cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Attitudes toward defendants with substance-related charges: An analysis of a national sample of criminal defense attorneys

Background and objectives While a large percentage of criminal offenders suffer from substance use disorders (SUDs), virtually nothing is known about the attitudes criminal defense attorneys possess toward their clients who are facing substance-related charges. This is a serious concern, as the burden of steering individuals with SUDs into treatment often falls to criminal defense attorneys. The goal of this study was to examine the attitudes of criminal defense attorneys toward individuals who have been accused of drug crimes. Methods A questionnaire was sent to criminal defense attorneys (N = 1,933) from all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. It was comprised of (i) demographic information and (ii) a version of the 11-item Medical Condition Regard Scale (MCRS). Results Criminal defense attorneys held generally positive attitudes toward clients with substance-related charges, but there was a significant divergence in attitudes between private and public attorneys, with the latter showing both greater familiarity with and better attitudes toward this same group of clients. These differences were impactful: worse attitudes toward clients strongly correlated with greater predictions that the clients would reoffend. Conclusion and scientific significance Given the magnitude of the incarcerated population with SUDs and the centrality of defense attorneys in the treatment process, especially its initiation, the divergence in attitudes between private and public criminal defense attorneys is concerning. There is a clear need for increased collaboration between physicians and attorneys, with an aim of increasing the number of individuals with SUDs receiving proper treatment (Am J Addict 2018;XX:1-7).
Memristor Crossbar PUF based Lightweight Hardware Security for IoT

Billions of IoT (Internet of Things) devices are being introduced to our everyday life each year. Most of them have little to no security features embedded in them. But these devices connect to internet and communicate with other devices all the time which pose a great security and privacy risk. Due to the resource constraint nature of these devices, initially security was not being considered as an essential feature. Therefore, any security features to be included in these devices should be minimal in area, energy consumption and added delay. Physical unclonable function (PUF) has emerged as a low-overhead solution for a variety of security concerns in recent years. In this paper, we have presented a simple security method for small IoT devices based on PUFs. The idea is to secure the backup data during sleep mode of an embedded processor or when power is unavailable for a batteryless system. With the emergence of nano-technology, memristors are being widely explored due to their non-volatility, low footprint among other advantages. Our proposed security system utilizes a memristor based PUF along with memristors as a non-volatile backup memory. The proposed system is very lightweight as this domain demands and provide reasonable security.
Sharing Economies, Technologies, and the Changing Nature of Urban Public Space in Medium-Sized Cities

Public spaces ensure functional operation and resource sharing in all cities. Streets, squares, and parks afford cultural, socio-economic, and ecological activities benefitting society. However, technology and sharing economies are changing the use of urban spaces. Planners and designers must, therefore, consider the evolution of sharing and other technologies that continue to alter the formation of space in growing medium-sized cities. Public space in a city is a spectrum from the streets to the privacy within homes, and this transect is now being blurred by sharing technology and practices. This paper examines the impact that new technologies and sharing economies have on the way public spaces are generated and used, and what opportunities exist to mitigate negative changes using a human-centered focus and ecological wisdom.
Growth in Children with a Fontan Circulation

Objective To evaluate growth in a population of patients with Fontan circulation. Study design We performed a cross-sectional evaluation of patients followed in our multidisciplinary Fontan clinic from January 2011 through August 2015. We reviewed the historical data, anthropometry, clinical, and laboratory studies and performed bivariate and multivariate analysis of factors associated with height z score. Results Patients (n = 210) were included in the study at median age 11.07 years (8.3, 14.73 years) (43% female); 138 (65%) had a dominant right systemic ventricle and 92 (44%) hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Median age at completion of Fontan circulation was 31 months (7.6, 135.8 months). Median height z score was −0.58 (−1.75, 0.26). Twenty-five (12%) had current or past history of protein-losing enteropathy (PLE). Median height z score for those with current or past history of PLE was −2.1 (−2.46, 1.24). Multivariate analysis revealed positive associations between height z score and body mass index z score, time since Fontan, mid-parental height, dominant systemic ventricle type, and serum alkaline phosphatase. Height correlated negatively with known genetic syndrome, PLE, use of stimulant or oral steroid medication. Conclusions Children with Fontan circulation have mild deficits in height, with greater deficits in those with PLE. Height z score improves with time postsurgery. Improving weight, leading to improved body mass index, may be a modifiable factor that improves growth in those who are underweight. Biochemical markers may be helpful screening tests for high-risk groups in whom to intensify interventions.
Lower Extremity Nerve Transfers in Acute Flaccid Myelitis Patients: A Case Series.

Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is characterized by flaccid paralysis following prodromal symptoms. Complete recovery is rare, and patients typically have residual extremity weakness. This study aimed to describe the technique and outcomes of lower extremity nerve transfers for children with AFM. Methods A retrospective review of eight children who developed AFM in 2016 and had lower extremity nerve transfers was performed. Principles of nerve transfer were applied to develop novel nerve transfer procedures to restore function for this patient population. Pre- and postoperative muscle strength grades were reviewed, and qualitative improvements in function were recorded. Results A variety of nerve transfers were utilized in eight patients with average time to surgery from AFM diagnosis of 15.7 months. Restoration of gluteal, femoral, hamstring, and gastrocnemius function was attempted. Variable MRC grade improvement was achieved (range MRC grade 0-4). All patients reported subjective improvements in function. Four of five patients with follow-up who underwent nerve transfers for restoration of gluteal function transitioned from wheelchair use to walking with assistive devices as their primary modes of ambulation. No donor site complications occurred. Conclusions The unique needs of this patient population and variable patterns of residual weakness require meticulous assessment and development of individualized surgical plans. With appropriate goals and expectations in mind, functional improvement may be achieved, including return to ambulation.
A Novel AQC Factoring Algorithm

Due to recent technological advances, actual quantum devices are being constructed and used to perform computations. As a result, many classical problems are being restated so as to be solved on quantum computers. Some examples include satisfiability problems; clustering and classification; protein folding; and simulating many-body systems. Converting these classical problems to a quantum framework is not always straightforward. As such, instances where researchers explicitly elucidate the conversion process are not only valuable in their own right, but are likely to spawn new ideas and creative ways in regards to problem solving. In this paper, we propose a classical factoring algorithm, which we then convert into a quantum framework. Along the way, we discuss the subtle similarities and differences between the approaches, and provide a general comparison of their performance. It is our desire to not only introduce an interesting approach to factoring, but to hopefully promote more creative ways to solving problems using quantum computers. The key to our algorithm is that we convert the factoring problem to a graph theory problem using elements from group theory. The move to a graph-theoretic approach ultimately eases the transition to a quantum setting.
The Effects of Exercise on Perceived Barriers and Benefits of Exercise by Cancer Survivors Post Treatment

Exercise may be used to attenuate cancer treatment-related side effects. However, the majority of cancer survivors do not participate in regular exercise. Purpose: This study examined changes in fitness parameters as well as perceived exercise benefits and barriers held by post-treatment adult cancer survivors, who participated in a 12-week structured exercise program. Methods: This study used a randomized controlled trial design. Participants were 24 post-treatment adult cancer survivors with various cancer diagnoses. The Exercise Benefits /Barriers Subscale (EBBS) questionnaire was used to evaluate perceived exercise benefits and barriers. Data was analyzed using a mixed-between-within ANOVA. Results: There were no significant differences in the total EBBS score (128.7 Â± 23.2 v. 142.6 Â± 17.8; p =.20) or the benefits (86.4 Â± 17.2 v. 96.3 Â± 12.9; p =.31) and barriers subscales (42.3 Â± 7.8 v. 46.5 Â± 6.1; p =.14). However, those in the exercise group were significantly more likely to respond that exercise participation would not cause fatigue (2.42 Â±.90 v. 3.25 Â± .45; p =0.04), but may decrease fatigue (3.0 Â± .60 v. 3.17 Â±.58; p =.03). Conclusion: Among cancer survivors, exercise participation may strengthen the perception that exercise reduces, rather than causes, fatigue.
A Concise History of the Baltic States

1. The peoples of the Eastern Baltic Littoral 2. The new order, 1200-1500 3. The new order reconfigured, 1500-1710 4. Installing hegemony: the Littoral and Tsarist Russia, 1710-1800 5. Reforming and controlling the Baltic Littoral, 1800-55 6. Five decades of transformations, 1855-1905 7. Statehood in troubled times, 1905-40 8. The return of empires, 1940-91 9. Reentering Europe: 1991 Suggested readings.
Cerebral white matter contains PDGF-responsive precursors to O2A cells

Cells dissociated from the cerebral white matter of immature rats were maintained in monolayer culture. Treatment with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) caused a large increase in the numbers of "O2A" oligodendroglial precursor cells (which bind the monoclonal antibody A2B5) and subsequently in the numbers of galactocerebroside (galC)-positive oligodendroglia. A2B5-negative "pre-O2A cells" in cerebral white matter cultures in which O2A cells and oligodendroglia had been killed by antibody-dependent complement-mediated cytolysis were induced by PDGF to proliferate and to differentiate into O2A cells and subsequently into oligodendroglia and type 2 astroglia. The most mature pre-O2A phenotype in these cultures was a small, round, process-bearing cell which expressed vimentin but not glial fibrillary acidic protein or galC. Cells of this phenotype were not observed upon PDGF treatment of immature rat optic nerve monolayer cultures from which O2A cells and oligodendrocytes had been depleted, and PDGF also failed to elicit the accumulation of O2A cells and oligodendroglia in such cultures.
Transitive families of projections in factors of type II~1

We introduce a notion of transitive family of subspaces relative to a type II 1 factor, and hence a notion of transitive family of projections in such a factor. We show that whenever M is a factor of type II 1 and M is generated by two self-adjoint elements, then M ⊗ M 2 (C) contains a transitive family of 5 projections. Finally, we exhibit a free transitive family of 12 projections that generate a factor of type II 1 .
β-ETHYLMALATE SYNTHETASE

Rabin, Robert (Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pa.), Henry C. Reeves, and Samuel J. Ajl. beta-Ethylmalate synthetase. J. Bacteriol. 86:937-944. 1963.-Pseudomonas aeruginosa, when grown in an inorganic salts medium with butyrate as the sole carbon source, produced an enzyme which catalyzed the condensation of butyryl coenzyme A (CoA) and glyoxylate to form beta-ethylmalic acid. Maximal activity was found in the 40 to 60% (NH(4))(2)SO(4) fraction of cell-free extracts. Mg(++) was stimulatory, and the optimal pH was 8.0 to 8.5. beta-Ethylmalic acid-C(14) was demonstrable in paper chromatograms when either glyoxylate-1-C(14) or butyryl CoA-3-C(14) was included in complete systems incubated anaerobically. When either glyoxylate, butyryl CoA, or enzyme was omitted, beta-ethylmalate was not detected. Further evidence that beta-ethylmalic acid-C(14) was the product of the condensation of butyryl CoA-3-C(14) and nonlabeled glyoxylate was provided by synthesis of the derivative 5-ethyluracil-C(14). The derivative was recrystallized to constant specific activity and identified by its melting point and spectral properties.
VISUALIZATION AND MODELING OF PILOT INJECTION AND COMBUSTION IN DIESEL ENGINES

An endoscope-based image acquisition-and-processing camera system was used for diagnostics of pilot injection combustion in a single-cylinder heavy duty diesel engine. A study of the pilot injection or light load is of interest because the spray breakup, mixing and vaporization processes are less influenced by heat feedback from the flame than in full injection cases. This allows the spray process to be decoupled from the combustion process. The experimental cases were modeled using a version of the KIVA-II code that includes improvements in the turbulence, wall heat transfer, spray, ignition and combustion models. The combustion of the pilot injections was characterized by ignition sites located below the point where the spray impinges on the piston bowl surface for the injector configuration used in this study. Multiple ignition sites were observed and the majority of the combustion occurred at the bottom of the piston bowl, spreading along the bowl edge. As the start-of-injection timing was retarded some evidence of ignition above the impingement point was observed. However, these ignition sites did not develop into major combustion zones. Comparisons of the experimental results, which included pressure traces, heat release rates and the luminous flame images, and the numerical computations were made tomore » assess the performance of current models in the KIVA-II code. Good agreement was obtained for the timing and location of ignition. The penetration of the flame observed in the luminous flame images was also captured in the predictions. A feature of the pilot injection that was not captured by the prediction is the spread of the flame along the edge of the piston bowl. The comparisons indicate that recent improvements in KIVA-II allow better prediction of the combustion of pilot injections.« less
Abstract 17838: The Critical Role of Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Device Interrogation at Autopsy: A 5 Year Review of the Johns Hopkins Post-mortem CIED Registry

Introduction: CIED (pacemaker (PPM) or defibrillator (ICD)) analysis is recommended upon death but there is no data upon the role of systematic CIED analysis at autopsy. We undertook a registry analysis to determine the utility of pre-specified CIED explantation, interrogation and technical analysis at autopsy . Methods: From May 19, 2009 - May 18, 2014 adult & pediatric autopsy subjects at two academic institutions underwent concomitant CIED pulse generator explantation. The autopsy report was reviewed and the CIED was interrogated by an electrophysiologist (EP) for relevant clinical alerts and submitted to the applicable manufacturer for technical analysis. Significant alerts were reviewed & confirmed by a 2 nd EP. Results: Seventy (4.3%) of 1642 autopsies had CIEDs and underwent either complete (90%) or limited autopsy. There were 30 PPMs and 40 ICDs (4 manufacturers). The mean age at death was 62.7 years (range 6 months - 97 years). In total, 35 (50%) died suddenly and 35 died non-suddenly. Significant clinical alerts were found in 22/35 (62.9%) sudden death subjects and included; 10 sustained VT/VF episodes terminated with either internal or external shocks, 10 sustained VT/VF episodes not terminated due to: undersensing (3), unsuccessful shock (2), rate below ICD therapy cut-off (1), or sustained VT/VF detection in PPM recipient (4). 4 (2 with VT/VF) exhibited an intra-thoracic impedance derived fluid index > 200. In the non-sudden death group 7/35 (20%) displayed a significant clinical alert; 2 sustained VT/VF episodes and 6 (1 with VT/VF) exhibited a fluid index > 200. There was significant association between likelihood of clinical alert and sudden death as compared to non-sudden death (χ 2 = 11.538, p 2 = 15.006, p Conclusion: CIED analysis is an important post-mortem diagnostic tool and should be routinely performed at the time of autopsy. Post-mortem CIED analysis is especially useful in cases of sudden death to screen for significant clinical alerts and to rule out component failure.
Structural proteins of simian virus 40: phosphoproteins.

Abstract All five structural polypeptides of infectious simian virus 40 grown in African green monkey kidney cells were found to be phosphorylated. The polypeptides with the largest and smallest molecular weights are phosphorylated to a somewhat lower extent than the other polypeptides. The protein moiety of “empty” virus, which is essentially devoid of deoxyribonucleic acid, exhibited a degree of phosphorylation similar to that of infectious virus. In the major polypeptide (molecular weight: 49,000), the phosphate appears to be bound to the seryl or threonyl residues, or both. The nature of the phosphate-polypeptide bond in the other viral polypeptides remains obscure.
The study of the orientation of polyvinyl chloride films by means of birefringence and infrared, visible, and ultraviolet dichroism

The ultraviolet, visible and infrared dichroism and birefringence of a series of stretched polyvinyl chloride (PVC) samples containing polyene structures prepared by chemical dehydrohalogenation is studied. A theory is developed relating the dichroism and birefringence of a segment of a polymer molecule to the length (and stiffness) of that segment. Values of the principal absorbances and polarizabilities of the polyene segments which are required for the theory are calculated. The theory is applied to interrclate these optical measurements in a satisfactory manner and to provide a means of experimentally determining the orientation of PVC in an oriented film. Der Dichroismus im ultravioletten, sichtbaren und infraroten Wellenbereich und die Doppelbrechung einer Reihe von verstreckten Polyvinylchloridproben, die Polyenstrukturen enthalten und durch chemische Halogenwasserstoffabspaltung dargestellt worden waren, wurden untersucht. Es wird eine Theorie uber die Beziehungen des Dichroismus und der Doppelbrechung des Segments eines polymeren Molekuls zu der Lange (und Steifheit) dieses Segments entwickelt. Die Werte fur die Hauptabsorptionsstellen und fur die Polarisierbarkeit der Polyensegmente, die fur die Theorie erforderlich sind, wurden berechnet. Die Theorie wird angewendet, um diese optischen Messungen in befriedigender Weise untereinander in Beziehung zu setzen und einen Weg zur experimentellen Bestimmung der Orientierung des Polyvinylchlorids in einem orientierten Film zu erhalten.
Limits on School Disciplinary Authority over Online Student Speech

When, if ever, can a public secondary school in the United States legally discipline a student for the content of a personal website, a Facebook post, a text message, or an email that the student created or transmitted from an off-campus location? The U.S. Supreme Court has never addressed the issue, and the lower courts have split on it, providing a number of different answers to the question. In answering this question, this Comment distinguishes between two kinds of off-campus internet speech: (1) threats or incitements to violence that are never protected by the First Amendment in any context (“true threats”), and (2) other kinds of speech that the First Amendment would protect if the speaker were an adult in a public forum. This Comment argues that there should be limits on school disciplinary authority over both of these kinds of speech. Threats or incitements to violence serious enough to fall outside the scope of constitutional protection may always subject a speaker to criminal punishment. Therefore, this Comment argues that students should not additionally be subject to school discipline for such unprotected speech unless the speech has some connection (a “sufficient nexus”) to the school. This rule has the advantage of allowing schools to discipline students for threats related to the school while also preventing school authority from a limitless extension into matters so unrelated to the school that they should only be handled by authorities. In contrast to its position on unprotected “true threats,” this Comment argues that schools should never be allowed to discipline students for off-campus internet speech that would be protected by the First Amendment if it occurred outside the school context. In cases involving speech that occurred at school, the U.S. Supreme Court has stated, in Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District and its progeny, that schools may discipline students for speech that causes “substantial disruption” to school activities. But this Comment argues that, since Tinker and its progeny were designed specifically for the school setting, the school speech rules articulated in Tinker and its progeny should never be applied to off-campus speech. Although others have made that argument, this Comment goes further by attempting to clearly define when speech occurs on campus and when it occurs off campus. It argues that speech that is originally created or transmitted off campus may only be considered on-campus speech if it is intentionally (re)communicated by the student while he or she is on campus. It further argues that the Spence v. Washington test for communicative conduct should be used to decide if internet speech was intentionally communicated on campus. This Comment concludes with a discussion of how the rule it proposes should apply in specific situations that schools are likely to face in the future.
The State of the Art in Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation has evolved in design, technology, patient selection, insertion techniques, adjunct devices, and management in the past 45 years since it began. Outcomes have improved and indications have expanded. It continues to be an expeditious, cost-effective tool for rapid resuscitation of patients with cardiorespiratory failure, whose outcomes without extracorporeal membrane oxygenation intervention are predominately fatal. However, results are still moderately satisfactory, and the ethical aspects of ongoing care need to be at the forefront of daily family discussions in patients for whom a bridge to transplant or definitive device is not possible.
Multi-input multi-output self-organizing detection and filter design

A suboptimal auto-regression moving average detection filter is proposed using only input and output measurements to monitor the failures occurring in a multi-input multioutput stochastic linear time invariant system with unknown system parameters. Several self-organizing procedures including system updating construction of a discriminate function, and suboptimal detection filter-output estimation are incorporated in the augmented detection system in order to enhance its performance. Advantages of the proposed detection system include: (1) maintain continuous failure detection capability and at the same time provide suboptimal output estimation; (2) enhance output residue in order to ease the task of failure decision; and (3) preserve failure detectability so long as failures are output separable. The effectiveness of the filter and simplicity of design are illustrated through an example. >
Hydrogen-bond patterns and the structures of 1,4-cyclohexanediol: 2:1 cis:trans-1,4-cyclohexanediol

The structure of a co-crystal with both trans and cis isomers of 1,4-cyclohexanediol (1,4-CHD) is reported. The intermolecular hydrogen-bond patterns are described and compared with those of the all trans structure, using the graph-set model. A second crystal with possible cis/trans disorder is also described. The results of molecular modeling of the simple isomers and conformers are compared with the known structures.
General discrete centered image pyramids

We present an improved type of image pyramid based on general approximation functions. The type of pyramid proposed maintains the good properties of symmetry and consistent boundary conditions of the Haar pyramid. Moreover, it is not restricted to a piece-wise constant image model, but allows the use of any generating sequence. The centered topology guarantees a clearly defined up- projection of labels and may be employed in applications for contour detection, object recognition and segmentation. We start by introducing the general discrete framework for the design of least squares pyramids using the standard filtering and decimation tools based on arbitrary basis functions. Our design criterion is to minimize the l2 norm of the approximation error. We then define the centered pyramid and give explicit filter coefficients for odd and even spline approximation functions. Finally, we compare the centered pyramid to the ordinary one and highlight some applications.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Toward active pose estimation of a grasped object

This paper concerns the use of visual feedback to verify whether an object has been properly grasped by a manipulator. The work is motivated by the fact that many general-purpose manipulators are equipped with very simple grippers which may not be well suited to grasping common objects. Furthermore, many robotic systems do not verify that a grasp operation has been successfully executed. This paper describes a system under development at Virginia Tech which utilizes visual feedback to guide relative camera-object movements for the purpose of estimating the pose of the object. The goal is to assist in computing object pose relative to a coordinate system embedded in the gripper. Object shape is assumed to be known in advance. Two methods are discussed, both of which utilize visually guided movements to search for a minimum in an objective function. The first method is to align the gripper with the image plane, facilitating the computation of object orientation about the normal to the image plane. The second involves moving the object to align its image with a desired view of the object. Extensive calibration of the camera or manipulator is not required. The methods discussed here are still at the conceptual stage, but illustrate the potential of the active approach.
An approach to fractures of the midface: An interactive tutorial

Purpose: To describe an educational computer aided instruction program dealing with diagnosis and classification of facial fractures.
Impulsivity as an underlying factor in the relationship between disordered eating and sexual behavior.

Objective Previous research has reported associations between bulimia nervosa (BN), increased sexual activity, and impulsivity. However, most studies have examined these topics separately and have not examined the role of impulsivity in associations between bulimic and sexual behaviors. The current study sought to examine relationships between disordered eating, sexual behaviors, and impulsivity, as well as to investigate impulsivity as a third variable in these relationships. Method The participants were 500 female undergraduate students from a large midwestern university who completed self-report questionnaires of binge eating, the use of compensatory behavior, sexual behavior, and impulsivity. Results Compensatory behavior, but not binge eating, was significantly correlated with sexual experiences. Partial correlations indicated that impulsivity is a third variable that partially underlies this relationship. Conclusion Compensatory behaviors and increased sexual activity likely represent risky behaviors that are influenced by impulsivity levels. © 2005 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Quantum Monte Carlo calculations of electroweak transition matrix elements in A=6,7 nuclei

Green's function Monte Carlo (GFMC) calculations of magnetic dipole, electric quadrupole, Fermi, and Gamow-Teller transition matrix elements are reported for $A=6,7$ nuclei. The matrix elements are extrapolated from mixed estimates that bracket the relevant electroweak operator between variational Monte Carlo (VMC) and GFMC propagated wave functions. Because they are off-diagonal terms, two mixed estimates are required for each transition, with a VMC initial (final) state paired with a GFMC final (initial) state. The realistic Argonne ${v}_{18}$ two-nucleon and Illinois-2 three-nucleon interactions are used to generate the nuclear states. In most cases we find good agreement with experimental data.
Network recruitment to coherent oscillations in a hippocampal computer model

Coherent neural oscillations represent transient synchronization of local neuronal populations in both normal and pathological brain activity. These oscillations occur at or above gamma frequencies (>30 Hz) and often are propagated to neighboring tissue under circumstances that are both normal and abnormal, such as gamma binding or seizures. The mechanisms that generate and propagate these oscillations are poorly understood. In the present study we demonstrate, via a detailed computational model, a mechanism whereby physiological noise and coupling initiate oscillations and then recruit neighboring tissue, in a manner well described by a combination of stochastic resonance and coherence resonance. We develop a novel statistical method to quantify recruitment using several measures of network synchrony. This measurement demonstrates that oscillations spread via preexisting network connections such as interneuronal connections, recurrent synapses, and gap junctions, provided that neighboring cells also receive sufficient inputs in the form of random synaptic noise. “Epileptic” high-frequency oscillations (HFOs), produced by pathologies such as increased synaptic activity and recurrent connections, were superior at recruiting neighboring tissue. “Normal” HFOs, associated with fast firing of inhibitory cells and sparse pyramidal cell firing, tended to suppress surrounding cells and showed very limited ability to recruit. These findings point to synaptic noise and physiological coupling as important targets for understanding the generation and propagation of both normal and pathological HFOs, suggesting potential new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to human disorders such as epilepsy.
Conformational free energy surface of the linear DPDPE peptide: cost of pre-organization for disulfide bond formation

We have calculated the free energy differences between four conformers of the linear form of the opioid pentapeptide DPDPE in aqueous solution. The conformers are Cyc, representing the structure adopted by the linear peptide prior to disulfide bond formation, β C and β E , two slightly different β-turns previously identified in unconstrained molecular dynamics simulations, and Ext, an extended structure. Our simulations indicate that β E is the most stable of the studied conformers of linear DPDPE in aqueous solution, with β C , Cyc and Ext having free energies higher by 2.3, 6.3, and 28.2 kcal/mol, respectively. The free energy differences of 4.0 kcal/mol between β C and Cyc, and 6.3 kcal/mol between β E and Cyc, reflect the cost of pre-organizing the linear peptide into a conformation conducive for disulfide bond formation. Such a conformational change is a pre-requisite for the chemical reaction of S–S bond formation to proceed. The relatively low population of the cyclic-like structure agrees qualitatively with observed lower potency and different receptor specificity of the linear form relative to the cyclic peptide, and with previous unconstrained simulation results. Free energy component analysis indicates that the moderate stability difference of 4.0–6.3 kcal/mol between the β-turns and the cyclic-like structure results from cancellation of two large opposing effects. In accord with intuition, the relaxed β-turns have conformational strain 43–45 kcal/mol lower than the Cyc structure. However, the cyclic-like conformer interacts with water about 39 kcal/mol strongly than the open β-turns. Our simulations are the first application of the recently developed multidimensional conformational free energy thermodynamic integration (CFTI) protocol to a solvated system, with fast convergence of the free energy obtained by fixing all flexible dihedrals. Additionally, the availability of the CFTI multidimensional free energy gradient leads to a new decomposition scheme, giving the contribution of each fixed dihedral to the overall free energy change and providing additional insight into the microscopic mechanisms of the studied processes.
The novel taxane analogs, BMS-184476 and BMS-188797, potentiate the effects of radiation therapy in vitro and in vivo against human lung cancer cells.

Abstract Purpose:To evaluate the novel taxane analogs, BMS-184476 and BMS-188797, as potential radiosensitizers in vitro and in vivo . Methods and Materials:Human H460 lung cancer cells were incubated with either paclitaxel or a taxane analog and irradiated at various times. Surviving fractions were then determined using a clonogenic assay. Three different schedules were used: (A) 1-h drug incubation with radiation at t = 8 h, (B) 1-h drug incubation with radiation at t = 24 h, (C) 24-h drug incubation with radiation immediately after. Cell cycle redistribution by taxanes alone was measured with propidium iodide and flow cytometry. Percent apoptosis was also measured using 7-aminoactinomycin D (7-AAD) staining with flow cytometry. For in vivo studies, H460 cell xenografts were used in nude mice. Tumors were grown s.c. on the flank and then treated with BMS-184476 (10 mg/kg i.p. injection, Days 0, 2, and 4) and/or radiation (2 Gy/day, Days 0–4). Tumor growth delay was then measured for each treatment group. Results: The mean in vitro radiation dose enhancement ratios of BMS-184476, BMS-188797, and paclitaxel were 1.76, 1.49, and 1.31 for Schedules A, B, and C, respectively. Isobologram analysis showed that BMS-184476 was synergistic with radiation using Schedule A. Treatment with taxanes caused an increase in the percentage of G2/M cells at the time of irradiation. The mean fold increases in the %G2/M above control values for all three drugs were 5.6, 2.5, and 1.7 for Schedules A, B, and C, respectively. The combined effects of taxanes plus radiation on the induction of apoptosis were additive for all three drugs. In vivo studies showed that BMS-184476 can enhance the effects of fractionated radiotherapy, with an average enhancement factor of 1.66 obtained from three independent experiments Conclusions:These results demonstrated that the novel taxane analogs, BMS-184476 and BMS-188797, can enhance the effects of radiation in human lung cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo . These data also support the hypothesis that a G2/M block is involved in the radiosensitization caused by the taxanes.
Space Structures for Low-stress Environments:

This paper examines the criteria for the architectural design of space structures in low-stress environments, where stress-carrying ability is no longer a relevant consideration in the design of the space structure. In such environments, ergonomics and minimum surface criteria can lead to the most efficient design of the space structure. Based on these two criteria, the paper then considers the architectural design of a space tunnel and an interchange station. In direction-controlled artificial gravity environments, the nesting of ergonomic shapes, for minimum surface area, can lead to even more cost-effective design. 3-D computer graphics are used to display the results of this research.
Right bundle branch block: a predictor of mortality in early systemic sclerosis.

Objective To evaluate the prognostic significance of baseline electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities in a multiethnic cohort of patients with early systemic sclerosis (SSc) and to determine the serological, clinical, and echocardiogram correlates of ECG findings. Methods SSc patients with disease duration of≤5 years were enrolled in the GENISOS (Genetics versus Environment in Scleroderma Outcome Study) cohort. At the first visit, a standard 12 lead ECG was obtained along with demographic information, clinical data, and autoantibodies. The results of echocardiograms were also recorded. All ECGs were interpreted by a cardiologist unaware of the patients' clinical data. Results Of 265 SSc patients with average disease duration at enrollment of 2.5 years, 140 (52.8%) had abnormal ECG findings. These findings were not associated with SSc disease type or autoantibody profile but were associated with more severe heart and lung involvement. A total of 75 patients (28.3%) died over a follow up time of 9.9 years. Complete right bundle branch block (± left anterior hemiblock) on ECG, present in 7 (2.6%) patients, predicted a higher risk of mortality (HR: 5.3; 95% CI: 2.1 to 13.4; p<0.001). The predictive significance of right bundle branch block was independent of age at enrollment, gender, ethnicity and risk factors for coronary artery disease. Conclusion ECG abnormalities are common in patients with early SSc and are associated with the severity of lung and heart involvement. Right bundle branch block is an independent predictor of mortality, and should be considered a marker of disease severity in SSc.
On the Stratigraphy of North Shensi

(Abstract) The specimen is collected from a small outcrop near the Lolo village of Mao Mao Kou, some 30 km. N.N.W. of Hui Li district in S. Szechuan, on the N. slope of Lung Tsao Shan, a prominant mountain some 8,000 feet above the sea, entirely covered by a basaltic lava of Permian age. The latter weathers into a residual red clay which covers the lower slopes. The contact of the syenite with the Lung Tsao Shan lava was not observed owing to the thick cover. East of the occurrence a series of steep dipping red shales appears. The exact relation of this series with the syenite is not clear, but it is probable that they are in actual contact. Further east the red shale series is thrown into contact with a coal series containing Rhaetic plant fossils—probably by an overthrust as the whole coal series is highly folded.
The origin of the broadband luminescence and the effect of nitrogen doping on the optical properties of diamond films

Raman and various photoluminescence (PL) techniques were employed to investigate the role of nitrogen doping on the optical spectra of chemical‐vapor‐deposited (CVD) diamond films and to determine the origin of the characteristic broadband luminescence which is observed from approximately 1.5 to 2.5 eV and centered at ∼2 eV. The PL transitions attributed to the zero‐phonon lines (ZPL) of nitrogen centers are observed at 1.945 and 2.154 eV. A new possible nitrogen center at 1.967 eV is also observed as well as the band A luminescence centered at ∼2.46 eV. The experimental results preclude the possibility of the broadband PL being due to electron‐lattice interaction of the nitrogen ZPL centers. We establish the presence of an in‐gap state distribution in CVD diamond films attributed to the sp2 disordered phase and show that its optical transitions are the likely cause of the broadband luminescence. A model of the in‐gap state distribution is presented which is similar to models previously developed for amorphous materials.
Robots and the Internet: Causes for Concern

Reacting to the turbulent events of the last decade or so, the U.S. government has focused much attention on developing strategies to curtail the misuse of technology, especially biological agents. In principle, any technology can be exploited and used to achieve malicious ends. This is an especially poignant issue now that we have reached the digital age and that an individual person?s actions can have an impact that spans across the globe. One way in which a malicious actor could cause serious harm is by manipulating how a robot functions.
The early stages of plastic deformation in copper

Abstract Small plastic strains in the range 1–500 × 10 −6 were measured with electrical resistance strain gages for high-purity polycrystalline copper tensile specimens. Plastic extension was observed at stresses above about 1000 lb/in 2 , and the plastic strain at a given stress was shown to depend on the third power of the grain size. A deformation mechanism is proposed in which the movement of the dislocations produced at small strains is blocked by grain boundaries. This picture predicts the observed grain size dependence and also accounts for the shape of the stress-plastic strain curve and for the magnitude of the plastic strain. Creep was observed in all specimens at stresses slightly above those required for the first observable plastic deformation. The creep rate at constant stress was greater the larger the grain size.
Expression and genetic variation of the Aplysia egg-laying hormone gene family in the atrial gland

We have screened anAplysia atrial gland cDNA library using an egg-laying hormone (ELH) precursor probe and have isolated and characterized five different clones, four of which are full-length and approximately 0.8 kb in size. The characterization of these cDNA clones firmly established the genetic variation of the ELH-related precursors expressed in the atrial gland and provided a rational basis for their revised nomenclature proposed herein. The five precursor ELH-related cDNA sequences obtained predicted the following genetically distinct polypeptide precursors designated as: A, [Asp143]A, [Glu94,Gln139]A, [Pro25]B, and [Phe96,Asp107]Bt. The [Phe96,Asp107]Bt cDNA sequence predicted a truncated form of a B-type precursor. Northern blot analysis of atrial gland RN A identified two transcripts of about equal intensity of 0.9 kb and 1.1kb. Polymerase chain reaction of genomic DNA, together with DNA sequence analysis, resolved previously reported discrepancies between genomic and cDNA sequences of the ELH-related precursors. Taken together the results obtained identified the expression of five ELH-related precursor genes in the atrial gland ofAplysia from at least two genetic loci per haploid genome.
Projected change in climate thresholds in the Northeastern U.S.: implications for crops, pests, livestock, and farmers

Most prior climate change assessments for U.S. agriculture have focused on major world food crops such as wheat and maize. While useful from a national and global perspective, these results are not particularly relevant to the Northeastern U.S. agriculture economy, which is dominated by dairy milk production, and high-value horticultural crops such as apples (Malus domestica), grapes (Vitis vinifera), sweet corn (Zea mays var. rugosa), cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata), and maple syrup (sugar maple, Acer saccharum). We used statistically downscaled climate projections generated by the HadCM3 atmosphere–ocean general circulation model, run with Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change future emissions scenarios A1fi (higher) and B1 (lower), to evaluate several climate thresholds of direct relevance to agriculture in the region. A longer (frost-free) growing season could create new opportunities for farmers with enough capital to take risks on new crops (assuming a market for new crops can be developed). However, our results indicate that many crops will have yield losses associated with increased frequency of high temperature stress, inadequate winter chill period for optimum fruiting in spring, increased pressure from marginally over-wintering and/or invasive weeds, insects, or disease, or other factors. Weeds are likely to benefit more than cash crops from increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide. Projections of thermal heat index values for dairy cows indicate a substantial potential negative impact on milk production. At the higher compared to lower emissions scenario, negative climate change effects will occur sooner, and impact a larger geographic area within the region. Farmer adaptations to climate change will not be cost- or risk-free, and the impact on individual farm families and rural communities will depend on commodity produced, available capital, and timely, accurate climate projections.
Reading Trajectories of Children with Language Difficulties from Preschool through Fifth Grade.

Purpose The current work examined which theory of reading development, the cumulative reading trajectory or the compensatory trajectory of development, most accurately represents the reading trajec...
Effects of light- and dark-adaptation processes on the generator potential of the Limulus eye

Abstract The sensitivity changes which occur in the eye during the processes of light- and dark-adaptation have been monitored with intracellular recordings in the single photoreceptor unit of the Limulus eye. The emphasis of the analysis has been directed toward a consideration of the effect of the adaptation processes upon the transient component of the generator potential response, since this component appears to be associated with threshold neural responses to short flashes of light. A limiting value for one asymptote of constant-response dark-adaptation curves was determined experimentally. It is suggested that this asymptote defines the maximum value of visual sensitivity which has experimental meaning for these constant-response curves. The existence of a mean amplitude of the transient component of the generator potential was established for a threshold response in the optic nerve, provided that the eye was maintained in a relatively constant state of adaptation. The amplitude of the transient component of the generator potential was not constant for a threshold response in the optic nerve for all measurable states of sensitivity of the eye, and consequently dark-adaptation curves plotted with a constant-amplitude criterion of the generator potential were not identical with curves plotted with a constant-response criterion of one propagated impulse in the optic nerve. A possible explanation for the differences between the two types of constant-response curves has been postulated on the basis of measurements made on the changing “dark potential” of the photoreceptor membrane.