cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sorting the consequences of ionizing radiation: processing of 8-oxoguanine/abasic site lesions.

Abstract Clustered DNA damage is a hallmark of ionizing radiation. These complex lesions, composed of any combination of oxidized bases, abasic sites, or strand breaks within one helical turn, create a tremendous challenge for the base excision repair system, which must process the damage without generating cytotoxic double strand breaks (DSB). Clustered lesions affect the DNA incision activity of DNA glycosylases and AP endonucleases. Different levels of enzyme inhibition are dependent on lesion identity, orientation and separation. Very little is known about the simultaneous action of both classes of enzymes, which may lead to the creation of DSB. We have developed a novel substrate system of double-labeled hairpin duplexes, which allows the simultaneous determination of enzyme incision and formation of DBS. We use this system to study the processing of four clustered 8-oxoguanine/abasic site lesions by purified mouse Ogg1, human Ape1 and mouse embryonic stem cell nuclear extracts. Ape1 activity is least affected by the presence of a nearby oxidized base. In contrast, an abasic site inhibits the glycosylase and lyase activities of Ogg1 in an orientation-dependent manner. The combined action of both enzymes leads to the preferential formation of DSB with 5′-overhang ends. Processing of clusters by nuclear extracts displayed similar patter of enzyme inhibition and the same preference for avoiding double strand breaks with 3′-overhang ends.
Environmental argumentation as sociocultural activity

While environmental argumentation has recently received much attention from science educators, little consideration has been given to how personal identities and social relationships can either support or constrain student argumentation. This study attends to this issue by examining environmental argumentation as a sociocultural activity (how students implicitly create identities and relationships through environmental warrants and claims). By integrating rhetorical and sociocultural analysis of oral discourse, we examine argumentation about environmental dilemmas (problematic scenarios involving animals and the environment). Although students set forth a variety of warrants (social, economic, contextual, biocentric, and expertise-based), the dilemmas led to distinct forms of argumentation. One dilemma involving a pet iguana fostered non-adversarial argumentation wherein students identified themselves as animal lovers and cooperative discussants. By contrast, the other two dilemmas (the hypothetical encounter with a fawn in the woods and the observation of classroom lights being unnecessarily left on) led to the unexpected emergence of sexual identities, combative disagreement, and conflict resolution on social rather than rational grounds. The main implication of this study is that it highlights the need for educators to pay closer attention to specific textual elements in the design of environmental dilemmas (types of prompts used, decision-makers' identities, statements of intentionality and outcome, moral complexity, values of nature, and social representation or cultural images of animals) in order to foster an appropriate and productive sociocultural classroom context for rational and reasoned environmental argumentation to take place without the constraints of unexpected social complications. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 49: 869–897, 2012
Self Perception and Leaderless Group Discussion Status

(1954). Self Perception and Leaderless Group Discussion Status. The Journal of Social Psychology: Vol. 40, No. 2, pp. 309-318.
Linking Perceived Unfairness to Physical Health: The Perceived Unfairness Model

Can perceiving unfairness influence physical health? To address this question the authors propose the Perceived Unfairness Model, synthesized from psychological and epidemiological research. The mo...
Diabetes: long-acting insulin analogues--are benefits worth the cost?

Controlled clinical trials have demonstrated a substantial reduction in all long-term complications of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) if an HbA1c level of <7% is achieved. Long-acting insulin analogues have now been developed; however, their role in the intensive therapy of patients with T1DM is debatable.
CPEC induces erythroid differentiation of human myeloid leukemia K562 cells through CTP depletion and p38 MAP kinase.

Cyclopentenyl cytosine (CPEC) is a carbocyclic cytidine analog inhibitor of CTP synthetase and experimental drug for combination chemotherapy. CPEC treatment (50 nM) depleted intracellular CTP and induced a specific S-phase arrest and erythroid differentiation of human erythroleukemia K562 cells. The equilibrative nucleoside transporters (ENT1, 2) facilitated uptake of CPEC into K562 cells as evidenced by both NBMPR and dipyridamole inhibition of CPEC-mediated CTP depletion and erythroid differentiation. Incubation with the pyridinylimidazole p38 MAPK inhibitors, SB203580 or SB220025, suppressed both the CPEC-induced cell cycle arrest and differentiation of K562 cells. SB203580 also prevented the cell cycle arrest and erythroid differentiation of K562 cells induced by Leflunomide (LEF), a non-nucleoside inhibitor of the de novo pyrimidine pathway, without affecting LEF-induced depletion of pyrimidine pools. Finally, selective knockdown of p38 MAPK by using Smart Pool™ siRNA to p38 MAPK significantly decreased the CPEC-induced differentiation of K562 cells. These results suggest that endogenous activity of p38 MAP kinases may be required for committing K562 cells to cell cycle arrest and erythroid differentiation under conditions of CTP depletion.
Evidence of cranial artery ectasia in sickle cell disease patients with ectasia of the basilar artery.

Goal: To determine if children with sickle cell disease (SCD) and basilar artery ectasia show evidence of general arterial ectasia. Methods: A novel method was used to analyze the base images normally used to reconstruct a magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA). A signalintensity threshold was set empirically to exclude pixels from subcutaneous fat, then base images for each patient were evaluated for the number and relative size of vessel profiles. Data from three SCD patients, imaged before and after transfusion, were analyzed to determine sensitivity of the method to blood flow. We then compared 11 SCD patients with basilar ectasia to 11 age-matched SCD patients with a normal basilar, after excluding patients with clinical stroke. Findings: Before transfusion, patients have an apparent blood volume 48% higher than after ( P P P Conclusions: Basilar ectasia is associated with an increased blood flow rate, generalized arterial ectasia, or both phenomena. This suggests that basilar volume measurements may supplement blood flow velocity measurements as an indicator of stroke risk
Comparison of QuickBird Satellite Imagery and Airborne Imagery for Mapping Grain Sorghum Yield Patterns

Timely and accurate information on crop conditions obtained during the growing season is of vital importance for crop management. High spatial resolution satellite imagery has the potential for mapping crop growth variability and identifying problem areas within fields. The objectives of this study were to use QuickBird satellite imagery for mapping plant growth and yield patterns within grain sorghum fields as compared with airborne multispectral image data. A QuickBird 2.8-m four-band image covering a cropping area in south Texas, USA was acquired in the 2003 growing season. Airborne three-band imagery with submeter resolution was also collected from two grain sorghum fields within the satellite scene. Yield monitor data collected from the two fields were resampled to match the resolutions of the airborne imagery and the satellite imagery. The airborne imagery was related to yield at original submeter, 2.8 and 8.4 m resolutions and the QuickBird imagery was related to yield at 2.8 and 8.4 m resolutions. The extracted QuickBird images for the two fields were then classified into multiple zones using unsupervised classification and mean yields among the zones were compared. Results showed that grain yield was significantly related to both types of image data and that the QuickBird imagery had similar correlations with grain yield as compared with the airborne imagery at the 2.8 and 8.4 m resolutions. Moreover, the unsupervised classification maps effectively differentiated grain production levels among the zones. These results indicate that high spatial resolution satellite imagery can be a useful data source for determining plant growth and yield patterns for within-field crop management.
2005 Special Issue: Efficient streaming text clustering

Clustering data streams has been a new research topic, recently emerged from many real data mining applications, and has attracted a lot of research attention. However, there is little work on clustering high-dimensional streaming text data. This paper combines an efficient online spherical k-means (OSKM) algorithm with an existing scalable clustering strategy to achieve fast and adaptive clustering of text streams. The OSKM algorithm modifies the spherical k-means (SPKM) algorithm, using online update (for cluster centroids) based on the well-known Winner-Take-All competitive learning. It has been shown to be as efficient as SPKM, but much superior in clustering quality. The scalable clustering strategy was previously developed to deal with very large databases that cannot fit into a limited memory and that are too expensive to read/scan multiple times. Using the strategy, one keeps only sufficient statistics for history data to retain (part of) the contribution of history data and to accommodate the limited memory. To make the proposed clustering algorithm adaptive to data streams, we introduce a forgetting factor that applies exponential decay to the importance of history data. The older a set of text documents, the less weight they carry. Our experimental results demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed algorithm and reveal an intuitive and an interesting fact for clustering text streams-one needs to forget to be adaptive.
Hydrocarbon contamination on the Antarctic peninsula: III. The Bahia Paraiso—Two years after the spill

Abstract Two years after the release of 600 000 l of diesel fuel arctic into Arthur Harbor, little spill-related contamination can be detected in intertidal limpets (Nacella concinna) and subtidal sediments. Periodic releases of small amounts of material from the ship oil nearby islands, in particular the intertidal areas of Christine, Limitrophe and Humble Islands. Subtidal sediment contamination is primarily due to other local inputs such as ship, boating and station activities. Beaches were unusually contaminated after 2 yr, but quiescent weather conditions, occasional releases from the wreck, and prevailing currents may concentrate hydrocarbon contamination in relatively low energy areas. Intertidal limpets (N. concinna) collected along these beaches were also contaminated. The volatility of the fluid, the amount spilled, and the dynamic weather and current conditions in Arthur Harbor tended to minimize long-term contamination of the area.
Racial variance in rationale for HIV testing in community-based setting in the United States: evidence from the National Health Interview Survey.

Background: HIV testing varies across racial/ethnic groups in the United States, but it is unclear whether the rationale for testing differs as well racially. The authors aimed to assess the rationale for HIV testing and the racial/ethnic variation therein. Methods: Using the National Health Interview Survey 2003 (n = 29 753), the authors examined the association between rationale for HIV testing and race. Chi-square statistic and multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to test for racial differences and the effect of race/ethnicity on the rationale for HIV testing. Results: There was a statistically significant racial difference with respect to HIV testing rationale, χ 2 = (24, N = 10481) = 808.9, P < .001. After adjustment for relevant covariates, compared with Caucasians, African Americans were 37% less likely to be tested due to exposure to sex/drugs, whereas Hispanics were not (prevalence risk ratio [PRR], 0.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.47-0.84, respectively). Likewise African Amer...
Application of random theory in determining the optimum producing well numbers for oil and gas reservoirs

Abstract Either in a horizontal direction or in a vertical direction, numerous physical measurements of the reservoirs, such as porosity, permeability, and saturation, are not evenly distributed, but are either restricted by general geologic rule or at random. So, the production rate of an individual well for oil and gas fields is stochastic. With the condition that the production rate is random, the authors of this paper try to apply random theory to the determination of optimum production well number so as to derive the calculating formula from examples. The result shows that the method is successful, and the corresponding calculation coincides with the practical environment.
Relationship between scores on anger measures and PTSD symptomatology employment, and compensation-seeking status in combat veterans

The interrelationship between the theoretically related constructs of anger and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms was examined in a group of 42 combat veterans with PTSD using a multimeasure assessment strategy. Scores on several anger measures were found to be quite high in this sample and were significantly correlated with PTSD symptomatology. Furthermore, anger measures were found to be related to employment status independent of PTSD severity, but were not related to disability compensation-seeking status. Clinicians are advised to be aware of the potential implications for physical health and interpersonal functioning, and to incorporate anger management strategies into treatment plans for this population.
Robustness of Adaptive Rotor Vibration Control to Structured Uncertainty

Recent experimental results have demonstrated the effectiveness of adaptive open-loop control algorithms for the suppression of unbalance response on rotors supported in active magnetic bearings. Herein, tools for the analysis of stability and performance robustness of this algorithm with respect to structured uncertainty are derived. The stability and performance robustness analysis problems are shown to be readily solved using a novel application of structured singular values. An example problem is presented which demonstrate the efficacy of this approach in obtaining tight bounds on stability margin and worst case performance.
The ADPRT V762A Genetic Variant Contributes to Prostate Cancer Susceptibility and Deficient Enzyme Function

The ADP-ribosyltransferase (ADPRT) gene encodes a zinc-finger DNA-binding protein, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1), that modifies various nuclear proteins by poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation and functions as a key enzyme in the base excision repair pathway. We have conducted two studies to test whether an amino acid substitution variant, ADPRT V762A (T2444C), is associated with prostate cancer (CaP) risk and decreased enzyme function. The first study used genomic DNA samples from an ongoing, clinic-based case-control study (488 cases and 524 controls) to show that a higher percentage of the CaP cases carried the ADPRT 762 AA genotype than controls (4% versus 2%). In Caucasians, the AA genotype was significantly associated with increased CaP risk [odds ratio (OR), 2.65; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.08–6.49], and the VA genotype was associated with a slight but not significantly increased CaP risk (OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 0.85–1.64) using VV as the referent group after adjustment for age, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and family history. Furthermore, this association was stronger in younger (
A Tandem Di-Hydrophobic Motif Mediates Clathrin-Dependent Endocytosis Via Direct Binding to the AP-2 ασ2 Subunits

Select plasma membrane proteins can be marked as cargo for inclusion into clathrin-coated pits by common internalization signals (e.g. YXXΦ, dileucine motifs, NPXY) that serve as universal recognition sites for the AP-2 adaptor complex or other clathrin-associated sorting proteins. However, some surface proteins, such as the Kir2.3 potassium channel, lack canonical signals but are still targeted for clathrin-dependent endocytosis. Here, we explore the mechanism. We found an unusual endocytic signal in Kir2.3 that is based on two consecutive pairs of hydrophobic residues. Characterized by the sequence ΦΦXΦΦ (a tandem di-hydrophobic (TDH) motif, where Φ is a hydrophobic amino acid), the signal shows no resemblance to other endocytic motifs, yet it directly interacts with AP-2 to target the Kir2.3 potassium channel into the endocytic pathway. We found that the tandem di-hydrophobic motif directly binds to the ασ2 subunits of AP-2, interacting within a large hydrophobic cleft that encompasses part of the docking site for di-Leu signals, but includes additional structures. These observations expand the repertoire of clathrin-dependent internalization signals and the ways in which AP-2 can coordinate endocytosis of cargo proteins.
Long range transport and transformation of anthropogenic pollutants observed in a PIXE-based monitoring network

An automated PIXE system was used to determine the elemental concentrations on particulate samples collected in a monitoring network of 40 remote sites covering 2 million square kilometers in the western United States from 1979 to 1981. PIXE's good sensitivity for sulfur permitted the measurement of this key element in a region of low concentrations. Sulfate particles comprise the major component of the fine mass and represent the largest threat to visibility in the region. Two cases of sulfate transport into the pristine, scenic areas of northern Arizona and southern Utah from sources around 600 km away are described: copper smelters to the south and urban center to the southwest. Evidence is also presented for the transport of sulfate to the northern Great Plains from industrial centers over 1000 km to the east. The simultaneous measurement of a wide range of elements by PIXE has permitted estimates of the conversion rates of SO2 to sulfate in a clean, dry atmosphere. The most important result was the large variation between summer and winter. This indicates that SO2 emissions in winter are much less serious than similar emissions in summer.
A mechanistic study of nonlinear solute transport in a groundwater–surface water system Under steady state and transient hydraulic conditions

Two laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of tides and buoyancy on beach hydraulics in the presence of a seaward groundwater flow due to an elevated “regional” water table. In the first experiment, case 1, the difference in concentration between the salt water at sea and the water of the regional aquifer was small, 2.4 g L−1, such that it did not engender density gradients; the salt acts as a tracer in this case. In the second experiment, case 2, the difference was ∼32.0 g L−1, which creates a significant density gradient. This case corresponds to the presence of fresh groundwater in the subsurface of the coasts of the continental United States. The experiments were numerically simulated by the marine unsaturated (MARUN) model, a numerical model for density-and-viscosity-dependent flows in two-dimensional variably saturated media. The long-term experimental and numerical results showed that the seawater plume entered the beach from the sea and occupied most of the intertidal zone. The maximum depth of the seawater plume was near the midsection of the intertidal zone, and it decreased near the low and high tide lines. When viewed in the context of case 2, these results indicate an inverted salinity distribution in beaches subjected to tides with salt water from sea overtopping the freshwater lens. For both cases, water from the regional aquifer moved seaward beneath the seawater in the intertidal zone and pinched out near the low tide mark. We also noted that beach hydraulics are highly two dimensional with water entering the beach at a near-vertical angle and leaving it at a near-horizontal angle, which casts doubts on analyses of beach hydraulics based on the Dupuit assumption. Findings from this work have direct implications within the practice of bioremediation of oil spills on beaches. We found that applying dissolved nutrients on the beach surface at low tide is superior to applying them in a trench landward of the beach. This is because the residence time of the nutrient plume in the bioremediation zone of the beach in the prior situation is longer than that in the latter.
Improving performance of TCP over mobile wireless networks

Mobile IP is a network layer protocol for handling mobility of hosts in the Internet. However, mobile IP handoff causes degradation of TCP performance. Hence, there is a need for improving performance of TCP over mobile IP in wireless mobile networks. We propose an approach which handles losses due to both wireless link errors and host mobility. To handle losses due to host mobility, a method for seamless handoff is proposed. Empirical results show that the scheme provides substantial improvement of performance.
TRANSPORT OF IAA AND ACC IN FLORAL ORGANS OF IPOMOEA NIL (CONVOLVULACEAE)

The involvement of the stamens as transporters of plant growth regulators in flowers was examined by measuring the movement of '4C-indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and '4C-1-aminocyclopropane1-carboxylic acid (ACC) through floral organs of Ipomoea nil. During the transport of '4C-IAA through isolated filament segments, the polar accumulation of '4C-IAA in receiver blocks increased with time during filament development, which correlated with polar efflux rates at older stages of filament development. An inhibitor of polar IAA transport, 2,3,5triiodobenzoic acid, disrupted the polarity of auxin transport by reducing the movement of '4CIAA from filaments into receiver blocks. Transport of both 14C-IAA and '4C-ACC through filaments into other floral organs also was monitored in isolated flower buds in the laboratory and intact buds in the greenhouse. In isolated and intact buds 21 hr before anthesis, substantially higher levels of isotope were recovered in corolla tissue when '4C-ACC was transported through the filaments than when '4C-IAA was transported from the filaments. In isolated buds, substantial levels of both isotopes accumulated in the pistil (69 hr and 45 hr before anthesis), but minimal amounts were observed in receptacle and calyx tissues (69 hr to 21 hr before anthesis). In intact buds, high levels of both isotopes were recovered in receptacle, calyx, and pistil tissues (69 hr to 21 hr before anthesis). The results from this study support the hypothesis that Ipomoea stamens are transporters for ACC and IAA to regulate ethylene production in the corolla and other floral tissues.
Isolation and characterization of a cDNA encoding a novel member of the human regenerating protein family: Reg IV.

Abstract Human Reg and Reg-related genes constitute a multi-gene family belonging to the calcium (C-type) dependent lectin superfamily. Regenerating gene family members are expressed in the proximal gastrointestinal (GI) tract and ectopically at other sites in the setting of tissue injury. By high-throughput sequence analysis of a large inflammatory bowel disease library, two cDNAs have been isolated which encode a novel member of this multigene family. Based on primary sequence homology, tissue expression profiles, and shared exon-intron junction genomic organization, we assign this gene to the regenerating gene family. Specific protein structural differences suggest that the current three regenerating gene subtypes should be expanded to four. We demonstrate that Reg IV has a highly restricted tissue expression pattern, with prominent expression in the gastrointestinal tract. Reg IV mRNA expression is significantly up-regulated by mucosal injury from active Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
Expression of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase and Nitrotyrosine in Multiple Sclerosis Lesions

Nitric oxide generated by the inducible form of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) may contribute to the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). In this report, we studied postmortem tissues of MS patients for the expression of iNOS by in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry. Immunocytochemistry for nitrotyrosine, a putative footprint for peroxynitrite formation was also performed. In acute MS lesions, intense reactivity for iNOS mRNA and protein was detected in reactive astrocytes throughout the lesion and in adjacent normal appearing white matter. Staining of macrophages, inflammatory cell infiltrates, and endothelial cells was variable from case to case, but generally detected only in acute lesions. In chronic MS lesions reactive astrocytes at the lesion edge were positive for iNOS whereas the lesion center was nonreactive. Normal appearing white matter demonstrated little reactivity, as did tissues from noninflamed control brains. Staining for nitrotyrosine was also detected in acute but not chronic MS lesions, and displayed a diffuse parenchymal, membranous, and perivascular pattern of immunoreactivity. These results support the conclusion that iNOS is induced in multiple cell types in MS lesions and that astrocyte-derived nitric oxide could be important in orchestrating inflammatory responses in MS, particularly at the blood-brain barrier.
Association of Antarctic polar stratospheric cloud formation on tropospheric cloud systems

[1] The formation of polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) is critical to the development of polar ozone loss. However, the mechanisms of PSC formation remain poorly understood, which affects ozone loss models. Here, based on observations by the NASA A-train satellites, we show that 66% ± 16% and 52% ± 17% of PSCs over west and east Antarctica during the period June-October 2006 were associated with deep tropospheric cloud systems, with maximum depths exceeding 7 km. The development of such deep tropospheric cloud systems should cool the lower stratosphere through adiabatic and radiative processes, favoring PSC development. These deep systems also transport lower tropospheric air into the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. These new findings suggest that Antarctic PSC formation is closely connected to tropospheric meteorology and thus governed by synoptic scale dynamics, local topography, and large-scale circulation. More dedicated studies are still needed to better understand Antarctic PSC formation.
Constraints on North American plate velocity from the Yellowstone hotspot deformation field

OCEANIC hotspot tracks generally indicate that the mantle plumes that give rise to them are fixed in position (relative to a lower-mantle reference frame) for timespans of ∼100 Myr1–3. It has not been clear whether continental hotspots are equally stable; for example, there is evidence that the velocity of the Yellowstone hotspot has been quite irregular with respect to the North Ameri-can plate over the past 16 Myr4–7, but measurements of its velocity based on caldera locations have been too uncertain and irregular to be definitive. Here I describe a new method of obtaining the plume velocity, which uses the broader lithospheric effects of the hotspot rather than the locations of individual calderas. For the past 10 Myr, the results indicate a constant North American plate velocity of 2.2 cm yr-1, which agrees with independent estimates from global plate motion inversions8,9. This velocity is considerably lower than previous estimates obtained from caldera locations, and clearly differs from the much higher (but less well constrained) velocities of the previous 6 Myr (refs 5, 7).
The Electoral College and Voter Participation: Evidence on Two Hypotheses

This paper empirically investigates the impact of the electoral college on voter participation rates across states. Two hypotheses are tested. The first argues that in states where either the Democratic or Republican party strongly dominates the other, voter participation rates are reduced the greater the degree of domination. The second states that in states where neither party overwhelmingly dominates the other, the smaller the majority of the dominant party over the minority party, the greater the voter participation rate.
LIPID COMPOSITION OF THE EGGS FROM AN APHID.

THE eggs of aphids are usually difficult to find; to collect a sufficient quantity for chemical examination is generally unfeasible. In the summer of 1963, however, an extremely large population of Euceraphis punctipennis Zett. was observed on weeping birch, Betula penduta tristris, near Driebergen, Holland. In late October the sexual females were ovipositing, and in mid-December 900 eggs, weighing a total of 60 mg, were collected. The eggs were macerated in a small glass homogenizer and their lipids extracted three times with 0.5 ml. of CHCl3 / MeOH (2:1 v/v). The extracts were combined, evaporated to dryness at 30° C in a stream of nitrogen, redissolved in the extraction solvent and the lipids purified after the method of Folch et al.1. The purified lipids weighed 8.3 mg, or 13.9 per cent of the fresh weight of the eggs.
Effect of testosterone propionate upon thyroid and parathyroid glands of intact immature female rat.

ConclusionTestosterone propionate is capable of stimulating the thyroid and parathyroid glands of the intact immature female rat. This stimulation is manifested by increased mitotic activity and by histological evidence of functional activity.
A Nonliner Poroelastic Model for the Trabecular Embryonic Heart

A theoretical model is presented for the primitive right ventricle of the stage 21 chick embryo. At this stage of development, the wall of the heart is trabecular with direct intramyocardial blood flow. The model is a pressurized fluid-filled cylinder composed of a porous inner layer of isotropic myocardium and a relatively thin compact outer layer of transversely isotropic myocardium. The analysis is based on nonlinear poroelasticity theory, modified to include residual strain and muscle activation. Correlating theoretical and experimental pressure-volume loops and epicardial strains gives first-approximation constitutive relations for stage 21 embryonic myocardium. The results from the model suggest three primary conclusions: (1) Some muscle fibers likely are aligned in the compact layer, with a fiber angle approximately + 10 deg from the circumferential direction. (2) Blood is drawn into the wall of the ventricle during diastolic filling and isovolumic contraction and is squeezed out of the wall during systolic ejection, giving a primitive intramyocardial circulation before the coronary arteries form. As the heart rate increases, the transmural blood-flow velocity increases, but the volume of blood exchanged with the lumen per beat decreases. (3) Residual strain affects transmural stress distributions, producing nearly uniform stresses in the porous layer, where the peak end-systolic stress occurs. These results improve our understanding of the relation between form and function in the developing heart and provide directions for biological experiments to study cardiac morphogenesis.
Cytology of metastatic cutaneous melanoma to the vitreous and retina.

PURPOSE The authors report one patient with definitive and one patient with presumed metastatic cutaneous malignant melanoma to the vitreous and retina diagnosed by cytologic evaluation of the vitreous and subretinal fluid. METHODS A diagnostic vitrectomy was performed on two patients with atypical vitreous and retinal infiltrates. Additionally, subretinal fluid was obtained from the second patient. The specimens were processed for cytologic examination. The cytology specimens were compared with previously excised cutaneous melanomas from the patients. RESULTS Examination results showed cells in the vitreous with high nuclear-to-cytoplasm ratios, coarse chromatin, and intracytoplasmic melanin pigment granules. The cytologic features were compared with the cutaneous malignant melanoma, and a diagnosis of metastatic melanoma was made. One patient eventually required enucleation, and the metastatic tumor in the other patient was controlled by local irradiation. CONCLUSIONS Cytologic evaluation of the vitreous and subretinal fluid is helpful in establishing a diagnosis in patients with metastatic cutaneous melanoma to the vitreous and retina.
Favorable outcomes in elderly patients undergoing high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Abstract High-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (HDT-ASCT) can offer potential long-term remission or cure in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Limited experience is available on the safety and efficacy of HDT-ASCT in elderly patients. This is a single-center, retrospective study examining outcomes of HDT-ASCT for 202 NHL patients, ages 60 years and older, between January 2001 and December 2012. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed according to age at HDT-ASCT, hematopoietic cell transplantation comorbidity index (HCT-CI), NHL histology, and remission status at the time of HDT-ASCT. The median age was 65 years (range, 60 to 74) and the majority had either diffuse large B cell lymphoma (n = 73, 37%) or mantle cell lymphoma (n = 69, 34%). One hundred and fifteen patients (57%) had high HCT-CI scores at the time of HDT-ASCT. With a median follow-up of 3.6 years (range, 4 to 11.9 years) for survivors, PFS and OS at 3 years were 60% (95% confidence interval [CI], 53% to 68%) and 73% (95% CI, 67% to 80%), respectively. Transplantation-related mortality (TRM) was 4% both at 100 days and at 1 year after HDT-ASCT. Age and HCT-CI score were not associated with OS or PFS, and high HCT-CI did not correlate with TRM. Seven patients (4%) developed secondary myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukemia at a median of 35 months (range, 6 to 48) after HDT-ASCT. In this single-center cohort of elderly patients with NHL undergoing HDT-ASCT, this intervention was proven tolerable and effective, with results similar to those of historic controls in younger patients. Our data suggest that age alone should not preclude HDT-ASCT in elderly patients.
Automated determination of arterial input function for DCE-MRI of the prostate

Prostate cancer is one of the commonest cancers in the world. Dynamic contrast enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) provides an opportunity for non-invasive diagnosis, staging, and treatment monitoring. Quantitative analysis of DCE-MRI relies on determination of an accurate arterial input function (AIF). Although several methods for automated AIF detection have been proposed in literature, none are optimized for use in prostate DCE-MRI, which is particularly challenging due to large spatial signal inhomogeneity. In this paper, we propose a fully automated method for determining the AIF from prostate DCE-MRI. Our method is based on modeling pixel uptake curves as gamma variate functions (GVF). First, we analytically compute bounds on GVF parameters for more robust fitting. Next, we approximate a GVF for each pixel based on local time domain information, and eliminate the pixels with false estimated AIFs using the deduced upper and lower bounds. This makes the algorithm robust to signal inhomogeneity. After that, according to spatial information such as similarity and distance between pixels, we formulate the global AIF selection as an energy minimization problem and solve it using a message passing algorithm to further rule out the weak pixels and optimize the detected AIF. Our method is fully automated without training or a priori setting of parameters. Experimental results on clinical data have shown that our method obtained promising detection accuracy (all detected pixels inside major arteries), and a very good match with expert traced manual AIF.
Multi-horizon reactive and deliberative path planning for autonomous cross-country navigation

As part of the Raptor system developed for DARPA's PerceptOR program, three path planning methods have been integrated together in the framework of a command-arbitration based architecture. These methods combine reactive and deliberative elements, performing path planning within different planning horizons. Short range path planning (< 10 m) is done by a module called OAradials. OAradials is purely reactive, evaluating arcs corresponding to possible steering commands for the proximity of discrete obstacles, abrupt elevation changes, and unsafe slope conditions. Medium range path planning (<30 m) is performed by a module called Biased Random Trees - Follow Path (BRT-FP). Based on LaValle and Kuffner's rapidly exploring random trees planning algorithm, BRT-FP continuously evaluates the local terrain map in order to generate a good path that advances the robot towards the next intermediate waypoint in a user-specified plan. A pure-pursuit control algorithm generates candidate steering commands intended to keep the robot on the generated path. Long range path planning is done by the Dynamic Planner (DPlanner) using Stentz' D* algorithm. Use of D* allows efficient exploitation of prior terrain data and dynamic replanning as terrain is explored. Outputs from DPlanner generate intermediate goal points that are fed to the BRT-FP planner. A command-level arbitration scheme selects steering commands based on the weighted sum of the steering preferences generated by the OAradials and BRT-FP path planning behaviors. This system has been implemented on an ATV platform that has been actuated for autonomous operation, and tested on realistic cross-country terrain in the context of the PerceptOR program.© (2004) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
An efficient evaluation of near singular surface integrals via the Khayat–Wilton transform

The Khayat–Wilton transform efficiently and accurately integrates kernels with a 1/R singularity. It can also be used to integrate “near” 1/R singularities. However, if the observation point is pushed off the source patch plane, the resultant formulation will have a logarithmic behavior. Consequently, the integral is slow to converge. To integrate near singularities more efficiently and more accurately, a numerical integration based on the Lin-log rule is proposed. The proposed integration method shows to be more accurate and convergence faster than the original Khayat–Wilton transform. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 48: 1583–1586, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.21723
Raised vascular calcium in an animal model: effects on aortic function.

Study objective – The aim of the study was to develop an animal model to study the relationships between raised tissue calcium and vascular function. Design – Ectopic calcification was developed in the animal model using chronic vitamin D2 intoxication, after which functional studies were performed in isolated superfused aortic rings. Results were compared with control preparations. Experimental animals – 160 female Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200-225 g were randomly divided into experimental (vitamin D21 mg·d−1) and control (vehicle only) groups. Measurements and results – Aortas from vitamin D treated animals had a higher calcium content than control aortas, without concomitant increases in cardiac calcium. Aortas with high calcium content were found to develop greater tension than control aortas when exposed to noradrenaline in the absence of extracellular calcium, but the tension maxima achieved in response to noradrenaline in calcium containing media or to high potassium depolarising solution were the same. The rate of development of contraction in response to noradrenaline was greater in aortas from the vitamin D treated animals than in controls. Isoprenaline and sodium nitroprusside produced less relaxation in the animal model aortas than in the controls. Conclusions – The results suggest that increased aortic calcium affects the response of the tissue to vasoactive agents. It appears that the additional vascular calcium may be stored in an agonist releasable pool, probably within the sarcoplasmic reticulum. The enlarged or newly developed pools appear to be refillable from the extracellular medium but not by intracellular reuptake of calcium, suggesting a bicompartmental model of intracellular calcium release and reuptake.
On Zagier’s adele

Don Zagier suggested a natural construction, which associates a real number and p-adic numbers for all primes p to the cusp form g=Δ of weight 12. He claimed that these quantities constitute a rational adele. In this paper we prove this statement, and, more importantly, a similar statement when g is a weight 2 primitive form with rational integer Fourier coefficients. While a simple modular argument suffices for the proof of Zagier’s original claim, consideration of the case when g is of weight 2 involves Hodge decomposition for the formal group law of the rational elliptic curve associated with g. While in the weight 12 setting considered by Zagier the claim under consideration depends on a specific choice of a mock modular form which is good for g, in the case when g is of weight 2, the statement has a global nature, and depends on the fact that the classical addition law for the Weierstrass ζ-function is defined over . 11F37; 14H52; 14L05
Percentage of lifetime spent in area of residence at time of death.

A nationwide study by random-digit-dialing telephone interviews was used to estimate f, the average percentage of people's lifetimes, f, spent within 25 miles of their residence at time of death. The result is f approximately 70%, much larger than expected from census data on migration. Except for deaths in Florida, California, and Arizona, f greater than 50% in all areas of the United States. For over half the U.S. population, f greater than 90%.
Infrared spectra of adsorbed species present during the oxidation of ethylene over silver

Abstract Infrared spectra are presented of the adsorbed species present on the surface of a silver catalyst during the oxidation of ethylene. These spectra, recorded as a function of time using a batch recirculation reactor, show significant changes as the reaction proceeds. The interpretation of the spectra recorded under reaction conditions is facilitated by comparison of these spectra with those obtained during the individual adsorption of reactants and products, both in the presence and absence of oxygen. Surface structures are proposed for each of the adsorbed species.
CLP and constraint abstraction

CLP*(D) is a class of constraint logic programming languages which incorporates the notion of abstraction. Predicates in CLP*(D) are (potentially) infinite rational trees which represent abstractions of constraint expressions. This view of predicates as constraint abstractions was motivated by the language Scheme, where closures are viewed as abstractions of functional expressions. A semantics and an efficient implementation of the language are provided, along with several examples of the novel programming techniques provided by this class of languages.
CORRELATION EFFECTS IN PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROMETRY OF ATOMS

As intense, continuously-tunable photon sources become available throughout the vacuum-ultraviolet and soft-X-ray energy range, it is useful to survey the effects that can be studied using photoelectron spectrometry. Such a survey is presented, and examples are cited to illustrate the current state of our knowledge in this area. Photoelectron spectrometry differs from absorption studies in that kinetic energy analysis of electrons yields information about each channel in a photoionization event, rather than yielding only the total cross-section. Electron angular distribution measurements can also provide further information about spins and multipolarities. Probably the most intriguing feature of electron spectrometry is the direct insight that it can give into electron correlation effects. In a general description of electron correlation effects there is no necessity to consider one-electron orbitals. However, as a heuristic device it is convenient to do so, and to consider at least four different manifestations of electron correlation in electron spectrometry : Initial-State Configuration Interaction (ISCI), Final-Ionic-State Configuration Interaction (FISCI), Continuum-State Configuration Interaction (CSCI), and autoionization. There now exist rather well-understood examples of CI satellites, which will be cited and reviewed. Future directions that further studies of these and related phenomena might take to better understand electron correlation in atoms will be discussed.
On the encounter of an acoustic shear pulse with a phase boundary in an elastic material: reflection and transmission behavior

The fully dynamical motion of a phase boundary is considered for a specific class of elastic materials whose stress-strain relation in simple shear is nonmonotone. It is shown that a preexisting stationary phase boundary in a prestressed layer composed of such a material can be set in motion by a finite amplitude shear pulse. An infinity of solutions is possible according to the present theory, each of which is characterized by different reflected and transmitted waves at the phase boundary. A global analysis gives exact bounds on the size of the solution family for different shear pulse amplitudes. For certain ranges of shear pulse amplitudes a completely reflecting solution will exist, while for an in general different range of shear pulse amplitudes a completely transmitting solution will exist. The properties of these different solutions are examined. In particular, it is observed that the ringing of a shear pulse between the external boundaries and the internal phase boundary gives rise to periodic phase boundary motion for both the case of a completely reflecting phase boundary and a completely transmitting phase boundary.
Federalist No. 23: Can the Leviathan Be Managed?

Federalist No. 23 offers a strong case for national power and the need to grant “means proportional to the end” to the new government. This essay argues that the founders could not have anticipated the breadth of today's national agenda and offers a framework for designing a more strategic and effective public enterprise.
Morphological and pharmacological evidence for neuropeptide Y-galanin interaction in the rat hypothalamus

Galanin (GAL) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) have been shown to play important roles in the regulation of pituitary hormone secretion, as well as ingestive and sexual behaviors, by acting within the hypothalamus. While the mechanism of action of these regulatory peptides is under intensive investigation, less attention has been paid to the possible interaction between them in influencing these central regulatory processes. Because NPY and GAL augment pituitary gonadotropin release, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the nature of morphological and functional relationships between these excitatory hypothalamic peptidergic systems. Double immunolabeling for NPY and GAL was carried out on vibratome sections taken from the hypothalamus of colchicine-pretreated female rats. Avidinbiotin peroxidase technique and a dark blue diaminobenzidine reaction was used to visualize NPY profiles, while the GAL neurons were labeled with a light brown diaminobenzidine reaction using either the avidin-biotin peroxidase or...
Exceptionally Thermally Stable Polyimides for Second-Order Nonlinear Optical Applications

The thermal stability of the electric field induced poled order in a new class of second-order optically nonlinear polymers, "donor-imbedded" side-chain polyimides containing no flexible connectors or tethers to the nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophore, is investigated. In these polymers, the electron-donor part of the chromophore is a diaryl-substituted amine that is incorporated as a part of the polymer backbone. The donorimbedded systems used in this study have exceptional chemical stabilities at elevated temperatures (350°C) and impressive poled order stability at extremely high temperatures (300°C). In both respects, they were significantly more stable than a true side-chain polyimide with a similar NLO-active chromophore covalently linked to the polymer backbone by a flexible tether group.