cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Classification Framework for Free Space Optical Communication Links and Systems

Free space optical (FSO) communication technology, also known as optical wireless communications, has regained a great interest over the last few years. In some cases, FSO is seen as an alternative to existing technologies, such as radio frequency. In other cases, FSO is considered as a strong candidate to complement and integrate with next-generation technologies, such as 5G wireless networks. Accordingly, FSO technology is being widely deployed in various indoor (e.g., data centers), terrestrial (e.g., mobile networks), space (e.g., inter-satellite and deep space communication), and underwater systems (e.g., underwater sensing). As the application portfolio of FSO technology grows, so does the need for a clear classification for FSO link configurations. Most existing surveys and classifications are single-level classifications, and thus not inclusive enough to accommodate recent and emerging changes and developments of different FSO link configurations and systems. In this paper, we propose a multi-level classification framework to classify existing and future indoor, terrestrial, space, underwater, and heterogenous FSO links and systems using common and simple unified notation. We use the proposed classification to review and summarize major experimental work and systems in the area until 2017. Using the proposed classification and survey, we aim to give researchers a jump-start to tap into the growing and expanding realm of the FSO technology in different environments. The proposed classification can also help organize and systematically present the progress in the research on FSO technology. This makes the identification of the market needs for standards an easier task. Moreover, different entities involved in the standardization process including academic, industry, and regulatory organizations can use the proposed classification as a unified language to communicate during the early stages of standard development which require ambiguity-free discussions and exchange of ideas between different standardization entities. We use the proposed classification to review existing standards and recommendations in the field of FSO. It is also envisioned that the proposed classification can be used as a unified framework to define different FSO channel models for simulation tools.
The Role of Echocardiography in Mitral Valve Repair

Echocardiography is a versatile diagnostic technology integral to the assessment and treatment of mitral regurgitation (MR). MR is broadly classified as primary—resulting from abnormalities of the MV leaflets or apparatus, or secondary—arising from left ventricular dysfunction and subsequent distortion of mitral architecture. While these entities have distinctly different outcomes and treatment strategies, the common therapeutic goal is to reduce MR and improve outcomes through medical management alone or MV repair. MV repair is performed surgically or percutaneously with echocardiography guidance. The echocardiographer can use the full complement of trans-thoracic (TTE) and trans-esophageal (TEE) 2D, 3D, and Doppler techniques to enhance procedural and patient outcomes by (1) performing an integrative assessment of the etiology, mechanism, severity, and hemodynamic impact of the MR, (2) predicting the feasibility and prognosis of MV repair, (3) directly guiding catheter placement, and (4) assessing for complications during or after MV repair.
Investigation of the mechanisms by which hot isostatic pressing improves the fatigue performance of powder bed fused Ti-6Al-4V

Abstract Hot isostatic pressing (HIP) is often needed to obtain powder bed fused (PBF) Ti-6Al-4V parts with good fatigue performance. This manuscript attempts to clarify the mechanisms through which HIP treatment acts to improve high cycle fatigue performance. Several mechanisms are considered and examined against experimental data sets available in the literature. The results suggest that HIP may act most significantly by decreasing the fraction of the defect population that can initiate fatigue cracks, both by decreasing defect sizes below a threshold and by changing the microstructure that surrounds defects. Given the novelty of the latter conclusion, an electron backscatter diffraction microscopy study was performed for validation. The gained understanding provides initial guidance on the choice of optimum HIP soak parameters (Temperature-Pressure-Time) for the high cycle fatigue performance of PBF Ti-6Al-4V.
Measuring Frailty in Inpatient Rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND In response to the global aging population, there has been increasing research on frailty. How frailty is conceptualized is shifting with the development of frailty models, especially in the acute care arena. OBJECTIVE To explore frailty/vulnerability risk factors available at admission that were associated with salient patient outcomes within the context of inpatient rehabilitation. DESIGN Methodologies in acute care are not easily adapted for a typical admission evaluation or a rehabilitation patient. In this study, the concept of frailty among patients admitted to rehabilitation was developed from risk factors available at admission that were associated with two patient outcomes, adverse hospital outcomes and 30-day hospital readmissions. SETTING Inpatient rehabilitation. PATIENTS Data were included on all patients (n = 768) discharged from an inpatient rehabilitation unit of an academic medical center from 1 January 2012 through 31 December 2012. INTERVENTIONS Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Adverse events within the inpatient rehabilitation stay and 30-day hospital readmissions. RESULTS Significant independent factors associated with adverse events in the rehabilitation unit included African American (1.77 OR; 95% CI 1.06-2.96), Hispanic (3.17 OR; 95% CI 1.13-8.94), having >9 total comorbid conditions (1.44 OR; 95% CI 1.244-1.66), and sphincter control domain (including bladder and bowel management) ≤ 9 FIM (0.92 OR; 95% CI 0.86-0.98). For 30-day readmission three variables were found to be significant: onset ≥7 days (2.31 OR; 95% CI 1.28-4.22), requiring a tube for feeding (3.45 OR; 95% CI 1.433-11.12), and being obese (4.72 OR; 95% CI 1.433-15.58). CONCLUSIONS The findings highlight the need for early admission screening and identification of risk factors which can provide the time in the rehabilitation setting for the clinical team to treat and prevent the potential for poor outcomes.
Ultrasonic Measurements of Temperature Distribution and Heat Fluxes Across Containments of Extreme Environments

Extreme conditions are common in energy conversion, material processing, nuclear, airspace, and military applications. In such environments, the most hardened insertion sensors do not perform reliably for long. Ultrasonic measurements, on the other hand, can be acquired noninvasively, with sensitive components kept away from the damaging environment. We have previously developed the ultrasonic method for measuring the spatial distribution of temperatures in solid materials applicable in the cases when large thermal gradients are present. In the developed approach, we use the echogenically segmented ultrasound propagation path, structured to contain engineered or naturally occurring echogenic features, to produce a train of echoes in response to an external pulse of ultrasonic excitation. The delays between the echoes, which encode the information on the temperature distribution in the corresponding segments, is used to reconstruct unknown temperature profile. In this paper, we outline the results of pilot-scale testing of the developed approach and demonstrate its application to the measurements of the temperature distribution across the containment of a high-temperature combustion process. The validation results show that the estimated temperature profile is correctly captured, and the measurement accuracy can be comparable with traditional insertion sensors, such as thermocouples. Overall, the testing has confirmed that the developed approach has matured to become an attractive alternative to conventional sensing in solving challenging problems of long-term temperature measurements in extreme environments. Heat fluxes and thermal stresses in the structure can then be characterized noninvasively using the measured temperature distribution as the basis.
LAR receptor phospho-tyrosine phosphatases regulate NMDA-receptor responses

LAR-type receptor phosphotyrosine-phosphatases (LAR-RPTPs) are presynaptic adhesion molecules that interact trans-synaptically with multitudinous postsynaptic adhesion molecules, including SliTrks, SALMs, and TrkC. Via these interactions, LAR-RPTPs are thought to function as synaptogenic wiring molecules that promote neural circuit formation by mediating the establishment of synapses. To test the synaptogenic functions of LAR-RPTPs, we conditionally deleted the genes encoding all three LAR-RPTPs, singly or in combination, in mice before synapse formation. Strikingly, deletion of LAR-RPTPs had no effect on synaptic connectivity in cultured neurons or in vivo, but impaired NMDA-receptor-mediated responses. Deletion of LAR-RPTPs decreased NMDA-receptor-mediated responses by a trans-synaptic mechanism. In cultured neurons, deletion of all LAR-RPTPs led to a reduction in synaptic NMDA-receptor EPSCs, without changing the subunit composition or the protein levels of NMDA-receptors. In vivo, deletion of all LAR-RPTPs in the hippocampus at birth also did not alter synaptic connectivity as measured via AMPA-receptor-mediated synaptic responses at Schaffer-collateral synapses monitored in juvenile mice, but again decreased NMDA-receptor mediated synaptic transmission. Thus, LAR-RPTPs are not essential for synapse formation, but control synapse properties by regulating postsynaptic NMDA-receptors via a trans-synaptic mechanism that likely involves binding to one or multiple postsynaptic ligands.
Coupled transport of phonons and carriers in semiconductors: A case study of n -doped GaAs

Transport in a coupled system of electrons and phonons is a problem of both fundamental and technological importance. Calculations typically assume that one of the species is in equilibrium when considering transport in the other. However, the electron-phonon interaction drags, in principle, both subsystems out of equilibrium. Here, the authors solve the coupled electron-phonon Boltzmann transport equations, demonstrating significant enhancement of the mobility and the Seebeck coefficient in GaAs in the strong drag regime as well as the validity of the Kelvin relation, mandated by thermodynamics.
Finding Almost-Perfect Graph Bisections.

We give a polynomial time algorithm that given a graph which admits a bisection cutting a fraction (1 − e) of edges, finds a bisection cutting a (1 − g(e)) fraction of edges where g(e) → 0 as e→ 0. One can take g(e) = O( 3 √ e log(1/e)). Previously known algorithms for Max Bisection could only guarantee finding a bisection that cuts a fraction of edges bounded away from 1 (in fact less than 3/4) in such graphs. The known Unique-Games hardness results for Max Cut imply that one cannot achieve g(e) 6 C √ e for some absolute constant C. Likewise, for the Min Bisection problem, if the graph has a bisection cutting at most e-fraction of the edges, our methods enable finding a bisection cutting at most O( 3 √ e log(1/e))-fraction of the edges. The algorithms can also find cuts that are nearly-balanced (say with imbalance of at most 0.01) with value at least 1 − O( √ e) (for Max Bisection) and at most O( √ e) (for Min Bisection). These guarantees are optimal up to constant factors in the O( √ e) term under the Unique Games and related conjectures. Our general approach is simple to describe: First, we show how to solve the problems if the graph is an expander or if the graph consists of many disjoint components, each of small measure. Then, we show that every graph can be decomposed into disjoint components that are either expanders or have small measure, and how the cuts on different pieces may be merged appropriately.
Social Support, Everyday Discrimination, and Depressive Symptoms Among Older African Americans: A Longitudinal Study

Background and objectives The purpose of the study was to explore the long-term effects of everyday discrimination on depressive symptoms among older African Americans, as well as the moderating role of social support in this association. Research design and methods Mixed-effects negative binomial regression analyses were performed on data selected from 6 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (2006-2016; baseline N = 1,144). The number of depressive symptoms was calculated based on an 8-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression measure. Everyday discrimination was measured using a 6-item scale. Contact with and perceived support from extended family and friends were assessed. Results Older African Americans who experienced more frequent perceived discrimination had more depressive symptoms over time. Significant interactions between discrimination and perceived support from extended family and friends were found, indicating that among older African Americans who reported higher support from extended family and friends, perceived discrimination was positively associated with depressive symptoms over time. However, perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms were not longitudinally related among those who reported lower levels of perceived support. Discussion and implications This is one of the few studies to examine the effects of discrimination on depressive symptoms over time and the first longitudinal study to test the role of social support in coping with discrimination in older African Americans. This study extends cross-sectional works on discrimination and mental health, indicating that experiences of discrimination can result in worse mental health over time. The significant interactions are consistent with the resource mobilization framework, which suggests that individuals who are more negatively affected by discrimination (more depressive symptoms) are more likely to reach out to friends and family to cope with discrimination.
Etiological classification and clinical spectrum of Egyptian pediatric patients with disorder of sex development, single center experience.

Introduction: The aim of the current work was to review the clinical profile, aetiological classification, as well as the management of Egyptian paediatric patients with disorders of sex development (DSD) presenting at a tertiary centre in Cairo. Material and methods: The study was a cross-sectional observational study that included Egyptian patients who attended the Endocrinology clinic during a period of one year from January to December 2019. All patients with overt genital ambiguity aged from 0 to 18 years were recruited in the study. Diagnosis of DSD was based on clinical features and hormonal profile. Results: Out of 100 patients, 71% had 46XY DSD, 24% had 46XX DSD, while sex chromosome DSD was identified in 5%. The median age of presentation was 12 months with 19% presented during infancy. The most common cause of 46XY DSD was due to either defect in androgen synthesis or action (40%) with the majority due to androgen insensitivity syndrome (28%). Most of the 46XX DSD (21/24) patients were diagnosed as classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia secondary to deficiency of 21 hydroxylase enzyme, with 90% being salt wasters. Conclusion: Our series revealed that 46XY DSD was the most frequent DSD aetiological diagnosis, with androgen insensitivity syndrome representing the commonest cause. CAH with classic salt wasting type was the second most common disorder. Management of children with DSD is challenging especially with lack of adequate resources. The crucial issues that stand against proper diagnosis and management are late presentation combined with economic constrains, and social and cultural issues.
Universal Screening for Hepatitis C Virus in the ED Using a Best Practice Advisory.

Author(s): Ford, James S.; Chechi, Tasleem; Toosi, Kavian; Mahmood, Bilawal; Meehleis, Dillon; Otmar, Michella; Tran, Nam; May, Larissa | Abstract: Introduction: In 2019 the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released draft guidelines recommending universal hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening for individuals aged 18-79. We aimed to assess the efficacy of an Emergency Department-based HCV screening program, by comparing screening practices before and after its implementation.Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of two temporally-matched, 11-month study periods, corresponding to before and after the implementation of a best practice advisory (BPA). Patients were screened for anti-HCV antibody (Ab) and positive results were followed by HCV viral load (VL) testing. The primary implementation outcome was ED testing volume (number of tests performed/month). The primary screening outcomes were the seroprevalence of anti-HCV Ab and HCV VL. Data were described with simple descriptive statistics.Results: The median age of patients was similar between periods (pre: 50 years [IQR 34-62], post: 47 years [IQR 33-59]). Patients screened were more likely to be males in the pre-BPA period (Male, pre:60%, post: 49%). During the pre-BPA study period, a total of 69,604 patients were seen in the ED, and 218 unique patients were screened for HCV (mean 19.8 tests/month). During the post-BPA study period, a total of 68,225 patients were seen in the ED, and 14, 981 unique patients were screened for HCV (mean 1,361.9 tests/month). Anti-HCV Ab seroprevalence was 23% (51/218) and 9% (1,340/14,981) in the pre-BPA and post-BPA periods, respectively. In the pre-BPA period, six patients with a positive anti-HCV Ab level had follow-up viral load testing (three were detectable). In the post-BPA period, reflex VL testing was performed in most patients (91%, 1,225/1,340), and there were 563 patients with detectable VLs.Conclusion: Our study shows that utilizing a universal BPA-driven screening protocol can dramatically increase the number of patients screened for HCV and increase the number of new HCV diagnoses.
Incorporating thioamides into proteins by native chemical ligation.

Abstract The thioamide is a versatile replacement of the peptide backbone with altered hydrogen bonding and conformational preferences, as well the ability participate in energy and electron transfer processes. Semi-synthetic incorporation of a thioamide into a protein can be used to study protein folding or protein/protein interactions using these properties. Semi-synthesis also provides the opportunity to study the role of thioamides in natural proteins. Here we outline the semi-synthesis of a model protein, the B1 domain of protein G (GB1) with a thioamide at the N-terminus or the C-terminus. The thioamide is synthetically incorporated into a fragment by solid-phase peptide synthesis, whereas the remainder of the protein is recombinantly expressed. Then, the two fragments are joined by native chemical ligation. The explicit protocol for GB1 synthesis is accompanied by examples of applications with GB1 and other proteins in structural biology and protein misfolding studies.
Growth-defense trade-offs shape population genetic composition in an iconic forest tree species.

All organisms experience fundamental conflicts between divergent metabolic processes. In plants, a pivotal conflict occurs between allocation to growth, which accelerates resource acquisition, and to defense, which protects existing tissue against herbivory. Trade-offs between growth and defense traits are not universally observed, and a central prediction of plant evolutionary ecology is that context-dependence of these trade-offs contributes to the maintenance of intraspecific variation in defense [Zust and Agrawal, Annu. Rev. Plant Biol., 68, 513-534 (2017)]. This prediction has rarely been tested, however, and the evolutionary consequences of growth-defense trade-offs in different environments are poorly understood, especially in long-lived species [Cipollini et al., Annual Plant Reviews (Wiley, 2014), pp. 263-307]. Here we show that intraspecific trait trade-offs, even when fixed across divergent environments, interact with competition to drive natural selection of tree genotypes corresponding to their growth-defense phenotypes. Our results show that a functional trait trade-off, when coupled with environmental variation, causes real-time divergence in the genetic architecture of tree populations in an experimental setting. Specifically, competitive selection for faster growth resulted in dominance by fast-growing tree genotypes that were poorly defended against natural enemies. This outcome is a signature example of eco-evolutionary dynamics: Competitive interactions affected microevolutionary trajectories on a timescale relevant to subsequent ecological interactions [Brunner et al., Funct. Ecol. 33, 7-12 (2019)]. Eco-evolutionary drivers of tree growth and defense are thus critical to stand-level trait variation, which structures communities and ecosystems over expansive spatiotemporal scales.
Sequencing Micronuclei Reveals the Landscape of Chromosomal Instability

Genome instability (GIN) is a main contributing factor to congenital and somatic diseases, but its sporadic occurrence in individual cell cycles makes it difficult to study mechanistically. One profound manifestation of GIN is the formation of micronuclei (MN), the engulfment of chromosomes or chromosome fragments in their own nuclear structures separate from the main nucleus. Here, we developed MN-seq, an approach for sequencing the DNA contained within micronuclei. We applied MN-seq to mice with mutations in Mcm4 and Rad9a, which disrupt DNA replication, repair, and damage responses. Data analysis and simulations show that centromere presence, fragment length, and a heterogenous landscape of chromosomal fragility all contribute to the patterns of DNA present within MN. In particular, we show that long genes, but also gene-poor regions, are associated with chromosome breaks that lead to the enrichment of particular genomic sequences in MN, in a genetic background-specific manner. Finally, we introduce single-cell micronucleus sequencing (scMN-seq), an approach to sequence the DNA present in MN of individual cells. Together, sequencing micronuclei provides a systematic approach for studying GIN and reveals novel molecular associations with chromosome breakage and segregation.
SU‐E‐T‐321: Dosimetric Evaluation of Non‐Coplanar Arcs in VMAT Planning for SBRT Lung Cases: A Planning Study

Purpose: Investigate use of standardized non-coplanar arcs to improve plan quality in lung Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy(SBRT) VMAT planning. Methods: VMAT planning was performed for 9 patients previously treated with SBRT for peripheral lung tumors (tumor size:12.7cc to 32.5cc). For each patient, 7 VMAT plans (couch rotation values:0,5,10,15,20,25,and 30 deg) were generated; the coplanar plans were pushed to meet the RTOG0915 constraints and each non-coplanar plans utilized the same optimization constraints. The following plan dose metrics were used (taken from RTOG 0915): D-2cm: the maximum dose at 2 cm from the PTV, conformality index (CI), gradient index (GI), lung volume receiving 5 Gy (V5) and lung volume receiving 20 Gy (V20). The couch collision clearance was checked for each plan through a dry run using the couch position from the patient’s treatment. Results: Of the 9 cases, one coplanar plan failed to meet two protocol guidelines (both gradient index and D-2cm parameter), and an additional plan failed the D-2cm parameter. When introducing at least 5 degree couch rotation, all plans met the protocol guidelines. The largest feasible couch angle available was 15 to 20 degrees due to gantry collision issues. Non-coplanar plans resulted in the average (standard deviation) reduction of the following metrics: GI by 7.3% (3.7%); lung V20 by 11.1% (3.2%); D-2cm by 12.7% (3.9%). The CI was unchanged (−0.3%±0.6%), and lung V5 increased (3.8%±8.2%). Conclusion: The use of couch rotations as little as 5 degrees allows for plan quality that will meet RTOG0915 constraints while reducing D-2cm, GI, and lung V20. Using default couch rotations while planning SBRT cases will allow for more efficient planning with the stated goal of meeting RTOG0915 criteria for all clinical cases. Gantry clearance checks in the treatment room may be necessary to ensure safe treatments for larger couch rotation values.
Beamlets and Multiscale Image Analysis

We describe a framework for multiscale image analysis in which line segments play a role analogous to the role played by points in wavelet analysis.
Changes in Thermotolerance and Hsp70 Expression with Domestication in Drosophila melanogaster

To examine how the duration of laboratory domestication may affect Drosophila stocks used in studies of thermotolerance, we measured expression of the inducible heat-shock protein Hsp70 and survival after heat shock in D. melanogaster strains recently collected from nature and maintained in laboratory culture for up to 50 or more generations. After an initial increase in both Hsp70 expression and thermotolerance immediately after transfer to laboratory medium, both traits remained fairly constant over time and variation among strains persisted through laboratory domestication. Furthermore, variation in heat tolerance and Hsp70 expression did not correlate with the length of time populations evolved in the laboratory. Therefore, while environmental variation likely contributed most to early shifts in strain tolerance and Hsp70 expression, other population parameters, for example genetic drift, inbreeding, and selection likely affected these traits little. As long as populations are maintained with large numbers of individuals, the culture of insects in the laboratory may have little effect on the tolerance of different strains to thermal stress.
Improving traveling-wave RF fields inside magnetic resonance imaging bores by incorporating dielectric loadings

The next-generation magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems at ultra-high static magnetic fields (magnetic flux densities), B 0 > 3 T, and ultra-high Larmor frequencies, ƒ 0 > 127.8 MHz, utilize RF excitation magnetic fields, B 1 , in the form of traveling waves (TWs) in the MRI bore. Hence, the images of subjects are generated and received by far-field coils, namely, by excitation probes that essentially operate as antennas, in place of the traditional quasi-static, near-field RF coils used in 3-T clinical MRI scanners (e.g., birdcage coils). When compared to traditional, quasi-static, MRI systems, TW MRI systems can provide more homogeneous B 1 field distribution, better signal-to-noise ratio, larger field of view, more comfort for patients, etc. Moreover, it is possible to potentially benefit from the advantages of TW concepts also at relatively lower (but still considered high) field strengths (e.g., B 0 = 3 T; ƒ 0 = 127.8 MHz), in order to address challenges and enable substantial improvements of current clinical MRI scanners at 3 T.
ASTM METRICS FOR RATING SPEECH PRIVACY OF CLOSED ROOMS AND OPEN PLAN SPACES

This article discusses the relationship between the two metrics, and their suitability for use in any type of space, including spaces not fitting the definition of either open or closed. The E2638 method provides a rating of the average performance of a closed room - without any assumptions as to talker location - to each of a number of listener positions outside the room, close to the room boundaries. E2638 includes a table of categories that identifies the frequency with which speech sounds would be audible or intelligible for various SPC values. The high correlation for both metrics implies both are useful for rating intelligibility over a wide range. The two current ASTM metrics for rating speech privacy of building spaces are highly correlated, and both seem well suited for use in conditions where speech is intelligible, such as in open plan spaces.
Superhard diamondlike carbon: preparation, theory, and properties

AbstractOne of the many forms of carbon, diamondlike carbon (DLC) or tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C) consists mainly of sp3 bonded carbon atoms. If properly prepared, DLC can have properties that rival those of crystalline diamond. The beneficial properties of DLC stem from the continuous rigid random networks of sp3 carbon atoms, and the properties can essentially be tailored by controlling the sp3/sp2 ratio. Techniques that have been successfully used to prepare high quality DLC coatings or thin films include pulsed laser ablation, filtered cathodic vacuum arc deposition, and mass selected ion beam deposition. Diamondlike carbon coatings that possess properties close to diamond in terms of hardness, atomic smoothness, infrared transparency, and chemical inertness can be processed easily with these techniques. In the past decade, tremendous progress has been made in experimental and theoretical investigations of hydrogen free DLC. Experimental and commercial applications in areas including microelect...
Numerical analysis of the role of core-clad index contrast in a multicore fiber bundle

We demonstrate numerically that a large core-clad index contrast lowers couplings between neighboring cores, achieving a fiber bundle with a higher core density, less coupling, and effectively single moded propagation in each core.
Intracavity Loss Modulation Of GalnAsP Lasers

GaInAsP/InP diode lasers with a monolithically integrated electroabsorption modulator have been fabricated from a conventional double-heterostructure wafer. The additional intracavity loss produced by operating the modulator near maximum reverse bias increased the laser threshold by a factor of as much as 2.9 relative to the threshold with the modulator open-circuited. Large depth of modulation of the laser output at frequencies up to 2.5 GHz, the measurement system limit, has been achieved by repetitively Q-switching the laser.
Levonantradol, a potent cannabinoid-related analgesic, antagonizes haloperidol-induced activation of striatal dopamine synthesis

Abstract Levonantradol antagonized the compensatory acceleration of striatal dopamine synthesis induced by haloperidol. This effect was stereospecific, since the pharmacologically less active enantiomer, dextronantradol was ∼30 times less effective. Δ 9 -Tetrahydrocannabinol at a dose 320 times higher than levonantradol also attenuated the haloperidol effect, but cannabidiol was inactive at a dose 750 times higher. GABA-like actions of levonantradol may be responsible for this antagonism of haloperidol, but anticholinergic effects may also contribute.
The duals of almost completely decomposable groups

In this paper, we classify the direct products of one-dimensional compact connected abelian groups by cardinal invariants dualizing Baer’s classification theorem of completely decomposable groups. Almost completely decomposable groups are finite rank torsion-free abelian groups which contain a completely decomposable group of finite index. An isomorphism theorem for their Pontrjagin dual groups is given by using the dual concept of a regulating subgroup.
Microstructural Characterization of the Pia-Arachnoid Complex Using Optical Coherence Tomography

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the world, and is often identified by the presence of subdural and/or subarachnoid hemorrhages that develop from ruptured cortical vessels during brain-skull displacement. The pia-arachnoid complex (PAC), also known as the leptomeninges, is the major mechanical connection between the brain and skull, and influences cortical vessel deformation and rupture following brain trauma. This complex consists of cerebrospinal fluid, arachnoid trabeculae, and subarachnoid vasculature sandwiched between the arachnoid and pia mater membranes. Remarkably, studies of the tissues in the PAC are largely qualitative and do not provide numerical metrics of population density and variability of the arachnoid trabeculae and subarachnoid vasculature. In this study, microstructural imaging was performed on the PAC to numerically quantify these metrics. Five porcine brains were perfusion-fixed and imaged in situ using optical coherence tomography with micrometer resolution. Image processing was performed to estimate the volume fraction (VF) of the arachnoid trabeculae and subarachnoid vasculature in 12 regions of the brain. High regional variability was found within each brain, with individual brains exhibiting up to a 38.4 percentage-point range in VF. Regions with high VF were often next to regions with low VF. This suggests that some areas of the brain may be mechanically weaker, increasing their susceptibility to hemorrhage during TBI events. This study provides the first quantifiable data of arachnoid trabeculae and subarachnoid vasculature distribution within the PAC and will be valuable to understanding brain biomechanics during head trauma.
A Simple Method for Preparing Layers of Sodium Salicylate

Efficient method for producing fine-grained and uniform layers of sodium salicylate over any desired area
Managerial Style Implications for the Utilization of Program Evaluation Information

One of the central problems with program evaluation is the general perception that results are not utilized as fully as possible in decision making processes. A variety of explanations for this sho...
Physiological and serum biochemical changes associated with rayless goldenrod (Isocoma pluriflora) poisoning in goats.

Rayless goldenrod (Isocoma pluriflora) has been known to be toxic to livestock in the southwestern United States for many years; however, chemical composition of the plant as well as the dosage and duration required to cause toxicosis have not been completely described. Tremetol, the historical toxin, is actually a mixture of alcohols and ketones. Though not completely confirmed experimentally, the toxic compounds are believed to be benzofuran ketones that include tremetone, dehydrotremetone, 3-hydroxytremetone, and 3-oxyangeloyl-tremetone. The objectives of this study were to determine the dosage of benzofuran ketones and the duration of exposure to these compounds required to produce clinical signs of poisoning in Spanish goats and to document the pathophysiological changes associated with rayless goldenrod poisoning in goats. Goats dosed with rayless goldenrod containing 40 and 60 mg/kg BW of benzofuran ketones for 4 or 5 days, showed clinical signs of toxicosis that included trembles, and exercise intolerance seen as reluctance to perform on the treadmill, significantly increased resting and working heart rates and prolonged heart rate recovery following exercise. The affected goats also had significant serum biochemical changes that included increased concentrations of cardiac troponin I and increased activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and creatine kinase. Exercise intolerant animals also had extensive degeneration and necrosis within nearly all skeletal muscles. Some goats dosed with 10 and 20 mg/kg BW of benzofuran ketones began to show some signs of poisoning on the last day of the study. In conclusion, benzofuran ketones at doses at or above 40 mg/kg BW for longer than 4 or 5 days are toxic and produce disease similar to that described in clinical rayless goldenrod poisoning. Additionally, smaller benzofuran ketone doses (10 and 20 mg/kg BW) for longer durations also cause the disease. The physiologic findings indicated that though there may be some myocardial changes, the majority of the clinical disease in goats is due to skeletal muscle degeneration and necrosis. More work is needed to determine the toxicity and physiologic effects of individual benzofuran ketones and to develop a model that better predicts the risk of poisoning and methods to avoid poisoning by plants containing benzofuran ketones.
Boronated epidermal growth factor as a delivery agent for neutron capture therapy of EGF receptor positive gliomas.

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to further evaluate a boronated dendrimer (BD)-epidermal growth factor bioconjugate (BD-EGF), administered by means of convection enhanced delivery (CED), as a molecular targeting agent for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) of the F98 EGFR glioma. Twenty-four hours following CED of 125 I-labeled BD-EGF 47.4% of the injected dose (ID) was retained in F98 EGFR gliomas compared to 12.3% in F98 WT (wildtype) receptor negative tumors. Normal brain values were in the range of 5.9–10.1% ID in the tumor bearing cerebral hemisphere. Boron concentrations in F98 EGFR gliomas were 22.3 and 11.7 μg/g following CED and i.t. injection, respectively. Based on these results, BNCT studies were initiated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology nuclear reactor (MITRII). The mean survival time (MST) of rats that received BD-EGF either alone or in combination with boronophenylalanine (BPA), injected i.v., were 53±13 d and >61±14 d, respectively, compared to 40±5 d for BPA alone and 31±4 d for irradiated controls. These data show that CED improved the radiobiological effectiveness of BD-EGF and lay the groundwork for future studies using combinations of boron delivery agents for NCT of EGFR(+) gliomas.
Schottky CdTe detectors for imaging in nuclear medicine and astrophysics

Recently developed CdTe detectors with a Schottky anode contact are well suited for (gamma) -ray imaging applications in astrophysics and nuclear medicine. Since the response of the detectors to (gamma) -rays is homogeneous throughout their volume the detectors can be oriented to let the radiation enter perpendicular to the electric field. Thus, large area arrays with 10 mm thickness can be assembled. The leakage current and capacitance of the detectors is sufficiently low to connect more than a hundred together in a row-column read out reducing the number of electronic channels.
A modified Chou and Fasman protein structure algorithm

A FORTRAN program PRSTRC has been developed for protein secondary structure prediction, which is a modified Chou and Fasman (1978) analysis. This implementation carries out a running average of amino acid structure occurrence frequencies, utilizes a simple set of nucleation conditions, and allows user control over nucleation threshold and cutoff parameters. The algorithm includes prediction of the newly defined secondary structure elements: omega loops (1986). It also generates a charge distribution and hydropathy profile. Output includes a simple graphic display for a printer, or a CRT using color addition. Correct structures are predicted for T. dyscritum hemerythrin and the variable domain of mouse immunoglobin k-chain.
Current issues in the regulation of signal transduction

(1) In all examined rat and human tissues and cells, PIP kinase activity was rate-limiting and PLC activity was present in great excess. (2) The steady-state activities of the signal transduction enzymes, PI kinase, PIP kinase and PLC, and the concentration of the end product, IP3, were determined in rat liver and hepatomas of different malignancies. The activities of all three enzymes were elevated in the hepatomas in a non-random fashion. A generalization emerged that the enzyme with the lowest activity in liver, PIP kinase, increased to the highest extent and the enzyme with the highest activity in liver, PLC, increased to the smallest extent in rapidly growing hepatomas. The IP3 concentration in the hepatomas was elevated in a progression-linked fashion. (3) The three signal transduction enzyme activities were elevated in human ovarian carcinoma samples and in human breast carcinoma cells. (4) When human breast carcinoma MDA-MB-435 cells were allowed to go through lag, log and plateau phases, the IP3 concentration reached a 20-fold peak at 12 hr after plating. The elevation in IP3 concentration preceded the rise in PI and PIP kinase activities which increased 11-fold in the log phase. The IP3 concentration and PI and PIP kinase activities returned to their baseline levels when the plateau phase was reached. The PLC activity did not change significantly during the whole period. (5) Administration of cycloheximide i.p. in rats revealed short half-lives in the bone marrow for the two kinases (8 min) and a long half-life for PLC (> 6 hr). In a group of 10 enzymes, the half-lives of the kinases were the shortest. In cycloheximide-injected rats, the bone marrow IP3 concentration was reduced to about 50% in 30 min. The reduction of IP3 concentration is attributed to the decline to 15 and 12%, respectively, in PI and PIP kinase activities since PLC activity did not change. (6) In 3-day starved rats, the bone marrow PI and PIP kinase were reduced to activities (13%) that were markedly lower than the decrease in the protein concentration (to 55%). By contrast, the PLC activity was preferentially maintained (to 78%) over the protein level. Under starvation, the IP3 concentration decreased (to 24%), indicating that starvation can markedly disrupt IP3 homeostasis. Refeeding returned the enzymic activities and the IP3 concentration to the normal level in bone marrow in 24 hr. (7) Comparison of the absolute activities of PI and PIP kinases and PLC showed that PLC is present in an excess; therefore, it does not appear to have a rate-limiting action in cycloheximide treated rats or in starvation. (8) Whereas PI and PIP kinases have short half-lives and apparently rapid synthetic rates, PLC has high activity, a long half-life and responds to starvation with only a small decrease. (9) The gain in function manifested in the over-expressed capacity for signal transduction confers growth advantages to cancer cells. These increased activities, particularly those of PI and PIP kinases, should be sensitive targets for chemotherapy.
From chattel slaves to wage slaves : the dynamics of labour bargaining in the Americas

Part 1 Negotiating slavery - informal contracts and cash rewards: chattel slaves to wage slaves - a Jamaican case study, Mary Turner strategies into slave subsistence - the Jamaican case reconsidered, R.B. Sheridan strategies of slave subsistence - foods, markets and survival, Michael Mullin "Never on Sunday?" - slavery and the Sabbath in Lawacountry, Georgia 1750-1830, Betty Wood work and resistance in the New Republic - the case of Chesapeake 1770-1820, Lorena Welsh proto-proletarians? slave wages in the Americas, O. Nigel Bolland wages for freedom in urban Surinam 1760-1830, Rosemary Brana-Shute a slow and extended abolition - the Bahamas 1800-1838, Howard Johnson. Part 2 Counteracting freedom - contract and coercion: between slavery and free labour - in Brazil and Cuba, Lucia Lamounier resistance among Asian plantation workers in Peru 1870-1920 the worker and the wage in a plantation economy - Trinidad in the late 19th century, Kusha Haraksingh. Part 3 Achieving rights for labour - confrontation and collective bargaining: contested terrains - houses, provision grounds and the reconstitution of labour in post-emancipation Martinique, Dale Tomich post-emancipation protest in Jamaica - the Morant Bay rebellion 1865, Gad Heuman the pursuit of "higher wages" and "perfect personal freedom" in St Kitts-Nevis 1836-1956, Glen Richards.
Methodologic commentary: Why pregnant adolescents say they did not use contraceptives prior to conception

This commentary critiques the report of a study of the reasons given by pregnant adolescents for their failure to use contraception. The major findings of the study were that 37.5% of the respondents stated that they either were ambivalent about getting pregnant or actively sought pregnancy. An additional 5% reported that their boy friends wanted the pregnancy. These positive or ambivalent feelings about having a baby were associated with having known the father of the baby for more than 6 months at the time of conception and with having dropped out of school. This study however is flawed because the data were collected during the third trimester of pregnancy after the adolescents had adjusted to their situation. The authors acknowledged this bias but dismissed its threat to the validity of the results without providing sufficient evidence supporting this action. It is impossible to determine how the pregnant adolescents felt about pregnancy prior to conception or at the time they learned they were pregnant. This source of bias does not affect the findings about the effect of having known the father of the baby for 6 months or of having dropped out of school. A better design for such a study might have determined attitudes towards pregnancy and childbearing among a large group of sexually active but not pregnant adolescents. The assessment could then be repeated at the time of diagnosis on the subset of girls who became pregnant. An alternative methodology would involve interviewing adolescent patients before they were given a pregnancy test when they received the results and during the third trimester if the pregnancy was carried to term.
Removal of GABAergic inhibition alters subthreshold input in neurons in forepaw barrel subfield (FBS) in rat first somatosensory cortex (SI) after digit stimulation

Our objective was to test the hypothesis that suppression of GABAergic inhibition results in an enhancement of responses to stimulation of the surround receptive field. Neurons in the forepaw barrel subfield (FBS) in rat first somatosensory cortex (SI) receive short latency suprathreshold input from a principal location on the forepaw and longer latency subthreshold input from surrounding forepaw skin regions. Input from principal and surround receptive field sites was examined before, during, and after administration of the GABAA receptor blocker bicuculline methiodide (BMI) (in 165 mM NaCl at pH 3.3–3.5). In vivo extracellular recording was used to first identify the location of the glabrous forepaw digit representation within the FBS. In vivo intracellular recording and labeling techniques were then used to impale single FBS neurons in layer IV as well as neurons in layers III and V, determine the receptive field of the cell, and fill the cell with biocytin for subsequent morphological identification. The intracellular recording electrode was fastened with dental wax to a double-barrel pipette for BMI iontophoresis and current balance. A stimulating probe, placed on the glabrous forepaw skin surface, was used to identify principal and surround components of the receptive field. Once a cell was impaled and a stable recording was obtained, a stimulating probe was placed at a selected site within the surround receptive field. Single-pulse stimulation (1 Hz) was then delivered through the skin probe and the percentage of spikes occurring in 1-min intervals before BMI onset was used as a baseline measure. BMI was then iontophoresed while the periphery was simultaneously stimulated, and spike percentage measured during and after BMI ejection was compared with the pre-BMI baseline. The major findings are: (1) suppression of GABAergic inhibition enhanced evoked responses to firing level from sites in surround receptive fields in 65% of the cells (n=17); (2) evoked responses were rapidly elevated (within 1 min) to suprathreshold firing in the presence of BMI in 31% of the cells; (3) GABAergic inhibition was reversible [suprathreshold spiking gradually reversed to subthreshold excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) in 45% of the cells tested]; (4) BMI altered the stimulus-evoked and non-stimulus-evoked firing pattern in SI neurons from single spikes to burst patterns in all tested cells; and (5) iontophoresis of NaCl (165 mM) without BMI was ineffective in altering evoked responses in control cells (n=4). The present findings support the notion that subthreshold input from surround receptive fields is one possible mechanism for rapid cortical reorganization in barrel cortex and that GABAergic inhibition may regulate its expression. Possible corticocortical and thalamocortical substrates for subthreshold input to reach barrel neurons are discussed.