cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
7 – Seed Plants

Publisher Summary Seed plants or higher plants are capable of causing diseases of trees. These pathogenic higher plants are capable of acting as parasites on a tree or acting as effective competitors with trees for growing space and sunlight. Seed plants lack a normal root system and rely upon a host plant to supply them with the water and nutrients from the soil that they need to live. The nonparasitic seed plants that cause tree disease are constricting or rapidly growing vines, which either strangle and/or shade out trees by growing completely over them. These vines can be troublesome shade tree problems because they are particularly aggressive near the roadside and in the backyard where the additional sunlight allows them to grow much faster than in the deeply shaded forest. There are a large number of species of parasitic seed plants. The common problems on shade trees are caused by the dwarf mistletoes and the leafy mistletoes.
Die Sozialwissenschaften und die Wende: Grenzen der Prognosefähigkeit

Als Amerikaner, und als Historiker von Haus aus, stehe ich vor Ihnen gewissermasen als ein doppelter Ausenseiter. Mein Interesse fur die politischen und kulturellen Entwicklungen in Deutschland reicht bereits Jahrzehnte zuruck. Und was meine Fachzugehorigkeit betrifft, stehe ich oft unter Verdacht, wegen meiner Neigung zu methodologischen Fragen und zur Zeitgeschichte ein getarnter Politologe zu sein. Auf die Frage, wann denn fur mich die Zeitgeschichte als Geschichte ende, habe ich stets eine leichte Antwort parat: beim der Fruhstuckslekture der New York Times. Spatere Ereignisse darf der Historiker nicht in Betracht ziehen; da fehlt ihm die notwendige Perspektive. Jedenfalls erscheine ich hier in diesem Forum als eine Art Grenzverletzter oder, mit dem Begriff einer vergangen Epoche vielleicht besser ausgedruckt, als ein Mauerspringer.
A Muxerista Politics of Education: Latina Mother Leaders Enacting Educational Leadership and Policy Advocacy:

This article presents findings from a qualitative research study conducted with and for Latina mother leaders. Using a muxerista (womanist) framework, we demonstrate how Latina mother leaders artic...
Reinforcement Mechanisms of Stimulant Drugs

ABSTRACT Studies of stimulant self-administration and electrical self-stimulation of central dopamine sites are reviewed as they relate to mechanisms of stimulant reinforcement. Pharmacological manipulations which alter dopaminergic function alter the reinforcement value of self-administered stimulants, suggesting that CNS stimulants reinforce behavior through their effects on central dopaminergic systems. A further implication of the involvement of dopamine pathways in the mediation of reinforcement is their ability to maintain responding for electrical stimulation. Although the methods of drug self-administration and electrical self-stimulation have been somewhat limited in their application to the study of stimulant reinforcement, these techniques do provide a useful means by which to study basic mechanisms of reinforcement as well as questions of substance abuse and drug-seeking behavior.
Bio-Matched Antennas With Flare Extensions for Reduced Low Frequency Cutoff

We recently reported a new class of broadband and high gain antennas for into-body radiation, called Bio-Matched Antennas (BMAs). A major limitation of our prior work is that BMA volume increases significantly as the low cutoff frequency is reduced. This is particularly troublesome for into-body applications where low operating frequencies are needed to penetrate deep into the tissues. Here, we overcome this challenge via a novel design that extends the BMA’s conducting flares along the tissue surface. In doing so, the antenna’s lowest operating frequency is reduced, while its volume remains unaltered. For an example BMA of 1161.3 mm3 in volume, our new approach results in lowering the cutoff frequency from 1.9 GHz to 830 MHz. Additional novelties brought forward include: (a) the first testing of BMAs through stratified tissue models (as opposed to homogeneous models explored in the past), and (b) the smallest volume BMA reported to date, which also exhibits the lowest frequency cutoff as well as comparable or better transmission loss vs. previous designs.
Development of a virtual partial hospital program for an acute psychiatric population: Lessons learned and future directions for telepsychotherapy

Research suggests that individuals may benefit from participation in a partial hospital program (PHP) following discharge from inpatient psychiatric hospitalization. Indeed, PHPs are designed to facilitate further stabilization and skill-building before discharge to the community. As a result, our hospital-located in a large metropolitan area in the Northeastern United States-has long maintained a commitment to providing this critical level of care. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, these in-person PHP services were discontinued in response to public health recommendations and to ensure the safety and well-being of patients and staff. To maintain this important point along the psychiatric care continuum, hospital leadership encouraged our PHP team to pursue an alternative approach to treatment delivery: video-based telepsychotherapy. This article describes the development of a virtual PHP that serves acute psychiatric patients stepping down from inpatient hospitalization. First, we provide an overview of the original in-person PHP and then discuss the process of its transition to a virtual format. Next, we describe in detail the components of our newly developed virtual PHP, highlighting adaptations necessitated by patients and staff being remote from our physical hospital. Finally, we present preliminary evidence of our virtual PHP's acceptability and feasibility, based on experiences with our 23 patients to date; discuss lessons learned from this program development effort; and recommend future directions for research and clinical practice. Information provided herein aims to guide the development of other virtual PHPs and telepsychotherapy programs that similarly strive to offer intensive treatment to an acute psychiatric population.
Evidence of Cannabinoids in Pain

Cannabinoids and opioids have traditional and historical places in the management of pain. They may have putative efficacy in all categories of pain. Their adverse effects range from trivial to lethal, depending on the situation.
Epigenome-wide association studies of three social determinants of health and implications for lung functions among survivors of childhood cancer

Abstract Background Emerging evidence suggests that social determinants of health (SDOH) may influence health and wellness through an epigenetic mechanism in the general population. However, the social epigenomic approach has not yet been applied to survivors of childhood cancer, a vulnerable population with elevated risk for chronic health conditions (CHCs). Methods Study participants were drawn from the St Jude Lifetime Cohort, a hospital-based retrospective cohort with prospective follow up. DNA methylation (DNAm) profiling was generated based on blood derived DNA collected during follow-up visit. SDOH included educational attainment, personal income, and area deprivation index (ADI) based on baseline or follow-up questionnaires and geocoding. CHCs were clinically assessed with severity grade. Results We included 258 childhood cancer survivors of African ancestry (AA) (median time from diagnosis=25.2 years, interquartile range [IQR]=19.9-32.1 years) and 1,618 survivors of European ancestry (EA) (median time from diagnosis=27.3, IQR=21.1-33.7 years). Through epigenome-wide association studies, we identified 130 SDOH-CpG associations including educational attainment (N=88), personal income (N=23), and ADI (N=19) at epigenome-wide significance level (P Conclusions We demonstrated striking DNAm signatures associated with multiple SDOH factors (educational attainment, personal income, and ADI) and many epigenome-wide significant CpG sites resembling the effect of smoking exposure. We also identified an exemplified racial health disparity in pulmonary diffusion deficit between AA and EA survivors and illuminated DNAm as potential mechanistic mediators for SDOH factors using a social epigenomic approach.
Design Considerations for Building and Running Containerized MPI Applications

Packaging parallel applications in containers has become increasingly popular on High Performance Computing (HPC) systems. These applications depend on the Message Passing Interface (MPI) for communication between processes in their parallel jobs. This paper explores the design considerations that container maintainers must weigh when building and running their applications on HPC systems. This includes highlighting and resolving the cgroup, namespace, and security boundaries used by some container runtimes that may hinder an MPI library from performing efficiently. This paper explores the impact on MPI libraries of two opposing container launch models, and various models for incorporating a system optimized MPI library including a novel hybrid BYO-MPI with system mounted components technique. This paper analyses the critical problem of cross-version compatibility between libraries interacting across the container boundary as the container image and the HPC system evolve over time. The paper concludes by translating the lessons learned from running MPI applications in traditional HPC systems to running in container orchestration environments like Kubernetes. The discussion around each of these topics will provide a foundation for container maintainers to make informed choices that best suit their specific MPI application and HPC system requirements.
Digital Mental Health Interventions for Depression

Abstract This paper provides an overview of the of digital mental health (DMHI) interventions for depression. The paper begins with a description of the clinical context and services needs for persons experiencing depressed mood. It is well-known that there is a large gap between the availability of evidence-supported psychotherapy for depression and the large number of people who would likely benefit from it. DHMIs based on a cognitive-behavioral (CBT) model have shown substantial promise as a method to deliver tested-effective treatment to large numbers of people experiencing depression. The article continues with a review of clinical research evaluating DMHIs for depression with a special emphasis on CBT. The article also reviews both the strengths and challenges associated with the clinical use of DHMI for depression. Next, the article continues with a description of a newly-developed DHMI for depression that uses an entertaining approach to deliver well-established CBT strategies. Finally, the paper concludes with a discussion of the need for further research and development of DHMIs for persons experiencing depression.
WAND: Wormhole Attack Analysis using the Neighbor Discovery for Software-defined Heterogeneous Internet of Things

Heterogeneous Internet of Things (HIoT) such as a UAV swarm and a car platoon consists of intelligent mobile and wireless devices with sensors and actuators. Software-defined centralized and hierarchical network control becomes more beneficial than traditional distributed and ad hoc management for enhancing performance, scalability, and flexibility of HIoT management. However, security issues for a software-defined HIoT have not been explored well. Specifically, a wormhole attack is one of the most challenging yet detrimental security issues in HIoT. The existing security countermeasures are designed mainly for wired networks using topologies, but a software-defined HIoT cannot directly use them.This paper proposes a Wormhole attack Analysis using the Neighbor Discovery (WAND) approach as a novel wormhole countermeasure in Software-defined HIoT. As WAND discovers the similarity of neighbor counts at a centralized controller, it detects wormholes not only without requiring any particular location information but also without causing significant communication and coordination overhead. WAND also countermeasures various false-positive and false-negative scenarios generated by the discovery protocol vulnerability. We performed extensive studies via both analysis and simulations. Our simulation results show that WAND can efficiently detect various intelligent worm-hole attacks, keeping low false-positive and false-negative rates.
Sustainability Pedagogies for the Business Language Classroom

Heightened urgency about the question of the earth’s survival has generated increased attention to how to teach sustainability across the curriculum. The business language course, positioned at the nexus of business and the humanities, is the ideal environment for bringing to bear perspectives from multiple disciplines on questions around sustainability. This article examines the notion of “sustainability pedagogies” framed within three key aspects of sustainability education noted in the scholarship: interdisciplinarity, transformative learning, and experiential learning. In each of these areas, we provide an example of how the sustainability pedagogies can be implemented in business language courses.
Evaluation of Computer Based Primary Visual Cortex Training After Aspheric Monofocal, Multifocal, and Accommodating IOL Implantation

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of computer based primary Cortex Vision Training (CVT) in improving vision after aspheric monofocal, multifocal and accommodative Intraocular Lens (IOL) implantation. Results: Mean age of all subjects was 68 years. After CVT, mean improvement in UCDVA and UCNVA for the entire group was 1.3 (p<0.0001) and 1.0 lines (p<0.0001), and mean improvement in distance and near CSF were 156% (p<0.0001) and 210% (p<0.0001) respectively.
Three Fundamental Flaws in CAFC's Oracle v. Google Decision

The CAFC’s Oracle v. Google decision is deeply flawed and at odds with more than two decades of copyright precedents applying copyright law to computer programs. This article shows that the CAFC erred in its interpretation of § 102(b), in its overbroad conception of interfaces as protectable structure in programs, and in misconstruing and misapplying the merger doctrine to program interfaces.
Factor IX New London: substitution of proline for glutamine at position 50 causes severe hemophilia B

We describe a novel point mutation in the fourth exon of human factor IX (encoding the first EGF-like domain) in which cytosine is substituted for adenosine at position 10,401, resulting in the substitution of proline for glutamine at position 50 in the polypeptide chain. Sequence analysis of all eight exons, all exon-intron junctions, 160 base pairs (bp) of DNA 5' to the proposed translation start site, and 60 bp 3' to the translation termination site shows no other difference from the normal factor IX gene, with the exception of a previously described benign polymorphism at position 148 in the protein (Ala----Thr). The affected subject has severe hemophilia B with no detectable factor IX activity despite normal factor IX antigen levels. We purified the abnormal factor IX by immunoaffinity chromatography and demonstrated that its activation by factor Xla is markedly delayed compared with normal factor lX. Once activated, the abnormal factor lX binds antithrombin III in a 1:1 molar ratio, and the activated protein demonstrates catalytic activity, suggesting an intact active site. The mutation creates a new Bst Yl restriction endonuclease cleavage site. Restriction with Bst Yl shows the mutation in maternal DNA and offers the possibility of direct carrier status analysis and prenatal diagnosis in kindreds with this mutation. We designate this new mutation factor lXNew London. This is the only reported mutation in the first EGF-like domain that causes severe hemophilia B.
A new proof of Mehler’s formula and other theorems on Hermitian polynomials

Many proofs of mehler's formula, namely, have been given, which for the most part have been indirect and elaborate as suggested by Prof. Watson in his notes in J.L.M.S. (1933). of the three proofs given by Prof. Watson in his Notes, the first one implies a knowledge of certain results in the theory of Laguerre and Bessel functions, the second a knowledge of the formula of saalschutz for generalised hypergeometric functins and the third, something of the theory of Fourier transforms and of absolutely convergent infinite integrals.
Integrated MEMS in Conventional CMOS

This paper provides an overview of fabrication and design of CMOS-based microelectromechanical systems with emphasis on inertial sensor and data storage applications. High-aspect-ratio (4.4:1) microstructures can be fabricated using conventional CMOS processing followed by a sequence of maskless dry-etching steps. The CMOS dielectric and metallization layers, normally used for electrical interconnect, serve a dual function as a composite metal/dielectric structural material. Reactive-ion etching produces near vertical sidewalls, enabling micromechanical beam widths and gap spacings down to 1.2 µm. The process is tailored for design of lateral electrostatic actuators as well as capacitive position and motion sensors. Tight integration of the microstructures with CMOS provides an opportunity to make low-noise sensor interface circuitry, and to include the signal processing needed to manage arrayed sensor-and-actuator systems-on-a-chip. Novel actuator and sensor topologies can be designed by embedding multiple isolated conductors into the microstructures. An additional post-CMOS processing sequence produces platinum tips on the movable microstructures. These tips are being explored for use in probe-based data storage and tunneling sensor applications.
Femtosecond tunable nonlinear absorption spectroscopy in Al0.1Ga0.9As.

Wavelength-tunable femtosecond absorption saturation measurements are combined with ensemble Monte Carlo simulations to investigate the dynamics of photoexcited carriers in ${\mathrm{Al}}_{0.1}$${\mathrm{Ga}}_{0.9}$As. Continuum-generation and Fourier-synthesis techniques are used to generate tunable 40-fs optical pulses for the experiments. Carriers are excited to different initial states in the conduction band depending upon the wavelength selected for the experiment. The results of measurements in which the photon energies are either above or below the threshold for scattering from the \ensuremath{\Gamma} valley to the L valley are discussed. Quantitative agreement between experiment and theory is demonstrated for a deformation potential ${\mathit{D}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{L}}$\ensuremath{\Gamma} of 5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{8}$ eV/cm.
Time and Space Scales of Mantle Convection

Aside from the obvious mantle flow associated with the creation and subduction of plates, geophysical observations suggest a spectrum of other scales of motion ranging in size from about 100 km to many thousand kilometers. A classification of those “other” motions in terms of their origin and measurable consequences is proposed. Three time scales are then discussed: the overturn time (~l09years for the plate scale and ~l08years for “other” scales), the thermal adjustment time (~109years for models with a uniform viscosity of 1022poise and ~108years for models with temperature-dependent viscosity), and the time scale for the dispersal of chemical heterogeneities in the mantle.
Surrogate markers of right ventricular adaptation better predict long-term survival in patients with PAH than traditional prognostic variables

Purpose: Right ventricular (RV) function is associated with mortality in patients with PAH. We have observed that typical methods of right ventricular function vary over time in patients on therapy. RV coupling ratio, the gold standard, is a tedious method. We developed mortality predictors using models of coupling ratio obtained by routine echocardiography (echo) and/or catheterization (cath). Methods : Retrospective review of PAH Survivors (N=20) and non-survivors (N=9) with baseline PVR >6 WU and at least 2 measurements on therapy were studied. We examined Ea, a measure of afterload, by cath. Isovolemic acceleration (IVA) is a measurement derived from echo that correlates with Es, a measure of contractility. IVA/Ea was the most predictive model of coupling. Results : Survivors and non-survivors were matched for PVR >10 and cardiac index at baseline. Both indices improved significantly on therapy. All patients were eventually treated with combination therapy for average 41 months (range 12-108). TAPSE and IVA/Ea improved over time in survivors but remained significantly low in non-survivors. However, 11/20 survivors and 9/9 non-survivors had a TAPSE 2 in all survivors and <1.3 in all non-survivors on follow up. Survivors with baseline TAPSE <1.8 cm vs. non-survivors had a significantly higher IVA/Ea (2.23 vs. 0.92, P= 0.05). Conclusions : Serial measurements of IVA/Ea may prove valuable prognostically, particularly when the TAPSE is <1.8.
Bank Regulation and Mortgage Market Reform

The goal of this paper is precisely to consider how the banking regulation and mortgage market reforms could and should interact. In doing so, I take as the starting point, on one hand, the bank regulation initiatives already present in the Dodd-Frank Act and the Basel III proposal, and on the other hand, the mortgage market reform principles presented in the Treasury/HUD (2011) White paper. I then consider what additional reform elements should be considered in view of the interaction of bank regulations and mortgage market activity. The paper is organized as follows. In Section (2), I provide an overview of the failed U.S. bank regulation system that has been in place for approximately the last 20 years, and identify the key components of bank regulation that created the systemic dimensions of the subprime mortgage losses. In Section (3), I analyze the Treasury/HUD White Paper proposal and identify the primary issues it raises for regulatory reform. In Section (4), I compare securitization with covered bonds and analyzes the appropriate regulatory rules if mortgage-backed covered bonds are to become an important element of the U.S. mortgage markets. The positions I take on securitization and covered bonds are at variance with some parts of the Dodd-Frank Act and the current policy position of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Section 5 summarizes the key components of bank regulation and mortgage market reform that must be in place if the full reform package is to be successful.
Fatty acid synthesis in ruminating and nonruminating goats.

Fatty acid synthetic rates were determined in several tis sues of ruminating ( R ) and nonruminating ( NR ) goats. The R goats were fed goat milk for 1 month and then a hay and grain diet for the next 3 months. The NR goats were fed goat milk for 4 months. Rates of fatty acid synthesis from acetate and glucose were determined in perirenal adipose tissue, small intestine, brain, and liver. With either acetate or glucose as a precursor, rates of lipogenesis were greatest in perirenal adipose tissue and least in liver. When acetate was used as a precursor, no dietary effects were noted for any of the four major tissues except liver in which fatty acids were synthesized more readily in R goats than in NR goats. Fatty acid synthesis from glucose occurred more readily in perirenal adipose tissue of NR goats than of R goats, whereas small intestine had a greater synthesis rate in R goats. Synthesis rates in liver and brain were similar in both NR and R goats. When acetate was used as a precursor, 99% of total fatty acid synthesis occurred in adipose tissue from either R or NR goats. When glucose was precursor, 98% of the fatty acid synthesis occurred in adipose tissue of NR goats and 84% in adipose tissue of R goats. The lowest per centage of total fatty acid synthesis was in liver. Glucose stimulated acetate conversion to fatty acids in tissues of both R and NR goats; the stimulation was greatest in adipose tissue. Therefore, adipose tissue is the principal anatomical site of lipogenesis in either R or NR goats, and acetate is used as a precursor at much higher rates than is glucose. J. Nutr. 108: 1733-
Comparison of adherence properties ofEscherichia coli 0157:H7 and a 60-megadalton plasmid-cured derivative

Escherichia coli 0157∶H7 has previously been shown to be capable of adherence to the human small intestinal cell line INT 407. A quantitative subculture assay was developed to measure the adherent ability ofE. coli 0157∶H7 strain 932 and its 60-megadalton plasmid-cured derivative 932P. The assay involves enumeration of adherent bacteria by dilution and plating in penassay agar, and counting INT 407 cells by hemocytometry. With this assay system, it was shown that strain 932 adheres to INT 407 cells at an average level of 7.1 bacteria per INT 407 cell, but that adherence is not dependent on the 60-megadalton plasmid. Strain 932P adheres an average of three times better than strain 932, but demonstrates high variability in adherence. Testing of adherence under a variety of different cultural and test conditions revealed that 932 and 932P differed in response to different conditions. Therefore, it appears that adherence ofE. coli 0157∶H7 to INT 407 cells is not dependent on the presence of a 60-megadalton plasmid and may occur by two distinct mechanisms, both of which may be important in intestinal colonization.
Second and third harmonic measurements at the linac coherent light source

The linac coherent light source (LCLS) is a self-amplified spontaneous emission (SASE) free-electron laser (FEL) operating at fundamental photon energies from 0.5 to 10 keV. Characterization of the higher harmonics present in the FEL beam is important to users, for whom harder x rays can either extend the useful operating wavelength range or increase experimental backgrounds. We present measurements of the power in both the second and third harmonics, and compare the results to expectations from simulations. We also present studies of the transport of harmonics to the users, and the harmonic power as a function of electron beam quality.
Triple-Helix Folding Around Interruptions in the Collagen Repeating Sequence

The collagen triple-helix consists of three supercoiled chains, each with a polyproline II-like conformation. This structure requires Gly at every third residue, and fibrillar collagens are composed of perfect (Gly-Xaa-Yaa)n repeats throughout their length. Non-fibrillar collagens, such as network-forming type IV collagen, contain interruptions in the repeated sequence that range in length from 0 to 60 residues. Folding of all collagens begins with trimerization of a terminal globular domain and is followed by propagation of the triple helix in a zipper-like manner. The effect of interruptions on this folding process is not well understood, but some delay is expected since type IV collagen, with more than 20 interruptions, folds more slowly than type I collagen, which contains no interruptions. The bacterial collagen Scl2 from Streptococcus pyogenes consists of a globular trimerization domain and a triple helix domain with 79 Gly-Xaa-Yaa repeats, and is an ideal system for investigating the effect of interruptions on triple helix formation. Scl2 can be expressed in Escherichia coli, allowing for insertion of interruptions with various lengths and sequences. Currently, we have expressed a control construct containing two collagen-like domains in tandem, and a construct with a 4-residue interruption, Ala-Ala-Val-Met, between the two collagen-like domains. The kinetics of triple-helix folding, as monitored by temperature jump experiments using circular dichroism spectroscopy and trypsin digestion/SDS-PAGE, show similar third order reaction rates for both the control protein and the protein containing the 4-residue interruption. Constructs containing larger interruptions are being expressed for future experiments. If folding is stalled at such sites, the process of renucleation around the interruptions will be characterized. In addition, fluorescence anisotropy will be used to study kinetics on a local scale and rotary shadowing electron microscopy will be used to examine single molecules.
Mechanism of action of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. I.

Tetrahydrofolate (FAH4) participates in biosynthetic reactions that are vital to cellular growth and survival. In microorganisms, dihydrofolate (FAH2) is synthesized de novo from p-aminobenzoic acid. In mammals, folic acid (FA), FAH, and FAH4 are assimilated from food. In all species FAH4 is reoxidized to FAH2 in the synthesis of thymidylate, and the enzyme, dihydrofolate reductase, is essential to the maintenance of FAH4 pools. Trimethoprim (TMP) selectively inhibits microbial reductases, but its effectiveness is strikingly enhanced when the synthesis of FAH2 is simultaneously blocked by sulfamethoxazole (SMZ). The combination, TMP-SMZ, has a broader spectrum of antimicrobial activity, is more rapidly bactericidal, and is less susceptible to the development of resistance, than either of the component drugs.
The limitations of formal models of measurement, control, and cognition

Abstract Two fundamental dissonances appear between physical laws and living organisms. The oldest is the dissonance between determinism and choice as reflected in the inexorability of dynamical physical laws and the flexibility of functional biological controls. By principle, physical laws are confined to events over which organisms can have no control . In contrast, the biological sciences are confined to descriptions of adaptable functions that are locally under control of the organisms. A second, converse dissonance arises between statistical laws of physics and the reliability of biological controls since controls are intrinsically dissipative and hence error-prone. Both these dissonances reflect an internal dissonance found within physics itself. The measurement problem epitomizes this dissonance. I elaborate the argument [29] that only organisms control what, when and where measurements are made on the physical universe, and that life exists and evolves only by virtue of nonformal measurement and control functions. I suggest that the rigidity of the syntax of our formal mathematical models creates artificial inconsistencies that obscure the functional evolution of measurement and control constraints from cells to brains.
Functional neuroimaging of a complex motor task: Comparison of spin- echo functional MRI, gradient-echo functional MRI and PET

Brain activation of cortical and subcortical foci during a complex motor task as demonstrated with spin-echo (SE) and gradient-echo (GE) FMRI and PET were compared in order to determine how signal changes in each of these FMRI techniques reflect cerebral blood flow changes shown by PET. Five normal volunteers performed bilateral fingering tapping in a defined sequential pattern during functional imaging. BOLD FMRI was performed at 1.5T. Five 32 second activation periods were alternated with five 32 second rest periods. MR signal detection was done by performing a least-squares fit of the time series data to a boxcar function. PET CBF measurements were performed using intravenous H215O. 4 pairs of control and task scans were obtained. PET activation maps were generated by subtracting the averaged activation and control scans. The statistical significance of regions of interest in sensorimotor cortex, basal ganglia and cerebellum for all three techniques were evaluated within each subject. GE-FMRI and SE-FM...
Prostaglandin E2 and its cognate EP receptors control human adult articular cartilage homeostasis and are linked to the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis

Objective To elucidate the pathophysiologic links between prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and osteoarthritis (OA) by characterizing the catabolic effects of PGE2 and its unique receptors in human adult articular chondrocytes. Methods Human adult articular chondrocytes were cultured in monolayer or alginate beads with and without PGE2 and/or agonists of EP receptors, antagonists of EP receptors, and cytokines. Cell survival, proliferation, and total proteoglycan synthesis and accumulation were measured in alginate beads. Chondrocyte-related gene expression and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt signaling were assessed by real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, respectively, using a monolayer cell culture model. Results Stimulation of human articular chondrocytes with PGE2 through the EP2 receptor suppressed proteoglycan accumulation and synthesis, suppressed aggrecan gene expression, did not appreciably affect expression of matrix-degrading enzymes, and decreased the type II collagen:type I collagen ratio. EP2 and EP4 receptors were expressed at higher levels in knee cartilage than in ankle cartilage and in a grade-dependent manner. PGE2 titration combined with interleukin-1 (IL-1) synergistically accelerated expression of pain-associated molecules such as inducible nitric oxide synthase and IL-6. Finally, stimulation with exogenous PGE2 or an EP2 receptor–specific agonist inhibited activation of Akt that was induced by insulin-like growth factor 1. Conclusion PGE2 exerts an antianabolic effect on human adult articular cartilage in vitro, and EP2 and EP4 receptor antagonists may represent effective therapeutic agents for the treatment of OA.
Total quality systems: using a multidisciplinary preparation course for teaching quality improvement

Abstract The Total Quality Systems course is an innovative approach to University/Industry Quality Partnerships for improving engineering education. The course introduces students to the education and application of total quality and continuous improvement. The students take the information learned in the course and apply it in industry. A formal process of Preparation, Identification, and Action (PIA) has been developed as the overall framework for the partnership effort. This cycle establishes cross-disciplinary, multi-institutional teams of students and faculty to work with industrial partners on continuous quality improvement projects. Preparation is a three-semester hour course, including the methods and tools of total quality management (TQM), safety, teamwork, communications, lifelong learning for continuous personal development, time management, diversity, and problem solving. Identification is teams of students, faculty and industrial partners working on-site at the industrial partner's facilities, identifying quality improvement opportunities. Action is teams of students, faculty, and partners working both on-campus and on-site, providing plans to implement and evaluate quality improvement opportunities. The PIA cycle was initiated in the Spring of 1993 by three Universities of the Southern University and College Coalition for Engineering Education (SUCCEED) and Milliken and Company as the industrial partner. The PIA cycle is an ongoing research effort. In this paper, we provide a review of the PIA approach to University/Industry Quality Teams and share some of our experiences with this novel approach to education.
Reduction of affective lability and alcohol use following traumatic brain injury: a clinical pilot study of anti-convulsant medications.

Objective: A large and under-recognized sub-set of patients suffer both traumatic brain injury (TBI) and alcohol dependence (ADep). This group appears to use alcohol to self-treat affective and anxiety lability following TBI, resulting in new ADep or worsened prior ADep. This study hypothesized that treatment of such patients with mood-stabilizing medications would relieve post-TBI emotional dysregulation and facilitate reduction in alcohol use.Design: This study reported retrospective medical record data from outpatients in the Substance Abuse Treatment Programme who were treated for labile mood. Medications followed clinical indication and were given in non-blind fashion.Method: Subjects included 18 patients who (1) complained of debilitating affective lability following TBI, (2) described drinking alcohol to ease lability symptoms, (3) met DSM-IV criteria for current ADep and (4) were treated with a mood stabilizing medication.Results: During 6 weeks of treatment, 16 (89%) achieved abstinence from alco...
Homogeneous Oxidation of Alcohols by Copper Permanganate

Abstract An improved protocol for the oxidation of sec. alcohols by copper permanganate is described by carrying out the reaction in a homogeneous medium (acetic acid), affording rapid and complete conversion to the ketones.
Outcomes of transplantation with matched-sibling and unrelated-donor bone marrow in children with leukaemia

Summary Background For most conditions amenable to bone-marrow transplantation, grafts from HLA-matched but unrelated donors have yielded poorer results than those obtained from matched-sibling donors. We assessed this pattern in the light of improvements in donor selection and posttransplant supportive care. Methods We reviewed transplant outcome in 103 consecutive patients with childhood leukaemia who underwent allogeneic bone-marrow transplantation with HLA-matched sibling marrow (n=52) or matched unrelated donor marrow (n=51) between May, 1990, and March, 1996, at St Jude Children's Research Hospital. Findings Analysis of engraftment, frequency of procedurerelated complications, and disease-free survival revealed no advantage from use of matched-sibling marrow. The 2-year disease-free survival estimate for standard-risk recipients of matched-sibling marrow was 81 [8·1]% compared with 73 [12·1]% in the unrelated donor marrow group (p=0·77). In the high-risk category, patients with a matched-sibling donor had a 2-year disease-free survival of 31 [11·6]%, compared with 32 [15·1]% among recipients of matched unrelated donor marrow (p=0·87). Interpretation We believe this improved result with unrelated donor marrow is a consequence of recent innovations in histocompatibility matching, prevention of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), and antiviral prophylaxis. We suggest that such grafts can now be used in patients at both standard and high risk without compromising treatment outcome.
Developing the Online Survey

Institutions of higher education are now using Internet-based technology tools to conduct surveys for data collection. Research shows that the type and quality of responses one receives with online surveys are comparable with what one receives in paper-based surveys. Data collection can take place on Web-based surveys, e-mail–based surveys, and personal digital assistants/Smartphone devices. Web surveys can be subscription templates, software packages installed on one's own server, or created from scratch using Web programming development tools. All of these approaches have their advantages and disadvantages. The survey owner must make informed decisions as to the right technology to implement. The correct choice can save hours of work in sorting, organizing, and analyzing data.
Serum amyloid A is increased in children with abusive head trauma: a gel-based proteomic analysis

Serum amyloid A is increased in children with abusive head trauma: a gel-based proteomic analysis
Comparison of three devices for estimating fire temperatures in ecological studies

Questions Are calorimeters and pyrometers accurate and reliable for describing fire parameters in large-scale ecological projects, and can data from them predict data derived from thermocouples? Do mechanical pre-treatments in Florida scrub areas alter fire properties?Location: Lake Wales Ridge, Florida, USA.Methods: We deployed thermocouples attached to digital dataloggers, copper and lacquer paint pyrometers and aluminium can calorimeters filled with water in four areas of undisturbed Florida scrub and sandhill vegetation and in adjoining areas pre-treated with logging, subcanopy felling or mowing. Individual dataloggers were positioned in areas spanning a range of vegetation structure; three calorimeters and three pyrometers were placed with each thermocouple. We also deployed individual calorimeter-pyrometer pairs. Sites were burned, after which we compared methods for characterizing fire, particularly the ability of pyrometers and calorimeters to predict values derived from thermocouples.Results: Pyrometers best predicted peak 1-minute mean temperatures and were least successful at estimating maximums. Calorimeters were associated with the number of minutes maximum temperatures exceeded 60 °C, but were damaged at high residence times and inconsistent at low temperatures. Both pyrometers and calorimeters detected site and treatment differences in fire intensities. These analyses and logistic considerations give pyrometers an edge over calorimeters in situations where dataloggers are impractical. Mechanical pre-treatments to fire altered fire parameters. Mowing reduced fire temperatures but had different effects on areas burned; this was related to the length of time elapsed between mowing and burning. Subcanopy felling increased both fire coverage and temperatures.Conclusion: Pyrometers outperformed calorimeters as a cheap method for describing relative temperature regimes that are a function of both temperature and residence time. Pyrometers were able to demonstrate how mechanical treatments applied prior to prescribed burning altered fire parameters. Pyrometers are a useful tool for investigating biological responses to fire at multiple scales and in heterogeneous vegetation.Abbreviations: AREA60 = the integrated area under the instantaneous temperature curve defined by a threshold of 60 °C; AREA150 = the integrated area under the instantaneous temperature curve defined by a threshold of 150 °C; CALOR = mean percent water loss from calorimeters adjusted for evaporation; MAX = peak instantaneous temperature (°C); MAX60 = number of minutes where the instantaneous temperature > 60 °C; MAX150 = number of minutes where the one minute mean temperature > 150 °C; MEAN = peak one minute mean temperature (°C); MEAN60 = number of minutes where the one minute mean temperature > 60 °C; MEAN150 = number of minutes where the one minute mean temperature > 150 °C; PYRO = median pyrometer reading.Nomenclature: Wunderlin & Hansen (2003).
Three-dimensional flow contrast imaging of deep tissue using noncontact diffuse correlation tomography.

This study extended our recently developed noncontact diffuse correlation spectroscopy flowmetry system into noncontact diffuse correlation tomography (ncDCT) for three-dimensional (3-D) flow imaging of deep tissue. A linear array of 15 photodetectors and two laser sources connected to a mobile lens-focusing system enabled automatic and noncontact scanning of flow in a region of interest. These boundary measurements were combined with a finite element framework for DCT image reconstruction implemented into an existing software package. This technique was tested in computer simulations and using a tissue-like phantom with anomaly flow contrast design. The cylindrical tube-shaped anomaly was clearly reconstructed in both simulation and phantom. Recovered and assigned flow contrast changes in anomaly were found to be highly correlated: regression slope = 1.00, R2 = 1.00, and p < 10−5 in simulation and regression slope ≥ 0.97, R2 ≥ 0.96, and p < 10−3 in phantom. These results exhibit promise of our ncDCT technique for 3-D imaging of deep tissue blood flow heterogeneities.
Mescaline and shock induced aggression in rats.

Abstract Rats were treated with mescaline and tested in a shock induced aggression situation. Low doses (10 mg) prolonged the bouts in the first experiment, but did not in the second. The topography of the fighting behavior for the animals given this dose was like that of controls. Doses of 50 mg/kg increased the duration of the bouts, and even caused fighting to continue during a five minute period following shock termination. In addition, the topography of the behavior changed. The rats treated with 50 mg/kg of mescaline were initially inactive and unresponsive to shock. After a few shocks, however, these rats engaged in prolonged biting attacks while in a prone position. It was proposed that the higher dose of mescaline induced an experimental catatonia in which normal inhibitory mechanisms that control and limit aggressive behavior are ineffective.
Maternal depression and anxiety effects on the human fetus: Preliminary findings and clinical implications.

Newborns of depressed and anxious mothers show biobehavioral abnormalities suggesting that maternal psychological distress has negative effects on the fetus. Two studies examined the fetuses of depressed and nondepressed mothers: (a) a cross-sectional investigation of fetal activity during the second and third trimesters and (b) an examination of behavioral and heart rate response to vibratory stimulation in late-gestation fetuses. Fetuses of depressed mothers were more active during the fifth, sixth, and seventh gestational months. Assessment of late-term fetuses consisted of a baseline, trials of vibratory stimulation directed towards measuring habituation, and a poststimulation period. During baseline, the fetuses of depressed mothers exhibited a lower heart rate. During stimulation trials, they showed less total movement and appeared to habituate more often. Approximately 35% of the variance in fetal behavior was accounted for by the mothers' depression and anxiety symptoms. Maternal depression may be linked to greater fetal activity during the second and third trimesters and decreased behavioral responsivity during late gestation. The response of late-term fetuses of depressed mothers to vibratory stimulation may reflect “receptor adaptation/effector fatigue” and not true habitation. Future studies should examine the value of clinical interventions provided to the pregnant mother.
Density functional simulation of the BaZrO3 (011) surface structure

The atomic structure and charge redistribution of different terminations of BaZrO3 (011) surfaces have been studied using density functional simulations. We found that the O-terminated (011) flat surface had the smallest cleavage energy among (011) surfaces, but this value was still twice as large as for the formation of a pair of complimentary (001) surfaces. The density functional calculations allowed us to estimate the excess surface Gibb's free energy and to compare stability of different (011) surfaces as a function of chemical environment. In addition, we compared stability of BaZrO3 (011) surfaces with respect to BaZrO3 (001) surfaces. Within boundaries, where BaZrO3 does not decompose, only the Ba- and O-terminated (011) surfaces appeared to be stable. However, if (001) surfaces are also taken into consideration, the BaO-terminated (001) surface is the only stable surface among all considered (001) and (011) surfaces.
Photochemistry of Kynurenine, a Tryptophan Metabolite: Properties of the Triplet State

Photolysis of aqueous kynurenine (KN) solutions results in the formation of triplet kynurenine TKN*. In low pH solutions, triplet formation occurs with almost 100% efficiency, while in neutral solutions the triplet quantum yield is ΦT = 0.018 ± 0.004. The dissociation constant of TKN*, which is attributed to deprotonation of the anilino group, has a pKa value of 4.7. Similar triplet absorption spectra were obtained under direct and acetone-sensitized photolysis. The large difference in quantum yields as a function of pH is attributed to excited-state properties of the first excited singlet state of KN. The rate constant quenching for TKN* by oxygen is kq = 2 × 109 M-1 s-1.
Ira Herskowitz: 1946-2003.

AS a rule, we geneticists do not pay very much attention to intellectual history. Occasionally something happens that causes us to think, if only briefly, about the intellectual roots of our science. One such event was the premature death of Ira Herskowitz in April of 2003 at the age of 56. Through