cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of acute hypoxia on cardiac dysrhthmias induced by mesencephalic stimulation

1. 1. Stimulation of the mesencephalon in cats during acute arterial hypoxia (PO2 40 mm. Hg) is associated with highly significant changes in heart rate and arterial pressure and frequently with serious rhythm disturbances. 2. 2. The changes are significantly greater than those observed when stimulation is carried out while the animals are ventilated with room air. 3. 3. The cardiac arrhythmias and pressor effects 4. appear to be mediated by increased sympathetic discharge. 5. 4. The possible role of enhanced sympathetic discharge and acute arterial hypoxia in the production of cardiac arrhythmias in the critically ill patient with respiratory insufficiency is discussed.
Presence of two or more glucose-6-phosphate pools in voluntary skeletal muscle and their sensitivity to insulin.

Predominantly red and white voluntary skeletal muscle fiber groups were incubated in Krebs bicarbonate buffered medium plus 14C-labeled glucose, glucose-1-, or glucose-6- phosphate. As compared to glucose, glucose-1- phosphate and glucose-6-phosphate were poorly converted to glycogen in both types of muscle, which lends support to the basic assumption that glucose-6-phosphate is an obligatory intermediate in glycogen formation. Incorporation of label from glucose-l-MC into glycogen and CO2 was greater by red than by white rat muscle, and incorporation into lactate was greater by white than by red muscle. Insulin increased the incorporation of label into glycogen, lactate and CO2 by a similar percentage for the 2 types of muscle. The ratios of incorporations of labelfrom glucose-l-uC to that from glucose-6-phosphate- l-14C into glycogen, lactate and CO2 provide evidence for the presence of a minimum of 2 glucose-6-phosphate pools in both red and white skeletal muscle of the rat and red muscle of the rhesus...
A generalized Pólya algorithm

Abstract It is shown that the convergence of several standard algorithms for the construction of a best approximation to a continuous function on an interval can be established by applying a single theorem which extends the result of Polya from convergence of sequences of best Lp approximations to that of best approximations with respect to any pointwise convergent sequence of norms. In particular, the convergence of both the first and second Remes algorithms is obtained as an application of the theorem.
A naturally derived cardiac extracellular matrix enhances cardiac progenitor cell behavior in vitro.

Myocardial infarction (MI) produces a collagen scar, altering the local microenvironment and impeding cardiac function. Cell therapy is a promising therapeutic option to replace the billions of myocytes lost following MI. Despite early successes, chronic function remains impaired and is likely a result of poor cellular retention, proliferation, and differentiation/maturation. While some efforts to deliver cells with scaffolds have attempted to address these shortcomings, they lack the natural cues required for optimal cell function. The goal of this study was to determine whether a naturally derived cardiac extracellular matrix (cECM) could enhance cardiac progenitor cell (CPC) function in vitro. CPCs were isolated via magnetic sorting of c-kit+ cells and were grown on plates coated with either cECM or collagen I (Col). Our results show an increase in early cardiomyocyte markers on cECM compared with Col, as well as corresponding protein expression at a later time. CPCs show stronger serum-induced proliferation on cECM compared with Col, as well as increased resistance to apoptosis following serum starvation. Finally, a microfluidic adhesion assay demonstrated stronger adhesion of CPCs to cECM compared with Col. These data suggest that cECM may be optimal for CPC therapeutic delivery, as well as providing potential mechanisms to overcome the shortcomings of naked cell therapy.
Supraclavicular artery island flap innervation: Anatomical studies and clinical implications

Summary Background Recently, the supraclavicular artery island flap has gained popularity as a regional flap for head and neck reconstruction. During clinical follow-up, some patients report referred sensation to the shoulder when there is contact with the flap skin island surface. The authors examine the anatomical origin/characteristics of the supraclavicular nerves (C3–4) to this flap and its relationship to the flap pedicle and anatomical boundaries. Methods SAI flap harvest and nerve dissection was performed in seven fresh frozen cadavers ( n = 10) using loupe magnification in order to further elucidate the sensory nerve branches in a typical SAI flap. Results Branches of the supraclavicular nerve innervating the SAI flap were found to emerge from the deep fascia at a separate location from the vascular pedicle with the major nerve root exiting underneath the sternocleidomastoid muscle near the midpoint of the muscle belly. The nerve branches proximal to the pedicle with one branch exiting anterior to the flap and another running axially along the length of the flap. The majority (9/10) flaps had a major cutaneous nerves located 1–2 cm anterior to the pedicle. One (1/10) of the flaps had a major cutaneous nerve located 1–2 cm posterior to the pedicle toward the trapezius muscle. In 3 of the 10 flaps, smaller cutaneous nerves were also found posterior to the pedicle in a more distal location of the flap. Conclusions The supraclavicular nerves innervating the SAI flap are easily identifiable and can be preserved or ligated, depending on the desired flap function, when present close to the pedicle. Further clinical investigation is warranted to confirm the potential benefit of using the SAI flap as a neurotized regional flap for head/neck reconstruction.
Dissecting the Sequential Assembly and Localization of Intraflagellar Transport Particle Complex B in Chlamydomonas

Intraflagellar transport (IFT), the key mechanism for ciliogenesis, involves large protein particles moving bi-directionally along the entire ciliary length. IFT particles contain two large protein complexes, A and B, which are constructed with proteins in a core and several peripheral proteins. Prior studies have shown that in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, IFT46, IFT52, and IFT88 directly interact with each other and are in a subcomplex of the IFT B core. However, ift46, bld1, and ift88 mutants differ in phenotype as ift46 mutants are able to form short flagella, while the other two lack flagella completely. In this study, we investigated the functional differences of these individual IFT proteins contributing to complex B assembly, stability, and basal body localization. We found that complex B is completely disrupted in bld1 mutant, indicating an essential role of IFT52 for complex B core assembly. Ift46 mutant cells are capable of assembling a relatively intact complex B, but such complex is highly unstable and prone to degradation. In contrast, in ift88 mutant cells the complex B core still assembles and remains stable, but the peripheral proteins no longer attach to the B core. Moreover, in ift88 mutant cells, while complex A and the anterograde IFT motor FLA10 are localized normally to the transition fibers, complex B proteins instead are accumulated at the proximal ends of the basal bodies. In addition, in bld2 mutant, the IFT complex B proteins still localize to the proximal ends of defective centrioles which completely lack transition fibers. Taken together, these results revealed a step-wise assembly process for complex B, and showed that the complex first localizes to the proximal end of the centrioles and then translocates onto the transition fibers via an IFT88-dependent mechanism.
Kite Modeling for Higher Altitude Wind Energy

Among the renewable energy sources, high altitude wind power is gaining increased attention for its better strength, steadiness, and coverage compared to the traditional ground-based wind power with wind turbines. However, unlike the latter, the technology for high altitude wind is still immature and the works on the field are mostly empirical. In our research, we try to set up a framework about force analysis and provide a stepping stone for other kite energy researchers and engineers to develop more efficient systems. In this paper, we analyzed and experimentally verified the effects of acting aerodynamic forces at different angles of attack ranging from 0° to 90°. We also studied the power potentials of a kite corresponding to these varying forces. The work will enable a researcher or engineer to design a more feasible and more efficient kite power system with better understanding of the kite dynamics.
Impact of cognitive-behavioral therapy for social anxiety disorder on the neural bases of emotional reactivity to and regulation of social evaluation

Abstract We examined whether Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for social anxiety disorder (SAD) would modify self-reported negative emotion and functional magnetic resonance imaging brain responses when reacting to and reappraising social evaluation, and tested whether changes would predict treatment outcome in 59 patients with SAD who completed CBT or waitlist groups. For reactivity, compared to waitlist, CBT resulted in (a) increased brain responses in right superior frontal gyrus (SFG), inferior parietal lobule (IPL), and middle occipital gyrus (MOG) when reacting to social praise , and (b) increases in right SFG and IPL and decreases in left posterior superior temporal gyrus (pSTG) when reacting to social criticism . For reappraisal, compared to waitlist, CBT resulted in greater (c) reductions in self-reported negative emotion, and (d) increases in brain responses in right SFG and MOG, and decreases in left pSTG. A linear regression found that after controlling for CBT-induced changes in reactivity and reappraisal negative emotion ratings and brain changes in reactivity to praise and criticism, reappraisal of criticism brain response changes predicted 24% of the unique variance in CBT-related reductions in social anxiety. Thus, one mechanism underlying CBT for SAD may be changes in reappraisal-related brain responses to social criticism. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT00380731 . http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00380731?term=social+anxiety+cognitive+behavioral+therapy+Stanford&rank=1 .
Effects of cycloheximide on thymidine metabolism and on DNA strand elongation in physarum polycephalum.

Abstract Treatment of Physarum polycephalum with cycloheximide during the DNA synthesis period resulted in a reduction in the incorporation of [ 3 H]thymidine into DNA. This effect was caused by both a reduction in the specific activity of TTP and by an inhibition of progeny strand elongation within replication units. No effect of the drug on the initiation of synthesis of replication units or on the ligation of DNA fragments was detected.
Social inclusion as a marketing ethics correlate

The author examines, in the context of Litwin and Stringer's (1968) operationalization, the influence of social inclusion (organizational warmth and organizational identity) as a marketing ethics correlate. The results indicate that both organizational warmth and organizational identity underlie marketing professionals' ethical behavior. Furthermore, the influence pattern for each variable is consistent witha priori hypothesis.
Parenteral hyperalimentation in gynecologic oncology patients.

Abstract Parenteral hyperalimentation has been introduced as an adjunct in the care and management of the patient with gynecologic cancer. Our indications for parenteral hyperalimentation and results of therapy are presented. The complications of this form of therapy are reviewed and measures to prevent complications are suggested. In selected patients, with proper monitoring, parenteral hyperalimentation may prove to be a lifesaving measure.
Partially covered esophageal stents cause bowel injury when used to treat complications of bariatric surgery

We hypothesized that an esophageal nitinol stent that is mainly silicone-covered but partially uncovered may allow tissue ingrowth and decrease the migration rate seen with fully covered stents and still allow safe stent removal. The aim of this study was to evaluate the first human results of using partially covered stents for anastomotic complications of bariatric surgery. This was a retrospective evaluation of all patients with staple-line complications after bariatric surgery who received a partly covered stent at a single tertiary-care bariatric center. The stents varied in length from 10 to 15 cm and in diameter from 18 to 23 mm. From April 2009 to April 2010, eight patients received partially covered stents on 14 separate occasions. The indications were gastrojejunal stricture in four, acute leak in two, acute leak followed by a later stricture in one, and a perforated anastomotic ulcer in one patient. Single stents were placed in 12 sessions and two overlapping stents in two sessions. At the time of stent deployment, one patient had the uncovered proximal end of the stent in the stomach, with all others in the distal esophagus. Immediate symptom improvement occurred in 12/14 stent placements. Oral nutrition was initiated for 10/14 stent treatments within 48 h. Stents were removed after 25 ± 10 days. Minor stent displacement occurred with 9/13 stents, with the proximal end of the stent moving into the stomach, though the site of pathology remained covered. The stents were difficult to remove when tissue ingrowth was present. One patient required laparoscopic removal and one required two endoscopy sessions for removal. At the time of removal of ten stents, where the proximal end was found in the stomach, four had gastric ulceration, three had gastric mucosa replaced by granulation tissue, and three had normal gastric mucosa. In four cases where the proximal portion of the stent stayed in the esophagus, the esophageal deployment zone had abnormalities: three with granulation tissue and one with denuding of the esophageal mucosa. The distal uncovered portion of the stent in the Roux limb never became embedded in the mucosa and caused minimal injury. A partially covered stent was successful in keeping the site of the pathology covered and provided rapid symptom improvement and oral nutrition in most patients. The proximal end of the stent generally moved from the esophagus to the stomach, probably due to esophageal peristalsis. The proximal uncovered portion of the stent causes significant bowel mucosal injury and sometimes becomes embedded in the esophagus or the stomach, making removal difficult. We no longer use partially covered stents.
Distribution and subcellular localization of calmodulin in adult and developing brain tissue

Abstract The distribution and subcellular localization of calmodulin in adult and developing cerebellum was studied in rats by immunocytochemistry. Calmodulin immunoreactivity was found both in neurons and in glial cells. Within neurons the staining was particularly intense in the cell nucleus and in dendrites, the cytoplasm of the cell body was more lightly stained than the nucleus, and light immunoreactivity was observed in axons. Electron microscopic analysis confirmed the association of calmodulin with the nuclear chromatin, while the nucleolus remained unstained. The reaction product was also found overlying the membranes of several organelles, in postsynaptic densities and decorating both dendritic and axonal microtubules. In developing Purkinje cells, calmodulin immunoreactivity was found as early as 5 days after birth. During the initial phases of dendritic development (5–10 days post-natal), the reaction product was associated with the organelles of the apical cone, while little or no staining was observed in the elongating dendrites or in the cell nucleus. Later in development, calmodulin was found in primary and secondary dendrites, and by 20 days after birth immunoreactivity appeared in the cell nucleus, and in the postsynaptic densities of immature spines located in dendrites. The presence of calmodulin in the apical cone suggests the possibility that this protein may participate in the regulation of microtubule formation during the initial stages of dendritic development. Its presence in dendrites at later stages (during the period of synaptogenesis) may indicate that it also participates in the formation of synapses between the parallel fibres and dendritic spines.
Rhabdomyolysis during maintenance infusion of propofol for treatment of refractory status epilpticus in children 1755

Objective: We discuss the potential of rhabdomyolysis during infusion of propofol for the treatment of refractory status epilepticus.
DURATION OF TIRE TRACKS ON WET PAVEMENT

An analysis related to the duration of the tire tracks on a wet roadway surface was conducted. Factors, such as grade and pavement structure, affecting the duration of tire tracks were identified. It was found that the duration of tracks would be about one half minute, and that this data could be of value in the analysis of traffic incidents or accidents.
Imidazolium salts with varying anions as charge carriers for detection of neutral bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) dichloride in electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

RATIONALE While electrospray ionization is a popular technique for mass analysis, without a charged species it is ineffective. This coupled with solvent restrictions hinders the analysis of organometallic complexes. Detecting neutral species whose solubility is limited to nonconventional solvents is a problemthat can be overcome with the right charge carrier, which is described in this study. METHODS Ionic liquids were synthesized and analyzed by electrospray ionization quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry. The neutral palladium complex was also analyzed using different imidazolium salts as the charge carrier with the same method and instrumentation. Theoretical complementswere also performed using Gaussian 09 at the density functional theory levels, using B3LYP functionals and the 6-31 g (d,p) basis set for geometry optimizations. RESULTS Low concentration imidazolium salts in methanol showed aggregation behavior of the ionic liquid, where the cation peak and [cation]n+1[anion]n peaks were observed in positive mode, while the [cation]n[anion]n+1 peaks were seen in negative mode. The unbound anion was observed in all the negative mode spectra except for the salt with the SCN anion when in THF. Solutions of PdCl2(PPh3)2 and a small amount of ionic liquid in THF showed the palladium complex adducted with the imidazolium cation for each of the ionic liquids studied. CONCLUSIONS A charge carrier for a neutral organometallic complex was found in imidazolium salts, where the cation was observed as the ionizing agent. Differing ion intensities of the complex-adduct peak resulted from the anions ability to dissociate from the cation. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
AGU Cinema: Festival of short science films at Fall Meeting

New technologies have revolutionized the use of video as a means of science communication and have made it easier to create, distribute, and view. With video having become omnipresent in our culture, it sometime supplements or even replaces writing in many science and education applications. An inaugural science film festival sponsored by AGU at the 2012 Fall Meeting in San Francisco, Calif., in December will showcase short videos—30 minutes or less in length—developed to disseminate scientific results to various audiences and to enhance learning in the classroom. AGU Cinema will feature professionally produced, big budget films alongside low-budget videos aimed at niche audiences and made by amateurs. The latter category includes videos made by governmental agency scientists, educators, communications specialists within scientific organizations, and Fall Meeting oral and poster presenters.
Toward a Framework for Quantum Evolutionary Computation

Biological evolution provides an immensely powerful toolset for problem solving, while evolutionary computation attempts to harness the power of biological evolution for solving problems using classical computing paradigms. Quantum computing offers many apparent advantages over classical computing for certain types of problems, such as searching or optimizing over large solution sets. Once practical quantum computers are available, we would like to take advantage of their highly parallel computing capabilities for use in evolutionary computation. In this work we explore the nexus between quantum and evolutionary computation, and propose an approach toward a practical framework for performing evolutionary computation on quantum computers.
Homocysteine and bone loss in epilepsy

Epidemiological studies reveal fracture incidence in epilepsy is twice that of the normal population. Much interest has been focused on Vitamin D, however, considering mixed results on non-enzyme inducing anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) and bone mineral density (BMD) additional metabolic effects may be to blame. AEDs increase serum homocysteine (s-Hcy) by lowering blood folate levels. An association between elevated homocysteine, BMD and increased fracture incidence has been found in non-epilepsy populations. Additionally, folate and Vitamin B12 levels are independently related to bone mineral density in various non-epilepsy populations. This study supports previous research, which found elevated s-Hcy in subjects taking AEDs and that bone loss is related to the use of enzyme-inducing AEDs and changes in alkaline phosphatase. By one-way ANOVA, subjects on phenytoin monotherapy had significantly higher levels of s-Hcy than those on other AEDs (F=5.89, p=.016). Regression analyses revealed homocysteine, fracture history, length of years on AEDs, ethnicity were predictors of spine T scores. Weight and BMI were predictors of both BMD and DEXA T scores. Use of enzyme-inducing AEDs was a negative predictor of spine BMD and T scores, while phenytoin monotherapy was a positive predictor of spine BMD. Lamotrigine was found to be a negative predictor of spine T score. Ambulatory status, menopause and alcohol consumption were predictors of BMD but not T scores. In this study, persons with epilepsy who take nutritional supplementation have 25% lower s-Hcy levels than those who do not. Supplementation continues to be important in preventative epilepsy care.
Radical prostatectomy versus radiation therapy: can pretreatment nomograms be used to select the appropriate prostate cancer treatment?

At the time of prostate cancer diagnosis, men who require treatment are often facedwith a dilemma: radical prostatectomy (RP) or radiation via external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) or brachytherapy. Each treatment represents an acceptable method for localized prostate cancer, so preoperative nomograms are often used to predict biochemical recurrence (BCR)-free survival for each treatment modality and to aid in treatment selection [1–3]. However, because these nomograms often predict unequivocal BCR-free survival between treatments, there is a temptation to select a given treatment according to the highest predicted rate of BCR-free survival. However, as the definitions of BCR differ across the various treatments, the ability of these nomograms to appropriately correlate BCR with the more important endpoint of prostate cancer–specific mortality (PCSM) among different treatments remains unclear. In an observational study by Lee et al published in this issue of European Urology, the authors examined a large group of men who underwent RP (n = 8308), EBRT (n = 2839), or brachytherapy (n = 2656) to compare outcomes among the three treatments [4]. Men were treated at one of two large academic practices within the USA between 1995 and 2008. For each patient, the risk of BCR was calculated using a pretreatment nomogram [1–3]. Men were then stratified into four risk groups according to their nomogram-calculated 5-yr BCR progression-free probability (PFP; 25%, 26–50%, 51–75%, and >75%) [1–3]. Within each PFP category, outcomes were compared among the
HUBzero: A Platform for Dissemination and Collaboration in Computational Science and Engineering

The HUBzero cyberinfrastructure lets scientific researchers work together online to develop simulation and modeling tools. Other researchers can then access the resulting tools using an ordinary Web browser and launch simulation runs on the national Grid infrastructure, without having to download or compile any code.
Token ring reliability models

A study of the reliability of token rings designed according to the IEEE 802.5 standard is described. The reliability model is based on information in the standards, plus implementation details, and is more realistic than previous models. Although the analysis is approximate, it includes all factors thought to be important in determining reliability, since an approximate analysis which included all such factors was felt to be more useful than an exact analysis which ignored important factors. The precise reliability measure analyzed is availability of a connection from a specified source to a specified destination. Although the use of an active communications medium instead of a passive bus may decrease reliability of the token ring, the architecture gives great flexibility in bypassing or otherwise recovering from faults. For large networks this adds considerably to the reliability. If many devices are inactive, however, this advantage can be eliminated by even a small probability that inactive devices are not successfully bypassed. >
Ecological impacts of fluridone and copper sulphate in catfish aquaculture ponds.

Fluridone and copper sulphate are often used for controlling macrophytes and algae in aquaculture ponds. The present study examined the ecological effects of these chemicals on macrophyte, phytoplankton, and zooplankton biomass; plankton community structure; water quality parameters; and fish survival and yield in catfish culture ponds using a randomized complete block design. The estimated half-life of fluridone in the individual ponds ranged from 1.6 d to 10.8 d. Free copper ion activity in ponds treated with copper sulphate was dynamic, ranging from pCu of 7.7 to 8.9 after each application and decreasing to approximately 12 (1 × 10(-12) M) within 1 wk after each application, approaching observed values in control ponds (pCu = 12.3-13.4). No difference in macrophyte biomass was observed among treatments. Fluridone and copper treatments elicited different responses within the phytoplankton community. Copper treatments reduced Cyanophyta biomass but increased biomass of more tolerant taxa among the Chlorophyta and Chrysophyta. Fluridone treatments reduced total phytoplankton biomass including Cyanophyta and increased the sensitivity of Chlorophyta and Chrysophyta to copper. Copper also affected zooplankton community composition as a result of direct toxic effects on sensitive zooplankton taxa (e.g., Cladocera), whereas Copepoda biomass in copper-treated ponds exceeded that in controls. Catfish survival and yield were not significantly different among treatments. The results of the present study suggest that fluridone and copper interact at realistic application rates, increasing the ability to control algae compared with treatments where they are applied alone.
Negative Interpretation Bias Mediates the Effect of Social Anxiety on State Anxiety

Cognitive models of social anxiety predict that interpretation bias mediates the relationship between level of social anxiety and state anxiety in response to social-evaluative threat. We tested this prediction in 67 socially anxious undergraduates. Participants completed self-report measures of social anxiety and interpretation bias, and 2 days later they completed an impromptu speech. Mediational analyses supported the hypothesis that interpretation bias mediates the effect of social anxiety on state anxiety in response to the speech. This relationship was specific to negative interpretation of ambiguous social scenarios. The current findings support cognitive models of social phobia and add to the empirical base supporting the role of interpretation bias in social anxiety.
A Class of Stochastic Investment Problems

A decision maker, faced with investment opportunities that occur throughout time, must, when confronted with a particular investment, decide whether to accept the investment. The problem of determining optimal decision rules under these conditions is formulated as a stochastic process that can be analyzed by the functional equation of dynamic programming. Some simple investment problems involving a decision maker with fixed assets are formulated and for a specific example, solved numerically. As an extension of these simple situations, a problem based on a business application of investing a stream of assets is solved and optimal decision rules are presented.
Hidden patterns in combined and adaptive knowledge networks

Uncertain causal knowledge is stored in fuzzy cognitive maps (FCMs). FCMs are fuzzy signed digraphs with feedback. The sign (+ or -) of FCM edges indicates causal increase or causal decrease. The fuzzy degree of causality is indicated by a number in [- 1, 1]. FCMs learn by modifying their causal connections in sign and magnitude, structurally analogous to the way in which neural networks learn. An appropriate causal learning law for inductively inferring FCMs from time-series data is the differential Hebbian law, which modifies causal connections by correlating time derivatives of FCM node outputs. The differential Hebbian law contrasts with Hebbian output-correlation learning laws of adaptive neural networks. FCM nodes represent variable phenomena or fuzzy sets. An FCM node nonlinearly transforms weighted summed inputs into numerical output, again in analogy to a model neuron. Unlike expert systems, which are feedforward search trees, FCMs are nonlinear dynamical systems. FCM resonant states are limit cycles, or time-varying patterns. An FCM limit cycle or hidden pattern is an FCM inference. Experts construct FCMs by drawing causal pictures or digraphs. The corresponding connection matrices are used for inferencing. By additively combining augmented connection matrices, any number of FCMs can be naturally combined into a single knowledge network. The credibility wi in [0, 1] of the ith expert is included in this learning process by multiplying the ith expert's augmented FCM connection matrix by w i. Combining connection matrices is a simple type of adaptive inference. In general, connection matrices are modified by an unsupervised learning law, such as the
Optical Design Challenges of NFIRAOS, the First-Light Adaptive Optics System for TMT

NFIRAOS is a diffraction-limited, near-IR, multi-conjugate adaptive optics system. We present an overview of the optical design and design drivers, with particular attention given to the challenges of the laser guide star wavefront sensing optics.
Linking Brand Equity to Customer Equity

Customer equity and brand equity are two of the most important topics to academic researchers and practitioners. As part of the 2005 Thought Leaders Conference held at the University of Connecticut, the authors were asked to review what was known and not known about the relationship between brand equity and customer equity. During their discussions, it became clear that whereas two distinct research streams have emerged and there are distinct differences, the concepts are also highly related. It also became clear that whereas the focus of both brand equity and customer equity research has been on the end consumer, there is a need for research to understand the intermediary’s perspective (e.g., the value of the brand to the retailer and the value of a customer to a retailer) and the consumer’s perspective (e.g., the value of the brand versus the value of the retailer). This article represents general conclusions from the authors’ discussion and suggests a modeling approach that could be used to investigate linkages between brand equity and customer equity as well as a modeling approach to determine the value of the manufacturer to a retailer.
Giardia lamblia aurora kinase: A regulator of mitosis in a binucleate parasite

Giardia lamblia is a major cause of diarrhoeal disease worldwide. Since it has no known toxin, the ability of trophozoites to colonise the human small intestine is required for its pathogenesis. Mitosis in this protozoan parasite is a unique challenge because its two equivalent nuclei and complex cytoskeleton must be duplicated and segregated accurately. Giardial mitosis is a complex and rapid event that is poorly understood at the cellular and molecular levels. Higher eukaryotes have one to three members of the highly conserved Ser/Thr aurora kinase (AK) family that regulate key aspects of mitosis and cytokinesis. Giardia has a single AK orthologue (gAK) with 61% similarity to human AK A. In addition to the conserved active site residues, activation loop and destruction-box motifs characteristic of AKs, gAK contains a unique insert near the active site region. We epitope-tagged gAK at its C-terminus and expressed it under its own promoter. During interphase, gAK localises exclusively to the nuclei, but is not phosphorylated as shown by lack of staining with an antibody specific to phosphorylated AK A (pAK). In contrast, during mitosis pAK localises to the basal bodies/centrosomes and co-localises with tubulin to the spindle. During specific stages of mitosis, giardial pAK also localised dynamically to cytoskeletal structures unique to Giardia: the paraflagellar dense rods of the anterior flagella and the median body, whose functions are unknown, as well as to the parent attachment disc. Two AK inhibitors significantly decreased giardial growth and increased the numbers of cells arrested in cytokinesis. These inhibitors appeared to increase microtubule nucleation and cell-ploidy. Our data show that gAK is phosphorylated in mitosis and suggest that it plays an important role in the Giardia cell cycle. The pleiotropic localisation of AK suggests that it may co-ordinate the reorganisation and segregation of tubulin-containing structures in mitosis. We believe this is the first report of a signalling protein regulating cell division in Giardia.
Prediction of tumor recurrence and therapy monitoring using ultrasound-guided photoacoustic imaging

Selection and design of individualized treatments remains a key goal in cancer therapeutics; prediction of response and tumor recurrence following a given therapy provides a basis for subsequent personalized treatment design. We demonstrate an approach towards this goal with the example of photodynamic therapy (PDT) as the treatment modality and photoacoustic imaging (PAI) as a non-invasive, response and disease recurrence monitor in a murine model of glioblastoma (GBM). PDT is a photochemistry-based, clinically-used technique that consumes oxygen to generate cytotoxic species, thus causing changes in blood oxygen saturation (StO2). We hypothesize that this change in StO2 can be a surrogate marker for predicting treatment efficacy and tumor recurrence. PAI is a technique that can provide a 3D atlas of tumor StO2 by measuring oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin. We demonstrate that tumors responding to PDT undergo approximately 85% change in StO2 by 24-hrs post-therapy while there is no significant change in StO2 values in the non-responding group. Furthermore, the 3D tumor StO2 maps predicted whether a tumor was likely to regrow at a later time point post-therapy. Information on the likelihood of tumor regrowth that normally would have been available only upon actual regrowth (10-30 days post treatment) in a xenograft tumor model, was available within 24-hrs of treatment using PAI, thus making early intervention a possibility. Given the advances and push towards availability of PAI in the clinical settings, the results of this study encourage applicability of PAI as an important step to guide and monitor therapies (e.g. PDT, radiation, anti-angiogenic) involving a change in StO2.
The human subject: an integrative animal model for 21(st) century heart failure research.

Heart failure remains a leading cause of death and it is a major cause of morbidity and mortality affecting tens of millions of people worldwide. Despite decades of extensive research conducted at enormous expense, only a handful of interventions have significantly impacted survival in heart failure. Even the most widely prescribed treatments act primarily to slow disease progression, do not provide sustained survival advantage, and have adverse side effects. Since mortality remains about 50% within five years of diagnosis, the need to increase our understanding of heart failure disease mechanisms and development of preventive and reparative therapies remains critical. Currently, the vast majority of basic science heart failure research is conducted using animal models ranging from fruit flies to primates; however, insights gleaned from decades of animal-based research efforts have not been proportional to research success in terms of deciphering human heart failure and developing effective therapeutics for human patients. Here we discuss the reasons for this translational discrepancy which can be equally attributed to the use of erroneous animal models and the lack of widespread use of human-based research methodologies and address why and how we must position our own species at center stage as the quintessential animal model for 21st century heart failure research. If the ultimate goal of the scientific community is to tackle the epidemic status of heart failure, the best way to achieve that goal is through prioritizing human-based, human-relevant research.
Magnetless Microwave Circulators Based on Spatiotemporally Modulated Rings of Coupled Resonators

Nonreciprocal components are ubiquitous in electronic and optical systems. To date, the use of magneto-optical materials has been the prevailing method to achieve nonreciprocity. However, magnetic-based devices are accompanied by several drawbacks, such as the requirement of bulky biasing devices and their incompatibility with semiconductor technology, which make their integration challenging. Recently, strong magnetless nonreciprocity was demonstrated in spatiotemporally modulated coupled-resonator networks as a result of an effective spin imparted to the structure by an RF signal. These structures can be easily integrated, and they potentially exhibit good power and noise performance, as any parametric device. Here, we develop an analytical theory for such devices, which allows determining the conditions for designing them with optimum characteristics, and present two designs based on lumped- and distributed-element circuits for applications at the very high-frequency and wireless-communications bands, respectively. The circulators exhibit large isolation and low insertion loss within reasonable modulation requirements. Furthermore, they can be realized with a modulation frequency substantially lower than the input frequency, significantly simplifying the design. Measurements for the lumped-element design are provided and show good agreement with theory and full-wave simulations. The nonlinear characteristics of the presented designs are also studied, and possible ways to reduce nonlinear distortion by increasing the static bias of the varactors or using advanced varactor topologies are explored.
Benchmarking wide swath altimetry‐based river discharge estimation algorithms for the Ganges river system

The objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of three algorithms that estimate discharge from remotely sensed observables (river width, water surface height, and water surface slope) in anticipation of the forthcoming NASA/CNES Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission. SWOT promises to provide these measurements simultaneously, and the river discharge algorithms included here are designed to work with these data. Two algorithms were built around Manning's equation, the Metropolis Manning (MetroMan) method, and the Mean Flow and Geomorphology (MFG) method, and one approach uses hydraulic geometry to estimate discharge, the at-many-stations hydraulic geometry (AMHG) method. A well-calibrated and ground-truthed hydrodynamic model of the Ganges river system (HEC-RAS) was used as reference for three rivers from the Ganges River Delta: the main stem of Ganges, the Arial-Khan, and the Mohananda Rivers. The high seasonal variability of these rivers due to the Monsoon presented a unique opportunity to thoroughly assess the discharge algorithms in light of typical monsoon regime rivers. It was found that the MFG method provides the most accurate discharge estimations in most cases, with an average relative root-mean-squared error (RRMSE) across all three reaches of 35.5%. It is followed closely by the Metropolis Manning algorithm, with an average RRMSE of 51.5%. However, the MFG method's reliance on knowledge of prior river discharge limits its application on ungauged rivers. In terms of input data requirement at ungauged regions with no prior records, the Metropolis Manning algorithm provides a more practical alternative over a region that is lacking in historical observations as the algorithm requires less ancillary data. The AMHG algorithm, while requiring the least prior river data, provided the least accurate discharge measurements with an average wet and dry season RRMSE of 79.8% and 119.1%, respectively, across all rivers studied. This poor performance is directly traced to poor estimation of AMHG via a remotely sensed proxy, and results improve commensurate with MFG and MetroMan when prior AMHG information is given to the method. Therefore, we cannot recommend use of AMHG without inclusion of this prior information, at least for the studied rivers. The dry season discharge (within-bank flow) was captured well by all methods, while the wet season (floodplain flow) appeared more challenging. The picture that emerges from this study is that a multialgorithm approach may be appropriate during flood inundation periods in Ganges Delta.
In silico carbon molecular beam epitaxial growth of graphene on the h-BN substrate: carbon source effect on van der Waals epitaxy

Against the presumption that hexagonal boron-nitride (h-BN) should provide an ideal substrate for van der Waals (vdW) epitaxy to grow high quality graphene films, carbon molecular beam epitaxy (CMBE) techniques using solid carbon sublimation have reported relatively poor quality of the graphene. In this article, the CMBE growth of graphene on the h-BN substrate is numerically studied in order to identify the effect of the carbon source on the quality of the graphene film. The carbon molecular beam generated by the sublimation of solid carbon source materials such as graphite and glassy carbon is mostly composed of atomic carbon, carbon dimers and carbon trimers. Therefore, the graphene film growth becomes a complex process involving various deposition characteristics of a multitude of carbon entities. Based on the study of surface adsorption and film growth characteristics of these three major carbon entities comprising graphite vapour, we report that carbon trimers convey strong traits of vdW epitaxy prone to high quality graphene growth, while atomic carbon deposition is a surface-reaction limited process accompanied by strong chemisorption. The vdW epitaxial behaviour of carbon trimers is found to be substantial enough to nucleate and develop into graphene like planar films within a nanosecond of high flux growth simulation, while reactive atomic carbons tend to impair the structural integrity of the crystalline h-BN substrate upon deposition to form an amorphous interface between the substrate and the growing carbon film. The content of reactive atomic carbons in the molecular beam is suspected to be the primary cause of low quality graphene reported in the literature. A possible optimization of the molecular beam composition towards the synthesis of better quality graphene films is suggested.
Preparation of Bottlebrush Polymers via a One-Pot Ring-Opening Polymerization (ROP) and Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP) Grafting-Through Strategy

Bottlebrush polymers are synthesized using a tandem ring-opening polymerization (ROP) and ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) strategy. For the first time, ROP and ROMP are conducted sequentially in the same pot to yield well-defined bottlebrush polymers with molecular weights in excess of 10(6) Da. The first step of this process involves the synthesis of a polylactide macromonomer (MM) via ROP of d,l-lactide initiated by an alcohol-functionalized norbornene. ROMP grafting-through is then carried out in the same pot to produce the bottlebrush polymer. The applicability of this methodology is evaluated for different MM molecular weights and bottlebrush backbone degrees of polymerization. Size-exclusion chromatographic and (1)H NMR spectroscopic analyses confirm excellent control over both polymerization steps. In addition, bottlebrush polymers are imaged using atomic force microscopy and stain-free transmission electron microscopy on graphene oxide.
Interrogating the Historical Revisionism of the Hungarian Right: The Queer Case of Cécile Tormay

The article examines the historical processes and the motivations of contemporary Hungarian politicians to officially rehabilitate the memory of Cecile Tormay, the internationally acclaimed writer and founder of Hungary’s conservative women’s movement. Through tracing the politics of remembering Tormay since World War II, it demonstrates how Tormay’s recent reemergence as a new national icon was intimately tied to a decisive shift in the direction of Hungarian politics from a pro-Western stance to one that is openly hostile towards Western liberalism. Tormay, part of the ruling elite in the authoritarian interwar Horthy regime, was a fierce anticommunist, antisemite, and staunch nationalist who rallied Hungarians to reclaim territories lost after World War I. Already a national icon, Tormay became a central protagonist of one of the largest interwar political scandals in which she was accused of homosexuality and sleeping with the wives of high aristocrats. Yet, stunningly, neither during the interwar yea...
Vitamin D and/or calcium deficient diets may differentially affect muscle fiber neuromuscular junction innervation.

Introduction: There is evidence that supports a role for Vitamin D (Vit. D) in muscle. The exact mechanism by which Vit. D deficiency impairs muscle strength and function is not clear. Methods: Three-week-old mice were fed diets with varied combinations of Vit. D and Ca2+ deficiency. Behavioral testing, genomic and protein analysis, and muscle histology were performed with a focus on neuromuscular junction (NMJ)-related genes. Results: Vit. D and Ca2+ deficient mice performed more poorly on given behavioral tasks than animals with Vit. D deficiency alone. Genomic and protein analysis of the soleus and tibialis anterior muscles revealed changes in several Vit. D metabolic, NMJ-related, and protein chaperoning and refolding genes. Conclusions: These data suggest that detrimental effects of a Vit. D deficient or a Vit. D and Ca2+ deficient diet may be a result of differential alterations in the structure and function of the NMJ and a lack of a sustained stress response in muscles. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.