cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adolescent Cannabinoid and Nicotine Exposure Differentially Alters Adult Nicotine Self-Administration in Males and Females.

Author(s): Dukes, Angeline J; Fowler, James P; Lallai, Valeria; Pushkin, Anna N; Fowler, Christie D | Abstract: IntroductionDuring adolescence, exposure to nicotine or cannabis independently induces effects on neuromaturation and later cognitive function. However, the potential effect of both drugs under co-use conditions has become of increasing concern given the prevalence of e-cigarettes, legalization of cannabis, and availability of synthetic "spice" cannabinoid agonists.Aims and methodsThe current studies investigated the effects of exposure to a cannabinoid receptor agonist (WIN55,212-2) and/or nicotine over a discrete time period in mid-adolescence on later intravenous nicotine self-administration in adult male and female mice. We further examined whether cannabinoid agonist administration in adulthood would alter nicotine reinforcement, with either acute or chronic pairing across 7 days.ResultsWe found that adult males exhibited increased nicotine self-administration at a lower, rewarding nicotine dose following adolescent cannabinoid exposure, either alone or with nicotine coadministration. In contrast, adult females demonstrated an opposing effect in which adolescent cannabinoid and nicotine coexposure resulted in decreased nicotine intake compared with the nicotine only and control groups. Furthermore, after maintaining nicotine self-administration across sessions, pretreatment with a low dose of the cannabinoid agonist decreased nicotine intake in both male and female control mice, and this lowering effect was evidenced after both acute and chronic treatment. However, the cannabinoid agonist was ineffective in altering nicotine intake in mice previously exposed to nicotine, cannabinoid agonist, or both during adolescence.ConclusionsThese data provide evidence that adolescent drug exposure can alter later nicotine reinforcement in a sex-specific manner and can further modulate the effectiveness of interventions in reducing nicotine intake during adulthood.ImplicationsThese studies demonstrate a significant impact of nicotine, cannabinoids, or coexposure on developmental processes during adolescence. Differential effects were observed within each sex, with opposing results found for cannabinoid exposure on nicotine intake in males and females. Intriguingly, we also evidenced resistance to the lowering effects of a cannabinoid agonist on nicotine intake in adulthood based on adolescent drug exposure. Thus, these findings have important implications for our understanding of the impact of nicotine and cannabinoids (eg, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and synthetic "spice" cannabinoids) during development, with further implications for the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions based on prior drug exposure in youth.
Anomaly Detection with Tensor Networks.

Originating from condensed matter physics, tensor networks are compact representations of high-dimensional tensors. In this paper, the prowess of tensor networks is demonstrated on the particular task of one-class anomaly detection. We exploit the memory and computational efficiency of tensor networks to learn a linear transformation over a space with dimension exponential in the number of original features. The linearity of our model enables us to ensure a tight fit around training instances by penalizing the model's global tendency to a predict normality via its Frobenius norm---a task that is infeasible for most deep learning models. Our method outperforms deep and classical algorithms on tabular datasets and produces competitive results on image datasets, despite not exploiting the locality of images.
Early pregnancy metabolites predict gestational diabetes mellitus: implications for fetal programming.

Background Aberrant fetal programming in gestational diabetes mellitus seems to increase the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The inability to accurately identify gestational diabetes mellitus in the first trimester of pregnancy has thwarted ascertaining whether early therapeutic interventions reduce the predisposition to these prevalent medical disorders. Objective A metabolomics study was conducted to determine whether advanced analytical methods could identify accurate predictors of gestational diabetes mellitus in early pregnancy. Study Design This nested observational case-control study was composed of 92 gravidas (46 in the gestational diabetes mellitus group and 46 in the control group) in early pregnancy, who were matched by maternal age, body mass index, and gestational age at urine collection. Gestational diabetes mellitus was diagnosed according to community standards. A comprehensive metabolomics platform measured 626 endogenous metabolites in randomly collected urine. Consensus multivariate criteria or the most important by 1 method identified low–molecular weight metabolites independently associated with gestational diabetes mellitus, and a classification tree selected a subset most predictive of gestational diabetes mellitus. Results Urine for both groups was collected at a mean gestational age of 12 weeks (range, 6–19 weeks’ gestation). Consensus multivariate analysis identified 11 metabolites independently linked to gestational diabetes mellitus. Classification tree analysis selected a 7-metabolite subset that predicted gestational diabetes mellitus with an accuracy of 96.7%, independent of maternal age, body mass index, and time of urine collection. Conclusion Validation of this high-accuracy model by a larger study is now needed to support future studies to determine whether therapeutic interventions in the first trimester of pregnancy for gestational diabetes mellitus reduce short- and long-term morbidity.
Simultaneous assay of segesterone acetate (Nestorone®), estradiol, progesterone, and estrone in human serum by LC-MS/MS.

Abstract Objective To develop a method to simultaneously quantify the synthetic contraceptive progestin segesterone acetate (Nestorone®, NES) and the endogenous steroid hormones estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), and estrone (E1) in human serum samples by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Study Design We analyzed 615 serum samples collected from 67 reproductive-age women actively using a contraceptive vaginal ring (CVR) designed to release NES (200 mcg/d) and E2 (75-200 mcg/d). Samples were taken prior to and up to 30 days after CVR insertion and analyzed for concentrations of NES, E2, P4, and E1 in human serum using a Shimadzu Nexera-LCMS-8050 LC-MS/MS platform. Precision, accuracy, and sensitivity for all analytes were determined across multiple assays. Results The assay ranges for NES, E2, P4, and E1 in this analytical method were 10 pg/mL to 10 ng/mL with a lower limit of quantification of 10 pg/mL for all targets. Assay precisions were less than or equal to 14.5% and accuracies ranged from 87.0% – 110.8%. When applied to the 615 clinical samples, 550 samples had quantifiable concentrations of NES (value range 0.014 ng/mL – 1471 ng/mL). Similarly, 595 samples had quantifiable concentrations of E2 (0.010 ng/mL – 0.312 ng/mL), 596 samples had quantifiable concentrations of P4 (0.010 ng/mL – 5.791 ng/mL), and 609 samples had quantifiable concentrations of E1 (0.010 ng/mL – 0.416 ng/mL). Conclusions The LC-MS/MS platform results in a robust, accurate, and sensitive method for the simultaneous quantification of NES and endogenous steroid hormones in human serum. Implications The analytical method described allows for the simultaneous quantification of NES and endogenous steroids and can be used to monitor NES concentrations during clinical trials and subject adherence to treatment with NES.
How Are Americans Registering to Vote? Beyond the Institutional Supply

In this chapter, I ask: What are the institutional and administrative dynamics that drive voter registration and can narrow existing registration gaps? I argue that aside from the adoption of voter registration reforms, access to voter registration varies depending on when and how Americans can register to vote. The interaction between method of registration and the registration cutoff dates is overlooked in the literature, yet it has important implications for access to the electoral process, as Americans have more exposure to, or utilize, some methods more than others. Available data sources do not allow for a systematic assessment of this interaction, which limits our capacity to understand in-depth the process of voter registration.
Biphasic Postnatal Umbilical Cord Shortening.

IntroductionVariations in postnatal length of refrigerated, unfixed umbilical cords were studied over time to elucidate natural changes and times of stability.MethodsLength was measured in 132 cord...
Survival and outcomes of modular endoprosthetic reconstruction of the proximal femur for primary and non-primary bone tumors: Single institutional results.

Abstract Purpose This study assessed implant survival and dislocation following proximal femur tumor endoprosthetic replacement. Methods Thirty-eight procedures were performed between 2005 and 2019. The cumulative incidence of implant revision was calculated with death as a competing risk. Results The majority of endoprostheses were bipolar hemiarthroplasty (n = 33, 86.8%). The cumulative incidence of revision was 14.6% (95% CI, 3.2%–34.1%) at five years. Dislocation occurred in 7.9% (n = 3) of hips at a mean (SD) 44 ± 35.2 days. Conclusions Proximal femur tumor endoprosthetic replacement is a durable option that tends to outlive patients. Strict postoperative bracing may lower dislocation rates. Level of evidence III. Retrospective Study.
Stomata-mediated interactions between plants, herbivores, and the environment.

Stomata play a central role in plant responses to abiotic and biotic stresses. Existing knowledge regarding the roles of stomata in plant stress is centered on abiotic stresses and plant–pathogen interactions, but how stomata influence plant–herbivore interactions remains largely unclear. Here, we summarize the functions of stomata in plant–insect interactions and highlight recent discoveries of how herbivores manipulate plant stomata. Because stomata are linked to interrelated physiological processes in plants, herbivory-induced changes in stomatal dynamics might have cellular, organismic, and/or even community-level impacts. We summarize our current understanding of how stomata mediate plant responses to herbivory and environmental stimuli, propose how herbivores may influence these responses, and identify key knowledge gaps in plant–herbivore interactions.
EVIDENCE Securing Attendance of Witnesses and Production and Preservation of Evidence: Allow Depositions of Physicians to Preserve Testimony in Criminal Child Abuse and Molestation Proceedings

The Act expands the scope of the partiesr right to take depositions of witnesses in criminal matters when a defendant has been charged with an offense of child molestation, aggravated child molestation, or physical or sexual abuse of a child. The Act permits counsel for the defendant or the prosecuting attorney to preserve by deposition the testimony of any physician whose testimony is relevant to the crime charged. Upon motion by either party, the court having jurisdiction to try the charged offense may order the taking of a deposition.
Disaggregative Invariance of Daily Precipitation

Abstract Disaggregative invariance refers to stochastic independence between the total precipitation amount and its temporal disaggregation. This property is investigated herein for areal average and point precipitation amounts accumulated over a 24-h period and disaggregated into four 6-h subperiods. Statistical analyses of precipitation records from 1948 to 1993 offer convincing empirical evidence against the disaggregative invariance and in favor of the conditional disaggregative invariance, which arises when the total amount and its temporal disaggregation are conditioned on the timing of precipitation within the diurnal cycle. The property of conditional disaggregative invariance allows the modeler or the forecaster to decompose the problem of quantitative precipitation forecasting into three tasks: (i) forecasting the precipitation timing; (ii) forecasting the total amount, conditional on timing; and (iii) forecasting the temporal disaggregation, conditional on timing. Tasks (ii) and (iii) can be pe...
MLLR transforms as features in speaker recognition.

We explore the use of adaptation transforms employed in speech recognition systems as features for speaker recognition. This approach is attractive because, unlike standard framebased cepstral speaker recognition models, it normalizes for the choice of spoken words in text-independent speaker verification. Affine transforms are computed for the Gaussian means of the acoustic models used in a recognizer, using maximum likelihood linear regression (MLLR). The high-dimensional vectors formed by the transform coefficients are then modeled as speaker features using support vector machines (SVMs). The resulting speaker verification system is competitive, and in some cases significantly more accurate, than state-of-the-art cepstral gaussian mixture and SVM systems. Further improvements are obtained by combining baseline and MLLR-based systems.
Genomic Priorities in Aging

Many theories of aging have been proposed, but one of the most enduring is that expounding accumulated damage to the DNA as the root cause. In their Perspective, [Hasty and Vijg][1] comment on recent findings ([ de Boer et al .][2]) in a mouse model of a human disease that point to imperfect repair of DNA damage over a lifetime as an important contributor to the cellular deterioration associated with aging. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/296/5571/1250 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/296/5571/1276
The use of mesoscale numerical models to assess wind distribution and boundary-layer structure in complex terrain

Mesoscale models which can be used to assess wind and turbulent structure in complex terrain are overviewed. The different types of models — diagnostic and prognostic are discussed and the significant physical processes which each can handle realistically are reviewed. Examples of specific applications of these models are presented.
Dark after Chernobyl?: Closing former Soviet power reactors

International pressure to close some of the old nuclear reactors built by the former Soviet Union (FSU) has accelerated in the period since that country's dissolution. This pressure has been countered, however, by the argument that resulting electricity shortfalls would hasten ongoing social and economic dislocations. Under feasible economic scenarios, this paper identifies which regions would likely experience electricity supply shortfalls, outlines what adjustments in electricity transfers between regions could offset the shortfalls, and estimates the implied costs and schedules of related power plant and transmission construction projects. Costs of closure range from less than US$1 billion to as much as US$16 billion.
Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Older Adults: The Cardiovascular Health Study

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate several aspects of the relationship between alcohol use and coronary heart disease in older adults, including beverage type, mediating factors, and type of outcome. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Four U.S. communities. PARTICIPANTS: Four thousand four hundred ten adults aged 65 and older free of cardiovascular disease at baseline. MEASUREMENTS: Risk of incident myocardial infarction or coronary death according to self-reported consumption of beer, wine, and spirits ascertained yearly. RESULTS: During an average follow-up period of 9.2 years, 675 cases of incident myocardial infarction or coronary death occurred. Compared with long-term abstainers, multivariate relative risks of 0.90 (95% confidence interval (CI)=0.71–1.14), 0.93 (95% CI=0.73–1.20), 0.76 (95% CI=0.53–1.10), and 0.58 (95% CI=0.39–0.86) were found in consumers of less than one, one to six, seven to 13, and 14 or more drinks per week, respectively (P for trend=.007). Associations were similar for secondary coronary outcomes, including nonfatal and fatal events. No strong mediators of the association were identified, although fibrinogen appeared to account for 9% to 10% of the relationship. The associations were statistically similar for intake of wine, beer, and liquor and generally similar in subgroups, including those with and without an apolipoprotein E4 allele. CONCLUSION: In this population, consumption of 14 or more drinks per week was associated with the lowest risk of coronary heart disease, although clinicians should not recommend moderate drinking to prevent coronary heart disease based on this evidence alone, because current National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism guidelines suggest that older adults limit alcohol intake to one drink per day.
Forecasting Air Traffic

Two methods of forecasting passenger traffic between selected city-pairs in the United States air transport network are presented. Background and underlying assumptions are evaluated for each model. One method is a gravity model of spatial interactions involving total projected traffic at each city and air distances between them. The other model uses projections from a linear regression model fitted to an observed historical series of traffic on each route as a proportion of total national traffic. A specific set of forecasts was made, using both models. The results are compared by means of several different statistical measures. The linear regression model is judged to be the more accurate for prediction purposes.
Lower bound for the multifield bounce action

We present a lower bound for the multifield bounce action with a quartic potential with bounded coefficients in the absence of gravity. We find that for a large number of fields the lower bound decreases with the number of fields as ${N}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$. This work clarifies previous statements made in numerical studies which found that the bounce action scales as ${N}^{\ensuremath{-}2.66}$ and discusses some subtleties of studying field space trajectories.
Distributional Limit Theorems for Partial Sums

In this chapter we study convergence in distribution in settings involving sequences (S n : n = 1, 2,...), where for each n, S n = X 1+... + X n is the n th partial sum of a series of independent random variables. Our first result is that convergence in distribution of (S n ) is equivalent to a.s. convergence. Thereafter, we specialize to the case in which (X 1, X 2,...) is an iid sequence. Further limit theorems involving more general sums of independent random variables will be found in Chapter 16.
A Prospective Look at Property Rights and Environmental Regulation

This Article considers the future interaction of environmental regulation and private property rights, with an emphasis on climate change issues. It concludes that environmental issues not satisfactorily resolved at the federal level will lead to more state and local regulation that impinges on traditional understandings of property. Given the uncertainty associated with detrimental environmental outcomes, and the trend towards more proactive sub-national land use controls, more micromanagement of property will result. Since many environmental issues, notably climate change, are trans-national or worldwide in effect, suboptimal results might be expected. Furthermore, increased sub-national efforts to regulate the environment will clash with private property rights. Inevitably, some ostensible environmental regulations will seek to further other public and private agendas.Part I examines the difficulty in defining “environment” and “property rights,” especially in the context of future generations. Part II focuses on the importance of private property in future environmental regulation, and examines the lack of standards protecting individuals from regulatory takings, and negative impacts for consumers. Part III considers the problematic implementation of “smart growth” regulations, the use of development exactions, and the potential for rent seeking and abuse in the redevelopment context.
COMBINED P16 AND HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS TESTING PREDICTS HEAD AND NECK CANCER SURVIVAL

While its prognostic significance remains unclear, p16(INK4a) protein expression is increasingly being used as a surrogate marker for oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). To evaluate the prognostic utility of p16 expression in HNSCC, we prospectively collected 163 primary tumor specimens from histologically confirmed HNSCC patients who were followed for up to 9.4 years. Formalin fixed tumor specimens were tested for p16 protein expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC). HPV type-16 DNA and RNA was detected by MY09/11-PCR and E6/E7 RT-PCR on matched frozen tissue, respectively. P16 protein expression was detected more often in oropharyngeal tumors (53%) as compared with laryngeal (24%), hypopharyngeal (8%) or oral cavity tumors (4%; p<0.0001). With respect to prognosis, p16-positive oropharyngeal tumors exhibited significantly better overall survival than p16-negative tumors (log-rank test p=0.04), whereas no survival benefit was observed for nonoropharyngeal tumors. However, when both p16 and HPV DNA test results were considered, concordantly positive nonoropharyngeal tumors had significantly better disease-specific survival than concordantly negative nonoropharyngeal tumors after controlling for sex, nodal stage, tumor size, tumor subsite, primary tumor site number, smoking and drinking [adjusted hazard ratio (HR)=0.04, 0.01-0.54]. Compared with concordantly negative nonoropharyngeal HNSCC, p16(+)/HPV16(-) nonoropharyngeal HNSCC (n=13, 7%) demonstrated no significant improvement in disease-specific survival when HPV16 was detected by RNA (adjusted HR=0.83, 0.22-3.17). Our findings show that p16 IHC alone has potential as a prognostic test for oropharyngeal cancer survival, but combined p16/HPV testing is necessary to identify HPV-associated nonoropharyngeal HNSCC with better prognosis.
Improved versus worsened endocrine function after transsphenoidal surgery for nonfunctional pituitary adenomas: rate, time course, and radiological analysis

OBJECT The impact of transsphenoidal surgery for nonfunctional pituitary adenomas (NFAs) on preoperative hypopituitarism relative to the incidence of new postoperative endocrine deficits remains unclear. The authors investigated rates of hypopituitarism resolution and development after transsphenoidal surgery. METHODS Over a 5-year period, 305 transsphenoidal surgeries for NFAs performed at The California Center for Pituitary Disorders were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS Patients with preoperative endocrine deficits (n = 153, 50%) were significantly older (mean age 60 vs 54 years; p = 0.004), more frequently male (65% vs 44%; p = 0.0005), and had larger adenomas (2.4 cm vs 2.1 cm; p = 0.02) than patients without preoperative deficits (n = 152, 50%). Of patients with preoperative endocrine deficits, 53% exhibited symptoms. Preoperative deficit rates were 26% for the thyroid axis; 20% and 16% for the male and female reproductive axes, respectively; 13% for the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)/cortisol ...
Phenoxy radical intermediate in the enzymatic degradation of lignin model compounds

1. 1. Oxidation of monomeric and dimersic syringly derivatives with horseradish peroxidase and H2O2 yielded long-lived phenoxy radicals. These have been fully characterized by electron spin resonance spectrometry. The oxidation reaction proceeded by a sequence of discrete steps, each involving a paramagnetic intermediate. The final step resulted in the clevage of the side chain from the aromatic nucleus to yeild 2,6-dimethoxybenzoquinone. Enzymatic attack was most rapid with alkyl syringly ketones, less rapid with syringly alcohols and slow with syringly alkanes or α-alkoxy ethers. This parallel the concentration of the radical species produced for each compound. A biological clock mechanism appeared to mediate these reactions. 2. 2. The depolymerization of lignin by wood-rotting fungi may result from a series of one-electron steps catalyzed by phenol oxidases.
Ion chamber response to particulate matter

Abstract A model is formulated for the transport of charge generated by alpha particles in a plane parallel ionization chamber containing particulate matter. The distinguishing features of this model are 1) a generation rate which varies in accordance with the observed saturation current 2) a loss term given by Nβ√np where β is proportional to the diameter squared and N is the particulate concentration and 3) a net steady state space charge density on the particles K(p-n)Nq. The magnitude of β is determined from a simple model independent of this work and is not adjusted. The constant K is adjusted to fit the experimental data and turns out to have resonable values but to increase rapidly with diameter. The model gives a good quantitative explanation of the effect of particulates on the current-voltage relationships. The general results contribute to understanding the response of ionization-type smoke detectors to different particulate sizes.
Fine structure in the lines of the 2ν3 band of methane

Abstract The wavelengths of the lines of the 2 ν 3 band of methane have been remeasured under higher resolution than was formerly possible. Lines which were not resolvable by means of the grating alone but which were obviously complex were examined with a Fabry Perot etalon. The resolving power of the etalon was 400,000. By means of the line contours obtained with the interferometer it was possible to analyse many of the complex lines into their probable fine structures.
Effect of indium on the conductivity of poly-crystalline GaN grown on high purity fused silica

A significant resistivity reduction was observed for GaN:Si films grown on high purity fused silica by metal organic vapour deposition when an InGaN:Si sacrificial layer was inserted beneath or within the GaN:Si layers. Thereby at least part of the GaN:Si layer on top of the sacrificial layer was grown at high temperature. Using this technique, a film resistance of 0.8 Ω cm was obtained, compared to a resistance of 60 Ω cm measured for the same layer stack without InGaN sacrificial layer.
Correctional Officers and Domestic Violence: Experiences and Attitudes

This article presents the first statewide data regarding correctional officers’ attitudes about and personal experiences with domestic violence. Online surveys were administered to Florida correctional officers asking a series of questions, including their beliefs and attitudes about the prevalence of domestic violence among colleagues, and their childhood and adult experiences with domestic violence. Results from 710 officers revealed that 33 % of respondents knew about correctional officers who had committed unreported domestic violence; 30 % reported that they had directly experienced domestic violence as children; and over 11 % reported that they had been physically violent with an intimate partner. Multivariate statistics showed that age, race, and childhood experiences with domestic violence were significantly related to correctional officers reporting being physically abusive to an intimate partner or family member. These and other findings highlight the need for increased agency prevention efforts and research on the phenomenon of correctional officer-involved domestic violence.
Determinants of maturation in animals.

Maturation is a critical transition in the life cycle. Recent models have used retrospective analyses of patterns of variation in age and size at maturity in an attempt to understand the mechanisms responsible for generating phenotypic variation in maturation. Empirical work has revealed greater complexity in the biology of maturation than has been incorporated in current models, and has cast doubt on some of the assumptions and conclusions of the models. Recent insights from experimental work, coupled with theoretical advances for the analysis of growth, size and other complex characters, have great potential to elucidate evolution of maturation and how adaptive maturation phenotypes are achieved by real organisms.
The Relationship of Violence and Traumatic Stress to Changes in Weight and Waist Circumference: Longitudinal Analyses From the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation

This article investigates the associations of violence and traumatic stress with changes in weight and waist circumference, hypothesizing that violence in midlife would be associated with increases or decreases in weight and waist circumference. The longitudinal cohort of the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation comprised the study sample, which included an ethnically/racially and socially diverse group of 2,870 women between the ages of 42 and 52 years at baseline. Women were followed annually for 10 years, and assessments included weight and waist circumference measures and data on violence, health outcomes, and confounders. At baseline, 8.6% Caucasian, 10.8% African American, 9.2% Chinese, and 5.0% Japanese women reported violence and traumatic stress. Reporting violence and traumatic stress during follow-up was significantly associated with weight gain (odds ratio [OR] = 2.39, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.28-4.47]), weight loss (OR = 3.54, 95% CI = [1.73-7.22]), and gain (OR = 2.44, 95% CI = [1.37-4.37]) or loss (OR = 2.66, 95% CI = [1.23-5.77]) in waist circumference, adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, education, marital status, and smoking. Violence and traumatic stress against midlife women were associated with gains or losses in weight and waist circumference.
3D shape discrimination using relative disparity derivatives

Three-dimensional (3D) shape discrimination could be achieved using relative disparity signals or it could be achieved using a higher-order disparity derivative detector. Two 3D shape discrimination tasks were used to distinguish between these possibilities: a within-shape task and a between-shape task. Disparity thresholds were larger when discriminating within the same shape than when discriminating between shapes. More importantly, within-shape discriminations were dependent on the pedestal disparity (distance from fixation) whereas between-shape discriminations were not. The results suggest that a mechanism sensitive to higher-order disparity derivatives can achieve discrimination between different 3D shapes.
Design considerations for parallel pseudorandom pattern generators

The design of a Parallel (pseudo)Random Pattern Generator (PRPG) based on a Linear Feedback Shift Register (LFSR) involves the selection of the number of stages (degree of the characteristic polynomial), selection of the feedback taps (the characteristic polynomial), and selection of a phaseshift network to remove the effects of correlations that exist between the bit streams from adjacent stages of the LFSR. The design considerations for decimated sequences are discussed, as is linear dependency density. A new phaseshift network is presented which uses only one 2-way EXCLUSIVE-OR per output. Appendixes contain a listing of the prime factors of the sequence length, an exhaustive list of primitive trinomials to degree 100, and a selected list of primitive polynomials that can be used to realize LFSRs with only two 2-way EXCLUSIVE-ORs.
Investigation of the effects of alkane phosphonic acid/RGD coatings on cell spreading and the interfacial strength between human osteosarcoma cells and Ti–6Al–4V

Abstract This paper presents the results of an experimental study of the effects of alkyl phosphonic acid/RGD complexes on cell spreading and the interfacial strength between human osteosarcoma (HOS) cells and Ti–6Al–4V surfaces. The initial stage of cell spreading is shown to be accelerated by the coatings in 9-day cell culture experiments. The adhesion between human osteosarcoma (HOS) cells and alkyl phosphonic acid/RGD-coated surfaces is also quantified by performing shear assay experiments on coated and uncoated Ti–6Al–4V specimens. These show that the interfacial shear strengths required to detach the HOS cells from the coated/uncoated specimens, increase from approx. 407 Pa (in the case of the uncoated samples) to 80 Pa in the case of the of alkyl phosphonic acid/RGD coated samples. The increase is attributed to the tethering effect of the of alkyl phosphonic acid/RGD complexes on the HOS cells. The implications of the results are then discussed for improving the wound healing and the osseointegration of biomedical implants fabricated from Ti–6Al–4V.
Performance of two empirical techniques for optimized design of wideband, U-Slot antennas using commercial CAD tools

This paper investigates the abilities of two different empirical techniques to generate initial U-slot antenna designs, which can be rapidly optimized for wideband impedance characteristics, using commercially available simulator IE3D. Results of optimization of probe location, slot with (t) via the built-in optimizers (Genetic and Powell) on IE3D, clearly identify the empirical method, which generates U-slot antenna geometries more suitable for rapid CAD based optimization.
Developmental Origins of β-Cell Failure in Type 2 Diabetes: The Role of Epigenetic Mechanisms

Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) has been linked to later development of type 2 diabetes in adulthood. An abnormal metabolic intrauterine milieu affects the development of the fetus by permanently modifying gene expression of susceptible cells. Altered gene expression persists after birth, suggesting that an epigenetic mechanism may be responsible for changes in transcription. Uteroplacental insufficiency (IUGR) is associated with hypomethylation and hyperacetylation of genomic DNA in brain and liver of IUGR fetal and juvenile rats. These findings are associated with zinc deficiency that often accompanies fetal growth retardation. Studies in the IUGR rat also demonstrate that an abnormal intrauterine environment induces epigenetic modifications of key genes regulating beta-cell development and experiments directly link chromatin remodeling to suppression of transcription. Dietary protein restriction of pregnant rats causes fetal growth retardation and is associated with hypomethylation of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and PPARgamma genes in liver of the offspring. It is postulated that these epigenetic changes result in the observed increase in gene expression of GR and PPARgamma. Future research will be directed at elucidating the mechanisms underlying epigenetic modifications in offspring.
Induction and patterning of the metanephric nephron

The functional unit of the mammalian metanephric kidney is the nephron: a complex tubular structure dedicated to blood filtration and maintenance of several important physiological functions. Nephrons are assembled from a nephron-restricted pool of mesenchymal progenitors over an extensive developmental period that is completed prior to (human), or shortly after (mouse), birth. An appropriate balance in the expansion and commitment of nephron progenitors to nephron formation is essential for normal kidney function. Too few nephrons increase risk of kidney disease later in life while the failure of normal progenitor differentiation in Wilm's tumor patients leads to massive growth of a nephroblast population often necessitating surgical removal of the kidney. An inductive process within the metanephric mesenchyme leads to the formation of a pretubular aggregate which transitions into an epithelial renal vesicle: the precursor for nephron assembly. Growth, morphogenesis and patterning transform this simple cyst-like structure into a highly elongated mature nephron with distinct cell types positioned along a proximal (glomerular) to distal (connecting segment) axis of functional organization. This review discusses our current understanding of the specification, maintenance and commitment of nephron progenitors, and the regulatory processes that transform the renal vesicle into a nephron.
Functional development of the mammary gland: use of expression profiling and trajectory clustering to reveal changes in gene expression during pregnancy, lactation, and involution.

To characterize the molecular mechanisms by which progesterone withdrawal initiates milk secretion, we examined global gene expression during pregnancy and lactation in mice, focusing on the period around parturition. Trajectory clustering was used to profile the expression of 1358 genes that changed significantly between pregnancy day 12 and lactation day 9. Predominantly downward trajectories included stromal and proteasomal genes and genes for the enzymes of fatty acid degradation. Milk protein gene expression increased throughout pregnancy, whereas the expression of genes for lipid synthesis increased sharply at the onset of lactation. Examination of regulatory genes with profiles similar or complementary to those of lipid synthesis genes led to a model in which progesterone stimulates synthesis of TGF-β, Wnt 5b, and IGFBP-5 during pregnancy. These factors are suggested to repress secretion by interfering with PRL and IGF-1 signaling. With progesterone withdrawal, PRL and IGF-1 signaling are activated, in turn activating Akt/PKB and the SREBPs, leading to increased lipid synthesis.
Genome rearrangement and nitrogen fixation in Anabaena blocked by inactivation of xisA gene

Two genome rearrangements involving 11- and 55-kilobase DNA elements occur during the terminal differentiation of an Anabaena photosynthetic vegetative cell into a nitrogen-fixing heterocyst. The xisA gene, located on the nifD 11-kilobase DNA element, was inactivated by recombination between the chromosome and a copy of the xisA gene that was mutated by inserting an antibiotic gene cassette. Site-directed inactivation of the Anabaena xisA gene blocked rearrangement of the 11-kilobase element and nitrogen fixation, but did not affect rearrangement of the 55-kilobase element, heterocyst differentiation, or heterocyst pattern formation.
Small-scale magnetic flux ropes in the solar wind

Small-scale magnetic flux ropes have been discovered in the solar wind at 1 AU in observations from the IMP 8 and WIND spacecraft. These small magnetic structures (diameter of 270 RE, on average) have some similar properties to magnetic clouds (diameters of 0.2–0.3 AU or about 6000–8000 RE), which are well known large-scale magnetic flux ropes, but have durations of 10s of minutes as opposed to many hours or days for most magnetic clouds. The presence of these small helical field structures suggests that solar wind flux ropes may have a wide-range of scale sizes, or possibly have a bimodal size distribution, and are perhaps more common than previously estimated. Similarities and differences with magnetic clouds will be discussed. We suggest that these small scale magnetic flux ropes are signatures of magnetic reconnection in the solar wind as opposed to in the solar corona.
The Drosophila Nitric-oxide Synthase Gene (dNOS) Encodes a Family of Proteins That Can Modulate NOS Activity by Acting as Dominant Negative Regulators

Nitric oxide (NO) is involved in organ development, synaptogenesis, and response to hypoxia in Drosophila. We cloned and analyzed the only gene in the fly genome that encodes Drosophila nitric-oxide synthase (dNOS). It consists of 19 exons and is dispersed over 34 kilobases of genomic DNA. Alternative transcription start sites and alternative splice sites are used to generate a remarkable variety of mRNAs from the dNOS gene. We identified eight new transcripts that are widely expressed throughout Drosophila development and encode a family of DNOS-related proteins. Alternative splicing affects both the 5'-untranslated region and the coding region of the dNOS primary transcript. Most of the splicing alterations in the coding region of the gene lead to premature termination of the open reading frame. As a result, none of the alternative transcripts encode an enzymatically active protein. However, some of these shorter DNOS protein products can effectively inhibit enzymatic activity of the full-length DNOS1 protein when co-expressed in mammalian cells, thus acting as dominant negative regulators of NO synthesis. Using immunoprecipitation, we demonstrate that these short DNOS protein isoforms can form heterodimers with DNOS1, pointing to a physical basis for the dominant negative effect. Our results suggest a novel regulatory function for the family of proteins encoded by the Drosophila NOS gene.
Production and Performance of Wool Blend Fabrics Composed of Yarns Spun on the Cotton System

Two grades (62's and 80's) of 50.8 mm (maximum fiber length, 2 inches) cut-top wool were intimately mixed with cotton and with polyester fibers at varying blend levels. Subsequently, 13 yarns (36.9 tex, 16/1 Nc) were ring-spun using the short- staple system of mechanical processing and standard crepe fabrics were manufactured from each. Some production problems are highlighted together with their solutions. Simple finishing routines and resulting fabric properties are described.
SOME IMPLICATIONS OF NIC BIDS ON SERIAL BOND ISSUES

Most state and local governments issue their debt in the form of serial bonds. These bonds are awarded on a competitive basis to the underwriter submitting the lowest “net interst cost”-a specific measure of interest expense. This paper contains a description of a “pseudo-dual” to the programming problem, used by underwriters, to prepare such bids. As such, the problem lends itself easily to a diagrammatic description. A further objective of this paper is to survey many constraints typically imposed on the NIC (net interest cost) problem by issuers. It is pointed out that these constraints usually increase the “net interest cost” so that the use of these constraints is an admission that “net interest cost” by itself is not regarded as the sole criterion of a good bid.
Observability-aware Directed Test Generation for Soft Errors and Crosstalk Faults

Post-silicon validation has emerged as an important component of any chip design methodology to detect both functional and electrical errors that have escaped the pre-silicon validation phase. In order to detect these escaped errors, both controllability and observability factors should be considered. Soft errors and crosstalk faults are two important electrical faults that can adversely affect the correct functionality of the chip. A major bottleneck with the existing approaches is that they do not consider the inter-dependence of the selected trace signals and test generation. In this paper, we explore the synergy between trace signal selection and observability-aware test generation to enable efficient detection of electrical errors including soft errors and crosstalk faults. Our experimental results demonstrate that our approach can significantly improve error detection performance - on an average 58% for crosstalk faults and 48% for soft errors compared to existing techniques.
Minimal Effects of VEGF and Anti-VEGF Drugs on the Permeability or Selectivity of RPE Tight Junctions

PURPOSE. Bevacizumab and ranibizumab are currently used to treat age-related macular degeneration by neutralizing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In this study, the potential side effects on the outer blood–retinal barrier were examined. METHODS. Human fetal RPE (hfRPE) cells were used because they are highly differentiated in culture. The claudin composition of RPE tight junctions was determined by RT-PCR, immunoblot analysis, and immunofluorescence. ELISA assays monitored the secretion and trafficking of VEGF and a fluid-phase marker, methylpolyethylene glycol (mPEG). Tight junction functions were assessed by the conductance of K and Na (derived from the transepithelial electrical resistance, TER) and the flux of NaCl and mPEG. RESULTS. Claudin-3, claudin-10, and claudin-19 were detected in RPE tight junctions. VEGF was secreted in equal amounts across the apical and basolateral membranes, but the apical membrane was more active in endocytosing and degrading VEGF. Exogenous VEGF and mPEG crossed the RPE monolayer by transcytosis, predominantly in the apical-to-basal direction. RPE tight junctions were selective for K, but did not discriminate between Na and Cl. VEGF, bevacizumab, and ranibizumab had minimal effects on TER, permeation of mPEG, and selectivity for K ,N a, and Cl. They had minimal effects on the expression and distribution of the claudins. CONCLUSIONS. RPE has mechanisms for maintaining low concentrations of VEGF in the subretinal space that include endocytosis and degradation and fluid-phase transcytosis in the apicalto-basal direction. RPE tight junctions are selective for K over Na and Cl. Permeability and selectivity of the junctions are not affected by VEGF, bevacizumab, or ranibizumab. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2010;51:3216 –3225) DOI:10.1167/ iovs.09-4162
Evaluation and management of hyponatremia: an emerging role for vasopressin receptor antagonists

Vasopressin-2 receptor antagonists, collectively known as the 'vaptans', provide a new approach to the treatment of hyponatremia; therefore, an updated Review of the pathophysiology of hyponatremia is particularly timely. After briefly defining hyponatremia and introducing its clinical aspects and complications, we present an approach to the diagnosis and evaluation of hyponatremia that is based primarily on the often-underused concept of free water clearance and, more specifically, the electrolyte-free water clearance. Then we review the use of vasopressin receptor antagonists in the management of hyponatremia from the standpoint of their pharmacology, their mechanism of action, and available efficacy data from clinical trials.
Simulation of action potentials in a one-dimensional bidomain

An approximate method of calculating action potentials in a nerve fiber within a coaxial sheath is presented. The method is of the implicit type, but it avoids any large matrix inversion and is adapted to run conveniently on a small PC/AT. It produces traces of the extracellular voltage V/sub out/, which is not calculated by other methods, as well as the intracellular potentials V/sub in/. For homogeneous fibers with small sheath resistance, V/sub out/ is proportional to d/sup 2/V/sub in//dz/sup 2/, as expected. In more complex cases, V/sub out/ remains small, but its shape is hard to predict. One such example is presented in which an extracellular voltage trace of novel shape is calculated. >
On modeling chemisorption processes with metal cluster systems. II, Model atomic potentials and site specificity of N atom chemisorption on Pd(111)

Abstract We present a convenient method of treating bulk metal atoms that are distant from the chemisorption site in ab initio MO calculations and present example calculations for S and N chemisorption on Pd(111). We present additional RECP Hartree-Fock+PT2 calculations on the NPd(111) system in an effort to provide a more realiable estimate of the perpendicular stretching force constant than our previous value. Our best estimate for the nitrogen perpendicular stretching force constant is 2.638 mdyn/A. Our Pd(111)S results indicate that the use of model atomic potentials can be an economical way of accounting for the effect of metal atoms not directly involved in the chemisorption site.
Vision methods for inspection of greenhouse poinsettia plants

Various vision methods for inspecting the growth and quality of poinsettia plants are discussed in this paper . The visible and near-infrared vision approaches are based on previous spectral reflectance measurements . Low (0 ppm) nitrogen plants grown in a greenhouse showed an increase in red (0. 7 - 0. 75 rim) and a decrease in near-infrared ( 0 . 8 - 1 . 1 im) reflectance over high ( 256 ppm) nitrogen levels . Growth chamber plants showed similar reflectance in the red but different NIR reflectance than with greenhouse plants . NIR reflectance was affected by vegetative density and not by leaf nitrogen content. Thermal imaging techniques (12 - 14 im) improve canopy temperature measurements . The usefulness of image methods depends on reflectivity analog-digital sensitivity and background lighting quality. An electronic plant doctor based on a database of images would be a useful tool for the grower to perform visual diagnostics. 1.