cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Considering Backhaul [Book\Software Reviews]

This book offers a comprehensive guide to the subject of microwave backhaul. Design information on this subject is sparse, and it is not easy to collect and interpret. This fact was the driving force behind the creation of this book, which focuses on the electronics of backhaul and describes in detail all the subsystems responsible for transforming the information signal that comes from baseband processing into an electromagnetic wave traveling through the air. Electronics for Microwave Backhaul presents an overview of the evolution of the electronics for microwave radios, from their initial development to present implementations and future trends. The authors have stayed abreast of current real-world industry products and present many real-world solutions to the design issues.
Small molecule signaling, regulation, and potential applications in cellular therapeutics

Small molecules have many important roles across the tree of life: they regulate processes from metabolism to transcription, they enable signaling within and between species, and they serve as the biochemical building blocks for cells. They also represent valuable phenotypic endpoints that are promising for use as biomarkers of disease states. In the context of engineering cell-based therapeutics, they hold particularly great promise for enabling finer control over the therapeutic cells and allowing them to be responsive to extracellular cues. The natural signaling and regulatory functions of small molecules can be harnessed and rewired to control cell activity and delivery of therapeutic payloads, potentially increasing efficacy while decreasing toxicity. To that end, this review considers small molecule-mediated regulation and signaling in bacteria. We first discuss some of the most prominent applications and aspirations for responsive cell-based therapeutics. We then describe the transport, signaling, and regulation associated with three classes of molecules that may be exploited in the engineering of therapeutic bacteria: amino acids, fatty acids, and quorum-sensing signaling molecules. We also present examples of existing engineering efforts to generate cells that sense and respond to levels of different small molecules. Finally, we discuss future directions for how small molecule-mediated regulation could be harnessed for therapeutic applications, as well as some critical considerations for the ultimate success of such endeavors. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2018, 10:e1405. doi: 10.1002/wsbm.1405 This article is categorized under: Biological Mechanisms > Cell Signaling Biological Mechanisms > Metabolism Translational, Genomic, and Systems Medicine > Therapeutic Methods.
Targeting PI3K in Human Glioblastoma with PX-866, a small molecule PI3K inhibitor.

278 Glioblastoma, the most malignant form of primary brain tumor, is refractory to conventional therapies, making the development of new, rational, targeted therapies an urgent necessity. The phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI-3-kinase)/PTEN/Akt pathway is a survival signaling pathway that is activated in many types of advanced cancers including glioblastomas due to alterations in the PTEN tumor suppressor gene. This leads to increased proliferation, angiogenesis, and inhibition of apoptosis rendering the PI3K/PTEN pathway an attractive target for therapeutic development. Small molecules targeting various signaling nodes along the PTEN-PI3K-Akt pathway have been developed and are currently in different stages of testing. We demonstrate, herein, that a newly developed PI3K inhibitor PX866, a wortmannin analog with selectivity for p110 α, β and γ (ProlX Pharmaceuticals), effectively inhibits signaling through the PI3K/Akt cascade in U87, U251, LN229 glioma cells. PX866 blocked both basal and EGF-induced phosphorylation of Akt and downstream targets, including p70S6K1, TSC-2, and pS6. Treatment of all three glioma cell lines with PX866 showed 50% growth inhibition at 4-8uM concentrations at 48 h. The decrease in cell growth was correlated with G1 arrest characterized by decrease on cyclin D1 and decreased p-RB expression. In addition, PX866 induced autophagy- programmed cell death type-2 in U87 glioma cells in a dose dependent manner as shown by development of acidic vesicular organelles and the autophagosome membrane association of the microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC-3), which are characteristic hallmarks of autophagy, while apoptotic cell death was not observed. PX866 also inhibited invasive and angiogenic capabilities of glioma cells in vitro. In vivo experiment with U87 SC xenograft demonstrated an 84% growth inhibition after 4 weeks treatment at an oral dose of 2.5mg/kg in a qod schedule. PX-866 increased the median survival of animals with i.c. U87 tumors from 31 to 38 days with inhibition of p-AKT and p-S6 as shown by IHC and reverse phase lysate array. Taken together, these data demonstrate PI3K inhibitor PX866 has significant activity in signal inhibition, cell cycle arrest, growth inhibition and autophagy in human glioblastoma in vitro and in vivo affirming that PI3K/Akt pathway is a highly promising molecular target for molecular therapeutics development for glioblastoma and other cancers with aberrant PTEN/PI3K expression.
Health-related quality of life is decreased in middle-aged adults with chronic ankle instability

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine whether health-related quality of life and region-specific outcomes differ between middle-aged adults with and without chronic ankle instability. Design Cross-sectional. Methods Two hundred middle-aged individuals (40 years or older) volunteered to participate in the study. There were 75 individuals classified as having chronic ankle instability (51.5 ± 7.3 years, 175.8 ± 3.7 cm, 86.5 ± 18.9 kg) and 125 classified as not having chronic ankle instability (53.2 ± 7.3 years, 176.2 ± 5.4 cm, 81.3 ± 17.6 kg). Participants completed the Identification of Functional Ankle Instability as the inclusionary survey and the Internal Ankle Consortium guidelines were followed to classify individuals. Following the inclusionary survey participants completed the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Lower Limb Questionnaire and the Short Form-36 v2. Results The Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Lower Limb Questionnaire, and the Physical Component Summary score of the Short Form-36 v2 were statistically different between groups (p Conclusions Individuals with CAI displayed decreased generic health-related quality of life and reduced region-specific ankle function.
Substantial Impact of Charge on Electrochemical Reactions of Two-Dimensional Materials

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have attracted great interest in catalyzing electrochemical reactions such as water splitting, oxygen reduction, and carbon dioxide reduction. Quantum mechanical simulations have been extensively employed to study the catalytic mechanisms. These calculations typically assume that the catalyst is charge neutral for computational simplicity; however, in reality, the catalyst is usually charged to match its Fermi level with the applied electrode potential. These contradictions urge an evaluation of the charge effects. Here, using the example of hydrogen adsorption on the common 2D electrocatalysts (N-doped graphene and MoS2) and 3D metal catalysts, and employing the grand canonical density functional theory, we show that the charge on 2D materials can have a much stronger impact on the electrochemical reaction than the charge on 3D metals (the reaction energy can differ by >1 eV after including the charge effects). This arises from the charge-induced change in the occupation of...
Lobate Stacked Moraines: Lake Melville, Labrador

In Lake Melville, Labrador (Fig. 1), Quaternary sedimentary deposits reflect retreat of the Laurentide Ice Sheet during the early Holocene, based on acoustic properties of sediment packages, distribution (isopach) patterns, and information from dated cores. Coastal gravel pits from isostatically-raised moraines have rounded boulders >10 m in diameter, and the large volume of deposited sediment together suggest a high discharge cf water through the ice sheet and into the Lake. During ice-retreat, there were a four small (a few kilometres) ice advances. Seismic units 3/4, 5, 7 and 9 appear as evidence of readvances of the ice margin. Stacked moraines formed and account far over 400 m of glacimarine sediments (Fig. 2).
Transcending the Tragedy of the Commons

The work of Elisabeth Mann Borgese represents an important bridge between the world federalist and ocean conservation movements in the twentieth century, and offers a viable path for overcoming the false dichotomy between human rights inherent in much of our discourse about the Tragedy of the Commons. Her vision of universal human rights and the protection of the oceans as the “common heritage of humanity” helped to shape the third UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1982, and articulated principles that could be useful in establishing the global rule of law in order to protect the atmosphere and climate of the Earth in the twenty-first century.
Temporal Variability of Escherichia coli Diversity in the Gastrointestinal Tracts of Tanzanian Children with and without Exposure to Antibiotics.

ABSTRACT The stability of the Escherichia coli populations in the human gastrointestinal tract is not fully appreciated, and represents a significant knowledge gap regarding gastrointestinal community structure, as well as resistance to incoming pathogenic bacterial species and antibiotic treatment. The current study examines the genomic content of 240 Escherichia coli isolates from 30 children, aged 2 to 35 months old, in Tanzania. The E. coli strains were isolated from three time points spanning a six-month time period, with and without antibiotic treatment. The resulting isolates were sequenced, and the genomes compared. The findings in this study highlight the transient nature of E. coli strains in the gastrointestinal tract of these children, as during a six-month interval, no one individual contained phylogenomically related isolates at all three time points. While the majority of the isolates at any one time point were phylogenomically similar, most individuals did not contain phylogenomically similar isolates at more than two time points. Examination of global genome content, canonical E. coli virulence factors, multilocus sequence type, serotype, and antimicrobial resistance genes identified diversity even among phylogenomically similar strains. There was no apparent increase in the antimicrobial resistance gene content after antibiotic treatment. The examination of the E. coli from longitudinal samples from multiple children in Tanzania provides insight into the genomic diversity and population variability of resident E. coli within the rapidly changing environment of the gastrointestinal tract of these children. IMPORTANCE This study increases the number of resident Escherichia coli genome sequences, and explores E. coli diversity through longitudinal sampling. We investigate the genomes of E. coli isolated from human gastrointestinal tracts as part of an antibiotic treatment program among rural Tanzanian children. Phylogenomics demonstrates that resident E. coli are diverse, even within a single host. Though the E. coli isolates of the gastrointestinal community tend to be phylogenomically similar at a given time, they differed across the interrogated time points, demonstrating the variability of the members of the E. coli community in these subjects. Exposure to antibiotic treatment did not have an apparent impact on the E. coli community or the presence of resistance and virulence genes within E. coli genomes. The findings of this study highlight the variable nature of specific bacterial members of the human gastrointestinal tract.
Charged particles: a model for teaching operations with directed numbers

In preparing to teach mathematical concepts, a good deal of a teacher's time is spent in finding suitable models for the concrete stage of learning. In no other area of elementary mathematics is this more critical than in the presentation of operations with directed numbers. Whether the topic is presented for the first time in the sixth grade or occurs in a remedial course in algebra at the college level, there is always a need for some students to relate directed number operations with a physical interpretation. Many such models have been devised, and the literature abounds with helpful suggestions in this area.1 The usefulness of any particular model is directly related to the success of the student in conjuring a vision of the model when it is needed. It is also helpful to the teacher when he can evoke the image of the model with a simple verbal reminder.
Chemotherapy for patients with adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.

Adenocarcinomas of the pancreas are diagnosed at an advanced, non-curable stage in most patients. In addition to local relapse or progression, distant metastases determine the poor prognosis, resulting in a median survival of less than 6 months in most studies of patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. None of the cytotoxic drugs available show impressive activity in treatment of this disease. Therefore, chemotherapy is not recommended in pancreatic cancer. In selected cases, 5-fluorouracil-based therapy — with or without simultaneous radiation — may result in tumor responses.
The Process of Integrating Animal-Assisted Therapy into Clinical Social Work Practice

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is considered an effective treatment model to use with a variety of populations and conditions, from autism to substance abuse, due to its flexible nature. As an integrative model, it often incorporates core modalities such as psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy and Gestalt therapy. Although there is a growing body of research addressing the efficacy of AAT, there is limited information on the actual process of utilizing AAT in clinical social work practice. Research shows that many clinicians support the use of AAT with clients but fail to integrate it into their own practice due to a lack of knowledge on the process of utilizing the model. This paper explores the process of integrating AAT into direct clinical practice and the theoretical basis for utilizing AAT as an adjunctive treatment model.
Kimura's disease of the lacrimal gland with concomitant chronic sinusitis.

An 18-year-old man of Filipino ancestry presented with firm swelling of his left upper eyelid for 3 years (Figure 1A). He had a history of nephrotic syndrome as a toddler. MRI revealed a mass of th...
Retrospective SARS-CoV-2 Real-Time PCR Testing of Stored Bronchoalveolar Lavage Samples from February 2020

Abstract Bronchoalveolar lavage samples (n=34) collected in February, 2020 prior to the wide availability of molecular testing for SARS-CoV-2 were retrospectively assayed for presence of viral RNA. None of these patients qualified for SARS-CoV-2 testing based on Centers for Disease Control criteria at the time. None of the samples tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, suggesting that the virus was not yet widespread in Minnesota at the time these samples were obtained.
Spectroscopic analysis of the degradation of solid propellant stabilizer

Stabilizing additives are added to solid rocket propellant systems to slow the break-down of energetic nitrogen-based compounds utilized in solid rocket propellants. Over time this results in a reduction of stabilizers and an increase of inert compounds, which decrease propellant performance. Raman spectroscopic techniques can detect changes in chemical concentrations due to the strong spectrum that these compounds demonstrate. In this study, two wavelengths, 532 nm, and 785nm are used to analyze the Raman spectra of samples to characterize the changes to compounds over time. Computational techniques are demonstrated to mitigate fluorescence and improve the signal-to-noise ratio of chemical peaks specific to stabilizer compounds. Fluorescence in the 532 nm Raman spectrum is examined as a method for characterizing propellant compounds, as 2-Nitrodiphenylamine (2-NDPA) traditionally has more fluorescence than Nmethyl- 4-nitroaniline (MNA), and the 532 nm Raman system traditionally detects more fluorescence than the 785 nm Raman system. Detection of the stabilizer, MNA, in concentrations ranging from 0.38% to 0.75% is demonstrated. Raman spectroscopy is shown to provide a rapid method for analyzing high and low concentrations of stabilizer compounds to determine the remaining viability of the propellant.
Epidemiology Informs Randomized Clinical Trials of Cognitive Impairments and Late-Onset, Sporadic Dementias

Epidemiology Informs Randomized Clinical Trials of Cognitive Impairments and Late-Onset, Sporadic Dementias
Coronary Complications and Management of Percutaneous Coronary Interventions

Percutaneous coronary intervention has seen vast progress with advancement in stent designs, adjunctive technologies including atherectomy systems as well as development in more potent antiplatelet agents. With continued advancements in these procedures, periprocedural complications, albeit at a reduced frequency, still occur during PCI in a minority of cases. Management of these complications is largely based on the timely recognition and treatment.
Current applications and safety profile of laser interstitial thermal therapy in the pediatric population: a systematic review of the literature

OBJECTIVE Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) provides a minimally invasive alternative to open brain surgery, making it a powerful neurosurgical tool especially in pediatric patients. This systematic review aimed to highlight the indications and complications of LITT in the pediatric population. METHODS In line with the PRISMA guidelines, the authors conducted a systematic review to summarize the current applications and safety profiles of LITT in pediatrics. PubMed and Embase were searched for studies that reported the outcomes of LITT in patients < 21 years of age. Retrospective studies, case series, and case reports were included. Two authors independently screened the articles by title and abstract followed by full text. Relevant variables were extracted from studies that met final eligibility, and results were pooled using descriptive statistics. RESULTS The selection process captured 303 pediatric LITT procedures across 35 studies. Males comprised approximately 60% of the aggregate sample, with a mean age of 10.5 years (range 0.5–21 years). The LITT technologies used included Visualase (89%), NeuroBlate (9%), and Multilase 2100 (2%). The most common indication was treatment of seizures (86%), followed by brain tumors (16%). The mean follow-up duration was 15.6 months (range 1.3–48 months). The overall complication rate was 15.8%, which comprised transient neurological deficits, cognitive and electrolyte disturbances, hemorrhage, edema, and hydrocephalus. No deaths were reported. CONCLUSIONS As of now, LITT’s most common applications in pediatrics are focused on treating medically refractory epilepsy and brain tumors that can be difficult to resect. The safety of LITT can provide an attractive alternative to open brain surgery in the pediatric population.
Changes in Physical Activity and Television Viewing From Pre-pregnancy Through Postpartum Among a Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Perinatal Adolescent Population.

ABSTRACT Study Objective Adolescent pregnancy contributes to accelerated trajectories of adiposity and cardiometabolic diseases. Two potentially low-cost prevention strategies include promoting physical activity (PA) and limiting television (TV) viewing. Few studies have explored these behavior patterns in perinatal adolescents. This study sought to characterize PA and TV viewing in a socioeconomically disadvantaged perinatal adolescent population. Design, Setting, Participants, and Interventions A cross-sectional, retrospective, 10-item survey was used to explore behavior patterns in 79 predominantly Black (86%) postpartum adolescents. Main Outcome Measures: Outcomes included self-reported changes in PA from pre-pregnancy through pregnancy, and 7-day recall of PA and TV viewing in postpartum. Results The majority of adolescents (66%) reported being active on ≥3 days/week in pre-pregnancy; however, many reported low PA (≤2 days/wk) in their first (59%), second (66%), and third (54%) trimesters. Adolescents who reported being active on ≥5 days/wk in pre-pregnancy (19%) experienced first trimester PA decline, which subsequently plateaued. This group remained the most active throughout pregnancy. In postpartum, over half (54%) of all adolescents reported low PA and irrespective of PA, spent considerable time watching TV (median = 1680.0 minutes, inerquartile range = 2940). Conclusion Interventions promoting PA coupled with reducing TV viewing during pregnancy and in postpartum may benefit perinatal adolescents. The findings from this study suggest that PA history is a predictor of gestational PA, and low PA and high TV viewing in postpartum underscore the need for behavioral intervention. Conducting a brief assessment of PA history in early gestation may offer important insight.
Traumatic Leg Fractures in UEFA Football Athletes: A Matched-Cohort Analysis of Return to Play, Reinjury, Player Retention, and Performance Outcomes:

Background:The average professional soccer team experiences 1 to 2 traumatic leg fractures per season, with unknown effects on player performance.Purpose:To (1) determine the rate and time to retur...
Pseudotumor of hemophilia in a patient with PTC deficiency.

1. A case of pseudotumor of the ilium in a PTC deficient patient is reported. 2. The natural history and treatment of this serious complication of hemophilia are reviewed.
Nanotechnology Approaches for Intraprocedural Molecular Diagnostics

Intraoperative and minimally invasive procedures are increasingly performed to generate molecular diagnostic information (e.g., to establish cancer subtype, phenotype, or treatment response) and enable molecular decision points (e.g., resection margin determination). Conventional analyses (e.g., immunohistopathology, flow cytometry, sequencing) remain time-consuming, thus precluding real-time analysis. Instead, a new generation of miniaturized point-of-care devices are poised to change the field. Based on advances in nanotechnology, microfluidics, miniaturization, and new chemistries, it has become possible to analyze cellular proteins, nucleic acids, and other biomarkers in short periods of time. Different platforms are actively being developed, each having unique strengths and weaknesses. To achieve widespread clinical adoption, successful platforms will need to offer providers rapid, inexpensive, and multiplex readouts while realizing the accuracy of conventional analyses. Here, we review recent advances in the nanotechnology field from our labs, which integrate accurate molecular diagnostics with the clinical workflow in standard of care or clinical trials.
Rank 2 symmetric hyperbolic Kac-Moody algebras

Affine Kac-Moody algebras represent a well-trodden and well-understood littoral beyond which stretches the vast, chaotic, and poorly-understood ocean of indefinite Kac-Moody algebras. The simplest indefinite Kac-Moody algebras are the rank 2 Kac-Moody algebras (a) (a ≥ 3) with symmetric Cartan matrix , which form part of the class known as hyperbolic Kac-Moody algebras. In this paper, we probe deeply into the structure of those algebras (a), the e. coli of indefinite Kac-Moody algebras. Using Berman-Moody’s formula ([BM]), we derive a purely combinatorial closed form formula for the root multiplicities of the algebra (a), and illustrate some of the rich relationships that exist among root multiplicities, both within a single algebra and between different algebras in the class. We also give an explicit description of the root system of the algebra (a). As a by-product, we obtain a simple algorithm to find the integral points on certain hyperbolas.
visualizing white‐collar crime

This study examines how film‐makers construct images of white‐collar crime in genre film. Data consist of twenty‐four white‐collar films in two genres: thrillers and comedies. Results indicate that images of white‐collar crime vary significantly by genre. Thrillers contain few visuals of white‐collar crimes and white‐collar offenders. Instead film‐makers use more familiar images of violence to create thrills. Comic film‐makers use standard sight gags to make images of white‐collar offenders and their crimes funny. When comic film‐makers find humor in the content of the subject matter, they construct images of white‐collar criminals and their crimes to clearly communicate the structure of each joke to the audience. Visual images of victims are not predominant in these films, especially in white‐collar comedies. The analysis reveals more than film‐making techniques. It begins to uncover cultural codes that frame white‐collar crime and illuminate its relative unimportance in the public arena, especially when...
Partial HIF-1α deficiency impairs pulmonary arterial myocyte electrophysiological responses to hypoxia

Chronic hypoxia depolarizes and reduces K+ current in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). Our laboratory previously demonstrated that hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) contributed to ...
Dynamic query re-optimization

Very long running queries in database systems are not uncommon in non traditional application domains such as image processing or data warehousing analysis. Query optimization, therefore, is important. However, estimates of the query characteristics before query execution are usually inaccurate. Further, system configuration and resource availability may change during long evaluation period. As a result, queries are often evaluated with sub-optimal plan configurations. To remedy this situation, we have designed a novel approach to re-optimize suboptimal query plan configurations on-the-fly with Conquest, an extensible and distributed query processing system. A dynamic optimizer considers reconfiguration cost as well as execution cost in determining the best query plan configuration. Experimental results are presented.
THE REPRESENTATION OF BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THE THEORY OF CATEGORIES

A mathematical framework for a rigorous theory of general systems is constructed, using the notions of the theory of Categories and Functors introduced by Eilenberg and MacLane (1945,Trans. Am. Math. Soc.,58, 231–94). A short discussion of the basic ideas is given, and their possible application to the theory of biological systems is discussed. On the basis of these considerations, a number of results are proved, including the possibility of selecting a unique representative (a “canonical form”) from a family of mathematical objects, all of which represent the same system. As an example, the representation of the neural net and the finite automaton is constructed in terms of our general theory.
Analytical, practical and regulatory issues in prevention studies

Prevention studies, as distinguished from studies investigating treatments for established disease, present some distinct challenges. Perhaps the most extensive experience with preventive agents is in the area of infectious diseases; vaccines have been extremely effective in preventing many such diseases. Vaccines have been, and continue to be, studied in other disease areas such as certain cancers, but as yet have not achieved success outside of infectious disease prevention. One obvious and important feature of prevention studies is that they enrol healthy individuals; thus such studies require particularly high standards for the safety of those enrolled (and those who might ultimately receive the product being tested). Prevention studies often need to be quite large, as the types of diseases most important to prevent tend to be uncommon. Large studies usually require simplified approaches; to ensure high quality of data on the key variables it may be necessary to compromise on the amount of data collected, frequency of data collection, and other aspects of trial design. The reliability of randomization and blinding may be especially important in these large studies, as bias could easily overwhelm the small effects that are usually sought. Often, biomarkers thought to indicate developing but as yet subclinical disease, will be important to evaluate; whether such markers can serve as primary endpoints in prevention studies has been a contentious issue in many contexts. Studies in older populations, such as those at risk for Alzheimer's Disease, raise challenges such as accounting for competing risks, and considering potential interactions of preventive agents with multiple medications often used by the elderly. Published in 2004 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Selegiline and oxidative stress in HIV-associated cognitive impairment

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of the selegiline transdermal system (STS) in reversing HIV-induced metabolic brain injury (as measured by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy [MRS]) and in decreasing oxidative stress, measured by CSF protein carbonyl concentration. Methods: Sixty-two subjects with HIV-associated cognitive impairment were coenrolled in a 24-week placebo-controlled study (AIDS Clinical Trial Group protocol A5090) and were randomly assigned to receive STS 3 mg/24 h, STS 6 mg/24 h, or matching placebo. Cognitive performance was evaluated using the neuropsychological z score (NPZ)-8 and NPZ-6, as well as cognitive domain scores. Subjects underwent proton MRS at study entry and weeks 12 and 24. CSF protein carbonyl was measured at baseline and week 24. Results: A slight increase in N -acetyl aspartate/creatine from baseline to week 24 was found in the basal ganglia ( p = 0.023) and centrum semiovale ( p = 0.072) of the placebo group compared with the STS groups; however, there were no significant changes when the absolute metabolite concentrations were analyzed. The levels of choline/creatine in the midfrontal cortex were also significantly higher during the week 12 visit in the combined STS groups. This persisted to the week 24 visit ( p = 0.002). Evaluation of the change in NPZ-8, NPZ-6, and cognitive domain scores from baseline to weeks 12 and 24 revealed no significant differences between treatment arms. Protein carbonyl analysis revealed no significant changes among the groups. Conclusion: In this 24-week study, the selegiline transdermal system (STS) had no effect on either magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) metabolites or oxidative stress, as measured by CSF protein carbonyl concentration. The lack of effect on these biomarkers is also reflected in the lack of cognitive improvement in the STS groups compared to placebo. Level of evidence: This study provides Class II evidence that STS had no effect on either MRS metabolites or oxidative stress, as measured by CSF protein carbonyl concentration over a period of 24 weeks.
Inhibition of the SDF-1/CXCR4 Axis Attenuates Neonatal Hypoxia-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension

Exposure of the neonatal lung to chronic hypoxia produces significant pulmonary vascular remodeling, right ventricular hypertrophy, and decreased lung alveolarization. Given recent data suggesting that stem cells could contribute to pulmonary vascular remodeling and right ventricular hypertrophy, we tested the hypothesis that blockade of SDF-1 (stromal cell-derived factor 1), a key stem cell mobilizer or its receptor, CXCR4 (CXC chemokine receptor 4), would attenuate and reverse hypoxia-induced cardiopulmonary remodeling in newborn mice. Neonatal mice exposed to normoxia or hypoxia were randomly assigned to receive daily intraperitoneal injections of normal saline, AMD3100, or anti-SDF-1 antibody from postnatal day 1 to 7 (preventive strategy) or postnatal day 7 to 14 (therapeutic strategy). As compared to normal saline, inhibition of the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis significantly improved lung alveolarization and decreased pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular hypertrophy, vascular remodeling, vascular cell proliferation, and lung or right ventricular stem cell expressions to near baseline values. We therefore conclude that the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis both prevents and reverses hypoxia-induced cardiopulmonary remodeling in neonatal mice, by decreasing progenitor cell recruitment to the pulmonary vasculature, as well as by decreasing pulmonary vascular cell proliferation. These data offer novel insights into the role of the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis in the pathogenesis of neonatal hypoxia-induced cardiopulmonary remodeling and have important therapeutic implications.
Effects of disopyramide on electrophysiological and mechanical properties of the heart.

Studies were performed in whole dog and in isolated superfused canine Purkinje fiber-papillary muscle preparations to investigate mechanisms responsible for the antiarrhythmic effects of disopyramide. Two human left atrial appendages were also studied in vitro. Disopyramide had a potent quinidine-like effect which may explain the antiarrhythmic properties of disopyramide. While disopyramide is perhaps at least twice as potent as quinidine in suppressing experimentally induced arrhythmias, disopyramide also has at least proportionally more depressant effect on cardiac mechanical performance in the dog heart.
Gaussian expansions in distorted-wave—Born-approximation calculations

The use of Gaussian expansions for the bound-state functions in distorted-wave Born-approximation calculations is discussed. The use of these expansions leads to an analytic expression for the form factor which can be used to simplify the numerical evaluation of the matrix element. In addition, the Gaussian functions are useful when studying the structure of the form factor. In particular, the validity of the ''no-recoil'' approximation is discussed, and a semiclassical interpretation is presented. A computer program (gauss) using the Gaussian expansions has been developed and used to evaluate the cross sections of some previously studied reactions. Comparisons of the results with those of other programs are given.
Irradiation records in regolith materials. I: isotopic compositions of solar-wind neon and argon in single lunar mineral grains

Abstract We have applied a stepwise pyrolytic extraction technique to eleven individual lunar regolith grains to investigate the compositions of light noble gases embedded in grain surfaces by solar wind irradiation, with emphasis on the rather poorly known isotopic composition of solar-wind argon. Results are intriguing: average 20 Ne/ 22 Ne ratios observed in early pyrolytic releases from ilmenite grains separated from lunar soils 71501, 79035 and 10084 agree very well with both direct measures of the solar wind neon composition in the Apollo foils and with values obtained in first releases from acid-etched ilmenites by the Zurich laboratory, whereas these same pyrolytic and acid-etch fractions carry argon isotopic signatures that significantly disagree—average 36 Ar/ 38 Ar ratios near 5.8 for thermal extraction compared to 5.4–5.5 for chemical etching at Zurich. Consideration of the isotopic and elemental data from these grains in the context of first-order diffusive modeling calculations points to gas release at low temperatures, without significant isotopic or elemental fractionation, from isolated grain-surface reservoirs of solar wind composition. The physical nature of these reservoirs is presently unknown. In this interpretation the preferred solar wind 20 Ne/ 22 Ne and 21 Ne/ 22 Ne ratios deduced from this study are respectively 13.81 ± 0.08 and 0.0333 ± 0.0003, both within error of the Zurich acid-etch values, and 36 Ar/ 38 Ar = 5.77 ± 0.08. It may be possible to reconcile the discrepancy between the acid-etch and pyrolytic estimates for the solar wind 36 Ar/ 38 Ar ratio in the context of arguments originally advanced by Benkert et al. (1993) to account for their He and Ne isotopic compositions. At the other, high-temperature end of the release profile from one of these grains there are clear isotopic indications of the presence of a Ne constituent with 20 Ne/ 22 Ne close to the 11.2 ratio found at Zurich and attributed by these workers to a deeply-sited component implanted by solar energetic particles.
Trade-restriction policies ineffectiveness in the US steel industry

This study examines the impact of the trade restrictions on steel imports in order to protect the US steel industry. During the period of 1963 to 1988, the industry experienced a tremendous decline in its output. Trade restrictions are implemented to limit steel imports. The overall goal of this study is to estimate the impact of the steel trade restriction regimes on the output of the industry. Beside foreign competition, the study addresses the impact of other factors – other shipments (nonsteel shipments) and the prices of steel substitutes – aluminum, and plastic and rubber that may have also caused variation in steel production. The study makes two major contributions. First, the study constructs the trade restriction regimes and other high-frequency monthly data set on steel output and factor prices. Second, output is modelled as a function of the trade restriction regimes, other shipments and factor prices. Regression results show that the protection regimes are not statistically significant to enh...
Blood Ionic Calcium Responses of Hens from Thick-Shell and Thin-Shell Lines to Ethyleneglycol-Bis-(B-Aminoethylether)-N,N’-Tetraacetic Acid Injections

Abstract Experiments were conducted on laying and nonlaying hens from genetically selected lines that produce thick (TK) or thin (TN) eggshells. At 44 weeks of age, TK layers exhibited significantly higher total plasma calcium concentrations than TN layers. Total plasma calcium concentrations were not significantly different between TK and TN layers at 80 weeks of age, reflecting an effect of aging on total plasma calcium. Intravenous injections of ethyleneglycol-bis-(B-aminoethylether-N,N’-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) were administered to TK and TN layers at 44 weeks of age and to TK and TN layers and nonlayers at 80 weeks of age. EGTA is a calcium chelating agent that creates hypocalcemia when injected intravenously. Laying hens of both Jines and at both ages exhibited a similar degree of hypocalcemia during EGTA injections, and a similar rate of recovery to normocalcemia was noted after cessation of EGTA administration. Nonlayers were unable to recover from the EGTA-induced hypocalcemia. Because the pattern of calcium depression and recovery during and after the EGTA chaIlenge has been shown to be associated with the capacity of parathyroid hormone-sensitive target tissues to buffer blood ionized calcium, it was concluded that the capacity to buffer ionized calcium by these target tissues is similar in TK and TN layers. However nonlayers have a restricted capacity to buffer blood ionic calcium.
Dominance of methyl groups in picosecond vibrational relaxation in hydrocarbons

Abstract Picosecond relaxation times of CH stretching vibrations in a series of liquid hydrocarbons have been measured using the Raman scattering technique. The results indicate that the vibrational energy loss takes place primarily through the methyl groups in these molecules.
A Life Cycle Model of Labor Force Inequality Extending Clogg's Life Table Approach

Prevalence measures of labor force activity unambiguously demonstrate inequality across population groups (e.g., education groups), but they cannot reveal the underlying stochastic processes generating inequality. In this article, the authors develop explicit life cycle measures of inequality that summarize the divergent stochastic processes defining group differences in labor force behavior. They focus specifically on educational differences in individuals' work and retirement experiences over the latter part of the career cycle. Their analytic approach is a Markov-based multistate life table, directly extending Clogg's life table model of labor force inequality. Analyses are based on data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Older Men, 1966-1983. The authors' approach demonstrates how prevalence measures of inequality as well as measures of life cycle inequality are generated by the underlying stochastic processes. Comparisons of the life cycle measures and prevalence measures illustrate the potenti...
Determinism and stochasticity in hydrology

Abstract The long historic controversies between deterministic and stochastic approaches in the investigation of natural phenomena are paralleled by similar controversies in hydrology. There are basically two hydrologic eras associated with determinism. The first, concerned with looking for hidden periodicities in chronological hydrologic processes, lasted more than half a century. The research made during this era bears witness to one of the greatest failures in the history of hydrologic investigations. The second hydrologic era of determinism has taken the form of response hydrology and is in full progress at present. There is a need for a thorough review of the potentials and limitations of contemporary deterministic response hydrology. Properties of hydrologic processes and environments are either periodic-stochastic or purely stochastic processes. Variables which are a function of other random variables are random regardless that the function itself may be deterministic. Limitations of deterministic response hydrology in the analysis of classical hydrologic processes are emphasized. Only an integration of both deterministic and stochastic approaches promises the best mathematical-physical understanding and description of hydrologic processes and environments.
Two Atmospheric-pressure Plasma Sources for Polymer Surface Modification

Two atmospheric-pressure plasma sources were studied. One was a helium plasma generated by a RF discharge, and the other was an air plasma generated by a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD). The two plasma sources were characterized on electron density, emission spectrum, and ozone density. The modification of polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) surfaces by the two plasmas was investigated. PET strips were exposed to the plasma at the exit of the plasma source. Water contact angles were measured for surfaces modified with different processing parameters. The change in contact angles was monitored as a function of time. Modification mechanisms were also investigated.
Turán Graphs and the Number of Colorings

We consider an old problem of Linial and Wilf to determine the structure of graphs which allows the maximum number of $q$-colorings among graphs with $n$ vertices and $m$ edges. We show that if $r$ divides $q$, then for all sufficiently large $n$ the Turan graph $T_r(n)$ has more $q$-colorings than any other graph with the same number of vertices and edges. This partially confirms a conjecture of Lazebnik. Our proof builds on methods of Loh, Pikhurko, and Sudakov, which reduces the problem to a quadratic program.
Intrachromosomal gene conversion in yeast

We have shown that the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has a mechanism by which information from one gene can be transferred non-reciprocally to a repeated copy of the gene on the same chromosome. This intrachromosomal gene conversion may be important in maintaining sequence homogeneity within families of repeated eukaryotic genes.
Online Physical Activity Information: Will Typical Users Find Quality Information?

This study evaluated physical activity Web sites to determine quality, accuracy, and consistency with principles of the extended parallel process model (EPPM). Three keyword searches were conducted using 4 search engines to find a sample of N = 41 Web sites. Three raters evaluated the Web sites using the JAMA benchmarks to assess quality and American College of Sports Medicine and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for physical activity to determine accuracy, as well as checking for inclusion of EPPM variables. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and analysis of variance with least squares means. Only 22% of the sites were high quality, none were highly accurate, and most were consistent with the EPPM. Quality ratings were weakly associated with accuracy. Educational and .net sites were rated significantly higher in quality and accuracy, and government sites were most consistent with the EPPM. Quality Web sites were more often found by using Yahoo and Google. “Exercise”...
Urticaria pigmentosum: nature's experiment in mast cell biology.

Mast cells have become a focus of intense investigation over the past ten years. The origin, maturation and differentiation of these cells is of fundamental biological importance; such information is necessary to understand the role of mast cells in normal physiology and disease. The connective tissue mast cell was described by Ehrlich in 1877 [ 11. Eight years earlier Nettleship and Tay reported a patient who almost certainly had cutaneous mastocytosis [2]. Today an investigation of this rather uncommon disease is providing important insights into the biology of mast cells and the mechanisms of mast cell differentiation. Mast cells appear to, be sentinels; they act as a defense against invading organisms, foreign proteins and tumor cells. Mast cells are concentrated at the interface between the host and the environment and they maintain an intimate association with vascular channels. These cells, which are armed with a multitude of preformed and induci-
The effect of gravity on crystal growth of InGaAs by the Bridgman method

Abstract InGaAs crystals were grown by the Bridgman method on earth and in microgravity. The difference of Ga composition profiles in the growth crystals is associated with the difference of heat transfer.
Voters and macroeconomics: Are they forward looking or backward looking?

The political business cycle hypothesis has been criticized on the grounds that it is impossible for governments to generate a vote winning boom because voters judge political candidates by the performance they expect in the future. In this paper, we directly test the hypothesis that voters are forward rather than backward looking. We compare the conventional view that presidential popularity depends on recently observed inflation and unemployment to three alternative models which assume varying forms of forward looking behavior. Non-tested hypothesis tests reject the forward looking models in favor of the one with the recent actual variables.
Ontogeny of Postsynaptic Density Proteins at Glutamatergic Synapses

In glutamatergic synapses, glutamate receptors (GluRs) associate with many other proteins involved in scaffolding and signal transduction. The ontogeny of these postsynaptic density (PSD) proteins involves changes in their composition during development, paralleling changes in GluR type and function. In the CA1 region of the hippocampus, at postnatal day 2 (P2), many synapses already have a distinct PSD. We used immunoblot analysis, subcellular fractionation, and quantitative immunogold electron microscopy to examine the distribution of PSD proteins during development of the hippocampus. Synapses at P2 contained substantial levels of NR1 and NR2B and most GluR-associated proteins, including SAP102, SynGAP, the chain of proteins from GluRs/SAP102 through GKAP/Shank/Homer and metabotropic glutamate receptors, and the adhesion factors, cadherin, catenin, neuroligin, and Nr-CAM. Development was marked by substantial decreases in NR2B and SAP102 and increases in NR2A, PSD-95, AMPA receptors, and CaMKII. Other components showed more moderate changes.