cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Risk of adverse health outcomes with increasing duration and regularity of opioid therapy.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine trends in frequency and daily dosage of opioid use and related adverse health outcomes in a commercially insured population. Methods: We examined medical claims from the Truven Health MarketScan commercial claims database for 789,457 continuously enrolled patients ages 18 to 64 years to whom opioids were dispensed during the first half of 2008. We tracked them every 6 months until either opioid use was discontinued or the end of 2010. We compared outcomes among all opioid users with those for patients who used opioids with only limited interruptions during the index period, referred to as “daily users.” We contrasted the experience of daily users, other users, and nonusers for various outcomes. Results: Of all claimants, 10.7% had at least one opioid prescription during the first 6 months of 2008. Of these, 39.9% continued through a second 6-month period, and 18.0% continued through the end of 2010. Only 9.0% of all users qualified as daily users, but 87.1% of them continued some use of opioids through the end of 2010. Only 43.8% of all users who continued use through 2010 initially qualified as daily users. Among all users who continued use through 2010, days of use and daily dosage increased with duration of use. Among daily users, only dosage increased, rising from 101 to 114 morphine milligram equivalents/day over the 3 years. The prevalence of benzodiazepine use was greater for daily than all users, exceeding 40% among daily users who continued opioid use for 3 years. Drug abuse and overdose rates increased with longer use. Daily users accounted for 25.0%, other users for 43.6%, and nonusers for 31.4% of opioid analgesic overdoses. Conclusions: Adverse health outcomes can increase with accumulating opioid use and increasing dosage. Existing guidelines developed by specialty societies for managing patients using opioids daily or nearly daily do not address the larger number of patients who use opioids intermittently over periods of years. Practitioners should consider applying such guidelines to patients who use opioids less frequently.
Transmission system management and pricing: new paradigms and international comparisons

The transmission system, once the necessary but nearly invisible component of the electric power system is now the focus of physical/electrical and financial attention of the utility and, more significantly their potential suppliers/customers. This paper has three primary objectives. The first is to present a discussion of a new paradigm for the electric power industry. The second is to review transmission pricing options, specifically those utilizing either long run (LRMC) or short run (SRMC) marginal cost based approaches. The third is to provide a review of innovative approaches to transmission asset management and finance as seen from international experience. >
Traf1 Induction and Protection from Tumor Necrosis Factor by Nuclear Factor-κB p65 Is Independent of Serine 536 Phosphorylation

Abnormal nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling has been attributed to the initiation and progression of cancer. Posttranslational modification of p65 facilitates optimal NF-κB signaling after activation. Here, we show that the phosphorylation of serine 536 was required for p65-mediated transcription and IκBα expression in fibroblasts. Furthermore, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) treatment slightly induced p65 phosphorylation, and both unphosphorylated and phosphorylated p65 translocated into the nucleus. The phosphorylation of serine 536 was not required for p65-mediated protection from TNF cytotoxicity and Traf1 induction in fibroblasts. Also, the corecruitment of p65 and RNA polymerase II to the Traf1 enhancer region did not require p65 phosphorylation. However, the corecruitment of p65 and RNA polymerase II to the Csf2 promoter required the phosphorylation of serine 536. These findings suggested that the requirement of serine phosphorylation at residue 536 and the distance between the NF-κB response element and the start of transcription may influence which genes will be transcribed.
SPECs, Small Binding Proteins for Cdc42

Abstract The Rho GTPase, Cdc42, regulates a wide variety of cellular activities including actin polymerization, focal complex assembly, and kinase signaling. We have identified a new family of very small Cdc42-binding proteins, designated SPECs (for SmallProtein Effector of Cdc42), that modulates these regulatory activities. The two human members, SPEC1 and SPEC2, encode proteins of 79 and 84 amino acids, respectively. Both contain a conserved N-terminal region and a centrally located CRIB (Cdc42/Rac InteractiveBinding) domain. Using a yeast two-hybrid system, we found that both SPECs interact strongly with Cdc42, weakly with Rac1, and not at all with RhoA. Transfection analysis revealed that SPEC1 inhibited Cdc42-induced c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation in COS1 cells in a manner that required an intact CRIB domain. Immunofluorescence experiments in NIH-3T3 fibroblasts demonstrated that both SPEC1 and SPEC2 showed a cortical localization and induced the formation of cell surface membrane blebs, which was not dependent on Cdc42 activity. Cotransfection experiments demonstrated that SPEC1 altered Cdc42-induced cell shape changes both in COS1 cells and in NIH-3T3 fibroblasts and that this alteration required an intact CRIB domain. These results suggest that SPECs act as novel scaffold molecules to coordinate and/or mediate Cdc42 signaling activities.
The White Cell Ratio in the Very Low Birth Weight Infant

The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of the white cell ratio of immature neutrophils (PMNs) to total (immature plus mature) PMNs as an indication of infection in the very small premature infant. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 59 premature infants ≤ 1,250 g admitted to our Newborn Intensive Care Unit over a one-year period who had at least one white count determined. Twenty-three were born after rupture of membranes for ≥ 24 hours (PROM), 47 had a one-minute Apgar score ≤ 6 and 31 had a five-minute Apgar scores ≤ 6, 38 had respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), and 4 had con firmed infection. Thirty-one of the infants had a ratio ≥ .15 in the first day of life, a value which has been suggested in the literature as being abnormal and an indication to suspect sepsis. This ratio bore no statistical relationship to PROM, low Apgar scores, or RDS. We analyzed these same relationships using a ratio ≥.25, another ratio derived from data in the literature which has been said to suggest i...
Raman Analysis of Chemical Reactions Resulting from the Collision of Micrometer-Sized Particles

The chemical reaction between two micrometer-sized particles has been studied with the use of Raman spectroscopy. Charged particles of Na2CO3 and (NH4)2 SO4 were generated with the use of a vibrating orifice aerosol generator fitted with an inductive charging plate. Two particles, one of each substance and of opposite polarity, were held apart by the dc electric field of an electrodynamic balance (EDB) and then brought together by manipulating the dc potential to permit Coloumbic forces to dominate. Raman spectra taken of the particle aggregate show that chemical reaction did not occur when dry particles were combined, but subsequent exposure of the aggregate to water vapor induced a chemical reaction that resulted in the formation of Na2 SO4. The Raman data are presented, and the reaction mechanism and products are discussed.
H-mode pedestal characteristics, ELMs, and energy confinement in ITER shape discharges on DIII-D

The H-mode confinement enhancement factor, H, is found to be strongly correlated with the height of the edge pressure pedestal in ITER shape discharges. In discharges with type I edge-localized modes (ELMs) the pedestal pressure is set by the maximum pressure gradient before the ELM and the width of the H-mode transport barrier. The pressure gradient before type I ELMs is found to scale as would be expected for a stability limit set by ideal ballooning modes, but with values significantly in excess of that predicted by stability code calculations. The width of the H-mode transport barrier is found to scale equally well with pedestal or . The improved H value in high- discharges may be due to a larger edge pressure gradient and wider H-mode transport barrier consistent with their higher edge ballooning mode limit. Deuterium puffing is found to reduce H, which is consistent with the smaller pedestal pressure which results from the reduced barrier width and critical pressure gradient. Type I ELM energy loss is found to be proportional to the change in the pedestal energy.
Brain injury-induced enhanced limbic epileptogenesis: anatomical and physiological parallels to an animal model of temporal lobe epilepsy

Abstract Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of symptomatic epilepsy in young adults. This study examined physiological and anatomical epileptogenic consequences of a prior incident of TBI in rats. Rats were subjected to a fluid percussion brain injury one week prior to experimentation, and in vitro electrophysiological recording studies were conducted using combined hippocampal-entorhinal cortical slices (HEC slices). Results were compared to sham operated controls and rats in which a condition of chronic temporal lobe epilepsy was induced by a 2 h bout of pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus 2 months prior to recording (PILO). In field potential recordings, PILO HEC slices evidenced a greater degree of disinhibition in CA1 than did TBI or control slices. TBI slices showed greater disinhibition in the dentate gyrus than did PILO or control rats. In in vitro kindling experiments, 86% of TBI HEC slices generated self-sustaining epileptic activity within 9 stimulus trains. This type of activity was never triggered in control slices. HEC slices prepared from PILO animals generated self-sustaining epileptic activity with fewer stimulus trains than did TBI slices. In anatomical studies, both TBI and PILO hippocampi evidenced significant loss of neurons within the hilar region. TBI induces a series of changes within the limbic system of rats, which are qualitatively similar in many aspects but quantitatively less severe than changes seen in rats with chronic temporal lobe epilepsy. These physiological and anatomical TBI-associated alterations in the limbic system may contribute to the development of epilepsy following head trauma.
Structure-activity relationship of ligands of uracil phosphoribosyltransferase from Toxoplasma gondii

One hundred compounds were evaluated as ligands of Toxoplasma gondii uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (UPRTase, EC 2.4.2.9) by examining their ability to inhibit this enzyme in vitro. Inhibition was quantified by determining apparent Ki values for those compounds that inhibited T. gondii UPRTase by greater than 10% at a concentration of 2 mM. Five compounds (4-thiopyridine, 2-thiopyrimidine, trithiocyanuric acid, 1-deazauracil and 2,4-dithiouracil) bound to the enzyme better than two known substrates for T. gondii UPRTase, 5-fluorouracil and emimycin, which have antitoxoplasmal activity (Pfefferkorn ER, Exp Parasitol 44: 26-35, 1978; Pfefferkorn et al., Exp Parasitol 69: 129-139, 1989). In addition, several selected compounds were evaluated as substrates for T. gondii UPRTase, and it was found that 2,4-dithiouracil is also a substrate for this enzyme. On the basis of these data, a structure-activity relationship for the binding of ligands to T. gondii UPRTase was determined using uracil as a reference compound.
Regulation and isoform function of the V-ATPases.

The vacuolar (H+)-ATPases are ATP-dependent proton pumps that acidify intracellular compartments and, in some cases, transport protons across the plasma membrane of eukaryotic cells. Intracellular V-ATPases play an important role in normal physiological processes such as receptor-mediated endocytosis, intracellular membrane trafficking, pro-hormone processing, protein degradation, and the coupled uptake of small molecules, such as neurotransmitters. They also function in the entry of various pathogenic agents, including many envelope viruses, like influenza virus, and toxins, like anthrax toxin. Plasma membrane V-ATPases function in renal pH homeostasis, bone resorption and sperm maturation, and various disease processes, including renal tubular acidosis, osteopetrosis, and tumor metastasis. V-ATPases are composed of a peripheral V1 domain containing eight different subunits that is responsible for ATP hydrolysis and an integral V0 domain containing six different subunits that translocates protons. In mam...
Totipotency, cell differentiation and reprogramming in humans

Understanding the molecular mechanisms defining totipotency and cell differentiation in humans is a promising strategy in order to expand knowledge about reprogramming. Totipotency and the very first steps of cell differentiation can be studied well in early human embryos. Based on analysis of marker genes such as Oct-4 and -HCG, blastomeres seem to differ in their potency and can be regarded as lineage-specific stem cells as early as the 4-cell stage. The allocation of these stem cells to specific fates might hereby follow a pattern reminiscent of animal and vegetal poles. On the opposite end of the developmental spectrum, differentiated human cells can be used as a means of studying nuclear reprogramming. Intact human 293T kidney cells and primary leukocytes were reprogrammed towards a more undifferentiated state by Xenopus laevis egg extract. Molecular screens identified the chromatin-remodelling ATPase BRG1 as a factor required for this process. Based on these results, more efficient reprogramming protocols allowing for the generation of fully differentiated or undifferentiated human cells for clinical application may be developed.
Properties of Magnetic-Superconducting Proximity Systems

We discuss properties of proximity systems made of superconducting, ferromagnetic, and graphite nanoscale thin films. In superconducting-graphite proximity systems, we show how size quantization results in oscillations of the density of states with increasing graphite film thickness. In superconducting-ferromagnetic multilayers, we discuss the critical temperature variations of the proximity system as a function of ferromagnetic layer thickness and magnetic inhomogeneity. We also review the Josephson effect through a superconductor–ferromagnet–superconductor multilayer. In this context, we discuss the presence of a long-range odd-frequency triplet order parameter.
Cu interactions with α-Al2O3(0001): effects of surface hydroxyl groups versus dehydroxylation by Ar-ion sputtering

XPS studies and first principles calculations compare Cu adsorption on heavily hydroxylated sapphire (0001) with a dehydroxylated surface produced by Ar{sup +} sputtering followed by annealing in O{sub 2}. Annealing a cleaned sapphire sample with an O{sub 2} partial pressure of {approximately}5 x 10{sup {minus}6} Torr removes most contaminants, but leaves a surface with {approximately}0.4ML carbon and {approximately}0.4ML OH. Subsequent light (6 min.) Ar ion sputtering at 1 KeV reduces the carbon to undetectable levels but does not dehydroxylate the surface. Further sputtering at higher Ar ion excitation energies (>2 KeV) partially dehydroxylates the surface, while 5 KeV Ar ion sputtering creates oxygen vacancies in the surface region. Further annealing in O{sub 2} repairs the oxygen vacancies in the top layers but those beneath the surface remain. Deposition of Cu on the hydroxylated surface at 300 K results in a maximum Cu(I) coverage of {approximately}0.35 ML, in agreement with theoretical predictions.
Novel self-excited alternating operation of coupled commutator machines

Abstract Through the coupling of commutator machines, self-excited alternating power can be spontaneously generated with no external electrical excitations. Standard frequency- domain analysis is applied to the various equivalent circuits for each configuration. Conventional series and shunt self-excited generators are shown to have a single pole in the right-half s plane, indicating growing exponential solutions, whereas coupled generators are shown to have a pair of complex conjugate poles in the right-half s plane, indicating overstable modes, which oscillate as they grow, resulting in self-excited two-phase alternating power generation. Because of this interesting result, the analysis is extended to consider N -coupled generators which shows the existence of many overstable modes, resulting in multi-frequency, multi-phase power generation. The existence of electromechanical alternating self-excitation is demonstrated with the periodic speed reversals of a separately exited d.c. motor, which has its armature in series with the field and armature windings of a generator. Experimental results are presented which indicate that the linear circuit representation is appropriate for the onset and early time interval of these self-excited machines. The magnetic saturation characteristic limits the exponential growth so that a steady state results. These devices are of use in low-frequency, high-power applications, as well as serving as a model for other spontaneous mechanisms in nature.
The second year of Dawn mission operations: Mars gravity assist and onward to Vest

Abstract Dawn launched in September 2007 on a mission to orbit main belt asteroids (4) Vesta in 2011–2012 and (1) Ceres in 2015. The mission is enabled by an ion propulsion system, which will be operated for the majority of the interplanetary cruise. Following 10.5 months of thrusting that concluded in October 2008, the spacecraft began a period of optimal coast that ended in June 2009. A Mars gravity assist in February 2009 provided an effective Δv of 2.6 km/s. The mission flexibility afforded by the use of ion propulsion provided relatively simple targeting at Mars. Additional engineering activities were conducted during the coast period after Mars, including loading new software into the spacecraft's central computer. This paper describe the progress of the mission, including the approach to Mars, the encounter itself, special activities conducted prior to the resumption of ion thrusting, and the continuation toward Vesta.
Quantum Interference in an Atom Molecule System

By driving photoassociation transitions with continuous-wave lasers, we stateselectively form excited-state molecules from ultra cold atoms. Using a second laser to drive transitions from the excited molecular state to another long-lived molecular state, we are able to observe an interference dip narrower than the natural linewidth of the excited molecular state. The linewidth of the dip is strongly effected by the temperature of the atoms. To reach smaller linewidths we have set up an all optical BEC.
Embryonic stem cells and mouse models of human syndromes: examples from the T-box gene family

Synergism between the fields of reproduction and development has long been an important factor for advances in each field, and the development of gene modification technology in mammals has progressed hand in hand with advances in reproductive technology. The discovery and exploitation of embryonic stem cells for producing targeted gene mutations in the mouse, combined with advances in genome analysis, has provided a means of producing mouse models of human genetic diseases, including congenital defects. This review presents examples of how gene targeting and reproductive biology techniques are being applied to the production of mouse models for specific human developmental syndromes caused by mutations in genes of the T-box transcription factor gene family. The ulnar-mammary syndrome and the DiGeorge syndrome are two developmental syndromes that are currently being explored in this way.
MRSVP: a resource reservation protocol for an integrated services network with mobile hosts

This paper describes a reservation protocol to provide real-time services to mobile users in an Integrated Services Packet Network. Mobility of hosts has significant impact on the quality of service provided to a real-time application. The currently proposed network system architecture and mechanisms to provide real-time services to fixed hosts are inadequate to accommodate the mobile hosts which can frequently change their point of attachments to the fixed network. Mobile hosts may experience wide variations of quality of service due to mobility. To reduce the impacts of mobility on QoS guarantees, a mobile host needs to make advance resource reservations at multiple locations it may possibly visit during the lifetime of the connection. The currently proposed reservation protocol in the Internet, RSVP, is not adequate to make such reservations for mobile hosts. In this paper, we describe a new reservation protocol, MRSVP, for supporting integrated services in a network with mobile hosts.
Electric-field correlation of femtosecond pulses by use of a photoelectromotive-force detector

A semiconductor photoinduced electromotive-force detector is used to measure the square of the electric-field correlation of nominal 100-fs laser pulses. For transform-limited pulses, this measurement gives the intensity correlation and thus directly gives the pulse width. The photoinduced electromotive-force technique using semi-insulating GaAs:Cr performs detection that is linear in intensity, making it possible to characterize weak femtosecond pulses with an average power of microwatts.
MprA and DosR Coregulate a Mycobacterium tuberculosis Virulence Operon Encoding Rv1813c and Rv1812c

Mycobacterium tuberculosis remains a significant global pathogen, causing extensive morbidity and mortality worldwide. This bacterium persists within granulomatous lesions in a poorly characterized, nonreplicating state. The two-component signal transduction systems MprAB and DosRS-DosT (DevRS-Rv2027c) are responsive to conditions likely to be present within granulomatous lesions and mediate aspects of M. tuberculosis persistence in vitro and in vivo. Here, we describe a previously uncharacterized locus, Rv1813c-Rv1812c, that is coregulated by both MprA and DosR. We demonstrate that MprA and DosR bind to adjacent and overlapping sequences within the promoter region of Rv1813c and direct transcription from an initiation site located several hundred base pairs upstream of the Rv1813 translation start site. We further show that Rv1813c and Rv1812c are cotranscribed, and that the genomic organization of this operon is specific to M. tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis. Although Rv1813c is not required for survival of M. tuberculosis in vitro, including under conditions in which MprAB and DosRST signaling are activated, an M. tuberculosis ΔRv1813c mutant is attenuated in the low-dose aerosol model of murine tuberculosis, where it exhibits a lower bacterial burden, delayed time to death, and decreased ability to stimulate proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-12. Interestingly, overcomplementation of these phenotypes is observed in the M. tuberculosis ΔRv1813c mutant expressing both Rv1813c and Rv1812c, but not Rv1813c alone, in trans. Therefore, Rv1813c and Rv1812c may represent general stress-responsive elements that are necessary for aspects of M. tuberculosis virulence and the host immune response to infection.
Are solar spectral variations a drive for climatic change

The effects of UV variations on atmospheric ozone content and climate for time scales encompassing the 27-day solar rotation period, the sunspot period, twice the solar magnetic, and also longer time periods are examined. The studies of the relationship between solar UV variations, atmospheric ozone content and atmospheric temperatures were conducted by estimating the impact of such variations on tropospheric temperature. The total luminosity constant is then held and the dependence of the ozone variations on the forcing period is calculated. It is concluded that solar UV variations on time scales of weeks to months occasionally perturb total ozone and stratospheric temperatures by noticeable amounts but result in only minor changes in the troposphere.
Parameters affecting preparation of nylon‐based hemodialysis membranes

Nylon-based membranes of greater dialyzing capacity than Cuprophan have been prepared by solution casting. Good permeability is being achieved by the use of diluents such as dimethylsulfoxide in the casting solution. Modifying resins, primarily epoxies, contribute to higher permeability, good aging stability, and heat-sealing properties. Drying time between film casting and water immersion as well as the temperature and composition of the immersion bath are important factors in membrane performance. Methods for attaching heparin to the film surface have been developed, thus imparting good blood compatibility to the membranes.
Saturated Zone Denitrification: Potential for Natural Attenuation of Nitrate Contamination in Shallow Groundwater Under Dairy Operations

We present results from field studies at two central California dairies that demonstrate the prevalence of saturated-zone denitrification in shallow groundwater with 3H/ 3He apparent ages of < 35 years. Concentrated animal feeding operations are suspected to be major contributors of nitrate to groundwater, but saturated zone denitrification could mitigate their impact to groundwater quality. Denitrification is identified and quantified using N and O stable isotope compositions of nitrate coupled with measurements of excess N2 and residual NO3(-) concentrations. Nitrate in dairy groundwater from this study has delta15N values (4.3-61 per thousand), and delta18O values (-4.5-24.5 per thousand) that plot with delta18O/delta15N slopes of 0.47-0.66, consistent with denitrification. Noble gas mass spectrometry is used to quantify recharge temperature and excess air content. Dissolved N2 is found at concentrations well above those expected for equilibrium with air or incorporation of excess air, consistent with reduction of nitrate to N2. Fractionation factors for nitrogen and oxygen isotopes in nitrate appear to be highly variable at a dairy site where denitrification is found in a laterally extensive anoxic zone 5 m below the water table, and at a second dairy site where denitrification occurs near the water table and is strongly influenced by localized lagoon seepage.
ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORK ANALYSIS IN INTERFEROMETRIC THz IMAGING FOR DETECTION OF LETHAL AGENTS

In the context of a non-invasive, non-contact method to detect concealed lethal agents employing stand-off imaging in the Terahertz (THz) range using an interferometric detector array, the techniques of image analysis are discussed. To complement the experimental testing, extensive modeling simulates reconstructed images of lethal agents at different THz frequencies applying interferometric techniques. The composite images are consequently analyzed using artificial neural network to make positive identification of the lethal agent. This work also attempts to address issues related to the presence of barriers and isolate some suitable numerical techniques required for rapid and successful recognition of lethal agents during security screening in THz range.
Competing Instabilities and the High Field Phases of (TMTSF)2ClO4.

In this Letter we establish the phase diagram of $(\mathrm{TMTSF}{)}_{2}$ ${\mathrm{ClO}}_{4}$ to 30 T and above 0.5 K by transport and magnetization measurements. The high field region is bounded above by a second order transition from metallic to field induced spin density wave state at 5.5 K. Completely contained inside this boundary is a first order line terminating in a critical point. Neither phase boundary shows the large oscillations predicted in recent models. Our results suggest that there are separate transitions on each of the two Fermi surfaces, with only weak coupling between the order parameters.
A novel autocrine serotonin receptor in enterochromaffin cells

INTRODUCTION: The exclusive neuronal location of the 5-HT3 receptor has recently been challenged by studies indicating it is expressed at the enteric mucosal layer. There is also evidence that the 5-HT4 receptor may be an inhibitory receptor. These studies have all been done in intact tissue models. The BON cell is a unique human pancreatic tumor cell line with enterochromaffin (EC) cell characteristics. The aim of this study was to identify autocrine receptors on BON cells.
Anticipating Clinical Integration of Pharmacogenetic Treatment Strategies for Addiction: Are Primary Care Physicians Ready?

Emerging pharmacogenomics research on addiction to nicotine,1 alcohol,2 cocaine, and opiates3 may soon lead to improved clinical outcomes by tailoring the type, dose and duration of treatment to individual patients’ genotypes. To realize the potential of pharmacogenomics in reducing the burden of addiction, several challenges related to clinical integration of novel treatment strategies will need to be addressed concomitantly with ongoing empirical research.4 These challenges include the preparedness of primary care physicians (PCPs) to incorporate pharmacogenetics into clinical practice, patients’ willingness to undergo genetic testing, the resources and infrastructure needed to deliver such services, adequate financing and reimbursement of pharmacogenetic testing, and privacy and antidiscrimination protections sufficient to reassure physicians and patients that genetic testing will not lead to stigmatization and discrimination.4 Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2008); 83, 4, 635–639. doi:10.1038/clpt.2008.4
Monolithic spatially-filtered 10 Gbps all-optical wavelength converter with enhanced push-pull operation using dual inverted and non-inverted inputs

This paper reports a novel all-optical 10 Gbps tunable wavelength converter that spatially filters input and converted wavelengths as well as enhanced performance due to push-pull operation at the input.
Morphogenetic Movements and Fate Maps of Vertebrates

SYNOPSIS. Fate maps are totally lacking for hagfishes, rays, holocephals, dipnoi, holostei and mammals, and for all except two of the thirty or so orders of the huge teleost assemblage. Important errors have been found in earlier studies of the movements by closer control of marking techniques, but there are still major elements in the literature that remain unconfirmed. Recent studies on Salmo, Xenopus and chick suggest that a wider sampling of major vertebrate groups will uncover more unsuspected variations in this phase of embryology. Experimental results on the chondrostean sturgeon Acipenser are here compared and contrasted with those on Salmo and Xenopus . Though chondrostei and teleosts had a relatively recent common ancestry, the morphogenetic movements and fate map of Acipenser give no hint as to how the uniquely teleostean behavior could have arisen. Instead the experiments have shown in new elaborate detail how close the early development of Acipenser is to that of modern amphibia, closer to Xenopus than to Rana , closer to anura than to urodeles. The search for unity in the field of comparative morphogenetic movements is plagued by lack of breadth in the sample of vertebrates hitherto studied but also by a vocabulary too much loaded with ancient homological thinking. It is pointed out that when a group of movements, all called invagination—or all called epiboly, is studied closely it can be discovered that they may be doing quite different things, controlled by different environmental factors. General theory of this part of embryology requires the bringing together of the knowledge of cellular movements from in vitro and non-embryonic systems with the knowledge of the full variety of normal patterns of morphogenetic movements in the vertebrates. Before this can be accomplished, we will need a precise knowledge of what the cells are actually doing in all the sectors of these patterned movements, and in all the major patterns that the phylum has produced.
Apparent soft mode linewidth divergence in PbTiO3

Abstract The apparent soft mode linewidth divergence observed in Raman scattering from PbTiO3 in the vicinity of the transition temperature is explained by an enhancement of scattering processes that are allowed due to finite acoustic phonon lifetimes.
Calculattng the induced currents in induction machines using Schwarz-Christoffel mapping

A new method for simulating induction machine rotor currents is presented that combines Schwarz-Christoffel mapping theory with electromagnetic field reconstruction techniques. Detailed static field solutions are calculated at several rotor positions over a pole pitch of motion, and these solutions are superposed in a finite difference time- domain simulation to calculate the steady-state rotor currents. Using the proposed method, one can simulate numerous machine geometries and stator excitations, and winding and slot harmonics as well as torque ripple can easily examined.
A Space-Efficient Streaming Algorithm for Estimating Transitivity and Triangle Counts Using the Birthday Paradox

We design a space-efficient algorithm that approximates the transitivity (global clustering coefficient) and total triangle count with only a single pass through a graph given as a stream of edges. Our procedure is based on the classic probabilistic result, the birthday paradox. When the transitivity is constant and there are more edges than wedges (common properties for social networks), we can prove that our algorithm requires O(√n) space (n is the number of vertices) to provide accurate estimates. We run a detailed set of experiments on a variety of real graphs and demonstrate that the memory requirement of the algorithm is a tiny fraction of the graph. For example, even for a graph with 200 million edges, our algorithm stores just 40,000 edges to give accurate results. Being a single pass streaming algorithm, our procedure also maintains a real-time estimate of the transitivity/number of triangles of a graph by storing a minuscule fraction of edges.
Twin studies of eating disorders: A review

Objective Twin methodology has been used to delineate etiological factors in many medical disorders and behavioral traits including eating disorders. Although twin studies are powerful tools, their methodology can be arcane and their implications easily misinterpreted. Method The goals of this study are to (a) review the theoretical rationale for twin studies; (b) provide a framework for their interpretation and evaluation; (c) review extant twin studies on eating disorders; and (d) explore the implications for understanding etiological issues in eating disorders. Discussion On the basis of this review, it is not possible to draw firm conclusions regarding the precise contribution of genetic and environmental factors to anorexia nervosa. Twin studies confirm that bulimia nervosa is familial and reveal significant contributions of additive genetic effects and of unique environmental factors in liability to bulimia nervosa. The magnitude of the contribution of shared environment is less clear, but in the studies with the greatest statistical power, it appears to be less prominent than additive genetic factors. © 2000 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 27: 1–20, 2000.
A multiperiod programming evaluation of brackishwater shrimp aquaculture development in Indonesia 1989/1990–1998/1999

Brackishwater shrimp aquaculture was economically evaluated to determine the best mix of aquaculture enterprises in Indonesia. Data were compiled for three categories of brackishwater shrimp aquaculture systems: Extensive, semi-intensive, and intensive, as well as for different farm sizes, small-scale (2 ha), medium-scale (5 ha), large-scale (10 ha) and extra large-scale (30 ha). These data were used to simulate the enterprise combination for the shrimp-producing regions in Indonesia. Model results showed that small-scale and medium-scale semi-intensive systems were the best strategies for shrimp aquaculture development in Indonesia. Extensive systems entered in solution only if there were skilled labor constraints. Risk analysis revealed risk-expected net present income trade-offs and declining risk with declining expected net present income for all regions.
Current medical management of stable coronary artery disease before and after elective percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for stable coronary artery disease (CAD) is not superior to optimal medical therapy. It remains unclear if patients who receive PCI for stable CAD are receiving appropriate medical therapy. Methods We evaluated the medical management of 60,386 patients who underwent PCI for stable CAD between 2004 and 2009. We excluded patients with contraindications to aspirin, clopidogrel, statins, or β-blockers (BBs). We defined essential medical therapy of stable CAD as treatment with aspirin, statin, and BB before PCI and treatment with aspirin, clopidogrel, and statin after PCI. Results Essential medical therapy was used in 53.0% of patients before PCI and 82.1% at discharge. Aspirin was used in 94.8% patients before PCI and 98.3% of after PCI. Statins were used in 69.5% of patients before PCI and 84.5% after PCI. β-Blockers were used in 72.8% of patients before PCI. Clopidogrel was used in 97.3% of patients after PCI. Patients with a history of myocardial infarction or revascularization before PCI had better medical therapy compared with patients without such a history (62.8% vs 34.3% [ P P Conclusions Medical therapy remains underused before and after PCI for stable CAD. Women are less likely to receive statin therapy. There are significant opportunities to optimize medical therapy in patients with stable CAD.
eating Disorder symptoms and Alcohol Use Among Adolescents in substance Abuse Treatment

Objective: To examine the relationship of eating disorder (ED) symptoms with the severity of alcohol use among adolescents in treatment for alcohol and other substance use disorders (AOSUDs). Method: A sample consisted of 177 adolescents who participated in outpatient AOSUD treatment programs in Connecticut. Chi square tests, one-way ANOVAs and Pearson’s correlation coefficients were used to describe the prevalence and correlates of any eating disorders, and the related symptoms. Multivariate regression was used to test the associations between ED symptoms and alcohol consumption. Results: 26.4% of the participants had at least one ED symptom, with the highest number of symptoms occurring in females. The number of ED symptoms was associated with increases in the number of times that they became intoxicated in the year before entering treatment, the number of alcohol-related social problems, and the number of alcohol-related physical symptoms after taking into consideration the effects of age and gender. Conclusions: The prevalence of symptoms of EDs is high in adolescents with AOSUDs, with the number of ED symptoms correlating with increased alcohol consumption. Further studies on the course and treatment of adolescents with AOSUDs and symptoms of EDs are warranted.
Management intensity interacts with litter chemistry and climate to drive temporal patterns in arthropod communities during decomposition

a b s t r a c t Shifts in the density and composition of arthropod communities can alter soil carbon and nitrogen cycling dynamics. However, it is uncertain how factors such as land use intensity, litter chemical composition, and climate structure arthropod communities during decomposition. During a 730-day study, we characterized temporal changes in litter-colonizing arthropod communities in two litter types (corn, Zea mays, and grass, predominantly Bromus inermis) decomposing in three ecosystems representing an agricultural management intensity gradient (conventionally tilled, no-till, and old field). Further, to assess the relationships between litter chemistry and arthropod communities, we also correlated changes in arthropod densities and community composition with shifts in litter molecular chemical characteristics. Arthropod densities were greater in decomposing grass litter than in corn litter for seven out of thirteen taxa collected and all but two taxa increased in litter with management intensity (spiders – negative, Entomobryidae – no response). In contrast, total arthropod densities in soil decreased with management intensity. Temporal variation in arthropod density and community composition in litter corresponded with precipitation events and changes in litter chemistry during decomposition. For example, collembolan, oribatid, and mesostigmatid mite densities were negatively correlated with the relative abundance of lignin and positively correlated with nitrogen containing compounds. Our study demonstrates that the influence of agricultural management intensity on arthropods in litter is strikingly different from that in bulk soil, and suggests that management intensity interacts with litter chemistry and climate over the course of decomposition to determine both the density and composition of arthropod communities inhabiting litter at the soil surface.
Never on Sunny Days: Lessons from Weekly Attendance Counts

Congregational attendance data are abundant, accessible, and relevant for religious research. Weekly attendance histories provide information about worshippers, congregations, and denominations that surveys cannot capture. The histories yield novel measures of commitment, testable implications of rational choice theory, and compelling evidence that attendance responds strongly to changes in the opportunity cost of time.
Phenomena of radiation and focusing from chains of plasmonic nanoparticles

The goal of this work is to identify and study radiation phenomena supported in the optical regime by irregular chains of nano-sized particles. For instance, it is demonstrated that special nano-particle chain distributions can lead not only to highly directive fields in the far zone of the chain but also to radiation into fields focused in the near (Fresnel) zone. The presented ideas are anticipated to lead to a number of important applications including filters, lenses, subwavelength sensors and probes.
Diagnosis and management of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: A comprehensive update for the radiologist

There is increasing focus on intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC) due to its rising incidence worldwide and relatively poor prognosis, with the revised TNM classification (2009) introducing a separate staging system for IHCC for the first time. In this article, we comprehensively review the current role of the radiologist in the diagnosis and management of patients with IHCC.
Gap junction inhibition prevents drug-induced liver toxicity and fulminant hepatic failure

Liver toxicity is one of the most common reasons for abandoning new drugs in development or withdrawing approved drugs from the market. Patel et al. show that in mice drug-induced liver injury can be limited by small-molecule inhibitor of the gap-junctional protein connexin 32. Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) limits the development and application of many therapeutic compounds and presents major challenges to the pharmaceutical industry and clinical medicine1,2. Acetaminophen-containing compounds are among the most frequently prescribed drugs and are also the most common cause of DILI3. Here we describe a pharmacological strategy that targets gap junction communication to prevent amplification of fulminant hepatic failure and acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. We demonstrate that connexin 32 (Cx32), a key hepatic gap junction protein, is an essential mediator of DILI by showing that mice deficient in Cx32 are protected against liver damage, acute inflammation and death caused by liver-toxic drugs. We identify a small-molecule inhibitor of Cx32 that protects against liver failure and death in wild-type mice when co-administered with known hepatotoxic drugs. These findings indicate that gap junction inhibition could provide a pharmaceutical strategy to limit DILI and improve drug safety.
"Dominant Logic, Decision-making Heuristics, and Escalation of Commitment in Small Family Firms"

This paper expands the escalation of commitment literature by examining the impact of dominant logic and decision-making heuristics as antecedents of escalation. Dominant logic is an oft-researched construct among strategic management scholars, but it has not been extensively studied as an antecedent to escalation of commitment. Different types of dominant logic employ cognitive simplification processes such as decision-making heuristics to focus decision-makers’ attention on different key pieces of information while disregarding others. This paper outlines a set of propositions for how “relationships logic” and “operational logic” can lead to escalation of commitment in small family firms due to the potential of the representativeness and availability heuristics to screen out negative information which might otherwise be considered in decision-making. Investigation of these propositions has the potential to significantly impact value creation by practitioners while extending the extant literature on esca...
The effects of mitral annuloplasty rings on mitral valve complex 3-D geometry during acute left ventricular ischemia.

Objective Annuloplasty rings are used to treat ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR), but their exact effects on 3-D geometry of the overall mitral valve complex during acute left ventricular (LV) ischemia remain unknown. Methods Radiopaque markers were sutured to the mitral leaflet edges, annulus, papillary muscle tips, and ventricle in three groups of sheep. One group served as control (n = 5), and the others underwent Duran (n = 6) or Physio (n = 5) ring annuloplasty. One week later, 3-D marker coordinates at end-systole were obtained before and during balloon occlusion of the circumflex artery. Results In all control animals, acute LV ischemia was associated with: (i) septal-lateral separation of the leaflet edges, which was predicted by lateral displacement of the lateral annulus during septal-lateral mitral annular dilatation; (ii) apical restriction of the posterior leaflet edge, which was predicted by displacement of the lateral annulus away from the non-ischemic anterior papillary muscle; (iii) displacement of the posterior papillary muscle, which was not predictive of either septal-lateral leaflet separation or leaflet restriction; and (iv) mitral regurgitation. In the Duran group during ischemia, the posterior leaflet edge shifted posteriorly due to posterior movement of the lateral annulus, but no IMR occurred. In the Physio group during ischemia, neither the posterior leaflet edge nor the lateral annulus changed positions, and there was no IMR. In both the Duran and Physio groups, displacement of the posterior papillary muscle did not lead to IMR. Conclusions Either annuloplasty ring prevented the perturbations of mitral leaflet and annular--but not papillary muscle tip--3-D geometry during acute LV ischemia. By fixing the septal-lateral annular dimension and preventing lateral displacement of the lateral annulus, annuloplasty rings prevented systolic septal-lateral leaflet separation and posterior leaflet restriction, and no acute IMR occurred. The flexible ring allowed posterior displacement of the posterior leaflet edge and the lateral annulus, which was not observed with a semi-rigid ring.
Chromosome End Maintenance by Telomerase

Telomeres, protein-DNA complexes at the ends of eukaryotic linear chromosomes, are essential for genome stability. The accumulation of chromosomal abnormalities in the absence of proper telomere function is implicated in human aging and cancer. Repetitive telomeric sequences are maintained by telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein complex containing a reverse transcriptase subunit, a template RNA, and accessory components. Telomere elongation is regulated at multiple levels, including assembly of the telomerase holoenzyme, recruitment of telomerase to the chromosome terminus, and telomere accessibility. This minireview provides an overview of telomerase structure, function, and regulation and the role of telomerase in human disease.