cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Attenuation of Myeloid-Specific TGFβ Signaling Induces Inflammatory Cerebrovascular Disease and Stroke

Rationale: Cryptogenic strokes, those of unknown cause, have been estimated as high as 30% to 40% of strokes. Inflammation has been suggested as a critical etiologic factor. However, there is lack of experimental evidence. Objective: In this study, we investigated inflammation-associated stroke using a mouse model that developed spontaneous stroke because of myeloid deficiency of TGF-β (transforming growth factor-β) signaling. Methods and Results: We report that mice with deletion of Tgfbr2 in myeloid cells ( Tgfbr2 Myeko ) developed cerebrovascular inflammation in the absence of significant pathology in other tissues, culminating in stroke and severe neurological deficits with 100% penetrance. The stroke phenotype can be transferred to syngeneic wild-type mice via Tgfbr2 Myeko bone marrow transplant and can be rescued in Tgfbr2 Myeko mice with wild-type bone marrow. The underlying mechanisms involved an increased type 1 inflammation and cerebral endotheliopathy, characterized by elevated NF-κB (nuclear factor-κB) activation and TNF (tumor necrosis factor) production by myeloid cells. A high-fat diet accelerated stroke incidence. Anti-TNF treatment, as well as metformin and methotrexate, which are associated with decreased stroke risk in population studies, delayed stroke occurrence. Conclusions: Our studies show that TGF-β signaling in myeloid cells is required for maintenance of vascular health and provide insight into inflammation-mediated cerebrovascular disease and stroke.
Perioperative chemotherapy is not associated with improved survival in high-grade truncal sarcoma.

BACKGROUND The treatment benefit of perioperative chemotherapy (CTX) for truncal soft tissue sarcoma (STS) is not well established. This study evaluates the association of CTX with survival for patients with resected primary high-grade truncal STS. MATERIALS AND METHODS Adult patients with high-grade truncal STS who had curative-intent resection from 2000 to 2016 at seven U.S. institutions were evaluated retrospectively. Patients were stratified by receipt of CTX. Kaplan-Meier curves with log-rank tests were used to compare overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate characteristics associated with OS. RESULTS Of patients with primary high-grade truncal STS, 235 underwent curative-intent resections. The most common histology was undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma and mean tumor size was 7.8 cm. Thirty percent of the patients received CTX (n = 70). Among patients receiving CTX, 34% (n = 24) had neoadjuvant CTX, 44% (n = 31) adjuvant CTX, and 21% (n = 15) had neoadjuvant and adjuvant CTX. Patients receiving CTX were more likely to receive radiation (51% versus 34%, P = 0.01), have deep tumors (86% versus 73%, P = 0.037) and solid organ invasion (14% versus 3%, P = 0.001). On univariate analysis, patients who received CTX had worse OS (P < 0.01) and a trend toward worse recurrence-free survival (P = 0.08). Margin status was the only variable associated with improved OS on multivariate analysis (odds ratio 4.36, 95% confidence interval 1.56, 12.13, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS In this multi-institutional retrospective analysis of resected high-grade truncal STS, receipt of perioperative CTX was not associated with improved OS, which may be related to selection bias. Microscopically negative margin status was the only independent factor associated with OS.
The Neurohormone Melatonin as a Marker, Medicament, and Mediator

This chapter is an update of what was originally published several years ago (Vessely and Lewy, 2002). Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland during nighttime darkness under the control of the endogenous circadian pacemaker (ECP) in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus. The ECP is entrained (synchronized) to the 24-h light/dark cycle. The endogenous melatonin profile can be used to assess the phase position (time) of the ECP, and both bright light exposure and exogenous melatonin can influence its phase. Totally blind people often have free-running circadian rhythms that are not entrained to the 24-h light/dark cycle. In these blind free-runners (BFRs), circadian phase drifts each day, causing recurrent insomnia; properly timed low-dose melatonin can entrain BFRs to the 24-h day. Sighted people can have circadianrhythm disturbances as well. Both light and melatonin can be used to delay or advance circadian rhythms that are out of phase due to jet travel, shift work, or advanced or delayed sleep phase syndromes. Another group of people with circadian rhythm disorders are those suffering from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), or winter depression. Most people with SAD have circadian rhythms that delay in the winter, causing them to develop depressed moods and vegetative symptoms; light therapy timed to cause phase advances can lead to clear improvement. Preliminary work suggests that low-dose melatonin therapy may also be beneficial in treating SAD. The function of endogenous melatonin in humans may be to entrain the third-trimester fetus and suckling newborn to the mother's sleep/wake cycle.
Blood Pressure, not Heart Rate, as a Marker of Intravascular Injection of Epinephrine in an Epidural Test Dose

Investigators have generally examined the heart rate response after injection of a test dose containing a beta-adrenergic agonist as an indicator of intravascular placement of an epidural catheter. Some have reported an increase in blood pressure accompanying the increase in heart rate after an intravascular injection. We report two elderly patients (aged 76 and 62 years, respectively) in whom apparent intravascular injections of epinephrine-containing local anesthetic solutions resulted in marked blood pressure elevations without noticeable increases in heart rate. As far as we know, this phenomenon previously has been described only in patients receiving beta-adrenergic blocking drugs. In these patients it may be related to decreased beta-adrenergic receptor responsiveness in elderly patients; this and other possible mechanisms are discussed.
Fermentation characteristics and feeding value of ensiled wet corn distillers grains in combination with wet beet pulp for lactating dairy cows.

ABSTRACT Two experiments were conducted to evaluate (1) fermentation characteristics of ensiled wet corn distillers grains with solubles (WDG) and wet beet pulp (WBP) and (2) feeding value of ensiled blends of WDG and WBP in lactating dairy cow diets. On an as-fed basis, the ratio of ensiling for WDG:WBP was (1) 100:0 (DG100), (2) 67:33 (DG67), (3) 33:67 (DG33), and (4) 0:100 (DG0), respectively. Feedstuffs were ensiled and sampled at d 0, 4, 8, 21, and 112. Initial pH was lowest for DG100 and increased as the WBP was included. Low initial pH and increased acetic acid concentration with decreasing lactic acid concentration may have helped preserve both feedstuffs and their blends. Lactic acid was the predominant organic acid for DG100, and acetic acid was predominant at d 112 for the other 3 treatments. A feeding study followed the ensiling study. Nine cows (92 ± 4 DIM; mean ± SD) were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design. They were fed the (1) control diet; (2) low WDG diet with 21.7% DG33 blend (DM basis); and (3) high WDG diet with 24.6% DG67 blend (DM basis). There was no effect of diet on DMI. Milk yield was greater for cows fed WDG diets compared with cows fed the control diet; however, there was no effect of diet on energy-corrected milk. Milk fat concentration decreased for cows fed WDG diets compared with control diet; however, milk fat yield was not affected by diet. Cows fed WDG diets tended to produce milk with greater milk protein concentration and yield compared with cows fed the control diet, but there was no difference between WDG diets. Results provide evidence that ensiling WDG and WBP to preserve each wet by-product was possible and that ensiled blends could be incorporated in diets of lactating dairy cows to increase milk production and milk protein yield.
Diabetes and cardiovascular disease in South Asians: A global perspective

South Asians (Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, and Sri Lankans), have very high incidence of metabolic diseases, such as hypertension, abdominal obesity, metabolic syndrome, type-2 diabetes, and vascular disease. To create awareness, develop educational and preventive strategies, we started a professional society, South Asian Society on Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis (SASAT) in 1993, at the University of Minnesota. Since that time, we have organized fifteen international conferences in India and published several monographs on this topic. In our conferences, we have discussed all aspects of epidemiology, risk factors, and excess burden of these diseases in this ethnic group in India and abroad. In general, South Asians seem to have excess incidence of diabetes and coronary artery disease, no matter which country they live. There are speculations about the reasons for this excess; however, no definite risk factor or a cluster of risks have been attributed to be responsible for this excess disease burden. National health programs in various countries, such as the UK, and Canada, with large number of South Asian Immigrants, have developed ethnic-specific preventive measures. The World Health Organization has issued special guidelines about the BMI cutoff, for this ethnic group. During the tenure of the President William Clinton, recognizing the important role the South Asian community has played in the USA, he recommended some studies related to their health. Again in 2009, President Barack Obama signed an executive order, calling for strategies to improve the health of Asian Americans. In a recent issue of the Journal of Circulation, the American Heart Association has published a scientific statement about the atherosclerotic disease in the South Asians living in the USA. The Vice chair of one of the councils, Dr Latha Palaniappan also has published a companion report called, “Call to Action”: A science advisory from the AHA. In this overview, we will discuss briefly the work of SASAT, and present our views with a global perspective.
A SHARED CONTROL MECHANISM FOR REGULATION OF ADENOVIRUS AND SV40 GENE EXPRESSION

Publisher Summary This chapter studies a shared control mechanism for regulation of adenovirus and SV40 gene expression. Temperature-sensitive mutations in the Ad5 gene, encoding a 72K dalton DNA-binding protein allows prolonged accumulation of all early virus RNA at 40.5°C when DNA synthesis is blocked by ara-C. In this study, the capacity of isolated nuclei to synthesize virus RNA was measured during a short pulse of 3H-UTP at various times after infection by wt Ad5 and tsl25. The rate of virus RNA synthesis was severely depressed in nuclei infected by wt for more than 6 hours at 40.5°C, whereas the rate of virus transcription remained high in tsl25-infected nuclei. A temperature-shift experiment showed that the decrease in capacity to synthesize virus RNA was dependent on a functional 72K protein. A similar regulatory function was shown for SV40 T-antigen: tsA mutants accumulate early virus RNA at the restrictive temperature (41°C). In cells infected at 32°C and then shifted to 41°C late in infection, early virus transcription increased, whereas late transcription decreased.
Self-reported methods of weight cutting in professional mixed-martial artists: how much are they losing and who is advising them?

Similar to other combat sports, mixed martial arts (MMA) includes divisional weight classes. The purpose of our research was to further investigate the amount of weight professional MMA fighters lost prior to weighing in for competition, their methods used to cut weight, and their sources of advice on how to cut weight. This survey was administered to 92 male professional MMA athletes. The survey questions included duration of overall weight loss prior to competition, methods of weight-cutting, and their sources of advice regarding weight cutting. When comparing the number of methods of weight cutting with the source of advice, those who received their advice from social media used slightly more methods of weight cutting (M = 4.86, SD = 1.27) than those who did not (M = 4.02, SD = 1.55); t(90) = − 2.53, p < .05. MMA athletes that used the help of a registered dietitian nutritionist also reported using the least amount of methods for weight-cutting than any other category (M = 3.84, SD = 1.67). Those that used teammates and did not use a registered dietitian nutritionist used slightly more methods (M = 4.46, SD = 1.41) than those who used a registered dietitian nutritionist. The findings of this study report that professional MMA athletes do undergo rapid weight loss through various methods to make weight for competition. This study adds evidence to the literature that most professional MMA athletes undergo RWL for competition without the guidance of a registered dietitian nutritionist. It is unclear what the effect of using a registered dietitian nutritionist may have on an MMA athletes’ ability to reduce weight in a safe and effective manner. Future research should seek to investigate if employing a registered dietitian nutritionist may lead to a higher rate of success for MMA athletes to make weight, and help reduce adverse risks of RWL.
Leveraging historical data into oncology development programs: Two case studies of phase 2 Bayesian augmented control trial designs

Leveraging historical data into the design and analysis of phase 2 randomized controlled trials can improve efficiency of drug development programs. Such approaches can reduce sample size without loss of power. Potential issues arise when the current control arm is inconsistent with historical data, which may lead to biased estimates of treatment efficacy, loss of power, or inflated type 1 error. Consideration as to how to borrow historical information is important, and in particular, adjustment for prognostic factors should be considered. This paper will illustrate two motivating case studies of oncology Bayesian augmented control (BAC) trials. In the first example, a glioblastoma study, an informative prior was used for the control arm hazard rate. Sample size savings were 15% to 20% by using a BAC design. In the second example, a pancreatic cancer study, a hierarchical model borrowing method was used, which enabled the extent of borrowing to be determined by consistency of observed study data with historical studies. Supporting Bayesian analyses also adjusted for prognostic factors. Incorporating historical data via Bayesian trial design can provide sample size savings, reduce study duration, and enable a more scientific approach to development of novel therapies by avoiding excess recruitment to a control arm. Various sensitivity analyses are necessary to interpret results. Current industry efforts for data transparency have meaningful implications for access to patient-level historical data, which, while not critical, is helpful to adjust for potential imbalances in prognostic factors.
Historical Background for Theories: Revisiting the Past to Create the Future

Different generations of theorists made contributions to the development of the theoretical bases for the discipline of nursing, leading to the current generation of situation-specific theorists. Several facilitators informed interests, development, and refinement of theories and promoted philosophical and theoretical discoveries and discourses. These facilitators included theory conferences, graduate courses in theory, journals devoted to philosophical and theoretical contributions and many opportunities for debates. To continue with the advancement of theory, it is vital that we use some of these strategies, as well as deliberate new ideas that are more congruent with current academic and practice contexts, but also benefit from theoretical history.
Racializing Ethnic Entrepreneurship: Chinese Entrepreneurship in the Deep South

The research on ethnic entrepreneurship is prolific. Yet very rarely have scholars examined ethnic entrepreneurship through the lens of race and racialization. By using the example of Chinese-owned...
Hydraulic fracture mapping using wavelet-based fusion of wave transmission and emission measurements

Abstract Fracture characterization is essential to hydrocarbon and geothermal exploration and production as well as carbon geo-sequestration. Active and passive measurements have been extensively applied to map fractures across various scales. Active and passive methods have inherent advantages and limitations that complement each other. In this study, to improve the mapping of embedded fractures and the surrounding geomechanically altered regions, we integrate active shear-wave transmission measurement with passive acoustic-emission measurement collected during a lab-scale hydraulic-fracturing experiment. The proposed data fusion leverages the advantages of the two modalities of measurements, while minimizing their individual limitations. Polarized shear-wave transmission (active) measurement was collected before and after the hydraulic fracturing, and the acoustic emission (passive) measurement was collected during hydraulic fracturing. Two sets of two-dimensional maps of fracture and fracture-induced damage in axial, median and frontal planes were obtained by separately processing active and passive measurements. These 2D maps are then fed to wavelet-based image fusion technique to integrate the two sources of information for the reliable mapping/imaging of the embedded fractures and the surrounding geomechanically altered regions.
Genetically-Triggered Aortic Dissections

Aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection are life-threatening events with greater than 20% of all thoracic aortic aneurysms having a genetic basis for disease. This estimation of the genetic contributions to aortic dissection may actually be an underestimate secondary to silent thoracic aneurysms being undiagnosed and an under-utilization of genetic testing in the clinical arena. There are syndromic conditions with systemic manifestations of disease and non-syndrome genetic conditions with aortic aneurysms where there are no outward signs of disease. It is important for cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons and other members of the multi-disciplinary team to have a good understanding of major features, diagnosis, surveillance and management guidelines of these genetic conditions to provide optimal care to these individuals.
Genomic Signature of Sexual Reproduction in the Bdelloid Rotifer Macrotrachella quadricornifera

Nearly all eukaryotes reproduce sexually, either constitutively or facultatively, and nearly all that are thought to be entirely asexual diverged recently from sexuals, implying that loss of sex leads to early extinction and therefore that sexual reproduction is essential for evolutionary success. Nevertheless, there are several groups that have been thought to have evolved asexually for millions of years. Of these, the most extensively studied are the rotifers of Class Bdelloidea. Yet the evidence for their asexuality is entirely negative -- the failure to establish the existence of males or hermaphrodites. Opposed to this is a growing body of evidence that bdelloids do reproduce sexually, albeit rarely, retaining meiosis-associated genes and, in a limited study of allele sharing among individuals of the bdelloid Macrotrachela quadricornifera, displaying a pattern of genetic exchange indicating recent sexual reproduction. Here we present a much larger study of allele sharing among these individuals clearly showing the occurrence of sexual reproduction, thereby removing what had appeared to be a serious challenge to hypotheses for the evolutionary advantage of sex and confirming that sexual reproduction is essential for long term evolutionary success in eukaryotes. We also discuss the relation between bdelloid life history and population structure and the possible benefit of outcrossing in restoring advantageous genome-wide epistatic interactions disrupted by conversion and deletion.
Role of Na+-glucose cotransport in jejunal meal-induced absorption

In awake dogs, meal ingestion stimulates the absorption of water and electrolytes from neurovascularly intact jejunal Thiry-Vella loops, even though these loops are isolated from the remainder of the gut. This study was designed to investigate the role of Na+–glucose cotransport in mediating this event. Meal ingestion enhanced absorption when the jejunal lumen was perfused with an isotonic solution containing d-glucose, d-galactose, or 3-O-methylglucose. This response was absent when the perfusate contained mannitol or when phlorizin was added to the d-glucose solution. Mucosa from the jejunal loops was serially biopsied and assayed for brush-border Na+-glucose cotransporter (SGLT1) mRNA and protein expression. Although no changes in SGLT1 mRNA levels were observed, protein levels significantly increased within 30 min following meal ingestion. The time course of SGLT1 protein expression corresponded with that of increased Na+ and water absorption. These results suggest that meal-stimulated jejunal absorption may be mediated through an induction of mucosal SGLT1.
Los nietos de la imaginación

Poemas ilustrados. Eduardo Escobar, Juan Carlos Restrepo Rivas (Ilustraciones). Jaime Jaramillo Escobar (posfacio). Tragaluz Editores, Medellin, 2007, 70 pags.
An Improved Predictor of Colourfulness in a Model of Colour Vision

An improved predictor of colourfulness in the Hunt 91 model of colour vision is described. A new chroma predictor allows for the effect of the luminance Jactor of the background more effectively, and results in more consistent predictions for different viewing conditions. The new colourfulness predictor is obtained by multiplying the new chroma predictor by a factor that varies more slowly with the level of adapting luminance than was the case for the old colourfulness predictor; this results in much better predictions, whose coefficients of variation are similar to those that characterize observer consistency. The steps required for reversing the model are given in an appendix.
Instructions for repair.

Last month I wrote about the sharp decline in the success rate for scientific research proposals submitted to the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other agencies. That column provoked numerous responses from both administrators of the funding organizations and life scientists. The administrators, while not denying some of the problems I discussed, argued that things aren't quite as bad as they seem, and that a large part of the difficulty stems from sizeable increases in the number of grant applications and the amounts requested, rather than from poor choices in managing the doubling of the NIH budget that took place not long ago. The scientists, on the other hand, all said that things were even worse than I had claimed.
Monolithic optical equalizer array for wavelength-reusable and topology-reconfigurable WDM local area networks

Optical local-area networks (LANs) and metropolitan-area networks (MANs) based on wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) are becoming the mainstream networking choice for building terabit capacity lightwave networks. WDM provides an effective means for using the vast bandwidth of a single-mode fiber by allocating channel bandwidth in proportional to the processing speed of the user nodes in a multiple-access environment. In this paper we propose a new network design based on the principle of wavelength-routing through the use of monolithic optical equalizer array (MOEA) which is capable of wavelength-reuse and topology-reconfiguration without resorting to tunable devices. >
Diagnosing intracranial vasculitis: the roles of MR and angiography.

PURPOSE To describe our experience with MR and angiography in diagnosing intracranial vasculitis and to test the hypothesis that MR can be used to screen for patients unlikely to have vasculitis. METHODS Ninety-two patients who had angiography with "exclude vasculitis" as the indication or who had angiography and a clinical diagnosis of vasculitis were identified. Angiograms of all 92 patients and the MRs of the 70 patients who had both studies were reviewed. RESULTS Eleven patients had intracranial vasculitis. Angiography showed characteristic changes in 8. MR, performed in 9 of 11 vasculitis cases, was significantly abnormal in all 9. Among 70 patients who had both studies, 19 had MR that was completely normal or showed only incidental findings. None of these 19 was diagnosed with vasculitis. The diagnostic yield of angiography performed to exclude vasculitis was only 6%. CONCLUSIONS Evaluation for intracranial vasculitis should include MR. A negative MR excludes intracranial vasculitis more definitively than does a negative angiogram and makes the likelihood of finding vasculitis with angiography negligible.
Synthesis and bromination of di-, tri- and tetra-methyl substituted poly(aryl ether ether ketone)s

The title polymers have been prepared by nucleophilic substitution of 2,3-dimethyl- and trimethylhydroquinone, and 3,3′-dimethyl- and 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbiphenol with difluorobenzophenone. These polymers have been brominated to various degrees of substitution. The dimethyl PEEK can only be monobrominated; trimethyl PEEK yields mono- and dibromomethyl functional groups in the ratio 2:1. These results can be explained by steric hindrance to dibromination of the vicinal methyl groups. Dimethyl- and tetramethylbiphenyl PEEK can be dibrominated completely.
Ulcerations caused by livedoid vasculopathy associated with a prothrombotic state: Response to warfarin

A 50-year-old woman had a lifelong history of painful ulcerations as a result of livedoid vasculopathy. She was a heterozygous carrier of factor V Leiden and prothrombin gene mutations and was receiving hormone replacement therapy. The ulcers healed after warfarin therapy, which has been reported to be effective in only one previous patient with this condition.
The thyroid gland and temperature regulation in the prairie vole, Microtus ochrogaster and the chipmunk Tamias striatus

Abstract Absract 1. 1. The basal metabolism of the vole, Microtus ochrogaster , a non-hibernator is about 80% below that expected for microtine rodents, while the basal metabolism of the chipmunk, Tamias striatus , is about 20% below that expected for small mammals. 2. 2. Blocking thyroid secretion results in a 3°C improvement in the vole. and a 2°C improvement in the chipmunk, to the highest air temperature tolerated. 3. 3. Blood levels of thyroxine in both species did not change as a function of ambient temperatures, whereas rates of radioiodine release were reciprocally related to ambient temperature. 4. 4. There was no indication that the thyroid gland of the chipmunk was ever inactive either preceding, or during, hibernation.
RACIAL INEQUALITY AND RACIALLY DISAGGREGATED HOMICIDE RATES: AN ASSESSMENT OF ALTERNATIVE THEORETICAL EXPLANATIONS*

This research considers the relationship between levels of racial inequality and homicide rates for a sample of 154 U.S. cities. We identfy four causal processes that have been cited in the theoretical literature to explain the link between racial inequality and criminal violence. These diflerent causal explanations imply distinctive relationships between racial inequality and different types of homicide rates disaggregated by the racial characteristics of victims and offenders. Accordingly, we examine the effects of racial inequality on racially disaggregated homicide rates, as well as on total rates. We also introduce factor scales to alleviate the common problem of multicollinearity. Our results reveal significant, positive coefficients for racial inequality in equations predicting total homicide rates and race-specific offending rates. These results offer greatest support for theoretical arguments emphasizing a generalized effect of racial inequality on the offending behavior of residents of metropolitan communities.
Semi-conjugacies and inverse limit spaces

Let f be a continuous map of the interval to itself. We prove that if f has a k-horseshoe, then f is topologically semi-conjugate to a tent map with slope ± k. Using this result, we prove that if f has positive topological entropy, and , then there is a continuous surjective map from the inverse limit space to the Knaster continuum K n . In particular, for , there is a continuous surjective map from K m to K n . On the other hand, we prove that the analogous statement does not hold for solenoids.
Liability relating to contracting infectious diseases in hospitals.

Millions of patients are harmed every year by widespread problems in the United States health care system. Among the most widespread causes of hospital complications are hospital-acquired infection...
Working together to address domestic violence among veterans.

Most veterans do not have psychiatric illness and do not have problems with domestic violence, but PTSD is a strong risk factor for intimate partner violence. Other risk factors include depression and substance use disorders, and the risk is compounded by the presence of several factors. Clinicians should screen for domestic violence among veterans and their partners using direct, nonjudgmental questions. To improve their relationships, veterans may need help with problems such as mistrust, low esteem for self or others, and power/control conflicts. Veterans and their intimate partners should also receive education about any psychiatric diagnosis that is given, the problem of survival-mode thinking at home, and available resources such as cognitive-behavioral interventions to prevent or stop domestic violence. When addressing a veteran's domestic violence, coordination of care is necessary to reduce recidivism. With intimate partners, clinicians should discuss the support system and safety plan. Language: en
Detuning effects in transit-induced optical multistability

Abstract For a nonlinear resonator that exhibits multistability as a result of atomic transit through the cavity mode, the effects of atomic and cavity detunings are considered. It is shown that multistability in the case of nonresonant atoms has a completely different character than in the case of atomic resonance, and that local stabilization of a globally unstable state can result. Analytical and numerical exploration of parameter space shows that detuning can enhance multistability; so can reduction of the transit time, even though the response correspondingly becomes more absorptive in character.
Radiation modeling with direct simulation Monte Carlo

Improvements in the modeling of radiation in low density shock waves with direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) are the subject of this study. A new scheme to determine the relaxation collision numbers for excitation of electronic states is proposed. This scheme attempts to move the DSMC programs toward a more detailed modeling of the physics and more reliance on available rate data. The new method is compared with the current modeling technique and both techniques are compared with available experimental data. The differences in the results are evaluated. The test case is based on experimental measurements from the AVCO-Everett Research Laboratory electric arc-driven shock tube of a normal shock wave in air at 10 km/s and .1 Torr. The new method agrees with the available data as well as the results from the earlier scheme and is more easily extrapolated to di erent ow conditions.
Patients with differentiated thyroid cancer have a venous gradient in thyroglobulin levels.

BACKGROUND. Although serum thyroglobulin (Tg) is an excellent marker for detecting recurrent or persistent differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), it is unreliable in patients who have positive anti-Tg antibodies. Furthermore, a growing number of patients with DTC have elevated Tg levels but no detectable disease on radioiodine scanning or other imaging studies. The objective of this study was to determine whether a gradient in Tg protein level exists in patients with DTC. METHODS. Fifteen patients who underwent thyroidectomy and/or lymph node dissection for primary DTC (n = 10 patients) and recurrent or persistent DTC (n = 5 patients). A venipuncture was performed simultaneously from the internal jugular vein adjacent to the tumor and the ipsilateral antecubital vein. Venous Tg protein levels were measured by using a chemiluminescence assay. RESULTS. The average internal jugular-to-antecubital vein Tg protein ratio was 3.4:1.0 (median Tg ratio, 2.9:1; range, 0.8–62.2). Four patients had positive anti-Tg antibodies but still had a Tg gradient. Tg levels were significantly higher in the adjacent internal jugular vein than in the antecubital vein (P = .0019). The Tg ratio between the internal jugular and antecubital veins was significantly higher in patients with recurrent or persistent DTC than in patients with primary tumors (P = .0196). CONCLUSIONS. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to document a venous gradient in Tg protein levels in patients with DTC. The findings suggested that venous sampling for Tg may be used to localize DTC in some patients who have high or increasing serum Tg levels but negative radioiodine scans or imaging studies. Cancer 2007 © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Fastigial stimulation increases ischemic blood flow and reduces brain damage after focal ischemia

Electrical stimulation of the cerebellar fastigial nucleus (FN) increases CBF and reduces brain damage after focal ischemia. We studied whether FN stimulation “protects” the brain from ischemic damage by increasing blood flow to the ischemic territory. Sprague–Dawley rats were anesthetized (halothane 1–3%) and artificially ventilated through a tracheal cannula inserted transorally. CBF was monitored by a laser-Doppler probe placed over the convexity at a site corresponding to the area spared from infarction by FN stimulation. Arterial pressure (AP), blood gases, and body temperature were controlled, and the electroencephalogram (EEG) was monitored. The stem of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) was occluded. After occlusion, the FN was stimulated for 60 min (100 μA; 50 Hz; 1 s on–1 s off) while AP was maintained at 97 ± 11 mm Hg (mean ± SD) by controlled hemorrhage. Rats were then allowed to recover, and infarct volume was determined 24 h later in thioninstained sections. In unstimulated rats (n = 7), proxi...
Effects of coupling agents on mechanical properties of metal oxide-polymethacrylate composites

Abstract The effects of several coupling agents on the mechanical properties of metal oxide-polymethacrylate composites reinforced with titanium dioxide (TO2), aluminium oxide (A1203), silica (SiO2) and zirconium dioxide (ZrO2), as fillers for opaque resins were assessed. The prepared composites consist of 24.75 wt% triethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), 24.75 wt% 1,6-bis(methacryloxy-2-ethoxycarbonylamino)-2,4,4trimethylhexane (UDMA), 0.5 wt% benzoyl peroxide (BPO) and 50 wt% metal oxide filler. Three methacrylate coupling agents—methoxydiethyleneglycol trimethacryloyl titanate, 3-trimethoxysilylpropyl methacrylate and 2,2-di(allyloxymethyl)butyl trimethacryloyl zirconate—were used for surface treatment of TiO2, SiO2 and ZrO2, respectively, while A1203 was treated with 4-methacryloxyethyl trimellitate anhydride (4-META). 4META was also adopted as a coupler for TiO2, SiO2 and ZrO2 powders. Compressive and transverse strength specimens were prepared with the use of coupled or untreated filler and heat cured at 110°C and 0.5 MPa for 30 min. All coupled metal oxide composites had significantly higher compressive and transverse strengths than did untreated composites after 1 month's immersion in 37°C water. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of fractured TiO2 composite surfaces after storage in water for 1 month showed an interface failure between TiO2 filler and matrix resin for untreated TiO2 composite and cohesive failures within the resin for treated specimen. Similar results were observed with silanated SiO2 composite. However, cohesive and interface failures were seen in zirconated ZrO2- and 4-META-coupled A1203 composites. Thus, titanated TiO2- polymethacrylate composite may be useful as a composite pigment for opaque resin materials.
High-voltage-activated calcium channel messenger RNA expression in the 140-3 neuroblastoma-glioma cell line.

Abstract Expression of calcium channel α 1 subunits in oocytes or cell lines has proven to be a powerful method in the analysis of structure–function relations, but these experimental systems are of limited value in the examination of neuron-specific functions such as transmitter release. Cell lines derived from neurons are often capable of these functions, but their intrinsic calcium channel α 1 subunits are complicating factors in experimental design. We have examined the biophysical and molecular properties of calcium channels in a little studied neuroblastoma–glioma hybrid cell line, 140-3, a close relative of the NG108-15 cell line, to test whether this cell line might serve a role as an expression system for neural mechanisms. This cell was selected as it contains an intact transmitter release mechanism yet secretes little in response to depolarization. Patch-clamp recording revealed only a prominent low-threshold, rapidly inactivating calcium current with a single-channel conductance of ∼7 pS that was identified as T type. A search for calcium channel α 1 subunit messenger RNA in the 140-3 cells with three different tests only revealed α 1C , whereas α 1A –α 1C were present in the parent NG108-15 line. We made a particular effort to search for α 1E , since this subunit has been associated with a low-voltage-activated current. Our findings suggest that, since the principal nerve terminal-associated calcium channels (α 1A , α 1B , α 1E ) are absent in the 140-3 cell, this cell line may prove a particularly useful model for the analysis of the role of high-voltage-activated calcium channels in complex functions of neuronal cells.
Molybdenum Exposure and Semen Quality: Meeker et al. Respond

We appreciate the comments by Sorahan and Sullivan that serve to reiterate the limitations we discussed in our article reporting relationships between metal concentrations in blood and semen quality among 219 men recruited through two Michigan infertility clinics (Meeker et al. 2008). As highlighted in their letter, these limitations included the possibility of chance findings due to multiple comparisons and the sensitivity of the molybdenum assay used, among others. However, dismissing our analysis as a “fishing expedition” is not appropriate, given the animal evidence for adverse effects on male reproductive function in relation to Mo (Institute of Medicine 2001; Jeter and Davis 1954; Lyubimov et al. 2004; Pandey and Singh 2002; Thomas and Moss 1951; Van Niekerk and Van Niekerk 1989; Vyskocil and Viau 1999; Yamaguchi et al. 2007) and other metals. Because evidence exists for numerous metals to be either harmful or beneficial to male reproduction, and because metals may interact with one another synergistically or antagonistically, we conducted this exploratory study to provide the most comprehensive human data to date on multiple metals and semen quality.
A Probabilistic Model for Intersubject Deposition Variability of Inhaled Particles

Experimental data on total and regional deposition of inhaled particles in the human respiratory tract show a significant amount of intersubject variability even under well-controlled breathing conditions. To explain this variability, a probabilistic lung model is proposed in which two random scaling factors are introduced to account for intersubject differences in airway dimensions, one for the tracheobronchial region and the other for the alveolar region. The calculated deposition based upon this model shows excellent agreement with experimental data, thus further supporting the view that the major cause of intersubject deposition variability in various regions is difference in airway size.
The Experience with IMF-Supported Reform Programs in Central and Eastern Europe

Abstract This paper reviews the transition experience in Eastern Europe from the viewpoint of the Fund. While starting conditions differed across countries, a common feature was the exceptional situation of crisis and vacuum which the transition strategy had to face. The basic three-pronged strategy of rapid liberalization, stabilization, and institution building proved to be correct, although actual progress has been more difficult than expected on the stabilization front and, especially, with institutional reforms. This paper examines selected issues in the transformation experience, including the unexpectedly large output decline, the ongoing debate on big-bang versus gradualist approaches, fiscal and social issues, enterprise governance, and exchange rate policy. It closes with a brief overview of the role of the IMF and some tentative conclusions and lessons that can be drawn at this stage. J. Comp. Econom., February 1995, 20 (1), pp. 95-115. International Monetary Fund, Warsaw, Poland.
Efficient Selection of Trace and Scan Signals for Post-Silicon Debug

Post-silicon validation is a critical part of integrated circuit design methodology. The primary objective is to detect and eliminate the bugs that have escaped pre-silicon validation phase. One of the key challenges in post-silicon validation is the limited observability of internal signals in manufactured chips. A promising direction to improve observability is to combine trace and scan signals—a small set of trace signals are stored in every cycle, whereas a large set of scan signals are dumped across multiple cycles. Existing techniques are not very effective, since they explore a coarse-grained combination of trace and scan signals. In this paper, we propose a fine-grained architecture that addresses this issue using various scan chains with different dumping periods. We also propose efficient algorithms to select beneficial signals based on this architecture. Our experimental results demonstrate that our approach can improve restoration ratio up to 127% (36% on average) compared with existing trace-only techniques. Our approach also shows up to 125% improvement (61.7% on average) compared with techniques that allow a combination of trace and scan signals with minor (<1%) area and power overhead.
16β-[18F]fluoromoxestrol : a potent, metabolically stable positron emission tomography imaging agent for estrogen receptor positive human breast tumors

16 beta-[18F]Fluoromoxestrol (beta FMOX, 1) is a highly selective, metabolically stable estrogen with potential as a receptor imaging agent. It demonstrates receptor-mediated uptake in the immature rat in the estrogen receptor-rich primary target tissues, uterus and ovaries, as well as, in receptor-poor secondary target tissues, muscle, thymus and kidneys; uptake in the uterus is nearly four times that of the clinically useful 16 alpha-[18F]fluoroestradiol (FES), most likely due to the extended lifetime of the labeled beta FMOX in the blood afforded by its relatively slow metabolism. In vivo and in vitro studies demonstrate a nearly four-fold decrease in metabolism rate between beta FMOX and FES. Dosimetry studies indicate radiation absorbed doses comparable to FES. beta FMOX possesses desirable imaging characteristics and may prove to be a clinically useful imaging agent.
Strategic Allocation: The Role of Corporate Bond Indices?

We study the asset allocations among the three major security classes; stock, Treasury bond, and corporate bond indices. We employ a (new) model were liquidity plays an important role in forecasting excess returns. We document the significant utility benefits an investor gains by optimally including corporate bond indices in his portfolio. The benefits are bigger for lower-grade bonds. We also find that investment-grade indices are completely different from high-yield indices. One of the differences is that there exist positive "flight-to-liquidity" premia in investment-grade bonds, but we find no such premia in high-yield bonds. We calculate the portfolio behavior and the utility benefits for three types of investors, the "sophisticated", the "average" and the "lazy" investor. We provide practical portfolio advice on investing throughout the business cycle. We study how the total allocations and hedging demands vary with the business conditions. In addition, utilizing our model, we evaluate the significance of the liquidity variable information for the investor. We find that the liquidity information greatly enhances the investor's portfolio performance. Finally, further support in the optimality of the strategies is provided by calculating their in- and out-of sample realized returns for the last decade.
High-temperature-short-time thermal quarantine methods

Abstract In this paper, kinetic models are discussed with respect to their uses in describing the intrinsic thermal mortality of insect pests. A unique heating block system was used to obtain kinetic information for the thermal mortality of codling moth larvae. The kinetic data demonstrated the possibility to develop high-temperature-short-time thermal treatments to control codling moth and reduce thermal impact on product quality. Equations are presented to evaluate cumulative effects of any time–temperature history on the thermal mortality of target insect pests and on the quality of host materials. Computer simulation results demonstrated that the cumulative thermal effects on product quality during the heating period in conventional hot air or hot water treatments are much more important than the cooling period. Radio frequency (RF) heating or microwave heating is suggested as an alternative to reduce adverse thermal impact to treated commodities during the heating period. A case study is presented to demonstrate the effect of RF heating in a high-temperature-short-time thermal treatment to control codling moth larvae in in-shell walnuts.
WAIS Performance of forensic versus civilly committed mental retardates.

-The WAIS performance of 34 forensic and 22 civilly cornmitted mental retardates, hospitalized in the same psychiatric facility, was assessed. Forensic retardates, in contrast to their civilly committed counterparts, scored significantly higher on the Similarities subtest and showed a somewhat consistent higher performance from other WAIS scores suggesting a trend which might reflect "street wisdom" or intellectual assets of "survival value."
The Effects of PdZn Crystallite Size on Methanol Steam Reforming

Exceptional activity and selectivity of Pd/ZnO catalysts for methanol steam reforming have been attributed to the formation of PdZn alloy. In this paper, we evaluated the crystallite size effects of PdZn alloy on methanol steam reforming. An organic preparation method was used to avoid the complexity from the alteration of ZnO morphology typically associated with the conventional aqueous preparation method. Both Pd loading and reduction temperature (>350 °C) were used to vary the crystallite size of PdZn alloy. Experimental activity studies and transmission electron microscope (TEM) characterizations indicated that formation of large sized PdZn crystallites exhibit high reactivity and low CO selectivity during methanol steam reforming.