cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transforming Thymidine into a Magnetic Resonance Imaging Probe for Monitoring Gene Expression

Synthetic chemistry has revolutionized the understanding of many biological systems. Small compounds that act as agonists and antagonists of proteins, and occasionally as imaging probes, have contributed tremendously to the elucidation of many biological pathways. Nevertheless, the function of thousands of proteins is still elusive, and designing new imaging probes remains a challenge. Through screening and characterization, we identified a thymidine analogue as a probe for imaging the expression of herpes simplex virus type-1 thymidine kinase (HSV1-TK). To detect the probe, we used chemical exchange saturation transfer magnetic resonance imaging (CEST-MRI), in which a dynamic exchange process between an exchangeable proton and the surrounding water protons is used to amplify the desired contrast. Initially, five pyrimidine-based molecules were recognized as putative imaging agents, since their exchangeable imino protons resonate at 5-6 ppm from the water proton frequency and their detection is therefore less affected by endogenous CEST contrast or confounded by direct water saturation. Increasing the pK(a) value of the imino proton by reduction of its 5,6-double bond results in a significant reduction of the exchange rate (k(ex)) between this proton and the water protons. This reduced k(ex) of the dihydropyrimidine nucleosides fulfills the "slow to intermediate regime" condition for generating high CEST-MRI contrast. Consequently, we identified 5-methyl-5,6-dihydrothymidine as the optimal probe and demonstrated its feasibility for in vivo imaging of HSV1-TK. In light of these findings, this new approach can be generalized for designing specific probes for the in vivo imaging of a variety of proteins and enzymes.
Aeroacoustics of a High Aspect-Ratio Jet

Circulation control wings are a type of pneumatic high-lift device that have been extensively researched as to their aerodynamic benefits. However, there has been little research into the possible airframe noise reduction benefits of a circulation control wing. The key element of noise is the jet noise associated with the jet sheet emitted from the blowing slot. This jet sheet is essentially a high aspect-ratio rectangular jet. Thus, to fully understand the noise of a circulation control wing, the noise of high aspect-ratio rectangular jets must also be understood. A high aspect-ratio nozzle was fabricated to study the general characteristics of high aspect-ratio jets with aspect ratios from 100 to 3000. The jet noise of this nozzle was proportional to the 8" power of the jet velocity. It was also found that the jet noise was proportional to the slot height to the 312 power and slot width to the 1/2 power.
Comparison of inpatient insulin regimens with detemir plus aspart versus neutral protamine hagedorn plus regular in medical patients with type 2 diabetes.

Background: Studies comparing the use of basal bolus with insulin analogs vs. split-mixed regimens with human insulins in hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes are lacking. Research Design and Methods: In a controlled multicenter trial, we randomized 130 nonsurgical patients with blood glucose (BG) between 140 and 400 mg/dl to receive detemir once daily and aspart before meals (n = 67) or neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) and regular insulin twice daily (n = 63). Insulin dose was started at 0.4 U/kg · d for BG between 140 and 200 mg/dl or 0.5 U/kg · d for BG 201-400 mg/dl. Major study outcomes included differences in mean daily BG levels and frequency of hypoglycemic events between treatment groups. Results: Glycemic control improved similarly in both groups from a mean daily BG of 228 ± 54 and 223 ± 58 mg/dl (P = 0.61) to a mean daily BG level after the first day of 160 ± 38 and 158 ± 51 mg/dl in the detemir/aspart and NPH/regular insulin groups, respectively (P = 0.80). A BG target below 140 mg/dl before meals was achieved in 45% of patients in the detemir/aspart group and 48% in the NPH/regular group (P = 0.86). During treatment, 22 patients (32.8%) in the detemir/aspart group and 16 patients (25.4%) in the NPH/regular group had at least one episode of hypoglycemia (BG <60 mg/dl) during the hospital stay (P = 0.34). Conclusions: Treatment with basal/bolus regimen with detemir once daily and aspart before meals results in equivalent glycemic control and no differences in the frequency of hypoglycemia compared to a split-mixed regimen of NPH and regular insulin in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Low-energy dislocation structures in cyclically deformed Ni3Al single crystals

Abstract Low-energy dislocation structures in Ni3Al single crystals (oriented for single slip) fatigued at room temperature were studied using transmission electron microscopy. In general, dislocation structures in fatigued Ni3Al were composed of primary superdislocations, edge superdislocation bundles (mutually trapped edge superdislocations), primary edge superdislocation dipoles (line vector ∥ [1 2 1] ), and faulted superdislocation dipoles (line vector ∥ [1 1 0] or ∥ [01 1 ] ). No wall or cell structure was observed. Paired primary superdislocations, as they glided in the (111) slip plane during cyclic deformation, were energetically unstable because of the fluctuation of the separation between two superpartial dislocations ( b = ± 1 2 [ 1 01]) . The fluctuation led to an increase in the line energy of the primary superdislocations, and resulted in the onset of several dislocation reactions. Since the resulting dislocations of these reactions were all sessile, their line energy remained unchanged during cyclic deformation. Accordingly, they were considered to be energetically more stable than primary superdislocations.
Structure Determination of Nudaurelia capensis ω Virus

The structure of Nudaurelia capensis ω virus (NωV), a single-stranded RNA virus, was determined to 2.8 A resolution. Triclinic crystals (a = 413.6, b = 410.2, c = 419.7 A, α = 59.13, β = 58.9, γ = 64.0°) diffracted X-rays beyond 2.7 A resolution. The unit cell contained one icosahedral virus particle, providing 60-fold non-crystallographic symmetry (n.c.s.) and structural redundancy. The particle orientation in the unit cell was determined by self-rotation function analyses. Initial phases to 18 A resolution were derived from a hollow spherical model of 192 A outer radius and 139 A inner radius, filled with uniform electron density. Radii of the model were determined by maximizing the correlation of the model-based calculated data with the low-resolution X-ray diffraction and solution-scattering data. Phases were refined by 60-fold non-crystallographic electron-density averaging and extended in small steps to a resolution of 5 A. The phases obtained represented a mixture of four different phase sets, each consistent with the icosahedral symmetry constraints. The resulting electron density was not interpretable. A difference Fourier map computed with the native and an isomorphous heavy-atom derivative data sets and phases refined by real-space averaging was interpretable only if data within the 10 A resolution shell were used. Maps calculated with data significantly higher than 10 A resolution failed to display a constellation of heavy-atom sites consistent with the T = 4 icosahedral symmetry. Attempts to extend the phases beyond 10 A resolution, starting with either phases based on a model or single isomorphous replacement, were unsuccessful. Successful phase extension was achieved by computing the phases for the higher resolution reflections from a partial atomic model (poly gly) built into the averaged 10 A electron-density map. Phases from this model served as the starting point for n.c.s. phase refinement and extension to slightly higher resolution. The atomic model was improved at each extension interval and these phases were used for the subsequent phase calculation and extension. The entire polypeptide backbone corresponding to the NωV structure was built into the map at 4 A. The same procedure for phase refinement was used to extend the phases to 2.8 A in small increments of resolution. The overall molecular averaging R factor and correlation coefficient at 2.8 A resolution were 18.4% and 0.87, respectively.
Influence of Race on Diagnosis in Adolescent Psychiatric Inpatients

ABSTRACT Objective To examine racial differences in 352 psychiatric inpatients, aged 12 to 18 years, at a state hospital facility that accepted admissions from throughout South Carolina. These were all the adolescent admissions during an entire calendar year (1988). There were 101 African-American and 251 white subjects. Method The data were abstracted from patients' hospital medical records and nursing incident reports. DSM-III-R discharge diagnoses were assigned to five non-mutually exclusive groupings (organic/psychotic, mood/anxiety, disruptive, personality, substance abuse). Racial differences were analyzed using χ 2 logistic regression, and T statistics. Results African-Americans were more likely to be involuntarily committed at the time of admission ( p = .010 psychotic diagnoses were much more frequent in African-Americans (odds ratio=3.15, p p = .0347) were almost two times more likely to receive mood/anxiety diagnoses even when controlling for gender, type of admission, and comorbid diagnoses. Substance abuse was more often diagnosed in whites (odds ratio=5.46, p Conclusions This study identifies significant racial differences in the discharge diagnoses of psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents. African-Americans have fewer mood/ anxiety and substance abuse diagnoses but significantly more organic/psychotic diagnoses. Some of these differences may reflect ethnocentric clinician bias in the diagnostic assessment of youth from differing cultural/racial backgrounds.
Numerical modeling of behavior of railway ballasted structure with geocell confinement

Abstract Railroad foundations are geotechnical structures that are highly dependent on quality ballast to dampen impact loading and railway vibration, facilitate easy construction, distribute stresses more evenly, reduce long-term settlements and provide a competent base under low confining pressures. However, there are various instances where the use of ballast alone may not be completely adequate or could be prohibitively expensive, i.e. costly transport of select materials, weak subgrade, etc. One possible method of managing these issues is the use of geosynthetics, primarily reinforcements that utilize a confining mechanism to enhance the strength of a soil by utilizing its own internal friction: a mechanism where geocell is applicable. Based on prior large-scale laboratory tests of ballast embankments with geocell confinement and relevant numerical modeling, an acceptable material model was validated for a parametric study using finite element analysis. The purpose of the parametric study is to investigate the effects of geocell confinement on ballasted embankments when encountering a soft subgrade, weaker ballast, or varying reinforcement stiffnesses. This analysis suggests that based on numerical modeling, geocell confinement can have a significant benefit when used on a wide range of subgrade stiffnesses, when using weaker ballast and that mechanically, most polymeric materials commonly used for geosynthetic reinforcements are adequate. The composite effect of the confined ballast selected as infill also demonstrates a “mattressing” effect, distributing stresses more uniformly to the subgrade, which can provide higher bearing capacities and possibly less settlement, all while preventing significant lateral spreading. In certain situations, the benefits provided by behavior of the geocell-ballast composite may be economical by allowing for use of weaker/inferior ballast, less embankment maintenance upon problem soils, improved bearing capacity and reduced foundation settlement.
Use of repetition to facilitate spontaneous language acquisition

The role of repetition as a facilitator of spontaneous language acquisition was examined in a 12-month longitudinal study of three children: John, Mindy, and Ashley. Imitation was first defined in a traditional fashion as the exact repetition of a model utterance, within five utterances, without changing the model except to reduce it. During the single-word utterance period, John entered words into his vocabulary by imitating them and then using them spontaneously, while the two girls did not. He also imitated longer utterances than he produced spontaneously while the two girls did not. At the same time, John showed the most rapid language acquisition of the three children. John did not use imitation, as defined, to enter new syntactic-semantic relations into his speech during the two-word stage. However, when the definition of imitation was broadened to include other kinds of repetitions such as repetitions with expansion, either of the child's own productions or of those of others, it was found that repetitions played a significant role in the acquisition of new vocabulary and new syntactic-semantic relations in two-word utterances.
The maximum number of cliques in dense graphs

Abstract Denote the number of vertices of G by | G |. A clique of graph G is a maximal complete subgraph. The density ω ( G ) is the number of vertices in the largest clique of G . If ω(G)⩾ 1 2 |G| , then G has at most 2 | G |− ω ( G ) cliques. The extremal graphs are then examined as well.
Variations of zonal mean sea surface temperature and large‐scale air‐sea interaction

Twenty-four years data of zonal mean sea surface temperature (SST) were assembled to examine the seasonal and nonseasonal variations of SST. Outside the tropics, annual and semi-annual variations of SST dominate, accounting for over 90% of the variance. In the tropics, the nonseasonal variation of SST is dominated by low-frequency variations with periods longer than 3 years in the Pacific. Variations with periods of 24–32 months account for more than 10% of the variance in the tropical Atlantic from 25 £N to 10 £S and in the equatorial Pacific from 0–10 £S. An empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis showed that the major global pattern of zonal mean SST variations is dominated by variations in the equatorial eastern Pacific which precede zonal mean SST variations elsewhere. The time series of this EOF is found to be correlated with an index of the Southern Oscillation. The maximum correlation coefficient is −0£61, with the index leading by 2 months. Finally, the relation between SST and tropical tropospheric temperature (TTT) is examined. SST variations in the Atlantic and in the Indian Ocean are almost contemporary with variations in TTT. Possible explanations for the 1–2 seasons lead time between SST and TTT as found in earlier studies are suggested.
A Method to Fuse fMRI Tasks Through Spatial Correlations: Applied to Schizophrenia

Single task analysis methods of functional MRI brain data, though useful, are not able to evaluate the joint information between tasks. Data fusion of multiple tasks that probe different cognitive processes provides knowledge of the joint information and may be important in order to better understand complex disorders such as schizophrenia. In this article, we introduce a simple but effective technique to fuse two tasks by computing the histogram of correlations for all possible combinations of whole brain voxels. The approach was applied to data derived from healthy controls and patients with schizophrenia from four different tasks, auditory oddball (target), auditory oddball (novel), Sternberg working memory, and sensorimotor. It was found that in four out of six task combinations patients' intertask correlations were more positively correlated than controls', in one combination the controls showed more positive correlations and in another there was no significant difference. The robustness of this result was checked with several testing techniques. The four task combinations for which patients had more positive correlation occurred at different scanning sessions and the task combination that showed the opposite result occurred within the same scanning session. Brain regions that showed high intertask correlations were found for both groups and regions that correlated differently between the two groups were identified. The approach introduced finds interesting results and new differential features that cannot be achieved through traditional methods.
Evidence of Choking Under Pressure on the PGA Tour

The authors examined whether there was evidence of choking under pressure (CUP) among professional golfers on the 2009 PGA Tour. Following the suggestion of Beilock and Gray (2007), choking was determined via within-golfer comparisons. Analyses yielded strong evidence of CUP in that evidence of performance decline was greatest when pressure was greatest. That is, across a span of 28 years, 4th-round tournament scores were significantly worse than 3rd-round tournament scores. Moreover, the magnitude of the choking effect was related to a player's position on the leaderboard: The closer a player was to a tournament lead, the larger his choking score. Finally, the nature of the analyses conducted makes it unlikely that the obtained effects can be solely attributed to statistical phenomena such as regression to the mean.
Dipolar-induced electron spin-lattice relaxation in unordered solids

Abstract This paper is concerned with a theoretical question that arose in the course of experimental investigations using free radicals and paramagnetic metal ions simultaneously as double probes of biological systems. The problem is to calculate in an unordered solid phase the contribution to the spin-lattice relaxation time of the free radical arising becuase of modulation of the dipolar interaction by spin-lattice relaxation of the metal ion where all radial separations are allowed. Saturation-recovery and progressive-saturation experiments are considered, and several experimental observables are expressed in terms of moments of the various terms of the dipolar Hamiltonian calculated according to Van Vleck. All observables are strongly dependent on the distance of closest approach between free radical and metal ion.
‘You ain't my daddy!’: Black male teachers and the politics of surrogate fatherhood

Recent scholarship on male teachers across several national contexts has investigated the dilemmas of hegemonic masculinity for male educators while only recently beginning to examine race as a mediator of masculinity politics in teaching. Conversely, an emergent body of work on Black male teachers has centred analyses of race and culture, but has yet to explicitly question Black male teachers' relationships to hegemonic masculinity. Drawing upon critical analytic perspectives from Black masculinity studies, this article explores how 11 Black male teachers in an urban, predominantly Black school district in the USA negotiated popular discourses that position Black male teachers as father figures for Black students. By delving below the surface of these discourses, this article identifies a complicated set of Black masculinity politics that may shape the experiences of Black male teachers, and that warrants further consideration by educational researchers, teacher education programmes and urban school dist...
Expression Of A Novel TRK C Receptor Isoform With Truncated Extracellular Domain In Fetal And Adult Monkey Brains

Expression Of A Novel TRK C Receptor Isoform With Truncated Extracellular Domain In Fetal And Adult Monkey Brains
The Use of Family Decision Meetings When Addressing Caregiver Stress

Abstract This article focuses on the literature about Family Decision Meetings for relatives caring for older people sufering from Alzheimer's Disease. There is emphasis in this literature on the special problems faced by families in which the symptoms of the disease include troubling behavioral changes, as well as loss of cognitive abilities. particular attention is paid to the families who try to manage without agency-provided services, and without the partnership of agency staff. A number interventions are listed, with detailed description of the Family Decision Meeting and the value of this strategy for caregiving families.
Occupant response during a residential highrise fire

On 31 January 1997, a fire occurred in a 25-storey highrise apartment building located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The building contains 296 condominium apartments which were occupied mainly by senior citizens. The fire, which started at 4:30 pm in an apartment on the 6th floor, rapidly burned through the apartment corridor door and spread into the corridor. The fire department arrived promptly on location and extinguished the fire within 10 min of the notification call. On the orders of the fire department, a live announcement was issued, from the building voice communication system, advising all residents to evacuate the building immediately. Many occupants (83%) attempted to evacuate while some (17%) decided to stay in their apartments and initiate protect-in-place activities. During their evacuation, all occupants above the fire floor encountered smoke conditions. Only 54% who attempted to evacuate managed to escape. The others had to return to their apartment (25%) or seek refuge (21%) in a neighbour's apartment. Four of the evacuees had to be treated for smoke inhalation; two seniors suffered heart attacks and one of them died 10 days after the fire. A second person from the apartment of fire origin died 2 months later. This paper discusses the occupants' response and their actions during this fire.
Enhancing student research through a virtual participatory action research project: Student benefits and administrative challenges:

Can graduate students in a distance learning environment gain meaningful research experience through a virtual participatory action research project? The answer is an emphatic ‘yes.’ The purpose of...
Process Sensitivity Analysis and Resolution Prediction for the Two Photon Polymerization of Micro/Nano Structures

Two photon polymerization (2PP) is a rapid prototyping technique for the fabrication of micro/nano structures from photosensitive polymers. The polymerization process and its resolution depend on the combination of various chemical and physical process parameters. In this research, statistical techniques are employed to evaluate the sensitivity of the 2PP process on the applied laser power, scanning speed, and concentration of photoinitiator. The experiments were performed using the ethoxylated (6) trimethylolpropane triacrylate (SR499-Sartomer) monomer and acyl phosphine oxide (Lucirin TPO-L-BASF) photoinitiator. A design of experiments approach is utilized to evaluate the effect of these process parameters at various set levels on the polymerized width and height. The proposed model is checked for interaction among the process parameters and multiple comparisons are performed to evaluate the statistically significant differences. Also, a detailed discussion of the model verification based on error analysis is performed and presented. A regression model is also developed for the prediction of polymerization resolution and the developed statistical model is experimentally verified. Finally, the developed model and the understanding acquired through the statistical analysis were used for the prototyping of various micro/nano structures.
Superiority of transesophageal echocardiography in detecting cardiac source of embolism in patients with cerebral ischemia of uncertain etiology.

The diagnostic yield of transesophageal and transthoracic echocardiography for identifying a cardiac source of embolism was compared in 79 patients presenting with unexplained stroke or transient ischemic attack. There were 35 men and 44 women with a mean age of 59 years (range 17 to 84); 52% had clinical cardiac disease. Both transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiograms were performed using Doppler color flow and contrast imaging. Transesophageal echocardiography identified a potential cardiac source of embolism in 57% of the overall study group compared with only 15% by transthoracic echocardiography (p < 0.0005). Compared with transthoracic echocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography more frequently identified atrial septal aneurysm associated with a patent foramen ovale (9 versus 1 of 79 patients, p < 0.005), left atrial thrombus or tumor (6 versus 0 of 79 patients, p < 0.05) and left atrial spontaneous contrast (13 versus 0 of 79 patients, p < 0.0005). All cases of left atrial thrombus or spontaneous contrast were identified in patients with clinically identified cardiac disease. In the 38 patients with no cardiac disease, transesophageal echocardiography identified isolated atrial septal aneurysm and alrial septal aneurysm with a patent foramen ovale more frequently than transthoracic echocardiography (8 versus 2 of 38 patients, p < 0.05). The two techniques had a similar rate of identifying apical thrombus and mitral valve prolapse. Overall, transesophageal echocardiography identified abnormalities in 39% of patients with no cardiac disease versus 19% for transthoracic echocardiography (p < 0.005). Thus, transesophageal echocardiography identifies potential cardiac sources of embolism in the majority of patients presenting with unexplained stroke. Even in patients with no clinical heart disease the diagnostic yield of transesophageal echocardiography is 39%. The use of transesophageal echocardiography in patients with unexplained stroke, even in those with a normal transthoracic echocardiogram, should be recommended.
G-actin and F-actin levels at different stages of mouse erythroid differentiation

Monomeric (G-) actin and filamentous (F-) actin levels were determined in Triton X-100 extracts prepared from mouse erythroid cells at various stages of differentiation. G-actin and F-actin were found in the Triton-soluble fraction and in the Triton-insoluble fraction, respectively. G-actin levels in untreated and dimethyl sulfoxide-treated (differentiated) erythroleukemia cells, reticulocytes, and erythrocytes were 48, 33, 2.8, and 0.37 microgram/mg protein, respectively, and F-actin levels were 17, 35, 45, and 59 micrograms/mg protein, respectively. G-actin/F-actin ratios were successively lower in cells representing the more mature stages of development.
Mamanuthaquinone: an antimicrobial and cytotoxic metabolite of Fasciospongia sp.

Abstract The isolation and structure elucidation of the novel sponge metabolite mamanuthaquinone 2 containing a rearranged drimane moiety linked to a benzoquinone are described. The absolute stereochemistry of 2 is determined via chemical modification, and its biological activity is reported.
Succinate metabolism related to lipid synthesis in the housefly Musca domestica L

The metabolism of succinate was examined in the housefly Musca domestica L. The labeled carbons from [2,3-14C]succinate were readily incorporated into cuticular hydrocarbon and internal lipid, whereas radioactivity from [1,4-14C]succinate was not incorporated into either fraction. Examination of the incorporation of [2,3-14C]succinate, [1-14C]acetate, and [U-14C]proline into hydrocarbon by radio-gas-liquid chromatography showed that each substrate gave a similar labeling pattern, which suggested that succinate and proline were converted to acetyl-CoA prior to incorporation into hydrocarbons. Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance showed that the labeled carbons from [2,3-13C]succinate enriched carbons 1, 2, and 3 of hydrocarbons with carbon-carbon coupling showing that carbons 2 and 3 of succinate were incorporated as an intact unit. Radio-high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of [2,3-14C]succinate metabolism by mitochondrial preparations showed that in addition to labeling fumarate, malate, and citrate, considerable radioactivity was also present in the acetate fraction. The data show that succinate was not converted to methylmalonate and did not label hydrocarbon via a methylmalonyl derivative. Malic enzyme was assayed in sonicated mitochondria prepared from the abdomens and thoraces of 1- and 4-day-old insects; higher activity was obtained with NAD+ in mitochondria prepared from thoraces, whereas NADP+ gave higher activity with abdomen preparations. These data document the metabolism of succinate to acetyl-CoA and not to a methylmalonyl unit prior to incorporation into lipid in the housefly and establish the role of the malic enzyme in this process.
Resilience and sustainability in the face of disasters

Abstract Very few of the large number of major disasters in recent years have threatened the survival of the host region. Improvements in conditions underlying sustainability have helped in this regard, as has inherent and adaptive resilience associated with disaster recovery. Sharp breaks from the past do not appear to be the norm, but opportunities for major transitions do increase in the aftermath of disasters. This paper examines some major types of resilience that have been effective and encourages their incorporation into long-term recovery and mitigation strategies.
Myocardial toxoplasmosis complicating cardiac transplant

The increase in numbers of immunocompromised patients has been reflected by an increasing frequency of opportunistic infections. Of these, Toxoplasma gondii has been reported as a significant human pathogen following cardiac transplantation. In this setting, quiescent toxoplasma myocardial cysts may become active after implantation into a therapeutically immunosuppressed host. The consequences of infection are significant and carry a high morbidity and mortality. We present the clinical and pathologic characteristics of a patient with toxoplasma infection complicating cardiac transplant and review previously reported cases of this entity.
Electromagnetic crystal (EMXT)-based THz components

Various all-dielectric electromagnetic crystal (EMXT) based THz components, including filter/reflector, waveguide, antenna, and transition structure to planar circuits are proposed and simulated. Several of them have been fabricated via a THz rapid prototyping technique, and the measurements show very good consistency with the simulations. Potential integrated THz micro-systems could be constructed using these components. The layer-by-layer printing virtue of the rapid prototyping technique may enable the integration and packaging of various THz components in a systematic manner.
Stieltjes continued fractions for polygamma functions; speed of convergence

It is well known that the polygamma functions Ψk(z): = dk+1/dzk+1 Log Γ(z), k = 0, 1, 2,... can be represented in the hall-plane region |arg z| 0 In the present paper it is shown that the coefficients am(k) have the asymptotic behavior am(k) ∼ m2/16, m → ∞. From this it is deduced that the nth approximant gn (k, z) of g(k, z) converges at the rate |g(k, z)-gn(k, z)| ≤ A/nB, n ≥ 1, where the positive constants A and B depend upon k and z, but are independent of n.
Educational and training program of THz Science and Technology at Rensselaer

Rensselaer is establishing an educational training program, THz Science and Technology, with an interdisciplinary faculty team from Physics, Biology and Electrical, Computer & Systems Engineering. Students will be trained in three areas: THz electronics, THz data transfer and networking, and THz spectroscopy and imaging.
Communications to the Editor---Tempus Fidgets: The Reference Business

In their comments on “Models of Fact”, Charnes, Cooper, DeVoe and Learner [Charnes, A., W. W. Cooper, J. K. DeVoe, D. B. Learner. 1971. Models of fact and laws of behaviour. Management Sci.17 367--369.] state that they will avoid a direct reply to my claims and criticisms. In following this precedent, I remark briefly on the pertinent use of references, an important matter in our work.
Flow Stress, Subgrain Size, and Subgrain Stability at Elevated Temperature

Well defined subgrain boundaries dominate the microstructural changes occurring during plastic flow of polycrystalline metals at elevated temperature. The quantitative influence of subgrain size on elevated-temperature plastic flow is considered. Based on the results of tests under constant-stress and constant-structure conditions, an equation is developed which predicts the creep rate as a function of subgrain size, stress, diffusion coefficient, and elastic modulus. In general, the subgrain size is a unique function of the current modulus-compensated flow stress, but if fine subgrains can be introduced and stabilized, large increases in creep strength may result. The applicability of the phenomenological relation developed to the behavior of dispersion-strengthened materials (where the second-phase particles may predetermine the effective subgrain size) is discussed. When subgrain effects are included, it is shown that the creep rate is less dependent on stacking fault energy than has been previously thought.
Radiation Response of Integrated Schottky Logic Circuits

The radiation response of Integrated Schottky Logic (ISL) circuits is described. An 8-bit ALU, 4-bit shift register, and 4-bit adder implemented on the Signetics 8A1200 ISL Configurable Gate Array were studied in flash x-ray, neutron, and total dose environments. Experimental data are provided describing the variation of ALU propagation delays and output I-V characteristics with neutron and total dose exposure. Transient gamma upset levels are given for the three circuits studied, and their dependence on ISL logic configuration and bias conditions is described. Mechanisms are proposed to explain the trends exhibited in the experimental results.
Contriving motivating operations to evoke mands for information in preschoolers with autism

Abstract Four preschoolers with autism participated in the study. Stimulus preference assessments were conducted to identify high and low preferred items, which were then hidden or given to an adult in order to contrive motivation for the information about the location of the items. The first experiment involved the manipulation of motivating operations to evoke the mand “Where is it?” Upon successful acquisition of this initial mand for information, students participated in a second experiment involving the manipulation of a motivating operation to evoke the mand “Who has it?” All participants successfully acquired the ability to mand for information.
Differences in Golonic Staining with Technical Variations in Fluorescent Antibody Conjugation.

SummarySeveral different parameters involved in preparing direct fluorescent antibody stains were studied using autologous and homologous ulcerative colitis and normal colonic tissues. Diffuse nonimmunospecific staining was observed when conjugates were labeled unevenly, had high fluorescein: protein (F:P) ratios or when final protein concentrations exceeded 1.5 mg/ml. Some apparently nonimmunospecific staining of the mucosal epithelial glands was observed, but there was no specific fluorescence at these sites. Using an evenly labeled stain with an F:P ratio of 3.70 × 10-3 and final protein concentrations of either 0.50 or 1.50 mg/ml, specific fluorescence of the cytoplasm of some mononuclear cells was observed in autologous and homologous ulcerative colitis tissues, but not in normal colonic specimens.
Reentrant circuits and the effects of heptanol in a rabbit model of infarction with a uniform anisotropic epicardial border zone.

Reentry in Rabbit Ventricles. Introduction: The purpose was to study reentry in a rabbit model of infarction. Methods and Results: A model of an infarct epicardial border zone was produced in Langendorff perfused rabbit hearts by freezing the inner two thirds of the left ventricular wall, allowing only a thin epicardial muscle layer to survive. Reentrant circuits causing stable ventricular tachycardia occurred in the surviving rim of epicardial muscle as shown by mapping impulse propagation with a 196–electrode array. The circuits were functional, and reentry did not occur around an anatomical obstacle. Slow conduction in the circuits was caused by the anisotropic properties of the epicardial muscle. Activation in the circuits was slow transverse to the long axis of the fiber bundles and rapid parallel to the long axis. Other features of the circuits, including orientation of the central functional line of block parallel to the fiber long axis, and an oval shape are also characteristic of anisotropic reentry. Since the slow conduction causing reentry is a result of poor transverse intercellular coupling, we determined whether the “uncoupler” heptanol would cause block in the circuits and terminate tachycardia. Heptanol in concentrations up to 1.2 mM slowed conduction in the transverse and longitudinal directions in the circuits and sometimes extended the central line of functional block. It did not, however, stop reentry because the reentrant impulse was still able to conduct around the ends of the block line. Conclusion: Drugs that decrease intercellular coupling may not be effective antiarrhythmic agents when uniform anisotropy causes functional reentry.
Regulation of aldosterone synthesis.

Abstract The effects of angiotensin II and ACTH on cyclic AMP and aldosterone synthesis were studied in cells isolated from the bovine adrenal cortex. Angiotensin is a more potent stimulus of aldosterone synthesis than ACTH and the action of ACTH on aldosterone synthesis in cells from the glomerulosa is augmented by the presence of cells from the fasciculata. Angiotensin stimulates aldosterone synthesis in the absence of detectable changes in cyclic AMP, but the cells do respond to dibutyryl cyclic AMP leaving open the possibility that a cyclic nucleotide may play a role in the steroidogenic action of this hormone in the outer zone of the bovine adrenal cortex.
Perceptual Identification Thresholds for 150 Fragmented Pictures from the Snodgrass and Vanderwart Picture Set

This paper reports perceptual identification thresholds for 150 pictures from the 1980 Snodgrass and Vanderwart picture set. These pictures were fragmented and presented on the Apple Macintosh microcomputer in a picture-fragment completion task in which identification thresholds were obtained at three phases of learning: Train (initial presentation), New (initial presentation after training on a different set), and Old (repeated presentation of the Train set). Pictures were divided into five sets of two subsets of 15 pictures each, which served alternately as the Train and New sets. A total of 100 subjects participated in the task, with 10 subjects assigned to each subset. Individual thresholds for each picture at each phase of learning are presented, along with the fragmented pictures identified by 35% of the subjects across the Train and New learning phases. This set of fragmented pictures is provided for use in experiments in which a single level of fragmented image is presented for identification afte...
A Bayesian Decision Theory Approach to Classification Problems

We address the classification problem where an item is declared to be from population?jif certain of its characteristicsvare assumed to be sampled from the distribution with pdf fj(v??j), wherej=1, 2, ?, m. We first solve the two population classification problem and then extend the results to the generalmpopulation classification problem. Usually only the form of the pdf's is known. To use the classical classification rule the parameters,?j, must be replaced by their estimates. In this paper we allow the parameters of the underlying distributions to be generated from prior distributions. With this added structure, we obtain Bayes rules based on predictive distributions and these are completely determined. Using the first-order expansion of the predictive density, where the coefficients of powers ofn?1remain uniformly bounded innwhen integrated, we obtain an asymptotic bound for the Bayes risk.
Temperature effects on biomass, geosmin, and 2-methylisoborneol production and cellular activity by Nocardia spp. and Streptomyces spp. isolated from rainbow trout recirculating aquaculture systems

Isolates of Nocardia cummidelens, Nocard ia fluminea, Streptomyces albidoflavus, and Streptomyces luridiscabiei attributed as the cause of “earthy-musty” off-flavor in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) raised in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) were evaluated for the effect of temperature (10–30 °C) on biomass, geosmin, and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) production and cellular activity. Cultures of these isolates were monitored over 7 days by measuring culture dry weight, geosmin, and MIB production using solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME–GC–MS), and ATP production via a luminometer. Compared to the other isolates, S. luridiscabiei had significantly (P < 0.05) higher biomass (8.17 ± 0.35 mg/mL) at 15 °C (water temperature in the RAS) after 7 days incubation. In addition, S. luridiscabiei produced significantly (P < 0.05) higher geosmin (69,976 ± 15,733 ng/L) at 15 °C. At 25 °C and 30 °C, S. albidoflavus produced significantly (P < 0.05) higher geosmin (182,074 ± 60,272 ng/L and 399,991 ± 102,262 ng/L, respectively). All isolates produced MIB at 15 °C, but S. luridiscabiei produced significantly (P < 0.05) higher MIB (97,143 ± 28,972 ng/L) and ATP after 7 days. Therefore, S. luridiscabiei appears to be a likely contributor of geosmin and MIB in the RAS.
Coupled boundary element method and finite difference method for the heat conduction in laser processing

Abstract This paper is presented as a way to model transient heat conduction in a 3-D axisymmetric case where large rates of heat fluxes are applied on the surfaces as done in the case of laser processing. This would result in large temperature gradients in a small area irradiated by the laser on the incident surface that could also reach melting and subsequent vaporization. BEM can handle large fluxes very easily and it also can be formulated if needed to incorporate the moving boundary problem in a unique manner while on the other hand FDM is a fast and efficient method. For these reasons a coupled BEM–FDM method is formulated to simulate the heat conduction process. In the BEM method linear elements for the boundary and quadratic elements for the domain were used. The integrals in BEM were integrated in time using the asymptotic expansion for the modified Bessel functions in the Green’s function. To further improve the accuracy, special techniques were employed in the spatial integration. As for the FDM formulation, a flux conservation scheme with a 4th order formula for the fluxes was used. The FDM and BEM were coupled at the interface by the temperature from the FDM formulation being imposed on the BEM and the flux from the BEM being utilized by the FDM elements near to the interface. To advance in time, the Crank–Nicholson scheme was used on the FDM directly and due to coupling indirectly on the BEM. The relative errors for the simulation of constant and variable flux cases demonstrate the successful nature of the numerical model.
A natural stem cell therapy? How novel findings and biotechnology clarify the ethics of stem cell research

The natural replacement of damaged cells by stem cells occurs actively and often in adult tissues, especially rapidly dividing cells such as blood cells. An exciting case in Boston, however, posits a kind of natural stem cell therapy provided to a mother by her fetus-long after the fetus is born. Because there is a profound lack of medical intervention, this therapy seems natural enough and is unlikely to be morally suspect. Nevertheless, we feel morally uncertain when we consider giving this type of therapy to patients who would not naturally receive it. Much has been written about the ethics of stem cell research and therapy; this paper will focus on how recent advances in biotechnology and biological understandings of development narrow the debate. Here, the author briefly reviews current stem cell research practices, revisits the natural stem cell therapy case for moral evaluation, and ultimately demonstrates the importance of permissible stem cell research and therapy, even absent an agreement about the definition of when embryonic life begins. Although one promising technology, blighted ovum utilisation, uses fertilised but developmentally bankrupt eggs, it is argued that utilisation of unfertilised eggs to derive totipotent stem cells obviates the moral debate over when life begins. There are two existing technologies that fulfil this criterion: somatic cell nuclear transfer and parthenogenic stem cell derivation. Although these technologies are far from therapeutic, concerns over the morality of embryonic stem cell derivation should not hinder their advancement.
An Analysis of the Light-Harvesting Peridinin-Chlorophyll a-Proteins from Dinoflagellates by Immunoblotting Techniques

Affinity-purified antibodies prepared against the peridinin-chlorophyll a-protein (PCP) complex from the dinoflagellate Heterocapsa pygmaea were employed to study the immunological similarity of PCP among 28 dinoflagellate species, representing eight genera in four families. The anti-HpPCP antibodies cross-reacted with the subunits of PCP apoproteins from all dinoflagellates tested, but did not cross-react with pigment proteins from the chrysophyte Cricosphaera carterae, establishing its specificity for dinoflagellate pigment-protein complexes. Among the dinoflagellates, the PCP apoprotein occurs either as a monomer of about 35 kDa or as an apparent homodimer of about 15 kDa. In some instances, both subunit polypeptides are present simultaneously. The occurrence of different quaternary structures of the PCP apoprotein in different algae can serve as a taxonomic tool, when used in conjunction with other characters.
Surface charging analysis of high-inclination, high-altitude spacecraft: Identification and physics of the plasma source region

Surface charging has been identified as the probable cause of anomalies experienced by several high-inclination, high-altitude spacecraft. These spacecrafts have no monitors of the local space particle environment. Thus, a direct association of anomaly occurrence with surface discharge is not possible. The authors use empirical magnetic-field models to map from a satellite's position, at the time of an anomaly, to the Earth's magnetospheric equatorial plane. They appeal to the well-established occurrence distribution of spacecraft charging in the near-geostationary orbit equatorial plane as a function of magnetic local time, radial distance, and geomagnetic activity to interpret the anomaly events. On the basis of the similarity between known surface charging distributions and the anomaly distributions, it is concluded that anomaly-associated surface charging likely occurred owing to transient hot plasma and medium-energy electrons associated with magnetospheric substorms. It is believed that this technique will aid satellite operators in the assessment of anomalies experience by high-inclination spacecraft. >
Serum Free Light Chain Assessment Early After Stem Cell Transplantation as a Prognostic Factor in Multiple Myeloma.

Abstract Background Multiple myeloma is an incurable cancer commonly treated with stem cell transplantation (SCT). Response is traditionally evaluated 100 days after SCT, both to allow for hematopoietic reconstitution and due to immunoglobulins' long half-lives. Free light chains (FLC) have significantly shorter half-lives and may provide evidence of response or treatment failure earlier after SCT. Patients and Methods We retrospectively studied 83 consecutive patients with multiple myeloma who underwent SCT and found 69 who had FLC measured 30 or 60 days after SCT. Using conventional FLC response criteria, we considered a patient to be at high risk for early relapse if he or she failed to experience a partial response by day 30 or 60. Results After a median overall follow-up of only 335 days, these high-risk patients had significantly shorter progression-free survival (median, 98 vs. 335 days, P = .001) and overall survival (366 days vs. median not reached, P = .016). Conclusion Early FLC assessment either 1 or 2 months after SCT using standard FLC response criteria was able to identify a subset of patients at high risk of early relapse, and these patients may benefit from earlier interventions.