cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ACEMg Diet Supplement Modifies Progression of Hereditary Deafness

Dietary supplements consisting of beta-carotene (precursor to vitamin A), vitamins C and E and the mineral magnesium (ACEMg) can be beneficial for reducing hearing loss due to aminoglycosides and overstimulation. This regimen also slowed progression of deafness for a boy with GJB2 (CONNEXIN 26) mutations. To assess the potential for treating GJB2 and other forms of hereditary hearing loss with ACEMg, we tested the influence of ACEMg on the cochlea and hearing of mouse models for two human mutations: GJB2, the leading cause of childhood deafness, and DIAPH3, a cause of auditory neuropathy. One group of mice modeling GJB2 (Gjb2-CKO) received ACEMg diet starting shortly after they were weaned (4 weeks) until 16 weeks of age. Another group of Gjb2-CKO mice received ACEMg in utero and after weaning. The ACEMg diet was given to mice modeling DIAPH3 (Diap3-Tg) after weaning (4 weeks) until 12 weeks of age. Control groups received food pellets without the ACEMg supplement. Hearing thresholds measured by auditory brainstem response were significantly better for Gjb2-CKO mice fed ACEMg than for the control diet group. In contrast, Diap3-Tg mice displayed worse thresholds than controls. These results indicate that ACEMg supplementation can influence the progression of genetic hearing loss.
150. The Impact of body-only proton radiation on immune-CNS communication

Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) is an established treatment for many hematological disorders including lymphomas and leukemias. Although the prognosis after HSCT has historically been poor, associated with high mortality rates, advances in treatment have led to increases in long-term survival and, consequently, an increased risk for neuropsychological dysfunction. Roughly 40% of all allogeneic HSCTs performed in 2006–2010 involved total body irradiation (TBI) conditioning. Previously, we reported that many TBI-induced changes in splenic phagocytic populations were mitigated by chlorisondamine (CHL), a non-selective nicotinic blocker that crosses the blood–brain barrier. In this study, we characterized the effects of body-only proton irradiation (excluding brain) and CHL on the response to a bacterial challenge in 8- to 10-week-old female C57BL/6 mice. Mice were given CHL (1 mg/kg, i.p.) and irradiated (0 or 3 Gy) 60–90 min later. Ten days post-irradiation, mice were inoculated with 5e7 CFU of Escherichia coli (i.p.) and euthanized 90–120 min later. We characterized blood and splenic leukocyte population distributions (flow cytometry and hematology), cytokine levels (multiplexed cytokine analysis) and oxidative burst capacity. Radiation decreased virtually all splenic leukocyte counts while increasing oxidative burst capacity. In the blood, radiation decreased lymphocytes but increased innate subsets. Sympathetic blockade did not counter most of these radiation effects. This suggests that the disruptive effect of TBI on brain–immune communication is dependent on direct exposure to the brain.
Diphacine na-salt and bromadiolone against commensal rodent in Guangxi plague area

Objective To study effects of diphacine na-salt and bromadiolone against commensal rodent in Guangxi plague area. Methods Analyzing the results of treatment and management of plague in Guangxi Longlin and Xiling county in 2000～2004. Results The people could easy accept the diphacine na-salt than bromadiolone in Guangxi plague area. Conclusion Diphacine na-salt was one of the best anticoagulant rodenticide against commensal rodent in Guangxi plague area.
Homing of stem cells to ischemic myocardium

Progenitor cells have the capability to home myocardium in response to ischemia. Cell adhesion markers, in particular integrins, play an important role in the trafficking of stem cells to myocardium. In addition, damaged myocardium secretes several chemokines and growth factors that recruit these precursor cells to the heart. Nitric oxide synthase and hormones can also contribute to the trafficking of progenitor cells to myocardium. The recruitment of stem cells to ischemic myocardium is a complex interchange between cell adhesion markers, chemokines, and growth factors and a better understanding of these processes may lead to more efficient use of stem cells for therapeutic benefit.
Abnormal Multiple Charge Memory States in Exfoliated Few-Layer WSe2 Transistors

To construct reliable nanoelectronic devices based on emerging 2D layered semiconductors, we need to understand the charge-trapping processes in such devices. Additionally, the identified charge-trapping schemes in such layered materials could be further exploited to make multibit (or highly desirable analog-tunable) memory devices. Here, we present a study on the abnormal charge-trapping or memory characteristics of few-layer WSe2 transistors. This work shows that multiple charge-trapping states with large extrema spacing, long retention time, and analog tunability can be excited in the transistors made from mechanically exfoliated few-layer WSe2 flakes, whereas they cannot be generated in widely studied few-layer MoS2 transistors. Such charge-trapping characteristics of WSe2 transistors are attributed to the exfoliation-induced interlayer deformation on the cleaved surfaces of few-layer WSe2 flakes, which can spontaneously form ambipolar charge-trapping sites. Our additional results from surface charact...
Configuration interactions of class 11: An error in Cowan’s atomic structure theory

Abstract For about 35 years since its creation, the suite of atomic structure codes created by R.D. Cowan remains the working horse of atomic spectroscopists and is cited in more than 4000 publications. This note concerns one aspect of those codes: calculation of configuration interaction (CI) parameters. It was found that the last of the eleven classes of CI described in Cowan’s book and implemented in his codes erroneously sets some of the CI parameters in Rydberg series of interacting configurations to zero. This leads to inaccurate description of eigenstates and sizeable errors in calculated transition probabilities.
Happy town: Cultural governance and biopolitical urbanism in China

This paper explores the cultural inscription of urban space in China as a technology of government. Based on a three years of fieldwork, including interviews, surveys, and participant observation, the paper examines the case of one city’s campaign to increase its “happiness index” by creating an ethnic culturally themed built environment. The paper examines the city’s happiness campaign as a project of biopolitical urbanism, and finds that while urban Chinese governmentality bears some striking resemblances to liberal approaches that view the city as a machine for experimenting with, and producing, certain kinds of (governable) citizens and social relations, the happiness campaign should also be understood as a deliberate effort to reinforce state power at the local level. The happiness campaign, in other words, aims to reproduce a sovereign mode of state power even as it speaks a language of neoliberal governmentality. Thus, the colonization of culture by biopolitical urbanism in China today suggests a c...
Computational micromechanics analysis of electron hopping and interfacial damage induced piezoresistive response in carbon nanotube-polymer nanocomposites subjected to cyclic loading conditions

Abstract The current computational multiscale micromechanics based exploration of sensing capabilities in carbon nanotube (CNT)-polymer nanocomposites focuses on the macroscale piezoresistive response when the nanocomposite is subjected to cyclic loading conditions. It has been shown that electron hopping at the nanoscale is the primary mechanism behind the observed macroscale piezoresistivity for such nanocomposites. A continuum description of the non-continuum electron hopping effect used in the current work enables the use of multiscale continuum micromechanics based approaches to study nanocomposite piezoresistivity. The focus of the current work is on the interfacial separation/damage initiation, evolution and accumulation when subjected to cyclic loading. Interfacial separation/damage is allowed at the nanoscale CNT-polymer interface using electromechanical cohesive zones. The mechanical response of the CNT-polymer interface is obtained in terms of normal/tangential traction-separation behavior from atomistic scale Molecular Dynamics based models reported in the literature. The coupled electrostatic response is based on evolving interfacial resistance through the electron hopping induced current density across the separated interface. It is observed that the effective macroscale piezoresistive response obtained from the current modeling framework captures interfacial separation/damage state and shows sensitivity to damage accumulation over several cycles of applied strains.
3-Dimensional soft shape sensor based on dual-layer orthogonal fiber Bragg grating mesh

We present a soft silicone shape sensor for 3D surface shape measurement. The sensor is based on dual-layer fiber Bragg grating arrays with orthogonal mesh structure, which enable 3D bi-directional shape sensing.
Separated from the Self: A Conceptual Model of the Emotional Labor-Dishonesty Relationship

This paper proposes a conceptual model explaining the differential effects of integrative and differentiating emotional display rules on emotional labor, felt authenticity, acts of dishonesty, and ...
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) administration to heavy cannabis users.

Background: Cannabis use disorder (CUD) is a common condition with few treatments. Several studies in other substance use disorders have found that applying repetitive transcranial magnetic stimula...
Mystery Case: Widespread plexiform neurofibromas in neurofibromatosis type 1: An uncommon cause of back pain.

A 23-year-old man with known neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) presented with low back pain described as a “wringing” sensation, with radiation to both legs and painful spasms upon awakening. Examination was significant for reduced reflexes bilaterally. The figure is a coronal T2-weighted MRI revealing extensive plexiform neurofibromas arising from all lumbosacral nerve roots. Neurofibromas appear as high signal intensity on T2-weighted images due to increased fluid in myelin associated with dysplastic glial proliferation.1 In patients with NF1 presenting with back pain or polyradiculopathy, imaging should be obtained to evaluate for neurofibroma-mediated spinal cord pathology.
Vortex Stretching by a Simple Hyperbolic Saddle

We study solutions to the 3D Euler vorticity equation of the form \(\omega = \tilde \omega (x,t)\left( {\frac{{\partial t}}{{\partial {x_2}}},\frac{{\partial t}}{{\partial {x_1}}},0} \right) \) in a neighborhood U. When the curvesf (x 1 x 2 t) = const are circles then these solutions are the well known axisymmetric 3D flow without swirl, and for this case there is no vortex stretching. If we assumef(x 1,x2, t) = const to be a set of curves that contain a simple hyperbolic saddle then vortex stretching may take place. We show that the angle of the saddle can not close faster than a double exponential in time and there is no breakdown. Similar results are obtain in two dimensional models.
Uyghur Folk Singing and the Rural Musical Place in Northwest China

Senses of loss and nostalgia permeate the contemporary urban folk singing of the Uyghur people, who are Turkic-speaking Muslims in northwest China, often accompanying icons of a dispossessed rural, pre-modern past. Recent studies have looked at the post-1990s genre of “new folk” as an important venue for the performance of ethno-national sentiments through a variety of musico-textual tropes appropriated from traditional genres. The singing of sorrow and grief, some argue, has worked to interrogate the post-1950s official aesthetics of modernist reformism and its celebratory “singing-and-dancing” minority stereotypes. This is complicated simultaneously by a growing interest among middle-class Chinese audience in the imagined authenticity of certain rural minority folk traditions. This essay looks at how sonic, textual, and visual icons of rurality have been evoked in the contemporary Uyghur singing against a multitude of global popular styles to register a subaltern sense of musical modernity.
Thermodynamics of hydrolysis of cellulose to glucose from 0 to 100 °C: Cellulosic biofuel applications and climate change implications

Abstract Hydrolysis of cellulose to glucose is a key reaction in renewable energy from biomass and in mineralization of soil organic matter to CO2. Conditional thermodynamic parameters, ΔhydG’, ΔhydH’, and ΔhydS’, and equilibrium glucose concentrations are reported for the reaction C6H10O5(cellulose) + H2O(l) ⇄ C6H12O6(aq) as functions of temperature from 0 to 100 °C. Activity coefficients of aqueous glucose solution were determined as a function of temperature. The reaction free energy ΔhydG’ becomes more negative as temperature increases, suggesting that producing cellulosic biofuels at higher temperatures will result in higher conversion. Also, cellulose is a major source of carbon in soil and is degraded by soil microorganisms into CO2 and H2O. Therefore, global warming will make this reaction more rapid, leading to more CO2 and accelerated global warming by a positive feedback.
Gabapentin for Off-Label Use: Evidence-Based or Cause for Concern?:

Gabapentin is widely used in the United States for a number of off-label indications, often as an alternative to opioid therapy. Increasing evidence has emerged suggesting that gabapentin may not be as benign as once thought and may be associated with substance abuse in concert with opioids. With concerns for safety mounting, it is prudent to examine the efficacy of gabapentin across its many uses to understand the risk-benefit balance. Reviews on off-label indications such as migraine, fibromyalgia, mental illness, and substance dependence have found modest to no effect on relevant clinical outcomes. This high-quality evidence has often been overshadowed by uncontrolled studies and limited case reports. Furthermore, the involvement of gabapentin in questionable marketing schemes further calls its use into question. Overall, clinicians should exercise rigorous appraisal of the available evidence for a given indication, and researchers should conduct larger, higher-quality studies to better assess the efficacy of gabapentin for many of its off-label uses.
Impact of time to antibiotic on hospital stay, intensive care unit admission, and mortality in febrile neutropenia.

To determine if time to antibiotics (TTA) improves outcomes of hospital length of stay, admission to the intensive care unit, and 30-day mortality in adult patients with febrile neutropenia. This retrospective cohort study evaluated the impact of time to antibiotic, in the treatment of febrile neutropenia, on hospital length of stay, admission to the intensive care unit, and 30-day mortality. Cases included were patients 18 years or older hospitalized with febrile neutropenia from August 1, 2006 to July 31, 2016. To adjust for other characteristics associated with hospital length of stay, admission to the intensive care unit, and 30-day mortality, a multivariate analysis was performed. A total of 3219 cases of febrile neutropenia were included. The median hospital length of stay was 7.0 days (IQR 4.1–13.3), rate of intensive care unit admission was 13.6%, and 30-day mortality was 6.6%. Multivariate analysis demonstrated time to antibiotics was not associated with hospital length of stay but was associated with admission to the intensive care unit admission and 30-day mortality. Delays in time to antibiotic of up to 3 hours did not impact outcomes. A shorter time to antibiotic is important in treatment of febrile neutropenia; however, moderate delays in antibiotic administration did not impact outcomes. Further investigation is needed in order to determine if other indicators of infection, in addition to fever, or other supportive management, in addition to antibiotics, are indicated in the early identification and management of infection in patients with neutropenia.
Fast PCRTM radiative transfer model covering far-IR to UV spectral range and its applications in cloud and atmospheric remote sensing (Conference Presentation)

A Principal Component-based Radiative Transfer Model (PCRTM) has been developed to simulate hyper-spectral remote sensing data in the cloudy atmosphere from far IR to visible and UV spectral regions quickly and accurately. Multi-scatterings of multiple layers of clouds/aerosols are included in the model. The PCRTM model is capable of simulating top of atmospheric radiance or reflectance spectral from 50 wavenumber to 30000 wavenumber. We will describe applications of the PCRTM model for solving various atmospheric remote sensing problems such as atmospheric temperature, moisture, and trace gas profiles retrievals, spectral fingerprinting, inter-satellite calibration, and instrument trade studies.
Diastolic dysfunction grading, echocardiographic and electrocardiogram findings in 50 patients with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Introduction Apical Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (Apical HCM) is an uncommon variant of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, but it is relatively more common in Asian countries. This is a retrospective, non-randomised, single centre study of patients with Apical HCM focusing on their diastolic dysfunction grading, echocardiographic parameters and electrocardiograms (ECG). Methods All Apical HCM patients coming for clinic visits at the Institut Jantung Negara from September 2017 to September 2018 were included. We assessed their echocardiography images, grade their diastolic function and reviewed their ECG on presentation. Results Fifty patient were included, 82% (n=41) were males and 18% (n=9) females. The diastolic function grading of 37 (74%) patients were able to be determined using the updated 2016 American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) diastolic guidelines. Fifty percent (n=25) had the typical ace-ofspades shape left ventricle (LV) appearance in diastole and 12% (n=6) had apical pouch. All patients had T inversion in the anterior leads of their ECG, and only 52% (n=26) fulfilled the ECG left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) criteria. Majority of our patients presented with symptoms of chest pain (52%, n=26) and dyspnoea (42%, n=21). Conclusion The updated 2016 ASE guideline makes it easier to evaluate LV diastolic function in most patients with Apical HCM. It also helps in elucidating the aetiology of dyspnoea, based on left atrial pressure. Clinicians should have a high index of suspicion for Apical HCM when faced with deep T inversion on ECG, in addition to a thick LV apex with an aceof- spades appearance during diastole.
Gardnerella vaginalis as a Cause of Bacterial Vaginosis: Appraisal of the Evidence From in vivo Models

Koch's postulates dictate the use of experimental models to illustrate features of human disease and provide evidence for a singular organism as the cause. The underlying cause(s) of bacterial vaginosis (BV) has been debated in the literature for over half a century. In 1955, it was first reported that a bacterium now known as Gardnerella vaginalis may be the cause of a condition (BV) resulting in higher vaginal pH, thin discharge, a fishy odor, and the presence of epithelial cells covered in bacteria. Here we review contemporary and historical studies on BV with a focus on reports of experimental infections in human or animal models using Gardnerella vaginalis. We evaluate experimental evidence for the hypothesis that G. vaginalis is sufficient to trigger clinical features of BV or relevant health complications associated with the condition. Additionally, we evaluate in vivo models of co-infection employing G. vaginalis together with other bacterial species to investigate evidence for the hypothesis that G. vaginalis may encourage colonization or virulence of other potential pathogens. Together, these studies paint a complex picture in which G. vaginalis has both direct and indirect roles in the features, health complications, and co-infections associated with BV. We briefly review the current taxonomic landscape and genetic diversity pertinent to Gardnerella and note the limitations of sequence-based studies using different marker genes and priming sites. Although much more study is needed to refine our understanding of how BV develops and persists within the human host, applications of the experimental aspects of Koch's postulates have provided an important glimpse into some of the causal relationships that may govern this condition in vivo.
Symbolic trajectory evaluation

This case study presents a formalization of Symbolic Trajectory Evaluation in the logic of ACL2. A form of model-checking, STE has an efficient implementation and has been used in industrial settings to verify hardware designs. This study presents no new theoretical results in STE but formalizes the fundamental concepts so that they may be incorporated into a theorem proving environment such as ACL2. A simple example of its use is presented.
Functional consequences of convergently evolved microscopic skin features on snake locomotion.

The small structures that decorate biological surfaces can significantly affect behavior, yet the diversity of animal–environment interactions essential for survival makes ascribing functions to structures challenging. Microscopic skin textures may be particularly important for snakes and other limbless locomotors, where substrate interactions are mediated solely through body contact. While previous studies have characterized ventral surface features of some snake species, the functional consequences of these textures are not fully understood. Here, we perform a comparative study, combining atomic force microscopy measurements with mathematical modeling to generate predictions that link microscopic textures to locomotor performance. We discover an evolutionary convergence in the ventral skin structures of a few sidewinding specialist vipers that inhabit sandy deserts—an isotropic texture that is distinct from the head-to-tail-oriented, micrometer-sized spikes observed on a phylogenetically broad sampling of nonsidewinding vipers and other snakes from diverse habitats and wide geographic range. A mathematical model that relates structural directionality to frictional anisotropy reveals that isotropy enhances movement during sidewinding, whereas anisotropy improves movement during slithering via lateral undulation of the body. Our results highlight how an integrated approach can provide quantitative predictions for structure–function relationships and insights into behavioral and evolutionary adaptations in biological systems.
Intraoperative Mass Spectrometry Platform for IDH Mutation Status Prediction, Glioma Diagnosis, and Estimation of Tumor Cell Infiltration.

Background Surgical tumor resection is the primary treatment option for diffuse glioma, the most common malignant brain cancer. The intraoperative diagnosis of gliomas from tumor core samples can be improved by use of molecular diagnostics. Further, residual tumor at surgical margins is a primary cause of tumor recurrence and malignant progression. This study evaluates a desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) system for intraoperative isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation assessment, estimation of tumor cell infiltration as tumor cell percentage (TCP), and disease status. This information could be used to enhance the extent of safe resection and so potentially improve patient outcomes. Methods A mobile DESI-MS instrument was modified and used in neurosurgical operating rooms (ORs) on a cohort of 49 human subjects undergoing craniotomy with tumor resection for suspected diffuse glioma. Small tissue biopsies (ntotal = 203) from the tumor core and surgical margins were analyzed by DESI-MS in the OR and classified using univariate and multivariate statistical methods. Results Assessment of IDH mutation status using DESI-MS/MS to measure 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG) ion intensities from tumor cores yielded a sensitivity, specificity, and overall diagnostic accuracy of 89, 100, and 94%, respectively (ncore = 71). Assessment of TCP (categorized as low or high) in tumor margin and core biopsies using N-acetyl-aspartic acid (NAA) intensity provided a sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 91, 76, and 83%, respectively (ntotal = 203). TCP assessment using lipid profile deconvolution provided sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 76, 85, and 81%, respectively (ntotal = 203). Combining the experimental data and using PCA-LDA predictions of disease status, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in predicting disease status are 63%, 83%, and 74%, respectively (ntotal = 203). Conclusions The DESI-MS system allowed for identification of IDH mutation status, glioma diagnosis, and estimation of tumor cell infiltration intraoperatively in a large human glioma cohort. This methodology should be further refined for clinical diagnostic applications.
Travel Patterns of Frequent and Non-Frequent Users on I-66 High-Occupancy Toll Lanes and Implications for the Value of Time Estimation

Based on a three-month toll transaction data set that includes an anonymized unique identifier for each vehicle, this paper presents an in-depth analysis of traffic volumes and tolls on the I-66 Hi...
Asian American Perspectives on Immigration Policy

Despite the rapid growth in both documented and undocumented Asian Americans, their attitudes toward immigration policy are not well understood. Drawing on data from the 2016 National Asian American Survey, this article examines both interracial and intra-Asian differences in views toward immigration. Relative to other racial groups, Asians are as likely to support legal migration, but less likely to support undocumented migration. We document significant diversity among Asians. As labor migrants, Filipinos support a congressional increase in annual work visas. As economic migrants, Chinese and Indians support an increase in annual family visas. As refugees, Vietnamese are least supportive of pro-immigration policy. These findings contribute to research on policy support by systematically including Asian Americans in this debate and by revealing their diverse policy perspectives.
Multi-year, spatially extensive, watershed scale synoptic stream chemistry and water quality conditions for six permafrost-underlain Arctic watersheds

Abstract. Repeated sampling of spatially distributed river chemistry can be used to assess the location, scale, and stability of carbon and nutrient contributions to watershed-scale exports. Here, we provide a comprehensive set of water chemistry measurements and secondary ecosystem metrics describing the biogeochemical conditions of permafrost-affected Arctic watershed networks. These data were collected in watershed-wide repeated synoptic campaigns across six rivers across northern Alaska. Three watersheds are associated with the Arctic Long-Term Ecological Research (ARC LTER) site at Toolik Field Station (TFS), which were sampled seasonally each June and August from 2016 to 2018. Three watersheds were associated with the National Park Service (NPS) of Alaska and the US. Geological Survey (USGS), and were sampled annually from 2015 to 2019. Extensive water chemistry characterization included carbon species, dissolved nutrients, and anions and cations. The objective of the sampling designs and data acquisition was to generate a dataset to support the estimation of ecosystem metrics that describe the dominant location, scale, and overall stability of ecosystem processes in the Arctic. These metrics are: (1) subcatchment leverage, (2) variance collapse, and (3) spatial stability. Both water chemistry concentrations and secondary metrics are available at the National Park Service Integrated Resource Management Application portal ( https://doi.org/10.5066/P9SBK2DZ ) and within the Environmental Data Initiative LTER Data Portal ( https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/258a44fb9055163dd4dd4371b9dce945 ).
Self-reinforcement processes in children.

Publisher Summary In the research literature there have been various labels given to specific self-reinforcement patterns. These labels often reflect differences among the situations in which the self-reinforcement typically occurs, but gloss over the fact that in all instances the behavior pattern includes the self-generation of rewarding or punishing consequences to the individual. Caution, restraint, or reluctance in the dispensation of self-reward, especially in the face of continued failure, comes under the rubric of frustration tolerance, “high ego strength,” or even high need-achievement. Similarly, dispensation of contingent self-criticism may be seen as accurate self-appraisal or good “reality testing” or even, again, as high need-achievement, while noncontingent self-criticism or punishment may be labeled masochism or low self-concept. Across all these labels, however, there is the unifying characteristic that the behavior patterns so labeled produce either self-reinforcing or self-punishing consequences. This chapter deals with a number of specific aspects of children's positive and aversive self-reinforcement: processes governing the acquisition of patterns of self-reinforcement, socialized standards for self-reinforcement, social comparison influences in self-reinforcement, cognitive factors in self-reinforcement, and self-reinforcement as a mechanism of self-control.
Ion channel therapeutics for pain

Pain is a complex disease which can progress into a debilitating condition. The effective treatment of pain remains a challenge as current therapies often lack the desired level of efficacy or tolerability. One therapeutic avenue, the modulation of ion channel signaling by small molecules, has shown the ability to treat pain. However, of the 215 ion channels that exist in the human genome, with 85 ion channels having a strong literature link to pain, only a small number of these channels have been successfully drugged for pain. The focus of future research will be to fully explore the possibilities surrounding these unexplored ion channels. Toward this end, a greater understanding of ion channel modulation will be the greatest tool we have in developing the next generation of drugs for the treatment of pain.
THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE LABIAL MUCOUS SALIVARY GLAND IN PATIENTS WITH CYSTIC FIBROSIS.

Biopsy of the labial mucous salivary gland provides a microscopic observation of the typical acquired pathology of the mucous glands in patients with cystic fibrosis. It is potentially a powerful test in the diagnosis of the disease and may be more valuable than the duodenal aspiration test of pancreatic insufficiency in discriminating patients with cystic fibrosis from patients who have other diseases with similar symptoms.
Safety evaluation of TravTek

The Statement of National Transportation Policy issued by President Bush and Secretary Skinner last year points out that "innovation and technological advances within the transportation field will be vital to ensure that the system can meet the Nation's transportation requirements for the 21st century." TravTek, a major Intelligent Vehicle/Highway System (IVHS) advanced motorist information demonstration program in the United States, provides an example of just such innovation. The TravTek program focuses on the navigation and route-guidance needs of out-of-town visitors and utilizes a fleet of specially equipped rental cars as the test bed for the advanced technologies to be evaluated. One of the goals of the TravTek program is to evaluate the potential for, and identify needed enhancements for, increased safety of advanced route-guidance projects. This paper discusses the tools that will be used and the methodologies that will be developed to provide the safety component of the evaluation of TravTek. The evaluation will include the development and application of methodologies for addressing driver/vehicle interaction considerations, collision experience, and the relationship between congestion and collisions.
Prediction of Musical Creativity in Composition among Selected Variables for Upper Elementary Students.

The purpose of the study was (a) to examine the best predictors of compositional creativity among selected variables (i.e., formal musical experiences, informal musical experiences, musical self-esteem, musical aptitude, musical achievement, academic grades, IQ, and gender) for upper elementary students and (b) to investigate relationships between compositional creativity and the selected variables. Subjects were 67 fifthand sixth-grade students attending an inner-city public school in the U.S.A. Musical creativity was measured by a composition task, for which the individual students were asked to make up a song on an Orff xylophone within 10 minutes. Then, their compositions were evaluated by three judges according to five dimensions, using seven-point rating scales. Data for the selected variables were collected. The results showed that (a) the best predictors of compositional creativity were informal musical experiences, musical achievement, and academic grades; (b) the strongest predictor of compositional creativity was informal musical experiences; and (c) compositional creativity was significantly related to informal musical experiences, musical aptitude, musical achievement, and academic grades. An implication for teaching is that music teachers should emphasize the joy of music-making not only in school but also outside of school.
An FDTD model of scattering from meteor head plasma

We have developed a three-dimensional finite difference time domain (FDTD) model of scattering of radar waves from meteor head plasma. The model treats the meteor head plasma as a cold, collisional, and magnetized plasma, and solves Maxwell's equations and the Langevin equation simultaneously and self-consistently in and around the plasma. We use this model to investigate scattering of radar waves from a meteor head (the “head echo”) under a range of plasma densities, meteor scale sizes, and wave frequencies. In this way we relate the radar cross section (RCS) to these variable parameters. We find that computed RCS disagrees with previous analytical theory at certain meteor sizes and densities, in some cases by over an order of magnitude. We find that the calculated meteor head RCS is monotonically related to the “overdense area” of the meteor, defined as the cross-section area of the part of the meteor where the plasma frequency exceeds the wave frequency. These results provides a physical measure of the meteor size and density that can be inferred from measured RCS values from ground-based radars. Meteoroid mass can then be inferred from the meteor plasma distribution using established methods.
Complex Analysis for Reconstruction from Controlled Motion

We address the problem of control-based recovery of robot pose and the environmental lay-out. Panoramic sensors provide us with a 1D projection of characteristic features of a 2D operation map. Trajectories of these projections contain information about the position of a priori unknown landmarks in the environment. We introduce here the notion of spatiotemporal signatures of projection trajectories. These signatures are global measures, characterized by considerably higher robustness with respect to noise and outliers than the commonly applied point correspondence. By modeling the 2D motion plane as the complex plane we show that by means of complex analysis the reconstruction problem is reduced to a system of two quadratic - or even linear in some cases - equations in two variables. The algorithm is tested in simulations and real experiments.
Nature of the repair process associated with the recovery of Escherichia coli after exposure to Cd2

When different strains of Escherichia coli are exposed to Cd2+, the cells accommodate after a long lag and proliferate. The time required for this response depends on the nature of the strain and the supplements in the growth medium. Immediately after exposure to Cd2+, considerable single strand breaks in the DNA are observed but the DNA is repaired prior to the initiation of cell proliferation. The finding that accommodation occurs in DNA polymerase I-deficient mutant cells suggests that DNA polymerase I may not be required for repair of damaged DNA in Cd2+-exposed cells. The recovery of Cd2+-exposed cells in a temperature-sensitive DNA ligase mutant cells at the permissive temperature (30° C) and failure to recover at the non-permissive temperature (42° C) indicates, however, that DNA ligase is involved in the repair of the single strand breaks associated with Cd2+-induced damage.
Hilbert series for constructing Lagrangians: Expanding the phenomenologist’s toolbox

This paper presents the Hilbert series technique to a wider audience in the context of constructing group-invariant Lagrangians. This technique provides a fast way to calculate the number of operators of a specified mass dimension for a given field content and is a useful cross-check on more well-known group theoretical methods. In addition, at least when restricted to invariants without derivatives, the Hilbert series technique supplies a robust way of counting invariants in scenarios which, due to the large number of fields involved or to high-dimensional group representations, are intractable by traditional methods. We work out several practical examples.
Race Effects on Conditioned Pain Modulation in Youth.

Abstract Race and ethnicity shape the experience of pain in adults. African Americans typically exhibit greater pain intensity and evoked pain responsiveness than non-Hispanic whites. However, it remains unclear whether there are racial differences in conditioned pain modulation (CPM) and if these are present in youth. CPM refers to a reduction in perceived pain intensity for a test stimulus during application of a conditioning stimulus and may be especially relevant in determining risk for chronic pain. The present study assessed CPM to evoked thermal pain in 78 healthy youth (ages 10–17 years), 51% of whom were African American and 49% of whom were non-Hispanic white. African American youth reported lower mean conditioning pain ratings than non-Hispanic white youth, controlling for mean preconditioning pain ratings, which is consistent with stronger CPM. Multilevel models demonstrated stronger CPM effects in African American than non-Hispanic white youth, as evident in more rapid within-person decreases in pain ratings during the conditioning phase. These findings suggest that diminished CPM likely does not account for the enhanced responsiveness to evoked thermal pain observed in African American youth. These results may have implications for understanding racial differences in chronic pain experienced in adulthood. Perspective This study evaluated conditioned pain modulation to evoked thermal pain in African American and non-Hispanic white youth. Findings could have implications for the development of personalized chronic pain treatment strategies that are informed by race and ethnicity.
Designing a mutating plan vector for a learning robot

Mutating plan vector design for a learning robot is discussed with emphasis on the need for a Skolemized knowledge base. In the proposed model, a plan is defined as a vector between the start frame and the goal frame. This vector is composed of partially ordered bases consisting of task-level and robot level parameters. When the robot fails to work according to a given plan, mutations of some of the bases are said to have taken place. For further mutations in a correct direction, the robot needs knowledge base support. The knowledge base is Skolemized and a unification mechanism operates. >
Cyclic GMP dependent protein kinase (PKG) as a mediator of EGFR-induced apoptosis in breast cancer

Background The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) is a transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase with critical implications in cell proliferation, migration, wound healing and the regulation of apoptosis. However, the EGFR has been shown to be hyper-expressed in a number of human malignancies. The MDA-MB-468 metastatic breast cell line is one example of this. This particular cell line hyper-expresses the EGFR and undergoes EGFR mediated apoptosis in response to EGF ligand. Previous studies within our laboratory have shown that when the EGFR is activated and retained at the cell membrane, MDA-MB-468 cells undergo cell growth. Conversely, once the activated EGFR is internalized within endosomes, the cells undergo apoptosis [1]. This contrasting response at subcellular locations is defined as spatial regulation. The goal of this project is to identify the kinases responsible for the induction of apoptosis from within the endosomes. Research has shown that cGMP dependent protein kinase (PKG) activation within this cell line induces apoptosis in a dose dependent manner [2]. We hypothesize that PKG plays an intermediate role in the EGFR induction of apoptosis.
Two Cell Division Cycle Mutants of SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE Are Defective in Transmission of Mitochondria to Zygotes

Mutations in CDC genes of S. cerevisiae disrupt the cell cycle at specific stages. The experiments reported here demonstrate that two CDC genes, CDC5 and CDC27, are necessary for mitochondrial segregation as well as for nuclear division. The defect in the transmission of mitochondria was revealed by the examination of uninucleate and binucleate progeny of transient heterokaryons generated by using the kar1-1 mutation that disrupts nuclear fusion. One of the parents lacked mitochondrial DNA (rho(0)) whereas the other parent had functional mitochondria (rho(+)). When the parents of the heterokaryon were both wild-type (CDC), nearly all progeny received mitochondria at 21 degrees and at 34 degrees . Thirty-four of the 36 cdc mutations tested had no defect in transmission of mitochondria to zygotic progeny in crosses in which one parent was a cdc mutant and the other parent was not (CDC). However, the cdc5 and cdc27 mutations prevented the transmission of mitochondria to cdc progeny at 34 degrees but not at 21 degrees ; CDC progeny received mitochondria at either temperature. This defect was observed in crosses of cdc5 or cdc27 by wild-type cells regardless of which parent donated mitochondria to the zygote. The defect in mitochondrial transmission cosegregated in meiotic tetrads with the defect in mitosis demonstrating that both are likely to be caused by the same temperature-sensitive mutation. These results indicate that the CDC5 and CDC27 gene products are essential in two motility-related processes: mitochondrial movement from the zygote to the progeny and in mitosis.-Furthermore, the results suggest that the function performed by the CDC5 and CDC27 gene products for mitochondrial transmission differ in some fundamental way from the function performed for mitosis. The function necessary for mitosis can be supplied to the cdc5 (or cdc27) nucleus by the CDC5 (or CDC27) nucleus in the same heterokaryon but the function necessary for mitochondrial transmission cannot. Perhaps the function needed for mitochondrial transmission must be performed in the cell cycle preceding the actual segregation of mitochondria whereas the function needed for nuclear segregation can be performed at the time that mitosis occurs.
The search accuracy of tree-structured VQ

Summary form only given. It is well-known that tree-structured vector quantization may sacrifice performance for reduced computation. The performance loss can be attributed to two separate sources, the design approximation and the search inaccuracy. To measure the search performance, we define the search accuracy as the percentage of input vectors that are quantized with minimum distortion. Our studies show that low search accuracy is the main cause of performance loss for some of the best current tree-structured vector quantizers. Although the design approximation and search performance can be analyzed separately, we observe that the result of design may actually affect the search accuracy. Most of the current design techniques seek to minimize the distortion in the design without any consideration of their effect on the search. The tree search accuracy as a result of these designs could be as low as 50 percent. In order to improve the overall performance, the tree design should not be optimized without consideration of tree search accuracy. The difficulty is that it is not possible to measure the search accuracy at the design stage. We develop a design algorithm that incorporates the search accuracy and produce a tree-structured that improves the search accuracy significantly. Experimental results in image compression show that the strategy works surprisingly well in improving the tree search accuracy from a low of 50% to over 80 and 90%.
Stretch, wrap, and relax to smartness

For thousands of years, humankind has assembled polymeric fibers into textiles for protection against the environment and as an expression of cultural and social status ( 1 ). What began with fibers collected from nature (e.g., flax) is now made from a wide range of high-performance polymers that possess useful mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties. Despite these advances, electrically conducting fibers for the most part have remained elusive, with the exception of fibers based on inherently conducting polymers; to date, the electrical properties of conducting fibers deteriorate when repeatedly stretched and released. In a remarkable development, described on page 400 of this issue, Liu et al. ( 2 ) have made superelastic conducting fibers based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) that can be stretched 1000% with almost no change in electrical conductivity, even after thousands of strain cycles.
Lymphangioma-like Kaposi sarcoma of the oral mucosa

With the epidemic of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, the clinical and histopathological features of Kaposi sarcoma (KS) became routine for most practicing surgical pathologists. The histological spectrum of KS broadened significantly over time and today a wide variety of rare histological variants are reported, but not widely recognized. Lymphangioma-like KS (LLKS) is a rare histological variant of KS occurring in skin, with banal histological features that can lead to misdiagnosis and inappropriate therapy. We report a series of intra-oral cases of LLKS and review the literature regarding this lesion.
Design of a Grasp Assistive Glove for ADL-focused, Robotic Assisted Therapy after Stroke

Reaching to grasp is an essential process in our everyday lives. Individual who suffer a stroke experience major deficits in this ability leading to compromised activities of daily living (ADL), employment, and social interaction. Robotic aided therapy is at the forefront of stroke rehabilitation, however not many systems support functional goal oriented therapy using real world objects. We are interested in designing a grasp assistive component for our ADL-focused robotic therapy environment. This paper reports on the glove development and a static validation study to determine the accuracy and repeatability of the glove in the measurement of joint angles of the thumb and index fingers and grasp aperture, which is the distance between the fingers. Our results showed no significant differences between the glove and a hand-held goniometer for the measured joint angles and the derived grasp aperture. The results suggest that the glove is repeatable and has the potential to measure in vivo grasp aperture during a functional tasks. Our next steps are to complete a dynamic validation study and integrate the glove with our robotic environment.