cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MDX Mouse as Therapeutic Model System: Development and Implementation of Phenotypic Monitoring

As Michael Brooke so aptly stated at the beginning of this session on phenotypic monitoring, it is imperative to have a quantifiable test system in place prior to assessing treatment entities for any of the muscular dystrophies (Brooke et al., 1981). In this manner, the various medical, experimental, and ethical considerations have been resolved in advance providing an unequivocal foundation for determining efficacy (regardless of the particular therapeutic approach under consideration). Similarly, in the preclinical study of myopathic animal models, it is equally pertinent to establish reliable phenotypic endpoints before the implementation of a therapeutic study. Hence, efficacy or a lack thereof can be objectively and rationally determined against a backdrop of standardized markers of the disease.
A Reverse Ecology Framework for Bacteria and Archaea

Advances in sequencing technologies have led to a rapid increase in available bacterial and archaeal genome information, but for much of this diversity, little ecological information is available. Reverse ecology provides a potential path forward by using genomic information to gain insight into the ecological associations and niche spaces of organisms. A crucial first step is to predict population structure, which provides the basis for analyzing genomes for evidence of ecological differentiation. Although delineation of bacterial and archaeal populations remains difficult, we outline how gene flow information can be used to identify populations as genetic units, which also are ecological units because adaptations can spread through them in a specific manner. This approach is particularly powerful when closely related populations are analyzed for signatures of differential selection that indicate recent ecological differentiation. Genome-wide association studies can also help identify mutations and genes underlying ecologically relevant traits. Albeit still in their infancy, reverse ecology approaches have the potential to order microbial diversity into genetically and ecologically cohesive units and hence provide the opportunity to test hypotheses about the evolutionary mechanisms creating and maintaining diversity within and between populations.
Electroacupuncture Inhibition of Hypertension is Slow Onset and Long-Lasting

Our recent study shows that electroacupuncture (EA) at P 5-6 + S 36-37 acupoints with low current and low frequency once a week for 4–8 weeks can effectively reduce systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in patients with mild to moderate HTN (BP: > 140 90 < 110 mmHg). Thirty six hypertensive patients without medication were assessed with 24 h ambulatory BP monitoring, and EA at P 5-6 and S 36-37 given once weekly for 30 min for eight weeks. The 8-week treatment significantly decreased peak and average SBP/24 h in 25 patients (~70%). The peak and average DBP/24 h also decreased significantly. Heart rate was unchanged. After termination of EA treatment, SBP remained reduced for an additional four weeks but over the next four weeks returned to near pretreatment levels. Eleven patients (~30%) did not respond to the EA treatment. Both SBP and DBP/24 h were not reduced in 28 other patients treated with control acupoints (LI 6-7 + G 37-39). These data suggest that EA at select acupoints, performed once weekly for 8 weeks, significantly reduced BP. This beneficial effect was slow in onset but persisted for a prolonged period of time. The mechanism of the slow onset and long-lasting EA effect is complicated. It likely is related to opioids and GABA in rostral ventrolateral medulla (rVLM), neural circuit between arcuate nucleus in hypothalamus and rVLM, and preproenkephalin mRNA in rVLM. In subgroups of patients we measured plasma catecholamines (n = 25), renin (n = 22) and aldosterone (n = 18). After eight weeks of EA, plasma concentrations of nor-epinephrine, renin and aldosterone decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in the EA-responders in contrast to low-responders. Thus, the renal sympathetic function and renin-aldosterone system were related to the long-lasting effect of EA inhibition.
Considerations for the Treatment of Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma in the Elderly

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a curable and common malignancy in elderly population. Elderly patients, especially those 80 and older, have poor outcomes compared with those < 60. This may be due to the disease biology, comorbidities, and/or functional limitations. Prospective data, and especially randomized data, are limited. The FIL tool objectively categorizes patients as fit, unfit, or frail. Fit and unfit patients can benefit from chemoimmunotherapy with curative intent. Evidence guiding treatment of frail patients is limited, but it appears that frail patients have similar survival regardless of treatment with curative or palliative intent. For fit and unfit patients, treatment options include rituximab with dose-attenuated CHOP or regimens with adriamycin alternatives if there is concern for cardiovascular adverse effects (AEs). Frail patients are extremely sensitive to toxicity from therapies. Frail patients and those 80 and older could greatly benefit from trials incorporating novel agents.
David Oliver: Don’t blame GPs for late cancer diagnoses

Being a GP isn’t easy. Under-resourcing, workforce gaps, the rising complexity and volume of work, and a media narrative too often laden with blame add to the challenges. On 28 June the Daily Telegraph ran a column entitled, “GPs failing to spot two thirds of cancers.”1 The article was more measured than the headline. But readers’ fear and anger are rarely tempered by less conspicuous details. It reported a Cancer Research UK study, which had focused on two common cancers (lung and bowel), analysing 135 000 cases.2 The Telegraph mentioned “average waits of more than eight weeks for diagnosis,” adding that “the vast majority of cases that turned out to be cancer were never suspected by family doctors.” The study, …
Determinants of concentrations of N(ε)-carboxymethyl-lysine and soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products and their associations with risk of pancreatic cancer.

The soluble receptor for advanced glycation end-products (sRAGE) is shown to mitigate pro-inflammatory effects triggered by ligation of RAGE with Ne-carboxymethyl-lysine (CML)-AGE or other ligands. We examined the associations among host, lifestyle, and genetic determinants of CML-AGE or sRAGE and risk of pancreatic cancer in the prospective ATBC Study. We obtained baseline exposure information, data on serological and genetic biomarkers from 141 patients with pancreatic cancer and 141 subcohort controls. Stepwise linear and logistic regression models were used for data analysis. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that CML-AGE concentrations were independently inversely correlated with the minor allele of rs640742 of DDOST, physical activity, alcohol consumption, diastolic blood pressure (BP), and positively correlated with heart rate, serum sRAGE and HDL concentrations (P < 0.05). sRAGE concentrations were independently inversely correlated with the 82Ser allele of rs2070600 of RAGE, age, body mass index, heart rate, and serum HDL; and positively correlated with serum CML-AGE, sucrose consumption, and diastolic BP (P < 0.05). The minor allele of rs1035786 of RAGE was associated with reduced risk of pancreatic cancer (any T compared with CC: multivariate OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.38-0.98). We identified host metabolic profile, lifestyle and genetic factors that explained approximately 50% of variability of CML-AGE or sRAGE in Finnish men smokers. The association between RAGE SNPs and pancreatic cancer risk warrants further investigation.
Test Results of Fast Decaying Current-Induced AC Losses in SHMS Superconducting Magnets at Jefferson Lab

The 11 GeV Super High Momentum Spectrometer (SHMS) of Hall C, part of the recent 12 GeV accelerator Upgrade at Jefferson Lab, was successfully commissioned in 2017. Fast current discharges of the SHMS Q2, Q3 quadrupoles and dipole superconducting magnets experienced some level of operational difficulty, during commissioning and normal operation. Measurements and analyses demonstrate that the fast current discharge leads to substantial AC losses in the conductor and subsequently triggers a quench-back effect. The details of the measurements and analyses have been reported previously. This paper focuses on the test results of the magnets using a reduced value of the protection dump resistor for each magnet to lower the current decay rate. The test results confirmed that the reduced dump resistances eliminated the quench-back effect for the SHMS Q2, Q3 and Dipole magnets, thus improving their cryogenic operability.
The Impact of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy on 30-Day Readmission Rate for Acute Cholangitis Patients: A Single-Center Study.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) following acute gallstone cholangitis reduces the recurrence of biliary symptoms; however, the timing of LC has not been determined yet. The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of performing LC during admission on the 30-day readmission rate. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of acute gallstone cholangitis patients who underwent endoscopic clearance (EC) of the bile duct through endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography between April 2013 and May 2018. Patients were classified into two groups: EC only group and EC followed by LC during admission (EC + LC) group. The primary outcome was the 30-day readmission rate. A total of 95 patients with acute cholangitis were included in the analysis. Of these patients, 35 patients (36.8%) underwent LC during admission. The 30-day readmission rate was significantly lower in the EC + LC group compared to the EC group (2.9% vs. 26.7%, P 0.003). In a multivariate regression analysis, patients who underwent LC during admission had 90% lower odds of readmission within 30 days compared to patients who did not (OR 0.1, 95% CI (0.01–0.9), P 0.04). Performing laparoscopic cholecystectomy during admission for acute gallstone cholangitis patients following endoscopic clearance of the bile duct significantly reduced the 30-day readmission rate without affecting the length of stay.
A subpopulation of astrocyte progenitors defined by Sonic hedgehog signaling

The molecular signaling pathway, Sonic hedgehog (Shh), is critical for the proper development of the central nervous system. The requirement for Shh signaling in neuronal and oligodendrocyte development in the developing embryo are well established. Here, we show that Shh signaling also operates in a subpopulation of progenitor cells that generate cortical astrocytes. In the neonatal brain, cells expressing the Shh target gene, Gli1, are found in the subventricular zone (SVZ), a germinal zone harboring astrocyte progenitor cells. Using a genetic inducible fate mapping strategy, we show that these cells give rise to half of the cortical astrocyte population, suggesting that the cortex harbors astrocytes from different lineages. Shh activity in SVZ progenitor cells is transient but recurs in a subpopulation of mature astrocytes localized in layers IV and V in a manner independent of their lineage. These data identify a novel role for Shh signaling in cortical astrocyte development and support a growing body of evidence pointing to astrocyte heterogeneity.
Gene expression profiling of fibroblasts in a family with LMNA-related cardiomyopathy reveals molecular pathways implicated in disease pathogenesis

Intermediate filament proteins that construct the nuclear lamina of a cell include the Lamin A/C proteins encoded by the LMNA gene, and are implicated in fundamental processes such as nuclear structure, gene expression, and signal transduction. LMNA mutations predominantly affect mesoderm-derived cell lineages in diseases collectively termed as laminopathies that include dilated cardiomyopathy with conduction defects, different forms of muscular dystrophies, and premature aging syndromes as Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome. At present, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating tissue-specific manifestations of laminopathies are still limited. To gain deeper insight into the molecular mechanism of a novel LMNA splice-site mutation (c.357-2A > G) in an affected family with cardiac disease, we conducted deep RNA sequencing and pathway analysis for nine fibroblast samples obtained from three patients with cardiomyopathy, three unaffected family members, and three unrelated, unaffected individuals. We validated our findings by quantitative PCR and protein studies. We identified eight significantly differentially expressed genes between the mutant and non-mutant fibroblasts, that included downregulated insulin growth factor binding factor protein 5 (IGFBP5) in patient samples. Pathway analysis showed involvement of the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway consistent with previous studies. We found no significant differences in gene expression for Lamin A/C and B-type lamins between the groups. In mutant fibroblasts, RNA-seq confirmed that only the LMNA wild type allele predominately was expressed, and Western Blot showed normal Lamin A/C protein levels. IGFBP5 may contribute in maintaining signaling pathway homeostasis, which may lead to the absence of notable molecular and structural abnormalities in unaffected tissues such as fibroblasts. Compensatory mechanisms from other nuclear membrane proteins were not found. Our results also demonstrate that only one copy of the wild type allele is sufficient for normal levels of Lamin A/C protein to maintain physiological function in an unaffected cell type. This suggests that affected cell types such as cardiac tissues may be more sensitive to haploinsufficiency of Lamin A/C. These results provide insight into the molecular mechanism of disease with a possible explanation for the tissue specificity of LMNA-related dilated cardiomyopathy.
Towards Online Environment Model Verification

Ensuring safety for highly automated vehicles (AVs) using complex algorithms including artificial intelligence is still an open research question. A first step towards the goal of achieving safe operation is the Responsibility Sensitive Safety (RSS) model proposed by Intel/Mobileye, which addresses the decision making of an AV system. However, RSS requires a correct environment model. Hence, to have a comprehensive overall AV safety case, additional solutions and argumentation are required, to verify correctness of the environment model. For this purpose we propose in this paper a novel solution, that uses a Monitor-Recovery approach based on a dynamic occupancy grid. The grid is used to verify the object information (Monitor) provided to RSS, and if required to correct wrong information (Recovery). Our results show that with this approach we can detect common failures of a perception system and successfully recover from those errors.
Pre-Clinical Insights into the Iron and Breast Cancer Hypothesis

Population studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses have revealed no relationship between iron status and breast cancer, a weak positive association, or a small protective effect of low iron status. However, in those studies, the authors concluded that further investigation was merited. The set of experiments reported here used preclinical models to assess the likely value of further investigation. The effects of iron status on the initiation and promotion stage of mammary carcinogenesis are reported. Using the classical model of cancer initiation in the mammary gland, 7,12 dimethyl-benz[α]anthracene-induced carcinogenesis was unaffected by iron status. Similarly, excess iron intake showed no effect on the promotion stage of 1-methyl-1-nitrosurea-induced mammary carcinogenesis, though iron deficiency exerted a specific inhibitory effect on the carcinogenic process. Though iron-mediated cellular oxidation is frequently cited as a potential mechanism for effects on breast cancer, no evidence of increased oxidative damage to DNA attributable to excess iron intake was found. The reported preclinical data fail to provide convincing evidence that the further evaluation of the iron–breast cancer risk hypotheses is warranted and underscore the value of redefining the referent group in population-based studies of iron–cancer hypotheses in other tissues.
Comparison of push-dose phenylephrine and epinephrine in the emergency department

Abstract Background There is limited evidence to support the efficacy and safety of push-dose vasopressor (PDP) use outside of the operating room (OR). Specifically, there are few head-to-head comparisons of different PDP in these settings. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of push-dose phenylephrine (PDP-PE) and epinephrine (PDP-E) in the Emergency Department (ED). Methods This retrospective, single-center study evaluated adults given PDP-PE or PDP-E in the ED from May 2017 to November 2020. The primary outcome was a change in heart rate (HR). Secondary outcomes included changes in blood pressure, adverse effects, dosing errors, fluid and vasopressor requirements, ICU and hospital lengths of stay (LOS), and in-hospital mortality. Results Ninety-six patients were included in the PDP-PE group and 39 patients in the PDP-E group. Median changes in HR were 0 [−7, 6] and − 2 [−15, 5] beats per minute (BPM) for PDP-PE and PDP-E, respectively (p = 0.138). PDP-E patients had a greater median increase in systolic blood pressure (SBP) (33 [24, 53] vs. 26 [8, 51] mmHg; p = 0.049). Dosing errors occurred more frequently in patients that received PDP-E (5/39 [12.8%] vs. 2/96 [2.1%]; p = 0.021). PDP-E patients more frequently received continuous epinephrine infusions before and after receiving PDP-E. There were no differences in adverse effects, fluid requirements, LOS, or mortality. Conclusion PDP-E provided a greater increase in SBP compared to PDP-PE. However, dosing errors occurred more frequently in those receiving PDP-E. Larger head-to-head studies are necessary to further evaluate the efficacy and safety of PDP-E and PDP-PE.
Utilizing Clinical Treatments with a Limited Evidence Base

Patients with fibromyalgia suffer from a myriad of symptoms across multiple functional domains. Attempts to offer these patients relief has led to a wide variation in the use of different treatment modalities, some of which have not been systematically studied and therefore have limited evidence basis for their efficacy. In this chapter, we review several treatment modalities for which there is limited evidence in the literature but that are commonly used by clinicians. Treatments reviewed here include: single modality approaches, complementary and alternative therapy, stretching and flexibility exercises, electrotherapy, pharmacotherapy with drugs such as opioids and benzodiazepines, and the use of interventional therapy such as trigger point injections.
Temperature and Aggression: Paradox, Controversy, and a (Fairly) Clear Picture

Publisher Summary This chapter addresses the theoretical, empirical, and practical issues surrounding the temperature–aggression hypothesis. A brief history of the temperature–aggression hypothesis and paradox involving violence and lethargy is described in the chapter. It outlines the major issues and theories surrounding heat effects and provides an integrated model of aggression. In correlation studies of the temperature–aggression hypothesis, there may be complexities that artificially give rise to strong heat effects. The existential question in the chapter refers to whether there is a true direct causal effect of hot temperatures on aggression. Negative affect escape theory focuses on the current state of the individual and their behavioral motives. Two theories that focus on the influence of environmental factors on aggressive cognitions and behaviors are Bandura's groundbreaking social learning theory (SLT) and Berkowitz's contemporary cognitive neoassociation theory (CNT) of emotion. The temperature–aggression hypothesis refers to the theoretical statement that uncomfortable temperatures cause increases in aggressive motivation and (under the right conditions) in aggressive behavior. The General Affective Aggression model theory states that heat effects are both direct and indirect.
The sigma -modification in the adaptive control of linear time-varying plants

The author considers the adaptive control problem of linear, time-varying single-input, single-output plants, with emphasis on adaptive laws employing the so-called sigma -modification. He derives a sufficient condition which guarantees signal boundedness for adaptive laws using the sigma -modification and normalization. Effectively, this condition relates the speed and the range of the plant parameter variations with the value of sigma and provides at least qualitative guidelines for the selection of the design parameters in the adaptive law. >
Some aspects of the clinical use of nitrogen mustards.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the action of methyl-bis-(β-chloroethyl)amine (HN 2 ) on humans. The effects produced by the administration of HN 2 are discussed in terms of organ, system, or general metabolic effects. Like sulfur mustard, HN 2 when applied directly, has a vesicant necrotizing action on the skin. The severity is roughly dependent on the concentration of the applied drug and the duration of contact with the skin. Following intravascular injection, the compound undergoes intramolecular cyclization in the polar solvent, plasma, to form a cyclic ethylenimonium compound. During the intravenous administration of HN 2 , the capillary bed of the lung is the first to be traversed by the drug. Standard courses of HN 2 have no demonstrable effect on normal kidney structures and renal function as determined by routine studies and tests. The intravenous administration of usual amounts of HN 2 has no apparent effect on either the peripheral or central nervous system. The therapeutic application of HN 2 has been limited by the poisonous effect of this agent on the host as well as on the tumor.
Dearly Deported: Social Citizenship of Undocumented Minors in the US

First-second generation undocumented minors to the US are considered through an experiential-style “letter” in which the author uses his personal narrative as a backdrop for the deportation dilemma. The two primary questions considered in this piece are, can compassion play a role in policy decisions regarding deportation, and what happens when a person develops social citizenship within the host nation and then experiences deportation as a result of a fairly rigid world system? The focus is on the individual costs of forced migration when the promises of a new world order lead to alienation for the peoples of the Global South.
A new TRISTAN thermal ion source

Abstract A new thermal ion source with an integrated target which is heated by electron bombardment to a temperature of 2500°C has been developed for the TRISTAN on-line fission product mass separator at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Initial on-line tests demonstrated that this ion source can extend the range of accessible elements to the rare-earth region. Yields are presented for isotopes of Ce, Pr, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, ho, Ga, Ge, As, Y, Zr, Nb, In, Sn and Sb.
Penetrating the Book-to-Market Black Box: The R&D Effect

The book-to-market (BM) phenomenon – the positive association between BM and subsequent returns – looms large among capital market enigmas. Economic theory postulates that the difference between market and book values of companies reflects their future abnormal profits. We capture these abnormal profits for a large sample of science-based companies by estimating the value of the off-balance sheet investment generating those profits – the value of R&D capital – and show empirically: (i) Firms’ R&D capital is associated with their subsequent stock returns. (ii) For R&D intensive firms, this ‘R&D effect’ subsumes the ‘book-to-market effect.’ (iii) The association between R&D and subsequent returns appears to result from an extra-market risk factor inherent in R&D, rather than from stock mispricing. We thus provide an explanation for the book-to-market phenomenon of R&D companies.
Optimal control applied to native-invasive population dynamics.

This article presents a model for population interactions between an invasive and a native species, where the effect of disturbance in the system (such as flooding) is modeled as a control variable in the growth terms. The motivating example is cottonwood–salt cedar competition, with flooding being detrimental at low and high levels and being advantageous at medium levels, which led us to consider quadratic growth functions of the control. An objective functional is formulated to maximize the native species while minimizing the cost of implementing the control. A new existence result for an optimal control with these quadratic growth functions is given. Numerical results are examined for various parameter values. The results provide suggestions for managing the disturbance regime when invasive species are present.
Diabatic bases and molecular properties

An “equation of motion” for matrix elements of an arbitrary Hermitian operator with respect to nuclear coordinates is derived. In the diabatic basis, this equation expresses the smoothness of the corresponding molecular property. Its solution, which determines an adiabatic-to-diabatic transformation, is considered in the two- and three-state approximations. The relation between a smoothness of molecular property and a configurational uniformity introduced by Atchity and Ruedenberg is discussed. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 76: 235–243, 2000
Complement-fixing properties of antinuclear antibodies distinguish drug-induced lupus from systemic lupus erythematosus

The immunofluorescence antinuclear antibody (ANA) test has been widely used to monitor autoimmune disease, but its value for diagnostic purposes is compromised by low specificity and high prevalence in disease-free individuals. The capacity of autoantibodies to fix serum complement proteins when bound to antigen is an important effector function because this property is associated with acute and chronic inflammatory processes. The current study evaluates the complement-fixing properties of antinuclear antibodies (CANA) in three well-defined and clinically-related patient groups: systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), drug-induced lupus (DIL) and drug-induced autoimmunity (DIA). Of 20 patients diagnosed with SLE, 90% displayed complement-fixing ANA while this feature was present in only two of 18 patients with DIL and no patients with DIA without associated disease even though the mean ANA titres were similar among these patient groups. CANA was significantly correlated with anti-Sm activity. Because SLE but not DIL or DIA can be a life-threatening disease associated with complement consumption in vivo, these results demonstrate that measurement of CANA is a diagnostically useful tool and may have immunopathologic implications.
Thioredoxin, the Processivity Factor, Sequesters an Exposed Cysteine in the Thumb Domain of Bacteriophage T7 DNA Polymerase

Gene 5 protein (gp5) of bacteriophage T7 is a non-processive DNA polymerase. It achieves processivity by binding to Escherichia coli thioredoxin (trx). gp5/trx complex binds tightly to a primer-DNA template enabling the polymerization of hundreds of nucleotides per binding event. gp5 contains 10 cysteines. Under non-reducing condition, exposed cysteines form intermolecular disulfide linkages resulting in the loss of polymerase activity. No disulfide linkage is detected when Cys-275 and Cys-313 are replaced with serines. Cys-275 and Cys-313 are located on loop A and loop B of the thioredoxin binding domain, respectively. Replacement of either cysteine with serine (gp5-C275S, gp5-C313S) drastically decreases polymerase activity of gp5 on dA350/dT25. On this primer-template gp5/trx in which Cys-313 or Cys-275 is replaced with serine have 50 and 90%, respectively, of the polymerase activity observed with wild-type gp5/trx. With single-stranded M13 DNA as a template gp5-C275S/trx retains 60% of the polymerase activity of wild-type gp5/trx. In contrast, gp5-C313S/trx has only one-tenth of the polymerase activity of wild-type gp5/trx on M13 DNA. Both wild-type gp5/trx and gp5-C275S/trx catalyze the synthesis of the entire complementary strand of M13 DNA, whereas gp5-C313S/trx has difficulty in synthesizing DNA through sites of secondary structure. gp5-C313S fails to form a functional complex with trx as measured by the apparent binding affinity as well as by the lack of a physical interaction with thioredoxin during hydroxyapatite-phosphate chromatography. Small angle x-ray scattering reveals an elongated conformation of gp5-C313S in comparison to a compact and spherical conformation of wild-type gp5.
The Metabolic Responses to Starvation and Refeeding in Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa

Adaptive changes in metabolism result in decreased energy requirements in AN. A retrospective study of 21 hospitalized female AN patients demonstrated that indirect calorimetry (IC) measurement of resting energy expenditure (REE) was significantly lower than REE calculated by the Harris-Benedict equation (HBE). The HBE was adjusted by multiple-regression analysis to reflect the hypometabolic state of AN, and the adjusted equation was prospectively validated in 37 hospitalized female AN patients. Refeeding requires an understanding of both baseline requirements and metabolic changes that occur during nutritional rehabilitation. In our present study, we prospectively evaluated changes in fasting and postprandial REE in 50 hospitalized female patients meeting DSM-IV criteria for AN. Baseline IC measurements of fasting and postprandial REE were obtained within three days of admission, and every two weeks thereafter. Mean fasting REE increased significantly from 72 (+/-11.7) to 83.2 (+/-12.6) percent of predicted (p < 0.001) during the first two weeks of hospitalization. Likewise, postprandial REE also increased significantly from 17.5 (+/-18.2) to 27.9 (+/-15.9) percent above fasting REE during the same time period (p < 0.01). Significant increases in both REE and postprandial REE persisted in patients requiring longer hospitalizations. Despite the fact that prescribed energy intake and triiodothyronine (T3-RIA) levels increased during refeeding, there was no significant relationship between postprandial REE and energy intake or T3 levels after baseline. We conclude that energy metabolism in AN adapts to semistarvation by a reduction in fasting REE. With refeeding there is a reversal of this adaptive function, demonstrated by an increase in both fasting and postprandial energy expenditure. The increase in postprandial REE is not related to energy intake or thyroid function.
Frequency response of different size concentric tube heat exchangers

The frequency response of a concentric tube heat exchanger was investigated theoretically, and experimentally, on four different size heat exchangers. Transfer functions, for the response of both shell and tube fluid outlet temperatures to disturbances in either flow rate were derived. Experimental results for water-glycol systems show that the mathematical model accurately predicts the frequency response of large heat exchangers operated at high Reynolds numbers. However, the attenuation and phase shift of the fluid outlet temperatures become significantly greater than predicted by the model when heat exchanger size is decreased or experimental conditions are changed to increase axial mixing. On a etudie theoriquement la frequence de reponse d'un echangeur de chaleur forme de tubes concentriques; on l'a aussi etudiee experimentalement dans le cas d'echangeurs de chaleurs de quatre dimensions differentes. On a obtenu des fonctions de transfert, dans le cas de la reponse des temperatures des fluides interieur et exterieur (a la sortie du fluide) aux perturbations qui se produisaient dans l'un ou l'autre debit. Leg resultats experimentaux pour les systemes eau-glycol ont indique que le modele mathematique predisait la frequence de reponse d'echangeurs de chaleurs de grandes dimensions, lesquels fonctionnaient a des nombres de Reynolds eleves. Toutefois, l'attenuation et le changement de phase des temperatures a la sortie du fluide ont augmente d'une maniere notablement plus grande que le modele ne l'avait predit, lorsque les dimensions de l'echangeur de chaleur ont decrǔ ou que les conditions experimentales ont ete modifiees pour accroǐtre le melange axial.
TEMPORAL ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PULMONARY AND SYSTEMIC EFFECTS OF PARTICULATE MATTER IN HEALTHY AND CARDIOVASCULAR COMPROMISED RATS

Exposure to particulate matter (PM) has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality among individuals with cardiovascular disease. It is hypothesized that systemic alterations occur concurrent to pulmonary injury/inflammation, and contribute to cardiac events in compromised hosts. We explored this hypothesis using a rat model for human hypertension and cardiovascular disease (spontaneously hypertensive, SH), and normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats. SH and WKY rats (12-13 wk old) were exposed either intratracheally (IT; 0.0, 1.0, or 5.0 mg/kg in saline) or nose-only (15 mg/m 3 2 6 h/d 2 3 d/wk 2 1, 2 or 4 wk) to combustion source residual oil fly ash (ROFA) with low metal content, and examined 1, 2 or 4 d later. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) albumin and neutrophils increased (SH ­ WKY) at d 1 following ROFA IT. With inhalation exposure, both strains experienced progressive histological lung damage and increases in BALF albumin and neutrophils during 1 to 4 wk (SH > WKY). Acute lung injury...
Stochastic Liouville equation approach for the effect of noise in quantum computations

We propose a model based on a generalized effective Hamiltonian for studying the effect of noise in quantum computations. The system-environment interactions are taken into account by including stochastic fluctuating terms in the system Hamiltonian. Treating these fluctuations as Gaussian Markov processes with zero mean and {delta}-function correlation times, we derive an exact equation of motion describing the dissipative dynamics for a system of n qubits. We then apply this model to study the effect of noise on the quantum teleportation and a generic quantum controlled-NOT (CNOT) gate. For quantum teleportation, the effect of noise in the quantum channels is found to be additive, and the teleportation fidelity depends on the state of the teleported qubit. The effect of collective decoherence is also studied for the two-qubit entangled states. For the quantum CNOT gate, we study the effect of noise on a set of one- and two-qubit quantum gates, and show that the results can be assembled together to investigate the quality of a quantum CNOT gate operation. We compute the averaged gate fidelity and gate purity for the quantum CNOT gate and investigate phase, bit-flip, and flip-flop errors during the CNOT gate operation. The effects of direct interqubit couplingmore » and fluctuations on the control fields are also studied. We find that the quality of the CNOT gate operation is sensitive to the strengths of the control fields and the strengths of the noise, and the effect of noise is additive regardless of its origin. We discuss the limitations and possible extensions of this model. In sum, we demonstrate a simple model that enables us to investigate the effect of noise in arbitrary quantum circuits under realistic device conditions.« less
Recent Advances in X-Ray Detection Technology

A review is presented of recent developments in x-ray photon detectors and in the associated detector electronics. The first portion of the paper is devoted to a survey of the presently available physical inforrnation on the "intrinsic" resolution of silicon and germanium radiation detectors, proportional counters and NaI(Tl) scintillation crystals. Semiconductor detectors suitable for x-ray applications and low noise electronics are then analyzed in some detail. Discussions follow on scintillation detectors, proportional counters, and "external" photoelectric detectors. Recent spectral achievements and interesting applications are illustrated.
HABITAT CHARACTERISTICS AND DISTRIBUTION OF ERODIUM MACROPHYLLUM (GERANIACEAE)

ABSTRACT Ecological data are lacking for many species covered in multi-species habitat conservation plans and other regional conservation plans. Erodium macrophyllum (Geraniaceae) is a rare native annual forb found throughout California, southern Oregon, and northern Baja California (Mexico) for which very little ecology is known. I report on the habitat characteristics and current and historical distribution of E. macrophyllum by collecting data on populations in Riverside and San Louis Obispo Counties and by conducting an herbaria search and electronic-mail survey. Erodium macrophyllum population sizes range from a few individuals to over 1000 and are restricted to heavy clay soils. Most populations are found on the eastern side of the coast ranges in California. The clay soils on which it is found typically have low cover of native and exotic species but often have other rare species. They are also generally low in nitrogen and phosphorus, but there is considerable variation. Based on herbaria records ...
Gallbladder disease in men: need for earlier diagnosis and treatment.

1. Gallbladder disease constitutes an important problem among men, especially in the age group of 40 and over. 2. Gallbladder disease is as serious and severe a disease among men as among women. 3. Gallbladder disease in men often is either not diagnosed or misdiagnosed as some other gastro-intestinal disturbance, mainly because it is not adequately considered in the differential diagnosis of abdominal symptoms. 4. Earlier recognition of gallbladder disease in men should result in earlier treatment with a subsequent reduction in complications and mortality.
The Utilization of Carbohydrate and Nitrogen Reserves by Taxus During Its Spring Growth Period

The spring growth and the utilization of carbohydrate and nitrogen reserves in this growth was studied in Taxus media cv. Hicksii plants 0, 2, 4 and 6 weeks after the plants started growing in the spring. The effect of nitrogen applied the previous season on the storage and utilization of the carbohydrate and nitrogen reserves during spring growth was determined. The plants were separated into buds (all new growth), stems, needles (those produced the previous season) and roots and analyzed for changes in total nitrogen, basic and non-basic amino acids, total available carbohydrate, sugars, hemicelluloses, organic acids and chlorophyll. The bulk of the soluble nitrogen reserves were stored as arginine in the stems and old needles. With the onset of spring growth, arginine nitrogen was converted to other amino acids which accumulated in the new growth (buds). The roots, stems and needles of plants grown under high nitrogen levels always contained more total nitrogen than those grown under low nitrogen levels. The bulk of the carbohydrate reserves were stored as hemicelluloses. The plants grown under high nitrogen levels utilized the bulk of the carbohydrate reserves from the roots and smaller amounts from the stems and old needles, while plants grown under low nitrogen levels used only the reserves in the roots. In the low nitrogen plants, carbohydrates accumulated in the needles and stems. Both the carbohydrate and nitrogen reserves were important in the dry weight increase due to spring growth. However, the nitrogen reserves were the limiting factor and the high nitrogen plants grew twice as much, produced more chlorophyll, and utilized more nitrogen and carbohydrate reserve in spring growth than low nitrogen plants. The additional chlorophyll allowed the production of more carbohydrates and these additional carbohydrates were used in increased growth rates, while in the low nitrogen plants the carbohydrate produced was less and accumulated within the plant.
Quantum Lorentz-group invariants of n-qubit systems

We consider the behavior of quantum states under stochastic local quantum operations and classical communication (SLOCC) for an arbitrary fixed number of qubits. We use a real (Lorentz) group to describe the action of SLOCC operations on n-qubit states. We discuss the natural quantum Lorentz-group group-invariant length for an arbitrary number of qubits. We relate this approach to that based on local operations and classical communication and provide an example of how the invariant length can be used to describe entanglement. We also note that this invariant length is the Minkowskian analog to the quantum state purity, which is the corresponding Euclidean length.
Linking mechanisms of work–family conflict and segmentation

Abstract Despite the abundance of work and family research, few studies have compared the linking mechanisms specified in theoretical models of work–family conflict and segmentation. Accordingly, the current study provides a greater degree of empirical clarity concerning the interplay of work and family by directly examining the indirect effects of work–family conflict linkages and the direct effects of segmentation linkages on work and family satisfaction outcomes. Results, based on 209 samples and 994 effect sizes, indicate that indirect effect work–family conflict models explain 2.20% and 6.20% of the variance in job and family satisfaction outcomes, whereas direct effect segmentation models explain 54.10% and 48.50% of the variance in job and family satisfaction outcomes. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.
1990 International Lens Design Conference lens design problems: the design of a NonLens

The International Lens Design Conference (ILDC) has traditionally included one or more lens design problems for members of the design community to consider. 1''2''3 This year there are two: the Monochromatic QUartet and the NonLens. The problems are intended to be enjoyable and instructive for participants conference attendees and even for readers of these Proceedings! The NonLens was suggested by Professor Adriaan Waither of Worcester Polytechnic Institote. It is an unusual lens that requires the participants to determine the design form and optimization method that best satisfies the requirements. Furthermore it is of theoretical interest explained by Waither later in this paper. Eighteen individuals submitted twenty solutions. They are all included here along with several simple solutions that were generated for comparison. 1. The problem: A NonLens The following statement of the NonLens problem was distributed with the ILDC Call for Papers: 2. Background of the NonLens Prof. Walther sent a history of his interest in NonLenses which follows (slightly paraphrased) " As a graduate swdent in Deift I worked as a research assistant for A. C. S. van Heel. He was the man who. . . had revived the art of lens design in Holland. He played an important role in the creation of Oldelft company and had trained their original design staff. He was also a superb teher one of the old gentlemen of science. During and after the
Self-Dual Integral Equations for Electromagnetic Scattering From IBC Objects

In this paper, a novel surface integral equation formulation is proposed to solve electromagnetic scattering from objects with impedance surfaces. Derived from a new implementation of the impedance boundary condition (IBC), the proposed surface integral equations are able to calculate scattering not only from objects with impedance surfaces, but also from perfect electric conductors (PEC) and perfect magnetic conductors (PMC) if the surface impedance is set to zero and infinity, respectively. By including both the surface electric and magnetic currents as unknown quantities, the proposed formulations are dual formulations of themselves, and are free of spurious interior resonance corruption. The condition numbers of the resulting system matrices with respect to different surface impedance and mesh densities, and applications to uniform and nonuniform cases are discussed. The multilevel fast multipole algorithm is employed for calculation of electromagnetic scattering from very large objects. Numerical examples are given to demonstrate the performance of the proposed formulations.
Strain rate effects on the mechanical behavior of nanocrystalline Au films

Abstract The effect of fabrication, film thickness, and strain rate on the mechanical behavior of Au films with 100 nm (evaporated gold) and 200 nm (electroplated gold) average grain sizes was investigated. Uniaxial tension was imposed at 10 − 3 –10 − 6 s − 1 strain rates on evaporated 0.5 μm and 0.65 μm thick Au specimens, and at 10 − 2 –10 − 5 s − 1 on electroplated 2.8 μm thick Au specimens. Strain rates between 10 − 3 and 10 − 5 s − 1 had a marked impact on the ultimate strain of evaporated films and less significant effect on their yield and saturation stress. The ductility increased with decreasing strain rate and it varied between 2–4.5% for 500–650 nm thick films and 3.4–10.6% for 2.8 μm thick films. When compared at the same strain rate, the thick electroplated films were more ductile than the thin evaporated films, but their yield and saturation stresses were lower, possibly due to their larger grain size. Qualitatively, the stress–strain behavior was consistent at all rates except at the slowest that resulted in significantly different trends. A marked decrease of the maximum strength, effective Young's modulus, and yield strength occurred at 10 − 6 s − 1 for thin, and at 10 − 5 s − 1 for thick films, while for 500 nm thin films multiple stress localizations per stress–strain curve were recorded. Because of temperature, applied stress, and grain size considerations this behavior was attributed to dislocation creep taking place at a strain rate comparable to the applied strain rate.
Analysis of communication between RFID tags and their reader using statistical simulation model

RFID collision occurs when two or more tags attempt to send a frame of data along the same communication channel at the same time. Collision typically results in false alarm. In this paper the authors simulate the communication flow between tags and their reader to investigate how acceptable reading time (defined as the reading time required to keep the rate of false alarms below 5%) is influenced by the size of tag population, data frame length, mean thinking time, and the statistical distribution of thinking time. The paper presents the results of the investigation and the effect of each parameter.
The trophotaeniae of the goodeidae, a family of viviparous cyprinodont fishes†

The embryos of twenty-one species of the family Goodeidae have extensive rectal processes (trophotaeniae) which serve as absorptive organs, by means of which the embryos while they are retained in the ovarian cavity absorb substances dissolved in the ovarian fluid. Embryos of three species have not been available for study. No trophotaeniae are present in one species Ataeniobius toweri. There are three general types of trophotaeniae, rosette, sheathed and unsheathed. The structure of the trophotaeniae is sufficiently constant in each species to be used in species determination.