cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Serial Cardiac FDG-PET for the Diagnosis and Therapeutic Guidance of Patients With Cardiac Sarcoidosis.

ABSTRACT Background: Cardiac fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography (FDG-PET) has emerged as a standard imaging modality for the diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis (CS); however, there is a scarcity of data on the use of serial FDG-PET to guide immunosuppressive therapy. The aim of this work was to report our experience using serial FDG-PET for the diagnosis and management of patients with CS, focusing on its utility in ongoing immunosuppression management. Methods and Results: We studied consecutive patients with CS managed at Stanford University from 2010 to 2017. We evaluated our experience using FDG-PET for diagnosis and guidance of immunosuppressive therapy titration in CS. Among 34 patients diagnosed with CS, 16 (47%), 12 (35%) and 14(41%) presented with heart block, heart failure, and ventricular arrhythmias, respectively. FDG-PET proved beneficial in the initial diagnosis in 21 patients (62%). A total of 128 FDG-PET scans were performed (median 3 per patient). Ninety-four FDG-PET scans (73%) resulted in a change in therapy, with 42FDG-PET scans (33%) instrumental for tapering prednisone. Among patients who were initiated on prednisone, the mean dose of prednisone at 1 year was 9.5mg/d. Over a median follow-up of 2.3years, 48% of patients were successfully weaned from prednisone completely, and 20% were weaned to a maintenance dosage of 5–10mg/d. During the follow-up period, transplant-free survival was 88%. Conclusions: The use of serial cardiac FDG-PET for the diagnosis and management of CS was critical for guiding immunosuppression management and resulted in low chronic steroid doses and good disease control within 1 year of diagnosis.
Novel 3D Monotonic Characterization of Standard Cell Liberty File Attributes w.r.t ASIC Tool Flow

Shrinking of process nodes is declining and demand is increasing for design perfection to optimize power, performance and area (PPA). Standard library cells (STD cells) being basic building blocks for ASIC/CPU design, they play a key role in PPA enhancement and in design perfection. This paper presents first of its kind research to bridge the gap between conventional STD cell monotonic characterization and resulted STD cell liberty format file (.lib file) attributes usage with respect to ASIC tool cost function in an ASIC/CPU design and proposes a novel 3 dimensional (3D) monotonic characterization method for PPA boosting. An Algorithm for characterizing 3D monotonic cells is defined. About 10% to 60% of library cells are observed to be non-3D-monotonic in various libraries, architecture of libraries, and technology of libraries. Primetime results proving that selecting 3D-monotonic cells in an existing library using the algorithm give excellent PPA gain. By repairing non-3d-monotonic cells to fit 3D-monotonic characterization, and studying summary of post-route, post-extracted, primetime results from several projects showed further PPA improvement. PPA gain and advantages varies with ASIC flow settings, ASIC tool vendors, size of CPU, performance target, etc… There are no disadvantages are caused by the 3D-monotonic characterization.
Synthesis and Optical Spectroscopy of MnO42--Doped Crystals of Cs2CrO4, SrCrO4, CsBr, and CsI

The first low-temperature absorption and luminescence spectra of MnO42--doped crystals of Cs2CrO4, SrCrO4, CsBr, and CsI are reported. Single crystals of Cs2CrO4:MnO42-, which crystallize in the orthorhombic β-K2SO4 structure, were grown from basic aqueous solutions. An alkali−chloride flux composition was used to obtain single crystals of SrCrO4:MnO42- with the monoclinic monazite structure. Crystals of CsBr:MnO42- and CsI:MnO42- were prepared by slowly cooling the melt. The site symmetry in SrCrO4 is C1, but the deviations from D2 symmetry are small, and the spectra are analyzed in the approximate D2 symmetry. The 2E ↔ 2T2 ligand-field transitions are strongly c polarized, and in absorption only the transition to the lowest-energy component of the split 2T2 state is observed with its origin at 10 303 cm-1. Luminescence is exclusively observed to the lower-energy component of the 2E state. By a combination of absorption and luminescence data, it is shown that, in the cubic CsBr and CsI lattices, MnO42- i...
Drug-Target Residence Time Affects in Vivo Target Occupancy through Multiple Pathways.

The drug discovery and development process is greatly hampered by difficulties in translating in vitro potency to in vivo efficacy. Recent studies suggest that the long-neglected drug-target reside...
Evidence for the involvement of the fatty acid and peroxisomal beta-oxidation pathways in the inhibition by dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and induction by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and benz(a)anthracene (BA) of cytochrome P4501B1 (CYP1B1) in mouse embryo fibroblasts (C3H10T1/2 cells).

Treatment of intact C3H10T1/2 cells or microsomes therefrom with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and benzanthracene (BA) enhanced CYP1B1 activity and CYP1B1 expression as revealed by elevations of CYP1B1-catalyzed DMBA metabolism, CYP1B1 apoprotein level and CYP1B1 gene expression. One hundred µM DHEA caused an 80-90% inhibition of cellular DMBA metabolism without inflicting cell death. Cytosolic glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) was also inhibited in DHEA-treated cells, presumably due to the inhibition of NADP reduction. In contrast, neither DMBA metabolism nor CYP1B1 apoprotein was inhibited by DHEA in the microsomes isolated from these cells. DHEA (100 μM), TCDD (10 nM) and BA (10 μM) stimulated the activities and increased the apoprotein levels of two peroxisomal enzymes, namely, acyl CoA oxidase (ACOX) and acyl CoA hydrolase (ACH2) and also induced the expression of CYP1B1 and ACOX genes. Cytosolic fatty acyl-CoA β-oxidation was also stimulated by DHEA, TCDD and BA. In corroboratory experiments, it was found that concomittant with the stimulation of the activity of a key enzyme regulator of fatty acid homeostasis, namely, glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G3PDH), these agents enhanced arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism as judged by the release of [3H] from AA into the culture medium. Collectively, these data suggest that DHEA mediates the regulation of CYP1B1 and inhibits BA and TCDD-induced CYP1B1-catalyzed carcinogen (DMBA) activation in 10T1/2 cells through metabolic interactions that involve the activation of the peroxisomal and fatty acid β-oxidation signaling pathways. These results also present evidence for the first time, for the possible peroxisomal effects of TCDD and BA which are similar to those of DHEA in this mouse embryo fibroblast cell line.
On the Logic of Belief and Propositional Quantification

We consider extending the modal logic KD45, commonly taken as the baseline system for belief, with propositional quantifiers that can be used to formalize natural language sentences such as “everything I believe is true” or “there is something that I neither believe nor disbelieve.” Our main results are axiomatizations of the logics with propositional quantifiers of natural classes of complete Boolean algebras with an operator (BAOs) validating KD45. Among them is the class of complete, atomic, and completely multiplicative BAOs validating KD45. Hence, by duality, we also cover the usual method of adding propositional quantifiers to normal modal logics by considering their classes of Kripke frames. In addition, we obtain decidability for all the concrete logics we discuss.
Google, the Medium, and Hermeneutic Principles

Google’s role in curating the Internet, is, conceptually, a simple one. It offers speed and knowledge infrastructures of unfathomable size. It is a medium, a filter, through which you, the inquirer...
Development of a Versatile Modular Flow Chemistry Benchtop System

Flow chemistry devices have seen an increase as research tools in recent years. We present a modular system for benchtop continuous flow that allows user flexibility and reliability in the pursuit ...
Transforming polymer hollow fiber membrane modules to mixed-matrix hollow fiber membrane modules for propylene/propane separation

Abstract Mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) have shown promising performances for gas separation, in particular, propylene/propane separation. Their commercial applications require to fabricate MMMs in scalable forms, i.e., asymmetric mixed-matrix hollow fiber membranes (MMHFMs). Up until now, however, there have been few reports on MMHFMs due to the fundamental engineering challenges associated with current fiber spinning processes using filler-suspended dope solutions. Recently, we proposed a scalable MMM fabrication strategy, namely polymer-modification-enabled in-situ metal-organic framework formation (PMMOF). The PMMOF has potential to overcome some of the engineering challenges since it decouples hollow fiber spinning step and MMM formation step. Herein, we report asymmetric 6FDA-DAM (4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene) diphthalic anhydride-2,4,6-trimethyl-1,3-diaminobenzene)/ZIF-8 MMHFM modules by transforming 6FDA-DAM coated hollow fiber membrane (HFM) modules using the PMMOF. The resulting asymmetric MMHFM modules showed a promising propylene/propane separation performance (i.e., propylene permeance of ~2.15 GPU and separation factor of ~23.4) without additional defect healing steps. The membranes showed stable separation performance over a period of up to 25 days and at the total feed pressures of up to 6 bar. Finally, we demonstrated MMHFM modules consisting of up to seven individual fiber strands. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first multi-strand MMHFM modules showing promising propylene/propane separation performances, thereby opening up the possibility of the commercial applications of MMMs.
Ductile Tearing of Welded Structural Details

Experiments were conducted at room temperature on 16 full-scale welded structural members containing fatigue cracks. These I-section and box-section members were fabricated from HSLA-80 steel that exhibits upper-shelf behavior at room temperature. These members consistently reached at least the net-section collapse load and deformed to several times the yield-point displacement. The experiments were analyzed with a variety of ductile-fracture models including the three levels in the British Standards Institute document PD 6493, a stable tearing analysis using finite-element analysis to calculate J, and a limit-load analysis. These models were studied in order to evaluate their usefulness and degree of conservatism relative to experimental results.
Improving Critical Thinking in Software Development via Interdisciplinary Projects at a Most Diverse College

The software industry has been seeing a steady growth worldwide. However, the quality of the developed software is tightly related to the supply of skilled and capable software developers who are able to cope with many challenges and maintain a high level of critical thinking during the software development life cycle. Software skills are usually gained in upper level software development courses in undergraduate IT majors. We have been applying an active learning methodology for teaching critical thinking in the classroom. Our college is one of the most diverse colleges in the southeast region, which makes our classroom a good model of national diversity. In assessing critical thinking, the traditional and generic approach is to measure skills that are universal and subject-agnostic. In this study, we report that the universal skill assessment for software development is ineffective in measuring students? growth based on inconclusive testing results and a weak test-retest reliability score. We suspect that students were unmotivated by several factors, which includes students being passive listeners and the subject being unrelated to software. In addition, we report a significant potential for developing domain-specific critical thinking exercises and testing that could serve to train the students and to assess their skills at the same time. We would like to emphasize that our conclusion is independent of software development, and could be generalized to develop exercises for other subjects.
An 11.6 Micron Keck Search For Exozodiacal Dust

We have begun an observational program to search nearby stars for dust disks that are analogous to the disk of zodiacal dust that fills the interior of our solar system. We imaged six nearby main-sequence stars with the Keck telescope at 11.6 microns, correcting for atmosphere-induced wavefront aberrations and deconvolving the point spread function via classical speckle analysis. We compare our data to a simple model of the zodiacal dust in our own system based on COBE/DIRBE observations and place upper limits on the density of exozodiacal dust in these systems.
The Storage Ring Complex

Synchrotron radiation sources are among the largest and most expensive scientific instruments ever built. At first glance, the scale and complexity of these facilities, as shown in Figs. 1.4 and 2.1, can be daunting. However, when we look “under the hood,” we find that they all have the same essential components, and furthermore, many of these components are repeated over and over again. The key pieces can be divided into two main categories: radio frequency systems to accelerate the particles and also to replenish their energy and magnets to bend and focus the charged particle beams. Of course, there needs to be a charged particle source, a massive vacuum system to contain the charged particles, and a safety infrastructure to contain and control the high-energy particles and X-radiation.
Supplemental intervention improves writing of first-grade students: Single case experimental design evaluation

The limited research available on writing in Grade 1 led to the development and implementation of an intervention for students who were performing below expectations. Ten students participated in a...
The effect of temperature on the mechanical properties of a protein-based biopolymer network

Several studies have shown that eggshell membrane (ESM) is a suitable biomaterial with potential applications in biomedicine such as wound repair and cell culture. In order to control and improve the use of ESM for biomedical applications their physical and structural properties must be known. In this paper, we have studied the effect of temperature on the mechanical properties of the ESM. Atomic force microscopy was used to assess the morphology of the ESM. The mechanical properties of the membranes were studied by means of uniaxial tensile tests carried out at four different temperatures. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermo-gravimetrical analysis were used to assess the thermal transitions of the ESM and the influence of the water content on its thermal behavior. The Young’s modulus showed a linear inverse dependence with regard to the temperature of the sample. A peak associated to the thermal denaturation of collagen was observed in the DSC tests of the membrane. These peaks showed a dependence on the water content of the specimens.
ACUTE FULMINATING MENINGOCOCCUS INFECTION WITH BILATERAL CAPILLARY HEMORRHAGE OF THE ADRENALS AS THE MOST STRIKING GROSS PATHOLOGIC LESION; A CASE REPORT*

Excerpt The case I shall report died 12 hours after the onset of the final illness, one-half hour after admission to the Walter Reed General Hospital. The antemortem diagnosis was Rocky Mountain sp...
Properties of the cyanobacterial coupling factor ATPase from Spirulina platensis. I. Electrophoretic characterization and reconstitution of photophosphorylation.

Abstract The coupling factor ATPase (F1) from photosynthetic membranes of the cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis was purified to homogeneity by a combination of ion-exchange chromatography and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The ATPase activity of purified Spirulina F1 is latent but can be elicited by trypsin treatment, resulting in specific activities (CaATPase) of 27–37 μmol Pi min−1 mg protein−1. On denaturing sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gradient gels, Spirulina F1 is resolved into five subunits with molecular weights of 53,400, 51,600, 36,000, 21,100, and 14,700, similar to the molecular weights of the subunits of spinach chloroplast coupling factor (CF1). As determined by native polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis, the molecular weight of the Spirulina F1 holoenzyme was estimated to be 320,000, somewhat smaller than the estimated molecular weight of spinach CF1 (392,000). Spirulina F1 was shown to be an active coupling factor by its ability to reconstitute phenazine methosulfate-dependent cyclic photophosphorylation in membrane vesicles which had been depleted of coupling factor content by 2 m NaBr treatment. We estimate the Spirulina F1 content of membrane vesicles to be 1 F1 per 830 chlorophylls or 0.12 mol F1 mol P700−1, based on the specific ATPase activities of the membrane vesicles and the purified Spirulina F1, the molecular weight of F1, and the P700 content of the vesicles.
Family Forest Owners' Perceptions of Landowner Assistance programs in the USA: A Qualitative Exploration of Program Impacts on Behaviour

Using data collected from a series of focus groups, this study examines how landowner assistance programs (which may include management plans, cost-share, technical assistance and advice, and education components) affect family forest owner behaviour in the USA. Not surprisingly, most owners who participated in assistance programs had pre-existing management objectives. Participation in the management plan and cost-share components was found to facilitate the stewardship of private forests by assisting and reinforcing the behaviour of those landowners who already intend to manage their land in some pre-conceived manner. Advice and educational components appeared to do more in terms of introducing owners to new ideas. The mix of components offered as part of a landowner assistance program should consider the goals of the program and which components will be most effective in achieving those goals.
Increased extracellular matrix density decreases MCF10A breast cell acinus formation in 3D culture conditions.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) contributes to the generation and dynamic of normal breast tissue, in particular to the generation of polarized acinar and ductal structures. In vitro 3D culture conditions, including variations in the composition of the ECM, have been shown to directly influence the formation and organization of acinus-like and duct-like structures. Furthermore, the density of the ECM appears to also play a role in the normal mammary tissue and tumour formation. Here we show that the density of the ECM directly influences the number, organization and function of breast acini. Briefly, non-malignant human breast MCF10A cells were incubated in increasing densities of a Matrigel®-collagen I matrix. Elastic moduli near and distant to the acinus structures were measured by atomic force microscopy, and the number of acinus structures was determined. Immunochemistry was used to investigate the expression levels of E-cadherin, laminin, matrix metalloproteinase-14 and s-casein in MCF10A cells. The modulus of the ECM was significantly increased near the acinus structures and the number of acinus structures decreased with the increase in Matrigel-collagen I density. As evaluated by the expression of laminin, the organization of the acinus structures present was altered as the density of the ECM increased. Increases in both E-cadherin and MMP14 expression by MCF10A cells as ECM density increased were also observed. In contrast, MCF10A cells expressed lower s-casein levels as the ECM density increased. Taken together, these observations highlight the key role of ECM density in modulating the number, organization and function of breast acini.
The Military Capabilities and Implications of China's Indigenous Satellite-Based Navigation System

China has orbited a three-satellite constellation for space-based navigation known as Beidou. This article uses the constellation geometry, as determined by the NORAD space-surveillance system and publicly available from NASA, to estimate the accuracy available to a user of the Beidou system. Limited in terrestrial coverage to roughly the Asian subcontinent, this system requires a user either to go through an iterative procedure ill-suited to most military applications or to provide his or her own standard of time by carrying a high-precision clock. The iterative method does provide accuracies comparable to NAVSTAR/GPS over a restricted area of the Earth. Carrying an atomic clock, however, allows the system to be used in a mode that can provide sufficient accuracy to be used on MIRVed Chinese ICBMs en route to the United States and make a significant improvement in accuracy. Surprisingly, those modes of operation do not provide sufficient accuracy for most conventional military users.
Marginality and social isolation in urban Japan

Carolyn S. Stevens, On the Margins of Japanese Society: volunteers and the welfare of the urban underclass, Routledge, ISBN 0415146488, AUS$150 hb. cloth
The Bending Stress Distribution at the Base of a Stationary Crack

Extending an earlier paper dealing with extensional stress distributions, this study considers the stresses around a crack point owing to bending loads. It is found first that the stresses possess the characteristic inverse square-root singularity in terms of distance from the crack point. Along the crack prolongation direction the symmetric principal stresses are of opposite sign and in the ratio (1 − ν)/(3 + ν), in contrast to the extensional situation where they are identically equal. This leads to the observation that more yielding might be expected as the percentage of bending to extension stress at the crack increases. In the antisymmetrical loading, the shear stress is a maximum ±90 deg to the side of the crack, where the distortion energy is also a maximum. Interesting reciprocity relationships are also shown to exist between the symmetrical and antisymmetrical loading conditions for the isochromatic fringe lines and the stress trajectories. Finally, the results are discussed in connection with the combined extensional and bending loading.
Effect of Thermal Aging on Coarsening Kinetics of γ′ in Alloy 617

The effect of thermal aging on coarsening kinetics of alloy 617, a candidate material for heat exchanger of the very high temperature reactor, was experimentally studied at 750 and 950 °C for up to 5300 h. Formation of various precipitates such as μ-phase, M23C6 and γ′ phases and significant coarsening of the γ′ phase have been observed in the microstructure of the aged samples. Experimental observation was compared to alloy thermodynamic calculation and γ′-phase precipitation kinetics simulation. Thermal aging effect on the microstructural evolution and mechanical behavior of alloy 617 was then discussed based on experimental and microstructural modeling results.
Effect of habitat complexity on population density and species richness in tropical intertidal predatory gastropod assemblages

Structural complexity of the habitat significantly increases population density and number of species in assemblages of predatory gastropod molluscs (families Conidae, Muricidae, Mitridae and Vasidae) on intertidal, generally smooth, horizontal limestone platforms fringing tropical Pacific islands. The important topographic features are physical (depressions partly filled with coral rubble) and biotic (thick algal turf binding sand). Higher population density and species richness in areas with than without such natural refuges, and following experimental addition of artificial refuges on portions of habitat lacking them support this hypothesis. Two species of Drupa differ from the other species present in not utilizing refuges during times of physical stress; this is attributed to their depressed shell and broad, tenacious foot. Highest gastropod densities occur in steep-sided depressions and those containing much coral rubble and sand, suggesting that these are important qualities of refuges. We believe this is the first demonstration of how specific environmental factors affect population density and species diversity of benthic invertebrates in a coral reef-associated habitat.
“They could have an Indian soul”: Crow two and the processes of cultural appropriation

Abstract In 1975, Pauline Oliveros published the graphic score and a performance description of a new work, Crow Two: α ceremonial opera, in the journal Alcheringa: ethnopoetics. Crow Two represented a unique method of musical borrowing: one that drew from Native American spirituality and cultural icons rather than music or texts. In this article, I will argue that Oliveros developed and realized her ideas about Native American cultures in ways analogous to those of a cluster of primitivistic American writers and poets during the late 1960s, and in doing so, she violated Native North American cultural values regarding the use of sacred cultural figures.
40-100nm contact-hole processes of ZEP520A e-beam resist on PCM prototyping applications

ZEP520A e-beam processes for 40-100nm contact holes were studied for application of phase change memory (PCM) device prototyping. Resist baking, e-beam and development process parameters were investigated on the isolated and semi-dense (1:3) contact holes. PAB temperature for minimum exposure dose-to-size (E SIZE ) is 70°C. E SIZE of 200°C PAB is 250 μC/cm 2 while that of 70°C is 120 μC/cm 2 for 100nm contact hole. E SIZE of contact hole increases very quickly as the CD gets smaller than 60nm. CDs with beam currents of 100pA and 200pA are nearly the same while that with 2nA differs much. Sidewall profiles of contact holes exposed by 100pA and 200pA are near 90° while that exposed with 2nA is tapered. E SIZE decreases with development time. Bottom of contact hole is broadened for prolonged development time. CDs after PDB are not changed. There is little difference in CD between isolated and semi-dense patterns. CD uniformity on the corner and center of contact-hole array are around 5% (+/-3σ), showing a very weak proximity effect. Inter-layer mix-and-match processes were applied to PCM manufacturing. Cross-shaped alignment marks results in the strongest signal waveform on TiW bottom electrode than oxide and TiN/Ti. Mix-and-match PCM device structure was, for the first time, ever demonstrated.
Spinal taurine levels are increased 7 and 30 days following methylprednisolone treatment of spinal cord injury in rats

The amino acid taurine serves many functions in the nervous system serving as inhibitory neurotransmitter/neuromodulator, neurotrophin, antioxidant, and osmolyte. Taurine levels are increased following brain injury and glucocorticoid administration. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine spinal taurine concentrations following spinal cord injury (SCI) and methylprednisolone (MP) treatment of SCI. A total of 44 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control and lesion groups. Control rats received a T6 vertebral laminectomy while lesioned rats received a laminectomy followed by complete spinal transection. Half of the animals in each group received MP intravenously following sham-operation or SCI. Rats survived for 7 or 30 days and concentrations of taurine in spinal gray and white matter, in spinal segments both near and distant from the injury epicenter, were resolved by HPLC analysis. Taurine levels were increased 7 and 30 days following transection in spinal segments immediately adjacent to the lesion and were further elevated by MP treatment. No increases were seen in far rostral/caudal segments, and MP treatment alone had no effect on spinal taurine levels. These findings demonstrate that spinal injury results in increased taurine concentrations in spinal segments undergoing the greatest degree of cellular reactivity and tissue reorganization and that MP therapy potentiates these increases. These findings are significant in that they further characterize the effects of acute MP therapy in spinal tissue. Since taurine is thought to be involved in neuroprotection and/or regeneration following injury, the potentiation of taurine levels by MP treatment may relate to its therapeutic properties.
Abrasive wear in filled elastomers

The abrasive wear of rubbers is strongly affected by the filler particles dispersed in the elastomer matrix. The fillers are incorporated usually for the purposes of mechanical reinforcement and improving the conductivity of the neat resins. It is found that the wear rates of the filled silicone rubbers increase slowly with filler concentration until a critical volume fraction,vc, is reached, at which point they increase very rapidly with increasing filler concentration. This behaviour appeared to be universal in all the filled silicones we studied, regardless of the type of filler and silicone rubber used. However the magnitude of the critical filler fraction,vc, can be changed significantly with the filler shape, resin cross-linking density and filler surface treatments. No reasonable relationship could be found between this wear behaviour and the mechanical properties measured in a macroscopic manner. Experimental evidence suggests that the incipient ‘cracks’ that lead to wear losses may start within the thin layers of highly stressed material, the ‘damage zones’, surrounding the rigid particles. A simple model taking into account the stress concentration induced by the rigid fillers shows excellent correlation between the wear rate and the damage zones volume. With this new model, the observed wear behaviours can be explained satisfactorily.
Basolateral NBCe1 plays a rate-limiting role in transepithelial intestinal HCO3– secretion, contributing to marine fish osmoregulation

SUMMARY Although endogenous CO2 hydration and serosal HCO3– are both known to contribute to the high rates of intestinal HCO3– secretion important to marine fish osmoregulation, the basolateral step by which transepithelial HCO3– secretion is accomplished has received little attention. Isolated intestine HCO3– secretion rates, transepithelial potential (TEP) and conductance were found to be dependent on serosal HCO3– concentration and sensitive to serosal DIDS. Elevated mucosal Cl– concentration had the unexpected effect of reducing HCO3– secretion rates, but did not affect electrophysiology. These characteristics indicate basolateral limitation of intestinal HCO3– secretion in seawater gulf toadfish, Opsanus beta. The isolated intestine has a high affinity for serosal HCO3– in the physiological range (Km=10.2 mmol l–1), indicating a potential to efficiently fine-tune systemic acid–base balance. We have confirmed high levels of intestinal tract expression of a basolateral Na+/HCO3– cotransporter of the electrogenic NBCe1 isoform in toadfish (tfNBCe1), which shows elevated expression following salinity challenge, indicating its importance in marine fish osmoregulation. When expressed in Xenopus oocytes, isolated tfNBCe1 has transport characteristics similar to those in the isolated tissue, including a similar affinity for HCO3– (Km=8.5 mmol l–1). Reported affinity constants of NBC1 for Na+ are generally much lower than physiological Na+ concentrations, suggesting that cotransporter activity is more likely to be modulated by HCO3– rather than Na+ availability in vivo. These similar functional characteristics of isolated tfNBCe1 and the intact tissue suggest a role of this cotransporter in the high HCO3– secretion rates of the marine fish intestine.
Eating Disorders: The Last 25 Years

Abstract During the past 25 years there has been measurable progress in the understanding and treatment of the three eating disorders—anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. This progress has occurred in four areas—diagnosis, measurement, etiology and treatment. The introduction of diagnosis into the field of eating disorders, which involved a new emphasis on measurement, facilitated studies of epidemiology, etiology and treatment of what have become discrete clinical disorders. The greatest progress has been with bulimia nervosa, in which new behavioral and pharmacological treatments have reversed the pessimism with which the treatment of this disorder had initially been viewed.
Physics: QBism puts the scientist back into science

A participatory view of science resolves quantum paradoxes and finds room in classical physics for 'the Now', says N. David Mermin.
Using simulation to calculate floating-point quantization errors

This paper considers digital controllers using floating-point arithmetic. An error analysis tech nique is developed and is implemented by a computer program that is based on a simulation of the system. The outputs of the program include the form required to minimize quantization errors and the output errors for a given bit configuration. The program can be integrated into system simulations.
Hybrid approach for solving unsteady laminar forced convection inside ducts with periodically varying inlet temperature

Abstract The transient forced convection in laminar flow inside a parallel plate channel subjected to periodically varying inlet temperature is solved by using a hybrid scheme that combines the generalized integral transform technique with a second-order accurate finite differences. Semi-analytical results are presented for the variations in the amplitude of periodically varying fluid bulk temperature and wall heat flux along the channel length for different frequencies. An approximate formula for the decay of the peak bulk temperature amplitude is developed.
Analysis of diastolic heart sounds before and after angioplasty

The frequency spectra of diastolic heart sounds are compared before and after angioplastic surgery. Since the low-level sounds associated with partially occluded coronary arteries will be contaminated with considerable background noise, traditional FFT analysis may not produce an accurate frequency spectrum. Eigenvector methods have been selected to generate the frequency spectra because of their higher resolution, particularly in the presence of noise. In all cases a marked decrease in high frequency spectral components was observed following angioplasty. >
Fission product yields for fast-neutron fission of /sup 243,244,246,248/Cm

Recent measurements of relative yields for /sup 95/Zr, /sup 125/Sb, /sup 137/Cs, /sup 141/Ce, /sup 144/Ce, and /sup 155/Eu for fast-neutron fission of samples enriched in the actinides /sup 243,244,246,248/Cm have been combined with a simple mass-distribution model to predict complete mass distributions for fast-neutron fission of each of these four curium actinides. Complete descriptions of the data analysis and of the model and its application and limitations are given.
Double autoionization of He − ( 2 s 2 2 p P 2 )

The double autoionization rate for the He � 2s 2 2p 2 P hollow atom state is calculated using a nonperturbative time-dependent close-coupling method. The nine-dimensional wave function for the three electron atom is expanded in coupled spherical harmonics. The time-dependent Schrodinger equation is then reduced to a set of close-coupled partial differential equations for the three-dimensional radial expansion functions. Relaxation in imaginary time subject to orthogonality constraints yields a 2s 2 2p 2 P hollow atom state with real energy, while propagation in real time yields total and double Auger rates. The total Auger rate is in reasonable agreement with previous saddle-point complex-rotation calculations. The double Auger rate is found to be 10% of the total Auger rate, in keeping with the relatively large double to total ratio found in recent experiments for He � 2s2p 2 4 P.
Facile Reduction of Aromatic Nitro Compounds to Anilines With 2-Propanol and Raney Nickel

Abstract 2-Propanol in the presence of Raney nickel rapidly reduces aromatic nitro compounds to give the corresponding anilines. Reduction of the aromatic ring itself can generally be avoided by the judicious choice of the reaction time and temperature. Some substituent effects are noted.
Internal languages of retrieval: the bilingual encoding of memories for the personal past.

In contrast to most research on bilingual memory that focuses on how words in either lexicon are mapped onto memory for objects and concepts, we focus on memory for events in the personal past. Using a word-cue technique in sessions devoted exclusively to one language, we found that older Hispanic immigrants who had come to the United States as adults internally retrieved autobiographical memories in Spanish for events in the country of origin and in English for events in the U.S. These participants were consistently capable of discerning whether a memory had come to them “in words” or not, reflecting the distinction between purely imagistic or conceptual memories and specifically linguistic memories. Via examination of other phenomenological features of these memories (sense of reliving, sensory detail, emotionality, and rehearsal), we conclude that the linguistic/nonlinguistic distinction is fundamental and independent of these other characteristics. Bilinguals encode and retrieve certain autobiographical memories in one or the other language according to the context of encoding, and these linguistic characteristics are stable properties of those memories over time.
Dirac spinor solitons or bags

Abstract Explicit solutions of a non-linear Dirac equation in the four-dimensional Minkowski space have been found. They are continuous eigenfunctions of spin 1 2 , energy and parity, and are confined to the interior of a sphere of definite radius a, with no tails outside the sphere. They are called solitons in the paper though the name of spinor droplets or bags may be more appropriate. Because of the Lorentz covariance of the Dirac equations, arbitrarily moving solitons can be obtained from the rest system solutions by applying proper Lorentz transformations.
Cortical and subcortical responses to flicker in cats

Abstract Gross potential responses to 400-msec flicker trains (7.5–100 Hz) were measured from lateral geniculate body, optic radiation, optic tract, and cortex in adult anesthetized cats. A typical response sequence consisted of an “on” response, followed by about 100 msec of little or no activity (entrainment latency), and then frequency-specific (entrained) responses. Latency to entrainment reflects recovery from rapid adaptation to the first few stimuli in a flicker train. The subcortical entrained response had fast rise and decay times and exhibited response “doubling” at low frequencies and oscillatory potentials after the stimulus was terminated. The cortical entrained response had slower rise and decay times and was not easily distinguishable from base line. It was also highly sensitive to barbiturate anesthetic levels. At low frequencies and intensities, and under light anesthesia, cortical responses also exhibited response doubling. Quantitative analysis of the data revealed better frequency following for depth structures than for cortex. Entrained response amplitude was attenuated at high frequencies in cortex and subcortex.
Effects of antisense p21 (WAF1/CIP1/MDA6) expression on the induction of differentiation and drug-mediated apoptosis in human myeloid leukemia cells (HL-60)

The p21MDA6 gene product induces cell cycle arrest in p53-null human leukemic cells exposed to differentiation stimuli. We employed an HL-60 cell line stably transfected with a p21MDA6 antisense construct to compare the effects of p21MDA6 dysregulation on the response of myeloid leukemia cells to differentiating and cytotoxic agents. Antisense-expressing cells (HL-60/AS5) treated with 5 nM PMA for 24 h exhibited attenuated induction of p21MDA6 compared to empty vector controls (HL-60/V2). This phenomenon was accompanied by a reduction in the percentage of cells undergoing G1 arrest (67.6 +/- 4.7 vs 82.9 +/- 1.3; P < or = 0.01) and expressing the monocytic maturation marker cd11b (35.5 +/- 2.8 vs 50.5 +/- 2.4; P < or = 0.005). Although HL-AS5 and HL-60/V2 cells did not exhibit obvious differences in the phosphorylation status of the retinoblastoma protein (pRB), in E2F complex formation, or in p27klp1 induction following PMA exposure, inhibition of activity of cyclin-dependent kinase-2 was attenuated in the antisense-expressing line. A 24-h exposure to 5 nM PMA also reduced the cloning efficiency of HL-60/V2 cells to a significantly greater extent than HL-60/AS5 cells (ie to 30.1 +/- 7.0 vs 57.2 +/- 5.6 of controls; P < or = 0.01). In contrast to the disparate responses to PMA, HL-60/AS5 and HL-60/V2 cells treated with the antimetabolite 1-beta-D-arabinofurano-sylcytosine (Ara-C; 10 microM for 6 h) displayed equal susceptibility to G1 arrest, apoptosis, and inhibition of clonogenicity, phenomena unaccompanied by p21MDA6 and p27klp1 induction, or pRB dephosphorylation. These observations indicate that dysregulation of p21MDA6 in p53-null human myeloid leukemia cells interferes with PMA-related G1 arrest, CDK-2 inhibition, differentiation, and loss of clonogenic survival in the absence of obvious alterations in pRB phosphorylation status or E2F complex formation. They also provide functional evidence that p21MDA6 induction does not appear to be required for Ara-C-induced apoptosis, G1 arrest, or the resulting reduction in the self-renewal capacity of HL-60 cells.
Magnetic properties of sedimentary greigite (Fe3S4)

New data are presented here that document the previously poorly known magnetic characteristics of sedimentary greigite (Fe3S4). Several diagnostic magnetic properties can be used in conjunction to rapidly screen sediments to detect the presence of greigite. Such discriminants are necessary because greigite displays a similar (or higher) range of coercivities compared to most ferrimagnetic minerals and the commonly used method of alternating field demagnetization cannot be used to distinguish between palaeomagnetic remanence components due to greigite and other ferrimagnetic minerals. Sedimentary greigite has high ratios of the saturation isothermal remanent magnetization to magnetic susceptibility (Mrs/?), which are accompanied by hysteresis ratios of MrsMs? 0.5 and Bcr/Bc? 1.5 (Ms is the saturation magnetization, Bc is the coercive force and Bcr is the coercivity of remanence). Greigite has no low-temperature phase transition, whereas the ferrimagnetic iron sulphide pyrrhotite undergoes a major phase transition at about 34 K, and unoxidized magnetite displays the Verwey transition at 118 K. Low-temperature measurements may therefore prove valuable in distinguishing between magnetite, pyrrhotite and greigite, although the absence of a low-temperature transition cannot be taken as definitive evidence for the presence of greigite. Greigite also displays characteristic high-temperature behaviour, with a major drop in magnetization between 270 and 350°C. Determination of the Mrs/? ratio is an excellent means of rapidly screening sediments to identify stratigraphic intervals that may contain greigite. Subsequent low-and high-temperature analyses can then provide unambiguous identification of greigite and enable the evaluation of the presence of other magnetic minerals.
Traffic equations and granular convection

We investigate both numerically and analytically the convective instability of granular materials by two-dimensional traffic equations. In the absence of vibrations traffic equations assume two distinctive classes of fixed bed solutions with either a spatially uniform or nonuniform density profile. The former one exists only when the function $V(\ensuremath{\rho})$ that monitors the relaxation of grains assumes a cutoff at the closed packed density, ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{c},$ with $V({\ensuremath{\rho}}_{c})=0,$ while the latter one exists for any form of $V.$ Since there is little difference between the uniform and nonuniform solution deep inside the bed, the convective instability of the bulk may be studied by focusing on the stability of the uniform solution. In the presence of vibrations, we find that the uniform solution bifurcates into a bouncing solution, which then undergoes a supercritical bifurcation to the convective instability. We determine the onset of convection as a function of control parameters and confirm this picture by solving the traffic equations numerically, which reveals bouncing solutions, two convective rolls, and four convective rolls. Further, convective patterns change as the aspect ratio changes: in a vertically long container, the rolls move toward the surface, and in a horizontally long container, the rolls move toward the side walls. We compare these results with the those reported previously with a different continuum model by Hayakawa, Yue, and Hong [Phys. Rev. Lett. 75, 2328 (1995)]. Finally, we also present a derivation of the traffic equations from Enskoq equation.
Modified, discrete-vortex method for studying wing-loading effects on wake dynamics

An inviscid model for calculating the roll up of wing-generated, vortical wakes has been developed. The model is shown to be an efficient means of studying the dynamics of the wake in the region from just behind the wing to the previscous-dissipation far field. The model is based on a modified discretevortex method that includes the near-wing effects of the wing-bound vorticity and the fact that the wake originates at the wing, rather than at minus infinity. Three-dimensional wakes are produced by connecting the two-dimensional wake contours at successive Trefftz planes. The inclusion of the near-wing effects is shown to have a relatively large influence on the wake's dynamics and final disposition. The inclusion of rotational cores is shown to aid in smoothing the wake roll up, but appears to have little effect on the wake's final dispersion radii.
A tale of two pili: assembly and function of pili in bacteria

Bacterial pili have long been recognized as mediators of initial host–pathogen interactions important for the progression of Gram-negative bacterial diseases. An appreciation of the role of pili on virulence in Gram-positive bacteria and the unique properties of their biogenesis is a rapidly emerging area of research. In this review, we focus on recent advances in one of the longest-studied Gram-negative pilus systems, the chaperone/usher assembled pili, along with the newcomer to the field, the sortase-assembled pili of Gram-positive bacteria. In both systems, a wealth of new structural and molecular details has emerged recently. In light of this, we explore similarities between chaperone/usher and sortase-assembled pilus biogenesis and highlight paradigms unique to each, with the goal of using knowledge of each system to raise new questions and inform future studies of the other.