cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Robust Bias Mitigation Algorithm for Localization in Wireless Networks

Non-line-of-sight (NLOS) signal propagation is a major issue in location estimation. Several application oriented approaches have been proposed in recent years to mitigate the errors induced by the biased distance estimates from NLOS propagation. In this paper, we present a new algorithm which reduces the adverse effects of bias by utilizing the topological diversity provided by L unique beacon combinations from the power set of N(>3) beacons. The algorithm consists of two complementary weighted average techniques combined to provide high level of robustness. Our simulation and empirical work shows that the proposed algorithm is effective independent of the bias distributions. Thus, it can be implemented over a variety of existing localization methods in wireless networks to mitigate the adverse effects of NLOS propagation and achieve high accuracy in practical scenarios.
Analysis and identification of stochastic compartment models in pharmacokinetics: implication for cancer chemotherapy

Abstract One of the fundamental problems in pharmacokinetics is determining the parameters of multicompartment models from the measured excretion rate and observations on one of the compartments. Since it is frequently impractical to obtain observations for all physiological compartments, and due to the inherent variations in biological systems, a stochastic approach to multicompartment analysis is suggested. The objective of this article is to consider the identification of multicompartment models from a stochastic point of view, with particular emphasis on two- and three-compartment models. The essential part of this investigation is the statistical simulation of the C-T curves of the observed compartment for different biological conditions. We then present a probabilistic characterization of the multirandom parameter family of the rate constant matrix and evaluate the statistical properties of the solution processes for the unobservable compartments.
Engineered Hematopoietic Stem Cells as Therapeutics for Hemophilia A.

The field of HSCT gene therapy has advanced from proof-of-concept studies to the treatment of humans with acquired and genetic diseases. Several clinical trials have resulted in life-saving successes, and the curative potential of genetically-modified HSCs is now a reality with the number of disease applications growing rapidly, including chronic granulomatous disease, Wiscott-Aldrich disease, Fanconi anemia, β-thalassemia, and sickle cell disease. Hemophilia A remains a prime candidate for HSCT gene therapy. Advancements in fVIII transgene design, viral vector engineering, and immunological conditioning have cured this disease in animal models and show promise for upcoming clinical trials. Additional studies continue to elucidate methods and technologies to identify and isolate HSCs and improve transduction of this important gene therapy target. In addition, overcoming the current limitations of fVIII expression, as well as reducing the risks of the gene transfer procedure, such as insertional mutagenesis, is possible. Further advancements in the field of HSCT gene therapy have included novel mechanisms to target site-specific gene insertions or corrections using engineered nucleases or PNA-complexes. Trough ongoing intensive research, the field of HSCT gene therapy is progressing towards safer, more efficient, and cost effective treatment options.
Relapsing nephrotic syndrome in childhood

A 13.5-year-old boy with relapsing nephrotic syndrome was first treated for nephrosis at the age of 21 months. At that time, clinical signs included facial edema, edema of the extremities, and a distended abdomen. Blood pressure and renal function were normal, but he had severe hypoalbuminemia (1 g/100 ml), hypercholesterolemia, and heavy proteinuria; 12-hour urine protein excretion was 8.6 g. He was treated with a single 25 U dose of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and prednisone was administered in a divided dosage of 50 mg/day, for 2 weeks, and 60 mg, every other day, thereafter. Within I week, urine protein excretion decreased to zero and edema remitted. The patient was discharged on a regimen of penicillin prophylaxis and prednisone. Over the next 8 months, the dosage of prednisone was slowly tapered from 60 mg, every other day, to 10 mg, every other day. Three to four days following onset of a viral upper respiratory infection, however, proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, and edema recurred. The dosage of prednisone was again increased to 60 mg, every other day, and a clinical remission again resulted with qualitative protein excretion decreasing to negative." Similar relapses occurred at ages 3 and 4.5 years. During the latter episode, the proteinuria did not disappear for the 2 months during which prednisone was administered in a
Theory of the electronic states and absorption spectrum of the LiCl:Ag+ impurity system

The impurity absorption spectra of ${\mathrm{Ag}}^{+}$ and ${\mathrm{Cu}}^{+}$ impurities in alkali halide hosts show characteristically different features, despite the similar nature of the corresponding free ions. We use the self-interaction-corrected local-spin-density (SIC-LSD) theory to calculate the electronic structure of the ground state (4d) and the 5s and 5p excited states of the LiCl:${\mathrm{Ag}}^{+}$ impurity ion. The method of linear combinations of atomic orbitals is used to determine the wave functions and energy levels. By comparing with previous calculations for LiCl:${\mathrm{Cu}}^{+}$, we are able to attribute the differences in the d\ensuremath{\rightarrow}s and d\ensuremath{\rightarrow}p transitions in the ultraviolet spectra of these systems to the increased bonding between host crystal and impurity orbitals in LiCl:${\mathrm{Ag}}^{+}$, due to the more extensive nature of the ${\mathrm{Ag}}^{+}$ 4d orbitals. A modification of the earlier SIC-LSD impurity-crystal procedure is introduced to treat the strongly mixed impurity states.
Scientific uncertainty: how do we know when to communicate research findings to the public?

Abstract The problem of when to communicate research findings with the public arises with respect to a broad range of environmental and health hazards. What many people would like is a rule of the form, ‘Communicate research findings if and only if condition C obtains.’, where condition C reflects some function that includes the probability of a harm occurring, the seriousness of the harm, the reliability of the data on which these estimates are based, and the potential usefulness of these projections for mitigating or preventing the harm in question. I argue that no such rule is forthcoming. I go on to distinguish uncertainty from ignorance and indeterminism. Uncertainty is not an objective quantity but is socially constructed by context, rhetorical role, the assumption of purposes, and the acceptance of knowledge claims. In a particular case, the first step in deciding whether to communicate research findings to the public is appreciating how the uncertainties have been constructed. Only then can we go on to ask the ethical questions about communicating research in an illuminating way.
Elevated monocyte interleukin-6 (IL-6) production in immunosuppressed trauma patients. I. Role of Fc gamma RI cross-linking stimulation.

This study demonstrates that immunodepressed trauma patients' monocytes produce elevated interleukin-6 to adherence, bacterial, and cytokine stimulation compared to immunocompetent trauma patients' or normals' monocytes, suggesting theirin vivo preactivation possibly mediated by the hyperimmunoglobulinemia which characterizes these patients. Furthermore, stimulation of monocytes through cross-linking their FcγRI induces and augments interleukin-6 (IL-6) production to subsequent stimulation both in trauma patients' (P<0.001) and in normals' (P<0.001) monocytes. As we reported earlier, immunodepressed trauma patients have an increased proportion of FcγRI-bearing monocytes in their total monocyte population and here we show that those FcγRI+ monocytes produce significantly elevated interleukin-6, suggesting a relationship between elevated monocyte interleukin-6 production and FcγRI triggering. Interleukin-6 induction by FcRI stimulation is not mediated solely by FcRI-induced MO tumor necrosis factor alpha, IL-1α, or IL-1β production and is independent of MO prostaglandin E2 levels. Therefore, FcRI stimulation-induced elevated MO IL-6 might contribute to the increased immunoglobulin levels posttrauma.
A historical note on false traumatic memories

Unhampered by current ethical standards and human subject committees, H. Bernheim (1889) created a false memory of a horrific traumatic event. Bernheim also demonstrated his subject's willingness to discuss the implanted memory with a representative of the law. Bernheim's work represents the first documented case of an implanted false traumatic memory, with direct relevance to contemporary debates.
Schrödinger Operators and the Zeros of Their Eigenfunctions

In n-dimensional Euclidean space let us be given an infinitely differentiable real valued function V that is bounded below. We associate with the formal operator that sends a complex valued function ψ into −div(grad ψ) + Vψ a uniquely defined self adjoint operator which we will denote by −Δ + V.
First-trimester fetal cardiac examination using spatiotemporal image correlation, tomographic ultrasound and color Doppler imaging for the diagnosis of complex congenital heart disease in high-risk patients.

Objective A four-dimensional (4D) fetal echocardiographic technique utilizing spatiotemporal image correlation, tomographic ultrasound imaging display (STIC-TUI echo) and color Doppler has previously been shown to be effective in displaying the examination planes constituting the extended cardiac examination. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of this first-trimester STIC-TUI echo technique in identifying complex congenital heart disease (CHD) in high-risk pregnancies. Methods This was a prospective study of patients presenting at first-trimester screening who were at high risk for CHD owing to pregestational diabetes, in-vitro fertilization (IVF), increased nuchal translucency (NT) thickness, first-trimester tricuspid regurgitation or reversed ductus venosus (DV) a-wave, a previous child with CHD or who were on anticonvulsant medication. First-trimester STIC-TUI echo was performed, and the findings were correlated with second-trimester echocardiography and post-delivery echo findings in survivors. Results One hundred and sixty-four fetuses from 152 patients were enrolled (77 diabetics, 38 IVF, 14 with increased NT, 23 cases of tricuspid regurgitation or reversed a-wave in the DV, 22 with prior CHD and two on anticonvulsants). STIC-TUI echo was abnormal in 20 (12%), showing atrioventricular canal defect (n = 9), hypoplastic left heart (n = 2), pulmonary stenosis (n = 2), right aortic arch (n = 1), interrupted aortic arch (n = 1), tricuspid atresia (n = 1), heterotaxy (n = 1), persistent truncus arteriosus (n = 1), double outlet right ventricle and ventricular septal defect (n = 1) and double inlet ventricle with transposition of the great arteries (n = 1). 85% of these anomalies were evident in the four-chamber view plane of the TUI display, and the remainder were diagnosed in the outflow tract planes with color Doppler imaging. In 13, CHD was isolated while seven had extracardiac anomalies. Thirteen fetuses had aneuploidy and all 13 underwent first-trimester termination of pregnancy. In the remaining seven, second-trimester echocardiography and neonatal echo/postmortem examination confirmed anomalies (two stillborn neonates, one neonatal death, four live births). Two cases of CHD missed by first-trimester STIC-TUI echo were diagnosed on second-trimester echo. Accordingly, first-trimester STIC-TUI echo had 91% sensitivity and 100% specificity for the detection of CHD. Conclusions First-trimester 4D echocardiography using a standardized application of STIC, TUI and color Doppler imaging is effective in displaying the imaging planes that are necessary for achieving the diagnosis of complex cardiac anomalies in high-risk patients. Optimal imaging of the four-chamber view with two-dimensional ultrasound is the major determinant of successful volume acquisition. Copyright © 2014 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Clonazepam withdrawal-induced catatonia.

Background Catatonia is a often a complex syndrome. It has been divided into categories of simple and malignant, with the latter being a more severe form involving autonomic instability and/or fever and having a higher mortality rate. Objective There have been only two cases presented in the literature postulating benzodiazepine-withdrawal as a possible trigger for malignant catatonia. Here, the authors present a case of catatonia likely caused by abrupt benzodiazepine discontinuation; they also discuss neurobiological mechanisms relating to catatonia. Method The authors report on a 60-year-old man with a history of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder who was brought to the emergency department with acute confusion, grimacing, stereotypy, refusal of food and water, muscle rigidity, mutism, and extreme negativism. He had recently and abruptly discontinued all psychotropic medication. Results After administration of lorazapam, the patient was re-started on clonazepam, after which there was a complete and sustained resolution of catatonic symptoms and autonomic instability. Conclusion Catatonia may result from a wide variety of etiologies. Catatonia due to benzodiazepine-withdrawal is a rare but serious condition that may be difficult to distinguish from other causes of catatonia. The mechanism by which catatonia may be precipitated by benzodiazepine-withdrawal is unknown, but likely involves a rapid decrease in GABA transmission in the central nervous system.
Multifunctional fibers for simultaneous optical, electrical and chemical interrogation of neural circuits in vivo

Brain function depends on simultaneous electrical, chemical and mechanical signaling at the cellular level. This multiplicity has confounded efforts to simultaneously measure or modulate these diverse signals in vivo. Here we present fiber probes that allow for simultaneous optical stimulation, neural recording and drug delivery in behaving mice with high resolution. These fibers are fabricated from polymers by means of a thermal drawing process that allows for the integration of multiple materials and interrogation modalities into neural probes. Mechanical, electrical, optical and microfluidic measurements revealed high flexibility and functionality of the probes under bending deformation. Long-term in vivo recordings, optogenetic stimulation, drug perturbation and analysis of tissue response confirmed that our probes can form stable brain-machine interfaces for at least 2 months. We expect that our multifunctional fibers will permit more detailed manipulation and analysis of neural circuits deep in the brain of behaving animals than achievable before.
Social modeling of conditioned fear in mice by non-fearful conspecifics

Social interactions with conspecifics markedly alter the neuroendocrine, behavioral and emotional responses to stressful events. Some of these effects involve observational learning and result in lasting changes of fear-motivated behavior. While most evidence reveals increased fearfulness after observation of fearful demonstrators (models) in a number of species, a few reports from human and non-human primates indicate that observational learning can also attenuate some forms of fear. In the present study, we set out to determine the effects of social modeling and observational learning on fear conditioning in the mouse. Observers were pre-exposed to a novel context in the presence of fearful (F group) or non-fearful (NF group) demonstrators. Mice of the F group acquired control levels of conditioned fear. On the other hand, mice of the NF group exhibited profound and persistent reduction of fear. The decrease of fear in NF observers was most likely due to context-specific impairments of fear conditioning, as revealed by selective effects on long- but not short-term contextual fear memory, and normal fear conditioning in response to a novel context or cue. The effect was lasting, but constrained by the shock intensity. Attenuation of fear conditioning resulting from interactions with non-fearful conspecifics was largely, but not entirely, mediated by vicarious learning. These findings identify an important social buffering process serving to prevent a lasting induction of fear in response to isolated, moderately intense stressful events.
CTCF: Master Weaver of the Genome

CTCF is a highly conserved zinc finger protein implicated in diverse regulatory functions, including transcriptional activation/repression, insulation, imprinting, and X chromosome inactivation. Here we re-evaluate data supporting these roles in the context of mechanistic insights provided by recent genome-wide studies and highlight evidence for CTCF-mediated intra- and interchromosomal contacts at several developmentally regulated genomic loci. These analyses support a primary role for CTCF in the global organization of chromatin architecture and suggest that CTCF may be a heritable component of an epigenetic system regulating the interplay between DNA methylation, higher-order chromatin structure, and lineage-specific gene expression.
A candidate protein kinase C gene, PKC1, is required for the S. cerevisiae cell cycle

Abstract Probes derived from cDNAs encoding isozymes of rat protein kinase C (PKC) were used to screen the genome of the budding yeast S. cerevisiae. A single gene ( PKC1 ) was isolated that encodes a putative protein kinase closely related to the α, β, and γ subspecies of mammalian PKC. Deletion of PKC1 resulted in recessive lethality. Cells depleted of the PKC1 gene product displayed a uniform phenotype, a characteristic of cell division cycle ( cdc ) mutants, and arrested cell division at a point subsequent to DNA replication, but prior to mitosis. Unlike most cdc mutants, which continue to grow in the absence of cell division, PKC1 -depleted cells arrested growth with small buds. PKC1 may regulate a previously unrecognized checkpoint in the cell cycle.
Optimizing the performance of a high current superconducting switch

The calculations performed to find the conditions for optimum heat transfer from a high current superconducting thin-film switch to a substrate are described.
Quantum mechanical model of localized electrons on the surface of polymer nanospheres

Abstract We examine the quantum mechanics of a simple model for charged dielectric nanospheres called quantum drops. The model, previously introduced in semiclassical quantization work, involves one electron moving in an effective potential field due to N −1 other electrons on the surface of a nanosphere. We discuss how electron confinement occurs and how energy levels exhibit scaling properties similar to those expected for a particle moving in a restricted, two-dimensional area.
Effect of dietary retinyl palmitate on the promotion of altered hepatic foci by 3,3′,4,4′-tetrachlorobiphenyl and 2,2′,4,4′,5,5′- hexachiorobiphenyl in rats initiated with diethylnitrosamine

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of dietary vitamin A on the tumor promoting effect of 3,3',4,4'-TCB and 2,2',4,4',5,5'-HCB in a two-stage rat hepatocarcinogenesis model with diethylnitrosamine (DEN, 150 mg/kg) as the initiator. Two weeks after DEN injection rats were fed a purified diet containing either 2000 or 100,000 IU of vitamin A in the form of retinyl palmitate. Rats received four biweekly injections of 3,3',4,4'-TCB, 2,2',4,4',5,5'-HCB (300 mumol/kg), or both (150 mumol/kg each) in corn oil (10 ml/kg) for 8 weeks. Control animals received vehicle only. Six rats in each group that received no DEN treatment were used as additional control animals. Ten days after the last injection the rats were killed. In rats fed the low retinyl palmitate diet, treatment with 3,3',4,4'-TCB, 2,2',4,4',5,5'-HCB or both compounds lowered hepatic retinyl palmitate content. This effect was prevented by high dietary retinyl palmitate supplementation in rats treated with 2,2',4,4',5,5'-HCB, but not 3,3',4,4'-TCB or both compounds together. Histopathological examination of the liver showed that high dietary retinyl palmitate lessened the severity of hepatocellular necrosis and fatty changes induced by 3,3',4,4'-TCB alone or in combination with 2,2',4,4',5,5'-HCB. The latter did not cause significant pathological lesions to the liver. However, high dietary retinyl palmitate was not able to prevent thymic involution caused by 3,3',4,4'-TCB. The number and volume of altered hepatic foci were increased by 2,2',4,4',5,5'-HCB and particularly 3,3',4,4'-TCB; no synergistic effect was seen. Supplementation with high dietary retinyl palmitate diminished the number and volume of foci. These results show that supplementation with high dietary retinyl palmitate protects against hepatocellular necrosis, fatty changes, and preneoplastic changes induced by 3,3',4,4'-TCB as well as against preneoplastic changes induced by 2,2',4,4',5,5'-HCB. In addition, these two agents did not synergistically induce preneoplastic changes in DEN-induced rats.
Conditioned medium from activated microglia promotes cholinergic differentiation in the basal forebrain in vitro.

Abstract In earlier studies we found that treatment with interferon-γ (IFN-γ) produced an 8- to 11-fold increase in choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in cultured cells taken from Embryonic Day 16 (E16) septal nuclei with adjacent basal forebrain (SN/BF). Since younger cultures responded even more profoundly to IFN treatment, we have tested the possibility that the action of IFN (or its intermediate; see below) is to prompt the cholinergic differentiation of neuronal precursors. SN/BF cultures of various ages were labeled with a retrovirus engineered to express β-galactosidase (Lac-Z), and ChAT-positive descendants of the retrovirally labeled precursors were counted. IFN-γ treatment of cultures caused as much as an 8.8-fold increase in the proportion of ChAT-positive cells present in Lac-Z-positive clones, suggesting that IFN promoted cholinergic differentiation in precursor populations. By contrast, bFGF increased clone size but did not change the proportion of ChAT-positive cells. NGF affected neither. Only ameboid microglia present in the cultures responded to IFN with characteristic nuclear translocation of the signal transducing molecule p91, suggesting that a microglial-derived molecule may mediate the action of IFN. Consistent with this hypothesis, conditioned media from cultures of enriched, activated microglia also increased ChAT activity in a dose-dependent fashion. Conditioned media from an unstimulated macrophage/monocyte cell line (RAW 264.7) also proved extremely efficacious in raising ChAT activity. In addition, conditioned media from both activated microglia and RAW 264.7 cells increased the proportion of ChAT-positive cells in retrovirally labeled clones to the same extent as IFN itself, suggesting the possibility that they contain the molecule(s) that mediates the action of IFN. Preliminary characterization of this molecule suggests that it is a very stable and large protein. Together these data suggest that a molecule promoting cholinergic differentiation is produced by activated microglia and other macrophage-like cells. The identity of this molecule and its precise role in normal development await its further purification.
An analysis of time series representation methods: data mining applications perspective

Because of high dimensionality, proven data mining and pattern recognition methods are not suitable for processing time series data. As a result, several time series representations capable of achieving significant reduction in dimensionality without losing important features have been developed. Each representation has its own advantages and disadvantages. In this paper, based on the requirements of key data mining applications, such as clustering, classification and query by content, characteristics desired in an ideal time series representation are identified. Using the identified characteristics as metrics, widely known time series representation methods are evaluated to determine the extent to which the representations satisfy the requirements.
Circulating tumor cells in non-metastatic triple-negative breast cancer

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) can be identified in approximately 25 % of stage I-III breast cancer patients; CTCs presence is a predictor of poor outcome in metastatic breast cancer, but little is known regarding the prognostic significance of CTCs in non-metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients. The aim of this study was to determine whether CTCs predict worse outcome in non-metastatic TNBC patients. We evaluated CTCs in 113 patients with stages I-III TNBC at the time of definitive surgery. CTCs were assessed using the CellSearch System®. Progression-free and overall survival were defined as time elapsed between date of diagnosis and either date of clinical disease progression, death, or last follow-up. Log-rank test and Cox regression analysis were used to determine associations of CTCs with progression-free and overall survival. The median follow-up was 40 months. CTCs were identified in 23/113 (20 %) of patients. No primary tumor characteristic or lymph node status predicted the presence of CTCs. The identification of ≥2 CTCs predicted shorter progression-free (log rank P ≤ 0.001; hazard ratio 8.30, 95 % CI 2.61–26.37) and overall survival (log rank P = 0.0004; hazard ratio 7.19, 95 % CI 1.98–26.06) versus survival for patients with <2 CTCs. Two or more CTCs predict shorter progression-free and overall survival in TNBC patients. Larger studies are needed to determine whether CTC assessment provides beneficial information that could be used in stratifying TNBC patients at increased risk for disease progression. Finally, CTCs characterization could facilitate the development of novel treatment approaches for TNBC.
Central zone histology of the prostate: a mimicker of high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia.

The central zone (CZ) is located at the base of the prostate adjacent to the seminal vesicles. Its histology as a potential mimicker of high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) has not been formally studied. Three groups were evaluated. Group 1 comprised 30 consecutive radical prostatectomy specimens assessed for the extent of CZ and of Roman arch and/or cribriform formation in the CZ. Group 2 comprised 100 consecutive cases of nonconsult prostate needle biopsies, screened in a random blinded fashion to identify CZ histology and the specificity of its identification on biopsy. Group 3 comprised 34 consult cases (1984 to the present) with CZ histology on needle biopsy. For group 1, the average maximum diameter of CZ histology was 5 mm. Two cases (6.7%) did not contain the classic features of CZ histology. The average amount of cribriform and/or Roman arch formation in the areas with CZ histology was 16.5%. In group 2, 10% of prostate needle biopsy cases had CZ histology. Of these, 80% were located on biopsy specimens designated as the base of the prostate, 10% were located in the base and midportion of the prostate, and 10% were located in the midportion of the prostate. For group 3, CZ histology occupied on average 32% of the involved core. The 2 most common histologic features were eosinophilic cytoplasm (97%) and location at the end of a core (97%). Other features were Roman arch formation (59%), a prominent basal cell layer (32%), cribriform formation (26%), and associated thick muscle bundles typical of bladder neck (24%). On average, cribriform and/or Roman arch formation occupied 22% of the CZ area seen on biopsy. Twenty-six of the consult cases were sent in with preliminary outside diagnoses. Of these, 21 (81%) were either PIN or atypical: 11 (42%) high-grade PIN, 7 (27%) PIN, and 3 (12%) atypical glands. Our findings show that CZ histology is distinctive, as seen in radical prostatectomy specimens. Less frequently it is found on needle biopsy, where the presence of Roman arch and/or cribriform formation mimics PIN. Recognition of the distinctive features of CZ histology (i.e., tall columnar cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm, prominent basal cell layer, and lack of cytologic atypia) can help avoid a misdiagnosis of PIN or "atypia" on needle biopsy.
Proton-decoupled CPMG: A better experiment for measuring 15N R2 relaxation in disordered proteins

(15)N R2 relaxation is one of the most informative experiments for characterization of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). Small changes in nitrogen R2 rates are often used to determine how IDPs respond to various biologically relevant perturbations such as point mutations, posttranslational modifications and weak ligand interactions. However collecting high-quality (15)N relaxation data can be difficult. Of necessity, the samples of IDPs are often prepared with low protein concentration and the measurement time can be limited because of rapid sample degradation. Furthermore, due to hardware limitations standard experiments such as (15)N spin-lock and CPMG can sample the relaxation decay only to ca. 150ms. This is much shorter than (15)N T2 times in disordered proteins at or near physiological temperature. As a result, the sampling of relaxation decay profiles in these experiments is suboptimal, which further lowers the precision of the measurements. Here we report a new implementation of the proton-decoupled (PD) CPMG experiment which allows one to sample (15)N R2 relaxation decay up to ca. 0.5-1s. The new experiment has been validated through comparison with the well-established spin-lock measurement. Using dilute samples of denatured ubiquitin, we have demonstrated that PD-CPMG produces up to 3-fold improvement in the precision of the data. It is expected that for intrinsically disordered proteins the gains may be even more substantial. We have also shown that this sequence has a number of favorable properties: (i) the spectra are recorded with narrow linewidth in nitrogen dimension; (ii) (15)N offset correction is small and easy to calculate; (iii) the experiment is immune to various spurious effects arising from solvent exchange; (iv) the results are stable with respect to pulse miscalibration and rf field inhomogeneity; (v) with minimal change, the pulse sequence can also be used to measure R2 relaxation of (15)N(e) spins in arginine side chains. We anticipate that the new experiment will be a valuable addition to the NMR toolbox for studies of IDPs.
Performance of capnometry in non-intubated infants in the pediatric intensive care unit

Assessing the ventilatory status of non-intubated infants in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) is a constant challenge. Methods to evaluate ventilation include arterial blood gas analysis (ABG), which is invasive and intermittent, and transcutaneous carbon dioxide monitoring (PtcCO2), which, while non-invasive, is also intermittent. A method that is non-invasive and continuous would be of great benefit in this population. We hypothesized that non-invasive capnometry via sidestream monitoring of exhaled carbon dioxide (CO2) would provide an acceptable measurement of ventilatory status when compared to ABG or PtcCO2. Preliminary prospective study of infants less than one year of age admitted to the PICU in a large urban teaching hospital. Infants not intubated and not requiring non-invasive ventilation were eligible. A sidestream CO2 reading was obtained in a convenience sample of 39 patients. A simultaneous ABG was collected in those with an arterial catheter, and a PtcCO2 was obtained in those without. Correlation of sidestream CO2 with ABG was excellent (r2 = 0.907). Sidestream correlated less well with PtcCO2 (r2 = 0.649). Results were not significantly altered when weight and respiratory rate were added as independent variables. Bland-Altman analysis revealed a bias of -2.7 with a precision of ±6.5 when comparing sidestream CO2 to ABG, and a bias of -1.7 with a precision of ±9.9 when comparing sidestream CO2 to PtcCO2. Performance of sidestream monitoring of exhaled CO2 is acceptable clinical trending to assess the effectiveness of ventilation in non-intubated infants in the PICU.
Evidence that Lithium Alters Phosphoinositide Metabolism: Chronic Administration Elevates Primarily d-myo-Inositol-1-Phosphate in Cerebral Cortex of the Rat

The administration of LiCl (3.6 mequiv./kg/day) to adult male rats for 9 days results in an increase in the cerebral cortex level of myo-inositol-1-phosphate (M1P) to 4.43 +/- 0.52 mmol/kg (dry weight) compared with a control level of 0.24 +/- 0.02 mmol/kg. This establishes that the previously observed acute effect of lithium on M1P (Allison et al., 1976) is both prolonged and augmented by repeated doses of lithium. Larger doses of LiCl over a 3-5 day period result in even larger increases in M1P and a 35% decrease in myo-inositol. In each case, 90% of the increase is due to the D-enantiomer, evidence that lithium is largely producing this effect via phospholipase C-mediated phosphoinositide metabolism. Data are presented showing that lithium is an uncompetitive inhibitor of the hydrolysis of both D- and L-M1P by M1P'ase.
Effect of waveforms on morphology development in chaotic mixing of polymers

The effect of waveforms of rotor motion in a chaotic mixing device on the development of morphology in the blending of polypropylene (PP) and polyamide 6 (PA6) was investigated. The rotor motion was delivered in a steady and time-periodic manner and the mixing effectiveness was evaluated in terms of Poincare maps and stretching distribution, the speed of conversion of PP-phase into droplets, and droplet size distribution. The pathway of morphology development, such as deformation of the PP-phase into lamella, fibrils, and droplets, was found not to depend on the nature of the waveform. However, the makeup of each morphological form depended strongly on the particular waveform used. The best results were obtained when the rotor motion was delivered using a sine waveform. In this case, the PP-phase turned most rapidly into fibrils and droplets and the droplets were of more uniform size. The square waveform, although produced higher mean stretching and showed more uniform mixing in Poincare maps, yielded large-size droplets, purportedly through premature breakup of the fibrils in the zones of weak flow, such as in the vicinity of the stationary rotors. © 2004 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 50: 2346–2358, 2004
Efficient evaluation of area under the ROC curve of energy detectors over fading channels

In this article, we derive closed-form expressions for the area under the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve (hereafter, referred to as AUC metric) of energy detectors with/without diversity receiver over a myriad of fading environments. Our "unified" expression for the AUC performance metric only requires the knowledge of the derivatives of the moment generating function (MGF) of fading signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at the receiver output. Aside from developing a new analytical framework for evaluating the AUC of energy detectors, we show that our approach also facilitates the treatment of a more generalized/realistic propagation environment (i.e., not restricted to Rayleigh/Nakagami-m channels). Moreover, the AUC analysis enables comparisons between various overlapping ROC curves to be performed easily. Different factors affecting the spectrum sensing performance were also analyzed and our key results and findings are useful in the design of cognitive radio networks.
Activation of JNK pathway in persistent pain

The c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) is a stress-activated member of MAP kinase family. JNK activation has been strongly implicated in inflammatory responses, neurodegeneration, and apoptosis. Recent evidence shows that JNK pathway is also transiently activated in primary sensory neurons after tissue or nerve injury, which is required for the development of hyperalgesia and allodynia. In particular, JNK is persistently activated in astrocytes of the spinal cord after nerve injury, and this activation can maintain central sensitization and mechanical allodynia. In this mini-review, we will provide evidence for the involvement of JNK pathway in regulating persistent pain sensitization. We will also discuss possible upstream signaling mechanisms that cause JNK activation and downstream signaling mechanisms by which JNK modulates pain sensitivity. Thus, targeting JNK pathway might be a useful strategy to treat both neurodegeneration and chronic pain.
The Death of Organization Science

I n their article, “The Truth About Social Construction in Administrative Science,” Meckler and Baillie (2003) aim to provide philosophical grounding to unify disparate approaches to the study of organizations. Even though there is a rich literature of reflection and debate on the fragmented nature of organization studies (e.g., Astley, 1985; Astley & Ven de Ven, 1983; Daft, 1980; Donaldson, 1995; Pfeffer, 1993, 1995; Pfeffer, Leong, & Strehl, 1977; Van Maanen, 1995; Zammuto & Connolly, 1984), Graham Astley, who unfortunately passed away in 1996, is identified as a key villain who wrongheadedly hindered organizational researchers from joining hands in the singing of “Kum Ba Ya.” In particular, Meckler and Baillie motivate their philosophical wanderings by deconstructing Astley’s 1985 article, “Administrative Science as Socially Constructed Truth,” which provides a detailed argument about how different subjective worldviews of researchers maintain the fragmentation of organizational studies. In the process, however, Meckler and Baillie distort the work of Astley and reveal themselves as anti-social constructivists who seek to promote the development of a universalistic organization science that has paradigmatic unity. After revisiting the Astley article in an effort to critically probe the arguments made by Meckler and Baillie, I argue that it is time to move beyond the narrowly conceived organizational science project that they advocate and embrace a more cosmopolitan approach to the field of organizational analysis that celebrates variety.
Species differences in the winner effect disappear in response to post-victory testosterone manipulations

Evolutionary processes can interact with the mechanisms of steroid hormone action to drive interspecific variation in behavioural output, yet the exact nature of these interactions is poorly understood. To investigate this issue, we compare the endocrine machinery underlying the winner effect (an ability to increase winning behaviour in response to past victories) in two closely related species of Peromyscus mice. Typically, after winning a fight, California mice (Peromyscus californicus) experience a testosterone (T) surge that helps enhance their future winning behaviour, whereas white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) experience neither a T surge nor a change in subsequent winning behaviour. However, our results indicate that when the post-victory T response of male white-footed mice is phenotypically engineered to resemble that of California mice, individuals are capable of developing a strong and lasting winner effect. Moreover, this ‘induced’ winner effect in white-footed mice qualitatively matches the winner effect that develops naturally in California mice. Taken together, these findings suggest that white-footed mice have the physiological machinery necessary to form a robust winner effect comparable to that formed by California mice, but are unable to endogenously activate this machinery after achieving winning experiences. We speculate that evolutionary processes, like selection, operate on the physiological substrates that govern post-victory T release to guide divergence in the winner effect between these two species.
The neuroleptics as adjuvant analgesics

Abstract The role of neuroleptic drugs as adjuvant analgesics has been a subject of longstanding controversy. Despite frequent claims of efficacy, evidence from controlled trials supports neither claims of intrinsic analgesic properties nor the routine use of the neuroleptics as a means to reliably induce clinically useful analgesia. Methotrimeprazine is unique in that there is evidence for reliable dose-related analgesia that is comparable to opioid-mediated analgesia, although routine use is not recommended. Despite probable interaction, with opioid receptors, there is insufficient evidence to support a role for the butyrophenone category of neuroleptics as adjuvant analgesics. Limited trials of the neuroleptics may be considered for pain that has been unresponsive to more conventional pharmacologic approaches, especially when associated with headache, nerve injury, or psychological distress. The neuroleptics have an important role in the symptomatic management of agitation, delirium, and nausea, particularly in patients with cancer.
Electron-Beam Directed Layer-by-Layer Assembly of Dendrimer Scaffold for Biomolecule Patterning

A method for patterning biomolecules using electron beam (e-beam) lithography has been developed. A non-biofouling poly(ethylene glycol) terminated self-assembled monolayer (SAM) was ablated by e-beam to create patterns aligned with the pre-existing features on the wafer. Aldehyde-terminated polyamidoamine dendrimers were assembled in a layer-by-layer fashion in the ablated patterns to allow the covalent immobilization of oligonucleotide probes. The functionality of the attached oligonucleotides was demonstrated by the hybridization of fluorescently labeled complementary target oligonucleotides. The hybridized target oligonucleotides could be stripped and the regenerated surface bound probe oligonucleotides could be rehybridized with complementary target oligonucleotide.
Pain in severe dementia: self-assessment or observational scales?

OBJECTIVES: To assess the performance of self-assessment scales in severely demented hospitalized patients and to compare it with observational data. DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. SETTING: Geriatrics hospital and a geriatric psychiatry service. PARTICIPANTS: All patients who met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, criteria for dementia, with a Mini-Mental State Examination score less than 11 and a Clinical Dementia Rating score of 3. MEASUREMENTS: Three self-assessment tools—the verbal, horizontal visual, and faces pain scales—were administered in randomized order. A nursing team independently completed an observational pain rating scale. Main outcomes were comprehension (ability to explain scale use and correctly indicate positions for no pain and extreme pain, on two separate occasions), inter- and intrarater reliability, and comparison of pain intensities measured by the different scales. RESULTS: Sixty-one percent of 129 severely demented patients (mean age 83.7, 69% women) demonstrated comprehension of at least one scale. Comprehension rates were significantly better for the verbal and the faces pain scales. For patients who demonstrated good comprehension, the inter- and intrarater reliability of the three self-assessment scales was high (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.88–0.98). Correlation between the three self-assessment scales was moderate to strong (Spearman correlation coefficient (r)=0.45–0.94; P<.001). Observational rating correlated at least moderately with self-assessment (r=0.25–0.63), although for patients reporting pain, the observational rating scale underestimated severity compared with all three self-assessment scales. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should not apply observational scales routinely in severely demented patients, because many are capable of reliably reporting their own pain.
Impact of sperm chromatin damage on natural fertility and ART success: evidence- based medicine

Diagnosis of male infertility has been based mainly on the traditional semen parameters (concentration, motility and morphology). Historically, the semen analysis results are the foundation on which clinicians base their decision for treatment for a given couple. It has, however, become clear that semen parameters are insufficient for the determination of male fertility potential. A continuous search for better markers of male fertility has led to an increased focus on testing of sperm chromatin integrity in fertility workup and ART. Sperm DNA damage is a useful biomarker for male infertility diagnosis and prediction of assisted reproduction outcomes. It is associated with reduced fertilization rates, embryo quality and pregnancy rates, and higher rates of spontaneous miscarriage and childhood diseases. Successful fertilization of the human oocyte from spermatozoa with damaged DNA may lead to paternal transmission of defective genetic material with adverse consequences to embryo development. Sperm DNA fragmentation has shown to be an independent predictor of success in couples undergoing intrauterine insemination (IUI). The speaker will discuss the conflicting reports on the role of sperm DNA fragmentation in relation to fertilization, pre-embryo development and pregnancy outcome in in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The speaker will provide a summary of the most recent studies in the literature in the field of sperm DNA damage in the clinical setting. He will discuss current laboratory tests and the accumulating body of knowledge concerning the relationship between sperm DNA damage and clinical outcomes. Next he will talk about the pros and cons and clinical applicability of the current sperm DNA fragmentation assays and the biological significance of sperm chromatin damage in the male germ line. Finally, as sperm DNA damage is often the result of increased oxidative stress in the male reproductive tract, the potential contribution of antioxidant therapy in the clinical management of this condition will be debated.
Vision-based localization of a wheeled mobile robot for greenhouse applications: A daisy-chaining approach

The Euclidean position and orientation of a wheeled mobile robot (WMR) is typically required for autonomous selection and control of agricultural operations in a greenhouse. A vision-based localization scheme is formulated as a desire to identify the position and orientation of a WMR navigating in a greenhouse by utilizing the image feedback of the above-the-aisle targets from an on-board camera. An innovative daisy chaining strategy is used to find the local coordinates of the above-the-aisle targets in order to localize a WMR. In contrast to typical camera configurations used for vision-based control problems, the localization scheme in this paper is developed using a moving on-board camera viewing reseeding targets. Multi-view photogrammetric methods are used to develop relationships between different camera frames and WMR coordinate systems. Experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of the developed geometric model.
Paradoxical Kinesia in Parkinsonism Is Not Caused by Dopamine Release: Studies in an Animal Model

• Rats become akinetic after large dopamine-depleting brain lesions, yet they show an activation-induced restoration of motor function. In this study, rats were given intraventricular injections of the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine to permanently reduce the dopamine content of the corpus striatum by 98%. Although the rats were akinetic in their home cages, they swam effectively when placed in deep water and escaped from a shallow floating ice bath. These behaviors were not abolished by pretreating the animals with the dopamine antagonists haloperidol and SCH-23390. In contrast, haloperidol completely blocked the brain-damaged animals' behavioral responses to amphetamine. These results suggest that the paradoxical kinesia of dopamine-depleted rats is not a consequence of dopamine release from residual dopaminergic fibers.