cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Circuit Weight Training: Acute and Chronic Effects on Healthy and Clinical Populations

Circuit weight training (CWT) involves resistance exercise movements performed in a rotational order with light loads (40-60% one-repetition maximum) using limited to no rest between exercises. This type of training has been implemented in programs involving healthy younger and older adults, as well as in programs involving clinical populations (e.g. diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiac disease). Acute responses to CWT demonstrate higher levels of oxygen consumption and higher heart rates compared to traditional resistance training at similar intensities. Furthermore, CWT programs are more time efficient compared to traditional resistance training. Results from investigations using this mode of training range from improvements in muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, body composition to health-related enhancements such as resting blood pressure, hemoglobin A1C and aerobic capacity. The time efficiency in which these results makes circuit weight training an appealing exercise format. The incorporation of aerobic activity into circuits promotes further improvements in markers of cardiovascular health and fitness.
Quantum Confinement and Interface States in ZnO Nanocrystalline Thin-Film Transistors

The experimental current–voltage ( ${I}_{D}$ – ${V}_{G}$ ) and capacitance–voltage ( ${C}$ – ${V}_{G}$ ) characteristics of the bottom-gate/top-contact ZnO thin-film transistors (TFTs) are analyzed accounting for quantum confinement and interface state effects. All the measurements are performed on the same TFTs composed of a 45-nm-thick nanocrystalline ZnO channel, indium tin oxide gate electrode, and a 21-nm-thick Al2O3 gate insulator. Interface state density (Dit) derived from the combined high–low frequency capacitance method reveals a large Dit near the conduction band edge. The TFT characteristics are simulated using a Schrodinger–Poisson model and compared to a semiclassical model. The Schrodinger–Poisson model calculates a lower C in accumulation by correctly accounting for the peak carrier concentration being several nanometers away from the ZnO/Al2O3 interface. The fit error in ${C}$ – ${V}_{G}$ in strong accumulation is only 1.2% compared to 4% in the semiclassical simulations. All simulations are performed using 21 nm of Al2O3. An effective mobility ( $\mu _{\mathrm{ eff}}$ ) that increases linearly with gate voltage is derived from the ratio of the experimental ${I}_{D}$ and the simulated mobile charge per unit area of the channel. Ignoring quantum confinement overestimates the channel charge and hence underestimates $\mu _{\mathrm{ eff}}$ by 40%. An additional Dit profile, at the top interface of the ZnO, is proposed in our analysis to explain the ${I}_{D}$ – ${V}_{G}$ characteristics in the subthreshold region.
Application of artificial neural networks to assess student happiness

The purpose of this study is to develop an analytical assessment approach to identify the main factors that affect graduate students' happiness level. The two methods, multiple linear regression (MLR) and artificial neural networks (ANN), were employed for analytical modelling. A sample of 118 students at a small non-profit private university constituted the survey pool. Various factors including education, school facilities, health, social activities, and family were taken into consideration as a result of literature review in happiness assessment. A total of 32 inputs and one output variables were identified during survey design phase. The following survey conduction, data collection, cleaning, and preparation; MLR and ANNs were built. ANN models provided better classification performance with over 0.7 R-square and a smaller standard error of estimate compared to MLR. Major policy areas to improve student happiness levels were identified as career services, financial aid, parking and dining services.
Forecasting and Anomaly Detection on Application Metrics using LSTM

This paper explores time series forecasting for application metrics, with the goal of performing anomaly detection and system resource management. To do so, we implemented a collection of models including an LSTM model, ETS and ARIMA, and compared their performances. Across different evaluation metrics, we observed that the LSTM model’s forecasts performed well. We also constructed prediction bounds for the LSTM model’s forecasts for identifying anomalies.
Age-dependent sexual dimorphism in hippocampal cornu ammonis-1 perineuronal net expression in rats.

INTRODUCTION Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are extracellular matrices that encompass parvalbumin-expressing parvalbumin positive (PVALB+) fast-spiking inhibitory interneurons where they protect and stabilize afferent synapses. Recent observations that gonadal hormones influence PVALB+ neuron development suggest that PNN regulation may be sexually dimorphic. Sex differences in PNN abundance and complexity have been reported in sexually dimorphic nuclei in zebra finch brains; however, corresponding differences in mammalian brains have not been investigated. METHODS In this study we assessed the number of cortical and hippocampal PNNs in juvenile and young adult male and female rats using fluorescent immunohistochemistry for PVALB and the PNN marker Wisteria Floribunda Lectin. RESULTS We report here that PNNs are numerous and well developed in hippocampal cornu ammonis-1 of adult males but are lower in juvenile and possibly adult females. No significant differences were observed between sexes in cornu ammonis-3 or adjacent neocortex. There was an observed developmental difference in the neocortex as juveniles had more PVALB+ cells, but fewer PNN+ cells, than adults. CONCLUSIONS Because PNNs are integral for several hippocampal-mediated learning and memory tasks, these observations have potential sex-dependent translational implications for clinical strategies targeting cognitive dysfunction.
Towards the design of electric field driven self-folding gripper

Electroactive polymer (EAPs)-based technologies have shown promise in areas such as artificial muscles, aerospace, medical devices and soft robotics because of large electromechanical actuation at relatively high speed. The promises of EAPs have led us to study EAP-based grippers. The in-plane actuation of P(VDF-TrFE-CTFE) is converted into bending actuation using unimorph configurations, where one passive substrate layer is attached to the active polymer. On-demand segmented folding is harnessed from this pure bending actuation by creating notch samples with an aim to implement them for applications like soft robotics gripper. In this paper, we studied the effect of various design parameters of notched folding actuators to establish a design reference and maximize the actuation performance of EAP based devices. Both finite element analysis (FEA) and micromechanics based analytical study is performed to investigate the effect of actuator parameters on the folding actuation of notched samples. The notched configuration has been analyzed via FEA for the non-uniform deformations and stress-fields. FEA analysis shows the importance of notch positioning to maximize the electromechanical performance. On the other hand, analytical study has proposed a design curve for the selection of proper notch parameters (e.g. notch length and Young’s Modulus) to maximize the actuation performance. Finally, based on the FEA and analytical analysis, a human finger inspired ‘finger-like’ biomimetic actuator is realized by assigning multiple notches to the structure.
Reply to Krishna et al.: Resolving age-related changes in nitrogen fixation and mineral weathering by Alnus tree species.

In PNAS we report that the symbiotic nitrogen-fixing tree red alder ( Alnus rubra ) accesses more rock-derived nutrients than nonfixing trees (1). We further hypothesize that excess nitrogen fixation by alder, leading to high rates of nitrification and nitric acid generation in soil, could accelerate mineral weathering (1, 2). Krishna et al. (3) seek to provide an alternative explanation for accelerated mineral weathering by the closely related tree Himalayan alder ( Alnus nepalensis ). They invoke cluster roots and rhizosphere exudates as causes of enhanced mineral weathering (3) but provide no supporting evidence, which we have previously addressed (2). The remainder of their comment addresses age-related changes in nitrogen … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence may be addressed. Email: sperakis{at}usgs.gov. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Practical Stability Margins in Continuous Higher Order Sliding Mode Control Systems

Abstract The finite time convergence of a sliding variable to zero in systems of arbitrary relative degree can be provided by Continuous Higher Order Sliding Mode (C-HOSM) control regardless of external bounded perturbations and without artificially increasing relative degree. In this work, metrics of robustness are introduced for C-HOSM control with respect to cascade unmodeled dynamics that are presented in any practical system. The frequency domain analysis of chattering in a dynamically perturbed system controlled by the C-HOSM controller is accomplished numerically using the Describing Function-Harmonic Balance technique via Newton–Raphson method. The robustness of C-HOSM controller to cascade unmodeled dynamics is quantified in terms of Practical Stability Phase and Gain Margins using the parameters of chattering (frequency and amplitude of the main harmonic) that may occur due to the unmodeled dynamics. The proposed methodologies are validated via simulations.
Generativity and Well-Being of Midlife and Aging Parents With Children With Developmental or Mental Health Problems:

Parents who have a child with a developmental problem or mental disorder often provide support and assistance to their child throughout their lives, and the burden of caregiving can have an adverse impact on parents' mental and physical health. Using Erikson's theory as a framework, the present study investigated generativity as a moderator of the effects of parenting a child with a disability on parents' well-being during mid- to late life. Using data from the study of Midlife in the United States, we identified 220 parents who had a child with a disability and 3,784 parents whose children did not have a disability. Regression analyses showed that the effect of parenting a child with a disability on negative affect, positive affect, and physical health was conditional on both parental gender and generativity, with mothers experiencing greater adverse effects of parenting but showing a benefit from high levels of generativity.
Which prisoner reentry programs work? Replicating and extending analyses of three RCTs

Abstract Conducting a randomized controlled trial (RCT) can be an ideal way to avoid omitted variable and selection biases that complicate other research designs. However, the way that the data from an RCT are collected and analyzed can unintentionally reintroduce those biases. In this study we replicate and extend the analyses of data from three RCTs related to prisoner reentry, to more cleanly identify the causal effects of treatment. In two of the three experiments, our conclusions differ substantially from those of the original studies. We discuss best practices for running and analyzing RCTs, and consider our extension results in the context of the prisoner reentry literature.
Diffusive retention of carbon and nitrogen in a microcrystalline quartz-dominated chert: Implications for reconstructing Earth's ancient atmosphere

Abstract We investigate the retention of volatile species and we analyze the volatile species released on low temperature crushing of a microcrystalline quartz (
A practical guide to optical coherence tomography angiography interpretation

Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) can image the retinal vasculature in vivo, without the need for contrast dye. This technology has been commercially available since 2014, however, much of its use has been limited to the research setting. Over time, more clinical practices have adopted OCTA imaging. While countless publications detail OCTA’s use for the study of retinal microvasculature, few studies outline OCTA’s clinical utility. This review provides an overview of OCTA imaging and details tips for successful interpretation. The review begins with a summary of OCTA technology and artifacts that arise from image acquisition. New methods and best practices to prevent image artifacts are discussed. OCTA has the unique ability among retinovascular imaging modalities to individually visualize each retinal plexus. Slabs offered in standard OCTA devices are reviewed, and clinical uses for each slab are outlined. Lastly, the use of OCTA for the clinical interpretation of retinal pathology, such as diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration, is discussed. OCTA is evolving from a scientific tool to a clinical imaging device. This review provides a toolkit for successful image interpretation in a clinical setting.
Improving Suicidal Ideation Screening and Suicide Prevention Strategies on Adult Nonbehavioral Health Units.

Background Suicide is a risk in hospitalized patients within and outside of behavioral health units. Williams et al. (2018). Incidence and method of suicide in hospitals in the United States. Williams et al. (2018), suicides occur annually in hospitals, 14%-26% of occurrences outside of a behavioral health unit. Objectives The purpose of this project was to improve compliance with universal patient suicide ideation screening and targeted actions for patients screening positive admitted to nonbehavioral health units. Methods Electronic medical record (EMR) changes to support screening and targeted patient safety measure documentation were implemented. Nursing education was provided to support these changes. Pre- and postassessments were used to measure knowledge gained from the education. A compliance report was generated from the EMR to measure compliance with universal screening and patient safety measures. Results In a 4-month period, screening compliance improved by 20.6%, bedside safety companion use was 100%, suicide precautions, documentation 82.5%, and a behavioral health social work note documented 76% of the time. Conclusions Universal screening improvement is feasible and has the potential to improve patient safety. Implementation should be considered across health care organizations. Implications for nursing Providing nursing education and easier EMR workflows for nursing documentation of suicide screening and prevention strategies improves patient safety.
Established primary care provider improves odds of survival to discharge for injured patients.

ABSTRACT Introduction The average age and number of comorbidities is increasing among trauma patients. Primary care providers (PCPs) provide pre-injury diagnosis and management of comorbidities that may affect outcomes for injured patients. The role of primary care in trauma systems is currently unknown. Methods Observational retrospective review of an institutional trauma databank from 2013 – 2019. PCP was extracted from the electronic medical record and combined with trauma data. Case-control matching was performed to compare outcomes between patients with and without primary care based on age, injury severity score, sex, and injury mechanism. Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test, and multivariate regression described differences between subgroups. Primary outcome was difference in mortality rate for injured patients with and without PCPs. Results Within the study period, 19,096 patients were included. 6,626 (34.7%) had a PCP recorded. Of these, 2,158 were matched in a case-control design. Patients with PCPs had a lower mortality rate (1.6%) compared to patients without PCPs (3.6%, P Conclusion Pre-injury primary care significantly improves the odds of survival to discharge for injured patients. Prospective study of this relationship may identify strategies to promote primary care within health systems.
Investigate and Improve the Distorted Waveforms for Core Loss Measurement with Arbitrary Excitations

The magnetic core plays a very important role in high frequency switching transformer modeling, design as well as loss estimation, etc. Extract the core loss from the winding loss accurately is essential in many industrial applications. Usually, A power amplifier connected to a function generator is applied to add the excitation to the CUT (core under test). For practical applications, sometimes, a square-wave or triangular-wave excitation, which depends on the working condition, is required to be added to the CUT. However, sometimes, it is found the non-sinusoidal excitations added on the CUT are distorted, which brings difficulties to accurate core loss measurement. In this paper, a detailed explanation for this phenomenon is given, several convenient solutions to improve the non-sinusoidal waveforms are explored based on the theoretical analysis. Both the simulation and experiment verify the analysis.
Sovereign Imaginaries: Visualizing the Sacred Foundation of Law's Authority

If a world is to be lived in, it must be founded. This foundational function belongs to the sovereign imagination. What a polity names as sovereign in the state of exception, when the sacred irrupts anew, is a matter of individual and collective responsibility. In this dispensation, law, politics, and religion become inescapably entangled in metaphysics. It behooves us to understand the nature and consequences of this state of affairs.
Support Designer-Teacher Collaboration in Educational Game Design Using Learning Science Principles

Educational game design requires interdisciplinary collaboration between game designers and teachers, and tools like learning science principles have been suggested to facilitate this process and help design better-integrated games. However, the translation from learning science theory to practice is not well studied, and no previous study has examined how the presentation format of learning science principles may influence the effectiveness of a realistic, collaborative game design process between designers and teachers. In this paper, we present the initial design of a study that will examine how the forms and presentation of learning science principles might influence designer-teacher collaboration, which has both theoretical and practical implications in the fields of educational game design and learning science.
Industrial Practices and Examples Space Structures and Robots

Engineers responsible for the design and analysis of spacecraft attitude control and stabilization systems have been actively contributing to multibody system simulation software development efforts for more than 2 decades. In like manner engineers responsible for ground based mechanical system design and analysis have also been contributing for the same duration. During this period both groups have watched numerical integration methods and associated software develop. The mechanical system group has drawn from this work, while the aerospace group has relied almost exclusively on methods defined by Adams, Bashford, Runge, and Kutta, at the turn of the century. The intent of this contribution is to provide a rational for “why?”. This is done by first defining generic response characteristics of typical aerospace control of flexible structure problems and then listing common modeling and simulation needs. The needs list is restricted to those which have placed extraordinary demands on the numerical integration procedure. It is hoped that this aerospace user’s view of underlying requirements for numerical integration procedures will motivate the developers of emerging Order N multibody system simulation software to provide a sufficiently general set of numerical integration options.
Old Views of Ancient Events

The Molecular Origins of Life Assembling Pieces of the Puzzle. Andre Brack, Ed. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1999. 427 pp. $85, £65. ISBN 0-521-56412-3. Paper, $34.95, £22.95. ISBN 0-521-56475-1. A collection of review articles, by researchers well known for their work on the origins of life, that offers the latest word on classical approaches but fails to convey the current excitement in, and potential of, the field.
A simple post-processing technique to improve the retrieval accuracy of second-order nonlinearity profiles

An iterative process known as the Fienup algorithm is applied to correct and improve the accuracy of the second-order optical nonlinearity profile of thin films. This post-processing technique is simple, fast and provides perfect agreement with experimental data.
Distinguishing Between Related and Unrelated International Geographic Diversification: A Comprehensive Measure of Global Diversification

This paper argues that it is important to distinguish between related and unrelated international geographic diversification when measuring impact of diversification on performance. It then extends the Jacquemin-Berry entropy measure to propose a comprehensive measure of global diversification that comprises related and unrelated product diversification, and related and unrelated international geographi diversification. It suggests a classification of firms based on diversification strategies and proposes hypotheses for future research.
p53 Testing for Li-Fraumeni and Li-Fraumeni-like syndromes.

Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS; OMIM #151623) is an autosomal dominant cancer predisposition syndrome characterized by early onset tumors including sarcomas, breast cancer, leukemia, brain tumors, and adrenocortical carcinoma. Li-Fraumeni syndrome is primarily attributed to germline mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene, which encodes tumor protein 53. In addition to germline p53 mutations, the p53 gene is the most commonly mutated gene in human cancers, with as much as 50% of tumors containing somatic p53 mutations. This unit provides a protocol to perform germline mutation analysis of the p53 gene. The protocol includes steps for amplification and sequencing of the entire coding region of the p53 gene (exons 2 to 11). The protocol was designed for detecting germline alterations from DNA extracted from blood; however, with some additional optimization, it could also be used to detect somatic mutations in DNA extracted from tumors. Curr. Protoc. Hum. Genet. 57:10.10.1-10.10.11. © 2008 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Keywords: p53; TP53; Li-Fraumeni Syndrome
Partial Valuation in Cost-Benefit Analysis

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is considering promulgating a rule to increase rearview visibility in vehicles—a rule intended to reduce backover crashes, which occur when a vehicle moving in reverse strikes a pedestrian or a cyclist, and which kill hundreds and injure thousands of people a year. In performing a cost-benefit analysis of the proposed rule, NHTSA has refused to monetize many of the most emotional impacts of the rule, including the fact that many of the victims of backover crashes are small children. Without including these impacts, the monetized costs of the rule far exceed the monetized benefits. This Article argues that treating these effects of the rearview rule as nonmonetizable assumes that people are willing to pay no money to secure those effects, and that it is therefore likely to lead to significant undervaluation of the amount of money people are actually willing to pay for the regulation. Regulators are often averse to attempting to monetize the nonmonetary effects of regulations, particularly when those effects are deeply emotional, as they are whenever regulation touches upon the death of small children. Insofar as this hesitation to monetize stems from concern about the incommensurability of money and other goods, it should cease immediately. Incommensurability does not necessarily preclude partial valuation, or the partial expression of a good’s value in terms of another good. Even something as horrific and emotionally laden as the death of a child can therefore be partially valued in monetary terms—so long as people are willing to pay money to prevent the event from occurring. Emotional goods like these are difficult to think about, and even more difficult to monetize, but refusing to monetize them at all is not a reasonable solution.
Rock Stabilization at Morrow Point Power Plant

During excavation of the underground Morrow Point Power Plant, an extensive rock monitoring system detected inward movement along a longitudinal rock face of the power plant chamber. The movement was associated with a large rock polyhedron which was formed in part by two intersecting faults and the power plant rock wall. Investigations indicated further movement was possible, necessitating installation of a permanent restraint system. Anchor bars, long rock bolts, poststressed tendons, and flat jacks were selected to provide the required support. The rock restraining system is fully effective in maintaining the stability of the rock polyhedron. No movement of the rock has taken place since the installations were completed.
The impacts of mountain pine beetle disturbance on the energy balance of snow during the melt period

Mountain snowpacks provide most of the annual discharge of western US rivers, but the future of water resources in the western USA is tenuous, as climatic changes have resulted in earlier spring melts that have exacerbated summer droughts. Compounding changes to the physical environment are biotic disturbances including that of the mountain pine beetle (MPB), which has decimated millions of acres of western North American forests. At the watershed scale, MPB disturbance increases the peak hydrograph, and at the stand scale, the ‘grey’ phase of MPB canopy disturbance decreases canopy snow interception, increases snow albedo, increases net shortwave radiation, and decreases net longwave radiation versus the ‘red’ phase. Fewer studies have been conducted on the red phase of MPB disturbance and in the mixed coniferous stands that may follow MPB-damaged forests. We measured the energy balance of four snowpacks representing different stages of MPB damage, management, and recovery: a lodgepole pine stand, an MPB-infested stand in the red phase, a mixed coniferous stand (representing one successional trajectory), and a clear-cut (representing reactive management) in the Tenderfoot Creek Experimental Forest in Montana, USA. Net longwave radiation was lower in the MPB-infested stand despite higher basal area and plant area index of the other forests, suggesting that the desiccated needles serve as a less effective thermal buffer against longwave radiative losses. Eddy covariance observations of sensible and latent heat flux indicate that they are of similar but opposite magnitude, on the order of 20 MJ m−2 during the melt period. Further analyses reveal that net turbulent energy fluxes were near zero because of the temperature and atmospheric vapour pressure encountered during the melt period. Future research should place snow science in the context of forest succession and management and address important uncertainties regarding the timing and magnitude of needlefall events. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Improving Asphalt Mixtures Performance by Mitigating Oxidation Using Anti‐Oxidants Additives

Polymer modified additives are typically used to improve rheological properties of asphalt binder as well as mechanical properties of asphalt concrete mix. In this study, polymer-modified binder PG70–22 is mixing with two co-polymers enhanced with anti-oxidant agents namely; Solution Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (SSBR) and Solution Ethylene-Butylene/Styrene (SEBS). The objective of this study is to characterize the effect of those additives into the rheological properties of the asphalt binder using temperature sweep test and mechanical properties of asphalt mixes. The aging index is determined to evaluate the role of additives to reduce brittleness after aging of the binder. The performance of asphalt mixes were characterized by Hamburg Wheel Tracking Test for moisture damage, Beam Fatigue Test for fatigue properties and Flow Number Test for rutting performance. It is found that the asphalt mixes with enhanced binders are improving its rutting and moisture resistance but decreased its fatigue life compared to the control mix.
Chiral Perturbation Theory

The era of high-precision lattice QCD has led to synergy between lattice computations and phenomenological input from chiral perturbation theory. We provide an introduction to chiral perturbation theory with a bent towards understanding properties of the nucleon and other low-lying baryons. Four main topics are the basis for this chapter. We begin with a discussion of broken symmetries and the procedure to construct the chiral Lagrangian. The second topic concerns specialized applications of chiral perturbation theory tailored to lattice QCD, such as partial quenching, lattice discretization, and finite-volume effects. We describe inclusion of the nucleon in chiral perturbation theory using a heavy-fermion Euclidean action. Issues of convergence are taken up as our final topic. We consider expansions in powers of the strange-quark mass, and the appearance of unphysical singularities in the heavy-particle formulation. Our aim is to guide lattice practitioners in understanding the predictions chiral perturbation theory makes for baryons, and show how the lattice will play a role in testing the rigor of the chiral expansion at physical values of the quark masses.
Sclerostin antibody improves skeletal parameters in a Brtl/+ mouse model of osteogenesis imperfecta

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a genetic bone dysplasia characterized by osteopenia and easy susceptibility to fracture. Symptoms are most prominent during childhood. Although antiresorptive bisphosphonates have been widely used to treat pediatric OI, controlled trials show improved vertebral parameters but equivocal effects on long-bone fracture rates. New treatments for OI are needed to increase bone mass throughout the skeleton. Sclerostin antibody (Scl-Ab) therapy is potently anabolic in the skeleton by stimulating osteoblasts via the canonical wnt signaling pathway, and may be beneficial for treating OI. In this study, Scl-Ab therapy was investigated in mice heterozygous for a typical OI-causing Gly→Cys substitution in col1a1. Two weeks of Scl-Ab successfully stimulated osteoblast bone formation in a knock-in model for moderately severe OI (Brtl/+) and in WT mice, leading to improved bone mass and reduced long-bone fragility. Image-guided nanoindentation revealed no alteration in local tissue mineralization dynamics with Scl-Ab. These results contrast with previous findings of antiresorptive efficacy in OI both in mechanism and potency of effects on fragility. In conclusion, short-term Scl-Ab was successfully anabolic in osteoblasts harboring a typical OI-causing collagen mutation and represents a potential new therapy to improve bone mass and reduce fractures in pediatric OI.
The effect of 2, 2-Bis (2-chlorophenyl-4-chlorophenyl)-1, 1-dighloroethane (o, p'-DDD) on the metabolism of infused cortisol-7-3H

Abstract o, p'-DDD was administered to a subject with Cushing' s syndrome and to an adrenalectomized castrated subject maintained on a constant cortisol intake. Measurements of the secretion, metabolism and metabolic clearance rate of cortisol were made before and during the administration of the drug. In the adrenalectomized subject the “cortisol secretion rate” was an estimate of the administered cortisol. The results of this study indicated that o, p'-DDD affected both the adrenal secretion and the extraadrenal metabolism of cortisol. During the early phase of drug administration however, the extra-adrenal effect predominated. In addition, it was shown than an increased circulating level of cortisol, whether due to exogenous administration or Cushing's syndrome, was associated with an increased plasma clearance of the steroid.
Feeling the musical emotions

De ses travaux anterieurs sur l'expression des emotions et les proprietes expressives de la musique (in «The corded shell», 1980), l'A. retient la question de la nature de l'experience musicale comme mouvement emotionnel. Exposant son analyse cognitive des sentiments et des croyances liees au pouvoir multiple de la musique intrumentale (beaute, merveilleux), et presentant la theorie opposee soutenue par S. Davies et J. Levinson, l'A. montre comment leurs positions peuvent s'accorder sur la question de la caracterisation des emotions musicales, c'est-a-dire la question de savoir ce qui fait qu'une musique triste rend triste, ou ce qui fait qu'une musique joyeuse rend joyeux.
Artificial-channel method for multichannel-decay-resonance energies and widths

In the artificial-channel method, an {ital N}-channel Hamiltonian describing the multichannel decay of a system is embedded in an ({ital N}+1)-channel Hamiltonian. The resonance energies and partial widths of the original {ital N}-channel physical problem are related simply to the parameters in the Lorentzian forms of the inelastic-scattering probabilities of the ({ital N}+1)-channel problem, the artificial-channel method permitting a straightforward study of a half-collision process with algorithms developed for full scattering processes. The utility of the method is demonstrated numerically for a model problem of Child and Lefebvre (Mol. Phys. 34, 379 (1977)).
Adhesion and the surface behavior of the silicone elastomer RTV‐142

Abstract : The silicon elastomer RTV-142 is often used as a particle-getter material inside electronics packages. The adhesion mechanism that forms the bond between the particle and the cured adhesive has been investgigated. One expects, theoretically, that polymer chains exhibit a temperature-dependent mobility. This is consistent with the hypothesis that flow of polymer chain segments around asperities on the foreign particles causes adhesion. Calculations of the surface energy of an idealized polymer system are presented which support the concept of an entropically driven flow of chain segments into pores and around asperities. Polymer surface-chain mobility is investigated experimentally by the scanning electron microscope analysis of a fractured, cut, and particle-decorated surface. Surface appearance changes were noted as a function of temperature. Scanning electron micrographs indicate that polymer chain movement is temperature dependent. Such findings support the proposed adhesion mechanism.
Apical Na+/H+ exchange near the base of mouse colonic crypts.

Colonic crypts can absorb fluid, but the identity of the absorptive transporters remains speculative. Near the crypt base, the epithelial cells responsible for vectorial transport are relatively un...
The Death-Inducing Effect and Genomic Instability

Abstract Nagar, S. and Morgan, W. F. The Death-Inducing Effect and Chromosomal Instability. Radiat. Res. 163, 316–323 (2005). Exposure to ionizing radiation can induce a heritable change in the unirradiated progeny of irradiated cells. This non-targeted effect of ionizing radiation manifests as genomic instability, and although there is some debate as to the role of genomic instability in the carcinogenic process, it is thought by some to be an early step in radiation carcinogenesis. Although the mechanism of induction of genomic instability is not clearly understood, evidence suggests that secreted factors from irradiated cells may be involved. We have previously identified another non-targeted effect of ionizing radiation, the death-inducing effect. Exposure of unirradiated GM10115 cells to medium from chromosomally unstable clones was generally found to be cytotoxic. However, occasionally cells will survive in medium from unstable clones and can be clonally expanded. The absolute yield of survivors is ...
EWA: exact wiring-sizing algorithm

The wire sizing problem under inequality Elmore delay constraints is known to be posynomial, hence convex under an exponential variable-transformation. There are formal methods for solving convex programs. In practice heuristics are often applied because they provide good approximations while offering simpler implementation and better efficiency. There are methods for solving related problems, which are comparable to heuristics from efficiency point of view, but they solve a less desirable formulation in terms of the objective function and constraints. In this paper the EWA algorithm is described. It solves the problem of minimizing the wiring area or capacitance of an interconnect tree subject to constraints on the Elmore delay. EWA is simple to implement and its efficiency is comparable to the available heuristics. No restrictions are placed on the circuit or wire widths, e.g., non-monotone wire widths assignment solutions are feasible. We prove that the optimal wire width assignment for a minimum wiring area objective satisfies all the delay constraint as equalities, when minimum wire width constraints are relaxed. It follows that EWA can be applied also for problems with equality delay constraints such as clock trees. This and other described properties are general enough to permit extensions to higher order delay models in the future.
Kvβ Subunits Increase Expression of Kv4.3 Channels by Interacting with Their C Termini

Auxiliary Kvbeta subunits form complexes with Kv1 family voltage-gated K(+) channels by binding to a part of the N terminus of channel polypeptide. This association influences expression and gating of these channels. Here we show that Kv4.3 proteins are associated with Kvbeta2 subunits in the brain. Expression of Kvbeta1 or Kvbeta2 subunits does not affect Kv4.3 channel gating but increases current density and protein expression. The increase in Kv4.3 protein is larger at longer times after transfection, suggesting that Kvbeta-associated channel proteins are more stable than those without the auxiliary subunits. This association between Kv4.3 and Kvbeta subunits requires the C terminus but not the N terminus of the channel polypeptide. Thus, Kvbeta subunits utilize diverse molecular interactions to stimulate the expression of Kv channels from different families.
Development and implementation of a novel computational tool for an efficient construction of drug-target interactome

The application of network concepts to pharmacology has become popular and promising for better understanding the molecular mechanisms of drug actions. In this study, we developed a computational pipeline in order to construct the drug-target interactome, thereby facilitating these drug action investigations. The interactome includes drug-drug, drug-target and target-protein interaction networks. The pipeline first extracts human protein-protein interaction (PPI) data from the Protein Interaction Network Analysis (PINA) platform to obtain the cleaned human PPIs with experimental evidence. Next, the pipeline retrieves the drugs of interest, their targets and the adverse drug interactions from the DrugBank database. Based on the cleaned human PPIs and drug-related information, the pipeline finally generates three subnetworks involved in the drug-target interactome: drug-drug network, drug-target network, and target-protein interaction network. We implemented the pipeline within two Python packages. To illustrate how the pipeline works, we used schizophrenia as a keyword to obtain SZ-related drugs. The Python packages and example data are available at http://bioinfo.mc.vanderbilt.edu/software.html.
New Approaches to Management of PPI-Refractory Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

“Refractory GERD” is one the most common misnomers in the area of gastroesophageal reflux disease. The term implies reflux as the underlying etiology despite unresponsiveness to aggressive, often twice-daily proton pump inhibitor therapy. The term should be replaced with “refractory symptoms.” We must acknowledge that in many patients, symptoms of reflux often overlap with non-GERD causes such as gastroparesis, dyspepsia, hypersensitive esophagus, and functional disorders. Lack of response to aggressive acid suppressive therapy often leads to esophagogastroduodenoscopy followed by pH or impedance monitoring. In the majority of patients these tests are normal. The role of non-acid reflux measured by impedance pH testing in this group is uncertain at best and the results from this test alone should not be used to refer patients to surgical fundoplication. In patients unresponsive to acid suppressive therapy, reflux is most commonly not causal and a search for non-GERD causes must ensue.
Publishers on the web: from Addison to Ziff

Reasonably priced computers and Internet connectivity, along with the ease and convenience of Web access, have made commerce on the Internet a reality. Library acquisitions staff and collection development librarians have been quick to take advantage of the resources and services offered on publisher Web pages. This has extended to online ordering from both publishers and booksellers. The focus of much of this activity has been rush books and out-of-print titles. However, as electronic commerce and online banking become widely accepted, there will be fundamental changes in the methods by which libraries acquire material.
Frontiers in Suicide Gene Therapy of Cancer

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the American Cancer Society (ACS) predict that 1,638,910 men and women will be diagnosed with cancer in the USA in 2012. Nearly 577,190 patients will die of cancer of all sites this year. Patients undergoing current systemic therapies will suffer multiple side effects from nausea to infertility. Potential parents, when diagnosed with cancer, will have to deposit oocytes and sperms prior to starting systemic radiation or chemo-therapy for the future genetic testing and in vitro fertilization, while trying to avoid risks of iatrogenic mutations in their germ cells. Otherwise, children of parents treated with systemic therapies, will be at high risk of developing genetic disorders. According to these predictions, this year will carry another, very poor therapeutic record again. The ultimate goal of cancer therapy is the complete elimination of all cancer cells, while leaving all healthy cells unharmed. One of the most promising therapeutic strategies in this regard is cancer suicide gene therapy (CSGT), which is rapidly progressing into new frontiers. The therapeutic success, in CSGT, is primarily contingent upon precision in delivery of the therapeutic transgenes to the cancer cells only. This is addressed by discovering and targeting unique or / and over-expressed biomarkers displayed on the cancer cells and cancer stem cells. Specificity of cancer therapeutic effects is further enhanced by designing the DNA constructs, which put the therapeutic genes under the control of the cancer cell specific promoters. The delivery of the suicidal genes to the cancer cells involves viral, as well as synthetic vectors, which are guided by cancer specific antibodies and ligands. The delivery options also include engineered stem cells with tropisms towards cancers. Main mechanisms inducing the cancer cells’ deaths include: transgenic expression of thymidine kinases, cytosine deaminases, intracellular antibodies, telomeraseses, caspases, DNases. Precautions are undertaken to eliminate the risks associated with transgenesis. Progress in genomics and proteomics should help us in identifying the cancer specific biomarkers and metabolic pathways for developing new strategies towards clinical trials of targeted and personalized gene therapy of cancer.
Large variability of trace element mass fractions determined by ICP-SFMS in ice core samples from worldwide high altitude glaciers

Abstract We quantified leaching and mass fractions of trace elements in melted acidified ice core samples measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma Sector Field Mass Spectrometry (ICP-SFMS). This assessment was conducted using nine ice core sections retrieved from various high-altitude drilling sites in South America, Africa, Asia and Europe. Twenty trace elements (Ag, Al, As, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sn, Ti, Tl, U, V and Zn) were determined. During a 1½ month acid leaching period our assessment shows distinct increases in the concentration of various trace elements (10% for Cd; 30% for Pb; 50–80% for As, Cu, Mo, Mn, Tl and U; 80–90% for Bi, Rb, Sb, Sn and Zn; 100–160% for Al, Cr, Co, Ti and V; 200% for Fe). The exception is Ag, which shows a 50% decrease. We found that the observed relative increases in trace element concentrations are: (i) independent of the absolute trace element concentrations and micro-particle levels/size of the samples, and (ii) unlikely to affect reconstructions of the crustal/non-crustal origin of trace elements based on the use of the crustal enrichment factor. After 1½ months of leaching, the measured trace element concentrations were found to be only a fraction of the estimated total concentration and that the mass fractions determined vary largely from element to element (on average 80–90% for As and Mn; 50–70% for U, Fe, Ti and Tl; 20–50% for Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mo, Pb, Rb, V and Zn; 15% for Bi and 2% for Ag). These observations imply: (i) a significant underestimation of the mass fluxes of these trace elements to high altitude glaciers and (ii) a likely dependency of the mass fractions on the typical crystallographic position of each trace element within the micro-particles contained in the ice core samples.
EVALUATING SOURCES OF COLLATERAL INFORMATION ON SMALL‐SAMPLE EQUATING

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of using collateral information to improve the accuracy of small sample equating. Collateral information from the equating of other tests was incorporated into an empirical Bayes (EB) estimate of the reference-form score corresponding to each new-form raw score. The evaluation consisted of resampling procedures using data from large-group equatings of 10 different test forms, representing 9 different tests. Each large-group equating provided the data for repeated small-sample equatings based on resampling. The small-sample equatings were done by 5 methods, including 2 EB methods that used the equating of the other 9 test forms as collateral information. The small-sample equating methods were evaluated for agreement with the large-group equating results. The new-form sample size in the small-sample equatings was systematically varied (10, 25, 50, 100, 200) as was the sample size in the equatings used as collateral information (100, 200, all available examinees). The results indicated that the use of collateral information tended to improve the accuracy of the equating when the new-form sample size was 25 or fewer.
Recursion vs. iteration: an empirical study of comprehension

Abstract An extensive study involving three test groups over a period of three different years was performed to determine differences between comprehension of recursive and iterative code constructs. This study involved computer science students enrolled in six different data structure classes using PASCAL and obtained 275 responses, which were statistically analyzed. Using a χ 2 test, one task—searching a linked list for a given value—showed a statistically significant ( p = 0.006) difference in comprehension favoring recursion. Another task—making a copy of a linked list—favored iteration, but not with statistical significance. Among responses with correct comprehension, a comparison of means test was performed on the comprehension times among the latter two groups in the study. There was a faster rate of comprehension of the recursive code for both of the tasks ( p = 0.096 for the search and p = 0.045 for the copy). A two-way analysis of variance suggested a tendency toward an interaction effect between task and construct in terms of comprehension time.