cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regge Trajectories in the φ 3 Multiperipheral Model with Strong Coupling

The trajectory function $\ensuremath{\alpha}(t)$ for small $t$ is studied in the ${\ensuremath{\varphi}}^{3}$ multiperipheral model as the coupling constant becomes very large. Special emphasis is paid to the analogy of the ${\ensuremath{\varphi}}^{3}$ model to a one-dimensional gas system. We discuss the upper and lower bounds for $\ensuremath{\alpha}(t)$ when 2,3,... up to $N$-body potentials in the gas model are taken into account. The power dependence of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ on the coupling constant as well as its dependence on $N$ is determined by our bounds. This power dependence changes as $N$ approaches infinity; it also changes as the mass ratio of the produced final particles to the exchanged particles varies. We show that the equal-spacing approximation suggested by T. D. Lee gives the correct power dependence of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ on the coupling constant with a coefficient in error by only a few percent.
Simple manual plotting of contours as a method of EEG analysis

Abstract A simple manual method of plotting a flat contour map is described with a few examples included. A contour map may serve many purposes; e.g. , in data compression and also in generating new insights.
Photocatalytic degradation of organic molecules on mesoporous visible-light-active Sn(II)-doped titania

Abstract We report the first demonstration of visible light photocatalytic activity of Sn 2+ -doped TiO 2 . The catalysts are prepared from the reaction of titanium butoxide and several tin precursors at 80 °C in aqueous solutions. Samples synthesized with SnCl 2 have lower band gaps (red-shifted to the visible region) with respect to anatase TiO 2 . The catalysts are isostructural to anatase TiO 2 even at the highest loadings of Sn 2+ . When the precursor is changed to SnCl 4 , rutile is the predominant phase obtained but no reduction in the band gap is observed. The materials are investigated using X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, photoluminescence, Raman spectroscopy, and other techniques. The majority of surface cation sites are tin, with a fraction of tin also incorporated in the bulk particles. The experiments also indicate the presence of chlorine in the samples, also influencing the optical and catalytic properties as confirmed by comparison to materials prepared using bromide precursors. These catalysts are photocatalytically active for the degradation of organic molecules with rates higher than the standards (P25 TiO 2 ) and also evidenced from the generation of hydroxyl radicals using visible light. This protocol could be extended to incorporate Sn 2+ into other oxide semiconductors to prepare photocatalysts with interesting electronic properties. The analysis of the degradation of rhodamine B dye by a de-ethylation mechanism using multivariate chemometric methods is also described.
Cost-effectiveness of aerobic and resistance exercise in seniors with knee osteoarthritis.

SEVICK, M. A., D. D. BRADHAM, M. MUENDER, G. J. CHEN, C. ENARSON, M. DAILEY, and W. H. ETTINGER, JR. Cost-effectiveness of aerobic and resistance exercise in seniors with knee osteoarthritis. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 32, No. 9, pp. 1534–1540, 2000.PurposeThe purpose of this study was to determi
Ultrafast two-color ablation of fused silica

Two ultrafast laser pulses at the fundamental Ti:sapphire laser wavelength of 800 nm and the second harmonic at 400 nm were used to study the temporal evolution of the transmissivity in fused silica and resulting material ablation. It was observed that there was a sharp drop in the transmissivity of the probe pulse at zero delay between the two pulses, indicating that there was enhanced absorption/reflection due to the creation of defect states or free electron plasma by the pump pulse. Subsequent atomic force microscopy measurements of the ablated holes revealed that the ablated volume increased by about 50% when the separations of the two pulses are within 300 fs. Two-color machining of channels at the surface also showed a similar increase in the machined depth and width when the pulses are overlapped in time.
ETHNIC, FAMILY, AND SOCIAL CONTEXTUAL INFLUENCES ON ASIAN AMERICAN ADOLESCENTS' RELIGIOSITY

In recent years, a number of excellent ethnographic and qualitative studies have signaled a growing interest among scientists in immigrants and their religious practices. Few large-scale studies, h...
Attention K-Mart shoppers: blowout on Aisle 7!

The mechanistic basis of arousal is controversial. In this issue of Neuron , Lebestky et al.'s new study in Drosophila, where dopamine has been shown to be involved in several types of attentional processes, demonstrates that it independently regulates distinct types of arousal. These data provide evidence for molecularly convergent, but anatomically divergent, task-specific arousal circuits.
A biphasic dialytic strategy for the treatment of neonatal hyperammonemia.

Background Neonates with inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) often develop hyperammonemia which, if not corrected quickly, may result in poor neurologic outcomes. As pharmacologic therapy cannot rapidly lower ammonia levels, dialysis is frequently required. Both hemodialysis (HD) and standard-dose continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) are effective; however, HD may be followed by post-dialytic ammonia rebound, and standard-dose CRRT may not effect a rapid enough decrease in ammonia levels.
The acute metabolic effects of glucagon and its interactions with insulin in forearm tissue

The acute effects of glucagon (mol. wt. 3500) and its interactions with insulin were studied in the forearm during eight studies in seven normal, post-absorptive males. The protocol consisted of a 2 h baseline, 1 h glucagon perfusion (mean glucagon increment, 691±50 pg/ml), 1 h perfusion of both insulin and glucagon (mean insulin increment of 105 ±13 mU/l) and a 30 min recovery period. Simultaneous arterial (A), deep venous (DV), and superficial venous (SV) blood samples were obtained at 30 min intervals. Perfusion of glucagon resulted in a decrease in (A-DV) non-esterified fatty acids of-0.128±0.057 mmol/l (n=7, p<0.05) and (A-SV) non-esterified fatty acids of -0.081±0.036 mmol/l (n=7, p<0.05), as well as a change in deep compartment uptake of glycerol after 60 min of -0.044±0.019 μmol/min/100 ml of forearm tissue (n=6, p<0.05), indicating increased lipolysis. There was also a decrease in net glucose uptake as reflected by a change in (A-DV) of -0.24±0.09 mmol/l (n=7, p<0.025) and (A-SV) of 0.10± 0.05 mmol/l (n=7, p<0.05). There was also a net decrease in deep arteriovenous differences of potassium in six of seven subjects. Insulin levels, similar to those found after a meal, rapidly reversed the effects of glucagon on non-esterified fatty acid, glucose and potassium. These effects persisted throughout the recovery period.
Trimethylgallium based phosphinogallanes. Synthesis and molecular structure of [Me2Ga-P(SiMe3)2]2

Abstract The sterically demanding phosphinogallane [Me2Ga- P(SiMe3)2]2, prepared from reaction of trimethylgallium and tris(trimethylsilyl)phosphine in toluene, has been characterized by partial elemental analyses, 1H NMR and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The title compound crystallizes in the space group P 1 (No. 2) with unit cell dimensions α=9.711(1), β=9.857(1), χ=9.2t1(1) A, α=99.62(1), β=116.25(1), γ=76.28(1)°, V=766.3, A3 and Dcalc=1.20 g cm−1 for Z=1. Refinement converged at R=0.037, Rw=0.046, based on 1606 observed reflections with intensities I>3σ(I). The independent GaP distance was determined to be 2.456(1) A. Pyrolysis of the dimer did not afford higher order phosphinogallanes.
Bcl-2-family proteins: the role of the BH3 domain in apoptosis

Bcl-2-related proteins have come to occupy a prominent position in the realm of programmed cell death. Members of this fast-growing family are highly related in one or more specific regions, commonly referred to as Bcl-2 homology (BH) domains. BH domains contribute at multiple levels to the function of these proteins in cell death and survival. Particularly intriguing is the emergence of the BH3 domain as a potent 'death domain' and of a growing subclass of pro-apoptotic proteins with no similarity to Bcl-2 beyond their BH3 homology. Here, the authors classify proteins of the Bcl-2 family on the basis of function and domain organization, discuss the importance of the BH3 domain in protein-protein interactions and in cell death and provide possible explanations for the perceived redundancy in the expression of this subclass of death promoters.
Origin and Distribution of Deep-Sea Sand-Silt Layers in Northeast Pacific: ABSTRACT

The cores of sediments in the northeast Pacific Ocean, collected by the University of Washington, contain several sand-silt layers. Most of the layers and cores occur at locations 500-700 miles from the shores and at End_Page 273------------------------------ depths exceeding 2,000 fathoms. All sand-silt layers have sharp contacts, with no visible gradation between layers. The texture and composition of these layers is fairly uniform. The sediments are well sorted. Quartz is the predominant light fraction; feldspar the next in abundance. The heavy-mineral content of these layers ranges approximately from 5 to 15 per cent. Hornblende is predominant and hypersthene is abundant in the northern part of the region, whereas biotite and muscovite are abundant in the southern part of the region. Chemical decay has had little or no effect on the minerals during and after deposition. The source of these sand-silt layers is considered to be continental, judged from their texture and composition. Each layer appears to have a similar transportation and depositional history, and each is probably a turbidity-current deposit. Differences in heavy-mineral composition occur because of differences in provenance. Carbon-14 dating of sediment cores collected near these layers and the stratigraphic position of these layers show them to have been deposited during part of Wisconsin time. End_of_Article - Last_Page 274------------
The effects of ergocornine on tail height, spontaneous and T4-induced metamorphosis and thyroidal uptake of radioiodide in neotenic Ambystoma tigrinum

The reported effectiveness of ergocornine in suppressing prolactin (PL) secretion in a variety of vertebrates was used as a basis for investigating the role of endogenous PL in neotenic Ambystoma tigrinum. Ergocornine treatment accelerated tail-fin resorption in spontaneously metamorphosing neotenes. Combining PL with ergocornine blocked spontaneous metamorphosis. Ergocornine accelerated T4-induced gill and tail-fin resorption in neotenes and ergocornine treatment alone suppressed tail height compared to controls. The effects of ergocornine could not be attributed to thyroidal stimulation since ergocornine failed to affect thyroidal iodide uptake. Neotenes that were pretreated with ergocornine in the field metamorphosed when given a single injection of 1.0 μg of T4. Saline-injected controls receiving an identical injection failed to metamorphose. These effects of ergocornine are consistent with a PL-suppressing action of the drug in A. tigrinum. The role of PL in neoteny is discussed on the basis of these results.
Rational Design of Potent Dimeric Ligands as Potential Theraputic Agents for Myotonic Dystrophy Type I (DM1)

It is known that expanded CUG repeats arising from the DMPK gene sequester the splicing protein MBNL1 and that this leads to myotonic dystrophy type I (DM1). Herein, we describe the rational design and synthesis of a library of dimers that bind with high affinity to CUG repeats. Our goal is to disrupt MBNL1-CUG repeat complex formation. Previously a CUG binding ligand, containing a 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine recognition unit linked to an acridine, showed promising MBNL1-(CUG)12 inhibition potency.The repeating nature of the aberrant RNA, prompted us to follow a bivalent approach through ligand dimerization in order to increase the affinity and selectivity of the ligand. A small library of dimeric ligands was synthesized using linkers with different lengths and functionality. Two different acridine substitution patterns were also examined with the goal of optimizing the bivalent effect. The ability of dimeric ligands to bind to (CUG)12 hairpin and inhibit MBNL1-(CUG)12 complex formation was tested using various biophysical techniques, including Tm measurement, isothermal titration calorimetry, surface plasmon resonance, fluorescence studies and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy.The most potent dimer, AJ8, contained N,N′-bis(3-aminopropyl)-1,3-propanediamine, as the linker and was found to inhibit the MBNL1-(CUG)12 complex formation with an IC50 of 1.09 μM in the presence of excess tRNA as a competitor. The inhibition potency is more than 200-fold greater than the corresponding monomer leading to a bivalent effect that is greater than 100-fold. Another advantage of AJ8 is improved drugability profile as it is not cell cytotoxic and unlike the corresponding monomer is aqueous soluble.This study suggests a general approach by taking advantage of multivalent effect for targeting disorders with repeating causative agents.
Brief Field Experiences: An Instructional Tool for Undergraduate Political Science Classes.

For introductory American government courses, I require students to attend a public forum, community meeting, or legislative session. In reaction papers, students are urged to consider any pre-meeting publicity, public accessibility of the meeting sites and times, and participant interaction, as well as the opportunity for community members to air their opinions. After the event, class members must appraise the quality, quantity, and emphasis of the media coverage. Students often question whether they and the reporters had attended the same meeting and these students thus learn to evaluate
Volatile Leaf Oil of the “Licorice Verbena” [Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E. Brown ex Britton and P. Wils. var. carterae Moldenke] from the North American Herb Trade

Abstract The essential oil of the leaves and stems of Lippia alba var. carterae, examined by GC/MS, is dominated by methyl chavicol (56.46±4.29%) and 1,8-cineole (12.62±4.26%).
Leading-edge and future design challenges - is the classical EDA ready?

Current design tools are lagging behind and, in some cases, slowing the growth of the VLSI market. Disruptive design methods are necessary to bridge the gap. Abstraction and re-use are believed to be the most promising approaches. However, difficult open questions still exist in this new flow. In particular, how a high-level design can be transformed into an implementation while ensuring full (formal) verification of the correspondence between the models.
ATPγS competes with ATP for binding at Domain 1 but not Domain 2 during ClpA catalyzed polypeptide translocation.

Abstract ClpAP is an ATP-dependent protease that assembles through the association of hexameric rings of ClpA with the cylindrically-shaped protease ClpP. ClpA contains two nucleotide binding domains, termed Domain 1 (D1) or 2 (D2). We have proposed that D1 or D2 limits the rate of ClpA catalyzed polypeptide translocation when ClpP is either absent or present, respectively. Here we show that the rate of ClpA catalyzed polypeptide translocation depends on [ATPγS] in the absence of ClpP, but not in the presence of ClpP. We observe that ATPγS non-cooperatively binds to ClpA during polypeptide translocation with an apparent affinity of ~ 6 μM, but that introduction of ClpP shifts this affinity such that translocation is not affected. Interpreting these data with our proposed model for translocation catalyzed by ClpA vs. ClpAP suggests that ATPγS competes for binding at D1 but not at D2.
Batching in flexible manufacturing systems

Abstract Batching is necessary in intermittent production, where the facility is designed to process a variety of parts and the set-up costs between dissimilar parts are significant. With multi-mission machineries, automatic tool changers, and a random-access material handling system, a flexible manufacturing system (FMS) can process dissimilar parts concurrently with minimal set-up time/cost. When parts are batched in an FMS, they are scheduled to join different queues before they are introduced to the shop-floor. This paper investigates the problem of batching in an FMS. A linear zero-one integer programming model of the batching problem is presented.
Women's health issues.

Issues related to women's physical health and health care reflect the broader concerns of women who must function within systems that have been constructed by and for men. The health care system in this country is still very much a male-dominated institution in which the demands on women to fit a male model are especially cogent (Lee, 1975). Because women traditionally have had primary responsibility for the care of children and for the ill and aging in their families, they typically assume greater responsibility in health matters than do men. Yet there is evidence that women as a group, and particularly women of limited educational, social, and economic resources, encounter significant obstacles to obtaining adequate diagnosis and treatment of medical disorders. From a prevention perspective also, less attention has been paid to the health risks of women than to those of men.
PPPS-2013: Explosive emission and gap closure from a relativistic electron beam diode

Summary form only given. Explosive emission cathode studies are currently being conducted on a high power relativistic electron beam diode. A black velvet cathode is driven with a 75 Ohm graded transmission line which provides a 3.8 M V, 60 ns (FWHM) pulse across a fixed A-K gap of 17.5 cm. Cathode sizes range from 1.9-7 cm with space-charge limited currents of 0.26-3 kA. The principal objective of these experiments is to quantify the current emission limits and the dynamics of the gap closure process. A qualitative comparison of experimental and calculated results are presented, which include time resolved current density distributions, impedance and perveance curves and plasma expansion velocity.
The activity of the pituitary-adrenal cortex axis during pregnancy and lactation.

THE concept of a specific pattern of systemic responses in animals subjected to nonspecific stress was originally advanced by Selye (1) in 1936. It was his opinion that the activation of the pituitary-adrenal axis was of primary importance. Many investigators have since shown that a vast number of widely varying stimuli can activate the pituitary-adrenal axis and thus enable an animal to adapt itself to the stressing agent. Sayers et al. (2) formulated five classes of stressing agents which elicit increased adrenal cortical activity. They suggested that pregnancy in itself constituted one endogenous stress. Data reported by other investigators indicate that a considerable increase in adrenal cortical activity occurs during pregnancy (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10). The placenta in all probability contributes directly to this this increased cortical activity by elaborating and releasing ACTH (11, 12).
First-Photon Imaging

Imagers that use their own illumination can capture three-dimensional (3D) structure and reflectivity information. With photon-counting detectors, images can be acquired at extremely low photon fluxes. To suppress the Poisson noise inherent in low-flux operation, such imagers typically require hundreds of detected photons per pixel for accurate range and reflectivity determination. We introduce a low-flux imaging technique, called first-photon imaging, which is a computational imager that exploits spatial correlations found in real-world scenes and the physics of low-flux measurements. Our technique recovers 3D structure and reflectivity from the first detected photon at each pixel. We demonstrate simultaneous acquisition of sub-pulse duration range and 4-bit reflectivity information in the presence of high background noise. First-photon imaging may be of considerable value to both microscopy and remote sensing.
External threats to ecosystems of US national parks

Activities beyond national park boundaries are now the principal source of threats to park natural resource integrity. Assessing the full impact of major threats as air and water pollution requires a long-term ecosystem-level approach in research design and execution, and park management. Failure to take such an approach renders most existing park data bases useless in the documentation of external threats. While the concept of managing national parks as ecosystems is not new, Park Service research and its organization have not provided the information necessary for such a basis of management. Quantifying the impacts on park resources due to external hydrologic regulation and air pollution is a good example of the need to employ an ecosystem approach in research. However, implementing such a program will require a fundamental change in research administration, priority setting, and conceptual approach.
Hydraulic Alterations Resulting from Hydropower Development in the Bonneville Reach of the Columbia River

Abstract We used a two-dimensional (2D) hydrodynamic model to simulate and compare the hydraulic characteristics in a 74-km reach of the Columbia River (the Bonneville Reach) before and after construction of Bonneville Dam. For hydrodynamic modeling, we created a bathymetric layer of the Bonneville Reach from single-beam and multi-beam echo-sounder surveys, digital elevation models, and navigation surveys. We calibrated the hydrodynamic model at 100 and 300 kcfs with a user-defined roughness layer, a variable-sized mesh, and a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers backwater curve. We verified the 2D model with acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) data at 14 transects and three flows. The 2D model was 88% accurate for water depths, and 77% accurate for velocities. We verified a pre-dam 2D model run at 126 kcfs using pre-dam aerial photos from September 1935. Hydraulic simulations indicated that mean water depths in the Bonneville Reach increased by 34% following dam construction, while mean velocities decreased...
Infectious agents detected in the feces of diarrheic foals: a retrospective study of 233 cases (2003-2008).

Background: Diarrhea is common in foals but there are no studies investigating the relative prevalence of common infectious agents in a population of hospitalized diarrheic foals. Objectives: To determine the frequency of detection of infectious agents in a population of hospitalized foals with diarrhea and to determine if detection of specific pathogens is associated with age, outcome, or clinicopathologic data. Animals: Two hundred and thirty-three foals ≤ 10 months of age with diarrhea examined at a referral institution. Methods: Retrospective case series. Each foal was examined for Salmonella spp., viruses, Clostridium difficile toxins, Clostridium perfringens culture, C. perfringens enterotoxin, Cryptosporidium spp., and metazoan parasites in feces collected at admission or at the onset of diarrhea. Results: At least 1 infectious agent was detected in 122 foals (55%). Rotavirus was most frequently detected (20%) followed by C. perfringens (18%), Salmonella spp. (12%), and C. difficile (5%). Foals 1 month of age were significantly more likely to have Salmonella spp. (OR = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.2–6.0), rotavirus (OR = 13.3, 95% CI = 5.3–33), and parasites (OR = 23, 95% CI = 3.1–185) detected compared with younger foals. Overall 191 of the 223 foals (87%) survived. The type of infectious agent identified in the feces or bacteremia was not significantly associated with survival. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: In the population studied, foals with diarrhea had a good prognosis regardless of which infectious agent was identified in the feces.
A Post-Cold War Approach

mental problem afflicting the subdiscipline is classification. Without being clear about what we are comparing, it is impossible to know how we should be making the comparisons, and what our ultimate objectives should be. I propose that the study of comparative politics has for too long been handicapped and misled by the three worlds system of classification (or variations on the three worlds theme), that recent changes in the world demand the creation of
Advances in the control of chemotherapy-induced emesis

Summary Cancer patients consistently rank nausea and vomiting as the most feared side effects of treatment. Cisplatin, one of the most active chemotherapeutic agents, causes acute emesis and a delayed emesis syndrome, which also results in considerable patient morbidity. Despite the use of metoclopramide-containing combination regimens, approximately one third of cisplatin-treated patients continue to experience emesis. In recent years, considerable progress has been made in managing chemotherapy-induced emesis. This review discusses several factors that have contributed to improved antiemetic control, including standardization of antiemetic trial methodology, insight into the pathogenesis of chemotherapy-induced emesis, and the development of a new class of antiemetic agents, the serotonin antagonists. In clinical studies performed to date, these agents have generally proven to be both effective and safe. Three multicenter trials of the selective serotonin antagonist ondansetron in the prevention of nausea and vomiting from cisplatin are reviewed.
Structural and Functional Anatomy of the Abdominal Wall

Multiple options exist for managing complex abdominal wall defects. These options range from the use of autologous tissue with rearrangement procedures to the use of prosthetic or bioprosthetic materials. All options rely on a thorough understanding of the structural and functional anatomy of the abdominal wall and the relationship of varying anatomical structures to provide the optimal reconstructive procedure. A successful reconstruction is achieved when the structural anatomy is integrated with understanding the dynamic function of the abdominal wall.
Terrain-Relative and Beacon-Relative Navigation for Lunar Powered Descent and Landing

As NASA prepares to return humans to the Moon and establish a long-term presence on the surface, technologies must be developed to access previously unvisited terrain regardless of the condition. Among these technologies is a guidance, navigation, and control (GN&C) system capable of safely and precisely delivering a spacecraft, whether manned or robotic, to a predetermined landing area. This article presents a detailed study of both terrain-relative navigation using a terrain-scanning instrument and radiometric navigation using beacons in lunar orbit or on the surface of the Moon. The models for these sensors are developed along with a baseline sensor suite that includes an IMU, star-camera, altimeter, and velocimeter. Linear covariance analysis is used to rapidly perform the trade studies relevant to this problem and to provide the navigation performance data necessary to determine how each navigation method can be used to support a 100 m 3-σ navigation requirement on landing.
Fever of unknown origin

ostensibly due to improved diagnostic imaging, but in a contemporaneous series the proportion was 24%. In our hospital neoplasia, in particular lymphoma, remains an important cause of FUO. The role of certain individual diseases has changed considerably. For example, rheumatic fever and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were common in early series but are unusual today, probably because of the sharp decline in rheumatic fever in the developed world and the wide availability of accurate tests for SLE that permit early diagnosis. Infective endocarditis has decreased in frequency since the 1950s as blood culture techniques have improved, but new pathogens that are difficult to isolate (eg, Bartonella quintana) ensure that it will not disappear as a cause of FUO. A few diagnoses in recent series were unknown four decades ago, including Lyme disease, acute HIV infection, Sweet’s syndrome, and Bartonella endocarditis. Early series also failed to report drug fever as a cause of FUO.
The Colour of Time: Head Pots and Temporal Convergences

Colour symbolism permeated the world of indigenous North America. This symbolism was often tied to the cosmos where the earth was viewed as a quadrilateral disk and each of the four cardinal directions was linked with a colour array such as red, white, black, and blue. We suggest that the recurring use of certain colours and colour contrasts comprised a suite of long-term historical practices that were essential for reproducing certain views about the world and about being in the world. Further, the rendering of colour had a plasticity that allowed it to enter a discourse about daily life that was intertwined with notions of the long-term. As a case study, we focus on well-known ceramic head effigies in the central Mississippi Valley to argue that their veneers of contrasting red and white were imbued with a notion of time immemorial that converged with other conceptions of temporality, most importantly, a pressing concern with regional violence, personal safety, and spiritual integrity.
Gastric bleeding after radiation therapy for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Abstract Purpose The goal of this study was to determine the incidence and risk factors associated with gastric bleeding in patients treated with radiation therapy for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Methods and Materials Between November 2002 and December 2008, 33 patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma were treated with radiation therapy to the primary site. Twenty-nine (88%) patients were previously treated with chemotherapy, including gemcitabine and cisplatin in 19 patients. The median dose of radiation therapy was 50.4 Gy (range, 35-70 Gy). Twenty-seven (82%) patients received concurrent therapy, with capecitabine in 26 and bevacizumab in 1 patient. Results Nine of the 33 patients developed gastric bleeding, with a 1-year actuarial rate of 36%. Of these 9 patients, 7 presented with bleeding symptoms and 2 presented with anemia. All 9 patients were documented to have gastritis on endoscopy. The absolute and percent volumes of stomach receiving 40 and 50 Gy were significantly associated with the risk of gastric bleeding. Conclusions Patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma have a significant risk of developing gastric bleeding after radiation therapy. Hence, the volume of stomach exposed to radiation therapy should be minimized in patients receiving radiation therapy for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.
Investigation of 89 candidate gene variants for effects on all-cause mortality following acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Many candidate genes have been reported to be risk factors for acute coronary syndrome (ACS), but their impact on clinical prognosis following ACS is unknown. Methods: We examined the association of putative genetic risk factors with 3-year post-ACS mortality in 811 ACS survivors at university-affiliated hospitals in Kansas City, Missouri. Through a systematic literature search, we first identified genetic variants reported as susceptibility factors for atherosclerosis or ACS. Restricting our analysis to whites, so as to avoid confounding from racial admixture, we genotyped ACS cases for 89 genetic variants in 72 genes, and performed individual Kaplan-Meier survival analyses. We then performed Cox regression to create multivariate risk prediction models that further minimized potential confounding. Results: Of 89 variants tested, 16 were potentially associated with mortality (P < 0.1 for all), of which 6 were significantly associated (P < 0.05) with mortality following ACS. While these findings are not more than what would be expected by chance (P = 0.28), even after Bonferroni correction and adjustment for traditional cardiac risk factors, the IRS1 972Arg variant association (P = 0.001) retained borderline statistical significance (P < 0.1). Conclusion: With the possible exception of IRS1, we conclude that multiple candidate genes were not associated with post-ACS mortality in our patient cohort. Because of power limitations, the 16 gene variants with P values < 0.1 may warrant further study. Our data do not support the hypothesis that the remaining 73 genes have substantial, clinically significant association with mortality after an ACS.
Does chronic pelvic pain syndrome have an infectious etiology

THE potential role of bacteria, and particularly uropathogenic bacteria, in the pathogenesis of urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome (UCPPS), is debatable. The presence of normal bacterial flora or uropathogens in the prostate tissue of apparently healthy men is extremely unlikely. 1 Conversely, 5% of controls and 8% of patients with UCPPS harbor uropathogenic bacteria in their prostatic secretions or post-prostatic massage voided urine, or semen specimens that were not present in the urethral or bladder specimens. In this issue of The Journal Nickel et al (page 127) demonstrate that 4.8% of controls and 3% of patients had evidence of uropathogens localized to the prostate’s secretion, which supports this observation. 2 One could conclude that since the rate of prostate localization was similar, the presence or absence of pathogenic bacteria has no bearing on this syndrome. However, the data on bacterial colonization with uropathogenic bacterial colonization of the bladder argue that this simplistic approach is not always true. More than 100,000 uropathogenic bacteria and pyuria are routinely identified in the bladder urine of patients with symptomatic cystitis and women with asymptomatic bacteriuria. Clearly the difference is not the presence, much less the number, of bacteria or white blood cells, but rather the virulence characteristics of the bacteria and/or the host susceptibility factors. Thus, the possibility that uropathogenic bacteria associated with UCPPS are different from those associated with traditional cystitis or asymptomatic bacteriuria has been documented, associated with chronic pelvic pain syndrome in humans, and able to cause tactile allodynia (pelvic pain) in a mouse model while the
Regulation of MEF2 by Histone Deacetylase 4- and SIRT1 Deacetylase-Mediated Lysine Modifications

The class II deacetylase histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) negatively regulates the transcription factor MEF2. HDAC4 is believed to repress MEF2 transcriptional activity by binding to MEF2 and catalyzing local histone deacetylation. Here we report that HDAC4 also controls MEF2 by a novel SUMO E3 ligase activity. We show that HDAC4 interacts with the SUMO E2 conjugating enzyme Ubc9 and is itself sumoylated. The overexpression of HDAC4 leads to prominent MEF2 sumoylation in vivo, whereas recombinant HDAC4 stimulates MEF2 sumoylation in a reconstituted system in vitro. Importantly, HDAC4 promotes sumoylation on a lysine residue that is also subject to acetylation by a MEF2 coactivator, the acetyltransferase CBP, suggesting a possible interplay between acetylation and sumoylation in regulating MEF2 activity. Indeed, MEF2 acetylation is correlated with MEF2 activation and dynamically induced upon muscle cell differentiation, while sumoylation inhibits MEF2 transcriptional activity. Unexpectedly, we found that HDAC4 does not function as a MEF2 deacetylase. Instead, the NAD+-dependent deacetylase SIRT1 can potently induce MEF2 deacetylation. Our studies reveal a novel regulation of MEF2 transcriptional activity by two distinct classes of deacetylases that affect MEF2 sumoylation and acetylation.
Perpendicular flow deviation in a magnetized counter-streaming plasma

Charged dust exists in various regions in the Solar System. How this charged dust interacts with the surrounding plasma is not well understood. In this study we neglect the charging process and treat the charged dust as a fluid interacting with the ambient magnetized plasma fluid. The model reproduces the expected plasma deceleration with both positively charged and negatively charged dust, but a new effect arises. Negatively charged dust causes the magnetic field to bend in the direction of the convection electric field, while positively charged dust causes the opposite magnetic field bending. Consequently, the interaction does not only result in a perpendicular shift in the downstream current system, but also a rotation in these currents. We present quantitative results using the multi-fluid MHD code BATSRUS for both subsonic and supersonic interactions. We find that the same perpendicular bending exists for all counter-streaming interaction problems, independent of the shape of the dust cloud. The new model can be applied to plasma interaction studies including, but not limited to, charged dust particles in the solar wind, cometary plasma, the Enceladus plume, and active plasma releases, such as the Active Magnetospheric Particle Tracer Experiment (AMPTE) mission. The predicted behavior is consistent with observations at Enceladus.
The environmental efficiency of well-being: A cross-national analysis

Abstract Recent research has conceptualized sustainability as the environmental efficiency of well-being (EWEB). This concept takes into account the benefits societies are able to produce from their demands on the environment. Research along these lines indicates that countries vary widely in the efficiency with which they transform the Earth’s resources into well-being. Here, we take up this finding as a puzzle to be explained. We construct a new measure of EWEB using the ecological footprint per capita (a measure of environmental consumption) and average life satisfaction (a measure of subjective well-being). We draw hypotheses from political economy, modernization, and sustainable consumption theories in the environmental social sciences. Using full information maximum likelihood estimation, we test the effects of climate, political, economic, and social factors on EWEB with a sample of 105 countries. Key findings include a negative quadratic effect of economic development on EWEB, a negative effect of income inequality, and a positive effect of social capital.
Vegetation dynamics after spring and summer fires in red and white pine stands at Voyageurs National Park

ABSTRACT: Conducting dormant season or springtime prescribed fire treatments has become a common practice in many regions of the United States to restore ecosystems to their natural state. Despite the knowledge that historically, fires often occurred during the summer, the application of summer burns has been deterred, in part, by a lack of understanding of fire season effects on vegetation. We explored the differences in fire effects between spring and summer burns at Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota. The fire season effects on the ground layer vegetation were clearly different among the treatments: pre-burn, spring, and summer. Vegetation composition of pre-burn and after spring fires was similar, but differed significantly from the summer fires. Spring fires propagated the same species that were present prior to the fire, whereas summer fires promoted a new suite of species through the germination of seedbank and high seed dispersal species. Cover and richness of seed bank and intolerant species were...
Efficient block noise removal based on nonlinear manifolds

The problem of block noise removal is considered. It is assumed that the original image is on or close to a sub-space of admissible images in the form of a low dimensional nonlinear manifold. We propose to use a close variant of the total variation regularizer for measuring block noise. Based on this noise measure, we present an effective approach that reconstructs the original image in the presence of block noise. Our main computational task is the solution of a quadratic programming problem, for which we propose a very efficient interior point method. The effectiveness and efficiency of our approach is demonstrated by an example.
Acclimation of Channel Catfish to Environmental Nitrite

Empirical indications that channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) may acclimate to environmental nitrite were studied in the laboratory. Channel catfish were exposed to 1.31, 2.49, 4.42 or 6.30 mg/L nitrite-N for 15 days. Methemoglobin concentrations in test fish indicated acclimation occurred in the fish exposed to 2.49 and 4.42 mg/L nitrite-N. Acclimation was not observed in fish exposed to the highest or the lowest concentration of nitrite. Fish exposed to 6.30 mg/L nitrite-N also developed anemia. The results indicate that channel catfish do have the ability to acclimate to nitrite and that this acclimation is concentration and time dependent.
Teachers as Facilitators: What Autonomy‐Supportive Teachers Do and Why Their Students Benefit

Abstract Students are sometimes proactive and engaged in classroom learning activities, but they are also sometimes only reactive and passive. Recognizing this, in this article I argue that students’ classroom engagement depends, in part, on the supportive quality of the classroom climate in which they learn. According to the dialectical framework within self‐determination theory, students possess inner motivational resources that classroom conditions can support or frustrate. When teachers find ways to nurture these inner resources, they adopt an autonomy‐supportive motivating style. After articulating what autonomy‐supportive teachers say and do during instruction, I discuss 3 points: teachers can learn how to be more autonomy supportive toward students; teachers most engage students when they offer high levels of both autonomy support and structure; and an autonomy‐supportive motivating style is an important element to a high‐quality teacher‐student relationship.
A channel evolution model to guide sustainable urban stream restoration

Channel evolution models (CEMs) are used to structure the interpretation of observed channel morphology to support long-term restoration of these systems. However, channels reflect the variety of their watersheds' climatological, ecological and physiographic contexts, and so no single CEM can be truly ‘global’. Unrecognised differences between the assumptions and the reality of evolutionary trajectories of particular streams can subsequently lead to restoration actions that neither fully achieve their intended objectives nor successfully self-maintain even limited improvements. Despite the daunting variety of biophysical settings, however, urbanisation imposes distinctive, homogenising influences on virtually all watercourses, suggesting that even a relatively small set of evolutionary pathways can embrace much of the diversity of critical watershed drivers on urban channels. CEMs describing single-thread channel response to incision are most common in the published literature, but not every urban disturbance yields this classic sequence, initiated by excess transport capacity followed by incision, bank erosion, widening and ultimately a lowered re-equilibrated channel. A comprehensive urban CEM must also include responses under less common (but locally ubiquitous) conditions, such as excess sediment relative to transport capacity (the ‘inverse’ of the classic CEM), imposed constraints on vertical and/or lateral adjustment, and multi-thread channels or those influenced by instream or riparian vegetation. An urban CEM also requires a hierarchical framework that acknowledges fundamental differences in the process drivers within any given watershed, because a single observation of channel form can rarely pinpoint the context or evolutionary trajectory of every stream. We present a geomorphic framework for diagnosing and predicting the evolution of urban streams, potentially guiding the selection of restoration targets that are achievable within an urban context and sustainable without ongoing maintenance.
Characterization of Superplastically Formed Friction Stir Weld in Titanium 6AL-4V: Preliminary Results

A collaborative University and Industry research project was undertaken to evaluate the performance of as friction stir welded (FSW) and friction stir welded and superplastically formed (FSW-SPF) titanium 6Al-4V alloy sheets. The purpose of this initial phase of research is to test and evaluate the mechanical properties of FSW and post SPF-FSW 2-3 mm thick sheets of titanium. As-FSW and FSW with SPF Ti alloy (standard and fine grain size) butt joints were characterized in terms of microstructures, micro-hardness, metallurgy and tensile properties. The preliminary results of the FSW and post FSW-SPF joint were found to be close to that of as-received titanium with respect to strength, but elongations were decreased.
Models of Human AKI: Resemblance, Reproducibility, and Return on Investment

Extensively studied for several decades, animal models of human AKI have, to date, yielded no specific therapy that benefits the human disease, either in preventing its occurrence, ameliorating its severity, hastening its recovery, or retarding the risk of ensuing CKD. Such inability to translate
The expanding world of small RNAs in plants

Plant genomes encode various small RNAs that function in distinct, yet overlapping, genetic and epigenetic silencing pathways. However, the abundance and diversity of small-RNA classes varies among plant species, suggesting coevolution between environmental adaptations and gene-silencing mechanisms. Biogenesis of small RNAs in plants is well understood, but we are just beginning to uncover their intricate regulation and activity. Here, we discuss the biogenesis of plant small RNAs, such as microRNAs, secondary siRNAs and heterochromatic siRNAs, and their diverse cellular and developmental functions, including in reproductive transitions, genomic imprinting and paramutation. We also discuss the diversification of small-RNA-directed silencing pathways through the expansion of RNA-dependent RNA polymerases, DICER proteins and ARGONAUTE proteins.
Measurement of Equivalent Pore Radius and Contact Angle Within Porous Media

The equivalent pore radius (i.e. capillary radius) and contact angle determine the capillary pressure generated in a porous medium. The most common method to determine these two parameters is through measurement of the capillary pressure generated by a test liquid and a reference liquid (i.e. a liquid with near-zero contact angle). The rate of rise technique commonly used to determine the capillary pressure results in significant uncertainties. In this study, we utilize our recently developed technique for independent measurement of the capillary pressure and permeability to determine the equivalent capillary radii and contact angle of water within micropillar wick structures. In this method, the experimentally measured dryout threshold of a wick structure at different wicking lengths is fit to Darcy’s law to extract the capillary pressure generated by the test liquid. The equivalent capillary radii of different wick geometries are determined by measuring the capillary pressures generated using n-hexane as the working fluid. It is found that the equivalent capillary radius is dependent on the diameter of pillars as well as the spacing between pillars. The equivalent capillary radii of micropillar wicks determined using the new method are found to be up to 7 times greater than the current geometry-based first order estimates. The contact angle subtended by water at the walls of the micropillars was determined by measuring the capillary pressure generated by water within the arrays and the measured capillary radii for the different geometries. This contact angle was determined to be 52.7°.Copyright © 2015 by ASME