cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Discoidin domain receptor 2 germline gene deletion leads to altered heart structure and function in the mouse

Discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2) is a fibrillar collagen receptor that is expressed in mesenchymal cells throughout the body. In the heart, DDR2 is selectively expressed on cardiac fibroblasts. We generated a germline DDR2 knockout mouse and used this mouse to examine the role of DDR2 deletion on heart structure and function. Echocardiographic measurements from null mice were consistent with those from a smaller heart, with reduced left ventricular chamber dimensions and little change in wall thickness. Fractional shortening appeared normal. Left ventricular pressure measurements revealed mild inotropic and lusitropic abnormalities that were accentuated by dobutamine infusion. Both body and heart weights from 10-wk-old male mice were ~20% smaller in null mice. The reduced heart size was not simply due to reduced body weight, since cardiomyocyte lengths were atypically shorter in null mice. Although normalized cardiac collagen mass (assayed by hydroxyproline content) was not different in null mice, the collagen area fraction was statistically higher, suggesting a reduced collagen density from altered collagen deposition and cross-linking. Cultured cardiac fibroblasts from null mice deposited collagen at a slower rate than wild-type littermates, possibly due to the expression of lower prolyl 4-hydroxylase α-isoform 1 enzyme levels. We conclude that genetic deletion of the DDR2 collagen receptor alters cardiac fibroblast function. The resulting perturbations in collagen deposition can influence the structure and function of mature cardiomyocytes.
Single-frequency laser measurements of two-photon cross sections and Doppler-free spectra for atomic oxygen

Absolute bound-bound atomic two-photon cross sections have been measured using a single-frequency laser for the first time, eliminating the usual uncertainties about unresolved temporal fluctuations. For the $3p^{3}P_{{J}^{\ensuremath{'}}}\ensuremath{\leftarrow}2p^{3}P_{2}$ transition in atomic oxygen at 226 nm the integrated cross section is $\ensuremath{\Sigma}{{J}^{\ensuremath{'}}}^{}{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{0}^{(2)}({J}^{\ensuremath{'}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2)=1.87\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.60\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}35}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{4}$. Doppler-free spectra have been used to measure relative fine-structure cross sections and energy spacings. Absolute and relative two-photon cross sections agree well with perturbation theory, validating this approach.
To soothe the savage breast.

Abstract We review quite a range of procedures—some strange, some familiar—to calm, and spare fantasied harm. Drugs can help a whole bunch, but there is no ‘free lunch.’ Side-effects from long use, and the risk of abuse, make it wiser to find other means to ‘unwind.’ (Anxious folks spin a messful of thoughts that are stressful.) Against pressures that fluster, tranquil images muster a sense one is resting—rather than testing how much one achieves (while one's family grieves). Muscle programs to lower tense states, and pace slower, can bring manifold gains easing worry and pains. There are diverse connections among muscle flexions—however those function—that can serve as an unction. Movements practiced each night do more good than the ‘right’ exercises in theory, left undone by the weary. Thus give choice of routines as well as calm scenes: one might dodge heart attacks if one learns to relax. It will not cheer one's mood to review woes nor brood over future collusions, intrusions, confusions, perfection, rejection and other delusions. Like over-tight shoe points, loosen Puritan viewpoints because standards too stern make adrenaline burn. Teach instead: ‘Mellow visions need not earn derisions. People who play more are invited to stay more.’ Massages and dancing, gentle fiction entrancing or dulcet harmonics are suitable tonics. For self-damaging actions bring on wholesome distractions. There are so many names for so many games, from social adventures to buying debentures, trip-planning, food-canning and even gold-panning. Thus cease surplus panting but cultivate planting since turmoil may go when one makes flowers grow, or elsewhere embraces Nature's several faces: oceans, rivers, or canyons, mountains, redwoods or banyans, or (thanks to some vets), peaceful contacts with pets.
The fractal nature of the inhomogeneities in the lithosphere evidenced from seismic wave scattering

In this paper we show evidences of the fractal nature of the 3-D inhomogeneities in the lithosphere from the study of seismic wave scattering and discuss the relation between the fractal dimension of the 3-D inhomogeneities and that of the fault surfaces. Two methods are introduced to measure the inhomogeneity spectrum of a random medium: 1. the coda excitation spectrum method, and 2. the method of measuring the frequency dependence of scattering attenuation. The fractal dimension can be obtained from the inhomogeneity spectrum of the medium. The coda excitation method is applied to the Hindu-Kush data. Based on the observed coda excitation spectra (for frequencies 1–25 Hz) and the past observations on the frequency dependence of scattering attenuation, we infer that the lithospheric inhomogeneities are multiple scaled and can be modeled as a bandlimited fractal random medium (BLFRM) with an outer scale of about 1 km. The fractal dimension of the 3-D inhomogeneities isD3=31/2–32/3, which corresponds to a scaling exponent (Hurst number)H=1/2–1/3. The corresponding 1-D inhomogeneity spectra obey the power law with a powerp=2H+1=2–5/3. The intersection between the earth surface and the isostrength surface of the 3-D inhomogeneities will have fractal dimensionD1=1.5–1.67. If we consider the earthquake fault surface as developed from the isosurface of the 3-D inhomogeneities and smoothed by the rupture dynamics, the fractal dimension of the fault trace on the surface must be smaller thanD1, in agreement with recent measurements of fractal dimension along the San Andreas fault.
Time-of-flight study of H(2S) and D(2S) produced by electron impact on H/sub 2/, D/sub 2/, and HD: Evidence for predissociation

Time-of-flight spectra of $\mathrm{H}(2S)$ and $\mathrm{D}(2S)$ fragments from electron-bombardment-dissociated ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$, ${\mathrm{D}}_{2}$, and HD have been observed. Structure in the kinetic-energy distributions below 1.3 eV is interpreted as arising from predissociation of bound vibrational levels. For ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ and ${\mathrm{D}}_{2}$ the primary predissociation process appears to be predissociation of the D state via the ${B}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ state. Predissociation structure for HD, although more prominent than for ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ and ${\mathrm{D}}_{2}$, is not as easily interpreted. Evidence for the direct dissociation of the ${B}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ state has also been obtained and the relative probabilities of direct dissociation and predissociation have been estimated.
Discovery of a Potent HIV Integrase Inhibitor that Leads to a Prodrug with Significant anti-HIV Activity.

Worldwide research efforts in drug discovery involving HIV integrase have produced only one compound, raltegravir, that has been approved for clinical use in HIV/AIDS. As resistance, toxicity, and drug–drug interactions are recurring issues with all classes of anti-HIV drugs, the discovery of novel integrase inhibitors remains a significant scientific challenge. We have designed a lead HIV-1 strand transfer (ST) inhibitor (IC50 70 nM), strategically assembled on a pyridinone scaffold. A focused structure–activity investigation of this parent compound led to a significantly more potent ST inhibitor, 2 (IC50 6 ± 3 nM). Compound 2 exhibits good stability in pooled human liver microsomes. It also displays a notably favorable profile with respect to key human cytochrome P450 (CYP) isozymes and human UDP glucuronosyl transferases (UGTs). The prodrug of inhibitor 2, i.e., compound 10, was found to possess remarkable anti-HIV-1 activity in cell culture (EC50 9 ± 4 nM, CC50 135 ± 7 μM, therapeutic index = 15 000).
Phenylthiocopper trimethylphosphite complex. A reagent for the preparation of thioallenes.

Abstract The title complex reacts with propargyl halides and, in situ generated, propargyl mesylates to produce thioallenes in good yields, via an allylic inversion.
Device-scaling constraints based upon delay-time arguments

Extracted delay times provide information useful for device scaling. In this work a novel parameter extraction technique that permits delay times associated with the physical operation of the transistor, along with element values for an equivalent circuit, to be determined from terminal S-parameter measurements. The technique is employed to investigate the operation of mm-wave AlInAs/GalnAs/InP heterojunction bipolar transistors. High current phenomena, such as the onset of the Kirk Effect, are clearly evident. The results indicate that the base region delay is dominant in determining the high frequency operation of these devices.
Identification of the vitamin D receptor in various cells of the mouse kidney.

The kidney is the major, if not sole, site for the production of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3), the biologically active form of vitamin D that can stimulate calcium reabsorption in the kidney and may provide renoprotective benefits. The biological effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 are mediated through a nuclear hormone receptor, known as the vitamin D receptor (VDR). It is well accepted that the VDR is present in the distal renal convoluted tubule cells; however, whether VDR is present in other kidney cell types is uncertain. Using a highly specific and sensitive anti-VDR antibody, we determined its distribution in the mouse kidney by immunohistochemistry. Our results show that the VDR is not only present in the distal but is also found in the proximal tubules, but at 24-fold lower levels. The VDR was also found in the macula densa of the juxtaglomerular apparatus, glomerular parietal epithelial cells, and podocytes. In contrast, the VDR is either very low or absent in interstitial fibroblasts, glomerular mesangial cells, and juxtaglomerular cells. Thus, identification of VDR in the proximal tubule, macula densa, and podocytes suggests that 1,25(OH)2D3 plays a direct role in these cells under normal conditions.
THE USE OF FORWARD- AND BACK-SCATTERED P-, S- AND CONVERTED WAVES IN CROSS-BOREHOLE IMAGING1

The principles of imaging, for example that of prestack migration, can be applied to cross-borehole seismic geometry just as they can to surface seismic configurations. However, when using actual cross-borehole data, a number of difficulties arise that are rarely or never encountered in imaging surface seismic data: discontinuities may reflect or diffract incident seismic waves in any direction. If a discontinuity lies between the lines of sources and receivers, forward-scattered, or interwell, events may be recorded. If a discontinuity lies outside the interwell region, back-scattered, or extra-well, events may be recorded. Many angles of incidence are possible, and all possible reflected modes (P–P, P–S, S–P and S–S) are present, frequently in nearly equal proportions. The planes of the reflectors dip from 0 to ±90°. In order to deal with these complexities we first separate propagation modes at the receiver borehole using both polarization and velocity. Next we compensate for phase distortion due to dispersion. Finally, and most importantly, we migrate or image the data in cross-borehole common-source gathers. To do this, a finite-difference solution to the 2D scalar wave equation, using reverse time, for an arbitrary distribution of velocities, is used to project the separated, reflected-diffracted wavefield back into the medium. There are four reflection modes (P–P, P–S, S–P and S–S), so we can apply four different imaging conditions. The zones outside the boreholes as well as inside the boreholes can be imaged with these conditions. These operations are repeated for each common-source gather: each common-source gather generates four partial images in each image space. This multiplicity of partial images can be stacked in various combinations to yield a final image of the subsurface. Our experiments using solid (not fluid) physical models indicate that when these procedures are correctly applied, high quality cross-borehole images can be obtained. These images appear with great clarity even though some of the weak diffractions causing diffraction images may be almost totally obscured by other high-amplitude events on the raw data.
The inductively coupled plasma spectrum of OD in the infrared

To gain more information about the highly excited rotational states of the Δv = 1 sequence of OD vibration-rotation bands, the spectrum has been produced in an inductively coupled plasma discharge and measured with a Fourier transform spectrometer between 1670 and 5768 cm−1. Along with the extension of 1–0 band, we have been successful in recording the 2–1 band for the first time. A nonlinear least square fit of these bands yielded equilibrium molecular parameters forv = 0, 1 and 2 levels with a standard deviation of 0·0032 cm−1. The centrifugal distortion parameters show a systematic vibrational dependence.
Directional edge detection using the logical transform for binary and grayscale images

This paper presents a novel method for edge detection within two-dimensional signals (images). Using Boolean partial derivatives calculated quickly through a logical transform, the algorithm generates a binary edge map. The process is initially described for binary data and then extended for multi-bit (grayscale) images. Computer simulations demonstrate the procedure for three classes of signals: synthetic images (where actual edge maps are known), natural images, and cell-phone images (those taken by a low-resolution, low-quality camera). Results are compared quantitatively (when possible with Pratt's figure of merit) and visually with six common edge detection techniques: Sobel, Prewitt, Roberts, Laplacian of Gaussian, zero-cross and Canny methods. Comparison with these methods demonstrates that the algorithm presented here is able to consistently perform competitively in the numerical sense, while also detecting major edges and fine details simultaneously. Both of these latter aspects are visually apparent in the binary output image maps produced.
Equine Models of Articular Cartilage Repair

Articular cartilage injuries of the knee and ankle are common, and a number of different methods have been developed in an attempt to improve their repair. Clinically, there are 2 distinct aims of cartilage repair: 1) restoration of joint function and 2) prevention or at least delay of the onset of osteoarthritis. These goals can potentially be achieved through replacement of damaged or lost articular cartilage with tissue capable of functioning under normal physiological environments for an extended period, but limitations of the final repair product have long been recognized and still exist today. Screening of potential procedures for human clinical use is done by preclinical studies using animal models. This article reviews equine chondral defect models that have been recently recognized to have specific advantages for translation into human articular cartilage regeneration. Defect models in the femoropatellar, femorotibial, and tibiotalar joints have been developed. The horse provides the closest approximation to humans in terms of articular cartilage and subchondral bone thickness, and it is possible to selectively leave the entire calcified cartilage layer or completely remove it. The defect on the equine medial femoral condyle emulates medial femoral condylar lesions in humans. Other advantages of the equine model include an ability to use an arthroscope to create lesions and perform second-look arthroscopies, the large lesion size allowing for more tissue for evaluation, and the ability to have controlled exercise and test the ability of the repair to cope with athletic exercise as well as institute rehabilitation regimens.
Direct capillary trapping and gas chromatographic analysis of bromomethane and other highly volatile air pollutants.

Analyse de fluoro trichloro-, dichloro-, trichloro nitrotetrachloro-, bromo- et trichloromethane
Network based storage: getting students to actually use it

The Academic Computing department at Stanford University has worked on implementing an effective network storage strategy for some time. Students need to be able to access their files in our labs, in their rooms, and even off campus. While removable media in the form of floppy then Zip discs and now USB "thumbdrives" have filled this need to an extent, it is still critical to offer a reliable network option. Central IT has offered a network storage solution for a number of years, but achieving wide-spread use through reliable means has been difficult. They have offered and/or built tools ranging from simple FTP to modified versions of proprietary clients to students to access their home folders. However, it was not until very recently that use of this service has increased. The biggest factor in this change was not simply that the methods for access matured, but that we have designed our desktop experience to make such access seamless and invisible. This, in turn, has encouraged students to use this single solution across campus, in our clusters and on their own machines.
Aphasia in African-Americans and Caucasians: Severity, improvement, and rate of improvement

Abstract We compared initial severity, amount of improvement, and rate of improvement of aphasia in African-Americans and Caucasians. Study patients were aphasic subsequent to a first, left hemisphere, thromboembolic infarct, and all were entered in a 44-week treatment trial designed to provide 6–8 h of treatment each week between 4 and 48 weeks post-onset. There was no significant difference between African-Americans and Caucasians in severity of aphasia on the Porch Index of Communicative Ability, a word fluency measure, or the Token Test prior to the initiation of treatment at 4 weeks post-onset. At 48 weeks post-onset, African-Americans performed significantly lower on the Porch Index of Communicative Ability Gestural and Graphic modality scores. Both African-American and Caucasian aphasic patients displayed significant improvement in aphasia during the 44-week treatment trial, and there were no significant differences between groups in the amount or rate of improvement. Thus, our samples of African-A...
Polymerization of Ion-Pair Comonomers of Related Structures

Abstract Two ion-pair comonomers of 2-methacryloyloxyethyltrimethyl-ammonium 2-methacryloyloxyethanesulfonate (METMAMES) and 3-acrylamido-3-methylbutyltrimethylammonium 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonate have been synthesized. The spontaneous and radical homocopolymerizations of these monomer pairs, wherein no nonpolymerizable counterions are present, have also been studied. Moreover, the intrinsic viscosity of the homocopolymer derived from METMA MES was found to increase with increasing KCl concentration in aqueous solutions.
Expansion of the Universe

IN a recent issue, Dr. Alastair Ward1 suggests an interesting experiment to check whether or not the universe is expanding. By using the Mossbauer effect we can study photon interactions and attempt to produce an increase in wave-length λ that is proportional to distance r. This would then explain the Hubble law (δλ/λ ∼ r) as derived from the red shift in the spectra of distant galaxies. But physicists should bear in mind the uncertainties in the astronomical data. For example, it is quite possible that the red shift, and hence the apparent velocity of recession, increases as distance squared.
Thiotepa for the treatment of thrombocythemia in patients with Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myelogenous leukemia

BACKGROUND Patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) occasionally experience persistent thrombocythemia despite having adequate white blood cell (WBC) counts. Trimethylenethiophosphoramide (thiotepa) is an alkylating agent that significantly inhibits platelet production. METHODS The authors studied the effects of thiotepa in eight patients with CML with persistent thrombocythemia. All patients had adequate WBC counts while receiving therapy for leukemia. The median age of the patients was 58 years, and all had received at least 2 prior therapy regimens for CML. Thiotepa was administered by intravenous infusion at a dose of 75 mg/m2 once every 2 to 3 weeks; doses were adjusted according to hematologic response. RESULTS Seven patients were evaluable for response to thiotepa. Their pretreatment median platelet count was 1215 × 109/L. After receiving the first dose, 6 patients (86%) had favorable responses as the median platelet count dropped to 348 × 109/L (P = 0.02). However, all the patients' platelet counts returned to near baseline values after the first course. Patients required a median of three courses to achieve stable platelet counts near the normal range. In 4 patients (57%), administration of thiotepa was discontinued because of a stable normal platelet count after a median of 7.5 courses; 1 patient was still receiving treatment at last follow-up (18 courses) and 2 patients stopped receiving treatment after their disease progressed to the blastic phase. Toxicity was mostly hematologic, with neutropenia (≤1 × 109/L) occurring during 5 of the 64 courses (8%) administered but only 1 patient's course was complicated by fever. CONCLUSIONS The authors conclude that thiotepa is useful in controlling thrombocythemia in CML patients who have elevated platelet counts despite having adequate WBC counts. Cancer 1997; 80:396-400. © 1997 American Cancer Society.
Identification of T-helper cells as the target of stearic acid-inhibition in primary antibody responses in vitro.

Abstract We have previously shown that albumin-complexed stearic acid (18:0) inhibited in vitro primary anti-TNP plaque-forming cell (PFC) responses to trinitrophenyl keyhole limpet hemocyanin (TNP-KLH), but did not affect primary PFC responses to trinitrophenyl lipopolysaccharide (TNP-LPS). The present studies were done to identify the cellular target of fatty acid inhibition. The addition of 18:0 at the initiation of antibody cultures exerted a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on subsequent PFC responses to TNP-KLH, and removal of the fatty acid after 20 h did not reverse its inhibitory effect. Preincubation of isolated T-cells with TNP-KLH and 18:0 resulted in a similar inhibition of subsequent PFC responses, but a preincubation of isolated B-cells had no effect. The addition o of 18:0 to the culture system in vitro led to a marked reduction in the level of IL-2 detectable in culture supernatants, and PFC responses could be restored by providing exogenous mouse recombinant IL-2. The addition of antigen-primed T-helper cells to antibody cultures partially abrogated the inhibition by 150 μM 18:0, apparently due to their greater production of IL-2. Lastly, following overnight incubation of unfractionated splenic lymphocytes in the presence of TNP-KLH and [1- 14 C]-18:0, B-cells were shown to contain nearly 5-fold more radiolabeled oleic acid (18:1) than T-cells. Collectively, these findings implicate T-helper cells as the principle target of 18:0-inhibition of primary antibody responses in vitro , possibly as a result of the inability of T-helper cells to avoid an over accumulation of stearic acid in their membrane phospholipids.
Novel Experimental Approaches to Melanoma Diagnosis and Therapy

We have investigated the potential use of immune therapies on the growth of melanoma metastases in a new animal model that more closely approximates the clinical situation. We have found that significant benefits towards decreased metastatic growth and subsequent animal survival can be achieved by treatment of tumor-bearing mice with melanoma-specific monoclonal antibodies or alternatively, with various types of monovalent or polyvalent vaccines. The beneficial effects of those vaccines can be significantly enhanced by concomitant interleukin-2 therapy.
14-3-3 amplifies and prolongs adrenergic stimulation of HERG K+ channel activity

Acute stress provokes lethal cardiac arrhythmias in the hereditary long QT syndrome. Here we provide a novel molecular mechanism linking β‐adrenergic signaling and altered human ether‐a‐go‐go related gene ( HERG ) channel activity. Stress stimulates β‐adrenergic receptors, leading to cAMP elevations that can regulate HERG K + channels both directly and via phosphorylation by cAMP‐dependent protein kinase (PKA). We show that HERG associates with 14‐3‐3ϵ to potentiate cAMP/PKA effects upon HERG. The binding of 14‐3‐3 occurs simultaneously at the N‐ and C‐termini of the HERG channel. 14‐3‐3 accelerates and enhances HERG activation, an effect that requires PKA phosphorylation of HERG and dimerization of 14‐3‐3. The interaction also stabilizes the lifetime of the PKA‐phosphorylated state of the channel by shielding the phosphates from cellular phosphatases. The net result is a prolongation of the effect of adrenergic stimulation upon HERG activity. Thus, 14‐3‐3 interactions with HERG may provide a unique mechanism for plasticity in the control of membrane excitability and cardiac rhythm.
COMMUNICABILITY AND COMPLEXITY AS PREDICTORS OF CREATIVITY: VALIDITY OF THE BARRON-WELSH ART SCALE

The construct validity of the Barron-Welsh Art Scale as a measure of creativity was questioned. It was hypothesized that figure preferences of creative subjects are more strongly determined by stimulus communicability than stimulus complexity. In a first study a significant negative relationship between operational measures of communicability and complexity of Barron-Welsh drawing was found. A second study of 24 undergraduate subjects showed communicability to be significantly related to peer ratings of creativity whereas complexity was not. A third study of 60 high school subjects showed that a derived score, reflecting the relative preference for drawings of low communicability and low complexity over those of high communicability and high complexity, was significantly related to staff's ratings of creativity. These results were in direct opposition to an interpretation involving complexity in previous research on the Barron-Welsh Art Scale. An alternative interpretation was discussed.
METASTATIC DISEASE OF THE FEMUR: Surgical Management

Treatment of actual or impending pathologic fractures of the femur provides the senior author with some of the most rewarding surgical interventions of his practice. The patients' survival outlook is not changed, but their quality of life is enhanced significantly. Most health care providers usually provide the metastatic cancer patient only temporary symptomatic relief, at best, and often at the expense of continued pain, suffering, or sickness, such as is seen with chemotherapy-associated morbidity. Patients with metastatic bone disease are usually incredibly grateful for the restoration of function and diminution of their pain that results from the proper operation on metastatic bone disease. These patients typically are among the most appreciative patients and often express their gratitude when seen in follow-up in the clinic or office. Despite their metastatic disease state, their usual enthusiasm is uplifting to the surgeon and to the staff. To help a patient be pain-free and functional in the waning days of his or her life affords the patient, the physician, and the physician's staff with an emotionally rewarding experience and one that is well worth the time and effort required to care for these patients. By following the techniques outlined in this article, most patients with metastatic disease of the femur can be appropriately managed with excellent results.
Anticyclonic eddies formed from shoreward meanders of the Gulf Stream

Abstract During a 3-month period (September to December, 1969) measurements with an airborne radiation thermometer and air-dropped BT's revealed the existence of a northward meander of the Gulf Stream, its amplification and the production of an anticyclonic eddy (diameter ca. 100 km). In the same area and period (October to December, 1968) 60 days of current records were obtained at six depths from the surface down to 2000 m; they show that the meander and eddy circulations are confined to the upper 1000 m and are weak with surface currents of only 30–75 cm/sec. The energy of the eddy is shown to reside principally in the form of available potential energy, which is present in the local deformation of the density field and estimated to be 1023 ergs; this quantity is 30 times larger than the total kinetic energy of the circulation (3×1021 ergs). Estimates are made of the rate of destruction of the total energy of the eddy by (i) enhanced heat loss to the atmosphere and (ii) dissipation of kinetic energy by turbulent vertical diffusion: the eddy lifetime from these processes is estimated as 6 months and 1 year respectively.
EFFECTS OF SLEEP STATE ON THE VENTILATORY RESPONSE TO INHALED CO 2 IN THE NEONATAL PRIMATE

EFFECTS OF SLEEP STATE ON THE VENTILATORY RESPONSE TO INHALED CO 2 IN THE NEONATAL PRIMATE
System-Theoretic Analysis of a Class of Battery Equalization Systems: Mathematical Modeling and Performance Evaluation

Battery equalizers are widely used in multibattery systems to maintain balanced charge among individual battery cells. While the research on the hardware realization of battery equalizers has received significant attention, rigorous analysis of the battery equalization process at the system level remains largely unexplored. In this paper, we study three types of battery equalization system structures: series-based, layer-based, and module-based. Specifically, we derive mathematical models that describe the system-level behavior of the battery equalization processes under these equalization structures. Then, based on the mathematical models, analytical methods are developed to evaluate the performance of the equalization processes. In addition, we carry out statistical analysis to compare the performance of the three equalization structures considered.
A Cross-cultural and Buddhist-Friendly Interpretation of the Typology Exclusivism-Inclusivism-Pluralism

This article develops a new and expanded interpretation of the typology exclusivism, inclusivism, pluralism. The proposal refines the categories of what was originally a Christian typology in order to provide a truly cross-cultural and interreligious framework to better understand and compare the most common views of religious diversity found not only in Christianity, but also in Buddhism and other religions. Although building upon Schmidt-Leukel's logical reinterpretation of the typology, the article substantially modifies his framework and understands the typology, not as a comprehensive classification of possible attitudes toward other religions, but rather as an open-ended framework to clarify the nature of the most common theologies of religions that exist in reality. The new interpretation provides a more precise definition of inclusivism that does not conflate inclusivism with the affirmation of a singular maximum, thus distinguishing between absolutistic and non-absolutistic forms of inclusivism. The new interpretation introduces an intermediate position between inclusivism and pluralism called pluralistic inclusivism. The article challenges David Ray Griffin's concept of generic pluralism and proposes a new understanding of pluralism indebted to Raimundo Panikkar.
DIRC Dreams: Research Directions for the Next Generation of Internally Reflected Imaging Counters

Some conceptual design features of the total internally reflecting,imaging Cherenkov counter (DIRC) are described. Limits of the DIRC approach to particle identification, and a few features of alternative DIRC designs, are briefly explored.
Towards unsupervised pattern discovery in speech

We present an unsupervised algorithm for discovering acoustic patterns in speech by finding matching subsequences between pairs of utterances. The approach we describe is, in theory, language and topic independent, and is particularly well suited for processing large amounts of speech from a single speaker. A variation of dynamic time warping (DTW), which we call segmental DTW, is used to performing the pairwise utterance comparison. Using academic lecture data, we describe two potentially useful applications for the segmental DTW output: augmenting speech recognition transcriptions for information retrieval and speech segment clustering for unsupervised word discovery. Some preliminary qualitative results for both experiments are shown and the implications for future work and applications are discussed
Condensation in Titan’s atmosphere at the Huygens landing site

Abstract We present a self-consistent description of Titan’s aerosols-clouds-gases system and compare our results with the optical properties retrieved from measurements made by the Descent Imager/Spectral Radiometer (DISR) experiment on the Huygens probe (Tomasko, M.G. et al. [2008]. Planet. Space Sci. 56, 669–707). Our calculations include the condensation of methane, ethane and hydrogen cyanide on photochemical aerosols produced in the thermosphere. Our results suggest that the two distinct extinction layers observed by DISR below 80 km are produced by HCN and methane condensation, while for the Huygens’ equatorial conditions simulated here, the contribution of ethane clouds to the total opacity is negligible. The HCN mass flux is comparable to the mass flux of aerosols, thus the majority of the HCN cloud particles have a similar size with the aerosol particles, they are HCN-coated aerosols. Ethane cloud particles have sizes between 2 and 10 μm depending on altitude, and methane clouds grow to an average size of ∼100 μm before starting to evaporate below 10 km. The reproduction by the simulation of the main features observed by DISR suggests that the atmospheric snapshot acquired by the Huygens instruments corresponds to a condition very close to the steady state simulated here. This points to the stability of the equatorial atmospheric conditions at the time of the descent. Moreover, we investigate the resulting abundance of ethane in the lower part of the atmosphere and its impact on the flux of condensates to the surface. Our results suggest that under the steady state conditions investigated, ethane condensates evaporate before reaching the surface and that the ethane gas abundance close to the surface is well below its saturation limit.
Rigor mortis development in turkey breast muscle and the effect of electrical stunning

Rigor mortis development in turkey breast muscle and the effect of electrical stunning on this process are not well characterized. Some electrical stunning procedures have been known to inhibit postmortem (PM) biochemical reactions, thereby delaying the onset of rigor mortis in broilers. Therefore, this study was designed to characterize rigor mortis development in stunned and unstunned turkeys. A total of 154 turkey toms in two trials were conventionally processed at 20 to 22 wk of age. Turkeys were either stunned with a pulsed direct current (500 Hz, 50% duty cycle) at 35 mA (40 V) in a saline bath for 12 seconds or left unstunned as controls. At 15 min and 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h PM, pectoralis samples were collected to determine pH, R-value, L* value, sarcomere length, and shear value. In Trial 1, the samples obtained for pH, R-value, and sarcomere length were divided into surface and interior samples. There were no significant differences between the surface and interior samples among any parameters measured. Muscle pH significantly decreased over time in stunned and unstunned birds through 2 h PM. The R-values increased to 8 h PM in unstunned birds and 24 h PM in stunned birds. The L* values increased over time, with no significant differences after 1 h PM for the controls and 2 h PM for the stunned birds. Sarcomere length increased through 2 h PM in the controls and 12 h PM in the stunned fillets. Cooked meat shear values decreased through the 1 h PM deboning time in the control fillets and 2 h PM in the stunned fillets. These results suggest that stunning delayed the development of rigor mortis through 2 h PM, but had no significant effect on the measured parameters at later time points, and that deboning turkey breasts at 2 h PM or later will not significantly impair meat tenderness.
RT-07APPLICATION OF A GROWTH-RATE BASED RESPONSE METRIC TO RECURRENT MALIGNANT GLIOMAS TREATED WITH LARGE-VOLUME RE-IRRADIATION USING PROTON BEAM THERAPY

BACKGROUND: The Days Gained (DG) response metric, which incorporates knowledge of the tumor growth rate, has been shown to correlate with progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) following concurrent chemoradiotherapy for newly diagnosed glioblastoma (Neal et al., 2013 PLOS One; Neal et al., 2013 Cancer Research). We describe the first use of this metric to analyze radiographic response of recurrent malignant gliomas to large-volume re-irradiation using proton beam therapy (PBT). METHODS: The equation described in Neal, et al., 2013 was utilized to derive the DG score for 8 patients with histologically confirmed, contrast-enhancing recurrent gliomas. For each patient, the DG response metric was calculated from the enhancing T1 + Gad sequences of 2 MRIs immediately prior to PBT and the first MRI following completion of PBT. OS time from PT start was estimated with Kaplan-Meier analysis; comparisons used log-rank statistic. RESULTS: Median age was 43, median KPS score was 90, and median number of salvage treatments was 2. The mean DG score was 78.8 (range: -32.3-276.8). Concomitant use of temozolomide and bevacizumab during PBT was associated with a higher mean DG score (191.2 vs. 11.4; p = 0.03). In addition, association between higher DG score and superior OS trended to statistical significance (HR = 0.986, p = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: First analysis of radiographic response of recurrent malignant gliomas to re-irradiation using PBT supports a possible association between DG and OS and the prolongation of DG with the concomitant use of temozolomide and bevacizumab during re-irradiation. Further analysis with larger sample size remains ongoing.
The paratyphoid salmonellae

The paratyphoid Salmonella bacteria, comprising more than 2,000 serovars or serotypes, are a major problem to the poultry industry. This is largely the result of entry of the bacteria into the human food chain. Human infection takes the form of a gastroenteritis, which in highly susceptible individuals can result in death. Some strains of certain serotypes have the capacity to produce morbidity and mortality in very young chickens. In adult birds, some serovars become localised in the reproductive tract with concomitant vertical transmission. The association between S. Enteritidis and table eggs has produced a great deal of publicity and concern with resulting national and international attempts at controlling the major serotypes, S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis, at the breeder and layer level. Control is possible through rigorous hygiene and management procedures, but is not always economically viable. As a result, control by serological and bacteriological testing and slaughter may also not be feasible. Antibiotics have been used to reduce carriage but can cause problems of resistance and increased susceptibility. The use of growth promoting antibiotics can also increase susceptibility to infection. Other means of increasing the resistance of poultry to infection are therefore being sought. These include the use of intestinal flora preparations for competitive exclusion of Salmonella from newly hatched chicks. Killed and live vaccines are used, both with some success. However, the safety of some live vaccines is still uncertain.
Inositol-requiring 1/X-box-binding protein 1 is a regulatory hub that links endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis with innate immunity and metabolism

Inositol-requiring 1 (IRE1)/X-box-binding protein 1 (XBP1)-mediated signalling represents the most conserved branch of the unfolded protein response. A series of recent studies reveal novel and potentially ancient roles for this pathway in the coordination of metabolic and immune responses.
Reply to Discussions of Information Technology-Related Activities of Internal Auditors

Our paper was reviewed and discussed by both a practitioner (Burton 2000) and an academic (Jackson 2000). We thank both discussants for their time and helpful comments. The response will be organized to address comments made by each discussant. First, we thank Mr. Burton for taking time out of a hectic schedule as a Director of Internal Audit to read and discuss this paper. We felt this was a very constructive review that focused on the practical issues being examined. His comments are particularly helpful, as he holds the same position as the survey respondents. In general, this discussant found the results in our paper to be “pretty much as expected” from his experience in practice. We agree that the results are not surprising. We intended our paper to be a preliminary step in understanding the internal audit and control of IT, and sometimes a first step is a small one. Further, we believe that one of the contributions of academic research is to provide data so that positions can be taken or arguments can be made based on objective rather than anecdotal evidence. The discussant makes several valuable suggestions for future research. He suggests several other
Typology of American Poverty

This analysis seeks to better understand the geography of American poverty over time. Cluster analysis is used to group 34,908 minor civil divisions according to their similarity in mean-centered poverty rates from 1980 to 2000. Logistic regression is used to asses the groupings' statistical validity and accuracy. Results identify twelve statistically distinct groupings and that over three thousand subcounty places had poverty rates of nearly 20 percent above the national average going back to 1980. However, less than 50 percent of these fall within the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Persistent Poverty Counties. The new typology shows the diversity of poverty in terms and identifies places based on poverty's relative severity. The typology also uniquely identifies places that moved into and out of high poverty and identifies many poor places that are ``statistically invisible'' using existing typologies. Results show that correlates of poverty identified in the literature generally hold true across smal...
Painful stimulation minimally increases the thermoregulatory threshold for vasoconstriction during enflurane anesthesia in humans

Generalized autonomic stimulation enhances hemodynamic responses and may, in a similar fashion, facilitate thermoregulatory responses. We thus tested the hypothesis that painful stimulation increases the central temperature threshold for vasoconstriction during general anesthesia. Healthy volunteers were anesthetized with 1.3% end-tidal enflurane on 2 separate days. On 1 day (randomly assigned), painful stimulation was produced by tetanic electrical stimulation. On the other day, electrical stimulation was not given. Significant thermoregulatory vasoconstriction was defined as a forearm-fingertip skin-surface temperature gradient exceeding 4 degrees C. The distal esophageal temperature triggering significant vasoconstriction was considered the thermoregulatory threshold. The threshold was 35.5 +/- 0.8 degrees C during electrical stimulation and 35.1 +/- 0.6 degrees C without stimulation (P = 0.050, 95% confidence interval for the difference = 0-0.7 degree C). These data suggest that thresholds determined in nonsurgical volunteers will be slightly (but not clinically significantly) less than those in operative patients. Similarly, intraoperative vasoconstriction thresholds likely will be slightly less when surgical pain is prevented by simultaneous regional or local analgesia.
Regressing Towards Simpler Prediction Systems

This talk will focus on our experience in managing the complexity of Sibyl, a large scale machine learning system that is widely used within Google. We believe that a large fraction of the challenges faced by Sibyl are inherent to large scale production machine learning and that other production systems are likely to encounter them as well [1]. Thus, these challenges present interesting opportunities for future research. The Sibyl system is complex for a number of reasons. We have learnt that a complete end-to-end machine learning solution has to have subsystems to address a variety of different needs: data ingestion, data analysis, data verification, experimentation, model analysis, model serving, configuration, data transformations, support for different kinds of loss functions and modeling, machine learning algorithm implementations, etc. Machine learning algorithms themselves constitute a relatively small fraction of the overall system.Each subsystem consists of a number of distinct components to support the variety of product needs. For example, Sibyl supports more than 5 different model serving systems, each with its own idiosyncrasies and challenges. In addition, Sibyl configuration contains more lines of code than the core Sibyl learner itself. Finally existing solutions for some of the challenges don't feel adequate and we believe these challenges present opportunities for future research.Though the overall system is complex, our users need to be able to deploy solutions quickly. This is because a machine learning deployment is typically an iterative process of model improvements. At each iteration, our users experiment with new features, find those that improve the model's prediction capability, and then "launch" a new model with those improved features. A user may go through 10 or more such productive launches. Not only is speed of iteration crucial to our users, but they are often willing to sacrifice the improved prediction quality of a high quality but cumbersome system for the speed of iteration of a lower quality but nimble system.In this talk I will give an example of how simplification drives systems design and sometimes the design of novel algorithms.
Molecules and morphology: where's the homology?

A few years ago l, molecular biologists were chastised for sloppy and confusing use of the term 'homology'. Many treated homology as an objective observation rather than an inference, and as a quantitative trait ('percentage homology') rather than a relationship of common evolutionary origin that either does or does not exist (see description of terminology in Box 1). There is another source of confusion that threatens to become increasingly troublesome as the fascinating molecular homologies that lie at the heart of developmental mechanisms are unraveled: there is not necessarily a simple relationship between homology of molecules (or even pathways) and homology of the anatomical features in whose development those components participate. In other words, some recent suggestions notwithstanding v7, molecular similarities in the developmental mechanisms that produce specific organs are not, by themselves, strong evidence for homology of those organs.
The yeast alpha 2 protein can repress transcription by RNA polymerases I and II but not III.

Abstract The alpha 2 protein of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae normally represses a set of cell-type-specific genes (the a-specific genes) that are transcribed by RNA polymerase II. In this study, we determined whether alpha 2 can affect transcription by other RNA polymerases. We find that alpha 2 can repress transcription by RNA polymerase I but not by RNA polymerase III. Additional experiments indicate that alpha 2 represses RNA polymerase I transcription through the same pathway that it uses to repress RNA polymerase II transcription. These results implicate conserved components of the transcription machinery as mediators of alpha 2 repression and exclude several alternate models.