cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chronic Pancreatitis: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Management Updates

Chronic pancreatitis is a clinical entity that results from the progressive inflammation and irreversible fibrosis of the pancreas resulting from the cumulative injury sustained by the pancreas over time. It is an illness with variable presentations that can severely impact quality of life, while its long-term complications such as exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), diabetes mellitus, and risk of pancreatic cancer can become life threatening. The diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis can be challenging as despite the recent advancements in imaging technology, the radiographic findings do not become prominent until late stages of disease. Thus, the physicians' clinical acumen in obtaining thorough history taking focusing on risk factors, clinical symptoms, in addition to high-quality imaging, often guide to the accurate diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis. Endoscopy also plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis and management of chronic pancreatitis. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is believed to be the most sensitive modality for diagnosing chronic pancreatitis. Despite efforts, however, natural history studies have demonstrated that 61% of individuals with chronic pancreatitis will require at least one endoscopic intervention, while 31% will require a surgical procedure as part of their management strategy. Recent advancements in genomic studies have furthered our understanding of the genetic polymorphisms that are associated with the pathogenesis of chronic pancreatitis. Genetic testing offers the potential to reveal treatable pancreatitis-related disorders, and can inform decision making with regard to radical therapies for persistent or severe disease such as total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation (TPIAT). The management of patients suffering from chronic pancreatitis often requires a multi-disciplinary approach, addressing pertinent symptoms as well as the sequelae of chronic inflammation and fibrosis. Abdominal pain is the prevailing symptom and most common complication of chronic pancreatitis, and impairs quality of life. Although heavily dependent on a wide range of analgesia, endoscopic treatment such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and surgical intervention can offer long-lasting relief of symptoms. For EPI, treatment with pancreatic enzyme supplements offers marginal-to-moderate relief. The most feared complication of chronic pancreatitis-the development of pancreatic cancer-has no known prevention measure to date.
Glycogen synthase kinase-3 inhibition rescues sex-dependent contextual fear memory deficit in human immunodeficiency virus-1 transgenic mice.

Background and purpose A significant number of HIV-1 patients on antiretroviral therapy develop HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). Evidence indicate that biological sex may regulate HAND pathogenesis, but the mechanisms remain unknown. We investigated synaptic mechanisms associated with sex differences in HAND, using the HIV-1-transgenic 26 (Tg26) mouse model. Experimental approach Contextual- and cue-dependent memories of male and female Tg26 mice and littermate wild type mice were assessed in a fear conditioning paradigm. Hippocampal electrophysiology, immunohistochemistry, western blot, qRT-PCR and ELISA techniques were used to investigate cellular, synaptic and molecular impairments. Key results Cue-dependent memory was unaltered in male and female Tg26 mice, when compared to wild type mice. Male, but not female, Tg26 mice showed deficits in contextual fear memory. Consistently, only male Tg26 mice showed depressed hippocampal basal synaptic transmission and impaired LTP induction in area CA1. These deficits in male Tg26 mice were independent of hippocampal neuronal loss and microglial activation but were associated with increased HIV-1 long terminal repeat mRNA expression, reduced hippocampal synapsin-1 protein, reduced BDNF mRNA and protein, reduced AMPA glutamate receptor (GluA1) phosphorylation levels and increased glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) activity. Importantly, selective GSK3 inhibition using 4-benzyl-2-methyl-1,2,4-thiadiazolidine-3,5-dione increased levels of synapsin-1, BDNF and phosphorylated-GluA1 proteins, restored hippocampal basal synaptic transmission and LTP, and improved contextual fear memory in male Tg26 mice. Conclusion and implications Sex-dependent impairments in contextual fear memory and synaptic plasticity in Tg26 mice are associated with increased GSK3 activity. This implicates GSK3 inhibition as a potential therapeutic strategy to improve cognition in HIV-1 patients.
Correlating Arthroscopic and Radiographic Findings of Deep Deltoid Ligament Injuries in Rotational Ankle Fractures.

Background:The deep deltoid ligament (DDL) is a key stabilizer to the medial ankle and ankle mortise and can be disrupted in ligamentous supination external rotation type IV (LSER4) ankle fractures...
Developing content for the food environment assessment survey tool (FEAST): A systematic mixed methods study with people with disabilities

Almost 1 in every 8 adults in the U.S. have a physical disability that impairs mobility. This participatory project aimed to identify and describe environmental and personal barriers to healthy eating among people with mobility impairments using a rigorous, structured mixed methodology. Community-dwelling adults with a self-reported mobility impairment (N = 20, M = 40.4 years old, 60% female) participated in nominal group technique focus groups. The Ecologic Model of Obesity grounded stimulus questions asked about barriers to obtaining and preparing healthy food. Participants emphasized common barriers across everyday settings-focusing, for example, on the ability to reach shelved food inside the home, navigating to and inside stores and restaurants, and using delivery services. Home environments often did not afford suitable spaces for food preparation and storage. Participants reported inadequate transportation and numerous additional barriers in many settings to be able to eat healthfully. Participants reported lack of accessible transportation and architectural barriers inside stores, restaurants, and their own homes, highlighting the need for efforts aimed at improving accessibility and usability. Findings support the use of the Ecologic Model of Obesity to guide research and suggest the need for improvement in assessment practices and policies that enhance access to healthy food.
Relationship of point bar morphology to channel curvature and planform evolution

Abstract Point bars are prominent features in meandering rivers, yet our understanding of the complex interactions among the morphology of the point bars to channel planform and curvature remains incomplete. This study seeks to address the extent to which channel centerline curvature can explain point bar morphology. High-resolution elevation datasets obtained from multibeam sonar and structure-from-motion surveys are used to characterize point bar morphology on twelve point bars within two river systems; the Pearl and Wabash rivers. Spatial series of centerline curvature are compared to channel and point bar characteristics including width, migration rate, centerline longitudinal bed elevation, transverse bed slope, and a shape factor. Results show that the Wabash reach has overall lower channel curvature values and higher rates of migration compared to the Pearl reach. However, the spatial lag between curvature and width and migration rate are similar between reaches. The mode of bend migration differs between the two reaches, where the Pearl reach has bends mostly evolving through translation downstream, and along the Wabash reach, one bend is expanding, two bends are mostly stationary, and three bends are translating downstream. The translating bends in both reaches exhibit bilinear (a pronounced break in slope) and near-horizontal (a pronounced break in slope with a nearly flat bar top) transverse bar profiles and maximum rates of migration downstream of the apex. The Pearl reach has a systematic distribution of transverse bar profiles where linear profiles are found along the bar head and bar tail, and near-horizontal profiles are concentrated along the middle bar. The distribution along the bars of the Wabash reach is less systematic, with fewer near-horizontal profiles overall. Finally, to evaluate the influence of curvature on the channel bed and bar morphology, the field data are compared to synthetic bed elevation data generated using pyRiverBed, a centerline curvature-driven bed evolution model that maintains a constant width. Analyses reveal the synthetic morphologic data agree reasonably well with the characteristics and magnitude of the field observations, with a mean absolute error of 0.9 and 1.2 m for the Pearl and Wabash rivers, respectively. Values of transverse slope were also compared between the field and synthetic data and the synthetic data are consistently under-predicted along the Pearl. Differences observed between the field and synthetic data are the result of variability in the natural river system not captured by the model including channel width, the presence of local bedrock outcrops, and abrupt changes in curvature.
Characterization of 252Cf sources using high-resolution gamma spectroscopy.

Abstract Californium-252 is used as a neutron calibration source for passive neutron correlation counting. Source age and isotopic information are needed to make decay corrections to the neutron emission rate due to the influence of 250Cf. Gamma-ray signatures present in the spectrum from spontaneous fission products and odd-numbered Cf isotopes can be used with high accuracy to confirm or query declared values on a technical data sheet. This method is good practice for independently verifying the content of 252Cf calibration sources.
Political Partisanship and Antiscience Attitudes in Online Discussions About COVID-19: Twitter Content Analysis.

Background: The novel coronavirus pandemic continues to ravage communities across the United States. Opinion surveys identified the importance of political ideology in shaping perceptions of the pandemic and compliance with preventive measures. Objective: The aim of this study was to measure political partisanship and antiscience attitudes in the discussions about the pandemic on social media, as well as their geographic and temporal distributions. Methods: We analyzed a large set of tweets from Twitter related to the pandemic, collected between January and May 2020, and developed methods to classify the ideological alignment of users along the moderacy (hardline vs moderate), political (liberal vs conservative), and science (antiscience vs proscience) dimensions. Results: We found a significant correlation in polarized views along the science and political dimensions. Moreover, politically moderate users were more aligned with proscience views, while hardline users were more aligned with antiscience views. Contrary to expectations, we did not find that polarization grew over time; instead, we saw increasing activity by moderate proscience users. We also show that antiscience conservatives in the United States tended to tweet from the southern and northwestern states, while antiscience moderates tended to tweet from the western states. The proportion of antiscience conservatives was found to correlate with COVID-19 cases. Conclusions: Our findings shed light on the multidimensional nature of polarization and the feasibility of tracking polarized opinions about the pandemic across time and space through social media data.
ACTIVE CONTROL OF TWO-CABLE-STAYED BRIDGE

The feasibility of applying the active control system to two-cable-stayed bridge is demonstrated. The stochastic dynamic analysis of a two-cable-stayed bridge implemented by the active feedback control system has been carried out. The control devices are connected to the existing four suspension cables so that these suspension cables also serve as active tendons. The bridge is subjected to buffeting loads, self-excited loads, and control forces. The stochastic response of the bridge with or without active control has been obtained and the average power input to the active control system has been derived. It is shown that under strong wind gusts the mean square response of the bridge can be reduced significantly while the average power supply needed for the control system is small.
Radioimmunoassay for cyclic nucleotides. 3. Effect of ischemia, changes during development and regional distribution of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate and guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate in mouse brain.

Abstract The levels of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP) were measured in eight regions of mouse central nervous system (CNS), utilizing a recently developed radioimmunological assay. The effect of postnatal development and of ischemia on regional CNS cAMP and cGMP levels were studied also. Levels of cAMP were found to vary from 0.6 µmole per kg, wet weight, in spinal cord to 2.3 µmoles per kg, wet weight, in striatum. cGMP levels in most of the CNS were much lower, 33 to 69 nmoles per kg, wet weight, except in cerebellum, where the concentration of cGMP was 630 nmoles per kg, wet weight, 10 to 20 times that in any other region. Ischemia produced a 4-fold increase in cerebral cortical and cerebellar cAMP levels within 60 s, but with continued ischemia cAMP levels subsequently decreased. Levels of cGMP did not change during the initial 60 s of ischemia, and then decreased 60% in cerebral cortex and 80% in cerebellum. During the 1st week after birth, no changes in the levels of the two cyclic nucleotides in either forebrain or hindbrain were observed. Between 7 days and 21 days after birth, cAMP levels in forebrain, brain stem, and cerebellum increased 2-fold. The changes in cGMP levels between 7 days and adulthood were quite unlike those of cAMP. There was no change in forebrain cGMP, brain stem cGMP increased 2-fold, and in cerebellum cGMP rose dramatically, to a level 13 times that at 7 days.
Evolution of C4I Systems

1999 Command and Control Research and Technology Symposium (CCRTS), June 29 - July 1, 1999, U.S. Naval War College, Rhode Island
De Graaf, Regnier (1641–1673)

This article has no abstract. Keywords: De Graaf, Regnier (mammalian reproductive organs treatises)
Global Optimization Using Harmony Search: Theoretical Foundations and Applications

This chapter presents the theoretical foundations of the musicphenomenon- mimicking optimization technique, harmony search (HS) algorithm. The HS algorithm mimics music improvisation where musicians try to find better harmonies based on randomness or their experiences, which can be expressed as a novel stochastic derivative rather than a calculus-based gradient derivative. The chapter also presents three applications that demonstrate the global optimization feature of the HS algorithm. For the water network design, HS reached global optimum faster than other algorithms such as genetic algorithm, simulated annealing, shuffled frog leaping algorithm, cross entropy algorithm, and scatter search; for the multiple dam scheduling, HS reached five different global optima with identical benefit while the genetic algorithm found a near-optimum under the same number of function evaluations; and HS reached global optimum for the tree-like network layout while genetic algorithm and evolutionary algorithm found near-optimum.
How DNS misnaming distorts internet topology mapping

Network researchers commonly use reverse DNS lookups of router names to provide geographic or topological information that would otherwise be difficult to obtain. By systematically examining a large ISP, we find that some of these names are incorrect. We develop techniques to automatically identify these misnamings, and determine the actual locations, which we validate against the configuration of the ISP's routers. While the actual number of misnamings is small, these errors induce a large number of false links in the inferred connectivity graph. We also measure the effects on path inflation, and find that the misnamings make path inflation and routing problems appear much worse than they actually are.
RT-PCR: A Science and an Art Form

Publisher Summary RT-PCR is that technology by which RNA molecules are converted into their complementary DNA (cDNA) sequences by reverse transcriptases, followed by the amplification of the newly synthesized cDNA by standard PCR procedures. This approach to study gene expression is universally known as RT-PCR, because of the role of reverse transcriptase (RT) in the synthesis of first-strand cDNA. RT-PCR is a two-step process. It involves reverse transcription of purified RNA by RT via an appropriate method for priming and amplification of first-strand cDNA using some variant of PCR. Normalization of samples is very important in RT-PCR, and the efficiency of first-strand cDNA synthesis is one of the most important determinants in the success or failure of this method. For this reason, it is strategically better to make a large cDNA pool from which aliquots may be drawn for individual applications rather than repeating the same cDNA synthesis reaction over and over. Designing useful primers necessitates promoting a proper balance between template specificity, thermodynamic stability when base-paired to the template, and capacity of one primer to function with the other(s) to support RT-PCR. The probable collaborative behavior of one or more pairs of oligonucleotide primers is best described in terms of the Tm of each primer involved. The Tm is that temperature at which 50% of the possible annealing events between primer and template have occurred and 50% have yet to occur.
Treatment of immune thrombocytopenic purpura in children : current concepts.

Treatment of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), the most common bleeding disorder of childhood, is a controversial subject for most practitioners. Diagnosis and management of ITP has historically been based primarily on expert opinion rather than on evidence. Due to a paucity of carefully conducted clinical trials in children, the management of ITP varies widely, ranging from observation only, to aggressive management with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), intravenous anti-D rhesus (Rh)0 immunoglobulin (IV RhIG), corticosteroids, and splenectomy. To address the controversies, the American Society of Hematology (ASH) and the British Society for Hematology (BSH) have developed ITP practice guidelines. These guidelines, based on expert opinion, differ in their recommendations for treatment. The ASH guidelines favor therapy based on a low platelet count, and the more current BSH guidelines recommend a more conservative ‘wait and watch’ approach. In addition to treating children with severe bleeding symptoms, there is a tendency (not evidence based) to treat early in order to prevent a life-threatening bleeding episode, including intracerebral hemorrhage. Corticosteroids are a highly effective therapy, inexpensive, and can usually increase the platelet count within hours to days. However, chronic or prolonged use is associated with toxicity. In the US, based on the knowledge of known toxicities of corticosteroids, as well as the efficacy of alternative treatments (IV RhIG, IVIG), many pediatricians prefer to treat with IVIG and IV RhIG, reserving corticosteroid treatment for serious bleeding or refractory disease. However, in the UK, for the most part, corticosteroids are used as first-line therapy in children with ITP. Splenectomy is rarely indicated in children except for those with life-threatening bleeding and chronic, severe ITP with impairment of quality of life. For children who develop chronic or refractory ITP, immunosuppressive drugs and/or chemotherapy agents may offer some promise. However, the long-term effects of these drugs in children are unknown and they should not be considered unless there is unequivocal evidence that the patient is refractory to IV RhIG, IVIG, and corticosteroids. To date, virtually all of the randomized clinical trials conducted in children with ITP have focused on platelet counts as the sole outcome measure. Only carefully designed, multicenter, randomized clinical trials comparing the effects of different treatment modalities in terms of bleeding, quality of life, adverse effects, and treatment-related costs will be able to address the controversies surrounding childhood ITP treatment and allow management of this condition to be based on scientific data rather than treatment philosophy.
The Effect of Injected Thiouracil on Body Weight and Hatchability of the Chick Embryo

Abstract CERTAIN drugs such as sulfocyanide, thiourea and thiouracil inhibit the formation and secretion of thyroid hormone and thus are powerful goitrogenic compounds in many animals, including man. Adams and Bull (1949) injected thiourea and thiouracil into the yolk sac of developing White Plymouth Rock chick embryos. Dosages used were 0.5 ml. of a solution of 0.4 percent thiourea and 0.1 percent to 0.2 percent thiouracil on the 8th, 14th, or 18th day of incubation. The major effects of the injections were an increase in length of the incubation period, absence of retraction of the yolk sac by embryos in eggs that had been incubated for 21 to 24 days, decreased trunk and limb growth, and an enlargement of the thyroid gland with a marked increase in height of follicular epithelium and colloid depletion. Grossowicz (1946) found that chick embryos whose yolk sacs were injected with thiourea between the 7th and …
Well…ah…: Hesitations and Hedges as an Influence on Jurors' Decisions1

Hispanic jurors' verdicts and whether these decisions were related to jurors' judgments of the credibility of the witness were the focus of this experiment. A prosecution witness testified in English or in Spanish with interpretation in English. Witnesses' speaking style systematically included hedges and hesitations or did not. Guilty verdicts were independent of language of testimony. Within Spanish-interpreted conditions, jurors convicted the defendant 47% of the time in the absence of hedges and hesitations. When he hedged and hesitated, they convicted 34% of the time. This effect was complicated by a reliable Witness Hesitation × Juror Language Dominance interaction. These results are interpreted in the context of the courtroom impact of non-English-speaking witnesses and the impact of interpretation.
Proteomic analyses using Grifola frondosa metalloendoprotease Lys-N.

Proteomic analysis typically has been performed using proteins digested with trypsin because of the excellent fragmentation patterns they produce in collision induced dissociation (CID). For analyses in which high protein coverage is desirable, such as global monitoring of post-translational modifications, additional sequences can be seen using parallel digestion with a second enzyme. We have benchmarked a relatively obscure basidomycete-derived zinc metalloendopeptidase, Lys-N, that selectively cleaves the amide bond N-terminal of lysine residues. We have found that Lys-N digestion yields peptides with easily assigned CID spectra. Using a mixture of purified proteins as well as a complex yeast lysate, we have shown that Lys-N efficiently digests all proteins at the predicted sites of cleavage. Shotgun proteomics analyses of Lys-N digests of both the standard mixture and yeast lysate yielded peptide and protein identification numbers that were generally comparable to trypsin digestion, whereas the combina...
Mercury-199 fourier transform nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Abstract A general study of mercury-199 Fourier transform nuclear magnetic resonance has been completed. In sensitivity studies 25 millimolar solutions of isotopically normal mercury in HgCl2 exhibited a resonance with a root-mean-square signal-to-noise ratio of 9.1 in 10.2 hours. Mercury-199 chemical shifts of several mercury-containing pesticides are reported. A discussion of possible candidates for 199Hg chemical shift references is presented. Measurements of the 199Hg chemical shift of dimethylmercury in twenty solvents and diethylmercury in several of the same solvents demonstrate a very large solvent influence on these chemical shifts. The spin-lattice relaxation times (T1 values) of 199Hg in neat dimethyl- and divinylmercury are 0.87 and 0.25 sec, respectively. The temperature dependences of the T1 values and the nuclear Overhauser enhancements indicate that the predominant relaxation mechanisms in these two compounds are chemical shift anisotropy and spin rotation, but the data does not allow detailed interpretation in terms of these mechanisms.
Heterogeneous phase and volumetric behavior of the methane n‐heptane system at low temperatures

The phase behavior of the methane-n-heptane system was determined at temperatures from −200° to 340°F. at pressures up to 1,500 lb./sq. in. abs. The system was found to have a miscibility gap in the liquid-vapor region. The compositions of phases along the three phase (L1—L2—V) locus indicate that the L1 phase is approximately 0.64 mole fraction methane and that the L2 and V phases are substantially pure methane phases. The quadruple point (L1—L2—S1—V) was found at a temperature of −154.4°F. and a pressure of 339 lb./sq. in. abs. A singular point (type k) at which the L2 phase is in critical identity with the vapor phase was found at −114.6°F. and at a pressure of 694 lb./sq. in. abs. The fugacity of methane at constant temperature as a function of the composition of dissolved methane was found to be linear in the low-temperature range. The plot of Henry's law constant expressed as fugacity mole fraction methane ratio vs. reciprocal absolute temperature was linear in the temperature range from −130° to approximately 100°F. These data indicate that the solution thermodynamics of methane-n-heptane is particularly simple in the low-temperature range.
PHOTOLYSIS OF SOME CYCLIC DISULFIDES

— Photolysis of liquid pentarnethylene disuliide, liquid tetramethylene disulfide and liquid l, 4-butanedithiol has been studied. Photolysis of the cyclic disulfides by irradiation in their lowest energy absorption band produces the corresponding dithiol; photolysis of alkali-doped cyclic disulfide at the same irradiation wavelength as above produces the corresponding cyclic monosulfide. It is suggested that photolysis of undoped liquids proceeds via -S-S- scission, whereas that of the doped liquids is supposed to involve initial -CS- scission. Photolysis of the dithiol produces the corresponding cyclic monosulfide, the rate of such production being considerably enhanced in the presence of alkali. Much of the above data and suggestions are rationalized using a simple MO formalism, which also involves an attempted interpretation of much of the electronic spectra of the various compounds. Product identification was made by study of the short wavelength absorption spectrum of the vapor in equilibrium with the photolysed material.
Mammalian artificial chromosomes as tools for gene therapy

Mammalian artificial chromosomes (MACs) represent powerful tools for human gene therapy and animal transgenesis. First-generation linear genomic human artificial chromosomes (HACs) and circular chimeric genomic/viral mouse artificial episomal chromosomes (MAECs) have been developed. HACs have been shuttled from human into mouse embryonal stem cells and human trans-chromosomic mice have been generated. The potential of new genetic cis-elements and epigenetic phenomena for de novo segregation and replication activities on MACs are points for discussion. Once the size and delivery constraints of HACs are circumvented, therapeutic applications will be numerous, particularly for recessive syndromes involving large genes and multigenic diseases.
Celiac sprue and related diseases

Celiac sprue may be as common as 1:250 among persons of Western European heritage. The presentation is often subtle. Many cases are unrecognized. Physicians must be familiar with the various manifestations of celiac sprue and screen for it appropriately. The treatment of celiac sprue is a gluten-free diet. However, it is difficult to follow a strict gluten-free diet for life. Patients benefit from referral to expert dietitians and to support groups. Refractory sprue, ulcerative jejunoileitis, and enteropathy-associated T cell lymphoma are related to celiac sprue, but do not respond to a gluten-free diet. Immunosuppressive therapy has been used for these conditions, but complications are common.
Power control and channel allocation for real-time applications in cellular networks

The next-generation packet-based wireless cellular network will provide real-time services for delay-sensitive applications. To make the next-generation cellular network successful, it is critical that the network utilizes the resource efficiently while satisfying quality of service (QoS) requirements of real-time users. In this paper, we consider the problem of power control and dynamic channel allocation for the downlink of a multi-channel, multi-user wireless cellular network. We assume that the transmitter (the base-station) has the perfect knowledge of the channel gain. At each transmission slot, a scheduler allots the transmission power and channel access for all the users based on the instantaneous channel gains and QoS requirements of users. We propose three schemes for power control and dynamic channel allocation, which utilize multi-user diversity and frequency diversity. Our results show that compared to the benchmark scheme, which does not utilize multi-user diversity and power control, our proposed schemes substantially reduce the resource usage while explicitly guaranteeing the users' QoS requirements. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Enhanced temporal summation of second pain and its central modulation in fibromyalgia patients.

We have previously shown that fibromyalgia (FMS) patients have enhanced temporal summation (windup) and prolonged decay of heat-induced second pain in comparison to control subjects, consistent with central sensitization. It has been hypothesized that sensory abnormalities of FMS patients are related to deficient pain modulatory mechanisms. Therefore, we conducted several analyses to further characterize enhanced windup in FMS patients and to determine whether it can be centrally modulated by placebo, naloxone, or fentanyl. Pre-drug baseline ratings of FMS and normal control (NC) groups were compared with determine whether FMS had higher pain sensitivity in response to several types of thermal tests used to predominantly activate A-delta heat, C heat, or cold nociceptors. Our results confirmed and extended our earlier study in showing that FMS patients had larger magnitudes of heat tap as well as cold tap-induced windup when compared with age- and sex-matched NC subjects. The groups differed less in their ratings of sensory tests that rely predominantly on A-delta-nociceptive afferent input. Heat and cold-induced windup were attenuated by saline placebo injections and by fentanyl (0.75 and 1.5 microg/kg). However, naloxone injection had the same magnitudes of effect on first or second pain as that produced by placebo injection. Hypoalgesic effects of saline placebo and fentanyl on windup were at least as large in FMS as compared to NC subjects and therefore do not support the hypothesis that pain modulatory mechanisms are deficient in FMS. To the extent that temporal summation of second pain (windup) contributes to processes underlying hyperalgesia and persistent pain states, these results indirectly suggest that these processes can be centrally modulated in FMS patients by endogenous and exogenous analgesic manipulations.
Calculating the Eigenvectors of Diagonally Dominant Matrices

An algorithm is proposed for calculating the eigenvectors of a diagonally dominant matrix all of whose elements are known to high relative accuracy. Eigenvectors corresponding to pathologically close eigenvalues are treated by computing the invariant subspace that they span. If the off-diagonal elements of the matrix are sufficiently small, the method is superior to standard techniques, and indeed it may produce a complete set of eigenvectors with an amount of work proportional to the square of the order of the matrix. An analysis is given of the effects of perturbations in the matrix on the eigenvectors.
Further examples of the failure of surrogates to properly model the structural and hydrothermal chemistry of transuranium elements: insights provided by uranium and neptunium diphosphonates.

In situ hydrothermal reduction of Np(VI) to Np(IV) in the presence of methylenediphosphonic acid (C1P2) results in the crystallization of Np[CH2(PO3)2](H2O)2 (NpC1P2−1). Similar reactions have been explored with U(VI) resulting in the isolation of the U(IV) diphosphonate U[CH2(PO3)2](H2O) (UC1P2−1), and the two U(VI) diphosphonates (UO2)2[CH2(PO3)2](H2O)3·H2O (UC1P2−2) and UO2[CH2(PO3H)2](H2O) (UC1P2−3). Single crystal diffraction studies of NpC1P2−1 reveal that it consists of eight-coordinate Np(IV) bound by diphosphonate anions and two coordinating water molecules to create a polar three-dimensional framework structure wherein the water molecules reside in channels. The structure of UC1P2−1 is similar to that of NpC1P2−1 in that it also adopts a three-dimensional structure. However, the U(IV) centers are seven-coordinate with only a single bound water molecule. UC1P2−2 and UC1P2−3 both contain U(VI). Nevertheless, their structures are quite distinct with UC1P2−2 being composed of corrugated layers conta...
The structure of myristoyl-CoA:protein N-myristoyltransferase.

Protein N-myristoylation is a covalent modification that occurs co-translationally in eukaryotes. Myristate, a rare 14 carbon saturated fatty acid (C14:0), is attached, via an amide linkage, to the N-terminal glycine of a subset of eukaryotic and viral proteins by myristoyl-CoA:protein N-myristoyltransferase (Nmt). Genetic and biochemical studies have established that Nmt is a target for development of a new class of fungicidal drugs. The enzyme is also a potential target for development of antiviral and antineoplastic agents. The structure of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Nmt1p has been determined recently with bound substrate analogs. The Nmt fold resembles the fold of members of the GCN5-related N-acetyltransferase superfamily. The structure reveals how Nmt’s myristoyl-CoA and peptide substrates are recognized and bound, and what elements control the enzyme’s ordered kinetic mechanism. Acyl transfer occurs through the nucleophilic addition-elimination reaction: an oxyanion hole formed by main chain atoms polarizes the thioester carbonyl and stabilizes the transition state while deprotonation of the ammonium of the Gly acceptor appears to be mediated by Nmt’s C-terminal carboxylate. The use of main chain carboxylate atoms as general base catalyst is a novel feature.
Nitrapyrin Behavior in Soils and Environmental Considerations

Using nitrification inhibitors is a well-established fertilizer best management practice affording improved fertilizer use efficiency in crop production that may benefit profitability, crop quality, and the environment. The environmental benefit of nitrification inhibitor use in terms of managing N mobility in agroecosystems must be balanced against any environmental costs associated with the practice itself. Nitrapyrin exhibits multiple routes of degradation in the environment (hydrolysis, aerobic and anaerobic metabolism), which along with sorption and volatilization restrict its ability to mobilize to ground or surface water. Management practices (timing, rate, and method of application) that maximize nitrapyrin efficacy, additionally, favor the ultimate fate of nitrapyrin to occur by the linked processes of sorption and degradation within the upper soil profile. Thus, when nitrapyrin is used as a best management practice conducive of optimal fertilizer use efficiency, its environmental fate and behavior attributes minimize potential environmental exposure.
A comparison of methods for calibrating parallel‐plate chambers

All dosimetry protocols for calibrating the output of electron beams recommend the use of parallel-plate ionization chambers, but the method of determining their value of Ngas is a matter of concern. The AAPM Protocol (TG 21) recommends a direct comparison with a calibrated cylindrical chamber in phantom at dmax with the highest available electron energy beam. This must be done by the user. Since all calibration laboratories traditionally use 60Co for megavoltage chamber calibrations, two alternate procedures based on exposures in-air, or in-phantom, have been proposed. All methods use correction factors in the data reduction. To verify the consistency of the three methods, we have measured Ngas using each of these techniques for six of the most commonly used and commercially-available parallel-plate ionization chambers. The paired cylindrical and parallel-plate ionization chambers, and phantom materials/buildup caps were matched to the wall composition of the plane chambers, as recommended in TG 39. A 22 MeV electron beam was used for the electron irradiations. The ionization chambers were then taken to an Accredited Dosimetry Calibration Laboratory (ADCL), where 60Co calibrations were performed. The results demonstrate that, by using the appropriate correction factors for the chambers described in this work, all three methods yield values for Ngas that are within 1% of each other.
Paper: Consistency enforcement in medical knowledge base construction

Some aspects of knowledge base creation can be partially or completely automated, resulting in higher quality and smaller effort. Computer assistance is particularly valuable in ensuring the internal consistency of a knowledge base. The article describes several techniques for consistency enforcement in QMR-KAT, an interactive knowledge base editor for the INTERNIST-I/QMR medical knowledge base. Two strategies that improve consistency are applicable to a wide range of situations. The first strategy prevents simple (but common) inconsistencies. The second strategy reveals facts that are potentially (but not necessarily) inconsistent with known data, and may require further evaluation. Both strategies use the contents of the existing knowledge base in the evaluation of new facts.
Ultrasound-modulated optical tomography for dense turbid media

Continuous-wave ultrasonic modulation of scattered laser light has been used to image objects in tissue-simulating turbid media for the first time. We hypothesized that the ultrasound wave focused into the turbid media modulates the laser light passing through the ultrasonic focal zone. The modulated laser light collected by a photomultiplier tube reflects the local mechanical and optical properties in the focal zone. Buried objects in 5-cm thick tissue phantoms (absorption coefficient (mu) $a) equals 0.1 cm-1, reduced scattering coefficient (mu) s' equals 10 cm-1) were located with millimeter resolution by scanning and detecting alterations of the ultrasound-modulated optical signal.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The organization of the posterior ventral cochlear nucleus in the rat.

The ventral cochlear nucleus was examined in 31 rats' brains prepared according to the protargol method of Bodian. The following regions were delimited on the basis of synaptic, cellular and axonal criteria. Region II, which occupies the central part of the nucleus, consists principally of cells (type g)which receive modified bulbs of Held from the acoustic nerve and which send large axons to the trapezoid body. The cells were graded in size, the smallest (high frequency) being located dorsally and the larges (low frequency) being located ventrally. Associated with region II are the cells (type b) of the acoustic nerve nucleus. These cells receive boutons from the acoustic nerve and send very large axons to the trapezoid body. Region IV is located in the posterior part of the ventral cochlear nucleus and is composed of large multipolar cells (type k). The dendrites of these cells are specifically organized with respect to the fibers of the acoustic nerve. Synaptic endings, from the descending branch of the acoustic nerve, consist of boutons on cell body and dendrites. The axons of these cells compose the stria of Held. Region V is located in the posterior part of the ventral cochlear nucleus and appeared to have only intrinsic connections. All regions received synaptic endings in addition to those which arose from the acoustic nerve.
The Theory of Consent in the Early State Constitutions

Between 1776 and 1798 the first fourteen states wrote and approved a total of twenty-five constitutions.' These documents embodied and summarized almost two hundred years of political experience on American shores, and they established the principles and institutions around which state constitutions are built to this very day. They were also the focus of a bitter political controversy during that era which eventually led to the national Constitution. Despite their importance for American political theory, these early constitutions occupy a peculiarly ambiguous position. They have rarely been studied as a group, are generally ignored by those writing in American political theory, have gone almost unstudied in recent years even by historians, and are almost always viewed as historical documents rather than as
Direct measurement technique for determining ventilation rate in the deposit feeding clam Macoma nasuta (Bivalvia, Tellinaceae)

An exposure chamber, the “clambox”, was developed to measure ventilation rate, sediment processing rate, and efficiency of pollutant uptake by Macoma nasuta conrad, a surface deposit-feeding clam. Clams, collected from Yaquina Bay, Oregon, USA, were cemented into a hole in a piece of rubber dental dam so that the inhalant and exhalant siphons were separated by a membrane. The dental dam was then clamped between two glass chambers. The inhalant and exhalant siphons were thus directed into separate chambers of the device so that the amounts of water or feces discharged into the exhalant chamber provided direct measures of ventilation rate and sediment processing rate, respectively. Clams exhibited no stress from the procedure. Ventilation rate was not affected by the imposition of a 5 mm hydraulic head in the exhalant chamber, by having sediment only in the inhalant chamber, or by exposure to organic-free sediment. The mean weight-specific ventilation rate for M. nasuta was 7.3 ml g-1 h-1 on a wet-flesh basis. This low rate, compared to rates for filter-feeding bivalves, supports the contention that deposit-feeding is the dominant feeding mode for M. nasuta. The short-term pattern was for ventilation to be intermittenly interrupted, essentially ceasing for 12 to 120 min, followed by a short period of active ventilation and then a resumption of the normal rate. Less than 3% of the total water flux could be attributed to water which entered the body cavity across the mantle margin. Water exhaled from the inhalant siphon during the ejection of pseudofeces was <10% of the ventilation rate. The clambox technique should be adaptable to studies on other tellinid bivalves.
Magnetization and magnetostriction in terbium-dysprosium-iron alloys

Some results of magnetostriction and magnetization measurements are presented on a small representative sample of four specimens from an original study of over one hundred specimens of the Tb-Dy-Fe alloy which we have measured in recent years. The results of these investigations show a progressive improvement in strain amplitude, Δλ, and strain derivative, dλ/dH, of the material. The highest strain amplitude observed to date is Δγ = 2.2 × 10 −3 and the highest strain derivative is (dλ/dH) max = 0.312 × 10 −6 A −1 m. These improvements result mostly from the reduction of the volume fraction of second phase material and an increase in the fractional occupancy of domains oriented initially at right angles to the unique axis of the cylindrical specimens. The initial domain alignment is a result of thermomagnetic treatment of the finished specimens in which the materials are subjected to a magnetic field normal to the axis of the specimens
L 1 Stability of Multi-Dimensional Discrete-Velocity Boltzmann Equations

We study the L 1 stability of multi-dimensional discrete-velocity Boltzmann equations. Under suitable smallness assumption on initial data, we show that bounded mild solutions are L 1 stable. For a stability estimate, we employ Bony’s multi-dimensional analysis for total interactions over characteristic planes.
Two-Photon, Two-Channel, Metabolic Imaging of the Organ of Corti

Quantitative two-photon microscopy of intrinsic NADH and flavoprotein fluorescence was used to characterize the metabolic status of the inner and outer hair cells of the mouse organ of Corti.
Fire, Drought, and Human History near the Western Terminus of the Cross Timbers, Wichita Mountains, Oklahoma, USA

Dendrochronological methods were applied to reconstruct the historic occurrence of fires at a Cross Timbers forest-grassland transition site within the Wichita Mountains of southwestern Oklahoma, USA. Sixty fire events occurred within the period 1712 to 2006 (294 years). The mean fire interval (MFI) was 4.4 years for a pre-Euro-American settlement period (pre-1901) and increased to a MFI of 5.2 years after 1901. During the period between 1855 and 1880, which corresponds with the prolonged severe drought called the Civil War drought, the mean fire interval was 1.7 years. Although twentieth century fire frequency has not been significantly decreased, the severity of fires appears to be lessened due to alterations to the fire environment through grazing and fire exclusion. Eastern red-cedar (Juniperus virginiana L.) expansion now poses significant challenges to forest and range management, particularly its control through prescribed fire. In the future, fire managers throughout the Cross Timbers region are likely to face similar challenges and look toward quantitative and science-based information about the historic fire regime for guidance.
Inhibition of type I collagen gene expression in normal and systemic sclerosis fibroblasts by a specific inhibitor of geranylgeranyl transferase I

Objective To examine the effects of specific inhibition of geranylgeranyl transferase I on the expression of types I and III collagen genes in normal and systemic sclerosis (SSc) dermal fibroblasts in vitro. Methods Fibroblasts from 2 normal subjects and 4 SSc patients were incubated with 2-10 microM of GGTI-298, a specific geranylgeranyl transferase inhibitor. Type I collagen and fibronectin production were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Steady-state messenger RNA (mRNA) levels for alpha1(I), alpha2(I), and alpha1(III) collagens and fibronectin were assessed by Northern hybridization, and the transcription of the alpha1(I) collagen gene was examined by transient transfections with a reporter construct containing -5.3 kb of the gene. Results GGTI-298 caused a dose-dependent inhibition of type I collagen production and a reduction in the steady-state levels of alpha1(I), alpha2(I), and alpha1(III) mRNA in normal and SSc cells. A 60-70% inhibition of type I collagen production and a 70-80% reduction in the mRNA levels for alpha1(I), alpha2(I), and alpha1(III) were observed at 10 microM GGTI-298. In contrast, the expression of fibronectin, cyclooxygenase 1, and GAPDH was not affected. The effects on alpha1(I) collagen mRNA resulted from a profound reduction in transcription of the alpha1(I) collagen gene promoter. GGTI-298 did not affect cellular viability or morphology. Conclusion These results demonstrate that specific inhibition of geranylgeranyl prenylation causes a potent and selective inhibition of expression of the genes encoding types I and III collagens, without affecting cellular viability. The findings indicate that inhibition of geranylgeranyl prenylation should be further studied as a potential therapeutic approach for SSc and other fibrosing diseases.