cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An instability study of the onset‐vortex of the southwest monsoon, 1979

A dry two-layer linear-balanced model is used to investigate the relative effects of the horizontal and vertical shears of the zonal flow over the Arabian Sea in the early phase of the onset of the southwest monsoon in 1979. The basic state is obtained from the MONEX data. Two aspects of the cyclogenesis which immediately preceded the onset of the monsoon can be adequately accounted for by the process of dynamic instability mainly associated with the horizontal shear of the basic flow. These two aspects are the growth rate and the scale selection of the disturbance. To this extent, the results of this study agree with Krishnamurti et al. (1981). But the mainly barotropic instability mechanism incorrectly predicts two other aspects of the cyclogenesis. The maximum intensity of the disturbance is predicted on the southern flank of the jet and the vertical extent of the disturbance is essentially confined to the lower troposphere. These discrepancies reflect the limitations of a dry model. The vertical shear and stratification significantly influence the structure of the disturbance although their effect on the growth rate is small. The comparison of the linear-balanced model results with the quasi-geostrophic model results suggests that the full variation of the Coriolis parameter with latitude should be retained in future modeling of the onset-vortex. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1982.tb01825.x
Re-operation rates after permanent sacral nerve stimulation for refractory voiding dysfunction in women.

OBJECTIVES To describe the development of screening tests and to identify re-operation rates after the permanent implant phase, and its characteristics, of the Interstim® (Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MI, USA) device for sacral nerve stimulation (SNS). PATIENTS AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the charts of women who had SNS between January 1998 and December 2005; their demographic, clinical and surgical information was abstracted. Descriptive statistics, chi-square and analysis of variance were used to compare the results. RESULTS In all, 95 patients had 105 test procedures; 30 peripheral nerve evaluation (PNE) and 75 staged tined leads. Response rates were lower in the PNE than in the tined lead (40% vs 67%, P = 0.01). The indication for SNS was associated with the response rate, with urinary retention having the highest response (71%, P = 0.01). For the 55 implanted devices, there were 18 revisions (33%) and eight explants (15%). The main reasons for revision or explants were loss of efficacy (16/26) and pain at the implant site (six of 26). The median (range) time to intervention after implantation was 17 (1.2–75.0) months, and this was significantly associated with the indication. Revisions due to pain at the implant site were within the first year, and re-operations due to loss of efficacy after 1–2 years, whereas battery replacement was required on average 4 years after initial implantation. CONCLUSIONS This study confirms the higher response rates of the tined-lead staged technique over PNE. Unobstructive urinary retention had the highest response rates. The reason for revision appeared to be largely predicted by the length of time since implantation.
UV laser crosslinking of proteins with nucleic acids

For some years it has been known that proteins and nucleic acids can be crosslinked together by ultra-violet light. This phenomenon has been exploited in a number of studies investigating protein-nucleic acid interactions. We have further developed this approach by employing a high-powered pulsed UV laser as a radiation source. Using model protein-nucleic acid systems we have characterized a number of aspects of the crosslinking process. We have found that the optimal wavelength for crosslinking proteins to nucleic acids falls within the major absorption band of the nucleic acid. Thymidine residues appear to exhibit the greatest amount of crosslinking, followed by cytosine, which crosslinks with an efficiency that is about 100-fold less. We have found that the crosslinking process is critically dependent on the exact geometry of the protein-nucleic acid system, in such a way that only those partners that are involved in a very intimate contact undergo crosslinking. The rapid photon delivery time of the laser presents many advantages in crosslinking studies. Problems associated with photodegradation products, substrate exhaustion and general protein degradation can be avoided. Furthermore, since all of the crosslinking can be achieved in one short pulse lasting only several nanoseconds the distribution of proteins reflects an equilibrium that has been essentially frozen at a particular instant in time. As a result protein-nucleic acid contact information can be interpreted within a temporal context, leading to a more complete understanding of how a particular protein-nucleic acid complex functions.
CHILD MALTREATMENT AND YOUTHFUL PROBLEM BEHAVIOR

This paper adds to an accumulating body of research on the risk of delinquency among maltreated children. We use a prospective research design to address the following questions: (1) To what extent are maltreated children at risk of delinquency? (2) Is their rate of delinquency greater than that of two court-aged, nonmaltreated comparison samples: impoverished children and school children in general? (3) What is the effect of maltreatment net of age, race, gender, and family structure? (4) Is type of maltreatment associated with specific types of juvenile offenses? Maltreated children have higher rates of delinquency complaints than nonmaltreated school and impoverished children, but the effects diminish considerably when the demographic and family structure variables are controlled. In the maltreatment-school comparison, an overall maltreatment effect remains for complaints in general and status offenses, but not for property or violent offenses. Maltreated children are significantly different from nonmaltreated poor children for status offenses only. Specific forms of maltreatment are not especially predictive of any offense type. Generally, we conclude that the maltreatment-delinquency relationship has been exaggerated in previous research.
Matrix‐Isolation Study of the Reaction of Carbon Atoms with Chlorine. The Electronic and Vibrational Spectra of the Free Radical CCl2

Studies of the photolysis of N3CN in the presence of Cl2 in Ar and N2 matrices at 14°K provide evidence for the formation of the free radical CCl2 by the reaction of photolytically produced C atoms with Cl2. The two stretching fundamentals of CCl2 appear at 721 and 748 cm−1. The corresponding fundamentals of 13CCl2 have also been observed. When the sample is warmed above about 30°K, these features disappear, and CCl4 features grow in intensity, indicating that CCl2 can react with Cl2 with little or no activation energy. The valence angle of CCl2 probably lies between 90° and 110°. A weak band system appearing between 4400 and 5600 A, with an average band separation of 305 cm−1, may also be attributed to CCl2. Analogy with the electronic absorption spectrum of CF2 suggests that CCl2 possesses a ground singlet state and that this band system arises from a transition between the ground‐state electronic configuration and the first excited electronic configuration of CCl2, involving an extensive progression in...
PsycWord 2: a Windows program for structuring clinical documentation in psychology

A revised program is described that is designed to facilitate the rapid production of required clinical documentation including face sheets, intake reports, treatment plans, case reviews and closings. PsycWord 2 also performs an initial audit to determine if required elements and standards are met at the time the reports are originally produced. It is intended to simultaneously be more specialized than its predecessor, easier to use, faster and require fewer computer resources.
The research and development program for the SNAP dark energy experiment

Abstract The SNAP mission includes two surveys to study dark energy. In the deep survey, we detect more than 2000 matched Type Ia supernovae within a 7.5 deg2 field, with redshifts covering the range z = 0.1 – 1.7 . This uniform and high-quality set of “standard candles” will provide the most precise mapping of the expansion of the universe through the magnitude-redshift relation (Hubble diagram) ever constructed. The SNAP wide survey maps 1000 deg2/year in nine passbands to 28th magnitude. A weak-lensing study of the wide survey data traces the growth of structure and provides completely independent constraints on dark energy parameters. SNAP utilizes a 2 m class rigid light-weight telescope with a three-mirror anastigmatic design for a large, diffraction-limited field of view. The telescope feeds an instrumented ∼0.7 deg2 focal plane with ∼600 million pixels sensitive to wavelengths from 400 to 1700 nm. Full-depletion, high-purity silicon CCDs detect visible wavelengths, and 1700 nm cutoff HgCdTe detector arrays detect the near-IR. Passive cooling of the focal plane, fixed solar panels, fixed filters, and fixed antenna for telemetry simplify the mission. Room temperature operation of the telescope facilitates preflight testing. The satellite is placed in orbit about the second Earth–Sun Lagrange point (L2).
Sincerely Saying What You Don't Believe Again

Cappelen and Lepore (2005) argue that "[s]peakers need not believe everything they sincerely say." I argue that their latest (2006a) defence of this claim proposes a problematic principle that does not yield their surprising conclusion.
Assessing occupational exposure via the one-way random effects model with balanced data

A one-way random effects model is considered for the log-transformed shift-long personal exposure measurements, where the random effect in the model represents an effect due to the worker. Following a previous approach, we address a hypothesis-testingproblem involving the proportion of workers for whom the mean exposure exceeds the occupational exposure limit. A confidence interval is constructed for the relevant parameter of interest, following the idea of a previously presented generalized confidence interval. The confidence bound is used for the purpose of testing hypotheses, and the performance of the test is numerically in vestigated. It turns out that the test exhibits satisfactory performance regardless of the sample size, in particular, for small samples. A similar procedure is then employed for testing hypotheses concerning the overall mean exposure. The results are illustrated using examples.
Inflation in an exponential-potential scalar field model

A spatially flat cosmological scalar field $\ensuremath{\Phi}$ model with the scalar field potential $\ensuremath{\propto}\mathrm{exp}(\ensuremath{-}\frac{\ensuremath{\Phi}}{\sqrt{p}})$, $pg1$, provides a simple class of inflationary cosmologies (which includes the usual exponential expansion inflation) that may be used as an analytical testing ground to help understand the predictions of the inflation model of the very early Universe. We divide the evolution of this model into three distinct epochs: scalar-field dominance and conventional radiation and baryon dominance; in each epoch we only account for irregularities in the dominant form of matter. We present closed-form solutions of the (synchronous gauge) relativistic linear perturbation equations that govern the evolution of inhomogeneities. These classical solutions, augmented with quantum-mechanically motivated initial conditions and joining conditions to match the expressions for the irregularities at the scalar-field-radiation and radiation-baryon transitions, are used to estimate the large-time form of the spectrum of energy-density irregularities, of the local departure velocity from homogeneous expansion, of large-scale fluctuations in the microwave background temperature, and of the gravitational-wave energy density. The inflation epoch results agree with those found from a purely quantum-mechanical analysis. Depending on the value of $p$ this model can have more large-scale power than the usual scale-invariant spectrum (at the expense of less small-scale power) and would seem to be marginally better at forming large-scale structure than the canonical model; however, the decrease in small-scale power serves to exacerbate the problem of late galaxy formation. As the model approaches the exponential expansion inflation limit, the power spectrum tends towards the scale-invariant form, although, in this limit the numerical prefactor diverges. We find that transverse peculiar velocity perturbations are not generated. Normalizing by fitting to the observed large-scale departure velocity, we find that models which stop inflating around ${10}^{7}$-${10}^{16}$ GeV are not obviously observationally inconsistent.
Genetics of complement deficiencies associated with lupus‐like syndromes

There appears to be an association between deficiencies of a number of complement components, particularly of the second component (C2), and rheumatic diseases, especially lupus. The meaning of this association is not clear, but the linkage of deficiency of C2 with HLA, especially HLA-A10, B18, Dw2, as well as with BfS, suggests a possible linkage to immune response genes.
A note on a simplified and general approach to simulating from multivariate copula functions

Copulas have become an important analytic tool for characterizing multivariate distributions and dependence. One is often interested in simulating data from copula estimates. The process can be analytically and computationally complex and usually involves steps that are unique to a given parametric copula. We describe an alternative approach that uses ‘Probability-Proportional-to-Size’ random sampling with weights formed from the copula likelihood function. The method is flexible and can be applied to parametric and nonparametric marginal density estimates. The precision of the simulation can be calibrated by adjusting the density of the multidimensional grid used in the simulation process. The approach is fully transparent to any copula function with continuous random variables. An example evaluates a number of goodness-of-fit criteria and provides strong support for the validity and practicality of the method.
Serum BDNF levels before treatment predict SSRI response in depression

Abstract Objectives The “neurotrophin hypothesis” of depression posits a role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in depression, although it is unknown whether BDNF is more involved in the etiology of depression or in the mechanism of action of antidepressants. It is also unknown whether pre-treatment serum BDNF levels predict antidepressant response. Methods Thirty un-medicated depressed subjects were treated with escitalopram (N = 16) or sertraline (N = 14) for 8 weeks. Twenty-five of the depressed subjects completed 8 weeks of antidepressant treatment and had analyzable data. Twenty-eight healthy controls were also studied. Serum for BDNF assay was obtained at baseline in all subjects and after 8 weeks of treatment in the depressed subjects. Depression ratings were obtained at baseline and after 8 weeks of treatment in the depressed subjects. Results Pre-treatment BDNF levels were lower in the depressed subjects than the controls (p = 0.001) but were not significantly correlated with pre-treatment depression severity. Depression ratings improved with SSRI treatment (p Conclusions These results confirm low serum BDNF levels in un-medicated depressed subjects and confirm antidepressant-induced increases in BDNF levels, but they suggest that antidepressants do not work simply by correcting BDNF insufficiency. Rather, these findings are consistent with a permissive or facilitatory role of BDNF in the mechanism of action of antidepressants.
DNA-binding properties of the Erf protein of bacteriophage P22☆

Abstract The phage P22 erf (essential recombination function) gene was placed in a small plasmid under the control of a strong, inducible promoter by manipulations in vitro. Erf protein was purified from induced cells, and characterized. Erf protein (monomer molecular weight 23,000) forms oligomers in solution. The carboxyl terminus is protease-sensitive; its removal generates a discrete amino-terminal fragment (molecular weight approximately 18,000) that also oligomerizes. At temperatures below 45 °C, Erf forms stable, discrete complexes with single-stranded DNA and supercoiled DNA, but not with relaxed double-stranded DNA. Binding to single-stranded DNA is stoichiometric; one Erf monomer binds approximately 15 bases of DNA, over the range of protein concentrations tested (2 to 100 μg/ml). At high temperatures (50 to 60 °C), Erf binds single- and double-stranded DNA, forming aggregates instead of discrete complexes. Heating and cooling in the absence of DNA produces a form of Erf that has single-stranded binding specificity, but forms aggregates on binding.
Metabolism of the nigrostriatal toxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine by liver homogenate fractions

The metabolic fate of the nigrostriatal toxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) has been examined in rat and rabbit liver mitochondrial and rabbit liver microsomal preparations. The mitochondrial preparations rapidly oxidized MPTP, in a pargyline-sensitive reaction, to a polar material that was shown to contain the 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium species as the principal product. NADPH-supplemented microsomal preparations converted MPTP to two principal products: 4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine N-oxide. Carbon monoxide and SKF 525A selectively inhibited the oxidation of MPTP to the nor compound, indicating that this N-demethylation reaction is cytochrome P-450 catalyzed. Attempts to trap possible unstable iminium metabolites of MPTP in microsomal incubation mixtures with sodium cyanide led to the isolation of a monocyano adduct that proved to be the N-cyanomethyl derivative. Thus, hepatic mitochondrial and microsomal enzyme systems catalyze the oxidation of MPTP by different pathways, the former leading to the generation of species that may possess neurotoxic properties.
Individual and County-Level Factors Associated with Use of Multiple Prescribers and Multiple Pharmacies to Obtain Opioid Prescriptions in California

Use of multiple prescribers and pharmacies is a means by which some individuals misuse opioids. Community characteristics may be important determinants of the likelihood of this phenomenon independent of individual-level factors. This was a retrospective cohort study with individual-level data derived from California's statewide prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) and county-level socioeconomic status (SES) data derived from the United States Census. Zero-truncated negative binomial (ZTNB) regression was used to model the association of individual factors (age, gender, drug schedule and drug dose type) and county SES factors (ethnicity, adult educational attainment, median household income, and physician availability) with the number of prescribers and the number of pharmacies that an individual used during a single year (2006). The incidence rates of new prescriber use and new pharmacy use for opioid prescriptions declined across increasing age groups. Males had a lower incidence rate of new prescriber use and new pharmacy use than females. The total number of licensed physicians and surgeons in a county was positively, linearly, and independently associated with the number of prescribers and pharmacies that individuals used for prescription opioids. In summary, younger age, female gender, and living in counties with more licensed physicians and surgeons were associated with use of more prescribers and/or more pharmacies for obtaining prescription opioids.
The Webster-type face and neck lift: an extensive cervico-facial rhytidectomy employing a minimally invasive technique.

Background. Facelifting has incorporated a wide range of new techniques and developments over the past few decades. Many techniques employ a more aggressive surgical approach that may be advocated for seeming advantage, yet upon closer review may be unwarranted for the average patient seeking facial rejuvenation. The Webster-type face and neck lift utilizes a minimally invasive approach to thoroughly resupport the face and neck substructure and skin. This approach affords the patient excellent results while limiting untoward complications. Objective. To evaluate the efficacy of the Webster-type face and neck lift. Methods. The Webster-type face and neck lift was utilized in 200 facelift patients. We reviewed these cases for aesthetic results and associated complications. Results. The great majority of patients have been uniformly pleased with the aesthetic restoration via the Webster-type lift. Postoperative courses have been routinely uneventful and major complications have been avoided. Conclusion. The evolution of more invasive approaches to cervicofacial rhytidectomy has not been shown to produce consistently better or longer-lasting results. Many of these aggressive techniques have extended the operating time, heightened the potential morbidity of the operation, and prolonged the duration of convalescence. The Webster-type lift is a proven, modern approach that provides comparable and lasting results while limiting risk and avoiding serious complications.
Regulatory regions from the Brn4 promoter direct LACZ expression to the developing forebrain and neural tube.

Abstract To characterize cis-acting regulatory elements of the mouse POU-domain gene, Brain-4/Pou3F4, transgenic mouse pedigrees were generated that contained the LacZ reporter gene under the control of Brn4 5′ flanking sequences. A six kilobase promoter region was identified that reproducibly directed expression of the reporter gene to the forebrain and neural tube of developing mouse embryos. Deletional analysis of this promoter region indicates that at least two positive cis-active elements can direct expression to the developing neural tube. These data characterize a transgenic promoter region that will be useful in directing expression to the developing neural tube during the ontogeny of the forebrain.
Characterization of Direct Cache Access on multi-core systems and 10GbE

10GbE connectivity is expected to be a standard feature of server platforms in the near future. Among the numerous methods and features proposed to improve network performance of such platforms is Direct Cache Access (DCA) to route incoming I/O to CPU caches directly. While this feature has been shown to be promising, there can be significant challenges when dealing with high rates of traffic in a multiprocessor and multi-core environment. In this paper, we focus on two practical considerations with DCA. In the first case, we show that the performance benefit from DCA can be limited when network traffic processing rate cannot match the I/O rate. In the second case, we show that affinitizing both stack and application contexts to cores that share a cache is critical. With proper distribution and affinity, we show that a standard Linux network stack runs 32% faster for 2KB to 64KB I/O sizes.
An adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) model for high pressure die casting

The focus of this research was to create a reliable and effective methodological tool for the selection of the optimal conditions in the high pressure die casting (HPDC) process. An adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) was applied to study the effect of die casting parameters on porosity formation in AlSi9Cu3 pressure die castings. Metal temperature, die temperature, piston velocity in slow phase, die gate velocity, and solidification pressure were considered as the model’s input features. An orthogonal array was used in the experimental design. The experimental results were then used to establish the predictive model based on a neuro-fuzzy approach. The model combined the modelling function of fuzzy inference with the learning ability of an artificial neural network. Α set of rules was generated directly from the experimental data. Trapezoidal and Gauss membership functions were used for the training of the data. By comparing the predicted values with the experimental data, it was demonstrated t...
Temperature compensation in piezoelectric energy harvesters using shape memory alloys

Harvested vibration energy is typically considered as an alternative power source for sensors' networks for health and usage monitoring in civil and mechanical structures. The longevity, and hence the efficacy, of these sensors is severely limited by the levels of generated power. Piezoelectric vibration harvesters have been widely used given their energy conversion ability and relatively high mechanical to electrical coupling properties. Several techniques can be applied to improve these properties and to cancel external environmental effects such as temperature variations. In this paper, the temperature compensation of the response characteristics of a bimorph cantilever Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) piezoelectric beam, through a combination with shape memory alloys, is studied. A mathematical model, based on onedimensional linear piezoelectricity equations and one dimensional constitutive behavior of shape memory alloys, is derived. The model describes the effect of temperature deviations on the theoretical harvestable energy levels as well as the compensation methodology. Proof of concept experimental results are also presented. The voltage response transfer functions are measured at different temperatures to show the induced effect by shape memory alloys.
The Prosthetic Imagination: Enabling and Disabling the Prosthesis Trope:

This article critically examines the ways in which the trope of prosthesis has been used in recent theory to understand human-technology relationships. Analyzing the trope from a number of angles, including disability, factory labor practices, mass production, and marketing, the author scrutinizes ways in which technologies are simultaneously wounding and enabling in ways for which the prosthesis trope cannot account.
OPTIMAL MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION REQUIRES EARLY AND COMPLETE REPERFUSION

Thrombolytic therapy for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) began more than 15 years ago with the initial observations of Rentrop et al1 and others2 that demonstrated the feasibility of reperfusing totally occluded coronary arteries in patients with AMI with the infusion of intracoronary streptokinase (ICSK). The intracoronary route of administration was hampered by the need for early cardiac catheterization, delaying the initiation of therapy, which many believed made this approach to treatment impractical. Despite this limitation, intracoronary thrombolytic therapy resulted in patency rates that were generally higher and achieved more rapidly than intravenous therapy once treatment was begun. One of the earliest trials of intracoronary therapy, which randomized patients early in the course of AMI, demonstrated improved left ventricular function as compared with control patients, a finding that many randomized trials of intravenous thrombolytic therapy have failed to demonstrate.3 One of the great advantages of intracoronary administration over the intravenous route is the immediate angiographic demonstration of the success or failure of the therapy. In our Western Washington ICSK trial,4 5 we randomized 250 patients to either ICSK or no thrombolytic therapy. All patients underwent immediate coronary angiography and were randomized after the identification of a partially or totally occluded infarct-related coronary artery. Of the vessels that were totally occluded at the time of the initiation of the streptokinase infusion, 67% completely reperfused at an average of 31 minutes after the onset of therapy. The adequacy of coronary artery reperfusion was judged by an angiographic reading committee that classified patients as having complete, partial, or no reperfusion. Although the 30-day survival in this trial was significantly better in the treatment than in the control patients (3.7% versus 11.2%, P <.02), by 1 year this difference was no longer significant. However, when the survival of …
Impaired Activation of Islet-Reactive CD4 T Cells in Pancreatic Lymph Nodes of B Cell-Deficient Nonobese Diabetic Mice

Despite the impressive protection of B cell-deficient (muMT(-/-)) nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice from spontaneous diabetes, existence of mild pancreatic islet inflammation in these mice indicates that initial autoimmune targeting of beta cells has occurred. Furthermore, muMT(-/-) NOD mice are shown to harbor a latent repertoire of diabetogenic T cells, as evidenced by their susceptibility to cyclophosphamide-induced diabetes. The quiescence of this pool of islet-reactive T cells may be a consequence of impaired activation of T lymphocytes in B cell-deficient NOD mice. In this regard, in vitro anti-CD3-mediated stimulation demonstrates impaired activation of lymph node CD4 T cells in muMT(-/-) NOD mice as compared with that of wild-type counterparts, a deficiency that is correlated with an exaggerated CD4 T cell:APC ratio in lymph nodes of muMT(-/-) NOD mice. This feature points to an insufficient availability of APC costimulation on a per T cell basis, resulting in impaired CD4 T cell activation in lymph nodes of muMT(-/-) NOD mice. In accordance with these findings, an islet-reactive CD4 T cell clonotype undergoes suboptimal activation in pancreatic lymph nodes of muMT(-/-) NOD recipients. Overall, the present study indicates that B cells in the pancreatic lymph node microenvironment are critical in overcoming a checkpoint involving the provision of optimal costimulation to islet-reactive NOD CD4 T cells.
Tumor Necrosis Factor-α–Induced Dilatation of Cerebral Arterioles

Background and Purpose —In brain, several cell types produce tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) after injury or exposure to endotoxin. TNFα alone or in combination with endotoxin or other cytokines can cause expression of inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase. We have previously demonstrated that endotoxin caused NO-dependent dilatation of cerebral arterioles in vivo. In the present study we examined the hypothesis that TNFα causes NO-mediated dilatation of cerebral arterioles in vivo. Methods —Cranial windows were implanted in anesthetized rats and used to measure the diameter of cerebral arterioles. Windows were flushed every 30 minutes for 4 hours with artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) (n=6); aCSF with TNFα (100 ng/mL; n=10); aCSF with TNFα and aminoguanidine (0.3 mmol/L; n=5), an inhibitor of inducible NO synthase; or aCSF with TNFα and dexamethasone (1 μmol/L; n=6), which attenuates expression of inducible NO synthase. In some animals, brain from beneath the cranial window was examined by immunocytochemistry for inducible NO synthase expression. Results —Application of TNFα caused marked, progressive dilatation of cerebral arterioles, with a maximum increase in diameter of 46±9% (mean±SEM) at 4 hours. Coapplication of either aminoguanidine or dexamethasone with TNFα prevented dilatation of cerebral arterioles compared with TNFα alone (4±2% and 1±1% dilatation at 4 hours, respectively; P <.05). Dexamethasone did not inhibit dilatation of cerebral arterioles in response to adenosine diphosphate. However, 2 hours of aminoguanidine treatment produced moderate inhibition of adenosine diphosphate–induced dilatation of cerebral arterioles. After treatment with TNFα, immunocytochemistry for inducible NO synthase demonstrated expression in perivascular and arachnoid cells but not brain cells. There was no detectable expression of inducible NO synthase after treatment with aCSF. Conclusions —The present study indicates that TNFα causes cerebral vasodilatation and expression of inducible NO synthase in perivascular and arachnoid cells. Inhibition of TNFα-induced dilatation by aminoguanidine and dexamethasone suggests that the vasodilatation was due predominantly to expression of inducible NO synthase. These findings support the concept that cerebral vasodilatation that occurs during pathophysiological conditions associated with increased TNFα production in brain is mediated by expression of inducible NO synthase.
Effect of Substrate Contact Shape and Placement on RF Characteristics of 45 nm Low Power CMOS Devices

The substrate resistance of 45 nm CMOS devices shows a strong dependence on the distance between the device edge and the substrate contact ring, as well as on the number of sides that the surrounding ring contacts the substrate. We find that the unilateral gain is impacted by the substrate resistance (Rsx) through the gate-body capacitance feedback path at low to medium frequencies (< 20 GHz). At mm-wave frequencies, the unilateral power gain is affected by Rsx through the drain-body capacitance pole, and the unilateral power gain deviates from the ideal -20 dB/dec slope. Within the range of designs that have been studied, the impact of substrate resistance on fT, maximum available gain, high frequency noise and power characteristics of the devices is minimal.
Discourse coherence and cognition after stroke: a dual task study.

Abstract Several researchers have suggested that the maintenance of global coherence (topic maintenance) and local coherence (maintenance between utterances) in discourse requires cognitive resources. This study directly tests this hypothesis by examining the relationship between cognitive variables and coherence in narrative discourse produced by mobility-impaired stroke survivors under single (talking) and dual (talking and walking) task conditions. Although there were no effects of the dual task on coherence, global coherence was significantly disrupted regardless of the single or dual task condition. Moreover, global coherence strongly correlated with cognitive function measures, whereas local coherence did not. Findings are consistent with two interpretations: (1) that global and local coherence may be subserved by different cognitive processes or (2) that maintaining global coherence is a more difficult task and thus will show effects of cognitive impairment before local coherence is impaired. These are both testable hypotheses for future research. Learning outcomes : After reading the manuscript, the reader will be able to: (1) understand and differentiate between local and global measures of coherence; (2) discuss the effects of a dual task, walking and talking, on global coherence in a gait-impaired group of stroke survivors; (3) understand why the maintenance of global coherence in discourse might be more cognitively demanding than the maintenance of local coherence.
Finding the “Community” in Community-Level HIV/AIDS Interventions: Formative Research with Young African American Men Who Have Sex with Men

Data from 76 qualitative interviews with 18- to 29-year-old African American men who have sex with men (MSM) in Chicago and Atlanta were examined to identify perceptions of “community” and components of a community-level HIV/AIDS intervention. Many men reported feeling marginal to African American and gay White communities because of perceived homophobia and racism. Those who reported feeling part of gay African American communities characterized communities in terms of settings, social structures, and functions, including social support, socialization, and mobility. Despite these positive functions, divisions among groups of MSM, lack of settings for nonsexual interaction with other MSM, lack of leadership, and negative attitudes toward homosexuality may make it difficult for men to participate in activities to alter community contexts that influence behavior. Rather, changing norms, increasing social support, and community building should be part of initial community-level interventions. Community build...
Complex-Cell Responses Derived from Center-Surround Inputs: The Surprising Power of Intradendritic Computation

Biophysical modeling studies have previously shown that cortical pyramidal cells driven by strong NMDA-type synaptic currents and/or containing dendritic voltage-dependent Ca++ or Na+ channels, respond more strongly when synapses are activated in several spatially clustered groups of optimal size-in comparison to the same number of synapses activated diffusely about the dendritic arbor [8]. The nonlinear intradendritic interactions giving rise to this "cluster sensitivity" property are akin to a layer of virtual nonlinear "hidden units" in the dendrites, with implications for the cellular basis of learning and memory [7, 6], and for certain classes of nonlinear sensory processing [8]. In the present study, we show that a single neuron, with access only to excitatory inputs from unoriented ON- and OFF-center cells in the LGN, exhibits the principal nonlinear response properties of a "complex" cell in primary visual cortex, namely orientation tuning coupled with translation invariance and contrast insensitivity. We conjecture that this type of intradendritic processing could explain how complex cell responses can persist in the absence of oriented simple cell input [13].
Reversible modulation and ultrafast dynamics of terahertz resonances in strongly photoexcited metamaterials

We demonstrate an ultrafast reversible modulation of resonant terahertz (THz) response in strongly photoexcited metamaterials. The transient spectral-temporal response of the dipole transition ~1.6 THz exhibits a distinct non-monotonic variation as a function of pump fluence. The transition energy shift, strength, spectral width and density-dependent ultrafast relaxation manifest a remarkable re-emergence of the resonances after initial quenching. Our simulation, incorporating the first-order diffraction from the photoinduced transient grating, reproduces the salient features, providing a new avenue for designing nonlinear and frequency-agile THz modulators.
INACTIVATION OF Trypanosoma cruzi TRYPOMASTIGOTE FORMS IN BLOOD COMPONENTS BY PHOTODYNAMIC TREATMENT WITH PHTHALOCYANINES

Three phthalocyanine dyes HOSiPcOSi(CH3)2(CH2)3N(CH3)2 (Pc 4), HOSiPcOSi(CH3)2(CH2)3N+(CH3)3I- (Pc 5) and aluminum tetrasulfophthalocyanine hydroxide (AlOHPcS4) were evaluated for their ability to inactivate the trypomastigote form of Trypanosoma cruzi in fresh frozen plasma (FFP) and red blood cell concentrates (RBCC). The compound Pc 4 was found to be highly effective in killing T. cruzi, Pc 5 less effective and AlOHPcS4 ineffective. With FFP as the medium, a complete loss of parasite infectivity in vitro (> or = 5 log10) was found to occur with 2 microM Pc 4 after irradiation with red light (> 600 nm) at a fluence of 7.5 J/cm2, while with RBCC as the medium, a complete loss was found to occur at a fluence of 15 J/cm2. Even without illumination, Pc 4 at 2 microM also killed about 3.7-4.1 log10 of T. cruzi in FFP during 30 min. Observed differences in T. cruzi killing by the various phthalocyanines may related to differences in binding; Pc 4 binds to the parasites about twice as much as Pc 5. Ultrastructural analysis of treated parasites suggests that mitochondria are a primary target of this photodynamic treatment. The data indicate that Pc 4 combined with exposure to red light could be used to eliminate bloodborne T. cruzi parasites from blood components intended for transfusion. The inactivation of T. cruzi by Pc 4 in the dark suggests a possible therapeutic application.
Serial homologies of the motor neurons of the dorsal intersegmental muscles of the cockroach, Periplaneta americana (L.).

The types and locations of serially homologous motor neurons of the dorsal muscles in the cockroach Periplaneta americana remain rather constant regardless of the various adaptations of their muscles or the fusion of ganglia. However, the size and number of neurons do vary according to the development of the muscles they innervate. Neurons in four distinctive locations, two ipsisegmental and two antesegmental, innervate the dorsal longitudinal (DL) muscles in most segments. One of the ipsisegmental neurons (DLC) is common to all of the DL muscles of a segment and probably has a modulatory function. The dorsal oblique (DO) muscles of most segments have neurons in two antesegmental positions. One of these, an antesegmental, contralateral neuron, innervates both DO and DL muscles in each segment and is also probably modulatory. One neuron (DOC) of the prothoracic ganglion is the principal exception to the constancy of these serially homologous neurons. This neuron appears to be homologous to the DLC neurons of other segments but innervates the DO rather than the DL muscles.
PARAMETRIC STUDY OF TISSUE OPTICAL CLEARING BY LOCALIZED MECHANICAL COMPRESSION USING COMBINED FINITE ELEMENT AND MONTE CARLO SIMULATION

Tissue Optical Clearing Devices (TOCDs) have been shown to increase light transmission through mechanically compressed regions of naturally turbid biological tissues. We hypothesize that zones of high compressive strain induced by TOCD pins produce localized water displacement and reversible changes in tissue optical properties. In this paper, we demonstrate a novel combined mechanical finite element model and optical Monte Carlo model which simulates TOCD pin compression of an ex vivo porcine skin sample and modified spatial photon fluence distributions within the tissue. Results of this simulation qualitatively suggest that light transmission through the skin can be significantly affected by changes in compressed tissue geometry as well as concurrent changes in tissue optical properties. The development of a comprehensive multi-domain model of TOCD application to tissues such as skin could ultimately be used as a framework for optimizing future design of TOCDs.
RNA-binding specificity of E. coli NusA

The RNA sequences boxA, boxB and boxC constitute the nut regions of phage λ. They nucleate the formation of a termination-resistant RNA polymerase complex on the λ chromosome. The complex includes E. coli proteins NusA, NusB, NusG and NusE, and the λ N protein. A complex that includes the Nus proteins and other factors forms at the rrn leader. Whereas RNA-binding by NusB and NusE has been described in quantitative terms, the interaction of NusA with these RNA sequences is less defined. Isotropic as well as anisotropic fluorescence equilibrium titrations show that NusA binds only the nut spacer sequence between boxA and boxB. Thus, nutR boxA5-spacer, nutR boxA16-spacer and nutR boxA69-spacer retain NusA binding, whereas a spacer mutation eliminates complex formation. The affinity of NusA for nutL is 50% higher than for nutR. In contrast, rrn boxA, which includes an additional U residue, binds NusA in the absence of spacer. The Kd values obtained for rrn boxA and rrn boxA-spacer are 19-fold and 8-fold lower, respectively, than those for nutR boxA-spacer. These differences may explain why λ requires an additional protein, λ N, to suppress termination. Knowledge of the different affinities now describes the assembly of the anti-termination complex in quantitative terms.
Overexpression, Purification, and Crystallization of the Membrane-Bound Fumarate Reductase from Escherichia coli

Abstract Quinol–fumarate reductase (QFR) from Escherichia coli is a membrane-bound four-subunit respiratory protein that shares many physical and catalytic properties with succinate–quinone oxidoreductase (EC 1.3.99.1) commonly referred to as Complex II. The E. coli QFR has been overexpressed using plasmid vectors so that more than 50% of the cytoplasmic membrane fraction is composed of the four-subunit enzyme complex. The growth characteristics required for optimal levels of expression with minimal degradation by host cell proteases and oxidation factors were determined for the strains harboring the recombinant plasmid. The enzyme is extracted from the enriched membrane fraction using the nonionic detergent Thesit (polyoxyethylene(9)dodecyl ether) in a monodisperse form and then purified by a combination of anion-exchange, perfusion, and gel filtration chromatography. The purified enzyme is highly active and contains all types of redox cofactors expected to be associated with the enzyme. Crystallization screening of the purified QFR by vapor diffusion resulted in the formation of crystals within 24 h using a sodium citrate buffer and polyethylene glycol precipitant. The crystals contain the complete four-subunit QFR complex, diffract to 3.3 A resolution, and were found to be in space group P2 1 2 1 2 1 with unit cell dimensions a = 96.6 A, b = 138.1 A, and c = 275.3 A. The purification and crystallization procedures are highly reproducible and the general procedure may prove useful for Complex IIs from other sources.
Electronic States in Amorphous Solids, Liquids, and Alloys

We describe elements of a thermodynamical ensemble theory of electronic states in a variety of disordered systems. Equilibrium energies and kinetics of phase space exploration combine to determiine the ensembles describing disordered systems. Electronic properties are then related to structural energies. This relationship serves to determine the distribution of electronic states present in real materials. Thus we obtain directly electronic properties without a need for detailed microscopic information about the diverse systems. Applications range from the Urbach edge to defect properties providing a unified understanding.
Patterns of trait convergence and divergence among native and exotic species in herbaceous plant communities are not modified by nitrogen enrichment

Summary 1. Community assembly theories predict that the success of invading species into a new community should be predictable by functional traits. Environmental filters could constrain the number of successful ecological strategies in a habitat, resulting in similar suites of traits between native and successfully invading species (convergence). Conversely, concepts of limiting similarity and competitive exclusion predict native species will prevent invasion by functionally similar exotic species, resulting in trait divergence between the two species pools. Nutrient availability may further alter the strength of convergent or divergent forces in community assembly, by relaxing environmental constraints and ⁄ or influencing competitive interactions. 2. To investigate how nutrient availability influences forces of divergence and convergence during the invasion of exotic species into native communities, we conducted multivariate analyses of community composition and functional traits from naturally assembled plant communities in long-term nitrogen (N) addition experiments across North America. 3. Relative abundances of key functional traits differed between the native and exotic plant communities, consistent with limiting similarity or a trait bias in the exotic species pool. Environmental context also played an important role in invasion because sites varied in the identity of the traits that predicted dissimilarity between native and exotic communities. Nitrogen enrichment did not alter these patterns. 4. Nitrogen enrichment tended to increase exotic abundance, but this result was driven by a dramatic increase in exotics in only a few experiments. When similarity between native and exotic communities was included in the statistical model, N enrichment no longer predicted an increase in exotic relative abundance. Instead, sites with the highest abundance of exotic species were the ones where native and exotic communities had the highest trait similarity. 5. Synthesis. Our analysis of natural patterns of invasion across herbaceous communities in North America found evidence of both divergent and convergent forces on community assembly with exotic species. Together, these results suggest that while functionally dissimilar exotic species may be more likely to invade, they are unlikely to become abundant unless they have traits pre-adapting them to environmental conditions in their invaded range. Contrary to prior studies, invasion was not consistently promoted by N enrichment.