cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding.

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is one of several weight loss procedures in the bariatric surgeon’s armamentarium to treat morbid obesity. Laparoscopic gastric banding has the lowest perioperative risk compared to laparoscopic gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, and duodenal switch (Buchwald et al., JAMA 292:1724–1737, 2004). The adjustable gastric band results in approximately 50% excess weight loss at 5 years (O’Brien and Dixon,J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A 13:265–270, 2003). In the long-term, reoperation rates can be high with the percentage of reoperations varying enormously in reported studies from 2% to 80% (Schouten et al., Surg Obes Relat Dis 7:99–109, 2011), although with changes in technique, reoperation rates after gastric banding have decreased (O’Brien et al., Obes Surg 15:820–826, 2005). Aftercare is critical to the success of the banded patient, in terms of adjusting the band as well as monitoring the patient’s symptoms (Weichman et al., Surg Endosc 25:397–403, 2011). Several studies have shown that patients who are seen more than six to seven times in the first postoperative year have better weight loss.
Molecular basis of resistance to HIV-1 protease inhibition: A plausible hypothesis

The binding thermodynamics of the HIV-1 protease inhibitor acetyl pepstatin and the substrate Val-Ser-Gln-Asn-Tyr-Pro-Ile-Val-Gln, corresponding to one of the cleavage sites in the gag, gag-pol polyproteins, have been measured by direct microcalorimetric analysis. The results indicate that the binding of the peptide substrate or peptide inhibitor is entropically driven; i.e., it is characterized by an unfavorable enthalpy and a favorable entropy change, in agreement with a structure-based thermodynamic analysis based upon an empirical parameterization of the energetics. Dissection of the binding enthalpy indicates that the intrinsic interactions are favorable and that the unfavorable enthalpy originates from the energy cost of rearranging the flap region in the protease molecule. In addition, the binding is coupled to a negative heat capacity change. The dominant binding force is the increase in solvent entropy that accompanies the burial of a significant hydrophobic surface. Comparison of the binding energetics obtained for the substrate with that obtained for synthetic nonpeptide inhibitors indicates that the major difference is in the magnitude of the conformational entropy change. In solution, the peptide substrate has a higher flexibility than the synthetic inhibitors and therefore suffers a higher conformational entropy loss upon binding. This higher entropy loss accounts for the lower binding affinity of the substrate. On the other hand, due to its higher flexibility, the peptide substrate is more amenable to adapt to backbone rearrangements or subtle conformational changes induced by mutations in the protease. The synthetic inhibitors are less flexible, and their capacity to adapt is more restricted. The expected result is a more pronounced effect of mutations on the binding affinity of the synthetic inhibitors. On the basis of the thermodynamic differences in the mode of binding of substrate and synthetic inhibitors, it appears that a key factor to understanding resistance is given by the relative balance of the different forces that contribute to the binding free energy and, in particular, the balance between conformational and solvation entropy.
Food, the law and public health: three models of the relationship.

The role of law in the governance of the relationship between food and public health is being altered by the changed structures and dynamics of modern food systems. A series of crises in food and health in the 1980s and 1990s shook up public health law throughout the world, providing a much needed modernization push, mostly over food safety. 1 Nevertheless, such is the pace and scale of change in the food supply chain — a near permanent state of change — that public health is being stretched by a new set of dynamics in which perfectly legal actions by food marketers (productdevelopers, technologists and the food businesses pursuing market share) have a sometimes unwitting impact on public health. The food system’s modern dynamics — overproduction, brand-led marketing, highly processed value-added foods, and more— have contributed to the emergence of the current profile of diet-related ill-health, dominated by noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). 2,3
The decrease in peripheral blood CD4+ T cells following thermal injury in humans can be accounted for by a concomitant decrease in suppressor-inducer CD4+ T cells as assessed using anti-CD45R

Using single- and two-color fluorescence flow cytometry, 10 thermally injured human subjects were assessed over time for both percentages and absolute numbers of lymphocytes comprising peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations. The CD3+ lymphocyte percentage decreased significantly in the early postburn period, and this decrease could be accounted for entirely by a concomitant decrease in the CD4+ lymphocyte percentage. Further, the decline in CD4+ percentage was due to a specific decrease in the suppressor-inducer subset of CD4 as defined using anti-CD45R. No change in the helper-effector subset of CD4 was noted. The percentage of CD8+ lymphocytes did not change significantly at any time postburn nor did subsets of CD8 as defined using anti-CD11. Numerical changes in lymphocyte subsets were dominated by a general lymphopenia occurring on Day 4 following injury. However, suppressor-inducer (CD4+/CD45R+) T cells also decreased significantly on postburn Day 1. These results further elucidate phenotypic changes in immunoregulatory subsets following major injury and suggest a possible basis for depressed autologous mixed lymphocyte responsiveness of burn patient T cells, one of the functional immunologic defects associated with severe injury.
The influence of perceived control and locus of control on the cortisol and subjective responses to stress

Stress has been implicated in the etiology of numerous mental and physical illnesses. Thus, it is important to identify factors that buffer individuals against stress. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of perceived control (PC) on the biological and subjective stress responses, and to investigate the potential moderating effect of locus of control (LOC) on this relationship. Stress was induced with a noise-cognitive paradigm, and PC was manipulated by offering the option of manual control over noise intensity. Saliva cortisol and subjective stress were measured. There was no main effect of control on cortisol. However, LOC moderated the relation between control and cortisol; participants with more internal LOC, who also perceived themselves to have control over the stressor, showed a reduced cortisol response in the PC condition. The results are discussed in light of their implications for elucidating the determinants of the effects of perceived control on stress.
Superior mesenteric vein thrombosis after colectomy in a patient with Crohn's disease

Background An 18-year-old woman with a history of Crohn's disease presented in January 2004 with severe epigastric pain, nausea and vomiting of 4 hours' duration. The patient was diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease, thought to be consistent with ulcerative colitis, in March 2003, but had no medical history up until this point. Initial treatment with mesalamine was unsuccessful and she subsequently presented with medically resistant fulminant colitis and required an urgent colectomy in June 2003. Her immediate postoperative course was uneventful and she was discharged on tapering doses of prednisone. In August 2003, an ileoscopy revealed inflamed, mildly ulcerated mucosa, and biopsies were consistent with Crohn's disease. Azathioprine was added to the treatment regimen and the patient tapered off prednisone. At this stage the patient continued to do well clinically up until presentation. Investigations Small bowel series, abdominal CT scan, abdominal ultrasound, exploratory laparotomy. Diagnosis Acute mesenteric ischemia secondary to superior mesenteric vein thrombosis. Management Resection of necrotic bowel, antibiotics and systemic anticoagulation.
Treatment of acute pulmonary failure with extracorporeal support: 100% survival in a pediatric population

Abstract Since February 1990, five children, aged 10 days to 6.5 years, were treated with extracorporeal lung support at our hospital for acute, unrelenting pulmonary failure. Two had viral pneumonia: one with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis, and one with herpes simplex virus pneumonia, encephalitis, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. One presented with a febrile illness followed by a pulmonary hemorrhage. Two patients had adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) complicating severe systemic illnesses, toxic epidermal necrolysis in one and cat scratch disease with encephalitis in the other. All children had diffuse parenchymal lung disease by chest x-ray. On maximum medical management all patients were developing carbon dioxide retention and progressive hypoxemia, exceeding previously established NIH study criteria for extracorporeal treatment. Three children (10 days, 2 months, 13 months) were placed on venoarterial support and two children (20 months and 6.5 years) were placed on venovenous extracorporeal support (ECCO 2 R). Three of the five had open lung biopsies performed, which showed findings consistent with a moderate to severe cellular phase of ARDS. No viral inclusions were found in the patient with RSV infection. One hundred percent immediate survival was achieved in this patient population. Average duration of support was 330 hours (range, 89 to 840). Following completion of extracorporeal support, all children were successfully weaned from the ventilator with an average time to extubation of 23.2 days (range, 2 to 58 days). One child died of congestive heart failure following palliative surgery for a complex noncyanotic congenital cardiac lesion 35 days after successfully weaning from extracorporeal support for an acute febrile illness and pulmonary hemorrhage. All remaining children have been discharged home, are doing well, and have not shown any complications of therapy. Follow-up pulmonary function tests have shown return of normal compliance and lung volumes. While extracorporeal life support has previously been thought to be ineffective in the treatment of primary pulmonary parenchymal failure, these data suggest that this therapy can result in improved survival with return of normal pulmonary function.
Advances in endoscopy of infants and children.

Abstract Pediatric endoscopy has been less than satisfactory and slow to develop because miniaturization of conventional endoscopes resulted in loss of light and viewing angle. The invention of the Hopkins rod lens system and the incorporation of fiber light illumination has permitted such miniaturization with vastly improved results. On the basis of this new system more satisfactory methods of making permanent records by photography are available. By this means clinicians' communications and patients records can be improved. Combining this with television, teaching and learning the art and methods of endoscopy are enhanced, while making the procedure shorter, more accurate and less demanding on a critically ill patient.
An acoustic and perceptual analysis of /t/ and /d/ flaps in American English

Abstract This paper presents an acoustic and perceptual study of alveolar flaps in American English. In the acoustic study, vowel duration differences in disyllabic tokens replicated previous findings in that vowels preceding /d/ were significantly longer than those preceding /t/. Flap frequency was also analyzed based on a method of distinguishing flapped from unflapped stops on a speaker-by-speaker basis. It was discovered that females flapped more often than males and that participants were more likely to flap when they were less aware of the contrast between /t/ and /d/. Contrary to past research, neither word frequency nor morphological complexity affected flap frequency in the present study. In the perceptual study, four naturally produced word pairs were used to manipulate underlying representation (/t/ or /d/), vowel duration preceding the flap, and word frequency. Vowel duration alone did not predict the listeners’ perception of flapped /t/ and /d/; word frequency, where high frequency words were identified correctly more often than low frequency words, and a d-bias, where /d/ flaps were identified correctly more often than /t/ flaps, did prove significant. Unlike previous research, this study uses nonarbitrary values to distinguish flapped from unflapped tokens and draws connections between the acoustic and perceptual results.
Modeling Network Protocol Overhead for Video

With the gaining popularity of video communication over the Internet, it is important for networking protocol researchers to have tools to analyze and simulate video. We present the results of an extensive study to understand which applications and protocols are used for video communication over the Internet. We obtained an extensive list of sources of video content around the Internet (e.g., Netflix, Hulu, and You Tube) and used Wire shark to capture packets containing video from these various video sources. We found Adobe Flash to be, by far, the most common application used to deliver video over the Internet. Adobe Flash uses its own proprietary application layer protocol called RTMP. We used the results of this study to develop analytical models for the network protocol overhead added to video that is communicated over the Internet. In addition, we have developed simulation tools that we are making available to the research community.
The Formation of Methionine From the Monoglutamate Form of Methyltetrahydrofolate by Higher Plants

Abstract A dialyzed extract of green string beans has been found to catalyze the transmethylation of homocysteine with CH 3 -H 4 PteGlu 3 1 and, at a slower rate, with CH 3 -H 4 PteGlu. The transmethylation of these substrates neither required nor was increased by the addition of S-adenosylmethionine and a reducing system to the incubation mixtures and therefore could not have been due to a B 12 -dependent methyltransferase. Transmethylase activities for both CH 3 -H 4 -folates were eluted from Sephadex G-100 in the same fractions. The results are interpreted as indicating that green string beans possess a methyltransferase similar to the B 12 -independent enzyme of microorganisms but capable of utilizing the monoglutamate as well as polyglutamate forms of CH 3 -H 4 folate. Preliminary studies suggest that this type of enzyme may be widely distributed in higher plants.
Global-local finite element models for calculating fracture parameters

Abstract The finite element iterative method (FEIM) is applied to two types of problems for the evaluation of fracture parameters in laminated composite plates. The FEIM is first used to evaluate the order of power-type singularities and the angular variation in the displacement components near the crack tip at an interface between two dissimilar materials. Next, a numerically enriched global-local finite element is formulated that incorporates the asymptotic singular behavior as calculated by the FEIM in the assumed form of the displacements for calculating stress intensity factors. Examples of both approaches yield results that agree very well with existing analytic solutions.
Letter to the editor: "Brain drain" and loss of resources jeopardize the continued use of domestic animals for agricultural and biomedical research

Research on cattle, swine, sheep, goats, poultry, horses, and aquatic species (domestic species) at US land grant institutions is integral to maintaining an abundant, safe, affordable, and high quality supply of meat, dairy products, and eggs, which are important components of most human diets. Research on domestic species is also necessary to maintain global competitiveness of US animal agriculture and to find solutions to complex animal and human diseases. Nevertheless, a recent publication in the Journal of Animal Science (JAS; Ireland et al., 2008) documents the rapid erosion of federal and state budgets, years of inadequate and declining funding from the USDA for the National Research Initiative competitive grants program (the major agricultural competitive grants source), significant reductions in farm animal species and numbers at land grant institutions, and declining enrollment for graduate studies in the animal sciences. The article also emphasizes that because of these lost resources, recruitment of top-notch scientists who use such largeanimal models to conduct research relevant to animal agriculture and biomedicine at land grant institutions is in significant jeopardy. Perhaps most notable in the JAS article is the documentation that despite the high annual economic value of US animal agriculture (~$110 billion), less than 0.04% of the USDA’s $93 billion budget is currently committed to competitive funding of animal agricultural research. Disappointingly, the recently passed 2008 Farm Bill, which created a National Institute for Food and Agriculture and authorized expansion of the USDA’s competitive grants program [110th CONGRESS, 2d Session, H. R. 6124, http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.
The Remarkable Metrological History of 14C Dating: From Ancient Egyptian Artifacts to Particles of Soot and Grains of Pollen

Radiocarbon dating would not have been possible if 14C had not had the “wrong” half-life—a fact that delayed its discovery [1]. Following the discovery of this 5730 year radionuclide in laboratory experiments by Ruben and Kamen, it became clear to W. F. Libby that 14C should exist in nature, and that it could serve as a quantitative means for dating artifacts and events marking the history of civilization. The search for natural radiocarbon was a metrological challenge; the level in the living biosphere [ca. 230 Bq/kg] lay far beyond the then current state of the measurement art. This article traces the metrological history of radiocarbon, from the initial breakthrough devised by Libby, to minor (evolutionary) and major (revolutionary) advances that have brought 14C measurement from a crude, bulk [8 g carbon] dating tool, to a refined probe for dating tiny amounts of precious artifacts, and for “molecular dating” at the 10 μg to 100 μg level. The metrological advances led to opportunities and surprises, such as the non-monotonic dendrochronological calibration curve and the “bomb effect,” that spawned new multidisciplinary areas of application, ranging from cosmic ray physics to oceanography to the reconstruction of environmental history.
Recurrent acromegaly resulting from ectopic growth hormone gene expression by a metastatic pancreatic tumor.

Background. Acromegaly is usually the result of a pituitary growth hormone (GH)-cell adenoma or is more rarely due to ectopic secretion of GH-releasing hormone (GHRH). The authors previously described a more unusual form of acromegaly secondary to ectopic GH synthesis by a pancreatic islet cell tumor. Methods. One year after tumor resection and transient disease remission, multiple abdominal metastases were identified with accompanying elevated levels of circulating GH and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Serial 24-hour GH sampling was performed before and after intravenous GHRH or thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) administration during treatment with bromocriptine; treatment with the somatostatin (SRIF) analogue octreotide; or no treatment. RNA from abdominal tumor tissue was extracted and subjected to Northern gel electrophoresis and GH hybridization analysis. Results. Neither GHRH nor TRH resulted in stimulation of the elevated GH levels. Bromocriptine and octreotide did not suppress GH secretion but attenuated the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) response to TRH administration. Octreotide (as much as 1500 μg/d) was clinically, biochemically, and radiographically ineffective. GH-secreting abdominal tumor tissue expressed a 0.9-kb mRNA transcript consistent with the size of authentic human GH mRNA. Conclusion. The natural history and ectopic nature of a GH-producing pancreatic carcinoma has been documented, with biochemical remission occurring after initial tumor resection, with autonomous GH hypersecretion after tumor recurrence, and with RNA analysis demonstrating ectopic activation of GH gene transcription. Cancer 1993; 71:66-70.
Variational principles for linear coupled dynamic theory of thermoviscoelasticity

Abstract Variational principles for linear coupled dynamic theory of thermoviscoelasticity are constructed using variational theory of potential operators. The functional derived herein gives, when varied, all the governing equations, including the boundary and initial conditions, as the Euler equations. The procedure shown herein does not require, in contrast to Gurtin's method, the transformation of field equations into an equivalent set of integro-differential equations, and includes the initial conditions of the problem explicitly. Gurtin's variational principle for dynamic theory of thermoviscoelasticity is also derived and compared with the present one. Variational principles for elastodynamics, visco-elasticity, etc. are derived as special cases of the variational principle derived herein.
Continuity and Change in Theories of Organizational Action

The research has been supported by the Spencer Foundation and the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Address comments to the author at the Scandinavian Consortium for Organizational Research, 509 Ceras, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5015 (e-mail: march@leland.stanford.edu). Most theories of adaptation assume that effective learning requires a balance between exploration and exploitation but that such a balance is continually threatened by tendencies for both exploration and exploitation to be self-reinforcing. I tell a morality tale within such a frame about the past forty years in the study of organizations. The tale emphasizes the struggle of students of organizational action to maintain a rough balance between openness and discipline, thus proclaiming both the possibility of a balanced virtue and its rewards-a truly romantic story.'
Discontinuous Projection-Based Adaptive Robust Control for Displacement-Controlled Actuators

Displacement-controlled (DC) actuation is a revolutionary fluid power technology which has been utilized on a broad range of applications demonstrating substantial fuel savings and significant performance improvements over traditional valve-controlled (VC) systems. In this paper, a nonlinear discontinuous projection-based adaptive controller is synthesized to achieve precision motion control of DC actuators. The controller is formulated to compensate for uncertain parameters through online parameter adaptation. Additionally, its structure allows for the inclusion of unmodeled nonlinearities such as friction and external loads and disturbances. Transient performance and tracking accuracy are also guaranteed in the presence of both parametric uncertainties and uncertain nonlinearities, and asymptotic tracking is achieved in the presence of parametric uncertainties. To evaluate the synthesized controller, a test bench comprising a large hydraulically powered end-effector was utilized. The actuator, a vane-type hydraulic motor is mechanically connected to a large robotic arm with a wide range of motion. Measurement results demonstrate that the synthesized controller achieves the aforementioned advantages while attaining a high degree of motion accuracy. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4030064]
Development of Neuropeptide Drugs that Cross the Blood-Brain Barrier

In recent years, there have been several important advancements in the development of neuropeptide therapeutics. Nevertheless, the targeting of peptide drugs to the CNS remains a formidable obstacle. Delivery of peptide drugs is limited by their poor bioavailability to the brain due to low metabolic stability, high clearance by the liver, and the presence of the blood brain barrier (BBB). Multiple strategies have been devised in an attempt to improve peptide drug delivery to the brain, with variable results. In this review, we discuss several of the strategies that have been used to improve both bioavailability and BBB transport, with an emphasis on antibody based vector delivery, useful for large peptides/small proteins, and glycosylation, useful for small peptides. Further development of these delivery methods may finally enable peptide drugs to be useful for the treatment of neurological disease states.
Chlorination studies. I. The reaction of aqueous hypochlorous acid with cytosine.

Abstract Cytosine, 5-chloro- and 5-methylcytosine react with one equivalent of HOCl to yield the corresponding 4-N-chloro derivatives (II, VIII and IX). Two or three equivalents of HOCl with cytosine yield mixtures of II and VIII accompanied by two unstable compounds identified as a di- and tri-chlorocytosine respectively. Five equivalents of HOCl when reacted with cytosine produce unstable tri- and tetrachloro-derivatives. Acidification of II with dilute HCl, HBr or HI affords 5-Cl, 5-Br and 5-iodocytosine respectively. An aqueous suspension of II partially converts phenylalanine into phenylacetaldehyde.
Pac study of the hyperfine interactions in154Gd3+ in rare-earth-garnets

The attenuation of the anisotropy of the γ-γ angular correlation for a rare-earth ion in magnetic iron and non-magnetic aluminum rare-earth garnets is governed by the static hyperfine electric field gradient (EFG) produced by the surrounding ions and by the static and fluctuating hyperfine magnetic fields produced by the 4f electrons of the ion. The latter effect depends upon the correlation time (τc) of the 4f electrons which, in turn, is determined by the interaction of the ionic spin with lattice vibrations and other magnetic ions. In an attempt to determine the significance of spin-spin relaxation on τc, perturbed angular correlation (PAC) measurements were performed on the S-state ion154Gd3+ because spin-lattice interactions were expected to be small. The time-integral attenuation coefficients of the 1274/123 keV γ-γ cascade in154Gd were measured in the temperature region 4.2–650 K for154Gd3+ incorporated in GdAlG, GdIG, YAlG, and YIG. Rotation measurements were also made on the same cascade in the iron garnets at room temperature with an applied magnetic field in the range 0–15 kg. Employing independent measurements and calculated estimates of the static hyperfine magnetic field and EFG, the observed data could be interpreted in terms of reasonable values of τc. The correlation times were found to range from about 0.13 ns in YIG to about 1.30 ns in YAlG with GdAlG having a value of approximately 0.71 ns. In the case of GdIG, a self-consistent analysis of the data required a value of the lattice EFG which was larger than that estimated from the nearest neighbor point-ion model. The correlation time in GdIG was then found to be the same as in YIG.
Interactive video-on-demand services on cable TV networks

In this paper, we investigate the architectural suitability of Cable TV networks for supporting Interactive Video on Demand. We present the existing cable TV structure and comment on the expected future architecture towards which cable TV networks are rapidly evolving. Practical realization of Interactive Video on Demand is in jeopardy because of an unmanageable peak in the subscribers' viewship pattern. We propose that multimedia servers of suitable capacities be installed at strategic locations in the cable TV network and function as temporary caches for multimedia information delivered from metropolitan repositories. We develop techniques for information caching that take into account the network bandwidth and storage constraints, and transform unmanageable peaks in viewers' demand patter to manageable plateaus.
Evaluation of Flight Deck-Based Interval Management Crew Procedure Feasibility

Air traffic demand is predicted to increase over the next 20 years, creating a need for new technologies and procedures to support this growth in a safe and efficient manner. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Air Traffic Management Technology Demonstration - 1 (ATD-1) will operationally demonstrate the feasibility of efficient arrival operations combining ground-based and airborne NASA technologies. The integration of these technologies will increase throughput, reduce delay, conserve fuel, and minimize environmental impacts. The ground-based tools include Traffic Management Advisor with Terminal Metering for precise time-based scheduling and Controller Managed Spacing decision support tools for better managing aircraft delay with speed control. The core airborne technology in ATD-1 is Flight deck-based Interval Management (FIM). FIM tools provide pilots with speed commands calculated using information from Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast. The precise merging and spacing enabled by FIM avionics and flight crew procedures will reduce excess spacing buffers and result in higher terminal throughput. This paper describes a human-in-the-loop experiment designed to assess the acceptability and feasibility of the ATD-1 procedures used in a voice communications environment. This experiment utilized the ATD-1 integrated system of ground-based and airborne technologies. Pilot participants flew a high-fidelity fixed base simulator equipped with an airborne spacing algorithm and a FIM crew interface. Experiment scenarios involved multiple air traffic flows into the Dallas-Fort Worth Terminal Radar Control airspace. Results indicate that the proposed procedures were feasible for use by flight crews in a voice communications environment. The delivery accuracy at the achieve-by point was within +/- five seconds and the delivery precision was less than five seconds. Furthermore, FIM speed commands occurred at a rate of less than one per minute, and pilots found the frequency of the speed commands to be acceptable at all times throughout the experiment scenarios.
Effects of transducer position on backscattered intensity in coronary arteries.

Acute myocardial infarction is a frequent cause of sudden death, and is typically initiated by the rupture of coronary artery plaques. The likelihood and severity of rupture are influenced by the plaque structures and components. Radiofrequency (RF) intravascular ultrasound (US) (IVUS-RF) measurements extend current IVUS imaging techniques and may eventually enable the in vivo identification of these features. However, IVUS-RF measurements are affected by the transducer’s instantaneous position in the vessel. Specifically, backscattered intensity (BI) decreases as either the distance between the tissue and the transducer increases, or as the beam’s angle of incidence on the tissue increases. IVUS-RF data were acquired from seven disease-free coronary arteries in vitro. The 0-dB level for BI was defined as the peak intensity of the reflection from a stainless-steel flat reflector at each distance. The baseline BI measured in adventitial tissue was −32.5 dB (at 0 degrees, 0 mm) with angle and distance dependencies of −0.172 dB/° and −3.37 dB/mm. In contrast, the BI from combined intima and media was −38.2 dB with dependencies of −0.111 dB/° and −4.46 dB/mm (p < 0.05 for all three parameters). Acknowledging and compensating for these effects may allow IVUS-RF to develop into a rapidly deployable tool for the clinical detection of vulnerable plaques and to monitor coronary artery disease progression and regression. (E-mail: ivus@crci.stanford.edu)
The genetics and taxonomy of species in the genus Mytilus

Abstract It has been nearly 15 years since the genetics of Mytilus was the subject of a comprehensive review. In this period, our understanding of the nature of genetic variation in this group has been substantially altered. Studies on the extent of individual variation have demonstrated that genotype (i.e., multiple locus heterozygosity) has a significant effect on energy metabolism, producing significant statistical correlations between genotype and measures of both metabolic energy demand and productivity, particularly growth rate. These correlations can be mitigated by a number of factors, including age, reproductive state, the specific genes under study and ecological conditions. Studies of within-population variation have repeatedly noted marked deficiencies of heterozygotes, but no satisfactory explanation for this observation has yet been identified. Deficiencies are locus-specific and multilocus disequilibria have been described, suggesting a combination of larval mixing with additional forces such as selection, aneuploidy or molecular imprinting. Early work suggested substantial genetic differentiation between spatially proximate populations. Populations are now known to be relatively homogeneous, even over vast geographical distances. Genetic differences between proximate populations generally represent taxonomic differentiation among mytiliid species, not population differences. Studies of allozymes, morphology and (to some degree) mitochondrial genotype among world-wide samples have demonstrated the existence and geographic distributions of four species in the genus: Mytilus californianus, M. edulis, M. trossulus and M. galloprovincialis . Data for the three latter species are presented along with the geographic distribution of each.
Action responses of Congolese refugee women.

Purpose:To describe Congolese refugee women's action responses to difficult living situations. Design:Interpretive qualitative. Methods:Narrative data were collected from 14 Congolese refugee women using minimally structured interviews and were analyzed for patterns in their responses to their difficult situations. Findings:The narratives about participants' difficult circumstances indicated six action responses: refiguration, advocacy, resistance, resignation, sorrow, and faith. Conclusions:When encountering difficult life circumstances, refugee participants demonstrated actions with varying influence on their agency.
Young Striped Searobins (Triglidae: Prionotus evolans) in the Hudson River

The spatial and temporal distribution of young of year searobin (Prionotus) was delineated in the Hudson River from museum specimens. All young searobins in the Hudson River were Prionotus evolans (L.). The smallest young striped searobin are found in the southern estuary in July and they move farther upriver as they grow. Most individuals leave the estuary in the autumn, but some latespawned individuals probably remain in the estuary through the winter and into late spring.
Age, Education, and Literacy Skills of Adult Mississippians

This study examined the literacy skills of 1791 black and white Mississippi residents aged 16 to 75, with varying levels of education. Using a new literacy test developed by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), three kinds of literacy were assessed: prose literacy, document literacy, and quantitative literacy. Results revealed that very few Mississippians were totally illiterate, but that the level of literacy was associated with education, age, and race. Within age groups, educated persons scored higher than less educated persons. However, both highly-educated and little-educated older persons scored lower on all three measures of literacy than equally educated younger persons.
Ultrafast excited-state dynamics of RNA and DNA C tracts.

Abstract The excited-state dynamics of the RNA homopolymer of cytosine and of the 18-mer (dC) 18 were studied by steady-state and time-resolved absorption and emission spectroscopy. At pH 6.8, excitation of poly(rC) by a femtosecond UV pump pulse produces excited states that decay up to one order of magnitude more slowly than the excited states formed in the mononucleotide cytidine 5′-monophosphate under the same conditions. Even slower relaxation is observed for the hemiprotonated, self-associated form of poly(rC), which is stable at acidic pH. Transient absorption and time-resolved fluorescence signals for (dC) 18 at pH 6.8 are similar to ones observed for poly(rC) near pH 4, indicating that hemiprotonated structures are found in DNA C tracts at neutral pH. In both systems, there is evidence for two kinds of emitting states with lifetimes of ∼100 ps and slightly more than 1 ns. The former states are responsible for the bulk of emission from the hemiprotonated structures. Evidence suggests that slow electronic relaxation in these self-complexes is the result of vertical base stacking. The similar signals from RNA and DNA C tracts suggest a common base-stacked structure, which may be identical with that of i -motif DNA.
PROSTATE CANCER DETECTION IN THE PROSTATE SPECIFIC ANTIGEN RANGE OF 2.0 TO 3.9 NG/ML: VALUE OF PERCENT FREE PROSTATE SPECIFIC ANTIGEN ON TUMOR DETECTION AND TUMOR AGGRESSIVENESS

Purpose: We evaluated the positive predictive value and cancer detection rate in the prostate specific antigen (PSA) range of 2.0 to 3.9 ng/ml and assessed the value of percent free (F) PSA (FPSA) on tumor detection and tumor aggressiveness in this low PSA range. Materials and Methods: Of 3,623 men who were attending the second round of screening within the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer, section Rotterdam 883 had PSA values of 2.0 to 3.9 ng/ml. These men were offered laterally directed sextant biopsy. FPSA was prospectively determined from pretreatment serum. Cancers were classified as prognostically favorable and unfavorable using biopsy results and other pretreatment diagnostic features. Results: Using the PSA range of 2.0 to 3.9 ng/ml as a biopsy indication 126 cancers were detected, resulting in a positive predictive value of 17.1% and a cancer detection rate of 14.3%. By using percent FPSA and setting relative sensitivity at 95% 9% of biopsies could have been avoided. Unfavorable tumor characteristics were found in 46.9% of the men with T1C tumors. Mean percent FPSA was significantly lower in such men compared to men with favorable tumor characteristics. Of the men with percent FPSA lower than 10% 90% had unfavorable tumor characteristics. Conclusions: The PSA range 2.0 to 3.9 ng/ml is accessible for prostate cancer screening. Percent FPSA is of moderate value in avoiding unnecessary biopsies in the PSA range of 2.0 to 3.9 ng/ml. However, when assessing tumor aggressiveness in biopsy results, percent FPSA is predictive and can be used to select treatment options, such as watchful waiting.
Novel optical oxy/deoxy hemoglobin monitoring as a modality for non-invasive real-time monitoring of cognitive activity and beyond

We report on the successful development of a custom in vitro system that provides a physiologically relevant means of demonstrating optical methodologies for the calibration and validation of oxygen delivery and hemoglobin oxygen binding dynamics in the brain. While measured optical signals have generally been equated to heme absorbance values that are, in turn, presumed to correspond to oxygen delivery, there has been little specific study of the sigmoidal oxygen binding dynamics of hemoglobin, a tetrameric protein, within physiologically relevant parameters. Our development of this novel analytical device addresses this issue, and is a significant step towards the minimally invasive and real-time monitoring of spatially resolved cognitive processes. As such, it is of particular interest for the detection of autistic brain activity in infants and young children. Moreover, our device and approach bring with them the ability to quantify and spatially resolve oxygen delivery down to volumes relevant to individual cell oxygen uptake, without any oxygen consumption, and with a temporal resolution that is physically unachievable by any oxygen tracking modality such as fMRI etc. Such a capability opens up myriad possibilities for further investigation, such as real-time tumor biopsy and resection; the tracking and quantification of cellular proliferation, as well as metabolic measures of tissue viability, to name but a few. Our system has also been engineered to be synergistic with virtually all imaging techniques, optical and otherwise.
Band 3 Modifications in Plasmodium Falciparum-Infected AA and CC Erythrocytes Assayed by Autocorrelation Analysis Using Quantum Dots

The molecular stability of hemoglobin is critical for normal erythrocyte functions, including oxygen transport. Hemoglobin C (HbC) is a mutant hemoglobin that has increased oxidative susceptibility due to an amino acid substitution (β6: Glu to Lys). The growth of Plasmodium falciparum is abnormal in homozygous CC erythrocytes in vitro, and CC individuals show innate protection against severe P. falciparum malaria. We investigated one possible mechanism of innate protection using a quantum dot technique to compare the distribution of host membrane band 3 molecules in genotypically normal (AA) to CC erythrocytes. The high photostability of quantum dots facilitated the construction of 3D cell images and the quantification of fluorescent signal intensity. Power spectra and 1D autocorrelation analyses showed band 3 clusters on the surface of infected AA and CC erythrocytes. These clusters became larger as the parasites matured and were more abundant in CC erythrocytes. Further, average cluster size (500 nm) in uninfected (native) CC erythrocytes was comparable with that of parasitized AA erythrocytes but was significantly larger (1 μm) in parasitized CC erythrocytes. Increased band 3 clustering may enhance recognition sites for autoantibodies, which could contribute to the protective effect of hemoglobin C against malaria.
Polyacene and a new class of quasi-one-dimensional conductors

Most one-dimensional conductors are quite similar since the Fermi surface is a point and the electron energy dispersion relation near the Fermi surface is linear. It is pointed out that in polyacene the Fermi surface lies at the edge of the Brillouin zone, but that an accidental degeneracy between the valence and conduction bands makes it metallic nonetheless. The dispersion relation is therefore quadratic, and the density of states diverges at the Fermi surface. Thus, polyacene [${({\mathrm{C}}_{4}{\mathrm{H}}_{2})}_{n}$] and its possible derivatives represent a conceptually new class of quasi-one-dimensional conductors. Moreover, we find that this class of materials has the possibility of possessing interesting condensed phases including high-temperature superconductivity and ferromagnetism.
Development of a paradigm to train and validate agent-based models

Agent-based modeling (ABM) is a computational technique employed to simulate the behavior of autonomous units called agents. An agent is a virtual entity which interacts with its environment and other agents and is capable of making decisions and taking actions based on these interactions. Relatively simple rules are utilized to govern individual interactions; however the cumulative behavior of all agents may be complex and may sometimes reveal interesting patterns. Agent-based modeling, though first introduced in the field of artificial intelligence, has gained acceptance in a many diverse fields such as finance engineering, bio-film modeling, social computation, and ecology. The systems studied in these fields are inherently complex involving many interacting components. These systems are modeled by representing the various system components as agents and having simple rules governing the behavior of agents. These rules can be changed to match the emergent behavior of the model with the behavior of the actual system. However, validating such a model is not straight forward as it is difficult to objectively determine similarity between the patterns in the model output and data. We propose a universal paradigm to facilitate such comparisons by extracting features from patterns in the data and the model output and use these features to train and validate the model. The merit of this methodology will be adopted to train an ABM simulating the movement of cattle grazing in a pasture using data from GPS units installed on individual cows.
Mitochondrial genome of the dimorphic zygomycete Mucor racemosus.

Mitochondria were isolated from the dimorphic zygomycete Mucor racemosus by differential centrifugation. DNA from the organelles was purified by cesium chloride-ethidium bromide isopycnic centrifugation. Examination of the mitochondrial DNA by electron microscopy revealed a circular chromosome approximately 63.8 kbp in circumference. The chromosome was digested with restriction endonucleases and the resulting DNA fragments were separated by agarose-gel electrophoresis. Electrophoretic mobilities and stoichiometry of the fragments indicated a mixed population of mtDNA molecules each with a size of about 63.4 kbp. Physical maps were constructed from analyses of fragments generated in single and double restriction digests and from the hybridization of fragments to probes for the large and small mitochondrial rRNA genes from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The Mucor mitochondrial chromosome was found to exist in the form of two flip-flop isomers with inverted repeat sequences encoding both rRNA genes.
Integrating the UAS Intelligent Analyzer for lost link comm into a UAS testbed

As researchers develop proof-of-concept solutions and capabilities for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), it is critical to ensure the solutions are accurate, viable, and will integrate with various types of UAS systems. Researchers can validate research prototypes by conducting live flight test experiments in a UAS testbed. This paper describes how the Intelligent Analyzer software application, used for communication during lost link situations, was integrated into a UAS testbed. By using a database as the integration point, only minimal changes were required of the existing research prototype and the testbed infrastructure. The paper also discusses the challenges encountered during the integration and testing of Intelligent Analyzer at a UAS testbed.
Electron density and temperature changes in the equatorial ionosphere during magnetic storms.

Abstract Storm changes in the height profiles of electron density and electron temperature near the dip equator are presented for five _F2-region storms. In all five storms the electron temperature increased although the electron density may increase or decrease. On the assumption that, at night, the electron and neutral temperatures are equal it is found that the temperatures agree, within 20 per cent with the temperatures calculated from the 1966 U.S. Standard Atmosphere.
CULTURAL CONCOMITANTS OF PRESCHOOLERS' PREPARATION FOR LEARNING

This is a follow-up of a study done 20 years ago. Gross (1967), which compared the preschool cognitive readiness of two culturally diverse Jewish groups, one of Sephardic or Middle East origin and the other of Ashkenazi or European origin. In contrast with the many studies of learning deficiencies among populations living in poverty, both groups are economically advantaged and equivalent but for the subcultural membership built into the design. The sample consisted of all entrants into two Hebrew parochial schools who were native born and manifested no physical or emotional handicaps. All children were tested individually with Form L-M of the Stanford-Binet by the same examiner. Table 1 reports the basic data of the study and indicates that each of the Ashkenazi groups scored significantly superior to its cohort partner.
Tangent Hyperplane Kernel Principal Component Analysis for Denoising

Kernel principal component analysis (KPCA) is a method widely used for denoising multivariate data. Using geometric arguments, we investigate why a projection operation inherent to all existing KPCA denoising algorithms can sometimes cause very poor denoising. Based on this, we propose a modification to the projection operation that remedies this problem and can be incorporated into any of the existing KPCA algorithms. Using toy examples and real datasets, we show that the proposed algorithm can substantially improve denoising performance and is more robust to misspecification of an important tuning parameter.