cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Synonymous Mutation Upstream of the Gene Encoding a Weak-Link Enzyme Causes an Ultrasensitive Response in Growth Rate

ABSTRACT When microbes are faced with an environmental challenge or opportunity, preexisting enzymes with promiscuous secondary activities can be recruited to provide newly important functions. Mutations that increase the efficiency of a new activity often compromise the original activity, resulting in an inefficient bifunctional enzyme. We have investigated the mechanisms by which growth of Escherichia coli can be improved when fitness is limited by such an enzyme, E383A ProA (ProA*). ProA* can serve the functions of both ProA (required for synthesis of proline) and ArgC (required for synthesis of arginine), albeit poorly. We identified four genetic changes that improve the growth rate by up to 6.2-fold. Two point mutations in the promoter of the proBA* operon increase expression of the entire operon. Massive amplification of a genomic segment around the proBA* operon also increases expression of the entire operon. Finally, a synonymous point mutation in the coding region of proB creates a new promoter for proA*. This synonymous mutation increases the level of ProA* by 2-fold but increases the growth rate by 5-fold, an ultrasensitive response likely arising from competition between two substrates for the active site of the inefficient bifunctional ProA*. IMPORTANCE The high-impact synonymous mutation we discovered in proB is remarkable for two reasons. First, most polar effects documented in the literature are detrimental. This finding demonstrates that polar effect mutations can have strongly beneficial effects, especially when an organism is facing a difficult environmental challenge for which it is poorly adapted. Furthermore, the consequence of the synonymous mutation in proB is a 2-fold increase in the level of ProA* but a disproportionately large 5.1-fold increase in growth rate. While ultrasensitive responses are often found in signaling networks and genetic circuits, an ultrasensitive response to an adaptive mutation has not been previously reported.
Variations of the Martian plasma environment during the ICME passage on 8 March 2015: A time-dependent MHD study

The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft observed a strong interplanetary coronal mass ejection (ICME) impacting Mars on 8 March 2015. We use a time-dependent global MHD model to investigate the response of the Martian ionosphere and induced magnetosphere to the large solar wind disturbance associated with the ICME. Taking observed upstream solar wind conditions from MAVEN as inputs to the MHD model, the variations of the Martian plasma environments are simulated realistically in a time period from 2.5 hours prior to the arrival of the ICME shock to about twelve hours after the impact. Detailed comparisons between the model results and the relevant MAVEN plasma measurements are presented, which clearly show that the time-dependent multi-species single-fluid MHD model is able to reproduce the main features observed by the spacecraft during the ICME passage. Model results suggest that the induced magnetosphere responds to solar wind variation on a very short time scale (~ minutes). The variations of the plasma boundaries’ distances from the planet along the subsolar line are examined in detail, which show a clear anti-correlation with the magnetosonic Mach number. Plasma properties in the ionosphere (especially the induced magnetic field) varied rapidly with solar wind changes. Model results also show that ion escape rates could be enhanced by an order of magnitude in response to the high solar wind dynamic pressure during the ICME event.
Correcting Deviations of the Lower Third of the Nose.

By convention, a “deviated nose” is one in which the lower third is asymmetric with regard to the midline. The lower third of the nose is composed of the lower cartilages, as well as the dorsal and caudal nasal septum. Not only does the deviated nose cause a cosmetic deformity that is often disconcerting for patients, but it may also be associated with functional problems. Airway obstruction may result from a narrowed internal nasal valve in the middle third or from a deviated caudal septum in the lower third. The most common deviation involves both the middle and lower thirds and often requires addressing the underlying dorsal and caudal septum. The most effective technique to correct this type of deviation is the principle of extracorporeal septoplasty, either the traditional or modified, such as the anterior septal reconstruction (ASR) technique combined with the clocking suture. An isolated middle third deviation may be treated with a camouflage graft or a unilateral spreader graft. An isolated lower third deviation involving the septum should be treated with ASR. When an isolated lower third deviation only involves the lower cartilages, it may be corrected using suture techniques, cartilage division techniques, or grafting.
Cementitious materials for construction-scale 3D printing: Laboratory testing of fresh printing mixture

Abstract In this study, a framework for performance-based laboratory testing of cementitious mixtures for construction-scale 3D printing is developed, where workability of a fresh “printing mixture” is studied in terms of print quality, shape stability, and printability window. Print quality is described using measures of surface quality and dimensions of printed layers. Details of two proposed test methods for evaluation of shape stability, namely, “layer settlement” and “cylinder stability” are also provided. Experimental study of four different mixtures revealed that inclusion of silica fume and Nano-clay significantly enhance shape stability. The results of five conventional test methods, as well as four proposed tests are used to discuss the performance of mixtures.
Forecasting battery state of charge for robot missions

Due to limited power onboard, a significant factor for success of distributed teams of robots is energy-awareness. The ability to predict when power will be depleted beyond a certain point is necessary for recharging or returning to a base station. This paper presents a framework for forecasting state of charge (SOC) of a robot's battery for a given mission. A generalized and customizable mission description is formulated as a sequence of parametrized tasks defined for the robot; the missions are then mapped to expected change in SOC by training neural networks on experimental data. We present results from experiments on the Turtlebot 2 to establish the efficacy of this framework. The performance of the proposed framework is demonstrated for three distinct mission representations and compared to an existing method in the literature. Finally, we discuss the strengths and weaknesses of feedforward and recurrent neural network models in the context of this work.
Studying plant–pollinator interactions in a changing climate: A review of approaches

Plant–pollinator interactions are potentially at risk due to climate change. Because of the spatial and temporal variation associated with the effects of climate change and the responses of both actors, research to assess this interaction requires creative approaches. This review focuses on assessments of plants' and pollinators' altered phenology in response to environmental changes, as phenology is one of the key responses. I reviewed research methods with the goal of presenting the wide diversity of available techniques for addressing changes in these interactions. Approaches ranged from use of historical specimens to multisite experimental community studies; while differing in depth of historical information and community interactions, all contribute to assessment of phenology changes. Particularly insightful were those studies that directly assessed the environmental changes across spatial and temporal scales and the responses of plants and pollinators at these scales. Longer-term studies across envi...
A Tunable bipolar: Investigation of effects and a MEXTRAM based VerilogA model adaptation of field effect electrode influenced high voltage sige HBTs

This paper presents a Verilog-A compact model adaptation for a High Voltage SiGe HBT in a DTI on SOI process incorporating characteristic changes observed from a Field Effect Electrode. The output characteristics of the Bipolar are controlled, or “tuned”, by what is effectively an additional terminal. The model proposed is based on MEXTRAM and includes a new terminal node. The main additional effects are captured through the use of empirical formulae, while maintaining the bulk of the original code. The model is validated against DC and AC results from on-wafer Si test structures.
Cephalopod Experimental Projected Habitat (CEPH): Virtual Reality for Underwater Organisms

Cephalopods’ visually driven, dynamic and diverse skin display makes them a key animal model in sensory ethology and camouflage research. Development of novel methods is critically important in order to monitor and objectively quantify cephalopod behavior. In this work, the development of Cephalopod Experimental Projected Habitat (CEPH) is described. This newly developed experimental design bridges computational and ethological sciences, providing a visually controlled arena which requires limited physical space and minimal previous technical background. Created from relatively inexpensive and readily available materials, the experimental apparatus utilizes reflected light which closely resembles natural settings. Preliminary results suggest the experimental design reproducibly challenges marine organisms with visually dynamic surroundings, including videos of prey and predator. This new approach should offer new avenues for marine organism sensory research and may serve researchers from various fields.
Liver resection for colorectal metastases: who, when, and to what extent?

Progress in the understanding of the natural history of liver metastases from colorectal cancer as well as improvements in the techniques and technology have permitted the development of curative hepatic surgery over the past two decades. With the accumulation of a large amount of retrospective data from numerous institutions, the time has now come when critical questions must be investigated such as: 1) who are candidates for liver resection, 2) when should resection be performed after the diagnosis of liver metastasis, 3) what is the extent of liver resection necessary for optimal survival rates, and 4) what criteria preclude hepatic resection? These questions will best be answered prospectively, but by analysis of personal experience and review of the available data we hope to provide an initial framework with which to begin to analyze the problems.
Plasma-Jet Deposition of Diamond

The deposition of diamond using moderate- and high-pressure plasma jets is a promising alternative to the more conventional low-pressure plasma discharges (microwave, RF and DC glow discharges) and hot-filament chemical vapor deposition methods. Introduced in the mid- to late-1980s, these so-called “thermal” plasma methods are now widely use in the synthesis of diamond films.
The effects and extent of 1,1,1-trichloroethane vapor concentration exposure on workers during solvent vapor degreasing

THE EFFECTS AND EXTENT OF 1,1,1 TRICHLOROETHANE VAPOR CONCENTRATION EXPOSURE ON WORKERS DURING SOLVENT VAPOR DEGREASING
Robust, Efficient, and Orthogonal Chemistries for the Synthesis of Functionalized Macromolecules

Applications for advanced functional soft materials that possess precisely engineered properties and functional groups have been expanding significantly with the development of nanotechnology and the growing need to address resource, health, and energy issues. Coupled with requirements, researchers have sought to prepare these systems via high-yielding, simple covalent chemistry. Not only do these efforts expand synthetic methodologies in a fundamental sense, but they also allow a much wider spectrum of researchers access to these specifically tailored materials. These motivations in tandem with the recent advances in controlled polymerization techniques have created a growing research area with concentration on robust, efficient, and orthogonal (REO) approaches for new soft material preparation.
A framework for registration, statistical characterization and classification of cortically constrained functional imaging data

We present a framework for registering and analyzing functional neuroimaging data constrained to the cortical surface of the brain. We assume as input a set of labeled data points that lie on a set of parameterized topologically spherical surfaces that represent the cortical surfaces of multiple subjects. To perform analysis across subjects, we first co-register the coordinates from each surface to a cortical atlas using labeled sulcal maps as constraints. The registration minimizes a thin plate spline energy function on the deforming surface using covariant derivatives to solve the associated PDEs in the intrinsic geometry of the individual surface. The resulting warps are used to bring the functional data for multiple subjects into a common surface atlas coordinate system. We then present a novel method for performing statistical analysis of points on this atlas surface. We use the Green’s function of the heat equation on the surface to model probability distributions and thus demonstrate the use of PDEs for statistical analysis in Riemannian manifolds. We describe methods for estimating the mean and variance of a set of points, such that the mean also lies in the manifold. We demonstrate the utility of this framework in the development of a maximum likelihood classifier for parcellation of somatosensory cortex in the atlas based on current dipole fits to MEG data, simulated to represent a somatotopic mapping of S1 sensory areas in multiple subjects.
Research on Ductile Mode in High Speed Point Grinding of Brittle Materials

Through analyze the fracture theory in grinding brittle materials, the critical force and cutting depth are brought in. Consider the affection for cutting thickness from the swivel angle α between the wheel axis and the wheel axis by geometry analysis. The reasonable finite element model has been built to explore the critical conditions from brittle mode to ductile mode according indentation experiment. The conclusions were drawn at last to provide reference basis for grinding experiment of brittle materials.
B Cells and Antibodies in Jawless Vertebrates

Abstract An adaptive immune system (AIS) based on clonally diverse lymphocytes that can recognize specific pathogens and provide protective memory against a second encounter is found only in vertebrate species. Alternative AISs have now been defined in jawed and jawless vertebrates. Both of these systems use lymphocytes with a wide variety of anticipatory receptors, but they differ in that the lymphocytes in jawless vertebrates (lampreys and hagfish) use leucine-rich repeat (LRR)-based variable lymphocyte receptors (VLRs) for antigen recognition, whereas lymphocytes in vertebrates with jaws use immunoglobulin (Ig)-based receptors for the same purpose. There are three types of lamprey VLR genes, VLRA, VLRB, and VLRC, that are assembled and expressed in a clonally diverse manner by separate populations of lymphocytes that resemble our thymus-derived γδ and αβ T lymphocytes and bone marrow-derived B lymphocytes. The parallels between these lymphocyte lineages in jawless and jawed vertebrates indicate that the genetic programs for the major lymphocyte differentiation pathways evolved before the convergent evolution of the VLR and B cell receptor/T cell receptor types of antigen receptors. This chapter focuses on the current understanding of the lamprey B cells and their LRR-based antibody products.
On the Design of EPIDEMIAWeb – A Cloud Based Disease Monitoring System

The EPIDMIA system has been created to integrate malaria surveillance data with remote sensing environmental data in support of malaria detection and forecasting in the Amhara region of Ethiopia [1]. As the sophisticated forecasting models have been developed, there is a need to transfer the system to the public health sector in Ethiopia. However, the current system requires manual operation on executing subsystems and file transfer. The EPIDEMIAWeb is designed to address this issue by integrating the subsystems in EPIDEMIA into a single top-level interface that automates the workflow of subsystem interaction and data transfer. EPIDEMIAWeb is further deployed in the Cloud environment to provide portability. This paper briefly reviews the EPIDEMIA system, based on which the EPIDEMIAWeb is developed, and presents the method in the design of the EPIDEMIAWeb.
Central Venous Catheters

Indications for placement of a central venous catheter include vasopressor requirement, centrally administered medications or nutrition, hemodynamic monitoring, placement of a pulmonary artery catheter, or intravenous access in critically ill patients. Informed consent should be obtained as there are several well-described risks. The procedure should be performed under full sterile precautions whenever possible, and catheters placed under suboptimal sterility should be removed or replaced within 24 h. Central venous catheters can be placed into the internal jugular vein, the subclavian vein, or the femoral vein. Ultrasound guidance should be considered standard of care for internal jugular access and is recommended for femoral access when non-emergent.
Telling the Tales Revealing the Resources

Save Outdoor Sculpture! (SOS!) is a private-public partnership between Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) and Heritage Preservation, charged with completing a national inventory of America's ou...
Knowledge of vesicoureteral reflux obtained by screening voiding cystourethrogram in children with multicystic dysplastic kidney does not change patient management or prevent febrile urinary tract infection

Summary Introduction While children with multicystic dysplastic kidneys (MCDK) are predisposed to contralateral kidney (CK) vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), it is unknown if this results in an increased risk of urinary tract infection (UTI). The authors hypothesized that knowledge of VUR via voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) would enable altered practices to prevent UTI and thus reduce the number of febrile urinary tract infections (fUTIs). Methods: The authors performed a retrospective chart review of all patients at their institution of multiple providers caring for patients with a diagnosis of MCDK from 1/1/07 to 7/14/17. Patients were evaluated for age, sex, circumcision status, race, imaging results on renal ultrasound (RUS) and/or VCUG, occurrence of fUTI, and prophylactic antibiotic (ppx) use. Results One hundred sixty-five patients were identified; 70% of patients were diagnosed with MCDK on prenatal imaging. Seventy-seven (47%) patients had a screening VCUG after diagnosis of MCDK. Eighteen patients with VCUG had VUR with 13 (17%) having VUR in the CK. Only children undergoing VCUG were placed on ppx with no difference in the use of ppx in patients with and without dilating VUR (45% vs 43%; p = 0.91). Overall, 11 patients experienced a fUTI. There was no significant difference in fUTI between those children who underwent VCUG compared with those who did not (10% vs 3%; p = 0.07). Use of ppx and presence of CK renal anomaly on RUS had no impact on incidence of subsequent fUTI. Conclusion Knowledge of VUR based on VCUG results did not reduce the rate of fUTI or predict ppx use in the practice of multiple providers. The authors feel this confirms the low utility of VCUG in the practical management of otherwise healthy children with MCDK. Download : Download high-res image (191KB) Download : Download full-size image Figure . Use of VCUG and Antibiotic Prophylaxis.
Reliable training of convolutional neural networks for GPR-based buried threat detection using the Adam optimizer and batch normalization

The ground penetrating radar (GPR) is a remote sensing technology that has been successfully used for detecting buried explosive threats. A large body of published research has focused on developing algorithms that automatically detect buried threats using data from GPR sensors. One promising class of algorithms for this purpose is convolutional neural networks (CNNs), however CNNs suffer from overfitting due to the limited and variable nature of GPR data. One solution to this problem is to use a validation dataset during training, however this excludes valuable labeled data from training. In this work we show that two modern techniques for training CNNs – Batch Normalization and the Adam Optimizer - substantially improve CNN performance and reduce overfitting when applied jointly. We also investigate and identify useful settings for several important CNN hyperparameters: l2 regularization, Dropout, and the learning rate schedule. We find that the improved CNN (a baseline CNN, plus all of our improvements) substantially outperforms two competing conventional detection algorithms.
Hsa_circ_0005519 increases IL-13/IL-6 by regulating hsa-let-7a-5p in CD4+ T cells to affect asthma.

Background Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs that could serve as novel biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. We hypothesized that circRNAs of CD4+ T cells are involved in asthma. Objective In this study, we investigated the circRNA expression profile and the possible mechanism by which hsa_circ_0005519 participates in asthma. Methods The expression profiles of circRNAs in CD4+ T cells were revealed by circRNA microarray. Hsa_circ_0005519 expression in CD4+ T cells was confirmed in asthmatic patients (n = 65) and healthy subjects (n = 30). Hsa-let-7a-5p, the target of hsa_circ_0005519, was predicted by online algorithms and verified by a dual-luciferase reporter assay. Correlation assays between the expression of hsa_circ_0005519 and hsa-let-7a-5p, the mRNA levels of interleukin (IL)-13 and IL-6 in CD4+ T cells, and the clinical characteristics of asthmatic patients were performed. The role of hsa_circ_0005519 in proinflammatory cytokine expression was investigated in CD4+ T cells from asthmatic patients in vitro. Hsa_circ_0005519 expression in PBMCs was determined in another cohort including 30 asthmatic patients and 24 controls. Correlation assays of hsa_circ_0005519 expressions between CD4+ T cells and PBMCs were performed. Results Hsa_circ_0005519 was up-regulated and negatively correlated with hsa-let-7a-5p expression in CD4+ T cells of asthmatic patients. Both the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and the peripheral blood eosinophil ratio were positively correlated with hsa_circ_0005519 expression in CD4+ T cells. These outcomes were also different in asthmatic patients with low vs high hsa_circ_0005519 levels. Hsa_circ_0005519 expressions between CD4+ T cells and PBMCs were concordant in asthmatic patients. Mechanistically, hsa_circ_0005519 might bind to hsa-let-7a-5p and relieve suppression for IL-13/IL-6 in CD4+ T cells. Conclusions and clinical relevance Our data suggest that hsa_circ_0005519 may induce IL-13 and IL-6 expression by regulating hsa-let-7a-5p in CD4+ T cells to affect asthma. And hsa_circ_0005519 may be a potential biomarker of asthma.
Little Did He Know

Continental philosophers and their followers seem to be, for the most part, untroubled by the machinations, lies, political accommodations, inactions, and ethical breaches by major figures in that tradition. This does not lead to recognition of irony by the scholars who then recommend these major figures as guides for ethics. Catherine Zuckert goes so far as to that “philosophical dialogue and textual hermeneutics are essentially ethical” (GR, 234). Cavell has chosen to declare an ethics as well. The theme of “moral perfectionism” that one can find in many of Cavell’s books, particularly the works dealing with the repositioning of Thoreau and Emerson, is part of an ongoing project to locate something “American” in concerns about “moral perfectionism” and the everyday. We even have a book about what “Christians might learn from [Cavell].” Stanley Bates can serve as a representative of a chorus of writers who not only embrace Cavell as someone presenting an ethical viewpoint, but who also have become proponents of that viewpoint. Bates has no hesitation in claiming on Cavell’s behalf a connection between ethics and politics: “Cavell is interested in the dimension of moral life that must be lived by an individual within a political setting, a life that a ‘good enough’ state of political justice makes possible, but that is not, and cannot be, determined by rules” (SCE, 42-43). Bates ends his essay by telling us that in at least one important way, Cavell is like Nietzsche, and it seems as if Bates intends that to be a positive comparison. Bates seems free of any knowledge of Nietzsche’s posthumous “political setting” in the National Socialist period.
Linear burn rate of green ionic liquid multimode monopropellant

Abstract Multimode space propulsion systems are being proposed that integrate high specific impulse electric propulsion and high thrust chemical propulsion. The most important attribute of this concept is a shared propellant capable of both modes of propulsion, which enables mission flexibility. One promising approach is a catalytic monopropellant thruster paired with an electrospray electric thruster. Previous research has identified a green double-salt ionic liquid consisting of 41% wt. 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate and 59% wt. hydroxylammonium nitrate as a promising propellant candidate. In this work, the burn rate of this monopropellant is measured through pressure-based and high-speed imaging methods in a fixed-volume chamber pressurized across a pressure range from 0.5 to 10 MPa. Its performance is benchmarked by 80% wt. hydroxylammonium nitrate-water and nitromethane propellants. The burn rate of the multimode monopropellant is found to follow an exponential law given by r b = 5.35 exp 1.11 P between 0.5 and 3 MPa and is approximately constant at 142 ± 29 mm/s between 3 and 10 MPa.
Using Satellite and Aerial Imagery for Identification of Solar PV: State of the Art and Research Opportunities

Solar photovoltaic (PV) is the fastest growing form of energy generation today, and many countries are seeing significant uptake of distributed solar PV on the rooftops of homes and businesses. However, many of these systems are not accurately registered, and central records of distributed solar PV are often not up-to-date. At the same time, high levels of solar PV are introducing challenges for many stakeholders in the energy sector, such as market operators and network operators, who need to forecast total rooftop solar PV generation across entire regions. One possible solution to this problem is to identify existing solar PV generation systems using overhead satellite and aerial imagery. While there have been early promising attempts in this direction, there are nevertheless many important research challenges that remain to be addressed. In this paper we survey the state of the art in this nascent area, describe the challenges that exist, and advocate for novel research questions that are worthy of further exploration. By identifying these areas of interest we aim to generate greater awareness of the potential value of satellite and aerial imagery for identification of solar PV, which will ultimately facilitate large scale uptake of solar PV and other renewable generation technologies.
Policing Procedural Error in the Lower Criminal Courts

The criminal justice system depends on reviewing courts to formulate norms of procedural law and to make sure those norms are actually followed in the lower courts. Yet reviewing courts are not performing either of these functions very well. No single factor can fully explain why this is the case, for there is plenty of blame to go around. But the harmless error rule is a major culprit. The conventional approach to harmless error review prohibits reversal of a defendant’s conviction or sentence, even when the law was violated during proceedings in the lower court, unless that violation influenced the outcome below. This limitation impedes effective oversight of the lower courts in two significant ways. First, it enables trial judges, prosecutors, and other relevant entities (such as a district attorney’s office, to name one example) to persistently evade accountability for procedural errors, diminishing their incentives to comply with legal norms. And second, it provides reviewing courts with a handy tool to avoid resolving legal claims on their merits. Instead of holding that an error did or did not occur, thereby helping trial judges, prosecutors, and others learn what the law requires going forward, reviewing courts can—and often do—affirm on fact-bound harmless error grounds without ever adjudicating the legality of the challenged conduct. These failings call for a major shift in how courts review procedural error. This Article proposes that, in addition to examining whether an error affected the outcome, as current law directs, a reviewing court should also consider whether: (1) reversal would substantially help to prevent future errors; (2) the error caused substantial harm to a legally protected interest unrelated to the outcome; and (3) the benefits of reversal, as tabulated in the previous steps, outweigh its costs. After making the case for this framework and discussing how to operationalize each of its components, this Article then explores, a bit more tentatively, whether the same set of ideas could help stimulate much-needed rethinking of other controversial rules that further obstruct the policing of procedural error in the lower criminal courts.
The Carotid Sinus as a Viscometer

Our group thought the study by Lee and Kim entitled "Hemodynamic Changes in the Carotid Artery after Infusion of Normal Saline Using Computational Fluid Dynamics" was a very elegant method to discern the changes in blood rheology within the carotid sinus after administration of crystalloid [...].
Free-living amoebae: Health concerns in the indoor environment

Free-living amoebae are the most likely protozoa implicated in health concerns of the indoor environment. These amoebae can be the source of allergic reactions, eye infections or, on rare occasions, encephalitis. While too large to be effectively aerosolized, free- living amoebae can support the multiplication of pathogens such as Legionella which are easily aerosolized and infectious via the pulmonary route. Traditional detection methods for free-living amoebae are laborious and time consuming. Newer techniques for rapidly detecting and quantitating free-living amoebae such as monoclonal antibodies, flow cytometry, gene probes, and laser optics have or could be employed. 25 refs.
Integrity of central dopaminergic system in women with postpartum hyperprolactinemia

Abstract In order to elucidate the role of elevated prolactin (PRL) on the central dopaminergic systems, the suppressive effects of PRL were studied after the administration of l -dopa and l -dopa plus carbidopa on consecutive days to the following three groups: 10 normoprolactinemic subjects, six nonnursing normal puerperal women, and seven hyperprolactinemic women without any evidence of pituitary tumor. In the normoprolactinemic subjects (basal PRL 13 ± 2 ng/ml mean ± SE), the suppressive effects of l -dopa alone and l -dopa plus carbidopa were similar (48% ± 4% and 58% ± 6%, respectively). In puerperal hyperprolactinemic subjects, the basal PRL (116.8 ± 16.4 ng/ml) was suppressed 77% ± 2% after administration of l -dopa and 51% ± 7% after l -dopa plus carbidopa, significantly different from that of l -dopa alone (p l -dopa. In the presence of peripheral dopa decarboxylase inhibition, the administration of l -dopa decreased plasma PRL values 30%, a drop significantly different from that of l -dopa alone (p l -dopa observed in puerperal women may be due to alterations in PRL receptors or vascularity.
Development of the Science of Catalysis

The sections in this article are Early Concepts: Berzelius, Liebig, and Faraday Wilhelm Ostwald The Concepts of Kinetics and Intermediate Compounds Negative Catalysis: Autocatalysis Adsorption Active Site: Geometric or Electronic? Selected Systems Ammonia Synthesis Acid Catalysis Zeolites Ions in Catalysis Hydrogenation Oxidation Summary Keywords: catalysis; chemical composition
Why Journalism History Matters to Journalism Studies

This article examines the recent history of journalism history, comments on its agenda and aspirations, discusses its place in journalism studies, and speculates on how it might matter as a source ...
The Impact Area of Special Economic Zones: The Effect of FDI on Technology and Knowledge Transfer for Native American Reservations: A Study of Employment, Innovation, and Absorptive Capacity

Can the benefits of a cross border Special Economic Zone improve employment and productivity on Native American reservations and the neighboring United States areas? Is there a positive spillover of technology and skills capability building in domestic and foreign neighboring areas? This article paper will analyze successful economic growth and development projects utilizing SEZ's and positive economic growth in areas directly neighboring successful SEZ projects globally due to spillover. Through the Nelson-Phelps model, once the absorptive capacity has increased, the innovative capacity will develop, providing the foundation for organic sustainable economic growth in both the domestic and neighboring foreign regions. The important aspects for a foreign investment to have positive spillover are strong linkages by matching the needs of domestic organizations with capabilities of foreign firms within SEZ. The pillars of inward investment policy to facilitate and encourage spillover of technology and skills transfer will include exposure, education, communication, and innovation.
The War for the Heart and Soul of a Highland Maya Town

The War for the Heart and Soul of. Highland Maya Town. Robert S. Carlsen. Austin: The University of Texas Press, 1997. 206 pp.
Enhancement of lung nodules through stereo image processing

The lack of sensitivity of chest radiographs to cancer nodules of the lung is in part due to lung parenchyma and bone obscuring nodule features. A stereo image processing technique, the cut-plane procedure, is designed to eliminate voxels in planes perpendicular to the line of sight. However, this procedure does not perform adequately when applied to medical images. The authors present some modifications which improve the performance of this procedure; examples are shown. >
RADIATION HYDRODYNAMIC EVOLUTION OF PRIMORDIAL H II REGIONS

We simulate the ionization environment of z ~ 20 luminous objects formed within the framework of the current CDM (cold dark matter) cosmology and compute their UV escape fraction. These objects are likely single, very massive stars that are copious UV emitters. We present analytical estimates as well as one-dimensional radiation hydrodynamic calculations of the evolution of these first H II regions in the universe. The initially D-type ionization front (I-front) evolves to become R-type within 105 yr at a distance of ~1 pc. This ionization front then completely overruns the halo, accelerating an expanding shell of gas outward to velocities in excess of 30 km s-1, about 10 times the escape velocity of the confining dark matter halo. We find that the evolution of the H II region depends only weakly on the assumed stellar ionizing luminosities. Consequently, most of the gas surrounding the first stars will leave the dark halo whether or not the stars produce supernovae. If they form the first massive seed black holes, these are unlikely to accrete within a Hubble time after they formed until they are incorporated into larger dark matter halos that contain more gas. Because these I-fronts exit the halo on timescales much shorter than the stars' main-sequence lifetimes, their host halos have UV escape fractions of 0.95, fixing an important parameter for theoretical studies of cosmological hydrogen reionization.
Improving computer security through environmental controls

The computer resides in an environment which has a critical impact on its continual operation and availability. This environment has several key control elements including, temperature and humidity controls, power supply controls, working space control, fire protection systems, and physical security systems. Most of these elements are impacted during machine installation which is usually a one-time process and consequently does not receive the attention given other control and security problems. Site design requires careful planning to insure an environment that will not adversely affect the computer center's reliability and security. The designer of a computer center should view the continuous operation of its services as paramount. The consequential loss through failure can very quickly run into large amounts of money and can be detrimental to the continued operation of a company in the worst scenario. Downtime can be costly resulting in lost production and lost business. The loss of essential services is often due to planning without regard to the above elements. "Downtime is a catastrophe. When that downtime is caused by a failure of the environment it is a needless catastrophe," writes James E. Hassett (6).
Effectiveness of medication combined with intensive behavioral intervention for reducing aggression in youth with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract Background: The use of antipsychotic medications to treat aggression in youths with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is based on open-label trials and efficacy studies. There are no studies examining the combined effectiveness of antipsychotic medications and intensive behavioral intervention (IBI) to treat aggression in ASD. Methods: Youths with ASD and aggressive behavior received IBI. Medication use remained stable during the study period and was coded into antipsychotic, mood-stabilizing, and nonstimulant attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)/sleep medication classes. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and survival analyses examined the effects of medication classes on the average number of aggressive behaviors and time to behavior plan success. Results: Thirty-two youths (mean age = 11.16, standard deviation [SD] = 3.31, range = 4–16 years, 75% male) with ASD received aggression reduction plans. Of these, 25 youths were taking at least one psychiatric medication (antipsychotic n = 18, ...
A simple synthesis of 5‐fluorouracil by a novel ring transformation reaction

A very simple method for the preparation of 5-fluorouracil (1) from 1,3-dimethyl-5-azauracil (2) by a novel ring transformation reaction is reported.
Expression of c-Fos in the mouse Edinger-Westphal nucleus following ethanol administration is not secondary to hypothermia or stress.

Abstract Restraint stress, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and ethanol (EtOH) administration have all been found to induce c-Fos in the brain, and to cause hypothermia. The present study was designed to assess whether the c-Fos expression that occurs in the Edinger–Westphal nucleus (EW) after EtOH administration is independent of the hypothermia or any stress effects that occur. To test this, we used restraint stress and LPS in addition to EtOH, and also examined two control areas, the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) and the periaqueductal gray (PAG), in addition to EW. Male C57BL6/J mice were used. Groups of mice received intraperitoneal (IP) injections of EtOH (2 g/kg), LPS (600 μg/kg or 50 μg/kg), or saline. A separate group of mice received no injection, but were placed in plastic restrainers for the entirety of the experiment. For all groups, core temperatures were monitored rectally every 30 min for 3 h postinjection, after which, the animals were sacrificed. Then, the number of Fos-positive cells in the brain regions of the EW, DRN, and PAG was quantified. Both EtOH and restraint stress induced a transient hypothermia, where core temperature (Tc) declined immediately and then rose again. Both doses of LPS induced a slower developing, longer lasting hypothermia, while saline had no effect on Tc. Only EtOH induced a significant amount of c-Fos in EW, while both doses of LPS and restraint stress induced c-Fos in DRN, and only restraint stress caused induction in PAG. These data demonstrate that activation of EW after EtOH is unrelated to hypothermia or stress.
An identity on the maximum of a set of random variables

It is shown that if X1, X2, …, Xn are symmetric random variables and max(X1, …, Xn)+ = max(0, X1, …, Xn), then E[max(X1,…,Xn)+]=[max(X1,X1,+X2,+X1,+X3,…X1,+Xn)+], and in the case of independent identically distributed symmetric random variables, E[max(X1, X2)+] = E[(X1)+] + (12)E[(X1 + X2)+], so that for independent standard normal random variables, E[max(X1, X2)+] = (1√2π)[1 + (1√2)].
An Optimization Framework for Merging Multiple Result Lists

Developing effective methods for fusing multiple ranked lists of documents is crucial to many applications. Federated web search, for instance, has become a common practice where a query is issued to different verticals and a single ranked list of blended results is created. While federated search is regarded as collection fusion, data fusion techniques aim at improving search coverage and precision by combining multiple search runs on a single document collection. In this paper, we study in depth and extend a neural network-based approach, LambdaMerge, for merging results of ranked lists drawn from one (i.e., data fusion) or more (i.e., collection fusion) verticals. The proposed model considers the impact of the quality of documents, ranked lists and verticals for producing the final merged result in an optimization framework. We further investigate the potential of incorporating deep structures into the model with an aim of determining better combinations of different evidence. In the experiments on collection fusion and data fusion, the proposed approach significantly outperforms several standard baselines and state-of-the-art learning-based approaches.
Metal/silicate fractionation in the solar system

Fractionation between the metal and silicate components of objects in the inner solar system has long been recognized as a necessity in order to explain the observed density variations of the terrestrial planets and the H-group, L-group dichotomy of the ordinary chondrites. This paper discusses the densities of the terrestrial planets in light of current physical and chemical models of processes in the solar nebula. It is shown that the observed density trends in the inner solar system need not be the result of special fractionation processes, and that the densities of the planets may be direct results of simultaneous application of both physical and chemical restraints on the structure of the nebula, most notably the variation of temperature with heliocentric distance. The density of Mercury is easily attributed to accretion at temperatures so high that MgSiO3 is only partially retained but Fe metal is condensed. The densities of the other terrestrial planet are shown to be due to different degrees of retention of S, O and H as FeS, FeO and hydrous silicates produced in chemical equilibrium between condensates and solar-composition gases.
Novel non-benzodiazepine anxiolytics.

Several new non-benzodiazepine anxiolytics are reported. These include tracazolate, zopiclone, CL218,872, CGS9896, buspirone, MK-801 and fenobam. A comparison of anticonflict effects and propensity to cause sedation and potentiate the actions of ethanol is given as well as their effects upon the binding of [3H]flunitrazepam in vitro. Their anxiolytic properties after treatment with the benzodiazepine antagonist, RO15–1788, are reported also. Tracazolate shows a wide separation between anxiolytic activity and ability to cause sedation and to potentiate alcohol. It enhanced binding of [3H]-flunitrazepam in contrast to benzodiazepines which displace it. Buspirone was without anticonflict activity and had no effect on benzodiazepine binding while fenobam and MK-801, also without effect on binding, showed large and small differences on causing sedation and potentiating alcohol respectively. Among the displacers of [3H]flunitrazepam zopiclone showed diminished sedation liability, compared to diazepam, as did CL218,872 and CGS9896. Zopiclone caused potcntiation of ethanol however, at doses close to anxiolytic doses, while CL218,872 and CGS9S96 showed a wider safety margin for potentiation of ethanol compared to anxiolytic doses. The drug RO15–1788 antagonised the anticonflict effects of benzodiazepine displacers and had no effects upon the other agents studied.
Length heterogeneity in a region of the human ribosomal gene spacer is not accompanied by extensive population polymorphism.

Abstract We carried out a restriction enzyme analysis of human ribosomal DNA structure on total placental DNA using the Southern (1975) method. Studies on a single individual using HindIII, PstI, HpaI and BglII revealed that a region of the non-transcribed spacer near the 3′ end of the 28 S gene was heterogeneous in size. Four fragment classes were detected in this individual. Adjacent classes differed in size from one another by about 0·8 × 103 bases. Analysis of 19 additional placental samples and four cell lines revealed no fragment classes other than those detected in the original sample. Mixing experiments carried out with all 20 placental DNA samples provided further evidence for the discrete nature of the population polymorphism in the length of this region of the spacer. This finding contrasts sharply with the almost continuous nature of the population polymorphism in the length of a region of the non-transcribed spacer in Xenopus laevis.
The gains from specialization and population size

Abstract This note combines three ideas: the association of more people with new goods, the comparative advantages of individuals, and economic happiness. People may not be happier in a larger knowledge economy, but the gains from specialization are necessarily larger.
A method for improving global pyranometer measurements by modeling responsivity functions

Abstract Accurate global solar radiation measurements are crucial to climate change research and the development of solar energy technologies. Pyranometers produce an electrical signal proportional to global irradiance. The signal-to-irradiance ratio is the responsivity (RS) of the instrument (RS = signal/irradiance = microvolts/(W/m 2 )). Most engineering measurements are made using a constant RS. It is known that RS varies with day of year, zenith angle, and net infrared radiation. This study proposes a method to find an RS function to model a pyranometer’s changing RS. Using a reference irradiance calculated from direct and diffuse instruments, we found instantaneous RS for two global pyranometers over 31 sunny days in a two-year period. We performed successive independent regressions of the error between the constant and instantaneous RS with respect to zenith angle, day of year, and net infrared to obtain an RS function. An alternative method replaced the infrared regression with an independently developed technique to account for thermal offset. Results show improved uncertainties with the function method than with the single-calibration value. Lower uncertainties also occur using a black-and-white (8-48), rather than all-black (PSP), shaded pyranometer as the diffuse reference instrument. We conclude that the function method is extremely effective in reducing uncertainty in the irradiance measurements for global PSP pyranometers if they are calibrated at the deployment site. Furthermore, it was found that the function method accounts for the pyranometer’s thermal offset, rendering further corrections unnecessary. The improvements in irradiance data achieved in this study will serve to increase the accuracy of solar energy assessments and atmospheric research.
Plane intersections and contours for general isoparametric solids

Abstract Many three-dimensional problems are modelled using isoparametric elements. It is often desirable to examine the geometry and/or contour values on arbitrary planes which intersect the three-dimensional object under study. This paper reports on a procedure for generating such plots on graphic terminals or electrostatic printer-plotters. Preliminary results are illustrated.