cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The myeloid-binding peptide adenoviral vector enables multi-organ vascular endothelial gene targeting

Vascular endothelial cells (ECs) are ideal gene therapy targets as they provide widespread tissue access and are the first contact surfaces following intravenous vector administration. Human recombinant adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) is the most frequently used gene transfer system because of its appreciable transgene payload capacity and lack of somatic mutation risk. However, standard Ad5 vectors predominantly transduce liver but not the vasculature following intravenous administration. We recently developed an Ad5 vector with a myeloid cell-binding peptide (MBP) incorporated into the knob-deleted, T4 fibritin chimeric fiber (Ad.MBP). This vector was shown to transduce pulmonary ECs presumably via a vector handoff mechanism. Here we tested the body-wide tropism of the Ad.MBP vector, its myeloid cell necessity, and vector-EC expression dose response. Using comprehensive multi-organ co-immunofluorescence analysis, we discovered that Ad.MBP produced widespread EC transduction in the lung, heart, kidney, skeletal muscle, pancreas, small bowel, and brain. Surprisingly, Ad.MBP retained hepatocyte tropism albeit at a reduced frequency compared with the standard Ad5. While binding specifically to myeloid cells ex vivo, multi-organ Ad.MBP expression was not dependent on circulating monocytes or macrophages. Ad.MBP dose de-escalation maintained full lung-targeting capacity but drastically reduced transgene expression in other organs. Swapping the EC-specific ROBO4 for the CMV promoter/enhancer abrogated hepatocyte expression but also reduced gene expression in other organs. Collectively, our multilevel targeting strategy could enable therapeutic biological production in previously inaccessible organs that pertain to the most debilitating or lethal human diseases.
Characteristics of lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) particles synthesized in subcritical and supercritical water

Abstract The effect of temperature, pH, time, and reactant concentrations on the size and morphology of lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) particles synthesized in a batch hydrothermal reactor was investigated in this work. It was found that LiFePO4 could only be synthesized at neutral or slightly basic pH in both subcritical and supercritical water. Synthesis in subcritical water resulted in micron-sized particles of high crystallinity, whereas synthesis in supercritical water produced submicron particles. A more uniform particle size distribution was obtained at low reactant concentrations, irrespective of the synthesis temperature. Qualitative explanations for these observations are provided in terms of nucleation, growth, and agglomeration phenomena at subcritical and supercritical conditions.
Reduced systems in markov chains and their applications in queueing theory

A reduced system is a smaller system derived in the process of analyzing a larger system. While solving for steady-state probabilities of a Markov chain, generally the solution can be found by first solving a reduced system of equations which is obtained by appropriately partitioning the transition probability matrix. In this paper, we catagorize reduced systems as standard and nonstandard and explore the existence of reduced systems and their properties relative to the original system. We also discuss first passage probabilities and means for the standard reduced system relative to the original system. These properties are illustrated while determining the steady-state probabilities and first passage time characteristics of a queueing system.
Cell wall stress activates expression of a novel stress response facilitator (SrfA) under σ22 (AlgT/U) control in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The ECF (extracytoplasmic function) alternative sigma factor, σ22 (AlgT/U), is required for expression of the algD promoter of the operon for alginate biosynthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Alginate production promotes chronic pulmonary infections by this opportunistic pathogen in patients with cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. σ22 is normally sequestered, but its deregulation and activation occur either by mutation in mucA (encoding an anti-sigma factor) or in response to envelope stress, such as inhibition of peptidoglycan synthesis. The σ22 stress response system includes many genes in addition to those for alginate. In the present study, we characterized an intergenic region between ORFs PA2559 and PA2560 in PAO1 for a σ22-dependent, stress-responsive transcript, described here as PA2559.1. Northern analysis and transcript end-mapping indicated the PA2559.1 transcript was ~310 nt in length. Examination of the DNA sequence upstream of +1 revealed a σ22 core promoter motif, GAATTT-N16-TCTGT, and site-directed mutagenesis confirmed this to be a σ22-dependent promoter that was highly activated during cell wall stress. PA2559.1 also contained an ORF that demonstrated increased translational activity upon cell wall stress. As determined by mutant analysis, the protein encoded by PA2559.1 was shown to play a positive role in the σ22-dependent activation of the algD promoter under stress in both sessile (i.e. biofilm) and planktonic conditions. Thus, it appeared to act as a stress response facilitator and so was named SrfA. The sequence of SrfA was found to be novel in nature and extremely well conserved only in P. aeruginosa, suggesting that it is of high evolutionary importance in this species.
Synthesis and characterization of aromatic–aliphatic poly(enaminonitriles)

Abstract Novel, high molecular weight aromatic–aliphatic poly(enaminonitriles) (PEANs) were prepared by the interfacial polymerization of 4 aromatic bis(chlorovinylidene cyanide) monomers with linear, aliphatic diamines containing 6, and 8–12 methylene units. Characterization was done with TGA, DSC, solution viscometry, GPC and spectroscopic methods. The PEANs displayed excellent solubility in polar aprotic solvents and showed good thermal stability (5% weight loss >325°C) considering the aliphatic content of the chains. The polymers appeared to be completely amorphous and showed no melting transitions by DSC. Molecular modeling studies suggested that steric interference caused by the 2,2-dicyanovinyl functionality may hinder the formation of crystalline regions.
Cardiac surgical conditions induced by β-blockade : Effect on myocardial fluid balance

Background. Both crystalloid and blood cardioplegia result in cardiac dysfunction associated with myocardial edema. This edema is partially due to the lack of myocardial contraction during cardioplegia, which stops myocardial lymph flow. As an alternative, acceptable surgical conditions have been created in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass operations with esmolol-induced minimal myocardial contraction. We hypothezised that minimal myocardial contraction during circulatory support using either standard cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) or a biventricular assist device would prevent myocardial edema by maintaining cardiac lymphatic function and thus prevent cardiac dysfunction. Methods. We placed 6 dogs on CPB and 6 dogs on a biventricular assist device and serially measured myocardial lymph flow rate and myocardial water content in both groups and preload recruitable stroke work only in the CPB dogs. In all dogs we minimized heart rate with esmolol for 1 hour during total circulatory support. Results. Although myocardial lymph flow remained at baseline level during CPB and increased during biventricular assistance, myocardial water accumulation still occurred during circulatory support. However, as edema resolved rapidly after separation from circulatory support, myocardial water content was only slightly increased after CPB and biventricular assistance, and preload recruitable stroke work was normal. Conclusions. Our data suggest that minimal myocardial contraction during both CPB and biventricular assistance supports myocardial lymphatic function, resulting in minimal myocardial edema formation associated with normal left ventricular performance after circulatory support. The concept of minimal myocardial contraction may be a useful alternative for myocardial protection, especially in high-risk patients with compromised left ventricular function.
Institutional ownership stability and BHC performance

Abstract In this study, the association between performance of BHCs and institutional ownership stability is investigated and contrasted to those found for the less regulated utility and industrial firms in order to determine whether regulation displaces owner monitoring. We employ a simultaneous equations model treating firm performance and institutional ownership stability as endogenous variables. Several results are obtained. First, BHC performance is positively associated with institutional ownership stability. Second, this association is weaker for BHCs than for comparable utility and industrial firms, possibly because of the substitution of regulation for owner monitoring in banking. Third, this association is stronger in the recent deregulated years and for BHCs with lower likelihood of regulatory intervention.
Can ultrawideband antennas be miniaturized effectively by dielectric loading

A novel approach for miniaturization of disc monopole antennas is presented. The physical size of the antenna has been miniaturized by loading a dielectric material of high dielectric constant around the antenna in an intelligent manner. In order to maintain the impedance bandwidth characteristics, a spatial quarter wave transformer was applied. Simulations of the structure showed that the impedance bandwidth was conserved while the physical size of the structure was reduced by 58.4%.
Simultaneous observations of ammonia in the atmosphere and ocean

Ammonia, being the dominant base other than sea salt in the remote marine troposphere, plays an important role in the acid–base chemistry of the atmosphere1–3. An understanding of the cycling of ammonia through the marine environment has, until now, been hampered by the lack of concurrent measurements of key acidic and basic atmospheric and seawater species. Reported here are the results of simultaneous concentration measurements of these species during May 1987 in the coastal north-east Pacific Ocean environment. Gas (g) and particulate (p) phase data suggest that low concentrations of NH3 (g) in the marine atmosphere lead to partly neutralized H2SO4 in aerosol particles and in rainwater. Gas-phase concentrations combined with seawater concentration measurements indicate that for the region and time period studied the ocean was a local source of atmospheric ammonia. These data, combined in a simple box model, suggest a marine boundary layer residence time of 3.6 h and 22 h for NH3 (g) and NH+4 (p), respectively.
The role of animal models in tendon research

Tendinopathy is a debilitating musculoskeletal condition which can cause significant pain and lead to complete rupture of the tendon, which often requires surgical repair. Due in part to the large spectrum of tendon pathologies, these disorders continue to be a clinical challenge. Animal models are often used in this field of research as they offer an attractive framework to examine the cascade of processes that occur throughout both tendon pathology and repair. This review discusses the structural, mechanical, and biological changes that occur throughout tendon pathology in animal models, as well as strategies for the improvement of tendon healing. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2014;3:193-202.
Infections of the Central Nervous System

An 80-year-old man presents to the ED via ambulance from a local nursing home with confused speech (episodic/waxing and waning), fever, and chills for 1 day. Per nursing home report, he had been feeling unwell for the last 2 days. Paperwork reveals he has had a nonproductive cough and sore throat, and several other residents at the facility had been ill with similar symptoms. He reports a frontal headache which is more painful than his associated myalgias and was given Tylenol. There is no report of a fall or trauma. His baseline mental status is alert and oriented with the ability to converse and perform many activities of daily living. He is unable to manage his finances and medications. His baseline heart rate is 70–90s; his blood pressure range is in the 120–130s/60–90s. He has lived at the nursing home for the past year since diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. He previously lived alone and his wife died 2 years ago. There is no family in the region. On arrival to the ED, his initial vital signs are T 103 F, BP 94/49, R 24, HR 108, and O2 sats 94% on room air with a GCS 13.
Alienation in the light of Karen Horney's theory of neurosis

Self-alienation has been seen by many people in different ways and in multiple dimensions. It has been described as boredom, lonelines, impairment of depth of feeling, remoteness from self and from one's own constructive resources. To the degree an individual suffers from self-alienation, his self-realizing and self-creating are impaired and thwarted. His life becomes increasingly determined by others with the corresponding loss of autonomy. An important insight into the process of self-alienation is found in the theory of neurotic character development as described by Karen Horney. She places compulsive defensive trends and conflicts and their solutions in the fore-ground of the neurotic process. Especially significant are the processes of self-idealization and the concomitant self-hate. These turn an individual away from, and against, himself and produce a deep intrapsychic conflict that he attempts to resolve in various ways, but always with increasing self-alienation.
On 2-factors containing 1-factors in bipartite graphs

Abstract Moon and Moser (Israel J. Math. 1 (1962) 163–165) showed that if G is a balanced bipartite graph of order 2 n and minimum degree σ ⩾ ( n + 1)/2, then G is hamiltonian. Recently, it was shown that their well-known degree condition also implies the existence of a 2-factor with exactly k cycles provided n ⩾ max {52, 2 k 2 + 1}. In this paper, we show that a similar degree condition implies that for each perfect matching M , there exists a 2-factor with exactly k cycles including all edges of M .
Slow-release fertilizer and water management with container-grown Ligustrum texanum

Abstract Tests were performed to assess the relative benefit of 4 slow-release fertilizers (Osmocote 18-6-12, resin-coated urea 40-0-0, resin-coated urea 41-0-0 and Notroform 38-0-0) on the growth of privet ( Ligustrum texanum ) in 2.8-1 containers at 2 irrigation rates. Rates of N applied were 0.6, 1.2, 1.8 and 2.4 kg N m −3 , and irrigation regimes were leaching-fraction (LF) = 0.1 or 0.4. After 6 months, yields were highest for 18-6-12, and peaked between 1.2 and 1.8 kg N m −3 , with 40-0-0 producing yields consistently about 80% of those produced by 18-6-12. Yields for 38-0-0 were about 25% of those with 18-6-12, and increased gradually with increasing rate of N application. The high rates of 41-0-0 killed a number of plants. Although LF = 0.1 resulted in higher N and P concentrations in tissue, growth was generally poorer than at LF = 0.4. Concentrations of N in plant tops were consistently lower for 40-0-0 than for 18-6-12, suggesting that the plant had some difficulty in acquiring sufficient N from this source. Optimum tissue N concentrations were between 18 and 20 mg N g −1 dry matter (whole tops). At maximum plant-growth rates (achieved between 1.2 and 1.8 kg N m −3 ), 32 and 29% of the N was leached from containers of 18-6-12 and 40-0-0, respectively. Water-use efficiency was approximately 1 g dry matter per 450 ml H 2 O, or 20 1 per plant. The average leachate N concentration corresponding to maximum yield was between 100 and 200 mg N l −1 . Leachate pH was generally greater for urea-based material than for 18-6-12. The resin-coated urea appears to have good potential for use in potting-media for container-grown plants.
Excitation of 6(-) and 7(+) stretched states in the 38Ar(p,n)38K reaction at 135 MeV.

High-spin, stretched-state excitations were studied in the $^{38}\mathrm{Ar}$(p,n${)}^{38}$K reaction at 135 MeV with the beam-swinger system at the Indiana University Cyclotron Facility. Neutron kinetic energies were measured by the time-of-flight technique with large-volume plastic-scintillator neutron detectors at flight paths ranging from 81 to 131 m. Overall time resolutions of about 825 ps provided energy resolutions from 320 to 450 keV. The target was a 4-cm-long gas cell filled to \ensuremath{\sim}3 atm absolute. Angular distributions were extracted for the low-lying excitations observed at wide angles. A known ${7}^{+}$ state at ${\mathit{E}}_{\mathit{x}}$=3.5 MeV was observed, plus two states at 5.3 and 5.9 MeV, which are tentatively identified as ${6}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ excitations, based on comparisons with distorted wave Born approximation and sdpf shell-model calculations. The $^{38}\mathrm{K}$ spectrum is in reasonable agreement with the shell-model calculations. In contrast to the analysis of 80 MeV $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}$(d,\ensuremath{\alpha}${)}^{38}$Ar measurements, these results do not indicate a significant problem for the nuclear shell model near A=40.
“Have You Seen Your Aura Lately?” Examining Boundary-Work in Holistic Health Pamphlets

An increasing number of people in the United States are using holistic therapies. Both encouraging and informing this trend in growth, printed leaflets are a popular and important medium for holistic health practitioners. Using a discourse analytic approach, the author analyzed pamphlets and printed texts distributed at a holistic health fair. These texts reflect and construct specific understandings of holistic health and proper health care. Understood through the notion of boundary-work, pamphlets demarcated holism as the proper way of conceptualizing health and health care. However, holistic medicine's boundaries are quite porous, as these practices are also legitimized through the use of scientific conventions and the practice of integration, both commonly associated with biomedicine.
Determination of the Surface-Plasmon Dispersion Relation in Aluminum by Inelastic Electron Diffraction

Inelastic differential cross sections for low-energy ($10\ensuremath{\lesssim}E\ensuremath{\lesssim}{10}^{3}$ eV) electrons scattered from the (111) and (100) surfaces of aluminum are analyzed using a quantum field theory of inelastic processes. The analysis permits the determination of the dispersion relation and damping of excitations created by the electrons. For nominally clean Al(111), the surface-plasmon dispersion relation is found to be $\ensuremath{\hbar}{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{s}({p}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}})=10.1\ensuremath{-}0.7{p}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}+10{p}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}^{2}$, ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}2}\ensuremath{\lesssim}{p}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}\ensuremath{\lesssim}1$ ${\mathrm{\AA{}}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, for momenta measured in reciprocal angstroms and energies measured in electron volts. With this choice of the dispersion relation, the predictions of the theory also are in fairly good agreement with experimental inelastic scattering data from Al(100) surfaces. The accuracy of the method of analysis and possible improvements on it are discussed.
CAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS SAVE AMERICA?: Culture, Race, Academic Achievement, and the American Dream

Pedro A. Noguera, City Schools and the American Dream: Reclaiming the Promise of Public Education. New York: Teachers College Press, 2003, 187 pages, ISBN: 0-8077-4382-8, Cloth, $50.00, and 0-8077-4381-X, Paper, $19.95.Jennifer Hochschild and Nathan Scoveronick. The American Dream and the Public Schools. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003, 301 pages, ISBN: 0-19-515278-6, Cloth, $35.00.David Tyack, Seeking Common Ground: Public Schools in a Diverse Society. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2003, 237 pages, ISBN: 0-674-01198-8, Cloth, $22.95.Abigail Thernstrom and Stephan Thernstrom, No Excuses: Closing the Racial Gap in Learning. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2003, 334 pages, ISBN: 0-7432-0446-8, Cloth, $26.00, and 0-7432-6522-X, Paper, $15.00.
Freedom of Conscience, Religion, and the Public Schools

* Based on a lecture delivered at a conference on “The Fourth R—Religion and the Public Schools” at Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa, Nov. 4., 1964, sponsored by Wartburg College and the Lutheran Life Company.
Atmospheres and Ionosphere of the Outer Planets and Their Satllites

This authoritative monograph summarizes an area to which the author and his students have made major contributions. In some ways it is more up to date than the journal literature , since it includes a sprinkling of results from Ph.D. theses. However, results from the Uranus encounter by Voyager are mentioned only briefly. The emphasis is aeronomical, with no discussion of meteorological topics, and the region discussed seldom ventures deeper than the 1-bar level. As an example, radio astronomical work in the centimeter region and implications for the ammonia abundance and distribution are not considered. There is, however, discussion of transport of internal heat and of the formation of cloud layers. The bodies treated are the four Jovian planets and the satellites Io, Titan, and Triton; other Galilean satellites and Saturn's rings, with their extremely tenuous and mostly hypothetical atmospheres, are briefly discussed. Curiously, Pluto is omitted, except for a table at the end.
Attempted surgical division of the preexcitation pathway in the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

Abstract In a patient with type B Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, epicardial activation sequence mapping was carried out at the time of surgery for concurrent mitral stenosis. The patient's preoperative course had been characterized by cardiac failure and repeated episodes of atrial tachyarrhythmia (fibrillation and flutter) which were difficult to control by conventional medical therapy. The mapping procedure revealed a broad area of preexcitation in the atrioventricular groove at the lateral right margin of the heart. Preexcitation was not present at the moment of incision, and attempted surgical interruption of the preexcitation pathway was unsuccessful. After surgery, there was a reduced incidence of tachyarrhythmia, but electrocardiographic evidence of preexcitation existed. Possible reasons for failure to sever the preexcitation pathway are considered.
Stable adaptive neural control scheme for nonlinear systems

Based on the Lyapunov synthesis approach, several adaptive neural control schemes have been developed during the last few years. So far, these schemes have been applied only to simple classes of nonlinear systems. This paper develops a design methodology that expands the class of nonlinear systems that adaptive neural control schemes can be applied to and relaxes some of the restrictive assumptions that are usually made. One such assumption is the requirement of a known bound on the network reconstruction error. The overall adaptive scheme is shown to guarantee semiglobal uniform ultimate boundedness. The proposed feedback control law is a smooth function of the state.
Raman Spectroscopy of Graphene under Uniaxial Strain

Polarized Raman spectroscopy was performed on single-layer graphene under uniaxial strain. The G- mode softens and splits into two components that exhibit distinct polarization properties related to the orientation of the graphene lattice.
Determinants of the Rate of Return for Nonresidential Real Estate: Inflation Expectations and Market Adjustment Lags

This paper analyzes the economic forces that determine the real rate of return for nonresidential real estate. Our analysis shows that the intermarket variation in the real rate of return is statistically significant, and the rate of return differs by land use and market area, as well as over time in response to changes in macro-economic conditions. We use inflation variables as surrogates for changes in macroeconomic conditions over time. In contrast to earlier studies, we find that nonresidential real estate may not outperform expected inflation. We believe that the impact of expected inflation (and other macroeconomic variables) on real estate rates of return depends upon the interaction of the macro-environment and specific local real estate market conditions. Finally, our empirical evidence suggests that the effects of a given shock dissipate rather quickly in most markets when we take into account locational and property use differences.
Vitamin B12 serum levels and diabetic retinopathy.

SummaryData are presented to demonstrate that the serum levels of vit. B 12 activity in diabetics with or without retinopathy are widely different. Those with the retinal lesions have a much higher activity (292 ‡ 24) than those without retinopathy (162‡18). This difference is statistically significant.The possible implication of vit. B12 in this disease is discussed.
Rad25 Protein Is Targeted for Degradation by the Ubc4-Ufd4 Pathway

Proteasome-mediated proteolysis provides dynamic spatial and temporal modulation of protein concentration in response to various intrinsic and extrinsic challenges. To gain a better understanding of the role of the proteasome in DNA repair, we systematically monitored the stability of 26 proteins involved in nucleotide excision repair (NER) under normal growth conditions. Among six NER factors found to be regulated by the proteasome, we further delineated the specific pathway involved in the degradation of Rad25, a subunit of TFIIH. We demonstrate that Rad25 turnover requires the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme Ubc4 and the ubiquitin ligase Ufd4. Interestingly, the deletion of UFD4 specifically suppresses the rad25 mutant defective in transcription. Our results reveal a novel function of the Ufd4 pathway and another tie between the proteasome and NER regulators.
Behavior, Environment, and Health in Developing Countries: Evaluation and Valuation

We consider health and environmental quality in developing countries, where limited resources constrain behaviors that combat enormously burdensome health challenges. We focus on four huge challenges that are preventable (i.e., are resolved in rich countries). We distinguish them as special cases in a general model of household behavior, which is critical and depends on risk information. Simply informing households may achieve a lot in the simplest challenge (groundwater arsenic); yet, for the three infectious situations discussed (respiratory, diarrhea, and malaria), community coordination and public provision may also be necessary. More generally, social interactions may justify additional policies. For each situation, we discuss the valuation of private spillovers (i.e., externalities) and evaluation of public policies to reduce environmental risks and spillovers. Finally, we reflect on open questions in our model and knowledge gaps in the empirical literature including the challenges of scaling up and...
Ankle arthroscopy: Neurovascular and arthroscopic anatomy of standard and trans-achilles tendon portal placement

Ankle arthroscopy is an accepted method of evaluating ankle disorders. Accurate arthroscopic portal placement is essential because of the proximity of superficial and deep neurovascular and tendinous structures of the ankle. In order to define this anatomy as it pertains to safe portal placement, five fresh frozen cadaver ankles were dissected after standard arthroscopic portals were placed anteriorly and posteriorly. All structures were identified. The distances to these structures from the most lateral portals were recorded. Five other ankles were arthroscoped using standard portals and evaluated. In addition, a trans-achilles tendon (TAT) approach was evaluated for portal use. Ankle arthroscopy can be performed in a safe, reproducible manner when the following recommendations are followed: (a) outline tendinous structures, and remain parallel to them with the knife blade to avoid laceration of underlying structures; (b) penetrate only the skin with the knife to avoid laceration of superficial nerves in the subcutaneous tissue; (c) perform pre- and postneurovascular examination; and (d) understand that anterocentral and posteromedial portals are potentially hazardous to their respective neurovascular bundles. The TAT approach, based only on cadaver studies, appears anatomically safe and offers the potential advantage of an additional posterior portal.
Conformational Changes of Facially Amphiphilic meta-Poly(phenylene ethynylene)s in Aqueous Solution

Design and control of polymer secondary conformation is a challenging problem. Facially amphiphilic polymers based on rigid but conformationally flexible meta-phenylene ethynylene backbones were pr...
Magnetic hysteresis for multi-state addressable magnetic microrobotic control

We present a new scheme of remote addressable magnetic actuation for sub-mm microrobotics which uses the hysteresis characteristics of multiple magnetic materials to achieve advanced state control of many magnetic actuators sharing the same magnetic control inputs. Using this standard approach, remote magnetic actuation of a single magnet has been achieved for untethered motion control with a single magnetic control input. We propose the simultaneous use of multiple magnetic materials with varying hysteresis characteristics to effectively gain multiple control inputs as different applied magnetic field strengths. As a first experimental implementation of this idea, we present a set of three heterogeneous magnetic modules floating on a liquid surface which can be remotely reconfigured by application of a field of varying magnitude. As a second implementation, we present a team of up to six independently actuated walking microrobots made from a composite material whose net magnetic moment can be selectively turned on or off by application of a large magnetic field pulse. We also demonstrate a team of two addressable microrobots performing a task requiring cooperative teamwork. The presented concept providing multiple magnetic control inputs could be applicable in various areas of milli- or microrobotics to address multiple magnetic elements for motion or actuation control.
A search for lateral heterogeneity in the inner core from differential travel times near PKP‐D and PKP‐C

A search is made for lateral heterogeneity in the earth's inner core by analyzing the differential travel times between PKP-DF, PKP-CD and PKP-Cdiff. These are P waves that are respectively transmitted through, reflected by, and diffracted around the inner core. From this data, heterogeneity in and near the inner core is found to be small. Residuals from PREM in the 134° to 157° range are bounded by ±0.8 sec., consistent with a ±0.9% variation in P velocity in the upper 200 km. of the inner core. The regional pattern of velocity variation inferred from the differential times is consistent with those obtained from global inversions of absolute PKP-DF times.
Effects of coronary artery bypass grafting on ventricular arrhythmias: results with electrophysiological testing and long-term follow-up.

Myocardial revascularization was performed in 56 patients with coronary artery disease who presented with ventricular tachycardia (VT) (n = 39) or ventricular fibrillation (n = 17). There were 46 men and 10 women, aged 65 ± 10 years. Three vessel (n = 42) or left main disease (n = 4) was present in 82%. Left ventricular ejection fraction averaged 36%± 11%. Electrophysioiogical studies were performed preoperatively in all patients; 50 (89%) had inducible ventricular arrhythmias. Sustained monomorphic VT was induced in 40 patients (cycle length 284 ± 61 msec). Reproducible symptomatic nonsustained VT was induced in four patients and ventricular fibrillation in six patients, while six patients had no inducible arrhythmia. Preoperatively the patients with inducible VT failed 3.3 ± 1.2 drug trials during electrophysiological studies. In addition to coronary bypass, 22 patients also received an automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), 26 patients received prophylactic ICD patches, and 1 patient had resection of a false aneurysm. There were no perioperative deaths. Postoperative electrophysiological studies were performed in all 56 surgical survivors. Ventricular tachyarrhythmia could not be induced in the six patients who had no inducible VT preoperatively and in 13 of 40 (33%) with preoperatively inducible sustained VT or in 19 of 50 (38%) patients with any previously inducible ventricular arrhythmia, thus a totaJ of 25 patients (45%) had no inducible VT postoperatively. Of the remaining, 11 patients were treated with antiarrhythmic drugs alone, 11 had already received an ICD (combined with drugs in 7), and another 9 received the ICD postoperatively (combined with drugs in 4). At a mean foJJow-up of 28 ± 21 months there were 11 deaths (20%): 2 sudden, 5 nonsudden cardiac, and 4 noncardiac deaths. There were 16 nonfatal VT recurrences (29%): 14 among patients with persistently inducible arrhythmias, and onJy 2 among those with no inducible arrhythmia postoperatively (P = 0.004); 13 occurred in patients with an ICD (P = 0.01). Thus among these patients with malignant ventricular arrhythmias who underwent revascuJarization, 45% had no inducible arrhythmia postoperatively with 33% of those with preoperatively inducible sustained VT apparently rendered noninducible by revascularization, while the majority (70%) remained free of major arrhythmic events during long-term follow-up. We conclude that myocardial revascularization alone can result in no ventricular arrhythmia induction in selected patients with VT inducible prior to surgery. Long-term follow-up of such patients indicates a low sudden death and arrhythmia recurrence rate. Furthermore, in patients with persistently inducible ventricular tachyarrhythmias after coronary revascuJarization, the sudden death rate is low despite a high frequency of nonfatal arrhythmia recurrence when antiarrhythmic medications are guided by programmed stimulation or an ICD is used.
The inhibitor of phagocytosis, O-phospho-L-serine, suppresses Müller glia proliferation and cone cell regeneration in the light-damaged zebrafish retina

The damaged zebrafish retina replaces lost neurons through a regenerative response that initiates with the asymmetric cell division of Muller glia to produce neuronal progenitor cells that proliferate and migrate to the damaged retinal layer, where they differentiate into the lost neuronal cell types. Because Muller glia are known to phagocytose apoptotic retinal cells during development, we tested if Muller glia engulfed apoptotic rod cell bodies in light-damaged retinas. After 24h of constant intense light, damaged retinas revealed both a strong nuclear TUNEL signal in photoreceptors and a weak cytoplasmic TUNEL signal in Muller glia, although Muller glial apoptosis is not observed in the light-damaged retina. Light damage of a rod-specific transgenic reporter line, Tg(XlRho:EGFP)(fl1), resulted in some Muller glia containing both TUNEL signal and EGFP, which indicated that this subset of Muller glia engulfed apoptotic photoreceptor cell bodies. To determine if phagocytosis induced the Muller glial proliferative response in the light-damaged retina, we utilized O-phospho-l-serine (L-SOP), a molecule that mimics the phosphatidylserine head group and partially blocks microglial phagocytosis of apoptotic cells. Intravitreal injection of L-SOP immediately prior to beginning constant intense light treatment: i) did not significantly reduce light-induced photoreceptor cell death, ii) significantly reduced the number of PCNA-positive Muller glia, and iii) significantly reduced the number of cone photoreceptors in the regenerated retina relative to control retinas. Because L-SOP is also a specific group III metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) agonist, we also tested if the more potent specific group III agonist, L-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate (L-AP4), the specific group III antagonist (RS)-α-Methylserine-O-phosphate (MSOP) or the specific group I antagonist, L-2-amino-3-phophonopropanoic acid (L-AP3) affected Muller glial proliferation. We found no changes with any of these factors compared to control retinas, revealing that metabotropic glutamate receptors were not necessary in the Muller glia proliferative response. Furthermore, ascl1a and stat3 expression were unaffected in either the L-SOP or MSOP-injected retinas relative to controls, suggesting L-SOP disrupts Muller glia proliferation subsequent to or in parallel with ascl1a and stat3 activation. This implies that at least one signaling mechanism, in addition to the process disrupted by L-SOP, is required to activate Muller glia proliferation in the light-damaged retina.
Nonequilibrium Work Relations for Polymer Dynamics in Dilute Solutions

Equilibrium and nonequilibrium free energies of complex fluids are fundamental quantities that can be used to determine a wide array of system properties. Recently, we demonstrated the direct determination of the equilibrium free energy landscape and corresponding elasticity of polymer chains from work calculations in highly nonequilibrium fluid flows.1 In the present study, we further demonstrate the generality of this formalism by applying this method to polymeric systems driven by fluid flows with vorticity and for molecules with dominant intramolecular hydrodynamic interactions (HI). We employ Brownian dynamics simulations of double stranded DNA with fluctuating HI, and we analyze polymer dynamics and the resultant free energy calculations in the context of the nonequilibrium work relations. Furthermore, we investigate the role of HI on the work and housekeeping power required to maintain a polymer chain at a nonequilibrium steady-state in flow, and we consider the relationship between housekeeping po...
Enhanced Initiating Effect of Multiple Shock Intersections

PREVIOUS work has shown that underwater shock-wave initiation of cast pentolite can be photographed advantageously by a simple argon flash-lamp method in which a common mechanical-shutter camera is used1. Very minute scintillations were usually evident on the detonating pentolite charges, presumably because of the presence of minute air pockets between the particles situated near the surface of the charges. These air pockets probably provided a multitude of initiation centres. Bowden and co-workers have obtained photographic evidence that bubbles in nitroglycerin and air pockets in solid explosives enhance initiation and that initiation occurs at these bubbles or gas pockets2.
Epiphyte response to drought and experimental warming.

The high diversity and abundance of vascular epiphytes in tropical montane cloud forest is associated with frequent cloud immersion, which is thought to protect plants from drought stress. Increasing temperature and rising cloud bases associated with climate change may increase epiphyte drought stress, leading to species and biomass loss. We tested the hypothesis that warmer and drier conditions associated with a lifting cloud base will lead to increased mortality and/or decreased recruitment of epiphyte ramets, altering species composition in epiphyte mats. By using a reciprocal transplant design, where epiphyte mats were transplanted across an altitudinal gradient of increasing cloud immersion, we differentiated between the effects of warmer and drier conditions from the more general prediction of niche theory that transplanting epiphytes in any direction away from their home elevation should result in reduced performance. Effects differed among species, but effects were generally stronger and more negative for epiphytes in mats transplanted down slope from the highest elevation, into warmer and drier conditions, than for epiphyte mats transplanted from other elevations. In contrast, epiphytes from lower elevations showed greater resistance to drought in all treatments. Epiphyte community composition changed with elevation, but over the timescale of the experiment there were no consistent changes in species composition. Our results suggest some epiphytes may show resistance to climate change depending on the environmental and evolutionary context. In particular, sites where high rainfall makes cloud immersion less important for epiphyte water-balance, or where occasional drought has previously selected for drought-resistant taxa, may be less adversely affected by predicted climate changes.
Computation of frequency responses for linear time-invariant PDEs on a compact interval

We develop mathematical framework and computational tools for calculating frequency responses of linear time-invariant PDEs in which an independent spatial variable belongs to a compact interval. In conventional studies this computation is done numerically using spatial discretization of differential operators in the evolution equation. In this paper, we introduce an alternative method that avoids the need for finite-dimensional approximation of the underlying operators in the evolution model. This method recasts the frequency response operator as a two point boundary value problem and uses state-of-the-art automatic spectral collocation techniques for solving integral representations of the resulting boundary value problems with accuracy comparable to machine precision. Our approach has two advantages over currently available schemes: first, it avoids numerical instabilities encountered in systems with differential operators of high order and, second, it alleviates difficulty in implementing boundary conditions. We provide examples from Newtonian and viscoelastic fluid dynamics to illustrate utility of the proposed method.
Patterns of Transcription of Human Cytomegalovirus in Permissively Infected Cells

Abstract The rate of accumulation of cytomegalovirus transcripts in permissively infected human embryonic lung (HEL) cells was analyzed at various times after infection by hybridization of infected cell RNA to undigested or restriction endonuclease-digested cytomegalovirus DNA fixed to nitrocellulose filters. Differences in patterns of transcript accumulation were determined by measuring the abundance levels of RNA which hybridized to different HindIII-, XbaI-, or EcoRI-generated fragments of cytomegalovirus DNA. The results showed that a small but significant amount of cytomegalovirus RNA was detectable within the first 3 h after infection and that the rate of accumulation of these transcripts was static during the first 24 h, but increased thereafter. In general, the viral transcripts accumulating in infected cells could be divided into three classes. Immediate-early RNA (synthesized in the absence of protein synthesis in infected cells) hybridizes predominantly to a very restricted part of the genome and can be identified during the first 2 to 4 h postinfection. Early RNA (synthesized up to about 24 h after infection) originates from most regions of the genome but is characterized by the presence of transcripts which hybridize in great abundance to certain fragments. Late RNA (synthesized after 24 h, i.e., after the onset of viral DNA synthesis) hybridizes in approximately equal abundance to most regions of the viral genome. These results showed that a block in the transition from immediate-early to early RNA did not account for the extended period of time that elapses between the time of infection and the initiation of viral DNA synthesis. Interestingly, despite rapid adsorption and penetration and a static level of accumulation of transcripts in the cultures during the first 24 h, the number of cells that synthesized detectable amounts of viral antigens increased steadily during this time.
CLASSROOM TEACHERS AND READING SPECIALISTS EXAMINE THEIR CHAPTER 1 READING PROGRAMS

Classroom teachers and reading specialists in two Midwestern elementary schools were interviewed to elicit evaluations of their Chapter 1 reading programs. Ethnographic interviews were conducted with three reading specialists and 27 classroom teachers who had children involved in the Chapter 1 programs in the two schools. Constant comparative data analysis was conducted with the transcribed interview data, and prominent themes emerged concerning the coherence and coordination that existed between specialists and classroom teachers. The results showed that specialists constructed their roles differently with each classroom teacher with whom they worked. Secondly, there was a lack of joint planning that occurred between the two groups of teachers. Third, specialists and classroom teachers had varied definitions of Chapter 1 program impact which reflected different goals of the two reading programs. Finally, different philosophies regarding the reading process were held by the two kinds of teachers in these schools. These findings suggest that all teachers who are responsible for the instruction of at-risk students must be given time and encouragement to communicate and coordinate their programs to meet the needs of the children in their schools.
The Los Angeles Lift Off: a sociocultural environmental change intervention to integrate physical activity into the workplace

Abstract Purpose . To present the development and feasibility testing of a sociocultural environmental change intervention strategy aimed at integrating physical activity into workplace routine. Design . Randomized, controlled, post-test only, intervention trial. Setting . Los Angeles County Department of Health Services' worksites. Participants . Four hundred forty-nine employees, predominantly sedentary, overweight, middle-aged women of color, distributed across 26 meetings. Intervention . A single 10-min exercise break during work time involving moderate intensity, low-impact aerobic dance and calisthenic movements to music. Measures . Primary—level of participation, particularly among sedentary staff; secondary—self-perceived health status, satisfaction with current fitness level, and mood/affective state. Results . More than 90% of meeting attendees participated in the exercises. Among completely sedentary individuals, intervention participants' self-perceived health status ratings were significantly lower than controls' (OR = 0.17; 95% CI = 0.05, 0.60; P = 0.0003). Among all respondents not regularly physically active, intervention participants' levels of satisfaction with fitness were more highly correlated with self-ranked physical activity stage of change ( r = 0.588) than the control participants' ( r = 0.376, z = −2.32, p = 0.02). Among the completely sedentary, control participants reported significantly higher levels of energy than did intervention participants ( P Conclusions . Captive audiences may be engaged in brief bouts of exercise as a part of the workday, regardless of physical activity level or stage of change. This experience may also appropriately erode sedentary individuals' self-perception of good health and fitness, providing motivation for adoption of more active lifestyles.
Tetrahydrobiopterin: Mediator of Endothelial Protection

During the past twenty years, the essential role of endothelial cells in preservation of vascular homeostasis has been well established.1,2⇓ Protection of the vascular endothelium against harmful influences of circulating substances including excessive levels of lipids has been a major therapeutic approach in prevention of atherosclerosis. While endothelial dysfunction, defined as a loss of biologically active nitric oxide (NO) produced in the endothelium, has been recognized as a prime target for prevention and reversal of atherosclerotic process, identification of exact molecular mechanisms responsible for the loss of endothelial NO have been more difficult to determine. In the current issue of Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology , Alp et al3 report a series of elegant studies on genetically modified mice supporting the concept that NO synthase cofactor, tetrahydrobiopterin (Figure 1), is an important vascular protective molecule. The beneficial effect of tetrahydrobiopterin in apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-deficient mice appears to be mediated by preservation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity and production of nitric oxide in endothelial cells. The major steps of tetrahydrobiopterin biosynthesis. GTP=guanosine 5′-triphosphate. See page 445 In the early 1990s it was recognized that in the presence of suboptimal concentrations of tetrahydrobiopterin, activation of purified neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) causes “uncoupling of NOS” with subsequent increase …