cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cardiac resynchronization therapy using a pacemaker or a defibrillator: Patient selection and evidence to support it.

Abstract Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an established treatment for patients with heart failure (HF), myocardial dysfunction and prolonged ventricular depolarization on surface electrocardiogram. CRT can be delivered by a pacemaker (CRT-P) or a combined pacemaker-defibrillator (CRT-D). Although these two types of devices are very different in size, function, and cost, current published guidelines do not distinguish between them, leaving the choice of which device to implant to the treating physician and the informed patient. In this paper, we review the published CRT clinical trial literature with focus on the outcomes of HF patients treated with CRT-P versus CRT-D. We also attempt to provide guidance as to the appropriate choice of CRT device type, in the absence of randomized prospective trials geared to answer this specific question.
Comparative investigation of transparent polycrystalline ceramic and single crystal Lu3Al5O12:Ce scintillators: Microstructural and thermoluminescence analyses

Abstract Lu3Al5O12:Ce (LuAG:Ce) single crystal and polycrystalline ceramic were investigated on their microstructural characteristics and luminescent and scintillating properties towards the identification of possible causes for the lower scintillation performance of the polycrystalline ceramic. Emphasis was placed on the thermoluminescence (TL) response. Radioluminescence results indicated a (11x) higher content of defects in the single crystal than in the polycrystalline ceramic. Lower optical transparency, higher self-absorption, and a higher degree of structural disorder localized in the grain boundaries of the polycrystalline ceramic were observed. TL results showed six glow peaks in the single crystal and four glow peaks in the polycrystalline ceramic within the 50–400 °C temperature range, all with first-order kinetics TL mechanism. Trap depths at similar peak temperatures were ~1.2–1.5 times deeper in the single crystal. In terms of scintillation response related to a Bi4Ge3O12 (BGO) crystal within the 31–662 keV gamma-ray energy range, the single crystal was about 2x brighter than the polycrystalline ceramic.
The neighborhood ethnoracial and socioeconomic context of public elementary school closures in U.S. metropolitan areas

Abstract Public school closures are increasing in number and size in U.S. cities. When public schools close, heated debates typically ensue. A central argument within this debate asserts that schools being closed are more likely to be located in minority, socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods, and thus their abandonment has the potential for widening racial and socioeconomic gaps and exacerbating spatial inequality. Using school attendance boundary data in over 260 U.S. metropolitan areas, we examine the relationship between the locations of traditional elementary public school closures between 2010 and 2016 and neighborhood ethnoracial and socioeconomic composition in 2010 and their change over time. Our overall results indicate that closures are associated with lower neighborhood percent White and percent Hispanic and higher percent Black and socioeconomic disadvantage. While increasing percent White is positively associated with closure, we found little other evidence of a relationship between closure and other changes in ethnoracial and socioeconomic composition. However, the relationship between neighborhood context and closure varies across region and urbanicity, with closures associated with patterns of gentrification in urban areas, and exhibiting differential relationships with neighborhood SES, race and ethnicity across region.
MISSISSIPPI INNOCENCE: The Convictions and Exonerations of Levon Brooks and Kennedy Brewer and the Failure of the American Promise

After spending a combined thirty-two years behind bars for crimes they did not commit, Levon Brooks, sentenced to life, and Kennedy Brewer, sentenced to death, were exonerated in February, 2008, in Noxubee County, Mississippi. Close attention to innocence cases like these offer a valuable forensic opportunity to observe from ground level just how the criminal justice system works, or doesn’t. Because they occurred in rural Mississippi, the Brooks and Brewer cases present a unique opportunity to consider what contemporary scholarship refers to as our criminal justice system’s new form of Jim Crow: a system of facially colorblind criminal laws that as applied and prosecuted currently imprison masses of poor blacks and relegates still others to lives of permanent second-class citizenship. By establishing the rich historical context in which these two cases occurred, and then engaging in a first-hand account of the crimes, investigations and trials, this article argues, that among other scholarship and commentary, “The New Jim Crow” school of thought neglects what is perhaps the most pernicious failure of true justice: the co-opting of formerly progressive law and policy in order to camouflage what is really nothing more than institutionally sanctioned lynching. While seminal cases like Gideon v. Wainwright and Batson v. Kentucky, for example, which guaranteed the right to counsel and minority representation on criminal petit juries respectively, are honored in letter, the ultimate effect is hortatory and cynical. They are now used to mask a much more sinister result: the affirmative manipulation of what were once true gains in due process and equal protection into measurable false promise and palpable human tragedy. Over time, the efforts to rid the criminal justice system of bias and bigotry – of “Jim Crow” – have been used instead to mask the fact that they are now built into its very structure and doctrine.
Spermidine in mammalian lymphocytes and sea urchin embryos: uptake and labeling of macromolecules.

We have studied the uptake and attachment of spermidine and some of its metabolites to cellular macromolecules in a variety of cell systems. We have selected systems which demonstrate significant uptake of polyamines when the polyamine is presented in the external environment of the cell. We chose to work with cells which are capable of increasing their metabolic activity in a manner approaching synchrony in response to a biological stimulus. In the presence of exogenous radioactive spermidine and a stimulus provoking focused cell function the cell takes up the spermidine and actively utilizes it in a biosynthetic manner. We have traced the metabolic fate of the radioactive spermidine under these conditions. The cells which we have primarily studied are young sea urchin embryos and mammalian lymphocytes. The mammalian lymphocytes we have studied include murine splenic lymphocytes, normal human peripheral lymphocytes and peripheral lymphocytes from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). These represent a continuation of earlier studies where we showed that these cells can be activated by a B-cell mitogen and this activation can be abrogated by simultaneous exposure to the diacetyl derivative of putrescine or of its analogue 1, 6 diaminohexane (1–3). The sea urchin embryo studies are a continuation of earlier investigations where we documented the covalent binding of spermidine to a unique protein in very young sea urchin embryos (4). Both mitogen activation and the event of fertilization can be thought of as agents inducing “natural” synchrony and consequent increased uptake and utilization of exogenous polyamines. Certain parallels between the two biological systems as we observe them will be described. No attempt is made in this report to be inclusive in describing studies from other laboratories of polyamines associated with macromolecules. Thus, this is in the form of a progress report of our current experiments.
Towards Continuous Abstractions of Dynamical and Control Systems

The analysis and design of large scale systems is usually an extremely complex process. In order to reduce the complexity of the analysis, simplified models of the original system, called abstractions, which capture the system behavior of interest are obtained and analyzed. If the abstraction of system can be shown to satisfy certain properties of interest then so does the original complex plant. In hybrid systems, discrete or hybrid abstractions of continuous systems are of great interest. In this paper, the notion of abstractions of continuous systems is formalized.
Cave Biology: A brief history of cave biology

Some specialist books include a short introduction or brief chronology of the major historical events related to the branch of knowledge they cover. In this book there is an entire chapter on the history of biospeleological ideas. This is because it is essential to explain why biospeleology as a science in general, and our understanding of cave biology in particular, lags so far behind in mainstream organismal biology, particularly in terms of evolution and ecology. In fact, the author argues that this is so because many biospeleologists have failed to understand the historical framework in which this science has developed. This has led many to uncritically accept both concepts and lexicons that are inconsistent with current biological thought. Thus, this chapter provides a historical explanation of the ideological framework surrounding the majority of biospeleological research. This chapter also contains a number of illustrations (Figs. 1.1–1.5) related to the historical narrative presented here; more illustrations on this topic may be found in Romero (2001b). Conceptual issues An understanding of the history of any particular area of scientific inquiry is essential in order to really appreciate the significance of current knowledge and the voids that need to be filled. Most scientists are not particularly interested in pursuing such a task because the history of science is influenced by philosophy, politics, religion, and other expressions of human activities whose comprehension requires interdisciplinary approaches that go beyond what scientists have been normally trained for in universities.
A Type System and Analysis for the Automatic Extraction and Enforcement of Design Information

We present a new type system and associated type checker, analysis, and model extraction algorithms for automatically extracting models that capture aspects of a program’s design. Our type system enables the developer to place a token on each object; this token serves as the object’s representative during the analysis and model extraction. The polymorphism in our type system enables the use of general-purpose classes whose instances may serve different purposes in the computation; programmers may also hide the details of internal data structures by placing the same token on all of the objects in these data structures.
Theory & Methods: Fitting a semi‐parametric model based on two sources of information

This paper discusses fitting a semi-parametric model based on two sources of information, motivated by a rat sleep dataset. In a recent study, rats were exposed to two different lighting conditions. The first (baseline) condition was a standard 24-hour schedule of 12 hours lights on, 12 hours lights off; the second (test) condition exposed rats to a continuous 3 hours lights on, 3 hours lights off schedule. Rat sleep was believed to be affected mainly by the circadian rhythm under the baseline lighting condition and by both the circadian rhythm and light under the test lighting condition. This paper suggests fitting a non-parametric model for the dataset under the baseline lighting condition. For the dataset under the test lighting condition, a two-part model is suggested. The first part equals an unknown coefficient multiplied by the non-parametric function used for modelling the dataset under the baseline lighting condition, explaining the remnant of the circadian rhythm under the test lighting condition. The second part is a periodic non-parametric function which would explain the effect of the test lighting condition. This modelling procedure can be used to model other physiological parameters affected by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors.
Data Driven Brain Tumor Segmentation in MRI Using Probabilistic Reasoning over Space and Time

A semi-automated method for brain tumor segmentation and volume tracking has been developed. This method uses a pipeline approach to process MRI images. The pipeline process involves the following steps: 1) automatic alignment of initial and subsequent MRI scans for a given patient, 2) automatic de-skulling of all brain images, 3) automatic segmentation of the brain tumors using probabilistic reasoning over space and time with a semi-automatic correction of segmentation results on the first time point only and, 4) brain tumor tracking, providing a report of tumor volume change. To validate the procedure, we evaluated contrast enhanced MRI images from five brain tumor patients, each scanned at three times, several months apart. This data was processed and estimated tumor volume results show good agreement with manual tracing of 3D lesions over time.
Race and the probability of pleading guilty

The legal ramifications of pleading guilty and findings of an interdependence between pleading guilty and sentence severity suggest that the guilty plea decision is a significent turning point in case processing. The present research examines the variables affecting the probability of pleading guilty. The first analysis involves estimating a single probit equation of main effects of variables previously found to be related to pleading guilty. A second analysis is conducted estimating the same equation separately for black defendants and white defendants. Findings from the first part of the analysis indicate that physical evidence, number of charges, and confessing to the crime during police/prosecutor interrogation increase the probability of pleading guilty, whereas the number of witnesses, use of a weapon, and offenses carrying a minimum penalty of 5 years in custody with no maximum prison term decrease the probability of pleading guilty. Findings from the second analysis indicate that the effect of marital status, prior record of felony convictions, type of counsel, number of charges, and use of a weapon on the probability of pleading guilty varies by defendant's race. The research concludes by offering several competing explanations of these findings in hope of stimulating further research on the variables affecting the route of case disposition in felony processing.
An Improved Hybrid Method of Maintaining Content Consistency

Content distribution networks use certain mechanisms to guarantee that the replicated documents are consistent with the original documents undergoing updates. In this paper, we present an improved hybrid consistency method based on an existing algorithm which dynamically combines server-side propagation and invalidation. A new threshold, in terms of the ratio of a document’s request rate to its update rate, is established to determine which approach (invalidation or propagation) should be used. In addition, the improved algorithm makes consistency enhancement decisions based on request temporal locality and document size. Simulation results show that the improved algorithm reduces network traffic, achieves high request freshness rates, and introduces little extra response time when compared to other algorithms.
Structure of the Nicotinic Receptor Acetylcholine-binding Site: IDENTIFICATION OF ACIDIC RESIDUES IN THE δ SUBUNIT WITHIN 0.9 nm OF THE α SUBUNIT-BINDING SITE DISULFIDE (∗)

In the nicotinic receptor, the quaternary ammonium group of acetylcholine (ACh) binds to a negative subsite at most 1 nm from a readily reducible disulfide formed between α-subunit residues Cys192 and Cys193. The cross-linker S-(2-[3H]glycylamidoethyl)dithio-2-pyridine formed a disulfide bond with reduced αCys192/Cys193 and an amide bond with an acidic residue in the δ subunit (Czajkowski, C., and Karlin, A. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 22603-22612). The fully extended cross-linking moiety -NHCH2CONHCH2CH2S- is 0.9 nm long. After the disulfide bond linking -NHCH2CONHCH2CH2S- to the α subunit was reduced, -NHCH2CONHCH2CH2SH remained linked to the δ subunit by an amide bond. The δ subunit was cleaved at Met residues, and the radioactive fragments were isolated and sequenced by automated Edman degradation. Additionally, the isolated radioactive fragments were further cleaved at Trp residues and sequenced. Peaks of release of radioactivity were obtained in the sequencing cycles corresponding to δAsp165, δAsp180, and δGlu182. The mutation of δAsp180 to Asn decreased the affinity of the receptor for ACh 100-fold, whereas the mutation of either δAsp165, δGlu182, or 8 other acidic residues in the same region of δ decreased the affinity by 3-fold or less (Czajkowski, C., Kaufmann, C., and Karlin, A.(1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A 90, 6285-6289). Because δAsp180 both contributes to ACh binding and is suitably close to the binding site disulfide, it is likely to be part of the ACh-binding site formed in the interface between the α and the δ subunits.
Differential Exposure to Early Childhood Education Services and Mother-Toddler Interaction.

Abstract This study examined the associations of exposure to early childhood education (ECE) services upon 2.5-year-old children's task persistence and enthusiasm and their mothers’ authoritative and authoritarian behavior and support stimulation. Families participated in the Infant Health and Development Program, an eight-site randomized comprehensive ECE to enhance the development of low birth weight, premature infants. Exposure was measured for 269 families who received at least one home visit and 1 day at the Child Development Center (CDC): 131 with lower exposure (64 ± 11.6 home visits and 206 ± 53 CDC days) and 138 with higher exposure (67 ± 9.2 home visits and 301 ± 21 CDC days). These two groups were compared to the follow-up group (540 with no exposure). Compared to no exposure, high exposure was associated with greater child enthusiasm and persistence and maternal support stimulation. Infant and mother test scores and temperament/depression scores, child's sex, and ethnicity were examined as moderators. Compared to no exposure, high exposure was related to maternal authoritative behavior toward girls, less authoritarian behavior for mothers with lower PPVT scores, and greater task enthusiasm from Black children.
Studies on the substrate binding sites of the pigeon liver fatty acid synthetase

Abstract Data are presented on the sites of covalent binding of acetate and malonate to the soluble pigeon liver fatty acid synthetase. Each of these compounds is bound to each of two peptide fractions which are released from the synthetase by pepsin digestion and then separated by Dowex ion-exchange chromatography. One of these peptide fractions has not been resolved. Further purification and study of the other peptide fraction has resulted in proof of the presence of 4′-phosphopantetheine bound through ester linkage to the peptide chain. In these experiments the peptides were labeled with either acetate-1- 14 C malonate-2- 14 C or pantothenic-1- 14 C acid. Quantitative analysis of the multi-enzyme complex for 4′-phosphopantetheine yielded a value close to 1 mole per mole of synthetase (450,000 gm). The implications of the findings that 1 mole of 4′-phosphopantetheine is found per mole of enzyme and that either acetate or malonate covalently bind to this compound are discussed.
Malaria Infection (Plasmodium lophurae): Changes in Free Amino Acids

The course of infection of the avian malaria Plasmodium lophurae in the duckling is characterized by striking increase in the intraerythrocytic free amino acid pool. The quality and quantity of this change result from the presence of the parasite and for the most part reflect the free amino acid pool of the growing plasmodium. No significant changes in the free amino acids in plasma were noted during infection.
An in vitro studyof the effects of linoleic, eicosa-8,11,14-trienoic and arachidonic acids on the desaturation of stearic, oleic and eicosa-8,11-dienoic acid

Abstract Substrate saturation curves, using rat liver microsomes, were measured for the in vitro desaturation of the following acids : 18:0,20:2 (n-9) 18:2 (n-6), and 20:3 (n-6). Attemps were also made to measure a substrate saturation curve for the desaturation of 18 : 1 (N-9). However, the rate of conversion was so low that it was not possible to measure a substrate saturation curve. The (n-6) acids, 18:2 (n-6), 20:3 (n -6) and 20:4 (n-6) were used as potential inhibitors to establish whether these (n-6) acids inhibited the desaturation of (n-6) acids. All three (n-6) acids inhibited the desaturation of 18:0. When 40 nmoles of either 18:2 (n-6) or 20:3 (n-6) was incubated with 10 nmoles of 18 : 1 (n-9) the amount of 18:2 (n-6) produced was depressed. However, 20:4 (n-6) did not alter the desaturation rate of 18 : 1 (n-9). The acid, 18:2 (n-6), did not markedly alter the rate of desaturation of 20:2 (n-9). Conversely 18:3 (n-3) did inhibit the desaturation of 20:2 (n-9). The other two (n-6) acids, 20:3 (n-6) and 20:4 (n-6), both inhibited the desaturation of 20:2 (n-9). The role which competitive reactions play in regulating polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis is discussed.
Physiological performance of three pine species provides evidence for gap partitioning

Abstract Gradients of light and moisture availability peak at different positions within canopy gaps in northern latitudes providing the opportunity for niche partitioning in and around gaps based on differences in individual species’ life history attributes. This gap partitioning offers potential for increasing diversity in forests impacted by gap-creating disturbances. We examined resource availability and the physiological performance of three Pinus species with varying tolerances for shade and moisture stress across large (0.3 ha) canopy gaps to investigate relationships between gap position and species performance. Light availability was lowest in southern gap edges, while water availability was lowest in northern edges, and higher at gap interior positions than edges. Pinus banksiana seedlings had higher light-saturated CO2 assimilation rates than P. resinosa or P. strobus seedlings at interior gap positions, and outperformed P. strobus at northern gap edges, but there were no differences between species at southern edges. Both transpiration and stomatal conductance were greatest for P. banksiana in gap centers, but showed few differences between species at edges. Foliar nitrogen concentrations were highest for P. banksiana, suggesting the dominance of this species in central gap locations may be due to a combination of high photosynthetic capacity and tight stomatal control to regulate moisture stress at drier gap positions. Our results suggest P. banksiana seedlings may be competitively superior in gap positions with high light and moisture availability, but P. resinosa and P. strobus become competitive under the drier conditions and moderate shade near gap edges. These findings support the concept of gap partitioning, and suggest silvicultural systems that incorporate patch cuttings could be used to promote diverse regeneration in northern pine forests.
Use of combination therapy with immunomodulators and immunosuppressants in treating multiple sclerosis.

Immunomodulating agents have beneficial effects in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), decreasing the frequency of relapses, the progression of disability, and MRI measures of disease activity. Despite the efficacy of these agents, many patients continue to show progression of disability, breakthrough relapses, and active disease on MRI. Therefore, clinicians have employed a variety of combinations of agents in an attempt to decrease disease activity in those with active disease despite standard immunomodulatory therapy. Although a variety of combination therapies have been used in clinical practice, there is a paucity of data available to guide clinical decision-making. A major pitfall in using combination therapy in the absence of data demonstrating safety is the possibility that the agent added to the primary therapy may have no effect or, worse, may antagonize the effect of the primary agent. The combination of mitoxantrone and interferon beta (IFNβ) appears safe in short-term studies from a toxicity standpoint and is associated with a reduction in relapse rates, a decrease in the frequency of enhancing lesions, and a decrease in T2 lesion burden. Other combinations that appear safe in preliminary studies include IFNβ-1a and methotrexate, IFNβ-1a and azathioprine, and mitoxantrone plus methylprednisolone. The decision to use combination therapy in patients with a suboptimal response to monotherapy should be considered early and not be delayed until disability becomes advanced. This review discusses the available data regarding the combination of standard immunomodulatory therapy with immunosuppressive agents.
Analyzing hospital costs for patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

In this issue, Bernstein et al. (1) describe an analysis of the direct hospital costs of surgical and medical therapies in inflammatory bowel disease. In this era of limited health care resources, cost analysis is crucial—especially in diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, which have several therapeutic options. This analysis was prompted by a report that the majority of the costs of Crohn's disease result from surgical intervention (2). Bernstein et al. appropriately used direct costs to improve the generalizability of their results to other centers. They classified patients based on surgical versus medical management and "digestive"versus"nondigestive"versus diagnosis-related groups (DRGs), allowing for a convenient analysis based on chart review. However, although convenient, these classifications are too broad, resulting in an analysis with significant limitations.
THE VIEW FROM THE ROAD: IMPLICATIONS FOR STRESS RECOVERY AND IMMUNIZATION

A considerable body of folklore and scientific research alludes to the efficacy of the vernacular environment to influence both aesthetic experience and general well-being. To examine explicitly whether stress recovery and/or immunization varies as a function of the roadside environment, 160 college-age participants, both male and female, viewed one of four different video-taped simulated drives through outdoor environments immediately following and preceding mildly stressful events. Overall, it was anticipated that participants who viewed artifact-dominated drives, relative to participants who viewed nature-dominated drives, would show greater autonomic activity indicative of stress (e.g. elevated blood pressure and electrodermal activity), as well as show altered somatic activity indicative of greater negative affect (e.g. elevated electromyographic (EMG) activity over the brow region and decreased activity over the cheek region). In addition, it was expected that participants who viewed nature-dominated drives would experience quicker recovery from stress and greater immunization to subsequent stress than participants who viewed artifact-dominated drives. The overall pattern of results is consistent with both hypotheses and the findings are interpreted to support postulating a sympathetic-specific mechanism that underlies the effect of nature on stress recovery and immunization.
Self-Excited Vibrations Induced by Drag Bits

Drillstring vibrations cause premature failure of downhole tools and the drillstring itself. Also, drill bits do not drill efficiently as a result of these vibrations and this inefficiency causes a significant reduction in penetration rate and a corresponding increase in footage cost. Drill bits are a primary source of excitation; these vibrations are self-excited by the interaction of drillstring, drill bit, and formation. Results show that drag bid design, shock absorber design and bit rotational speed dictate conditions of dynamic instability
Retinoid X receptor interacts with nuclear receptors in retinoic acid, thyroid hormone and vitamin D3 signalling

CELLULAR responsiveness to retinoic acid and its metabolites is conferred through two structurally and pharmacologically distinct1 families of receptors: the retinoic acid receptors (RAR)2,3 and the retinoid X receptors (RXR)1. Here we report that the transcriptional activity of RAR and RXR can be reciprocally modulated by direct interactions between the two proteins. RAR and RXR have a high degree of cooperativity in binding to target DNA, consistent with previous reports indicating that the binding of either RAR or RXR to their cognate response elements is enhanced by factors present in nuclear extracts4,5. RXR also interacts directly with and enhances the binding of nuclear receptors conferring responsiveness to vitamin D3 and thyroid hormone T3; the DNA-binding activities of these receptors are also stimulated by the presence of nuclear extracts6–9. Together these data indicate that RXR has a central role in multiple hormonal signalling pathways.
Demystifying the threat modeling process

In today's hostile online environment, software must be designed to withstand malicious attacks of all kinds. Unfortunately, even security-conscious products can fall prey when designers fail to understand the threats their software faces or the ways in which adversaries might try to attack it. To better understand a product's threat environment and defend against potential attacks, Microsoft uses threat modeling, which should be treated like any other part of the design and specification process. In fact, singling it out as a special activity performed outside the normal design process actually detracts from its importance to the overall development life cycle. We must consider security needs throughout the design process, just as we do with performance, usability, localizability, serviceability, or any other facet.
Early literacy and early numeracy: the value of including early literacy skills in the prediction of numeracy development.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine whether early literacy skills uniquely predict early numeracy skills development. During the first year of the study, 69 3- to 5-year-old preschoolers were assessed on the Preschool Early Numeracy Skills (PENS) test and the Test of Preschool Early Literacy Skills (TOPEL). Participants were assessed again a year later on the PENS test and on the Applied Problems and Calculation subtests of the Woodcock–Johnson III Tests of Achievement. Three mixed effect regressions were conducted using Time 2 PENS, Applied Problems, and Calculation as the dependent variables. Print Knowledge and Vocabulary accounted for unique variance in the prediction of Time 2 numeracy scores. Phonological Awareness did not uniquely predict any of the mathematics domains. The findings of this study identify an important link between early literacy and early numeracy development.
Full Core Reactor Analysis: Running Denovo on Jaguar

Fully-consistent, full-core, 3D, deterministic simulations using the orthogonal mesh code Denovo were run on the massively parallel computing architecture Jaguar XT5. Using energy and spatial parallelization schemes, Denovo was able to efficiently scale to over 160k processors. Cell-homogenized cross-sections were used with Step-Characteristics, Linear-Discontinuous Finite Element, and Tri-Linear-Discontinuous Finite Element spatial methods. It was determined that using the finite element methods gave considerably more accurate eigenvalue solutions for large aspect ratios meshes than those using Step-Characteristics.
The Ethics of Therapeutic Jurisprudence: A Critical and Theoretical Enquiry of Law, Psychology and Crime

For more than a decade, therapeutic jurisprudence has informed legal procedures, rules, institutions and actors. Most recently, academic and applied criminologists have seized upon this doctrine to interpret the behavior of criminal justice programs, agencies, and personnel. The expressed purpose of therapeutic jurisprudence is to assess, through social and behavioral science inquiry, the impact of the law on the mental and physical wellbeing of individuals affected by legal decisions and processes. As such, therapeutic jurisprudence aims to conceive of and rely upon the law as a therapeutic agent, thereby promoting the interests of a more just and civil society. At issue in this article is whether the central normative dimension of therapeutic jurisprudence limits (and erodes) prospects for humanism and justice, promoting instead a logic of identity that displaces (and denies) individual and group differences. This is a pervasive ethical dilemma at the core of therapeutic jurisprudence, especially in its...
Developing a parallel computational implementation of AMOEBA

As geospatial researchers' access to high-performance computing clusters continues to increase alongside the availability of high-resolution spatial data, it is imperative that techniques are devised to exploit these clusters' ability to quickly process and analyze large amounts of information. This research concentrates on the parallel computation of A Multidirectional Optimal Ecotope-Based Algorithm AMOEBA. AMOEBA is used to derive spatial weight matrices for spatial autoregressive models and as a method for identifying irregularly shaped spatial clusters. While improvements have been made to the original ‘exhaustive’ algorithm, the resulting ‘constructive’ algorithm can still take a significant amount of time to complete with large datasets. This article outlines a parallel implementation of AMOEBA the P-AMOEBA written in Java utilizing the message passing library MPJ Express. In order to account for differing types of spatial grid data, two decomposition methods are developed and tested. The benefits of using the new parallel algorithm are demonstrated on an example dataset. Results show that different decompositions of spatial data affect the computational load balance across multiple processors and that the parallel version of AMOEBA achieves substantially faster runtimes than those reported in related publications.
Comparative Susceptibility of B Cells with Different Lineages to Cytotoxicity and Apoptosis Induction by Translational Inhibitors

The trichothecene mycotoxins, Shiga toxins (STs), and ricin are potent translational inhibitors that exert diverse mechanisms of action but all have the capacity to induce death by apoptosis. Germinal centers containing actively dividing B cells are particularly sensitive to protein synthesis inhibition, and, of these, the immature B cell is reportedly most susceptible to apoptosis. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that immature and mature B-cell lineages were differentially susceptible to apoptosis and cytotoxicity induction by representative trichothecene mycotoxins, ST-1, and ricin, as well as cycloheximide (CHX), a prototypical protein synthesis inhibitor commonly used to study cell signal transduction. WEHI-231 and CH31 cells were used as representatives of phenotypically immature B cells, whereas CH12.LX cells were used to mod el mature B cells. Resultant data suggest that Type D and Type A trichothecenes, ricin, and ST-1 were more potent inducers of apoptosis than CHX, whereas...
Phosphorylation of murine homeodomain protein Dlx3 by protein kinase C.

Abstract The Dlx3 homeodomain gene is expressed in terminally differentiated murine epidermal cells. As demonstrated for differentiation-specific granular markers, Dlx3 is activated in primary mouse keratinocytes cultured in vitro by increasing the level of the extracellular Ca 2+ . This activation is mediated through a protein kinase C-dependent (PKC) pathway. In this study, we investigated whether PKC can modulate the activity of murine Dlx3 protein. Using in vitro kinase assays, we show that PKC enzymes phosphorylate the Dlx3 protein. Using keratinocyte nuclear extracts for the kinase reaction, we determined that Dlx3 protein is phosphorylated, and the phosphorylation is inhibited by the PKC-specific inhibitor GF109203X, suggesting that Dlx3 is phosphorylated by PKC in vivo. Of the PKC isoforms present in the epidermis, we tested α, δ, ϵ and ζ. Dlx3 is primarily phosphorylated by PKCα. By deletion and mutational analysis, we show that the serine residue S 138 , located in the homeodomain of Dlx3 protein, was specifically phosphorylated by PKC. The phosphorylation of purified Dlx3 proteins by PKC partially inhibited formation of complexes between Dlx3 protein and DNA. These results suggest that Dlx3 protein can be directly phosphorylated by PKC and this affects the DNA binding activity of Dlx3.
Intranasal thyrotrophin releasing hormone is a potent stimulus for TSH release in man (comparison with intravenous and oral TRH).

SUMMARY Intranasally administered TRH was tested and compared to i.v. and oral TRH in respect to its efficacy of TSH stimulation and thereby the stimulation of thyroid reserve. TSH release after nasal application is as prompt as after the i.v. route, reaching a peak at 20 to 30 min. After that, however, compared to the i.v. administration its stimulatory effect is prolonged, lasting over 3 h. At the dose used in this study the peak TSH response after intranasal TRH administration was 14·7 · 1·6 mU/l compared to 8·4 · 1·4 and 23±· 4·4 mU/l after i.v. and oral administration respectively (P < 0·005). Intranasal application of TRH is as potent as i.v. or oral TRH for the stimulation of thyroid reserve. At 3 h a marked increase of T3 and a smaller elevation of FT4 is observed (Δ T3 = 48·4%, Δ FT4 = 31·6%). The nasal peptide was well tolerated locally and systemic side effects were comparable to those of i.v. TRH. This form of application offers a practical advantage by avoiding intravenous injections. Its diagnostic potential in investigation of thyroid disease and its possible therapeutic application have yet to be elucidated.
Solving the finite difference linearized Poisson‐Boltzmann equation: A comparison of relaxation and conjugate gradient methods

Comparisons have been made between relaxation methods and certain preconditioned conjugate gradient techniques for solving the system of linear equations arising from the finite-difference form of the linearized Poisson-Boltzmann equation. The incomplete Cholesky conjugate gradient (ICCG) method of Meijerink and van der Vorst has been found to be superior to relaxation methods, with at least a factor of two improvement in speed, and only a 50% increase in storage.
Right heart thrombus in transit diagnosed by bedside ultrasound

Our reference: JEM 10200 P-authorquery-v9 AUTHOR QUERY FORM Journal: JEM Please e-mail or fax your responses and any corrections to: E-mail: corrections.esi@elsevier.tnq.co.in Article Number: 10200 Fax: +31 2048 52789 Dear Author, Please check your proof carefully and mark all corrections at the appropriate place in the proof (e.g., by using on-screen annotation in the PDF file) or compile them in a separate list. Note: if you opt to annotate the file with software other than Adobe Reader then please also highlight the appropriate place in the PDF file. To ensure fast publication of your paper please return your corrections within 48 hours. For correction or revision of any artwork, please consult http://www.elsevier.com/artworkinstructions. Any queries or remarks that have arisen during the processing of your manuscript are listed below and highlighted by flags in the proof. Location in article Query / Remark: Click on the Q link to find the query’s location in text Please insert your reply or correction at the corresponding line in the proof If there are any drug dosages in your article, please verify them and indicate that you have done so by initialing this query Q1 It appears that you have a video clip to accompany this article, but it is not mentioned in the text. Please add a mention of this video in the text. Q2 Do you mean “equivalent” here? Please correct if necessary Q3 Please confirm that given names and surnames have been identified correctly. Please check this box or indicate your approval if you have no corrections to make to the PDF file Thank you for your assistance.
A rapid magnetometric technique to plot isothermal transformation diagrams

A sensitive magnetic permeability method for rapid determination of isothermal transformation diagrams in steels and iron base alloys is described. The method consists of quenching the sample from an austenitizing temperature to a subcritical temperature in an isothermal bath, and holding it within the magnetic field of an inductor coil. The increase in permeability accompanying austenite decomposition increases the inductance of the coil, and this changes the resonant frequency of the circuit. An automatic continuous recording of the corresponding period provides a convenient and accurate method for following the austenite decomposition of AISI 4340 in the bainite and martensite temperature ranges. This method provides quantitative information on austenite decomposition kinetics within two seconds after the start of quenching.
Mechanisms of slow postsynaptic potentials.

Classical views of synaptic transmission have to be modified to take account of slow postsynaptic potentials (p.s.ps), which are often mediated by novel ionic and molecular mechanisms and which are sometimes evoked by neuropeptides. Understanding slow p.s.ps will provide insights into the mechanisms of biological signal transduction and long-term signalling in the nervous system.
Case report 594

A case of destructive osseous sarcoidosis involving the lower lumbar spine, sacrum, and pelvis has been presented. The pattern of multiple small lytic lesions without sclerosis in this distribution has not been described previously. Identification of these lesions was only possible by computed tomography and differentiation from metastatic disease required open biopsy.
Analysis of biofilm growth in the presence of osmotic pressure and temperature effects

Transient mass transfer in a diffusion–reaction biofilm with a moving boundary was investigated analytically. The analysis incorporates both the diffusion processes into the biofilm as well as the reaction processes that lead to the expansion of the system. For first and second order reaction terms, the biofilm synthesis as a function of time was presented. The temporal development of the biomass was found to be in very good agreement with numerical results. The effects of osmotic pressure and temperature were also investigated and it was found that osmotic pressure plays a significant role in first order reactions but the temperature dependence is primarily found in the reaction kinetics and does not significantly influence osmotic pressure effects.
Policy Poison or Promise Exploring the Dual Nature of California School District Collective Bargaining Agreements

Purpose: This study examines policies set in the collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) negotiated between teachers’ unions and school boards and explores what kinds of districts have contract provisions that restrict district administrators, enhance administrative flexibility, and/or improve teachers’ professional work lives and that have contracts that are more restrictive overall. Method: The author analyzes a sample of 465 California CBAs and uses linear probability models to highlight the relationships between a set of 95 representative provisions and characteristics of districts that may make them “hard to staff.” A measure of overall contract restrictiveness is generated and used to assess the relationships between these district characteristics and contract strength. Findings: Some CBA provisions restrict district administrators, whereas others may provide administrators with greater flexibilities. In addition, many provisions serve to enhance teachers’ working conditions. Many of the most restrictive clauses are more frequently found in the contracts of urban districts and districts with higher proportions of minority and poor students. However, many of these same
Diagnostics and simulation of highpressure argon and nitrogen plasma

Summary form only given. Experiments are performed using 193 nm ultraviolet (UV) laser pre-ionization of a seed gas in atmospheric pressure range argon or nitrogen to initiate a discharge that is sustained by 13.56 MHz radiofrequency (RF) power using efficient inductive wave coupling. High-density (1012-1013/cm3), large-volume (~500 cm 3) 760 torr argon plasma is initiated and maintained for 300 ms with less than 3 kW of net RF power. Using the same technique, a 50 torr nitrogen plasma with average electron densities greater than 1011/cm3 is obtained. The nitrogen plasma volume of 1000 cm3 is initiated by the laser and maintained by a net RF power of 5.5 kW for 300 ms. Measurements of the time-varying plasma load impedance and optimization of the RF matching for the transition from laser-initiated to RF-sustained plasma are carried out. Millimeter wave interferometry is used to determine the electron density and effective electron collision frequency. A new diagnostic technique based on interferometry is developed to measure the electron temperature in high pressure plasmas. Broadband plasma emission spectroscopy is used to illustrate the changes in the broad ionized species character immediately after the laser pulse and later during the RF pulse. Advanced RF impedance measurement and RF tuning techniques are developed to enhance RF matching of the inductively coupled plasma source to the RF system. Computer simulation of the interferometry diagnostics of plasma density and collision rate is performed. Results of a new focused-laser generated plasma near a microwave dielectric window are also presented
Kainate receptors are primarily postsynaptic to SP-containing axon terminals in the trigeminal dorsal horn

Kainate receptors (KARs) are involved in the modulation and transmission of nociceptive information from peripheral afferents to neurons in the spinal cord and trigeminal dorsal horns. KARs are found at both pre- and postsynaptic sites in the dorsal horn. We hypothesized that KARs and Substance P (SP), a modulatory neuropeptide that is used as a marker of nociceptive afferents, have a complex interactive relationship. To determine the cellular relationship and connectivity between KARs and SP afferents, we used electron microscopic dual immunocytochemical analysis to examine the ultrastructural localization of KAR subunits GluR5, 6 and 7 (GluR5,6,7) in relation to SP within laminae I and II in the rat trigeminal dorsal horn. KARs were distributed both postsynaptically in dendrites and somata (51% of GluR5,6,7 immunoreactive (-ir) profiles) and presynaptically in axons and axon terminals (45%). We also found GluR5,6,7-ir glial profiles (5%). The majority of SP-ir profiles were presynaptic axons and axon terminals. SP-ir dendritic profiles were rare, yet 23% contained GluR5,6,7 immunoreactivity. GluR5,6,7 and SP were also colocalized at presynaptic sites (18% of GluR5,6,7-ir axons and axon terminals contained SP; while 11% of SP-ir axons and axon terminals contained GluR5,6,7). The most common interaction between KARs and SP we observed was GluR5,6,7-ir dendrites contacted by SP-ir axon terminals; 54% of the dendritic targets of SP-ir axon terminals were GluR5,6,7-ir. These results provide anatomical evidence that KARs primarily mediate nociceptive transmission postsynaptic to SP-containing afferents and may also modulate the presynaptic release of SP and glutamate in trigeminal dorsal horn.
Comment on the semiclassical N-soliton S matrix

The relation between the semiclassical phase shift and time delay is used to study N-body soliton scattering in the sine-Gordon theory. (AIP)