cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Oral Microbiome

This chapter summarizes the recent advancement of our knowledge of the healthy oral microbiome, and address the potential role of the oral microbiome in systemic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and pneumonia. An understanding of the composition of the oral microbial community with respect to oral health is essential for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of oral diseases. The chapter describes oral microbiome associated with periodontal disease, microbiome associated with endodontic infections, apical periodontitis and tooth decay, and oral microbiome associated with oral cancer. Diseases caused by the oral microbiome are not limited to oral infections. Recognition that disease conditions associated with the oral microbiome contribute to systemic infections may require clinicians to consider alternative preventative and therapeutic approaches. The current data on two of the most-studied systemic conditions, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases are reviewed in the chapter. A community-and microbial ecology-based pathogenic concept that forms the basis for understanding relationships between the oral microbiome and the host, as well as developing novel strategies for therapeutics and disease prevention is discussed in the chapter. A better understanding of the oral microbiome structure and function and the dynamics between the commensals and pathogens is needed to selectively modulate composition of the microbiome and prevent oral disease.
Estimating nitrogen lost from forest floor during prescribed fires in Douglas-fir/western hemlock clearcuts

Nitrogen loss from consumption of forest floor was studied on 33 treatment blocks burned on 11 clearcuts in western Washington and western Oregon. In most cases, nitrogen concentration in forest floor did not change significantly following prescribed fire. Change in the amount of nitrogen in forest floor ranged from an increase of 192 kg/ha to a loss of 666 kg/ha. In most cases, nitrogen loss was directly proportional to the amount of forest floor consumed. Total nitrogen loss can therefore be estimated by multiplying expected loss of forest floor by its nitrogen concentration before the burn.
Apex-Map: a synthetic scalable benchmark probe to explore data access performance on highly parallel systems

With the increasing gap between processor, memory, and interconnect speed, the performances of scientific applications on high performance computing systems have become dominated by the ability to move global data. However, many benchmarks in the field of high performance computing focus on measuring the achieved CPU speed in MFlop/s. In this paper, we introduced a novel benchmark, Apex-Map, which focuses on global data movement and measures how fast global data can be fed into computational units. Apex-Map is a parameterized synthetic performance probe and integrates concepts for temporal and spatial locality into its design. By measuring the Apex-Map performance for a whole range of temporal and spatial localities performance surfaces can be generated which can be used to study the characteristics of the computational platforms and which are useful for performance comparison. Results on a vector platform and two superscalar platforms clearly reflect the design differences between these two types of systems.
Bone Marrow Dendritic Cell-Mediated Regulation of TLR and B Cell Receptor Signaling in B Cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) play an essential role in regulation of immune responses. In the periphery, Ag presentation by DCs is critical for adaptive responses; for this reason, DCs are often targets of adjuvants that enhance vaccine responses. Activated mature DCs enhance B cell activation and differentiation by providing cytokines like BAFF and a proliferation-inducing ligand. However, the role of immature DCs in B cell tolerance is not well studied. Recently, mouse immature bone marrow-derived DCs (iBMDCs) have been shown to suppress anti-IgM–induced B cell activation. In this study, we tested the ability of mouse DCs to modulate B cell functions during TLR activation. We found that iBMDCs potently suppressed proliferation and differentiation of various B cell subsets on TLR stimulation. However, iBMDCs did not affect CD40-mediated B cell activation. Optimal suppression of B cell activation by iBMDCs required cell contact via the CD22 receptor on B cells. The B cell suppression was a property of iBMDCs or DCs resident in the bone marrow (BM), but not mature BM-derived DCs or DCs resident in the spleen. Presence of iBMDCs also enhanced the Ag-induced apoptotic response of BM B cells, suggesting that the suppressive effects of iBMDCs may have a role in B cell tolerance.
A Facile High-speed Vibration Milling Method to Water-disperse Single-walled Carbon Nanohorns

A high-speed vibration milling (HSVM) method was applied to synthesize water dispersible single-walled carbon nanohorns (SWNHs). Highly reactive free radicals (HOOCCH2CH2•) produced from an acyl peroxide under HSVM conditions react with hydrophobic SWNHs to produce a highly water dispersible derivative (f-SWNHs), which has been characterized in detail by spectroscopic and microscopic techniques together with thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The carboxylic acid functionalized, water-dispersible SWNHs material are versatile precursors that have potential applications in the biomedical area.
Subcellular distribution and activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase in the Southern armyworm, Spodoptera eridania

In mid-fifth-instar larvae of the southern armyworm, Spodoptera eridania, the subcellular distribution of four antioxidant enzymes—superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPOX), and glutathione reductase (GR)—were examined. Two-thirds (4.26 units ·mg protein−1) of the SOD activity was found in the cytosol, and one-thirds (2.13 units ·mg protein−1) in the mitochondria. CAT activity was unusually high and not restricted to the microsomal fraction where peroxisomes are usually isolated. The activity was distributed as follows: cytosol (163 units) mitochondria (125 units) and microsomes (119 units). Similar to CAT, the subcellular compartmentalization of both GPOX and GR was unusual. No activity was detected in the cytosol, but in mitochondria and microsomes, GR levels were 5.49 and 3.09 units. Although GPOX activity exhibited 14–16-fold enrichment in mitochondria and microsomes, respectively, over the 850g crude homogenate, the level was negligible (mitochondria = 1.4 × 10−3 units; microsomes = 1.6 × 10−3 units), indicating that this enzyme is absent. The unusual distribution of CAT has apparently evolved as an evolutionary answer to the absence of GR from the cytosol, and the lack of GPOX activity.
Electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate ions induced by the underpotential deposition of cadmium

Resultats d'une etude voltammetrique de l'electroreduction electrocatalytique d'ions nitrate par du cadmium adsorbe sur une electrode d'argent
Parallel heap: an optimal parallel priority queue

We describe a new parallel data structure, namely parallel heap, for exclusive-read exclusive-write parallel random access machines. To our knowledge, it is the first such data structure to efficiently implement a truly parallel priority queue based on a heap structure. Employing p processors, the parallel heap allows deletions of θ(p) highest priority items and insertions of θ(p) new items, each in O(log n) time, where n is the size of the parallel heap. Furthermore, it can efficiently utilize processors in the range 1 through n.
A cluster analysis of detected and substantiated child maltreatment incidents in rural Colorado

This paper reports the results of a cluster analysis of the incidents of detected and substantiated child maltreatment in 31 rural Colorado counties during the 5-year period (1986-1990). Mapping and statistical techniques employed revealed time-space clustering in the occurrence of child abuse and neglect in sparsely settled rural areas of the state. The study examined temporal-geographic patterns among all 830 confirmed incidents in the Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Registry for counties of less than 10,000 population. These findings suggest that a first incident of abuse or neglect serves as a sentinel event, predicting a period of more frequent receipt and substantiation of maltreatment cases by child protection professionals in the county or community of occurrence. Clustering was apparent using 3-, 7-, 14-, 30-, and 60-day intervals of time; a scheme endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control for national study of the epidemicity of adolescent suicide. An agenda is proposed to review the appropriateness and adequacy of child protection policies and protocols in view of this phenomenon, and to pursue additional related research objectives.
The reaction of e-aq with H2PO-4 as a source of hydrogen atoms for pulse radiolysis studies in neutral solutions

Abstract Reaction of e-aq with H2PO-4 at high phosphate concentrations has been shown to provide a suitable source of hydrogen atoms for pulse radiolytic studies in the pH region of 5–7. In 1 M phosphate solutions the rate constant for this reaction is 1.85 ± 0.10 × 107M-1s-1 and the pH dependence is described with pK2 of phosphoric acid taken as 6.4. However, because of ionic strength effects, both the rate constant and pK2 are somewhat dependent on the phosphate concentration. The rate constant for reaction of e-aq with H3PO4, which is important only below pH 5, is estimated as 109M-1s-1. The rates for H atom reaction with benzene and phenol and the absorption spectra of the resultant cyclohexadienyl radicals have been examined in the presence of phosphate at pH6 and found to be similar to those resulting from H atoms produced in acidic solutions. Time resolved optical and ESR studies show that the H atom yields approach those at low pH.
Regiochemistry of an ambident cyclic ketene-N,O-acetal nucleophile and its anion toward electrophiles

Abstract The five-membered cyclic ketene-N,O-acetal, 2-oxazolidin-2-ylidene-1-phenylethanone 1, and its anion 2, formed on deprotonation, are ambident nucleophiles. Compound 1 was synthesized by benzoylation of 2-methyl-2-oxazoline to give a ring-opened N,C,O-trisbenzoylation product, 9, followed by N,O-double debenzoylation using methanolic KOH. Compound 1 reacted with benzoyl chloride to give N,C,O-trisbenzoylated 9, and reacted with phenyl chloroformate to give the similar ring-opened carbonic acid 3-[(2-chloro-ethyl)-phenoxycarbonyl-amino]-3-oxo-1-phenyl-propenyl ester phenyl ester, 13. In contrast, ambident anion 2 reacted with benzoyl chloride to give the β,β-bisbenzoylated cyclic ketene-N,O-acetal, 16, and reacted with phenyl chloroformate to give the novel heterocycle 3-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-6-phenyl-[1,3]oxazine-2,4-dione, 17.
A Neoplastic Disease of the Kidney of the Frog, Rana Pipiens

This paper deals with a neoplastic disease of the common leopard frog. The disease is characterized by the occurrence of more or less circumscribed tumors composed of glandular epithelium in atypical arrangement, and by the frequent presence within the nuclei of the tumor cells of prominent inclusions. One hundred and fifty-eight examples have been studied;2 87 of these were in males, 71 in females. The tumors have been confined to the kidneys except in two frogs in which retroperitoneal tumors were present. The frogs in which tumors were observed were of medium or large size, weighing from 30 to 100 gm. General Character of the Renal Tumors: All of the tumors are of ivory-white color and slightly firmer in consistency than the renal tissue. They are fairly well circumscribed but never encapsulated. Their shape varies; the smaller growths are usually oval or roughly spherical, the larger ones have no particular shape. Their surface is either smooth or coarsely lobated; no ulceration has been observed. The disease may involve one or both kidneys; there may be a single tumor or more than a dozen separate masses may be present. In Figure 1 are shown a number of photographs of kidneys which illustrate the variation in appearance of the tumors.
Separation of CO2 from flue gas using electrochemical cells

Past research with high temperature molten carbonate electrochemical cells has shown that carbon dioxide can be separated from flue gas streams produced by pulverized coal combustion for power generation. However, the presence of trace contaminants, i.e., sulfur dioxide and nitric oxides, will impact the electrolyte within the cell. If a lower temperature cell could be devised that would utilize the benefits of commercially-available, upstream desulfurization and denitrification in the power plant, then this CO2 separation technique can approach more viability in the carbon sequestration area. Recent work has led to the assembly and successful operation of a low temperature electrochemical cell. In the proof-of-concept testing with this cell, an anion exchange membrane was sandwiched between gas-diffusion electrodes consisting of nickel-based anode electrocatalysts on carbon paper. When a potential was applied across the cell and a mixture of oxygen and carbon dioxide was flowed over the wetted electrolyte on the cathode side, a stream of CO2 to O2 was produced on the anode side, suggesting that carbonate/bicarbonate ions are the CO2 carrier in the membrane. Since a mixture of CO2 and O2 is produced, the possibility exists to use this stream in oxy-firing of additional fuel. From this research, a novel concept for efficiently producing a carbon dioxide rich effluent from combustion of a fossil fuel was proposed. Carbon dioxide and oxygen are captured from the flue gas of a fossil-fuel combustor by one or more electrochemical cells or cell stacks. The separated stream is then transferred to an oxy-fired combustor which uses the gas stream for ancillary combustion, ultimately resulting in an effluent rich in carbon dioxide. A portion of the resulting flow produced by the oxy-fired combustor may be continuously recycled back into the oxy-fired combustor for temperature control and an optimal carbon dioxide rich effluent.
Transcriptional perspectives from San Diego.

The 49th Annual Drosophila Research Conference offered a multidimensional view of the process of transcriptional regulation, ranging from discoveries at the level of individual genes and enhancers, to global genome-wide perspectives. One insight gained from the presentations is that quantitative understanding of function and evolution of transcriptional regulation will require assessing the contributions of multiple, redundantly-acting cis-regulatory elements.
Determination of Selenium(IV) at a Microfabricated Gold Ultramicroelectrode Array Using Square Wave Anodic Stripping Voltammetry

The voltammetric determination of selenium(IV) using a microfabricated array of gold ultramicroelectrodes (Au UMEs) is presented. The array of Au UMEs in conjunction with square wave anodic stripping voltammetry shows a rapid, sensitive and reproducible response for selenium. Using an array of UMEs overcomes the inherent disadvantage of measuring the very low current signals present when using a single UME. The experimental parameters that affect the response of selenium: deposition potential, selection of the electrolyte solution, SW frequency, and deposition time were investigated. The Se redox reaction appears to be kinetically faster and more reversible at the Au UME array than at Au macroelectrode or single Au UME. Calibration plots are given for solutions containing 0–100 ppb and 100–500 ppb. The limit of detection is calculated to be 0.42 ppb. The relative standard deviation at 50 ppb is 4.5 % for 10 runs.
Plants and Technology: Current and Future Directions

Archaeologists in the Midcontinent have long been interested in the relationships between people and plants. Research on this subject is well represented in the ethnobotany papers frequently given at the annual meetings of the Midwest Archaeological Conference and published in MCJA. In fact, MCJA publishes a higher percentage of paleoethnicbotanical papers than any other major American archaeological journal (Archer and Hastorf 2000:34). The papers on plants and technology compiled for the present issue by Katie Parker and Mary Simon build on this tradition. They present significant new data, apply useful new methods, and challenge some long-held assumptions. They also demonstrate the value of conducting research with existing collections as well as newly excavated material. As Parker and Simon note, these articles represent only part of the 2006 Midwest Conference symposium “Plants and Technology.” I want to acknowledge and thank the organizers and the authors in the present collection for the opportunity to comment on the papers. I also want to recognize the other authors and papers from the MAC session: Connie Arzigian (2006), Leslie Bush (2006), Leighann Calentine (2006), Dee Ann Wymer (2006), and Sarah Wisseman (2006). I have learned a great deal from all of the papers, not just those in the present collection, and I hope all will be published soon, as Wisseman’s was. People have always relied on plants. As a result, anthropologists have always been interested in how people collected or produced them and then processed, stored, prepared, shared, served, consumed, and disposed of plants for food, drink, medicine, condiments, and other purposes. Plants also served a myriad of purposes ranging from weaponry to building material to containers. The incorporation of plant, animal, and inorganic material into such complex artifacts as textiles in even “primitive” nonindustrial societies supplies anthropologists interested in material culture with a rich variety of analytical and interpretive opportunities. Archaeologists often are ambivalent about fully integrating ethnobot
Finite element analysis of cracks in ferroelectric ceramic materials

Abstract A constitutive law governing the behavior of ferroelectric ceramics is presented. The constitutive law includes the effects of ferroelectric and ferroelastic polarization reorientation. It is both multiaxial and non-proportional. This material model is implemented in a finite element code developed for this work. The material model determines changes of remanent strain and remanent polarization induced by the stress and electric field. The finite element code is used to analyze the effect of an elliptical hole in a ferroelectric plate. The effects of aspect ratio and ratio of the permittivity of the hole interior to that of the plate material are determined. As the ellipse shrinks to a crack, the electric field and stress concentrations increase. As the permittivity of the ellipse interior approaches that of the ferroelectric material, the electric field concentration diminishes. Ferroelectric and ferroelastic switching are shown to have a large effect on the magnitude of the field concentrations.
Contractile Response to Sympathetic Innervation in Neonatal Ventricular Cardiomyocytes of the Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat

Contractile Response to Sympathetic Innervation in Neonatal Ventricular Cardiomyocytes of the Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat
Bonding of SiC slabs for electro-mechanical heat-sinks in advanced packaging applications

The bonding of silicon carbide for advanced electro-mechanical heat sinks plays an important part in the cooling of multi-chip modules. The selection of the proper process and electronic bonding materials usable in a clean processing environment is essential. The thermal bonding of interface layers and structures with SiC slabs in a clean processing laboratory, by utilizing extrinsic pressure technique during the bonding operation are described. Evaporated, chemical vapour deposited, metallic, semi-metallic and insulating bonding layers are used on splotchy (poly-crystalline silicon doped) surfaces of commercially available silicon carbide slabs. The homogeneity of the film, uniformity of the substrate surface, thickness of the blocks and the annealing ambient were critical for process reliability. Annealing in an oxidizing atmosphere as well as in nitrogen, in some cases, works successfully. Since a variety of structures are tried no special control structure is used to evaluate the results. Scanning ele...
Foreign investment and the decapitalization of underdeveloped host countries

Abstract This article examines the claim that multinational corporations decapitalize underdeveloped host countries. Two types of decapitalization mechanisms are discussed: (1) the repatriation of profits by multinational firms to their home countries, and (2) the use of the profits from one country to penetrate markets in other countries. Game-theoretic analysis is used to explore these arguments and to determine exactly when decapitalization may occur. The results indicate that far-sighted corporations that wish to protect their assets are unlikely to engage in decapitalization, even if the potential profits from capital transfers are valued highly. Even when firms do not wish to protect their assets, decapitalization is unlikely because such attitudes are most prevalent in very poor countries where capital for export is limited.
Earth Science Week

Geoscientists throughout the world are preparing to celebrate the third annual Earth Science Week on 8–14 October. In 1999, geoscientists in all 50 of the United States, Australia, Canada, and at least 20 other countries organized Earth Science Week activities—field trips, demonstrations, lectures, exhibits, school visits, and open houses. The American Geological Institute (AGI) initiated Earth Science Week to provide an annual focal point for public education about the earth and its processes. Objectives for 2000 include increasing public access to information about local geology and fostering public awareness of the important contributions the earth sciences and geoscientists make. Since the inaugural event in October 1998, one million students have participated, and Earth Science Week materials have been used in 25 000 classrooms. The U.S. president and other political leaders have issued statements supporting Earth Science Week; last year 39 governors and mayors of several major cities signed Earth Science Week proclamations. …
The Probability of Pulmonary Embolism Is a Function of the Diagnoses Considered Most Likely Before Testing

Objectives: To determine the frequency of pulmonary embolism (PE) diagnosis when different alternative diagnoses were considered most likely before testing, because the relationship between specific alternative diagnoses and the diagnosis of PE has not been explored. Methods: This study was a preplanned secondary analysis of a prospective study of the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism conducted in the emergency department (ED) of an urban university hospital. Physicians were queried as to their most likely pretest diagnosis when they ordered any of the following tests to evaluate possible PE: D-dimer, contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the chest, ventilation–perfusion lung scan, or pulmonary angiogram. To compare the frequency of PE diagnosis across alternative diagnoses, risk ratios, 95% confidence intervals (CI), and p-values using Fisher's exact test were calculated. Results: Six hundred seven patients were enrolled, and 61 had PE. Physicians thought PE was the most likely pretest diagnosis in 162 (26.7%) patients, and 20.4% (95% CI = 14.4% to 27.4%) of these patients had PE. For four alternative diagnoses, PE was diagnosed less frequently than when PE was considered most likely: musculoskeletal pain (2.2%, 95% CI = 0.4% to 6.2%), anxiety (1.7%, 95% CI = 0.0 to 9.2%), asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (0, 95% CI = 0.0 to 10.9%), and viral syndrome (0, 95% CI = 0.0 to 14.3%). Conclusions: The frequency of PE is related to the most likely pretest alternative diagnosis. PE is diagnosed infrequently when anxiety, asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, musculoskeletal pain, or viral syndrome is the most likely alternative diagnosis.
Developmental Prerequisites of Intimacy

SUMMARY There are prerequisites that must be achieved developmen-tally before individuals are capable of co-creating healthy intimacy in adult relationships. Thus, therapists often have to work to help client systems overcome failures of maturation. In these kinds of therapeutic encounters the therapist acts as a developmental partner. By designing compensatory experiences, the therapist can help partners fill gaps in early development and education that operate to sabotage loving relationships. This paper offers examples of how levels of moral development and social-perspective taking can be utilized within a transpersonal approach to help couples achieve more satisfying intimate connections.
First-dose pharmacokinetics of aminoglycosides in critically ill haematological malignancy patients

Abstract The primary objective of this study was to determine the volume of distribution ( V d ) (L/kg) of intravenous aminoglycosides (AGs) in critically ill haematological malignancy patients. Secondary objectives were to determine the body weight (actual, ideal, adjusted or lean) that yields the most precise estimate of V d when normalised in L/kg as well as the frequency that current first-dose strategies result in post-distributional peak concentrations ( C peak ) within the target range (tobramycin 16–24 mg/L; amikacin 32–48 mg/L). In total, 58 AG doses were included (tobramycin, n = 34; amikacin, n = 24). Median V d was 0.38 L/kg normalised per the most precise dose weight, which was actual body weight (ABW). The median dose was 445 mg (5.8 mg/kg ABW) for tobramycin and 1200 mg (13.8 mg/kg ABW) for amikacin. Target C peak (tobramycin 20 mg/L; amikacin 40 mg/L) was achieved in only 25% of all AG episodes, with 4% exceeding the target and 71% falling below the target. Twenty-four organisms were isolated in the study sample; target C peak achievement (tobramycin 20 mg/L; amikacin 40 mg/L) would yield a peak:minimum inhibitory concentration of 10 in 75% and 52% of organisms, respectively. In conclusion, an increased V d of AGs was identified in this critically ill haematological malignancy patient sample, and current dosing yielded a suboptimal C peak in the majority of patients.
Efficient Bayesian joint models for group randomized trials with multiple observation times and multiple outcomes.

In this paper, we propose a Bayesian method for Group Randomized Trials (GRTs) with multiple observation times and multiple outcomes of different types. We jointly model these outcomes using latent multivariate normal linear regression, which allows treatment effects to change with time and accounts for 1.) intra-class correlation (ICC) within groups 2.) the correlation between different outcomes measured on the same subject and 3.) the over-time correlation (OTC) of each outcome. Moreover we develop a set of innovative priors for the variance components which yield direct inference on the correlations, avoid undesirable constraints, and allow utilization of information from previous studies. We illustrate through simulations that our model can improve estimation efficiency (lower posterior standard deviations) of ICCs and treatment effects relative to single outcome models and models with diffuse priors on the variance components. We also demonstrate the methodology using body composition data collected in the Trial of Activity in Adolescent Girls (TAAG).
Evolution and resolution of stimulation-induced axonal injury in peripheral nerve.

We describe the evolution of axonal injury following the induction of neural damage by electrical stimulation. The sciatic nerves of cats were stimulated continuously for 8 h with charge-balanced waveforms at high intensities, 50 Hz and 2100-4500 microA, using circumneural helical electrodes. Computer-assisted morphometric and ultrastructural studies indicate that many of the damaged fibers had not regenerated by 125 days after stimulation. Functional deficits were not observed in any of the animals, and most of the fibers appeared to be histologically normal at 125 days after stimulation. These findings indicate that there is relatively little late-onset injury associated with the stimulation. However, the slow, and possibly incomplete, recovery of the damaged axons emphasizes the importance of using stimulus protocols with adequate margins of safety.
Involvement and growth of students in three academic programs

The purpose of this study was to provide further evidence on potential determinants of college student involvement in curricular and cocurricular campus activities, particularly on the importance of student enrollment in three academic programs. The study focused on how students in two special academic programs—an honors program and a transition program to assist academically disadvantaged students adjust to college—as well as students in the regular curriculum become engaged in a variety of experiences and how their quality of effort (involvement) in the activities is related to student growth and development. The relationship between level of student activity and achievement supports the claims of previous research that involvement contributes to students' development and gains in intellectual and interpersonal areas. However, the strength of relationship between student effort and gain varied for the three groups. Overall, the honors and transition students appeared to get more for their effort than did the regular students.
Noise reduction in spectral CT: reducing dose and breaking the trade-off between image noise and energy bin selection.

Purpose : Our purpose was to reduce imagenoise in spectral CT by exploiting data redundancies in the energy domain to allow flexible selection of the number, width, and location of the energy bins. Methods : Using a variety of spectral CTimaging methods, conventional filtered backprojection (FBP) reconstructions were performed and resulting images were compared to those processed using a Local HighlY constrained backPRojection Reconstruction (HYPR-LR) algorithm. The mean and standard deviation of CT numbers were measured within regions of interest (ROIs), and results were compared between FBP and HYPR-LR. For these comparisons, the following spectral CTimaging methods were used:(i) numerical simulations based on a photon-counting, detector-basedCTsystem, (ii) a photon-counting, detector-based micro CTsystem using rubidium and potassium chloride solutions, (iii) a commercial CTsystem equipped with integrating detectors utilizing tube potentials of 80, 100, 120, and 140 kV, and (iv) a clinical dual-energy CT examination. The effects of tube energy and energy bin width were evaluated appropriate to each CTsystem. Results : The mean CT number in each ROI was unchanged between FBP and HYPR-LR images for each of the spectral CTimaging scenarios, irrespective of bin width or tube potential. However, imagenoise, as represented by the standard deviation of CT numbers in each ROI, was reduced by 36%–76%. In all scenarios, imagenoise after HYPR-LR algorithm was similar to that of composite images, which used all available photons. No difference in spatial resolution was observed between HYPR-LR processing and FBP. Dual energy patient data processed using HYPR-LR demonstrated reduced noise in the individual, low- and high-energy images, as well as in the material-specific basis images. Conclusions : Noise reduction can be accomplished for spectral CT by exploiting data redundancies in the energy domain. HYPR-LR is a robust method for reducing imagenoise in a variety of spectral CTimagingsystems without losing spatial resolution or CT number accuracy. This method improves the flexibility to select energy bins in the manner that optimizes material identification and separation without paying the penalty of increased imagenoise or its corollary, increased patient dose.
Biochemical and structural consequences of a glycine deletion in the α-8 helix of protoporphyrinogen oxidase

A rare Gly210 deletion in protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO) was recently discovered in herbicide-resistant Amaranthus tuberculatus. According to the published X-ray structure of Nicotiana tabacum PPO, Gly210 is adjacent to, not in, the PPO active site, so it is a matter of interest to determine why its deletion imparts resistance to herbicides. In our kinetic experiments, this deletion did not affect the affinity of protoporphyrinogen IX nor the FAD content, but decreased the catalytic efficiency of the enzyme. The suboptimal Kcat was compensated by a significant increase in the Kis for inhibitors and a switch in their interactions from competitive to mixed-type inhibition. In our protein modeling studies on herbicide-susceptible PPO and resistant PPO, we show that Gly210 plays a key role in the alphaL helix-capping motif at the C-terminus of the alpha-8 helix which helps to stabilize the helix. In molecular dynamics simulations, the deletion had significant architecture consequences, destabilizing the alpha-8 helix-capping region and unraveling the last turn of the helix, leading to enlargement of the active site cavity by approximately 50%. This seemingly innocuous deletion of Gly210 of the mitochondrial PPO imparts herbicide resistance to this dual-targeted protein without severely affecting its normal physiological function, which may explain why this unusual mutation was the favored evolutionary path for achieving resistance to PPO inhibitors.
Detection of phospholipid-carbon nanotube translocation using fluorescence energy transfer

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and lysophospholipids readily assemble into supramolecular complexes in aqueous solutions. Upon light excitation the fluorescence of rhodamine-labeled lysophospholipids was redshifted and quenched due to the optical absorption of the SWNTs. Utilizing fluorescence energy transfer, the authors detected the translocation and disassembly of SWNT complexes in MCF breast cancer cells. These lipid-coated SWNT complexes enable drugs to be delivered at an effective dose and their subsequent release to be monitored in real time.
Toward an improved behavioral medicine.

Never before have the challenges for behavioral medicine been more exciting or more urgent. Because most health problems have their roots in behavioral causes, the role of behavioral medicine is paramount in public health. The challenges focus both on issues related to the way researchers interact, set priorities, and conduct research, as well as priority areas for future research. The principles include a need for more theoretical diversity and critique of theory, more inclusiveness, more cost-consciousness, an acceptance of failure as a fundamental part of behavioral science, and a greater commitment to international health. The priorities encompass a greater focus on basic behavioral science, more attention to the study of risk perception, more study of the problems of children and aging populations, and an urgent need for proven, proactive interventions. Actualization of these principles could help behavioral medicine researchers and practitioners to achieve a much greater impact in improving the public’s health both in the U.S. and abroad.
Kinetics of the gas-phase reaction of OH with HCl.

The reaction of hydroxyl radicals with hydrogen chloride (reaction 1) has been studied experimentally using a pulsed-laser photolysis/pulsed-laser-induced fluorescence technique over a wide range of temperatures, 298−1015 K, and at pressures between 5.33 and 26.48 kPa. The bimolecular rate coefficient data set obtained for reaction 1 demonstrates no dependence on pressure and exhibits positive temperature dependence that can be represented with modified three-parameter Arrhenius expression within the experimental temperature range: k1 = 3.20 × 10-15T0.99 exp(−62 K/T) cm3 molecule-1 s-1. The potential-energy surface has been studied using quantum chemical methods, and a transition-state theory model has been developed for the reaction 1 on the basis of calculations and experimental data. The model results in modified three-parameter Arrhenius expressions: k1 = 8.81 × 10-16T1.16 exp(58 K/T) cm3 molecule-1 s-1 for the temperature range 200−1015 K and k1 = 6.84 × 10-19T2.12 exp(646 K/T) cm3 molecule-1 s-1 f...
Questions for pharmacist providers in clozapine clinics: Zacher

WHAT IS THE GREATEST IMPACT YOU HAVE HAD ON YOUR PATIENTS? Since I coordinate all of the blood draws, and I monitor the results, I feel that I get to see the patients a lot more frequently than the providers, so for a lot of the patients, especially those with more severe psychosis, I also serve as a regular "social outing" which gets them out of the house and into the community. I have several patients who look forward to their clozapine appointments every month due to our interactions.
Early detection and prevention of carcinoma of the colon in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Ulcerative colitis, particularly when there is total colonic involvement, is a premalignant lesion of the colon. We review the available methods for the early detection and prevention of colonic carcinoma in patients with ulcerative colitis. These methods include detection of precancer (carcinoma in situ) in rectal and colonic biopsies, with and without immunoperoxidase staining for carcinoembryonic antigen; detection of persistently elevated serum carci-noembryonic antigen; roentgenologic detection; colonoscopic detection; cytologic detection; and simple recommendation of total colectomy in all patients with continuously active, extensive colitis after 10 years of disease. Currently, of these methods available, only detection of precancer (carcinoma in situ) in rectal and colonic biopsies holds promise for the early detection of colonic carcinoma, and there are many pitfalls with this method. Precancer, when analyzed in total colectomies, is absent in 12% of patients with carcinoma complicating ulcerative colitis and is found in the rectum in only 66% of these patients. Thirteen percent of patients with severe ulcerative colitis requiring colectomy have precancer in the absence of cancer. Precancer, when analyzed in rectal biopsies of patients with ulcerative colitis, is found in 5.7% of the patients. Thirty-two percent (17/53) of those patients with precancer in rectal biopsy were found to have colonic carcinoma, while two-thirds of these patients did not have colonic cancer. The role of colonoscopy at regular intervals with the collection of multiple biopsies throughout the colon is currently being evaluated in hopes that this method will more accurately and consistently permit early detection of precancer and cancer in patients with ulcerative colitis of 10 or more years' duration.
Lyapunov functions for a class of large-scale systems

The behavior of solutions of a class of large-scale systems with the bounded coefficients of the form [1] has been studied. The function V_{i}(x_{i},t)=A_{i}(t)x_{i}^{2} , whose coefficient A_{i}(t) is bounded for all t \geq 0 , gives the conditions on the Lyapunov function such that the system (1) is either asymptotically stable or unstable. Since the function of the form e^{-t}x^{2} is not positive definite in the Lyapunov sense, a Lyapunov function of the form V_{i}(x_{i},t)=e^{-Q_{i}(t)}x_{i}^{2} where Q_{i}(t) is bounded is constructed which is positive definite in the Lyapunov sense. A systematic procedure for the construction of such a function is given. The approach is quite general. The method is inspired from the papers of Grujic and Siljak [1], Siljak [2], [3], Weissenberger [4], Bailey [5], and Michel et al. [7], [8].
A modeling strategy for hybrid systems based on event structures

This paper considers hybrid systems which are continuous/discrete-time systems interacting with a decision maker which oversees the control and structure of the continuous/discrete-time system. These two segments combine with a processor which evaluates data to produce a three-segment model of a hybrid system having sufficient flexibility to represent a broad range of real-time situations and sufficient generality to incorporate the essential aspects of other models into a single framework. In particular the paper uses a graphically expressive controlled Petri net formulation of the decision maker and any of the usual models for the continuous/discrete-time system. Interaction between the systems occurs via three types of events: continuous/discrete-time events, decision-making events, and processor events. These types of events and their composition are rigorously defined to produce event structures and event histories. These events and event histories are used for the domain of interaction functions which specify the channels of communication between the three essential segments of the hybrid system. The event-based domains allow the disassociation of these communication channels from dependence on particular kinds of models or applications. The range of the interaction functions are binary vector-valued indicating the activation/deactivation processes in the respective segments. The entire modeling strategy is motivated by applications and models found in the literature especially flexible manufacturing systems and the C-net model of a hybrid system.
Paediatric urology: First study of incontinent ileovesicostomy in children

Although a moderate body of evidence supports the efficacy of ileovesicostomy for neurogenic bladder in adults, its use in children has been largely undocumented. However, recent data show that this procedure should be considered for a selected paediatric population.
iSERVO: Implementing the International Solid Earth Research Virtual Observatory by Integrating Computational Grid and Geographical Information Web Services

We describe the goals and initial implementation of the International Solid Earth Virtual Observatory (iSERVO). This system is built using a Web Services approach to Grid computing infrastructure and is accessed via a component-based Web portal user interface. We describe our implementations of services used by this system, including Geographical Information System (GIS)-based data grid services for accessing remote data repositories and job management services for controlling multiple execution steps. iSERVO is an example of a larger trend to build globally scalable scientific computing infrastructures using the Service Oriented Architecture approach. Adoption of this approach raises a number of research challenges in millisecond-latency message systems suitable for internet-enabled scientific applications. We review our research in these areas.
On stochastic optimization: Taguchi Methods™ demystified; its limitations and fallacy clarified☆

Abstract The intent of this paper is to clarify and straighten out important misperceptions. Recently, the need for Stochastic Optimization in Design and Manufacturing Engineering has received increased recognition. The only technique belonging in the realm of Stochastic Optimization that has been practiced somewhat in industry is Taguchi Methods™. (Taguchi Methods™ and Robust Design™ are registered trademarks of the American Supplier Institute for Taguchi methodology. In this paper, Taguchi Methods or methodology is used in the singular and without the trademark symbol, and mostly its acronym, TM, is used.) However, Taguchi Method (TM) has been incorrectly promoted by many as THE work process for attaining “a robust design,” thus the use of Robust Design™ to stand for TM! This has caused great confusion since much else is needed for designing a robust product. More serious is that simple mathematical fundamentals behind TM have not been fully clarified so that its limitations and deficiencies would be obvious. Thus even greater confusion exists amongst people who “learn” or hear of TM or are intended practitioners. Because of our extensive work on HPD (Holistic Probabilistic Design), which holistically treats Stochastic Optimization and thus includes comprehensively and rigorously addressing robustness, we have gone beyond TM capabilities. As byproducts, we can now demystify TM in a simple manner, show its limitations clearly, and clarify TM's fallacy which essentially invalidates it as a technique!
Metabolic rate of feeding and fasting juvenile midland painted turtles, chrysemys Picta m argin ata

Abstract 1. 1. Resting metabolic rates at 25°C were determined for juvenile midland painted turtles that had recently been fed or fasted for 1, 2, 4, 6, 10, 14 or 19 days. 2. 2. Recently fed turtles had an oxygen consumption rate of 211 μl O2/g/hr. This decreased by 32% on the first day of the fast and by 69% by the 19th day. 3. 3. Mass of the turtles (4.91–14.30g) did not affect the rate of oxygen consumption (VO2).
A note on solving coupled second-order linear differential equations

Abstract A theoretical comparison is made of several popular methods for solving coupled second-order differential equations such as arise in atomic and molecular scattering calculations. The method of Raynal is recast in a very simple predictor-corrector form.
Variational Calculations of Realistic Models of Nuclear Matter

Abstract We report variational calculations of nuclear matter with a semi-realistic Reid v12 model, and a realistic v14 model of the two-nucleon interaction operator. The v14 model fits the available nucleon-nucleon scattering data up to 425 MeV lab energy, and has relatively weak L2 and ( L · S ) 2 interactions in addition to the standard central, tensor and ( L · S ). The L2 and ( L · S ) 2 interactions are treated semiperturbatively; their contribution reduces the overbinding of nuclear matter. However, the equilibrium kF = 1.7 fm−1 and E0 = −17.5 MeV obtained with the v14 model are both higher than their empirical values kF = 1.33 fm− and E0 = −16 MeV. We assume that the difference between the calculated and empirical E(ρ) is entirely due to three-nucleon interactions (TNI). The TNI contributions are phenomenologically added to the nuclear matter energy, and their parameters are adjusted to obtain the correct equilibrium energy, density and compressibility. The required TNI contributions appear to be of reasonable magnitude.
Arginine nutrition and fetal brown adipose tissue development in diet-induced obese sheep.

The global incidence of human obesity has more than doubled over the past three decades. An ovine model of obesity was developed to determine effects of maternal obesity and arginine supplementation on maternal, placental, and fetal parameters of growth, health, and well being. One-hundred-twenty days prior to embryo transfer, ewes were fed either ad libitum (n = 10) to induce obesity or 100% National Research Council-recommended nutrient requirements (n = 10) as controls. Embryos from superovulated ewes with normal body condition were transferred to the uterus of control-fed and obese ewes on day 5.5 post-estrus to generate genetically similar singleton pregnancies. Beginning on day 100 of gestation, obese ewes received intravenous administration of saline or l-arginine-HCl three times daily (81 mg arginine/kg body weight/day) to day 125, whereas control-fed ewes received saline. Fetal growth was assessed at necropsy on day 125. Maternal obesity increased (1) percentages of maternal and fetal carcass lipids and (2) concentrations of leptin, insulin, glucose, glutamate, leucine, lysine and threonine in maternal plasma while reducing (1) concentrations of progesterone, glycine and serine in maternal plasma and (2) amniotic and allantoic fluid volumes. Administration of l-arginine to obese ewes increased arginine and ornithine concentrations in maternal and fetal plasma, amniotic fluid volume, protein content in maternal carcass, and fetal brown adipose tissue (+60%), while reducing maternal lipid content and circulating leptin levels. Fetal or placental weight did not differ among treatments. Results indicate that arginine treatment beneficially reduces maternal adiposity and enhances fetal brown adipose tissue development in obese ewes.