cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Low-cost diffuser-based computational funduscope

Diffuser-based sensing has shown potentials in inexpensive and compact optical systems. Here we demonstrate a low-cost diffuser-based computational funduscope that can recover pathological features of the model eye fundus. Our system implements an infinite-conjugate design by relaying the ocular lens onto the diffuser which provides shift-invariance across a wide field-of-view (FOV). Our experiments show that fundus images can be reconstructed over 33 degree FOV and our device is robust to 4D refractive error using a single point-spread-function.
On the role of knowers and corresponding epistemic role oughts

The claim that epistemic oughts stem from the “role” of believer is widely discussed in the epistemological discourse. This claim seems to stem from the common view that, in some sense, epistemic norms derive from what it is to be a believer. Against this view, I argue that there is no such thing as a “role” of believer. But there is a role of knower, and this is the role to which some epistemic norms—epistemic role oughts—are attached. Once we conceive of epistemic role oughts as attaching to the role of knower (and not the “role” of believer) we can better understand the nature of epistemic obligation and doxastic control. In advancing a new epistemic role ought approach that recognizes knowers as the subjects of epistemic role oughts, I explain why many epistemic oughts—epistemic role oughts—have normative force and presuppose voluntary control.
Centennial Review: Recent developments in host-pathogen interactions during necrotic enteritis in poultry.

ABSTRACT Necrotic enteritis (NE) is a significant enteric disease in commercial poultry with considerable economic effect on profitability manifested by an estimated $6 billion in annual losses to the global industry. NE presents a unique challenge, being a complex enteric disease that often leads to either clinical (acute) or subclinical (chronic) form. The latter typically results in poor performance (reduced feed intake, weight gain and eventually higher feed conversion ratio [FCR]) with low mortality rates, and represents the greatest economic impact on poultry production. The use of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) has been an effective tool in protecting birds from enteric diseases by maintaining enteric health and modifying gut microbiota, thus improving broilers’ production efficiency and overall health. The removal of AGPs presented the poultry industry with several challenges, including reduced bird health and immunity as well as questioning the safety of poultry products. Consequently, research on antibiotic alternatives that can support gut health was intensified. Probiotics, prebiotics, essential oils, and organic acids were among various additives that have been tested for their efficacy against NE with some being effective but not to the level of AGPs. The focus of this review is on the relationship between NE pathogenesis, microbiome, and host immune responses, along with references to recent reviews addressing production aspects of NE. With a comprehensive understanding of these dynamic changes, new and programmed strategies could be developed to make use of the current products more effectively or build a stepping stone toward the development of a new generation of supplements.
Early ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation - Safety first

Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation by means of pulmonary vein isolation has undergone substantial improvements in efficacy and safety since it was introduced 20 years ago, and it has become a...
A 380-12 V, 1-kW, 1-MHz Converter Using a Miniaturized Split-Phase, Fractional-Turn Planar Transformer

High step-down, high output current converters are required in many common and emerging applications, including data center server power supplies, point-of-load converters, and electric vehicle charging. Miniaturization is desirable but challenging owing to the high step-down transformer ubiquitously used in these converters. In this work, a miniaturized split-phase half-turn transformer is demonstrated, which leverages the well-established parallelization benefit of employing multiple phases, as in a matrix transformer, with the dramatic reduction in copper loss associated with the relatively new Variable Inverter/Rectifier Transformer (VIRT) architecture. While these techniques have been described in earlier studies, their combination has not been well explored. A detailed design procedure is described and is used to develop a 97.7% peak efficiency and 97.1% full-load efficiency prototype having a transformer that is 12%–36% smaller than best-in-class designs in the literature at the same power level while also being more efficient. This work showcases the miniaturization benefit of employing multiphase, fractional-turn transformers in high step-down, high output current applications and provides comprehensive guidance to designers interested in applying and extending these techniques.
Stimulated Desorption from CO Chemisorbed on Cr(110): Sensitivity to Bonding Changes

Electron stimulated desorption (ESD) experiments using a time-of-flight pulse counting method [1,2] have revealed a correlation between the binding states of carbon monoxide on the Cr(110) surface at 90K and the positive ion yield. Consistent with previous qualitative observations [3] using the electron stimulated desorption ion angular distribution (ESDIAD) method [4], negligible CO+ and O+ desorption signals were measured from the α1 CO molecular binding state which saturates at 1/4 monolayer [3]. For θCO > 0.25, terminally-bonded molecular CO (the α2 CO binding state) co-exists with the α1 CO state [3] and both CO+ and O+ ions are observed. In addition, a decrease in the O+ yield near saturation coverages (θCO = 0.35) of the mixed α1 CO + α2 CO adlayer is attributed to intermolecular interactions which reduce the ion desorption probability for the ESD-active α2 CO species.
Postural influences on thoracic impact

The influence of body posture, and inherently support, on thoracic impact response was investigated in an animal model. Twelve anesthetized and postmortem domestic swine were exposed to blunt, midsternal loading while supported in their natural quadrupedal posture, and the results were compared with previously reported data from similar tests involving an upright body orientation. Measured mechanical responses included applied load, sternal and spinal accelerations, thoracic compression and aortic overpressure. Injury response was assessed from a thoracico-abdominal necropsy as well as pre- and post-impact electrocardiogram traces. Language: en
A study of the immunochemistry of three yeast mannans.

Abstract Rabbit antisera have been prepared against three yeasts (Kloeckera brevis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Saccharomyces lactis) whose mannans have closely related but unique structures. All three antisera cross-react with the isolated mannans of the three yeasts, and the immunochemical bases for these cross-reactions were determined by a study of the inhibition of the precipitin reactions with oligosaccharides obtained from the mannans by acetolysis. The immunodominant side chain of the S. cerevisiae mannan is thought to be the tetrasaccharide unit M1 → 3M1 → 2M1 → 2M, since this oligosaccharide was the most effective inhibitor of the homologous precipitin reaction. While the S. lactis mannan contained this side chain, it also contained a pentasaccharide side chain of undetermined structure which was the immunodominant group of this mannan. The antiserum against the S. lactis mannan contained at least two antibody specificities, one against the tetrasaccharide side chain and the other against the pentasaccharide side chain. This antiserum could be made specific for the pentasaccharide side chain by absorption with S. cerevisiae mannan.
Dissecting the Role of a lncRNA and Involvement of Plasmodium Infections in the Innate Immune Response: A Dissertation

Natural antisense transcripts (NATs) are a class of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) that are complementary to other protein-coding genes. Although thousands of NATs are encoded by mammalian genomes, their functions in innate immunity are unknown. Here, we identify and characterize a novel NAT, AS-IL1α that is partially complementary to IL-1α. Similar to IL-1α, AS-IL1α is expressed at low levels in resting macrophages and is induced following infection with Listeria monocytogenes or stimulation with TLR ligands (Pam3CSK4, LPS, PolyI:C). Inducible expression of IL-1α mRNA and protein were significantly reduced in macrophages expressing shRNA that target AS-IL1α. AS-IL1α does not alter the stability of IL-1α mRNA, as expected of many natural antisense transcripts. Instead, AS-IL1α was required for the recruitment of RNA Polymerase II (RNAPII) to the IL-1α promoter to initiate transcription in the nucleus. In summary, our studies identify AS-IL1α as important regulator of IL1α transcription during the inflammatory response.
Hypertrophic, Hypersecretory Protein-losing Gastropathy

Summary A patient who presented with the clinical manifestations of hypoproteinemia and in whom gastric hyperrugosity was associated with excessive gastric protein loss and acid hypersecretion is reported. Atropine sulfate markedly reduced both the hypersecretion and gastric protein loss. It is suggested that anticholinergic therapy be considered in any patient with a protein-losing gastropathy of nonmalignant etiology in whom high, normal, and perhaps even subnormal acid secretion is found following maximal histamine stimulation.
Quantitative and high spatial resolution d33 measurement of piezoelectric bulk and thin films

A single beam laser interferometer based on a modified Mirau detection scheme with a vertical resolution of ∼5 pm was developed for localized d33 measurements on patterned piezoelectric films. The tool provides high spatial resolution (∼2 μm), essential for understanding scaling and processing effects in piezoelectric materials. This approach enables quantitative information on d33, currently difficult in local measurement techniques such as piezoresponse force microscopy. The interferometer is built in a custom microscope and employs a phase lock-in technique in order to detect sub-Angstrom displacements. d33 measurements on single crystal 0.67PbMg0.33Nb0.67O3-0.33PbTiO3 and bulk PbZrTiO3-5A ceramics demonstrated agreement within <3% with measurements using a double beam laser interferometer. Substrate bending contributions to out-of-plane strain, observed in thin continuous PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3 films grown on Si substrates is reduced for electrode diameters smaller than 100 μm. Direct scanning across room t...
Considerations for and Lessons Learned from Online, Synchronous Focus Groups

New technologies continue to push the boundaries of collaboration, bringing together geographically dispersed people into a single, virtual space. Combined with budget pressures, the availability of high-speed Internet and online communication platforms encourage opportunities to use virtual focus groups. Virtual, or online, focus groups may be either asynchronous or synchronous (Mann and Stewart 2001). In asynchronous focus groups, participants access a site to answer moderator-posed questions or respond to other participants’ comments. Participants in synchronous focus groups interact with the moderator and each other “live.” Despite conditions favoring their use, comparatively little literature exists on using online focus groups for social science research, particularly webinar-type synchronous focus groups. Mayer and colleagues (2006a; 2006b) conducted five such groups with caregivers and providers of pediatric patients and found that participants in the chat-based groups were able to share their experiences and express emotions by using emoticons available in the conferencing system. Participants’ comfort with the messaging technology varied, and some required assistance with technical problems such as logging on or using the software. Underhill and Olmsted (2003) compared transcripts from face-to-face focus groups and chat-based, online focus groups and found no significant differences in participation rates, the number of unique ideas generated, the total number of relevant comments, or participant satisfaction. However, more off-topic comments were generated in the online groups. What literature exists on this topic originated nearly a decade ago, and technological innovations affecting this data collection method evolve rapidly. In this paper, we draw from our experiences on two recent studies to describe considerations for using online, synchronous focus groups as well as lessons learned from implementing them.
The effect of mandibular third molar presence and position on the risk of an angle fracture.

Abstract Purpose:This study assessed the relationship between the presence and position of mandibular third molars (M3) and angle fractures. Patients and Methods: A retrospective cohort study design and a sample composed of patients admitted for treatment of mandible fractures between January 1993 and April 1998 were used. Data sources were the patients' medical records and radiographs. The predictor variables were the presence and position of M3. M3 position was grouped into 9 categories based on the Pell and Gregory classification. The outcome variable was the presence of an angle fracture. Other study variables included age, sex, race, mechanism of injury, and fracture location. Results:The eligible sample was composed of 437 patients, of whom 367 had data available for analysis. Patients with M3 present had a 1.9 times (95% confidence interval = 1.2 to 2.9) greater chance of an angle fracture than patients without M3s (P = .003). There was a statistically significant variation in the risk for an angle fracture, depending on M3 position (P = .049). Conclusion: The study results confirm other reports that patients with M3 present have an increased risk for angle fractures. Furthermore, it also showed that the risk for an angle fracture varied depending on M3 position.
The relativistic polaron without cutoffs

The (non-Lorentz covariant) system consisting of a relativistic scalar Boson field ϕ interacting with a single spinless particle (relativistic polaron) with kinetic energy function (m 2+|p|2)1/2 is studied ind space demensions, whered≧3. The interaction Hamiltonian is taken to be ∝ Ψ (x)* Ψ(x) ϕ(x)dx where ϕ has a momentum cutoff. The physical one polaron Hilbert space ℋ ph for this model, corresponding to no cutoff on ϕ, is constructed. The total renormalized HamiltonianH without cutoff is constructed as a semibounded self-adjoint operator on ℋ pH . The time zero physical Boson field is also constructed. First order estimates are established for the local (in momentum space) number operators in terms ofH.
An introduction to the open source software issue

Purpose – To introduce the Library Hi Tech theme issue on open source software.Design/methodology/approach – At the Hackfest before Access 2004 (a Canadian library technology conference) several people started to code open source software (OSS) solutions.Findings – Some groups estimated they were close to 25 percent done – in just a few days, while attending Access Conference sessions all day.Originality/value – Developments in the OSS library community should encourage you to experiment with these applications, or maybe even develop your own.
Hydrolysis of Native Wheat and Corn Starch Granules by Glucoamylases from Aspergillus Niger and Rhizopus Niveus

The action of glucoamylase I and II (α-1,4-glucan glucohydrolase, E.C. 3.2.1.3) from Aspergillus niger and the glucoamylase from Rhizopus niveus on native wheat and corn starch granules was followed by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and by measuring the glucose released by enzymatic attack. Two distinct patterns of attack were observed. Glucoamylase I and the glucoamylase from R. niveus attacked the granule surface relatively uniformly, resulting in large disclike depressions. Glucoamylase II, while showing some disc-like depressions, produced small grooves (furrows) in the surface of the granule. Similar patterns were observed for both corn and wheat starch granules, except that attack by glucoamylase I and the glucoamylase from R. niveus on wheat starch granules also developed along the equatorial groove (not easily seen until the granules were exposed to enzyme solutions). Measuring glucose released indicated that hydrolysis by glucoamylase I and by the glucoamylase from R. niveus were nearly equal in extent and were about twice that by glucoamylase II.
A novel approach to robotic climbing using continuum appendages in in-situ exploration

This paper presents an analysis of the ability of continuum “hook” appendages to transform robot climbing. The key innovation is via exploitation of contact and impact dynamics when “grasping” the terrain. We introduce a new ellipsoid measure and use it to analyze and select the optimal shape and motion of tunable continuum hooks for given terrains and climbing scenarios. This new ellipsoid is a generalization of impact ellipsoids used previously for traditional rigid-link robots. We illustrate and support the analysis using results from laboratory experiments using a novel robot rover with continuum appendages developed by our research group.
Browning of Dehydroascorbic Acid and Chlorogenic Acid as a Function of Water Activity

Browning and degradation of dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) and chlorogenic acid (CA) at pH 6, was studied at variable water activities (aw) and temperature in a model food system containing cellulose, DHA and/or CA. Rate of DHA browning followed an apparent zero order reaction and was maximum at intermediate aw. Activation energies for browning ranged from 13-17 Kcal and were independent of aw. Browning and degradation of CA was negligible at aw below 0.6. CA loss in the DHA-CA mixture was apparently delayed by decomposition products of DHA and this was pronounced at high aw.
The synthesis and secretion of progesterone and 20α-hydroxy-Δ4-pregnen-3-one by the rabbit ovary at various intervals after a single injection of HCG

Abstract The effect of gonadotropic stimulation on rabbit ovarian synthesis and secretion of progesterone and 20α-hydroxy-Δ 4 -pregnen-3-one has been investigated. Ovarian venous blood samples and ovarian tissues were collected at various intervals after the intravenous administration of HCG. Ovarian progestin content was assessed directly, or tissues were sliced for incubation with acetate-1- 14 C in order to label the steroidal products. The results of these studies confirm the previously reported preovulatory rise and ovulatory fall in steroid secretion and extend the findings to include a similar pattern in the de novo synthesis of the progestins, non-polar lipids and sterols. Addition of HCG directly to incubations failed to restore the lost steroidogenic capacity of the ovaries obtained at the time of ovulation. Taken together, these results indicate that the cessation in steroidogenesis at the time of ovulation must involve more complex metabolic alterations than merely the depletion of the stores of steroidogenic cholesterol substrate as has been the suggested basis for this phenomenon.
Cognitive Discrepancies in Children at the Ends of the Bell Curve: A Note of Caution for Clinical Interpretation

Discrepancies between IQ scores on the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI) and scores from the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS) were examined at different levels of intellectual functioning in 470 normal-functioning youths (aged 8-19) from the co-standardization sample of the WASI and D-KEFS. Results demonstrated that children with lower IQ scores often had significantly higher D-KEFS scores, whereas children with higher IQ scores often had significantly lower D-KEFS scores. Similar patterns were identified for discrepancies between Verbal and Performance IQ indices. These findings are similar to those found in the adult literature. Clinicians are advised to be cautious when weighing the clinical significance of cognitive discrepancies at the ends of the bell-curve and should avoid interpreting discrepancies in isolation.
ACTIVATION OF NF-κB VARIES IN DIFFERENT REGIONS OF THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT DURING ENDOTOXEMIA

The transcription nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) regulates a large number of genes involved in the inflammatory response to sepsis and endotoxemia. We recently found that NF-kappaB is activated in the jejunal mucosa during endotoxemia, but the response of NF-kappaB in other parts of the gastrointestinal tract is not known. We hypothesized that NF-kappaB is differentially activated in different regions of the gastrointestinal tract during endotoxemia. NF-kappaB DNA binding activity was determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay in mucosa of the stomach, jejunum, ileum, and colon from endotoxemic and saline-injected mice. Cytoplasmic levels of the NF-kappaB inhibitory proteins IkappaB-alpha and IkappaB-beta were determined by Western blot analysis. Endotoxemia increased NF-kappaB activity in mucosa of stomach, jejunum, and ileum, with jejunum responding to smaller doses of endotoxin than the other parts of the gastrointestinal tract. NF-kappaB DNA binding activity was not induced in colonic mucosa, even following administration of high doses of endotoxin. IkappaB-alpha and IkappaB-beta levels decreased in jejunal mucosa of endotoxin injected mice, concomitant with activation of NF-kappaB. The results suggest that during endotoxemia, NF-kappaB is activated in mucosa of stomach and small intestine, but not in colon, and that the jejunum is particularly sensitive to endotoxin.
Rhadboid tumor of the kidney presenting as an abdominal mass in a newborn

Rhabdoid tumor of the kidney is a highly malignant tumor seen in the neonatal population with a characteristic clinical course. There are no known radiologic features to differentiate rhabdoid tumor of the kidney from other renal tumors; however, this report presents a newborn infant with rhabdoid tumor of the kidney who had a normal prenatal ultrasound at ten days prior to birth, followed by an abnormal prenatal ultrasound one day prior to birth. Observation of such a rapid development of a tumor in the kidney in a fetus or an infant should raise the possibility of a highly malignant tumor such as a rhabdoid tumor.
ABT-737, a BH3 mimetic, induces glutathione depletion and oxidative stress

This study assessed the role of oxidative stress and loss of glutathione in ABT-737-induced apoptosis. Jurkat human acute lymphocytic leukemia cells and HeLa cells transfected with a tet-regulated Bcl-2 expression system were treated with ABT-737 or its less active stereoisomer. GSH concentrations, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), caspase activation and apoptotic DNA fragmentation were measured. ABT-737 induced oxidative stress through decreased GSH and increased intracellular hydrogen peroxide and superoxide levels. Apoptotic DNA fragmentation and caspase activation were the consequences of this oxidative stress. Combining ABT-737 with ROS-inducing agents such as adaphostin or etoposide enhanced cell death. These results demonstrate that inhibition of Bcl-2 causes a loss of GSH, an increase in ROS, caspase activation and subsequent apoptosis. Clinically, redox alterations as a consequence of Bcl-2 inhibition by ABT-737 should be considered in devising combination therapies with this novel agent or its derivatives.
Remembrance of H. W. Magoun's contributions to the development of neuroendocrinology.

The recent death in March 1991, of one of this century's foremost neuroscientists, Dr. H. W. Magoun (Fig. 1), recalls that his seminal research on the structure and function of the hypothalamus in the 1930s laid a cornerstone for the development of neuroendocrinology. In Ranson's Institute of Neurology at Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago Magoun and his colleagues demonstrated that specific areas of the hypothalamus exert controls not only over feeding, drinking, body temperature, and sleep but also over certain pituitary functions and animal behavior related to reproduction and water metabolism. Magoun was personally involved in all of these studies, employing Ranson's newly commissioned reconstruction of a Horsley-Clarke stereotaxic instrument for making localized lesions and stimulating specific nuclei in the cat or monkey hypothalamus. He worked closely with Ingram and Fisher on cats in which supraoptic nucleus lesions led to diabetes insipidus presumably by denervating pituicytes, the...
Ki-1 lymphoma: a case report.

A case of Ki-1 lymphoma of the large cell anaplastic type with weak leukocyte common antigen expression is presented. These tumors can sometimes demonstrate confusing immunophenotypes (weak or negative leukocyte common antigen, pan T, pan B, HMB 45, and S-100, and anomalous positive epithelial membrane antigen staining), and ul-trastructural examination may be requested. The tumor consisted of sheets of large malignant cells with large pleomorphic nuclei, prominent nucleoli, and a high mitotic rate. Ultrastructural examination showed pleomorphic tumor cells with irregular nuclei, large nucleoli, and abundant complex cytoplasm with varied organelles.
Implicit and Explicit Memory for Verbal Information Presented During Sleep

This study examined implicit memory for words presented during sleep. Ten experimental subjects were presented with word pairs including a homophone and a close associate (e.g., “tortoise-hare”) and with category-instance pairs (e.g., “bird-cardinal”) during REM or Stage 2 sleep and tested immediately afterward. Twelve control subjects underwent the same procedure while awake. Unlike the controls, subjects in the sleeping condition showed no learning effects on the implicit memory tasks. Recall and recognition were observed in a few cases, but only when presentation was immediately followed by arousal.
The biologic rationale for and emerging role of accelerated partial breast irradiation for breast cancer

Breast-conserving therapy (BCT) has been established as a standard treatment for women with early-stage breast cancer. In six prospective randomized trials and in multiple retrospective studies in Europe and the US, BCT among patients with early-stage breast cancer has been found to result in survival equivalent to that observed after mastectomy. 1-9 Similarly, numerous studies have shown high rates of local tumor control with satisfactory cosmetic results with conservative surgery and irradiation. 2,7,8,10-14 Data from the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) B-06 trial revealed 5-year recurrence within the breast in 28% of patients treated with lumpectomy alone but in only 8% of those who received postoperative breast irradiation. 15 Recent 20-year followup revealed a cumulative incidence of recurrent tumor in the ipsilateral breast of 14.3% in women who underwent lumpectomy and breast irradiation, as compared with 39.2% in women who underwent lumpectomy without irradiation. 16 In the NSABP B-06 trial and most other studies investigating BCT, radiation was delivered using standard whole-breast external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) with or without a boost to the tumor-bearing region. Recently the need for whole breast radiation treatment (WBRT) after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) has become controversial, with some investigators advocating accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) as a potential alternative. APBI refers to radiation therapy that is delivered over a shorter period of time (“accelerated”) than the standard 5 to 6 weeks and is delivered to only a portion of the breast (“partial”). Since the early 1990s, investigators at multiple institutions have examined the safety and efficacy of APBI. One of the most used and investigated methods of APBI is brachytherapy. Brachytherapy permits delivery of high doses to small volumes encompassing the tumor bed while sparing surrounding tissues, including the skin, lung, and so forth. Although brachytherapy has been used for more than 80 years to treat breast cancer patients, only recently has it emerged as a possible sole radiation modality after lumpectomy in patients treated with BCT. In this review, we will examine the emerging role of brachytherapy in the treatment of early-stage breast cancer and address the biologic rationale for, advantages of, and possible limitations of brachytherapy as APBI after BCS. What’s wrong with whole-breast irradiation?
Neomycin and ω-conotoxin GVIA interact at a common neuronal site in peripheral tissues

1. The present study examined the interaction of omega-conotoxin GVIA (omega-CT) and aminoglycoside antibiotics on electrically evoked, nerve-mediated contractile responses in the rat vas deferens, guinea-pig ileum and guinea-pig left atria. 2. omega-CT caused a time- and concentration-dependent inhibition of the electrically evoked twitch responses of the rat vas deferens and guinea-pig ileum. Aminoglycoside antibiotics inhibited the twitch responses of these preparations with a rank order of potency: neomycin greater than gentamycin greater than kanamycin. omega-CT had no effect on the postjunctional contractile responses of either noradrenaline (vas deferens) or carbachol (ileum). However, at high concentrations neomycin and gentamycin caused significant postjunctional inhibition. The results suggest that omega-CT and aminoglycosides cause prejunctional inhibition in these preparations, with the aminoglycoside antibiotics exhibiting postjunctional inhibitory effects as well at high concentrations. 3. omega-CT caused a concentration- and frequency-dependent inhibition of the neuronally mediated field stimulation enhancement of electrically paced guinea-pig left atria. omega-CT had no effect on either the electrically paced contractile response that was elicited by direct muscle stimulation or the enhancement of the paced response caused by beta-adrenoceptor agonist stimulation. Neomycin caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of the electrically paced contractile response and inhibited the field stimulation response only at concentrations which caused pronounced inhibition of the paced response. Neomycin also caused insurmountable inhibition of responses elicited by beta-adrenoceptor agonist stimulation. Thus, omega-CT caused an exclusive prejunctional inhibition in guinea-pig left atria, whereas the substantial postjunctional effects of neomycin made it difficult to discern any prejunctional activity of neomycin in these experiments. 4. In the vas deferens, ileum and atria the inhibitory effects of omega-CT were long-lasting, whereas the effects of neomycin could be reversed upon wash-out. The disparate kinetics of omega-CT and neomycin allowed for the design of receptor protection studies to determine whether neomycin acts at a prejunctional site in common with omega-CT. The pre-equilibration of a competitive antagonist (neomycin) should prevent the irreversible antagonist (omega-CT) from gaining access to receptors. Pre-exposure of tissues with neomycin prevented the irreversible inhibition of omega-CT. These receptor protection studies suggest that omega-CT and neomycin interact at common neuronal sites in the rat vas deferens, guinea-pig ileum and guinea-pig atria. Neomycin, however, exhibits activity at postjunctional sites as well.
Spin-orbit interaction and isotropic electronic transport in graphene.

Broken symmetries in graphene affect the massless nature of its charge carriers. We present an analysis of scattering by defects in graphene in the presence of spin-orbit interactions (SOIs). A characteristic constant ratio ($\ensuremath{\simeq}2$) of the transport to elastic times for massless electrons signals the anisotropy of the scattering. We show that SOIs lead to a drastic decrease of this ratio, especially at low carrier concentrations, while the scattering becomes increasingly isotropic. As the strength of the SOI determines the energy (carrier concentration) where this drop is more evident, this effect could help evaluate these interactions through transport measurements in graphene systems with enhanced spin-orbit coupling.
An investigation of dynamic failure in 2.3Ni-1.3Cr-0.17C steel

The dominant micromechanisms of dynamic failure initiation in high-strength ductile steels were investigated using 2.3Ni-1.3Cr-0.17C steel. Fracture experiments were conducted in three-point bend and one-point bend configurations. The influence of loading rate on the extent of each micromechanism in the fracture-initiation process was considered. The fracture surfaces consisted of a tunneled region and shear lips. The shear lips are characterized by microvoids. The tunneled region consists of large voids and microvoids that coalesced by impingement. At high loading rates, localized molten zones are observed at the tunnel-shear lip interface. The material-rate sensitivity causes a decrease in the size of the tunneled area at higher loading rates.
Regulation of Galanin in Memory Pathways

Abstract: Based on early immunocytochemical findings, galanin (GAL) was postulated to function as an inhibitory cotransmitter in rat cholinergic memory pathways. However, recent studies indicate that in the basal state GAL is not widely expressed by forebrain cholinergic neurons in rats. Inhibition of cholinergic transmission by cosecreted GAL may be enhanced under certain conditions, because GAL gene expression in the cholinergic basal forebrain is significantly increased prior to puberty and following nerve growth factor treatment. Other sources of GAL in rat septohippocampus that could interact with cholinergic pathways include noradrenergic neurons in the locus ceruleus and vasopressinergic neurons in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST) and medial amygdala (Me). GAL is extensively colocalized within these steroid-sensitive cell groups where its expression is upregulated by gonadal hormones. GAL, acting via the GALR1 receptor subtype, does not appear to directly regulate the activity of cholinergic neurons, but it may regulate the release of vasopressin and GAL into septohippocampus from BST/Me neurons.
Isometric contraction in glycerinated skeletal muscle of horseshoe crab and rabbit. I. Relation of tension to muscle fiber dimensions.

Abstract 1. 1. Final isometric tension of glycerinated rabbit and horseshoe crab muscle was found to be linearly related to circumference of the fiber bundle to greater than 1·0 mm circumference but not to cross-sectional area. By expressing specific tension as a function of circumference rather than area the mean deviation was lowered. 2. 2. This behaviour is explained as being dependent on the diffusion of ATP into individual fibers. The use of high ATP concentrations, active stirring and the elimination of prior soaking leads to complete activation of the fiber. Under these conditions tension is produced by rabbit fibers which is comparable to that in the live animal. 3. 3. Horseshoe crab muscle produces only a fraction of the tension found in rabbit muscle. This difference is apparently related to its extremely different structure. 4. 4. Latency, or the time between addition of ATP and onset of contraction is greatly increased by soaking the fiber bundle in buffer prior to the experiment. Rabbit fibers have the same latency period as Limulus , but the tension they produce is greatly reduced by soaking while Limulus fibers are unaffected.
Cocaine-responsive gene expression changes in rat hippocampus.

Chronic cocaine use is known to elicit changes in the pattern of gene expression within the brain. The hippocampus plays a critical role in learning and memory and may also play a role in mediating behaviors associated with cocaine abuse. To profile the gene expression response of the hippocampus to chronic cocaine treatment, cDNA hybridization arrays were used to illuminate cocaine-regulated genes in rats treated non-contingently with a binge model of cocaine (45 mg/kg/day, i.p.) for 14 days. Validation of mRNA changes illuminated by hybridization array analysis was accomplished by measuring immunoreactive protein (via specific immunoblots). The induction of protein kinase Calpha, potassium channel 1.1, and metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 seen by hybridization arrays was confirmed at the level of protein. Immunoblot screening of previously described cocaine-responsive genes demonstrated increased levels of protein tyrosine kinase 2, beta-catenin, and protein kinase Cepsilon. While some of these changes exist in previously described cocaine-responsive models, others are novel to any model of cocaine use. The inductions of potassium channel 1.1, protein tyrosine kinase 2 and metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 are novel findings to hippocampal cocaine-responsive gene expression. These proteins have been shown to subserve learning and memory and/or long-term potentiation functions within the hippocampus. Additionally, these genes are known to interact with one another, forming a more complex pattern of gene expression changes. The findings suggest altered expression of genes with a number of different functions in the rat hippocampus after a 'binge' style of non-contingent cocaine administration. These changes in gene expression may play roles in neuronal plasticity and the behavioral phenomena associated with cocaine abuse.
Close conjunction detection on parallel computer

The text should mention that the algorithm described as applied to a single Cartesian coordinate is then successively applied to the other coordinates in the obvious way to select satellites that are within a specified distance of one another.
Size Confinement Effects on Electronic and Optical Properties of Silver Halide Nanocrystals as Probed by Cryo-EFTEM and EELS

Cryo-energy-filtering transmission electron microscopy and electron energy-loss spectroscopy have been applied to study size confinement effects on electronic, dielectric, and optical properties of Ag(Br, I) nanocrystals. The dielectric permittivity, optical joint density of states, refractive index, extinction, and absorption for nanocrystals derived via Kramers–Kronig relations have been compared with experimental data for Ag(Br, I) tabular microcystals and ab initio linear muffin-tin orbital method in its atomic spheres approximation calculations for AgBr. Contrast tuning with the selected energy window between 0 and 100 eV enabled visualizing valence electron excitations in silver halides because of plasmons superimposed with interband transitions and Mott–Wannier excitons. The nonuniform contrast of nanocrystals revealed by cryo-energy-filtering transmission electron microscopy was referred to a size-confined coupling of surface and volume losses that could lead to oscillations of the image intensity with the nanocrystal size. A size-dependent enhancement of interband transitions $$\Gamma _8^ - ,\Gamma _6^ - \to \Gamma _6^ + $$ at 4 eV correlated with the enhancement of exciton luminescence from nanocrystals because of contributions to the energy-level structure from carrier confinement and surface states.
Model calculations of the chemical processes occurring in the plume of a coal-fired power plant

Abstract Computer simulations of the homogeneous, gas phase chemical reactions which occur in the plume of a coal-fired power plant were conducted in an effort to understand the influence of various environmental parameters on the production of secondary pollutants. Input data for the model were selected to reproduce the dilution of a plume from a medium-sized power plant. The environmental conditions chosen were characteristic of those found during mid-August in the south-eastern United States. Under most conditions examined, it was found that hydroxyl radicals were the most important species in the homogeneous conversion of stack gases into secondary pollutants. Other free radicals, such as HO2 and CH3O2, exceeded the contribution of HO radicals only when high background hydrocarbon concentrations are used. The conversion rates calculated for the oxidation of SO2 to SO42− in these plumes were consistent with those determined experimentally. The concentrations and relative proportions of NOx (from the power plant) and reactive hydrocarbons (from the background air) determine, to a large extent, the plume reactivity. Free radical production is suppressed during the initial stages of dilution due to the high NOx levels. Significant dilution is required before a suitable mix is attained which can sustain the free radical chain processes common to smog chemistry. In most cases, the free radical concentrations were found to pass through maxima and return to background levels. Under typical summertime conditions, the hydroxyl radical concentration was found to reach a maximum at a HC NO x ratio of approximately 20. The meteorological conditions, as well as the ambient and stack gas concentrations, determine the plume travel time at which the hydroxyl and other free radical concentration maximum occurs. The model also predicts the presence of ozone ‘bulges’ under a wide variety of environmental and plant operational conditions.
Pollution control and technological advance: A dynamic model of the firm

Abstract The paper extends the static comparison of effluent taxes and effluent standards to a dynamic world in which firms invest resources in improving their abatement technology as well as their production technology. The analysis shows that the two pollution control policies lead to a distinctly different allocation of research and development (R & D) funds between improvement in abatement technology and improvement in production technology. The model also shows that a temporally constant effluent tax leads to an increasing effluent discharge rate for “typical” firms. Other results concern the pattern of output growth and the rate of technological advance.
Drought return times in the Sahel: A question of attribution

[1] Recurrence times for extreme drought events in the African Sahel are estimated using a classical peaks-over-threshold model. Results, which are computed for both mean seasonal rainfall and fractional area in drought, suggest that the distribution of dry extremes after about 1970 is statistically distinct from that of preceding years. This finding throws into relief the critical role played by attribution of causes, and the necessity of improving our understanding of the physical processes driving precipitation variability in the Sahel.
The reaction catalyzed by Escherichia coli aspartate aminotransferase has multiple partially rate-determining steps, while that catalyzed by the Y225F mutant is dominated by ketimine hydrolysis.

The mechanism of transamination catalyzed by Escherichia coli wild-type aspartate aminotransferase (AATase) and the mutant AATase in which Tyr-225 is converted to Phe (Y225F) was investigated. The absorbance spectrum of wild-type AATase in the presence of excess l-Asp and oxalacetate is dominated by species absorbing near 330 nm. The primary Cα 2H-Asp kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) on reactions catalyzed by wild-type AATase at pH 8.9 and 7.5 on kcat/ are approximately 2, and the KIEs on kcat are 1.9 (pH 8.9) and 1.4 (pH 7.5). The Cα 2H-Asp KIEs on reactions catalyzed by Y225F are near unity at both pH values. The solvent deuterium KIEs (SKIEs) on kcat for reactions with l-Asp catalyzed by wild-type AATase and Y225F at their pH/pD maxima ≈ 2, and the SKIE on kcat/ is increased from 1.3 to 2.3 by the mutation. The C4‘ (S)-2H-pyridoxamine 5‘-phosphate KIE values on reactions of α-ketoacids with both enzymes are near unity. The viscosity effects on kcat/ and kcat for wild-type AATase at pH 9 are 0.10 and 0.31...
The Retention Model: A Markov Chain with Variable Transition Probabilities

Abstract When considering a nonhomogeneous Markov chain one often desires an intermediate hypothesis between constancy and free variation of transition probabilities. It is shown that some interesting and easily tested hypotheses can be formulated by considering the diagonal elements of the transition matrices independently of the off-diagonal elements. After deriving the maximum likelihood estimates, a reanalysis of panel data on voting intentions Is presented, In which the nonhomogeneity is seen to be entirely due to variation in the retention probabilities piit.
Spatio-temporal covariability in coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) survival, from California to southeast Alaska

Abstract One of the motivations of the GLOBEC Northeast Pacific program is to understand the apparent inverse relationship between the increase in salmon catches in the Gulf of Alaska and concurrent declines in the California Current System (CCS). We therefore used coded wire tag (CWT) data to examine the spatial and temporal patterns of covariability in the survival of hatchery coho salmon along the coast from California to southeast Alaska between release years 1980 and 2004. There is substantial covariability in coho salmon survival between neighboring regions along the coast, and there is clear evidence for increased covariability within two main groups – a northern and southern group. The dividing line between the groups lies approximately at the north end of Vancouver Island. However, CWT survivals do not support inverse covariability in hatchery coho salmon survival between southeast Alaska and the CCS over this 25 year time span. Instead, the hatchery coho survival in southeast Alaska is relatively uncorrelated with coho survival in the California Current System on inter-annual time scales. The 50% correlation and e-folding scales (distances at which magnitude of correlations decreases to 50% and e−1 (32.8%), respectively) of pairwise correlations between individual hatcheries were 150 and 217 km, which are smaller than that reported for sockeye, pink, and chum salmon. The 50% correlation scale of coho salmon is also substantially smaller than those reported for upwelling indices and sea surface temperature. There are also periods of 5–10 years with high covariability between adjacent regions on the scale of hundreds of km, which may be of biological and physical significance.
The effect of allogeneic spleen cells on the induction of immunologic tolerance.

Abstract It is shown, in this study, that the transfer of parental immunocompetent spleen cells to F 1 hybrid mice interferes with the induction of tolerance to human gamma globulin (HGG) in the F 1 recipients. The transfer of syngeneic spleen cells did not cause this interference, but the transfer of HGG-tolerant parental spleen cells was as effective as that of their normal counterparts. Hence, the interference with tolerance induction was attributed to the histoincompatibility of donor and host cells and, more specifically, to the graft-vs-host reaction. A mechanism of interference with the expression of tolerance by an antigen-specific T-cell bypass is discussed.
A multiscale reduced-basis method for parametrized elliptic partial differential equations with multiple scales

We present a technique for solving parametrized elliptic partial differential equations with multiple scales. The technique is based on the combination of the reduced basis method [C. Prud'homme, D. Rovas, K. Veroy, Y. Maday, A.T. Patera, G. Turinici, Reliable real-time solution of parametrized partial differential equations: reduced-basis output bound methods, Journal of Fluids Engineering 124 (1) (2002) 70-80] and the multiscale finite element method [T.Y. Hou, X.H. Wu, A multiscale finite element method for elliptic problems in composite materials and porous media, Journal of Computational Physics 134 (1) (1997) 169-189] to treat problems in which the differential coefficient is characterized by a large number of independent parameters. For the multiscale finite element method, a large number of cell problems has to be solved at the fine local mesh for each new configuration of the differential coefficient. In order to improve the computational efficiency of this method, we construct reduced basis spaces that are adapted to the local parameter dependence of the differential operator. The approximate solutions of the cell problems are computed accurately and efficiently via performing Galekin projection onto the reduced basis spaces and implementing the offline-online computational procedure. Therefore, a large number of similar computations at the fine local mesh can be carried out with lower computational cost for each new configuration of the differential coefficient. Numerical results are provided to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed approach.