cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Patterns of benthic cover with depth on Caribbean mesophotic reefs

Tropical mesophotic reefs, which span the transition between shallow reefs and the bottom of the photic zone (30–150 m), are an understudied ecosystem. It has been proposed that sponge abundance increases with depth through 150 m on reefs throughout the Caribbean and perhaps globally (the “sponge increase hypothesis”). A recent review concluded that there was not sufficient evidence in the literature to support this hypothesis for the Caribbean and that further data quantifying changes in sponge abundance with depth on mesophotic reefs are needed. In this study, percentage cover of sponges, macroalgae, and hard corals was estimated using 1123 images taken by remotely operated vehicles on 58 dive tracks on mesophotic reefs off the coasts of Puerto Rico (to 180 m) and St. Thomas (US Virgin Islands; to 100 m), and on the Flower Garden Banks (Gulf of Mexico; to 100 m). Off Puerto Rico, sponge cover decreased with increasing depth below ~ 100 m, driven primarily by a decline in the cover of emergent (non-encrusting) sponge species. Sponge cover did not change with depth off St. Thomas or on the Flower Garden Banks and was an order of magnitude lower on the Flower Garden Banks. The data from these three locations did not support the sponge increase hypothesis. Mean cover of hard coral off Puerto Rico and St. Thomas was less than 8% between 20 and 80 m and negligible below these depths, but much higher ( ~ 15–30%) between 30 and 40 m on the Flower Garden Banks and negligible below these depths. Off Puerto Rico, cover of macroalgae decreased with depth in a manner similar to sponge cover, which may reflect a positive relationship between sponges and macroalgae in the lower mesophotic zone ( > 100 m). Off St. Thomas and on the Flower Garden Banks, which were both shallower sites with more abundant macroalgae, sponge abundance was likely limited due to competition for space. Generalizations about patterns of sponge abundance across mesophotic depths await further studies, but our data suggest a depth-dependent relationship with macroalgal abundance.
A hypothesis linking the energy demand of the brain to obesity risk

The causes of obesity are complex and multifactorial. We propose that one unconsidered but likely important factor is the energetic demand of brain development, which could constrain energy available for body growth and other functions, including fat deposition. Humans are leanest during early childhood and regain body fat in later childhood. Children reaching this adiposity rebound (AR) early are at risk for adult obesity. In aggregate data, the developing brain consumes a lifetime peak of 66% of resting energy expenditure in the years preceding the AR, and brain energy use is inversely related to body weight gain from infancy until puberty. Building on this finding, we hypothesize that individual variation in childhood brain energy expenditure will help explain variation in the timing of the AR and subsequent obesity risk. The idea that brain energetics constrain fat deposition is consistent with evidence that genes that elevate BMI are expressed in the brain and mediate a trade-off between the size of brain structures and BMI. Variability in energy expended on brain development and function could also help explain widely documented inverse relationships between the BMI and cognitive abilities. We estimate that variability in brain energetics could explain the weight differential separating children at the 50th and 70th BMI-for-age centiles immediately before the AR. Our model proposes a role for brain energetics as a driver of variation within a population's BMI distribution and suggests that educational interventions that boost global brain energy use during childhood could help reduce the burden of obesity.
Asymptotic convergence of the angular discretization error in the scalar flux computed from the particle transport equation with the method of discrete ordinates

Abstract The asymptotic convergence of the angular discretization error in the scalar flux solution of the particle transport equation computed with the Discrete Ordinates ( S N ) method with increasing quadrature order is examined. Five selected angular quadrature types are considered: Level Symmetric (LS), Legendre-Chebyshev Quadrangular (LCQ), Legendre-Chebyshev Triangular(LCT), Quadruple Range (QR) and Quadruple Range Spence-type (QRS) quadrature sets. We relate the S N angular discretization error to the quadrature error, and split the total flux into the uncollided flux and the fully collided flux, and then we verify the uncollided scalar flux error and the fully collided scalar flux error separately. After developing the theoretical basis for the relationship between true solution regularity and quadrature rule error, we employ a two-dimensional problem to verify the observed and theoretical convergence orders for the region-averaged uncollided and fully collided scalar flux errors. Numerical results show that the angular discretization errors in the region-averaged scalar flux obtained by different quadrature types converge with different rates, that are commensurate with the regularity order of the exact angular flux within the quadrature-designed integration interval. The angular discretization error in the uncollided region-averaged scalar flux obtained by LC class quadratures converges linearly, and the error obtained by QR class quadrature sets converges quadratically. The angular discretization error in the fully collided region-averaged scalar flux converges linearly for LC class quadratures, and faster-than-second order for QR class quadrature sets.
Ease of Application and Removal of Common Total-Contact Cast Systems Used in the Podiatric Medical Community

Background: Although total-contact cast (TCC) systems are considered the gold standard for off-loading plantar ulcers, less than 6% of patients with diabetic foot ulcers receive them due to negativ...
Papers we should be reading

This issue's recommended paper comes from Axel Hubl (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory). Among other distinctions, Axel received the ACM/IEEE-CS George Michael Memorial High Performance Computing Fellowship in 2016.
All-order momentum correlations of three ultracold bosonic atoms confined in triple-well traps: Signatures of emergent many-body quantum phase transitions and analogies with three-photon quantum-optics interference

All-order momentum correlation functions associated with the time-of-flight spectroscopy of three spinless ultracold bosonic interacting neutral atoms confined in a linear three-well optical trap are presented. The underlying Hamiltonian employed for the interacting atoms is an augmented three-site Hubbard model. Our investigations target matter-wave interference of massive particles, aiming at the establishment of experimental protocols for characterizing the quantum states of trapped attractively or repulsively interacting ultracold particles, with variable interaction strength. The manifested advantages and deep physical insights that can be gained through the employment of the results of our study for a comprehensive understanding of the nature of the quantum states of interacting many-particle systems, via analysis of the all-order (that is 1st, 2nd and 3rd) momentum correlation functions for three bosonic atoms in a three well confinement, are illustrated and discussed in the context of time-of-flight inteferometric interrogations of the interaction-strength-induced emergent quantum phase transition from the Mott insulating phase to the superfluid one. Furthermore, we discuss that our inteferometric interrogations establish strong analogies with the quantum-optics interference of three photons, including the aspects of genuine three-photon interference, which are focal to explorations targeting the development and implementation of quantum information applications and quantum computing.
Skilled Nursing Facilities: It Is a Shared Partnership

In the changing world of total joint arthroplasty (TJA), fewer patients discharge to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) than in the past. More efficient perioperative assessment and optimization, improved anesthesia, multimodal pain management, and an emphasis on early mobility have made discharge to SNF unnecessary for the majority of patients undergoing TJA. In addition, discharge to SNF is associated with increased morbidity and cost, making discharge to SNF less favorable. Bundled payments are becoming more prevalent and are significantly impacted by discharge to SNF, making cost even more of a factor. However, certain patient populations need higher levels of care for a safe postsurgical recovery, and SNFs play an important role for these patients. Thus, good relationships with SNFs are critical in order to provide safe and cost-effective care for those patients requiring them.
Real World Experience with the HeartMate 3 (HM3) Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD): Analysis of the First 125 Consecutive Patients at a Single Institution

Purpose Excellent outcomes following HM3 LVAD implantation have been reported in the setting of a large multicenter randomized controlled trial. Real world experience reports with this device are still limited. We sought to review our experience with this fully magnetically levitated LVAD. Methods The first 125 consecutive patients who received a HM3 LVAD at our institution from October 1, 2015 to August 30, 2019 were analyzed. Pump exchange procedures were excluded. We investigated clinical outcomes including survival and the development of postoperative complications. Results All devices were implanted via median sternotomy. Mean patient age was 57.5 ± 11 years, 72 % were males and 74% African-Americans. Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy was the most common diagnosis (73%). 67 % of the patients were INTERMACS profiles 1 or 2. 19 % of devices were implanted as bridge to transplant and 59% as destination therapy. Mean body-mass index at the time of implant was 30.5 ± 8 Kg/m2. Mean creatinine level was 1.29 ± 0.4 mg/dl and mean bilirubin was 1.45 ± 1.6 mg/dl. The mean length of stay during index admission for LVAD was 30 ± 17 days and the mean follow-up time was 411 ± 34 days. The rate of complications measured as EPPY was 0.42 for GI bleeding, 0.03 for ischemic stroke, 0.01 for hemorrhagic stroke, 0 for clinically suspected pump thrombosis or confirmed pump thrombosis, 0.22 for LVAD related infection, 0.16 for other systemic infection and 0.59 for acute heart failure. Survival was estimated at 96%, 91%, 88%, 81% and 74% at 30-day, 90-day, 1-year, 2-year, and overall 3-year follow-up, respectively (Figure). Conclusion In this single center, real world experience, HeartMate 3 implantation was associated with excellent survival comparable to those demonstrated in a recent clinical trial. The incidence of complications was also low, including no episodes of suspected or confirmed pump thrombosis.
Assessment of Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Volumetric MRI Correlates of Clinical Disability in Multiple Sclerosis: A Preliminary Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Although global and regional brain volume has been established as a relevant measure to define and predict multiple sclerosis (MS) severity, characterization of specific trends by race/ethnicity is currently lacking. We aim to (1) characterize racial disparities in disability-specific patterns of brain MRI volumetric measures between Hispanic and Caucasian individuals with MS and (2) explore the relevance of these measures as predictors of clinical disability progression. METHODS Brain MRI scans from 94 Hispanic and 94 age- and gender-matched Caucasian MS patients were analyzed using automatic and manual segmentation techniques. Select global and regional volume measures were correlated to Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores at baseline and subsequent follow-up visits. RESULTS Hispanic patients had a higher baseline median EDSS score (interquartile range [IQR], 2.0; [1.0-3.5]) compared to Caucasians (median [IQR], 1.0 [.0-2.0]) and an increased risk of requiring ambulatory assistance (hazard ratio [HR], 9.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.8-32.5). Normalized thalamic volume was moderately associated with EDSS scores (rs = -.42, P < .001 in Hispanics; rs = -.32, P = .002 in Caucasians) and was the best predictor of sustained disability worsening in both racial groups in a time-to-event analysis. CONCLUSIONS The confounding impact of race on quantitative brain volume measures may affect the interpretation of outcome measures in MS clinical trials.
Kant on Just War and International Order

Kant’s legal and political philosophy is essential for understanding and advancing international order. The article aims to posit arguments that confront the claims that Kant was just war theorist. Since that is the most opposed part of Kant’s political philosophy, mostly due to the misleading interpretation of his argumentation, the author presents Kant’s standpoint on the matters of just war and international order and discusses potential ambiguities between Kant’s and his critics’ theories. Furthermore, the consequences of opponents’ arguments considering states of states, world republic and cosmopolitan democracy in contemporary political philosophy are debated. Finally, the possibility of consent between the three model solutions which are arising from the contemporary international order theory and Kant’s position are compared and analysed.
Zoned heating, ventilation, and air–conditioning residential systems: A systematic review

Abstract Historically, humanity has considered the control of cooling and heating an aspect related to both comfort and survival, currently being it evaluated not as a luxury, but as a fact of modern existence. In the global context, at the beginning of the 20th century, the efforts to develop cooling techniques with the aim of maintaining control climate at indoor spaces of the office and residential buildings, were evident. This initial direction that is taken to achieve comfort levels in terms of cooling and heating generates what is now called heating, ventilation, and air–conditioning (HVAC). This paper provides a general description of the zoning methods that support the structural description of the thermal zones of a building, required for the design, control and maintenance of HVAC systems. The main objective of this study is to systematically review the current research on zoning HVAC residential systems. The article conclusion is that an intelligent zoning strategy using a criterion associated with user behavior, occupancy patterns and its corresponding schedules, will promote the development of efficient optimization processes for energy consumption and thermal comfort if they are considered as a structural part of the HVAC system. Finally, in terms of modeling the advice is to start with a white box model, phenomenological, but to follow-up or support it with data-based models.
Note, The Standard of Proof of Causation in Legal Malpractice Cases

This note argues that the use of a but for standard of causation in legal malpractice cases - i.e., that the plaintiff must show that but for the malpractice he or she would have prevailed in the underlying action - is too stringent, making recovery unreasonably difficult. The note therefore argues for implementation of a lost substantial possibility of recovery standard. This is just a student note, and an old one at that, but a lot of courts and commentators have cited it. In any event, modesty and self-restraint seem to play little role when authors are deciding what to post on SSRN.
New Techniques in Characterization of Ferroelectric Materials

Two new techniques have been developed to characterize Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 (PMN-PT) based ferroelectric single crystals: (i) electro-thermal imaging, and (ii) single crystal x-ray diffraction in the transmission mode. (i) Electro-thermal imaging is a remote sensing technique that can detect the polarization direction and poling state of a whole crystal slice. This imaging technique utilizes an IR camera to determine the field induced temperature change and does not require any special or destructive sample preparation. In the resulting images it is possible to distinguish regions of 180 deg domains. This powerful technique can be used remotely during poling to determine the poling state of the crystal to avoid over-poling that can result in inferior properties and/or cracking of the crystals. Electro-thermal imaging produced the first direct observations of polarization rotation. Under bipolar field, the domains near the corners were the first to switch direction. As the field increased above the coercive field, domains at the center part of the crystals switched direction. (ii) X-ray diffraction in the transmission mode has long been used in structure determination of organic crystals and proteins; however, it is not used much to characterize inorganic systems. 0.7Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-0.3PbTiO3 single crystals were examined by this XRD technique for the first time, and a never-before-seen super-lattice was revealed with a doubling of the unit cell in all three directions, giving a cell volume eight times that of a traditional perovskite unit cell. The significance of the super-lattice peaks increased with poling, indicating a structural contribution to ordering. Lack of such observations by electron diffraction in the transmission electron microscope examinations suggests the presence of a bulk effect.
The Whole-of-School Approach to Physical Activity: Findings From a National Sample of U.S. Secondary Students.

Introduction The IOM recommends schools adopt a Whole-of-School (WOS) approach—one that is comprehensive, coordinated, and provides opportunities for students to be active before, during, and after school. This study examined, in a nationally representative sample of secondary students in the conterminous U.S., (1) the degree of implementation of a WOS approach and (2) the association between WOS implementation and student physical activity. Methods A WOS index—based on six school practices—was calculated using self-reported school administrator data gathered in 2010 and 2011 (N=1,031). Student-level data were obtained from nationally representative samples of eighth-, tenth-, and 12th-grade students during the same years (eighth grade, n schools =96, n students =3,689; tenth/12th grades, n schools =178, n students =4,670). Multilevel Poisson models were estimated in 2013–2014 to examine the relationship between the WOS index and self-reported physical activity. Results Few students attended schools with high WOS index scores. Middle school students attending schools with higher WOS index scores were physically active for at least 60 minutes on more days than students attending schools with lower WOS index scores (exp[β]=1.031, 95% CI=1.008, 1.054). The WOS index score was not associated with physical activity among high school students. Conclusions This study finds that many schools are not offering the full array of practices comprising a WOS approach to physical activity, especially at the high school level. Yet, middle school students could have increased physical activity levels if schools were to implement a WOS approach to physical activity.
Plasticity of aggressive thresholds inHyla regilladiscrete accommodation to encounter calls

Abstract Male Pacific treefrogs, Hyla regilla use advertisement and encounter calls to regulate inter-male spacing within breeding choruses. Encounter calls are produced when the advertisement calls of a neighbour exceed a threshold amplitude. These ‘aggressive thresholds’ are plastic: males resume advertisement calling (accommodate) to repeated presentation of advertisement calls at amplitudes 4 dB above their aggressive threshold. A male's aggressive threshold for the advertisement call is positively correlated with the maximum amplitude of advertisement calls of neighbours, measured at the focal male's position. The aggressive thresholds of males for the encounter call, however, are not significantly correlated with the maximum call amplitude of their neighbours. The present study tested whether this disjunction results from males not having recently experienced supra-threshold encounter calls, or from fixed aggressive thresholds for this call. Playback of encounter calls to males in the field showed that males generally accommodated within 2 min when calls were 4 dB above their aggressive thresholds for this call, but accommodated more slowly, and sometimes moved, at 8 dB above threshold. A second study tested whether accommodation to the encounter call elicits parallel elevations of a male's aggressive threshold to the advertisement call. Playback of encounter calls at supra-threshold levels caused the aggressive threshold of males to increase 15 dB for the encounter call but only 2 dB for the advertisement call. These two call types are spectrally highly similar; therefore, selective accommodation cannot result from sensory adaptation in the periphery. Plasticity of aggressive thresholds, like plasticity of aggressive signalling, may be important in balancing the costs and benefits of aggressive behaviour.
Abstract 1914: Functional characterization of oncogenic-induced dedifferentiation in neurons and astrocytes using DP-seq

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and lethal form of intracranial tumor. Using a Cre-inducible lentiviral GBM mouse model we recently showed that gliomas can originate from dedifferentiation of mature neurons and astrocytes. Expression analysis of the known markers (of the differentiated cell-types) showed diminished expression while the expression of the undifferentiated state markers were significantly up-regulated in the dedifferentiated transformed neurons and astrocytes. In this study, we performed whole transcriptome analysis of these cells along with mouse pluripotent embryonic stem cells (mESC), neural stem cells (NSC), neurons and astrocytes to characterize the undifferentiated state of these cells. Our analysis revealed that dedifferentiated cell-types shared traits with neurons and NSCs at the global transcriptome level suggesting that they have retained memory of their cell-of-origin and share markers of undifferentiated cells with NSCs. Functional analysis of the transcriptomics data revealed involvement of the Wnt signaling, cell cycle and the focal adhesion pathways in defining the state of the dedifferentiated cell-types. Our analysis further revealed conservation of a gene interaction network in both dedifferentiated cell-types. This network exhibited a modular architecture, connecting components of the cell cycle pathway to Wnt signaling and the focal adhesion pathways. One of these components, Osteopontin (OPN), also known as Spp1, is highly expressed and secreted by the tumors and dedifferentiated transformed neurons and astrocytes. Attempts to inhibit the action of OPN, either by using a neutralizing antibody or silencing the OPN gene (shRNA), blocked the formation of tumorspheres and diminished their proliferating capacity. We are currently assessing the effects of the inhibition of OPN function in vivo. Further genetic perturbation of additional interacting partners and/or the abolishment of the interactions can help elucidate the regulatory mechanism of this network in maintaining the dedifferentiated state of the transformed neurons and astrocytes. Citation Format: Dinorah Friedmann-Morvinski, Vipul Bhargava, Shakti Gupta, Inder M. Verma, Shankar Subramaniam. Functional characterization of oncogenic-induced dedifferentiation in neurons and astrocytes using DP-seq. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1914. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1914
Stereochemistry of β-diketone complexes of cobalt(III)—V: Proton magnetic resonance spectra of some mono and bis(β-diketone) complexes

Proton magnetic resonance spectra of several mono and bis(β-diketone)cobalt(III) complexes have been measured and the chemical shifts of the methyl and methine protons determined. The complexes examined included: [Co en2dik]2+ where dik equal substituted acetylacetonate anions; cis and trans[Co acac2NO2L] where L equal alkylamines and substituted pyridines; and cis and trans[Co acac2L2]+(−) where L2 equal bidentate amines, ammonia and nitrite ion. The variation in chemical shift with the various ligands was several times greater for the methine than for methyl protons. The large variation in chemical shift with β-diketone substituent can be related to inductive effects and magnetic shielding effects. The much smaller variation of the chemical shift with other ligands can be rationalized by invoking magnetic anisotropy effects of the ligands. Electric field and cis and trans effects were found to be small.
Chinese Soft Power in the Indian Ocean

For the past several years, Beijing has been attempting to “shape” the diplomatic and strategic environment in maritime Asia, projecting an image of itself as an innately trustworthy great power. As a part of this public relations campaign, Chinese leaders have retailed the story of Zheng He, the Ming Dynasty eunuch admiral who voyaged to destinations throughout the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean six centuries ago. They have touted the feats of Zheng He, who sojourned in maritime Asia without attempting military conquest, as a metaphor for China’s current peaceful ascent in the maritime domain. In doing so, Beijing hopes to convince key audiences in Southeast Asia and South Asia that it remains pacific in outlook - and thus can be counted on not to abuse the sea power it is amassing. An attractive vision of China, they hope, will avert the tendency of regional states to band together to balance Chinese power.Until now, Chinese diplomats have had the luxury to tell their story how they wanted, since deployments of China’s naval forces beyond East Asia remained abstract. Beijing neither saw the need nor boasted the capacity to maintain strong forces far from Chinese shores. However, the headline-grabbing dispatch of two destroyers and a combat logistics ship to the Gulf of Aden on counterpiracy duty in late 2008 has put China squarely in the spotlight. By depicting itself as an inherently defensive power, China has set a high standard for its behavior at sea. Fellow Asian powers will hold Beijing to this lofty benchmark - measuring its actions against the storyline Chinese leaders have developed around Zheng He’s voyages.Beijing’s antipiracy mission thus offers an ideal opportunity to test empirically the efficacy of Chinese soft power at sea. To this end, this paper explores the motives behind the Zheng He narrative and assesses the key messages that Chinese leaders are attempting to convey to Asian capitals. This study then examines the extent to which China’s unprecedented naval presence in the Indian Ocean has dovetailed with the Zheng He storyline and with the larger strategy of easing regional misgivings about Chinese maritime power. Finally, the paper analyzes how India, a target audience, is responding to China’s narrative, drawing several preliminary conclusions about the effectiveness and the prospects of Chinese soft power in the Indian Ocean.
Noninvasive temperature mapping with MRI using chemical shift water-fat separation

Tissues containing both water and lipids, e.g., breast, confound standard MR proton reference frequency-shift methods for mapping temperatures due to the lack of temperature-induced frequency shift in lipid protons. Generalized Dixon chemical shift–based water-fat separation methods, such as GE’s iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least-squares estimation method, can result in complex water and fat images. Once separated, the phase change over time of the water signal can be used to map temperature. Phase change of the lipid signal can be used to correct for non-temperature-dependent phase changes, such as amplitude of static field drift. In this work, an image acquisition and postprocessing method, called water and fat thermal MRI, is demonstrated in phantoms containing 30:70, 50:50, and 70:30 water-to-fat by volume. Noninvasive heating was applied in an Off1-On-Off2 pattern over 50 min, using a miniannular phased radiofrequency array. Temperature changes were referenced to the first image acquisition. Four fiber optic temperature probes were placed inside the phantoms for temperature comparison. Region of interest (ROI) temperature values colocated with the probes showed excellent agreement (global mean ± standard deviation: −0.09 ± 0.34°C) despite significant amplitude of static field drift during the experiments.
Stereospecific conjugate addition of organolithium reagents to naphthylimines. A facile route to 1,1,2- and 1,2-substituted dihydroronaphthalenes

Abstract Addition of organolithium reagents at low temperature to the cyclohexylimine of 1-naphthaldehyde followed by electrophilic trapping of the intermediate gives rise to high yields of the title compounds.
Experimental simulation of tensile behavior of lunar soil simulant JSC-1

The return of humans to the Moon, which includes construction and infrastructure development remain a national priority for exploration of space. Thus, a thorough understanding of lunar soil properties for purposes of engineering design is required. In the past lunar soil (regolith) simulant JSC-1 has been widely used by investigators in feasibility studies to device preliminary concepts, where basic strength, compaction and stiffness behavior are of importance. While the tensile strength of granular soils is customarily assumed to be insignificant or zero in terrestrial engineering design, tensile strength behavior may be of greater importance in lunar construction. Experimental studies have shown that the tensile strength of regolith, specifically JSC-1 is substantial and reliable techniques for assessing behavior are needed. A direct tension device was recently developed to determine tensile strength properties of granular soils for a wide range of packing densities, and experiments were conducted on JSC-1 to determine ranges of tensile strength. The specimens were prepared by a miniature compaction technique. This paper presents tensile strength results for JSC-1, which may be of importance for future infrastructure designs and development of in situ resource utilization on the Moon.
Death of serum-free mouse embryo cells caused by transforming growth factor beta 1 and effects of nutritional factors.

Transforming growth factor beta 1 (1 ng/ml) caused death of serum-free mouse embryo cells cultured in a medium consisting of a 1:1 mixture of Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's medium and Ham's F12 medium supplemented with fibronectin, insulin, transferrin, epidermal growth factor, and high density lipoprotein. Cell death occurred in the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids including linoleic acid in the absence of selenium. The death could be reversed by adding α-tocopherol to the culture indicating a mechanism involving fatty acid peroxidation. Butylated hydroxytoluene was a poor suppressor of cell death in contrast to α-tocopherol. High density lipoprotein and fatty acid-free albumin also suppressed cell death at the level of 20 μg/ml and 1 mg/ml, respectively. Transforming growth factor β1 also caused a low rate of cell growth after heat treatment of the cells at 45°C.
An Active Site Aromatic Triad in Escherichia coli DNA Pol IV Coordinates Cell Survival and Mutagenesis in Different DNA Damaging Agents

DinB (DNA Pol IV) is a translesion (TLS) DNA polymerase, which inserts a nucleotide opposite an otherwise replication-stalling N2-dG lesion in vitro, and confers resistance to nitrofurazone (NFZ), a compound that forms these lesions in vivo. DinB is also known to be part of the cellular response to alkylation DNA damage. Yet it is not known if DinB active site residues, in addition to aminoacids involved in DNA synthesis, are critical in alkylation lesion bypass. It is also unclear which active site aminoacids, if any, might modulate DinB's bypass fidelity of distinct lesions. Here we report that along with the classical catalytic residues, an active site “aromatic triad”, namely residues F12, F13, and Y79, is critical for cell survival in the presence of the alkylating agent methyl methanesulfonate (MMS). Strains expressing dinB alleles with single point mutations in the aromatic triad survive poorly in MMS. Remarkably, these strains show fewer MMS- than NFZ-induced mutants, suggesting that the aromatic triad, in addition to its role in TLS, modulates DinB's accuracy in bypassing distinct lesions. The high bypass fidelity of prevalent alkylation lesions is evident even when the DinB active site performs error-prone NFZ-induced lesion bypass. The analyses carried out with the active site aromatic triad suggest that the DinB active site residues are poised to proficiently bypass distinctive DNA lesions, yet they are also malleable so that the accuracy of the bypass is lesion-dependent.
Bacteriostatic Activity of Sulfonamides Against B. morganii and Paracolon Bacilli

Summary(1) Sulfanilamide and sulfa -thiazole exert bacteriostatic activity toward B. morgarni type I and paracolon bacillus. (2) Sulfathiazole in a concentration of 100 mg % is somewhat more effective than sulfanilamide in like concentration, but is less growth-inhibitory than sulfanilamide in a concentration of 1,000 mg %.
Marketing the Practice

To maintain our portion of the market share and to recruit new patients, our practice has used different marketing methods and tactics to promote our practice and advertise our standard of care. We have spent time and energy investigating the types of customers practices are competing for, including patients, referring physicians, employees, and payers. You cannot know enough about your business or competition. We use many different methods when designing our marketing plan, including tactics to develop physician referrals, tactics to develop new patients and maintain current patient volume, and education of the patients, public, and physicians. We will go into more detail in the following pages. We believe that marketing is not doing any one thing well; it is doing many things well all at once. We continually solicit feedback through surveys and going out into the community, from our patients and referring physicians.
The direct sum of semigroups is of inner type

A semigroup S is said to be of left inner type if the monoid of left translations of S is canonically isomorphic with S1. The semigroups of left inner type form a special class of semigroups whose simple characterization is not known. The main purpose of this paper is to show that the direct sum of at least three semigroups is of left inner type. A brief discussion is given on the exceptional case, when the semigroup is the direct sum of two summands.
Optimal actuator/sensor placement for linear parabolic PDEs using spatial H2 norm

The present work focuses on the optimal, with respect to certain criteria, placement of control actuators and sensors for transport-reaction processes which are mathematically modeled by linear parabolic partial differential equations. Using modal decomposition to discretize the spatial coordinate, and the notions of spatial and modal controllability and observability, the semi-infinite optimization problem is formulated as a nonlinear optimization problem in an abstract space, which is subsequently solved using standard search algorithms. The proposed method is successfully applied to a representative process, modeled by a one-dimensional parabolic PDE, where the optimal location of a single and multiple point actuators are computed.
A Modified Track Tube for Detecting Beach Mice

Standard track tube designs are ineffective for long-term monitoring of beach mice (Peromyscus polionotus) largely because of blowing sand and rain in the coastal dune habitat. We developed a novel track tube design with the tube elevated, capped on one end, and covered on the other end with a short 90° elbow tube. We tested this tube design against 2 other designs (elevated and ground). Our elevated 90° elbow track tubes detected beach mouse tracks more often and they were disturbed less frequently than elevated or ground tubes. Elevated 90° elbow track tubes are a practical means for managers to conduct long-term monitoring of beach mouse populations.
Effects of Treatment for Tobacco Dependence on Resting Cerebral Glucose Metabolism

While bupropion HCl and practical group counseling (PGC) are commonly used treatments for tobacco dependence, the effects of these treatments on brain function are not well established. For this study, 54 tobacco-dependent cigarette smokers underwent resting 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose–positron emission tomography (FDG–PET) scanning before and after 8 weeks of treatment with bupropion HCl, PGC, or pill placebo. Using Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM 2), changes in cerebral glucose metabolism from before to after treatment were compared between treatment groups and correlations were determined between amount of daily cigarette usage and cerebral glucose metabolism. Compared with placebo, the two active treatments (bupropion HCl and PGC) had reductions in glucose metabolism in the posterior cingulate gyrus. Further analysis suggested that PGC had a greater effect than bupropion HCl on glucose metabolism in this region. We also found positive correlations between daily cigarette use and glucose metabolism in the left occipital gyrus and parietal–temporal junction. There were no significant negative correlations between daily cigarette use and glucose metabolism. Our findings suggest that bupropion HCl and PGC reduce neural activity much as the performance of a goal-oriented task does in the default mode network of the brain, including the posterior cingulate gyrus. Thus, this study supports the theory that active treatments for tobacco dependence move the brain into a more goal-oriented state.
Intergroup Empathy: How Does Race Affect Empathic Neural Responses?

How does race affect the human ability to share and respond to the suffering of others? Recent evidence provides novel insight into how and why race alters empathic neural response.
Comatic Aberration in Infra-Red Spectrometer Design

Comatic images formed by off-axis rays reflected from a good ellipsoidal mirror were studied experimentally. Horizontal and vertical knife edges were used to chop slices of these images, and the alternating current output of a photo-multiplier tube, proportional to the chopped radiation, was used to indicate the intensity distributions in the comatic images.Calculations of intensity distributions in comatic images were made, and the experimental observations were predicted from them satisfactorily.Infra-red detector sensitivity is inversely proportional to the square root of the detector area. Accordingly, the intensity distribution in the comatic image may be used to calculate optimum dimensions for both the exit slit and the detector in an infra-red spectrometer.
Egocentric and allocentric search: effects of platform distance and environmental cues

Three water maze experiments with rats examined egocentric vs. allocentric search as a function of platform distance and the predictiveness of the start trajectory and environmental cues. In Experiment 1, rats trained to a Near platform predicted both by landmarks and a fixed start trajectory showed approximately equal egocentric and allocentric search when tested from a novel start location. Rats trained to a Far platform and tested the same way predominantly showed allocentric search. In Experiment 2, rats trained to a Near platform predicted only by landmarks or background cues showed predominant egocentric search. In Experiment 3, rats trained to a Near or a Far platform with a fixed trajectory and no landmarks, showed predominant egocentric. Non-predictive landmarks reduced egocentric search in rats trained with a Far, but not with a Near platform. Overall, with increased goal distance, rats decrease dependence on an egocentric trajectory and increase attention to surrounding landmarks. These results add to the developing notion that animals use both egocentric and allocentric search balanced by environmental conditions, such as distance to the goal and the number of landmarks.
ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS-PART II

The education of future civil engineers is incomplete without an appreciation of the men who created the profession of civil engineering in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. This paper is a “history module” designed to introduce the history and heritage of civil engineering into existing course work. The fourth in a series, this module traces our understanding of column behavior and the development of a range of equations used to analyze and design columns of various lengths and materials. It begins in the time of Euler and has no end, since engineers have not yet adopted a single equation that covers all lengths and materials. The first three modules dealt with the development of the truss, the Manning formula, and the flexure formula. It is my hope that additional modules will be written and packaged by ASCE for distribution to engineering faculty around the country.
Dynamical behavior of optomechanical induced transparency in a silica microresonator

In an optomechanical resonator, the optical and mechanical excitations can be coherent converted, which induces a transparency window for a weak probe laser beam. Here, we report an experimental study of transient optomechanical-induced transparency (OMIT) using the silica microcavity with breathing modes. We have also reported experimental studies on both OMIT and light storage under nearly the same conditions also illustrates the connections between these two closely related processes. As straightforward extension of the light storage process is to use a readout pulse that couples to a different optical mode. The resulting readout process enables optical wavelength or optical mode conversion.
A generalized equation of state for the thermodynamic properties of polar fluids

La relation generalisee de Lee et Kesler pour les proprietes thermodynamiques des fluides non polaires est combinee a une equation d'etat precise pour l'eau qui est utilisee comme etalon, pour les fluides polaires. On en deduit facteur de compressibilite, coefficient de fugacite, enthalpie et entropie
Mass Spectrometry for Clinical Toxicology: Therapeutic Drug Management and Trace Element Analysis

Mass spectrometry is rapidly expanding its role in clinical chemistry. To date, this growth has primarily been in the area of small molecule analysis, though the field now seems set for a rapid growth of protein and peptide analysis. Small molecule analysis applications can be grouped roughly into the analysis of endogenous compounds and the analysis of exogenous compounds. The analysis of exogenous compounds is largely the domain of toxicology, and this is the focus of this article. To limit the scope and, therefore, the length of this article, we focus primarily on 2 general topics within clinical toxicology: therapeutic drug monitoring and trace element analysis. While these 2 topics do not cover the full breadth of mass spectrometry applications in clinical toxicology, omitting, for example, clinical drugsof-abuse testing and applications supporting poison control programs, we feel that they, nevertheless, provide a fairly representative overview of mass spectrometry in the clinical toxicology lab.
Metabolic and functional studies of monocytes in congenital neutropenia.

Summary. Children with the severe form of congenital neutropenia usually die from infection by 2 yr of age. Metabolic and functional studies of monocytes from three patients with this disease were undertaken to understand further the role of monocytes in the host's defences against bacterial infection. The bactericidal capacity of monocytes compared favourably to the bactericidal capacity of control neutrophils (PMN). Metabolic studies of monocytes and control leucocytes showed similar stimulation of oxygen consumption, hexose monophosphate pathway activity arid 125iodide fixation during phagocytosis. Further, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity of patients’monocytes was comparable to the activity of control leucocytes. Using the Rebuck skin window, very few of the patients’mononuclcar cells were seen to migrate during the initial 2–4 hr of observation. During this time, the PMN migration of controls was maximal. Following the relatively acellular period observed in patients, a brisk mononuclear cell infiltration occurred apparently independent of the presence of neutrophils. Epinephrine injection into patients stimulated a marked increase of blood monocytes, suggesting the existence of a marginal monocyte pool. An injection of hydrocortisone caused an unexplained 3–8-fold decrease in circulating monocytes. The delay of phagocytic cell migration to an inflammatory site, and the apparent sensitivity of monocytes to hydrocortisone may account in part for the increased susceptibility to infection in patients with severe congenital neutropenia.
An ultrasound receiver with programmable time gain control.

An ultrasound receiver with programmable time gain control (TGC) has been developed. The TCG curve is synthesized from sequentially gated analog switches, each of which controls receiver gain over a range of lcm Diagnostic studies using a receiver with the programmable TGC curve show improved results in the amplitude equalization of received echoes and in the output display.
Differential tolerance to antinociceptive effects of mu opioids during repeated treatment with etonitazene, morphine, or buprenorphine in rats.

Rationale: Repeated treatment experiments with high and low efficacy agonists provide critical insight into possible mechanisms underlying development of opioid tolerance. Objective: Experiments in a tail-withdrawal assay tested the hypothesis that magnitude of tolerance to antinociceptive effects is inversely related to agonist relative efficacy in rats intermittently treated with etonitazene, morphine, or buprenorphine. Methods: The antinociceptive effects of five µ opioid agonists were tested in male, Sprague-Dawley rats in a warm-water tail-withdrawal assay. To induce tolerance, escalating doses of the higher efficacy agonist etonitazene, the high efficacy agonist morphine, or the lower efficacy agonist buprenorphine were administered twice daily for 2–8 weeks. Results: Etonitazene, etorphine, morphine, buprenorphine, and GPA 1657 [(1)-β-2′-hydroxy-2,9-dimethyl-5-phenyl-6,7-benzomorphan] produced dose-dependent increases in tail-withdrawal latency until 100% maximum possible effect (%MPE) was obtained. Treatment with escalating doses of etonitazene, morphine, or buprenorphine produced greater tolerance to the lower efficacy agonists buprenorphine and GPA 1657 than to the higher efficacy agonists etonitazene, etorphine, and morphine. Treatment with buprenorphine, a lower efficacy agonist, produced greater tolerance than did treatment with equivalent doses of the higher efficacy agonists morphine or etonitazene. Conclusions: Taken together, these data suggest that magnitude of antinociceptive tolerance is inversely related to relative efficacy of µ agonists, with lower efficacy agonists being more susceptible to tolerance than are higher efficacy agonists under these intermittent dosing conditions.