cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Repeated generalized seizures can produce calcified cardiac lesions in DBA/1 mice.

Abstract Studies suggest that cardiorespiratory dysfunction likely contributes to sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Seizures result in autonomic and respiratory dysfunction, leading to sympathetic hyperactivity and respiratory distress, including apnea. While the heart is vulnerable to catecholamine surges and hypoxia, it remains unknown if repetitive generalized seizures lead to cardiac damage. DBA/1 mice exhibit seizure-induced respiratory arrest (S-IRA) following generalized audiogenic seizures (AGS), which can be resuscitated using a rodent ventilator. In the current study, we induced different numbers of S-IRA episodes in DBA/1 mice and determined the association of repeated S-IRA induction with cardiac damage using histology. After repetitive induction of 18 S-IRA, calcified lesions, as revealed by calcium (Ca2+)-specific alizarin red staining, were observed in the ventricular myocardium in 61.5% of DBA/1 mice, which was higher compared to mice with 5 S-IRA and 1 S-IRA as well as age-matched untested control mice. The incidence of lesions in mice with 9 S-IRA was only higher than that of control mice. Only 1–2, small lesions were observed in mice with 5 S-IRA and 1 S-IRA and in control mice. Larger lesions (> 2500 μm2) were observed in mice with 9 and 18 S-IRA. The incidence of larger lesions was higher in mice with 18 S-IRA (53.8%) as compared to mice with 5 S-IRA and 1 S-IRA as well as with control mice, and the incidence of larger lesions in mice with 9 S-IRA was only higher than that of control mice. Repeated induction of S-IRA in DBA/1 mice can result in calcified necrotic lesions in the ventricles of the heart, and their incidence and size are dependent on the total number of S-IRA.
Catalytic Borylation of SCF3-Functionalized Arenes by Rhodium(I) Boryl Complexes: Regioselective C—H Activation at the ortho-Position.

Borylation of arenes (I) in the presence of a rhodium catalyst (RHB) proceeds under mild conditions with a unique regioselectivity for the position ortho to the SCF3 group to give monoborylated products (III).
Dual Antagonist of cIAP/XIAP ASTX660 Sensitizes HPV− and HPV+ Head and Neck Cancers to TNFα, TRAIL, and Radiation Therapy

Purpose: Human papilloma virus (HPV) negative head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) harbor frequent genomic amplification of Fas-Associated Death Domain (FADD), with or without concurrent amplification of Baculovirus inhibitor of apoptosis repeat containing (BIRC2/3) genes encoding cellular Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins 1/2 (cIAP1/2). Antagonists targeting cIAP1 have been reported to enhance sensitivity of HPV(-), but not HPV(+) tumors, to Tumor Necrosis Factor family death ligands (TNF, TRAIL) and radiation. Methods: We tested a novel dual cIAP/XIAP antagonist ASTX660 in HPV(+) and (-) cell lines in combination with death ligands TNF and TRAIL, and in preclinical xenograft models with radiation, an inducer of death ligands. The dependence of activity on TNF was examined by antibody depletion. Results: ASTX660 sensitized subsets of HPV(-) and (+) HNSCC cell lines to TNFα and TRAIL. These anti-tumor effects of ASTX660 are the result of both apoptosis and/or necroptosis among HPV(-) cells, and primarily by apoptosis (caspase 3 and caspase 8 cleavage) in HPV(+) cells. ASTX660 enhanced restoration of protein expression and inhibitory activity of pro-apoptotic tumor suppressor TP53 in HPV(+) HNSCC. Furthermore, ASTX660 combined with radiotherapy, an inducer of death ligands, significantly delayed growth of both human HPV(-) and HPV(+) human tumor xenografts, an effect attenuated by anti-TNFα pretreatment blockade. Conclusions: IAP1/XIAP antagonist ASTX660 sensitizes HPV(+) HNSCC to TNFα via a mechanism involving restoration of TP53. The present findings serve to motivate further studies of dual cIAP/XIAP antagonists and future clinical trials combining these antagonists with radiotherapy to treat both HPV(+) and (-) HNSCC.
Racial/ethnic differences in job accessibility effects: Explaining employment and commutes in the Los Angeles region

Abstract The lack of spatial access to job opportunities is considered one major barrier that explains low employment rates and long commutes of racial/ethnic minorities, particularly in the U.S. But it is unclear whether the job accessibility effects vary by race/ethnicity. This research fills this gap. Results based on the Los Angeles region reveal complicated relationships: job accessibility has similarly insignificant effects on the employment probability of white and black job seekers, while the effects on Hispanics and Asians are plausible and significant in low- and medium-education groups. High job accessibility by transit mode reduces commute distance for all racial/ethnic groups, but job accessibility by automobile does not. Therefore, policies that aim to improve economic prospects or to reduce commutes and related externalities need to be both place-sensitive, e.g., improving transit services to employment clusters, and race/ethnicity-sensitive, e.g., considering transportation needs of low- and medium-education Hispanic and Asian workers.
Response Evaluations for Precision Cancer Therapy and Immunotherapy

Since the original introduction of RECIST in 2000 and the revision in 2009, the treatment approaches for advanced cancers have made considerable progress. Notably, the recent advances of the understanding of genomic abnormalities specific to cancer and its clinical application have transformed the way how oncologists approach cancer patients, enabling the era of effective precision cancer therapies using molecular targeting agents. Furthermore, the recent success in cancer immunotherapy has brought another paradigm shift, using immune-checkpoint blockade to activate host immune defense mechanism and fight against cancer. Given these advances of cancer therapies, additional limitations of RECIST apart from the general limitations discussed in “Conventional Tumor Response Criteria and Limitations” have been increasingly recognized, especially in patients treated with precision therapy and immunotherapy (Nishino 2018; Nishino et al. 2012). This chapter discusses these therapy-specific limitations of RECIST, including (1) CT tumor density changes in response to antiangiogenic therapy, (2) slow tumor progression during molecular targeted therapy, and (3) immune-related response in patients treated with immunotherapy (Nishino 2018; Nishino et al. 2012).
Extended Lagrangian Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics using a Krylov subspace approximation.

It is shown how the electronic equations of motion in extended Lagrangian Born–Oppenheimer molecular dynamics simulations [A. M. N. Niklasson, Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 123004 (2008); J. Chem. Phys. 147, 054103 (2017)] can be integrated using low-rank approximations of the inverse Jacobian kernel. This kernel determines the metric tensor in the harmonic oscillator extension of the Lagrangian that drives the evolution of the electronic degrees of freedom. The proposed kernel approximation is derived from a pseudoinverse of a low-rank estimate of the Jacobian, which is expressed in terms of a generalized set of directional derivatives with directions that are given from a Krylov subspace approximation. The approach allows a tunable and adaptive approximation that can take advantage of efficient preconditioning techniques. The proposed kernel approximation for the integration of the electronic equations of motion makes it possible to apply extended Lagrangian first-principles molecular dynamics simulations to a broader range of problems, including reactive chemical systems with numerically sensitive and unsteady charge solutions. This can be achieved without requiring exact full calculations of the inverse Jacobian kernel in each time step or relying on iterative non-linear self-consistent field optimization of the electronic ground state prior to the force evaluations as in regular direct Born–Oppenheimer molecular dynamics. The low-rank approximation of the Jacobian is directly related to Broyden’s class of quasi-Newton algorithms and Jacobian-free Newton–Krylov methods and provides a complementary formulation for the solution of nonlinear systems of equations.
Evaluation of Motor Learning When Performance Levels are Heterogeneous

Abstract In three motor learning experiments (jumping, speed of arm movement and balancing), raw learning scores are unrelated to final degree of skill but are negatively correlated with initial performance. Using the method of residuals to hold statistically constant the influence of initial skill, it is possible to compute derived learning scores which are unrelated to initial skill and at the same time substantially correlated with learning and also with post-learning performance. Since these scores estimate the individual learning that would have occurred if each person had started at the same level of initial skill, they should prove practically useful as true measures of motor educability. The method can readily be applied to the construction of tabular norms in which several variables must be taken into account. It has also been used to define an endurance index.
Upstream-Downstream Conflicts, 1930–1960

Conflict and compromise with downstream water users in Orange County, California, has been a defining characteristic of and shaping influence on groundwater use and management in Chino Basin. The period from the 1930s through the 1950s described in this chapter featured recurring litigation with Orange County interests, which spurred further organization and collaboration among Chino Basin water users including the formation of numerous water districts. Groundwater reliance in Chino Basin intensified, which contributed to the beginnings of groundwater overdraft there. By the mid-1900s, studies by the California Department of Water Resources sharpened water users’ understanding of what was and was not possible in terms of the development and use of local supplies and contributed to the start of imported water use in the Santa Ana River watershed.
Predicting macro-kinetic observables in electrocatalysis using the generalized degree of rate control

Abstract Kinetic observables such as the Tafel slope, apparent activation energy, and apparent reaction orders all provide mechanistic fingerprints for electrocatalytic processes. Here, we show how each of these quantities is related to the generalized degree of rate control (DRC). We find that the apparent transfer coefficient, an inverted form of the Tafel slope, is a weighted average of the number of electrons transferred to generate each intermediate or product species in a mechanism, where the weighting factor is the DRC. We similarly show that the apparent activation energy and apparent reaction orders (with potential dependence) can also be written in simple terms of the DRC. Since DRCs can further be related with microscopic quantities such as fractional coverages of intermediates, these relations can be used to improve intuition about possible operative mechanisms of complex electrocatalytic processes. Final discussions address the possible impacts of various nonidealities such as electric field effects, adsorbate interactions, and approximations related to the form of electrochemical rate constants.
Virtual Patients: An Enabling Technology for Multivariable Control of Biomedical Systems

Abstract This paper presents the development of virtual patients to enable the simulation evaluation and assessment of multivariable control algorithms for biomedical systems. The virtual patients are generated by fitting the parameters of the models to clinical experimental data, followed by the estimation of the multivariate distribution of the actual patient parameters. The estimated multivariate distribution is then incorporated with constraints to ensure the sampling of synthetic virtual patients conforms to the actual patient parameter bounds. The sampled synthetic virtual patients are analyzed through multivariate statistical techniques and data clustering algorithms to prune out virtual subjects with similar characteristics or unrealistic dynamics, yielding a virtual patient population that is diverse and with individually distinct characteristics. The generated virtual patient population is used to evaluate multivariable nonlinear and adaptive control algorithms for insulin dosing in people with Type 1 diabetes.
Male age and Wolbachia dynamics: Determining how fast and why bacterial densities and cytoplasmic incompatibility strengths vary

Abstract Endosymbiotic Wolbachia bacteria infect divergent arthropod and nematode hosts. Many strains cause cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) that kills uninfected embryos fertilized by Wolbachia-modified sperm. Infected embryos are protected from CI, promoting Wolbachia spread to high equilibrium frequencies balanced by imperfect maternal transmission. CI strength varies widely in nature and tends to decrease as males age. Understanding the causes of CI-strength variation is crucial to explain Wolbachia prevalence in host populations. Here, we investigate how fast and why CI strength decreases with male age in two model systems: wMel in Drosophila melanogaster and wRi in D. simulans. Average wMel CI strength decreases rapidly (19%/ day), and wRi CI strength decreases slowly (6%/ day) as males age; thus, within three days, wMel-infected males do not cause CI, whereas twelve-day-old wRi-infected males still cause minor, yet significant, CI. We tested if reductions in Wolbachia densities or CI gene expression as males age could explain this pattern. Indeed, wRi densities and CI gene expression decrease in testes as males age, but wMel densities and CI gene expression surprisingly increase with male age as CI strength decreases. Phage WO lytic activity and wMel Octomom copy number—an ampliconic gene region that influences wMel proliferation—do not explain age-dependent Wolbachia densities. However, the expression of Relish, an essential gene in the Drosophila immune deficiency pathway, strongly correlates with wMel densities. Together, these results suggest that testes-wide Wolbachia density and CI gene expression are insufficient to explain age-dependent CI strength across strains and that Wolbachia density is variably impacted by male age across Wolbachia-host associations. We hypothesize that host immunity may underlie variation in age-dependent density dynamics. More broadly, the rapid decline of wMel CI strength during the first week of D. melanogaster life likely contributes to wMel frequency variation observed on several continents.
Does time since injury and duration matter in the benefits of physical therapy treatment for concussion

ObjectiveTo determine if there are differences in post-concussion symptom levels depending on 1) when physical therapy treatment is begun after the concussion and 2) the length of treatment.MethodR...
Requirement for an Otopetrin-Like protein for acid taste in Drosophila

Many of the Drosophila receptors required for bitter, sugar and other tastes have been identified. However, the receptor required for the taste of acid has been elusive. In Drosophila, the major families of taste receptors, such as Gustatory Receptors and Ionotropic Receptors are unrelated to taste receptors in mammals. Previous work indicated that members of these major families do not appear to be broadly required acid sensors. Here, to identify the enigmatic acid taste receptor, we interrogated three genes encoding proteins distantly related the mammalian Otopertrin1 proton channel. We found that RNAi knockdown or mutation of Otopetrin-Like A (OtopLA) by CRISPR/Cas9, severely impairs the behavioral rejection of sugary foods laced with HCl or carboxylic acids. Mutation of OtopLA also greatly reduces acid-induced action potentials. We identified an isoform of OtopLA that was expressed in the proboscis and was sufficient to restore acid sensitivity to OtopLA mutant flies. OtopLA functioned in acid taste in a subset of bitter-activated gustatory receptor neurons that senses protons. This work highlights an unusual functional conservation of a receptor required for a taste modality in flies and mammals.
Phylogenomic Assessment of Biodiversity Using a Reference-Based Taxonomy: An Example With Horned Lizards (Phrynosoma)

Phylogenomic investigations of biodiversity facilitate the detection of fine-scale population genetic structure and the demographic histories of species and populations. However, determining whether or not the genetic divergence measured among populations reflects species-level differentiation remains a central challenge in species delimitation. One potential solution is to compare genetic divergence between putative new species with other closely related species, sometimes referred to as a reference-based taxonomy. To be recognized as a new species, a population should be at least as divergent as other recognized species. Here, we develop a reference-based taxonomy for Horned Lizards (Phrynosoma; 17 species) using phylogenomic data (ddRADseq data) to provide a framework for delimiting species in the Greater Short-horned Lizard species complex (P. hernandesi). Previous species delimitation studies of this species complex have produced conflicting results, with morphological data suggesting that P. hernandesi consists of five species, whereas mitochondrial DNA support anywhere from 1 to 10+ species. To help address this conflict, we first estimated a time-calibrated species tree for P. hernandesi and close relatives using SNP data. These results support the paraphyly of P. hernandesi; we recommend the recognition of two species to promote a taxonomy that is consistent with species monophyly. There is strong evidence for three populations within P. hernandesi, and demographic modeling and admixture analyses suggest that these populations are not reproductively isolated, which is consistent with previous morphological analyses that suggest hybridization could be common. Finally, we characterize the population-species boundary by quantifying levels of genetic divergence for all 18 Phrynosoma species. Genetic divergence measures for western and southern populations of P. hernandesi failed to exceed those of other Phrynosoma species, but the relatively small population size estimated for the northern population causes it to appear as a relatively divergent species. These comparisons underscore the difficulties associated with putting a reference-based approach to species delimitation into practice. Nevertheless, the reference-based approach offers a promising framework for the consistent assessment of biodiversity within clades of organisms with similar life histories and ecological traits.
Post-compression of long-wave infrared 2 picosecond sub-terawatt pulses in bulk materials

We have experimentally demonstrated the post-compression of a long-wave infrared (9.2 μm) 150 GW peak power pulse from 2 ps to less than 500 fs using a sequence of two bulk materials with negative group velocity dispersion (GVD). The compression resulted in up to 1.6-fold increase of the peak power and up to 2.8-fold increase of the intensity in the center of a quasi-Gaussian beam. The partial decoupling of the self-phase modulation and chirp compensation stages by using two materials with significantly different ratios of nonlinear refractive index to GVD provides accurate optimization of the compression mechanism and promises a viable path to scaling peak powers to supra-terawatt levels. During the preparatory study, we measured, for the first time to our knowledge, the nonlinear refractive indices of NaCl, KCl, and BaF2 for picosecond pulses in the long-wave infrared region.
Chapter 12 Surf-Zone Ecology and Dynamics

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the ecology and dynamics of extensive sandy beaches and their adjacent surf zones. It identifies the crucial environmental factors that promote the development of surf-diatom blooms. It also discusses the physical characteristics along with the meteorologic and oceanographic conditions of beaches. The chapter describes various interactions between surf diatoms and razor clams. It also describes the physical mechanisms that influence the distribution of surf diatoms over space and time. These physical factors—in combination with the flotation capability of the surf species—provide reasonable explanations for many aspects of the observed distributions. The chapter presents a mathematical model of surf-zone dynamics and ecology incorporating various hydrodynamic and biological processes. The chapter presents a summary of the relevant mathematical aspects of the physical oceanography of the surf zone, together with the highlights of the biological model.
n-type doping principles for doping CuInSe/sub 2/ and CuGaSe/sub 2/ with Cl, Br, I, Mg, Zn, and Cd

We develop n-type doping principles for chalcopyrite photovoltaic materials, considering donor doping of CuInSe/sub 2/ and CuGaSe/sub 2/ by halogen (X = Cl, Br, I), and divalent (M = Mg, Zn, Cd) atoms. We determine equilibrium defect concentrations as a function of growth conditions, using defect formation energies obtained by first-principles supercell calculations. We find: (i) In CuInSe/sub 2/ under Se-poor conditions, halogen doping does not yield a higher net n-type doping level than intrinsic doping by In/sub Cu/. (ii) In CuInSe/sub 2/, divalent doping leads to a higher net n-doping, but a high compensation level is present (iii) In CuGaSe/sub 2/, neither halogen nor divalent doping yields net n-type doping under equilibrium conditions, because formation of Cu vacancies pins the Fermi level low in the gap. This pinning of E/sub F/ also limits the amount of band bending that can be obtained inside the Cu(In,Ga)Se/sub 2/ absorber of a solar cell.
Sensitivity of ozone to model grid resolution — II. Detailed process analysis for ozone chemistry

Most of the current air quality models used to simulate ozone (O3) formation predict only the concentrations of O3 without the capabilities of understanding and explaining the formation processes of O3. In this paper we present a process analysis method developed to understand and quantify the chemical and physical processes that lead to formation of O3 in Eulerian grid models. In a previous study we used a high-resolution version of regional acid deposition model (HR-RADM) to simulate O3 formation at different grid resolutions. In this study we further applied this detailed process analysis method to the HR-RADM simulations to determine the roles of individual mechanistic processes contributing to O3 formation, as well as to examine the effects of grid resolution on these regulating processes. We first selected several source areas and examined the processes that lead O3 formation in these areas. The “OH-cycle” and “NO-cycle” pathways derived from the process analysis method appear as important measures that can significantly enhance our ability to quantify and explain the formation processes of O3. We also compared O3 processes between two different grid resolutions over an equal source area with nearly equal emissions. The results suggest that (1) the effects of grid resolution on the chemistry of NOx are far more important than that on the chemistry of VOC; (2) grid resolution significantly influences the competing rates of chemistry and vertical transport processes for the emitted NOx, causing the differences in O3 predictions between two different grid resolutions. Because the balance of chemistry and vertical transport controls the model predictions, correct representation is needed for both. This leads to a conclusion that to improve model accuracy in predicting O3 formation, it is not only necessary to have adequate horizontal grid resolution, but also necessary to have adequate vertical grid resolution and accurate representation of the vertical transport process.
Individual losses in thin-film CdTe solar cells

Thin-film polycrystalline CdTe solar cells have been analyzed using current-voltage, reflection, quantum efficiency, and capacitance measurements. The objective is to quantify the individual current and voltage losses in cells from different sources. Compared to an optimum photocurrent density of 30.5 mA/cm/sup 2/, they typically lose 2 mA/cm/sup 2/ to reflection, 2-3 to uncollected CdTe carriers, and 2-6 to window-layer absorption. Voltage loss at maximum power is of the order of 200 mV because of the polycrystallinity, 100 mV due to light-dark differences in forward current, and 50 mV resulting from series resistance. Individual voltage loss values vary considerably among samples. The capacitance measurement implies that a significant fraction of the CdTe is a highly compensated i-layer and that the extraneous bandgap state density is above 10/sup 11/ eV/sup -1/ cm/sup -2/ under operating conditions. >
Semantic Bridging of Independent Enterprise Ontologies

Organizational knowledge typically comes from many independent sources, each with its own semantics. This paper describes a methodology by which information from large numbers of such sources can be associated, organized, and merged. The hypothesis is that a multiplicity of ontology fragments, representing the semantics of the independent sources, can be related to each other automatically without the use of a global ontology. That is, any pair of ontologies can be related indirectly through a semantic bridge consisting of many other previously unrelated ontologies, even when there is no way to determine a direct relationship between them. The relationships among the ontology fragments indicate the relationships among the sources, enabling the source information to be categorized and organized. A preliminary evaluation of the methodology has been conducted by relating 53 small, independently developed ontologies for a single domain. A nice feature of the methodology is that common parts of the ontologies reinforce each other, while unique parts are de-emphasized. The result is a consensus ontology.
Development of dialysis disequilibrium-like clinical signs during postobstructive management of feline urethral obstruction.

Objective To describe the clinical features, treatment, and outcome of a cat with acute neurologic signs subsequent to relief of urethral obstruction and rapid resolution of severe azotemia, suggesting a process similar to dialysis disequilibrium syndrome. Case Summary A male castrated domestic short-hair cat was presented for weakness and dull mentation. Initial physical examination was consistent with urethral obstruction and laboratory data demonstrated severe azotemia, hyperkalemia, and acidemia. Interventions for hyperkalemia and urethral catheterization were performed without complication. The patient demonstrated a marked postobstructive diuresis and 7 hours after presentation suffered a grand mal seizure and was neurologically inappropriate. These changes corresponded with marked decreases in blood urea nitrogen (from 89.25 mmol/L to 19.99 mmol/L [250 mg/dL to 56 mg/dL]) and calculated serum osmolality (429 mOsm/kg to 359 mOsm/kg) from initial presentation without other apparent cause for seizure activity. The patient was treated with hypertonic saline (bolus and continuous infusion) for presumed osmotic injury (dialysis disequilibrium-like clinical signs) along with other supportive care. All neurologic signs resolved within 48 hours, the urinary catheter was removed, and the patient was discharged after 24 hours of observation of spontaneous urination. New or Unique Information Provided Dialysis disequilibrium syndrome has been documented in small animals, but similar signs have not been reported as a sequelae of treatment of feline urethral obstruction. Urethral obstruction is a common emergency and practitioners should be aware of this potential complication as a cause of delayed neurologic recovery or seizures in the postobstructive period.
Organization as a determinant of part-to-whole transfer in free recall

Tulving (1966) reported part-to-whole negative transfer in free recall on unrelated words, suggesting that the subjective organization induced by the part list persevered and was nonoptimal for the whole list. The present study first replicated Tulving's result with single-word presentations, finding too that Ss clustered their whole-list recall according to old vs. new items (suggesting perseverance of prior organizations). Additional conditions were run in which the list-words were explicitly organized (grouped) for S, with the (forced) whole-list organization being compatible with the (forced) part-list organization. In these conditions with forced compatible organizations, part-to-whole transfer was highly positive compared to relevant control Ss.
The effect of dietary vitamin E on indomethacin stimulated chemiluminescense in rat liver microsomes

Peroxidation of endogenous lipid by rat liver microsomes, coupled with oxidation of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) was markedly stimulated in the presence of indomethacin [1-(p-chlorobenzyl)-5-methoxy-2-methyl-3-indole acetic acid], a potent anti-inflammatory drug. This system also generated a rapidly developed chemiluminescense (CL), the intensity and rate of development of which were related to indomethacin concentration and the amount of peroxidation in the sample. Microsomes from rats fed a liquid diet based on Sego diet drink (Pet Incorporated) failed to chemiluminesce with or without added indomethacin. Supplementation of the Sego diet with a polyunsaturated fatty acid (C18:3) did not restore the chemiluminescense. In vitro and in vivo studies indicate that vitamin E (a component of the Sego liquid diet) inhibited the microsomal chemiluminescense reaction in a dose related manner.
Pion scattering from spin 1/2 nuclei.

Left-right asymmetries for pion elastic scattering and charge exchange from polarized [sup 13]C and [sup 15]N are calculated and compared with the available data. It is shown for elastic scattering that the quadrupole spin-flip contribution is dominant in the determination of the asymmetry at forward angles. The distorted wave impulse approximation and optical model treatments are compared and a qualitative discussion of the underlying physics of the sign of the asymmetry in the first diffraction minimum is presented.
Benchmark Measurements of the Ionization Balance of Non-Local-Thermodynamic-Equilibrium Gold Plasmas

We present a series of benchmark measurements of the ionization balance of well-characterized gold plasmas with and without external radiation fields at electron densities near ${10}^{21}\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ and electron temperatures spanning the range 0.8 to 2.4 keV. We have analyzed time- and space-resolved $M$-shell gold emission spectra using a sophisticated collisional-radiative model with hybrid level structure, finding average ion charges $⟨Z⟩$ ranging from 42 to 50. At the lower temperatures, the spectra exhibit significant sensitivity to external radiation fields and include emission features from complex $N$-shell ions. The measured spectra and inferred $⟨Z⟩$ provide a stringent test for non-local-thermodynamic-equilibrium models of complex high-$Z$ ions.
Evolution of coordinated mutagenesis and somatic hypermutation in VH5.

The VH5 human antibody gene was analyzed using a computer program (mfg) which simulates transcription, to better understand transcription-driven mutagenesis events that occur during “phase 1” of somatic hypermutation. Results show that the great majority of mutations in the non-transcribed strand occur within loops of two predicted high-stability stem-loop structures, termed SLSs 14.9 and 13.9. In fact, 89% of the 2505 mutations reported are within the encoded complementarity-determining region (CDR) and occur in loops of these high-stability structures. In vitro studies were also done and verified the existence of SLS 14.9. Following the formation of SLSs 14.9 and 13.9, a sustained period of transcriptional activity occurs within a window size of 60–70 nucleotides. During this period, the stability of these two SLSs does not change, and may provide the substrate for base exchanges and mutagenesis. The data suggest that many mutable bases are exposed simultaneously at pause sites, allowing for coordinated mutagenesis.
Biochemical heterogeneity in xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group E.

Abstract Cells from two patients with xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group E (XP-E) have been shown to lack an activity which binds specifically to UV-irradiated DNA (Chu and Chang, 1988). We investigated the occurrence of this binding activity in cell strains from nine additional, unrelated XP-E patients and found that all but one of these strains contained normal levels of the binding protein. Furthermore, the binding activity from these XP-E strains was indistinguishable from that of normal controls in thermal stability, behavior on ion-exchange chromatography, and electrophoretic mobility of protein-DNA complexes, indicating that there were no gross structural alterations in the protein. The association of XP-E with a deficiency in DNA-damage binding protein in cells from 3 of 12 XP-E patients (compared to 0 of 20 non-XP-E controls) is statistically significant ( p
ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDIES OF VIRAL AGENTS IN CROHN'S DISEASE

Viral agents isolated from ileal filtrates of patients with Crohn's disease have been successfully cultivated in continuous rabbit ileum tissue-culture and grown to titres sufficient to allow electron microscopic characterisation. Electron microscopic studies showed clusters of viral particles only in tissue-cultures inoculated with cultivated viruses originally obtained from tissues from patients with Crohn's disease. Control cultures showed no evidence of viral agents. The mean virus-particle diameter was 30 nm. An electron-dense central core was present and a spiculated coat was demonstrated. The physical chemical properties of this agent, as previously described, together with the electron microscopic appearance are consistent with the appearance of a picornavirus.
The antilingula as an anatomic landmark in oral surgery.

Abstract The antilingula is a highly variable anatomic landmark and in most instances is situated considerably anterior and superior to the inferior dental foramen. In the majority of cases a cut made between 5 and 10 mm. distal to the antilingula is within a statistically safe area to avoid encroaching upon the inferior alveolar foramen.
The effect of azelastine on the early allergic response

To study the effect of azelastine on the immediate reaction to nasal allergen challenge, we performed a double blind, placebo-controlled cross-over clinical trial. Thirteen subjects with seasonal allergic rhinitis underwent nasal challenge with antigen 4 hr after a single oral 2 mg dose of azelastine. The response was monitored by counting the number of sneezes and by measuring the levels of histamine, prostaglandin D2, immunoreactive sulphidopeptide leukotrienes, kinis and TAME-esterase activity in recovered nasal lavages. After a single dose of azelastine, there was a significant reduction in sneezing (10 vs 2, P = 0.01) and in the median levels of recovered TAME-esterase activity (63.1 vs 17.5 c.p.m. x 10(-3), P = 0.01), immunoreactive sulphidopeptide leukotrienes (7.5 vs 2.1 ng/ml, P = 0.03) and kinins (1370 vs 251 pg/ml, P = 0.03), with no significant reduction in the median levels of histamine (3.7 vs 1.2 ng/ml, P = 0.2) and prostaglandin D2 (70 vs 70 pg/ml, P = 0.2) compared to placebo (numbers represent total increase over diluent challenge). These results suggest that azelastine does not inhibit mast cell activation but affects the consequences of released histamine, namely sneezing, increased vascular permeability and the generation of kinins. The results further suggest that other cells, in addition to mast cells, might be responsible for the generation of leukotrienes during the early allergic response, and that azelastine reduces their ability to generate this mediator or that inhibition of leukotriene release from mast cells occurs at lower drug concentrations.
Connectivity of multihop wireless networks with log-normal shadowing

In this paper, we study the connectivity of multihop wireless networks with the log-normal shadowing model by investigating the critical transmission power required by each node for asymptotic vanishing of the isolated nodes, and the precise distribution of the number of isolated nodes. The vanishing of isolated nodes is not only a prerequisite but also a good indication of network connectivity. Most of the known works on network connectivity under such a shadowing model were obtained only based on simulation studies or ignoring the important boundary effect to avoid the challenging technical analysis, and thus hardly applied to practical wireless networks. It is extremely challenging to take the complicated boundary effect into consideration under such a realistic shadowing model because the transmission area of each node is an irregular region other than a circular area. Assume the wireless nodes are represented by a Poisson point process with density $$n$$n over a unit-area disk. With the boundary effect taken into consideration, we first obtain an explicit formula for the expected number of isolated nodes, we then derive an upper and a lower bounds of the critical transmission power for asymptotic vanishing of the isolated nodes. The tightness of the upper and lower bounds for the critical transmission power are analyzed via numerical analysis by using the software engineering approach. When a wireless network consists of $$n$$n nodes distributed independently and uniformly over a unit-area disk, we derive the precise distribution of the number of the isolated nodes under such a realistic shadowing model with the linear power assignment, taking the boundary effect into consideration.
Study of Ventricular Response in Atrial Fibrillation

A study was made of the variation in R-R interval in 47 long electrocardiographic recordings from 17 patients with atrial fibrillation. The distribution curve of ventricular intervals was found to vary in configuration according to the mean ventricular rate. A single high peak was seen at fast rates, two peaks at intermediate rates, and a single low peak flattening to a long low curve at slow rates.
LINGUISTIC FIELD THEORY AND STUDIES OF WORD ASSOCIATION.

(1964). Linguistic Field Theory and Studies of Word Association. The Journal of General Psychology: Vol. 71, No. 1, pp. 145-155.
Scrotal and perineal sensory neuropathy after urethroplasty for bulbar urethral stricture disease: an evaluation of the incidence, timing, and resolution.

Objective To examine the timing, incidence, and resolution of scrotal and perineal sensory neuropathy after urethroplasty for bulbar urethral stricture disease. Materials and Methods We performed an institutional review board–approved retrospective review of our urethroplasty database with specific attention paid to patient demographics, stricture location, repair type, and postoperative sensory neuropathy defined as the complaint of hypesthesia, anesthesia, paresthesia, hyperesthesia, and pain in the scrotal and perineal region after surgery. Incidence and reported times to onset and resolution of sensory neuropathy were compared among our cohort. Results A total of 155 men underwent urethroplasty for bulbar urethral stricture disease from January 2007 to December 2012. One hundred forty-three of 155 men (92%) had postoperative data available for analysis. The average age at surgery was 47 ± 15 years and average stricture length was 2.1 ± 1.4 cm. Repair types were excision and primary anastomosis (101 of 143; 71%), augmented anastomotic repair (31 of 143; 22%), onlay repair (4 of 143; 3%), and perineal urethrostomy (7/143, 5%). Twenty of 143 men (14%) experienced postoperative scrotal and perineal neuralgia at a median time of 108 days (range, 18-160 days) from surgery. Fourteen of 20 men (70%) had subsequent follow-up visits, and all of these men had resolution of the pain, without treatment, at a median reported time of 271 days from surgery. There were no significant differences in incidence, resolution, or timing of sensory neuropathy among repair types. Conclusion Our findings indicate that approximately 14% of men who undergo urethroplasty for bulbar urethral stricture disease experience postoperative scrotal and perineal sensory neuropathy. This appears to be transient with 100% resolution in our patients with available follow-up.
MORE ON PAPERFOLDING

(1999). More on Paperfolding. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 106, No. 1, pp. 27-35.
Fast adaptive early termination for mode selection in H.264/AVC standard based on ×264 implementation

In the H.264/AVC video coding standard, the mode decision component involves a large amount of computation. This paper presents a fast or computationally efficient mode prediction and selection approach which has the following attributes: (a) both the spatial and temporal information are used to achieve early termination using adaptive thresholds, (b) inclusion of a modulator capable of trading off computational efficiency and accuracy, (c) a homogenous region detection procedure for 8×8 blocks based on adaptive thresholds. The developed approach consists of three main steps: (1) mode prediction, (2) early termination based on adaptive thresholds, and (3) refinement by checking all the modes. In addition, in order to avoid sub-partitions into smaller block sizes for 8x8 blocks, texture information is utilized. It is shown that the developed approach leads to a computationally efficient video coding implementation as compared to the previous fast approaches. The results obtained on QCIF, CIF, and HD format video sequences based on x264 are presented to demonstrate the computational efficiency of the developed approach at the expense of acceptably low losses in video quality.
The role of reaction center excited state evolution during charge separation in a Rb. sphaeroides mutant with an initial electron donor midpoint potential 260 mV above wild type

Abstract Femtosecond transient absorbance spectroscopy was performed on the triple hydrogen bond reaction center mutant [LH(L131) + LH(M160) + FH(M197)] of Rhodobacter sphaeroides which has a P/P+ midpoint potential 260 mV above wild type. The decay of the excited singlet state in this mutant is kinetically complex with a dominant decay component of about 50 ps at 295 K. Charge separation to the state P+QA− occurs with a quantum yield of 0.50 ± 0.1 at 295 K and 0.10–0.15 at 20 K. The yield, rate of formation and spectra of states which are trapped when electron transfer to the quinone is blocked by quinone reduction compared to the rate and yield of formation of P+QA− in unreduced reaction centers suggest that evolution of the excited state is the rate limiting event in charge separation in triple mutant reaction centers. The excited state that results from this evolution has spectral features which are remarkably similar to the initial excited singlet state found using R-26 reaction centers (R-26 reaction centers have essentially wild type photochemistry). The fact that the formation of this altered excited state is greatly slowed in a high P/P+ midpoint potential mutant suggests that the early excited state in wild type or R-26 reaction centers may have considerable P+ character. A consideration of the thermodynamics of the state P+BA− in this and related high potential mutants implies that a simple model in which P+BA− is formed as a discrete electron transfer intermediate is not a viable description in these mutants. Other factors such as reaction center heterogeneity or alternate electron transfer mechanisms must be invoked.
The state of the art in internal auditing risk assessment techniques

Explores the state of the art in internal auditing risk assessment techniques by reviewing professional requirements as stated in Statement of Internal Auditing Standards (SIAS) No. 9 and then examining and discussing currently available risk assessment techniques. Models explored in the study include the traditional risk assessment model and those by Wilson and Randon; Patton, Evans and Lewis; Boritz; and Siers and Blyskal. The results of the study indicate that professional standards are being met by all of the risk assessment techniques examined but none of the techniques is perfect for all users. Indeed, each has at least one flaw which seriously compromises its usefulness. Empirical research comparing predicted areas of high risk with actual areas could be used to determine the robustness of these models.
Effects of incentive as a within- and between-subjects variable in risk-taking

Risk-taking behavior as a function of incentive condition, range of payoffs, and alternative to gambling was investigated in a mixed 2 by 3 by 3 factorial design. Thirty-six Ss were divided into three experimental groups depending on the incentive condition. Incentive was presented as both a within- and between-Ss variable, and range of payoffs and alternative to gambling were manipulated as within-Ss variables. It was hypothesized that incentive would have a greater effect on gambling behavior when presented as a within-Ss variable than as a between-Ss variable. The results did not support the hypothesis.
The Structure and Function of the Cutaneous Vasculature

The cutaneous vasculature is a dynamic network that responds to its environment depending upon specific demands in time and space. Changes in its functional role can be observed as changes in gross structure, or by alterations in specific gene expression or function. The improved understanding in mechanisms by which EC participate in inflammatory, neoplastic, and reparative processes will likely reap great benefits in our understanding and treatment of cutaneous disease.
Selecting a Control Group: An Analysis of the Randomization Process in Twelve Social Reform Programs.

This study examines the randomization process in twelve different social reform projects in the fields of health, education, and law. All of the programs used the same type of evaluation plan: a true experimental design involving randomization of clients to treat ment and control conditions. The implementation of this plan is discussed for each project. In addition, the projects are analyzed in terms of five aspects of the assignment process. The relationships between these aspects and the successful or unsuccessful implementations of the twelve evaluation designs are discussed. Finally, recommenda tions are made about issues which should be considered by program administrators and researchers before planning and implementing a true experimental evaluation.
Monte Carlo evaluations of interfacial tension and universal amplitude ratios of the three-dimensional Ising model.

The interfacial tension of the simple-cubic Ising model near the transition temperature has been calculated with use of an extension of a recently proposed novel Monte Carlo method. Finite-size scaling theory was used to analyze the results and to obtain the surface tension amplitude. Universal ratios involving the surface tension amplitude are evaluated. Previous ambiguities in the theoretical value of the ratio involving the surface tension and specific-heat amplitudes have been clarified.
Systematic review of randomized controlled trials of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics in inflammatory bowel disease.

Background Probiotics are microorganisms that are ingested either in combination or as a single organism in an effort to normalize intestinal microbiota and potentially improve intestinal barrier function. Recent evidence has suggested that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may result from an inappropriate immunologic response to intestinal bacteria and a disruption in the balance of the gastrointestinal microbiota in genetically susceptible individuals. Prebiotics, synbiotics, and probiotics have all been studied with growing interest as adjuncts to standard therapies for IBD. In general, probiotics have been shown to be well-tolerated with few side effects, making them a potential attractive treatment option in the management of IBD.