cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Antinociception following application of DAMGO to the basolateral amygdala results from a direct interaction of DAMGO with Mu opioid receptors in the amygdala

Previous studies from our laboratory have shown that application of the mu opioid agonist DAMGO into the basolateral region of the amygdala (BLA) suppresses the radiant heat tail flick (TF) reflex in anesthetized rats. This antinociceptive effect can be blocked by lesions of brainstem regions such as the periaqueductal gray (PAG) or the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) or by functional inactivation of neurons in these regions, suggesting the activation of brainstem-descending antinociceptive systems from the amygdala. However, little is known about the direct interaction of DAMGO with mu receptors in the amygdala. In the present series of experiments, the BLA was pretreated with opioid receptor antagonists and a G protein inhibitor prior to TF testing with application of DAMGO into the same site. Rats pretreated with the non-selective opioid antagonist naltrexone (1.25-3.75 microg/0.25 microl per side) or the G protein inhibitor pertussis toxin (0.25 microg) failed to show inhibition of TF reflexes following infusion of DAMGO (0.168-0.50 microg), indicating that DAMGO works through G-protein-coupled opioid receptors in the BLA. Furthermore, pretreatment with the mu antagonist beta-FNA (1.00-2.00 microg) attenuated antinociception induced by DAMGO injection, suggesting DAMGO's action on mu receptors in the BLA. Accordingly, we confirm a direct interaction of DAMGO with G-protein-coupled mu receptors in the BLA contributing to induction of opioid antinociception in the amygdala.
Optical and electrochemical properties of hydrogen-bonded phenol-pyrrolidino[60]fullerenes

We report the photophysical and electrochemical properties of phenol–pyrrolidino[60]fullerenes 1 and 2, in which the phenol hydroxyl group is ortho and para to the pyrrolidino group, respectively, as well as those of a phenyl–pyrrolidino[60]fullerene model compound, 3. For the ortho analog 1, the presence of an intramolecular hydrogen bond is supported by 1H NMR and FTIR characterization. The redox potential of the phenoxyl radical–phenol couple in this architecture is 240 mV lower than that observed in the associated para compound 2. Further, the C60 excited-state lifetime of the hydrogen-bonded compound 1 in benzonitrile is 260 ps, while the corresponding lifetime for 2 is identical to that of the model compound 3 at 1.34 ns. Addition of excess organic acid to a benzonitrile solution of 1 gives rise to a new species, 4, with an excited-state lifetime of 1.40 ns. In nonpolar aprotic solvents such as toluene, all three compounds have a C60 excited-state lifetime of ∼1 ns. These results suggest that the presence of an intramolecular H-bond in 1 poises the potential of phenoxyl radical–phenol redox couple at a value that it is thermodynamically capable of reducing the photoexcited fullerene. This is not the case for the para analog 2 nor is it the case for the protonated species 4. This work illustrates that in addition to being used as light activated electron acceptors, pyrrolidino fullerenes are also capable of acting as built-in proton-accepting units that influence the potential of an attached donor when organized in an appropriate molecular design.
Titan's Rotation: Surface Feature Observed

Abstract We have detected time variation in Titan's geometric albedo in methane windows at 0.94, 1.08, and 1.28 μm, relative to its albedo in adjacent methane bands, of 8 ± 5%, 14 ± 3%, and 22 ± 3%, respectively. We attribute these changes to a surface feature or a feature near the surface. Our observations are consistent with synchronous rotation and can be explained by a higher surface albedo by 0.1 on Titan's leading hemisphere.
Bombesin: Potential integrative peptide for feeding and satiety

The neuropeptide bombesin (BBS) is examined with regard to possible designation as an integrative peptide. The term integrative peptide has been proposed to distinguish a subset of regulatory peptides. These peptides, distributed in the body and the brain, may function as hormones and neurotransmitters to integrate physiological and psychological functions. It is suggested that BBS may function as a peripheral and central satiety-inducing agent. The specific topics with regard to BBS include: feeding, satiety, and aversion; peripheral and central effects; learning, memory, and reward; route of injection; taste modulation; gastrointestinal activity; neurotransmitter status; mechanism and neuroanatomical site of action; and neural and humoral transmission.
Accounting data and the prediction of risk in the extremes

Abstract In portfolio formation, the systematic risk of a security is of fundamental importance. In the traditional asset-pricing model, the concept of beta represents anticipated systematic risk which, to be useful in the real-world portfolio formation, can only be estimated by currently-available data. Prior research has revealed variation in the reliability of the prediction of beta across the risk spectrum. In this paper we focus on beta prediction in the extreme risk categories and consider the predictive contribution of accounting information across the risk spectrum. Our empirical model utilizes accounting risk measures, shown to be related to sample-wide average betas in prior research, and incorporates the intertemporal relationship between successive period betas in predicting next-period betas. Our results provide evidence that inclusion of accounting risk measures, alone or in combination with market beta, substantially improves beta prediction for high risk securities, but not for low and medium risk securities. These results are consistent using either traditional OLS or analytically-corrected (Bayesian-adjusted) beta estimation techniques.
Molecular analysis of the rhd genotype in fetuses at risk for rhd hemolytic disease

The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of a DNA-based testing methodology in determining the RhD genotypes of fetuses at risk for RhD hemolytic disease. We designed a multiplex polymerase chain reaction-based test based on recent RhD and RhCE sequence information. To improve the accuracy of the results, two different portions of the RhD gene were examined. Deoxyribonucleic acid was extracted from fetal specimens, portions of the RhD gene were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction, and the amplified product was run on a polyacrylamide gel to look for the presence or absence of the RhD gene. We tested 67 amniotic fluid and two chorionic villus specimens to determine the fetal RhD genotype in pregnancies at risk for RhD hemolytic disease. Forty-seven of the 69 specimens were determined to be Rh-positive, and 22 were Rh-negative. Fifty of the 69 fetal specimens-31 Rh-positive and 19 Rhnegative—were serotyped at birth. In all 50, there was complete correlation between the DNA analysis and the serotyping results. RhD gene analysis is a rapid and reliable method that provides an accurate fetal genotype to aid in the prenatal care of RhD-alloimmunized women.
Optimal solutions to minimum total energy broadcasting problem in wireless ad hoc networks

In this paper, we present three schemes to solve minimum total energy broadcasting problem in wireless ad hoc networks based on an efficient IP (integer programming) subproblem technique. Due to its NP-hardness, many heuristics have been studied. However, the heuristics in the literature suffer from coarse performance ratio. It is important to have knowledge of the optimal solution structure in order to develop more efficient heuristics and algorithms. We present one IP formulation and two iterative algorithms which make use of relaxed IP's to solve subproblems. The computational results show that our approaches outperform other techniques in the literature.
Weak many vs. strong few: reducing BER through packet duplication in power-budgeted wireless connections

In this paper, we present new energy-aware techniques to lower the packet-level error rates of application-layer connections in wireless ad hoc networks. We consider a model in which each connection is allocated a fixed power budget, and ask: Is it better to use this power budget to send many duplicate packets (at lower power) or fewer packets (at high power)? We consider a scheme in which each application-layer connection is implemented at the physical level by an overlay network consisting of multiple parallel multi-hop paths. Data packets submitted at the connection source are checksummed and replicated. The destination delivers the first error-free copy of each packet, in order, dropping packets that are corrupt or duplicate. We compare our scheme with the traditional scheme in which the source transmits precisely one packet to the destination along a single minimum-hop path. We show that even when both schemes are constrained by identical power consumption bounds, our scheme can use duplication to attain significantly lower packet-level error rates in many common situations. We describe the relationship between packet error rate, the extent of duplication and the path lengths and show that the qualitative nature of the relationships change significantly, depending on available power budget.
Implications of the One-Child Family Policy on the Development of the Welfare State in the People's Republic of China

The implications of a successful implementation of the one-child policy for the development of social welfare programs in China are considered. These will include a rapid increase in the proportion of the elderly population. However the labor force will continue to grow in size for some forty years as it absorbs the birth cohorts from the baby boom years of the 1960s. "While the shrinkage of the young will offset part of the increasing burden of the elderly the government must develop [a] universal social security system and improve occupational welfare child care and higher education in the near future in order to achieve the goals of the four modernizations as well as population control." (EXCERPT)
The effect of two isomeric octadecenoic acids on alkyl diacyl glycerides and neutral glycosphingolipids of novikoff hepatoma cells.

The addition of 150 μg ofcis-6-octadecenoic acid (6–18∶1) per milliliter to the growth medium of Novikoff hepatoma cells reduced the rate of multiplication of these cells, whereas the same level ofcis-9-octadecenoic acid (9–18∶1) was without effect. The quantity of alkyl diacyl glycerols in cells grown in medium containing 100 μg/ml of either 6–18∶1 or 9–18∶1 was reduced to about 10% of that observed in cells grown in unsupplemented media. The presence of 6–18∶1 acid led to an increase in the concentration of the dihexosyl ceramide and a corresponding decrease in that of the monohexosyl ceramides of the cells; whereas the presence of 9–18∶1 resulted in an increase in the relative amount of tetraglycosyl ceramide and corresponding reductions in those of mono- and dihexosyl ceramide. Possible causes for these changes are discussed.
Alloantibodies Induced in Histoincompatible Rats by Single Pulp and Tooth Grafts

Pulp and whole teeth were transplanted between two histoincompatible strains of rats. A bimodal distribution of antibodies occurred. Hemagglutination titers stimulated by teeth were greater than those stimulated by pulp. The peaks probably represent IgM and IgG antibodies. Periodontal tissues may be more antigenic than pulp.
MONT3E: a Monte Carlo electron heat transfer code

A Monte Carlo code, MONT3E, was written to analyze heat transfer due to electron backscattering. The availability of supercomputers has made large-scale applications of this analysis technique possible. Statistically valid solutions of complicated engineering problems can now be performed.In this paper, the physical theory of electron trajectories is described and related to the implementation of an electron tracing algorithm. The analysis requires three types of information: a geometric description of the enclosed volume under analysis, a magnetic field definition, and a model of electron-surface interaction. The implementation of these three components in MONT3E is presented. Suitability of the formulation to various computer architectures is discussed.An electron backscatter experiments was modeled using the code. The MONT3E predictions compared favorably to the experimental data, lending confidence to code predictions. Additional information available in the simulations provided new physical insights into the electron experiment.
Cytokines as a therapeutic target for allergic diseases : A complex picture

Production of IgE antibodies promotes the development of allergic disorders such as asthma, rhinitis and atopic eczema. Though Th2 cytokines play a pivotal role in the allergic inflammatory cascade, therapeutic strategies which target these factors have not been curative in clinical trials. In humans, the allergic phenotype encompasses a broad spectrum of diverse clinical entities, which are dictated by genetics as well as the nature of the allergen and the time in life at which allergen is encountered. The disparate findings in animal and human systems highlight the complexity of cytokine-mediated events in allergic responses in man. Different allergic phenotypes cannot be distinguished strictly on the basis of Th1 and Th2 cytokines. These observations coupled with an emerging role for regulatory T cells in modulation of the allergic response warrant re-examination of the cytokine network in allergic disease. This article highlights the challenges of dissecting the role of individual cytokines in the development of allergic responses and manifestation of allergic symptoms. Regulatory T cells have been implicated in modulation of the activity of allergen-specific Th1 and Th2 effector cells and immune outcome; however, the characteristics of these regulatory T cells remain largely undefined. The effects of existing and emerging therapies which target Th1, Th2 and regulatory cytokines on established allergic responses are examined in the context of this new paradigm. Taken together, existing data suggest that a multi-faceted approach, which is tailored to each patient, will be required in order to attain clinical benefit.
Reduction of lactic acid secreted from SV3T3 cells by a serum factor and biotin and its relationship to cell growth

Abstract Supplementation of media containing a low concentration (0.15–0.30% v >v ) of calf serum with biotin or a low molecular weight serum growth factor (Peak III) reduces the amount of lactic acid secreted by simian virus 40-transformed 3T3 cells. While biotin and Peak III (which has been tentatively identified as biotin) can stimulate “stationary phase” cells to resume viable cell division, this growth promotion is not due to an alleviation of lactic acid toxicity per se. This conclusion is based on the finding that, although higher concentrations of lactic acid are cytotoxic, lactic acid added at concentrations found during “stationary phase” to cells plated in fresh medium is not growth inhibitory. These results suggest, instead, a possible major role for biotin and Peak III in energy production.
Mobile Phase Additives vs. Bonded Phases for HPLC

Abstract It is likely that 90% of all small-molecule high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separations can be done with a hydrocarbon-bonded phase of C4, C8, or C18 length using various mobile phases. The remaining 10% of the cases are more challenging. One solution is to follow the historical path of gas-liquid chromatography and create more bonded phases. The second and more easily done is to add components to the mobile phase that interact selectively with the molecules of interest and change RPLC selectivity and retention. This paper begins with a generalized discussion of additive strategy and mechanism and then leads to a study of nonionic but coordinatively unsaturated (β-diketonates as additives which serves as an example of the connection between molecular chemistry and chromatographic selectivity and a review of other work done. A system of coordinatively unsaturated metal β-diketonates was investigated as mobile phase additives for HPLC. Unlike previous ionic, metal dopants, these neutr...
Carboxyl methylation of Ras-related proteins during signal transduction in neutrophils

In human neutrophils, as in other cell types, Ras-related guanosine triphosphate-binding proteins are directed toward their regulatory targets in membranes by a series of posttranslational modifications that include methyl esterification of a carboxyl-terminal prenylcysteine residue. In intact cells and in a reconstituted in vitro system, the amount of carboxyl methylation of Ras-related proteins increased in response to the chemoattractant N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP). Activation of Ras-related proteins by guanosine-5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) had a similar effect and induced translocation of p22rac2 from cytosol to plasma membrane. Inhibitors of prenylcysteine carboxyl methylation effectively blocked neutrophil responses to FMLP. These findings suggest a direct link between receptor-mediated signal transduction and the carboxyl methylation of Ras-related proteins.
CLONIDINE INCREASES DURATION OF BUPIVACAINE CAUDAL ANALGESIA FOR URETERONEOCYSTOSTOMY: A DOUBLE-BLIND PROSPECTIVE TRIAL

ABSTRACTPurpose: We evaluated whether clonidine, when added to bupivacaine, would significantly prolong caudal analgesia and decrease opioid requirements in children undergoing ureteroneocystostomy.Materials and Methods: A total of 35 children 1 to 10 years old undergoing ureteroneocystostomy received a standardized regimen of general anesthesia, and were randomized to receive a preincision caudal block consisting of either 1 ml/kg 0.125% bupivacaine (controls) or 1 ml/kg 0.125% bupivacaine with 1 μg/kg clonidine (treatment group). Caudal solutions also contained 1:400,000 epinephrine. Following the surgical procedure a second caudal block was performed with half of the original dose of medications. Caregivers were blinded to which caudal solution was administered. Postoperative outcome measures included pain scores, morphine requirements, duration of caudal analgesia and sedation scores. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA.Results: The 2 study groups were similar for mean age, weight and lengt...
Improving residents' performance on the PRITE: is there a role for peer-assisted learning?

The authors assessed the relationship between Emotional Intelligence (EI) and Psychiatry Resident In-Training Exam (PRITE) scores. EI is important to the therapeutic alliance. The hypothesis tested was that PRITE scores would correlate with EI. The authors developed a PRITE review curriculum utilizing a peer-assisted learning approach. The residents were randomly assigned to teams and instructed to teach assigned topic(s). The participants’ PRITE scores before and after the intervention were compared with the PRITE scores of the previous residents. PGY-2 residents achieved the highest psychiatry percentile increase, and PGY-3 residents achieved the highest psychiatry percentile in the past 7 years. PGY-4 residents’ psychiatry percentile decreased, although two residents from the previous year left for a fellowship, and the program accepted one PGY-4 transfer. All of the groups’ neurology percentile increased, but were not substantially different from the previous years. Our preliminary study has shown that implementing a peer-learning strategy to prepare residents for the PRITE is feasible and may lead to promising results.
Effective simplification of evolved push programs using a simple, stochastic hill-climber

Genetic programming systems often produce programs that include unnecessary code. This is undesirable for several reasons, including the burdens that overly-large programs put on end-users for program interpretation and maintenance. The problem is exacerbated by recently developed techniques, such as genetic programming with geometric semantic crossover, that tend to produce enormous programs. Methods for automatically simplifying evolved programs are therefore of interest, but automatic simplification is non-trivial in the context of traditional program representations with unconstrained function sets. Here we show how evolved programs expressed in the stack-based Push programming language can be automatically and reliably simplified using a simple, stochastic hill-climber. We demonstrate and quantitatively characterize this simplification process on programs evolved to solve four non-trivial genetic programming problems with qualitatively different function sets.
Fishing for a better language.

microdeletions than with either aneuploidy interphase descriptions or interphase cancer descriptions. They indicated that in only 5 of 14 challenges that they tried to score was the 80% consensus criteria met to allow scoring a challenge by the CAP resource committee. This number is much lower than that for the conventional cytogenetic challenges. It is somewhat surprising that there was difficulty by laboratories with both the SNRPN probes and X and Y probes in transplants, as delineated by these authors. However, it is not at all surprising that the laboratories had difficulties with probes studying BCR/Abl and Tel/AML1 fusions. For the detection of the BCR/ Abl fusion, there are several different probe sets used to detect the fusion of these two genes. Each of these probe sets will give different interphase FISH patterns, making it more difficult to develop a consistent way of describing the fusion. Additionally, when using the BCR/Abl and Tel/AML1 probe sets to detect fusions, even when the fusion is present, there is sometimes a concomitant deletion of either part of the gene or possibly the entire gene, thus making the description by FISH analysis even more difficult. These are only a few examples, but they certainly illustrate some of the problems regarding the FISH nomenclature as it currently exists. In addition, with the sequencing of the majority of the human genome, many more unique sequence probes can and will be used to describe cytogenetic structure, also complicating nomenclature as multiple probes might be used for its ultimate description.
Pulmonary metastases in children and young adults with differentiated thyroid cancer.

Background. The prognostic significance and optimal care of children with differentiated thyroid cancer and pulmonary metastases are not well established. Methods. Of 209 patients younger than 25 years of age who were treated at University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center between 1960 and 1990 and for whom there was sufficient information, 19 (9%) had pulmonary metastases at presentation. Results. All of these patients had regional lymphadenopathy at the time of diagnosis. All but two had intense, diffuse radioiodine uptake in the lungs; there were two false-negative scans immediately after surgical procedure caused by competing thyroid residual. The chest radiograph (CXR) was normal in 8 of 17 (42%) patients with abnormal radioiodine scans. After therapy with radioiodine (100–499 mCi), CXR appeared normal in 7 of 9 patients with initial abnormal radiographs (within 6–75 months). Radioiodine uptake by the lungs normalized in 3 of 8 patients with initially normal radiographs, and in 3 of 9 patients with initially abnormal radiographs. There have been no deaths in these 19 patients. Conclusion. Pulmonary metastases are not uncommon in children and young adults with differentiated thyroid cancer, especially those who have regional lymphadenopathy. The lung metastases almost always concentrate radioiodine diffusely and may be associated with a normal CXR in almost half of the patients. Pulmonary metastases may be overlooked unless near total thyroidectomy is followed by total body radioiodine scan (TBS) in all children and young adults who have regional lymphadenopathy of the neck.
Outcome in Patients With Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion Requiring Mechanical Ventilation

Background and Purpose Many patients with acute basilar artery occlusion may require endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. The circumstances and predictive value for outcome in these patients are not well documented. Methods We reviewed the medical records of 25 patients admitted into the intensive care unit with a clinical diagnosis of acute basilar artery occlusion and need for mechanical ventilation. The medical records were reviewed for clinical features, breathing patterns, mode of mechanical ventilation, ability to wean from the ventilator, and neurological outcome. Results Apneic episodes resulted in endotracheal intubation in 8 patients. In the remaining 17 patients, intubation was needed for airway protection. Seven of 8 patients presenting with apneic episodes lost all brain stem reflexes. All 17 patients intubated for airway protection could be successfully weaned to a T-tube circuit. Outcome was generally poor and 22 patients died, of whom 7 died of early systemic complications. ...
How the Next US President Should Slow Global Warming

This paper addresses the energy technologies and policies that the next US president should immediately implement to slow global warming. Increased reliance on renewable energy through deployment of a National Renewable Portfolio Standard will help meet increased electrical demand in a sustainable way. Carbon regulation through an internationally fungible cap and trade system will help make renewables more cost competitive with conventional energy. Mandating National Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standards will also help decrease electrical demand and reduce the need for large investments in new generation. Within the transportation sector, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles should be rapidly deployed to shift this sector's liquid fuel requirements to the electrical grid.
Modes of onset (“initiating events”) for paroxysmal atrial tachycardia in infants and children

Observations of spontaneous onset of paroxysmal atrial tachycardia (PAT) in infants and children have been infrequently reported. This study reports on modes of spontaneous onset of PAT in 22 infants and 8 children in whom onset of PAT was recorded during continuous electrocardiographic recording. During PAT, all 30 patients used the normal specialized atrioventricular conduction system for ventricular activation, with atrial activation occurring through an accessory atrioventricular connection (orthodromic reciprocating tachycardia). Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome was present in 7 patients. Analysis of the mode of onset of PAT revealed that infants initiated PAT with atrial extrasystoles or sinus acceleration (a gradual shortening of the P-P interval). In 10 infants more than 10 PAT onsets were recorded, and in these infants the mode of onset was sinus acceleration. In 7 infants, both atrial extrasystole and sinus acceleration were observed to initiate PAT. In the older children, onset of PAT followed atrial extrasystole (3 patients), ventricular extrasystole (2 patients), and sinus pause with junctional escape (3 patients). It has been previously recognized that the natural history of these "initiating events" varies with patient age. Variations in frequency of spontaneous episodes of PAT may relate to chronologic variations in frequency and type of initiating events.
THE ROLE OF THE SPECIMEN DIMENSIONS IN UNIAXIAL COMPRESSION OF FOOD MATERIALS

The role of the specimen dimensions in uniaxial compression tests was evaluated by simplified rheological models. These indicated that if the rheological behavior can be represented by a model that contains fracture elements the shape of the stress-strain would depend on the specimen length. The analysis also indicates that mechanical measurements of foods may not be theoretically comparable if the tests are performed at distinctly different conditions with regard to the specimen dimensions, the level of the deformation and its application rate.
Factors influencing exogenous nucleoside utilization in DNA synthesis by irradiated human cells

Abstract The relative rate of incorporation of exogenous nucleoside precursors into DNA of four strains of cultured human cells immediately after irradiation was affected by the growth phase of the culture, the concentration of the specific nucleoside in the growth medium, the precursor used, the position of the radioactive label on the precursor, and the concentration of other pyrimidine nucleosides in the medium. Although the radiation-induced depression in the rate of thymidine uptake by these human cells may reflect a decrease in net DNA synthesis, caution should be used in equating rates of incorporation of any single labelled precursor under specific experimental conditions with actual synthetic rates.
Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate as a low cost encapsulant for hybrid electronic and fluidic circuits

We have developed a novel process that uses Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate (EVA) films to realize low cost integrated microfluidic systems in small packages. The EVA acts as both a final package for the device as well as a functional material for hosting molded microfluidic channels and optical structures such as waveguides. In this paper we describe the lamination based packaging of microfluidics, characterize the adhesion strength between layers of the device and investigate the biocompatibility of EVA for microfluidic applications.
Plastic Embedding of thick Celloidin Sections of nerve Tissue

A method is described for mounting Golgi-impregnated and Weigert-stained thick celloidin sections of brain and spinal cord in transparent plastic. Finished mounts have good optical properties and are suitable for macroscopic and microscopic observation. The durability of such preparations makes them superior to similar material prepared by the more conventional methods. Holes of suitable size were cut in matrices of 2.5 × 5 × 3/16 inches Plexiglas. Ward's Bio-plastic was used to form a base for the holes and also as the embedding medium for the sections. Plate glass formed a working substrate and gave a polished surface to the plastic base and later to the top of the preparation. For Golgi material (200μ) the celloidin was removed by dioxane. A dioxane-plastic bath preceded plastic embedding. For Weigert material (30-40μ) celloidin was not removed due to fragility of sections. Prior to plastic embedding, they were subjected first to benzol and then to a benzol-plastic bath.
Is naval warfare unique

Strategic Concepts Branch, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations and funded by the Naval Postgraduate School
Suppression of population transport and control of exciton distributions by entangled photons

The unusual properties of entangled photons endow them with useful properties for imaging and metrology tasks. This work simulates the use of entangled photons for controlling two-exciton states in Blastochloris viridis, showing their advantages for studying excitation pathways in bacterial reaction centres.
A low power approach to system level pipelined interconnect design

System on Chip interconnects require first-in first-out buffers (FIFOs) to handle different data rates between IP cores. The design of an interconnect channel containing multiple stages of FIFO require making tradeoff between throughput and power consumption. The design variables are the sizes of the FIFOs, their voltages and their clock frequencies. Decreasing the FIFO clock frequencies saves power but it causes the channel performance (throughput) to decrease. In this work, we recover the performance by resizing the FIFOs in the channel. The voltage and clock scaling in the interconnect channel followed by FIFO resizing approach leads to significant power savings. The power savings is a function of system parameters λ (expected data production rate) and μ (expected data consumption rate). We observed a maximum dynamic power savings of 45.8%, 28.9% and 11.3% for min(λ, μ) of 0.2, 0.5 and 0.8 respectively. Our approach of reducing voltage in the interconnect channel will reduce the leakage power as well.
PROBABLE ABSENCE OF K CAPTURE IN THE DECAY OF LEAD-205

A number of experiments designed to detect the $K$-capture decay of ${\mathrm{Pb}}^{205}$ are discussed. No $K$ x-ray activity which could be ascribed to ${\mathrm{Pb}}^{205}$ was observed in deuteron-bombarded natural lead or neutron-irradiated 25.7% ${\mathrm{Pb}}^{204}$. From these results, the $L$-capture half-life of ${\mathrm{Pb}}^{205}$, and its absence in natural lead, it is concluded that ${\mathrm{Pb}}^{205}$ does not decay by $K$ capture with a half-life in the range $2 \mathrm{seconds}l{t}_{\frac{1}{2}}l{10}^{10} \mathrm{years}$.
Decision speed and bias after unilateral stroke.

Abstract Nonverbal visual memory together with speed and bias in response decisions were evaluated in two experiments comparing patients with a left-hemisphere stroke lesion to those with a right-hemisphere stroke lesion. In the first experi ment, the decision times of vocal recognition responses from aphasic (left stroke) patients did not correlate with their verbal scores on the Porch Index of Communicative Ability, taken as an estimate of severity of their language impairment. Thus, impairment of verbal processing was not reflected in speed of response. In the second experiment, 19 left and 19 right-stroke patients were compared with 19 volunteers on a recurrent recognition task of complex nonverbal art designs using measures of discriminability and decision bias derived from Theory of Signal Detection. Right stroke patients had lowest recognition scores but adopted normal decision criteria, whereas left stroke patients employed high negative decision bias (i.e., made few false as well as few correct recognitions). Both stroke groups responded significantly slower than controls; the right stroke patients, however, had markedly fewer long-latency decisions than left stroke patients. Compared with controls, only the speed and bias of decision making were deficient in left stroke patients independent of their verbal deficit; their recognition ability was relatively preserved.
Receiving the promised blessing: Missionary reflections on ‘Ishmae's (mostly female) descendants‘

Abstract The Arabian Mission of the Dutch Reformed Church set out in 1889 to introduce Christianity to the Muslims of the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula. The Mission failed in its efforts at proselytism, but persevered for 70 years providing medical and educational services. In the process, the Arabian missionaries produced an historical record of culture and society — especially about women — that is unparalleled in any other available sources. These sources are both technical and dispassionate as well as up‐close and highly personal, and are written with a point of view that tells us as much about the missionaries and their changing times as about men, women and society in the villages and towns of the Gulf, Hasa and Najd.
Three-dimensionally profiled optical couplers fabricated by grayscale lithography

We have developed writing techniques for grayscale masks that we utilize in the fabrication of tapered coupling devices. These devices provide efficient coupling into optical circuits as compared to presently employed methods. We discuss mask process development, fabrication techniques, and device performance.
Higgs boson production from black holes at the CERN LHC

If the fundamental Planck scale is near a TeV, then TeV scale black holes should be produced in proton-proton collisions at the LHC where p s = 14 TeV. As the temperature of the black holes can be � 1 TeV we also expect production of Higgs bosons from them via Hawking radiation. This is a different production mode for the Higgs boson, which would normally be produced via direct pQCD parton fusion processes. In this paper we compare total cross sections and transverse momentum distributions d�/dpT for Higgs production from black holes at the LHC with those from direct parton fusion processes at next-to-next-to-leading order and next-to-leading order respectively. We find that the Higgs production from black holes can be larger or smaller than the direct pQCD production depending upon the Planck mass and black hole mass. We also find that d�/dpT of Higgs production from black holes increases as a function of pT which is in sharp contrast with the pQCD predictions where d�/dpT decreases so we suggest that the measurement of an increase in d�/dpT as pT increases for Higgs (or any other heavy particle) production can be a useful signature for black holes at the LHC.
A note on Gibbard’s proof

A proof by Allan Gibbard (Ifs: Conditionals, beliefs, decision, chance, time. Reidel, Dordrecht, 1981) seems to demonstrate that if indicative conditionals have truth conditions, they cannot be stronger than material implication. Angelika Kratzer's theory that conditionals do not denote two-place operators purports to escape this result [see Kratzer (Chic Linguist Soc 22(2):1–15, 1986, 2012)]. In this note, I raise some trouble for Kratzer’s proposed method of escape and then show that her semantics avoids this consequence of Gibbard’s proof by denying modus ponens. I also show that the same holds for Anthony Gillies’ semantics (Philos Rev 118(3):325–349, 2009) and argue that this consequence of these theories is not obviously prohibitive—hence, both remain viable theories of indicative conditionals.
Neural networks for optimal approximation of smooth and analytic functions

We prove that neural networks with a single hidden layer are capable of providing an optimal order of approximation for functions assumed to possess a given number of derivatives, if the activation function evaluated by each principal element satisfies certain technical conditions. Under these conditions, it is also possible to construct networks that provide a geometric order of approximation for analytic target functions. The permissible activation functions include the squashing function (1-e-x)-1 as well as a variety of radial basis functions. Our proofs are constructive. The weights and thresholds of our networks are chosen independently of the target function; we give explicit formulas for the coefficients as simple, continuous, linear functionals of the target function.
Assessing the Appropriateness of Outpatient Abdominopelvic CT and MRI Examinations Using the American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria

Rationale and Objectives To retrospectively assess the appropriateness of outpatient abdominal and pelvic computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations using the American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria (AC). Materials and Methods A total of 570 adult outpatient abdominopelvic CT (304) and MRI (266) studies performed in a 1-month period with available documentation of the clinical encounter generating the imaging order were included. On the basis of review of the imaging report and patient record, examinations were classified in terms of match to a specific AC variant, appropriateness score, and the presence of a significant result. Data were analyzed using Fisher's exact test. Results Forty-five percent of examinations matched an AC variant: 52% of CT and 38% of MRI (P Conclusions Most examinations matching the AC were appropriate, and appropriate examinations were more likely to have a significant result. However, most examinations, including 62% of MRI, had no relevant clinical condition, highlighting a critical area for future AC expansion and modification.
Spray Penetration and Drop Size Studies of Diesel Fuels

Understanding the disintegration mechanism, spray penetration, and spray motion is of great importance in the design of a high quality diesel engine. The atomization process that a liquid would undergo as it is injected into a high-temperature, high-pressure air, is investigated in this work. The purpose of this study is to gain further insight into the atomization mechanism, the variation over time in droplet size distribution and spray penetration. This is done based on effect of chamber pressure, injection pressure, and type of fuel. A laser diffraction method is used to determine droplet mean diameters, single injection with synchronized time mechanism allowed the time dependent studies. Obscuration signals are obtained through a digital oscilloscope from which arrival time of spray can be measured. The spray penetration correlation obtained is compared to other correlation’s obtained from different other techniques used in the literature.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Differences between diploid and transformed human cells in the incorporation of 5-bromodeoxyuridine into DNA

Abstract In diploid human cells, the DNA precursor pool equilibration times for exogenous thymidine are about twice those for the thymidine analogue 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR); in cells that were either transformed chemically or derived from malignant tumours, the pool equilibration times are the same for thymidine and 5-bromodeoxyuridine and are closer in value to the shorter (bromodeoxyuridine) times of the diploid cells. Thymidine, if present in the culture medium with BUdR, is incorporated into DNA preferentially in diploid cells (by 2 or 3 to 1). Discrimination against bromodeoxyuridine is evident within 2 h of incubation of the two precursors with diploid cells, but is not observed even after 24 h in any of the transformed cell lines tested. Experiments were performed to test the effect of inhibitors of the mammalian DNA polymerases alpha (N-ethylmaleimide) and beta (incubation of cells at 45 °C) upon the ability of cells to synthesise DNA and to incorporate thymidine preferentially when present with equimolar BUdR. In diploid cells, overall in vivo DNA synthesis is more sensitive to N-ethylmaleimide and more resistant to 45 °C treatment than is DNA synthesis in the transformed cell lines. N-Ethylmaleimide decreases the capacity of diploid cells to discriminate against BUdR, whereas heating increases it. Transformed cells treated with N-ethylmaleimide remain unable to discriminate against BUdR; some transformed lines, when heated at 45 °C, become less incapable of such discrimination.
Synthesis of heat integrated nonsharp distillation sequences

Abstract This paper addresses the synthesis problem of separating a multicomponent feed stream into several multicomponent product streams of given compositions using nonsharp distillation columns while considering heat integration options. A general superstructure is proposed that contains all possible sequences (by allowing all alternatives for stream splitting, mixing and by passing) and allows heat integration between the condensers and reboilers of various columns. The pressure of each column, as well as the key component recoveries, are treated explicitly as optimization variables. The mathematical model for this superstructure is a mixed-integer nonlinear programme (MINLP). This formulation is solved using a two-level decomposition approach in which the material balance equations are solved in an outer loop while the heat integration options are optimized in an inner loop. The proposed approach is illustrated with two examples.
Three different pathways for human LDL oxidation are inhibited in vitro by water extracts of the medicinal herb Achyrocline satureoides.

In this study we investigated the antioxidant properties of one herbal preparation widely used in complementary and alternative medicine in large areas of the world: Achyrocline satureoides (AS), popularly known as "marcela". Although rich in flavonoids, the ethnopharmacological uses of this plant do not include atherosclerosis prevention. Furthermore, no study had been conducted so far exploring the antioxidant activity of Achyrocline satureoides vis-a-vis human LDL oxidation, which is the compelling issue in pinpointing potential cardioprotective new uses for a traditional remedy. We explored the effects of AS extracts on human LDL oxidation, employing 3 different systems which are thought to play a role in oxidation of LDL in the arterial wall: copper, peroxynitrite, and lipoxygenase. Oxidation was monitored by conjugate dienes, TBARS formation and aggregation of apoB using SDS-PAGE. In copper-initiated oxidation a dose dependent inhibition of the initiation and propagation of lipid oxidation is shown by an increase in the lag phase for conjugate diene production which was 60 +/- 15 min in the absence and 120 +/- 20 min in the presence of 4 microg/ml AS extracts (p < 0.001). TBARS production was reduced by 95% after 3 h incubation at 5 microg/ml. Aggregation of apoB was abolished at the same concentrations. SIN-1 (3-morpholinosydnonimine) produces peroxynitrite via generation of NO and O2-. When LDL was incubated in its presence, a milder oxidation was observed as compared with Cu2+, and AS produced over 70% inhibition. Finally, we show a striking dose-dependent inhibitory effect of lipoxygenase conjugate diene production, which is over 95% at AS concentrations of 5 microg/ml. When compared with other antioxidants, AS effect is greater but in the same order of magnitude than that of ascorbic acid and similar to the popular herbal tea Ilex paraguariensis. In all three systems employed an effect is already substantiated at a concentration of the AS extract of 4 microg/ml, which corresponds to a 1/100 dilution of the preparations usually drunk.
Learning in the Social Context of Ambulatory Care Clinics.

Social learning theory describes the process by which medical students and residents become members of the professional community of physicians. According to this theory, learning is enhanced when students and residents can share with each other their partial understandings and when they can observe and emulate the thinking and actions of expert role models. The authors make several recommendations for how social learning theory may be applied to education in ambulatory care settings: (1) preceptors should pay careful attention to orienting learners and creating legitimate roles for learners appropriate to their levels of training and ability and their educational needs; (2) since students and residents learn by observing and interacting with preceptors, competent role models should be provided; (3) to be most effective, learners should be told in advance what will be modeled, observe the demonstration, discuss what occurred and why it did or did not work effectively, and, finally, be given the opportunity to practice new actions, first with guidance and later independently; (4) when debriefing about modeled interactions, preceptors should encourage self-monitoring and self-assessment; (5) preceptors should create opportunities for collaborative learning, because collaboration with peers allows learners to discover their own misconceptions and help others to develop a richer understanding of medical practice. Implementing these guidelines in ambulatory care training will enable learners and preceptors to arrive at the shared meanings and common understandings that form the foundation of the professional medical community.
The Cornell Theory Center

Now in its tenth year (1985-94) as a US National Science Foundation supercomputing center, the Cornell Theory Center in upstate New York is committed to advancing research in computational science and engineering in concert with the technologies of high-performance computing and communication. Specifically, the center is developing globally scalable parallel computing resources for its user community. CTC researchers and staff are applying their expertise in parallel algorithm development and optimization to problems ranging from molecular modeling to operations research. In addition, CTC research staff often function as test pilots for computational techniques in their respective fields. Such collaborations with the academic and industrial research communities are designed to address problems of national interest. These include Grand Challenge problems in computational science and National Challenge applications, as well as efforts in parallel performance evaluation and tools development. >