cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
(121) Pain, Sleep Disturbances, Fatigue, Mood Changes, and Underlying Inflammation: A Study of Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP)

CLBP is a highly prevalent (55% adults) and expensive (costs range $84-$624.8 billion) condition in the United States. CLBP is accompanied by distressing behavioral symptoms, such as depressed mood, fatigue, and sleep disturbance, which negatively impact quality of life (QOL). The purpose of the study was to determine the extent to which behavioral symptoms (depressive mood, fatigue, poor sleep), independently or as a cluster, predict pain severity and QOL. Proinflammatory cytokine (IL-6) was evaluated to determine the extent to which inflammation may serve as a common underlying mechanism. Further, these symptoms may share a common inflammatory pathway which in turn influence inflammation-related pain. Patients with CLBP (N=69) were enrolled. Participants completed instruments measuring pain severity and interference due to pain, depressive mood, fatigue, sleep quality, and quality of life. A blood sample was collected to measure IL-6. Latent class analysis will be used to identify symptom clusters, and differences among cluster profiles. Preliminary results revealed that 85% of the sample reported experiencing pain that day. Patients reported elevated fatigue, sleep disturbance, and depressive symptoms. Greater pain severity and/or interference was associated with greater sleep disturbance (r=0.59, p=.000; r=.45, p=.000), fatigue (r=.43, p = .001, r=.46, p=.001), depressive symptoms (r=.41, p = .005), and lower QOL (r=-0.39, p=.007). Those who reported greater pain severity indicated that pain interfered with their mood (r=.60, p =.000), social relationships (r=0.51, p=.000), and enjoyment of life (r=.35, p=.010). Greater depressive symptoms (r= -0.61, p=.000), sleep disturbance (r=-.54, p=.000), and fatigue (r=-.32, p=.022) were associated with poorer QOL. Furthermore, greater pain severity was associated with greater levels of plasma IL-6 (r=.42, p=.001). There is an urgent need to improve QOL for those burdened with CLBP, yet clinical management is only moderately effective. A symptom cluster approach in CLBP can guide the development of more comprehensive interventions.
A compound Gaussian-based waveform design approach for enhanced target detection in multistatic radar imaging

Much work has been done designing transmit waveforms for target identification, classification, and detection. In addition, these have also been studied in both single and multiple-antenna scenarios. In this work, we study the construction of a waveform when multiple radar sensors are used to image a target scene. The scene is assumed to have a prior distribution given by a Compound Gaussian (CG) - a model that has proven very useful in the field of image processing. Waveform optimization is done with the objective of optimizing mutual information, while reconstruction was performed using sparsity based reconstruction techniques. In our work, the waveform is tailored for a particular target of interest in the scene while suppressing the clutter. Using our waveform techniques, we demonstrate statistically significant improvements in the quality of the reconstructed image in peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and structural similarity index metric (SSIM). We validate our algorithms using the MSTAR database.
Dimethyl fumarate abrogates dust mite‐induced allergic asthma by altering dendritic cell function

Introduction Allergic asthma is the most common inflammatory disease of upper airways. Airway dendritic cells (DCs) are key antigen presenting cells that regulate T helper 2 (Th2)-dependent allergic inflammation. Recent studies have shown critical role of airway DCs in the induction of Th2-mediated allergic inflammation and are attractive therapeutic targets in asthma. However, molecular signaling mechanism that regulate DCs function to Th2 immune responses are poorly understood. Here we aim to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of dimethyl fumarate (DMF), an FDA approved small molecule drug, in the house dust mite (HDM)-induced experimental model of allergic asthma. Methods DMF was administered intranasally in the challenge period of HDM-induced murine model of experimental asthma. Airway inflammation, airway hyperreactivity, Th2/Th1 cytokine were assessed. The effect of DMF on DC function was further evaluated by adoptive transfer of HDM-pulsed DMF treated DCs to wild-type naive mice. Results DMF treatment significantly reduced HDM-induced airway inflammation, mucous cell metaplasia, and airway hyperactivity to inhaled methacholine. Mechanistically, DMF interferes with the migration of lung DCs to draining mediastinal lymph nodes, thereby attenuates the induction of allergic sensitization and Th2 immune response. Notably, adoptive transfer of DMF treated DCs to naive mice with HDM challenge similarly reduces the features of allergic asthma. Conclusion This identifies a novel function of DMF on DC-mediated adaptive immune responses in the setting of HDM-induced airway inflammation. Taken together, our results offer a mechanistic rationale for DMF use to target DCs in local lung environment as antiasthmatic therapy.
Sustained Animus toward Latino Immigrants — Deadly Consequences for Children and Families

Sustained Animus toward Latino Immigrants U.S. policies are inflicting ongoing harm on migrant children, enacting an animus against immigrants that is baked into our history. U.S. physicians can ad...
The Amygdala and Social Perception

The amygdala is a key structure connecting sensory representations with valuation, social inference, attentional modulation, and memory encoding. As such, it plays a prominent role in one particular aspect of social perception: the ability to infer the meaning of social communicative signals. While this role is best studied in regard to the recognition of emotions from facial expressions, it extends to more complex social judgments, other sensory modalities, and the incorporation of context. Recent work attempts to synthesize a more unitary function from all these findings, possibly related to aspects of evaluating biological significance or saliency. Considerable future work is required to situate the amygdala's function within a more extended neural system, likely featuring close interactions between the amygdala, temporal and prefrontal cortices, and parts of the basal ganglia and brain stem.
Abandoning Risky Agriculture and Leveraging Natural Capital: A County-Level Method for Identifying Conservation Opportunity

Marginal land now devoted to growing harvested crops may be better suited to other land uses such as biodiversity enhancement and carbon sequestration. However, farmers are not encouraged to explore the development of these opportunities due largely to subsidized federal crop insurance (FCI). This study examined FCI outcomes from 2013 to 2017 in 69 Coastal Plain counties of North Carolina and South Carolina. The loss ratio (total crop indemnities paid/total insurance premiums paid) was used to identify 21 counties with high-risk agriculture. Then an index of conservation opportunity was calculated for each county using the loss ratio, insurance subsidy, and an estimate of natural capital (i.e., renewable or nonrenewable natural resources that can provide benefits to humans). Where marginal farmland is surrounded by forest and natural capital is high, the index will identify counties currently supported by FCI that more quickly and completely incorporate the full range of ecological dynamics and biological diversity when farming is abandoned. The top 10 counties for conservation opportunity, with the exceptions of Scotland County, North Carolina, and Marion County, South Carolina, were located in the outer Coastal Plain or coastal zone where natural capital is high. Transitioning land use from harvested crops to biodiversity enhancement or carbon sequestration will require bold changes in agricultural policies and subsidies so that income streams to farmers are maintained while novel ecological targets are met.
The influence of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection on the outcome of subjects with anal squamous cell carcinoma.

e15152 Background: HPV infection is a risk factor for the development of anal cancer. P16 expression correlates highly with HPV infection. The influence of HPV infection on the outcome of these sub...
Abstract WMP3: Exosomes Derived From Stroke Activated Platelets Impair Cerebral Endothelial Permeability

Introduction: Stroke activated platelets damage the blood brain barrier (BBB). Mechanisms underlying this process remain to be investigated. The present study tested a hypothesis that exosomes, nan...
Sesquiterpenoids from culture of the fungus Stereum complicatum (Steraceae): structural diversity, antifungal and phytotoxic activities

Abstract Herein, we describe the isolation and identification of four new and three known sesquiterpenes from the culture broth of the fungus Stereum complicatum. Chemical structures were elucidated based on HR-DART-MS, 1D and 2D NMR experiments. Compounds were identified as sterostrein X (1), sterostrein Y (2), hirsutenol G (3), sterpurol C (4), sterostrein H (5), sterostrein P (6) and sterostrein Q (7). The phytotoxicity of 1-7 was assayed against Lactuca sativa, Agrostis stolonifera and Lemna paucicostata. Compounds showed slight or no activity against L. sativa, whereas 5 and 6 were the most active against A. stolonifera. Moreover, 5 was the only compound that was phytotoxic to L. paucicostata (IC50 46.2 μM). Compounds 2 and 5 slightly inhibited growth of B. cinerea and C. fragariae at 100 mM and C. acutatum at 50 mM, while 5 inhibited C. acutatum at 20 mM. Compound 6 was slightly active against all fungi at 20 mM.
A meta-analysis of the association between adolescent social media use and depressive symptoms.

Abstract Background The association of adolescent social media use with mental health symptoms, especially depression, has recently attracted a great deal of interest in public media as well as the scientific community. Some studies have cited statistically significant associations between adolescent social media use and depression and have proposed that parents must regulate their adolescents’ social media use in order to protect their mental health. Method In order to rigorously assess the size of the effect that has been reported in the current scientific literature, we conducted a meta-analysis of studies that measured the association between social media use specifically and depressive symptoms amongst early- to mid- adolescents (11-18 years-old). We searched Psychnet, PubMed, and Web of Science with the following terms: online social networks, social media, internet usage, facebook, twitter, instagram, myspace, snapchat, and depression. Results We found a small but significant positive correlation (k=12 studies, r=.11, p Conclusions High heterogeneity along with the small overall effect size observed in the relationship between self-reported social media use and depressive symptoms suggests that other factors are likely to act as significant moderators of the relationship. We suggest that future research should be focused on understanding which types of use may be harmful (or helpful) to mental health, rather than focusing on overall use measures that likely reflect highly heterogeneous exposures.
Prospective PI-RADS v2.1 Atypical Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Nodules With Marked Restricted Diffusion: Detection of Clinically Significant Prostate Cancer on Multiparametric MRI

BACKGROUND. On the basis of expert consensus, PI-RADS version 2.1 (v2.1) introduced the transition zone (TZ) atypical benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) nodule, defined as a TZ lesion with an incomplete or absent capsule (T2 score, 2). PI-RADS v2.1 also included a revised scoring pathway whereby such nodules, if exhibiting marked restricted diffusion (DWI score, 4-5), are upgraded from overall PI-RADS category 2 to category 3 (2 + 1 TZ lesions). OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to compare the rates of detection of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) in prospectively reported 2 + 1 TZ lesions, as defined by PI-RADS v2.1, and conventional 3 + 0 TZ lesions with targeted biopsy as the reference standard. METHODS. This retrospective study included men with no known PCa or with treatment-naive grade group (GG) 1 PCa who underwent 3-T multiparametric MRI of the prostate with prospective reporting by means of PI-RADS v2.1. Patients with at least one PI-RADS category 3 TZ lesion who underwent targeted biopsy formed the final sample. Biopsy results were summarized descriptively for 2 + 1 and 3 + 0 lesions. Generalized estimating equations were used to compare csPCa detection rates between groups. Associations between csPCa in 2 + 1 lesions and patient age, PSA level, prostate volume, PSA density, biopsy history, lesion size, and lesion ADC were tested with Kruskal-Wallis and Fisher exact tests. RESULTS. Among 1238 eligible patients who underwent MRI reported with PI-RADS v2.1, 2 + 1 lesions were reported in 6% (n = 69) and 3 + 0 TZ lesions in 7% (n = 87) of patients. No PCa, GG1 PCa, or csPCa was found in 84% (n = 41), 10% (n = 5), and 6% (n = 3) of 49 patients with 2 + 1 lesions who underwent targeted biopsy. Nor were they found in 74% (n = 45), 15% (n = 9), and 11% (n = 7) of 61 patients with 3 + 0 lesions who underwent targeted biopsy. The csPCa detection rate was not significantly different between 2 + 1 and 3 + 0 lesions (p = .31). All cases of csPCa were GG2, except for one 3 + 0 lesion with a GG3 tumor. No clinical or imaging variable was associated with csPCa in 2 + 1 lesions. CONCLUSION. The rate of csPCa in atypical BPH nodules with marked restricted diffusion was low (6%) and not significantly different from that of conventional 3 + 0 TZ lesions (11%). CLINICAL IMPACT. The results provide prospective clinical data about the revised TZ scoring criterion and pathway in PI-RADS v2.1 for atypical BPH nodules with marked restricted diffusion.
Developing Racial Justice Allies in an Online Graduate Workshop Centering Latinx Students

This study presents data from an online course on Latinx Students in Higher Education taught at a Predominantly White Institution in the Midwest. This case study examines how students engage with content on Latinx issues across the P-20 educational pipeline to better understand and ultimately serve this population in their professional context using perspectives on allyship development and racial justice allyship. Students in the course demonstrated a commitment to social justice, but their journey to build allyship was not a straightforward process.
The Ordinary Meaning of the Antiquities Act of 1906: A Corpus Linguistic Analysis

The Antiquities Act of 1906 authorized presidents to declare to be national monuments objects that were situated upon lands owned or controlled by the federal government. Further, the Act allowed the president to reserves parcels of land around the object to protect it. In recent years, Presidents Bush and Obama have relied on the Act to declare objects such as coral reefs and sea canyons to be national monuments, reserving millions of square miles of ocean for their protection. This essay seeks to determine what the ordinary meaning of the Act was in 1906. Relying on the Corpus of Historical American English (COHA), the paper finds that American English leading up to and around the time of the adoption of the Act did not use the terms and phrases in the Act to refer to anything found under the ocean. The ordinary meaning of the Act, then, would appear to not authorize the marine monuments created by recent presidents.
Galois Scaffolds and Galois Module Structure for Totally Ramified $C_p^2$-Extensions in Characteristic 0

Recently, much work has been done to investigate Galois module structure of local field extensions, particularly through the use of Galois scaffolds. Given a totally ramified $p$-extension of local fields $L/K$, a Galois Scaffold gives us a $K$-basis for $K[G]$ whose effect on the valuation of elements of $L$ is easy to determine. In 2013, N.P. Byott and G.G. Elder gave sufficient conditions for the existence of Galois scaffolds for cyclic extensions of degree $p^2$ in characteristic $p$. We take their work and adapt it to cyclic extensions of degree $p^2$ in characteristic $0$.
Noncalcific Mechanisms of Bioprosthetic Structural Valve Degeneration.

Abstract Bioprosthetic heart valves (BHVs) largely circumvent the need for long‐term anticoagulation compared with mechanical valves but are increasingly susceptible to deterioration and reduced du...
Non-coding function for mRNAs in Focal Adhesion Architecture and Mechanotransduction

Abstract Messenger RNA (mRNA) compartmentalization within the cytosol is well-recognized as a key mechanism of local translation-mediated regulation of protein levels, but whether such localization could be a means of exercising non-coding mRNA function is unknown. Here, we explore non-coding functions for mRNAs associated with focal adhesions (FAs), cellular structures responsible for mediating cell adhesion and response to changes in the extracellular matrix (ECM). Using high-throughput single molecule imaging and genomic profiling approaches, we find that mRNAs with distinct sequence characteristics localize to FAs in different human cell types. Notably, ∼85% of FA-mRNAs are not translationally active at steady state or under conditions of FA dissolution or activation. Untranslated mRNA sequences are anchored to FA based on their functional states by the RNA binding protein, G3BP1, forming biomolecular granules. Removing RNA or G3BP1, but not blocking new polypeptide synthesis, dramatically changes FA protein composition and organization, resulting in loss of cell contractility and cellular ability to adapt to changing ECM. We have therefor uncovered a novel, non-coding role for mRNAs as scaffolds to maintain FA structure and function, broadening our understating of noncanonical mRNA functions.
Seeking to Serve or $erve? Hispanic-Serving Institutions’ Race-Evasive Pursuit of Racialized Funding:

This critical qualitative study explores Hispanic-serving institutions’ (HSIs) pursuit of racialized federal funds and theorizes the connection between grant seeking and servingness at HSIs. Specif...
Jus Ad Bellum after 9/11: A State of the Art Report

An examination of the applicability of conventional and revisionist just war principles to the global war on terror.
Mutants of Salmonella typhimurium That Are Insensitive to Catabolite Repression of Proline Degradation

In Salmonella typhimurium the two enzymes of proline catabolism, proline oxidase and Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid dehydrogenase, are subject to catabolite repression when the cells are grown in the presence of glucose. Mutants partially relieved of catabolite repression (PutR) for the proline catabolic enzymes have been isolated by selection on agar plates containing glucose and proline. The specificity of the catabolite repression-insensitive character for the enzymes of proline utilization has been confirmed by an analysis of other unrelated catabolic enzymes. Histidase and amylomaltase of the mutant strains are equally as sensitive to glucose repression as are the enzymes from the wild type. All four PutR mutants exhibit higher induced and higher basal levels of proline oxidase as compared with the corresponding wild-type levels. The mutations of three strains tested are cotransducible with constitutive, pleiotrophic-negative and structural gene mutations of the put region. Three-factor crosses indicate that two putR mutations are located at one end of the cluster of put mutations.
Synthesis–Structure–Property Relationships for Hyperbranched Aminosilica CO2 Adsorbents

Hyperbranched aminosilica (HAS) adsorbents are prepared via the ring-opening polymerization ofaziridine in the presence ofmesoporous silica SBA-15 support. The aminopolymers are covalently bound to the silica support and capture CO 2 reversibly in a temperature swing process. Here, a range of HAS materials are prepared with different organic loadings. The effects of organic loading on the structural properties and CO 2 adsorption properties of the resultant hybrid materials are examined. The residual porosity in the HAS adsorbents after organic loading, as well as the molecular weights and degrees of branching for the separated aminopolymers, are determined to draw a relationship between adsorbent structure and performance. Humid adsorption working capacities and apparent adsorption kinetics are determined from experiments in a packed-bed flow system monitored by mass spectrometry. Dry adsorption isotherms are presented for one HAS adsorbent with a high amine loading at 35 and 75 °C. These combined results establish the relationships between adsorbent synthesis, structure, and CO 2 adsorption properties of the family of HAS materials.
Location of enhancers is essential for the imprinting of H19 and Igf2 genes

Genomic imprinting is the process in mammals by which gamete-specific epigenetic modifications establish the differential expression of the two alleles of a gene. The tightly linked H19 and Igf2 genes are expressed in tissues of endodermal and mesodermal origin, with H19 expressed from the maternal chromosome and Igf2 expressed from the paternal chromosome. A model has been proposed to explain the reciprocal imprinting of these genes; in this model, expression of the genes is governed by competition between their promoters for a common set of enhancers. An extra set of enhancers might be predicted to relieve the competition, thereby eliminating imprinting. Here we tested this prediction by generating mice with a duplication of the endoderm-specific enhancers. The normally silent Igf2 gene on the maternal chromosome was expressed in liver, consistent with relief from competition. We then generated a maternal chromosome containing a single set of enhancers located equidistant from 1gf2 and H19; the direction of the imprint was reversed. Thus, the location of the enhancers determines the outcome of competition in liver, and the strength of the H19 promoter is not sufficient to silence Igf2.
General Electromagnetic Fields

In this Chapter we will derive expressions for general field and alignment errors to be used in the Hamiltonian perturbation theory. Pure electromagnetic multipole fields have been derived in [2.1] from the Laplace equation while ignoring kinematic terms as well as higher-order field perturbations. In preparation for more sophisticated beam transport systems and accelerator designs aiming, for example, at ever smaller beam emittances it becomes imperative to consider higher-order perturbations to preserve desired beam characteristics. We will therefore derive the general electromagnetic fields from the curvilinear Laplace equation and formulate the general equations of motion in both planes with all higher-order geometric and chromatic perturbations up to third order. To meet also the increasing use of wiggler magnets and superconducting magnets, we discuss magnetic parameters of both magnet types.
Mu and delta opioid ligands inhibit reflex contractions of the urinary bladder in the rat by different central mechanisms.

Abstract The supraspinal and spinal mechanisms of opioid-induced inhibition of reflex contractions of the urinary bladder were studied in female rats, anesthetized with urethane. A variety of central manipulations was made to distinguish the effects produced by [ d -Ala 2 -Me-Phe 4 -Gly(ol) 5 ]-enkephalin (DAGO), a selective mu-opioid receptor ligand, from those of the delta ligand [2- d -penicillamine, 5- l -penicillamine]-enkephalin (DPLPE), administered by either intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) or by spinal intrathecal (i.t.) injection. The effect of intraventricular but not of intrathecal administration of DPLPE was abolished 4–5 hr after the systemic administration of reserpine (5 mg/kg, i.p.). Reserpine did not modify the actions of DAGO, given by either route. Pretreatment with 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT, 200 μg, i.c.v.) attenuated the effect of DPLPE given intraventricularly but not when given intrathecally, measured 7 days later. The effect produced by DPLPE given by either route was unchanged by pretreatment with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA, 150 μg i.c.v.). Neither 5,7-DHT nor 6-OHDA altered the effect of administrations of DAGO. The effect of DPLPE given intraventricularly was attenuated or abolished, in a dose-related and reversible manner, following the administration ofnaloxone or methysergide intrathecally but not by phentolamine, propranalol or atropine. The effect of DAGO given intraventricularly was antagonised by naloxone but not by any of the other antagonists. These observations suggested that the supraspinally- and spinally-mediated inhibition of reflex contractions of the urinarybladder produced by mu or delta receptor ligands can be dissociated. The supraspinal effect of DPLPE involved a descending serotoninergic, but not adrenergic pathway. The supraspinal effect of DAGO did not involve a monoaminergic pathway and the mechanism of its effect remains obscure. Finally, the supraspinal effects of DPLPE and DAGO appeared to involve the activation of an opioid system in the spinal cord.
Cellular Phones and Risk of Brain Tumors

As cellular telephones are a relatively new technology, we do not yet have long-term follow-up on their possible biological effects. However, the lack of ionizing radiation and the low energy level emitted from cell phones and absorbed by human tissues make it unlikely that these devices cause cancer. Moreover, several well-designed epidemiologic studies find no consistent association between cell phone use and brain cancer. It is impossible to prove that any product or exposure is absolutely safe, especially in the absence of very long-term follow-up. Accordingly, the following summary from the Food and Drug Administration Center for Devices and Radiological Health offers advice to people concerned about their risk: If there is a risk from these products--and at this point we do not know that there is--it is probably very small. But if people are concerned about avoiding even potential risks, there are simple steps they can take to do so. People who must conduct extended conversations in their cars every day could switch to a type of mobile phone that places more distance between their bodies and the source of the RF, since the exposure level drops off dramatically with distance. For example, they could switch to: a mobile phone in which the antenna is located outside the vehicle, a hand-held phone with a built-in antenna connected to a different antenna mounted on the outside of the car or built into a separate package, or a headset with a remote antenna to a mobile phone carried at the waist. Again the scientific data do not demonstrate that mobile phones are harmful. But if people are concerned about the radiofrequency energy from these products, taking the simple precautions outlined above can reduce any possible risk. In addition, people who are concerned might choose digital rather than analog telephones, since the former use lower RF levels.
Employing Wiki for knowledge management as a collaborative information repository: an NBC universal case

The Web 2.0 era is nourished by the emergence of collaboration-conducive web applications, such as blogs, social networks, and wikis. Among these, Wiki has particularly revolutionized the way information is created and shared within a wide variety of organizations, such as educational institutions, research centers, and business enterprises. The technically undemanding nature of Wiki alleviates the burden of mastering cumbersome or complicated technologies, thereby encouraging personnel to share and archive valuable tacit knowledge with other members of the organization. As a result, Wiki helps mitigate the reluctance of members to share knowledge, resolving one of the most pronounced challenges in managerial efforts to capture, transfer, and store knowledge for the firm. This case study presents the inception of a wiki by the NBC Universal Software Engineering and Delivery Team and the expansion of the wiki to other departments in the firm, in particular to Peacock Productions, which specializes in programming of documentary TV programs. The Peacock Productions case demonstrates that Wiki can be a powerful tool for managing knowledge in business corporations, which must adapt quickly to changing market demands.
Distribution of colloidal particles in extracellular space and synaptic cleft substance of mammalian cerebral cortex.

Distribution of Colloidal Particles in Extracellular Space and Synaptic Cleft Substance of Mammalian Cerebral Cortex
Clone join and shadow join: two parallel spatial join algorithms

Spatial applications frequently need to join two data sets based on some spatial relationship between objects in the two data sets. This operation, called a spatial join, is an expensive operation and in the past many algorithms have been proposed for evaluating the spatial join operation on a single processor system. However, the use of parallelism for handling queries involving large volumes of spatial data has received little attention. In this paper, we explore the use of parallelism for evaluating the spatial join operation. We first propose two strategies for storing spatial data in a parallel database system. We propose a number of spatial join algorithms based on these declustering strategies. Two algorithms are identified as the key algorithms in this design space. We analyze these two algorithms both analytically and experimentally. The experimental evaluation uses real data sets and is based on an actual implementation in a parallel database system. The experiments show that both algorithms can effectively exploit parallelism.
Integration of light and brassinosteroid signals in etiolated seedling growth

Abstract Light and brassinosteroids are involved in the regulation of stem elongation in etiolated seedlings, but the molecular mechanism of their integration is not clear. Recent work in pea has shown that the dark-inducible, light-repressible small G protein, Pra2, interacts with and activates a cytochrome P450 C-2 hydroxylase involved in brassinolide biosynthesis. Thus, a novel link between light signal transduction and the endogenous levels of an important growth-promoting plant hormone has been established.
Host-plant quality alters grass/forb consumption by a mixed-feeding insect herbivore, Melanoplus bivittatus (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

1. Factors affecting the nutritional ecology of mixed-feeding, polyphagous herbivores are poorly understood. Mixed-feeding herbivores do better when they consume both forb and grass species although they typically feed primarily on forbs, which are of relatively higher protein content than grasses. 2. In a field experiment, we examined the effects of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization and associated changes in host-plant C:N:P on proportional grass consumption by a mixed-feeding insect herbivore, Melanoplus bivittatus, using natural abundance stable carbon isotope (12C/13C) methods. We also examined a grass-feeding (Phoetaliotes nebrascensis) and forb-feeding (Hesperotettix viridis) species. 3. The C isotope signatures of M. bivittatus collected from plots fertilized with nitrogen (+N), phosphorus (+P), nitrogen and phosphorus (+N+P) and no fertilizer were compared with the C isotope signatures of plants in those plots to determine the proportion of assimilated C derived from C4 grasses and C3 forbs in each plot. We also examined the relationship between M. bivittatus diets and plant C:N:P stoichiometry. 4. The proportion of grass assimilated approximately doubled in N-fertilized treatments (39.1 ± 0.1%) compared with non-fertilized treatments (19 ± <0.1%), an increase associated with decreased C:N and increased N:P of grasses. 5. These results indicate that mixed-feeding M. bivittatus can selectively feed to balance C:N:P intake even when choosing between two structurally and chemically different groups of plants. 6. The strong relationship between diet selection and grass stoichiometry also suggests that plant nutrient composition may be more important than defensive chemistry in food choice.
On the Conformational Bias of F((2R,3S)-cyclo-M)RFa Induced by the cis-2,3-Methanomethionine Residue

The objective of this work was to study conformational biases attributable to a cis-2,3-methanomethionine isomer substituted in a model sequence, FMRFa, and to compare them with previous studies of trans-2,3-methanomethionine stereoisomers in the same environment. Consequently, F((2R,3S)-cyclo-M)RFa was prepared via solid phase synthesis, and solutions of this material were examined by NMR and CD spectroscopies. These spectral studies were complemented by molecular simulations. These computational studies indicated γ- and β-turn structures were favored; however, the experimental data are consistent with only the γ-turn structure. Overall, this work and previous research indicates that both cis- and trans-2,3-methanomethionine stereoisomers tend to impart a conformational preference for γ-turns when substituted for methionine in FMRFa. It is proposed that this phenomenon is indirectly due to widening of the N−Cα−CO bond angle by the cyclopropane and might therefore be observed for 2,3-methanomethionine res...
A Quasi-linear Eddy-Viscosity Model for the Flux of Energy and Momentum to Wind Waves Using Conservation-Law Equations in a Curvilinear Coordinate System

Abstract The airflow above ocean waves is calculated using a quasi-linear model—one in which the effect of the waves on the mean flow is taken into account. The model uses curvilinear coordinates, in which one coordinate surface coincides with the instantaneous sea surface, and is consequently able to attain fine vertical resolution in the boundary layer just above the sea surface; the model equations are formulated in conservation-law form. The rates of energy and momentum input to the wave field are calculated from the oscillatory pressure and shear-stress components at the water surface. The equations are solved iteratively using a logarithmically spaced finite-difference mesh. The effect of air turbulence is modeled using a vertically varying shear-stress–dependent eddy viscosity, which acts on the wave-correlated oscillatory motions as well as on the mean flow field. For infinitesimal waves the model agrees with the results of Conte and Miles as the Newtonian viscosity and eddy viscosity that act on ...
Abstract LB-4: Preclinical development of spherical nucleic acids, a novel RNAi-based nanomedicinal platform, as anti-glioma therapeutics

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Patients with Glioblastoma (GBM) survive for a mere 14-16 months. Conventional and targeted therapies, foremost inhibitors of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK-Is) have been ineffective in glioma clinical trials, contributing to a near 100% failure rate of GBM drug development. Impediments to clinical successes are the lack of systematic identification of genes with critical roles in therapy (apoptosis) resistance, and the dearth of innovative technologies to deliver therapeutics to glioma elements, and to effectively target important apoptosis regulators in established gliomas. Here, we describe the development and pre-clinical characterization of a novel RNAi-based nanomedicinal platform (termed spherical nucleic acids, SNAs) to target aberrantly expressed oncogenes in GBM. SNAs consist of polyvalent gold nanoparticles with diameters of ∼13 nm, which are densely functionalized with RNAi molecules via oligoethylene glycol-thiol linkers. Our detailed physico-chemical and cell biological characterization revealed that SNAs exhibit highly efficient cellular uptake and robust serum stability without the use of auxiliary transfection strategies or chemical modifications, less induction of innate immune responses, reduced off-target effects, and minimal systemic toxicity in rodents. In proof-of-priciciple studies, we utilized SNAs to neutralize the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins, i.e., canonical family members, such as Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and the atypical member Bcl2L12. We show highly efficient uptake of SNAs into various primary and transformed glial cell lineages in vitro, including patient- and glioma mouse model-derived tumor neurospheres (TNS). Importantly, SNAs provoked robust and persistent knockdown of Bcl-2 family members on mRNA and protein levels, and robustly sensitized glioma cells toward therapy-induced apoptosis. Finally, Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry of SNAs co-functionalized with gadolinium revealed that intravenously administered SNAs penetrated the blood-brain- and blood-tumor-barriers, and robustly disseminated xenogeneic glioma explants. High-level accumulation of Bcl2L12-targeting SNAs within glioma elements was associated with increased intratumoral apoptosis, and consequently resulted in reduced glioma formation and prolonged survival of xenografted mice. Thus, silencing of anti-apoptotic signaling driven by members of the Bcl-2 family using nano-RNAi represents a novel therapeutic approach to overcome therapy resistance and to halt progression of GBM. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-4. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-LB-4
Dimensional optimization of a tubular solid oxide fuel cell

Abstract Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are very promising for their potential applications as power generators. However, the cost of these cells needs to be significantly reduced to make them a commercial success. Cost of the materials is a significant component of the overall cost. An improvement of the power density with respect to the weight of the cell, termed as gravimetric power density in this study, can help to achieve a lower material cost. On the other hand, a compact design is required for both man-portable and stationary powerhouse applications. The power density with respect to the overall volume of the cell is termed as volumetric power density in this study. A nonlinear constrained multiobjective optimization study using a lexicographic approach is performed to maximize the gravimetric and the volumetric power density of a tubular SOFC. The decision variables are the radius of the anode channel, the cell length, and the annulus size. To be used for optimization studies, a detailed steady state model is developed that can capture changes in the concentration, activation, and ohmic losses due to changes in the decision variables. The model is extensively validated with experimental data collected from an industrial cell spanning a wide range of temperatures, H 2 flow rates, and DC polarizations. Although the model predictions are found to be satisfactory for most operating conditions, a significant mismatch between the simulation results and the experimental data is observed when the H 2 flow rate is low. The validation study helps to identify the feasible region for the optimization study. The optimization study shows that significant improvements in both the power densities are possible for all the operating conditions considered in this study. The electrical efficiency of the cell also gets improved due to the optimization. In one of the operating conditions, about 30% improvement in the gravimetric power density and about 65% improvement in the volumetric power density are obtained due to the optimization. The percentage changes of the decision variables compared to their base case values are found to be similar for all the voltages other than the voltages close to the open circuit potential (OCP).
Parallel computation of manipulator inverse dynamics

In this article, parallel computation of manipulator inverse dynamics is investigated. A hierarchical graph-based mapping approach is devised to analyze the inherent parallelism in the Newton-Euler formulation at several computational levels, and to derive the features of an abstract architecture for exploitation of parallelism. At each level, a parallel algorithm represents the application of a parallel model of computation that transforms the computation into a graph whose structure defines the features of an abstract architecture, i.e., number of processors, communication structure, etc. Data-flow analysis is employed to derive the time lower bound in the computation as well as the sequencing of the abstract architecture. The features of the target architecture are defined by optimization of the abstract architecture to exploit maximum parallelism while minimizing architectural complexity. An architecture is designed and implemented that is capable of efficient exploitation of parallelism at several computational levels. The computation time of the Newton-Euler formulation for a 6-degree-of-freedom (dof) general manipulator is measured as 187 microsec. The increase in computation time for each additional dof is 23 microsec, which leads to a computation time of less than 500 microsec, even for a 12-dof redundant arm.
Large-scale photonic neural networks with biology-like processing elements: the role of electron-trapping materials

Neural networks employing pulsating biology-oriented integrate-and-fire (IF) model neurons, that can exhibit synchronicity (phase-locking), bifurcation, and chaos, have features that make them potentially useful for learning and recognition of spatio-temporal patterns, generation of complex motor control, emulating higher-level cortical functions like feature binding, separation of object from background, cognition and other higher-level functions; all of which are beyond the ready reach of nonpulsating sigmoidal neuron networks. The spiking nature of biology-oriented neural networks makes their study in digital hardware impractical. Prange and Klar convincingly argued that the best way of realizing such networks is through analog CMOS technology rather than digital hardware. They showed, however, that the number of neurons one can accommodate on a VLSI chip limited to a hundred or so, even when submicron CMOS technology is used, because of the relatively large size of the neuron/dendrite cell. One way of reducing the size of neuron/dendrite cell is to reduce the structural complexity of the cell by realizing some of the processes needed in the cell's operation externally to the chip and by coupling these processes to the cell optically. Two such processes are the relaxation mechanism of the IF neuron and dendritic-tree processing. We have shown, by examining the blue light impulse response of electron trapping materials (ETMs) used under simultaneous infrared and blue light bias, that these materials offer features that can be used in realizing both the optical relaxation and synapto-dendritic response mechanisms. Experimental results demonstrating the potential of this approach in realizing dense arrays of biology-oriented neuron/dendrite cells will be presented, focusing on the concept and design of ETM-based image intensifier as new enabling technology.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
TNF-α suppresses IL-1α and IL-6 upregulation of C4b-binding protein in HepG-2 hepatoma cells

C4b-binding protein (C4BP) is a regulatory protein involved in the regulation of the classical pathway of complement and the natural anticoagulant pathway. C4BP is synthesized by the liver, a target organ of the IL-6 proinflammatory cytokine. C4BP is an acute-phase protein and its basal levels may increase by as much as 4-fold during an inflammatory response. IL-6 which plays a major role in the modulation of the acute-phase proteins, including C4BP, also has been shown by our group to significantly increase hepatocyte production of the anticoagulant protein, protein S. In this study, we have examined the role of cytokine combinations on the production of the C4BP regulatory protein in the HepG-2 hepatoma cell line and report that IL-1α and IL-6 in combination as well as IL-1α and Oncostatin M (OSM) were approximately additive in the upregulation of C4BP while IL-6 and OSM were not and that TNF-α blocked both IL-1α and IL-6 but not OSM upregulation of C4BP.
EFFECT OF A FILTERABLE VIRUS (VIRUS III) ON THE GROWTH AND MALIGNANCY OF A TRANSPLANTABLE NEOPLASM OF THE RABBIT.

A study of a malignant disease in rabbits has been made with reference to the presence or absence of a filterable virus, Virus III, in the tumor. The results are analyzed from the standpoint of certain characteristic features of the tumor process in order to determine any differences in degrees of malignancy. It was found that a more severe disease developed in the series in which the virus-bearing tumor was used than in the series in which the tumor was free of the virus, although the differences were not very marked and were not entirely constant. The influence of Virus III as a factor affecting malignancy has been discussed from the standpoint of its possible effect upon (α) the tumor cells and (b) the host reaction. It has been suggested that the greater malignancy of the pathological process usually induced by the virus-bearing tumor is attributable to a change in the response of the host to the tumor, which change is of the nature of a decreased resistance associated with the reaction of the host to the virus infection.
Primates and parasites: A case for a multidisciplinary approach

Examinations of primate parasitic infections can inform both primatologists and parasitologists about evolutionary and ecological relationships. Interspecific, intraspecific, and interindividual variation in parasitic infections may correlate with environmental, demographic, behavioral, and human variables. Understanding these relationships is particularly important for conservation management issues for endangered species. We describe techniques for the noninvasive collection and preservation of fecal samples from wild primates and the salvaging of parasitological information from primate hosts in the field.
Diagnosis and treatment of anticoagulant‐related adrenal hemorrhage

Anticoagulant-related adrenal hemorrhage, as a cause of adrenal insufficiency, is rarely suspected and diagnosed during life. We report three patients in whom prompt diagnosis allowed successful treatment with replacement doses of corticosteroids. In all three patients, a hypotensive episode preceded the signs and symptoms of acute adrenal insufficiency. The symptoms and signs of adrenal hemorrhage were nonspecific and variable, making clinical diagnosis difficult. In none of our patients was the prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, or Lee White clotting time prolonged beyond the therapeutic range, and in none were excessive doses of anticoagulant therapy employed. Characteristic serum chemistry abnormalities, serum ACTH stimulation tests, and daily urinary collections for free cortisol, 17-OH ketosteroids, and 17-ketosteroids confirmed the clinical suspicion of primary adrenal insufficiency in all cases. Diagnosis was aided in one patient by abdominal computerized axial tomographic scan. In all patients, response to replacement doses of corticosteroids was prompt and gratifying, underlining the importance of suspecting this complication of anticoagulant therapy and instituting prompt lifesaving therapy. Adrenal hemorrhage is a complication of anticoagulant therapy that has been diagnosed during life in only 11 reported cases. We describe three patients in whom early diagnosis allowed prompt medical therapy and favorable outcome. The clinical presentation, diagnostic laboratory features, and therapeutic modalities are reviewed. Prolongation of prothrombin time, high levels of stress, and hypotension predispose to this complication in a patient maintained on anticoagulant therapy.