cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma haematobium: Differences in development

Abstract Growth and maturation of the Puerto Rico strain of Schistosoma mansoni in mice and the Ghana strain of Schistosoma haematobium in hamsters were compared beginning 19 days after infection. In S. mansoni, optimum development was determined, with copulation first observed on Day 25, egg shell protein formation observed on Day 28, and oviposition occurring on Day 30. In infections of S. haematobium, copulation first occurred on Day 29. Egg shell proteins were first formed on Day 45, and egg production occurred on Day 60. Examination of unisexual and bisexual infections showed that maturation of the vitellaria can be more easily assessed by autofluorescence of the protein globules than by the traditional diazonium salt stains. Autofluorescence of living worms with mature vitellaria allows subsequent examination by electron microscopy, and therefore permits evaluation at a subcellular level.
Effects of bond dilution on dynamics of anisotropic paramagnets at high temperatures

Wave-vector dependent frequency moments, for longitudinal and transverse spin correlations, in a cylindrically symmetric, anisotopic paramagnet at T = ∞ with exchange bond dilution are evaluated. Using the phenomenological, two parameter Gaussian construct for the diffusivity, the correlation functions are computed. Two types of dilution are considered: first, when the existence of transverse and longitudinal exchange bonds depends only on a single random variable, and secondly, when these bonds are functions of two independent random variables. It is found that the independent fluctuation of transverse and longitudinal exchange bonds has far reaching consequences. In particular, for a given concentration of connected bonds, the effects of dilution are considerably enhanced when these bonds are fluctuating independently. The relevance of such a model to amorphous paramagnets is noted. Es werden wellenvektorabhangige Frequenzmomente fur longitudinale und transversale Spinkorrelationen in einem zylindersymmetrischen, anisotropen Paramagnet mit Austauschbruckenverdunnung bei T = ∞ berechnet. Dazu werden mittels des phanomenologischen, Gausschen Zweiparameteransatzes fur das Diffusionsvermogen die Korrelationsfunktionen berechnet. Zwei Arten der Verdunnung werden berucksichtigt: erstens der Fall, in dem die Existenz von transversalen und longitudinalen Austauschbindungen nur von einer einzigen Zufallsvariablen abhangt und zweitens der Fall, wo diese Bindungen Funktionen von zwei unabhangigen Zufallsvariablen sind. Es wird gefunden, das die unabhangige Fluktuation der transversalen und longitudinalen Austauschbindungen weitreichende Folgen hat. Insbesondere werden fur eine gegebene Konzentration von geschlossenen Brucken die Einflusse der Verdunnung betrachtlich verstarkt, wenn diese Brucken unabhangig fluktuieren. Die Bedeutung eines derartigen Modells fur amorphe Paramagnete wird diskutiert.
Behavior of H2 chemisorption on Ru/TiO2 surface and its application in evaluation of Ru particle sizes compared with TEM and XRD analyses

Abstract Hydrogen adsorption on Ru surfaces of Ru/TiO 2 catalysts has been investigated in a gas adsorption apparatus at temperatures from 35 to 150 °C, H 2 partial pressures from 0.05 to 700 Torr, and adsorption equilibration time at each pressure from 3 to 60 min. Results showed that adsorption of H 2 on the TiO 2 support are negligible. TEM measurements suggested that there was no strong metal–support interaction (SMSI) on the synthesized Ru/TiO 2 samples to inhibit H 2 adsorption. A transition pressure point of ∼60 Torr was observed for H 2 adsorption on Ru/TiO 2 . Most of the strong chemisorption occurs before this transition pressure and weak chemisorption happens thereafter. H 2 adsorption increases with temperatures from 35 to 75 °C indicating an activation energy present for H 2 chemisorption on Ru. Above 75 °C, the adsorption slightly decreases with further increase of temperature up to 150 °C. Monolayer coverage was attained at 75 °C for 30 min equilibration time with a H 2 pressure higher than 300 Torr. Monolayer H 2 chemisorption was used to determine Ru metal particle size in Ru/TiO 2 systems compared with XRD and TEM analyses. Selected area electron diffraction (SAD) indicated that there was no preferred crystallographic orientation of the TiO 2 supported Ru. Therefore, exposed Ru atoms equally contribute from the three low-index planes [(0 0 1), (1 0 0), and (1 1 0)] with the highest atomic density instead of only the (1 0 0) plane for conventional treatments. With this assumption, the average Ru particle size calculated from H 2 chemisorption (4.6 nm) agrees with the TEM measurements (4.1 nm).
Attitudes on access to services at assisted reproductive technology clinics: comparisons with clinic policy

Abstract Objective: To determine the opinions of assisted reproductive technology (ART) clinic directors on access-to-services issues and to compare these opinions with policy at ART clinics. Design: Survey sent to ART clinic directors. Setting: Academic medical center, university-based ethics institute. Patient(s): None. Intervention(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): Assisted reproductive technology directors' opinions about access to services are related to specific clinic policies. Access issues examined include patient attributes (marital status, age, sexual preference), patient behaviors (substance abuse, psychiatric history, child abuse), number of cycles, and types of procedures offered (surrogacy, cloning, ova cryopreservation, ART for HIV-positive individuals). Result(s): Provider opinion was more restrictive than clinic policy in 19 of 20 categories measured. The largest difference between opinion and policy was seen on the question of setting restrictions as to age of the male partner. About 20% of directors think that surrogacy for convenience should be allowed: about 10% of directors think cloning of human beings should be offered. Conclusion(s): The opinions of ART directors on access to services are more conservative than clinic policies. Contributing factors may include respect for patient autonomy; fear of litigation; policy that reflects a continuum of beliefs among providers; and economic pressure to offer a broad range of procedures.
Solving large set covering problems on a personal computer

Abstract The set covering problem (SCP) was one of the first problems shown to be NP-complete. Heuristics are commonly used on mainframe computers in order to efficiently solve large-scale SCPs. In this paper, we use a new heuristic and several existing heuristics written in FORTRAN to solve 31 large (up to 2000 variables) SCPs on an IBM PC/AT. The new heuristic, SCAMP (set covering algorithm for the microprocessor), performed the best, with solution values deviating only an average 1.8% from the optimum.
On the stability of Galerkin methods for initial-boundary value problems for hyperbolic systems

The stability of approximating the solution of mixed initial-boundary value problems for hyperbolic systems by semidiscrete Galerkin methods is studied. It is shown that a particular straightforward Galerkin method yields an unstable approximation, and that this numerical instability is caused by an improper treatment of the boundary. Stable schemes are then presented, one of which differs from the unstable scheme only insofar as the treatment of the boundary is concerned. These stable schemes make use of a particular matrix which symmetrizes the differential system. It is therefore shown that the use of this matrix is crucial to the stability of the computations as well as for obtaining a priori bounds on the energy of the continuous system. This symmetrizing matrix is also related to the diagonalizing matrix for the system of hyperbolic equations and to the Liapunov matrix for the system of ordinary differential equations resulting from the application of Galerkin's method.
Mechanical force-induced midpalatal suture remodeling in mice

Mechanical stress is an important epigenetic factor for regulating skeletal remodeling, and application of force can lead to remodeling of both bone and cartilage. Chondrocytes, osteoblasts and osteoclasts all participate and interact with each other in this remodeling process. To study cellular responses to mechanical stimuli in a system that can be genetically manipulated, we used mouse midpalatal suture expansion in vivo. Six-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to palatal suture expansion by opening loops with an initial force of 0.56 N for the periods of 1, 3, 5, 7, 14 or 28 days. Periosteal cells in expanding sutures showed increased proliferation, with Ki67-positive cells representing 1.8+/-0.1% to 4.5+/-0.4% of total suture cells in control groups and 12.0+/-2.6% to 19.9+/-1.2% in experimental/expansion groups (p<0.05). Starting at day 1, cells expressing alkaline phosphatase and type I collagen were seen. New cartilage and bone formation was observed at the oral edges of the palatal bones at day 7; at the nasal edges only bone formation without cartilage appeared to occur. An increase in osteoclast numbers suggested increased bone remodeling, ranging from 60 to 160% throughout the experimental period. Decreased Saffranin O staining after day 3 suggested decreased proteoglycan content in the secondary cartilage. Micro-CT showed a significant increase in maxillary width at days 14 and 28 (from 2334+/-4 microm to 2485+/-3 microm at day 14 and from 2383+/-5 microm to 2574+/-7 microm at day 28, p<0.001). The suture width was increased at days 14 and 28, except in the oral third region at day 28 (from 48+/-5 microm to 36+/-4 microm, p<0.05). Bone volume/total volume was significantly reduced at days 14 and 28 (50.2+/-0.7% vs. 68.0+/-3.7% and 56.5+/-1.0% vs. 60.9+/-1.3%, respectively, p<0.05), indicative of increased bone marrow space. These findings demonstrate that expansion forces across the midpalatal suture promote bone resorption through activation of osteoclasts and bone and cartilage formation via increased proliferation and differentiation of periosteal cells. Mouse midpalatal suture expansion would be useful in further studies of the ability of mineralized tissues to respond to mechanical stimulation.
Update in Women's Health

The main areas of focus for this Update are coronary heart disease, osteoporosis, breast cancer prevention, hormone replacement therapy and oral contraceptives, weight loss, cancer screening, domes...
Latin American Resistance Movements in the Time of the Posts

This article examines the flood of resistance movements in today's Latin America. It places them in the context of the great economic changes that have swept the world since the end of the Cold War, what is often called “globalization.” Analysis focuses on the “newness” of our contemporary period, especially the importance of the transnational political and economic order. This essay illustrates how social scientists attempt to understand this moment of change, and emphasizes the limitations to their theory. Special emphasis is on the utility of New Social Movement theory as a tool for understanding today's resistance movements as well as the potential paths for radical change.
The stability of volatiles in the solar system

Study of the stability of volatile ices in short period comet orbits, on the surfaces of jupiter and saturn major satellites, and saturn rings
Mechanism for and performance evaluation of QoS at layer-5 using DiffServ architecture

An application layer based QoS mechanism is proposed so that QoS to IP Traffic is provided solely based on the individual requirements of the applications. The mechanism of communication between application layer and IP layer to provide information of the QoS requests, the marking model of IP packets, and the evaluation of end to end performance in terms of standard QoS parameters are addressed. We have proposed 5 categories of Internet traffic based on their QoS requirements. We also have carefully studied the accommodation of popular TCP based applications like FTP and have minimized its interaction with other UDP applications. Finally, mapping is presented for proposed Internet traffic categories in a way that each of them achieves its QoS requirements.
Thermal decomposition products of cellulose

Untreated and flame-retardant-treated cellulose were thermally decomposed under vacuum and the products were quantitatively analyzed by gas chromatography. An unidentified product at a retention index of 2270 (between 5-methylfurfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural), α- and β-D-glucose, and a group of “dimers” that have not been reported previously were found in this study. The identification of this unknown product should assist in studies on the thermal decomposition of cellulose and further the understanding of the mechanism of flame retardancy.
Importance of historical contingency in the stereochemistry of hydratase-dehydratase enzymes

There are two stereochemical classes of hydratase-dehydratase enzymes. Those that catalyze the addition of water to alpha, beta-unsaturated thioesters give syn addition-elimination stereochemistry, whereas those that catalyze the addition of water to conjugated carboxylate substrates give anti stereochemistry. This dichotomy could reflect different adaptive advantages or contingencies of separate evolutionary histories. Determination of the nonenzymatic stereochemistry of deuterium oxide addition to fumarate and to S-crotonyl N-acetylcysteamine has provided direct evidence for the importance of the contingencies of evolutionary history, rather than chemical efficiency, in the pathways of these hydratase-dehydratase enzymes.
Evaluation of the Yangtze River Littoral Wetland Soil with Total Organic Carbon

The Three Gorges Reservoir as an important hydraulic project of Yangtze River, the environmental issues attracts worldwide attention, and the environmental problems of littoral wetlands of the Three Gorges Reservoir are more important aspect. Total organic carbon (TOC) content by potassium dichromate oxidation spectrophotometry of downstream the Three Gorges Reservoir in Fengjie, Kaixian, Wushan, Fengdu, Daning estuary in the five regions in soil were determined. Then the organic carbon content of the soil classification comparison, analysis of the causes of soil organic carbon content of the various main reasons for differences, soil classification: the same region, same altitude, different species; the same area, the same species, different altitudes. Finally, by calculating the content of these five regions of the average total organic carbon is about 10.43g/kg.
The field tradition in mountain geomorphology

Abstract Fieldwork has a long and honored tradition in mountain geomorphology, and justifiably so. Many features and processes present in mountains occur at fine to very fine spatial scales that simply do not lend themselves well to analyses via remote methods. The nature of the sampling of data in mountain environments also constrains the use of computational techniques, such as GIS, in favor of on-site data collection. In addition, when one is present in the field in mountains, the dynamic nature of the landscape often provides unexpected rewards that could not be planned for in a campaign of remote analysis. These aspects of scale, sampling, and serendipity make on-site fieldwork still the preferred method for geomorphological research in mountain environments. Several examples of features occurring at fine spatial scale that could only be effectively examined in the field are presented in this paper, as well as examples of data sampling occurring at fine scale. I also illustrate several instances where being on-site, at a specific unexpected moment, in the dynamic mountain environment provided scientific insight that could only be obtained through the serendipity of being there. Why continue to conduct geomorphological fieldwork in mountains? “Because the mountains are there”!
Serum can initiate DNA synthesis in cells rendered unresponsive to insulin and somatomedin

AN understanding of growth control in animal cells requires an appreciation not only of cellular events important to multiplication, but also of exogenous agents which either initiate or influence the ‘decisions’ of a cell to reproduce. Serum has been reported to contain factors required for cell movement1, viability2, ion transport3 and control of cell density4. In addition, peptides from tissue or plasma have been identified (nerve growth factor (NGF)5, somatomedin6, non-suppressible insulin-like activity (NSILA)7, multiplication-stimulating activity (MSA)8, epidermal growth factor9, fibroblast growth factor10) which seem to have a physiological role in the initiation of cell proliferation. Somatomedin, NSILA and MSA are probably similar, if not identical, substances and, like NGF, seem to be structurally related to insulin11–13. The ability of insulin to initiate DNA synthesis in various cells14–17 may be due to cross reactivity of the hormone with receptor sites concerned with cell multiplication12. Recent reports suggest that serum contains additional substances that can influence the ability of a cell to respond to agents which initiate DNA synthesis10,18,19. While investigating the regulatory roles of insulin and serum in the initiation of DNA synthesis in quiescent chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF), we have found a distinctive difference in the initiation capacity of these agents after the inhibition of protein synthesis. We present here evidence for the existence of a regulatory component(s) in serum which recruits cells for growth from a stage in the cell cycle position (G0?) which is refractory to mitogenic peptides.
Effect of the crosslinking level on the properties of temperature‐sensitive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels

In this study, the effect of the level of crosslinking on the properties of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) hydrogels was investigated in terms of their lower critical solution temperature (LCST), interior morphology, equilibrium swelling, and deswelling and swelling kinetics. The thermal analysis showed that PNIPAAm hydrogels, having a wide range of crosslinking levels, exhibited almost the same LCSTs, and this was different from what the conventional theory would have predicted. Scanning electron micrographs revealed that the interior network structure of the PNIPAAm matrix became more porous with an increase in the level of crosslinking. This more porous matrix provided numerous water channels for water diffusion in or out of the matrix and, therefore, an improved response rate to the external temperature changes during the deswelling process and the swelling process.
The Debate with Space

The French avantgardist's act of writing is a performance. Here he ruminates about his processes of composition. “I write not facing the spectacle but under the theatre, under the boards. Buried as if through a mole's work.”
Protein Folding as Posttranslational Regulation: Evolution of a Mechanism for Controlled Plasma Membrane Expression of a G Protein-Coupled Receptor

Recent studies reveal that a number of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and other proteins are expressed inefficiently at the site normally associated with their biological action. In the case of some GPCRs, large amounts of receptor (perhaps more than half) may be destroyed without ever binding ligand or even arriving at the plasma membrane. For the human GnRH receptor (GnRHR), this apparent inefficiency has evolved under strong and convergent evolutionary pressure. The result is a human GnRHR molecule that is delicately balanced between either expression at the plasma membrane (PM) or retention/degradation in the endoplasmic reticulum, an effect mediated by engagement with the cellular quality control system. This balance appears to be the reason that the human receptor, but not the rat or mouse counterpart (which are more robustly routed to the PM), is highly susceptible to single-point mutations that result in disease. A single change in net charge is sufficient to tip the balance in favor of the endoplasmic reticulum and diminish GnRHR available at the PM. The apparent paradox that results from observing convergent pressure for evolution of a receptor that is both inefficiently produced and highly susceptible to mutational disease suggests that this approach must offer a strong advantage. This review focuses on the evolved mechanisms and considers that this is an underappreciated mechanism by which the cell controls functional levels of receptors and other proteins at the posttranslational level.
Effects of a novel nonpeptide bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist on intestinal and airway smooth muscle: further evidence for the tracheal B3 receptor.

Abstract 1. We examined the effects of phosphonium, [[4-[[2- [[bis(cyclohexylamino)methylene]amino]-3-(2-naphthalenyl) 1-oxopropyl]amino]-phenyl]-tributyl, chloride, monohydrochloride (WIN 64338), a novel, nonpeptide bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist, on bradykinin-induced contractions of guinea-pig isolated ileum, and guinea-pig and ferret trachea. 2. WIN 64338 potently and competitively antagonized ileal contractions, in response to bradykinin, exhibiting a pA2 value of 7.97 +/- 0.10. The compound was without effect on contractions elicited by methacholine, a muscarinic receptor antagonist. Thus, WIN 64338 is a competitive and selective antagonist of ileal B2 receptors. 3. In contrast, WIN 64338 was completely without effect on bradykinin-induced contractions of guinea-pig or ferret trachea. Thus, even at a concentration of 1 microM, which was sufficient to cause a 100 fold decrease in ileal sensitivity to bradykinin, WIN 64338 failed to shift the bradykinin log concentration-response curves in trachea isolated from either species. 4. These data confirm that WIN 64338 represents the first reported nonpeptide antagonist of guinea-pig ileal B2 receptors. They also provide additional evidence for heterogeneity of bradykinin receptors within the same species (guinea-pig) and, furthermore, indicate that the tracheal bradykinin receptor (B3?) is different from that in ileal tissue (B2).
Correlations between abnormal auditory P300 topography and positive symptoms in schizophrenia: A preliminary report ☆

P300 component amplitude in the left temporal scalp region, shown in three previous studies to differentiate normals from schizophrenics, was found to be significantly correlated with the Thought Disorder Index (TDI) and the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS). These correlations occurred primarily in the P300 waveform derived from the Goodin paradigm. These findings suggest a brain processing disturbance in positive symptom schizophrenia that may be reflected by electrophysiological abnormalities detectable in the temporal scalp region.
The applicative construction and object symmetry as a parameter of variation in Kiswahili and Maragoli

Abstract Over the last 20 years there has been much debate concerning double objects in applicative constructions in Bantu languages and the symmetry, or lack of it, in the behaviour of objects. It would appear that object symmetry depends to some degree on the precise family to which a language belongs. This paper is therefore a largely descriptive comparative study, which investigates the applicative construction and object symmetry in two Bantu languages from different families, Kiswahili (Nairobi dialect) from Bantu (G40) and Maragoli from Bantu (J30). Based on the results of several syntactic tests which reveal object behaviour, it is argued in this paper that Kiswahili is an asymmetrical language while Maragoli is a typical symmetrical language. It is further argued that the divergent object behaviour observed between different asymmetrical languages such as Kiswahili and Chichewa is determined by a feature described as an optional alternating object parameter.
Radiation damage in silicon carbide and graphite for fusion reactor first wall applications

Silicon carbide and graphite materials were exposed to fast neutron fluences of 2 × 1023 to 2 × 1024n/m2 (E > 1 MeV) and a study was made of changes in fracture strength, Weibull modulus and electrical resistivity. Silicon carbide (Norton NC-430) exhibits a decrease in fracture strength (25%) at the higher fluence if the temperature is kept at 298 K, while at 1473 K the decrease in fracture strength is only 10% indicative of recovery due to thermal annealing. The fracture strength of the graphite (POCO AXF-5Q) tested at 298 K increases rapidly by ~20% after 2 × 1023n/m2 and remains constant at higher fluence. Analyses of the data using the Weibull weakest link model were given, in addition to annealing and swelling results.
Reliability-based condition assessment of deteriorating concrete bridges considering load redistribution

A wide variety of models have been proposed for estimating the reliability of highway bridges. For reinforced concrete bridges subjected to environmental attack, time-variant reliability methods have to be used. In this study, the condition of reinforced concrete girder bridges is assessed using a time-variant system reliability approach in which both load and resistance are time-variant quantities. Several system models are considered, including failure of any girder (series system) and failure of a specified number of adjacent girders (series-parallel system). Adaptive importance sampling is used to determine the cumulative-time system failure probability. An existing reinforced concrete T-beam bridge located near Pueblo, Colorado, is investigated. The influence of resistance degradation and post-failure load redistribution is included. A comparison of reliability estimates for several system models is given, including the influence of correlation among initial girder strengths. The results can be used as a guide for the selection of system models for bridge reliability analysis, identification of critical girders in a bridge system, and for the development of optimal reliability-based maintenance strategies for reinforced concrete highway bridges.
Opioid receptor function in social attachment in young domestic fowl

Abstract Opioid systems are implicated in social attachment processes. This research sought to determine the functional contribution of each opioid receptor in modulating social attachment/separation distress. Following ICV administration of opiate probes, 7-day-old cockerels were isolated from conspecifics for a 3 min test period under either a mirror or no-mirror condition. Vocalizations served as the measure of separation-stress. Opioid receptor probes included: the μ agonist DAMGO (0.02, 0.19, 1.95 nmol), the μ antagonist CTOP (0.009, 0.09, 0.9 nmol), the δ agonist SNC80 (0.3, 1.0, 3.0 μmol), the δ antagonist naltrindole (0.2, 2.2, 22.2 nmol), the κ agonist U50, 488 (1, 30, 100 nmol), the κ antagonist nor BNI (1.3, 13.6, 136.1 nmol), the NOP agonist N/OFQ (0.01, 0.1, 1.0 nmol), and the NOP antagonist UFP-101 (0.1, 1.0, 10.0 nmol). DAMGO attenuated separation distress vocalizations. No other drug probe enhanced or attenuated distress vocalizations. Further, the non-selective opiate antagonist naloxone (0.3, 8.3, 27.5 nmol) did not exacerbate distress vocalizations. These results suggest that only the μ receptor modulates social attachment in young domestic fowl.
On the use of partition coefficients to characterize the distribution of fluorescent membrane probes between coexisting gel and fluid lipid phases: an analysis of the partition behavior of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene

The distribution of the fluorescent membrane probe 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene between coexisting gel and fluid phospholipid phases in multilamellar vesicles has been examined using fluorescence quenching by spin-labeled phosphatidylcholine. For both thermally-induced and Ca2+-induced lipid phase separation, the ratio of probe concentration in the fluid liquid-crystal phase to that in the gel phase is found to be independent of either the probe concentration or the relative amounts of gel and fluid lipid phases, and hence is an equilibrium concentration ratio, or partition coefficient.
Sensitive detection of H2S using gold nanoparticle decorated single-walled carbon nanotubes.

Herein, we demonstrate that highly sensitive conductometric gas nanosensors for H2S can be synthesized by electrodepositing gold nanoparticles on single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) networks. Adjusting the electrodeposition conditions allowed for tuning of the size and number of gold nanoparticles deposited. The best H2S sensing performance was obtained with discrete gold nanodeposits rather than continuous nanowires. The gas nanosensors could sense H2S in air at room temperature with a 3 ppb limit of detection. The sensors were reversible, and increasing the bias voltage reduced the sensor recovery time, probably by local Joule heating. The sensing mechanism is believed to be based on the modulation of the conduction path across the nanotubes emanating from the modulation of electron exchange between the gold and carbon nanotube defect sites when exposed to H2S.
Current and Emerging Strategies for the Management of Acute Myeloid Leukemia in the Elderly

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) accounts for approximately 80% of acute leukemias diagnosed in adults. The elderly are disproportionately affected by AML, as 35% of newly diagnosed patients are aged >or=75 and the median age at diagnosis is 67. Elderly individuals also respond less well to standard chemotherapy than do younger individuals, as reflected by lower complete remission and relapse-free survival rates in major clinical trials. A higher prevalence of comorbid conditions as well as the unique biological features of elderly AML patients account for the relatively poor response to therapy observed in this population. Compared with AML in younger individuals, for example, AML in the elderly more often emerges from a preceding myelodysplastic syndrome and is more frequently associated with poor-prognosis karyotypes such as 5q- or 7q-. The introduction of novel therapies over the past decade has already altered the treatment paradigm of elderly individuals with AML. The first of these to emerge was gemtuzumab ozogamicin. Other agents are currently under evaluation in clinical trials, including inhibitors of multidrug resistance, farnesyltransferase inhibitors, novel nucleoside analogues, and inhibitors of the FMS-like tyrosine kinase-3. This review describes the biological features of AML in the elderly and summarizes both the current and emerging strategies for the treatment of this disease in older individuals.
Comparison of Tn1546-Like Elements in Vancomycin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolates from Michigan and Pennsylvania

In 2002, the first two clinical isolates of vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) containing vanA were recovered in Michigan and Pennsylvania. Tn1546, a mobile genetic element that encodes high-level vancomycin resistance in enterococci, was present in both isolates. With PCR and DNA sequence analysis, we compared the Tn1546 elements from each isolate to the prototype Tn1546 element. The Michigan VRSA element was identical to the prototype Tn1546 element. The Pennsylvania VRSA element showed three distinct modifications: a deletion of nucleotides 1 to 3098 at the 5′ end, which eliminated the orf1 region; an 809-bp IS1216V-like element inserted before nucleotide 3099 of Tn1546; and an inverted 1,499-bp IS1251-like element inserted into the vanSH intergenic region. These differences in the Tn1546-like elements indicate that the first two VRSA isolates were the result of independent genetic events.
The CCD Array Camera for the Macho Project

We have developed an astronomical imaging system tailored to our search for gravitational microlensing by compact objects in the halo and disk of the Galaxy. The challenge of detecting rare microlensing events is to monitor ∼10 million stars per night and distinguish genuine events from other sources of variability. The Large Magellanic Cloud and the Galactic bulge provide the high surface density of resolvable stars necessary for this task. A dedicated 50 inch telescope at Mt. Stromlo Observatory has been producing science data since the fall of 1992. Our system incorporates eight 2048 x 2048 CCDs into two focal planes for simultaneous imaging in two passbands (4500-6300 and 6300-8100 A). Each focal plane consists of four ‘edge-buttable’ CCDs in a custom mounted 2 x 2 array. The 0.62 arcsecond pixel scale (15 μ) yields a 40 x 40 arcminute square field of view in each frame. A sophisticated point spread fitting photometry package extracts up to 600,000 useful magnitudes per color per frame. The data collection rate we need is obtained by simultaneously reading out all sixteen CCD outputs (two per chip) at 34 KHz with 16 bit digitization. With exposure times of 150-300 seconds and a 70 second readout time we can collect up to 100 fields per night. These rates are designed to allow us to detect or rule out massive compact halo objects (MACHOs) in the 10-6 - 10 1 M⊙range.
More individuals but fewer species: testing the ‘more individuals hypothesis’ in a diverse tropical fauna

A positive relationship between species richness and productivity is often observed in nature, but the causes remain contentious. One mechanism, the ‘more individuals hypothesis’ (MIH), predicts richness increases monotonically with density, as a function of resource flux. To test the MIH, we manipulated resource abundance in a community of tropical rainforest litter ants and measured richness and density responses. A unimodal relationship between richness and density most closely fitted the control and disturbance (resource removal) treatments in contrast to expectations of the MIH. Resource addition resulted in a monotonic increase in richness relative to density, a shift from the pattern in the control. In the disturbance treatment, richness was greater than in the control, opposite to expectations of the MIH. While large-scale correlations between ant diversity and net primary productivity or temperature are reconcilable with the MIH, key elements of the hypothesis are not supported.
Texture discrimination and binding by a modified energy model

The model presented shows how textured regions can be discriminated and textured surface created by the visual cortex. The model addresses two major processes: texture segmentation and texture binding. Textures are detected by using a version of the energy model of J. R. Bergen and E. H. Adelson (1988) and J. R. Bergen and M. S. Landy (1991), which was modified to include ON and OFF center cells, and units selective for line endings. A novel neural mechanism is described for binding a texture pattern together. Simulation results demonstrated the ability of the networks to segment and bind a well-known texture pattern. >
Laser-driven plasma-cathode electron injector

We discuss the first experimental demonstration of electron acceleration by a laser wakefield over distances greater than a Rayleigh range (or the distance a laser normally propagates in vacuum). A self-modulated laser wakefield plasma wave is shown to have a field gradient that exceeds that of an RF linac by four orders of magnitude (E/spl ges/200 GV/m) and accelerates electrons with over 1-nC of charge per bunch in a beam with space-charge-limited emittance (1 mm-mrad). Above a laser power threshold, a plasma channel, created by the intense ultrashort laser pulse (I/spl sim/4/spl times/10/sup 18/ W/cm/sup 2/, /spl lambda/=1 /spl mu/m, /spl tau/=400 fs), was found to increase the laser propagation distance, decrease the electron beam divergence, and increase the electron energy. The plasma wave, directly measured with coherent Thomson scattering is shown to damp-due to beam loading-in a duration of 1.5 ps or /spl sim/100 plasma periods. We also discuss a new concept for controlled laser injection of electrons in order to create monoenergetic femtosecond electron bunches. As in the above experiments it uses the plasma itself as the cathode, but also an additional laser pulse as a trigger. By use of a 2-D particle-in-cell numerical code, it is shown that this technique will produce 1-femtosecond duration electron bunches with energy spread at the percent level.
Adolescent Multiphasic Personality Inventory and its utility in assessing suicidal and violent adolescents

Adolescent Multiphasic Personality Inventory profiles of inpatient adolescents were examined to identify differences between suicidal (danger to self, n = 145) and violent (danger to others, n = 36) adolescents. Participants were 181 inpatients (12-17 years old, mean age, 14.7 years) admitted to an adolescent psychiatric unit of a southern California county hospital. Results indicate that the suicide group had significantly higher scores than the violent group on five scales (Hypochondriasis, Psychasthenia, Paranoia, Schizophrenia, and Social Introversion). This scales, singly or in combination, have been found to be indicative of psychotic process. This suggests the presence of psychotic process in suicidal, but not violent, adolescents.
Fast startup CMOS current references

We describe an approximately-PTAT CMOS current reference circuit that is useful for large analog systems. An innovative capacitively-coupled startup circuit that draws no static power is also presented. Experimental results from 0.5 /spl mu/m and 0.18 /spl mu/m implementations are shown. Both references are cascoded and use no resistors. The 0.18 /spl mu/m version operates down to V/sub DD/ = 0.5V.
Neural Circuit of Tail-Elicited Siphon Withdrawal in Aplysia. II. Role of Gated Inhibition in Differential Lateralization of Sensitization and Dishabituation

In the preceding report, we observed that tail-shock-induced sensitization of tail-elicited siphon withdrawal reflex (TSW) of Aplysia was expressed ipsilaterally but that dishabituation induced by an identical tail shock was expressed bilaterally. Here we examined the mechanisms of this differential lateralization. We first isolated the modulatory pathway responsible for the induction of contralateral dishabituation by making selective nerve cuts. We found that an intact pleural-abdominal connective, the descending pathway connecting the ring ganglia with the abdominal ganglion, ipsilateral to the shock was required for contralateral dishabituation. We examined whether network inhibition suppresses the contralateral effects of tail shock in nonhabituated preparations. We found that blockade of inhibitory transmission in the CNS by the nicotinic ACh inhibitor d-tubocurarine (d-TC) rendered tail shock capable of inducing bilateral sensitization. We next asked whether serotonin (5-HT), a neuromodulator released in the CNS in response to tail shock, was affected by d-TC. We found that d-TC does not alter 5-HT processes in the ring ganglia: it had no effect on the lateralized pattern of tail nerve shock-induced changes in tail sensory neuron excitability, a 5-HT-dependent process, and it did not alter tail nerve shock-evoked release of 5-HT. By contrast, d-TC enhanced 5-HT release in the abdominal ganglion. Consistent with this observation, restricting d-TC to the abdominal ganglion rendered tail nerve shock capable of producing bilateral sensitization. Together with the results of the preceding paper, our results suggest a model in which TSW sensitization and dishabituation can be dissociated both anatomically and mechanistically.
Evaluating sensors for bridge health monitoring

Sensors for infrastructure monitoring and evaluation utilizes different types of sensors which are placed at strategic locations to monitor the behavior of structures and provides valuable data such as strain, temperature, and vibration. A sensor network helps in identifying structural problems at early stages, prolonging the life of these structures, and improving public safety. This paper will discuss the experimental evaluation of two types of sensors commonly used in bridge applications.
The development of a new analytical wave analysis of a free electron laser or ubitron

A wave-type analysis has been used to obtain the theoretical behavior of a free electron laser (FEL) or ubitron Some of the techniques previously utilized to analyze the gyrotron are used1,2. The expression for stimulated emission is obtained. Some comparison is made with other theoretical results.
Understanding Others’ Goals Depends on the Efficiency and Timing of Goal Pursuit:

Goal understanding is the process by which interactants make inferences about others’ objectives during conversation. Previous research has examined goal understanding without concern for the timing of goal pursuit. Accordingly, an experiment examined the timing of pursuers’ efficiency in the communicative behavior employed to reach their goal. Results indicated that timing modified the relationship between pursuers’ efficiency and detectors’ accuracy and to a lesser extent detectors’ certainty. Efficiency was positively correlated with accuracy for the initial minute of a 5-minute interaction but not subsequent minutes.
Robotics and interactive simulation

As applications of robots extend into everyday human life, new approaches to simulating interactions between them and their environments are emerging at the intersection of the physical and virtual worlds.
Structure of the Type II Collagen Gene

In summary, the exon/intron structure of the chicken type II collagen gene is identical with that of the chicken alpha 2(I) collagen gene and differs at only one known position from the human and mouse alpha 1(I) genes. However, the chicken type II gene is different from the chicken alpha 2(I) gene in that it is considerably shorter because of a much smaller average intron size and in that the G+C composition of the introns is much higher. The codon usage of the type II genes also shows characteristic differences. There is a single copy of the chick type II gene per haploid genome.
Vectorization techniques for efficient agent-based model simulations of tumor growth

Multi-scale agent-based models are increasingly used to simulate tumor growth dynamics. Simulating such complex systems is often a great challenge despite large computational power of modern computers and, thus, implementation techniques are becoming as important as the models themselves. Here we show, using a simple agent-based model of tumor growth, how the computational time required for simulation can be decreased by using vectorization techniques. In numerical examples we observed up to 30-fold increases in computation performance when standard approaches were, at least in part, replaced with vectorized routines in MATLAB.
Effect of oxygen on linked Ru(bpy) 3 2+ -viologen species and methylviologen: A reinterpretation of the electrogenerated chemiluminescence

The effect of oxygen on the electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) of the ruthenium trisbipyridyl−viologen complexes (4,4‘-R2-2,2‘-bipyridine)2Ru(1-(4-methyl-2,2‘-bipyridin-4‘-yl-(CH2)n-4,4‘-bipy...
An Interactive Virtual Environment for Programming Modular Robots

The design of RoboSim, a virtual environment for modular robots which controls simulated robots with code written for the hardware robots without modification, is described in detail in this paper along with its applications in educational environments. RoboSim integrates into the Ch programming environment, a C/C++ interpreter, that provides the ability to remotely control robots through interpreted C/C++ code allowing users to alternate between hardware and virtual robots without modifying the code. Open source software projects Open Dynamics Engine, OpenSceneGraph, and Qt are employed to produce the virtual environment and user interface which provide the capability of running on all major software platforms. The design of the software includes multiple library modules each specific to a particular task; therefore the simulation library and Graphical User Interface (GUI) can link against only the necessary libraries. The GUI links against the graphical library and XML library to give an interactive view of the RoboSim Scene as users are adding robots and obstacles into both the GUI and simulation. Execution of Ch code generates a new RoboSim Scene window which has the entire simulation that utilizes the simulation, graphical, xml, and callback libraries, in addition to the identical Scene from the GUI. It generates its own window for the user to view and interact with the progress of the simulation.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Cell Therapy for Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

One-half of patients with heart failure (HF) have a preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), and there is no proven effective treatment [(1)][1]. The traditional thinking has been that left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction caused by hypertensive ventricular remodeling causes the clinical syndrome
Immediate acceptance of sodium salts by sodium deficient rats

Rats were depleted of body sodium and presented with solutions of either sodium or non-sodium salts. Patterns of licking were monitored with a drinkometer. The rats given the sodium salts drank at a high rate throughout a 100 sec. observation period. The rats given the non-sodium salts stopped drinking after the first few licks. The difference between the groups was statistically significant within 5 sec. after ingestion began.
Dental development in living and fossil orangutans

Numerous studies have investigated molar development in extant and fossil hominoids, yet relatively little is known about orangutans, the only great ape with an extensive fossil record. This study characterizes aspects of dental development, including cuspal enamel daily secretion rate, long-period line periodicities, cusp-specific molar crown formation times and extension rates, and initiation and completion ages in living and fossil orangutan postcanine teeth. Daily secretion rate and periodicities in living orangutans are similar to previous reports, while crown formation times often exceed published values, although direct comparisons are limited. One wild Bornean individual died at 4.5 years of age with fully erupted first molars (M1s), while a captive individual and a wild Sumatran individual likely erupted their M1s around five or six years of age. These data underscore the need for additional samples of orangutans of known sex, species, and developmental environment to explore potential sources of variation in molar emergence and their relationship to life history variables. Fossil orangutans possess larger crowns than living orangutans, show similarities in periodicities, and have faster daily secretion rate, longer crown formation times, and slower extension rates. Molar crown formation times exceed reported values for other fossil apes, including Gigantopithecus blacki. When compared to African apes, both living and fossil orangutans show greater cuspal enamel thickness values and periodicities, resulting in longer crown formation times and slower extension rates. Several of these variables are similar to modern humans, representing examples of convergent evolution. Molar crown formation does not appear to be equivalent among extant great apes or consistent within living and fossil members of Pongo or Homo.
Specificity and Correlation of Tests for Hyperparathyroidism

Hypercalcemia for which another cause cannot be found is still the best diagnostic evidence of hyperparathyroidism. However, the latter is compatible with intermittent normocalcemia, or calcium elevation may not occur because of a lack of vitamin D or magnesium. Tests reflecting parathyroid hyperfunction and autonomy are discussed.