cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Presynaptic Kainate Receptors Regulate Spinal Sensory Transmission

Small diameter dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, which include cells that transmit nociceptive information into the spinal cord, are known to express functional kainate receptors. It is well established that exposure to kainate will depolarize C-fiber afferents arising from these cells. Although the role of kainate receptors on sensory afferents is unknown, it has been hypothesized that presynaptic kainate receptors may regulate glutamate release in the spinal cord. Here we show that kainate, applied at low micromolar concentrations in the presence of the AMPA-selective antagonist ( RS )-4-(4-aminophenyl)-1,2-dihydro-1-methyl-2-propyl-carbamoyl-6,7-methylenedioxyphthalazine, suppressed spontaneous NMDA receptor-mediated EPSCs in cultures of spinal dorsal horn neurons. In addition, kainate suppressed EPSCs in dorsal horn neurons evoked by stimulation of synaptically coupled DRG cells in DRG–dorsal horn neuron cocultures. Interestingly, although the glutamate receptor subunit 5-selective kainate receptor agonist ( RS )-2-α-amino-3-(3-hydroxy-5-tert-butylisoxazol-4-yl) propanoic acid (ATPA) (2 μm) was able to suppress DRG–dorsal horn synaptic transmission to a similar extent as kainate (10 μm), it had no effect on excitatory transmission between dorsal horn neurons. Agonist applications revealed a striking difference between kainate receptors expressed by DRG and dorsal horn neurons. Whereas DRG cell kainate receptors were sensitive to both kainate and ATPA, most dorsal horn neurons responded only to kainate. Finally, in recordings from dorsal horn neurons in spinal slices, kainate and ATPA were able to suppress NMDA and AMPA receptor-mediated EPSCs evoked by dorsal root fiber stimulation. Together, these data suggest that kainate receptor agonists, acting at a presynaptic locus, can reduce glutamate release from primary afferent sensory synapses.
Wing Chun’s Chum Kiu Form. A Study in Stability and Mobility

This article analyzes the keys to motion in the second empty-hand form of Wing Chun gongfu: Chum Kiu. The focus is on the proper maintenance of the body’s central axis and its motions, which helps with the development of Wing Chun power and the foundations of delivering that power. The form includes short bridges, stepping, turning, and kicking. The motions are built on the structural foundations created by regular practice of the first form, Siu Lim Tau.
Monetary Policy and the Term Structure of Interest Rates When Short-Term Rates Are Close to Zero

The zero lower bound on nominal interest rates can affect the effectiveness of monetary policy potentially in two ways. First, it limits the size of a change in the policy interest rate when trying to loosen money. For example, when the nominal rate is 0.5 percent, it obviously cannot be cut by more than 0.5 percent. Second, it may alter the mechanism of how a movement of the policy rate drives market rates of longer maturities. This paper is an attempt to investigate the latter issue, and, in particular, to empirically examine the effect of monetary policy on the term structure of interest rates when nominal short-term rates are close to zero, using Japanese data in the 1990s and early 2000s. We found that when the policy short rate is already zero but longer rates are still positive in the zero interest rate period, an expansionary monetary policy still works through the conventional interest rate channel by pushing down longer rates, although the effect is much weakened relative to the normal time. When the longer rates are already lowered to some level, however (for example, the 10-year bond rate went down to the level as low as 1.5 percent during the quantitative easing period of 2001-06), a further expansion of the monetary base by increasing excess reserves of banks appears to have little effect in lowering longer-term rates.
Effective Versions of Local Connectivity Properties

We investigate, and prove equivalent, effective versions of local connectivity and uniformly local arcwise connectivity for connected and computably compact subspaces of Euclidean space. We also prove that Euclidean continua that are computably compact and effectively locally connected are computably arcwise connected.
Stocking for rehabilitation of burbot in the Kootenai River, Idaho, USA and British Columbia, Canada

Summary The burbot Lota lota is widespread globally, but the population in the Kootenai River, Idaho and British Columbia, Canada is at risk of extirpation because of habitat changes caused by operation of Libby Dam in Montana, 100 km upstream of the border with Idaho. We developed an age-structured simulation model to estimate the number of age-0 burbot (fall fingerlings) to stock annually to rebuild the population in the Kootenai River. We found with the estimated annual survival of about 38% that 110 000–900 000 age-0 burbot per year will need to be stocked to rebuild the burbot population in the Kootenai River in 25 years, depending on the rehabilitation goal, either 5500 age-4 burbot and older as an interim goal or 17 000 age-4 and older burbot as an ultimate goal (longer than 250 mm). If survival is higher at 61% then the stocking numbers could range from 12 000 to 35 000 age-0 fingerlings per year. After stocked burbot in the population reach age 4, discharge from Libby Dam must be regulated to provide suitable temperatures and flows during the burbot pre-spawning and spawning periods, to enable the population to reproduce and return to self-sustaining status. Our findings will serve as an example for similar efforts to restore depleted burbot populations elsewhere in the world.
Skeletal muscle tone and the misunderstood stretch reflex.

This review presents a revision of long-accepted tenets regarding the genesis of muscle tone in humans. Most discussions liken muscle tone in humans to the reflex tone described by Sherrington in decerebrate animals. That tradition presumes that muscle tone is fully determined by the monosynaptic stretch reflex, that tonic fusimotor activity is necessary for its production in normal humans, and that tonic muscle tone in antigravity leg muscles is responsible for the maintenance of posture. Data reviewed here show that non reflex, mechanical mechanisms are involved in the maintenance of resting muscle tone; that spinal cord reflex responses are not stereotyped responses, but depend upon the ongoing activity in interneurons upon which inputs from a variety of peripheral sensory receptors and descending fiber systems converge; that long-latency transcortical responses are elicited when a muscle is stretched, and these responses effectively deal with large displacements; and that inertial components and viscoelastic muscle forces can counterbalance small amounts of body sway during quiet standing. In sum, the response to muscle stretch is not fixed and inflexible, but can be adjusted according to the demands of the moment.
RECURSIVELY ENUMERABLE LANGUAGES AND VAN WIJNGAARDEN GRAMMARS

We show that each re language can be generated by a minimal deterministic linear contextfree based strict normal VW-grammar. We also prove that each re language can be generated by a strict normal VW-grammar with at most one metanotion denoting a non-regular contextfree language.
A conjecture of recski in combinatorial set theory

Abstract A p-cover of n = {1, 2,…, n } is a family of subsets S i ≠ ⊘ such that ∪ Si = n and |Si ∩ Si| ⩽ p for i ≠ j. We prove that for fixed p, the number of p-cover of n is O(np+1logn).
Postpartum Trifecta: Simultaneous Eclamptic Intracerebral Hemorrhage, PRES, and Herniation Due to Intracranial Hypotension

In the postpartum patient, sudden depression of consciousness may be caused by a number of etiologies and can result in serious consequences. Rapid, accurate diagnosis allows for specific treatments that optimize outcome, but diagnosis can be challenging in this population. We present a case of postpartum herniation due to intracranial hypotension in a patient with eclampsia, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES), and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Case report. A 26-year-old woman developed headache on postpartum day (PD) 1 after cesarean section with epidural anesthesia. Over the next 3 days, she developed progressively worsening headache and hypertension. On PD 5, she had a generalized seizure, leading to endotracheal intubation, propofol infusion, and transfer to our institution. By PD 6, she opened her eyes to voice, followed commands, moved all extremities, and had briskly reactive 4 mm pupils. MRI showed L parasagittal ICH with minimal mass effect, edema consistent with PRES, and brain descent with obliteration of the basal cisterns and tonsillar herniation. Later on PD 6, after diuresis for pulmonary edema, she became unresponsive with a dilated and nonreactive left pupil. She was laid flat for transport to CT, with improvement in arousal and pupil reactivity within 5 min. Intravascular volume was repleted with normal saline and albumin, and she was placed in the Trendelenburg position. Over the subsequent 8 h, she developed a dilated and nonreactive left pupil whenever her head was raised to horizontal. Her head position was gradually successfully raised over 48 h without need for a lumbar epidural blood patch. She was discharged home on PD 13 with only mild left arm dysmetria. Intracranial hypotension may coexist with other potential causes of cerebral herniation in the postpartum period. Establishing this diagnosis is crucial because its treatment is opposite that of other causes of herniation.
The Selectivity of Visual Arrestin for Light-activated Phosphorhodopsin Is Controlled by Multiple Nonredundant Mechanisms*

Arrestin plays an important role in quenching phototransduction via its ability to bind to the phosphorylated light-activated form of the visual receptor rhodopsin (P-Rh*). Remarkable selectivity of visual arrestin toward this functional form is determined by an elegant sequential multisite binding mechanism. Previous structure-function studies have suggested that the COOH-terminal region of arrestin (residues 356-404) is not directly involved in rhodopsin interaction, but instead plays a regulatory role. This region supports basal arrestin conformation and ensures arrestin's transition into a high affinity rhodopsin-binding state upon an encounter with P-Rh*. Overall, our results corroborate this hypothesis and identify three functional subregions (residues 361-368, 369-378, and 379-404) and individual amino acids involved in the control of arrestin stability and binding selectivity. Two of the most potent mutants, arrestin(1-378) and arrestin(F375A,V376A, F377A) belong to a novel class of constitutively active arrestins with high affinity for P-Rh*, dark P-Rh, and Rh* (but not dark Rh), in contrast to earlier constructed mutants arrestin(R175E) and arrestin(Delta2-16) with high affinity for light-activated forms only. The implications of these findings for the mechanism of arrestin-rhodopsin interaction are discussed in light of the recently determined crystal structure of arrestin.
Host resistance to tumor implantation, its alteration and relationship to the individual metabolic pattern.

Es wurde ein Fibrosarkom der Ratte transplantiert, welches sich nicht in allen Tieren der Sherman-Rasse einpflanzen lasst. Uber zwanzig Komponenten des Urins von sowohl resistenten wie auch von empfanglichen Tieren wurden analysiert. Die statistische Behandlung der Resultate zeigte, dass bei Tieren aus gleicher Zucht deutliche quantitative Unterschiede in den Urinanalysen existieren. Die Leuzinausscheidung in einem Versuch mit 18 mannlichen Ratten ubertraf bei den empfanglichen Tieren um 30% diejenige der resistenten von demselben Alter (P<0,02). Auch die Ausscheidung anderer Komponenten ist bei den Empfanglichen verschieden von der resistenter Tiere.
CONTROLLED GROWTH OF MICROPOROUS CRYSTALS NUCLEATED IN REVERSE MICELLES

THE development of new methods for nucleating and growing microporous crystals has made available new framework structures and morphologies for these technologically important materials1. These approaches have included solution-based synthesis2 and the use of simple organic structure-directing agents3 and complex organic assemblies such as liquid-crystal phases4,5. Here we show that the growth of microporous zincophosphate6–8 with the sodalite structure can be controlled by preparing the crystals from reactants included within the interior aqueous phase of reverse micelles dispersed in an organic solvent. The growth of inorganic phases in reverse micelles has been exploited previously for the preparation of monodisperse oxide9, semiconductor10 and metal particles11. In this study, we introduce the two inorganic components—zinc and phosphate ions—in separate micelles, so that crystallization is controlled by the collision and exchange kinetics of the surfactant structures. Moreover, the surfactant–water interface provides the site for crystal nucleation, favouring initial nucleation at the (111) and/or (110) crystal faces and subsequent growth of the zinco-phosphate crystals by deposition along the {100} faces. The growth process is ultimately interrupted by sedimentation when the crystals grow large enough, producing a precipitate of micro-crystals several hundred nanometres in size. Our results indicate that this approach can provide a means of controlling the morphology as well as the size of growing crystals.
Gamma-ray energies in the decay of 38Cl.

Abstract In order to resolve a long-standing discrepancy of some 30 standard deviations between the two most precise previously reported values of the γ -ray energies in the 38 Cl decays, we have undertaken a new precision measurement of the decay energies using a variety of different sources for energy calibration. The deduced energies from the present work are 1642.668±0.010 and 2167.395±0.010 keV. These results agree very well with one of the previous reports and disagree with the other.
Dynamics of In Vitro Bacterial S-Layer Crystallization

S-layer proteins form crystalline lattices on the outsides of certain bacteria. While the structures of many S-layers are known, the dynamics of their formation is poorly understood. In an effort to provide such understanding, the DeYoreo and Bertozzi groups at the Molecular Foundry have used atomic force microscopy to image in real time the deposition of a certain S-layer protein on a supported lipid bilayer. This protein forms a square crystal lattice whose dynamics of assembly are strikingly complex: proteins first aggregate into amorphous clusters on the membrane; clusters subsequently crystallize and grow via the addition of tetramers at the cluster edge.Similar ‘two-step’ crystallization mechanisms have been observed in computer simulations of globular proteins [1], polymer melts [2] and Lennard-Jones particles [3-5], and inferred experimentally from the observation, via dynamic light scattering, of dense liquid droplets present in solution prior to lysozyme crystallization [6]. Here we explore the origin of two-step crystallization in the S-layer system via a simple computer model of associating monomers on a substrate. Dynamical simulation reveals that phase separation induced by nonspecific monomer-monomer interactions facilitates phase ordering driven by directional binding. Our results suggest that the interplay of non-specific attractions and site-specific binding are crucial in driving crystallization in the S-layer system.[1] P. Wolde and D. Frenkel, Science 277, 1975 (1997).[2] R. Gee et al., Nature Materials 5, 39 (2005).[3] A. Fortini et al., Phys. Rev. E 78 (2008).[4] J. van Meel et al., J. Chem. Phys. 129, 204505 (2008).[5] B. Chen et al., J. Phys. Chem. B 112, 4067 (2008).[6] L. Filobelo et al., J. Chem. Phys 123, 014904 (2005).
Continuity of percolation probability on hyperbolic graphs

LetT k be a forwarding tree of degreek where each vertex other than the origin hask children and one parent and the origin hask children but no parent (k≥2). DefineG to be the graph obtained by adding toT k nearest neighbor bonds connecting the vertices which are in the same generation.G is regarded as a discretization of the hyperbolic planeH 2 in the same sense thatZ d is a discretization ofR d . Independent percolation onG has been proved to have multiple phase transitions. We prove that the percolation probabilityO(p) is continuous on [0,1] as a function ofp.
Mutations in the Substrate Binding Domain of the Escherichia coli 70 kDa Molecular Chaperone, DnaK, which Alter Substrate Affinity or Interdomain Coupling

In Escherichia coli, DnaK is essential for the replication of bacteriophage lambda DNA; this in vivo activity provides the basis of a screen for mutations affecting DnaK function. Mn PCR was used to introduce mutations into residues 405-468 of the C-terminal polypeptide-binding domain of DnaK. These mutant proteins were screened for the ability to propagate bacteriophage lambda in the background of a dnaK deficient cell line, BB1553. This initial screen identified several proteins which were mutant at multiple positions. The multiple mutants were further dissected into single mutants which remained negative for lambda propagation. Four of these single-site mutants were purified and assayed for biochemical functionality. Two single-site mutations, F426S and S427P, are localized in the peptide binding site and display weakened peptide binding affinity. This indicates that the crystallographically determined peptide binding site is also critical for in vivo lambda replication. Two other mutations, K414I and N451K, are located at the edge of the beta-sandwich domain near alpha-helix A. The K414I mutant binds peptide moderately well, yet displays defects in allosteric functions, including peptide-stimulated ATPase activity, ATP-induced changes in tryptophan fluorescence, ATP-induced peptide release, and elevated ATPase activity. The K414 position is close in tertiary structure to the linker region to the ATPase domain and reflects a specific area of the peptide-binding domain which is necessary for interdomain coupling. The mutant N451K displays defects in both peptide binding and allosteric interaction.
Liquid—liquid extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography for the determination of a novel antidysrhythmic agent (UK-68,798) in human urine

Abstract A routine method for the determination of a novel class III antidysrhythmic agent, 1-(4-methane-sulphonamidophenoxy)-2-[N-(4-methanesulponamidophenethyl)-N-methylamino]ethane, in human urine has been developed. The method involves solvent extraction followed by high-performance liquid chromatography on an unmodified silica column with ultraviolet detection. Despite a low recovery of drug through the three-stage extraction procedure a reliable assay with high precision (coefficient of variation less than 6%) and a limit of determination of 2.5 ng/ml was achieved. The method has been applied to the analysis of samples following single oral and intravenous doses of 1–12.5 μg/kg of the drug to human volunteers.
On frictional polymer

Abstract Frictional polymer, a dark amorphous product formed in tiny amounts from organic vapors at the site of rubbing platinum-family metals, was first reported by Hermance and Egan 1 . Its formation must involve platinum-metal catalysis but a number of factors are inconsistent with a picture involving only catalysis. Experiments using a proportional flow counter show that the rubbing members can give rise to charged particle emission. This suggests that frictional polymer, a carbonaceous structureless product, is formed by combined processes of catalysis and charged particle bombardment. Inhibitor activity in frictional polymer formation was found in some organometallic compounds, particularly tetraethyl lead. Iodine and a number of organic iodides also had marked inhibitor activity. The effectiveness of both types of compounds point to a free radical step in the reactions leading to frictional polymer.
Figure of merit for dark energy constraints from current observational data

In order to make useful comparisons of different dark energy experiments, it is important to choose the appropriate figure of merit (FoM) for dark energy constraints. Here we show that for a set of dark energy parameters ${{f}_{i}}$, it is most intuitive to define $\mathrm{FoM}=1/\sqrt{\mathrm{det}﻿\mathrm{Cov}({f}_{1},{f}_{2},{f}_{3},\dots{})}$, where $\mathrm{Cov}({f}_{1},{f}_{2},{f}_{3},\dots{})$ is the covariance matrix of ${{f}_{i}}$. In order for this FoM to represent the dark energy constraints in an optimal manner, the dark energy parameters ${{f}_{i}}$ should have clear physical meaning and be minimally correlated. We demonstrate two useful choices of ${{f}_{i}}$ using 182 SNe Ia (from the HST/GOODS program, the first year Supernova Legacy Survey, and nearby SN Ia surveys), $[R({z}_{*}),{l}_{a}({z}_{*}),{\ensuremath{\Omega}}_{b}{h}^{2}]$ from the five year Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe observations, and Sloan Digital Sky Survey measurement of the baryon acoustic oscillation scale, assuming the Hubble Space Telescope prior of ${H}_{0}=72\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}8\text{ }\text{ }(\mathrm{km}/\mathrm{s})\text{ }{\mathrm{Mpc}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, and without assuming spatial flatness. We find that for a dark energy equation of state linear in the cosmic scale factor $a$, the correlation of $({w}_{0},{w}_{0.5})$ [${w}_{0}={w}_{X}(z=0)$, ${w}_{0.5}={w}_{X}(z=0.5)$, with ${w}_{X}(a)=3{w}_{0.5}\ensuremath{-}2{w}_{0}+3({w}_{0}\ensuremath{-}{w}_{0.5})a$] is significantly smaller than that of $({w}_{0},{w}_{a})$ [with ${w}_{X}(a)={w}_{0}+(1\ensuremath{-}a){w}_{a}$]. In order to obtain model-independent constraints on dark energy, we parametrize the dark energy density function $X(z)={\ensuremath{\rho}}_{X}(z)/{\ensuremath{\rho}}_{X}(0)$ as a free function with ${X}_{0.5}$, ${X}_{1.0}$, and ${X}_{1.5}$ [values of $X(z)$ at $z=0.5$, 1.0, and 1.5] as free parameters estimated from data. If one assumes a linear dark energy equation of state, current observational data are consistent with a cosmological constant at 68% C.L. If one assumes $X(z)$ to be a free function parametrized by $({X}_{0.5},{X}_{1.0},{X}_{1.5})$, current data deviate from a cosmological constant at $z=1$ at 68% C.L., but are consistent with a cosmological constant at 95% C.L. Future dark energy experiments will allow us to dramatically increase the FoM of constraints on $({w}_{0},{w}_{0.5})$, and of $({X}_{0.5},{X}_{1.0},{X}_{1.5})$. This will significantly shrink the dark energy parameter space to either enable the discovery of dark energy evolution, or the conclusive evidence for a cosmological constant.
Design of labels to be placed on film to be digitized or copied

Tests were performed to determine the color characteristics that would permit the information contained on labels placed on x-ray films to be captured by laser scanner film digitization and by ultraviolet light film copying. Tests of laser film digitization demonstrated that the colors allowing transmission of the He-Ne laser beam were red, orange, pink, yellow, and white. The ink colors absorbing the He-Ne laser beam were green, blue, and black. Labels on films should be placed in areas of the film that are clear or lightly exposed. Experiments performed to determine the label requirements for film copying demonstrated that white, clear and pink labels transmitted the ultraviolet light used in our film copier and thus proved to be good background colors for the paper. Black and green ink and black crayon were the most opaque colors and would therefore prove to be the best lettering colors. Because of the relatively low intensity of the ultraviolet light source, the paper stock used for these labels should be relatively thin and should be placed on areas of the film that are clear or lightly exposed.
Dimensionality reduction for sensorimotor learning in mobile robotics

Mobile robotic systems with a wide variety of sensors, actuators, and onboard high-speed processors are commercially and readily available. The information processing capabilities of these system presently lack the robustness and sophistication of biological systems. One challenge is that the high-dimensional input signals from the sensors need to be converted into a smaller number of perceptually relevant features. This dimensionality reduction can be performed on static signals such as a single image or on dynamic data such as a speech spectrogram. This proceedings discusses several different models for dimensionality reduction that differ only on the constraints on the variables and parameters of the models. In particular, nonnegativity constraints are shown to give rise to distributed yet sparse representations of both static and dynamic data.
Evaluation of competing Windkessel models for assessing vascular characteristics from non-invasive blood pressure recordings

This study addresses model-based analysis of peripheral blood pressure recordings measured non-invasively by finger-cuff volume clamp photoplethysmography. Advantages and limitations of competing mathematical models are discussed within the perspective of proposing computational methods for analyzing experimental data in clinical studies. In particular, the aim is to select a numerical modeling method for assessing non-invasively arterial characteristics such as peripheral vascular stiffness/compliance and resistance as well as short term variability of these physiological parameters.
Dealing with Landscape Heterogeneity in Watershed Hydrology: A Review of Recent Progress toward New Hydrological Theory

Predictions of hydrologic system response to natural and anthropogenic forcing are highly uncertain due to the heterogeneity of the land surface and subsurface. Landscape heterogeneity results in spatiotemporal variability of hydrological states and fluxes, scale-dependent flow and transport properties, and incomplete process understanding. Recent community activities, such as Prediction in Ungauged Basins of International Association of Hydrological Sciences, have recognized the impasse current catchment hydrology is facing and have called for a focused research agenda toward new hydrological theory at the watershed scale. This new hydrological theory should recognize the dominant control of landscape heterogeneity on hydrological processes, should explore novel ways to account for its effect at the watershed scale, and should build on an interdisciplinary understanding of how feedback mechanisms between hydrology, biogeochemistry, pedology, geomorphology, and ecology affect catchment evolution and functioning.
THE PROMISE AND FAILURE OF ETHNOMETHODOLOGY FROM A FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE: Comment on Rogers

Despite the significance of Garfinkel's ethnomethodology, it is vulnerable to a criticism that seriously undermines its claims for itself. Mary Rogers's article implicitly and to some extent explicitly reveals the fundamental weakness, the Achilles heel, of Garfinkel's ethnomethodology. Her article can be read as providing the grounds for a powerful critique of ethnomethodology from a feminist perspective. The critique is that ethnomethodology is guilty of doing, without recognizing it, precisely what it criticizes traditional social science for doing. Ethnomethodology criticizes social science for not recognizing the ongoing methods by which all actors, including social scientists themselves, go about creating reality or producing their world, which is identical, according to Garfinkel, to making their world accountable (Garfinkel 1967, 1). Ethnomethodology seeks to de-reify the social phenomena that positivist social science as well as commonsense members treat as constituting a given, objective, thinglike reality. Garfinkel's analysis of the case of Agnes represents a groundbreaking work in sociology with respect to the social construction of gender; it was followed by ethnomethodologically influenced feminist works (e.g., Kessler and McKenna 1978; West and Zimmerman 1987). The ethnomethodologlcal approach has proved significant to feminist scholarship, and that scholarship has contributed to the significance of ethnomethodology, but the two are by no means Identical approaches to doing research or producing knowledge.
What Have We Learned About Primary Liver Transplantation Under Tacrolimus Immunosuppression?: Long-Term Follow-up of the First 1000 Patients

Objective To summarize the long-term efficacy and safety of tacrolimus in orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) recipients, as well as to examine the factors that influence long-term morbidity and mortality rates. Background Tacrolimus (FK506, Prograf) was introduced as primary immunosuppression for primary liver transplantation in 1989; many subsquent trials have verified the association of tacrolimus with decreased rates of acute rejection and steroid-resistant rejection after OLT. Cumulative experience with tacrolimus has also defined its short- and intermediate-term toxicity. Methods One thousand consecutive patients undergoing primary OLT at a single center from August 1989 to December 1992, under tacrolimus immunosuppression, were followed until January 1999. Patients were categorized by age. Mean follow-up was 93.4 ± 11 months after OLT. Patient survival, graft survival (with corresponding causes of death and retransplantation), and rejection rates (and corresponding doses of immunosuppression) were examined as efficacy parameters. Hypertension, renal function, incidence of malignancies, incidence of diabetes, and other toxicities were examined as safety parameters. Results Actual 6-year overall patient survival rate was 68.1% and graft survival rate was 62.5%, with significant differences in the patterns of survival among the different age groups. After the first post-OLT year, infection, recurrence of disease, de novo malignancies, and cardiovascular events were the main causes of graft loss and death during the long-term follow-up. Graft loss related to either acute or chronic rejection was rare. The rate of acute rejection beyond 2 years was approximately 3% per year, and most were steroid-responsive. Approximately 70% of the patients were receiving tacrolimus monotherapy beyond year 1; at the latest follow-up, 74.2% were maintained on tacrolimus alone. In 6.1% of the survivors, end-stage renal disease developed during the follow-up period, requiring either dialysis or kidney transplantation. Hyperkalemia and hypertension was observed in approximately one third of the patients. Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (including patients who had diabetes before the transplant) was observed in 14% in year 1, dropping to 11% in year 7. In 82 patients, de novo malignancies developed; in 41 patients, lymphoproliferative disorders developed during the entire follow-up period. Conclusions Long-term patient and graft survival rates are excellent under tacrolimus immunosuppression. Pediatric patients have a better long-term outcome than adults, in part because of the limited recurrence of the original disease, which was the most common cause of late graft loss (other than patient death, most commonly the result of late de novo malignancies and cardiovascular events). Graft loss from late rejection was rare.
Children of immigrants in a globalized world: a generational experience

In the book ‘Children of Immigrants in a Globalized World: A Generational Experience’, Colombo and Rebughini share the experiences of youngsters whose parents have migrated from their native lands ...
High resolution X-ray studies of monolayer krypton on varied forms of graphite

Abstract Monolayer krypton on graphite provides examples of two-dimensional lattice gas melting, continuous symmetry melting and commensurate-incommensurate transitions. We review recent X-ray studies of commensurate melting and the commensurate-incommensurate transition in this system. We present new results on the X-ray profiles for monolayer krypton physisorbed onto a variety of different forms of exfoliated graphite. The relative merits of these different forms of graphite for varied experiments are discussed.
Diffusion of hydrogen in barium metal

Abstract The diffusion coefficients for hydrogen in barium metal were measured from 200 ° to 620 °C. D 0 was found to be 4.0 × 10 −3 and ΔH was 4.5 kcal. The solubility limit of BaH 2 in barium was determined in the same temperature range and was in agreement with previous measurements.
Care Work and Class: Domestic Workers' Struggle for Equal Rights in Latin America

Merike Blofield, University Park, PA: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2012, 200 pp. In 2011 the International Labor Organization (ILO) adopted a convention on domestic workers. The convention ...
STIMULATION BY THE SALTS OF THE NORMAL ALIPHATIC ACIDS IN THE ROCK BARNACLE BALANUS BALANOIDES.

1. Stimulation in the rock barnacle Balanus balanoides by the sodium salts of the first seven normal aliphatic acids has been studied at several different concentrations for each salt. The pH was adjusted to that of sea water (8.1 ±0.15) and all experimental conditions were held as constant as possible. Criterion of response was the per cent closure of valves at successive 2 minute intervals. 2. In general, the stimulating efficiency increases with concentration, but the ratios of effectiveness at increasing concentrations differ for each salt. 3. The order of effectiveness for 40 to 50 per cent closure is: heptylate = caproate > valerate > butyrate > formate > propionate > acetate. For 60 per cent closure or more, formate is the least effective of all. 4. Stimulating efficiency is correlated with the potential of the anion of the acid and with the concentration of that ion near or at the receptor surface as determined by the length of the carbon chain.
Interobserver reproducibility in the diagnosis of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia

To assess interobserver reproducibility in the categorization of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) seven pathologists reviewed 25 lesions. Rather than classic or consecutive examples of PIN, cases were selected to represent the full spectrum of diagnostic issues in this field. Lesions were classified into one of six categories: (a) benign prostate tissue, (b) PIN1, (c) PIN2, (d) PIN3, (e) PIN3 cannot rule out associated cancer, and (f) PIN3 plus cancer. Following evaluation of the slides, data were also analyzed by combining several of the groups into three categories: (a) benign/PIN1; (b) PIN2/PIN3/PIN cannot rule out cancer; and (c) PIN plus cancer. The level of agreement was fair (Kappa = 0.33) for the six categories and substantial (Kappa = 0.61) for the three groups. In no case was there a uniform diagnosis of PIN1; in all cases at least some pathologists considered the biopsies to be normal. This finding provides support for not commenting on PIN1 in biopsy material. In general, there was good distinction between low-grade PIN (PIN1) and high-grade PIN (PIN2-3). Among the seven cases for which there was a consensus that the lesion represented high-grade PIN, there was no case in which there was uniform agreement as to whether the lesion represented PIN2 or PIN3. This finding supports combining PIN2 and PIN3 into high-grade PIN. Cases classified as low-grade PIN by some and as high-grade PIN by others were those with pleomorphism but without prominent nucleoli. Difficulties in distinguishing "high-grade PIN" from "high grade PIN cannot rule out cancer" were those with cribriform glands, glands with necrosis, and where high-grade PIN was associated with only a few adjacent small atypical glands. These same histologies caused the participating pathologists difficulty in distinguishing "high-grade PIN cannot rule cancer" from "high grade PIN plus cancer."
Hollow fibre bioreactor for ethanol production: application to the conversion of lactose by Kluyveromyces fragilis.

Abstract Kluyveromyces fragilis cells have been packed into the shell side of an industrial size hollow fibre module. The feed was pumped through the tube side under pressure. During continuous, single-pass operation with a synthetic lactose medium containing 50 g l−1 lactose, ethanol productivity was 30–60 g l−1 h−1 at dilution rates of 1–4 h−1. With 150 g l−1 lactose concentration, the productivity was 100–135 g l−1 h−1. Productivity was generally lower when cottage cheese whey permeate (45 g l−1 lactose) was used as the feed. Long-term stability of the hollow fibre bioreactor was good, provided adequate care was taken to bleed the gas generated and restrict cell concentration in the shell side.
Image description with features that summarize

We present a new method for describing images for the purposes of matching and registration. We take the point of view that large, coherent regions in the image provide a concise and stable basis for image description. We develop a new algorithm for feature detection that operates on several projections (feature spaces) of the image using kernel-based optimization techniques to locate local extrema of a continuous scale-space of image regions. Descriptors of these image regions and their relative geometry then form the basis of an image description. The emphasis of the work is on features that summarize image content and are highly robust to viewpoint changes and occlusion yet remain discriminative for matching and registration.We present experimental results of these methods applied to the problem of image retrieval. We find that our method performs comparably to two published techniques: Blobworld and SIFT features. However, compared to these techniques two significant advantages of our method are its (1) stability under large changes in the images and (2) its representational efficiency.
Transport coefficlents of gaseous ions in an electric field

A general theory of ion mobility formulated by Kihara (1953) is extended to ion diffusion and to mixtures of neutral gases. The theory assumes that only binary collisions between ions and neutral particles need to be taken into account and that the velocity distribution function of the neutral particles is Maxwellian. These assumptions make it possible to use a linearized Boltzmann equation. Questions of mobility are considered along with aspects of diffusion and deviations from Fick's law of diffusion.
Effects of thermal and mechanical history on the viscoelastic properties of rigid poly(vinyl Chloride)

Abstract The effects of processing variables on the solid state properties of rigid PVC were studied by evaluating dynamic mechanical and tensile properties for thin film specimens of two different resins. The dynamic measurements were performed over the temperature range −1]60 to 85°C, encompassing both the low temperature β transition and above ambient a transition (Tg). Engineering tensile strengths and energies to fracture were obtained at ambient conditions for several rates of elongation. Test specimens were prepared by solvent casting and compression molding techniques and subsequently were subjected to various thermal-mechanical histories. The results obtained were similar for both types of specimens and are described below. The various thermal histories considered include: (1) quick quenching from 225°C (samples referred to as “untreated”); (2) very slow (equilibrium) cooling after annealing at Tg; (3) quick quenching from Tg. In addition, the effects of frozen stresses were examined by systemati...
The biological century: coming to terms with risk in the life sciences

Although the life sciences promise huge benefits, the possibility of doing harm from deliberate misuse of knowledge is an increasingly worrisome issue. Discussion and mitigation of these risks by life scientists must be encouraged.
Shaped reflector antenna analysis using the Jacobi-Bessel series

The physical optics approximation is employed to derive the radiation integral for a doubly curved offset reflector antenna illuminated by an arbitrary source. A novel procedure is presented for expressing the radiation integral in terms of a summation of Fourier transforms of an "effective" aperture distribution which includes the effect of the curvature of the surface. The Jacobi-Bessel series is used to evaluate the Fourier transforms. The vector nature of the far-field pattern is studied by evaluating its three Cartesian components in a unified fashion. The rapid numerical evaluations of the expressions obtained are demonstrated via extensive test cases. In particular, the scattering characteristics of symmetric and offset parabolic, spherical, and shaped reflectors are studied in detail, and comparisons are made with other available data.
Respiratory hypersensitivity to trimellitic anhydride in Brown Norway rats: analysis of dose-response following topical induction and time course following repeated inhalation challenge.

Abstract Trimellitic anhydride (TMA) is a low-molecular-weight chemical known to cause occupational asthma. The dose–response study was designed to determine whether respiratory responses during a single inhalation challenge with TMA (25–30 mg/m 3 for 30 min, 3 weeks after the initial induction), the ensuing non-specific airway hyperresponsiveness (AH) to methacholine (MCh) aerosol, and infiltration of eosinophilic granulocytes into the lungs of sensitized Brown Norway (BN) rats are associated and dependent on the concentration of TMA used for topical induction. The initial topical exposure concentrations were 1, 5, and 25% TMA in acetone:olive oil (AOO) followed by a booster induction 1 week later. In the time course study BN rats received AOO alone or were sensitized to the minimal sensitizing topical concentration of TMA (5%) and were the subsequently challenged with TMA on Days 17, 24, 41, 47, 55, and 66, followed by a MCh challenge 1 day later. One additional group of rats was sensitized to 5% TMA but were repeatedly challenged with MCh without prior TMA challenge. In the dose–response study the rats sensitized topically to TMA (5 and 25% in AOO) displayed unequivocal changes in breathing patterns upon challenge with TMA, including an increased responsiveness to MCh aerosol. These findings were associated with a sustained pulmonary eosinophilic inflammation. All endpoints demonstrated consistently that 5% TMA in AOO constitutes the minimal sensitizing concentration. When rats were topically sensitized with this concentration and repeatedly challenged with TMA over a time period of 7 weeks, it became apparent that challenge exposures in BN rats may be false negative when performed at time periods less than 3 weeks after the initial induction. Despite the time-related increased responsiveness elicited by the repeated TMA challenge exposures, the MCh challenge revealed increased non-specific airway hyperreactivity exclusively on Day 17. After the sixth TMA-challenge, the respiratory response and lung weights of rats sensitized topically were essentially similar to those observed in the repetitively re-challenged control group (induction: vehicle only; repeated booster challenge exposures with TMA). Thus, it appears, that in this animal model the effective concentration for successful topical sensitization must be at least ≈5%. The repeated low-dose re-challenge with TMA in topically sensitized rats resulted in similar or slightly aggravated time-related responses over a period of 7 weeks. An over-proportionally increased susceptibility of rats receiving a topical priming dose prior to repeated inhalation challenge exposures was not observed. In summary, this study shows that the analysis of functional changes in breathing patterns is suitable to identify respiratory allergy. Repeated short-term inhalation exposures to mildly irritant concentrations (but low doses) of chemical asthmagens may be of higher concern than topical exposures.
Long-Wavelength Gravity Wave Instabilities: A Comparison of the Jeffreys Drag Mechanism with the Shear Instability

Abstract A simple two-layer model of atmospheric flow over a rough surface is used to compare the Jeffreys drag mechanism with shear flow instability. Both function as sources of internal gravity waves, but the analysis indicates that the Jeffreys drag mechanism is the more effective source of long-wavelength disturbances.
Evolution of squeezed states in the Jaynes-Cummings model

Abstract Squeezed states can be further squeezed if the initial squeezing is smaller than a certain amount. It is pointed out that one atom single-photon and two-photon micromasers could be used to produce squeezed state output, among which single-photon resonant two-photon micromaser may bring about relatively large output with deep squeezing.
MULTIQUADRICS--A SCATTERED DATA APPROXIMATION SCHEME WITH APPLICATIONS TO COMPUTATIONAL FLUID-DYNAMICS-- II SOLUTIONS TO PARABOLIC, HYPERBOLIC AND ELLIPTIC PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

Abstract This paper is the second in a series of investigations into the benefits of multiquadrics (MQ). MQ is a true scattered data, multidimensional spatial approximation scheme. In the previous paper, we saw that MQ was an extremely accurate approximation scheme for interpolation and partial derivative estimates for a variety of two-dimensional functions over both gridded and scattered data. The theory of Madych and Nelson shows for the space of all conditionally positive definite functions to which MQ belongs, a semi-norm exists which is minimized by such functions. In this paper, MQ is used as the spatial approximation scheme for parabolic, hyperbolic and the elliptic Poisson's equation. We show that MQ is not only exceptionally accurate, but is more efficient than finite difference schemes which require many more operations to achieve the same degree of accuracy.
Leaving timing-channel fingerprints in hidden service log files

Hidden services are anonymously hosted services that can be accessed over an anonymity network, such as Tor. While most hidden services are legitimate, some host illegal content. There has been a fair amount of research on locating hidden services, but an open problem is to develop a general method to prove that a physical machine, once confiscated, was in fact the machine that had been hosting the illegal content. In this paper we assume that the hidden service logs requests with some timestamp, and give experimental results for leaving an identifiable fingerprint in this log file as a timing channel that can be recovered from the timestamps. In 60 min, we are able to leave a 36-bit fingerprint that can be reliably recovered. The main challenges are the packet delays caused by the anonymity network that requests are sent over and the existing traffic in the log from the actual clients accessing the service. We give data to characterize these noise sources and then describe an implementation of timing-channel fingerprinting for an Apache web server based hidden service on the Tor network, where the fingerprint is an additive channel that is superencoded with a Reed-Solomon code for reliable recovery. Finally, we discuss the inherent tradeoffs and possible approaches to making the fingerprint more stealthy.
Radiative surface temperatures of exercising polar bears.

Abstract o 1. Ambient air temperature, rather than wind speed or heat flow exerted the greatest effect on radiative heat loss through polar bear fur. 2. Fur conductance was higher when calculated using radiative temperature rather than air temperature as representative of ambient temperatures. 3. An equation was derived to predict environmental conditions under which a thermal infrared scanner might be used for remote sensing of polar bears.
A nw quasi-Newton algorithm

where Xk is t,lie step length determined by a line search process, gk = Vf(~k), yk = gk+l gkr Sk = xk+l xk, and ‘+ = y&kBkSk. The SCr < C$k and Bk is positive definite, then Bk+l(4k) is also positive definite, where