cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relationships between cigarette smoking during pregnancy, gestational age, maternal weight gain, and infant birthweight.

Abstract Objective: To estimate the effect of smoking on infant birthweight independent of gestational age and maternal weight gain during pregnancy. Methods: Stepwise regression was used to identify sets of maternal and infant characteristics not modified by prenatal smoking that were predictors of infant birthweight, gestational age, and net maternal weight gain. These were then included in regression analyses to assess the effects of smoking, as measured by cigarette consumption, exhaled carbon monoxide, or urinary cotinine on gestational age, net maternal weight gain, and infant birthweight. Results: After adjustment for nonmodifiable factors, smoking accounted for 1.5–3.1% of the variance in gestational age at delivery. It accounted for 5.3–7.7% of the variance in net maternal weight gain after adjustment for nonmodifiable factors and gestational age. After adjustment for gestational age and net maternal weight gain, and the nonmodifiable factors, smoking accounted for 2.7–5.2% of the variance in infant birthweight. Conclusions: Most of the gain in infant birthweight on quitting smoking is due to the independent effect of smoking on fetal growth restriction, with much smaller gains related to increased maternal weight gain and a slightly longer gestational age.
Tip size of ion-exchanger based K+-selective microelectrodes. I. Effects on selectivity.

Double-barreled ion-exchanger based K+ -selective microelectrodes (K+ ISMs) of a variety of tip diameters were used to study the dependency of ion selectivity upon tip size. The selectivity of K+ ISMs depended on tip size and barrel configuration. Within the range of tip diameters tested (~ 0.5–6 μm) all K+ ISMs constructed of two barrels glued side by side ("figure-eight glass") exhibited sensitivity to K+ and NH4+. Figure-eight K+ ISMs with tip diameters < 1.5 μm were not sensitive to tetramethylammonium, tetraethylammonium, or choline, whereas K+ ISMs with tip diameters ≥ 1.5 μm sensed all of the quaternary amines. Tip size dependent selectivity was not present in K+ ISMs made from thick septum theta glass. The explanation for tip size dependent changes in ion selectivity is unknown but a discussion of theoretical possibilities is given.
Capillarity-Induced Smoothing of Glass Surfaces by Viscous Flow

A theoretical and experimental study of the smoothing rates of corrugations on glass surfaces demonstrated that the decay in amplitude of periodic surface perturbations having wavelengths from 5 to 14 μm occurs because of the action of capillarity forces and that the rate of smoothing is controlled by viscous flow. This technique allows determination of the viscosity of glasses from 105 to 1012 P. Also, a theoretical analysis of the decay of an isolated V-shaped groove by viscous flow is presented.
Scientific Status Summary: Innovative food packaging solutions

The Institute of Food Technologists has issued this Scientific Status Summary to inform readers of recent innovations in food packaging materials.
Towards scalable monitoring and maintenance of rechargeable batteries

Current research on State-of-Charge (SOC) tracking for rechargeable batteries focuses primarily on analyzing batteries consisting of a single cell, or otherwise treat a set of series-connected cells as a homogeneous unit. Yet, as the number of series-connected cells per battery increase, so does the challenge of ensuring safe and efficient operation over a potentially long period of deployment. Cell-level energy balancing is commonly proposed as a means to address the effects of cell property mismatch. However, no comprehensive solution exists addressing the need to maintain SOC accuracy over the full life of a large battery, while also managing the energy imbalance which develops between cells. If poorly managed, this imbalance can reduce usable capacity and lifespan. This paper proposes an integrated solution to these various issues by tracking SOC on a per-cell basis and applying SOC to a cell-balancing application. The effectiveness is demonstrated using a custom test platform.
Tuberculous arthritis mimic arthritis of the Sjögren's syndrome: findings from sonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance images.

A patient with a history of Sjogren's syndrome developed chronic arthritis of left ankle. It was diagnosed as arthritis of the Sjogren's syndrome initially. However, joint pain persisted despite corticosteroid therapy. Sonography disclosed a multiloculated cystic lesion with peripheral hyperechoic enhancement around left ankle and extended to Achilles tendon and subcutaneous region. Computed tomography (CT) confirmed the findings. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed increased signal intensity of the lesion after gadonillium enhancement on T1-weighted images. These abnormalities showed inhomogenous high signal intensities on T2-weighted images. Tuberculous arthritis was diagnosed by positive synovial tuberculous culture. Sonography is a valuable tool that offers significant advantages for the initial evaluation of arthritis of the Sjogren's syndrome and help early suspicious of tuberculous arthritis, because of its cost-effectiveness, superior differentiation between the cyst and solid lesions, convenience for guiding biopsy and drainage.
Combined experimental and theoretical study of the 6 p 2 P j → 8 s 2 S 1 / 2 relative transition matrix elements in atomic Cs

A combined experimental and theoretical study of transition matrix elements of the $6p{}^{2}{P}_{j}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}8s{}^{2}{S}_{1/2}$ transition in atomic Cs is reported. Measurements of the polarization-dependent two-photon excitation spectrum associated with the transition were made in an $\ensuremath{\approx}200{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ range on the low-frequency side of the $6s{}^{2}{S}_{1/2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}6p{}^{2}{P}_{3/2}$ resonance. The measurements depend parametrically on the relative transition matrix elements, but also are sensitive to far-off-resonance $6s{}^{2}{S}_{1/2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\mathrm{np}{}^{2}{P}_{j}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}8s{}^{2}{S}_{1/2}$ transitions. In addition, as the measured quantities are ratios of polarization-dependent intensities at a single-excitation frequency, they are quite insensitive to a variety of common-mode systematic effects; matrix-element ratios may then be determined to high accuracy. In the past, the matrix-element dependence has yielded a generalized sum rule, the value of which is dependent on sums of relative two-photon transition matrix elements. In the present case, best available determinations from other experiments are combined with theoretical matrix elements to extract the ratio of transition matrix elements for the $6p{}^{2}{P}_{j}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}8s{}^{2}{S}_{1/2}(j=1/2,3/2)$ transition. The resulting experimental value of 1.423(2) is in excellent agreement with the theoretical value, calculated using a relativistic all-order method, of 1.425(2).
Interventional cardiovascular procedures guided by real‐time MR imaging: An interactive interface using multiple slices, adaptive projection modes and live 3D renderings

Purpose To develop and test a novel interactive real-time MRI environment that facilitates image-guided cardiovascular interventions. Materials and Methods Color highlighting of device-mounted receiver coils, accelerated imaging of multiple slices, adaptive projection modes, live three-dimensional (3D) renderings and other interactive features were utilized to enhance navigation of devices and targeting of tissue. Results Images are shown from several catheter-based interventional procedures performed in swine that benefit from this custom interventional MRI interface. These include endograft repair of aortic aneurysm, balloon septostomy of the cardiac interatrial septum, angioplasty and stenting, and endomyocardial cell injection, all using active catheters containing MRI receiver coils. Conclusion Interactive features not available on standard clinical scanners enhance real-time MRI for guiding cardiovascular interventional procedures. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Speculations on the roles of ADP-ribosyl transferase based on analogies between RecA and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase.

Abstract A model for eukaryotic DNA damage repair is proposed in which poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase(NAD+ ADP-ribosyl transferase, EC 2,4,2,30) plays an important role. In this model, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase regulates transcription of genes that are induced by DNA-damaging agents. This transcriptional regulation results from poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation and inactivation of DNA sequence-specific regulatory proteins such as silencer element-binding proteins, thereby inducing transcription of DNA polymerase β, which is a DNA repair enzyme in higher eukaryotes. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase has a number of similarities to RecA in Escherichia coli. Therefore, the genes related to DNA damage repair in higher eukaryotes are proposed to form a "poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase regulatory network" similar to the "SOS regulatory network" in E. coli.
Selective decision directed channel estimation for OFDM communications over multipath Rician fading channels

In this work we explore the performance of a selective decision directed (DD) channel estimation (CE) method for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) based communications over multipath Rician fading channels, where fading is modeled as an auto-regressive (AR) random process. The method is based on soft-selection of data sub-carriers that are used in the DD mode. Particularly, in the process of soft-selection we weigh the data sub-carriers for reliable CE, and couple them with DD CE based on least-squares (LS) with thresholding. Our numerical results indicate performance improvements as compared to block-by-block pilot-assisted CE with a uniform pilot grid, and non-weighted DD CE. For uncoded and low density parity check (LDPC)-coded OFDM systems, we explore the trade-offs resulting from using a varying number of pilots and/or DD data sub-carriers, the effect of the receiver-end diversity, and the impact of channel properties (such as the Rician k-factor and the Doppler spread) in terms of the overall system throughput and bit error rate (BER).
Picornaviral processing: Some new ideas

Mature picornaviral proteins are derived by progressive, post-translational cleavage of a giant precursor polyprotein. At least three viral-encoded proteolytic activities are involved in the processing. The first cleavage takes place while the polyprotein is still nascent on a ribosome. In poliovirus, this event is probably catalyzed by peptide 2A, a protein from the middle portion of the genome. Most subsequent processing is effected by viral protease 3C, a thiol-type enzyme, responsible for eight to ten self-cleaving and autocatalytic reactions within the polyprotein. The final proteolytic processing event, maturation of the VPO peptide, may occur by a novel, autocatalytic, serine-type mechanism, where viral RNA serves as proton-acceptor during the cleavage reaction.
Differential assembly of Hepatitis B Virus core protein on single- and double-stranded nucleic acid suggest the dsDNA-filled core is spring-loaded

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) cores assemble on viral RNA, which is reverse transcribed within the core to the partially dsDNA genome of mature HBV. However, constraining dsDNA, a stiff polymer, within a core necessarily requires far greater capsid stability than constraining ssRNA. We hypothesized that, unlike ssRNA, dsDNA would be a poor substrate for assembly. We examined titrations of ssDNA and dsDNA with purified HBV core protein, Cp183, by EMSA, EM, DLS, and etheno-DNA fluorescence. Cp183 bound ssDNA with high affinity to form virus-like capsids. However, Cp183 bound dsDNA poorly, forming a mixture of irregular complexes. Nonetheless, we observed some normal cores in dsDNA assembly reactions, indicating that the energy required to bend DNA could be similar to the protein–protein association energy. This similarity of energies suggests that dsDNA stresses mature HBV cores, in agreement with calculation, which may be the basis for the virus maturation signal and DNA release.
Epidemiology of Japanese encephalitis in South Korea, 2007-2010

Summary Background Japanese encephalitis (JE) was the leading cause of viral encephalitis among children in South Korea in the 20 th century. This study summarizes recent changes in the epidemiology of JE following the implementation of a vigorous immunization program in the country. Methods Epidemiological investigations were performed for all reported laboratory-confirmed JE cases, and the cumulative incidence was calculated for the surveillance years 2007–2010. Results During the surveillance period, 45 cases of JE were confirmed in the country, resulting in a cumulative incidence of 0.013–0.055 cases per 100 000 population. The median age of cases was 49.4 years, and by age group, 44.4% were aged 40–49 years. Just under a quarter (22.2%) of the cases were found to live close to a pigsty, while 42.2% of the cases were found to reside in the metropolitan areas of Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi-do. None of the cases had a history of vaccination. Conclusions Although JE has traditionally been regarded as a children's disease, the majority of cases now occur in adults in countries where strong immunization programs exist, such as in South Korea. Consideration should be given to an adult vaccination policy in the near future.
A Multi-Sensor Approach for Early Detection and Notification of Approaching Trains

Personnel safety is a cornerstone of railroad operations. However, various activities such as track maintenance and repair require workers to be physically present on or near railroad tracks that are potentially active. This creates a significant risk to the workers, especially at very high train speeds and in places where the geographical topography reduces direct line of sight. In fact, fatalities and injuries continue to be reported. A common approach to lessen this problem is to employ workers specifically to act as lookouts — to observe approaching trains and report them back to the work site. However, maintenance operations are often lengthy and it is common for the lookouts to lose concentration and thus the possibility arises that they fail to report incoming trains. Another possibility is the failure of the communication link between the observer and the workers.In an attempt to remove the human element and the associated risks, commercial vendors have developed automated systems to detect approaching trains and trigger alarms. However, the current commercial solutions available have several drawbacks. Firstly, deploying the available solutions requires procedures that are invasive and possibly destructive for the railroad tracks. They often involve digging underneath the tracks to install devices. This also requires significant installation effort and makes the solution often nonportable. This has serious operating concerns for the railroads since maintenance operations are temporary and installing permanent devices becomes inefficient. Also, since the solutions are not portable, deploying them on a large scale is not cost effective. Secondly, the solutions have limited sensing capabilities, employing only a single detection approach such as mechanical treadles, and do not provide comprehensive information about the trains being detected. For example, if the maintenance is occurring on parallel tracks, the sensors may fail to detect which of the tracks the train is currently operating on. Also, they cannot accurately capture all the characteristics of the approaching train, such as length, velocity, identifying signature, etc. And thirdly, they often have high false detection rates as they lack methods to differentiate the signature of a train from other events, such as drilling and heavy machinery operation.With the objective of addressing all these issues, we have proposed a multi-sensor based system that can integrate the abilities of the different sensors so as to reliably predict all the essential characteristics of a train. In this paper we present the architecture of our multi-sensory system. We also report our findings and analysis of evaluating our sensor systems on tracks at the Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI) in Pueblo, CO.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Tissue-specific gene expression in the smallmouth salamander, Ambystoma texanum (Caudata: Ambystomatidae)

Abstract Relative staining activity, heteropolymer assembly, and secondary isozymes are described for gene products of 22 loci examined for expression in eight tissues of Ambystoma texanum . Locus homologies based on tissue specificity and staining patterns in mitochondria-enriched liver fractions are proposed. Quaternary structure was inferred from polymorphisms resolved at seven loci. Gene expression was undetectable in 17 of the 176 tissue/locus comparisons. The phylogenetic pattern of changes in gene number and the extensive variation in tissue-specific expression among tetrapods suggest that these attributes will be useful as phylogenetic characters in groups less inclusive than tetrapods.
Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Men and Anger: Three Single Case Studies

Abstract The treatment of men with anger problems presents significant challenges for practitioners. This article discusses a cognitive-behavioral, individual therapy, approach within the framework of three single case studies involving men. Treatment challenges and methodology are presented. Key treatment issues included: establishing a therapeutic relationship; facilitating understanding of the cognitive basis of anger; and addressing male-role socialization messages and male-identity schema that contributed to the experience and expression of anger in these men. Limitations relative to the small sample (n = 3) and the lack of a randomized control group preclude any definitive statements regarding the effectiveness or generalizability of the intervention. Nevertheless, the study highlights important theoretical and practical concerns for practitioners and future researchers to consider when working with men and anger.
Numerical simulation of the effects of cooling tower complexes on clouds and severe storms

Abstract A two-dimensional, time-dependent model has been developed which gives realistic simulations of many severe storm processes—such as heavy rains, hail and strong winds. The model is a set of partial differential equations describing time changes of momentum, energy, and mass (air and various water substances such as water vapor, cloud liquid, cloud ice, rainwater and hail). In addition, appropriate boundary and initial conditions (taken from weather sounding data) are imposed on a domain approx. 20 km high by 20 km wide with 200 m grid intervals to complete the model. Modifications have been made to the model which allow additional water vapor and heat to be added at several lower grid points, simulating effluents from a power park. Cases have been run which depict realistic severe storm situations. One atmospheric sounding has a strong middle-level inversion which tends to inhibit the first convective clouds but gives rise later to a severe storm with hail and heavy rains. One other sounding, is taken from a day in which a severe storm occurred in the Miami area. A third sounding depicts atmospheric conditions in which severe storms formed in the vicinity of Huron, South Dakota. The results indicate that a power park emitting 80 % latent heat and 20 % sensible heat has little effect on the simulated storm. A case with 100 % sensible heat emission leads to a much different solution, with the simulated storm reduced in severity and the rain and hail redistributed. A case in which water vapor is accumulated in a region and released over a broad depth results in slightly more rain from a severe storm.
Methionine Hydroxy Analogue and l-Methiomne in Broiler Diets

Abstract IT HAS been demonstrated by many workers (Bird and Mattingly, 1945; Clandinin et al., 1946; Saxena and McGinnis, 1952; German and Couch, 1950; and others) that the addition of methionine to broiler rations accelerated growth. Marett and Sunde (1966) found that full utilization of the isomers of methionine by the chick was dependent on the amino acid composition of the diets. The incorporation of methionine analogue did not produce as great a growth as did l -methionine. The results indicated that when mixtures of l -methionine and methionine analogue were supplemented to the diet of chicks at levels, equivalent to a 0.5% and 0.7% l -methionine, mixtures of about ⅔ l -methionine and ⅓ methionine analogue produced growth significantly better than with methionine analogue alone, ⅔ methionine analogue or ½ l -methionine mixtures. The above workers also found that when l -methionine was used at 0.8% level and compared with 0.96% methionine analogue (0.08% l -methionine equivalent), . . .
The Genain quadruplets: Psychological studies

A series of behavioral studies is reported on the Genain Quadruplets. These monozygous women, all of whom have suffered or are suffering from schizophrenia, were studied previously at the National Institute of Mental Health (1955-1958) and were the subject of an extensive report by Rosenthal (1963). Although the Genains are genetically identical, the expression of the schizophrenic disorder is unequal among the quads, and this circumstance has led to speculation about the relative contributions of nature and nurture (or diathesis and stress in Rosenthal's terminology) in the development of this disease. Two goals were pursued in this investigation: one concerned a comparison of the status of the Genains in 1981 as compared with 1958; the other concerned whether data from the armamentarium of newer behavioral and neurobiological techniques invented and employed since 1958 might shed some light on the unequal expression of schizophrenia among the quadruplets. We conclude that the Genains are functioning about as well as they ever have in their adult lives, and scores on attentional tests show improvement as compared to 1958 measures. This is probably attributable to the medication (primarily neuroleptics) and other supportive treatments they have received over the years. With respect to the varying degrees of illness seen in the Genains, scrutiny of the biochemical, physiological, neuroradiological, immunogenetic, and behavioral test data leads to speculation that certain unique biochemical findings interacting with differing types and amounts of cerebral pathology constitute a major cause of the variable expression of the schizophrenic diathesis.
Seed dispersal and seed fate in Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia)

Abstract Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) is a charismatic symbol of the Mojave Desert. Despite its familiarity, we know little about the reproduction of this species, including mechanisms of seed dispersal. Here we examine mechanisms of seed dispersal and resulting seed fate. We experimentally tracked fruit and seed removal and followed the fates of Joshua tree seeds using radioactive tracers. The majority of Joshua tree fruits monitored were taken directly from the tree canopy by white-tailed antelope squirrels, and seeds and fruits on the soil surface were quickly removed by animals. Rodents given seeds labeled with scandium-46 cached them between 0.1 cm and 4.1 cm deep. Seedling emergence was most common for seeds planted 1 cm deep, whereas seeds placed on the soil surface seldom germinated. Wind dispersal is unlikely because fruits and seeds lack adaptations for wind dispersal; wind speeds required to move Joshua tree seeds and fruits across the soil surface were higher than those typically found in the Mojave Desert. Further, rodents removed most seeds before abiotic burial was possible. We conclude that most Joshua tree seeds are dispersed by scatter hoarding by rodents, and that caches made by rodents are suitable sites for seedling emergence.
Effect of surface-adsorbed proteins and phosphorylation inhibitor AG18 on intracellular protein expression in adherent macrophages.

Abstract Macrophages are believed to play an important role in the host inflammatory response to implanted biomaterials. However, the mechanism of macrophage adhesion to protein-adsorbed substrates and the subsequent activation and inflammation is unresolved. Previously the effect of various surface-adsorbed proteins and increasing concentrations of phosphorylation inhibitor AG18 on intracellular protein expression levels in adherent human monocytic cell line U937 was identified using SDS-PAGE and densitometry. The protein ligands and AG18 concentrations up or down regulated the expression of a set of proteins ranging from ∼200 to ∼23 kDa. In the present work, HPLC coupled tandem mass spectroscopy (LC/MS) was used to identify proteins in these bands. We hypothesized that key proteins in macrophage adhesion and activation could be identified by observing protein expression resulting from various surface-adsorbed ligands and AG18 concentrations. Increasing concentrations of AG18 down or up regulate protein expression in adherent U937 on PBS-adsorbed TCPS at ∼52, ∼42 and ∼23 kDa. AG18 concentrations had no effect on cells on albumin (Alb)-adsorbed surfaces but regulated different protein expression in adherent U937 on fibronectin (FN)-adsorbed TCPS at 40 and 80 μ m AG18. Both Alb and FN regulate distinct sets of proteins in adherent cells as surface-adsorbed ligands. Based on the data from LC/MS, both surface associated ligand and increasing concentrations of AG18 modulate shifts in intracellular signaling.
Fault-tolerant atomic computations in an object-based distributed system

A distributed system can support fault-tolerant applications by replicating data and computation at nodes that have independent failure modes. We present a scheme called parallel execution threads (PET) which can be used to implement fault-tolerant computations in an object-based distributed system. In a system that replicates objects, the PET scheme can be used to replicate a computation by creating a number of parallel threads which execute with different replicas of the invoked objects. A computation can be completed successfully if at least one thread does not encounter any failed nodes and its completion preserves the consistency of the objects. The PET scheme can tolerate failures that occur during the execution of the computation as long as all threads are not affected by the failures. We present the algorithms required to implement the PET scheme and also address some performance issues.
Ventricular effluent of retrograde cardioplegia in human hearts has traversed capillary beds

Background. In human hearts, as much as two thirds of retrograde cardioplegia is shunted through thebesian and arteriosinusoidal channels into the ventricular cavities. This ventricular effluent is believed to have bypassed the myocardial capillary beds and is therefore considered nonnutritive. Methods. To test this hypothesis, we studied the explanted hearts from 9 cardiac transplant recipients with the diagnosis of idiopathic cardiomyopathy. These hearts were arrested in situ with cold blood cardioplegia and excised with the coronary sinus intact. The left and right coronary ostia and the coronary sinus then were cannulated. Colored microspheres (15 ± 5 μm) mixed in 37°C blood cardioplegia were administered through the coronary sinus at a pressure of 30 to 40 mm Hg. Effluents from the coronary arteries and ventricular chambers were collected and analyzed for microsphere concentration. Results. Approximately 80% of retrograde cardioplegia solution was recovered in the ventricular chambers. Nearly 40% of this ventricular chambers effluent had traversed capillary beds and, thus, we believe has nutritive properties. Almost all of the coronary artery effluent of retrograde cardioplegia solution had traversed capillary beds. The total nutritive fraction of retrograde warm blood cardioplegia in this explanted human heart model was approximately 55%. Conclusions. These findings suggest that the ventricular chamber effluent of retrograde blood cardioplegia contributes to the metabolic homeostasis of the arrested human heart.
Reaction pathways for proton exchange between protonated formamide and water

Abstract Ab initio molecular orbital calculations at the RHF/6–31 + G(d) and MP2/6–31 + G(d) level were utilized to explore proton exchange pathways between protonated formamide and water. Three different pathways were found. Two were similar to each other, differing only in the conformation of O-protonated formamide that serves as the starting point. In these pathways, and NH proton was transferred to water, forming an imidic acid-hydronium ion complex as the transition state, followed by back transfer of a different proton leading back to O-protonated formamide and water. In the third pathway, an OH proton of O-protonated formamide was transferred to water, forming a formamide-hydronium ion complex as the transition state. Back transfer of the proton was to the amide nitrogen, leading to N-protonated formamide and water. The torsional profile of the CN bond in the complex between N-protonated formamide and water was also explored. It was found that rotation around this bond was accompanied by a rotation of the water molecule with twice the period.
On a solution to the single-mode model of superradiance

Abstract A self-similar solution of the diffusion equation for the atomic quasi-probability function discussed by Narducci and Bluemel is derived.
Hopping and phase shifts in noisy periodically driven bistable systems

We consider a periodically driven bistable system in the presence of fluctuations. In a number of recent papers it has been shown that the amplitude of the response of the noisy system to periodic modulations exhibits stochastic resonance, i.e. a resonance-like behavior as a function of the noise intensity. In this paper, we consider the phase shift between the response and the periodic driving. For weak periodic driving, the phase shift also shows a resonance like behaviour as a function of the noise strength, but this effect is shown to be of different origin than the one responsible for stochastic resonance. Furthermore, the phase shift is demonstrated to exhibit a resonance-like behavior as a function of the driving frequency.
Replication of the Adeno-Associated Virus DNA Termini in vitro

The validity of the model proposed by Cavalier-Smith for the replication of linear, single-stranded DNA molecules was tested by using subgenomic DNA termini isolated from adeno-associated virus (AAV), a defective parvovirus. In purified DNA replication systems, the terminal hairpin structure of AAV DNA with a 3'-OH end was shown to prime the synthesis of the daughter DNA strand, which was covalently linked to the parental strand. This resulted in the synthesis of a duplex DNA structure with a terminal hairpin. The availability of such a hairpin structure should facilitate the isolation and characterization of the pivotal enzyme, the putative nickase, for the replication of AAV DNA.
Appendicitis in patients with previous spinal cord injury.

Abstract Background: Acute abdominal emergencies are particularly dangerous in patients with impaired sensation. Methods: Thirty patients with spinal cord injury who later developed appendicitis were identified in Department of Veterans Affairs computer files over a 5-year period; 26 were evaluable. Results: The mean age was 55 years (range 27 to 79); all were males. Abdominal distention or discomfort was present in 16 of 26 (62%), while 2 of 26 (8%) presented in shock. A palpable right lower quadrant mass was present in 6 of 26 (23%). The mean initial white blood cell count was 18,000/mm 3 . Only 9 of 26 (35%) had the diagnosis of appendicitis made on admission. In 12 of 26, computed tomography was done; all correctly diagnosed appendicitis. The mean delay in diagnosis after hospitalization was 2 days (range 0 to 5). Perforated appendicitis was found at surgery in 24 of 26 (92%). Twenty-three of 26 (88%) underwent appendectomy; 3 of 26 (12%) underwent right colectomy. The 30-day mortality rate was 4%. Six of 26 (23%) developed a postoperative complication. The mean length of stay was 16 days. Conclusions: Acute appendicitis in spinal-cord-injured patients frequently presents late and complications are common. Computed tomography appears to be an excellent diagnostic modality. Some of the adverse outcomes which are related to preexisting spinal cord injury may be preventable with early intervention.
Partial Brown-Sequard syndrome associated with coarctation of the aorta: review of literature and report of a surgically treated case.

Abstract A review of the literature has revealed three instances of neurological disease presumed to be secondary to the collateral circulation associated with coarctation of the aorta. None of these patients were subjected to surgical correction of the coarctation; therefore a causal relationship can only be assumed. A case of partial Brown-Sequard syndrome with associated coarctation of the aorta has been reported. Although the resolution of the neurological defects is not yet complete, sufficient change has occurred over a period of 2 years to suggest that a causal relationship exists. Although the threat of neurological complications appears to be uncommon, it serves as an additional indication for surgical correction of coarctation.
Transient behavior of infiltrated composites during melt layer formation

Transient one dimensional heat transfer analysis demonstrating infiltrant melting effect on self heat-retarding porous metal composite during surface melt layer formation
Charge violation and Alice behavior in global and textured strings

Spontaneous breaking of global symmetries can produce ``Alice'' strings: line defects which make unbroken symmetries multivalued, induce apparent charge violation via Aharonov-Bohm interactions, and form point defects when twisted into loops. We demonstrate this behavior for both divergent and textured global Alice strings. Both adiabatically scatter charged particles via effective Wilson lines. For textured Alice strings, such Wilson lines occur at all radii, and are multivalued only inside the string. This produces measurable effects, including path-dependent charge violation.
Privacy preserving shortest path routing with an application to navigation

Mobile navigation is a frequently used application, especially with the increasing proliferation of online geographical data. However, the origin and destination are often private information closely tied to a user's personal life. Sharing those with an online map provider greatly increases the chance of the user being profiled. Contrary to existing location privacy problems, the origin and the destination are essential for finding the shortest path in a realtime traffic setting. In this paper, we show that the problem can be solved with Private Information Retrieval (PIR) techniques without disclosing the origin or the destination. We analyze the cost associated with this approach and propose a practical solution with the assumption of a semi-honest third party to improve the efficiency. The proposed practical solution only introduces encryption overhead over the plain scenario where the path is returned by knowing the origin and destination.
Development of phrases in the early utterances of children and cross-fostered chimpanzees

Project Washoe and its sequel with Moja, Pili, Tafu, and Dar, simulated with infant chimpanzees the conditions in which the language of human children develops gradually and-piecemeal into the language of human parents. This article traces patterns of growth and development in the early utterances of children and chimpanzees. The evidence for continuous processes and variables contradicts the yes-no, either-or Aristotelian logic of philosophical linguistics that has prevailed for so long. What the children and chimpanzees actually say supports, instead, a view of common laws and continuity that is much more compatible with modern natural science.
Myocardial kinematics based on tagged MRI from volumetric NURBS models

We present current research in which left ventricular deformation is estimated from tagged cardiac magnetic resonance imaging using volumetric deformable models constructed from nonuniform rational B-splines (NURBS). From a set of short and long axis images at end-diastole, the initial NURBS model is constructed by fitting two surfaces with the same parameterization to the set of epicardial and endocardial contours from which a volumetric model is created. Using normal displacements of the three sets of orthogonal tag planes as well as displacements of both tag line and contour/tag line intersection points, one can solve for the optimal homogeneous coordinates, in a least squares sense, of the control points of the NURBS model at a later time point using quadratic programming. After fitting to all time points of data, lofting the NURBS model at each time point creates a comprehensive 4-D NURBS model. From this model, we can extract 3-D myocardial displacement fields and corresponding strain maps, which are local measures of non-rigid deformation.
Narrative Truth and Putative Child Abuse

Memories of early child abuse can be read in at least two distinct ways--as true accounts of an unspeakable event or as metaphors for a wide range of boundary violations which belong to both past and present. An actual memory of an early experience tends to fade unless repeatedly rehearsed; because abuse memories are inherently shameful, it seems reasonable to be skeptical of this kind of repetition and to be suspicious of their sudden emergence. An actual memory of an early experience would be told from the child's point of view and would probably contain many false starts, internal contradictions, and all the other earmarks of a confused memory that refer to an early happening; by contrast, a seamless account with a tight narrative structure and an almost total absence of doubt or irrelevant detail is almost certainly false. An actual memory would tend to have its own flavor and style; by contrast, a memory of child abuse that sounds too much like other memories is more likely a metaphor for something else. Therapists, lawyers, and other professionals need to be trained to listen metaphorically to these accounts, to be on guard against hearing them as concrete references to a particular time and place, and to beware of reinforcing them prematurely.
Cooling options for Astromag

A comparison of the various cooling options for the Astromag particle physics experiment is presented. The baseline design for the cryogenic system involves using a natural circulation fountain-effect driven flow loop (Hofmann type). The present paper considers two alternative options for cooling. The first design involves a thermal strap made of a high-conductivity metal, e.g., high-purity aluminum or copper, which connects the coil to the helium reservoir. Venting helium vapor can also be used to minimize the temperature of the magnet and recover from a quench. The second design is based on an He II heat pipe concept where steady state heat transport is by counterflow. Cavitation is prevented by use of a porous plug. Forced flow He II is also available but only during extraordinary operating conditions.
Oceanic age and transient tracers: Analytical and numerical solutions

[1] Transient tracers and the closely related “age” tracers exhibit a rich physical and mathematical structure even for problems of one space dimension. This richness tends to make interpretation of observations, which are inevitably thin in both space and time, difficult, in contrast to the situation in modeling studies. At least six different timescales and corresponding space scales can appear in one-dimensional problems. In higher dimensions the number of scales increases. Several examples of analytical and numerical solutions are explored for the light they cast on understanding a fluid flow. Boundary Green functions emerge as the fundamental physical/mathematical link between interior tracer distributions and surface and other boundary variations. With transient tracers in inverse calculations one should normally use the underlying tracer distributions to attempt to solve for fundamental fluid properties, such as the mixing coefficients, rather than ambiguous “ventilation” times, which among other problems, may be determined only by the detection threshold and are often mainly functions of the tracer decay constant rather than of fluid properties. Tracers that are transient only through stochastic boundary conditions show that large-scale space/time patterns can emerge in the tracer field, having little or no clear connection to the underlying fluid flow.
Lergotrile and lisuride: in vivo dopaminergic agonists which do not stimulate the presynaptic dopamine autoreceptor.

Abstract The presynaptic dopaminergic autoreceptor which regulates tyrosine hydroxylase is unaffected by the dopaminergic ergots and their specific antagonists. Apomorphine inhibits the conversion of tyrosine to catechols by striatal synaptosomes; neither lergotrile nor lisuride mimic this action of apomorphine. Furthermore metoclopramide, a potent dopaminergic antagonist in the anterior pituitary, does not block the inhibitory effect of apomorphine. The data demonstrate that the several categories pharmacologically distinct dopamine receptors exist.
Small G Proteins in Islet β-Cell Function

Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from the islet β-cell involves a sequence of metabolic events and an interplay between a wide range of signaling pathways leading to the generation of second messengers (e.g., cyclic nucleotides, adenine and guanine nucleotides, soluble lipid messengers) and mobilization of calcium ions. Consequent to the generation of necessary signals, the insulin-laden secretory granules are transported from distal sites to the plasma membrane for fusion and release of their cargo into the circulation. The secretory granule transport underlies precise changes in cytoskeletal architecture involving a well-coordinated cross-talk between various signaling proteins, including small molecular mass GTP-binding proteins (G proteins) and their respective effector proteins. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of current understanding of the identity of small G proteins (e.g., Cdc42, Rac1, and ARF-6) and their corresponding regulatory factors (e.g., GDP/GTP-exchange factors, GDP-dissociation inhibitors) in the pancreatic β-cell. Plausible mechanisms underlying regulation of these signaling proteins by insulin secretagogues are also discussed. In addition to their positive modulatory roles, certain small G proteins also contribute to the metabolic dysfunction and demise of the islet β-cell seen in in vitro and in vivo models of impaired insulin secretion and diabetes. Emerging evidence also suggests significant insulin secretory abnormalities in small G protein knockout animals, further emphasizing vital roles for these proteins in normal health and function of the islet β-cell. Potential significance of these experimental observations from multiple laboratories and possible avenues for future research in this area of islet research are highlighted.
Heterogeneity in the concerted evolution process of a tandem satellite array in meadow mice (Microtus)

The evolutionary history of a 160-bp tandem satellite array, originally described from Microtus chrotorrhinus and called MSAT-160, was examined in related species of arvicolid rodents by sequence analyses, quantitative dot blotting, and Southern blotting. Results indicate that MSAT-160 is present in 12 of the 20 species and subspecies of Microtus assayed, but not in species belonging to any of the eight other genera examined. DNA from each species containing MSAT-160 was digested with 12 restriction endonucleases and restriction patterns were obtained reflecting the variable extent of homogenization of any given variant in different species. For example, with MboI digestion, M. chrotorrhinus produced a type A ladder pattern where most monomers contain the restriction site, M. ochrogaster generated a type B pattern where most monomers lack the site, and M. agrestis yielded a pattern intermediate between the A and B types. Further, dot blotting revealed copy-number differences between species. These findings indicate that changes in the periodic structure and amount of satellite DNA have occured since these species last shared a common ancestor. In addition, various species-pacific patterns were documented, illustrating that mechanism other than genomewide homogenization, such as stochastic mutation, out-of-register crossing over, deletion, and random amplification also play a role in structuring tandem arrays. Stochastic mutation and homogenization rates in satellite DNA, levels of species diversity, and magnitudes of chromosomal divergence differ significantly in Microtus, Mus, and Ctenomys, the three rodent lineages examined.
Early childhood gender differences in anterior and posterior cerebral blood flow velocity and autoregulation.

OBJECTIVE We aimed to describe gender differences in blood flow velocity and autoregulation of the anterior and posterior cerebral circulations in prepubertal children. METHODS A prospective observational cohort study was performed at Harborview Medical Center's Cerebrovascular Laboratory after institutional review board approval, consent, and assent procedures. Children underwent measurement of middle cerebral and basilar artery flow velocities and cerebral autoregulation testing of the middle cerebral and basilar arteries. Cerebral autoregulation was quantified using the autoregulatory index, and estimated cerebrovascular resistance was calculated. Autoregulatory index <0.4 reflects impaired cerebral autoregulation. Data are presented as mean +/- SD. Patients were healthy 4- to 8-year-old children. RESULTS Forty-eight children (24 boys and 24 girls) 4 to 8 years of age (mean: 6 +/- 2 years) were enrolled. Middle cerebral artery flow velocity was higher than basilar artery flow velocity (96 +/- 13 vs 65 +/- 11 cm/s). Girls had higher middle cerebral artery flow velocity (99 +/- 11 vs 91 +/- 13 cm/s) and basilar artery flow velocity (70 +/- 10 vs 61 +/- 9 cm/s) than boys. Cerebral autoregulation was intact in all children. There was no gender difference in autoregulation between the middle cerebral artery (boys: 0.97 +/- 0.07; girls: 0.94 +/- 0.11) or basilar artery (boys: 0.94 +/- 0.13; girls: 0.94 +/- 0.11). CONCLUSIONS Similar to older children and adults, girls between 4 and 8 years of age had higher middle cerebral and basilar artery flow velocity than age-matched boys. This difference may reflect inherent differences in cerebral metabolic rate and/or estimated cerebrovascular resistance between the genders.
Zinc in multiple sclerosis. II: Correlation with disease activity and elevated plasma membrane–bound zinc in erythrocytes from patients with multiple sclerosis

Previous studies have shown that zinc levels in erythrocytes are significantly elevated in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). To examine the correlation between erythrocyte Zn levels and disease activity, we measured erythrocyte Zn levels longitudinally. Levels were dramatically decreased during a clinically documented exacerbation of MS. To determine the localization of increased Zn levels in MS erythrocytes, we employed standard techniques for the isolation of nonhemoglobin erythrocyte membrane ghosts. Patients with MS had three times more Zn in ghost material than did controls. Chloroform–methanol extraction in erythrocyte ghosts followed by determination of Zn levels indicated that most of the membrane-bound Zn was associated with the lipid-soluble fraction. Non-lipid-associated Zn and total membrane protein concentration were similar in MS and control samples. Results suggest that mechanisms which govern cellular availability, compartmentalization of Zn, or the binding of Zn to cell surface membranes may be altered in patients with MS, and that these mechanisms vary with disease activity.