cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanical, morphological and biochemical adaptations of bone and muscle to hindlimb suspension and exercise

The influences of weightbearing forces on the structural remodeling, matrix biochemistry, and mechanical characteristics of the rat tibia and femur and surrounding musculature were examined by means of a hindlimb suspension protocol and highly intensive treadmill running. Female, young adult, Sprague-Dawley rats were designated as either normal control, sedentary suspended, or exercise suspended rats. For 4 weeks, sedentary suspended rats were deprived of hindlimb-to-ground contact forces, while the exercise suspended rats experienced hindlimb ground reaction forces only during daily intensive treadmill training sessions. The suspension produced generalized atrophy of hindlimb skeletal muscles, with greater atrophy occurring in predominantly slow-twitch extensors and adductors, as compared with the mixed fiber-type extensors and flexors. Region-specific cortical thinning and endosteal resorption in tibial and femoral diaphyses occurred in conjunction with decrements in bone mechanical properties. Tibial and femoral regional remodeling was related to both the absence of cyclic bending strains due to normal weightbearing forces and the decrease in forces applied to bone by antigravity muscles. To a moderate extent, the superimposed strenuous running counteracted muscular atrophy during the suspension, particularly in the predominantly slow-twitch extensor and adductor muscles. The exercise did not, however, mitigate changes in bone mechanical properties and cross-sectional morphologies, and in some cases exacerbated the changes. Suspension with or without exercise did not alter the normal concentrations of collagen, phosphorus, and calcium in either tibia or femur.
IRMIS: The care and feeding of a generalized relatively relational database for accelerator components with a connection to the real time EPICS Input output controllers

IRMIS: The care and feeding of a generalized relatively relational database for accelerator components with a connection to the real time EPICS Input output controllers. This paper describes a relational database approach to documenting and maintaining; the feeding. It describes the automated process used to generate accelerator or synchrotron component data for the relational tables and the role of devices and components. The data this obtained turn may be used or presented in a variety of ways to the end use in order to either optimize the maintenance or to provide machine metadata for experimental performance purposes.
Magnetic Relaxation in Aluminosilicate Structures Containing Manganese(II) and Gadolinium(III) Complexes

Abstract Electron-spin-resonance spectra and nuclear-magnetic-relaxation-dispersion measurements are reported for several aluminosilicate structures to which manganese (II) and gadolinium(III) ions have been added in several structurally distinct ways. EPR spectra demonstrate that diffusion of the hexaaquomanganese(II) ion or the aquogadolinium(III) ion into the zeolite structures is facile, apparently displacing sodium ion or protons. The addition of a complexing agent such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid or diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid to the metal-loaded zeolite then yields a complex which in the gadolinium case forms inside the zeolite but in the manganese(II) case forms largely outside the zeolite under our preparation conditions. For the intrazeolite complexes, the gadolinium system is stable to both low pH and high sodium concentrations. The field dependence of the water-proton relaxation displays strong paramagnetic effects that increase with increasing temperature, consistent with exchange limitations on the access of the water-proton spin system to the paramagnetic centers. The shape of the relaxation-dispersion curves demonstrates the importance of anisotropy in the metal-ion EPR spectrum, which leads to a considerable distribution of electron-spin Larmor frequencies and a consequent weak dependence of the nuclear-spin-relaxation rate on the magnetic-field strength.
Cosmic slowing down of acceleration using fgas

We investigate the recent - low redshift - expansion history of the universe using the most recent observational data. Using only data from 42 measurements of $f_{gas}$ in clusters, we found that cosmic acceleration could have already peaked and we are witnessing now its slowing down. This effect, found previously by Shafieloo, Sahni and Starobinsky in 2010 using supernova data (at that time the Constitution SNIa sample) appears again using an independent observational probe. We also discuss the result using the most recent Union 2.1 data set.
Discrepancies among mother, child, and teacher reports: examining the contributions of maternal depression and anxiety

The relationship between maternal affective symptomatology and discrepancies in maternal reports of child symptoms, relative to teacher and child reports, was evaluated in a community sample of 188 children ages 9-12 years. Mothers, teachers, and children were administered a structured interview about child psychopathology. In general, mothers reported more child behavior problems than children and teachers regardless of maternal symptomatology. However, maternal affective symptoms were associated with discrepancies between mothers' and daughters' reports and between mothers' and teachers' reports of girls' externalizing symptoms. Furthermore, mothers who reported high levels of both anxiety and depressive symptomatology tended to report a large number of symptoms that were not confirmed by either their daughters or teachers. Findings are discussed as possible evidence of the role of maternal affective symptomatology in both actual increases in child symptomatology and maternal reporting distortions. Although maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms shared variance in reporting discrepancies, only anxiety explained unique variance. Consistent with previous studies, cross-informant agreement was modest to moderate (r = .16 to .50) and all informants reported more behavior problems in boys than in girls.
Stimulation of contacts in ventral but not dorsal subthalamic nucleus normalizes response switching in Parkinson's disease

Switching between responses is a key executive function known to rely on the frontal cortex and the basal ganglia. Here we aimed to establish with greater anatomical specificity whether such switching could be mediated via different possible frontal–basal-ganglia circuits. Accordingly, we stimulated dorsal vs. ventral contacts of electrodes in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) in Parkinson's patients during switching performance, and also studied matched controls. The patients underwent three sessions: once with bilateral dorsal contact stimulation, once with bilateral ventral contact stimulation, and once Off stimulation. Patients Off stimulation showed abnormal patterns of switching, and stimulation of the ventral contacts but not the dorsal contacts normalized the pattern of behavior relative to controls. This provides some of the first evidence in humans that stimulation of dorsal vs. ventral STN DBS contacts has differential effects on executive function. As response switching is an executive function known to rely on prefrontal cortex, these results suggest that ventral contact stimulation affected an executive/associative cortico-basal ganglia circuit.
Simulations of the martian hydrologic cycle with a general circulation model: Implications for the ancient martian climate

Abstract We use a general circulation model (Urata, R.A., Toon, O.B. [2013]. Icarus, submitted for publication) to simulate the martian hydrologic cycle, including the radiative effects of water–ice clouds. We find that the current observed hydrologic cycle can be duplicated by tuning the polar cap albedo. The hydrologic cycle is very sensitive to the size and albedo of the North Polar water–ice cap. The radiative effects of ice clouds on atmospheric temperatures can be significant. Simulations of an ancient climate were performed with a 500 mb CO2 atmosphere and a reduced solar constant. The results show that the climate is highly sensitive to the hydrologic cycle, and can range from cold and dry, to warm and wet depending on initial conditions, cloud particle size, precipitation rates, and cloud cover fraction. A warm climate is obtained by assuming cloud ice particles greater than or equal to 10 μm, and by reducing the efficiency of precipitation to maximize the cloud optical thicknesses. The warm, wet climates have precipitation rates that are 10% of the present day Earth. While carbon dioxide plays only a minor role in creating warm temperatures, it is necessary to have more than 250 mb of carbon dioxide in order to obtain these high temperatures for the conditions assumed in our simulations due to the need for heat transport to the poles.
Autoregulatory patterns in the arteriolar network of cat mesentery

The purpose of this study was to examine the distribution and extent of autoregulatory behavior among arterioles in the arcade network of the cat mesentery. We found that 71% of 169 arterioles studied dilated and 63% showed blood flow autoregulation with arterial pressure reduction to 55-60 mm Hg. There appeared to be a direct relation between the degree of dilation and the degree of autoregulation when individual vessels were compared (r = 0.71). The dilation of individual arterioles was also correlated with the degree of autoregulation of other vessels in the same field (r = 0.51). To a lesser extent, the degree of dilation of individual arterioles was correlated with the degree of dilation of other vessels in the same field (r = 0.30). In comparing vessels which dilated, the largest average response was found in preparations where all vessels dilated. On a percentage basis the small arterioles located distally in the network dilated more than the large arterioles located proximally. In preparations having both reactive and nonreactive arterioles to pressure reduction, the nonreactive vessels were usually located geographically in proximity to each other. The flow distribution in the arteriolar network remained relatively stable on pressure reduction; the total tissue area perfused by a first-order arteriole shifting by 3% on the average.
Optimization-a powerful tool for analysis and design

An introduction to the theory and application of optimization as a general-purpose problem-solving tool is presented. The use of optimization is greatly enhanced through the development of a general problem-formulation structure which is applicable to a wide range of problems. The work describes the use of various optimization strategies, and includes several examples of the use of optimization to obtain least-squares solutions for circuit and system designs using curve matching, nonlinear equation solving, and complex-plane optimization. >
PGE2-Driven Expression of c-Myc and OncomiR-17-92 Contributes to Apoptosis Resistance in NSCLC

Aberrant expression of microRNAs (miRNA) with oncogenic capacities (oncomiRs) has been described for several different malignancies. The first identified oncomiR, miR-17-92, is frequently overexpressed in a variety of cancers and its targets include the tumor suppressor PTEN. The transcription factor c-Myc (MYC) plays a central role in proliferative control and is rapidly upregulated upon mitogenic stimulation. Expression of c-Myc is frequently deregulated in tumors, facilitating proliferation and inhibiting terminal differentiation. The c-Myc– regulatednetworkcomprisesalargenumberoftranscripts,includingthoseencodingmiRNAs.Here,prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) exposure rapidly upregulates the expression of the MYC gene followed by the elevation of miR-17-92 levels,whichinturnsuppressesPTENexpression,thusenhancingapoptosisresistanceinnon–smallcelllungcancer (NSCLC) cells. Knockdown of MYC expression or the miR-17-92 cluster effectively reverses this outcome. Similarly, miR-17-92 levels are significantly elevated in NSCLC cells ectopically expressing COX-2. Importantly, circulating miR-17-92 was elevated in the blood of patients with lung cancer as compared with subjects at risk for developing lung cancer. Furthermore, in patients treated with celecoxib, miR-17-92 levels were significantly reduced.ThesedatademonstratethatPGE2,abundantlyproducedbyNSCLCandinflammatorycellsinthetumor microenvironment, is able to stimulate cell proliferation and promote resistance to pharmacologically induced apoptosis in a c-Myc and miR-17-92–dependent manner. Implications: This study describes a novel mechanism, involving c-Myc and miR-17-92, which integrates cell proliferation and apoptosis resistance. Mol Cancer Res; 12(5); 765–74. � 2014 AACR.
TO CHANGE OR NOT TO CHANGE: HOW MOTOR CARRIERS RESPONDED FOLLOWING 9/11

What happens when firms are confronted by a strategic surprise—defined as “sudden, urgent, unfamiliar change” (Ansoff 1975, p. 22)—such as the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001? Numerous studies have examined how strategic change, in the aftermath of a significant environmental event, contributes to organizational survival and success. But, is strategic change the appropriate response to unexpected and disruptive environmental change? And is there a preferred trajectory for change, such that certain strategies are better suited than others to the post-surprise environment? This exploratory research examines whether or not strategic change is an appropriate response to strategic surprise affecting the firms in the trucking industry by considering the actions of motor carriers in the aftermath of 9/11. The data evidences significant disruption to the trucking industry following the event: among the sample, mean operating ratios declined by more than 50%. While nearly 40% of the carriers studied changed strategies in the post-9/11 environment, this did not guarantee better performance. All carriers fared worse following the attacks, but those carriers that changed strategies actually performed significantly worse than those that persisted with pre-9/11 strategies.
Can Protests Make Latinos “American”? Identity, Immigration Politics, and the 2006 Marches

This article takes advantage of a quasi-experiment in the 2006 Latino National Survey (LNS) to examine the effects of exogenous events on identity. Roughly halfway through the survey’s data collection, millions of Latinos mobilized to protest HR 4437, an immigration bill advancing in the U.S. Congress. This event provides the opportunity to examine differences in self-identification among comparable populations. I divide the LNS into a control group interviewed prior to these demonstrations and a treatment group interviewed after. My analysis shows respondents in the latter group were more likely to identify as American, with effects concentrated among Spanish speakers, and particularly Mexicans and Dominicans. I find no difference in identification as Latino or with one’s ancestral subgroup. These findings run contrary to the expectations of much existing literature, which assumes an increased sense of group threat results in heightened pan-ethnic sentiment across the Latino population.
IDENTIFICATION OF ThE MEAM1 CrypTIC SpECIES OF BEmisia TaBaci (hEMIpTErA: AlEyrODIDAE) By lOOp-MEDIATED ISOThErMAl AMplIFICATION

ABSTRACT There are 2 major invasive cryptic species within the Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) cryptic species complex in Florida, called MEAM1 or biotype B, and MED or biotype Q. We used loop-mediated isothermal amplification of DNA to detect these groups. Primer sets developed in-house and those previously published were compared for specificity to the target species by measuring time-to-amplification of non-target and target DNA templates using real-time PCR. All these primer sets were designed using the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene. Our findings indicate that primer sets designed for MEAMl were more specific than those designed for MED across published studies and in-house designed primers. The optimal primer set for MEAM1 detection, in conjunction with the magnesium ion color indicator hydroxynaphthol blue, provided visual confirmation of target whitefly DNA amplification in 45 min. This assay was highly specific and did not amplify DNA from 8 additional sweetpotato white...
Adenosine Inhibits Collagen and Protein Synthesis in Cardiac Fibroblasts: Role of A2B Receptors

Abstract —The objective of this study was to characterize the effects of exogenous and endogenous (cardiac fibroblast-derived) adenosine on [ 3 H]proline and [ 3 H]leucine incorporation, which are reliable markers of collagen and total protein synthesis, respectively, in rat left ventricular cardiac fibroblasts. Growth-arrested confluent cardiac fibroblast monolayers were stimulated with 2.5% fetal calf serum (FCS) in the presence and absence of adenosine, 2-chloroadenosine (stable adenosine analogue), or modulators of adenosine levels including (1) erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl) adenine (adenosine deaminase inhibitor), (2) dipyridamole (adenosine transport blocker), and (3) iodotubericidin (adenosine kinase inhibitor). All agents inhibited in a concentration-dependent fashion FCS-induced [ 3 H]proline and [ 3 H]leucine incorporation. These effects were blocked by KF17837 (selective A 2 antagonist) and 1,3-dipropyl-8-( p -sulfophenyl)xanthine (A 1 /A 2 receptor antagonist) but not by 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (selective A 1 antagonist), thus excluding the participation of A 1 receptors. The lack of effect of CGS21680 (selective A 2A agonist) excluded involvement of A 2A receptors, thus suggesting a major role for A 2B receptors. Comparisons of the inhibitory potencies of N 6 -cyclopentyladenosine (selective A 1 agonist), 5′- N -ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (A 1 /A 2 agonist), and 5′- N -methylcarboxamidoadenosine (A 1 /A 2 agonist) were consistent with that of an A 2B receptor subtype mediating the inhibitory effects. We conclude that adenosine inhibits FCS-induced collagen and total protein synthesis in cardiac fibroblasts via activation of A 2B receptors. These studies suggest, but do not prove, that endogenous adenosine may protect against cardiac fibrosis.
Prenatal cocaine exposure increases mesoprefrontal dopamine neuron responsivity to mild stress.

Children whose mothers used cocaine during pregnancy appear to have an increased incidence of certain neurobehavioral deficits. Rodent models of prenatal cocaine exposure have mimicked these deficits in the offspring, yet the biochemical basis of the behavioral abnormalities is unknown. We have been able to reproduce short-term memory deficits in our rat intravenous model of prenatal cocaine exposure, and as short-term memory is dependent on the function of dopamine neurons innervating the medial prefrontal cortex, we hypothesized that prenatal cocaine induces a dysfunction in the regulation of this pathway. Here we report that mild footshock stress, which preferentially activates the mesoprefrontal dopamine system, leads to an enhanced increase in dopamine turnover in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex of adolescent (postnatal day 35–37) rats exposed to cocaine in utero, suggesting that the dopamine neurons innervating this region are hyperresponsive in these rats. Thus, this biochemical alteration may be central to some of the cognitive deficits exhibited by offspring that were exposed to cocaine during fetal development. Synapse 42:80–83, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode arrays integrated with CMOS timing circuits

We report monolithic arrays of silicon Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes, and their integration with arrays of CMOS processing circuits. This is an enabling technology for a new class of focal plane arrays whose pixels can detect single photons as well as time their arrival with sub-ns precision. The CMOS circuits can be tailored to support either 3D laser radar applications, where the time of arrival of the first detected photon is of interest, or high-dynamic-range passive imaging, where the rate of arrival of photons is of interest. This combination of capabilities is not supported by traditional focal plane technologies such as CCDs and active-pixel sensors.
The Tercentenary Of Henry Martyn's Considerations Upon The East-India Trade

(2002). The Tercentenary Of Henry Martyn's Considerations Upon The East-India Trade. Journal of the History of Economic Thought: Vol. 24, No. 2, pp. 233-249.
Self-Organization of Polarized Cell Signaling via Autocrine Circuits: Computational Model Analysis

Recent studies have suggested that autocrine signaling through epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) might be involved in generating or maintaining an intrinsic polarity in tissue cells, possibly via spatial localization of EGFR-mediated signaling. The difficulty of experimental investigation of autocrine signaling makes especially valuable an application of computational modeling for critical hypotheses about the dynamic operation of the underlying signaling circuits, both intracellular and extracellular. Toward this end, we develop and analyze here a spatially distributed dynamic computational model of autocrine EGFR signaling. Under certain conditions, the model spontaneously evolves into a state wherein sustained signaling is spatially localized on smaller than cell dimension, conferring a polarity to the otherwise nonpolar model cell. Conditions of a sufficiently large rate of autocrine EGFR ligand release and of a sufficiently small exogenous ligand concentration are qualitatively consistent with experimental observations of EGFR-mediated migration. Thus, computational analysis supports the concept that autocrine EGFR signaling circuits could play a role in helping generate and/or maintain an intrinsic cell spatial polarity, possibly related to migration as well as tissue organization. We additionally offer particular suggestions for critical nodes in the EGFR signaling circuits governing this self-organization capability.
Rethinking Communication After the Mobilities Turn

Much recent research in the field of communication has focused on mobile communication, including studies of the diffusion, uses, and social implications of mobile phones, mobile gaming, and mobile...
Turbine Generator Stator-Winding Temperatures at Various Hydrogen Pressures [includes discussion]

The power industry has for years accepted certain general principles upon which temperature limits are based in the rating of electrical machines and apparatus. AIEE Standard No. 11 sets forth the philosophy to be followed in selecting the permissible total temperatures at various locations within machines, dependent upon the class of insulation employed. The particular values of allowable temperatures and the locations at which they shall be measured in cylindrical rotor machines are stated in the American Standards Association Standard (ASA) C50.2 Both of these standards established their recommendations many years ago, when turbine generators were all air-cooled machines and the industry's experience on the performance and life of such machines was a dominant factor in the selection of allowable temperatures. In 1937, when turbine generators began to be hydrogen-cooled, the allowable temperatures established for air-cooled machines and the temperature differences between the measurable temperatures and the hot-spot temperatures were tacitly assumed to be correct for the new type of cooling at a hydrogen pressure of 1/2 pound per square inch gauge (psig) in spite of a load increase which was realized with hydrogen cooling. With time, the practice of operating machines at hydrogen pressures higher than 1/2 psig has become quite general. Also for some years a number of machines have had their ratings based on capacities associated with increased hydrogen pressures, and there is no industry standard which recognizes the proper allowable measurable temperatures and temperature rises.
A Comparison Between the Structural and Catalytic Properties of Supported W2C, WC and WC1−x

A series of γ-Al2O3 and SiO2 supported tungsten carbides was synthesized by the temperature programmed reaction of supported tungstates with CH4/H2 mixtures. The three known phases, W2C, WC and WC1-x, were evaluated as butane dehydrogenation catalysts. The microstructure and composition of the supported carbides depended on the loading and final synthesis temperature. The low and medium loaded materials were x-ray amorphous suggesting highly dispersed carbide domains on the support. The high loaded materials possessed small crystallites of W2C, WC or WC1-x. The supported carbides were as active as a commercial dehydrogenation catalyst with comparable selectivities in several cases. The butane conversion activity decreased in the following order: W2C > WC > WC1-x. The dehydrogenation selectivity decreased as the activity increased. The results suggest that there were two different types of sites, those catalyzing the selective dehydrogenation of butane and those capable of butane hydrogenolysis. The activity of these latter sites declined significantly with time on stream. We believe the hydrogenolysis activity was due to acid sites on the supported carbides.
Isoflurane delays but does not prevent cerebral infarction in rats subjected to focal ischemia.

Background: Several investigations have shown that volatile anesthetics can reduce ischemic cerebral injury. In these studies, however, neurologic injury was evaluated only after a short recovery period. Recent data suggest that injury caused by ischemia is a dynamic process characterized by continual neuronal loss for a prolonged period. Whether isoflurane-mediated neuroprotection is sustained after a longer recovery period is not known. The current study was conducted to compare the effect of isoflurane on brain injury after short (2-day) and long (14-day) recovery periods in rats subjected to focal ischemia. Metbods: Fasted Wistar-Kyoto rats were anesthetized with isoflurane and randomly allocated to an awake (n = 36) or an isoflurane (n = 34) group. Animals in both groups were subjected to focal ischemia by filament occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. Pericranial temperature was servocontrolled at 37°C throughout the experiment. In the awake group, isoflurane was discontinued and the animals were allowed to awaken. In the isoflurane group, isoflurane anesthesia was maintained at 1.5 times the minimum alveolar concentration. After 70 min of focal ischemia, the filament was removed. Animals were killed 2 days (awake, n = 18; isoflurane, n = 17) and 14 days (awake, n = 18; isoflurane, n = 17) after ischemia. The volumes of cerebral infarction and selective neuronal necrosis in the animals were determined by image analysis of hematoxylin and eosin-stained coronal brain sections. Results: Cortical and subcortical volumes of infarction were significantly less in the isoflurane 2-day group (26 ± 23 mm 3 and 17 ± 6 mm 3 , respectively) than in the awake 2-day group (58 ± 35 mm 3 , P < 0.01; and 28 ± 12 mm 3 , P < 0.01, respectively). By contrast, cortical and subcortical volumes of infarction in the awake (41 ± 31 mm 3 and 28 ± 16 mm 3 , respectively) and isoflurane (41 ± 35 mm 3 and 19 ± 8 mm 3 , respectively) 14-day groups were not different (cortex, P = 0.99; subcortex, P = 0.08). The volume of cortical tissue in which selective neuronal necrosis was observed, however, was significantly less in the isoflurane 14-day group (5 ± 4 mm 3 ) than in the awake 14-day group (17 ± 9 mm 3 , P < 0.01). The total number of necrotic neurons in the region of selective neuronal necrosis was significantly smaller in the isoflurane 14-day group than in the awake 14-day group (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Compared with the awake state, isoflurane reduced the extent of infarction assessed 2 days after focal ischemia in rats. At 14 days, however, only selective neuronal necrosis, but not infarction, was reduced by isoflurane. These results suggest that isoflurane delays but does not prevent cerebral infarction caused by focal ischemia. Isoflurane may attenuate the delayed development of selective neuronal necrosis in periinfarct areas in this animal model.
An Expanded Decision-Making Procedure for Examining Cross-Level Interaction Effects With Multilevel Modeling

Cross-level interaction effects lay at the heart of multilevel contingency and interactionism theories. Also, practitioners are particularly interested in such effects because they provide informat...
An Intelligent Diagnostic/Prognostic Framework for Automotive Electrical Systems

Automotive systems are becoming increasingly dependent on electrical components, computer control, and sensors. It has become extremely critical to detect faults in the electrical system and predict the remaining useful life of failing components. This paper introduces an integrated methodology for monitoring, modeling, data processing, fault diagnosis, and failure prognosis of critical electrical components such as the battery. The enabling technologies include signal processing, sensor selection and placement, selection and extraction of optimum condition indicators, and accurate fault diagnosis and failure prognosis algorithms that are based on both the physics of failure models and Bayesian estimation methods. The proposed architecture is implementable on-board an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) requiring minimum computational resources. Potential benefits include reduction in maintenance costs, improved asset reliability and availability and longer life of critical components.
An explorative tile-based technique for automated constraint transformation, placement and routing of high frequency analog filters

The paper presents an original methodology and algorithms for designing high-frequency analog filters. Filters are realized to meet AC performance specifications as closely as possible. Addressed design steps include parameter sizing, placement and routing. The explorative design method, based on tabu search, takes into account layout parasitics of the circuit. The synthesis strategy alternates between (1) a uniform sampling of the solution space and (2) a focused search of attractive regions. We also discuss the usage of a layout representation based on symbolic tiles for analog system synthesis. Experiments on filters demonstrate the quality of our solution.
Grammaticality Sensitivity in Children with Early Focal Brain Injury and Children with Specific Language Impairment.

Grammaticality judgments and processing times associated with violation detection were examined in typically developing children, children with focal brain lesions (FL) acquired early in life, and children with specific language impairment (SLI). Grammatical sensitivity in the FL group, while below typically developing children, was above levels seen in children with SLI. Age effects were noted with developmental changes in sensitivity extending into adolescence. Developmental delays in grammatical processing were particularly pronounced for children with SLI, who showed sensitivity levels below those of younger typically developing children. Sensitivity to agreement violations was also protracted in the SLI group providing further evidence of the vulnerability of morphology, a pattern not unlike that seen in adult aphasics. Findings for the FL group provide compelling evidence of neural and behavioral plasticity in children with early unilateral brain injury. Moreover, results from these children underscore how very different compensatory organization may be compared to profiles seen in adult aphasics who have comparable lesions. In contrast, although it was expected that the SLI children would perform below the typically developing children, the disadvantage seen with respect to the FL group suggests that the underlying pathology responsible for SLI may be more pervasive and less plastic than the focal pathology of children with early brain damage.
Adiabatic Electron Transfer: Comparison of Modified Theory with Experiment

The radical cations of properly designed bishydrazines allow comparison of observed and calculated electron transfer rate constants. These compounds have rate constants small enough to be measured by dynamic electron spin resonance spectroscopy and show charge transfer bands corresponding to vertical excitation from the energy well for the charge occurring upon one hydrazine unit to that for the electron-transferred species. Analysis of the data for all six compounds studied indicates that the shape of the adiabatic surface on which electron transfer occurs can be obtained from the charge transfer band accurately enough to successfully predict the electron transfer rate constant and that explicit tunneling corrections are not required for these compounds.
Performance Analysis of $n$ -Channel Symmetric FEC-Based Multiple Description Coding for OFDM Networks

Recently, multiple description source coding has emerged as an attractive framework for robust multimedia transmission over packet erasure channels. In this paper, we mathematically analyze the performance of n-channel symmetric FEC-based multiple description coding for a progressive mode of transmission over orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) networks in a frequency-selective slowly-varying Rayleigh faded environment. We derive the expressions for the bounds of the throughput and distortion performance of the system in an explicit closed form, whereas the exact performance is given by an expression in the form of a single integration. Based on this analysis, the performance of the system can be numerically evaluated. Our results show that at high SNR, the multiple description encoder does not need to fine-tune the optimization parameters of the system due to the correlated nature of the subcarriers. It is also shown that, despite the bursty nature of the errors in a slow fading environment, FEC-based multiple description coding without temporal coding provides a greater advantage for smaller description sizes.
Learning in Parkinson's disease: eyeblink conditioning, declarative learning, and procedural learning.

OBJECTIVE—To assess the degree of learning ability in Parkinson's disease. METHODS—Three different learning tasks: eyeblink classical conditioning with delay and trace paradigms, the California verbal learning test (CVLT), and a serial reaction time task (SRTT) were studied in patients with Parkinson's disease and normal (control) subjects. RESULTS—In the eyeblink conditioning tasks, both patients and normal subjects showed significant learning effects without between group differences. In the CVLT, patients remembered significantly fewer words than normal subjects in both short term and long term cued recall tasks. In the SRTT, normal subjects had significantly reduced response time and error rates across blocks of repeated sequence trials, whereas patients had significantly reduced error, but not response time rates. CONCLUSION—Impairment of nigrostriatal pathways selectively affects performance in complex learning tasks that are competitive and require alertness such as the SRTT, but not in simple learning procedures such as eyeblink conditioning.
Pulmonary emboli from therapeutic sodium hyaluronate.

A patient presented with shortness of breath and pleuritic pain shortly after bilateral knee synovial injections with sodium hyaluronate (HA). He was discharged after a brief hospitalization without a diagnosis when no Doppler or radiologic evidence of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary emboli was found. Radiologic studies found patchy ground glass opacities that were predominantly peripheral in disposition, with prominent septal lines in the lungs; a subsequent pulmonary function test showed a reduced diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO). These results prompted a lung biopsy that revealed multiple emboli composed of HA and fibrin in medium size pulmonary arteries, enlarged lymphatic vessels, and a bone marrow embolus. This is the first report of HA emboli following therapeutic HA injections and demonstrates that pulmonary function tests can be used to infer the reduction in pulmonary vascular area consequent to pulmonary emboli, and so can contribute to the detection of pulmonary emboli in unusual presentations.
Modifying the Einstein equations off the constraint hypersurface

A new technique is presented for modifying the Einstein evolution equations off the constraint hypersurface. With this approach the evolution equations for the constraints can be specified freely. The equations of motion for the gravitational field variables are modified by the addition of terms that are linear and nonlocal in the constraints. These terms are obtained from solutions of the linearized Einstein constraints.
A rate-independent technique for analysis of nucleic acid sequences: evolutionary parsimony.

The method of evolutionary parsimony-or operator invariants-is a technique of nucleic acid sequence analysis related to parsimony analysis and explicitly designed for determining evolutionary relationships among four distantly related taxa. The method is independent of substitution rates because it is derived from consideration of the group properties of substitution operators rather than from an analysis of the probabilities of substitution in branches of a tree. In both parsimony and evolutionary parsimony, three patterns of nucleotide substitution are associated one-to-one with the three topologically linked trees for four taxa. In evolutionary parsimony, the three quantities are operator invariants. These invariants are the remnants of substitutions that have occurred in the interior branch of the tree and are analogous to the substitutions assigned to the central branch by parsimony. The two invariants associated with the incorrect trees must equal zero (statistically), whereas only the correct tree can have a nonzero invariant. The x*-test is used to ascertain the nonzero invariant and the statist&thy favored tree. Examples, obtained using data calculated with evolutionary rates and branchings designed to camouflage the true tree, show that the method accurately predicts the tree, even when substitution rates differ greatly in neighboring peripheral branches (conditions under which parsimony will consistently fail). As the number of substitutions in peripheral branches becomes fewer, the parsimony and the evolutionary-parsimony solutions converge. The method is robust and easy to use.
Flicker (1/f) noise in copper films due to radiation-induced defects.

Changes were measured in the resistivity and 1/f noise in polycrystalline Cu films due to defects induced by 500-keV to 1.1-MeV electron irradiation or 1-MeV ${\mathrm{Kr}}^{+}$-ion irradiation. Irradiation with 500-keV electrons increased the noise level in films maintained at 90 K by as much as an order of magnitude, while the resistivity increased by at most 10%. When the films were annealed at progressively higher temperatures, both the 1/f noise and the resistivity were reduced; however, at lower annealing temperatures, the fractional reduction in the induced noise was substantially more than in the added resistivity. These results suggest that a large fraction of the induced noise is generated by ``mobile'' added defects that are more readily annealed than the majority of the added defects. The temperature dependence of the noise after irradiation and partial annealing indicated that the induced noise was thermally activated in a manner consistent with the Dutta-Dimon-Horn model. Isolated defects created by 1.1-MeV electron irradiation were found to produce substantially higher noise levels than clustered defects resulting from 1-MeV ${\mathrm{Kr}}^{+}$ion irradiation. Measurements on a number of films indicate that the induced 1/f noise is not sensitive to the type and quantity of interstitial traps. A model which attributes the noise to the motion of defects involving vacancies close to surfaces, grain boundaries, or dislocations is most consistent with the experimental results.
Decidual Activin: Its Role In the Apoptotic Process and Its Regulation by Prolactin

Successful pregnancy requires profound differentiation and reorganization of the uterine tissues including, as pregnancy progresses, extensive apoptosis of decidual tissue to accommodate the developing conceptus. We have previously shown a positive correlation between expression of activin A and apoptosis in the decidua and have also shown that expression of activin A occurs at the time when prolactin (PRL) receptors disappear from decidual cells. The goals of this study were to examine whether activin A plays a role in decidual apoptosis and whether expression of activin A in the decidua is regulated by PRL and placental lactogens. Studies were carried out using primary rat decidual cells, a decidual cell line (GG-AD), and PRL null mice. Treatment of decidual cells with activin A significantly increased DNA degradation, caspase 3 activity, and caspase 3 mRNA expression. However, this effect was observed only in the absence of endogenous activin production by these cells. Addition of follistatin to decidual cells that were producing activin A decreased both caspase 3 activity and mRNA expression. Similarly, addition of activin-blocking antibodies to cultures of GG-AD cells, which also produce activin A, caused a reduction in both DNA degradation and caspase 3 activity. PRL and placental lactogens caused an inhibition of activin A mRNA expression in primary decidual cells. Even more convincingly, decidua of PRL null mice expressed abundant activin A at a time when no expression of this hormone is detected in wild-type mice and treatment of PRL null mice with PRL caused a profound inhibition of activin A mRNA expression. In summary, our investigations into the role and regulation of decidual activin have revealed that activin A can induce cell death in the decidua and that its expression is under tight regulation by PRL and placental lactogens. activin, apoptosis, decidua, prolactin
Nanotechnology-based approaches for rapid detection of chemical and biological contaminants in foods

Abstract: Nanotechnology is one of the most exciting and rapidly evolving fields in agriculture and food science. The use of nanoscale materials in sensing and detection applications is growing rapidly, providing an alternative approach to traditional techniques for detection of chemical and biological contaminants in foods, beverages and other products. This chapter provides an overview of recent progress relating to the use of nanotechnology-based novel techniques in detection of food contaminants. It summarizes several classes of nanotechnology-based analytical techniques, including surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and its derived technologies, bioconjugated nanoparticles coupled with fluorescence detection methods, magnetic nanomaterial-based detection techniques, gold nanoparticles, carbon nanotube-based electrochemical biosensors, nanowire biosensors, and other techniques based upon the use of novel nanotechnology and nanomaterials. We also look into the future and predict what the future trends will be in nanotechnology-enabled sensing methods.
Inhibition of urea transport in inner medullary collecting duct by phloretin and urea analogues.

Arginine vasopressin (AVP) increases the urea permeability of the rat terminal inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) to levels much greater than can be explained by lipid-phase permeation or parac...
A Case of Transfusion Error in a Trauma Patient With Subsequent Root Cause Analysis Leading to Institutional Change

A 28-year-old man presented emergently to the operating room following a gun-shot injury to his right groin. Our hospital’s Massive Transfusion Protocol was initiated as the patient entered the operating room actively hemorrhaging and severely hypotensive. During the aggressive resuscitation efforts, the patient was inadvertently transfused 2 units of packed red blood cells intended for another patient due to a series of errors. Fortunately, the incorrect product was compatible, and the patient recovered from his near-fatal injuries. Root cause analysis was used to review the transfusion error and develop an action plan to help prevent future occurrences.
Estimation of Minimax Values in Gd-Game Models

A P b -game model (Sect. 5.3) is characterized by its complete, uniform game tree with branching factor b and by the distribution of the payoffs at terminal nodes. The value 1 or 0 is independently assigned to all leaves with a probability of p or 1 - p, respectively, where 1 denotes a win for MAX and 0 a win for MIN.
Chitinase-3-like protein-1 (YKL-40) as a marker of endothelial dysfunction in obstructive sleep apnea.

Abstract Background Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a highly prevalent disorder affecting 15–24% of adults and triples the risk for hypertension independent of other risk factors. The exact mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction and variable susceptibility to hypertension in OSA are not entirely clear. No biomarker to date has been found to be associated with hypertension in OSA. Chitinase-3-like protein-1(YKL-40) is a circulating moiety with roles in injury, repair and angiogenesis that is dysregulated in atherosclerosis and correlates with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We sought to determine the role of YKL-40, as a biomarker, for endothelial dysfunction and hypertension in OSA. Methods All subjects underwent polysomnography for suspected sleep-disordered breathing. Endothelial-dependent vasodilatory capacity was assessed using flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD). YKL-40 was measured in plasma using ELISA methodology. Results We studied 95 subjects in four groups according to OSA and hypertension status. FMD was markedly impaired in hypertensive OSA (8.0% ± 0.5 vasodilation) compared to normotensive OSA (13.5% ± 0.5, P 0.0001) and non-OSA with hypertension (10.5% ± 0.8, P 0.01) and without hypertension (16.1% ± 1.0, P 0.0001). YKL-40 was significantly elevated only in hypertensive OSA compared to other three groups and had a negative correlation with FMD (r=-0.37, P = 0.0008). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for YKL-40 in predicting endothelial dysfunction had a sensitivity of 71% and a specificity of 64% with AUC = 0.68, 0.57 to 0.80, P = 0.004. Conclusions Elevated circulating levels of YKL-40 are observed in only hypertensive OSA and have a significant negative correlation with endothelial function. This specificity suggests YKL-40 could be a potential biomarker for endothelial dysfunction in OSA.
Structure Evolution and Thermoelectric Properties of Carbonized Polydopamine Thin Films.

Carbonization of nature-inspired polydopamine can yield thin films with high electrical conductivity. Understanding of the structure of carbonized PDA (cPDA) is therefore highly desired. In this study, neutron diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and other techniques indicate that cPDA samples are mainly amorphous with some short-range ordering and graphite-like structure that emerges with increasing heat treatment temperature. The electrical conductivity and the Seebeck coefficient show different trends with heat treatment temperature, while the thermal conductivity remains insensitive. The largest room-temperature ZT of 2 × 10–4 was obtained on samples heat-treated at 800 °C, which is higher than that of reduced graphene oxide.
Tenure, promotion and performance: The career path of US ambassadors

The mission of diplomats have often been characterized as promoting peace while advancing national interests. Ambassadorial appointments are also portrayed as patronage, used as a reward for domestic political favors. Here, we develop an original database of the tenure of US ambassadors from sources at the US State Department to better understand the determinants of ambassadorial careers. We assess the tenure of both political appointees and career diplomats based on four factors: (1) Political factors, such as leader turnover in the US and the host nation; (2) Personal characteristics of the ambassador, such as age and gender; (3) Characteristics of the host nation such as population, wealth, trade and alignment with the US; and (4) Performance measures, such as improvements in economic, diplomatic and security relations. US Presidential turnover has the greatest effect on ambassadorial tenure, especially for political appointees. Performance measures have little impact on the tenure or future career prospects of ambassadors.