cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Relative Location of the Dye Staining Endpoint Indicated With Polypropylene Glycol-Based Caries Dye versus Conventional Propylene Glycol-Based Caries Dye.

OBJECTIVES This study determined the difference in the location of the caries dye staining endpoint of 1% Acid Red dye in propylene glycol versus that of 1% Acid Red dye in polypropylene glycol. METHODS Freshly extracted permanent molar crowns with primary occlusal carious lesions were chisel-split axially to expose the lesion in cross-section on both halves. One half was stained with propylene glycol-based dye and the other with polypropylene glycol-based dye. For the control group, both halves were stained with propylene glycol-based dye. The dye staining front was marked on digital images of the stained split surfaces, and the images were aligned using reference notches. The distance between the marked staining front lines was measured in five locations, and the measurement protocol was repeated. Weighted averages and a 95% confidence interval for the distance between marked staining front lines were calculated for the control and experimental groups. RESULTS The weighted average distance for the experimental group (0.298 mm, 95% confidence interval 0.240 mm - 0.357 mm) was about four times that of the control group (0.070 mm, 95% confidence interval 0.051 mm - 0.089 mm). Generally, the marked staining line for the polypropylene glycol-based dye specimens was located shallow (occlusal) to the propylene glycol-based staining line (range -0.12 mm to 0.66 mm). CONCLUSIONS The staining endpoint of 1% Acid Red dye in polypropylene glycol is shallower than that of 1% Acid Red dye in propylene glycol. The method is useful for comparing staining endpoints of caries dye formulations. (Eur J Dent 2008;2:29-36).
Mountain snowpack response to different levels of warming.

Temperature variability impacts the distribution and persistence of the mountain snowpack, which critically provides snowmelt-derived water resources to large populations worldwide. Warmer temperatures decrease the amount of montane snow water equivalent (SWE), forcing its center of mass to higher elevations. We use a unique multivariate probabilistic framework to quantify the response of the 1 April SWE volume and its centroid to a 1.0 to 2.0 °C increase in winter air temperature across the Sierra Nevada (United States). A 1.0 °C increase reduces the probability of exceeding the long-term (1985–2016) average rangewide SWE volume (15.7 km3) by 20.7%. It correspondingly is 60.6% more likely for the centroid to be higher than its long-term average (2,540 m). We further show that a 1.5 and 2.0 °C increase in the winter temperature reduces the probability of exceeding the long-term average SWE volume by 31.0% and 41.1%, respectively, whereas it becomes 79.3% and 89.8% more likely that the centroid will be higher than 2,540 m for those respective temperature changes. We also characterize regional variability across the Sierra Nevada and show that the northwestern and southeastern regions of the mountain range are 30.3% and 14.0% less likely to have 1 April SWE volumes exceed their long-term average for a 1.0 °C increase about their respective average winter temperatures. Overall, the SWE in the northern Sierra Nevada exhibits higher hydrologic vulnerability to warming than in the southern region. Given the expected increases in mountain temperatures, the observed rates of change in SWE are expected to intensify in the future.
TMEM97 and PGRMC1 do not mediate sigma-2 ligand-induced cell death

Sigma-2 receptors have been implicated in both tumor proliferation and neurodegenerative diseases. Recently the sigma-2 receptor was identified as transmembrane protein 97 (TMEM97). Progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1) was also recently reported to form a complex with TMEM97 and the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor, and this trimeric complex is responsible for the rapid internalization of LDL. Sigma-2 receptor ligands with various structures have been shown to induce cell death in cancer cells. In the current study, we examined the role of TMEM97 and PGRMC1 in mediating sigma-2 ligand-induced cell death. Cell viability and caspase-3 assays were performed in control, TMEM97 knockout (KO), PGRMC1 KO, and TMEM97/PGRMC1 double KO cell lines treated with several sigma-2 ligands. The data showed that knockout of TMEM97, PGRMC1, or both did not affect the concentrations of sigma-2 ligands that induced 50% of cell death (EC50), suggesting that cytotoxic effects of these compounds are not mediated by TMEM97 or PGRMC1. Sigma-1 receptor ligands, (+)-pentazocine and NE-100, did not block sigma-2 ligand cytotoxicity, suggesting that sigma-1 receptor was not responsible for sigma-2 ligand cytotoxicity. We also examined whether the alternative, residual binding site (RBS) of 1,3-Di-o-tolylguanidine (DTG) could be responsible for sigma-2 ligand cytotoxicity. Our data showed that the binding affinities (Ki) of sigma-2 ligands on the DTG RBS did not correlate with the cytotoxicity potency (EC50) of these ligands, suggesting that the DTG RBS was not fully responsible for sigma-2 ligand cytotoxicity. In addition, we showed that knocking out TMEM97, PGRMC1, or both reduced the initial internalization rate of a sigma-2 fluorescent ligand, SW120. However, concentrations of internalized SW120 became identical later in the control and knockout cells. These data suggest that the initial internalization process of sigma-2 ligands does not appear to mediate the cell-killing effect of sigma-2 ligands. In summary, we have provided evidence that sigma-2 receptor/TMEM97 and PGRMC1 do not mediate sigma-2 ligand cytotoxicity. Our work will facilitate elucidating mechanisms of sigma-2 ligand cytotoxicity.
Adapting myoelectric control in real-time using a virtual environment

Pattern recognition technology allows for more intuitive control of myoelectric prostheses. However, the need to collect electromyographic data to initially train the pattern recognition system, and to re-train it during prosthesis use, adds complexity that can make using such a system difficult. Although experienced clinicians may be able to guide users to ensure successful data collection methods, they may not always be available when a user needs to (re)train their device. Here we present an engaging and interactive virtual reality environment for optimal training of a myoelectric controller. Using this tool, we evaluated the importance of training a classifier actively (i.e., moving the residual limb during data collection) compared to passively (i.e., maintaining the limb in a single, neutral orientation), and whether computational adaptation through serious gaming can improve performance. We found that actively trained classifiers performed significantly better than passively trained classifiers for non-amputees (P < 0.05). Furthermore, collecting data passively with minimal instruction, paired with computational adaptation in a virtual environment, significantly improved real-time performance of myoelectric controllers. These results further support previous work which suggested active movements during data collection can improve pattern recognition systems. Furthermore, adaptation within a virtual guided serious game environment can improve real-time performance of myoelectric controllers.
EPITHELIOID CELL GRANULOMA FORMATION WITH PINE POLLEN. II. RESULTS OF FOLLOW-UP STUDIES IN RATS, GUINEA PIGS AND RABBITS.

Epithelioid cell granulomas were produced in about 80% of 235 animals injected with loblolly pine pollen fragments or extracts. A biologically active fraction was found in the benzene extract. Chemical analysis of the benzene extract showed the presence of a mixture of a carbohydrate and a vegetable type wax. We do not suggest that pine pollen is the cause of sarcoidosis, however, it appears to have a definite biological activity.
Session details: Doctoral symposium

The SPLASH Doctoral Symposium provides students with guidance for completing their dissertation research and beginning their research careers. Doctoral students who attend the symposium are in one of two phases: Apprentices, who are just beginning their research, are not ready to actually make a research proposal, but are interested in learning about structuring research and getting some research ideas; and,Proposers, who have progressed far enough in their research to have a structured proposal, but will not be defending their dissertation in the next 12 months.At the workshop, all students give a two-minute overview of their research describing the most critical issues (the "elevator talk"). Proposers also give a 20-minute description of their research, including its purpose, goals, and technical approach. The doctoral symposium committee then provides each student with constructive feedback on his or her research.This year, I reviewed the 8 proposer and 2 apprentice submissions to the doctoral symposium in advance of selecting the doctoral symposium committee. As the topics discussed in the doctoral symposium are often quite diverse, this allowed me to ensure that the committee covered all areas in which students were working. After reading each submission, I decided to accept all 10 submissions.I hope you enjoy their papers in this volume. In my view, they showcase the broad range of topics in the area of SPLASH, and the energy and creativity that students bring to the conference!
Complementary low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol lowering and pharmacokinetics of adding bempedoic acid (ETC-1002) to high-dose atorvastatin background therapy in hypercholesterolemic patients: A randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Background Bempedoic acid is an oral, once-daily, first-in-class medication being developed to treat hypercholesterolemia. Objective The aim of the study was to assess the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)–lowering efficacy of bempedoic acid added to stable high-intensity atorvastatin background therapy and multiple-dose plasma pharmacokinetics of atorvastatin alone and combined with steady-state bempedoic acid. Methods This was a phase 2 study in patients with hypercholesterolemia (NCT02659397). Patients received once-daily open-label atorvastatin 80 mg for 4 weeks then were randomized 2:1 at baseline to receive double-blind bempedoic acid 180 mg (n = 45) or placebo (n = 23) plus open-label atorvastatin 80 mg for 4 weeks. Efficacy was assessed 4 weeks after randomization. Atorvastatin and metabolites' steady-state levels were analyzed before first dosing with bempedoic acid and after 2 weeks of treatment. Results The 4-week stabilization phase with 80 mg atorvastatin resulted in approximately 40% lowering of LDL-C values from screening. The placebo-adjusted least squares mean lowering of LDL-C from baseline to Day 29 with bempedoic acid was 22% (P = .003). Placebo-adjusted reductions from baseline with bempedoic acid also were significant for total cholesterol (−10%; P = .014), non–high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (−13%; P = .015), apolipoprotein B (−15%; P = .004), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (−44%; P = .002). Point estimates of bempedoic acid effects on steady-state atorvastatin and ortho-hydroxy atorvastatin area under the curve were Conclusions Bempedoic acid 180 mg added to stable high-dose atorvastatin therapy effectively lowers LDL-C in patients with hypercholesterolemia without causing clinically important increases in atorvastatin exposure.
Derechos ambientales y resistencias sociales: El instrumento legal como repertorio contra la minería en Argentina

espanolEn las pasadas dos decadas, la mineria a cielo abierto en Argentina se expandio significativamente. Frente a este avance, crecieron fuertemente las resistencias sociales contra la actividad y, desde 2003 a la fecha, nueve provincias aprobaron leyes que prohibieron la megamineria. A partir del estudio de los procesos de sancion de este tipo de normativas en Mendoza y Cordoba, el trabajo analiza la incorporacion del instrumento legal al repertorio de accion de las resistencias sociales y el impacto positivo del mismo sobre los procesos de incidencia legislativa. La incorporacion de un discurso legal a las acciones de resistencia, clave para impulsar el avance y reactualizacion de los derechos ambientales se vio favorecida por tres elementos: la capacidad de los contendientes de complementar acciones contenciosas con otras canalizadas institucionalmente; la pluralidad de actores involucrados y la socializacion de experiencias y, por ultimo, por el logro de resultados exitosos. EnglishIn the past two decades, open pit mining in Argentina expanded significantly. Facing this advance, social resistance against activity grew strongly and, since 2003 to date, nine provinces have passed laws banning mega-mining. Based on the study of the approval of such laws in Mendoza and Cordoba, this paper analyzes the incorporation of legal instruments as part of the social resistance repertoire and its positive impacts on processes of legislative incidence. The incorporation of a legal discourse in the actions of resistance –crucial element to promote the advancement and updating of environmental rights– was favored by three elements: the capacity of the disputing parties to complement contentious actions with others institutionally channeled; the plurality of actors involved and the socialization of experiences; and, finally, the achievement of successful results.
Subcutaneous Adipocyte Adenosine Triphosphate Levels in HIV Infected Patients.

Lipoatrophy, or fat wasting, remains a syndrome plaguing HIV+ patients receiving antiretroviral (ARV) therapy. Both HIV infection per se and certain ARV are associated with lowered adipose tissue m...
Molecular basis for retinol binding by serum amyloid A during infection.

Serum amyloid A (SAA) proteins are strongly induced in the liver by systemic infection and in the intestine by bacterial colonization. In infected mice, SAA proteins circulate in association with the vitamin A derivative retinol, suggesting that SAAs transport retinol during infection. Here we illuminate a structural basis for the retinol–SAA interaction. In the bloodstream of infected mice, most SAA is complexed with high-density lipoprotein (HDL). However, we found that the majority of the circulating retinol was associated with the small fraction of SAA proteins that circulate without binding to HDL, thus identifying free SAA as the predominant retinol-binding form in vivo. We then determined the crystal structure of retinol-bound mouse SAA3 at a resolution of 2.2 A. Retinol-bound SAA3 formed a novel asymmetric trimeric assembly that was generated by the hydrophobic packing of the conserved amphipathic helices α1 and α3. This hydrophobic packing created a retinol-binding pocket in the center of the trimer, which was confirmed by mutagenesis studies. Together, these findings illuminate the molecular basis for retinol transport by SAA proteins during infection.
Iconography and Phytomorphic Identification

The Voynich Codex, discovered in 1912 by Wilfred M. Voynich in Italy, had been long assumed to be of pre-Columbian European origin. This conventional dogma was put into question in 1944 by the distinguished botanist Rev. Dr. Hugh O’Neill, who identified in it two New World plants, sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and capsicum pepper (Capsicum annuum L). Despite his credentials as a botanical taxonomist and an expert in Mesoamerican plants, his work was either ignored or ridiculed. In 1991, an obscure note by an Australian, Jacques B.M. Guy, confirmed the sunflower identification and noted not a single European species. He mentioned that a botanical colleague identified passionfruit. Tucker and Talbert, in a seminal paper (2013), extended the identification to 39 plants as either indigenous to the New World or circumboreal, such as Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd. Tucker and Janick (2017) extended the list to 55 species while Tucker and Janick (2018a) added two additional ones. The identification in the Voynich Codex of New World plants as well as a mineral and 21 animals (Flaherty et al. 2018) provides hard evidence that the Voynich Codex is post-Columbus and not a fifteenth century European work, as had been almost universally assumed by Voynich Codex researchers (Zanbergen 2004–2017).
Oxygen Transport from Air to Tissues as an Integrated System: What Limits Maximal O 2 Consumption in Health and Disease?

Oxygen moves from the air to the mitochondria following a well-known sequence of steps comprising (a) ventilation, (b) diffusion across the pulmonary blood:gas barrier, (c) vascular transport to each tissue, and (d) diffusion from the tissue microcirculation to its mitochondria, where (e) oxidative phosphorylation uses that O2 to sustain cell function. O2 transport is therefore a system of interconnected processes, where each of the steps functions in a manner that is affected by each of the other four. Therefore, to understand O2 transport, and especially its limits, every step of the pathway must be considered simultaneously and not separately. Based on the overarching principle governing O2 transport—that conservation of mass of O2 is maintained at every step—simple mass conservation equations can be written describing O2 transport for each step. These equations can then be solved simultaneously to provide a quantitative understanding of how the transport processes function together, how each affects overall transport, and in particular, how O2 transport reaches a limit. This quantitative systems analysis can be applied not only in health—to understand limits O2 transport places on exercise—but also in chronic diseases to identify which steps may be abnormal.
Exclusive E-Cigarette Users Report Lower Levels of Respiratory Symptoms Relative to Dual E-Cigarette and Cigarette Users.

Introduction Exclusive e-cigarette use has been shown to be associated with reduced levels of respiratory symptoms relative to smoking combustible cigarettes; this association has been less frequently studied in smokers using advanced-generation e-cigarette devices. Advanced-generation devices generate denser vapor than either early generation or pod-style devices, and engender longer inhalations; these vaping topography patterns may contribute to respiratory symptoms. Methods In a single-session, cross-sectional study of exclusive e-cigarette users (N = 59) and dual users of e-cigarettes and cigarettes (N = 54), participants completed questionnaires, including the American Thoracic Society Questionnaire (ATSQ) and were videotaped vaping their own device in the lab for 1 hour. Using a hierarchical regression method, we examined whether topography variables, level of nicotine concentration used in their e-cigarette device in the past month, e-cigarette dependence, amount of e-cigarette use in the past month, and smoking status (any smoking in the last month vs. none) predicted ATSQ score severity. Results There was a significant mean difference in ATSQ score across smoking status, with greater ATSQ scores for vapers who also smoked cigarettes (19.0, SD = 6.7) than for exclusive vapers (13.4, SD = 5.3). In the final model, of the predictors of interest, only cigarette smoking status predicted significantly greater ATSQ scores (overall F = 2.51, p = .006; R2 = .26; smoking status β = 0.39, p Conclusions Findings suggest that differences in respiratory symptoms between dual and exclusive e-cigarette users appear to be attributable to combustible cigarette smoking, rather than more intense or frequent e-cigarette use across groups. Implications In this comparison of exclusive advanced-generation vape device users (N = 59) versus dual users of these devices and combustible cigarettes (N = 54), we set out to determine the extent to which smoking status and e-cigarette use variables predicted self-reported respiratory symptom severity. We found that dual users showed greater respiratory symptom severity (ATSQ scores) than exclusive vapers. Despite examining vaping topography and other variables, smoking status and race were the only significant predictor of respiratory symptoms. We conclude that combustible cigarette use, not individual vaping topography, likely accounts for differences in respiratory symptoms between dual users and exclusive vapers.
Serotonin Transporter and Plasma Membrane Monoamine Transporter Are Necessary for the Antidepressant-Like Effects of Ketamine in Mice.

Major depressive disorder is typically treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), however, SSRIs take approximately six weeks to produce therapeutic effects, if any. Not surprisingly, there has been great interest in findings that low doses of ketamine, a non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, produce rapid and long-lasting antidepressant effects. Preclinical studies show that the antidepressant-like effects of ketamine are dependent upon availability of serotonin, and that ketamine increases extracellular serotonin, yet the mechanism by which this occurs is unknown. Here we examined the role of the high-affinity, low-capacity serotonin transporter (SERT), and the plasma membrane monoamine transporter (PMAT), a low-affinity, high-capacity transporter for serotonin, as mechanisms contributing to ketamine’s ability to increase extracellular serotonin and produce antidepressant-like effects. Using high-speed chronoamperometry to measure real-time clearance of serotonin from CA3 region of hippocampus in vivo, we found ketamine robustly inhibited serotonin clearance in wild-type mice, an effect that was lost in mice constitutively lacking SERT or PMAT. As expected, in wild-type mice, ketamine produced antidepressant-like effects in the forced swim test. Mapping onto our neurochemical findings, the antidepressant-like effects of ketamine were lost in mice lacking SERT or PMAT. Future research is needed to understand how constitutive loss of either SERT or PMAT, and compensation that occurs in other systems, is sufficient to void ketamine of its ability to inhibit serotonin clearance and produce antidepressant-like effects. Taken together with existing literature, a critical role for serotonin, and its inhibition of uptake via SERT and PMAT, cannot be ruled out as important contributing factors to ketamine’s antidepressant mechanism of action. Combined with what is already known about ketamine’s action at NMDA receptors, these studies help lead the way to the development of drugs that lack ketamine’s abuse potential but have superior efficacy in treating depression.
RF Characterization of Diamond Schottky p-i-n Diodes for Receiver Protector Applications

Diamond Schottky p-i-n diodes have been grown by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) and incorporated as a shunt element within coplanar striplines for RF characterization. The p-i-n diodes have a thin, lightly doped n-type layer that is fully depleted by the top metal contact, and they operate as high-speed Schottky rectifiers. Measurements from dc to 25 GHz confirm that the diodes can be modeled by a voltage-dependent resistor in parallel with a fixed-value capacitor. In the OFF state with a dc bias of 0 V, the diode insertion loss is less than 0.3 dB at 1 GHz and increases to 14 dB when forward biased to 7.6 V. With a contact resistance, $R_{C}$ , of 0.25 $\text{m}\Omega \cdot $ cm2 and an OFF capacitance, $C_{\mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle OFF}}$ , of 17.5 nF/cm2, the diodes have an RF figure of merit $F_{\mathrm {oc}} =$ ( $2\pi R_{C}\,\,C_{\mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle OFF}})^{-1}$ of 36.5 GHz. The RF model suggests that reducing $R_{C}$ to less than $5\times 10^{-5} \Omega \cdot $ cm2 will enable input power rejection exceeding 30 dB. Compared to conventional silicon or compound semiconductor based power limiters, the superior thermal conductivity of the diamond Schottky p-i-n diodes makes them ideally suitable for RF receiver protectors (RPs) that require high power handing capability.
Evaluation and Management of the Cardiac Patient for Surgery

Summary Cardiovascular disease is a commonly recognized group of disorders among patients of all ages. The incidence of these disorders is only likely to increase as the American population ages. As such, it is essential for the oral and maxillofacial surgeon to recognize the various disorders and to provide these patients with appropriate perioperative care and management.
“When a Stranger Sojourns With You in Your Land”: Loving the Refugee as Neighbor in the Canterbury Tales and Refugee Tales

Inspired by Chaucer’s frame tale narrative, the recent volumes entitled Refugee Tales narrate the perilous journeys of modern-day displaced and stateless persons seeking asylum in the UK. This arti...
Direct Immunodetection of Global A‐to‐I RNA Editing Activity with a Chemiluminescent Bioassay

Adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) editing is a conserved RNA modification that contributes to immune response and overall cellular function. RNA editing patterns can vary significantly between different cell and tissue types, and hyperactive A-to-I signatures are indicative of several diseases, including cancer and autoimmune disorders. Because of the importance of these differences, there is significant need for efficient methods to measure overall A-to-I editing levels in cellular RNA. The current standard approach relies on RNA-seq to indirectly detect editing sites, which requires large investments in time and material as well as extensive computational analysis. Here, we utilize Endonuclease V (EndoV), which binds to inosine in RNA, to develop a protein-based chemiluminescent bioassay to directly profile A-to-I editing activity. We previously showed that EndoV can enrich edited transcripts prior to RNA-seq, and we now leverage this activity to construct an EndoV-linked immunosorbency assay (EndoVLISA) as a rapid chemiluminescent method for measuring global A-to-I editing signatures in cellular RNA. We first optimize and validate our assay, illustrating highly selective and sensitive detection of inosine in RNA. We then demonstrate rapid detection of inosine content in treated cell lines, demonstrating equivalent performance against current standard RNA-seq approaches. Lastly, we deploy our EndoVLISA for profiling differential A-to-I RNA editing signatures in normal and diseased human tissue, illustrating the utility of our platform as a diagnostic bioassay. Together, the EndoVLISA method is cost-effective, straightforward, and utilizes common laboratory equipment, offering a highly accessible new approach for studying A-to-I editing. Moreover, the multi-well plate format makes this the first assay amenable for direct high-throughput quantification of A-to-I editing for applications in disease detection and drug development.
Hearing loss in hydrocephalus: a review, with focus on mechanisms

While neither hydrocephalus nor cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt placement is traditionally considered in the differential diagnosis of hearing loss, there is substantial evidence that CSF circulation and pressure abnormalities can produce auditory dysfunction. Several indirect mechanisms may explain association between hydrocephalus and hearing loss, including mass effect, compromise of the auditory pathway, complications of prematurity, and genetically mediated hydrocephalus and hearing loss. Nevertheless, researchers have proposed a direct mechanism, which we term the hydrodynamic theory. In this hypothesis, the intimate relationship between CSF and inner ear fluids permits relative endolymphatic or perilymphatic hydrops in the setting of CSF pressure disturbances. CSF is continuous with perilymph, and CSF pressure changes are known to produce parallel perilymphatic pressure changes. In support of the hydrodynamic theory, some studies have found an independent association between hydrocephalus and hearing loss. Moreover, surgical shunting of CSF has been linked to both resolution and development of auditory dysfunction. The disease burden of hydrocephalus-associated hearing loss may be large, and because hydrocephalus and over-shunting are reversible, this relationship merits broader recognition. Hydrocephalic patients should be monitored for hearing loss, and hearing loss in a patient with shunted hydrocephalus should prompt further evaluation and possibly adjustment of shunt settings.
Budgetary institutions and expenditure outcomes : binding governments to fiscal performance

The authors examine how institutional arrangements affect incentives that govern the size, allocation, and use of budgetary resources. They use a diagnostic questionnaire to elicit the relative strengths and weaknesses of specific systems in terms of instilling fiscal discipline, strategically assigning spending priorities, and making the best use of limited resources. In applying their methodology to a sample of seven countries (Australia, Ghana, Indonesia, Malawi, New Zealand, Thailand and Uganda) they also examine how donor assistance affects expenditure outcomes. In New Zealand, reform focused on achieving general fiscal discipline and technical efficiency. In Australia, reform focused on strategic priorities and a shift from central to line agencies. The two countries took different paths, but both sought to alter incentives that affect the size, allocation, and use of resources and to improve transparency and accountability. Systems in Indonesia and Thailand were reasonably effective in instilling fiscal discipline, but Indonesia seemed better at allocating resources to protect basic social services and alleviate poverty during fiscal austerity periods. Thailand's overcentralized system did not capitalize on useful information from line agencies and lower levels of government. Donors play a central role in spending outcome in the three African countries. Donors provided incentives for short-term fiscal discipline, but the imposed spending cuts impeded the prioritizing of expenditures and multiple donor projects fragmented budgets. Donor conditionality on the composition of expenditures and donor-driven attempts to improve technical efficiency, were ineffective. Lack of transparency and accountability meant rules were not enforced and budgets were often remade in an ad hoc, centralized way, so that the flow of resources to line agencies was unpredictable.
Secure Blue: an architecture for a scalable, reliable high volume SSL Internet server

Although there exist accelerator products to increase throughput of encrypted transactions produced by an Internet HTTP server there are no current architectures that provide a truly coordinated and scalable solution for Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encrypted communications. This paper presents an architecture that facilitates high volume SSL Internet serving, scaling from thousands to millions of independently active SSL sessions. Reliability, availability, serviceability, and on-line error recovery requirements for such an application are also addressed. Our approach is to offload SSL set-up protocol activity that was traditionally executed by transaction engines (and dedicated co-processors), to a scalable array of SSL handshake protocol-specific servers. This significantly reduces utilization on the transaction engines since SSL session set-up is a CPU intensive operation. Additionally, the actual encryption/decryption processing is offloaded as well, to a dedicated and scalable array of in-line encryption engine(s). The in-line encryption engine is architected such that requests and responses flowing to and from the transaction servers are in clear text. A benefit of this arrangement is that transaction engines (as well as Web accelerator proxies) will retain the ability to cache Web objects, while firewalls will retain the ability to perform packet level inspection of all traffic directed to the transaction engines. Such features have been sacrificed in prior SSL implementations.
On Extrapolated Multirate Methods

In this paper we construct extrapolated multirate discretization methods that allow to efficiently solve problems that have components with different dynamics. This approach is suited for the time integration of multiscale ordinary and partial differential equations and provides highly accurate discretizations. We analyze the linear stability properties of the extrapolated multirate explicit and linearly implicit methods. Numerical results with multiscale ODEs illustrate the theoretical findings.
Multiparameter Methods with Pulsed Eddy Currents

Multiparameter methods have been used for a number of years to distinguish certain material properties from others that may be varying in the same eddy-current inspection. Usually the measured data are the magnitudes and phases of the eddy currents at several fixed frequencies. Alternatively, the necessary data can be obtained from pulsed eddy currents by measuring the pulse heights at various times or the times to reach various pulse heights. Such data can be used to analyze the pulse into various Fourier components, but that is time consuming and unnecessary. The raw data (for example, the pulse heights at various times) can be used as variables in polynomial approximations to the various properties in exactly the same way as has been used with the multifrequency, multiparameter method. This approach has several advantages, including simpler equipment, ability to use higher frequencies, and less modification required for different inspection problems.
CARBON DIOXIDE FIXATION IN BACILLUS ANTHRACIS.

Eastin, Jerry D. (U.S. Army Chemical Corps, Frederick, Md.) and Curtis B. Thorne. Carbon dioxide fixation in Bacillus anthracis J. Bacteriol. 85: 410–417. 1963.—Virulent strains of Bacillus anthracis require a concentration of CO 2 greater than that of the normal atmosphere (air) for the production of capsular material (glutamyl polypeptide); avirulent strains may produce no polypeptide or may produce polypeptide in air. Fixation of C 14 O 2 by each of the three types tested resulted in labeling of aspartic acid, glycine, glutamic acid, succinic acid, and an unidentified organic acid. C 14 was detected in aspartic acid after less than 30 sec of exposure of cells to C 14 O 2 . Subsequent flushing of the cells with C 12 O 2 displaced C 14 from aspartic acid but not from the other labeled intermediates. Aspartic acid appears to be closely associated with the primary CO 2 -fixation product, and the data suggest a fairly direct carbon pathway from CO 2 to aspartic acid (oxaloacetic acid) to glutamic acid to glutamyl polypeptide. Images
Design optimization of microwave power heterojunction bipolar transistor cells

Results of a design optimization study of power heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) cells are presented. AlGaAs-GaAs HBTs have been fabricated using a simple heterostructure design grown by molecular beam epitaxy and a novel self-aligned fabrication process which offers relatively low parasitics. The influence of power transistor cell design on device performance is emphasized. The design optimization study involved simultaneous fabrication of transistor cells with a relatively wide range of geometries. Transistors with a wide range of emitter finger sizes and number, but with the same number of collector contacts and the same basic cell design approach, have been fabricated and characterized by DC and microwave testing. The test results indicate that HBTs with more than three fingers do not exhibit a higher maximum current and that adding emitter fingers in this design merely increases the parasitic base-collector capacitance and drastically reduces f/sub T/ and f/sub MAG/. In contrast, using a similar number of longer emitter fingers yields devices with the highest maximum current density while maintaining acceptable high-frequency performance. >
A brain region in insects that supervises walking.

Publisher Summary Central pattern generator circuits provide rhythmic patterns of activity among connected neurons that mediate walking. Local perturbations, such as irregularities in ground height, are relayed to central pattern generators by feedback from many thousands of mechanoreceptors. This sensory information is integrated locally by spiking and nonspiking local interneurons that control and maintain patterned firing among motoneurons. Local circuits integrate information about leg position, allowing compensatory adjustments at the leg joints for maintaining posture and gait. In many insect species, local sensory afferents and the thoracic nervous system could alone maintain forward locomotion. Circuits underlying locomotion toward a stimulus source appear to be more complexly organized than those mediating escape behaviors. Descending neurons that relay information from the brain to thoracic ganglia have several discrete dendritic domains in the brain, which usually receive sensory inputs indirectly through ensembles of interneurons. In addition, many descending neurons that supply leg motor circuits also receive connections from a prominent midline neuropil, called “the central complex.” This chapter discusses some of the known properties of this center and speculates about the significance of its structure. To date, behavioral genetics, electrophysiology, and comparative anatomy all suggest that the central complex plays a cerebellar-like role in controlling forward locomotion, change of direction, and other limb actions. However, before considering the central complex, it is important to outline the segmental organization of the insect brain and to emphasize the unique position of the central complex within the three pre-oral ganglia.
Morphological variation in Bemisia endosymbionts

The ultrastructure of the endosymbionts of several populations of whitefly (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) was examined using transmission electron microscopy. Consistent differences in morphology and relative number of endosymbionts were observed between species and biotypes of whitefly within the Bemisia taxon.Bemisia argentifolii (=B. tabaci B biotype) individuals from Hawaii, Florida, and Arizona contained two morphological types of microorganisms housed within the mycetocyte cells of immature whiteflies. In contrast, individuals from populations ofB. tabaci A biotype from Arizona and Mexico, andB. tabaci Jatropha biotype from Puerto Rico, consistently contained three distinct morphological types of microorganisms within their mycetocytes. Organisms fromB. tabaci A and Jatropha biotypes differed from each other in the relative frequency of each type of microorganism. These observations suggest that different whitefly biotypes may have variable combinations of micro-fauna, with some possibly unique to each group, and furthers the hypothesis that variation in whitefly endosymbionts may be associated with the development of biotypes.
Roentgenographic manifestations of congenital megacolon (Hirschsprung's disease) in early infancy.

The roentgenographic findings in the first month of life were reviewed in a series of 23 infants with histologically proven [See FIG. 9. in source pdf] Hirschsprung9s disease. The plain roentgenograms of 18 of the babies showed significant large bowel distention and 12 had prominent colonic fluid levels. In 15 of 19 of the patients which had been subjected to barium enema, the roentgenograms are diagnostic of congenital megacolon. In 5 of 7 of the infants contrast enemas in the first week of life demonstrated the characteristic deformity. The conclusions which appear justified from this investigation are: Congenital megacolon (Hirschsprung9s disease) may be strongly suspected in the newborn period in a large majority of cases from the appearance of plain roentgenograms of the abdomen made in recumbent and erect projections. In some instances, roentgenograms in the inverted position supply additional or substantiating evidence of the disease. In lesions starting in the proximal half of the colon, the abdominal distention involves mainly small bowel, and the differentiation from low jejunal or ileal obstruction is usually not possible from the plain roentgenograms. Here examination by barium enema may be expected to establish the diagnosis. When the segment of achalasia begins above the ileocecal valve, the plain roentgenograms again indicate small bowel obstruction, but here barium enema does not demonstrate a significant contour or caliber abnormality of the colon. In this type of case, follow-up roentgenograms 24 and 48 hours after the enema will often show considerable retention of the barium thus suggesting the diagnosis which must be confirmed by biopsy. When the proximal end of the involved segment of colon is low in the rectum, the lesion may be very difficult to demonstrate by barium enema. The age factor alone, i.e., the performance of the examination very early in infancy, does not of itself preclude demonstration of the lesion of Hirschsprung9s disease by barium enema.
Overview of the 3 RD International workshop on the detection and classification of Marine Mammals using passive acoustics

The 3 rd International Workshop on the Detection and Classification of Marine Mammals Using Passive Acoustics was held 24-26 July 2007 in Boston, MA. A dataset containing verified odontocete vocalizations from five different species, including Blainville's beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris), was provided for the testing and development of detection and classification algorithms. Data collected under different acoustic conditions were included along with a blind test dataset. Six research groups tested their respective algorithms against the unknown data and presented their results. Both the data set and the test results are presented.
Effects of Joint Congruency on the Response of a Tension-Compression Nonlinear Constitutive Model for Cartilage

Articular cartilage exhibits inhomogeneous, rate-dependent and tension-compression (TC) nonlinear material properties. It is a biphasic material (solid and fluid phases) and its solid phase is stiffer in tension than compression [1]. Despite this complex material behavior, elastic, incompressible material models can be used to predict the short-time loading response of cartilage [2]. To our knowledge, the use of an anisotropic incompressible material to represent cartilage in a finite element (FE) joint model has not been investigated and thus the importance of the TC nonlinearity in the analysis of 3D articular contact models is limited [3]. We have been investigating a TC nonlinear incompressible constitutive model to represent hip cartilage. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of TC nonlinearity on FE predictions of stress and strain as a function of congruency between two spherical cartilage layers. It was hypothesized that the TC nonlinear and neo-Hookean constitutive models would yield a similar response when the cartilage layers were nearly congruent, but as the congruency of the cartilage layers decreased the predicted response from the two materials would be different.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Optimum signal constellation design for ultra-high-speed optical transport networks

In this invited paper we analyze several strategies that can be used facilitate the implementation of 400 GbE and 1 TbE technologies with respect to signal-constellation design and propose the use of optimum signal constellations instead of conventional QAM scheme. The proposed signal constellation designs can be used in combination with large-girth LDPC codes to solve both the bandwidth and energy-efficiency problems of future Ethernet technologies. We further describe several hybrid coded-modulation (CM) schemes that enable multi-terabit serial optical transport, including energy-efficient D-dimensional CM, mode-multiplexed four dimensional CM, and mode-multiplexed generalized-OFDM.
Cloning of human acetyl‐CoA carboxylase cDNA

Acetyl-CoA carboxylase is the rate-limiting enzyme in the biogenesis of long-chain fatty acids. In order to understand the mechanisms that regulate human acetyl-CoA carboxylase at the gene level, and the relationship between its structure and function, cDNA clones for human acetyl-CoA carboxylase have been isolated and sequenced. Human acetyl-CoA-carboxylase cDNA contains 7020 nucleotides encoding a protein of 2340 amino acids with a calculated relative molecular mass of 264575. The human enzyme shows approximately 85% identity in nucleotide sequence with previously cloned rat acetyl-CoA carboxylase, and shows 90% identity in the amino acid sequence. Two human acetyl-CoA-carboxylase mRNA species, which differ in the 5' untranslated region with the same coding sequence, have been identified. The sequence analysis reveals that type I and type II acetyl-CoA-carboxylase mRNA contain 313- and 173-base-long 5' untranslated regions, respectively. The first 240 nucleotides in the 5' untranslated region of type I acetyl-CoA-carboxylase mRNA replace the first 100 nucleotides of the (G + C)-rich region of the 5' untranslated region of the type II mRNA. These two species of mRNAs are the only species of human ACC mRNA which have been detected compared to at least five species in rat tissues, and they are expressed in a tissue-specific manner.
Aggravation of penicillin-induced epilepsy in rats with locus ceruleus lesions.

Summary: The rate and pattern of development of seizures induced by penicillin injected intraperitoneally were determined in rats that had been depleted of brain norepinephrine (NE) by bilateral injections of the neurotoxin 6-OH dopamine into the locus ceruleus. Behavioral observations and scalp electrographic recordings were made after injection and the efficacy of NE depletion was determined by high performance liquid chromatography measurement of cortical levels of NE and its metabolites. We found that in comparison to sham-operated control rats, NE-depleted rats had a significantly shorter latency to first observable myoclonic jerk, the first epileptic discharge, the first convulsion with sustained epileptic discharges, and a longer duration of convulsions. We observed a similar electrographic pattern of multifocal spikes with bilateral synchrony in both groups. However, more of the control rats (six of 12) had convulsions as compared to the lesioned rats (four of 12). These findings are consistent with previous evidence that depletion of neocortical NE facilitates the development of epileptiform activity in the CNS; however, a convulsive state was not induced by NE depletion.
Percent cesium-134 and strontium-85 in milk, urine, and feces of goats on normal and verxite-containing diets.

Abstract Four goats of predominantly Toggenburg breeding were used in a cross-over design to study the effects of vermiculite (verxite flakes) on the binding of 85 Sr and 134 Cs. Vermiculite was incorporated into the grain ration at a level of 10% of the grain ration (approximately 3% of total ration) of one-half of the animals. Each morning either 85 Sr or 134 Cs was administered separately in gelatin capsules per os at an approximate level of 0.6 μ Ci per day to the respective animals. Milk samples were collected twice daily while total collections of urine and feces were made on a 24-hour basis. Portions of all samples were counted using a gamma scintillation spectrometer. The vermiculite-treated animals receiving 134 Cs had a more rapid rate of radio-isotope excretion than did the nontreated animals, the percentages of the total body clearance of 134 Cs which occurred during the five-day dosing period being 83 and 62%, respectively Excretion and seeretion data were compared between animals receiving and not receiving vermiculite. These data, expressed as percentages of the daily ingested doses of 134 Cs, were respectively, for milk 0.3 versus 2.3; for urine 1.7 versus 11.2; and for feces 64.6 versus 26.6. There were no consistent differences between the treated and nontreated animals receiving 85 Sr.
Cytotoxic antibodies to cultured lymphoblasts unrelated to Epstein-Barr virus.

A micro-51chromium-release assay was used to examine the possible relationship between antibodies cytotoxic to lymphoid cells and EBV infections of the donors. No correlation was found between sera capable of killing lymphoid cells pre-labelled with51 chromium and the presence or absence of antibodies to the viral capsid antigen (anti-VCA). Sera obtained from patients with infectious mononucleosis, Burkitt's lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma and Hodgkin's disease known to have elevated titers to anti-VCA showed cytotoxicity similar to control values. There appeared to be both heat-stable and heat-labile complement-dependent cytotoxic antibodies.