cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Yield response of lactating Holstein dairy cows to dietary fish meal or meat and bone meal

Abstract Experiments were conducted to examine the effects of the source and amount of dietary protein on yield and composition of milk from Holstein dairy cows. Study 1 used 36 multiparous cows at 12 5± 59 d in milk in a replicated 2 x 2 Latin square design. Treatments were diets formulated to contain 16% crude protein (CP) in which 11% was fish meal or meat and bone meal supplied 11% of dietary CP. Intakes of dry matter, CP, and net energy for lactation; yields of milk; and percentage of milk fat were not affected by treatment. Fish meal increased contents of milk total N, casein N, and noncasein N but did not increase contents of NPN; fish meal also tended to increase milk CP yields. Study 2 used 78 cows (31 primiparous) at 31 ± 2 d in milk in a randomized block design. Two treatment diets were formulated to contain 16 or 18.5% CP, and soybean meal was the sole source of supplemental protein in those diets. The two other treatment diets were formulated to contain 16% CP; in these diets, fish meal or meat and bone meal partially replaced soybean meal. Treatments did not influence yield or composition of milk from multiparous cows. Compared with a soybean meal diet containing 16% CP, a soybean meal diet containing 18.5% CP or diets containing 16% CP and containing meat and bone meal or fish meal increased the milk yield of primiparous cows similarly. Fish meal or meat and bone meal increased the efficiency of protein utilization for milk yield.
Midbrain reticular formation lesions: habituation to stimulation and copulatory behavior in male rats.

Abstract Male rats with lesions in the midbrain reticular formation did not habituate in a measure of reactivity to handling stimuli as did operated controls and normals. Comparison of preoperative and postoperative copulatory behavior in male rats with midbrain reticular formation lesions, and copulatory behavior in control operates, and normals revealed that the midbrain lesions left copulatory behavior essentially intact except for some increase in the latency to the first mount.
Combinable memory-block transactions

This paper formalizes and studies combinable memory-block transactions (MBTs). The idea is to encode short programs that operate on a single cache/memory block and then to specify such a program with a memory request. The code is then executed at the cache or memory controller, atomically with respect to other accesses to that block by this or other processors. The combinable form allows combining within the memory system or network. In addition to allowing for the standard set of read-modify-write operations (e.g., test-and-set, compare-and-swap, fetch-and-add), MBTs can be used to define other useful operations--such as a fetch-and-add that does not decrement below zero.We show how MBTs can be used to design simple and efficient implementations of a variety of protocols and algorithms, including a priority write, a semaphore with a non-blocking P operation, a bounded queue, and a timestamp-based transactional memory system. In all cases the protocols gain some advantage by using MBTs that are different from the standard set of operations. To gain an understanding of the efficiency that can be gained by using combining, we define a notion of bounded contention and show that all our protocols have bounded contention under arbitrary loads.
Halitosis: An etiologic classification, a treatment approach, and prevention

Halitosis, a condition that causes a severe social handicap to those who suffer from it, has a multifactorial etiology. Since patients with this condition seek professional consultation from dentists much more frequently than from physicians, dentists, who treat diseases of the oral cavity, should have an understanding of the local as well as the systemic factors which cause halitosis. This article presents an extensive review of the information available, with an etiologic classification of this condition to help clinicians develop the diagnostic acumen to distinguish one type of halitosis from another. Once the etiology of this condition is ascertained for the patient who suffers from it, treatment can be readily rendered.
Some Applications of Shape-Memory Alloys

Uses or potential uses of shape memory alloys fall into industrial, energy, and dental/medical categories. These various applications are considered after a brief discussion of the nature of the shape memory effect and other interesting properties in shape memory alloys. Most applications involve NiTi-type and Cu-based alloys, the latter being relatively inexpensive to produce and fabricate into numerous forms.
Diffusion aspects of ionospheric modification by the release of highly reactive molecules into the F-region

Abstract The diffusion of an artificially-injected molecular gas in an isothermal atomic oxygen atmosphere is studied for the case where the released particles react chemically with O. Comparison is made to a previously published solution for molecular diffusion alone. The addition of chemical loss leads to an eigenfunction—eigenvalue formulation in Laguerre polynomials. Detailed calculations are presented for releases of molecular hydrogen which, because of its light weight and chemical properties, suggests itself as a prime candidate for ionospheric modification experiments. Chemical loss by O severely affects the expansion of the released gas by creating a chemical sink in the lower thermosphere which competes with diffusion and causes a net loss of particles. The extent of this effect varies with the height of the release, the molecular weight of the release gas, and its reactivity with the background atomic oxygen atmosphere. This problem bears particular relevance to ionospheric modification experiments which have recently been proposed, and some ramifications of the results presented here to such experiments are discussed.
Surface titration of DNA-modified gold electrodes with a thiol-tethered anthraquinone

Abstract The adsorption kinetics of an anthraquinone derivative bearing a two-carbon amido side chain terminated with a thiol (9,10-anthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid (2-mercaptoethyl) amide) have been examined on bare gold electrodes and on gold electrodes that had been modified with SAMs of 6-mercaptohexanol and thiol-tagged DNA 20-mers. This ‘thiol-tethered AQ’ formed stable SAMs on gold electrodes that exhibited reversible voltammetric waves, with a 60 mV per pH dependence for the 2e − /2H + quinone/hydroquinone couple, and that persisted on the electrode without change upon immersion in solutions of 2-mercaptoethanol. While the formation and maximum surface coverage of the thiol-tethered AQ SAMs was influenced by the pH and ionic strength of the deposition solution, the voltammetry was not markedly dependent on the presence of DNA in solution. Similarly, when a gold electrode was modified with either a mixture of disulfide end-tagged single-strand (ss) DNA 20-mers and the thiol-tethered AQ or a mixture of end-tagged double-strand (ds) DNA 20-mers and the thiol-tethered AQ, the voltammetry of the quinone couple was unchanged. Differentiation between the presence of either ss-DNA or ds-DNA on the electrode surface was achieved by titration of the free surface area with the thiol-tethered AQ after denaturation of the surface duplex in pure buffer. In the case of ds-DNA, but not for the ss-DNA modified electrode, a marked increase in the surface coverage of the thiol-tethered AQ was observed.
Illness behavior in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective. To explore prediagnostic illness behavior in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Method. In this descriptive study, interview and medical records data from 50 female patients were analyzed using quantitative and qualitative techniques. Results. Findings revealed a high incidence of symptom normalization, self-treatment, symptom comparison, and prolonged time to diagnosis with multiple misdiagnoses and physicians consulted. Most subjects reported invalidation of initial symptoms, multifaceted emotional distress, and relief upon accurate diagnosis. Significant associations were found between (a) illness-related symptom attributions and fewer physicians consulted (P < 0.05) and less invalidation (P < 0.05); (b) life stress events and fewer physicians consulted (P < 0.05) and shorter time to diagnosis (P < 0.05); (c) remissions and time to diagnosis (P < 0.05), number of physicians consulted (P < 0.001), and number of misdiagnoses (P < 0.001). Conclusion. Illness behavior in RA is prolonged, convoluted, and accompanied by personal and social stress. Invalidation of reported symptoms and relief upon definitive diagnosis are prominent features of the process.
Pragmatism to Dogmatism: The Laissez Faire Myth and the Disabling of the American Fisc

Abstract The authors argue that the recent upsurge in anti-tax sentiment has its roots evolving social conditions and adherence to the laissez faire myth. Content analysis reveals that political anti-tax rhetoric increased in the late 1970s and early 1980s, a time of social distress in the US. This increased political attention provided a rhetorical punctuation whereby a substantial portion of Americans moved toward a much more dogmatic adherence to the laissez faire myth. The result has been to convert the laissez faire myth into a disabling myth that severely limits open discussion of fiscal issues and reduces the options in public finance decisions.
Epicardial Temperature is a Major Predictor of Myocardial Infarct Size in Dogs

To determine whether epicardial temperature varies among anesthetised, open-chest dogs,and, if so, whether such variation has a measurable effect on myocardial infarct size, 35 open-chest mongrel dogs underwent 60 min of circumflex coronary artery occlusion and 3 h of reperfusion. Infarct size was measured using triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) macrochemistry. Known predictors of infarct size including area-at-risk (AAR) and collateral blood flow (CBF) were measured. Epicardial temperature was monitored using a temperature probe placed in the pericardial space adjacent to the posterior surface of the heart. In each individual dog, epicardial temperature was nearly constant throughout the period of coronary occlusion. Amongst dogs, however, epicardial temperature ranged from 35.5–41.0°C. By multiple regression analysis, infarct size was better predicted by the combination of temperature and CBF than by CBF alone. “Low-T” (35.5–38.0°C,n=17) and “high-T” (38.1–41.0°C,n=18) subgroups were compared by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), using infarct size as the dependent variable and CBF as the independent variable. Following adjustment of infarct size for CBF, infarct size in the low-T subgroup was only 53%vthat in the high-T subgroup (16.9±2.7%v31.9±5.0% of AAR,P<0.001). Thus, in open-chest dogs, relatively minor variation in epicardial temperature had major effects on myocardial infarct size. We conclude that myocardial temperature is an independent predictor of infarct size in dogs. Although such variation could confound studies of the therapeutic efficacy of proposed cardioprotective interventions, controlling for temperature variation in such studies should reduce the likelihood of false positive or negative results.
Hexokinase-II Positively Regulates Glucose Starvation-Induced Autophagy through TORC1 Inhibition

Hexokinase-II (HK-II) catalyzes the first step of glycolysis and also functions as a protective molecule; however, its role in protective autophagy has not been determined. Results showed that inhibition of HK-II diminished, while overexpression of HK-II potentiated, autophagy induced by glucose deprivation in cardiomyocyte and noncardiomyocyte cells. Immunoprecipitation studies revealed that HK-II binds to and inhibits the autophagy suppressor, mTOR complex 1 (TORC1), and that this binding was increased by glucose deprivation. The TOS motif, a scaffold sequence responsible for binding TORC1 substrates, is present in HK-II, and mutating it blocked its ability to bind to TORC1 and regulate protective autophagy. The transition from glycolysis to autophagy appears to be regulated by a decrease in glucose-6 phosphate. We suggest that HK-II binds TORC1 as a decoy substrate and provides a previously unrecognized mechanism for switching cells from a metabolic economy, based on plentiful energy, to one of conservation, under starvation.
Stability of silver thin films on cobalt and nickel silicides

Silver thin films were deposited on cobalt and nickel silicides to evaluate the thermal stability of the films during vacuum annealing. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry of annealed films revealed film changes to occur at 700 °C. Scanning electron microscopy of annealed films shows grain coarsening of the Ag film with increasing anneal temperature. At 650 °C, tears appear in the film. Increasing temperature up to 700 °C agglomerates the film. X-ray diffraction glancing angle scans revealed no phase changes in annealed films. Scans from the as-deposited case and the 700 °C, both show the same reflection peaks being present. Secondary ion mass spectroscopy depth profiling revealed trace amounts of Ag at the silicide/silicon interface following a heat treatment. This occurrence appears to be temperature independent. Equal amounts of Ag were discovered at the silicide interface for all samples annealed from 450 up to 700 °C.
Using lotus 1–2–3 macros as grading assistants

Abstract Electronic spreadsheet software has gained widespread acceptance in the business community and educational institutions. This note demonstrates how instructors can save time and improve accuracy by using simple spreadsheet programs, called macros, to facilitate the grading task. It also discloses caveats that highlight potential problems associated with spreadsheet grading techniques. Accordingly, this note provides insight regarding the circumstances under which computer-assisted grading may be appropriate. Four basic functions of spreadsheet grading are introduced through a comprehensive example. Instructors are encouraged to use these macros as examples for the development of a personal macro grading library.
A learning approach to chronic drug use: Sources of reinforcement

An examination of the drug-use literature reveals a number of terms referring to the formation of a drug habit in the absence of physiological addiction. Such terms as “psychological dependence” and “psychic dependence,” although inadequately defined, seem to suggest that learning variables may underlie some instances of chronic drug use. The present paper discusses possible reinforcement contingencies that could lead to the acquisition and maintenance of a drug habit. The semantic, therapeutic, and social implications of such an approach are discussed.
The oncoprotein Tax binds the SRC-1-interacting domain of CBP/p300 to mediate transcriptional activation.

Oncogenesis associated with human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV) infection is directly linked to the virally encoded transcription factor Tax. To activate HTLV-1 transcription Tax interacts with the cellular protein CREB and the pleiotropic coactivators CBP and p300. While extensively studied, the molecular mechanisms of Tax transcription function and coactivator utilization are not fully understood. Previous studies have focused on Tax binding to the KIX domain of CBP, as this was believed to be the key step in recruiting the coactivator to the HTLV-1 promoter. In this study, we identify a carboxy-terminal region of CBP (and p300) that strongly interacts with Tax and mediates Tax transcription function. Through deletion mutagenesis, we identify amino acids 2003 to 2212 of CBP, which we call carboxy-terminal region 2 (CR2), as the minimal region for Tax interaction. Interestingly, this domain corresponds to the steroid receptor coactivator 1 (SRC-1)interacting domain of CBP. We show that a double point mutant targeted to one of the putative a-helical motifs in this domain significantly compromises the interaction with Tax. We also characterize the region of Tax responsible for interaction with CR2 and show that the previously identified transactivation domain of Tax (amino acids 312 to 319) participates in CR2 binding. This region of Tax corresponds to a consensus amphipathic helix, and single point mutations targeted to amino acids on the face of this helix abolish interaction with CR2 and dramatically reduce Tax transcription function. Finally, we demonstrate that Tax and SRC-1 bind to CR2 in a mutually exclusive fashion. Together, these studies identify a novel Tax-interacting site on CBP/p300 and extend our understanding of the molecular mechanism of Tax transactivation.
Numerical experimentation with particles having non-zero terminal velocity in the atmospheric surface layer

Numerical solutions are obtained for a two-dimensional eddy diffusion equation describing aerosol particles in the atmospheric surface layer. Particles are assumed to be from either an elevated line source or a surface area source. Characteristics of the solutions are exhibited as a function of source type, lower boundary condition, and the ratio of terminal velocity (Ω) to friction velocity (u*). This theory indicates that suspended particles tend to escape the near-surface layer, and are thus subject to long-range transport, when the ratio Ω/u* is less than von Karman's constant. This prediction is consistent with available data.
Manufacturability considerations for fully depleted SOI

Performance advantages of SOI technology have been widely published. However, a critical step in the maturation of any technology is progressing from demonstrating best case performance advantages to demonstrating repeatable performance. For a technology to be production qualified, target values must be met for critical parameters, with lot parametric variations within the required tolerances. We examine fully depleted SOI from this point of view. As a result of the very thin Si films used in fully-depleted SOI, sensitivities are found for process steps such as oxidation, salicide formation, and photolithography that are not found in bulk silicon or partially-depleted SOI. Since one of most important SOI substrate parameters is the thickness of the Si film (tsi), we focus here on how key electrical parameters are affected by tsi, for both mean and standard deviation. We find that not only is the tsi variation across a single wafer important, but that it must be controlled lot to lot. This impacts SOI wafer suppliers, as well as VLSI production flows in which sacrificial oxidations are done. >
Blood group antigens and integrins as biomarkers in head and neck cancer: Is aberrant tyrosine phosphorylation the cause of altered α6β4 integrin expression?

Head and neck cancer is a capricious disease that varies greatly in its clinical behavior. The development of biomarkers that can distinguish between biologically aggressive and indolent tumors has been a long term goal of our laboratories. Predictive markers applicable to biopsy specimens should facilitate clinical management through early identification of patients at greatest risk for early relapse or metastatic spread. Two prominent cell surface markers that we identified by raising monoclonal antibodies to squamous cell carcinomas are blood group antigens and the A9 antigen/alpha 6 beta 4 integrin. Both of these markers are abnormally displayed in squamous cancers of the head and neck and serve as indicators of early relapse. Loss of blood group antigen expression is a stronger single indicator than is overexpression of the alpha 6 beta 4 integrin. However, use of both markers together is a stronger predictive indicator than is either alone. We know little about the function of the blood group antigens in squamous cells except that the mature antigens are associated with differentiation. Similarly, the function of the alpha 6 beta 4 integrin is also not fully understood. Integrin alpha 6 beta 4 is thought to serve as an extracellular matrix receptor, but its ligand has not been confirmed. In resting epithelium, the alpha 6 beta 4 integrin is polarized to the basal aspect of the basal cell as a component of the hemidesmosome, the anchoring structures of the epithelia. This basal polarization is lost in migrating normal squamous cells and squamous carcinomas. Tyrosine phosphorylation of the beta 4 subunit is absent or greatly reduced in malignant cells and this may be a critical signal for subcellular localization of alpha 6 beta 4 and cell anchoring. On the basis of our current experimental results, we postulate that tyrosine phosphorylation of the beta 4 subunit is a reversible signal that regulates cell migration in normal and malignant cells, and may therefore be an important initial event in the metastatic cascade.
ASYMPTOTIC DISTRIBUTION OF ESTIMATES FOR A TIME- VARYING PARAMETER IN A HARMONIC MODEL WITH MULTIPLE FUNDAMENTALS

Window-based estimates for stochastic harmonic regression models are useful for cases where harmonic parameters appear to be time-varying. Least squares estimates for harmonic models with one fundamental have been studied and asymptotic variance expressions have been developed. This paper extends these re- sults to weighted least squares for the multiple fundamental case, and presents an application in signal processing.
Iterative OFDM ARQ Receivers with Imbedded Pilots

An optimized Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ) iterative receiver for Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) transmission, suitable for application in rapidly varying multipath channels is presented. The receiver is an optimized Maximum Aposteriori (MAP) Turbo processor that exploits information from all available transmissions. The system uses an imbedded pilot structure in the frequency domain to initially estimate the channel. Further improvement of these estimates takes place based on the Expectation Maximization (EM) algorithm and the available received vectors, including all antennas and transmissions of the OFDM word. We show that this configuration achieves high gains compared to a standard ARQ system with packet combining and a standard soft decision decoding of a higher constraint length, v = 7 convolutional code when binary modulation is employed on the link, while the gains diminish for non-binary modulations.
Evaluation of a latex agglutination test for the identification of Candida species in vaginal discharge.

Background: The diagnosis of Candida vulvovaginitis using historical symptoms, pelvic examination findings, and results of traditional in-office laboratory tests is often inaccurate. Although Candida cultures can verify the diagnosis, they are not routinely used. Methods: We prospectively compared the accuracy of a commercially available, in-office, rapid, latex agglu1ina1ion test (CandidaSure TIl) for the identification of Candida species with results from Candida culture. Results: The sensitivity of the latex aggiu1ination test was 66 percent and the specificity was 63 percent when compared with Candida culture results in patients with vaginal symptoms. When compared with a microscopic evaluation using potassium hydroxide (KOH), the CandidaSure TIl test had greater sensitivity but a lower specificity. In 74 percent of cases with a positive KOH preparation, yeast forms were present on culture, and little was gained by adding the CandidaSure TIl test in this situation. The addition of the CandidaSure TIl test in those cases with a negative KOH preparation resulted in increased sensitivity but also increased the number of false-positive diagnoses. Conclusions: The CandidaSure TIl test has greater sensitivity than the KOH preparation, but it is less predictive of a positive culture. Because of this limitation, Candida should be documented by culture for any patient who has recurrent or persistent disease and a negative KOH slide. (J Am Board Fam Pract 1992;5:375-80.)
A novel IV cocaine self-administration procedure in rats: differential effects of dopamine, serotonin, and GABA drug pre- treatments on cocaine consumption and maximal price paid

Behavior occurring during cocaine self-administration can be classified as either consummatory or appetitive. These two concepts are usually addressed independently using separate reinforcement schedules. For example, appetitive behavior can be assessed with a progressive ratio schedule, whereas consummatory behavior is typically measured using a fixed ratio schedule. Depending on the schedule used, it is often difficult to determine whether a particular drug pretreatment is affecting self-administration through an effect on appetitive responding, consummatory responding, or perhaps both. In the present study, we tested the effect of pretreating rats with four different drugs on appetitive and consummatory behaviors. We recently developed a technique that provides an independent assessment of both behavioral concepts within the same experimental session. In this threshold procedure, rats are offered a descending series of 11 unit doses (422–1.3 μg/injection) during consecutive timed intervals under a fixed-ratio schedule. Consummatory behavior can be analyzed by assessing intake at high unit doses; an estimate of appetitive responding can be determined from responding occurring at the threshold dose. Applying behavioral economics to these data provides dependent measures of consumption when minimally constrained by price and the maximal price paid (P max) for cocaine. Haloperidol increased cocaine consumption when minimally constrained by price but decreased P max. In contrast, d-amphetamine increased P max. Fluoxetine decreased P max and consumption when minimally constrained by price. Baclofen selectively decreased P max. These data suggest that drug pretreatments can alter consummatory and appetitive behavior differently because each concept involves distinct neural mechanisms.
Projection Sites of Medial Preoptic Area and Ventral Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis Neurons that Express Fos during Maternal Behavior in Female Rats

Medial preoptic area (MPOA) and ventral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (VBST) neurons are involved in maternal behavior, but the neural sites to which the maternally relevant neurons project have not been determined. Since MPOA and VBST neurons express Fos during maternal behavior, we used a double-labeling immunocytochemical procedure to detect both Fos and a retrograde tracer, wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), in order to determine where these Fos neurons project. On Day 4 postpartum, fully maternal females were separated from their litters. On Day 5, WGA was iontophoretically injected into one of the following regions known to receive MPOA and/or VBST input: Lateral septum, medial hypothalamus at the level of the ventromedial nucleus, lateral habenula, ventral tegmental area, retrorubral field, or periaqueductal gray. On Day 7, females received a 2-h test with either pups or candy, after which they were perfused and their brains were processed for the detection of Fos and WGA. As expected, females tested with pups had more Fos-containing neurons in the MPOA and VBST than did females tested with candy. After WGA injections into several brain sites, the number of double-labeled cells observed in the MPOA and VBST was greater for the maternal females when compared to the non-maternal females. Therefore, these results pinpointed neural circuits that were activated during maternal behavior. For the maternal females, Fos-containing neurons in the MPOA projected most strongly to the medial hypothalamus at the level of the ventromedial nucleus and to the lateral septum, while Fos-containing neurons in the VBST projected most strongly to the retrorubral field, ventral tegmental area, and medial hypothalamus. Although relatively few MPOA and VBST neurons which expressed Fos during maternal behavior projected to the periaqueductal gray, these Fos-expressing neurons made up a relatively large proportion of the MPOA and VBST projection to the periaqueductal gray. This study suggests that MPOA and VBST efferents project to a variety of regions to promote full maternal responsiveness.
A current-sensorless MPPT quasi-double-boost converter for PV systems

This paper proposes a current-sensorless maximum power point tracking (MPPT) quasi-double-boost converter for photovoltaic (PV) systems. Instead of using sensors, the output current of the PV system is obtained from the measured voltage ripple in the input capacitor of the DC-DC converter. The estimated current is used by a hill-climbing (HC) MPPT algorithm to determine the optimal duty ratio for controlling the DC-DC converter. The operating principle, theoretical analysis, and design guidelines of the quasi-double-boost converter are provided in the paper. Simulation studies are carried out in MATLAB Simulink by using real solar radiation data obtained from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL); results show that the proposed system and control algorithm work effectively for current-sensorless MPPT control of the PV systems. Experimental results for a real PV system are provided to further validate the simulation of the quasi-double boost converter and testify the effectiveness of the current-sensorless MPPT control algorithm.
Synthesis of 2′-Deoxy-2′-[18F]Fluoro-9-β-D-Arabinofuranosylguanine: a Novel Agent for Imaging T-Cell Activation with PET

9-(β-D-Arabinofuranosyl)guanine (AraG) is a guanosine analog that has a proven efficacy in the treatment of T-cell lymphoblastic disease. To test the possibility of using a radiofluorinated AraG as an imaging agent, we have synthesized 2′-deoxy-2′-[18F]fluoro-9-β-D-arabinofuranosylguanine ([18F]F-AraG) and investigated its uptake in T cells. We have synthesized [18F]F-AraG via a direct fluorination of 2-N-acetyl-6-O-((4-nitrophenyl)ethyl)-9-(3′,5′-di-O-trityl-2′-O-trifyl-β-D-ribofuranosyl)guanine with [18F]KF/K.2.2.2 in DMSO at 85°C for 45 min. [18F]F-AraG uptake in both a CCRF-CEM leukemia cell line (unactivated) and activated primary thymocytes was evaluated. We have successfully prepared [18F]F-AraG in 7–10% radiochemical yield (decay corrected) with a specific activity of 0.8–1.3 Ci/μmol. Preliminary cell uptake experiments showed that both a CCRF-CEM leukemia cell line and activated primary thymocytes take up the [18F]F-AraG. For the first time to the best of our knowledge, [18F]F-AraG has been successfully synthesized by direct fluorination of an appropriate precursor of a guanosine nucleoside. This approach maybe also useful for the synthesis of other important positron emission tomography (PET) probes such as [18F]FEAU, [18F]FMAU, and [18F]FBAU which are currently synthesized by multiple steps and involve lengthy purification. The cell uptake studies support future studies to investigate the use of [18F]F-AraG as a PET imaging agent of T cells.
Experiential phenomenon on cortical stimulation

I read with interest the short report “Human `memories' can be evoked by stimulation of the lateral temporal cortex after ipsilateral medial temporal lobe resection”, by Moriarity et al .1 The cortical localisation of experiential memory phenomenon was summarised by Penfield and Perot.2 Subsequent to that, Halgren et al 3 used implanted depth electrodes to delineate medial temporal structures as a source of experiential phenomenon in …
Lectures on affine Hecke algebras and Macdonald’s conjectures

This paper gives a review of Cherednik’s results on the representation-theoretic approach to Macdonald polynomials and related special functions. Macdonald polynomials are a remarkable 2-parameter family of polynomials which can be associated to every root system. As special cases, they include the Schur functions, the q-Jacobi polynomials, and certain spherical functions on real and p-adic symmetric spaces. They have a number of elegant combinatorial properties, which, however, are extremely difficult to prove. In this paper we show that a natural setup for studying these polynomials is provided by the representation theory of Hecke algebras and show how this can be used to prove some of the combinatorial identities for Macdonald polynomials.
Analysis of Rates Using a Generalized Poisson Regression Model

In this paper a generalization of the Poisson regression model indexed by a shape parameter is proposed for the analysis of life table and follow-up data with concomitant variables. The model is suitable for analysis of extra-Poisson variation data. The model is used to fit the survival data given in Holford (1980). The model parameters, the hazard and survival functions are estimated by the method of maximum likelihood. The results obtained from this study seem to be comparable to those obtained by Chen (1988). Approximate tests of the dispersion and goodness-of-fit of the data to the model are also discussed.
Fine-scale hydrologic modeling for regional landscape applications: the California Basin Characterization Model development and performance

Resource managers need spatially explicit models of hydrologic response to changes in key climatic drivers across variable landscape conditions. We demonstrate the utility of a Basin Characterization Model for California (CA-BCM) to integrate high-resolution data on physical watershed characteristics with historical or projected climate data to predict watershed-specific hydrologic responses. The CA-BCM applies a monthly regional water-balance model to simulate hydrologic responses to climate at the spatial resolution of a 270-m grid. The model has been calibrated using a total of 159 relatively unimpaired watersheds for the California region. As a result of calibration, predicted basin discharge closely matches measured data for validation watersheds. The CA-BCM recharge and runoff estimates, combined with estimates of snowpack and timing of snowmelt, provide a basis for assessing variations in water availability. Another important output variable, climatic water deficit, integrates the combined effects of temperature and rainfall on site-specific soil moisture, a factor that plants may respond to more directly than air temperature and precipitation alone. Model outputs are calculated for each grid cell, allowing results to be summarized for a variety of planning units including hillslopes, watersheds, ecoregions, or political boundaries. The ability to confidently calculate hydrologic outputs at fine spatial scales provides a new suite of hydrologic predictor variables that can be used for a variety of purposes, such as projections of changes in water availability, environmental demand, or distribution of plants and habitats. Here we present the framework of the CA-BCM model for the California hydrologic region, a test of model performance on 159 watersheds, summary results for the region for the 1981–2010 time period, and changes since the 1951–1980 time period.
Behavior of attenuated mycobacteria in organs of neonatal and adult mice.

The consequences of Calmette-Guerin bacillus (BCG) vaccination were followed in newborn and adult mice. BCG failed to multiply in the organs of adult mice when administered peritoneally. In contrast, extensive multiplication of the vaccine occurred in both splenic and pulmonary tissue after its peritoneal administration to newborn mice. This absence of tuberculostasis occurred during the period when the animal's spleen, lung, and thymus were rapidly growing. Animals achieved similar levels of resistance to virulent respiratory challenge 10 wk after vaccination irrespective of whether the vaccine had been administered when the mice were newly born and BCG had multiplied in vivo or administered when the animals were fully grown and the BCG had remained in the dormant state. Although neonatal infection with BCG was severe, as shown by the large numbers of organisms recovered from the animals' tissues, the animals suffered no mortality or overt signs of disease. Neonatal vaccination did not significantly affect either the animal's growth rate or the gross development of its organs.
Bilateral arm training: Why and who benefits?

Bilateral arm training has emerged as an approach that leads to positive outcomes in addressing upper extremity paresis after stroke. However, studies have not demonstrated improvements in all patients using current outcome measures. Furthermore, the rationale for using this type of training has been incompletely explained. The purpose of this article was to first review the theoretical justifications for the use of bilateral arm training by examining motor control and neural mechanisms underlying arm function and neural recovery, and second, to discuss examples of clinical studies using a variety of bilateral training strategies to identify who may benefit most from this approach. We argue that bilateral arm training is a necessary adjunct to unilateral training because bilateral re-training is important and best served through bilateral not unilateral training, and also, that bilateral training may help unilateral skill recovery through alternative putative mechanisms. Our review of the empirical evidence suggests that individuals at all levels of severity can benefit in some manner from bilateral training, but that not all approaches are effective for all severity levels. In addition to requesting more randomized controlled trials and studies of neurophysiological mechanisms we conclude the following: 1) Bilateral training can improve unilateral paretic limb functions of the upper extremity after stroke, however, specific training approaches need to be matched to baseline characteristics of the patients; 2) Given the importance of bilateral activities in daily life, there is a need to recognize, train and assess the important contribution of supportive role functions of the paretic arm used on its own and as part of complementary bilateral functional skills; 3) An assessment of bilateral and unilateral functioning which includes bilateral task analysis, as well as, evaluations of interlimb coordination should be included in all studies that include bilateral training; 4) Studies with thoughtful sequencing or combining of bilateral approaches or sequencing of bilateral and unilateral approaches are needed to assess if there are improved outcomes in paretic and bilateral limb function.
Why Do Nonwhite Patients Undergo Amputation More Commonly Than White Patients

There is a compelling amount of data showing that amputation and revascularization rates between white and nonwhite patients are different. What accounts for this? The current analysis suggests that access to care, socioeconomic status, and clinical category of disease at presentation do not account for such differences.1 In their discussion, the authors suggest 3 general factors to consider: (1) differing access to care, (2) patient factors such as noncompliance, and (3) physician factors including bias and prejudice; however, they ultimately cite reasonably good arguments against most. Nowhere do they claim that health care provider bias is the reason, but this seems to be the only factor that cannot be excluded. There isa fourthpossibleexplanation,especiallyas theothers do not seem to be causative: genetic differences in the behavior of peripheral vascular disease between groups. While the authorspointedout that dividingpeople into separate categories (race) is a social construct, there are clearly biological differences between any 2 broadly defined groups (eg, resistance to malaria, response to alcohol, behavior of breast cancer, and response to certain drugs, in addition to the amount of melanin in the skin). What if there were differences in the behavior, composition, or anatomic patterns of atherosclerosis itself? In other words, 2 people may have the same access tocare, socioeconomicstatus,andcompliance,but (evenwithin the same clinical class at presentation) one has disease that is more often amenable to bypasswhen symptomatic,while the otherhasagreaterchanceofpresentingwithanatomicallynonreconstructable occlusion—all because of genetic factors. It is politically dangerous to raise the issue of consistent biologic variability between groups, but such variability unequivocally exists for certain genetically determined entities. If we ignore this issue, we run the risk of doing just what we are trying to avoid—giving one group of patients inferior carebecausewehavenot recognizedthe truecauseof theproblem. Durazzo and colleagues1 have shown that it is not access to care or economic factors that account for the (real) differences in amputation rates—thus,weare leftwith either health care provider bias or genetic differences in the disease process itself. It may be the former, but we must investigate the latter to provide the best possible care for all our patients.
Multiple Comparisons with Dichotomous Data

Abstract Statistical tests for the overall hypothesis of no difference among multiple groups of a dichotomous response experiment include the likelihood ratio, Pearson's X 2, Goodman's Y 2, and the analysis of variance (ANOVA) F. An empirical study is performed to evaluate these tests and the Bonferroni and maximal contrast methods of multiple comparisons for a four group experiment. The F test is recommended as an overall test and for maximal contrast comparisons, but its nominal significance level can be optimistic for certain Bonferroni comparisons with small samples. The X 2 test is generally more conservative than the F test.
Vindesine-ifosfamide-platinum (VIP) induction chemotherapy in surgically staged IIIA-N2 non-small-cell lung cancer: A prospective study

Summary Purpose In the pioneer data from the Memorial-Sloan-Kettering group, preoperative mitomycin-C–vindesine-platinum (MVP) induction chemotherapy in N2-NSCLC was accompanied with substantial pulmonary toxicity. In this study, the efficacy and toxicity of three-drug VIP induction chemotherapy, the pathologic response in resection specimens, the early survival and relapse patterns are examined. Patients and methods Between June 1995 and March 1997, 39 consecutive patients with pathology proven N2-NSCLC were treated with three cycles of VIP induction, followed by definitive locoregional treatment (resection and mediastinal dissection or radical radiotherapy). Several patients had unfavorable prognostic characteristics with respect to clinical and biological findings, tumor location and bulk of disease. Results The response rate to chemotherapy was 59% (95% Confidence Interval 34–75). Twenty-three responding patients had radical locoregional treatment: radical radiotherapy in four, resection in 19. Downstaging was present in nine of the 19 resection specimens, with two pathologic complete responses. The median survival time (MST) of all patients is 19 months, with a projected two-year survival of 49%. In patients responsive to chemotherapy who received definitive local treatment, the MST is not yet reached, and the projected two-year survival is 57%. Relapses were mainly distant, with isolated brain relapse as a disturbing finding. The main toxicity’s were leukopenia and vomiting, but they were manageable. In contrast with MVP, no severe pulmonary toxicity occurred. Conclusions VIP is a suitable induction regimen for N2-NSCLC, demonstrating a good activity and very acceptable toxicity.
Transcriptional targeting of primary and metastatic tumor neovasculature by an adenoviral type 5 roundabout4 vector in mice

New approaches targeting metastatic neovasculature are needed. Payload capacity, cellular transduction efficiency, and first-pass cellular uptake following systemic vector administration, motivates persistent interest in tumor vascular endothelial cell (EC) adenoviral (Ad) vector targeting. While EC transductional and transcriptional targeting has been accomplished, vector administration approaches of limited clinical utility, lack of tumor-wide EC expression quantification, and failure to address avid liver sequestration, challenged prior work. Here, we intravenously injected an Ad vector containing 3 kb of the human roundabout4 (ROBO4) enhancer/promoter transcriptionally regulating an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) reporter into immunodeficient mice bearing 786-O renal cell carcinoma subcutaneous (SC) xenografts and kidney orthotopic (KO) tumors. Initial experiments performed in human coxsackie virus and adenovirus receptor (hCAR) transgenic:Rag2 knockout mice revealed multiple ECs with high-level Ad5ROBO4-EGFP expression throughout KO and SC tumors. In contrast, Ad5CMV-EGFP was sporadically expressed in a few tumor vascular ECs and stromal cells. As the hCAR transgene also facilitated Ad5ROBO4 and control Ad5CMV vector EC expression in multiple host organs, follow-on experiments engaged warfarin-mediated liver vector detargeting in hCAR non-transgenic mice. Ad5ROBO4-mediated EC expression was undetectable in most host organs, while the frequencies of vector expressing intratumoral vessels and whole tumor EGFP protein levels remained elevated. In contrast, AdCMV vector expression was only detectable in one or two stromal cells throughout the whole tumor. The Ad5ROBO4 vector, in conjunction with liver detargeting, provides tractable genetic access for in-vivo EC genetic engineering in malignancies.
Analysis and Optimization of 3-D FPGA Design Parameters

This paper describes an experimental approach developed to determine the design parameters of a 3-D FPGA. The FPGA architecture created with these design parameters has high performance while the requirement of balancing the areas of its constituent layers is satisfied.
Optimization of iterative reconstruction technique for CT pulmonary arteriography: systemic assessment in a porcine model

Purpose To evaluate the quantitative and qualitative image quality of pulmonary CT arteriography images reconstructed with filtered back projection (FBP), adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR), and model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) scanned at differential radiation doses. Materials and Methods A healthy 56.1 kg Yorkshire pig underwent fluoroscopic placement of a femoral central venous catheter. The catheter was subsequently injected with macerated, previously clotted autologous blood. After pulmonary emboli were visualized in the left lower lobe segmental pulmonary arteries, successive pulmonary arterial CT angiography on a Discovery 750HD MDCT scanner (GE Healthcare) was performed at 700, 400, 200, 100, and 50 mA at 120, 100, and 80 kVp, for a total of 15 scans. Each scan was reconstructed FBP, ASIR (50% blend) and MBIR. Noise (SD) and contrast-to-noise ratios were calculated from ROIs over the left lower lobe segmental pulmonary artery and paraspinous muscle. Selected axial images were scored subjectively for PE visibility and overall image quality. Results Averaged across all doses, MBIR reduced noise and improved contrast to noise ratio (CNR) compared to FBP by 73% and 232%, and reduced noise and improved CNR compared to ASIR by 69% and 110%, respectively. The effect was more pronounced in higher noise settings. Averaged across all doses, MBIR improved subjective image quality and diagnostic sensitivity for pulmonary embolism (PE) compared to FBP by 50% and compared to ASIR by 25%. Subjective improvements in image quality were most pronounced in higher noise settings. At 120 kVp/400 mA, readers scored FBP, ASIR, and MBIR images equally. At 100 mA/120 kVp, readers scored FBP and ASIR images as nondiagnostic for detection of PE, while MBIR images were considered of moderate quality but remained diagnostic for detection of PE. Conclusion MBIR reduced image noise and improved CNR for the pulmonary arteries compared to ASIR and FBP across all dose levels. Furthermore, MBIR resulted in higher subjective image quality and improved diagnostic sensitivity for pulmonary embolism, particularly in higher noise settings.