cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Atomoxetine reverses nicotine withdrawal-associated deficits in contextual fear conditioning.

Recent evidence suggests that the cognitive symptoms of nicotine withdrawal and the cognitive symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may share neural correlates. Thus, therapeutics that ameliorate ADHD symptoms may also ameliorate nicotine-withdrawal symptoms. The present research tested this hypothesis in an animal model of nicotine withdrawal-associated cognitive deficits using atomoxetine, a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor that is approved by the FDA to treat the symptoms of ADHD. C57BL/6 mice were prepared with osmotic minipumps that administered 6.3 mg/kg/day of nicotine or saline, and the minipumps were removed after 12 days of continuous treatment. Twenty-four hours later, mice were trained in delay fear conditioning using two paired presentations of an auditory conditioned stimulus (CS) with a footshock unconditioned stimulus. Testing for freezing in response to the training context and for freezing in response to the CS occurred the next day. Nicotine-withdrawn mice and their saline-treated counterparts received either saline or atomoxetine before training and the context test. Consistent with previous research, the results indicate that mice withdrawn from chronic nicotine demonstrated lower levels of contextual fear conditioning than mice that were not withdrawn from chronic nicotine. Atomoxetine dose-dependently reversed the deficit, suggesting that nicotine withdrawal may be associated with changes in noradrenergic function, acetycholinergic function, and/or with changes in cell signaling cascades that are activated by both nicotine and norepinephrine. These data suggest that atomoxetine may be efficacious for treating nicotine withdrawal-associated cognitive deficits that promote relapse in abstinent smokers.
Energy Efficient, Adaptive and Collaborative Data Sampling in Wireless Sensor Networks

This paper outline some interesting research issues and solution approaches related to collaborative data sampling in wireless sensor networks for efficient energy and bandwidth utilization.
Logistic regression and discriminant analysis: use and interpretation.

Predicting the probability that an event will or will not occur, as well as identifying the variables useful in making the prediction, is important in the health sciences and is central to risk research. Two statistical techniques can be used appropriately to predict a dichotomous dependent variable: discriminant analysis and logistic regression. In our last column, we discussed linear regression, used when the dependent variable is continuous. Discriminant analysis can be used with a dichotomous dependent variable, but the method requires several assumptions for the predictions to be optimal. Grimm and Yarnold (1995) provide a nontechnical discussion of discriminant analysis and logistic regression. This column primarily focuses on logistic regression, which requires fewer assumptions than discriminant analysis. Even when the assumptions required for discriminant analysis are satisfied, logistic regression still performs well. In logistic regression, the probability of an event occurring is estimated. Logistic regression models can include one or more independent variables that may be either dichotomous or continuous. Logistic regression with one independent variable is called bivariate logistic regression; with two or more independent variables, logistic regression is called multiple logistic regression. These should not be confused with multinomial logistic regression where the dependent variable has more than two categories. In this column, the focus is on dichotomous outcomes of the dependent variable. In linear regression, the regression coefficient represents the
Dynamic descriptors for contextual classification of remotely sensed hyperspectral image data analysis.

The extended CIE transformation procedure of Chiou (1984) is applied to five sets of remotely sensed 0.4-2.5-micron spectrometric data on field crops including winter and spring wheat, corn, and soybeans) obtained at the Purdue University Laboratory for Applications of - Remote Sensing during 1977-1980 using the techniques described by Hinzman (1981). The results are presented in tables and chromaticity diagrams and it is found that each crop has an identifiable time-variant spectral characteristic permitting determination of seasonal growth patterns. The applicability of the method to data from airborne and spaceborne imaging spectrometers is indicated.
Fragmentation dynamics of HONO's B̃ state

Abstract The nature of HONO's B state and its fragmentation dynamics is inferred through measurements on the OH fragment photoejected at wavelengths within the B-X profile. The product is probed for its translational anisotropy, rotational alignment, orbital alignment, and energy distribution. It is proposed that HONO's B-X excitation involves an electron transfer out of a nonbonded out-of-plane (2a″) orbital on the HO oxygen, causing the HO moiety to rotate out of the initial HONO plane and thus resulting in a nonplanar equilibrium geometry in the B state. The parent in the B state, prepared by vertical excitation from the ground state, therefore undergoes a change in the dihedral angle during fragmentation. The associated torque appears to be the predominant contributor to the OH photofragment's rotation. Consequently, the anisotropy of the OH ejected by the parent in the B state is characterized by preferred planes of nuclear and orbital rotation that are almost perpendicular to the recoil direction.
Innocence and Suffering in the Middle Ages: An Essay about Popular Taste and Popular Literature

Michael Stugrin's essay is both theoretical and practical: he suggests that texts, when viewed as “structures ofperception,” give us the “voices of the reality which they were part of and helped shape.” He then proceeds to apply this theory to a number of spiritual texts popular during the Middle Ages to give us an idea of popular taste at that time. Such texts were structured in a highly affective way to affirm testimonies o f faith and to commemorate God's promises to men. But perhaps most importantly, these spiritual texts, along with such texts as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and countless prose treatises and sermons, provided medieval audiences with a way of “knowing” within the context of human experience in a time of great cultural stress.
ERdj4 Protein Is a Soluble Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) DnaJ Family Protein That Interacts with ER-associated Degradation Machinery

Protein localization within cells regulates accessibility for interactions with co-factors and substrates. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) BiP co-factor ERdj4 is up-regulated by ER stress and has been implicated in ER-associated degradation (ERAD) of multiple unfolded secretory proteins. Several other ERdj family members tend to interact selectively with nascent proteins, presumably because those ERdj proteins associate with the Sec61 translocon that facilitates entry of nascent proteins into the ER. How ERdj4 selects and targets terminally misfolded proteins for destruction remains poorly understood. In this study, we determined properties of ERdj4 that might aid in this function. ERdj4 was reported to retain its signal sequence and to be resistant to mild detergent extraction, suggesting that it was an integral membrane protein. However, live cell photobleaching analyses of GFP-tagged ERdj4 revealed that the protein exhibits diffusion coefficients uncommonly high for an ER integral membrane protein and more similar to the mobility of a soluble luminal protein. Biochemical characterization established that the ERdj4 signal sequence is cleaved to yield a soluble protein. Importantly, we found that both endogenous and overexpressed ERdj4 associate with the integral membrane protein, Derlin-1. Our findings now directly link ERdj4 to the ERAD machinery and suggest a model in which ERjd4 could help recruit clients from throughout the ER to ERAD sites.
Improvement of Tumor Oxygenation by Mild Hyperthermia

Abstract Song, C. W., Park, H. and Griffin, R. J. Improvement of Tumor Oxygenation by Mild Hyperthermia. There is now abundant evidence that oxygenation in rodent, canine and human tumors is improved during and for up to 1–2 days after heating at mild temperatures. An increase in tumor blood perfusion along with a decline in the oxygen consumption rate appears to account for the improvement of tumor oxygenation by mild hyperthermia. The magnitude of the increase in tumor pO2, determined with oxygen-sensitive microelectrodes, caused by mild hyperthermia is less than that caused by carbogen breathing. However, mild hyperthermia is far more effective than carbogen breathing in increasing the radiation response of experimental tumors, probably because mild hyperthermia oxygenates both (diffusion-limited) chronically hypoxic and (perfusion-limited) acutely hypoxic cells, whereas carbogen breathing oxygenates only the chronically hypoxic cells. Mild hyperthermia is also more effective than nicotinamide, which i...
An overview of emerging international measurement standards in electromagnetic compatibility for integrated circuits

The characterization of the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) performance of integrated circuits (ICs) is receiving increasing focus as new applications and technology trends combine to raise the complexity of EMC compliance. The increased focus is driving the need for standardized measurement procedures to enable comparison of different devices. This paper describes the work in process by IEC TC47/SC47A Working Group 9 to standardize emissions and immunity EMC test methods for integrated circuits. The two standards currently in development for RF radiated and conducted emissions, as well as their status, are discussed.
Challenges and approaches for mosquito targeted malaria control.

Malaria is one of today’s most serious diseases with an enormous socioeconomic impact. While anti-malarial drugs have existed for some time and vaccines development may be underway, the most successful malaria eradication programs have thus far relied on attacking the mosquito vector that spreads the disease causing agent Plasmodium. Here we will review past, current and future perspectives of malaria vector control strategies and how these approaches have taken a promising turn thanks recent advances in functional genomics and molecular biology.
Statistical Considerations: Alternate Designs and Approaches for Bioequivalence Assessments

PARALLEL DESIGN IN BIOEQUIVALENCE STUDIES The great majority of bioequivalence (BE) studies measure drug concentrations in body fluids, such that products can be compared within an individual using crossover designs. In some rare circumstances, this approach is either not possible or impractical. For example, drugs with long half-lives may not be amenable to a crossover design or studies where a clinical endpoint is required in patients because of insufficient blood concentrations. In these cases a parallel design may be used. In parallel designs comparative products are not given to the same patient. Patients are randomly assigned to one of the products under investigation. In this discussion, examples are used where two products are compared to each other, a Test and Reference product. Typically, a random device is used to assign product to patients as they enter the study, with an aim of having equal numbers of patients in each product group. For a BE study, it would be expected that patients would all be entered together, with each patient assigned a unique number. If more patients are needed than can be accommodated at one site, a multi-center study may be necessary. Randomization schemes for parallel studies have been described in the literature (1). Note that for these designs, the number of observations in each group does not need to be identical; drop-outs do not invalidate any of the remaining data. Endpoints in clinical studies can be “continuous” data or discrete. For example, the endpoint could be treadmill time to angina, or as for a local
Adenosine decreases neurotransmitter release at central synapses.

Abstract Adenosine, at concentrations ranging from 5 to 100 microM, decreases the efficacy of transmission at the perforant path synapses on dentate granule cells. We have used whole cell recording from these cells in slices to determine the mechanism of the reduced synaptic strength. We find that size of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mepscs) is unaffected by adenosine at concentrations up to 100 microM, an observation that indicates adenosine's mode of action is not through a decreased postsynaptic sensitivity to neurotransmitter. A quantal analysis indicates, however, that the quantity of neurotransmitter released is sufficiently diminished by adenosine to account entirely for the adenosine-produced decrease in synaptic strength. Application of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), a drug that antagonizes the effects of endogenous adenosine, produces an increase in synaptic strength. This observation suggests that the resting level of adenosine in our slices is appreciable, and an analysis of the adenosine dose-response relation is consistent with endogenous adenosine levels of about 10 microM. IBMX application produces only slight changes in the amplitude of mepscs, whereas a quantal analysis demonstrates that the drug significantly increases the amount of neurotransmitter released. Thus IBMX acts as an "anti-adenosine" in our experiments. In some experiments we have been able to record excitatory and inhibitory synaptic currents produced by the same perforant path stimulus. In these instances we find that inhibitory transmission is unaffected by concentrations of adenosine that produce a marked decrease in the strength of excitatory synapses.
A programmable parallel processor architecture for Viterbi detection

The Viterbi signal processor (VSP) is designed to facilitate the programming of the dynamic-programming-like functions that characterize the Viterbi algorithm and other sequential detection methods. The architecture is shown to permit the efficient implementation of sequential decoders for most trellis codes, convolutional codes, and partial-response channels, in software, at rates that are ten to one hundred times faster than those achievable on conventional digital signal processors. Three concurrent and independently programmable subprocessors controlled by a central control unit are described and their programming and architectures characterized. The speed increase occurs because of the special structure and instruction sets of these subprocessors, and the subprocessors (which do not require multiplication) can be implemented with a significantly shorter instruction-execution time than is possible with conventional digital signal processors. It is shown that complex decoders for multidimensional trellis coding can be implemented at sampling rates approaching 1 MHz in software on the VSP. >
Comparison of swimming speed and photophysiological responses to different external conditions among three Karenia brevis strains

Behavior, growth, and production are integral in the life history of Karenia brevis, an autotrophic, dinoflagellate HAB species, and are important variables in modeling blooms in the Gulf of Mexico. This study compares swimming speeds, growth rates, and photosynthetic responses of recent isolates of K. brevis (specifically the Apalachicola ‐ APA, Manasota ‐ MAN, and Jacksonville ‐ JAX strains) over a range of light intensities and temperatures. Strain swimming speeds were similar and remained fairly constant from 17 to 30 8C, but decreased markedly at 13 8C. Photosynthetic responses of the strains to different acclimated temperatures had opposite trends with APA exhibiting higher electron transport rates (ETR) at higher temperatures and MAN exhibiting higher ETR at lower temperatures. In the light experiments, the cells’ internal physiological state (represented by photosynthetic yield, ETR, and neutral lipid reserves) and swimming capabilities were examined in the dark after 6 h incubations in the radial photosynthetron. For all strains, at initial incubation light intensities swimming speed decreased and ETR increased. As incubation light intensities increased, ETR decreased and swimming speed increased. At the highest incubation light intensities, ETR and swimming speed decreased. Neutral lipids followed a pattern similar to ETR, only lipids peaked after ETR at a light intensity that corresponded to the increase in swimming speed. The results suggest that cells may partition energy selectively depending on the needs of the cell. Information was combined to characterize a generalized species response to light and temperature ranges. # 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Prediction of axial concentration profiles in catalytic fluidized reactors

A previous study by Fryer and Potter (1976) of the catalytic decomposition of ozone in a bubbling fluidized-bed reactor is considered in the light of a recently developed reactor model. It is shown that since in-bed sampling leads to an averaged concentration that is biased toward the emulsion-phase gas composition, an increase in the ozone concentration in the sampled gas is predicted as the probe is raised above the bubbling bed. The analysis, which does not have to assume gas backmixing, shows that the minima in the ozone concentration profiles associated with this transition occurs between Hmf and H, the expanded bed height, and may even occur at lower points in the bed at higher excess fluidizing velocities. The model also correctly predicts the overall conversion of ozone as a function of the reaction rate constant and gas velocity without resorting to the fitting of any parameters.
A comparative study of neural network and regression analysis as modeling tools

The paper uses a real world example to highlight the differences between neural network and regression analysis as competing modeling tools. The paper also discusses a set of issues that need to be resolved to enhance the capabilities of neural networks as a modeling tool. >
Design Features and Operational Characteristics of the PEP Beam-Transport and Injection System

The PEP beam-transport system was designed to transmit 4-to-15 GeV electron and positron beams from the SLAC linac within a ± 0.8 percent momentum band, to have flexible tuning of the betatron and offmomentum functions for matching into the PEP storage ring, and to have convenient operating characteristics. The transport lines were brought into operation quickly and have operated well. Electron injection has been consistent and efficient and relatively easy to accomplish. Positron injection also has been satisfactory but is variable and more sensitive to ring conditions.
Role of DNA repair in resistance to drugs that alkylate O6 of guanine.

This review focuses on DNA repair as a mechanism of resistance to chemotherapeutic agents that attack at the O6 position of guanine. This class of agents includes the methylating agents, temozolomide, procarbazine, dacarbazine (DTIC), and steptozotocin, and the chloroethylating agents, carmustine (1,3 bis-chloroethyl 2-nitrosourea, BCNU), lomustine (3-cyclohexyl-1-chloroethyl-nitrosourea, CCNU), (2-chloroethyl)-3-sarcosinamide-1-nitrosourea (SarCNU), and agents used in other countries, including clomosome and 1-(4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)methyl-3-(2-chlorethyl)-3-nitrosourea (ACNU). Both groups of agents attack at the same site, but their mechanism of cytotoxicity appears to differ. For instance, methylating agents form numerous methyl-DNA adducts, including O6-methylguanine (O6-mG). In cells with persistent O6-mG adducts, over 6,000 lesions are required to induce cell death [1]. In contrast, chloroethylating agents lead to the formation of DNA-interstrand crosslinks, only a few of which are required for cytotoxicity [2].
Difference Equation State Approximations for Nonlinear Hereditary Control Problems

Discrete approximation schemes for the solution of nonlinear hereditary control problems are constructed. The methods involve approximation by a sequence of optimal control problems in which the original infinite dimensional state equation has been approximated by a finite dimensional discrete difference equation. Convergence of the state approximations is argued using linear semigroup theory and is then used to demonstrate that solutions to the approximating optimal control problems in some sense approximate solutions to the original control problem. Two schemes, one based upon piecewise constant approximation and the other involving spline functions, are discussed. Numerical results are presented and used to compare the schemes to other available approximation methods for the solution of hereditary control problems.
Partial list colorings

Abstract Suppose G is an s -choosable graph with n vertices, and every vertex of G is assigned a list of t colors. We conjecture that at least (t/s)n of the vertices of G can be colored from these lists. We provide lower bounds and consider related questions. For instance, we show that if G is χ -colorable (rather than being s -choosable), then more than (1−((χ−1)/χ) t )n of the vertices of G can be colored from the lists and that this is asymptotically best possible. We include a number of open questions.
Urea as a promotive coupler of plant-herbivore interactions.

Growth responses of Kyllinga nervosa Steud., a sedge from the Serengeti short-grass plains, were examined in a factorial experiment which included clipped and unclipped plants, and nitrogen supplied as either urea or ammonium nitrate. Results were expressed in relation to three transfer processes: flow to grazers, flow to producers and flow to reproduction. Clipping increased biomass and nitrogen flow to grazers by significantly increasing nitrogen uptake, aboveground nitrogen flow, and the weights of and proportional allocation to green leaf production. This was at the expense of flow to vegetative and sexual reproduction, since the weights and proportional investments in roots, crowns and reproductive structures were reduced. Urea nutrition increased flow to grazers and plant reproduction through increases in green leaf weight, flower weight, allocation to green leaves, flowers and stems, and aboveground: belowground biomass ratios. Stimulation of aboveground productivity by urea was a consequence of increased tillering rates. Interactive responses of clipping and nitrogen source regulated plant growth, thus controlling flow to each transfer process. Combined effects of clipping and urea resulted in compensatory production of both green leaves and flowers, and maximized biomass and nitrogen flow to grazers. Both urea and clipping tightened herbivore-producer recycling by significantly reducing litter nitrogen and carbon masses. In contrast, when plants were unclipped and grown on NH4NO3, biomass allocation and weights of roots and crowns were increased at the expense of aboveground tissues, thus increasing flow to primary producers. Plant growth responses to experimental treatment combinations simulating nutritional status of grazed and ungrazed field plants indicate that urea represents a potential importance beyond it nitrogen contribution by introducing a positive feedback to herbivores.
Treatment regimen determines the relationship between depression and glycemic control.

Abstract Several recent studies have suggested that depression is related to poorer glycemic control in patients with type 1 diabetes, but not in type 2 diabetes. We hypothesize that complexity of self-care regimen rather than the type of diabetes, is more important in determining this relationship of depression to glycemic control. Methods: One thousand thirty-four adults with diabetes were recruited for the study. These patients were treated with: diet and exercise, oral medications, oral medications and insulin, 1–2 daily injections of insulin, and ≥3 daily injections. All participants completed the Beck depression inventory (BDI) and had a hemoglobin A 1c (HbA 1c ) performed as part of routine clinical care. Results: Pearson correlations between BDI scores and HbA 1c were low and insignificant in all groups (0.015 ≤ r ≤ 0.066) except for those administering three or more daily shots of insulin ( r = 0.284; p = 0.034). Discussion: The results of this study clearly show that while depressive symptoms are significantly correlated to glycemic control in patients taking three or more insulin injections per day, there is no relationship in patients who are taking fewer than three injections per day.
Quantitative MRI of spinal cord injury in a rat model

Sequential in vivo MRI studies of experimental spinal cord injuries (SCI) were performed using a three-dimensional implementation of the FATE (Fast low-Angle spin echo sequence with short TE) sequence. MRI-observed pathology was quantified using a multispectral segmentation algorithm. Neurological analysis was performed on the same animals concurrently, in addition to end-point histology, for comparison with quantitative MRI results. These studies suggest that it is possible to use MRI to detect the onset of secondary injury in the spinal cord. The data also indicate that early detection of MRI-visible pathology may provide the necessary markers for predicting the long-term level of neurologic deficit.
Monolithic decimation filtering for custom delta-sigma A/D converters

The authors have identified the resolution/decimation tradeoff in practical delta-sigma A/D converters and the add-rate and memory requirements for first-stage decimators, FIR filters can be expressed in a general z-domain structure that scales directly with decimation. A time-domain procedure facilitates computing the effect of practical decimation filters on DSM (delta-sigma modulator) noise, permitting a systematic comparison of electrical performance. Automatically minimized logic networks are an efficient means of realizing compact impulse-response storage to implement these decimators in automatically generated custom IC form. >
Weight management tips for patients on hemodialysis.

The prevalence of overweight and obesity in therenal populationis increasingatan exponential rate proportionate to the prevalence seen in the general U.S. population. Dialysis units and transplant centers alike are faced with an estimated majorityof patients (60%)awaiting transplantation who considered overweight or obese. 1 Obesity asreflectedbyabodymassindex(BMI)of30 kg/m 2 orover isassociatedwithincreasedmorbidityfrom hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, congestiveheartdisease,stroke,gallbladderdisease,osteoarthritis, sleep apnea and respiratory problems, and certain types of cancer. Obesity is attributable to premature death and an increase in all-cause mortality. 2 Patients with chronic kidney disease may find that their BMI alone can prevent them from being a suitable candidate for kidney transplantation. Several studies indicate that obesity at time of kidney transplantation has an adverse affect on graft function and patient survival. 3 Evidence suggests that patients with elevated BMI may have a higher incidence of perioperative complications includingdelayedgraftfunction,delayedwoundhealing, ventral hernias, deep vein thrombosis, and increased risk of various infections. 4 Beyond the
Tree Gibbs Sampler

Summary: Tree Gibbs Sampler is a software for identifying motifs by simultaneously using the motif overrepresentation property and the motif evolutionary conservation property. It identifies motifs without depending on pre-aligned orthologous sequences, which makes it useful for the extraction of regulatory elements in multiple genomes of both closely related and distant species. Availability: The Tree Gibbs Sampler software is freely downloadable at https://compbio.iupui.edu/xiaomanli/LiSoftware/retrieve.php?ID=tgs Contact: [email protected]
Splicing of Messenger RNA Precursors

A general mechanism for the splicing of nuclear messenger RNA precursors in eukaryotic cells has been widely accepted. This mechanism, which generates lariat RNAs possessing a branch site, seems related to the RNA-catalyzed reactions of self-splicing introns. The splicing of nuclear messenger RNA precursors involves the formation of a multicomponent complex, the spliceosome. This splicing body contains at least three different small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles (snRNPs), U2, U5, and U4 + U6. A complex containing precursor RNA and the U2 snRNP particle is a likely intermediate in the formation of the spliceosome.
Effects of Living and Synthetic Mulch on the Population Dynamics of Whiteflies and Aphids, Their Associated Natural Enemies, and Insect-Transmitted Plant Diseases in Zucchini

Living and synthetic mulches were evaluated for control of the silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring, and aphids in zucchini plantings. Two living mulches, buckwheat, Fagopyrum esculentum Moench, and white clover, Trifolium repens L., and two synthetic mulches (reflective and white) were evaluated during the fall of 2002 and 2003. Results from pan-traps, yellow sticky traps, and foliar counts showed that reflective and buckwheat mulches consistently had fewer numbers of adult whiteflies and aphids compared with the standard white mulch treatments. In 2003, a significant increase in the abundance of natural enemies was recorded in all treatments. Living mulch treatments had higher natural enemy populations than synthetic mulch and bare-ground treatments. However, there were no differences in the species diversity of natural enemies found between treatments. The effectiveness of mulches for controlling immature whitefly numbers and the incidence of squash silverleaf disorder were inconsistent between years. Additional data taken at the end of the 2003 season revealed that two viral strains (PRSV-W and WMV-2) were present in the field. However, visual symptoms associated with these viral diseases did not occur until the end of the season.
BATHYMETRIC PATTERNS OF BODY SIZE IN DEEP-SEA GASTROPODS.

The shift to smaller body size in marine invertebrates at the deep-sea threshold and size-depth clines within the deep-sea ecosystem are global biogeographic phenomena that remain poorly understood. We present the first standardized measurements of larval and adult size among ecologically and phylogenetically similar species across a broad and continuous depth range, using the largest family of deep-sea gastropods (the Turridae). Size at all life stages increases significantly with depth from the upper bathyal region to the abyssal plain. These consistent clines may result from selection favoring larger size at greater depths because of its metabolic and competitive advantages. The unusually small size of deep-sea mollusks, in general, may represent an independent evolutionary process that favors invasion by inshore taxa composed of small organisms.
Paul St George's Telectroscope: Introduction

From May to June 2008, New York City and London were visually connected in real time via the Telectroscope's tubes and tunnels, to the amazement and delight of residents and visitors alike. Readers...
A continuous adjoint-based approach for the optimization of wing flapping

The study of flapping-wing aerodynamics is a problem with very large control space. Adjoint-based approach, by solving an inverse problem, can be used here as an efficient tool for optimization and physical understanding. However, the adjoint equation is typically formulated in a fixed domain. The moving boundary or morphing domain brings in an inconsistency in the definition of arbitrary perturbation at the boundary, which then proposes a new challenge if the control parameters happen to be also at the boundary. An unsteady mapping function, as a usual remedy for such problems, would make the whole formulation too complex to be feasible. Instead, we use non-cylindrical calculus to re-define the perturbation and solve the inconsistency caused by moving/morphing solid boundaries. The approach is first validated for a simple two dimensional test case of a plate plunging in an incoming flow. Then, we apply the approach to reduce the drag of a rigid flapping plate by optimize the phase delay between the plunging and pitching motion as a constant (single parameter) and as a time-varying function (large number of parameters). The extension to three dimensional cases is successfully validated by applying on an oscillatory sphere with incoming flow.
On the magnetic instability of ultrathin FCC FexNi1−x films

Abstract The `invar effect’ in Fe x Ni 1− x alloys occurs when the Fe content approaches 65%. At this point, the magnetization falls to zero, and a martensitic structural transformation from an FCC to BCC lattice occurs. This paper addresses the question: what happens if this structural transformation is suppressed in an ultrathin alloy film?
On the Differentiability of Functions of Several Variables

(1985). On the Differentiability of Functions of Several Variables. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 92, No. 9, pp. 663-665.
Near-Field Ultrasonic Imaging: A Novel Method for Nondestructive Mechanical Imaging of IC Interconnect Structures

The investigation of an alternate approach to nondestructive, nanoscale mechanical imaging for IC interconnect structures is reported. This approach utilizes a heterodyne interferometer based on a scanning probe microscope, also referred to as heterodyne force microscopy (HFM). This interferometer is sensitive to the relative phase difference of the two ultrasonic excitations due to spatial variations in the sample viscoelastic response and enables near-field, phase-sensitive imaging. Proof-of-feasibility demonstrations of this technique are presented for ultrasonic phase-imaging of Al/low-k interconnect structures. Spatial resolution <10 nm is demonstrated.
Current situation and early warning evaluation on the China Infectious Diseases Automated-alert and Response System in Hefei

Objective To evaluate the current situation of China Infectious Diseases Automated- alert and Response System( CIDARS) and its application in predicting outbreak of the communicable diseases in Hefei,provide evidence for improvement of the system. Methods The amounts of warning signals,number of reported infectious diseases,outbreak and similar emergencies of infectious diseases were collected in CIDARS from May 1,2008 to April 30,2013,which were analyzed by the response rate,timeliness of response,and evaluated by its timeliness,sensitivity and blocking rate. Results A total of 8958 warning signals were generated,99. 90% of whom were responded,and 92. 57% were responded within 24 hours. Timeliness of response ascended year by year. 27 outbreaks issued warnings timely in 30 outbreaks of infectious disease and the warning sensitivity was 90. 00%. 44. 44% outbreaks issued warnings timely. In 49 clustering outbreaks,emergency blocking rate was 79. 59%( 39 /49). Conclusion CIDARS had realized automatic warning in outbreaks of infectious disease,However,there was some questions to solve,such as lag warning signals and more false positive signals.
Seizure outcomes in nonresective epilepsy surgery: an update

In approximately 30 % of patients with epilepsy, seizures are refractory to medical therapy, leading to significant morbidity and increased mortality. Substantial evidence has demonstrated the benefit of surgical resection in patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy, and in the present journal, we recently reviewed seizure outcomes in resective epilepsy surgery. However, not all patients are candidates for or amenable to open surgical resection for epilepsy. Fortunately, several nonresective surgical options are now available at various epilepsy centers, including novel therapies which have been pioneered in recent years. Ablative procedures such as stereotactic laser ablation and stereotactic radiosurgery offer minimally invasive alternatives to open surgery with relatively favorable seizure outcomes, particularly in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. For certain individuals who are not candidates for ablation or resection, palliative neuromodulation procedures such as vagus nerve stimulation, deep brain stimulation, or responsive neurostimulation may result in a significant decrease in seizure frequency and improved quality of life. Finally, disconnection procedures such as multiple subpial transections and corpus callosotomy continue to play a role in select patients with an eloquent epileptogenic zone or intractable atonic seizures, respectively. Overall, open surgical resection remains the gold standard treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy, although it is significantly underutilized. While nonresective epilepsy procedures have not replaced the need for resection, there is hope that these additional surgical options will increase the number of patients who receive treatment for this devastating disorder-particularly individuals who are not candidates for or who have failed resection.
Epidemiology of Stone Disease in the United States as Discerned from a Stone-Risk Profile

Epidemiologic surveys of nephrolithiasis have indicated that the southeastern United States is a region of relatively high stone incidence. This region has thus been designated the “stone belt” (1). Previous studies, however, lack comprehensive biochemical profile data on stoneforming patients in various regions to determine whether differences in metabolic and environmental risk factors account for the apparent high rate of stone formation in the stone belt.
Anticholinergische Plasmaaktivität und kognitive Funktion bei geriatrischen Patienten.

This study evaluated the putative impact of circulating anticholinergic equivalents on cognitive functional performance in non-demented geropsychiatric inpatients. Standard rating instruments were administered to measure memory functions, concentration and overall functional competency. Anticholinergic plasma activity was assayed, using a radioreceptor technique with tritiated quinuclidinyl benzilate as the active reagent. None of the cognitive tests employed indicated a statistically significant change in the subjects' quantifiable level of cognitive performance. All changes in anticholinergic activities were related to adjustments in psychotherapeutic medications. The possible role of reversal of pseudodementing features is discussed as well as the potential for monitoring anticholinergic activity when treating elderly individuals with more than one centrally active medication having anticholinergic properties.
Is Epistemology Tainted

Epistemic relativism comes in many forms, which have been much discussed in the last decade or so in analytic epistemology. My goal is to defend a version of epistemic relativism that sources the relativity in the metaphysics of epistemic properties and relations, most saliently knowledge. I contrast it with other relativist theses. I argue that the sort of metaphysical relativism about knowledge I favor does not threaten the objectivity of the epistemological domain.
Security Mechanisms for CAN Protocol

As mentioned in Chap. 2, security has become a pressing issue for automotive electronic systems. This is because modern automotive electronics systems are distributed as they are implemented with software running over networked Electronic Control Units (ECU) communicating via serial buses and gateways, but most systems have not been designed with security in mind. This is because the current processes, methods, and tools used for designing current automotive electronics systems focus on safety, reliability, and cost optimization.
Synthetic Vesicles as a Predictive Tool for Permeabilizing Activity of Peptides in Biological Membranes

To better understand the basis for selective membrane-permeabilizing activity by cationic, amphipathic peptides, the bee venom lytic peptide melittin and various antimicrobial peptides were assayed for their ability to cause leakage of entrapped contents from synthetic vesicles of varying lipid compositions. The vesicle compositions were selected on the basis of cell type and consist of common membrane models for eukaryotic cells as well as Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Membrane active peptides are shown to display a variety of membrane composition, sequence, and concentration-dependent leakage-inducing activity. The various membrane models are good predictors of antimicrobial and cytolytic potency. In order to differentiate between leakage mechanisms that conserve vesicle structural integrity and activity due to vesicle aggregation and fusion, a common artifact of membrane-active peptides, 5 mol percent DOPE-PEG(2000) lipids were introduced into each membrane model to inhibit aggregation. Vesicles with POPE rather than POPC as the primary zwitterionic lipid were the most impacted by the addition of PEGylated lipids, showing an increase in stability as well as the largest increases in peptide concentration required to induce 50% leakage of entrapped contents (LIC50). In POPC vesicle, the melittin derived peptides showed the largest increases in LIC50, while the inverse was true of POPE vesicles with library derived antimicrobial peptides being inactive at peptide to lipid ratios lower than 1:25 in vesicles with PEGylated lipid. The results show both the utility and the limitations of synthetic vesicles as predictors of cytolytic activity as well as the impact of PEGylated lipids beyond limiting aggregation.
Tone features and tone rules

Linguists, working within the Generative Phonology paradigm, are attempting to establish a theory which defines formally and substantively the phonological components of grammars which will specify all and only the set of possible sound systems of human languages. Such a theory must provide a set of features for characterizing tone and other prosodic phenomena of language. It must also include constraints on tonal representation, the formal properties of tonal rules, and conventions which govern the interactions of tone rules with other rules of the grammar. This paper attempts to deal with some of these important questions. In particular it will discuss the distinctive features of tones (level and contour tones), tonal representation, and rules in a generative grammar.
Management of hepatitis B in special populations.

Special populations infected with chronic HBV include those with decompensated cirrhosis, coinfections (HIV, HCV, HDV), hemodialysis and renal failure, immunosuppressed including transplant patients, children and women in pregnancy. These populations differ in their natural history and risk for liver-related complications, the indications for anti-HBV therapy as well as the recommendations regarding the HBV drugs used, duration of therapy and anticipated endpoints. Reflecting the special populations with substantive changes in management in recent years, this review focuses on HBV–HIV coinfected patients, immunosuppressed patients at risk for reactivation, liver transplant recipients and pregnant women. Management of women in the context of pregnancy and post-partum requires consideration of risks to mother and fetus/infant, including the risk of mother-to-child transmission. HBV–HIV coinfected patients require initiation of treatment concurrent with their HIV therapy and the HBV drugs used must by selected to minimize HIV and HBV resistance long-term. Increasing recognition of the risk for HBV reactivation with immunosuppressive therapy has led to recommendations to use prophylactic HBV therapy in patients with moderate to high risk of reactivation. Liver transplant recipients with HBV require life-long therapy to prevent or treat HBV infection but with current therapies, graft and patient survival are excellent.
Ranavirus phylogenomics: Signatures of recombination and inversions among bullfrog ranaculture isolates

Ranaviruses are emerging pathogens of fish, amphibians, and reptiles that threaten aquatic animal industries and wildlife worldwide. Our objective was to genetically characterize ranaviruses isolated during separate bullfrog Lithobates catesbeianus die-offs that occurred eight years apart on the same North American farm. The earlier outbreak was due to a highly pathogenic strain of common midwife toad virus (CMTV) previously known only from Europe and China. The later outbreak was due to a chimeric ranavirus that displayed a novel genome arrangement and a DNA backbone typical for Frog virus 3 (FV3) strains except for interspersed fragments acquired through recombination with the CMTV isolated earlier. Both bullfrog ranaviruses are more pathogenic than wild-type FV3 suggesting recombination may have resulted in the increased pathogenicity observed in the ranavirus isolated in the later outbreak. Our study underscores the role international trade in farmed bullfrogs may have played in the global dissemination of highly pathogenic ranaviruses.
Why statistical inference from clinical trials is likely to generate false and irreproducible results

One area of biomedical research where the replication crisis is most visible and consequential is clinical trials. Why do outcomes of so many clinical trials contradict each other? Why is the effectiveness of many drugs and other medical interventions so low? Why have prescription medications become the third leading cause of death in the US and Europe after cardiovascular diseases and cancer? In answering these questions, the main culprits identified so far have been various biases and conflicts of interest in planning, execution and analysis of clinical trials as well as reporting their outcomes. In this work, we take an in-depth look at statistical methodology used in planning clinical trials and analyzing trial data. We argue that this methodology is based on various questionable and empirically untestable assumptions, dubious approximations and arbitrary thresholds, and that it is deficient in many other respects. The most objectionable among these assumptions is that of distributional homogeneity of subjects’ responses to medical interventions. We analyze this and other assumptions both theoretically and through clinical examples. Our main conclusion is that even a totally unbiased, perfectly randomized, reliably blinded, and faithfully executed clinical trial may still generate false and irreproducible results. We also formulate a few recommendations for the improvement of the design and statistical methodology of clinical trials informed by our analysis.