cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exploration on the Guiding Chemical Constituents in the Medicinal Guides of Traditional Chinese Medicinal Herbs

Objective To explore the chemical constituents that play a guiding role existing in the medicinal guides of the traditional Chinese medicinal herbs,so that to make it more scientific of the theory"guiding actions".Methods By investigating the literatures,the author made the analysis,derivation,induction and deduction on the theory of the guiding constituents from the known experimental results and clinical outcomes.Results Through a large number of the literature investigations,in the medicinal guides,some chemical constituents such as Platycodosides,3H-ligustrazine and aromatics,etc were found to have their own selectivity and the ability to actively enter the targetable sites,similar to the active target-tropism functions of primer,promoter,transmitter,mediator,transductor and transporter,etc.Conclusion Under the instruction of TCM guiding theory,adopting modern science and technology,researchers would entirely enable to screen the bioactive components possessing the best guiding actions from the known chemical components of the medicinal guides.Perhaps they could discover some bioactive components possessing the peculiar guiding actions,such as "affinitin" or "targeter".It is possible to provide the essential substances for preparing the special "guiding agents" and also do the theoretical evidence for examining the TCM guiding theory and paving the plain way for developing TCM theory.
Protein metabolism and age: influence of insulin and resistance exercise.

Skeletal muscle proteins are constantly being synthesized and degraded, and the net balance between synthesis and degradation determines the resultant muscle mass. Biochemical pathways that control protein synthesis are complex, and the following must be considered: gene transcription, mRNA splicing, and transport to the cytoplasm; specific amino acyl-tRNA, messenger (mRNA), ribosomal (rRNA) availability; amino acid availability within the cell; the hormonal milieu; rates of mRNA translation; packaging in vesicles for some types of proteins; and post-translational processing such as glycation and phosphorylation/dephosphorylation. Each of these processes is responsive to the need for greater or lesser production of new proteins, and many states such as sepsis, uncontrolled diabetes, prolonged bed-rest, aging, chronic alcohol treatment, and starvation cause marked reductions in rates of skeletal muscle protein synthesis. In contrast, acute and chronic resistance exercise cause elevations in rates of muscle...
Midbody remnant licenses primary cilia formation in epithelial cells.

Tethered midbody remnants dancing across apical microvilli, encountering the centrosome, and beckoning forth a cilium-who would have guessed this is how polarized epithelial cells coordinate the end of mitosis and the beginning of ciliogenesis? New evidence from Bernabe-Rubio et al. (2016. J. Cell Biol http://dx.doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201601020) supports this emerging model.
Control of a Single-Phase Standalone Inverter Without an Output Voltage Sensor

This paper analyzes the possibility of controlling the output voltage of a standalone single-phase inverter by directly controlling the output filter capacitor current without using a dedicated output voltage sensor. The plant modeling and controller design are presented. The proposed method depends on having the value of the output filter capacitance. A method to estimate the output filter capacitance is also presented. Rigorous analysis is done to show that the proposed sensorless scheme is largely insensitive to parameter variations and ensure that the output voltage is within specified regulations at utility level. It is also demonstrated in this paper that compared to the conventional voltage control scheme the proposed control scheme ensures an improved total harmonic distortion of the output voltage waveform. Experimental results presented validate the proposed scheme.
Efficient linear transmission of complex waveforms at 216 GHz using nonlinear multiplier chains

A solid-state 216-GHz communication link is presented. It utilizes a novel mixer-less transmitter technique to achieve efficient complex modulation using frequency multipliers (which are inherently nonlinear). The transmitter operates with coherent power combining of two frequency multiplier chains to achieve precise linear amplitude and phase modulation despite the strong nonlinearity of the multipliers and the saturated power amplifiers. A 16-QAM modulation signal is demonstrated with a transmitted output power of 100 mW.
China and Central Asia in the post-Soviet era: a bilateral approach

Muhamad S. Olimat examines China’s relations with the Central Asian countries by looking at cultural, political and economic ties after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Focusing on current bila...
Cost comparison of intrathecal morphine to intravenous patient-controlled analgesia for the first 24 h post cesarean delivery: a retrospective cohort study

Intrathecal morphine provides superior pain control for patients undergoing cesarean delivery when compared to intravenous opioid patient-controlled analgesia. However, no study has assessed the overall cost associated with each modality as a primary outcome. The aim of this study is to determine the overall cost of each modality for the first 24 h post cesarean delivery. Charts of patients undergoing cesarean delivery at our institution from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014 were reviewed. Patients receiving intrathecal morphine were compared to patients undergoing general anesthesia and receiving intravenous opioid patient-controlled analgesia for post-procedure analgesia. The primary outcome measured was total cost of each modality for the first 24 h after delivery. Secondary outcomes included post-procedure pain scores, time to removal of the Foley catheter, need for rescue medications, and adverse events. There was a significant difference in total cost of intrathecal morphine when compared to intravenous opioid patient-controlled analgesia ($51.14 vs. $80.16, p < 0.001). Average pain scores between 0–1 h (0 vs. 5, p < 0.001) and 1–6 h (2.5 vs. 3.25, p < 0.001) were less in the intrathecal morphine group. The intrathecal morphine group received more ketorolac (p < 0.001) and required more rescue opioids (p = 0.042). There were no significant differences in documented adverse events. The use of intrathecal morphine for post-cesarean pain control leads to a significant cost savings for the first 24 h when compared to intravenous opioid patient-controlled analgesia. Patients also experienced less pain and were not at increased risk for adverse events.
Material properties of the cyanobacterial reserve polymer multi-l-arginyl-poly-l-aspartate (cyanophycin)

Abstract Bio-sourced macromolecules such as cyanophycin are an attractive source for alternative, sustainable plastics. While the chemical structure and biological function of cyanophycin have been previously investigated, its material properties remain largely unexplored. This study investigates the structural, thermal, mechanical, and solution properties of cyanophycin produced from recombinant Escherichia coli . Unplasticized, it has an elastic compression modulus of about 560 MPa and undergoes brittle failure at 78 MPa. Cyanophycin exhibits thermal stability in air up to 200 °C and does not undergo glass transition within its limit of thermal stability. The polypeptide is amorphous and has no long-range ordering in the solid state. In solution, water-soluble cyanophycin is thermoresponsive, exhibiting both upper and lower critical solution temperatures. Because the feasibility of industrial scale cyanophycin production through fermentation has been well studied, an expanded understanding of its materials properties should contribute to the development of new applications for this biopolymer.
10 – Infectious Disease Genomics

The history and development of infectious disease genomics have been closely associated with the Human Genome Project (HGP) during the past 20 years. It has been emphasized since the beginning of the HGP that such effort must not be restricted to the human genome and should include other organisms including mouse, bacteria, yeast, fruit fly, and worm for comparative sequence analyses. A brief history is reviewed in this chapter. As of 2016, more than 7000 completed genome sequencing projects have been reported. One of the important motivations for these efforts is to develop preventative, diagnostic, and therapeutic strategies through the analysis of sequenced microorganisms, parasites, and vectors related to human health. A number of examples are discussed in this chapter.
Tumor relevant germline findings in targeted tumor sequencing using matched normal DNA of 1,570 unselected cases.

1509 Background: Tumor Sequencing (TS) can reveal presumed pathogenic germline variants (PPGV) that may be tumor-relevant (TR) and associated with tumorigenesis. Identification of PPGV may have sig...
Ecological utility theory: Solving a series convergence issue

Abstract Utility analysis ( Patten, 1991 , Fath and Patten, 1999 ) is quite useful in quantifying direct and indirect species relations in a compartmental ecosystems model, regardless of its size or complexity. It serves as a basis for the formulation of system-wide synergism ( Fath and Patten, 1998 ) and mutualism ( Fath, 2007 ) measures. A significant issue that limits the applicability of utility analysis is that its mathematical formulation requires the convergence of a matrix power series, which may fail for otherwise perfectly valid ecosystem models. For example, utility analysis for the well known Neuse river estuary nitrogen flow models ( Baird and Ulanowicz, 1989 ), collected over 4 years (16 seasons total), do not converge for some seasons, but converge for others. Interestingly, ecologists find the analysis results meaningful and useful, even when the convergence criteria are not satisfied. This work investigates the cause for this divergence, analyzes the properties of the matrix power series, and uses an alternative summability method which transforms the diverging matrix power series into a converging one. In particular, we show that finitely many applications of the Euler transform are capable of forcing convergence on an otherwise diverging matrix power series for utility analysis. While the divergence in the regular sense remains, this work brings forward a strong mathematical argument that the utility analysis, synergism and mutualism indices, are useful for all ecological network models, regardless of their convergence characteristics.
Predaceous Neuropterans in Georgia and Kansas Pecan Trees

Fourteen species, six genera, and three families of Neuroptera were found in Georgia and Kansas pecan tree canopies. Chrysoperla rufilabris (Burmeister) was the most numerous green lacewing collected in both areas. Chrysoperla carnea Stephens was the second most abundant green lacewing collected. Micromus posticus (Walsh) and Hemerobius humulinus L. were the two most commonly collected brown lacewings in both regions. Green lacewing populations were 6 to 11-fold larger in Kansas than in Georgia. Brown lacewing populations were slightly larger in Georgia than in Kansas. Green lacewing seasonal incidence was similar in both areas, with the late season peak occurring 2 to 3 wks later in Georgia than in Kansas. Brown lacewing seasonal incidence varied considerably between regions and years. Coniopteryx westwoodi Melander was the primary microneuropteran species collected. In Kansas, pesticide applications had significant effect on lacewing populations in some years but not others. Carbaryl applications had gr...
Good Intentions and the Road to Hell

G. E. M. Anscombe famously remarked that an adequate philosophy of psychology was needed before we could do ethics. Fifty years have passed, and we should now ask what significance our best theorie...
Electro-optic frequency beamsplitter for quantum networking applications

We implement a frequency beamsplitter for spectrally encoded photons, based on electro-optic modulation and Fourier-transform pulse shaping. The ultrahigh fidelity, bandwidth, and dense mode packing offer new potential for quantum interconnects.
Generating Interlanguage Syllabification in Optimality Theory

This paper proposes an Optimality Theory (Prince & Smolensky, 1993) [OT]-based generator of the Interlanguage [IL] I syllabification of Korean speakers of English. Basically, I accept the ideas of 'cyclic CON-EVAL loop' and 'locally encoded finite candidate set' proposed by Hammond (1995, 1997b). However, in order to treat some features of Korean accented English such as vowel epenthesis, segment modification (stop voicing, devoicing, nasalization, etc.), and ambisyllabicity, I suppose that the input string of phonemes be linked to two templates of candidate grid sets; one for syllable position, and the other for (finite) possible output segments for each input segment. I will also use the ALIGN family of constraints to treat the Korean coda neutralization phenomena effectively.
October 2007: Cherkesov Makes His Last Stand—Putin’s Minimal Aid Masks His Incipient Abandonment of His Longstanding Associate

In October 2007 Cherkesov makes his last stand and Putin’s minimal aid masks incipient abandonment of his longstanding associate. With time running out for Putin to make a final decision about the succession, and with Cherkesov’s faction under siege, Cherkesov published a second sensational article on 9 October. He said that the worst fears he had expressed in his article of 2004—that ‘fighting between the special services’ might break out—had come to pass. He was sure that ‘the events surrounding the State Committee for the Control of Narcotics (SCCN) (Counter-Narcotics Agency) will eventually be handled normally’, and justice would triumph. But the wider virus had to be stopped at once. Members of the special services had to make a definite choice. Either they could leave government service and go into business, or they could stay put and keep out of business. More particularly, the current attacks on the SCCN had to cease. Its investigation of a sensitive case was fully legitimate and authorized (a reference to Putin). Soon Putin rebuked Cherkesov publicly for his article, though without naming him.
Agape, Humility, and Chaotic Good: the Challenge and Risk of Allowing Agape a Role in the Law, in Cochran & Calo, Agape, Justice and Law: How Might Christian Love Shape Law?

This essay argues that love has its dangers, when activated in the law. These dangers include factionalism, cronyism, arrogance, totalitarianism, and fanaticism. But if agape is understood as humility, it is an indispensable part of lurching toward justice in all-too-human legal contexts -- especially that of criminal sentencing. The essay concludes: "Lawful good for finite humans must co-exist with a humble chaotic good. Otherwise, we lose sight of law's need for defeasibility, particularity, and personal interaction, and we fail to notice law's underlying commitment to see 'others' as 'like' and to abide with them through time. We may also lose something rarer and more precious: if we banish chaotic love from law, we lose the liminal place at the boundaries of law from which we might catch a glimpse of the graceful wild lion."
Urban Horticulture: Overview of Recent Developments

The growing populations in urban areas and the decrease in available land are major constraints to sustainable crop production in and around cities. All over the world, many people do not get enough food and proper nourishment. Urban horticulture which is the production of vegetables, herbs, medicinal and ornamental plants around cities may serve as a solution. Worldwide, temperatures vary in different seasons and urban growers face challenges in sustaining production due to poor yield and crop losses. Therefore, urban horticultural growers may need to employ new techniques and tools to improve their practices. However, many of these recent developments require capital, access to specific information, knowledge, and resources to improve their skills on production, processing, and marketing of their produce. This paper reviews the recent developments in urbanization and urban horticulture, the types of urban horticulture as well as tools and techniques in urban horticulture. The focus of this paper is on recent developments in vertical farming systems (hydroponics, aeroponics, and aquaponics) including organic vertical farming research. Also listed in this study are solutions that urban horticulture provides such as provision of food security and, poverty alleviation. Some of the concerns, challenges, and benefits in urban vertical farming systems would also be explored.
An RAPW Expanded Basis Set

The relativistic augmented plane wave (RAPW) method1 had been used extensively to perform energy band calculations for the heavier (higher atomic number) materials. Except for the use of the relativistic formalism, it is precisely the same method as the non-relativistic APW method2 which has done so well in the region of lower atomic numbers. Both are energy-variational based techniques3,4 using basis functions constructed by joining atomic-like functions near the nuclei onto plane waves in the outer regions. However, a new feature of an additional spin variable arises in the RAPW method because the spin-orbit coupling term has been included. This makes the RAPW method considerably more time consuming to apply because it doubles the size of the basis set in addition to making the matrix elements slightly more complicated.
Static Induction Devices

Several devices from the static induction family such as static induction transistor, static induction diode, static induction thyristor, lateral punch-through transistor, static induction transistor logic, static induction MOS transistor, and space charge limiting load are described. The theory of operation of static induction devices is given for both a current controlled by a potential barrier and a current controlled by space charge. The new concept of a punch-through emitter, which operates with majority carrier transport, is presented.
Selective Growth of Interface Layers from Reactions of Sc(MeCp)2(Me2pz) with Oxide Substrates

The transformation of an oxide substrate by its reaction with a chemical precursor during atomic layer deposition (ALD) has not attracted much attention, as films are typically deposited on top of the oxide substrate. However, any modification to the substrate surface can impact the electrical and optical properties of the device. We demonstrate herein the ability of a precursor to react deep within an oxide substrate to form an interfacial layer that is distinct from both the substrate and deposited film. This phenomenon is studied using a scandium precursor, Sc(MeCp)2(Me2pz) (1, MeCp = methylcyclopentadienyl, Me2pz = 3,5-dimethylpyrazolate), and five oxide substrates (SiO2, ZnO, Al2O3, TiO2, and HfO2). In situ Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy shows that at moderate temperatures (∼150 °C) the pyrazolate group of 1 reacts with the surface hydroxyl groups of OH-terminated SiO2 substrates. However, at slightly higher temperatures (≥225 °C) typically used for the ALD of Sc2O3, there is a direct...
Movement Pattern Based Authentication for Smart Mobile Devices

We outline a novel method of user authentication for smart mobile devices, such as smartphones or tablets and propose movement pattern based authentication as an alternate to current methods that relies on a pin or drawn-pattern. While the current methods are vulnerable against common attacks (e.g., smudge attacks, shoulder surfing), our method, in contrast, is more resilient against the attacks of these kinds because it utilizes sensory data given off by the device during a preset movement for authentication. In our experiment, we recorded the values given off by four physical observational sensors: (1) accelerometer, (2) linear accelerometer, (3) gyroscope and (4) tilt sensor, which each had three axes, over a set of movements. We experimented with 10 arbitrary movement-patterns and gathered 12 samples of each (net 120 samples) to test with. We developed our own method of authentication, through which we performed 35,650 authentication attempts and found a 20.36% Equal Error Rate.
Author Correction: Single-cell analysis of mixed-lineage states leading to a binary cell fate choice.

In this Letter, the first name of author Virendra K. Chaudhri was incorrectly spelled ‘Viren’; author Meenakshi Venkatasubramanian should also be associated with ‘Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221, USA’; authors Bruce J. Aronow, Nathan Salomonis, Harinder Singh and H. Leighton Grimes should also be associated with ‘Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA’. The Letter has not been corrected online.
A critical review of research regarding peer-to-peer accommodations

Abstract The sharing economy in general and peer-to-peer (P2P) accommodations have attracted the attention of academic researchers; research in this area has exponentially increased over the past few years. These researchers have come from a variety of disciplines including tourism and hospitality, business, psychology, law, and cultural studies. The P2P accommodation segment has several aspects which make it unique, even in the realm of the sharing economy. This critical review examined 107 peer-reviewed articles regarding P2P accommodations published between 2010 and 2017. Topics explored have been: consumer behavior, legal issues, conceptualizing P2P accommodations, in the sharing economy, revenue management, trust and mistrust, P2P accommodations and hotels, owner motivations, affordable housing concerns, and emerging fields. Gaps in the literature and future research topics are explored.
Robotic Whipple for pancreatic ductal and ampullary adenocarcinoma: 10 years experience of a US single‐center

Background There is currently ample consensus about the safety and feasibility of robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD). However, few studies are available on the long-term oncological outcomes of this procedure. We present a long-term survival analysis (up to 10 years) of our series of RPD carried out for ductal and ampullary adenocarcinoma. Methods A retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected approved database was carried out including 39 patients who underwent RPD for pancreatic ductal and ampullary adenocarcinomas. Results The 5-year overall survival for ductal and ampullary carcinoma was 41% with an estimated median and mean survival of 27 and 52 months. The ampullary group had significantly longer 5-year survival (68%) than the ductal group (30%). Conclusion Our data show, within the limitations of their retrospective nature, that robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy provides similar short- and long-term survival outcomes compared to open technique in the treatment of pancreatic ductal and ampullary adenocarcinoma.
Pickup and Drop-off from Child Care: Are Transition Periods at Risk for Unhealthy Eating Among Preschoolers?

Background: Children in child-care centers make two transitions daily between the home and center: drop-off and pickup. These transition periods are stressful for parents and children. Parents may feed children unhealthy snacks during these periods to placate them. Little is known about children's dietary intake during these transition times. Objectives: To compare children’s 24-hour intakes to dietary guidelines and to compare children's energy intake and dietary quality during transition and non-transition periods. Design: Participants …
ChIP-BIT2: a software tool to detect weak binding events using a Bayesian integration approach.

ChIP-seq combines chromatin immunoprecipitation assays with sequencing and identifies genome-wide binding sites for DNA binding proteins. While many binding sites have strong ChIP-seq ‘peak’ observations and are well captured, there are still regions bound by proteins weakly, with a relatively low ChIP-seq signal enrichment. These weak binding sites, especially those at promoters and enhancers, are functionally important because they also regulate nearby gene expression. Yet, it remains a challenge to accurately identify weak binding sites in ChIP-seq data due to the ambiguity in differentiating these weak binding sites from the amplified background DNAs. ChIP-BIT2 ( http://sourceforge.net/projects/chipbitc/ ) is a software package for ChIP-seq peak detection. ChIP-BIT2 employs a mixture model integrating protein and control ChIP-seq data and predicts strong or weak protein binding sites at promoters, enhancers, or other genomic locations. For binding sites at gene promoters, ChIP-BIT2 simultaneously predicts their target genes. ChIP-BIT2 has been validated on benchmark regions and tested using large-scale ENCODE ChIP-seq data, demonstrating its high accuracy and wide applicability. ChIP-BIT2 is an efficient ChIP-seq peak caller. It provides a better lens to examine weak binding sites and can refine or extend the existing binding site collection, providing additional regulatory regions for decoding the mechanism of gene expression regulation.
Internode elongation and strobili production of Humulus lupulus cultivars in response to local strain sensing

Three different cultivars of Humulus lupulus L. were subjected to a regime of internode touch and bending under greenhouse conditions. Experiments were performed to assess intraspecific variability in plant mechanosensing, flower quality, and yield to quantify the thigmomorphogenic impact on plant compactness and flowering performance. Touching and/or touching plus bending the plant shoot internodes located in the apical meristem zone decreased internode elongation and increased width. The growth responses were due partly to touching and/or touching plus bending perturbation, 25.6% and 28% respectively. Growth of new tissue within the local apical portion of the bine continued to remain mechanosensitive. The number of nodes and female flowers produced was unaffected by either type of mechanical stress. The study provides evidence that thigmomorphogenic cues can be used as a hop crop management tool to increase bine compactness and increase node density per unit area. The findings have broad implications for hop production; production can more readily take place in a confined greenhouse space with the aid of mechanical stimulation to control plant growth without sacrificing yield or flower quality.
Wide-field optical imaging of neurovascular coupling during stroke recovery

Intrinsic and fluorescent calcium imaging was used to assess the evolution of hemodynamics and neural activity during stroke recovery. Recovery was assessed through cortical remapping of impaired limb, neurovascular coupling, and limb-use asymmetry.
Variable-order approach to nonlocal elasticity: theoretical formulation, order identification via deep learning, and applications

This study presents the formulation of the variable-order continuum mechanics theory and its application to the analysis of nonlocal heterogeneous solids. The variable-order continuum theory enables a unique approach to model the response of solids exhibiting position-dependent nonlocal behavior. The formulation also guarantees frame-invariance provided that proper constraints on the functional definition of the variable-order are imposed. The study also presents a deep learning approach to identify the variable-order distribution describing the behavior of the medium. This methodology presents a very promising route for the practical application of the variable-order theory to real-world problems, especially when the microstructure is not known a priori and must be inferred from the physical response of the medium. The capabilities of the variable-order theory are illustrated by numerically simulating the static response of nonlocal beams having either a porous or a functionally graded core. The reduced-order variable fractional model shows excellent accuracy and significant computational efficiency when compared with a reference solution produced by a 3D finite element model that fully resolves the beam geometry.
Chemical Species Imaging in Flames Using Frequency-Tripled Tunable Amplified Femtosecond Laser Pulses

A direct frequency-conversion third-harmonic-generation system pumped by a tunable amplified femtosecond laser is developed for OH and CO planar imaging. Increased output energies and the robust operation enables high-fidelity single-shot OH images in turbulent flames.
Reducing Motivational Barriers to Oath-Taking Competence in Maltreated Children

Before allowing child witnesses to testify, courts routinely require children to describe what would happen to them if they lied. However, young children often refuse to reason hypothetically if they view the premises as implausible or undesirable, and might be more willing to discuss the consequences of lying if they are asked about another child rather than themselves. On the other hand, children might view themselves as invulnerable to punishment, and therefore believe that whereas other children will be punished for lying, they will not be. In this study, 64 maltreated 5- and 6-year-old children were asked to describe the consequences of lying to three professionals (a judge, a social worker, and a doctor). Participants in the "self" condition were asked what would happen to them if they lied, whereas participants in the "other" condition were asked to describe what would happen to a story child if he or she lied. Asking children about "other" children increased responsiveness, but did not reveal perceptions of invulnerability. Previous research on children's understanding of lying has not explored motivational barriers to competence nor tested children actually appearing in court. The results highlight the importance of questioning child witnesses in a developmentally appropriate manner so that their abilities are not underestimated.
A note on progress: Postmodern transformation in the systems age

The purpose of this paper is to reflect on the relationship between contemporary conception of Systems research and the idea of Progress. Consequently this paper is written in five parts. (1) Prologue: why systems thinkers and systems researchers must deal with the idea of Progress. (2) On defining the concept of Progress. (3) Historical background of the concept. (4) Progress and its relation to systems theoretical works and particularly to Social Systems Sciences called S3. (5) Progress and the nature of contentment. That is, the idea of contentment necessitates a place for redefining our conception of Progress.
A Compact Two-armed Slave Manipulator for Minimally Invasive Surgery of the Throat

This paper presents the design, simulation and evaluation of a two-armed compact slave robot being designed for minimally invasive surgery of the throat. This robot has two robotic surgical arms equipped with novel distal dexterity units that use novel miniature snake-like devices. The hybrid kinematic structure of this slave robot includes closed and serial kinematic chains and snake-like devices. Jacobian formulation and redundancy resolution are presented together with a suturing simulation that evaluates the joint motions for a circular suture. The results demonstrate the capability of this robot to perform suturing inside a deep and confined surgical field such as the throat
Relation of Serum Uric Acid to Mortality and Ischemic Heart Disease The NHANES I Epidemiologic Follow-up Study

Although hyperuricemia is frequently found among persons with ischemic heart disease, its importance as a risk factor remains uncertain. The authors examined this relation among 5,421 persons in the First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I) Epidemiologic Follow-up Study; baseline data were collected in 1971-1975 and follow-up was through 1987. No associations were seen among men, but, among women, the serum uric acid level was predictive of mortality from all causes and from ischemic heart disease. These associations persisted even after excluding the first 10 years of follow-up and were independent of use of antihypertensive agents and diuretics, diastolic blood pressure, overweight, and other characteristics. A dose-response relation was evident for mortality from ischemic heart disease: each 1-mg/dl change in uric acid (about two thirds of the standard deviation) among women increased the rate by 1.48 (95% confidence interval 1.3-1.7). Furthermore, as compared with women who had a uric acid level <4 mg/dl, those with a level ≥7 mg/dl had a 4.8-fold (95% confidence interval 1.9-12) higher rate of ischemic heart disease mortality. In contrast, the uric acid level showed a weaker relation with disease incidence among women, with a rate ratio of 1.14 for each 1-mg/dl change. Although the biologic mechanism is unclear, further investigation into the possible role of uric acid in the development of ischemic heart disease is needed
Reference Frame Activation during Spatial Term Assignment

Abstract Spatial terms such as "above" must be used and interpreted with respect to a frame of reference whose vertical and horizontal axes serve to parse up space. Our interest was in the on-line activation and selection of a reference frame for assigning a direction to "above." Specifically, we explored whether the alignment of the reference frame′s vertical axis was based on a single source of information (the Single Frame Activation hypothesis) or whether the alignment was selected or calculated on the basis of multiple sources of information (the Multiple Frame Activation hypothesis). In three experiments, we measured response time and acceptance rate for sentences as descriptions of pictures in conditions in which we varied the perceptual cues for verticality in order to test between these hypotheses. Our data suggest that multiple reference frames are active, and they compete during spatial term assignment.
Regional and subcellular compartmentation of the dopamine transporter and tyrosine hydroxylase in the rat ventral pallidum.

Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Division of Neurobiology, Weill MedicalCollege of Cornell University, New York, New York 10021ABSTRACTThe ventral pallidum (VP) is a major intermediary in the prefrontal cortical circuitryregulating sensorimotor gating and locomotor behavior, both of which are potently modulated bycatecholamines. The VP catecholaminergic innervation is derived from midbrain dopaminergicneurons that differ in expression levels of the dopamine transporter (DAT) and from brainstemnoradrenergic neurons without DAT. The preferentially low level of DAT in dopaminergicterminals in the prefrontal cortex and in striatal regions projecting more extensively to the VPmedial (VPm) compared with VP lateral (VPl) compartment suggests possible region-speciﬁcdifferences in VP axonal distribution of DAT. To test this hypothesis, we examined the electronmicroscopic localization of DAT and the catecholamine-synthesizing enzyme, tyrosine hydroxy-lase(TH),intheVPmandVPlofratbrain.Inbothregions,DATandTHwerelocalizedprimarilyin small unmyelinated axons and morphologically heterogeneous axon terminals. DAT-immunogold particles were few in number, but mostly located on the plasma membrane. Incontrast, TH immunoreactivity was distributed in the cytoplasm of individual proﬁles, many ofwhich were without detectable DAT. In comparison with TH, the mean area density of DAT-labeled axons was low throughout the VP. The mean area density of DAT-immunogold axonterminals, however, was signiﬁcantly higher in VPl than in VPm, whereas that of TH-labeledaxons was higher in VPm than in VPl. This dissociation suggests that, compared to the VPl, theVPm receives the greatest input from catecholaminergic afferents that are either nondopamin-ergicorcharacterizedbyhavinglowlevelsorlessterminaldistributionsofDAT.J.Comp.Neurol.468:395–409, 2004.
In vivo potency and efficacy of the novel cathinone α-pyrrolidinopentiophenone and 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone: self-administration and locomotor stimulation in male rats

Rationale Numerous substituted cathinone drugs have appeared in recreational use. This variety is often a response to legal actions; the scheduling of 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV; “bath salts”) in the USA was followed by the appearance of the closely related drug α-pyrrolidinopentiophenone (alpha-PVP; “flakka”).
The oxidation of ethylbenzene near 1060K

Abstract Flow reactor data from the oxidation of ethylbenzene are analyzed to deduce the major reactions involved in removing the ethyl group. Three major routes are found: (i) direct cleavage of the sidechain followed by the oxidation of the benzyl radical, (ii) displacement of the ethyl by a radical species, and (iii) abstraction of a hydrogen from the ethyl group that leads to the formation of styrene from which the removal of the vinyl group occurs through displacement or oxidative attack. Because of the importance of styrene in the ethylbenzene mechanism, results from a styrene oxidation are also reported. The experimental results are used to derive quantitative information on the relative importance of the three major paths through linear regression of equations derived with a steady state analysis. Finally the reaction sequence beginning with abstraction shows a strong analogy to results for the oxidation of ethane, and suggests that some results for the alkanes can serve as guides in understanding the results for higher normal alkylated aromatics.
Evidence for improved sensitivity of within-participants analyses in tests of the theory of reasoned action

Abstract Two studies involving 26 behaviors were performed to test four hypotheses. Between-participants and within-participants analyses of attitudes, subjective norms, behavioral intentions and actual behaviors suggested the following conclusions. First, consistent with Trafimow and Finlay (1996) , the prediction of intentions from attitudes and subjective norms is better when within-participants analyses than between-participants analyses are used. Second, behavioral intentions are a good predictor of actual behavior, regardless of whether between-participants or within-participants analyses are used. Third, attitudes can predict unique variance in behaviors even when controlling for intentions, but it takes within-participants analyses to detect the effect. Fourth, subjective norms can predict unique variance in behaviors even when controlling for intentions, but it takes within-participants analyses to detect the effect. We conclude that within-participants analyses should be used for more sensitive tests of the theory of reasoned action.
Cryopreservation of Rooster Sperm Using Methyl Cellulose

Experiments were designed to determine when, during the cryopreservation process, sperm lose fertilizing capacity and whether the cryoprotectant, methyl cellulose (MC), could be used in combination with glycerol to cryopreserve sperm and remain in the inseminate without reducing fertility. Semen diluted in Minnesota Avian extender (MNA) and inseminated immediately had greater fertility (75%) than semen processed for cryopreservation (12 to 60%). The largest decreases in fertility were due to addition of glycerol to sperm and to cryopreservation. In another experiment, fertility of inseminates containing 0, 1, and 2% glycerol were 82, 29, and 21%, respectively, for eggs collected 2 to 5 d after insemination. When 0.5% MC was added to the same three treatments, fertility rates were 88, 63, and 69%, respectively. Semen cryopreserved in MNA containing 9% glycerol; MC + 3% glycerol; MC + 4% glycerol; MC + 9% glycerol; or 9% glycerol with the cryoprotectant removed post-thaw by dilution and subsequent centrifugation exhibited 59, 30, 35, 60, and 69% viable cells, respectively; and 65, 38, 46, 69, and 65% motile sperm, respectively. Sperm cryopreserved with MC and either 4 or 9% glycerol exhibited similar numbers of sperm binding to chicken perivitelline layers in vitro as did fresh sperm, whereas sperm frozen with MC and 3% glycerol bound oocytes with only 31% efficiency (P < 0.05). The extent to which cryopreserved sperm penetrated the perivitelline layer in vitro was independent of glycerol concentration, but was four times more efficient than that of fresh sperm (P < 0.05). The fertility rates of fresh semen, semen frozen in 9% glycerol with the cryoprotectant removed after thawing, and semen frozen in MC with either 3 or 4% glycerol were 87.4, 27.6, 0.8, and 0.5%, respectively (P < 0.05). The MC reduces the contraceptive effects of glycerol when inseminated with fresh sperm, but does not maintain fertilizing capacity in frozen-thawed sperm when used in combination with 3 or 4% glycerol.
Soft-pulse dynamical decoupling with Markovian decoherence

We consider the effect of broadband decoherence on the performance of refocusing sequences, having in mind applications of dynamical decoupling in concatenation with quantum error correcting codes as the first stage of coherence protection. Specifically, we construct cumulant expansions of effective decoherence operators for a qubit driven by a pulse of a generic symmetric shape and for several sequences of $\ensuremath{\pi}$ and $\ensuremath{\pi}/2$ pulses. While, in general, the performance of soft pulses in decoupling sequences in the presence of Markovian decoherence is worse than that of the ideal $\ensuremath{\delta}$ pulses, it can be substantially improved by shaping.
FGF-dependent mechanosensory organ patterning in zebrafish

During development, organ primordia reorganize to form repeated functional units. In zebrafish (Danio rerio), mechanosensory organs called neuromasts are deposited at regular intervals by the migrating posterior lateral line (pLL) primordium. The pLL primordium is organized into polarized rosettes representing proto-neuromasts, each with a central atoh1a-positive focus of mechanosensory precursors. We show that rosettes form cyclically from a progenitor pool at the leading zone of the primordium as neuromasts are deposited from the trailing region. fgf3/10 signals localized to the leading zone are required for rosette formation, atoh1a expression, and primordium migration. We propose that the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) source controls primordium organization, which, in turn, regulates the periodicity of neuromast deposition. This previously unrecognized mechanism may be applicable to understanding segmentation and morphogenesis in other organ systems.
Relationships between Marine Stratus Cloud Optical Depth and Temperature: Inferences from AVHRR Observations

Abstract Studies using International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) data have reported decreases in cloud optical depth with increasing temperature, thereby suggesting a positive feedback in cloud optical depth as climate warms. The negative cloud optical depth and temperature relationships are questioned because ISCCP employs threshold assumptions to identify cloudy pixels that have included partly cloudy pixels. This study applies the spatial coherence technique to one month of Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) data over the Pacific Ocean to differentiate overcast pixels from the partly cloudy pixels and to reexamine the cloud optical depth–temperature relationships. For low-level marine stratus clouds studied here, retrievals from partly cloudy pixels showed 30%–50% smaller optical depths, 1°–4°C higher cloud temperatures, and slightly larger droplet effective radii, when they were compared to retrievals from the overcast pixels. Despite these biases, retrievals for the over...
Nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease.

Purpose of reviewThere is increasing awareness that nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) lung diseases are becoming more prevalent. Nontuberculous mycobacterial diseases could legitimately be seen as an emerging public-health threat.Recent findingsNontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease associated ra
Changing Patterns in the Use of Inferior Vena Cava Filters: Review of a Single Center Experience

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to review a Level I trauma center's pattern of use of IVC filters over a 6-year period. STUDY DESIGN: During the years 1999 to 2004, 878 patients underwent placement of an IVC filter at our institution. We reviewed patient charts and collected data pertaining to patient demographics, types of filters, indication for placement, modes of venous access, and complication rates. RESULTS: Our institution demonstrated an increase in prophylactic filter placement and the use of retrievable IVC filters. There was also an increasing trend in obtaining venous access through the jugular vein during filter placement. CONCLUSIONS: IVC filters have proved safe and effective in preventing pulmonary embolism when used in a properly selected group of patients. With the introduction of new technology, such as retrievable IVC filters, ongoing efforts must be undertaken to define the indications for placement, duration of therapy, and the suitability of patients for the procedure.
Apparent lack of integration of bovine papillomavirus DNA in virus-induced equine and bovine tumor cells and virus-transformed mouse cells

Abstract The state of bovine papillomavirus (BPV) type 1 and type 2 DNA was determined for DNA isolated from a virus-induced equine fibrosarcoma-like tumor, equine and bovine tumor cell lines, and a clone derived from a virus-transformed mouse cell line using the blot-transfer hybridization technique. In undigested samples, the majority of the viral sequences present in the cells (about 30–50 copies/diploid cell) coelectrophoresed with supercoiled virion DNA and the remainder either as open circular or linear molecules. Digestion with single-cut restriction endonucleases revealed specific hybridization only at the position of linearized unit length BPV DNA at a level of sensitivity of one viral genome/cell. Analyses with two-cut restriction endonucleases did not indicate any major deletions or rearrangements of the viral sequences compared to virion DNA.
Biochemical and functional alterations in renal and cardiac development resulting from neonatal methyl-mercury treatment

Administration of methylmercury (1 or 2.5 mg/kg daily) to neonatal rats caused alterations in both cardiac and renal growth patterns. Heart weights were elevated in the preweaning period in association with hyperplasia (supranormal DNA content); after weaning, the cardiac overgrowth regressed and there was an eventual hypoplasia as evidenced by low DNA content in young adulthood. Renal overgrowth was more pronounced and persistent, but reflected a pure hypertrophy, with no changes in DNA. Renal function was affected by neonatal methylmercury exposure, as assessed through basal clearance techniques. In the immediate period after beginning treatment, there was an impairment of renal function (elevated serum urea, creatinine and osmolality; increased fractional excretions of water, sodium and osmotic particles), with a return to normal by 10 days postnatally. Thereafter, there was a secondary phase of tubular impairment which peaked at the time of maximum hypertrophy. Thus, biochemical and functional indices of organ development can be adversely affected at doses of methylmercury which are usually associated primarily with nervous system-specific damage; effects of methylmercury on neuronal and/or hormonal factors may contribute to the perturbations.