cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Detection of Radio Frequency Interference in Microwave Radiometers Operating in Shared Spectrum

Microwave radiometers measure weak thermal emission from the Earth, which is broadband in nature. Radio frequency interference (RFI) originates from active transmitters and is typically narrow band, directional, and continuous or intermittent. The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Microwave Imager (GMI) has seen RFI caused by ocean reflections from direct broadcast and communication satellites in the shared 18.7-GHz allocated band. This paper focuses on the use of a complex signal kurtosis algorithm to detect direct broadcast satellite (DBS) signals at 18.7 GHz. An experiment was conducted in August 2017 at the Harvest oil platform, located about 10 km off the coast of central California. Data were collected for direct and ocean reflected DBS transmissions in the K- and Ku-bands from a commercial geostationary satellite. Results are presented for the complex kurtosis performance for a five-channel quadrature phase-shift keying (QPSK) signal versus the seven-channel case. As the spectrum becomes more occupied, detector performance decreases. Filtering of RFI in the fully occupied spectrum is very difficult, and detection using the complex kurtosis detector is only possible for very large interference-to-noise ratio (INR) values at −5 dB and higher. This corresponds to over 100 K in a real system such as GMI; therefore, other detection approaches might be more appropriate.
Folded chaotic whispering-gallery modes in nonconvex, waveguide-coupled planar optical microresonators

Chaotic whispering-gallery modes have significance both for optical applications and for our understanding of the interplay between wave phenomena and the classical ray limit in the presence of chaotic dynamics and openness. In strongly nonconvex geometries, a theorem by Mather rules out the existence of invariant curves in phase space corresponding to rays circulating in whispering-gallery patterns, so that no corresponding modes of this type are expected. Here, we discuss numerical computations of the electromagnetic fields in planar dielectric cavities that are strongly nonconvex because they are coupled to waveguides. We find a family of special states which retains many features of the chaotic whispering-gallery modes known from convex shapes: An intensity pattern corresponding to near-grazing incidence along extended parts of the boundary, and comparatively high-cavity $Q$ factors. The modes are folded into a figure-eight pattern, so overlap with the boundary is reduced in the region of self-intersection. The modes combine the phenomenology of chaotic whispering-gallery modes with an important technological advantage: The ability to directly attach waveguides without spoiling the $Q$ factor of the folded mode. Using both a boundary-integral method and the finite-difference time-domain technique, we explore the dependence of the phenomenon on wavelength in relation to cavity size, refractive-index contrast to the surrounding medium, and the degree of shape deformation. A feature that distinguishes folded from regular whispering-gallery modes is that a given shape will support high-$Q$ folded chaotic whispering-gallery modes only in certain wavelength windows.
Remarks on e + e − annihilation into hadrons in quantum field theory

We show that the absorptive effect of particle production on ${e}^{+}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ annihilation reactions is to reduce the cross sections and give a constant value to $R=\frac{\ensuremath{\sigma}({e}^{+}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\mathrm{hadrons})}{\ensuremath{\sigma}({e}^{+}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{\ensuremath{-}})}$. In the approximation of summing leading terms, this effect simply gives a factor ${s}^{\ensuremath{-}a}$ to all cross sections.
Impact of Smoking Cessation Interventions Initiated During Hospitalization Among HIV-Infected Smokers.

Introduction Smoking is a key determinant of mortality among people living with HIV (PLWH). Methods To better understand the effects of smoking cessation interventions in PLWH, we conducted a pooled analysis of four randomized controlled trials of hospital-initiated smoking interventions conducted through the Consortium of Hospitals Advancing Research on Tobacco (CHART). In each study, cigarette smokers were randomly assigned to usual care or a smoking cessation intervention. The primary outcome was self-reported past 30-day tobacco abstinence at 6-month follow-up. Abstinence rates were compared between PLWH and participants without HIV and by treatment arm, using both complete-case and intention-to-treat analyses. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the effect of HIV status on 6-month tobacco abstinence and to determine predictors of smoking cessation within PLWH. Results Among 5550 hospitalized smokers, there were 202 (3.6%) PLWH. PLWH smoked fewer cigarettes per day and were less likely to be planning to quit than smokers without HIV. At 6 months, cessation rates did not differ between intervention and control groups among PLWH (28.9% vs. 30.5%) or smokers without HIV (36.1% vs. 34.1%). In multivariable regression analysis, HIV status was not significantly associated with smoking cessation at 6 months. Among PLWH, confidence in quitting was the only clinical factor independently associated with smoking cessation (OR 2.0, 95% CI = 1.4 to 2.8, p Conclusions HIV status did not alter likelihood of quitting smoking after hospital discharge, whether or not the smoker was offered a tobacco cessation intervention, but power was limited to identify potentially important differences. Implications PLWH had similar quit rates to participants without HIV following a hospital-initiated smoking cessation intervention. The findings suggest that factors specific to HIV infection may not influence response to smoking cessation interventions and that all PLWH would benefit from efforts to assist in quitting smoking. Trial registration (1) Using "warm handoffs" to link hospitalized smokers with tobacco treatment after discharge: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial: NCT01305928. (2) Web-based smoking cessation intervention that transitions from inpatient to outpatient: NCT01277250. (3) Effectiveness of smoking-cessation interventions for urban hospital patients: NCT01363245. (4) Effectiveness of Post-Discharge Strategies for Hospitalized Smokers (HelpingHAND2): NCT01714323.
Laboratory-based Intermountain Validated Exacerbation (LIVE) Score stability in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background The Laboratory-based Intermountain Validated Exacerbation (LIVE) Score is associated with mortality and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation risk across multiple health systems. However, whether the LIVE Score and its associated risk is a stable patient characteristic is unknown. Methods We validated the LIVE Score in a fourth health system. Then we determined the LIVE Score stability in a retrospective cohort of 98 766 patients with COPD in four health systems where it was previously validated. We assessed whether LIVE Scores changed or remained the same over time. Stability was defined as a majority of surviving patients having the same LIVE Score 4 years later. Results The LIVE Score separated patients into three LIVE Score risk groups of low, medium, and high mortality and LIVE Score stability. Mortality ranged from 6.2% for low-risk LIVE to 45.8% for high-risk LIVE (p Conclusion The LIVE Score identifies three major clinically actionable cohorts: a stable low-risk LIVE group, an unstable high-risk LIVE group with high mortality rates, and a medium-risk LIVE group. These observations further our understanding of how existing data used to calculate the LIVE Score may target interventions across risk cohorts of patients with COPD in a health system.
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy: An insight into the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and therapeutics

Abstract Diabetes is a major global health concern, affecting more than 9% of the population worldwide, and it represents around 12% of global health expenditure. Neuropathy is the most common complication of diabetes, affecting about 20% and 50% of people suffering from type 1 and type 2 diabetes, respectively. This number is expected to continuously increase due to the rise in the incidence of diabetes and the lack of proper treatment as well as prevention. This alarming situation has attracted the attention of researchers globally to the need for a better understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease. Therefore, this chapter discusses the disease, the animal models used, and different assays to diagnose the disease in animals. It also reviews the clinical trials for diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and the various clinical tests for the diagnosis of DPN. The effect of DPN on wound healing and the different ways to induce neuroregeneration in diabetic settings are discussed in the chapter. Finally, the future prospects for research in the field of DPN are presented.
Probability Distributions on Partially Ordered Sets and Network Interdiction Games

This article poses the following problem: Does there exist a probability distribution over subsets of a finite partially ordered set (poset), such that a set of constraints involving marginal probabilities of the poset's elements and maximal chains is satisfied? We present a combinatorial algorithm to positively resolve this question. The algorithm can be implemented in polynomial time in the special case where maximal chain probabilities are affine functions of their elements. This existence problem is relevant for the equilibrium characterization of a generic strategic interdiction game on a capacitated flow network. The game involves a routing entity that sends its flow through the network while facing path transportation costs, and an interdictor who simultaneously interdicts one or more edges while facing edge interdiction costs. Using our existence result on posets and strict complementary slackness in linear programming, we show that the Nash equilibria of this game can be fully described using primal and dual solutions of a minimum-cost circulation problem. Our analysis provides a new characterization of the critical components in the interdiction game. It also leads to a polynomial-time approach for equilibrium computation.
Post-Thoracotomy Pain: Current Strategies for Prevention and Treatment

Treating acute pain after thoracotomy surgery and preventing the development of chronic post-thoracotomy pain syndrome (PTPS) remain significant challenges in this surgical population. While appropriately treated acute thoracotomy pain often resolves, a significant number of patients develop PTPS, with up to 65% of patients experiencing some pain and 10% suffering life-altering, debilitating pain. Currently, there is very little known about specific molecular targets or novel therapeutic combinations that effectively prevent PTPS. Identifying modifiable clinical risk factors (procedure, physical and mental health, preoperative pain in the surgical area and another regions) seems to the most pragmatic approach for prevention for now. Effective acute pain management adopting a multimodal approach can result in a decreased incidence of PTPS. Interventional techniques such as paraverterbral blocks, intercostal blocks, and erector spinae blocks show some promise as well. Future research should be focused on minimally invasive surgeries and also the effect of ERAS protocols, including early mobilization, nutrition, and early removal of drains, on the development of PTPS.
Managing Asthma and Obesity Related Symptoms (MATADORS): An mHealth Intervention to Facilitate Symptom Self-Management among Youth

Youth with multi-morbidity (one or more chronic diseases) are at increased risk of further morbidity and early mortality as they enter their adult years. Recent increases in both asthma and obesity among youth have led to high health care utilization, increased health related complications, and expanded risks of subsequent cardiovascular disease burden. Common symptoms seen with asthma and obesity include fatigue, pain, depression, and anxiety. These symptoms can result in decreased physical activity, social isolation, and poor quality of life, which also may contribute to increased morbidity and mortality over time. Youth ages 10–17 are in a transitionary period where their overall health and disease management shifts from one of parental oversight to one where the youth gradually experience increased autonomy over their health and care management. Managing Asthma and Obesity Related Symptoms (MATADORS), is a mHealth technology-enhanced nurse-guided intervention that incorporates a novel mobile health application and motivational enhancement principles within a behavioral activation framework. Providing high-risk youth with strategies to enhance symptom self-management may result in decreased symptom prevalence, improved quality of life, and long-term reduction of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality as they move into adulthood. Moreover, developing low-cost, scalable tools with end-user input may facilitate promote early intervention and improved access to care, and reduce overall disease burden and healthcare costs.
Movement Disorders in Chronic Kidney Disease - A Descriptive Review.

Abstract Objectives The objective of this study is to describe the mechanism of damage to subcortical structures in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and to describe the range of movement disorders associated with CKD. Materials and Methods We have reviewed the Medline literature up to January of 2020 using key words movement disorders and chronic kidney disease. The reviewed articles were studied for mechanisms of subcortical damage in CKD as well as type of the reported movements, their frequency and updated treatment. Results The search revealed 183 articles most of them dealing with restless legs syndrome. The damage to basal ganglia in CKD resulted from several mechanisms including accumulation of nitro tyrosine caused by reactive oxygen species and action of uremic toxins leading to endothelial damage and dysfunction of blood-brain barrier. Involuntary movements in CKD include restless legs syndrome (RLS), myoclonus, asterixis, dystonia, chorea, tremor, and Parkinsonism. Conclusions Chronic kidney disease can cause several abnormal involuntary movements via damaging basal ganglia and subcortical structures. The most common movement disorders in CKD are RLS, myoclonus and asterixis. Restless legs syndrome and myoclonus when severe, need and respond to treatment. Movement disorders in CKD improve with improvement of kidney function.
Rethinking Suicide Risk With a New Generation of Suicide Theories.

Background Suicide is a global concern to nurses and other health-care providers. However, deaths by suicide are only part of the spectrum of suicide, as suicidal thinking and behaviors may precede a suicide attempt. Theoretical models are used infrequently in research to explain how the individual progresses from suicidal ideation to a suicide attempt. Thus, there is a critical need to advance the study of suicide with useful theoretical models to describe and explain processes whereby suicidal thoughts transition to attempts and to suicide. Purpose This article provides a conceptual discussion and scoping review comparing historical and contemporary ideation-to-action theories of suicide. Method Systematic reviews and meta-analyses from three databases (CINAHL, JSTOR, and PsychINFO) were reviewed to find literature describing suicide theories. Results Historically, theory applications have limited capacity to differentiate between those individuals with suicidal ideations and those who attempt suicide. Newer theories, grounded in the ideation-to-action framework, propose distinct processes explaining what moves an individual from suicidal ideations toward suicidal behaviors. Implications for practice The ideation-to-action theories can guide health-care providers' assessment of at-risk individuals beyond merely asking about suicidal thinking. Conclusion The new generation of suicide theories suggest that suicidal ideations are only one component of risk. The common factor in ideation-to-action theories that distinguishes ideators from attempters is the acquired capability for suicide.
Kinetic energy discrimination in collision/reaction cell ICP-MS: Theoretical review of principles and limitations

Abstract Kinetic energy discrimination (KED) is one of the means to control cell-formed interferences in collision/reaction cell ICP-MS, and also a technique to reduce polyatomic ion interferences derived from the plasma or vacuum interface in collision cell ICP-MS. The operation of KED is accurately described to explain how spectral interferences from polyatomic ions are reduced by this technique. The cell is operated under non-thermal conditions to implement KED, where the hard sphere collision model is aptly employed to portray the transmission of ions colliding with the cell gas that they don't chemically react with. It is theoretically explained that the analyte atomic ions surmount the energy barrier placed downstream of the cell and the interfering polyatomic ions do not due to their lower kinetic energy than the atomic ions, resulting in polyatomic interference reduction. The intrinsic limitations of this technique are shown to lie in the statistical nature of collision processes, which causes the broadening of ion kinetic energy distribution that hinders efficient KED. The reaction cell operation with KED, where plasma-derived interferences are reduced by the reactive cell gas while cell-formed interferences are suppressed by the energy barrier, is also described in a quantitative manner. This review paper provides an in-depth understanding of KED in cell-based ICP-MS for analysts to make better use of it.
Confinement-guided photophysics in MOFs, COFs, and cages

In this review, the dependence of the photophysical response of chromophores in the confined environments associated with crystalline scaffolds, such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent-organic frameworks (COFs), and molecular cages, has been carefully evaluated. Tunability of the framework aperture, cavity microenvironment, and scaffold topology significantly affects emission profiles, quantum yields, or fluorescence lifetimes of confined chromophores. In addition to the role of the host and its effect on the guest, the methods for integration of a chromophore (e.g., as a framework backbone, capping linker, ligand side group, or guest) are discussed. The overall potential of chromophore-integrated frameworks for a wide-range of applications, including artificial biomimetic systems, white-light emitting diodes, photoresponsive devices, and fluorescent sensors with unparalleled spatial resolution are highlighted throughout the review.
Pre-implantation exogenous progesterone and pregnancy in sheep: I. polyamines, nutrient transport, and progestamedins

Administration of exogenous progesterone (P4) to ewes during the pre-implantation period advances conceptus development and implantation. This study determined effects of exogenous P4 on transport of select nutrients and pathways that enhance conceptus development. Pregnant ewes (n = 38) were treated with either 25 mg P4 in 1 mL corn oil (P4, n = 18) or 1 mL corn oil alone (CO, n = 20) from day 1.5 through day 8 of pregnancy and hysterectomized on either day 9 or day 12 of pregnancy. Endometrial expression of genes encoding enzymes for synthesis of polyamines, transporters of glucose, arginine, and glycine, as well as progestamedins was determined by RT-qPCR. On day 12 of pregnancy, conceptuses from P4-treated ewes had elongated while those from CO-treated ewes were spherical. The mRNA expression of AZIN2, an arginine decarboxylase, was lower in endometria of P4-treated than CO-treated ewes on day 9 of pregnancy. Expression of FGF10, a progestamedin, was greater in endometria of CO and P4-treated ewes on day 12 of gestation in addition to P4-treated ewes necropsied on day 9 of gestation. Treatment with P4 down-regulated endometrial expression of amino acid transporter SLC1A4 on day 12 of pregnancy. Results indicated that administration of exogenous P4 during the pre-implantation period advanced the expression of FGF10, which may accelerate proliferation of trophectoderm cells, but also was correlated with decreased expression of glycine and serine transporters and polyamine synthesis enzyme AZIN2. Further research with increased sample sizes may determine how differential expression affects endometrial functions and potentially embryonic loss.
Government-Cheerleading Bias in Money and Banking Textbooks

This paper investigates the six textbooks most commonly adopted in U.S. undergraduate money and banking courses for how they describe the influences that commercial banks and central banks have on macroeconomic stability. We examine seven topics: (1) the inherent stability of banks, bank runs, and panics; (2) The historical origins of central banks created before the Fed; (3) the fragility of U.S. banks during the National Banking Era and the origins of the Federal Reserve System; (4) U.S. bank panics during the Great Depression; (5) deposit insurance; (6) monetary policy and the Great Recession of 2008–2009 ; and (7) the performance of the U.S. economy before and after the Federal Reserve Act. For each of these topics we review the academic literature and compare this literature to the information presented in college textbooks. In each case we find the textbook presentations are incomplete in a way that systematically favors one view in the literature over another, making a government-cheerleading bias.tract Body]
Comparison of Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump Use and Survival before and after the 2018 UNOS Allocation Policy Change

Purpose The 2018 change in the UNOS allocation policy was implemented to decrease mortality rates for recipients on the heart transplant (HT) waiting list by prioritizing sicker patients. With this change, patients bridged with intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) are designated as Status 2, compared to the prior allocation in which patients bridged with IABP received no status increase. We sought to examine recipient characteristics and transplant outcomes for patients bridged with IABP before and after the UNOS policy implementation. Methods We identified all adult patients (n=851) bridged to HT with IABP both 1 year before (PRE, n=169) and 1 year after (POST n=682) the UNOS allocation policy change in October, 2018 in the UNOS registry. Baseline characteristics were compared using the Mann Whitney U test and Chi square test as appropriate. Six-month survival was compared using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Univariate and Multivariate Cox Proportional Hazards (PH) regression analysis adjusted for policy change, recipient age, donor age, bilirubin, creatinine, dialysis use, and ischemic time. Results There was no difference in survival between the PRE and POST groups at 30 days (97% [95, 100] vs. 96% [95, 98] and 6 months 93 [90, 97] vs. 93 [91, 95] post-transplant. Baseline donor characteristics were similar between both groups, with no significant difference in pre-transplant hemodynamic indices observed. POST recipients were less likely to receive gender mismatched donor hearts (9.1% vs 23.7%, p Conclusion More patients were bridged to transplant with IABP after UNOS allocation policy changes (n=682) than before (n=169), with no significant change in survival. Baseline recipient characteristics including pre-transplant hemodynamic measurements were similar between both cohorts. The increased post-policy use of IABP in bridging to transplant may reflect providers' consideration of UNOS policy changes when selecting for mechanical circulatory support devices. Regardless, these data show that IABP is an effective strategy for bridging to transplant without increased post-transplant risk.
“An ocean of knowledge:” Vai’s transnational feminist alliances

Using transnational feminist media theories, theories of Fourth Cinema, and Pacific Islander epistemology, this paper argues that the film Vai (2019) builds transnational feminist alliances among t...
Abstract P194: Psychosocial Stressors And Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors In Young African American Women: A Systematic Review

Background: Emerging evidence suggests that psychosocial factors are related to morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular disease (CVD). African American women experience a unique multitude of ...
Making a match: trends in the application, interview, and ranking process for the neurological surgery residency programs.

OBJECTIVE Neurosurgery is a highly competitive residency field with a match rate lower than that of other specialties. The aim of this study was to analyze trends associated with the residency match process from the applicants' and program directors' perspectives. METHODS Between 2010 and 2020, the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) Applicant and Program Director Surveys, the NRMP Charting Outcomes reports, and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Data Resource Books were analyzed to identify the number of applicants interviewed and ranked in US programs, the applicants' ranking preferences, the program directors' preferential factors in offering interviews, and rank list order. Applicants were divided between US senior medical students and independent applicants. Each cohort was dichotomized for matched and unmatched applicants. RESULTS Over the study period, 2935 applicants applied to neurosurgery residency, including 2135 US senior medical students and 800 independent applicants, with an overall match rate of 65%. Overall, matched applicants had a significantly higher number of publications (p < 0.05). Among US senior medical student applicants, the application-to-interview ratio more than doubled over the study period, yet the number of interview invitations received, interviews accepted, and programs ranked remained unchanged. In the US senior medical student cohort, the number of submitted applications, interview invitations, accepted interviews, and programs ranked did not significantly differ between matched and unmatched applicants. In both cohorts, applicants shifted ranking factors from a more academic focus in early years to more well-being in later years. Letters of recommendation and board scores were key factors for program directors while screening applicants for interviews and ranking. CONCLUSIONS Neurosurgery residency continues to be a highly competitive field in medicine, with match rates of 65%. Recently, applicants have placed greater importance on ranking programs that value residents' well-being, as opposed to strictly academic factors. A data-driven understanding of factors important to applicants and program directors during the match process has the potential to improve resident candidate recruitment and overall resident-program fit, thereby improving well-being during residency, reducing the attrition rate, and overall enhancing the diversity of the neurosurgery resident workforce.
On the Certified Robustness for Ensemble Models and Beyond

Recent studies show that deep neural networks (DNN) are vulnerable to adversarial examples, which aim to mislead DNNs to make arbitrarily incorrect predictions. To defend against such attacks, both empirical and theoretical defense approaches have been proposed for a single ML model. In this work, we aim to explore and characterize the robustness conditions for ensemble ML models. We prove that the diversified gradient and large confidence margin are sufficient and necessary conditions for certifiably robust ensemble models under the model-smoothness assumption. We also show that an ensemble model can achieve higher certified robustness than a single base model based on these conditions. To our best knowledge, this is the first work providing tight conditions for the ensemble robustness. Inspired by our analysis, we propose the lightweight Diversity Regularized Training (DRT) for ensemble models. We derive the certified robustness of DRT based ensembles such as standard Weighted Ensemble and Max-Margin Ensemble following the sufficient and necessary conditions. Besides, to efficiently calculate the model-smoothness, we leverage adapted randomized model smoothing to obtain the certified robustness for different ensembles in practice. We show that the certified robustness of ensembles, on the other hand, verifies the necessity of DRT. To compare different ensembles, we prove that when the adversarial transferability among base models is high, Max-Margin Ensemble can achieve higher certified robustness than Weighted Ensemble; vice versa. Extensive experiments show that ensemble models trained with DRT can achieve the state-of-the-art certified robustness under various settings. Our work will shed light on future analysis for robust ensemble models.
Developing leadership: exploring childhoods of women university presidents

Purpose – Researchers argue that much of who we are is developed during childhood. Yet, little exploratory research has been conducted regarding the childhood experiences, activities, personalities, and perceptions of successful leaders. This paper aims to address this issue.Design/methodology/approach – In‐depth, qualitative interviews were conducted with ten women university presidents to investigate perceptions and experiences related to the lifetime development of leadership skills, abilities, and competencies. The lived experiences of these women were investigated using the phenomenological research methodology so that “voices” could be heard and unique insights examined. This paper explores a portion of this research focused on childhood personalities, school and other activities, influential individuals, and significant events and challenges.Findings – Results support the growth‐task model of human development. As children, the presidents were generally obedient, reflective, observant, smart, self‐...
Xenotransplantation as a Vector for Infection

This chapter reviews the issue of xenotransplantation as a vector for infection to humans and considers potential mechanisms for disease, screening systems, and evaluations that need to be carried out to identify these risks as the field moves forward. Knowledge of donor-associated infections after allotransplantation and of zoonotic infections is used to help estimate the potential risk of xenotransplantation. Bacterial or fungal infections in the airway of the donor can lead to disease after lung or heart-lung transplantation, and histoplasmosis has been transmitted with cadaveric kidneys. These types of acute donor-associated infections can theoretically be less of a risk after xenotransplantation as source animals can be maintained under optimal healthy conditions and surgery would be performed on an elective schedule rather than under the current time pressures of allotransplantation. In an attempt to minimize the risk of xenozoonoses and to learn how to evaluate animal-associated infections after xenotransplantation, more extensive protocols began to be developed in the early and mid-1990s that continue to be expanded upon today. Some microbes, particularly viruses, are considered to be "species specific." If this is the case, it is possible that xenotransplantation carries less risk of donor-transmitted infections than does allotransplantation. Acute viremia can lead to donor-associated infections after allotransplantation and would likewise be expected to have the same risk after xenotransplantation. Xenotransplantation may have positive implications for decreasing the risk of some infections after transplantation.
Optimal Control of a Semi-Active, Frictionally Damped Joint

Dry or Coulombic friction is a dominant source of damping in many jointed structures. This paper investigates the enhancement of friction damping by controlling the normal loads acting at the frictional interfaces. The resulting frictional joint is termed "semi-active" since the control input is used only to vary the passive damping properties of the interface. The semi-active frictional joint is designed using a system consisting of two flexible beams are connected using a semi-active frictional pin joint. Two different control schemes are developed. The first is a sub-optimal state feedback controller which is obtained by implementing the linear optimal state feedback gains and restricting the control input to be passive. The second control scheme determines the optimal normal force to the frictional interface using a numerical optimization routine. Both schemes are compared to a simple collocated output feedback control design. The performance of the optimal and sub-optimal control designs is seen to be much better than that of the collocated control. It is also found that the performance of the sub-optimal control is very close to that of the optimal control.
Development and characterization of a vector set with regulated promoters for systematic metabolic engineering in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

A set of vectors was constructed that enable combined and systematic testing of metabolic pathway genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The vectors are available as CEN/ARS and 2 µ-based plasmids with a choice of three inducible promoters, P(GAL1) , P(CUP1) and P(ADH2) . These features offer control over the initiation and level of gene expression. In addition, the vectors can be used as templates to generate PCR fragments for targeted chromosomal integration of gene expression cassettes. Selection markers are flanked by loxP elements to allow efficient CreA-mediated marker removal and recycling after genomic integration. For each promoter, expression of a bacterial lacZ reporter gene was characterized from plasmid-based and integrated chromosomal cassettes, and compared to that of the glycolytic P(PGK1) promoter. Plasmid stabilities were also determined. The promoters showed distinct activity profiles useful for modulating expression of metabolic pathway genes. This series of plasmids with inducible promoters extends our previous vector set carrying the constitutive promoters P(PGK1) , P(TEF1) and P(HXT7-391) .
Vitamin D/Ca2+-dependent calpain and caspases: novel molecular targets for obesity-related breast cancer drug discovery (261.5)

Removal of breast cancer cells (BCC) via apoptosis results in a decrease in tumor size. Induction of apoptosis in adipocytes decreases adiposity due to long-term reduction in adipose tissue mass. The hormone 1,25(OH)2-vitamin D3 (1,25D) triggers apoptosis in both BCC and mature adipocytes via apoptotic Ca2+ signal ‒ a sustained increase in intracellular Ca2+. This signal acts as an initiator of apoptosis that directly recruits Ca2+-dependent apoptotic effectors, calpain and caspase-12, in BCC and adipocytes. Normal mammary epithelial cells are resistant to Ca2+-mediated apoptosis because Ca2+ regulatory mechanisms in these cells do not support the apoptosis-inducing Ca2+ signal. Remarkably, high vitamin D and Ca intakes activate Ca2+-mediated apoptotic pathway in adipose tissue and decrease body and fat weight gain in obese mice. Induction of apoptosis with 1,25D in adipocytes, particularly in the tumor-surrounding adipose tissue involved in tumor progression, contributes to anticancer effects of the horm...
A hedonic test of the effects of the Alternative Motor Fuels Act

Under the Alternative Motor Fuels Act (AMFA), vehicles that run on ethanol, methanol, or natural gas get extra credits in the calculation of Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE). This paper uses hedonic techniques to examine the effect of production of alternative-fuel vehicles (AFVs) on the implicit price of fuel economy. This study finds that, after AFVs came to market, the marginal value of fuel economy from companies producing them decreased. This finding suggests that manufacturers who produced AFVs were willing to offer a lower price for fuel economy, because automakers had an additional way to achieve fuel economy standards beyond improving the fuel efficiency of conventional cars. These findings bolster the argument that a major role of the AMFA credit for AFVs is to allow automakers to increase their production of fuel-inefficient vehicles.
Evaluating the Accuracy of Deep Water Gulf of Mexico Depth Imaging - The Tempest Results

Performing depth imaging is an essential part of deep water Gulf of Mexico exploration. Over the years, depth imaging technology has proven to provide the most reliable seismic images below salt. These depth images are used for structural interpretation and prospect generation. But how accurate are these images? Since model building for depth imaging is partially an interpretative process, and the imaging involves resolving seismic propagation through complicated geologic features, it is easy for the resulting prestack depth migrated images to include imaging and positioning errors.
Methylphenidate enhances acquisition and retention of spatial memory

a b s t r a c t Psychostimulants containing methylphenidate (MPH) are increasingly being used both on and off-label to enhance learning and memory. Still, almost no studies have investigated MPH's ability to specifically improve spatial or long-term memory. Here we examined the effect of training with 1 or 10 mg/kg MPH on hidden platform learning in the Morris water maze. 10 mg/kg MPH improved memory acquisition and retention, while 1 mg/kg MPH improved memory retention. Taken together with prior evidence that low, clinically relevant, doses of MPH (0.01-1 mg/kg MPH) enhance fear memory we conclude that MPH broadly enhances memory.
Mouse Cristin/R-spondin Family Proteins Are Novel Ligands for the Frizzled 8 and LRP6 Receptors and Activate beta-Catenin-dependent Gene Expression

Wnt signaling plays critical biological roles during normal embryonic development and homeostasis in adults. In the canonical pathway, binding of Wnt ligands to the Frizzled (Fzd) receptor and the low density lipoprotein-related receptor (LRP) 5 or LRP6 coreceptor initiates downstream signaling events leading to gene activation by beta-catenin and the T-cell factor (TCF)-lymphoid enhancer factor (LEF) family transcription factor complex. In this study, we provide several lines of evidence that the mouse Cristin/R-spondin family proteins function as Fzd8 and LRP6 receptor ligands and induce the canonical Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway, leading to TCF-dependent gene activation. First, conditioned medium containing Cristin/R-spondin proteins effectively induced reporter activity in a TCF-binding site-dependent manner. Second, stimulation of cells with Cristin/R-spondin was accompanied by stabilization of endogenous beta-catenin proteins and induction of canonical Wnt target genes. Third, Cristin/R-spondin proteins physically interacted with the extracellular domains of the LRP6 and Fzd8 receptors in vivo and in vitro. Interestingly, unlike canonical Wnt ligands, Cristin/R-spondin failed to form a ternary complex with both LRP6 and Fzd8 receptors, suggesting that R-spondin may activate the canonical Wnt signaling pathway by different mechanisms. Furthermore, Cristin/R-spondin proteins possess an intriguing positive modulatory activity on Wnt ligands, possibly through a direct interaction. Our findings expand the repertoire of ligands that induce beta-catenin/TCF-dependent gene activation and implicate the presence of active beta-catenin-dependent gene activation in a Wnt-free biological context.
Dynamical evolution of triple systems with big differences in the masses of bodies. A criterion for stability

The dynamical evolution of about 1.5 million planar hierarchical triple systems with a negative total energy and different-mass bodies is investigated by computer simulations. We considered both cases — prograde and retrograde motions of bodies. For every system, calculations were carried out either till a time when the Marchal'set al. (1984) criterion of escape of a body from a triple system was satisfied (the unstable triple systems) or during 1000 rotations of a total system (the stable triple systems). Computations were carried out on three computers-Sunstations in the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, India during several months continuously. We changed smoothly the initial value of the coefficient of hierarchy of triples $$q = r_{3 - 12} /r_{12} $$
Efflux of ions and ATP depletion induced by pediocin PA-1 are concomitant with cell death in Listeria monocytogenes Scott A

The bacteriocin pediocin PA-1 (80 AU ml -1 ), which is produced by Pediococcus acidilactici PAC 1.0, reduced Listeria monocytogenes Scott A viability by 4.6 log. Concomitant with the cell death, pediocin PA-1 induced irreversible K + and Pi efflux and ATP depletion in concentration-dependent and time-dependent fashions. The maximum amount of intracellular K + and Pi loss was 520 and 44.6 nmol mg -1 CDW, respectively. Intracellular ATP levels decreased from 2.8 to 0.029 nmol mg -1 CDW, corresponding to 98.9% depletion. Less than 0.1% ATP efflux was found with pediocin concentrations up to 200 AU ml -1 . Approximately 10, 40 and 60 min were required for maximum K + efflux, ATP depletion and Pi efflux, respectively. Moreover, pediocin PA-1 depleted 90% of cytoplasmic ATP when only 25% Pi efflux took place. These results suggest that loss of ATP is due to attempts by the cell to maintain proton-motive force rather than the inability of the cell to produce ATP due to the loss of Pi. Dithiothreitol-treated PA-1 no longer inhibited the growth of L. monocytogenes cells, and caused neither concentration-dependent ion efflux nor ATP depletion.
Immuno-reactive and bioactive corticotropin-releasing factor in rat thymus.

Immunorective corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) was identified and measured by radioimmunossay in rat thymic extract. Serial dilutions of thymic extract paralleled hypothalamic extract and synthetic CRF standard curves. CRF extracted from rat thymus eluted in the position of synthetic rat CRF on Sephadex G-25 column. Thymus-derived CRF was biologically active as demonstrated by stimulating adrenocorticotropic hormone secretion in dispersed rat anterior pituitary cells. These findings indicate the presence of authentic CRF in rat thymus, further supporting the concept of an integrated regulation of the neuroendocrine-immune responses to environmental stimuli.
Coil-by-coil image reconstruction with SMASH.

The SiMultaneous Acquisition of Spatial Harmonics (SMASH) technique uses linear combinations of undersampled datasets from the component coils of an RF coil array to reconstruct fully sampled composite datasets in reduced imaging times. In previously reported implementations, SMASH reconstructions were designed to reproduce the images that would otherwise be obtained by simple sums of fully gradient encoded component coil images. This strategy has left SMASH images vulnerable to phase cancellation artifacts when the sensitivities of RF coil array elements are not suitably phase-aligned. In fully gradient encoded imaging schemes these artifacts can be eliminated using a variety of methods for combining the individual coil images, including matched filter combinations as well as sum of squares combinations. Until now, these reconstruction schemes have been unavailable to SMASH reconstructions as SMASH produced a final composite image directly from the raw component coil k-space datasets. This article demonstrates a modification to SMASH that allows reconstruction of a full set of accelerated individual component coil images by fitting component coil sensitivity functions to a complete set of spatial harmonics tailored for each coil in the array. Standard component coil combinations applied to the individual reconstructed images produce final composite images free of phase cancellation artifacts.
Amniotic fluid and umbilical cord blood concentrations of antidepressants in three women

Abstract Background: Pregnancy and the postpartum period are a time of increased risk for women to develop mood disorders. As such, the reproductive safety data on antidepressant use during pregnancy have rapidly expanded over the last decade; however, there is relatively sparse information on maternal/fetal exchange of these medications and no data reporting their concentrations in amniotic fluid. Methods: We report on three women treated during pregnancy with fluvoxamine, sertraline, and venlafaxine, respectively. Amniotic fluid at amniocentesis and umbilical cord blood and maternal blood at delivery were collected and analyzed for antidepressant concentrations using high performance liquid chromatography with UV detection. Results: Antidepressant and metabolite concentrations were detectable in all amniotic fluid samples, though parent compound concentrations were less than maternal serum and umbilical cord blood concentrations. No adverse effects of the medication were reported. Conclusions: The presence of these antidepressants in amniotic fluid suggests that fetal exposure to these medications is continual and may occur through a variety of paths, thus accounting for increased fetal exposure. These paths include circulatory via placental passage, gastrointestinal via fetal swallowing, and respiratory secondary to fetal lung absorption.
Direct current motor with permanent magnet energy injection

This paper presents an original dc motor concept and prototype based on a permanent magnets injection. It was built as an experimental model and certified by a patent of invention in Romania. This motor can be controlled by an adjustable dc supplying voltage as electric input source and by another adjustable magnetic device based on permanent magnets. The main original aspect is the same as a part of the permanent magnets (PM) are situated inside of the dc motor rotor (as armature) and the other part of them is outside of the motor. The outside permanent magnets are connected and grouped, constituting a magnetic device as adjustable magnetic energy source. Both the PM parts (armature and magnetic device) are related between them. As first application field has been identified the automotive propulsion.
Hepatic peroxisome (microbody) proliferation in rats fed plasticizers and related compounds.

Abstract Male rats were fed the plasticizers di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA), di-(2-ethylhexyl) sebacate (DEHS), adipic acid, and diethyl phthalate at a dietary concentration of 2% for 3 weeks. Hepatic peroxisome proliferation in association with an increase in liver size, increase of hepatic activities of the peroxisome-associated enzymes catalase and carnitine acetyltransferase, and hypolipidemia were observed in animals treated with DEHP, DEHA, and DEHS but not in animals fed adipic acid and diethyl phthalate. To relate structure to biological activity, additional groups of rats were fed 2-ethylhexyl alcohol (a metabolite of DEHP), hexyl alcohol. 2-ethylhexanoic acid, hexanoic acid, 2-ethylhexyl aldehyde, hexylaldehyde, and 2-ethylhexyl amine at a 2% dose level. The changes induced by 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and 2-ethylhexanoic acid were comparable to those induced by DEHP, DEHA, and DEHS, suggesting that 2-ethylhexyl alcohol is the active part of the molecule responsible for peroxisome proliferation. 2-Ethylhexyl aldehyde induced a moderate increase in peroxisome population. No effect on hepatic peroxisomes or their associated enzymes was induced by the straight-chained analogs hexyl alcohol, hexanoic acid, and hexyl aldehyde. The hepatic effects of plasticizers capable of inducing peroxisome proliferation are similar to those resulting from treatment with clofibrate and other hypolipidemic drugs.
Effect of alloying on the giant magnetocaloric effect of Gd5(Si2Ge2)

Abstract A study of the effect of different alloying additions substituting for nonmagnetic Si and Ge on the giant magnetocaloric effect observed for the compound Gd5(Si2Ge2) revealed that small amounts (∼ 0.33 at%) of Ga raise the Curie temperature and preserve the giant magnetocaloric effect. Larger quantities of Ga lead to a significant reduction in the magnetocaloric effect, but the Curie temperature continues to rise. Many 3d-metal and p-element additions also reduce the magnetocaloric effect in Gd5(Si2Ge2) due to the changes in the thermodynamic nature of the magnetic phase transition. In general, all alloying additions raise the Curie temperature of the parent Gd5(Si2Ge2).