cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Theory of magnetotransport in inhomogeneous magnetic structures

The origin of the giant magnetoresistance of magnetic multilayers and magnetic granular solids is investigated through a unified spin‐dependent linear transport theory, in which the primary source of electrical resistivity is short‐range scattering by impurities in the different magnetic or nonmagnetic regions and at the interfaces. Our theory predicts that magnetotransport in granular solids is similar to that for currents perpendicular to the plane of the layers in multilayers in that their magnetoresistance is independent of the average distance between adjacent magnetic regions.
Comprehensive analysis for E-plane of horn antennas by edge diffraction theory

Edge diffraction theory is used in analyzing the radiation characteristics of typical horn antennas. The far-sidelobe and backlobe radiation has been solved without employing field equivalence principles which are impractical in the problem. A corner reflector with a magnetic line source located at the vertex is proposed as a model for the principal E -plane radiation of horn antennas. A complete pattern, including multiple interactions and images of induced line sources, is obtained in infinite series form. Diffraction mechanisms are used for appropriate approximations in the computations. The computed patterns are in excellent agreement with measured patterns of typical horn antennas. Radiation intensity of the backlobe relative to mainlobe intensity is obtained as a back-to-front ratio and plotted as a function of antenna dimensions.
An image-set for identifying multiple regions/levels of interest in digital images

In the field of identifying regions-of-interest (ROI) in digital images, several image-sets are referenced in the literature; the open-source ones typically present a single main object (usually located at or near the image center as a pop-out). In this paper, we present a comprehensive image-set (with its ground-truth) which will be made publically available. The database consists of images that demonstrate multiple-regions-of-interest (MROI) or multiple-levels-of-interest (MLOI). The former terminology signifies that the scene has a group of subjects/objects (not necessarily spatially-connected regions) that share the same level of perceptual priority to the human observer while the latter indicates that the scene is complex enough to have primary, secondary, and background objects. The methodology for developing the proposed image-set is described. A psychophysical experiment to identify MROI and MLOI was conducted, the results of which are also presented. The image-set has been developed to be used in training and evaluation of ROI detection algorithms. Applications include image compression, thumbnailing, summarization, and mobile phone imagery. fluor
Indirect Fluorescence Detection of Non Fluorescent Analytes Using Isotachophoretic Mobility Markers

We have developed a method to detect non-fluorescent analytes on standard microfluidic chip platforms equipped with fluorescence detection. We leverage isotachophoresis (ITP) to electrophoretically segregate both analytes and fluorescent species termed mobility markers into distinct zones. The fluorescent marker zones bound analyte zones, so that gaps in the fluorescent signal indicate the presence and concentration of analytes. We here demonstrate separation and indirect detection of amino acids, serine and phenylalanine and organic acids, acetic acid and phenylpropionic acid (∼10 μM) using this technique. We also present an indirect detection of the environmental toxin phenol [1][2] (∼10 μM) using two mobility markers. We show preliminary numerical simulation results that provide useful guidelines in design and optimization of our indirect detection assay.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
938-60 Detection of Experimental and Clinical Myocardial Infarction by High Frequency Ultrasound

To determine whether myocardial changes in acute myocardial infarction are detectable by high frequency ultrasound imaging, the left anterior descending coronary artery of 10 rats was ligated and 1 rat was sacrificed after 1 day and 3 rats were sacrificed after 2 days, 3 rats after 3 days and 3 rats after 4 days. Two rats served as sham operated controls. Unstained, 5 μm sections of rat hearts were placed on a glass slide and imaged with a 600 MHz transducer. In addition, sections of myocardium obtained at autopsy from 1 pt with acute myocardial infarction were also imaged. A serial section from each of the hearts was imaged by light microscopy. Results Ultrasound images of control rats and 1 day myocardial infarction showed cardiac myocytes arranged in long axis both in the anterior wall and septum. The anterior wall in the 2 day, 3 day and 4 day infarcts showed cell loss in the subendocardium and subepicardium and discrete rounded echo dense particles which corresponded to inflammatory cell infiltration on light microscopy. Between these areas were hypoechoic myocytes which corresponded to coagulation necrosis on histology. The septum (control region) showed normal myocytes. In acute myocardial infarction in man, cell necrosis and cellular infiltration was noted in the infarcted region. Thrombi in intramyocardial arterioles were seen. The changes were confirmed by light microscopy. Conclusion High frequency ultrasound imaging depicted characteristic changes in acute myocardial infarction. Further development of this technique for possible IN VIVO evaluation of myocardial ischemia and differentiation of infarcted from viable myocardium appears warranted.
Nimodipine disposition and haemodynamic effects in patients with cirrhosis and age-matched controls.

Six biopsy proven cirrhotics and five age-matched controls (mean 55.3 vs 52.4 years) were randomly given single 60 mg p.o. and 30 mg s.l. doses of nimodipine. Serum concentrations and blood pressure were measured regularly over the subsequent 24 h period. The clearance of nimodipine was reduced in the patients with cirrhosis. Apparent oral clearance of nimodipine in the cirrhotic group was significantly lower than that observed in the normal group (187 +/- 163 l h-1 vs 469.6 +/- 198.4 l h-1, P less than 0.01). There were no significant changes in mean arterial pressure (MAP) in the normal subjects. There were, however, significant reductions in MAP following oral nimodipine in the cirrhotics. These reductions were significantly related to nimodipine concentrations in individual patients (P less than 0.05).
Urinary Tract Infection in Diabetes: Epidemiologic Considerations

The epidemiology of urnary tract infections (UTIs) among men and women with diabetes is similar to the epidemiology of those without: Women have greater risk than men, and frequency of sexual activity is a risk factor. The bacteriology and antibiotic susceptibility patterns also do not, in general, differ from those without diabetes. Although persons with diabetes are more likely to have asymptomatic bacteriuria, asymptomatic bacteriuria does not lead to increased risk of symptomatic infection, except during pregnancy or prior to genital-urinary or gastrointestinal surgery, and should not be treated otherwise. However, diabetes doubles the risk of UTI. The source of this increase is not well understood, although bladder dysfunction, which increases with duration of diabetes, and glycosuria are hypothesized mechanisms. As treatment using sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors—which lead to glycosuria—increases, there is a potential for the frequency of UTI to increase among those with diabetes.
Subattomole-Sensitivity Microchip Nanoelectrospray Source with Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry Detection

A microfabricated microfluidic device coupled with a nanospray tip for electrospray ionization of dilute solutions is described. The device has been interfaced with a time-of-flight mass spectrometer and evaluated for sensitive, high-speed detection of peptides and proteins. The electrospray voltage was applied through the microchip to the nanospray capillary that was attached at the end of a microfabricated channel. Fluid delivery rates were 20−30 nL min-1 through the hybridized structure without any pressure assistance. On-line microchip electrophoresis has been demonstrated and the effect of the capillary−chip junction on band broadening examined. Full mass spectra are acquired within 10−20 ms at 50−100 spectra s-1 storage rates. Detection of subattomole levels of sample from a 100 nM solution is demonstrated for infusion experiments.
Validation of a vaginal birth after cesarean delivery prediction model in women with two prior cesarean deliveries.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether an existing vaginal birth after cesarean delivery (VBAC) prediction model validated for women with one prior cesarean delivery also accurately predicts the likelihood of VBAC in women with two prior cesarean deliveries. METHODS We performed a secondary analysis of all women attempting trial of labor after cesarean delivery (TOLAC) with a term singleton pregnancy and two prior cesarean deliveries in the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network (MFMU) Cesarean Registry. Probability of VBAC was calculated for each participant using the MFMU VBAC prediction model. Women were considered to have a recurring indication for cesarean delivery if the indication for either their first or second cesarean delivery was arrest of dilation or descent. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to assess the classification ability of the model and the predicted likelihood of VBAC success was compared with the actual likelihood using a calibration curve. RESULTS Among 369 women with two prior cesarean deliveries undergoing TOLAC, the actual VBAC rate was 66% (95% confidence interval [CI] 61-71). The mean predicted probability of VBAC was higher among women with a successful TOLAC than those with a failed TOLAC (75% compared with 59%, P<.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for women with two prior cesarean deliveries was 0.74 (95% CI 0.69-0.80). Within deciles of predicted probability greater than 30%, predicted probabilities were similar to and contained actual probabilities within the 95% CI. CONCLUSION The estimates of VBAC success based on the MFMU prediction model are similar to the actual rates observed among women with two prior cesarean deliveries.
Control of helium effects in irradiated materials based on theory and experiment

Helium produced in materials by (n,..cap alpha..) transmutation reactions during neutron irradiations or subjected in ion bombardment experiments causes substantial changes in the response to displacement damage. In particular, swelling, phase transformations and embrittlement are strongly affected. Present understanding of the mechanisms underlying these effects is reviewed. Key theoretical relationships describing helium effects on swelling and helium diffusion are described. Experimental data in the areas of helium effects on swelling and precipitation is reviewed with emphasis on critical experiments that have been designed and evaluated in conjunction with theory. Confirmed principles for alloy design to control irradiation performance are described.
Noninvasive, optoacoustic detection and characterization of intra- and extracranial hematomas and cerebral hypoxia

Early diagnosis of intracranial hematomas is necessary to improve outcome in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). CT and MRI can diagnose intracranial hematomas, but cannot be used until the patient arrives at a major healthcare facility, resulting in delayed diagnosis. Near infrared spectroscopy may suggest the presence of unilateral intracranial hematomas, but provides minimal information on hematoma type and location due to limitations associated with strong light scattering. We have used optoacoustics (which combines high endogenous optical contrast with the resolution of ultrasound) to diagnose hematomas and monitor cerebral oxygenation. We performed animal and clinical studies on detection and characterization of hematomas and on monitoring cerebral hypoxia by probing the superior sagittal sinus (SSS). Recently, we built a medical grade, multi-wavelength, OPO-based optoacoustic system tunable in the near infrared spectral range. We developed new patient interfaces for noninvasive, transcranial measurements in the transmission mode in the presence of dense hair and used it in patients with TBI. The optoacoustic system was capable of detecting and characterizing intra- and extracranial hematomas. SSS blood oxygenation was measured as well with the new interface. The obtained results indicate that the optoacoustic system in the transmission mode provides detection and characterization of hematomas in TBI patients, as well as cerebral venous blood oxygenation monitoring. The transmission mode approach can be used for optoacoustic brain imaging, tomography, and mapping in humans. © (2015) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A review of digital image networking technologies for radiation oncology treatment planning

Dosimetrists, physicists, and physicians rely heavily upon digital imaging modalities in their daily work. In the current healthcare marketplace, many radiotherapy facilities operate satellite centers or may be undergoing mergers with other service providers in their community. As a consequence, the development of network-based radiotherapy image communication may yield a significant impact on the clinical operation of such centers. Digital image networking will become an everyday tool in radiotherapy treatment planning in the near future. As responsible users of this technology, an accurate perception of what the network does is essential and enhances our ability to utilize it. This article presents a review of the network architecture and transmission standards necessary for understanding and developing a radiotherapy image network.
Carbonic Anhydrase III. OXIDATIVE MODIFICATION IN VIVO AND LOSS OF PHOSPHATASE ACTIVITY DURING AGING

Oxidative modification of DNA, lipids, and proteins occurs as a consequence of reaction with free radicals and activated oxygen. Oxidative modification of total cellular proteins has been described under many pathologic and experimental conditions, but no specific proteins have been identified as in vivo targets for oxidative modification. Utilizing an immunochemical method for detection of oxidatively modified proteins, we identified a protein in rat liver that was highly oxidized. It was purified to homogeneity and identified as carbonic anhydrase, isozyme III. Its characteristics match those previously described for a protein that was lost during aging of the rat, senescence marker protein-1. Carbonic anhydrase III was purified from rats aged 2, 10, and 18 months, and the proteins were characterized. All three preparations were highly oxidatively modified as assessed by their carbonyl content. The enzyme has three known catalytic activities, and the specific activities for carbon dioxide hydration and for ester hydrolysis decreased during aging by approximately 30%. However, the third activity, that of a phosphatase, was virtually lost during aging. While the physiologic role of carbonic anhydrase III is unknown, we suggest that it functions in an oxidizing environment, which leads to its own oxidative modification.
The factor structure of self-reported physical stress reactions

A self-report questionnaire tapping 98 frequently reported physical stress reactions was subjected to factor analysis. The instrument was given to 1,210 subjects (593 males, 520 females, and 97 who failed to indicate their gender). The final factor solution identified 18 interpretable factors for the combined sample. Some of the more notable findings are: (a) Gastric Distress (Factor 1) is by far the most prominent factor and accounts for .491 of the total variance; (b) the factor solutions for males and females are highly similar, although Cardiorespiratory Activity (Factor 2) is defined by a greater diversity of noncardiac reactions for females than for males; and (c) six independent striated muscle tension factors can be identified for the entire sample. Results are discussed in terms of a behavioral conceptualization of psychosomatic symptoms. Clinical implications are noted.
Cytoplasmic calcium buffer capacity determined with Nitr-5 and DM-nitrophen

Abstract We have examined intracellular calcium buffer capacity of cytoplasm from the giant axon of the marine invertebrate Myxicola infundibulum by photolytically releasing calcium from ‘caged’ compounds, while monitoring free calcium, [Ca 2+ ], with Ca-sensing electrodes. In cytoplasm containing intact organelles, two features of the [Ca 2+ ] response were seen upon light exposure: an initial spike from basal [Ca 2+ ], followed by a slower phase recovery. Both the amplitude of the spike in [Ca 2+ ] and the recovery were reduced by removal of MgATP. If organelles were removed from the cytoplasm, light exposure caused only a step-like change in [Ca 2+ ] with no recovery.Apparent buffer capacities (Δ bound Ca/Δ free Ca) were unaffected by changing pH from 7.0 to 7.5; however, raising basal free calcium above 3 μM significantly reduced this parameter. The buffer capacity measured after the initial spike varied by as much as an order of magnitude from one giant axon to another but averaged −50 in the absence and ∼100 in the presence of 1 mM MgATP for [Ca 2+ ] below 3 μM.
Excitotoxic cell death

Excitotoxicity refers to the ability of glutamate or related excitatory amino acids to mediate the death of central neurons under certain conditions, for example, after intense exposure. Such excitotoxic neuronal death may contribute to the pathogenesis of brain or spinal cord injury associated with several human disease states. Excitotoxicity has substantial cellular specificity and, in most cases, is mediated by glutamate receptors. On average, NMDA receptors activation may be able to trigger lethal injury more rapidly than AMPA or kainate receptor activation, perhaps reflecting a greater ability to induce calcium influx and subsequent cellular calcium overload. It is possible that excitotoxic death may share some mechanisms with other forms of neuronal death.
C16H10 Ethynyl-substituted Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from the Pyrolysis of Coal, Coal Volatiles, and Anthracene

Abstract The acquisition of several specially synthesized reference standards of ethynyl-substituted three-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) has enabled us to identify, for the first time, two C16H10 ethynyl-PAH among the pyrolysis products of coal and coal-derived fuels. The fuel product mixtures are analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode-array ultraviolet (UV) absorbance detection, and the identifications are made by matching product components' HPLC elution times and UV absorption spectra with those of the reference standards. 2-ethynylanthracene and 2-ethynylphenanthrene are identified among the pyrolysis products of brown coal, pyrolyzed at 1000°C in a fluidized-bed reactor, and of bituminous coal volatiles, pyrolyzed at 1000°C in a tubular flow reactor. 2-ethynylanthracene is observed as a pyrolysis product, at 1300 to 1500 K, of anthracene, a three-ring model compound representative of the aromatic moieties in coal. The identification of these ethynyl-PAH provid...
Influence of radiation cross section uncertainties on shock wave structure

Abstract This numerical study investigates the sensitivity of non-equilibrium shockwave structure to uncertainties in (a) the ground and excited state continuum radiative cross section and (b) the bound-bound radiative cross section in a three level (ground, excited, and free electronic states considered) argon-like gas at Mach 18 and a pressure of 1 cm Hg. Changing the values of the radiative cross sections by an order of magnitude does not significantly influence the relaxation region; however, a large change occurs in not only the magnitude but also the extent of both the electron and excited state precursors. Increasing either the ground state continuum or the bound-bound cross section decreases the number of free electrons in front of the shock wave. These cross sections also influence the extent of the electron precursor through their influence on the ratio of the electrons produced by ground state photoionization to those produced by ground state photoexcitation followed by excited state photoionization. The bound-bound cross section also controls the excited state precursor, because the production of excited states is entirely due to line radiation. Increasing the excited state photoionization cross section increases both the magnitude and extent of the electron precursor, because the cross section influences the ratio of the two processes that compete to produce free electrons, and at the same time it influences the magnitude of the excited state precursor.
Work in progress - comparative and quantitative analysis of writing apprehension in first-year Engineering student cohorts at New Mexico State University

First-year Engineering students requiring supplemental math instruction in one of New Mexico State University's ABET certified Engineering departments are placed in cohorts where they take all their classes together, including English 111, the first-year writing class required of all students at the University. While the cohorts have proven successful in retaining engineering students in the discipline while students obtain necessary math skills to continue their engineering education, little is known about how successful the cohort program has been in helping new engineers with the “soft-skills” required of engineers in the profession today. This study provides a preliminary investigation into student cohorts by investigating student apprehension using the Daly-Miller test of writing apprehension. The survey was administered to both cohort and non-cohort students at New Mexico State University, and this study compares results of the writing apprehension test between first-year cohort students and first-year non-cohort engineering students at New Mexico State University. Preliminary results indicate that there is no statistically significant aggregate difference between cohort and non-cohort students; however, there are statistically significant differences to specific question responses.
An interactive power analysis tool for microarray hypothesis testing and generation

Motivation: Human clinical projects typically require a priori statistical power analyses. Towards this end, we sought to build a flexible and interactive power analysis tool for microarray studies integrated into our public domain HCE 3.5 software package. We then sought to determine if probe set algorithms or organism type strongly influenced power analysis results. Results: The HCE 3.5 power analysis tool was designed to import any pre-existing Affymetrix microarray project, and interactively test the effects of user-defined definitions of α (significance), β (1 - power), sample size and effect size. The tool generates a filter for all probe sets or more focused ontology-based subsets, with or without noise filters that can be used to limit analyses of a future project to appropriately powered probe sets. We studied projects from three organisms (Arabidopsis, rat, human), and three probe set algorithms (MAS5.0, RMA, dChip PM/MM). We found large differences in power results based on probe set algorithm selection and noise filters. RMA provided high sensitivity for low numbers of arrays, but this came at a cost of high false positive results (24% false positive in the human project studied). Our data suggest that a priori power calculations are important for both experimental design in hypothesis testing and hypothesis generation, as well as for the selection of optimized data analysis parameters. Availability: The Hierarchical Clustering Explorer 3.5 with the interactive power analysis functions is available at www.cs.umd.edu/hcil/hce or www.cnmcresearch.org/bioinformatics. Contact: jseo@cnmcresearch.org
EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN PHYSICALLY ABUSED CHILDREN

Thirty physically abused children between five and 12 years old were compared to a matched group of 30 nonabused children on psychological tests measuring self-concept, aggression, socialization with peers, establishment of trust, and separation from the mother. Differences between groups were found in each of the areas of emotional development studied.
Intercrop effects on the distribution of populations of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis, in maize

Field investigations conducted from 1982 to 1984 to assess intercrop effects on the distribution of Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner), Lepidoptera, Pyralidae, in maize revealed that the incidence of damage by O. nubilalis was influenced significantly by the proximity of maize to potato. Maize fields adjacent to potato fields had a lower incidence of early season damage by O. nubilalis and a higher incidence of late-season damage than maize isolated from potato.
Integrase mediates nuclear localization of Ty3.

Retroviruses in nondividing cells and yeast retrotransposons must transit the nuclear membrane in order for integration to occur. Mutations in a bipartite basic motif in the carboxyl-terminal domain of the Ty3 integrase (IN) protein were previously shown to block transposition at a step subsequent to 3′-end processing of Ty3 extrachromosomal DNA. In this work, the Ty3 IN was shown to be sufficient to target green fluorescent protein to the nucleolus. Mutations in the bipartite basic motif abrogated this localization. The region containing the motif was shown to be sufficient for nuclear but not subnuclear localization of a heterologous protein. Viruslike particles (VLPs) from cells expressing a Ty3 element defective for nuclear localization were inactive in an in vitro integration assay, suggesting that nuclear entry is required to form active VLPs or that this motif is required for post-nuclear entry steps. Ty3 inserts at transcription initiation sites of genomic tRNA genes and plasmid-borne 5S and U6 RNA genes transcribed by RNA polymerase III. In situ hybridization with Ty3- and Ty3 long terminal repeat-specific probes showed that these elements which are associated with tRNA genes do not colocalize with the ribosomal DNA (rDNA). However, a PCR assay of cells undergoing transposition showed that Ty3 insertion does occur into the 5S genes, which, in yeast, are interspersed with the rDNA and therefore, like Ty3 IN, associated with the nucleolus.
Resonance Raman Analysis of the Mechanism of Energy Storage and Chromophore Distortion in the Primary Visual Photoproduct

The vibrational structure of the chromophore in the primary photoproduct of vision, bathorhodopsin, is examined to determine the cause of the anomalously decoupled and intense C11dC12 hydrogen-out-of-plane (HOOP) wagging modes and their relation to energy storage in the primary photoproduct. Low-temperature (77 K) resonance Raman spectra of Glu181 and Ser186 mutants of bovine rhodopsin reveal only mild mutagenic perturbations of the photoproduct spectrum suggesting that dipolar, electrostatic, or steric interactions with these residues do not cause the HOOP mode frequencies and intensities. Density functional theory calculations are performed to investigate the effect of geometric distortion on the HOOP coupling. The decoupled HOOP modes can be simulated by imposing 40° twists in the same direction about the C11dC12 and C12-C13 bonds. Sequence comparison and examination of the binding site suggests that these distortions are caused by three constraints consisting of an electrostatic anchor between the protonated Schiff base and the Glu113 counterion, as well as steric interactions of the 9- and 13-methyl groups with surrounding residues. This distortion stores light energy that is used to drive the subsequent protein conformational changes that activate rhodopsin.
Stress, immune reactivity and susceptibility to infectious disease

Psychological stress is known to affect immune function and to predict infectious disease susceptibility. However, not all individuals who are stressed develop disease. In the present article, we report on a series of studies from our laboratory describing interindividual variability of immune responses to psychological stress. In our initial series of experimental investigations, we demonstrated that acute laboratory stress alters both quantitative and functional components of cellular immunity. An examination of response variability revealed that individuals differ substantially in the magnitude of these immune responses. These differences were found to parallel (and be predicted by) interindividual variability in stress-induced sympathetic nervous system activation. Further investigation revealed that individuals vary consistently in the magnitude of their immune responses to stress, making it conceivable that individual differences in immune reactivity provide a vulnerability factor mediating relationships between stress and disease. In support of this possibility, we have recently reported initial evidence that individual differences in the magnitude of stress-induced reduction of immune function may be of clinical significance, being related to an immune response relevant for protection against infection, antibody response to hepatitis B vaccination.
Classification by probabilistic clustering

This paper describes an approach to classification based on a probabilistic clustering method. Most current classifiers perform classification by modeling class conditional densities directly or by modeling class-dependent discriminant functions. The approach described in this paper uses class-independent multilayer perceptrons (MLP) to estimate the probability that two given feature vectors are in the same class. These probability estimates are used to partition the input into separate classes in a probabilistic clustering. Classification by probabilistic clustering potentially offers greater robustness to different compositions of training and test sets than existing classification methods. Experimental results demonstrating the effectiveness of the method are given for an optical character recognition (OCR) problem. The relationship of the current approach to mixture density estimation, mixture discriminant analysis, and other OCR and handwriting recognition techniques is discussed.
The measurement and distribution of dissolved nucleic acids in aquatic environments

Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) are ubiquitous components of the dissolved organic matter (DOM) pool of all oceanic, neritic, estuarine, and freshwater habitats studied to date. A new method for the quantitative determination ofdissolved nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) in water and scdimcnt samples was developed, evaluated, and utilized in a study of various marine and freshwater ecosystems. Under appropriate reaction conditions, dissolved DNA (D-DNA) and dissolved RNA (D-RNA) are efficiently removed from solution with the addition of cctyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and subsequent formation of insoluble CTA-nucleic acid salts. The insoluble salts are collected, by filtration, onto glass-fiber filters and analyzed for DNA and RNA with fluorometric and calorimetric procedures, respectively. The pcrformancc of this CTAB method is simple, reliable, and reproducible for measuring dissolved nucleic acids in natural aquatic environments. For the ecosystems investigated hcrcin, D-DNA and D-RNA concentrations ranged from 0.56 to 88 pg liter-’ and 4.03 to 871 pg liter I; the ratio of D-RNA to D-DNA ranged from 4.1 to 11.5.
Fate, Desire, and the Centrality of the Relationship to Adolescent Condom Use

This editorial comments on an article by Tschann et al which focuses on condom use in adolescence and the importance of the perception of the partners desires about condom use. The author suggests other important factors to consider on this matter including: the role of empathy in adolescent relationships and the perceived interference of sexual pleasure with the use of condoms in adolescent relationships.
Evolutionary metropolis sampling in sequence alignment space

Metropolis sampling is the earliest Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method and MCMC has been widely used in motif-finding via sequence local alignment. A key issue in the design of MCMC algorithms is to improve the proposal mechanism and the mixing behavior. To overcome these difficulties, it is common either to run a population of chains or incorporate the evolutionary computing techniques into the MCMC framework. This paper combines a simple evolutionary (genetic) algorithm (GA) with the metropolis sampler and proposes the new motif algorithm GAMS to carry out motif heuristic search throughout the multiple alignment space. GAMS first initializes a population of multiple local alignments (initial MCMC chains) each of which is encoded on a chromosome that represents a potential solution. GAMS then conducts a genetic algorithm-based search in the sequence alignment space using a motif scoring function as the fitness measure. The genetic algorithm gradually moves this population towards the best alignment from which the motif model is derived. Experimental results show that the new algorithm compares favorably to the simple multiple-run MCMC in some difficult cases, and it also exhibits higher precision than some popular motif-finding algorithms while testing on the annotated prokaryotic and eukaryotic binding sites data sets.
Population Biology of an Intertidal Dorid Nudibranch (Onchidoris muricata) in the Southern Gulf of Maine, U.S.A.: Changes in Phenology Due to an Invasive Prey?

Abstract. The invasion of the bryozoan Membranipora membranacea to the Gulf of Maine in 1987 eventually provided an additional prey resource to the dorid nudibranch Onchidoris muricata (Muller, 1776). The impact of this novel prey on the population and reproductive biology of O. muricata was investigated at an intertidal site in the southern Gulf of Maine from January 2005 to October 2009. Nudibranchs were found associated with a variety of bryozoans, with a seasonal shift from Electra pilosa (December to May) to M. membranacea (June to November). Juveniles (< 3 mm) were found in all months except May, June, and July and mature nudibranchs were present in all months. Copulating pairs were observed between lanuary and July and spawn masses were found between March and September on the undersides of rocks usually attached to the surface of bryozoans. The population structure and reproductive phenology of O. muricata at this intertidal site shows changes from historical reports. Whether adaptive change of th...
Use of prostatic massage in combination with antibiotics in the treatment of chronic prostatitis

Chronic prostatitis is often refractory to antibiotics, however biopsy and molecular data indicate persistent symptoms may be due to occult infection. Combining antibiotic therapy with regular prostatic massage has been suggested as an effective therapy for some of these men. From November 1996 to December 1998, 73 men with chronic pelvic pain syndromes were treated with antibiotics and prostatic massage. Antibiotic selection was based on culture and sensitivity of prostatic fluid or empirically if cultures were negative. Prostatic massage was done 1 to 3 times per week and fluid examined for WBCs and cultured for bacteria. The average age of the group was 43.5 y (range 23-72) and average duration of symptoms 6.7 y (median 3 y, range 3 months-30 y). Prostatic cultures were negative in 19, grew uropathogens in 2, and Gram positive bacteria in 52 patients. Overall 29 patients (40%) had complete resolution of symptoms, 14 (19%) had complete resolution followed by a recurrence, 15 (21%) had some improvement and 15 (21%) had no improvement. All positive cultures were sterilized during treatment. Combination prostatic massage and culture specific antibiotics can be an effective treatment in a proportion of men with long standing refractory chronic prostatitis.
Locally finite homogeneous graphs

A connected graph G is said to be z-homogeneous if any isomorphism between finite connected induced subgraphs of G extends to an automorphism of G. Finite z-homogeneous graphs were classified in [17]. We show that z-homogeneity is equivalent to finite-transitivity on the class of infinite locally finite graphs. Moreover, we classify the graphs satisfying these properties. Our study of bipartite z-homogeneous graphs leads to a new characterization for hypercubes.
Comprehensive Maps of Drosophila Higher Olfactory Centers: Spatially Segregated Fruit and Pheromone Representation

In Drosophila, ∼50 classes of olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) send axons to 50 corresponding glomeruli in the antennal lobe. Uniglomerular projection neurons (PNs) relay olfactory information to the mushroom body (MB) and lateral horn (LH). Here, we combine single-cell labeling and image registration to create high-resolution, quantitative maps of the MB and LH for 35 input PN channels and several groups of LH neurons. We find (1) PN inputs to the MB are stereotyped as previously shown for the LH; (2) PN partners of ORNs from different sensillar groups are clustered in the LH; (3) fruit odors are represented mostly in the posterior-dorsal LH, whereas candidate pheromone-responsive PNs project to the anterior-ventral LH; (4) dendrites of single LH neurons each overlap with specific subsets of PN axons. Our results suggest that the LH is organized according to biological values of olfactory input.
The value of polymerase chain reaction for the diagnosis of viral respiratory tract infections in lung transplant recipients.

Background: Respiratory viruses cause severe infections in lung transplant recipients, which require rapid and accurate diagnosis for appropriate management. Objectives: To evaluate the added benefit of a multiplex PCR for respiratory viruses (influenza [FLU] A and B, respiratory syncytial virus [RSV] A and B and parainfluenza virus [PIV] 1, 2, and 3) complementing rapid respiratory viral culture (RRV) and FLU-A antigen detection (EIA) in this transplant population. Results: Over 6 months, 116 nasal washes and bronchoalveolar lavages, obtained from 72 lung transplant recipients with symptoms of upper or lower respiratory tract infections, were tested in real time by RRV and FLU-A EIA, and batched frozen by PCR. One or more methods recognized a respiratory virus in 31 (27%) specimens, including 15 FLU-A, nine RSV and seven PIV. PCR identified 26 of 31 positive samples demonstrating a sensitivity of 84%, higher than RRV (67%) or EIA (54%). PCR, RRV and EIA detected 60, 80 and 54%, respectively, FLU-A samples. PCR and RRV were equivalent for RSV-A, PIV-2 and 3, but PCR found a significantly higher number of RSV-B and PIV-1. Conclusions: These data indicate that routine use of PCR will enhance the number and speed with which viral respiratory tract infections are diagnosed in lung transplant recipients.
The Role of Group Orientation and Descriptive Norms on Water Conservation Attitudes and Behaviors

Social norms have been shown to impact behaviors, but with mixed results. The theory of normative social behavior delineates factors that moderate the relationship between descriptive norms and behaviors, and it addresses the attributes of behaviors that make them susceptible to normative influence. This study tests whether group orientation moderates the impact of descriptive norms on water conservation attitudes and behavioral intentions. Findings indicate a consistent pattern of interactions for descriptive norms and group orientation on both attitudes and behavioral intent. Implications for normative theory and campaign design are addressed.
Heat-Generated Cooling Opportunities in Vehicles

Utilizing heat-generated cooling in vehicles offers the opportunity to reduce the amount of fuel used today for air conditioning. The U.S. uses approximately 7.1 billion gallons of gasoline each year for air conditioning in vehicles. By using waste heat as the primary energy source for heat-generated cooling, we have the potential to reduce the national fuel use by 7.1 billion gallons. An engine operating at a 30% thermal efficiency releases the remaining 70% of the fuel energy as waste heat through the coolant, exhaust gases, and engine compartment. Waste heat available for a representative 115-kW engine varies from 20 to 400 kW across the engine map, with an average value over the FTP cycle of 23 kW. Temperatures of the waste heat range from 200°C surface temperatures to 600°C gas temperatures. Therefore, the magnitude of energy currently wasted is significant, and a large opportunity exists to utilize this waste heat for productive purposes. This paper outlines the heat-generated cooling potential of metal hydride cooling systems, absorption heat pumps, zeolite heat pumps, and thermoacoustic cooling. System performance, material issues, advantages, disadvantages, and the current state of research is outlined for these technologies. All of these heat generated cooling systems offer great opportunities for utilizing waste heat and reducing fuel use in vehicles.
Design of PEBB based power electronics systems

The standardization of power electronics that come with the power electronics building blocks (PEBB) is expected to expand the use of power electronics through reduced costs and higher reliability. Part of the cost reduction comes from the simplification in the design process that is obtained by using standard modules. This paper analyzes the PEBB based design process and discusses some ideas about the design of power converters based on power modules and appropriate tools for the design.
Analog VLSI motion discontinuity detectors for image segmentation

Two analog integrated circuits that locate velocity discontinuities in a one-dimensional image are presented. Each circuit combines the image-sensing stage and the motion-processing stage on a single chip. The circuits are compact and operate in real time, so that they are suitable for use in mobile systems to perform image segmentation for navigation purposes. Both chips were tested with high-contrast stimuli and showed good performance.
Elevated circulating transforming growth factor β-1 may explain poorer renal survival in type II diabetics with chronic hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is reported to be associated with poorer renal survival in patients with diabetes. The mechanism for this observation has not been elucidated. Transforming growth factor beta-1 is involved in signaling for human disease involving fibrosis and excess matrix deposition including diabetic nephropathy. Hepatitis C virus core protein is known to upregulate transcription of TGF beta-1 in the liver and HCV patients have elevated levels of circulating TGF beta-1 versus controls. There is evidence that elevated circulating TGF beta-1 levels result in more rapid progression of nephropathy and that lowering circulating TGF beta-1 levels with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor correlates with treatment efficacy in diabetic nephropathy. This paper outlines a hypothesis that the elevated level of circulating TGF beta-1 which is associated with HCV is a mediator of more rapid progression of diabetic renal disease in persons with HCV.
Rapid and Inexpensive Cardiac Tomography Using a Widefield Anger Camera

A new method of multiplanar tomography was developed using a seven-pinhole (5.5-mm-diameter) collimator, a standard 37.5-cm-diameter crystal Anger camera, and a digital computer. Twelve planes spaced an average of 1.2 cm apart are reconstructed through use of a new reciprocal arithmetic algorithm from a single stationary data acquisition. Planar full-width half-maximum resolution is 10 mm and depth resolution is 15 mm. A comparison of the tomographic technique and standard (parallel-hole collimation) scintigraphy was performed using 65 patients, 23 without and 42 with angiographically demonstrated coronary artery stenosis (> 70%), undergoing stress thallium-201 imaging. Using the seven-pinhole collimator, each study’s 750,000 count data acquisition and digital computer reconstruction required approximately 10 and 5 min, respectively. The tomographic images as well as the standard anterior and LAO scintigrams obtained from each patient were interpreted through use of a computerized program which determines maximal circumferential cardiac wall count densities and compares these profiles to normalized mean — 2 standard deviation values obtained from the 23 individuals without coronary disease. Of the 23 normal individuals tested by both techniques, one had abnormal standard scintigraphy and one had abnormal tomography. Of the 42 patients with coronary disease, 31 had abnormal standard scintigraphy and 40 had abnormal tomography (P<0.05). These results suggest that this tomographic technique which uses ordinary radionuclides and a Anger camera is more sensitive to the presence of coronary artery disease using stress thallium-201 imaging. Tomography by this technique including data processing can be performed in less time than standard multiview imaging.
The impact of weather changes on air quality and health in the United States in 1994–2012

Air quality is heavily influenced by weather conditions. In this study, we assessed the impact of long-term weather changes on air quality and health in the US during 1994–2012. We quantified past weather-related increases, or 'weather penalty', in ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and thereafter estimated the associated excess deaths. Using statistical regression methods, we derived the weather penalty as the additional increases in air pollution relative to trends assuming constant weather conditions (i.e., weather-adjusted trends). During our study period, temperature increased and wind speed decreased in most US regions. Nationally, weather-related 8 h max O3 increases were 0.18 ppb per year (95% CI: 0.06, 0.31) in the warm season (May–October) and 0.07 ppb per year (95% CI: 0.02, 0.13) in the cold season (November–April). The weather penalties on O3 were relatively larger than PM2.5 weather penalties, which were 0.056 μg m−3 per year (95% CI: 0.016, 0.096) in warm months and 0.027 μg m−3 per year (95% CI: 0.010, 0.043) in cold months. Weather penalties on O3 and PM2.5 were associated with 290 (95% CI: 80, 510) and 770 (95% CI: 190, 1350) excess annual deaths, respectively. Over a 19-year period, this amounts to 20 300 excess deaths (5600 from O3, 14 700 from PM2.5) attributable to the weather penalty on air quality.
Sustained, retransplantable, multilineage engraftment of highly purified adult human bone marrow stem cells in vivo

Data from many laboratory and clinical investigations indicate that CD34+ cells comprise approximately 1% of human bone marrow (BM) mononuclear cells, including the progenitor cells of all the lymphohematopoietic lineages and lymphohematopoietic stem cells (stem cells). Because stem cells are an important but rare cell type in the CD34+ cell population, investigators have subdivided the CD34+ cell population to further enrich stem cells. The CD34+/CD38-cell subset comprises less than 10% of human CD34+ adult BM cells (equivalent to < 0.1% of marrow mononuclear cells), lacks lineage (lin) antigens, contains cells with in vitro replating capacity, and is predicted to be highly enriched for stem cells. The present investigation tested whether the CD34+/CD38-subset of adult human marrow generates human hematopoiesis after transfer to preimmune fetal sheep. CD34+/ CD38- cells purified from marrow using immunomagnetic microspheres or fluorescence-activated cell sorting generated easily detectable, long- term, multilineage human hematopoiesis in the human-fetal sheep in vivo model. In contrast, transfer of CD34+/CD38+ cells to preimmune fetal sheep generated only short-term human hematopoiesis, possibly suggesting that the CD34+/CD38+ cell population contains relatively early multipotent hematopoletic progenitor cells, but not stem cells. This work extends the prior in vitro evidence that the earliest cells in fetal and adult human marrow lack CD38 expression. In summary, the CD34+/ CD38-cell population has a high capacity for long-term multilineage hematopoietic engraftment, suggesting the presence of stem cells in this minor adult human marrow cell subset.