cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analgesic and Neuroprotective Effects of B Vitamins

The B vitamins, in addition to their importance in nutrition, are critical cofactors for axonal transport, excitability of neurons, synthesis of neurotransmitters, and numerous cellular metabolic pathways. Deficiencies in B vitamins have been hypothesized as etiological factors in the development of various neuropathies. Experimental animal studies and clinical investigations have demonstrated that high doses of B vitamins including thiamine, pyridoxine, cyanocobalamin, and their combinations can greatly attenuate certain forms of neuropathic pain and reduce spinal cord neuron injury following temporary ischemia of the spinal cord. This review summarizes and discusses the evidence for B vitamins as analgesics and neuroprotective agents, as well as aims to advance the understanding of and explore the therapeutic potential of B vitamins for those who suffer from chronic pain due to inflammation, injury, and certain stresses.
Cutaneous malignancies simulating seborrheic keratoses: An underappreciated phenomenon?

Background Seborrheic keratosis (SK), a common and benign entity, is generally diagnosed clinically without the need for a biopsy. Given their variable appearance, SK may mimic cancer clinically and require biopsy for clinically equivocal cases. A clinician may also choose to perform biopsies on SK based on other circumstances, such as cosmetic reasons or SK being in an inconvenient and irritative location. Methods Dermatopathology samples from 2015 obtained from private and university locations were retrospectively assessed. Cases included in the study were those with “SK” or “ISK” (irritated seborrheic keratosis) and no other diagnosis in the clinical data. Cases with modifiers suggestive of malignancy such as “SK rule out others,” changing, growing and so on were excluded. A total of 4361 eligible cases were identified and used for analysis. Results Of the 4361 cases identified as only “SK” or “ISK” in the clinical data, 3759 (86.2%) were, in fact, SK or ISK. A total of 466 (10.7%) were an assortment of non-malignancy diagnoses such as dermatofibroma. There were 136 (3.1%) cases histologically diagnosed as malignancies. The majority (9/136 cases; 67%) were in situ or invasive squamous cell carcinoma; 24.3% (33/136) were basal cell carcinoma and 8.8% (12/136) were melanoma. Conclusion SK may mimic cancer even in clinically unsuspicious cases.
Macrophage Heterogeneity Complicates Reversal of Calcification in Cardiovascular Tissues.

Macrophages are highly heterogeneous cells exhibiting a wide range of protein markers, tissue locations, and functions. Often thought of as host defense cells with phagocytic, innate/adaptive immune system, and proinflammatory roles, macrophages contribute to a variety of tissue functions, including adipose thermogenesis, tissue repair, splenic and hepatic iron recycling, neural synaptic pruning, and cardiac electric conduction. In the current issue of Circulation Research , Chinetti-Gbaguidi et al1 enhance our understanding of the diverse roles of macrophages in vascular disease by reporting that macrophages near calcified regions of human atherosclerotic lesions display low mineral resorption potential. This study ties macrophage osteoclastogenesis to vascular calcification and identifies disrupted signaling pathways that may help to develop anticalcification therapies. Article, see p 19 A traditional view proposed mechanisms for macrophage polarization induced by proinflammatory stimuli, such as lipopolysaccharide and interferon-γ (so-called classically activated or M1 macrophages) or anti-inflammatory factors, for example, interleukin 4 (alternatively activated or M2 macrophages). Recent evidence has suggested that macrophage heterogeneity is more multidimensional.2 We demonstrated that M1-like human primary macrophages elicited by interferon-γ contain subpopulations, suggesting a more complex pattern of heterogeneity than a traditional theory of macrophage dichotomy.3 This diversity brings complexity to the pathogenesis of vascular disease. In atherosclerotic plaques, macrophages contribute to disease progression by secreting proinflammatory and cytotoxic factors and releasing matrix metalloproteinases resulting in extracellular matrix breakdown and plaque instability.4 These phagocytes also have beneficial roles, such as removal of lipoproteins and apoptotic cells and resolution of inflammation. Similarly, the balance of various macrophage functions may promote or inhibit cardiovascular calcification. Cardiovascular calcification is one of the strongest risk factors associated with negative clinical outcomes in cardiovascular disease, …
Development and use of confidence intervals for automatic target recognition evaluation

The development and use of confidence intervals for automatic target recogni- tion or cueing (ATR or ATC) evaluation will be considered. First, the concepts of confidence intervals and performance curves will be briefly reviewed and the con- cept of a confidence interval for a performance curve outlined. Second, the moti- vation for developing and using them will be described in terms of systems analy- sis and ATR component evaluation. Third, the role of experimental design and scenarios will be briefly examined. Fourth, the need for optimization of ATR algorithm performance will be examined, along with the resulting implications on the formulation of stochastic process models that provide the basis for perfor- mance evaluation and for the confidence intervals. Fifth, the construction of confidence intervals for performance curves will be developed. Finally, applica- tions and extensions of the confidence intervals will be suggested.
High blocking voltage ESD timer clamp with mis-trigger protection

A supply clamp architecture is presented which ensure a reliable low leakage performance at the higher supply voltage. An active feedback network designed into the supply clamp architecture ensures uniform clamping through the duration of the ESD event. Mis-trigger immunity is additionally incorporated to ensure reliable functionality up to 5V.
Three Difficulties in Phenomenological Discourse: Husserlian Problems and a Heideggerian Solution

Phenomenological descriptions are supposed to be revelatory and coincide with the self-showing of the things themselves. These features of phenomenological descriptions lead to the peculiar character of their expression, which has the effect of making them difficult to communicate. That is, the problem with communicating the findings of phenomenological researches is a consequence of the descriptive nature of the endeavor and the disclosive character of phenomenological descriptions. In the Logical Investigations Edmund Husserl recognized that the problem has three facets: how does one state the findings of phenomenological researches, how can one effectively communicate these findings, and how can these communications be persuasive? In this essay I elaborate on these problems and then show that Heidegger’s method of formal indication was designed to solve these problems just as Husserl understood them. We can thus take formal indication as a model for dealing with these problems—and for informing phenomenological discourse—because it solves them with a single strategy.
MITRAL VALVE PROLAPSE: A DEEPER LOOK

Two myths have been prevalent regarding heart valve disease: that the valves are simply mechanical flaps, and that the importance to the patient of regurgitation in particular relates almost entirely to ventricular function only. The paper in this issue of JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging by Han et al
Assessing Irreplaceability for Systematic Conservation Planning

Systematic conservation planning requires that locations targeted for conservation action be prioritized, which can be difficult when planning across large landscapes because the possible sets of locations and conservation goals are all so large. These difficulties can be overcome with the use of computer programs that can handle large volumes of data and can identify sets of locations (called ‘solutions’) that achieve specified conservation goals. I describe the efforts of the conservation organization Two Countries, One Forest to identify priority locations in the Northern Appalachian/Acadian ecoregion using MARXAN to classify locations based on the number of times they are included in a solution. Priority scores range from highly irreplaceable (almost always required) to highly replaceable (almost never required). Conservation goals encompassed ecosystems, threatened and endangered species, geophysical landscape features, and focal carnivores. The amount of land at any particular level of priority varied depending on the target level set for each goal (ranging from low to high); however, target levels had only a small effect on the amount of highly irreplaceable lands (10.4–13.5% of the ecoregion), which were largely associated with existing conservation lands. Other lands also contribute to achieving regional conservation goals, but are generally interchangeable, providing flexibility for integrating conservation planning with broad public engagement.
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back: Trends in Aggressive Inpatient Care at the End of Life for Patients With Stage IV Lung Cancer

Background:Patients with metastatic lung cancer are treated with palliative intent. Aggressive care at the end of life is a marker of poor-quality care. National trends and factors related to aggre...
Abstract WMP91: Disparities in Inpatient Mortality from Acute Stroke: Near-national Estimates for Hispanics

Background: Hispanics are the largest minority in the US, yet there is little national data describing stroke outcomes among Hispanic patients. Objective: To measure inpatient mortality following admission for ischemic stroke (IS), hemorrhagic stroke (HS), and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) among non-Hispanic blacks, non-Hispanic whites, and Hispanics. Methods: We combined discharge data (2010-11) from universe of admissions at all non-federal hospitals from 15 states that account for 85% of the Hispanic population and had near-complete reporting of race/ethnicity (AZ, CA, CO, FL, IL, MA, MD, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OR, PA, TX, VA). We identified all hospitalizations for IS, HS, and SAH, and estimated logistic and hospital-level hierarchical logistic regression models to obtain rates of inpatient mortality by race/ethnicity adjusted for patient characteristics (age, sex, race/ethnicity, comorbidities) and hospital characteristics (annual hospital stroke volume). Results: We found 567,498 discharges for acute strok...
Predictors of Long-Term Survival among High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer Patients.

Background: Relatively little is known about factors associated with long-term survival (LTS) following a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) to explore predictors of LTS (defined as ≥7 years of survival) using electronic medical record data from a network of integrated health care systems. Multivariable logistic regression with forward selection was used to compare characteristics of women who survived ≥7 years after diagnosis (n = 148) to those who died within 7 years of diagnosis (n = 494). Results: Our final model included study site, age, stage at diagnosis, CA-125, comorbidity score, receipt of chemotherapy, BMI, and four separate comorbid conditions: weight loss, depression, hypothyroidism, and liver disease. Of these, only younger age, lower stage, and depression were statistically significantly associated with LTS. Conclusions: We did not identify any new characteristics associated with HGSOC survival. Impact: Prognosis of ovarian cancer generally remains poor. Large, pooled studies of ovarian cancer are needed to identify characteristics that may improve survival.
Le Songe d’une nuit d’été of Ambroise Thomas: L’éclat at the end of the tunnel:

This article argues that Ambroise Thomas’s opera Le Songe d’une nuit d’ete functions as a Romantic allegory of the coarse artistic genius elevated and sanctified by royal and spiritual powers in an...
Al rich PVD protective coatings: A promising approach to prevent T91 steel corrosion in stagnant liquid lead

Abstract In order to investigate a protective coating approach for nuclear applications, two different aluminum rich layers were deposited on T91 steel coupons: Ti-Al-N films were grown via High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering and Al O coatings were produced by Radio Frequency Magnetron Sputtering. In this exploratory work, coated specimens were corrosion tested in stagnant Pb at 550 °C for 1200 h and both types of coatings proved to be effective in protecting the substrate from the harsh environment. Due to the severe experimental conditions, the Al oxide film underwent some mechanical changes, while, the nitride coating demonstrated its noteworthy stability.
Postmenstrual age at discharge in premature infants with and without ventilatory pattern instability.

To determine if ventilatory pattern instability, manifested as periodic breathing (PB) during physiologic challenge testing, affects postmenstrual age (PMA) at discharge. Eighty infants underwent challenge testing at 36 weeks PMA. Infants breathing supplemental O2 received a room air challenge (RAC, N = 51); those breathing ambient air underwent a hypoxic challenge test (HCT, N = 29). Infants were assigned one of four ventilatory control phenotypes based on the presence or absence of PB during their test, and if they passed or failed because of hypoxemia during the challenge test. There were no clinical or demographic differences between groups. Infants who passed their challenge testing were, on average, discharged 1.6 weeks sooner than those who failed. The groups of ventilatory control phenotypes differed in PMA at discharge (p = 0.0020), but those with PB were younger by PMA at discharge. Ventilatory pattern instability did not prolong time to discharge. Passing either challenge was associated with earlier discharge, suggesting these tests might identify infants who can have nasal cannula support removed and be safely discharged sooner. Most of the infants who failed their challenge tests with PB were receiving nasal cannula support. Nasal cannula support may be not only treating hypoxemia due to bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), but also mitigating their ventilatory pattern instability.
Predictive Value of Detectable Somatic Mutations By Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), at Day +100 (D100) Post-Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (allo-HCT) on Survival Outcomes in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)

Background Outcomes of relapsed AML post allo-HCT remain poor. There is a need to develop prognostic markers to identify patients at high risk of relapse. Patients who achieve complete remission with persistent allelic burden detected by NGS post induction chemotherapy have been shown to have a high risk of relapse. We aim to assess the feasibility of standard of care NGS panel in risk stratification for post allo-HCT outcomes. Methods A single center analysis of adult patients who received the first allo-HCT for AML and/or MDS at Mayo Clinic, FL from 2014-2018 was undertaken. Patients allografted at any time point in their disease course were included. A targeted OncHeme NGS panel for myeloid neoplasms was performed prior to allo-HCT. DNA was extracted from the bone marrow sample and following library preparation by hybrid capture, was subjected to NGS with post-sequencing analysis of tumor-associated mutations. The panel was retested on the D100 post allo-HCT bone marrow sample. Outcome data was analyzed using fisher's exact test, cox proportional hazard models and Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results A total of 92 patients were identified, of whom 29 (32%) were tested on D100. 23 of the 29 patients had also been tested pre-allografting with NGS, and represent study population. Median age was 66 (72-22) years. Detailed demographics are shown in Figure 1. Median follow-up was 16 (9-24) months. Fifteen (65%) of 23 had evidence of somatic mutations pre allo-HCT. Only 5 of 15 (33%) who had prior evidence of somatic mutations were found to have detectable mutations on D100. IDH-2 mutations were mostly commonly detected prior to allo-HCT whereas TP53 mutations were most common detected after allo-HCT (Figure 2). Three of 4 patients with baselineTP53 mutations had persistent TP53 mutation at day D100. Eighty percent of patients who had mutations detected by NGS at D100 experienced disease relapse compared to 11% who did not have any detectable mutation (RR=10.32, 95% CI 1.82-58.2, p=0.0082). Patients who had mutations detected by NGS at D100 had a higher mortality rate compared to those who did not have any detectable mutation (80% vs 22%, RR=5.08, 95% CI 1.25-20.68, p=0.0230) (Figure 3). Conclusions Our results show that testing for MRD with NGS is feasible and predicts outcome post allo-HCT. While allo-HCT is effective in preventing relapse in AML, the procedure has limited benefit in AML/MDS with detectable TP53 mutations. As we have demonstrated, persistence of detectable TP53 in remission after allo-HCT is associated with dismal outcome. Patients with detectable NGS mutations prior to allo-HCT should be considered for enrollment in clinical trials evaluating novel conditioning regimens including targeted and/or post-transplant maintenance strategies. One limitation of our study is the use of different gene panels as practice evolved. These results will be validated in larger cohorts.
“Take A Good Look At It”: Seeing Postcolonial Medianatures with Karen Tei Yamashita

Plastic remains one of the most ubiquitous forms that oil takes as a mediating force in our everyday life. This article tracks the way in which this function of plastic has been obfuscated, particularly within the discursive space of academia, by way of a close reading of Karen Tei Yamashita’s 1990 novel Through the Arc of the Rain Forest. After contextualizing the author’s vision of a neoliberal media culture through a brief history of the recent disciplinary convergences of media studies, ecocriticism, and postcolonialism, I argue that Yamashita’s novel functions as a proleptic, literary articulation of the kinds of insights made possible by the combination of the three. Through its particular attention to the lifecycle of media—the transformation of plastic from raw material into technical object and then into trash—I argue that the novel offers a theory of plastic as media that usefully emphasizes its relation to the natural world as much as it does its connection to technology and culture.Image Credit: From the cover of Karen Tei Yamashita's book, Through the Arc of the Rain Forest, Coffee House Press (2017), https://coffeehousepress.org/products/through-the-arc-of-the-rain-forest.
IFRS, FDI, economic growth and human development: The experience of Anglophone and Francophone African countries

Abstract This study examines the relationships of IFRS, FDI, human development and economic growth in Anglophone and Francophone African countries between 1997 and 2017. We find that FDI, openness, schooling, and control of corruption have a positive effect of countries' decisions to adopt IFRS. The results also indicate that FDI has a positive impact on economic growth, and that this positive impact is enhanced by IFRS. Furthermore, we find that Anglophone and common law African countries adopt IFRS more than Francophone countries. Our analysis shows that FDI is positively related to decisions to adopt IFRS in both groups.
Practical considerations when treating chronic hepatitis E in solid organ transplant recipients

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) can lead to chronic infections in immunosuppressed patients. The use of ribavirin to treat chronic HEV has been well-established in case reports and guidelines. However, practical approaches to the use of this antiviral treatment in a post-transplant patient, including drug interactions, dosing adjustments, and monitoring parameters, are lacking. Thus, we present our real-world approach to the use of ribavirin to treat chronic HEV in a solid organ transplant recipient.
Mucormycosis after Coronavirus disease 2019 infection in a heart transplant recipient - Case report and review of literature.

Mucormycosis is an invasive fungal infection (IFI) due to several species of saprophytic fungi, occurring in patients with underlying co-morbidities (including organ transplantation). During the ongoing Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there have been increasing reports of bacterial and fungal co-infections occurring in COVID-19 patients, including COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA). We describe a case of mucormycosis occurring after COVID-19, in an individual who received a recent heart transplant for severe heart failure. Two months after heart transplant, our patient developed upper respiratory and systemic symptoms and was diagnosed with COVID-19. He was managed with convalescent plasma therapy and supportive care. Approximately three months after COVID-19 diagnosis, he developed cutaneous mucormycosis at an old intravascular device site. He underwent extensive surgical interventions, combined with broad-spectrum antifungal therapy. Despite the aggressive therapeutic measures, he died after a prolonged hospital stay. In this case report, we also review the prior well-reported cases of mucormycosis occurring in COVID-19 patients and discuss potential mechanisms by which COVID-19 may predispose to IFIs. Similar to CAPA, mucormycosis with COVID-19 may need to be evaluated as an emerging disease association. Clinicians should be vigilant to evaluate for invasive fungal infections such as mucormycosis in patients with COVID-19 infection.
Salt bridge dynamics in protein/DNA recognition: a comparative analysis of Elk1 and ETV6

Electrostatic protein/DNA interactions arise from the neutralization of the DNA phosphodiester backbone as well as coupled exchanges by charged protein residues as salt bridges or with mobile ions. Much focus has been and continues to be paid to interfacial ion pairs with DNA. The role of extra-interfacial ionic interactions, particularly as dynamic drivers of DNA sequence selectivity, remain poorly known. The ETS family of transcription factors represents an attractive model for addressing this knowledge gap given their diverse ionic composition in primary structures that fold to a tightly conserved DNA-binding motif. To probe the importance of extra-interfacial salt bridges in DNA recognition, we compared the salt-dependent binding by Elk1 with ETV6, two ETS homologs differing markedly in ionic composition. While both proteins exhibit salt-dependent binding with cognate DNA that corresponds to interfacial phosphate contacts, their nonspecific binding diverges from cognate binding as well as each other. Molecular dynamics simulations in explicit solvent, which generated ionic interactions in agreement with the experimental binding data, revealed distinct salt-bridge dynamics in the nonspecific complexes formed by the two proteins. Impaired DNA contact by ETV6 resulted in fewer backbone contacts in the nonspecific complex, while Elk1 exhibited a redistribution of extra-interfacial salt bridges via residues that are non-conserved between the two ETS relatives. Thus, primary structure variation in ionic residues can encode highly differentiated specificity mechanisms in a highly conserved DNA-binding motif.
Ureterosciatic hernia with concomitant Amyand hernia: Case report and review of the literature.

Abstract Ureterosciatic hernias are extremely rare, with fewer than 40 cases reported in the literature. We present a case of a patient with concurrent right ureterosciatic hernia (Lindbom hernia), ipsilateral bladder hernia, and appendix-containing inguinal hernia (Amyand hernia). These findings were discovered incidentally on imaging and the patient had no associated symptoms.
Structure of finite nuclei and the free nucleon-nucleon interactions: (II). Core polarization and effective interactions for the nickel isotopes

Abstract Using the reaction matrix theory, the effective interactions for the nickel isotopes are deduced from the Hamada-Johnston potential, and compared with the empirical values determined by Auerbach. The renormalization effects due to the core polarization are found to be very important. Impressive agreement is obtained.
The effect of alpha-thalassemia on the expression of the beta-thalassemia/HPFH heterozygote in a black family.

A 2-yr-old black girl presented with a thalassemic clinical picture and was found to have nearly 100% fetal hemoglobin in her red cells. Pedigree analysis indicated that she was a heterozygote for the hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin gene and for a beta O- thalassemia gene. A brother, who also had nearly 100% fetal hemoglobin in his red cells, manifested, in contrast to his sister, no anemia and only minimal splenomegaly. Examination of the family9s alpha-globin loci using the restriction endonuclease Eco Rl demonstrated that the brother had a single alpha-locus deletion that he had inherited from his mother. The mild clinical manifestations of this boy are consistent with the often expressed view that excess alpha chains may contribute significantly to the hematologic manifestation of beta-thalassemia.
Model verifies design of mobile data modem

It has been proposed to use differential minimum shift keying (DMSK) modems in spacecraft-based mobile communications systems. For an employment of these modems, it is necessary that the transmitted carrier frequency be known prior to signal detection. In addition, the time needed by the receiver to lock onto the carrier frequency must be minimized. The present article is concerned with a DMSK modem developed for the Mobile Satellite Service. This device demonstrated fast acquisition time and good performance in the presence of fading. However, certain problems arose in initial attempts to study the acquisition behavior of the AFC loop through breadboard techniques. The development of a software model of the AFC loop is discussed, taking into account two cases which were plotted using the model. Attention is given to a demonstration of the viability of the modem by an approach involving modeling and analysis of the frequency synchronizer.
A current-mode successive approximation analog-to-digital conversion technique

A successive approximation analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion algorithm based on the switched-currents technique is proposed. The conversion algorithm can be realized using a CMOS circuit with an operational amplifier, (op amp), a current comparator, several capacitors, and switches. The algorithm requires three steps per bit conversion, and the resulting digital code is insensitive to component mismatches. >
Insertion of EGF receptors into target cells in the absence of fusogenic agents

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors can be spontaneously and selectively transferred from donor plasma membranes to recipient receptorless fibroblasts in the absence of any added fusogenic agent. Studies on the time and temperature dependence of this transfer indicate that it is due to preferential insertion of the EGF receptor over the other plasma membrane proteins. The inserted receptor is exceptionally stable to dissociation or damage. The number of receptors inserted increased with increasing amounts of donor membranes and then reached a plateau, which also suggests the existence of saturable receptor 'docking' sites in recipient cells. It is interesting that both human and murine receptors are selectively inserted into the mutant mouse cell membrane. This suggests that the parts of the receptor molecule responsible for insertion are similar in murine and human receptors, and that a 'docking' factor present in the mouse recipient cells may accept both human and murine receptors.
Neural and hormonal control of arterial pressure during cold exposure in unanesthetized week-old rats.

Infant rats respond to cold exposure with increased heat production by brown adipose tissue (BAT). BAT thermogenesis increases steadily with increasing cold exposure, but a point occurs at which th...
Control Integration for Lunar Mapping

The Department of Defense (DOD) Interim Control System 1966 has been established by the Selenodetic Branch of the Army Map Service (AMS), in cooperation with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Lunar and Planetary Branch of the Aeronautical Chart and Information Center (ACIC). Initial application of the new system will be in preparation of charts and maps for Project Apollo landing site selection. It is expected that the parameters descriptive of the lunar figure will be significantly improved from the harmonic analysis of the new control.
New tools for graph coloring

How to color 3 colorable graphs with few colors is a problem of longstanding interest. The best polynomial-time algorithm uses n0.2072 colors. There are no indications that coloring using say O(log n) colors is hard. It has been suggested that SDP hierarchies could be used to design algorithms that use ne colors for arbitrarily small e > 0. We explore this possibility in this paper and find some cause for optimism. While the case of general graphs is till open, we can analyse the Lasserre relaxation for two interesting families of graphs. For graphs with low threshold rank (a class of graphs identified in the recent paper of Arora, Barak and Steurer on the unique games problem), Lasserre relaxations can be used to find an independent set of size Ω(n) (i.e., progress towards a coloring with O(log n) colors) in nO(D) time, where D is the threshold rank of the graph. This algorithm is inspired by recent work of Barak, Raghavendra, and Steurer on using Lasserre Hierarchy for unique games. The algorithm can also be used to show that known integrality gap instances for SDP relaxations like strict vector chromatic number cannot survive a few rounds of Lasserre lifting, which also seems reason for optimism. For distance transitive graphs of diameter Δ, we can show how to color them using O(log n) colors in n2O(Δ) time. This family is interesting because the family of graphs of diameter O(1/e) is easily seen to be complete for coloring with ne colors. The distance-transitive property implies that the graph "looks" the same in all neighborhoods. The full version of this paper can be found at: http://www.cs.princeton.edu/~rongge/LasserreColoring.pdf .
3α-HYDROXY-5α-PREGNAN-20-ONE IN THE MIDBRAIN VENTRAL TEGMENTAL AREA MEDIATES SOCIAL, SEXUAL, AND AFFECTIVE BEHAVIORS

Progestins mediate the onset and duration of lordosis, the mating posture of female rodents, through actions in the hypothalamus and ventral tegmental area. In the hypothalamus, progesterone has traditional, “genomic” actions via intracellular progestin receptors. In the ventral tegmental area, 3α-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one has “non-genomic” actions independent of progestin receptors to facilitate lordosis that involve GABAA/benzodiazepine receptors, NMDA type glutamate receptors, and/or dopamine receptors. 3α-Hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one levels also change with behavioral and/or environmental stimuli and may have a role in other reproductively-relevant behaviors, such as affiliation, exploration, and anxiety (socio-sexual behaviors). Data are reviewed that support the notion that: 1) effects of 3α-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one in the midbrain ventral tegmental area facilitate lordosis and other reproductively-relevant behaviors. 2) 3α-Hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one, formed in the ventral tegmental area from metabolism of progestins, produced peripherally by endocrine glands, or centrally from biosynthesis in glial cells mediates socio-sexual behaviors. 3) 3α-Hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one’s actions at GABAA/benzodiazepine receptors, NMDA type glutamate receptors, and dopamine receptors in the ventral tegmental area are important for lordosis; however, effects at these substrates on socio-sexual behaviors have not been elucidated. Given 3α-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one’s involvement in stress responses, its putative role as a homeostatic regulator and in the pathophysiology and treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders is discussed.
Goal setting and efficiency in social service agencies

Abstract Generally, service agencies are either private or public non-profit firms. This paper analyzes the provision of services in terms of the developing theory of non-profit institutions. The primary purpose of the paper is to present the indicator-operational target approach as a way of monitoring and improving the effectiveness of social service agencies. In addition, a system of internal and external checks, developed by Gordon Tullock, and alternatives for improving incentives and institutions, developed by William Niskanen, are presented.
State Under Siege: Development And Policy Making In Peru

Using a framework that highlights how societal and international factors have shaped state capacities, Philip Mauceri examines Perus volatile politics in the countrys move from a developmentalist state to neoliberalism. He explores the challenges to state authority during the military regimes reformist experiment, arguing that they were intensified in the 1980s by poor planning and limited policy choices. He then examines how social and international conditions have influenced the Fujimori regimes attempt to retool the state along neoliberal lines. }Using a framework that highlights how societal and international factors have shaped state capacities, Philip Mauceri examines the volatile politics in Peru from the Velasco through the Fujimori regimes as the country has moved from a developmentalist state to neoliberalism.Dr. Mauceri begins by reassessing the reformist experiment of the Peruvian military regime (19681980), arguing that it led to the development of unexpected challenges to state authority, both from new social actors and international financial organizations. During the 1980s, these challenges intensified, made even worse by poor planning and limited policy choices. The author then argues that the attempt by the Fujimori regime, backed by a neoliberal coalition, to retool the state indicates the degree to which state capacities are determined by social and international conditions. Mauceri also gives special attention to the relation between changing state power and social control. Separate chapters on the evolution of a Lima shantytown and the Shining Path examine how changes in state-society relations have had impacts at the grassroots level.
A 12-integral relaxation for the A-matching problem

The A-matching problem generalizes matching problems by stipulating that the degree of each vertex lies in a set A"v of admissible values. If these sets have no large ''gaps'', the decision problem is in P, while the complexity of the optimization version is open. We present a polynomial time solvable 12-integral linear relaxation for this case.
The Accuracy and Precision of an Equine In-Shoe Pressure Measurement System as a Tool for Gait Analysis

Abstract Normal horses with no clinical lameness were studied to test the hypothesis that Equine F-Scan sensors (EFS) would produce vertical force data that correlated highly with vertical force data from a force platform. Six horses were trotted across a force platform while wearing the EFS. Vertical force measurements were recorded from each system with data analyzed from hoof strikes that occurred simultaneously on both systems. Coefficients of variation (CV) were evaluated to test precision of the systems. The CV of the EFS was 10.2%, compared with 6.6% for the force platform. The accuracy of the pressure measurement system was tested by measuring agreement and a paired t test. The test for measuring agreement showed large differences between measuring devices, indicating an overall lack of agreement between measurements from the two systems, with differences ranging from 9 Newtons (N) to 1,200 N. Results from a paired t test, however, showed no significant difference between measurements from the two devices as noted by a P -value of .294, indicating a lack of significant differences because of assessment of averaged data. Because of the inability of the EFS to provide precise measurements of vertical ground reaction force as noted by high coefficients of variation and an overall lack of agreement between measurements from the two systems, this system should not be used to objectively measure vertical force in horses in its current format.
Parton distributions and the strong coupling: CTEQ6AB PDFs

We study the global analysis for parton distributions as a function of the QCD strong coupling strength αs, and present a new series of distributions that span the range 0.110 < αs(mZ) < 0.128. We use these distributions to explore the correlation between αs and the gluon distribution; the viability of global analysis as a method to measure αs; and the dependence on αs of predictions for W, Z, inclusive jet, and Higgs boson production (b→H and gg→H) cross sections at the Tevatron and the LHC. We find that the uncertainty in αs is the dominant source of uncertainty for inclusive jet production at moderately small pT and for Higgs production at intermediate masses in the Standard Model.
Why Do We Need Intelligent Systems

EIC James Hendler bids farewell at the end of his term and explains why the magazine still matters to today's artificial intelligence researcher.
INTERACTION BETWEEN GLYCOGENIN AND GLYCOGEN SYNTHASE

Glycogen synthase plays a key role in regulating glycogen metabolism. In a search for regulators of glycogen synthase, a yeast two-hybrid study was performed. Two glycogen synthase-interacting proteins were identified in human skeletal muscle, glycogenin-1, and nebulin. The interaction with glycogenin was found to be mediated by the region of glycogenin which contains the 33 COOH-terminal amino acid residues. The regions in glycogen synthase containing both NH 2 - and COOH-terminal phosphorylation sites are not involved in the interaction. The core segment of glycogen synthase from Glu 21 to Gly 503 does not bind COOH-terminal fragment of glycogenin. However, this region of glycogen synthase binds full-length glycogenin indicating that glycogenin contains at least one additional interacting site for glycogen synthase besides the COOH-terminus. We demonstrate that the COOH-terminal fragment of glycogenin can be used as an effective high affinity reagent for the purification of glycogen synthase from skeletal muscle and liver.
Characteristics of sodium-induced increase in opiate antagonist binding sites in rat brain membranes

Sodium decreases agonist binding and increases antagonist binding to opiate receptor sites in brain membranes. This study characterizes in detail the 20-40% increase in [3H]naloxone binding caused by sodium. This increase in binding was specific to sodium (not mimicked by potassium or lithium) and was maximal at 10 mM NaCl. The sodium effect was reversible: washing membranes free of sodium restored binding to normal. Sodium increased Bmax, not KD, of [3H]naloxone binding. The sodium-induced increased binding was not inhibited by either N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) or phospholipase A2 at concentrations which inhibit 50-85% of normal [3H]naloxone binding. In NEM-treated membranes, the effect of sodium on increasing naloxone binding was actually increased. The regional distribution of these sodium-dependent sites were different from normal naloxone sites. These results suggest that physiological concentrations of sodium expose naloxone sites which differ in biochemical properties from naloxone sites assayed in the absence of sodium.
Magnetic fields and the structure of the solar corona: II: Observations of the 12 November 1966 solar corona

During the eclipse of 12 November 1966, the solar corona was photographed at an effective wavelength of 6500 A with an f/16, 11.1 cm aperture camera. Reduction of the observations yields coronal radiances and polarizations from 1.4 to 3.5 solar radii. Standard techniques are used for the separation of F and K-coronas, determination of coronal electron densities and temperatures, and estimation of the orientation of the major streamers in space.
Impact of Non-Uniform Aircraft Tire Pressure on Airfield Pavement Responses

Due to the continual loading of flexible airport pavements with heavy and wide-bodied aircrafts, it is crucial to consider the impact of aircrafts' tire pressure on pavement damage. The measurements in previous literature have shown that the distribution of tire contact stresses under heavy aircraft is highly non-uniform. Therefore, this study developed a three-dimensional (3-D) finite element (FE) model to investigate the effect of non-uniform aircraft tire pressure on airfield pavement responses. An existing asphalt pavement section at the National Airport Pavement Test Facility (NAPTF) was used in the analysis. The FE model characterized the hot-mix asphalt (HMA) layer as a viscoelastic material and utilized an implicit dynamic analysis to predict the time-dependent pavement responses under moving aircraft tire loading. The tire loading was simulated as a continuously moving load having half-sinusoidal shape distribution along the contact length and non-uniform distribution along five ribs of the tire. The pavement responses (tensile and shear stresses/strains) under various tire pressure distributions were calculated and compared. The results showed that the non-uniform aircraft tire pressure increases the longitudinal tensile strains at the bottom of the HMA layer and the shear strains/stresses in the HMA layer, compared to the traditional uniform tire pressure distribution. The non-uniform contact stresses at high tire inflation pressure resulted in high shear stress near the pavement surface that could cause primary rutting or near-surface cracking; this shows the importance of establishing guidelines for asphalt mixtures stability when used for airfield pavements that support relatively heavy aircraft.
A system of credentialing physicians in advanced gynecologic endoscopy.

As advanced endoscopic surgery becomes more readily accepted and more eagerly requested by patients, credentialing of properly trained surgeons in advanced procedures becomes an ever-important issue. Granting privileges in surgical procedures is the prerogative and responsibility of each individual institution, frequently delegated to credentialing committees. However, because of rapid changes in endoscopic surgical techniques and constant introduction of new instruments, credentialing endoscopic surgeons is becoming more and more difficult; a process Dr. Keye aptly described as like “hitting a moving target.” Consequently, hospitals, medical insurance companies, and government health agencies have looked to professional societies for guidance in establishing policies regarding credentialing and monitoring endoscopic surgeons. Several professional societies responded by establishing guidelines for this purpose. These guidelines reflect current surgical techniques and teaching methods, and are useful reference points for developing credentialing criteria for each institution. Although they must be modified to meet specific policies, medical staff bylaws, and rules and regulations of each individual institution, they are useful in developing a credentialing process that is extremely important in ensuring quality of care. The importance of proper credentialing of surgeons in advanced gynecologic endoscopy is underscored by a publication reporting the experience of an urban teaching hospital with a comprehensive gynecologic endoscopic privileging program. After implementation of the program, gynecologic surgeons were invited to apply on the basis of their case lists. Of 45 gynecologists who applied for advanced endoscopy privileges, only 5 qualified for advanced laparoscopy and only 3 for advanced hysteroscopy. Intermediate privileges were granted to 35 in laparoscopy and to 3 in hysteroscopy. The rest qualified only for basic endoscopic procedures. Yet all 45 applicants believed that they were advanced endoscopic surgeons. With unqualified surgeons excluded,
Serum Vitamin K Concentration in Pediatric Patients Receiving Total Parenteral Nutrition

The only multivitamin preparation for total parenteral nutrition currently available in the United States that contains vitamin K is the pediatric formulation MVI-Pediatric. The recommended dose provides 200 micrograms of vitamin K1 per day to term infants and children up to 11 years old. This dose is well above the recommended dietary allowance of approximately 1 microgram/kg per day, but the losses of vitamin K during administration are unknown. We evaluated the stability of vitamin K1 in a standard total parenteral nutrition infusion and found that an average 72.7 +/- 4.9% of the original vitamin K1 was present after 24 hours. By using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical reduction and fluorescence detection, we obtained the serum vitamin K1 concentrations in 11 pediatric patients receiving total parenteral nutrition with MVI-Pediatric (Rorer Pharmaceuticals, Fort Washington, PA) supplementation and in control children. The serum vitamin K1 concentration (19.3 +/- 12.2 ng/mL) in patients receiving MVI-Pediatric is significantly higher than that in control children 1.9 +/- 1.5 ng/mL (p < .001). Current practice results in excessive levels of vitamin K in pediatric patients.
Physiological flow impedance as a fluid mechanical field variable

The concept of impedance for biological flows (respiration, circulation, etc.) was originally introduced to relate pressure and flow rate in a lumped-parameter framework. Such an approach enables the pressure to be calculated from the flow rate (or vice-versa) at discrete locations with no information about the flow between these points. Another restriction is that the impedance relations are generally based on fluid-flow models in long tubes and the end effects are neglected. The authors have developed an alternative approach by solving the equations of motion in geometries and under conditions relevant to different sections of the respiratory system. Thus, they have obtained field descriptions which provide analytical expressions for pressure and flow rate as functions of space and time. From these expressions, the authors synthesize a field description for impedance. >
Neurophysiological consequences of presynaptic receptor activation: changes in noradrenergic terminal excitability

Experiments were carried out to explore the view that activation of presynaptic receptors on the terminals of noradrenergic neurons is accompanied by alterations in their excitability to direct electrical stimulation. Antidromic action potentials evoked from frontal cortex of urethane anesthetized rats were recorded extracellularly from nucleus locus coeruleus. The threshold current necessary to evoke antidromic action potentials varied as a result of infusion of adrenergic agonists and antagonists into frontal cortex within 50 micrometer of the stimulating electrode. Local infusion of the alpha-adrenergic agonist clonidine produced a marked decrease in terminal excitability, while the alpha-antagonist phentolamine produced an increase in terminal excitability and was shown to reverse the effect of the agonist. Infusion of the beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol was without effect, although the beta-antagonist propranolol resulted in a decrease in terminal excitability. Infusions of potassium increased excitability of locus coeruleus terminals. Terminal excitability was seen to vary inversely with the rate of spontaneous or high frequency stimulation-induced firing of locus coeruleus neurons. From these observations, it may be inferred that activation or blockade of alpha-adrenergic presynaptic receptors results in changes in polarization and/or conductance of the noradrenergic synaptic endings. These results are discussed with respect to phenomena associated with the possible presynaptic regulation of neurotransmitter release.