cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Can Oral Bacteria and Mechanical Fatigue Degrade Zirconia Dental Implants in Vitro

Zirconia (ZrO2) is an emerging alternative to titanium for dental implant systems due to its material properties including high mechanical strength and chemical stability. However, oral environmental factors such as bacterial adhesion and mechanical fatigue may trigger low-temperature degradation of ZrO2, leading to reduced mechanical strength and potential implant fracture. Although failure modes of ZrO2 in orthopedic applications have been studied, they have yet to be thoroughly investigated in the context of dental implant systems. Thus, the goal of the present study was to assess the surface of ZrO2 dental implants for signs of degradation after exposure to oral bacteria and oral bacteria in combination with mechanical fatigue. ZrO2 dental implants were subjected to 30-day immersion in (i) early or (ii) late colonizing oral bacteria or (iii) were mechanically loaded for 2 × 106 cycles with oral bacteria in circulation. Optical microscopy, Raman microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to evaluate the surface morphology, phase composition, and chemical composition, respectively. Post-immersion, all implants exhibited minimal changes in surface features, and all loaded implants survived cyclic fatigue tests. All implants had <1% monoclinic phase at the collar, junction, and screw regions, excluding the screw threads, for which monoclinic phase was significantly higher but <10%. XPS revealed an increase in carbon- and nitrogen-based organic debris on the implants exposed to early colonizers as compared to those immersed in late colonizers or synergistically with mechanical loading. Within the limitations of the present study, ZrO2 is a suitable alternative material for dental implant systems based on its ability to resist both physical and chemical degradation imposed by oral bacteria and applied cyclic loads.
Abstract A13: Leveraging Zika virus and the immune system to treat glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) kills most adults within 2 years. One reason for inevitable recurrence is that GBM stem cells (GSCs) are resistant to existing therapies. Additionally, GBM is the hallmark example of an immunotherapy-resistant tumor. Since GSCs share properties with neural stem cells, we investigated whether the natural honing and lytic activity of Zika virus (ZIKV) could be harnessed to target and kill GSCs. We published the first use of ZIKV to kill GSCs: ZIKV kills GSCs in tumors removed from patients, with minimal impact on non-GSC tumor cells and importantly, normal human brain cells were not affected by ZIKV. In vivo, ZIKV more than doubled median survival in immunocompetent mice bearing orthotopic gliomas, and in 40-50% of cases, mice were cured. In new unpublished work, we assessed brains of mice treated with ZIKV and found that treatment induces a robust inflammatory response. Using MHC-I tetramers presenting ZIKV envelope (E) protein or luciferase peptides (expressed in the tumor cells), we found that CD8+ T cells in the region of the tumor respond to both ZIKV and tumor, and anti-tumor CD8+ T cells are increased after ZIKV infection compared to vehicle. Additionally, cured mice were protected against tumor rechallenge, suggesting ZIKV induces immunologic memory that can surveil against recurrence. Using blocking antibodies, we discovered that CD8+ T cells are required for the efficacy of ZIKV, and CD8+ T cells are required for long-term protection. Our findings suggest that ZIKV may be an effective therapy for GBM for two reasons: its direct targeting of treatment-resistant tumor cells in turn produces an antitumor inflammatory response. Such a response may now be further leveraged by immunotherapies. Citation Format: Arijita Jash, Jennifer Govero, Sharmila Nair, Michael S. Diamond, Milan G. Chheda. Leveraging Zika virus and the immune system to treat glioblastoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy; 2019 Nov 17-20; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2020;8(3 Suppl):Abstract nr A13.
Efficient Hardware Implementation of Discrete Wavelet Transform Based on Stochastic Computing

Stochastic Computing (SC) provides cost-efficient and fault-tolerant computing circuits and has been used for implementing different algorithms. This paper studies the hardware-efficient implementation of discrete wavelet transform (DWT) with SC, for the first time. We design SC circuits using both lifting scheme (LS) and filter bank (FB) models of DWT. We present our approach for CDF 5/3 and CDF 9/7, two DWTs used for JPEG 2000, and discuss some circuit-level optimizations to improve the hardware-efficiency and computational accuracy of the proposed circuits. The FPGA implementation results show that, compared to binary computing, SC achieves remarkably better performance in terms of area, power, speed and fault tolerance.
MISO Broadcast Channel under Unequal Link Coherence Times and Channel State Information

The broadcast channel may experience unequal link coherence times due to a number of factors including variation in node mobility or local scattering conditions. This means the block fading model for different links may have nonidentical block length, and the channel state information for the links may also not be identical. The faster the fading and the shorter the fading block length, the more often the link needs to be trained and estimated at the receiver, and the more likely that channel state information (CSI) is stale or unavailable at the transmitter. This paper investigates a MISO broadcast channel where some receivers experience longer coherence intervals and other receivers experience shorter coherence intervals and must estimate their receive-side CSI (CSIR) frequently. We consider a variety of transmit-side CSI (CSIT) conditions for the abovementioned model, including no CSIT, delayed CSIT, or hybrid CSIT. To investigate the degrees of freedom region, we employ interference alignment and beamforming along with a product superposition that allows simultaneous but noncontaminating transmission of pilots and data to different receivers. Outer bounds employ the extremal entropy inequality as well as a bounding of the performance of a discrete, memoryless, multiuser, multilevel broadcast channel. For several cases, inner and outer bounds are established that either partially meet, or the gap diminishes with increasing coherence times.
Longitudinal examination of coping-motivated marijuana use and problematic outcomes among emerging adults.

Abstract Objective Cross-sectional research shows that coping-motivated marijuana use is associated with marijuana use and problems. However, limited research has examined how coping-motivated use might longitudinally relate to these outcomes. We examined the temporal relationship of coping-motivated marijuana use with severity of use and marijuana-related problems. Method Participants were 226 emerging adults, aged 18–25 years old, who currently used marijuana. Multilevel generalized linear models were used to evaluate the association between change in coping motives with change in frequency of marijuana use and marijuana problem severity from baseline to 6- and 12-month follow-ups. Results In the adjusted models, frequency of marijuana use was positively associated with between subject differences (IRR = 1.49; 95%CI: 1.30, 1.71; p Conclusions Changes in coping-motivated use of marijuana in emerging adults were directionally associated with changes in marijuana use and marijuana problems up to 12 months post-baseline. Results highlight the possible bi-directional relationship between coping motives and marijuana use and problems. Findings could be valuable in helping practitioners go beyond quantity and frequency as sufficient metrics of marijuana use problems. Motives for use may reflect additional problems and the clinical need to explore these possibilities.
Can Collaborative Adaptive Management Improve Cattle Production in Multipaddock Grazing Systems

Abstract Collaborative adaptive management (CAM) is hypothesized to benefit management of rangeland ecosystems, but the presumed benefits have seldom been quantified, and never in a multipaddock rotational grazing system. Here, we evaluated average daily weight gain (ADG) of livestock (kg steer−1 d−1) in four grazing management treatments during the summers of 2016−2018 in a semiarid shortgrass steppe. These four treatments had the same stocking rate but differed in stocking densities. The three lowest stocking densities were implemented using nonadaptive grazing management, while the highest stocking density was implemented using CAM by an 11-member Stakeholder Group. Three of the four treatments used multipaddock rotational grazing. Growing season precipitation varied from drought in 2016 to near average in 2017 and dry in 2018. During nondrought years, ADG under nonadaptive grazing declined linearly as stocking density increased from low to high. This relationship was not significant during drought (2016). CAM increased absolute livestock production by 0.13 to 0.19 kg steer−1 d−1 in nondrought years, or a 23−25% relative increase in ADG. This benefit of CAM arose from the Stakeholder Group's ability to rotate cattle in response to spatiotemporal heterogeneity across the landscape—i.e., the ability to graze the “right pastures at the right time.” Multiplying the additional grazing season livestock gains achieved through CAM by the monetary value of gains ($ kg−1) resulted in an estimated additional gross revenue return from CAM of $48.16 to $55.54 per steer annually, as compared with revenues from nonadaptive multipaddock rotational grazing under nondrought conditions. These results indicate that CAM, supported with substantial and timely monitoring data, can minimize decreases in livestock production associated with high stocking densities used in multipaddock rotation systems. However, in this experimental context, the economic benefits of increased livestock production associated with CAM were likely insufficient to offset the substantial cost of this approach.
The Modified Flamingo Test: A Convenient Assessment of Balance for Planning Exercise Interventions with Older Adults

Background: The purpose of this study was to test the validity and reliability of a new balance assessment for adults aged 65+. The Modified Flamingo Test was designed for use by exercise for health students working in residential care homes or in the community, to efficiently stratify participants in various exercise intervention groups according to balance ability, without the need for testing equipment. Methods: The first study phase aimed to test interrater and intrarater reliability among a sample of 27 raters, using two intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) models. The second study phase aimed to test convergent/concurrent validity from a sample of 41 independent community-dwelling adults, using Spearman’s correlation with the Tinetti Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment. Results: Good interrater reliability (n=28, ICC=0.77, p<0.001), excellent intrarater reliability (n=28, ICC=0.998, p<0.001), and a moderate to strong correlation between the two balance tests (rs=.59, p<0.001), indicate promise for application of the test as a convenient assessment of balance by exercise for health professionals among large groups of adults aged 65+, in environments characterised by a lack of time, space, personnel and equipment.
Sociability interacts with temporal environmental variation to spatially structure metapopulations: A fish dispersal simulation in an ephemeral landscape

Abstract Metapopulation structure emerges from the dispersal of individuals among spatially distinct patches across a low-quality matrix. While dispersing agents are typically modeled as functionally identical with limited, linear and non-directional dispersal, field studies argue for the incorporation of intraspecific trait variation, such as behavioral, into the modeling of dispersal. Individual personality is of growing interest as a trait that affects dispersal metrics yet remains understudied at large, field-relevant spatial scales. Here, we used an individual-based model to investigate the influence of sociability, a personality-type known to be linked to density-dependent dispersal decisions, on a metapopulation at the individual, local and regional scales. As personality dependent dispersal is temporally dependent, we also examined how emergent properties of the metapopulation varied across two dispersal scenarios: long and short dispersal windows. Overall, our results support the growing evidence that individual personalities can significantly structure metapopulations in both space and time, through negative relationships between sociability and dispersal distance and positive relationships between sociability and patch density. However, we also demonstrate the effects of personality are limited by environmental factors. At the larger spatial scales of our model, patch density as a function of distance from source, and proportion of the landscape occupied were more strongly influenced by the dispersal window than by the personality. Using these results, we derive hypotheses to be examined in future empirical research. As the climate continues to shift, and dispersal models are updated to reflect ever changing conditions, these results suggest individual personality types and the personality type by environment interaction should be considered to accurately reflect dispersal and manage valuable metasystems.
Black power: radical politics and African American identity: by Jeffrey O. G. Ogbar, Baltimore, ML: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2019, 296pp., $32.95 (paperback), ISBN 9781421429762

“This work is observational study, based on the personal experiences of a Black Scholar with the civil rights movement (viii)”. The value of observational studies is that they compel us to look beh...
Bio-molecular SEIRAS Sensor with Passive Molecule Trapping Functionality

We demonstrate a proof-of-concept design of a new type of nanophotonic molecular sensors with the functionality of trapping target biomolecules to the device regions of highly enhanced field intensity, and hence facilitating improvement of sensing performance. Our experimental results show that these devices are capable of effectively accumulating precipitated L-Proline after the analyte solution of various concentrations dries on the device surface. Specifically, our devices produce a few percentage reflection (absorption) change in response to picogram level amino acid proline. Our work demonstrates a new strategy for designing optical sensors for detecting and sensing trace amount of analyte such as molecules in solutions.
Cooperative Scheme for Cell-free Massive MIMO with Radio Stripes

To fulfill challenging requirements of 6G, cell- free massive MIMO can be used to provide ubiquitous connectivity for multiple users. There are two kinds of cell-free schemes: centralized and distributed. Centralized schemes suffer from high fronthaul loading, while distributed schemes have some performance degradation. This paper proposes a cooperative scheme to avoid these drawbacks. Unlike conventional schemes, the proposed scheme employs a spatial combining jointly using access points and central processing unit. A novel cooperative regularized zero-forcing (C-RZF) algorithm is employed, which derives from minimum-meansquare-error processing. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme is able to gain a performance close to centralized MMSE using a fronthaul cost as low as simple distributed schemes, which makes it very suitable for practical implementations.
Suicide by Court? The Role of Advisory Counsel in Assisting Courts to Determine a Defendant’s Competence to Proceed Pro Se

The constitutional right to self-representation before courts (“pro se”) has challenged the US legal system since its inception. Legal scholars have contributed a great deal in resolving many of these challenges. Yet one extremely vexing issue that remains unresolved by both legal academia and the US Supreme Court is how to determine if a defendant is capable to proceed pro se. The US Supreme Court, in Indiana v. Edwards, had granted courts the right to insist upon representation by counsel for those who are incapable of conducting trial proceedings. Nonetheless, the US Supreme Court never laid down a clear applicable standard or a thorough criteria to determine who is capable to conduct trial proceedings and who is not. Although medical experts determine whether a defendant is compromised due to a mental or psychological illness, judges have a wide discretionary power and a final say in allowing a defendant to proceed pro se. This article intends to solve this vexing issue by highlighting the potential role of the advisory counsel in guiding the court to determine a defendant’s capability to proceed pro se under Edwards. Furthermore, this research discusses the potential constitutional and ethical dilemmas that may arise as a result of exercising that potential role. Finally, we contend that courts’ statistical tendency in allowing incapable defendants to proceed pro se even in capital punishment cases is equivalent to suicide assistance. Thus, this article justifies the call for abolishing the right to proceed pro se in capital punishment cases upon constitutional and human rights grounds.
Association and Connectionist Approaches to AI

In Chap. 4, we presented symbol-based AI and described many of its successes. We also noted several limitations, including the necessary use of the abstractive process to create symbolic representations. Abstraction identifies and tokenizes, representing with specific symbols, similar objects, and properties. Associationist theories of meaning, following the empiricist tradition in philosophy, define objects in terms of networks of relations to other objects. When a human perceives an object, it is mapped into a concept. This concept is part of the human’s entire knowledge of the world and is connected through appropriate relationships with other concepts. The resulting network constitutes an understanding of the properties and behaviors of objects. Chapter 5 presents this associationist approach to artificial intelligence problem solving.
Interference Filters for Submillimeter Space Projects

High quality low-frequency pass and band pass metalic mesh interference filters are discussed, which cover the range 50μm to 1000μm. The use of these filters in satellite radiometry (operational) and balloon-borne astronomy is specifically considered.
A systematic approach of statistical modeling and its application to CMOS circuits

A systematic approach of statistical modeling is developed to analyze and model statistical variations of CMOS transistor model parameters for statistical circuit simulation. The proposed methodology is based on several standard statistical techniques, and its accuracy and efficiency are verified by several examples. The efficiency of the method lies in the reduction of dimensions of parameter space without losing much statistical information. >
Usability of Interactive Item Types and Tools Introduced in the New GRE® revised General Test

The computer-based Graduate Record Examinations® (GRE®) revised General Test includes interactive item types and testing environment tools (e.g., test navigation, on-screen calculator, and help). How well do test takers understand these innovations? If test takers do not understand the new item types, these innovations may introduce construct-irrelevant variance, with test takers performing differently than they would with more familiar item types. Similarly, the navigational and other test environment tools are another potential source of variance, if some test takers understand how to use them and others do not. In this study, we examined the reactions, engagement, and difficulties encountered as 20 potential test takers completed Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning sections of a practice GRE test. Participants were sophomores and juniors from colleges and universities in the local area. Their reactions were captured through the use of cognitive laboratory sessions that incorporated interviews that required test takers to think aloud, as well as researcher observations as test takers worked quietly. Results of the analysis of this data revealed that some participants needed time to figure out what was being asked of them when they encountered the new item types, although most were able to answer each item eventually. On the other hand, most participants stated that they did not even notice the test environment tools, and few were observed actually using the tools. Several participants provided suggestions about improving the usability of the new item types and test environment tools.
Constitutionalizing an Enforceable Right to Food: A New Tool for Combating Hunger

"When millions of people die in a famine, it is hard to avoid the thought that something terribly criminal is going on. The law, which defines and protects our rights as citizens, must somehow be compromised by these dreadful events. In seeking a remedy to this problem of terrible vulnerability, it is natural to turn towards a reform of the legal system, so that rights of social security can be made to stand as guarantees of minimal protection and survival."Without enforcement mechanisms within the national legal system, the international right to food fails to serve as an effective tool for combating hunger.15 This Note is the first to compare effective national right to food efforts and identify essential elements underlying a justiciable, national right to food. Part I of this Note provides historical background of the internationally recognized right to food and an overview of national responses to this right. Part II discusses the right to food as a constitutional provision and details how the right has been created, defined, and enforced in South Africa, India, and Brazil. Finally, Part III applies the insight from South Africa, India, and Brazil to Mexico’s efforts to ensure the right to food through national policies and grassroots social movements. This Note identifies the essential foundational elements required for establishing a national right to food and concludes that the right to food is most effective when national constitutions provide justiciable means for legal redress.
Approximate Riemann Solvers

Godunov’s method, and higher order variations of the method to be discussed later, require the solution of Riemann problems at every cell boundary in each time step. Although in theory these Riemann problems can be solved, in practice doing so is expensive, and typically requires some iteration for nonlinear equations.
An ILP formulation for reliability-oriented high-level synthesis

Reliability decisions taken early in system design can bring significant benefits in terms of design quality. This paper presents a 0-1 integer linear programming (ILP) formulation for reliability-oriented high-level synthesis that addresses the soft error problem. The proposed approach tries to maximize reliability of the design while observing the bounds on area and performance, and makes use of our reliability characterization of hardware components such as adders and multipliers. We implemented the proposed approach, performed experiments with several example designs, and compared the results with those obtained by a prior proposal. Our results show that incorporating reliability as a first-class metric during high-level synthesis brings significant improvements on the overall design reliability.
Hormone-dependent Tumor Regression in Vivo by an Inducible Transcriptional Repressor Directed at the PAX3-FKHR Oncogene

In alveolar rhabdomyosarcomas (ARMSs), a specific chromosomal translocation creates a fusion transcription factor, PAX3-FKHR, that is oncogenic due to transcriptional activation. As a strategy for down-regulation of PAX3-FKHR target genes, we created conditional PAX3 repressors by fusing the PAX3 DNA-binding motifs to the hormone binding domain (HBD) of the estrogen receptor and to the KRAB repression domain. We validated proper expression, specific DNA binding, corepressor interaction, and nuclear localization for the KRAB-PAX3-HBD protein and showed it to be a 4-hydroxytamoxifen-dependent transcriptional repressor of transiently transfected and integrated PAX3 reporters in ARMS cells. We established ARMS cell lines that exhibited stable expression of the conditional PAX3 repressor proteins and used them to down-regulate the malignant growth under low serum or anchorage-independent conditions in a hormone-dependent manner. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling assays revealed that hormonal activation of the PAX3 repressors induced extensive apoptosis that correlated with down-regulation of BCL-XL expression. SCID mice that were engrafted with the KRAB-PAX3-HBD ARMS cell lines and were implanted with 4-hydroxytamoxifen timed-release pellets exhibited suppression of tumor growth and an altered vascularity that was not observed in the control mice. These observations strongly suggest that we have directly repressed the PAX3 target genes that are deregulated by the PAX3-FKHR oncogene in ARMS.
Matrix based asymmetric bulk encryption algorithm

This paper discusses a matrix based asymmetric bulk encryption algorithm. The security of the proposed algorithm is based on difficulty in factoring a composite integer into its component primes. We also propose a method to maintain the atomicity of the whole message to thwart all attacks based on any partial knowledge about the message. The novel part of the discussed public key encryption algorithm is that it is many times faster than the existing RSA public key algorithm for large messages. In the trivial case of 1/spl times/1 matrices it reduces to the RSA public key encryption algorithm.
Nanophthalmos with Uveal Effusion: Clinical and Embryologic Considerations

Three brothers were found to have nanophthalmos as evidenced by marked hyperopia, decreased global axial length, and shallow anterior chambers. The thickness of the lens, measured with A-scan ultrasound biometry in two cases, was much greater than normal. Choroidal thickening with shallow retinal detachments without breaks was found in those patients. Fluorescein angioscopy demonstrated leaks beneath the serous retinal detachments in one. The spontaneous presence of choroidal effusions and retinal detachments in nanophthalmic patients has been reported only rarely. The present findings emphasize that careful examination of the posterior segment should be done prior to anterior segment surgery in these patients to alert the surgeon to the possibility of serious intra- and post-operative choroidal effusions and retinal detachments. An attempt is made to explain some of the clinical findings in nanophthalmos by extrapolating from results obtained on experimental animals. It is postulated that the increased lens size in nanophthalmos may be due to the abnormal accumulation of a factor influencing lens fiber differentiation. The overall small size of the eye may be the result of the formation of a smaller than usual optic vesicle anlage.
Comparison of guarded and unguarded linear polarization CCD devices with weight loss measurements

Abstract Two types of linear polarization devices may be used to measure the corrosion current density (CCD) to assess the degree of active corrosion in concrete structures. The devices, with and without a guard electrode, provide significantly different CCD values for the same conditions. The 5-year study reported herein presents a comparison of the two devices over a range of CCD values from passive to highly active corrosion conditions for outdoor exposure slabs. The results demonstrate that both devices are able to qualitatively rank the instantaneous corrosion conditions in structures. The guarded electrode device measurements were less quantitatively precise than the unguarded electrode device. The guarded electrode device underestimated the amount of metal loss by a factor of 4–6. The unguarded electrode device overestimate the metal loss by a factor of about 1.5 when compared to weight loss measurements and adjusted for concrete temperature and resistance.
LATTICE INSTABILITIES IN SUPERCONDUCTING TERNARY MOLYBDENUM SULFIDES.

Abstract Low temperature crystallographic and electrical resistivity data for several ternary molybdenum sulfides are presented. Some of these compounds are found to be crystallographically unstable.
The saturation magnetostriction of permalloy films

The saturation magnetostriction of permalloy films has been measured as a function of film composition. In general, the data obtained agrees with the published values for bulk polycrystalline permalloy. It has further been established that the composition for zero magnetostriction is at about 81.5 (wt.)% Ni. The exact composition for 0 magnetostriction is difficult to attain and for most films deposited under practical conditions the magnetostriction is small but slightly negative or positive. Various elements such as Cr, Rh, Ir and Ti have been added to permalloy films to enhance their corrosion resistance. The saturation magnetostriction of these films has been measured as a function of the amount of dilutent. All of the dilutents cause positive contributions to the saturation magnetostriction of permalloy films; Ir has the largest effect on λ, with the other elements Ti, Cr and Rh the effect on λ is less than Ir and decreases in that order.
Influence of water availability during incubation on hatchling size, body composition, desiccation tolerance, and terrestrial locomotor performance in the snapping turtle Chelydra serpentina.

Abstract The effects of water availability during incubation on the water contents of neonatal snapping turtles at hatching were examined, along with the influence of hatchling water content on desiccation tolerance and terrestrial locomotor performance. The water contents of hatchlings from eggs incubated on wet substrates were both absolutely and proportionally greater than were those of hatchlings from eggs incubated on dry substrates. Hatchlings with greater water contents at hatching were able to survive longer and to lose more water before physiological performance was adversely affected by desiccation. Increased water contents in hatchlings with greater water availability during incubation may enhance survival by increasing the amount of water the animal can afford to lose before dehydration begins to adversely affect whole animal performance.
A market analysis comparing the practices of psychiatrists and psychologists.

• Data are analyzed that describe the clinical work of representative samples of psychiatrists and clinical psychologists who practiced in one of 62 markets for mental health services in the United States during 1982 and 1983. For psychiatrists, intensity of treatment (ie, mean face-to-face treatment minutes per patient per month) varied from 107 to 368 minutes vs 124 to 283 minutes for psychologists. Multiple regression models explain these variations somewhat differently for each provider group. Whereas the patient's severity or stage of illness is explanatory for both psychiatrists and psychologists, only psychologists appear to alter intensity of treatment in response to local economic conditions. Psychiatrists have large diversified practices, whereas psychologists tend to treat fewer persons and the bulk of these have less severe mental and emotional conditions. Neither practitioner group appeared to provide services in excess of their perceptions of patient need. These and other important similarities and differences are explored, and the advantages of local market focus for examining relevant public policy issues are discussed.
Studying pellet formation of a filamentous fungus Rhizopus oryzae to enhance organic acid production

Using pelletized fungal biomass can effectively improve the fermentation performance for most of fugal strains. This article studied the effects of inoculum and medium compositions such as potato dextrose broth (PDB) as carbon source, soybean peptone, calcium carbonate, and metal ions on pellet formation of Rhizopus oryzae. It has been found that metal ions had significantly negative effects on pellet formation whereas soybean peptone had positive effects. In addition PDB and calcium carbonate were beneficial to R. oryzae for growing small smooth pellets during the culture. The study also demonstrated that an inoculum size of less than 1.5×109 spores/L had no significant influence on pellet formation. Thus, a new approach to form pellets has been developed using only PDB, soybean peptone, and calcium carbonate. Meanwhile, palletized fungal fermentation significantly enhanced organic acid production. Lactic acid concentration reached 65.0 g/L in 30 h using pelletized R. oryzae NRRL 395, and fumeric acid concentration reached 31.0 g/L in 96 h using pelletized R. oryzae ATCC 20344.
Serotonin-lesion myoclonic syndromes. I. Neurochemical profile and S-1 receptor binding.

Abstract This paper and the following one describe the effects of l -5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) (after 3 intracisternal injections of 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (DHT), fenfluramine (FF),p-chloroamphetamine (PCA) and drug combinations on (i) brain regional amine concentration (HPLC with LEC) and serotonin S-1 receptor binding; and (ii) ‘serotonergic’ behaviors in the same adult rats. Serotonin (5-HT) neurotoxins produced significantly different regional profiles of 5-HT depletion. Multiple DHT injections caused a 90–100% depletion of 5-HT concurrently in neocorex, hippocampus, striatum, septum/accumbens, pons, cerebellum, and cervical cord. Only PCA significantly depleted midbrain. Drug combinations with DHT resembled DHT alone rather than additive depletions, except for PCA + DHT, which produced a hybrid pattern of depletion. The S-1 binding assay, using cold 5-HT to displace [ 3 H]5-HT, was performed with and without ascorbate, EDTA, CaC1 2 , and pargyline. Without ascorbate, binding was specific, saturable, region-dependent, and non-linear with high (K d 1–3nM) and low affinity (10–20 nM) components but no coopeerativity (0.8 max andK d did not differ significantly between vehicle- and drug-treated animals in neocortex, hippocampus, striatum, thalamus, hypothalamus, midbrain, pons, medulla, cervical cord, cerebellum, or septum/accumbens two weeks after lesioning, while the assay did detect a 60% reduction in B max induced by ascorbic acid (1 mM). The effects of assay conditions exceeded the changes sometimes reported in S-1 receptor B max after 5-HT lesions.
Effect of Sympathetic Nerve Stimulation on Cerebral and Cephalic Flow

Several excellent anatomic investigations concerned with sympathetic innervation of cerebral blood vessels (4, 8, 10) appear to establish rather conclusively that cerebral blood vessels are accompanied by sympathetic nerve fibers. It has been shown that these nerve fibers contain norepinephrine and that they fulfill the ultrastructural criteria for true adrenergic nerve terminals (8, 9). Also, histochemical fluorescence studies have demonstrated considerable differences in the density of innervation of different parts of the cerebral vasculature (3). The role that these nerves play in the control of cerebral vasomotor tone, however, is a matter of dispute. Most investigators have observed that electrical stimulation of cervical sympathetic nerves has no (6, 12) or only slight (1, 5) effect on the cerebral vasculature.
Quality Changes of Pond-raised Hybrid Striped Bass during Chillpack and Refrigerated Storage

Pond-raised hybrid striped bass were commercially processed into fillets with and without belly flap, packaged in oxygen permeable bags (Cryovac E(tm)), and stored as chillpack samples (-2°C) and as refrigerated samples (2°C). Quality changes were determined over 21 days storage by microbiological, chemical, and sensory evaluations. Aerobic plate counts and hypoxanthine formation showed evidence of rapid deterioration of refrigerated samples after 8 days storage compared to 21 days for chillpack samples. A trained sensory panel found 21 day stored chillpack samples similar in flavor and aroma but of firmer texture than refrigerated samples stored 8 days. Panelists found no differences between trimmed and whole fillets. Hypoxanthine formation and aerobic plate counts appeared to be good indicators of quality deterioration, whereas thiobarbituric acid measurements were not.
Mitochondrial localization and characterization of 99Tc-SESTAMIBI in heart cells by electron probe X-ray microanalysis and 99Tc-NMR spectroscopy

Abstract As the development of targeted intracellular magnetic resonance contrast agents proceeds, techniques for the quantitative analysis of the subcellular compartmentation and characterization of metallopharmaceuticals must also advance. To this end, the subcellular distribution and chemical state of hexakis (2-methoxyisobutyl isonitrile) technetium-99 ( 99 Tc-SESTAMIBI), the ground state of the organotechnetium radiopharmaceutical used for the noninvasive evaluation of myocardial perfusion and viability by scintigraphy, has been determined by a novel application of electron probe X-ray microanalysis (EPXMA) and 99 Tc-NMR spectroscopy. In cryopreserved cultured chick heart cells equilibrated in 36 μM 99 Tc-SESTAMIBI, EPXMA imaging of mitochondria yielded a respiratory uncoupler-sensitive characteristic 99 Tc X-ray peak representing 32.0 ± 2.9 nmoles Tc/mg dry weight, while EPXMA of cytoplasm or nucleus showed no peak significantly greater than the threshold detectability limit of ∼ 1 nmole/mg dry weight. Technetium-99 NMR spectroscopy of heart cells equilibrated with 99 Tc-SESTAMIBI showed a single peak at −45.5 ppm with no evidence of significant line broadening or chemical shift compared to aqueous chemical standards, indicating that the majority of the complex exists unbound within the mitochondrial matrix. These data quantitatively demonstrate the localization of this lipophilic cationic organometallic complex within mitochondria in situ, consistent with a sequestration mechanism dependent on membrane potentials. Furthermore, this study establishes the general feasibility of combined EPXMA and NMR spectroscopy for the direct subcellular localization and characterization of metallopharmaceuticals, techniques that are readily applicable to MR contrast agents.
Markedly enhanced skeletal muscle transfection achieved by the ultrasound-targeted delivery of non-viral gene nanocarriers with microbubbles.

Abstract Our goal was to enhance ultrasound (US)-targeted skeletal muscle transfection through the use of poly(ethyleneglycol) (PEG)/polyethylenimine (PEI) nanocomplex gene carriers and adjustments to US and microbubble (MB) parameters. C57BL/6 mice received an intravenous infusion of MBs and either “naked” luciferase plasmid or luciferase plasmid condensed in PEG/PEI nanocomplexes. Pulsed ultrasound (1 MHz; 0.6 MPa or 0.8 MPa) was applied to the right hindlimb for 12 min. Luciferase activity in both hindlimbs was assessed at 3, 5, 7, and 10 days post-treatment by bioluminescent imaging. When targeted to hindlimb using unsorted MBs and 0.6 MPa US, 7 days after treatment, we observed a > 60-fold increase in luciferase activity in PEG/PEI nanocomplex‐treated muscles over muscles treated with “naked” plasmid DNA. Luciferase activity was consistently greater after treatment with PEG/PEI nanocomplexes at 0.6 MPa as compared to 0.8 MPa. The combination of small diameter MBs and 0.6 MPa US also resulted in significantly greater gene expression when compared to concentration matched intramuscular injections, a control condition in which considerably more PEG/PEI nanocomplexes were present in tissue. This result suggests that, in addition to facilitating PEG/PEI nanocomplex delivery from the bloodstream to tissue, US enhances transfection via one or more secondary mechanisms, including increased cellular uptake and/or trafficking to the nucleus of PEG/PEI nanocomplexes. We conclude that PEG/PEI nanocomplexes may be used to markedly enhance the amplitude of US-MB-targeted skeletal muscle transfection and that activating “small” MBs with a moderate level (0.6 MPa) of acoustic pressure can further enhance these effects.
APPLICATION AND CORRECTION OF THE EXPONENTIAL WINDOW FOR FREQUENCY RESPONSE FUNCTIONS

Abstract Applying windows to experimental data is a common practice in modal testing to minimise the effects of leakage, and the exponential window is used for the transient signals measured with impact testing and burst random excitation. Used properly, the exponential can minimise leakage errors on lightly damped signals and can also improve the signal-to-noise of heavily damped signals. The time constant of the exponential window is specified typically by the user, and this paper discusses guidelines for specifying the window for both types of response signal. The effect of the exponential window is to increase the apparent damping of the measured system, and the correction for this effect on the estimated modal parameters is developed by utilising the shift property of the Laplace transform. In addition, the transfer function of a half-period sine pulse, which is a representative model of an impact force signal, is studied to show the need for, and consequences of, applying the exponential window to both the force signal and response signals. Finally, several numerical simulation test cases of sdof system as presented to demonstrate the issues discussed in preceding sections.
Multiple sequential intussusceptions causing bowel obstruction in a preterm neonate

We present a case of multiple sequential intussusceptions in a preterm neonate that resulted in mechanical bowel obstruction. The differential diagnosis of abdominal obstruction in a neonate is extensive, requiring a thorough review of presentation and methodical workup to determine etiology (Teitelbaum DH. Obturation obstruction of the intestine. In: O'Neill JA, editor. Principles of pediatric surgery. St. Louis (MO): Mosby, 2003. p. 605-612). Rare causes must be considered in a patient with no obvious etiology on contrast studies and persistent symptoms. Intussusception, a common cause of obstruction and pain in older infants and children, can rarely occur in neonates and is unfortunately difficult to diagnose preoperatively (J Pediatr. 1955;47:87-94; Pediatr Surg Int. 1998;13:232-236; Ann Saudi Med. 2000; 20:310-312; Eur J Pediatr. 1999;158:830-832; J Paedatr Child Health. 2004;40:388-391; Radiology. 1977;125:463-466; J Perinat Med. 2004;32:190-194).
Consequences of the connection formulae for Sturm-Liouville spectral functions

For a special case of the Sturm-Liouville equation, −( py ′)′ + qy = λ wy on [0, ∞) with the initial condition y (0) cos α + p (0) y ′(0) sin α = 0, α ∈ [0, π), it is shown that, given the spectral derivative for two values of α ∈ [0, π) at a fixed μ = Re{λ} ≥ Λ 0 , it is possible to uniquely determine . An explicit formula is derived to accomplish this. Further, in a more general case of the Sturm-Liouville problem for μ with both finite and positive, then the following inequality holds
Tritium partitioning and isotope effects in adenosylcobalamin-dependent glutamate mutase.

Tritiated adenosylcobalamin, labeled at the exchangeable position, has been used to investigate the partitioning of tritium between substrate and product in the reaction catalyzed by glutamate mutase. The isotope partitions between glutamate and methylaspartate in nearly 1:1 ratio, regardless of the direction in which the overall reaction is proceeding. This is consistent with a free-energy profile in which the interconversion of the intermediate glutamyl and methylaspartyl radicals is rapid relative to the transfer of tritium from 5‘-deoxyadenosine to either substrate or product. Initial velocity measurements have been used to measure the tritium isotope effects for the transfer of tritium from adenosylcobalamin to product in each direction. The isotope effect is 21 for the formation of glutamate and 19 for the formation of methylasparate. The large magnitude of these isotope effects makes it likely that the rate-determining step may be altered by the substitution of tritium for hydrogen in the reaction....
Nilpotent n-Lie Algebras

We find examples of nilpotent n-Lie algebras and prove n-Lie analogs of classical group theory and Lie algebra results. As an example we show that a nilpotent ideal I of class c in a n-Lie algebra A with A/I 2 nilpotent of class d is nilpotent and find a bound on the class of A. We also find that some classical group theory and Lie algebra results do not hold in n-Lie algebras. In particular, non-nilpotent n-Lie algebras can admit a regular automorphism of order p, and the sum of nilpotent ideals need not be nilpotent.
The Diffraction of X-Rays in Glass

X-ray diffraction patterns of vitreous Si${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ and Ge${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ have been made in an evacuated camera using Cu $K\ensuremath{\alpha}$ radiation monochromatized by crystal reflection. Intensity curves are obtained from the microphotometer records in the usual way. A method is developed for calculating the scattering of x-rays in an amorphous solid and is applied to the diffraction patterns of glass. In vitreous Si${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ each Si is tetrahedrally surrounded by 4 oxygens at a distance Si---O=1.60A, and each oxygen is shared between two such tetrahedral groups. The resulting network which is built up is a random network, it does not repeat at regular intervals, and is accordingly non-crystalline. From this picture of the glassy state, scattering curves are calculated for vitreous Si${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ and Ge${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ which are in good agreement with the experimental curves.
6 GENE EXPRESSION ANALYSIS OF IN VIVO- AND IN VITRO-MATURED PORCINE METAPHASE II OOCYTES

In vitro-matured (IVM) oocytes lack the same developmental competence as oocytes that are matured in vivo (IVV), yet no compelling explanation for this discrepancy has been provided at the molecular level. The aim of this study was to quantify and compare mRNA levels in IVM and IVV oocytes for genes from a wide variety of functional gene categories, including RNA degradation, pluripotency, epigenome modification, oocyte-specific, and apoptosis. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was used to evaluate the relative gene expression levels of 70 genes in each of 33 individual IVM oocytes from 4 different collection days and 29 individual IVV oocytes from 4 different donor animals. The qPCR data were analysed using ANOVA and significance was assigned at P < 0.05. After a multiple testing correction was applied, relative transcript abundances for 32 of the 70 genes tested were found to be significantly different (q < 0.05) between the IVM and IVV oocytes. Of these significantly different genes, 23 were higher in the IVM oocytes and only 9 were higher in the IVV oocytes. The 32 significantly differentially expressed genes were then evaluated in relation to their corresponding functional gene categories. Of particular interest, transcripts for 7/14 RNA degradation-related genes (CNOT3, DCP1A, DDX6, LSM1, PABPN1, PABPN1L, PARN) and 3/9 oocyte specific genes (BMP15, YBX2, H1FOO) were significantly more abundant in the IVM oocytes. In contrast, transcripts for 4/8 epigenetic related transcripts (ASH2l, DNMT1, EHMT2, EZH2), 2/2 apoptosis related genes (BCL2, XIAP), and 1/4 pluripotency factors (LIN28) were significantly more abundant in the IVV oocytes. Gene set enrichment analysis confirmed that, within the context of this experimental design, RNA degradation and chromatin remodelling pathways are significantly perturbed in IVM oocytes. We conclude that in vitro maturation has profound effects on transcript populations of metaphase-II oocytes, with most transcripts being higher in IVM oocytes. We expect that this data will lead to a better understanding of how we can improve the quality of oocytes that are matured in vitro as well as provide information to help to identify markers that could be indicative of oocyte quality.