiva que incentiva uma maior participacao politica. Esta acao foi liderada pela National Domestic Workers Alliance. O modelo dos centros de trabalho, amplamente seguido por este setor de trabalho, tambem sera discutido. Serao analisadas as capacidades disruptivas (FOX-PIVEN e CLOWARD, 1977), simbolicas (CHUN, 2009), ideologicas (LUI, 2015) e estruturais (SILVER, 2003) de poder que as trabalhadoras domesticas tem nos EUA, bem como um poder critico revisao dos centros de trabalhadores, da forma como tomam decisoes e dos financiamentos obtidos (FRANZ e FERNANDES, 2018; MCCARTHY e ZALD, 1977).
Outcomes of Sexual Assault Victimization in Early Adulthood: National Estimates for University and Nonuniversity Students.

Across the United States, 20% of women ages 18 and over are victims of penetrative sexual assault, with the highest rates occurring in early adulthood (i.e., ages 18-24). Despite the high prevalenc...
Ectopic activation of the miR-200c-EpCAM axis enhances antitumor T cell responses in models of adoptive cell therapy.

Adoptive T cell therapy (ACT) is a promising strategy for treating cancer, but it often fails because of cell intrinsic regulatory programs that limit the degree or duration of T cell function. In ...
Traditional Medicare Spending on Inpatient Episodes as Hospitalizations Decline.

Objective To describe Medicare inpatient episode spending trends between 2009 and 2017 as inpatient use declined among traditional Medicare beneficiaries. Methods Inpatient episodes included claims for all traditional Medicare inpatient, outpatient, and Part D services provided during the 30 days prehospitalization, the inpatient stay, and the 90 subsequent days. We describe the mean number of episodes per 1000 beneficiaries, mean episode-related spending per beneficiary, and mean spending per episode for all beneficiaries and for specific populations and types of episodes. Spending measures are reported with and without adjustment for payment rate increases over the study period. Results The number of inpatient-initiated episodes per 1000 beneficiaries declined by 18.2% between 2009 and 2017 from 326 to 267. After adjusting for payment rate increases, Medicare spending per beneficiary on episode- related care declined by 8.9%, although spending per episode increased by 11.4% over this period. Between 2009 and 2017, all subgroups defined by age, sex, race, or Medicaid status experienced declines in inpatient use accompanied by decreased overall episode-related spending per beneficiary and increased spending per episode. Larger declines in the number of episodes per 1000 beneficiaries were seen among episodes that began with a planned admission (28.8%) or involved no use of post-acute care services (23.9%). When comparing admissions according to medical diagnosis, the largest decline occurred for episodes initiated by a hospitalization for a cardiac or circulatory condition (31.8%). Conclusion Medicare inpatient episodes per beneficiary decreased, but spending decreases due to declining volume were offset by increased spending per episode.
Radiation Therapy in Malignant Disease―Results To Be Expected*

Excerpt With our present knowledge of the treatment of cancer,good results can only be obtained by the early recognition of the disease and by the immediate, thorough and skillful treatment. The fe...
Coherence in Narrative Art

Attention to the structure of narrative art begins with Aristotle from whosePoetics we earlier took a long quotation (Chapter 4). It would be superfluous to repeat the commonplaces of extant theories about plot, and it is equally unnecessary to offer an alternative to them. What is needed is rather to see how materials of narrative or friction and their structural use in the hands to the artist can contribute to coherence that makes the sustained life of the artwork possible.
Two Halves Make a Whole

The well-known classical constructions of garbled circuits use four ciphertexts per gate, although various methods have been proposed to reduce this cost. The best previously known methods for optimizing AND gates (two ciphertexts; Pinkas et al., ASIACRYPT 2009) and XOR gates (zero ciphertexts; Kolesnikov and Schneider, ICALP 2008) were incompatible, so most implementations used the best known method compatible with free-XOR gates (three ciphertexts; Kolesnikov and Schneider, ICALP 2008). In this work we show how to simultaneously garble AND gates using two ciphertexts and XOR gates using zero ciphertexts, resulting in smaller garbled circuits than any prior scheme. The main idea behind our construction is to break an AND gate into two half-gates — AND gates for which one party knows one input. Each half-gate can be garbled with a single ciphertext, so our construction uses two ciphertexts for each AND gate while being compatible with free-XOR gates. The price for the reduction in size is that the evaluator must perform two cryptographic operations per AND gate, rather than one as in previous schemes. We experimentally demonstrate that our garbling scheme leads to an overall decrease in time (up to 25%), bandwidth (up to 33%), and energy use (up to 20%) over several benchmark applications. We show that our construction is optimal for a large class of garbling schemes encompassing all known practical garbling techniques.
The Rocky Mountain Bighorn in Grand Teton National Park

This is a summary of a preliminary survey of the bighorn sheep population of Grand Teton National Park during July, 1976.
SU-E-T-692: Should the Machine-Related Range Shifter (MRS) Be Replaced by a Patient-Related Range Shifter (PRS) to Preserve the Scanning Beam Dosimetric Advantages?

Purpose: To present and evaluate the impact of PRS relative to MRS on PBS spot size. Methods: Three PRS: U-shape bolus (USB), anterior-lateral bridge bolus (ALBB), couch top bolus (CTB)) and MRS mounted on the nozzle are currently employed in our institution. Homogeneous materials with different densities were employed for each device. In-air spot sizes were simulated and compared for 6 conditions: open field, MRS with 15cm, 20cm, and 35 cm air gaps and PRS with 2cm and 8cm air gaps to reproduce clinical treatment conditions. The pros and cons of MRS are evaluated against PRS. Results: Spot sizes increased with greater air gaps, which are more significant for low energy protons. PRS can be consistently placed close to the patient surface; therefore spot sizes don’t change significantly relative to the open beam. MRS may have the same effect for small air gaps. While PRS is overall superior in avoiding patient collision, its impact on the quality of the verification imaging increases as Z increases, in particular for CTB. However, lower Z-material CTB may increase collision and still affect CBCT quality. The main advantages of the PRS are spot size preservation (<2mm change for air gaps of 2 to 8cm), increased uniformity and conformality of the dose distributions and patient collision avoidance. This cannot be achieved consistently for Brain and HN treatment using MRS as the air gap may increase greater than 15cm (maximal increase of 4.5 mm on spot size) due to clearance issues. Conclusion: The spot size and PBS dosimetrical advantages can be maintained with minimized air gap for both PRS and MRS. However; the PRS non-removable device (CTB) affects CBCT imaging quality. Therefore, an ideal approach would be a combination between the USB for the brain and HN treatments and an automated MRS for body and extremities.
Guiding sampling-based motion planning by forward and backward discrete search

This paper shows how to effectively compute collision-free and dynamically-feasible robot motion trajectories from an initial state to a goal region by combining sampling-based motion planning over the continuous state space with forward and backward discrete search over a workspace decomposition. Backward discrete search is used to estimate the cost of reaching the goal from each workspace region. Forward discrete search provides discrete plans, i.e., sequences of neighboring regions to reach the goal starting from low-cost regions. Sampling-based motion planning uses the discrete plans as a guide to expand a tree of collision-free and dynamically-feasible motion trajectories toward the goal. The proposed approach, as shown by the experiments, offers significant computational speedups over related work in solving high-dimensional motion-planning problems with dynamics.
DIESEL FUEL SPRAY PENETRATION AT HIGH INJECTION PRESSURES

To study diesel fuel spray behavior at high injection pressures, an experimental study was undertaken to investigate spray penetration and spray angles at constant injection pressures. Fuel spray penetration and spray angles were found to depend on the injection pressure, density of the background gas, orifice dimensions, etc. A relation, based on non-dimensional parameters, is derived to predict diesel spray tip penetration. The calculated tip penetration is found to agree well with the experimental results.
GUPPIE, underwater 3D printed robot a game changer in control design education

This paper presents innovative strategies to teach control and robotic concepts. These strategies include: 1) a real world focus on social/environmental contexts that are meaningful and “make a difference”; 2) continuous design potential and engagement through use of a platform that integrates design with engineering; 3) mission-based versus application-based approaches, where meaningful application justifies the process; and 4) hands-on, inquiry-based problem-solving. For this purpose a Glider for Underwater Problem-solving and Promotion of Interest in Engineering or “GUPPIE” platform and its simulator were utilized. GUPPIE is easy and inexpensive to manufacture, with readily available lightweight and durable components. It is also modular to accommodate a variety of learning activities. This paper describes how GUPPIE and its interdisciplinary nature was used as a pedagogical platform for teaching core control concepts for different age groups. The activities are designed to attract the interest of students as early as middle school and sustain their interest through college. The game changing aspect of this approach is scaffolded learning and the fact that the students will work with the same platform while progressing through the concepts.
New Developments in Precision LHC Theory: QEDXQCD Exponentiation, Shower/ME Matching, IR-Improved DGLAP-CS Theory and Implications for UV Finite Quantum Gravity

We present the recent developments in exact amplitude-based resummation methods for non-Abelian gauge theories as they relate to precision LHC physics. We discuss QEDXQCD exponentiation, shower/ME matching, IR-improved DGLAP-CS theory and implications, as developed by one of us (BFLW), for a UV finite theory of quantum general relativity.
Back to the future: Britain's 19th century telecommunications policy

Abstract In seeking to answer the question of why there is no consensus in the UK on the concept of ‘universal service’ in the 1990s, this article goes back to the beginnings of the telephone. It argues that the diffusion of the telephone was heavily influenced by the preceding experience of the postal and telegraph services. It finds that the Treasury in coalition with large users determined tariff structures. Flat-rate tariffs and cost-based pricing resulted in cross-subsidization from small to large users and from local to long-distance service. Historically, there has been no commitment to universal service.
Refrigeration can save seeds economically

Seed genebanks around the world are seeking economical ways to store seeds as a means of conserving plant biodiversity. Zheng et al.1 suggest that the use of ‘ultra-dry’ technology2,3, in which the seeds are dried to a water content of less than 5%, can extend the longevity of some seed species sufficiently to reduce or eliminate the need for refrigeration. This would benefit in particular some developing countries, such as China, for which they say the cost of cold storage is prohibitive.
First-principles calculation of the electronic and optical properties of LiNbO3.

The electronic structure and optical properties of rhombohedral ${\mathrm{LiNbO}}_{3}$ have been studied by a first-principles method in the local-density approximation (LDA). An approximate k-dependent and energy-dependent self-energy-correction scheme is then applied to the LDA result, yielding a direct band gap of 3.56 eV at \ensuremath{\Gamma}. It is shown that the calculated dielectric function with the self-energy-corrected eigenvalues is in much better agreement with the optical and refractive index data than those from LDA. The calculated negative optical birefringence is in excellent agreement with experiment. Valence-charge analysis indicates the ionic formula for ${\mathrm{LiNbO}}_{3}$ to be ${\mathrm{Li}}^{0.98}$${\mathrm{Nb}}^{3.67}$(${\mathrm{O}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1.55}$${)}_{3}$.
The Creation of Federal Agencies

This paper is an attempt to understand the processes by which federal agencies are created. Its major thesis is that a majority of agencies (which also tend to be the largest and most important) were created as a last resort response to large scale socioeconomic-technological discontinuities, labeled “novelties.” The origins of novelties are explored, and a historically based, probabilistic model is developed which permits an observer to make predictions about the politics of agency creation on the basis of novelty characteristics and the interest group activities which ordinarily surround a novelty's occurrence.
Diminished circadian rhythms in microglia may contribute to age-related neuroinflammatory sensitization

Circadian rhythms change dramatically across the lifespan, with aged animals exhibiting diminished molecular and behavioral circadian rhythms. Both aging and circadian disruption are associated with sensitized neuroinflammatory processes. We previously demonstrated that microglia – the primary innate immune cell of the central nervous system – possess endogenous circadian timekeeping mechanisms that regulate immune responses. Here, we explored whether age-associated neuroinflammatory sensitization is associated with disrupted diurnal rhythms in microglia. Hippocampal microglia were isolated from aged (24 mos.) and young FBN rats at 6 h intervals. As expected, microglia from young rats rhythmically expressed core circadian clock genes. Microglia from aged rats displayed comparable rhythms in several clock genes including BMAL1 and Rev-erb; however, rhythmic expression of Per1 and Per2 were completely ablated. Unstimulated microglia from young rats also exhibited robust rhythms of TNFalpha and IL1beta mRNA, with peak cytokine expression during the middle of the light phase. In contrast, aged microglia had tonically elevated inflammatory cytokines that were not regulated by time-of-day. Similarly, diurnal differences in responsivity to ex vivo stimulation with lipopolysaccharide were not apparent in aged microglia. Corticosterone treatment induced Per1 expression in aged and young microglia; however, glucocorticoid rhythms were suppressed in the aged hippocampus. This suggests that changes in entrainment signals may be disrupted with aging. Overall, here we show intrinsic microglial rhythms in clock and inflammatory genes are dysregulated with aging.
Regulation of TNFRSF6 (Fas) Expression in Ataxia Telangiectasia Cells by Ionizing Radiation1

Abstract Albanese, J. and Dainiak, N. Regulation of TNFRSF6 (Fas) Expression in Ataxia Telangiectasia Cells by Ionizing Radiation. Several studies have shown that ionizing radiation induces transcription of the TNFRSF6 (Fas) gene, leading to augmented TNFRSF6 protein levels at the surface of irradiated cells. We have examined TNFRSF6 expression in an apparently normal lymphocyte line and in a lymphocyte cell line derived from a patient with ataxia telangiectasia (AT) before and after exposure to radiation (0–10 Gy). Plasma membranes were isolated from normal lymphocytes and AT cells and subjected to Western blot analysis, using a TNFRSF6-specific monoclonal antibody to probe resolved proteins transferred onto nitrocellulose membranes. In both cell types, the presence of a 48-kDa band corresponding to the molecular mass of TNFRSF6 was revealed. Analysis of FITC-conjugated anti-TNFRSF6 antibody-stained normal lymphocytes and AT cells confirmed TNFRSF6 expression in both cell types. In MTT assays, AT cells t...
Fundoplication and the short gastric vessels: divide and conquer.

Dr. O’Boyle and associates have published 5-year follow-up data from their prospective randomized trial of laparoscopic Nissen fundoplications performed with and without division of the short gastric vessels. 1 Early results of this trial, which suggested no difference between the two groups other than an increased operating time in those undergoing division of the short gastrics, were published in this journal in 1997. 2 In this update, they have obtained clinical outcome measurements by telephone interview. At prolonged follow-up there was no difference between the two groups in the incidence of upper GI symptoms, heartburn, or dysphagia. There was an increased incidence of excess flatus and a “decreased incidence of ability to relieve bloating” in patients who underwent division of the short gastric vessels. Their conclusions are that division of the short gastric blood vessels during laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication does not improve clinical outcome over long-term follow-up. These results mirror those of two other series of Nissen fundoplications from Scandinavia in patients undergoing either laparoscopic 3 or open 4 fundoplication in randomized trials. In each of these studies, division of the short gastric vessels conferred no benefit, whereas operative time was significantly increased.
Voltage Dependence of Kir2.1 Block by Intracellular Spermine

Strong voltage sensitivity of inward-rectifier K+ (Kir) channels, such as Kir2.1, has been hypothesized to arise primarily from an intracellular spermine molecule displacing K+ ions from the wide, intracellular part of the ion conduction pore outwardly across the narrow ion selectivity filter. This hypothesis anticipates: i) that mutations intracellular to the ion selectivity filter can abolish any high-affinity spermine block, and ii) that the blocker can force essentially unidirectional K+ movement in a pore region generally wider than the combined dimensions of the blocker plus a K+ ion. We find that simultaneous mutation of five residues, all located internal to the selectivity filter, abolishes specific spermine block. Thus, the selectivity filter itself evidently must have little inherent affinity for spermine. We also find that a constriction near the intracellular end of the pore, acting as a gasket, prevents K+ ions from bypassing the blocker. This heretofore unrecognized gasket ensures that the blocker can effectively displace K+ ions across the selectivity filter to generate exceedingly strong voltage sensitivity.
Not Just a Custodian

My maternal grandfather, Mr. John, worked as a custodian in a rural school district for more than 53 years. Long after he died, two acquaintances volunteered information regarding his contributions...
Activation of signaling pathways and stress-response genes in an experimental model of retinal detachment

Purpose Despite the high metabolic demands of the neural retina, its detachment from the retinal pigment epithelium does not lead to immediate death for most of the cells. This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that intrinsic protective mechanisms are activated in the neural retina during early stages of retinal detachment. Methods Retinal detachments were created in Brown Norway rats by injection of 1% hyaluronic acid into the subretinal space. Gene expression profiles of retinas detached for 24 hours were generated with a gene microarray (rat U34 GeneChips; Affymetrix, Santa Clara, CA) and compared to the profiles from control attached retinas in a robust multiarray protocol and false-discovery-rate analysis. Changes in individual, differentially expressed genes were validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis. Additional qRT-PCR and immunoblot analyses were performed for additional selected genes. Results Genome-wide expression profiling revealed 27 genes that are differentially expressed in retinas detached for 24 hours. In silico analysis and functional clustering suggested that most genes belonged to three signaling pathways: interleukin-6/STAT, transforming growth factor-beta/Smad, and aryl hydrocarbon receptor oxidative stress response. Additional analyses of selected genes from these pathways demonstrated a time-dependent increase in their expression in detached retinas. Conclusions Retinal detachment results in the early activation of stress-response genes and specific signaling pathways. This adaptive response may enable the photoreceptor cells to survive the acute phase of a retinal detachment, and it is the breakdown of these protective mechanisms in chronic disease that leads to the ultimate death of the cell.
Adaptive traitor tracing for large anonymous attack

In this paper we focus on traitor tracing technologies for the anonymous re-broadcasting attack where the attackers re-distribute the per-content encrypting key or the decrypted plain content. To defend against an anonymous attack, content is usually built with different variations. For example, content is divided into multiple segments, each segment comes with multiple variations, and each variation is differently encrypted. Each user/player can only play back one variation per segment through the content.A typical traitor tracing scheme for re-broadcasting attack involves two basic steps, assigning the key/variation to devices (the assignment step) and detecting at least one traitor in the coalition when a series of pirated key/content are recovered (the coalition detection step). The traceability of a traitor tracing scheme is defined to be the number of recovered pirate copies of the content/keys needed in order to detect traitors. In [1] we presented a traitor detection scheme that tries to detect the entire coalition all together. This significantly improved the traditional one-by-one detection approaches in the literature. However, the traceability of the traitor detection scheme has a up limit that is constrained by the number of variations q one can build into the content. We are motivated to improve the traceability on a larger collusion attack and lift the up-limit on traceability with a given q. In this paper we will show a new traitor tracing approach that will assign the variations with skewed probabilities. Our approach not only lifts the tracing up-limit but also enables the tracing agency to assign the variations so as to maximize the traceability for a given coalition size. Our traceability results show that it is possible to achieve good traceability when traitor size exceeds q, and continue doing well even after the coalition size reaches q log q.
Early changes in liver cytoplasmic RNA of growth hormone-treated rats

Abstract 1. Within the first 4 h following administration of growth hormone to hypophysectomized rats, increased incorporation of 14C from precursor [14C]orotic acid into cytoplasmic messenger and ribosomal RNA was observed. The polysome pattern also had increased RNA labeling 4 h following administration of the hormone. 2. Using a discontinuous sucrose gradient, labeled 40-S and 65-S particles were concentrated at the 0.5–1.8 M sucrose interface (“R” fraction). These particles of the “R” fraction were further separated by centrifugation through a 5–20 % linear sucrose gradient. Isolation of the labeled RNA from the 40-S and 65-S particles 30–40 min after [3H]orotic acid injection revealed the presence of 18-S and 23-S RNA, respectively. The RNA labeled in the “R” fraction had a higher specific activity than the RNA obtained from the polysome fraction. 30 min after isotope injection the label in the “R” fraction occurred predominantly in the 40-S and 65-S particles and accounted for the increased specific activity over that observed in the polysome fraction. 3. 4 h after growth hormone administration, increased labeling of both the 40-S and 65-S particles by [3H]orotic acid was observed. The increased incorporation into these particles was presumably the result of increased labeling of both messenger and ribosomal RNA.
The nature and stability of aluminum hydroxide precipitated on wyoming montmorillonite

Abstract A freeze—fracture technique was used to prepare replicas of interlayer surfaces of a hydroxy-aluminum montmorillonite (OH-Al-SWy-1), synthesized by titrating an Al-clay with NaOH. Aqueous suspensions containing 0.01 M NaClO4 and 4% OH-Al-SWy-1 were frozen rapidly with Freon 22 to vitrify the solution phase and stored in liquid N2. The frozen samples were fractured at 10−6 Torr and 158K and C-Pt replicas were made of the exposed surface. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the replicas showed a randomly distributed surface precipitate. The precipitate was flat and angular, resembling gibbsite morphologically. Gibbsite crystals were observed outside the interlayer when the suspension was air-dried on microscope grids, underscoring the value of the freeze—fracture technique in minimizing alteration of the OH-Al-SWy-1 complex. Using the mass of Al(OH)3 fixed by the clay and the average particle perimeter observed by TEM (49.3 nm), we estimated the maximum Al(OH)3 surface charge density and site density available for phosphate adsorption. The range of surface charge density for the Al(OH)3, estimated from crystallographic data, was very close to the range of surface charge density for montmorillonite, suggesting that the latter may influence the maximum particle size of the precipitate. The total charge and edge [-Al(OH)(H2O)] site density were less than the observed CEC reduction on SWy-1 and maximum phosphate retention on OH-Al-SWy-1 at pH 5.3, respectively. Interlayer Al(OH)3 is known to be unstable with respect to gibbsite and it is possible that a relatively high specific surface area was responsible for the high solubility.
Morphological evolution of thin PS/PMMA films: Effects of surface energy and blend composition

Abstract We systematically compare the morphological evolution of thin PS/PMMA films, with varying compositions, during thermal annealing on preferential and non-preferential surfaces. On native silicon oxide surfaces, the phase evolution in the films was dictated by the preferential substrate-wetting of PMMA. However, the resulting PS relief structures on the PMMA wetting layer varied with the blend composition, and transitioned from capillary-fluctuation-mediated breakup to random nucleation with increased PS concentration. In contrast, the morphological evolution of the PS/PMMA films on non-preferential surfaces was also dictated by the coarsening of PMMA domain, but proceeded without the formation of a PMMA wetting layer. Both the PS and PMMA domains maintain direct contact with both the substrate and free surfaces throughout the evolution of the morphology. The morphologies at the interfaces were highly correlated, but with distinctive length scales. A variety of dispersed and continuous phase-separated structures can thus be obtained.
Temperature and the action of DDT on the nervous system of Periplaneta americana (L.).

Abstract Although the overall effect of DDT on insects is expressed by a negative temperature coefficient of toxicity, the action of DDT on afferent nerves of cockroaches (Periplaneta americana) has a positive temperature coefficient. In the crural nerve abnormal afferent impulse trains are induced more rapidly and in greater number at high than at low temperature. Decreasing the temperature decreases the numbers of afferent trains slightly, but does not eliminate them. In the central nervous system, impulse trains increase as the temperature decreases, and raising the temperature eliminates them. Impulse trains in the central nervous system can be eliminated by a combination of perfusion and removal of afferent input, but they cannot be eliminated in afferent nerves by saline perfusion. It is concluded that events occurring within the central nervous system are responsible for the overall negative temperature coefficient of DDT-toxicity.
You-Are-Here Maps: Psychological Considerations

You-are-here maps are standard aids for newcomers to a complex terrain. A precisely constructed map with a properly affixed you-are-here symbol, however, is not sufficient. Two principles, one of structure matching and one of orientation, must be considered in order to maximize the map's usefulness. Indeed, neglect of these can make the map misleading. These principles lead to the following set of recommendations: (1) provide salient, coordinate labels in both the terrain and the map; (2) place the map near an asymmetrical part of the terrain; (3) design the you-are-here symbol to indicate map-terrain correspondence; (4) align the map with the terrain; (5) be redundant, that is, use as many of these supplements as possible.
Evidence for Late Tertiary Volcanic Activity in the Northern Black Hills, South Dakota

Rhyolitic volcanic rock in the northern Black Hills has a potassium-argon isotopic age of 10.5 ± 1.5 million years. This is considerably younger than any previously reported igneous activity in this or adjacent areas and indicates that the renewed uplift of the Black Hills, which occurred after the Oligocene epoch, was also accompanied by some volcanism.
Maternal plots, colonialist fictions: colonial pedagogy in Mary Martha Sherwood's children stories.

(2001). Maternal plots, colonialist fictions: Colonial pedagogy in Mary Martha Sherwood's children's stories. Nineteenth-Century Contexts: Vol. 23, No. 3, pp. 381-415.
Multigrid Solution of an Elliptic Boundary Value Problem from Tropical Cyclone Theory

Abstract We consider the multigrid solution of the transverse circulation equation for a tropical cyclone. First we develop a standard multigrid scheme (SMG) which cycles between different levels of discretization (grids) to efficiently reduce the error in the solution on all scales. Whereas relaxation is inefficient as a solution method, it is used within the multigrid approach as a smoother to reduce the high-wavenumber errors on each grid. The added cost of the coarse grids is small because they contain relatively few points. The efficiency of the SMG scheme is compared to more conventional methods. Gauss-Seidel and successive-over-relaxation (SOR). Results show that the SMG scheme solves to the level of truncation error 26 times faster than an optimal SOR method. In the SMG scheme an unbounded domain is approximated with a wall at a finite radius which leads to significant errors in the numerical solution. To better simulate an unbounded domain, we develop a second scheme (LRMG) which naturally combin...
Interaction of Formamidine Pesticides with the Presynaptic α2-Adrenoceptor Regulating [3H]Noradrenaline Release from Rat Hypothalamic Synaptosomes

The effects of the formamidine pesticides amitraz and chlordimeform on the alpha(2)-adrenergic receptor subtype that mediates the release of [(3)H]noradrenaline by synaptosomes from rat hypothalami were studied. We initially characterized the presynaptic autoreceptor on noradrenergic nerve endings using selective antagonists. Yohimbine (a nonselective alpha(2) antagonist) and BRL 44408 (selective for subtypes alpha(2A)/alpha(2D)) diminished the inhibitory effect of xylazine on K(+)-evoked release of [(3)H]noradrenaline; the K(B) values were 481 and 154 nM, respectively. In contrast, prazosin (a selective alpha(2B)/alpha(2C) antagonist) did not modify the inhibitory effect of xylazine. These results indicate that the release of noradrenaline by noradrenergic nerve endings in the rat hypothalamus is regulated by alpha(2D)-adrenoceptors, a species variation of the human alpha(2A) subtype. We then assessed the effects of the two pesticides on the K(+)-evoked release of [(3)H]noradrenaline. Amitraz reduced release in a dose-dependent manner; the effect observed at the maximal concentration tested (10 microM) was 13.0 +/- 2.0% and it was reversed by yohimbine. Amitraz also diminished the inhibitory effects of the alpha(2)-adrenergic agonists clonidine and xylazine. Chlordimeform displayed no effects, possibly because the true active compound of this insecticide is its demethylated metabolite. Based on these findings we conclude that the formamidine pesticides act as partial agonists of presynaptic alpha(2D)-adrenergic receptors in the rat hypothalamus. This interaction may be responsible for the in vivo alterations in catecholaminergic regulation of cyclic variations in gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion, which can have grave functional repercussions on the reproductive system of mammals exposed to these xenobiotics.
Regulating palliative care: the case of hospice.

Abstract Palliative care services provided to patients and families vary substantially across hospices. Literature suggests regulation can act as a standardizing force in health care delivery. However, little is known about the effect of regulation on the delivery of palliative care in hospice and whether its effect differs for different types of hospice providers. We estimated the association between regulation, defined as Medicare hospice certification, and the delivery of palliative care in hospice using a nationally representative data set of 9,409 patients from 2,066 hospices surveyed in the National Home and Hospice Care Survey, 1992–2000. Using multivariable analysis, we found Medicare hospice certification was associated with a significantly broader range of services provided to patients (odds ratio [OR]=2.45; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16, 5.17). This effect was significantly more pronounced ( P -value for interaction=0.001) among for-profit hospices (OR=15.24; 95% CI: 4.06, 57.17) than among nonprofit hospices (OR=1.53; 95% CI: 0.75, 3.14). The effect of ownership on certification differences was most apparent for the provision of skilled nursing (prevalence difference in difference=52.4%), spiritual care (prevalence difference in difference=49.6%), and social services (prevalence difference in difference=48.1%). This study is the first to demonstrate the substantial association between the regulation of hospices and the provision of a multidisciplinary range of services to patients and families. It provides valuable insights regarding the potential role of regulation in standardizing the quality of palliative care across the increasingly diverse palliative care programs developing outside of hospice.
Neurohistology of the subacromial space

Subacromial decompression is one of the most commonly performed shoulder procedures. Debridement of the subacromial soft tissues is a critical part of the procedure. However, the extent of soft tissue debridement is not well defined. The purpose of this study was to identify neural elements within the soft tissues composing the subacromial space. Using special immunohistochemical stains and electron microscopy, neural elements were identified within the subacromial bursa, rotator cuff tendon, biceps tendon and tendon sheath, and transverse humeral ligament. There was a significantly richer supply of free nerve fibers in the bursa compared with the other tissues. The nociceptive information relayed by these fibers may be responsible for the pain associated with impingement syndrome.
Future prospects in planning radiation therapy

Recent advances in imaging, especially computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, and in the power and capabilities of reasonably priced computers and image display devices will permit a substantial extension of the scope of computer programs designed to help plan cancer therapy. All available diagnostic studies could be incorporated into the process of assessing the patient's disease, picking a treatment modality, and determining details of the selected treatment. Fully three-dimensional simulation of any possible treatment will be possible and methods for comparing and choosing between possible rival plans will be developed. Monitoring of the treatment machine and verification of the adequacy of the delivered treatment will be facilitated, and the follow-up of the patient and statistical analysis of the results of treatment can be incorporated into the overall programming system.