cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Primate Models for the Assisted Reproductive Technologies and Embryonic Stem Cell Biology

Nonhuman primates (NHPs) represent clinically relevant animal models used in studies on the etiology and treatment of human diseases. In the context of reproduction, NHP models are relevant to research interests as diverse as the etiology and treatment of infertility and contraceptive development to an evaluation of cell or tissue-based therapies of disease employing embryonic stem cell-derived phenotypes. The assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) are used in the production of animals carrying desired MHC alleles for HIV vaccine development and could be used in the production of genetically identical animals by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). SCNT in turn is relevant to rescuing the unique genetics of aging or even deceased animals, to testing the efficacy of therapeutic cloning, and in combination with gene targeting, to creating monkey models of genetically based, neurodegenerative diseases. Since most NHP experience in applying the ARTs and in deriving embryonic stem cells (ESCs) involves Old World monkeys, principally rhesus and cynomolgus macaques and baboons, studies with these species will be featured in this chapter.
Plasma Deposition of Polymeric Thin Films on Organic Corrosion-Inhibiting Paint Pigments: A Novel Method to Achieve Slow Release

Slow release of corrosion-inhibitive paint pigments is a great challenge to the paint industry, because of the urgent need to replace chromate-containing pigments. Unfortunately, most effective corrosion inhibitors are too soluble for use in paints. In this paper, we present a novel method to modify selected water-soluble organic inhibitor particles to achieve the purpose of slow release. A plasma polymerization technique was used to deposit an ultrathin polymer film on the surface of the inhibitor particles. Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy (TOFSIMS), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and contact angle data confirmed the successful deposition of the polymer thin film on the inhibitor particles. Using immersion tests and electrochemical techniques, we have demonstrated that the encapsulated water-soluble inhibitor can slowly release into the environment to protect a metal as needed. This technique is a feasible and promising method to promote the replacement of chromate pigments in paints.
Enhanced Antinociception of the Model Opioid Peptide [D-Penicillamine2,5] Enkephalin by P-Glycoprotein Modulation

Purpose. This study was conducted to examine the influence of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) modulation on the pharmacodynamics of the model opioid peptide DPDPE.
Thirty-Day Hospital Readmissions for Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis in the United States: A Nationwide Analysis.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is a systemic necrotizing vasculitis that often results in frequent hospitalizations. We investigated the characteristics and predictors of 30-day hospital readmissions in GPA. METHODS We performed a cross-sectional analysis using the 2014 National Readmission Database. We included nonelective admissions with a primary or secondary diagnosis of GPA. We compared characteristics between readmissions and nonreadmissions. Independent predictors for readmissions were studied using mixed-effects multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS We evaluated a total of 9749 hospital admissions with GPA, among which there were 2173 readmissions (22.3%) within 30 days of discharge. The top 5 primary reasons for readmissions were GPA, sepsis, pneumonia, acute respiratory failure, and acute kidney injury. Granulomatosis with polyangiitis readmissions were associated with higher length of stay (8.0 vs 7.2 days; p = 0.019) and less discharge home (50% vs 63%, p < 0.001). Independent predictors for readmissions were younger age (odds ratio [OR], 0.99; p = 0.013), no private insurance (OR, 0.50; p < 0.001), higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (OR, 1.12; p = 0.039), congestive heart failure (OR, 1.71; p = 0.001), acute kidney injury (OR, 1.39; p = 0.005), and discharge to home health care (OR, 1.29; p = 0.039). CONCLUSIONS We found a significant burden of 30-day readmissions among GPA populations. Clinicians should be vigilant regarding patients with high risk of readmissions, including those with younger age, public insurance, higher comorbidity burden, cardiac and renal complications, and unfavorable discharge dispositions.
Stereochemical control on the Michael addition of chiral 1,3-oxazolidine-2-thiones to N -crotonyl 1,3-oxazolidin-2-ones

Abstract Addition of both antipodes of 4-phenyl 1,3-oxazolidine-2-thione to 4-substituted N -crotonyl 1,3-oxazolidin-2-ones furnished Michael addition products. A perfect match occurred when both Michael donor and acceptor possessed the same stereochemistry and a mismatch when they had opposite stereochemistries. The newly created stereochemical center was shown to be governed by the Michael donor and not by the acceptor.
A Petition of 1619 in K'ekchi' (Maya)

Se publica aqui, con amplio estudio introductorio, una peticion suscrita por indigenas de lengua k'ekchi', habitantes de Cahabon en Guatemala. Dicha peticion, dirigida al provincial de los dominicos, esta fechada el 7 marzo de 1619 y se conserva en el ramo de Inquisicion, volumen 361, del Archivo General de la Nacion , en la Ciudad de Mexico. El interes de esta peticion puede apreciarse desde varios puntos de vista. Por una parte esta su interes historico, ya que en ella aparecen personajes conocidos a traves de las obras de cronistas como fray Antonio de Remesal y fray Francisco Jimenez. Por otra, esta su importancia linguistica y, finalmente, su significacion como una muestra de la relativamente poco abundante literatura indigena colonial en lengua k'ekchi'.
Highly Multifunctional Dopamine-Functionalized Reduced Graphene Oxide Supercapacitors

Summary Batteries and supercapacitors that possess the mechanical properties of structural composites are desirable for electric vehicles and aerospace applications, as energy may be stored within structural panels to realize significant mass and volume savings. However, current electrode materials suffer from poor mechanical performance, as described by a low multifunctional efficiency parameter (
A CMOS Magnetoresistive Sensor Front-End With Mismatch-Tolerance and Sub-ppm Sensitivity for Magnetic Immunoassays

Magnetic biosensing is an emerging technique for ultra-sensitive point-of-care (PoC) biomolecular detection. However, the large baseline-to-signal ratio and sensor-to-sensor mismatch in magnetoresistive (MR) biosensors severely complicates the design of the analog front-end (AFE) due to the high dynamic range (DR) required. The proposed AFE addresses these issues through new architectural and circuit level techniques including fast settling duty-cycle resistors (DCRs) to reduce readout time and a high frequency interference rejection (HFIR) sampling technique embedded in the ADC to relax the DR requirement. The AFE achieves an input-referred noise of 46.4 nT/√Hz, an input-referred baseline of less than 0.235 mT, and a readout time of 11 ms while consuming just 1.39 mW. Implemented in a 0.18 μm CMOS process, this work has state-of-the-art performance with 22.7× faster readout time, >7.8× lower baseline, and 2.3× lower power than previously reported MR sensor AFEs.
Free-weight versus weight machine resistance exercise on pulse wave reflection and aortic stiffness in resistance-trained individuals.

The purpose of this study was to compare the vascular responses to acute free-weight (FW) resistance exercise (RE) versus weight machines (WM). Thirty-two resistance-trained individuals participate...
Behavior-based yield for electronic cigarette users of different strength eliquids based on natural environment topography.

Introduction: The extent to which electronic cigarette users will compensate for lower nicotine eliquids has implications on the risk associated with regulating eliquid composition. This article el...
Intrathecal Administration of Resolvin D1 and E1 Decreases Hyperalgesia in Mice with Bone Cancer Pain: Involvement of Endocannabinoid Signaling.

Pain produced by bone cancer is often severe and difficult to treat. Here we examined effects of Resolvin D1 (RvD1) or E1 (RvE1), antinociceptive products of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, on cancer-induced mechanical allodynia and heat hyperalgesia. Experiments were performed using a mouse model of bone cancer produced by implantation of osteolytic ficrosarcoma into and around the calcaneus bone. Mechanical allodynia and heat hyperalgesia in the tumor-bearing paw were assessed by measuring withdrawal responses to a von Frey monofilament and to radiant heat applied on the plantar hind paw. RvD1, RvE1, and cannabinoid receptor antagonists were injected intrathecally. Spinal content of endocannabinoids was evaluated using UPLC-MS/MS analysis. RvD1 and RvE1 had similar antinociceptive potencies. ED50s for RvD1 and RvE1 in reducing mechanical allodynia were 0.2 pg (0.53 fmol) and 0.6 pg (1.71 fmol), respectively, and were 0.3 pg (0.8 fmol) and 0.2 pg (0.57 fmol) for reducing heat hyperalgesia. Comparisons of dose-response relationships showed equal efficacy for reducing mechanical allodynia, however, efficacy for reducing heat hyperalgesia was greater for of RvD1. Using UPLC-MS/MS we determined that RvD1, but not RvE1, increased levels of the endocannabinoids Anandamide and 2-Arachidonoylglycerol in the spinal cord. Importantly, Resolvins did not alter acute nociception or motor function in naive mice. Our data indicate, that RvD1 and RvE1 produce potent antiallodynia and antihyperalgesia in a model of bone cancer pain. RvD1 also triggers spinal upregulation of endocannabinoids that produce additional antinociception predominantly through CB2 receptors.
Streaming Instability With Multiple Dust Species – I. Favourable Conditions for the Linear Growth

Recent study suggests that the streaming instability, one of the leading mechanisms for driving the formation of planetesimals, may not be as efficient as previously thought. Under some disc conditions, the growth timescale of the instability can be longer than the disc lifetime when multiple dust species are considered. To further explore this finding, we use both linear analysis and direct numerical simulations with gas fluid and dust particles to mutually validate and study the unstable modes of the instability in more detail. We extend the previously studied parameter space by one order of magnitude in both the range of the dust-size distribution $[T_{s,min}, T_{s,max}]$ and the total solid-to-gas mass ratio $\varepsilon$ and introduce a third dimension with the slope $q$ of the size distribution. We find that the fast-growth regime and the slow-growth regime are distinctly separated in the $\varepsilon$-$T_{s,max}$ space, while this boundary is not appreciably sensitive to $q$ or $T_{s,min}$. With a wide range of dust sizes present in the disc (e.g. $T_{s,min}\lesssim10^{-3}$), the growth rate in the slow-growth regime decreases as more dust species are considered. With a narrow range of dust sizes (e.g. $T_{s,max}/T_{s,min}=5$), on the other hand, the growth rate in most of the $\varepsilon$-$T_{s,max}$ space is converged with increasing dust species, but the fast and the slow growth regimes remain clearly separated. Moreover, it is not necessary that the largest dust species dominate the growth of the unstable modes, and the smaller dust species can affect the growth rate in a complicated way. In any case, we find that the fast-growth regime is bounded by $\varepsilon\gtrsim 1$ or $T_{s,max}\gtrsim 1$, which may represent the favourable conditions for planetesimal formation.
Evaluation of Non-Invasive Ankle Joint Effort Prediction Methods for Use in Neurorehabilitation Using Electromyography and Ultrasound Imaging

Objective: Reliable measurement of voluntary human effort is essential for effective and safe interaction between the wearer and an assistive robot. Existing voluntary effort prediction methods that use surface electromyography (sEMG) are susceptible to prediction inaccuracies due to non-selectivity in measuring muscle responses. This technical challenge motivates an investigation into alternative non-invasive effort prediction methods that directly visualize the muscle response and improve effort prediction accuracy. The paper is a comparative study of ultrasound imaging (US)-derived neuromuscular signals and sEMG signals for their use in predicting isometric ankle dorsiflexion moment. Furthermore, the study evaluates the prediction accuracy of model-based and model-free voluntary effort prediction approaches that use these signals. Methods: The study evaluates sEMG signals and three US imaging-derived signals: pennation angle, muscle fascicle length, and echogenicity and three voluntary effort prediction methods: linear regression (LR), feedforward neural network (FFNN), and Hill-type neuromuscular model (HNM). Results: In all the prediction methods, pennation angle and fascicle length significantly improve the prediction accuracy of dorsiflexion moment, when compared to echogenicity. Also, compared to LR, both FFNN and HNM improve dorsiflexion moment prediction accuracy. Conclusion: The findings indicate FFNN or HNM approach and using pennation angle or fascicle length predict human ankle movement intent with higher accuracy. Significance: The accurate ankle effort prediction will pave the path to safe and reliable robotic assistance in patients with drop foot.
Radiographic characterization of acute scaphoid fractures in children under 11 years of age.

Delayed diagnosis of scaphoid fractures can lead to long-term morbidity. While radiography is the preferred screening examination, there is a relative paucity of literature that examines fracture visibility in younger children, who have smaller ossification centers, an abundance of unossified cartilage and fractures that preferentially involve the distal scaphoid. To characterize acute scaphoid fractures in younger children on radiographs with observer agreement and with respect to fracture location. This institutional review board (IRB)-approved and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-compliant cross-sectional study included children (≤10 years of age) with acute scaphoid fractures (≤7 days), who underwent radiographic examinations at a tertiary children’s hospital between December 2008 and June 2019. Three readers (two pediatric radiologists and one orthopedic surgeon) reviewed each examination to determine fracture visibility on each radiographic view and fracture location. Kruskal-Wallis, Fisher exact and Cochran-Armitage tests were used to compare fracture visibility and location, and Kappa tests were used to calculate observer agreement. Twenty-eight children (15 boys, 13 girls; mean age: 9.5±0.6 years) with 10 (36%) distal corner, 11 (39%) distal body and 7 (25%) mid-body fractures, underwent 7 (25%) 4-view, 18 (64%) 3-view and 3 (11%) 2-view examinations. Twenty-six (93%) fractures were visible on at least one view with six (21%) fractures visible on all available views. No significant association was found between fracture visibility and fracture location (P=0.32). Observer agreement was substantial to almost perfect. Only 7% of these acute scaphoid fractures in younger children are inconspicuous on the initial radiographic examination.
Interleukin-6 induces spatially dependent whole-body hypersensitivity in rats: implications for extracephalic hypersensitivity in migraine

Migraine is a complex neurological disorder that is characterized by throbbing head pain, increased sensitivity to light, sound, and touch, as well as nausea and fatigue. It is one of the most common and most disabling disorders globally but mechanisms causing migraine are poorly understood. While head pain is a typical feature of attacks, they also often present with cutaneous hypersensitivity in the rest of the body. In contrast, primary pain conditions in the lower parts of the body are less commonly associated with cephalic hypersensitivity. Previous studies indicate that application of stimuli to the meninges of rodents causes cutaneous facial as well as hindpaw hypersensitivity. In the present study, we asked whether widespread hypersensitivity is a unique feature of dural stimulation or whether body-wide responses occur similarly when the same stimulus is given in other locations. Rats were given the same dose of IL-6 either via dural, intraplantar, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intracisternal, or intrathecal injection. Cutaneous facial and hindpaw allodynia was assessed using Von Frey following injection into each location. Hindpaw allodynia was observed following dural and intraplantar injection of IL-6 in both males and females. Hindpaw allodynia was only observed in females following intracisternal and intrathecal IL-6 injections. In contrast, facial allodynia was only observed in either sex following dural and intracisternal injections, which would activate meningeal afferents and the trigeminal nucleus caudalis (TNC), respectively. Here we show that while stimulation of upper body regions with IL-6 including the meninges and brainstem can cause widespread hypersensitivity spreading to the paws, similar stimulation of the lower body does not cause the spread of hypersensitivity into the head. These data are consistent with the observations that whole body hypersensitivity is specific to conditions such as migraine where pain is present in the head and they may provide insight into co-morbid pain states associated with migraine.
PRODUCTIVITY GAP BY GENDER AMONG RICE FARMERS IN NORTH-CENTRAL NIGERIA

The present research used a field survey data of 2020 rice cropping season to determine yield gap by gender among rice farmers in North-Central Nigeria. A total of 376 farmers were drawn from a sampling frame through a multi-stage sampling technique and a structured questionnaire coupled interview schedule was used for information elicitation. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. The empirical evidences showed that most of the farmers have negative attitudes towards risk and this owes to poor resource capital base, thus hinders cultivation of economic holdings. Besides, women farmers were more averse to risk than the men farmers which owes largely to gender discrimination and stereotype induced by culture and religion, thus hindered their access to and control over productive resources. Furthermore, neither gender nor risk attitudinal differentials have impact on the average yield of the farmers. However, it was established that yield gap was largely due to gender and risk attitudinal discriminations. Therefore, the study enjoins the farmers, especially the women folk to harness social capital viz . participation in co-operative association- pecuniary advantages, thus enable them to have access to and control over productive. In addition, the policymakers are advised to create an enabling agricultural environment for the women folk viz. gender budget mainstreaming, thus tackling women farmers’ susceptibility to the vicious cycle of poverty.
Do distributional preferences reverse on a dollar? An experiment

In settings where other-regarding motives are likely to be (and some would argue, should be) at the forefront of our minds, how much of our behavior can still be explained by narrow pecuniary self-interest by itself? In an experiment where subjects are asked to vote between two income distributions that have diametrically opposed effects on the group as a whole, I find that self-interest still appears to dwarf the combined effects of other-regarding motives in influencing the votes of the vast majority of subjects.
Pathways to policy failure: evidence from Puerto Rico’s 2011 tax reform

This study aims to enhance our understanding of the complicated relationship between policy design and policy failure. In doing so, it examines whether Puerto Rico’s 2011 tax reform failed to achie...
Eye and ocular adnexa manifestations of MED12-related disorders

MED12-related disorders are a rare group of intellectual disability syndromes with a broad range of phenotypic characteristics. The phenotypic spectrum of MED12-related disorders currently includes...
A Multi-Domain Architectural Efficiency Metric

Developments in the field of circuit design and computer architecture have introduced a variety of architectures such as in-memory compute, near-memory compute, FPGA, CGRA, DSP, GPU and many more still in the research phase. There is an increasing need for a unifying architectural efficiency metric that is applicable during the architecture design phase as well as post-silicon benchmarking, which quantifies different architectures, and is independent of the underlying implementation technology. This paper introduces an architectural efficiency metric that satisfies the above mentioned criteria. The metric quantifies the number of instructions or the size of reconfiguration bits required to perform a computation over a range of program sizes in the architecture. The metric helps understand limitations and benefits of different architectures, and provides insight into theoretical throughput. Our efficiency metric also informs the user/compiler about hardware options in a multi-architecture system based on the size of computation required.
Neural Bases for Segmentation and Positioning

Why in the same situations different consumers do not act similarly? And if they behave differently, then they should feel and reason differently as well. One of the most salient features of emotion is the pronounced variability among individuals in their reactions to emotional incentives and in their dispositional mood. Collectively, these individual differences have been described as the affective style (Davidson 2004). At issue, however, are not just the emotional reactions but the emotional memory and perception as well. Individual differences in the form of experience, perception, and attention impact the nature of information recorded in associative memories and lead to different perspectives on a person’s inner and outer world.
Isolation of Bacteriophage for Clostridium tetani

The purpose of this report is to note the isolation of a Clostridium tetani phage from soil and to specify the procedure used to obtain suitable lawns for plaque formation.
Geographic and temporal trends in frontal sinus surgery

Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate geographic and temporal trends in frontal sinus surgery procedures. Methods Medicare Part B data files from 2000 to 2011 were examined for temporal trends in various frontal sinus procedures, and the most recent year containing geographic information (2010) was evaluated for Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code use. Additionally, nationwide charges per procedure were recorded. Regional populations of individuals ≥65 years old were obtained from the 2010 U.S. Census, and surgical society websites were used to determine the number of practicing rhinologists and otolaryngologists in each region. Results The use of open approaches declined by one third, while endoscopic procedures went from 6463 to 19262 annually, with the most marked increases occurring from 2006 through 2011. Geographic variation was noted, with practitioners in the South Atlantic states performing the greatest number of endoscopic procedures in 2010, whereas the East South Central states had the greatest number when controlling for population. There was an inverse relationship between endoscopic procedures performed and number of fellowship-trained rhinologists (controlling for regional populations) (R2 = 0.66). The first year frontal sinus ballooning had a unique CPT code illustrated decreased reimbursements for non-balloon endoscopic surgery ($609) relative to balloon approaches ($2635). Conclusion Declines in open frontal sinus surgery and marked increases in endoscopic approaches have potential implications for residency training. Potential reasons for marked increases in endoscopic approaches include the rising popularity of balloon technologies, although this is speculative. Geographic variation exists in frontal sinus surgery patterns, including an inverse relationship between endoscopic approaches and the number of fellowship-trained rhinologists.
Simulating Chinese brush painting: a geometric model

Three distinct problems arise in the attempt to simulate Chinese brush painting: modeling ink and water diffusion in paper, modeling soft brush dynamics, and creating a brush stroke input method. Recent research [1] demonstrates that attention to the problems of brush modeling more effectively captures the style of Chinese brush painting. Until recently, however, nearly all research has focused exclusively on the problem of diffusion.
Real Time Recogniton and Tracking System of Multiple Vehicles

This paper proposed a real-time system to recognize and track multiple vehicles. The occlusion problem is solved by the occlusion segmentation method and then each vehicle is recognized according to their outlines and tracked by a tracking algorithm. The proposed recognition method uses the visual length, visual width, roof, windshield, and hood of vehicles to classify the vehicles to vans, utility vehicles, sedans, mini trucks, or large vehicles. Experiments obtained by using complex road scenes are reported, which demonstrate the validity of the method in terms of robustness, accuracy, and time responses
Experiences With Parental Aggression During Childhood and Self-Concept in Adulthood: The Importance of Subjective Perceptions

That individuals' realities are subjectively constructed is a basic, fundamental concept in psychology. However, past research examining child maltreatment in relation to psychological functioning has only investigated the frequency with which parental aggression occurs. Here, adults' perceptions of the abusiveness of their parents' aggressive behaviors during childhood were investigated as a predictor of current self-concept. Participants (N = 119) completed questionnaires assessing the extent to which they experienced parental aggression during childhood, their subjective perceptions of their parents' behaviors, and their current self-concept. Results indicated that how participants perceived their parents' aggressive behaviors was a more important predictor of self-concept than was the frequency with which those aggressive parental behaviors occurred. How individuals characterize their experiences with parental aggression should be taken into account when examining the psychological effects of aggressive parental behaviors.
Spontaneous contractions of isolated bat wing venules are inhibited by luminal flow.

The hypothesis that spontaneous contractions of bat wing venules could be modulated by luminal flow was tested. Single venules (114 +/- 5 microns diam) from the wings of anesthetized pallid bats were dissected, cannulated, and pressurized in vitro. A dual reservoir system was used to independently control luminal pressure and flow. In the absence of flow, and with pressure set to 10 cmH2O, all venules contracted spontaneously at rates between 20 and 40 cycles/min. Pressure elevation over the range of 3-10 cmH2O caused a rapid increase in contraction frequency and decrease in amplitude; pressure reduction caused a rapid decrease in contraction frequency and increase in amplitude. In contrast, initiation of flow resulted in a delayed and gradual reduction of contraction amplitude and/or frequency (sometimes to zero). The net effect of flow was to increase mean diameter and decrease the product of frequency x cross-sectional area. Flow-induced inhibition of venular contraction was eliminated by endothelial denudation but persisted in the presence of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (10(-4) M) or indomethacin (10(-5) M) in concentrations that blocked the effects of exogenously applied ATP or arachidonic acid, respectively. The flow-induced venular response also persisted in the presence of superoxide dismutase (55 U/ml). Denuded venules responded to flow when placed downstream (i.e., perfused in series) from venules with intact endothelium. These results indicate that luminal flow can modulate the contractile function of bat wing venules via release of a transferable substance from the endothelium. The exact nature of the substance is not yet known but it does not appear to be classical endothelium-derived relaxing factor, a prostaglandin, or an oxygen radical.
Stalk Formation and Its Inhibition in Caulobacter crescentus

Estimates of average rates of stalk formation over several generations of growth in Caulobacter crescentus showed that long-stalked Sk1 mutant and phosphate-starved wild-type cultures produce stalk material at about twice the rate of wild-type C. crescentus grown with adequate nutrients. Thus, the long stalks of Sk1 or phosphate-starved caulobacters are not merely a function of their longer doubling times. Inhibition of cell division of Sk1 418 with mitomycin C (MC) caused production of cellular filaments and resulted in inhibition of stalk formation. There was no appreciable decrease in total cell mass or in rates of ribonucleic acid and protein synthesis in the MC-treated cultures as compared with controls, but stalk formation, which is normally dependent on these processes, was severely retarded. Average stalk lengths in MC-treated Sk1 cultures were 30% of those found in control cultures. MC-produced cellular filaments were also subjected to deoxyribonucleic acid analysis and ultrastructural examination. The deoxyribonucleic acid content of MC-treated bacteria was about 50 to 60% that of untreated bacteria. Hydroxyurea also was found to produce some cellular filaments and shorter stalks, but with accompanying decreases in growth rate and yield.
Increasing Returns and the Foundations of Unemployment Theory

Current approaches to macroeconomic theory divide, roughly, into two basic schools of thought. One approach, typically associated with 'rational expectations', views the economy as basically at or near Walrasian market clearing equilibrium, in which case it becomes very difficult to explain away convincingly the undeniable persistence, at times, of involuntary unemployment. Another approach views the underemployed economy as being in a state of temporary fixed price disequilibrium, in which case, aside from having to repress suspicions that the essence of effective demand failure might not have to do with prices fixed at 'wrong' values, there is a lot of rationalising to be done about why profitable adjustments are so slow. This paper argues that something like an internally consistent theory of steady state involuntary unemployment is possible, and even plausible. The cornerstone of this third approach is increasing returns to scale, which blocks unemployed agents from breaking out of a low level equilibrium trap unless there is overall coordination or stimulation. A simple model is presented which contains the basic ideas.
Fault-tolerant mutual exclusion algorithms

Abstract A distributed computing system or a computer network consists of an interconnection of a set of N independently running computer systems called the nodes of the network. These nodes communicate among themselves only by exchanging messages. In this paper, we propose two different fault-tolerant distributed mutual exclusion algorithms that can establish mutual exclusion in such a distributed environment even when the member nodes fail, and we evaluate their relative performance.
System and software designs for transaction processing in asymmetric communication environments

Observing that it is impractical to use traditional methods to control concurrency in broadcast-based asymmetric communication environments, we introduce a concurrency control protocol designed for broadcast-based transaction processing called Server Timestamp and Update Broadcast Supported Concurrency (STUBcast). STUBcast supports two new correctness criteria proposed in this paper—Single Serializability and Local Serializability. These criteria are weaker than global serializability, but are practical and easier to achieve in broadcast environments. This article also discusses the software design for the simulation program and the protocol implementation. Simulation results collected using our simulation program suggest that STUBcast could be very efficient in realistic application environments. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rejoinder: Combining speed and accuracy to assess error-free cognitive processes

We welcome Rouder’s thoughtful comments, which provide valuable context for our work. We especially appreciate the amount of time that he has placed into examining features and properties of our model. Rouder points out the close connection of our modeling framework with the deadline model framework of Ollman and Billington (1972). In doing so, he explains some of the difficulties that have been discovered with deadline models, summarizing work by Ruthruff (1996) as well as his own with Ratcliff (Ratcliff and Rouder, 1998). Our response to Rouder’s discussion allows us to clarify a bit further the assumptions underlying our model. While Rouder is correct in noticing that our error-free statistical model is nearly identical to the deadline model of Ollman and Billington (1972), our model is, in fact, different in a crucial respect. The deadline model, like our error-free modeling framework, assumes a race between two processes. The process of interest, the discrimination process, infallibly produces correct responses. The model assumes that a participant’s underlying discrimination time distribution depends only on the type of stimulus presented, so that it is not affected by the relative stress on speed versus accuracy. Meanwhile, the deadline time process is under control of the participant, and is manipulated by the individual according to the demands of a trial. In other words, the deadline time is set by a participant before a trial begins, and is meant to capture the relative demands on speed versus accuracy. In our modeling framework, we also posit two processes that are in a race; one, the error-free process, which always produces correct responses, and the other, the guessing process, which randomly produces correct responses. But unlike the deadline model, our error-free modeling framework assumes that the two processes occur in parallel, and are meant to reflect all cognitive processes that are participant-specific for a fixed experimental condition. Thus, by contrast, our framework allows for the possibility that both processes can be affected by speed versus accuracy demands, not just one of the two processes (i.e., the guessing process). If speed or accuracy demands are experimentally manipulated (e.g., by asking the participant to be as accurate as possible rather than as quick as possible), then they can affect the error-free process insofar as changing speed or accuracy demands constitutes a change in the experimental condition. In our framework, all differences in an experimental setting, whether they are explicit changes in stress on speed versus accuracy, change in the difficulty of the task, change in induced emotion, etc., are
Electrochemical Sensor for Ultrasensitive Determination of Doxorubicin and Methotrexate Based on Cyclodextrin‐Graphene Hybrid Nanosheets

In this work, an electrochemical sensor based on a cyclodextrin-graphene hybrid nanosheets modified glassy carbon electrode (CD-GNs/GCE) was proposed for the ultrasensitive determination of doxorubicin and methotrexate. The peak currents of doxorubicin and methotrexate on the CD-GNs/GCE increased 26.5 and 23.7 fold, respectively, compared to the results obtained on the bare GCE. Under optimized conditions, the linear response ranges for doxorubicin and methotrexate are 10 nM–0.2 µM and 0.1 µM–1.0 µM, with detection limits of 0.1 nM and 20 nM, respectively. The sensor showed the advantages of simple preparation, low cost, high sensitivity, good stability and reproducibility. These properties make the prepared sensor a promising tool for the determination of trace amounts of doxorubicin and methotrexate in biological, clinical and pharmaceutical fields.
Efficacy and safety of 90Y ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin) radioimmunotherapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Abstract Radioimmunotherapy, an emerging treatment option for certain patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), enables the targeting of cytotoxic radiation to tumor cells with minimal irradiation of normal cells. Yttrium 90 ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin; Biogen Idec Inc, Cambridge, MA) was approved in February 2002 for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory low-grade, follicular, or transformed B-cell NHL, including patients with rituximab-refractory NHL. Yttrium 90 ibritumomab tiuxetan is an effective treatment with a consistent overall response rate of 73% to 83%. It has a good safety profile and is generally well tolerated in the indicated population. The results of clinical trials show that 90 Y ibritumomab tiuxetan can be used effectively and safely in many patients with NHL, including those with mild thrombocytopenia and those with disease that is refractory to rituximab, without the adverse events associated with conventional chemotherapy and external beam radiation therapy. The use of 90 Y ibritumomab tiuxetan does not preclude subsequent therapy with other conventional treatment options.
Two-phase droplet flow convective and radiative heat transfer

Abstract Numerical solutions of convective and radiative heat transfer to a turbulent two-phase droplet flow in a tube are presented for systems of relatively high pressure and high wall heat flux. The highly nonlinear energy equation of the vapor phase with droplets modeled as heat sinks is solved numerically for the thermal entrance region. Radiation heat transfer among the wall, the vapor and the droplet are included with vapor considered as an optically thick medium. For typical conditions investigated, the effectiveness of the droplets decreases with increasing droplet sizes but the effects of radiation becomes more important for larger droplets. The inclusion of radiation generally lowers the wall temperature by 15%.
FOVEA - A System for Invariant Visual Form Recognition

We first discuss criteria that allow one to distinguish between the many different types of object representations that are currently used for visual recognition tasks. We then apply these criteria to describe the versatile planar form representation used by FOVEA, a recently developed invariant visual recognition system. Current efforts to extend FOVEA to handle non-planar (3-D) objects are described.
Evidence of ongoing mast cell and eosinophil degranulation in symptomatic asthma airway

To assess whether mast cell and eosinophil (EOS) degranulation occurs in the airway of subjects with moderately symptomatic asthma, we have measured levels of preformed mast cell-derived mediators (histamine and tryptase) and EOS-derived mediators (major basic protein and EOS-derived neurotoxin) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) obtained from patients with symptomatic (N = 14) and asymptomatic asthma (N = 9) and patients without asthma (N = 6). Both the FEV1 (1.52 +/- 0.33 L:55% +/- 15% of predicted FEV1) and the forced expiratory flow at 50% (FEF50) (1.11 +/- 0.62 L/sec:26% +/- 14% of predicted FEF50) in the patients with symptomatic asthma were significantly lower than the corresponding values for FEV1 (3.16 +/- 0.45 L:86% +/- 10% of predicted FEV1) and the FEF50 (4.04 +/- 1.54 L/sec:71% +/- 25% of predicted FEF50) in the patients with asymptomatic asthma. Levels of histamine (4.8 +/- 5.0 ng/ml versus 0.2 +/- 0.2 ng/ml) (p = 0.05), EOS-derived neurotoxin (420.6 +/- 959.4 ng/ml versus 12.6 +/- 7.7 ng/ml) (p = 0.05), major basic protein (31.4 +/- 46.6 ng/ml versus less than 9 ng/ml) (p = 0.05), and percent EOSs (10.6% +/- 7.0% versus 1.1% +/- 0.9% of BAL cells) (p = 0.0006) were all significantly elevated in BALF from symptomatic compared to asymptomatic patients with asthma. The elevated levels of tryptase (13.2 +/- 14.8 ng/ml versus 3.9 +/- 3.9 ng/ml) in BALF from symptomatic compared to asymptomatic patients with asthma approximated, but did not reach, statistical significance. Spontaneous histamine release from BAL mast cells of symptomatic patients with asthma was 46% +/- 5% compared to 5% +/- 2% in asymptomatic patients with asthma. In response to antihuman IgE, histamine release from BAL mast cells recovered from asymptomatic patients with asthma increased to 25% +/- 10%, whereas in BAL mast cells of symptomatic patients with asthma, no anti-IgE potentiation of histamine release occurred. This study suggests that mast cell and EOS degranulation is ongoing in the airway of patients with moderately symptomatic asthma.
Inverse variational principle in finite elasticity

Although there is a vast literature on the variational principles of the theory of nonlinear elasticity, some basic problems in this field are still open (cf. e.g. [1]). General speaking, almost all the variational principles were studied in the reference configuration ( i.e. undeformed configuration ). Since the loaded boundary is unknown, the well-known dead loading condition should be assumed in this kind of variational principle. Otherwise, the configuration-dependent loading should be considered [2]. In my opinion, the correct description of variational boundary value problem for finite deformation theory is a problem with a movable boundary under the true loading systems [3]. The complete solutions of this problem should include both field functions and deformed configuration. To solve this kind of problem, this paper establishes an Euler-type variational principle in the current configuration by introducing a new variational definition. The critical condition of this principle yields a complete solution of the boundary value problem and the optimal shape condition of the movable boundary. This principle can be applied to problems of optimal shape design.
Identification of Common and Distinct Residues Involved in the Interaction of αi2 and αs with Adenylyl Cyclase

Abstract The G protein α subunits, αs and αi2, have stimulatory and inhibitory effects, respectively, on a common effector protein, adenylyl cyclase. These effects require a GTP-dependent conformational change that involves three α subunit regions (Switches I-III). αs residues in three adjacent loops, including Switch II, specify activation of adenylyl cyclase. The adenylyl cyclase-specifying region of αi2 is located within a 78-residue segment that includes two of these loops but none of the conformational switch regions. We have used an alanine-scanning mutagenesis approach within Switches I-III and the 78-residue segment of αi2 to identify residues required for inhibition of adenylyl cyclase. We found a cluster of conserved residues in Switch II in which substitutions cause major losses in the abilities of both αi2 and αs to modulate adenylyl cyclase activity but do not affect α subunit expression or the GTP-induced conformational change. We also found two regions within the 78-residue segment of αi2 in which substitutions reduce the ability of αi2 to inhibit adenylyl cyclase, one of which corresponds to an effector-activating region of αs. Thus, both αi2 and αs interact with adenylyl cyclase using: 1) conserved Switch II residues that communicate the conformational state of the α subunit and 2) divergent residues that specify particular effectors and the nature of their modulation.
Materialists, Postmaterialists, and the Criteria for Political Choice in U.S. Presidential Elections

The theory of value change suggests not only that materialists and postmaterialists make different political choices but that, more fundamentally, they use different criteria for making those choices. Specifically, it is argued that materialists rely mainly on economic criteria to make political decisions whereas postmaterialists are motivated primarily by noneconomic concerns. Using data from the 1976-1992 National Election Studies (NES) presidential year surveys, this article estimates a series of logit models in which presidential choice is the dependent variable, and the effects of economic and noneconomic issues are assessed separately for materialists and postmaterialists. The results indicate that noneconomic issues do exert an impact on postmaterialists, but they also tend to be significant for materialists as well. Similarly, economic issues, when they exert an impact, are significant for both materialists and postmaterialists. Thus, although the evidence in this article does not support the prop...
Indoor tanning device use among male high school students in the United States.

Abstract Purpose Indoor tanning is a risk factor for developing melanoma. Although in 2009, 6.7% of male high school students reported using an indoor tanning device, compared with 25.4% of female students (Eaton DK, Kann L, Kinchen S, et al, MMWR Surveill Summ 2010;59:1–142), it is also less well characterized in male than in female adolescents. Methods The associations between appearance-related and other health-related behaviors with indoor tanning device use were examined among male high school students in the United States, using the 2009 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Results Adjusted analysis of cross-sectional data showed that indoor tanning device use was positively associated with ever having taken steroids without a doctor's prescription, unhealthy weight control practices, binge drinking, eating fruits and vegetables five or more times per day, playing on at least one sports team, and attempted suicide. Conclusions Understanding the relationship between indoor tanning device use and appearance-related and other health-related behaviors is useful in designing risk reduction interventions for skin cancer prevention.
Purification and Crystallization of the Catalytic Domain of Human Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B Expressed in Escherichia coli

The amino-terminal 321 residues encoding the catalytic domain of human protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (molecular mass 37 kDa) has been expressed in Escherichia coli, purified to homogeneity and crystallized. The crystals diffract to 2.4 A resolution when exposed to synchrotron radiation and belong to space group P3(1)21 (or its enantiomorph P3(2)21) with a = 88.4 A, b = 88.4 A, c = 104.0 A, alpha = beta = 90.0 degrees, gamma = 120.0 degrees. There is one molecule of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B per asymmetric unit and the crystal form is suitable for the determination of the atomic structure of the enzyme.
Adherence to the 2012 national cervical cancer screening guidelines: a pilot study.

Objective The goal of this pilot study was to evaluate adherence to the 2012 cervical cancer screening guidelines among health care providers in a large health maintenance organization. Study Design A cross-sectional survey evaluating knowledge, reported practices, and views of the 2012 cervical cancer screening guidelines was distributed to 325 health care providers within HealthPartners. The survey was divided into 3 sections: (1) provider demographics; (2) knowledge of the 2012 age-specific cancer screening guidelines; and (3) provider practice. Comparisons based on appropriate knowledge and practice of the guidelines were made using Fisher exact tests. Results The response rate was 42%. Of 124 respondents, 15 (12.1%) reported they were not aware of the 2012 guideline changes. Only 7 (5.7%) respondents answered all the knowledge questions correctly. A majority of respondents reported correct screening practices in the 21-29 year patient age group (65.8%) and in the >65 year patient age group (74.3%). Correct screening intervals in the 30-65 year patient age group varied by modality, with 89.3% correctly screening every 3 years with Pap smear alone, but only 57.4% correctly screening every 5 years with Pap smear + human papillomavirus cotesting. The most frequently cited reasons for not adhering were lack of knowledge of the guidelines and patient demand for a different screening interval. Conclusion Adherence to the 2012 cervical cancer screening guidelines is poor due, in part, to a lack of knowledge of the guidelines. Efforts should focus on improved provider and patient education, and methods that facilitate adherence to the guidelines such as electronic health record order sets.