cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparative Efficacy of First-Line Regimens in Relapsed/Refractory Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL): A Proportional Meta-Analysis

Introduction: Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is an incurable B-cell malignancy that disproportionately affects the elderly. After first-line therapy failure, relapsed/refractory MCL assumes a more aggressive and universally fatal course. Currently, several classes of chemo/biologic therapies are approved in the second line. However, these agents and their combinations have not been compared head-to-head. We conducted this proportional meta-analysis to evaluate their relative impact on selected clinical outcomes. Methods: A review of the medical literature was conducted using online databases. Inclusion criteria consisted of English language; diagnosis of relapsed/refractory MCL; trials that explored the efficacy of first-line approved antineoplastic agents and their combinations that comprised: BTK-inhibitors (Ibrutininb (IB), Acalabrutinib, Zanubrutinib), Bortezomib (Velcade, VEL), Venetoclax (VEN), Lenalidomide (LEN), and Bendamustine+Rituximab (B-R); and studies reporting types of responses and duration of response. Proportional meta-analysis was conducted using random-effects model. The respective 95% confidence intervals were calculated, and funnel plots were constructed. Results: Thirteen studies comprising a total of 1,264 participants were included. The pooled overall response rates, ORR (95%CI), of the regimens were: 74% (66,81) BTK-inhibitors, 39% (25,53) VEL, 34% (24,46) LEN, 85% (78,92) B-R, 75% (58,92) VEN-IB, and 88% (79,97) IB-R. The pooled complete responses, CR (95%CI), of the regimens were: 33% (20,47) BTK-inhibitors, 9% (5,13) VEL, 6% (4,9) LEN, 45% (36,54) B-R, 42% (22,63) VEN-IB, and 44% (30,58) IB-R. There were no significant differences in ORR and CR between BTK-inhibitors, B-R, VEN-IB, and IB-R. ORR of VEL and LEN also did not significantly differ. However, ORR and CR of the former group were significantly higher than those of the latter. The pooled partial responses, PR (95%CI), of the regimens were: 41% (32,50) BTK-inhibitors, 28% (20,38) VEL, 28% (15,43) LEN, 41% (35,47) B-R, 34% (15,53) VEN-IB, and 44% (30,58) IB-R. There were no significant differences between PR of the regimens. The weighted duration of responses in months, DOR (95%CI), of the regimens were: 20 BTK-inhibitors, 9 VEL, 16 LEN, and 20 B-R. Conclusions: This proportional meta-analysis is the first to compare the current regimens in first-line relapsed/refractory MCL. It indicates that BTK-inhibitors monotherapy, IB combinations with R or VEN, and B-R provide equivalent ORR and CR rates that are significantly better than VEL and LEN with notably longer duration of response. It also raises questions about whether there is an additional ORR and CR benefits when adding VEN or R to IB in this clinical setting. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Assessment of Linear, Hexagonal, and Octagonal Cell Topologies for 650 V 4H-SiC Inversion-Channel Planar-Gate Power JBSFETs Fabricated With 27 nm Gate Oxide Thickness

A 27 nm gate oxide thickness has been successfully used for manufacturing high performance 650V 4H-SiC planar-gate, inversion-channel power JBSFETs in a 6-inch commercial foundry with three (Linear, Hexagonal, and Octagonal) cell topologies. The 27 nm gate oxide thickness allows operation of these JBSFETs at a gate bias of 15 V compared with 20 V used in previous reports for devices with 55 nm gate oxide thickness. The width for the Schottky contact was varied to optimize the performance of the JBS diode in the third quadrant for each cell topology. An on-state voltage drop of 2.5 V or less was achieved in the third quadrant for all the cell topologies by current flow through the integrated JBS diode, satisfying the objective of effectively by-passing the MOSFET body diode. The best breakdown voltage was achieved using the Octagonal cell topology with a half-cell Schottky contact width of 1.1 $\mu \text{m}$ . It had a breakdown voltage of 850 V with a low leakage current of less than 5 nA at 650 V. The Linear cell (with half-cell Schottky contact width of 1.0 $\mu \text{m}$ ) and the Octagonal cell (with half-cell Schottky contact width of 2.8 $\mu \text{m}$ ) had blocking voltages of 800 V. The hexagonal cell topology (with half-cell Schottky contact width of 1.5 $\mu \text{m}$ ) had the worst blocking voltage of 715 V. Numerical simulation results are provided to show that the leakage current in all cell topologies begins to increase when the electric field at the Schottky contact exceeds 1.5 MV/cm. The lowest specific on-resistance was obtained with the hexagonal cell topology but its gate-drain charge was $2\times $ larger than the conventional Linear cell design. The Octagonal cell topology with half-cell Schottky contact width of 1.1 $\mu \text{m}$ had the same specific on-resistance as the Linear cell case with $2\times $ smaller gate-drain charge. This work demonstrates for the first time that excellent High-Frequency Figures-of-Merit can be achieved with a reduced gate drive voltage of 15 V for 650 V SiC JBSFETs by using a smaller gate oxide thickness of 27 nm and the Octagonal cell topology.
Going Beyond Gluten-Free: a Review of Potential Future Therapies for Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is a common chronic autoimmune condition for which the only therapy currently available is strict adherence to a gluten-free diet for life. Although the diet is effective in reversing the intestinal mucosal changes, it is cumbersome to follow, is associated with some dietary deficiencies, is less palatable, and has significant quality of life implications. For all these reasons, alternatives to the gluten-free diet would greatly benefit people with celiac disease. A better understanding of the pathophysiology of celiac disease has led to possible new treatments that target various steps in the development of the disease. These include intraluminal digestive enzymes and peptide-binding agents that render gluten non-toxic, drugs that modulate tight junctions between enterocytes or interfere with the inflammatory cascade that causes mucosal destruction, and agents designed to induce immune tolerance to gluten. Although several of these new therapeutic agents currently under investigation are showing some promise, they still need to demonstrate they are as effective and safe as the gluten-free diet before they can be recommended as an acceptable alternative for treatment of people with celiac disease. The gluten-free diet remains the only proven safe and effective treatment for celiac disease.
The macroelement analysis for axisymmetric Stokes equations

Abstract We consider the mixed finite element approximation of the axisymmetric Stokes problem (ASP) on a bounded polygonal domain in the rz-plane. Standard stability results on mixed methods do not apply due to the singular coefficients in the differential operator and due to the singular or vanishing weights in the associated function spaces. We develop new finite element analysis in these weighted spaces, and propose macroelement conditions that are sufficient to ensure the well-posedness of the mixed methods for the ASP. These conditions are local, relatively easy to verify, and therefore will be useful for validating the stability of a variety of mixed finite element methods. These new conditions can not only re-verify existing stable mixed methods for the ASP, but also lead to the discovery of new stable conservative mixed methods. We report numerical test results that confirm the theory.
Glucose detection through surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy: A review

Abstract Glucose detection is of vital importance to diabetes diagnosis and treatment. Optical approaches in glucose sensing have received much attention in recent years due to the relatively low cost, portable, and mini-invasive or non-invasive potentials. Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) endows the benefits of extremely high sensitivity because of enhanced signals and specificity due to the fingerprint of molecules of interest. However, the direct detection of glucose through SERS was challenging because of poor adsorption of glucose on bare metals and low cross section of glucose. In order to address these challenges, several approaches were proposed and utilized for glucose detection through SERS. This review article mainly focuses on the development of surface enhanced Raman scattering based glucose sensors in recent 10 years. The sensing mechanisms, rational design and sensing properties to glucose are reviewed. Two strategies are summarized as intrinsic sensing and extrinsic sensing. Four general categories for glucose sensing through SERS are discussed including SERS active platform, partition layer functionalized surface, boronic acid based sensors, and enzymatic reaction based biosensors. Finally, the challenges and outlook for SERS based glucose sensors are also presented.
Falkirk Wheel: Rollback Recovery for Dataflow Systems

Data processing applications often combine computations with disparate fault-tolerance requirements. For example, batch computations prioritize throughput over recovery latency, and can tolerate recovery delays of up to several minutes, while streaming computations expect recovery latencies of at most a few seconds. However, state-of-the-art data systems each offer a single fault-tolerance regime, so complex applications either: (i) suffer performance degradation in steady state and during recovery due to the poor fit of the fault-tolerance regime for parts of the applications, or (ii) are difficult to maintain because they are developed using fragile combinations of batch and streaming systems that provide different APIs and schedulers, and evolve independently. This paper describes Falkirk Wheel, a design for rollback recovery that enables applications to combine different fault-tolerance regimes. Falkirk Wheel provides a design based on logical times, which is expressive enough for general applications including incremental and iterative computations. Our experiments show that an implementation of Falkirk Wheel in Naiad successfully combines fault-tolerance regimes, with an order of magnitude lower response latencies in steady state than Naiad's batch-tuned fault-tolerance. Moreover, Falkirk Wheel is competitive with streaming systems tuned for single fault-tolerance regimes, as it provides 3-5x lower response latencies than Flink and Drizzle in steady state and during failure recovery on the Yahoo! Streaming Benchmark.
In Search of Respect: Families and Children in Pain

You know what's wrong with these girls nowadays? They only think of themselves. They only think of their sexual pleasures, their fun and their happiness. But they don't think of their kids first. Candy Developmental psychologists and psychiatrists are generally considered to be the “experts” on early childhood socialization and family violence. Most of their large-scale, multimillion-dollar, cross-generational epidemiological surveys of “children at risk” conclude that the bulk of an adult's character is determined in infancy. Their statistical studies demonstrate that most battered children are virtually irremediable by the ages of six to eight. Furthermore, they assure us that a child does not have to be the object of physical violence to be emotionally scarred for life. Simply witnessing violence can induce long-term trauma. In other words, according to the standard psychological theories of early childhood socialization, most people living in El Barrio, and certainly everyone in Ray's network and the crackhouses I frequented, might be dismissed as antisocial sociopaths because of their early childhood socialization experiences. Certainly, the gun-and-knife-wielding, knockdown fights between Candy and Primo that unfolded in front of twenty-year-old Tabatha, fourteen-year-old Junior, ten-year-old Jackie, four-year-old Mina, and one-year-old Lillian must have inflicted profound emotional scars. But once again, an individualistic, psychological – determinist approach misses the larger political economic and cultural context. It ignores historical processes and the effects of unequal power relations around class, ethnic, or gender and sexual categories.
Aperture-array directional sensing using 2-D beam digital filters with doppler-radar front-ends

A directional sensing algorithm is proposed employing doppler radar and low-complexity 2-D IIR spatially bandpass filters. The speed of the scatterer is determined by the frequency shift of the received signal following down-conversion. The downconversion is done by mixing it with the instantaneous transmitted signal. The direction of the scatterer is determined by the means of 2-D plane-wave spectral characteristics, using 2-D IIR beam filters. The proposed architecture was simulated for three scatterers at 10,° 30,° 60° from array broadside, traveling at speeds of 31 ms, −1 18 ms−1 and 27 ms −1, respectively. A doppler radar module was used to transmit and receive reflected signals, that has a carrier frequency of 2.4 GHz. Simulations show both direction and doppler information being enhanced.
Vegetation and climate change in northwest America during the past 125 kyr

Vegetation records spanning the past 21 kyr in western North America display spatial patterns of change that reflect the influence of variations in the large-scale controls of climate1. Among these controls are millennial-scale variations in the seasonal cycle of insolation and the size of the ice sheet, which affect regional climates directly through changes in temperature and net radiation, and indirectly by shifting atmospheric circulation. Longer vegetation records provide an opportunity to examine the regional response to different combinations of these large-scale controls, and whether non-climatic controls are important. But most of the longer North American records2,3 are of insufficient quality to allow a robust test, and the long European records4,5,6,7,8,9 are in regions where the vegetation response to climate is often difficult to separate from the response to ecological and anthropogenic controls. Here we present a 125-kyr record of vegetation and climate change for the forest/steppe border of the eastern Cascade Range, northwest America. Pollen data disclose alternations of forest and steppe that are consistent with variations in summer insolation and global ice-volume, and vegetational transitions correlate well with the marine isotope-stage boundaries. The close relationship between vegetation and climate beyond the Last Glacial Maximum provides evidence that climate variations are the primary cause of regional vegetation change on millennial timescales, and that non-climatic controls are secondary.
Fingerprint comparison. II: On the development of a single fingerprint filing and searching system.

A FORTRAN program has been written to compare the minutiae coded in an “unknown” fingerprint with the minutiae of fingerprints stored in a data base. The criteria for matching are scores based on the type and number of minutiae matched. Minutiae of low relative frequency have higher scoring weights than those that are more common. The matching mechanism is tested by using a fingerprint coded several times, first by a single individual and then by six other individuals who have no previous knowledge about fingerprints. These tests yield satisfactory results.
On Relocation of Hopping Sensors for Balanced Migration Distribution of Sensors

When some sensors in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) fail or become energy-exhausted, redundant mobile sensors might be moved to cover the sensing holes created by the failed sensors. Within rugged terrains where wheeled sensors are unsuitable, other types of mobile sensors, such as hopping sensors, are needed. In this paper, we address the problem of relocating hopping sensors to the detected sensing holes. The recently studied tendency for this problem considered the shortest path to relocate the sensors; however, even when multiple suppliers are considered, the previous works merely use the shortest path algorithm repeatedly. As a result, the migration distribution is imbalanced, since specific clusters on the obtained paths could be used repeatedly. In this paper, we first analyze the impact of using multiple suppliers to relocate the hopping sensors, and propose a R elocation A lgorithm using the M ost Di sjointed P aths (RAMDiP). Simulation results show that the proposed RAMDiP guarantees a balanced movement of hopping sensors and higher movement success ratio of requested sensors than those of the representative relocation scheme, MinHopExt.
Total lymphocyte count: a promising prognostic index of mortality in patients on CAPD

ObjectiveIn view of the limitations of albumin in peritoneal dialysis (PD), we set out to evaluate whether total lymphocyte counts (TLC) could serve as a better prognostic indicator. We were also i...
Accuracy of femoral tunnel placement and resulting graft force using one- or two-incision drill guides. A cadaver study on ten paired knees.

Abstract Recently, one-incision drill guides introduced through predilled tibial tunnels have become popular in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. No data are available on the reproducibility of the tunnel placement when this drill guide is used. The primary goal of this study was to compare accuracy of tunnel placement using the one-inciscion (all-inside) and the conventional two-incision drill guide (outside-in) to the location of the center of the normal ACL attachment. Furthermore, our goal was to measure the forces seen by the normal ACL during extension from 90° of flexion, when the tibia is subjected to 100 N anterior load (22.7 lbs), and compare these with the forces measured in the reconstructions performed with the two drill guides. The center of the tunnel on the lateral femoral condyle using the two different drill guides was measured with a three-dimensional pointer and compared with the center of the normal ACL insertion site. Forces in the normal ACL and the reconstructed ligament were measured with a buckle transducer in a loaded and an unloaded state at four different flexion angles. The one-incision drill guide led to a statistically more proximal placement of the graft than both the conventional drill guide and the center of the normal ACL. Both drill guides led to an anterior placement compared with the normal ACL. There was no difference in the graft forces after reconstruction with the two drill guides, but the forces in the loaded grafts were twice those of the normal ACL.
Labelling of regenerating retinal pigment epithelium by colloidal iron oxide and ferritin conjugated to wheat germ agglutinin.

In order to determine if there are biochemical changes in plasma-membrane oligosaccharides of regenerating retinal pigment epithelium, the binding of colloidal iron oxide at low pH and ferritin-conjugated wheat germ agglutinin — probes of sialic acid and N-acetylglucosamine on the cell surface — was examined electron-microscopically. An animal model of retinal pigment epithelium regeneration — rabbits with sodium iodate induced retinopathy — was used. In this model, large expanses of regenerating pigment epithelium are present for comparison with zones of spared pgiment epithelium in the same animals. In thin sections examined by transmission electron microscopy, ferritin-conjugated wheat germ agglutinin appeared to bind more intensely to the exposed plasma membrane of regenerating retinal pigment epithelium than to spared pigment epithelium, or that of normal rabbits. Morphometry verified this. Colloidal iron oxide intensely labelled the plasma membranes of regenerating, spared, and normal pigment epithelium, and was visibly reduced after exposure of tissue to neuraminidase. The observations indicate that the plasma membrane of regenerating retinal pigment epithelium bears sialic acid and N-acetylglucosamine residues as in normal retinal pigment epithelium. However, the amount of plasma membrane bearing exposed N-acetylglucosamine increases during regeneration.
THE ATHLETE’S HEART 2007: DISEASES OF THE CORONARY CIRCULATION

The augmentation of myocardial function that accompanies vigorous exercise is dependent upon adequate coronary artery blood flow reserve. Coronary artery pathology may limit coronary blood flow and produce myocardial ischemia. The clinician charged with the care of athletes must have a high index of suspicion for underlying coronary artery pathology when faced with an individual with suggestive symptoms. This article discusses diseases of the coronary circulation relevant to athletes.
Quantification and localization of phosphorylated myosin I isoforms in Acanthamoeba castellanii.

The actin-activated Mg(2+)-ATPase activities of the three myosin I isoforms in Acanthamoeba castellanii are significantly expressed only after phosphorylation of a single site in the myosin I heavy chain. Synthetic phosphorylated and unphosphorylated peptides corresponding to the phosphorylation site sequences, which differ for the three myosin I isoforms, were used to raise isoform-specific antibodies that recognized only the phosphorylated myosin I or the total myosin I isoform (phosphorylated and unphosphorylated), respectively. With these antisera, the amounts of total and phosphorylated isoform were quantified, the phosphomyosin I isoforms localized, and the compartmental distribution of the phosphomyosin isoforms determined. Myosin IA, which was almost entirely in the actin-rich cortex, was 70-100% phosphorylated and particularly enriched under phagocytic cups. Myosins IB and IC were predominantly associated with plasma membranes and large vacuole membranes, where they were only 10-20% phosphorylated, whereas cytoplasmic myosins IB and IC, like cytoplasmic myosin IA, were mostly phosphorylated (60-100%). Moreover, phosphomyosin IB was concentrated in actively motile regions of the plasma membrane. More than 20-fold more phosphomyosin IC and 10-fold more F-actin were associated with the membranes of contracting contractile vacuoles (CV) than of filling CVs. As the total amount of CV-associated myosin IC remained constant, it must be phosphorylated at the start of CV contraction. These data extend previous proposals for the specific functions of myosin I isozymes in Acanthamoeba (Baines, I.C., H. Brzeska, and E.D. Korn. 1992. J. Cell Biol. 119: 1193-1203): phosphomyosin IA in phagocytosis, phosphomyosin IB in phagocytosis and pinocytosis, and phosphomyosin IC in contraction of the CV.
Solubilization and partial purification of the GABA receptor from mouse brain and a binding assay for the solubilized receptor.

— The GABA receptor from mouse brain was solubilized with lysolecithin. A 56-fold overall purification and activation were achieved by discontinuous sucrose gradient centrifugation and solubilization. Activation of binding by both procedures was observed. The solubilized receptor has the following binding constants: KD1= 3.5 nM, KD2= 52 nM, Bmax 1= 2.8 pmol/mg protein and Bmax 2= 14 pmol/mg protein for muscimol; KD1= 12 nM, KD2= 470 nM, Bmax 1= 1.4 pmol/mg protein and Bmax 2= 17 pmol/mg protein for GABA. Specific GABA binding was inhibited by imidazoleacetic acid and bicuculline with IC50 values of 250nM and 1 μM respectively. A rapid and sensitive filtration binding assay for the solubilized receptor has been developed. Lysolecithin was also found suitable for the solubilization of acetylcholine receptor from T. californica electroplaques.
Perspectives on next‐generation technology for environmental sensor networks

Sensor networks promise to transform and expand environmental science. However, many technological difficulties must be overcome to achieve this potential. Partnerships of ecologists with computer scientists and engineers are critical in meeting these challenges. Technological issues include promoting innovation in new sensor design, incorporating power optimization schemes, integrating appropriate communication protocols, streamlining data management and access, using innovative graphic and statistical analyses, and enabling both scientists and the public to access the results. Multidisciplinary partnerships are making major contributions to technological advances, and we showcase examples of this exciting new technology, as well as new approaches for training researchers to make effective use of emerging tools.
Comparison of the Projector Augmented-Wave, Pseudopotential, and Linearized Augmented- Plane-Wave Formalisms for Density-Functional Calculations of Solids

The projector augmented-wave (PAW) method was developed by Bl\"ochl as a method to accurately and efficiently calculate the electronic structure of materials within the framework of density-functional theory. It contains the numerical advantages of pseudopotential calculations while retaining the physics of all-electron calculations, including the correct nodal behavior of the valence-electron wave functions and the ability to include upper core states in addition to valence states in the self-consistent iterations. It uses many of the same ideas developed by Vanderbilt in his ``soft pseudopotential'' formalism and in earlier work by Bl\"ochl in his ``generalized separable potentials,'' and has been successfully demonstrated for several interesting materials. We have developed a version of the PAW formalism for general use in structural and dynamical studies of materials. In the present paper, we investigate the accuracy of this implementation in comparison with corresponding results obtained using pseudopotential and linearized augmented-plane-wave (LAPW) codes. We present results of calculations for the cohesive energy, equilibrium lattice constant, and bulk modulus for several representative covalent, ionic, and metallic materials including diamond, silicon, SiC, ${\mathrm{CaF}}_{2}$, fcc Ca, and bcc V. With the exception of ${\mathrm{CaF}}_{2}$, for which core-electron polarization effects are important, the structural properties of these materials are represented equally well by the PAW, LAPW, and pseudopotential formalisms.
A cell-based approach for generating solid objects from orthographic projections

Abstract This paper describes an efficient method for converting orthographic projections into solid models based on non-manifold topology and the assumption-based truth maintenance system (ATMS), and then describes an error recovery method for incorrect orthographic projections. A combination of non-manifold modelling and ATMS achieves excellent performance for conversion problems. In our method, all solid candidates are maintained by a cellular model using non-manifold topology. Since a combination of cells in a cellular model determines the shape of a solid, solid models that match orthographic projections can be derived by solving constraints between cells and orthographic projections. A sufficient group of constraints can be expressed as a set of Boolean equations, which can be solved efficiently by using ATMS. Our method can even be applied to incorrect draftings. In actual design, many draftings contain human errors, but conventional methods cannot handle such incorrect draftings. We discuss methods for detecting inconsistent lines that should not have been included, or missing lines that should have been included.
BEALER ON THE AUTONOMY OF PHILOSOPHICAL AND SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE

: In a series of influential articles, George Bealer argues for the autonomy of philosophical knowledge on the basis that philosophically known truths must be necessary truths. The main point of his argument is that the truths investigated by the sciences are contingent truths to be discovered a posteriori by observation, while the truths of philosophy are necessary truths to be discovered a priori by intuition. The project of assimilating philosophy to the sciences is supposed to be rendered illegitimate by the more or less sharp distinction in these characteristic methods and its modal basis. In this article Bealer's particular way of drawing the distinction between philosophy and science is challenged in a novel manner, and thereby philosophical naturalism is further defended.
Evolution of porosity and calcium hydroxide in laboratory concretes containing silica fume

Abstract Laboratory concretes containing only coarse aggregates and 0, 10, or 20% silica fume as a cement replacement were prepared at a constant water-to-solids ratio and sampled at 1, 7, and 28 days. Scanning electron microscopy was utilized to monitor the progress of the hydration reactions both in the bulk paste and in regions near an aggregate surface. Phase volume fractions were determined by quantitative image analysis of the backscattered electron images. In addition, the size of “individual” two-dimensional cross sections of calcium hydroxide crystals and capillary pores were assessed. Silica fume additions are seen to affect both the amount and size of these microstructural features. Differences are observed between interfacial zone and bulk areas which support previous mercury intrusion measurements of mortar specimens. This analysis lends support to the hypothesis that when silica fume is present, calcium hydroxide crystals form and then dissolve away, contributing to a connected pathway of capillary porosity in the interfacial zone regions.
Shrinkage as a measure of extended chain conformation

Drawing of a semicrystalline polymer causes a molecular transformation from a spherulitic-to-fibrillar morphology. Shrinkage, which is a characteristic property of polymeric fibers, reverses, to a large extent, the extension that takes place during the deformational process of drawing. This paper focuses on the shrinkage behavior of various drawn semicrystalline polymers and the results are used as further evidence for the feasibility of a phase-transition model whose mechanism can be generally termed “strain-induced recrystallization.”
The anxiogenic drug yohimbine activates central viscerosensory circuits in rats

Systemic administration of the alpha(2)-adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine (YO) activates the HPA stress axis and promotes anxiety in humans and experimental animals. We propose that visceral malaise contributes to the stressful and anxiogenic effects of systemic YO and that YO recruits brainstem noradrenergic (NA) and peptidergic neurons that relay viscerosensory signals to the hypothalamus and limbic forebrain. To begin testing these hypotheses, the present study explored dose-related effects of YO on food intake, conditioned flavor avoidance (CFA), and Fos immunolabeling in rats. Systemic YO (5.0 mg/kg BW, i.p.) inhibited food intake, supported CFA, and increased Fos immunolabeling in identified NA neurons in the ventrolateral medulla, nucleus of the solitary tract, and locus coeruleus. YO also increased Fos in the majority of corticotropin releasing hormone-positive neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. YO administered at 1.0 mg/kg BW did not inhibit food intake, did not support CFA, and did not increase Fos immunolabeling. Retrograde neural tracing demonstrated that neurons activated by YO at 5.0 mg/kg BW included medullary and pontine neurons that project to the central nucleus of the amygdala and to the lateral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the latter region receiving comparatively greater input by Fos-positive neurons. We conclude that YO produces anorexigenic and aversive effects that correlate with activation of brainstem viscerosensory inputs to the limbic forebrain. These findings invite continued investigation of how central viscerosensory signaling pathways interact with hypothalamic and limbic regions to influence interrelated physiological and behavioral components of anxiety, stress, and visceral malaise.
The behavioral effects of perinatal methimazole administration in Swiss Webster mice.

Abstract Methimazole was tested for use as a positive control agent in behavioral studies of mice. Continuous administration of the antithyroid agent via drinking water (0.1 mg/ml) from Day 16 of pregnancy through Day 10 postpartum produced developmental delays in mice offspring. Ten methimazole and 12 untreated litters were studied. Developmental milestones were unaltered; i.e., time of pinna detachment, incisor eruption, eye opening, vaginal patency, and testicular descent were not different between groups. Mean body weights of methimazole offspring were consistently reduced, but significant differences were isolated to a few days in the preweaning period and a few weeks during the postweaning period. There was no enduring effect. All preweaning tests showed some significant treatment-related changes; methimazole pups were developmentally delayed. Surface righting time was increased while time pivoting and the number of quadrants traveled were decreased in methimazole pups. Negative geotaxis showed significant treatment-related increases in the time to orient 180° uphill, the percentage of pups orienting 180° uphill, and the percentage of pups orienting
Cytochemical, fluorescent-antibody and electron microscopic studies on the growth of reovirus (ECHO 10) in tissue culture.

Abstract The sequence of changes in monkey kidney cells infected with reovirus type 1 (ECHO 10) has been followed by conventional staining techniques, by cytochemical means (staining with acridine orange and with fluorescent antibodies), and by electron microscopy. Changes have been followed systematically during a single cycle of infection. Virus protein (antigen) was first detectable 12 hours after infection and increased RNA in the cytoplasm, 16 hours after infection. Both reached a maximum in intensity of staining and formed a ring surrounding the nucleus approximately 54 hours after infection. Typical cytoplasmic inclusions were also observed by conventional staining techniques. These findings paralleled the titrations of extracellular and total virus. Antigenic protein was present only in the cytoplasm of infected cells, and the nucleus did not appear to play any part in virus synthesis. Reovirus was purified by isodensity centrifugation in concentrated cesium chloride, and a “top component” consisting mainly of antigenic protein was isolated. The nucleic acid present in the mature virus was identified as RNA by staining purified material with acridine orange. A cytoplasmic matrix containing particles 70 mμ in diameter, often in crystalline array, was observed with the electron microscope in ultrathin sections of infected cells.
Child discipline and family decision-making

Abstract Objectives are (1) to develop a utility-maximizing framework to guide the testing of hypotheses about the effectiveness of parental disciplinary norms in producing desirable child outcomes, and (2) to use the framework to test prior hypotheses and make further inferences about the effectiveness of parental methods of governance and communication in producing desired child outcomes. Factor analyses supported our major prior hypotheses concerning the existence of physical and non-physical forms of discipline, and also uncovered evidence of a third discipline dimension—emotional harshness. Findings support use of an optimization framework to examine parental discipline attitudes and a wide variety of related hypotheses about family behavior.
An integratable high bandwidth high linearity polarization insensitive compact tapered photodetector

We demonstrate an integratable, high linearity (>15 dBm optical power), high bandwidth ((11plusmn1) GHz), polarization insensitive tapered photodetector with a peak responsivity of (0.25plusmn0.03)A/W. The tapered photodiode of this work consists of a lower passive guide for enhanced fiber coupling, with the active absorption region grown on the waveguide surface.
Photothermal interferometric NIR detection using sol gel materials

Photothermal detection methods use the light-absorbing sample material as the sensor transducer. Photothermal displacement methods using interferometric detection will be used to measure environmental analytes particularly if those analytes can be incorporated into the sensor probe. We are using various nanoporous optical sol-gel materials in sensor probes for photothermal detection. Photothermal sensors made using sol-gel materials have advantages for infrared and near infrared photothermal in situ detection including improved sensitivity, lower limits of detection, easier miniaturization, and room-temperature operation. The potential for photothermal interferometric near infrared detection of organophosphorous compounds adsorbed in silica sol-gel is demonstrated.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Diagnostic utility of the genital Gram stain in ED patients

Abstract Objective The study aimed to determine the diagnostic usefulness of the genital Gram stain in an emergency department (ED) population. Methods A linked-query of an urban, tertiary-care, university- affiliated hospital laboratory database was conducted for all completed Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae DNA probes, Trichomonas vaginalis wet preps, and genital Gram stains performed on ED patient visits between January and December 2004. Positive criteria for a Gram stain included greater than 10 white blood cells per high-power field, gram-negative intracellular/extracellular diplococci (suggesting N gonorrhoeae ), clue cells (suggesting T vaginalis ), or direct visualization of T vaginalis organisms. DNA probes were used as the gold standard definition for N gonorrhoeae and C trachomatis infection. Results Of 1511 initially eligible ED visits, 941 were analyzed (genital Gram stain and DNA probe results both present), with a prevalence of either C trachomatis or N gonorrhoeae of 11.4%. A positive genital Gram stain was 75.7% sensitive and 43.3% specific in diagnosing either C trachomatis and/or N gonorrhoeae infection, and 80.4% sensitive and 32.2% specific when the positive cutoff was lowered to more than 5 white blood cells/high-power field. No Gram stains were positive for T vaginalis (with 47 positive wet mounts), and clue cells were noted on 117 Gram stains (11.6%). Conclusion Gram stains in isolation lack sufficient diagnostic ability to detect either C trachomatis or N gonorrhoeae infection in the ED.
Universal approach to magneto-optics

Magneto-optics is described in a unique framework. Reflection and transmission of a general multilayer system is expressed by means of medium boundary and propagation matrices which are universal and apply to any configuration of films and media. The results for the magneto-optic coefficients are cast in the form of sets of four linear, inhomogeneous equations. It is shown that in the thin-film limit, the Kerr effect obeys an additivity law for a system consisting of any number of magnetic films. Computer simulations were performed on different film-configurations, including an overlayer, a sandwich and a superlattice.
Determination of Surface Roughness by Laser Light Scatter Using Flexible Microcontroller

This paper presents the development of a non contact surface roughness measurement instrument and its modification from a pc based system to a standalone system. Surface roughness is a measure of localized small-scale height variations or imperfections on the surface of a material. The measurement parameter of surface roughness is described as roughness number, Ra which is the average roughness expressed in micro scale. The type of surface finish under study is created by grinding applications. This surface must meet a specified pre-determined finish. One method used for non-contact measurement of an engineering surface is to measure the back-scatter of a laser light source. The amount of back-scatter is directly proportional to the Ra value [1] [2]. One drawback to pc based system is that it is not portable. A computer handles data acquisition and provides a user interface. The inspection probe is attached to the computer via a limited length of wire. In an industrial setting, it would be more efficient and flexible to bring the inspection probe to the surface in question rather than to bring the surface to the inspection probe. The procedure and the design described in this paper will eliminate the need for the wire tether and the computer altogether. The functionality for both data acquisition and user interface will be replaced by an embedded system. This embedded system will consist of a microcontroller, a multichannel analog to digital converter, an Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and a keypad input device.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
β-Lactamase mutations far from the active site influence inhibitor binding

Analysis of the three dimensional structure of the class A beta-lactamases shows that Arg-244, a spatially conserved residue important for inactivation by clavulanic acid, is held in place by a hydrogen (H) bond from the residue at 276. An Asn276-Gly mutant of OHIO-1, an SHV family class A enzyme, was constructed to investigate the importance of that interaction. Compared to a strain expressing the wild type enzyme, OHIO-1, the MIC of the Asn276-Gly mutant strain was more resistant to clavulanate (0.25 vs. 2.0 micrograms/ml) in the presence of ampicillin (16 micrograms/ml) but was as susceptible to sulbactam or tazobactam plus ampicillin as the OHIO-1 bearing strain. No difference in MICs was observed when other beta-lactams were tested. Consistent with the susceptibility test results, the apparent Ki of clavulanate for the Asn276-Gly enzyme (4.5 microM) was 10-fold greater than OHIO-1 (0.4 microM). For sulbactam and tazobactam the apparent Ki decreased for Asn276-Gly enzyme (1.0 and 0.1 micrograms/ml, respectively) compared to the wild-type parent (17 and 0.7 micrograms/ml, respectively). Comparing the Asn276-Gly heta-lactamase with OHIO-1, the Vmax for most substrates except cephaloridine did not change substantially. There was a 2-15 fold decreased affinity (Km) and catalytic efficiency (Vmax/Km) for beta-lactam substrates. These data support the observation and emphasize the role for this H bonding residue in orienting Arg-244 towards the active site.
Modeling the air–soil transport pathway of perfluorooctanoic acid in the mid-Ohio Valley using linked air dispersion and vadose zone models

Abstract As part of an extensive modeling effort on the air–soil-groundwater transport pathway of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), this study was designed to compare the performance of different air dispersion modeling systems (AERMOD vs. ISCST3), and different approaches to handling incomplete meteorological data using a data set with substantial soil measurements and a well characterized point source for air emissions. Two of the most commonly used EPA air dispersion models, AERMOD and ISCST3, were linked with the EPA vadose zone model PRZM-3. Predicted deposition rates from the air dispersion model were used as input values for the vadose zone model to estimate soil concentrations of PFOA at different depths. We applied 34 years of meteorological data including hourly surface measurements from Parkersburg Airport and 5 years of onsite wind direction and speed to the air dispersion models. We compared offsite measured soil concentrations to predictions made for the corresponding sampling depths, focusing on soil rather than air measurements because the offsite soil samples were less likely to be influenced by short-term variability in emission rates and meteorological conditions. PFOA concentrations in surface soil (0–30 cm depth) were under-predicted and those in subsurface soil (>30 cm depth) were over-predicted compared to observed concentrations by both linked air and vadose zone model. Overall, the simulated values from the linked modeling system were positively correlated with those observed in surface soil (Spearman’s rho, R sp = 0.59–0.70) and subsurface soil ( R sp = 0.46–0.48). This approach provides a useful modeling scheme for similar exposure and risk analyses where the air–soil-groundwater transport is a primary contamination pathway.
Hepatocyte growth factor suppresses acute renal inflammation by inhibition of endothelial E-selectin

Vascular endothelial activation, marked by de novo expression of E-selectin, is an early and essential event in the process of leukocyte extravasation and inflammation. Evidence suggests that hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) ameliorates inflammation in animal models of renal disease, implying that HGF might inhibit specific components of the inflammatory response. This study examined the effect of HGF on endothelial E-selectin expression in acute inflammation induced by tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- α . In vitro , HGF suppressed TNF- α -induced cell surface expression of E-selectin in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and inhibited E-selectin mediated monocytic adhesion to endothelial monolayers. HGF activated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)–Akt that in turn inhibited its downstream transducer glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)3. Blockade of the PI3K–Akt pathway with specific inhibitors abrogated HGF induced inhibitory phosphorylation of GSK3 and suppression of E-selectin. In addition, selective inhibition of GSK3 activity by lithium suppressed TNF- α -induced E-selectin expression and monocytic adhesion, reminiscent of the action of HGF. Moreover, ectopic expression of an uninhibitable mutant GSK3 β , in which the regulatory serine-9 is replaced by alanine, abolished HGF's suppressive effect on endothelial E-selectin. In vivo , administration of exogenous HGF reduced endothelial expression of E-selectin induced by bolus injection of TNF- α . This was associated with less sequestration of circulating fluorescence-labeled macrophages in the kidney. These findings suggest that HGF ameliorates acute renal inflammation in part by downregulating E-selectin mediated macrophage adhesion to the inflamed endothelium.
Fault detection in word-level nanoICs using vector Boolean derivatives

This paper consists of four parts: (1) The word-level representations of digital circuits which included (a) word-level arithmetic representation, (b) word-level sum-of-products representation, and (c) word-level Reed-Muller representation. (2) The three word-level nano ICs circuit designs. (3) The introduction of the vector Boolean derivative. (4) The fault detection in word-level digital circuits using the vector Boolean derivative. The formulas for deriving tests for detecting stuck-at-0 (s-a-0) and stuck-at-1(s-a-1) are given word-level digital circuit presented in in any of the three representations.
CALM and Cadena: metamodeling for component-based product-line development

Large-scale software development efforts are increasingly based on product lines, a development process in which developers build the software for similar product families from reusable infrastructure and common application components. Existing software modeling approaches fail to support many product-line development activities. The Cadena platform, together with its core modeling concept, the Cadena Architecture Language with Metamodeling, addresses this deficiency by providing a highly adaptive type-centric modeling framework with robust, flexible, and extensible tool support.
Numerical study of a singular system of conservation laws arising in enhanced oil reservoirs

Abstract We present a numerical study of the structure of elementary nonlinear waves and their qualitative behavior for the degenerate hyperbolic system of equations describing the process of polymer flooding of an oil reservoir.