cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Opioid Inhibition of Intercalated Input to the Central Amygdala.

The neural circuitry of fear conditioning and extinction has provided an entry point to understanding and potentially improving treatment of anxiety disorders, which affect approximately one in five adults in the United States ([Kessler et al., 2005][1]). Classical fear conditioning, more recently
Influence of abdominal obesity on circulating oxidative and inflammatory markers in overweight/obese adult men (1107.7)

The aim of this study was to determine whether overweight/obese adults with abdominal adiposity exhibit greater oxidative stress and inflammatory burden compared with overweight/obese adults withou...
Ultrarapid Drying of Motion Picture Film by Means of Turbulent Air

The problem of rapid processing of motion picture film has received considerable attention in the last decade. Although considerable study has been made of various methods to increase the speed of developing, fixing and washing, relatively little effort has been expended to improve the speed of drying. A description is herewith given of a number of different equipments which were designed after a theoretical investigation had been made of the drying problem. These equipments permit the ultrarapid drying of motion picture film in a convenient manner with extremely low distortion. One application of these units has been incorporated in the Paramount Theater-Television Units for the rapid processing of 35-mm film.
Prevalence of overweight, obesity, and comorbid conditions among U.S. and Kentucky adults, 2000-2002.

INTRODUCTION Obesity rates for adults in Kentucky are regularly among the highest in the nation. Since 1991, adult obesity in Kentucky and the United States has nearly doubled. This trend is of great concern because excess weight has been associated with several chronic diseases and conditions. This paper reports on the prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults in Kentucky between 2000 and 2002. The estimates produced by this study will provide baseline figures for developing Kentucky's statewide obesity action plan. METHODS A secondary data analysis was performed using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Prevalence estimates and odds ratios were calculated for the United States and Kentucky. RESULTS In Kentucky, 24.2% of adults were obese, compared with 21.9% nationally (P < .001). There were also significantly more overweight adults in Kentucky than there were nationwide (P < .001). Logistic regression showed that overweight and obese adults were more likely to report various comorbid conditions. CONCLUSION Overweight and obesity estimates in Kentucky were significantly higher than nationwide figures. However, overweight/obese adults in Kentucky were no more likely than their U.S. counterparts to report selected comorbid conditions.
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Has Anti-Inflammatory Effects at the Maternal-Fetal Interface and Prevents Endotoxin-Induced Preterm Birth, but Causes Dystocia and Fetal Compromise in Mice

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is implicated in the maintenance of uterine quiescence by down-regulating myometrial gap junctions during pregnancy, and it was considered as a strategy to prevent preterm birth after the occurrence of preterm labor. However, the effect of hCG on innate and adaptive immune cells implicated in parturition is poorly understood. Herein, we investigated the immune effects of hCG at the maternal-fetal interface during late gestation, and whether this hormone can safely prevent endotoxin-induced preterm birth. Using immunophenotyping, we demonstrated that hCG has immune effects at the maternal-fetal interface (decidual tissues) by: 1) increasing the proportion of regulatory T cells; 2) reducing the proportion of macrophages and neutrophils; 3) inducing an M1 → M2 macrophage polarization; and 4) increasing the proportion of T helper 17 cells. Next, ELISAs were used to determine whether the local immune changes were associated with systemic concentrations of progesterone, estradiol, and/or cytokines (IFNgamma, IL1beta, IL2, IL4, IL5, IL6, IL10, IL12p70, KC/GRO, and TNFalpha). Plasma concentrations of IL1beta, but not progesterone, estradiol, or any other cytokine, were increased following hCG administration. Pretreatment with hCG prevented endotoxin-induced preterm birth by 44%, proving the effectiveness of this hormone as an anti-inflammatory agent. However, hCG administration alone caused dystocia and fetal compromise, as proven by Doppler ultrasound. These results provide insight into the mechanisms whereby hCG induces an anti-inflammatory microenvironment at the maternal-fetal interface during late gestation, and demonstrate its effectiveness in preventing preterm labor/birth. However, the deleterious effects of this hormone on mothers and fetuses warrant caution.
Biological Nitrogen Fixation in Tropical Agriculture

The most recent (1983) symposium in this series concluded thus: the pure sciences are telling us more about how the diazotroph works and therefore about how we can make it work for us more usefully… that, after all, is why we are all here (Postgate 1984). Proceeding on the assumption that this same premise still pertains, an overview is now attempted of the extent to which improved understanding is rendering biological nitrogen fixation more useful in tropical agriculture. Biological nitrogen fixation occurs by essentially the same process in the tropics as it does in the temperate zone. By confining the overview to the tropics, the emphasis is shifted from the process of nitrogen fixation and onto the microbial and plant and microbial systems which fix nitrogen. This overview also confines itself to biological nitrogen fixation systems of significance in tropical agriculture, and does not deal with those systems occurring more generally in natural ecosystems. By “agriculture” in this paper I am including managed production systems involving crops, or crops and trees.
The effects of mandibular immobilization on the masticatory system. A review.

It is clear from this review that mandibular immobilization is not as benign a procedure as once thought. Detrimental effects on several tissues within the masticatory apparatus have been observed following mandibular immobilization. Atrophy of the muscles of mastication, degenerative changes within the mandibular condyle, and decreases in range of passive bite opening are all consistent findings following several weeks of mandibular immobilization. The use of fixation procedures which avoid the use of mandibular immobilization (i.e., rigid internal fixation) has been shown to minimize these problems. As with any procedure, however, the risks and benefits of rigid internal fixation must be weighed against the time-honored standard (i.e., maxillomandibular fixation). It is hoped that future research and clinical experience will direct the surgeon to select whichever technique is in the best interest of the patient.
Electron tomography and immunogold labelling as tools to analyse de novo assembly of plant cell walls.

High-resolution imaging of the membranous intermediates and cytoskeletal arrays involved in the assembly of a new cell wall during plant cytokinesis requires state-of-the-art electron microscopy techniques. The combination of cryofixation/freeze-substitution methods with electron tomography (ET) has revealed amazing structural details of this unique cellular process. This chapter deals with the main steps associated with these imaging techniques: selection of samples suitable for studying plant cytokinesis, sample preparation by high-pressure freezing/freeze substitution, and ET of plastic sections. In addition, immunogold approaches for identification of proteins and polysaccharides during cell wall assembly are discussed.
Mortality from motorcycle crashes: the baby-boomer cohort effect

Motorcyclists are known to be at substantially higher risk per mile traveled of dying from crashes than car occupants. In 2014, motorcycling made up less than 1 % of person-miles traveled but 13 % of the total mortality from motor-vehicle crashes in the United States. We assessed the cohort effect of the baby-boomers (i.e., those born between 1946 and 1964) in motorcycle crash mortality from 1975 to 2014 in the United States. Using mortality data for motorcycle occupants from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, we performed an age-period-cohort analysis using the multiphase method and the intrinsic estimator method. Baby-boomers experienced the highest mortality rates from motorcycle crashes at age 20-24 years and continued to experience excess mortality after age 40 years. After removing the effects of age and period, the estimated mortality risk from motorcycle crashes for baby-boomers was 48 % higher than that of the referent cohort (those born between 1930 and 1934, rate ratio 1.48; 95 % CI: 1.01, 2.18). Results from the multiphase method and the intrinsic estimator method were consistent. The baby-boomers have experienced significantly higher mortality from motorcycle crashes than other birth cohorts. To reduce motorcycle crash mortality, intervention programs specifically tailored for the baby-boomer generation are warranted.
Air-kerma modulation effects on the energy spectrum of a 137CS irradiator using Monte-Carlo techniques

Abstract Calibration of radiation protection instrumentation such as survey meters is typically performed using 137 Cs irradiators. During calibration, various thicknesses of lead attenuators are added and the source-to-detector distance is adjusted to modulate air-kerma rate. Variations in the energy spectrum as a result of these modulation techniques are unknown, and may affect the response of energy-dependent survey meters during calibration. The purpose of this work was to characterize the spectral changes that result from modulation of the air-kerma rate for the Hopewell Designs G-10 dual source irradiator at the University of Wisconsin Accredited Dosimetry Calibration Laboratory (UWADCL). An experimentally validated Monte-Carlo model of the irradiator geometry was used to investigate energy spectra variations as a function of attenuation and distance. Lead attenuator thicknesses of (0, 0.64, 1.22, 2.22, 4.32, and 5.54) cm were used in this study. The irradiator geometry was modeled using MCNP6 Monte Carlo (MC) transport code and validated by comparing simulated and measured percent depth dose (PDD) curves and cross-field profiles. Spectra were tallied at (100, 200, 300, and 400) cm from the source. The effects of room scatter on the energy spectrum were also investigated. Simulated and measured PDDs agreed within the associated uncertainty and profiles agreed within 3% or 3 mm distance to agreement. The mean energy for simulated spectra at 100 cm from the source varied from 593 keV to 654 keV as attenuation increased from no attenuation to 5.54 cm of lead. The mean energy of the spectra remained consistent at distances ranging from 100 cm to 400 cm for all attenuation thicknesses and for both geometries in which the vault walls were defined and undefined. This study used MC methods to show that the modulation of air-kerma rate using attenuation and source-detector distance significantly changes the energy spectrum. This knowledge may improve the accuracy of any calibrations using this source.
Hesitating at the Altar: An Update on Taxes and the Timing of Marriage

This article provides evidence that the US tax code’s dependence on marital status continues to generate an implicit marriage tax and distort marital decisions. By looking at the timing of marriage rather than the decision to marry, we capture a specific distortion while allowing for heterogeneity in other costs of marriage. Using data on couples from the Panel Study on Income Dynamics between 1986 and 2011, we find that a 1 percent rise in the size of the marriage tax relative to a couple’s income increases the probability of delay by 1.2 percentage points. We further demonstrate the robustness of this result across a variety of alternative specifications and assumptions regarding tax-filing behavior.
Non-selective feeding and oviposition behaviour of Cryptocephalus trifasciata (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cryptocephalinae) precludes its use as a biological control agent for downy rose myrtle (Rhodomyrtus tomentosa)*

ABSTRACTDowny rose myrtle (Rhodomyrtus tomentosa), a southeast Asian native shrub, invades natural areas in Florida and Hawaii, where it forms dense, impenetrable thickets. We tested the host affinity and survivorship of a case-bearing beetle, Cryptocephalus trifasciata on R. tomentosa and related species. C. trifasciata adults and larvae fed, oviposited and/or completed development on all non-target species tested (N = 11). C. trifasciata has a broad host range and is unsuitable for use as a biological control agent.
On the Uses of History

In my initial outline for this book I planned to devote the opening chapter to times in our national history when we failed or were unable to confront a future problem already waiting to enter the stage of history. The failure or inability to confront these problems set the stage for mammoth changes in our society at the cost of human and material sources. The more I pondered that outline the more I became convinced that such a history, however brief, would be more appropriate and more impactful if it came after a description and discussion of a current problem like the care of aged people. After 45 years of teaching university students I knew that history qua history has to have personal relevance. When Henry Ford said that “history is bunk,” he was unaware that he was saying that people in the present were different than people in the past, a belief for which there is no evidence whatsoever. In the present as in the past people were thinking, feeling, acting, planning, organisms capable of clear vision and blindness, creativity and stupidity, reason and self-defeating passion, and as the king of Siam was wont to say in a Broadway musical: etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. It was inconceivable to Henry Ford that we are kin to those who lived in the near and long past. History does not repeat itself, people do, and that is the fascination and contribution of history. And that is why Santayana said that those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it. Henry Ford did not live long enough to know that the twentieth century was the most murderous in recorded history.
How Not to Historicise a Poem: On McGann's ‘Light Brigade’

While earlier forms of historical literary criticism treated history broadly as background or context, the early 1980s saw the development of new types of historicising criticism that aimed or clai...
Building a Compass: Leaving, Loss, and Daughterhood in Academia

How do you navigate the terrain of academia, a landscape that is particular and specific to each traveler, building compasses to chart the way? This chapter weaves together my journey into academia with memories of my mother, building compasses of daughter/womanhood along the way. I tell a narrative of becoming woman/daughter that follows a zigzagging voyage from New York to Alabama, a journey of leavings and loss intertwined with my mother’s diagnosis and death. Simultaneously, I consider the ethical and emotional entanglements of daughterhood in the present: the possibilities for tellings and (re)presentations that embrace complication and nuance, and the responsibility and accountability I have to my family as I tell this story and continue my journey in academia.
Diagnostic Tools for Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders (SRBD)

Sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD) include those that are caused by the collapse of the upper airway during sleep (obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome – OSAHS) and those that have a central etiology (central sleep apnea, Cheyne–Stokes respiration, hypoventilation). The current gold standard for diagnosis of SRBD is a medical review of symptoms followed by a nocturnal polysomnogram (NPSG). During the NPSG, multiple neurophysiologic and cardiopulmonary signals are continuously recorded overnight in the laboratory and a count of sleep-disordered breathing events per hour of sleep is obtained. Alternatively, limited channel portable devices are being increasingly used for the diagnosis of OSAHS. Other diagnostic tools that are available but not routinely used include subjective assessment questionnaires, prediction models, and daytime physiologic tests.
Technical artifacts in chromatographic analysis of Tc-99m radiopharmaceuticals

We investigated technical artifacts produced during chromatographic analysis of technetium radiopharmaceuticals. Such artifacts are, we found, caused by improper spotting and drying techniques; these in turn produce spuriously high impurities in Tc-99m complexes of DTPA, MDP, PPi, and GH. The ITLC-SG/acetone system produces considerable streaking of Tc-complex if the applied spot is large and not dried before development. This results in activity in the solvent front portion of the chromatographic strip indicating falsely high levels of pertechnetate impurity. Proper drying of the applied spot eliminates the artifact. The ITLC-SG/saline system yields falsely high, hydrolyzed-reduced technetium impurities if the spot is allowed to enter the solvent during development. Correct spot placement and size eliminate this problem. Strips that are allowed to dry in room air for several minutes may indicate considerable pertechnetate impurity on the chromatogram; yet this may not actually he present in the radiopharmaceutical vial. Drying spots rapidly with hot air or in a nitrogen atmosphere before development eliminates this problem.
All Rights Reserved? Reassessing Copyright and Patent Enforcement in the Digital Age

All Rights Reserved attacks conventional wisdom regarding the infringement of intellectual property rights. As the piece argues, piracy can play a central role in the business models of many successful corporations. In advancing this assertion, the article examines the differences between material property and intellectual property - differences that have grown all the more pronounced with the spread of digital technology. As the article maintains, in the cyberage, reliance on legal enforcement to combat intellectual property piracy may be increasingly futile and harmful. Thus, the article makes a negative case against legal enforcement of intellectual property rights. All Rights Reserved then advances a strong positive case against enforcement of intellectual property rights. Corporations (not to mention society) can garner tremendous value from certain levels of piracy and a multitude of mechanisms outside of legal enforcement can and should be utilized as an alternative means to achieve profit and growth in the information economy. As the evidence indicates, a variety of information-based industries can thrive not only despite, but because of, rampant piracy. All told, All Rights Reserved does not call for an end to the availability of intellectual property protections. Instead, it dictates a more rational use of intellectual property laws to the strategic benefit of individual corporations, and, ultimately, to society.
THE ACUTE AND CHRONIC EFFECTS OF ULTRAVIOLET ENERGY ON MAMMALIAN SKIN

ABSTRACT Ultraviolet energy has profound influences on the structure and function of the epidermal and dermal components of mammalian skin. These changes may eventuate in cutaneous epidermal cancer formation. Among the acute UV responses DNA damage and repair aspects have received a significant amount of attention as potentially relating to carcinogenesis. This relationship has been emphasized by the discovery of DNA repair defects in patients with XP, a disease in which sunlight induced skin cancers occur within the first few years of life. Chronic repeated UV exposures result in striking epidermal and dermal alterations. The epidermal changes include increased cell production and decreased cell transit time. Eventually the production of abnormal cells occurs. In the dermis the production of abnormal connective tissue and mucopolysaccharide elements is prominent. This may be due, at least in part, to UV induced alteration in dermal fibrocytes. It would appear likely that the UV effects on both the epidermis and dermis lead to epidermal carcinogenesis.
Cloning and Expression of Rat and Human Tachykinin Genes

We have cloned the rat and human genes encoding substance P. Their structure (Fig. 1) is very similar to that of the bovine gene [1], i. e., they have seven exons with the third exon encoding substance P and the sixth exon encoding substance K. The exons (2–6) which have predominantly coding sequences are well conserved (89–99%) in nucleotide sequence while the exons containing predominantly noncoding sequences (1 and 7) are less conserved (57–72%). Although the introns are well conserved in size there is little sequence conservation between the rat and human introns. The region immediately in front of the first exon, i.e., the presumptive promoter region, has an unusually long (360 bases) conserved (84%) region. The precursor proteins encoded by the genes are 130 (rat) or 129 (human) amino acids and differ at only 6 amino acid positions. The 25 amino acids (excluding the Lys-Arg sequences at both ends) which are located between the substance P and substance K peptides are completely conserved between rat and human and have only a single conservative (isoleucine to leucine) substitution in the bovine precursor. This conservation suggests that the intervening peptide has an important function.
Evidence for the Role of Subterranean Termites (Reticulitermes spp.) in Temperate Forest Soil Nutrient Cycling

Termites are ecosystem engineers in tropical systems, constructing visible biogenic structures (mounds) that influence soil characteristics, decomposition, nutrient cycling, vegetative growth, and biodiversity. Subterranean termites (Reticulitermes spp.) likely influence nutrient cycling within their endemic range in the temperate Holarctic through the translocation of elements from wood to soil by lining their below-ground biogenic structures with frass (feces). We designed a study to ‘follow the frass’ by comparing concentrations of 18 elements (Al, B, Ba, C, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, N, Na, P, Si, Sr, and Zn) in substrates—food before and after digestion (wood and frass), as well as soil with and without direct termite manipulation (shelter tubes and soil core samples)—associated with 18 subterranean termite colonies. Fourteen elements were more concentrated in frass than wood, and only Cr and Fe were lower in frass. The shelter tube-to-soil contrasts indicate that termites decrease levels of Al, Ba, Co, and Cr while increasing C and Ca in soil. Therefore, Reticulitermes likely modulate element flows by returning organic C and base cations to weathered, acidic Ultisols of southeastern US forests. Research on the ecological role of subterranean termites outside of the built environment is showing the scale of impact these cryptic superorganism ecosystem engineers can have on temperate forest functions.
Finding Meaning in Time and Space: Periodisation and Taiwanese-centric History

This essay explores the practice of a Taiwanese-centric historiography that prioritises the study of peoples rather than states. It reconceptualises the manner in which Taiwan’s history has been periodised by moving away from political history to divide time according to major transformations for the main long-term populations of the island—indigenous groups and multiple waves of Chinese settlers—and their interactions with each other, the governing entities, and the island itself. It traces the differential processes through which people created and adopted Taiwanese identities. Though not a traditional state-of-the-field essay, it builds upon a body of existing scholarship and demarcates Taiwan’s history into four eras at three watershed zones: the 1650s–1670s, the 1870s–1880s, and the 1970s–1990s. It draws connections to the study of Chinese history and uses scholarship on United States history for insights into the incorporation of indigenous and minority groups into a single narrative of the past.
Num1 versus NuMA: insights from two functionally homologous proteins

In both animals and fungi, spindle positioning is dependent upon pulling forces generated by cortically anchored dynein. In animals, cortical anchoring is accomplished by a ternary complex containing the dynein-binding protein NuMA and its cortical attachment machinery. The same function is accomplished by Num1 in budding yeast. While not homologous in primary sequence, NuMA and Num1 appear to share striking similarities in their mechanism of function. Here, we discuss evidence supporting that Num1 in fungi is a functional homolog of NuMA due to their similarity in domain organization and role in the generation of cortical pulling forces.
Mind the Gap: A Case for Informed Request Scheduling at the NIC

Recent research in high-throughput networked systems has established the need for centralized and preemptive request scheduling in order to achieve good hardware utilization and low tail latency for a wide variety of workloads. However, this approach is expensive to scale as it requires an increasing number of CPU cores dedicated to scheduling. Moreover, passing every request through a scheduling core introduces latency for inter-core communication and reduces the effectiveness of data preloading and caching optimizations.In this paper, we advocate in favor of pushing request-to-core scheduling back into the NIC. Instead of the simple request distribution of receive-side-scaling (RSS) in current NICs, we suggest implementing preemptive request scheduling by passing to the NIC up-to-date information about core availability and execution status of active requests. We present a prototype implementation on a commercial Smart-NIC that indeed shows performance benefits for different workload scenarios. The prototype allows us to also observe bottlenecks that largely come from artifacts of existing NIC hardware. We propose research towards addressing these limitations in order to achieve low overhead, low latency, and highly efficient request scheduling.
The Point Isn’t Moot: How Lower Courts Have Blessed Government Abuse of the Voluntary-Cessation Doctrine

In a case pending before the Supreme Court, a new issue has captured the spotlight: can New York City moot the first Second Amendment case to reach the Court in nearly a decade by amending the gun regulation at its center? This question has generated much discussion among the media and Court watchers, particularly following the submission of an explosive amicus brief from members of Congress demanding that the Court dismiss the case or risk being “restructured.” The doctrine implicated by this question is voluntary cessation—a principle that prevents gamesmanship and preserves judicial resources by requiring defendants who change their conduct mid-litigation to prove that it is “absolutely clear” they will not restart their conduct if the case is dismissed as moot. The Supreme Court has consistently applied this high standard to all defendants. But some lower courts have either misread or ignored the Court’s precedent, lowering the high bar of voluntary cessation when the defendant is a government entity. New York City argues for such a lowered bar in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. City of New York, and the Court—while allowing the case to proceed—will consider this mootness issue at oral argument in December. This Essay attempts to fill a gap in the scholarly literature by explaining why a lower standard for government defendants is both bad law and bad policy. There is not a shred of evidence that the Supreme Court has ever endorsed this relaxed approach and, returning to first principles, the theoretical justifications for such a policy do not hold up either. The Court should therefore— regardless of how it decides the case on the merits—reject the City’s attempt to water down the voluntary-cessation doctrine for government defendants and reaffirm its important procedural protection.
Patterns of surface albedo changes from Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Mars Color Imager (MARCI) observations

Abstract The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) Mars Color Imager (MARCI) instrument has been observing Mars since 2006, providing over five-and-a-half martian years of daily observations with near global coverage. We have used this dataset to generate a time series of mosaics of the martian surface, using the extensive imaging coverage to produce composites that are largely free of cloud cover and close to the 1 km/pixel spatial scale of the instrument along its center track. These mosaics have allowed us to investigate and constrain the seasonality of albedo changes that result from the redistribution of surface dust by aeolian processes. We find that many regions of the planet have seasonal cycles of dust deposition and erosion, but others show secular variations or multi-annual trends that alter the visible appearance of the planet on timescales that are comparable to or longer than the present dataset. Changes take place both following observable dust storms and in their absence, depending on location and season. Dust settling associated with seasonal atmospheric opacity declines provides an important reset to regions that experience significant dust removal. Detailed characterizations of the surface dust behavior of different regions provided here represent a portion of the global dust cycle (an important element of the martian climate system) and provide observational constraints for regional- and global-scale climate models. In addition, seasonal and longer-term variations in the surface dust cover have important implications for future remote sensing and human exploration efforts.
Oxaliplatin-associated sarcoid-like reaction masquerading as recurrent colon cancer.

A 54-year-old man with stage IV B metastatic colorectal cancer with liver and peritoneal metastasis was treated with cytoreductive surgery (extended left colectomy, right partial hepatectomy, resection of right diaphragm nodule) and perioperative oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy. The patient was cancer-free for 6 months, at which point a surveillance positron emission tomography-CT scan showed metabolically active hepatosplenic lesions and mediastinal and bilateral hilar lymph nodes. An endobronchial ultrasound bronchoscopy-guided fine needle aspiration of the mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes revealed non-necrotising granulomas. The workup was negative for bacterial, fungal or mycobacterial infection, cancer or autoimmune disease. Carcinoembryonic antigen and COLVERA (a circulating tumour DNA liquid biopsy test for the detection of recurrent colon cancer) tests were negative. Subsequently the rare diagnosis of a sarcoidosis-like reaction from oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy was made. Repeat imaging after 3 months showed resolution of the hepatosplenic lesions and lymphadenopathy, alike.
A comparison of epidemic prevention of COVID-19 between China and the US

COVID-19 is becoming a large health and economic threat worldwide. Here, the epidemic statistics and prevention measures between China and the US are compared. It is noted that wearing masks at dif...
Direct Detection of Highly Localized Metal-Metal Interface Plasmons from Bimetallic Nanoparticles

Tailoring of photon-matter interaction in solid material is critical for surface plasmon resonance-based sensing. This can be achieved from suitable material with interface engineering. The modified plasma oscillations in metal-metal interfaces are highly sought-after phenomena in plasmonics; however, such a localized nature of this oscillation has never been reported. Here we present the first evidence of localized interface plasmons from CoAg bimetallic nanoparticles by employing scanning transmission electron microscopy-electron energy-loss spectroscopy. We found that the localized interface plasmons oscillate with a frequency in between in-plane dipole localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) mode and quasiplanar mode. Moreover, we observed that the localized interface plasmon resonance is stronger than in-plane dipole LSPR which was characterized by comparing the quality factor of the energy-loss peaks. Such interface plasmon resonance was not distinctly observed from ensembles of CoAg nanoparticles by optical excitation incident normally; however, a broader in-plane dipole mode was observed compared to similar pure Ag nanoparticles. This direct detection of plasmons confined to the interface region could drive to future engineering of bimetallic interfaces with improved plasmonic activity.
Effects of Exercise during Weight Loss Maintenance on Appetite Regulation in Women

Exercise is accepted as a method to improve weight loss maintenance; however, the mechanisms by which this occurs have yet to be elucidated. In this pilot study, 13 women with obesity underwent a structured weight loss program (goal 8%-10% weight loss) and were then randomized to either a 12-wk diet (n = 7) or an aerobic exercise training (n = 6) intervention aimed at maintaining weight loss. At baseline, post-weight loss, and following the weight loss maintenance interventions, measurements of appetite (hunger and satiety) and appetite-regulating hormones (leptin, ghrelin, peptide tyrosine tyrosine, and glucagon-like peptide 1) were obtained after an overnight fast and for 3 h after a standardized test meal. Ad libitum energy intake was measured at a lunch meal. During the weight loss phase, participants lost 9.1% ± 1.1% of baseline body weight. Participants in both groups maintained weight loss during the 12-wk weight loss maintenance intervention. No differences in fasting leptin (P = 0.68) or in ghrelin (P = 0.30), peptide tyrosine tyrosine (P = 0.93), and glucagon-like peptide 1 (P = 0.98) area under the curve were detected between groups. Similarly, ratings of hunger (P = 0.99) and satiety (P = 0.65) area under the curve after the standardized test meal also did not differ between the groups nor did ad libitum energy intake at lunch. In summary, the 12-wk diet and exercise interventions were equally effective at maintaining weight loss in women, and no differences in measures of appetite regulation and food intake were found.
Communicable Illness Mitigation Strategies for Traveling Elite Sporting Organizations.

Context:Transmission of communicable diseases observed in sporting organizations is often preventable. Early detection, isolation, and treatment can significantly diminish time lost. Until recently...
Altered neurovirulence of temperature-sensitive vesicular stomatitis virus mutants in a murine model by inoculation of bombesin: a neuropeptide. I: Clinical, virological and pathological observations

Previous work in our laboratory has demonstrated that only certain temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) appear capable of producing central nervous system (CNS) infection in a mouse model system. Considerable effort has been devoted to studies directed at unraveling the mechanisms underlying host virulence with these tsVSV mutants. With the previous demonstration that certain neuropeptides, capable of lowering body temperature, alter avirulent into virulent infection, we explored the role of one of these neuropeptides, bombesin, in CNS infection induced by normally avirulent tsG11 VSV, as well as certain tsVSV mutants derived from persistently infected (pi) carrier cultures. Our observations indicate that bombesin dramatically alters CNS infection with either tsG11 VSV as well as tsVSV mutants derived from persistent carrier cultures. When virus alone was inoculated intracerebrally, no sign of illness was observed and no animal died. When bombesin was injected along with normally avirulent tsG11 VSV, or glioma derived tsG31 VSV, 50% of mice died within 6-8 days after inoculation. Moreover, mice infected with virus and neuropeptide demonstrated striking pathological alterations in the CNS. These studies are in agreement with previously published results from others as well as our own laboratory and strongly suggest a direct correlation between CNS temperature and the capacity of certain tsVSV mutants to induce clinical and pathological disease.
Tumor-initiating activity of dihydrodiols formed metabolically from 5-methylchrysene.

Abstract The major dihydrodiols formed from 5-methylchrysene by rat liver 9000 × g supernatant were tested for tumor-initiating activity on mouse skin. The compounds tested were 1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-5-methylchrysene, 7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxy-5-methylchrysene, 9,10-dihydro-9,10-dihydroxy-5-methylchrysene, and 5-methylchrysene. Each compound was applied in a total initiating dose of 30 µg and was followed by promotion with tetradecanoylphorbol acetate. 1,2-Dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-5-methylchrysene was the most powerful tumor initiator, inducing tumors in 95% of the animals and 7.3 tumors per animal. 5-Methylchrysene and 7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxy-5-methylchrysene induced tumors in 75 and 50% of the animals and gave 3.0 and 1.1 tumors per animal, respectively. 9,10-Dihydro-9,10-dihydroxy-5-methylchrysene was not tumorigenic. The results indicate that 1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-5-methylchrysene is a major proximate carcinogen of 5-methylchrysene. Both 1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-5-methylchrysene and 7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxy-5-methylchrysene can theoretically form bay-region dihydrodiol epoxides, but the former was more tumorigenic than the latter. The high activity of 1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-5-methylchrysene is typical of hydrocarbon derivatives with a methyl group in the bay region adjacent to an unsubstituted angular ring.
EOS from soldering irons connected to faulty 120VAC receptacles

Certain types of 120 VAC receptacles used in circuit card assembly production areas were discovered to have intermittently faulty grounding contacts. These receptacles have been in use in a number of facilities and are likely to be found throughout the industry. Soldering irons connected to a faulty ground can impart EOS to devices being assembled, and failures have been clearly identified to have been caused by exposure to open-grounded irons. This paper reports on work we have done to 1) determine the receptacle problem, 2) measure and model the EOS, and 3) assess device susceptibility and damage risk.
Lunar Get-Away-Special - Exploring the moon with a miniature electrically propelled spacecraft

A spacecraft and mission concept designed to carry out a search for water at the lunar poles is described. The main elements of the concept are solar-electric propulsion, a miniature spacecraft, and a highly focused scientific mission. The major challenges to the spacecraft design were the mass and volume limits of the GAS canister, the incorporation of solar electric propulsion, and the high radiation exposure in the Van Allen belt. The capability of ion drive in carrying out high-performance missions is demonstrated.
Studies on the Mechanism of Oxidative Phosphorylation IX. EFFECT OF CYTOCHROME c ON ENERGY-LINKED PROCESSES

Abstract 1. Heavy bovine heart mitochondria were made deficient in cytochrome c by extraction with a solution of KCl. This preparation, containing about 15% of the normal complement of cytochrome c, was used in studies on the effect of exogenous cytochrome c on several energy-linked processes. 2. The P:O ratio of the preparation was increased as the oxidation rate was increased with small progressive additions of cytochrome c. The effect may have been caused by the participation of cytochrome c in the formation of an intermediate of oxidative phosphorylation, or to the fact that the P:O ratios were lowered as the rate at which electrons traversed the chain was lowered. 3. In the cytochrome c-deficient particles, the energy-linked systems implementing calcium translocation and pyridine nucleotide transhydrogenation were found to be intact and fully functional when adenosine triphosphate was the source of energy. However, the systems required cytochrome c when oxidation of substrate was the source of energy. 4. The study points out the unlikelihood that cytochrome c is a component part of an intermediate that functions in the steps between the breakdown of ATP and the formation of the high energy intermediate utilized by energy-requiring processes. It may, however, be a component part of an intermediate that functions at a point between the electron transfer chain and the formation of the high energy intermediate utilized by energy-requiring processes.
A parallel programmable energy-efficient architecture for computationally-intensive DSP systems

An architecture that is well matched to DSP system workloads, enables high-throughput and high energy-efficiency, and is well suited for advancing VLSI fabrication technologies is presented. These processing systems consist of large numbers of simple uniform programmable processing elements communicating asynchronously through a configurable 2D mesh network that connects adjacent processors at full clock rates. Early estimates predict an area density of 0.15 mm/sup 2/ per processor in 0.13 /spl mu/m CMOS. Results from mapping a 16-tap FIR filter over 85 design configurations show a factor of 9 variation in throughput per processor and validate the efficiency of the proposed processor granularity.
Enlarging the scope of managing benign prostatic hyperplasia: addressing sexual function and quality of life

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a common genitourinary disorder that increases in incidence with age. Symptoms of this condition include a weak urinary stream, hesitancy, intermittency and sensations of incomplete emptying, as well as frequency, urgency, urge incontinence and nocturia. These symptoms can be ameliorated successfully by a variety of medical treatments - such as alpha(1)-adrenergic blockade and 5-alpha-reductase inhibition - and surgical therapies - including transurethral resection of the prostate and less-invasive procedures. However, many of the treatments are known to result in sexual dysfunction, which can have a negative impact on the patient's quality of life. This must be considered when the physician seeks to determine the appropriate treatment for an individual patient. Current reports suggest that alpha(1)-adrenergic blockade is most likely to improve lower urinary tract symptoms while resulting in the fewest sexual side-effects; 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors appear to be particularly appropriate in men with large prostates. Among surgical therapies, transurethral resection of the prostate remains the gold standard, but is associated with a high incidence of sexual side-effects, especially retrograde ejaculation. Transurethral incision of the prostate, which is an endoscopic procedure, may be as effective as transurethral resection, but results in fewer side-effects. Minimally invasive procedures, including laser ablation or resection of the prostate, transurethral microwave thermotherapy and transurethral needle ablation, are rapidly evolving technologies that have demonstrated promising results, at least in the short term.
Using otolith chemical and structural analysis to investigate reservoir habitat use by juvenile Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

Isotopic composition of (87) Sr:(86) Sr and natural elemental tracers (Sr, Ba, Mg, Mn and Ca) were quantified from otoliths in juvenile and adult Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha to assess the ability of otolith microchemistry and microstructure to reconstruct juvenile O. tshawytscha rearing habitat and growth. Daily increments were measured to assess relative growth between natal rearing habitats. Otolith microchemistry was able to resolve juvenile habitat use between reservoir and natal tributary rearing habitats (within headwater basins), but not among catchments. Results suggest that 90% (n = 18) of sampled non-hatchery adults returning to the Middle Fork Willamette River were reared in a reservoir and 10% (n = 2) in natal tributary habitat upstream from the reservoir. Juveniles collected in reservoirs had higher growth rates than juveniles reared in natal streams. The results demonstrate the utility of otolith microchemistry and microstructure to distinguish among rearing habitats, including habitats in highly altered systems.
NONLINEAR SATURATION OF PARAMETRIC INSTABILITIES.

A theory is presented for the nonlinearly saturated levels of Langmuir and acoustic waves produced by parametric instabilities. The theory accounts for the perturbation of particle orbits by waves. The results are quantitatively compared with recent simulations by Kruer and Dawson.
Supporting Spouses During a Military Deployment

US National Guard and Reserves members are deploying at the highest rates since World War II, leaving behind spouses in community settings without the full support of the military. Deployment may create or intensify existing stressors to spouses and bring about changes in coping strategies. The goal of this article is to increase the healthcare provider's knowledge about the stressors these spouses may experience and provide resources in case they may require extra support and assistance.
Flat priors vs. ignorance priors in the analysis of the AR(1) model

The paper compares, by a Monte-Carlo study based on an AR(1) model, the performance of the flat prior and the ignorance prior suggested by Phillips. It argues that the ignorance prior gives heavy weight to values of the autoregressive parameter p higher than 1, and hence distorts the sample evidence as summarized in the likelihood function. It yields bimodal posterior distributions, with the second mode at p higher than 1, even when the true value of p is substantially less than 1.
Parenting Behavior and Conduct Problems in Children with and Without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Moderation by Callous-Unemotional Traits

There is evidence that negative parenting positively predicts oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD) and that children’s callous-unemotional (CU) traits may moderate this association. However, it is largely unknown if CU traits show similar interactive effects with positive parenting for ODD/CD. 208 ethnically diverse (56% Caucasian) 6–9 year-old children with and without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were ascertained using multiple methods and informants for ODD, CD, and CU traits. CU traits, corporal punishment, positive parenting, and each of their interactions with CU traits were unrelated to parent- and teacher-rated ODD. Corporal punishment and CU traits were similarly unrelated to parent- and teacher-rated CD. However, positive parenting inversely predicted parent-reported CD symptoms and it was significantly moderated by CU traits. Positive parenting was negatively associated with CD at low to moderate levels of CU traits, but it was unrelated to CD at high levels of CU traits. Children with elevated levels of CU traits exhibited significantly higher levels of CD symptoms that were largely independent of positive parenting behavior. We discuss these findings within a developmental psychopathology framework to provide further perspectives on reciprocal influences between parenting behavior and CU traits in the development of ODD and CD.
Zen and Clinical Social Work: A Spiritual Approach to Practice:

This exploratory study examined the influence of a personal practice of Zen Buddhist meditation on the professional work of clinical social workers. Three areas were explored with a sample of 10 cl...