cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Case Study: Neuropathic Itching Following S3 and S4 Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulator Trial.

Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation is a novel treatment modality for patients suffering from chronic neuropathic pain. When compared to the traditional and broader acting spinal cord stimulator (SCS) implants, DRG stimulation has been shown to be more effective at treating chronic pain.1 However, the literature is mixed regarding associated complications of DRG vs traditional SCS implantation. Some studies demonstrate a decreased incidence of paresthesia in DRG stimulators versus SCS,1 while others show an increased risk of developing new neurologic symptoms.2 The specific characterization of these neurologic symptoms is also less clear. Herein, we present a case of a 49-year-old female who developed neuropathic itching following a bilateral S4 DRG stimulator trial. We include a literature review that demonstrates this approach as a novel and previously unreported complication of a DRG stimulation trial. This project was deemed exempt from the Mayo Clinic Arizona’s institutional review board as it acknowledged that it did not meet the criteria for human subject research. The patient provided informed consent for the case to be published.
Maternal antenatal marijuana use lowers the biologic potential of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells

Background: Human umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been extensively studied with therapeutic efficacy in several injury models. Our work has shown therapeutic efficacy of MSCs and their secreted factors in experimental neonatal chronic lung disease and pulmonary hypertension models. Maternal antenatal drugs and disease states can affect the efficacy of MSCs. …
Cass R. Sunstein. Too Much Information: Understanding What You Don’t Want to Know. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2020. 264p. Hardcover, $27.95 (ISBN 978-0-2620-4416-5).

When should the government require information disclosure? Cass Sunstein attempts to answer this by offering a framework in his latest book, Too Much Information: Understanding What You Don’t Want to Know .
Simple mean-field model for condensates in the BEC-BCS crossover regime

We present a mean-field model to describe condensates in the BEC-BCS crossover regime based on pairs of fermionic atoms. By introducing an effective potential, the mean-field equation allows us to calculate the chemical potential, the equation of states, and the atomic correlation function. The results agree surprisingly well with recent many-body calculations. We show that the smooth crossover from the bosonic mean-field repulsion between molecules to the Fermi pressure among atoms is associated with the evolution of the atomic correlation function.
Between aspiration and reality: New materialism and social studies education

This conceptual article uses new materialism, and its particular focus on material things, as a lens of analysis in social studies education in order to demonstrate alternative ways in which social...
Do You Really Need to Know Where “That” Is? Enhancing Support for Referencing in Collaborative Mixed Reality Environments

Mixed Reality has been shown to enhance remote guidance and is especially well-suited for physical tasks. Conversations during these tasks are heavily anchored around task objects and their spatial relationships in the real world, making referencing - the ability to refer to an object in a way that is understood by others - a crucial process that warrants explicit support in collaborative Mixed Reality systems. This paper presents a 2x2 mixed factorial experiment that explores the effects of providing spatial information and system-generated guidance to task objects. It also investigates the effects of such guidance on the remote collaborator’s need for spatial information. Our results show that guidance increases performance and communication efficiency while reducing the need for spatial information, especially in unfamiliar environments. Our results also demonstrate a reduced need for remote experts to be in immersive environments, making guidance more scalable, and expertise more accessible.
Proposing the online community self-disclosure model: the case of working professionals in France and the U.K. who use online communities

AbstractThe global use of online communities has exploded to involve hundreds of millions of users. Despite the tremendous social impact and business opportunities afforded by these communities, li...
The Crowning of Alfred and the Topos of Sapientia et Fortitudo in Asser's Life of King Alfred

At the crucial moment in Asser's De Rebus Gestis Alfredi in which Asser narrates the crowning of Alfred, Asser praises Alfred in two balanced clauses celebrating respectively Alfred's sapientia and his fortitudo. The use of this famous topos in this context is interesting and important, and it also relevant to the structure of the work as whole. It has long been recognized that the De Rebus Gestis Alfredi is a bi-partite work and that the two halves of the work are quite different in their concerns. I suggest that Asser was deliberately structuring the work as a whole in terms of this theme, first celebrating Alfred's fortitudo in the Danish wars, and then celebrating his sapientia, his achievements as a philosopher king, in the final portion of the Vita.
Multiple Description Video Coding over Multiple Path Routing Networks

This paper presents a multiple description (MD) video-coding scheme, which uses interlaced high signal to noise ratio (H-SNR) and low signal to noise ratio (L-SNR) coded frames to produce two bitstreams. At the decoder, when both bit-streams are received a high quality video will be reconstructed. If either one is received, a poorer but acceptable quality video can be reconstructed. In this approach, we also considered the mismatch between the encoding and decoding loops due to motion compensation if only one bit-stream is received. We first give the results of the rate distortion performance of our scheme assuming that only one description is received. We then present simulation results under packet loss circumstances, which are simulated by real-world IP networks and adhoc networks. It is shown that the proposed scheme has a superior performance when compared with the single description MPEG-4 video coder and MD coding using video redundancy coding.
Single-channel full-duplex mmWave link using phased-array for Ethernet

In this paper we report on a wireless Ethernet link over 60GHz mmWave, which is a full-duplex wireless link in the same frequency channel. To provide a dense wireless network, beam forming with a phased-array transceiver is a key technology for frequency reuse. We introduced a particle swarm optimization algorithm for beam forming with effective interference cancellation in each field. This method works independent of the transceiver arrangement and is free from device-specific variability and non-linearity. We prototyped the wireless Ethernet link system and achieved a BER less than 1.0E-11 at a 3m distance. We were able to prove its feasibility at system-level application.
E-medicine and health care consumers: recognizing current problems and possible resolutions for a safer environment.

Millions of Americans access the Internet forhealth information, which is changing the waypatients seek information about, and oftentreat, certain medical conditions. It isestimated that there may be as many as 100,000health-related Web sites. Theavailability of so much health informationpermits consumers to assume more responsibilityfor their own health care. At the same time,it raises a number of issues that need to beaddressed. The health information available toInternet users may be inaccurate orout-of-date. Potential conflicts of interestresult from the blurring of the distinctionbetween advertising and professional healthinformation. Also, potential threats to privacymay result from data mining. Health care consumers need to be able toevaluate the quality of the informationprovided on the Internet. Various evaluativemechanisms such as codes of ethics, ratingsystems, and seals of approval have beendeveloped to aid in this process. Theeffectiveness of these solutions is evaluated inthis paper. Finally, the paper addresses theimportance of including patients in developingstandardized quality assurance systems for online health information.
Bringing What Is Hidden to Light: Jane Addams and the 2006 Jane Addams Children's Book Award

In 1953, through its educational affiliate the Jane Addams Peace Association (JAPA), the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) became the sponsoring agency for a children's book award brought to them by WILPF member Marta Teele, who, in the aftermath of World War II, conceived an award for children's books that promote peace (Chalmers). The award, fittingly named the Jane Addams Children's Book Award (JACBA), has been given annually since that time by a committee of WILPF members who are educators, librarians, teachers and children's literature specialists. Books honored by the Jane Addams Children's Book Award recognize excellence in rendering themes of peace, social justice, gender equity and world community in literature for children. They invite young readers to think creatively and humanely about injustice and conflict. They encourage young readers to stretch their imaginations beyond the concerns of their individual and family lives so that, widely at home in the world, they can grapple with its problems courageously and nonviolently (Jane Addams Children's Book Award).
Chapter 10 The Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids

Publisher Summary Several notable advances have been made in the analytical aspects of alkaloids. Most alkaloids have proven amenable to separation and identification by gas phase, paper, and thin-layer chromatography. Recent structural studies have provided two new types of alkaloids based on the 6,11-methanomorphanthridine and the biphenyl ring systems. However, the structures of most new alkaloids are merely substitutional variants within the ring systems. Although the structures of most major alkaloids have been established with certainty by chemical methods, infrared (IR)-, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-, and mass spectroscopy have proved invaluable in confirming many structures and in exploring subtle points of stereochemistry. These same instruments offer the greatest hope for the structural elucidation of the numerous minor components. Many of the alkaloids that have been reported with meager or ambiguous experimental data are discussed in this chapter. It provides many structures of known relative and absolute configuration. X-ray data have now provided the absolute configurations of galanthamine and lycorine. Because of numerous interconversions between the lycorine and lycorenine types of alkaloids, the absolute configurations of many of the latter also are known with certainty. The absolute configuration of the alkaloids in the chemically interrelated crinine, tazettine, and montanine groups rests on the applicability of Mills' rule for allylic alcohols. The assignments of absolute configuration within these three alkaloidal systems by this rule are consistent with the known chemical correlations.
Privatization and Crime: The Post-Soviet Experience

This paper examines the criminalization of the privatization process now occurring in the former Soviet Union. The different means by which the economy has been criminalized and its impact on the citizenry are examined. This paper argues that former Communist Party elite and organized criminal groups have purchased the majority of the state's assets. The absence of careful planning and proper legal protections in implementing the massive privatization program are given as important explanations for the failure of this process. Though special attention is given to Russia, this analysis applies to the other states of the former Soviet Union as well.
Clinical career ladders: Hamot Medical Center

The clinical career ladder program for pharmacists at Hamot Medical Center (HMC), a 500-bed not-for-profit community teaching hospital, is described. Between 1980 and 1989 a career ladder at HMC evolved from an idea to an established program with parallel administrative, business, and clinical tracks. The development of the career ladder mirrored the growth of clinical programs and the diversification of pharmaceutical services. A formal plan for a clinical ladder was developed when the first satellite pharmacy opened in 1984. An entry-level pharmacist at HMC starts with a six-month period during which he or she learns the drug distribution system and prepares for several certification tests. The employee is then promoted to staff pharmacist. Staff pharmacists are promoted to clinical pharmacist II (CP II) upon meeting requirements for competence in a broad range of clinical skills and knowledge. Candidates for the position of clinical pharmacist specialist (CP I) must have either a minimum of three years of experience as a CP II or a Pharm.D. degree and have established an area of clinical expertise. A CP I can progress to assistant and associate director positions as vacancies occur. The clinical ladder has enhanced job satisfaction and encouraged the development of clinical practitioners who provide improved care. Problems have included time constraints, competition for positions, and management of incentives. A parallel career ladder program with a clinical track has enhanced the growth of pharmacy practice at HMC and improved the quality of pharmaceutical care.
A unification of models for meta‐analysis of diagnostic accuracy studies without a gold standard

Several statistical methods for meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy studies have been discussed in the presence of a gold standard. However, in practice, the selected reference test may be imperfect due to measurement error, non-existence, invasive nature, or expensive cost of a gold standard. It has been suggested that treating an imperfect reference test as a gold standard can lead to substantial bias in the estimation of diagnostic test accuracy. Recently, two models have been proposed to account for imperfect reference test, namely, a multivariate generalized linear mixed model (MGLMM) and a hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) model. Both models are very flexible in accounting for heterogeneity in accuracies of tests across studies as well as the dependence between tests. In this paper, we show that these two models, although with different formulations, are closely related and are equivalent in the absence of study-level covariates. Furthermore, we provide the exact relations between the parameters of these two models and assumptions under which two models can be reduced to equivalent submodels. On the other hand, we show that some submodels of the MGLMM do not have corresponding equivalent submodels of the HSROC model, and vice versa. With three real examples, we illustrate the cases when fitting the MGLMM and HSROC models leads to equivalent submodels and hence identical inference, and the cases when the inferences from two models are slightly different. Our results generalize the important relations between the bivariate generalized linear mixed model and HSROC model when the reference test is a gold standard.
Concomitant mitral valve repair and resynchronization therapy

Background Functional mitral regurgitation (MR) affects 90% of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) candidates, with moderate–severe/severe MR being present in 35%. The purpose was to assess the outcome of CRT candidates with severe MR undergoing concomitant mitral valve repair and resynchronization therapy. Methods
Immune modulators as therapeutic agents for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma at all stages appears to be responsive to immune modulatory therapeutic approaches. We describe here the mechanistic rationale for the use of interferons, interleukin-12, retinoids, Toll-like receptor agonists, photopheresis and combinations of immune preserving, immune stimulatory therapies for CTCL.
Dynamics of a reaction-diffusion equation with nonlocal inhibition

Abstract In this paper we investigate the dynamics of a nonlocal scalar reaction–diffusion equation which corresponds to the limiting equation for a singularly perturbed activator–inhibitor system. The equation is a nonlocal perturbation of the Chafee–Infante problem. It is shown that the nonlocal equation generates a gradient flow whose dynamics can differ from the local problem in several interesting ways. Stable heterogeneous equilibria having any number of zeros on the spatial domain can be obtained by an appropriate choice of parameters. The steady-state equation exhibits an interesting family of secondary bifurcations near double critical points. By analyzing the center manifolds dynamics near the double critical points, it is found that a sequence of secondary bifurcations can result in a transfer of stability between two equilibria by reversing a heteroclinic connection between them. As a consequence the number of zeros of a solution, the lap-number, can increase along trajectories.
Development of myocardial perfusion tracers for positron emission tomography.

Abstract Six positron-emitting cations were investigated as possible perfusion tracers: [ 13 N]NH 4 , 38 K, 51 Mn, 52 m Mn, 81 Rb, and 82 Rb. Aspects of the production of the radionuclides and their separations from the irradiated target materials were addressed. The thick target, saturated yields of several nuclear reactions leading to these radionuclides were studied theoretically and experimentally in the energy range 6–10 MeV. A figure-of-merit describing the production aspects of each tracer was calculated, and tomographic imaging results in normal human subjects were reported.
A family of examples showing that no Krasnosel'skii number exists for orthogonal polygons starshaped via staircase n-paths

Let S be a simply connected orthogonal polygon in the plane. A family of examples will establish the following result. For every n ≥ 2, there exists no Krasnosel’skii number h(n) which satisfies this property: If every h(n) points of S are visible via staircase n-paths from a common point, then S is starshaped via staircase n-paths.
Particulate absorption of solar radiation: anthropogenic aerosols vs. dust

Abstract. Particulate solar absorption is a critical factor in determining the value and even sign of the direct radiative forcing of aerosols. The heating to the atmosphere and cooling to the Earth's surface caused by this absorption are hypothesized to have significant climate impacts. We find that anthropogenic aerosols play an important role around the globe in total particulate absorption of solar radiation. The global-average anthropogenic fraction in total aerosol absorbing optical depth exceeds 65% in all seasons. Combining the potentially highest dust absorption with the lowest anthropogenic absorption within our model range, this fraction would still exceed 47% in most seasons except for boreal spring (36%) when dust abundance reaches its peak. Nevertheless, dust aerosol is still a critical absorbing constituent over places including North Africa, the entire tropical Atlantic, and during boreal spring in most part of Eurasian continent. The equality in absorbing solar radiation of dust and anthropogenic aerosols appears to be particularly important over Indian subcontinent and nearby regions as well as North Africa.
Is Fallibility an Epistemological Shortcoming

A familiar form of scepticism supposes that knowledge requires infallibility. Although that requirement plays no role in our ordinary epistemic practices, Barry Stroud has argued that this is not a good reason for rejecting a sceptical argument: our ordinary practices do not correctly reflect the requirements for knowledge because the appropriateness-conditions for knowledge attribution are pragmatic. Recent fashion in contextualist semantics for ‘knowledge’ agrees with this view of our practice, but incorrectly. Ordinary epistemic evaluations are guided by our conception of a person's standing with regard to the reasons that there are for and against the truth of a belief. Thus the objection from our ordinary practices is sound: fallibility is not an epistemological shortcoming, and a convincing sceptical argument must use only requirements which figure in ordinary epistemic practice.
A Least-Squares/Galerkin Finite Element Method for Incompressible Navier-Stokes Equations

The least-squares finite element method (LSFEM), which is based on minimizing the l2 -norm of the residual, has many attractive advantages over Galerkin finite element method (GFEM). It is now well established as a proper approach to deal with the convection dominated fluid dynamic equations. The least-squares finite element method has a number of attractive characteristics such as the lack of an inf-sup condition and the resulting symmetric positive system of algebraic equations unlike GFEM. However, the higher continuity requirements for second-order terms in the governing equations force the introduction of additional unknowns through the use of an equivalent first-order system of equations or the use of C1 continuous basis functions. These additional unknowns lead to increased memory and computing time requirements that have prevented the application of LSFEM to large-scale practical problems, such as three-dimensional compressible viscous flows. A simple finite element method is proposed that employs a least-squares method for first-order derivatives and a Galerkin method for second order derivatives, thereby avoiding the need for additional unknowns required by pure a LSFEM approach. When the unsteady form of the governing equations is used, a streamline upwinding term is introduced naturally by the leastsquares method. Resulting system matrix is always symmetric and positive definite and can be solved by iterative solvers like pre-conditioned conjugate gradient method. The method is stable for convection-dominated flows and allows for equalorder basis functions for both pressure and velocity. The stability and accuracy of the method are demonstrated with preliminary results of several benchmark problems solved using low-order C0 continuous elements.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Relation between dipole moment and radiative lifetime in interface fluctuation quantum dots

A relation between dipole moment and radiative lifetime of quantum dots for arbitrary indices of refraction of the quantum dot and surrounding medium is derived. As limiting cases several formulas already in use are obtained and their correct use is discussed. We proceed to discuss the relation between dipole moment and radiative lifetime in interface fluctuation quantum dots (IFQD's) taking into account nonsphericity effects. This introduces a dependence on the light propagation direction. We calculate how to account for the nonsphericity of an interface fluctuation quantum dot depending on its diameter and well thickness and find that the lifetime of a typical IFQD with a 50 nm diameter is reduced by about 10% due to nonsphericity effects.
Phase I study of doxorubicin, ICRF-187 and granulocyte/macrophage-colony-stimulating factor

A group of 16 patients with advanced malignancy were entered on a phase I trial of escalating doses of doxorubicin with ICRF-187 for cardioprotection and granulocyte/macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GMCSF) for bone marrow protection. Patients received intravenous ICRF-187 (dose ratio 20∶1 ICRF-187: doxorubicin) 30 min prior to doxorubicin. GMCSF at a dose of 15 μg kg−1 day−1 was self-administered subcutaneously on days 3–14 of the cycle. Doxorubicin was administered every 21 days. Substantial hematological and non-hematological toxicity was seen. Fever, malaise, and pulmonary symptoms, thought to be due to GMCSF, were not eliminated by reduction in the GMCSF dose to 10 or 5 μg kg−1 day−1. Severe hematological toxicity was seen despite GMCSF administration and it was not possible to escalate the doxorubicin dose above 72 mg/m2 with this combination. Dose escalation of doxorubicin may be more feasible with the use of other growth factors or growth factor combinations.
Pigeon reaction time, Hick's law, and intelligence.

Pigeons’ choice reaction times (RTs) increased as a linear function of log2 number of potential target stimuli (Experiments 1–3), as would be predicted by Hick’s law. The values of intercepts and slopes decreased with training (Experiments 2 and 3) and with differential reinforcement of short RTs under percentile reinforcement contingencies (Experiment 3). RT functions obtained from human subjects were also consistent with Hick’s law, but slopes for pigeons were significantly lower than those for humans (Experiments 4 and 5). These results extend the generality of Hick’s law to pigeons but are inconsistent with Jensen’s claim that the parameters of the Hick function are related to intelligence.
The human genome project: misguided science policy

Genome mapping and sequencing projects are inappropriate and wasteful expenditures of precious research funds. By focusing on the acquisition of nucleotide sequences, the various genome projects emphasize the products of science over the process of science. It is doubtful that much of the resulting information will provide insights into human diseases or fundamental biological processes. The routine nature of genome sequencing makes it ill-suited for training young scientists. Such projects may also hamper the education of future investigators by diverting research support from universities to genome centers and commercial firms.
Ivar Asbjörn Følling: Discovered Phenylketonuria (PKU)

Ivar Asbjorn Folling (1888–1973) Dr. Asbjorn Folling, a Norwegian biochemist and physician, first published the description of phenylketonuria (PKU) as a cause of mental retardation in 1934.1 Moreover, this study reported a laboratory test to confirm this metabolic disease, which was later determined to be an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder. Subsequent work by other investigators would determine that diet modification would drastically improve the outcome and prevent the onset of mental retardation. The discovery of PKU was a fundamentally important discovery for the fields of biochemistry, genetics, metabolism, and medicine. Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a genetic disorder due to the inability to metabolize the amino acid phenylalanine. This is due to mutations leading to a deficiency in the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase. The disease occurs in approximately 1 in 10,000 children,2 and the prevalence is slightly higher among people of Irish and West Scottish descent.2 Some have suggested an ecologic advantage of heterozygotes, protecting them from the negative health consequences of consuming moldy food, as the wet climates of Ireland and West Scotland have a higher risk of mold contamination.3 Born Ivar Asbjorn Folling on August 23, 1888, he was raised on a farm in northern Norway. He was the youngest of five children.4,5 The farm was located eight miles from the nearest town of Steinkjer and 50 miles from the Trondheim. Starting at the age of five, he …
The cat as a model for human nutrition and disease.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Obesity is a new pandemic in humans associated with increased morbidity and mortality. A similar sharp increase has occurred in the number of obese cats in recent years. There are many reasons for this increase in both species; for cats, the main problems are unlimited access to a nutrient-dense diet and sedentary life style. Obesity is a major risk factor for diabetes whose prevalence has increased concomitantly. Cats develop a form of diabetes that is similar to type 2 in humans, characterized by islet amyloid and loss of beta-cell mass. The energy metabolism of cats and the pathophysiology of obesity and diabetes are being characterized in order to identify similarities and differences from humans and to recognize causative and protective factors for adverse sequelae to obesity and diabetes. RECENT FINDINGS New approaches to the study of lipid and glucose metabolism in cats show that glucose metabolism is not as dissimilar and lipid metabolism is not as similar to that of humans as previously thought, perhaps explaining why cats do not develop the classic metabolic syndrome. SUMMARY The cat is an excellent model for examining the pathophysiology and complications of obesity and diabetes.
Complexity of illness and adjunctive benzodiazepine use in outpatients with bipolar i or II disorder results from the bipolar CHOICE study

Benzodiazepines are widely prescribed for patients with bipolar disorders in clinical practice, but very little is known about the subtypes of patients with bipolar disorder or aspects of bipolar illness that contribute most to benzodiazepine use. We examined the prevalence of and factors associated with benzodiazepine use among 482 patients with bipolar I or II disorder enrolled in the Bipolar CHOICE study. Eighty-one subjects were prescribed benzodiazepines at study entry and were considered benzodiazepine users. Stepwise logistic regression was used to model baseline benzodiazepine use versus nonuse, using entry and exit criteria of P < 0.1. In bivariate analyses, benzodiazepine users were prescribed a significantly higher number of other psychotropic medications and were more likely to be prescribed lamotrigine or antidepressants as compared with benzodiazepine nonusers. Benzodiazepine users were more likely to have a diagnosis of bipolar I disorder and comorbid anxiety disorder, but not comorbid alcohol or substance use disorders. Benzodiazepine users also had experienced more anxiety and depressive symptoms and suicidality, but not irritability or manic symptoms, than did benzodiazepine nonusers. In the multivariate model, anxiety symptom level (regardless of diagnosis), lamotrigine use, number of concomitant psychotropic medications, college education, and high household income predicted benzodiazepine use. Benzodiazepine use in patients with bipolar disorders is associated with greater illness complexity as indicated by a higher number of concomitant psychotropic medications and higher anxiety symptom burden, regardless of a comorbid anxiety disorder diagnosis. Demographic factors were also important determinants of benzodiazepine use, which may be related to access to care and insurance coverage for benzodiazepines.
Physically based simulation of passive polarimetric IR mine signatures

A numerical model for polarimetric signatures of surface-laid land mines is presented. The model simulates high-resolution images formed from Stokes parameters that describe thermal emission and reflection of sunlight and skylight. The temperature of the mine and its surroundings is computed as a function of time using a finite element solution of the heat transport equation. The effects of surface roughness are included via a two-scale model, in which the gross shape of the mine is represented by triangular facets (the surface facets of the finite element tetrahedra). Theoretical solutions for rough surface scattering are used to describe small-scale roughness on a facet. Multiply reflected contributions are neglected in the current implementation. An example is presented in which the role of each component is described and related to the observed image.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Imagery, Creativity, and Emergent Structure

Recent advances in the field of creative cognition have helped to reveal the cognitive structures and processes that are involved in creative thinking and imagination. This article begins by reviewing recent studies of creative imagery that have explored the emergent properties of mental images. The geneplore model of creative cognition, which describes how preinventive structures such as creative mental images are generated and interpreted, is then discussed. In discussing this model and its implications, a distinction is made between aspects of creative imagery that reflect conscious, deliberate control and those that reflect the absence of such control, as illustrated particularly by the emergence of unanticipated structures in imagined forms. The intentional, structured qualities of creative thinking are then contrasted with its spontaneous, unstructured qualities. The article concludes by discussing the recent topics of chaotic cognition and creative realism and how they bear on the general issue of balancing structured and unstructured processes in creative endeavors.
Comparison of the effects of deuterium and of hydrogen on the low temperature strength and ductility of vanadium

Abstract The effects of equivalent amounts of deuterium and hydrogen on the strength and ductility of vanadium have been investigated for temperatures from 295 to 78 K. The results show that deuterium is a more potent strengthener in vanadium than hydrogen and that the strengthening in both V-D and V-H alloys occurs by a thermally activated process. Both deuterium and hydrogen cause a ductile-brittle transition behavior in vanadium, but the ductile-brittle transition temperature is higher in the V-D alloy.
In Vitro Reconstitution of Dynamic, ER-like, Nanotubular Networks, and of Small, Tubulo-Vesicular Transport Entities by Interactions of Cytoplasmic Dynein and Spectrin with Liposomes

Cells contain intricate networks of membrane tubes of nanoscale dimensions, such as the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Much smaller tubular entities, derived by extraction from donor compartments (e.g., those emerging from recycling endosomes or the trans-Golgi network) or generated by vesicle fusion (e.g., the ER-to-Golgi transport units), function in intracellular transport. Different mechanisms are thought to underlie the morphogenesis of the complex, tubular ER network, and the formation of the small tubular transport entities that travel along microtubules. Here, we show that the molecular machinery that powers retrograde vesicle motility in neurons can interact with membranes to generate these different types of tubes. We reconstituted in vitro elaborate networks of interconnected membrane tubes (with ER-characteristic ring closures and three-way junctions), as well as freely moving, stable tubes and tubulo-vesicular clusters, from mixtures of the minus-end motor, cytoplasmic dynein, its regulatory complex, dynactin, the anchoring protein, spectrin, and liposomes containing acidic phospholipids, in the presence of microtubules and ATP. The tubulo-vesicular clusters contained trains of spherical liposomes attached to a small tube via elastic linkers, likely maintained together through a supravesicular spectrin meshwork that encompasses both the tube and the associated vesicles. Recruitment of dynein-dynactin and spectrin from the cytosol to liposomes was stimulated by phospholipase D-induced conversion of neutral phospholipids to acidic forms, and by activation of small GTPases. We conclude that similar mechanisms underlie the generation of ER-like tube networks and small tubular transport entities. Both may be generated and maintained by the action of soluble microtubule motor complexes and anchoring proteins, which bind to phospholipids, and do not require membrane proteins. Supported by March of Dimes grant 1-FY04-240 and NIH grant R01GM068596.
Hydrogen peroxide mediates higher order chromatin degradation

Although a large body of evidence supports a causative link between oxidative stress and neurodegeneration, the mechanisms are still elusive. We have recently demonstrated that hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), the major mediator of oxidative stress triggers higher order chromatin degradation (HOCD), i.e. excision of chromatin loops at the matrix attachment regions (MARs). The present study was designed to determine the specificity of H(2)O(2) in respect to HOCD induction. Rat glioma C6 cells were exposed to H(2)O(2) and other oxidants, and the fragmentation of genomic DNA was assessed by field inversion gel electrophoresis (FIGE). S1 digestion before FIGE was used to detect single strand fragmentation. The exposure of C6 cells to H(2)O(2) induced a rapid and extensive HOCD. Thus, within 30 min, total chromatin was single strandedly digested into 50 kb fragments. Evident HOCD was elicited by H(2)O(2) at concentrations as low as 5 micro M. HOCD was mostly reversible during 4-8h following the removal of H(2)O(2) from the medium indicating an efficient relegation of the chromatin fragments. No HOCD was induced by H(2)O(2) in isolated nuclei indicating that HOCD-endonuclease is activated indirectly by cytoplasmic signal pathways triggered by H(2)O(2). The exposure of cells to a synthetic peroxide, i.e. tert-butyrylhydroperoxide (tBH) also induced HOCD, but to a lesser extent than H(2)O(2). Contrary to the peroxides, the exposure of cells to equitoxic concentration of hypochlorite and spermine NONOate, a nitric oxide generator, failed to induce rapid HOCD. These results indicate that rapid HOCD is not a result of oxidative stress per se, but is rather triggered by signaling cascades initiated specifically by H(2)O(2). Furthermore, the rapid and extensive HOCD was observed in several rat and human cell lines challenged with H(2)O(2), indicating that the process is not restricted to glial cells, but rather represents a general response of cells to H(2)O(2).
Design and performance evaluation of throughput-aware rate adaptation protocols for IEEE 802.11 wireless networks

Experimental studies have shown that traditional rate adaptation schemes for 802.11 wireless networks suffer from significant throughput degradation in highly congested networks. To address this problem, this paper makes the following two main contributions. First, we design a method to accurately estimate the per-packet transmission times, and we use these measurements to provide a broad classification of the network state and to identify network congestion. Second, we design a new Throughput-Aware Rate Adaptation (TARA) scheme, which uses the congestion estimates to mitigate the negative impact of link-layer collisions on the operations of rate adaptation, without requiring changes in the 802.11 MAC specification. Another key feature of our solution is to minimize probing overheads and limit unnecessary rate decreases by predicting the throughput gain that could be brought about by a change in the transmission rate. Through experiments conducted across a variety of network scenarios and traffic patterns, we show that TARA achieves significantly higher throughput than the other rate adaptation algorithms implemented in the legacy Madwifi driver.
Effects of a Low Concentration of Added Plasmin on Ultra-High Temperature Processed Milk

Abstract The relationship between proteolysis and gelation was studied in UHT-processed milk following the aseptic addition of the enzyme plasmin at a concentration of .15 mg/L. Individual 250-ml containers of commercially processed (direct steam injection, 134.4°C for 14.2 s) milk were used. The milk was injected with plasmin 1 wk after processing and stored at room temperature (–23°C). Over a 6-mo period, the milk was examined for changes in appearance, pH, apparent viscosity, gel formation, enzymatic activity, and casein breakdown. Control milk samples did not gel during the test period. The milk containers that received the plasmin addition began to form a gel at 90 d of storage, and this gelation was accompanied by an increase in apparent viscosity. In the samples with added plasmin, enzyme activity was detected using the chromogenic substrate, H-D-valyl-L-leucyl-L-lysyl-4-nitroanilide (S-2251), and casein breakdown was apparent as examined by SDS-PAGE. It appeared that the added plasmin preferentially attacked s- and α-caseins over κ-casein. The evidence supports a relationship between a low level of plasmin activity and the gelation of UHT milk.
Examining a Multidimensional Model of Eating Disorder Symptomatology among College Women.

Despite many theorists’ assertions and researchers’ findings that eating disturbances have personal, sociocultural, and relational correlates, no model of eating disorder symptomatology incorporating all 3 of these domains has been proposed. The purpose of this study, then, was to examine empirically such a model. Personal, sociocultural, and relational variables were chosen, based on their solid relations with eating disorder symptomatology, to be included within the model. Theoretical frameworks and empirical findings were used to specify variable relations and paths, and the model was tested via structural equation modeling with data from 463 college women. As expected, the model fit the data adequately, and sociocultural, personal, and relational variables all made unique contributions within the model. Most model predictions were supported, and personal and relational variables were found to fully mediate the effects of the sociocultural variable on disordered eating scores.
Effect of the spin trap 5,5 dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) on human neutrophil function: novel inhibition of neutrophil stimulus-response coupling?

Previously we had utilized the spin trap 5,5 dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) to detect superoxide (.O2-) formation by human neutrophils stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) or opsonized zymosan. When N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) or concanavalin A were substituted as the neutrophil stimulus spin trap evidence of neutrophil free radical production was not detected. Consequently, the hypothesis that DMPO interfered with neutrophil stimulus response coupling was examined. DMPO exhibited a concentration-related inhibition of neutrophil .O2- secretion (ferricytochrome C reduction) following exposure to six different stimuli. The extent of inhibition was stimulus dependent--large (FMLP, concanavalin A), moderate (PMA, opsonized zymosan, A23187), and mild (arachidonic acid). Inhibition was reversible. Onset was nearly instantaneous and was observed even if DMPO was added after stimulus-induced .O2- formation was ongoing. DMPO had only minimal effect on .O2- production by a cell-free NADPH-oxidase membrane preparation. DMPO also inhibited the neutrophil degranulation response for elastase and lactoferrin but not vitamin B12 binding protein. DMPO-mediated inhibition of neutrophil function was not related to alteration in stimulus binding (FMLP or concanavalin A). DMPO had minimal impact on the stimulus-induced rise in intracellular calcium. However, the presence of DMPO resulted in a concentration-dependent depolarization of the resting neutrophil membrane and blunting of the depolarization response to each stimulus examined. These data are of importance to investigators applying spin-trapping techniques to phagocytic cells and suggest DMPO could be used as a tool for investigating neutrophil stimulus-response mechanisms.
Muscle-Like Characteristics With an Engineered Metastructure

Combining adaptable supporting structure, large compliance, and intricate energy management, skeletal muscle is a natural system that exhibits numerous attractive characteristics. Recent mechanical modeling of muscle suggests some of the intriguing macroscale features are due to the assembly of nanoscale, metastable cross-bridge constituents. Inspired by the multifunctionality and versatility of muscle’s architectural composition, this research investigates a new paradigm of modular structure-material development to achieve significant system adaptivity by utilizing building blocks possessing metastability. The proposed, assembled systems belong to the class of metastructures, a new concept for engineering adaptive structures from basic, functional units in ways such that the systems exhibit unprecedented characteristics resulting from a synergy of their elements. A modular and metastable building block is created to emulate the effective passive functionality of muscle’s cross-bridge. Analytical and experimental results reveal that metastructures assembled from the metastable modules may supply unique changes in reaction force when the end displacement is prescribed, adapting not only the magnitude of force but also the direction, in addition to yielding a multitude of globally stable topologies. The investigations provide clear evidence that a metastructure may realize orders of magnitude change in stiffness for a constant system shape, and also enables the variation in required energy expense to globally deform the system. From these findings, the metastructural design framework represents a major leap forward in adaptive structures and material systems and has the potential to find broad future application.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Inhibition of Ovulation in Rats with Epostane, an Inhibitor of 3β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase:

Epostane (Win 32729), an inhibitor of the 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzyme system, inhibited both spontaneous and pregnant mare's serum/human chorionic gonadotropin-induced ovulation in rats. When administered on the morning of proestrus, the drug blocked pregnancy in females that were inseminated that evening. The blockage of pregnancy occurred at a dose of 200 mg/kg but not at 50 mg/kg. Similarly, when administered on the morning of proestrus at a dose of 200 mg/kg, epostane inhibited the appearance of ova in the oviducts the next day. In gonadotropin-primed immature rats, epostane inhibited ovulation in a dose-related fashion with an ED50 between 25 and 50 mg/kg. The drug also decreased plasma progesterone levels in these animals. The inhibitory effect of epostane on gonadotropin-stimulated ovulation was reversed by injections of progesterone at a total daily dose of 6.25 mg/rat or greater. These results support the contention that steroidogenesis, specifically progesterone synthesis, is a prerequisite to ovulation.
Metabolic acidosis in the vitamin D-deficient chick.

Abstract In vitamin D-deficient chicks raised from age 1 day on a vitamin D-deficient diet, hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis occurred at 3 wk and persisted. Within 24 hr of administration of vitamin D, the acidosis and hypocalcemia were attentuated; during the subsequent 72 hr the severity of the metabolic acidosis but not that of the hypocalcemia was further attenuated. That further attenuation occurred despite hypocalcemia of unchanging severity and presumed continuing secondary hyperparathyroidism suggests the possibility that vitamin D deficiency may be a requirement for the expression of metabolic acidosis. Since in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that subphysiologic values of media and blood pH, respectively, are attended by reduced production of 1,25-(OH) 2 D 3 , the most biologically active vitamin D metabolite known, the occurrence of acidosis in vitamin D deficiency may compound its metabolic consequences. The possible effects of acidosis must be considered in interpreting results of investigations of vitamin D metabolism in vitamin D-deficient chicks.
Factors Influencing the Instant Solubility of Milk Powders

Summary High concentrations of milk solids in the aqueous phase in contact with dissolving milk powder particles render part of their constituents insoluble. This effect has been studied by measuring the amount of milk powder dissolved by volumes of water swept through mixed beds of sand and milk powder as well as beds of sand, water, and milk powder. From a consideration of the increases in solubility occurring as the spatial concentration of powder particles in the beds was decreased, and the decrease in solubility when the water content of the powders in the beds was increased, it was concluded that maximum solubility by self-dispersion can be obtained only with milk powders having bulk densities of less than 0.4g/ml. Higher bulk densities seem incompatible with instant self-dispersion. Milk solids rapidly lose solubility if their moisture content ranges from approximately 15 to 38%. This unstable range broadens with the increase in the time the milk solids are in contact with the water.