cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of multispectral magnetic resonance imaging analysis to quantify erosive changes in the hands of patients with rheumatoid arthritis: short-term and long-term longitudinal studies.

Objective Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been shown to be more sensitive than radiography for detecting bone erosions in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Semiquantitative scoring based on visual image assessment has been introduced. However, there is considerable interest in true quantitative measures, particularly in the context of clinical trials designed to show differences between treatment groups. This study was undertaken to investigate the use of a new quantitative approach, multispectral (MS) image analysis, for assessing erosive change. Methods T1-weighted spin-echo (SE) and fat-suppressed gradient-echo (GE) sequences of metacarpophalangeal joints of the dominant hand were acquired at various time points throughout a 2-year period. MS analysis was applied to all images, resulting in segmentation into a generalized bone and a soft tissue class. Voxel changes from one to the other class identified apparent bone lesion volume change (ΔBLV). MR images were also visually scored for erosions (E score). All analyses were performed separately, on a per-joint basis, for short-term and long-term data sets. Results Analysis of variance with adjustment for individual effect revealed similar results in the short-term and the long-term studies, using either GE or SE images for visual assessment. Patients with an increase in E score on visual assessment had a significantly higher ΔBLV than those without. Conclusion Temporal MS analysis of MRIs can be used to detect and quantify erosive changes in RA. This semiautomated method may be useful for demonstrating differences between treatment groups in clinical trials.
On the Theory of Ionization Yield of Radiations in Different Substances

The energy absorbed by a substance exposed to an ionizing radiation is used partly in ionization, partly in optical excitation. Arguments based on atomic mechanics are presented, to show that, the greater the ionization potential, the greater is the share of the absorbed energy which is actually spent in ionization. This explains why the ionization potential of a substance has little influence upon the amount of energy that must be absorbed by that substance per each pair of ions actually produced.
Loop-tryptophan human purine nucleoside phosphorylase reveals submillisecond protein dynamics.

Human PNP is a homotrimer containing three tryptophan residues at positions 16, 94, and 178, all remote from the catalytic site. The catalytic sites of PNP are located near the subunit−subunit interfaces where F159 is a catalytic site residue donated from an adjacent subunit. F159 covers the top (β) surface of the ribosyl group at the catalytic site. QM/MM calculations of human PNP have shown that F159 is the center of the most mobile region of the protein providing access to the substrate in the active site. F159 is also the key residue in a cluster of hydrophobic residues that shield catalytic site ligands from bulk solvent. Trp-free human PNP (Leuko-PNP) was previously engineered by replacing the three Trp residues of native PNP with Tyr. From this active construct, a single Trp residue was placed in the catalytic site loop (F159W-Leuko-PNP) as a reporter group for the ribosyl region of the catalytic site. The F159W-Leuko-PNP fluorescence is red shifted compared to native PNP, suggesting a solvent-expo...
Initial growth of CaF2 and BaF2CaF2 on Si(110) during molecular beam epitaxy

Reflection high-energy electron diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy were used to study the initial growth of CaF2 on Si(110) and BaF2 on CaF2Si(110) by molecular beam epitaxy. Growth of CaF2Si(110) initially proceeds two-dimensionally with a (1 × 3) surface reconstruction. The observation of core-level and Auger energy shifts for Ca and F peaks at low coverage suggests the presence of both CaSi and FSi bonds at the CaF2Si(110) interface. For higher coverages, [110]-oriented ridges form and growth proceeds via the stacking of (111) and (111) planes on the sidewalls of the ridges. This ridged and grooved surface morphology is believed to result from the favorable energetics of exposing low-energy {111} facets and the formation of twinned crystallographic domains. Subsequent deposition of BaF2 on CaF2Si(110) begins with incommensurate growth and nucleation on top of the CaF2 ridges. Growth then continues on the sidewalls, resulting in recovery of the ridged and grooved morphology at higher coverages. Intermixing between the fluorides is believed to be negligible near the BaF2CaF2(110) interface.
Neurochemical and genetic bases of psychopathology: Future directions

It is widely recognized that biological psychiatry must deal with the problem of resolving heterogeneous syndromes into homogeneous subtypes. In order to gain insight into this process, we studied the history of research on cerebellar ataxia, a group of neurological disorders which originally presented a problem of heterogeneity very similar to that found in psychiatry. In the ataxias, effective classification required neuropathological examination in addition to observation of symptoms, clinical course, and pattern of inheritance. Nevertheless, in the ataxias, neuropathological work still left overlap and uncertainty. Modern biochemical and genetic progress on the ataxias would have been much more difficult, however, had this preliminary neuropathological classification not been worked out. Analogies are drawn to contemporary research in psychiatry.
Airway cell changes in tracheal lavage of sheep after ozone exposure.

We were interested in whether ozone (O3) could stimulate the migration of mast cells into the tracheal lumen. To test this we determined the effect of an acute O3 exposure on the types and relative numbers of cells recovered by tracheal lavage. Seven conscious sheep were intubated with an elongated nasotracheal tube. The trachea between the larynx and the cuff of the tracheal tube (15–20 cm) was lavaged repeatedly with 10–15‐ml aliquots (total 350 ml) of 0.9% buffered (pH 7.4 saline, which contained the mast cell‐stabilizer disodium cromoglycate (10 μg/ml). One hour after a baseline lavage, the sheep were exposed on separate occasions to either air (control) or 0.5 ppm O3 for 2 h. Lavages were repeated 24 h later. Cells were recovered from the lavage effluent by centrifugation across a saline/Ficoll Paque gradient. From part of this material we estimated total cells and total viable cells (with Trypan blue). The rest of the material was recentrifuged at 400 × g for 5 min, and cytological slides were made ...
Fiscal Decentralization and Provincial‐Level Fiscal Disparities in China: A Sino‐U.S. Comparative Perspective

Since China’s 1994 fiscal reform, increasing concerns have been voiced about fiscal disparities across the country. Can local governments fairly and effectively fulfill basic public services such as primary education, public health, and social welfare? This essay traces the evolution of intergovernmental relations in China since 1978. The fluctuation of provincial level fiscal distribution over time and the underlying factors behind fiscal inequality, as compared to a decentralized American revenue system, are analyzed. The author, Zhirong Jerry Zhao of the University of Minnesota, argues for additional research on alternative measures of local fiscal capacity.
Efficacy of Azithromycin in Reducing Lower Genital Ureaplasma urealyticum Colonization in Women at Risk for Preterm Delivery

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if azithromycin is effective in reducing lower genital colonization of Ureaplasma urealyticum in women with preterm labor or preterm premature rupture of membranes (PROM).Methods: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled prospective study of 60 pregnancies was carried out between 22 and 34 weeks. Genital mycoplasma cultures were performed at the time of admission. Patients were randomized to receive either a single dose of azithromycin (four 250 mg capsules) or a placebo in addition to prophylactic intravenous ampicillin. Repeat cultures were done on undelivered patients 7 days after enrollment. The study had power to detect a 50% decrease in colonization.Results: Overall, lower genital colonization was 47/59 (79.7%) for U. urealyticum. Seven days after enrollment, U. urealyticum was isolated in 14/15 (93.3%) of the azithromycin-treated cases and in 11/14 (78.6%) of the controls (RR = 1.19, 95% CI = 0.88-1.61). Vertical transmission of U. ureal...
Comments on the effect of disorder on transport with intermediate degree of coherence: Calculation of the mean square displacement

We use the generalized master equation with a simple exponential memory but with disorder in its spatial dependence to analyze the combined effect of coherence and randomness on the transport of quasiparticles. We calculate the mean-square-displacement and find that it retains well-known properties in the presence of randomness.
Delayed prescription worsens reported symptoms and increases antibiotic use compared with clinical score with or without rapid antigen testing in patients with sore throat.

Commentary on: Little P, Hobbs FD, Moore M, et al. Clinical score and rapid antigen detection test to guide antibiotic use for sore throats: randomised controlled trial of PRISM (primary care streptococcal management). BMJ 2013;347:f5806. Antibiotics are often prescribed for patients with acute sore throat to reduce the severity and/or duration of symptoms and to prevent rare complications. This study examined the impact of rapid antigen tests and clinical scoring methods on the symptom control and antibiotic use. Patients ≥3 years old with acute pharyngitis were randomised to three pragmatic management strategies: ‘control group: delayed prescription’, ‘clinical score only’ and ‘clinical score + rapid antigen detection group’. Patients in the control group were advised to collect a prescription for antibiotics, but only if their symptoms failed to improve after 3–5 days of observation. Patients in the ‘clinical score only’ group were offered immediate antibiotics if they had a high score (≥4), no antibiotics if they had a low score (0 or 1) and …
Concentration regimes of solutions of levan polysaccharide from Bacillus sp

Abstract The rheological properties of aqueous solutions of levan polysaccharide from Bacillus sp. were studied at 20.0 °C over a wide range of concentrations. At low concentrations the solutions were Newtonian, becoming shear thinning at higher concentrations. The intrinsic viscosity of this levan was found to be 0.14 dL/g, which is close to that of other levans. However, whereas other polysaccharides exhibit up to three concentrations regimes (dilute, semi-dilute, and concentrated) in a double logarithmic plot of the specific viscosity versus space occupancy, this levan exhibits four distinct concentration regions, at least three of which are linear. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a solution of any kind exhibiting more than three distinct regions in this type of plot.
Examining the relationship between Cu-ATSM hypoxia selectivity and fatty acid synthase expression in human prostate cancer cell lines

Abstract Introduction Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with copper (II)-diacetyl-bis( N 4 -Methylthiosemicarbazone)(Cu-ATSM) for delineating hypoxia has provided valuable clinical information, but investigations in animal models of prostate cancer have shown some inconsistencies. As a defense mechanism in prostate cancer cells, the fatty acid synthesis pathway harnesses its oxidizing power for improving the redox balance despite conditions of extreme hypoxia, potentially altering Cu-ATSM hypoxia selectivity. Methods Human prostate tumor-cultured cell lines (PC-3, 22Rv1, LNCaP and LAPC-4), were treated with a fatty acid synthase (FAS) inhibitor (C75, 100 μM) under anoxia. The 64 Cu-ATSM uptake in these treated cells and nontreated anoxic cells was then examined. Fatty acid synthase expression level in each cell line was subsequently quantified by ELISA. An additional study was performed in PC-3 cells to examine the relationship between the restoration of 64 Cu-ATSM hypoxia selectivity and the concentration of C75 (100, 20, 4 or 0.8 μM) administered to the cells. Results Inhibition of fatty acid synthesis with C75 resulted in a significant increase in 64 Cu-ATSM retention in prostate tumor cells in vitro under anoxia over 60 min. Inhibition studies demonstrated higher uptake values of 20.9±3.27%, 103.0±32.6%, 144.2±32.3% and 200.1±79.3% at 15 min over control values for LAPC-4, PC-3, LNCaP and 22Rv1 cells, respectively. A correlation was seen ( R 2 =.911) with FAS expression plotted against percentage change in 64 Cu-ATSM uptake with C75 treatment. Conclusions Although Cu-ATSM has clinical relevance in the PET imaging of hypoxia in many tumor types, its translation to the imaging of prostate cancer may be limited by the overexpression of FAS associated with prostatic malignancies.
Analysis and Modeling of Hybrid Planar-Type Electromagnetic-Bandgap Structures and Feasibility Study on Power Distribution Network Applications

A unified 1D analysis model of hybrid planar-type electromagnetic-bandgap (EBG) structures is developed. Based on the analysis results, three types of hybrid design methods to reduce the cutoff frequency of the EBG structures are discussed, and design equations for their noise suppression bandwidths are derived. In order to simulate switching noise characteristics of the hybrid planar-type EBG structures, 2D circuit level models are developed and experimentally verified. With the developed circuit-level models and CMOS active switching devices, feasibility studies on the power distribution network design using the hybrid EBG structures are conducted. The hybrid EBG structure with series lumped chip inductors shows efficient noise suppression characteristics in both the frequency and time domains; however, it has potential limitations because of its generation of higher switching noise voltages depending on power supply connection configurations.
Changes in Pronoun Use in American Books and the Rise of Individualism, 1960-2008:

Change over time in culture can appear among individuals and in cultural products such as song lyrics, television, and books. This analysis examines changes in pronoun use in the Google Books ngram database of 766,513 American books published 1960-2008. We hypothesize that pronoun use will reflect increasing individualism and decreasing collectivism in American culture. Consistent with this hypothesis, the use of first person plural pronouns (e.g., we, us) decreased 10% first person singular pronouns (I, me) increased 42%, and second person pronouns (you, your) quadrupled. These results complement previous research finding increases in individualistic traits among Americans.
Confined Geometry Interactions of Downstream RF-Excited Atmospheric Plasma Wires

We report on the generation and propagation of plasma by-products via the electrical excitation of argon gas flowing in an insulating millimeter-sized tube at excitation frequencies of 13.56-25 MHz. An electrode on the outer surface of the tube acted to capacitively couple excitation RF energy (<1 W to tens of watts) into the plasma, resulting in a plume that extends into open air for millimeter distances that are far beyond the main plasma excitation volume (ldquoplasma wiresrdquo). By using identical tubes with flowing argon but with the external electrode grounded, we demonstrate the plasma plume propagation between multiple tubes. Contrary to prior work, the open-air plasma wires propagate opposite the gas flow direction.
Learning patterns of activity using real-time tracking

Our goal is to develop a visual monitoring system that passively observes moving objects in a site and learns patterns of activity from those observations. For extended sites, the system will require multiple cameras. Thus, key elements of the system are motion tracking, camera coordination, activity classification, and event detection. In this paper, we focus on motion tracking and show how one can use observed motion to learn patterns of activity in a site. Motion segmentation is based on an adaptive background subtraction method that models each pixel as a mixture of Gaussians and uses an online approximation to update the model. The Gaussian distributions are then evaluated to determine which are most likely to result from a background process. This yields a stable, real-time outdoor tracker that reliably deals with lighting changes, repetitive motions from clutter, and long-term scene changes. While a tracking system is unaware of the identity of any object it tracks, the identity remains the same for the entire tracking sequence. Our system leverages this information by accumulating joint co-occurrences of the representations within a sequence. These joint co-occurrence statistics are then used to create a hierarchical binary-tree classification of the representations. This method is useful for classifying sequences, as well as individual instances of activities in a site.
Photolytic production of O(3P) in the presence of CF3I: The formation of IF(X 1Σ+)☆

Abstract Subsequent to the pulsed photolytic (193 nm) production of O( 3 P) in the presence of CF 3 1, rapid consecutive reactions lead to the production of IF (X 1 Σ ⊤ ). All of our measurements are consistent with IF being produced via the reactions: O+CF 3 I → OI+CF 3 , O+CF 3 → F 2 CO+F and F+CF 3 1 → IF+CF 3 . This route can be quite efficient, and we estimate that > 10% of the O( 3 P) atoms can lead to IF molecules under suitable conditions.
An analytic model for HEMT's using new velocity-field dependence

An analytic model is developed for the output current-voltage characteristics and microwave-signal parameters of high electron mobility transistors (HEMT's). In this model, the GSW equation is used to approach the behavior of electron drift velocity versus electric field. The resulting I-V curves are in excellent agreement with experimental data. In order to predict the microwave performance of these devices, this model is then used to derive the small-signal parameters, transconductance, channel conductance, and gate capacitance.
Safety and Efficacy of CT-guided Percutaneous Cryoablation for Renal Cell Carcinoma

Purpose Image-guided percutaneous cryoablation is a treatment alternative for selected patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The objective of the present study was to present the safety and efficacy of percutaneous cryoablation. Materials and Methods The study included 51 lesions in 46 consecutive patients treated with computed tomography (CT)–guided percutaneous cryoablation. Results were based on 40 RCCs with follow-up. Patients had baseline history and physical and laboratory examinations and renal CT or magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and were followed every 3 months. Biopsy of all lesions was performed before or at the time of the procedure. Efficacy was defined as a complete lack of enhancement on follow-up contrast agent–enhanced CT or MR imaging. Lesion size was also followed and correlated with lack of enhancement. Short- and long-term complications were tabulated. Results The technical success rate was 100%, with 20% of cases requiring some form of thermal protection of an adjacent organ. During follow-up (median, 28 weeks; range, 4–81 weeks), the efficacy rate was 100% for lesions smaller than 7 cm. The incidence of significant complications was 18% (8% CTAE), mostly (10%) intercostal or genitofemoral nerve injury. All patients with complications recovered fully, and there were no mortalities. There was no change in creatinine levels, and no patient developed renal failure as a result of cryoablation. Conclusions CT-guided percutaneous cryoablation resulted in complete response for lesions as large as 4 cm. It may also be a viable alternative for nonsurgical candidates with lesions as large as 7 cm. It has a high efficacy rate, and its modest complications are not only comparable to those of other treatment modalities, but also appear to be reversible.
Postexercise Increase in Nitric Oxide in Football Players with Muscle Cramps

Nitric oxide, a free radical inter- and intracellular messenger molecule, is important in exercise physiology. This study tested the hypothesis that serum nitric oxide concentrations change after strenuous exercise with severe generalized muscle cramps. The study group consisted of 77 professional football players in preseason training. All players' concentrations of serum nitrite and of other serum chemicals were determined during their preseason evaluations and compared with the concentrations in 40 serum samples taken from 25 of those same players who required intravenous rehydration for severe generalized muscle cramps after a training session. Player weight and percentage of body fat were significantly higher in players who received intravenous fluids than in players who did not. The serum of players requiring intravenous hydration showed evidence of skeletal muscle breakdown (increases in lactate dehydrogenase, creatinine phosphokinase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase) and of dehydration (elevations in protein, blood urea nitrogen, and cholesterol). The major finding, however, was a nearly 300% increase in serum nitrite concentrations in players requiring rehydration. There were no correlations between concentrations of nitrate and of any of the other serum chemicals. These data support the hypothesis that large amounts of nitric oxide are synthesized in professional football players after strenuous exercise with severe muscle cramps. The study design did not allow us to determine whether this increase in nitric oxide was due to exercise or muscle cramps or both, but it does provide a basis for evaluating these relationships.
The Spite Motive and Equilibrium Behavior in Auctions

We study auctions where bidders have independent private values but attach a disutility to the surplus of rivals, and derive symmetric equilibria for rst-price, second-price, English, and Dutch auctions. We nd that equilibrium bidding is more aggressive than standard predictions. Indeed, in second-price auctions it is optimal to bid above one’s valuation; that is, bidding \frenzies" can arise in equilibrium. Further, revenue equivalence between second-price and rst-price auctions breaks down, with second-price outperforming rst-price. We also nd that strategic equivalence between second-price and English auctions no longer holds, although they remain revenue equivalent. We conclude that spiteful bidding rationalizes anomalies observed in laboratory experiments across the four auction forms better than the leading alternatives.
Mixed-signal design in the microelectronics curriculum

This paper discusses educating electrical engineering students so they can do mixed-signal design (MSD). It also discusses why MSD is important and how it fits into a contemporary electrical engineering curriculum. The paper concludes with a practical example of MSD (the design of a memory sensing circuit) that shows the benefits over traditional analog techniques.
UTIs in Small Animal Patients: Part 2: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Complications

There are multiple considerations when making a treatment plan for patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs). In part 2 of this review the authors discuss the clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment, and complications associated with bacterial UTIs in dogs and cats. Part 1 of this review summarized etiology and pathogenesis (see the Jan/Feb 2013 issue of the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association).
Excitotoxicity Triggered by Neurobasal Culture Medium

Neurobasal defined culture medium has been optimized for survival of rat embryonic hippocampal neurons and is now widely used for many types of primary neuronal cell culture. Therefore, we were surprised that routine medium exchange with serum- and supplement-free Neurobasal killed as many as 50% of postnatal hippocampal neurons after a 4 h exposure at day in vitro 12–15. Minimal Essential Medium (MEM), in contrast, produced no significant toxicity. Detectable Neurobasal-induced neuronal death occurred with as little as 5 min exposure, measured 24 h later. D-2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate (D-APV) completely prevented Neurobasal toxicity, implicating direct or indirect N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated neuronal excitotoxicity. Whole-cell recordings revealed that Neurobasal but not MEM directly activated D-APV-sensitive currents similar in amplitude to those gated by 1 µM glutamate. We hypothesized that L-cysteine likely mediates the excitotoxic effects of Neurobasal incubation. Although the original published formulation of Neurobasal contained only 10 µM L-cysteine, commercial recipes contain 260 µM, a concentration in the range reported to activate NMDA receptors. Consistent with our hypothesis, 260 µM L-cysteine in bicarbonate-buffered saline gated NMDA receptor currents and produced toxicity equivalent to Neurobasal. Although NMDA receptor-mediated depolarization and Ca2+ influx may support survival of young neurons, NMDA receptor agonist effects on development and survival should be considered when employing Neurobasal culture medium.
Hypothalamic Control of the Distribution of Cardiac Output in the Unanesthetized Rhesus Monkey

Regional organ blood flow and resistance changes evoked after 10 minutes of electrical stimulation of pressor areas in the anterior hypothalamus were studied in six unanesthetized, restrained rhesus monkeys. Five other monkeys served as controls. The regional changes produced by stimulus intensities which did not affect systemic arterial pressure, central venous pressure, cardiac output, or pulse rate were similar to those produced by the stimulations at higher levels which significantly increased the levels of these variables. With both low and high levels of stimulation the fractions of cardiac output to skeletal muscle and chest wall were increased 51 and 146% at the expense of the output to the kidneys, skin, stomach, spleen, pancreas, mesentery, and thyroid which decreased 38 to 79%. In each of two monkeys tested, the marked rise in blood flow and vasodilatation of skeletal muscle was only slightly affected by atropine. Therefore, there is at least some hypothalamic control over skeletal muscular vasodilatation in the unanesthetized monkey that is not cholinergically mediated.
Measuring the size of the Internet via importance sampling

Measuring the size of the Internet via Monte Carlo sampling requires probing a large portion of the Internet protocol (IP) address space to obtain an accurate estimate. However, the distribution of information servers on the Internet is highly nonuniform over the IP address space. This allows us to design probing strategies based on importance sampling for measuring the prevalence of an information service on the Internet that are significantly more effective than strategies relying on Monte Carlo sampling. We present thorough analysis of our strategies together with accurate estimates for the current size of the Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4) Internet as measured by the number of publicly accessible web servers and FTP servers.
PC applications measure EMFs induced by power lines

The features of the Florida Power and Light buried power line (FPLBPL) and the Florida Power and Light overhead line (FPLOVR) programs, two software packages developed to evaluate buried and overhead transmission-line-induced electromagnetic fields (EMF), are described. The packages are based on techniques utilizing the common methods of solving boundary-element problems. A built-in strategy segments the domain or region in which EMF is evaluated with appropriate matching of the boundary conditions. The outcome is that a huge matrix of 22.58-million elements is solved by a PC (8386-based machine) in about 1.5 h. The computational protocol, however, maintains the accuracy as would be realized in mainframe environments. Thus, these software packages provide accurate field calculations, and at the same time, are user-friendly and suitable for office environments. >
Technical Note-The Allocation of Power that Minimizes Tension

This note discusses a criterion function that justifies the rule according to which the representation of groups of persons is proportional to the square root of the size of the group. The note then generalizes this criterion function and analyzes the implications for the representation system.
A free space optical communications system: An M-ary multi-pulse width Modulation scheme with emphasis on optimizing transmit power

This effort investigates the development of a point-to-point, asynchronous pulse-mode communication system via a unidirectional, terrestrial free space optics link, utilizing a tunable, mid-IR Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL), courtesy of Daylight Solutions, Inc. In the current demonstration and simulations, this pulse communication scheme harnesses the availability of 24 unique pulse widths to achieve a variable bit rate, limited from 9.4 to 50 Mbps throughput. In comparison, continuous-wave (CW) communication systems can achieve relatively faster data rates, yet come at a price of high power consumption, not favorable for general power efficiency or mobile applications. The respective digital-to-digital encoding, multiple pulse-width modulation has the potential to provide a substantial transmit power savings conducive for longer battery lifetimes of a mobile system, while maintaining data throughput on the order of Mbps, and can render excellent BER performance.
Assessment of Myocardial Viability by Cardiac MRI

Current clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques are based on detection of protons (1H) that are bound to mostly water and macromolecules (such as in fat or protein) of the body. 1H is very abundant in the body, and this property provides adequate signal-to-noise ratio for image generation at the magnetic field strengths (B0) of current clinical MRI scanners (1.5 Tesla). The single positively charged proton itself functions much like a tiny tissue magnet inside a magnetic field. When a patient is placed in an MRI scanner, each proton aligns with the magnetic field and spins around its axis (a process known as precession) at a frequency defined by the magnitude of the magnetic field in Tesla. When a given direction and magnitude of the B0 magnetic field are manipulated by applying a secondary magnetic field (radiofrequency pulse), the protons within a part of the body of imaging interest can then be “excited.” These excited protons release a specific magnetic resonance signal (known as free induction decay) that contains structural and physical information on the tissues being imaged. To create an MR image, a set of gradient coils in the MRI provides the relevant three-dimensional spatial coordinates (x, y, and z) and detects the intensity of the magnetic resonance signal in each of the coordinates. Utilizing the fast speed of modern computers for data acquisition and digital processing, static or dynamic magnetic resonance images that provide crucial information of tissue functions can be rapidly acquired.
Numerical Simulations of Shock Emission by Bubble Collapse Near a Rigid Surface

The event central to cavitation erosion is bubble collapse. Yet, the detailed physics of the process are not well characterized. In recent years, direct simulations of the Euler equations have been used to study the collapse of a single bubble and the subsequent shock emission, in contexts ranging from naval engineering to biomedical applications. In the present work, shock-induced collapse and Rayleigh collapse of a single gas bubble are examined, with emphasis on cavitation damage in biomedical applications and the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS). After an overview following Johnsen [32], the non-spherical bubble dynamics are considered in detail for problems in which the collapse time is on the order of the time scale of shock propagation through the bubble. The pressures generated by bubble collapse near a solid surface are measured, and it is shown that the resulting wall pressure may be larger than that of the incoming shock. The current work is then applied to shock-wave lithotripsy, a procedure developed to treat renal calculi. In particular, one-way coupled fluid and elastic wave propagation simulations are used to investigate damage to kidney stones. Two stone comminution mechanisms are proposed: shock-induced bubble collapse and spallation due to shocks emitted by bubble collapse. The results suggest that the coupling between the fluid and solid mechanics are important in terms of understanding cavitation erosion. In the context of the SNS, the effect of confinement on the bubble dynamics and the pressure generated by collapse are examined.
Cholecystokinin inhibits gastric acid secretion through type "A" cholecystokinin receptors and somatostatin in rats.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether selective antagonism of type "A" cholecystokinin (CCK) receptors blocks inhibition of gastric acid secretion produced by CCK and whether this inhibition is mediated through either a somatostatin-dependent pathway or a vago-vagal reflex. Intravenous infusion of CCK (0.04-10 nmol.kg-1.h-1) dose dependently inhibited pentagastrin-stimulated gastric acid secretion in urethan-anesthetized rats, with a 50% inhibitory dose of 0.9 nmol.kg-1.h-1 and a maximum inhibition of approximately 50%. Blockade of type A CCK receptors using the selective type A receptor antagonist MK-329 completely reversed the inhibitory effect produced by a maximal dose (4 nmol.kg-1.h-1) of CCK. Immunoneutralization of endogenous somatostatin by administration of somatostatin monoclonal antibody abolished the inhibition produced by CCK. Concentrations of somatostatin in portal venous plasma were significantly increased after CCK administration; the increase in somatostatin was blocked by pretreatment with MK-329. In contrast, CCK-induced inhibition of gastric acid secretion was unaltered after perivagal capsaicin treatment. These results indicate that CCK inhibits gastric acid secretion in rats by activation of type A CCK receptors and through release of endogenous somatostatin.
Chromic Acid for the Treatment of Chronic Infective Endocervtcitis

Summary 1. The successful treatment of 250 cases of chronic infective endocervicitis by the use of chromic acid is discussed. 2. No worth-while consideration, complication or sequela contraindicates its employment except acute adnexitis. 3. The method is nonsurgical, inexpensive, a home or office procedure, and requires no anesthesia or technical skill. 4. A critical discussion of the prevalent methods is presented. 5. Use of chromic acid for the treatment of chronic infective endocervicitis is commended to the profession.
Detection of the barium daughter in 136 Xe → 136 Ba+2e - by in situ single-molecule fluorescence imaging

Abstract A robust technique for rejection of all γ-ray induced backgrounds in the search for the decay 136 Xe→ 136 Ba+2e − is needed to proceed to ton-scale detection systems. Efficient detection of the barium daughter would provide a long-sought pathway toward this goal. Single-molecule fluorescent imaging may offer a new way to detect the barium daughter atom in a naturally ionized state. A doubly charged barium ion can initiate a chelation process with a non-fluorescent precursor molecule, leading to a highly fluorescent complex. Repeated photo-excitation of the complex can reveal both presence and location of a single ionized atom with high precision and selectivity. Detection would be automatic, and is accomplished within the active volume of a xenon gas Time Projection Chamber operating at high pressure.
Linear-quadratic stochastic differential Stackelberg games with a high population of followers

We consider a class of stochastic differential games with the Stackelberg mode of play, with one leader and N uniform followers (where N is sufficiently large), where each player has its own local controlled dynamics and quadratic cost function, with the coupling between the players being through the cost functions. Particularly, the leader's cost function has as input the average value of the states of the followers, and each follower's cost function has a similar term in addition to being directly affected by the control function of the leader; thus, the leader controls the behavior of the followers (who play a Nash game) through his control strategy. As such, this class of stochastic differential games is quite difficult to analyze and obtain the Stackelberg-Nash solution of. To circumvent this difficulty, our approach in this paper is to imbed the original game in a class of mean-field stochastic differential games, where the followers solve individual stochastic control problems given the mean field behavior of their average states and with leader's control taken as an exogenous stochastic process. We show that for each fixed policy of the leader, the followers' optimal decentralized local policies lead to an ∈-Nash equilibrium, where ∈ = O(1/√N). The paper then solves the leader's optimal control problem, as a constrained optimization problem, with the constraint being induced by the ∈-Nash equilibrium policies of the followers (which depend on the leaders control as an exogenous process). We obtain the leaders optimal decentralized local control, which we subsequently show to constitute an O(1/√N)-approximate Stackelberg equilibrium for the original game. A numerical example included in the paper illustrates the theoretical results.
Entrainment of circannual rhythm in weight of woodchucks.

For the first time the entrainment of an endogenous annual rhythm has been demonstrated. Woodchucks ( Marmota monax ) sent to Australia from Pennsylvania shifted the annual phase of maximum and of minimum weight by six months.
Analysis of the temporal program of replication initiation in yeast chromosomes

SUMMARY The multiple origins of eukaryotic chromosomes vary in the time of their initiation during S phase. In the chromosomes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae the presence of a functional telomere causes nearby origins to delay initiation until the second half of S phase. The key feature of telomeres that causes the replication delay is the telomeric sequence (C 1–3 A/G 1–3 T) itself and not the proximity of the origin to a DNA end. A second group of late replicating origins has been found at an internal position on chromosome XIV. Four origins, spanning ~140 kb, initiate replication in the second half of S phase. At least two of these internal origins maintain their late replication time on circular plasmids. Each of these origins can be separated into two functional elements: those sequences that provide origin function and those that impose late activation. Because the assay for determining replication time is costly and laborious, it has not been possible to analyze in detail these ‘late’ elements. We report here the development of two new assays for determining replication time. The first exploits the expression of the Escherichia coli dam methylase in yeast and the characteristic period of hemi-methylation that transiently follows the passage of a replication fork. The second uses quantitative hybridization to detect two-fold differences in the amount of specific restriction fragments as a function of progress through S phase. The novel aspect of this assay is the creation in vivo of a non-replicating DNA sequence by site-specific pop-out recombination. This non-replicating fragment acts as an internal control for copy number within and between samples. Both of these techniques are rapid and much less costly than the more conventional density transfer experiments that require CsCl gradients to detect replicated DNA. With these techniques it should be possible to identify the sequences responsible for late initiation, to search for other late replicating regions in the genome, and to begin to analyze the effect that altering the temporal program has on chromosome function.
Dynamic Jahn-Teller Effect in the Orbital 5 E State of Fe 2+ in CdTe

A calculation of the $^{5}E$ energy levels of ${\mathrm{Fe}}^{2+}$ in CdTe has been performed taking into account coupling between the electron system of the impurity ion and the vibrations of the host lattice. The coupling is approximated to a single pair of $E$ modes corresponding to the $\mathrm{TA}(L)$ phonons. We find that even a small electron-phonon coupling not only displaces the energy levels from those of crystal-field theory, but also introduces additional transitions. We get qualitative agreement with the experimental observations for an effective spin-orbit splitting of 20.8 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ and a Jahn-Teller energy of 4.2 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. We also find that we get better agreement between theory and experiment if we take spin-spin interactions into account.
Optomechanics of random and nonlinear media

Nowadays the optical manipulation of microscopic objects is widespread in several research fields; however, the study of the optical pressure in nonlinear and disordered media is still lacking. In this contribution, we give a review of our theoretical and numerical results on the effect of randomness and nonlinearity on optical forces. For random media we find that disorder induced localization enhance the light induced mechanical effects; for nonlinear media we show that an ultra-fast nonlinear polarization may give a negative contribution to the optical pressure.
Walnut Husk Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) Pest-Free and Preovipositional Periods and Adult Emergence for Stone Fruits Exported to New Zealand

Walnut husk fly, Rhagoletis completa Cresson, adults were trapped in two of nine trap locations in walnuts in five counties in the San Joaquin Valley of California before the end of the pest-free period, 1 July 1992. Highest numbers of adults were collected in walnuts from 19 August through 8 October after early-season, midseason, and most late-season stone fruit cultivars had been harvested. Lowest numbers of adults were trapped in Kern County locations in the southern region of the San Joaquin Valley. Laboratory behavioral studies showed that earliest ovipositional punctures in walnuts occurred 9 d after and eggs were laid 11 d after adult emergence. The preovipositional period will reduce the risk of stone fruit infestations during atypical years when adults emerge before 1 July. Adults emerged from pupae reared in the previous year from peaches, nectarines, and walnuts, but no adults emerged from plums. The biological risk for accidental introductions of walnut husk fly into New Zealand through shipments of stone fruits from California is negligible.
Treatment of Paget's disease of bone.

Patients with Paget's disease of bone often are asymptomatic, but many are severely disabled by skeletal deformity and bone pain. Recently introduced agents show promise in suppressing the increased skeletal metabolic activity and decreasing the bone pain.
Abstract B74: Can we repurpose anti-malarial drug quinacrine to treat ovarian cancer?

Resistance to chemotherapy is a major hurdle that results in the increased mortality associated with ovarian cancer (OvCa). New therapeutics that synergize with cis-carboplatin/paclitaxel in recurrent tumors will have an enormous impact in prolonging the survival of OvCa patients. Due to the enormous cost of designing and testing new drugs, we have adopted the drug repurposing approach and tested the effect of the antimalarial drug quinacrine (QC) in sensitizing drug resistant OvCa cells to carboplatin induced cytotoxicity and determined that it is autophagy dependent. We have discovered that QC, an autophagy modulator exhibited distinct anti-cancer properties in OvCa cell lines in contrast to other anti-malarial/autophagy inhibitor drugs such as hydroxyquinacrine, bafilomycin A and 3-MA. It is well established that autophagy can be a survival mechanism under stress in cancer or a death promoting phenomenon that is cell type and contextual dependent. Here we demonstrate that QC acts to promote chemotherapy induced cell death specifically more in resistant cells in an autophagy dependent manner. Our preliminary data both in vitro and in vivo indicate that QC induced autophagy downregulates p62 and upregulates cathepsin L levels to sensitize the chemoresistant cells to autophagic and caspase mediated cell death in a p53 independent manner. These unexpected findings led us to explore the mechanistic basis of QC-induced upregulation of the cell cycle inhibitor p21 in cells bearing mutant p53. We uncovered that irrespective of p53 status, QC induces p21 expression in an autophagy-dependent p62-Skp2 mediated ubiquitin pathway resulting in cell cycle arrest and cell death. Since QC is already in PhaseI Clinical trial, these studies may spur new treatment strategies to improve OvCa patient outcome and patient care. Citation Format: Debarshi Roy, Ashwani Khurana, Eleftheria Kalogera, Xuyang Wen, Susmita Mondal, Viji Shridhar. Can we repurpose anti-malarial drug quinacrine to treat ovarian cancer? [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Ovarian Cancer Research: Exploiting Vulnerabilities; Oct 17-20, 2015; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2016;22(2 Suppl):Abstract nr B74.
Ca(2+)-dependent Cl- conductance in taste cells from Necturus

1. Taste responses adapt to a constant chemical stimulus. The present study describes a new ionic conductance in taste cells--a Ca(2+)-dependent anion conductance that may explain taste adaptation. 2. Patch-clamp recordings were made on isolated Necturus taste cells or on taste cells in lingual slices. When Na+ and K+ currents were eliminated with tetrodotoxin (TTX) and tetraethyl-ammonium (TEA) in the bath and replacing K+ with N-methyl-D-glucamine (NMDG+) in the pipette, Ca2+ currents were followed by prolonged outward currents. Outward current was abolished when Ca2+ was substituted with Ba2+ or when Cl- was replaced with large organic anions (methanesulfonate, isethionate, or ascorbate). 3. The outward, Ca-dependent current was reduced by certain agents that block Cl- conductances in other tissues, namely 4-acet-amido-4-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2-disulfonic acid (SITS) and 4,4-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2-disulfonic acid (DIDS). However, other Cl- channel blockers--9-AC, furosemide and an antibody to Cl channels-had little or no specific effect on the Ca-dependent outward current in Necturus taste cells. 4. We postulate that the biological action of this Ca-dependent anion conductance in situ is to terminate depolarizing receptor potentials, even during maintained chemostimulation, thereby playing an important role in chemosensory adaptation and modulation of impulse discharge patterns in taste buds.
Assimilation and Forecasting Fine Aerosols Over North America in Summer 2012

In a study, we examine impact of assimilation in-situ measurements on the prediction of fine aerosol concentrations over North America in the summer of 2012. We use an online meteorology-chemistry model WRF-Chem and an assimilation system which includes the Gridpoint Statistical Intepolation (GSI) and an Ensemble Kalman Filter. We note large initial benefit of data assimilation and relatively quick deterioration of forecast verification scores with time. Causes for such deterioration include deficiencies of the initial state resulting from the lack of observations of the individual aerosol species and their vertical distribution, weaknesses of chemical and physical parameterizations and errors in emission sources.