cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Displacement of the semicircular canal cupula during sinusoidal rotation.

Abstract The semicircular canal cupula has been described as a gelatinous partition of the ampulla which is displaced by the endolymph as if it were hinged at its receptor cell base. Subsequent studies have shown that during the artificial displacement of the endolymph, the cupula remains in position around its perimeter and is functionally displaced as a diaphragm. In this study the configuration and the magnitude of movement of the cupula during sinusoidal rotation was analyzed. Horizontal semicircular canal cupulae of bullfrogs were marked by microinjection of darkened oil droplets. Variable amplitudes of cupula displacement were achieved by sinusoidal rotation in the plane of the horizontal semicircular canal. The course of displacement was determined by analysis of individual dye droplets in cinematographic frames and compared to the turntable movement. Three findings demonstrate features of cupula movement and function. First, select regions of the cupula moved through peak amplitudes of 7.0 μm (peak to peak displacement, 14.0 μm) during sinusoidal rotation with peak angular velocities of 200 deg./s. The displacement of individual droplets was sinusoidal and followed the turntable position with a mean phase lag of about 64°. Second, the amplitude of displacement was dependent on the location of the droplet within the cupula as well as the amplitude of the rotation. Maximum displacement occurred just above the crista, while regions closer to the apex were displaced less. Third, cupula displacement was not equal for two different regions along the length of the crista. Droplets in the thin ventral region of the cupula had a mean amplitude of 6.6 μm for rotations with peak angular velocities of 200°/s. In contrast droplets in the region of transition between the thick and thin portions had amplitudes of only 4.1 μm for the same stimulus. We propose on the basis of these results that, during rotation, the cupula functionally behaves as a diaphragm with its greatest mechanical sensitivity adjacent to the crista. Hence, a minimal volume of the endolymph must be displaced to produce a given deflection of cilia. This diaphragm arrangement, along with the non-uniform thickness of the cupula and the profile of the endolymph flow through the canal, suggests a graded response along the length of the crista. The cupula may thus behave as a primary information filter which ‘pre-processes’ and separates rotational information (related to angular velocity and angular acceleration) through a ‘vestibular place phenomenon’.
Total Synthesis of (+)-Lyconadin A and Related Compounds via Oxidative C−N Bond Formation

The formation of carbon−nitrogen (C−N) bonds is a fundamental bond construction in organic synthesis and is indispensable for the synthesis of alkaloid natural products. In the context of the synthesis of the architecturally complex Lycopodium alkaloid lyconadin A, we have discovered a highly efficient oxidative C−N bond forming reaction that relies on the union of a nitrogen anion and a carbon anion. Empirical evidence amassed during our synthetic studies suggests that the mechanism of the C−N bond forming process encompasses polar as well as radical processes. Herein, we present our study of this novel C−N bond forming reaction and its application to the enantioselective total synthesis of lyconadin A and related derivatives.
Using Principles of Evidence-Based Practice to Improve Prescriptive Recommendations.

We draw on the evidence-based practice (EBP) literature to consider the relationship between empirical results reported in primary research journals and prescriptive recommendations for practice based on those results. We argue that the relationship between individual empirical findings and practice should be mediated by two additional steps in which empirical findings are aggregated and evaluated, and policy decisions are made by multiple stakeholders with possibly competing value systems to determine how synthesized empirical evidence may best guide practice. We discuss three best practices in the EBP literature that promote generalizability, including aggregation of individual empirical findings, translating aggregated findings into a plan for EBPs, and developing field-based implementation guidelines. We outline a logical sequence in which empirical findings are peer reviewed, aggregated and compared across moderating variables, used to develop EBPs, and deployed by a team of instructional experts after a careful policy review and cost analysis using generalization criteria spelled out in the literature. We argue this process is the best strategy for making prescriptive recommendations regardless of the professional outlet they appear in because it is most likely to be based on replicable data and matched to the field-base context by instructional experts.
Grafting maleic anhydride and comonomers onto polyethylene

Grafting dicarboxylic anhydrides onto polyolefins has great practical importance. The process of grafting maleic anhydride onto high-density polyethylene in the presence of various comonomers in an intermeshing corotating twin-screw extruders was studied. Three types of comonomers were investigated: (i) vinyl monomers, including styrene and methacrylic acid; (ii) esters of dicarboxylic acids forming succinic groups after grafting, such as fumaric acid; and (iii) esters of fumaric and maleic acid and ethylenically unsaturated cyclic dicarboxylic anhydrides, such as Diels–Alder adducts of maleic anhydride; and (iv) dienes and dodecenyl succinic anhydride. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Neurotransmitter transporters (plus): a promising new gene family.

Abstract Neurotransmitter transporter genes encode proteins with 12 putative transmembrane regions, which mediate Na + -dependent reaccumulation of released neurotransmitters into presynaptic terminals and are the sites of action of important abused and therapeutic drugs. Studies of these genes show promise for improving our understanding of transport mechanisms and modes of drug action, and may even uncover previously unanticipated neurotransmitters.
DNA of a family: testing social bonds and genetic ties.

Managing the interplay of private information within families creates challenges, especially when the information involves member identity, a complex and emotionally charged issue. Ravelingien and ...
Low cost approaches to crossed-field amplifier development

In some circumstances, there are cost and system advantages when a phased array radar makes use of an RF source driving each individual antenna element. Sources with a power output of a few kW, 10% duty capability, approximately 20% bandwidth and high efficiency are of interest. To be attractive, such an RF source should cost less than a few hundred dollars. Experimental data were obtained on a demountable CFA system in which circuits, soles and electron guns could be modified as needed. BeO supported brazed circuits and printed meanderlines were used. The sole materials ranged from low secondary emitters, such as molybdenum, to high secondary emitters, such as thin films of oxides of Be alloys. The beam current could be varied from full injected beam operation at 1 ampere to partial injected beam operation at 0.01 ampere. In the latter case, secondary emission from the sole built up the beam current to several amperes.
Calcium channel antagonists: Fried or Foe in postinfarction patients?

Calcium antagonists represent a diverse group of therapeutic agents with heterogenous pharmacologic, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic properties. It seems clear that the role of these agents in the management of patients with ischemic heart disease and hypertension is, in part, predicated on the subclass of calcium antagonists (dihydropyridine versus nondihydropyridine [heart rate-lowering]) that are used. The reports by Psaty and Furberg are important in that they remind clinicians of the fact that use of short-acting dihydropyridine agents may be associated with increased cardiac event rates in patients with ischemic heart disease and hypertension. It is our opinion, however, that there are no data that support the extrapolation of these untoward effects to the more contemporary, long-acting dihydropyridines (eg, amlodipine) or, especially, to the non-dihydropyridine (heart rate-lowering) calcium antagonists, such as diltiazem or verapamil. On the contrary, data pooled from homogeneous populations of post-MI patients from DRS, MDPIT, DAVIT-I, and DAVIT-II indicate that clinical outcomes are favorably influenced in patients recovering from non-Q wave MI, and in hypertensive post-MI patients with preserved left ventricular function. These findings support the belief that the deleterious effects observed in certain studies with short-acting dihydropyridine calcium antagonists represent a "selective" rather than a "class action" effect of these agents. Psaty and Furberg have assailed the absence of "evidence-based medicine" regarding, the utility of calcium antagonists as the most compelling argument to call for a moratorium on this broad class of therapy, pending the completion of several prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trials that are presently underway or planned. However, a large body of scientific evidence provides no sound basis for physicians to discontinue therapy in patients who are being treated with long acting calcium antagonists, particularly those that lower heart rate. Moreover, the available data support the use of heart rate lowering calcium antagonists in selected patients, such as those recovering from acute non-Q wave MI, who may experience long-term benefit from diltiazem or verapamil. Until the results of controlled trials are completed, these data suggest that a generic moratorium of all calcium antagonists is ill-advised.
Dielectric frequency dispersion behavior in flux grown PbTiO3 single crystals

Abstract The dielectric behavior (dielectric constant and dielectric loss) of flux grown PbTiO3 single crystals has been examined at frequencies ranging from 10 Hz to 13 MHz. Large dielectric frequency dispersion has been found. Removing the surface layers of the as-grown crystal or heat treatment can significantly change the dispersion behavior and the dc conductivity. It is suggested that a concentration gradient of defects exists within the as-grown PbTiO3 single crystals. The migration of the ionic defects within the crystals is responsible for the observed dielectric frequency dispersion behavior.
Oral contraceptive causing renal artery thrombosis

A young female presented with acute left lower quadrant pain followed by nausea and vomiting. She was found to have haematuria and elevated serum creatine. CT scan revealed a wedge-shaped hypodensity along with an intraluminal filling defect on the left kidney. Renal artery duplex showed no evidence for stenosis and MRI was negative for any atherosclerotic disease. Technetium scan confirmed the diagnosis of left renal infarct. Following day the patient became febrile and was noted to have leucocytosis and elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase. She was started on enoxaparin and low-dose aspirin. Blood cultures were negative. The oral contraceptive was stopped. Fever and leucocytosis resolved in the following 3 days. Extensive thrombophilic work-up was negative. No recurrence of thrombosis was found during a 6-month follow-up period. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of renal artery thrombosis leading to acute renal infarction associated with oral contraceptive use.
Risk-adjusted STOCK performance: a cross-sector analysis of hospitality firms in the recent economic downturn.

Abstract Hospitality stock investors, like hospitality operators and customers, are important constituents of the hospitality industry. Knowing the risk and return associated with hospitality investment and the risk-adjusted performance of hospitality stock portfolio in the capital market is of critical importance to hospitality investors. This study compares the risk-adjusted stock performances of three hospitality sectors (hotel/ motel, restaurant, and casino/gaming) as three portfolios during the most recent economic downturn (2000–2003). Four portfolio performance indexes-Treynor ratio, Sharpe ratio, Jensen ratio, and Appraisal ratio-were estimated to measure their risk-adjusted performances. The results show that the casino/gaming sector performed the best, followed by the restaurant sector. The hotel/motel sector was the weakest performer among the three, mainly due to its higher risks. Our analysis suggests that the hotel/motel sector may improve its market performance via prudent growth and less r...
Antiangiogenic therapies in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Abstract The tumor microenvironment is critical in the initiation and progression of cancerous growth, which is dependent on the establishment of a functional vascular network supporting neoplastic proliferation. While the precise role of tumor angiogenesis in lymphoma pathogenesis remains under active investigation, emerging data on the proangiogenic properties of the neoplastic lymphoma cells and mechanism of vascular assembly suggest that angiogenesis is highly relevant to the biology and therapy of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Antiangiogenic therapies in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are in various stages of clinical development aiming at distinct angiogenic pathways operative in endothelial cells and perivascular stromal cells. The major classes of available antiangiogenics include anti-VEGF, small molecule inhibitors targeting proangiogenic receptor tyrosine kinases and their downstream signal transduction pathways, as well as immunomodulatory compounds with antiangiogenic properties. Preliminary clinical data indicate therapeutic advantages associated with strategies targeting dual compartments of vascular cells and tumor cells, as well as multiple angiogenic pathways within the tumor microenvironment. This review summarizes recent applications of antiangiogenic strategies in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma based on current understanding of the biology of lymphoma angiogenesis.
The instability of the incremental capital-output ratio

Abstract Although the incremental capital-output ratio (ICOR) is frequently used by policy makers for economic projections, many economists doubt its usefulness, mainly, because of its instability over time. This article considers the factors affecting the movement of the ratio on “ a priori ” grounds, and its actual variation in several countries. The empirical part of this study reveals that the national incremental capital-output ratios do in fact vary from year to year over a wide range. Between five-year periods, however, the extreme variability of the annual ratios is reduced substantially. A regression analysis of annual gross domestic product on gross fixed cumulative investment for the period 1950–1965 showed a very good fit for all 24 countries considered ( R 2 > 0.960). While significant statistically, however, these results are doubtful because of the high serial correlation. The study also emphasizes that, even if the ICOR is stable, it might lead policy-makers to project investment uneconomically if the relative contribution of capital to output is not included in the calculation.
Cancer mortality in workers employed in cattle, pigs, and sheep slaughtering and processing plants.

Abstract Objectives We studied mortality in two separate cohorts of workers in abattoirs (N = 4996) and meat processing plants (N = 3642) belonging to a meatcutters' union, because they were exposed to viruses that cause cancer in food animals, and also to chemical carcinogens at work. Methods Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and proportional mortality ratios (PMRs) were estimated for each cohort as a whole and in subgroups defined by race and sex, using the US general population mortality rates for comparison. Study subjects were followed up from January 1950 to December 2006, during which time over 60% of them died. Results An excess of deaths from cancers of the base of the tongue, esophagus, lung, skin, bone and bladder, lymphoid leukemia, and benign tumors of the thyroid and other endocrine glands, and possibly Hodgkin's disease, was observed in abattoir and meat processing workers. Significantly lower SMRs were recorded for cancer of the thymus, mediastinum, pleura, etc., breast cancer, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Conclusion This study confirms the excess occurrence of cancer in workers in abattoirs and meat processing plants, butchers, and meatcutters, previously reported in this cohort and other similar cohorts worldwide. Large nested case–control studies are now needed to examine which specific occupational and non-occupational exposures are responsible for the excess. There is now sufficient evidence for steps to be taken to protect workers from carcinogenic exposures at the workplace. There are also serious implications for the general population which may also be exposed to some of these viruses.
On the principle of smooth fit for some convex optimal control problems

Proceedings of the 8th International Symposium on Mechatronics and its Applications (ISMA12)1, Sharjah, UAE. The purpose of this work is to show that the principle of smooth fit can fail even for convex problems. Using the dynamic programming approach which involves using differential equation methods, we get the value function for a convex optimal control problem. Then this value function turns out to be a convex viscosity solution of the dynamic programming equation, not C2 along the free boundary, and hence not a classical solution of the above mentioned equation.
Peripheral Blood-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Promote Angiogenesis via Paracrine Stimulation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Secretion in the Equine Model

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have received much attention as a potential treatment of ischemic diseases, including ischemic tissue injury and cardiac failure. The beneficial effects of MSCs are thought to be mediated by their ability to provide proangiogenic factors, creating a favorable microenvironment that results in neovascularization and tissue regeneration. To study this in more detail and to explore the potential of the horse as a valuable translational model, the objectives of the present study were to examine the presence of angiogenic stimulating factors in the conditioned medium (CM) of peripheral blood-derived equine mesenchymal stromal cells (PB-MSCs) and to study their in vitro effect on angiogenesis-related endothelial cell (EC) behavior, including proliferation and vessel formation. Our salient findings were that CM from PB-MSCs contained significant levels of several proangiogenic factors. Furthermore, we found that CM could induce angiogenesis in equine vascular ECs and confirmed that endothelin-1, insulin growth factor binding protein 2, interleukin-8, and platelet-derived growth factor-AA, but not urokinase-type plasminogen activator, were responsible for this enhanced EC network formation by increasing the expression level of vascular endothelial growth factor-A, an important angiogenesis stimulator.
Brillouin spectroscopy reveals changes in muscular viscoelasticity in Drosophila POMT mutants

Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a group of muscle diseases that induce weakness in skeletal muscle and cause progressive muscle degeneration. The muscular mechanical properties (i.e., viscoelasticity), however, have not been thoroughly examined before and after MD. On the other hand, Brillouin spectroscopy (BS) provides a non-invasive approach to probing the local sound speed within a small volume. Moreover, recent advances in background-free Brillouin spectroscopy enable investigators to imaging not only transparent samples, but also turbid ones. In this study, we investigated the mechanical properties of muscles while employing Drosophila model of dystroglycanopathies, human congenital muscular dystrophies resulting from abnormal glycosylation of alphadystroglycan. Specifically, we analyzed larval abdominal muscles of Drosophila with mutations in protein Omannosyltransferase (POMT) genes. As a comparison, we have also examined muscular tissues dissected from wildtype Drosophila. The Brillouin spectra were obtained by a background free VIPA (virtually imaged phased array) spectrometer described in the previous report. As a reference, the Raman spectra were also acquired for each test. Our current results indicated that POMT defects cause changes in muscle elasticity, which suggests that muscular dystrophy conditions may be also associated with abnormalities in muscle elastic properties.
The θ = π nonlinear sigma model is massless

Abstract We consider here the O(3) nonlinear sigma model in 1 + 1 dimensions with the topological parameter θ = π, which is of considerable interest in quantum field theory as well as the study of chains of half-integral spin. We first define a lattice regulated version of the model and show that it is massless for all values of the coupling g and that it is governed by the k = 1 Wess-zumino-Witten (WZW) fixed point.
Digital image processing and isoclinics

Isoclinics contain very important information about the direction of principal stresses. Unfortunately, it is frequently found that the isoclinics are vague or vanish altogether in certain regions of a plate. The isoclinic lines representing stress direction and the isochromatic lines representing stress magnitude are superimposed on each other. It is extremely difficult to separate them and to get isoclinics.
Effectiveness of an abstinence-only intervention sited in neighborhood community centers

Choices Enhanced is a community-based demonstration and evaluation project targeting inner-city youth, ages nine to 15 at pretest, in Syracuse, New York. The project's evaluation design is a randomized field trial, and the intervention uses an education and youth development curriculum designed to deter unmarried teen pregnancy. Findings reported here are from early in the third year of the project. The intervention was designed to provide each treated subject 24 hours of intervention contact. The project's central goal is to delay the onset of sexual intercourse among unmarried-youth subjects. This was to be achieved through: (1) strengthening commitments to the values of abstinence and the importance of marriage; (2) informing youth more fully with respect to the risks and consequences of youth sexual intercourse outside marriage; (3) strengthening the ability to resist social pressures to have intercourse; and (4) encouraging restraint with regard to future behavior. Hypotheses tested specifically addr...
Influence of dietary fat on fecal mutagenicity in premenopausal women.

A dietary intervention study was conducted on 31 premenopausal women (age: 20-40 years) to investigate the relationship between dietary fat and fecal mutagenicity. After a free-living period (baseline) of one menstrual cycle, the subjects were placed on a high-fat diet (40% calories from fat) for 4 menstrual cycles, followed by a low-fat diet (20% calories from fat) for 4 menstrual cycles. One-half of the subjects were randomly assigned throughout the study to a diet with a P:S ratio of 1.0 while the other half was assigned to one with a P:S ratio of 0.3; body weight by group remained constant. Three-day stool samples were collected at the mid-follicular period during the free-living phase and during the 4th menstrual cycle of each of the 2 controlled diet periods. Mutagenicity was assayed by the SOS chromotest. Reduction of dietary fat was accompanied by a significant decrease in fecal mutagenicity in both P:S groups. Combined values, i.e., both P:S groups, were 20.3 units for high-fat diets vs. 8.78 for low-fat diets.
Aeromonas hydrophilia infection in burn patients

Aeromonas hydrophilia rarely infects burn wounds. Three cases of early A. hydrophilia burn wound infection, with one death, are reported. A history of extinguishing the fire with dirty water or by rolling in dirt should alert the physician to consider A. hydrophilia as a possible infection organism.
The Shaping of Continental Slopes by Internal Tides

The angles of energy propagation of semidiurnal internal tides may determine the average gradient of continental slopes in ocean basins (∼2 to 4 degrees). Intensification of near-bottom water velocities and bottom shear stresses caused by reflection of semi-diurnal internal tides affects sedimentation patterns and bottom gradients, as indicated by recent studies of continental slopes off northern California and New Jersey. Estimates of bottom shear velocities caused by semi-diurnal internal tides are high enough to inhibit deposition of fine-grained sediment onto the slopes.
Mobility of Fluorobenzyl Alcohols Bound to Liver Alcohol Dehydrogenases as Determined by NMR and X-ray Crystallographic Studies†,‡

The relationship between substrate mobility and catalysis was studied with wild-type and Phe93Ala (F93A) horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). Wild-type ADH binds 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl alcohol in one position as shown by X-ray results, and 19F NMR shows five resonances for the fluorines of the bound alcohol. The two meta-fluorines exchange positions with a rate constant of about 4 s-1, indicating that mobility (ring flipping) of the benzyl alcohol is relatively restricted. The wild-type enzyme binds 2,3-difluorobenzyl alcohol in two alternative conformations that are related by a ring flip and a small translation of the fluorinated benzene ring, and the 19F NMR spectrum shows three resonances for the two bound fluorines, consistent with the two orientations. Phe-93 interacts with the bound benzyl alcohols, and the F93A substitution decreases the rate constants for hydride transfer for benzyl alcohol oxidation and benzaldehyde reduction by 7.4- and 130-fold, respectively. The structure of F93A ADH...
Slice embedding solutions for distributed service architectures

Network virtualization provides a novel approach to running multiple concurrent virtual networks over a common physical network infrastructure. From a research perspective, this enables the networking community to concurrently experiment with new Internet architectures and protocols. From a market perspective, on the other hand, this paradigm is appealing as it enables infrastructure service providers to experiment with new business models that range from leasing virtual slices of their infrastructure to hosting multiple concurrent network services.In this article, we present the slice embedding problem and recent developments in the area. A slice is a set of virtual instances spanning a set of physical resources. The embedding problem consists of three main tasks: (1) resource discovery, which involves monitoring the state of the physical resources, (2) virtual network mapping, which involves matching users' requests with the available resources, and (3) allocation, which involves assigning the resources that match the users' requests.We also outline how these three tasks are tightly coupled, and how there exists a wide spectrum of solutions that either solve a particular task or jointly solve multiple tasks along with the interactions among them. To dissect the space of solutions, we introduce three main classification criteria, namely: (1) the type of constraints imposed by the user, (2) the type of dynamics considered in the embedding process, and (3) the allocation strategy adopted. Finally, we conclude with a few interesting research directions.
Inversion of vegetation canopy reflectance models for estimating agronomic variables. I. Problem definition and initial results using the Suits model

An important but relatively uninvestigated problem in remote sensing is the inversion of vegetative canopy reflectance models to obtain agrophysical parameters, given measured reflectances. The problem is here formally defined and its solution outlined. Numerical nonlinear optimization techniques are used to implement this inversion to obtain the leaf area index using Suits' canopy reflectance model. The results for a variety of cases indicate that this can be done successfully using infrared reflectances at different views or azimuth angles or a combination thereof. The other parameters of the model must be known, although reasonable measurement errors can be tolerated without seriously degrading the accuracy of the inversion. The application of the technique to ground based remote-sensing experiments is potentially useful, but is limited to the degree to which the canopy reflectance model can accurately predict observed reflectances.
The unit mass ball of three-vectors in R6

Abstract We study the unit ball in Λ 3 R 6 . We give a test for distinguishing the types of mass decompositions, establish an algorithm for finding mass decompositions, and provide computational formulae for the mass norm.
A multi-level graded-precision model of large scale power systems for fast parallel computation

A novel approach to the large electric power flow analysis is introduced and evaluated. The approach is novel in various ways. It exploits the degree of ''criticality'' of the power system by constructing their M-level model and the associated algorithmic arrangement as one unit. Conventionally, engineers supply the models and problem statement, and then experts in numerical methods design algorithms to solve this numerically. Elimination of this interface creates a truly engineering computational approach, which has been found, in our preliminary work, to speed up computation several folds. Systems of larger sizes with more levels should produce even larger savings. Solution algorithms are executed parallelly from node to node of a set of the ith level criticality with a detailed model on the critical portion and an aggregated model describing the less critical part. This solution is then passed down to the (i + 1)th level - the solution is disaggregated and is used as the initial estimate for the (i + 1)th level. This aggregation/disaggregation procedure can be top-down only (i.e. one-pass), or can be run iteratively (i.e. multi-pass). This procedure is independent of numerical algorithm used at each level. To simplify the parallel implementation, a Jacobi type numerical algorithm is employed at each level. The supporting argument for the choice of Jacobi type numerical methods is discussed. The advantage of this method is that approximate solutions are available continually with improving degree of accuracy, and these approximate solutions converge to the exact solution; while the traditional methods do not provide a meaningful solution unless the overall computation is completed. This feature is very attractive when the speed of obtaining a reasonable solution in part of the system is critical. Also, this approach accelerates the convergence of the overall system solution and can be implemented parallelly.
Diagnostic value of MRI in inflammatory myositis.

A 65-year-old woman presented with a 5-week history of generalized weakness and myalgia. She had a history of seropositive myasthenia gravis post thymectomy for invasive thymoma and was in pharmacologic remission on prednisone and methotrexate. Although limited by significant pain, examination
Complex Formation Facilitates Endocytosis of the Varicella-Zoster Virus gE:gI Fc Receptor

Open reading frames within the unique short segment of alphaherpesvirus genomes participate in egress and cell-to-cell spread. The case of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is of particular interest not only because the virus is highly cell associated but also because its most prominent cell surface protein, gE, bears semblance to the mammalian Fc receptor Fc gammaRII. A previous study demonstrated that when expressed alone in cells, VZV gE was endocytosed from the cell surface through a tyrosine localization motif in its cytoplasmic tail (J. K. Olson and C. Grose, J. Virol. 71:4042-4054, 1997). Since VZV gE is normally found in association with gI in the infected cell, the present study was directed at defining the trafficking of the VZV gE:gI protein complex. First, VZV gI underwent endocytosis and recycling when it was expressed alone in cells, and interestingly, VZV gI contained a methionine-leucine internalization motif in its cytoplasmic tail. Second, VZV gI was found by confocal microscopy to colocalize with VZV gE during endocytosis and recycling in cells. Third, by a quantitative internalization assay, VZV gE:gI was shown to undergo endocytosis more efficiently (steady state, 55 to 60%) than either gE alone (steady state, approximately 32%) or gI alone (steady state, approximately 45%). Further, examination of endocytosis-deficient mutant proteins demonstrated that VZV gI exerted a more pronounced effect than gE on internalization of the complex. Most importantly, therefore, these studies suggest that VZV gI behaves as an accessory component by facilitating the endocytosis of the major constituent gE and thereby modulating the trafficking of the entire cell surface gE:gI Fc receptor complex.
Coupling a new turbulence parametrization to RegCM adds realistic stratocumulus clouds

Abstract. To model stratocumulus clouds in the regional climate model, RegCM4.1, the University of Washington (UW) turbulence parametrization has been coupled to RegCM. We describe improvements in RegCM's coastal and near-coastal climatology, including improvements in the representation of stratiform clouds. By comparing output from a 27-yr (1982–2009) simulation of the climate of western North America to a wide variety of observational data (station data, satellite data, and aircraft in situ data), we show the following: (1) RegCM-UW is appropriate for use in general regional climate studies, and (2) the UW model distinctly improves the representation of the marine boundary layer in RegCM. These model–data comparisons also show that RegCM-UW has a slight cold bias, a (wet) precipitation bias, a systematic low bias in the vertically-integrated liquid water content near the coast, and a high bias in the fractional cloud coverage. The model represents well the diurnal, monthly, and interannual variability in low clouds. These results show RegCM-UW as a nascent mesoscale stratocumulus model that is appropriate for stratocumulus investigations at scales ranging from hourly to decadal. The source code for RegCM-UW is publicly available, under the GNU license, through the International Centre for Theoretical Physics.
Family-surgeon disagreements over interventions☆

Your hospital staff obligations include taking periodic general surgical calls. A patient with advanced lung cancer is admitted for correction of dehydration. She is severely emaciated and is gasping despite an oxygen mask. An effusion of the contralateral pleural space has worsened her symptoms over the last few days. She is comatose when you are first consulted. The attending physician, a pulmonologist, asks you to perform a tube thoracostomy because it was requested by the family. The patient's husband emotionally prevails upon you to conduct the procedure immediately. A sister reports that the patient wanted very much to be permitted to die at home. What is your proper ethical course of action?
Adjustable-Cost Overlays for Runtime Compilation

Previous work has shown that virtual architectures, or overlays, can greatly reduce lengthy FPGA compile times by providing application-specialized resources along with a flexible interconnect to support application changes. However, retaining full configurability of interconnect has also required significant area overhead. In this paper, we introduce a family of overlay architectures called super nets and an associated design methodology that uses data path merging to provide minimal-overhead support for multiple source net lists, and optionally provides an adjustable amount of source flexibility through a secondary interconnect network. We demonstrate that super nets can enable runtime compilation up to 13,000× faster than direct register-transfer logic (RTL) implementation, with up to 70% lower area than selectively enabled RTL data paths. Finally, we explore the design space of this family of overlays and show that it affords significant freedom to trade additional area for increased flexibility to support deviations from the source set, as introduced during development or by optimizations performed at runtime.
Understanding Familial Risk for Depression A 25-Year Perspective

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is among the most prevalent, debilitating, and costly of all illnesses worldwide. Investigators have made considerable progress in elucidating psychological and biological correlates of MDD; however, far less is known about factors that are implicated in risk for depression. Given the high risk for MDD associated with a family history of depression, investigators have worked to understand both the effects of parental depression on offspring and the mechanisms that might underlie familial risk for MDD. In this article, we describe the evolution of investigators' understanding of the psychobiological functioning of children of depressed parents, and we present recent findings concerning cognitive and neural aspects of risk for MDD using our high-risk sample as a context and foundation for this discussion. We integrate these data in a conceptualization of mechanisms underlying risk for depression, focusing on the constructs of emotion dysregulation and stress reactivity. Recognizing the 25-year anniversary of the Association for Psychological Science, we place this presentation in the context of the past 25 years of research on depression. We conclude by discussing the significance of emotion dysregulation and stress reactivity for studying risk for depression, for developing approaches to prevent MDD, and for moving theory and research in this field forward.
How to make quantum mechanics look like a hidden-variable theory and vice versa

Conventional quantum mechanics is a superb calculational tool. It has successfully solved mysteries ranging from macroscopic superconductivity1(a) to the microscopic theory of the electron1(b) and has provided deeper insight into the nature of the vacuum1(c) on the one hand and the description of the nucleon1(d) on the other. Whole new fields2(a)−2(b) such as quantum optics and quantum electronics owe their very existence to this body of knowledge.
Neurodegeneration severity can be predicted from early microglia alterations monitored in vivo in a mouse model of chronic glaucoma

Microglia serve key homeostatic roles, and respond to neuronal perturbation and decline with a high spatiotemporal resolution. The course of all chronic CNS pathologies is thus paralleled by local microgliosis and microglia activation, which begin at early stages of the disease. However, the possibility of using live monitoring of microglia during early disease progression to predict the severity of neurodegeneration has not been explored. Because the retina allows live tracking of fluorescent microglia in their intact niche, here we investigated their early changes in relation to later optic nerve neurodegeneration. To achieve this, we used the DBA/2J mouse model of inherited glaucoma, which develops progressive retinal ganglion cell degeneration of variable severity during aging, and represents a useful model to study pathogenic mechanisms of retinal ganglion cell decline that are similar to those in human glaucoma. We imaged CX3CR1+/GFP microglial cells in vivo at ages ranging from 1 to 5 months by confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (cSLO) and quantified cell density and morphological activation. We detected early microgliosis at the optic nerve head (ONH), where axonopathy first manifests, and could track attenuation of this microgliosis induced by minocycline. We also observed heterogeneous and dynamic patterns of early microglia activation in the retina. When the same animals were aged and analyzed for the severity of optic nerve pathology at 10 months of age, we found a strong correlation with the levels of ONH microgliosis at 3 to 4 months. Our findings indicate that live imaging and monitoring the time course and levels of early retinal microgliosis and microglia activation in glaucoma could serve as indicators of future neurodegeneration severity.
Tale of two Koreas

The economic performances of North and South Korea over the past decade have differed significantly. This is largely due to the government policies of the two countries, which affect business in conflicting ways. Despite the differences in economic growth, there are a number of similarities between North and South Korea, which are examined in this paper. More importantly, the resource endowments of North Korea, together with the human capital of South Korea, could combine successfully to foster entrepreneurship. This paper discusses the legal, cultural and business environment of North and South Korea and discusses the important possibilities for business development particularly in the small business sector between the two countries.
Growth and Survival of Alaska Stream-Type Chinook Salmon Cultured in Estuarine Net-Pens or Freshwater Raceways

Abstract The overwinter survival and growth and the subsequent marine survival of stream-type chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha were compared between fish cultured in marine net-pens and their siblings cultured in freshwater. The net-pens were suspended in a stratified estuary with a low-salinity lens; the lens provided osmotic relief to the fish, and its depth and salinity varied seasonally. The median overwinter survival for chinook salmon from six brood years was 89.1% for the net-pen groups, significantly (P = 0.009) less than the median survival of 99.0% in freshwater. The median overwinter growth rate was 0.5% of body weight/d for the net-pen groups, significantly (P = 0.013) higher than the median growth rate of 0.2% for freshwater groups. The median marine survival of smolts from net-pen and freshwater groups was similar, 5.6% and 5.3%, respectively. These results demonstrate that juvenile stream-type chinook salmon can be cultured successfully over winter from the subyearling to smolt stage...
Physics+writing=enhanced learning?

During the fall 2000 semester, a joint study was undertaken between the Physics and Literature Departments at American University. The study involved the linking of an introductory physics class for nonmajors in the liberal arts with an introductory college writing class. One goal of the study was to provide more content-specific writing assignments within the college writing class by linking them to material being covered in the physics class. The writing assignments given in both classes formed the basis of the data collected during the study. The underlying questions involved the assessment of student learning in physics as well as in college writing. The primary research questions were: (1) could this course linkage serve to enhance student motivation to think more deeply and critically about the physics-specific content they were writing about in each class? (2) If so, could this enhanced motivation be linked to increased student understanding in physics? In this paper, highlights of the curricula developed for the linked classes is provided along with a summary of the data collected. In addition, results related to the assessment of student learning in physics is presented. This study should have broad-based applications for other educators within the domains of SMET education, particularly those interested in integrated curricula.
Equations of condition for high order Runge-Kutta-Nystrom formulae

Derivation of the equations of condition of order eight for a general system of second-order differential equations approximated by the basic Runge-Kutta-Nystrom algorithm. For this general case, the number of equations of condition is considerably larger than for the special case where the first derivative is not present. Specifically, it is shown that, for orders two through eight, the number of equations for each order is 1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 9 for the special case and is 1, 1, 2, 5, 13, 34, and 95 for the general case.
Value of true whole-body FDG-PET/CT scanning protocol in oncology: optimization of its use based on primary diagnosis.

BackgroundNo standardized field of view (FOV) currently exists for whole-body (WB) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT). Limited WB PET/CT FOV can exclude portions of the head, upper, and lower extremities, because there is little perceived clinical benefit to be gained from imaging these areas.PurposeTo determine how often utilizing WB PET/CT changes the clinical stage and management compared to each of the limited WB FOVs used for PET/CT.Material and MethodsWe retrospectively identified 556 oncologic patients (804 PET/CT studies) who underwent staging or restaging PET/CT between November 2010 and November 2011. Abnormal hypermetabolic areas that were suspicious for malignancy in areas that are outside of some of the limited fields of view including in the brain, scalp, and calvarium (above the orbital ridge), in the proximal upper extremity (distal to the humeral neck), distal upper extremity (beyond the elbow), proximal lower extremity (distal to the lesser trochanter), and distal ...
Female mate choice across mating stages and between sequential mates in flour beetles

Few studies have examined how female premating choice correlates with the outcome of copulatory and post-copulatory processes. It has been shown that polyandrous Tribolium castaneum females discriminate among males before mating based on olfactory cues, and also exert cryptic choice during mating through several mechanisms. This study tested whether a male’s relative attractiveness predicted his insemination success during copulation. Bioassays with male olfactory cues were used to rank two males as more and less attractive to females; each female was then mated to either her more attractive male followed by less attractive male, or vice versa. Dissections immediately after second copulations revealed a significantly higher percent of successful inseminations for females that remated with more attractive males compared with those that remated with less attractive males. These results indicate that cryptic female choice during copulation reinforces precopulatory female choice in T. castaneum, and suggest that females could use cryptic choice to trade up to more attractive males, possibly gaining better phenotypic or genetic quality of sires.
Conversion of methane to benzene over transition metal ion ZSM-5 zeolites : I. Catalytic characterization

Abstract The conversion of methane to benzene in the absence of oxygen has been investigated over different TMI/H-ZSM-5 zeolites (with TMI=Mo, Fe, V, W, and Cr) as a function of the preparation and treatment method, the metal ion loading, and the zeolite acidity. Nonoxidative methane activation is characterized by an induction period prior to the formation of benzene, toluene, and naphthalene. During this induction period the supported metal oxide is reduced and CO, CO2, and H2O are formed. Optimum catalytic performance was obtained for CO-prereduced 2–4 wt% TMI/H-ZSM-5 zeolites, and their activities decreased in the order: Mo (18.3) > W (10.8) > Fe (5.7) > V (3.9) > Cr (1.5). The numbers in parentheses are the rates of methane reaction (molec. reacted/metal atom/h) obtained after 3 h on-stream. Impregnated materials always had a higher activity and shorter initial induction period than solid state ion-exchanged materials, and the induction period decreased with increasing time at moderate reduction temperature and with increasing metal oxide loading. Based on a detailed comparison of the different systems, it is evident that the catalytic properties depend on the presence of Bronsted acid sites and the distribution of the TMI's in the zeolite material.