cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Superconducting Delay Line for Stochastic Cooling Filters

The stochastic cooling system of the antiproton source at Fermilab uses notch filters for reducing the feedback power at frequencies corresponding to particles in the core. At the same time these filters assist in shaping the gain vs. momentum in the stack tail. These filters, therefore, must attenuate all the harmonics of the revolution frequency (629 kHz) in the operating frequency band (1-2 GHz). They require components providing delays of 1.59 microseconds with a minimum of attenuation and undesirable distortion in this passband. Transmission lines providing such delays are typically 328 m long, have a rather large diameter, and are fabricated from a high conductivity material to keep the attenuation sufficiently low. The use of superconductors allows a dramatic reduction in the diameter, total size, and cost of this component in spite of the added cryogenic requirements. The authors measured the performance of two such cables in order to demonstrate the feasibility of the superconducting cable-notch filter concept. The first cable is an 84 m long superconducting coax consisting of a solid Niobium inner conductor inside a teflon dielectric, a lead outer conductor, and an outer jacket of mylar tape. The second cable is a 1.0 km long coaxial line more » with an inner conductor of lead-plated copper wire, a FEP teflon dielectric, and an outer conductor of leadplated copper tape wrapped with mylar. This paper discusses the results of performance testing of both cables and assesses their compatibilities with notch filters. « less
Cure by Ordeal: Treatment of an Obsessive-Compulsive Neurotic

This article presents a case history and discussion of the successful treatment of a teenage girl who had an obsessive-compulsive neurosis. Multiple therapeutic interventions were used, but a unique approach was the prescription of an ordeal. The discussion focuses on the reasons for success and a brief review of the literature is included.
Result reuse in design space exploration: A study in system support for interactive parallel computing

This paper presents a system supporting reuse of simulation results in multi-experiment computational studies involving independent simulations and explores the benefits of such reuse. Using a SCIRun-based defibrillator device simulation code (DefibSim) and the SimX system for computational studies, this paper demonstrates how aggressive reuse between and within computational studies can enable interactive rates for such studies on a moderate-sized 128-node processor cluster; a brute-force approach to the problem would require two thousand nodes or more on a massively parallel machine for similar performance. Key to realizing these performance improvements is exploiting optimization opportunities that present themselves at the level of the overall workflow of the study as opposed to focusing on individual simulations. Such global optimization approaches are likely to become increasingly important with the shift towards interactive and universal parallel computing.
Prevalence and co-use of marijuana among young adult cigarette smokers: An anonymous online national survey

There is elevated prevalence of marijuana use among young adults who use tobacco, but little is known about the extent of co-use generated from surveys conducted online. The purpose of the present study was to examine past-month marijuana use and the co-use of marijuana and tobacco in a convenience sample of young adult smokers with national US coverage. Young adults age 18 to 25 who had smoked at least one cigarette in the past 30 days were recruited online between 4/1/09 and 12/31/10 to participate in an online survey on tobacco use. We examined past 30 day marijuana use, frequency of marijuana use, and proportion of days co-using tobacco and marijuana by demographic characteristics and daily smoking status. Of 3512 eligible and valid survey responses, 1808 (51.5%) smokers completed the survey. More than half (53%, n = 960) of the sample reported past-month marijuana use and reported a median use of 18 out of the past 30 days (interquartile range [IR] = 4, 30). Co-use of tobacco and marijuana occurred on nearly half (median = 45.5%; IR = 13.1, 90.3) of the days on which either substance was used and was more frequent among Caucasians, respondents living in the Northeast or in rural areas, in nonstudents versus students, and in daily versus nondaily smokers. Residence in a state with legalized medical marijuana was unrelated to co-use or even the prevalence of marijuana use in this sample. Age and household income also were unrelated to co-use of tobacco and marijuana. These results indicate a higher prevalence of marijuana use and co-use of tobacco in young adult smokers than is reported in nationally representative surveys. Cessation treatments for young adult smokers should consider broadening intervention targets to include marijuana.
Comorbid Psychiatric Diagnoses and Their Association with Cocaine‐Induced Psychosis in Cocaine‐Dependent Subjects

Comorbidity between drug abuse and mental illness is very common, but the association of such comorbidity with specific responses to drugs of abuse remains obscure. The current study examined the relationship between the presence of non-psychotic Axis I psychiatric diagnoses and the frequency and severity of cocaine-induced psychosis. We interviewed 243 unrelated cocaine-dependent adults [37% European American (EA), 52.3% African American (AA); 58.8% male] using the Semi-Structured Assessment for Drug Dependence and Alcoholism (SSADDA) to establish DSM-IV diagnoses, and two instruments for the identification of cocaine-induced paranoia, the Cocaine Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) and the Scale for Assessment of Positive Symptoms for Cocaine-Induced Psychosis (SAPS-CIP). Comorbid substance use and psychiatric disorders were common in this cocaine-dependent sample. Ninety percent of subjects met criteria for substance use disorders other than cocaine dependence; common non-substance-use disorders included antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), adult ASPD, major depression, and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Comorbid opioid dependence was more common in EA subjects than in AA participants. After correction for multiple comparisons, a lifetime diagnosis of ADHD was associated with the categorical presence of CIP (p = 0.007), as well as significantly more severe CIP symptoms. Comorbid substance use and psychiatric disorders are very common among individuals with cocaine dependence. Comorbid ADHD increases the odds of an individual endorsing CIP, suggesting some common basis for these phenomena.
The Effects of Using a Mod versus a Traditional Approach in Communicating with Juvenile Delinquents

Communication between a juvenile officer and his delinquent client is frequently a major problem in court and correctional settings. The purpose of the research was to ascertain the differ ing responses of institutionalized juvenile delinquents to young adult interviewers using differing strategies of communications. One pair of interviewers used a traditional approach in which they asked straightforward questions using middle-class language while being well groomed and dressed in a suit and tie. The other pair assumed a mod appearance with beard, medium-length hair, and sport clothes and used the language of the youth sub culture. The latter pair additionally enhanced their communica tion with the juveniles by attempting to relate directly to the boy, a direct result of their facilitative training as described by Carkhuff and Truax.Twenty boys (10 white, 10 black) a random sample, were interviewed, with half being exposed to the mod pair and half to the traditional pair first. Seven days later each pair ...
WWTW: the world wide telecom web

The World Wide Web (WWW) enabled quick and easy information dissemination and brought about fundamental changes to various aspects of our lives. However, a very large number of people, mostly in developing regions, are still untouched by this revolution. Compared to PCs, the primary access mechanism to WWW, mobile phones have made a phenomenal penetration into this population segment. Low cost of ownership, the simple user interface consisting of a small keyboard, limited menu and voice-based access contribute to the success of mobile phones with the less literate. However, apart from basic voice communication, these people are not being able to exploit the benefits of information and services available to WWW users.In this paper, we present the World Wide Telecom Web (WWTW) --- our vision of a voice-driven ecosystem parallel to that of the WWW. WWTW is a network of interconnected voice sites that are voice driven applications created by users and hosted in the network. It has the potential to enable the underprivileged population to become a part of the next generation converged networked world. We present a whole gamut of existing technology enablers for our vision as well as present research directions and open challenges that need to be solved to not only realize a WWTW but also to enable the two Webs to cross leverage each other.
Search for the Competitive Edge: A History of Dietary Fads and Supplements

The premise and promise of ergogenic aid use is rooted in antiquity and is based upon superstition and ritualistic behavior of athletes who perceive that past performances were predicated upon unique dietary constituents or dietary manipulation. Accounts from ancient times recommended that athletes and soldiers preparing for battle consume specific animal parts to confer agility, speed or strength associated with that animal. Scientific understanding of the chemical and physiological nature of muscular work in the early 20th century was followed by ergogenic aid use by athletes and rationalized as "scientific" justification. Ergogenic aids such as alkaline salts, caffeine, carbohydrate and protein have been used by athletes with variable success. As nutritionists and exercise physiologists discovered and perfected the scientific understanding of metabolic reactions, athletes in turn experimented with the amount, form and timing of administration in the search for optimal performance. Anabolic steroids and blood doping enhance athletic performance, but health risks, ethics and sportsmanship contravene their use. Popularity and use of ergogenic aids often have preceded scientific substantiation of claims. Current products such as protein isolates and antioxidant nutrients commonly are used by athletes, and many ergogenic aids available today differ little from those used long ago.
THE EFFECTS OF SECTORAL AND ECONOMY-WIDE POLICIES ON TOBACCO PRODUCTION IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

This study analyses the effects of specific agricultural and exchange rate policies on tobacco production in the Dominican Republic. Direct protection resulting from output and input subsidies and taxes was positive on average from 1966 to 1988, but total protection was negative when exchange rate policies are considered. Tobacco policies were quite volatile and resulted in increasing production in the 1970s but decreasing production in the 1980s. Overall, tobacco production was 4.8 percent less than it would have been had there been no policy interventions. Several reasons are provided for the policies.
Management of Cirrhosis and Associated Complications

Liver cirrhosis is the encapsulation or replacement of injured tissue by collagen, resulting in end-stage liver disease and portal hypertension. The consequences of cirrhosis are impaired hepatocyte function, increase intrahepatic circulatory resistance, portal hypertension, and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Complications include encephalopathy, coagulopathy, varices, ascites, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, epatorenal syndrome, and hepatopulmonary syndrome. Managing patients with acute or chronic liver failure is challenging, and liver failure may have profound effects on other organ systems. Most therapies are directed at managing the complications and bridging patients to liver transplantation. The clinician must be aware of the pathologic presentations and the appropriate management, including pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapies, goals and end points of therapy, and monitoring of therapy. This review focuses on the management of the complications directly associated with liv...
The role of the stress proteins response in physiological adaptation of marine molluscs

Abstract Organisms have evolved a highly conserved cellular response called the heat-shock or stress proteins response (SPR) that increases their tolerance to adverse environmental conditions. We have tested the hypothesis that the tissues of two molluscs, Mytilus edulis and Collisella pelta , respond to stressful situations by eliciting this response. We found that both heat-shock and Cd can induce the SPR in both species and are presently carrying out experiments to correlate the induction of stress proteins with an increased capacity to tolerate subsequent stressful conditions. These experiments should help us determine if the SPR plays an important role in the physiological adaptation of these species to their environment.
Abnormalities and Reduced Reproductive Potential of Sperm from Tnp1- and Tnp2-Null Double Mutant Mice

Previous studies have demonstrated the importance of transition nuclear proteins, TP1 and TP2, in spermatogenesis and male fertility. However, importance of the overall level of transition proteins and their level of redundancy in the production of normal sperm is not clear. Epididymal sperm from the nine possible Tnp1 and Tnp2 null genotypes demonstrated a general decrease in normal morphology, motility, chromatin condensation, and degree of protamine 2 processing with decreasing levels of transition proteins in mutant sperm. Nuclei of some mutant epididymal sperm stained poorly with hematoxylin and DNA fluorochromes, suggesting that the DNA of these sperm underwent degradation during epididymal transport. When epididymal sperm were injected directly into oocytes, fertilization and embryonic development were reduced only in the two most severely affected genotypes. These phenotypes indicated some functional redundancy of transition proteins; however, redundancy of transition protein function was not complete, as, for example, sperm from double heterozygous males had fewer abnormalities than sperm from males homozygous for a single Tnp null mutation. Our study suggests that each TP fulfills some unique function during spermiogenesis even though sperm phenotypes strongly indicate defects are largely attributable to an overall gene dosage effect. Similarities between sperm defects found in Tnp mutants and infertile patients make the Tnp mutants a valuable tool with which to study outcomes following fertilization using sperm with compromised DNA integrity.
HETBROACTIVITY OF THE PITUITARY GLAND WITH HYPERTHYROIDISM. DISCUSSION OF THE SYNDROME AND REPORT OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE CASE.

INTRODUCTION The great divergence of opinion regarding clinical classifications of diseases of the pituitary gland, is largely responsible for the confusion existing in the literature. Some few writers still retain the original classification advanced by Cushing, others, with a somewhat commendable but hardly progressive conservatism, are still willing to admit only such outstanding syndromes as gigantism, acromegaly and dystrophia adiposogenitalis to the category of definitely classified pituitary disorders, and place all other manifestations under the general nebulous heading of dyspituitarism. In addition to this barrier we are further handicapped by finding many reported cases in which the histories and data are too meager to permit reclassification. The anatomico-physiological classification of Engelbach and Tierney (1) is not only well in accord with established experimental data, but has been elaborated by the evidence gained from a careful clinical study of over 200 cases of pituitary disorder.
Educating the Least Informed: Group Endorsements in a Grassroots Campaign

Theories of low-information rationality claim that uninformed voters can compensate for their lack of political knowledge by employing heuristics, such as interest group endorsements, to make voting decisions as if they were fully informed. Critics of low-information rationality contend that politically unaware voters are unlikely to use group endorsements effectively as a heuristic since they are unlikely to know the political relevance of interest groups. We address this debate by entertaining the possibility that contextual information coupled with a source cue may enhance the effectiveness of group endorsements as a heuristic. We test competing expectations with a field experiment conducted during the 2006 election in two highly competitive Pennsylvania statehouse races where a well-known liberal interest group endorsed Democratic candidates and canvassed both core supporters and Republicans believed to be likeminded. Our results reveal that Republicans used the endorsement as a negative voting cue and that the group’s endorsement helped some Republicans compensate for their lack of awareness about politics.
Taxonomic and ecological tradeoffs associated with small dam removals

Dams and impoundments are widely recognized as having dramatic, negative impacts on freshwater ecosystems and are frequently implicated in the plight of endangered riverine biota (Dudgeon, 2000; Lydeard et al., 2004; Strayer and Dudgeon, 2010; Burkhead, 2012; Haag and Williams, 2013). As such, their removal is a desirable and necessary component of stream restoration projects. Despite this general sentiment, there is a practical and financial need to prioritize among dams for removal and assess both the benefits and costs to stream ecosystems. Palmer et al. (2005) and others have called for standards to evaluate stream restoration success and specified five key traits of successful restoration projects. The first criterion they identified was that restoration must be guided by an image of a more dynamic, healthy river. Second, restoration should result in measurably improved stream condition and a more resilient self-sustaining system. Nearly all dam removal projects meet these criteria both inherently and quantitatively. In addition, Palmer et al. (2005) suggested that stream restoration should not cause irreparable harm to the ecosystem and that preand post-restoration monitoring data be made available to the public. While these may seem like eminently attainable and transparent goals, the reality is that financial restrictions limit the temporal scale of preand post-removal monitoring and restrict the ability to describe recovery intervals accurately, which may in turn impede an accurate assessment of the long-term effects of dam removals. Popular concepts of dam impacts are often focused, quite naturally, on their upstream effects on stream habitats. Dams transform free-flowing reaches to lentic habitats, restrict downstream sediment movement, and dramatically alter temperature, nutrient and productivity dynamics. Dams also alter downstream habitats and much work has documented physicochemical and biotic changes in downstream reaches. Much of what is known about dam impacts is derived from studies of high hydroelectric dams on large (i.e. >6th order) streams (Baxter, 1977; Graf, 2006). However, low-head dams (i.e. those <7.5m height) greatly exceed hydroelectric dams in number and thus affect a much broader range of stream sizes and ecosystem types (Graf, 1999; Csiki and Rhodes, 2010). Removing small dams has become a major part of stream and faunal restoration projects in North America. However, because so little is known about the effects of smaller dams on stream biota and ecosystems, obvious solutions may turn out to be problematic for other species. For example, because rivers across the globe have
The long-term inflow analysis of multipurpose reservoirs by the SEAMOD

The SEAMOD(SEAsonal MODel) is presented to analyze long-term inflow after construction of multipurpose reservoirs in this study. The SEAMOD configuration comprises of three storages; surface storage, unsaturated soil storage, and saturated soil storage. These storages are linked by five processes; surface runoff, infiltration, evapotranspiration, deep percolation, and groundwater flow. The main data for SEAMOD are precipitation, pan evaporation, and historical inflow data necessary for comparing with the simulated inflow data. The SEAMOD is applied to Andong, Hapcheon, Namgang, and Daecheong reservoirs in South Korea. And, the application of SEAMOD is divided into two parts; model calibration and model verification. In the process of a model calibration, seven parameters, two for surface runoff, two for infiltration, and one for each of the rest of the processes, are estimated by using the Rosenbrock Algorithm. In the process of a model verification, the SEAMOD is proved to be suitable and efficient by comparing historical hydrographs with verified hydrographs and by the results of objective functions. And, the MRAM(Multiple Regression Analysis Model), one of statistical models, is applied to compare with the SEAMOD. The results of SEAMOD are slightly better than those of MRAM in this study Therefore, it is possible to predict the inflow in the multipurpose reservoirs and can apply the SEAMOD to the ungaged watersheds which have hydrologic characteristics of homogeneity.
Information Dispersion and Auction Prices

This paper derives comparative static implications of Nash equilibrium bidding in a mineral rights model of auctions. It then tests these implications to assess whether a model of Nash equilibrium behavior in a CV information structure characterizes eBay online computer auctions. Market data is augmented by survey data in order to determine the information structure and bidding behavior in these auctions. This external information permits joint identi…cation of Nash bidding behavior and common values. By imposing structure on the measurement error in my survey data, I am able = =
Regulatory Issues for Clinical Trials in Humans

Clinical trials in humans are research studies designed to evaluate two or more treatments in human participants. Major concerns in any clinical trial are the protection of study participants’ safety and rights and ensuring the accuracy and validity of the data being collected. To ensure that these concerns are adequately addressed in a study, the funding institutions, the institutions where the research actually takes place, and federal and state regulatory agencies have developed regulations and guidelines for conducting human research. In the United States, each of the granting federal departments and agencies has its own regulations and guidelines for conducting human research that must be followed. If a new drug/device is being tested or an approved drug/device is being tested for a new indication, then the study must be conducted under the rules and regulations of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In cases where there is both a federal funding institution and a new drug/device being tested, the regulations of both the funding department or agency and the FDA must be followed. These regulations for the FDA (1) and the various federal departments and agencies can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). A listing of the appropriate CFR for the various federal departments and agencies can be found in the instructions for federalwide assurance from the Office for Human Research Protections, Department of Health and Human Services (2). Although many clinical trials in the United States are funded by federal departments and agencies, many are funded by the pharmaceutical industry. These industry studies will almost always comply with FDA regulations and the International Conference on Harmonisation guidelines that have been adopted by the FDA. In this article, some of the more pertinent regulatory issues that an investigator must
Recombination between Homologous Chromosomes Induced by Unrepaired UV-Generated DNA Damage Requires Mus81p and Is Suppressed by Mms2p

DNA lesions caused by UV radiation are highly recombinogenic. In wild-type cells, the recombinogenic effect of UV partially reflects the processing of UV-induced pyrimidine dimers into DNA gaps or breaks by the enzymes of the nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway. In this study, we show that unprocessed pyrimidine dimers also potently induce recombination between homologs. In NER-deficient rad14 diploid strains, we demonstrate that unexcised pyrimidine dimers stimulate crossovers, noncrossovers, and break-induced replication events. The same dose of UV is about six-fold more recombinogenic in a repair-deficient strain than in a repair-proficient strain. We also examined the roles of several genes involved in the processing of UV-induced damage in NER-deficient cells. We found that the resolvase Mus81p is required for most of the UV-induced inter-homolog recombination events. This requirement likely reflects the Mus81p-associated cleavage of dimer-blocked replication forks. The error-free post-replication repair pathway mediated by Mms2p suppresses dimer-induced recombination between homologs, possibly by channeling replication-blocking lesions into recombination between sister chromatids.
HyHOPE: Hybrid Head Orientation and Position Estimation for vision-based driver head tracking

Driver distraction and inattention are prominent causes of automotive collisions. To enable driver assistance systems to address these problems, we require new sensing approaches to infer a driverpsilas focus of attention. In this paper, we present a new 3D tracking algorithm and integrate it into HyHOPE, a real-time (30 fps) hybrid head orientation and position estimation system for driver head tracking. With a single video camera, the system continuously tracks the head in six degrees-of-freedom, initializing itself automatically with separate modules for head detection and head pose estimation. The tracking module provides a fine estimate of the 3D motion of the head, using a new appearance-based algorithm for 3D model tracking by particle filtering in an augmented reality environment. We describe our implementation, which utilizes OpenGL-optimized graphics hardware to efficiently compute particle samples in real-time. To quantitatively evaluate the accuracy of our system, we compare its estimation results to a marker-based cinematic motion capture system installed in an automotive testbed. We evaluate the system on real daytime and nighttime drives with drivers of varying ages, race, and sex.
Observations of the Sea-Breeze Front during CaPE. Part II: Dual-Doppler and Aircraft Analysis

Abstract The three-dimensional kinematic structures of offshore and onshore flow sea-breeze fronts observed during the CaPE experiment are shown using high resolution dual-Doppler and aircraft data. The fronts interact with horizontal convective rolls (HCRs) that develop within the convective boundary layer. Nearly perpendicular intersections between the HCRs and sea-breeze front were observed during the offshore flow case. Close to the front, the HCR axes were tilted upward and lifted by the frontal updrafts. Consequently, a deeper updraft was created at the intersection points, providing additional impetus for cloud development. Furthermore, clouds forming at periodic intervals along the NCRs intensified as they propagated over the front. During the onshore flow case, the HCR orientation was nearly parallel to the front. Extended sections of the front “merged” with the HCRs. This process strengthened the front and is explained as the merger of like-sign vortices associated with both the front and HCRs. ...
Oxidative Degradation of Atomized Iron Controlled By the Nanostructured Environment

A large number of composited materials of atomized iron and multiwalled carbon nanotubes have been prepared and sintered at 850°C for one hour. The sintered samples were examined for thermal and for electrochemical corrosion of atomized iron. The results suggest that the composited materials are free from oxidative degradation. The absence of oxidation of atomized iron in nanocomposited environment is attributed to the configurational geometry and spintronics type interaction proposed in recent theoretical calculations.
Implantable Neurostimulation for Headache Disorders: Effect on Healthcare Utilization and Expenditures.

Objectives Chronic daily headache is a considerable source of morbidity for patients and also carries an enormous economic burden. Patients who fail standard medication regimens lack well-defined therapies, and neurostimulation is an emerging option for these patients. The purpose of this study was to analyze the cost utility of implantable neurostimulation for treatment of headache. Methods We utilized the Thompson Reuters Marketscan Data base to identify individuals diagnosed with headache disorders who underwent percutaneous neurostimulation. Healthcare expenditures for individuals who subsequently received permanent, surgically implanted neurostimulatory devices were compared to those who did not. Only individuals who sought implantable neurostimulation were included to account for headache severity. The cohorts were adjusted for comorbidity and prior headache-related expenses. Costs were modeled longitudinally using a generalized estimating equation. Results A total of 579 patients who underwent percutaneous trial of neurostimulation were included, of which 324 (55.96%) converted to permanent neurostimulation within one year. Unadjusted expenditures were greater for patients who underwent conversion to the permanent neurostimulation device, as expected. Costs grew at a lower rate for patients who converted to permanent device implantation. Cost neutrality for patients receiving the permanent device was reached in less than five years after the enrollment date. The mean cost of conversion to a permanent implantation was $18,607.53 (SD $26,441.34). Conclusions Our study suggests that implantable neurostimulation reduces healthcare expenditures within a relatively short time period in patients with severe refractory headache.
Transforming growth factor β1 antagonizes the transcription, expression and vascular signaling of guanylyl cyclase/natriuretic peptide receptor A – role of δEF1

The objective of this study was to determine the role of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) in transcriptional regulation and function of the guanylyl cyclase A/natriuretic peptide receptor A gene (Npr1) and whether cross-talk exists between these two hormonal systems in target cells. After treatment of primary cultured rat thoracic aortic vascular smooth muscle cells and mouse mesangial cells with TGF-β1, the Npr1 promoter construct containing a δ-crystallin enhancer binding factor 1 (δEF1) site showed 85% reduction in luciferase activity in a time- and dose-dependent manner. TGF-β1 also significantly attenuated luciferase activity of the Npr1 promoter by 62%, and decreased atrial natriuretic peptide-mediated relaxation of mouse denuded aortic rings ex vivo. Treatment of cells with TGF-β1 increased the protein levels of δEF1 by 2.4-2.8-fold, and also significantly enhanced the phosphorylation of Smad 2/3, but markedly reduced Npr1 mRNA and receptor protein levels. Over-expression of δEF1 showed a reduction in Npr1 promoter activity by 75%, while deletion or site-directed mutagenesis of δEF1 sites in the Npr1 promoter eliminated the TGF-β1-mediated repression of Npr1 transcription. TGF-β1 significantly increased the expression of α-smooth muscle actin and collagen type I α2 in rat thoracic aortic vascular smooth muscle cells, which was markedly attenuated by atrial natriuretic peptide in cells over-expressing natriuretic peptide receptor A. Together, the present results suggest that an antagonistic cascade exists between the TGF-β1/Smad/δEF1 pathways and Npr1 expression and receptor signaling that is relevant to renal and vascular remodeling, and may be critical in the regulation of blood pressure and cardiovascular homeostasis.
Manna from Heaven or Forbidden Fruit? the (Ab) Use of Control Variables in Research on International Conflict:

Model specification is a ubiquitous challenge in the social sciences. While this issue of Conflict Management and Peace Science is dedicated to addressing this topic in the context of research on international conflict, the discussion among the contributors also contains general lessons and debates relevant to statistical analyses of political, economic, and social phenomena. The reader might suspect that when Glenn Palmer first approached us with the idea of putting together a roundtable and special issue on using control variables, we yawned. Nothing could be further from the truth. Not only did we think the topic warranted some good debate and dialogue, but we already had in mind some lively, articulate, and bright scholars who would offer clever insight.1 We apparently were not alone in our estimation: a record-breaking, spirited audience attended a roundtable featuring these individuals at the 2004 Peace Science Meeting in Houston, Texas. We are confident that the readers of this volume will similarly be engaged and will find the dialogue on the contributions and weakness of control variables useful for their own research. The origins of this special issue can be traced to James Lee Ray’s 2002 Presidential Address to the Peace Science Society (published in 2003). In that address, Ray argued that international conflict scholars had become obsessed with control variables. He warned us of the perils of interpreting results from models with too many independent variables and set down five guidelines for assessing whether to use controls and how to do so if one must. Returning to that theme, Ray leads off this issue with a paper demonstrating what he would consider the pitfalls of multivariate analysis by examining a particular research program, namely a series of dyadic democratic peace papers. John Oneal and Bruce Russett take Ray to task in the next paper, arguing that their own democratic peace research would not have progressed, especially in terms of being able to evaluate alternative theories, without the use of control variables. In our own contribution to this issue, we make a leap of faith and submit some of our own research on the systemic democratic peace to Ray’s five guidelines,
Solving Eigenvalues Using an Analytic Approach for Conjunction Analysis

This paper presents the use of an analytical method to compute eigenvalues for the application of conjunction analysis. Given two ellipsoids, the solution to the 4 th degree polynomial characteristic equation is shown using the classical numerical approach and the presented analytical method. It shows that if the characteristic equation has at least two negative real solutions then the ellipsoids are separated. In addition, if the ellipsoids share a common point, or touch each other, then the characteristic equation has a positive double real solution and the discriminant of the quadratic equations is zero. Moreover, two or more complex eigenvalues are obtained when it is a complete penetration of one ellipsoid by another. An advantage of using the analytical approach is not only that it yields direct solutions with numerical approximation and iteration but also it is computationally efficient.
Psyllotylenchus viviparus, n. gen., n. sp. (Nematodea: Tylenchida: Allantonematidae) parasitizing fleas (Siphonaptera) in California.

Psyllotylenchus vivriparus , n. gen., n. sp. (Nematodea: Tylenchida: Allantonematidae) parasitizes the fleas Catallagia sculleni rutherfordi Augustson, Monopsyllus wagneri (Baker), Monopsyllus ciliatus protinus (Jordan) and Diamanus montanus (Baker) in California. Psyllotylenchus has an alternation of gamogenetic and parthenogenetic parasitic cycles similar to Heterotylenchus , but differs from that genus in possessing ovoviviparous gamogenetic females which curve with the ventral surface outward when relaxed with gentle heat. Parthenogenetic females also possess a distinct spherical preuteral gland, Heterotylenchus pawlowskyi Kurochkin, 1960 is transferred to the genus Psyllotylenchus .
Abstract 1975: The mitochondrial pathway in baicalein and wogonin-induced apoptosis in human colorectal cancer cells

Treating colorectal cancer patients commonly involves several conventional modalities, including surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. The complexity of colorectal cancer, however, requires additional alternatives to improve the therapeutic efficacy of conventional treatment and the quality of life of cancer patients. Medicinal botanicals have recently gained attention as additions to colorectal cancer management. Numerous effective anticancer drugs have been developed from botanicals, and identifying new herbal sources for ideal chemoprevention remains essential to advance the treatment of colorectal cancer. Scutellaria baicalensis extract (SbE) has chemopreventive effects on several cancers. Baicalin, a major constituent of SbE, also may have the negative effect of decreasing the anti-tumor potential of SbE. In this study, we prepared a baicalin knockout fraction (BKF) of SbE and evaluated its antiproliferative activity and mechanism of action. The constituents of BKF, baicalin fraction (BF), and SbE were quantified by HPLC. We then used an MTS assay to determine the effects of BKF, BF, SbE, and the representative flavonoids on the proliferation of human colorectal cancer cells (HCT-116 and HT-29). Cell cycle, cyclin A expression and cell apoptosis were assayed by flow cytometry. Apoptosis-related gene expression was visualized by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and mitochondrial membrane potential was estimated after staining with JC-1. HPLC analysis showed that BKF contained baicalein and wogonin; BF contained only baicalin. SbE had little antiproliferative effect on cancer cells, even increasing cancer cell growth at certain concentrations. BF increased cancer cell growth. BKF showed potent antiproliferative effects on cancer cells. BKF arrested cells in the S and G2/M phases, increased expression of cyclin A, and significantly induced cell apoptosis. Multiple genes in the mitochondrial pathway were involved in BKF-induced apoptosis, and subsequent cellular functional analysis validated the pathway. These results suggest that knocking out baicalin from SbE produces a BKF that significantly inhibits the growth of colorectal cancer cells. The active anticancer compounds in SbE are flavonoid aglycons, baicalein and wogonin, and the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway is part of baicalein and wogonin-induced apoptosis. (This work was supported in part by the NIH/NCCAM grants AT004418 and AT005362). Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1975. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-1975
Effects of progesterone upon ovulation in the rhesus monkey.

SummaryOvulation occurred in 4 of 11 adult female monkeys which had received 0.5 mg of progesterone daily for 3 to 6 days beginning on the 10th to the 14th day of the menstrual cycle during the anovulatory summer period. Menstruation began from 3 to 8 days after the cessation of the progesterone treatment whether ovulation occurred or not.
Exercise Doppler in coronary artery disease : correlation with thallium-201 perfusion scintigraphy

During the past 12 years, more than 15,000 exercise thallium-201 scintigraphic studies have been performed in the Cardiac Noninvasive Laboratory of the University of Virginia. Although thallium perfusion imaging has been extremely useful for the evaluation of myocardial blood flow reserve in our institution, we recognize the considerable technical difficulties associated with its implementation and optimal use in clinical laboratories whose previous experience in Nuclear Cardiology is limited. Accordingly, we have been intrigued by the development of Doppler instruments with the potential to assess cardiac ischemia by the measurement of aortic ejection phase parameters during exercise. In this chapter we summarize our experience with suprasternal Doppler aortic blood flow measurements during treadmill exercise testing in a large population of normal patients and compare stress Doppler results to thallium-201 scintigraphy in a cohort of patients referred for evaluation of suspected or known coronary artery disease.
IR target tracking based on mean shift and particle filter

A novel method for infrared target tracking which combines mean shift and particle filter was proposed in order to improve the tracking accuracy and robustness.Based on the particle filter,the mean shift was introduced as an iterative mode seeking procedure,in which particles move toward the maximal posterior kernel density estimation of target state.The weights of particle samples are updated as the mean shift iterative operating.The posterior distribution of the infrared target is approximated by a set of re-weighted samples,while the infrared target tracking is implemented by the particle filter algorithm which constructed by the sample set.Experimental results show that the proposed method is more effective and robust than the independent standard particle filter and mean shift.
Applying multidimensional navigation and explanation in semantic dataset summarization

A key objective of multidimensional dataset analysis is to reveal patterns of interest to users, but can be difficult to conduct due to the challenges of both presenting and navigating large datasets. This work explores how initial summarizations of multidimensional datasets can be generated (designed to reduce the number of data points which would need to be displayed), using summarization policies based on provided dataset values. Additionally, functionality for explaining the derivation of summarizations is being designed in line with prior work on aiding analyst interactions with data processing systems. To help drive development of this work, as well as provide illustrative use cases, we are presently designing a dataset summarization generator as part of greater work being done on an infrastructure for managing evidence of technical emergence in varying research disciplines via automated review of published materials.
Importance of Reduction and Oxidation Stability of High Voltage Electrolytes and Additives

Abstract The electrolyte is a critical component for rechargeable Li-ion batteries, especially batteries containing high voltage cathodes. A series of electrolyte salts, solvents and additives was investigated via cyclic voltammetry (CV) on glassy carbon (GC) electrodes. Quantum chemistry (QC) calculations were used for prediction of oxidation and reduction stability of electrolyte components such as ethylene carbonate (EC), dimethyl carbonate (DMC), fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC), vinylene carbonate (VC), tris(trimethylsilyl) phosphate (TMSP), 1,3-propane sultone (PS), tris(hexafluoroisopropyl) phosphate (HFiPP) and lithium salts such as LiPF 6 , LiBF 4 , lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate (LiDFOB), lithium 4,5-dicyano-2-trifluoromethyl-imidazolide (LiTDI), and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonimide) (LiTFSI). QC calculations predicted that defluorination of LiPF 6 and LiTFSI aggregates coupled with electron transfer significantly increased their reduction potential, while H-transfer upon oxidation lowered oxidation potential for many solvents. The composition of the Li + cation solvation shell was estimated from the binding energies for the Li + –solvent complexes using cluster-continuum calculations and was used to provide insight into the experimental data on electrolyte reduction. Full coin cell data was acquired using LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 (LNMO) cathodes with graphite anodes at 25 °C and 55 °C. Differential capacity plots (dQ/dE vs. E) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results. The electrolyte with the most desirable performance was 1 M LiPF 6 in 3:7 EC:EMC (wt%) with 1 wt% TMSP. Oxidative CV experiments show that the TMSP containing electrolyte has a slightly lower oxidation stability compared to the baseline, which is consistent with the order of oxidation stability of electrolyte components from QC calculations. The EIS measurements showed that the TMSP containing electrolyte had the lowest impedance after cycling and the dQ/dE plots show that the redox reactions retained their peak shape and area more so than an electrolyte without TMSP, indicating a greater capacity retention. Density functional theory calculations of TMSP oxidation on the LNMO surface were performed in order to provide insight into the additive role in improving cell performance.
SP0178 Genomic and Proteomic Quantification of the Heterogeneity of SSC: Implications for Pathogenesis and Treatment

Genome-wide stratification of patients into molecularly similar groups is rapidly becoming a key component of genetic-based precision medicine. Stratification using a patient9s gene expression fingerprint found in end target tissues such as skin is highly reproducible and can break down and quantify the heterogeneity in SSc. Although significant insights have been gained by analysis of individual datasets probing gene expression in end target tissues (skin, lung and PBMCs), integrative analysis of gene expression and proteomic data across multiple SSc cohorts and mulitiple SSc tissues provides additional power, inherent replication and the ability to identify deregulated processes common to each affected organ. We analyzed ten independent genome-wide gene expression datasets from multiple SSc tissues that allow for a systematic reanalysis of the SSc transcriptome and, in particular, allow us to identify the conserved molecular drivers of the intrinsic gene expression subsets (inflammatory, fibroproliferative, limited and normal-like) that are found in multiple end-target tissues including skin, esophagus and lung. These data show the intrinsic gene expression subsets are conserved across different tissues in SSc and may represent fundamental mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of the disease. We find that different pathways are deregulated in each of these subsets, suggesting each subset will respond differently to therapy. We also performed analysis of the autoantibody targets in SSc using immunopreciptiation of protein lysates with patient autoantibodies followed by mass spectrometric analysis of the recovered antigens, which suggests a model in which a combination of chronic and acute cellular stresses results in aberrant cell death, leading to autoantibody generation directed against intracellular macromolecular structures. Analysis of skin biopsies from SSc patients in multiple, independent clinical trials provides support for our hypothesis that patient gene expression subset will be a major determinant of those individuals most likely to respond to a particular therapeutic intervention. Disclosure of Interest None declared