cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Myocardial oxygen consumption during experimental hypertrophy and congestive heart failure

The purpose of this investigation was to study the effects of experimental myocardial hypertrophy-congestive failure state on myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2). Hypertrophy and heart failure were induced in nine adult cats by surgical banding of the main pulmonary artery to a lumen approximately 10% of normal (2.8 mm circumference clip). Twenty-five to 82 days later nine CHF and 12 control animals were studied, and right ventricular papillary muscles were mounted in a polarographic oxygen electrode muscle bath for simultaneous determination of myocardial mechanics and MVO2. Pulmonary arterial banding resulted in average peak systolic right ventricular pressure of 73 ± 7 mmHg and right ventricular/body weight ratio was increased from 0.54 ± 0.08 control to 1.22 ± 0.08 g/kg CHF (P < 0.001). Right ventricular end-diastolic pressure was increased from 1.9 ± 0.2 control to 9.0 ± 1.1 mmHg CHF (P < 0.001) while liver weight/body weight ratio was increased from 27.8 ± 1.1 control to 31.7 ± 1.5 g/kg CHF (P < 0.01). The average force velocity curve was depressed downward and to the left with maximal measured velocity (preload) changing from 1.35 ± 0.07 control to 0.62 ± 0.06 muscle lengths/s (P < 0.001). The extent of shortening and thus the external work performed was significantly depressed in CHF muscles. However, MVO2 of afterload contractions of CHF muscles was entirely normal. The length-active tension relationship was significantly depressed with peak developed tension at Lmax in CHF muscles of 3.55 ± 0.53 g/mm2 (control 6.19 ± 0.55, P < 0.01). Although the rate of tension development of isometric contractions was depressed from 34.1 ± 3.3 control to 14.7 ± 0.19 g/mm2/s CHF (P < 0.001), the MVO2 per gram of tension development was paradoxically increased from 0.56 to 1.17 μl/mg/contraction × 10−3. Resting MVO2 was increased from 2.07 ± 0.19 control to 4.27 ± 0.53 μl/mg/h. The effect of acetylstrophanthidin 2 × 10−7 g/ml was to increase both the contractile state and MVO2 of CHF muscles. These findings demonstrate an inefficiency of conversion of oxygen to tension development in experimental hypertrophy and congestive heart failure.
Specificity of feeding chemoreceptors in Palythoa psammophilia (Zoanthidea, Coelenterata).

Abstract 1. 1. The feeding chemoreceptors of Palythoa psammophilia are located on the oral disk and tentacles, concentrated on the mouth borders and peristome. 2. 2. The receptors recognize two molecules: the tripeptide glutathione and the α-imino-acid proline. 3. 3. The active part of the glutathione molecule is the glycyl terminal end. 4. 4. The active part of the proline molecule is the α-imino group; substitutions in this group, such as 1-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid and glycylproline, annul the activity of proline. The addition of an OH group, such as in hydroxyproline, diminishes the activity of the proline molecule one-hundredfold. Additions in the carboxyl group, as in prolyl-glycine, do not affect the activity of the molecule. The size of the ring can be altered within certain limits (azetidine-2-carboxylic acid, pipecolic acid) without affecting the activity of the molecule. 5. 5. Acid p H affects the mouth-opening receptors.
8-Hydroxyquinaldic acid: the red fluorescent substance in the urine of pyridoxine-deficient rats.

DURING paper chromatographic examination of urine from pyridoxine-deficient rats, an orange-red fluorescent spot was observed when the chromatograms were examined with ultra-violet light having a predominant wave-length of 2540 A. The physical and chemical properties of the compound were found to be different from xanthurenic acid, its conjugates1,2 or any of the well-known metabolites of tryptophan which were excreted in increased amounts during pyridoxine deficiency3. However, the fluorescence of the compound was very similar to 8-hydroxyquinaldic acid, which was found in urine of normal rabbits4 or in rat urine after the administration of xanthurenic acid5. Hence, an attempt was made to isolate and identify the compound.
Paper copy to online: the push to get employees into the 21st century

With so many students working in the Computing Sites in this technical age, why are so many of us still trying to push paper copies of anything? In an attempt to move from the historical paper-pushing for employee timesheets, personal data, scheduling and inventory, the Information and Access Technology (IAT) Services Computing Sites at the University of Missouri-Columbia has created CSIS, Computing Sites Information System. This tool handles shifts/schedules, clock-in/out, timesheets, site and staff information, sites hardware and software inventories as well as many other pieces of information. Our paper and presentation will discuss the features of CSIS and how we are leaving the paper-pushing world behind and entering the world of technology for our Computing Sites employees and management. A web-based system gives not only management, but also student employees more flexibility giving the employees a tool they can access; manage schedules and personal information at any time. CSIS also allows us the flexibility to evolve and build the tool and its many different pieces as we move into the future and away from the paper-pushing age.
Novel mechanism of action of a prostacyclin enhancing agent in haemorrhagic shock.

Prostacyclin (PGI2) is a potent vasodilator, an inhibitor of platelet aggregation, and a membrane stabilizing agent with beneficial effects in ischemia and shock. We studied defibrotide, a new agent which enhances PGI2 release from vascular tissue, to determine its effects in a murine model of hemorrhagic shock. Hemorrhaged rats treated with defibrotide maintained post-reinfusion mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) at significantly higher values compared to rats receiving the vehicle (final MABP, 100 ± 3 vs. 69 ± 7 mm Hg, p < 0.01). Defibrotide attenuated the release of the lysosomal hydrolase cathepsin D (p < 0.02), and the plasma accumulation of free amino-nitrogen groups (p < 0.02). The plasma activity of a myocardial depressant factor (MDF) was significantly lower in defibrotide treated shocked rats than in the vehicle group (29 ± 4 vs. 61 ± 8 U/ml, p < 0.01). Moreover, plasma i6-keto-PGF1α, concentrations increased 3-fold above haemorrhaged rats receiving only the vehicle. This, as well as the improved MABP, was abolished by indomethacin. Additionally, defibrotide exerts an anti-proteolytic action in pancreatic homogenates, and a lysosomal stabilizing effect in large granule fractions of rat liver homogenates. Moreover, defibrotide enhanced the recovery from norepinephrine induced vasoconstriction in rat aortic rings having an intact endothelium (p < 0.01 from vehicle), and augmented the release of i6-keto-PGF1α, the stable metabolite of PGI2, from isolated rat aortae. Our results indicate that enhancement of endogenous vascular PGI2 release coupled with direct, or PGI2 mediated antiproteolytic and membrane stabilizing actions may be important physiological mechanisms counteracting the deleterious effects of hemorrhagic shock.
Biologic Precipitation of Fluorite

X-ray diffraction patterns show that the statoliths of marine mysid crustaceans are composed of fluorite, and that this mineral is also a principal phase of the gizzard plates of some tectibranch gastropods. A phosphatic phase is also indicated by chemical analyses in the gizzard plates, but its crystallochemical characterization has not been feasible by x-ray diffraction. The occurrence of fluorite in mysid statoliths confirms the earlier interpretations based on insufficient documentation. Fixation of fluorine in hard tissues of marine invertebrates is extensive in the shelf seawaters and minor in the bathyal zone of the oceans.
The time-allocation decision and achievement patterns of young children

Abstract This article introduces a model of time allocation of young children. The basic ideas are that children make many important decisions for themselves, that children's levels of utility are based on present rather than future elements, and that children tend to spend more time in activities in which they are successful. Activities are classified as individual or competitive, with the hypothesis that older children will perform better than their younger peers in competitive activities. Through logical development the model leads to hypotheses concerning achievement of older and younger children. The results of indirect empirical tests of a few such hypotheses are reported.
Effect of core thickness on wave number and damping properties in sandwich composites

Abstract Due to their higher strength-to-weight and stiffness-to-weight ratios compared to metals, fiber reinforced composite materials are a great alternative for use in many structural applications. However these properties lead to poor acoustic performance as composite materials are excellent noise radiators. This is particularly true for sandwich composite structures. Therefore the focus of this study is to investigate the effect of a core thickness change on the vibrational properties of Rohacell foam/carbon-fiber face sheet sandwich composite beams. Four different foam core thicknesses were explored, using a combination of experimental and analytical methods to characterize sound and vibrational properties of the sandwich beams. First, the wave number responses of the beams were obtained, from which coincidence frequencies were identified. Second, from the frequency response functions the structural damping loss factor, η , was determined using the half-power bandwidth method. Experimental and analytical results show that the relationship between core thickness and coincidence frequency is non-linear. A drastic increase in coincidence frequency was observed for the sandwich beam with the thinnest core thickness due to the low bending stiffness. Moreover this low bending stiffness results in low damping values, and consequently high wave number amplitude responses at low frequency ranges (
Parotid saliva acid phosphatase in health and disease.

— Acid phosphatase levels in serum from 5 patients with prostatic carcinoma were diagnostically higher than those from 5 patients who had undergone prostatectomy. The levels for saliva when compared with those from normal subjects for stimulated (314) and unstimulated (50) salivas could not serve as an index of serum concentration.
Anxiety and substance use comorbidity among inpatients with schizophrenia.

Objective: To determine the association between lifetime anxiety symptoms and anxiety disorders and substance use disorders among patients with schizophrenia. Method: Participants were 184 inpatients with schizophrenia at the Schizophrenia Research Unit (SRU) at the New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine the relationship between specific anxiety symptoms and anxiety disorders and substance use disorders among inpatients with schizophrenia. Results: Anxiety symptoms and anxiety disorders were prevalent among 31.5% of the sample. Panic attacks were associated with a significantly increased odds (OR=7.4 (1.2, 47.1)) of comorbid alcohol or substance use disorders (lifetime). This association was specific to panic attacks and persisted after adjusting for differences in sociodemographic characteristics and comorbid anxiety symptoms and anxiety disorders. Conclusions: These findings are consistent with and extend previous data by providing evidence of an association between panic attacks and increased likelihood of substance use disorders among inpatients with schizophrenia. Future studies that determine the nature of this relationship, the sequence of symptom onsets, and examine whether treatment of anxiety can influence the onset or outcome associated with substance use are needed.
Effects of graded reductions in internal mammary artery bypass flow on left ventricular function

Abstract This study investigated the controversial relationship between reduction in internal mammary artery (IMA) graft blood flow and left ventricular function in a canine model. Ten dogs underwent IMA grafting to the left anterior descending coronary artery. The left anterior descending coronary artery proximal to the IMA graft was intermittently occluded while IMA flow was mechanically controlled for 5-minute periods to produce four IMA flow groups representing 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% of unoccluded IMA graft blood flow. As a control, the left ventricle was reperfused with native left anterior descending coronary artery flow between each IMA graft flow period to allow return to steady state. Sonemicrom-etry was used to obtain stroke work end-diastolic dimension relationship data for regional and global left ventricular function for each of the four flow groups. The global pressure recruitable work area relationship showed a significant lightward shift at 25% of unoccluded IMA flow, whereas the regional pressure recruitable work area relationship shifted at 50% of unoccluded IMA flow. Thus, regional myocardial function is more sensitive to reductions in IMA blood flow than is global left ventricular performance, and there is a significant IMA flow reserve for global left ventricular function.
Acute polyneuropathy after high dose cytosine arabinoside in patients with leukemia

BACKGROUND Peripheral nerve toxicity has been reported but is not a commonly recognized complication of high dose cytosine arabinoside (HDAC) therapy. This study was undertaken to estimate the prevalence and describe the clinical spectrum of acute polyneuropathy associated with HDAC therapy for leukemia. METHODS Records of 153 acute leukemia patients who received 194 courses of HDAC at the City of Hope were reviewed for evidence of severe peripheral neuropathy with onset 2–3 weeks after HDAC therapy. RESULTS Two patients were identified who developed motor disability 2–3 weeks after HDAC therapy, and the disability progressed in a monophasic course to quadriparesis. There was neurophysiologic evidence of peripheral nerve demyelination with slowed nerve conduction velocities and conduction block. One patient who was autopsied had demyelination identified in luxol-fast blue sections of peripheral nerve (with Bielschowsky-stained sections showing intact peripheral nerve axons). There were foamy macrophages in the peripheral nerve but no chronic inflammatory cells. For comparison, data from these two patients were combined with those from four published case reports of polyneuropathy associated with HDAC therapy. Quadriparesis occurred in five of six cases with the need for ventilatory support in four. Cerebrospinal fluid protein was elevated in five of six cases. Etiologic evidence incriminating HDAC included simultaneous cerebellar signs in two of six cases and a narrow interval of clinical onset after HDAC therapy. CONCLUSIONS Demyelinating polyneuropathy occurs in approximately 1% of HDAC courses and produces severe motor disability. HDAC immunosuppression could trigger an immune-mediated neuropathy; alternatively, a direct neurotoxic effect of HDAC on Schwann cells is also an etiologic possibility. Cancer 1996;78:1899-905.
Connection of the virtual $\gamma^*p$ cross section of ep deep inelastic scattering to real γp scattering, and the implications for νN and ep total cross sections

We show that it is possible to fit all of the HERA deep inelastic scattering data on ${F}_{2}^{\ensuremath{\gamma}p}$ at small values of Bjorken $x$, including the data at very low ${Q}^{2}$, using a new model for ${F}_{2}^{\ensuremath{\gamma}p}$ which both includes an asymptotic (high-energy) part that satisfies a saturated Froissart bound behavior, with a vector-dominance-like mass factor in the parametrization, and extends smoothly to ${Q}^{2}=0$. We require that the corresponding part of the virtual ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}^{*}p$ cross section match the known asymptotic part of the real $\ensuremath{\gamma}p$ cross section at ${Q}^{2}=0$, a cross section which is determined by strong interactions and asymptotically satisfies a saturated Froissart bound of the form $\ensuremath{\alpha}+\ensuremath{\beta}\mathrm{ln}s+\ensuremath{\gamma}{\mathrm{ln}}^{2}s$. Using this model for the asymptotic part of ${F}_{2}^{\ensuremath{\gamma}p}$ plus a known valence contribution, we fit the asymptotic high--energy part of the HERA data with $x\ensuremath{\le}0.1$ and $W\ensuremath{\ge}25\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$; the fit is excellent. We find that the mass parameter in the fit lies in the region of the light vector mesons, somewhat above the $\ensuremath{\rho}$-meson mass, and is compatible with vector dominance. We use this fit to obtain accurate results for the high-energy $ep$ and isoscalar $\ensuremath{\nu}N$ total cross sections. Both cross sections obey an analytic expression of the type $a+b\mathrm{ln}E+c{\mathrm{ln}}^{2}E+d{\mathrm{ln}}^{3}E$ at large energies $E$ of the incident particle, reflecting the fact that the underlying strong interaction parts of the ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}^{*}p$, ${Z}^{*}N$ and ${W}^{*}N$ cross sections satisfy the saturated Froissart bound. Since approximately 50% of the $\ensuremath{\nu}N$ center-of-mass (cms) energy is found in $W$---the cms energy of the strongly interacting intermediate vector boson--nucleon system---a study of ultra-high-energy neutrino-nucleon cross sections would allow us, for the first time, to explore strong interactions at incredibly high energies.
Phonon bottleneck in the low-excitation limit

The phonon-bottleneck problem in the relaxation of two-level systems (spins) via direct phonon processes is considered numerically in the weak-excitation limit where the Schroedinger equation for the spin-phonon system simplifies. The solution for the relaxing spin excitation p(t), emitted phonons n_k(t), etc. is obtained in terms of the exact many-body eigenstates. In the absence of phonon damping Gamma_{ph} and inhomogeneous broadening, p(t) approaches the bottleneck plateau p_\infty > 0 with strongly damped oscillations, the frequency being related to the spin-phonon splitting Delta at the avoided crossing. For any Gamma_{ph} > 0 one has p(t) -> 0 but in the case of strong bottleneck the spin relaxation rate is much smaller than Gamma_{ph} and p(t) is nonexponential. Inhomogeneous broadening exceeding Delta partially alleviates the bottleneck and removes oscillations of p(t). The line width of emitted phonons, as well as Delta, increase with the strength of the bottleneck, i.e., with the concentration of spins.
Enzyme-Catalyzed Change of Antioxidants Content and Antioxidant Activity of Asparagus Juice

A pectolytic enzyme preparation from Aspergillus niger (pectinase AN) decreased most rutin content and antioxidant activity of asparagus juice. To investigate the mechanism of such loss, we analyzed several possible related enzyme activities in pectinase AN. We found that the activity of pectinase AN to oxidize guaiacol had no significant difference with or without the presence of H2O2; thus it was laccase activity, not peroxidase (PO) activity, that pectinase AN contained. We did not find any polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity in pectinase AN. Laccase in pectinase AN could be the major cause of loss of rutin and antioxidant activity of asparagus juice. When most laccase activity of pectinase AN was inactivated after heating at 70 degrees C for 1.5 min and incubated with asparagus juice, the loss rate of rutin was only 9% of that treated with unheated pectinase AN, and the antioxidant activity was even increased. Rhamnosidase activity was detected in pectinase AN and can change rutin in asparagus juice to quercetin-3-glucoside, which has higher antioxidant activity than rutin. This may explain the increase of antioxidant activity of asparagus juice treated with heated pectinase AN that still contained some rhamnosidase activity. The discovery of our research is helpful to produce juice with high antioxidant activity and high health benefits in the juice industry.
Toll‐like receptor 2 (TLR2) is pivotal for recognition of S. aureus peptidoglycan but not intact bacteria by microglia

Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) is a pattern recognition receptor that plays an important role in enabling cells of the innate immune system to recognize conserved structural motifs on a wide array of pathogens including gram-positive bacteria. Although microglia have recently been shown to express TLR2, the functional significance of this receptor in mediating microglial activation remains unknown. To ascertain the importance of TLR2 in microglial responses to S. aureus and its cell wall product peptidoglycan (PGN), we evaluated primary microglia from TLR2 knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice. TLR2 was found to play a pivotal role in PGN recognition and subsequent activation in primary microglia, as demonstrated by the attenuated expression of TNF-alpha, IL-12 p40, MIP-2, and MCP-1 in PGN-treated TLR2 KO microglia compared with WT cells. In contrast, the responses of TLR2 KO and WT microglia to S. aureus were qualitatively similar, indicating that alternative receptors are responsible for recognizing intact bacteria. Microarray analysis confirmed that TLR2 plays a central role in PGN recognition by primary microglia. The expression of MyD88, a central adapter molecule in TLR-dependent signaling, was similar in both TLR2 KO and WT microglia, suggesting that the defect in PGN recognition by the former is not due to alterations in this key signaling intermediate. These findings reveal the complex nature of gram-positive bacterial recognition by microglia, which occurs, in part, through engagement of TLR2.
Hot infrared domes: a case study

Twenty years ago, work was initiated to consider the feasibility of using pyramidal domes for dual-mode air-to-air missile applications. The present contribution concerns the degradation in the performance of the infrared subsystem that results from the aerodynamic heating of such domes, under conditions representative of anticipated most-severe launch environments for internal and external missile-carry configurations. The problem is formulated in a general but compact form compatible with the state of the art of contemporary infrared technology.
A Commentary on ‘Beyond Civil Society’

Over the past three decades, China has been undergoing tremendous transformations in nearly every domain of social, economic, and political life. These rapid changes offer both new challenges and o...
Cytokine expression by human marrow‐derived mesenchymal progenitor cells in vitro: Effects of dexamethasone and IL‐1α

We previously reported the purification, culture-expansion, and osteogenic differentiation potential of mesenchymal progenitor cells (MPCs) derived from human bone marrow. As a first step to establishing the phenotypic characteristics of MPCs, we reported on the identification of unique cell surface proteins which were detected with monoclonal antibodies. In this study, the phenotypic characterization of human marrow-derived MPCs is further established through the identification of a cytokine expression profile under standardized growth medium conditions and in the presence of regulators of the osteogenic and stromal cell lineages, dexamethasone and interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), respectively. Constitutively expressed cytokines in this growth phase include G-CSF, SCF, LIF, M-CSF, IL-6, and IL-11, while GM-CSF, IL-3, TGF-beta 2 and OSM were not detected in the growth medium. Exposure of cells in growth medium to dexamethasone resulted in a decrease in the expression of LIF, IL-6, and IL-11. These cytokines have been reported to exert influence on the differentiation of cells derived from the bone marrow stroma through target cell receptors that utilize gp130-associated signal transduction pathways. Dexamethasone had no effect on the other cytokines expressed under growth medium conditions and was not observed to increase the expression of any of the cytokines measured in this study. In contrast, IL-1 alpha increased the expression of G-CSF, M-CSF, LIF, IL-6 and IL-11 and induced the expression of GM-CSF. IL-1 alpha had no effect on SCF expression and was not observed to decrease the production of any of the cytokines assayed. These data indicate that MPCs exhibit a distinct cytokine expression profile. We interpret this cytokine profile to suggest that MPCs serve specific supportive functions in the microenvironment of bone marrow. MPCs provide inductive and regulatory information which are consistent with the ability to support hematopoiesis, and also supply autocrine, paracrine, and juxtacrine factors that influence the cells of the marrow microenvironment itself. In addition, the cytokine profiles expressed by MPCs, in response to dexamethasone and IL-1 alpha, identify specific cytokines whose levels of expression change as MPCs differentiate or modulate their phenotype during osteogenic or stromagenic lineage entrance/progression.
Prospero-related homeobox 1 (Prox1) functions as a novel modulator of retinoic acid-related orphan receptors α- and γ-mediated transactivation

In this study, we identify Prospero-related homeobox 1 (Prox1) as a novel co-repressor of the retinoic acid-related orphan receptors, RORα and RORγ. Prox1 interacts directly with RORγ and RORα and negatively regulates their transcriptional activity. The AF2 domain of RORs is essential for the interaction, whereas Prox1 interacts with RORs through either its 28 amino acids N-terminal region or its C-terminal prospero-like domain. RORγ antagonists stabilize the interaction between RORγ and Prox1. The homeodomain and the interaction through the prospero-like domain of Prox1 are critical for its repression of ROR transcriptional activity. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis demonstrated that in liver, Prox1 is recruited to the ROR response element sites of the clock genes, brain and muscle Arnt-like protein 1 (Bmal1), neuronal PAS domain protein 2 (Npas2) and cryptochrome 1 (Cry1), as part of the same complex as RORs. Knockdown of Prox1 by siRNAs in human hepatoma Huh-7 cells increased the expression of RORγ and several ROR-target genes, along with increased histone acetylation at these ROR response element sites. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing analysis suggests that Prox1 is a potential ROR target gene in liver, which is supported by the regulation of the rhythmic expression of Prox1 by RORγ. Our data suggest that Prox1 is part of a feedback loop that negatively regulates the transcriptional control of clock and metabolic networks by RORs.
Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction in Major League Baseball Pitchers

BackgroundUlnar collateral ligament reconstruction is commonly performed in major league pitchers, but little is known about pitching performance after a return to major league play.HypothesisPitching performance after ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction returns to baseline by the second season after surgery.Study DesignCohort study (prognosis); Level of evidence, 2.MethodsData were reviewed for 68 major league pitchers who pitched in at least 1 major league game before undergoing ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction between 1998 and 2003. Mean innings pitched per season, earned run average, and walks and hits per inning pitched were compared for each major league pitcher before and after surgery. All demographic and performance variables were analyzed for an association with ulnar collateral ligament insufficiency and a successful return to major league play.ResultsFifty-six (82%) pitchers returned to major league play at a mean of 18.5 months after surgery with no significant change in mean ear...
A software framework for data dimensionality reduction: application to chemical crystallography

Materials science research has witnessed an increasing use of data mining techniques in establishing process‐structure‐property relationships. Significant advances in high‐throughput experiments and computational capability have resulted in the generation of huge amounts of data. Various statistical methods are currently employed to reduce the noise, redundancy, and the dimensionality of the data to make analysis more tractable. Popular methods for reduction (like principal component analysis) assume a linear relationship between the input and output variables. Recent developments in non‐linear reduction (neural networks, self‐organizing maps), though successful, have computational issues associated with convergence and scalability. Another significant barrier to use dimensionality reduction techniques in materials science is the lack of ease of use owing to their complex mathematical formulations. This paper reviews various spectral‐based techniques that efficiently unravel linear and non‐linear structures in the data which can subsequently be used to tractably investigate process‐structure‐property relationships. In addition, we describe techniques (based on graph‐theoretic analysis) to estimate the optimal dimensionality of the low‐dimensional parametric representation. We show how these techniques can be packaged into a modular, computationally scalable software framework with a graphical user interface ‐ Scalable Extensible Toolkit for Dimensionality Reduction (SETDiR). This interface helps to separate out the mathematics and computational aspects from the materials science applications, thus significantly enhancing utility to the materials science community. The applicability of this framework in constructing reduced order models of complicated materials dataset is illustrated with an example dataset of apatites described in structural descriptor space. Cluster analysis of the low‐dimensional plots yielded interesting insights into the correlation between several structural descriptors like ionic radius and covalence with characteristic properties like apatite stability. This information is crucial as it can promote the use of apatite materials as a potential host system for immobilizing toxic elements.
Zigzag decoding: combating hidden terminals in wireless networks

This paper presents ZigZag, an 802.11 receiver design that combats hidden terminals. ZigZag's core contribution is a new form of interference cancellation that exploits asynchrony across successive collisions. Specifically, 802.11 retransmissions, in the case of hidden terminals, cause successive collisions. These collisions have different interference-free stretches at their start, which ZigZag exploits to bootstrap its decoding.ZigZag makes no changes to the 802.11 MAC and introduces no overhead when there are no collisions. But, when senders collide, ZigZag attains the same throughput as if the colliding packets were a priori scheduled in separate time slots. We build a prototype of ZigZag in GNU Radio. In a testbed of 14 USRP nodes, ZigZag reduces the average packet loss rate at hidden terminals from 72.6% to about 0.7%.
Optimal, real-time control-colliders

With reasonable definitions, optimal control is possible for both classical and quantal systems with approaches called PISC (parallel) and NISC (neural) from analogy with RISC (reduced instruction set computing). If control equals interaction, observation and comparison to some figure of merit with interaction via external fields, then optimization comes from varying these fields to give design or operating goals. Structural stability can then give tolerance and design constraints. Simulations, however, using simplified models, are not in real-time, and assume fixed or stationary conditions, so optimal control goes far beyond convergence rates of algorithms. It is inseparable from design, and this has many implications for colliders. >
Blood pressure response to dietary sodium restriction in healthy normotensive children

To examine the effect of dietary sodium restriction on blood pressure, 149 healthy, normotensive children (64 males, 85 females) participated in a study designed to lower Na intake and maintain Na excretion at less than or equal to 75 mmol/d or half usual intake for 12 wk. Na excretion was decreased during the study period in both males (112.9 +/- 6.3 vs 53.4 +/- 3.6 mmol, p less than 0.001) and females (91.1 +/- 3.2 vs 41.1 +/- 1.9 mmol, p less than 0.001). Changes in systolic blood pressure were not significant in either sex but females showed a decrease (p less than 0.05) in diastolic and mean arterial blood pressures. Because blood pressure in children is correlated with age and body size, multiple linear regression was used to adjust blood pressure levels for age and weight. These analyses yielded small but significant decreases in systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressure measurements. The blood pressure response was heterogeneous but this variable response could not be attributed to varying degrees of compliance within families. These results suggest that compliance with modest Na restriction does not consistently lower blood pressure in normotensive children.
Song presentation induces gene expression in the songbird forebrain

Abstract We investigated the participation of genomic regulatory events in the response of the songbird brain to a natural auditory stimulus of known physiological and behavioral relevance, birdsong. Using in situ hybridization, we detected a rapid increase in forebrain mRNA levels of an immediate-early gene encoding a transcriptional regulator (ZENK; also known as zif-268, egr-1, NGFI-A, or Krox-24) following presentation of tape-recorded songs to canaries (Serinus canaria) and zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). ZENK induction is most marked in a forebrain region believed to participate in auditory processing and is greatest when birds hear the song of their own species. A significantly lower level of induction occurs when birds hear the song of a different species and no induction is seen after exposure to tone bursts. Cellular analysis indicates that the level of induction reflects the proportion of neurons recruited to express the gene. These results suggest a role for genomic responses in neural processes linked to song pattern recognition, discrimination, or the formation of auditory associations.
Covert Sensitization in Group Treatment of Adolescent Drug Abusers

Seven self-referred males with long-standing histories of excessive use of amphetamines, LSD, and marijuana participated in an experiment dealing with the behavioral procedures of covert sensitization in group treatment. LSD usage did not change during a 14-week precovert-sensitization treatment program. The group then received covert sensitization in 11 sessions within a 6-week period, with all members reporting no LSD usage or desire to take LSD. A 6 to 18-month follow-up indicated that six subjects had not taken LSD. Two subjects reported selfadministration of covert sensitization procedures at home to develop aversions to other drugs and were completely drug-free. The seventh subject could not be located. The practical advantages of using covert sensitization procedures in group treatment of drug users within the school setting are discussed.
Noise reduction for variance-based radio tomographic localization

We propose to demonstrate a new radio tomographic localization algorithm — subspace variance-based radio tomography (SubVRT), which is more robust to RSS variations caused by objects that are intrinsic parts of the environment. We first introduce the subspace decomposition method, then we derive the formulations of SubVRT, and finally we describe the demonstration setup, requirements and procedures.
Development of Position-Sensitive Transition-Edge Sensor X-Ray Detectors

We report on the development of position-sensitive transition-edge sensors (PoST's) for future X-ray astronomy missions such as the International X-ray Observatory (IXO), under study by NASA and ESA. PoST's consist of multiple absorbers each with a different thermal coupling to one or more transition-edge sensors (TESs). This results in a characteristic pulse shape for each absorber element and allows position discrimination. PoST development is motivated by a desire to achieve maximum focal-plane area with the fewest number of readout channels. We report detailed characterization of our single TES PoST's or Hydras, which consist of four electroplated Au/Bi absorbers coupled to a low noise Mo/Au TES. Using a numerical model of the Hydra we fit to measured complex impedance curves and determine device parameters that allow us to accurately reproduce the measured pulse shapes and noise spectra. Results from Hydras with different internal thermal conductances reveal the trade-offs in optimizing for energy resolution or position-sensitivity. We report a best achievable energy resolution of < 6.0 eV across all pixels for a device with transition temperature of 86 mK, coupled with straightforward position discrimination by rise-time.
Beneficial role of dietary phytoestrogens in obesity and diabetes

Evidence is emerging that dietary phytoestrogens play a beneficial role in obesity and diabetes. Nutritional intervention studies performed in animals and humans suggest that the ingestion of soy protein associated with isoflavones and flaxseed rich in lignans improves glucose control and insulin resistance. In animal models of obesity and diabetes, soy protein has been shown to reduce serum insulin and insulin resistance. In studies of human subjects with or without diabetes, soy protein also appears to moderate hyperglycemia and reduce body weight, hyperlipidemia, and hyperinsulinemia, supporting its beneficial effects on obesity and diabetes. However, most of these clinical trials were relatively short and involved a small number of patients. Furthermore, it is not clear whether the beneficial effects of soy protein and flaxseed are due to isoflavones (daidzein and genistein), lignans (matairesinol and secoisolariciresinol), or some other component. Isoflavones and lignans appear to act through various mechanisms that modulate pancreatic insulin secretion or through antioxidative actions. They may also act via estrogen receptor-mediated mechanisms. Some of these actions have been shown in vitro, but the relevance of these studies to in vivo disease is not known. The diversity of cellular actions of isoflavones and lignans supports their possible beneficial effects on various chronic diseases. Further investigations are needed to evaluate the long-term effects of phytoestrogens on obesity and diabetes mellitus and their associated possible complications.
Food Preferences of Embaphion muricatum

When larvae and adults of Embaphion muricatum Say were offered 31 types of seeds (from 28 species of plants), both stages almost always preferred seeds of introduced species more than those of species native to North America. Wheat, hulless oats, and rye were the most preferred by adults and larvae of all seeds offered. In greenhouse tests with 5 of these seed varieties, rye and wheat were preferred and were more heavily damaged than oats, barley, or soybeans. Soybans, however, were damaged to a much greater extent in greenhouse tests than in laboratory tests.
The effects of counterion and solvent on the reactivity of nickel acylate complexes

Abstract Nickel acylate complexes, which can be generated starting with a carbon, nitrogen or oxygen nucleophile, act as acyl anion equivalents and therefore are an excellent method of assembling complex organic molecules from readily available starting materials. In an effort to increase the synthetic utility of these easily formed reagents, a systematic study of the reactivity of the nickel acylate complex generated under a variety of conditions was performed. Those acylate complexes generated with a carbon based nucleophile, such as a butyl or phenyl anion, show a large change in reactivity upon changing, for example, the solvent from THF to Et 2 O or the counterion from Li + to MgCl + . This reactivity change is due to a large change in the structure of the acylate complex with a different counterion or solvent, as determined by IR and 13 C NMR spectroscopy and by oxidation potentials. In contrast, when a heteroatom nucleophile is used, such as a dialkyl amide or an alkoxide, the effect of a change in solvent or counterion on the structure, and therefore on the reactivity of the acylate complex, is minimal.
Attenuation of Chronic Pulmonary Inflammation in A2B Adenosine Receptor Knockout Mice

Pharmacologic evidence suggests that activation of A(2B) adenosine receptors results in proinflammatory effects relevant to the progression of asthma, a chronic lung disease associated with elevated interstitial adenosine concentrations in the lung. This concept has been challenged by the finding that genetic removal of A(2B) receptors leads to exaggerated responses in models of acute inflammation. Therefore, the goal of our study was to determine the effects of A(2B) receptor gene ablation in the context of ovalbumin-induced chronic pulmonary inflammation. We found that repetitive airway allergen challenge induced a significant increase in adenosine levels in fluid recovered by bronchoalveolar lavage. Genetic ablation of A(2B) receptors significantly attenuated allergen-induced chronic pulmonary inflammation, as evidenced by a reduction in the number of bronchoalveolar lavage eosinophils and in peribronchial eosinophilic infiltration. The most striking difference in the pulmonary inflammation induced in A(2B) receptor knockout (A(2B)KO) and wild-type mice was the lack of allergen-induced IL-4 release in the airways of A(2B)KO animals, in line with a significant reduction in IL-4 protein and mRNA levels in lung tissue. In addition, attenuation of allergen-induced transforming growth factor-beta release in airways of A(2B)KO mice correlated with reduced airway smooth muscle and goblet cell hyperplasia/hypertrophy. In conclusion, genetic removal of A(2B) adenosine receptors in mice leads to inhibition of allergen-induced chronic pulmonary inflammation and airway remodeling. These findings are in agreement with previous pharmacologic studies suggesting a deleterious role for A(2B) receptor signaling in chronic lung inflammation.
Managing multiple disjoint priority orders in priority queues

In communication and computer systems, autonomous sources may assign priorities to their messages or jobs locally and independently. When a remote service (e.g., message transmission or RPC) is requested at a shared server, the server cannot use priority scheduling schemes effectively unless it can make a comparison between priorities defined by individual sources. The authors investigate the strategies under which the service received by requests of one source is not affected by the priority assignments at other sources. The first approach is a combination of processor-sharing and priority queue strategies. The second approach is to map locally defined priorities onto a global priority system. The performance of these approaches is examined in terms of the average response time of all requests, the average response time of the highest priority requests and a fairness measure. >
LQR Formulation of Sensor Deployment for Decision Fusion Based Detection

Assuming that decision fusion is employed for detection in a distributed sensor network (DSN), what is the best sensor deployment strategy to satisfy specific detection and false alarm rate requirements? This is the fundamental question we address in this paper. Towards this end, we propose a novel treatment of the deployment problem in the context of optimal control theory. Specifically, we model the deployment problem as a linear quadratic regulator problem, with the deployment locations serving as control parameters. Within this framework, we propose a sequential sensor deployment algorithm. We compare the performance of the proposed algorithm against that of a greedy algorithm. Simulation results, show that the proposed algorithm can save up to 40% in the number of sensors used relative to the greedy algorithm.
Independent Evolution of Heavy Metal-Associated Domains in Copper Chaperones and Copper-Transporting ATPases

Copper chaperones are small cytoplasmic proteins that bind intracellular copper (Cu) and deliver it to Cu-dependent enzymes such as cytochrome oxidase, superoxide dismutase, and amine oxidase. Copper chaperones are similar in sequence and structure to the Cu-binding heavy metal-associated (HMA) domains of Cu-transporting ATPases (Cu-ATPases), and the genes for copper chaperones and Cu-ATPases are often located in the same operon. Phylogenetic analysis shows that Cu chaperones and HMA domains of Cu-ATPases represent ancient and distinct lineages that have evolved largely independently since their initial separation. Copper chaperone-Cu-ATPase operons appear to have evolved independently in different prokaryotic lineages, probably due to a strong selective pressure for coexpression of these genes.
Early changes in light-irradiated solutions of bilirubin: a spectrophotometric analysis.

— Early changes in irradiated solutions of bilirubin were evaluated by spectrophotometric techniques. By absorbance difference (AD) spectroscopy, the photoproducts formed in solutions of bilirubin combined with human serum albumin were found to differ from those formed in naturally or artificially jaundiced rat serum, bovine serum albumin solutions, or chloroform or carbon tetrachloride solutions. With a technique based on variable path-length compensation for bilirubin loss (compensated absorbance difference or CAD spectroscopy) the approximate shapes of photoproduct absorption spectra could be evaluated. Chloroform and bovine serum albumin solutions produced single-peaked products absorbing at slightly shorter wavelengths than bilirubin. Human serum albumin solutions produced a twin-peaked chromophore absorbing most strongly near 490 nm.
Noninvasive measurement of ablation crater size and thermal injury after CO2 laser in the vocal cord with optical coherence tomography.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize tissue destruction after CO2 laser-ablation of the vocal cords with the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT).STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: OCT was used to image fresh p...
Performance and reliability of asymmetric LDD devices and logic gates

The performance and reliability of NMOSFET asymmetric LDD devices (with no LDD on the source side) are compared with that of conventional LDD devices. Asymmetric LDD devices exhibit higher I/sub dsat/ and larger I/sub sub/. To maintain the same hot-carrier lifetime, asymmetric LDD devices must operate at lower V/sub dd/. For the same hot-carrier lifetime, ring oscillators with NMOSFET asymmetric LDD devices can achieve 5% (10% if PMOSFET also had asymmetric LDD) higher speed and 10% lower power. The hot-carrier reliability of inverter, NAND, and NOR structures with asymmetric LDD devices are also simulated and compared.
Developmental Dynamics: Toward a Biologically Plausible Evolutionary Psychology

There has been a conceptual revolution in the biological sciences over the past several decades. Evidence from genetics, embryology, and developmental biology has converged to offer a more epigenetic, contingent, and dynamic view of how organisms develop. Despite these advances, arguments for the heuristic value of a gene-centered, predeterministic approach to the study of human behavior and development have become increasingly evident in the psychological sciences during this time. In this article, the authors review recent advances in genetics, embryology, and developmental biology that have transformed contemporary developmental and evolutionary theory and explore how these advances challenge gene-centered explanations of human behavior that ignore the complex, highly coordinated system of regulatory dynamics involved in development and evolution. The prestige of success enjoyed by the gene theory might become a hindrance to the understanding of development by directing our attention solely to the genome .... Already we have theories that refer the processes of development to genic action and regard the whole performance as no more than the realization of the potencies of the genes. Such theories are altogether too one-sided. (Harrison, 1937, p.