cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Dynamic Parameter

The viability of organisms is dependent on the controlled flow of information and metabolic/synthetic precursors between cellular compartments. Such processes are elaborated upon as a hierarchy of interdependence established between cells and tissues. Through the ebb and flow of signaling and metabolic molecules, dynamic linkages may be maintained between cells for the coordination, synchronization, and initiation of cellular cycles (Fig. 1). In this manner, organismal response to the environment may be viewed as the result of a linked web of dissipative molecular gradients across biological membranes that initiate and transmit environmental information and cellular status. Integration of these gradients over large numbers of cells and tissues collectively leads to spatial and/or temporal responses. The biological structures that serve as controllable elements for transmembrane molecular flow are generally classified as channels or pores that serve either as passive transport routes for low-molecular-weight molecules (Loewenstein, 1979; Nikaido and Nakae, 1979; Gunning and Overall, 1983) or as ion pumps or transporters requiring some type of coupled gradient dissipation or energy Open image in new window Figure 1 Dynamic linkages between organelles and cells. Chemical gradients are utilized to transmit information between the cell and the environment. The pathways involved in this transmission system are: lateral mobility of membrane receptors (1); transplasma membrane transport through channels, pores, and transporters (2); homotypic intercellular communication through gap junctions or plasmodesmata (3); nucleocytoplasmic transport (4); translysosomal or vacuolar membrane transport of H+ and ions (5); Golgi-mediated processing, secretion, and recycling (6); Golgi transport of newly synthesized proteins (cis-medial-trans) (7); heterotypic intercellular communication (8). R, N, and G represent membrane receptors, the nucleus, and Golgi, respectively. source for molecular transposition (Mitchell, 1979; Noma, 1983; Reuter et al., 1983). In most instances, the control of these channels is mediated by ligand-specific receptors that couple to the channels under activating conditions, initiating a cascade of enzymatic changes resulting in a modification of channel transport properties (Koshland, 1981; Bean et al., 1983; Hondeghem and Katzung, 1984). In other cases, transport channels and receptors are intimately linked, forming a common structure, as in the case of the nicotinic acid receptor/channel (Conti-Tronconi and Raftery, 1982).
Switching Majors -- Into and out of Economics.

Using student transcripts from six institutions over a 23-year timespan, the authors investigate the movement of students into and out of the economics major. Considerable movement between majors o...
Erie, Remedies, and Trade Secrets

At “Erie at Eighty: Choice of Law Across the Disciplines,” I learned a lot from my colleagues on the intellectual property law panel. I also learned a lot from remedies expert Professor Michael Morley. Professor Morley argued quite vociferously that federal courts have wrongly been applying federal rules in deciding whether to grant injunctions for state law claims in diversity cases. In other words, federal courts regularly violate the Erie doctrine. This has some fascinating implications for trade secret law. Prior to federalization, when plaintiffs could only bring state civil trade secret claims, federal courts in diversity cases naturally applied state law to decide the substance of those trade secret claims. However, when it came to determining the injunctive remedy, i.e., “equitable considerations,” it was less clear which law courts were applying. District courts would typically cite to federal case law setting out the standard factors for deciding whether to issue an injunction. Therefore, assuming Professor Morley's thesis is correct, federal courts in trade secret cases may have been violating the Erie doctrine. Yet at the same time, those district courts would often cite to state case law regarding various issues within the factors, such as whether the balance of harms or the public interest weighed in favor of issuing the injunction. This deference to state law almost certainly affected outcome, especially when employees were involved, since states like California and Pennsylvania have different ideas about when enjoining employees is appropriate. The bigger question for trade secret law is what will happen now that we have a federal claim for trade secret misappropriation under the Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA). Will federal courts hearing DTSA claims, and state law claims (which are not preempted), apply federal standards when issuing injunctions? Or will they continue to cite to state case law with respect to the appropriateness of injunctive remedies? As Professors Sharon Sandeen and Christopher Seaman have observed, despite federalization, there are many reasons to believe courts will continue to defer to state law, especially when issuing injunctions. Of utmost importance, Congress has effectively told courts to use state law when issuing injunctions that affect an "employment relationship," at least with respect to federal claims under the DTSA. The indeterminacy here really brings home one of the major themes of the conference and of the intellectual property law portion of the conference in particular. While we tend to talk about state and federal law in the IP space like they are two separate bodies of law, they are in reality often intertwined—to use Professor Sandeen’s phrase, “marbled.”
An islet maturation media to improve the development of young porcine islets during in vitro culture.

The use of pancreata from pre-weaned piglets has the potential to serve as an unlimited alternative source of islets for clinical xenotransplantation. As pre-weaned porcine islets (PPIs) are immatu...
Towards defect engineering in hexagonal MoS2 nanosheets for tuning hydrogen evolution and nitrogen reduction reactions

Abstract Combined computational and experimental approaches were used to evaluate defective 2H-MoS2 nanosheets for their activity and selectivity for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR). Density functional theory calculations were used to understand the relationship between HER and NRR activity on the ideal basal MoS2 plane, seven grain-boundaries, ten single-/few-atom vacancies and anti-sites, and zigzag and armchair edge sites. The results confirm that 2H-MoS2 should contain several defects with high activity for HER: armchair and zigzag edges, VS vacancy, MoS2 anti-site, and S-S and Mo-Mo grain boundaries. Considering Gibbs free energy change for all the steps in the NRR mechanism and kinetic barriers for a key NRR step, we have found that activation of perspective NRR selective sites in 2H-MoS2, namely VMoS6 and clusters of S-vacancies, would require large overpotential, conditions at which HER dominates. The DFT conclusions are supported by the electrochemical studies of NRR activity and selectivity under aqueous conditions, which show an increase in NRR activity but a decrease in Faradaic efficiency as applied cell potential becomes more negative. The results of this work therefore highlight the challenges in activating natural 2H-MoS2 for NRR, which would require additional material engineering or reaction condition optimization as a way to suppress HER, decrease the NRR overpotential or preferentially both.
Rationale and design of a randomized factorial clinical trial of pharmacogenetic and adherence optimization strategies to promote tobacco cessation among persons with HIV.

Abstract Background Tobacco use is approximately three times more common in people living with HIV (PLWH) than the general population. Moreover, current behavioral and pharmacological smoking cessation interventions are less effective for PLWH, highlighting a need for novel ways to optimize tobacco cessation treatments in this group. Prior research indicates that personalized treatment based on the nicotine metabolite ratio (NMR), a biomarker of nicotine metabolism, and augmenting smoking cessation medication adherence may improve cessation treatment for PLWH. Methods In this 2 × 2 factorial design trial, 488 smokers with HIV receive 12 weeks of smoking cessation medication along with randomization to 1) tailor the smoking cessation drug to their metabolism or not, and 2) provide additional counseling on smoking cessation medication adherence or not. Those randomized to the pharmacogenetic optimization arm receive varenicline or the nicotine patch based on their NMR (varenicline for fast metabolizers and the nicotine patch for slow metabolizers) and those in the control arm receive varenicline. Those randomized to the experimental adherence counseling arm receive Managed Problem Solving (MAPS) targeting their smoking cessation medication and those in the control arm receive standard counseling. Conclusion PLWH on suppressive antiretroviral therapy who smoke lose more life-years due to tobacco use than to their HIV infection, and have lower response rates to current evidence-based treatments for smoking cessation. Both the NMR tailoring and MAPS interventions have the potential to optimize treatments for tobacco use among this population. If effective, this trial may demonstrate ways to further improve long-term health outcomes for PLWH.
How Much of the Corporate-Treasury Yield Spread Is Due to Credit Risk?

We show that credit risk accounts for only a small fraction of yield spreads for investment-grade bonds of all maturities, with the fraction lower for bonds of shorter maturities, and that it accounts for a much higher fraction of yield spreads for high-yield bonds. This conclusion is shown to be robust across a wide class of structural models. We obtain such results by calibrating each of the models to be consistent with data on the historical default loss experience and equity risk premia, and demonstrating that different models predict similar credit risk premia under empirically reasonable parameter choices.
Long Term Geochemical Interactions of High Active Waste with Crystalline Rock Repository Media

Safe long term isolation of high active waste from the biosphere requires immobilization of most fission products on a thousand year time scale and of some heavy element alpha activity on a million year scale. For both radioactivity groups a transport distance scale of the order of hundreds of meters has been considered to be the most relevant to nuclide migration from a deep geologic repository to points of human access, according to published conceptual repository designs (1, 2). In these designs solid waste canisters, each containing the reprocessed waste from 1–2 tons of uranium or plutonium fuel (or the unreprocessed spent fuel itself), would be emplaced a few meters apart in an excavated array at several hundred meters depth below the earth’s surface, covering an area of up to a few square kilometers. Tens of thousands of such canisters may be emplaced in a single repository. The emplacements would be connected hydrologically by a packed filling, such as clay or other crystalline rock material, upon closure of the excavation. The host formation, for example bedded salt or silicate rock, may alter the hydrologic connections between emplacements by rock movements over time.
Unsaturated Fatty Acid Mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Resnick, Michael A. (University of California, Berkeley), and Robert K. Mortimer. Unsaturated fatty acid mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. J. Bacteriol. 92:597–600. 1966.—The wild type of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae does not require fatty acids or sterols for growth. Two types of lipid nutritional mutants have been induced in this organism. One of these classes of mutants requires an unsaturated fatty acid and is associated with a locus on chromosome VII. The other class of mutants needs either an unsaturated fatty acid or ergosterol for growth. Experiments involving identification and characterization of these mutants are presented.
Measuring the tameness of almost convex groups

A 1-combing for a finitely presented group consists of a continuous family of paths based at the identity and ending at points x in the 1-skeleton of the Cayley 2-complex associated to the presentation. We define two functions (radial and ball tameness flnctions) that measure how efficiently a 1-combing moves away from the identity. These functions are geometric in the sense that they are quasi-isometry invariants. We show that a group is almost convex if and only if the radial tameness function is bounded by the identity function; hence almost convex groups, as well as certain generalizations of almost convex groups, are contained in the quasi-isometry class of groups admitting linear radial tameness functions.
Abstract 18054: Metabolic Remodeling in Mice with Cardiomyocyte-Specific Fatty Acid Overload

Introduction: In obesity it is unclear how lipid accumulation in the cardiomyocyte contributes to the pathophysiology of metabolic heart disease (MHD). Potential mechanisms of lipid-induced dysfunction include toxic effects or signaling from lipid species and/or increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production to decrease mitochondrial function. To determine how excess cardiomyocyte lipids mediate MHD, we measured lipid metabolites, lipid sensitive signaling and ROS production in mice with cardiomyocyte-specific overexpression of the fatty acid transport protein-1 (FATP1) in which increased uptake of fatty acids (FA) leads to MHD in the absence of systemic obesity or perturbation of systemic lipid metabolism. Hypothesis: Accumulation of FA in the cardiomyocyte leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and MHD via lipid metabolites and/or mitochondrial oxidant production. Methods and Results: FATP1 and wild type (WT) mice were studied at 5-8 weeks of age. In FATP1 hearts, LC-MS showed increased lo...
Magnitudes, Spectra, and Temperatures of Planetary Nuclei

The purpose of this review is to examine the fundamental observational parameters of the central stars of planetary nebulae, namely their apparent magnitudes and gross spectral characteristics, and how these relate to the derivation or estimation of effective temperatures.
Review of recent x-ray laser experiment results

We are vigorously continuing our research into the design, demonstration, and application of the Nova laser-pumped x-ray laser. Using exploding foil1,2 plasma amplifier designs we are pursuing inversion schemes using neon, nickel, and other ionization sequences in an effort to achieve significant single-pass or multipass amplification at wavelengths shorter than 10 nm.
Conformational changes underlying calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II activation

Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) interprets information conveyed by the amplitude and frequency of calcium transients by a controlled transition from an autoinhibited basal intermediate to an autonomously active phosphorylated intermediate (De Koninck and Schulman, 1998). We used spin labelling and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy to elucidate the structural and dynamic bases of autoinhibition and activation of the kinase domain of CaMKII. In contrast to existing models, we find that autoinhibition involves a conformeric equilibrium of the regulatory domain, modulating substrate and nucleotide access. Binding of calmodulin to the regulatory domain induces conformational changes that release the catalytic cleft, activating the kinase and exposing an otherwise inaccessible phosphorylation site, threonine 286. Autophosphorylation at Thr286 further disrupts the interactions between the catalytic and regulatory domains, enhancing the interaction with calmodulin, but maintains the regulatory domain in a dynamic unstructured conformation following dissociation of calmodulin, sustaining activation. These findings support a mechanistic model of the CaMKII holoenzyme grounded in a dynamic understanding of autoregulation that is consistent with a wealth of biochemical and functional data.
On approximate nearest neighbors in non-Euclidean spaces

The nearest neighbor search (NNS) problem is the following: Given a set of n points P={p/sub 1/,...,p/sub n/} in some metric space X, preprocess P so as to efficiently answer queries which require finding a point in P closest to a query point q/spl isin/X. The approximate nearest neighbor search (c-NNS) is a relaxation of NNS which allows to return any point within c times the distance to the nearest neighbor (called c-nearest neighbor). This problem is of major and growing importance to a variety of applications. In this paper we give an algorithm for (4log/sub 1+/spl rho//log4d+3)-NNS algorithm in l/sub /spl infin///sup d/ with O(dn/sup 1+/spl rho//logn) storage and O(dlogn) query time. In particular this yields the first algorithm for O(1)-NNS for l/sub /spl infin// with subexponential storage. The preprocessing time is linear in the size of the data structure. The algorithm can be also used (after simple modifications) to output the exact nearest neighbor in time bounded bounded O(dlogn) plus the number of (4log/sub 1+/spl rho//log4d+3)-nearest neighbors of the query point. Building on this result, we also obtain an approximation algorithm for a general class of product metrics. Finally: we show that for any c<3 the c-NNS problem in l/sub /spl infin// is provably hard for a version of the indexing model introduced by Hellerstein et al. (1997).
Structural disorder in Ti–Fe–Si icosahedral quasicrystal

Abstract A systematic structural investigation on rapidly solidified Ti–Fe–Si alloy system with various compositions and processing conditions has been carried out. Transmission electron microscopic studies on as-quenched alloys reveal the presence of various kinds of structural disorder. Different kinds of disorder and the resulting deviation from the icosahedral symmetry have been reported. This appears to be the first report of these results on a Ti–Fe–Si system. Anisotropy in the shape of diffraction spots, strong arcs of diffuse scattering of icosahedral phase in melt-quenched alloys have been observed. The microstructure of the icosahedral Ti–Fe–Si alloys has been characterized. Results have been compared with other known Ti based quasicrystalline alloys and analyzed on the basis of current understanding.
A novel class of herpesvirus-encoded membrane-bound E3 ubiquitin ligases regulates endocytosis of proteins involved in immune recognition

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus encodes two transmembrane proteins (modulator of immune recognition [MIR]1 and MIR2) that downregulate cell surface molecules (MHC-I, B7.2, and ICAM-1) involved in the immune recognition of infected cells. This downregulation results from enhanced endocytosis and subsequent endolysosomal degradation of the target proteins. Here, we show that expression of MIR1 and MIR2 leads to ubiquitination of the cytosolic tail of their target proteins and that ubiquitination is essential for their removal from the cell surface. MIR1 and MIR2 both contain cytosolic zinc fingers of the PHD subfamily, and these structures are required for this activity. In vitro, addition of a MIR2–glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion protein to purified E1 and E2 enzymes leads to transfer of ubiquitin (Ub) to GST-containing targets in an ATP- and E2-dependent fashion; this reaction is abolished by mutation of the Zn-coordinating residues of the PHD domain. Thus, MIR2 defines a novel class of membrane-bound E3 Ub ligases that modulates the trafficking of host cell membrane proteins.
Molecular Arrangement in Two-Dimensional Streptavidin Crystals

We studied the molecular arrangement of two-dimensional streptavidin crystals at the air−water interface over a range of pH values. We quantified the varying amounts of coexisting P1, P2, and C222 crystals in the different morphologies observed at pH 4.5−6.5. Chiral, needlelike crystals at pH 4.5 consist of P1 crystals with frequent line defects. Larger chiral domains near pH 5 are essentially all P1 coexisting with a small amount of P2, whereas at slightly higher pH values (near pH 5.5), H-shaped domains contain 4 times as much P1 coexisting with a P2/C222 mixture. Morphologies intermediate to these shapes exhibit intermediate compositions. Between pH ∼6−7, crystals all display a characteristic dendritic-X morphology, but arrangement at the molecular level is quite different compared with lower pH values. Crystals are mostly P2 in symmetry near pH 6, but at pH 7 and above, crystals have C222 symmetry. Coexistence of P2 and C222 crystals occurs at intermediate pH values. We determined the orientation and ...
Pore collapse in weakly cemented and porous rocks

Withdrawal of fluids from hydrocarbon reservoirs results in a decrease in pore pressure which in turn leads to an increase in effective stress on rock matrix. Such a situation may lead to the occurrence of pore collapse in reservoirs having weakly cemented, porous rocks. It is considered to be a potential problem in several producing reservoirs. Numerical simulation of a compacting reservoir due to pore collapse requires an appropriate constitutive model. Consequently, a constitutive model based on the concept of elasto-plasticity using isotropic hardening is developed to predict pre and post-pore collapse behavior of reservoir rocks. An experimental study is carried out on a high-porosity rock susceptible to pore collapse for different stress paths.
Medical Testosterone: An Iatrogenic Cause of Male Infertility and a Growing Problem

Objective To determine (1) the frequency of testosterone (T) use in 2 academic male infertility practices, (2) the effect on semen parameters, and (3) the potential for reversibility. Methods We performed a retrospective review. Inclusion criteria were supplemental T usage at the time of initial visit, T cessation, and semen analyses before and after T cessation. Results From January 2005 to March 2011, 110 of 1540 patients evaluated for infertility (7.1%) were on supplemental T. Thirty-nine patients met the inclusion criteria. Twenty-two of 39 patients (56%) were started on medical recovery by medical treatment. Median sperm concentration increased from 0 to 6.3 million/mL ( P P = .1061). Final sperm concentration did not differ between those who received medical treatment and those who did not. Conclusion Exogenous T treatment causes infertility and is common among reproductive-aged men. These effects are transient for some, but not all men had return of sperm to the semen during the study interval, suggesting a possible underlying primary testicular dysfunction or ongoing hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis suppression. Education about exogenous T's negative reproductive effects is necessary to avoid this preventable form of infertility. Men with low T levels should have sufficient evaluation to evaluate for underlying pathology before starting T.
Molecular dynamics of ferrocytochrome c: Time dependence of the atomic displacements

The thermal motions of the atoms in a dynamical simulation of ferrocytochrome c are geometrically decomposed into local and highly collective components, and the contributions of these components to the net motion are determined for different intervals of time. It is found that the atomic displacement magnitudes and anisotropies are governed by local motions for times <10−12s, but that the highly collective motions tend to be dominant at longer times. Variations in this behavior are noted among different groups of atoms. Orientational correlations between the preferred directions of atomic displacement and elements of the protein structure are analyzed as a function of time scale. Finally, several sinificant implications of these results with respect to protein structure and function are considered.
Precise localisation of single-word retrieval in the left cerebral hemisphere.

regimens had not yet been implemented, he was treated with a short, fully supervised, regimen of 600 mg rifampicin and 400 mg ofloxacin daily for 28 days. Clinical improvement was observed during and after the treatment. 1 year later, however, he relapsed with new lepromatous lesions, and died several months later from cardiovascular disease. M leprae (strain 92008) recovered from a skin biopsy specimen taken after the relapse was inoculated into mice footpads for standard drug-susceptibility testing. 1 Results showed resistance to dapsone, rifampicin, and ofloxacin (table). To search for gene mutations involved in rifampicin and ofloxacin resistance, DNA was extracted from the skin biopsy and, as a control, from a reference skin biopsy specimen containing an M leprae strain (90002) susceptible to the three drugs. Each extract was submitted to two different PCRs. The first amplified the rpoβ gene encoding the β subunit of RNA polymerase, restricted to the region involved in rifampicin-resistance, 4 and the second amplified the gyrA gene encoding the A subunit of DNA gyrase, restricted to the region involved in fluoroquinoloneresistance.
Polymorphism among the major core proteins of C57BL B-tropic murine leukemia viruses

Abstract Previous studies have demonstrated a correlation between changes in the major core protein (p30) of murine leukemia viruses (MuLV) and their Fv-1-mediated host range. In this report, we have examined the p30 proteins of B-tropic viruses representing two serologically distinguishable classes. These proteins differed from each other as well as from prototype N-tropic and xenotropic viruses. This polymorphism, considered with serological typing of the adjacent p12 polypeptide, suggests that a crossover within the region coding for p30 is involved in the generation of these B-tropic viruses.
Lesion removal and lesion addition algorithms in lung volumetric data sets for perception studies

Image perception studies of medical images provide important information about how radiologists interpret images and insights for reducing reading errors. In the past, perception studies have been difficult to perform using clinical imaging studies because of the problems associated with obtaining images demonstrating proven abnormalities and appropriate normal control images. We developed and evaluated interactive software that allows the seamless removal of abnormal areas from CT lung image sets. We have also developed interactive software for capturing lung lesions in a database where they can be added to lung CT studies. The efficacy of the software to remove abnormal areas of lung CT studies was evaluated psychophysically by having radiologists select the one altered image from a display of four. The software for adding lesions was evaluated by having radiologists classify displayed CT slices with lesions as real or artificial scaled to 3 levels of confidence. The results of these experiments demonstrated that the radiologist had difficulty in distinguishing the raw clinical images from those that had been altered. We conclude that this software can be used to create experimental normal control and "proven" lesion data sets for volumetric CT of the lung fields. We also note that this software can be easily adapted to work with other tissue besides lung and that it can be adapted to other digital imaging modalities.
Three-dimensional cognitive mapping with a neural network

Abstract We apply a model for spatial navigation that includes an action system capable of guiding the search for specific goals with the assistance of a cognitive map. A three-dimensional unexplored environment like the ocean floor is represented in the cognitive map as a set of linked and unvisited places. Different types of terrain are also represented in the cognitive map. During exploration, these unvisited places constitute the goals the action system should reach. The system efficiently and completely explores the environment. Once the environment is mapped, the action system can plan the best route to navigate between places.
On admission control for profit maximization of networked service providers

Variability and diverseness among incoming requests to a service hosted on a finite capacity resource necessitates sophisticated request admission control techniques for providing guaranteed quality of service (QoS). We propose in this paper a service time based online admission control methodology for maximizing profits of a service provider. The proposed methodology chooses a subset of incoming requests such that the revenue of the provider is maximized. Admission control decision in our proposed system is based upon an estimate of the service time of the request, QoS bounds, prediction of arrivals and service times of requests to come in the short-term future, and rewards associated with servicing a request within its QoS bounds. Effectiveness of the proposed admission control methodology is demonstrated using experiments with a content-based messaging middleware service.
Aiming to induce broadly reactive neutralizing antibody responses with HIV-1 vaccine candidates

Neutralizing antibody induction is a key feature of many effective vaccines and is the only immune response that has proven to be capable of completely blocking AIDS virus infection in animal models. Unfortunately, the extensive genetic variability and complex immune-evasion strategies of HIV-1 have thwarted all attempts to date at eliciting an effective neutralizing antibody response with candidate HIV-1 vaccine immunogens. Recent advances in our understanding of how these evasion strategies operate, coupled with growing progress in unravelling the structure and immunobiology of the viral envelope glycoproteins, are contributing to novel immunogen designs to overcome the many barriers to inducing protective antibodies against HIV-1.
Voltage Noise in Multi-Core Processors: Empirical Characterization and Optimization Opportunities

Voltage noise characterization is an essential aspect of optimizing the shipped voltage of high-end processor based systems. Voltage noise, i.e. Variations in the supply voltage due to transient fluctuations on current, can negatively affect the robustness of the design if it is not properly characterized. Modeling and estimation of voltage noise in a pre-silicon setting is typically inadequate because it is difficult to model the chip/system packaging and power distribution network (PDN) parameters very precisely. Therefore, a systematic, direct measurement-based characterization of voltage noise in a post-silicon setting is mandatory in validating the robustness of the design. In this paper, we present a direct measurement-based voltage noise characterization of a state-of-the-art mainframe class multicoreprocessor. We develop a systematic methodology to generate noise stress marks. We study the sensitivity of noise in relation to the different parameters involved in noise generation: (a) stimulus sequence frequency, (b) supply current delta, (c) number of noise events and, (d) degree of alignment or synchronization of events in a multi-core context. By sensing per-core noise in amulti-core chip, we characterize the noise propagation across the cores. This insight opens up new opportunities for noise mitigation via workload mappings and dynamic voltage guard banding.
Phagocytosis-induced release of arachidonic acid from human neutrophils.

Abstract The phospholipids of human neutrophils were labeled with [3H] arachidonic acid and [14C] palmitic acid. Phagocytosis of opsonized zymosan resulted in rapid release of free arachidonic acid but not of palmitic acid. Arachidonic acid was not released when the cells were exposed to unopsonized zymosan, zymosan-activated serum, or phorbol myristate acetate. These observations suggest that phagocytosis of opsonized zymosan results in the activation of a phospholipase A2.
The Protective Effect of Moderate Alcohol Consumption on Ischemic Stroke

ContextModerate alcohol consumption has been shown to be protective for coronary heart disease, but the relationship between moderate alcohol consumption and ischemic stroke is more controversial.ObjectiveTo determine the association between alcohol consumption and risk of ischemic stroke.DesignPopulation-based case-control study conducted between July 1993 and June 1997.SettingMultiethnic population in northern Manhattan, New York, NY, aged 40 years or older.Patients and Other ParticipantsCases (n=677) had first ischemic stroke and were matched to community controls (n=1139) derived through random digit dialing by age, sex, and race/ethnicity. Mean ± SD age of cases was 70.0 ± 12.7 years; 55.8% were women; 19.5% were white, 28.4% black, and 50.7% Hispanic.Main Outcome MeasureFirst ischemic stroke (fatal or nonfatal).ResultsModerate alcohol consumption, up to 2 drinks per day, was significantly protective for ischemic stroke after adjustment for cardiac disease, hypertension, diabetes, current smoking, body mass index, and education (odds ratio [OR], 0.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.39-0.67). This protective effect of alcohol consumption was detected in both younger and older groups, in men and women, and in whites, blacks, and Hispanics. In a quadratic model of stroke risk, increased risk of ischemic stroke was statistically significant among those consuming 7 or more drinks per day (OR, 2.96; 95% CI, 1.05-8.29).ConclusionsModerate alcohol consumption was independently associated with a decreased risk of ischemic stroke in our elderly, multiethnic, urban subjects, while heavy alcohol consumption had deleterious effects. Our data support the National Stroke Association Stroke Prevention Guidelines regarding the beneficial effects of moderate alcohol consumption.
Measurement of endothelial function by brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation

In response to physical and chemical stimuli, the endothelium regulates vascular tone through the release of vasodilators, such as nitric oxide, and vasoconstrictors, such as endothelin. Increased blood flow is an important stimulus for endothelium-mediated vasodilation (flow-mediated vasodilation). Brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation can be assessed using high-frequency ultrasound assessment of changes in brachial artery diameter after a 5-minute blood pressure cuff arterial occlusion. Endothelial dysfunction is demonstrated as reduced vasodilation, which is usually associated with the presence of coronary risk factors. Brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation correlates with coronary artery flow-mediated vasodilation. Both indexes have been shown to predict long-term cardiovascular events. Whereas the clinical applicability of brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation is unclear, it has become a frequently employed measure of endothelial function.
EFFECTS OF THE ANTIMICROBIC TIAMULIN ON SEVEN GRAM-NEGATIVE BACTERIAL FISH PATHOGENS

In vitro and in vivo tests were carried out with tiamulin and gram-negative bacterial pathogens of fish. Determination of minimum inhibitory concentration for 51 strains of seven species of gram-negative bacterial pathogens showed that only strains of Vibrio anguillarum were sensitive at 1.6–6.25 ppm, while the rest of test strains required 25– >100 ppm. Control of infection was not achieved when tiamulin was fed for 14 days at 5 or 50 mg/kg to rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) experimentally infected with Yersinia ruckeri.
Liquid-liquid equilibria of a hydrofluoroether + water + ethanol system

Abstract The ability to manipulate the liquid–liquid equilibria (LLE) of a commercially available hydrofluoroether (HFE-7100®, an approximately equimolar mixture of the isomers methoxy-nonafluoroisobutane and methoxy-nonafluorobutane) + water with the addition of ethanol, which is mutually miscible with both solvents, was examined. LLE data were determined at 298, 308 and 323 K for the system of HFE-7100®+water+ethanol. The UNIQUAC and NRTL excess Gibbs energy models were able to adequately represent the type I phase behavior observed over this temperature range. The goodness of the fit of each model was compared for temperature-dependent and temperature-independent binary interaction parameters.
NKT cells regulate the development of asthma

Abstract Using NKT cell-deficient CD1d knockout and Jα281 knockout mice, we demonstrated that allergen-induced airway hyperreactivity (AHR), a cardinal feature of asthma, failed to develop in the absence of NKT cells. The failure of NKT cell-deficient mice to develop AHR was not due to an inability of these mice to develop Th2 responses and was reversed by adoptive transfer of tetramer purified NKT cells. These studies are the first to show that pulmonary NKT cells critically regulate the development of asthma and Th2-biased respiratory immunity against nominal exogenous antigens. In addition, our studies suggest that therapies that target NKT cells may be clinically effective in limiting the development of AHR and asthma.
Effective grain size of dual-phase steel

Abstract The effect of second-phase martensite on cleavage crack propagation was studied to define the effective grain size of dual-phase steels which controls the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature. It has been shown that the introduction of second-phase martensite into the ferrite matrix has no effect on changing the direction of cleavage crack propagation; therefore the effective grain size of dual-phase steels is the same as that of the initial structure prior to two-phase annealing, regardless of changes in the ferrite mean free path.
The control of nocturnal enuresis by operant conditioning

Abstract A case of nocturnal enuresis, after unsuccessful treatment by classical pad and bell conditioning, was successfully treated by an operant conditioning schedule. A follow-up of 2 yr found the child dry, and happier socially and scholastically.
The defibrillation success rate versus energy relationship: Part I--Curve fitting and the most efficient defibrillation energy

The effect of applying an energy pulse to the heart during ventricular fibrillation is described by the probability of successful defibrillation or success rate. Seven to ten (8.60 +/- 0.84: mean +/- standard deviation) defibrillation trials per energy were randomly attempted at energies which span the defibrillation success rate versus energy curve. We obtained 70.0 +/- 8.4 episodes per dog. We fit the defibrillation success rate versus energy relationship from ten dogs (20.5 +/- 1.5 kg) to four types of curves: linear, exponential, probit transformed linear, and logit transformed linear. The correlation coefficients for each fit are 0.917 +/- 0.057, 0.944 +/- 0.014, 0.926 +/- 0.51, and 0.889 +/- 0.098, respectively. We therefore conclude that the exponential curve best describes the DSRE relationship. This suggests the existence of an energy below which defibrillation does not occur. At higher energies, the exponential curve asymptotically approaches a 100% success rate, which indicates that increasing the energy produces a diminishing benefit to defibrillation success rate. The estimated energies with a 0% defibrillation success rate are surprisingly consistent among dogs, with 2.072 +/- 0.553 J. The estimated energy with an 80% defibrillation success rate is 5.217 +/- 1.091 J. The estimated defibrillation success rate corresponding to the defibrillation threshold of 3.59 +/- 1.06 J is consistent with 0.516 +/- 0.144. The estimated energies with a 0% success rate correlate well with the defibrillation thresholds with R = 0.772; P = 0.0088. Since implantable defibrillators have a limited energy supply, we determined energy efficiency by dividing defibrillation success rate by the applied energy and energy consumption by dividing the applied energy by the defibrillation success rate. The most efficient defibrillation energy occurs at the maximum energy efficiency and the minimum energy consumption. The most efficient defibrillation energy of 4.34 +/- 0.97 J determined from the exponential fit has a success rate of 0.70 +/- 0.06. The most efficient defibrillation energy can be predicted from the defibrillation threshold. Clinically, a 70% success rate may not be adequate. We, therefore, compared the energy efficiency and consumption of energies with 90% and 95% success rates to the most efficient defibrillation energy. About a 50% increase in energy from the most efficient defibrillation energy is necessary for a 90% success rate which results in about a 13% loss in energy efficiency and about a 16% increase in energy consumption. About an 84% energy increase is necessary for a 95% success rate which results in about a 24% loss in energy efficiency and about a 33% increase in energy consumption.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Sources of Plasma 17α-Hydroxyprogesterone in Human Pregnancy

ABSTRACT Sources of 17α-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) in human pregnancy were studied by measuring its plasma concentrations in blood samples of umbilical artery (UA), umbilical vein (UV), retroplacental space (RPS), maternal ovarian (OV) and maternal peripheral vein (PV) of eight patients in mid-pregnancy and five patients at term. The following means and standard deviations (sd) of 17-OHP were found for term pregnancy: UV, 22.2 ± 2.8; UA, 14.0 ± 2.3; PV, 6.6 ± 0.6; OV, 24.5 ± 5.0; and RPS, 29.7 ± 3.8 ng/ml. The mean (±sd) 17-OHP plasma levels at mid-pregnancy were: UV, 15.7 ± 4.3; UA, 11.9 ± 3.6; RPS, 17.0 ± 6.2; OV, 11.5 ± 2.0; and PV, 2.3 ± 0.3 ng/ml. The ovarian vein and RPS 17-OHP plasma levels which were 7- and 4-fold above PV levels in both mid-pregnancy and at term indicate placental and ovarian secretion of 17-OHP. Taking the different blood flows into account, it appears that at term the bulk of 17-OHP is produced by the placenta. Administration of hydrocortisone to six patients prior to cesarea...
Relaxation of vibrational energy in fullerene suspensions

Abstract Picosecond transient absorption is used to measure the thermal decay time of a mixture of higher-order fullerenes suspended in chloroform, toluene, and carbon disulfide. The relaxation time is ≈40 ps, which translates into a small effective interface conductance, G ≈ 14 MW m −2 K −1 . Molecular dynamics simulations of a fullerene molecule suspended in octane agree with experiment ( G ≈ 10 MW m −2 K −1 ) and support the conclusion that the 40 ps decay time results from the relaxation of vibrational energy and not the relaxation of electronic excitations.
Hyperons in neutron stars

Generalized beta equilibrium involving nucleons, hyperons and isobars is examined for neutron star matter. The hyperons produce a considerable softening of the equation of state. It is shown that the observed masses of neutron stars can be used to settle a recent controversy concerning the nuclear compressibility. Compressibilities less than 200 MeV are incompatible with observed masses.
Deformable templates — revisited and extended — with an OOP implementation☆

Abstract In this note, a general approach to track reconstruction will be described, the deformable template or elastic arms algorithm. The review part of the paper is meant to be pedagogical with the physical interpretation of the algorithm kept paramount. The extension of this approach to handle hit ambiguities (mirror charges), delta rays, vee-tracks, etc., will be given. Finally, the implementation of the algorithm in an object oriented computer language will be sketched and the resulting advantages discussed.
Agonist antibody and Fas ligand mediate different sensitivity to death in the signaling pathways of Fas and cytoplasmic mutants

We have produced three forms of human Fas: full-length Fas, Fas with a C-terminal deletion, and a chimera between extracellular Fas and the intracellular domain of the tumor necrosis factor receptor I p55 subunit. We transfected cell lines with these constructs to compare the relative capacity of antibody agonists and the physiological Fas ligand (FasL) to stimulate death. With two agonistic antibodies, the chimera is 100- to 1000-fold more sensitive to induction of death than the full-length Fas. The C-terminal deletion mutant also shows greatly enhanced death in comparison to the wild-type receptor. In contrast, when FasL is used to trigger the Fas pathway, wild-type Fas and the deletion mutant are similarly sensitive, whereas the chimera is 100-fold less susceptible to ligand-mediated killing than Fas. This demonstrates that antibody agonists and natural ligand can stimulate different signaling pathways and emphasizes the limitations of defining physiologically important signaling pathways solely by antibody agonists.
Cholecystokinin potentiates dopamine inhibition of mesencephalic dopamine neurons in vitro.

Abstract Cholecystokinin octapeptide sulfate (CCK-S) is a neuropeptide that is co-localized with dopamine (DA) in some neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA). A functional role for this peptide/monoamine co-localization has not been firmly established; however, behavioral and in vivo electrophysiological studies indicate that CCK-S modifies the action of DA in some brain areas. A brain slice preparation of the rat VTA was developed in order to examine primary effects of CCK-S on DA-containing neurons, and to determine whether CCK-S modulates the inhibitory action of DA on these neurons. Spontaneously active DA neurons of the VTA were identified on the basis of their characteristics spike waveforms and firing rate as determined with extracellular recording techniques. These cells were inhibited by perfusion with DA in a dose-dependent, sulpiride-reversible manner. CCK-S produced brief excitatory increases in firing rate in 83% of these cells tested. This excitation was dose-dependent, and the excitatory responses frequently diminished even in the continued presence of CCK-S. Prior administrattion of CCK-S to these cells markedly potentiated DA-induced inhibition of spontaneous firing; the magnitude of this effect ranged from a 24 to 376% increase in the inhibitory response. This CCK-induced potentiation of DA inhibition was not blocked by low calcium, high magnesium superfusion medium, indicating that this effect is a direct consequence of a postsynaptic action on the VTA neurons from whichrecordings were made. These results suggest that co-localized CCK-S may significantly affect neuronal sensitivity to synaptically released DA.
Patterns of imaging failures in glioblastoma patients treated with chemoradiation: a retrospective study

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common primary brain tumor of adults and carries a poor prognosis. This study sought to investigate recurrence patterns of GBM treated with temozolomide-based chemoradiation. Records for 31 patients treated for newly diagnosed GBM between 2007 and 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. Ten patients received maximal surgical resection followed by conventionally fractionated radiation (CFR) to a median dose of 60 Gy with concurrent and planned adjuvant temozolomide. Twelve patients were treated with maximal surgical debulking, intracavitary brachytherapy (ICB), and external beam radiation therapy with concurrent and planned adjuvant temozolomide. The remaining 9 patients had unresectable disease and underwent biopsy followed by a hypofractionated course of radiation to a median dose of 60 Gy over 10 fractions. Tumor failure was classified as local, marginal, or distant according to whether the recurrence was completely inside, crossed, or completely outside the 100% isodose line. With a median follow-up of 12.6 months, 5 patients were lost to follow-up, while the remaining 26 patients (100%) developed recurrent disease. The first failures totaled 29 discrete lesions, of which 15 (52%), 6 (21%), and 8 (28%) were local, marginal, and distant failures at median times of 6.8, 10.1, and 7.9 months, respectively. Marginal or distant failure was more likely in ICB patients as compared to CFR patients. While local failure predominated, distant failures were not uncommon, particularly at later time points. As local control of GBM improves, further study is needed to identify and appropriately treat patients susceptible to distant failure.
Some aspects of phase transformations in near-equiatomic niobium-ruthenium alloys

Abstract Reversible phase transformations in three near-equiatomic NbRu alloys have been studied using electrical resistivity measurements, hot stage optical metallography, X-ray diffraction and magnetic susceptibility measurements. A two-stage mechanism is proposed for the transformations observed in these alloys; on cooling the high temperature cubic (β) phase transforms to a face-centered tetragonal (β′) phase and the latter transforms to a face-centered orthorhombic (β″) phase on further cooling.