cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Future Therapy for Hepatitis B Virus: Role of Immunomodulators

Although currently available therapies for chronic hepatitis B virus infection can suppress viremia and provide long-term benefits for patients, they do not lead to a functional cure for most patients. Advances in our understanding of the virus-host interaction and the recent remarkable success of immunotherapy in cancer offer new and promising strategies for developing immune modulators that may become important components of a total therapeutic approach to hepatitis B, some of which are now in clinical development. Among the immunomodulatory agents currently being investigated to combat chronic HBV are toll-like receptor agonists, immune checkpoint inhibitors, therapeutic vaccines, and engineered T cells. The efficacy of some immune modulatory therapies is compromised by high viral antigen levels. Cutting edge strategies, including RNA interference and CRISPR/Cas9, are now being studied that may ultimately be shown to have the capacity to lower viral antigen levels sufficiently to substantially increase the efficacy of these agents. The current advances in therapies for chronic hepatitis B are leading us toward the possibility of a functional cure.
The Indirect Costs of Late-Life Depression in the United States: A Literature Review and Perspective

Late-life depression is a leading cause of disability in older adults and is associated with significant economic burden. This article draws from the existing literature and publicly available databases to describe the relative importance of the indirect costs associated with late-life depression. The authors found that unpaid caregiver costs represent the largest component of the indirect costs of late-life depression, with the highest level of economic burden attributed to the majority of care recipients who have fewer depressive symptoms. Other indirect costs, such as productivity losses related to early retirement, reduced ability to fulfill work and family functions and diminished financial success were mostly under-appreciated in the literature. Also, mortality cost estimates provided little clarity, employing variable methodologies and revealing mixed results. With respect to late-life suicide studies, studies approximated both economic costs and savings. More rigorous efforts to evaluate the indirect costs of late-life depression would afford a better understanding of the social and economic toll of this disorder and could influence the allocation of resources for research and treatment.
A charge recovery logic system bus

Modern VLSI systems are limited by power constraints, and many solutions exists to reduce power consumption. In static CMOS energy is dissipated by the pull-up and pull-down networks during low-to-high and high-to-low transitions, respectively. The charge is moved from the power source to the load capacitance, then discharged to ground. Charge recovery logic (CRL) saves energy by recovering, or recycling, this charge. While discrete-time filters and adders have been built in charge recovery logic, tristate gates, registers, and buses have seen moderate research. This work shows how a charge recovery logic bus can be built, and how the CRL bus can be accessed to support read and write operations. In addition, a novel CRL register is proposed as a representative memory device transacting read and write operations through the CRL bus.
ENT3 utilizes a pH Sensing Mechanism for Transport.

Equilibrative nucleoside transporter 3 (ENT3), encoded by the SLC29A3 gene, is the major acidic pH dependent nucleoside transporter responsible for maintaining nucleoside homeostasis in lysosomal, ...
Combined Shewhart-CUSUM Quality Control Schemes

The Shewhart-CUSUM quality control scheme which combines the key features of the Shewhart and CUSUM control procedures is described and evaluated. In this scheme the CUSUM feature will quickly detect small shifts from the goal while the addition of Shew..
Food grade pimenta leaf essential oil reduces the attachment of Salmonella enterica Heidelberg (2011 Ground Turkey Outbreak Isolate) on to Turkey Skin

Salmonella attached to the poultry skin is a major source of carcass contamination during processing. Once attached to the poultry skin, it is difficult to detach and inactivate Salmonella by commonly used antimicrobial agents since the pathogen is entrapped deeply in the feather follicles and the crevices on the skin. Essential oils could be natural, safe, and effective alternatives to synthetic antimicrobial agents during commercial and organic processing setup. The present study evaluated the efficacy of pimenta (Pimenta officinalis Lindl.) leaf essential oil (PEO), and its nanoemulsion in reducing Salmonella Heidelberg attachment on to turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) skin during simulated scalding (65oC) and chilling (4oC) steps in poultry processing. A multidrug resistant S. Heidelberg isolate from the 2011 ground turkey outbreak in the USA was used in the study. Results showed that PEO and the nanoemulsion resulted in significant reduction of S. Heidelberg attachment on turkey skin. Turkey skin samples treated with 1.0% PEO for 5 min resulted in >2 log10 CFU/sq. inch reduction of S. Heidelberg at 65 and 4oC, respectively (n=6; P<0.05). Similarly, skin samples treated with 1.0% pimenta nanoemulsion (PNE) for 5 min resulted in 1.5- and 1.8- log10 CFU/sq. inch reduction of S. Heidelberg at 65 and 4oC, respectively (n=6; P<0.05). In addition, PEO and PNE were effective in reducing S. Heidelberg on skin during short-term storage at 4 and 10oC (temperature abuse) (n=6; P<0.05). No Salmonella was detected in the dipping solution containing 0.5 or 1.0% PEO or PNE, whereas a substantial population of the pathogen survived in the control dipping solution. The results were validated using scanning electron -, and confocal - microscopy techniques. PEO or PNE could be utilized as an effective antimicrobial agent to reduce S. Heidelberg attachment to turkey skin during poultry processing.
FT-IR of the Polymer-Reinforcement Interphase in Composite Materials

A modified internal reflection spectroscopy (IRS) technique is described, where the IRS element is coated with a thin (<100 nm) layer of a material intended to simulate the surface of a reinforcement. Examples of coatings include silica, poly(p-phenyleneterephthalamide), carbonized poly(acrylonitrile) and an aminosilane coupling agent. The way in which these surfaces affect the crosslinking kinetics and final crosslinked state of the first 200–400 nm of an amine- or anhydride-cured epoxy resin was then determined by infrared (IR) spectroscopy. Chemical differences detected by spectroscopy are shown to correlate with physical property differences of reinforced epoxy composites.
Postoperative Posterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy After Left Far-Lateral Craniectomy for Resection of Craniocervical Meningioma.

Background Postoperative posterior ischemic optic neuropathy (PION) is a rare cause of postoperative vision loss, most often seen when surgical patients are placed in the prone position for a prolonged period of time. We report a case of bilateral PION after far-lateral craniectomy in the lateral position. Case Description A 36-year-old man presented with a history of right extremity numbness, weakness, and muscle atrophy, and a craniocervical meningioma was diagnosed. Surgery in the lateral position lasted 9 hours, 52 minutes; the patient had 2 L of blood loss. On postoperative day 1, the patient had bilateral vision loss, which prompted further work-up. Diffusion-weighted imaging of the orbits demonstrated restricted diffusion within the bilateral optic nerves. The clinical presentation of painless vision loss after surgery with these imaging findings led to a diagnosis of PION. At the time of discharge, he had not recovered any visual function. Conclusions This case suggests that PION can occur in the lateral position where there is no direct pressure on the orbits. PION is often not discussed as a potential complication during the preoperative consent process. This case suggests it may be prudent to discuss PION in similar neurosurgical cases. Intraoperative blood transfusion should be considered in prolonged surgeries in the lateral position, where slow blood loss over a long period could be a contributing factor to development of PION.
Cardiologist perceptions of family-centred rounds in cardiovascular clinical care.

Objective Few data exist regarding physician attitudes and implementation of family-centred rounds (FCR) in cardiovascular care. This study aimed to assess knowledge and attitudes among cardiologists and cardiology fellows regarding barriers and benefits of FCRs. Methods An electronic, web-based questionnaire was nationally distributed to cardiology fellows and attending cardiologists. Results In total, 118 subjects were surveyed, comprising cardiologists (n=64, 54%) and cardiology fellows (n=54, 46%). Overall, 61% of providers reported participating in FCRs and 64% felt family participation on rounds benefits the patient. Both fellows and cardiologists agreed that family rounds eased family anxiety (fellows, 63%; cardiologists, 56%; p=0.53), improved communication between the medical team and the patient and family (fellows, 78%; cardiologists, 61%; p=0.18) and improved patient safety (fellows, 59%; cardiologists, 47%; p=0.43). Attitudes regarding enhancement of trainee education were similar (fellows, 69%; cardiologists, 55%; p=0.19). Fellows and cardiologists felt that family increased the duration of rounds (fellows, 78%; cardiologists, 80%; p=0.18) and led to less efficient rounds (fellows, 54%; cardiologists, 58%; p=0.27). Conclusion The majority of cardiologists and fellows believed that FCRs benefited families, communication and patient safety, but led to reduced efficiency and longer duration of rounds.
Trading the stock market using Google search volumes: a long short-term memory approach

In this paper, we present a methodology for utilising Google search indices obtained from the Google trends website as a means for measuring potential investor interest in stocks listed on the Dow Jones index (Dow 30). We accomplish this task by utilising a long short-term memory network that correlates changes in the search volume for a given asset with changes in the actual trade volume for said asset. Additionally, by using these predictions, we formulate a concise trading strategy in the hopes of being able to outperform the market and analyse the results of this new strategy by backtesting across weekly closing price data for the last six months of 2016. Furthermore, with a success rate of 43%, we believe our algorithm to be scalable beyond the narrow scope of this study and could in fact be applicable to numerous other assets on the market.
The Biodiversity for Life (B4L) Flagship Initiative: The EU, Africa, and Biodiversity Conservation

This chapter offers an analysis of EU’s formal development interventions in the conservation sector. The flagship initiative, Biodiversity for Life (B4L), seeks to mainstream environment into EU development initiatives around the world. Focusing on B4L, this chapter draws attention to the potential conflicts and contradictions incumbent in these biodiversity-focused development programs on the African continent. In addition to addressing the long history of European intervention in African environments that shadow contemporary development interventions, LaRocco explores their implications in an assessment of Manners’ conception of Normative Power Europe (NPE) in Africa. The chapter concludes with a case study of Virunga National Park in the DR Congo and probes the nature of the EU’s normative framework for involvement in the national park and its operationalization on the ground.
Compact Subvarieties in Flag Domains

A real reductive Lie group G 0 acts on complex flag manifolds G/Q, where Q is a parabolic subgroup of the complexification G of G 0. The open orbits D = G 0(x) include the homogeneous complex manifolds of the form G 0/V 0 where V 0= G 0∩Q x the centralizer of a torus; those are the G 0-homogeneous pseudo-kahler manifolds. For an appropriate choice K 0 maximal compact subgroup of G 0, the orbit Y=K 0(x) is a maximal compact complex submanifold of D. The “cycle space” M D =gY ∣ g ∈ G and gY ⊂ D, space of maximal compact linear subvarieties of D, has a natural complex structure. M D plays important roles in the theory of moduli of compact kahler manifolds and in automorphic cohomology theory. Here we sketch a brief exposition of this interesting mathematical topic.
Beyond Purple Hearts: A Colorful Approach to Isolate Distinct Heart Cells from Human iPSCs

In this issue of Cell Stem Cell, Zhang et al. (2019) describe a double-reporter iPSC line based on the expression of key cardiac transcription factors, TBX5 and NKX2.5, that delineates cardiac lineage specification in vitro and enables isolation of relatively pure chamber-specific cardiomyocytes, which are critical for drug screening, tissue engineering, and disease modeling.
Linear Systems Solvers for Distributed-Memory Machines with GPU Accelerators

This work presents two implementations of linear solvers for distributed-memory machines with GPU accelerators—one based on the Cholesky factorization and one based on the LU factorization with partial pivoting. The routines are developed as part of the Software for Linear Algebra Targeting Exascale (SLATE) package, which represents a sharp departure from the traditional conventions established by legacy packages, such as LAPACK and ScaLAPACK. The article lays out the principles of the new approach, discusses the implementation details, and presents the performance results.
Study of highly perturbed spacecraft formation dynamics via approximation

Abstract This paper explores methods for approximating and analyzing the dynamics of highly perturbed spacecraft formations with an emphasis on computationally efficient approaches. This facilitates on-board computation or rapid preliminary mission design analysis. Perturbed formation dynamics are often approximated as linear time-varying (LTV) systems, for which Floquet theory can be used to analyze the degree of system instability. Furthermore, the angular momentum of the relative orbital state can be computed with the approximate dynamics to provide additional insight. A general methodology is developed first and then applied to the problem of unstable formation dynamics in asteroid orbits. Here the dominant perturbative effects due to low-order gravitational harmonics and solar radiation pressure are modeled. Numerical simulations validate the approach and illustrate the approximation accuracy achieved.
Simulate Forest Trees by Integrating L-System and 3D CAD Files

In this article, we propose a new approach for simu-lating trees, including their branches, sub-branches, and leaves. This approach combines the theory of biological development, mathematical models, and computer graphics, producing simu-lated trees and forest with full geometry. Specifically, we adopt the Lindenmayer process to simulate the branching pattern of trees and modify the available measurements and dimensions of 3D CAD developed object files to create natural looking sub-branches and leaves. Randomization has been added to the placement of all branches, sub branches and leaves. To simulate a forest, we adopt Inhomogeneous Poisson process to generate random locations of trees. Our approach can be used to create complex structured 3D virtual environment for the purpose of testing new sensors and training robotic algorithms. We look forward to applying this approach to test biosonar sensors that mimick bats' fly in the simulated environment.
Assessments of Romania's Agrifood Processing Sector Competitiveness on International Market

Abstract. Subsequent to the European integration that Romania committed to undertake, the trade liberalization process faced national agricultural producers to the widened exposure to the foreign competitive pressure, amid the structural and performance disparities most significant in the food processing sector. The research objective was to analyze the evolution and competitiveness of Romanian agrifood processed products on the international market, focusing on the post-EU accession period. The methods used relevant competitiveness indices related to agrifood processed groups of products, including the trade unit value and of trade revealed comparative advantage index. The results concluded that Romania is exporter of agricultural products, while imports have been dominated for over two decades by agrifood processed products and achieved largely cheap agrifood exports on international markets. The empirical research revealed trade disadvantages compared to EU products, dependence on imports especially of processed products of animal origin, while low competitiveness of the processing sector is the main drawback in increasing export earnings. Â
Circulating Fibroblast Growth Factor-21 Levels in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Associations With Disease Characteristics, Body Composition, and Physical Functioning.

Objective This study evaluated associations between fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-21, an adipokine associated with metabolic stress, and adverse longitudinal changes in body composition and physical functioning in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods At baseline and follow-up, patients with RA aged 18–70 years completed whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and peripheral quantitative computed tomography to quantify lean mass, fat mass, and muscle density. Dynamometry assessed muscle strength at the hand and knee, and physical functioning was measured with the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). FGF-21 and inflammatory cytokines were measured at baseline. Linear and logistic regression analyses assessed associations between FGF-21 levels and both body composition and physical functioning over time. Results There were 113 patients with RA enrolled, and 84 (74%) returned for follow-up at a median of 2.68 years. At baseline, FGF-21 was associated with age, smoking, methotrexate use, adiposity, and inflammatory cytokines: tumor necrosis factor receptor type I, YKL-40, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and resistin. The highest FGF-21 quartile was associated with worse SPPB and HAQ. Higher baseline FGF-21 levels (per 1 SD) were associated with worsening in muscle density and area Z-scores (β –0.06, 95% CI –0.12 to 0.008, P = 0.08; and β –0.05, 95% CI –0.10 to 0.006, P = 0.08, respectively) and a greater probability of a clinically meaningful worsening of HAQ (OR 2.37, 95% CI 1.21–4.64, P= 0.01). The fourth FGF-21 quartile was associated with worsening of SPPB (β –0.57, 95% CI –1.04 to –0.09, P = 0.02). Conclusion FGF-21 levels are associated with obesity and inflammatory cytokines, and with worsening in physical functioning in RA. These data support the hypothesis that FGF-21 can identify patients at risk of functional decline.
Statistical residual-based time series methods for multicopter fault detection and identification

Abstract This paper presents the introduction, investigation, and critical assessment of three data-driven statistical residual-based time series methods for rotor fault detection and identification (FDI) in multicopters. A concise overview of statistical residual-based FDI methods is provided based on scalar (univariate) and vector (multivariate) stochastic time series models. The FDI methods employed in this study are based on identified response-only parametric scalar (univariate) and vector (multivariate) autoregressive (AR) representations of multicopter attitudes (time series), as the external excitation is non-observable, and their corresponding model residuals obtained under the considered healthy and faulty multicopter states. The comparative assessment of the effectiveness of three residual-based statistical FDI methods is presented in the face of external disturbances, namely three different levels of turbulence, and for different rotor fault scenarios. To the authors' best of knowledge, this is the first time that residual-based statistical time series methods are investigated and evaluated with respect to multicopter FDI. The unique characteristics of the presented methods are: (i) the data-driven stochastic identification of the multicopter dynamics under healthy and faulty rotor conditions is based only on the use of multicopter attitude signals, i.e. roll, pitch, and yaw, without the need to use additional aircraft states; (ii) there is no analytical modeling involved and the subsequent development of a stochastic multicopter FDI framework does not require knowledge of the controller effort to detect and classify rotor faults. The fault detection methods based on Vector AutoRegressive (VAR) models exhibit improved performance compared to their scalar counterparts, as indicated by lower false alarms and missed fault rates. In the case of rotor fault identification (classification), the methods that are based on scalar AR models exhibit reduced rotor fault classification accuracy, while the VAR-based methods outperform their scalar counterparts and can achieve a fault identification accuracy of up to 99.6%.
Patients, Social Workers, and Pharmacists' Perceptions of Barriers to Providing HIV Care in Community Pharmacies in the United States.

Retaining people living with HIV (PLWH) in clinical care is a global priority to end the HIV epidemic. Community pharmacies in the United States have structural influences on the success or failure of retention in HIV care by supporting patients’ complex needs. However, to date, barriers to retention in care in the community pharmacy setting have not been examined beyond pharmacy services of medication therapy management. We utilized the patient-centered medical home model to examine the barriers to HIV care in the community pharmacy setting. We utilized semi-structured interviews to collect data from 15 participants: five PLWH, five community pharmacists, and five social workers from a midwestern state. Interview data were transcribed and analyzed using directed content analysis. Four key themes emerged regarding the barriers that impact utilization of community pharmacy services by PLWH: the perception of the role of community pharmacists in HIV care, perceptions of pharmacists’ HIV knowledge, perceptions of pharmacy operation and services, and negative experiences within the community pharmacy space. Participants’ perceptions of solutions for improving HIV care in the community pharmacy focused on improving the relationship between pharmacists and patients, ensuring that the community pharmacy is a private and safe space for patients, and having a diverse pharmacy staff that is equipped to take care of the diverse and marginalized HIV population, such as transgender people.
Combination of Chemotherapy and Hormones in Prostatic Cancer

The National Prostatic Cancer Project in a four-year period has accessioned 301 patients with newly diagnosed Stage D-2 prostatic cancer into a treatment protocol comparing cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) plus estramustine phosphate (Estracyt) versus Cytoxan plus diethylstilbestrol (DES) versus either DES or bilateral orchiectomy. The three treatment arms appear comparable in terms of entry criteria with the exception of elevated acid phosphatase for one arm which as yet has not influenced the response rates. Thus far, toxicities to the chemotherapy combination treatment arms have not been excessive although more prevalent than in the DES/orchi-ectomy arm. Major toxicities have been anemia, leukopenia and nausea and vomiting. Preliminary data show that the treatment arm consisting of DES plus Cytoxan is showing a slight but nonsignificant advantage in delaying progression of the disease compared to the other two treatment arms at the initial 12-week evaluation. Patient follow-up and data collection is still not complete for the assessment of survival and response durations. Approximately one-third of patients entered into the study are still on original or crossover therapy with 75% of patients still in that category. More complete and meaningful data should be available in another 18 months.
Last mile wireless network in rural Nicaraguas

Our team designed a wireless local area network to connect Sabana Grande, in Totogalpa, Nicaragua. Sabana Grande is a rural community, where grid power is sparse and internet access is currently non-existent. We identified the need for internet access in Sabana Grande by working with local leaders to organize community-wide meetings where we interviewed resident families. Sabana Grande had not been previously connected because the surrounding rough terrain and sparse infrastructure presented several unique challenges. Our team overcame each of these challenges in our design. We began our design work by working with local contacts to determine power and performance requirements. Using MATLAB to model Fresnel zone interference, we found that surrounding mountains block the line-of-sight from existing access points. So in our design, we included a repeating station overlooking the community. There is no grid power at the repeating site or the receiving sites. So, we have also included solar power solutions. To ensure maintainability, we favored locally available components. After designing the network, performing a feasibility analysis, and conducting follow up interviews with local leaders, we have determined that connecting Sabana Grande will be a practical and impactful project. We are excited to return to install our system in the Summer of 2015.
La geografía artística en América:el legado de Kubler y sus límites

Entre los muchos topicos que George Kubler enuncio para el futuro estudio de las artes, se encuentra el de la geografia artistica de America. Kaufmann recoge las ideas que Kubler dejo en diversos ensayos y recuerda la necesidad de reformular los mapas geograficos de acuerdo con un criterio distinto al de las fronteras politicas. Esta reformulacion tendria que venir por fuerza de un estudio de las rutas de transferencia de las propuestas artisticas provenientes de Europa y de su influencia regional (y no solo de la Peninsula Iberica). Ademas de tomar en cuenta las “configuraciones del tiempo” en la arquitectura y en los diversos eventos historicos de cada region, analiza tambien otras propuestas como la de Erwin Walter Palm sobre el “provincialismo” para complementar un inventario de los principales elementos que deberia tomarse en cuenta en el trazo de los mapas artisticos tanto de Europa como de America
Differences in suprathreshold heat pain responses and self-reported sleep quality between patients with temporomandibular joint disorder and healthy controls

The purpose of this study was to examine differences in heat pain threshold (HPTh) and heat pain tolerance (HPTo) between temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD) patients and healthy controls. Using suprathreshold heat pain, this study also examined between-group (i.e. TMJD vs. healthy controls) differences in hyperalgesia and temporal summation (TS) of heat pain. Lastly, whether between-group differences in these heat pain outcomes were mediated by self-reported sleep quality was also tested. A total of 119 participants (41% TMJD) completed the current study. HPTh and HPTo responses were assessed at the ventral forearm with an ascending method of limits, while hyperalgesia and TS responses were assessed at the dorsal forearm at temperatures of 46, 48 and 50 °C. Prior to completion of heat pain procedures, participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Significant between-group differences in HPTh and HPTo were not observed. TMJD patients demonstrated significantly greater hyperalgesia than healthy controls at 46 °C only, but there were no differences for TS. Furthermore, TMJD patients reported significantly poorer sleep quality compared with healthy controls. Data analysis revealed a significant simple mediation effect whereby the presence of TMJD was strongly associated with poorer self-reported sleep quality, which, in turn, was related to enhanced hyperalgesia at 46 °C. These findings support the hypothesis that the thermal hyperalgesia demonstrated by TMJD patients may be related to poor quality of their self-reported sleep. The ability of interventions that improve sleep quality to also affect pain sensitivity is currently the topic of ongoing investigation.
The generational effect on pharmacists' labour supply

Objectives The purpose of this article was to explore the extent to which generational differences mediate pharmacists' labour supply functions, focusing on the conditions under which they provide professional services. Methods Three age groups were identified: younger than 40 years of age, 40–54 years old and 55 years or older. Identical labour supply functions were formulated and estimated, using ordinary least squares, for pharmacists in the three groups depicting the number of hours worked per week as a function of their wage rate, human capital stock and job-related preferences. The data were obtained by surveying registered pharmacists in South Florida. Key findings Results indicated that as pharmacists approached retirement, their labour supply behaviour was conditioned more by institutional factors than by pay. The presence of children and the perception of stress exerted a stronger influence on the amount of labour supplied by younger than older pharmacists. Conversely, the effect of experience, gender, administrative role and perception of autonomy was stronger for older than for younger pharmacists. Conclusions These disparities may be useful to healthcare managers and policymakers as a means of understanding pharmacists' expectations and motives across generations while facilitating communication, promoting teamwork and setting up productivity goals.
Binational Ecopolitics: An Examination of U.S. Canadian Environmental Policy

The United States and Canada have shared interests as they relate to ensuring effective regional and global environmental governance. At the same time, U.S.-Canadian ecopolitics has exhibited instances of policy divergence. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to examine U.S.-Canadian binational efforts to confront environmental challenges that affect both countries. In short, to what extent have the U.S. and Canada been able to resolve transboundary environmental problems that affect the quality of the North American ecosystem? In an effort to learn more about environmental relations involving two countries that share a lengthy North American border, we examined four major issues - - acid rain, NAFTA and the environmental provisions, stratospheric ozone depletion, global warming- - and assess the actions taken by the U.S. and Canada to resolve these shared environmental concerns.
Study on sex-organ development. Oestrogen-receptor translocation in the developing chick Müllerian duct.

After oestradiol administration in vivo, 87-95% of the initial concentration of oestradiol receptor in the cytoplasm of the embryonic-chick Mullerian-duct cell was translocated into the nucleus. The process of translocation depends on the amount of oestardiol administered in vivo. At 6 h after oestradiol administration in vivo, about 30% replenishment of the initial content of the cytosol receptor was observed in the cytoplasm. The Mullerian-duct nuclei, after exposure to non-radioactive oestradiol, exhibit saturable exchange with [3H]oestradiol in vitro. The exchange of oestradiol is temperature- and time-dependent. The optimal temperature and time for exchange are 37-41 degrees C and 2h respectively. The [3H]oestradiol-receptor complex extracted from the exchanged nuclei is present in 5-6S form, and its isoelectric point is 6.8. The number of nuclear oestradiol-binding sites of the developing Mullerian duct are 1.66, 2.22, 2.63, and 2.50 pmol/mg of DNA respectively for embryos of 10, 12, 15 and 18 days. The dissociation constants of the nuclear oestradiol receptor of the four observed developmental stages range from 3.0 to 3.1 nM.
Recently amplified Alu family members share a common parental Alu sequence.

Abstract Three of the most recently inserted primate Alu family members are exceptionally closely related. Therefore, one, or a few, Alu family members are dominating the amplification process and the vast majority are not actively involved in retroposition. Although individual Alu family members are not under any apparent evolutionary constraint, the sequences of these active members are being moderately conserved.
Retinoic acid-induced HL-60 cell differentiation is augmented by copper supplementation

The objective of this study was to determine how copper influences the ability of HL-60 cells to differentiate into cells of the granulocytic lineage. We hypothesized that granulopoiesis requires copper because copper-deficient humans become neutropenic. Differentiation of HL-60 cells along the granulocytic lineage with retinoic acid was enhanced by copper. The results showed a greater number of cells were more differentiated when copper was added to the medium for 96 h. The respiratory burst activity of retinoic acid-induced cells was increased by copper supplementation, but intracellular superoxide anion generation was not affected. Supplementation with copper resulted in more cell-associated copper in both noninduced and induced cells; however, the induced cells accumulated three times more copper than the noninduced cells. Even though the amount of copper associated with retinoic acid-treated cells was greater than in untreated cells, the activity of a copper-requiring enzyme, copper/zinc superoxide dismutase, was significantly lower. Copper supplementation increased the activity of this enzyme in both retinoic acid-treated and untreated cells. Cytochrome c oxidase activity was not affected by retinoic acid treatment or by copper supplementation. Copper seems to play a specific role during the early stages of granulocyte differentiation.
Malignant lymphoma with a high content of epithelioid histiocytes. A distinct clinicopathologic entity and a form of so‐called „Lennert's Lymphoma”︁

Detailed pathologic and clinical findings in 19 patients with malignant lymphoma with a high content of epithelioid histiocytes (MLEH) are presented. The essential morphologic features for inclusion in this study comprised a diffuse architectural pattern; obliteration of normal nodal architecture; small, poorly defined clusters of epithelioid cells scattered throughout the stroma; and proliferation of atypical small and large lymphoid cells in varying proportions. Males predominated and the patients' ages ranged from 23 to 75 years, with a median age of 49 years. All patients had cervical adenopathy. Generalized adenopathy and splenomegaly occurred in approximately half. Hepatomegaly was less frequent, but the liver was histologically involved in four of seven patients in whom biopsies were performed. Skin rashes developed in two, but Waldeyer's ring involvement was noted in only one patient. More than half of these patients had „B” symptoms. Staging procedures disclosed that 74% were pathologic Stage IV. In seven surgically staged patients, the histologic features in the initial diagnostic lymph node biopsy were reproduced in the involved tissues at laparotomy. All patients received a variety of single agent and/or combination chemotherapy. Four patients received radiotherapy in addition to chemotherapy. The median survival was 15.6 months. Thirteen patients have died, all with clinical evidence of residual lymphoma. The cause of death in six was infection. In two of the four autopsies, the epithelioid cell component was absent and the microscopic features were indistinguishable from diffuse lymphoma of mixed cell type. While this disorder shares certain clinical and histologic features with Hodgkin's disease and with angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy, our observations lead us to the conclusion that MLEH, as defined in this paper, should be considered a variant of a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and a distinct clinicopathologic entity.
Calstabin deficiency, ryanodine receptors, and sudden cardiac death

Altered cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2) function has an important role in heart failure and genetic forms of arrhythmias. RyR2 constitutes the major intracellular Ca2+ release channel in the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). The peptidyl-prolyl isomerase calstabin2 (FKBP12.6) is a component of the RyR2 macromolecular signaling complex. Calstabin2 binding to RyR2 is regulated by PKA phosphorylation of Ser2809 in RyR2. PKA phosphorylation of RyR2 decreases the binding affinity for calstabin2 and increases RyR2 open probability and sensitivity to Ca2+-dependent activation. In heart failure, a majority of studies have found that RyR2 becomes chronically PKA hyper-phosphorylated which depletes calstabin2 from the channel complex. Calstabin2 dissociation causes a diastolic SR Ca2+ leak contributing to depressed intracellular Ca2+ cycling and decreased cardiac contractility. Missense mutations linked to genetic forms of exercise-induced arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death also cause decreased calstabin2-binding affinity and leaky RyR2 channels. We review the importance of calstabin2 for RyR2 function and excitation-contraction coupling, and discuss new observations that implicate dysregulation of calstabin2 binding as a central mechanism for abnormal calcium cycling in heart failure and triggered arrhythmias.
A bending-to-stretching analysis of the blister test in the presence of tensile residual stress

Abstract The adhesion of films and coatings to rigid substrates is often measured using blister geometries, which are loaded either by an applied pressure or a central shaft. The measurement will be affected if there are residual stresses that make a contribution to the energy release rate. This effect is investigated using analytical solutions based on the principle of virtual displacements. A geometrically nonlinear finite element analysis is conducted for comparison. Furthermore, the relationships among strain energy release rate, load, deflection, and fracture radius are discussed in detail. Both analytical solutions and numerical results reveal that uniform tensile residual stresses reduce a specimen’s deflection if it experiences plate behavior under small loads. However, this effect becomes negligible when membrane stresses induced by the loading become dominant.
Web Resources Compiled For Terrain Modeling

Terrain modeling, the numerical study of ground-surface relief and pattern, has become integral to several subdisciplines of geophysics. Its two chief functions are topographic analysis and display. Both have been revolutionized by the computer processing of squaregrid arrays of terrain heights or digital elevation models (DEMs). Internet communication is vital to terrain modelers, who are dispersed worldwide in many occupations.
Functional organization of olfaction in crustaceans

Abstract Many of the stimulatory components of complex food odors for marine animals such as lobsters and crabs are common, low molecular weight organic molecules. Crustaceans possess very narrowly tuned receptor cells for these substances, which contribute to coding the quality and quantity of food-related odors. Activity evoked by odorant mixtures cannot always be predicted from responses to the individual components of the mixture; this general phenomenon, termed mixture interaction, is a result of events both at the primary receptor cells and in the CNS. With neurons at various levels of the olfactory pathway tractable for physiological, morphological and biochemical analyses, crustaceans provide useful animal models with which to study olfaction.
LATERAL TRANSPORT IN SUPERLATTICES

Theoretical and experimental results are presented for lateral trans­ port in layered heterojunction structures. It is shown that the variability of boundary conditions (periodic or nonperiodic) gives rise to a series of novel effects with high device potential. These effects will be presented stressing the real-space - k-space analogy.
Hydrogen Production from Thermochemical Water-Splitting Using Ferrites Prepared by Solution Combustion Synthesis

Currently, there are several methods to produce spinel ferrite powder material such as sol-gel synthesis, self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS), aerosol spray pyrolysis, and solution combustion synthesis (SCS). These methods have been shown to produce nominally phase pure ferrites for use in hydrogen generation by thermochemical water-splitting. Among these methods, the ferrites derived by SCS have not been fully investigated for hydrogen generation from thermochemical water-splitting. SCS, in general, has several advantages such as it being a simple synthesis that can be done relatively quickly and produces materials with high specific surface area. In this study, nickel, zinc, cobalt, and manganese ferrites were synthesized using SCS and analyzed by XRD, BET, and SEM. Each ferrite material was placed inside an Inconel tubular reactor and five consecutive thermochemical cycles to determine hydrogen production. The regeneration and water-splitting temperatures were performed with water-splitting and regeneration temperatures of 900°C and 1100°C, respectively. Nickel ferrite produced significantly higher average hydrogen volume as compared to the other ferrites over the five thermochemical cycles. However, all four ferrites showed a decrease in hydrogen volume generation with increase in consecutive water-splitting cycle, which could be due to the grain growth as observed by BET and SEM analyses.
Demonstration of a real-time implementation of the ICVision holographic stereogram display

There is increasing interest in real-time autostereoscopic 3D displays. Such systems allow 3D objects or scenes to be viewed by one or more observers with correct motion parallax without the need for glasses or other viewing aids. Potential applications of such systems include mechanical design, training and simulation, medical imaging, virtual reality, and architectural design. One approach to the development of real-time autostereoscopic display systems has been to develop real-time holographic display systems. The approach taken by most of the systems is to compute and display a number of holographic lines at one time, and then use a scanning system to replicate the images throughout the display region. The approach taken in the ICVision system being developed at the University of Alabama in Huntsville is very different. In the ICVision display, a set of discrete viewing regions called virtual viewing slits are created by the display. Each pixel is required fill every viewing slit with different image data. When the images presented in two virtual viewing slits separated by an interoccular distance are filled with stereoscopic pair images, the observer sees a 3D image. The images are computed so that a different stereo pair is presented each time the viewer moves 1 eye pupil diameter (approximately mm), thus providing a series of stereo views. Each pixel is subdivided into smaller regions, called partial pixels. Each partial pixel is filled with a diffraction grating that is just that required to fill an individual virtual viewing slit. The sum of all the partial pixels in a pixel then fill all the virtual viewing slits. The final version of the ICVision system will form diffraction gratings in a liquid crystal layer on the surface of VLSI chips in real time. Processors embedded in the VLSI chips will compute the display in real- time. In the current version of the system, a commercial AMLCD is sandwiched with a diffraction grating array. This paper will discuss the design details of a protable 3D display based on the integration of a diffractive optical element with a commercial off-the-shelf AMLCD. The diffractive optic contains several hundred thousand partial-pixel gratings and the AMLCD modulates the light diffracted by the gratings.
Analysis of preganglionic nerve evoked cholinergic contractions of the guinea pig bronchus

Abstract We compared cholinergic bronchial muscle contractions induced by vagus nerve (preganglionic) stimulation (VNS) with those induced by electrical field (postganglionic) stimulation (EFS). When normalized to their respective maximum response, the frequency-response curves (10 s trains) between 4 and 16 Hz were similar between VNS and EFS; however, at frequencies of 0.1–2 Hz, and at frequencies greater than 32 Hz, the VNS contractions were significantly less than EFS. When contractions elicited by 100 pulses were examined, it was found that the responses to VNS were maximal at 10–30 Hz then declined significantly to 82-35% of maximal between 40 and 200 Hz, whereas the response to EFS was essentially unchanged at frequencies up to 60 Hz and declined only to 72% of maximal up to 200 Hz. At frequencies as low as 20 Hz, the contractions evoked by VNS faded to 45 ± 9% of the peak contraction during 60 sec of continuous stimulation, whereas those evoked by 60 sec continuous EFS remained constant. This fade observed during prolonged VNS was not blocked by the antagonists, pirenzepine and AFDX-116, at concentrations selective for M1 and M2 muscarinic receptors, respectively; nor was the fade blocked by pre-treatment with indomethacin, propranolol, phentolamine, or choline. At frequencies greater than 10 Hz, the amplitude of the preganglionic compound action potential also faded during repetitive stimulation. The results support the hypothesis that the airway ganglion neurons innervating guinea pig bronchial smooth muscle effectively filter preganglionic stimuli, especially at low and relatively high frequencies. During continuous vagus nerve stimulation, preganglionic mechanisms may also play a role in limiting the ultimate output of airway ganglia.
A Behavior Therapist Looks at Rapprochement

There is a growing movement within the field of psychotherapy in the direction of increasing rapprochement. In pursuing the search for common elements across the psychotherapies, it is likely to be more profitable if we look at clinical principles or strategies, which represent a level of abstraction somewhere between technique and theory. In finding points of commonality among different orientations, however, it would be a mistake to arrive at the conclusion that "we all do the same thing." Real differences are likely to remain even after we have isolated overlapping themes. Rather than viewing psychodynamic, humanistic, and behavioral orientations as representing antagonistic forces, it may be more appropriate to considered them complementary vantage points for understanding human functioning and the facilitation of therapeutic change. In addition to discussing the above issues, this article considers the barriers that may prevent rapprochement, together with ways in which they may be overcome.
"Beyond the Balance Sheet" and the Global Economic Sectors

In a series of articles entitled "Beyond the Balance Sheet," FORBES has examined certain corporate characteristics that are not always quantified on the balance sheet, but, nevertheless, contribute to shareholder value. Using a technique called "Data Surface Mining" (DSM), the previously published data were further analyzed to characterize the similarities and differences between the Goods and Service Sectors; the results of these analyses are presented herein. In addition, the issues of technology management especially relevant to the Service Sector are presented. These issues are of critical importance in light of the fact that the Service Sector represents 80% (GDP and/or employment) of the United States economy and is of increasing importance in the global economy. Furthermore, technology management in the Service Sector has not has not been given great attention in the academic literature.