cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Barrett’s Esophagus: Emerging Knowledge and Management Strategies

The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) has increased exponentially in the last 3 decades. Barrett's esophagus (BE) is the only known precursor of EAC. Patients with BE have a greater than 40 folds higher risk of EAC compared with the general population. Recent years have witnessed a revolution in the clinical and molecular research related to BE. However, several aspects of this condition remain controversial. Data regarding the true prevalence of BE have varied widely. Recent studies have suggested a lower incidence of EAC in nondysplastic BE (NDBE) than previously reported. There is paucity of prospective data showing a survival benefit of screening or surveillance for BE. Furthermore, the ever-increasing emphasis on healthcare cost containment has called for reexamination of the screening and surveillance strategies for BE. There is a need for identification of reliable clinical predictors or molecular biomarkers to risk-stratify patients who might benefit the most from screening or surveillance for BE. Finally, new therapies have emerged for the management of dysplastic BE. In this paper, we highlight the key areas of controversy and uncertainty surrounding BE. The paper discusses, in detail, the current literature about the molecular pathogenesis, biomarkers, histopathological diagnosis, and management strategies for BE.
A Stochastic Mixing Model for Nonprecipitating Cumulus Clouds

Abstract Recent work suggests that nonprecipitating cumulus clouds must be considered as aggregates of many parcels always moving toward buoyancy equilibrium, but otherwise subject to a multiplicity of fates. For example, some parcels originating at low levels seem to ascend to their level of undilute neutral buoyancy before mixing with the environment, while others mix at intermediate levels. We present a model for a cumulus cloud incorporating these ideas. In spite of the apparent simplicity of the model, it compares favorably with observations.
Integrated photoacoustic, confocal, and two-photon microscope

The invention of green fluorescent protein and other molecular fluorescent probes has promoted applications of confocal and two-photon fluorescence microscopy in biology and medicine. However, exogenous fluorescence contrast agents may affect cellular structure and function, and fluorescence microscopy cannot image nonfluorescent chromophores. We overcome this limitation by integrating optical-resolution photoacoustic microscopy into a modern Olympus IX81 confocal, two-photon, fluorescence microscope setup to provide complementary, label-free, optical absorption contrast. Automatically coregistered images can be generated from the same sample. Imaging applications in ophthalmology, developmental biology, and plant science are demonstrated. For the first time, in a familiar microscopic fluorescence imaging setting, this trimodality microscope provides a platform for future biological and medical discoveries.
Learning organizational roles for negotiated search in a multiagent system

This paper presents studies in learning a form of organizational knowledge called organizational roles in a multi-agent agent system. It attempts to demonstrate the viability and utility of self-organization in an agent-based system involving complex interactions within the agent set. We present a multi-agent parametric design system called L-TEAM where a set of heterogeneous agents learn their organizational roles in negotiated search for mutually acceptable designs. We tested the system on a steam condenser design domain and empirically demonstrated its usefulness. L-TEAM produced better results than its non-learning predecessor, TEAM, which required elaborate knowledge engineering to hand-code organizational roles for its agent set. In addition, we discuss experiments with L-TEAM that highlight the importance of certain learning issues in multi-agent systems.
Deconstructing the Cadherin-Catenin-Actin Complex

Spatial and functional organization of cells in tissues is determined by cell-cell adhesion, thought to be initiated through trans-interactions between extracellular domains of the cadherin family of adhesion proteins, and strengthened by linkage to the actin cytoskeleton. Prevailing dogma is that cadherins are linked to the actin cytoskeleton through β-catenin and α-catenin, although the quaternary complex has never been demonstrated. We test this hypothesis and find that α-catenin does not interact with actin filaments and the E-cadherin-β-catenin complex simultaneously, even in the presence of the actin binding proteins vinculin and α-actinin, either in solution or on isolated cadherin-containing membranes. Direct analysis in polarized cells shows that mobilities of E-cadherin, β-catenin, and α-catenin are similar, regardless of the dynamic state of actin assembly, whereas actin and several actin binding proteins have higher mobilities. These results suggest that the linkage between the cadherin-catenin complex and actin filaments is more dynamic than previously appreciated.
Pleistocene changes in the pore concentration of a planktonic foraminiferal species from the Pacific Ocean

Abstract A study of the pores on the test wall surfaces of the planktonic foraminiferal species Globigerina eggeri shows marked changes through time in pore concentration per unit area. In Atlantic and Caribbean core samples, the changes in pore concentration correlate with the Pleistocene climatic variations, as established both by faunal analyses and by oxygen-18 studies. High counts per unit area occur during interglacial ages, and low counts per unit area are typical of glacial ages. Pore concentration counts of Globigerina eggeri sampled from a Lamont core (V 19–47) taken in the Pacific Ocean north of Easter Island show similar changes through time, and presumably these changes relate to Pleistocene ages, as in the Atlantic and Caribbean. However there are no marked faunal variations in the core, suggesting that the Pacific Ocean remained warm throughout the Pleistocene. Evidently pore concentration in Globigerina eggeri is a response to a Pleistocene environmental change other than temperature, and may provide a key for further studies of Pleistocene chronology and rates of deposition in the Pacific Ocean.
Developmentally regulated expression of the cell-cell adhesion glycoprotein cell-CAM 120/80 in peri-implantation mouse embryos and extraembryonic membranes.

Peri-implantation mouse embryos and extraembryonic membranes were examined immunohistochemically for the expression of the cell-cell adhesion molecule (cell-CAM) 12080. Cell-CAM 12080 was seen along the lateral borders of all cells in the blastocyst but became undetectable on trophoblastic giant cells, some mononuclear trophoblastic cells and parietal yolk sac cells when blastocysts were cultured in vitro. In postimplantation embryos in vivo, all parts of the early egg-cylinder reacted with the antibody to cell-CAM 12080 except for the cells of the parietal endoderm and the primary trophoblastic giant cells. In the late stage egg-cylinder, no cell-CAM 12080 was seen on the cells of the primitive mesoderm or on the primordial germ cells. The germ cells in genital ridges and fetal gonads remained cell-CAM 12080-negative throughout the fetal stages of development. In the extraembryonic membranes, the visceral yolk sac, amnion, and the cells of the placental labyrinth were cell-CAM 12080-positive, whereas, the parietal yolk sac cells and the spongiotrophoblast cells were negative. These data show that cell-CAM 12080 is found on cells arranged into epithelial layers in the early embryo and extraembryonic tissues, but is not expressed in the dissociated cells differentiating from these epithelia. Thus, the expression of cell-CAM 12080 appears to be developmentally regulated.
Amenable groups with very poor compression into Lebesgue spaces

We give a construction of finitely generated amenable groups that do not admit any coarse 1-Lipschitz embedding with positive compression exponent into Lp for any 1≤p<∞, including some that are four-step solvable, answering positively a question posed by Arzhantseva, Guba, and Sapir.
There is a world beyond protein mutations: the role of non-coding RNAs in melanomagenesis.

Until recently, the general perception has been that mutations in protein-coding genes are responsible for tumorigenesis. With the discovery of V600EBRAF in about 50% of cutaneous melanomas, there was an increased effort to find additional mutations. However, mutations characterized in melanoma to date cannot account for the development of all melanomas. With the discovery of microRNAs as important players in melanomagenesis, protein mutations are no longer considered the sole drivers of tumors. Recent research findings have expanded the view for tumor initiation and progression to additional non-coding RNAs. The data suggest that tumorigenesis is likely an interplay between mutated proteins and deregulation of non-coding RNAs in the cell with an additional role of the tumor environment. With the exception of microRNAs, our knowledge of the role of non-coding RNAs in melanoma is in its infancy. Using few examples, we will summarize some of the roles of non-coding RNAs in tumorigenesis. Thus, there is a whole world beyond protein-coding sequences and microRNAs, which can cause melanoma.
Selective preservation and origin of petroleum-forming aquatic kerogen

Studies of a marine algal sapropel from Mangrove Lake, Bermuda, by 13C NMR and stable carbon isotopic methods show that precursors of aquatic kerogen (insoluble, macromolecular, paraffinic humic substances) are primary components of algae and possibly associated bacteria and that these substances survive microbial decomposition and are selectively preserved during early diagenesis.
Recognition of G-1:C73 Atomic Groups by Escherichia coli Histidyl-tRNA Synthetase

This work focuses on the RNA−protein interactions necessary for efficient aminoacylation of tRNAHis by Escherichia coli histidyl-tRNA synthetase (HisRS). The E. coli tRNAHis acceptor stem is characterized by a unique “extra” G-1:C73 base pair. Previous in vivo and in vitro studies showed that G-1:C73 is a major recognition element for E. coli HisRS. To further probe the role of the G-1:C73 base pair in specific aminoacylation, we carried out atomic group “mutagenesis” studies. Systematic base analogue substitutions at the −1:73 position of chemically synthesized microhelixHis substrates suggest that the G-1 base serves to position the 5‘-monophosphate, which is critical for aminoacylation. Additionally, the C73 and G-1 bases contain major groove exocyclic atomic groups that contribute to HisRS recognition.
Applying combinatorial optimization metaheuristics to the golf scramble problem

Abstract One typical golf tournament format is termed a ‘Scramble,’ comprised of four-person teams. The participants are rank-ordered into four equally sized ‘flights’ based on integer-valued handicaps determined by skill level. One participant from each flight is selected to make up a team. Of interest is the assignment of teams in an ‘equitable’ fashion, where equitable is defined as minimizing the difference between the largest and smallest sum of the handicaps. For a typical tournament of 36 teams there are over 10 124 unique assignments. Since in general there are duplicate handicap values, the number of ‘equivalent’ assignments is reduced (but still very large). Various heuristics are explored for efficiently identifying an optimal or near optimal solution. These include descent heuristics, simulated annealing, tabu search, and genetic algorithms. Genetic algorithms outperform other heuristics by taking advantage of the problem structure.
Beware, techies bearing gifts

The latest techie panacea for fixing education is to just connect all the students to the Internet; with all that information out there, surely they will learn. In Project Globe, Vice President Gore, the U.S.'s chief techie, proposes to connect thousands of schools worldwide.
Differences in central and peripheral neural actions between soman and diisopropyl fluorophosphate, organophosphorus inhibitors of acetylchlinnesterase

Toxic doses of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors produce prominent motor symptoms (fasciculations, fibrillations, and body tremors) and muscle fiber necrosis. The severity and quality of motor symptoms and fiber necrosis depend upon the specific AChE inhibitor. To examine the importance of nerve and muscle activity in producing muscle necrosis, we recorded electromyographic activity from normal and acutely denervated rat gastrocnemius muscle following administration of the organophosphorus AChE inhibitors soman and diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP). The motor symptoms induced on the denervated side represented activity originating at the nerve terminal while those of the contralateral nondenervated muscle represented the sum of peripheral plus central descending activity. The results indicate that soman and DFP produce different responses. At nonlethal toxic doses, the majority of motor symptoms induced by soman is due to impulses descending from the central nervous system, and a proportion of these symptoms are epileptiform activity. This activity is not generated at spinal levels. In contrast, DFP produces motor symptoms mainly by peripheral action that is dependent on a functioning nerve terminal. At lethal doses, both agents have central and peripheral effects. Different patterns of electrical activity are associated with each of the motor symptoms. We found that muscle fiber necrosis correlates best with peripherally generated high-frequency repetitive discharges.
Analysis of Boundary Layers on Perforated Walls of Transonic Wind Tunnels

The boundary-layer development on the perforated walls of a transonic wind tunnel has been studied experimentally under model testing conditions for a better understanding of the flow characteristics from which a proper boundary condition for wall interference calculations could be formulated. The results show that the boundary-layer effect is small for the portion of the wall with outflow. With inflow, however, the wall characteristics are highly nonlinear and strongly modulated by the boundary layer. The normal velocity induced by the displacement effect can be up to three times as great as the inflow velocity at the wall. The wall characteristics, the boundary-layer development, and the inviscid interference flow are all interdependent and must be solved together as a single problem.
Warming of the Southern Ocean since the 1950s.

Autonomous Lagrangian Circulation Explorer floats recorded temperatures in depths between 700 and 1100 meters in the Southern Ocean throughout the 1990s. These temperature records are systematically warmer than earlier hydrographic temperature measurements from the region, suggesting that mid-depth Southern Ocean temperatures have risen 0.17°C between the 1950s and the 1980s. This warming is faster than that of the global ocean and is concentrated within the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, where temperature rates of change are comparable to Southern Ocean atmospheric temperature increases.
Determinants of Coauthorship for the Most Productive Authors of Accounting Literature

All business faculty should be interested in the circumstances under which the most productive academic authors publish their work. This is because success in publishing connects closely with universities' decisions on tenure and promotion and with opportunities for merit-based pay increases and alternative employment. The purpose of the present study was to examine the characteristics of published articles by the most productive authors of accounting literature with particular attention to levels of collaboration. The results indicate that prolific authors of accounting literature become more productive and produce longer articles by working with others. However, such prolific authors appear to decrease the number of coauthors on their higher quality publications, possibly to increase the quality of their reputation. From these findings, the present authors derive implications for faculty and provide concluding comments.
Reflex sympathetic activation induces acute insulin resistance in the human forearm.

Inferences about the association between sympathetic overactivity and insulin resistance have been drawn from the infusion of sympathomimetic amines in supraphysiological doses. We used the isolated perfused human forearm to investigate the effect of reflex-induced sympathetic nervous system activation on the peripheral utilization of glucose in the skeletal muscles of 14 healthy men. Local hyperinsulinemia in the forearm (132 +/- 25 microunits/mL for 90 minutes) induced a significant increase in the utilization of glucose from baseline (16.4 +/- 3.1 mg.dL-1.min-1 per 100 mL forearm volume) to a plateau (85.7 +/- 15.1 mg.dL-1.min-1 per 100 mL forearm volume) between 40 and 60 minutes of insulin infusion but did not alter the utilization of oxygen. Reflex sympathetic nervous system activation was elicited by unloading of cardiopulmonary receptors with bilateral thigh cuff inflation to 40 mm Hg between 60 and 90 minutes of insulin infusion. Blood flow in the forearm was significantly decreased with inflation of thigh cuffs (average decrease of 19%, p < 0.0001). As a result of thigh cuff inflation, there was a reduction in the utilization of glucose (a decrease of 23%, p < 0.02), whereas oxygen utilization was unchanged. We find that an increase in sympathetic nervous system activation (within the normal range of physiological responses) can cause acute insulin resistance in the forearm of healthy volunteers. The reflex caused no change in oxygen utilization, but the same stimulus elicited a decrease in the utilization of glucose.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Ago-TNRC6 triggers microRNA-mediated decay by promoting two deadenylation steps.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) silence the expression of their mRNA targets mainly through promoting mRNA decay. The mechanism, kinetics and participating enzymes for miRNA-mediated decay in mammalian cells remain largely unclear. Combining the approaches of transcriptional pulsing, RNA-tethering, over-expression of dominant-negative mutants, and siRNA-mediated gene knockdown, we show that let-7 miRNA-induced silencing complexes (miRISCs), which contain Argonaute (Ago) and TNRC6 (also known as GW182) proteins, trigger highly rapid mRNA decay by inducing accelerated biphasic deadenylation mediated via Pan2-Pan3 and Ccr4-Caf1 deadenylase complexes followed by Dcp1-Dcp2 complex-directed decapping in mammalian cells. When tethered to mRNAs, all four human Ago proteins and TNRC6C are each able to recapitulate the two deadenylation steps. Two conserved human Ago2 phenylalanines (F470 and F505) are critical for recruiting TNRC6 to promote deadenylation. These findings indicate that promoting biphasic deadenylation to trigger mRNA decay is an intrinsic property of miRISCs.
The effect of lactinex on rabbit ileal loop reactions induced by enterotoxigenicEscherichia coli

The effect of Lactinex, a lactobacillus-containing pharmaceutical, on rabbit ileal loop reactions induced by enterotoxigenicEscherichia coli was studied. Lactinex granules, tablets, or its separate components were mixed and incubated in vitro with toxigenicE. coli prior to injection into ileal loops. Since inocula were free of preformed enterotoxin, reactions indicated in vivo enterotoxin production. Lactinex granules reduced loop fluid when compared with that induced by the positive control (P<0.001) or inocular containing Lactinex tablets (P=0.009). Whey powder, 109 and 107Lactobacillus acidophilus, and 108Lactobacillus bulgaricus were the only Lactinex components that significantly reduced loop fluid.
Strain-generated electric fields in [111] growth axis strained-layer superlattices

Abstract We show that the internal strains in [111] growth axis strained-layer superlattices generate polarization fields by the piezoelectric effect. The electric fields produced by these polarization fields can be very large. For example, in GaAs Ga 0.8 In 0.2 As superlattices, which have a 1.4% lattice mismatch, the fields are greater than 10 5 V/cm. The fields are oriented in the [111] direction and have opposite signs in the two materials if the piezoelectric coefficients of the two constituent materials have the same sign. Such strain-induced fields do not occur for [100] growth axis superlattices.
Data and computation transformations for multiprocessors

Effective memory hierarchy utilization is critical to the performance of modern multiprocessor architectures. We have developed the first compiler system that fully automatically parallelizes sequential programs and changes the original array layouts to improve memory system performance. Our optimization algorithm consists of two steps. The first step chooses the parallelization and computation assignment such that synchronization and data sharing are minimized. The second step then restructures the layout of the data in the shared address space with an algorithm that is based on a new data transformation framework. We ran our compiler on a set of application programs and measured their performance on the Stanford DASH multiprocessor. Our results show that the compiler can effectively optimize parallelism in conjunction with memory subsystem performance.
Aspects of the Condensation of Primordial Silicates

WE introduce in this article two ad hoc hypotheses about the condensation of mafic silicates in the primordial solar nebula. From the distribution of trace elements, meteoritic abundance patterns can be largely explained1–3 using a two component model based on elemental volatility. The low temperature component, A, contains primordial volatile material accreted and separated from the solar gas at temperatures ≲530 K whereas component B separated from its volatiles at temperatures in the range 1,100 to 1,300 K. Component A has been identified with the matrix material of carbonaceous meteorites and it was concluded that the trace element abundances in this material have not been significantly altered since accretion. It seems probable, therefore, that the principal element composition of the hydrous layer-lattice silicate—by far the dominant matrix mineral—was established before accretion.
The coexistence of pheochromocytoma and adrenocortical hyperplasia.

ABSTRACT A case of hirsutism, acne, polydipsia, polyuria, weight loss and one known episode of hypertension is reported. The patient was a 22-year-old woman. Laboratoiy investigations revealed glycosuria, hyperglycemia, hypermctabolism, and elevated levels of urinary catechol amines, urinary 17-ketosteroids and plasma 17-hydroxycorticoids. Upon x-ray examination, a left suprarenal mass could be seen. At operation a large benign pheochromocytoma was found in the left adrenal and also marked adrenocortical hyperplasia on the left. Nine months after surgery, the hirsutism and acne were improved. Glucose tolerance, the basal metabolic rate, and the results of the histamine test and the adrenocortical function studies were all entirely normal. Since the patient did not require cortisone therapy for a significant period of time postoperatively, and since unilateral adrenalectomy had been curative, it was inferred that the contralateral adrenal cortex at the time of operation was neither atrophic nor affected by...
Binding of immunoglobulin G from patients with autoimmune thyroid disease to rat sodium-iodide symporter peptides: evidence for the iodide transporter as an autoantigen.

The recent cloning of the rat sodium-iodide symporter (rNIS) from FRTL-5 cells makes possible studies of the role of this thyroid-specific protein as an antigen in autoimmune diseases of the thyroi...
Structure and Marker Mode of The Primary Electron Donor State Absorption of Photosynthetic Bacteria: Hole Burned Spectra

Structured photochemical hole burned spectra are presented for P870 and P960 of the reaction centers (RC) of Rhodobacter sphaeroides and Rhodopseudomonas viridis. A special pair marker mode (ωsp) Franck-Condon progression is identified for both P870 and P960. Zero-phonon holes are reported which yield P870* and P960* decay times in good agreement with the time domain values. This agreement suggests that vibrational thermalization occurs prior to the primary charge separation process. The theory of Hayes and Small [1], embellished for the marker mode progression, is shown to account for the primary donor state absorption and burn-wavelength dependent hole spectra. Site excitation energy selection is used to establish correlation between a higher energy RC state and P* for both bacteria.
Time evolution of stress redistribution around multiple fiber breaks in a composite with viscous and viscoelastic matrices

Abstract We develop an efficient computational technique, called viscous break interaction (VBI), to determine the time evolution of fiber and matrix stresses around a large, arbitrary array of fiber breaks in a unidirectional composite with a matrix that creeps. The matrix is assumed to be linearly viscoelastic or viscous in shear following a power-law in time (creep exponent 0 ⩽ α ⩽ 1), and interface debonding or slip is not permitted. Such a law is applicable to polymeric matrices over a wide range of temperatures or to a viscous, glassy interphase in a ceramic composite with elongated microstructure. Specifically, we consider an infinitely large, 2-D composite lamina in the shear-lag framework of Hedgepeth, and the multiple break formulation is built on weighted superposition using influence functions based on the response to an isolated break. We apply the method to problems involving large transverse cracks (i.e., aligned, contiguous breaks), fully bridged cracks, and arrays of interacting, longitudinally staggered breaks. In each case we calculate the time evolution of stress concentrations and displacements of individual fibers. In comparing cracks vs spatially staggered breaks, the results reveal interesting contrasts in the time variation of both peak fiber stress concentrations and break opening displacements. In the latter case, we see behavior consistent with the three stages of creep, and show how the local fiber tensile stresses can rise (and subsequently even fall) at rates depending on various microstructural length scales. The motivation for developing VBI is to provide the computational framework for modeling the statistical features of the lifetime of composites in creep-rupture resulting from an accumulation of many fiber breaks and ultimately localization and collapse.
A review of the first five years of the University of Arizona telepsychiatry programme

We performed a retrospective review of the first five years of activity in the University of Arizona Telepsychiatry Programme. The programme began in 1998 as part of a telemedicine service for underserved rural areas. Over the first five years, 1086 teleconsultations were carried out for a total of 206 patients. There were 159 adult (77%) and 47 paediatric patients (23%). During the study period, the racial/ethnic diversity of the paediatric patients increased, as did the number of follow-up visits for adult patients (average 5.3/patient). These trends suggested that telepsychiatry became an integral part of the mental health service system at the six referring sites. Adult patients completed 81 satisfaction surveys (51%) and psychiatrists completed 47 (23%). The responses showed that providers and patients found telepsychiatry services satisfactory, although in a minority of teleconsultations (18% for providers and 17% for patients) equipment problems were distracting. The continued use of the services suggests that the telepsychiatry programme fills a service gap in rural areas of the state.
Erythrocyte Lipids in Childhood

Extract: Erythrocyte stromal lipid analysis has been performed on 26 healthy children spanning the age groups from 6 months to 14 years of age. Total lipid, lipid phosphorus and cholesterol per cell are similar in children between the ages of 6 months and 6 years. These values, in milligrams, for the 6–12 month age group are (4.42 ± 0.42) X 10-10, (0.98 ± 0.08) X 10-11 and (1.22 ± 0.04) X 10-10, respectively. After 6 years of age, there is an increase toward the adult values, with children in the 10–14 year age group having values, in milligrams per cell, of: total lipid, (4.83 ± 0.32) X 10-10; lipid phosphorus, (1.15 ± 0.10) X 10-11; cholesterol, (1.26 ± 0.06) X 10-10. Changes in cell lipid content reflect primarily changes in cell size over the age period studied. In the younger age groups, the percentage of total lipid as phospholipid is lower and that as cholesterol is higher than in children over age 6 and in adults (age group 6–12 months, percentage of total lipid as phosphorus = 2.22 ± 0.05, that as cholesterol = 27.7 ± 3.0; age group 10–14 yr, percentage as phosphorus = 2.39 ±0.17, percentage as cholesterol = 26.1 ± 1.8). Phospholipid fractionation reveals a consistent level of sphingomyelin so that average values for all age groups studied range only from 23.9% to 24.4% of total phospholipid. Phosphatidyl choline is lowest in the youngest children studied (25.5% in age 6–12 months), and increases to adult levels after 6 years of age (28.8% in age group 6–10 yr; 28.2% in age group 10–14 yr). Consequently, the ratio of sphingomyelin phosphatidyl choline more closely approximates the neonatal value below 6 yr and the lower adult value after 6 yr. Fatty acids es-terified to phospholipid remain relatively constant throughout the age groups studied and do not differ markedly from adult values by the end of the first year of life.
Concept of Group Velocity in Resonant Pulse Propagation

It is shown that the prediction of Garrett and McCumber that a light pulse's velocity may exceed the speed of light in a resonantly absorbing medium is due to asymmetric absorption of energy from the light pulse. More energy is absorbed from the trailing half of the pulse than from the front half, causing the center of gravity of the pulse to move at a velocity greater than the phase velocity of light. It is also shown that in certain cases a pulse's maximum will propagate at the group velocity even when the pulse as a whole is distorted by dispersion.
Imaging resolution signal-to-noise ratio in transverse phase amplification from classical information theory

A quantum phase amplifier operated in the spatial domain can improve the signal-to-noise ratio in imaging beyond the classical limit. The scaling of the signal-to-noise ratio with the gain of the quantum phase amplifier is derived from classical information theory.
Apatite fission-track dating of a sample from the type Caradoc (Middle Ordovician) Series in England

Fission-track dating of apatite from a bentonite in the type Caradoc Series (Middle Ordovician) of England provides a minimum average age of 451 ± 21 m.y. (external-detector and population methods). The conodont-color geothermometer of Epstein and others indicates that rock temperatures remained below 80°C. Therefore, there should have been little if any fading of fossil fission tracks in the apatite. Isotopic calibration of provincial stratotype sections can be done quickly and relatively inexpensively by the fission-track method, provided that bentonites are present, and will prove useful in understanding lower Paleozoic biostratigraphy.
Treating Compulsive Buying Disorder

Based on the available evidence, we would offer a Compulsive Buying Disorder (CBD) patient the choice of a 12-session trial of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) targeting CBD, or a seven-week trial of pharmacotherapy with citalopram. We would treat any co-morbid psychiatric disorder with appropriate psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy, and evaluate the need for couples or family therapy, and for inpatient treatment of suicidality, or comorbid conditions. We would also encourage the use of educational self-help materials. Patients preferring pharmacotherapy would be encouraged to take steps to help control CBD behaviors, e.g., identify the needs over-shopping is meeting and design more rational ways to meet them; find other ways to experience pleasure; take a “truly needed” shopping list along and purchase only these items; leave credit cards at home; avoid shopping alone—a friend may curtail compulsive buying; avoid shopping malls or other personally tempting venues; resist the convenience of online shopping and don’t allow websites to store credit card information, as this makes transactions even speedier and thus more dangerous; keep a daily journal of purchases and expenditures and of the irrational thoughts and feelings driving compulsive buying, and use self-help materials to combat them; reward yourself for exerting control. During medication visits, we would inquire regarding any difficulties in implementing these behavioral changes, and help problem-solve these difficulties. If an adequate CBT trial were ineffective, we would recommend a pharmacotherapy trial. If an adequate pharmacotherapy trial (with or without the informal behavioral therapy approaches listed) were ineffective, we would recommend a formal CBT trial. If this trial also failed, we would offer the patient sequential trials of emerging drug therapies (e.g., naltrexone and memantine). We would encourage patients to continue an effective treatment for a year (i.e., with “booster sessions” of CBT or continued drug therapy), to firmly establish the new shopping habits.
Observation of coherent oscillations in plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition Ag films

Acoustic oscillations were observed in ultrafast transient absorption of nanostructured Ag films produced by plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD). The oscillations are attributed to modulations of localized surface plasmon resonance (SPR) bands that naturally arise in the PEALD films and can be described as two lateral modes (∼50 and 100 GHz) with different dephasing times. Contributions from electron-phonon coupling and lattice dynamics in the transient response vary systematically with the probe wavelength relative to the SPR maximum (500–1000 nm).
Why computer science students need math

Too many students enter the field of computer science with high aspirations but poor math skills. These students often do not realize the significance of mathematics in computer science. This paper discusses several relevant areas of computer science and explains why computer science students need math in order to master the material taught in these courses and to eventually find success as a computing professional.
The Literate and the Literary African Americans as Writers and Readers—1830-1940

Orality has been a feature repeatedly offered to typify African American language habits. Through anthropological studies of contemporary communities as well as literary portrayals and celebrations of cultural heroes such as preachers and political orators, the strong oral traditions of African Americans have figured prominently in discussions of the contexts of their literary works. This article argues for a balance of this image by laying out historical evidence on the literate values and habits of African Americans since the early 1800s. Literary journals, the Black press, literary writers, and literary societies, especially those of women, between 1830 and 1940 highly valued joint reading groups, creative writing efforts, and the role of literature in the lives of African Americans. Considerable work remains to restore accuracy and cross-class representation of African Americans in English studies, so as to resist tendencies to deny variation in the language habits and values of groups included in mul...
The Clinical Spectrum of Labile Hypertension: A Management Dilemma

Although the management of the labile component of blood pressure elevation is a problem often encountered by clinicians, there is a paucity of information available to guide therapeutic decisions. This review discusses the clinical relevance of blood pressure lability, the limitations of current knowledge, and possible directions for future research and clinical management.
DNA fingerprinting data and the problem of non-independence among pairwise comparisons.

Multilocus DNA fingerprinting is commonly used to assess genetic similarity within and between geographically disjunct populations. Typically, the proportion of DNA fingerprinting bands shared between two individuals (SXY) is calculated for all possible pair-wise comparisons and the resulting data analysed parametrically to test differences in mean band-sharing among groups. The degree to which covariation among interdependent SXY values (Sab - Sbc) biases the analyses is often unknown. Here, we assess the extent of covariation in four DNA fingerprinting studies and evaluate the effectiveness of two corrective procedures, a permutation test and a subsampling routine using only independent pairwise comparisons drawn without replacement from the overall data. Covariation among interdependent SXY values was significantly greater than zero in every data set examined, including those from a bee, a rodent, and two passerine birds. Permutation tests did not correct for interdependence and yielded significance values nearly identical to those derived from uncorrected parametric procedures. In contrast, the subsampling procedure yielded corrected estimates of the standard error that were two to four times larger than those derived parametrically. As a result, comparisons that were significant using parametric tests were either non-significant or only marginally significant with the subsampling routine. We conclude that interdependence among SXY values poses a substantial obstacle to hypothesis testing that must be addressed in future studies.
The Effect of Coconut Meal and Coconut Oil in Poultry Rations on the Performance of Laying Hens

Abstract Two hundred forty Leghorn pullets were used in a 168-day 5 × 2 factorial arrangement to study the effects of 0, 10, 20, 30 or 40% coconut meal and 0 to 10% coconut oil to layer diet on rate of production, efficiency, body weight, egg weight, egg fat level and fatty acid composition of egg fat. With 0% added oil, coconut meal increased rate of egg production, with this rate reaching a peak when 20% meal was added. Coconut oil also increased rate of production and efficiency. Within each oil level group, feed efficiency was directly related to production rate. Birds receiving oil gained 136 gms. per bird while those fed no oil lost 79 gms. Within each oil level group, weight gain was inversely related to the level of coconut meal fed. Egg weight was depressed by feeding coconut meal and increased by coconut oil. Fat content of the egg was not significantly altered by treatment but adding oil increased the level of lauric (C12:0) and myristic (C14:0) acids and decreased the level of stearic (C18:0), oleic (C18:1) and linoleic (C18:2) acids in the fat.
3D particle tracking on the two-photon microscope

We have developed a 3D single-particle-tracking (SPT) system based around the two-photon laser-scanning fluorescence microscope that can track particles in all three dimensions and at a high frequency response. We have implemented two different techniques to achieve this goal. The techniques employ feedback control in order to track the particle but differ in the approach they use to ascertain the particle's 3D position. The first technique scans a small volume around a particle to build up a volumetric image that is then used to determine the particle position. The second technique scans only a single plane but utilizes optical aberrations which have been introduced into the optical system that break the axial symmetry of the point spread function and serves as an indicator of the particle's axial position. The current system has a frequency response at the video rate and an axial range of 100 μm. We tested the system by tracking well-defined test trajectories, and by tracking particles in model systems. We identified several different modes of motion in sucrose solutions and agarose gels, including the transient trapping of particles in the microdomains of agarose gels.
Microanalytical Methods for Bio-Forensics Investigations

Forensics investigations of bio-crime or bio-terrorism incidents require careful analysis of collected evidentiary material. Although the biological markers in the evidentiary material are important (e.g. genomic signatures, protein markers), the elemental make-up of the organisms themselves and the surrounding non-biological material is extremely useful for attributing a specific process and, perhaps, specific persons to the production of the biological agent. This talk will describe the coordinated use of microanalytical techniques such as SEM-EDX, STEM-EDX, and NanoSIMS for generating compositional signatures for bio-forensics investigations. These analytical techniques span length scales from the 50 {micro}m range to the 5nm range. The range of analytical sensitivities spans from {approx}.5wt% for EDX down to parts per billion for SIMS techniques. In addition, we will discuss the use of spectrum imaging techniques for rapidly extracting the key elemental signatures from large scale data sets. Spectrum imaging techniques combined with multivariate statistical analysis allow for the collection and interrogation or enormous quantities of data without pre-biasing the answer.[1] Spectrum imaging has been used successfully in EDX microanalysis[1] (both in the SEM and TEM) and TOF-SIMS[2]. In this study, a set of test biological agents, ?-irradiated Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), were examined using the aforementioned microanalytical techniques. The sample set included a number of processing conditions to gauge the ability of these techniques to identify the production methods of these simulated agents. Complementary but distinct forensic signatures were obtained by all three analytical techniques. Figure 1 shows two types of silicate particles observed among the spore material itself. At this length scale, the spores themselves cannot be resolved, but the presence of these silicates is key marker for distinguishing this production route. A STEM-EDX spectrum image from the same material does not show these large silicates but instead shows the segregation of elements such as sulfur and silicon to the extra-cellular material between spores, again a result of the specific process used to produce this simulated agent (Figure 2). NanoSIMS data from the same material also shows the segregation of Si in this preparation. The NanoSIMS data also displays and quantifies the distribution of elements such as fluorine at levels which were not detectable in the STEM-EDX measurements (Figure 3).
Systematic Perturbation of the Trinuclear Copper Cluster in the Multicopper Oxidases: The Role of Active Site Asymmetry in its Reduction of O2 to H2O

The multicopper oxidase Fet3p catalyzes the four-electron reduction of dioxygen to water, coupled to the one-electron oxidation of four equivalents of substrate. To carry out this process, the enzy...
Phenylcyclohexylamine: Effect of a metabolite of phencyclidine on the efflux of dopamine in the rat

The effect of phenylcyclohexylamine (PCA) on the efflux of dopamine (DA) in the neostriatum was examined using in vivo electrochemical techniques. Phenylcyclohexylamine produced a long-lasting dose-dependent biphasic effect on the efflux of DA in the rat. This response, to one of the major metabolites of phencyclidine, was similar in duration to but less potent than that seen with phencyclidine.
α-interferon in hematological malignancies

Recent studies have generated data demonstrating significant clinical activity of α-interferon therapy in each of six hematological malignancies, chronic myeloid leukaemia, essential thrombocythemia, polycythemia rubra vera, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, multiple myelomatosis and hairy cell leukaemia.
Neonatal death: parental evaluation of the NICU experience.

Parental perceptions of the manner in which the family was supported at the time of the death of their newborn were examined in an effort to evaluate common practices and to increase emotional support offered the family. Parents were asked about contacts with the baby prior to and after their baby died, helpfulness of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) staff during the newborn's hospitalization, and other questions regarding funerals, family support, arid contact with the hospital after the baby died. Results indicate substantial differences in comparing maternal and paternal responses. Where indicated by parental responses, changes have been incorporated in an effort to further assist the family at this most difficult time.
The osmotic activity and conductivity of aqueous solutions of some typical colloidal electrolytes

Abstract 1. 1. The osmotic coefficients of aqueous solutions of 10 different anionic and cationic colloidal electrolytes have been measured by freezing point depression, now bringing the total number of those investigated to 64. Conductivities were also measured for these and two other materials too insoluble at 0°C. for freezing point determinations. 2. 2. The relative lowering of conductivity with increasing concentration is less than that of osmotic coefficient. In the case of polycyclic structures, such as a bile salt or sodium abietate, the latter measurement shows the presence of colloid with a critical concentration, whereas this does not appear in the conductivity curve. 3. 3. Addition of dimethyl phthalate, a substance insoluble in oil and water but solubilized by soap solutions, appears slightly to decrease colloid formation as reflected in osmotic coefficient and equivalent conductivity. 4. 4. The colloidal behavior of the laurate of several complex organic bases has been compared with that of potassium laurate. 5. 5. An ordinary molecule, sucrose, lowers the freezing point of water to the same extent as it lowers the freezing point of a solution of the colloidal electrolyte, potassium laurate.
Effect of clay types on the processing and properties of polypropylene nanocomposites

Abstract The effect of clay chemistries and sources on the processing and properties of the nanocomposites made therefrom has been studied. A number of nanocomposites were prepared using different types of clay by melt processing using a Brabender plasticorder. Various analysis techniques were used to characterize the dispersion and the properties of the nanocomposites, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamical mechanical analysis (DMA).
Serum prolactin response to chlorpromazine and psychopathology in schizophrenics: implications for the dopamine hypothesis.

Abstract The prolactin (PRL) response to 12.5 and 25 mg of chlorpromazine (CPZ) was studied in unmedicated schizophrenic patients and normal control subjects. Both doses produced significant increases in serum PRL levels compared to saline, but the response to 25 mg CPZ was significantly greater than that to 12.5 mg. The PRL response to the 12.5 mg dose only was significantly correlated with baseline PRL levels for both males and females, suggesting that endogenous dopamine release from tuberoinfundibular neurons has a much greater effect upon the PRL response to the 12.5 mg dose of CPZ than to the 25 mg dose. Both doses of CPZ tended to show lower PRL responses in the schizophrenic females. The PRL response to the 25 mg dose was negatively correlated with ratings of severity of delusions at the time of study. The PRL response to 25 mg correlated highly with the morning serum PRL levels following treatment with CPZ 100 mg and 200 mg orally b.i.d. for 1 week at each dose. The PRL response to both doses did not predict clinical response at the end of 2 weeks of treatment with fixed dosages of CPZ. Serum PRL levels during treatment with CPZ 200 mg b.i.d. were significantly negatively correlated with ratings of hallucinations. The negative correlations between severity of delusions and hallucinations and various PRL measures suggest that increased dopaminergic activity in the tuberoinfundibular hypothalamic-pituitary axis may be associated with increased activity of subcortical and cortical dopaminergic systems.