cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High throughput profiling of tocochromanols in leaves and seeds of Arabidopsis and Maize.

Tocochromanols are a group of lipid-soluble antioxidants produced by all plants and include the tocopherols, which are ubiquitous in the plant kingdom, and the biosynthetically-related compounds tocotrienols, which along with tocopherols commonly occur in seed of monocots. Most tocochromanols have some level of vitamin E activity, with α-tocopherol being the highest, and as such are essential nutrients in the human diet. Tocochromanols are particularly abundant in seeds and are critical for maintaining seed longevity and proper germination and as seed oils are a major component of the human diet, they are an important source of dietary vitamin E. In vegetative tissues, tocochromanols are important components in plant responses to stressful environments and can accumulate to high levels in response to various stresses including high light, heat, and dark. We report a robust, high throughput extraction and HPLC analysis method to quantify the levels of tocopherols and tocotrienols in leaves and seeds of plants, using Arabidopsis and maize tissues as examples. The described method provides a rapid, high-throughput, cost-effective approach to quantifying the composition and content of tocopherols, and if needed simultaneously tocotrienols, in vegetative tissues and seeds. Optimized extraction methods are described for the two tissue types and have been used to study tocochromanol (vitamin E) natural variation in seed of large Arabidopsis and maize diversity panels, to assess gene function in T-DNA and Mu-tagged populations of Arabidopsis and maize, respectfully, and study the impact of environmental stresses, including high light stress, heat stress, and dark on tocopherols content and composition of vegetative tissue.
Cognitive Function Following Diabetic Ketoacidosis in Children With New-Onset or Previously Diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes.

OBJECTIVE This study assessed whether a single diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) episode is associated with cognitive declines in children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes and whether the same is true in children who had previously been diagnosed after accounting for variations in glycemic control and other relevant factors. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We prospectively enrolled 758 children, 6–18 years old, who presented with DKA in a randomized multisite clinical trial evaluating intravenous fluid protocols for DKA treatment. DKA was moderate/severe in 430 children and mild in 328 children. A total of 392 children with DKA had new onset of type 1 diabetes, and the rest were previously diagnosed. Neurocognitive assessment occurred 2–6 months after the DKA episode. A comparison group of 376 children with type 1 diabetes, but no DKA exposure, was also enrolled. RESULTS Among all patients, moderate/severe DKA was associated with lower intelligence quotient (IQ) (β = −0.12, P CONCLUSIONS A single DKA episode is associated with subtle memory declines soon after type 1 diabetes diagnosis. Sizable IQ declines are detectable in children with known diabetes, suggesting that DKA effects may be exacerbated in children with chronic exposure to hyperglycemia.
100th Anniversary of Macromolecular Science Viewpoint: The Past, Present, and Future of Stereocontrolled Vinyl Polymerization

The thermomechanical properties exhibited by synthetic macromolecules can be directly linked to their tacticity, or the relative stereochemistry of repeat units. The development of stereoselective ...
Geometrically frustrated trimer-based Mott insulator

The crystal structure of $\mathrm{B}{\mathrm{a}}_{4}\mathrm{NbR}{\mathrm{u}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{12}$ is based on triangular planes of elongated $\mathrm{R}{\mathrm{u}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{12}$ trimers oriented perpendicular to the plane. We report that it is semiconducting, that its Weiss temperature and effective magnetic moment are \ensuremath{-}155 K and $2.59\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{\mathrm{B}}/\mathrm{f}.\mathrm{u}.$, respectively, and that the magnetic susceptibility and specific-heat data indicate that it exhibits magnetic ordering near 4 K. The presence of a high density of low energy states is evidenced by a substantial Sommerfeld-like T-linear term $\mathrm{[}\ensuremath{\gamma}=31(2)\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{mJ}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{mo}{\mathrm{l}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{K}}^{\ensuremath{-}2}]$ in the specific heat. Electronic-structure calculations reveal that the electronic states at the Fermi energy reside on the $\mathrm{R}{\mathrm{u}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{12}$ trimers and that the calculated density of electronic states is high and continuous around the Fermi energy---in other words density functional theory calculates the material to be a metal. The results imply that $\mathrm{B}{\mathrm{a}}_{4}\mathrm{NbR}{\mathrm{u}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{12}$ is a geometrically frustrated trimer-based Mott insulator.
Pulmonary Manifestations of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Children.

The recognition of pulmonary manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is important as these diseases can be confused with infectious etiologies (e.g., tuberculosis or fungal infection) and, as a result, may unnecessarily delay institution of appropriate therapy (e.g., infliximab). Furthermore, they are a source of morbidity that may be overlooked and, like other IBD-related pathologies, are often responsive to treatment with corticosteroids, immunomodulators, or biologic therapies. The purpose of this paper is to describe the cases of six children at a single institution with differing presentations, treatments, and responses to treatment of their IBD-related lung disease to improve recognition of this uncommon process.
Development of the Oncolo-GIST ("Giving Information Strategically & Transparently") Intervention Manual for Oncologist Skills Training in Advanced Cancer Prognostic Information Communication.

Abstract Context Patient prognostic understanding is improved by oncologists’ discussions of life expectancy. Most patients deem it important to discuss prognosis with their oncologists, but a minority of cancer patients within months of death report that they had such a discussion with their oncologist. Objectives To query stakeholders about their perspectives on the clinical approach and utility of an Oncolo-GIST manualized communication intervention, designed to enhance oncologists’ ability to convey the gist of prognostic information simply, clearly, and effectively in the setting of progressing solid tumors and limited life expectancy. Methods We obtained and analyzed feedback on the intervention from solid tumor oncology clinicians and bereaved family caregivers, soliciting opinions on the clinical approach taken in the videos, acceptability and likely impact of the instructions, and specific phrases recommended in the manual. Results Twenty stakeholders (9 clinicians, 11 caregivers) participated. All agreed that oncologists should broach prognosis with patients, balancing honesty and sensitivity. Participants also advocated for oncologists to involve interprofessional team members (e.g., nurses, social workers) when serious mental health concerns arose. After the research team's discussion of the stakeholder feedback, the manual was modified to include or exclude preferred language and approaches. Conclusion The Oncolo-GIST intervention was characterized as simple and potentially effective at conveying prognoses to advanced cancer patients. Future research should determine if this approach to medical communication, which distills the essence of prognostic messages clearly and simply, is associated with improvements in patients’ prognostic understanding.
Opioid Mortality Following Implementation of Medical CannabisPrograms in the United States

Introduction The United States is in the midst of an opioid overdose epidemic. Emerging evidence suggests that medical cannabis (MC) may reduce use of opioids for pain in some individuals, with potential impacts on opioid-related overdose. However, there may be other important differences between states that did, and did not, adopt MC. Methods This study evaluated differences following legal MC sales on US opioid-related overdose deaths, corrected for population, from 1999 to 2017 using an interrupted time series. Comparisons by MC status were also made for Medicaid expansion and the Centers for Disease Control death certificate reporting quality (0: Results Overdose deaths were significantly higher in MC states from 2012–2017. Overdose death slopes over time increased in states with (pre=1.46±0.46, post=2.90±0.58, p<0.05) and without (pre =0.20±.10, post=1.04±0.22, p<0.005) MC. Post-legalization slopes were significantly higher in MC states (p<0.01). Two states without (11.1%) as compared to 11 states with (91.7%) MC expanded Medicaid by 2014 (χ2[1]=19.03, p<0.0005). MC states (1.50±0.23) had higher death certificate reporting quality relative to states without MC (0.78±0.22, p Discussion MC states had higher rates of opioid overdoses. Although there was no decrease in association with MC introduction, these results were confounded by states without MC having lower overdose reporting quality. Medicaid expansion was also more common in states with MC. Finally, the potency of fentanyl analogues may have obscured any protective effects of MC against illicit opioid harms.
Hypokalemia and Recumbency in Dairy Cattle

This is a retrospective case series designed to highlight the clinical presentation, risk factors and treatment of severe hypokalemia associated with muscle weakness and recumbency in lactating dairy cattle.
Dynamic self-reinforcement of gene expression determines acquisition of cellular mechanical memory.

Abstract Mechanotransduction describes activation of gene expression by changes in the cell’s physical microenvironment. Recent experiments show that mechanotransduction can lead to long-term “mechanical memory,” in which cells cultured on stiff substrates for sufficient time (priming phase) maintain altered phenotype after switching to soft substrates (dissipation phase) as compared to unprimed controls. The timescale of memory acquisition and retention is orders of magnitude larger than the timescale of mechanosensitive cellular signaling, and memory retention time changes continuously with priming time. We develop a model that captures these features by accounting for positive reinforcement in mechanical signaling. The sensitivity of reinforcement represents the dynamic transcriptional state of the cell composed of protein lifetimes and three-dimensional chromatin organization. Our model provides a single framework connecting microenvironment mechanical history to cellular outcomes ranging from no memory to terminal differentiation. Predicting cellular memory of environmental changes can help engineer cellular dynamics through changes in culture environments.
Laser Spectroscopy of Chemical Intermediates in Supersonic Free Jet Expansions

Lasers have contributed enormously to various areas of spectroscopy. Indeed, different forms of spectroscopy have utilized nearly all of the laser’s unique characteristics, i.e. coherence, high power, high resolution, etc. In this respect, the laser spectroscopy of chemical intermediates is exemplary. Most often the experimental environment is dictated by the stringent demands of the production and preservation of chemical intermediates, rather than by spectroscopic considerations. The fact that laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy requires only the passage of a photon into and out of a “remote,” easily perturbed, medium makes it in a number of cases the only spectroscopic tool available for probing this environment. Beyond this advantage, numerous experiments on chemical intermediates have utilized the unique power and resolution capabilities of lasers.
Creep Characterization of Short Fiber‐Reinforced Ceramic Composites

An unidirectional short-fiber composite model under off-axis tension is first established by an advanced shear-lag approach and Eshelby's inclusion technique. The model is then extended to consider biased and random fiber orientations. Four-point bending creep experiments are performed on an SiC-whisker reinforced alumina composite at temperatures of 1150 and 1250 C in air. Finally, the analytical results are compared with experimental data for random whisker-reinforced ceramics. 9 refs.
Improved detection of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis with Bactec as compared with conventional culture methods: A prospective study

Bacteriologic diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is difficult due to the low yield of isolating the bacteria from the ascitic fluid. We prospectively compared the conventional culture method with the nonradiometric Bactec culture system for the detection of bacteria in 20 episodes of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. The ascitic fluid culture was positive by the conventional culture method in 25% and by Bactec in 79% of the episodes of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (P = 0.004). Of culture-positive episodes, Gram-negative bacteria were detected by conventional cultures in 20% and by Bactec in 47%. Bactec culture system was significantly better than the conventional cultures for the detection of streptococci (viridans streptococci and Enterococcus fecalis), 33% versus 0 (P < 0.05). Conventional cultures did not detect bacteria that were not also detected by Bactec cultures. In conclusion, the Bactec nonradiometric culture method is superior to conventional cultures for the diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.
Chromyl chloride oxidations—II

Abstract Chromyl chloride oxidation of 1-phenylpropene, 2-phenylpropene, and 1,1-diphenylethene gives 1-phenyl-2-propanone, 2-phenylpropanal, and 1,1-diphenylethanal, respectively, as the sole products of rearrangement. The yield of carbonyl product appears to be greatest when one side of the double bond is 1,1-disubstituted. The suggested mechanism involves an electrophilic attack of chromyl chloride at the carbon of the CC double bond to give a resonance stabilized carbonium ion-like intermediate which rearranges to the observed products.
Bossy or wimpy: expressing social dominance by combining gaze and linguistic behaviors

This paper examines the interaction of verbal and nonverbal information for conveying social dominance in intelligent virtual agents (IVAs). We expect expressing social dominance to be useful in applications related to persuasion and motivation; here we simply test whether we can affect users' perceptions of social dominance using procedurally generated conversational behavior. Our results replicate previous results showing that gaze behaviors affect dominance perceptions, as well as providing new results showing that, in our experiments, the linguistic expression of disagreeableness has a significant effect on dominance perceptions, but that extraversion does not.
Ethanol production by immobilized Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces uvarum, and Zymomonas mobilis

Saccharomyces cerevisiae NRRL Y-2034, Saccharomyces uvarum NRRL Y-1347, and Zymomonas mobilis NRRL B-806 each were separately immobilized in a Ca-alginate matrix and incubated in the presence of a free-flowing and continuous 1,3,5, 10, or 20% (w/w) glucose solution. In general, the yeast cells converted 100% of the 1,3, and 5% glucose to alcohol within 48 h and maintained such a conversion rate for at least two weeks. The bacterium converted ca. 90% (w/w) of the 1,3, and 5% glucose to alcohol continuously for one week. However, both the yeast and bacterium were inhibited in the highest glucose (20% w/w) solution. All of the immobilized cultures produced some alcohol for at least 14 days. Immobilized Saccharomyces cerevisiae was the best alcohol producer of all of the glucose concentrations; the yeast yielded 4.7 g ethanol/100 g solution within 72 h in the 10% glucose solution. After 7-8 days in the 10% solution, Saccharomyces cerevisiae produced ethanol at 100% of theoretical yield (5.0 g ethanol/100g solution), with a gradual decrease in alcohol production by 14 days. Immobilized Saccharomyces uvarum produced a maximum of 4.0 g ethanol/100 g solution within 2 days and then declined to ca. 1.0 g ethanol/100g solution after 7 daysmore » continuous fermentation in the 10% glucose solution. Zymomonas mobilis reached its maximum ethanol production at 4 days (4.7 g/100 g solution), and then diminished similarly to Saccharomyces uvarum. The development of a multiple disk shaft eliminated the problem both of uneven distribution of alginate-encapsulated cells and of glucose channeling within the continuous-flow fermentor column. This invention improved alcohol production about threefold for the yeast cells. (Refs. 13).« less
Toxic potential of ambient particulate matter in various urban areas of the world and its relation to chemical composition and emission sources

Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon the interaction of toxic PM components with cells is believed to be one of the major pathways of oxidative stress induction. This study provides a global insight on the oxidative potential of ambient PM in different urban areas and size fractions. A cell-based (in-vitro) ROS assay is used to assess PM-induced oxidative potential and PM toxicity data from several previous studies in different urban locations (including Los Angeles, Long Beach, Riverside and Denver (USA), Milan (Italy), Beirut (Lebanon), Lahore (Pakistan) and Thessaloniki (Greece)) and in three different size ranges (i.e. quasi-ultrafine (PM0.25), fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM2.5-10)) are combined and analyzed. As part of the analysis, the association of chemical components and corresponding PM sources with ROS activity is investigated. Moreover, the impact of particle size and possible effects of atmospheric aging on PM-induced redox activity are discussed. The results indicate overall higher levels of PM toxicity in developing areas of the world compared to developed countries. Smaller size ranges are generally associated with higher levels of PM toxicity, primarily due to the higher fraction of redox-active components in smaller size fractions. Transition metals (most notably Ni, V, Fe and Cu) as well as water soluble organic carbon (WSOC) are the species with highest and most frequent correlations with ROS activity, indicating the dominant effect of traffic emission sources, residual/fuel oil combustion and secondary organic aerosol generation on the induction of oxidative potential.
USB Design by Example: A Practical Guide to Building I/O Devices

Adding I/O Devices to a Modern PC. Close to the Wire. The Enumeration Process. Run-time Software on the PC Host. Development Tools. Buttons and Lights. Migration from ISA. Building USB Bridges. Connecting to the Digital World. Connecting to the Real World. I Like the Sound of That. I Can See You. Designing a Hub. Putting It All Together. Increasing Data Bandwidth into the Home. Appendix. Index.
Treatment readiness training and probationers' evaluation of substance abuse treatment in a criminal justice setting

Clients who are legally coerced into substance abuse treatment often have low intrinsic motivation to participate, are less ready for treatment, and are consequently more problematic to treat and less satisfied with their treatment than are voluntary clients. A set of readiness training activities, designed to promote early involvement in treatment, was implemented in a 4-month residential criminal justice program. Five hundred probationers were randomly assigned to receive either the readiness training we developed or the approach typically used at the facility. Based on their response to an intake interview, probationers were categorized as having low, medium, or high readiness for treatment. Probationers in the readiness training group rated their counselors, groups, and community meetings higher than did probationers in the standard group. In addition, probationers in the readiness training group rated themselves as "working the program" to a greater extent than did probationers in the standard group. Probationers with higher initial levels of readiness for treatment rated their counselors, sessions, and security staff higher than did probationers with lower levels. The results suggest that the readiness training activities may help probationers become more involved in treatment and that this may lead to greater satisfaction with counselors and sessions.
Prevention of brain tissue hypoxia by intrathecal injection of oxygenated fluorocarbon.

Abstract Experiments are presented in which small amounts of CSF in cats were replaced by oxygenated fluorocarbon emulsion in an effort to protect brain tissue from the expected fall (which occurs despite protective autoregulatory mechanisms) in tissue oxygen pressure (TpO2) during anoxic anoxia. Oxygen pressure was measured in brain tissue and CSF using suitable polarographic elctrodes, and responses to breathing pure N2 were measured. These responses were determined before and after the fluorocarbon emulsion was substituted for CSF, and results are given which show that the drop in TpO2 induced by anoxic anoxia is significantly reduced by the presence of oxygenated fluorocarbons in the CSF.
Using Vibrational Noise To Probe Energy Barriers Producing Contact Angle Hysteresis

We measure the macroscopic capillary rise height of water on a chemically heterogeneous solid surface in the presence of vibrational noise. The amount of relaxation of the macroscopic contact angle depends on the mechanical characteristics as well as the energy of the vibrations. The macroscopic recede and advance contact angles are functions of the vibration level. Large enough vibration levels mitigate hysteresis. Microscopic contact line configurations depend strongly on microscopic wettability variation on the solid surface. Our study has implications for contact angle measurements in normal vibration environments and for the retention of drops on inclined surfaces.
Salivary Gland Involvement in Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease: Prevalence, Clinical Significance, and Recommendations for Evaluation

Although xerostomia is a commonly reported complaint in patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD), criteria for evaluating the prevalence and characteristics of salivary gland involvement have not been well defined in this patient population. Previous studies also have made no distinction between salivary and mucosal oral cGVHD. We systematically evaluated signs and symptoms of sicca in a large cohort of patients with cGVHD (n = 101) using instruments widely used to study Sjogren's syndrome. Xerostomia was reported by 77% of the patients and was associated with xerophthalmia in all but 1 case. The salivary flow rate was ≤0.2 mL/min in 27%, and ≤0.1 mL/min in 16%. Histopathological changes, consisting of mononuclear infiltration and/or fibrosis/atrophy, were present in all patients with salivary dysfunction. Importantly, there was no correlation of salivary and oral mucosal involvement in cGVHD. Patients with cGVHD-associated salivary gland involvement had diminished oral cavity-specific quality of life and lower body mass index. Salivary gland involvement is a common and clinically distinct manifestation of cGVHD. Formal evaluation of salivary function using standardized criteria is needed, and this could be incorporated as an outcome measure in clinical trials of cGVHD.
Basic data for dosage calculation and compensation

Abstract Total body irradiation with megavoltage photon beams requires basic dosimetric data which have to be measured directly or derived from the standard data. This paper describes physical aspects of the technique involving 10 MV x-rays and bilateral opposing fields, and pays special attention to calibration, dose calculation and tissue compensation. Also discussed is a method for constructing individualized compensators for specific body regions, including the lungs. Phantom ∗ measurements indicate that dose uniformity of ±5% can be achieved with this technique.
Unexpected Roles of Guest Polarizability and Maximum Hardness, and of Host Solvation in Supramolecular Inclusion Complexes: A Dual Theoretical and Experimental Study

The origin of differential binding affinity and structural recognition between the inclusion complexes of cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene), 14+, and 1,4-substituted phenyl or 4,4‘-substituted biphenyl derivatives has been jointly determined by spectrometric techniques and ab initio and semiempirical molecular orbital methods. The unusual boxed geometry and tetracationic charge distribution in 14+ are key molecular features which produce strong intermolecular interactions with guest and solvent molecules. Solvation was addressed by including up to 12 acetonitrile molecules in the theoretical model, which realigned the predicted gas-phase supramolecular structures and energies into excellent agreement with experiment. The computed complexation enthalpies, ΔHbind, from the semiempirical molecular orbital PM3 method are on average within 1 kcal/mol of the experimental free energy binding data collected from absorption spectroscopy in acetonitrile. In addition, the computed geometric penetration and positioning ...
Structure of High-Rank Coals deduced from Helium Densities

Wandless and Macrae1 were the first to show that a relationship exists between the true density of coals and their hydrogen content. Franklin2 extended this work, and on plotting the specific volume (1/d) of a number of coals found that an extrapolation of the straight line drawn through the points, to zero hydrogen content, did not pass through the point for graphite (Fig. 1). For this reason she proposed the hypothesis that the structure of coals is “markedly different from that of graphite”. This is in disagreement with the generally accepted theory that coal molecules are basically fused, polynuclear aromatic structures, that is, islets of small graphitic monolayers which may or may not be associated vertically, and to which various aliphatic groupings are attached. This is suggested in van Krevelen and Chermin's3 plot of density of coals versus carbon content, in which the density of graphite is considered to be “the true limit” of coalification.
Mössbauer effect and neutron diffraction study of the anomalous lattice behavior of U6Fe

Abstract Neutron diffraction and 57Fe Mossbauer effect measurements have been made on the exchange-enhanced superconductor U6Fe. The neutron diffraction results indicate a pronounced anisotropy in the thermal expansion of the unit cell and an anomalous temperature dependence for the c-axis component of the total Debye-Waller factor of Fe below 100 K. The Mossbauer effect measurements show non-Debye behavior in the mean-squared displacement of Fe, with phonon hardening occuring below 100 K. The absence of a temperature dependence to the relative intensities of the lines in the Fe quadrupole doublet indicates almost isotropic lattice vibrations. Taken together these observations imply that Fe undergoes static displacements along the c-axis that begin below 100 K and increase with decreasing temperature. Both the Mossbauer shift and the quadrupole coupling indicate electronic changes in the valence of Fe in the temperature region in which the displacement takes place.
The Ethical Orientations of Hotel Managers and Hospitality Students: Implications for Industry, Education, and Youthful Careers

In this comparative study of hotel managers and hospitality students, differ ences in four value-based areas of ethical orientation are identified and examined relative to influence on decision-mak...
The Globally Distributed Team: Learning to Work in a New Way, for Corporations and Anthropologists Alike

An emerging organizational form for structuring work on a global scale is the globally-distributed team (or GDT). A globally-distributed team is a work group whose members represent and are based in two or more nations or regions, yet must work interdependently to achieve a common purpose related to the firm's global strategy. Members of GDTs also must rely on technology-supported communication more than face-to-face interaction. Typically, a global core team has between three and thirty members, while the extended or full team may have many more participants (possibly hundreds). A globally distributed team is both non-collocated (meaning that its work is virtual), and multi-cultural (meaning that it must integrate the complexity of diverse national cultures) and often multifunctional as well. Such teams are compelled to utilize information technologies to communicate and coordinate activity, yet these same technologies often are challenged by the multiple cultural boundaries that they are supposed to bridge.
Attenuation fluctuations and local dermal reflectivity are indicators of immune cell infiltrate and epidermal hyperplasia in skin inflammation

Psoriasis is a common inflammatory skin disease resulting from genetic and environmental alterations of cutaneous immune responses responsible for skin homeostasis. While numerous therapeutic targets involved in the immunopathogenesis of psoriasis have been identified, the in vivo dynamics of psoriasis remains under investigated. To elucidate the spatial-temporal morphological evolution of psoriasis we undertook in vivo time course focus-tracked optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging to non-invasively document dermal alterations due to immune cell infiltration and epidermal hyperplasia in an Imiquimod (IMQ) induced model of psoriasis-like inflammation in DBA2/C57Bl6 hybrid mice. Quantitative appraisal of dermal architectural changes was achieved through a three parameter fit of OCT axial scans in the dermis of the form A(z) = ρ exp(-mu;z +e(z)). Ensemble averaging of the fit parameters over 2000 axial scans per mouse in each treatment arm revealed that the local dermal reflectivity ρ, decreased significantly in response to 6 day IMQ treatment (p = 0.0001), as did the standard deviation of the attenuation fluctuation std(e(z)), (p = 0.04), in comparison to cream controls and day 1 treatments. No significant changes were observed in the average dermal attenuation rate, μ. Our results suggest these label-free OCT-based metrics can be deployed to investigate new therapeutic targets in animal models as well as aid in clinical staging of psoriasis in conjunction with the psoriasis area and severity index.
Hot regions and the origin of marginal basins in the western Pacific

Abstract Volcanic provinces, showing no genetic relationship to plate boundaries, may be classified into two categories: hot spots which are a few hundred kilometers across and may be nearly fixed in position with respect to deep mantle, and hot regions which are a few thousand kilometers across and can migrate more freely. The mantle upwellings which presumably give rise to them may originate at different depths by different causes. It is observed that the marginal basins, older than 15 Ma, of the western Pacific become progressively younger northward (with the exception of the South Fiji Basin). This leads to the hypothesis that the spreading of marginal basins was caused by the mantle upwelling associated with a migrating hot region, and that a hot region which started from the Australia region in the Late Cretaceous, migrated northward successively creating the Tasman, Coral Sea, Caroline, South China, Parece Vela, Shikoku, and Japan Basins through Paleocene, Eocene, Oligocene, and Early Miocene time. This hot region presently underlies northern China, Mongolia and adjacent areas. Another hot region is assumed to have caused the spreading of the South Fiji Basin and all the currently spreading basins in the southwestern Pacific. Spreading of individual marginal basins occurred during the short period when a hot region was passing the pertinent area. The main merit of this hypothesis is that it can explain the relationship between the location and age as well as the short duration of spreading, of western Pacific marginal basins. Marginal basins are formed commonly (though not always) in the overriding plates near subduction zones, because in such a setting a spreading marginal basin is readily accommodated either by an oceanward movement of the nearby subduction zone or by a continentward movement and subduction of the overriding oceanic plate. There are a few marginal basins that were formed in other tectonic settings and accommodated by some other mechanism of compensative subduction. Presumably the splitting of the supercontinent Pangea was also caused mainly by the effect of the mantle upwelling associated with the same hot region that later migrated northward, creating marginal basins in the western Pacific. The main basis for this presumption is the fact that the splitting of Pangea was completed in the Australia region in Middle Cretaceous time, whereas the spreading of marginal basins in the western Pacific began in the same Australia region in the Late Cretaceous immediately following.
Language processing in men at risk for alcoholism: an event-related potential study.

Abstract Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded from a group of men with (FH+) and without (FH−) a family history of alcoholism. ERPs were recorded over the left and right cerebral hemispheres and over midline locations while subjects performed a letter rhyming task. The ERPs to the letters displayed major group differences in a negative component with a latency of 430 msec (N430). The amplitude of N430 was significantly smaller in the FH+ as compared to the FH− subjects. These group differences were more pronounced in ERPs recorded from over the right than the left hemisphere. In addition, in the FH+ group only the latency of N430 was linearly related to personal drinking habits. These results suggest that (1) certain brain functions associated with the language processing required in this task are different in men at high and low risk for the development of alcoholism and (2) moderate social use of ethanol may have more pronounced effects on language-relevant brain functions in FH+ than in FH− individuals.
Environmental taxation for environmental regulation and fiscal policy: An analysis of a Clinton-type BTU tax

This paper provides an empirical study of energy taxes for achieving environmental and fiscal policy objectives. Based on an energy tax structured like Clinton's 1993 BTU tax proposal, we demonstrate that the optimal tax will be higher the greater the environmental costs associated with energy consumption and the larger the economic distortions associated with alternative revenue-raising policies. Greater environmental damages and higher revenue-raising costs also have a fiscal policy implication; they shift the least-cost tax mix for raising additional revenue toward energy taxes and away from conventional tax alternatives.
Efficient nonconvex sparse group feature selection via continuous and discrete optimization

Sparse feature selection has proven to be effective in analyzing high-dimensional data. While promising, most existing works apply convex methods, which may be suboptimal in terms of the accuracy of feature selection and parameter estimation. In this paper, we consider both continuous and discrete nonconvex paradigms to sparse group feature selection, which are motivated by applications that require identifying the underlying group structure and performing feature selection simultaneously. The main contribution of this article is twofold: (1) computationally, we develop efficient optimization algorithms for both continuous and discrete formulations, of which the key step is a projection with two coupled constraints; (2) statistically, we show that the proposed continuous model reconstructs the oracle estimator. Therefore, consistent feature selection and parameter estimation are achieved simultaneously. Numerical results on synthetic and real-world data suggest that the proposed nonconvex methods compare favorably against their competitors, thus achieving desired goal of delivering high performance.
Heuristic multi-area unit commitment with economic dispatch

An improved multi-area unit commitment and economic dispatch algorithm is proposed. The approach supplements the traditional dynamic programming unit commitment with heuristic adjustments to refine the commitment schedule in each area. A global economic dispatch scheme coordinates the transactions between areas. A new tie-line constraint checking is included which is simple and effective. The overall algorithm can he implemented on an IBM-PC, which can process a fairly large system in a reasonable period of time. Experimental results show the application potential of this method to general multi-area power generation scheduling problems. >
TULIP at the University of California, part II: the Berkeley experience and a view beyond

The TULIP (The University Licensing Program) project was the first attempt on the University of California, Berkeley campus to provide journal page images directly to faculty and graduate student desktops. An electronic journal project can be viewed as the confluence of three factors: the technical implementation, the user group and the environment in which that user group functions, and the material itself. In the preceeding article, Mark Needleman addressed the technical specifics of the University of California (UC) implementation, which is common to all nine UC campuses. At Berkeley, we provided accessible workstations in the Engineering, Chemistry, and Physics Libraries for the use of faculty, students, or staff who might not have the required equipment or software in their laboratories or offices, as well as for demonstration and instruction purposes. However, all along we knew that the fate of any electronic journal project in the sciences would rest upon our ability to deliver the material successfully in the user's environment; in an academic setting, this necessarily means in a multitude of user environment types.
Subsurface imaging and cell refractometry using quantitative phase/ shear-force feedback microscopy

Over the last few years, several novel quantitative phase imaging techniques have been developed for the study of biological cells. However, many of these techniques are encumbered by inherent limitations including 2π phase ambiguities and diffraction limited spatial resolution. In addition, subsurface information in the phase data is not exploited. We hereby present a novel quantitative phase imaging system without 2 π ambiguities, which also allows for subsurface imaging and cell refractometry studies. This is accomplished by utilizing simultaneously obtained shear-force topography information. We will demonstrate how the quantitative phase and topography data can be used for subsurface and cell refractometry analysis and will present results for a fabricated structure and a malaria infected red blood cell.
Task Force on Recurrent Respiratory Papillomas: A Preliminary Report

Objective: To obtain pilot data about the incidence, need for surgical intervention, and demographics of recurrent respiratory papillomas in the United States. Design: Otolaryngologists were surveyed using a questionnaire with structured and open-ended questions. Participants: One thousand board-certified otolaryngologists practicing in the United States as of January 1, 1993, through a random mailing list provided by the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery and all active US members of the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology and the American Bronchoesophagological Association. A total of 1346 questionnaires were distributed. Main Outcome Measures: Physician's responses to questions about their current patient load of children and adults with recurrent respiratory papillomas, their surgical and anesthetic management of the disease, and their clinical experiences with risk factors for developing recurrent respiratory papillomas. Results: Projected totals for recurrent respiratory papillomas among children were 2354 new cases (95% confidence interval [CI], 1448 to 3260) and 5970 active cases (95% CI, 3465 to 8474), requiring 16 597 surgical procedures (95% CI, 6938 to 26 255) at a cost of $109 million (95% CI, $45 to $172 million) for March 1, 1993 to March 31, 1994. Projected totals for adult recurrent respiratory papillomas were 3623 new cases (95% CI, 2359 to 4887) and 9015 active cases (95% CI, 6435 to 11 591) requiring 9284 surgical procedures (95% CI, 6003 to 12 565) at a cost of $42 million (95% CI, $27 to $59 million) for March 1, 1993 to March 31, 1994. The incidence of recurrent respiratory papillomas among children is estimated at 4.3 per 100 000; among adults, 1.8 per 100 000. The carbon dioxide laser was favored by 92% of respondents. No consensus was reached on the role for cesarean section. Forty-six percent of respondents favored the use of a laser-safe endotracheal tube for anesthetic management. Conclusion: A registry of patients with recurrent respiratory papillomas would benefit future research protocols and provide long-term follow-up of patients. (Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1995;121:1386-1391)
Uncountable autohomeomorphism groups of thin-tall locally compact scattered spaces

Under a hypothesis weaker thanCH, both the free group withω1 generators and the free Abelian group withω1 generators are non-trivial autohomeomorphism groups of locally compact thin-tall scattered spaces.
Initiator tRNA for the synthesis of globin peptides.

Abstract A species of tRNA capable of accepting methionine and apparently structurally related to tRNA F Met from E. coli is bound on ribosomes from rabbit reticulocytes incubated with NaF. As isolated the tRNA met is sensitive to mild oxidation by periodate and appears to be bound on the ribosomes in the deacylated form, that is without methionine. Ribosomes bearing this tRNA met incorporate valine into the aminoterminal position of globin peptides without detectable incorporation of aminoterminal methionine. It is concluded that the initiation of globin peptides involves a species of methionine-accepting tRNA analogous to tRNA F Met in bacteria and suggested that the deacylated species of this tRNA is involved in normal initiation of globin peptides.
We are Born in Flames

This essay introduces the dossier, situating Lizzie Borden's 1983 film Born in Flames in the contemporary political context. After offering a brief synopsis of the film, the essay argues that Born in Flames serves as both a document of feminist, anti-racist social movements and as inspiration for modeling future political work. The essay then briefly introduces the pieces that comprise the dossier.
Introduction: Workshop on the Contribution of Airborne Pollutants to Respiratory Cancer

The Task Force on Environmental Cancer and Heart and Lung Disease is an interagency group established by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1977. Congress mandated the Task Force to determine the relationship between environmental pollutants and human disease and to recommend research aimed at reducing the incidence of environment-related disease. On July 13-18, 1985, the Task Force sponsored a Workshop on the Contribution of Airborne Pollutants to Respiratory Cancer. This was a follow-on activity to the earlier Task Force Workshop on Environmentally Related Nononcogenic Lung Disease.
Honoring the Form: Zen Moves in Charles Johnson's Oxherding Tale

In Being and Race Charles Johnson compares a writer working with traditional forms to a martial artist who “honors the form” of his predecessors. In his 1982 novel Oxherding Tale Johnson honors the form of a number of traditional fictional genres, including the slave narrative, the picaresque novel, the philosophical novel of ideas, and Zen texts such as koans, sutras, and the twelfth-century graphic narrative, the “Oxherding Pictures.” Calling his novel a “slave narrative that serves as the vehicle for exploring Eastern philosophy,” Johnson alludes to Hindu, Taoist and Buddhist texts, as well as to Western literary and philosophical works, to dissolve the dualistic thinking at the heart of what he calls “the samsara of racial politics.” To be free of the illusory nature of “ontological dualism,” however, one must journey through stages of increasing awareness, admirably depicted in the ten illustrations of the “Oxherding Pictures.” From seeking a self (ox) that one thinks one has lost, to glimpsing the self that is first elusive and finally illusory, the seeker comes to realize that all identities are constructed and therefore temporary, including such notions as “race” and “self.” Like some biracial Everyman, Johnson’s narrator may not complete the journey by the end of the novel but he discovers much about the insubstantiality and inter-connectedness of himself in the world along the way.
A Step-wise Approach for Transfer of Immunogenicity Assays during Clinical Drug Development

We designed a three-step statistical approach to transfer bioanalytical assays (ELISA and Biacore) which evaluates the (1) average equivalence between the two labs (2) concordance in individual sample results between the two labs, and (3) long-term stability of assay performance. Each experimental design evaluated the contribution of four critical variables to the overall variability. Two lots of each variable were examined in a controlled experiment. The variables tested for ELISA were analyst, plate washer, biotinylated-therapeutic protein, and streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase; and for Biacore were analyst, instrument, chip lot, and conjugation chemistry reagent lots. Equivalence in the mean signal to noise (S/N) or mean relative units (RU) between the two labs was established through statistical evaluation of the assay performance characteristics across multiple assay variables. Concordance between the two labs in the individual sample results was subsequently verified both quantitatively and qualitatively. The long-term maintenance of assay stability was monitored by performance testing of a predefined set of samples which were prepared in sufficient quantities to last several years. The process of method validation for biomarker testing in clinical trials is to analyze the variability of the assay performance. However, different factors contribute to this variability and need to be evaluated when the method is transferred to another site/lab. Lack of understanding the critical variables can potentially result in unexpected problems and delays. The three-step statistical approach of assay transfer provides a robust process for transferring complex biological assays.
Theoretical Perspectives on Evolution of Long-Distance Dispersal and the Example of Specialized Pests

Long-distance dispersal (LDD)—dispersal beyond the bounds of the local patch or cluster of conspecifics—will be most advantageous in landscapes in which large areas of suitable habitat are consistently available at long distances from established populations. We review conditions under which LDD will be selected and conclude that biotic interactions, and in particular specialized natural enemies, are likely to be one of the most important factors selecting for LDD in many species. We use simple spatially implicit and spatially explicit models to illustrate how such pests affect the evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS) for investment in LDD. Patches currently occupied by parents are more likely to be infected than distant, potentially unoccupied, patches, thus advantaging dispersal. Patchy infestations also result in higher variance in reproductive success among patches, which alone selects for increased among-patch dispersal. Both of these effects increase with the strength of the impact of infestation, and with the number of species competing for space in the community. We discuss the potential of different types of models and analytical tools to capture the impacts of pests on the evolution of LDD, and conclude that even simple models can illustrate the general relationship between pest pressure and LDD advantage, but only spatially explicit simulation models can fully elucidate the resulting ecological and evolutionary dynamics. In conclusion, we consider the potential role of selection for LDD in the spread of invasive species, and in long-term responses to habitat fragmentation and range shifts.