cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of delay, truncations and density dependence in reproduction schedules on stability of nonlinear Leslie matrix models

Understanding effects of hypotheses about reproductive influences, reproductive schedules and the model mechanisms that lead to a loss of stability in a structured model population might provide information about the dynamics of natural population. To demonstrate characteristics of a discrete time, nonlinear, age structured population model, the transition from stability to instability is investigated. Questions about the stability, oscillations and delay processes within the model framework are posed. The relevant processes include delay of reproduction and truncation of lifetime, reproductive classes, and density dependent effects. We find that the effects of delaying reproduction is not stabilizing, but that the reproductive delay is a mechanism that acts to simplify the system dynamics. Density dependence in the reproduction schedule tends to lead to oscillations of large “period” and towards more unstable dynamics. The methods allow us to establish a conjecture of Levin and Goodyear about the form of the stability in discrete Leslie matrix models.
Abstract 4739: miR-627 and histone demethylase JMJD1A as new therapeutic targets in colon cancer

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Vitamin D has excellent antitumor activities against various types of cancers, but it cannot be used for cancer therapy due to its side effect of causing hypercalcemia. To understand its mechanism of action in tumor suppression, we investigated the effects of calcitriol (1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, the active form of vitamin D) on microRNA expression in colon cancer cells. We identified miR-627 as the sole microRNA whose expression was stimulated by calcitriol. Furthermore, JMJD1A (jumonji domain containing 1A), the gene encoding a histone demethylase, was identified as the target of miR-627. By downregulating JMJD1A, miR-627 mediated the effects of calcitriol to increase histone H3K9 methylation and to suppress the expression of growth-promoting genes, such as GDF15. Calcitriol also induced miR-627 and downregulated JMJD1A in colon cancer xenografts in nude mice. Overexpression of miR-627 decreased JMJD1A and suppressed colon cancer growth both in vitro and in vivo in the nude mice. In addition, we found that miR-627 expression was decreased in human colon cancer specimens when compared to its levels in the normal colon tissues. Thus, miR-627 plays an important role in the epigenetic action of vitamin D in tumor suppression. miR-627 and JMJD1A may serve as potential targets to exploit the antitumor activity of vitamin D without eliciting its hypercalcemic side effect. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4739. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4739
Access to multidisciplinary cancer care: is it linked to the use of breast-conserving surgery with radiation for early-stage breast carcinoma?

BACKGROUND Breast-conserving surgery (BCS) with radiation (BCSR) requires a multidisciplinary care approach between surgeons and radiation oncologists. METHODS This retrospective cohort study examined the use of preoperative radiation oncology consultation and whether use of or distance to this care was associated with treatment choice among 1188 women age ≥ 65 years who were diagnosed with local or regional breast carcinoma in Washington State in 1994 and 1995. Study outcomes included rates of BCSR; BCS alone; and mastectomy; and radiation therapy among women who underwent BCS. RESULTS Only 29% of patients in the current study consulted with a radiation oncologist preoperatively, and less than half of the patients (46.6%) consulted with either a medical oncologist or a radiation oncologist. Among women who underwent either BCSR or mastectomy, the odds of undergoing BCSR among women who had a preoperative radiation oncology consultation were 6.7 times the odds of women who did not have the consultation (P ≤ 0.001). Similarly, the odds of receiving radiation therapy among women who underwent BCS and had a preoperative radiation oncology consultation were 5 times the odds of women who did not have the consultation (P 50 miles from the radiation therapy center had the lowest BCSR rate (15.8%) and had the lowest radiation therapy rate among women who underwent BCS (54.5%), although these findings were not statistically significant in adjusted analyses. CONCLUSIONS A preoperative visit with a radiation oncologist was associated strongly with BCSR use. More should be done to evaluate the role of multidisciplinary consultation in the decision to use BCSR. Cancer 2004;100:701–9. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Longitudinal Study of Pulmonary Microbial Dynamics in Lung Transplant Recipients with and without Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome

Purpose The development of Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome (BOS) has been previously linked to microbial pathogens within the transplanted lung. With advanced molecular technology, we are now able to further define microbial communities within the transplanted lung. We hypothesized that these microbial communities will be distinct in lung transplant recipients who develop BOS compared to those who remain stable. Methods and Materials Eighteen lung transplant recipients were included in this analysis. Nine patients developed BOS within 2 years. Bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post transplant. Bacterial 16S rDNA extracted from the BAL fluid was amplified using barcoded primers and PCR products were pooled and sequenced using 454 pyrosequencing. All the sequence reads were denoised and clustered into similar operational taxonomic units. Taxonomy annotation was assigned according to Ribosomal Database Project. Results The bacterial community of transplanted lungs was taxonomically diversified and consisted of micro-organisms belonging to 14 phyla. Inter-individual variation of the microbial community was greater than intra-individual variation for all patients. There was a distinct difference in the microbial community at the phylum and class taxonomic level between BOS and non-BOS patients (p Conclusions The pulmonary microbiota in lung transplant recipients is taxonomically diverse and dynamic over time and is distinct in patients who develop early BOS compared to those who remain stable. Our findings provide novel approaches to address the relationship between microbial communities and BOS development after lung transplantation.
Offshore breaking of impact tsunami: The Van Dorn effect revisited

[1] We report on calculations of the shoaling and off-shore breaking of typical wavetrains from sub-km impactors into the deep ocean. We use the COULWAVE code to compute the propagation of waves through simple bathymetry profiles typical of the North American Pacific coast and the Gulf of Mexico. Numerical results are consistent with those predicted by nonlinear shoaling theory. Our primary result is that large long-period waves of the type considered should indeed break far offshore, as suggested by W. G. Van Dorn for similar waves generated by underwater explosions. Typical breaking distances range from ≈3–17 km for the Pacific coast, and up to ∼200 km for the Gulf coast. The inclusion of bottom friction affects the results; for very gentle slopes like the Gulf coast, a modest amount of bottom friction supplies enough dissipation to suppress wave breaking.
Crystal methamphetamine abuse: a concern to oral and maxillofacial surgeons.

Abstract Synthetically manufactured methamphetamine (“ice,” “crystal”) appears to be undergoing a rebirth in popularity because experienced drug users are reportedly unable to distinguish between the qualities of the cocaine and methamphetamine euphoria. Like cocaine, adverse drug reactions with therapeutic drugs used in dentistry have been reported, ranging from mild intoxication to sudden death. This article discusses the pharmacology of this illicit drug and the problems associated with its use in patients undergoing oral and maxillofacial surgery.
International Organization and the crisis of interdependence

It will cause little controversy in the spring of 1975 to observe that the world is in a profound political and economic crisis, or that interdependence is a palpable and often unpalatable fact. Conflict over formerly latent issues is increasingly evident, as governments try desperately to cope with the effects of other governments' policies, as in the case of oil, or with resource shortages, as in the case of food. Many of the problems from which such issues arise–including also environmental degradation, inflation, and recession–have immediate impacts on people's daily lives. Unlike traditional foreign policy issues, they are not separate from domestic politics, and experienced largely through the mass media, but rather encountered daily on the job and at the market. Domestic and foreign policies are closely intertwined, and important domestic interests are threatened by events abroad. It is becoming clear that ties between national economies can transmit economic evils as well as economic goods.
1-Aryl-2-pyridyl-3,4-dihydronaphthalenes: Photofluorogenic Ligands for the Estrogen Receptor

Three 1,2-substituted-3,4-dihydronaphthalenes that are pyridine analogs of the antiestrogen desmethylnafoxidine were prepared and evaluated as fluorescent ligands for the estrogen receptor. These compounds represent a class of fluorescent probes that we term “photofluorogenic”, denoting their ability to exist initially as a high affinity though weakly fluorescent stilbazole form which can be photocyclized−oxidized to a highly fluorescent though low affinity azaphenanthrenoid form. These probes also contain an aziridine function that provides a means for their permanent, covalent attachment to the receptor. The three dihydronaphthalene systems were prepared by efficient routes from α-(2-, 3-, and 4-pyridyl)acetophenone precursors. They demonstrate high apparent affinity for the estrogen receptor and show time-dependent irreversible inactivation, consistent with their covalent attachment to the receptor via the aziridine function. Each system is converted into an azaphenanthrene by photocyclization−oxidatio...
1580 HYPERTHERMIA-INDUCED SEIZURES IN THE RAT PUP

Hyperthermia-induced seizures were studied in rat pups as a model for febrile convulsions in young children. Sprague-Dawley albino pups were warmed by an infra-red lamp held over a copper-covered lucite chamber. Rectal or rectal plus brain temperatures were monitored with a thermistor or with copper-constantin thermocouples. Two day old pups developed multifocal clonic seizures at 37°C (rectal). Five day old pups showed generalized seizures at about 40.5°C and seven day old pups at 43°C. All these pups survived a brief post-ictal depression. At ten days, only half the pups survived seizures at 44-45°C. At older ages seizurelike activity occurred above 45°C and all animals died. The threshold temperatures for seizures were independent of the rate of temperature rise. Differences between brain and rectal temperatures in immature rats warmed rapidly caused the maturational increase in seizure thresholds, measured by brain temperature, to be less between 2-5 days and more between 5-7 and 7-10 days than measured by the rectal probe. Electroencephalograms recorded in six and ten day old pups confirmed electrocortical seizures at higher temperatures. Thus, in the albino rat pup, hyperthermia produces seizures with increasing temperature threshold between 2-10 days of age. This result in an animal model suggests that elevated body (brain) temperature alone may cause or contribute to epileptogenesis in the young child. [Supported by grants to DH from NINCDS (NS16256) and the Cerebral Palsy Foundation.]
Properties of the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase from Ehrlich ascites tumor cells.

Abstract Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenases from rabbit muscle, yeast and Ehrlich ascites tumor cells were inactivated by trypsin at 25 ° to the extent of 4, 25, and 46%, respectively. The enzyme from Ehrlich ascites cells was 50% inactivated within 2 min when incubated with 1.0 m m ATP at 25 ° and was completely inactivated at 0 °. Raising the temperature to 25 °, resulted in a recovery of 50% of the original enzyme activity. The addition of NAD + to the system was required for recovery of the total activity. Sucrose density centrifugation showed two active components from the Ehrlich ascites cell enzyme. One was a 7.2-S component, sedimenting at the same rate as the rabbit muscle enzyme (140,000 daltons) and the other, a 4.4-S component (70,000 daltons). Addition of NAD + converted the 4.4-S component into the 7.2-S component and protected the enzyme from inactivation by ATP. These results suggest that the partial inactivation of the Ehrlich ascites enzyme was due to the dissociation of the 4.4-S component to inactive subunits and that its sensitivity to inactivation by trypsin may also be due to this 4.4-S component.
The Sirius Supercluster and Missing Mass near the Sun

The Hipparcos results confirm some 50 members of the Sirius supercluster in the Bright Star Catalogue. The resulting, well-defined color-luminosity array indicates an age of 4 × 108 yr from conventional (no overshoot) models. A comparison of the luminosity function obtained from members in the Bright Star Catalogue, unbiased as to proper motion, and in the Catalogue of Nearby Stars (~27 pc), which are strongly biased toward large proper motions, reveals that either most of the small proper-motion stars near the Sun remain to be identified or the luminosity function of the supercluster is drastically different from that of the field stars. A search for low-mass members in a 6° × 6° field in the center of the Ursa Major cluster yielded 10 possible members that lie on the white dwarf sequence, 5 mag below the main sequence. Luyten (field LP 131) found 368 stars in this field with proper motion exceeding 008, and only 19 of these have a position angle of their proper motion between 0° and 98° (i.e., the quadrant containing UMa cluster members). The assumption of cluster membership yields a parallax very close to that obtained for bright members. Aside from white dwarfs, the possibilities are discussed that these stars are (1) brown dwarfs, (2) members of a cluster in the line of sight to UMa but 100 pc more distant, or (3) reflecting a chain of very unlikely coincidences.
Balancing ramps in nonanatomic complete denture occlusion.

Abstract A simple technique for providing bilateral balancing contacts in nonanatomic dentures has been presented.
Modeling of void growth in ductile solids: effects of stress triaxiality and initial porosity

Abstract The effects of stress triaxiality and initial porosity on void growth and coalescence are studied in this paper. The representative material volume (RMV) is modeled by two approaches: (1) a unit cell containing a discrete, spherical void at its center, and (2) a unit cell having the same void volume fraction and obeying the Gurson–Tvergaard constitutive relation. The macroscopic stress–strain response and the void growth and coalescence behavior of the voided cell are obtained from detailed finite element analyses and the results show strong dependencies on stress triaxiality and the initial void volume fraction. The micromechanics parameters of the GT model, q 1 and q 2 , are calibrated to minimize the differences between the predicted void growth rate and macroscopic stress–strain relation by the GT model and the corresponding finite element results of the voided RMV. The calibrated values of q 1 and q 2 as functions of the stress triaxiality and the initial porosity are obtained for an idealized material under the axi-symmetric condition. Furthermore, discussions are made on the description of the triaxial stress state of the RMV. It is found that the effect of stress triaxiality on void growth and coalescence cannot be uniquely described by the stress triaxiality factor, defined as the ratio of the hydrostatic stress and the effective stress, alone. Multiple stress states with different principal stress ratios ρ 1 (= Σ 1 / Σ 2 ) and ρ 2 (= Σ 3 / Σ 2 ) can result in the same stress triaxiality ratio, and the macroscopic stress–strain response and the void growth and coalescence behavior of the voided RMV are different for each stress state. In order to characterize the effects of stress triaxiality on void growth and the macroscopic stress–strain behavior of the RMV, the principal stress ratios must be specified and consequently, the q -parameters of the GT model should be expressed as functions of ρ 1 and ρ 2 .
Robust optimisation of machining conditions with tool life and surface roughness uncertainties

The economics of the multi-pass turning problem is considered, while accounting for tool life uncertainty. The goal is to minimise the expected production cost per part, given the probability distribution for tool life, and with machining parameters being subject to practical constraints. The cost function accounts for machining cost, idling cost, tool changing cost as well as the cost associated with tool failure. A modified version of the particle swarm optimisation (PSO) algorithm, called the dynamic objective PSO (or DOPSO), is used for minimisation of the cost function. The decision variables include not only the machining parameters but also the tool replacement time. The equality constraint that the total desired depth of cut be achieved by an integral number of roughing passes and a single finishing pass is handled in a novel way, and together with including tool replacement time as a decision variable, this leads to lower costs than those cited by other comparable previous works. To handle uncert...
Eye-Movement Latency as a Function of Age, Stimulus Uncertainty, and Position in the Visual Field.

Records of eye-movement latencies were obtained from 8-yr.-olds and college undergraduates during a task requiring S to fixate a light appearing at different positions on a screen before him. All Ss were given 2 experimental conditions; in 1 (SLK) Ss were told the location of the stimulus appearing on the trial before the stimulus onset, while in the second (SLU) no information about stimulus location was given. Results indicated that younger Ss, in addition to having generally longer response latencies, were more influenced by the position of the target in the display and showed more variable performance across trial blocks than adults.
Initiation of Asymmetrical Ovarian Estradiol Secretion in the Primate Ovarian Cycle after Luteectomy

We investigated the onset of asymmetrical ovarian function in rhesus monkeys after luteectomy, a procedure that has been shown to synchronize the initiation of new follicle growth. Monkeys underwent laparotomy for luteectomy 17–19 days after the spontaneous onset of menses. Subsequent laparotomy for ovarian inspection and ovarian venous blood collection was performed on days 1, 3, or 5 after luteectomy and on day 16 to determine the location of the new corpus luteum. Femoral blood was collected daily beginning 8 days after the onset of menses for the measurement of hormones. Luteectomy was followed by an abrupt decline in serum progesterone levels, the early onset of menses, and a prompt transient rise in FSH concentrations in all monkeys. The patterns of LH, FSH, 17β- estradiol, and progesterone in peripheral blood of monkeys that maintained ovulatory cycles, as indicated by midcycle type preovulatory gonadotropin surges 12.3 ±2.1 days after luteectomy, contained elevations of serum progesterone and an i...
Drosophila C-type lectins enhance cellular encapsulation

C-type lectins are calcium-dependent carbohydrate binding proteins, and animal C-type lectins participate in innate immunity and cell-cell interactions. In the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, more than 30 genes encode C-type lectin domains. However, functions of Drosophila C-type lectins in innate immunity are not well understood. This study is to investigate whether two Drosophila C-type lectins, CG33532 and CG33533 (designated as DL2 and DL3, respectively), are involved in innate immune responses. Recombinant DL2 and DL3 were expressed and purified. Both DL2 and DL3 agglutinated Gram-negative Escherichia coli in a calcium-dependent manner. Though DL2 and DL3 are predicted to be secreted proteins, they were detected on the surface of Drosophila hemocytes, and recombinant DL2 and DL3 also directly bound to hemocytes. Coating of agarose beads with recombinant DL2 and DL3 enhanced their encapsulation and melanization by Drosophila hemocytes in vitro. However, hemocyte encapsulation was blocked when the lectin-coated beads were pre-incubated with rat polyclonal antibody specific for DL2 or DL3. Our results suggest that DL2 and DL3 may act as pattern recognition receptors to mediate hemocyte encapsulation and melanization by directly recruiting hemocytes to the lectin-coated surface.
Optical absorption and photosensitivity of N implanted silica

Abstract Silica was implanted with N ions at 4 MeV with nominal doses of 0.1, 0.3, 1.0 and 3.0 × 1016 ions/cm2. Optical absorption, measured from 2.5 to 6.2 eV, had maxima at 5.0 and 5.9 eV whose amplitudes increased with increasing dose. The ratio of the maximum amplitudes of these two bands was invariant with dose. The sample implanted with 1 × 1016 ions/cm2 was exposed to 5 eV KrF excimer photons, 150 mJ/cm2 per 20 ns pulse for totals of 1.5, 15 and 30 J/cm2. Absorption decreased at 5.0, 5.9 and 6.2 eV for all exposures. The decrease in absorption revealed a band at ∼ 4.7 eV that did not bleach. Thes data are compared to similar data of B implanted silica and based on comparison effects specific to N and B are resolved. These differences are attributed to interactions of N with Si and B with O.
Ostracode Distribution in Late Pennsylvanian Finis Shale Cyclothem: ABSTRACT

Four successive intergrading ostracode biofacies characterize the Finis Shale cyclothem (Cisco Group, Virgilian) near Jackboro, Texas. Composition of the ostracode biofacies parallels the distinct megafaunal assemblages ascribed by Boardman et al (1983) to changing oxygen concentrations, water depths, and salinity. Black, organic-rich, noncalcareous, fissile shales occur near the base of the Finis. This lithofacies is barren of ostracodes and megafauna, and is interpreted to represent a "deeper" water, anoxic environment. The overlying dark-gray, phosphatic shales contain a diminutive pyritic molluscan fauna with abundant ammonoids and a low-diversity ostracode assemblage dominated by Healdia, indicating a dysaerobic environment. The overlying lithofacies is a medium-gray, clay-rich, calcareous shale. The megafauna is dominated by a brachiopod-bryozoan assemblage, and a diverse Amphissites-Kirkbya ostracode association occurs. This fauna represents a "shallow" depth, aerobic environment. The Amphissites-Kirkbya biofacies is overlain by a dark-gray calcareous shale with abundant megafossils of the fusulind-bryozoan facies of Boardman et al. This interval is dominated by a Bairdia-Amphissites-Kelletina ostracode assemblage, indicating a shallower aerobic environment. The shale is interrupted by the Jacksboro Limestone Member, an algal limestone deposited at or near wave base, which is covered by a thin intertidal sandstone. The cyclothem is capped by noncalcareous, brown silty shale. It contains a low-diversity ostracode assemblage dominated by Cavellina and a megafaunal assemblage c aracterized by Myalina, which represents a shallow, brackish water environment. End_of_Article - Last_Page 239------------
Moisture and solute flux along preferred pathways characterized by fissured sediments in desert soils

Abstract Evaluation of preferred flow pathways is critical for waste disposal. These pathways reduce the effectiveness of thick desert soils in attenuating contaminants by short-circuiting flow through the unsaturated zone. Unsaturated flow in fissured sediments in the Chihuahuan Desert of Texas, U.S.A., was examined to determine if these sediments act as preferred pathways for water and solute transport. Fissures are surface features, or gulleys, that are underlain by fractures filled with loose sediment washed in from surrounding areas. Hydraulic and chemical approaches were used to investigate unsaturated flow processes beneath and adjacent to fissures, and the results were compared with data from surrounding geomorphic systems such as arroyos, ephemeral streams and interstreams. Typically, high water potentials in surficial sediments result from infiltration of recent precipitation. Below this surficial zone of high water potentials lies a zone of low water potentials that is much thinner beneath the fissure than in adjacent sediments or in sediments beneath ephemeral streams and interstreams. Maximum chloride concentrations in profiles in the fissured sediments (80–105 gm −3 ) were much lower than those measured in all other geomorphic systems (2000–6000 gm −3 ) because chloride is leached in the vicinity of the fissures. Minimum estimates of the moisture flux from chloride data ranged from 1 to 8 mm yr −1 in the fissured sediments and were up to 350 times greater than those calculated for ephemeral stream and interstream settings. The corresponding moisture velocities in the fissured sediments ranged from 10 to 70 mm yr −1 . A tracer experiment demonstrated higher downward water and solute transport in the fracture fill beneath the fissure relative to adjacent sediments. Numerical simulations of the tracer experiment with the computer code TRACR3D reproduced the overall shape of the tracer plume. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated that the tracer plume is most sensitive to spatial variability in soil texture and the corresponding hydraulic parameters. The results from this study suggest that sediments in the fissured area act as preferred pathways because surface runoff is concentrated in the fissures and because underlying fractures and cavities provide avenues for rapid moisture and solute transport. Comparisons of moisture fluxes in fissured sediments in this system with fluxes in preferred pathways in other arid regions indicate that the primary controls on percolation rates are the duration of inundation and the presence of subsurface structures such as fractures or sinkholes that allow rapid water and solute movement.
Survey of heavy-ion fusion hindrance for lighter systems

A survey of heavy-ion fusion cross sections at extreme sub-barrier energies has been carried out for lighter systems with positive Q values. A general parametrization is proposed, which describes excitation functions for a wide range of light systems at low energies. This parametrization is then applied to a calculation of excitation functions and S factors for the system {sup 16}O+{sup 16}O, which has recently been investigated with various other theoretical approaches. It is suggested that this parametrization is useful for estimating sub-barrier fusion cross sections with exotic neutron-rich partners which cannot be studied in the laboratory.
Spreadsheet Models for Cataloging Statistics

Statistics about cataloging activity are collected for several reasons: to monitor productivity and workflow and to satisfy requests from outside agencies and the library administration about the size and nature of the library's collection. Several spreadsheets developed at the University of Idaho Library to collect statistics about cataloging activity and technical services activity and costs are examined here.
Optical parametric generation of a mid-infrared continuum in orientation-patterned GaAs.

We have generated an ultrabroad mid-infrared continuum by using single-pass optical parametric generation (OPG) in orientation-patterned GaAs (OP-GaAs). The spectrum spans more than an octave, from 4.5 to 10.7 µm, measured 20 dB down from the peak. The 17.5 mm long, 0.5 mm thick, all-epitaxially-grown OP-GaAs sample with a 166.6-µm quasi-phase-matching period was pumped with 3.1-3.3 µm wavelength, 1 ps pulses up to 2 µJ in energy. The OPG threshold was observed at 55 nJ pump energy with the pump polarized along the [111] crystal direction. The slope efficiency near threshold was 51%, and the external conversion efficiency was as high as 15%.
The Special Applicability of the Low Energy Neurofeedback System Form of Neurofeedback to Traumatic Brain Injury: I. The Theory

Abstract Each year, 1.5 million Americans suffer head injuries, and many of these injuries go untreated, while mainstream medicine uses powerful diagnostic tools and weak therapeutic ones. Neither psychopharmacology, behavioral, nor psychotherapeutic therapies hold much promise, and the symptoms of traumatic brain injury (TBI) are often misunderstood and misdiagnosed. Neurofeedback, with its EEG-based diagnostic approach and its therapies aimed at redirecting neural processing, seems ideally suited for therapy with TBI, but of the traditional neurofeedback paradigms (some going high and some low in their desired training frequencies), there is no one size that fits all. However, the flexibility bestowed by the Low Energy Neurofeedback System (LENS) form of neurofeedback breaks through entrenched maladaptive patterns and opens new possibilities for sufferers of TBI. The success of the LENS approach shows the efficiency of a specific cutting-edge technique and the efficacy of neurofeedback in general as a t...
The Cloned Capsaicin Receptor Integrates Multiple Pain-Producing Stimuli

Capsaicin, the main pungent ingredient in "hot" chili peppers, elicits buming pain by activating specific (vanilloid) receptors on sensory nerve endings. The cloned vanilloid receptor (VR1) is a cation channel that is also activated by noxious heat. Here, analysis of heat-evoked single channel currents in excised membrane patches suggests that heat gates VR1 directly. We also show that protons decrease the temperature threshold for VR1 activation such that even moderately acidic conditions (pH < or = 5.9) activate VR1 at room temperature. VR1 can therefore be viewed as a molecular integrator of chemical and physical stimuli that elicit pain. Immunocytochemical analysis indicates that the receptor is located in a neurochemically heterogeneous population of small diameter primary afferent fibers. A role for VR1 in injury-induced hypersensitivity at the level of the sensory neuron is presented.
Haptically enhanced user interface to support science learning of visually impaired

The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the overall quality of haptic user interfaces designed to support various science learning activities in order to obtain usability and performance data. The result showed that haptic interface could significantly affect impaired students' user performance. Audio & Tactile interface can produce significantly better user performance than the Tactile interface. Meanwhile, the learning effect could be greatly enhanced and students enjoyed the hands-on experience very much. This study should provide invaluable empirical data and some insight for the future research
Parenting in Context: Impact of Neighborhood Poverty, Residential Stability, Public Services, Social Networks, and Danger on Parental Behaviors

This prospective longitudinal study examined the unique and combined effects of neighborhood characteristics on parental behaviors in the context of more distal and more proximal influences. With a sample of 368 mothers from high-risk communities in 4 parts of the United States, this study examined relations between race (African American or European American), locality (urban or rural), neighborhood characteristics, family context, and child problem behaviors, and parental warmth, appropriate and consistent discipline, and harsh interactions. Analyses testing increasingly proximal influences on parenting revealed that initial race differences in warmth and consistent discipline disappeared when neighborhood influences were considered. Although generally culture and context did not moderate other relations found between neighborhood characteristics, family context, and child behaviors, the few interactions found highlight the complex influences on parenting.
High Frequency Rogowski Coil Response Characteristics

The high frequency response characteristics of differentiating and self-integrating Rogowski coils have been calculated for arbitrary values of the coil terminating resistance assuming Ampere's law to be valid. Effects due to a reactive terminating impedance are also discussed. When the displacement current is taken into account in the measurement of the current of a charged particle beam, it is found that an effective rise time is introduced into the self-integrating coil response on the order of a/??, where a is the major radius of the coil, ? is the velocity of the beam, and ? = (1 -?2/c2)-1/2.
Cross-sector integration of urban information to enhance sustainable decision making

Helping cities to function more effectively and efficiently is one of the best ways to achieve global sustainability goals. Such improvements can come from new technologies, new information, or new management practices. This paper focuses on ways that cities can benefit from collaborations involving nonmunicipal levels of government, private companies, nongovernmental organizations, and universities. Specific examples include using immersive visualization to clarify how different parts of urban systems interact, convening sustainability managers from throughout a metropolitan region to share best practices, identifying common metrics for cities around the world, using remote-sensing observations to characterize and classify urban regions, ensuring that companies and universities work with cities to prepare joint federal grant proposals, and allowing university researchers access to operational data from companies that manage city services. A valuable next step for promoting urban sustainability involves the gathering of such methods into a replicable toolkit.
Reducing the Gibbs ringing artifact in MRI scans while maintaining tissue boundary integrity

Gibbs ringing is a well known artifact that effects reconstruction of images having discontinuities. This is a problem in the reconstruction of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data due to the many different tissues normally present in each scan. The Gibbs ringing artifact manifests itself at the boundaries of the tissues, making it difficult to determine the structure of the brain tissue. The Gegenbauer reconstruction method has been shown to effectively eliminate the effects of Gibbs ringing in other applications. This paper presents the application of the Gegenbauer reconstruction method to neuro-imaging.
Prediction of Convective Morphology in Near-Cloud-Permitting WRF Model Simulations

The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model’s ability to forecast convective morphological evolution is examined for 37 convective systems. The simulations used Thompson microphysics with 3-km horizontal grid spacing. Ten convective mode classifications were used. An objective score was developed to determine the accuracy of the simulated morphologies considering a normalized duration of each mode simulated and its agreement with observations. Rapid Update Cycle analyses were used to compare largerscale preinitiation conditions to simulated morphology accuracy, as well as to examine how the WRF model’s skill at predicting these larger-scale conditions influenced its prediction of morphology. Two case studies selected as representativeof themost common simulatedmorphology deficiencies were examined in detail. The model simulated cellular systems relatively well but struggled more with linear systems, particularly bow echoes and squall lines having trailing stratiform rain regions. Morphological evolution was generally better simulated in environments with enhanced deep-layer shear and cooler potential temperatures at the level of maximum ue. Weaker deep-layer shear, cooler potential temperatures at the surface, and quickly warming potential temperatures with height increased the likelihood of timing errors. The first case study showed that a warmer cold pool, much larger line-normal shear, and excessive midlevel drying were present in the model run that failed to develop a trailing stratiform region. The second case study showed that weak shear and the absence of a well-developed cold pool may have played a role in the lack of bowing.
Policy Determination: Sport Management and Sport Philosophy at the OK Corral

(1980). Policy Determination: Sport Management and Sport Philosophy at the OK Corral. Journal of the Philosophy of Sport: Vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 77-86.
Oxytocin and Vasopressin: After the Genes, What Next?

It is now almost sixty years since Ernst Scharrer, in a paper emanating from his doctoral dissertation studies at the University of Munich (Scharrer, 1928), first described the gland-like secretory characteristics of the magnocellular neurons in the preoptic nucleus of the minnow, Phloxinus laevis. This discovery and its bold interpretation, i.e., the theory of neurosecretion, although initally received sceptically by the scientific community, was to become, largely through the subsequent heroic efforts of Ernst and Berta Scharrer, and their close colleague W. Bargmann (Bargmann and Scharrer, 1951; Sano, 1985), one of the most heuristic concepts in modern neurobiology. Not only did this concept usher in the present highly active era of neuroendocrinology, but also the even more explosive field of neuropeptide research in general (Scharrer, 1987).
A Prospective Study of Iron Overload Management in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Survivors

We report the results of a single-center, prospective evaluation for iron overload and subsequent treatment in 147 adult allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) recipients who survived beyond 1 year after transplantation. Patients were screened by serum ferritin level; those with ferritin >1000 ng/mL underwent liver R2 magnetic resonance imaging to estimate liver iron concentration (LIC; normal ≤1.8 mg/g). Patients with significant iron overload (defined as LIC ≥5 mg/g), based on physician and patient preference, were offered observation only, phlebotomy, or enrollment in a pilot study of deferasirox. Sixteen patients had significant iron overload. Their median age was 51 years (range, 29-64 years), and they had survived a median of 21 months (range, 12-114 months). All 16 patients were transfusion-independent at study enrollment. Five patients received no treatment (median LIC, 6.4 mg/g; range, 5.1-28.3 mg/g), 8 underwent phlebotomy (median LIC, 13.1 mg/g; range, 7.8-43.0 mg/g), and 3 received daily deferasirox 20 mg/kg/day orally for 6 months (LIC, 6.3, 9.0, and 19.9 mg/g). Two patients had abnormal liver function tests, and 1 patient each had cirrhosis and unexplained congestive heart failure; all 4 of these patients underwent phlebotomy. Follow-up serum ferritin concentrations decreased spontaneously in 4 patients in the observation-only arm. Phlebotomy was generally well tolerated. Deferasirox also was well tolerated and led to decreased LIC after 6 months of therapy in all 3 patients. Phlebotomy is feasible in the majority of allogeneic HCT recipients who have survived for ≥1 year after HCT and have significant iron overload. Although the number of subjects is small, deferasirox may be a safe and effective alternative for allogeneic HCT survivors with iron overload who cannot undergo phlebotomy.
Phosphorylation of a constitutive serine inhibits BK channel variants containing the alternate exon “SRKR”

BK Ca2+-activated K+ currents exhibit diverse properties across tissues. The functional variation in voltage- and Ca2+-dependent gating underlying this diversity arises from multiple mechanisms, including alternate splicing of Kcnma1, the gene encoding the pore-forming (α) subunit of the BK channel, phosphorylation of α subunits, and inclusion of β subunits in channel complexes. To address the interplay of these mechanisms in the regulation of BK currents, two native splice variants, BK0 and BKSRKR, were cloned from a tissue that exhibits dynamic daily expression of BK channel, the central circadian pacemaker in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of mouse hypothalamus. The BK0 and BKSRKR variants differed by the inclusion of a four–amino acid alternate exon at splice site 1 (SRKR), which showed increased expression during the day. The functional properties of the variants were investigated in HEK293 cells using standard voltage-clamp protocols. Compared with BK0, BKSRKR currents had a significantly right-shifted conductance–voltage (G-V) relationship across a range of Ca2+ concentrations, slower activation, and faster deactivation. These effects were dependent on the phosphorylation state of S642, a serine residue within the constitutive exon immediately preceding the SRKR insert. Coexpression of the neuronal β4 subunit slowed gating kinetics and shifted the G-V relationship in a Ca2+-dependent manner, enhancing the functional differences between the variants. Next, using native action potential (AP) command waveforms recorded from SCN to elicit BK currents, we found that these splice variant differences persist under dynamic activation conditions in physiological ionic concentrations. AP-induced currents from BKSRKR channels were significantly reduced compared with BK0, an effect that was maintained with coexpression of the β4 subunit but abolished by the mutation of S642. These results demonstrate a novel mechanism for reducing BK current activation under reconstituted physiological conditions, and further suggest that S642 is selectively phosphorylated in the presence of SRKR.
Genome-wide germline-enriched and sex-biased expression profiles in Caenorhabditis elegans

We performed a genome-wide analysis of gene expression in C. elegans to identify germline- and sex-regulated genes. Using mutants that cause defects in germ cell proliferation or gametogenesis, we identified sets of genes with germline-enriched expression in either hermaphrodites or males, or in both sexes. Additionally, we compared gene expression profiles between males and hermaphrodites lacking germline tissue to define genes with sex-biased expression in terminally differentiated somatic tissues. Cross-referencing hermaphrodite germline and somatic gene sets with in situ hybridization data demonstrates that the vast majority of these genes have appropriate spatial expression patterns. Additionally, we examined gene expression at multiple times during wild-type germline development to define temporal expression profiles for these genes. Sex- and germline-regulated genes have a non-random distribution in the genome, with especially strong biases for and against the X chromosome. Comparison with data from large-scale RNAi screens demonstrates that genes expressed in the oogenic germline display visible phenotypes more frequently than expected.
Fatal postoperative amiodarone pulmonary toxicity.

Abstract Pulmonary toxicity is an important adverse effect of amiodarone that may complicate the course of approximately 5 to 7% of patients receiving long-term therapy. 1–3 Although the clinical presentation of amiodarone pulmonary complications is usually subacute or chronic, 1–3 in some patients there may be rapid progression to respiratory failure. 1,4 Recently, acute respiratory complications after cardiothoracic surgery 5,6 or pulmonary angiography 7 have been reported as manifestations of amiodarone pulmonary toxicity. Although the mechanism by which cardiac surgery may incite an acute lung reaction in patients receiving amiodarone is uncertain, cardiopulmonary bypass, oxygen toxicity, congestive heart failure and superimposed infection have been proposed as possible causes. 5 This report describes the clinical course of 4 patients receiving amiodarone who developed the adult respiratory distress syndrome after both cardiac and noncardiac surgery. The clinical features of these patients were compared with those of 288 patients receiving longterm amiodarone therapy, including 33 patients who underwent surgical procedures requiring general anesthesia.
Estimation of spatial distortion as a function of geometric parameters of perspective

As part of a study on the relationship between geometric parameters of perspective and judgments of spatial information, 15 subjects estimated the degree of spatial distortion within a computer-generated perspective display. The experiment task was to estimate "skewness," the projected angle (in screen spate coordinates) between two parallel vertical computer-generated droplines (in world space coordinates) which varied as a function of the radial distance, station point distance, and the geometric field of view. These variables will influence the perceived size, depth, and height of objects displayed in the scene. Thus, estimating skewness as a function of display parameters is a relevant task for display design because it enables an intermediate variable (skewness) to be measured that will subsequently influence estimates of azimuth, elevation, size, and perceived depth within a perspective scene. In order to compare the subject's estimate of skewness with the actual on-screen distortion produced by the geometric parameters of perspective, a mathematical procedure for calculating the actual projected skewness angle was developed. The difference between the subject's estimated skewness and the actual on-screen skewness angle was analyzed as the response variable. The results indicated that both the station point and radial distance were significant factors in determining the accuracy with which subjects estimated the distortion in the perspective scene. However, there was no significant relationship between the geometric field of view used to design the perspective display and the subject's ability to judge the skewness angle in the perspective projection. The implications of the results for the design of spatial instruments and for performance of spatial tasks using perspective displays is discussed. >
Cervical Cancer Screening of Women Attending Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinics

Prevention programs at clinics for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) have traditionally focused on reducing the spread of STDs through prompt diagnosis and treatment of infections and through notification and treatment of sex partners. For women the clinic examination also offers an opportunity to prevent cervical cancer, a sequela of STDs. Women who have had STDs are at increased risk for cervical cancer, and women who seek health care at public clinics frequently have additional characteristics that place them at risk for not having had a recent Papanicolaou (Pap) smear. Despite the opportunity for cervical cancer screening that is afforded by a visit to an STD clinic, in most public clinics a Pap smear is not part of the routine examination of women. This report summarizes the evidence supporting cervical cancer screening for women with STDs (particularly women attending STD clinics) and addresses the advantages, disadvantages, and net yield of previous screening programs at STD clinics
Bimodal targeting of microsomal cytochrome P450s to mitochondria: implications in drug metabolism and toxicity

Importance of the field: Microsomal CYPs are critical for drug metabolism and toxicity. Recent studies show that these CYPs are also present in the mitochondrial compartment of human and rodent tissues. Mitochondrial CYP1A1 and 2E1 show both overlapping and distinct metabolic activities compared to microsomal forms. Mitochondrial CYP2E1 also induces oxidative stress. The mechanisms of mitochondria targeting of CYPs and their role in drug metabolism and toxicity are important factors to consider while determining the drug dose and in drug development.Areas covered in this review: This review highlights the mechanisms of bimodal targeting of CYP1A1, 2B1, 2E1 and 2D6 to mitochondria and microsomes. The review also discusses differences in structure and function of mitochondrial CYPs.What the readers will gain: A comprehensive review of the literature on drug metabolism in the mitochondrial compartment and their potential for inducing mitochondrial dysfunction.Take home message: Studies on the biochemistry, p...